NewzIntel.com

Category: Agriculture

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In six months, Uzbekistan’s food exports grew by 44 percent.

    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

    Tashkent, July 31 /Xinhua/ — Uzbekistan’s food exports increased by 44 percent in the first six months of 2025, the press service of the head of Uzbekistan reported on Wednesday.

    “On July 30, a videoconference meeting was held under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on issues of increasing the export of fruit and vegetable and food products,” the statement said.

    “In the first 6 months of this year, food exports grew by 44 percent, amounting to 1,326 million dollars. The geography of exports expanded to 16 new countries,” the report noted.

    Uzbekistan’s agricultural reforms are reportedly gaining international recognition. This month, Uzbekistan was elected to the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This opens up broad opportunities to advance national and regional initiatives and attract additional investment. –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-Evening Report: Labor well-placed to win three Bass seats in Tasmanian election, giving left a total of 20 of 35 MPs

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

    Labor is well-placed to win three seats in the electorate of Bass at the Tasmanian election, although its party totals imply it deserves only two. This would give left-leaning MPs a total of 20 of 35 seats. Interstate, New South Wales Labor has surged to a large lead in a Resolve poll.

    The postal receipt deadline for the July 19 Tasmanian state election passed at 10am Tuesday. Final statewide vote shares
    were 39.9% Liberals (up 3.2% since the March 2024 election), 25.9% Labor (down 3.2%), 14.4% Greens (up 0.5%), 2.9% Shooters, Fishers and Farmers (up 0.6%), 1.6% Nationals (new) and 15.3% independents (up 5.7%).

    Tasmania uses the proportional Hare-Clark system to elect its lower house. There are five electorates corresponding to Tasmania’s five federal seats, and each electorate returns seven members, for a total of 35 lower house MPs.

    Under this system, a quota for election is one-eighth of the vote or 12.5%, but half of this (6.2%) is usually enough to give a reasonable chance of election. There’s no above the line section like for the federal Senate. Instead, people vote for candidates not parties, with at least seven preferences required for a formal vote.

    Robson rotation means that candidates for each party are randomised across ballot papers for that electorate, so that on some ballot papers a candidate will appear at the top of their party’s ticket and on others at the bottom.

    This means parties can’t control the ordering of their candidates. Independents can be listed in single-candidate columns.

    Leakage occurs when party candidates with more than one quota are elected and their surplus distributed, or when minor candidates are excluded and their preferences distributed. In the federal Senate, the large majority of votes are cast above the line, and these votes cannot leak from the party that received a first preference vote.

    The consequence of leakage is that parties will lose votes from their totals during the distribution of preferences when their own candidates are elected or excluded. Single-candidate tickets can’t lose votes, and will only gain as other candidates are excluded.

    Unlike other states and federally, the Tasmanian distribution of preferences is done manually. Before the distributions, analyst Kevin Bonham had called 14 of the 35 seats for the Liberals, ten for Labor, five for the Greens and four for left-leaning independents, leaving two undecided (the final seats in Bass and Lyons).

    Labor well-placed to win three seats in Bass

    Final primary votes in Bass gave the Liberals 3.34 quotas, Labor 2.20, the Greens 1.32, the Shooters 0.32 and independent George Razay 0.27. The Shooters and Razay had single-candidate tickets that can’t leak votes.

    After three days of preference distributions, vote shares in Bass are 3.30 quotas for the Liberals, 2.25 for Labor, 1.31 for the Greens, 0.40 for the Shooters and 0.37 for Razay.

    On quota fractions, the final seat in Bass looks as if it should go to the Shooters or Razay. However, with one Labor candidate already elected, the two leading Labor candidates (Jess Greene and Geoff Lyons) each have about 0.37 quotas with two Labor candidates still to be excluded.

    If the remaining Labor votes divide roughly evenly between Greene and Lyons, they would each have about 0.62 quotas. Greens preferences will then favour Labor whether their final opponent is the Shooters or the Liberals. So Labor is well-placed to win three seats in Bass despite their party total implying they only deserve two.

    If Labor wins the final Bass seat, Labor, the Greens and left-leaning independents would have a total of 20 of the 35 seats, making any Labor attempt to form government easier.

    In Lyons, final primary votes gave the Liberals 3.36 quotas, Labor 2.27, the Greens 1.08, the Shooters 0.53 and the Nationals 0.33. The Shooters had a single-candidate ticket.

    The Liberals now have 3.36 quotas, Labor 2.44, the Greens one, the Shooters 0.68 and the Nationals 0.34. Neither Labor nor the Liberals have any chance of pulling off an even split across candidates, so the Shooters will win the final Lyons seat.

    NSW Resolve poll: Labor surges to large lead

    A New South Wales state Resolve poll for The Sydney Morning Herald, conducted July 13–18 from a sample of 1,054, gave Labor 38% of the primary vote (up five since April), the Coalition 32% (down four), the Greens 13% (up two), independents 8% (down six) and others 10% (up four).

    Resolve does not usually give a two-party estimate for its state polls, but The Poll Bludger estimated a Labor lead by 57–43. Despite the strong voting intentions for Labor, Labor incumbent Chris Minns’ lead over Liberal Mark Speakman as preferred premier narrowed from 40–15 to 35–16. This indicates that Labor’s surge is due to the federal election result.

    Resolve polls taken well before an election have overstated the independent vote as they give independent as an option in all seats, when many seats don’t have viable independents. The six-point drop for independents in this poll suggests a different method is now being used.

    By 32–25, respondents expected their personal outlook in the next year to get better rather than worse, but by 25–21 they expected the NSW state outlook to get worse.

    Additional questions from federal Resolve poll

    I previously covered a national Resolve poll for Nine newspapers that gave Labor a 56–44 lead. On reforms, 36% thought the government should take the opportunity from its landslide re-election to undertake reforms, while 32% thought it should restrict itself to policies put forward at the election.

    By 47–20, respondents opposed raising the GST rate even if it would reduce other taxes. By 31–26, they supported reducing or ditching negative gearing concessions. By 36–27, they supported reducing or ditching capital gains tax concessions on properties.

    By 57–18, respondents thought the opposition should work with the government to negotiate changes, rather than just oppose major reforms.

    By 53–18, respondents thought Donald Trump’s election as United States president last November a bad outcome for Australia (68–11 bad in April, after Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs).

    By 46–22, they thought Australia becoming more independent from the US on foreign policy and national security would be good. By 38–26, voters blamed Trump more than Albanese for the lack of a meeting.

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

    – ref. Labor well-placed to win three Bass seats in Tasmanian election, giving left a total of 20 of 35 MPs – https://theconversation.com/labor-well-placed-to-win-three-bass-seats-in-tasmanian-election-giving-left-a-total-of-20-of-35-mps-261751

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Noem is Taking a Sledgehammer to Criminal Human Trafficking Rings

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Secretary Noem is Taking a Sledgehammer to Criminal Human Trafficking Rings

    lass=”text-align-center”>On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security continue taking action to disrupt criminal human trafficking organizations
    WASHINGTON – On this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is announcing a series of major crack downs against the worst of the worst criminal organizations: human trafficking rings

     
    The previous administration’s open border policies empowered human traffickers and allowed over 450,000 unaccompanied children to be illegally smuggled over the border

     
    Under President Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the full weight of the American government is bringing the hammer down on human trafficking rings

      In just the first few months, the Trump administration has developed leads on thousands of human trafficking cases

     
    DHS has also cracked down on the criminal terrorist gang Tren de Aragua, which enriches itself through the sex trafficking of vulnerable young women

      The Trump administration has arrested more than 2,700 members of Tren de Aragua so far

     
    This crisis is fueled by organized crime networks: sophisticated cartels that exploited the weakness of the previous administration, especially its open border and refusal to enforce immigration law, to rake in billions from forced labor, brutal sexual exploitation, coercing innocent people into drug running, and other heinous crimes

     
    “The brave men and women of DHS are the best in the world at going after traffickers

    They are always able to track down those who are trafficking individuals, find the ringleaders, and rip that evil off by its head,” said Secretary Kristi Noem

    “I’m so thankful that I get the chance to lead individuals like that, and agents who get up every day to help save our children and to save women and men from the kind of slavery that we’ve seen

    ” 
    Below are some examples of how DHS is fighting to put human traffickers out of business: 

    July 28, 2025: As part of Operation Apex Predator, a Child Exploitation Investigations Unit initiative with the Cyber Crimes Center, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Newark arrested four illegal alien child predators over the course of four days

    All four are registered sex offenders

    July 23, 2025: ICE arrested 243 illegal aliens in the Denver metro area

    Among those arrested were aliens wanted for human trafficking, and several members of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), including Tren de Aragua (TdA), Los Zetas, and the Sinaloa Cartel

    July 22, 2025: Following an ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigation, a resident of Laredo, Texas was sentenced to 63 months in prison for smuggling 101 migrants in a locked trailer

    Among the illegal aliens smuggled were 12 children

    The suspect was sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to transport migrants

    July 21, 2025: As a result of an investigation by ICE HSI Rio Grande Valley, a convicted human smuggler was sentenced to 20 years in prison for possessing images of sexual assaults of prepubescent children

    July 10, 2025: ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana facilities in Carpinteria and Camarillo, California

    In these facilities, at least 14 migrant children were rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking

    During this operation, federal officers also arrested at least 361 illegal aliens

    Among those arrested were criminals with convictions for kidnapping, rape, attempted rape, and attempted child molestation, among other charges

    July 10, 2025: As the result of an ICE New York investigation, the leader of a Mexican sex trafficking organization was sentenced to 188 months in prison for sex trafficking multiple victims by force, fraud, and coercion

    July 9, 2025: An ICE Del Rio investigation resulted in an illegal Honduran alien being sentenced to 10 years in prison, with three years of supervised release, for his role in smuggling thousands of aliens into the United States for financial gain

    His smuggling conspiracy spanned three years and involved thousands of aliens from 11 different countries

    July 7, 2025: Border Patrol agents assisted the U

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    Marshals in executing an arrest warrant on a high-priority target linked to a criminal syndicate operating in human exploitation

    The suspect, a U

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    citizen, was wanted for multiple charges, including procurement of persons, placing individuals into prostitution, residing in a house of prostitution, and profiting from the earnings of prostitution

    The suspect was arrested without incident in Yuma, Arizona

     
    June 24, 2025: HSI Nashville identified one child victim and one adult victim of labor trafficking

    During an immigration court proceeding, the child victim revealed that she and her 18-year-old brother had been forced by their sponsor to work to pay off their smuggling fees and to pay for the sponsor’s household expenses

    June 16, 2025: A worksite enforcement operation by ICE HSI targeted employers and subcontractors who knowingly hire illegal aliens

    During this operation, HSI Mobile identified and rescued a child and arrested eight foreign nationals for violating immigration law

    The child was found to be working among adults and was believed to have never attended school since entering the United States two years ago

    June 6, 2025: The Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Venezuelan illegal alien and member of MS-13 arrested by ICE, on charges of alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling

    Despite the mainstream media insisting for months that Garcia was an innocent “Maryland father,” he is now standing trial after evidence emerged of his involvement in criminal smuggling rings

    June 2, 2025: ICE Rio Grande Valley discovered a stash house in South Texas and subsequently arrested 16 illegal aliens

    The owner of the property admitted to harboring the illegal aliens, who came from five different countries

    A Mexican national was taken in for questioning for his role in human smuggling

    May 28, 2025: HSI New York special agents arrested an adult male from Ecuador at his residence for violations relating to the sexual exploitation of a child

    New York received information regarding a 15-year-old female who was apprehended near El Paso, Texas, after illegally entering the United States

    At that time, she was pregnant with the adult’s child and had been in a relationship with him in Ecuador since the age of thirteen

    The subject organized the smuggling of the teenager across the border to engage in sexual acts

    His mother sponsored her after her illegal entry, and the subject continued his relationship with the children, living with his mother in Harlem

    May 28, 2025: CBP issued a Withhold Release Order against Zhen Fa 7, a Chinese-flagged fishing vessel

    As a result, CBP officers at all U

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    ports of entry will detain seafood harvested by Zhen Fa 7 based on reasonable suspicion that the vessel uses forced labor to harvest such seafood

    May 28, 2025: Border Patrol agents in the San Diego Sector prevented an attempt to smuggle two Mexican nationals into the United States

    The attempt involved one United States citizen and one Mexican national, who attempted to smuggle the illegal aliens across the border using a truck

    Inside the truck were three fully loaded firearms, including a “ghost gun

    ” The suspected smugglers face felony charges of bringing in and harboring aliens, and unlawful acts involving firearms

     
    May 12, 2025: HSI Austin identified and rescued a child, arrested two Guatemalan nationals for violating immigration law, and initiated an HSI-led investigation of state and federal charges of human trafficking and statutory rape

    During a welfare check, HSI Agents, assisted by the FBI, identified a pregnant 14-year-old female residing with an unrelated adult male sponsor, later determined to be the biological father of the unborn child

    May 7, 2025: CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) interdicted a vessel with four illegal aliens from Uzbekistan that were being smuggled into Puerto Rico

    The vessel attempted to enter Puerto Rico on the island of Vieques; onboard were the four illegal aliens from Uzbekistan and three United States citizens

    The Uzbeki nationals did not have any documents for an authorized entry or stay in the United States

    May 4, 2025: Border Patrol agents in the Tucson Sector arrested a United States citizen and two Mexican nationals after a high-speed pursuit

    The United States citizen, who was driving the car and had an extensive criminal history, fled from law enforcement at high speed after failing to stop at an immigration checkpoint

    After crashing into another car, the three occupants fled on foot before being arrested

    The driver faces federal charges that include human smuggling, fleeing law enforcement, and endangering human life

    May 2, 2025: Four Mexican nationals in the United States illegally were charged for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that brought aliens across the Canadian border into the United States for profit

    The smuggling organization had been operating for two years and smuggled hundreds of aliens per week through Canada

    The aliens or their family members would pay thousands of dollars to be smuggled into the United States

    April 29, 2025: CBP officers at the Area Port of San Luis arrested a woman in connection with the failed smuggling attempt of a child

    The suspect, a Mexican citizen, had sedated the child prior to attempting to cross the border

    The suspect also presented a false birth certificate and alleged that she was the mother; the officers discovered that there was no family relationship between the woman and the child

    April 2, 2025: CBP issued a Withhold Release Order against Taepyung Salt Farm, based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor in the production of the company’s sea salt products

    As a result, CBP personnel at all U

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    ports of entry will detain sea salt products from Taepyung Salt Farm in South Korea

    March 25, 2025: After an ICE Arizona investigation with law enforcement partners, a human smuggling coordinator was sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in smuggling over 100 Colombians into the United States

    She had been operating a travel agency in her native country, Colombia, where she would charge the victims a fee to travel to Mexico, with additional bribes required at Mexican airports

    February 14, 2025: Working with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, an ICE investigation led to a four-count indictment against eight defendants with ties to Tren de Aragua on charges related to their involvement with a transnational commercial sex enterprise

    Everyone can be part of the fight against human trafficking

    The DHS Blue Campaign can help you recognize human trafficking and provide resources to report suspicious activity to law enforcement

     
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Ten-Year-Old Django: Polytechnic Students Celebrate Anniversary Work Season

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The Polytechnic student teams are back in touch. Today we will go to Crimea together with the agricultural team “Django”. By the way, this is already the tenth working season for our “farmers”.

    The guys celebrated their anniversary at the vineyards of the Massandra company in the village of Malorechenskoye, in the southern part of the peninsula. Many nostalgic memories are associated with this place, because the team is coming here for the third time, everything here has become native and close.

    At work, polytechnicians master the profession of a winegrower: they tie up vines, water and collect ripe bunches of grapes, and look after young vineyards. And in their free time, they explore the surrounding area, visit nearby cities, conquer the Crimean mountains, swim in the sea and organize unforgettable events.

    “What are my feelings about the season? The most diverse! Each new day brings an unusually large number of emotions and impressions, something is constantly happening around – it overwhelms, even confuses from being unaccustomed to it,” shared her impressions of her first trip, “Django” candidate Dasha Shcherbinina. “It seems that I live some new, completely unreal life. And in this life – sun, sea, mountains and endless vineyards!”

    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 –

  • Cabinet approves ₹2,000 crore grant to NCDC to boost cooperative sector

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a move aimed at strengthening India’s cooperative sector, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday approved a Central Sector Scheme titled “Grant in Aid to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)” with a total outlay of ₹2,000 crore. The scheme will be implemented over a four-year period from 2025-26 to 2028-29, with an annual budgetary allocation of ₹500 crore.

    The approved grant will enable NCDC to raise ₹20,000 crore from the open market over the next four years. These funds will be utilized to provide loans to cooperatives for setting up new projects, expanding existing operations, upgrading technology, and meeting their working capital needs.

    According to the government, the initiative is expected to benefit approximately 2.9 crore members across 13,288 cooperative societies spanning various sectors, including dairy, livestock, fisheries, sugar, textiles, food processing, storage, cold storage, labour cooperatives, and women-led cooperatives.

    Implementation Strategy

    NCDC will serve as the nodal agency for the scheme. It will be responsible for the disbursement of loans, project monitoring, and recovery of funds. Loans will be extended either directly to eligible cooperatives or routed through respective state governments, as per NCDC’s funding guidelines. Direct funding will be allowed against admissible security or with a state government guarantee.

    The scheme aims to provide both long-term credit for infrastructure development and short-term loans for working capital, helping cooperatives run their businesses more efficiently and profitably.

    Economic and Employment Impact

    The Cabinet noted that the infusion of funds will facilitate the creation of income-generating assets and enhance liquidity in the cooperative sector. This, in turn, is expected to increase productivity, profitability, and job creation, especially in rural areas. The move is seen as a catalyst for socio-economic empowerment, particularly for women and marginalized communities.

    Furthermore, infrastructure development backed by these loans is likely to generate employment opportunities across various skill levels, thus contributing to India’s inclusive growth agenda.

    A Strategic Boost to Rural Economy

    India’s cooperative movement contributes significantly to the Indian economy, particularly by driving socio-economic advancement, strengthening rural infrastructure and generating employment in the rural sector. Spanning credit and banking, fertiliser distribution, sugar production, dairy, agricultural marketing, consumer retail, handlooms, handicrafts, fisheries, housing and more, cooperatives in India have their outreach across many production areas. Today, the country hosts more than 8.25 lakh registered cooperatives, enrolling over 29 crore members; remarkably, about 94 per cent of all farmers are linked to cooperatives in some form or the other.

    By offering targeted financial support, especially to under-resourced segments like dairy, poultry, fisheries, and women-led cooperatives, the scheme aims to enhance the sector’s capacity for modernization, diversification, and economic resilience.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City Council awards £388,000 of grant funding to support local communities

    Source: City of Oxford

    Oxford City Council has awarded £388,000 of grant funding to 86 community groups and voluntary organisations – helping them to support local people across Oxford.  

    Oxford is the UK’s second most unequal city and the Council’s grants programme provides crucial financial support to organisations working to reduce inequality through the delivery of essential services, strategic projects, and community-led initiatives.  

     The Council has provided this latest funding through the Oxford Community Impact Fund (OCIF) programme, which is a three year fund that first started in 2022. It is already supporting essential services such as advice centres and domestic abuse support, with core funding maintained for these at the current level until March 2028. 

    Decisions have now been announced on two rounds of funding: 

    • Big Ideas Fund: Providing funding of £338,000 per year covering the period of 2025-2028.  
    • Small Grants (2025 Round 1): Providing funding of £50,000 (with £34,000 to follow in round 2), with a maximum of £3000 per organisation ensuring accessibility for smaller community groups.   

    All these grants have been awarded to organisations assessed on their work to reduce inequality and attract external funding to Oxford. 

    Big Ideas Fund 2025-28 

    The Council has awarded funding to 45 organisations across Oxford totalling £338,000 per annum, organisations will receive funding for three years. 

    These organisations are:   

    Ark-T Centre, Arts at the Old Fire Station, Aspire Oxfordshire, Asylum Welcome, Be Free Young Carers, Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground, Cowley Road Works, Cutteslowe Greenhouse Limited, Donnington Doorstep, EMBS Community College Limited, Emmaus Oxford, Fusion Arts, Home-Start, IF Oxford, In-Spire Sounds, Justice in Motion, Leys CDI, Makespace Oxford, Mandala Theatre, Museum of Modern Art, My Life My Choice, MyVision, OVADA, Oxford Community Action, Oxford Contemporary Music, Film Oxford, Oxford Hub, Oxford Mutual Aid, Oxford Pride, Oxford Youth Enterprise, Oxfordshire Chinese Community and Advice Centre, Oxfordshire Play Association, Peeple, Pegasus Theatre, Refugee Resource, Rose Hill Junior Youth Club, Sobell House, Survivor Space, T(ART) Productions, The Oxford Playhouse, The Parasol Project, The Story Museum, WASTE2TASTE, and Yellow Submarine. 

    Small Grants Fund 2025-6 (Round 1) 

    The Council has awarded funding to 41 organisations across Oxford, with funding totaling £50,000 overall. 

    These organisations are:  

    Parents And Children Together, Wild Boor Ideas, Fight Against Blindness (Fab), Rose Hill Community Larder, Oxford Opera Trust Cio, Response Organisation, Wood Farm Youth Centre, Action Deafness, Botley Bridges, Damascus Rose Kitchen, Blackbird Leys Boxing Club, Dovecote Voluntary Parent Committee, East Oxford Stay and Play, Fight Against Blindness, Headway Thames Valley Limited, Body Politic, Littlemore Hub, Syrian Sisters, Music at Oxford, Elmore Community Services, Read Easy Oxford, The Oxford Preservation Trust, Lowland Rescue, Oxford Afrobeats Festival, Iranian Community Network (ICN), Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, Oxford Poetry Library, Tandem Collective, Oxford Health Charity (OHC), Oxford Peoples Theatre, MuMo Creative, Oxford Lindy Hoppers, Syrian Community Oxfordshire (SYRCOX), The Oxford Voice, The Porch, Oxfordshire Asian Women’s Voice, WEMPOWERED CIC, Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon, South Oxford Community-Association, The Good Gym, and Wood Farm Youth Centre. 

    It is estimated that for every £1 that the Council invests in local community organisations and groups through grant funding, this investment results in more than £15.92 of additional funding/earned income per organisation – helping to strengthen communities across the city. 

    This year, over half (51%) of applicants were new applicants. 

    You can learn more by visiting our grant funding webpages. 

    Comment 

    “We’ve streamlined our community grants programme and this year we’ve changed the criteria to provide a tight focus on work to reduce inequality in Oxford. We’re the UK’s second most unequal city and these grants will be spent on tackling this ugly scar on our beautiful city.

    “It is great news that we have been able to support so many community groups and organisations through this latest round of funding – and especially so many new groups. I can’t wait to visit as many of these projects as possible to see for myself the impact these funds will have on local communities and the difference made to people’s lives.” 

    Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Building Connecticut’s Shellfish Workforce and Industry Resilience

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    In the coastal waters of Long Island Sound, Connecticut’s shellfish industry is quietly thriving and evolving. A statewide effort led by Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension professionals is helping prospective farmers, agriscience teachers, and environmental professionals dive into the world of aquaculture with the Foundations of Shellfish Farming course.

    Now entering its fourth year, the course has become a vital entry point for people launching or expanding their careers in the shellfish industry, and the results are rippling across the state.

    A Deep Dive into Aquaculture

    “In this business, you need to get up early and go to work even when it’s not always fun. But we try to prepare people for that reality, and for the opportunities that come with it,” says Mike Gilman, an assistant extension educator and co-instructor of the course.

    A former high school science teacher, Gilman co-owns an oyster business and has experienced firsthand the long, uncertain path from lease applications to harvesting a market-ready crop.

    Tessa Getchis, senior extension educator and aquaculture specialist, co-teaches the course with Gilman.

    “We’ve created a program that combines science, policy, and lived experience. Students walk away with a binder full of resources, a support network, and a deeper understanding of the industry,” Getchis says.

    The course was launched through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant. Foundations of Shellfish Farming offers 12 weeks of intensive, in-person instruction each winter. Classes are held at UConn Avery Point, and the curriculum includes biology lessons, business planning, regulatory guidance, and mental and emotional preparedness for the unpredictable world of shellfish farming.

    The course enrolls around 15 participants annually, with a cap of 20 to ensure knowledge sharing and individualized attention. Students range from new farmers to conservation professionals, and entrepreneurs.

    From Classroom to Coast

    The course’s hands-on emphasis extends beyond the classroom. Each year, students have an opportunity for real-world experience through the Sharing Hands-On Understanding and Cultivating Knowledge on Shellfish (SHUCKS) internship program, a partnership with Sixpenny Oyster Farm in Noank.

    Last year’s interns were funded by the Small Business Development Fund, with preference given to Foundations students. One of the interns, Sam Tucker of Clinton, was already a seasoned shellfish worker. A music teacher by trade, Tucker recently planted his first crop of oysters after navigating a complex, years-long permitting process.

    This season, two new interns are back on the water with funding from Connecticut Sea Grant. Sixpenny co-owners Will Ceddia and Jason Hamilton oversee the interviews and day-to-day management of interns. Gilman and Getchis facilitate the program, provide orientation, and collect feedback.

    Opening the Industry Door

    The Foundations course addresses a significant barrier in the shellfish industry: access.

    “Shellfishing has traditionally been a hard industry to enter,” Gilman says. “One of our goals is to make the path clearer and more inclusive.”

    The start-up requirements and expenses involved can also be a disincentive. In some cases, the Foundations course has helped students decide a large investment in shellfish farming isn’t the right choice for them.

    “If this class helps a student realize that aquaculture isn’t for them, before they spend years in the permitting process and potentially thousands of dollars in equipment, that’s actually a win for the industry,” says Gilman.

    But for many, the course is the launchpad they need to start or expand their businesses.

    Four new farms have launched directly from the program with multiple others currently in the process of becoming established operations. Also, some former students now hire interns or share equipment.

    Participants report increased confidence with permitting, inspections, and gear management. A six-month follow-up survey shows that more than 60% of graduates are actively engaged in industry work, environmental stewardship, or continued aquaculture training.

    The course is a requirement for new licensees through the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Aquaculture. Gilman and Getchis also consult regularly with the Bureau and other subject matter experts to adapt content to emerging issues, such as pests, predators, diseases, impaired water quality and climate (for example, the growing threat of rainfall-related closures).

    Sustaining the Future

    The Foundations course goes beyond shellfish biology and gear types. It includes sessions on physical and mental health, business planning, and managing risks. “Farming shellfish is isolating and physically demanding,” says Gilman. “We don’t shy away from that. We talk about how to stay safe, how to deal with closures, and how to make it through when things get tough.”

    Another recent innovation honors the legacy of former Guilford Shellfish Commissioner, Peter Charland, who passed away in 2024. In partnership with the Guilford Shellfish Commission, the team created aquaculture worker starter packs with boots, sun gear, and other essentials which were distributed during a ceremony this spring. A larger grant seeks to continue this initiative and help reduce startup costs for new entrants.

    Extreme weather and regulatory hurdles challenge the industry, making sustainable shellfish aquaculture more important than ever. Connecticut remains one of the top six shellfish-producing states, with over 50 businesses supported by its oyster and clam operations.

    The next steps for Gilman and Getchis include facilitating more pathways from coursework to water-based experience.

    “You don’t need an advanced degree to grow oysters,” says Gilman. “We need plumbers, electricians, and mechanics, people with complementary skills who can fix a pump or a boat engine and aren’t afraid to get dirty.”

    For now, the Foundations course is cultivating more than oysters; it’s growing a community.

    “Our students stay in touch. They ask questions, they call us for help, and they show up at industry meetings,” Getchis says. “It’s been incredible to watch this bubble of new energy form around Connecticut aquaculture. That’s the kind of impact you hope for in Extension.”

    The Connecticut Sea Grant College Program (CTSG) is part of the National Sea Grant College Program network, administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). CTSG is based at UConn Avery Point in Groton. Several staff members have academic appointments in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, including UConn Extension. For more than 30 years, CTSG has worked to foster the wise use and conservation of coastal and marine resources of Long Island Sound and beyond through research, outreach and education. It is science serving the coast! 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Republicans Hit the Road to Spotlight Historic Wins for Americans in the One Big Beautiful Bill

    Source: US House of Representatives Republicans

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    WASHINGTON— House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) is hitting the road during the August district work period to kick off the One Big Beautiful Tour, highlighting the wins the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) delivers for working-class families, manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, and every hardworking American.

    For the first leg of the tour, Chairwoman McClain—the top messenger for House Republicans—is partnering with the National Association of Manufacturers to visit small and mid-sized manufacturers in the districts of Reps. Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07), Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08), and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07).

    “It’s a privilege to help carry the message of President Trump and the American people’s agenda,” Chairwoman McClain said. “I have been sharing with my constituents in Michigan all the incredible things the One Big Beautiful Bill delivers for them. As Conference Chair, I have the opportunity to join my colleagues during this district work period and share that message across the country. I’m excited to help bring our results directly to more people and communities.”

    “This once-in-a-lifetime historic tax bill is the investment of a generation in America’s manufacturers,” NAM Executive Vice President Erin Streeter said. “These important tax provisions provide businesses of all sizes—across every state and congressional district—with the certainty they need to invest, innovate and grow. The NAM is proud to partner with Chairwoman McClain to tell the story of how these pro-growth tax policies are improving the quality of life for Americans all across the country. Because when manufacturing wins, America wins.”

    “The newly signed reconciliation package delivers real results for the American people,” Rep. Kean said. “By eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay, this bill helps workers keep more of what they earn and strengthens our local economy. I am looking forward to welcoming Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain and the National Association of Manufacturers to NJ-07 for a tour of Bihler of America in Phillipsburg. Their facility, known for its precision metal stamping and automated assembly systems, is a prime example of American manufacturing in action. This visit is a chance to see firsthand how the legislation is already making a difference for hardworking Americans and the manufacturers who employ them.”

    “I’m honored to welcome Chairwoman McClain to Northeastern Pennsylvania to highlight the real results House Republicans are delivering for our region,” Rep. Bresnahan said. “NEPA is built on the grit and work ethic of our families, small businesses, and local manufacturers that keep our region and our country moving forward. This reconciliation bill delivers meaningful wins for our community, and I’m proud to highlight how we are fighting in Washington for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania during our visit to i2M next week.”

    “I’m looking forward to welcoming Chairwoman McClain to the Greater Lehigh Valley to showcase the incredible work being done at AMPAL. For decades, AMPAL has supported our local economy and played a key role in powering American manufacturing, defense, and innovation,” Rep. Mackenzie said. “Her visit underscores our shared commitment to growing jobs, strengthening American manufacturing, and highlighting the investments of the One Big Beautiful Bill. I’m proud to work together to deliver results that move our region and our country forward.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Two Senior Executives from S&P and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) join the Diginex team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diginex Limited (“Diginex” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DGNX), a leading provider of Sustainability RegTech solutions, is delighted to announce the appointments of Andrew Harling as Chief Commercial Officer and Matthew Rusk as Vice President of Strategic Relationships, Americas, effective immediately. These key additions to the senior team reinforce Diginex’s commitment to accelerating growth and advancing innovation in sustainability worldwide.

    Andrew Harling joins Diginex’s executive team with over 20 years of experience in commercial leadership within the credit, technology, and sustainability sectors. Most recently, he served as Global Head of Sustainability Sales at S&P, where he drove significant revenue growth by delivering tailored ESG solutions to global enterprises. Prior to that, Harling was Chief Revenue Officer at Sustainable Fitch, where he spearheaded strategic initiatives to expand market share in sustainable finance. As Chief Commercial Officer, Harling will lead Diginex’s global commercial strategy, focusing on scaling client acquisition and driving adoption of the company’s cutting-edge sustainability platforms & solutions.

    Matthew Rusk brings extensive expertise in strategic relationship development and sustainability to his role as Vice President of Partnerships in the U.S. Rusk has over 15 years of experience progressing corporate sustainability, most recently as Head of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) North America, where he built strong relationships with corporations, financial institutions, service providers, NGOs, and policy makers to advance standardized sustainability reporting. In his new role, Rusk will focus on cultivating strategic alliances with key stakeholders to expand Diginex’s ecosystem and enhance its impact in the US market. Matthew’s experience, connections, and expertise make him an invaluable addition to Diginex’s U.S. leadership.

    “Andrew and Matthew bring exceptional expertise and a shared passion for sustainability that align perfectly with Diginex’s mission to empower organizations with transparent, AI-driven ESG solutions,” said Mark Blick, CEO of Diginex. “Their leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our market position and fostering partnerships that drive meaningful change.”

    About Diginex

    Diginex Limited (Nasdaq: DGNX; ISIN KYG286871044), headquartered in London, is a sustainable RegTech business that empowers businesses and governments to streamline ESG, climate, and supply chain data collection and reporting. The Company utilizes blockchain, AI, machine learning and data analysis technology to lead change and increase transparency in corporate regulatory reporting and sustainable finance. Diginex’s products and services solutions enable companies to collect, evaluate and share sustainability data through easy-to-use software. 

    The award-winning diginexESG platform supports 19 global frameworks, including GRI (the “Global Reporting Initiative”), SASB (the “Sustainability Accounting Standards Board”), and TCFD (the “Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures”). Clients benefit from end-to-end support, ranging from materiality assessments and data management to stakeholder engagement, report generation and an ESG Ratings Support Service.

    For more information, please visit the Company’s website:

    https://www.diginex.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

    Diginex
    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@diginex.com

    IR Contact – Europe
    Anna Höffken
    Phone: +49.40.609186.0
    Email: diginex@kirchhoff.de

    IR Contact – US
    Jackson Lin
    Lambert by LLYC
    Phone: +1 (646) 717-4593
    Email: jian.lin@llyc.global

    IR Contact – Asia
    Shelly Cheng
    Strategic Financial Relations Ltd.
    Phone: +852 2864 4857
    Email: sprg_diginex@sprg.com.hk

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Veterans Legislation Passes Out of Committee, Heads to Senate Floor for Final Vote

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) legislation, the Veterans Homecare Choice Act—which aims to expand care options for veterans by allowing caregiver registries to qualify for the Community Care Network (CCN)—passed out of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. The legislation would give veterans greater flexibility in choosing home health services—such as nursing care, health aides, or companion support—from independent professionals. The legislation effectively reverses limitations introduced by the 2018 VA MISSION Act, restoring access to homecare providers operating through caregiver registries and enabling reimbursement through the VA.

    “When our country’s heroes need medical care in their own homes, they should be able to decide what kind of service is best for them,” said Sen. Tuberville. “This bill fixes an obvious error that’s forcing veterans into one-size-fits-all homecare programs instead of giving them the options they deserve. Having care in the home is an important and personal decision. I’m glad to see this legislation pass out of committee and head to the floor for a vote.Veterans deserve the freedom to choose a homecare provider they trust, and they are one step closer to being able to make that decision.”

    In addition to the Veterans Homecare Choice Act, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs passed the Veterans ACCESS Act, which included elements of the Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act, legislation Sen. Tuberville introduced earlier this year. The Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Actallows veterans to continue accessing community care for services they already receive, prevents disruptions for veterans receiving specialized treatments from community care providers, and provides veterans with the most convenient providers.

    MORE:

    Tuberville, Moran Introduce Legislation to Give Cost-of-Living Increase to Veterans

    Tuberville Introduces Legislation to Help Disabled Veterans

    Tuberville, VA Secretary Doug Collins Discuss Streamlining Processes to Improve Outcomes for Veterans

    Tuberville, Lee Introduce Legislation to Repurpose Woke USAID Funding to Improve Veterans’ Homes

    Tuberville, Boozman Introduce Legislation to Support Defrauded Veterans

    Tuberville Reintroduces Legislation to Expand Treatment Options for Veterans

    Tuberville Introduces Legislation to Ensure Community Care Access for Veterans

    Tuberville, Moran Introduce Legislation to Improve Access to Care for Veterans

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray, Health Insurance Marketplace Experts Lay Out How Republicans’ Refusal to Extend Health Care Tax Credits Will Spike Premiums & Health Care Costs for Millions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    KFF: Individual market insurers are requesting the largest premium increases in more than 5 years; Out-of-pocket premium payments will go up by 75 percent if the tax credits expire

    In Washington state, expiration of health care tax credits will kick 80,000 people off health coverage

    Senator Murray has been fighting for months to extend tax credits that help working families afford health care and has introduced legislation to make them permanent

    ***Watch full press conference HERE; download HERE***

    Washington, D.C. —Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, held a virtual press conference with Jeanne Lambrew, Director of Health Care Reform at The Century Foundation and a former senior official in the Obama administration official who worked on the passage and implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and Washington Health Benefit Exchange CEO Ingrid Ulrey, to discuss—and sound the alarm on—how Republicans’ refusal to extend critical ACA tax credits that help families and small businesses who purchase their own health insurance on the marketplace will spike premiums and raise health care costs for people in Washington state and across the country.

    At the end of this year, enhanced premium tax credits Congress enacted to lower the cost of health care for working people who buy health insurance on their own are set to expire. For months, Republicans have refused to extend them, including recently as part of their partisan reconciliation bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—which was explicitly designed to extend expiring tax credits, and included trillions of dollars in tax breaks for billionaires.

    If Republicans continue to refuse to extend the health care tax credits, 22 million Americans across the country—including more than 216,000 people in Washington state—will see their health care costs and premiums skyrocket in January. The expiration of these tax credits is estimated to drive up out-of-pocket premium payments by an average of over 75 percent for Americans who rely on ACA health plans for coverage, and these higher costs will push 4.2 million people off their health coverage over the next decade—including an estimated 80,000 people in Washington state. Right now, health insurers and state regulators are finalizing premium rates for next year, and marketplace insurers are requesting the largest premium increases in more than 5 years. In Washington state, health insurers have already requested to hike their rates by one fifth—people who purchase health insurance through the marketplace may see their premiums rise between 4.7 percent and 23.6 percent, depending on the plan. A fact sheet from the Washington Health Benefit Exchange on the enhanced premium tax credits and what their expiration would mean for people in Washington state is HERE.

    “While the health care tax credits Republicans refused to extend may not expire until the end of the year, insurers are setting their rates right now, and when credits expire—rates go higher. Marketplace insurers are right now requesting the largest premium increases in more than 5 years. In Washington state, health insurers have already requested to hike their rates by over 20 percent, in no small part because of what Republicans have done—or rather, refused to do,” said Senator Murray. “When premiums spike next year, I am going to make sure everyone knows it’s because Republicans chose to make health care more expensive. Not on accident. Not for reasons unknown. But because Republicans decided to do nothing and let costs skyrocket. Because Republicans decided we can afford to shovel trillions of dollars towards tax breaks for billionaires, but we can’t afford to help working families get health care.”

    Senator Murray played a critical role in passing the enhanced premium tax credits in the American Rescue Plan in 2021 and extending them in the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, and she has been fighting for months to make sure these important health care tax credits don’t expire, including cosponsoring legislation—the Health Care Affordability Act—that would make them permanent.

    “The expiring ACA Marketplace tax credits are critical to keeping meaningful coverage within reach for millions of Americans,” said Jeanne Lambrew, Director of Health Care Reform at The Century Foundation and a former senior official in the Obama administration official who worked on the passage and implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). “Unless Republicans come to the table to lower costs for families by extending these tax credits, Americans across the country are going to see their premiums skyrocket—especially in rural areas and places where access to health care is already challenging.”

    “Enhanced premium tax credits help more than 216,000 Washingtonians afford health coverage and are especially important for older and rural residents, small business owners and self-employed people in our state. If Congress allows them to expire, people will be angry and upset by steep premium increases starting in January 2026. Many will drop coverage and everyone in our state will feel the pain of ripple effects across our health care system and economy,” said Ingrid Ulrey, Chief Executive Officer for Washington Health Benefit Exchange. “These tax credits work. They help make coverage more affordable for working people, families and small businesses all over the state.”

    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

    “Thank you all for joining me today. You know, Republicans have been trying to tell some big fat lies about their big, awful bill, especially when it comes to health care.

    “So, we are here to set the record straight, and to give America a stark warning. When Republicans lined up behind Trump, and jammed through a bill they hardly liked, and hardly even read—they didn’t just vote to throw trillions of dollars in tax cuts at some of the richest people in the world, they also voted to throw working families to the wolves and throw America’s health care into chaos.

    “From cutting Medicaid, something they first said they weren’t doing and now are pretending they want to undo. To shuttering hospitals, something they first said would not happen and then said they could cover with a Band-Aid.

    “To approving Trump’s sabotage of the ACA marketplace something that will kick millions of families off their coverage.

    “To refusing to extend health care tax credits, something that will send premiums skyrocketing, and push another 4.2 million people off their insurance.

    “Let’s be clear about just how big of a deal that is. Right now, these tax credits—passed entirely by Democrats—are saving millions of people across the country hundreds of dollars a month!

    “In Washington state, we have over 200,000 people—who are saving around $1,300 a year on average.

    “But instead of extending that support for working class families, instead of putting health care first, Republicans put billionaires first.

    “And now families are going to be the one stuck footing the cost for Republicans’ big, ugly bill. And unfortunately, the consequences of Republican actions—which they keep trying to deny—are coming sooner than Republicans might think.

    “Because, while the health care tax credits they refused to extend may not expire until the end of this year, insurers are setting their rates right now, and when credits expire—rates go higher.

    “Marketplace insurers are right now requesting the largest premium increases in more than 5 years.

    “In Washington state, health insurers have already requested to hike their rates by over 20 percent, in no small part because of what Republicans have done—or rather, refused to do.

    “Combined with Republican ACA sabotage? That could push as many as 150,000 people off their health care coverage across our state. To say nothing of the people who will get pushed off Medicaid in 2027 and beyond.

    “This is going to be catastrophic—which is why it’s so important we sound the alarm for families about what is coming down the pike.

    “And I want to sound the alarm for Republicans too—if you don’t come to the table ASAP to fix this, you are not going to be able to spin your way out of this reality.  

    “When over 15 million people lose their health care due to Republican health care cuts and sabotage, you are not going to convince them everything is A-Okay.

    “When hospitals shutter because Republicans gutted their funding, you can’t just pretend everything is sunshine and nothing is wrong.

    “When insurance companies jack up premiums across the country and millions of families lose the health care tax credits that saved them thousands of dollars because Republicans refused to lift a finger, you’re not going to get by, by sticking your heads in the sand.

    “You are the ones who put American health care on this collision course. You may try to ignore the warnings, you may try to ignore the voices back home speaking out, but you’re not going to be able to avoid the responsibility.

    “When premiums spike next year, I am going to make sure everyone knows it’s because Republicans chose to make health care more expensive.

    “Not on accident. Not for reasons unknown. But because Republicans decided to do nothing and let costs skyrocket.

    “Because Republicans decided we can afford to shovel trillions of dollars towards tax breaks for billionaires, but we can’t afford to help working families get their health care.

    “They couldn’t be more wrong.

    “So, I’m really glad to be joined today by two speakers who are experts on the ACA tax credits and they can lay out what their expiration will mean for families in Washington state and across the country.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Study tour boom fuels China’s countryside revival

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

    Children draw pictures beside the fields at Yuxin Town of Nanhu District in Jiaxing City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

    “Traveling thousands of miles is better than reading thousands of books” is a proverb many Chinese parents have faith in, and its sentiment is fueling the rise of study tours, particularly during the ongoing summer vacation in China.

    Integrating educational content with holiday vibes, these tours typically involve visits to prestigious universities, museums and cultural heritage sites.

    And now a shift is underway — parents, schools and travel agencies are turning away from bustling cities and opting for the tranquil countryside when making holiday arrangements for children and teens, aiming to help them broaden their horizons and get close to nature.

    In northeast China, where cornfields stretch far and wide, Ma Zhihai demonstrated how to use stone axes and iron sickles, both traditional farming tools that are unfamiliar to many urbanites, to an attentive study tour group.

    The 62-year-old farmer from Changchun, Jilin Province, works as a part-time guide at a corn museum in his village. With a collection of nearly 10,000 items, the museum often caters to groups of local students.

    “The oldest exhibits date back to dynasties 1,000 years ago,” Ma said, viewing the collections as a living textbook preserving China’s farming culture.

    Ma’s village is among China’s many rural areas that are tapping into the potential of educational tours and opening a new gateway to rural revitalization. Data shows that this booming market neared a scale of 147 billion yuan (20.6 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023 and is projected to hit 242 billion yuan by 2026.

    Featuring wild landscapes, rich histories and folk cultures, China’s rural areas have natural advantages for study field trips.

    “Look, I caught a crab!” a girl exclaimed in a paddy field that is also used for crab breeding. Mud spots on her face marked her triumph and also her study results.

    The field in Zhoujiazhuang, a village in north China’s Hebei Province, allows rice and crabs to coexist, while also serving as a dedicated base for educational tours. Students on the tour were seen planting rice seedlings and taking notes on the ideal water temperature for crab cultivation.

    “It’s so fun. I’m even thinking about raising a crab myself now,” one boy said.

    Attracted by such niche experiences, many of the tourists visiting Zhoujiazhuang are now willing to remain there longer, with overnight stays increasing notably. Ranging from brief snapshot visits to deeper immersion in a slow-paced way of life, rural tourism is gaining new vitality.

    This positive trend is also a result of the progress China’s rural areas have made in their development of infrastructure and living environments. Today, over 90 percent of administrative villages across the country are covered by the 5G network, and more than 300,000 village-level logistics facilities have been put into use.

    Thanks to a government push to stimulate consumption and the country’s efforts to promote comprehensive rural revitalization, a multitude of study tour campsites have sprouted across rural China. By giving full play to local tourism resources, they are emerging as a new form and key driver of rural revitalization.

    In southwest China’s Yunnan Province, a popular tourist destination, travelers are attracted by the opportunity to learn about ceramics, bamboo weaving and ethnic-minority embroidery handicrafts. Meanwhile, in Yudong Village in east China’s Zhejiang Province, which is known for its folk arts, the likes of travelers, artists and farmers sit down together to paint picturesque scenery.

    Rural residents are deeply involved in this wave — and their incomes have increased markedly via sales of specialty foods and the running of guesthouses.

    In a village of Zhongyi Township, southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, workshops on local dances, tea and desserts have created more than 200 jobs and spawned over 20 derivative products, like noodles and honey beverages, achieving a remarkable 43-percent repurchase rate on multiple e-commerce platforms.

    Zhongyi was once among the poorest towns in Chongqing — its local average annual income was less than 10,000 yuan in 2019.

    Capitalizing on the “tourism-plus-educational-tour” model, Zhongyi recorded 189,000 tourist trips in 2024, generating 9.88 million yuan in revenue — with the average income of locals increasing by 32 percent compared with 2020.

    “We have designed 10 tours involving different routes, transforming Zhongyi into a live-scenario classroom that teaches about bees while representing traditional farming and folk customs,” said Liu Chengyong, an educational tour guide.

    Liu is a native of Zhongyi. In 2020, he returned to his hometown and joined a collective that organizes study tours. He led other young entrepreneurs to tap into the market and design compelling educational programs. Now, the company can handle 1,300 visits each day.

    The transformation of Zhongyi has convinced more young people like Liu to return home and pitch in. Over the past three years, the town has attracted over 100 young entrepreneurs, giving rise to new jobs like “countryside CEO” and study tour guide.

    Young returnees in rural areas also help address the lack of guides and breathe new life into rural revitalization with fresh eyes and business philosophies.

    Ni Shuna, who was born in the 1990s, operates an ecological agricultural company based in a town under the administration of Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang. Seeing the potential of educational tours, Ni’s team designed activities such as fruit picking, orchard tours and starry-night camping, making her company a multi-functional leisure business that integrates catering, entertainment and education.

    “Kids come here to increase their knowledge and broaden their horizons. It’s worthwhile to see their eyes gleam with curiosity and gratification,” Ni said.  

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Her Advocacy, Ernst Praises USDA Moving Closer to Heartland

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    WASHINGTON – Following her work exposing out-of-office bureaucrats and advocating for D.C. headquarters to be moved out of the beltway bubble, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) praised Secretary Rollins’ major announcement to reorganize the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
    During today’s Senate Committee on Agriculture hearing, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden thanked Ernst for her continuous leadership and noted that USDA does not meet the congressionally mandated threshold of 60% occupancy. He made clear that the USDA reorganization is adhering to the will of Congress and will benefit our farmers and rural communities.
    Ernst went on to point out the nearly vacant USDA South Building and highlighted her FOR SALE Act to put this building and others on the chopping block.

    Watch Senator Ernst’s remarks here.
    “The Senate must pass my FOR SALE Act to dispose of underutilized buildings, including the Ag South Building, and to return the money from those sales to the taxpayers. We need more of these agencies to follow Secretary Rollins’ and USDA’s lead,” said Ernst.
    Ernst also called out Secretary Vilsack for lying to her last year about the true utilization rate of USDA’s headquarters – particularly by denying the accuracy of a government-issued report about low staff attendance and stating a whistleblower report describing the buildings as a ghost town “isn’t even close to correct.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • US President Trump confirms India-US trade talks continue despite 25 per cent tariff threat

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Donald Trump has said that India and the US were still negotiating a trade deal despite his threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff, and a final decision may be known by the end of the week.

    “We’re talking to India now, we’ll see what happens,” he said on Wednesday, hours after he had threatened the 25 per cent tariffs and the 100 per cent penalty for buyers of Russian energy he had proposed. He said that India, which he asserted has one of the highest tariffs in the world, was now “willing to cut it very substantially.”

    However, he was silent on the Russian penalty when asked by a reporter and instead spoke of the 10 per cent penalty he had proposed for BRICS members.

    Since he says negotiations are continuing, the morning threat appears to be a negotiating ploy and gives both countries wiggle room to reach an accord. He has also not issued a formal letter on the tariffs.

    India had replied defiantly to the threat, saying the government “will take all steps necessary to secure our national interest.” India indicated that agriculture was likely a sticking point in the negotiations.

    The statement said, “The government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises).” The US wants India to open its markets to US agriculture and dairy, which could impact its vast agriculture sector.

    Trump and his officials, like Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, had spoken optimistically that India would be among the first to make a deal, but it hasn’t materialised. India was among the first countries to start trade negotiations with Washington on tariffs, and Trump had repeatedly said that an agreement was imminent, most recently last week.

    The negotiations were making fantastic progress, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said last week in a media interview in London. “I do hope we’ll be able to conclude a very consequential partnership,” he said.

    In its response, India’s Commerce Ministry said, “India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months.”

    “We remain committed to that objective,” it added. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi “a friend of mine,” as he usually prefaces differences on tariffs.

    He said, nonchalantly, “It doesn’t matter too much whether we have a deal or whether we charge them a certain tariff, but you’ll know at the end of this week.”

    He repeated his tirade about India’s high tariffs, saying that while the US buys a lot from India, the US doesn’t sell as much there because of the tariffs. India had the highest or one of the highest tariffs in the world, with levies going as high as 175 per cent, he said.

    When a reporter asked him about the penalty for buying Russian energy, he did not answer that and, instead, veered off into talking about BRICS and how it was “anti-United States.” “India is a member of that, if you can believe it,” he said.

    “It’s an attack on the dollar, and we’re not going to let anybody attack the dollar,” he said. So, when it comes to India, he said, “It’s partially BRICS, and it’s partially the trade.”

    In the Truth Social post, Trump had said India has “always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of energy, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine.”

    “All things not good! India will therefore be paying a tariff of 25 per cent, plus a penalty for the above, starting on August first,” he wrote, capitalising parts of the post in his style. (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI China: Renewables capacity doubles in first half

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

    A farmer works amid photovoltaic panels at a solar power station in the Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, July 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s newly installed wind and solar power capacity nearly doubled year-on-year during the first half of this year, as the country ramps up its transition to cleaner energy sources, data from the China Electricity Council showed.

    Newly added power generation capacity during the first six months reached 290 million kilowatts, with new solar installations rising 107.1 percent year-on-year to 210 million kilowatts, and new wind power installations up 98.9 percent to 50 million kilowatts, it said.

    China’s renewable energy sector is expected to maintain rapid growth, with average annual new installed capacity reaching 200-300 million kilowatts during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), said Zhang Lin, head of the council’s planning and development department, during a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

    The near doubling of China’s wind and solar capacity in the first half is a clear signal of the country’s accelerating commitment to its energy transition goals, said Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University.

    “These installation figures demonstrate China’s ability to rapidly deploy renewable energy technologies at scale, positioning it as a global leader in clean energy investment and deployment.”

    According to the council, China’s power generation capacity is projected to hit a record high in 2025, fueled by a rapid expansion of renewable energy sources.

    New power generation capacity is expected to exceed 500 gigawatts in 2025, with new renewable energy capacity reaching approximately 400 GW, a result of China’s accelerated green energy transition and increasing investment in grid construction, the CEC said.

    Total installed power generation capacity is forecast to reach around 3.9 terawatts by the end of 2025, a year-on-year increase of approximately 16.5 percent. Nonfossil fuel sources are expected to account for 2.4 TW, or about 61 percent of total capacity, said Jiang Debin, deputy director of the council’s statistics and data center.

    The CEC also anticipates steady growth in China’s electricity demand in 2025, with total consumption expected to increase by 5-6 percent. Electricity demand is projected to grow faster in the second half of the year compared to the first, it said.

    China’s maximum power load once again set a new historical record on July 16, surpassing 1.5 billion kilowatts for the first time and reaching a peak of 1.506 billion kilowatts, according to the National Energy Administration.

    This represents an increase of 55 million kilowatts compared to last year’s peak load, the third time a historical record has been broken in July, it said.

    According to Chen Yaning, head of the council’s power supply and demand analysis department, the record reflects steady expansion in China’s electricity consumption, a key barometer of economic activity.

    Fueled by robust and sustained economic activity, power demand surged across the nation in the first half of this year, with industrial output, commercial operations and residential consumption all contributing to the heightened electricity needs, she said.

    “Equipment manufacturing and consumer goods manufacturing related to new quality productive forces have maintained strong resilience,” said Chen.

    The internet and related services sector saw a 27.4 percent year-on-year increase in electricity consumption, driven by the rapid development of mobile internet, big data and cloud computing.

    The charging and battery swapping services sector for electric vehicles saw a 42.4 percent increase in electricity consumption in the first half of the year, fueled by the rapid growth of the EV market.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Will take all necessary steps to safeguard national interest: India responds to Trump’s statement on bilateral trade

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Government of India has taken note of a recent statement by the US President concerning bilateral trade and is currently studying its implications.

    Over the past few months, India and the United States have been engaged in negotiations aimed at concluding a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement. The government has reiterated its commitment to achieving this objective.

    Emphasizing its priorities, the government said that it attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of farmers, entrepreneurs, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

    It further added that all necessary steps will be taken to secure the country’s national interest, as has been the case with other trade agreements, including the recently concluded Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom.

  • MIL-OSI: SCOR – Second quarter 2025 results: EUR 226 million net income in Q2 2025, contributing to a EUR 425 million net income in H1 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release
    31 July 2025 – N° 11

    Second quarter 2025 results
                    

    EUR 226 million net income in Q2 2025,
    contributing to a EUR 425 million net income in H1 2025

    • Group net income of EUR 226 million in Q2 2025 driven by all business activities
      (EUR 225 million adjusted1)
       
      • P&C combined ratio of 82.5% with benign natural catastrophe experience and excellent attritional loss performance allowing for additional buffer building
      • L&H insurance service result2 of EUR 118 million, with H1 experience variance in line with expectations
      • Investments regular income yield of 3.5%, with continued attractive reinvestment rates
    • IFRS 17 Group Economic Value3 of EUR 8.5 billion as of 30 June 2025, up +10.5%4 at constant economics5 (down -1.7% on a reported basis) compared with 31 December 2024, implying an Economic Value per share of EUR 47 (vs. EUR 48 as of 31 December 2024)
    • Estimated Group solvency ratio of 210%6 as of 30 June 2025, in the upper part of the optimal solvency range of 185%-220%
    • Annualized Return on Equity of 22.6% (22.6% adjusted1) in Q2 2025 implying an annualized Return on Equity of 20.3% in H1 2025 (20.1% adjusted1)

    SCOR SE’s Board of Directors met on 30 July 2025, under the chairmanship of Fabrice Brégier, to approve the Group’s Q2 2025 financial statements.

    Thierry Léger, Chief Executive Officer of SCOR, comments: “After a strong first quarter, all our business activities continue to perform well, contributing to a Group net income of EUR 226 million in the second quarter of 2025. The excellent combined ratio in P&C is the result of our disciplined underwriting and of successful strategy to grow into profitable and diversifying lines of business. This allows us to build an additional level of prudence to our P&C reserves. L&H and Investments also deliver strong results. Despite increased competition in the P&C reinsurance segment, SCOR has compensated the impact by optimizing its business mix and retrocession, leading to an unchanged net expected technical profitability in the treaty renewals year-to-date. I remain confident for the rest of the year and in SCOR’s ability to execute the Forward 2026 strategic plan.”

    Group performance and context

    SCOR records EUR 226 million net income (EUR 225 million adjusted1) in Q2 2025, supported by all business activities:

    • In P&C, the combined ratio stands at 82.5% in Q2 2025, including a natural catastrophe ratio of 3.8%, reflecting a benign quarter of low natural catastrophe activity. Over the first six months of 2025, the natural catastrophe ratio of 8.2% remains below the budget despite the LA wildfire impact in Q1. The excellent Nat Cat and attritional loss performance in the second quarter allow for additional buffer building.
    • In L&H, the insurance service result2 stands at EUR 118 million in Q2 2025, driven by a strong CSM amortization including some positive one-offs, a risk adjustment release and a H1 experience variance in line with expectations.
    • In Investments, SCOR benefits from still-elevated reinvestment rates in Q2 2025 and records a high regular income yield of 3.5%.
    • The effective tax rate stands at 28.3% for Q2 2025.

    The annualized Return on Equity stands at 22.6% (22.6% adjusted1) in Q2 2025 and the Group Economic Value over the first half of 2025 increases by 10.5%4 at constant economics5. Over the first half of 2025, SCOR reports a net income of EUR 425 million (EUR 420 million adjusted1), implying an annualized Return on Equity of 20.3% (20.1% adjusted1).

    The Group solvency ratio is estimated at 210% at the end of Q2 2025, in the upper part of the optimal range of 185%-220%, and stable versus FY 2024. This is supported by the strong operating capital generation from all business activities, net of capital deployment for business growth and the accrual of dividend for the first half of 2025, partly offset by unfavorable market variances.

    June-July P&C reinsurance treaty renewals

    During the June-July 2025 renewals, SCOR continues to grow in its preferred and diversifying lines, maintaining its underwriting discipline in a competitive context.

    EGPI7 on the business up for renewal in June-July stays flat, with continued growth in the diversifying lines (+11.8%8) driven by International Casualty and Marine, while Alternative Solutions declines by 3.8%, impacted by a large contract that was not renewed. Exposure to US Casualty is further reduced. As a reminder, premiums up for renewals in June-July represent c.14% of annual P&C reinsurance premiums up for renewals.

    Since the start of the year, SCOR has achieved gross premium growth of +6.2%8 for its renewed portfolio with a stable price evolution. On a year-to-date basis, the net technical profitability9 is expected to remain unchanged for the renewed portfolio compared to last year. SCOR is successfully weathering a competitive environment thanks to its strategy of growing in a profitable and diversified way.

    Looking ahead, SCOR anticipates a continued trend of overcapacity in the reinsurance segment, which is expected to exert pressure on pricing. Nonetheless, SCOR maintains a sharp focus on accessing attractive business opportunities, and is committed to maintaining stringent underwriting discipline, prepared to redeploy capital or reduce capacity if necessary to meet its hurdle rates.

    Excellent P&C underlying performance

    In Q2 2025, P&C insurance revenue stands at EUR 1,833 million, down -6.6% at constant exchange rates (down -9.7% at current exchange rates) compared to Q2 2024, impacted by a large contract commutation effect of -6.4 points. Excluding this effect, P&C insurance revenue would decline by -0.2% at constant exchange rates. Strong growth in the Reinsurance segment from preferred lines is mostly offset by reduced business in Agriculture and US Casualty reinsurance and in SCOR Business Solutions.

    New business CSM in Q2 2025 stands at EUR 225 million, down -6.4% at current exchange rates compared to Q2 2024, mainly driven by an unfavorable foreign exchange effect. New business CSM in H1 2025 stands at EUR 935 million, up +4.8% compared to H1 2024, reflecting the successful P&C strategy to grow into profitable and diversifying lines of business.

    P&C (re)insurance key figures:

    In EUR million

    (at current exchange rates)

    		 Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Variation H1 2025 H1 2024 Variation
    P&C insurance revenue 1,833 2,031 -9.7% 3,692 3,868 -4.6%
    P&C insurance service result 241 201 19.6% 446 383 16.6%
    Combined ratio 82.5% 86.9% -4.4pts 83.7% 87.0% -3.3pts
    P&C new business CSM 225 240 -6.4% 935 891 4.8%

    The P&C combined ratio stands at 82.5% in Q2 2025, compared to 86.9% in Q2 2024. It includes:

    • A Nat Cat ratio of 3.8%, reflecting a benign quarter with low Cat activity, and translating into a H1 cat ratio of 8.2%;
    • An attritional loss and commission ratio of 77.4%, reflecting a strong underlying performance and additional buffer building;
    • A discount effect of -6.3%;
    • An attributable expense ratio of 7.7%.

    The P&C insurance service result of EUR 241 million is driven by a CSM amortization of
    EUR 286 million, a risk adjustment release of EUR 25 million, a negative experience variance of
    EUR -60 million and an impact of onerous contracts of EUR 10 million.

    L&H H1 experience variances in line with expectations

    In Q2 2025, L&H insurance revenue amounts to EUR 1,986 million, down -0.1% at constant exchange rates (-3.3% at current exchange rates) compared to Q2 2024. SCOR continues to build its L&H CSM through new business generation (EUR 136 million new business CSM10 in Q2 2025), notably from Protection business with positive true ups from Q1 2025.

    L&H reinsurance key figures:

    In EUR million

    (at current exchange rates)

    		 Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Variation H1 2025 H1 2024 Variation
    L&H insurance revenue 1,986 2,054 -3.3% 4,191 4,330 -3.2%
    L&H insurance service result 118 -329 n.a. 236 -257 n.a.
    L&H new business CSM 136 145 -6.2% 212 257 -17.7%

    The L&H insurance service result amounts to EUR 118 million in Q2 2025. It includes:

    • A CSM amortization of EUR 105 million, higher than expected, and partly driven by some positive one-offs;
    • A Risk Adjustment release of EUR 29 million;
    • An experience variance of EUR -7 million;
    • A negative impact of onerous contracts of EUR -10 million.

    Investments delivering a return on invested assets at 3.6%

    As of 30 June 2025, total invested assets amount to EUR 23.2 billion. SCOR’s asset mix is optimized, with 78% of the portfolio invested in fixed income. SCOR has a high-quality fixed income portfolio with an average rating of A+ and a duration of 3.9 years.

    Investments key figures:

    In EUR million

    (at current exchange rates)

    		 Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Variation H1 2025 H1 2024 Variation
    Total invested assets 23,189 22,682 2.2% 23,189 22,682 2.2%
    Regular income yield 3.5% 3.6% -0.1pt 3.5% 3.5% 0pt
    Return on invested assets* 3.6% 3.3% 0.3pt 3.7% 3.3% 0.4pt

    (*) Fair value through income on invested assets excludes EUR 1 million in Q2 2025 and EUR 7 million in H1 2025 related to the pre-tax mark to market impact of the fair value of the option on own shares granted to SCOR.

    Total investment income on invested assets stands at EUR 21011 million in Q2 2025. The return on invested assets stands at 3.6%11 (vs. 3.8% in Q1 2025) and the regular income yield at 3.5% (vs. 3.5% in Q1 2025).

    The reinvestment rate stands at 4.1%12 as of 30 June 2025, compared to 4.3% as of 31 March 2025. The invested assets portfolio remains highly liquid and financial cash flows of EUR 8.5 billion are expected over the next 24 months13, enabling SCOR to benefit from still-elevated reinvestment rates.

    New developments on arbitrations

    SCOR has been informed that Covéa just filed a request for arbitration to contest the validity of the settlement agreement drawn up and concluded in the presence of the French regulator ACPR on 10 June 202114. SCOR considers this request unfounded and will vigorously defend its rights. This request for a new arbitration comes in addition to the ongoing arbitration on the retrocession treaties, initiated by SCOR in November 2022 and which has now reached its final phase. In this context, Covéa has requested that the tribunal in charge of the 2022 arbitration stay its decision until the outcome of this new arbitration. SCOR opposes this request and remains firmly committed to keeping the current proceedings within the agreed timeline, for a decision to be rendered in the course of 2026. These latest developments have no impact on SCOR’s business and its ability to deliver its strategic plan Forward 2026.

    This update is an ad hoc disclosure pursuant to Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of 16 April 2014.

    *

    *        *

    APPENDIX

    1 – SCOR Group Q2 2025 key financial details

    In EUR million

    (at current exchange rates)

    		 Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Variation H1 2025 H1 2024 Variation
    Insurance revenue 3,819 4,085 -6.5% 7,883 8,198 -3.8%
    Gross written premiums1 4,661 5,076 -8.2% 9,569 10,029 -4.6%
    Insurance Service Result2 358 -127 n.a. 682 126 n.a.
    Management expenses -313 -318 1.6% -614 -612 -0.3%
    Annualized ROE3 22.6% -23.7% n.a. 20.3% -4.7% n.a.
    Annualized ROE excluding the mark to market impact of the option on own shares from Q2 2025 22.6% -21.9% n.a. 20.1% -4.5% n.a.
    Net income3,4 226 -308 n.a. 425 -112 n.a.
    Net income4 excluding the mark to market impact of the option on own shares from Q2 2025 225 -283 n.a. 420 -107 n.a.
    Economic value5,6 8,469 8,425 0.5% 8,469 8,425 0.5%
    Shareholders’ equity 4,129 4,500 -8.2% 4,129 4,500 -8.2%
    Contractual Service Margin (CSM)6 4,340 3,924 10.6% 4,340 3,924 10.6%

    1: GWP is not a metric defined under the IFRS 17 accounting framework (non-GAAP metric); 2: Includes revenues on financial contracts reported under IFRS 9; 3: Taking into account the mark to market impact of the option on own shares. Q2 2025 impact of EUR 1 million before tax, H1 2025 impact of EUR 7 million before tax. 4: Consolidated net income, Group share; 5. Defined as the sum of the shareholder’s equity and the Contractual Service Margin (CSM); 6: Net of tax. A notional tax rate of 25% is applied to the CSM.

    2 – P&L key figures Q2 2025

    In EUR million

    (at current exchange rates)

    		 Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Variation H1 2025 H1 2024 Variation
    Insurance revenue 3,819 4,085 -6.5% 7,883 8,198 -3.8%
    • P&C insurance revenue
    		 1,833 2,031 -9.7% 3,692 3,868 -4.6%
    • L&H insurance revenue
    		 1,986 2,054 -3.3% 4,191 4,330 -3.2%
    Gross written premiums1 4,661 5,076 -8.2% 9,569 10,029 -4.6%
    • P&C gross written premiums
    		 2,250 2,438 -7.7% 4,759 4,865 -2.2%
    • L&H gross written premiums
    		 2,410 2,637 -8.6% 4,810 5,164 -6.9%
    Investment income on invested assets 210 184 14.3% 436 376 +15.8%
    Operating results 347 -227 n.a. 665 60 n.a.
    Net income2,3 226 -308 n.a. 425 -112 n.a.
    Net income2excluding the mark to market impact of the option on own shares from Q2 2025 225 -283 n.a. 420 -107 n.a.
    Earnings per share3(EUR) 1.26 -1.72 n.a. 2.38 -0.63 n.a.
    Earnings per share (EUR) excluding the mark to market impact of the option on own shares from Q2 2025 1.26 -1.58 n.a. 2.35 -0.60 n.a.
    Operating cash flow 395 134 194.2% 546 286 90.9%

    1: GWP is not a metric defined under the IFRS 17 accounting framework (non-GAAP metric); 2: Consolidated net income, Group share; 3: Taking into account the mark to the market impact of the option on own shares. Q2 2025 impact of EUR 1 million before tax, H1 2025 impact of EUR 7 million before tax.

      
    3 – P&L key ratios Q2 2025 

    In EUR million

    (at current exchange rates)

    		 Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Variation H1 2025 H1 2024 Variation
    Return on invested assets 1,2 3.6% 3.3% +0.3pts 3.7% 3.3% +0.4pts
    P&C combined ratio 3 82.5% 86.9% -4.4pts 83.7% 87.0% -3.3pts
    Annualized ROE4 22.6% -23.7% n.a. 20.3% -4.7% n.a.
    Annualized ROE excluding the mark to market impact of the option on own shares 22.6% -21.9% n.a. 20.1% -4.5% n.a.
    Economic Value growth5 n.a. n.a. n.a. 10.5% -7.3% +17.8pts

    1: Annualized; 2: In Q2 2025 and H1 2025, fair value through income on invested assets excludes respectively EUR 1m and EUR 7m pre-tax mark to market impact of the fair value of the option on own shares granted to SCOR; 3: The combined ratio is the sum of the total claims, the total variables commissions, and the P&C attributable management expenses, divided by the net insurance revenue for P&C business; 4: Taking into account the mark to the market impact of the option on own shares. Q2 2025 impact of EUR 1 million before tax, H1 2025 impact of EUR 7 million before tax; 5: Not annualized. Growth at constant economic assumptions, and excluding the mark to market impact of the option on own shares. The starting point is adjusted for the payment of dividend of EUR 1.8 per share (EUR 322 million in total) for the fiscal year 2024, paid in 2025. Economic Value defined as the sum of the shareholders’ equity and the Contractual Service Margin (CSM), net of tax. A notional tax rate of 25% is applied to the CSM.

      
    4 – Balance sheet key figures as of 30 June 2025

    In EUR million
    (at current exchange rates)    		 As of
    30 June 2025    		 As of
    31 December 2024    		 Variation
    Total invested assets 1 23,189 24,155 -4.0%
    Shareholders’ equity 4,129 4,524 -8.7%
    Book value per share (EUR) 23.09 25.22 -8.5%
    Economic Value2 8,469 8,615 -1.7%
    Economic Value per share (EUR)3 47.35 48.03 -1.4%
    Financial leverage ratio4 24.9% 24.5% 0.3pts
    Total liquidity5 2,362 2,466 -4.2%

    1: Excludes 3rd party net insurance business investments; 2: The Economic Value (defined as the sum of the shareholders’ equity and the Contractual Service Margin (CSM), net of tax) includes minority interests; 3: The Economic Value per share excludes minority interests; 4: The leverage ratio is calculated as the percentage of subordinated debt compared to the sum of Economic Value and subordinated debt in IFRS 17; 5: Includes cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments.

    *

    *        *

    SCOR, a leading global reinsurer

    As a leading global reinsurer, SCOR offers its clients a diversified and innovative range of reinsurance and insurance solutions and services to control and manage risk. Applying “The Art & Science of Risk”, SCOR uses its industry-recognized expertise and cutting-edge financial solutions to serve its clients and contribute to the welfare and resilience of society.

    The Group generated premiums of EUR 20.1 billion in 2024 and serves clients in more than 150 countries from its 37 offices worldwide.

    For more information, visit: www.scor.com

    		 Media Relations
    Alexandre Garcia
    media@scor.com

    Investor Relations
    Thomas Fossard
    InvestorRelations@scor.com

    Follow us on LinkedIn
     

    All content published by the SCOR group since January 1, 2024, is certified with Wiztrust. You can check the authenticity of this content at wiztrust.com.

      
    General

    Figures presented throughout this press release may not add up precisely to the totals in the tables and text. Percentages and percent changes are calculated on complete figures (including decimals); therefore, this press release might contain immaterial differences in sums and percentages due to rounding. Unless otherwise specified, the sources for the business ranking and market positions are internal.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or a solicitation of an offer to buy SCOR securities in any jurisdiction.

    Forward-looking statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements, assumptions, and information about SCOR’s financial condition, results, business, strategy, plans and objectives, including in relation to SCOR’s current or future projects.

    These statements may be identified by the use of the future tense or conditional mode, or terms such as “estimate”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “aim”, “expect”, “have the objective”, “intend to”, “plan”, “result in”, “should”, and other similar expressions.

    It should be noted that the achievement of these objectives, forward-looking statements, assumptions and information is dependent on circumstances and facts that may or may not arise in the future.

    No guarantee can be given regarding the achievement of these forward-looking statements, assumptions and information. These forward-looking statements, assumptions and information are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements, assumptions and information (including on objectives) may be impacted by known or unknown risks, identified or unidentified uncertainties and other factors that may significantly impact the future results, performance and accomplishments planned or expected by SCOR.

    In particular, it should be noted that the full impact of the economic, financial and geopolitical risks on SCOR’s business and results cannot be precisely assessed.

    Accordingly, all assessments, assumptions, and figures presented in this press release should be considered as estimates based on evolving analyses, and encompass a wide range of theoretical hypotheses, which are highly evolutive.

    Information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect SCOR’s business is set forth in the 2024 Universal Registration Document filed on March 20, 2025, under number n°D.25-0124 with the French Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) available on SCOR’s website www.scor.com and on the AMF’s website www.amf-france.org.

    In addition, such forward-looking statements, assumptions and information are not “profit forecasts” within the meaning of Article 1 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/980.

    SCOR does not undertake and has no obligation or intention to complete, update, revise or change these forward-looking statements, assumptions and information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Financial information

    The Group’s financial information contained in this press release is prepared on the basis of IFRS and interpretations issued and approved by the European Union.

    Unless otherwise specified, prior-year balance sheet, income statement items and ratios have not been reclassified.

    The calculation of financial ratios (such as return on invested assets, regular income yield, return on equity and combined ratio) is detailed in the Appendices of the presentation related to the financial results for the second quarter and first half of 2025 which is available on SCOR’s website www.scor.com.

    The financial results for the first half of 2025 have been subject to a limited review by SCOR’s statutory auditors. Unless otherwise specified, all figures are presented in Euros.

    Any financial data or figures for a period subsequent to June 30, 2025 are not to be construed as a forecast of the expected financials for these periods

    1 Adjusted by excluding the mark to market impact of the option on own shares.
    2 Includes revenues on financial contracts reported under IFRS 9.

    3 Defined as the sum of the shareholders’ equity and the Contractual Service Margin (CSM), net of tax. 25% notional tax rate applied on CSM.
    4 Not annualized. The starting point is adjusted for the future payment of dividend of EUR 1.8 per share (EUR 322 million in total) for the fiscal year 2024, paid in 2025.
    5 Growth at constant economic assumptions (i.e. adjusted for interest rate changes and FX impacts on shareholders’ equity and CSM) as of 31 December 2024 and excluding the mark to market impact of the option on own shares.

    6 Solvency ratio estimated after taking into account the dividend accrual for the first six months based on the dividend paid for the fiscal year 2024 (EUR1.8 per share).
    7 Estimated Gross Premium Income (EGPI).
    8 Compared to the same period in 2024.
    9 Measured by net underwriting ratio, excluding Alternative Solutions.
    10 Includes the CSM on new treaties and change in CSM on existing treaties due to new business (i.e. new business on existing contracts).
    11 Excluding the mark to the market impact of the option on own shares. Q2 2025 impact of EUR 1 million before tax.

    12 Reinvestment rate is based on Q2 2025 asset allocation of yielding asset classes (i.e. fixed income, loans and real estate), according to current reinvestment duration assumptions. Yield curves & spreads as of 30/06/2025.
    13  As of 30 June 2025. Includes current cash balances and future coupons and redemptions.
    14SCOR and Covéa announce the signing of a settlement agreement | SCOR

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Unlock More Capital, Deputy Secretary-General Urges at AGFUND Event Citing Real Leadership across Africa to Achieve Sustainable Food Security, Resilience

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the UN Food Systems Summit+4 Stocktake (UNFSS+4) Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) side event:  “Mobilizing Investment for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2:  The Role of Public-Private Partnerships”, in Addis Ababa today:

    It is a pleasure to be with you today to confront one of the great injustices of our time, and to spotlight a response that offers hope.

    Let me start with the stark reality we all know too well.  Hunger is rising.  Over 800 million people are food insecure.  Climate shocks and conflict are battering food systems.  Inflation and instability are undermining livelihoods.

    Once again, those with the least are paying the highest price.  Behind the numbers are human potential being lost every single day.  Children whose growth is stunted, mothers who skip meals to feed their families and farmers trapped in cycles of debt when harvests fail.

    This is both a development emergency and a solvable failure.  We have the knowledge and the means, what we lack is the scale of investment needed to act decisively.  Food systems don’t stop at borders:  rivers flow across regions and markets stretch across continents. Our response must reflect that same interconnection grounded in shared responsibility. 

    We meet here in Addis Ababa, a city that has long embodied African cooperation and leadership.  There is no better place to recommit to food security and resilience.

    Food is more than a necessity.  It is also a foundation for peace and a force for unity.  In a divided world, food carries the promise of shared responsibility and shared survival.  It is with this understanding that I welcome the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security.

    That is why I welcome the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security.  Launched at the Sixteenth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP16) under Saudi leadership and supported by AGFUND and many others, this initiative offers a structured, forward-looking response to today’s urgent needs.

    The value of the Flagship lies in its design.  It brings together science and policy, local knowledge and institutional finance, Governments and field-based delivery.  Over 30 partners are already involved.

    With careful targeting and strong regional coordination, the Flagship is directing resources to the people and places that need them most — smallholder farmers, women producers and fragile ecosystems.

    This approach recognizes that sustainable food security cannot be achieved through top-down solutions alone.  It requires empowering local communities, strengthening Indigenous knowledge systems and ensuring that women — who produce the majority of the world’s food — have equal access to land, credit and decision-making power.

    This initiative is not just a vision on paper, it is already generating real momentum — through integration with the Global Drought Resilience Partnership and through collaboration with the Joint SDG Fund in countries like Ethiopia and Cameroon.  These efforts show that it’s possible to build practical, blended financing models that support action.

    We are seeing real leadership across Africa.  Countries are moving forward with national strategies, restoring land and linking action to results.  This is African leadership in motion rooted in local priorities, supported by global partners.

    Yet we must be clear-eyed about the obstacles that remain, particularly around financing.  The financing gap for food systems transformation is estimated at over $300 billion annually.

    Connected, is the fundamental inequity in how climate finance flows.  The countries most affected by climate change receive the least support, while those who have contributed least to the problem bear the greatest burden.

    The financing gap is felt most in the least developed countries and small island developing States.  We need to unlock more capital, not only from traditional sources, but also through environmental, social and governance bonds, responsible land investment and climate-aligned funds.

    Before I close, I want to acknowledge the partners who have made this possible.  Let me thank AGFUND and Dr. Nasser Al Kahtani for their leadership, the Crop Trust for hosting the Secretariat and the Arab Coordination Group for their financial and strategic backing.

    As we move forward together, we must remember what this work is really about. This initiative is a reminder that change comes from purpose, partnership and persistence.

    So, let us move forward with a shared determination.  Because food systems transformation is not only about agriculture.  It is about dignity.  It is about justice.  It is about the future we owe one another.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • Trump says US to impose 25% tariff on India from August 1

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday imposed a 25% tariff on goods imported from India starting August 1, along with an unspecified penalty for buying Russian weapons and oil, potentially straining relations with the world’s most populous democracy.

    The U.S. decision singles out India more severely than other major trading partners, and threatens to unravel months of talks between the two countries, undermining a key strategic partner of Washington’s and a counterbalance to China.

    “While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

    “They have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD!”

    The White House has previously warned India about its high average applied tariffs – nearly 39% on agricultural products – with rates climbing to 45% on vegetable oils and around 50% on apples and corn.

    Russia continued to be the top oil supplier to India during the first six months of 2025, making up 35% of overall supplies.

    The U.S. currently has a $45.7 billion trade deficit with India.

    The news pushed the Indian rupee down 0.4% to around 87.80 against the U.S. dollar in the non-deliverable forwards market, from its close at 87.42 during market hours. Gift Nifty futures were trading at 24,692 points, down 0.6%.

    CONTENTIOUS ISSUES

    “Higher tariffs for India compared to countries it competes with, for exports to the U.S., are going to be challenging,” said Ranen Banerjee, a partner of economic advisory services at PwC India.

    India’s commerce ministry, which is leading the trade talks, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    U.S. and Indian negotiators had held multiple rounds of discussions to resolve contentious issues, particularly over market access into India for U.S. agricultural and dairy products.

    Despite progress in some areas, Indian officials resisted opening the domestic market to imports of wheat, corn, rice and genetically modified soybeans, citing risks to the livelihood of millions of Indian farmers.

    The U.S. had flagged concerns over India’s increasing and burdensome import-quality requirements, among its many barriers to trade, in a report released in March.

    The new tariffs are expected to impact India’s goods exports to the U.S., estimated at around $87 billion in 2024, including labour-intensive products such as garments, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewelry, and petrochemicals.

    India now joins a growing list of countries facing higher tariffs under Trump’s “Liberation Day” trade policy, aimed at reshaping U.S. trade relations by demanding greater reciprocity.

    The setback comes despite earlier commitments by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump to conclude the first phase of a trade deal by autumn 2025 and expand bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, from $191 billion in 2024.

    Indian officials have previously indicated that they view the U.S. as a key strategic partner, particularly in counterbalancing China. But they have emphasized the need to preserve policy space on agriculture, data governance, and state subsidies.

    HOPES FOR A DEAL

    It was not immediately clear whether the announcement was a negotiating tactic. While Trump railed against Japan in a June 30 Truth Social post and said there would likely be no deal with the North Asian nation, a deal was agreed on July 22.

    An Indian government official told Reuters that New Delhi continued to remain engaged with the United States to seal an agreement.

    Economists, too, remained hopeful.

    “While the negotiations seems to have broken down, we don’t think the trade-deal haggling between the two nations is over yet,” Madhavi Arora, an economist at Emkay Global.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Builds Local Partnerships to Help Feed Our Communities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Reps. Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Josh Riley (NY-19) in introducing the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act. This bipartisan bill would allow states, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to establish cooperative agreements connecting regional farmers and producers with local food distribution organizations. Through these agreements, funds would be used to purchase local, fresh, and minimally processed foods like meat, seafood, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit, and poultry.

    “The Central Valley grows the food that feeds our nation, and this bill gives us a chance to connect our farmers directly with local families and food banks to deliver healthy, homegrown food where it’s needed most,” said Congressman Valadao. “The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act is a bipartisan effort that invests in our farmers and communities, and I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in support.”

    “Far too often the discussion around alleviating hunger leaves out those who grow, raise, and produce food – our local farmers. Reducing the barriers between our communities and the farmers who produce our food is a commonsense approach to ensure everyone in Northeast Pennsylvania has access to the food they need.” said Rep. Bresnahan. “This bill recognizes the hard work that is needed to supply fresh and nutritious food like fruit, veggies, milk, and cheese, while also creating a clear path to putting this food on the plates of people who need it. This investment in our local farmers is an investment in stronger local food security and healthier communities.”

    “When Trump’s USDA abruptly ended the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools programs, it pulled the rug out from under farmers, food banks, and schools across the country—including in Maine. These were proven tools for strengthening local food supply chains, supporting small producers, and getting healthy, locally grown food to hungry families,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “Our bipartisan Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act restores and improves on that successful model. It’s a practical, community-driven solution that invests in our nation’s farmers, builds regional resilience, and fights hunger.”

    “It doesn’t get more common sense than fighting hunger by supporting local farmers,” said Congressman Riley. “This is about putting food on the tables of people who need it most, and investing directly in the family farmers who power our rural communities.”

    Additional co-sponsors include: Reps. Tony Wied (WI-08), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Zach Nunn (IA-03), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Jim Costa (CA-21), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), and Alma Adams (NC-12).

    “This legislation supports a program with a proven record of increasing access to the fresh fruits and vegetables our farmers work hard to produce,” said Congressman Newhouse. “It cuts down on food waste, supplies food banks with produce, and ensures that those who need food can get it. I thank Rep. Bresnahan for his leadership on this legislation as we work to strengthen our food system and expand access to healthy food across the country.”

    “Iowa farmers work hard to grow high-quality, nutritious food. This bill helps ensure local families and food banks can afford the fresh produce grown right here in our communities,” said Congressman Nunn. “I’m proud to back a plan that strengthens our food system, supports small producers and veterans, and expands access to healthy, Iowa-grown meals.”

    “I’m proud to join this bipartisan bill to support our Illinois family farmers and help my constituents access nutritious, locally-grown food,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “In Central and Southern Illinois, the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools have been a win-win-win for growers and producers, food banks, and schools. It was a major setback when these initiatives were abruptly cancelled. The Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act would restore these successful programs that are a proven way to fight hunger, strengthen the food supply chain, and bolster the local agricultural economy.”

    “As the only Virginian on the House Agriculture Committee, I know the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools programs are essential for our farmers and the families they feed across the Seventh. When the Trump Administration suddenly ended both, it caused a ripple effect — hurting local farmers, schools, and food banks across the Commonwealth and the United States. This cannot stand,” said Congressman Vindman. “Earlier this year, I met with Eugene Triplett at his fifth-generation, Black-owned family farm in Culpeper. He told me directly that these programs helped him get healthy, locally grown food to hungry kids and families. I will always work to deliver for Virginia families and farmers like Eugene.”

    The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act:

    • Allows USDA to create cooperative agreements with state agencies to purchase and distribute local food.
    • Sets aside a portion of funding specifically for smaller farmers and ranchers, as well as veteran-owned operations.
    • Provides technical assistance to help farmers meet food safety standards and grow their operations.
    • Strengthens local and regional food systems to improve food security, reduce supply chain disruptions, and minimize waste.

    Read the full bill here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: After Trump’s Cuts, Pingree Leads Bipartisan Effort to Restore Local Food Lifelines

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

    Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), a longtime farmer and member of the House Agriculture Committee, led a bipartisan group of her colleagues in introducing the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act to boost the purchasing and distribution of local food. The bill, co-led by Representatives Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), and Josh Riley (D-N.Y.), will help build stronger connections between local producers and community food programs, expanding markets and improving access to healthy food for those in need.

    “When Trump’s USDA abruptly ended the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools programs, it pulled the rug out from under farmers, food banks, and schools across the country—including in Maine. These were proven tools for strengthening local food supply chains, supporting small producers, and getting healthy, locally grown food to hungry families,” said Rep. Pingree. “Our bipartisan Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act restores and improves on that successful model. It’s a practical, community-driven solution that invests in our nation’s farmers, builds regional resilience, and fights hunger.”

    The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act will allow states, through USDA, to establish cooperative agreements connecting local farmers and producers with local food distribution organizations. Through these agreements, funds will be used to purchase local, fresh, and minimally processed foods like seafood, meat, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit, and poultry. The bill also sets aside a portion of these funds to purchase food specifically from small, mid-size, beginning, and veteran farmers. Text can be found here.

    “Far too often the discussion around alleviating hunger leaves out those who grow, raise, and produce food – our local farmers. Reducing the barriers between our communities and the farmers who produce our food is a commonsense approach to ensure everyone in Northeast Pennsylvania has access to the food they need.” said Rep. Bresnahan. “This bill recognizes the hard work that is needed to supply fresh and nutritious food like fruit, veggies, milk, and cheese, while also creating a clear path to putting this food on the plates of people who need it. This investment in our local farmers is an investment in stronger local food security and healthier communities.”

    “The Central Valley grows the food that feeds our nation, and this bill gives us a chance to connect our farmers directly with local families and food banks to deliver healthy, homegrown food where it’s needed most,” said Rep. Valadao. “The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act is a bipartisan effort that invests in our farmers and communities, and I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in support.”

    “It doesn’t get more common sense than fighting hunger by supporting local farmers,” said Rep. Riley. “This is about putting food on the tables of people who need it most, and investing directly in the family farmers who power our rural communities.”

    Original cosponsors include Tony Wied (R-Wisc.), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Eugene Vindman (D-Va.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), and Alma Adams (D-N.C.). 

    “Iowa farmers work hard to grow high-quality, nutritious food. This bill helps ensure local families, schools, and food banks can afford the fresh produce grown right here in our communities,” said Rep. Nunn. “I’m proud to back a plan that strengthens our food system, supports small producers and veterans, and expands access to healthy, Iowa-grown meals.”

    “This legislation supports a program with a proven record of increasing access to the fresh fruits and vegetables our farmers work hard to produce,” said Rep. Newhouse. “It cuts down on food waste, supplies local schools and food banks with produce, and ensures that those who need food can get it. I thank Rep. Bresnahan for his leadership on this legislation as we work to strengthen our food system and expand access to healthy food across the country.”

    “I’m proud to join this bipartisan bill to support our Illinois family farmers and help my constituents access nutritious, locally-grown food,” said Rep. Budzinski. “In Central and Southern Illinois, the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools have been a win-win-win for growers and producers, food banks, and schools. It was a major setback when these initiatives were abruptly cancelled. The Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act would restore these successful programs that are a proven way to fight hunger, strengthen the food supply chain, and bolster the local agricultural economy.”

    “As the only Virginian on the House Agriculture Committee, I know the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools programs are essential for our farmers and the families they feed across the Seventh. When the Trump Administration suddenly ended both, it caused a ripple effect — hurting local farmers, schools, and food banks across the Commonwealth and the United States. This cannot stand,” said Rep. Vindman. “Earlier this year, I met with Eugene Triplett at his fifth-generation, Black-owned family farm in Culpeper. He told me directly that these programs helped him get healthy, locally grown food to hungry kids and families. I will always work to deliver for Virginia families and farmers like Eugene.”

    The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act is endorsed by the Feeding America, National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), National Farmers Union (NFU), Save the Children, Full Plates Full Potential, Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), and more.

    “Maine’s food system has been hit hard over the past few months due to the instability created by changing government policies and cuts to established food programs, like the Local Food for Schools program which helped schools buy local food from local farms,” said Anna Korsen, Deputy Director of Full Plates Full Potential. “We know children go hungry when household and school budgets get squeezed, so Full Plates welcomes the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act and the potential it has to build on what Maine does best – community solutions to community problems.”

    “The Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act recognizes and advances the work of thousands of farmers and proponents nationally who have worked to bolster the resiliency of our local food system and Nation’s food supply chain,” Colleen Hanlon-Smith of Farm to Neighbor Maine. “We applaud Congresswoman Pingree for her work to advance this Act. Both LFPA and LFS offered an opportunity for the federal government and the public’s tax dollars to strategically inject funding at the intersection of local food access and farm viability. These were not only incredibly successful programs but critical to shifting the needle on food security by ensuring economic investments locally, to the benefit of our Nation’s farmers, food insecure citizens and local communities.”

    “The proposed bill would be a win for both local farmers and families facing hunger,” said Heather Paquette, President of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “By prioritizing the purchase of local foods and partnering with organizations that have deep experience in food distribution, we can ensure that nutritious food reaches the people who need it most, all while strengthening local economies.”

    “As Executive Director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, I strongly support the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act because it uplifts the hardworking farmers and food producers who nourish our communities every day,” said Sarah Alexander, Executive Director of MOFGA. “By investing in cooperative agreements that build local food infrastructure and markets, this Act empowers states and Tribal governments to create resilient, community-based food systems. It’s a smart, values-driven approach that strengthens local economies, improves food access, and ensures a healthier, more sustainable future for all.”

    “Maine has spent the last two decades building strong, innovative programs to support small farms and connect local producers with their communities. This legislation will help strengthen that foundation, ensuring we continue to grow, adapt, and meet the evolving needs of both farmers and families,” said Jimmy DeBiasi, Executive Director of the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets. “If we’re serious about making America healthier, we have to start with what we’re eating. This bill recognizes that feeding people nutritious, locally grown food is not just good policy—it’s a smart investment in public health and our agricultural future.”

    “This legislation benefits family farmers and the communities they feed,”said Rob Larew, President of National Farmers Union. “It strengthens local food systems, expands economic opportunity, and builds more resilient farms.”

    “PFB appreciates Representative Bresnahan (R-PA-08) championing legislation that will expand our farmers’ market opportunities, reduce food waste, and get locally grown food to American families’ tables,” said Chris Hoffman, President, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. “The Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act exemplifies the importance of cherishing the hard work that goes into producing food and not wanting to waste it, while providing less fortunate consumers with local options that provide them with the opportunity to support their local farmers. This is a win-win piece of legislation for all involved, and we look forward to working with Congress to advance it.”

    “Fresh produce, dairy, and protein are some of the most requested items across the charitable food network,” said Julie Bancroft, CEO, Feeding Pennsylvania. “This bill will strengthen the farm-to-food bank supply chain, create new markets for farmers, and ensure food bank shelves are stocked with locally grown, nutritious food products that help Pennsylvanians access the food they need to thrive. Feeding Pennsylvania is pleased to see the introduction of this important legislation and looks forward to working with our members of Congress as it moves through the legislative process.”

    “We commend Representatives Rob Bresnahan, R-PA, Josh Riley, D-NY, David Valadao, R-CA, and Chellie Pingree, D-ME, for their bipartisan Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act,” said the National Milk Producers Federation. “This bill will provide an additional pipeline for dairy farmers to provide their communities with nutritious milk and dairy products. We especially thank the sponsors for ensuring that farmer-owned cooperatives are eligible to participate in this important food security initiative and look forward to working to enact this legislation.” 

    “Our nation’s farmers are a key part of the nutritious food provided to community members through local food banks and pantries,” said Vince Hall, Chief of Government Relations Officer, Feeding America. “Farmers have worked in partnership with Feeding America food banks for over half a century. The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act would increase resources for states to support local growers and ensure their nutritious food is connected with community members through local organizations like food banks. Feeding America supports the introduction of this legislation and encourages members of Congress to endorse this bipartisan bill that helps farmers and food banks.”

    “The bipartisan Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act makes meaningful investments in local and regional food systems by connecting small and mid-sized farmers to nearby communities, strengthening rural economies and advancing health-driven outcomes for consumers,” said Ted McKinney, CEO, NASDA. “NASDA supports this legislation led by U.S. House Representatives Bresnahan (PA) and Riley (NY) and urges the House to swiftly pass this bill.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN – National Martyrs’ Day: Bishop Hiiboro Kussala calls for peace in the country

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 30 July 2025

    Tombura-Yambio (Agenzia Fides) – “As a bishop, I pledge to speak out until the truth is heard. To walk with the victims and wounded families. To offer the Church as a space for reconciliation and dialogue. To pray unceasingly for peace and work side by side with all those who pursue it. I will not remain silent. I will not give up. I will be with you until peace prevails.”These are the words that Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, Bishop of Tombura-Yambio, addressed to the representatives of the South Sudanese government and all people of good will.“After four years of bloodshed, homes in flames, families destroyed, and buried dreams, our people live under plastic sheets, drink contaminated water, walk in fear, and bury their loved ones in silence. This is not a political issue, it is a humanitarian tragedy and a moral failure.”The bishop, who is also President of the Interreligious Council for the Peace Initiative in Western Equatoria State, South Sudan, launches the appeal on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, today, July 30, 2025: “Let us not belittle their sacrifice with more blood. Let us honor them by bringing peace where there is pain and life where death has reigned.”This day, established to remember the victims and promote peace, commemorates those killed in the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023.“The cry of our brothers in Tombura has echoed for too long,” Hiiboro continues. “We do not wish to condemn, but to awaken the conscience of a nation. We urge you as pastors, fellow citizens, and children of one God. May Tombura be our turning point, a sacred place where the nation chooses healing over hatred, truth over propaganda, and hope over despair,” he added.Addressing the government of South Sudan, the bishop states: “Now is the time to act. We call on everyone, from the highest office to the smallest local leader, to act with boldness, compassion, and determination. Deploy protection forces to stop all violence and restore the rule of law. Disarm and dismantle anyone illegally possessing firearms. Open space for inclusive dialogue involving leaders, youth, women, churches, and civil society. Promptly punish hate speech, disinformation, and tribal incitement. Ensure humanitarian access and rebuild social, health, and education services.”“This is our common pain,” he says, and addressing the people of South Sudan, he adds: “Tombura is not alone. When one limb suffers, the whole body suffers. This is not a tragedy of Tombura, it is a wound of South Sudan. To the elders, rise up with wisdom and counsel. To mothers and women, be voices of healing and moral resistance. To the young, refuse to be weapons of destruction. Choose peace, build South Sudan. To religious communities, unite in truth and reconciliation. To the international community, do not look the other way. Peace needs partners. Lives must be saved.”“If we do nothing, the future is at risk. If the violence in Tombura continues, the cost will be unbearable. Entire communities will disappear. Tribal hatred will spread throughout all regions,” he warns.And he continues: “Trust in the government and in national unity will be further eroded. Generations of young people will be lost to revenge or violence. If we choose peace, it will be a new dawn for South Sudan; if we act together, with sincerity, peace will flourish. Children will return to school, families to their homes, and farmers to their fields. Trust will grow between tribes, between citizens and their government. The soul of South Sudan will be reborn not in blood, but in justice.” “May Tombura become a sign that South Sudan chooses life,” concludes Bishop Hiiboro Kussala. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 30/7/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Hailing Progress to Transform Food Systems, Deputy Secretary-General Urges Stronger Collaboration to End Global Hunger, at UN Summit+4 Stocktake’s Closing Plenary

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the closing plenary of the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4), in Addis Ababa today:

    Let me begin by extending my appreciation to the Government of Ethiopia for its warm hospitality, and to the Italian Government as well, for their support as Co-Hosts of this Second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake.

    Over the last three days, we have engaged and heard from over 3,000 of you — leaders from Ethiopia and Italy, Kenya, Somalia, Comoros, Liberia, Nigeria, Uganda, Cuba; the ministers from a wide range of sectors; National Convenors and other government representatives; youth, Indigenous Peoples, food producers, business, civil society, development partners; our Rome-based agencies; and the UN system.  I am particularly grateful to the resident coordinators that joined us here in Addis and will now go back to work with renewed impetus to make food systems transformation a reality.

    The energy and vitality of this movement continues to inspire.  This gathering has reminded us of the value of coming together as a global community to benefit from the perspectives and experiences of others and to shape new, bold action for the future.

    At the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) in 2021, in the midst of a global pandemic, we embarked on a journey to grow and catalyse energy behind an emerging movement for the transformation of our food systems to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  Too often food systems are seen as part of our challenges, when they can be one of the greatest solutions to deliver for people, planet, peace and prosperity.

    Two years ago, still grappling with the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic, facing planetary crises and the effects of new conflicts, the Call to Action from the First Stocktake of the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS+2) in Rome appealed for inclusivity to strengthen our efforts to drive more targeted investment and mutual accountability.

    Since then, Governments have continued to shift how they govern and shape policy for food systems.  A total of 130 countries have articulated integrated, multisectoral National Pathways for Food Systems Transformation and here again; I want to acknowledge the incredible contribution of Sir David Nabarro.

    In 168 countries, nationally determined contributions are now reflecting the critical role of food and agriculture in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as we seek to adapt and transform.

    More than 170 countries are implementing school meal programmes that support child nutrition, often connecting with local producers and contributing to regenerative production practices.  At the subnational level, many cities are leading the way in reducing food waste and strengthening local supply chains.

    I am proud of what we have achieved.  We have heard powerful stories of progress and rising ambition since 2021 from a diverse ecosystem of partners, who are reforming policies, championing local innovation and digitalization, mobilizing investments and partnerships and empowering women and youth.

    And when it comes to our young people, there is increased understanding that ensuring youth-inclusive and youth-led food systems transformation is important both for enhancing youth welfare and building sustainable and resilient food systems.

    The food systems movement has taken root in global and regional agreements — from the Twenty-Eighth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) Declaration to initiatives emerging from the Group of Seven (G7) and Group of Twenty (G20) to regional agreements, such as the Kampala Declaration earlier this year.

    These are powerful commitments to transform food systems for people and the planet that you have helped inspire.  Thanks to your collective work and efforts we are better equipped to meet our ambition.

    You are strengthening coalitions and launching new initiatives to help drive our work, including:

    • The Food Systems Accelerator, launched by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), GAIN and the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, will support countries to turn strategies into financed, scalable change.
    • Through greater uptake of the Financial Flows to Food Systems framework, co-developed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Bank, we can help Governments design more effective, tailored financing strategies.
    • Business engagement — co-led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UN Global Compact and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development — broke new ground.  These efforts culminated in a Business Compendium of 15 investment-ready models, showing how business is shifting from commitment to implementation.
    • As a result of the investment pitch for Cameroon, the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security has announced their intent to partner with the Joint SDG Fund to significantly scale up existing programmes.  The launch for this large-scale commitment will take place in New York this September 2025.
    • The Convergence Initiative helps drive integration of food systems transformation and climate action for accelerated sustainable development and represents a useful resource for countries to navigate competing policy choices with partners.
    • Investments in critical sectors, including those under the Mattei Plan for Africa, are mobilizing public-private partnerships and catalysing private sector investment.
    • The UNFSS+4 Youth Declaration, crafted by more than 3,000 youth from all over the world, called for inclusive, participatory decision-making in food systems, climate justice and intergenerational collaboration.
    • The UNFSS Coalitions of Action demonstrated that they are dynamic vehicles for food systems transformation, mobilizing diverse stakeholders across sectors and scales to deliver impact aligned with national priorities.

    With just five years until 2030, it is encouraging to see that the world remains committed to the realization of the 2030 Agenda.

    As we conclude this Stocktake, we must acknowledge that we met in the face of challenges that test our moral values and threaten the future sustainability of our planet, underscoring the urgency of our work together.

    The release of the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report last night confirmed:  hunger and malnutrition persist.  Climate shocks, conflict, debt and inequality are widening the cracks in our systems.

    It is estimated that between 638 and 720 million people — a bit less than 1 in 10 people in the world — faced hunger in 2024. 2.6 billion people are still unable to afford a healthy diet.  Only about one third of children aged 6 to 23 months and two thirds of women aged 15 to 49 years achieved minimum dietary diversity globally.

    People’s access to food in conflict zones is highly constrained and — in some instances — attempts to access humanitarian relief has led to injury and death.  Whole communities experience man-made food insecurity and malnutrition, with extreme long-term consequences for their children.

    Farmers everywhere are facing unprecedented adverse climate impacts, threatening livelihoods and food security.  Developing economies are still coping with impacts of inflation, severe fiscal constraints, debt challenges and the high cost of capital.  Looking ahead, 512 million people are still projected to be facing hunger in 2030, of whom nearly 60 per cent will be in Africa.

    As we consider the pathway to 2030, peace and respect for human rights must anchor our ambition.  Every person in our world — rich or poor, young or old — has the right to food that is accessible, affordable, safe and nutritious. Present and future generations are depending on our choices.  Only through inclusive dialogue and genuine partnerships can countries and communities ensure faster and more effective progress.

    As we leave this Stocktake and take what we achieved here in Addis back home and to other milestones, clear points of emphasis have been identified:

    First, we must act urgently to summon the funding, innovations and global solidarity to build the food-secure and climate-resilient future that every person, everywhere, needs and deserves.  The dramatic reduction in life-saving humanitarian funding to respond to these needs must be immediately reversed and safe access to life-saving humanitarian support granted.

    Second, is to deepen the implementation of National Pathways for Food Systems Transformation.  The effective and meaningful participation of all relevant stakeholders is a priority, with particular attention to involving family farmers, front-line food workers, women, youth, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

    Third, we must unlock finance and investment.  That means mobilizing domestic resources and investments at scale for all dimensions of food systems transformation.  It also means scaling up finance and investment by multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, and public development banks behind country priorities.

    And we have work to do to scale up private sector investment in agriculture and food systems.  This should include the small and medium-sized enterprises that serve as a backbone of our food systems interfacing with millions of food producers and consumers.

    Fourth, we must continue the drive for an integrated approach.  We need to simultaneously pursue policy measures that focus on equity and resilience through linking environmental, economic and social dimensions of food systems.  Policies should be rooted in local culture, communities and traditional knowledge to help guide approaches that can accelerate transformation and enhance self-reliance.

    Fifth, we must continue to leverage science, technology and knowledge.  Science and innovation are prerequisites for food systems transformation and can support alignment of health, agriculture, climate, biodiversity and economic objectives and policies.  Strong science-policy-society interfaces are essential and must appreciate traditional knowledge.

    New technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are changing our economies and our societies.  The road ahead demands we leverage the appropriate and responsible use of technology to ensure prosperity for all in a healthy and liveable planet.  The digital public infrastructure needs more investment to ensure the connectivity of our rural communities.

    And, finally, we must connect with our future.  I agree with our young people — they are not merely future beneficiaries of food systems change, they are active co-leaders in transformation.  Policies should enhance opportunities for young people to create, innovate and thrive.

    On the road to 2030, there will be important milestones that the outcomes of UNFSS+4 will inform and in which this movement will engage.  These include the World Social Summit, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP30, UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP17 and the 2027 SDG Summit.

    UNFSS+4 has reinforced the value of a dedicated space to foster collaboration, deepen systems approaches and encourage the emergence of food systems whose purposes are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda.

    The UN Food Systems Coordination Hub will continue to advance progress at country level, through our resident coordinators and country teams, accompanying National Convenors and collaborating with other partners.  Our movement has shown what is possible when we work together in deliberate ways across sectors, stakeholders and countries with a shared purpose.

    I call on Governments and people everywhere to build on what has been accomplished and continue to work together for peace and to realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda.  Let’s continue to lead the way — together.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The lack of reciprocal standards in agricultural trade with Ukraine – E-002990/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002990/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mathilde Androuët (PfE)

    A recent report resulting from a dialogue involving experts, qualified representatives of agricultural sectors and NGOs[1] has once again warned about the consequences, for our livestock and arable farmers, of the and imbalances in our trading relations with other agricultural powers. The authors highlighted the instruments included in the European ‘toolbox’ of reciprocity measures.

    • 1.The Commission is still encouraging massive imports of Ukrainian agricultural products (poultry, cereals, eggs, etc.), which fail to comply with any EU production standards in the areas of the environment, animal health or the use of pesticides and antibiotics. Can the Commission explain why this is the case, given that it is at odds with various EU regulations and directives and with the guidance reaffirmed in the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy, with which our farmers are required to comply?
    • 2.Given that the failure to comply with EU standards is a major source of unfair competition and is contributing to the economic decline of our industries, what commitments and measures does the Commission intend to undertake to require, without delay, strict equivalence of standards for any product imported into the European Union?

    Submitted: 17.7.2025

    • [1] Reciprocity of agricultural production standards in international trade, Report on the dialogue between agricultural sectors, NGOs and experts, July 2025.
    Last updated: 30 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Respect for animal welfare in Ukrainian poultry imports – E-002989/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002989/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mathilde Androuët (PfE)

    The issue of animal welfare on our farms has become a major source of concern for many consumers. The Commission itself, which takes note of the ethical demands voiced in this regard, was at the origin of Directives 2007/43/EC and 98/58/EC, which are applicable to European farmers. European farmers are, of course, required to comply with these directives, and must shoulder the economic consequences arising from this compliance.

    At EU level, the maximum quota for poultry exports from Ukraine to the EU for 2024 was set at 132 000 tonnes. However, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Government based on customs data[1], actual poultry exports from Ukraine to the EU amounted to 373 800 tonnes (poultry and poultry products) from January to October 2024 alone.

    • 1.Does the Commission dispute the cited figures?
    • 2.Is the Commission able to certify – and if so, on what basis – that Ukrainian poultry imported into the EU market was reared under conditions compatible with animal welfare standards (density > 50 kg/m² and unregulated transport), as laid down in the above-mentioned directives?
    • 3.If the Commission is unable to do so, how does it justify the entry of products resulting from practices that are banned in the European Union, which would be tantamount to dumping, both ethically and economically?

    Submitted: 17.7.2025

    • [1] ‘Ukraine halves the EU poultry export quota’, 14 January 2025, https://www.poultryworld.net/the-industrymarkets/market-trends-analysis-the-industrymarkets-2/ukraine-halves-the-eu-poultry-export-quota/
    Last updated: 30 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Commission action to immediately compensate livestock farmers and address the economic impact of sheep pox – P-003129/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-003129/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Dimitris Tsiodras (PPE)

    Outbreaks of sheep pox are increasing significantly, affecting livestock farmers in many regional units of Greece, such as Aetolia-Acarnania, Larissa, Rhodope, Magnesia, Florina, Phocis and Xanthi.

    By way of illustration, 25 out of the 42 new outbreaks were recorded in the two prefectures of Thessaly (representing 60 % of all cases), while it is estimated that 35 000 sheep have been killed in the municipality of Kileler alone.

    It should be noted that since the first cases appeared, 638 outbreaks have been reported and 148 285 sheep and goats have been killed.

    This irreparably affects the income of livestock farmers and producers and the economic viability of entire regions.

    In light of the above, can the Commission say:

    • 1.What action will it take and what mechanisms will it activate to provide urgent financial support to the affected livestock farmers in order to cover their lost income?
    • 2.Does it intend to provide compensation for the affected farmers for the dead animals in accordance with the provisions of the Common Agricultural Policy? If so, how much?
    • 3.Is it looking into the reactivation of measure 5.2 with a view to fully replacing animal stocks and strengthening the resilience of the sector?

    Submitted: 29.7.2025

    Last updated: 30 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: World Ranger Day 2025: selfie-style |

    Source: NZ Department of Conservation

    It’s World Ranger Day!

    Time to celebrate our crews doing their best to protect nature in Aotearoa. This is a window into conservation field work: selfie-style. 📸

    📷1: Taking a break at Ōpoutere Beach after clearing tracks – (L to R) Rebecca, Rachel, Shania
    📷2:  Daniel and Chippy setting new trap lines along Hirikimata on Aotea
    📷3: Community ranger team (Michelle, Chris and Cat) from the Mahaanui office

    World Ranger Day is an opportunity to celebrate rangers who serve on the front lines of conservation worldwide.

    Today we recognise the invaluable efforts of those rangers who contribute to protecting nature and our planet day-in, day-out.

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    📷1: Self-timer selfie at Ōpoutere Beach aftertrack clearing pine logs – Dan, Rebecca, Rachel, Shania, Hugh, Cole and Ken
    📷2:  CITES Officer Sarah inspecting an American Alligator specimen at Auckland International Airport imported from the USA
    📷3: Drone selfie of Rachel and Shania transporting plants to Waemaro Wildlife Management Reserve in collaboration with Ngāti Hako, Waikato Regional Council and Fonterra

    The role of a ranger can be hard work, it’s not always glamorous and has its challenges, but there is no doubt about the importance of the work of our rangers when it comes to preserving and protecting nature.

    Internationally, World Ranger Day commemorates rangers killed or injured in the line of duty, in addition to celebrating the work rangers do around the globe to protect natural treasures and cultural heritage.

    📷1: Phillip from Kaimaumau in Te Hiku doing a site visit with the locals
    📷2: UBCO Training with Kyle, Doug and Brownie from Te Hiku Kaitaia DOC
    📷3: Alyssia and Daniel planting native seedlings to help restore wetlands in Whangapoua, Aotea

    Not all of our rangers are field-based, and lots of conservation happens behind a desk, but there’s no doubt that our team in the field have some of the best views and work stories around.

    What does a ranger do?

    This is a question we get asked a lot. The short answer is: heaps!

    📷1: Campbell walking up to the infamous Brewster Hut during Winter to clean the hut and toilet
    📷2: Hauraki Heritage and Visitor Team – Rebecca with the Hauraki Tracks Crew
    📷3: Cara and Kaitiaki Kiwi planning conservation work with mana whenua on Aotea

    The long answer involves managing threats like predators, cutting tracks, managing biosecurity risks, monitoring and reporting on population health, restoration, recreation maintenance, running Visitor Centres, research and development … the list goes on and on.

    We have experts in many things: ecosystems, kākāpō, kiwi, weeds, waterways, sharks, bittern, non-vascular plants, bird-banding, endangered orchids, visitor behaviour, surveying, safety, community engagement, backcountry tramping; you name it. The DOC Sounds of Science podcast is a good listen if you’d like to dive deeper into any of these fields.

    📷1: Cameron and Kylie cooking up a kai for the kids after planting a reserve in Ahipara
    📷2: Campbell and Renee crossing the freezing cold East Matukituki River after spraying Cotoneaster weeds
    📷3: Daniel and Chippy putting out biodiversity tracking cards on the pest-free Mokohinau Islands

    Working in the field to help nature thrive is often very physically challenging, complex, with sky high stakes. But, on the other hand, our team have ‘office views’ like no where else, and often have seen things or done things that turn their friends and desk-based colleagues green with envy.

    Please put your emoji hands together for all of our awesome rangers.👏

    They deserve it. 💚

    📷1: Bianca, Alaanah, Brownie and Adrienne during UBCO Training at Maitai Bay
    📷2: A selfie after an Otago Hector Dolphin Biopsy Survey from left Mike, Tom, Cara and Kristina at Port Chalmers
    📷3: Cara and Lizzie and rangers from Karioi Project Jasmine, Terence and Louie carrying out willow control in the Toreparu wetland to enhance matuku habitat

    World Ranger Day 2025

    It’s World Ranger Day. A day to celebrate the amazing things that dedicated rangers do across Aotearoa all year round. You can learn more about World Ranger Day on our website.

    For more information about becoming a ranger, check out our DOC careers page.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Skyward Specialty Insurance Group Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SKWD) (“Skyward Specialty” or the “Company”) today reported second quarter 2025 net income of $38.8 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, compared to $31.0 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, for the same 2024 period. Net income for the first half of 2025 was $80.9 million, or $1.94 per diluted share, compared to $67.8 million, or $1.65 per diluted share, for the same 2024 period.

    Adjusted operating income(1) for the second quarter of 2025 was $37.1 million, or $0.89 per diluted share, compared to $33.0 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, for the same 2024 period. Adjusted operating income(1) for the first half of 2025 was $74.5 million, or $1.78 per diluted share, compared to $63.9 million, or $1.56 per diluted share, for the same 2024 period.

    Highlights for the second quarter included:

    • Gross written premiums of $584.9 million, an increase of 17.9% compared to 2024;
    • Combined ratio of 89.4%;
    • Ex-Cat combined ratio of 88.0%;
    • Annualized return on equity of 19.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2025; and,
    • Book value per share of $22.23, an increase of 12% compared to December 31, 2024.

    (1)See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures”  

    Skyward Specialty Chairman and CEO Andrew Robinson commented, “Our results for the second quarter and for the first half of the year have been outstanding and reflect the strength of our specialized underwriting and claims capabilities, and our execution excellence. In an increasingly challenging market environment, our 18% growth for the second quarter and best ever 89.4% combined ratio are again a demonstration of the power of our portfolio diversity and our ability to deploy capital to attractive markets that enable us to grow underwriting profitability while managing our volatility. As market conditions continue to evolve, we are confident that the disciplined execution of our “Rule Our Niche” strategy will enable us to continue to deliver top quartile returns to our shareholders.”

    Results of Operations

    Underwriting Results

    Premiums                                  
    ($ in thousands) Three months ended June 30,
    		   Six months ended June 30,
    unaudited 2025   2024   %
    Change    		   2025   2024   %
    Change
    Gross written premiums $      584,914     $ 496,243     17.9 %   $   1,120,240     $ 954,863     17.3 %
    Ceded written premiums $   (245,701 )   $ (199,114 )   23.4 %   $   (437,756 )   $ (370,634 )   18.1 %
    Net retention 58.0 %   59.9 %   NM (1)   60.9 %   61.2 %   NM (1)
    Net written premiums $      339,213     $ 297,129     14.2 %   $      682,484     $ 584,229     16.8 %
    Net earned premiums $      295,542     $ 257,583     14.7 %   $      595,908     $ 493,925     20.6 %
    (1) Not meaningful                                  
                                       
                                       

    The increases in gross written premiums for the second quarter and first half of 2025, when compared to the same 2024 periods, were driven by double-digit premium growth from the agriculture and credit (re)insurance, specialty programs, accident & health and captives divisions. The increases in gross written premiums were partially offset by decreases in the global property and construction & energy solutions divisions.

    Combined Ratio Three months ended June 30,
    		   Six months ended June 30,
    (unaudited) 2025   2024   2025   2024
    Non-cat loss and LAE 59.9 %   60.6 %   60.1 %   60.6 %
    Cat loss and LAE(1) 1.4 %   1.2 %   1.8 %   0.8 %
    Prior accident year development – LPT 0.0 %   (0.1 )%   0.0 %   (0.1 )%
    Loss Ratio 61.3 %   61.7 %   61.9 %   61.3 %
    Net policy acquisition costs 15.1 %   14.0 %   15.0 %   13.7 %
    Other operating and general expenses 13.9 %   15.8 %   13.9 %   15.9 %
    Commission and fee income (0.9 )%   (0.8 )%   (0.8 )%   (0.8 )%
    Expense ratio 28.1 %   29.0 %   28.1 %   28.8 %
    Combined ratio 89.4 %   90.7 %   90.0 %   90.1 %
    Ex-Cat Combined Ratio(2) 88.0 %   89.5 %   88.2 %   89.3 %
                           
    (1) Current accident year
    (2) Defined as the combined ratio excluding cat loss and LAE(1)
                           
                           

    The loss ratio for the second quarter improved 0.4 points and it increased 0.6 points for the first half of 2025, when compared to the same 2024 periods, respectively. Catastrophe losses in the second quarter increased marginally when compared to the same 2024 period, driven by convective storms in the South and Midwest. The first half of 2025 was also impacted by convective storms in the Midwest and the California wildfires.

    The non-cat loss and LAE ratios for the second quarter and first half of 2025 improved 0.7 points and 0.5 points, respectively, when compared to the same 2024 periods, primarily driven by the business mix shift.

    The expense ratios for the second quarter and first half of 2025 improved 0.9 points and 0.7 points, respectively, when compared to the same 2024 periods due to earnings leverage partially offset by higher acquisition costs due to the business mix shift.

    The expense ratios for all periods presented exclude the impact of IPO related stock compensation and secondary offering expenses, which are reported in other expenses in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

    Investment Results

    Net Investment Income                      
    $ in thousands Three months ended June 30,
    		   Six months ended June 30,
    (unaudited) 2025   2024   2025   2024
    Short-term investments & cash and cash equivalents $               4,574     $ 4,021     $              8,615     $ 9,108  
    Fixed income               17,822     13,786                   34,552     26,264  
    Equities                    531     751                     1,188     1,378  
    Alternative & strategic investments               (4,338 )   3,476                 (6,428 )   3,581  
    Net investment income $            18,589     $ 22,034     $            37,927     $ 40,331  
    Net unrealized (losses) gains on securities still held $           (3,181 )   $ (1,760 )   $               2,310     $ 7,231  
    Net realized gains (losses)                 6,386     (39 )                   7,729     (649 )
    Net investment gains (losses) $               3,205     $ (1,721 )   $            10,039     $ 6,582  
                           
                           

    Net investment income for the second quarter and first half of 2025 decreased $3.4 million and $2.4 million, respectively when compared to the same 2024 periods. The decreases were primarily driven by losses from our alternative & strategic investments portfolio due to the decline in the fair value of limited partnership investments. Partially offsetting the decreases were increases in income from our fixed income portfolio due to a higher yield and larger asset base.

    Stockholders’ Equity

    Stockholders’ equity was $899.9 million at June 30, 2025 which represented an increase of 5.8% when compared to stockholders’ equity of $850.7 million at March 31, 2025. The increase in stockholders’ equity was primarily due to an increase in the market value of our investment portfolio and net income.

    Conference Call

    At 12:00 p.m. eastern time tomorrow, July 31, 2025, Skyward Specialty management will hold a conference call to discuss quarterly results with insurance industry analysts. Interested parties may listen to the discussion 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.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    This release contains certain financial measures and ratios that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). We refer to these measures as “non-GAAP financial measures.” We use these non-GAAP financial measures when planning, monitoring, and evaluating our performance.

    We consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be useful metrics for our management and investors to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period. While we believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating our business, this information should be considered supplemental in nature and is not meant to be a substitute for revenue or net income, in each case as recognized in accordance with GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate such measures differently, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures. For more information regarding these non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of such measures to comparable GAAP financial measures, see the section entitled “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

    About Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.

    Skyward Specialty 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. SKWD stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, which represents the top fourth of all Nasdaq listed companies.

    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 stable outlook by A.M. Best Company. Additional information about Skyward Specialty can be found on our website at www.skywardinsurance.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Except for historical information, all other information in this news release consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are typically, but not always, identified through use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “enable,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “intends,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “predict,” “probable,” “potential,” “possible,” “should,” “continue,” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied. The most significant of these uncertainties are described in Skyward Specialty’s Form 10-K, and include (but are not limited to) legislative changes at both the state and federal level, state and federal regulatory rule making promulgations and adjudications, class action litigation involving the insurance industry and judicial decisions affecting claims, policy coverages and the general costs of doing business, the potential loss of key members of our management team or key employees and our ability to attract and retain personnel, the impact of competition on products and pricing, inflation in the costs of the products and services insurance pays for, product development, geographic spread of risk, weather and weather-related events, other types of catastrophic events, our ability to obtain reinsurance coverage at prices and on terms that allow us to transfer risk and adequately protect our company against financial loss, and losses resulting from reinsurance counterparties failing to pay us on reinsurance claims. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

    Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.

    Investor contact:
    Natalie Schoolcraft,
    nschoolcraft@skywardinsurance.com
    614-494-4988

    or

    Media contact:
    Haley Doughty
    hdoughty@skywardinsurance.com
    713-935-4944

               
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    ($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
    (unaudited) June 30,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024
    Assets          
    Investments:          
    Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (net of allowance for credit losses of $6,150 and $0, respectively) (amortized cost of $1,638,973 and $1,320,266, respectively) $        1,629,464     $ 1,292,218  
    Fixed maturity securities, held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (net of allowance for credit losses of $268 and $243, respectively)                35,253     39,153  
    Equity securities, at fair value                58,001     106,254  
    Mortgage loans, at fair value                10,168     26,490  
    Equity method investments                88,804     98,594  
    Other long-term investments                44,479     33,182  
    Short-term investments, at fair value              214,338     274,929  
    Total investments           2,080,507     1,870,820  
    Cash and cash equivalents              136,617     121,603  
    Restricted cash                36,547     35,922  
    Premiums receivable, net              518,441     321,641  
    Reinsurance recoverables, net              925,291     857,876  
    Ceded unearned premium              294,124     203,901  
    Deferred policy acquisition costs              140,903     113,183  
    Deferred income taxes                28,727     30,486  
    Goodwill and intangible assets, net                88,795     87,348  
    Other assets                86,440     86,698  
    Total assets $        4,336,392     $ 3,729,478  
    Liabilities and stockholders’ equity          
    Liabilities:          
    Reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses $        1,918,753     $ 1,782,383  
    Unearned premiums              814,063     637,185  
    Deferred ceding commission                54,952     40,434  
    Reinsurance and premium payables              299,481     177,070  
    Funds held for others              127,377     102,665  
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities              102,298     76,206  
    Notes payable              100,000     100,000  
    Subordinated debt, net of debt issuance costs                19,553     19,536  
    Total liabilities           3,436,477     2,935,479  
    Stockholders’ equity          
    Common stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 40,486,656 and 40,127,908 shares issued and outstanding, respectively                      405     401  
    Additional paid-in capital              724,159     718,598  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss                (2,666 )   (22,120 )
    Retained earnings              178,017     97,120  
    Total stockholders’ equity              899,915     793,999  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $        4,336,392     $ 3,729,478  
               
               
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
    ($ in thousands) Three months ended June 30,
    		   Six months ended June 30,
    (unaudited) 2025   2024   2025   2024
                           
    Revenues:                      
    Net earned premiums $          295,542     $ 257,583     $          595,908     $ 493,925  
    Commission and fee income                 2,560     2,053                     4,536     4,079  
    Net investment income               18,589     22,034                   37,927     40,331  
    Net investment gains (losses)                 3,205     (1,721 )                 10,039     6,582  
    Other income (loss)                         7     (7 )                         20     (7 )
    Total revenues             319,903     279,942                 648,430     544,910  
    Expenses:                      
    Losses and loss adjustment expenses             181,262     159,054                 368,571     302,968  
    Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses               85,596     76,679                 172,147     146,453  
    Interest expense                 1,876     2,449                     3,710     5,176  
    Amortization expense                    372     360                        709     748  
    Other expenses                 1,002     1,045                     2,063     2,233  
    Total expenses             270,108     239,587                 547,200     457,578  
    Income before income taxes               49,795     40,355                 101,230     87,332  
    Income tax expense               10,956     9,385                   20,333     19,578  
    Net income $            38,839     $ 30,970     $            80,897     $ 67,754  
    Comprehensive income:                      
    Net income $            38,839     $ 30,970     $            80,897     $ 67,754  
    Other comprehensive income:                      
    Unrealized gains and losses on investments:                      
    Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax               11,005     (1,451 )                 23,260     (6,869 )
    Reclassification adjustment for losses on securities no longer held, net of tax               (3,624 )   (406 )                 (3,806 )   (1,314 )
    Total other comprehensive income (loss)                 7,381     (1,857 )                 19,454     (8,183 )
    Comprehensive income $            46,220     $ 29,113     $          100,351     $ 59,571  
                           
                           
    Share and Per Share Data                      
    ($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts) Three months ended June 30,
    		   Six months ended June 30,
    (unaudited) 2025   2024   2025   2024
                           
    Weighted average basic shares 40,445,391     39,177,457     40,322,051     39,142,825  
    Weighted average diluted shares 41,871,496     41,168,082     41,771,215     41,110,384  
                           
    Basic earnings per share $            0.96          $ 0.79     $            2.01          $ 1.73  
    Diluted earnings per share $            0.93          $ 0.75     $            1.94          $ 1.65  
    Basic adjusted operating earnings per share $            0.92          $ 0.84     $            1.85          $ 1.64  
    Diluted adjusted operating earnings per share $            0.89          $ 0.80     $            1.78          $ 1.56  
                           
    Annualized ROE (1) 17.7 %   17.5 %   19.1 %   19.6 %
    Annualized adjusted ROE (2) 17.0 %   18.7 %   17.6 %   18.5 %
    Annualized ROTE (3) 19.7 %   20.0 %   21.3 %   22.4 %
    Annualized adjusted ROTE (4) 18.9 %   21.3 %   19.6 %   21.2 %
                           
                  June 30   December 31
                  2025   2024
                           
    Shares outstanding             40,486,656     40,127,908  
    Fully diluted shares outstanding             42,339,395     42,059,182  
                           
    Book value per share             $               22.23     $ 19.79  
    Fully diluted book value per share             $               21.25     $ 18.88  
    Fully diluted tangible book value per share             $               19.16     $ 16.80  
                           
    (1)  Annualized ROE is net income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders’ equity during the period
    (2) Annualized adjusted ROE is adjusted operating income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders’ equity during the period
    (3) Annualized ROTE is net income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending tangible stockholders’ equity during the period
    (4) Annualized adjusted ROTE is adjusted operating income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending tangible stockholders’ equity during the period
                           

    Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.
    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Adjusted operating income – We define adjusted operating income as net income excluding the impact of certain items that may not be indicative of underlying business trends, operating results, or future outlook, net of tax impact. We use adjusted operating income as an internal performance measure in the management of our operations because we believe it gives our management and other users of our financial information useful insight into our results of operations and our underlying business performance. Adjusted operating income should not be viewed as a substitute for net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, and other companies may define adjusted operating income differently.

    ($ in thousands) Three months ended June 30,
    		   Six months ended June 30,
    (unaudited) 2025
    		   2024   2025
    		   2024
      Pre-tax   After-tax   Pre-tax   After-tax   Pre-tax   After-tax   Pre-tax   After-tax
    Income as reported $   49,795     $   38,839     $ 40,355     $ 30,970     $ 101,230     $   80,897     $ 87,332     $ 67,754  
    Less (add):                                              
    Net investment gains (losses)        3,205            2,500     (1,721 )   (1,360 )        10,039            8,023     6,582     5,200  
    Net impact of loss portfolio transfer              —                  —     241     190                  —                  —     482     381  
    Other income (loss) 7     5     (7 )   (6 )   20     16     (7 )   (6 )
    Other expenses      (1,002 )           (782 )   (1,045 )   (826 )        (2,063 )        (1,649 )   (2,233 )   (1,764 )
    Adjusted operating income $   47,585     $   37,116     $ 42,887     $ 32,972     $   93,234     $   74,507     $ 82,508     $ 63,943  
                                                   
                                                   

    Underwriting income – We define underwriting income as net income before income taxes excluding net investment income, net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments, impairment charges, interest expense, amortization expense and other income and expenses. Underwriting income represents the pre-tax profitability of our underwriting operations and allows us to evaluate our underwriting performance without regard to investment income. We use this metric as we believe it gives our management and other users of our financial information useful insight into our underlying business performance. Underwriting income should not be viewed as a substitute for pre-tax income calculated in accordance with GAAP, and other companies may define underwriting income differently.

    ($ in thousands) Three months ended June 30,
    		   Six months ended June 30,
    (unaudited) 2025   2024   2025   2024
    Income before income taxes $            49,795     $ 40,355     $          101,230     $ 87,332  
    Add:                      
    Interest expense                 1,876     2,449                     3,710     5,176  
    Amortization expense                    372     360                         709     748  
    Other expenses                 1,002     1,045                     2,063     2,233  
    Less (Add):                      
    Net investment income               18,589     22,034                   37,927     40,331  
    Net investment gains (losses)                 3,205     (1,721 )                 10,039     6,582  
    Other income (loss)                         7     (7 )                         20     (7 )
    Underwriting income $            31,244     $ 23,903     $             59,726     $ 48,583  
                           
                           

    Tangible Stockholders’ Equity – We define tangible stockholders’ equity as stockholders’ equity less goodwill and intangible assets. Our definition of tangible stockholders’ equity may not be comparable to that of other companies and should not be viewed as a substitute for stockholders’ equity calculated in accordance with GAAP. We use tangible stockholders’ equity internally to evaluate the strength of our balance sheet and to compare returns relative to this measure.

    ($ in thousands) June 30,   December 31,
    (unaudited) 2025   2024   2024
    Stockholders’ equity $ 899,915     $ 723,620     $ 793,999  
    Less: Goodwill and intangible assets 88,795     87,868       87,348  
    Tangible stockholders’ equity $ 811,120     $ 635,752     $ 706,651  
                   
                   
    Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.
    Gross Written Premiums by Underwriting Division (Unaudited)
                                           
      Three months ended June 30,
    		   Six months ended June 30,
    ($ in thousands) 2025
    		   2024   %
    Change    		   2025
    		   2024   %
    Change
    Accident & Health $       60,489     $ 44,088       37.2 %   $    123,658     $ 84,989       45.5 %
    Agriculture and Credit (Re)insurance         71,573     36,592       95.6 %         159,420     79,913       99.5 %
    Captives         76,961     62,099       23.9 %         145,362     130,507       11.4 %
    Construction & Energy Solutions         73,613     78,214       (5.9 )%         149,184     152,436       (2.1 )%
    Global Property         83,992     88,231       (4.8 )%         130,678     145,543       (10.2 )%
    Professional Lines         38,147     38,106       0.1 %           79,313     80,345       (1.3 )%
    Specialty Programs         85,955     59,644       44.1 %         148,630     111,822       32.9 %
    Surety         40,737     37,642       8.2 %           78,535     71,484       9.9 %
    Transactional E&S         53,461     51,609       3.6 %         105,467     97,841       7.8 %
    Total gross written premiums(1) $    584,928     $ 496,225       17.9 %   $ 1,120,247     $ 954,880       17.3 %
    (1) Excludes exited business                                      
                                           
      Twelve months ended June 30,
    ($ in thousands) 2025
    		   % of Total
    Accident & Health $ 211,742       11.1 %
    Agriculture and Credit (Re)insurance 197,578       10.4 %
    Captives 256,757       13.5 %
    Construction & Energy Solutions 293,329       15.4 %
    Global Property 186,930       9.8 %
    Professional Lines 158,753       8.3 %
    Specialty Programs 255,215       13.4 %
    Surety 151,016       7.9 %
    Transactional E&S 197,296       10.3 %
    Total gross written premiums(1) $ 1,908,616       100.0 %
    (1) Excludes exited business            
                 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: FormFactor, Inc. Reports 2025 Second Quarter Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LIVERMORE, Calif., July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FormFactor, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORM) today announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 ended June 28, 2025. Quarterly revenues were $195.8 million, an increase of 14.3% compared to $171.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, and a decrease of 0.8% from $197.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2024.

    • Anticipated strength in HBM and Foundry & Logic probe cards drove sequentially stronger second-quarter revenue
    • FormFactor is now shipping in volume to all three major HBM manufacturers
    • Closed acquisition of Farmers Branch manufacturing facility, providing significant operational flexibility in lower operating cost region

    “FormFactor reported sequentially stronger second-quarter revenue that exceeded the high end of our outlook range, due to higher-than-anticipated growth in our probe-card business,” said Mike Slessor, CEO of FormFactor, Inc. “Despite this revenue strength, non-GAAP gross margin and overall profitability fell short of our outlook, mainly caused by an unfavorable shift in product mix and unforecasted ramp-up costs for a second HBM DRAM customer.”

    Second Quarter Highlights

    On a GAAP basis, net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was $9.1 million, or $0.12 per fully-diluted share, compared to net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 of $6.4 million, or $0.08 per fully-diluted share, and net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 of $19.4 million, or $0.25 per fully-diluted share. Gross margin for the second quarter of 2025 was 37.3%, compared with 37.7% in the first quarter of 2025, and 44.0% in the second quarter of 2024.

    On a non-GAAP basis, net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was $21.2 million, or $0.27 per fully-diluted share, compared to net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 of $18.0 million, or $0.23 per fully-diluted share, and net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 of $27.3 million, or $0.35 per fully-diluted share. On a non-GAAP basis, gross margin for the second quarter of 2025 was 38.5%, compared with 39.2% in the first quarter of 2025, and 45.3% in the second quarter of 2024.

    GAAP net cash provided by operating activities for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was $18.9 million, compared to $23.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, and $21.9 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2024. Free cash flow for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was negative $47.1 million, compared to free cash flow for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 of $6.3 million, and free cash flow for the second quarter of 2024 of $14.2 million.

    A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures is provided in the schedules included below.

    Outlook

    Dr. Slessor added, “In the current third quarter, we expect to deliver revenue comparable to the second quarter, with slightly higher gross margin and operating profit.”

    For the third quarter ending September 27, 2025, FormFactor is providing the following outlook*:

        GAAP   Reconciling Items**   Non-GAAP
    Revenue   $200 million +/- $5 million   —   $200 million +/- $5 million
    Gross Margin   38.5% +/- 1.5%   $3 million   40% +/- 1.5%
    Net income per diluted share   $0.14 +/- $0.04   $0.11   $0.25 +/- $0.04
    *This outlook assumes consistent foreign currency rates.
    **Reconciling items are stock-based compensation, amortization of intangible assets and fixed asset fair value adjustments due to acquisitions, and restructuring charges, net of applicable income tax impacts.
     

    We posted our revenue breakdown by geographic region, by market segment and with customers with greater than 10% of total revenue on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.formfactor.com. We will conduct a conference call at 1:25 p.m. PT, or 4:25 p.m. ET, today.

    The public is invited to listen to a live webcast of FormFactor’s conference call on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.formfactor.com. A telephone replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call. The replay will be available on the Investor Relations section of our website, www.formfactor.com.

    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information:

    To supplement our condensed consolidated financial results prepared under generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, we disclose certain non-GAAP measures of non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per basic and diluted share, non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income and free cash flow, that are adjusted from the nearest GAAP financial measure to exclude certain costs, expenses, gains and losses. Reconciliations of the adjustments to GAAP results for the three and six months ended June 28, 2025, and for outlook provided before, as well as for the comparable periods of fiscal 2024, are provided below, and on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.formfactor.com. Information regarding the ways in which management uses non-GAAP financial information to evaluate its business, management’s reasons for using this non-GAAP financial information, and limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial information, is included under “About our Non-GAAP Financial Measures” following the tables below.

    About FormFactor:

    FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle – from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The Company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.formfactor.com.

    Forward-looking Statements:

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the federal securities laws, including with respect to the Company’s future financial and operating results, and the Company’s plans, strategies and objectives for future operations. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs as of the date of this release, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future financial and operating results, including under the heading “Outlook” above, and the Company’s performance, and other statements regarding the Company’s business. Forward-looking statements may contain words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “continue,” and “prospect,” and the negative or plural of these words and similar expressions, and include the assumptions that underlie such statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in and impacts from export control, tariffs and other trade barriers; changes in demand for the Company’s products; customer-specific demand; market opportunity; anticipated industry trends; the availability, benefits, and speed of customer acceptance or implementation of new products and technologies; manufacturing, processing, and design capacity, goals, expansion, volumes, and progress; difficulties or delays in research and development; industry seasonality; risks to the Company’s realization of benefits from acquisitions; reliance on customers or third parties (including suppliers); changes in macro-economic environments; events affecting global and regional economic and market conditions and stability such as tariffs, military conflicts, political volatility, infectious diseases and pandemics, and similar factors, operating separately or in combination; and other factors, including those set forth in the Company’s most current annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, there are varying barriers to international trade, including restrictive trade and export regulations such as the US-China restrictions, dynamic tariffs, trade disputes between the U.S. and other countries, and national security developments or tensions, that may substantially restrict or condition our sales to or in certain countries, increase the cost of doing business internationally, and disrupt our supply chain. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements within this press release will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on the results of operations or financial condition of the Company. Unless required by law, the Company is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or revise its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    FORMFACTOR, INC. 
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)
    (Unaudited)
     
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
      June 28,
    2025    		   March 29,
    2025    		   June 29,
    2024    		   June 28,
    2025    		   June 29,
    2024
    Revenues $ 195,798     $ 171,356     $ 197,474     $ 367,154     $ 366,199  
    Cost of revenues   122,860       106,833       110,574       229,693       216,561  
    Gross profit   72,938       64,523       86,900       137,461       149,638  
    Operating expenses:                  
    Research and development   28,793       27,800       31,564       56,593       60,191  
    Selling, general and administrative   31,839       33,454       37,874       65,293       70,953  
    Total operating expenses   60,632       61,254       69,438       121,886       131,144  
    Gain on sale of business   —       —       310       —       20,581  
    Operating income   12,306       3,269       17,772       15,575       39,075  
    Interest income, net   2,642       3,317       3,415       5,959       6,571  
    Other income (expense), net   (6 )     890       360       884       880  
    Income before income taxes   14,942       7,476       21,547       22,418       46,526  
    Provision for income taxes   2,372       1,075       2,155       3,447       5,353  
    Loss from equity investment   3,484       —       —       3,484       —  
    Net income $ 9,086     $ 6,401     $ 19,392     $ 15,487     $ 41,173  
    Net income per share:                  
    Basic $ 0.12     $ 0.08     $ 0.25     $ 0.20     $ 0.53  
    Diluted $ 0.12     $ 0.08     $ 0.25     $ 0.20     $ 0.52  
    Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:                
    Basic   77,107       77,345       77,235       77,226       77,343  
    Diluted   77,527       77,884       78,717       77,721       78,746  
                                           
    FORMFACTOR, INC.
    NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE RECONCILIATIONS
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)
    (Unaudited)
     
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
      June 28,
    2025    		   March 29,
    2025    		   June 29,
    2024    		   June 28,
    2025    		   June 29,
    2024
    GAAP Gross Profit $ 72,938     $ 64,523     $ 86,900     $ 137,461     $ 149,638  
    Adjustments:                  
    Amortization of intangibles and fixed asset fair value adjustments due to acquisitions   528       542       545       1,070       1,131  
    Stock-based compensation   1,690       2,005       1,932       3,695       3,860  
    Restructuring charges   183       60       39       243       83  
    Non-GAAP Gross Profit $ 75,339     $ 67,130     $ 89,416     $ 142,469     $ 154,712  
                       
    GAAP Gross Margin   37.3 %     37.7 %     44.0 %     37.4 %     40.9 %
    Adjustments:                  
    Amortization of intangibles and fixed asset fair value adjustments due to acquisitions   0.3 %     0.3 %     0.3 %     0.3 %     0.3 %
    Stock-based compensation   0.8 %     1.2 %     1.0 %     1.0 %     1.1 %
    Restructuring charges   0.1 %     — %     — %     0.1 %     — %
    Non-GAAP Gross Margin   38.5 %     39.2 %     45.3 %     38.8 %     42.3 %
                       
    GAAP operating expenses $ 60,632     $ 61,254     $ 69,438     $ 121,886     $ 131,144  
    Adjustments:                  
    Amortization of intangibles   (191 )     (191 )     (191 )     (382 )     (382 )
    Stock-based compensation   (7,701 )     (7,791 )     (8,277 )     (15,492 )     (16,754 )
    Restructuring charges   (195 )     (2,823 )     (49 )     (3,018 )     (98 )
    Costs related to sale and acquisition of businesses   (55 )     (217 )     (43 )     (272 )     (689 )
    Non-GAAP operating expenses $ 52,490     $ 50,232     $ 60,878     $ 102,722     $ 113,221  
                       
    GAAP operating income $ 12,306     $ 3,269     $ 17,772     $ 15,575     $ 39,075  
    Adjustments:                  
    Amortization of intangibles and fixed asset fair value adjustments due to acquisitions   719       733       736       1,452       1,513  
    Stock-based compensation   9,391       9,796       10,209       19,187       20,614  
    Restructuring charges   378       2,883       88       3,261       181  
    Gain on sale of business, net of costs and acquisition related expenses   55       217       (267 )     272       (19,892 )
    Non-GAAP operating income $ 22,849     $ 16,898     $ 28,538     $ 39,747     $ 41,491  
                                           
    FORMFACTOR, INC.
    NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE RECONCILIATIONS
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)
    (Unaudited)
     
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
      June 28,
    2025    		   March 29,
    2025    		   June 29,
    2024    		   June 28,
    2025    		   June 29,
    2024
    GAAP net income $ 9,086     $ 6,401     $ 19,392     $ 15,487     $ 41,173  
    Adjustments:                  
    Amortization of intangibles and fixed asset fair value adjustments due to acquisitions   719       733       736       1,452       1,513  
    Stock-based compensation   9,391       9,796       10,209       19,187       20,614  
    Restructuring charges   378       2,883       88       3,261       181  
    Gain on sale of business and assets, net of costs and acquisition related expenses   3,460       217       (267 )     3,677       (19,892 )
    Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments   (1,812 )     (2,026 )     (2,835 )     (3,838 )     (1,922 )
    Non-GAAP net income $ 21,222     $ 18,004     $ 27,323     $ 39,226     $ 41,667  
                       
    GAAP net income per share:                  
    Basic $ 0.12     $ 0.08     $ 0.25     $ 0.20     $ 0.53  
    Diluted $ 0.12     $ 0.08     $ 0.25     $ 0.20     $ 0.52  
                       
    Non-GAAP net income per share:                  
    Basic $ 0.28     $ 0.23     $ 0.35     $ 0.51     $ 0.54  
    Diluted $ 0.27     $ 0.23     $ 0.35     $ 0.50     $ 0.53  
                       
    GAAP net cash provided by operating activities $ 18,893     $ 23,539     $ 21,878     $ 42,432     $ 54,890  
    Adjustments:                  
    Sale of business and acquisition related payments in working capital   168       1,221       630       1,389       677  
    Cash paid for interest   95       92       101       187       201  
    Capital expenditures   (66,256 )     (18,584 )     (8,398 )     (84,840 )     (21,834 )
    Free cash flow $ (47,100 )   $ 6,268     $ 14,211     $ (40,832 )   $ 33,934  
                       
    GAAP net cash used in investing activities $ (78,553 )   $ (84,660 )   $ (6,140 )   $ (163,213 )   $ (9,960 )
    GAAP net cash used in financing activities $ (4,214 )   $ (2,964 )   $ (4,934 )   $ (7,178 )   $ (19,426 )
                                           
    FORMFACTOR, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (In thousands)
    (Unaudited)
     
      Six Months Ended
      June 28,
    2025    		   June 29,
    2024
    Cash flows from operating activities:      
    Net income $ 15,487     $ 41,173  
    Selected adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
    Depreciation   17,051       14,563  
    Amortization   1,339       1,280  
    Stock-based compensation expense   19,187       20,614  
    Provision for excess and obsolete inventories   6,695       6,277  
    Loss from equity investment   3,484       —  
    Gain on sale of business and assets   (103 )     (20,581 )
    Non-cash restructuring charges   2,160       —  
    Other activity impacting operating cash flows   (22,868 )     (8,436 )
    Net cash provided by operating activities   42,432       54,890  
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
    Acquisition of property, plant and equipment   (84,840 )     (21,834 )
    Proceeds from sale of business and assets   103       21,585  
    Purchase of equity investment   (67,156 )     —  
    Purchases of marketable securities, net   (11,320 )     (9,711 )
    Net cash used in investing activities   (163,213 )     (9,960 )
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
    Purchase of common stock through stock repurchase program, including excise tax paid   (24,586 )     (20,271 )
    Proceeds from issuances of common stock   21,576       4,948  
    Principal repayments on term loans   (549 )     (534 )
    Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of equity awards   (3,619 )     (3,569 )
    Net cash used in financing activities   (7,178 )     (19,426 )
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   1,658       (2,826 )
    Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   (126,301 )     22,678  
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period   197,206       181,273  
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $ 70,905     $ 203,951  
                   
    FORMFACTOR, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (In thousands)
    (Unaudited)
     
      June 28,
    2025    		   December 28,
    2024
    ASSETS      
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 67,380     $ 190,728  
    Marketable securities   181,949       169,295  
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses   115,199       104,294  
    Inventories, net   110,789       101,676  
    Restricted cash   1,061       3,746  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   48,884       35,389  
    Total current assets   525,262       605,128  
    Restricted cash   2,464       2,732  
    Operating lease, right-of-use-assets   19,475       22,579  
    Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation   259,288       210,230  
    Equity investment   67,264       —  
    Goodwill   200,858       199,171  
    Intangibles, net   9,017       10,355  
    Deferred tax assets   94,795       92,012  
    Other assets   3,185       4,008  
    Total assets $ 1,181,608     $ 1,146,215  
           
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY      
    Current liabilities:      
    Accounts payable $ 59,932     $ 62,287  
    Accrued liabilities   38,545       43,742  
    Current portion of term loan, net of unamortized issuance costs   1,121       1,106  
    Deferred revenue   16,450       15,847  
    Operating lease liabilities   7,919       8,363  
    Total current liabilities   123,967       131,345  
    Term loan, less current portion, net of unamortized issuance costs   11,644       12,208  
    Long-term operating lease liabilities   15,231       17,550  
    Deferred grant   18,000       18,000  
    Other liabilities   22,743       19,344  
    Total liabilities   191,585       198,447  
           
    Stockholders’ equity:      
    Common stock   77       77  
    Additional paid-in capital   850,064       837,586  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   3,450       (10,840 )
    Accumulated income   136,432       120,945  
    Total stockholders’ equity   990,023       947,768  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 1,181,608     $ 1,146,215  
                   

    About our Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

    We believe that the presentation of non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per basic and diluted share, non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income and free cash flow provides supplemental information that is important to understanding financial and business trends and other factors relating to our financial condition and results of operations. Non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per basic and diluted share, non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, and non-GAAP operating income are among the primary indicators used by management as a basis for planning and forecasting future periods, and by management and our board of directors to determine whether our operating performance has met certain targets and thresholds. Management uses non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per basic and diluted share, non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, and non-GAAP operating income when evaluating operating performance because it believes that the exclusion of the items indicated herein, for which the amounts or timing may vary significantly depending upon our activities and other factors, facilitates comparability of our operating performance from period to period. We use free cash flow to conduct and evaluate our business as an additional way of viewing our liquidity that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provides a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our cash flows. Many investors also prefer to track free cash flow, as opposed to only GAAP earnings. Free cash flow has limitations due to the fact that it does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures, and therefore it is important to view free cash flow as a complement to our entire consolidated statements of cash flows. We have chosen to provide this non-GAAP information to investors so they can analyze our operating results closer to the way that management does, and use this information in their assessment of our business and the valuation of our Company. We compute non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per basic and diluted share, non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, and non-GAAP operating income, by adjusting GAAP net income, GAAP net income per basic and diluted share, GAAP gross profit, GAAP gross margin, GAAP operating expenses, and GAAP operating income to remove the impact of certain items and the tax effect, if applicable, of those adjustments. These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP, and may be materially different from other non-GAAP measures, including similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. The presentation of this additional information should not be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to, net income, net income per basic and diluted share, gross profit, gross margin, operating expenses, or operating income in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations in that they do not reflect certain items that may have a material impact upon our reported financial results. We may expect to continue to incur expenses of a nature similar to the non-GAAP adjustments described above, and exclusion of these items from our non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per basic and diluted share, non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, and non-GAAP operating income should not be construed as an inference that these costs are unusual, infrequent or non-recurring. For more information on the non-GAAP adjustments, please see the table captioned “Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliations” included in this press release.

    Investor Contact:
    Stan Finkelstein
    Investor Relations
    (925) 290-4273
    ir@formfactor.com

    Source: FormFactor, Inc.
    FORM-F

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casten, 92 House Democrats Demand Oversight Into Humanitarian Efforts in Gaza Amid Starvation Crisis

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

    July 30, 2025

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) led 92 House Democrats in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an investigation into the ownership structure and operation of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private, unqualified U.S.-linked aid organization at the center of the worsening starvation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

    A copy of the letter can be found here.

    GHF is a U.S.-linked aid organization with no prior experience in humanitarian aid and operates under opaque funding arrangements. GHF received a $30 million grant from the State Department, despite significant internal objections from USAID officials that the group’s funding plan failed to meet the “minimum technical or budgetary standards.” In their letter, the lawmakers criticize the organization’s lack of qualifications, noting that neither of the private firms contracted by GHF to manage distribution sites in Gaza has prior experience in humanitarian work, nor does GHF Executive Chairman Johnnie Moore, who is a close ally of President Donald Trump.

    “We have serious concerns with the operations of GHF, a newly established, private, U.S.-linked organization with no prior humanitarian experience, and the possibility that it could become the sole or primary aid provider in Gaza,” the lawmakers wrote. “…Providing secure and efficient humanitarian assistance to Palestinians is not only a moral obligation—it is also vital to Israel’s long-term security and the safe return of Israeli hostages. Enhancing aid operations is essential to stabilizing the region and achieving lasting peace.”

    In July 2025, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a panel developed by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, issued a report warning that “the worst-case scenario of Famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip.” Netanyahu’s blockade and GHF’s dangerously mismanaged aid sites are directly contributing to the starvation crisis.

    The lawmakers also expressed concern regarding disturbing violence at GHF distribution sites, where flawed distribution methods have caused mass panic and mass casualties.

    GHF operates only four aid distribution sites in Gaza using a reckless first-come, first-served model that has resulted in deadly chaos. At least 1,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed while attempting to access aid near GHF sites, with reports describing Israeli soldiers and U.S. contractors opening fire on desperate civilians. One former contractor said he was instructed to “shoot to kill and ask questions later.”

    “Instead of using traditional aid distribution methods, based on internationally agreed-upon humanitarian principles, GHF provides food on a first-come, first-served basis,” the lawmakers continued. “As a result, when centers open, large crowds of Palestinians rush to the centers. In these situations, there appear to be few restrictions on the use of lethal force by Israeli soldiers and American contractors in the vicinity.”

    In addition to Rep. Casten, the letter was signed by Amo, Gabe; Ansari, Yassamin; Balint, Becca; Barragán, Nanette; Bera, Ami; Bonamici, Suzanne; Brownley, Julia; Brown, Shontel; Carbajal, Salud; Carson, André; Carter, Troy; Castro, Joaquin; Chu, Judy; Cleaver, Emanuel; Cohen, Steve; Courtney, Joe; Craig, Angie; Crow, Jason; Davis, Danny; Dean, Madeleine; DeGette, Diana; DeLauro, Rosa; Deluzio, Christopher; DeSaulnier, Mark; Dexter, Maxine; Dingell, Debbie; Doggett, Lloyd; Escobar, Veronica; Fields, Cleo; Foster, Bill; Foushee, Valerie; Frost, Maxwell; Garcia, Robert; Garcia, Sylvia; Green, Al; Harder, Josh; Hayes, Jahana; Houlahan, Chrissy; Hoyle, Val; Huffman, Jared; Jackson, Jonathan; Jacobs, Sara; Johnson, Henry; Kaptur, Marcy; Keating, William; Kelly, Robin; Khanna, Ro; Larsen, Rick; Larson, John; Leger Fernandez, Teresa; Lofgren, Zoe; Lynch, Stephen; Magaziner, Seth; Matsui, Doris; McBride, Sarah; McClellan, Jennifer; McCollum, Betty; McGovern, James; Moore, Gwen; Mullin, Kevin; Nadler, Jerrold; Norton, Eleanor; Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria; Panetta, Jimmy; Pappas, Chris; Pelosi, Nancy; Pettersen, Brittany; Pingree, Chellie; Pocan, Mark; Pressley, Ayanna; Quigley, Mike; Randall, Emily; Ruiz, Raul; Salinas, Andrea; Schakowsky, Janice; Schrier, Kim; Scott, Robert; Smith, Adam; Sorensen, Eric; Stansbury, Melanie; Swalwell, Eric; Takano, Mark; Thompson, Bennie; Thompson, Mike; Tokuda, Jill; Tonko, Paul; Trahan, Lori; Underwood, Lauren; Vasquez, Gabe; Velázquez, Nydia; Watson Coleman, Bonnie; and Williams, Nikema.

    A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

    Dear Secretary Rubio:

    As supporters of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and advocates for humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, we write to seek clarity on the ownership structure and operation of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

    More than two million people in Gaza currently face “critical levels” of hunger. We welcome efforts to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid and share the objective of ensuring that Hamas does not divert such aid. However, we have serious concerns with the operations of GHF, a newly established, private, U.S.-linked organization with no prior humanitarian experience, and the possibility that it could become the sole or primary aid provider in Gaza. We agree that delivering aid promptly and securely is crucial. However, GHF’s practices and finances require increased transparency and oversight to ensure aid reaches the intended beneficiaries effectively, safely, and in accordance with international standards.

    On June 24, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) approved a $30 million grant for GHF. Jeremy Lewin, a current DOS official and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee, reportedly moved forward with the grant’s approval despite 58 internal objections that U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) staff experts wanted GHF to resolve before approving funding, and an assessment in a memorandum from an acting USAID official that GHF’s funding plan failed to meet required “minimum technical or budgetary standards.” As lawmakers entrusted with the authority to appropriate taxpayer funds, which were undoubtedly used for GHF’s grant, we find this troubling.

    Moreover, GHF has not published a complete list of its sponsors. Registered in Delaware in February 2025, GHF also established an office in Geneva, Switzerland (which the Swiss government has since announced is to be dissolved) with the explicit intent of accommodating donors that “prefer to participate outside of the U.S. structure.” The foundation has publicly stated that it has received at least $119 million from “other government donors.” Furthermore, despite its public denial, the Israeli government has reportedly covertly contributed approximately $280 million USD to the new aid mechanism run by GHF. Full disclosure of GHF’s funding sources is imperative.

    GHF runs four aid distribution sites in Gaza. It contracts two American private firms, Safe Reach Solutions (SRS) and UG Solutions (UGS), to provide security and logistics, with some pricing models reportedly provided by Boston Consulting Group consultants, who reportedly regularly met with Israeli officials in connection with the consultants’ role in helping develop ideas for GHF’s operations. None of the groups have prior humanitarian experience, nor does GHFExecutive Chairman Johnnie Moore, a close ally of President Trump. As a result, these distribution centers appear to operate at a reduced capacity at an exorbitant cost, significantly exceeding the current operating costs of experienced humanitarian organizations.

    We are further alarmed at the widespread violence at GHF distribution centers. As of July 23, 2025, there have reportedly been at least 1,000 people killed while trying to access critical aid near GHF sites. Instead of using traditional aid distribution methods, based on internationally agreed-upon humanitarian principles, GHF provides food on a first-come, first-served basis. As a result, when centers open, large crowds of Palestinians rush to the centers. In these situations, there appear to be few restrictions on the use of lethal force by Israeli soldiers and American contractors in the vicinity. A former security contractor stated that he was instructed, “if you feel threatened, shoot – shoot to kill and ask questions later.” GHF centers offer desperately needed lifelines to those who receive aid without experiencing violence. However, the risk of violence, long wait times, and limited aid availability appear to force hundreds of thousands to choose between risking their lives or going without food.

    The operations of the GHF sites are widely criticized by experienced humanitarian organizations as being inefficient and dangerous, and violating internationally agreed-upon humanitarian principles. Notably, GHF’s inaugural Executive Director and former Marine, Jake Wood, resigned from the organization, citing that the organization no longer aligned with “humanitarian principles.”

    Providing secure and efficient humanitarian assistance to Palestinians is not only a moral obligation—it is also vital to Israel’s long-term security and the safe return of Israeli hostages. Enhancing aid operations is essential to stabilizing the region and achieving lasting peace. To address our concerns, we respectfully request responses to the following questions no later than August 14th, 2025:

    1. From which congressionally appropriated account does DOS’s $30 million grant for the GHF originate?

    2. What specific oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure that the GHF operates in accordance with U.S. and international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality?

    3. The DOS reportedly stated that GHF is subject to “rigorous oversight, including of GHF’s operations and finances.”

      1. What is DOS’s role in monitoring the daily operations and financial practices of GHF, and what is the reporting mechanism?

      2. Are the GHF and the private security contractors that it partners with to distribute assistance in compliance with U.S. standards (legal, regulatory, technical, budgetary, or otherwise) for humanitarian organizations?

    4. The $30 million grant to GHF was approved despite 58 internal objections that USAID staff experts wanted GHF to resolve before approving funding, and an assessment in a memorandum from an acting USAID official that GHF’s funding plan failed to meet required ‘minimum technical or budgetary standards.’ What were the details of their objections or concerns, and why were they overridden?

    5. What makes GHF more qualified than other humanitarian organizations with years of experience and the operational expertise needed to handle such a complex situation?

      1. What makes the newly appointed Executive Chairman, Rev. Johnnie Moore Jr., a man with no prior humanitarian experience, but a close relationship with President Trump, the right person to lead GHF?

    6. What steps is the U.S. government taking to address concerns about militarization at GHF’s aid sites, particularly regarding the involvement of U.S. private contractors and Israeli security forces?

    7. Is there a formal agreement or memo of understanding between the U.S. and GHF that outlines the foundation’s operational guidelines, transparency, and accountability measures? If so, please provide a copy or summary of these terms.

    8. Was the DOS involved in the decision-making processes that led to the establishment of only four aid distribution centers in Gaza to date? If so, please provide details of that communication.

    9. GHF refuses to publish its sources of funding, including the $119 million it received from “other government donors.” What is the complete and most current list of GHF’s donors?

    10. What are the details of the contracts between GHF, its contractors, Safe Reach Solutions (SRS), UGSolutions (UGS), and its aid providers?

      1. What does GHF pay per diem for security and logistics to SRS and UGS?

      2. Where does GHF source its aid packages from? How much does it pay for them?

    11. Has the U.S. conducted any oversight or reviews of GHF’s operations in light of recent criticisms related to overcrowding, militarization, and security concerns? If so, what were the findings?

    12. The Trump Administration is reportedly considering an additional $500 million grant to GHF using USAID funds. According to U.S. law, all NGO recipients of USAID grants are subject to a responsibility determination that certifies the NGO’s “necessary management competence…and that the applicant will practice mutually agreed upon methods of accountability for funds and other assets provided by USAID.”

      1. Will this funding be approved?

      2.  If so, what account will this funding come from?

    13. What steps will be taken to conduct the required “responsibility determination” certifying GHF’s competence and accountability?

    14. What specific benefits has GHF’s aid distribution model or operations provided for U.S. and Israeli interests that the U.S. government assesses may justify some of the apparent drawbacks of the GHF model and operations?

    15. Looking ahead, what information can the Administration share about the likely roles and potential roles of GHF and other humanitarian assistance providers in Gaza, respectively, under various scenarios (ceasefire, intensified conflict, post-conflict transition)? 

      1. What are the sources of this information?

      2. What factors will the Administration use to determine whether and how to provide U.S. support to GHF and/or other providers, while actively monitoring their compliance with applicable legal and other standards?

    16. How, if at all, will GHF coordinate with other humanitarian organizations already working in Gaza? Will GHF work within the already established coordinating mechanisms, and if so, how does it plan to do so?

    Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

    Sincerely,

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –