NewzIntel.com

Category: Agriculture

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Talks Agriculture Policy With Illinois Corn Growers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    July 17, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, met with members of the Illinois Corn Growers to discuss their policy priorities, including concerns with the federal Farm Bill process, regional inequities in the federal crop insurance program, and the importance of federal policies that support E15 ethanol and conservation incentives.

    “I met with the Illinois Corn Growers to hear more about their priorities for programs that help our Illinois farmers,” said Durbin. “As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I will continue to advocate on behalf of federal policies important to Illinois agriculture.”

    Photos of the meeting are available here.

    Farmers from the following towns attended today’s meeting:

    • Waterloo, Illinois
    • Decatur, Illinois
    • Coal Valley, Illinois
    • Woodhull, Illinois
    • Minonk, Illinois
    • Normal, Illinois
    • Bloomington, Illinois
    • Franklin, Illinois
    • Orion, Illinois
    • Good Hope, Illinois
    • Fowler, Illinois
    • Saint Joseph, Illinois
    • Waveryly, Illinois
    • Shawneetown, Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois
    • Oneida, Illinois

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Sidhu and Minister MacDonald statement on resolution of the CPTPP dairy tariff rate quotas dispute with New Zealand

    Source: Government of Canada News

    July 17, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade and the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, issued the following statement on the resolution of the dairy tariff rate quotas (TRQs) dispute with New Zealand under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

    “This Government remains committed to maintaining, protecting and defending supply management, and standing up for the dairy industry, farmers, workers and the communities they support.

    “Canada has reached a mutually satisfactory solution with New Zealand to resolve the CPTPP dairy TRQs dispute. This agreement, negotiated in close consultation with Canadian dairy stakeholders, will result in certain minor policy changes to Canada’s TRQ administration, and does not amend Canada’s market access commitments. These technical policy changes are limited to quotas administered under the terms of the CPTPP, and will not negatively impact Canada’s dairy industry or supply management.

    “With these changes, New Zealand has confirmed that it will not take further action under the CPTPP dispute settlement process.

    “This outcome shows how Canada and New Zealand, key CPTPP partners, worked together to use the mechanisms established under the trade agreement to resolve differences. Canada and New Zealand will continue to work together to promote trade and investment under the CPTPP and in other fora.”

    Quick facts

    • Today’s announcement follows the dispute settlement process initiated under the CPTPP by New Zealand in 2022.
    • These technical policy changes primarily include:
      • earlier return dates;
      • introducing a chronic return penalty;
      • introducing an underfill mechanism for TRQs with lower fill; and
      • increasing data transparency.
    • These changes will be published on October 1, 2025, for implementation beginning with the 2026 calendar year dairy TRQs.
    • Canada’s dairy sector is a vital pillar of rural communities and a key driver of the economy. Located across the country, these 9,256 farms and 549 dairy processing plants generated $8.9 billion in farm cash receipts and $19.3 billion in sales respectively in 2024. Together, dairy production and processing activities account for more than 70,000 jobs. 

    Associated links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor Steps Up to the Plate for Breast Cancer Survivor Shahra Lambert at 16th Annual Congressional Softball Game

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) played in the friendly rivalry softball game between the women of Congress and women of the D.C. press corps at the 16th Annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game (CWSG). Since 2009, the CWSG has supported the Young Survival Coalition by raising awareness of breast cancer in young women and honoring current fighters and survivors of cancer.

    This year, Rep. Castor stepped up to the plate for her District Advisor Shahra Lambert, a breast cancer survivor and dedicated advocate for residents across the Tampa Bay area. As District Advisor, Lambert uses her expertise and deep understanding of the region to meaningfully engage with constituents and stakeholders across the community. Lambert’s impressive career includes fifteen years in leadership roles for former U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, during which time she worked on several initiatives to promote equity and community engagement. After Nelson was confirmed to lead NASA, Lambert joined the Administrator’s team as Senior Advisor. Her extensive experience with federal agencies, grassroots advocacy and strategic planning has been instrumental in advancing the district’s priorities and fostering stronger connections within the community.

    Photos of the game are available here.

    “I’m humbled and honored that Congresswoman Castor is not only playing in my honor but playing for all those survivors and their loved ones’ cancer journey,” said Lambert. “It takes a village, and I’m glad to be a part of and root for Team Castor and the Congressional Women’s Softball.”

    “The Congressional Women’s Softball Game brings people together for a friendly rivalry game that helps bring people of all sides together to support initiatives raising awareness of breast cancer and underscoring the importance of young women knowing their risks and getting their screenings,” said Rep. Castor. “I was honored to play for my District Advisor, Shahra Lambert, whose exceptional experience and dedication to serving Florida families and small businesses are vital to my ability to connect with constituents and address their needs effectively. Shahra has been an asset in fighting to secure emergency federal support for my neighbors recovering from last year’s devastating hurricanes.”

    An estimated 316,950 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, and an estimated 43,700 women will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Rep. Castor has been a leader in Congress in advancing legislation to fight cancer through increased preventative care, expanded access to cancer screenings, coverage for timely cancer treatment and investments in cancer research.

    “While I am thrilled to receive the Rep. Joanne Emerson Most Valuable Player Award this year as the Member Team’s pitcher, all of the women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and have fought through the diagnosis are the true winners in my book,” said Rep. Castor.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Padilla, Chu Join Union Workers to Announce Legislation to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (July 16, 2025) – Today, on the heels of another harsh heat wave across California, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), and union workers from the United Farm Workers (UFW), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and United Steelworkers to announce their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to implement federal enforceable workplace heat stress protections.

    Co-leads of the legislation include Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Representatives Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Alma Adams (D-N.C.-12).

    To address the increasing risks from extreme temperatures, the lawmakers introduced the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act, legislation to protect the safety and health of indoor and outdoor workers who are exposed to dangerous heat conditions in the workplace. The legislation would protect workers against occupational exposure to excessive heat by requiring the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish an enforceable federal standard to protect workers in high-heat environments with commonsense measures like paid breaks in cool spaces, access to water, limitations on time exposed to heat, and emergency response for workers with heat-related illness. The bill also directs employers to provide training for their employees on the risk factors that can lead to heat illness and guidance on the proper procedures for responding to symptoms.

    The bill is named in honor of Asunción Valdivia, who died in 2004 after picking grapes for 10 hours straight in 105-degree temperatures. Mr. Valdivia fell unconscious, but instead of calling an ambulance, his employer told Mr. Valdivia’s son to drive his father home. On his way home, he died of heat stroke at the age of 53.

    “Even as heat waves become more frequent, longer-lasting, and more severe, red state politicians are rolling back heat protections and child labor protections across the country. It’s not rocket science—you cannot be pro-worker if you are anti-heat protection,” said Senator Markey. “Our legislation would provide workers with basic, effective protections: access to water, access to shade, time limits on high heat exposure, and procedures for emergency medical response. Every worker deserves to know when they clock in that they will return home safe at the end of their shift.  The thermometer is rising and the clock is ticking. Republicans want to sacrifice working Americans. Let’s save our workers instead.”

    “Asunción Valdivia’s death was completely preventable, yet his story is sadly not unique. As the planet continues to grow hotter, there is still no federally enforceable heat safety standard for workers. That’s not just dangerous for the farm workers and construction workers who work all day outside in the sun — it’s also dangerous for the factory and restaurant workers in boiling warehouses and kitchens,” said Senator Padilla. “Every family deserves to know that even on the hottest day, their loved one will come back home. A national heat safety standard would provide that peace of mind and finally give workers the safety they deserve.”

    “From farmhands to construction workers, America’s essential workforce is doing important work while under extreme heat conditions,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Temperatures continue to reach record highs in Nevada and across the United States. We must act now to protect our communities’ vital workers.” 

    “As we continue to experience record-breaking summer heat waves, we’re also seeing a distressing increase in cases of workers collapsing and even losing their lives due to excessive heat. I will never forget people like Asunción Valdivia or Esteban Chavez Jr., who passed away in Pasadena, California in 2022 after a day of delivering packages in 90-degree heat in a truck without air conditioning. Unfortunately, their tragic deaths were entirely preventable,” said Representative Chu. “Whether on a farm, driving a truck, or working in a warehouse, workers like Asunción and Esteban keep our country running while enduring some of the most difficult conditions—often without access to water or rest. To protect our workforce and save lives, we must pass this bill into law and establish comprehensive and enforceable federal standards addressing heat stress on the job.”

    “This summer, Americans across the country are grappling with some of the hottest temperatures on record. Yet workers in this country still have no legal protection against excessive heat—one of the oldest, most serious, and most common workplace hazards. Heat illness affects workers in our nation’s fields, warehouses, and factories, and climate change is making the problem more severe every year,” said Ranking Member Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce. “This legislation will require OSHA to issue a heat standard on a much faster track than the normal OSHA regulatory process. I was proud to advance this important bill in 2022, and I urge Chairman Walberg and Committee Republicans to do so again this Congress. Workers deserve nothing less, particularly as heat-related illnesses and deaths rise.”

    “As we face record temperatures, it has never been more important that we protect our workers facing extreme heat in the workplace,” said Representative Adams. “Last year, a North Carolina postal worker Wendy Johnson lost her life to heat illness after spending hours in the back of a postal truck on a 95-degree day with no air conditioning. Her death was entirely preventable, and Wendy should still be with us today. I’m proud to introduce this bill so we can honor her memory and ensure every worker has the protections from extreme heat that Wendy deserved.” 

    According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2024 was the warmest year on record for the United States. The past decade, including 2024, was the hottest on record, marking a decade of extreme heat that will only get worse. Heat-related illnesses can cause heat cramps, organ damage, heat exhaustion, stroke, and even death. Between 1992 and 2017, heat stress injuries killed 815 U.S. workers and seriously injured more than 70,000. The Washington Center for Equitable Growth estimates hot temperatures caused at least 360,000 workplace injuries in California from 2001 to 2018, or about 20,000 injuries a year. The failure to implement simple heat safety measures costs U.S. employers nearly $100 billion every year in lost productivity.

    From 2011-2020, heat exposure killed at least 400 workers and caused nearly 34,000 injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work; both are likely vast underestimates. Farm workers and construction workers suffer the highest incidence of heat illness. And no matter what the weather is outside, workers in factories, commercial kitchens, and other workplaces, including ones where workers must wear personal protective equipment (PPE), can face dangerously high heat conditions all year round.

    The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act has the support of a broad coalition of over 250 groups, including: Rural Coalition, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, AFL-CIO, UNITE HERE!, Communication Workers of America, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Sierra Club, United Farm Workers, Farmworker Justice, Public Citizen, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Union of Concerned Scientists, United Steelworkers, National Resources Defense Council, American Lung Association, and Health Partnerships.

    “Every worker safety rule in America is written in blood,” said UFW President Teresa Romero. “The UFW has been fighting for heat safety protections for decades. Over 20 years later, Asuncion Valdivia’s death still hurts. There are so many other farm workers — many whose names we do not know — who have also been killed by extreme heat on the job in the years since. Enough is enough. Every farm worker deserves access to water, shade, and paid rest breaks — it’s past time for Congress get this done.”

    “Too many workers – including AFSCME members – have lost their lives on the job as a result of blistering heat waves and record-breaking temperatures,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “As the number of heat-related illnesses and fatalities continue to rise, it is well past time we adopt nationwide safeguards to better protect the workers who maintain our infrastructure, keep our streets clean, harvest our food, and keep our economy moving. We at AFSCME thank Senator Padilla and Representative Chu for introducing the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act, which will ensure essential workers who brave the heat can do their jobs safely and effectively, and most importantly, make it home alive.”

    “For the Steelworkers Union, we represent workers in manufacturing settings and in a host of other areas where not only is it hot outside, but the areas that they work around are as hot as up to 3,000 degrees and they must wear protective equipment. The Asunción Valdivia Heat, Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act is important because it will provide a basic standard for not just outdoor, but indoor workplaces as well to ensure that there is proper rest breaks and the ability to stay cool. The Steelworkers are absolutely supportive of this bill and are going to work with Republicans and Democrats to ensure that heat illness is the last thing a worker should worry about,” said Roy Houseman, Legislative Director of United Steelworkers. 

    “Everyone deserves safe working conditions, but powerful corporations have not done enough to protect their workers from hot working environments, exacerbated by the climate crisis,” said Liz Shuler, President of the AFL-CIO. “Extreme heat is increasingly causing indoor and outdoor workers to collapse or even die on the job, and our union family has already lost too many members to preventable, work-related heat illness. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) must issue a strong heat rule, not a weak one, to ensure workers have specific protections they need and to be able to raise unsafe working conditions without fear of retaliation.”

    “It’s long past time for meaningful legislation to protect Teamsters and other workers from the effects of prolonged heat exposure and dangerous heat levels while at work,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “Paid breaks in cool spaces, access to water, and limitations on time exposed to heat are simple common sense steps that should be mandated immediately. Waiting to implement these measures is unacceptable and will result in the further loss of lives.”

    “Workers in America are facing unprecedented dangers from climate-driven heat and extreme weather, and things are only getting worse. It is far past time for a strong national standard to protect workers from illness and death caused by exposure to extreme heat. The provisions mandated in this bill, including temperature triggers, acclimatization, water, shade and paid rest breaks, would save countless lives. They represent a common sense and common decency approach that employers could quickly adopt. American workers deserve no less, and they urgently need it. Today, OSHA is in the final stage of issuing a final rule on this issue. It is imperative that the rule maintain the integrity and high standards called for in the Asuncíon Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act. We applaud Senators Padilla, Markey, and Cortez Masto and Representatives Chu, Adams, and Scott, as well as the dozens of Senators and Congresspersons who have joined them in this long effort. It’s time to bring a high quality, protective standard to the finish line for American workers,” said Ernesto Archila, Climate and Financial Regulation Policy Director, Public Citizen.

    “Every summer high temperature records get broken in states across the country, and while public health officials urge residents to stay inside and stay safe millions of workers have to report for work. From fields to warehouses, airports to schools, construction sites to manufacturing plants, and many more industries, too many workers are at risk of not getting home safely at the end of the day due to exposure to heat on the job. We know how to prevent these dangers. In fact, both outdoor and indoor workers in states like Oregon, California, and Maryland have strong, enforceable protections in place already. And in Washington, Colorado, and Minnesota at least some categories of workers are being kept safe from heat. But millions labor in other states where there are no protections; worker safety is left to the federal government in these states, and absent strong rules workers are left to protect themselves and hope for the best. We must extend workplace protections from heat to all workers. The National Employment Law Project thanks Senator Padilla and Representative Chu, as well as the dozens of Senators and Congresspersons who have cosponsored the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act of 2025,” said Anastasia Christman, Senior Policy Analyst, National Employment Law Project.

    The bill is cosponsored by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    A one-pager on the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act is available here.

    A section-by-section of the bill is available here.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Possibilities in the pipe for Nordegg

    To address the higher heating costs faced by families and businesses in the Nordegg regions – saving them up to 25 per cent on their utility bills – Alberta’s government is providing $2.5 million through the Rural Gas Program to build a natural gas pipeline. This pipeline will provide Nordegg and surrounding communities with safer, more reliable and more affordable heating, as well as more opportunities to grow their local economies.

    Albertans living in rural and remote areas face unique challenges in accessing the affordable, reliable utilities they need. In Nordegg, to keep families, homes and businesses warm during cooler weather, residents have relied primarily on propane and other alternative heating fuels, and as a result, face significantly higher utility bills than the average Albertan.

    “By delivering natural gas to the Nordegg area, we’re making life more affordable for families and businesses, as well as laying the groundwork to help this beautiful region of our province grow and thrive for many years to come.”

    Nathan Neudorf, Minister of Affordability and Utilities

    “This project is a game-changer for Nordegg and the surrounding area. Reliable, affordable access to natural gas means real savings for families and a boost for the local economy. I’m proud to see this investment in our communities and their prosperity.”

    Jason Nixon, MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre

    Nordegg pipeline extension near the Nordegg Ranger Station.

    The 11-kilometre natural gas pipeline will run along Highway 11 into the Village of Nordegg, connecting the community to the nearby Tidewater Stolberg Gas Plant. Construction began in February and is expected to be completed by fall.

    “This project is a valuable partnership that will create new opportunities for business, and a brighter, more sustainable future for our rural community.”

    Michelle Swanson, Reeve, Clearwater County

    “The government’s support for the Nordegg Gasification Project is a reminder of the power of partnership in building rural Alberta. It means economic growth, community resilience, and opportunity for generations to come.”

    Tom Kee, Executive Director, Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops

    To help rural communities across the province access critical services like gas, power and water, $8.5 million is being provided through Budget 2025 for the Rural Utilities Program. This program consists of the Rural Electric Program, Rural Gas Program, Rural Water Program and the Remote Area Heating Allowance, which delivers direct financial relief to thousands of Albertans facing the higher costs of alternative heating fuels where natural gas service is not available. 

    Quick facts:

    • The Rural Gas Program was established in 1973 and has distributed more than $500 million to help build the largest rural gas distribution system in the world.
    • Rural Gas Program funding is administered by the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops.

    Related information

    • Farm fuel and rural utility programs

    Related news

    • Powering life in rural Alberta (April 2, 2025)
    • Power up, costs down (March 25, 2025)
    • Keeping Albertans’ lights on and homes warm (Oct. 21, 2024)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Registration Opens for 2025 NASA International Space Apps Challenge

    Source: NASA

    Lee esta historia en español aquí
    NASA invites innovators of all ages to register for the NASA Space Apps Challenge, held on Oct. 4-5. The 2025 theme is Learn, Launch, Lead, and participants will work alongside a vibrant community of scientists, technologists, and storytellers at more than 450 events worldwide. Participants can expect to learn skills to succeed in STEM fields, launch ideas that transform NASA’s open data into actionable tools, and lead their communities in driving technological innovation. During the NASA Space Apps Challenge, participants in the U.S. and around the world gather at hundreds of in-person and virtual events to address challenges authored by subject matter experts across NASA divisions. These challenges range in complexity and topic, tasking participants with everything from creating machine learning models and leveraging artificial intelligence, to improving access to NASA research, to designing sustainable recycling systems for Mars, and to developing tools to evaluate local air quality here on Earth. Dr. Yoseline Angel Lopez, a former space apps challenge winner and now an assistant research scientist at NASA’s Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, can attest that the opportunity to Learn, Launch, Lead goes far beyond the hackathon.    “The NASA Space Apps Challenge gave me and my team a meaningful opportunity to apply science to real-world problems and gain validation from NASA scientists and industry experts,” said Angel. In 2021, her team’s winning web-app prototype was adopted by Colombia’s Ministry of Agriculture, connecting smallholder farmers with local buyers. The platform also supported agricultural land-use monitoring using satellite imagery. After the hackathon, project submissions are judged by NASA and space agency experts. Winners are selected for one of 10 global awards. “Participating in the hackathon is exciting on its own. But when your project can lead to greater opportunities and make a difference in your community, that’s a dream come true,” said Angel. She will return to the 2025 hackathon as a NASA subject matter expert and challenge author, giving a Golden Age of innovators the opportunity to make a difference in their communities through the use of data from NASA and 14 space agency partners. This year’s partners include: Bahrain Space Agency; Brazilian Space Agency; CSA (Canadian Space Agency); ESA (European Space Agency); ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation); Italian Space Agency; JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency); Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre of the United Arab Emirates; National Space Activities Commission of Argentina;  Paraguayan Space Agency; South African National Space Agency; Spanish Space Agency; Turkish Space Agency; and the UK Space Agency. NASA Space Apps is funded by NASA’s Earth Science Division through a contract with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, and SecondMuse. We invite you to register for the 2025 NASA Space Apps Challenge and choose a virtual or in-person event near you at:
    https://www.spaceappschallenge.org
    Find videos about Space Apps at:
    youtube.com/c/NASASpaceAppsChallenge

    Stay up to date with #SpaceApps by following these accounts:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Danish Presidency debriefs EP committees on priorities

    Source: European Parliament

    Denmark holds the Presidency of the Council until the end of 2025. This text will be updated regularly as the hearings take place.

    Agriculture and Rural Development Committee

    On 15 July, Jacob Jensen, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, said that the Presidency will focus on easing the administrative burden for farmers while continuing to promote the green transition and animal welfare. Concluding the current negotiations on the common agricultural policy (CAP) simplification package and starting discussions on the post-2027 CAP will also be priorities.

    Several MEPs called for fair conditions between farmers inside and outside the EU in connection with the Mercosur Agreement and animal welfare. They asked how the presidency will help guarantee the EU’s protein and fertiliser self-sufficiency and support organic farmers. Others raised the issue of ensuring that the green transition does not compromise the agriculture sector’s sustainability.

    Regional Development Committee

    On 15 July, Danish Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre argued that cohesion policy should continue to play a crucial role in the EU budget, as the Presidency works on proposals for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF). She said that funding should also support competitiveness and be flexible in the face of unexpected events. Ms Bjerre highlighted the need to strengthen rule of law conditionality in the allocation of EU funds.

    MEPs agreed on the need to modernise cohesion policy and make it more flexible, but asked for the Presidency’s support in defending the policy’s core purpose – reducing inequalities between regions – and the role of regions and local authorities.

    Legal Affairs Committee

    On 15 July, Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard stressed the need to boost EU competitiveness but also to protect common values while advancing the green and digital transition. He committed to make progress on draft bills on the protection of adults and insolvency, while promoting rules on parenthood.

    Morten Bødskov, Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, will strive to simplify existing rules for the benefit of EU businesses in the upcoming negotiations on sustainability reporting and due diligence obligations. Mr Bødskov also intends to advance the patent package and the “28th regime” initiative (a single set of EU rules to support innovation).

    MEPs inquired about plans to strengthen the rule of law, fight illegal migration and improve licensing, considering the planned withdrawal of the proposal on standard essential patents. They also asked for work to move ahead on the special tribunal for the crime of aggression, for measures to ensure that simplification does not lead to deregulation, and for efforts to balance rights and copyright in the context of new technologies.

    Foreign Affairs Committee

    On 15 July, European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre said that the Presidency wants to advance EU accession negotiations with all candidate countries. She also added that the EU must act more independently to ensure its security. The dialogue with Türkiye will continue, but its accession negotiations will remain on hold.

    MEPs called for more support for some candidate countries on their EU path. They also enquired on possible new strategic partners for the EU, given recent developments in relations with the US, and called for the deepening of relations with Latin America. They also asked what steps the Presidency intends to take to help the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

    Environment, Climate Change and Food Safety Committee

    On 15 July, Jacob Jensen, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, highlighted the need to simplify EU legislation for farmers and food producers, and to promote innovation through tools such as new genomic techniques, on which the Presidency aims to strike a deal with Parliament. He stressed the importance of making the EU’s agri-food sector more competitive while maintaining high standards of sustainability and food safety. Other priorities include an EU strategy for plant-based proteins, animal welfare, and action to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

    MEPs raised questions about the future of the CAP, demanding greater fairness, increased support for smaller farms, and clear targets for pesticide reduction. MEPs also enquired about trade agreements, such as with Mercosur, and a possible ban on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).

    Lars Aagaard, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, stressed the importance of reaching an agreement on the EU 2040 climate target, to offer clear guidance for climate action, investment, and industrial competitiveness. He underlined the need for an agreement before the COP30 in Brazil on 10–21 November 2025, to show EU leadership and unity.

    Some MEPs raised concerns about energy affordability and the social impact of the new emissions trading system, while others stressed excessive flexibility would undermine the 2040 target.

    Civil liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee

    On 15 July, Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said the Presidency would prioritise work on the fight against serious cross-border and organised crime, action to improve victims’ rights, and police cooperation to counter migrant smuggling. The Presidency will also advance work on the directive and regulation to combat child sexual abuse.

    Torsten Schack Pedersen, Minister for Resilience and Preparedness, called for implementation of the “Preparedness Union” strategy to strengthen EU security, resilience and preparedness. The Presidency will advance work on the reformed EU civil protection mechanism, the stockpiling strategy and measures to protect critical infrastructure.

    MEPs asked the Presidency about progress on the directives on combating corruption and victims’ rights. According to the Justice Minister, work on both will continue promptly as a priority. MEPs and the Ministers also discussed law enforcement access to data, and measures against terrorism and online radicalisation.

    Kaare Dybvad, Minister for Immigration and Integration, emphasised the need to implement the Asylum and Migration Pact in full. The Presidency will work on proposals on safe third countries, safe countries of origin and a common approach to returns. He also mentioned the possibility of developing external partnerships and possible return hubs in third countries, stressing the need to uphold international law and human rights. Other priorities are action to combat migrant smuggling and the EU talent pool.

    On Migration and Asylum Pact implementation, MEPs asked about the solidarity platform, protection of human dignity, and cooperation with third countries. The minister replied that priority should be given to people in need of refugee status. Economic migrants must use legal channels, and those with no right to stay need to be returned to their home countries.

    Marie Bjerre, Minister for European Affairs, said the Presidency aimed to strengthen the link between respect for EU values and access to EU funds, enhance the Council’s rule of law dialogues, and support tools such as the Commission’s rule of law report. It will also work to reinforce the conditionality mechanism in the next long-term budget, by increasing funding for it and ensuring more automatic application.

    Some MEPs raised concerns about the situation in Hungary, and called for a stronger conditionality mechanism and better protection of media freedom and civil society. Others called for clarity on the definition of rule of law, and raised the issues of spyware use against journalists and the situation in Gaza.

    Employment and Social Affairs Committee

    On 15 July, Employment Minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen stressed that the Presidency would focus on investing in skills, fair labour mobility, strengthening social dialogue, and occupational health. She aims to advance the revision of the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (CMRD) and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers. Minister for Social Affairs and Housing Sophie Hæstorp Andersen highlighted the need to improve independent living for persons with disabilities and to improve access to sustainable and affordable housing.

    MEPs highlighted the lack of legislative proposals in social areas and voiced concern about the future of the European Social Fund+. They stressed the need to strengthen the European Labour Authority, and addressed the working conditions of non-EU nationals, the lack of skilled workers, and the migration of qualified workers. Others asked for action on employment rights for persons with disabilities, the coordination of social security systems, and the European Child Guarantee.

    Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee

    On 15 July, Caroline Stage Olsen, Digital Affairs Minister, emphasised the need for action to boost investment and cut red tape. Special attention will be given to protecting minors online through firm Digital Services Act enforcement, new age verification rules and action to tackle addictive design. She supported postponing elements of the AI Act to give business, especially smaller companies, more time to comply.

    Morten Bødskov, Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, stressed the Presidency’s intention to tackle customs challenges, unfair competition, slow growth and job loss. The minister also expressed strong support for the green transition and the need to advance work on simplification packages and regulatory burden reduction targets.

    MEPs asked about the Presidency’s plans to work on e-commerce, the posting of workers, attracting talent and the “28th regime” (a single set of EU rules to support innovation). They also enquired about digital policy loopholes and the Digital Fairness Act, and the need to advance negotiations on the late payments regulation and the European defence industrial strategy.

    Development Committee

    On 15 July, Foreign Affairs Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called for a stronger Team Europe approach, given the widening gap between humanitarian needs and the resources available. Presidency priorities include the Global Gateway, the Samoa Agreement, the EU-African Union (AU) Summit, human rights and the sustainable development goals. The Presidency will champion external action in negotiations on the next long-term EU budget.

    MEPs stressed the importance of development aid and the need to make sure foreign investment upholds human rights, while also voicing concern over irregular migration. They called for a broader EU presence at the next EU-AU Summit, and asked about the Presidency’s plan for the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

    Public Health Committee

    On 16 July, Sophie Løhde, Danish Minister for Interior and Health, highlighted the need to strengthen EU preparedness through efficient medical countermeasures, ensure better access to medicines, and address antimicrobial resistance. She shared the Presidency’s commitment to finalising the Council’s position on the critical medicines act, hoping an agreement with Parliament could be reached on the pharmaceutical package by the end of the year.

    MEPs quizzed the minister on medicine affordability, rare diseases, and healthcare workforce shortages. Some called for a greater focus on women’s health, action against PFAS contamination, and improved EU coordination of health and military crisis preparedness.

    Constitutional Affairs Committee

    On 16 July, European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre said the Presidency priorities were to advance a merit-based EU accession process and uphold the rule of law. She also highlighted the need to reinforce democratic resilience, for instance through the Commission’s Democracy Shield and improved transparency of foreign interests. The Presidency is also committed to strengthening interinstitutional cooperation and pursuing institutional reforms within the existing treaty framework.

    MEPs raised questions on the link between internal EU reforms and future accessions, the use of qualified majority voting to overcome institutional deadlocks, the right of inquiry, and electoral reform. Bjerre replied that the lack of consensus among member states on possible treaty changes made that a less feasible path.

    Security and Defence Committee

    On 16 July, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that one of the priorities was to continue to support Ukraine politically, militarily and financially, and work on integrating the Ukrainian defence industry into the EU one. This includes paving the way for Ukrainian companies to set up facilities in the rest of Europe. He also mentioned the need for Europe to be able to defend itself by 2030 by increasing its defence readiness and production, and freeing up defence financing.

    MEPs questioned the minister on a range of topics, including the use of frozen Russian state assets to support Ukraine’s reconstruction, a dedicated European defence fund, removing hurdles to support the Ukrainian defence industry, and the pros and cons of non-EU country access to EU defence funds.

    Fisheries Committee

    On 16 July, Jacob Jensen, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, said the Presidency would prioritise the green transition, simplification, including for the Ocean Pact, and better regulation of fisheries. They will also focus on fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and Baltic Sea for 2026 to allow fishers to plan early.

    MEPs highlighted fleet renewal, the Baltic Sea’s herring situation and the MFF’s role in achieving sustainability, simplification, and climate goals. They expressed concern over the 24-metre fleet renewal restriction and called for specific funding mechanisms for the Ocean Pact. Finally, they welcomed the focus on 2026 fishing quotas and sustainability objectives.

    Transport and Tourism Committee

    Boosting competitiveness, easing the administrative burden, ensuring a green transition in transport and tourism, but also military mobility, are the main drivers of Danish presidency, said Thomas Danielsen, Minister of Transport on 16 July. He hoped to start talks with MEPs on passenger rights and rules on counting CO2 emissions, as well as to finish negotiations on railway capacity infrastructure. Morten Bødskov, Minister of Business, Industry and Financial Services, added the Presidency perspective on shipping transport and upcoming EU ports and maritime industry strategies.

    The majority of transport committee MEPs welcomed the Presidency priorities, the ambition to reach a Council position on weights and dimensions rules, while some questioned the focus on the green transition. On passenger rights, MEPs were frustrated with the Council decision to force into a tight deadline to reach a deal on future rules, and asked the minister not to forget the multimodal part of the package.

    Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee

    On 16 July, Minister for Environment and Gender Equality, Magnus Heunicke, outlined priorities including combating gender-based violence, promoting equal opportunities by involving men and boys, and strengthening LGBTQI equality amid rising hate and harassment. He announced that a Council meeting on 17 October would focus on equality and non-discrimination.

    MEPs raised concerns about the absence of an EU-wide consent-based definition of rape, the lack of progress on the revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive, the under-representation of women in government, and the stalled horizontal anti-discrimination directive. In response, Heunicke confirmed that there would be a discussion on a consent-based rape definition, and that finalising the Victims’ Rights Directive negotiations was a priority.

    International Trade Committee

    On 16 July, Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen named agreements on the revised general scheme of preferences (GSP) and the foreign investment screening review as being among his priorities. The phasing-out of Russian gas imports and ratification of the trade agreement with Mercosur are also high on the agenda. The Presidency will also work to negotiate a new trade relationship with the US, while being prepared for other scenarios.

    MEPs welcomed the priorities, particularly on concluding the Mercosur Agreement, phasing out Russian gas imports and concluding the revision of the GSP. Some MEPs also questioned the Presidency on how EU-Israel trade relations should evolve given the humanitarian situation in the Middle East.

    Culture and Education Committee

    On 16 July, Mattias Tesfaye, Minister for Education and Youth, said that Presidency wanted to make vocational education and training more attractive, ensure learning mobility, and focus on how the digitalisation affects learning outcomes. The Presidency will also prioritise negotiations on the next generation of Erasmus+ and on the European education area.

    Many MEPs expressed their concerns about the future of the Erasmus+ programme and enquired about the protection of children online, recognition of competences, and the safety of young students in the workplace.

    Jakob Engel-Schmidt, Minister for Culture, Media and Sports Policy, highlighted the need to prohibit the use of images, voice and other personal features in deepfakes or lifelike imitations. The EU Copyright Regulation should be updated to address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence to the cultural and creative sectors, either by guaranteeing fair remuneration for rights holders or by achieving the best possible conditions for licensing agreements. In sport, the Presidency promises to do more to uphold democratic values and integrity in the awarding of international sports events.

    MEPs asked for measures to help EU countries implement the European Media Freedom Act and highlighted the revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive. MEPs also raised issues such as protecting heritage against natural disasters and gender equality programmes in sport.

    Industry, Research and Energy Committee

    On 16 July, Caroline Stage Olsson, Minister for Digital Affairs, outlined two priorities: enhancing digital competitiveness and protecting minors online. She advocated for reducing the administrative burden on business and for strategic investment for a more sovereign Europe. She also highlighted work on enforcing the Digital Services Act (DSA), stricter regulations for age verification and data protection, and the establishment of a competitiveness fund.

    Some MEPs stressed the need to reduce dependency on non-European tech companies and to balance regulation with simplification, to foster innovation while protecting consumers. Questions were asked about the impact of the DSA on free speech and privacy, and about investment in less connected regions.

    Troels Lund Poulsen, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, outlined four priorities: enhancing Europe’s defence capabilities, supporting Ukraine, fostering cooperation with NATO and strengthening the EU’s defence against hybrid threats. He also stressed the importance of the European defence industry programme (EDIP) to this end.

    Torsten Schack Pedersen, Minister for Resilience and Preparedness, focused on cybersecurity and highlighted three priorities: strengthening EU cyber resilience, framing a robust EU response to cyber crises, and simplifying the EU cyber legislation framework.

    MEPs enquired about the creation of a unified European defence market, the standardisation of defence products, and the need for joint procurement to enhance defence capabilities. Questions also focused on Baltic Sea security and measures to counter potential sabotage. Concerns were voiced about Europe’s dependency on non-European defence suppliers.

    Lars Aagaard, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, emphasised the importance of a secure, clean and affordable energy supply, as well as of a stronger energy sector, focusing on renewable and clean energy produced locally. He called for an approach that would balance environmental protection with economic competitiveness and for Europe to phase out its dependency on Russian energy.

    Morten Bødskov, Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs focused on competitiveness and highlighted the need for increased investment in green technologies and new critical technologies such as life sciences, artificial intelligence, biotech, and quantum. Mr Bødskov also stressed the need to simplify regulations to foster innovation and growth.

    MEPs stressed the need for a more efficient regulatory environment to foster innovation and competitiveness. They expressed concerns about high energy prices and highlighted the importance of investing in clean energy technologies and infrastructure to achieve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Several MEPs questioned the balance between environmental protection and economic competitiveness, and called for a more pragmatic approach to regulation that would not stifle innovation and growth.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman David Scott Introduces Legislation to Bolster Market Access and Increase Civil Rights Protections for Black Farmers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)

    WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congressman David Scott (GA-13), a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, was joined by fellow House Agriculture Committee member Congressmen Jonathan Jackson (IL-1) in reintroducing the Black Farmers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act, a bill designed to expand market access for Black and historically disadvantaged farmers. The proposal combines economic development with civil rights reforms to confront longstanding discrimination inequities faced by Black and minority farmers within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

    “Generations of Black farmers have lost their land and livelihoods because of systemic discrimination and the federal government’s failures to meaningfully intervene,” said Congressman David Scott. “Black farming communities have been deeply harmed by this historical injustice. Whereas they comprised over 14% of all U.S. farmers less than a century ago, they now represent less than 2%. We know that combining targeted economic development with civil rights reforms is the surest way of confronting longstanding inequities. That is exactly what this bill does. Congress has a responsibility to reverse the decades of inaction by restoring trust, creating new market opportunities, and ensuring USDA supports our Black and socially disadvantaged farmers.”

    “Black farmers have been the backbone of American agriculture since this nation’s founding, yet they’ve endured over a century of systemic discrimination, land loss, and exclusion from federal farm programs,” said Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson. “In 1920, there were nearly 1 million Black farmers in the United States. But today, fewer than 50,000 remain. That’s a staggering 95% decline. This did not happen by accident — it is the result of broken policies, discriminatory lending practices, and a lack of market access. The Black Farmers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act represents a crucial opportunity to reverse that legacy and build a future where equity in agriculture is not just an ideal, but a reality. I am proud to support legislation that helps restore what was taken and empowers the next generation of Black farmers to reclaim their rightful place in our agricultural economy.”

    The Black and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act of 2025 would:

    ·         Establish Food Hub Grants – a competitive grant program to support new and expanding food hubs that are designed to increase market access to help Black and minority farmers reach wholesale, retail and institutional buyers.

    ·         Establish New Tax Incentives – creates a 25% tax credit for agricultural food products purchased from food hubs that have been expanded under the bill.

    ·         Prioritize Procurement – directs USDA to establish new processes to prioritize the purchase of agricultural products from socially disadvantaged farmers.

    ·         Civil Rights Accountability – establishes an independent Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson to assist farmers navigating the civil rights review process; makes structural reforms by which USDA is held accountable for engaging in discriminatory practices, harassment, retaliation, or civil rights-violating actions.

    ·         Improve USDA Policies – including the methods by which USDA can provide monetary relief to farmers wrongly denied access to payment and loan programs.

    The Black and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act, builds on Congressman David Scott’s decades-long effort to spotlight the intertwined crises of historical discrimination and modern inequities faced by Black farmers. His advocacy encompasses the fight to defend pandemic relief for Black farmers under the American Rescue Plan Act and expanding land ownership for minority famers across the nation. As Chairman, he highlighted the deeply unequal distribution in COVID-era farm aid, citing testimony that only 0.1% of a $26 billion USDA spending package went to Black farmers. He continues to champion tax incentives to incentivize processors and buyers to source from socially disadvantaged farmers and penalties for USDA Civil Rights violations. With renewed discussions around a Farm Bill Reauthorization, the proposal can ensure equity and justice remains front and center in any negotiations.

    Full text of the bill can be accessed HERE.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Trump’s Chaos Jeopardizes America’s Farmers, Duckworth Discusses Agriculture Priorities with Illinois Corn Growers and Illinois Soybean Association

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    July 17, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday met with leaders and members from the Illinois Corn Growers and the Illinois Soybean Producers to discuss their shared priorities to grow Illinois’s agriculture industry and support our farmers. Duckworth and the members discussed the importance of supporting our family farmers by expanding the biofuels market, increasing agricultural exports and improving farm safety net programs as Donald Trump continues to threaten critical federal agricultural programs. Photos from yesterday’s meeting with the Illinois Corn Growers can be found on the Senator’s website. Photos from yesterday’s meeting with the Illinois Soybean Producers can be found on the Senator’s website.

    “America has always depended on our nation’s farmers to grow the food and fuel we need, and I’m proud to advocate for them on both the national and international stage,” Duckworth said. “The work of Illinois’s farmers is so important to the strength of our state and our nation, and I will continue to do everything I can to support the Illinois Corn Growers, the Illinois Soybean Association and our farmers across the state at the federal level.”

    In the Senate, Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels, including expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and permanent authority to use E15 fuel year-round. Duckworth, the founding co-chair of the Senate Sustainable Aviation Fuel Caucus, helped introduce the bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act and the bipartisan Next Generations Fuel Act to allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent. Duckworth additionally helped introduce the bipartisan Home Front Energy Independence Act to ban Russian oil and expand use and production of biofuel that’s grown in the American heartland, while providing American families with a less expensive option to fuel their vehicles. Previously, she introduced the SAF Accuracy Act and helped introduce the Farm to Fly Act and to help accelerate the production and development of SAF.

    As a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth has been an advocate for Illinois agriculture across the globe and helped secure significant wins for Illinois and American agriculture. After Duckworth’s visit in 2023, Japan announced a regulatory change that will lead to an increase in imports from U.S. biofuel producers, supporting our farmers and growing Illinois’s economy, and following a prior trip to Taiwan in 2022, she helped secure a commitment from Taiwan to purchase an estimated $2.6 billion of our Illinois’s corn and soybeans.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Trump’s Chaos Jeopardizes America’s Farmers, Duckworth Discusses Agriculture Priorities with Illinois Corn Growers and Illinois Soybean Association

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    July 17, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday met with leaders and members from the Illinois Corn Growers and the Illinois Soybean Producers to discuss their shared priorities to grow Illinois’s agriculture industry and support our farmers. Duckworth and the members discussed the importance of supporting our family farmers by expanding the biofuels market, increasing agricultural exports and improving farm safety net programs as Donald Trump continues to threaten critical federal agricultural programs. Photos from yesterday’s meeting with the Illinois Corn Growers can be found on the Senator’s website. Photos from yesterday’s meeting with the Illinois Soybean Producers can be found on the Senator’s website.

    “America has always depended on our nation’s farmers to grow the food and fuel we need, and I’m proud to advocate for them on both the national and international stage,” Duckworth said. “The work of Illinois’s farmers is so important to the strength of our state and our nation, and I will continue to do everything I can to support the Illinois Corn Growers, the Illinois Soybean Association and our farmers across the state at the federal level.”

    In the Senate, Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels, including expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and permanent authority to use E15 fuel year-round. Duckworth, the founding co-chair of the Senate Sustainable Aviation Fuel Caucus, helped introduce the bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act and the bipartisan Next Generations Fuel Act to allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent. Duckworth additionally helped introduce the bipartisan Home Front Energy Independence Act to ban Russian oil and expand use and production of biofuel that’s grown in the American heartland, while providing American families with a less expensive option to fuel their vehicles. Previously, she introduced the SAF Accuracy Act and helped introduce the Farm to Fly Act and to help accelerate the production and development of SAF.

    As a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth has been an advocate for Illinois agriculture across the globe and helped secure significant wins for Illinois and American agriculture. After Duckworth’s visit in 2023, Japan announced a regulatory change that will lead to an increase in imports from U.S. biofuel producers, supporting our farmers and growing Illinois’s economy, and following a prior trip to Taiwan in 2022, she helped secure a commitment from Taiwan to purchase an estimated $2.6 billion of our Illinois’s corn and soybeans.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eritrea: Commendable Progress in Students’ Summer Work Program

    Source: APO

    Mr. Meles Keleta, acting coordinator of the Students’ Summer Work Program at the Ministry of Education branch in the Anseba Region, reported that over 6,000 participants in students’ summer work program from 38 centers are actively and effectively carrying out the planned activities.

    The program includes the construction and renovation of terraces, digging holes for tree planting, and supporting the families of martyrs and disadvantaged citizens, among other tasks.

    Mr. Meles stated that the program is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Forestry and Wildlife Authority, Ministry of Agriculture, and other stakeholders. He noted that commendable progress is being made according to the planned schedule.

    He also emphasized that the program plays a vital role in instilling work ethics, discipline, and nationalism among students, as well as encouraging knowledge sharing.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Mahama unveils major road infrastructure boost for Western North Region under ‘Big Push’

    Source: APO

    President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to developing vital infrastructure, announcing the launch of extensive road construction and rehabilitation projects across the Western North Region.

    This will be carried out under his flagship ‘Big Push Infrastructure Programme’, a $10 billion initiative aimed at significantly improving national connectivity and economic development.

    Addressing a durbar of enthusiastic chiefs and people in Juaboso, as part of his ongoing nationwide ‘Thank You Tour’, President Mahama directly responded to a heartfelt appeal from the Western North Regional House of Chiefs.

    The Chiefs had passionately articulated the pressing need for improved road networks, emphasising that their overwhelming support for him and the NDC in the 2024 elections was a clear demonstration of their profound trust in his leadership.

    “I have heard your concerns about the roads connecting our farming communities and our markets,” President Mahama stated, acknowledging the region’s vital role in the national economy. “These roads are crucial arteries for moving cocoa, timber, food products, and people across our country. They are not a luxury; they are a fundamental necessity.”

    The President assured the gathering that many of these crucial arteries, including vital cocoa roads that had previously experienced delays, will now undergo accelerated completion and new development as part of the ambitious ‘Big Push’ Programme.
    “I assure you that these critical projects have been fully captured under our transformative $10 billion Big Push Infrastructure Programme,” he reiterated.

    Detailing the scope of this unprecedented commitment, President Mahama explained, “The ‘Big Push’ is a strategic commitment to inject at least $2 billion annually into infrastructure development, with its rollout commencing robustly in the 2025 national budget.”

    He further added, “We are dedicating substantial resources and deploying expert technical teams to ensure these roads are completed on schedule, transforming the landscape for our farmers, traders, and communities across the Western North Region.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Will Donald Trump get Vladimir Putin (before Maga gets Trump)?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor

    This article was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email newsletter. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox.

    You know when the Kremlin is worried about something – it starts talking about nuclear weapons. And so it was, just two days after Donald Trump revealed he had decided to lift his administration’s pause on the supply of US-made weapons to Ukraine, that Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, raised Russia’s nuclear doctrine. In response to a handy question from a friendly reporter as to whether Russia’s nuclear doctrine was still active, Peskov said: “Russia’s nuclear doctrine remains in effect, and thus, all its provisions continue to apply.”

    By saying “all its provisions”, he was emphasising the changes made in December last year which significantly lowered the bar for Russia to use its nuclear deterrent. It states that Russia “reserves the right to employ nuclear weapons” in response to nuclear weapons or “other types of weapons of mass destruction” against itself or its allies.

    Whether Putin and his team consider the sorts of weapons the US is prepared to allow Ukraine to use against Russia as weapons of mass destruction is not clear as yet. The US president specifically said that a fresh supply of Patriot systems was already en route to Ukraine from Germany. But he also hinted that other more offensive weapons could also be in the mix. And in a July 4 phone call he is reported to have asked the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, whether he could hit Moscow or St Petersburg, to which Zelensky replied: “Absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons.”

    Trump is reported to have gone on to say that it was important to “make [Russians] feel the pain”.

    At the beginning of the week, the US president was also keen for Russia to feel the economic pain of indirect sanctions, with 100% tariffs promised against any country buying Russia’s oil. Could this be a turning point?

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    Interesting question, says David Dunn. Dunn, professor of international relations at the University of Birmingham, says Trump’s decision – if he follows through with it – pretty much brings the US back in line with its policy under the Biden administration. Particularly now that Trump appears to have ruled out, for the time being, allowing Ukraine to use long-range offensive missiles against targets in Moscow.

    As Dunn points out, there’s no sense that Trump has changed his overall tack on what he is looking for from Putin: a ceasefire, rather than, as Biden repeatedly insisted, a settlement that respects Ukrainian sovereignty and restores the land occupied illegally by Russian troops.

    Meanwhile the economic pain he promised to inflict on Russia has been scheduled to begin in 50 days. This – as many commentators have been quick to point out – has irresistible echoes of his off-again, on-again tariff regime. So will these sanctions actually happen?



    Read more:
    What Trump’s decision to send more weapons to Ukraine will mean for the war

    The Russian stock market certainly wasn’t that worried. Shortly after trump made his announcement, the Moscow stock exchange increased by 2.7% and the rouble strengthened. Oil markets also appear to have relaxed, suggesting traders see no imminent risks. Maybe this is another case of “Taco” (Trump always chickens out)?

    Patrick O’Shea, an international relations and global governance specialist at the University of Glasgow, believes that the markets’ reaction is more than just indifference to what Trump was threatening. It was relief.

    “Trump’s threat isn’t just non-credible, the positive market reaction in Russia suggests it is a gift for Moscow,” O’Shea writes. “The 50-day ultimatum is seen not as a deadline but as a reprieve, meaning nearly two months of guaranteed inaction from the US.”

    What has not been widely reported in the UK is that a bipartisan bill making its way through the US congress would have been far more punitive that anything Trump is threatening. Now this has been paused pending Trump’s initiative in 50 days’ time.



    Read more:
    Why Russia is not taking Trump’s threats seriously

    Back in Europe, meanwhile, Ukraine’s allies got together in Rome last weekend to discuss what will be needed to rebuild the war-torn country and how to raise the necessary funds. Stefan Wolff was watching proceedings and believes that while countries in the “coalition of the willing” are ready to open their coffers to help Ukraine get back on its feet, the funds so far pledged will not touch the sides.

    Ukraine’s allies at the conference have pledged more than €10 billion (£8.7 billion). But, Wolff – an expert in international relations at the University of Birmingham who has contributed regular analysis of the war in Ukraine – points out that this sum looks minuscule alongside the World Bank’s latest assessment that Ukraine will need at least US$524 billion (£388 billion) over the next decade to fund its recovery.

    There have been some fairly upbeat forecasts about Ukraine’s potential for growth. The IMF forecasts growth for Ukraine of between 2% and 3% for 2025, which is likely to grow to over 4% in 2026 and 2027. But it cautions that this will not happen without considerable overseas support. And an end to the war. Neither is certain anytime soon.



    Read more:
    Over €10 billion has now been pledged for Ukraine’s recovery. It’s nowhere near enough

    Maga moves – but will Trump take responsiblity?

    To Washington, where the US president is having what would probably count as the worst week of his second administration so far. Large sections of his faithful Maga base are in almost open revolt at his seeming reluctance to release what have become known as the “Epstein files”. You may remember he littered his election campaign last year with dark hints about the revelations the files must surely contain about the possible involvement of the rich and powerful in child-sex exploitation. But this week he essentially said it was old news, which was “pretty boring”, adding that “I think, really, only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going.”

    This is not only at odds with what he spent much of 2024 saying. It also flies in the face of what his own attorney general, Pam Bondi, said in February when she said Epstein’s client list was “sitting on [her] desk right now to review”. Now of course, the justice department says there is no list. This is not what much of his base wants to hear.

    Rob Dover, an intelligence specialist at the University of Hull who has researched conspiracy theories and the people who obsess about them, says this is a dangerous moment for the Trump presidency. He points to Maga unrest over Trump’s decision to bomb Iran and to resume military aid to Ukraine, both of which appear to contradict his pledge to keep the US out of foreign conflicts. Trump’s “big beautiful bill”, which has cut medicaid and other benefits to the poorest people in the US, will also inflict hurt on many is his base. Even his recent musing that he agrees with his health secretary’s questionable assertion that Coca-Cola should be made with sugar cane not corn syrup to “make America healthy again” is sure to anger corn farmers in the Midwest, another core Trump constituency.

    “Maga is not a uniform group in belief or action. But if Trump loses either the loyalty of some or they refuse to flex their beliefs as they have done before, it will be politically dangerous for him,” Dover concludes.



    Read more:
    Trump’s changing stance on Epstein files is testing the loyalty of his Maga base

    Trouble brewing in Bosnia

    I had the great good fortune to visit Sarajevo in December last year where I spent a few days exploring, taking a walking tour of the old town and a wider tour of the whole city which took us across the notional border with the Republika Srpska, one of the two main constituent parts of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Sarajevo: a beautiful but troubled city.
    Julian Nyča via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-NC-SA

    The country was created by the Dayton accord, bringing an end to the ethnic conflict in the mid-1990s that saw whole populations displaced as ethnic Serbs and Croats sought to create new pure mini-states by expelling mainly Muslim Bosniaks.

    When visiting, I felt a pervading sense that the two parts of the new country sit uncomfortably next to each other – and in recent months the friction has intensified considerably. Birte Julia Gippert of the University of Liverpool, who has researched extensively the conflict in the Balkans and the attempts to bring peace to the region, explains how the situation has become so tense.



    Read more:
    Bosnia and Herzegovina in crisis as Bosnian-Serb president rallies for secession

    Why is Israel bombing Syria?

    Conflict in Syria escalated again this week, with Israeli warplanes launching airstrikes against government buildings in Damascus this week. A Netanyahu government minister, Amichai Chikli, referred to Syria’s leader, Ahmed al-Shara, as “a terrorist, a barbaric murderer who should be eliminated without delay”.

    Mixed up in all this is sectarian fighting in southern Syria was has been going on sporadically since al-Shara took power at the end of last year. But, as Ali Mamouri of Deakin University explains, Israel wants to see the emergence of a federal Syria, which the new regime has ruled out. It also want to retain influence in the region and secure its northern border with Syria.

    While a ceasefire is in place for now, Mamouri sees the situation as extremely fragile with further clashes “not only possible but highly probable”.

    World Affairs Briefing from The Conversation UK is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get updates directly in your inbox.

    – ref. Will Donald Trump get Vladimir Putin (before Maga gets Trump)? – https://theconversation.com/will-donald-trump-get-vladimir-putin-before-maga-gets-trump-261416

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Almost R2 billion required for EC flood recovery housing efforts

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Almost R2 billion required for EC flood recovery housing efforts

    As the Eastern Cape moves to the second phase of its intervention, the provincial government has announced that almost R2 billion is needed to address the housing crisis caused by last month’s devastating floods, which claimed 103 lives and displaced thousands.

    According to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Zolile Williams, R461 million is required for the provision of Temporary Residential Units (TRUs), while an estimated R1.7 billion is needed to deliver permanent housing solutions for affected communities.

    The floods, which occurred between 9 and 10 June 2025, brought destruction across all corners of the province, with the OR Tambo and Amathole District Municipalities bearing the brunt. Some parts of Alfred Nzo, Chris Hani District, Joe Gqabi and Sarah Baartman Municipalities were also affected.

    The impact of the disaster included loss of lives, significant infrastructure damage, displaced families, livestock losses, learners missing examinations, disruption of basic services, such as water and electricity, disrupted access to healthcare, amongst others.

    The disaster, characterised by severe flooding, was officially classified as a national disaster, enabling all three spheres of government to respond in line with their sectoral mandates – under the guidance of the National Disaster Management Centre.

    The Eastern Cape provincial government has announced that over R2.1 billion is needed to address the housing crisis caused by last month’s devastating floods.

    Giving an update on the provincial disaster management response and recovery on Wednesday, Williams said R120 million has been reprioritised through the Department of Human Settlements to support the immediate rollout of TRUs for the most vulnerable families.

    However, he said the current funding only covers a portion of the need.

    Of the 4 724 TRUs required, only 1 230 are currently funded, and these include 350 for Amathole, 182 for Alfred Nzo, 34 for Buffalo City Metro, 11 for Chris Hani, 51 for Joe Gqabi and 600 for OR Tambo.

    “Government is working hard to address the budget shortfall, and we continue to mobilise our partners for support in this area. Mnquma Local Municipality has identified land at New Rest where 350 temporary residential units will be erected to accommodate victims of this disaster.

    “Similarly, King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality has identified a piece of land at Maydene Farms the construction of 345 TRUs, with further efforts underway to identify additional suitable land parcels to expand this support and provide permanent human settlement solutions,” the MEC said.

    While government stands ready to start the construction of TRUs, Williams acknowledged delays caused by community resistance to accommodate victims of floods in both municipalities, despite social facilitation efforts.

    “It is regrettable that the municipality has had to resort to courts of law to seek recourse, whereas every citizen has a right to shelter, and government is empowered to fulfil its obligation towards this right. In Mnquma Local Municipality, we have now started with site preparation, and we expect the erection of TRUs to start over the weekend.

    “In the KSD Municipality, we will continue with social facilitation to tackle these challenges, to the extent that it is necessary. This resistance poses a real threat to the timely rollout of the provincial government’s resettlement plan,” Williams said.

    He urged all community members to allow government efforts to proceed uninterrupted, so that “homeless families can be relocated to safe, appropriate land without delay.”

    “We must, in all that we do ensure that families start rebuilding their lives and they do not through our direct or indirect actions suffer secondary trauma.” – SAnews.gov.za

    GabiK

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Trump’s changing stance on Epstein files is testing the loyalty of his Maga base

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Robert Dover, Professor of Intelligence and National Security & Dean of Faculty, University of Hull

    During his 2024 US presidential election campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly said he would declassify and release the files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting his sex trafficking trial.

    The so-called Epstein files are thought to contain contacts, communications and – perhaps most crucially – flight logs. Epstein’s private aircraft was the means by which to visit what has been later termed “paedophile island”, where he and his associates allegedly trafficked and abused children.

    Conspiracy-minded Trump supporters, many of whom believe Epstein was murdered by powerful figures to cover up their roles in his child sex crimes, think the Epstein files will provide them with a who’s who of the supposed elites involved in child-sex exploitation.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    During his campaign, Trump hinted that the Epstein files would compromise powerful people – suggesting he knew their identities and what they had done. It was simultaneously a warning shot to these individuals and a way to energise his “Make America Great Again” (Maga) support base. It also validated part of the so-called QAnon conspiracy theory around a “deep-state” cover-up of an elite child sex abuse network.

    But the justice department recently announced that its review of these papers revealed no client list of politically important men, and also that Epstein had died by suicide. This struck down two of the most important beliefs of Trump’s base. For a large section of the Maga movement, this somewhat dull set of conclusions has felt like a betrayal.

    Musk smells opportunity

    Trump’s former close ally, funder and adviser, Elon Musk, has used the Epstein files imbroglio to go on the attack via social media. Musk has, without offering evidence, repeatedly insinuated that Trump’s name is in the files. Trump has responded by accusing Musk of “losing his mind” and used evidence from Epstein’s former lawyer, David Schoen, to refute Musk’s accusations.

    Musk’s allegations could be toxic for Trump. A good portion of the Maga movement think the QAnon conspiracy has some truth to it. So being potentially tied to a child sex exploitation ring would damage Trump’s reputation with his base on a subject they care about strongly. Musk has caused some Maga activists to wonder if Trump is part of a cover up.

    The Maga base largely remains loyal to Trump. But this loyalty has required considerable pragmatism since Trump was reelected. A key position supported by Maga voters, Trump’s opposition to foreign military adventures, was reversed by his attack on Iranian military sites in June.

    Maga-aligned spokespeople justified these actions on the grounds they were limited and a response to exceptional provocation. They are portrayed as a counterpoint to the near open-ended commitment of former US president George Bush in Afghanistan and Iraq in the early 2000s.

    Further Maga pragmatism has been required over the so-called Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will add trillions of US dollars to national debt, as well as the cuts to healthcare and food stamp funding. These latter actions have removed coverage and aid from a good portion of Maga-aligned voters.

    Despite the personal financial pain, Maga loyalists have couched their support in terms of reducing waste and shrinking the size of the government. These loyalists have faith in Trump’s word that they will ultimately not be disadvantaged – though the implementation phase will be the test of this.

    Trump has also stretched the patience and loyalty of corn farmers in mid-western states, a natural base for him. He has called for Coca-Cola to use cane sugar rather than corn syrup in the full-sugar version of its drink. Trump and his controversial health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, have argued that cane sugar is healthier – which is open to question – and will “make America healthy again”.

    While the question of which sweetener is used in Coke is marginal, supporting something that damages mid-western farmers will be difficult for Maga loyalists to reconcile. In having to find a way of overcoming the tensions in the policy, they may begin to question Trump’s wisdom.

    A Trump supporter sporting a red ‘Keep America Great’ hat at a rally in Des Moines, Iowa.
    Aspects and Angles / Shutterstock

    The arguments surrounding the Epstein files might be uniquely dangerous for Trump and his relationship with his Maga base. The QAnon paedophile ring conspiracy is core to a great number of Maga loyalists, and Trump was their man to reveal “the truth”.

    But the justice department has now effectively rejected that part of their world view. And the response of some has been to question whether Trump is also part of a cover up.

    Worse still, Trump has gone on the attack. He has said the Epstein conspiracy was never real and has described some of his supporters as “gullible weaklings” for continuing to believe in it. For some supporters this has been too much, and they have aired their frustration on Trump’s Truth Social media platform as well as on right-leaning blogs and podcasts.

    Trump has begun to soften his critique of those believing in the Epstein conspiracies, saying he would want to release any credible information. He has also returned to a campaigning tactic of whataboutery, pointing at what he says is the unfair treatment he receives compared to his predecessors Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

    The Epstein files episode might well pass. But the question of whether Maga is now bigger than Trump will not. For a president who once joked that his support was so strong he “could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody” without losing voters, the loyalty and pragmatic flexibility of his supporters is important.

    Maga is not a uniform group in belief or action. But if Trump loses either the loyalty of some or they refuse to flex their beliefs as they have done before, it will be politically dangerous for him. From beyond the grave, Epstein might have helped begin a new era in American politics.

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

    – ref. Trump’s changing stance on Epstein files is testing the loyalty of his Maga base – https://theconversation.com/trumps-changing-stance-on-epstein-files-is-testing-the-loyalty-of-his-maga-base-261406

    MIL OSI –

  • Amit Shah highlights cooperative movement and agricultural growth at Rajasthan’s ‘Sahkar & Rojgar Utsav’

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, addressed the ‘Sahkar & Rojgar Utsav’ in Jaipur, Rajasthan, marking the International Year of Cooperatives – 2025. The event, attended by dignitaries including Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat celebrated the cooperative movement’s role in rural and agricultural development.

    During the event, Shah virtually inaugurated 24 grain storage warehouses and 64 millet outlets, distributed ₹12 crore in loans to 1,400 cowherds under the Gopal Credit Card Scheme, and provided micro-ATMs to over 2,300 milk-producing committees. He also launched the White Revolution 2.0 online registration platform for Primary Dairy Cooperative Societies (PDCS) and released a compilation of success stories under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Gareebi Mukt Gram Abhiyan and Vande Ganga Water Conservation Campaign. Additionally, 100 new vehicles for Rajasthan Police and armed forces were flagged off.

    Shah emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s establishment of the Union Ministry of Cooperation has extended cooperative benefits to villages, farmers, and the poor. He noted that cooperatives are active in 98% of rural areas, contributing significantly to India’s agricultural and economic landscape, including 20% of paddy and wheat procurement, 35% of fertilizer production, and 30% of sugar production. Over 31 crore people are connected to 8.5 lakh cooperative bodies.

    Highlighting the Ministry’s achievements, Shah stated that within four years, 61 initiatives have strengthened cooperatives, including the creation of 40,000 new Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) out of a target of two lakh, full computerization of PACS, and the establishment of cooperative institutions for organic products, exports, and seed promotion. He also underscored the Modi government’s commitment to purchasing pulses, oilseeds, and maize at Minimum Support Price (MSP) through NAFED and NCCF, ensuring farmers’ financial security.

    Rajasthan’s agricultural prominence was a key focus, with the state leading in the production of cluster beans (90%), mustard (46%), pearl millets (44%), oilseeds (22%), and millets (15%). The state ranks second in groundnut and third in jowar, gram, pulses, and soybean production. Shah noted that MSP for wheat, gram, mustard, and groundnut has increased significantly over the past 11 years. He also highlighted cooperative-led research on camel breed conservation and the medicinal properties of camel milk to ensure the species’ survival.

    Shah praised the Rajasthan government’s efforts under Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, including cracking down on paper leaks through a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and signing MoUs worth ₹35 lakh crore at the Global Investment Summit. Other initiatives include reducing VAT on fuel, providing LPG cylinders for ₹450, and advancing water supply projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

    Shah lauded the PM Modi government’s welfare schemes, which have provided housing, electricity, gas, free food grains, and healthcare to 60 crore poor people over the past 11 years. He credited PM Modi with elevating India to the world’s fourth-largest economy and lifting 27 crore people out of poverty. On national security, he highlighted decisive actions like surgical and air strikes in response to terrorist attacks, reinforcing India’s strong stance against threats.

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Introduces Bill to Ensure Federal Employees Access to Personnel Records

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced the introduction of the Protecting Federal Employee Rights to Personnel Files Act of 2025, legislation that would prevent the Trump administration from withholding personnel files containing critical documents from current, separated, and retired federal employees. The bill would require federal agencies to provide these records within seven days of the employee’s date of separation. 

    “In a reckless and egregious overreach of power, the Trump administration has carried out mass firings and used aggressive tactics to intimidate and push federal employees out of their jobs,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “To make matters worse, they have shown a blatant disregard for these workers by delaying or outright denying access to personnel files that contain critical documents needed to file taxes, apply for new jobs, or claim unemployment benefits. I introduced this bill to ensure federal employees can access the records they are rightfully entitled to, without delay.”

    “I have heard from federal employees across multiple agencies who have been unable to access their personnel files or who have discovered serious errors in their personnel records with no clear way to correct them,” Brownley continued. “Many were terminated after hours and immediately lost access to their electronic official personnel folders when they were required to return their government-issued devices on the spot. As a result, they were left without the paperwork they need to move forward with their lives, both professionally and personally.”

    “Current and former federal employees have long faced challenges accessing their personnel files in a timely manner, for both professional and personal reasons,” said Randy Erwin, National President of National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE). “While OPM has made progress for current employees, the system still falls short for those with limited or unsecure internet access, and completely excludes former employees. This bill is a game-changer, enabling employees and the government to process critical information more efficiently, allowing both to move forward without unnecessary delays.”

    “In recent months, numerous high-performing, skilled federal employees faced unwarranted termination by this administration. The process through which they were notified was chaotic and disorganized. Questions were left unanswered, and the necessary documentation related to their termination was not provided prior to their dismissal,” said Doreen Greenwald, National President of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). “The result is disappointing and heartbreaking: separated employees have been unable to file for unemployment insurance, enroll in new health care plans, and access the resources they need to survive in the wake of their termination. We’ve had reports of employees in the middle of cancer treatment losing their FEHBP insurance while unable to enroll in their spouse’s plan because they lack the required paperwork owed to them. I commend Representative Brownley for introducing this bill to ensure federal employees are provided access to their personnel files and appropriate paperwork so that they are not further harmed by these removals. This bill goes a long way to ensuring they are equipped to face the uncertainty that comes with unemployment; passing it is a matter of common sense and basic respect.” 

    Background

    The Protecting Federal Employee Rights to Personnel Files Act of 2025 will guarantee access to official personnel records for all current and former federal employees — whether separated due to retirement, termination, reassignment to another federal agency, or other circumstances — by:

    • Requiring federal agencies to provide a separated employee with a copy of their official personnel file, in electronic and physical form, no later than 7 days after their date of separation
    • Requiring the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to furnish a copy of a current employee’s personnel file within seven days upon request
    • Entitling any former employees, who were separated prior to enactment, to their personnel files within 21 days of requesting their files be provided by OPM

    The Protecting Federal Employee Rights to Personnel Files Act of 2025 is endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers, American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE), Federal Managers Association (FMA), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), IAFF Federal Fire Fighters Joint Council, International Association of Machinists, International Plate Printers Union, National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys (NAAUSA), Professional Managers Association (PMA), Senior Executives Association (SEA), National Association of Agriculture Employees (NAAE), National Weather Service Employees Organization (NWSEO), and Patent Office Professional Association.

    Read the text of the bill here.

    ###

    Issues: 119th Congress

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Crop Report for The Period July 8 to July 14, 2025

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on July 17, 2025

    Over the past week, some areas received welcome rainfall that will benefit most crops. However, this precipitation has delayed haying operations in those areas. Cooler conditions over the past week will benefit some crops by slowing development. Many regions are hoping for additional moisture to help support crop development, reduce crop stress and sustain topsoil moisture conditions. 

    Many areas across the province received varying amounts of moisture, and a few isolated storms moved through the province and brought hail. The highest rain recorded over the past week was in the Ponteix area at 44 millimetres (mm), followed by the Shaunavon area at 39 mm. The Semans and Lafleche areas each received 37 mm. 

    Currently, cropland topsoil moisture across the province is rated as 60 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is reported at 45 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 15 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is 43 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 20 per cent very short. Areas like the southwest have seen improved topsoil moisture levels, while levels in the north regions have declined.

    Most crops are in normal stages of development, consistent with what has been reported in previous weeks. Seventy-one per cent of fall cereals are at normal stages of development with 27 per cent estimated ahead of normal for this time of year. 75 per cent of spring cereals are at normal stages of development, while 17 per cent are ahead of the normal stages of development. 73 per cent of oilseeds are at normal stages of development, while 12 per cent are ahead and 15 per cent are falling behind the normal stages of development. Currently, 79 per cent of pulse crops are at normal stages of development, while 18 per cent are ahead of the normal stages of development. 65 per cent of perennial forages and 72 per cent of annual forages are at the normal stages of development for this time of year. 

    While crop conditions vary across the province, crops overall are reported to be in good to fair condition. In areas with a lack of moisture, reports indicate that canola and mustard are finishing the flowering stage early. 

    Currently, 40 per cent of the province’s first cut of hay has been baled or silaged with 29 per cent of hay cut and waiting to cure and 31 per cent still standing. Overall hay quality is rated at 11 per cent excellent, 51 per cent good, 31 per cent fair and seven per cent poor. Some producers are moving on to their second cut of hay, but others have indicated they are not anticipating a second cut unless rain is received. 

    Producers in the southwest, along with some areas in the northwest, are reporting moderate to severe crop damage due to lack of moisture. Minor to moderate crop damage due to dry conditions, heat and wind is being reported in many areas. Additional crop damage this past week is mainly due to gophers and grasshoppers. Overall, pest pressure is lower throughout many regions, but producers are continuing to monitor their fields for any changes. Fungicides are continuing to be applied to suppress disease that has already developed or proactively to reduce disease development. 

    Over the upcoming weeks, producers will be busy finishing fungicide spraying, haying operations and getting equipment ready for harvest. Producers are reminded to keep safety top of mind while working. 

    For any crop or livestock questions, producers are encouraged to call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, toll free: 1-866-457-2377. 

    This can be a stressful time of year for producers as weather conditions can be unpredictable. The Farm Stress Line can help by providing support for producers toll free at 1-800-667-4442.

    A complete, printable version of the Crop Report is available online: download Crop Report.

    Follow the 2025 Crop Report on X (Twitter) at @SKAgriculture. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Ukrainian Parliament approved the new composition of the government

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Kyiv, July 17 /Xinhua/ — The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Thursday approved the composition of the country’s new government, headed by Yulia Svyrydenko, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

    Mikhail Fedorov has been appointed First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation.

    Alexey Sobolev headed the newly created united department – the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture.

    Parliamentarians appointed Taras Kachka, who previously held the post of Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of the country, as Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.

    Svetlana Grinchuk has been appointed head of the Ministry of Energy. Before this appointment, she held the post of Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. At the same time, former Minister of Energy German Galushchenko has been appointed head of the Ministry of Justice.

    Y. Svyrydenko’s predecessor as Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, has become the head of the Ministry of Defense.

    Denis Ulyutin, who previously held the position of First Deputy Minister of Finance, has been appointed Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity.

    Several members of the previous cabinet of ministers were reassigned to their previous posts.

    On Wednesday, the Verkhovna Rada dismissed Prime Minister D. Shmyhal from his post. In accordance with Ukrainian law, the dismissal of the head of government entailed the resignation of all members of the Cabinet. On Thursday, the parliament appointed Yulia Svyrydenko, who previously held the post of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, as the new Prime Minister. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Egg Accelerates Release Cycles and Test Coverage with LambdaTest

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, CA, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LambdaTest, a GenAI-powered quality engineering platform, has announced that Best Egg, a fintech platform providing flexible solutions for people with limited access to credit, has significantly improved its release velocity and test reliability using LambdaTest’s cloud infrastructure.

    With a growing product portfolio and increasing user demand, Best Egg’s QA team needed a more scalable, efficient way to maintain test coverage across multiple browsers and devices. Switching to LambdaTest’s cloud-based testing platform enabled the company to transition from manual and local device testing to a fully automated, CI/CD-integrated pipeline.

    The results have been transformative: test execution times have dropped by 75%, from a full hour to approximately 15 minutes, enabling the faster execution of hundreds of tests daily, smoother releases, and improved product experiences for customers. Best Egg now has run over 2.7 million automation tests on 128k+ real devices, volumes previously unthinkable, helping ensure flawless performance across a wide range of customer devices.

    “LambdaTest helps us meet the demands of the changing environment as a fintech company, giving us the assurance and confidence to deliver best-in-class experiences,” said Tenny Agustin, Engineering Operations Lead, Best Egg. “The change in our approach to testing and quality was about honoring the trust customers place in us. Making sure that the core of the product is stable and healthy, and reliable is a huge part of our brand.”

    With LambdaTest, Best Egg’s engineers experience less context switching, and they can focus on writing tests and building features rather than troubleshooting infrastructure. This shift has helped their technical talent drive innovation within the organization more efficiently.

    The improved speed and scale of testing have translated into 100% release confidence. With broader coverage and earlier detection of issues, Best Egg can release faster, with greater assurance in the quality of every build and instilling trust in customers making critical financial decisions.

    LambdaTest’s real device cloud and parallel execution capabilities enabled Best Egg’s QA engineers to identify and fix issues earlier in the development cycle. Best Egg also enhanced visibility across their test environments and eliminated bottlenecks that previously slowed down their agile workflows.

    “Our goal is to make sure every release is robust, fast, and user-centric,” said Mohit Juneja, VP of Strategic Sales and Partnerships at LambdaTest. “Best Egg’s success story shows how the right testing infrastructure can help high-growth fintech companies scale QA without compromise. We’re proud to support their mission to make financial confidence more accessible.”

    As Best Egg continues to expand its offerings, LambdaTest remains a key partner, helping the team deliver digital experiences that are secure, reliable, and friction-free for end users.

    About LambdaTest
    LambdaTest is a GenAI-powered Quality Engineering Platform that empowers teams to test intelligently, smarter, and ship faster. Built for scale, it offers a full-stack testing cloud with 10K+ real devices and 3,000+ browsers.

    With AI-native test management, MCP servers, and agent-based automation, LambdaTest supports Selenium, Appium, Playwright, and all major frameworks. AI Agents like HyperExecute and KaneAI bring the power of AI and cloud into your software testing workflow, enabling seamless automation testing with 120+ integrations.

    LambdaTest Agents accelerate your testing throughout the entire SDLC, from test planning and authoring to automation, infrastructure, execution, RCA, and reporting.

    For more information, please visit https://lambdatest.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: HS2 6-monthly report to Parliament: July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Written statement to Parliament

    HS2 6-monthly report to Parliament: July 2025

    Review of High Speed Two (HS2) including programme governance, delivery update, benefits, community impacts, land and property.

    Overview

    Today (17 July 2025) I am publishing this government’s second update to Parliament on the progress of High Speed Two (HS2).

    In my previous report, I set out the difficult position that we inherited. HS2 has suffered from repeated cost increases and delays for too long. Although there have been external factors outside of the programme’s control, it has also been mismanaged. It is now clear that cost estimates were overly optimistic and the programme moved to construction too quickly when designs were still immature. Delivery of the programme has not been sufficiently controlled, with a poorly performing supply chain that was insufficiently incentivised. There have been repeated changes in policy, scope and funding and excessive costs incurred in achieving environmental and planning compliance. This means delayed benefits and cost increases incurred on HS2 have diverted billions of pounds from other vital transport priorities.

    This is unacceptable, the cycle of cost increases and delays must be broken and I am determined to achieve this. The project is now under new leadership, and I have tasked HS2 Ltd’s new CEO, Mark Wild, with leading a comprehensive reset of the programme. He is making progress, but this is a huge task, and we need to ensure he has a robust plan for delivering the programme to completion in a controlled way and at the lowest reasonable cost. To this end, the department will work with him and HS2 Ltd over the coming months to advise me on the decisions needed to reset HS2, with the aim of providing an updated delivery baseline and funding envelope in 2026. Until this work is completed, this government is not in a position to say with confidence how much HS2 will cost or when it will be delivered. That is a deeply unsatisfactory position, but it is necessary to complete the hard work we have embarked upon.

    Effective ministerial oversight will be at the heart of this reset. The Rail Minister and I meet regularly with Mark Wild to assess progress and in March, I chaired a meeting of the Ministerial Task Force with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, focusing on completing the programme in a controlled way. In June, I appointed Mike Brown as the new Chair of the HS2 Ltd Board to help us drive effective oversight and accountability on the programme. Both Mark Wild and Mike Brown have experience in major project recovery from Crossrail, which will be invaluable to this task. Mike’s immediate priorities will include supporting Mark and strengthening the challenge that the Board provides to HS2 Ltd, to complement ministerial oversight.

    The reset needs to be guided by the lessons learned from HS2’s delivery to date. In June, I published the major transport projects governance and assurance review, led by James Stewart. This report set out recommendations and actions that we are taking to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, helping to bring HS2 under control and to improve the delivery of future infrastructure projects.

    The government’s determination to now see this programme delivered as efficiently as possible is underpinned by the allocation of £25.3 billion (nominal prices) of funding over 4 years in the Spending Review, as set out in the financial annex.

    Despite the evident challenges, HS2 Ltd, its suppliers and over 33,000 workers have maintained steady progress on construction, achieving major delivery milestones since my last report.

    HS2 will foster economic growth in support of this government’s mission. Research commissioned by HS2 Ltd has found that the prospective arrival of HS2 is already leading to redevelopment around new HS2 stations, demonstrating the early potential of this scheme to act as a catalyst for investment in businesses, new jobs and homes. The research estimates that the programme will deliver economic uplifts of £10 billion in the West Midlands and £10 billion around Old Oak Common station in west London over the next 10 years. 

    Delivering an HS2 station at Euston remains a priority to realise the programme’s benefits. Following our commitment to funding the tunnelling required to bring HS2 to central London, we continue to work with key partners to develop affordable, integrated plans for the Euston station campus alongside significant levels of local development, including housing and life sciences institutions. In parallel, we recently announced that a Euston Delivery Company will be established to oversee the development of the whole Euston campus, which will comprise the new HS2 station, an upgraded Network Rail station and enhancements to the London Underground station and local transport facilities, along with a significant level of development. We welcome the joint venture that The Crown Estate has announced with Lendlease, our development partner at Euston. As set out in the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, we are exploring the use of private capital to design, build, finance and maintain the HS2 station.

    Finally, beyond individual rail schemes, the rail network must be viewed as a whole. HS2 will play a key part in our ambition to improve rail for passengers, with its services and benefits extending far beyond London and Birmingham, including the capacity it releases for other regional and London services.

    Delivery update

    Schedule and cost

    As I set out in the House of Commons on 18 June, based on Mark Wild’s initial advice, I see no route by which trains can be running by 2033 as previously planned. Mark has committed to establishing and delivering to a new baseline in 2026. Once this work is complete, we will have an agreed estimate of how much the project will cost and when it will be delivered.

    Whilst the reset is ongoing, the department is managing HS2 Ltd through strengthened in-year controls, including challenging targets and metrics to deliver within annual budgets. To drive in-year delivery performance, an enhanced level of governance and assurance has also been implemented, reflecting the recommendations of James Stewart’s review.

    This year, HS2 Ltd has rescheduled some work to ensure it operates within its annual financial settlement.

    Expenditure

    To the end of April 2025, £40.5 billion (nominal prices) had been spent on the HS2 programme. This is provided in more detail in the financial annex, based on data provided by HS2 Ltd.

    Spend to date information covers the period up to the end of April 2025. Unless stated otherwise, all figures are presented in nominal prices.

    Following the recent conclusion of the Spending Review, the department has reached a settlement with HM Treasury to fund the delivery of HS2, with £25.3 billion (nominal prices) covering financial years 2026 to 2027 to 2029 to 2030.

    This funding will enable the reset of the HS2 programme under the leadership of Mark Wild, addressing longstanding delivery challenges. It will enable HS2 to move forward with a more secure delivery plan and will support progress at the lowest reasonable cost.

    This settlement will support the continued delivery of Phase 1, providing funding for works from Old Oak Common to Birmingham Curzon Street and Handsacre Junction, Euston Tunnels and Approaches and Euston Station enabling works.

    The HS2 programme is currently in a period of high spend, with much of it in active construction. The department expects HS2 Ltd’s expenditure to become noticeably lower over the next Spending Review period as delivery of the programme progresses.

    The department has updated its reporting of historic programme expenditure from 2019 prices to nominal prices. Once the programme reset is complete and a new baseline agreed, HS2 Ltd will also uplift the price base for programme reporting and for the revised cost estimate. The department will consider how often the price base should be uplifted until the end of the programme.

    Construction progress

    Over 70% of HS2’s 32 miles of bored and mined tunnels between London and Birmingham have now been completed.

    Construction is progressing across the route, with active works underway on 44 viaducts, 126 bridges, 75 embankments and 60 cuttings.

    The Northolt Tunnels, which will link Old Oak Common Station to West Ruislip, were recently completed. Constructed in 2 phases – East and West – the tunnels were excavated using 4 tunnel boring machines (TBMs). TBMs Sushila and Caroline completed mining the western section in April 2025, while mining on the eastern section, led by TBMs Emily and Anne, was completed at the end of June 2025.

    In May, the first Bromford Tunnel broke through, connecting Warwickshire to Birmingham, marking the completion of the first section of the 3.5-mile tunnel.

    In April, a 14,500-tonne box structure that will carry the high-speed line was successfully installed under the A46. The installation utilised innovative civil and structural engineering techniques, which involved constructing the box on land before pushing it across a guiding raft over 64 metres into place.

    Over 8.5 million cubic metres of soil have been excavated, representing 73% of the total planned earthworks.

    In February, the first viaduct in the Delta Junction in North Warwickshire was completed, marking both a significant milestone in the construction of HS2 in the region and the first use of an innovative giant cantilever system in the UK.

    At Interchange Station in Solihull, enabling works have commenced on site, including surveys and ground investigations to inform the detailed design.

    The ‘systems and service’ tender was launched in February 2025 for the Automated People Mover (APM), which will provide connectivity between Interchange Station, the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham International Station and Birmingham Airport.

    At Curzon Street Station in central Birmingham, piling works continue to progress with only the western section remaining. For this financial year, the focus will be on completing the design before construction starts next year. The updated Schedule 17 planning consents for the revised station designs were approved by Birmingham City Council on 8 May 2025. Schedule 17 of the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act 2017 establishes a process for the approval of matters related to the design and construction of the railway. It requires HS2 Ltd to seek approval from the appropriate planning authority, in this case, Birmingham City Council. This approval shall allow HS2 Ltd to construct the station with improvements to the visuals of the station and refinements to the long-term maintenance requirements. 

    At Old Oak Common Station in west London, the tunnel boring machines are being assembled with preparations currently underway to enable their launch towards Euston in spring 2026.

    In November 2024, we reached a key milestone with the award of the rail systems contracts worth around £3 billion in current prices. The contracts commenced in February 2025, but work on site will not start until main works civils are largely complete. Procurement of the Washwood Heath Depot and the National Integrated Control Centre continues.

    Lessons from the contracting failures of HS2’s main works programme have been firmly embedded in the systems contracts. The design of rail systems is more advanced at this stage than it was for main works civils, giving better cost certainty. HS2 Ltd has established an alliance with stronger incentives to ensure suppliers share risk, allowing us to manage costs better and drive performance. The contracts require fewer consents to be granted as well.

    Mobilisation on the rail systems contract has started and timelines are being developed in line with the wider programme challenges noted elsewhere in this report. There will be a formal review at the end of the design stage to make sure all parties are ready to start work on site, again learning from main works civils.

    Euston

    The department continues to work with key partners to develop affordable, integrated plans for the Euston station campus. In parallel, enabling works are continuing to ready the HS2 station site for the main construction programme.

    In terms of the delivery model, the government announced in its 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy that a Euston Delivery Company will be established to oversee the development of the whole Euston campus. The new delivery model will involve a changed role for HS2 Ltd but will go much broader than that to address historical challenges at the site. HS2 Ltd will remain a key partner, continuing to carry out important work at Euston.

    The department also continues to work with partners to examine available delivery and private finance options that will realise the great regeneration potential of the Euston area alongside the improvement of transport links.

    Specifically, the department is exploring options for various elements of the programme to be funded through a combination of private finance, development receipts, and potential local contributions such as tax increment financing, with a degree of residual public funding. The department has been engaging closely with HM Treasury and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority as it continues to develop its plans, and has appointed specialist advisors to ensure it has access to expert support.

    As we progress our plans to reinitiate delivery, we are embedding the recommendations of James Stewart’s review through the new delivery model and working closely with partners to manage risks sensibly and collectively. We will continue to work with key partners with the aim of restarting design later this year. No final decisions have been made regarding the preferred mechanisms to securing funding and finance, including private finance options; further details will be shared in due course.

    The delivery of HS2 has continued during this period to be the subject of both legal and planning challenges, which have added significant cost, uncertainty and potential for delay. It is right that there are checks and balances embedded in our legal and planning systems to ensure local interests are considered when national projects are implemented. There is, however, the risk that these rights are used to frustrate the delivery of consented projects, with legal challenges and planning powers used in a way that drives up costs to both local and national taxpayers, rather than protecting local interests. 

    The HS2 planning and environmental regime set out in the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act 2017 has been subject to multiple attempts at legal challenge from other public bodies, most recently in relation to the extension of the Bromford tunnel in North Warwickshire – with a judgment delivered in the project’s favour.  Since Royal Assent for the act, there have been 9 legal challenges brought by other public bodies. In almost all of these cases, the courts have ultimately found in the project’s favour, but not in time to avoid significant uncertainty, costly delays, or additional legal costs for both parties – the majority of which has unfortunately had to be borne by local taxpayers.

    In the same time period, there have also been 25 costly and time-consuming appeals relating to the HS2 planning regime. Almost all of these appeals have ultimately been determined in HS2’s favour. The government continues to monitor this issue closely and will consider further interventions where appropriate, alongside its wider work on planning reform.

    Fraud investigation

    We are aware of the claims made in relation to a labour supplier on part of the route. The allegations concern inflated invoices and improper PAYE charges, potentially defrauding taxpayers. HS2 Ltd treats all whistleblower allegations seriously and an investigation was launched earlier this year into these allegations. Furthermore, HS2 Ltd has formally reported the allegations to HMRC and HS2 Ltd’s contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI has implemented additional monitoring and controls.

    Benefits

    Housing

    Despite all the challenges, HS2 represents a significant plank of the government’s Plan for Change, our growth and housing missions, and our ambition to deliver infrastructure that works for the whole country. 

    HS2 provides an unparalleled opportunity to build new homes, create jobs and attract investment. The redevelopment of land around the new HS2 stations will enable the ideal conditions for business, new jobs and homes and will act as a catalyst for further investment and wider growth.

    In the West Midlands, HS2 is estimated to support directly 4,000 new homes around Curzon Street Station and 3,000 new homes around Interchange Station as part of the Arden Cross development in Solihull. Additionally, research from a February 2024 report suggests that HS2 will add £10 billion to the West Midlands economy over the next 10 years and help generate over 41,000 additional homes.

    In west London, local partners estimate that HS2 will, in the long term, support the delivery of up to 25,500 new homes around Old Oak Common station, including 9,000 new homes as part of the first phase of development at Old Oak West. Separate research from March 2025 estimates that HS2 will add £10 billion to the west London economy over the next 10 years and support 22,000 additional homes. Around Euston in central London, HS2 will support the delivery of thousands of new homes and the development of a new ‘knowledge quarter’.

    There could also be new housing opportunities along the West Coast Mainline between London and the West Midlands, at places that gain improved local services as a result of network capacity released by HS2. Decisions have not yet been made by the government on where these additional services will run.

    Jobs and skills

    In addition to long-term ambitions, HS2 is contributing to economic growth now. The programme is currently supporting over 33,000 jobs and over 3,400 UK businesses in the supply chain across the country, including over 2,500 small and medium-sized enterprises.

    HS2 is also helping to break down barriers to opportunity and training a skilled workforce for the UK’s wider rail and construction industries. The programme is attracting new and diverse people to the industry. Having created over 1,800 apprenticeships and supported over 5,000 previously unemployed people back into work on the project since 2017, the programme is helping to bridge the skills gap and tackle unemployment along the HS2 construction corridor. By drawing on and developing world-class skills, HS2 will leave a positive skills legacy that will develop and strengthen the country’s construction workforce for the years to come.

    Environment

    Updated designs for ecological mitigation over the past six months have seen further progress made on the target to achieve ‘no net loss’ to biodiversity by the end of the construction programme. At the end of 2024 to 2025, the position for area-based habitats has improved while designs for hedgerows and watercourse habitats remained on track to deliver a net gain in biodiversity.

    HS2 Ltd is also seeking to reduce the whole-life carbon emissions associated with construction of HS2 by 50%, aiming to maximise productivity and cost-saving measures to achieve this goal. At the end of 2024 to 2025, the programme had so far achieved a 33.8% reduction in carbon against that 50% target.

    Community impacts, land and property

    Appointment of a new independent commissioner

    I am pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Herga as the independent High Speed Rail Residents’ and Construction Commissioner, following an open competition.

    The commissioner is responsible for holding HS2 Ltd and the government accountable to their commitments to treat those people directly affected by the HS2 scheme with sensitivity and respect. The commissioner also makes themselves available to intervene in unresolved land and property disputes, as an objective and independent voice, focussing on timely settlement to save costs on both sides. This new role combines the previous roles of HS2 Construction Commissioner and HS2 Residents’ Commissioner.

    Community engagement performance

    HS2 Ltd received 1209 complaints during 2024 to 2025, an increase of 102 when compared to the previous year. At this stage of the programme, the vast majority of complaints are construction-related, with over half about traffic and transport impacts and about one-third related to noise and vibration impacts. Where communities have complaints, HS2 Ltd seeks to resolve issues quickly. Over the last financial year, HS2 Ltd resolved 100% of urgent complaints within 2 working days and resolved 96% of all other complaints within 20 working days or less.

    Local funds

    The HS2 project is mitigating some of the impacts of construction on local places through the Community and Environment Fund and the Business and Local Economy Fund.

    As at June 2025, over £19 million has been channelled through these funds towards 353 local community projects.

    Land and property on the former Phase 2b Eastern Leg

    I am today formally lifting the safeguarding directions for the former Phase 2b Eastern Leg (between the West Midlands and Leeds), removing the uncertainty that has affected many people along the former route. Safeguarding along the former Phase 2b Western Leg (between Crewe and Manchester) is not being changed as part of this, and an update on future plans for safeguarding on this section will be provided in due course alongside broader plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

    One small area to the south of the existing station in central Leeds, previously required for the new HS2 station, will remain safeguarded to allow for potential enhancements to the existing station, including for onward travel.

    I have also today closed the Rural Support Zone, Express Purchase, Rent Back, and the Need to Sell property schemes along the former Phase 2b Eastern Leg. Existing applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

    Removing safeguarding along the majority of the former HS2 Phase 2b Eastern Leg means we are now able to initiate a programme to dispose of over 550 properties on the former Eastern Leg that are no longer required. We expect disposals on the open market to begin in 2026. Before then, former owners whose property was acquired under statutory blight will have the opportunity to reacquire their former property at the current market value.

    We will dispose of land and property in a sensible and sensitive way, ensuring value for money for the taxpayer and avoiding disruption to local property markets.

    I have deposited the safeguarding directions and relevant documents in the House libraries.

    Programme governance

    Programme reset

    Following Mark Wild’s arrival as the new HS2 Ltd CEO in December 2024, I commissioned him to set out a plan to deliver the remaining HS2 infrastructure in a safe, controlled and efficient manner and bring the new railway into operational use, for the lowest reasonable cost to the taxpayer. Mark gave me his initial diagnosis at the end of March and I expect him to advise me further over the coming months.

    His initial assessment summarises the currently uncontrolled state of the programme and the significant challenge of achieving a programme reset that minimises delays and stops further cost increases. He also confirmed his view that, based on the current scope and delivery strategy, it is not possible to deliver HS2’s opening stage between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street within the stated range of 2029 to 2033, and that the funding envelope set by the previous government will not be sufficient. If interventions are not enacted, costs will rise and delivery will be further delayed.

    As such, it is now the work of Mark and his team to put in place measures to bring the railway into service as quickly and cost effectively as possible, with government support and constructive challenge. As part of his work, Mark will advise me on updated estimates to give the government and taxpayers certainty over HS2’s costs and schedule – breaking the cycle of cost increases and overruns.

    The HS2 reset will involve:

    • setting a new realistic cost and schedule baseline within which we can complete the programme
    • resetting the commercial relationship with HS2’s principal civil works suppliers to drive increased productivity and control cost
    • making sure HS2 Ltd has the right skills and capabilities to deliver the remaining work, including improvements to setup, operating model, leadership, culture, effectiveness and capabilities
    • improving how the department and wider government sponsors the delivery of HS2, drawing on the findings and recommendations from James Stewart’s independent review and the department’s own work on lessons

    The scale and complexity of resetting the programme is a major challenge. Mark Wild carried out a similar process as the CEO of Crossrail, putting the project back on track and delivering a successful opening of the Elizabeth line in 2022. It is important we take this opportunity to get it right, which is why the reset will take time and involve close working between HS2 Ltd, DfT and the rest of the government. The ambition is for an updated and assured full baseline to measure performance in 2026.

    In parallel, the department plans to publish an updated programme business case in 2026, once agreed cost and schedule estimates are available.

    Oversight

    On 18 March 2025, I chaired a meeting of the reconvened Ministerial Task Force for HS2. I was joined by the Rail Minister, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Mark Wild and other senior leaders from HS2 Ltd and across the government to scrutinise initial plans on resetting the programme and delivering HS2 at the lowest reasonable cost.

    On 31 March 2025, Sir Jon Thompson stepped down as HS2 Ltd Chair. On 18 June, I was pleased to announce Mike Brown as the new Chair of HS2 Ltd. Mike Brown brings decades of experience in delivering major transport projects as former TfL Commissioner, and member of the team that turned Crossrail into the Elizabeth Line. He will lead the Board and work with Mark Wild on the urgent priority to reset the project.

    It is clear from Mark Wild’s assessment that HS2 Ltd currently falls far short of having the capability and culture needed to deliver the programme effectively. Mike Brown has been tasked with strengthening the HS2 Ltd Board to more effectively support and challenge Mark Wild in conducting the reset of HS2 and the safe delivery of Phase 1 at the lowest reasonable cost. To support strengthened board oversight, a recruitment exercise has been launched to appoint new non-executive directors to bolster board capability and capacity.

    I would like to thank Elaine Holt for leading the Board in her capacity as Deputy Chair over the period from 1 April to 13 July.

    We have also enacted temporary arrangements which establish additional control measures and monitoring to ensure the programme is managed properly. This will bridge the period leading to the formal reset of the programme.

    Capturing, applying and sharing lessons

    Following my last report, the major transport projects governance and assurance review, led by James Stewart, has concluded. It has provided important lessons that can be applied to HS2, the department’s other capital projects and infrastructure schemes across the government.

    Most major programmes experience difficulties in their delivery. However, the failures seen on HS2 are extreme, with costs increasing continuously over many years and very rapidly since the start of construction. There is no single explanation for these failings – they span across its lifecycle from conception through to delivery and from governmental sponsorship, through planning and consenting, to how the government has orchestrated its delivery between HS2 Ltd and the construction supply chain.  

    We have worked closely with HM Treasury and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) to identify lessons from the HS2 programme.

    The department is applying the lessons from James Stewart’s and other reviews, including embedding the lessons into the HS2 programme reset plan and in developing and delivering other transport and wider infrastructure projects.

    High ambition at inception

    Early decisions resulted in an exceptionally high-specification and high-speed railway, which drove higher costs and meant that tried and tested approaches could not be relied upon. In future programmes, opportunities for reducing cost based on the minimum acceptable design should be explored and use of bespoke or cutting-edge specifications should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

    Scope changes

    Since HS2’s inception, the scope of the programme has been progressively reduced. Scope reductions have been in part a result of cost increases, but have added to delivery challenges and left the residual scheme over-specified in relation to the benefits it will deliver. 

    To address both of these lessons, the department has contributed to the Office for Value for Money’s study into the governance and budgeting arrangements for ‘mega projects’ to make sure that lessons from HS2 are applied to the wider government’s approach to infrastructure delivery.

    Governance

    Governance has evolved through the lifetime of the project and in the light of pressures; however, it has not been sufficiently effective in identifying and managing the scale of challenges, including in relation to cost management and capability. We have implemented a series of changes in the governance of the programme to respond to James Stewart’s recommendations. We held the first shareholder board on 28 May, which provided strategic-level oversight of the programme from the Permanent Secretary, Mark Wild, HS2 Ltd special directors, the senior responsible officer, interim HS2 Ltd chair and senior DfT and HMT Officials. A renewed programme and performance board now meets monthly to focus on the effective delivery of Phase 1 (including Euston) against agreed schedule, cost and scope.

    Cost estimation

    Since the inception of the project, internal and external experts have comprehensively scrutinised cost estimates. However, despite this, estimates have consistently proven to be wrong.

    Last year, HS2 Ltd and departmental officials jointly concluded a comprehensive external review of the current approach to cost estimation and programme control. HS2 Ltd has been implementing an action plan to strengthen these vital areas of project control. A priority of the HS2 reset is setting a new, realistic and assured baseline of cost and schedule within which we can complete the programme. In addition, our progress to date means that evidence based on past experience, rather than forecast estimates, can be utilised to inform current and future delivery of the programme, including ongoing progress on civils delivery and the recent letting of the systems contracts.

    To validate this new estimate, there is also work underway to verify the civil work delivered to date and its cost. This will allow the programme to validate true delivery costs against the original estimates. This information, combined with continued investment in collating benchmarking data from international comparators, will give us a more reliable ‘should cost’ model for the remainder of the programme. This ‘should cost’ model will enable a more accurate assessment of the reasonableness of assumptions in the cost estimate.

    We have learnt that realistic ranges, rather than single target costs, should be set at the early stage of projects. Ranges should only narrow when there is sufficient certainty from external data, such as contract prices. We will adopt an approach that uses robustly verified or benchmarked cost data, with ranges and sensitivity analysis, when taking future programme investment decisions. HS2 will lead the way in ensuring that cost analysis is rigorously incorporated into the design of later procurements and decisions. In parallel, the government has made significant improvements in the analysis of investment benefits in recent years.

    Challenges of building large-scale infrastructure

    Meeting environmental standards and planning requirements has presented a significant challenge to the delivery of the project and has added to cost. It is now clear that the early stages of HS2 scheme development underestimated the planning and regulatory challenges of designing and building a new high-speed railway whilst meeting the expectations of local planning and highway authorities, and complying with the latest safety, security and environmental standards. The granting of consents has been subject to routine challenge, and the need for expensive mitigations to meet legal obligations (such as the bat mitigation structure at Sheephouse Wood in Buckinghamshire) has increased the cost of delivering the railway. 

    The government is already implementing far-reaching reforms to ensure economic infrastructure can be delivered more efficiently. To strike a better balance between avoiding costs and delays on agreed schemes whilst allowing local scrutiny, Ministers will be able to intervene more actively in the process within the existing planning framework, utilising the reforms in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill once enacted, as well as considering whether further alterations to the HS2 planning framework could bring benefits for efficient infrastructure delivery and to taxpayers more generally.

    Capability challenges

    Costs have increased in part due to insufficient capability in HS2 Ltd and the supply chain in delivering a project of this scale. There has been insufficient focus on the client relationship, too many of HS2’s resources were allocated to the wrong place and contract management and project control were not effective. This led to uncontrolled costs and extremely poor productivity and performance from the supply chain. We will be working with Mark Wild and the Board of HS2 Ltd to address the areas where challenges have been identified, such as the need for Mark Wild to put in place a high-calibre and enduring leadership team and to reshape the organisation to deliver efficiently. This will be a priority in the programme reset.

    Ineffective incentives

    HS2 Ltd’s current commercial contracting strategy has not proved effective at controlling costs and fairly attributing responsibility for risks. The contract incentives have focused on providing positive incentives against target costs; however, as costs escalated and changes arose, the incentivised cost targets were exceeded, leading to no positive incentive to deliver at lower cost. Some risks which should have been borne by suppliers have also been transferred to taxpayers. In the future we need incentives and risk allocation that deliver for taxpayers as well as supplier shareholders. This work is being embedded through our engagement across the government, to ensure major infrastructure projects are based on effective commercial contracts and incentives going forward.

    Financial annex

    The information on HS2’s overall spend to date and budget is now being provided in nominal (cash) terms following a commitment made by the department to the Public Accounts Committee to express the costs of the programme in a more up-to-date price base and better capture the inflation incurred since 2019. The government will provide further details on the 2025 to 2026 position in cash terms as part of the standard main estimates report to Parliament.

    Historic and forecast expenditure

    Nominal prices, including land and property.

    Phase Overall spend to date (£ billion) 2025 to 2026 budget (£ billion) 2025 to 2026 forecast (£ billion) 2025 to 2026 variance (£ billion)
    Phase 1 total 37.9 7.1 7.1 0.0
    Civils 26.4 5.4 5.4 0.0
    Stations 2.3 0.6 0.6 0.0
    Systems 2.0 0.3 0.3 0.0
    Phase 1 indirects 3.5 0.4 0.4 0.0
    Land and property Phase 1 3.6 0.3 0.3 0.0
    Former Phase 2 2.6 0.1 0.1 0.0
    Overall total 40.5 7.2 7.2 0.0

    Notes for the table:

    [1] The figures set out in the table have been rounded to aid legibility. Due to this, they do not always tally.

    [2] Spend to date for Phase 1 includes a £0.6 billion liability (provision) representing the department’s obligation to purchase land and property.

    [3] To enable comparison with the figures presented in the December 2024 Parliamentary Report which were in 2019 prices, the equivalent total overall spends to date on Phase 1 and on Former Phase 2 in 2019 prices are £33.11 billion and £2.5 billion respectively and the 2025 to 2026 budgets for Phase 1 and for Former Phase 2 in 2019 prices are £5.4 billion and £0.1 billion respectively.

    HS2 spending review settlement

    Settlement for total spending review period (2026 to 2030): £25.3 billion (nominal prices).

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: NRS celebrates socio-economic investment

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    NRS celebrates socio-economic investment

    Almost £20 million funding was invested to help NRS communities grow and thrive in 2024/25.

    NRS has supported 149 projects to bring positive social change to benefit people living in communities across the UK – from Caithness to the tip of North Wales, down to the Bristol and English Channels.

    Every £1 of the £2,287,696 NRS has invested unlocked another £8.23 in match funding, elevating the community support to over £18.8m. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority also directly supported four transformational projects with a share of over £900,000 – taking the total to almost £20m.

    David Calder, head of sustainability and socio-economics for NRS Dounreay, said:

    Our UK wide footprint enables us to play a key role in working in partnership with other public sector and increasingly private sector organisations with community benefit obligations in addressing a variety of social and economic challenges and opportunities.

    This partnership investment approach enables us to align with regional and national priorities while creating meaningful impact where it matters most – in our communities.

    Alan Krailing, head of sustainability for NRS Sites, added:

    Our mission goes beyond decommissioning and site restoration – we want to shape the future for generations to come.

    The first step to building a sustainable legacy is investing in our communities to create shared value and resilient and thriving economies that meet local needs. Our socio-economic programmes are bringing this legacy to life by creating a ripple effect of social impact across the UK.

    NRS funding helped 215 new or growing businesses, awarded 70 start-up grants and created 142 jobs to develop thriving and resilient economies in remote, rural communities. Six graduates were placed or retained in employment, as well as projects supporting over 10,000 training opportunities, 15 apprenticeships, 900 employment opportunities and 160 work experience placements, improving access to sustainable incomes.

    With over 9,000 voluntary hours and more than 33,000 individual health and well-being interventions, people of all ages have been empowered to work toward long-term solutions to social challenges. These efforts have not only improved outcomes but also fostered stronger, more resilient communities.

    Some examples of the projects supported include:

    Caithness Business Fund: A £50,000 contribution to the £150,000 Future Skills apprenticeship grant scheme has tackled skills shortages and driven investment in new opportunities for SMEs and young people in the North Highlands – a region on the cusp of becoming a renewable powerhouse for the UK and beyond.

    During its first year in operation the scheme has supported seven apprentices and stimulated business growth.

    Prysor Angling Association: £65,000 funding has revitalised a café, community hub and created four jobs on the banks of Trawsfynydd Lake in the heart of Eryri National Park, North Wales. School children are learning about conservation and biodiversity in the lakeside classroom and gaining essential life skills whilst they cast off on the Fishing for Schools programme.

    A new bird hide and three accessible fishing platforms have improved the leisure offer to all. Three EV Chargers and a 50 KW solar array are generating income to offset running costs and help support the organisation becoming self-reliant, sustainable and carbon neutral.  

    Tumbledown Farm: £85,000 funding helped to create a carbon neutral forest school at a 27-acre former farm owned by Weymouth Town Council. The new building provides community led learning, employment and well-being opportunities for local schools, families and people with additional needs in an inclusive, nurturing greenspace.

    We are incredibly proud of being a good neighbour to the schools, clubs, community groups nearest NRS sites where funding has helped to meet the local needs of 82 grass roots organisations.

    Watch the video below to find out much more.

    NRS socio-economic impact 2024-2025

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Farmers in Bihar, Jharkhand welcome PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, call it gamechanger

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Farmers across Bihar and Jharkhand on Thursday welcomed the Centre’s newly launched Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, expressing optimism that the scheme will transform their lives and bring long-awaited relief from financial and infrastructural challenges in agriculture.

    With an annual outlay of Rs 24,000 crore, the scheme aims to empower farmers and boost agricultural development in 100 identified districts across the country.

    Speaking to IANS, farmers from Bihar’s Rohtas district—known as a “Krishi Pradhan” (agriculture-dominant) region—shared their appreciation for the initiative, calling it a major step forward in strengthening rural India.

    Ashutosh Singh, a farmer from Rohtas, said, “This scheme is like a double celebration for us. Rohtas is already a leader in agriculture, and now with the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, the support from the government will double our strength. I am extremely happy and grateful to Prime Minister Modi for thinking of us farmers.”

    Krishna Kumar, another farmer, added, “Earlier, we had to run from pillar to post, from blocks to BDO offices, for every small benefit. But now, everything will be streamlined. We won’t have to depend on anyone. This scheme will empower farmers to stand on their own feet.”

    Santosh Kushwaha emphasised the scale and structure of the scheme: “Rs 24,000 crore every year is no small amount. And it’s not just about the money, this scheme will bring together 36 existing schemes across 11 departments, private partnerships, and state initiatives. This holistic approach will definitely uplift farmers.”

    In neighbouring Jharkhand, farmers echoed similar sentiments.

    Kunal, a farmer from Ranchi, said, “The scheme approved by the Centre will directly benefit us. For years, we’ve struggled with poor infrastructure and limited credit support. This is a new beginning.”

    Shankar Mahto, also from Jharkhand, said, “This initiative is not just for farmers—it’s for rural development. Better irrigation, more credit availability, and infrastructure will help uplift entire villages.”

    Robin, another farmer, added, “It’s a well-thought-out scheme. If implemented effectively, it will bring about real change in rural India. We’re hopeful it happens soon.”

    Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the ‘Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ for six years, beginning 2025-26, to cover 100 districts.

    The scheme draws inspiration from NITI Aayog’s Aspirational District Programme, a first-of-its-kind initiative focusing exclusively on agriculture and allied sectors.

    It aims to enhance agricultural productivity, increase adoption of crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices, augment post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block levels, improve irrigation facilities and facilitate availability of long-term and short-term credit, according to the official statement.

    The scheme was announced as part of the Budget proposals for 2025-26 to develop 100 districts under ‘Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’. The scheme will be implemented through the convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11 Departments, other State schemes and local partnerships with the private sector.

    As many as 100 districts will be identified based on three key indicators of low productivity, low cropping intensity, and less credit disbursement. The number of districts in each state/UT will be based on the share of Net Cropped Area and operational holdings. However, a minimum of 1 district will be selected from each state, according to an official statement.

    Committees will be formed at the District, State and National level for effective planning, implementation and monitoring of the Scheme. A District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan will be finalised by the District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti, which will also have progressive farmers as members.

    The District Plans will be aligned to the national goals of crop diversification, conservation of water and soil health, self-sufficiency in agriculture and allied sectors, as well as expansion of natural and organic farming.

    The progress of the scheme in each Dhan-Dhaanya district will be monitored on 117 key Performance Indicators through a dashboard monthly.

    NITI Aayog will also review and guide the district plans. Besides, Central Nodal Officers appointed for each district will also review the scheme regularly, the statement explained.

    As the targeted outcomes in these 100 districts improve, the overall average against key performance indicators will rise for the country.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI: Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (FMCB) Reports Record Second Quarter 2025 Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Second Quarter 2025 Highlights

    • Net income of $23.1 million, an increase of $1.3 million or 5.9% compared to the second quarter of 2024;
    • Basic earnings per share of $33.06 and diluted earnings per share of $32.94; diluted earnings per share up 12.1% compared to the second quarter of 2024;
    • Diluted earnings per share of $126.87 over the trailing twelve months, up 7.8% compared to $117.73 over the same trailing period a year ago and 15.2% compared to $110.10 for the same period two years ago;
    • Tangible book value per share increased 9.7% to $835.33 compared to $761.62 as of June 30, 2024;
    • Achieved a return on average assets of 1.65% and a return on average equity of 15.09%;
    • Net interest income of $53.9 million, up $3.1 million or 6.1% compared to $50.8 million in the second quarter of 2024; net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) of 4.07%, up from 3.91% in the second quarter of 2024;
    • Continued cost discipline resulted in an efficiency ratio of 44.88%;
    • Liquidity position remains strong with $291.8 million in cash, $1.3 billion in investment securities, of which $573.0 million are available-for-sale, no borrowings and a borrowing capacity of $2.1 billion as of June 30, 2025;
    • Continued to grow our solid capital position with a preliminary total risk-based capital ratio of 15.35%, common equity tier 1 ratio of 13.87%, tier 1 leverage ratio of 11.18% and a tangible common equity ratio of 11.08%;
    • Credit quality remains resilient with an allowance for credit losses on loans and leases of 2.09%; net charge-off ratio of 0.02% for the quarter and no non-accrual loans or leases at quarter-end.

    LODI, Calif., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (OTCQX: FMCB) (the “Company” or “FMCB”), the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California (the “Bank” or “F&M Bank”), reported record second quarter net income of $23.1 million, or $32.94 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2025 compared with $21.8 million, or $29.39 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2024 and $23.0 million, or $32.86 per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2025. Annualized return on average assets was 1.65% and return on average equity was 15.09% for the second quarter of 2025 compared with 1.58% and 15.33% for the second quarter of 2024, and 1.70% and 15.65% for the first quarter of 2025. The expense efficiency ratio for second quarter was 44.88% down from 45.77% for the second quarter of 2024 and up from 43.86% for the first quarter of 2025.

    Net income over the trailing twelve months was $90.0 million compared with $87.9 million for the same trailing period a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share over the trailing twelve months totaled $126.87, up 7.8% compared with $117.73 for the same trailing period a year ago and $110.10 for the same period two years ago. Basic earnings per share over the trailing twelve months totaled $127.01, up 7.9% compared with $117.73 for the same trailing period a year ago and $110.10 for the same period two years ago.

    During the quarter, the Company declared a mid-year cash dividend of $9.30 per share totaling $6.5 million, a 5.7% increase over the $8.80 per share mid-year dividend paid in 2024. The Company has now paid a cash dividend for 90 consecutive years and has increased the cash dividend for 60 consecutive years. Farmers and Merchants Bancorp is a member of a select group of only 55 publicly traded companies referred to as “Dividend Kings,” and is ranked 17th in that group. On July 1, 2025, Sure Dividend released their top-ranked Dividend Kings, based on expected returns over the next five years and ranked Farmers & Merchants Bancorp #5 on this prestigious list.

    CEO Commentary

    Kent Steinwert, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are very pleased with the Company’s financial performance in the second quarter of 2025, highlighted by record second quarter net income of $23.1 million, a return on average assets of 1.65%, and a return on average equity of 15.09%. Net income for the first six-months of 2025 of $46.1 million is the best performing six-month period in the history of the Company. We achieved these impressive results while continuing to maintain a strong liquidity position and balance sheet at quarter end with $291.8 million in cash, $1.3 billion in investment securities, of which $573.0 million are available-for-sale, no borrowings and access to $2.1 billion in borrowing capacity, while maintaining a conservative loan-to-deposit ratio of 76.38%. Capital levels continue to strengthen and are significantly above the regulatory thresholds for “well-capitalized” banks. Total deposits increased $61.2 million, or 1.3% to $4.8 billion at June 30, 2025 compared to December 31, 2024, as we continued our focus on growing deposits with our longstanding client relationships and developing new client relationships. Gross loans and leases were $3.6 billion at the end of the second quarter, up $40.3 million or 1.1% from March 31, 2025 and down $54.4 million or 1.5% from December 31, 2024. The increase in the second quarter was due to increased loan demand while the decrease in the first quarter was partially due to some seasonality in agricultural lending as well as our continued conservative approach in underwriting given the yield curve, which continues to not price in duration risk for loans and leases beyond three years. Credit quality remains solid as we continue to work closely with our borrowers while they work through the current economic cycle, particularly in a few agricultural products adversely impacted by negative conditions in the export market. Our Company remains in excellent financial condition, continues to perform at a high-level and is well positioned to navigate the challenges ahead as we have for the past 109 years.”

    Mr. Steinwert continued, “I am pleased to announce that Bank Director Magazine just released their annual ranking of the top performing banks for 2024 and Farmers & Merchants Bancorp was ranked the #3 bank in the nation across all asset categories. This follows our #2 ranking for 2023 and #1 ranking for 2022. Bank Director’s recognition of our performance over the last three years validates the success of our strategy and commitment to our clients, employees, shareholders and communities.”

    Earnings

    Net interest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 was $53.9 million compared with $50.8 million in the same quarter in 2024 and $53.1 million in the first quarter of 2025. Net interest income for the six-months ended June 30, 2025 was $107.0 million, an increase of $4.5 million, or 4.4%, when compared with the $102.5 million for the same period in 2024. The Company’s net interest margin increased to 4.13% for the six-months ended June 30, 2025 compared with 4.02% for the same period in 2024.  The increase in the net interest margin was driven primarily by a decrease in deposit costs. Tangible book value per share increased to $835.33 at June 30, 2025, up 9.7% compared with $761.62 a year ago.

    Balance Sheet

    Total assets at quarter-end were $5.5 billion, up from $5.4 billion as of December 31, 2024. Total cash and cash equivalents were $291.8 million, an increase of $79.2 million from December 31, 2024 and a decrease of $315.5 million compared to March 31, 2025, primarily due to the repayment of brokered deposits. Total loans and leases outstanding were $3.6 billion, a decrease of $54.4 million or 1.5% from December 31, 2024, but an increase of $40.3 million or 1.1% from March 31, 2025. As of June 30, 2025, our total investment securities portfolio was $1.3 billion, an increase of $88.0 million from December 31, 2024 and an increase of $66.6 million from March 31, 2025. The portfolio is comprised of $573.0 million in available-for-sale securities and $748.9 million in held-to-maturity securities. Total deposits decreased $217.6 million to $4.76 billion compared to March 31, 2025, due to the repayment of all brokered deposits of $250.0 million during the quarter. Excluding the brokered deposits, total deposits increased $32.4 million, or 0.7% in the second quarter from March 31, 2025, and increased $61.2 million or 1.3% from December 31, 2024. Our loan to deposit ratio was 76.38% as of June 30, 2025, down from 78.53% as of December 31, 2024, due to an increase in total deposits and a modest decrease in total loans and leases.

    Credit Quality

    The Company’s credit quality remained solid with no non-accrual loans and leases as of June 30, 2025 and a negligible delinquency ratio of 0.03% of total loans and leases. Net charge-offs were 0.02% of average loans and leases for both the second quarter of 2025 and for the first half of 2025 compared to minor net recoveries for the comparative periods in 2024. Net charge-offs over the trailing twelve months were 0.04% of average total loans and leases. The total allowance for credit losses on loans and leases as well as unfunded commitments was $79.0 million as of June 30, 2025 compared to $78.1 million as of March 31, 2025. The allowance for credit losses on loans and leases increased by $0.8 million to $76.2 million, or 2.09% as of June 30, 2025 compared with $75.4, million or 2.10% as of March 31, 2025. A provision of $1.4 million was recorded during the second quarter of 2025 compared to no provision during the second quarter of 2024. The provision totaled $1.7 million for the first six-months of 2025 compared to no provision in the first six-months of 2024.

    Capital

    The Company’s and Bank’s regulatory capital ratios continued to strengthen during the second quarter of 2025. The growth in capital was driven by net income of $23.1 million offset by stock repurchases of $5.3 million and dividends paid of $6.8 million. The Company repurchased 4,546 shares during the quarter, reducing total outstanding shares to 725,367. As of June 30, 2025, there remains $14.7 million authorized for repurchases under the board-approved repurchase plan. At June 30, 2025, the Company’s preliminary total risk-based capital ratio was 15.35% and the common equity tier 1 capital ratio was 13.87%, an increase from 15.23% and 13.75% as of March 31, 2025, respectively. At June 30, 2025, the Company’s tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 11.18%, a decrease from 11.32% as of March 31, 2025, as a result of higher average assets. At June 30, 2025, all F&M Bank capital ratios exceeded the regulatory requirements to be classified as “well-capitalized.” At June 30, 2025, the tangible common equity ratio was 11.08%, up from 10.72% as of June 30, 2024.

    About Farmers & Merchants Bancorp

    Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, trades on the OTCQX under the symbol FMCB, and is the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California, also known as F&M Bank. Founded in 1916, F&M Bank is a locally owned and operated community bank, which proudly serves California through 33 convenient locations. F&M Bank is financially strong, with $5.5 billion in assets, and is consistently recognized as one of the nation’s safest banks by national bank rating firms. The Bank has maintained a 5-Star rating from BauerFinancial for 35 consecutive years, longer than any other commercial bank in the State of California.

    Farmers & Merchants Bancorp has paid dividends for 90 consecutive years and has increased dividends for 60 consecutive years. As a result, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp is a member of a select group of only 55 publicly traded companies referred to as “Dividend Kings,” and is ranked 17th in that group based on consecutive years of dividend increases. A “Dividend King” is a stock with 50 or more consecutive years of dividend increase.

    In July 2025, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp was named by Bank Director’s Magazine as the #3 best performing bank in the nation across all asset categories in their annual “Ranking Banking” study of the top performing banks for 2024. In July 2024, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp was named by Bank Director’s Magazine as the #2 best performing bank in the nation across all asset categories in their annual “Ranking Banking” study of the top performing banks for 2023. In July 2023, the Bank was named by Bank Director’s Magazine as the #1 best performing bank in the nation across all asset categories in their annual “Ranking Banking” study of the top performing banks for 2022.

    In April 2024, F&M Bank was ranked 6th on Forbes Magazine’s list of “America’s Best Banks” in 2023. Forbes’ annual “America’s Best Banks” list looks at ten metrics measuring growth, credit quality, profitability, and capital for the 2023 calendar year, as well as stock performance in the 12 months through March 18, 2024.

    In December 2023, F&M Bank was ranked 4th on S&P Global Market Intelligence’s “Top 50 List of Best-Performing Community Banks” in the US with assets between $3.0 billion and $10.0 billion for 2023. S&P Global Market Intelligence ranks financial institutions based on several key factors including financial returns, growth, and balance sheet risk profile.

    In October 2021, F&M Bank was named the “Best Community Bank in California” by Newsweek magazine. Newsweek’s ranking recognizes those financial institutions that best serve their customers’ needs in each state. This recognition speaks to the superior customer service the F&M Bank team members provide to its clients.

    F&M Bank is the 18th largest bank lender to agriculture in the United States. F&M Bank operates in the mid-Central Valley of California, including Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, and Merced counties and the east region of the San Francisco Bay Area, including Napa, Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

    F&M Bank was inducted into the National Agriculture Science Center’s “Ag Hall of Fame” at the end of 2021 for providing resources, financial advice, guidance, and support to the agribusiness communities as well as to students in the next generation of agribusiness workforce. F&M Bank is dedicated to helping California remain the premier agricultural region in the world and will continue to work with the next generation of farmers, ranchers, and processors. F&M Bank remains committed to servicing the needs of agribusiness in California as has been the case since its founding over 109 years ago.

    F&M Bank offers a full complement of loan, deposit, equipment leasing and treasury management products to businesses, as well as a full suite of consumer banking products. The FDIC awarded F&M Bank the highest possible rating of “Outstanding” in their last Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) evaluation.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations regarding the Company’s financial performance. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” or “may.” Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding loan and deposit production levels of net interest margin, the ability to control costs and expenses, the competitive environment, financial and regulatory policies of the United States government, general economic conditions, inflation, recessions, tariffs, economic uncertainty in the United States, and changes in interest rates. Forward-looking statements in this earnings release include matters that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, among others: the effects of and changes in monetary and fiscal policies, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board and their effects on inflation risk; political and economic uncertainty, including any decline in global, domestic or local economic conditions or the stability of credit and financial markets; and other relevant risks detailed in the Company’s Form 10-K, Form 10-Qs, and various other securities law filings made periodically by the Company, copies of which are available from the Company’s website. All such factors are difficult to predict and are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. There also may be additional risks that the Company does not presently know, or that the Company currently believes to be immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those contained in these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances after the date of this press release or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

    For more information about Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and F&M Bank, visit fmbonline.com.

    Investor Relations Contact
    Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
    Bart R. Olson
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    Phone: 209-367-2485
    bolson@fmbonline.com

                             
    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS                        
          Three-Months Ended     Six-Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)     June 30, 2025   March 31, 2025   June 30, 2024     June 30, 2025   June 30, 2024
    Earnings and Profitability:                        
    Interest income     $ 70,061     $ 67,138     $ 69,831       $ 137,199     $ 136,472  
    Interest expense       16,193       13,997       19,050         30,190       33,978  
    Net interest income       53,868       53,141       50,781         107,009       102,494  
    Provision for credit losses       1,400       300       –         1,700       –  
    Noninterest income       5,519       5,021       4,767         10,540       9,842  
    Noninterest expense       26,651       25,509       25,422         52,160       50,943  
    Income before taxes       31,336       32,353       30,126         63,689       61,393  
    Income tax expense       8,281       9,344       8,359         17,625       16,903  
    Net income     $ 23,055     $ 23,009     $ 21,767       $ 46,064     $ 44,490  
                             
    Basic earnings per share     $ 33.06     $ 32.88     $ 29.39       $ 65.94     $ 59.95  
    Diluted earnings per share     $ 32.94     $ 32.86     $ 29.39       $ 65.80     $ 59.95  
    Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Basic       697,332       699,736       740,752         698,527       742,150  
    Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Diluted       699,852       700,215       740,752         700,102       742,150  
    Return on average assets       1.65 %     1.70 %     1.58 %       1.67 %     1.65 %
    Return on average equity       15.09 %     15.65 %     15.33 %       15.37 %     15.82 %
    Loan yield       6.08 %     6.07 %     6.13 %       6.07 %     6.11 %
    Cost of average total deposits       1.31 %     1.17 %     1.51 %       1.25 %     1.39 %
    Net interest margin – tax equivalent       4.07 %     4.20 %     3.91 %       4.13 %     4.02 %
    Effective tax rate       26.43 %     28.88 %     27.75 %       27.67 %     27.53 %
    Efficiency ratio       44.88 %     43.86 %     45.77 %       44.37 %     45.35 %
    Book value per share     $ 852.72     $ 825.18     $ 779.40       $ 852.72     $ 779.40  
    Tangible book value per share     $ 835.33     $ 843.33     $ 761.62       $ 835.33     $ 761.62  
                             
    Balance Sheet:                        
    Total assets     $ 5,478,773     $ 5,680,024     $ 5,267,485       $ 5,478,773     $ 5,267,485  
    Cash and cash equivalents       291,752       607,254       295,936         291,752       295,936  
    of which held at Fed       178,999       515,758       225,676         178,999       225,676  
    Total investment securities       1,321,812       1,255,204       1,046,210         1,321,812       1,046,210  
    of which available-for-sale       572,951       495,433       251,413         572,951       251,413  
    of which held-to-maturity       748,861       759,771       794,797         748,861       794,797  
    Gross loans and leases       3,635,831       3,595,511       3,692,237         3,635,831       3,692,237  
    Allowance for credit losses – loans and leases       76,169       75,423       74,432         76,169       74,432  
    Total deposits       4,760,364       4,977,968       4,597,055         4,760,364       4,597,055  
    Subordinated debentures       10,310       10,310       10,310         10,310       10,310  
    Total shareholders’ equity     $ 618,532     $ 602,306     $ 576,220       $ 618,532     $ 576,220  
                             
    Loan-to-deposit ratio       76.38 %     72.23 %     80.32 %       76.38 %     80.32 %
    Percentage of checking deposits to total deposits       49.23 %     50.79 %     48.60 %       49.23 %     48.60 %
                             
    Capital ratios (Bancorp) (1)                        
    Common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets       13.87 %     13.75 %     13.09 %       13.87 %     13.09 %
    Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets       14.09 %     13.97 %     13.32 %       14.09 %     13.32 %
    Risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets       15.35 %     15.23 %     14.58 %       15.35 %     14.58 %
    Tier 1 leverage capital ratio       11.18 %     11.32 %     10.66 %       11.18 %     10.66 %
    Tangible common equity ratio (2)       11.08 %     10.40 %     10.72 %       11.08 %     10.72 %
                             
    (1) Capital information is preliminary for June 30, 2025                        
    (2) Non-GAAP measurement                        
                             
    Non-GAAP measurement reconciliation:                        
                             
    (Dollars in thousands)     June 30, 2025   March 31, 2025   June 30, 2024          
                             
    Shareholders’ equity     $ 618,532     $ 602,306     $ 576,220            
    Less: Intangible assets       12,609       12,740       13,145            
    Tangible common equity     $ 605,923     $ 589,566     $ 563,075            
                             
    Total assets     $ 5,478,773     $ 5,680,024     $ 5,267,485            
    Less: Intangible assets       12,609       12,740       13,145            
    Tangible assets     $ 5,466,164     $ 5,667,284     $ 5,254,340            
                             
    Tangible common equity ratio (1)       11.08 %     10.40 %     10.72 %          
                             
    (1) Tangible common equity divided by tangible assets                        

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China sees robust growth in geographical indication products

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

    China has cumulatively recognized 2,861 geographical indication (GI) products, the country’s top intellectual property official announced on Thursday.

    Shen Changyu, head of the China National Intellectual Property Administration, unveiled the data at a press conference, where he presented achievements in intellectual property (IP) during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) and addressing questions from the media.

    The annual output value of China’s GI products increased from 639.8 billion yuan (about 89.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2020 to 969 billion yuan in 2024, Shen noted. A total of 7,424 GIs have been registered as collective or certification trademarks, and over 37,000 business entities have been authorized to use the GI special symbol.

    GI is a type of IP that signifies a product’s specific origin and the qualities or reputation linked to that location. It serves as a mark of quality, setting a product apart from its competitors. Notable GI examples include French Champagne and Chinese Kweichow Moutai.

    The CNIPA has implemented documents concerning the protection of GI products and the registration and administration of collective and certification trademarks, among others, according to Hu Wenhui, deputy head of the CNIPA. These measures strengthened source protection by improving GI examination standards and procedures.

    It has also guided the establishment of 123 national GI protection demonstration zones and advanced 44 GI protection projects, with the aim of fostering distinctive local industries, combating infringement and counterfeiting, and protecting the lawful rights of producers and operators.

    Furthermore, the CNIPA launched an action plan leveraging GIs for rural revitalization, so as to enhance the added value of GI products, promote integrated development with cultural tourism and other sectors, and increases farmers’ incomes.

    It has also promoted mutual recognition and protection of GIs with the European Union and Thailand, advanced China-France GI cooperation, and conducted exchanges with multiple Belt and Road partner countries.

    To date, 110 Chinese GI products have gained protection overseas, offering international consumers premium Chinese products like small grain coffee from Baoshan, southwest China’s Yunnan Province and wine from the eastern foot of Helan Mountain, Hu said.

    Next, the CNIPA will enhance GI protection and utilization systems focusing on rural revitalization, industrial development, and cultural heritage, Hu said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany on friendship and bilateral cooperation

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany on friendship and bilateral cooperation

    Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany on friendship and bilateral cooperation

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany, hereinafter referred to as “the Parties”,

    Guided by the desire to join forces for a prosperous, secure and sustainable future for their citizens and their open, democratic societies in the face of fundamental changes of the geopolitical environment;

    Inspired by a common will to address the momentous new challenges to Euro-Atlantic security in an era characterised by increased strategic competition, challenges to the rules-based international order and challenges to their democracies from increasing hybrid threats;

    Identifying the Russian Federation’s brutal war of aggression on the European continent as the most significant and direct threat to their security;

    Convinced that they will better master these challenges by deepening their close cooperation as European neighbours and allies on the basis of the strong ties that connect their countries, peoples and governments and their shared history, values and interests;

    Determined to join forces to assert these values and interests in close cooperation in a changing world, and to uphold peace and security for their citizens; convinced of the need to pursue a broad, integrated and multifaceted approach to their security;

    Guided by their steadfast commitment to individual liberty, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in open societies, and by their will to work together for the good of the European continent and of an international order based on shared rules, norms and principles;

    Convinced that prosperity and security can only be guaranteed by limiting the increase of global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and conserving biodiversity and ecosystems; recognising the importance of their free and open market economies and of delivering mutual growth, including through their trade and investment relationship, to provide high-quality jobs to their citizens and underpin their prosperity while ensuring growth aligns with their net zero commitments and a just transition;

    Convinced of the imperative of international cooperation to seize the opportunities and mitigate the risks of technological change; reaffirming the critical role that science, innovation and technology as well as education play in contributing to their collective security and their sustainable economic growth and prosperity, and recognising the value of building cooperation in critical areas of science and technology that will shape their futures;

    Recalling the Federal Republic of Germany’s membership in the European Union and the commitments and obligations resulting therefrom; and the legal framework for the relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland underpinned by the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement; sharing the view that their cooperation is consistent with and benefits from the wider relationship of the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and that a positive development of the latter is in their shared interest;

    Reaffirming their ironclad commitment to the Transatlantic Alliance as the bedrock of their security, based on shared values, and a shared commitment to the security of the Euro-Atlantic area, and underpinned by enhanced European contributions;

    Commending the Agreement on Defence cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany, signed at Trinity House in London on 23 October 2024;

    Mindful of the vital role, specific responsibilities and interests of municipalities, the German Länder, the German Bundestag and Bundesrat in the Federal Republic of Germany, and of the devolved governments, Parliaments and legislative assemblies and the Houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,

    HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

    Chapter 1

    Diplomacy, Security and Development

    ARTICLE 1

    • The Parties shall consult each other on foreign and security policy matters to enable the closest cooperation across all shared priorities. They shall work together on their respective policies and seek to establish joint approaches, including with regard to their collaboration with global partners and in multilateral and other settings.

    • The Parties shall pursue deep exchanges on strategic aspects of security policy, including deterrence and defence, nuclear issues, arms control, non-proliferation, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear threats space security, counter-terrorism and the broader international security architecture, in order to support the security of Europe and the world. They shall increase cooperation on intelligence and national security capabilities in order to contribute effectively to this goal.

    • The Parties shall deepen their cooperation to understand, counter and respond to threats and hostile actions by state and non-state actors. The Parties shall work together on their approaches to crisis management, consular support and conflict resolution and prevention.

    • The Parties emphasise the importance of close cooperation on sanctions policy and implementation, to strengthen their effectiveness.

    • Foreign Ministers shall hold an annual Strategic Dialogue. A Senior Level Officials Group shall meet annually to coordinate foreign, security and defence policy.

    ARTICLE 2

    • The Parties shall strive to strengthen the Strategic Partnership between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Union, including through the Security and Defence Partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Federal Republic of Germany affirms its deep and unwavering commitment to its role as a founding member of the European Union, which remains a foundation of its policy decisions.

    • The Parties shall seek to intensify the trilateral cooperation with the French Republic, as well as their cooperation with other partners, and within multilateral formats such as the G7 and the United Nations, in order to jointly address international challenges.

    ARTICLE 3

     (1) The Parties reaffirm their commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as the foundation of their collective defence and to their obligations as stipulated in the North Atlantic Treaty of 4 April 1949, in particular Article 5. The Federal Republic of Germany reaffirms its deep commitment to its obligations as a member of the European Union, including paragraph 7 of Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union.

    (2) The Parties shall work together as North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Allies to ensure the Alliance continues to strengthen collective deterrence and defence against all threats and from all directions and to enhance the European contribution to Europe’s own security. To this end, they shall coordinate their positions, including in the area of deterrence and defence, and ensure that increased contributions and investments deliver on their commitments. They commit to working towards fostering close and effective cooperation between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union.

    • Conscious of the close alignment of their vital interests and convinced that there is no strategic threat to one which would not be a strategic threat to the other, the Parties affirm as close Allies their deep commitment to each other’s defence and shall assist one another, including by military means, in case of an armed attack on the other.

    ARTICLE 4

    (1) The Parties share deep concern at the threats and challenges posed by hybrid threats and foreign interference from state actors and their proxies using increasingly aggressive actions to undermine their security and democratic values, and those of their Allies and partners. These include inter alia sabotage, malicious cyber activity, foreign information manipulation and interference and the malign use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

    (2) The Parties shall work to strengthen resilience as well as build capacity and capability to detect, deter, disrupt, and respond to these threats. They acknowledge the key roles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the G7, and the European Union in this regard. To achieve this, the Parties shall consider means such as information sharing, the development of tools, coordination of disruption and response options, and exchanges of lessons learned and other means.

    (3) The Parties shall continue to cooperate in the field of cyber diplomacy, cybersecurity and emerging technologies. They also agree to promote responsible behaviour in cyberspace.  

    ARTICLE 5

    Guided by the principles of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Parties shall cooperate strategically on sustainable development, crisis prevention and response, peacebuilding, stabilisation and humanitarian assistance. They shall support strong coordination in the nexus between humanitarian, development and peace efforts. They shall work together on the protection and promotion of global public goods including climate, biodiversity, global health and education. Jointly they shall fight inequalities worldwide, including through the empowerment of women and girls. They will work together on anticipatory action to improve local resilience and promote inclusive and locally led responses to crises. Both countries shall contribute jointly to strengthening and reforming the multilateral system and the international financial architecture, making them more just, effective and sustainable and ensuring they deliver for the most vulnerable. They shall hold a regular intergovernmental dialogue on these topics.

    ARTICLE 6

    The Parties shall seek closer collaboration to address health threats and advance global health priorities including pandemic prevention, preparedness and response as well as anti-microbial resistance and the ‘One-Health’ approach. They shall work on these issues both bilaterally and via more coordinated, effective, and efficient global health institutions. The Parties shall share experiences to tackle common domestic health issues.

    Chapter 2

    Defence Cooperation

    ARTICLE 7

    (1) In this new era for enhanced European defence, the Parties share the strategic objective to reinforce Euro-Atlantic security and ensure effective deterrence against potential aggressors by building credible, resilient defence forces, strengthening their capability across all domains. The Parties shall seek to support their defence industries and enhance bilateral military interoperability, interchangeability and integration. They shall ensure their mutual support to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, committing to working together towards the vision of a peaceful and secure Euro-Atlantic area.

    (2) The Parties remain committed to improving and further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation. They shall build a long-term partnership to improve and further enhance European defence, also with a view to enabling enhanced cooperation with Allies and partners.

    (3) The Parties shall intensify their cooperation through joint political leadership, enhanced dialogue, and agreed mechanisms. They shall deepen their cooperation on deterrence and regularly review their collaboration in order to meet future threats across all domains: Land, Sea, Air, Space and Cyber.

    (4) Sharing a special interest and focus on the northern and eastern flanks of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the Parties shall work together, alongside their North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Allies, to strengthen deterrence and defence to these areas, coordinating their forces where possible.

    (5) The Parties reaffirm their determination to meet their commitments as North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Allies, to be prepared for high-intensity and multi-domain collective defence. They shall provide such forces, capabilities, resources and infrastructure as are needed to enable the execution of the Defence Plans of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

    (6) The Parties shall seek to enhance industrial and capability cooperation through a long-term joint approach endeavouring to deliver effective military capabilities efficiently, minimising national constraints, and strengthening industrial competitiveness.

    (7) The Parties shall endeavour to maintain a close dialogue on defence issues of mutual interest and global horizon-scanning, including on nuclear issues.

    ARTICLE 8

    (1) The Parties recognise the importance of having a reliable agenda with regard to transfers and exports in order to ensure the economic and political success of their industrial and intergovernmental cooperation and their respective competence to authorise the transfer or export, from their territory, of defence-related products from intergovernmental programmes or developed by their industries. 

    (2) Recognising the joint and unanimous invitation dated 25 June 2025 from the contracting parties of the Agreement on Defence Export Controls concluded by the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of Spain on 17 September 2021 (the “Agreement on Defence Export Controls ”) to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to accede to such Agreement on Defence Export Controls, the Parties agree to preliminarily apply as between them, in their cooperation on defence export controls, Articles 1 to 5 and Annexes 1 to 3 of the Agreement on Defence Export Controls until the date on which the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland accedes to such Agreement on Defence Export Controls.

    (3) In the event that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland accedes to the Agreement on Defence Export Controls, paragraph 2 of the present Article shall cease to have effect.

    Chapter 3

    Internal Security, Justice and Migration

    ARTICLE 9

    • The Parties shall cooperate closely and equitably to counter state and non-state threats to their internal security, including to critical infrastructure, making best use of all suitable policy, legal, operational, diplomatic and technological tools and mechanisms and ensuring that law enforcement bodies and intelligence agencies have the right tools and capabilities.

    • The Parties shall work together bilaterally and through multilateral organisations to improve their law enforcement capabilities. They shall work with INTERPOL to support the integrity of the international system and prevent abuse by malign actors. They acknowledge the vital role of European Union agencies, such as Europol and Eurojust, in this regard. They shall consider further ways to strengthen their response to organised crime and terrorism, noting the challenges posed by hybrid threats.

    (3) The Parties agree that it is in their common interest to cooperate closely on preventing and countering transnational serious and organised crime, including criminal offences falling within the jurisdiction of the customs authorities. They re-confirm their cooperation in the joint efforts to strengthen anti-money laundering and counter the financing of terrorism and their fight against illicit financial flows and other shared organised crime threats, such as drug trafficking.

    (4) The Parties shall continue to hold a Home Affairs Dialogue at senior official level at least annually which covers the full range of Home Affairs issues, including tackling serious and organised crime, including migrant smuggling, and border security. The Parties shall pursue a comparable bilateral exchange on criminal offences falling within the jurisdiction of the customs authorities.

    (5) The Parties shall strengthen collaboration to counter terrorist threats to both their countries, including on protective security measures against emerging threats.

    ARTICLE 10

    (1) The Parties are committed to fostering the most effective cooperation in criminal justice matters between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany. 

    (2) The Parties shall work to intensify collaboration on the rule of law, including in its promotion overseas, and exchange learning on the modernisation of their domestic justice systems.

    (3) The Parties shall share information, best practice and technical assistance in civil and family matters.

    ARTICLE 11

    (1) Recognising the challenge from irregular migration and global pressures, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany commit to being active leaders in the global conversation on migration, asylum and borders. The Parties shall cooperate in the joint fight against organised cross-border crime involving migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons. They will support the provision of mutual legal assistance and the prosecution of offenders involved in the smuggling of migrants into and between the two countries. The Parties affirm their joint commitment to border security and regulated migration systems.  

    (2) The Parties shall deepen comprehensive partnerships with countries of origin and transit to address the upstream drivers of irregular migration, including by meeting humanitarian needs, providing education and skills training, boosting employment, and building resilience to conflict and climate change. The Parties recognise that safe and legal pathways in line with national competences are important for regular and orderly migration. Both Parties support a safe, regulated migration system, and share a firm commitment to international law and human rights standards.

    Chapter 4

    Economic Growth, Resilience and Competitiveness

    ARTICLE 12

    • The Parties shall work together to support economic growth, job creation, digital transition and innovation. This includes delivering a just industrial transformation that enables a sustainable and carbon-neutral future and takes into account the needs of future generations. They shall therefore identify vulnerabilities and collaborate on policies.

    • The Parties acknowledge strong business-to-business and people-to-people ties, including many Small and Medium Enterprises, as the foundation of their economic relationship, and agree to take forward joint work in the field of promoting trade and investment, to further build value chains between their countries.

    • The Parties shall work together to deliver their shared ambition of mobilising investment in opportunities that will grow their economies. In doing so, they shall take into consideration the important role of private sector investment and the benefits of coordinating activities between public financial institutions.

    • The Parties recognise the need to strengthen the multilateral trading system particularly by supporting reform of the World Trade Organisation including through discussions in relevant international fora such as the G7 and G20.

    (5) The Parties agree to continue the structured annual dialogue between their ministries of finance, and explore further opportunities to support exchanges between economic experts.

    ARTICLE 13

    • The Parties, acknowledging the strength and complementarity of their economies as well as the importance of a favourable business environment, commit to working with business to drive growth and strengthen the business, commercial and industrial links between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany. The Parties shall focus their cooperation particularly on those areas where it will be most effective in securing the future competitiveness of their economies.

    • The Parties shall work jointly to take full advantage of the significant economic opportunities arising from the green transition, including in particular the renewable energy potential in the North Sea.

    • The Parties recognise the importance of long-term industrial cooperation and shall work together to identify opportunities for coordination and cooperation in the context of their industrial transformations.

    • The Parties shall enhance transport connectivity and collaborate in the field of sustainable, innovative and universally accessible transport solutions and mobility, including cooperation to support the decarbonisation of transport. To this end, they will seek to facilitate direct long distance rail passenger services between their countries.

    • The Parties share the common goal of strengthening the international competitiveness of their aerospace industries and at the same time significantly reducing the climate impact of aviation. Therefore, the Parties agree to further strengthen the existing bilateral activities in the field of aerospace research and to engage in consultations between the ministries and their national research institutions on a regular basis.

    • The Parties’ responsible ministries agree to a structured exchange to address the issues of inclusive and sustainable employment and social policy, just transition of the economy, society and the work environment, and ethical principles and shared values in the context of digital transformation, ensuring that digitalisation and the evolving digital society meet the rights and needs of citizens and the work environment in both countries.

    • The Parties shall work together to enhance their domestic housing policies, to promote innovative approaches to sustainable construction and buildings, and to share best practice on urban matters, with a view to achieving cities that are socially, ecologically, and economically balanced They shall cooperate in multilateral settings on these matters.

    ARTICLE 14

    The Parties commit to working together to safeguard economic stability. They shall strive to strengthen economic resilience to safeguard and protect their national security and deliver secure, sustainable and resilient growth. They shall increase dialogue on economic security to enhance cooperation on priorities such as supply chain resilience, including for critical raw materials, critical technology and critical infrastructure as well as protective toolkits.

    ARTICLE 15

    (1) The Parties shall intensify their cooperation in the field of science, technology, research and innovation, including in critical and emerging areas and research security. The Parties agree to consider funding channels and other means to develop joint bilateral and multilateral activities.

    (2) The Parties shall place special emphasis on their cooperation on innovative or disruptive technologies, ensuring they are able to capitalise more effectively on their strengths in basic and applied research to enable their businesses to grow through the development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services.

    (3) The Parties shall promote the global development and deployment of technologies, with particular attention to ensuring the secure and responsible advancement of fields such as artificial intelligence or space.

    (4) The Parties agree to regular and structured exchanges on science, innovation and technology, building on existing structures including the Science, Innovation and Technology Dialogue. The Parties commit to cooperate on current and future challenges across research and innovation, and emerging and critical technologies. This cooperation will include promoting technology development and adoption, international governance, competition policy, sustainability and exchanges on regulatory issues consistent with national competence.

    ARTICLE 16

    (1) The Parties shall intensify their cooperation in the field of digitalisation and modernisation of the state, including digitalisation of society, economy, science, government and public administration. The Parties agree to consider funding channels and other means to develop joint bilateral and multilateral activities.

    (2) The Parties agree to regular and structured exchanges on digitalisation and the modernisation of the state, building on existing structures including a dialogue on digital policy. The Parties commit to cooperate on current and future challenges across digital and data affairs, digitalisation of the state and digital sovereignty.

    Chapter 5

    Open and Resilient Societies

    ARTICLE 17

    • The Parties shall cooperate on strategies for strengthening the resilience of their democracies in order to build resilient societies which are able to contribute to their countries’ security and to withstand the increasing attempts of interference and manipulation.

    • The Parties shall deepen their cooperation in the fight against all forms of hate crime, whilst promoting freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief.

    ARTICLE 18

    • The Parties shall strive to reduce obstacles in order to promote exchanges between their citizens on all levels. They shall work towards strengthening people-to-people contacts. The Parties shall promote smoother border fluidity and will provide each other’s citizens access to automated border technology.

    • Particular focus shall be placed on increasing exchange between young people. The Parties value bilateral school and youth exchanges, and shall facilitate such exchanges, supporting the development of relevant structures and initiatives, such as the “UK-German Connection”.

    • The Parties recognise the importance of vocational training, university education and learning opportunities such as internships. The Parties shall jointly endeavour to increase exchanges within their own legislative frameworks with regard to education, skills and training.

    • The Parties shall promote closer relations in all fields of cultural expression, including activities to promote dialogue and cooperation to share best practice between cultural institutions; close cooperation of the British Council and Goethe-Institut; and establishment of an intergovernmental Working Group on Creative Technology.

    • The Parties acknowledge the important role of civil society and they shall strive to support the work of educational institutions, cultural bodies and political organisations.

    • The Parties shall use the annual meetings of the Cultural Commission to the ends of this Article.

    Chapter 6

    Climate, Energy, Nature, Environment and Agriculture

    ARTICLE 19

    • The Parties shall further deepen their bilateral and multilateral cooperation to mitigate the effects of climate change and to pursue efforts to limit the increase of global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, including through implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Outcome of the first Global Stocktake adopted at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) and the Glasgow Climate Pact adopted at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 26).

    • The Parties shall enhance their climate foreign policy collaboration and cooperation, including through the UK-Germany Climate Diplomacy Dialogue, to make financial flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development, address the interplay between climate, environment, peace, and security, and support developing countries to decarbonise their economies and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.

    • Recognising the significant societal, environmental economic, and geopolitical impacts of the global energy transition and the shift towards climate neutrality, the Parties shall intensify their dialogue to anticipate and address emerging foreign policy and security challenges.

    ARTICLE 20

    • The Parties intend to work together under the Joint Declaration of Cooperation on Energy and Climate, including the Hydrogen Partnership, to realise their shared ambitions regarding: renewable energy; the role of hydrogen, in particular from renewable sources; carbon capture utilisation and storage, in particular in hard-to-abate sectors; energy security; net zero strategies and policies; and green transition. The scope and priorities for this work shall be reviewed by annual senior official and ministerial meetings.

    • The Parties shall work together to achieve their respective domestic emissions reductions targets, to enhance domestic and global just energy transition resilience and security, including by improving energy and resource efficiency, and to provide secure, sustainable and affordable clean energy derived from renewable sources, in an effort to implement the goals laid out in the Paris Agreement and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    • Recognising their leading role in the North Seas, they shall work together to accelerate the development of offshore wind energy, electricity, hydrogen and carbon dioxide infrastructures.

    ARTICLE 21

    • The Parties shall cooperate bilaterally and multilaterally to promote environmental protection and halt and reverse biodiversity loss in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including through restoring nature, halting and reversing deforestation, protecting the ocean, reducing plastic, chemical and air pollution and pursuing nature-based solutions.

    • The Parties shall work together to promote resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems internationally, including high animal welfare standards. They shall focus in particular on achieving global food security and nutrition including as a means of pursuing global stability and security.

    Chapter 7

    Forms of Cooperation

    ARTICLE 22

    The Parties agree to hold government ministerial consultations led by Heads of Government every two years, which shall endorse an Implementation Plan of projects under the Treaty for the following two-year period. The venue for the consultations shall alternate between the two countries. Ministerial level dialogues on individual policy themes shall take place whenever both Parties deem appropriate. The Parties’ foreign ministries shall meet annually to review the bilateral relationship in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty.

    ARTICLE 23

    Existing cooperation agreements and Memoranda of Understanding between line ministries shall be continued and pursued in the framework of this Treaty.

    Final Provisions

    ARTICLE 24

    This Treaty and its application shall be without prejudice to the Parties’ obligations stemming from international law and, in respect of the Federal Republic of Germany, its obligations stemming from its European Union membership. Nothing in this Treaty shall affect the Federal Republic of Germany’s obligations under European Union law.

    ARTICLE 25

    This Treaty shall apply:

    (a) to the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany; and

    (b)     to the territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and may be extended to any or all of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey, and the Isle of Man by mutual agreement between the Parties by exchange of notes.

    ARTICLE 26

    The Parties may agree, in writing, to amend this Treaty. Such amendments shall enter into force in accordance with Article 30.  

    ARTICLE 27

    (1) A Party may terminate this Treaty by giving the other Party notice in writing. Such termination shall take effect six months after the date of the notification, or on such date as the Parties may agree.

    (2) Either Party may request consultations regarding whether the termination of this Treaty should take effect on a date later than that provided in paragraph 1.

    ARTICLE 28

    Any disputes concerning the interpretation, application or implementation of the Treaty shall be resolved solely by negotiation between the Parties.

    ARTICLE 29

    Registration of this Treaty with the Secretariat of the United Nations, in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations, shall be initiated by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland immediately following its entry into force. The Federal Republic of Germany shall be informed of registration, and of the United Nations registration number, as soon as this has been confirmed by the Secretariat of the United Nations.

    ARTICLE 30

    (1) The present Treaty is subject to ratification; the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged as soon as possible.

    (2) The present Treaty shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Wedbush Securities Welcomes Daniel Shea as Managing Director of Consumer & Diversified Industries Investment Banking

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wedbush Securities, a prominent financial services firm, has hired Daniel Shea as Managing Director in its Consumer & Diversified Industries Investment Banking group. In this role, Shea will play a key part in expanding and strengthening Wedbush’s Consumer & Diversified Companies investment banking coverage, drawing on his deep industry expertise and track record in consumer-related companies.

    Shea joins from BTIG, LLC, where he served as Managing Director and led the buildout of the firm’s consumer-focused investment banking group. With nearly 20 years of experience, Shea brings deep expertise in specialty retail, e-commerce, branded consumer products and restaurants. Earlier in his career, he held senior banking positions at firms including Keen-Summit Capital Partners, Canaccord Genuity, Sterne Agee-CRT and Janney Montgomery Scott.

    Shea’s notable deals include the spin-out of Twin Peaks from Fat Brands, the de-SPAC and IPO of Pinstripes, and a private convertible financing for FreshRealm. He also advised on the sale-leaseback and subsequent capital raise for Chicken N Pickle, BurgerFi’s acquisition of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Drive Shack’s follow-on equity offering, and the sale of Hampton Forge to Lennox Corporation.

    “I’m excited to join a team that appreciates the consumer sector and focuses on supporting entrepreneurs through pivotal moments of growth,” Shea said. “Wedbush’s collaborative and creative solution-driven culture aligns closely with how I’ve built my relationships over the years, and I look forward to replicating my past success for the Wedbush platform.”

    “I’ve known Dan for a decade and have always appreciated his conscientious service to clients—something I know he’ll bring with him to Wedbush,” shared Burke Dempsey, EVP and Head of Investment Banking & Capital Markets. “His history of advising on complex transactions across the consumer landscape makes him a strong strategic partner for our firm’s expansion and enhances our ability to deliver sector-specific insights and senior-level executions to our clients.”

    Shea’s appointment adds to Wedbush’s domain expertise across key growth sectors, strengthening the firm’s ability to deliver strategic insight and advisory excellence to clients.

    About Wedbush Securities
    Wedbush Securities is the largest subsidiary of Wedbush Financial Services. Since its founding in 1955, Wedbush is widely known for providing our clients, both private and institutional, with a wide range of securities brokerage, clearing, wealth management, and investment banking services. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California with 100 registered offices and nearly 900 colleagues, the firm focuses on client service and financial safety, innovation, and the utilization of advanced technology. Securities and Investment Advisory services are offered through Wedbush Securities Inc. Member NYSE/ FINRA / SIPC 

    Media Inquiries:
    Serina Molano
    publicrelations@wedbush.com
    213-688-4564

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b996a4f4-d7f2-405f-ac4c-06647429f422

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Wedbush Securities Welcomes Daniel Shea as Managing Director of Consumer & Diversified Industries Investment Banking

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wedbush Securities, a prominent financial services firm, has hired Daniel Shea as Managing Director in its Consumer & Diversified Industries Investment Banking group. In this role, Shea will play a key part in expanding and strengthening Wedbush’s Consumer & Diversified Companies investment banking coverage, drawing on his deep industry expertise and track record in consumer-related companies.

    Shea joins from BTIG, LLC, where he served as Managing Director and led the buildout of the firm’s consumer-focused investment banking group. With nearly 20 years of experience, Shea brings deep expertise in specialty retail, e-commerce, branded consumer products and restaurants. Earlier in his career, he held senior banking positions at firms including Keen-Summit Capital Partners, Canaccord Genuity, Sterne Agee-CRT and Janney Montgomery Scott.

    Shea’s notable deals include the spin-out of Twin Peaks from Fat Brands, the de-SPAC and IPO of Pinstripes, and a private convertible financing for FreshRealm. He also advised on the sale-leaseback and subsequent capital raise for Chicken N Pickle, BurgerFi’s acquisition of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Drive Shack’s follow-on equity offering, and the sale of Hampton Forge to Lennox Corporation.

    “I’m excited to join a team that appreciates the consumer sector and focuses on supporting entrepreneurs through pivotal moments of growth,” Shea said. “Wedbush’s collaborative and creative solution-driven culture aligns closely with how I’ve built my relationships over the years, and I look forward to replicating my past success for the Wedbush platform.”

    “I’ve known Dan for a decade and have always appreciated his conscientious service to clients—something I know he’ll bring with him to Wedbush,” shared Burke Dempsey, EVP and Head of Investment Banking & Capital Markets. “His history of advising on complex transactions across the consumer landscape makes him a strong strategic partner for our firm’s expansion and enhances our ability to deliver sector-specific insights and senior-level executions to our clients.”

    Shea’s appointment adds to Wedbush’s domain expertise across key growth sectors, strengthening the firm’s ability to deliver strategic insight and advisory excellence to clients.

    About Wedbush Securities
    Wedbush Securities is the largest subsidiary of Wedbush Financial Services. Since its founding in 1955, Wedbush is widely known for providing our clients, both private and institutional, with a wide range of securities brokerage, clearing, wealth management, and investment banking services. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California with 100 registered offices and nearly 900 colleagues, the firm focuses on client service and financial safety, innovation, and the utilization of advanced technology. Securities and Investment Advisory services are offered through Wedbush Securities Inc. Member NYSE/ FINRA / SIPC 

    Media Inquiries:
    Serina Molano
    publicrelations@wedbush.com
    213-688-4564

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b996a4f4-d7f2-405f-ac4c-06647429f422

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Wedbush Securities Welcomes Daniel Shea as Managing Director of Consumer & Diversified Industries Investment Banking

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wedbush Securities, a prominent financial services firm, has hired Daniel Shea as Managing Director in its Consumer & Diversified Industries Investment Banking group. In this role, Shea will play a key part in expanding and strengthening Wedbush’s Consumer & Diversified Companies investment banking coverage, drawing on his deep industry expertise and track record in consumer-related companies.

    Shea joins from BTIG, LLC, where he served as Managing Director and led the buildout of the firm’s consumer-focused investment banking group. With nearly 20 years of experience, Shea brings deep expertise in specialty retail, e-commerce, branded consumer products and restaurants. Earlier in his career, he held senior banking positions at firms including Keen-Summit Capital Partners, Canaccord Genuity, Sterne Agee-CRT and Janney Montgomery Scott.

    Shea’s notable deals include the spin-out of Twin Peaks from Fat Brands, the de-SPAC and IPO of Pinstripes, and a private convertible financing for FreshRealm. He also advised on the sale-leaseback and subsequent capital raise for Chicken N Pickle, BurgerFi’s acquisition of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Drive Shack’s follow-on equity offering, and the sale of Hampton Forge to Lennox Corporation.

    “I’m excited to join a team that appreciates the consumer sector and focuses on supporting entrepreneurs through pivotal moments of growth,” Shea said. “Wedbush’s collaborative and creative solution-driven culture aligns closely with how I’ve built my relationships over the years, and I look forward to replicating my past success for the Wedbush platform.”

    “I’ve known Dan for a decade and have always appreciated his conscientious service to clients—something I know he’ll bring with him to Wedbush,” shared Burke Dempsey, EVP and Head of Investment Banking & Capital Markets. “His history of advising on complex transactions across the consumer landscape makes him a strong strategic partner for our firm’s expansion and enhances our ability to deliver sector-specific insights and senior-level executions to our clients.”

    Shea’s appointment adds to Wedbush’s domain expertise across key growth sectors, strengthening the firm’s ability to deliver strategic insight and advisory excellence to clients.

    About Wedbush Securities
    Wedbush Securities is the largest subsidiary of Wedbush Financial Services. Since its founding in 1955, Wedbush is widely known for providing our clients, both private and institutional, with a wide range of securities brokerage, clearing, wealth management, and investment banking services. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California with 100 registered offices and nearly 900 colleagues, the firm focuses on client service and financial safety, innovation, and the utilization of advanced technology. Securities and Investment Advisory services are offered through Wedbush Securities Inc. Member NYSE/ FINRA / SIPC 

    Media Inquiries:
    Serina Molano
    publicrelations@wedbush.com
    213-688-4564

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b996a4f4-d7f2-405f-ac4c-06647429f422

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Skyward Specialty to Host Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Call Friday, August 1, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.™ (NASDAQ: SKWD) (“Skyward Specialty” or “the Company”) expects to issue its second quarter 2025 earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, July 31 which will be available on the Company website at investors.skywardinsurance.com/ under Quarterly Results.

    Skyward Specialty will host its earnings call to review the second quarter 2025 financial results on Friday, August 1 at 9:30 a.m. EST.

    Investors may access the live audio webcast via the link on the Company’s investor site at investors.skywardinsurance.com/ under Events & Presentations. Additionally, investors can access the earnings call via conference call by registering via the conference link. Users will receive dial-in information and a unique PIN to join the call upon registering.

    A webcast replay will be available two hours following the call in the same location on the Company’s investor website.

    About Skyward Specialty

    Skyward Specialty (Nasdaq: SKWD) is a rapidly growing and innovative specialty insurance company, delivering commercial property and casualty products and solutions on a non-admitted and admitted basis. The Company operates through nine underwriting divisions – Accident & Health, Agriculture and Credit (Re)insurance, Captives, Construction & Energy Solutions, Global Property, Professional Lines, Specialty Programs, Surety, and Transactional E&S.

    Skyward Specialty’s subsidiary insurance companies consist of Great Midwest Insurance Company, Houston Specialty Insurance Company, Imperium Insurance Company, and Oklahoma Specialty Insurance Company. These insurance companies are rated A (Excellent) with a stable outlook by A.M. Best Company. For more information about Skyward Specialty, its people, and its products, please visit skywardinsurance.com.

    For investor relations information contact:

    Natalie Schoolcraft
    nschoolcraft@skywardinsurance.com
    614-494-4988

    The MIL Network –