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Category: Australia

  • MIL-OSI: Heliostar Metals to Present at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference July 24

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Heliostar Metals (TSX.V: HSTR, OTCQX: HSTXF, FRA: RGG1) (“Heliostar” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it is participating in the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com on July 24, 2025. Vice President Investor Relations & Development Stephen Soock will present live to share how the Company’s combination of immediate cash flow, meaningful exploration upside, and high-grade resource development set the stage for it to become the next mid-tier gold producer.

    DATE: July 24
    TIME: 11:00am EDT
    LINK: REGISTER HERE
    Available for 1×1 meetings: July 24, 28 and 29

    This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company
    questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the
    conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

    It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.  

    Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

    Recent Company Highlights

    • First quarter production of 9,082 gold equivalent ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of $1,375-$1,475/GEO
    • Strong balance sheet with US$27M in cash as of March 31
    • Successful extension mineralization at the Creston pit including 56.6m of 2.88 g/t gold
    • High grade drill results from the historic Truckshop stockpile at its operating La Colorada mine including 10.7m of 1.81 g/t gold from surface

    About Heliostar Metals Ltd.

    Heliostar is a gold mining and development company with a goal of growing to mid-tier producer status by the end of the decade. The company currently has two producing mines in Mexico – the La Colorada Mine and San Agustin Mine open pit heap leach operations. Heliostar plans to leverage the cash generated by these operations to fund development of its flagship Ana Paula underground project. Ana Paula is a rare combination of bulk tonnage and high grade, with a construction start targeted for 2H 2026 to add 100,000oz/yr to Heliostar’s production profile. The company also has a pipeline of other advanced development assets and exploration opportunities across its portfolio to continue to drive growth.

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®
    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    CONTACTS:

    Heliostar Metals Limited
    Rob Grey
    Investor Relations Manager
    (844) 753-0045
    rob.grey@heliostarmetals.com

    Virtual Investor Conferences
    John M. Viglotti
    SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
    OTC Markets Group
    (212) 220-2221
    johnv@otcmarkets.com

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: ETHRANSACTION Launches Cloud Mining Platform to Allow Investors to Earn Bitcoin Mining Profits

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Jacksonville, Florida, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With the recent breakout of the 123,000 mark in Bitcoin (BTC), cryptocurrencies have become the hottest topic in the financial and cryptocurrency investment sectors so ETHRANSACTION has launched new BTC mining contracts so the users can yield BTC. Michael Saylor believes that “the only thing better than holding Bitcoin is holding more Bitcoin”. Therefore, Bitcoin holdings may not decrease in the short term. However, even if the price drops, how can we continue to earn cryptocurrency profits from Bitcoin?

    Ethransaction has brought a breakthrough to the Bitcoin mining industry: Bitcoin cloud mining. Bitcoin mining has long been considered one of the most profitable ways to earn huge profits, especially when the market is soaring. Unlike traditional Bitcoin mining, which requires huge initial costs and mining expertise, Ethransaction provides a more convenient way to get started. With Ethransaction, ordinary users can start earning cryptocurrency mining profits with just $19.

    How Ethransaction Makes Bitcoin Mining Accessible to Everyone
    Buying Bitcoin is accompanied by Bitcoin price fluctuations, which can lead to huge losses. Furthermore, Bitcoin mining is expensive and almost impossible to participate. But Ethransaction offers a great solution. Through contract planning, users can rent computing power from its various data centers through Ethransaction’s online platform.
    Since mining activities are completely managed and maintained by Ethransaction, the entire process is completely hands-off, providing an excellent passive income opportunity. Investors can not only receive Bitcoin mining rewards, but also completely passive income.
    In addition to Bitcoin, Ethransaction also supports mining eight other cryptocurrencies, including Litecoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin, through a variety of cloud mining contracts.

    Explore Dogecoin Cloud Mining for Free
    Ethransaction is currently active and is running free Dogecoin cloud mining contracts and offering a $19 sign-up bonus. The Dogecoin cloud mining plan contract is $19, and the platform will assist in paying the fees. Strictly speaking, this is a free trial plan.
    After the Dogecoin cloud mining contract ends, users can easily top up and purchase other cloud mining contracts ranging from $19 to $570,000 and get a higher return on investment.

    ETHRANSACTION launches high-yield contracts
    ⦁WhatsMiner M30S【Daily Sign-in Rewards】Contract plan: Investment amount: $19, total net profit: $19 + $0.9.

    ⦁Avalon Manufacturing A1346【Experience Contract】Contract plan: Investment amount: $100, total net profit: $100 + $18.

    ⦁ElphaPex DG Home1 Contract plan: Investment amount: $600, total net profit: $600 + $52.5.

    ⦁Antminer L7 Contract plan: Investment amount: $1300, total net profit: $1300 + $236.6.

    ⦁Invest in Antminer T21 Contract plan: Investment amount: $3700, total net profit: $3700 + $1021.2.

    (The platform has launched a variety of stable income contracts, which can be viewed on the ETHRANSACTION official website.)

    Several steps to join Ethransaction
    Go to the ETHRANSACTION official website to register and easily start mining popular currencies such as Dogecoin and Bitcoin. Choose from a variety of cloud mining contracts and purchase the contract that meets your goals. Daily cryptocurrency income will be automatically displayed on your dashboard.

    Email: info@ethransaction.vip
    website: https://www.ethransactio.vip

    Attachment

    • ETHRANSACTION

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: ETHRANSACTION Launches XRP AI Cloud Mining App for Bitcoin (BTC) Miners, Making Cryptocurrency Profits Easily Available to Everyone

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NY, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ethransaction today announced the official launch of its new mobile cloud mining app, designed to help ordinary users mine Bitcoin with XRP. XRP is known for its fast transaction confirmation and low fees, making it an ideal choice for starting cloud mining services. Users only need to hold XRP to convert it into mining power through the Ethransaction platform, without having to purchase expensive hardware equipment or go through a complicated setup process. 

    An Ethransaction spokesperson said: “Our new mobile app marks an important milestone in the true popularization of AI mining in the digital currency field, allowing users to participate in the startup mining field at the fastest speed. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to change the cryptocurrency industry, cloud mining is entering a new era of intelligence and automation.” Ethransaction, a global crypto infrastructure platform, today officially announced the launch of its AI-driven mobile cloud mining app, which will use XRP coins (Ripple) to activate Bitcoin miners, providing global users with a smarter and more convenient mining experience. A more efficient and convenient Bitcoin passive income solution.

    What is Ethransaction? How to easily start your cryptocurrency journey?

    Ethransaction is a global cloud mining platform founded in 2017 and headquartered in the UK. The platform provides users with low-threshold intelligent mining services for mainstream digital currencies such as Bitcoin through its self-developed AI computing power scheduling system. The platform supports mobile phone operations, covers 100+ countries, and has more than 8.1 million users.

    Using the Ethransaction AI cloud mining platform, there is no need to buy mining machines or professional skills, and everyone can easily participate in mining. In just three steps, you can start your digital asset passive income journey.

    Key features of the Ethransaction app:
    XRP integration: Activate mining contracts instantly with XRP
    AI optimization: Improve efficiency and earnings through machine learning
    Mobile-first experience: Manage everything from your phone anytime, anywhere
    Join now: Get a $19 bonus and daily sign-in bonus for free
    Transparent contracts: Clear returns, daily payouts, and guaranteed return on principal

    How to join Ethransaction

    1. Register: Sign up now to get a $19 welcome bonus, plus a $0.9 daily sign-in bonus.

    2. Choose a contract: Choose a mining plan that fits your budget and financial goals. Ethransaction offers solutions for both beginners and advanced investors.

    3. Start earning: Once your contract is activated, Ethransaction’s smart platform will do the rest – ensuring a seamless and efficient mining operation to maximize your earnings.

    Transparent and real returns
    Ethransaction provides users with full transparency into mining activities, expected returns, and contract terms.
    All mining contracts:
    1. Daily settlement
    2. Guaranteed return of principal upon transaction
    Currently, the platform has more than 8.1 million users worldwide, and its reputation is rapidly improving.

    Why Ethransaction stands out in 2025
    Environmentally friendly mining – clean energy, durable
    1. Truly global – data centers on three continents
    2. No hardware required – 100% cloud-based, instant start
    3. Predictable income – daily expenses, simple contracts
    4. Secure, registered, compliant – operating since 2017

    Cloud mining contract strategy: based on actual results
    ⦁WhatsMiner M30S [Daily Sign-in Rewards]: Investment amount: $19, total net profit: $19 + $0.9.
    ⦁ Avalon Manufacturing A1346 [Experience Contract]: Investment amount: $100, total net profit: $100 + $18.
    ⦁ ElphaPex DG Home1 contract plan: investment amount: $600, total net profit: $600 + $52.5.
    ⦁ Antminer L7 contract plan: investment amount: $1,300, total net profit: $1,300 + $236.6.
    ⦁ Antminer T21 contract plan: investment amount: $3,700, total net profit: $3,700 + $1,021.2.
    (The platform has launched a variety of stable income contracts, which can be viewed on the ETHRANSACTION official website.)

    These data are not predictions, but real experiences of millions of users, thanks to Ethransaction’s profit optimization based on artificial intelligence and result-centered mining models.
    Click here to explore more mining contracts.

    AI Mining: Completely Breaking Traditional Barriers and Creating Greater Value for XRP
    Traditional mining is costly, power-intensive, and requires complex technical knowledge, making it almost impossible for ordinary investors to participate. Ethransaction breaks down these barriers with its innovative AI cloud mining platform, where investors can easily activate Bitcoin miners using XRP coins (Ripple) and have the opportunity to earn up to $100,000 per day.

    About Ethransaction
    Founded in 2017, Ethransaction represents a new generation of AI-driven cloud mining technology based on data, performance, and trust. With a rapidly growing global user base, Ethransaction has become one of the most promising cryptocurrency investment opportunities this year, especially for investors seeking sustainable long-term returns rather than speculation.

    Email: info@ethransaction.vip
    Full details and how to participate: https://ethransaction.vip

    Attachment

    • ETHRANSACTION

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: ETHRANSACTION announces green cloud mining platform for mining BTC and maximizing yields

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Phoenix, Arizona, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ethransaction launches new BTC mining contracts under green energy cloud mining initiative as Bitcoin soars to over $123,000 in July 2025, thanks to BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF (daily trading volume of $3.2 billion) and transparency in U.S. regulation through the CLARITY Act. ETHRANSACTION, a global leader in cloud mining, helps investors capture this rally with its sustainable AI-driven platform.

    Founded in 2017 and headquartered in London, UK, ETHRANSACTION serves more than 8.1 million users in more than 100 countries. It has more than 80 carbon-neutral mining facilities powered by renewable energy, providing an easy and convenient Bitcoin mining experience and transparent high-yield returns.

    When Bitcoin meets ETHRANSACTION’s innovation
    Bitcoin’s scarcity drives its surge in 2025. ETHRANSACTION’s cloud mining service provides real-time profit tracking and multi-currency support (BTC, ETH, DOGE, etc.), no hardware costs, and provides daily returns through green energy and AI optimization.
    Flexible Mining Contracts
    ETHRANSACTION 2025 Contracts Ensure High Returns:

    For example, if a user invests $10,700 in a Bitcoin Miner S19 XP+ Hyd Hashrate Contract (with a term of 35 days), the expected total return can reach $17,103.95, including $6,403.95 in net profit.

    Why Choose ETHRANSACTION?

    Low Entry Barrier: Flexible plans from $19 to $570,000, with no hardware or electricity costs.

    New User Bonus: $19 Signup Bonus, immediate mining, no initial investment required.

    Multi-Currency Support: More than 8 major cryptocurrencies, including XRP, BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, DOGE, LTC, and BCH.
    Green Energy: Powered by 100% renewable energy, in line with global sustainable development goals.
    Transparency and Security: Blockchain smart contracts ensure transparent returns, with enterprise-grade wallet hosting and multi-layer encryption.

    Get started in 3 simple steps:
    Sign up – get $19 bonus (can be used for daily check-ins, earn ~$0.9 per day)
    Choose a plan – flexible contracts starting at $19
    Earn daily – enjoy $0.9 login bonus + mining profits

    Future Outlook
    As the Bitcoin bull run accelerates in 2025, ETHRANSACTION is ready to redefine sustainable cryptocurrency mining globally. The platform plans to expand its AI-driven carbon-neutral infrastructure to more than 100 facilities by Q4, which will bring higher returns to investors against the backdrop of Bitcoin’s expected surge to $200,000. Institutional adoption, regulatory clarity, and the 2024 halving cycle come together to create a historic opportunity – ETHRANSACTION’s green mining solution combines profit potential with earth responsibility.
    In short

    The future of wealth creation is here: decentralized, sustainable and within reach. ETHRANSACTION invites you to join the $6,403-a-day revolution – where cutting-edge technology meets environmentalism, and every mined Bitcoin will strengthen your portfolio and protect the planet. Act now, the new era of mining is coming.
    For more information or to start a mining contract, visit: https://ethransaction.vip or download the ETHRANSACTION mobile app (available for iOS and Android)

    Email: info@ethransaction.vip

    Attachment

    • ETHRANSACTION

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: ETHRANSACTION announces green cloud mining platform for mining BTC and maximizing yields

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Phoenix, Arizona, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ethransaction launches new BTC mining contracts under green energy cloud mining initiative as Bitcoin soars to over $123,000 in July 2025, thanks to BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF (daily trading volume of $3.2 billion) and transparency in U.S. regulation through the CLARITY Act. ETHRANSACTION, a global leader in cloud mining, helps investors capture this rally with its sustainable AI-driven platform.

    Founded in 2017 and headquartered in London, UK, ETHRANSACTION serves more than 8.1 million users in more than 100 countries. It has more than 80 carbon-neutral mining facilities powered by renewable energy, providing an easy and convenient Bitcoin mining experience and transparent high-yield returns.

    When Bitcoin meets ETHRANSACTION’s innovation
    Bitcoin’s scarcity drives its surge in 2025. ETHRANSACTION’s cloud mining service provides real-time profit tracking and multi-currency support (BTC, ETH, DOGE, etc.), no hardware costs, and provides daily returns through green energy and AI optimization.
    Flexible Mining Contracts
    ETHRANSACTION 2025 Contracts Ensure High Returns:

    For example, if a user invests $10,700 in a Bitcoin Miner S19 XP+ Hyd Hashrate Contract (with a term of 35 days), the expected total return can reach $17,103.95, including $6,403.95 in net profit.

    Why Choose ETHRANSACTION?

    Low Entry Barrier: Flexible plans from $19 to $570,000, with no hardware or electricity costs.

    New User Bonus: $19 Signup Bonus, immediate mining, no initial investment required.

    Multi-Currency Support: More than 8 major cryptocurrencies, including XRP, BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, DOGE, LTC, and BCH.
    Green Energy: Powered by 100% renewable energy, in line with global sustainable development goals.
    Transparency and Security: Blockchain smart contracts ensure transparent returns, with enterprise-grade wallet hosting and multi-layer encryption.

    Get started in 3 simple steps:
    Sign up – get $19 bonus (can be used for daily check-ins, earn ~$0.9 per day)
    Choose a plan – flexible contracts starting at $19
    Earn daily – enjoy $0.9 login bonus + mining profits

    Future Outlook
    As the Bitcoin bull run accelerates in 2025, ETHRANSACTION is ready to redefine sustainable cryptocurrency mining globally. The platform plans to expand its AI-driven carbon-neutral infrastructure to more than 100 facilities by Q4, which will bring higher returns to investors against the backdrop of Bitcoin’s expected surge to $200,000. Institutional adoption, regulatory clarity, and the 2024 halving cycle come together to create a historic opportunity – ETHRANSACTION’s green mining solution combines profit potential with earth responsibility.
    In short

    The future of wealth creation is here: decentralized, sustainable and within reach. ETHRANSACTION invites you to join the $6,403-a-day revolution – where cutting-edge technology meets environmentalism, and every mined Bitcoin will strengthen your portfolio and protect the planet. Act now, the new era of mining is coming.
    For more information or to start a mining contract, visit: https://ethransaction.vip or download the ETHRANSACTION mobile app (available for iOS and Android)

    Email: info@ethransaction.vip

    Attachment

    • ETHRANSACTION

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Viva Gold to Present at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference July 23, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Viva Gold Corp. (VAUCF: OTCQB, VAU: TSXV) (“Viva,” or the “Company”), based in Vancouver, Canada, focused on developing its 100% owned Tonopah Gold Project on the prolific Walker Lane Trend in Nevada, today announced that Jim Hesketh, President & Chief Executive Officer, will present live at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com on July 23, 2025.

    DATE: July 23
    TIME: 11AM EDT
    LINK: REGISTER HERE
    Available for 1×1 meetings: July 23 to July 29

    This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

    It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

    Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

    Recent Company Highlights

    • The Company recently released an updated resource and economic study, confirming the economic viability of the project
    • Viva will now move into feasibility study level work and the expedited permitting process in Nevada
    • Permitted mines in this jurisdiction receive material share price re-ratings

    About Viva Gold Corp:

    Viva Gold is led by CEO James Hesketh, a 40-year veteran in the mining space who has led the development and construction of eight other mines around the world throughout his career. James has surrounded himself with equally experienced mining professionals both on the management team and the board.

    Viva Gold trades on the TSX Venture exchange “VAU”, on the OTCQB “VAUCF” and on the Frankfurt exchange “7PB”. Viva currently has ~145.2 million shares outstanding and boasts a best-in-class management team and board with decades of gold exploration and production experience. The Company is advancing its high-grade Tonopah Gold Project in mining friendly Nevada with the support of several institutional shareholders. More information can be found on https://www.Sedar.Com and please visit our website: www.vivagoldcorp.com.

    Viva is committed to developing the Tonopah Gold Project in an environmentally and socially responsible fashion. These values are aligned with management’s core values and permeate throughout our decision-making process.

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®
    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access.  Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    CONTACTS:

    Viva Gold Corp.
    Name: Jim Hesketh
    Title: President & CEO
    Phone: 720-291-1775
    Email: jhesketh@vivagoldcorp.com 

    Virtual Investor Conferences
    John M. Viglotti
    SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
    OTC Markets Group
    (212) 220-2221
    johnv@otcmarkets.com 

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Viva Gold to Present at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference July 23, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Viva Gold Corp. (VAUCF: OTCQB, VAU: TSXV) (“Viva,” or the “Company”), based in Vancouver, Canada, focused on developing its 100% owned Tonopah Gold Project on the prolific Walker Lane Trend in Nevada, today announced that Jim Hesketh, President & Chief Executive Officer, will present live at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com on July 23, 2025.

    DATE: July 23
    TIME: 11AM EDT
    LINK: REGISTER HERE
    Available for 1×1 meetings: July 23 to July 29

    This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

    It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

    Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

    Recent Company Highlights

    • The Company recently released an updated resource and economic study, confirming the economic viability of the project
    • Viva will now move into feasibility study level work and the expedited permitting process in Nevada
    • Permitted mines in this jurisdiction receive material share price re-ratings

    About Viva Gold Corp:

    Viva Gold is led by CEO James Hesketh, a 40-year veteran in the mining space who has led the development and construction of eight other mines around the world throughout his career. James has surrounded himself with equally experienced mining professionals both on the management team and the board.

    Viva Gold trades on the TSX Venture exchange “VAU”, on the OTCQB “VAUCF” and on the Frankfurt exchange “7PB”. Viva currently has ~145.2 million shares outstanding and boasts a best-in-class management team and board with decades of gold exploration and production experience. The Company is advancing its high-grade Tonopah Gold Project in mining friendly Nevada with the support of several institutional shareholders. More information can be found on https://www.Sedar.Com and please visit our website: www.vivagoldcorp.com.

    Viva is committed to developing the Tonopah Gold Project in an environmentally and socially responsible fashion. These values are aligned with management’s core values and permeate throughout our decision-making process.

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®
    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access.  Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    CONTACTS:

    Viva Gold Corp.
    Name: Jim Hesketh
    Title: President & CEO
    Phone: 720-291-1775
    Email: jhesketh@vivagoldcorp.com 

    Virtual Investor Conferences
    John M. Viglotti
    SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
    OTC Markets Group
    (212) 220-2221
    johnv@otcmarkets.com 

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Viva Gold to Present at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference July 23, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Viva Gold Corp. (VAUCF: OTCQB, VAU: TSXV) (“Viva,” or the “Company”), based in Vancouver, Canada, focused on developing its 100% owned Tonopah Gold Project on the prolific Walker Lane Trend in Nevada, today announced that Jim Hesketh, President & Chief Executive Officer, will present live at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com on July 23, 2025.

    DATE: July 23
    TIME: 11AM EDT
    LINK: REGISTER HERE
    Available for 1×1 meetings: July 23 to July 29

    This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

    It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

    Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

    Recent Company Highlights

    • The Company recently released an updated resource and economic study, confirming the economic viability of the project
    • Viva will now move into feasibility study level work and the expedited permitting process in Nevada
    • Permitted mines in this jurisdiction receive material share price re-ratings

    About Viva Gold Corp:

    Viva Gold is led by CEO James Hesketh, a 40-year veteran in the mining space who has led the development and construction of eight other mines around the world throughout his career. James has surrounded himself with equally experienced mining professionals both on the management team and the board.

    Viva Gold trades on the TSX Venture exchange “VAU”, on the OTCQB “VAUCF” and on the Frankfurt exchange “7PB”. Viva currently has ~145.2 million shares outstanding and boasts a best-in-class management team and board with decades of gold exploration and production experience. The Company is advancing its high-grade Tonopah Gold Project in mining friendly Nevada with the support of several institutional shareholders. More information can be found on https://www.Sedar.Com and please visit our website: www.vivagoldcorp.com.

    Viva is committed to developing the Tonopah Gold Project in an environmentally and socially responsible fashion. These values are aligned with management’s core values and permeate throughout our decision-making process.

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®
    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access.  Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    CONTACTS:

    Viva Gold Corp.
    Name: Jim Hesketh
    Title: President & CEO
    Phone: 720-291-1775
    Email: jhesketh@vivagoldcorp.com 

    Virtual Investor Conferences
    John M. Viglotti
    SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
    OTC Markets Group
    (212) 220-2221
    johnv@otcmarkets.com 

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: HBT Financial, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Second Quarter Highlights

    • Net income of $19.2 million, or $0.61 per diluted share; return on average assets (“ROAA”) of 1.53%; return on average stockholders’ equity (“ROAE”) of 13.47%; and return on average tangible common equity (“ROATCE”)(1) of 15.55%
    • Adjusted net income(1) of $19.8 million; or $0.63 per diluted share; adjusted ROAA(1) of 1.58%; adjusted ROAE(1) of 13.87%; and adjusted ROATCE(1) of 16.02%
    • Asset quality remained strong with nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.13% and net charge-offs to average loans of 0.12%, on an annualized basis
    • Net interest margin increased 2 basis points to 4.14% and net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis)(1)increased 3 basis points to 4.19%

    BLOOMINGTON, Ill., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HBT Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: HBT) (the “Company” or “HBT Financial” or “HBT”), the holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company, today reported net income of $19.2 million, or $0.61 diluted earnings per share, for the second quarter of 2025. This compares to net income of $19.1 million, or $0.60 diluted earnings per share, for the first quarter of 2025, and net income of $18.1 million, or $0.57 diluted earnings per share, for the second quarter of 2024.

    J. Lance Carter, President and Chief Executive Officer of HBT Financial, said, “During the second quarter of 2025, our team continued to deliver consistently strong earnings with adjusted net income(1) of $19.8 million, or $0.63 per diluted share. This was driven by an increase in adjusted pre-provision net revenue(1) of 5.2%, compared to the first quarter of 2025. Adjusted ROAA(1) was 1.58% and adjusted ROATCE(1) was 16.02% for the second quarter while our net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis(1) increased 3 basis points to 4.19%. Our strong profitability coupled with an improvement in our accumulated other comprehensive income due to lower interest rates resulted in a $0.59 increase in our tangible book value per share(1) to $16.02, an increase of 3.8% for the quarter and 17.4% over the last 12 months.

    Our balance sheet remains strong as all capital ratios increased during the quarter and asset quality remained stable with nonperforming assets to total assets of only 0.13%. We saw a decrease in loans during the quarter as seasonal paydowns on grain elevator lines of credit caused a decrease in commercial and industrial loans and a higher amount of property sales caused higher payoffs in several other portfolios. We expect to see loan growth return in the third quarter of 2025 due to higher loan pipelines at the end of the second quarter than at the end of the first quarter and fewer payoffs projected.

    Our credit discipline, strong profitability and solid balance sheet give us confidence that we are prepared for a variety of economic and interest rate environments. Our capital levels and operational structure support attractive acquisition opportunities should the right opportunity arise.”
    ____________________________________
    (1) See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures.

    Adjusted Net Income

    In addition to reporting GAAP results, the Company believes non-GAAP measures such as adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share, which adjust for acquisition expenses, branch closure expenses, gains (losses) on closed branch premises, realized gains (losses) on sales of securities, mortgage servicing rights fair value adjustments, and the tax effect of these pre-tax adjustments, provide investors with additional insight into its operational performance. The Company reported adjusted net income of $19.8 million, or $0.63 adjusted diluted earnings per share, for the second quarter of 2025. This compares to adjusted net income of $19.3 million, or $0.61 adjusted diluted earnings per share, for the first quarter of 2025, and adjusted net income of $18.1 million, or $0.57 adjusted diluted earnings per share, for the second quarter of 2024 (see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” tables below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures).

    Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

    Net interest income for the second quarter of 2025 was $49.7 million, an increase of 2.0% from $48.7 million for the first quarter of 2025. The increase was primarily attributable to improved yields on debt securities and lower funding costs which were partially offset by a decrease in average loan balances.

    Relative to the second quarter of 2024, net interest income increased 5.6% from $47.0 million. The increase was primarily attributable to lower funding costs, improved yields on debt securities, and higher average loan balances. Additionally, a $0.5 million increase in nonaccrual interest recoveries and loan fees contributed to the increase in net interest income.

    Net interest margin for the second quarter of 2025 was 4.14%, compared to 4.12% for the first quarter of 2025, and net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis)(1) for the second quarter of 2025 was 4.19%, compared to 4.16% for the first quarter of 2025. The increase was primarily attributable to improved yields on debt securities, which increased 11 basis points to 2.60%, and lower funding costs, which decreased 3 basis points to 1.29%.

    Relative to the second quarter of 2024, net interest margin increased 19 basis points from 3.95% and net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis)(1) increased 19 basis points from 4.00%. The increase was primarily attributable to lower funding costs, higher yields on interest-earning assets, and an increase in nonaccrual interest recoveries and loan fees. The increase in the contribution of nonaccrual interest recoveries and loan fees accounted for 4 basis points of the increase in net interest margin.
    ____________________________________
    (1) See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures.

    Noninterest Income

    Noninterest income for the second quarter of 2025 was $9.1 million, a 1.8% decrease from $9.3 million for the first quarter of 2025. The decrease was primarily attributable to changes in the mortgage servicing rights (“MSR”) fair value adjustment, with a $0.8 million negative MSR fair value adjustment included in the second quarter 2025 results compared to a $0.3 million negative MSR fair value adjustment included in the first quarter 2025 results. Partially offsetting this decrease were seasonal increases in card income of $0.2 million and gains on sale of mortgage loans of $0.2 million.

    Relative to the second quarter of 2024, noninterest income decreased 4.9% from $9.6 million. The decrease was primarily attributable to changes in the MSR fair value adjustment, with a $0.8 million negative MSR fair value adjustment included in the second quarter 2025 results compared to a $0.1 million negative MSR fair value adjustment included in the second quarter 2024 results. Partially offsetting the decrease was a $0.2 million increase in wealth management fees.

    Noninterest Expense

    Noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2025 was $31.9 million, nearly unchanged from the first quarter of 2025. A $0.6 million decrease in salaries expense, which was impacted by seasonal variations in vacation accruals, was largely offset by a $0.4 million increase in other noninterest expense and a $0.3 million increase in employee benefits expense, primarily driven by higher medical benefit costs.

    Relative to the second quarter of 2024, noninterest expense increased 4.6% from $30.5 million. The increase was primarily attributable to a $0.7 million increase in employee benefits expense, primarily driven by higher medical benefit costs, a $0.3 million increase in other noninterest expense, and a $0.2 million increase in bank occupancy expense, primarily due to planned building maintenance and upgrades.

    Income Taxes

    During the second quarter of 2025 our effective tax rate increased to 27.0% when compared to 25.2% during the first quarter of 2025. This increase was primarily related to $0.3 million of additional tax expense related to the nonrecurring reversal of a stranded tax effect included in accumulated other comprehensive income, in connection with the maturity of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge during the second quarter of 2025. Additionally, the first quarter of 2025 included a $0.2 million tax benefit from stock-based compensation that vested during the quarter.

    Loan Portfolio

    Total loans outstanding, before allowance for credit losses, were $3.35 billion at June 30, 2025, compared with $3.46 billion at March 31, 2025, and $3.39 billion at June 30, 2024. The $113.6 million decrease from March 31, 2025 was primarily attributable to $72.0 million of paydowns from property sales, a seasonal reduction of $25.1 million in grain elevator lines of credit included in the commercial and industrial segment, and additional payoffs across other segments. These reductions were partially offset by draws on existing loans in the construction and development segment and new originations to existing customers. Additionally, increases in the multi-family and commercial real estate – non-owner occupied segments were primarily due to completed projects being moved out of the construction and land development category.

    Deposits

    Total deposits were $4.31 billion at June 30, 2025, compared with $4.38 billion at March 31, 2025, and $4.32 billion at June 30, 2024. The $78.1 million decrease from March 31, 2025 was primarily attributable to higher outflows for tax payments by depositors and lower balances maintained in existing retail accounts which were partially offset by higher public funds balances.

    Asset Quality

    Nonperforming assets totaled $6.5 million, or 0.13% of total assets, at June 30, 2025, compared with $5.6 million, or 0.11% of total assets, at March 31, 2025, and $8.8 million, or 0.17% of total assets, at June 30, 2024. Additionally, of the $5.6 million of nonperforming loans held as of June 30, 2025, $1.9 million were either wholly or partially guaranteed by the U.S. government. The $0.9 million increase in nonperforming assets from March 31, 2025 was primarily attributable to higher nonperforming loan balances in the commercial and industrial and the construction and land development segments.

    The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $0.5 million for the second quarter of 2025. The provision for credit losses primarily reflects a $1.0 million increase in required reserves driven by changes in the economic forecast; a $0.8 million increase in required reserves resulting from changes in qualitative factors; a $1.2 million decrease in required reserves driven by changes within the portfolio; and a $0.1 million decrease in specific reserves.
    The Company had net charge-offs of $1.0 million, or 0.12% of average loans on an annualized basis, for the second quarter of 2025, compared to net charge-offs of $0.4 million, or 0.05% of average loans on an annualized basis, for the first quarter of 2025, and net charge-offs of $0.7 million, or 0.08% of average loans on an annualized basis, for the second quarter of 2024. Charge-offs during second quarter of 2025 were primarily recognized in the commercial and industrial and one-to-four family residential segments.

    The Company’s allowance for credit losses was 1.24% of total loans and 741% of nonperforming loans at June 30, 2025, compared with 1.22% of total loans and 825% of nonperforming loans at March 31, 2025. In addition, the allowance for credit losses on unfunded lending-related commitments totaled $3.1 million as of June 30, 2025, compared with $3.2 million as of March 31, 2025.

    Capital

    As of June 30, 2025, the Company exceeded all regulatory capital requirements under Basel III as summarized in the following table:

        June 30, 2025   For Capital
    Adequacy Purposes
    With Capital
    Conservation Buffer
             
    Total capital to risk-weighted assets   17.74 %   10.50 %
    Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets   15.60     8.50  
    Common equity tier 1 capital ratio   14.26     7.00  
    Tier 1 leverage ratio   11.86     4.00  
                 

    The ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets(1) increased to 10.21% as of June 30, 2025, from 9.73% as of March 31, 2025, and tangible book value per share(1) increased by $0.59 to $16.02 as of June 30, 2025, when compared to March 31, 2025.

    During the second quarter of 2025, the Company repurchased 135,997 shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of $21.30 under its stock repurchase program. The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $15.0 million of HBT Financial common stock under its stock repurchase program, which is in effect until January 1, 2026. As of June 30, 2025, the Company had $12.1 million remaining under the stock repurchase program.
    ____________________________________
    (1) See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures.

    About HBT Financial, Inc.

    HBT Financial, Inc., headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, is the holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company, and has banking roots that can be traced back to 1920. HBT Financial provides a comprehensive suite of financial products and services to consumers, businesses, and municipal entities throughout Illinois and eastern Iowa through 66 full-service branches. As of June 30, 2025, HBT Financial had total assets of $5.0 billion, total loans of $3.3 billion, and total deposits of $4.3 billion.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Some of the financial measures included in this press release are not measures of financial performance recognized in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures include adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted ROAA, pre-provision net revenue, pre-provision net revenue less charge-offs (recoveries), adjusted pre-provision net revenue, adjusted pre-provision net revenue less charge-offs (recoveries), net interest income (tax-equivalent basis), net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis), efficiency ratio (tax-equivalent basis), adjusted efficiency ratio (tax-equivalent basis), the ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets, tangible book value per share, adjusted ROAE, ROATCE, and adjusted ROATCE. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures, together with the related GAAP financial measures, in its analysis of our performance and in making business decisions. Management believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present these non-GAAP financial measures, and accordingly believes that providing these measures may be useful for peer comparison purposes. These disclosures should not be viewed as substitutes for the results determined to be in accordance with GAAP; nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP financial measures that may be presented by other companies. See our reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” tables.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Readers should note that in addition to the historical information contained herein, this press release contains, and future oral and written statements of the Company and its management may contain, “forward-looking statements” within the meanings of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “will,” “propose,” “may,” “plan,” “seek,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” or “should,” or similar terminology. Any forward-looking statements presented herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

    Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the strength of the local, state, national and international economies and financial markets (including effects of inflationary pressures and supply chain constraints); (ii) effects on the U.S. economy resulting from the threat or implementation of, or changes to, existing policies and executive orders including tariffs, immigration policy, regulatory or other governmental agencies, foreign policy and tax regulations; (iii) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats and attacks, widespread disease or pandemics, acts of war or other threats thereof (including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East), or other adverse events that could cause economic deterioration or instability in credit markets, and the response of the local, state and national governments to any such adverse external events; (iv) new and revised accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory banking agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; (v) changes in local, state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning the Company’s general business and any changes in response to bank failures; (vi) the imposition of tariffs or other governmental policies impacting the value of products produced by the Company’s commercial borrowers; (vii) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of the Company’s assets; (viii) increased competition in the financial services sector, including from non-bank competitors such as credit unions and fintech companies, and the inability to attract new customers; (ix) technological changes implemented by us and other parties, including our third-party vendors, which may have unforeseen consequences to us and our customers, including the development and implementation of tools incorporating artificial intelligence; (x) unexpected results of acquisitions, which may include failure to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions and the possibility that transaction costs may be greater than anticipated; (xi) the loss of key executives and employees, talent shortages and employee turnover; (xii) changes in consumer spending; (xiii) unexpected outcomes or costs of existing or new litigation or other legal proceedings and regulatory actions involving the Company; (xiv) the economic impact on the Company and its customers of climate change, natural disasters and of exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, floods and blizzards; (xv) fluctuations in the value of securities held in our securities portfolio, including as a result of changes in interest rates; (xvi) credit risks and risks from concentrations (by type of borrower, geographic area, collateral and industry) within our loan portfolio (including commercial real estate loans) and large loans to certain borrowers; (xvii) the overall health of the local and national real estate market; (xviii) the ability to maintain an adequate level of allowance for credit losses on loans; (xix) the concentration of large deposits from certain clients who have balances above current FDIC insurance limits and who may withdraw deposits to diversify their exposure; (xx) the ability to successfully manage liquidity risk, which may increase dependence on non-core funding sources such as brokered deposits, and may negatively impact the Company’s cost of funds; (xxi) the level of nonperforming assets on our balance sheet; (xxii) interruptions involving our information technology and communications systems or third-party servicers; (xxiii) the occurrence of fraudulent activity, breaches or failures of our third-party vendors’ information security controls or cybersecurity-related incidents, including as a result of sophisticated attacks using artificial intelligence and similar tools or as a result of insider fraud; (xxiv) the effectiveness of the Company’s risk management framework, and (xxv) the ability of the Company to manage the risks associated with the foregoing as well as anticipated. Readers should note that the forward-looking statements included in this press release are not a guarantee of future events, and that actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect the Company’s financial results, is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    CONTACT:
    Peter Chapman
    HBTIR@hbtbank.com 
    (309) 664-4556

    HBT Financial, Inc.
    Unaudited Consolidated Financial Summary
             
        As of or for the Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended June 30,
    (dollars in thousands, except per share data)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
        2025       2024  
    Interest and dividend income   $ 63,919     $ 63,138     $ 62,824     $ 127,057     $ 124,785  
    Interest expense     14,261       14,430       15,796       28,691       31,069  
    Net interest income     49,658       48,708       47,028       98,366       93,716  
    Provision for credit losses     526       576       1,176       1,102       1,703  
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses     49,132       48,132       45,852       97,264       92,013  
    Noninterest income     9,140       9,306       9,610       18,446       15,236  
    Noninterest expense     31,914       31,935       30,509       63,849       61,777  
    Income before income tax expense     26,358       25,503       24,953       51,861       45,472  
    Income tax expense     7,128       6,428       6,883       13,556       12,144  
    Net income   $ 19,230     $ 19,075     $ 18,070     $ 38,305     $ 33,328  
                         
    Earnings per share – diluted   $ 0.61     $ 0.60     $ 0.57     $ 1.21     $ 1.05  
                         
    Adjusted net income (1)   $ 19,803     $ 19,253     $ 18,139     $ 39,056     $ 36,212  
    Adjusted earnings per share – diluted (1)     0.63       0.61       0.57       1.23       1.14  
                         
    Book value per share   $ 18.44     $ 17.86     $ 16.14          
    Tangible book value per share (1)     16.02       15.43       13.64          
                         
    Shares of common stock outstanding     31,495,434       31,631,431       31,559,366          
    Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, including all dilutive potential shares     31,588,541       31,711,671       31,666,811       31,649,766       31,734,999  
                         
    SUMMARY RATIOS                    
    Net interest margin *     4.14 %     4.12 %     3.95 %     4.13 %     3.95 %
    Net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis) * (1)(2)     4.19       4.16       4.00       4.18       3.99  
                         
    Efficiency ratio     53.10 %     53.85 %     52.61 %     53.47 %     55.40 %
    Efficiency ratio (tax-equivalent basis) (1)(2)     52.61       53.35       52.10       52.97       54.83  
                         
    Loan to deposit ratio     77.75 %     78.95 %     78.39 %        
                         
    Return on average assets *     1.53 %     1.54 %     1.45 %     1.53 %     1.34 %
    Return on average stockholders’ equity *     13.47       13.95       14.48       13.70       13.46  
    Return on average tangible common equity * (1)     15.55       16.20       17.21       15.87       16.03  
                         
    Adjusted return on average assets * (1)     1.58 %     1.55 %     1.45 %     1.56 %     1.45 %
    Adjusted return on average stockholders’ equity * (1)     13.87       14.08       14.54       13.97       14.63  
    Adjusted return on average tangible common equity * (1)     16.02       16.36       17.27       16.18       17.42  
                         
    CAPITAL                    
    Total capital to risk-weighted assets     17.74 %     16.85 %     16.01 %        
    Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets     15.60       14.77       13.98          
    Common equity tier 1 capital ratio     14.26       13.48       12.66          
    Tier 1 leverage ratio     11.86       11.64       10.83          
    Total stockholders’ equity to total assets     11.58       11.10       10.18          
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (1)     10.21       9.73       8.74          
                         
    ASSET QUALITY                    
    Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans *     0.12 %     0.05 %     0.08 %     0.09 %     0.03 %
    Allowance for credit losses to loans, before allowance for credit losses     1.24       1.22       1.21          
    Nonperforming loans to loans, before allowance for credit losses     0.17       0.15       0.25          
    Nonperforming assets to total assets     0.13       0.11       0.17          
                                     

    ____________________________________

    (1) See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures.
    (2) On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state tax rate of 9.5%. 

    HBT Financial, Inc.
    Unaudited Consolidated Financial Summary
    Consolidated Statements of Income
     
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended June 30,
    (dollars in thousands, except per share data) June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
        2025       2024  
    INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME                  
    Loans, including fees:                  
    Taxable $ 53,156     $ 53,369     $ 52,177     $ 106,525     $ 104,103  
    Federally tax exempt   1,215       1,168       1,097       2,383       2,191  
    Debt securities:                  
    Taxable   7,434       6,936       6,315       14,370       12,519  
    Federally tax exempt   457       469       521       926       1,118  
    Interest-bearing deposits in bank   1,544       1,065       2,570       2,609       4,522  
    Other interest and dividend income   113       131       144       244       332  
    Total interest and dividend income   63,919       63,138       62,824       127,057       124,785  
    INTEREST EXPENSE                  
    Deposits   12,835       12,939       14,133       25,774       27,726  
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   —       22       129       22       281  
    Borrowings   30       109       121       139       246  
    Subordinated notes   469       470       469       939       939  
    Junior subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts   927       890       944       1,817       1,877  
    Total interest expense   14,261       14,430       15,796       28,691       31,069  
    Net interest income   49,658       48,708       47,028       98,366       93,716  
    PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES   526       576       1,176       1,102       1,703  
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses   49,132       48,132       45,852       97,264       92,013  
    NONINTEREST INCOME                  
    Card income   2,797       2,548       2,885       5,345       5,501  
    Wealth management fees   2,826       2,841       2,623       5,667       5,170  
    Service charges on deposit accounts   1,915       1,944       1,902       3,859       3,771  
    Mortgage servicing   1,042       990       1,111       2,032       2,166  
    Mortgage servicing rights fair value adjustment   (751 )     (308 )     (97 )     (1,059 )     (17 )
    Gains on sale of mortgage loans   459       252       443       711       741  
    Realized gains (losses) on sales of securities   —       —       —       —       (3,382 )
    Unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities   23       8       (96 )     31       (112 )
    Gains (losses) on foreclosed assets   14       13       (28 )     27       59  
    Gains (losses) on other assets   (128 )     54       —       (74 )     (635 )
    Income on bank owned life insurance   167       164       166       331       330  
    Other noninterest income   776       800       701       1,576       1,644  
    Total noninterest income   9,140       9,306       9,610       18,446       15,236  
    NONINTEREST EXPENSE                  
    Salaries   16,452       17,053       16,364       33,505       33,021  
    Employee benefits   3,580       3,285       2,860       6,865       5,665  
    Occupancy of bank premises   2,471       2,625       2,243       5,096       4,825  
    Furniture and equipment   575       445       548       1,020       1,098  
    Data processing   2,687       2,717       2,606       5,404       5,531  
    Marketing and customer relations   1,020       1,144       996       2,164       1,992  
    Amortization of intangible assets   694       695       710       1,389       1,420  
    FDIC insurance   551       562       565       1,113       1,125  
    Loan collection and servicing   360       383       475       743       927  
    Foreclosed assets   67       5       10       72       59  
    Other noninterest expense   3,457       3,021       3,132       6,478       6,114  
    Total noninterest expense   31,914       31,935       30,509       63,849       61,777  
    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE   26,358       25,503       24,953       51,861       45,472  
    INCOME TAX EXPENSE   7,128       6,428       6,883       13,556       12,144  
    NET INCOME $ 19,230     $ 19,075     $ 18,070     $ 38,305     $ 33,328  
                       
    EARNINGS PER SHARE – BASIC $ 0.61     $ 0.60     $ 0.57     $ 1.21     $ 1.05  
    EARNINGS PER SHARE – DILUTED $ 0.61     $ 0.60     $ 0.57     $ 1.21     $ 1.05  
    WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING   31,510,759       31,584,989       31,579,457       31,547,669       31,621,205  
                                           
    HBT Financial, Inc.
    Unaudited Consolidated Financial Summary
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
               
    (dollars in thousands) June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    ASSETS          
    Cash and due from banks $ 25,563     $ 25,005     $ 22,604  
    Interest-bearing deposits with banks   170,179       186,586       172,636  
    Cash and cash equivalents   195,742       211,591       195,240  
               
    Interest-bearing time deposits with banks   —       —       520  
    Debt securities available-for-sale, at fair value   773,206       706,135       669,055  
    Debt securities held-to-maturity   481,942       490,398       512,549  
    Equity securities with readily determinable fair value   3,346       3,323       3,228  
    Equity securities with no readily determinable fair value   2,609       2,629       2,613  
    Restricted stock, at cost   4,979       5,086       5,086  
    Loans held for sale   2,316       2,721       858  
               
    Loans, before allowance for credit losses   3,348,211       3,461,778       3,385,483  
    Allowance for credit losses   (41,659 )     (42,111 )     (40,806 )
    Loans, net of allowance for credit losses   3,306,552       3,419,667       3,344,677  
               
    Bank owned life insurance   24,320       24,153       24,235  
    Bank premises and equipment, net   68,523       67,272       65,711  
    Bank premises held for sale   140       190       317  
    Foreclosed assets   890       460       320  
    Goodwill   59,820       59,820       59,820  
    Intangible assets, net   16,454       17,148       19,262  
    Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value   17,768       18,519       18,984  
    Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries   1,614       1,614       1,614  
    Accrued interest receivable   20,624       22,735       22,425  
    Other assets   37,553       38,731       59,685  
    Total assets $ 5,018,398     $ 5,092,192     $ 5,006,199  
               
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
    Liabilities          
    Deposits:          
    Noninterest-bearing $ 1,034,387     $ 1,065,874     $ 1,045,697  
    Interest-bearing   3,272,144       3,318,716       3,272,996  
    Total deposits   4,306,531       4,384,590       4,318,693  
               
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   556       2,698       29,330  
    Federal Home Loan Bank advances   7,240       7,209       13,734  
    Subordinated notes   39,593       39,573       39,514  
    Junior subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts   52,879       52,864       52,819  
    Other liabilities   30,702       40,201       42,640  
    Total liabilities   4,437,501       4,527,135       4,496,730  
               
    Stockholders’ Equity          
    Common stock   329       329       328  
    Surplus   297,479       297,024       296,430  
    Retained earnings   341,750       329,169       290,386  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   (32,739 )     (38,446 )     (54,656 )
    Treasury stock at cost   (25,922 )     (23,019 )     (23,019 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   580,897       565,057       509,469  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 5,018,398     $ 5,092,192     $ 5,006,199  
    SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING   31,495,434       31,631,431       31,559,366  
                           
    HBT Financial, Inc.
    Unaudited Consolidated Financial Summary
               
    (dollars in thousands) June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
               
    LOANS          
    Commercial and industrial $ 419,430   $ 441,261   $ 400,276
    Commercial real estate – owner occupied   317,475     321,990     289,992
    Commercial real estate – non-owner occupied   907,073     891,022     889,193
    Construction and land development   310,252     376,046     365,371
    Multi-family   453,812     424,096     429,951
    One-to-four family residential   451,197     455,376     484,335
    Agricultural and farmland   271,644     292,240     285,822
    Municipal, consumer, and other   217,328     259,747     240,543
    Total loans $ 3,348,211   $ 3,461,778   $ 3,385,483
                     
    (dollars in thousands) June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
               
    DEPOSITS          
    Noninterest-bearing deposits $ 1,034,387   $ 1,065,874   $ 1,045,697
    Interest-bearing deposits:          
    Interest-bearing demand   1,097,086     1,143,677     1,094,797
    Money market   831,292     812,146     769,386
    Savings   568,971     575,558     582,752
    Time   774,795     787,335     796,069
    Brokered   —     —     29,992
    Total interest-bearing deposits   3,272,144     3,318,716     3,272,996
    Total deposits $ 4,306,531   $ 4,384,590   $ 4,318,693
                     
    HBT Financial, Inc.
    Unaudited Consolidated Financial Summary
       
      Three Months Ended
      June 30, 2025   March 31, 2025   June 30, 2024
    (dollars in thousands) Average Balance   Interest   Yield/Cost *   Average Balance   Interest   Yield/Cost *   Average Balance   Interest   Yield/Cost *
                                       
    ASSETS                                  
    Loans $ 3,417,582     $ 54,371   6.38 %   $ 3,460,906     $ 54,537   6.39 %   $ 3,374,058     $ 53,274   6.35 %
    Debt securities   1,217,386       7,891   2.60       1,204,424       7,405   2.49       1,187,795       6,836   2.31  
    Deposits with banks   160,726       1,544   3.85       120,014       1,065   3.60       211,117       2,570   4.90  
    Other   12,519       113   3.66       12,677       131   4.19       12,588       144   4.60  
    Total interest-earning assets   4,808,213     $ 63,919   5.33 %     4,798,021     $ 63,138   5.34 %     4,785,558     $ 62,824   5.28 %
    Allowance for credit losses   (42,118 )             (42,061 )             (40,814 )        
    Noninterest-earning assets   270,580               276,853               283,103          
    Total assets $ 5,036,675             $ 5,032,813             $ 5,027,847          
                                       
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                                  
    Liabilities                                  
    Interest-bearing deposits:                                  
    Interest-bearing demand $ 1,125,787     $ 1,569   0.56 %   $ 1,120,608     $ 1,453   0.53 %   $ 1,123,592     $ 1,429   0.51 %
    Money market   813,531       4,463   2.20       807,728       4,397   2.21       788,744       4,670   2.38  
    Savings   569,193       374   0.26       569,494       370   0.26       592,312       393   0.27  
    Time   780,536       6,429   3.30       784,099       6,719   3.48       763,507       7,117   3.75  
    Brokered   —       —   —       —       —   —       38,213       524   5.51  
    Total interest-bearing deposits   3,289,047       12,835   1.57       3,281,929       12,939   1.60       3,306,368       14,133   1.72  
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   1,420       —   0.05       8,754       22   1.02       30,440       129   1.70  
    Borrowings   7,225       30   1.70       12,890       109   3.41       13,466       121   3.60  
    Subordinated notes   39,582       469   4.76       39,563       470   4.82       39,504       469   4.78  
    Junior subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts   52,871       927   7.03       52,856       890   6.83       52,812       944   7.18  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   3,390,145     $ 14,261   1.69 %     3,395,992     $ 14,430   1.72 %     3,442,590     $ 15,796   1.85 %
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   1,044,539               1,045,733               1,043,614          
    Noninterest-bearing liabilities   29,486               36,373               39,806          
    Total liabilities   4,464,170               4,478,098               4,526,010          
    Stockholders’ Equity   572,505               554,715               501,837          
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 5,036,675             $ 5,032,813             $ 5,027,847          
                                       
    Net interest income/Net interest margin (1)     $ 49,658   4.14 %       $ 48,708   4.12 %       $ 47,028   3.95 %
    Tax-equivalent adjustment (2)       548   0.05           545   0.04           553   0.05  
    Net interest income (tax-equivalent basis)/
    Net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis) (2) (3)
        $ 50,206   4.19 %       $ 49,253   4.16 %       $ 47,581   4.00 %
    Net interest rate spread (4)         3.64 %           3.62 %           3.43 %
    Net interest-earning assets (5) $ 1,418,068             $ 1,402,029             $ 1,342,968          
    Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities   1.42               1.41               1.39          
    Cost of total deposits         1.19 %           1.21 %           1.31 %
    Cost of funds         1.29             1.32             1.42  
                                             

    ____________________________________

    * Annualized measure.

    (1) Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.
    (2) On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state income tax rate of 9.5%.
    (3) See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures.
    (4) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.
    (5) Net interest-earning assets represents total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities. 

    HBT Financial, Inc.
    Unaudited Consolidated Financial Summary
     
      Six Months Ended
      June 30, 2025   June 30, 2024
    (dollars in thousands) Average Balance   Interest   Yield/Cost *   Average Balance   Interest   Yield/Cost *
                           
    ASSETS                      
    Loans $ 3,439,124     $ 108,908   6.39 %   $ 3,372,640     $ 106,294   6.34 %
    Debt securities   1,210,941       15,296   2.55       1,200,871       13,637   2.28  
    Deposits with banks   140,483       2,609   3.75       189,207       4,522   4.81  
    Other   12,597       244   3.93       12,787       332   5.22  
    Total interest-earning assets   4,803,145     $ 127,057   5.33 %     4,775,505     $ 124,785   5.25 %
    Allowance for credit losses   (42,089 )             (40,526 )        
    Noninterest-earning assets   273,193               280,676          
    Total assets $ 5,034,249             $ 5,015,655          
                           
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                      
    Liabilities                      
    Interest-bearing deposits:                      
    Interest-bearing demand $ 1,123,212     $ 3,022   0.54 %   $ 1,125,638     $ 2,740   0.49 %
    Money market   810,645       8,860   2.20       800,714       9,467   2.38  
    Savings   569,343       744   0.26       601,768       836   0.28  
    Time   782,307       13,148   3.39       714,003       13,042   3.67  
    Brokered   —       —   —       60,181       1,641   5.48  
    Total interest-bearing deposits   3,285,507       25,774   1.58       3,302,304       27,726   1.69  
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   5,067       22   0.89       31,448       281   1.80  
    Borrowings   10,042       139   2.79       13,235       246   3.73  
    Subordinated notes   39,573       939   4.79       39,494       939   4.78  
    Junior subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts   52,864       1,817   6.93       52,804       1,877   7.15  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   3,393,053     $ 28,691   1.71 %     3,439,285     $ 31,069   1.82 %
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   1,045,133               1,040,007          
    Noninterest-bearing liabilities   32,404               38,457          
    Total liabilities   4,470,590               4,517,749          
    Stockholders’ Equity   563,659               497,906          
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 5,034,249               5,015,655          
                           
    Net interest income/Net interest margin (1)     $ 98,366   4.13 %       $ 93,716   3.95 %
    Tax-equivalent adjustment (2)       1,093   0.05           1,128   0.04  
    Net interest income (tax-equivalent basis)/
    Net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis) (2) (3)
        $ 99,459   4.18 %       $ 94,844   3.99 %
    Net interest rate spread (4)         3.62 %           3.43 %
    Net interest-earning assets (5) $ 1,410,092             $ 1,336,220          
    Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities   1.42               1.39          
    Cost of total deposits         1.20 %           1.28 %
    Cost of funds         1.30             1.39  

    ____________________________________
    (1) Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.
    (2) On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state income tax rate of 9.5%.
    (3) See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures.
    (4) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.
    (5) Net interest-earning assets represents total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities. 

    HBT Financial, Inc.
    Unaudited Consolidated Financial Summary
               
    (dollars in thousands) June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
               
    NONPERFORMING ASSETS          
    Nonaccrual $ 5,615     $ 5,102     $ 8,425  
    Past due 90 days or more, still accruing   9       4       7  
    Total nonperforming loans   5,624       5,106       8,432  
    Foreclosed assets   890       460       320  
    Total nonperforming assets $ 6,514     $ 5,566     $ 8,752  
               
    Nonperforming loans that are wholly or partially guaranteed by the U.S. Government $ 1,878     $ 1,350     $ 2,132  
               
    Allowance for credit losses $ 41,659     $ 42,111     $ 40,806  
    Loans, before allowance for credit losses   3,348,211       3,461,778       3,385,483  
               
    CREDIT QUALITY RATIOS          
    Allowance for credit losses to loans, before allowance for credit losses   1.24 %     1.22 %     1.21 %
    Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans   741.92       825.38       484.34  
    Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans   740.74       824.74       483.94  
    Nonaccrual loans to loans, before allowance for credit losses   0.17       0.15       0.25  
    Nonperforming loans to loans, before allowance for credit losses   0.17       0.15       0.25  
    Nonperforming assets to total assets   0.13       0.11       0.17  
    Nonperforming assets to loans, before allowance for credit losses, and foreclosed assets   0.19       0.16       0.26  
                           
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended June 30,
    (dollars in thousands) June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
        2025       2024  
                       
    ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES                  
    Beginning balance $ 42,111     $ 42,044     $ 40,815     $ 42,044     $ 40,048  
    Provision for credit losses   595       496       677       1,091       1,237  
    Charge-offs   (1,252 )     (665 )     (870 )     (1,917 )     (1,097 )
    Recoveries   205       236       184       441       618  
    Ending balance $ 41,659     $ 42,111     $ 40,806     $ 41,659     $ 40,806  
                       
    Net charge-offs $ 1,047     $ 429     $ 686     $ 1,476     $ 479  
    Average loans   3,417,582       3,460,906       3,374,058       3,439,124       3,372,640  
                       
    Net charge-offs to average loans *   0.12 %     0.05 %     0.08 %     0.09 %     0.03 %
                                           

    ____________________________________

    * Annualized measure.

      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended June 30,
    (dollars in thousands) June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
        2025     2024
                       
    PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES                  
    Loans $ 595     $ 496   $ 677   $ 1,091   $ 1,237
    Unfunded lending-related commitments   (69 )     80     499     11     466
    Total provision for credit losses $ 526     $ 576   $ 1,176   $ 1,102   $ 1,703
                                   
    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures –
    Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Return on Average Assets
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended June 30,
    (dollars in thousands)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
        2025       2024  
                         
    Net income   $ 19,230     $ 19,075     $ 18,070     $ 38,305     $ 33,328  
    Less: adjustments                    
    Gains (losses) on closed branch premises     (50 )     59       —       9       (635 )
    Realized gains (losses) on sales of securities     —       —       —       —       (3,382 )
    Mortgage servicing rights fair value adjustment     (751 )     (308 )     (97 )     (1,059 )     (17 )
    Total adjustments     (801 )     (249 )     (97 )     (1,050 )     (4,034 )
    Tax effect of adjustments (1)     228       71       28       299       1,150  
    Total adjustments after tax effect     (573 )     (178 )     (69 )     (751 )     (2,884 )
    Adjusted net income   $ 19,803     $ 19,253     $ 18,139     $ 39,056     $ 36,212  
                         
    Average assets   $ 5,036,675     $ 5,032,813     $ 5,027,847     $ 5,034,249     $ 5,015,655  
                         
    Return on average assets *     1.53 %     1.54 %     1.45 %     1.53 %     1.34 %
    Adjusted return on average assets *     1.58       1.55       1.45       1.56       1.45  
                                             

    ____________________________________

    * Annualized measure.

    (1) Assumes a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state tax rate of 9.5%.

    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures –
    Adjusted Earnings Per Share — Basic and Diluted
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended June 30,
    (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
        2025     2024
                         
    Numerator:                    
    Net income   $ 19,230   $ 19,075   $ 18,070   $ 38,305   $ 33,328
                         
    Adjusted net income   $ 19,803   $ 19,253   $ 18,139   $ 39,056   $ 36,212
                         
    Denominator:                    
    Weighted average common shares outstanding     31,510,759     31,584,989     31,579,457     31,547,669     31,621,205
    Dilutive effect of outstanding restricted stock units     77,782     126,682     87,354     102,097     113,794
    Weighted average common shares outstanding, including all dilutive potential shares     31,588,541     31,711,671     31,666,811     31,649,766     31,734,999
                         
    Earnings per share – basic   $ 0.61   $ 0.60   $ 0.57   $ 1.21   $ 1.05
    Earnings per share – diluted   $ 0.61   $ 0.60   $ 0.57   $ 1.21   $ 1.05
                         
    Adjusted earnings per share – basic   $ 0.63   $ 0.61   $ 0.57   $ 1.24   $ 1.15
    Adjusted earnings per share – diluted   $ 0.63   $ 0.61   $ 0.57   $ 1.23   $ 1.14
                                   
    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures –
    Pre-Provision Net Revenue, Pre-Provision Net Revenue Less Net Charge-offs (Recoveries),
    Adjusted Pre-Provision Net Revenue, and Adjusted Pre-Provision Net Revenue Less Net Charge-offs (Recoveries)
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended June 30,
    (dollars in thousands)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
        2025       2024  
                         
    Net interest income   $ 49,658     $ 48,708     $ 47,028     $ 98,366     $ 93,716  
    Noninterest income     9,140       9,306       9,610       18,446       15,236  
    Noninterest expense     (31,914 )     (31,935 )     (30,509 )     (63,849 )     (61,777 )
    Pre-provision net revenue     26,884       26,079       26,129       52,963       47,175  
    Less: adjustments                    
    Gains (losses) on closed branch premises     (50 )     59       —       9       (635 )
    Realized gains (losses) on sales of securities     —       —       —       —       (3,382 )
    Mortgage servicing rights fair value adjustment     (751 )     (308 )     (97 )     (1,059 )     (17 )
    Total adjustments     (801 )     (249 )     (97 )     (1,050 )     (4,034 )
    Adjusted pre-provision net revenue   $ 27,685     $ 26,328     $ 26,226     $ 54,013     $ 51,209  
                         
    Pre-provision net revenue   $ 26,884     $ 26,079     $ 26,129     $ 52,963     $ 47,175  
    Less: net charge-offs     1,047       429       686       1,476       479  
    Pre-provision net revenue less net charge-offs   $ 25,837     $ 25,650     $ 25,443     $ 51,487     $ 46,696  
                         
    Adjusted pre-provision net revenue   $ 27,685     $ 26,328     $ 26,226     $ 54,013     $ 51,209  
    Less: net charge-offs     1,047       429       686       1,476       479  
    Adjusted pre-provision net revenue less net charge-offs   $ 26,638     $ 25,899     $ 25,540     $ 52,537     $ 50,730  
                                             
    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures –
    Net Interest Income (Tax-equivalent Basis) and Net Interest Margin (Tax-equivalent Basis)
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended June 30,
    (dollars in thousands)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
        2025       2024  
                         
    Net interest income (tax-equivalent basis)                    
    Net interest income   $ 49,658     $ 48,708     $ 47,028     $ 98,366     $ 93,716  
    Tax-equivalent adjustment (1)     548       545       553       1,093       1,128  
    Net interest income (tax-equivalent basis) (1)   $ 50,206     $ 49,253     $ 47,581     $ 99,459     $ 94,844  
                         
    Net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis)                    
    Net interest margin *     4.14 %     4.12 %     3.95 %     4.13 %     3.95 %
    Tax-equivalent adjustment * (1)     0.05       0.04       0.05       0.05       0.04  
    Net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis) * (1)     4.19 %     4.16 %     4.00 %     4.18 %     3.99 %
                         
    Average interest-earning assets   $ 4,808,213     $ 4,798,021     $ 4,785,558     $ 4,803,145     $ 4,775,505  
                                             

    ____________________________________

    * Annualized measure.

    (1) On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state tax rate of 9.5%. 

    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures –
    Efficiency Ratio (Tax-equivalent Basis) and Adjusted Efficiency Ratio (Tax-equivalent Basis)
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended June 30,
    (dollars in thousands)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
        2025       2024  
                         
    Total noninterest expense   $ 31,914     $ 31,935     $ 30,509     $ 63,849     $ 61,777  
    Less: amortization of intangible assets     694       695       710       1,389       1,420  
    Noninterest expense excluding amortization of intangible assets   $ 31,220     $ 31,240     $ 29,799     $ 62,460     $ 60,357  
                         
    Net interest income   $ 49,658     $ 48,708     $ 47,028     $ 98,366     $ 93,716  
    Total noninterest income     9,140       9,306       9,610       18,446       15,236  
    Operating revenue     58,798       58,014       56,638       116,812       108,952  
    Tax-equivalent adjustment (1)     548       545       553       1,093       1,128  
    Operating revenue (tax-equivalent basis) (1)     59,346       58,559       57,191       117,905       110,080  
    Less: adjustments to noninterest income                    
    Gains (losses) on closed branch premises     (50 )     59       —       9       (635 )
    Realized gains (losses) on sales of securities     —       —       —       —       (3,382 )
    Mortgage servicing rights fair value adjustment     (751 )     (308 )     (97 )     (1,059 )     (17 )
    Total adjustments to noninterest income     (801 )     (249 )     (97 )     (1,050 )     (4,034 )
    Adjusted operating revenue (tax-equivalent basis) (1)   $ 60,147     $ 58,808     $ 57,288     $ 118,955     $ 114,114  
                         
    Efficiency ratio     53.10 %     53.85 %     52.61 %     53.47 %     55.40 %
    Efficiency ratio (tax-equivalent basis) (1)     52.61       53.35       52.10       52.97       54.83  
    Adjusted efficiency ratio (tax-equivalent basis) (1)     51.91       53.12       52.02       52.51       52.89  
                                             

    ____________________________________
    (1) On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state tax rate of 9.5%.

    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures –
    Ratio of Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets and Tangible Book Value Per Share
    (dollars in thousands, except per share data)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
                 
    Tangible Common Equity            
    Total stockholders’ equity   $ 580,897     $ 565,057     $ 509,469  
    Less: Goodwill     59,820       59,820       59,820  
    Less: Intangible assets, net     16,454       17,148       19,262  
    Tangible common equity   $ 504,623     $ 488,089     $ 430,387  
                 
    Tangible Assets            
    Total assets   $ 5,018,398     $ 5,092,192     $ 5,006,199  
    Less: Goodwill     59,820       59,820       59,820  
    Less: Intangible assets, net     16,454       17,148       19,262  
    Tangible assets   $ 4,942,124     $ 5,015,224     $ 4,927,117  
                 
    Total stockholders’ equity to total assets     11.58 %     11.10 %     10.18 %
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets     10.21       9.73       8.74  
                 
    Shares of common stock outstanding     31,495,434       31,631,431       31,559,366  
                 
    Book value per share   $ 18.44     $ 17.86     $ 16.14  
    Tangible book value per share     16.02       15.43       13.64  
                             
    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures –
    Return on Average Tangible Common Equity,
    Adjusted Return on Average Stockholders’ Equity and Adjusted Return on Average Tangible Common Equity
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended June 30,
    (dollars in thousands)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
        2025       2024  
                         
    Average Tangible Common Equity                    
    Total stockholders’ equity   $ 572,505     $ 554,715     $ 501,837     $ 563,659     $ 497,906  
    Less: Goodwill     59,820       59,820       59,820       59,820       59,820  
    Less: Intangible assets, net     16,782       17,480       19,605       17,130       19,970  
    Average tangible common equity   $ 495,903     $ 477,415     $ 422,412     $ 486,709     $ 418,116  
                         
    Net income   $ 19,230     $ 19,075     $ 18,070     $ 38,305     $ 33,328  
    Adjusted net income     19,803       19,253       18,139       39,056       36,212  
                         
    Return on average stockholders’ equity *     13.47 %     13.95 %     14.48 %     13.70 %     13.46 %
    Return on average tangible common equity *     15.55       16.20       17.21       15.87       16.03  
                         
    Adjusted return on average stockholders’ equity *     13.87 %     14.08 %     14.54 %     13.97 %     14.63 %
    Adjusted return on average tangible common equity *     16.02       16.36       17.27       16.18       17.42  

    ____________________________________

    * Annualized measure.

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: ETHRANSACTION launches innovative cloud mining service: Use USDC to start earning stable mining income every day

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NY, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the world’s leading cloud mining service provider, ETHRANSACTION recently launched a new cloud mining service based on USDC (US dollar stablecoin), allowing users to start the road to stable daily mining income through stablecoin assets.

    Why choose USDC for cloud mining?
    USDC (USD Coin) is a stablecoin anchored 1:1 with the US dollar, with advantages such as small price fluctuations, high liquidity, and security and reliability. This makes USDC an ideal mining asset:

    Strong liquidity and can be cashed at any time;

    USDC is widely supported by major exchanges, wallets and payment platforms, and users can exchange it for US dollars or other mainstream crypto assets at any time.

    Asset security and transparency;

    USDC is regularly audited by independent third parties, and its asset reserves are transparent and open to ensure the security of user assets.

    ETHRANSACTION USDC cloud mining has obvious advantages:

    ETHRANSACTION’s newly launched USDC mining service, based on the platform’s leading cloud computing technology, helps users easily obtain stable income and has the following advantages:

    1. Simple and convenient, easy to participate:
    Users only need to register and recharge USDC to the platform account and purchase the contract, without additional operations, truly realizing “one-click mining”.
    2. Daily automatic settlement, stable and transparent income:
    The platform automatically settles the user’s mining income every day, and automatically distributes the income to the user’s account. The user’s funds are stable and arrive every day.
    3. Zero threshold participation, no hardware required
    Users do not need to buy mining machines, do not need professional mining knowledge, and have no hardware maintenance costs, and can enjoy mining income anytime, anywhere.
    How to use USDC to participate in ETHRANSACTION cloud mining?
    The participation method is extremely simple, just follow the steps below:
    1. Free account registration
    Visit the ETHRANSACTION official website or download the official APP, complete the account registration and get a $19 reward.

    2. Deposit USDC
    Get the exclusive USDC deposit address on the personal account page (supports Ethereum, Base, XRP network, etc.)
    .
    3. Select mining contract:
    Select mining contract (short-term/long-term/high-yield plan), choose and confirm the purchase according to personal preference.

    ⦁WhatsMiner M30S [Daily Sign-in Rewards]: Investment amount: $19, total net profit: $19 + $0.9.

    ⦁ Avalon Manufacturing A1346 [Experience Contract]: Investment amount: $100, total net profit: $100 + $18.

    ⦁ ElphaPex DG Home1 contract plan: Investment amount: $600, total net profit: $600 + $52.5.

    ⦁ Antminer L7 contract plan: Investment amount: $1,300, total net profit: $1,300 + $236.6.

    ⦁ Antminer T21 contract plan: Investment amount: $3,700, total net profit: $3,700 + $1,021.2.

    → Click here to view more contracts

    4.Potential income:
    After the user purchases the contract, the system automatically calculates and distributes the mining income to the account every day, which can be withdrawn or reinvested at any time for continuous appreciation.

    Conclusion:
    ETHRANSACTION’s newly launched USDC cloud computing service is a positive response to the user’s asset management needs, so that stablecoin assets are no longer idle, but create real income for users. This new model allows everyone to easily enjoy the continuous appreciation of digital assets.
    Join ETHRANSACTION quickly to create more value for your USDC assets every day and achieve truly stable passive income.

    Official website link: https://ethransaction.vip
    APP download: Support iOS and Android
    Official customer service: info@ethransaction.vip

    Attachment

    • ETHRANSACTION

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: ETHRANSACTION launches dual-yield cloud mining contracts to obtain daily fixed income and token upside amid the continuing rise of XRP

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Ripple (XRP) surged more than 22% in the past 24 hours to a new high of $3.65, pushing daily trading volume to over $22.3 billion, ETHRANSACTION has launched a dual yield mining contract to benefit its users more by yielding XRP. The rise was driven by the passage of landmark cryptocurrency legislation by the U.S. Congress, including the Genius Act and the Digital Markets Clarification Act, and the general upward trend of major digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

    Against this market momentum, global cloud mining platform ETHRANSACTION announced the launch of a new dual-yield mining contract compatible with XRP, allowing investors to earn a fixed daily income and enjoy the benefits of rising token prices. The platform supports direct investment in XRP, BTC, ETH, DOGE and other major cryptocurrencies without any mining hardware or technical expertise.

    The new ETHRANSACTION model allows users to:
    Earn a fixed daily payout in USD
    Withdraw using the same cryptocurrency they invested
    Get additional returns if the token appreciates during the contract period

    XRP Highlights – Last 24 Hours
    XRP hits new high: XRP rises more than 22% to hit $3.65, market cap exceeds $216 billion
    Legislative tailwind: US lawmakers pass key cryptocurrency bill supporting market transparency and stablecoin regulation
    Derivatives surge: XRP futures open interest tops $10.5 billion, indicating strong institutional participation
    Flexible mining contracts to meet every budget need (Updated July 2025)
    ETHRANSACTION offers a variety of XRP-based cloud mining contracts designed for flexibility, predictable income, and effective risk management:

    ⦁WhatsMiner M30S【Daily Sign-in Rewards】: Investment amount: $19, total net profit: $19+$0.9.

    ⦁Avalon Manufacturing A1346【Experience Contract】: Investment amount: $100, total net profit: $100+$18.

    ⦁ ElphaPex DG Home1 contract plan: investment amount: $600, total net profit: $600 + $52.5.

    ⦁ Antminer L7 contract plan: investment amount: $1,300, total net profit: $1,300 + $236.6.

    ⦁ Antminer T21 contract plan: investment amount: $3,700, total net profit: $3,700 + $1,021.2.

    (The platform has launched a variety of stable income contracts, which can be viewed on the ETHRANSACTION official website.)

    Green infrastructure, zero barriers
    ETHRANSACTION operates 100% online, providing instant contract activation and real-time income dashboards. The platform is accessible via web and mobile devices, supporting users in more than 100 countries.

    Key features include:
    No hardware required
    Crypto-based investment options, including XRP
    Environmentally sustainable operations powered by renewable energy
    Fully automated payments and multi-language support

    About ETHRANSACTION
    ETHRANSACTION is a global leader in cloud-based cryptocurrency mining, offering automated short-term mining contracts powered by renewable energy. ETHRANSACTION supports mainstream digital assets such as XRP, BTC, ETH and DOGE, providing transparent, secure and sustainable mining income for users of different experience levels, without any hardware or expertise.

    To learn more or start mining with a $19 bonus, visit: https://ethransaction.vip/

    Get started now, no need to wait: Click to download the APP to register and get $19 to start 0-cost mining

    Email: info@ethransaction.vip

    Attachment

    • ETHRANSACTION

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Grand ambition calls on city’s musicians to revive Victorian golden oldies

    Source: City of Leeds

    They were the boisterous barroom ballads that once rattled the rafters of Victorian music halls across Leeds.

    Now librarians are calling on the city’s modern-day musicians and singers to help them bring an incredible collection of vintage sheet music to life for the first time in more than a century.

    The array of late 19th and early 20th century songs is part of a vast collection at Leeds Central Library, which includes a combination of well-known musical classics alongside forgotten songs penned by local composers.

    Usually having comic, satirical or political themes, the raucous melodies would have been a hit with the eager crowds who packed into music halls and theatres which were hugely popular at the turn of the 20th century.

    With a small selection of sheet music currently on display outside the building’s newly refurbished music library, the search is now on for pianists and vocalists to perform more pieces at a series of events planned to celebrate Heritage Open Days this September.

    The library is keen to hear from local pianists and singers who think they can take on the challenge of performing the historic hits, some of which have not been played in more than a hundred years.

    Tunes which make up the collection include famed classics such as Ride a Cock Horse, billed as a “drawing room comic song” performed by Harry Liston, and George Leybourne’s “great comic song” The Organ Man which he both wrote and performed.

    They are joined by titles including The Parson and the Clerk, sung by G H MacDermott and The Mouse-Trap Man, also by George Leybourne.

    Other highlights include Mr and Mrs Baggs, described as “a most thrilling narrative giving an account of the frightful apparition, the appearance of which so affected Mrs B’s nerves that she was laid up for seven weeks after.”

    The front cover shows the eponymous, pyjama clad Mr Baggs brandishing a blunderbuss at a terrified cat as his horrified wife looks on.

    Lee Noon, music librarian at Leeds Central Library, said: “Music hall tunes like these were once a hugely popular part of leisure and entertainment in cities like Leeds, and would have been enjoyed by people of all different classes and backgrounds- they were very much the pop songs of their day.

    “Many of these songs won’t have been performed or heard by an audience for more than a century now, and we’d love to give people in Leeds the chance to experience them again and for our local musicians to try and recapture a bit of what was really the golden age of music halls.

    “Each of these pieces of music represents a little bit of the city’s musical history and it would be a really special moment to help bring them back to life again.”

    The music hall songs are just one element of Leeds Central Library’s huge collection of sheet music. One of the biggest collections in the UK, the library loans pieces to orchestras and musical institutions across the country.

    As well as a piano available to use, the building’s newly refurbished music library also includes specially created walk-in recording studios and podcasting facilities.

    Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, customer service and community safety, said: “Our music library and its collection is an incredible resource for the city and a great example of the multi-faceted role which libraries have in our city and its communities.

    “Having such a historic and unique array of music housed in Leeds is a real privilege and it will be wonderful if we can involve local talent in performing some pieces to celebrate the city and its heritage.”

    Any pianists, singers and groups interested in performing some of the pieces this September can contact lee.noon@leeds.gov.uk using the subject line “Heritage Week Piano.”

    More information about Leeds Central Library including facilities and opening hours can be found at: Central Library | Leeds Library

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: BlackRock® Canada Announces July Cash Distributions for the iShares® ETFs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (“BlackRock Canada”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK), today announced the July 2025 cash distributions for the iShares ETFs listed on the TSX or Cboe Canada which pay on a monthly basis. Unitholders of record of the applicable iShares ETF on July 28, 2025 will receive cash distributions payable in respect of that iShares ETF on July 31, 2025.

    Details regarding the “per unit” distribution amounts are as follows:

    Fund Name Fund Ticker Cash Distribution
    Per Unit
    iShares 1-10 Year Laddered Corporate Bond Index ETF CBH $0.051
    iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Corporate Bond Index ETF CBO $0.051
    iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats Index ETF CDZ $0.117
    iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF CEW $0.063
    iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF CLF $0.033
    iShares 1-10 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF CLG $0.037
    iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Preferred Share Index ETF CPD $0.055
    iShares US Dividend Growers Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CUD $0.087
    iShares Convertible Bond Index ETF CVD $0.071
    iShares Global Monthly Dividend Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CYH $0.077
    iShares Canadian Financial Monthly Income ETF FIE $0.040
    iShares U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF XAGG $0.111
    iShares U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF(1) XAGG.U $0.068
    iShares U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XAGH $0.096
    iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF XBB $0.080
    iShares Core Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF XCB $0.069
    iShares ESG Advanced Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF XCBG $0.121
    iShares U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF XCBU $0.134
    iShares U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF(1) XCBU.U $0.112
    iShares Core MSCI Global Quality Dividend Index ETF XDG $0.073
    iShares Core MSCI Global Quality Dividend Index ETF(1) XDG.U $0.047
    iShares Core MSCI Global Quality Dividend Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XDGH $0.063
    iShares Core MSCI Canadian Quality Dividend Index ETF XDIV $0.117
    iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index ETF XDU $0.064
    iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index ETF(1) XDU.U $0.047
    iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XDUH $0.058
    iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF XDV $0.126
    iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XEB $0.064
    iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF XEI $0.112
    iShares Core Canadian 15+ Year Federal Bond Index ETF XFLB $0.113
    iShares Flexible Monthly Income ETF XFLI $0.189
    iShares Flexible Monthly Income ETF(1) XFLI.U $0.138
    iShares Flexible Monthly Income ETF (CAD-Hedged) XFLX $0.185
    iShares S&P/TSX Capped Financials Index ETF XFN $0.167
    iShares Floating Rate Index ETF XFR $0.050
    iShares Core Canadian Government Bond Index ETF XGB $0.050
    iShares Global Government Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XGGB $0.041
    iShares Canadian HYBrid Corporate Bond Index ETF XHB $0.075
    iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XHD $0.072
    iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF XHU $0.081
    iShares U.S. High Yield Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XHY $0.084
    iShares U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XIG $0.071
    iShares 1-5 Year U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XIGS $0.122
    iShares Core Canadian Long Term Bond Index ETF XLB $0.062
    iShares S&P/TSX North American Preferred Stock Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XPF $0.067
    iShares High Quality Canadian Bond Index ETF XQB $0.054
    iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index ETF XRE $0.062
    iShares ESG Aware Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF XSAB $0.049
    iShares Core Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF XSB $0.070
    iShares Conservative Short Term Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSC $0.054
    iShares Conservative Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSE $0.046
    iShares Core Canadian Short Term Corporate Bond Index ETF XSH $0.061
    iShares ESG Advanced 1-5 Year Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF XSHG $0.119
    iShares 1-5 Year U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF XSHU $0.149
    iShares 1-5 Year U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF(1) XSHU.U $0.110
    iShares Short Term Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSI $0.056
    iShares Core Canadian Short-Mid Term Universe Bond Index ETF XSMB $0.101
    iShares ESG Aware Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF XSTB $0.048
    iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XSTH $0.142
    iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond Index ETF XSTP $0.162
    iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond Index ETF(1) XSTP.U $0.118
    iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XTLH $0.111
    iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF XTLT $0.127
    iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF(1) XTLT.U $0.093
    iShares Diversified Monthly Income ETF XTR $0.040
    iShares S&P/TSX Capped Utilities Index ETF XUT $0.100

    (1) Distribution per unit amounts are in U.S. dollars for XAGG.U, XCBU.U, XDG.U, XDU.U, XFLI.U, XSHU.U, XSTP.U, XTLT.U.

    Estimated July Cash Distributions for the iShares Premium Money Market ETF

    The July cash distributions per unit for the iShares Premium Money Market ETF are estimated to be as follows:

    Fund Name Fund Ticker Estimated Cash
    Distribution Per Unit
    iShares Premium Money Market ETF CMR $0.121
     

    BlackRock Canada expects to issue a press release on or about July 25, 2025, which will provide the final amounts for the iShares Premium Money Market ETF.

    Further information on the iShares Funds can be found at http://www.blackrock.com/ca.

    About BlackRock

    BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate | Twitter: @BlackRockCA

    About iShares ETFs

    iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 1600+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and US$4.7 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2025, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock.

    iShares® ETFs are managed by BlackRock Canada. 

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional.

    Standard & Poor’s® and S&P® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”). Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”). TSX is a registered trademark of TSX Inc. (“TSX”). All of the foregoing trademarks have been licensed to S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and sublicensed for certain purposes to BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”), which in turn has sub-licensed these marks to its affiliate, BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (“BlackRock Canada”), on behalf of the applicable fund(s). The index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, and has been licensed for use by BFA and by extension, BlackRock Canada and the applicable fund(s). The funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P, any of their respective affiliates (collectively known as “S&P Dow Jones Indices”) or TSX, or any of their respective affiliates. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices nor TSX make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in such funds.

    MSCI is a trademark of MSCI, Inc. (“MSCI”). The ETF is permitted to use the MSCI mark pursuant to a license agreement between MSCI and BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., relating to, among other things, the license granted to BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. to use the Index. BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. has sublicensed the use of this trademark to BlackRock. The ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by MSCI and MSCI makes no representation, condition or warranty regarding the advisability of investing in the ETF.

    Contact for Media:
    Sydney Punchard
    Email:Sydney.Punchard@blackrock.com

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: BlackRock® Canada Announces July Cash Distributions for the iShares® ETFs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (“BlackRock Canada”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK), today announced the July 2025 cash distributions for the iShares ETFs listed on the TSX or Cboe Canada which pay on a monthly basis. Unitholders of record of the applicable iShares ETF on July 28, 2025 will receive cash distributions payable in respect of that iShares ETF on July 31, 2025.

    Details regarding the “per unit” distribution amounts are as follows:

    Fund Name Fund Ticker Cash Distribution
    Per Unit
    iShares 1-10 Year Laddered Corporate Bond Index ETF CBH $0.051
    iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Corporate Bond Index ETF CBO $0.051
    iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats Index ETF CDZ $0.117
    iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF CEW $0.063
    iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF CLF $0.033
    iShares 1-10 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF CLG $0.037
    iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Preferred Share Index ETF CPD $0.055
    iShares US Dividend Growers Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CUD $0.087
    iShares Convertible Bond Index ETF CVD $0.071
    iShares Global Monthly Dividend Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CYH $0.077
    iShares Canadian Financial Monthly Income ETF FIE $0.040
    iShares U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF XAGG $0.111
    iShares U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF(1) XAGG.U $0.068
    iShares U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XAGH $0.096
    iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF XBB $0.080
    iShares Core Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF XCB $0.069
    iShares ESG Advanced Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF XCBG $0.121
    iShares U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF XCBU $0.134
    iShares U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF(1) XCBU.U $0.112
    iShares Core MSCI Global Quality Dividend Index ETF XDG $0.073
    iShares Core MSCI Global Quality Dividend Index ETF(1) XDG.U $0.047
    iShares Core MSCI Global Quality Dividend Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XDGH $0.063
    iShares Core MSCI Canadian Quality Dividend Index ETF XDIV $0.117
    iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index ETF XDU $0.064
    iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index ETF(1) XDU.U $0.047
    iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XDUH $0.058
    iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF XDV $0.126
    iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XEB $0.064
    iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF XEI $0.112
    iShares Core Canadian 15+ Year Federal Bond Index ETF XFLB $0.113
    iShares Flexible Monthly Income ETF XFLI $0.189
    iShares Flexible Monthly Income ETF(1) XFLI.U $0.138
    iShares Flexible Monthly Income ETF (CAD-Hedged) XFLX $0.185
    iShares S&P/TSX Capped Financials Index ETF XFN $0.167
    iShares Floating Rate Index ETF XFR $0.050
    iShares Core Canadian Government Bond Index ETF XGB $0.050
    iShares Global Government Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XGGB $0.041
    iShares Canadian HYBrid Corporate Bond Index ETF XHB $0.075
    iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XHD $0.072
    iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF XHU $0.081
    iShares U.S. High Yield Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XHY $0.084
    iShares U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XIG $0.071
    iShares 1-5 Year U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XIGS $0.122
    iShares Core Canadian Long Term Bond Index ETF XLB $0.062
    iShares S&P/TSX North American Preferred Stock Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XPF $0.067
    iShares High Quality Canadian Bond Index ETF XQB $0.054
    iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index ETF XRE $0.062
    iShares ESG Aware Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF XSAB $0.049
    iShares Core Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF XSB $0.070
    iShares Conservative Short Term Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSC $0.054
    iShares Conservative Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSE $0.046
    iShares Core Canadian Short Term Corporate Bond Index ETF XSH $0.061
    iShares ESG Advanced 1-5 Year Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF XSHG $0.119
    iShares 1-5 Year U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF XSHU $0.149
    iShares 1-5 Year U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF(1) XSHU.U $0.110
    iShares Short Term Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSI $0.056
    iShares Core Canadian Short-Mid Term Universe Bond Index ETF XSMB $0.101
    iShares ESG Aware Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF XSTB $0.048
    iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XSTH $0.142
    iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond Index ETF XSTP $0.162
    iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond Index ETF(1) XSTP.U $0.118
    iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XTLH $0.111
    iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF XTLT $0.127
    iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF(1) XTLT.U $0.093
    iShares Diversified Monthly Income ETF XTR $0.040
    iShares S&P/TSX Capped Utilities Index ETF XUT $0.100

    (1) Distribution per unit amounts are in U.S. dollars for XAGG.U, XCBU.U, XDG.U, XDU.U, XFLI.U, XSHU.U, XSTP.U, XTLT.U.

    Estimated July Cash Distributions for the iShares Premium Money Market ETF

    The July cash distributions per unit for the iShares Premium Money Market ETF are estimated to be as follows:

    Fund Name Fund Ticker Estimated Cash
    Distribution Per Unit
    iShares Premium Money Market ETF CMR $0.121
     

    BlackRock Canada expects to issue a press release on or about July 25, 2025, which will provide the final amounts for the iShares Premium Money Market ETF.

    Further information on the iShares Funds can be found at http://www.blackrock.com/ca.

    About BlackRock

    BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate | Twitter: @BlackRockCA

    About iShares ETFs

    iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 1600+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and US$4.7 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2025, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock.

    iShares® ETFs are managed by BlackRock Canada. 

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional.

    Standard & Poor’s® and S&P® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”). Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”). TSX is a registered trademark of TSX Inc. (“TSX”). All of the foregoing trademarks have been licensed to S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and sublicensed for certain purposes to BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”), which in turn has sub-licensed these marks to its affiliate, BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (“BlackRock Canada”), on behalf of the applicable fund(s). The index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, and has been licensed for use by BFA and by extension, BlackRock Canada and the applicable fund(s). The funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P, any of their respective affiliates (collectively known as “S&P Dow Jones Indices”) or TSX, or any of their respective affiliates. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices nor TSX make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in such funds.

    MSCI is a trademark of MSCI, Inc. (“MSCI”). The ETF is permitted to use the MSCI mark pursuant to a license agreement between MSCI and BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., relating to, among other things, the license granted to BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. to use the Index. BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. has sublicensed the use of this trademark to BlackRock. The ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by MSCI and MSCI makes no representation, condition or warranty regarding the advisability of investing in the ETF.

    Contact for Media:
    Sydney Punchard
    Email:Sydney.Punchard@blackrock.com

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: China get reality check with Asia Cup bronze finish

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China clinched third place at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup with a dominant 101-66 victory over South Korea on Sunday, concluding the first major tournament of its Los Angeles Olympic cycle with a bittersweet result that served as both a disappointment and a crucial learning experience.

    While the team secured a podium finish, its title defense was decisively ended a day earlier in the semifinals by a sharp-shooting Japanese team, a defeat that exposed the challenges ahead of China.

    Yang Shuyu (front) of China reacts after the semifinal match between China and Japan at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, July 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

    The wake-up call was delivered by Japan’s accurate long-range attack, led by 19-year-old point guard Kokoro Tanaka, who posted 21 points in the first quarter alone, hitting five-for-five from beyond the arc.

    Japan hit 16 three-pointers in the game, shooting 47.1 percent from deep and scoring 30 more points from beyond the arc than China. The barrage exposed the defensive liabilities of China’s highly anticipated “Twin Towers” lineup.

    The pairing of 2.26-meter (7-foot-5) prodigy Zhang Ziyu and 2.11-meter (6-foot-11) Han Xu, dominant in the group stage against Indonesia, South Korea and New Zealand, struggled against Japan’s “small, fast, and agile” style. Zhang’s slower foot speed was frequently exploited to create open space, while Han was often forced to defend multiple perimeter players.

    “The ‘Twin Towers’ lineup showed some weaknesses in limiting their three-pointers,” head coach Gong Luming admitted post-game. “Their threes posed a huge threat and created a lot of trouble for us. We will learn from this and seriously think about how our big lineups can adapt to this fast-paced style.”

    Center Han Xu acknowledged the team’s shortcomings after the loss. “Against a quick team like Japan, you need to be efficient to limit their fast breaks and threes, but our defense was not good enough,” she said.

    Despite the loss, Gong affirmed the team would not abandon its long-term strategy.

    “We will not change our plans just because we lost this game; that would be wrong. We are preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and will continue to build on the experience gained today,” Gong said.

    For 18-year-old Zhang, the tournament was a glimpse of what’s to come. She finished her senior team debut averaging an impressive 15.6 points and 5.6 rebounds. While her dominance in the paint is clear, so are the areas for improvement.

    “Her potential is huge, but the public’s expectations for her are too high right now,” Gong said. “The overall offensive and defensive chemistry with her is still lacking… but this is a process we must go through.”

    The tournament was also an emotional one for Han, who broke down in a press conference after the semifinal loss. Having faced public pressure for skipping overseas leagues to focus on national team duties, she stated her intention to play abroad in the future.

    “After this year’s major tournaments are over, if there is an opportunity to play in an overseas league, I will do my best to fight for it,” Han said.

    “This might be my last time wearing the national team jersey,” said China’s veteran forward Huang Sijing. “Looking back on my 10 years representing China, there have been both joys and regrets, but as I reach the twilight of my career, what I feel most is pride.”

    Although she expressed disappointment with the team’s result at the Asia Cup, Huang acknowledged the broader context. “The team is undergoing a generational transition, and we’re also adapting to a new coaching philosophy. Given we’ve only had three months to work together, I think we’ve already made good progress.”

    As China left Shenzhen with a bronze medal instead of the desired gold, the coach framed the outcome as a necessary wake-up call. He also noted that he had picked up some tactical ideas from Japan, Australia and South Korea during the tournament – insights he said would be valuable for the development of China’s younger players.

    With only three months together, the new squad learned where it stands and the work required to return to the top of the podium.

    “We certainly saw a lot of our own shortcomings, but the experience gained is more important for the team’s future. I hope the team maintains its fighting spirit… that is the foundation for our future development,” Gong added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Prosafe SE: Recapitalization complete, new share capital registered and forward looking statements

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement published by Prosafe SE (“Prosafe” or the “Company“) on 24 April 2025 where it was announced that Prosafe had agreed the terms of a recapitalization (the “Recapitalization“) which, inter alia, includes a recapitalization of USD 193 million into 321,635,718 new shares in the Company (the “New Shares“) and an offering of up to 17,868,651 warrants to shareholders in the Company as of 16 May 2025 as registered in the Euronex Securities Oslo VPS on the record date 20 May 2025 (the “Warrants“), subject to final approval being obtained by all lenders.

    Reference is further made to the announcement published by the Company on 18 July 2025 regarding approval and publication of a prospectus in relation to issuance of the New Shares and offering of Warrants.

    Registration of the New Shares issued following conversion of USD 193,000,000 of debt into equity has as part of the completion of the Recapitalization been registered with the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises.

    The Company’s registered share capital has consequently increased by EUR 3,216,357.18, from EUR 178,686.51 to EUR 3,395,043.69, by issuance of 321,635,718 new shares, each with a nominal value of EUR 0.01.

    The Company’s new registered share capital is EUR 3,395,043.69 divided into 339,504,369 shares, each with a nominal value of EUR 0.01.

    Prosafe is pleased to announce that the Recapitalization is now effective. The Recapitalization significantly improves Prosafe’s financial position, providing fresh liquidity and a reduction in debt of USD 193 million.

    Prosafe maintains a positive outlook with new contracts recently secured and improved activity on the back of vessel re-activations. Prosafe recently announced the award of a new 4-year contract for the Safe Notos at a significantly improved day rate of approximately USD 140k/day. The Safe Caledonia started its contract with Ithaca in the UK North Sea on 2 June 2025 and Safe Boreas has arrived in Singapore ahead of the upcoming contract in Australia which has a start-up window between 15 November 2025 and 15 February 2026.

    The Company would like to extend a warm welcome to the new Board of Directors elected at the Company’s annual general meeting held on 21 May 2025. The Company would also like to thank the departing board for all of their work, dedication and support over the past several years.

    The Company expects unrestricted liquidity (excluding restricted cash and cash held in New Group) of approximately USD 90 to 100 million and headroom against the new USD 20 million covenant of approximately USD 70 to 80 million at the date of the Recapitalization.

    Forward Looking Statement:

    Prosafe takes the opportunity to provide guidance for the full year 2025 EBITDA which is anticipated to be in the range of USD 35 – 40 million.  This assumes successful completion of the Safe Boreas re-activation prior to end Q3 2025, planned Special Periodic Surveys (SPS) and related off-hire periods for Safe Zephyrus and Safe Notos during Q3 and Q4 2025 as well as the successful completion of the Safe Caledonia contract. Reference is made to the Q1 presentation published on 21 May 2025 regarding current contracts, anticipated capital expenditure and costs.

    For further information, please contact: 

    Terje Askvig, CEO

    Phone: +47 952 03 886

    Reese McNeel, CFO

    Phone: +47 415 08 186

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act and the requirements of Oslo Børs’ Continuing Obligations.

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor to put disclaimer under Mark Latham’s caucus room picture

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    The picture of Mark Latham on the caucus room gallery of Labor leaders will have an annotation under it saying he was expelled for life and his actions do not accord with Labor values.

    The first meeting of the new caucus agreed unanimously to this compromise, after pressure from some in Labor to remove the photo of Latham, who led the party in 2003–05.

    Latham’s former partner recently accused him of a “sustained pattern” of domestic abuse, in a civil court application for an apprehended violence order. It will be heard next week.

    In other condemned behaviour – the latest of a string of controversial incidents over the years – Latham, now an independent in the NSW upper house, also photographed women members without their consent.

    The wording under the picture will read:

    In 2017, Mark Latham was expelled from the Australian Labor Party and banned for life. His actions do not accord with Labor values and fail to meet the standards we expect and demand.

    Opinion in the party about what to do about the picture has been divided. The matter was discussed by both the right and left factions at their meetings.

    The Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher, told the ABC, “I think there’s a recognition, on balance, that you can’t erase history”. But acknowledging that Latham was expelled and his actions “don’t align with modern Australian Labor Party values or standards” was important, she said.

    “I wasn’t there at the time but I think it was a style of leadership that didn’t sit well with the values of the Australian Labor Party and it’s a type of leadership people wouldn’t want to return to.”

    Ahead of the new parliament’s opening on Tuesday, both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley addressed their respective party rooms.

    Albanese told his huge caucus, which includes 94 members of the House of Representatives, that if Labor maintained its sense of discipline and purpose there was no reason why they could not all be returned at the next election – and their numbers added to as well.

    He said Labor was embarking on “our year of delivery. That is our focus. We’ve just been through an election, we had clear commitments and we want to deliver them.”

    Ley told the Coalition party room Albanese was giving interviews “suggesting that we should just get out of the way. Well we won’t be getting out of the way.”

    The opposition would cooperate with constructive government policies, as it was doing on child care safety reforms.

    But if the government brought forward legislation that was not in the national interest “we will fight them every step of the way”, she said, flagging the Coalition’s opposition to potential tax increases.

    The first parliamentary week comes against a background of further depressing news for the Coalition, after its election rout.

    The latest Newspoll shows Labor improving its position since the election, to lead 57–43 on a two-party basis. Labor has a primary vote of 36%, while the Coalition is down to 29%, which is the lowest in the history of Newspoll, that goes back to the mid-1980s.

    Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Labor to put disclaimer under Mark Latham’s caucus room picture – https://theconversation.com/labor-to-put-disclaimer-under-mark-lathams-caucus-room-picture-261097

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government revives landmark Pensions Commission to confront retirement crisis that risks tomorrow’s pensioners being poorer than today’s

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Government revives landmark Pensions Commission to confront retirement crisis that risks tomorrow’s pensioners being poorer than today’s

    Millions of people could benefit from a more secure retirement as the Government today [Monday 21 July 2025] revives the landmark Pensions Commission to examine why tomorrow’s pensioners are on track to be poorer than today’s and make recommendations for change.

    • Without action tomorrow’s retirees are on track to be poorer than today’s.
    • Almost half of working-age adults are still saving nothing with low earners, some ethnic minorities and the self-employed least likely to be pension saving.
    • Revived Pension Commission will consider the long-term future of our pensions system to make today’s workers better off in retirement.

    Millions of people could benefit from a more secure retirement as the Government today [Monday 21 July 2025] revives the landmark Pensions Commission to examine why tomorrow’s pensioners are on track to be poorer than today’s and make recommendations for change.

    The Commission of 2006 was a huge success, building a consensus for the roll-out of Automatic Enrolment into pension saving that means 88% of eligible employees are now saving, up from 55% in 2012.

    However, new analysis shows that there is more to do with the incomes of retirees set to fall over the next few decades if nothing changes:

    • Retirees in 2050 are on course for £800 or 8% less private pension income than those retiring today.
    • 4-in-10 or nearly 15 million people are undersaving for retirement.

    This partly reflects too many working age adults (45%) saving nothing at all into a pension, with lower earners, the self-employed and some ethnic minorities particularly at risk:

    • Over 3 million self-employed are not saving into a pension.
    • Only 1-in-4 low earners in the private sector are saving into a pension.
    • Just 1-in-4 of those from a Pakistani or Bangladeshi background are saving.

    New analysis today also reveals a stark a 48% gender pensions gap in private pension wealth between women and men. A typical woman currently approaching retirement can expect a private pension income worth over £5,000 less than that of a typical man (just over £100 per week for a woman compared to just over £200 a week for a man).

    While the introduction of Automatic Enrolment increased the numbers saving, saving levels have often remained low. Around 1-in-2 workers in the private sector only save around the minimum contribution level (8% or less of earnings).

    So the Government is today announcing it will revive the landmark Pension Commission two decades on, to address these stark findings.

    The relaunched Commission will explore the complex barriers stopping people from saving enough for retirement, with its final report due in 2027. It will examine the pension system as a whole and look at what is required to build a future-proof pensions system that is strong, fair and sustainable.

    Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said:

    People deserve to know that they will have a decent income in retirement – with all the security, dignity and freedom that brings. But the truth is, that is not the reality facing many people, especially if you’re low paid, or self-employed.

    The Pensions Commission laid the groundwork, and now, two decades later, we are reviving it to tackle the barriers that stop too many saving in the first place.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

    We’re making pensions work for Britain. The Pension Schemes Bill and the creation of pension megafunds mean an average earner could get a £29,000 boost to their pension pots. Now we are going further to ensure that people can look forward to a comfortable retirement.

    Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell said:

    The original Pensions Commission helped get pension saving up and pensioner poverty down. But if we carry on as we are, tomorrow’s retirees risk being poorer than today’s. So we are reviving the Pensions Commission to finish the job and give today’s workers secure retirements to look forward to.

    Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Executive of the Confederation of British Industry said:

    The only route to higher living standards both in work and in retirement is through higher growth, productivity and better savings. As we look to the next decade and beyond, finding a consensus across business, government and our society on how to support people to save by building on the Mansion House reforms can create a pathway to a better future.

    Taking the time to review the best pathway to achieve this, whilst pursuing broader measures to support growth, will be needed to make it affordable for employers and workers and crucial to the aim of rising living standards, now and in retirement.

    Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress said:

    Everyone deserves dignity and security in retirement, but right now many workers – especially those in the private sector – will find themselves without enough to get by on. Far too many people won’t have enough pension for a decent retirement, and too many – especially women, BME and disabled workers and the self employed – are shut out of the workplace pension system all together.

    That’s why reviving the Pensions Commission – bringing together unions, employers and independent experts – is a vital step forward. Twenty years ago the Pension Commission played a key role in bringing millions more people into workplace pensions and reducing the risks of pensioner poverty. We now have a chance to build on that work by reaching a long-term consensus on extending auto-enrolment to those workers still missing out, and making sure that this system delivers the decent retirement incomes all workers need.

    Rocio Concha, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Which? Said:

    Which? research has found that many consumers are concerned that they won’t have the money they need for a comfortable retirement, so it is encouraging to see the government take steps to reverse this trend.

    For some consumers, the idea of contributing more money into their pension pot is both daunting and unmanageable, so it is crucial that this review looks in depth at the challenges savers face, and Which? looks forward to working with the government towards long-term reform of the industry.

    The Pensions Commission will be made up of Baroness Jeannie Drake (a member of the original Commission), Sir Ian Cheshire and Professor Nick Pearce, who will be responsible for steering its work. Drawing on the success of the original Pension Commission in building a national consensus, they will work closely with stakeholders such as the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress.

    The Commission will make proposals for change beyond the current parliament to deliver a pensions framework that is strong, fair and sustainable. It will build on the Investment Review and Pension Schemes Bill – both of which ensures that people’s savings are working hard to support them in retirement.

    Alongside the Commission, the Government has, as required by law, also launched the State Pension Age Review, commissioning two independent reports for Government to consider when deciding the State Pension age for future decades:

    • Dr Suzy Morrissey will report on factors government should consider relating to State Pension age.
    • The Government Actuary’s Department will prepare a report on the proportion of adult life in retirement.

    Additional quotes

    Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director of Age UK said:

    We warmly welcome the Pensions Review, which has the potential to lay the foundations for a system of retirement saving that’s fit for the future. If we’re to avoid future generations of pensioners experiencing financial hardship, we need reforms that enable more people to build a decent standard of living, and we need them sooner rather than later to maximise the numbers who can be helped.

    Income for pensioners in the UK is based around both State and private pensions working together to help people enjoy a decent lifestyle once retired. The current system of saving has some significant gaps which have left many current pensioners struggling to make ends meet. Hopefully this can be avoided in future and particularly disadvantaged groups, including low-paid women and self-employed people on low incomes, can be helped to put money aside when appropriate for them to do so.

    There’s no getting away from the fact that the State Pension provides the bulk of retirement income for most pensioners, with 1.1million (13%) receiving all their income from the State. It’s therefore hugely important to consider the future of the State Pension alongside the role of private savings, as only once this is clear will it be possible to say with any accuracy how much people need to put aside to attain a decent standard of living once they retire.

    We look forward to working with the Government and the reviewers in the months to come.

    Jonny Haseldine, Head of Corporate Governance and Business Environment Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said:

    Too few people are saving enough for retirement, affecting millions of employees and the firms we represent. Businesses want to help their staff make the right decisions for their financial futures.

    We welcome the launch of the new Pensions Commission – which is a timely and necessary next step from the original Commission over two decades ago.

    “It is essential we have a pensions system that supports both employees to build up savings and employers in managing costs. That’s even more crucial in the current economic climate.

    We also welcome the reiterated commitment that employer contribution rates won’t be increased during this parliament. Any future rises in minimum contributions must be gradual and paused if economic conditions worsen, giving business time to adjust to increased costs.

    Jon Richards, General Secretary of UNISON said:

    Every worker needs a pension they can rely upon in their old age. No one should be plunged into poverty when they retire.

    Any initiative that enhances current provision would be a good thing, especially moves to improve equality between men and women.

    With more pensioners falling into poverty as time goes by, it’s vital the commission works quickly.

    António Simões, CEO of Legal and General said:

    Saving enough for retirement isn’t just important, it’s urgent to securing individual futures and building a more prosperous society. To do this we must tackle adequacy – we need people to be able to contribute the right amount from the first pound they earn, and to build a pot that is invested in assets that will generate returns to support them in later life.

    That’s why the launch of the new Pensions Commission matters. Whether that is gradually increasing minimum auto-enrolment contribution rates or making it easier to access private market investments, like L&G has delivered through its Private Markets Access Fund, it is time to break down the barriers to building a retirement pot that are faced by millions across the country.

    Miles Celic OBE, Chief Executive Officer of The CityUK said:

    The Pensions Adequacy Review is another positive step in reforming pensions investment. Auto-enrolment has been a policy success, bringing millions into retirement saving, but further action is needed to ensure pension savings are adequate to provide an appropriate level of income for our ageing population. Total contributions will have to rise if we are to emulate the successes of, for example, Australia and Canada. This will involve difficult political choices alongside technical changes to policy and regulation, so it is right the appointees to the Commission consider the options thoroughly and, crucially, that they also draw on the industry’s significant expertise.

    Steve Webb, Partner at LCP said:

    The first Pensions Commission changed the UK pensions landscape and started the process of reform by getting millions of employees saving for the first time. But much work remains to be done, and this new Commission will have to consider reforms against a much more challenging backdrop. The Government has selected people who are widely respected in the world of business, the trade union movement and academia, who will be well placed to undertake this vital work, and I look forward to working with them constructively as they map out a new agenda for retirement saving.

    David Raw, Managing Director for Markets at UK Finance said:

    We welcome efforts to help ensure people are saving enough to deliver a decent level of income in retirement . Boosting financial and pension literacy, continuing to encourage private pension holding, and building on the success of auto-enrolment are key to achieving this. Well-functioning capital markets play a key role in a successful pension system and UK Finance looks forward to continuing to work closely with government as it progresses its programme for capital markets and pension reform.

    Chira Barua, CEO of Scottish Widows and CEO of Insurance, Pensions & Investments, Lloyds Banking Group said:

    We’ve been mapping trends in the UK’s retirement saving for 20 years and while automatic enrolment has been a gamechanger in kickstarting pensions saving for millions of workers, 39% (around 15 million) still risk facing poverty in retirement and action needs to be taken while there’s still time.

    Bringing all the right groups and the pensions industry together in this way made real progress last time, and we look forward to supporting the Commission in getting closer to cracking the pension crisis.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 21 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Australia: Introducing the new ACT Climate Change Council

    Source: Australian National Party

    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 21/07/2025

    A new Chair and general members have been appointed to the ACT Climate Change Council for a 3-year term following a recruitment process.

    The eight members of the Council are representatives of the Canberra community with a wide range of expertise, skills and experience. Their insights will be vital as the ACT builds a climate-resilient city and community and continues to work on new and innovative methods to achieve net zero by 2045.

    The new members work across a variety of areas in the ACT including energy innovation and the energy transition, public health, climate change adaptation and resilience, youth engagement, and social and economic sciences.

    Dr Arnagretta Hunter will Chair the Council through her second term on the committee after joining in 2022.

    The ACT Government has also appointed the first of 2 dedicated Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander positions, with Stephen Mudford formally joining the Council after participating previously as an Observer. Madison Barancewicz also joins as the Council’s first ever youth representative.

    The new appointments of the ACT Climate Change Council are:

    • Dr Arnagretta Hunter – (Chair)
    • Stephen Mudford (Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Member)
    • Madison Barancewicz (General Member)
    • Dean Spaccavento (General Member)
    • Professor Jacki Schirmer (General Member)
    • Associate Professor Rebecca Colvin (General Member)
    • Dr Rosemary McFarlane (General Member)
    • Dr Heinz Schandl (General Member)

    The new Council will work with the Canberra community to ensure their views can be reflected in the advice provided to the Minister.

    Recruitment will be undertaken for a second dedicated Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander position, as outlined in the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010. The government will continue working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to fill this position.

    Find out more about the ACT Climate Change Council on the Everyday Climate Choices website.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water Suzanne Orr:

    The ACT Climate Change Council provides valuable, independent expertise and advice to help guide and inform the development of government climate change and energy policy. The ACT has an ambitious target of becoming a zero-emissions territory by 2045.

    Whilst we are making progress towards achieving this goal, there is more work to be done and we need to shift to doing things differently. As a jurisdiction we’ve achieved a lot and we’re now arriving at an increasingly complex and challenging period of the transition.

    The diverse skills and expertise of the new ACT Climate Change Council will be important as we investigate further emissions reduction options for hard to abate and complex sectors, such as waste and transport.

    The new and diverse Climate Change Council seeks to better represent every corner of the Canberra community. The Council will play an important role in helping to shape the new ACT Climate Change Strategy, with a focus on changing and improving the way we reduce emissions and prepare and adapt for the impacts of climate change.

    I want to extend my gratitude to the outgoing members and the outgoing Chair, Professor Mark Howden, who have contributed significantly to the ACT’s nation-leading work on climate action.

    I look forward to working with the new Council to provide further benefits for the ACT community.

    Quotes attributable to Chair of the ACT Climate Change Council Dr Arnagretta Hunter:

    “It is an honour to accept another term with the ACT Climate Change Council and particularly to serve as its Chair. I’ve accepted this role because of the remarkable group that’s been assembled for this Council term. I’d like to thank our remarkable ACT community for their expertise and enthusiasm to be involved, and also congratulate the Minister on her work to achieve what will be a great Council.  With diverse skills, deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the changing climate, along with genuine community connection I believe the Council will continue to offer frank and fearless advice framed with compassion and engagement for the ACT today and into the future.

    “I’m particularly proud to do this work in Canberra. The ACT has been a global leader in climate change action and policy and, along with other significant challenges, climate change remains a focus and priority.  The past few years have offered us a glimpse of the challenges to come with increasing extreme weather events as the climate changes, we know that planning for our future is increasingly important.

    “This Council will balance our robust understanding of science and communities along with an imagination for our best future. Among other tasks, we will help frame the next iteration of the ACT Climate Change Strategy, offering what we hope is the best evidence and approach for our community”.

    – Statement ends –

    Suzanne Orr, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: Development Asia: Enhancing the Enabling Environment for SMEs in the Lao PDR

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    The government should streamline business formalization and reduce entry costs for SMEs. To achieve this, the government should fully digitize the business registration process and ensure platforms are user-friendly and accessible to enterprises of all sizes. Registration procedures should be consolidated into a single step across all provinces, including for enterprises subject to additional regulatory oversight under the “control list.” In parallel, eliminating registered capital requirements and simplifying the fee structure, based on enterprise type rather than location or sector. would further lower barriers to entry and incentivize compliance.

    Simplifying the tax system will reduce burdens and encourage formal participation. Abolishing the renewal requirement for tax TINs would eliminate an unnecessary administrative burden and reduce opportunities for informal payments. Tax reporting procedures, particularly for micro and small enterprises, should be simplified and adapted to reflect firms’ varying accounting capacities. The expansion of online tax filing systems and electronic bank transfer mechanisms would improve compliance and reduce transaction costs. Additionally, linking tax compliance to access to credit by using tax history as a basis for creditworthiness can incentivize more accurate income reporting and formal participation in the financial system.

    Modernizing institutions and scaling up e-governance will improve regulatory transparency. To reduce discretionary enforcement and promote a predictable regulatory environment, the government should expand e-government platforms for approvals, licensing, and compliance reporting. Standardized digital procedures will enhance predictability and reduce reliance on informal networks. Ensuring the consistent application of national policies across provinces is essential to providing a level playing field for businesses and increasing confidence in public institutions.

    Investments in infrastructure and skills are essential to strengthen the enabling environment. Improving the SME operating environment requires sustained investment in reliable electricity, roads, and telecommunications—especially in underserved or high-potential regions. Regulatory enforcement mechanisms should be used to ensure the quality and maintenance of infrastructure assets, such as enforcing vehicle weight limits to preserve roads. At the same time, labor market competitiveness should be addressed through wage policy reform and improved retention strategies, including vocational and on-the-job training programs that align more closely with private sector needs.

    Targeted support for women entrepreneurs can unlock inclusive business growth. To increase women’s participation in the formal economy, it is important to recognize the impact of unpaid care responsibilities and promote family-friendly workplace policies. Introducing tax concessions for childcare expenses and expanding mobile-enabled platforms would enhance access to services and information for women entrepreneurs. Targeted training programs, combined with improved access to digital trade platforms, will help address gender-specific barriers in trade, formalization, and enterprise growth.


    [1] The ProFIT survey is a collaborative effort between the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asia Foundation, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Government of Australia, and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI).

    MIL OSI Economics –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Australia: Cars damaged by homemade explosive devices

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Cars damaged by homemade explosive devices

    Monday, 21 July 2025 – 4:18 pm.

    Police are investigating two incidents reported by residents in the Kingborough area relating to the use of small, homemade explosive-type devices.
    In these incidents on Saturday night, damage was reported to property, including three separate vehicles.
    Police located a complete exhibit of one of these devices at the scene of a vehicle damage in Kingston Beach.
    This item has been taken for analysis and forensic examination, and investigations continue.
    These are believed to be isolated incidents, with no intent to target anyone.
    If members of the public find an aluminium foil-wrapped parcel or device, about 8cm long, they are advised to leave it alone and contact police.
    Police are calling for information relating to any persons or vehicles seen in the area of Ewing Avenue, Kingston Beach, about 9pm on Saturday and Beach Road and Endeavour Avenue, at Margate, about 9:30pm.
    If anyone has information regarding the incidents, they are urged to contact Kingston police on 131 44 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or www.crimestopperstas.com.au
    Please quote OR 780 411.

    MIL OSI News –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Aggravated assault – Moulden

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    NT Police have arrested a 42-year-old male following a siege on Friday afternoon in Moulden.

    Around 6:10pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports that a 72-year-old male had allegedly been assaulted with a machete at a unit complex on Moulden Terrace.

    It is alleged that the victim approached his neighbour’s unit to complain about loud music and a confrontation ensued, during which the male assaulted the victim whilst armed with a machete. 

    Police attended, and the victim was conveyed to Palmerston Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his hands and shoulder.

    The alleged offender retreated into his unit and Police negotiators and Territory Response Group were deployed to the scene.  The male later surrendered without incident.

    He has since been charged with Recklessly endangering serious harm and Unlawfully causing serious harm and has been remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court 22 July 2025.

    Police urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number NTP2500072953. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

    MIL OSI News –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Australia: Rescue Operation – Larapinta Trail

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    A female hiker has been rescued from the Larapinta Trail after the Northern Territory Police Force (NTPF) received notification of an emergency beacon activation yesterday evening.

    Around 7:45pm, police were notified by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) that an emergency beacon had been activated between Hugh Gorge and Serpentine Gorge on the Larapinta Trail.

    The NTPF’s Search and Rescue Section (SRS) coordinated the response and deployed police members to the location alongside St John Ambulance (SJA) personnel.

    The hiker was located at 1:30am this morning by police. She was assessed by SJA paramedics and conveyed back Alice Springs.

    SRS Senior Sergeant Paul Wood said, “This is another rescue in Central Australia that was greatly assisted by the hiker travelling with an emergency beacon.

    “For those considering hiking the Larapinta Trail, or undertaking any similar adventure in the Territory, please travel with enough food and water, ensure someone knows your itinerary, and carry an EPIRB, PLB or satellite communication device with you like this hiker did.”

    MIL OSI News –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-Evening Report: How are Australians adapting to climate change? Here are 729 ways

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tia Brullo, Research Fellow in Climate Change Adaptation, The University of Melbourne

    Australia’s climate is changing. To avoid catastrophic disruptions from successive supercharged disasters, society must adapt. But change takes time and it’s not always clear how much progress we’re making.

    We wanted to find out what Australia’s governments, industries and local groups are doing to adapt to climate change. Our work culminated in the Australian Adaptation Database, which captures more than 700 initiatives so far.

    Standout examples from this first national stocktake include Ramblers Reef in Victoria – an artificial reef of rocks and shells 500 metres offshore that has helped reduce coastal erosion. In Adelaide, urban cooling and greening projects are transforming the city and suburbs across 17 councils .

    Our project shows climate adaptation is happening in Australia, but there’s plenty of room for improvement. The more society can do now to prepare for change, the better off we’ll be in the long run.

    Urban greening is helping to cool the city of Adelaide.
    Ozitraveler, Shutterstock

    What does climate change adaptation in Australia look like?

    Australia is lagging behind many other nations when it comes to managing climate action. The federal government is yet to release its first national adaptation plan, while other countries are up to their third or fourth versions.

    Why track Australia’s progress in climate adaptation? First, it enables progress to be reported efficiently to governments and international bodies such as the United Nations.

    The database also helps people share knowledge. Anyone striving to improve their resilience to climate change can look to the database for ideas and inspiration.

    The data was mainly gathered from conversations we had with people in state and territory government departments, local government associations, not-for-profit organisations and private companies across Australia.

    On Wednesday, we will present the database at the opening of the national Climate Adaptation 2025 conference in Perth.

    The project shows the vast range of ways Australians are preparing for a warmer world. Examples include:

    • planting trees to cool cities such as Adelaide and rural towns such as Birchip in Victoria

    • building artificial reefs to protect the coastline on the Bellarine Peninsula near Geelong

    • changing land use on the Sunshine Coast and building levee banks to better manage flood risks in Roma, Queensland

    • restoring and rejuvenating the environment to reduce the impact of drought in Mulloon, New South Wales or flood risk in Brisbane

    • moving houses and businesses from hazardous locations such as Grantham in Queensland’s Lockyer Valley, and land swaps in South Murwillumbah.

    Anyone can explore and search the database. It’s not an exhaustive record of all climate adaptation in Australia, but provides more detail than ever before. It’s constantly being updated as new examples are added.

    But the database is only as good as the information we feed into it, so we need everyone to contribute. All you need to do is hit the “submit an entry” button on the homepage to get started.

    Artificial reefs such as Ramblers Reef help slow erosion (ABC News)

    The role of government: local, state and federal

    Much work to date in climate adaptation has involved laying the foundations for practical actions.

    For example, South Australia’s Climate Ready Coasts program aims to improve planning for coastal hazards. This joint effort between state and local governments make sense, given both have a role to play, and it helps ensure adaptation actions are efficient and coordinated.

    At the federal level, the Australian government has focused on funding for national disasters such as the Future Drought Fund. Another example, the Infrastructure Betterment Fund, involves making roads, rail, bridges and other infrastructure more resilient to climate change.

    Australia is yet to release its first National Adaptation Plan. This document is expected to clarify the federal role in climate adaptation.

    The private sector

    The private sector is beginning to adapt to climate change. Examples include:

    • relocating wine grape production to more suitable climates

    • creating new fireproof home designs

    • improving building standards, so properties are more resilient to extremes

    • preparing guidelines for the financial sector, to better manage the risk to investments

    • planning more climate-resilient property developments

    • adopting new farming technologies and supporting more regenerative agriculture.

    Knowledge sharing and capacity building

    We also found extensive efforts to communicate and share information about adapting to change.

    Such activities include knowledge building for organisations and communities through workshops, training sessions and simulation games.

    Examples include Western Australia’s “being waterwise in the home” tips, and Hobart’s Sparking Conversations, Igniting Action Program for bushfire preparedness. These activities help lay the groundwork for practical action.

    Change is hard, but Australia is finally making some progress in climate adaptation.
    Markus Spiske, Unsplash., CC BY

    What’s next?

    Our research shows the policy and governance mechanisms to drive adaptation are largely in place. The knowledge and networks to support meaningful action are gradually being developed.

    But the next “heavy lifting” phase – putting plans into action – is yet to begin in earnest.

    There’s a clear need to channel funding to those best placed to deliver frontline projects and programs, especially local governments and community organisations.

    The Australian Local Government Association is calling for a A$400 million climate adaptation fund to support Australian councils to deliver place-based adaptation actions.

    Last year, the Australian Council of Social Services called for a $2 billion investment in a national housing retrofit program to make Australia’s 670,000 low-income houses cooler in summer to reduce illness and death from extreme temperatures. Neither of these calls has been answered.

    Let’s get moving

    This research is part of a three-year project exploring how to encourage and promote best practice in adapting to climate change across Australia.

    The next step is to measure progress around climate adaptation, which is difficult and rarely done – even though it’s required under the Paris Agreement.

    The good news is Australia has made a start, but there is much more to do to ensure the wellbeing of our country through a changing climate.

    Tia Brullo receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program Climate Systems Hub Project Number CS2.1

    Elissa Waters receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program Climate Systems Hub Project Number CS2.1 and Australian Climate Service.

    Jon Barnett receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program Climate Systems Hub Project Number CS2.1

    Sarah Boulter receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program Climate Systems Hub.

    – ref. How are Australians adapting to climate change? Here are 729 ways – https://theconversation.com/how-are-australians-adapting-to-climate-change-here-are-729-ways-256446

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-Evening Report: Newspoll and Resolve give Labor big leads as parliament resumes after the election

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    With federal parliament to sit for the first time since the election on Tuesday, Newspoll gives Labor a 57–43 lead and Resolve a 56–44 lead. In Tasmania, Labor is a chance to gain a seat despite a 3% slide in their statewide vote.

    A national Newspoll gave Labor a 57–43 lead (55.2–44.8 to Labor at the May federal election). Fieldwork dates and the sample size were not reported, but it’s likely to have been taken July 14–18 from a sample of about 1,200.

    Primary votes were 36% Labor, 29% Coalition, 12% Greens, 8% One Nation and 15% for all Others. This is the lowest Coalition primary vote in Newspoll history that goes back to 1985, and about three points below the Coalition’s result at the election.

    Anthony Albanese’s net approval was net zero, a ten-point improvement for him since the final pre-election Newspoll, with 47% both satisfied and dissatisfied. Liberal leader Sussan Ley’s first rating was -7 net approval, with 42% dissatisfied and 35% satisfied. Albanese led Ley as better PM by 52–32.

    Here is the graph of Albanese’s net approval in Newspoll. While net zero is better than his negative ratings before the election, it’s a long way from his peak after winning the 2022 election.

    The lack of a massive surge in net approval for Albanese indicates that Labor’s landslide was more about voters’ dislike for alternatives than their liking of Labor. Peter Dutton and Donald Trump were both big factors in the election result. A DemosAU poll I covered on Saturday had voters opposed by 71–19 to a PM like Trump.

    Resolve poll

    A national Resolve poll for Nine newspapers, conducted with unknown fieldwork dates from a sample of 2,311, gave Labor a 56–44 lead by respondent preferences, from primary votes of 35% Labor, 29% Coalition, 12% Greens, 8% One Nation, 8% independents and 8% others.

    Albanese’s net approval was +3, with 45% giviing him a good rating and 42% a poor rating. In contrast to Newspoll, Sussan Ley’s first rating in Resolve was +9 (38% good, 29% poor). Albanese led Ley as preferred PM by 40–25.

    Asked whether the next year will get better or worse, 28% thought it would be personally better and the same share thought it would be worse. Asked this question on the national outlook, by 42–25 respondents expected it to get worse.

    By 33–32, respondents opposed the Liberal party having gender quotas, with Coalition voters opposed by 44–27. Men were opposed by 39–34, while women supported quotas by 30–27.

    Labor was thought best to handle economic management by 31–30 over the Liberals. On keeping the cost of living low, Labor led by 30–26. The last time Labor led on economic management in Resolve’s monthly polls was July 2023, and the last time they led on cost of living was October 2023.

    Tasmanian election updates

    Since my election night article, the count has advanced from 63% to 73% of enrolled voters, with all pre-poll votes now counted. These additional votes have not had major impacts on the results.

    Postals will be the largest number of outstanding votes still to be counted, but the Tasmanian Electoral Commission won’t begin the postal count until Thursday owing to legislative changes that require the TEC to ensure a postal voter hasn’t already voted by other means.

    Postals must be received by 10am on July 29 to be included. In Tasmania the Hare-Clark distribution of preferences is done by hand, and will begin after the postal receipt deadline. The TEC expects to have final results by August 2.

    Analyst Kevin Bonham has called 14 of the 35 seats for the Liberals, ten for Labor, five for the Greens and four for left-wing independents, leaving two undecided. In Lyons, the final seat is likely to be won by a Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate.

    In Bass, there’s a complex fight for the last seat between Labor, the Liberals and the Shooters. Labor may benefit from having two candidates in the race who have nearly equal votes, possibly enabling them to win three seats when they only deserve two based on party totals.

    If Labor wins the final Bass seat, they would gain a seat in an election where their statewide vote slid 3.1% to 25.9%.

    Adrian Beaumont does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Newspoll and Resolve give Labor big leads as parliament resumes after the election – https://theconversation.com/newspoll-and-resolve-give-labor-big-leads-as-parliament-resumes-after-the-election-261538

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    July 21, 2025
  • Owen shines on debut as Australia beat Windies in first T20

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Mitchell Owen made an impressive debut as Australia beat West Indies by three wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Twenty20 International series in Jamaica on Sunday.

    Owen took a wicket with his medium pace bowling before returning to smash 50 off 27 balls as Australia chased down a 190-run target with seven balls to spare.

    West Indies, who lost the preceding test series 3-0, got off to a strong start after being put into bat at Sabina Park.

    Captain Shai Hope (55), Roston Chase (60) and Shimron Hetmyer (38) laid the platform for a 200-plus score but the late flourish they expected never materialised.

    Andre Russell, who will quit international cricket after the second T20 on Tuesday, made only eight.

    Australia’s Ben Dwarshuis (4-36) mowed down the middle and lower order as West Indies were forced to settle for a modest 189-8.

    While Australia lost both their openers, captain Mitchell Marsh and Jake Fraser-McGurk, inside the powerplay they were propped up by a breezy 80-run stand by Cameron Green (51) and Owen.

    Green belted five sixes in his 26-ball blitz, while Owen smacked six of them before holing out in the 17th over with Australia on the cusp of victory.

    (Reuters)

    July 21, 2025
  • ECB to host next three World Test Championship finals till 2031, ICC says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will continue to host the biennial final of the World Test Championship for the next three editions till 2031, global governing body ICC said on Sunday.

    The match, which crowns the world champions in the longest format of the sport, has been held in England since it was introduced, with Southampton hosting the first edition in 2021 and the two subsequent finals taking place in London.

    “We are absolutely delighted that England and Wales has been chosen to host the next three ICC World Test Championship finals,” the ECB chief executive Richard Gould said.

    “It’s a testament to the passion that fans in this country have for this treasured format of the game and the willingness of supporters from around the world to travel here for these games.”

    The 2025 final at Lord’s, where South Africa beat defending champions Australia, was attended by 109,227 people over four days and received 225 million digital views, the ICC said in a statement last month.

    “Hosting these finals is a privilege, and we look forward to working with the ICC to build on the success of the previous editions,” Gould added.

    (Reuters)

     

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE: Charges – Aggravated assault – Katherine

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have charged a 19-year-old male after an aggravated assault in Katherine over the weekend.

    He was arrested by investigators from Strike Force Cerberus and has since been charged with:

    • 1x Aggravated Robbery
    • 3x Aggravated Assault
    • 2x Going armed in public
    • 1x Theft
    • 1x Breach of Bail

    He was remanded to appear in Katherine Local Court today.

    MIL OSI News –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Waikato medical school gets green light

    Source: New Zealand Government

    A new medical school will be established at the University of Waikato as part of the Government’s plan to build a stronger health workforce, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti say.

    “Cabinet has approved the business case for the new school, which will have a strong focus on primary care and rural health,” Mr Brown says.

    “With $82.85 million in Government funding and over $150 million from the University, supported by philanthropic investment, this is a substantial commitment to education and regional development in the Waikato.

    “Today’s decision will enable the University of Waikato to begin construction on new teaching facilities later this year and start planning for clinical placements, while giving more students the opportunity to study medicine in New Zealand.”

    The school will offer a graduate-entry programme, providing a flexible new pathway into medicine that helps attract a broader range of students and build a stronger, more diverse workforce.

    “It’s an innovative model that supports our focus on strengthening primary care, making it easier for people to see their doctor – helping Kiwis stay well and out of hospital.

    “It also builds on the University’s recent additions of nursing, pharmacy, and midwifery programmes, demonstrating a strong and growing commitment to developing New Zealand’s health workforce.”

    A full cost-benefit analysis was presented to Cabinet before any proposal was finalised, as part of the National – ACT coalition agreement.

    Mr Brown says the school builds on the Government’s record investment in the health system and workforce.

    “Today’s announcement adds 120 doctor training places each year, starting in 2028 – a significant boost to our long-term pipeline of homegrown medical workforce.

    “This is on top of the 100 additional medical training places that are being added over the term of this Government across the University of Auckland and University of Otago.”

    Dr Reti says the decision represents a significant step forward for both the University of Waikato and the wider region.

    “This is a major milestone for the University and a real boost for tertiary education in the Waikato. 

    “It strengthens the University’s position as a leader in education, training, and research, and creates new academic and economic opportunities for Hamilton, the Waikato, and rural communities.

    “By expanding access to medical training, we’re creating new opportunities for students from across the region and beyond, while also helping to future-proof the local workforce.

    “This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking initiative this Government wants to see from our universities – investing in regional growth, building local capability, and delivering on the needs of rural communities.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    July 21, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Australia: Hobart man charged with trafficking significant amount of ice and cocaine

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Hobart man charged with trafficking significant amount of ice and cocaine

    Monday, 21 July 2025 – 1:59 pm.

    Police have charged a 29-year-old Hobart man with trafficking and importing illicit drugs into Tasmania after intercepting a vehicle exiting the Spirit of Tasmania in Devonport on Sunday.
    In a subsequent search of the vehicle, police located and seized three kilograms of ice, two kilograms of cocaine, two vials of testosterone, 30 capsules of steroids and 40 oxycodone tablets. 
    As a result, the man has been charged with trafficking a controlled substance, unlawful importation of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled drug, and dealing with property which subsequently becomes an instrument of crime.
    He has been detained to appear in the Devonport Magistrates Court later today.
    Detective Inspector Michelle Elmer said the drugs seized were highly addictive and have the potential to do significant harm in our community.
    “The methylamphetamine seized has the potential to be broken into 30,000 individual street deals, while the cocaine could result in 10,000 individual deals,” she said.
    Tasmania Police will continue to target offenders who attempt to import illicit substances into Tasmania by conducting both targeted and random screenings of people entering our state by sea and airports. 
    Anyone with information about illicit substances in our community is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –

    July 21, 2025
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