Read today’s Bwoglines for an added pep in your financially-savvy step!

Happening in the World: Due to extensive economic sanctions that have cut off Russia from international banking and trade systems, the Kremlin appears to have turned to China for aid. National Card Payment System board member Oleg Tishakov stated at a conference on Tuesday that Russia has reached out to Chinese microchip manufacturers and is in the beginning stages of the “certification process.” Visa, Mastercard, and Apple Pay are among the many companies no longer financially servicing Russia. (Reuters)

Happening in the US: President Biden’s administration will likely extend the student loan repayment freeze, a policy that has been in effect since March of 2020, through August 31. The pause on repayments, interest accumulation, and active collections was originally slated to cease on May 1 after three prior extensions. This fourth expansion of the policy comes at the heels of increased advocacy by Democratic legislators, many of whom have asked President Biden to sustain the repayment freeze until the end of the year or cancel some student loans altogether. (CNN)

Happening in NYC: On Sunday night, an unknown suspect set fire to a nightclub called Rash, a queer-friendly space in Bushwick. According to witnesses, the suspect entered the club, unloaded flammable liquid onto the floor, and then lit the fluid on fire with a match before fleeing the scene. The episode, which police are currently investigating as arson, may be an episode in a series of targeted violence towards queer-owned and queer-friendly sites in Brooklyn. (Gothamist)

Happening in our Community: Join CERAPS researcher Dr. Sarah Mazouz for a talk titled “The Republic and her others: Race and Nation in France in 2000s.” Dr. Mazouz’s talk will draw on ethnographic research, critical race studies, and critical anthropology, among other disciplines, to examine “the non-recognition of racial questions and discriminations in contemporary France.” The talk, which is free and open to the public, will occur at Buell Hall from 5 to 6:30 pm. RSVP here.

Biden campaign rally via Wikimedia Commons