Category: Economy

  • EU, Britain go ahead with new Russia sanctions without waiting for Trump

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The EU and Britain announced new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday without waiting for Washington to join them, a day after President Donald Trump’s phone call with Vladimir Putin brought about neither a ceasefire in Ukraine nor fresh U.S. sanctions.

    London and Brussels said their new measures would zero in on Moscow’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers and financial firms that have helped it avoid the impact of other sanctions imposed over the war.

    “Sanctions matter, and I am grateful to everyone who makes them more tangible for the perpetrators of the war,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram.

    He said it “would be good” if the United States added its help, adding: “It is important that America remain involved in the process of bringing peace closer.”

    The sanctions were unveiled without an immediate announcement of corresponding steps from Washington, despite intense public lobbying from European leaders for the Trump administration to join them if Russia rejected a ceasefire.

    “We have repeatedly made it clear that we expect one thing from Russia – an immediate ceasefire without preconditions,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on the sidelines of a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels.

    As Russia had not accepted a ceasefire, “we will have to react,” he said. “We also expect our U.S. allies not to tolerate this.”

    Trump told reporters on Tuesday he was deliberating over what actions to take, but gave no further details.

    “We’re looking at a lot of things, but we’ll see,” he said.

    In a two-hour conversation with Putin on Monday, the U.S. president dropped his earlier insistence on an unconditional 30-day ceasefire and signalled that the war he once promised to end in 24 hours was no longer his to fix – a message that leaves Ukraine vulnerable and its allies worried.

    Asked on Monday why he had not imposed fresh sanctions to push Moscow into a peace deal, Trump said that could make the situation worse and affect the chance of a deal, while adding: “But there could be a time where that’s going to happen.”

    Trump said after talking to Putin he had told Zelenskiy and European leaders that Russia and Ukraine would immediately start negotiations on conditions for a ceasefire, a process Russia said would take time.

    Russia and Ukraine held their first direct talks in more than three years on Friday at Trump’s behest, but failed to agree a truce after Moscow presented conditions that a member of the Ukrainian delegation called “non-starters”.

    POPE WILLING TO HOST TALKS

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday that Pope Leo had confirmed to her his willingness to host in the Vatican the next round of negotiations to try to end the war.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a congressional hearing on Tuesday that Putin had not received any real concessions in the U.S. effort to initiate talks and existing U.S. sanctions on Russia remained in place.

    “The president … believes that right now, you start threatening sanctions, the Russians will stop talking, and there’s value in us being able to talk and drive them to get to the table. We’ll see,” Rubio said.

    Ukraine says it is ready for an immediate ceasefire. The Europeans say Russia’s insistence on talks first is proof that Putin, who started the war by invading his neighbour in 2022, is not prepared to end it.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a further package of sanctions was being prepared.

    “It’s time to intensify the pressure on Russia to bring about the ceasefire,” she wrote on X.

    RUSSIA SAYS IT WILL NOT BOW TO ULTIMATUMS

    Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia would never bow to what she called ultimatums.

    Putin said on Monday that Moscow was ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum about a future peace accord. “Now, accordingly, the ball is in Kyiv’s court,” Zakharova said.

    Brussels and London signalled they have not given up hope of persuading Washington.

    “Let us push Vladimir Putin to put an end to his imperialist fantasy,” France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.

    Britain’s Foreign Minister David Lammy said “delaying peace efforts will only redouble our resolve to help Ukraine to defend itself and use our sanctions to restrict Putin’s war machine”.

    The latest sanctions are aimed mainly at cracking down on a shipping fleet Russia uses to export oil, circumventing a $60 a barrel price cap imposed by the G7 group of industrialised countries to limit Russia’s income.

    Britain and the EU said they would also work to lower the cap, which imposes far less of a discount on Russian oil now that global prices have fallen this year.

    (Reuters)

  • Indian stock market opens higher amid mixed global cues and sectoral buying

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Wednesday amid mixed global cues as buying was seen in the pharma, auto, PSU bank and financial service sectors in the early trade.

    At around 9.35 am, Sensex was trading 296.53 points or 0.37 per cent up at 81,482.97 while the Nifty added 88.90 point or 0.36 per cent at 24,772.80

    Nifty Bank was up 98.55 points or 0.18 per cent at 54,975.90. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 56,028.55 after declining 154.10 points or 0.27 per cent. Nifty Smallcap 100 index was at 17,419.35 after dropping 63.65 points or 0.36 per cent.

    According to analysts, Indian equity benchmarks declined sharply on Tuesday amid reports of increasing COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asian countries, like Singapore and Hong Kong.

    “Technically, Nifty closed below its 5-day EMA for the first time since May 8, 2025, suggesting a shift to profit-booking. Support levels lie at 24,494 and 24,378, while resistance is expected in the 24,800-24,900 range,” said Devarsh Vakil, Head of Prime Research at HDFC Securities.

    In the absence of strong global cues, Indian markets are likely to pick up from where they left off yesterday, he added.

    Meanwhile, in the Sensex pack, Sun Pharma, HDFC Bank, Tech Mahindra, TCS, Nestle India, Maruti Suzuki, ICICI Bank, UltraTech Cement and Hindustan Unilever were the top gainers. Whereas, Eternal, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank and NTPC were the top losers.

    In the Asian markets, China, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul and Jakarta were trading in green. whereas Only Japan was trading in red.

    In the last trading session, Dow Jones in the US closed at 42,677.24, down 114.83 points, or 0.27 per cent. The S&P 500 ended with a loss of 23.14 points, or 0.39 per cent, at 5,940.46 and the Nasdaq closed at 19,142.71, down 72.75 points, or 0.38 per cent.

    The spike in uncertainty and risk is impacting the market rather unexpectedly. Yesterday’s FII sell figure of Rs 10,016 crore is a major reversal of their big buying in May and if this persists, it has the potential to impact the market, said experts.

    According to provisional data from the NSE, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold Indian equities worth Rs 10,016.10 crore on May 20, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of Rs 6,738.39 crore.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Trump admin ends crucial NOAA disaster database

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 8, 2025)—Today, the Trump administration announced it would shutter the “weather and climate disasters database,” a crucial tool built by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that helps the public track extreme weather events. Since 1980, the database has allowed the public to keep track of the costs related to these events. 

    In response, John Noël, Greenpeace USA Deputy Climate Program Director, said: “This is the next escalation in the administration’s all out war on climate action – and everyday people are the ones bearing the brunt. It begs the question: who benefits from not tracking the cost of disasters? 

    “Now, the administration and its cronies are going beyond denying the science to attempting to obscure the consequences. If the government stops tracking the costs of extreme weather events, it becomes easier for the fossil fuel industry and their political allies to deny or downplay climate impacts entirely. 

    “The ultimate goal is to shield oil and gas corporations from accountability for climate damages. But momentum is building nationwide to make polluters pay their fair share, as more states move forward with climate superfund bills and climate litigation. The Trump administration can “archive” this incredibly important data, but they cannot erase real pain and suffering felt by communities experiencing extreme weather events.” 


    Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI: CoinShares Expands XBT Provider Platform with Seven New Physical Crypto ETPs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    May 21, 2025 | SAINT HELIER, Jersey | CoinShares International Limited (“CoinShares” or “the Group”) (Nasdaq Stockholm: CS; US OTCQX: CNSRF), a leading global investment company specializing in digital assets with over $6 billion in AUM, announces the expansion of its Swedish XBT Provider Platform with the launch of seven new physically-backed crypto Exchange Traded Products (ETPs).

    CoinShares is leveraging its well-established and respected Swedish platform, CoinShares XBT Provider AB, to offer investors access to new digital assets with best-in-class structuration, cost-effective management fees, and staking rewards for proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies. Each product employs physical replication, meaning the underlying cryptocurrencies purchased and directly held in a regulated custodian.

    The seven new products, all denominated and traded in SEK and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, include:

    Name Management Fees Staking Reward
    CoinShares XBT Litecoin 1.50% p.a. Not a proof of stake crypto
    CoinShares XBT Chainlink 1.50% p.a. Not a proof of stake crypto
    CoinShares XBT Polkadot Reduced to 0.00% p.a. 5.0% p.a.
    CoinShares XBT Solana Reduced to 0.00% p.a. 3.0% p.a.
    CoinShares XBT Cardano Reduced to 0.00% p.a. 2.0% p.a.
    CoinShares XBT XRP 1.50% p.a. Not a proof of stake crypto
    CoinShares XBT Uniswap 1.50% p.a. Not a proof of stake crypto

    Jean-Marie Mognetti, CEO of CoinShares, commented on the launch: “We are glad to reinvigorate the CoinShares XBT Provider platform, which made history as the world’s first open-ended crypto ETP when created in 2015 and subsequently acquired by CoinShares in 2016. With this product extension, we’re enabling Swedish investors to access an expanded range of tokens through a pioneering and time-tested crypto ETP platform. The XBT Provider platform has consistently demonstrated its reliability and has become the trusted choice for Swedish investors seeking exposure to digital assets.

    This expansion represents our commitment to developing the Swedish market, providing institutional-grade investment vehicles that can help bridge the adoption gap that currently exists compared to other European markets. By offering these innovative products on a trusted platform, we aim to accelerate digital asset integration within Sweden’s sophisticated financial ecosystem.”

    “We are happy to see CoinShares expand their offering on our markets. The demand for ETPs is continuing to grow and this is an important step for the Swedish market in meeting that demand. With a broader range of locally listed ETPs, we give investors the opportunity to take advantage of cost-effective, transparent investment opportunities.” says Adam Kostyál, President, Nasdaq Stockholm

    About CoinShares 

    CoinShares is a leading global digital asset manager that delivers a broad range of financial services across investment management, trading and securities to a wide array of clients that includes corporations, financial institutions and individuals. Founded in 2013, the firm is headquartered in Jersey, with offices in France, Stockholm, the UK, and the US. CoinShares is regulated in Jersey by the Jersey Financial Services Commission, in France by the Autorité des marchés financiers, in the US by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. CoinShares is publicly listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker CS and the OTCQX under the ticker CNSRF.

    For more information on CoinShares, please visit: https://coinshares.com 
    Company  | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | enquiries@coinshares.com 
    Investor Relations | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | enquiries@coinshares.com 

    PRESS CONTACT

    CoinShares
    Benoît Pellevoizin
    bpellevoizin@coinshares.com

    M Group Strategic Communications
    Peter Padovano
    coinshares@mgroupsc.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-Evening Report: Interest rates are coming down. Here’s what homeowners should know about refinancing

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ama Samarasinghe, Lecturer, Financial Planning and Tax, RMIT University

    doublelee/Shutterstock

    On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of Australia cut the target cash rate by 0.25 percentage points. It now sits at 3.85% – the lowest since May 2023.

    Australia’s big four banks were all quick to announce they would be passing the cuts on to borrowers. If you’ve got a mortgage, you might be wondering if this is your cue to act.

    Refinancing your home loan – whether by negotiating a better deal with your current lender or switching to a new one – could save you thousands over the life of your loan.

    However, it won’t be the right decision for everyone. And there are some important things to know about how the process works – including hidden costs and risks.

    What is refinancing?

    Refinancing simply means replacing your existing home loan with a new one – either from your current lender or a different one. The goal? To take advantage of better loan terms.

    If you’re on a “variable rate” loan, your lender may already be passing on some or all of the recent rate cut (though you may have had to opt in).




    Read more:
    RBA cuts interest rates, ready to respond again if the economy weakens further


    But if you’re on a “fixed rate” loan, your repayments will stay the same until your fixed term ends – meaning you might not benefit from the cut unless you refinance (though break costs could apply).

    Switching to a loan with a lower rate can mean smaller monthly repayments. Or, by keeping repayments the same size but with a lower interest rate, you could potentially pay off a loan faster and save in the long term.

    Refinancing activity has been trending up since 2021, with external refinancing (switching banks) rising significantly among both owner-occupiers and investors. That’s a clear sign many borrowers are chasing better deals.

    Refinancing activity could increase further after this month’s rate cut.
    Zivica Kerkez/Shutterstock

    Can refinancing save you money?

    Yes – if it’s right for you and you do it right. Switching to a lower interest rate could slash thousands off your yearly repayments.

    If you’ve built up equity, you might be able to release funds to reinvest or improve your property. Some lenders also offer refinancing cashback deals – one-off payments to attract new customers.

    There are some important things to consider – including some traps to avoid – if you’re thinking about refinancing your home loan.

    1. Be mindful of your loan-to-value ratio

    Loan-to-value ratio (LVR) is the amount you borrowed as a percentage of the property’s value or purchase price.

    If your LVR is above 80%, you probably paid lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) on your original loan, designed to protect the lender in case you default.

    If your current loan still exceeds 80% of your home’s value (based on the new lender’s valuation), you might need to pay LMI again. That cost could wipe out any benefit from a lower rate.

    2. Careful how you compare

    When comparing rates and repayments, make sure you’re comparing apples with apples.

    If you’ve already paid five years on a 30-year loan, you have 25 years left. But when you ask a new lender for a quote, they may show repayments based on a full 30-year term – which could make the monthly repayment look much lower.

    To make a fair comparison, ask for quotes based on your remaining loan term. If you decide to switch, aiming for a loan with the same term can help you avoid paying more interest in the long run.

    3. Factor in all associated costs

    Refinancing comes with costs. These may include:

    • break fees if you’re leaving a fixed-term loan early
    • settlement fees for your current lender to close out the loan
    • application and valuation fees with the new lender
    • ongoing monthly fees that might not seem large but can add up over time.

    Also, if you’re applying to multiple lenders to compare offers, be aware requesting multiple credit checks in a short space of time can negatively impact your credit score.

    4. Consider renegotiating with your existing lender first

    Lenders rarely offer their best deals to existing customers – unless you ask. In fact, they often reserve the most attractive deals for new customers.

    Consider picking up the phone and asking for a rate review. If you have a better offer from another bank, you may be able to use that as leverage.

    Staying with your current lender can have advantages. It may be quicker and easier than refinancing with another lender. But don’t let loyalty cost you – especially if better rates are on the table elsewhere.

    5. Don’t assume your repayments will drop automatically

    For borrowers on variable loans, some banks don’t automatically reduce your repayments after a rate cut. You may need to manually adjust them through your bank’s app or website, or “opt in”.

    Alternatively, keeping your repayment amount the same could help you pay off your loan faster and reduce interest costs.

    Banks don’t always automatically adjust variable loan repayments after a rate cut.
    David Lade/Shutterstock

    6. Check your credit score before applying

    Your credit score can play a key role in refinancing. Lenders use it to assess how risky it is to lend to you – and it can affect the interest rate you’re offered.

    If your score has dropped since you first took out your loan, you may not qualify for the best deals.

    Check your score through your bank or a free online service before you apply. If it’s low, take time to improve it before refinancing to boost your chances of approval and better rates.

    For an estimate of your potential savings from refinancing, try the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)’s MoneySmart mortgage switching calculator.


    Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. It is not intended as financial advice. Before acting on any information, consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Interest rates are coming down. Here’s what homeowners should know about refinancing – https://theconversation.com/interest-rates-are-coming-down-heres-what-homeowners-should-know-about-refinancing-257116

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Analysis – Asia-Pacific card payments market to reach nearly $25 trillion in 2025, forecasts GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    The Asia-Pacific (APAC) card payments market is expected to growth by 4.3% to reach $24.7 trillion in 2025 supported by growing preference for electronic payments. 

    Strong growth in markets like China, South Korea, Japan, and Australia is complemented by rising adoption in emerging economies, supported by infrastructure improvements, regulatory initiatives, and expanding financial inclusion across the region, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s Payment Cards Analytics reveals that the card payment value in APAC registered a growth of 5.8% in 2023, driven by the rise in consumer spending. The value registered an estimated growth of 4.8% in 2024 to reach $23.7 trillion.

    Ravi Sharma, Lead Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “China, South Korea, Japan and Australia have a robust card payments market with high card payments value. Other markets within the region are also catching up supported by improving payment infrastructure, rising middle-income population, growing financial awareness, and banks offering lucrative benefits in terms of reward programs and instalment facilities.”

    The APAC card payments market is dominated by China, which is expected to grow by 3.7% in 2025 to reach $20.3 trillion. It is distantly followed by South Korea with expected card payments value of $984.5 billion, Japan with $866.1 billion, and Australia with $731.4 billion in 2025.

    However, card usage is comparatively low in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Thailand, and Vietnam. This is mainly due to the limited financial awareness for card payments, inadequate POS infrastructure, and growing popularity of QR-based mobile payments.

    These countries are also gradually pushing card adoption through various financial awareness campaigns as well as by introducing favorable regime. For instance, the central bank of Indonesia capped the credit card interest rate at 1.75%, effective from 1 July 2021, reducing it from existing 2% per month to drive credit card usage.

    Similarly, in India, the government’s move to abolish merchant service fees on RuPay cards (domestic card) effective from 1 January 2020, encouraged the acceptance of RuPay cards among merchants, thereby pushing debit card usage.

    However, high cost involved in POS infrastructure for merchants and high preference for digital wallets among consumers remain challenge for faster growth in card payments in the region. Many consumers in the region leapfrogged from cash to digital wallets skipping card payments. The availability of low-cost smartphones, rising Internet penetration, growing awareness of mobile payments and the proliferation of digital wallets have resulted in Asian countries shifting from cash transactions to mobile digital payments.

    Sharma concludes: “Looking ahead, the total card payments market in APAC is expected to continue its upward trajectory, driven by ongoing government initiatives, improving payment infrastructure and a consumer shift towards electronic payments. However, high preference for mobile payments remains a challenge for their faster adoption. Overall, the card payments value in APAC is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% between 2025 to 2029 to reach $31.1 trillion in 2029.”

    About GlobalData

    4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI: Cipher Mining Prices Convertible Senior Notes Offering and Hedging Transaction to Place Borrowed Common Stock

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ: CIFR) (“Cipher” or the “Company”) today announced the pricing of its public offering of $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2030 (the “notes”) in an offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The issuance and sale of the notes are scheduled to settle on May 22, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. Cipher also granted the underwriters of the notes offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $22,500,000 aggregate principal amount of notes solely to cover over-allotments. Morgan Stanley is acting as sole bookrunning manager for the offering. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company is acting as co-manager for the offering.

    The notes will be senior, unsecured obligations of Cipher, and will accrue interest at a rate of 1.75% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2025. The notes will mature on May 15, 2030, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. Noteholders will have the right to convert their notes in certain circumstances and during specified periods. Cipher will settle conversions by paying or delivering, as applicable, cash, shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“common stock”), or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at Cipher’s election. The initial conversion rate is 224.9213 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $4.45 per share of common stock. The initial conversion price represents a premium of approximately 30.00% over the $3.42 public offering price per share of common stock in the concurrent delta offering referred to below. The conversion rate and conversion price will be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events.

    The notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part (subject to certain limitations), for cash at Cipher’s option at any time, and from time to time, on or after May 22, 2028 and on or before the 30th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, but only if the last reported sale price per share of Cipher’s common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price for a specified period of time. The redemption price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

    If certain corporate events that constitute a “fundamental change” occur, then, subject to a limited exception, noteholders may require Cipher to repurchase their notes for cash. The repurchase price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable repurchase date. In addition, unless Cipher has previously called all outstanding notes for redemption, noteholders may at their option require Cipher to repurchase their notes for cash on May 15, 2028 at a repurchase price equal to the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.

    The net proceeds from the offering, before offering expenses, will be $145,875,000 (or $167,756,250 if the underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase additional notes), after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions. Cipher intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to complete Phase 1 of the Black Pearl data center project (“Phase 1”), including: (i) purchasing at a discount the remaining balance of mining rigs required for Phase 1; (ii) paying expected tariffs and shipping costs for the mining rigs to be used for Phase 1; and (iii) paying other infrastructure-related capital expenditures in connection with Phase 1, and for general corporate purposes. On May 16, 2025, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries Cipher Mining Infrastructure LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Cipher Black Pearl LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, entered into an Amendment Agreement and Deed of Novation to the Future Sales and Purchase Agreement (the “2025 Amendment”) with Bitmain Technologies Delaware Limited, which amends the Company’s existing Future Sales and Purchase Agreement, dated December 16, 2023, as amended by the Supplemental Agreement, dated June 5, 2024, the Amendment Agreement, dated July 10, 2024 and the Notice of Exercise dated February 5, 2025 (together, the “Original Agreement”). The Original Agreement has been amended to include an updated delivery schedule that allows for rig delivery by June 23, 2025. Through such amendment, the Company aims to accelerate its rig deployment timeline and offset a portion of expected tariffs. The Company also received a 10% reduction in cost in exchange for the Company’s early payment of the remaining balance outstanding under the Original Agreement. The amendment also provides the Company with additional incremental value from BTC-linked call options.

    Concurrently with the offering of the notes, Morgan Stanley, acting on behalf of itself and/or its affiliates (in such capacity, the “delta offering underwriter”), intends to offer, in a separate, underwritten offering, 17,540,000 shares of Cipher’s common stock borrowed from third parties (the “concurrent delta offering”), to facilitate hedging transactions (whether physical and/or through derivatives) by some of the purchasers of the notes. The delta offering underwriter will initially offer the shares of Cipher’s common stock to the public at a price of $3.42 per share and subsequently offer the shares of Cipher’s common stock for sale in one or more transactions on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, in the over-the-counter market, through negotiated transactions or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale. The concurrent delta offering is scheduled to settle on May 22, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The completion of the offering of the notes is contingent on the completion of the concurrent delta offering, and the completion of the concurrent delta offering is contingent on the completion of the offering of the notes.

    The offering of the notes and the concurrent delta offering are being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Each of the offering of the notes and the concurrent delta offering is being made only by means of a prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus. Before you invest, you should read the respective prospectus supplements and the accompanying prospectus and other documents that the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering. You may find these documents on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of these documents can be obtained by contacting: Morgan Stanley, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities referred to in this press release, nor will there be any sale of any such securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

    J. Wood Capital Advisors LLC acted as financial advisor to the Company.

    About Cipher

    Cipher is focused on the development and operation of industrial-scale data centers for bitcoin mining and HPC hosting. Cipher aims to be a market leader in innovation, including in bitcoin mining growth, data center construction and as a hosting partner to the world’s largest HPC companies. To learn more about Cipher, please visit https://www.ciphermining.com/.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws of the United States. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Any statements made in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, such as, statements about the completion of the notes offering and the concurrent delta offering, the use of proceeds from the notes offering, the effect of the hedging activities related to the notes offering on the market price of our shares of common stock, our beliefs and expectations regarding our future results of operations and financial position, planned business model and strategy, our bitcoin mining and HPC data center development, timing and likelihood of success, capacity, functionality and timing of operation of data centers, expectations regarding the operations of data centers, potential strategic initiatives, such as joint ventures and partnerships, and management plans and objectives, are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “seeks,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “strategy,” “future,” “forecasts,” “opportunity,” “predicts,” “potential,” “would,” “will likely result,” “continue,” and similar expressions (including the negative versions of such words or expressions).

    These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Cipher and our management, are inherently uncertain. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: volatility in the price of Cipher’s securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and regulated industry in which Cipher operates, Cipher’s evolving business model and strategy and efforts we may make to modify aspects of our business model or engage in various strategic initiatives, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Cipher’s business, and the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations and to identify and realize additional opportunities. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on February 25, 2025, and in Cipher’s subsequent filings with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Cipher assumes no obligation and, except as required by law, does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Contacts:
    Investor Contact:
    Courtney Knight
    Head of Investor Relations at Cipher Mining
    courtney.knight@ciphermining.com

    Media Contact:
    Ryan Dicovitsky / Kendal Till
    Dukas Linden Public Relations
    CipherMining@DLPR.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Useful knowledge and contacts: the My Career center has prepared a program for the Russian Entrepreneurship Day

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Specialized employment center “My career” has prepared a program dedicated to the Russian Entrepreneurship Day. It will be held on May 26 at 10:00 at the address: ulitsa Sergiya Radonezhskogo, dom 1, bldg. 1. Self-employed Muscovites and representatives of small businesses will be able to develop a strategy for promoting their services on the market, obtain systematized knowledge in the field of business development and make useful contacts.

    “The Moscow Employment Service not only helps residents find suitable work, but also provides comprehensive support in starting and developing their own business. This year, we again invite city residents to a unique event to develop skills for successful business management. Participants will enjoy an interactive format: a platform for presenting goods and services of the self-employed, speeches by experienced businessmen with real cases and an entrepreneurial quiz. This approach makes the training lively and engaging: visitors learn knowledge in a relaxed atmosphere, analyze mistakes and find unexpected solutions. The entire program is aimed at developing key competencies, promoting startups, and revealing the personal potential of aspiring businessmen,” said Roman Nikitin, First Deputy Director of the Moscow Employment Service and Head of the Professions of the Future Center.

    Thus, the participants will be treated to the event “Entrepreneurs’ Standup”. Experts will share their cases, and viewers will be able to adopt their experience, analyze their own projects and find new ideas for application in their field.

    In addition, a quiz will be held for guests – an exciting game during which you can test your business savvy and learn interesting facts from the history of entrepreneurship. The quiz will help you acquire teamwork skills and gain useful knowledge about developing your business.

    Muscovites will also be treated to business games and speed dating. Aspiring entrepreneurs will be able to exchange experiences and find business partners. A fair will open for guests, where self-employed people will present unique handicrafts.

    Participation is free, but prior registration is required. register.

    The number of self-employed in Moscow has exceeded 1.9 millionMore than 150 capital entrepreneurs had their security payments cancelled

    The Moscow City Employment Service is the largest state personnel operator that helps residents of the capital find work. Its structure includes employment offices. Many of them are located in the My Documents government service centers. The flagship centers are open at the following addresses: Kuusinen Street, Building 2, Block 1, and Shabolovka Street, Building 48. The specialized employment center My Career is located on Sergiya Radonezhskogo Street (Building 1, Bldg. 1).

    In the center “Professions of the Future” on Shchepkina Street (38 Building 1) you can master one of 75 in-demand professions in various sectors of the economy in a maximum of three and a half months. Career mentors will help you find a job after completing your training. The center’s partners include more than three thousand employers. In addition, a comprehensive career guidance program is implemented here for ninth-grade students.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154055073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Biotechnology and all living things: two natural science museums of VDNKh celebrate their third anniversary

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On May 21, VDNKh will celebrate three years since the opening of the modern biotechnology center “Biotech Museum” and the K.A. Timiryazev State Biological Museum in pavilions No. 30 and 31. Both exhibitions are located within the walls of restored cultural heritage sites of federal significance.

    Pavilion No. 30 “Microbiological Industry” was built in 1939. Initially, it was dedicated to oil crops, as evidenced by the surviving wooden carved pediment with images of oil plant flowers, including sunflowers. In 1954, the pavilion housed the “Cotton” exposition. In the mid-1960s, the pavilion was repurposed again and received its current name. The exposition told about the study and widespread use of microorganisms in the national economy and healthcare.

    In 2019–2022, a comprehensive restoration of the historic building was carried out. The fountain next to the pavilion, which had not worked for over 40 years and was almost completely destroyed, was also restored. During the restoration, specialists laid new utility lines and replaced the fountain equipment.

    The restored pavilion No. 30 “Microbiological Industry” now houses the center of modern biotechnology “Museum “Biotech”. Its exhibition is a visual story about biotechnology and its practical application in everyday life.

    Here you can get acquainted with the history of the development of the domestic microbiological industry, modern biotechnologies that are used in the food industry, medicine, agriculture, waste recycling and other industries that are no less important for humanity. Visitors can learn about the creation of vaccines, genetics, city farms, bioreactors, as well as other innovative and familiar technologies. Seminars, master classes, lectures, conferences and other educational events are regularly held for them. Since its opening, the museum has been visited by more than 62 thousand people.

    Pavilion No. 31 “Geology”, built in 1954, was called “Flax, Hemp and Other Bast Crops” until 1956. In 1956-1957, its name was “Bast and Wool Industry”, in 1958 – “Linen and Wool Industry” and only since 1959 – “Geology”. The author of the pavilion is one of the most versatile Soviet architects Leonid Pavlov. He also designed several stations of the Moscow metro and the V.I. Lenin Museum in Gorki Leninskiye.

    In 2017, during restoration work in the pavilion, archival films from the 1950s-1980s were discovered, telling about the achievements of Soviet science, technology and agriculture. At one time, these films were used as a support by local guides: after the end of the tour, they showed thematic films to guests in small cinema halls that were opened in many VDNKh pavilions.

    Three years ago, the K.A. Timiryazev State Biological Museum was opened in the restored pavilion. In May 2022, a permanent exhibition “12 Signs of Living Things” opened here, the creation of which was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the museum’s founding. Its exposition tells about what life is from a scientific point of view. The exhibition presents 12 sections that correspond to the 12 main signs of a living being. These are the unity of chemical composition, diversity of life, metabolism and energy, movement, reproduction and others. Here you can see works of contemporary art made specifically for the exhibition. Since the opening of the museum, it has been visited by more than 133 thousand people.

    The opening of new entertainment and museum facilities corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality”. The development of the Museum City at VDNKh is a key part of the strategy for promoting the capital’s hospitality industry and the strategy for developing VDNKh until 2030.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channelthe city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154119073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on May 20, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India


    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)

      Volume
    (One Leg)
    Weighted
    Average Rate
    Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 5,74,008.90 5.67 0.01-6.75
         I. Call Money 16,733.50 5.79 4.85-5.85
         II. Triparty Repo 3,77,859.80 5.66 5.62-5.80
         III. Market Repo 1,77,682.60 5.69 0.01-6.75
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,733.00 5.87 5.82-6.75
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 131.30 5.76 5.40-5.85
         II. Term Money@@ 725.00 6.10-6.10
         III. Triparty Repo 2,185.00 5.83 5.70-5.90
         IV. Market Repo 1,031.95 5.68 5.35-5.98
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Tue, 20/05/2025 1 Wed, 21/05/2025 4,617.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Tue, 20/05/2025 1 Wed, 21/05/2025 435.00 6.25
    4. SDFΔ# Tue, 20/05/2025 1 Wed, 21/05/2025 2,24,630.00 5.75
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -2,19,578.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Thu, 17/04/2025 43 Fri, 30/05/2025 25,731.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       8,735.56  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     34,466.56  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -1,85,111.44  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on May 20, 2025 9,66,107.38  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending May 30, 2025 9,48,817.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ May 20, 2025 4,617.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on May 02, 2025 2,34,873.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2025-2026/91 dated April 11, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/377

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Attention all trustees: Top 5 EOFY checklist!

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    As the 30 June deadline for trust resolutions approaches, it’s crucial for trustees and their advisers to be clear about their obligations. Our end of financial year (EOFY) checklist will help you avoid basic trust errors that can arise if you don’t fully understand your obligations or take reasonable care to get things right.

    1. Understand how income is defined for the trust estate.

    Trustees must be familiar with their trust deeds and accurately determine the income of the trust estate for each financial year. Common errors include actions that are inconsistent with the deed, mistaking accounting profit for distributable income, and misinterpreting trustee powers. To avoid these errors, trustees should:

    • review the trust deed and distribute income according to each beneficiary’s entitlements
    • review the trust deed to understand how it defines income.
    1. Identify the trust’s beneficiaries.

    Trustees need to correctly identify the beneficiaries of their trust. Errors often occur when trustees fail to read the deed, distribute to non-beneficiaries, or distribute outside the family group when a family trust election (FTE) or interposed entity election (IEE) is in place. To prevent these mistakes, trustees should:

    • identify beneficiaries as per the trust deed
    • ensure all entitled beneficiaries quote their TFN and are notified of their entitlement.
    1. Understand resolutions and present entitlement.

    Trustees must make valid resolutions to appoint or distribute income to beneficiaries by

    30 June of the relevant tax year. If resolutions aren’t made by this date, the trustee may be liable for all income of the trust and taxed at their marginal rates. Errors such as invalid resolutions and back-dated resolutions can be avoided by:

    • reading the trust deed
    • making clear and timely resolutions.
    1. Identify any family trust elections (FTE) or interposed entity elections (IEE).

    A family trust is a trust where the trustee has made a valid FTE. Family trusts can access tax concessions but, distributions made outside the family group will trigger family trust distributions tax (FTDT). This is a specific 47% tax payable by the trustee on the distribution. The Commissioner has no discretion with FTDT once it is triggered. Therefore, trustees should be vigilant about existing FTEs or IEEs in place and maintain accurate records.

    We’re seeing an increase in trustees distributing outside the family group triggering FTDT. To limit FTDT risks, trustees should:

    • be aware of all FTE or IEEs made and their family group
    • keep copies of all elections.
    1. Maintain clear and accurate records.

    Poor record keeping is the most common cause of issues related to trusts. Trustees need to understand that they’re personally liable for the debts of the trusts they administer. Keeping complete and accurate records can prevent unforeseen tax liabilities falling upon the trustee.

    More resources

    You can also use our Trust tax-time toolkit for more useful information, checklists and tips to ensure you correctly meet your trust tax obligations.

    We also recommend you favourite or bookmark our comprehensive web Trustscontent so you can access it whenever you need it.

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    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Karl Stefanovic, Today, Channel 9

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Karl Stefanovic:

    Jim, good morning. Nice to see you. Looks like you just got out of the shower my man.

    Jim Chalmers:

    A couple of hours ago, Karl. Good morning. How are you?

    Stefanovic:

    The Coalition is taking a bath this morning. I mean, could you get more lucky?

    Chalmers:

    It’s obviously a mess on the former Coalition side of the parliament, but it’s really not our focus. As you said in your introduction, we saw interest rates cut yesterday for the second time in 3 months. We’re getting inflation down, we’re getting wages up, we’re keeping unemployment low. And that’s because our focus will continue to be on providing stable, responsible, considered, methodical economic leadership. And we saw some of the dividends of that yesterday when rates were cut again.

    Stefanovic:

    You’re restraining yourself from talking about it. I see that in your eyes, Jim. I’m sure it’s the scuttlebutt around town. Look, the makeup of the parliament we looked at it this morning, you guys weren’t that bloody good.

    Chalmers:

    We’re very grateful for the magnitude of the victory that we saw a few Saturdays ago. We’ve made it really clear we’re grateful for the support that was shown by the Australian community. I think they did go for that stability and that responsible economic management. We’ll hear more about that later today when our campaign director fronts the National Press Club.

    But we don’t want to waste the day. We’re grateful for the opportunity. We know that a second term is an opportunity to build more homes and roll out more renewables, make our economy more productive, get on top of this inflation challenge, help with the cost of living. And so that’s been our focus, really, throughout the first term, throughout the campaign, and it will be the major focus of our second term too.

    Stefanovic:

    Have you spoken to the PM about the Coalition dramas? I mean, as Phil Coorey points out this morning: the Prime Minister may as well do another couple of laps of the sun.

    Chalmers:

    I haven’t spoken to him about the Coalition. Obviously, we’ve had some interactions while he’s been overseas, but not about that. And on the second part of your question, I genuinely believe that things change quickly in politics. We’re not getting ahead of ourselves. Our working assumption is that elections are typically close in this country. The last one, notwithstanding, was a better result than what most people were anticipating. But we don’t underestimate our political opponents, and we don’t focus on them.

    Yesterday was a big event, it was a shambles, it was a mess, but it wasn’t our focus. My focus yesterday was on this interest rates decision which will provide welcome relief for millions of Australian families. We’ll continue to focus on the things that really matter to people, even while our political opponents continue to focus on themselves.

    Stefanovic:

    You’re expecting more mortgage relief later in the year. There are – plenty of speculation this morning that’s going to drive prices through the roof. How much of a concern is that?

    Chalmers:

    I don’t make predictions about future decisions taken by the independent Reserve Bank. Certainly the market and the economists expect that there will be more interest rate cuts to come and that won’t be the only factor when it comes to house prices. House prices are usually a combination of a whole range of factors. And so our focus is on continuing to put this downward pressure on inflation, keep unemployment low, get wages growing again, roll out our cost‑of‑living help and also build more homes because we want people to be able to access more affordable options.

    Stefanovic:

    All right. Finally, we now know Australia’s biggest super funds asked you to reconsider the super tax. They’ve had no luck with that. You’re staying stubborn on that, you will not change it?

    Chalmers:

    First of all, they said that publicly a couple of years ago. They made a public submission to, when we did one of the 3 rounds of consultation we did on these changes. We haven’t changed our policy that we took to the election. The policy that we announced a couple of years ago. I listen respectfully when people have got a range of views about this policy or indeed any policy, but we’ve made it clear what our priority is here and that’s how we intend to progress.

    Stefanovic:

    Can you fix the train network in Sydney this morning for us just before we go?

    Chalmers:

    I just saw that story on your news a bit earlier on. I hope people can get safely to work and that those issues can be resolved as quickly as possible.

    Stefanovic:

    Good on you, Jim. Always good to talk to you.

    Chalmers:

    Thanks Karl, you too.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI: ASUS and AMD Jointly Unveil Full 2025 Expert P Series Lineup at AMD Keynote

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  ASUS and AMD today jointly announced the launch of the all-new ASUS Expert P-series Copilot+ PCs at Computex 2025, spotlighting its leadership in the commercial AI PC space. Powered by the latest AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series processors, the new lineup includes ExpertBook P3 (PM3) laptop, ExpertCenter P700 (PM700MK, PM700SK) desktops, ExpertCenter P600 (PM640, PM670) all-in-one PCs, and ExpertCenter PN54 Mini PC.

    These next-generation business devices are engineered to deliver lightning-fast AI computing, seamless productivity, and enhanced security for working professionals — all within a future-ready, sustainable design.

    “We’re proud to deepen our collaboration with AMD as we usher in a new era of AI-powered computing. At ASUS, we believe AI will fundamentally transform the PC — from system architecture to real-world applications,” said S.Y. Hsu, ASUS Co-CEO. “With the addition of the new Expert series — built from the ground up to revolutionize performance and efficiency for the modern workplace — to our broad AI PC portfolio, and commitment to innovation, we aim to deliver next-gen AI experiences that empower users everywhere.”

    ASUS ExpertBook P3 series

    Leading the charge is the ExpertBook P3 Series, the fastest ASUS ExpertBook AI PC to date. Available in 14-inch (PM3406) and 16-inch (PM3606) variants, ExpertBook P3 is powered by up to AMD Ryzen™ AI PRO 7 processors and offers up to 66 total TOPS of AI performance. It features ExpertCool thermal technology that keeps its cool whether opened or closed, a full metal chassis, and a full array of I/O ports positioned to enhance comfort and mouse movement.

    AMD Ryzen PRO processors provide business users with 18 months of planned software stability, 24 months of planned availability, and a rigorous platform validation process to ensure long-term quality.

    ASUS ExpertCenter P600 series

    The ExpertCenter P600 series represents the first Copilot+ PC all-in-one from ASUS, available in both 24-inch (PM640) and 27-inch screen (PM670) sizes. Designed for privacy and performance, P600 delivers up to 50 TOPS of dedicated NPU power for real-time content creation, and includes a retractable camera, wide-view FHD touchscreen, and business-grade durability. Microsoft Copilot is integrated for seamless collaboration.

    ASUS ExpertCenter P700 series

    Similarly, the ExpertCenter P700 series debuts as the first Copilot+ PC desktop from ASUS, offered in mini tower (PM700MK) and small-form factor (PM700SK) options. With up to 50 TOPS of AI compute power, a tool-free chassis, and MIL-STD-810H durability, it’s built to power through every business scenario.

    ASUS ExpertCenter PN54 Mini PC

    Completing the P series is the ExpertCenter PN54 Mini PC, which brings Copilot+ capabilities to a palm-sized form factor, making it the ideal solution for space-constrained environments such as kiosks, retail setups, and minimalist workstations. Despite its compact design, PN54 delivers robust performance and AI acceleration, enabling smarter workflows and seamless multitasking in any setting.

    Comprehensive AI tools and enterprise-grade security

    All ASUS ExpertBook and ExpertCenter P-series models come equipped with ASUS AI ExpertMeet and ASUS ExpertGuardian — powerful tools that are available today to enhance collaboration and ensure business-grade protection.

    AI ExpertMeet is our exclusive on-device assistant that elevates meeting experiences with AI-powered translation, meeting transcript and summary. ExpertGuardian provides all-around protection from hardware and software to firmware. P-series machines are also engineered with a commercial-grade, NIST SP 800-155-compliant BIOS, built-in TPM 2.0 and five years of ASUS BIOS and driver-updates support, offering layered security from software to firmware to hardware.

    ASUS also offers all-around and added-value support for businesses of all sizes to maximize efficiency and minimize IT-management overhead. Our flexibility, world-class experience and instant support lets you focus on growing your business to incredible heights.

    AVAILABILITY & PRICING

    The new ASUS ExpertBook P3 powered by up to the AMD Ryzen™ AI PRO 7 processors are expected to be available in Canada starting from late Q3 2025.

    The new ExpertCenter P series with the new AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series processors is expected to be available in Canada in early Q1 2026.

    Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.

    NOTES TO EDITORS

    ASUS ExpertBook laptops: https://www.asus.com/ca-en/business/laptops/expertbook/

    ASUS ExpertCenter desktops: https://www.asus.com/ca-en/displays-desktops/tower-pcs/expertcenter/

    ASUS Business website: https://www.asus.com/ca-en/business/

    ASUS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asus/posts/

    ASUS Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/asus-business/

    ASUS Pressroom: http://press.asus.com

    ASUS Canada Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asuscanada/

    ASUS Canada Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asus_ca

    ASUS Canada YouTube: https://ca.asus.click/youtube

    ASUS Global X (Twitter): https://www.x.com/asus

    About ASUS

    ASUS is a global technology leader that provides the world’s most innovative and intuitive devices, components, and solutions to deliver incredible experiences that enhance the lives of people everywhere. With its team of 5,000 in-house R&D experts, the company is world-renowned for continuously reimagining today’s technologies. Consistently ranked as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, ASUS is also committed to sustaining an incredible future. The goal is to create a net zero enterprise that helps drive the shift towards a circular economy, with a responsible supply chain creating shared value for every one of us.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1f3f4814-2879-465c-823a-62d00d90bcc9

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ14: Promoting research and development of Hong Kong

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Tang Fei and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (May 21):
     
    Question:
     
    According to a research publication released by the Legislative Council Secretariat last month, the number of research and development (R&D) personnel per million population in Hong Kong is significantly lower than that of neighbouring regions, and the proportion of local research postgraduates is continuously declining. There are views that research postgraduates also face multiple challenges in employment and the transformation of research outcomes. If such issues are not addressed in a timely manner, Hong Kong’s future innovation development and economic restructuring will be affected. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) given that according to the aforesaid research publication, Hong Kong currently has only 4 809 researchers per million population, lagging far behind Singapore and South Korea, whether the Government has drawn up specific measures to attract and nurture local R&D talent, particularly in STEM fields; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; whether it has set specific targets and timelines to increase the number of local R&D personnel in the next three years;
     
    (2) given that according to the aforesaid research publication, in the 2022-2023 academic year, only 63 per cent of research postgraduates from universities funded by the University Grants Committee secured full-time employment within six months after graduation, and only 11.6 per cent of graduates could manage to find jobs directly related to their studies, whether the Government has tailor-made support measures to address the employment challenges faced by research postgraduates, so as to help them maximise their potential and meet the needs of the local R&D industry; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (3) as there are views pointing out that while Hong Kong’s R&D outcomes reach international standards, they fall short in terms commercialisation and industrialisation, whether the Government will strengthen efforts to promote industry-academia-research collaboration to enhance the industrialisation of R&D outcomes and foster the development of an innovative economy; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    The Government has all along been dedicated to promoting the development of innovation and technology (I&T), with a view to driving economic restructuring and more diversified development. Apart from the nation’s clear support for Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T hub under the 14th Five-Year Plan, the recently promulgated 2024-2035 master plan on building China into a leading country in education also proposed to establish an integrated co-ordinating mechanism for education, technology and talent, strengthening the supportive role of education for science and talent, closely tying in with the development of technological innovative centres in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the development of a highland for high-level calibre and platform for attracting talent, and enhancing the overall efficacy of the innovation system.
     
    The replies from the Education Bureau and the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau to the Hon Tang Fei’s question are as follows:
     
    (1) and (2) The Government has been expanding the local research and I&T talent pool through a multi-pronged approach. On the front of nurturing talent, the Government guides the University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities to align their planning with the nation’s strategy of invigorating China through science and education, and support the goal of developing Hong Kong into an international I&T hub, including setting the key performance indicators in the 2022 Policy Address with 35 per cent of the students pursuing UGC-funded programmes to study in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) subjects. In addition, publicly-funded research postgraduate (RPg) places have been gradually increased from 5 595 in the 2022/23 academic year to 7 200 places in the 2024/25 academic year. Together with the gradual uplift of the over-enrolment ceiling from 70 per cent in the 2021/22 academic year to 100 per cent, institutions could flexibly enrol 14 400 RPg students at most, which is an increase of more than half, to constantly expand the I&T and research talents of Hong Kong.
     
    Additionally, the STEM Internship Scheme under the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) subsidises undergraduates and postgraduates taking full-time STEM-related programmes to enrol in short-term internships, so as to foster their interest early in pursuing careers in I&T after graduation. The Research Talent Hub under the ITC also provides funding support for eligible companies or organisations to engage university graduates to conduct research and development (R&D) work.
     
    For attracting talent front, the InnoHK Research Clusters has successfully attracted R&D talents from all over the world to Hong Kong, with over 2 500 local, overseas and Mainland researchers involved, and has provided training for over 1 200 PhD students. The ITC will launch the Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme, with a view to attracting international top-notch talents to conduct basic research in frontier technologies in Hong Kong and nurture local researchers.
     
    According to the report “Hong Kong Innovation Activities Statistics 2023” released by the Census and Statistics Department in December 2024, the number of R&D personnel has reached 43 403 in 2023, which has increased steadily over the years.
     
    (3) With an aim to enhance the I&T ecosystem and Hong Kong’s competitiveness on the I&T front, the Government has been promoting collaboration among the industry, academic and research sectors through various measures, and adopting a multi-pronged approach to support commercialisation of R&D outcomes of local universities. For example, the $10 billion Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme under the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) funds, on a matching basis, research teams from universities with good potential to become successful start-ups to transform and commercialise their R&D outcomes, while industry sponsorship is a mandatory requirement. Furthermore, the ITF will continue to provide annual funding to the Technology Transfer Office of each of the eight UGC-funded universities, thereby supporting the development of innovative ideas and R&D outcomes into new products or services. The R&D centres set up by the Government have also been taking forward industry-driven applied R&D work that suits market needs and transferring technologies to the industries through contract researches, licensing arrangements, etc to commercialise their R&D outcomes. Meanwhile, the Government facilitated the establishment of the Hong Kong New Industrialisation Development Alliance. Pooling together talent and resources from various fields, the Alliance aims to serve as a platform for collaboration among the Government, industry, academia, research and investment sectors. With a view to promoting co-operation among enterprises and organisations, we believe that the Alliance will also be conducive to the promotion of transformation and commercialisation of R&D outcomes.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 21, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 21, 2025.

    Australian para sport has issues everywhere – here’s what must be fixed ahead of the Brisbane Paralympics
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katherine Raw, Lecturer, Sport Management, Swinburne University of Technology Bratislav Kostic/Shutterstock Australia’s underwhelming performance at the 2024 Paris Paralympics has raised serious questions about how well our adaptive sport system is working. The Paris games returned our lowest medal tally since 1988, from our smallest team since

    What’s the difference between skim milk and light milk?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Murray, Senior Lecturer, Nutrition, Swinburne University of Technology bodnar.photo/Shutterstock If you’re browsing the supermarket fridge for reduced-fat milk, it’s easy to be confused by the many different types. You can find options labelled skim, skimmed, skinny, no fat, extra light, lite, light, low fat, reduced fat,

    AI is now used for audio description. But it should be accurate and actually useful for people with low vision
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Locke, Associate Researcher in Digital Disability, Centre for Culture and Technology, Curtin University Chansom Pantip/Shutterstock Since the recent explosion of widely available generative artificial intelligence (AI), it now seems that a new AI tool emerges every week. With varying success, AI offers solutions for productivity, creativity,

    NZ Budget 2025: science investment must increase as a proportion of GDP for NZ to innovate and compete
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Gaston, Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Shutterstock/Olivier Le Queinec A lack of strategy and research funding – by both the current and previous governments – has been well documented, most comprehensively in the first report

    Starvation of Gaza – a distressing continuation of a decades-old plan
    SPECIAL REPORT: By Jeremy Rose Reading an NBC News report a couple of days ago about a Trump administration plan to relocate 1 million Gazans to Libya reminded me of a conversation between the legendary Warsaw Ghetto leader Marek Edelman and fellow fighter and survivor Simcha Rotem that took place more than quarter of a

    Spotify continues to change music. What’s next – will AI musicians replace music made by humans?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra Spotify was started, according to its official claims, because its founders “love music and piracy was killing it”. In Mood Machine, music journalist Liz Pelly argues this is rewriting history. In fact, she

    Feats of the human body behind Tom Cruise’s stunts in Mission: Impossible movies
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol He’s leapt from cliffs, clung to planes mid-takeoff and held his breath underwater for as long as professional freedivers. Now, at 62, Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt for one final mission – and

    After another call with Putin, it looks like Trump has abandoned efforts to mediate peace in Ukraine
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham After a two-hour phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on May 19, US president Donald Trump took to social media to declare that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately start negotiations” towards a ceasefire and an end to

    The public service has a much smaller gender pay gap than the private sector. It’s a big achievement
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leonora Risse, Associate Professor in Economics, University of Canberra NDAB Creativity/Shutterstock After two years of publishing the gender pay gaps of Australia’s private-sector companies, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency has released public-sector employer data for the first time. The report shows a stark contrast between the private

    For making stars, it’s not just how much gas a galaxy has that matters – it’s where it’s hiding
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Barbara Catinella, Professor and Senior Principal Research Fellow, International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), The University of Western Australia One of the galaxies mapped by WALLABY: the red shade shows the atomic hydrogen gas content of the galaxy, overlaid on an optical image showing the stars.

    The Queensland melioidosis outbreak is still growing. What’s keeping this deadly mud bug active?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University ap-studio/Shutterstock The outbreak of the deadly “mud bug” melioidosis in north Queensland has not yet abated since it began at the start of this year. So far there have been 221 cases and 31 deaths from the disease

    ‘Outdated and irrelevant’: what do young Australians think of their schooling?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jun Eric Fu, Senior Research Fellow, Youth Research Collective, The University of Melbourne LBeddoe/Shutterstock Australia’s school system – and whether it is doing its job – is often under the microscope from politicians, experts and parents. The most recent NAPLAN results in 2024 triggered a wave of

    Culture at the core: examining journalism values in the Pacific
    ANALYSIS: By Birte Leonhardt, Folker Hanusch and Shailendra B. Singh The role of journalism in society is shaped not only by professional norms but also by deeply held cultural values. This is particularly evident in the Pacific Islands region, where journalists operate in media environments that are often small, tight-knit and embedded within traditional communities.

    The band is breaking up: has the Coalition stopped making sense?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Visitor, School of History, Australian National University I remember seeing footage, several years ago, of a jubilant Malcolm Turnbull, then prime minister and Liberal leader, speaking in Tamworth to loyal members of the National Party. These were the rank and file who had spent weeks

    Health chief ‘conductor of an orchestra who’s never played an instrument’
    ANALYSIS: By Ian Powell In February 2025, Dr Diana Sarfati resigned, not unexpectedly, as Director-General of Health after only two years into her five-year term. As a medical specialist, and in her role as developing the successful cancer control agency, she had extensive experience in New Zealand’s health system. However, she did not conform to

    Victorian budget has cash to splash on health, transport but new levies, job cuts, rising debt signal pain ahead
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University There was not a lot of cheer in the media reporting ahead of the 2025/6 Victorian budget released on Wednesday. Debt and deficits dominated the coverage. All eyes turned to new treasurer, Jaclyn Symes, to see if in

    RBA cuts interest rates, ready to respond again if the economy weakens further
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock speaks at a forum during the World Bank/IMF meetings in Washington in April. Jose Luis Magana/AP The Reserve Bank of Australia cut the official interest rate for the

    The Coalition is on a break, but the Nationals risk finding their former partner doesn’t want them back
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda Botterill, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University In the weeks since the federal election, there’s been much speculation about the future of the Coalition agreement. In their soul-searching, it seemed possible the Liberals might pull the pin, given the degree of their

    Israel slammed over ‘cynical’ sidestep of global rulings on Gazan humanitarian aid
    Asia Pacific Report Israel has been accused of “manipulation” and “cynical” circumvention of global decisions calling for unrestricted humanitarian aid access to the besieged Gaza enclave. “In a clear act of defiance against international humanitarian obligations, the occupying state has permitted only nine aid trucks to enter the Gaza Strip — covering both the devastated

    Keith Rankin Analysis – The Aratere and the New Zealand Main Trunk Line
    Analysis by Keith Rankin. Government-owned Kiwirail is supposed to be presiding over the New Zealand Main Trunk (Railway) Line, from Auckland to Invercargill. As such it runs a ferry service (The Interislander) between New Zealand’s North and South Islands. We are being told by Kiwirail (and see today’s report on Radio NZ) that the only

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Family trust distributions tax – what you need to know

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    When considering trustee resolutions in the lead up to 30 June, it’s important for trustees of family trusts who have made a Family Trust Election (FTE), or entities with an Interposed Entity Election (IEE) to:

    • review their FTEs and IEEs
    • understand who is in their family group.

    This is critical to help lower the risk of any FTDT liabilities arising.

    Once a valid FTE or IEE is made, it’s important to be mindful of who the specified individual is (for each election). This is because there is a strict legal definition of family group, and it’s based on who the members of the ‘specified individual’s’ family group are. Often in private groups, there may be multiple family trusts with different specified individuals (which means there will be differences in who is in the ‘family groups’). There may have also been expansion of the business with new entities or changes in family members (e.g. if there was a divorce). While the election is in effect, FTDT will apply if any distributions are made outside the family group. FTDT is a 47% tax, payable by a trustee, director, or partner.

    To ensure you don’t trigger FTDT liabilities, before making distributions, trustees should:

    • maintain strong governance and record-keeping practices
    • understand what FTE or IEE elections an entity or group has in place
    • identify the members of the specified individual’s family group.

    Trustees should review this information on an annual basis and keep these elections front of mind when administering their tax affairs.

    The Commissioner has no discretion to ignore the application of FTDT, cannot limit the period FTDT applies and has no power to extend the time to revoke or vary elections.

    If you’ve not made an FTE or IEE before, or are considering making one at the end of the financial year, it’s important to consider both the current and future impacts of making the election. While the concessions from making elections can be advantageous, there can be future limitations, constraints and potentially significant financial impacts for the private group for generations to come. 

    We’re seeing an increase in FTDT issues due to inadequate record keeping, succession planning, intergenerational expansion of businesses and evolving private groups. We encourage trustees and their advisers to review now.

    If you’re unsure about any matters related to FTE or IEEs you should speak to your registered tax agent.

    Resources

    Web content:

    • Family trusts concessions – our web content covers FTEs, IEEs, the benefits of family trusts and FTDT.
    • Trusts – favourite or bookmark our comprehensive Trusts web content so you can access it whenever you need it.

    Keep up to date

    We have tailored communication channels for medium, large and multinational businesses, to keep you up to date with updates and changes you need to know.

    Read more articles in our online Business bulletins newsroom.

    Subscribe to our free:

    • fortnightly Business bulletins email newsletterExternal Link
    • email notifications about new and updated information on our website – you can choose to receive updates relevant to your situation. Choose the ‘Business and organisations’ category to ensure your subscription includes notifications for more Business bulletins newsroom articles like this one.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Senate Republicans Consider Procedural Power Grab, Markey Highlights Seriousness of the Moment

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Republicans attempting to change rules to overturn California EPA Clean Air Act waivers     
    Washington (May 20, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), today released the following statement in response to Republicans’ commitment to overturn Senate procedure and decades of historical precedent. Despite the independent, non-partisan agency Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) determination that California’s Clean Air Act waivers are not rules and the Senate Parliamentarian’s confirmation that this would be an inappropriate use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA), Senate Republicans are considering a majority vote to overrule the Senate Parliamentarian.
    “At a moment when Donald Trump is actively undermining the checks and balances enshrined in our Constitution, Senate Republicans are moving ahead with a dangerous change to Senate rules while rolling back clean air regulations.  
    “It’s not enough for Republicans to promote chaos and conflict in our economy for the sake of billionaires, they now want to create chaos and conflict in Congress by intentionally trashing guardrails and decisions that protect all members. They don’t care about the rule of law, and they don’t seem to care about the rule of Congress. With this action, Senate Republicans are opening the door for future votes on the countless unlawful and unethical actions carried out by the Trump administration. There will be no putting the genie back in the bottle.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Have your say on Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Amendment Bill

    Source:

    Media Release

    Organisation:   Finance and Expenditure Committee

    For release:     21 May 2025

    Have your say on Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Amendment Bill

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for submissions on the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Amendment Bill. The closing date for submissions is 11.59pm on Monday, 23 June 2025.

    This bill is one of three that the Finance and Expenditure Committee is considering related to financial services. The other two bills are the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Bill and the Financial Markets Conduct Amendment Bill.

    Please take care to upload your submission on the relevant bill. 

    Financial dispute resolution is a free way for consumers to resolve disputes with their bank, insurer, KiwiSaver provider, or other financial service provider. This bill would make two changes to financial dispute resolution. The changes aim to ensure:

    • improved oversight of approved dispute resolution scheme performance, by requiring the responsible Minister to decide how the schemes must undertake their independent reviews
    • effective and impartial governance of the schemes’ boards, by providing for a regulation-making power that can be used to set skills, experience, and independence requirements of board members.

    Tell the Finance and Expenditure Committee what you think:

    Make a submission on the bill by 11.59pm on Monday, 23 June 2025.

    For more details about the bill:

    ENDS

    For media enquiries contact:

    Finance and Expenditure Committee Staff

    fe@parliament.govt.nz

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Have your say on Financial Markets Conduct Amendment Bill

    Source:

    Media Release

    Organisation:   Finance and Expenditure Committee

    For release:     21 May 2025

    Have your say on Financial Markets Conduct Amendment Bill

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for submissions on the Financial Markets Conduct Amendment Bill. The closing date for submissions is 11.59pm on Monday, 23 June 2025.

    This bill is one of three that the Finance and Expenditure Committee is considering related to financial services.  The other two bills are the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Amendment Bill and the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Bill.

    Please take care to upload your submission on the relevant bill.

    The bill would:

    • change minimum requirements for fair conduct programmes to allow for more flexibility and to reduce unnecessary prescription and compliance costs
    • require the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) to issue a single licence covering different classes of market services
    • change provisions that require firms holding a licence under the Financial Markets Conduct Act, or authorised bodies, to obtain regulatory approval from the FMA before certain changes in firms take effect
    • introduce on-site inspection powers for the FMA to, without notice, enter and remain at a place of business of a financial markets participant for compliance monitoring purpose
    • make a number of other technical amendments.

    Tell the Finance and Expenditure Committee what you think:

    Make a submission on the bill by 11.59pm on Monday, 23 June 2025.

    For more details about the bill:

    ENDS

    For media enquiries contact:

    Finance and Expenditure Committee Staff

    fe@parliament.govt.nz

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Have your say on Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Bill

    Source:

    Media Release

    Organisation:   Finance and Expenditure Committee

    For release:     21 May 2025

    Have your say on Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Bill

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for submissions on the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Bill. The closing date for submissions is 11.59pm on Monday, 23 June 2025.

    This bill is one of three that the Finance and Expenditure Committee is considering related to financial services. The other two bills are the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Amendment Bill and the Financial Markets Conduct Amendment Bill.

    Please take care to upload your submission on the relevant bill.

    This bill would:

    • transfer regulatory responsibility for credit contracts and consumer finance from the Commerce Commission to the Financial Markets Authority
    • make certain alignments between the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 and other financial markets legislation to support a consistent and proportionate regulatory system, including transitioning lenders from a certification to a licensing regime
    • remove features of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 (such as the due diligence duty for directors and senior managers) that are unnecessary because of, or do not fit as well with, the new regulatory approach (including the adoption of a licensing model)
    • limit the situations in which a creditor’s failure to make required initial or variation disclosure can mean that the debtor is not liable for the costs of borrowing.

    Tell the Finance and Expenditure Committee what you think:

    Make a submission on the bill by 11.59pm on Monday, 23 June 2025.

    For more details about the bill:

    ENDS

    For media enquiries contact:

    Finance and Expenditure Committee Staff

    fe@parliament.govt.nz

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s energy consumption rose by 4.7 percent in April.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) — Electricity consumption, a key barometer of a country’s economic activity, showed steady growth in China in April, official data showed Tuesday.

    In April, energy consumption increased by 4.7 percent year-on-year and reached 772.1 billion kWh, the State Energy Administration of China noted.

    In particular, electricity consumption in the primary and secondary sectors of the economy increased by 13.8 and 3 percent, respectively, compared to April 2024, and in the tertiary sector of the economy increased by 9 percent.

    Electricity consumption for domestic needs of urban and rural households reached 93.6 billion kWh in April, an increase of 7 percent year-on-year.

    From January to April, the country’s total energy consumption increased by 3.1 percent to 3.16 trillion kWh. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI China: Syria, Jordan launch coordination council to strengthen cooperation

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

    Syrian foreign affairs chief Asaad al-Shibani (R, Rear) and Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (L, Rear) attend a joint press conference in Damascus, Syria, on May 20, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Syria and Jordan signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to launch a coordination council aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation.

    The agreement was signed in Damascus by Syrian foreign affairs chief Assad al-Shibani and Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. It outlines plans to enhance collaboration in key sectors such as energy, water, health, and transportation.

    The council’s establishment, initially agreed upon during Safadi’s visit to Damascus on April 17, comes amid reports that the European Union intends to lift economic sanctions on Syria.

    Shibani said the easing of European sanctions would facilitate broader regional cooperation.

    Safadi said the coordination council aims to reactivate joint initiatives in critical infrastructure and humanitarian sectors, adding that “the stability of Syria is essential for the stability of the region.”

    The two officials condemned repeated Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory, with Shibani claiming that Syria is “in communication with the U.S. and Europe” to put pressure on Israel.

    Safadi stressed that Israeli attacks on southern Syria also endangered Jordan’s security. “External interference in Syria must end,” he said, adding that “Jordan sees Syria as its gateway to Europe, and Syria sees Jordan as its bridge to the Gulf.”

    Shibani reaffirmed Syria’s commitment to open diplomacy and national reconstruction, saying that the country’s priority is to stabilize the economy, restore energy infrastructure, and facilitate the return of Syrian refugees. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: China urges US to stop politicizing COVID-19 origins tracing

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

    A spokesperson for the Chinese Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva on Tuesday urged the United States to end its politicization of COVID-19 origins tracing and stop exerting pressure on international organizations.

    In response to the groundless remarks made by the U.S. delegation at the ongoing 78th World Health Assembly (WHA), the spokesperson said it is astonishing that the United States — a country that once announced its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) — is now baselessly attacking countries that have consistently stepped up support for the organization. The United States has evidently lost its basic sense of right and wrong. China has always offered selfless support, instead of so-called undue influence, to the WHO, the spokesperson said in a statement.

    The spokesperson stressed that since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has shared information and the genetic sequence of the virus with the international community at the earliest possible time. It has also provided medical supplies and financial assistance to the WHO and 153 countries, including the United States. This reflects China’s commitment to safeguarding the common good of all humanity.

    China supports scientific origins tracing led by the WHO and has invited WHO expert teams to China multiple times for joint studies. These efforts resulted in the authoritative scientific conclusion that a lab leak of COVID-19 from China is “extremely unlikely,” demonstrating China’s openness and transparency on the issue, the spokesperson said.

    The spokesperson pointed out that certain countries, in an attempt to cover up their own poor pandemic response, have resorted to smearing others. Such political manipulation of pandemic issues is disgraceful and doomed to fail. The United States still owes the international community a convincing explanation for the concerns raised by various parties about the origins and handling of the pandemic on its own territory.

    China urges the United States to share its early case data with the WHO and be transparent about Fort Detrick and its network of overseas biological laboratories. The United States should stop political manipulation over COVID-19 origins tracing and cease pressuring international organizations, the spokesperson stated. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Introduction of new professions in China reflects the vitality of the country’s economic development

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    At the closed test site of the National Internet of Vehicles Pilot Zone in Tianjin City (Xiqing District), Yao Zhonghua, an intelligent and connected vehicle (ICV) test specialist, is fully engrossed in creating a test scenario to prepare for the discovery of the ICV’s automatic emergency braking (AEB) function.

    “We use test equipment to conduct tests on the efficiency and reliability of intelligent and connected vehicle functions, and record test videos and data in real time,” said Yao Zhonghua, 33.

    In July 2024, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China and two other departments jointly released a list of 19 new occupations, and ICV tester is one of them.

    According to analysis by Wang Linlin, dean of the Department of Human Resource Management at Nankai University Business School, over 70 percent of these new jobs are aimed at building new-quality productive forces, covering cutting-edge areas of “digital intelligence” such as the digital economy, green energy and intelligent manufacturing, which are the result of China’s technological revolution and industrial upgrading.

    The introduction of new occupations leads to a broader range of products and services, allowing more people to make full use of their own advantages and open up new development opportunities. The new advanced occupations are highly consistent with the core content of the concept of “new quality productive forces” and reflect the vitality of China’s economic development.

    At present, China’s renewing professional system has accelerated its development towards digitalization and intellectualization. Both the emergence of many new professions and the diversification of employers also reflect the acceleration of the country’s economic transformation and modernization.

    “The emergence of new occupations creates a human resource base to ensure the growth of productive forces of new quality, promotes the movement of labor from low-value-added industries to high-skilled industries, and improves the overall quality of employment,” Wang Linlin said.

    Taking the ICV industry as an example, more and more Chinese auto enterprises are pursuing innovative changes driven by new technologies. Digital workshops, smart factories, etc. are being built one after another, and innovative technological solutions and application scenarios are being introduced, leading to the constant emergence of new types of work and new professions.

    She Hongzhi, deputy general manager of Yongtai Henji Investment (Tianjin), the operator of the National Internet of Vehicles Pilot Zone in Tianjin City (Xiqing District), said that in 2024, the total testing time at the closed testing site in the pilot zone exceeded 5,000 hours, showing a year-on-year increase of 150%.

    “We have activated the development of the ICV industry, promoted the integration of enterprises into an industrial chain, created hundreds of vacancies in new professions, and the demand for skilled personnel in the fields of artificial intelligence, intelligent manufacturing and big data continues to grow,” She Hongzhi emphasized.

    With the steady development of the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing and other fields, the demand for talent in new professions continues to grow. For example, according to forecasts in a report by consulting company McKinsey, by 2030, China’s demand for artificial intelligence specialists will reach 6 million people, and the shortage may reach 4 million people. According to the company’s estimates, the shortage of highly qualified digital specialists in China has already reached 25-30 million people, and it will continue to increase.

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Superannuation on government-funded Parental Leave Pay

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    From 1 July 2025, the ATO will pay super on government-funded Parental Leave Pay – known as a Paid Parental Leave Super Contribution (PPLSC). To be eligible, each person must receive Parental Leave Pay from Services Australia for a child born or adopted from 1 July 2025. PPLSC is:

    • based on the Superannuation Guarantee rate, and will include an interest component
    • paid as a lump sum after the end of the financial year in which Parental Leave Pay was received
    • paid to the super fund where superannuation contributions are currently paid (including SMSFs).

    We’ll pay the first PPLSC in the 2026–27 financial year.

    If Parental Leave Pay is shared with another person, a superannuation contribution will be paid to each person’s superannuation fund, based on their portion of the Parental Leave Pay.

    It’s important that an eligible person:

    For more information about PPLSC, visit ato.gov.au/PPLSC

    Looking for the latest news for Super funds? You can stay up to date by visiting our Super funds newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly Super funds newsletter and CRT alerts.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI China: EV battery giant CATL lists in Hong Kong, marking largest IPO in years

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

    Guests attend the listing ceremony of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in south China’s Hong Kong, May 20, 2025. CATL was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with the stock code 3750. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese electric vehicle (EV) battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) on Tuesday listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with shares surging over 10 percent at market opening.

    CATL announced allocation results showing that, before the exercise of the overallotment option, the Hong Kong public offering was oversubscribed by about 150.2 times, raising a total of approximately 35.66 billion HK dollars (4.55 billion U.S. dollars), with net proceeds of 35.33 billion HK dollars after deducting listing expenses.

    On its listing day, CATL opened at 296 HK dollars, rising 12.55 percent from its offering price of 263 HK dollars. By midday, it traded at 307.6 HK dollars, up 16.96 percent, with a turnover exceeding 5.7 billion HK dollars.

    Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said at the listing ceremony that CATL’s listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange can accelerate its global strategic expansion.

    Leveraging Hong Kong financing to support international growth is set to be a trend for mainland enterprises in export development, marking a new milestone in Hong Kong’s role in serving national development strategies, Chan added.

    Bonnie Chan, chief executive officer of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), said that in terms of funds raised, CATL’s IPO is the largest in Hong Kong in recent years and the biggest globally so far this year. This demonstrated the depth of the Hong Kong market and its solid fundamentals in supporting large-scale financing projects.

    CATL is an innovative new energy technology company, primarily engaged in the research, development, production, and sales of EV batteries and energy storage system batteries. It is already listed on the A-share market. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.82 HK dollars) 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: MNCs foresee tailwinds for vibrancy

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

    The momentum generated by government policies aimed at stabilizing foreign investment, combined with the rapid growth of green and artificial intelligence-driven economies, will deliver strong tailwinds for foreign companies in China this year, said foreign business executives.

    With rising global economic headwinds and uncertainty over United States’ trade policies, many global enterprises are opting to consolidate their presence in China, with plans to maintain or expand investment.

    China’s stable and business-friendly environment supported a modest rebound in foreign direct investment in March, with actual FDI inflows into the Chinese mainland increasing by 13.2 percent year-on-year, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed.

    Marelli Holdings Co Ltd, a Saitama, Japan-headquartered multinational automotive parts manufacturer with more than 50 manufacturing facilities across the world, will expand its engineering team from 800 to 1,000 in China over the next three years.

    “Many opportunities arise from Chinese automakers’ rapid shift toward electrification and intelligence, especially in the form of software-defined vehicles, which are setting new benchmarks for speed, scale and innovation,” said David Slump, the group’s president and CEO.

    With China and the US agreeing to de-escalate trade tensions last week, Slump said that these two countries are major markets for Marelli.

    “We are closely monitoring and assessing the situation, and are committed to minimizing any impact on our operations and customers,” said Slump. He added that the company is already exporting advanced products and solutions from China to other markets, including Europe, Mexico and Southeast Asia.

    Also upbeat about the Chinese market, British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca announced in March an investment of $2.5 billion to establish in Beijing its sixth global strategic R&D center, and further expand its biotech innovation partnerships and local manufacturing capabilities.

    The new facility will advance early-stage research and clinical development and will be enabled by a new AI and data science laboratory.

    Susan Galbraith, executive vice-president, oncology R&D, Astra-Zeneca, said that having two of its six global strategic R&D centers in China reflects the group’s confidence in China’s world-class biomedical innovation ecosystem and reinforces the nation’s critical role in its global R&D strategy.

    Ji Wenhua, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies, which is part of the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said that China’s well-developed industrial bases, strong supply chain resilience and policy emphasis on innovation continue to make it an attractive destination for global capital.

    According to China’s 2025 Action Plan for Stabilizing Foreign Investment, the country will support pilot regions in effectively implementing opening-up policies related to areas such as value-added telecommunication, biotechnology and wholly foreign-owned hospitals, providing whole-journey services for foreign-invested projects in these sectors.

    The action plan also supports foreign businesses to participate in China’s new industrialization, with a focus on high-tech fields. Global capital has been welcomed in service sectors such as elderly care, culture and tourism, sports, healthcare, vocational education and finance.

    As part of its strategy to strengthen operations in China, US express transportation service provider FedEx Corp announced in mid-May that it would enhance its international export services from Shanghai.

    The cutoff times for same-day outbound shipments from Shanghai to Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, India and Africa will be further extended.

    The foreign trade value of foreign-invested businesses reached 4.1 trillion yuan ($567.51 billion) in China between January and April, up 1.9 percent year-on-year, accounting for 29 percent of China’s total foreign trade value, statistics from the General Administration of Customs showed.

    In the meantime, Jiangsu province, a major hub for foreign-invested companies, recorded 864.25 billion yuan in foreign trade value, up 7.2 percent year-on-year, according to Nanjing Customs.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Closing your business

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Closing an entity in your private group

    You may decide to close an entity in your private group or your entire business.

    The disposal of assets, liquidation or vesting of entities may have tax consequences.

    Effective tax governance when closing a business will help mitigate risk and provide practical certainty for stakeholders.

    For more information, see Changing, selling or closing your business.

    Companies

    When a company is wound up, liquidated or deregistered, you should retain documentation for tax governance purposes. This may include:

    • contracts for sale of assets
    • documentation to evidence the forgiveness of loans
    • minutes of meetings.

    In some cases, you may be legally required to retain this information.

    Example: winding up a company

    Spin Records has been a profitable company for many years. However, due to a change in consumer demand and the economy, its company directors believe it is no longer viable to continue to carry on the business.

    The directors decide to liquidate and deregister Spin Records before it becomes unprofitable, rather than dispose of the business. They agree to engage a liquidator to start winding up the company in 3 months. This allows it to fulfil its final contracts with customers.

    Before commencing liquidation, a dividend is declared and paid to the shareholders. The assets of the company are then sold. The proceeds and cash reserves are used to pay creditors. Loans provided to shareholders are forgiven. A final dividend is declared by the liquidator and paid to shareholders before the company is deregistered with ASIC.

    Spin Records needs to retain the following documentation for tax purposes:

    • minutes of meetings documenting key decisions relating to the winding up, liquidation and deregistration
    • minutes of directors’ meetings relating to the dividends declared and paid
    • minutes of meetings conducted by the liquidator
    • analysis of the tax consequences of the sale of assets and the forgiveness of loans to related parties
    • the final tax return and details of payment of tax liabilities.

    The company’s shareholders also need to keep documentation to substantiate the cost base of shares in the company for capital gains tax purposes.

    End of example

    For more information, see:

    Trust vesting

    Where a trustee is intending to vest a trust, they should carefully examine the trust deed to ensure adherence to its terms.

    The trustee should:

    Partnerships

    Where a partnership ends, a final partnership distribution will be necessary.

    Each partner will need to retain documentation to substantiate the cost base of their respective interest in the partnership for capital gains tax purposes.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Disposing of your business

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Selling a business

    The sale of a business generally occurs through the disposal of either:

    • the shares or other ownership interests in the entity that conducts the business
    • all of the tangible and intangible assets in the business.

    When preparing to dispose of your business, we encourage you to consider your tax governance for the transaction and the tax consequences.

    For more information, see:

    Record keeping

    Both the vendor and purchaser need to retain documentation evidencing the transactions, including:

    • contracts
    • minutes of meetings recording why the business was to be sold and decisions relating to the transaction by the directors and other key decision makers
    • communications between the vendor and purchaser relating to the negotiations, including any allowance for liabilities
    • details of the assets disposed of under the contract, the apportionment of the purchase price to the various assets and the basis for the apportionment
    • capital gains tax (CGT) calculations, including the
      • allocation of purchase price to depreciating assets
      • basis for this allocation
      • treatment of consideration held in escrow
    • any advice detailing why the particular tax position has been taken
    • settlement documentation
    • asset registers
    • trust resolutions creating income or capital entitlements of beneficiaries.

    Revenue or capital transaction

    Where you dispose of an asset, you need to determine whether it should be treated as a revenue or capital transaction.

    You can find relevant information and views in documentation, such as minutes of meetings, business plans, documented discussions with stakeholders and consultants and financial statements.

    Disposing of a business to a related party

    Where you dispose of the business to a related party, you should get an independent valuation of the business, including the goodwill, assets and contractual rights being disposed of.

    Interest expense

    There may be an impact on the interest expense that can be deducted if the disposal of an ownership interest in a business results in a change to the entity’s debt to equity ratio. You may need to recalculate this at the relevant time.

    Disposing of part of a business

    You may partially dispose of your business by:

    • creating a new class of shareholders or unit holders, or by amending rights for existing share classes
    • disposing of a portion of shares
    • retiring from a partnership
    • admitting a new partner into your partnership.

    As a result of the above changes, you may need to amend key documents such as the company’s constitution, trust deed, or partnership agreement.

    The rights of the existing shareholders or unitholders may also be affected. Where this occurs, the existing shareholders, unitholders and partners should consider any tax consequences, such as capital gains, value shifting and limitations on future deductions or capital losses.

    More complex business disposals

    More complex or non-traditional business disposals often give rise to a range of tax issues and require risk mitigation. Good tax governance will ensure that you identify, assess and manage these issues.

    You should carefully consider and document transactions and the commercial business drivers.

    Some of the more complex business disposals that may require additional tax governance include:

    We encourage you to seek advice from a tax adviser if you are unsure of the tax consequences.

    You may also wish to engage with us for advice directly before entering the transaction. We can help reduce uncertainty by clarifying how the tax law relates to your particular circumstances.

    Earn-out arrangements

    The disposal of a business that includes an earn-out arrangement can take several forms. Good governance practices include:

    • retaining the sale contract and other relevant agreements
    • considering changes in the law examining the terms of the earn-out arrangement and identifying the contingent and non-contingent rights
    • considering if there is a reverse earn-out arrangement
    • estimating the value of the earn-out right and retaining documentation to support the estimate
    • getting tax advice and preparing the capital gains tax calculations for the income year in which the disposal occurred
    • comparing the amounts actually received under the earn-out clauses to the amount estimated.

    Scrip-for-scrip rollovers

    When you have a CGT event that results in a capital gain, a rollover may be applied, for example, a scrip-for-scrip rollover. Generally, this occurs where a seller exchanges a share in a company (or trust interest in a trust) for a share in another company (or trust interest in another trust).

    Effective governance involves retaining key documentation to provide you with certainty. It should be readily accessible if we review the transaction.

    Key documentation to retain may include:

    • minutes of meetings or other documentation recording proposals, deliberations and negotiations prior to entering into the transaction
    • minutes of decisions to proceed with the transaction and executed contract documents
    • evidence of the interests exchanged (such as share certificates or unit registers)
    • details of the CGT profile of interests, such as cost base and any pre-CGT status
    • valuations
    • other workings, papers or advice setting out the conditions and how they have been satisfied.

    Listing on a stock exchange

    Where a business owner is looking to dispose of the shares in a business via listing on a stock exchange through an initial public offering (IPO), back-door listing or reverse take-over, good tax governance practices may include:

    • considering the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and Australian Securities and Investments Commission requirements and their tax consequences
    • getting advice on the CGT treatment of any disposal of shares held by the existing shareholders
    • documenting the transactions and tax impacts, including considering whether the CGT discount and a full or partial CGT rollover apply
    • considering how any additional amounts to which the existing shareholders are entitled after the event (such as additional shares or earn-out amounts) will be treated for tax purposes.

    A back-door listing generally involves the disposal of an entity’s shares or assets to a company that is currently listed on the ASX. Interests sold between related parties through back-door listings should be subject to independent market valuations.

    Exit from a consolidated group

    Where a consolidated group disposes of a partial or the full interest in a subsidiary member, resulting in it leaving the group, effective governance practices include:

    • retaining the sale contract and agreements
    • preparing a statement of financial position in accordance with accounting standards as at the date of exit
    • ensuring that the assets and liabilities appearing on the statement of financial position reflect market values
    • undertaking allocable cost amount exit calculations
    • calculating the capital gain or loss resulting from the disposal of the interest in the subsidiary member
    • getting a valuation to determine the subsidiary’s market value where the purchaser is a related party
    • notifying us of any changes to membership.

    For more information, see Consolidation.

    MIL OSI News