Category: Agriculture

MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Pingree Rips into GOP Agriculture Appropriations Bill for Failing to Deliver on Health, Food Security, and Farm Resilience

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

Today in the full Appropriations Committee markup of the Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration funding bill for Fiscal Year 2026, Senior Appropriator Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) called out the Trump Administration’s hypocrisy, touting a “Make America Healthy Again” agenda while stripping access to healthy food away from families and children. A summary of the bill is available here.

“14,000 families use WIC in my state. That’s a lot in a state of only 1.3 million people. This is a way to make sure we have healthier fruits and vegetables and better health outcomes for young children in their diet,” Pingree said. “You know, this is the administration of ‘MAHA’—Make America Healthy Again. And how do we expect to make America healthy if we are not going to make sure that people get that healthy food in their diet?”

[embedded content]

Watch Pingree’s opening remarks here; Watch the full markup here.

In her opening remarks, Pingree also railed against the bill’s attacks on supporting farmers impacted by the effects of climate change, dispelling the notion that these programs are “woke” or part of a “liberal climate change agenda.”

“When we talk about conservation funds and the cuts there, or the ‘climate change agenda’ as if it’s some woke thing – who deserves more attention than our farmers who are dealing with this extreme weather? That is our responsibility and these programs that help them to access no till agriculture or cover crops or more irrigation. These are the very things that we should be funding now,” Pingree said. “Our farmers deserve our attention. This is not woke. This is not some crazy liberal climate change agenda. This is what’s really going on with our weather right now. And we are derelict in our duty. We are not holding up our responsibility to farmers.”

A transcript of Pingree’s full remarks is copied below:

I’m disappointed that I can’t support this bill. The Agriculture Appropriations Committee in this bill is my second favorite subcommittee after, of course, the work I do with Mr. Simpson on the Interior bill. And I am sorry that this bill isn’t a better piece of work from this committee.

One of the things I love about this bill is that we’re really focusing on farmers and what people eat, and we need to ask ourselves, as we look at this bill in its entirety, what are we doing to help our farmers stay on their farms, to access capital, to be sure that they can purchase or own a farm, to increase their family income, to make ends meet, and to keep their farms in business during these ever challenging times?

The reason you’ll hear a lot today, and we’ve already heard some about the cuts to the local food purchase assistance program and the local foods and schools programs, and I’m going to talk about it today in much more detail in an amendment, is because it is such a good example of a program that was designed to give farmers contracts to supply food to local schools, food banks, and other entities in our home states.

We spend so much time talking about how to get more healthy foods in our diets, how to make sure we give farmers the contracts they need, and for the farmers in Maine who lost those contracts when this was ridiculously cut, it was part of making ends meet. It was part of their winter income. As part of what they had planned for everything from yogurt to carrots to apples to a whole variety of other things.

And that was true in states across the country. And we’ve ended that program and that is an example of something that we should be doing the reverse of in this program. There are other cuts to making sure people get healthy food in their diet, the cuts to WIC – fruits and vegetables that we will talk about more in an amendment today, 14,000 families use WIC in my state.

That’s a lot in a state of only 1.3 million people. And again, this is a way to make sure we have healthier fruits and vegetables, better health outcomes for young children in their diet. You know, this is the administration of “MAHA” – Make America Healthy Again. And how do we expect to make America healthy if we are not going to make sure that people get that healthy food in their diet?

Housing is another cut in this bill. Housing is the number 1 or 2 issue for so many people in my state. The cost of housing, the challenges with finding affordable housing. And we are making cuts there, $46 million of cuts overall to rural development staffing. I have a constituent in my district, Hillary, who is disabled in her 40s.

She was getting a home through an RD loan. It’s her only viable pathway to home ownership. She’s taken all the steps she needs to: completed her homebuyer education, submitted her paperwork on time … But after years of delays, because of funding cuts, she’s finally where she should be, but there is no staff to process her loan to answer the phone.

Her calls and emails are going unanswered, and there’s a question about whether or not she will get to the finish line. Those staffing cuts are throughout our districts, in our local offices, and we talk about how to make sure our farmers are able and eligible to get the funding, whether it is, through a conservation program, through a loan.

But so many of our offices now are understaffed and underfunded, and I know we will be talking more about that. We’ll talk about the cuts. The Dairy Farmers Innovation program. In my state, dairy farmers are under assault, just barely making it. Now, so many of the amendments we’ll have today, we’re going to hear this reply: “Oh, that’s just woke Democratic thinking” or “that’s climate change agenda” or that’s “pre-pandemic money or pandemic money that we don’t need anymore.”

But you know we learned a lot of lessons in the pandemic. We learned that our supply chains were broken, that we should buy more locally. That’s why we have these programs. Yet we’re having them cut out from under us. When we talk about conservation funds and the cuts there, or the “climate change agenda” as if it’s some woke thing – who deserves more attention than our farmers who are dealing with this extreme weather? That is our responsibility and these programs that help them to access no till agriculture or cover crops or more irrigation or a whole variety of other things are the very things that we should be funding now.

Our farmers deserve our attention. This is not woke. This is not some crazy liberal climate change agenda. This is what’s really going on with our weather right now. And we are derelict in our duty. We are not holding up our responsibility to farmers and to making sure our constituents get that healthy food. We’ll have many opportunities to talk about this today.

I’m sorry, I have to oppose this bill.

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MIL OSI USA News –

June 13, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Visitors encouraged to get hands on and All Fired Up at the Art Gallery

Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

Curators at Aberdeen Art Gallery have taken the bold move of displaying over 180 ceramic items by artist-potters on open shelving and inviting visitors to pick them up to take a closer look in a new display called All Fired Up.

The ceramics are part of the Sandy Dunbar studio pottery collection of 480 items. The collection has been gifted to Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums by the family of the late Alexander Arbuthnott Dunbar (1929-2012), known as Sandy. From London lawyer, to Director of the Scottish Arts Council, then Moray farmer, Sandy Dunbar led a fascinating life and had a lifelong passion for pots. Studio ceramics are either one-off items or made in small runs. Sandy relied on his emotions, feelings and gut instincts to select pots for his collection. He called them ‘pots that sing’ – designs that were pleasing to his eye, felt good in his hands and brought him joy. The gift was made on the understanding that each piece could be handled by visitors to the Gallery.

The display is a new addition to the bp Galleries on the top floor of the Art Gallery. It has been curated for audiences of different ages and levels of interest to explore the art and science of ceramics.

One section is displayed at low level and is targeted at family visitors, who are invited to explore the shapes, textures, patterns and finishes of the pots, and find out about the techniques the potters used to make them. The majority of the collection is displayed on open shelving which evokes a potter’s studio. The shelves are packed with pots of all shapes, sizes and finishes, from rustic earthenware and stoneware to delicate porcelain. Some are decorative, some are functional, from jugs and plates to jars and cheese dishes. In the Seminar Room visitors can find more ceramics and discover more about the potters and their techniques in a selection of reference books. This includes uncovering the science behind the materials and methods used – pottery might be thought of as art or craft, but making pots depends on science and experimentation.

Sandy’s hobby of collecting pots led him to visit and form friendships with artist-potters across the UK. He filled his house in Elgin with an eclectic collection of studio ceramics made by more than 80 artist-potters including Clive Bowen, Michael Cardew, Jane Hamlyn, Lisa Hammond and Chris Keenan.

Although Sandy kept detailed notes about his pots, there was some detective work needed to identify the makers of about 30 of the 480 pots. Curator Morna Annandale worked with Christine Rew, former Art Gallery & Museums Manager, to whittle this number down using a variety of sources, including a Facebook group called British Studio Pottery Mystery Pots. There are now only 6 items awaiting identification.

Rebecca Russell, Sandy’s Dunbar’s daughter, said: “My father’s collection evokes stories of masters and apprentices, subtle pots and those that demand attention, all made by a diverse range of potters. My brother Crinan and I are so delighted to see the collection displayed in such an accessible way. Our father would be thrilled.”

Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman, said: “Sandy Dunbar’s remarkable collection of hand-crafted ceramics was built in much the same way as the founders of the Art Gallery built theirs – through a passion for collecting artworks that they admired rather than what was fashionable and by developing friendships with artists. This is a wonderful collection which is a must-see for anyone interested in the tradition of British studio ceramics and discovering more about the art and science of ceramics.”

Kathryn McKee, head of communications & campaigns, UK, of bp said, “We are pleased that our donation towards the award-winning redevelopment of the Aberdeen Art Gallery continues to allow the team to enhance the art and experiences that are on offer to the public in the bp galleries. We hope visitors will enjoy this amazing collection generously donated by the Dunbar family.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 13, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Government on top off foot-and-mouth disease response

Source: South Africa News Agency

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Cabinet has welcomed the swift response by the Department of Agriculture following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) that has affected KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

“Despite the warnings that were issued, FMD was imported into Gauteng as people continued to move livestock to the province of Gauteng,” Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Thursday in Cape Town.

The department has ordered over 900 000 doses of vaccines, with the first batch expected to arrive soon.

“All infected properties are placed under quarantine. No movement is allowed into, out of, or through these areas or farms.

“Large areas, where individuals cannot be served with quarantine notices, are declared Disease Management Areas, and the same restrictions apply.

In addition, plans are underway to establish a biosecurity council that will bring together the South African Police Service (SAPS), veterinarians, scientists, the Border Management Authority and captains of industry to better respond to future outbreaks and manage the related risks,” Ntshavheni said.

She was addressing the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, 11 June 2025. – SAnews.gov.za

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MIL OSI Africa –

June 13, 2025
MIL-OSI: Coinchange and Kanga Exchange Announce Partnership to Drive 30% User Adoption For Passive Income
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Toronto, Canada, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a significant step toward mainstreaming crypto-based passive income, Coinchange and Kanga Exchange have joined forces to offer automated yield solutions—resulting in over 30% user adoption in just months. The partnership between Coinchange, a digital asset management platform, and Kanga Exchange, a leading cryptocurrency exchange platform, demonstrates how the integration of yield-generating solutions can simplify access to passive income opportunities. The collaboration has enabled over 30% of Kanga’s active users to generate passive income through multi-strategy active portfolio management solutions on their digital asset holdings without requiring active supervision or technical expertise.

Kanga and Coinchange Address Passive Income Needs

Kanga Exchange operates over 800 physical exchange points across 12 countries, specifically serving users who prefer cash-based transactions or localized financial services. This model merges traditional finance with digital assets to serve both individual and institutional clients through its platform and wallet application. However, users increasingly wanted to grow their crypto holdings passively, which created a demand for tools that automate yield generation with minimal complexity.

Coinchange addressed this need by integrating its Earn API into Kanga’s platform. The API connects user deposits to a range of protocols, automating how users earn returns and eliminating the need for manual intervention. This strategy is appealing to busy individuals as well as businesses that want to grow their unused funds without needing to navigate smart contracts or liquidity pools.

Partnership Highlights: Key results
- Increased earnings: Users achieved 3-5% higher yields on average compared to traditional savings and staking offerings;
- Expanding reach: Kanga Exchange’s hundreds of thousands active users could see 30% adoption of its Earn product, underscoring surging demand for passive crypto income tools;
- Instant access: Coinchange’s Earn product removed the typical 15–30 day waiting period for Kanga Exchange, giving users easy and flexible access to their funds.
Simplifying DeFi: How the Earn API Works for Users

The Earn API simplifies the process: users deposit digital assets as well as stablecoins into their Kanga wallets, and the API automatically allocates funds across vetted protocols. This approach removes technical barriers, allowing users to benefit from decentralized finance without requiring knowledge of wallet addresses, gas fees, or market monitoring.

Key advantages of the integration include:
- Reduced transaction costs: The API aggregates funds & optimizes a multi-strategy approach to reduce transaction costs;
- Automated yield generation: Algorithms handle asset allocation for consistent and diversified returns;
- Liquidity preservation: Integration enables withdrawals without lock-up periods – removing the need to wait.
Measurable Success and Market Impact

The partnership has supported financial inclusion by making access to advanced portfolio composition tools streamlined. Users who previously avoided decentralized finance due to its complexity now earn passive income through a familiar exchange interface.

The integration has demonstrated measurable success in enhancing user engagement, with 30% of users utilizing the yield feature. By making the process easier, Kanga has strengthened its value proposition as more than a trading platform, while Coinchange has expanded its reach to a diverse, globally distributed user base.

Addressing Challenges: Trust and Compliance

Initially, adoption faced challenges as users didn’t fully understand how risks were managed. Coinchange and Kanga addressed this by highlighting the Earn API’s security protocols and audit processes. Regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions necessitated the use of reporting tools, ensuring compliance with local financial regulations.

Key Takeaways and Future Outlook

The Coinchange-Kanga partnership case study exemplifies how strategic collaborations can unlock potential for mainstream audiences. The Earn API integration simplified complex technology, making it easy for Kanga’s global users to earn passive income. This model highlights the importance of infrastructure solutions in driving cryptocurrency adoption, particularly for users prioritizing simplicity and liquidity. To further enhance its comprehensive offering, Kanga Exchange also provides a crypto loan service. Looking ahead, Kanga is actively working on introducing advanced features, including futures contracts and trading competitions, to further expand its ecosystem. As the digital asset ecosystem evolves, similar integrations will likely play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between traditional finance and decentralized innovation.

About Coinchange

Coinchange is a digital asset management platform based in Canada that provides market-neutral, multi-management, and multi-strategy solutions. In order to produce steady, market-neutral yields as investment solutions for institutional clients, the company combines active portfolio management, transparency, and strategy diversification.

About Kanga Exchange

Kanga Exchange is a leading cryptocurrency platform born in Poland and built for the world. Since 2018, Kanga has been on a mission to make crypto accessible and usable in everyday life, not just as an investment, but as a real financial alternative.

With a deep presence in Central Europe and an expanding international footprint, Kanga helps people easily move between crypto and cash through one of the region’s largest on-ramp and off-ramp infrastructures, including over 800 physical locations.

More than just a trading platform, Kanga is committed to education and real-world adoption through initiatives like its free Kanga University, helping users explore the full potential of digital assets beyond speculation, focusing on everyday use, financial inclusion, and long-term impact.

As it continues to grow, Kanga is building on its existing ecosystem of accessible financial tools, including peer-to-peer trading, crypto-backed services, and everyday crypto-to-cash solutions. Kanga makes crypto simpler, more useful, and more human for everyone, everywhere.

Coinchange Social Media:
Coinchange Website | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | App Store Application | Google Play Application

The MIL Network –
June 13, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Job Index Reveals The Toughest Jobs In The UK

Source: Samsung

New research finds firefighters have UK’s toughest job, with paramedics, farmers and builders also included among most gruelling roles in the country
90% of Brits say tech that can withstand tough jobs is vital in demanding roles, with extreme environments (63%) and hazardous conditions (64%) cited as key challenges
Our Yorkshire Farm Shepherdess, Amanda Owen partners with Samsung to demonstrate real-world resilience testing of the new Rugged device range, from mucking out to herding sheep
The new Samsung XCover7 Pro and Tab Active5 Pro Enterprise Edition deliver military-grade durability[1], water-resistance[2], long battery life[3], and push-to-talk functionality[4] – purpose built for frontline and field-based professionals

James Speakman/PA Media Assignments

New research has revealed the UK’s toughest jobs – with firefighters topping the list.

The poll of 2,000 Brits found paramedics, farmers and armed forces personnel were also cited as those who deserve recognition for doing of the most physically and mentally draining work.

The study was commissioned by Samsung to launch their latest Rugged device range which is designed to thrive in harsh work environments and was judged according to criteria including physical demands, danger and risk, and work environment.

The findings, which also identified police officers (34%), fishermen (16%) and construction workers (15%) among the UK’s toughest workers, underscored a growing demand among workers and employers for tech that can withstand harsh, high-risk environments.

TOP 20 TOUGHEST JOBS

Firefighter (45%)
Paramedic (44%)
Surgeon (44%)
Nurse (37%)
Police Officer (34%)
Armed Forces Personnel (28%)
Care Worker (22%)
Farmer (20%)
Teacher (20%)
Social Worker (18%)
Fisherman (16%)
Construction Worker (15%)
Agricultural Labourer (11%)
Builder / Bricklayer (9%)
Underground Utility Worker (9%)
Scaffolder (6%)
Mechanic (6%)
Roofer (6%)
Refuse Collector (Bin Worker) (5%)
Train driver (5%)

The research also revealed that nine in 10 Brits value devices capable of withstanding harsh conditions, citing reducing physical strain through equipment (54%), alerting workers to risks more quickly (53%) and automating repetitive tasks (45%) as ways to ease pressure.

To emphasise the importance of durable technology in tough jobs, Samsung enlisted farmer and shepherdess Amanda Owen to give an insight into the realities of working life on a farm.

From mucking out and herding animals, to operating machinery and navigating unpredictable weather, Amanda showcases how physically demanding farm life can be, highlighting the need for technology that can keep up with resilient workers themselves.

Amanda Owen says: “Farming isn’t for the faint hearted – we’re up before dawn, battling the elements, and it takes real resilience out here. In this environment, our tech needs to be just as tough—anything that can’t handle water or a drop is a liability. We need something rugged on the outside and smart on the inside, that can keep up with the job.”

According to respondents, 63% of people believe for a job to be ‘tough’ it must take place in an extreme environment. 58% of jobs which can be considered challenging also involve working with dangerous equipment, with a further 55% fearing dangerous people.

Two thirds (62%) of Brits agree that tough jobs need more recognition in the UK saying that they play a vital role in keeping the country running (64%), often work long hours with little rest (46%) and face hazardous conditions daily (62%) as to why they deserve more recognition.

The Samsung Rugged range, which includes the Galaxy XCover7 Pro and Tab Active5 Pro, is designed to take on tough, rugged environments, offering water and dust resistance[5], drop protection[6], long battery life as well as replaceable batteries, and enhanced touch sensitivity for use in the rain[7] or with gloves[8]

Annika Bizon, Mobile Experience VP of Product & Marketing, Samsung UK&I says:“Tough roles demand robust support. Whether it’s maintaining connectivity in the field or ensuring mission-critical tasks aren’t interrupted, having the right tech in place is essential. The Rugged range has been engineered specifically for these environments — combining military-grade durability with the business tools workforces require.”

Almost half (46%) of Brits admitted they don’t feel like they have the resilience to take on a physically demanding role, a figure that dropped to 40% among men.

In contrast, 52% of women believe they have what it takes to handle roles that might require higher levels of emotional and mental capacity.

When it comes to younger generations, 61% of those aged 18–24 have considered taking up physically tough roles when exploring career options. This compares with just 11% of Boomers, who prefer to steer clear of jobs they’d deem tough.

Two in five (38%) agree there’s a misconception that physically demanding jobs don’t require robust technology.

From construction sites and emergency callouts to remote locations and extreme weather – where phone failure simply isn’t an option – Samsung’s Rugged range is built to go the distance with those who keep the country running.

Engineered for endurance, the devices offer military-grade protection, taking up to a 1.8 metre drop with the cover on[9], ready for whatever the job throws at them.

The programmable hot key allows you to set up shortcuts for frequently used apps, you can transform your device into a walkie-talkie, torch, scanner, payment terminal or whatever you need it to be.

But it’s not just the hardware that’s built for resilience. With the ability to set up Knox Suite[10] swiftly with QuickStart Go, teams can be up and running with business-ready devices in no time, while Samsung Knox security keeps data protected against malware or threats.

And with 3-year warranty, up to 8- years of security maintenance releases and eight generations of operating system updates[11], plus next-business-day doorstep exchange[12], Rugged users get the reassurance and support they need, long after deployment.

The Samsung Rugged devices are available to purchase now. For more information, visit https://www.samsung.com/uk/business/mobile/rugged/.

[1]Drop test results meet MIL STD 810H standard and vary depending on particular Rugged device. Test scope: Altitude, Humidity, Immersion, Salt Fog, Dust, Vibration, Drop, and more. Tab Active5 Pro can take 1.8M with case on and other devices in the range can take 1.5M drop. Internally tested with Liquid Ethanol, Ethanol Cotton, Clorox (Chlorine bleach), Medilox HCIO.
[2]The device can be used in wet environments, but not fully submerged under water. Underwater touch is not available
[3]Additional battery sold separately. In the case of extra replaceable batteries, only Samsung-certified products are compatible for use. Need to turn on “No Battery Mode” and use a dedicated USB Type C power source accessory (9V/2.3A ↑, PD2.0↑). Cradle and power source accessory sold separately. No Battery Mode limits device’s CPU/GPU performance and reduces maximum volume, and display brightness, when enabled. No Battery Mode available on Tab Active devices only
[4]Additional licenses may be required. Requires Samsung D2D Service
[5]Resistant to dust and up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes (IP68). Rinse residue/dry after wet. Not advised for beach or pool use.
[6]Tab Active5 can take 2.8M and other devices in the range can take 1.5M drop
[7]The device can be used in wet environments, but not fully submerged under water. Underwater touch is not available.
[8]Touch sensitivity increases responsiveness for leather gloves thinner than 2mm or less in thickness, based on internal laboratory test results. Touch-responsiveness may vary depending on the material and thickness of gloves as well as other environmental conditions.

[9]Drop test results meet MIL STD 810H standard and vary depending on particular Rugged device. Test scope: Altitude, Humidity, Immersion, Salt Fog, Dust, Vibration, Drop, and more. Tab Active5 Pro can take 1.8M with case on and other devices in the range can take 1.5M drop.
[10]One-year free Knox Suite Enterprise Plan included with Enterprise Edition devices with purchase of subsequent years.
[11] 8 years from first global launch for Tab Active5 Series and 7 Years from first global launch for XCover7 Series.
[12]Doorstep Exchange with Samsung gold stock. Terms apply.

MIL OSI Economics –

June 13, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Politics with Michelle Grattan: Senator Tammy Tyrrell on wild days in Tasmania

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

Tasmanian politics has been thrown into chaos after a Labor motion of no confidence forced Premier Jeremy Rockliff to either resign or call for a new election. The premier opted for the latter, with Tasmanians to vote on July 19, only something over a year into the four-year term.

In Tasmania, Australia’s smallest state in terms of both size and population, local issues dominate. Labor homed in on economic mismanagement.

But there is controversy over the Macquarie Point Hobart AFL stadium (which the major parties support) as well as the state’s important salmon industry, which saw a lot of attention federally in the lead-up to the last election.

To talk all things Tasmanian, we’re joined by Independent Tasmanian Senator Tammy Tyrrell. She was elected in 2022 under the banner of the Jacqui Lambie Network a former member of the party but left last year. We talk about the state election, as well as federal issues and the new Senate.

Tyrrell laments Tasmanians’ being made to vote again so soon,

I was out and about on the northwest coast of Tasmania all day yesterday and everybody was like, what the heck is going on? They don’t want to go to an election, the people of Tasmania, they want the parliament to actually be grown ups and sort it out amongst themselves.

The budget in Tasmania is in a shambles and we’re so far in the red that we can’t see any way out of it. But really? There’s no way that the Labor [party] is going to form government unless they form a minority government and no Tasmanian will support a Labor-Greens government again in a hurry. But I really think that the Liberal government should have elevated somebody else from within to be the leader, to be the premier.

On her former boss Jacqui Lambie whose party has now collapsed, Tyrrell says it’s because of the kind of person she is,

[In] the federal election, Jacqui focused outside of Tasmania. She focused on expanding the network. And it didn’t work for her because she didn’t campaign enough here in Tasmania.

It’s a shame that she’s not supporting the candidate that is still sitting with her under the network. […] I think she should have stuck by Andrew Jenner and supported him through this [Tasmanian] election because he has shown loyalty to her and he has stuck it through thick and thin. So I believe he should be able to run back under the banner.

Jacqui is a strong person and the network had every chance to be a strong network, but Jacqui [is] not really a team player. She’s more of a single athlete because she’s so determined and strong of her opinion and it’s hard to take a group forward when you’ve got such a strong force that does not communicate sideways very well. She is a strong human being and I still believe in Jacqui but it makes it hard for her to have a team.

On the salmon farming industry, while Tyrrell voices her support, she agrees that environmental concerns do matter,

I support any industry that puts jobs and money into small rural and regional communities in Tasmania. I agree that they need to be as eco and as green friendly as possible and I know that the salmon industry is doing things to be clean and as green as possible. But I also believe that we need to look after the people who live and work in Tasmania.

We can’t sacrifice an industry completely just to satisfy the people that don’t like the salmon industry. I will always support the people of Tasmania and encourage industry and business to be as eco-friendly as possible, which is why we’re encouraging as many biofuels and eco-green fuel companies as possible to come to Tasmania, and thrive here.

On reports that the Nationals approached her to join their party. Tyrell says while she didn’t seriously consider it, she took it as a “compliment”,

It was a big compliment though. The Nats represent rural and regional Australia beautifully, by speaking their voice and for them to see that I am representing the people of Tasmania in a good light. It was a huge compliment to be approached to join them. But I’d already been in a relationship and I’m quite happy being a single divorcee.

It’s amazing being an independent, it means that I can say and do what my community wants me to in their voice without having to agree to broad-sweeping politics or legislative ideas that I don’t agree with fundamentally.

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

– ref. Politics with Michelle Grattan: Senator Tammy Tyrrell on wild days in Tasmania – https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-senator-tammy-tyrrell-on-wild-days-in-tasmania-258802

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 13, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Crime reduction a priority for Seventh Administration

Source: South Africa News Agency

The South African government is determined to deal with crime despite media reports to the contrary.

This is the word from Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who briefed the media in Cape Town on Thursday.

“Cabinet has noted the continuous debate about crime in South Africa and allegations that there is a lack of a concrete government plan to deal with crime in South Africa. This is despite that on the 23rd of May 2025, the Minister of Police released the 2024/25 fourth quarter [statistics].

“During this crime statistics release, the Minister of Police outlined the Seventh Administration’s policing priorities,” she said.

Those priorities are:
•    Reducing the murder rate;
•    reducing illegal firearms and tightening controls over legal firearms.
•    Fighting gender-based violence and femicide (GBV+F) and
•    dismantling organised crime, including drug trafficking syndicates, cash-in-transit heists, extortion and kidnappings, tackling gang violence and combating corruption both within the South African Police Service (SAPS) and across the country.

READ | Sexual offences and commercial crime remain a concern

“The…statistics showed progress of a general decline compared to the same period in the previous financial year. For example, of the 30 high crime police stations in terms of reporting, 13 have recorded lower counts [of crime reporting] and two recorded no change.

“On farm murders…whereas in principle, government does not categorise South Africans in terms of race, in light of recent misinformation, the following are the statistics; of the farm owners killed – both… were African. Of the farm workers killed, both…of them were Africans and of the five farm managers killed, one was African [thereby] dismantling the misinformation that there is a targeted attack on White commercial farmers or White farmers in general,” she explained.

READ | More farm murder victims are African, Police Minister

Furthermore, Operation Shanela continues to score gains against illegal firearms with 128 of those seized recently.

“The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations is also continuing its work which resulted in 656 suspects appearing in court, including 364 linked to serious organised crimes, 220 from serious commercial crimes and 72 from serious corruption.

“On GBVF, a roundtable led by [the] Inter-Ministerial Committee on GBVF will be held…tomorrow at the Atteridgeville Community Hall in Pretoria and this will focus on the National Strategic Plan implementation and progress thereof. It will also evaluate and reinforce the effectiveness and efficiencies of services provided to GBVF victims,” she said.

Political killings

Cabinet also welcomed the guilty plea entered into by Sibusiso Ngcengwa in the murder of former ANC Youth League Secretary General and municipal councilor, Sindiso Magaqa.

Magaqa was killed in 2017 in an apparent hit in KwaZulu-Natal.

“Cabinet takes political killings seriously more so because the victims of those are people who are committed to the fight against corruption in municipalities or in government.

“We are hopeful that this breakthrough will shed further light on other players involved in the murder of Mr Sindiso Magaqa,” Ntshavheni said. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

June 13, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa explores regionalisation of chicken imports from Brazil

Source: South Africa News Agency

Thursday, June 12, 2025

The Department of Agriculture is currently assessing the possibility of implementing regionalisation for chicken imports from Brazil to ensure local demand is met without compromising biosecurity.

This follows South Africa’s suspension of imports of live poultry, eggs, and fresh (including frozen) poultry meat from Brazil after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Brazil reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 – clade 2.3.4.4b) in chickens, in a breeding establishment (parents), located in the municipality of Montenegro, state of Rio Grande do Sul, on 15 May 2025.

This necessitated South Africa to suspend trade of live poultry, eggs and fresh poultry meat, and revised its import permit process.

Agriculture Minister, John Steenhuisen, noted that while South Africa’s poultry industry has sufficient domestic slaughter chickens, concerns remain over the impact the suspension import of Brazilian poultry on the country’s food supply chain, particularly the affordability and accessibility of processed meats and pet foods.

He said the department is in constant engagement with the Brazilian authorities to determine if the outbreak has not spread to other States and a confirmation that there are no additional affected farms in other regions.

“This is a necessary procedure of ensuring that we don’t introduce the virus to South Africans and infect the poultry industry. We need to balance food security realities with biosecurity imperatives,” Steenhuisen explained.

The Minister added that the department has established that the reason for the delay in Brazil responding to South Africa’s enquiries is due to the number of similar enquiries Brazil is receiving and responding to, since Brazil exports poultry products to many other countries. – SAnews.gov.za

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MIL OSI Africa –

June 13, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Improving Urban Land Access for Agriculture in Connecticut

Source: US State of Connecticut

Land is a fixed resource, and while we cannot create more, it is possible to use available land and infrastructure more efficiently. Connecticut farmers, especially those in urban and peri urban locations, consistently cite land access as one of their biggest challenges.

A UConn Extension team is expanding urban agriculture in Connecticut through a new project focusing on vacant lot activation and peri-urban farmland access linking, led by Jacqueline Kowalski, an associate extension educator based in UConn Extension’s Bethel office.

Connecticut has five cities – Bridgeport, Stamford, New Haven, Hartford, and Waterbury – with over one hundred thousand residents, and 88% of the state’s population lives in urban areas. Meanwhile, the number of urban agricultural operations is also increasing, and there is more interest in beginning new operations. Urban agriculture’s growth is driven by increasing food security through local production, and a greater interest among more people in connecting with the land and growing their own food.

“Secure land access is one of the greatest challenges that urban producers grapple with in Connecticut,” Kowalski says. “It is our hope that through this project, municipalities will see urban agriculture as integral to resilient communities and that urban producers can access underutilized space to start and expand their operations.”

Kowalski currently works with urban farmers throughout the state to improve their operations, provide resources, expand agricultural involvement, and increase the number of urban agriculture operations statewide. Urban agriculture benefits include improving food security, contributing to sustainable landscapes, and aiding economic development.

The new project builds upon UConn Extension’s current urban agriculture resources and will conduct a needs assessment with urban farmers on their land needs and the characteristics of vacant lots in urban and peri-urban areas to make them usable.

The group is partnering with local organizations and has a 13-member advisory team working with them. Next, the research results will help the group identify potential land using geospatial analysis, including state and public land parcels. Municipalities and land trust organizations are providing input on these parcels, currently focusing on urban areas in western and southwestern Connecticut.

Existing resources and training available through UConn Extension’s urban agriculture programs include site selection and modification and then working with cities and navigating zoning requirements. Programs provide education on intensive vegetable and flower production, season extension, business management, and product marketing. Complementary resources are available through UConn Extension’s food safety program and Center for Land Use Education and Research (UConn CLEAR).

The project’s final phase is connecting urban farmers with the identified land and ensuring agricultural-friendly leases. The team’s goal is expanding or starting 20 urban farming operations. Partner organizations include the Councils of Governments (COGs), land trusts, and Land For Good, a nonprofit focused on the future of farming in New England. Team members will use existing resources, including CT Farm Link, a site managed by Connecticut Farmland Trust, to assist farmers and land use officials.

“UConn Extension has over a century of experience supporting and strengthening food systems in Connecticut,” says Amy Harder, associate dean for UConn Extension. “We are excited to continue that commitment by helping farmers find success in urban areas, creating more opportunities for all families to have access to Connecticut Grown foods and products.”

Connecticut has a heightened awareness about urban agriculture and land access because of the Northeast region’s population density. UConn Extension’s urban agriculture program, including this initiative, is building infrastructure for a more resilient and vibrant agricultural and food system. The broader impacts include helping other regions develop stronger urban agriculture programs through improved land access.

This work is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2024-70019-42200.

This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Ensuring a Vibrant and Sustainable Agricultural Industry and Food Supply.

Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

MIL OSI USA News –

June 13, 2025
MIL-OSI: Allredi Signs Partnership with GMA Garnet Group to Expand its Distribution Network

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

HOUSTON, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Allredi, a North American distributor of surface preparation, abrasives, and safety products to industrial contractors, announced today that it entered into a partnership with GMA Garnet Group (“GMA”) providing Allredi with access to GMA’s extensive abrasive product line across its supply chain throughout the U.S. and Canada. Allredi is backed by Capstreet, a Houston-based lower middle market private equity firm, and Ridgemont Equity Partners, a middle market private equity firm based in Charlotte, NC.

Allredi supplies garnet abrasives to end users for the maintenance, cleaning and repair of large steel structures in the industrial, infrastructure, and downstream energy sectors. GMA provides garnet abrasives for use in blasting steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and glass, with operations in North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East.

“GMA produces a quality, high performance garnet abrasive, and we are excited to partner with them to better serve our customers,” said Allredi CEO Kevin Bourbonnais. “Our agreement with GMA provides Allredi with new access to a large, consistent volume of quality garnet processed in the U.S. With GMA’s processing facilities in Texas, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, we believe we can effectively serve customers throughout the U.S. and Canada, expanding beyond our previous Gulf-centric approach to Garnet distribution.”

GMA manages the end-to-end supply chain, from sourcing to processing to international distribution, and reprocessing. With a long history of sustainable mining, GMA is focused on energy-efficient processing and reductions in landfill.

“We’re excited about this partnership with Allredi, which expands our geographic reach across North America,” said Scot Cummins, Regional Sales Director at GMA Americas. “In particular, this will offer us an opportunity to increase our presence across Canada. Allredi’s strong distribution network and customer relationships make them a great fit for delivering GMA’s high-performance garnet to more end users. This partnership also supports our commitment to help customers reduce abrasive waste through initiatives like the Garnet Return Program.”

To learn more about GMA Garnet Group, visit www.gmagarnet.com.

About Allredi
Allredi is a North American distributor of surface preparation, abrasives, and safety products to industrial contractors primarily in the industrial, infrastructure, and downstream energy sectors. The company was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Pasadena, TX with 24 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Please visit www.allredi-us.com for additional information.

About Capstreet
Founded in 1990, Capstreet invests in lower middle market software, tech-enabled services, and industrial business services companies. With more than 50 platform investments and more than 200 add-on acquisitions since inception, Capstreet’s investment strategy is focused on utilizing its Capvalue Framework^® to help accelerate growth and profitability, and create long-term sustainable businesses. The majority of Capstreet’s investments have been with founder- or entrepreneur-owned businesses. For more information, visit the Capstreet website, https://capstreet.com.

About Ridgemont Equity Partners
Ridgemont Equity Partners is a Charlotte-based middle market private equity firm that has provided buyout and growth capital to industry-leading companies in the business services, industrials, and healthcare sectors for three decades. The principals of Ridgemont have refined a proven, industry-focused model designed to build distinctive middle market companies. www.ridgemontep.com.

Contact:
Lambert by LLYC
Joanne Lessner, 212-222-7436, jlessner@lambert.com
Jennifer Hurson, 845-507-0571, jhurson@lambert.com

The MIL Network –

June 13, 2025
MIL-OSI: Aemetis CEO Meets with White House, Congress, and Agencies Regarding Support for Domestic Energy and Rural Communities in Budget Bill

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CUPERTINO, Calif., June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX), a renewable natural gas and renewable fuels company, announced today that its Chairman and CEO, Eric McAfee, has held meetings regarding support for domestic energy and rural communities in the federal tax bill with members of the Senate and House of Representatives, and with officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Treasury Department, and the White House National Economic Council. The meetings included a one hour presentation on transferable tax credits and the benefits of Section 45Z production tax credits to the Chief of Staff and biofuels policy staff of the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation.

“The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a generational opportunity to support domestic energy and rural communities through Section 45Z production tax credits for biofuels and biogas,” Mr. McAfee stated. “This year, we have travelled to Washington D.C. more than ten times to meet with the White House, Senate and House, as well as to present to agencies related to biofuels and biogas to communicate the important role of 45Z in the expansion of American energy and the importance of funding to farmers and rural communities through higher value crops.”

The 45Z production tax credit (PTC) was established in 2022 and went into effect in January 2025. If enacted, the federal tax and spending bill version passed by the House would modify the Section 45Z PTC to extend the credit availability by four years from 2027 to 2031, require the use of domestic feedstocks, and eliminate the indirect land use penalty for ethanol and other biofuels.

The value of the Section 45Z production tax credits earned by Aemetis is directly correlated with the quantity of biofuels and biogas produced. From 12 dairies currently operating, Aemetis Biogas is rapidly scaling up the construction of dairy digesters to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) using feedstock from 50 dairies that have already entered agreements with Aemetis Biogas. This summer, 16 dairies are scheduled to be operating in the Aemetis Biogas Central Digester Project near Modesto, California, with 36 miles of biogas pipeline and a central biogas-to-RNG production facility already in operation delivering RNG into the PG&E utility gas pipeline.

Aemetis renewable energy and energy efficiency projects include the expansion of dairy renewable natural gas production to generate more than 1 million MMBtu per year of renewable natural gas; the Keyes ethanol plant mechanical vapor recompression system that is expected to generate $32 million of increased annual cash flow starting in 2026; the Riverbank carbon sequestration project to inject 1.4 million tons per year of CO2 per year underground; and the 78 million gallon per year sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel plant that has already received Authority To Construct air permits and other key approvals.

About Aemetis

Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is a renewable natural gas and renewable fuel company focused on the operation, acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative technologies that replace petroleum products and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Founded in 2006, Aemetis is operating and actively expanding a California biogas digester network and pipeline system to convert dairy waste gas into Renewable Natural Gas. Aemetis owns and operates a 65 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California’s Central Valley near Modesto that supplies about 80 dairies with animal feed. Aemetis owns and operates an 80 million gallon per year production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin. Aemetis is developing a sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel fuel biorefinery in California that will use renewable hydrogen and hydroelectric power to produce low carbon intensity renewable jet and diesel fuel. For additional information about Aemetis, please visit www.aemetis.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events or other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections of financial results in 2025 and future years; statements relating to the development, engineering, financing, construction and operation of the Aemetis ethanol, biogas, SAF and renewable diesel, and carbon sequestration facilities; our ability to promote, develop, finance, and construct facilities to produce biogas, renewable fuels, and biochemicals; and statements about future market prices and results of government actions. Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “showing signs,” “targets,” “view,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and predictions and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results or events could differ materially from those set forth or implied by such forward-looking statements and related assumptions due to certain factors, including, without limitation, competition in the ethanol, biodiesel and other industries in which we operate, commodity market risks including those that may result from current weather conditions, financial market risks, customer adoption, counter-party risks, risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and in our other filings with the SEC. We are not obligated, and do not intend, to update any of these forward-looking statements at any time unless an update is required by applicable securities laws.

Company Investor Relations
Media Contact:
Todd Waltz
(408) 213-0940
investors@aemetis.com

External Investor Relations
Contact:
Kirin Smith
PCG Advisory Group
(646) 863-6519
ksmith@pcgadvisory.com

The MIL Network –

June 13, 2025
MIL-OSI: Oportun Lead Independent Director Neil Williams Issues Letter to Stockholders
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Highlights Board’s proactive measures to increase long-term stockholder value and record of effective oversight

Urges stockholders to vote “FOR” Oportun’s two highly qualified nominees – CEO Raul Vazquez and Carlos Minetti – on the GREEN proxy card

SAN CARLOS, Calif., June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oportun (Nasdaq: OPRT), a mission-driven financial services company, today issued a letter to stockholders from Lead Independent Director Neil Williams detailing the actions that Oportun’s Board of Directors has taken to drive improved financial performance and reposition the Company for future success.

After nearly eight years of dedicated service to Oportun’s Board, Mr. Williams plans to retire at the Company’s upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In his letter urging shareholders to vote in favor of Oportun’s skilled and experienced nominees, Mr. Williams highlights:
- In response to the changing economic environment, Oportun announced a detailed plan to reduce expenses and streamline operations in February 2023.
- The announcement of that plan took place nearly two months before the Company was aware that Findell Capital Management was a stockholder. Over the next two years, Oportun:
  - Executed multiple reductions in force; eliminated expenses across the organization; initiated a strategic review process for the Company’s credit card portfolio that eventually resulted in its sale; and discontinued several non-core businesses.
- Oportun has driven $240 million in cost savings since mid-2022, and over the last two quarters returned to GAAP profitability.
- Oportun’s highly engaged and qualified Board possesses the right mix of skills and experience to continue driving Oportun’s strong momentum. The expertise of the Company’s nominees, CEO Raul Vazquez and Carlos Minetti, aligns with the needs of the business and provides a strong foundation to guide Oportun moving forward.
The Board urges stockholders to vote “FOR” Oportun’s two highly qualified nominees using the GREEN proxy card or GREEN voting instruction form. The letter to stockholders and other important information related to the Annual Meeting can be found at VoteForOportun.com.

The full text of the letter to stockholders follows:

Dear Fellow Oportun Financial Stockholders,

My name is Neil Williams and I am the Lead Independent Director at Oportun Financial Corporation.

At our upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders, one of Oportun’s stockholders, Findell Capital, is seeking to remove our CEO, Raul Vazquez, from the Board of Directors. Findell seeks to replace Raul on the Board with an individual who we believe is substantially less qualified and lacks Raul’s institutional knowledge and experience with Oportun. Earlier this year, the Board conducted a comprehensive review of Raul’s performance – as we do every year – and unanimously concluded that Raul is the right person to lead the Company forward. Removing him from the Board would leave Oportun without a seasoned leader and risk destabilizing the Company at a critical time.

I joined the Board in 2017, at a time when the Board’s focus was on capitalizing on favorable economic conditions to accelerate the Company’s growth. The Board recognized an opportunity to deepen and extend our relationship with our customers and, in doing so, increase long-term stockholder value.

Together with management, we developed and executed a plan to expand the Company’s offerings to include credit cards, secured personal loans, and tools for savings, budgeting and investing, while also expanding our personal loan portfolio and its regional footprint. That strategy initially resulted in significant growth and improved credit metrics until the economic environment changed dramatically beginning in early 2022. At that point, it became clear that our growth-focused approach was no longer viable.

Findell would like stockholders to believe that the Board was unresponsive to the challenges the Company faced and only took action after being prompted by Findell and its designees.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

When conditions changed, the Board did what responsible fiduciaries are expected to do: we acted decisively with management to put the Company on a better path. In February 2023 – nearly two months before we were even aware that Findell was a stockholder – we announced a detailed plan to reduce expenses and streamline operations. Over the next two years, we:
- Executed multiple reductions in force;
- Eliminated expenses across the organization;
- Initiated a strategic review process for our credit card portfolio that eventually resulted in its sale; and
- Discontinued several non-core businesses.
Since we took these actions, our team has been executing well and delivering on our commitments. We have driven $240 million in cost savings since mid-2022, and over the last two quarters Oportun returned to GAAP profitability.

We also focused on tightening our credit standards in light of the new environment. Our credit tightening actions have been effective in improving the quality of our loan portfolio, as evidenced by the $439 million asset-backed securitization transaction we executed earlier this month, featuring our first class of notes rated AAA. At a 5.67% average yield, this pricing was 128 basis points lower than our January ABS financing, under arguably a more uncertain macroeconomic backdrop.

All of these actions were initiated before we added two individuals identified by Findell to the Board, and were part of a plan to reposition the Company we had developed independently of Findell.
It is no coincidence that our longer-serving directors were able to develop and oversee a plan to transform Oportun. These individuals are exceptionally talented and deeply committed to the Company, each bringing complementary and relevant skills to the Board. Their expertise is aligned with the needs of our business and forms a strong foundation for effective oversight.
- Jo Ann Barefoot is experienced in consumer finance regulation. Her background as former Deputy Comptroller of the Currency, as well as her experience serving on the Consumer Advisory Board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, gives her critical insight into some of the Company’s most significant risks and opportunities. Since joining the Board in 2016, her background and expertise have been instrumental in navigating the regulatory landscape as we expanded our geographic footprint and evolved our business model.
- As the former President and COO of Khan Academy, Ginny Lee has experience driving growth and operational excellence at a mission-driven, technology-focused organization. In addition, she spent more than 17 years at Intuit where she held multiple senior executive operational and technical roles, including Chief Information Officer. In that role, she helped grow Intuit, now one of the world’s largest fintech companies.
- As a former senior and managing partner at KPMG, Louis Miramontes has advised hundreds of large public and private companies and their boards on audit, compliance and regulatory matters in the U.S. and Latin America. His expertise in public company financial reporting ensures strong oversight of the Company’s financial reporting processes and compliance.
- Sandra Smith has a strong track record of building and scaling financial operations at leading technology companies. For example, she held senior financial roles at both public and venture-backed technology companies, including Twilio and Akamai Technologies, where she also led the investor relations program, enabling her to provide a valuable stockholder perspective in the boardroom. Her experience makes her an ideal Chair of our Audit Committee.
- Raul Vazquez has served as Oportun’s CEO for more than a decade and has helped grow the Company’s loan portfolio from $100 million in 2012 to approximately $3 billion today. Under Raul’s leadership, Oportun grew loan originations from $243 million to $1.8 billion and expanded from 2 to 41 states. Before joining Oportun, he was a senior executive at Walmart.com and Walmart Inc., where he helped shape and scale the company’s multi-channel strategy and developed deep expertise in retail, operations and digital innovation – which prepared him well to lead a multi-channel, customer-centric business like Oportun.
Over the last 16 months, we have appointed four new independent directors to the Board – Mohit Daswani, Carlos Minetti, Scott Parker and Richard Tambor. In addition, over the last two years, four other directors have stepped down. Importantly, two of the newly appointed directors, Scott and Richard, were recommended by Findell.

Despite having a strong set of qualified directors, the Company’s 10-member Board was larger than our historical practice, and larger than the boards of many of our peers. We recognized that a smaller Board would be more in line with industry practice, increase focus and improve effectiveness, while also being consistent with feedback from stockholders, including Findell. Accordingly, to facilitate a reduction in Board size from 10 to eight directors, my colleague Scott and I are not standing for reelection at the upcoming Annual Meeting and will step down from the Board at that time.

As I approach the end of my tenure at Oportun, I am confident that the Company is in good hands and on the right path, as demonstrated by continually improving financial performance in 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. The Board has worked energetically with the management team to create value. While there is more work to do, I am proud of the progress we have made to reposition the business for long-term success.

Oportun’s transformation has occurred not because the Board was pushed reluctantly into action as Findell claims, but because the Board and management recognized the need for a different approach to address an evolving macroeconomic environment. We proactively set a new direction and have worked diligently to oversee its execution. The incumbent directors have driven that change, and, in my view, are best equipped to ensure Oportun’s momentum continues.

For these reasons, I strongly encourage you to vote FOR Oportun’s director nominees – Raul Vazquez and Carlos Minetti – by following the instructions on the GREEN proxy card or GREEN voting instruction form.

Sincerely,

Neil Williams

Your Vote Is Important!

Please vote on the GREEN proxy card “FOR” the Company’s two nominees using one of the following options:
- Follow the instructions set forth on the enclosed GREEN proxy card or GREEN voting instruction form to vote via the Internet,
- Follow the instructions set forth on the enclosed GREEN proxy card or GREEN voting instruction form to vote by telephone, or
- Sign and date the enclosed GREEN proxy card or GREEN voting instruction form and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided.
Remember, please discard any white proxy card or white voting instruction form that you may receive from Findell. If you have already voted using a white proxy card or white voting instruction form, you may cancel that vote by simply voting again using the Company’s GREEN proxy card or GREEN voting instruction form. Only your latest-dated vote will count!

If you have any questions about how to vote your shares, please call the firm assisting us with the solicitation of proxies:

INNISFREE M&A INCORPORATED
Shareholders may call:
(877) 800-5195 (toll-free from the U.S. and Canada) or
+1 (412) 232-3651 (from other countries)

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this communication are “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this communication, including statements as to our future performance, financial position and our strategic initiatives, and the Annual Meeting, are forward-looking statements. These statements can be generally identified by terms such as “expect,” “plan,” “goal,” “target,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “predict,” “project,” “outlook,” “continue,” “due,” “may,” “believe,” “seek,” or “estimate” and similar expressions or the negative versions of these words or comparable words, as well as future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “likely” and “could.” These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events, financial trends and risks and uncertainties that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These risks and uncertainties include those risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as our subsequent filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except to the extent required by federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there is no assurance that the events or results suggested by the forward-looking statements will in fact occur, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/24cd006c-d8c9-4110-a2e8-aecbc29376a0

The MIL Network –
June 13, 2025

MIL-OSI Banking: Scheduled Banks’ Statement of Position in India as on Friday, May 30, 2025

Source: Reserve Bank of India

(Amount in ₹ crore)
		SCHEDULED COMMERCIAL BANKS (Including RRBs, SFBs and PBs)			ALL SCHEDULED BANKS
		31-May-2024	16-May-2025*	30-May-2025*	31-May-2024	16-May-2025*	30-May-2025*
I	LIABILITIES TO THE BKG.SYSTEM (A)
	a) Demand & Time deposits from banks	283850.22	356142.91	365140.08	287722.27	362130.00	370999.12**
	b) Borrowings from banks	163095.32	112740.77	110567.25	162607.11	112743.77	110589.25
	c) Other demand & time liabilities	76511.12	24239.07	25102.81	76730.29	24626.53	25497.28
II	LIABILITIES TO OTHERS (A)
	a) Deposits (other than from banks)	21087206.37	22887587.39	23172559.90	21674968.79	23379288.75	23662791.19
	i) Demand	2506492.91	2841915.80	2988913.58	2567382.20	2892062.41	3038372.32
	ii) Time	18580713.47	20045671.59	20183646.31	19107586.59	20487226.34	20624418.87
	b) Borrowings @	738925.22	893728.27	895727.00	743952.27	898148.91	900193.89
	c) Other demand & time liabilities	967360.63	999529.93	1030639.78	983261.53	1012437.72	1043774.13
III	BORROWINGS FROM R.B.I. (B)	71305.00	23081.00	6516.00	71305.00	23081.00	6516.00
	Against usance bills and / or prom. Notes			0.00			0.00
IV	CASH	90895.20	85968.10	87179.07	93788.10	88775.09	89604.92
V	BALANCES WITH R.B.I. (B)	951109.00	928136.28	956086.24	971105.00	947302.36	975236.91
VI	ASSETS WITH BANKING SYSTEM
	a) Balances with other banks
	i) In current accounts	8067.70	11102.45	11433.47	11788.66	13341.32	13852.12
	ii) In other accounts	177529.41	233058.58	255330.58	228433.60	295070.10	318135.43
	b) Money at call & short notice	13028.13	17715.86	22812.64	33944.85	35986.40	40349.51
	c) Advances to banks (i.e. due from bks.)	51405.37	39786.83	36147.80	54043.23	42530.76	38542.46Â£
	d) Other assets	112400.95	78068.21	78094.05	118837.65	82032.05	82801.64
VII	INVESTMENTS (At book value)	6183502.03	6684475.70	6706717.24	6391944.79	6838726.32	6861687.29
	a) Central & State Govt. securities+	6182472.76	6683947.50	6706168.85	6378531.37	6830276.71	6853140.24
	b) Other approved securities	1029.27	528.19	548.39	13413.42	8449.61	8547.05
VIII	BANK CREDIT (Excluding Inter-Bank Advances)	16782881.64	18227711.87	18287596.63	17346530.02	18694728.44	18753960.67
	a) Loans, cash credits & Overdrafts $	16469359.59	17890954.33	17949974.58	17029508.57	18354554.88	18412998.48
	b) Inland Bills purchased	64366.78	79832.65	79467.07	64372.00	81180.34	80743.89
	c) Inland Bills discounted	208274.29	221259.31	222652.60	211137.16	222739.64	224160.09
	d) Foreign Bills purchased	16125.00	14020.55	13866.49	16347.72	14241.01	14063.24
	e) Foreign Bills discounted	24755.98	21645.03	21635.88	25164.57	22012.57	21994.97

NOTE
*	Provisional figures incorporated in respect of such banks as have not been able to submit final figures.
(A)	Demand and Time Liabilities do not include borrowings of any Scheduled State Co-operative Bank from State Government and any reserve fund deposits maintained with such banks by any co-operative society within the areas of operation of such banks.
**	This excludes deposits of Co-operative Banks with Scheduled State Co-operative Banks. These are included under item II (a).
@	Other than from Reserve Bank, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and Export Import Bank of India.
(B)	The figures relating to Scheduled Commercial Banks’ Borrowings in India from Reserve Bank and balances with Reserve Bank are those shown in the statement of affairs of the Reserve Bank. Borrowings against usance bills and/ or promissory notes are under Section 17(4)(c) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Following a change in the accounting practise for LAF transactions with effect from July 11, 2014, as per the recommendations of Malegam Committee formed to Review the Format of Balance Sheet and the Profit and Loss Account of the Bank, the transactions in case of Repo / Term Repo / MSF are reflected under ‘Borrowings from RBI’.
Â£	This excludes advances granted by Scheduled State Co-operative Banks to Co-operative banks. These are included under item VIII (a).
+	Includes Treasury Bills, Treasury Deposits, Treasury Savings Certificates and postal obligations.
$	Includes advances granted by Scheduled Commercial Banks and Scheduled Cooperative Banks to Public Food Procurement Agencies (viz. Food Corporation of India, State Government and their agencies under the Food consortium).

Food Credit Outstanding as on
(Amount in ₹ crore)
Date	31-May-2024	16-May-2025	30-May-2025
Scheduled Commercial Banks	40258.89	68078.36	70580.71
Scheduled Co-operative Banks	50623.09	51972.99	51972.99

The expression ‘Banking System’ or ‘Banks’ means the banks and any other financial institution referred to in sub-clauses (i) to (vi) of clause (d) of the explanation below Section 42(1) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

No. of Scheduled Commercial Banks as on Current Fortnight:135

Ajit Prasad
Deputy General Manager
(Communications)

Press Release: 2025-2026/533

MIL OSI Global Banks –

June 12, 2025

MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa – How can nature power Africa’s present and future?
Source: Global Landscapes Forum (GLF)

On 19 June, join experts and community leaders for the hybrid event GLF Africa 2025: Innovate, Restore, Prosper. Explore opportunities for the continent to reverse land degradation, biodiversity loss and the climate crisis.

Nairobi, Kenya (12 June 2025) – GLF Africa, hosted by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) and CFOR-ICRAF, returns for its 7th edition on 19 June, held online and in person in Nairobi, Kenya, in English, French and Swahili.

Bringing together leading voices from diverse sectors and backgrounds, this hybrid conference will spotlight Africa’s progress, priorities and possibilities in building healthy, resilient and prosperous landscapes, communities and economies.

Africa holds two-thirds of the world’s arable land and the youngest population on Earth. GLF Africa 2025: Innovate, Restore, Prosper will highlight how science and traditional knowledge are guiding local action towards an economy that keeps the continent’s land healthy for future generations.

The event will cover four key themes:

Forest and landscape restoration

Land and tree use rights and livelihoods

Natural capital and sustainable finance

AI, technology and data for intelligent landscapes

Building Africa’s nature economy

Africa faces a triple environmental crisis of land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change, but current policies, funding and land rights fall short of what’s needed.

Time is running out to tackle these challenges – which is why the continent must start building a powerful nature economy today. This means unlocking its vast natural capital –its forests, biodiversity, land and water – combined with its deep knowledge systems, good governance, meaningful partnerships, AI and big data.

How to join the conversation

Everyone is invited to register for free at bit.ly/GLFAfrica2025.

The event will feature more than 60 inspiring speakers, including:

Balbina Andrew, Indigenous community leader from Tanzania, Executive Director of Nourish Africa and Coordinator of the locally-led initiative GLFx Mwanza.

Kate Kallot, Founder and CEO of Amini AI, recognized for expanding access to technology across Africa and named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI.

Ngobi Joel, Co-Founder of the School Food Forest Initiative, 2025 GLF Forest Restoration Steward and activist focused on climate, education and rural development in Uganda.

Peter Minang, Africa Director at the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and an expert in climate-smart landscapes.

Rekia Foudel, Founder and Managing Partner of Barka Fund, one of the GLF’s 8 Women with a New Vision for Earth 2025, bringing innovative financing to African startups.

Sellah Bogonko, Co-Founder and CEO of Jacob’s Ladder Africa, working to activate 30 million green jobs across Africa by 2033.

Solange Bandiaky-Badji, President of the Rights and Resources Group (RRG) and Coordinator of the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI), who spearheaded RRI’s Gender Justice program.

These leaders will be joined by many other changemakers in youth-led action, research, storytelling, academia, gender equity, sustainable finance and policy to discuss topics such as:

Powering Africa’s future – the promise of nature-centered economies

Confronting challenges to secure rights, land restoration and livelihoods

Scaling up farmer-managed natural regeneration: Action in Ethiopia and Kenya

Bridging knowledge domains for inclusive landscape restoration

Financing frontline action for climate, nature and livelihoods

How Africa can lead agri-tech transformation

From vision to action – A roadmap for Africa’s nature economy.

Explore the full agenda here: (ref. https://connect.globallandscapesforum.org/e/africa-2025#agenda)

NOTES

Alongside GLF Africa 2025, the GLF will engage youth and local leaders from across the continent in collaborative in-person experiences during:

Africa Restoration Week (20–21 June)

The Stakeholder Engagement with Evidence training (23–25 June)

The Landscape Leadership Camp (16–18 June)

The workshops, interactive learning and peer networking will bridge community experience, scientific research and regional insights on policy, evidence-based restoration action, inclusive decision making, landscape approaches, breaking silos, climate justice, fundraising and more.

ABOUT THE GLF

The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) is the world’s largest knowledge-led platform on integrated land use, connecting people with a shared vision to create productive, profitable, equitable and resilient landscapes. It is led by the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), in collaboration with its co-founders UNEP and the World Bank, and its charter members. Learn more at www.globallandscapesforum.org.
MIL OSI – Submitted News –
June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Environment Secretary leads a new push with business to restore nature
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release

Environment Secretary leads a new push with business to restore nature

• Environment Secretary Steve Reed has brought business leaders and investors together to scale up private investment in nature
Woods and fields

Government launches Call for Evidence on boosting private sector investment in nature recovery, delivering a key recommendation of the Corry Review.

Action supports the Government’s aims to secure long-term economic growth and environmental health as part of the Plan for Change.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed champions private investment in nature recovery as the government launches a new call for evidence (12 June).

Speaking to leading figures from financial institutions, property, retail and sustainability sectors at a roundtable event in London, the Environment Secretary emphasised the importance of fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors to support economic growth while powering nature recovery.

Businesses across the UK, whether in food and agriculture, construction, finance, or retail, rely on a healthy natural environment to operate, grow and innovate.

Whether powering our industries, safeguarding our food security or protecting public health, over half of global GDP is highly or moderately dependent upon nature. England’s natural capital is valued at £1.4 trillion and generates over £35 billion worth of economic benefits annually excluding oil and gas, more than any single manufacturing sector.

That is why more private sector investment in nature recovery is vital. To help deliver that increased investment a new government Call for Evidence has launched today seeking ideas from business and investors – delivering a key recommendation of the Corry Review and the commitments made in the Land Use Framework consultation.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:

“Nature is essential to strong and sustained economic growth, which is this Government’s highest priority.

“Private investment will help us to protect and restore our natural environment while creating new economic opportunities as part of the Plan for Change.

“This is an exciting opportunity to hear from businesses, investors, and other stakeholders on how we can work together to increase investment in nature.”

Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas, OBE, CEO of the Green Finance Institute, said:

“Unlocking the billions needed for UK nature restoration hinges on effective revenue models. UK businesses, as buyers of environmental outcomes, are crucial in creating those revenue models, and we’re looking forward to supporting Defra in better understanding how we can encourage and support business engagement.”

Andrew Walton, Chief Sustainability Officer, Lloyds Banking Group said:

“As the UK’s largest infrastructure finance provider, we know how blended finance can help deliver a step change in private investment to drive sustainable growth. We welcome the Government’s ambition on nature markets and the opportunity to establish the UK as a global leader in this important area. Robust standards, reliable data and long-term policy direction are key to building confidence in the investment case for nature and can place it at the heart of UK growth.”

The roundtable, hosted by Lloyds Banking Group and led in partnership with the Green Finance Institute (GFI), brought together leaders from across finance and business, including leaders from Aviva Investors, Barclays, Barratt Homes and more.

Defra will partner with the GFI to engage businesses on the call for evidence and wider nature finance priorities –alongside ongoing work with UK businesses to implement the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).

Promoting investment opportunities in nature creates opportunities for business growth across multiple sectors, including farmers looking to diversify their revenues, agri-food businesses securing supply chain resilience, insurers and water companies reducing costs from floods, droughts, and pollution, developers managing climate and environmental risks to new homes and infrastructure, as well as growth in the tourism and recreational sectors.

The meeting also discussed the next steps for the Big Nature Impact Fund, the Defra-backed public-private blended impact fund for nature. Finance Earth will act as sole fund manager and will begin fund-raising soon. The Fund will invest in woodland creation, peatland restoration and other habitat creation projects that aim to maximise social and environmental impact by funding the right activity in the right place.

The Call for Evidence will be open for responses until 10 August 2025.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

·         For more information on the Call for Evidence, visit:

·         In March, The British Standards Institution launched the Government-backed Nature Investment Standards, which will help nature-friendly investments across the UK to grow by building confidence among investors: New world-leading nature finance standards launched to encourage green investment – GOV.UK

·         In April, the Government launched a consultation on how to raise the integrity of Voluntary Carbon and Nature Markets, which is open for responses until 10th July: Voluntary carbon and nature markets: raising integrity – consultation document (accessible webpage) – GOV.UK

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Published 12 June 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Conflict, Displacement and disease drive food insecurity and malnutrition to alarming level in parts of South Sudan

Source: World Food Programme

JUBA, South Sudan – The population in two counties in South Sudan are at-risk of famine in the coming months, as conflict in Upper Nile state escalates, destroying homes, disrupting livelihoods, and impeding the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The latest update by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) shows a deterioration in food and nutrition conditions in areas of South Sudan hit by fighting in the last few months. In Upper Nile state, people in 11 of the 13 counties are now facing emergency levels of hunger.

Of extreme concern are Nasir and Ulang counties in Upper Nile, where people are deemed to be at-risk of famine, in the worst-case scenario. These areas have faced intense clashes and aerial bombardments that began in March, leading to large scale displacement. Some 32,000 people are in Catastrophic (IPC Phase 5) hunger conditions in Upper Nile state, more than three times the previous projection.

Other parts of the country that have been spared from the conflict have seen improvements, with food security classification shifting from emergency (IPC Phase 4) to crisis (IPC Phase 3) – linked in some areas to better crop production and in others to sustained humanitarian interventions. This highlights the positive impact stability can have on food security.

Nonetheless, 7.7 million people (57 percent of the population) continue to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+), and there have been persistent pockets of catastrophic hunger (IPC Phase 5) in South Sudan in recent years, with conflict as a core driver. The last time famine was confirmed in South Sudan was in 2017.

“South Sudan cannot afford to sink into conflict at this point in time. It will plunge already vulnerable communities into severe food insecurity, leading to widespread hunger as farmers will be prevented from working on their land,” said Meshack Malo, Country Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in South Sudan. “Improvement from IPC Phase 4 to IPC Phase 3, in ten counties, is clear testament of the dividends of peace”

Humanitarian access in the conflict-affected areas remains severely constrained, leaving vulnerable communities without vital support during the lean season, amid ongoing conflict and displacement. The report also found that 66 percent (1.04 million people) of Upper Nile state’s population are now facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3), Emergency (IPC Phase 4), or Catastrophic (IPC Phase 5) levels of hunger.

“Once again, we are seeing the devastating impact conflict has on food security in South Sudan,” said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, Country Director and Representative for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in South Sudan. “Conflict doesn’t just destroy homes and livelihoods, it tears communities apart, cuts off access to markets, and sends food prices spiraling upward. Long-term peace is essential, but right now, it is critical our teams are able to access and safely distribute food to families caught in conflict in Upper Nile, to bring them back from the brink and prevent famine.”

Malnutrition is also surging among children and mothers amidst a cholera outbreak with three additional counties in Upper Nile and Unity states reaching the most critical levels of malnutrition classification. The number of children at risk of acute malnutrition across South Sudan has risen to 2.3 million, from 2.1 million earlier in the year – an already unprecedented number.

“These latest projections place a further 200,000 young children at high risk of malnutrition. The ongoing challenges with access in some of the most affected areas, as well as health and nutrition site closures reduce the chances of early intervention and treatment. In addition, the cholera outbreak has added to an already difficult situation, putting young lives in a precarious fight for survival,” said Noala Skinner, UNICEF’s country representative in South Sudan. “Now more than ever we need continuity and scale-up of services for prevention and treatment of malnutrition” she added.

As conflict, displacement, and disease continue to converge, humanitarian agencies are warning that the time to act is passing quickly for thousands of families in Upper Nile who are on the brink of catastrophe.

View the full IPC report here.

More information about the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification scales

# # #

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @wfp_SouthSudan

MIL OSI United Nations News –

June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF tackles logistical challenges to vaccinate 500 000 people against diphtheria

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

On a quiet Tuesday evening, an ambulance pulls into Ati provincial hospital in Chad’s central Batha region. Inside are four members of a family with symptoms of diphtheria – an entirely preventable disease that has resurged across the country in recent years. Since July 2024, more than 2,700 cases have been reported, due in large part to low vaccination coverage and limited public awareness of the disease.

The mother and her three children have travelled 65 km over rough, unpaved roads to reach the hospital. In Chad, motorised transport is scarce and expensive, making a journey of this length is anything but simple. Medical staff from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) are able to save the mother and two older children, but the youngest child is in a serious condition and dies a few days later.

Diphtheria is caused by a bacterium that produces a dangerous toxin. It can cause fever, respiratory distress and a swollen neck, and in severe cases can lead to organ failure and death – especially in children with pre-existing health conditions.

To help curb the epidemic and slow the spread of this disease – which was long believed to be under control in Chad – MSF has been supporting Chad’s Ministry of Public Health and Prevention by treating patients for the disease, monitoring its spread and carrying out a mass vaccination campaign to prevent more people from becoming infected. The vaccination campaign was a major logistical feat, reaching around 500,000 people across two arid regions where travel is difficult, and health centres are few and far between.

Maryam receives the diphtheria vaccine during market day in Mantcharné. She and her mother walked more than five kilometres from their village to reach the market. Chad, November 2024.

Reaching patients early

In the diphtheria treatment unit at Ati provincial hospital, 11-year-old Daoud Mahadi is slowly recovering from the disease. When his symptoms first appeared, his mother tried to treat him with traditional medicine, as there was no health centre nearby.

“We tried traditional medicine because we had no other option, but it didn’t help,” says his mother. “I watched my child grow weaker every day – he couldn’t even swallow water.” When Daoud arrived at the hospital, he was severely malnourished, weighing barely 15 kg.

The response to diphtheria in Chad comes up against a number of serious challenges, including people’s lack of knowledge about the disease, their limited access to healthcare, and the lack of treatment options.

MSF teams are also working in Moussoro hospital, in Barh-El-Gazel region, where we have been treating patients and training health workers, as well as supporting peripheral health centres to diagnose and treat people with diphtheria. Since October 2024, MSF teams in Ati and Moussoro have treated more than 1,600 patients, including 700 severe cases.

Along with our medical response, MSF has rehabilitated 20 wells across Moussoro and neighbouring Chaddra districts to improve people’s access to clean water and help prevent further outbreaks of infectious diseases.

A group of children learn about diphtheria with the MSF team, who explain how vaccination protects against disease. Alifa, Chad, November 2024.

Vaccination: a logistical feat

To address the low immunisation rates that fuelled the epidemic, MSF worked with the Ministry of Public Health and Prevention to run a mass vaccination campaign targeting 300,000 people in Batha region and 200,000 people in Barh-El-Gazel region. The campaign focused on reaching remote and isolated communities, including nomadic people, and aimed to deliver the two vaccine doses required for full protection against diphtheria.

Reaching these scattered communities was one of the biggest challenges of organising the mass vaccination campaign. With communities often located far apart, in areas without passable roads, MSF deployed around 100 motorcycles and off-road vehicles to get vaccination teams and vaccines to where they were needed.

Diphtheria vaccines must be kept at a temperature of between 2°C and 8°C.

“Transporting vaccines while maintaining the cold chain in a desert climate where temperatures can hit 45°C is an enormous challenge,” said Jean Bourges, MSF head of mission. “This was a massive deployment effort, especially in a context where health infrastructure is extremely limited, and power supplies are unreliable.”

To reach nomadic communities in Batha region and gain their trust, MSF and the Ministry of Public Health and Prevention worked with the Ministry of Livestock to implement a ‘One Health’ strategy. This integrated approach – linking human, animal and environmental health – enabled teams to build up trust with communities and vaccinate people during livestock vaccination campaigns – an initiative which significantly boosted vaccination coverage for diphtheria.

In remote areas where roads are non-existent or safety is sometimes uncertain, MSF uses motorcycles to send vaccination teams, awareness-raising officers, and the equipment needed to carry out activities. Chad, November 2024.

The need to remain vigilant

As early as 2023, we warned of a resurgence of diphtheria across West Africa. Protection against this disease depends on routine immunisation programmes, which were severely disrupted after the COVID-19 pandemic, notably due to lack of funding and loss of priority.

To prevent future outbreaks, MSF continues to advocate for stronger disease surveillance and more robust vaccination programmes.

MIL OSI NGO –

June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Nature and wildlife Water firms panicking over disposal of millions of tonnes of contaminated sewage sludge Water companies are panicking they will be left unable to dispose of millions of tonnes of sewage sludge due to tougher pollution rules, and rising concern over the contaminants sludge… by Graham Thompson June 10, 2025
Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Water companies are panicking they will be left unable to dispose of millions of tonnes of sewage sludge due to tougher pollution rules, and rising concern over the contaminants sludge contains.

Read the full investigation with supporting documents from Unearthed, here.

Sewage sludge is the human faeces and other solids left behind when wastewater is cleaned. Around 90% of the UK’s sludge is treated and spread on farmland as a source of nutrients to fertilise crops. However, concern is rising in the UK that this could be introducing damaging levels of contamination to agricultural land.

An analysis for trade association Water UK last year found that in a “worst-case” scenario the industry could be left with “3.4 million wet tonnes” of sludge with nowhere to go, documents obtained by Unearthed under freedom of information laws show.

The key documents not already in the public domain (available via the Unearthed website) include:
- National Plan B: water industry analysis of sludge disposal crisis
- The National Landbank Assessment Report 2024: water industry capacity modelling
- EA CEO internal briefing: prepared by the Environment Agency
Earlier this year, environmental regulators in the United States warned that toxic PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ in sewage sludge spread on American pastures were posing a cancer risk to people who regularly ate meat or dairy from those farms. This came after investigations by Unearthed and others found that sludge destined for British farmland also contained a range of harmful contaminants, including microplastics and forever chemicals.

The water companies fear increased scrutiny of sludge-spreading in the UK could trigger a ‘backlash’ akin to the public outrage they have faced over sewage released into rivers and seas, Unearthed has learned.

Reshima Sharma, political campaigner for Greenpeace UK, said:

“This investigation is yet more proof that we can’t trust the privatised water companies to deal with waste responsibly. So long as they can get away with it, they will just pass any problems on to our countryside and pocket the money they should be investing in solutions.

“In addition to the national scandal of river pollution, their negligence has led to a cocktail of toxic contaminants being spread on the soil that grows our food. The government must stop toxic sludge from being spread on farmland immediately and water companies must be made to pay for disposing of it safely, without passing the buck to bill payers.”

Documents obtained by Unearthed show the Environment Agency (EA) has warned internally that British farmers could stop accepting sludge onto their land. A briefing prepared for the EA’s chief executive warned that if farmers or retailers were to lose confidence in the use of sludge there could be “very serious consequences, as the sludge would have nowhere to go”.

The briefing added that the water industry has “no immediate ‘Plan B’” for the sludge it generates.

But the industry’s most pressing concern is that the government will tighten controls on the amount of fertiliser farmers can use. The EA and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are under pressure to clamp down on excessive muck spreading, which is the country’s leading cause of river pollution.

Water companies say this would leave them without enough farmland available to get rid of all their sludge.

Defra has been reviewing its guidance on protecting water from agricultural pollution, and water companies believe reform of the agricultural pollution rules could result in an outright ban on manure spreading in the autumn, when there is less need for nutrients from crops.

According to Water UK, however, around 70% of sewage sludge is spread in the autumn, and “prohibiting or further constraining that practice would introduce very large and unquantified costs” for the water companies.

Companies are uncertain how much it would cost to deal with a sudden shortfall of this kind, but they estimate it would run to hundreds of millions of pounds. Some have suggested that it could reach billions, potentially resulting in an unplanned increase in household water bills.

ENDS

Notes

Read the full investigation with references, links and supporting documents on Unearthed here.

Contact

Greenpeace UK Press Office – press.uk@greenpeace.org or 020 7865 8255
MIL OSI NGO –
June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Deputy President to respond to oral questions

Source: South Africa News Agency

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will this afternoon respond to questions for oral reply in the National Assembly.

At Thursday’s session, which will take place at 2pm, the country’s second-in-command will touch on a wide range of issues from agricultural support, water shortages and intensified efforts in the country’s comprehensive HIV and AIDS response.

As Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Agriculture and Land Reform, the Deputy President will inform Members of Parliament (MPs) on government efforts towards improving access to funding and resource support for small-scale and smallholder farmers, as well as supporting infrastructure development in rural areas.

Following the withdrawal of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding by the United States Government, the Deputy President will reassure MPs that government has the capacity to fund its HIV/AIDS programme.

“The withdrawal will not have a dire impact in the purchasing and the distribution of the antiretrovirals,” the Deputy President Office’s statement read.

The Deputy President is also expected to emphasise the need to enhance municipal service management and financial stability in the water sector to address water shortages in the country.

“In light of the persistent and evolving threat posed by gang-related violence in both urban and peri-urban areas, the Deputy President will brief Parliament on the comprehensive strategy the Justice, Crime-Prevention and Security Cabinet Committee has implemented to dismantle organised criminal networks,” the statement read.

He will further reiterate South Africa’s commitment to the rule of law, which his Office said is a cornerstone of South Africa’s democratic constitutional order. – SAnews.gov.za

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MIL OSI Africa –

June 12, 2025
Trump says willing to extend trade talks deadline, but says that won’t be necessary

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would be willing to extend a July 8 deadline for completing trade talks with countries before higher U.S. tariffs take effect, but did not believe that would be necessary.

Trump told reporters before a performance at the Kennedy Center that trade negotiations were continuing with some 15 countries, including South Korea, Japan and the European Union.

“We’re rocking in terms of deals,” he said. “We’re dealing with quite a few countries and they all want to make a deal with us.” He said he did not believe a deadline extension would be “a necessity.”

Trump said the U.S. would send out letters in coming weeks specifying the terms of trade deals to dozens of other countries, which they could then embrace or reject.

“At a certain point, we’re just going to send letters out … saying, ‘This is the deal. You can take it, or you can leave it,’” Trump said. “So at a certain point we’ll do that. We’re not quite ready.”

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers earlier that the Trump administration could extend the July trade deal deadline – or “roll the date forward” for countries negotiating in good faith, in certain cases.

A 90-day pause in Trump‘s broadest, “reciprocal” tariffs will end on July 8, with only one trade deal agreed with Britain and some 17 others at various stages of negotiation.

“It is highly likely that those countries – or trading blocs as is the case with the EU – who are negotiating in good faith, we will roll the date forward to continue the good-faith negotiations,” Bessent told the House Ways and Means Committee. “If someone is not negotiating, then we will not.”

Bessent’s remarks marked the first time a Trump administration official has indicated some flexibility around the expiration date for the pause.

Bessent reiterated the possibility of more negotiating time at a second hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, saying it was “my belief that countries that are negotiating in good faith could be rolled forward.”

He said the European Union had previously been slower to come forward with robust proposals, but was now showing “better faith,” without providing specifics. Trump echoed that more upbeat view on Wednesday, saying, “They do want to negotiate.”

A deal struck on Tuesday in London with China to de-escalate that bilateral trade war is proceeding on a separate track and timeline, with an August 10 deadline set last month.

The president has been the final decision-maker on his administration’s tariff and trade policies, but Bessent’s influence has increased in recent months and the Treasury chief has been viewed by many trading partners as a moderating voice.

Trump announced the pause on April 9, a week after unveiling “Liberation Day” tariffs against nearly all U.S. trading partners that proved to be so unexpectedly large and sweeping that it sent global financial markets into near panic.

The S&P 500 Index plunged more than 12% in four days for its heftiest run of losses since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. Investors were so rattled they bailed out of safe-haven U.S. Treasury securities, sending bond yields rocketing higher. The dollar sank.

Markets started their recovery on April 9 when Trump unexpectedly announced the pause. The recovery continued in early May when the Trump team agreed to dial back the triple-digit tariff rates it had imposed on goods from China. Those events have given rise to what some on Wall Street have parodied as the “TACO” trade – an acronym for Trump Always Chickens Out.

“The only time the market has reacted positively is when the administration is in retreat from key policy areas,” Democratic Representative Don Beyer of Virginia told Bessent before pressing him on what to expect when the July deadline expires.

“As I have said repeatedly there are 18 important trading partners. We are working toward deals with those,” Bessent said before going on to signal a willingness to offer extensions to those negotiating in good faith.

(Reuters)

June 12, 2025
Delhi farmers to play a key role in building Atmanirbhar Bharat: Shivraj Singh

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

As part of the ongoing Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Tigipur village on the outskirts of Delhi on Wednesday. The visit aimed to engage directly with farmers, promote the adoption of modern agricultural technologies, and gather ground-level feedback for shaping future agricultural policies.

Chouhan, accompanied by Secretary (DARE) and ICAR Director General Dr. M.L. Jat and senior officials, participated in a Kisan Chaupal where he interacted with farmers on key issues like seed production, polyhouse farming, and high-value crop cultivation. He lauded the innovative efforts of local farmers and witnessed a live drone demonstration for pesticide and nutrient application.

Emphasizing the importance of field-based research, Chouhan stated that scientists would now work closely with farmers to address real-time agricultural challenges. He noted that over the last 15 days, 2,170 ICAR teams had engaged with nearly 1.08 crore farmers nationwide.

Highlighting concerns over declining soil fertility, Chouhan urged farmers to utilize Soil Health Cards and adopt sustainable farming practices. He also outlined the government’s focus on crop diversification, horticulture, and market-oriented agriculture, particularly in regions like Delhi with strong market linkages.

Assuring better inclusion of Delhi’s farmers in central schemes, Chouhan announced the rollout of several initiatives, including PM-AASHA, RKVY, crop insurance, and subsidies for polyhouses, orchards, and agri-machinery. He called on the Delhi government to submit proposals to expedite implementation.

He said, “Delhi’s farmers will now play a key role in building an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and benefit from every Central Government scheme. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are committed to transforming both the destiny and the landscape of Delhi’s farmers.”

The Minister reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to farmers’ welfare and warned of strict action against the sale of counterfeit pesticides and fertilizers. “We will not allow anyone to exploit our farmers,” he declared.

Chouhan’s visit comes ahead of the campaign’s grand finale in Bardoli, Gujarat, marking the culmination of a 15-day nationwide outreach aimed at transforming Indian agriculture under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Greater Bendigo’s Taco Trail turns up the heat as guest judges crown the winner

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

The City of Greater Bendigo’s vibrant destination program Fiesta Bendigo is in full swing with culinary experts crowning the best taco from three standout finalists in The Taco Trail.

Inspired by Bendigo Art Gallery’s exclusive exhibition Frida Kahlo: In her own image, Fiesta Bendigo’s Taco Trail is a highlight of the visitor campaign involving 23 unique taco creations served across 22 local hospitality businesses. They are all Bendigo Tourism members.

The finalists Percy and Percy, Mexican Kitchen, and The Dispensary Bar & Diner were shortlisted for the guest judges based on the popular votes so far (the winner from public votes will be announced on June 30 and votes are still open*).

Two esteemed culinary experts Dani Valent, a freelance journalist for Gourmet Traveller and host of the Dirty Linen podcast, and Mexican cook Elvira McIntosh de Orozco, a specialist in traditional Nahuatl (Aztec) cuisine, were the guest judges. They crowned the winner after visiting the top three venues to determine the tastiest taco.

Congratulations to The Dispensary Bar & Diner who won the judges over with its Xinjiang Lamb Taco. The winning taco wowed the judges with its bold, unexpected flavours and locally sourced ingredients for the dish – including locally made tortillas.

Judge Elvira McIntosh de Orozco praised the dish’s originality.

“I was quite surprised that the flavour just changes a little and it adds to the quality of it,” Elvira McIntosh de Orozco said.

Dani Valent was equally impressed with the taco’s winning components.

“The meat is so succulent. The Dispensary’s taco really seems to celebrate Australian multiculturalism. It has influences from all over, locally made which is very impressive, lamb shoulder – local lamb, spices, and gochujang. So, we are in northwestern China, we are in Korea, we are in Mexico, and we are definitely in Bendigo,” Dani Valent said.

Finn Vedelsby said the win was fantastic.

“We’re very excited, it’s been wonderful for Bendigo to be able to have so many tacos around and we’re honoured to win best taco in Bendigo. You beauty,” Finn Vedelsby said.

City Acting Manager Economy & Experience Glenn Harvey said the Fiesta Bendigo program and the popular Taco Trail were inspired by Bendigo Art Gallery’s exclusive exhibition Frida Kahlo: In her own image, which is open until Sunday July 13.

“The international exhibition is only open for one more month, closing Sunday July 13 so don’t miss the chance to explore this extraordinary exhibition of the iconic artist Frida Kahlo, and enjoy Mexican-inspired experiences as part of the Fiesta Bendigo program, including The Taco Trail,” Mr Harvey said

“The public vote for Greater Bendigo’s most popular Taco remains open until June 30, with voters going into the draw to win a VIP weekend for two in Bendigo, valued at over $1,000 so I encourage you to explore the trail and vote for your favourite taco.”

MIL OSI News –

June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Soil conservation strengthens future for hill country farms

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council

After the Kaikōura earthquakes in November 2016, we applied for Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) funding to help set up the SCAR project.

In 2019, $4.1 million was granted for the initial four years, following the immediate clean-up work from the Post Quake-Farming project, which was led by Beef and Lamb New Zealand and MPI.

Now, with another $2 million of funding granted, the SCAR team continues to work with MPI to build meaningful relationships with farmers and ultimately improve the health of our environment.

North Canterbury SCAR programme successes

The SCAR project has meant farmers like Ian can look after their soil by preventing erosion and avoiding sediment entering our waterways.

For the last five years, Ian has received nearly 150 poplars each year from the SCAR fund to plant in and around at-risk areas, creating a stable landscape.

If the spacing and area of the poles planted met the criteria for MPI’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), then landowners could claim carbon credits for the poles as they grew over time. This helps to offset the cost and maintenance of planting the poles.

Ian said the best part about working with the SCAR team had been the advice and connections.

“It’s invaluable to have a technical team rubbing shoulders with farmers, getting their hands dirty and being a port of call if we have concerns or don’t understand something.

“We’re not always going to see eye to eye, but having the SCAR team there providing advice is a great stepping stone for creating long-term trust and collaboration with Environment Canterbury,” Ian said.

North Canterbury sheep and beef farmer Ian Knowles and his son Victor checking a poplar plant

Building trust in North Canterbury

Senior land management and biodiversity advisor, Sam Thompson, said that initially, there was a lot of distrust and a lack of confidence in us from the North Canterbury community.

“Gates were being shut, and a strong movement around banning access.”

But the SCAR programme had been a leading engagement tool to start conversations in the community with the support to follow.

“The project has dramatically improved the community’s confidence in us to help find solutions rather than setting regulations and telling them what not to do,” Sam said.

As well as building positive relationships, we’ve provided landowners with access to environmental experts like ecologists, biodiversity advisors and consent advisors.

“Gates have been opened both ways,” Sam said.

Landowners appreciate the simplicity of the process to apply for funding from SCAR.

Strong endorsements

Andrew Arps, North Canterbury water and land team leader:

Andrew said the SCAR programme had been a game changer for building trust and achieving results despite wider challenges.

“The combination of a clear approach, the right team, and consistent follow-through has opened farm gates and opened minds, leading to new opportunities and genuine partnerships with landowners.”

Louise Askin, MPI senior adviser for the Hill Country Erosion Programme:

Louise said they were pleased with how we had grown the SCAR project over the past six years.

“The Council’s strong advisory support and financial assistance are helping North Canterbury farmers address the unique challenges in protecting their farms’ most vulnerable land.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Search for missing person in Taranaki

Source: New Zealand Police

The search is continuing for missing New Plymouth woman Jan, with Police, LandSAR and other volunteers out searching around the Thomason Road and Lake Mangamahoe areas today.

We’re asking anyone out along the mountain bike and walking tracks to keep an eye out for Jan.

In addition to this, if any farmers or residents in the surrounding areas of Alfred Road and Albert Road could check their paddocks, backyards, sheds, sleepouts and under anything where a person could seek shelter.

Jan was last seen walking north along State Highway 3 near the intersection of Thomason Road, between Egmont Village and New Plymouth at around 11am on Tuesday 10 June.

She was last seen wearing long pants and a green jacket.

If you have seen Jan, or have any information that could help, please contact Police via our 105 service, either over the phone or online at 105.police.govt.nz.

Please reference the file number 250611/5626.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Agriculture – New legal requirement to record raw milk movement

Source: OSPRI New Zealand

An ongoing risk in the fight to eradicate the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis has led to some new requirements for raw milk destined to be used as cattle feed.

Disease eradication agency OSPRI is alerting farmers to new legal requirements which apply from 1 July 2025 to keep records of the movement of raw milk on and off farm.

OSPRI’s national manager, Mycoplasma bovis, Mackenzie Nicol, says it’s known that M. bovis can spread between properties when raw milk is used for cattle feed, so, from 1 July, the new National Pest Management Plan for M.bovis requires anyone receiving raw milk on to a farm with the intention of feeding it to cattle, to accurately record it.

“Farmers and industry have worked so hard to eradicate M.bovis, what we are doing with this requirement is all about closing one of the last loops, where we know there is risk of disease spread. It makes good sense to be vigilant.

“We know this change will affect businesses transporting raw milk to be used for cattle feed, the farmers receiving it, and will rely on dairy processing operators offering up information about the milk they supply.

“Luckily most of this information is already recorded – so the requirement should fit with good farm biosecurity practices,” Mackenzie says.

To help with the record-keeping, OSPRI has created a template form which can be downloaded from its website.

“When you use our form, you’ll be noting down all the information we need to collect, like the date and time of delivery, where the raw milk came from, how it got to your farm and how much was delivered.

“It would also be worthwhile to make notes on sales invoices or receipts for raw milk purchases, the farm diary, or a driver’s logbook.

“We need to do the best we can to keep track of all the risks we know of when it comes to extremely tough diseases to fight, like M.bovis,” Mackenzie says.

Recording these movements could also play an important role in containing and limiting the spread of other infectious diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease or bovine viral diarrhoea.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Agriculture – Feds back launch of new fertiliser spreading standard

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers says the launch of a new fertiliser spreading standard is a key step in efforts to improve nutrient management across New Zealand farms.

“Fertiliser is a significantly large spend for farmers,” Federated farmers board member Colin Hurst says.

“Having confidence that it’s being applied accurately and responsibly is essential – for productivity, profitability and for meeting environmental expectations.

“The launch of a modernised Spreadmark Assurance Programme at Fieldays is a milestone moment and we fully support it.”

Spreadmark, founded by Groundspread NZ and now managed by the Fertiliser Quality Council, is the national fertiliser spreading assurance programme.

The new Spreadmark Code introduces updated standards that will help farmers and contractors lift the bar even further when it comes to nutrient precision and environmental care.

Hurst says Federated Farmers was proud to host the official launch at its Rural Advocacy Hub at Fieldays.

“We’ve had a long-standing connection with the Fertiliser Quality Council, which was formed by Federated Farmers in 1992.

“It’s a partnership rooted in practical, farmer-driven solutions – so it’s fitting that we helped launch this next chapter at the heart of New Zealand’s farming community.

“It was also great to have National Party MP Barbara Kuriger there to launch the Code.”

Hurst says assurance programmes like Spreadmark will play an important role as new regulatory requirements come into effect.

“As farm planning and environmental standards become more embedded across the sector, programmes like Spreadmark will be essential.

“They’re not just tools for compliance-they’re tools for good farming.”

“We see this modernised Spreadmark Programme as a strong example of how the sector can lead from the front – delivering better outcomes for farmers, the environment, and the communities they support.

“We’re proud to be part of its continued evolution and success.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s wine market uncorks consumption vitality

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

In an exhibition hall at an expo in Yinchuan, the capital of northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the rich aroma emanating from a copper hot pot is gaining the attention of visitors. The dish of tender mutton cooked in red wine-added broth is a perfect blend of two of Ningxia’s most famed products.

“Using spring water, red wine and nourishing ingredients removes unpleasant smells, making the mutton delicious and flavorful,” said Tian Feng, who manages the hot pot restaurant operating the booth. The popularity of its red wine hot pot ensures the restaurant is often fully booked on weekends, Tian added.

Across China’s evolving consumer landscape, wine is undergoing a subtle transformation. No longer restricted to formal banquets and professional tasting events, wine is becoming accessible as various consumption scenarios and wine products are created.

This shift in accessibility is evident at the ongoing Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Ningxia, which is a renowned wine production region that is promoting a “tipsy economy.”

People visit the Global Wineries Exhibition during the Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on June 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Ningxia boasts a unique terroir for the production of top-class wine, with prolonged sunshine hours and a cool, dry climate aiding the cultivation of grapes. After four decades of development, it has become China’s largest wine-producing region. The eastern foot of Helan Mountain is widely regarded as a “golden zone” for grape cultivation and high-end wine production.

By the end of 2024, the region had more than 600,000 mu (about 40,000 hectares) of wine grape plantations and an annual wine output of 140 million bottles. Its wines were exported to over 40 countries and regions.

At the expo, brightly colored canned wines from the Ningxia State Farm Winery have won the favor of many. Compared to bottled wines, canned wines are more convenient to drink and can more easily meet the demands of diverse scenarios such as camping and picnics, said Li Shuang, the winery’s sales manager.

In addition to its canned wines, which have been popular since their launch last year, the company offers innovative products such as creamy jasmine wine, lemon oolong tea wine, black coffee wine and alcohol-free options. These products drove 20 percent of the company’s sales growth in 2024, Li said.

Athletes run past a wine grape plantation during a half-marathon in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on Sept. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Cheeks rosy after tasting a dozen wines at the expo, local visitor Lu Ting is a tourism professional and sommelier who enjoys buying wines to share with family and friends.

“Chardonnay with meat skewers, reds with hot pot — it’s about sharing joy,” said Lu, 42.

The four-day event will run until Thursday and is slated to include a world wine tasting event, a wine and winery exhibition, an innovation competition and an art biennial.

Last month, Yinchuan also hosted a marathon that saw 43 local wineries offer 28,000 runners free vineyard tours, tastings and exclusive discounts for wine purchases. This event-driven approach has created a powerful synergy between tourism and viticulture, resulting in a surge in hotel bookings in the city.

Sommeliers sample glasses of wine during the 32nd Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Du Juanjuan)

“We’re transforming the entire city into a living wine museum,” said Li Bingjie, director of Yinchuan’s wine industry development service center. “Visitors can fully immerse themselves in the journey from grape to glass.”

Speaking at the expo’s opening ceremony on Monday, Yvette van der Merwe, president of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine, said that the organization has for many years observed and supported the rise of China’s grape and wine industry, with the country being an important wine consumer and table grape producer.

“I see the energy that the growth of Ningxia Helan Mountain’s east foothill region has contributed to the Chinese wine industry, and I am confident that it will bring new inspiration and opportunities to the global wine community,” she said.

MIL OSI China News –

June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Biodiversity credit won’t fix damage done by Luxon Govt

Source: Green Party

The Green Party says the Government’s newly announced Biodiversity Credit scheme is a tiny positive that doesn’t undo the biodiversity harm caused by the Luxon Government.

“This is a bandaid on a gaping wound which does nothing to address a deepening crisis and runs the risk of being mere greenwashing,” says the Green Party spokesperson for Agriculture Steve Abel.

“While credit schemes and covenants are an important pathway to protecting vital biodiversity on farmland, these alone are not nearly enough to address the biodiversity crisis in Aotearoa.

“One tiny step in the right direction does not make up for the significant damage this Government is doing to the environment in many ways including through cuts to the Predator Free programme, Department of Conservation funding, significant natural area identification, and Jobs for Nature.

“You cannot pretend to care for biodiversity while openly making policy that destroys it, targeting wetlands as a cash cow through tax deductibility, weakening or removing protections for freshwater, and allowing significant pollution to be permitted in our most vulnerable waterways.

“Furthermore, market and corporate driven biodiversity credits can be little more than a greenwashing tool – and there’s proven to be very little demand without regulatory requirements for them.

“Protecting biodiversity is in everyone’s interests, especially farmers. Our Green Budget proposed significant investment in supporting landowners to protect and restore their environments, rather than leaving it to the corporate world to pick up the slack in light of extensive government cuts,” says Steve Abel.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: June 11th, 2025 Heinrich Highlights Harmful Impact of DOGE Cuts to the Department of the Interior, Slams President Trump’s Interior Budget Request

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

WASHINGTON — In his opening statement, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member on the U.S. Energy and Natural Resources Committee, grilled the U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum over the Trump Administration’s budget request for the Department of the Interior, which will further gut the Department already reeling from chaos and mismanagement by the “Department of Government Efficiency,” or DOGE.

VIDEO: Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivers opening remarks on the Department of Interior’s Fiscal 2026 budget request before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, June 11, 2025.

“Mr. Secretary, when you were going through the confirmation process, I believed that you would be a responsible steward of our public lands, conservative, of course, but responsible. And with your experience in the private sector and as a governor, I believed that you could rein in the sometimes reckless tendencies of DOGE, at least within the Department of Interior,” said Heinrich in his opening statement. “We’re never going to agree on everything, but I thought we could agree that our public lands are the greatest heritage of our nation, and we have a responsibility to hand them down to the next generation, well-stewarded.

Heinrich continued, “This budget request will not resource your department to responsibly steward our lands and waters. The proposal for the Interior Department operations next year includes a 30 percent cut across programs. It’s no exaggeration to say that this would cripple the Department as we know it.”

A video of Heinrich’s opening remarks is here.

A transcript of Heinrich’s remarks as delivered is below:

We are here today to talk about the budget proposal of a department that is, quite frankly, not resourced to meet its mission.

Parks are cutting hours and services for visitors. Ranger tours are cancelled. Toilets are overflowing and trashcans sit unemptied.

Permits are languishing on empty desks. Energy projects are delayed or cancelled.

Contracts slowly wind their way through a byzantine bureaucracy that was invented overnight.

The senior leadership positions at the department are mostly vacant.

Roughly 100 park superintendent positions are vacant. Five of the seven regional director positions for the National Park Service sit empty.

At the Bureau of Land Management, about a third of senior leadership positions are vacant, including both deputy directors and the director position itself.

And the front-line staff is in no better shape.

After promising to hire 7,700 seasonal employees to serve Americans visiting their national parks this summer, the Park Service has managed, at least according to public reports, to hire only half that. Memorial Day is gone. The 4th of July just around the corner.

And all of this has occurred before this budget request is put place.

Mr. Secretary, when you were going through the confirmation process, I believed that you would be a responsible steward of our public lands, conservative, of course, but responsible. And with your experience in the private sector and as a governor, I believed that you could rein in the sometimes reckless tendencies of DOGE, at least within the Department of Interior.

We’re never going to agree on everything, but I thought we could agree that our public lands are the greatest heritage of our nation, and we have a responsibility to hand them down to the next generation, well-stewarded.

This budget request will not resource your department to responsibly steward our lands and waters.

The proposal for the Interior Department operations next year includes a 30 percent cut across programs.

It’s no exaggeration to say that this would cripple the department as we know it.

The cut to the Park Service is paid for by getting rid of most park system units.

The National Park System would have to lose more than 350 of its 433 units to swallow that kind of a proposed cut.

And yet, the Department has still not told us which units those might be.

Any hope for a speedier permitting system from the BLM is gone, with a proposed 35 percent cut to that agency.

Anyone who needs a recreation permit, a right-of-way, or a grazing lease will be left waiting. That is not efficiency.

The 35 percent cut to the Bureau of Reclamation puts critical water infrastructure at risk of failing to safely deliver water to farmers, fish, and people.

The proposal completely eliminates the WaterSMART program that provides resources to local, often rural communities and water users to conserve water and to make efficiency improvements to their water infrastructure, thereby reducing conflicts over this scarce resource.

The nearly 40 percent cut to the U.S. Geological Survey would kneecap the scientific research we need to understand how our natural world is changing in the face of a changing climate

And the major reduction to the Natural Hazards program would leave communities more vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanos, and landslides.

The proposal also completely eliminates the biological resources program at USGS, which could mean abandoning bird flu monitoring, closing the most advanced wildlife disease lab in the United States, and discontinuing research efforts for climate adaptation.

The USGS migratory bird research also directly informs the Fish and Wildlife Service’s bag limits for migratory bird hunting seasons. Eliminating this research would hobble the management of migratory bird hunting seasons.

One of the seven pillars of the North American model of wildlife conservation, the foundation of wildlife management in the United States, is scientific management. We cannot manage wildlife without wildlife science.

The budget proposal also overturns the bipartisan work of this committee in 2020 to pass the Great American Outdoors Act signed into law by this president.

Instead of supporting reauthorization of this great accomplishment, this budget robs the Land and Water Conservation Fund in order to pay for deferred maintenance projects.

And lastly, but most importantly, this budget request, if implemented, would cause irreparable harm to Indian Country.

With 30-plus percent cuts to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education, this budget represents a dereliction of every treaty obligation this country has to tribes and their members.

This proposal even cuts the BIA’s Public Safety account, belying any claim that this administration might try to make that it cares for the safety of people of Indian Country.

Mr. Secretary, you promised to prioritize the needs of Indian country in your time leading this department, but this budget simply doesn’t give you the resources to be able to effectively accomplish that.

I think we need to do better, which I say out of respect for you and our shared values.

It is often said a president’s budget requests that they’re “dead on arrival” on Capitol Hill.

For the sake of the shared landscapes that we hold in trust for our grandchildren. I hope that’s the case for this budget.

I yield back my time.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 12, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Backing New Zealand’s native forest champions
Source: New Zealand Government

Forestry Minister Todd McClay today congratulated the winners of the inaugural Growing Native Forests Champions Awards for driving real progress in native forest establishment and land use innovation.

“This is what good land management looks like — native forests that support both the environment and the rural economy,” Mr McClay says.

“This is practical, long-term investment in our land that delivers environmental and economic benefits while supporting farm profitability.”

With 59 entries this year, the awards show what’s possible when innovation meets local knowledge — from farmers and lifestyle block owners to iwi and forestry companies.

“Native forests and farming go hand in hand. We can farm the best land and plant natives on the most vulnerable, stabilising hillsides and safeguarding waterways.

“These winners prove native planting can work alongside other productive land uses to deliver real results.”

Award Winners:
- Lifestyle Block Owner: Paul and Katherina Quinlan, Northland — pioneers of sustainable tōtara timber management.
- Mana Whenua: Kapenga M Trust, Bay of Plenty — blending mātauranga Māori and science to grow native forests and create jobs.
- Trees on Farms: Ian Brennan, Waikato — integrating natives for ecosystem health and income through continuous cover forestry.
- Forestry Company: Tasman Pine Forests, Nelson/Tasman — restoring native forests, controlling wilding pines, and protecting native species.
- Catchment/Community: Wai Kōkopu, Bay of Plenty — retiring erodible land and improving estuary health while supporting profitable farming.
Each winner received a handcrafted trophy made from native timbers — a symbol of their commitment to New Zealand’s land and future.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –
June 12, 2025