Bill S8372 Creates Rebuttable Presumption for Matrimonial Expense Evidence

New York Senate Bill S8372, sponsored by Senator Jabari Brisport at the request of the Unified Court System, passed the Senate on June 5, 2025. The bill proposes adding CPLR Rule 4533-c to create a rebuttable presumption that itemized bills or invoices up to $10,000 are admissible as evidence in matrimonial actions, including divorce proceedings, custody disputes, and related post-judgment matters. The rule aims to streamline proof of expenses for court-ordered obligations, child-related costs, and household expenses by allowing documented invoices to establish both necessity and reasonable value when accompanied by an affirmation from the service provider.

NAIC Spring 2026 Meeting Covers CLO RBC, SVO Backlog, Investment Framework

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) held its 2026 Spring National Meeting March 22-25 in San Diego, covering investment and RBC framework developments. The Invested Assets (E) Task Force and Investment Designation Analysis (E) Working Group held their first public meetings, with NAIC staff reporting a significant increase in Securities Valuation Office (SVO) filings in 2025—particularly for privately rated securities—creating a backlog that has strained existing resources. The RBC Model Governance Task Force received a dozen comment letters identifying areas for improvement in RBC framework governance and formula inconsistencies across life, property/casualty, and health sectors. The RBCIRE Working Group released for public comment a proposal on CLO RBC factors based on credit rating and tranche thickness (with a 45-day comment period ending April 16, 2026), while the American Academy of Actuaries recommended retaining the existing 45% pre-tax C-1 charge for residual CLO tranches.

SEC Staff Guidance on Crypto Broker Status

The SEC Division of Trading and Markets issued a staff statement on April 13, 2026 clarifying when crypto trading interfaces may qualify as broker-dealers under federal securities laws. The statement establishes that broker-dealer analysis is functional, not formal — focusing on how an interface behaves rather than what it is. Covered providers operating nondiscretionary interfaces where users control transaction parameters may avoid broker-dealer registration if conditions including user control, neutral route presentation, fixed compensation, and cybersecurity safeguards are met. The guidance follows similar CFTC no-action relief for Phantom Technologies Inc. and leaves open questions about optimization tools, institutional systems, and routing practices that may be examined in future enforcement.

FinCEN and OFAC Propose AML Sanctions Rules for Stablecoin Issuers Under GENIUS Act

FinCEN and OFAC jointly published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on April 8, 2026, to implement the GENIUS Act, which creates the first federal regulatory framework for U.S. payment stablecoins. The proposed rule would treat permitted payment stablecoin issuers as "financial institutions" under the Bank Secrecy Act, requiring them to establish AML/CFT programs and maintain effective sanctions compliance programs—the first time such compliance programs have been mandated by law. The rule would apply to three qualifying entity types: subsidiaries of insured depository institutions or credit unions, federal-qualified payment stablecoin issuers, and state-qualified issuers.

State AGs Demand Payment Networks Block Unauthorized E-Cigarette Sales

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, leading a coalition of 13 state AGs, sent a letter on April 14, 2026 to Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover requesting immediate action to deny services to merchants selling unauthorized e-cigarette products. The AGs claim illicit e-cigarettes account for over 80% of the U.S. market, generating more than $11 billion in annual retail sales, and allege that companies providing payment services to unlawful e-cigarette sellers may face exposure under the FDCA, PACT Act, FTC Act, and federal anti-money laundering statutes. Financial services providers—including card networks, sponsor banks, acquirers, ISOs, and PSPs—are identified as the next regulatory target following prior AG efforts against e-commerce platforms like Shopify.

SEC Reduces Tender Offer Period to 10 Days

The SEC Division of Corporation Finance issued exemptive relief on April 16, 2026, shortening the minimum tender offer period from 20 business days to 10 business days for equity securities offers meeting specified conditions (cash-only consideration at a fixed price, less than all outstanding securities, no competing tender offers). The relief applies to reporting companies under Regulation 14D or Rule 13e-4 and non-reporting companies under Rule 14e-1. Affected companies should evaluate whether the shortened timeline suits their operational needs and confirm their offer structure complies with the fixed-cash-consideration requirement.

FCA CP26/13 Consults on Cryptoasset Perimeter Guidance

BCLP analyzes FCA Consultation Paper CP26/13, proposing amendments to the Perimeter Guidance Manual (PERG) within the FCA Handbook to clarify the regulatory perimeter for the UK's new cryptoasset regime under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026. The consultation seeks feedback by 3 June 2026, with the new regime taking effect 25 October 2027 and the authorisation window running from 30 September 2026 to 28 February 2027. Regulated activities include issuing qualifying stablecoins, safeguarding cryptoassets, operating trading platforms, and arranging qualifying cryptoasset staking.

SRB Response to EC Consultation on EU Banking Sector Competitiveness

The Single Resolution Board (SRB) published its response on April 15, 2026, to the European Commission's targeted consultation on the competitiveness of the EU banking sector. The SRB emphasizes that while the banking union has substantially strengthened the resilience of EU banks, its incomplete nature continues to hinder cross-border integration and efficiency. The SRB calls for progress toward a more integrated European deposit protection framework, a strengthened approach to liquidity in resolution, and improvements to cross-border capital allocation within banking groups.

Act 934 of 2025 Certified, Expanding Law on Intoxicating Hemp-Derived Products

Attorney General Tim Griffin certified Act 934 of 2025, which updates and expands Arkansas's 2023 law banning the sale and distribution of intoxicating hemp-derived products including Delta-8, Delta-9, and THC-O. The 2023 law was initially blocked by an industry-coalition injunction, but the Eighth Circuit reversed that ruling, and the state subsequently obtained a final judgment in its favor. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration removed over 6,000 illegal products from store shelves and conducted more than 2,800 enforcement visits statewide.

NJ AG Warns Residents About Investment Scams on Meta Platforms

Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Bureau of Securities issued a consumer alert on April 22, 2026, warning New Jersey residents about fraudulent investment schemes proliferating on Meta platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The alert describes three primary scam types: pump-and-dump stock and crypto schemes, confidence scams with fake investment platforms, and fraudulent cryptocurrency offerings often using deepfake technology and deceptive ads. Victims are directed to report suspected fraud to the Bureau at www.NJSecurities.gov or 1-866-I-INVEST.

FSCS Warns of Scam Red Flags: Cold Calls, URN Requests, Upfront Payment Demands

FSCS published updated scam alert guidance identifying key red flags for financial services customers, including cold calls from non-FSCS numbers (0208..., 0330...), requests for Unique Reference Numbers (URN) or Customer Reference Numbers (CRN), and demands for upfront payments. The latest documented scam from 09 April 2026 involves fraudsters sending emails falsely claiming FSCS protects cryptoassets and charging fees to increase compensation levels. FSCS reiterates it is completely free to make a claim and never communicates via WhatsApp or asks for upfront fees.

USPTO Seeks Comments on Patent Secrecy and Export License Information Collection Through May 22

The USPTO is seeking public comments on the renewal of OMB Control Number 0651-0034 for its Secrecy and License to Export information collection, covering patent secrecy orders and foreign filing license petitions. Comments are due May 22, 2026, providing an additional 30-day comment period following a prior 60-day period. The collection involves approximately 7,318 annual respondents with an estimated 4,207 total annual burden hours. Entities involved in patent applications subject to national security restrictions or foreign filing should review the existing requirements and consider submitting comments.

Christmas Tree Continuance Referendum May 22 to June 2, 2026

AMS will conduct a mail and electronic ballot referendum among eligible domestic producers and importers of Christmas trees from May 22, 2026 through June 2, 2026 to determine whether they favor continuance of the National Christmas Tree Research and Promotion Program. Eligible voters must have produced or imported 500 or more Christmas trees between September 1, 2025 and March 15, 2026. Approximately 1,200 persons are eligible to vote. If a majority favors continuance, USDA will continue the program; if not, USDA will follow suspension and termination procedures.

ZATCA Jeddah Port Seizes 2.9M Captagon Pills Hidden in Shea Butter Shipment

ZATCA at Jeddah Islamic Port successfully seized 2,916,180 Captagon pills concealed within a shipment declared as containing 'Shea Butter.' Following the seizure, ZATCA coordinated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, resulting in the arrest of two recipients inside the Kingdom. The Authority emphasized its commitment to tightening customs control over all imports and exports, standing vigilant against smuggling attempts to curb trafficking of prohibited goods.

ZATCA Urges WHT Establishments to Submit March 2026 Forms

ZATCA has called on establishments subject to Withholding Tax in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to submit their withholding tax forms for March 2026 by 10 April 2026. A penalty of 1% of unpaid tax is applied for every 30 days of delay beyond the due date. Withholding Tax applies to amounts paid from a source in the Kingdom to non-resident entities without a permanent establishment.

ZATCA Urges Establishments to Submit VAT Returns for March and Q1 2026

ZATCA reminded Saudi Arabian businesses subject to VAT to file their tax returns for March 2026 (for establishments with goods and service revenues exceeding SAR 40 million) or the first quarter of 2026 (for those with annual supplies not exceeding SAR 40 million) by no later than April 30, 2026. The authority warned that a fine of 5-25% of the tax value due will be imposed for failure to file within the specified period. Businesses may file through ZATCA's website or mobile application.

AG Blanche, FBI Director Patel Announce Charges Against Southern Poverty Law Center

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel announced Federal Grand Jury charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for Wire Fraud, False Statements, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The charges were filed in the Northern District of Alabama. This represents a significant federal enforcement action against a prominent civil rights advocacy organization, with potential implications for nonprofit compliance programs and federal grant accountability.

Recommends Passkeys as Default Authentication Option for Safer Logins

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, has reversed its prior hesitation and now recommends passkeys as the default authentication option for consumers across all digital services. This marks a formal policy shift from last year when NCSC stopped short of endorsing passkeys due to implementation challenges; progress within industry has since resolved those concerns. The announcement coincides with publication of a technical report finding passkeys are at least as secure as, and generally more secure than, pairing the strongest password with two-step verification. UK adoption is already ahead globally, with just over 50% of active Google services users in the UK having a passkey registered. Online service providers should treat passkey availability as the expected standard going forward.

Sejean Reid and Whitney Charles Charged with Fraud and Money Laundering

The Ontario Securities Commission has laid Criminal Code charges against Sejean Reid and Whitney Charles of Oakville, Ontario, for fraud over $5,000 and laundering proceeds of crime. The OSC alleges that between December 2021 and December 2023, the accused operated an investment scheme called 'Golden Zone Corporation', collecting approximately $4 million from investors by falsely promising weekly returns of 5-9% on professionally traded investments. The accused were arrested on April 21, 2026, and released on undertakings, with a court appearance scheduled for July 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto.

Web Form for Reporting Website Issues to CNMC

The CNMC (Comisión Nacional de Mercados y la Competencia), Spain's national competition and markets regulator, provides a web form for users to report problems with its official website. The form allows users to describe website issues, attach images, and submit feedback to help improve the content and functionality of the CNMC's online platform. This is an informational infrastructure tool, not a regulatory action or enforcement measure.

Wiley et al v. Google LLC - Notice of Removal from Santa Clara County Superior Court

Google LLC filed a Notice of Removal on April 22, 2026, removing Wiley et al v. Google LLC (Case No. 24CV434672) from Santa Clara County Superior Court to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The filing included a $405 filing fee and Rule 7.1 corporate parent disclosures identifying XXVI Holdings Inc. and Alphabet Inc. as holding companies of Google LLC. This procedural filing establishes federal jurisdiction over the previously state-filed civil case.

$43 Million to Make Local Water Infrastructure Projects Affordable Across New York State

The Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors approved $43 million in low-cost financing and State and federal grants to help New York communities afford water and sewer infrastructure improvements statewide, including lead service line replacement in the City of Utica. Funding recipients span eight regions including the Finger Lakes, Long Island, Mohawk Valley, North Country, and Western New York, with projects addressing watermain replacement, PFAS removal, wastewater treatment plant upgrades, and emergency power facilities.

Hochul Announces $20M for Hospital Energy Efficiency and Electrification

Governor Hochul announced that more than $20 million is now available through NYSERDA's Empire Building Challenge: Hospitals (EBC: Hospitals) program for energy efficiency and electrification upgrades at hospitals in New York State. Individual awards of up to $5 million will be granted for scalable low-carbon solutions including building electrification, electrification readiness, and comprehensive energy efficiency projects achieving significant energy and carbon reductions. Hospitals in disadvantaged communities as defined by the New York Climate Justice Working Group will receive prioritization. Proposals are due September 15, 2026, by 3 p.m.; an informational webinar will be held April 22, 2026, at 10 a.m.

Superannuation Statistical Publications, March 2026

APRA released its quarterly superannuation statistical publications for March 2026, including Quarterly Superannuation Product Statistics, Quarterly Superannuation Industry publication, and Quarterly Fund-Level Statistics (all dated 11 March 2026). Earlier publications include the Annual superannuation bulletin and Annual fund-level superannuation statistics (December 2025), and Annual MySuper statistics. This is a routine statistical release providing industry data on Australia's $3.5+ trillion superannuation sector.

APRA Superannuation News Filtered by Industry Index

This filtered news index from APRA captures superannuation-related publications from March to April 2026, including 14 media releases spanning enforcement actions and regulatory consultations. Notable enforcement items include APRA imposing additional licence conditions on Fiducian (1 April 2026), Australian Ethical Superannuation (27 November 2025), HESTA (11 December 2025), Diversa Trustees Limited (23 December 2025), and Equity Trustees Superannuation Limited (18 December 2025), plus an accepted court enforceable undertaking from Netwealth (18 December 2025). The index also includes consultations on Level 3 conglomerate standards and the Government's Retirement Reporting Framework implementation.

Taiwan Travel Food Regulations for International Tourists

The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) issued guidance for international tourists and parcel recipients on food import rules effective March 10, 2026. General food items are exempt if priced under USD 1,000 and weighing less than 6 kilograms per item, while capsules and tablets are limited to 36 bottles total across all types. TFDA warns that imported products under the personal use exemption cannot be resold or distributed, with violators subject to fines of NT$30,000 to NT$3,000,000 under Articles 30 and 47 of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

APEC Conference on Tobacco Control Addresses Emerging Products

The Health Promotion Administration of Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare convened an international tobacco control conference in Taipei on March 25, 2026, bringing together 11 APEC economies including Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Singapore, the United States, and others. The conference addressed regulatory frameworks for emerging tobacco and nicotine products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, while exploring innovative smoking cessation services and integrated care models. Taiwan highlighted its amended Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act (2023 amendment strengthening regulation of new nicotine products) and ongoing enforcement collaboration with local health bureaus.

Joshua Christopher Kuchenmeister Consent Order Case INS-25-0091

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation posted a new consent order entry for Joshua Christopher Kuchenmeister (Case INS-25-0091) on April 21, 2026, an enforcement action in the insurance sector. The page entry was inserted into the agency's Notices and Orders table alongside other enforcement actions including Allstate Insurance Company, Andrew Mason/Blue Ocean Capital LLC, and Anssi Viljanen/Ironside Claims LLC.

Syngenta Voluntarily Cancels Paraquat Pesticide Registration in California

Effective April 1, 2026, Syngenta voluntarily cancelled registration of Gramoxone® SL 3.0, a paraquat-dichloride herbicide, in California. Products containing paraquat from other registered companies remain unaffected and continue under separate DPR reevaluation. DPR-licensed dealers may continue to possess and sell existing Gramoxone® SL 3.0 stock for up to two years following the cancellation date (until April 1, 2028), while growers must continue to use products per all applicable label directions and state and federal regulations. The reevaluation is ongoing pursuant to Assembly Bill 1963 (Chapter 688, Statutes of 2024) and is scheduled for completion by January 2029.

California DPR Releases First Strategic Plan Progress Update

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released its first progress update on the 2024–28 Strategic Plan, reporting that 98% of strategic objectives are either complete or progressing as scheduled through Q1 2026. The update covers four strategic goals: increasing access to sustainable pest management, tracking and enforcing safe pesticide use, fostering engagement and transparency, and promoting organizational excellence. DPR also launched a new interactive dashboard to display performance metrics and milestones publicly.

CA DPR Announces $500,000 Ecosystem Monitoring RFP for Pesticide Research

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for ecosystem monitoring research, making $500,000 in total funding available to study pesticide impacts on California wildlife and natural environments. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, non-profit organizations, and other qualified entities, with individual awards ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 and project periods of up to three years beginning July 1, 2026. Funded studies may examine soil microbial communities, pesticide uptake in non-target species, pollinator populations, and combined pesticide-climate stressor impacts.

Gazette Notification on Delegation of Powers

IRDAI has published a gazette notification concerning the delegation of powers within India's insurance regulatory framework. The document is available as a downloadable PDF (976 KB) on the IRDAI website. The notification formalizes administrative authority structures within the regulatory body. No specific compliance obligations, deadlines, or penalties are stated in the available content.

SEC and CSE Joint Session Auditors Watchlist Companies

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) jointly organized an awareness session on 23rd March 2026 for auditors of companies currently on the CSE Watchlist. The session focused on enhancing awareness of enforcement actions and timelines, reducing prolonged Watchlist durations, and fostering a coordinated regulatory approach among regulators, auditors, and listed companies. SEC Chairman Prof. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara highlighted the core virtues of integrity, objectivity, and confidentiality in auditing, noting that auditors holding the line on transparency give investors the confidence to trust financial statements.

Windblown Dust Advisory San Gorgonio Pass Banning Coachella Valley

South Coast AQMD has issued a windblown dust advisory for San Gorgonio Pass near Banning and the Coachella Valley effective Monday 8:00 PM through Wednesday 7:00 AM. Wind gusts up to 43 mph are expected in the Northern Coachella Valley and 50-60 mph in San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, causing high particle pollution (PM10) with Very Unhealthy or higher AQI categories anticipated at times in the Northern Coachella Valley and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or higher in other areas. Residents in affected areas are advised to remain indoors with windows closed, avoid vigorous physical activity, and run air conditioning or air purifiers.

Windblown Dust Advisory Extended for San Gorgonio Pass, Banning and Coachella Valley

South Coast AQMD has extended a windblown dust advisory for San Gorgonio Pass, Banning, and the Coachella Valley through Wednesday April 22 at 11:59 PM due to high winds with gusts up to 50-60 mph expected in the Northern Coachella Valley. Unhealthy or higher AQI categories are forecast at times through Wednesday night in the Northern Coachella Valley, while Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or higher AQI is expected in other areas. The advisory includes public health recommendations including remaining indoors with windows closed and running air conditioning or air purifiers.

South Coast AQMD Highlights Air Quality Progress Despite Wildfires

South Coast AQMD announced that 2025 recorded some of the lowest ozone levels on record for the Los Angeles region, and the South Coast Air Basin now meets the federal PM10 standard and achieved the 24-hour PM2.5 standard in 2023 and 2024. The agency highlighted that elevated PM2.5 levels at times were driven by large-scale wildfires, which are increasing in frequency and intensity, while referencing programs such as Rule 2305 (WAIRE Program), INVEST CLEAN*, and ELECTRIC as ongoing efforts to reduce emissions in impacted communities.

California Court of Appeal Unpublished Opinions, Last 60 Days

California Courts of Appeal published 1,367 unpublished opinions over the last 60 days across multiple districts (1st through 6th). Cases include criminal matters (People v. M.S., People v. Ortega, People v. Williams), civil disputes (Darden v. The Bd. of Trustees of Leland Stanford Jr. University), family law (Marriage of Rodrigues and Craig), and other proceedings (Conservatorship of R.R., Doe v. Regents of the U. of Cal.). Unpublished opinions may not be cited or relied upon by other courts or parties per California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115.

Archive Preserves Web Sources Cited in CA Supreme Court Opinions

The California Supreme Court maintains an archive preserving URLs cited in opinions filed since May 24, 2018, ensuring continued public access to web sources that may change or disappear over time. The archive currently contains citations from multiple opinions spanning 2025 and 2026, including P. v. Bertsch, L.A. Police Protective League v. City of L.A., and Taking Offense v. State of Cal., with PDFs capturing cited pages as they appeared at the time of filing. The Court does not guarantee accessibility, privacy standards, or security compliance of archived pages, and copyright remains with original authors.

California Appellate Published Opinions Search Guide

California Courts maintains a searchable database of published appellate opinions, including Official Reports opinions (searchable 1850–Present) via LexisNexis and recent slip opinions posted within 120 days. Supreme Court slip opinions are posted at 10:00 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays; Court of Appeal opinions are posted throughout the day as filed. This page lists 50 of 261 available published opinions spanning the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Districts plus the Supreme Court, covering dates from March through April 2026.

Hong Kong Insurance Market Statistics as of 30 September 2025

The Insurance Authority of Hong Kong published market statistics showing 159 authorized insurers as at 30 September 2025, comprising 86 pure general insurers, 51 pure long term insurers, 19 composite insurers, and 3 special purpose insurers. The intermediary population included 1,483 licensed insurance agencies, 81,590 licensed individual insurance agents, 23,537 technical representatives (agent), 799 licensed insurance broker companies, and 12,411 technical representatives (broker). Total gross premiums for the Hong Kong insurance industry in 2024 amounted to HK$635.2 billion.

Hong Kong Insurance Authority Press Releases Index

The Insurance Authority of Hong Kong publishes a comprehensive index of press releases covering its regulatory activities from September 2025 through April 2026, including enforcement actions, consultations, industry statistics, and stakeholder outreach. Notable entries include reprimands and fines against broker companies for AML/CTF violations, banning orders against insurance intermediaries, a public consultation on Risk-based Capital Regime enhancements, and initiatives promoting AI innovation in financial services.

CA Sales Holdings Directors Accept 931,300 Share Options

CA Sales Holdings Limited disclosed the acceptance of share options by four directors under the company share incentive scheme. Duncan Lewis and Frans Reichert accepted 431,300 and 248,300 options respectively on 21 April 2026, while Kaushik Shah and Vikas Mehta accepted 67,700 and 184,800 options respectively on 20 April 2026. The disclosure was made in compliance with JSE and BSE Listings Requirements, with clearance obtained under the JSE Listings Requirements.

G4S Botswana Appoints Tobile Lemo Finance Director, Announces Resignation

G4S Botswana Limited has disclosed two board changes in compliance with BSE Equity Listing Requirements. Tobile Lemo has been appointed Finance Director effective 11th March 2026, succeeding her role as Financial Controller, bringing over 15 years of accounting, finance, and audit experience, including prior service as Finance Manager at Bomaid and finance leadership roles across oil and gas, multinational, and parastatal sectors. Concurrently, Michael Groebblar has resigned from the Board with effect from 31st March 2026, having served as non-executive director since March 2025. The company has confirmed both changes were announced by order of the Board of Directors on 22 April 2026.

MPFA Releases Provisional MPF Investment Returns Data as of March 2026

MPFA released provisional MPF investment return data as of 31 March 2026. Equity Funds and Mixed Assets Funds, which together represent 80% of total MPF assets, delivered average annualized net returns of 4.8% and 4.4% respectively since the MPF system's inception, outperforming the 1.8% annualized inflation rate. The Core Accumulation Fund under the Default Investment Strategy earned 6.4% average annualized net return since its 2017 launch, also exceeding inflation.

Good MPF Employer Award 2024-25 Sets Record with 2,378 Companies, 330,000 Employees

The Good MPF Employer Award (GMEA) 2024-25 has recognized a record 2,378 companies and organizations collectively employing over 330,000 people, representing a 3% increase from the prior year. The MPFA will temporarily suspend the GMEA to conduct a thorough review aligning the programme with the newly launched eMPF Platform, whose full operation is expected by end of April 2026. Awardees may continue using the GMEA title and logo until further notice.

Phishing Emails Target Hong Kong MPF Members

MPFA and eMPF Platform Company Limited have issued an alert regarding phishing emails originating from noreply@hkmpf.com that falsely claim suspicious logins or abnormal activities in recipients' eMPF Platform accounts. The emails direct users to fraudulent websites in an attempt to harvest login credentials. Both MPFA and eMPF Company have confirmed they have no connection to these emails and have reported the incidents to Police. Official email domains for MPFA are @mpfa.org.hk and for eMPF Company are @empf.org.hk, @support.empf.org.hk, and @osc.empf.org.hk.

Government Bond Auction NT$30B 1.5050%

CBC Taiwan conducted an auction of NT$30 billion (300億元) in 10-year government construction bonds on behalf of the Ministry of Finance. The auction closed with a highest winning bid yield of 1.5050% and a competitive bid-to-cover ratio of 1.78x. Bid allocation across sectors shifted: banking institutions increased their share to 80.84% from 73.28%, while securities firms decreased to 13.16% from 23.00%. Insurance company participation rose to 4.33% from 1.43%.

Bank of Zambia Monetary Policy Reports 2024-2026

The Bank of Zambia publishes its Monetary Policy Reports under Article 213(2)(b) of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act, 2016 and section 27(2) of the Bank of Zambia Act. The Monetary Policy Committee meets every second month of the quarter in February, May, August, and November to decide on the monetary policy stance. The listed reports span from February 2024 through February 2026, with the most recent publication dated March 3, 2026.

Geopolitical Tensions Impact Global Growth Outlook

Eesti Pank published its Estonian Economy and Monetary Policy 1/2026 report, analysing how increased geopolitical tensions and the outbreak of war in Iran and the wider region on 28 February have disrupted global economic conditions that had been improving through late 2025 and early 2026. The report notes that fuel and commodity prices have jumped, financial markets have become more volatile, bond yields have spiked, and supply chain disruption indexes have risen as geopolitical uncertainty has increased risk premiums. This economic outlook publication is intended for policymakers, financial institutions, and businesses assessing global market conditions.

Ministry of Finance Amends Real Estate Combined Income Tax Declaration Guidelines

Taiwan's Ministry of Finance (MOF) issued amendments to the 'Real Estate Combined Income Tax Declaration Guidelines' on April 21, 2026, effective the same day. Key changes include: (1) revised equity-value calculation method for anti-avoidance provisions, allowing use of total asset fair-market value as denominator when objectively measurable (e.g., accountant-verified actual-price data); (2) narrowed scope of anti-avoidance rules by exempting 'old equity' (acquired before June 30, 2021) attributable to pre-2016 'old-system' real estate from combined-tax treatment; and (3) codification of existing interpretive rulings on spouse gifts, successive inheritances, holding-period calculations, and joint-development taxation. The MOF confirmed these taxpayer-favorable provisions apply retroactively to unassessed cases.