Category: Europe

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Unlocking the power of Engineering Biology

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release

Unlocking the power of Engineering Biology

New report outlines the transformative potential of Engineering Biology to tackle modern-day challenges.

Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean has today launched a new Foresight report, Engineering Biology Aspirations, which highlights the transformative potential of Engineering Biology (EngBio) to address some of the major challenges of our time – from lab-grown blood to biologically derived materials for fashion.

This fast-moving, innovative technology applies engineering principles to the design of biological systems and processes. It can create practical solutions to some of society’s biggest challenges, addressing issues faced by people and the planet, both now and in the future.

The report, published by the Government Office for Science, examines how we can harness EngBio to create a more sustainable future, helping to solve problems in areas such as healthcare, environmental sustainability, agriculture and energy.

Read the Engineering Biology Aspirations report.

Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

This is a timely report. Engineering biology is a technology with enormous potential, and it is already delivering innovations from healthcare to clean energy, supporting the missions that underpin this Government’s Plan for Change.

Our commitment to the UK’s burgeoning engineering biology sector is clear: from £100 million investment in the Engineering Biology Mission Hubs and Awards, to efforts to improve the regulation of this critical technology, including through the new Regulatory Innovation Office.

Commenting on the report, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean said:

Engineering biology has the power to drive economic growth and deliver transformative solutions to a wide range of challenges.

This report aims be a source of inspiration across Government, industry, academia and the public, demonstrating what might be possible if we can harness the opportunities offered by engineering biology.

The paper features expert-authored chapters that consider how EngBio can aid efforts to solve global challenges. One examines the revolutionary solutions that lab-grown blood could present. Another explores how biologically derived fashion materials could reduce environmental pollution to create a more sustainable industry. Further chapters include how nitrogen-fixing cereals could produce a new sustainable generation of crops, and how microbes can help solve metal scarcity and be manufactured to create sustainable fuels and chemicals from waste.

As the report highlights, although there is still progress to be made, with continued research, development, scale-up, and regulatory considerations, EngBio can help to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

The “Engineering Biology Aspirations” report is a result of cross-Government work and collaboration with leading scientists to understand this transformative technology and its vast applications.

Published 25 April 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British satellite to map Earth’s forests in 3D for the first time to help combat climate change

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release

British satellite to map Earth’s forests in 3D for the first time to help combat climate change

Satellite developed by British academics and engineers set to become the first in the world to measure condition of the Earth’s forests from space.

World’s first mission to map the world’s forests in 3D from space will use cutting edge tech to inform climate change policies and protect future generations.
Supports UK sector worth around £18.9 billion and likely to attract further investment that can grow the economy and help drive our Plan for Change.
Project has supported around 250 highly skilled jobs in Stevenage, bolstering UK’s 52,000 strong space workforce.

A satellite developed by British academics and engineers is set to become the first in the world to measure the condition of the Earth’s forests from space.

This work will be crucial to helping us understand how tropical forests are changing so we can protect future generations from climate breakdown and accelerate the transition to net zero under our Plan for Change.

From conception to construction, the satellite – called Biomass – has been built in the UK, capitalising on our industrial and academic expertise in space technology while opening up new opportunities to attract future backing from global investors watching its landmark launch on 29 April.

Throughout construction, it has supported approximately 250 highly skilled jobs at Airbus UK, in Stevenage, where it was manufactured, supporting the local economy and bolstering the UK’s 52,000 strong space workforce.

The Biomass satellite will launch from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Since 2016, the UK has won almost 91 million Euros in contracts for Biomass through its membership of the European Space Agency (ESA).

Conceived by University of Sheffield academic Professor Shaun Quegan, it is a hallmark of British innovation, facilitating jobs in everything from design and development to assembly integration and test. The satellite will create a 3D map of tropical forests after 17 months, then new (non-3D) maps every 9 months for the rest of the 5-year mission, providing insights normally hidden from human sight because of the difficulty in accessing these environments.

Its revolutionary technology will help scientists capture vital data on the changes to carbon in forests as ecosystems are increasingly impacted by deforestation.

Minister for Space Sir Chris Bryant said:

The Biomass mission showcases British ingenuity at its very best, from conception in Sheffield to construction in Stevenage.

Britain is not only stepping to the forefront of the space industry, but of global climate action too.

Contributing to such great extent to a European mission set to deliver vital global results is testament to the UK’s industrial and academic expertise in space technology and will attract global investment into our vibrant space ecosystem, helping us boost growth and deliver our Plan for Change.

Both deforestation, which releases carbon dioxide, and forest growth, which soaks up CO2 from the atmosphere, are crucial parts of climate change.

Data on the biomass of tropical forests is very limited because they are difficult to access.

The Biomass satellite will be able to penetrate cloud cover and measure forest biomass more accurately than any current technology, which only see the top of the canopy. By providing better data it will help create a more accurate global carbon budget and better understanding of carbon sinks and sources which will help in developing and implementing effective strategies to achieve net-zero goals.

Observations will also lead to better insight into the rates of habitat loss and, as a result, the effect this may have on biodiversity in the forest environment.

Shaun Quegan, University of Sheffield’s Professor and lead proposer of the mission concept to the European Space Agency, said:

It’s been a privilege to have led the team in the development of a pioneering mission that will revolutionise our understanding of the volume of carbon held in the most impenetrable tropical rainforests on the planet and, crucially, how this is changing over time. Our research has solved critical operational scientific problems in constructing the Biomass satellite.

Conceived and built in the UK, Biomass is a brilliant example of what we can achieve in collaboration with our partners in industry and academia. The mission is the culmination of decades of highly innovative work in partnership with some of the best scientists in Europe and the US.

Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency said:

The Biomass satellite represents a major leap forward in our ability to understand Earth’s carbon cycle. By mapping the world’s forests from space in unprecedented detail, it will provide critical insights into how our planet is responding to climate change — helping scientists, policymakers, and conservationists take informed action. We’re proud of the leading role the UK has played in this important mission.

Kata Escott, Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space in the UK, said:

Biomass is a groundbreaking mission that will advance our understanding of how carbon is stored in the world’s forests – delivering crucial data in the fight against climate change. With more than 50 companies involved across 20 nations, the team in Stevenage has shown exceptional leadership in delivering this flagship ESA mission.

Climate Minister, Kerry McCarthy, said:

The UK is back in the business of climate leadership and protecting the world’s forests through emerging and cutting-edge technologies is crucial to tackling the climate crisis.

This innovative tool shows how climate action attract investment in the UK, driving growth as part of our Plan for Change.

Published 25 April 2025

MIL-OSI New Zealand: ANZAC Day – Governor-General’s Anzac Day Dawn Service Address

Source: Government House

MEDIA RELEASE – EMBARGOED until 6.15am FRIDAY 25 April

The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO

Governor-General of New Zealand

Anzac Day Dawn Service Address 2025

Auckland War Memorial Museum

Takiri ko te ata, haehaetia te pō

E koro mā i te pō!

Nga Toa a Tūmatauenga!

Ngā Toa a Ranginui

Ngā toa a Tangaroa

Hoki wairua mai, ki runga i ō koutou marae

Ki o koutou maunga karangaranga.

E okioki mai nā i nga taumata, nga kahurangi

Tirohia mai ra ki ō koutou uri

E hāpai nei i ngā kupu ōhākī

Tangihia, mihia nga aitua

Huihuia mai ki tēnei marae

Te hunga ora

Tēnā koutou

Tēnā tātou katoa

I specifically acknowledge:

The Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister

Brad Williams, Consul General for the Commonwealth of Australia

Air Vice Marshal Darryn Webb, Chief of Air Force

His Worship Wayne Brown, Mayor of Auckland

Frédéric Leturque, Mayor of Arras, France

Sir Wayne Shelford, National President of the RNZRSA

Sir Graham Lowe, Patron of the Auckland RSA

Graham Gibson, President of the Auckland RSA

Brad Hodgson, Auckland RSA

Dr David Reeves, Chief Executive of the Auckland War Memorial Museum

Mr Keutekarakia Mataroa, Dean of the Auckland Consular Corps

A special welcome to people who have served – or are currently serving in our Defence Force.

This Anzac Day marks 110 years since the Gallipoli landings by soldiers in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps – the ANZACS. It signalled the beginning of a campaign that was to take the lives of so many of our young men – and would devastate the communities they left behind at home. One year later, in 1916, grieving New Zealanders gathered to express their sorrow at the first Anzac Day commemoration.

Today, in our towns, cities and hamlets across the length and breadth of Aotearoa – your comrades have gathered in the chill light of dawn, alongside their families and communities, to commemorate Anzac Day.

This morning, your thoughts may be turning to your experience of military service – and to those who are missing from among your ranks.

It’s an honour to join you and the people of Tamaki Makaurau Auckland, at our nation’s preeminent site of remembrance – to show our aroha and respect for the many hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders in our history who have answered the call to arms – and to express our deep sorrow for those who never returned from the field of battle, or who subsequently died of their wounds.

This year we mark another significant anniversary in our nation’s military history. Eighty years ago, after nearly six long years, the Second World War finally came to an end. An astonishing 140,000 New Zealanders had served in the European, North African and the Pacific theatres of war, and almost 12,000 lost their lives as a result of their war service. Around one third of those casualties were from Auckland.

Once again, our families and communities experienced the terrible pain of sacrifice and loss, and the impacts of that trauma lingered for generations.

Eighty years ago, New Zealanders also played a role in establishing the United Nations, which many people fervently hoped would ensure that the horrors of the First and Second World Wars could never be repeated.

In the years since, conflict on that scale has indeed been avoided, but securing peaceful resolution to geopolitical tensions has remained elusive.

New Zealand has regularly been called upon to support our allies – from the Korean War in the 1950s – through to the conflict in Afghanistan in the 2000s. Our service personnel have also served in many peace-keeping operations around the globe, and frequently assist people in need in the aftermath of natural disasters – both here in Aotearoa, and in the Pacific.

To those of you who are currently serving in our Defence Force, I sincerely thank you, on behalf of your fellow citizens. We recognise that your lives, and the lives of your families are affected by the demands of military service – and we salute your courage and readiness to serve in support of collective security efforts with our allies.

This Anzac Day – when we reflect on the sobering realities of war, and the current state of the world, we see the ideals embodied in the United Nations being routinely ignored, and coercive power being used to threaten human rights and the territorial sovereignty of others.

In these volatile and uncertain times – New Zealand continues to subscribe to the ideal of peaceful resolution of geopolitical tensions – while also acknowledging the role our nation’s defence personnel have played – and will continue to play in defending freedom, justice and the rule of law.

In this way, they contribute to efforts to maintain and extend the blessings of peace, security and stability in the world.

On this Anzac Day, and the Anzac Days to come, we remain committed to honour their service.

Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

MIL-OSI Russia: On April 25, Mikhail Mishustin will hold talks with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

On April 25, in Moscow, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin will hold talks with Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda.

The heads of government plan to discuss current issues of Russian-Tajik trade, economic, investment and cultural-humanitarian cooperation. Special attention will be paid to the implementation of major joint projects in the fields of energy, industry, agriculture, education and culture.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

MIL-OSI Russia: Sergey Kiriyenko and Dmitry Chernyshenko held a meeting of the NTO organizing committee and greeted the participants of the Fakel award

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The National Center “Russia” celebrated the tenth anniversary of the National Technology Olympiad (NTO). On this day, the fifth meeting of the Olympiad organizing committee and the Fakel Prize award ceremony took place – an award for NTO graduates who have achieved significant results in science, engineering, business and mentoring.

The meeting of the organizing committee was opened by the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration, co-chairman of the organizing committee of the National Technology Olympiad, Sergei Kiriyenko.

“Since 2015, NTO has brought together almost 900,000 schoolchildren and students from all over Russia, as well as 77 other countries. The Olympiad, originally conceived as an all-Russian engineering competition, has gradually reached the international level. However, NTO is not only about scale. The main thing here is people. Young, bright, talented guys who are already creating the future today. Some of the winners’ projects can be compared to serious scientific works worthy of the level of candidate dissertations. We are confident that with the launch of the 11th season, the number of participants will exceed a million. But what is more important is not quantity, but quality – young people who really change reality with their ideas and developments,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko added that next year it is necessary to increase the number of participating countries, and also thanked the NTO partners.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our leading technology partners – companies such as Sber, Yandex, Roscosmos, 1C and others. Thanks to their support, the Olympiad is held at a truly high level. I am sure that this list will expand. And NTO will become an even more powerful tool for developing talents and strengthening international scientific and technological cooperation,” Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized.

During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister supported the inclusion of new areas in the NTO for grades 5–7 and the launch of the International Space Games. He also instructed to work out the possibility of adding individual educational events of the NTO to the calendar of the “Movement of the First”.

Nikita Anisimov, Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics and Deputy Co-Chairs of the Organizing Committee of the NTO, spoke about the development of the Olympiad movement and the results of the decade of the NTO. He noted that the NTO preserves and continues the traditions of the Moscow Mathematical Olympiad: it is a movement that brings together like-minded people and comrades. Nikita Anisimov also emphasized that the NTO has grown over the past years. For example, the first final of the Olympiad brought together about 1.2 thousand participants, and this year there were already about 220 thousand.

Hero of Russia, participant of the presidential program “Time of Heroes”, Chairman of the Board of the “Movement of the First” Artur Orlov noted that the “Movement of the First” project “First in Science”, implemented within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”, will become an important platform for interaction on the development of scientific and technical cooperation.

After the organizing committee, the Fakel Prize was presented. At the ceremony, Sergei Kiriyenko emphasized the importance of holding it at the National Center “Russia”, created on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I am sure that not much time will pass and the results of your projects, your discoveries and your dreams that came true will be presented here as a source of pride,” said Sergei Kiriyenko.

The shortlist of the award included 21 applications. The selection of candidates for the final list of applicants took place in several stages: first, the applications were selected for compliance with all criteria, then a public vote took place. Based on its results, a shortlist was formed, which was then evaluated by an expert jury.

“It is very symbolic that the first celebration of the winners of the Fakel Prize is taking place in the year of the tenth anniversary of the National Technology Olympiad. As Sergey Vladilenovich decided, and we included this in the protocol, this will now be an annual event. In addition to encouraging the winners, it is important to remember those who prepared them. These are mentors, teachers, parents, and our technology partners who helped create conditions for the implementation of opportunities and talents, as instructed by our President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. So that together we can ensure not just technological sovereignty, but also technological leadership of our country. Thank you very much, congratulations to the winners. Create, dare, try, everything will work out!” Dmitry Chernyshenko addressed the guests of the award.

In the Startup Leader category, the award was received by Daniil Zaitsev and Anastasia Popova, the authors of the SkyControl system for controlling UAVs using hand tilt and gestures. It involves children and teenagers in the world of robotics and technical sciences.

The winners in the Social Progressor category were the creators of the Green School project – Polina Sapozhnikova, Anna Budekova and Matvey Karachev. They create green corners with information stands and thematic cubes in schools. This helps to form ecological thinking and eco-habits in the younger generation.

The title “Professional of the Future” was awarded to German Golod, who, as a student, works as a 1C developer at T-Bank. According to him, participation in the NTO helped him acquire the necessary skills. Dmitry Shpanov, who developed a computer model for selecting the mode of electron-beam processing of alloys or ceramics, was recognized as “Innovation Engineer”.

The winner in the “Technology Champion” category was Eduard Sukharev, a multiple winner of Russian and international competitions in the operation of unmanned aircraft systems.

The title of “Best Mentor” was awarded to Arseniy Yarmolinsky, a computer science teacher and teacher of additional education, who trained dozens of finalists and winners of NTO and other engineering competitions.

The winner in the “Engine of Science” nomination was Maria Tishkova, a junior research fellow at the Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Let us recall that the Olympiad is being held under the coordination of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation together with the presidential platform “Russia – Country of Opportunities” within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children” with the support of the “Movement of the First”, the Agency for Strategic Initiatives and the ANO “NTI Platform”. The NTO project office is deployed at the HSE with the methodological support of the Association of Participants of Technology Circles (NTI Circle Movement).

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Convicts Five in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy that Used Semi-Trucks to Transport Liquid Meth from Mexico to Oklahoma

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

18 Now Convicted as Part of Drug Trafficking Organization Responsible for Approximately 16,000 Kilos of Methamphetamine with Estimated Street Value of $64,000,000

OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal jury has convicted JUAN HERNANDEZ, 49, a Mexican-national living in Oklahoma City, JESSICA MUNIZ, 32, of Oklahoma City, and DENIS LEAL GUTIERREZ, 59, CESAR AZAMAR, 52, and ADRIAN NARVAEZ, 58, of Texas, for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that specialized in transporting liquid methamphetamine by semi-truck from Mexico, through Texas, to Oklahoma City, and laundering the subsequent drug proceeds, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

“Coordinating their drug trafficking scheme across international borders and state lines, these defendants flooded our state with methamphetamine worth millions of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “I praise the exceptional work of the federal and state law enforcement, and the federal prosecutors, for untangling and disrupting this major drug operation and for stopping its flow of lethal drugs into our communities.”

“This multi-year collaboration among the FBI, DEA, IRS, Oklahoma City Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office has effectively dismantled a major drug trafficking organization that had been poisoning our community with deadly narcotics for years,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “Together, we will continue to ensure those who participate in these dangerous criminal networks face the full weight of the American justice system.”

On December 17, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a 16-count Second Superseding Indictment, charging the defendants for their respective roles in the DTO. The Second Superseding Indictment charged Gutierrez, Azamar, and Narvaez with drug conspiracy, Muniz with money laundering conspiracy, two counts of domestic money laundering, and five counts of international money laundering, and Hernandez with money laundering conspiracy, three counts of domestic money laundering, and three counts of international money laundering.

On April 18, 2025, following a nine-day trial, a federal jury convicted the defendants on all counts.

According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants and other co-conspirators worked with high-ranking members of a Mexico-based DTO to import liquid methamphetamine into the U.S. hidden in the gas tanks of semi-trucks. Gutierrez’s trucking company, DGC Express Co., had been responsible for transporting shipments of liquid methamphetamine to Oklahoma as far back as February 2021. Another trucking company owned by Gutierrez, Dare Express Co., assumed responsibility for transporting the liquid methamphetamine to Oklahoma and Georgia starting in at least May of 2023. Evidence at trial further showed that Azamar was responsible for facilitating the transfer of the liquid methamphetamine from the Mexico-based semi-truck into the Dare Express semi-truck, which first occurred at a property rented by Gutierrez in Alamo, Texas, and later at the main business location of Dare Express in Edinburg, Texas. The Dare Express semi-truck used throughout 2023 to deliver liquid methamphetamine to Oklahoma and Georgia was registered under Narvaez’s name, and both Gutierrez and Narvaez instructed the truck drivers to deliver this liquid methamphetamine to Oklahoma and elsewhere.

At trial, evidence also established that law enforcement seized significant amounts of methamphetamine during the investigation, including:

907 kilograms on March 3, 2021, in Tecumseh, Oklahoma;
92 kilograms on September 6, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;
615 kilograms on December 8, 2023, in Wellston, Oklahoma;
42 kilograms on April 1, 2024, in Tecumseh, Oklahoma; and
86 kilograms on April 2, 2024, in Newalla, Oklahoma.

There was also evidence presented at trial about the DTO’s money laundering activities. A high-ranking member of this DTO in Mexico directed family members in Oklahoma, specifically his brother, Hernandez, and his niece, Muniz, to launder drug proceeds on his behalf. Testimony and other evidence, including court documents, CashApp records, international wire remitter service records, and records from the Federal Bureau of Prisons and Oklahoma Department of Corrections, also established that this DTO supplied Oklahoma prison gangs with methamphetamine, specifically the Irish Mob Gang, the Universal Aryan Brotherhood, and the Sureños. These gang members or their associates then sent payments for methamphetamine disguised as CashApp payments to Hernandez and Muniz, who then wired the money to close associates of the DTO’s head in Mexico.

At sentencing, Gutierrez, Azamar, and Narvaez each face up to life in federal prison and a fine of up to $10,000,000. Following their convictions for money laundering conspiracy, domestic money laundering, and international money laundering, Hernandez and Muniz face up to 20 years in federal prison and fines of up to $500,000 per charge.

As part of the overall investigation and prosecution of this DTO, two additional defendants have previously been sentenced and 11 additional codefendants have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy. In total, law enforcement has attributed responsibility to this DTO for bringing approximately 16,000 kilograms of methamphetamine into the U.S. from Mexico at an estimated street value of $64,000,000.

In November 2024:

EVER ALONSO PANDO, 47, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 96 months in federal prison, and three years of supervised release, for two counts of maintaining a drug-involved premises, and
HECTOR REYES, 43, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 90 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

The remaining defendants have pleaded guilty as follows:

ADAN GARCIA MIRANDA, 29, of Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Miranda faces up to 40 years in prison, and a fine of up to $5,000,000;
JORGE RAUL VEGA GARCIA, 30, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Garcia faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000;
LUIS ALBERTO ROJAS PRECIADO, 28, of Illinois, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Preciado faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000;
JOSE ALFREDO EQUIHUA, 39, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Equihua faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000;
EDGAR RODRIGUEZ ONTIVEROS, 32, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Ontiveros faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000;
ADRIAN PEREZ, 39, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Public record shows that Perez has previous felony convictions that include being a felon in possession of a firearm in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2022-4831 and using a vehicle to facilitate the intentional discharge of a firearm in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2003-1656. At sentencing, Perez faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,250,000;
PHILLIP RAY HOWARD, 53, of Newalla, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Public record shows that Howard has previous felony convictions that include possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2005-878. At sentencing, Howard faces up to 40 years in prison for the conspiracy charge, 15 years in prison for the firearm possession charge, and fines of up to $5,250,000;
RAY DAVID LARA, JR., 44, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty to possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Perez faces up to life in federal prison and a fine of up to $10,250,000;
HERIBERTO DONAN OCHOA, 33, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Ochoa faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000;
BRAULIO PADILLA, 50, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Public record reflects that Howard has several felony convictions, including for possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a child under 12 and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in Oklahoma County District Court case numbers CF-2010-4880 and CF-2019-155, respectively. At sentencing, Padilla faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,250,000; and
MICHAEL J. ESTRADA, 36, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Estrada faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000.

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Oklahoma City Police Department. This case is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

Reference is made to public filings for additional information.

MIL Security OSI –

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sir Michael Marmot visits Liverpool to officially award Marmot City status

Source: City of Liverpool

Liverpool City Council has officially been awarded Marmot City status, a national recognition of the city’s commitment to reducing health inequalities and improving wellbeing for every resident.

The status was formally awarded by Professor Sir Michael Marmot, a leading figure in health equity, during a visit to the city on 23 April.

Sir Michael visited Liverpool to highlight the city’s efforts to address the root causes of poor health including poverty, poor housing, low-paid and unstable employment, and unequal access to education.

These wider issues have a significant impact on how long people live and how healthy they are throughout their lives.

The city’s Marmot City ambitions are also informed by the findings of The State of Health in the City: Liverpool 2040 a landmark report that highlighted Liverpool’s deep-rooted health inequalities and showcased the innovative work already underway to address them.

Currently, people in Liverpool are living shorter lives and spending more time in poor health compared to the national average.

In some areas, life expectancy is up to 15 years lower, and residents may experience up to 18 more years of ill health than those in more affluent neighbourhoods.

To respond to these challenges, Liverpool has developed a coordinated approach through the Fairer, Healthier Liverpool (FHL) Partnership a collaboration between the City Council, NHS, voluntary and community organisations, and other key partners.

Together working to:

Take action across the Marmot Eight Principles
Strengthen local partnerships
Involve communities in shaping solutions
Take early action to prevent poor health
Embed fairness and health into all policies and services

Examples of the work already underway include the development of Liverpool’s ‘Health in All Policies’ approach, which ensures health is embedded into decisions around planning, housing, and regeneration.

Additionally, the Healthy Boost Project, supports local families by providing fruit and vegetable vouchers helping to improve diets, access to healthy food, mental health, and overall wellbeing

For more information and further examples of the work taking place, visit the dedicated website: www.fairerhealthierliverpool.org

Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing said:

“Being recognised as a Marmot City reinforces our determination to build a Liverpool where every resident can thrive.

“It places health and equity at the centre of our future, ensuring that the next generation of children and young people grow up in a city where wellbeing is prioritised, and prevention is embedded into everything we do.

Professor Matt Ashton Director of Public Health said:

“This recognition is a proud moment as becoming a Marmot City confirms our commitment to health equity not just in policy, but in people’s everyday lives.

“We are expanding our focus to cover all eight Marmot principles, embedding community voices at the heart of decision-making, and driving change that is led by evidence and grounded in the lived experiences of our residents.”

MIL-OSI Global: How Pope Francis became a climate change influencer

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Will de Freitas, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition

“The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.” These aren’t the words of a radical sociologist or rogue climate scientist. They aren’t the words of a Conversation editor either. Nor are these:

“A selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity leads both to the misuse of available natural resources and to the exclusion of the weak and disadvantaged.”

These are in fact quotes from Pope Francis, who died last weekend.

This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed.

I never thought this job would have me writing newsletters in praise of a papal climate influencer, but here we are. You can read various obits and interesting takes on Pope Francis and what’s next for the Catholic church elsewhere on The Conversation. But here I want to focus on his thoughts on climate change and the impact he had.

Our common home

In 2015, two years after becoming pope, Francis published Laudato Si (Praise Be to You), a 183-page papal letter sent to all Catholic bishops on “care for our common home”. It was a significant intervention made just a few months before the climate summit that led to the Paris agreement.

Writing at the time, sustainability professor Steffen Böhm said that what made it so radical “isn’t just [Pope Francis’s] call to urgently tackle climate change. It’s the fact he openly and unashamedly goes against the grain of dominant social, economic and environment policies.”

For Böhm, who was then at the University of Essex but now works at Exeter, this radical message “puts him on a confrontation course with global powerbrokers and leaders of national governments, international institutions and multinational corporations”.

He quotes a section where the Pope says “those who possess more resources [and] power seem seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their symptoms, simply making efforts to reduce some of the negative impacts of climate change”. The Pope warns that “such effects will continue to worsen if we continue with current models of production and consumption”.

Böhm points out the Pope “might be the only person with both the clout and the desire to meaningfully deliver a message like this”.

Bernard Laurent of EM Business School in Lyon, says that in France the Pope’s message “managed to bring together both conservative currents – such as the Courant pour une Écologie Humaine (Movement for a Human Ecology), created in 2013 – and more open-minded Catholic intellectuals such as Gaël Giraud, a Jesuit and author of Produire Plus, Polluer Moins : l’Impossible Découplage? (Produce more, Pollute Less: the Impossible Decoupling?)”

Clearly, this was a unique figure able to reach people who might not listen to a Greta Thunberg or an Al Gore.

But, while it’s great the Paris agreement was signed, it was still filled with the exact sort of market logic and buck-passing – carbon credits, “emit now, clean up later”, and so on – the Pope had criticised a few months previously. And climate change itself only got worse. In the years following, Pope Francis spoke at the UN and published a series of other “exhortations” related to climate change.

Did any of this make any difference?

Celia Deane-Drummond is a theology professor at the University of Oxford and director of a research institute named after the 2015 papal letter. In a piece published the same day Pope Francis’s death was announced, she looked at his influence on the global climate movement.

Deane-Drummond notes Pope Francis’s emphasis on listening to Indigenous people for instance in his lesser-known exhortation Querida Amazonia, which means “beloved Amazonia”, from February 2020.

“This exhortation resulted from his conversations with Amazonian communities and helped put Indigenous perspectives on the map. Those perspectives helped shape Catholic social teaching in the [papal letter] Fratelli Tutti, which means ‘all brothers and sisters’, published on October 3 2020.”

A key influencer

Perhaps the Pope’s biggest influence was on activists rather than policymakers. Deane-Drummond says he was often mentioned by participants in a research project on religion, theology and climate change she was part of.

“When we asked more than 300 [religious] activists representing six different activist groups who most influenced them to get involved in climate action, 61% named Pope Francis as a key influencer.”

The 2015 papal letter also gave rise to the Laudato Si movement which Deane-Drummond points out “coordinates climate activism across the globe. It has 900 Catholic organisations as well as 10,000 of what are known as Laudato Si ‘animators’, who are all ambassadors and leaders in their respective communities.”

There are specific religious arguments he was able to make to appeal to these groups, note Joel Hodge and Antonia Pizzy of Australian Catholic University.

They write that: “Francis argued combating climate change relied on the ‘ecological conversion’ of the human heart, so that people may recognise the God-given nature of our planet and the fundamental call to care for it. Without this conversion, pragmatic and political measures wouldn’t be able to counter the forces of consumerism, exploitation and selfishness.”

It’s not an argument that will particularly work on me. But then addressing the climate crisis will require all sorts of people to be persuaded of the need for serious action, including policy wonks, tech bros, radical activists, worried parents and, yes, people motivated by their religion.

The last pope didn’t have to say anything about the climate crisis. It’s not necessarily in the job description. But it’s a good thing that Pope Francis did speak about it and, as Deane-Drummond says: “We can only hope [the next pope] will build on his legacy and influence political change for the good, from the grassroots frontline right up to the highest global ambitions.”

– ref. How Pope Francis became a climate change influencer – https://theconversation.com/how-pope-francis-became-a-climate-change-influencer-255086

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: At Somerville Town Hall, Pressley Details Meeting with Detained Somerville Resident Rümeysa Öztürk

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Congresswoman Also Discussed her Fight to Protect Federal Workers, Social Security and Medicaid, Federal Education Funding, and More

Video (YouTube)

SOMERVILLE – At a town hall yesterday at Somerville High School, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) discussed her meeting in Louisiana with Somerville resident Rümeysa Öztürk and outlined how she’s fighting back against Donald Trump’s cruel and callous agenda to divide communities and impose wholesale harm.

Having returned earlier in the day from Louisiana, Congresswoman Pressley shone light on her experience meeting with Ms. Öztürk, a Tufts PhD student, at the ICE facility where she is being unlawfully detained. She exposed the indignities, injustice, and fear that Rümeysa has endured – and how she remains kind-hearted, courageous, and committed to centering the humanity and dignity of all people.

The Congresswoman, joined for the town hall by Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, also took questions and discussed her efforts to fight back against the Trump-Musk cuts to critical federal programs like Social Security and Medicaid, her support for our federal workers and immigrant neighbors, her defense of federal Department of Education funding, and more.

A transcript with highlights from the Congresswoman’s opening remarks are available below (edited lightly for clarity), and video is available here.

Transcript: At Somerville Town Hall, Pressley Details Meeting with Detained Somerville Resident Rümeysa Öztürk
U.S. House of Representatives
April 24, 2025

Truly, it is so good to be home.

I just landed at Logan this morning returning from my trip to rural Louisiana to meet with my constituent and your neighbor Rümeysa.

Rümeysa, who has been unjustly detained as a political prisoner after being abducted from the streets of Somerville, has been detained for over a month now by ICE.

Many of you have seen the video – the harrowing video. And I wanted to thank the concerned community member and bystander. Rümeysa asked me to say that, for filming that video in the first place.

Rümeysa was taken by plainclothes officers, hurried into an unmarked car, shackled.

She shared with me that when they transitioned her from handcuffs to shackles, she thought surely she was going to bee killed, but they would torture her before.

She had no idea where she was going, why she had been abducted.

She was sent over a thousand miles away to a detention facility in Basile, Louisiana.

Let me begin by recognizing that she is detained in a for-profit facility owned and operated by a multi-billion dollar corporation. Now, I have fought long and hard against the use of private prisons and the exploitation of people in carceral settings.

And that also applies to the immigration system. Which is why I believe if you care about mass deportations, you should care about mass incarceration. And if you care about mass incarceration, you should care about mass deportations. They are two sides of the same coin.

Now, Rümeysa was transported from Massachusetts to New Hampshire to Georgia and then finally to rural Louisiana. So I went to rural Louisiana to see about her.

Alongside me was Senator Markey and Congressman McGovern. And I want to acknowledge the leadership of my brother colleague Congressman Troy Carter of Louisiana and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson who leads the House Homeland Security Committee for organizing this CODEL, this fact-finding mission.

The meeting with Rümeysa was a true testament to her character. She was kind, despite the cruelty she endured. She was dressed in an orange jumpsuit and wearing the same hijab she was arrested in.

I could feel her uneasiness. Yet she spent most of the meeting not talking about herself, but advocating for the other women locked in the facility – she had with her copious handwritten notes, putting her research skills as a PhD student to work.

Rümeysa is enduring indignities that no one should ever have to. Denied access to legal counsel, denied access to toilet tissue even, for three days. Experiencing sleep deprivation, malnutrition, frigid temperatures. She has suffered multiple asthma attacks, and the medical care is grossly insufficient and culturally incompetent. Rümeysa shared that a nurse removed her hijab without consent.

For her and many other women we met with, the fear was palpable. They wept openly, visibly shaken. They expressed fear of never seeing their loved ones again. Fear of deportation from the only country they call home. Fear of retaliation just for being honest about their confinement.

Despite Rümeysa’s fear – actually, in spite of her fear – Rümeysa remains kind-hearted and courageous.

I asked her pointedly if she had a message for the people of Somerville and she told me to tell all of you: thank you for being her community.

On that frightful day when she was surrounded by ICE agents and unsure of what would happen to her, she looked up. She saw a neighbor that she didn’t know, hadn’t spoken to, and was pretty much a stranger. But that neighbor was recording the arrest and when they made eye contact, the neighbor raised their hand as if to say to Rümeysa: I am with you.

And she expressed just how much that meant to her, that it gave her comfort in that moment, after she had screamed, that someone cared. That she didn’t know how much they had captured but it gave her some calm, that someone had seen what had happened and maybe they will be able to help me.

And today, more than a thousand miles away, we are still with Rümeysa.

The Massachusetts 7th is not simply a congressional district; it is a community.

And in the face of a dictator, we will resist – because the only way to beat a dictator is with defiance.

That is why I am demanding answers from Marco Rubio on why Rümeysa’s visa was revoked despite a State Department memo saying she did nothing wrong.

That is why I am demanding that ICE comply with the judge’s ruling that they bring her back to New England.

That is why I am leveraging my power on the Committee on Oversight to go into these detention facilities and ensure every person is treated with dignity and respect, and have their constitutional right to due process.

Remember, this is much bigger than Rümeysa. It’s a policy of cruelty and a system of chaos.

For those who might be tempted to marginalize or to other who might be vulnerable, Donald Trump is coming after all of us.

If you are an immigrant, regardless of your status – be it as a DACA recipient, a naturalized citizen, a TPS holder, a student visa, an asylum seeker – he seeks to do things that are harmful and unconstitutional and unlawful.

I’m sure you heard him on that hot mic moment in the Oval Office, saying that he will eventually look to deport people with criminal records.

Again, blatantly unconstitutional and incredible ironic given his own criminal record.

But it is consistent, as a dictator, he seeks to silence dissent.

So when I say he is coming for all of us, I mean it could be you tomorrow. It could be you tomorrow for suffering a miscarriage. It could be you tomorrow for reading a banned book. It could be you tomorrow simply for being Black. It could be you tomorrow for being trans. It could be you tomorrow for practicing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. It could be you tomorrow for co-authoring an op-ed, practicing free speech.

Our freedoms and our destinies are truly tied.

In a letter James Baldwin wrote to Angela Y. Davis, he said: ‘If they take you in the morning, they will surely be coming for us that night.’

And that is the truth.

So I am ten toes down, fighting for this district every day. It is a true honor and privilege to be your Congresswoman – I don’t take it for granted, not for a minute.

You deserve someone who fights for you in Washington like you are family – because you are.

And with that let’s get into a dialogue and answer as many of your questions as we can in this time we have together today. Thank you for being here.

###

MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Don Davis Remarks at Press Conference on First 100 Days of the 119th Congress

Source: US Congressman Don Davis (NC-01)

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Congressman Don Davis delivered the following remarks at his press conference on the first 100 days of the 119th Congress:

Hi, everybody! It is always great to be back home, in eastern North Carolina. I have worked to share the stories, concerns, and issues impacting eastern North Carolina families. Our district now spans 22 incredible counties, from the coastlines of Currituck and Camden counties through the farmland of Lenoir and Wayne counties to the heart of Oxford and everywhere between. My vision for NC-01 is: “We must meet our constituents where they are, ensuring they are seen and heard in Washington, D.C., to make life better for all families and provide hope and assurance they are not forgotten.” We work to achieve this daily.

We’ve opened three new offices: 1. Rocky Mount, 2. Goldsboro, and 3. Elizabeth City. We held listening sessions in Camden, Currituck, Granville, Wayne, and Lenoir counties. Due to an increased interest in town halls, we hosted a telephone town hall with nearly 13,000 participants. So far this year, we helped close more than 240 constituent cases and returned over $821,000 to eastern North Carolina families, cutting through bureaucracy to return money directly to our neighbors. Our District Outreach Team has made over 156 visits to meet with constituents across the district, showing up, listening, attending events and meetings, and responding to issues.

During the 119th Congress, 11,750 constituents have reached out to the office. In comparison, during the 118th Congress, 8,745 constituents reached out to the office through April 14. The top three campaigns during the 119th Congress have been: 1) Protect Social Security, 2) Oppose the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk, and 3) Support the Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures (EPIC) Act.

I have introduced 14 bills in the 119th Congress, including:

H.R. 1060, Modern Authentication of Pharmaceuticals (MAP) Act of 2025: The first bill we introduced was the Modern Authentication of Pharmaceuticals Act, legislation that seeks to secure the United States drug supply chain and close vulnerabilities that allow counterfeit controlled substances, including lethal fentanyl, into our communities;
H.R. 1244, Reducing Drug Prices for Seniors Act, legislation that reduces out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare patients by calculating the coinsurance cost at the pharmacy counter based on the drug’s net, or actual price, rather than its list price;
H.R. 1298, Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act, legislation that sets a new business-related tax credit for the start-up expenses of a veteran-owned small business in an underserved community;
H.R. 1363, Honor and Remember Flag Recognition Act of 2025, legislation that designates the Honor and Remember Flag, created by Honor and Remember, Inc., as a national symbol to honor service members who died in the line of duty;
H.R. 1377, Sarah Keys Evans Congressional Gold Medal Act in recognition of her achievements relating to the desegregation of passengers on interstate buses in the 1950s. Before there was Rosa Parks, there was Sara Keys Evans;
H.R. 1672, Maintaining New Investments in New Innovation (MINI) Act ensures lifesaving genetic treatments remain accessible;
H.R. 1858, Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and Restoration Act would strengthen flood prevention measures and provide support for rural communities facing flood risks;
H.R. 1985, Promoting Precision Agriculture Act, ensuring our growers have access to the cutting-edge precision agriculture technologies and broadband services necessary to do what they do best — feed, fuel, and clothe the American people;
H.R. 2043, Agricultural Commodities Price Enhancement Act, legislation that increases the reference price for seed cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, and wheat;
H.R. 2109, Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act, ensures our water systems that rural communities and farmers rely on have the necessary protections to successfully guard against cyber-attacks;
H.R. 2541, Nuclear Medicine Clarification Act of 2025, legislation that would close a loophole that currently allows patients to be unintentionally exposed to high levels of radiation without reporting or disclosure. The legislation would improve care and ensure transparency for patients and simplify federal rules coming from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC);
H.R. 2542, Old Drugs, New Cures Act, legislation to improve access to innovative, affordable medication and tackle health disparities in rural and low-income communities across America;
H.R. 2625, Veterans Employment Readiness Yield (VERY) Act, which updates outdated language. The VERY Act makes changes to let our disabled vets know that they are receiving the respect and dignity they have rightfully earned; and
H.R. 2707, Protecting American Families and Servicemembers from Anthrax Act, ensuring the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services develop a long-term stockpiling strategy that leverages the Strategic National Stockpile to enhance national preparedness.

I am committed to:

Fighting for our farmers by advocating for a temporary pause on the Adverse Effective Wage Rate and pushing for a comprehensive Farm Bill that enhances commodity pricing. We also need continued support for agricultural assistance for farmers hurt by difficult times;
Protecting Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. We are working to protect Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, including two visits and annual defense priorities focusing on F-15EX procurement, Child Development Center upgrades, maintenance dollars for F-15E aircraft, and $41 million in Combat Arms Training & Maintenance funds;
Building our local economy, by creating good-paying jobs in shipbuilding with Newport News Shipyard and the Global TransPark, a critical hub for jobs, logistics, and innovation, while addressing local government infrastructure needs.We are also working to address our Interstate, broadband, and housing needs;
Enhancing our healthcare outcomes is vital. I support Martin County’s efforts to enhance its healthcare system and advocate for a new Health Sciences facility at Barton College by advocating for $10 million through Barton’s application to the Golden LEAF Foundation;
On border security, I will continue supporting a secure border and meaningful immigration reform that respects our values. I have visited the ICE facility that services eastern North Carolina in Alamance County Detention Center and traveled as part of an Armed Services Committee CODEL to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to gain firsthand insight into the role these facilities play in our border security strategy. Next week, I will travel to Lumpkin, Georgia to tour a regional ICE facility;
I will be filing key legislation that addresses federal recognition for the Haliwa Saponi Indian Tribe, support for the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, and tax fairness for combat-injured Coast Guard veterans.

Together, these efforts will contribute to a brighter future for our region. We’re not sitting on the sidelines. We are working hard every day on healthcare, agriculture, defense, and working families.

An early victory during the Trump Administration includes the decision by the Food and Drug Administration to formally withdraw and end the effort by the agency to consider a ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. As the Ranking Member of the Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee, I am working on regulatory framework legislation for the crypto and digital assets industry that is a priority of the Administration.

I also know that people are currently nervous about the state of the country and the world.

Specific concerns include: 1. Helene and agriculture assistance, 2. education funding reductions, and 3. tariffs.

I voted in support of disaster assistance for Helene in the West and drought in the East. I am glad that economic assistance was included. But we are way short. We are a billion short for agricultural assistance alone.

I visited North Lenoir High School in Lenoir County just this morning, one of the four public school districts in North Carolina that no longer has access to COVID-19-related funding that they had been promised because the U.S. Department of Education terminated their ability to liquidate those federal dollars.

On Friday, I visited Halifax County Schools to discuss the same issue.

We are:

Sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon;
Seeking to schedule a meeting with the Secretary;
Reaching out to other North Carolina delegation members to consider a joint letter; and
Communicating our findings to the White House.

For tariffs, eastern North Carolina cannot afford to be collateral damage in a trade war. We need tough and targeted trade policies, but our policies must also protect jobs, lower input costs, and keep our communities strong.

Previously, I voted in support of the SAVE ACT. After speaking with North Carolina State Board of Election officials, I voted against it based on the concern that the bill cannot be implemented as drafted. While I support the intent of the SAVE Act that makes crystal clear only U.S. citizens should vote in elections, N.C. election officials have shared serious concerns about its implementation. The limited time for modernizing our information systems, uncertain taxpayer costs, and the need for clear standards to verify U.S. citizenship pose risks to administering federal elections. I remain committed to improving this bill and ensuring free and fair elections.

We are meeting residents where they are. We read “Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses” at St. Stephens Daycare. Federal funds for early childhood education remain important. I visited International Paper at Manson, spoke with quilters in Warrenton, and held a meeting with the Global TransPark. This morning, I traveled to N. Lenoir High School to look at their roof.

I plan to visit Pine Gates Renewables, Freedom Industries, and the Boys and Girls Club of the Tar River Region later today. Over the course of the next week, I will attend the 60th Annual Haliwa Saponi Blooming of the Dogwood Powwow, visit Airbus and Collins Aerospace, Barton College, Davita Kidney Care in Wilson, and Wilson Community College.

I plan to meet with the Albemarle Area United Way, break ground at Elizabeth City State University for an aviation building, visit U.S. Coast Guard Elizabeth City, visit the Food Bank of Albemarle, and meet with the Perquimans County EMS director to discuss recovery efforts.

As this is Holy Week, I wish everyone a wonderful Easter. Meanwhile, we will keep looking for opportunities to work with the Administration. Tax filing deadline was extended to May 1 for federal and state for all NC residents due to Helene. I encourage residents to file their taxes or an extension. We will keep advocating for our families, our farmers, our veterans, our students, and the future we believe in. May God bless eastern North Carolina, and our nation.

MIL-OSI United Nations: As budgets shrink, UN Peacekeeping looks to the future

Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

With just weeks to go before a key ministerial meeting in Berlin, the UN and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to peacekeeping – a vital tool for global stability that must now adapt to dwindling resources.

“This is a particularly timely meeting,” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, at a press conference in New York on Thursday.

“It’s a unique opportunity to underline the added value of peacekeeping and ensure we remain ready, as a peacekeeping family, to respond with Member States to any new mission that may arise.”

The UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 is expected to draw around 1,000 delegates to the German capital next month, including foreign and defence ministers from across the globe. Their goal: to shape a peacekeeping model that is more agile, intelligent and resilient.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is also due to attend the meeting taking place on 13 and 14 May.

Facing growing challenges

As conflicts intensify from South Sudan to the Middle East and Kashmir, and as geopolitical divides weaken international consensus, this biennial conference is being called one of the most significant since its inception in 2014.

“We are facing more internal and inter-State conflicts than at any point since the Second World War,” Mr. Lacroix noted, pointing to the increasing complexity of modern warfare.

Additional challenges such as transnational crime, online disinformation, and climate change are also affecting missions – at a time when peacekeeping budgets continue to shrink.

‘Difference between life and death’

Despite these pressures, ‘blue helmets’ continue to carry out their work under extremely difficult conditions. “They protect hundreds of thousands of people,” said the peacekeeping chief. “Very often, their presence is the difference between life and death.”

Germany, a key contributor to UN peacekeeping, is leading the organization of the upcoming meeting. “Peacekeeping is multilateralism in action,” said Nils Hilmer, Germany’s State Secretary for Defence. “We want to provide a platform for Member States to strengthen peacekeeping for the future.”

Sessions in Berlin will include pledging events, high-level debates, exhibitions, and a spotlight on Germany’s involvement in missions such as UNIFIL in Lebanon and UNMISS in South Sudan.

At the heart of the UN

Katharina Stasch, Germany’s Director-General for International Order and Disarmament, highlighted the symbolic power of peacekeepers. “For many, the blue helmets are the face of the UN. Peacekeeping is at the heart of the organization.”

The meeting will also support progress on the UN’s Pact for the Future reform initiative, with topics including conflict prevention, digital innovation, regional partnerships and countering disinformation.

“The mission remains the same,” said Mr. Lacroix. “Helping host countries through their most turbulent times – despite tighter budgets.”

MIL OSI United Nations News –

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Polluting water bosses face up to two years in prison

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release

Polluting water bosses face up to two years in prison

New laws in force today mark the toughest sentencing powers against law-breaking water executives in history.

Powers introduced could see water bosses who cover up illegal sewage spills sent to prison for two years.
New measures will force water companies to end their disgraceful behaviour and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

Water company bosses could face up to two years in prison due to new powers in force today (Friday 25 April 2025).

The new powers, delivered by the Government’s landmark Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, mean water executives who cover up or hide illegal sewage spills can now be locked up.

No prison sentences have been handed to water executives since privatisation despite widespread illegal sewage discharges into rivers, lakes and seas. These new, tougher penalties are essential because some water companies have obstructed investigations, failing to hand over vital evidence related to illegal sewage discharges. This has prevented crackdowns against law-breaking water companies.

The new measures deliver on the Government’s promise to bring tougher criminal charges against lawbreakers in the water industry. As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, the threat of imprisonment will act as a powerful deterrent as water companies invest in upgrading broken water infrastructure and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:

Bosses must face consequences if they commit crimes. There must be accountability.

From today, there will be no more hiding places.

As part of the Plan for Change, water companies must now focus on cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

In addition, new powers will mean that the polluters will pay for the cost of criminal investigations into wrongdoing. Authorities will now recover the costs of their enforcement activity, with the Environment Agency currently consulting on how they will use the powers.

The payment of bonuses to water bosses will also be banned if they fail to meet high standards to protect the environment, their consumers, and their company’s finances.

Philip Duffy, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency said:

The Water (Special Measures) Act was a crucial step in making sure water companies take full responsibility for their impact on the environment.

The tougher powers we have gained though this legislation will allow us, as the regulator, to close the justice gap, deliver swifter enforcement action and ultimately deter illegal activity.

Alongside this, we’re modernising and expanding our approach to water company inspections – and it’s working. More people, powers, better data and inspections are yielding vital evidence so that we can reduce sewage pollution, hold water companies to account and protect the environment.

The Government will continue to reform the water sector in order to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas once and for all.

Alongside this, £104 billion of private sector investment has been secured to upgrade and build new water infrastructure across the country, supporting the building of 1.5 million new homes, creating thousands of jobs and powering new industries such as gigafactories and data centres as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

Notes to editors:

Criminal Liability

Until now, water regulators have faced significant challenges gathering evidence for prosecutions due to obstruction of their investigations.
This is a criminal offence, but since privatisation, only three water company officials have been criminally prosecuted for obstruction by the EA without appeal and the maximum punishment was merely a fine – though no fines were issued.
From now on, offences will be triable in both the Crown and Magistrates’ Courts and imprisonment will act as a powerful deterrent, bringing water regulation powers in line with other sectors, such as those covering fraud or health and safety investigations.

 The new provisions enable:

courts to include imprisonment as a sanction when investigations by water regulators (the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and the Drinking Water Inspectorate) have been obstructed;
obstruction offences to be heard in the Crown Court;
directors and executives to be prosecuted where obstruction occurs with their consent, connivance or neglect.

Previously:

obstructing regulators’ investigations was not always punishable by imprisonment;
cases could not always be heard in the Crown Court;
there were no straightforward routes for prosecuting directors or executives where obstruction was committed with their consent or connivance, or was attributable to their neglect.

The Water Special Measures Act received Royal Assent in February – see press release here: New law to ban bonuses for polluting water bosses – GOV.UK

Further detail on the measures in the Act can be found in the Policy Statement here: Water (Special Measures) Act: policy statement – GOV.UK

Action on water

The government has taken immediate action to reset the water sector. Change is being delivered three stages: 
In his first week in office, the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed announced a series of initial steps. This included immediately ringfencing funding for vital water infrastructure so that it can only be spent on upgrades benefiting the environment – not diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases. Where money is not spent, we will force water companies to return it to customers. 
Second, the landmark Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 has been signed into law, marking the most significant increase in enforcement powers in a decade. The Act will: 
Strengthen regulation to ensure water bosses face personal criminal liability for lawbreaking. 
Give the water regulator new powers to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met. 
Boost accountability for water executives through a new ‘code of conduct’ for water companies, so customers can summon board members and hold executives to account. 
Introduce new powers to bring automatic and severe fines. 
Require water companies to install real-time monitors at every emergency sewage outlet with data independently scrutinised by the water regulators. 
Third, the Independent Commission into the water sector, launched by the UK and Welsh governments, is carrying out the largest review of the industry since privatisation. Its recommendations, due later this summer, will shape further laws to attract the investment needed to clean up our waterways, accelerate infrastructure delivery and restore public confidence in the sector.  
The next five years will see £104 billion in private sector investment into the water industry—the largest since privatisation. This will drive forward 150 major infrastructure projects, creating over 30,000 jobs across the country, and support the building of 1.5 million new homes and powering new industries such as gigafactories and data centres. 
The Secretary of State and Water Minister recently completed a ‘Things Can Only Get Cleaner’ tour to see where this investment will underpin the building of new homes, create jobs and turbocharge local economies around the country – a cornerstone of the government’s Plan for Change. This included a pledge to end sewage discharges into the iconic lake Windermere.

Published 24 April 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Foreign Secretary statement on the situation in El Fasher, Sudan: 24 April 2025

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release

Foreign Secretary statement on the situation in El Fasher, Sudan: 24 April 2025

The Foreign Secretary has issued a statement following reports of violence in and around El Fasher, Sudan.

Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said:

The reports of violence in and around the city of El Fasher are appalling.

Last week, the UK gathered the international community in London to call for an end to the suffering of the Sudanese people. Yet some of the violence in Darfur has shown the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing and may amount to crimes against humanity. Both sides must de-escalate urgently in Darfur and implement UNSCR2736, which calls on the RSF to halt its siege of El Fasher and bring an immediate stop to the fighting.

The UK will continue to use all tools available to us to us to hold those responsible for atrocities to account.

The warring parties have a responsibility to end this suffering. There are no exceptions to the laws of war: both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces agreed at Jeddah to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access.

It is their responsibility to enforce these commitments, through command and control of their fighters and aligned militias. The RSF must immediately cease attacks on civilians, and the SAF and allied Joint Forces must allow safe passage for civilians to reach safety.

Hundreds of thousands have been displaced; yet many more in Zamzam IDP camp and El Fasher are being blocked from fleeing this violence by the warring parties. They must be free to seek safety wherever they think best and be protected as they do so.

The warring parties must give humanitarian actors the security guarantees needed to deliver aid rapidly, safely and at scale, including through a 72-hour pause in fighting. This must be through transparent notification of movement, rather than permission, throughout North Darfur and beyond.

Media enquiries

Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

Telephone 020 7008 3100

Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

Published 24 April 2025

MIL-OSI Africa: Chikunga leads SA delegation at Brazil BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting

Source: South Africa News Agency

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, is leading South Africa’s delegation to the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília, Brazil.

The Ministerial meeting, taking place on Thursday, is one of several high-level engagements under the 2025 BRICS Presidency, led by Brazil, and is themed: “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”.

The meeting will bring together Ministers responsible for gender and women’s affairs across BRICS member states (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to advance multilateral cooperation on women’s empowerment and gender-responsive governance.

The BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting was first conceptualised during South Africa’s BRICS Presidency in 2023, when South Africa proposed the institutionalisation of a platform for Ministers responsible for women’s affairs.

This initiative aimed to integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment more centrally into BRICS multilateralism. Since then, both Russia in 2024, and Brazil in 2025, have continued the momentum, hosting sessions that advance this collaborative agenda.

The 2025 Ministerial will focus on three priority areas:
•    Women, Development and Entrepreneurship,
•    Digital Governance, Misogyny and Disinformation, and
•    Women’s Empowerment, Climate Action and Sustainable Development.

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities said Chikunga will participate in all three thematic debates scheduled for the Ministerial Meeting, where she will contribute to discussions on women’s economic empowerment, digital governance, and climate resilience.

“Her participation underscores South Africa’s commitment to ensuring that gender equality is mainstreamed across all areas of governance, policy, and development within the BRICS framework. These themes reflect shared challenges and ambitions across the BRICS countries, particularly in the context of inclusive economic development, digital rights, and sustainability.

“The meeting offers a strategic space for exchanging policy approaches, aligning efforts, and strengthening collective commitments to gender justice. South Africa’s participation is consistent with its broader commitment to women development, social inclusion, and multilateral solidarity,” the department said in a statement on Thursday. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

READ | Africa’s peace mission ‘historic’ – President Ramaphosa

MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa calls for comprehensive, unconditional ceasefire

Source: South Africa News Agency

By Dikeledi Molobela

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on both Ukraine and Russia to commit to a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire, paving the way for meaningful dialogue and negotiations between the two nations.

The President emphasised that South Africa stands ready to continue to support all credible and inclusive multilateral efforts aimed at achieving a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace.

“We call upon all parties, both Russia and Ukraine, to ensure that there is a comprehensive ceasefire, an unconditional ceasefire, so that discussions and negotiations can start between the two countries.

“President Zelensky, as he himself would say, told me that as Ukraine, they are ready to engage in discussions and negotiations with Russia and they are also ready to have a comprehensive, unconditional ceasefire. This we believe is the best way towards ending the war between Russia and Ukraine,” he said.

President Ramaphosa, together with his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressed a media briefing at the Union Buildings following official talks on Thursday.

Zelenskyy, who had to cut his visit short due to an overnight attack in his country, was in South Africa on his first official visit.

This engagement follows President Ramaphosa’s visit to Ukraine in June 2023 as part of the African Peace Initiative, which also saw African leaders meeting with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to table a 10-point peace proposal.

President Ramaphosa emphasised that South Africa’s own journey from apartheid to democracy has taught the nation the value of engaging all parties in a conflict to achieve peaceful, just, and lasting solutions.

“If there is one thing that our history has taught us, it is that diplomacy and dialogue are more powerful than any weapon that anyone can use.

“It is this understanding that informed South Africa’s participation in the African Peace Initiative and South Africa’s subsequent participation in the Ukraine Peace Formula,” he said.

Answering a question on whether Ukraine may need to cede part of its territory to Russia, President Ramaphosa said he views this as a precondition; however, the focus should be on Ukraine’s commitment to an unconditional ceasefire, which is seen as a positive step for negotiations.

“I think what we should focus on is that there is a willingness and a commitment from Ukraine for an unconditional ceasefire. An unconditional ceasefire sets a very good and positive tone for negotiations to commence. It is a confidence-building measure that should be a key ingredient in a negotiation process. So, I see this as great progress,” the President said.

During the media engagement, President Ramaphosa also said he spoke to United States of America President Donald Trump this morning to discuss the peace process in Ukraine, where they both agreed that the war should end as soon as possible.

“We both agreed that the war should be brought to an end as soon as possible to prevent further death and destruction. President Trump and I also agreed to meet soon to address this, and relations between South Africa and the United States. We both spoke about the need to foster good relations between our two countries,” he said.

Earlier in the week, President Ramaphosa also had a call with President Vladimir Putin, where they both committed to working together towards a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In response, President Zelenskyy extended his gratitude to South Africa, adding that the shared understanding that the war needs to end as soon as possible was a key focus during discussions with President Ramaphosa.

“When he had been on a visit to Ukraine, I remember him saying these very important words about the need to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible — an unconditional ceasefire. I agreed to it.

“I said that everything depends on Russia’s intention and desire because it is in Moscow where they have to make a decision on silence, making relevant orders to the Russian army,” he said.

President Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready for a ceasefire but was forced to defend itself in the face of Russian attacks.

“Unfortunately, after that, Russia renewed its assaults on the front line, the strikes against the civilian infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy also expressed that his country has been fighting for its freedom in this full-scale war for more than three years now.

“We have a very fresh Russian attack this day… Unfortunately we have got losses and destruction…I decided to shorten my visit to your beautiful country,” he said.

However, Zelenskyy said he leaves behind his Foreign Minister to attend all the meetings that have been planned. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa and Ukraine solidify biliteral relations

Source: South Africa News Agency

By Dikeledi Molobela

President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have used the official visit to deepen bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

President Ramaphosa hosted President Zelenskyy at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday, marking the first official visit by a Ukrainian Head of State to South Africa.

He expressed that it was his distinct honour to receive President Zelenskyy and his delegation at the Union Buildings.

“This is a historic visit. This is the first time the Head of State of Ukraine is visiting South Africa in the 33 years since we established formal diplomatic relations.

“We acknowledge with great appreciation the support we received from Ukraine during our liberation struggle. We recall that a number of exiled South Africans received training and education in Ukraine,” the President said.

In June 2023, President Ramaphosa had the honour of visiting President Zelenskyy in Kyiv as part of the African Peace Initiative.

Since then, he said they have maintained ongoing dialogue between the two countries and its diplomats.

“We have just concluded successful talks during which we exchanged views on how to consolidate and deepen the bilateral relations between our two countries. We noted a growing interest in expanding relations in peace diplomacy, post-conflict reconstruction and development, and the empowerment of women.

“We also discussed opportunities for cooperation in areas such as agriculture, trade, education, infrastructure and social exchanges,” President Ramaphosa said.

He expressed satisfaction that Ministers from both countries have held discussions on strengthening trade and investment opportunities, including opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness.

“We acknowledge the significant strides that Ukraine has taken and in particular, the efforts of President Zelenskyy to expand relations with the African continent.

“We note the provision of grain in areas of food stress in West and East Africa, the expansion of agricultural cooperation, and the opening of a grain hub at the Port of Mombasa in Kenya,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said these are the direct outcomes of the discussions that were held when he and other African Heads of State visited Kyiv in June 2023 as part of the African Peace Initiative.

“Our engagement today was an opportunity to discuss our shared interest in advancing peace, security, stability and sustainable development on the continent, in Ukraine and across the world.

“We have reinforced our common commitment to respect the rule of law in international relations, multilateralism, the central role of the United Nations in global governance, and the maintenance of global peace and security,” he said.

Delivering his remarks, President Zelenskyy noted that South Africa is currently presiding over the Group of 20 (G20) and emphasised that the G20’s role in defending peace could be far more significant, a role he strongly counts on.

He proposed the creation of a joint mineral hub between Ukraine and South Africa to facilitate the production and transport of fertilisers, supporting the broader Southern African region.

“Our bilateral agenda is also very important. Ukraine is keenly interested in energy security matters and fertiliser production… We are ready to work with the South Africans to build more modern production facilities in your country for better resilient power sector,” he said.

President Zelenskyy also highlighted opportunities for cooperation in the agricultural sector, which could significantly enhance bilateral trade between the two countries.

“Ukraine offers South Africa to have a joint mineral hub to produce and transport fertilisers to support the whole of your region. There are potential projects in the agricultural sector. This can lead to better bilateral trade results between Ukraine and South Africa,” he said.

He added that Ukraine is also ready to work together to develop modern security systems for national parks, urban environments, and other areas requiring advanced technological solutions.

President Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine’s willingness to partner with South Africa to boost power generation, ranging from atomic energy to affordable renewables.

“We are also ready to work together to drastically increase power generation in your country, from atomic energy to renewable. Affordable energy has always contributed to economic growth, and I’ve already tasked my professional team to look into a joint project between our countries,” he said.

He also presented President Ramaphosa with a list of 400 Ukrainian children reportedly being held against their will in Russia.

President Zelenskyy acknowledged South Africa’s role as co-leader of the global coalition to bring Ukrainian children home and expressed hope that President Ramaphosa would assist in securing their return.

“I presented President Ramaphosa with a list of 400 Ukrainian children. It’s very important for us to look after them… We need to get them back. I truly hope that President Ramaphosa will help us to bring them home indeed.

“I’d like to thank you for this visit, for the opportunity to meet you. We strongly believe that the President, South Africa, all other partners in Africa will help us to… to [get Russia] to engage in the full-scale ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

MIL-OSI: MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. Reports Financial Results For the First Quarter of 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

IOWA CITY, Iowa, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MOFG) (“we,” “our,” or the “Company”) today reported results for the first quarter of 2025.

First Quarter 2025 Summary¹

Net income of $15.1 million, or $0.73 per diluted common share.
- Net interest margin (tax equivalent) was 3.44%;² core net interest margin expanded 10 basis points (“bps”) to 3.36%.²
- Noninterest expenses were $36.3 million; efficiency ratio was 59.38%.²
- Return on average assets of 1.00%.
Criticized loans ratio improved 54 bps to 5.47%; nonperforming assets ratio improved 7 bps to 0.33%.
Tangible book value per share of $23.36,² an increase of 4.4%.
Common equity tier 1 (“CET1”) capital ratio improved 24 bps to 10.97%.

CEO Commentary

Charles (Chip) Reeves, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, “We are pleased with the continued execution of our strategic plan initiatives despite a more uncertain economic environment. Our return on average assets eclipsed 1% for the second straight quarter driven by disciplined balance sheet management, core net interest margin expansion of 10 bps² and solid expense control. Loan growth was flat in the quarter, somewhat softer than anticipated, due to pay-offs and latter quarter market volatility. The majority of our asset quality metrics improved significantly, led by reductions in nonperforming assets and criticized loans. Net charge-offs increased to 29 basis points, with the majority of the increase due to a partial charge-off on a previously reserved CRE loan as we prepare for resolution. Driven by earnings and lower accumulated other comprehensive loss, tangible book value per share increased 4.4% to $23.36² and the CET1 ratio grew to 10.97%, edging closer to our target range of 11.0%-11.50%.

Thank you to our team members who continued to execute well and serve our customers amidst market volatility. We are pleased with the transformation of our company and our solid foundation of increased capital, earnings power, asset quality, and a premium core deposit franchise position us well for uncertain economic times and the remainder of 2025.”

¹ First Quarter Summary compares to the fourth quarter of 2024 (the “linked quarter”) unless noted.
² Non-GAAP measure. See the separate Non-GAAP Measures section for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

	As of or for the quarter ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts and as noted)	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
		2025			2024			2024
Financial Results
Revenue	$	57,575		$	59,775		$	44,481
Credit loss expense		1,687			1,291			4,689
Noninterest expense		36,293			37,372			35,565
Net income		15,138			16,330			3,269
Adjusted earnings⁽³⁾		15,301			16,112			4,504
Per Common Share
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.73		$	0.78		$	0.21
Adjusted earnings per share⁽³⁾		0.73			0.77			0.29
Book value		27.85			26.94			33.53
Tangible book value⁽³⁾		23.36			22.37			27.14
Balance Sheet & Credit Quality
Loans In millions	$	4,304.2		$	4,315.6		$	4,414.6
Investment securities In millions		1,305.5			1,328.4			1,862.2
Deposits In millions		5,489.1			5,478.0			5,585.2
Net loan charge-offs In millions		3.1			0.7			0.2
Allowance for credit losses ratio		1.25	%		1.28	%		1.27	%
Selected Ratios
Return on average assets		1.00	%		1.03	%		0.20	%
Net interest margin, tax equivalent⁽³⁾		3.44	%		3.43	%		2.33	%
Return on average equity		10.74	%		11.53	%		2.49	%
Return on average tangible equity⁽³⁾		13.75	%		14.80	%		4.18	%
Efficiency ratio⁽³⁾		59.38	%		59.06	%		71.28	%

REVENUE REVIEW

Revenue							Change	Change
Revenue							1Q25 vs	1Q25 vs
(Dollars in thousands)	1Q25		4Q24		1Q24		4Q24	1Q24
Net interest income	$	47,439	$	48,938	$	34,731	(3)%	37	%
Noninterest income		10,136		10,837		9,750	(6)%	4	%
Total revenue, net of interest expense	$	57,575	$	59,775	$	44,481	(4)%	29	%

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2025 decreased $2.2 million from the fourth quarter of 2024 due to lower net interest income and noninterest income during the quarter. When compared to the first quarter of 2024, total revenue increased $13.1 million, due to higher net interest income and higher noninterest income.

Net interest income of $47.4 million for the first quarter of 2025 decreased $1.5 million from the fourth quarter of 2024, due to lower earning asset volumes and yields, partially offset by lower funding volumes and costs. When compared to the first quarter of 2024, net interest income increased $12.7 million, due to higher earning asset yields and lower funding volumes and costs, partially offset by lower earning asset volumes.

The Company’s tax equivalent net interest margin was 3.44%³ in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 3.43%³ in the fourth quarter of 2024, driven by lower funding costs, partially offset by a decline in earning asset yields. Interest bearing liability costs during the first quarter of 2025 decreased 11 bps to 2.41%, due to reductions of short-term borrowings, interest bearing deposits, and long-term debt costs of 78 bps, 10 bps, and 7 bps, to 3.75%, 2.31%, and 6.41%, respectively, from the fourth quarter of 2024.

The Company’s tax equivalent net interest margin was 3.44%³ in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 2.33%³ in the first quarter of 2024, driven by higher earning asset yields and lower interest-bearing liability costs. Total earning assets yield increased 79 bps from the first quarter of 2024, primarily due to increases of 192 bps and 20 bps in total investment securities and loan yields, respectively. Interest bearing liability costs decreased 34 bps to 2.41%, due to short-term borrowing costs of 3.75%, long-term debt costs of 6.41%, and interest-bearing deposit costs of 2.31%, which decreased 107 bps, 45 bps, and 14 bps, respectively, from the first quarter of 2024.

³ Non-GAAP measure. See the separate Non-GAAP Measures section for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Noninterest Income									Change		Change
Noninterest Income									1Q25 vs		1Q25 vs
(In thousands)	1Q25			4Q24		1Q24			4Q24		1Q24
Investment services and trust activities	$	3,544		$	3,779	$	3,503		(6)%		1	%
Service charges and fees		2,131			2,159		2,144		(1)%		(1)%
Card revenue		1,744			1,833		1,943		(5)%		(10)%
Loan revenue		1,194			1,841		856		(35)%		39	%
Bank-owned life insurance		1,057			719		660		47	%	60	%
Investment securities gains, net		33			161		36		(80)%		(8)%
Other		433			345		608		26	%	(29)%
Total noninterest income	$	10,136		$	10,837	$	9,750		(6)%		4	%

MSR adjustment (included above in Loan revenue)	$	(213	)	$	164	$	(368	)	(230)%		(42)%

Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2025 decreased $0.7 million from the linked quarter, primarily due to declines of $0.6 million and $0.2 million in loan revenue and investment services and trust activities revenue, respectively. The decrease in loan revenue was reflective of an unfavorable change in the fair value of our mortgage servicing rights of $0.4 million, coupled with a decrease in Small Business Administration (“SBA”) gain on sale revenue of $0.3 million. The decrease in investment services and trust activities revenue was driven by a decline in assets under administration due to market volatility. Partially offsetting these decreases was an increase of $0.3 million in bank-owned life insurance revenue, due primarily to $0.4 million of death benefit recognized in the first quarter of 2025.

Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2025 increased $0.4 million from the first quarter of 2024 due primarily to increases of $0.4 million and $0.3 million in bank-owned life insurance and loan revenue, respectively. The bank-owned life insurance increase was due primarily to the death benefit noted above. The increase in loan revenue was due primarily to the mortgage servicing right valuation adjustment, coupled with higher SBA gain on sale revenue and other loan income. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases of $0.2 million in each of card revenue and other revenue.

EXPENSE REVIEW

Noninterest Expense							Change		Change
Noninterest Expense							1Q25 vs		1Q25 vs
(In thousands)	1Q25		4Q24		1Q24		4Q24		1Q24
Compensation and employee benefits	$	21,212	$	20,684	$	20,930	3	%	1	%
Occupancy expense of premises, net		2,588		2,772		2,813	(7)%		(8)%
Equipment		2,426		2,688		2,600	(10)%		(7)%
Legal and professional		2,226		2,534		2,059	(12)%		8	%
Data processing		1,698		1,719		1,360	(1)%		25	%
Marketing		552		793		598	(30)%		(8)%
Amortization of intangibles		1,408		1,449		1,637	(3)%		(14)%
FDIC insurance		917		980		942	(6)%		(3)%
Communications		159		154		196	3	%	(19)%
Foreclosed assets, net		74		56		358	32	%	(79)%
Other		3,033		3,543		2,072	(14)%		46	%
Total noninterest expense	$	36,293	$	37,372	$	35,565	(3)%		2	%

Merger-related Expenses
Merger-related Expenses
(In thousands)	1Q25		4Q24		1Q24
Compensation and employee benefits	$	—	$	—	$	241
Occupancy expense of premises, net		—		—		152
Equipment		—		21		149
Legal and professional		40		—		573
Data processing		—		10		61
Marketing		—		—		32
Communications		—		—		1
Other		—		—		105
Total merger-related expenses	$	40	$	31	$	1,314

Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2025 decreased $1.1 million from the linked quarter, primarily due to decreases in other noninterest expense, legal and professional, equipment, and occupancy expense of premises, net, of $0.5 million, $0.3 million, $0.3 million, and $0.2 million, respectively. The primary drivers of the decrease in other noninterest expense were declines in fraud loss expense of $0.3 million and customer deposit costs of $0.1 million. The $0.3 million decrease in legal and professional expense was primarily driven by lower litigation-related legal costs. The decrease in equipment of $0.3 million was primarily driven by fewer small equipment purchases, while the decrease in occupancy expense of premises, net was due primarily to lower property tax expense. Partially offsetting these decreases was an increase of $0.5 million in compensation and employee benefits which reflected an increase in equity compensation and payroll tax expenses.

Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2025 increased $0.7 million from the first quarter of 2024 primarily due to increases in other noninterest expense, data processing, and compensation and employee benefits of $1.0 million, $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively. The increase in other noninterest expense was due primarily to customer deposit costs while the increase in data processing was driven core banking system costs. The increase in compensation and employee benefits was primarily driven by medical benefits expenses, wages expense, and incentive expense due to improved performance. Partially offsetting these identified increases was a decline of $1.3 million in merger-related expenses.

The Company’s effective tax rate was 22.7% in the first quarter of 2025 and the linked quarter. The effective income tax rate for the full year 2025 is expected to be 22-23%.

BALANCE SHEET REVIEW

Total assets were $6.25 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $6.24 billion at December 31, 2024 and $6.75 billion at March 31, 2024. The increase from December 31, 2024 was primarily due to higher cash balances, partially offset by lower securities balances. Compared to March 31, 2024, the decrease was primarily driven by the sale of assets associated with our Florida banking operations in the second quarter of 2024 coupled with the pay-off of Bank Term Funding Program (“BTFP”) borrowings with proceeds received from securities sales transactions in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Loans Held for Investment	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			March 31, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance	% of Total		Balance	% of Total		Balance	% of Total
Commercial and industrial	$1,140,138	26.5	%	$1,126,813	26.1	%	$1,105,718	25.0	%
Agricultural	131,409	3.1		119,051	2.8		113,029	2.6
Commercial real estate
Construction and development	293,280	6.8		324,896	7.5		403,571	9.1
Farmland	180,633	4.2		182,460	4.2		184,109	4.2
Multifamily	421,204	9.8		423,157	9.8		409,504	9.3
Other	1,425,062	33.0		1,414,168	32.7		1,440,645	32.7
Total commercial real estate	2,320,179	53.8		2,344,681	54.2		2,437,829	55.3
Residential real estate
One-to-four family first liens	471,688	11.0		477,150	11.1		495,408	11.2
One-to-four family junior liens	182,346	4.2		179,232	4.2		182,001	4.1
Total residential real estate	654,034	15.2		656,382	15.3		677,409	15.3
Consumer	58,424	1.4		68,700	1.6		80,661	1.8
Loans held for investment, net of unearned income	$4,304,184	100.0	%	$4,315,627	100.0	%	$4,414,646	100.0	%

Total commitments to extend credit	$1,080,300			$1,080,737			$1,230,612

Loans held for investment, net of unearned income, decreased $11.4 million, or 0.3%, to $4.30 billion from $4.32 billion at December 31, 2024, primarily due to the reclassification of $11.0 million of credit card receivables to loans held for sale in the first quarter of 2025. Management expects the credit card portfolio sale to close in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Loans held for investment, net of unearned income, decreased $110.5 million, or 2.5%, to $4.30 billion from $4.41 billion at March 31, 2024. The decrease from the first quarter of 2024 was driven primarily by the sale of loans associated with our Florida banking operations in the second quarter of 2024, partially offset by organic loan growth and higher line of credit usage.

Investment Securities	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			March 31, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance	% of Total		Balance	% of Total		Balance	% of Total
Available for sale	$1,305,530	100.0	%	$1,328,433	100.0	%	$797,230	42.8	%
Held to maturity	—	—	%	—	—	%	1,064,939	57.2	%
Total investment securities	$1,305,530			$1,328,433			$1,862,169

Investment securities at March 31, 2025 were $1.31 billion, decreasing $22.9 million from December 31, 2024 and decreasing $556.6 million from March 31, 2024. The decrease from the fourth quarter of 2024 was primarily due to principal cash flows received from scheduled payments, calls, and maturities. The decrease from the first quarter of 2024 stemmed primarily from the sale of debt securities in connection with a balance sheet repositioning, as well as principal cash flows received from scheduled payments, calls, and maturities.

Deposits	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			March 31, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance	% of Total		Balance	% of Total		Balance	% of Total
Noninterest bearing deposits	$903,714	16.5	%	$951,423	17.4	%	$920,764	16.5	%
Interest checking deposits	1,283,328	23.3		1,258,191	22.9		1,349,823	24.2
Money market deposits	1,002,066	18.3		1,053,988	19.2		1,122,717	20.1
Savings deposits	877,348	16.0		820,549	15.0		728,276	13.0
Time deposits of $250 and under	818,012	14.9		826,793	15.1		787,851	14.1
Total core deposits	4,884,468	89.0		4,910,944	89.6		4,909,431	87.9
Brokered time deposits	200,000	3.6		200,000	3.7		205,000	3.7
Time deposits over $250	404,674	7.4		367,038	6.7		470,805	8.4
Total deposits	$5,489,142	100.0	%	$5,477,982	100.0	%	$5,585,236	100.0	%

Total deposits increased $11.2 million, or 0.2%, to $5.49 billion, from $5.48 billion at December 31, 2024. Total deposits decreased $96.1 million, or 1.7%, from $5.59 billion at March 31, 2024, primarily due to the deposits transferred in the sale of our Florida banking operations, partially offset by organic deposit growth in our targeted metropolitan markets.

Borrowed Funds	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			March 31, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance	% of Total		Balance	% of Total		Balance	% of Total
Short-term borrowings	$1,482	1.3	%	$3,186	2.7	%	$422,988	77.6	%
Long-term debt	111,398	98.7	%	113,376	97.3	%	122,066	22.4	%
Total borrowed funds	$112,880			$116,562			$545,054

Borrowed funds were $112.9 million at March 31, 2025, a decrease of $3.7 million from December 31, 2024 and a decrease of $432.2 million from March 31, 2024. The decrease compared to the linked quarter was due to lower customer repurchase agreement volumes and scheduled payments on long-term debt. The decrease compared to March 31, 2024 was primarily due to the pay-off of $405.0 million of BTFP borrowings and $13.0 million of a revolving credit facility, as well as scheduled payments on long-term debt.

Capital	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2025 ⁽¹⁾				2024			2024
Total shareholders’ equity	$	579,625		$	559,696		$	528,040
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(63,098	)		(72,762	)		(60,804	)
MidWestOneFinancial Group, Inc. Consolidated
Tier 1 leverage to average assets ratio		9.50	%		9.15	%		8.16	%
Common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio		10.97	%		10.73	%		8.98	%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio		11.84	%		11.59	%		9.75	%
Total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio		14.34	%		14.07	%		11.97	%
MidWestOneBank
Tier 1 leverage to average assets ratio		10.42	%		10.12	%		9.36	%
Common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio		13.02	%		12.86	%		11.20	%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio		13.02	%		12.86	%		11.20	%
Total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio		14.21	%		14.02	%		12.25	%
⁽¹⁾ Regulatory capital ratios for March 31, 2025 are preliminary

Total shareholders’ equity at March 31, 2025 increased $19.9 million from December 31, 2024, driven primarily by an increase in retained earnings and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Total shareholders’ equity at March 31, 2025 increased $51.6 million from March 31, 2024, primarily due to increases in common stock and additional pain-in-capital stemming from the common equity capital raise in the third quarter of 2024, partially offset by a decrease in retained earnings.

On April 22, 2025, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.2425 per common share. The dividend is payable June 16, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 2, 2025.

No common shares were repurchased by the Company during the period December 31, 2024 through March 31, 2025 or for the subsequent period through April 24, 2025. The current share repurchase program allows for the repurchase of up to $15.0 million of the Company’s common shares. As of March 31, 2025, $15.0 million remained available under this program.

CREDIT QUALITY REVIEW

Credit Quality	As of or For the Three Months Ended
Credit Quality	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2025			2024			2024
Credit loss expense related to loans	$	1,787		$	1,891		$	4,589
Net charge-offs		3,087			691			189
Allowance for credit losses		53,900			55,200			55,900
Pass	$	4,068,707		$	4,056,361		$	4,098,102
Special Mention		121,494			148,462			152,604
Classified		113,983			110,804			163,940
Criticized		235,477			259,266			316,544
Loans greater than 30 days past due and accruing	$	6,119		$	9,378		$	8,772
Nonperforming loans	$	17,470		$	21,847		$	29,267
Nonperforming assets		20,889			25,184			33,164
Net charge-off ratio⁽¹⁾		0.29	%		0.06	%		0.02	%
Classified loans ratio⁽²⁾		2.65	%		2.57	%		3.71	%
Criticized loans ratio⁽³⁾		5.47	%		6.01	%		7.17	%
Nonperforming loans ratio⁽⁴⁾		0.41	%		0.51	%		0.66	%
Nonperforming assets ratio⁽⁵⁾		0.33	%		0.40	%		0.49	%
Allowance for credit losses ratio⁽⁶⁾		1.25	%		1.28	%		1.27	%
Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans ratio⁽⁷⁾		309.47	%		254.32	%		197.53	%
⁽¹⁾ Net charge-off ratio is calculated as annualized net charge-offs divided by the sum of average loans held for investment, net of unearned income and average loans held for sale, during the period.
⁽²⁾ Classified loans ratio is calculated as classified loans divided by loans held for investment, net of unearned income, at the end of the period.
⁽³⁾ Criticized loans ratio is calculated as criticized loans divided by loans held for investment, net of unearned income, at the end of the period.
⁽⁴⁾ Nonperforming loans ratio is calculated as nonperforming loans divided by loans held for investment, net of unearned income, at the end of the period.
⁽⁵⁾ Nonperforming assets ratio is calculated as nonperforming assets divided by total assets at the end of the period.
⁽⁶⁾ Allowance for credit losses ratio is calculated as allowance for credit losses divided by loans held for investment, net of unearned income, at the end of the period.
⁽⁷⁾ Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans ratio is calculated as allowance for credit losses divided by nonaccrual loans at the end of the period.

Nonperforming loans and nonperforming assets ratios improved 10 bps and 7 bps, to 0.41% and 0.33%, respectively, compared to the linked quarter. In addition, special mention loan balances decreased $27.0 million, or 18%, while classified loan balances remained relatively stable with an increase of $3.2 million, or 3%. When compared to the same period of the prior year, the nonperforming loans and nonperforming asset ratios improved 25 bps and 16 bps, respectively, while the classified loan ratio improved 106 bps. Special mention loan balances decreased $31.1 million, or 20%. The net charge-off ratio increased 23 bps from the linked quarter and 27 bps from the same period in the prior year.

As of March 31, 2025, the allowance for credit losses was $53.9 million and the allowance for credit losses ratio was 1.25%, compared with $55.2 million and 1.28%, respectively, at December 31, 2024. Credit loss expense of $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2025 primarily reflected additional reserve on pooled loans, offset by a reduction of $0.1 million in the reserve for unfunded loan commitments.

Nonperforming Loans Roll Forward	Nonaccrual	90+ Days Past Due & Still Accruing	Total
(Dollars in thousands)	Nonaccrual	90+ Days Past Due & Still Accruing	Total
Balance at December 31, 2024	$21,705	$142	$21,847
Loans placed on nonaccrual or 90+ days past due & still accruing	3,121	225	3,346
Proceeds related to repayment or sale	(4,158)	—	(4,158)
Loans returned to accrual status or no longer past due	(336)	(49)	(385)
Charge-offs	(2,774)	(259)	(3,033)
Transfers to foreclosed assets	(141)	—	(141)
Transfer to nonaccrual	—	(6)	(6)
Balance at March 31, 2025	$17,417	$53	$17,470

CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

The Company will host a conference call for investors at 11:00 a.m. CT on Friday, April 25, 2025. To participate, you may pre-register for this call utilizing the following link: https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=29396e9f&confId=80376. After pre-registering for this event you will receive your access details via email. On the day of the call, you are also able to dial 1-833-470-1428 using an access code of 527448 at least fifteen minutes before the call start time. If you are unable to participate on the call, a replay will be available until July 24, 2025 by calling 1-866-813-9403 and using the replay access code of 162684. A transcript of the call will also be available on the Company’s web site (www.midwestonefinancial.com) within three business days of the call.

ABOUT MIDWESTONE FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa. MidWestOne is the parent company of MidWestOne Bank, which operates banking offices in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Colorado. MidWestOne provides electronic delivery of financial services through its website, MidWestOne.bank. MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “MOFG”.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of such term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We and our representatives may, from time to time, make written or oral statements that are “forward-looking” and provide information other than historical information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. These factors include, among other things, the factors listed below. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of our management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “plans,” “goals,” “intend,” “project,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “may” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Additionally, we undertake no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events, except as required under federal securities law.

Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors that could have an impact on our ability to achieve operating results, growth plan goals and future prospects include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the effects of changes in interest rates, including on our net income and the value of our securities portfolio; (2) fluctuations in the value of our investment securities; (3) effects on the U.S. economy resulting from the implementation of proposed policies and executive orders, including the imposition of tariffs, changes in immigration policy, changes to regulatory or other governmental agencies, changes in foreign policy and tax regulations; (4) volatility of rate-sensitive deposits; (5) asset/liability matching risks and liquidity risks; (6) the ability to successfully manage liquidity risk, which may increase dependence on non-core funding sources such as brokered deposits, and may negatively impact the Company’s cost of funds; (7) the concentration of large deposits from certain clients, including those who have balances above current FDIC insurance limits; (8) credit quality deterioration, pronounced and sustained reduction in real estate market values, or other uncertainties, including the impact of inflationary pressures and future monetary policies of the Federal Reserve in response thereto on economic conditions and our business, resulting in an increase in the allowance for credit losses, an increase in the credit loss expense, and a reduction in net earnings; (9) the sufficiency of the allowance for credit losses to absorb the amount of expected losses inherent in our existing loan portfolio; (10) the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of allowances for credit losses and estimation of values of collateral and various financial assets and liabilities; (11) credit risks and risks from concentrations (by type of borrower, collateral, geographic area and by industry) within our loan portfolio; (12) changes in the economic environment, competition, or other factors that may affect our ability to acquire loans or influence the anticipated growth rate of loans and deposits and the quality of the loan portfolio and loan and deposit pricing; (13) governmental monetary and fiscal policies; (14) new or revised general economic, political, or industry conditions, nationally, internationally or in the communities in which we conduct business, including the risk of a recession; (15) the imposition of domestic or foreign tariffs or other governmental policies impacting the global supply chain and value of the agricultural or other products of our borrowers; (16) war or terrorist activities, including ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, widespread disease or pandemic, or other adverse external events, which may cause deterioration in the economy or cause instability in credit markets; (17) legislative and regulatory changes, including changes in banking, securities, trade, and tax laws and regulations and their application by our regulators, and including changes in interpretation or prioritization of such laws and regulations; (18) changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory agencies and the Financial Accounting Standards Board; (19) the effects of competition from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market and other mutual funds, financial technology companies, and other financial institutions operating in our markets or elsewhere or providing similar services; (20) changes in the business and economic conditions generally and in the financial services industry, and the effects of recent developments and events in the financial services industry, including the large-scale deposit withdrawals over a short period of time that resulted in prior bank failures; (21) the occurrence of fraudulent activity, breaches, or failures of our or our third party vendors’ information security controls or cyber-security related incidents, including as a result of sophisticated attacks using artificial intelligence and similar tools or as a result of insider fraud; (22) the ability to attract and retain key executives and employees experienced in banking and financial services; (23) our ability to adapt successfully to technological changes to compete effectively in the marketplace; (24) operational risks, including data processing system failures and fraud; (25) the costs, effects and outcomes of existing or future litigation or other legal proceedings and regulatory actions; (26) the risks of mergers or branch sales (including the sale of our Florida banking operations and the acquisition of Denver Bankshares, Inc.), including, without limitation, the related time and costs of implementing such transactions, integrating operations as part of these transactions and possible failures to achieve expected gains, revenue growth and/or expense savings from such transactions; (27) the economic impacts on the Company and its customers of climate change, natural disasters and exceptional weather occurrences, such as: tornadoes, floods and blizzards; and (28) other risk factors detailed from time to time in Securities and Exchange Commission filings made by the Company.

MIDWESTONE FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
FIVE QUARTER CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	March 31,			December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
(In thousands)		2025			2024			2024			2024			2024
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$	68,545		$	71,803		$	72,173		$	66,228		$	68,430
Interest earning deposits in banks		182,360			133,092			129,695			35,340			29,328
Federal funds sold		—			—			—			—			4
Total cash and cash equivalents		250,905			204,895			201,868			101,568			97,762
Debt securities available for sale at fair value		1,305,530			1,328,433			1,623,104			771,034			797,230
Held to maturity securities at amortized cost		—			—			—			1,053,080			1,064,939
Total securities		1,305,530			1,328,433			1,623,104			1,824,114			1,862,169
Loans held for sale		13,836			749			3,283			2,850			2,329
Gross loans held for investment		4,315,546			4,328,413			4,344,559			4,304,619			4,433,258
Unearned income, net		(11,362	)		(12,786	)		(15,803	)		(17,387	)		(18,612	)
Loans held for investment, net of unearned income		4,304,184			4,315,627			4,328,756			4,287,232			4,414,646
Allowance for credit losses		(53,900	)		(55,200	)		(54,000	)		(53,900	)		(55,900	)
Total loans held for investment, net		4,250,284			4,260,427			4,274,756			4,233,332			4,358,746
Premises and equipment, net		90,031			90,851			90,750			91,793			95,986
Goodwill		69,788			69,788			69,788			69,388			71,118
Other intangible assets, net		23,611			25,019			26,469			27,939			29,531
Foreclosed assets, net		3,419			3,337			3,583			6,053			3,897
Other assets		246,990			252,830			258,881			224,621			226,477
Total assets	$	6,254,394		$	6,236,329		$	6,552,482		$	6,581,658		$	6,748,015
LIABILITIES
Noninterest bearing deposits	$	903,714		$	951,423		$	917,715		$	882,472		$	920,764
Interest bearing deposits		4,585,428			4,526,559			4,451,012			4,529,947			4,664,472
Total deposits		5,489,142			5,477,982			5,368,727			5,412,419			5,585,236
Short-term borrowings		1,482			3,186			410,630			414,684			422,988
Long-term debt		111,398			113,376			115,051			114,839			122,066
Other liabilities		72,747			82,089			95,836			96,430			89,685
Total liabilities		5,674,769			5,676,633			5,990,244			6,038,372			6,219,975
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock		21,580			21,580			21,580			16,581			16,581
Additional paid-in capital		414,258			414,987			414,965			300,831			300,845
Retained earnings		227,790			217,776			206,490			306,030			294,066
Treasury stock		(20,905	)		(21,885	)		(21,955	)		(22,021	)		(22,648	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(63,098	)		(72,762	)		(58,842	)		(58,135	)		(60,804	)
Total shareholders’ equity		579,625			559,696			562,238			543,286			528,040
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	6,254,394		$	6,236,329		$	6,552,482		$	6,581,658		$	6,748,015

MIDWESTONE FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
FIVE QUARTER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		December 31,		September 30,			June 30,		March 31,
(In thousands, except per share data)		2025		2024		2024			2024		2024
Interest income
Loans, including fees	$	59,462	$	62,458	$	62,521		$	61,643	$	57,947
Taxable investment securities		13,327		11,320		8,779			9,228		9,460
Tax-exempt investment securities		703		728		1,611			1,663		1,710
Other		1,247		3,761		785			242		418
Total interest income		74,739		78,267		73,696			72,776		69,535
Interest expense
Deposits		25,484		27,324		29,117			28,942		27,726
Short-term borrowings		25		115		5,043			5,409		4,975
Long-term debt		1,791		1,890		2,015			2,078		2,103
Total interest expense		27,300		29,329		36,175			36,429		34,804
Net interest income		47,439		48,938		37,521			36,347		34,731
Credit loss expense		1,687		1,291		1,535			1,267		4,689
Net interest income after credit loss expense		45,752		47,647		35,986			35,080		30,042
Noninterest income
Investment services and trust activities		3,544		3,779		3,410			3,504		3,503
Service charges and fees		2,131		2,159		2,170			2,156		2,144
Card revenue		1,744		1,833		1,935			1,907		1,943
Loan revenue		1,194		1,841		760			1,525		856
Bank-owned life insurance		1,057		719		879			668		660
Investment securities gains (losses), net		33		161		(140,182	)		33		36
Other		433		345		640			11,761		608
Total noninterest income (loss)		10,136		10,837		(130,388	)		21,554		9,750
Noninterest expense
Compensation and employee benefits		21,212		20,684		19,943			20,985		20,930
Occupancy expense of premises, net		2,588		2,772		2,443			2,435		2,813
Equipment		2,426		2,688		2,486			2,530		2,600
Legal and professional		2,226		2,534		2,261			2,253		2,059
Data processing		1,698		1,719		1,580			1,645		1,360
Marketing		552		793		619			636		598
Amortization of intangibles		1,408		1,449		1,470			1,593		1,637
FDIC insurance		917		980		923			1,051		942
Communications		159		154		159			191		196
Foreclosed assets, net		74		56		330			138		358
Other		3,033		3,543		3,584			2,304		2,072
Total noninterest expense		36,293		37,372		35,798			35,761		35,565
Income (loss) before income tax expense		19,595		21,112		(130,200	)		20,873		4,227
Income tax expense (benefit)		4,457		4,782		(34,493	)		5,054		958
Net income (loss)	$	15,138	$	16,330	$	(95,707	)	$	15,819	$	3,269

Earnings (loss) per common share
Basic	$	0.73	$	0.79	$	(6.05	)	$	1.00	$	0.21
Diluted	$	0.73	$	0.78	$	(6.05	)	$	1.00	$	0.21
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding		20,797		20,776		15,829			15,763		15,723
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding		20,849		20,851		15,829			15,781		15,774
Dividends paid per common share	$	0.2425	$	0.2425	$	0.2425		$	0.2425	$	0.2425

MIDWESTONE FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
FINANCIAL STATISTICS

	As of or for the Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)		2025			2024			2024
Earnings:
Net interest income	$	47,439		$	48,938		$	34,731
Noninterest income		10,136			10,837			9,750
Total revenue, net of interest expense		57,575			59,775			44,481
Credit loss expense		1,687			1,291			4,689
Noninterest expense		36,293			37,372			35,565
Income before income tax expense		19,595			21,112			4,227
Income tax expense		4,457			4,782			958
Net income	$	15,138		$	16,330		$	3,269
Adjusted earnings⁽¹⁾	$	15,301		$	16,112		$	4,504
Per Share Data:
Diluted earnings	$	0.73		$	0.78		$	0.21
Adjusted earnings⁽¹⁾		0.73			0.77			0.29
Book value		27.85			26.94			33.53
Tangible book value⁽¹⁾		23.36			22.37			27.14
Ending Balance Sheet:
Total assets	$	6,254,394		$	6,236,329		$	6,748,015
Loans held for investment, net of unearned income		4,304,184			4,315,627			4,414,646
Total securities		1,305,530			1,328,433			1,862,169
Total deposits		5,489,142			5,477,982			5,585,236
Short-term borrowings		1,482			3,186			422,988
Long-term debt		111,398			113,376			122,066
Total shareholders’ equity		579,625			559,696			528,040
Average Balance Sheet:
Average total assets	$	6,168,546		$	6,279,975		$	6,635,379
Average total loans		4,290,710			4,307,583			4,298,216
Average total deposits		5,398,819			5,464,900			5,481,114
Financial Ratios:
Return on average assets		1.00	%		1.03	%		0.20	%
Return on average equity		10.74	%		11.53	%		2.49	%
Return on average tangible equity⁽¹⁾		13.75	%		14.80	%		4.18	%
Efficiency ratio⁽¹⁾		59.38	%		59.06	%		71.28	%
Net interest margin, tax equivalent⁽¹⁾		3.44	%		3.43	%		2.33	%
Loans to deposits ratio		78.41	%		78.78	%		79.04	%
CET1 Ratio		10.97	%		10.73	%		8.98	%
Common equity ratio		9.27	%		8.97	%		7.83	%
Tangible common equity ratio⁽¹⁾		7.89	%		7.57	%		6.43	%
Credit Risk Profile:
Total nonperforming loans	$	17,470		$	21,847		$	29,267
Nonperforming loans ratio		0.41	%		0.51	%		0.66	%
Total nonperforming assets	$	20,889		$	25,184		$	33,164
Nonperforming assets ratio		0.33	%		0.40	%		0.49	%
Net charge-offs	$	3,087		$	691		$	189
Net charge-off ratio		0.29	%		0.06	%		0.02	%
Allowance for credit losses	$	53,900		$	55,200		$	55,900
Allowance for credit losses ratio		1.25	%		1.28	%		1.27	%
Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual ratio		309.47	%		254.32	%		197.53	%

⁽¹⁾ Non-GAAP measure. See the Non-GAAP Measures section for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

MIDWESTONE FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET AND YIELD ANALYSIS

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			March 31, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)	Average Balance	Interest Income/ Expense	Average Yield/ Cost	Average Balance	Interest Income/ Expense	Average Yield/ Cost	Average Balance	Interest Income/ Expense	Average Yield/ Cost
ASSETS
Loans, including fees ^(1)(2)(3)	$4,290,710	$60,443	5.71%	$4,307,583	$63,443	5.86%	$4,298,216	$58,867	5.51%
Taxable investment securities	1,207,844	13,327	4.47%	1,080,716	11,320	4.17%	1,557,603	9,460	2.44%
Tax-exempt investment securities ⁽²⁾⁽⁴⁾	105,563	865	3.32%	109,183	896	3.26%	328,736	2,097	2.57%
Total securities held for investment⁽²⁾	1,313,407	14,192	4.38%	1,189,899	12,216	4.08%	1,886,339	11,557	2.46%
Other	124,133	1,247	4.07%	309,904	3,761	4.83%	30,605	418	5.49%
Total interest earning assets⁽²⁾	$5,728,250	$75,882	5.37%	$5,807,386	$79,420	5.44%	$6,215,160	$70,842	4.58%
Other assets	440,296			472,589			420,219
Total assets	$6,168,546			$6,279,975			$6,635,379
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Interest checking deposits	$1,240,586	$2,127	0.70%	$1,252,481	$2,205	0.70%	$1,301,470	$2,890	0.89%
Money market deposits	1,002,743	6,333	2.56%	1,046,571	7,197	2.74%	1,102,543	8,065	2.94%
Savings deposits	835,731	3,057	1.48%	799,931	3,158	1.57%	694,143	2,047	1.19%
Time deposits	1,397,595	13,967	4.05%	1,410,542	14,764	4.16%	1,446,981	14,724	4.09%
Total interest bearing deposits	4,476,655	25,484	2.31%	4,509,525	27,324	2.41%	4,545,137	27,726	2.45%
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	2,705	5	0.75%	3,640	8	0.87%	5,330	11	0.83%
Other short-term borrowings	—	20	—%	6,465	107	6.58%	409,525	4,964	4.88%
Total short-term borrowings	2,705	25	3.75%	10,105	115	4.53%	414,855	4,975	4.82%
Long-term debt	113,364	1,791	6.41%	116,018	1,890	6.48%	123,266	2,103	6.86%
Total borrowed funds	116,069	1,816	6.35%	126,123	2,005	6.32%	538,121	7,078	5.29%
Total interest bearing liabilities	$4,592,724	$27,300	2.41%	$4,635,648	$29,329	2.52%	$5,083,258	$34,804	2.75%
Noninterest bearing deposits	922,164			955,375			935,977
Other liabilities	82,280			125,536			88,611
Shareholders’ equity	571,378			563,416			527,533
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$6,168,546			$6,279,975			$6,635,379
Net interest income⁽²⁾		$48,582			$50,091			$36,038
Net interest spread⁽²⁾			2.96%			2.92%			1.83%
Net interest margin⁽²⁾			3.44%			3.43%			2.33%

Total deposits⁽⁵⁾	$5,398,819	$25,484	1.91%	$5,464,900	$27,324	1.99%	$5,481,114	$27,726	2.03%
Cost of funds⁽⁶⁾			2.01%			2.09%			2.33%

⁽¹⁾	Average balance includes nonaccrual loans.
⁽²⁾	Tax equivalent. The federal statutory tax rate utilized was 21%.
⁽³⁾	Interest income includes net loan fees, loan purchase discount accretion and tax equivalent adjustments. Net loan fees were $256 thousand, $456 thousand, and $237 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024, respectively. Loan purchase discount accretion was $1.2 million, $2.5 million, and $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024, respectively. Tax equivalent adjustments were $981 thousand, $985 thousand, and $920 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024, respectively. The federal statutory tax rate utilized was 21%.
⁽⁴⁾	Interest income includes tax equivalent adjustments of $162 thousand, $168 thousand, and $387 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024, respectively. The federal statutory tax rate utilized was 21%.
⁽⁵⁾	Total deposits is the sum of total interest-bearing deposits and noninterest bearing deposits. The cost of total deposits is calculated as annualized interest expense on deposits divided by average total deposits.
⁽⁶⁾	Cost of funds is calculated as annualized total interest expense divided by the sum of average total deposits and borrowed funds.

Non-GAAP Measures

This earnings release contains non-GAAP measures for tangible common equity, tangible book value per share, tangible common equity ratio, return on average tangible equity, net interest margin (tax equivalent), core net interest margin, loan yield (tax equivalent), core yield on loans, efficiency ratio, adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share. Management believes these measures provide investors with useful information regarding the Company’s profitability, financial condition and capital adequacy, consistent with how management evaluates the Company’s financial performance. The following tables provide a reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to the most comparable GAAP measure.

Tangible Common Equity/Tangible Book Value
per Share/Tangible Common Equity Ratio	March 31,			December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)		2025			2024			2024			2024			2024
Total shareholders’ equity	$	579,625		$	559,696		$	562,238		$	543,286		$	528,040
Intangible assets, net		(93,399	)		(94,807	)		(96,257	)		(97,327	)		(100,649	)
Tangible common equity	$	486,226		$	464,889		$	465,981		$	445,959		$	427,391

Total assets	$	6,254,394		$	6,236,329		$	6,552,482		$	6,581,658		$	6,748,015
Intangible assets, net		(93,399	)		(94,807	)		(96,257	)		(97,327	)		(100,649	)
Tangible assets	$	6,160,995		$	6,141,522		$	6,456,225		$	6,484,331		$	6,647,366

Book value per share	$	27.85		$	26.94		$	27.06		$	34.44		$	33.53
Tangible book value per share⁽¹⁾	$	23.36		$	22.37		$	22.43		$	28.27		$	27.14
Shares outstanding		20,815,715			20,777,485			20,774,919			15,773,468			15,750,471

Common equity ratio		9.27	%		8.97	%		8.58	%		8.25	%		7.83	%
Tangible common equity ratio⁽²⁾		7.89	%		7.57	%		7.22	%		6.88	%		6.43	%

⁽¹⁾ Tangible common equity divided by shares outstanding.
⁽²⁾ Tangible common equity divided by tangible assets.

	Three Months Ended
Return on Average Tangible Equity	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2025			2024			2024
Net income	$	15,138		$	16,330		$	3,269
Intangible amortization, net of tax⁽¹⁾		1,047			1,075			1,228
Tangible net income	$	16,185		$	17,405		$	4,497

Average shareholders’ equity	$	571,378		$	563,416		$	527,533
Average intangible assets, net		(94,169	)		(95,498	)		(95,296	)
Average tangible equity	$	477,209		$	467,918		$	432,237

Return on average equity		10.74	%		11.53	%		2.49	%
Return on average tangible equity⁽²⁾		13.75	%		14.80	%		4.18	%

⁽¹⁾ The income tax rate utilized was the blended marginal tax rate.
⁽²⁾ Annualized tangible net income divided by average tangible equity.

Net Interest Margin, Tax Equivalent/ Core Net Interest Margin	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2025			2024			2024
Net interest income	$	47,439		$	48,938		$	34,731
Tax equivalent adjustments:
Loans⁽¹⁾		981			985			920
Securities⁽¹⁾		162			168			387
Net interest income, tax equivalent	$	48,582		$	50,091		$	36,038
Loan purchase discount accretion		(1,166	)		(2,496	)		(1,152	)
Core net interest income	$	47,416		$	47,595		$	34,886

Net interest margin		3.36	%		3.35	%		2.25	%
Net interest margin, tax equivalent⁽²⁾		3.44	%		3.43	%		2.33	%
Core net interest margin⁽³⁾		3.36	%		3.26	%		2.26	%
Average interest earning assets	$	5,728,250		$	5,807,386		$	6,215,160

⁽¹⁾ The federal statutory tax rate utilized was 21%.
⁽²⁾ Annualized tax equivalent net interest income divided by average interest earning assets.
⁽³⁾ Annualized core net interest income divided by average interest earning assets.

	Three Months Ended
Loan Yield, Tax Equivalent / Core Yield on Loans	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2025			2024			2024
Loan interest income, including fees	$	59,462		$	62,458		$	57,947
Tax equivalent adjustment⁽¹⁾		981			985			920
Tax equivalent loan interest income	$	60,443		$	63,443		$	58,867
Loan purchase discount accretion		(1,166	)		(2,496	)		(1,152	)
Core loan interest income	$	59,277		$	60,947		$	57,715

Yield on loans		5.62	%		5.77	%		5.42	%
Yield on loans, tax equivalent⁽²⁾		5.71	%		5.86	%		5.51	%
Core yield on loans⁽³⁾		5.60	%		5.63	%		5.40	%
Average loans	$	4,290,710		$	4,307,583		$	4,298,216

⁽¹⁾ The federal statutory tax rate utilized was 21%.
⁽²⁾ Annualized tax equivalent loan interest income divided by average loans.
⁽³⁾ Annualized core loan interest income divided by average loans.

	Three Months Ended
Efficiency Ratio	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2025			2024			2024
Total noninterest expense	$	36,293		$	37,372		$	35,565
Amortization of intangibles		(1,408	)		(1,449	)		(1,637	)
Merger-related expenses		(40	)		(31	)		(1,314	)
Noninterest expense used for efficiency ratio	$	34,845		$	35,892		$	32,614

Net interest income, tax equivalent⁽¹⁾	$	48,582		$	50,091		$	36,038
Plus: Noninterest income		10,136			10,837			9,750
Less: Investment securities gains, net		33			161			36
Net revenues used for efficiency ratio	$	58,685		$	60,767		$	45,752

Efficiency ratio ⁽²⁾		59.38	%		59.06	%		71.28	%

⁽¹⁾ The federal statutory tax rate utilized was 21%.
⁽²⁾ Noninterest expense adjusted for amortization of intangibles and merger-related expenses divided by the sum of tax equivalent net interest income, noninterest income and net investment securities gains.

	Three Months Ended
Adjusted Earnings	March 31,			December 31,		March 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)		2025			2024		2024
Net income	$	15,138		$	16,330	$	3,269
Less: Investment securities gains, net of tax⁽¹⁾		25			119		27
Less: Mortgage servicing rights (loss) gain, net of tax⁽¹⁾		(158	)		122		(276	)
Plus: Merger-related expenses, net of tax⁽¹⁾		30			23		986
Adjusted earnings	$	15,301		$	16,112	$	4,504

Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding		20,849			20,851		15,774

Earnings per common share – diluted	$	0.73		$	0.78	$	0.21
Adjusted earnings per common share⁽²⁾	$	0.73		$	0.77	$	0.29

⁽¹⁾ The income tax rate utilized was the blended marginal tax rate.
⁽²⁾ Adjusted earnings divided by weighted average diluted common shares outstanding.

Category: Earnings

This news release may be downloaded from Corporate Profile | MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc.

Source: MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc.

Industry: Banks

Contact:

	Charles N. Reeves	Barry S. Ray
	Chief Executive Officer	Chief Financial Officer
	319.356.5800	319.356.5800

MIL-OSI: Glacier Bancorp, Inc. Announces Results For the Quarter and Period Ended March 31, 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

1st Quarter 2025 Highlights:

Diluted earnings per share for the current quarter was $0.48 per share, a decrease of 11 percent from the prior quarter diluted earnings per share of $0.54 per share and an increase of 66 percent from the prior year first quarter diluted earnings per share of $0.29 per share.
Net income was $54.6 million for the current quarter, a decrease of $7.2 million, or 12 percent, from the prior quarter net income of $61.8 million and an increase of $21.9 million, or 67 percent, from the prior year first quarter net income of $32.6 million.
The net interest margin as a percentage of earning assets, on a tax-equivalent basis, for the current quarter was 3.04 percent, an increase of 7 basis points from the prior quarter net interest margin of 2.97 percent and an increase of 45 basis points from the prior year first quarter net interest margin of 2.59 percent.
Total deposits of $20.634 billion increased $87.1 million, or 2 percent annualized, during the current quarter.
The loan yield of 5.77 percent in the current quarter increased 5 basis points from the prior quarter loan yield of 5.72 percent and increased 31 basis points from the prior year first quarter loan yield of 5.46 percent.
The total earning asset yield of 4.61 percent in the current quarter increased 4 basis points from the prior quarter earning asset yield of 4.57 percent and increased 30 basis points from the prior year first quarter earning asset yield of 4.31 percent.
The total core deposit cost (including non-interest bearing deposits) of 1.25 percent in the current quarter decreased 4 basis point from the prior quarter total core deposit cost of 1.29 percent.
The total cost of funding (including non-interest bearing deposits) of 1.68 percent in the current quarter decreased 3 basis point from the prior quarter total cost of funding of 1.71 percent.
The Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.33 per share. The Company has declared 160 consecutive quarterly dividends and has increased the dividend 49 times.
The Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Bank of Idaho Holding Co., the bank holding company for Bank of Idaho (collectively, “BOID”) which had total assets of $1.3 billion as of March 31, 2025. This will be the Company’s 26th bank acquisition since 2000 and its 12th announced transaction in the past 10 years.

Financial Summary

	At or for the Three Months ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share and market data)	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Operating results
Net income	$	54,568		61,754		32,627
Basic earnings per share	$	0.48		0.54		0.29
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.48		0.54		0.29
Dividends declared per share	$	0.33		0.33		0.33
Market value per share
Closing	$	44.22		50.22		40.28
High	$	52.81		60.67		42.75
Low	$	43.18		43.70		34.74
Selected ratios and other data
Number of common stock shares outstanding		113,517,944		113,401,955		113,388,590
Average outstanding shares – basic		113,451,199		113,398,213		112,492,142
Average outstanding shares – diluted		113,546,365		113,541,026		112,554,402
Return on average assets (annualized)		0.80	%	0.87	%	0.47	%
Return on average equity (annualized)		6.77	%	7.62	%	4.25	%
Efficiency ratio		65.49	%	60.50	%	74.41	%
Loan to deposit ratio		83.64	%	84.17	%	82.04	%
Number of full time equivalent employees		3,457		3,441		3,438
Number of locations		227		227		232
Number of ATMs		286		284		285

KALISPELL, Mont., April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: GBCI) reported net income of $54.6 million for the current quarter, a decrease of $7.2 million, or 12 percent from the prior quarter net income of $61.8 million and an increase of $21.9 million, or 67 percent, from the $32.6 million of net income for the prior year first quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the current quarter was $0.48 per share, a decrease of 11 percent from the prior quarter diluted earnings per share of $0.54 per share and an increase of 65 percent from the prior year first quarter diluted earnings per share of $0.29. “We are very pleased with the long-term positive trends we see in our Company. Deposit costs are decreasing, loan yields are increasing, and margin continues to grow,” said Randy Chesler, President and Chief Executive Officer. “While uncertainty about the economy persists, we remain optimistic about our customers’ ability to quickly adapt to a changing environment.”

On January 13, 2025, the Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire BOID with 15 branches across eastern Idaho, Boise and eastern Washington. As of March 31, 2025, BOID had total assets of $1.3 billion, total loans of $1.1 billion and total deposits of $1.1 billion. Upon closing of the transaction, the BOID operations will join three existing Glacier Bank divisions. The Eastern Idaho operations of Bank of Idaho will join Citizens Community Bank, the Boise operations will join Mountain West Bank and the Eastern Washington operations will join Wheatland Bank. The acquisition has received all required regulatory approvals and is scheduled to close on April 30, 2025, subject to satisfaction of the remaining conditions set forth in the merger agreement and the approval by the BOID shareholders.

Asset Summary

								$ Change from
(Dollars in thousands)	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024		Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Cash and cash equivalents	$	981,485		848,408		788,660		133,077		192,825
Debt securities, available-for-sale		4,172,312		4,245,205		4,629,073		(72,893	)	(456,761	)
Debt securities, held-to-maturity		3,261,575		3,294,847		3,451,583		(33,272	)	(190,008	)
Total debt securities		7,433,887		7,540,052		8,080,656		(106,165	)	(646,769	)
Loans receivable
Residential real estate		1,850,079		1,858,929		1,752,514		(8,850	)	97,565
Commercial real estate		10,952,809		10,963,713		10,672,269		(10,904	)	280,540
Other commercial		3,121,477		3,119,535		3,030,608		1,942		90,869
Home equity		920,132		930,994		883,062		(10,862	)	37,070
Other consumer		374,021		388,678		394,049		(14,657	)	(20,028	)
Loans receivable		17,218,518		17,261,849		16,732,502		(43,331	)	486,016
Allowance for credit losses		(210,400	)	(206,041	)	(198,779	)	(4,359	)	(11,621	)
Loans receivable, net		17,008,118		17,055,808		16,533,723		(47,690	)	474,395
Other assets		2,435,389		2,458,719		2,419,131		(23,330	)	16,258
Total assets	$	27,858,879		27,902,987		27,822,170		(44,108	)	36,709

The Company continues to maintain a strong cash position of $981 million at March 31, 2025 which was an increase of $133 million over the prior quarter and an increase of $193 million over the prior year first quarter. Total debt securities of $7.434 billion at March 31, 2025 decreased $106 million, or 1 percent, during the current quarter and decreased $647 million, or 8 percent, from the prior year first quarter. Debt securities represented 27 percent of total assets at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 compared to 29 percent at March 31, 2024.

The loan portfolio of $17.219 billion at March 31, 2025 decreased $43 million, or 25 basis points, during the current quarter and increased $486 million, or 3 percent, from the prior year first quarter. Excluding the Rocky Mountain Bank (“RMB”) acquisition on July 19, 2024, the loan portfolio organically increased $214 million, or 1 percent, since the prior year first quarter. Excluding the RMB acquisition, the loan category with the largest dollar increase in the last twelve months was commercial real estate which increased $159 million, or 1 percent.

Credit Quality Summary

	At or for the Three Months ended			At or for the Year ended		At or for the Three Months ended
(Dollars in thousands)	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Allowance for credit losses
Balance at beginning of period	$	206,041		192,757		192,757
Acquisitions		—		3		3
Provision for credit losses		6,154		27,179		9,091
Charge-offs		(3,897	)	(18,626	)	(4,295	)
Recoveries		2,102		4,728		1,223
Balance at end of period	$	210,400		206,041		198,779
Provision for credit losses
Loan portfolio	$	6,154		27,179		9,091
Unfunded loan commitments		1,660		1,127		(842	)
Total provision for credit losses	$	7,814		28,306		8,249
Other real estate owned	$	1,085		1,085		432
Other foreclosed assets		68		79		459
Accruing loans 90 days or more past due		5,289		6,177		3,796
Non-accrual loans		32,896		20,445		20,738
Total non-performing assets	$	39,338		27,786		25,425
Non-performing assets as a percentage of subsidiary assets		0.14	%	0.10	%	0.09	%
Allowance for credit losses as a percentage of non-performing loans		551	%	774	%	810	%
Allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans		1.22	%	1.19	%	1.19	%
Net charge-offs as a percentage of total loans		0.01	%	0.08	%	0.02	%
Accruing loans 30-89 days past due	$	46,458		32,228		62,423
U.S. government guarantees included in non-performing assets	$	685		748		1,490

Non-performing assets as a percentage of subsidiary assets at March 31, 2025 was 0.14 percent compared to 0.10 percent in the prior quarter and 0.09 percent in the prior year first quarter. Non-performing assets of $39.3 million at March 31, 2025 increased $11.6 million, or 42 percent, over the prior quarter and increased $13.9 million, or 55 percent, over the prior year first quarter. The increase in the non-performing loans in the current quarter was primarily attributable to a single credit relationship.

Early stage delinquencies (accruing loans 30-89 days past due) as a percentage of loans at March 31, 2025 were 0.27 percent compared to 0.19 percent for the prior quarter end and 0.37 percent for the prior year first quarter. Early stage delinquencies of $46.5 million at March 31, 2025 increased $14.2 million from the prior quarter and decreased $16.0 million from prior year first quarter.

The current quarter credit loss expense of $7.8 million included $6.2 million of provision for credit losses on loans and $1.7 million of provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments.

The allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) on loans as a percentage of total loans outstanding at March 31, 2025 was 1.22 percent compared to 1.19 percent at year end and the prior year first quarter. Loan portfolio growth, composition, average loan size, credit quality considerations, economic forecasts, actual results, and other environmental factors will continue to determine the level of the provision for credit losses for loans.

Credit Quality Trends and Provision for Credit Losses on the Loan Portfolio

(Dollars in thousands)	Provision for Credit Losses Loans		Net Charge-Offs		ACL as a Percent of Loans		Accruing Loans 30-89 Days Past Due as a Percent of Loans		Non-Performing Assets to Total Subsidiary Assets
First quarter 2025	$	6,154	$	1,795	1.22	%	0.27	%	0.14	%
Fourth quarter 2024		6,041		5,170	1.19	%	0.19	%	0.10	%
Third quarter 2024		6,981		2,766	1.19	%	0.33	%	0.10	%
Second quarter 2024		5,066		2,890	1.19	%	0.29	%	0.06	%
First quarter 2024		9,091		3,072	1.19	%	0.37	%	0.09	%
Fourth quarter 2023		4,181		3,695	1.19	%	0.31	%	0.09	%
Third quarter 2023		5,095		2,209	1.19	%	0.09	%	0.15	%
Second quarter 2023		5,254		2,473	1.19	%	0.16	%	0.12	%

Net charge-offs for the current quarter were $1.8 million compared to $5.2 million in the prior quarter and $3.1 million for the prior year first quarter. The current quarter net charge-offs included $1.9 million in deposit overdraft net charge-offs and $78 thousand of net loan recoveries.

Supplemental information regarding credit quality and identification of the Company’s loan portfolio based on the regulatory classification of loans is provided in the exhibits at the end of this press release. The regulatory classification of loans is based primarily on collateral type while the Company’s loan segments presented herein are based on the purpose of the loan.

Liability Summary

					$ Change from
(Dollars in thousands)	Mar 31, 2025		Dec 31, 2024	Mar 31, 2024	Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Deposits
Non-interest bearing deposits	$	6,100,548	6,136,709	6,055,069	(36,161	)	45,479
NOW and DDA accounts		5,676,177	5,543,512	5,376,605	132,665		299,572
Savings accounts		2,896,378	2,845,124	2,949,908	51,254		(53,530	)
Money market deposit accounts		2,816,874	2,878,213	3,002,942	(61,339	)	(186,068	)
Certificate accounts		3,140,333	3,139,821	3,039,190	512		101,143
Core deposits, total		20,630,310	20,543,379	20,423,714	86,931		206,596
Wholesale deposits		3,740	3,615	3,809	125		(69	)
Deposits, total		20,634,050	20,546,994	20,427,523	87,056		206,527
Repurchase agreements		1,849,070	1,777,475	1,540,008	71,595		309,062
Deposits and repurchase agreements, total		22,483,120	22,324,469	21,967,531	158,651		515,589
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		1,520,000	1,800,000	2,140,157	(280,000	)	(620,157	)
Other borrowed funds		82,443	83,341	88,814	(898	)	(6,371	)
Subordinated debentures		133,145	133,105	132,984	40		161
Other liabilities		352,563	338,218	381,977	14,345		(29,414	)
Total liabilities	$	24,571,271	24,679,133	24,711,463	(107,862	)	(140,192	)

Total deposits of $20.634 billion at March 31, 2025 increased $87.1 million, or 2 percent annualized, from the prior quarter and increased $207 million, or 1 percent, from the prior year first quarter. Total repurchase agreements of $1.849 billion at March 31, 2025 increased $71.6 million, or 4 percent, from the prior quarter and increased $309 million, or 20 percent, from the prior year first quarter. Total deposits organically decreased $190 million, or 1 percent, from the prior year first quarter and total deposits and repurchase agreements organically increased $115 million, or 52 basis points, from the prior year first quarter. Non-interest bearing deposits represented 30 percent of total deposits at March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2024. Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances of $1.520 billion decreased $280 million, or 16 percent, from the prior quarter and decreased $620 million, or 29 percent, from the prior year first quarter.

Stockholders’ Equity Summary

								$ Change from
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024		Dec 31, 2024	Mar 31, 2024
Common equity	$	3,550,719		3,533,150		3,483,012		17,569	67,707
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(263,111	)	(309,296	)	(372,305	)	46,185	109,194
Total stockholders’ equity		3,287,608		3,223,854		3,110,707		63,754	176,901
Goodwill and intangibles, net		(1,099,229	)	(1,102,500	)	(1,069,808	)	3,271	(29,421	)
Tangible stockholders’ equity	$	2,188,379		2,121,354		2,040,899		67,025	147,480
Stockholders’ equity to total assets		11.80	%	11.55	%	11.18	%
Tangible stockholders’ equity to total tangible assets		8.18	%	7.92	%	7.63	%
Book value per common share	$	28.96		28.43		27.43		0.53	1.53
Tangible book value per common share	$	19.28		18.71		18.00		0.57	1.28

Tangible stockholders’ equity of $2.188 billion at March 31, 2025 increased $67.0 million, or 3 percent, compared to the prior quarter and was primarily the result of a decrease in unrealized loss on the available-for-sale debt securities and earnings retention. Tangible stockholders’ equity at March 31, 2025 increased $147 million, or 7 percent, compared to the prior year first quarter and was primarily due to the decrease in unrealized loss on the available-for-sale debt securities and earnings retention. The increase was partially offset by the increase in goodwill and core deposits associated with the RMB acquisition. Tangible book value per common share of $19.28 at the current quarter end increased $0.57 per share, or 3 percent, from the prior quarter and increased $1.28 per share, or 7 percent, from the prior year first quarter.

Cash Dividends
On March 26, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.33 per share. The dividend was payable April 17, 2025 to shareholders of record on April 8, 2025. The dividend was the Company’s 160th consecutive regular dividend. Future cash dividends will depend on a variety of factors, including net income, capital, asset quality, general economic conditions and regulatory considerations.

Operating Results for Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Compared to December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024

Income Summary

	Three Months ended							$ Change from
(Dollars in thousands)	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024		Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Net interest income
Interest income	$	289,925		297,036		279,402		(7,111	)	10,523
Interest expense		99,946		105,593		112,922		(5,647	)	(12,976	)
Total net interest income		189,979		191,443		166,480		(1,464	)	23,499

Non-interest income
Service charges and other fees		18,818		20,322		18,563		(1,504	)	255
Miscellaneous loan fees and charges		4,664		4,541		4,362		123		302
Gain on sale of loans		4,311		3,926		3,362		385		949
Gain on sale of securities		—		—		16		—		(16	)
Other income		4,849		2,760		3,686		2,089		1,163
Total non-interest income		32,642		31,549		29,989		1,093		2,653
Total income	$	222,621		222,992		196,469		(371	)	26,152
Net interest margin (tax-equivalent)		3.04	%	2.97	%	2.59	%

Net Interest Income
Net interest income of $190 million for the current quarter decreased $1.5 million, or 1 percent, from the prior quarter net interest income of $191 million and increased $23.5 million, or 14 percent, from the prior year first quarter net interest income of $166 million. The current quarter interest income of $290 million decreased $7.1 million, or 2 percent, over the prior quarter and was primarily driven by fewer days in the current quarter coupled with decreased average interest-bearing cash balances. The current quarter interest income increased $10.5 million, or 4 percent, over the prior year first quarter primarily due to the increase in the loan yields and the increase in average balances of the loan portfolio. The loan yield of 5.77 percent in the current quarter increased 5 basis points from the prior quarter loan yield of 5.72 percent and increased 31 basis points from the prior year first quarter loan yield of 5.46 percent.

The current quarter interest expense of $99.9 million decreased $5.6 million, or 5 percent, over the prior quarter and was primarily attributable to a decrease in deposit costs. The current quarter interest expense decreased $13.0 million, or 11 percent, over the prior year first quarter and was primarily the result of lower average wholesale borrowings and a decrease in deposit costs. Core deposit cost (including non-interest bearing deposits) was 1.25 percent for the current quarter compared to 1.29 percent in the prior quarter and 1.34 percent for the prior year first quarter. The total cost of funding (including non-interest bearing deposits) of 1.68 percent in the current quarter decreased 3 basis points from the prior quarter and decreased 16 basis point from the prior year first quarter.

The net interest margin as a percentage of earning assets, on a tax-equivalent basis, for the current quarter was 3.04 percent, an increase of 7 basis points from the prior quarter net interest margin of 2.97 percent and was primarily driven by an increase in loan yields and a decrease in total cost of funding. The net interest margin as a percentage of earning assets, on a tax-equivalent basis, for the current quarter was an increase of 45 basis points from the prior year first quarter net interest margin of 2.59 percent and was primarily driven by the increase in loan yields and the decrease in core deposit cost. Core net interest margin excludes the impact from discount accretion and non-accrual interest. Excluding the 5 basis points from discount accretion, the core net interest margin was 2.99 percent in the current quarter compared to 2.97 percent in the prior quarter and 2.59 in the prior year first quarter. “The Company’s net interest margin increased for the fifth consecutive quarter,” said Ron Copher, Chief Financial Officer. “The continued increase in loan yields and decrease in the deposit costs contributed to the 7 basis points increase in the net interest margin as it expanded to 3.04 percent in the current quarter.”

Non-interest Income
Non-interest income for the current quarter totaled $32.6 million, which was an increase of $1.1 million, or 3 percent, over the prior quarter and an increase of $2.7 million, or 9 percent, over the prior year first quarter. Service charges and other fees of $18.8 million for the current quarter decreased $1.5 million, or 7 percent, compared to the prior quarter and increased $255 thousand, or 1 percent, compared to the prior year first quarter. Gain on the sale of residential loans of $4.3 million for the current quarter increased $385 thousand, or 10 percent, compared to the prior quarter and increased $949 thousand, or 28 percent, from the prior year first quarter. Other income of $4.8 million increased $2.1 million, or 75 percent, over the prior quarter primarily due to other income of $1.1 million related to bank owned life insurance proceeds coupled with an increase in income from equity investments and other one-time adjustments. Other income increased $1.2 million, or 32 percent, over the prior year first quarter primarily due to the current quarter proceeds from bank owned life insurance.

Non-interest Expense Summary

	Three Months ended				$ Change from
(Dollars in thousands)	Mar 31, 2025		Dec 31, 2024	Mar 31, 2024	Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Compensation and employee benefits	$	91,443	81,600	85,789	9,843		5,654
Occupancy and equipment		12,294	11,589	11,883	705		411
Advertising and promotions		4,144	3,725	3,983	419		161
Data processing		9,138	9,145	9,159	(7	)	(21	)
Other real estate owned and foreclosed assets		63	30	25	33		38
Regulatory assessments and insurance		5,534	5,890	7,761	(356	)	(2,227	)
Intangibles amortization		3,270	3,613	2,760	(343	)	510
Other expenses		25,432	25,373	30,483	59		(5,051	)
Total non-interest expense	$	151,318	140,965	151,843	10,353		(525	)

Total non-interest expense of $151 million for the current quarter increased $10.4 million, or 7 percent, over the prior quarter and decreased $525 thousand, or 35 basis points, over the prior year first quarter. Compensation and employee benefits of $91.4 million increased by $9.8 million, or 12 percent, over the prior quarter and was primarily attributable to increased performance-related compensation. Compensation and employee benefits increased $5.6 million, or 7 percent, from the prior year first quarter and was primarily driven by annual salary increases and increases in staffing levels from prior year acquisitions. Regulatory assessment and insurance expense of $5.5 million decreased $2.2 million from the prior year first quarter as a result of adjustments to the FDIC special assessment.

Other expenses of $25.4 million increased $59 thousand, or 23 basis points, from the prior quarter. Other expenses decreased $5.1 million, or 17 percent, from the prior year first quarter and was primarily driven by a decrease in acquisition-related expense. Acquisition-related expense was $587 thousand in the current quarter compared to $491 thousand in the prior quarter and $5.7 million in the prior year first quarter. The current quarter other expenses included $1.2 million of gain from the sale of a former branch facility compared to a $2.1 million gain in the prior quarter and a $989 thousand gain in the prior year first quarter.

Federal and State Income Tax Expense

Tax expense during the first quarter of 2025 was $8.9 million, a decrease of $2.8 million, or 24 percent, compared to the prior quarter and an increase of $5.2 million, or 138 percent, from the prior year first quarter. The effective tax rate in the current quarter was 14.1 percent compared to 16.0 percent in the prior quarter. The lower tax expense and lower effective tax rate in the current quarter compared to the prior quarter was the result of a combination of higher federal income tax credits and a decrease in income before income tax expense.

Efficiency Ratio
The efficiency ratio was 65.49 percent in the current quarter compared to 60.50 percent in the prior quarter and 74.41 percent in the prior year first quarter. The increase from the prior quarter was principally driven by the decrease in net interest income combined with an increase in non-interest expense. The decrease from the prior year first quarter was principally due to the increase in net interest income.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions that are not historical facts, and other statements identified by words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “will,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “should,” “projects,” “seeks,” “estimates” or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that are subject to change. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results (express or implied) or other expectations in the forward-looking statements, including those made in this news release:

risks associated with lending and potential adverse changes in the credit quality of the Company’s loan portfolio;
changes in monetary and fiscal policies, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board, which could adversely affect the Company’s net interest income and margin, the fair value of its financial instruments, profitability, and stockholders’ equity;
legislative or regulatory changes, including increased FDIC insurance rates and assessments, changes in the review and regulation of bank mergers, or increased banking and consumer protection regulations, that may adversely affect the Company’s business and strategies;
risks related to overall economic conditions, including the impact on the economy of an uncertain interest rate environment, inflationary pressures and the potential for significant changes in economic and trade policies in the new administration;
risks to the Company’s business and the business of the Company’s customers arising from current or future tariffs or other trade restrictions, labor or supply chain issues, change in labor force, or geopolitical instability, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East;
risks associated with the Company’s ability to negotiate, complete, and successfully integrate any pending or future acquisitions;
costs or difficulties related to the completion and integration of pending or future acquisitions;
impairment of the goodwill recorded by the Company in connection with acquisitions, which may have an adverse impact on earnings and capital;
reduction in demand for banking products and services, whether as a result of changes in customer behavior, economic conditions, banking environment, or competition;
deterioration of the reputation of banks and the financial services industry, which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain customers;
changes in the competitive landscape, including as may result from new market entrants or further consolidation in the financial services industry, resulting in the creation of larger competitors with greater financial resources;
risks presented by public stock market volatility, which could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common stock and the ability to raise additional capital or grow through acquisitions;
risks associated with dependence on the Chief Executive Officer, the senior management team and the Presidents of Glacier Bank’s divisions;
material failure, potential interruption or breach in security of the Company’s systems or changes in technology which could expose the Company to cybersecurity risks, fraud, system failures, or direct liabilities;
risks related to natural disasters, including droughts, fires, floods, earthquakes, pandemics, and other unexpected events;
success in managing risks involved in any of the foregoing; and
effects of any reputational damage to the Company resulting from any of the foregoing.

The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if it later becomes aware that actual results are likely to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statement.

Conference Call Information
A conference call for investors is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, April 25, 2025. Please note that our conference call host no longer offers a general dial-in number. Investors who would like to join the call may now register by following this link to obtain dial-in instructions: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI3016c4b5b4bd4b0aac8f022e74f4c1d4. To participate via the webcast, log on to: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ejk9q5pb.

About Glacier Bancorp, Inc.
Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: GBCI), a member of the Russell 2000® and the S&P MidCap 400® indices, is the parent company for Glacier Bank and its Bank divisions located across its eight state Western U.S. footprint: Altabank (American Fork, UT), Bank of the San Juans (Durango, CO), Citizens Community Bank (Pocatello, ID), Collegiate Peaks Bank (Buena Vista, CO), First Bank of Montana (Lewistown, MT), First Bank of Wyoming (Powell, WY), First Community Bank Utah (Layton, UT), First Security Bank (Bozeman, MT), First Security Bank of Missoula (Missoula, MT), First State Bank (Wheatland, WY), Glacier Bank (Kalispell, MT), Heritage Bank of Nevada (Reno, NV), Mountain West Bank (Coeur d’Alene, ID), The Foothills Bank (Yuma, AZ), Valley Bank (Helena, MT), Western Security Bank (Billings, MT), and Wheatland Bank (Spokane, WA).

CONTACT: Randall M. Chesler, CEO

(406) 751-4722

Ron J. Copher, CFO

(406) 751-7706

Glacier Bancorp, Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Assets
Cash on hand and in banks	$	322,253		268,746		232,064
Interest bearing cash deposits		659,232		579,662		556,596
Cash and cash equivalents		981,485		848,408		788,660
Debt securities, available-for-sale		4,172,312		4,245,205		4,629,073
Debt securities, held-to-maturity		3,261,575		3,294,847		3,451,583
Total debt securities		7,433,887		7,540,052		8,080,656
Loans held for sale, at fair value		40,523		33,060		27,035
Loans receivable		17,218,518		17,261,849		16,732,502
Allowance for credit losses		(210,400	)	(206,041	)	(198,779	)
Loans receivable, net		17,008,118		17,055,808		16,533,723
Premises and equipment, net		411,095		411,968		379,826
Right-of-use assets, net		54,441		56,252		63,447
Other real estate owned and foreclosed assets		1,153		1,164		891
Accrued interest receivable		103,992		99,262		106,063
Deferred tax asset		122,942		138,955		161,327
Intangibles, net		47,911		51,182		46,046
Goodwill		1,051,318		1,051,318		1,023,762
Non-marketable equity securities		88,134		99,669		111,129
Bank-owned life insurance		191,044		189,849		186,625
Other assets		322,836		326,040		312,980
Total assets	$	27,858,879		27,902,987		27,822,170
Liabilities
Non-interest bearing deposits	$	6,100,548		6,136,709		6,055,069
Interest bearing deposits		14,533,502		14,410,285		14,372,454
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		1,849,070		1,777,475		1,540,008
FHLB advances		1,520,000		1,800,000		2,140,157
Other borrowed funds		82,443		83,341		88,814
Subordinated debentures		133,145		133,105		132,984
Accrued interest payable		30,231		33,626		32,584
Other liabilities		322,332		304,592		349,393
Total liabilities		24,571,271		24,679,133		24,711,463
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities		—		—		—
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred shares, $0.01 par value per share, 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding		—		—		—
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share, 234,000,000 shares authorized		1,135		1,134		1,134
Paid-in capital		2,449,311		2,448,758		2,443,584
Retained earnings – substantially restricted		1,100,273		1,083,258		1,038,294
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(263,111	)	(309,296	)	(372,305	)
Total stockholders’ equity		3,287,608		3,223,854		3,110,707
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	27,858,879		27,902,987		27,822,170

Glacier Bancorp, Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

	Three Months ended
(Dollars in thousands)	Mar 31, 2025		Dec 31, 2024	Mar 31, 2024
Interest Income
Investment securities	$	45,646	50,381	56,218
Residential real estate loans		24,275	23,960	20,764
Commercial loans		197,388	199,260	181,472
Consumer and other loans		22,616	23,435	20,948
Total interest income		289,925	297,036	279,402
Interest Expense
Deposits		62,865	67,079	67,196
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		13,733	14,822	12,598
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		20,719	21,848	4,249
FRB Bank Term Funding		—	—	27,097
Other borrowed funds		402	348	344
Subordinated debentures		2,227	1,496	1,438
Total interest expense		99,946	105,593	112,922
Net Interest Income		189,979	191,443	166,480
Provision for credit losses		7,814	8,534	8,249
Net interest income after provision for credit losses		182,165	182,909	158,231
Non-Interest Income
Service charges and other fees		18,818	20,322	18,563
Miscellaneous loan fees and charges		4,664	4,541	4,362
Gain on sale of loans		4,311	3,926	3,362
Gain on sale of securities		—	—	16
Other income		4,849	2,760	3,686
Total non-interest income		32,642	31,549	29,989
Non-Interest Expense
Compensation and employee benefits		91,443	81,600	85,789
Occupancy and equipment		12,294	11,589	11,883
Advertising and promotions		4,144	3,725	3,983
Data processing		9,138	9,145	9,159
Other real estate owned and foreclosed assets		63	30	25
Regulatory assessments and insurance		5,534	5,890	7,761
Intangibles amortization		3,270	3,613	2,760
Other expenses		25,432	25,373	30,483
Total non-interest expense		151,318	140,965	151,843
Income Before Income Taxes		63,489	73,493	36,377
Federal and state income tax expense		8,921	11,739	3,750
Net Income	$	54,568	61,754	32,627

Glacier Bancorp, Inc. Average Balance Sheets

	Three Months ended
	March 31, 2025						December 31, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)	Average Balance		Interest & Dividends		Average Yield/ Rate		Average Balance		Interest & Dividends		Average Yield/ Rate
Assets
Residential real estate loans	$	1,885,497	$	24,275	5.15	%	$	1,885,146	$	23,960	5.08	%
Commercial loans ¹		14,091,210		198,921	5.73	%		14,059,864		200,956	5.69	%
Consumer and other loans		1,302,687		22,616	7.04	%		1,324,341		23,435	7.04	%
Total loans ²		17,279,394		245,812	5.77	%		17,269,351		248,351	5.72	%
Tax-exempt debt securities ³		1,604,851		13,936	3.47	%		1,615,474		14,501	3.59	%
Taxable debt securities ^{4, 5}		6,946,562		33,598	1.93	%		7,314,265		38,189	2.09	%
Total earning assets		25,830,807		293,346	4.61	%		26,199,090		301,041	4.57	%
Goodwill and intangibles		1,100,801						1,104,362
Non-earning assets		847,855						888,404
Total assets	$	27,779,463					$	28,191,856
Liabilities
Non-interest bearing deposits	$	5,989,490	$	—	—	%	$	6,343,443	$	—	—	%
NOW and DDA accounts		5,525,976		15,065	1.11	%		5,491,451		15,768	1.14	%
Savings accounts		2,861,675		5,159	0.73	%		2,824,126		5,316	0.75	%
Money market deposit accounts		2,849,470		13,526	1.93	%		2,878,415		14,232	1.97	%
Certificate accounts		3,152,198		29,075	3.74	%		3,174,923		31,716	3.97	%
Total core deposits		20,378,809		62,825	1.25	%		20,712,358		67,032	1.29	%
Wholesale deposits ⁶		3,600		40	4.53	%		3,654		47	4.95	%
Repurchase agreements		1,842,773		13,733	3.02	%		1,866,705		14,821	3.16	%
FHLB advances		1,744,000		20,719	4.75	%		1,800,000		21,848	4.75	%
Subordinated debentures and other borrowed funds		216,073		2,629	4.94	%		216,874		1,845	3.38	%
Total funding liabilities		24,185,255		99,946	1.68	%		24,599,591		105,593	1.71	%
Other liabilities		326,764						369,700
Total liabilities		24,512,019						24,969,291
Stockholders’ Equity
Stockholders’ equity		3,267,444						3,222,565
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	27,779,463					$	28,191,856
Net interest income (tax-equivalent)			$	193,400					$	195,448
Net interest spread (tax-equivalent)					2.93	%					2.86	%
Net interest margin (tax-equivalent)					3.04	%					2.97	%

______________________________

¹	Includes tax effect of $1.5 million and $1.7 million on tax-exempt municipal loan and lease income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
²	Total loans are gross of the allowance for credit losses, net of unearned income and include loans held for sale. Non-accrual loans were included in the average volume for the entire period.
³	Includes tax effect of $1.7 million and $2.1 million on tax-exempt debt securities income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
⁴	Includes interest income of $6.1 million and $9.2 million on average interest-bearing cash balances of $559.5 million and $759.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
⁵	Includes tax effect of $150 thousand and $203 thousand on federal income tax credits for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
⁶	Wholesale deposits include brokered deposits classified as NOW, DDA, money market deposit and certificate accounts with contractual maturities.

Glacier Bancorp, Inc. Average Balance Sheets (continued)

	Three Months ended
	March 31, 2025						March 31, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)	Average Balance		Interest & Dividends		Average Yield/ Rate		Average Balance		Interest & Dividends		Average Yield/ Rate
Assets
Residential real estate loans	$	1,885,497	$	24,275	5.15	%	$	1,747,184	$	20,764	4.75	%
Commercial loans ¹		14,091,210		198,921	5.73	%		13,513,426		183,045	5.45	%
Consumer and other loans		1,302,687		22,616	7.04	%		1,283,388		20,948	6.56	%
Total loans ²		17,279,394		245,812	5.77	%		16,543,998		224,757	5.46	%
Tax-exempt debt securities ³		1,604,851		13,936	3.47	%		1,720,370		15,157	3.52	%
Taxable debt securities ^{4, 5}		6,946,562		33,598	1.93	%		8,176,974		43,477	2.13	%
Total earning assets		25,830,807		293,346	4.61	%		26,441,342		283,391	4.31	%
Goodwill and intangibles		1,100,801						1,051,954
Non-earning assets		847,855						611,550
Total assets	$	27,779,463					$	28,104,846
Liabilities
Non-interest bearing deposits	$	5,989,490	$	—	—	%	$	5,966,546	$	—	—	%
NOW and DDA accounts		5,525,976		15,065	1.11	%		5,275,703		15,918	1.21	%
Savings accounts		2,861,675		5,159	0.73	%		2,900,649		5,655	0.78	%
Money market deposit accounts		2,849,470		13,526	1.93	%		2,948,294		14,393	1.96	%
Certificate accounts		3,152,198		29,075	3.74	%		3,000,713		31,175	4.18	%
Total core deposits		20,378,809		62,825	1.25	%		20,091,905		67,141	1.34	%
Wholesale deposits ⁶		3,600		40	4.53	%		3,965		55	5.50	%
Repurchase agreements		1,842,773		13,733	3.02	%		1,513,397		12,598	3.35	%
FHLB advances		1,744,000		20,719	4.75	%		350,754		4,249	4.79	%
FRB Bank Term Funding		—		—	—	%		2,483,077		27,097	4.39	%
Subordinated debentures and other borrowed funds		216,073		2,629	4.94	%		218,271		1,782	3.28	%
Total funding liabilities		24,185,255		99,946	1.68	%		24,661,369		112,922	1.84	%
Other liabilities		326,764						356,554
Total liabilities		24,512,019						25,017,923
Stockholders’ Equity
Stockholders’ equity		3,267,444						3,086,923
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	27,779,463					$	28,104,846
Net interest income (tax-equivalent)			$	193,400					$	170,469
Net interest spread (tax-equivalent)					2.93	%					2.47	%
Net interest margin (tax-equivalent)					3.04	%					2.59	%

______________________________

¹	Includes tax effect of $1.5 million and $1.6 million on tax-exempt municipal loan and lease income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
²	Total loans are gross of the allowance for credit losses, net of unearned income and include loans held for sale. Non-accrual loans were included in the average volume for the entire period.
³	Includes tax effect of $1.7 million and $2.2 million on tax-exempt debt securities income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
⁴	Includes interest income of $6.1 million and $15.3 million on average interest-bearing cash balances of $559.5 million and $1.12 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
⁵	Includes tax effect of $150 thousand and $215 thousand on federal income tax credits for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
⁶	Wholesale deposits include brokered deposits classified as NOW, DDA, money market deposit and certificate accounts with contractual maturities.

Glacier Bancorp, Inc.
Loan Portfolio by Regulatory Classification

	Loans Receivable, by Loan Type									% Change from
(Dollars in thousands)	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024			Mar 31, 2024			Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Custom and owner occupied construction	$	233,584		$	242,844		$	273,835		(4)%		(15)%
Pre-sold and spec construction		200,921			191,926			223,294		5	%	(10)%
Total residential construction		434,505			434,770			497,129		—	%	(13)%
Land development		177,448			197,369			215,828		(10)%		(18)%
Consumer land or lots		197,553			187,024			188,635		6	%	5	%
Unimproved land		115,528			113,532			103,032		2	%	12	%
Developed lots for operative builders		64,782			61,661			47,591		5	%	36	%
Commercial lots		95,574			99,243			92,748		(4)%		3	%
Other construction		714,151			693,461			915,782		3	%	(22)%
Total land, lot, and other construction		1,365,036			1,352,290			1,563,616		1	%	(13)%
Owner occupied		3,182,589			3,197,138			3,057,348		—	%	4	%
Non-owner occupied		4,054,107			4,053,996			3,920,696		—	%	3	%
Total commercial real estate		7,236,696			7,251,134			6,978,044		—	%	4	%
Commercial and industrial		1,392,365			1,395,997			1,371,201		—	%	2	%
Agriculture		1,016,081			1,024,520			929,420		(1)%		9	%
First lien		2,499,494			2,481,918			2,276,638		1	%	10	%
Junior lien		85,343			76,303			51,579		12	%	65	%
Total 1-4 family		2,584,837			2,558,221			2,328,217		1	%	11	%
Multifamily residential		874,071			895,242			881,117		(2)%		(1)%
Home equity lines of credit		989,043			1,005,783			947,652		(2)%		4	%
Other consumer		188,388			209,457			223,566		(10)%		(16)%
Total consumer		1,177,431			1,215,240			1,171,218		(3)%		1	%
States and political subdivisions		1,001,058			983,601			848,454		2	%	18	%
Other		176,961			183,894			191,121		(4)%		(7)%
Total loans receivable, including loans held for sale		17,259,041			17,294,909			16,759,537		—	%	3	%
Less loans held for sale ¹		(40,523	)		(33,060	)		(27,035	)	23	%	50	%
Total loans receivable	$	17,218,518		$	17,261,849		$	16,732,502		—	%	3	%

______________________________

¹	Loans held for sale are primarily first lien 1-4 family loans.

Glacier Bancorp, Inc. Credit Quality Summary by Regulatory Classification

	Non-performing Assets, by Loan Type				Non- Accrual Loans	Accruing Loans 90 Days or More Past Due	Other real estate owned and foreclosed assets
(Dollars in thousands)	Mar 31, 2025		Dec 31, 2024	Mar 31, 2024	Mar 31, 2025	Mar 31, 2025	Mar 31, 2025
Custom and owner occupied construction	$	194	198	210	194	—	—
Pre-sold and spec construction		2,896	2,132	1,049	2,133	763	—
Total residential construction		3,090	2,330	1,259	2,327	763	—
Land development		935	966	28	935	—	—
Consumer land or lots		173	78	144	173	—	—
Developed lots for operative builders		531	531	608	—	531	—
Commercial lots		47	47	2,205	—	47	—
Total land, lot and other construction		1,686	1,622	2,985	1,108	578	—
Owner occupied		3,601	2,979	1,501	3,073	96	432
Non-owner occupied		2,235	2,235	8,853	1,582	—	653
Total commercial real estate		5,836	5,214	10,354	4,655	96	1,085
Commercial and Industrial		12,367	2,069	1,698	11,640	727	—
Agriculture		2,382	2,335	2,855	2,090	292	—
First lien		8,752	9,053	2,930	6,796	1,956	—
Junior lien		296	315	69	296	—	—
Total 1-4 family		9,048	9,368	2,999	7,092	1,956	—
Multifamily residential		400	389	395	400	—	—
Home equity lines of credit		3,479	3,465	1,892	2,726	753	—
Other consumer		1,003	955	927	858	77	68
Total consumer		4,482	4,420	2,819	3,584	830	68
Other		47	39	61	—	47	—
Total	$	39,338	27,786	25,425	32,896	5,289	1,153

Glacier Bancorp, Inc.
Credit Quality Summary by Regulatory Classification (continued)

	Accruing 30-89 Days Delinquent Loans, by Loan Type						% Change from
(Dollars in thousands)	Mar 31, 2025		Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024		Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Custom and owner occupied construction	$	786	$	969	$	4,784	(19)%		(84)%
Pre-sold and spec construction		—		564		1,181	(100)%		(100)%
Total residential construction		786		1,533		5,965	(49)%		(87)%
Land development		—		1,450		59	(100)%		(100)%
Consumer land or lots		1,026		402		332	155	%	209	%
Unimproved land		32		36		575	(11)%		(94)%
Developed lots for operative builders		—		214		—	(100)%		n/m
Commercial lots		189		—		1,225	n/m		(85)%
Other construction		—		—		1,248	n/m		(100)%
Total land, lot and other construction		1,247		2,102		3,439	(41)%		(64)%
Owner occupied		3,786		2,867		2,991	32	%	27	%
Non-owner occupied		346		5,037		18,118	(93)%		(98)%
Total commercial real estate		4,132		7,904		21,109	(48)%		(80)%
Commercial and industrial		5,358		6,194		14,806	(13)%		(64)%
Agriculture		5,731		744		3,922	670	%	46	%
First lien		14,826		6,326		5,626	134	%	164	%
Junior lien		1,023		214		145	378	%	606	%
Total 1-4 family		15,849		6,540		5,771	142	%	175	%
Home equity lines of credit		6,993		3,731		3,668	87	%	91	%
Other consumer		1,824		1,775		1,948	3	%	(6)%
Total consumer		8,817		5,506		5,616	60	%	57	%
States and political subdivisions		3,220		—		—	n/m		n/m
Other		1,318		1,705		1,795	(23)%		(27)%
Total	$	46,458	$	32,228	$	62,423	44	%	(26)%

______________________________

_{n/m – not measurable}

Glacier Bancorp, Inc. Credit Quality Summary by Regulatory Classification (continued)

	Net Charge-Offs (Recoveries), Year-to-Date Period Ending, By Loan Type							Charge-Offs	Recoveries
(Dollars in thousands)	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2025	Mar 31, 2025
Pre-sold and spec construction	$	—		(4	)	(4	)	—	—
Pre-sold and spec construction	$	—		(4	)	(4	)	—	—
Land development		(341	)	1,095		(1	)	—	341
Consumer land or lots		(3	)	(22	)	(1	)	—	3
Unimproved land		—		1,338		—		—	—
Commercial lots		—		319		—		—	—
Total land, lot and other construction		(344	)	2,730		(2	)	—	344
Owner occupied		(1	)	(73	)	(3	)	—	1
Non-owner occupied		(6	)	2		(1	)	—	6
Total commercial real estate		(7	)	(71	)	(4	)	—	7
Commercial and industrial		92		1,422		328		421	329
Agriculture		(1	)	64		68		—	1
First lien		(69	)	32		(4	)	—	69
Junior lien		(5	)	(65	)	(5	)	—	5
Total 1-4 family		(74	)	(33	)	(9	)	—	74
Home equity lines of credit		(20	)	69		5		—	20
Other consumer		276		1,078		251		331	55
Total consumer		256		1,147		256		331	75
Other		1,873		8,643		2,439		3,145	1,272
Total	$	1,795		13,898		3,072		3,897	2,102

Visit our website at www.glacierbancorp.com

MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock Hosts Passport Services Day in Atlanta

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
Senator Reverend Warnock’s constituent services team partnered with the Atlanta Passport Agency to assist with passport renewals and first-time applicants
The one-day-only event helped 163 Georgians receive passport services
Event is latest effort by Senator Reverend Warnock and his office to provide quality, accessible, and personable constituent services
Atlanta, GA – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) hosted an in-person Passport Services Day in Atlanta, Georgia in conjunction with the Atlanta Passport Agency. Staff from Senator Warnock’s office and the Atlanta Passport Agency assisted 163 Georgians with passport renewals, and helped first-time applicants take the needed steps to obtain a passport.
“As a Senator for all Georgians, providing Georgians with quality, accessible, and personable constituent services will always be a top priority for me. Georgians in need of passport services or other federal inquiries should contact my office to see how we may be of service to you,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.
With summer travel around the corner, this event aimed to bridge the gap between federal resources and communities across the metro-Atlanta area. In May 2024, Senator Warnock hosted his inaugural Passport Services Day, helping over 100 Georgians with passport renewals or first-time applications. In 2023, amid a historic, post-pandemic spike in passport applications that caused delays and disruptions to Georgians planning to travel internationally, Senator Warnock’s office assisted over 2,800 Georgians seeking passport assistance.

MIL-OSI Security: Update 288 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

IAEA experts based at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) were required to stay indoors yesterday morning after hearing loud bursts of gunfire from near the main administrative building where their office is located, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.

The ZNPP informed the IAEA staff members that a nearby “drone threat” had made it necessary to postpone the team’s planned activities at the site, the latest incident highlighting persistent risks to nuclear safety and security during the military conflict.

The IAEA team remained in the administrative building after the plant-wide shelter order was announced.

In addition, the IAEA team has continued to hear explosions and gunfire at varying distances from the plant almost every day during the past week.

“What was once virtually unimaginable – evidence of military action in the vicinity of a major nuclear facility – has become a near daily occurrence and a regular part of life at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. From a nuclear safety perspective, this is clearly not a sustainable situation. The IAEA remains committed to doing everything we can to prevent a nuclear accident during this tragic war,” Director General Grossi said.

Despite the regular sound of military activities in the area, the IAEA experts have continued to conduct walkdowns across the plant to monitor and assess nuclear safety and security. In recent days, for example, the team visited the ZNPP’s low-level solid radioactive waste storage facility, as well as other installations at the sprawling industrial site.

In meetings earlier this week, the experts discussed with the ZNPP the staffing situation at the plant as well as various maintenance activities, including to some of the safety systems.

At Ukraine’s other nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – IAEA teams have also continued to monitor nuclear safety and security. All three plants are still producing electricity, although some units are in planned outage while others occasionally have to reduce output.

At the Khmelnytskyy NPP, for example, one reactor remained in outage for maintenance and refuelling, while the power production of the second unit was reduced at the request of the grid operator for 36 hours earlier this week. At the Rivne NPP, a second unit was placed in outage for maintenance and refuelling, while the power production of a third was reduced at the request of the grid operator for a few days this week.

The South Ukraine NPP also experienced power variations this week. The IAEA team at the plant was informed that seven drones were detected 2 km east of the site on 17 April, also a frequent occurrence during the conflict. Likewise, the teams – particularly at the Chornobyl site and the South Ukraine NPP – have continued to hear air raid alarms most days.

The IAEA teams at the Rivne, South Ukraine and Chornobyl sites all rotated over the past week.

As part of the IAEA’s technical nuclear safety and security assistance to Ukraine, the Hydrometeorological Centre and the Hydrometeorological organizations of the State Emergency Services of Ukraine received radiation detection and measurement equipment, and associated reference sources procured with funding from Austria and the United States. It was the 131st delivery organized by the IAEA since the start of the conflict.

MIL Security OSI –

MIL-OSI Canada: Minister of Finance concludes successful G7 and G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meetings in Washington, D.C.

Source: Government of Canada News (2)

April 24, 2025 – Washington, D.C. – Department of Finance Canada

The Minister of Finance, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, concluded his participation in the meetings of the G7 and G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, this week in Washington, D.C.

Minister Champagne and the Governor of the Bank of Canada, Tiff Macklem, co-chaired the G7 meeting, as part of Canada’s presidency of the G7 in 2025, and at a critical time when Canadian leadership at the G7 is very important. Discussions focused on the global economic outlook in the current context, which is marked by major changes in global trade policies and a high level of uncertainty, as well as the situation in Ukraine.

Minister Champagne also joined his G20 counterparts for discussions on global macroeconomic risks and financial stability as well as issues relating to the international financial architecture and growth opportunities and challenges in Africa.

The meetings were held on the margins of the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

MIL OSI Canada News –

MIL-OSI USA: Founder and Former CEO of Biscayne Capital Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for $130M Fraud Scheme

Source: US State of California

Roberto Gustavo Cortes Ripalda (Cortes), 58, the co-founder, co-owner, and CEO of international advisory firm Biscayne Capital, was sentenced earlier today in Brooklyn, New York to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Cortes pleaded guilty to the charge in September 2023. Cortes was also ordered to pay $3.4 million in forfeiture and $103million in restitution to over 110 victims.

“For more than five years, Roberto Cortes and his co-conspirators ran Biscayne Capital as a Ponzi scheme, lying to investors — including the defendant’s own friends and family members — and ultimately causing more than $155 million in investor losses,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The sentence will hold Cortes accountable for his years of lies and deception. Thank you to our partners for their hard work and collaboration to achieve this result.”

“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of Roberto Cortes’s criminal conduct in orchestrating a years-long scheme with his co-conspirators to prop up a failing business while defrauding Biscayne Capital investors and clients around the globe,” said U.S. Attorney John J. Durham for the Eastern District of New York. “Using illegal Ponzi payments to their victims, Cortes and his co-conspirators were able to disguise and perpetuate this scheme for years until Biscayne Capital finally collapsed under the defendants’ lies. Today’s sentence demonstrates our Office’s commitment to holding accountable investment professionals who abuse the trust of their clients for personal profit.”

“Regardless of the complexity of the investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents and our law enforcement partners will utilize their skills and unique authorities to hold bad actors like the defendant accountable,” stated IRS-CI Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter. “This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions. Mr. Cortes and his co-conspirators prioritized their own greed, stealing $155 million from investors. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that we remain vigilant and will vigorously pursue those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraudulent means.”

According to court filings, Cortes and his co-defendant Ernesto Heraclito Weisson Pazmino (Weisson) founded Biscayne Capital in 2005 to support the financing of South Bay, their real estate development business focused on acquiring and demolishing properties to build luxury homes. After South Bay began experiencing financial trouble in 2007, Cortes and Weisson recruited investors to inject funds into South Bay’s operations. Rather than using those investor funds to fund South Bay’s real estate development projects, Cortes, Weisson, and their co-conspirators used the bulk of the funds to pay outstanding interest and principal debt obligations to other investors.

Cortes and his co-conspirators took numerous steps to perpetuate and conceal the scheme, including distributing investment documents with false and misleading information, deceiving investors about the purpose, risk, return, and security of their investments, and creating and sending fake account statements to unsuspecting clients to conceal the scheme. By the time the Biscayne Capital/South Bay Ponzi scheme collapsed and Biscayne Capital went into liquidation, Biscayne Capital clients had lost over $155 million.

IRS-CI investigated the case.

Bank Integrity Unit Deputy Chief Randall Warden and Trial Attorney Morgan Cohen of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Drew Rolle and Benjamin Weintraub for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Brandon Burkart of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section assisted with the investigation.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition from Spain and obtaining evidence in this case. The Department of Justice also thanks the Governments of the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Ecuador, Spain and Switzerland for their valuable support.

MIL-OSI Security: Founder and Former CEO of Biscayne Capital Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for $130M Fraud Scheme

Source: United States Attorneys General 1

Roberto Gustavo Cortes Ripalda (Cortes), 58, the co-founder, co-owner, and CEO of international advisory firm Biscayne Capital, was sentenced earlier today in Brooklyn, New York to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Cortes pleaded guilty to the charge in September 2023. Cortes was also ordered to pay $3.4 million in forfeiture and $103million in restitution to over 110 victims.

“For more than five years, Roberto Cortes and his co-conspirators ran Biscayne Capital as a Ponzi scheme, lying to investors — including the defendant’s own friends and family members — and ultimately causing more than $155 million in investor losses,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The sentence will hold Cortes accountable for his years of lies and deception. Thank you to our partners for their hard work and collaboration to achieve this result.”

“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of Roberto Cortes’s criminal conduct in orchestrating a years-long scheme with his co-conspirators to prop up a failing business while defrauding Biscayne Capital investors and clients around the globe,” said U.S. Attorney John J. Durham for the Eastern District of New York. “Using illegal Ponzi payments to their victims, Cortes and his co-conspirators were able to disguise and perpetuate this scheme for years until Biscayne Capital finally collapsed under the defendants’ lies. Today’s sentence demonstrates our Office’s commitment to holding accountable investment professionals who abuse the trust of their clients for personal profit.”

“Regardless of the complexity of the investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents and our law enforcement partners will utilize their skills and unique authorities to hold bad actors like the defendant accountable,” stated IRS-CI Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter. “This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions. Mr. Cortes and his co-conspirators prioritized their own greed, stealing $155 million from investors. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that we remain vigilant and will vigorously pursue those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraudulent means.”

According to court filings, Cortes and his co-defendant Ernesto Heraclito Weisson Pazmino (Weisson) founded Biscayne Capital in 2005 to support the financing of South Bay, their real estate development business focused on acquiring and demolishing properties to build luxury homes. After South Bay began experiencing financial trouble in 2007, Cortes and Weisson recruited investors to inject funds into South Bay’s operations. Rather than using those investor funds to fund South Bay’s real estate development projects, Cortes, Weisson, and their co-conspirators used the bulk of the funds to pay outstanding interest and principal debt obligations to other investors.

Cortes and his co-conspirators took numerous steps to perpetuate and conceal the scheme, including distributing investment documents with false and misleading information, deceiving investors about the purpose, risk, return, and security of their investments, and creating and sending fake account statements to unsuspecting clients to conceal the scheme. By the time the Biscayne Capital/South Bay Ponzi scheme collapsed and Biscayne Capital went into liquidation, Biscayne Capital clients had lost over $155 million.

IRS-CI investigated the case.

Bank Integrity Unit Deputy Chief Randall Warden and Trial Attorney Morgan Cohen of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Drew Rolle and Benjamin Weintraub for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Brandon Burkart of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section assisted with the investigation.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition from Spain and obtaining evidence in this case. The Department of Justice also thanks the Governments of the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Ecuador, Spain and Switzerland for their valuable support.

MIL Security OSI –

MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Holds Informal Meeting with States Parties to the Convention

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today held an informal meeting with States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Opening the meeting, Michal Balcerzak, Committee Chair, said this year was the sixtieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention. This was a moment of reflection, not only on past achievements, but also on the current and future viability of the treaty body system. The Committee was facing turbulent times, and many challenges were undermining the realisation of human rights and racial equality.

Mr. Balcerzak called on States parties to renew commitment to fully respect and effectively implement obligations under international human rights law, including the Convention. Prompt action was needed to end current conflicts, address the root causes of racial discrimination, and prevent further human rights violations targeting people based on their national or ethnic origin and identity.

Régine Esseneme, Committee Vice-Chair, said the Convention was adopted by the General Assembly in 1965 and entered into force in 1969. It covered all areas of human rights and fundamental freedoms and had been ratified by 182 countries. For several years, States parties had submitted fewer reports to the Committee, often choosing to combine reports over longer periods.

The discussion with States parties addressed topics including the liquidity crisis facing the Committee and the United Nations treaty body system, cooperation with the Committee, commemoration of the Convention’s sixtieth anniversary, the Committee’s simplified reporting and individual communications procedures, hybrid dialogues, and measures to prevent racial discrimination.

Speaking in the discussion were Mexico, Finland, Belgium, Bolivia, Spain, Brazil, Venezuela, China and Cuba.

The programme of work and other documents related to the Committee’s one hundred and fifteenth session can be found here. Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

The Committee will next meet in public on Friday, 25 April at 3 p.m. to hold a half-day general discussion on reparations for the injustices from the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans, their treatment as chattel, and the ongoing harms to and crimes against people of African descent.

Opening Statements

MICHAL BALCERZAK, Committee Chair, said this year was the sixtieth anniversary of the entry into force of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. This was a moment of reflection, not only on past achievements, but also on the current and future viability of the treaty body system. The Committee was facing turbulent times, and many challenges were undermining the realisation of human rights and racial equality.

In the last 60 years, there had been progress in the fight against racial discrimination. However, progress had not occurred at the pace and to the extent needed and expected by marginalised groups and victims of racial discrimination, and today, there were serious risks of backsliding. The Committee called on States parties to renew commitment to fully respect and effectively implement obligations under international human rights law, including the Convention. Prompt action was needed to end current conflicts, address the root causes of racial discrimination, and prevent further human rights violations targeting people based on their national or ethnic origin and identity.

The United Nations treaty body system was faced by an unprecedented crisis marked by acute financial and liquidity constraints. These challenges struck at the very core of the Committee’s ability to carry out its mandate effectively. The downsizing of resources had already begun to significantly impair the Committee’s work. Under the Convention, the expenses of the Committee were required to be borne by State parties. The current situation raised serious concerns about the sustainability of this obligation. The Committee was facing the real risk of reducing its activities, and, in a worst-case scenario, cancelling sessions due to lack of resources. This year, the second and third sessions of the Committee were not yet confirmed. Weakening of the Committee would not only weaken international human rights oversight but also send a troubling signal about the collective will to combat racial discrimination globally.

In addition, the Committee was increasingly impacted by a drop in timely reporting by States parties – a trend that undermined its ability to plan and hold dialogue sessions, notably for the years 2026 and 2027. But despite these challenges, the Committee remained steadfast. On average, it reviewed 18 State party reports per year, consistently worked to refine its methods of work, and continued to engage in meaningful, forward-looking initiatives in line with its mandate.

This year marked the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention, which was adopted on 21 December 1965. To mark this auspicious occasion, the Committee and its Secretariat were working in collaboration with partners on a year-long campaign throughout 2025. The campaign highlighted the foundational importance of the Convention for the fight against racial discrimination, and focused attention on its continued relevance today. It would stimulate discussions on effective practices to address structural and emerging challenges in preventing and combatting racial discrimination and aimed to renew the commitment for the effective implementation of the Convention.

The Committee encouraged all States parties to the Convention to contribute to the anniversary by taking concrete action to implement the Convention, including jointly with other States and stakeholders, at the local, national, regional or international levels. The Committee would hold a high-level commemorative event, tentatively scheduled to take place on 4 December 2025. The active support of States parties and all stakeholders in the organization of this event was crucial for its success.

The Committee had adopted general recommendation 37 in 2024 on equality and freedom from racial discrimination in the enjoyment of the right to health. This general recommendation clarified the obligations undertaken under the Convention regarding the right to health and provided guidance on measures to address concerns in line with the Convention.

Currently, the Committee was working with the Committee on Migrant Workers on a joint general recommendation on xenophobia; regional consultations were held last year to inform the drafting. It was also elaborating a general recommendation on reparations, which would provide guidance on the scope and content of the right to reparations under international human rights law, particularly concerning the harms of the forced capture of Africans, the transatlantic transport of those captives, their enslavement as chattel, and the massive and continuing harms suffered by their descendants.

The Committee called on States parties to provide advice on how to address the unprecedented crisis affecting the treaty body system.

RÉGINE ESSENEME, Committee Vice-Chair, said the Convention was adopted by the General Assembly in 1965 and entered into force in 1969. It covered all areas of human rights and fundamental freedoms and had been ratified by 182 countries. These States parties had committed to engaging in the Committee’s periodic review process, under which each State party was obliged to submit an initial report after one year of ratification and subsequent periodic reports every two years. For several years however, States parties had submitted fewer reports to the Committee, often choosing to combine reports over longer periods.

Most States had submitted to the Committee’s simplified reporting procedure, but given its resource limitations, the Committee prioritised States with reports overdue by more than 10 years for this procedure. Currently, 78 States parties had significant delays in the submission of reports. The Committee sought States’ views on this issue and on methods of fostering collaboration with States parties to ensure that they honoured their commitments under the Convention.

Discussion with States Parties

In the ensuing discussion, representatives of States parties said, among other things, that the Convention, the first fundamental human rights treaty, was an essential tool for combatting racial discrimination. Speakers expressed commitment to fulfilling their obligations under the Convention and eliminating racial discrimination, xenophobia and social exclusion, and to cooperating with the Committee. They thanked the Committee for its work in eliminating racial discrimination. Cooperating with the Committee gave States the ability to ensure the highest possible implementation of the Convention.

Many speakers said they would join in the commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention, which offered an opportunity for renewing commitments under the Convention and addressing modern challenges related to racial discrimination, including hate speech, discrimination and xenophobic practices. They expressed concern about the United Nations’ liquidity crisis, which impacted the Committee’s work.

Speakers presented measures to prevent racial discrimination and promote racial equality; recognise the status and promote the rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their participation in policy development; and participate in the Committee’s reporting procedure and follow-up on the recommendations of the Committee.

Some speakers proposed that the Committee held hybrid meetings with States when necessary to promote the participation of civil servants with specific knowledge and civil society in States with limited resources. One speaker called for the hybrid meeting tools used by the United Nations to guarantee the equal participation of all States. Some speakers called on the Committee to strengthen its cooperation with regional mechanisms and other international bodies, including the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect.

One speaker said that individual communications needed to be handled effectively. How did the Committee monitor the implementation of its decision on individual communications?

Some speakers noted that the Committee had decided to extend the simplified reporting procedure to all States parties, but at the same time requested many States to continue using the regular reporting procedure as their reports were not overdue by 10 years. Why had the Committee decided to do this? The simplified reporting procedure would ease States’ reporting burden. Without this procedure, future report submissions could be delayed, they said. Other speakers, however, said that there were disadvantages to the simplified procedure, expressing support for the regular reporting procedure. One speaker said that efforts to simplify reporting procedures needed to be balanced with efforts to establish a predictable reporting calendar.

One speaker expressed concern regarding unilateral coercive measures and human rights violations against migrants, including their illegal deportation to other States. Another speaker raised the issue of trans-Atlantic slavery, expressing support for a new United Nations instrument on the rights of people of African descent.

Statements and Responses by Committee Experts

MICHAL BALCERZAK, Committee Chair, thanked States for the proposals they had put forward. He said that the Committee offered the possibility of hybrid dialogues, which were not currently shortened compared to regular dialogues. The Committee regretted that it did not have the possibility to hold hybrid meetings with other stakeholders.

The simplified reporting procedure was a crucial issue. There was a problem with this procedure in that it was not, in fact, simple from the perspective of the Committee and its secretariat. If the Committee had more capacity to prepare lists of issues prior to reporting, it would have done so.

The Chair encouraged States parties to engage in events to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention, information on which was available online. He also called for further dialogue between the Committee and regional bodies.

NOUREDDIN AMIR, Committee Expert, said that Committee Experts were elected by States every two years on a rolling basis. They sought to achieve States’ aspirations to better fulfil their human rights obligations. The Committee was committed to combatting racism and injustice, which was everywhere. It needed to promote discussions between belligerents in the wars that were currently raging. Women and children were being killed in Palestine. States needed to take responsibility for these issues, stop criminals, and seek justice for those whose voices were not heard. The International Court of Justice needed to be able to condemn States that carried out forbidden acts against international law.

STAMATIA STAVRINAKI, Committee Expert, said that the Committee’s individual communications procedure had not yet reached its full potential, as around one-third of States parties to the Convention had not accepted the procedure. Last year, the Committee adopted decisions on 48 complaints and found violations in 27 of them. The Committee advocated for this procedure, which created an opportunity to remedy harms caused by racial discrimination and to prevent future violations. States parties could deploy junior professionals to support the Working Group on individual communications. The Committee invited States to accept the individual communications procedure, which would reenforce their efforts to combat racial discrimination effectively.

FAITH DIKELEDI PANSY TLAKULA, Committee Expert, said that the Committee had strengthened its relationship with regional human rights mechanisms, contacting relevant regional bodies regarding their assessment of follow-up efforts to the Committee’s concluding observations. The concluding observations contained recommendations for improving the implementation of the Convention, which were to be implemented within one year. States parties were required to submit follow-up reports on the implementation of these recommendations, but only one-third of States parties submitted reports, which often did not demonstrate sufficient implementation of the recommendations. The Committee called on all States to submit these reports.

VERENE ALBERTHA SHEPHERD, Committee Vice-Chair, expressed pleasure that several States parties from the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean region were attending the meeting. She was the only Expert on the Committee from this region. She called on these States to promote the appointment of more Experts from the region. It was regrettable that some countries had difficulty in using hybrid tools offered for participation in dialogue, and that some non-governmental organizations could not attend meetings with the Committee. The Committee would address these issues.

Ms. Shepherd said that a second International Decade for People of African Descent had been established by the General Assembly. She called on all States to participate in commemorations of the Decade. The Committee used an intersectional lens when addressing racial discrimination to address issues such as gender. In closing, she called on States to financially support the Committee to address its liquidity crisis.

GAY MCDOUGALL, Committee Vice-Chair, said that the Committee had issued general recommendation 25 on gender, in which it committed to taking an intersectional approach to gender. The Committee was also committed to assessing the relationship between racial discrimination and economic marginalisation. It was assessing opportunities for decent work for ethnic minorities, as well as access to education and other social services.

The Committee was concerned by its shrinking resources and capacity to do its work. It was in the worst situation of any treaty body in terms of resources. Although it had one of the most ratified treaties, the Committee received among the lowest number of reports. Why was this?

RÉGINE ESSENEME, Committee Vice-Chair, said the legal basis for the presentation of reports was article nine, paragraph one of the Convention. The purpose of the simplified reporting procedure was to encourage States to submit reports. However, it had not led to an increase in the number of reports that the Committee received. The Committee was affected by a lack of human and financial resources. The simplified reporting procedure was not simple for the Committee; it was thus the exception and not the rule. States needed to respect their reporting obligations under the Convention.

CHINSUNG CHUNG, Committee Expert, said the Committee and all nine treaty bodies had inter-State communications procedures. The Committee had received and considered three inter-State communications, and amicable solutions to two of these complaints had been found. A third communication had been received from the State of Palestine against Israel in 2018. The Committee had issued six recommendations in relation to this communication. What steps could the Committee take to ensure that its recommendations would be implemented? Ms. Chung encouraged States to cooperate with the inter-State communications procedure.

IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert, said that the Committee had set up an early warning mechanism to prevent existing issues from becoming conflicts. The mechanism could intervene if there was a lack of legislation or mechanisms to prevent racial discrimination, or to react to discriminatory statements or actions. The Committee had recently adopted decisions under this procedure related to Sudan and the State of Palestine, which had been cited by the International Court of Justice. Most conflicts in the world stemmed from racial or religious issues. The Committee could be a major force to prevent such crises, but it needed the support of States in this regard.

BAKARI SIDIKI DIABY, Committee Expert, commended the efforts of States parties to engage in dialogue with the Committee. Some States had not come before the Committee for more than 20 years. The simplified procedure was set up to assist such States. The Committee also had the power to examine States parties in the absence of a report if necessary and it had done so in the past. It called on all States to help victims protected by the Convention and to engage in dialogue with the Committee. States also needed to cooperate with civil society in preparation for dialogues. Some members of civil society who had cooperated with the Committee had been subjected to reprisals; the United Nations had no tolerance for this.

PELA BOKER-WILSON, Committee Expert, said that reviews of some States parties showed a lack of collection of disaggregated data that allowed for a comparison of population groups. This entailed moving away from traditional data collection practices. States parties were encouraged to collect data on sex, age, ethnicity, migration status, disability, religion and other distinctions.

GÜN KUT, Committee Expert, thanked representatives of States parties for engaging with the Committee and expressing support for the Committee’s work. The Committee was sensitive to States’ questions, demands and criticisms. The success of the Committee depended on States parties’ will and contributions. The Committee needed regularity in the submission of reports and sufficient follow-up to the Committee’s recommendations, including through follow-up and periodic reports. The Committee sought to improve its work, but this depended on securing sufficient meeting time and support for the Committee’s secretariat. States needed to commit to sending reports on time and supporting the financial situation of treaty bodies.

MAZALO TEBIE, Committee Expert, called on States to support the functioning of the Committee.

YEUNG KAM JOHN YEUNG SIK YUEN, Committee Expert, said many States parties had not taken steps to criminalise hate speech. Was this done deliberately to protect politicians? When the Committee issued a decision on an individual communication, it left it to States parties involved to implement it. The Committee took up implementation of these decisions in dialogues with States parties.

Closing Remarks

MICHAL BALCERZAK, Committee Chair, thanked States parties for attending the meeting. The Committee would do its best to address the issues raised in the dialogue. It would work efficiently with States and ensure that it did not disappoint victims of racial discrimination. The Chair called on States to encourage the commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention across the world. The Committee looked forward to further engagement with States in future.

___________

Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

CERD25.003E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Commend Ukraine’s Presence Despite the Prevailing Circumstances, Raise Questions on the Treatment of Ukraine’s Indigenous Peoples and the Roma Population

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today concluded its consideration of the combined twenty-fourth to twenty-sixth periodic reports of Ukraine. Committee Experts congratulated the State party for appearing before the Committee despite prevailing circumstances, while raising questions on the treatment of Ukraine’s indigenous peoples and the Roma population.

A Committee Expert congratulated the Ukrainian delegation for making a laudable effort to assess the implementation of the Convention in the country, despite prevailing circumstances. Ukraine should be praised for this effort.

Chinsung Chung, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, said the Committee noted that the State party adopted the law on indigenous peoples in 2021. However, according to information before the Committee, the law only recognised Crimean Tatars, Karaims and Krymchaks as indigenous peoples in Ukraine, while excluding other groups, such as Hutsuls, Lemkos and Gagauz peoples. Could the delegation provide clarifications on the law on indigenous peoples and how it aligned with international standards? What measures were in place to preserve and promote the identity, language and culture of all indigenous people under the jurisdiction of the State party?

Ms. Chung also said that according to the representative of the Office of the Ombudsman of Ukraine, around 100,000 Roma became refugees, and around the same number of Ukrainian Roma became internally displaced persons. Were accurate statistics available? Did the State party find durable solutions for internally displaced Roma and take measures to ensure that they benefitted from assistance? What were the State’s plans to include Roma people in recovery and reconstruction programmes?

The delegation said in 2021, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the law on indigenous peoples in Ukraine, which was developed through extensive consultations with indigenous groups and civil society, and represented the aspirations of these groups. In addition, a draft law was developed on the status of the Crimean Tartar people which would be registered in Parliament in the near future.

Officially, Ukraine recognised three indigenous groups of peoples, including Crimean Tartars, Karaims and Krymchaks. The Lemkos people were not considered a national minority group, but rather a cultural group. The public broadcaster of Ukraine produced programmes for national minorities in their national languages, across broadcast, radio and digital formats.

Mr. Lossovskyi said in 2021, the Ukrainian Government approved the Roma strategy, and every two years action plans were prepared for its implementation. The Roma community was a young community, one of the youngest among the national minorities in Ukraine. It would be beneficial to use their innovation and abilities in the process of renovating Ukraine when the war was over. The State was working on providing the Roma with more education. There were many grants provided to Roma for studying in universities.

Introducing the report, Ihor Lossovskyi, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience, said during the reporting period from 2014 to 2019, fundamental tragic changes took place in Ukraine, in particular the beginning of the Russian aggression. At the height of the Russian invasion, in April 2022, Ukraine applied for membership in the European Union, and in June 2022, it received candidate status along with seven relevant recommendations in all spheres of human activity, including recommendation no. 7 on completion of the reform of legislation in the field of national minorities and interethnic relations.

To implement these recommendations, Ukraine developed and approved three laws, including the new law on national minorities (communities) of Ukraine, as well as 16 subordinate regulatory legal acts (bylaws) approved by the Government.

In concluding remarks, Ibrahima Guisse, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, thanked the delegation for the dialogue held, particularly given the context. War was ended through negotiation and diplomacy, not capitulation. It was hoped this would happen with Ukraine. The fact that Ukraine was here before the Committee was an example of the State’s willingness to cooperate.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Lossovskyi thanked the Committee for their time and interest in the situation in Ukraine. The Committee’s recommendations were very much appreciated.

The delegation of Ukraine consisted of representatives of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience; the Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision; the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine; and the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Committee will issue its concluding observations on the report of Ukraine after the conclusion of its one hundred and fifteenth session on 9 May 2025. The programme of work and other documents related to the session can be found here. Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

The Committee will next meet in public on Friday, 25 April at 3.p.m for a half day general discussion on reparations for the injustices from the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans, their treatment as chattel, and the ongoing harms to and crimes against people of African descent.

Report

The Committee has before it the combined twenty-fourth to twenty-sixth periodic reports of Ukraine (CERD/C/UKR/24-26).

Presentation of Report

IHOR LOSSOVSKYI, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience, said during the reporting period from 2014 to 2019, fundamental tragic changes took place in Ukraine, in particular the beginning of the Russian aggression, Russia’s brazen destruction of international law, the occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, the occupation by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and terrorist organizations supported by it of certain parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as the financing by the Russian Federation of terrorist organizations of the occupation administrations.

Due to these circumstances, collecting information in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine was difficult. As a result of the temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, and the aggression of the Russian Federation in eastern Ukraine, ensuring the rights of minorities in these areas, especially Crimea, had sharply deteriorated. Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, and those who adhered to pro-Ukrainian views, were subject to discrimination in Crimea.

During the reporting period, important changes also took place in the religious sphere in Ukraine. On 15 December 2018, the Unification Council was held, at which representatives of the three Orthodox Churches of Ukraine united into a single church structure, which was called the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”, and the Metropolitan Epiphany of Kyiv and All Ukraine was elected as its primate. As of the beginning of 2021, this church jurisdiction had 7,097 religious organizations on the territory of Ukraine, handled by 4,537 clergy.

The principles of preventing and combatting discrimination were defined by the 2012 law on the principles of preventing and combatting discrimination in Ukraine. In May 2014, amendments were made to the law, which improved the legislative definition of discrimination. In 2019, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience was established to deal with State policy in the field of national minorities and interethnic relations, freedom of conscience, and freedom of religion.

At the height of the Russian invasion, in April 2022, Ukraine applied for membership in the European Union, and in June 2022, it received candidate status along with seven relevant recommendations in all spheres of human activity, including recommendation no. 7 on completion of the reform of legislation in the field of national minorities and interethnic relations. To implement these recommendations, Ukraine developed and approved three laws, including the new law on national minorities (communities) of Ukraine, as well as 16 subordinate regulatory legal acts (bylaws) approved by the Government.

The first stages of the negotiation process with the European Commission regarding Ukraine’s membership in the European Union took place, in particular, the screening of Ukrainian legislation for its compliance with European legislation. The screening was provided under four subsections on judiciary and fundamental rights: freedom of conscience, freedom of religion; racism, xenophobia, hate speech; racial and ethnic discrimination, including Roma; and rights of national minorities.

Based on the results, the European Commission prepared a positive report on the state of Ukrainian legislation and its compliance with European legislation in October 2024. The next stage of the negotiation process was the preparation of strategic documents, including an action plan to ensure the rights of national minorities in Ukraine, which were in the final stage of preparation.

Questions by Committee Experts

IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, welcomed that Ukraine had a diverse and high-level delegation. Ukraine’s presence before the Committee despite the difficult context in the country highlighted the country’s commitment to appear before the treaty bodies. Mr. Guisse then paid tribute to Pope Francis who had been a man of peace.

During the period under review, Ukraine had experienced deep upheavals, including the large-scale invasion in 2022, which had given rise to large-scale destruction, human loss and mass displacement. According to information before the Committee, the last census conducted in 2001 showed that the main minority groups included Russians, Belarusians, Moldovans, Crimean Tatars and Bulgarians. Ukraine also has smaller populations of Poles, Romanians, Armenians, Hungarians, Roma and other nationalities. A subsequent census was supposed to be conducted in 2011, which was postponed until 2020, and had not taken place until now.

Other data was also not provided, and the Committee emphasised that the lack of statistics limited the ability to evaluate the enjoyment of different groups of their economic, social and cultural rights. Were there plans to conduct the census based on the principle of self-identification? What were the measures planned to collect data on the enjoyment of economic and social rights by the different groups under the jurisdiction of the State party?

The Committee noted that the legal framework, particularly on principles of preventing and combatting discrimination in Ukraine, did not prohibit discrimination based on all grounds listed in the Convention, particularly national origin and descent. Were there plans to amend and align the national legislation framework with article 1 of the Convention? What measures were taken to ensure that the legislative framework prohibited intersecting forms of discrimination?

Could the delegation inform the Committee on the implementation of the national human rights strategy for 2015–2020 in 2015 and its action plan? Was there a timeframe for developing and adopting a strategy on combatting racial discrimination?

Could the delegation provide information on the mandate and activities of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience? What were the measures to ensure the consultation and participation of groups vulnerable to racial discrimination in the work of the State Service? Was the State party planning to establish a central mechanism to coordinate and monitor the implementation of measures designed to combat racial discrimination?

The Committee was concerned that the legislative framework, including the Criminal Code, did not include a definition of all forms of discrimination, or a specific definition of hate speech or sanction for hate speech and crimes. What measures were being undertaken to review and amend the legislative framework to prohibit all forms of racial discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in accordance with the Convention?

Was the State party planning to amend its Criminal Code, particularly article 161, to remove the requirements and restrictive approach as recommended by the Committee in 2016? What was the status of the draft law no. 5488 before the Parliament? How were its provisions in line with the Convention?

Could information be provided on the legislative framework on combatting racial discrimination in political discourse, as well as information on complaints received, investigations initiated, and imposed sanctions in this field? The Committee noted that the law on media included provisions on discrimination and incitement to hatred. Could clarifications on the law and how its provisions aligned with the Convention be provided? Could the delegation inform the Committee about measures taken to combat hate speech in the media and over the Internet? Was there a designated entity to monitor hate speech or avenues to submit complaints by victims?

Responses by the Delegation

IHOR LOSSOVSKYI, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience, said unfortunately, the last census of Ukraine had taken place in 2001, which was 24 years ago. There were several reasons for this, including two Ukrainian political revolutions during this time and the beginning of the war with Russia in 2014. The next census had been planned for 2023, but this had been postponed due to the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation in 2022. It was impossible in current circumstances to hold another census.

Significant work in combatting racial discrimination had been undertaken in the past three to four years. The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience was established in 2019 and began its work in 2020. The institute directly dealt with issues of national minorities and ethnic policies and consisted of around 40 people.

Over the past couple of years, three laws had been adopted by the parliament, including the new law on national minority communities of Ukraine. This new law was revolutionary, as it described the ethnic policy for Ukraine and prescribed tasks for the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience. According to the law, all those who considered themselves to be national minorities would be recognised by the State as such. Ukraine had 130 national minorities, and the State took responsibility for all these communities.

There was a lack of strict definitions in Ukrainian laws around hate speech and hate crimes. Ukrainian institutions were working hard to integrate these into Ukrainian legislation. There was an interagency working group dealing with issues of discrimination, hate speech and hate crime.

Questions by Committee Experts

IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, appreciated the answers given, noting the circumstances within the country.

CHINSUNG CHUNG, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, asked for more details on the interagency working group to be provided? Could more information on the national human rights institution be provided?

A Committee Expert said Ukraine’s non-compliance with article 4 was an ongoing issue. It was strongly recommended that the State follow up on this.

Another Expert asked how effective the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience had been in protecting minority rights in Ukraine? What was the level of participation of national minorities in consultations on State decisions? Had there been any improvements based on these discussions?

A Committee Expert said the situation in Ukraine was incomprehensible. What could be done about hate speech? Did Russian people hate Ukrainian people? Personally, the Expert did not feel this was the case. How could this explain why not everyone opposed the war which continued to take more lives? While there was hatred, men would continue to wage war.

FAITH DIKELEDI PANSY TLAKULA, Committee Expert and Follow-Up Rapporteur, expressed gratitude to the State party for responding to the Committee’s request in the one-year time frame, however, many questions by the Committee were not addressed, nor were they provided in the current State report. Could the State party provide the Committee with the previously requested information in paragraph 16 of the concluding observations?

Responses by the Delegation

IHOR LOSSOVSKYI, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience, said the questions about the war were philosophical. This was an existential war for the Ukrainian nation. According to the Russian dictator, Ukrainians did not exist and needed to be re-educated. To stop the war, the Russian dictator should provide a decree to forces to stop the fight and withdraw from the territory of Ukraine.

The Commissioner of Human Rights had a special department focusing on discrimination. After the screening exercise with the European Union, Ukraine understood there were some gaps in its legislation, particularly when it came to definitions. Many new laws and bylaws had been approved to fill these gaps, and this was a key focus of the State Service for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience. Communication with national minorities was a key step in this regard.

Around seven million Ukrainians had left Ukraine as refugees or moved around Ukraine as internally displaced persons. Many people treated the Roma community differently. The national action plan for the Roma strategy to 2030 was evaluated every two years. Every year, many different roundtables and conferences were organised by the State on the Roma community.

Two forums had been organised for the different minorities to discuss any issues they had and how to address them. A forum was organised in Kiev with Polish national minorities, and another one with Greek national minorities. There was a strategy on the development of the Crimea Tartare language. This year, work had also been finished on the new spelling of the Crimean Tartare language.

Questions by Committee Experts

CHINSUNG CHUNG, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, asked about concrete cases of racially motivated violence and racial profiling, and the measures taken to respond to these cases? What measures had been taken for increasing public awareness-raising campaigns and other measures to counter incitement to hatred and hate crimes? The Committee would also like to receive information on measures to prevent discriminatory violence by the police and other law enforcement officers; measures to ensure accountability for incidents of discriminatory violence; and data on these kinds of incidents?

The Committee was concerned about racist hate speech and discriminatory statements in the public discourse, including by public and political figures and in the media. How did these victims address their cases, and how effectively were these cases treated? How many complaints had been received in the last five years, and what was the number of investigations initiated, cases considered before courts, and sanctions imposed on perpetrators? Could detailed information be provided on complaints registered with the courts, or any other national institution, including the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, concerning acts of racial discrimination, racist hate speech and racist hate crimes?

According to information before the Committee, there were gaps in the implementation of the legal framework, including the lack of specialisation among law enforcement officials and lack of operational standards to handle, register and investigate complaints of racial discrimination and hate crimes. What measures were being taken to address these concerns, particularly to enhance the capacity of law enforcement officials in handling and investigating complaints related to racial discrimination and hate speech?

Information before the Committee indicated that there was a lack of awareness on the rights of victims of racial discrimination and fear of approaching law enforcement officials on this topic. What measures were being taken to address these issues? Could a reason be provided for the low rate of complaints at the National Human Rights Commission? What measures were being taken to enable victims to make complaints more effectively?

The Committee welcomed the adoption of amendments in 2024 on the law on free legal aid to allow victims of hate crimes on specific grounds to benefit from secondary legal aid. However, the information before the Committee indicated that the victims were only entitled to the legal aid at the secondary stage and not to initiate a complaint. In addition, the implementation of the amendment was postponed until one year after the martial law was abolished. Could the delegation provide information on these two concerns?

Could disaggregated data be provided on complaints by ethnic origin such as by Roma, Jews, Africans and other minorities, as well as by national origin and gender? Had the complaints changed during the armed conflict, in terms of quantity, nature and results? What measures were being taken to promote human rights education, including on racial discrimination, in university programmes and teacher training?

What measures were being taken to raise awareness of the public, civil servants, and law enforcement officials in order to combat societal prejudice against certain minority groups, including the Roma?

Could accurate statistics of ethnic minorities, including Roma, be provided? The Committee remained concerned at the persistence of discrimination, stereotypes and prejudices against Roma, including reports of physical attacks and killings.

Recent research also demonstrated that the level of antigypsyism in Ukraine was still very high. According to the social cohesion study, 35 per cent of the Ukrainian population did not want Roma to be in their community at all. What measures had the Government of Ukraine taken to fight antigypsyism?

Could data on the education conditions of Roma be provided? What measures had been taken for improving the situation of education for Roma children? Were they educated in their mother tongue without discrimination?

The Committee noted the various measures taken by the State party to improve the situation of Roma, including the strategy for the protection and integration of the Roma national minority to 2020 and its action plan. Could information on the progress and results of strategies and programmes directed at the Roma be provided, particularly the allocated resources to ensure the effective implementation of the strategy and action plan and monitoring of its implementation? How were members of the Roma ethnic minorities involved in the implementation and monitoring of these policies? Had the Government consulted with Roma communities when planning and implementing such integration measures, including at the local level? How were the low levels of funding for these plans being addressed?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the issues affecting the Roma community were a problem, not just for Ukraine but for all European countries. Prejudices still existed, however, during the war, many Roma men had served in the Ukrainian armed forces and in some cases sacrificed their lives, which had changed the attitude of Ukrainians towards Roma people. A unity and diversity programme was implemented last year, which was a Ukrainian national cultural programme, with training for Ukrainian police officers.

The lack of documents in Roma communities was an issue but this was being addressed through regular visits to regions where the Roma community lived. Thousands of Roma people had been provided with new documents.

In 2023, around 60 consultations were organised with different national minority groups. Permanent consultations and meetings were held with Roma communities. The consultations included members of all relevant ministries. The next meeting had been planned for the end of April. April 8 was International Roma Day and a large event had been organised in Kiev, including a roundtable and an all-day conference with the participation of ambassadors and the diplomatic corps. On the same day, several regions also organised International Roma Day celebrations with different events.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert said the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations were lacking. How were the stakeholders in the consultations selected? The Expert expressed hope that the war would end soon with a fair and sustainable solution. It was important to remember that the unity towards Roma people should be sustained after the war, and that the stereotypes did not return.

FAITH DIKELEDI PANSY TLAKULA, Committee Expert and Follow-Up Rapporteur, said the Committee’s recommendations regarding measures taken to conduct training to raise awareness on the amendments to article 161 of the Criminal Code had not been addressed, and urged the State party to provide this information.

Another Expert asked what existing mechanisms were in place to receive complaints from victims of hate crimes? Were they user friendly?

A Committee Expert asked whether the education system in the State party allowed for the type of education help to prevent hate crimes and racial intolerance for children? Were there any significant numbers of people of African descent in the State party? Would Ukraine support the Second Decade for People of African Descent?

IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, asked if Ukraine’s desire to align itself with the European Union’s legislation on hate speech was to address hate speech, or to bring its legislation into line with that of the European Union?

An Expert asked if the outcome of today’s dialogue would be brought to the attention of the media?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said if the Committee approved, Ukraine would provide information to the media about the meeting. Regardless of the ethnicity or culture of any citizen, they could contact the police and make a complaint. There were special school curricula on tolerance and education. There should be more education in schools, from the youngest level possible.

There was an African community in Ukraine; it was not very big but its members were consulted on many issues. The African community had never informed the Government about any issues when dealing with the Ukrainian community.

The legal aid system of Ukraine provided several services, including primary and secondary legal aid and access to alternative dispute resolutions. Regular targeted information campaigns were conducted on the right to legal aid, to provide empowerment for vulnerable groups and build trust in the legal aid system in Ukraine. There had been only 91 cases of requests for legal aid during the past three years. There were 500 legal aid centres across Ukraine, as well as an online service.

Six months ago, the Government adopted the list of the languages of the national minorities of Ukraine which were under threat of disappearance, and this included the Roma language. Currently, there was a special working group of experts who were familiar with these languages working on initiatives in this regard.

In a brief comment at the end of the first meeting, MICHAL BALCERZAK, Committee Chair, said the dialogue was public and it was up to Ukraine if it wished to produce information on the discussion.

Questions by Committee Experts

IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, asked if measures were planned to assess and review the law on national minorities (communities) of Ukraine that aimed to eliminate all discriminatory provisions? What measures had been taken to consult and ensure the participation of all ethnic and national minority groups in the process of developing and drafting the law and its amendments?

While noting the measures taken by the State party to protect Crimean Tatars, in particular those who fled Crimea after 2014, the Committee remained concerned about reports that Crimean Tatars in regions under the authority of the State party faced difficulties in accessing employment, social services and education, and did not receive assistance. What mechanisms had been developed to ensure consultations with ethnic minority groups?

Did the State party have information concerning the National Council for Interethnic Harmony? What measures had been taken by the State party to support women belonging to ethnic or national minority groups in exercising their political rights, including participation in public affairs and raising awareness on their rights and the vital impact of their participation? What measures were being taken to mitigate the impact of the ongoing conflict on the participation of women in politics?

According to information received, legislative amendments relating to religious organizations entered into force on 23 September 2024, invoking “national security” as a ground for restricting freedom of religion or belief and freedom of religious association. However, this was not considered a permissible grounds for restriction of freedom of religion under the Convention. What were the measures restricting freedom of religion and belief and their impact on the ethno-religious communities concerned? Information received referred to practices tending to prohibit the activities of religious organizations, specifically the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church. Could information be provided on the necessity and proportionality of such punitive measures?

The situation of migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and stateless persons in Ukraine had been significantly impacted by recent legal and practical developments, particularly since the introduction of martial law in February 2022. The current legal framework and its implementation presented several challenges that were inconsistent with the Convention.

The refugee status determination process in Ukraine did not align with international standards, leading to inconsistent application of legal interpretations and time limits for lodging asylum applications. This often resulted in the rejection of asylum claims. New practices had restricted access to asylum and statelessness determination procedures, especially for individuals with ties to the Russian Federation and Belarus. The State Migration Service often issued oral refusals for asylum applications without official decisions, citing martial law as a reason. This practice had been recognised by courts as illegal, yet it persisted, leaving applicants in legal limbo.

How would Ukraine address the inconsistencies in the asylum procedures to ensure alignment with international standards and the Convention? What legal amendments were introduced under martial law and what was their impact on the rights of refugees and stateless persons? What procedural safeguards were in place to protect individuals from forcible deportation? What steps were being taken to improve access to the asylum and statelessness determination procedures, particularly for individuals with ties to the Russian Federation and Belarus?

How was the Government addressing the challenges posed by the suspension of diplomatic relations with Russia in verifying nationality in statelessness determination procedures? What plans did the Ukrainian Government have to develop an integration strategy for refugees and improve reception conditions for asylum seekers? What steps were being taken to address the unlawful practice of issuing verbal refusals for asylum applications and ensure that applicants received official decisions?

The Government of Ukraine had made significant strides in addressing statelessness since 2020, including the introduction of a statelessness determination procedure. Despite these efforts, several challenges remained, particularly in the implementation of the procedure and the accessibility of necessary documentation for applicants, which was further exacerbated by the conflict.

On 22 January 2024, draft law no. 11469, titled “on amendments to certain laws of Ukraine on ensuring the right to acquire and preserve Ukrainian citizenship” was registered in the Ukrainian Parliament. The draft law, if passed, could result in the loss of Ukrainian citizenship for residents in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, who often had to obtain Russian passports to access basic services, employment, and social benefits. How did the Ukrainian Government plan to address the potential risk of stripping Ukrainian citizenship from residents of occupied territories who acquired Russian citizenship under duress or due to essential needs, such as access to basic services and employment?

MICHAL BALCERZAK, Committee Chair, said Kiev had been under attack the night before and there had been casualties. This was a serious and sad situation. The Committee understood the situation and was very concerned about these tragic events.

Responses by the Delegation

IHOR LOSSOVSKYI, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience, said many members of the delegation had barely slept the night before. Russia had launched missiles from the Black Sea and inside Russia and had bombed Kiev. Up to now, there were 10 citizens who had been killed and 100 wounded, including children. Every day, there were peaceful victims of this tragic and bloody war. The delegation in Ukraine had lost contact with the Committee at the beginning of the session and missed some questions.

Regarding the law on ethnic minorities, several meetings had been organised with national minorities during the development of the law, predominantly online due to the war. In December 2022, Parliament adopted the law. At the request of some national minority organizations, the State used the term “communities” instead of minorities. The law encompassed all groups of ethnic peoples, which was around 130 according to the most recent census.

Ukraine did not have many new asylum seekers as the situation in the country was not sustainable for a peaceful life.

The Ombudsman’s Office was referred to as the Parliamentary Commission of Human Rights. The independence of this Office was guaranteed, ensuring it could function without undue influence from any external entities. This enabled the Office to effectively address human rights and issues of non-discrimination. Its annual report outlined steps taken to combat discrimination. It was a large institution with around 500 employees. There were branches located across 24 regions of Ukraine. In 2024, there were 454 complaints received by the Office. The Office monitored all issues of non-discrimination. All reports of the Office were public and could be found online.

Questions by Committee Experts

IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, expressed sorrow at the recent shocking events which had wracked the Ukrainian capital. What was the impact of martial law on asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons?

CHINSUNG CHUNG, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, asked about the situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons belonging to minority groups, as well as the situation of elderly people belonging to these groups? What was the situation of migrant workers, particularly in this situation of armed conflict?

A Committee Expert asked how far Ukraine had gone in implementing the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on a case versus Ukraine?

Another Committee Expert congratulated the Ukrainian delegation for making a laudable effort to assess the implementation of the Convention in Ukraine, despite prevailing circumstances. Ukraine should be praised for this effort. The Expert was concerned about allegations of racism at the Ukrainian Polish border. Had there been any follow-up on such reports? How many cases had been brought to court?

There had been allegations of racism in sport, including with a Brazilian footballer who was banned for one game after reacting to crowds calling him monkey. How had this case been handled? Ukraine should be congratulated for adopting the law on stateless in 2021. How many individuals had benefitted from the enforcement of that law? How did the State party plan to provide Roma with national documents?

Another Expert said African nationals had been facing discrimination at the borders.

What measures were being taken by the State party to ensure the protection, safety and security of all persons living in its jurisdiction?

Responses by the Delegation

IHOR LOSSOVSKYI, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience, said Ukrainian legislation underscored equal rights for men and women. Half of the ministers of the Government were women. Many women in Ukrainian society occupied high-level positions. Women from Roma communities were among the most vulnerable. The State had organised several events, including roundtables, which assisted Roma women to find their place in society.

Due to the war, Ukraine no longer had many migrant workers. It was hoped that this would change after the war. The country would need many workers for innovation and to help rebuild Ukraine. It was hoped workers from many countries would come to Ukraine after the war and help rebuild the hundreds of cities which had been destroyed or partially destroyed.

Mr. Lossovskyi said he had not heard of cases of discrimination on the border between Ukraine and Poland. The case of discrimination regarding the Brazilian football player was an awful occurrence which was not typical for Ukraine. There had been a police investigation, but he could not recall the exact outcome.

The delegation said the aggression by the Russian federation had led to a huge influx across Ukraine’s borders. The Government took all accounts of discriminatory treatment very seriously. Despite difficult conditions, the Government had managed to keep all checkpoints on the borders open.

Mr. Lossovskyi said in 2022, a pilot project was launched to provide documents to Roma people in a more effective way. This was organised in a region where the majority of Roma people lived. Every year, the State continued this work and made several visits to these places.

The delegation said the draft law 5488 was being considered before parliament. It was hoped the law would be adopted during the current session of Parliament. The draft law provided for the term “intolerance” and addressed issues under this topic. All law enforcement agencies were currently working together to introduce the necessary amendments to the Criminal Code. Police officers had completed specialised human rights training. Outreach activities, including in schools, were carried out to combat negative stereotypes on the Roma population.

Questions by Committee Experts

CHINSUNG CHUNG, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, said the Committee believed in the necessity of investigating and documenting all human rights violations and abuses committed in the context of the ongoing armed conflict and invasion initiated by the Russian Federation against the State party on 24 February 2022. What measures had been taken to ensure prompt and impartial investigations? Could the delegation provide information on investigations and prosecutions into allegations of human rights violations and abuses during the armed conflict with the Russian Federation?

On 11 October 2018, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate granted autocephaly to a new church, the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”. This led to tensions with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Church was formerly linked to the Russian Orthodox Church under the Patriarch in Moscow, but stated that it severed those ties in May 2022, following the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation.

It was reported that on 23 September 2024 in territory controlled by the Government of Ukraine, new legal provisions regarding religious organizations entered into force, prohibiting the activities of foreign religious organizations based in a State responsible for armed aggression against Ukraine or occupation of its territory, and specifically prohibiting the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church. Could detailed explanations be provided on this and on measures to ensure the respect of the rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion?

According to media reports in January 2025, the State party announced the capturing in Russia of two soldiers from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and indicated that they were detained and provided with medical care. Could the delegation provide information on the situation of these two prisoners of war? What were the legal measures taken against them? Were there more prisoners of war captured by the State party from other nationalities, including mercenaries?

The Committee noted that the State party adopted the law on indigenous peoples in 2021. However, according to information before the Committee, the law only recognised Crimean Tatars, Karaims and Krymchaks as indigenous peoples in Ukraine, while excluding other groups, such as Hutsuls, Lemkos and Gagauz peoples. Could the delegation provide clarifications on the law on indigenous peoples and how it aligned with international standards?

Were there plans to assess and review the law? What was the situation of the Hutsuls, Lemkos and Gagauz peoples? What measures were in place to preserve and promote the identity, language and culture of all indigenous people under the jurisdiction of the State party? Could information be provided on the situation of internally displaced Crimean Tatars, and measures to ensure their access to education, housing, employment, healthcare services and humanitarian assistance? Was the State party taking measures in consultation with the Crimean Tatar community to find durable solutions for an appropriate settlement of Crimean Tatars in Ukraine?

The Committee was concerned that during the war, persons belonging to minorities, such as Roma, had difficulties in registering as internally displaced persons and having access to social assistance. According to the representative of the Office of the Ombudsman of Ukraine, around 100,000 Roma became refugees, and around the same number of Ukrainian Roma became internally displaced persons. Were accurate statistics available on the Roma? Did the State party find durable solutions for internally displaced Roma and take measures to ensure that they benefitted from assistance? What were the State’s plans to include Roma people in recovery and reconstruction programmes?

What efforts were being made to restore linkages between displaced children and their families? What efforts were being made to ensure access to education and basic services for displaced children?

Ukraine’s inadequate response to hate crimes against migrants, African and Asian students and other foreigners had previously attracted international criticism. What was the situation of non-citizens, particularly migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and people of African and/or Asian descent during the armed conflict? Could the delegation provide clarification on the situation of detained undocumented migrants and non-citizens? Could the delegation also please provide information on measures to ensure their access to education, housing, employment, healthcare services and humanitarian assistance?

Responses by the Delegation

IHOR LOSSOVSKYI, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience, said Ukraine did not refer to what was going on in Ukraine as conflict. This was a bloody, existential, colonial war with Russia, not simply a conflict. In 2018, the Ukrainian Church received independence from the Patriarchal Eastern Christianity Church based in Istanbul, Türkiye. This was a revolutionary decision, as Ukraine was a big country and did not have an orthodox church. Now there was an independent church of Ukraine, like all other Christian Orthodox countries. No other activities of other churches were forbidden in Ukraine. The only restrictions were for the Russian Orthodox Church, which had restricted activity on the territory of Ukraine. This was because it was an accompaniment of the Russian aggression which had destroyed the country and killed hundreds of thousands of people.

Ukraine provided the international standard for prisoners of war in their prison facilities, which were regularly visited by the Ukrainian Ombudsman. In 2021, Ukraine adopted the law on indigenous peoples and consulted with many minorities on this law. Indigenous peoples were defined as those who lived on the territory of Ukraine and did not have a mother country. The Lemkos people were not considered a national minority group, but rather a cultural group.

In 2021, the Ukrainian Government approved the Roma strategy, and every two years action plans were prepared for its implementation. The Roma community was a young community, one of the youngest among the national minorities in Ukraine. It would be beneficial to use their innovation and abilities in the process of renovating Ukraine when the war was over. The State was working on providing the Roma with more education. There were many grants provided to Roma for studying in universities.

The delegation said in 2021, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the law on indigenous people in Ukraine, which was developed through extensive consultations with indigenous groups and civil society, and represented the aspirations of these groups. In addition, a draft law was developed on the status of the Crimean Tartar people which would be registered in Parliament in the near future.

To ensure prisoners of war were not tortured, relevant legislation and policies had been developed. Three legislative acts had been produced to regulate these affairs.

Questions by Committee Experts

CHINSUNG CHUNG, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, asked if there were representative bodies of minorities inside the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine? How did the State party ensure consultations with all indigenous peoples under the framework of this law?

Another Expert said 10 to 20 per cent of Ukrainian Roma did not have identity documents? Was there a provision for determining statelessness in the act on statelessness? Did the Roma community benefit from universal birth registration?

A Committee Expert asked how many of the ethnic and national minorities participated in the relevant bodies in the Government? How many Roma, indigenous, or migrant women had been hired or granted responsibility positions, or were integrated in the responsibility of the work?

Responses by the Delegation

IHOR LOSSOVSKYI, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience, said when the law on indigenous peoples was adopted, several bylaws were prepared for the implementation of the law. According to one of the bylaws, Crimean Tatars regularly consulted with the Government. Only during the population census could the Government request information about the ethnic groups. Sometimes women with high-ranking positions did not disclose their ethnicity. It was up to people to declare this.

The delegation said due to the Russian full-scale invasion, there were problems preparing full statistical information on ethnic minorities. The legal aid system in Ukraine had provided legal assistance to more than 1,000 Roma people over the past three years. Most of these related to the processing of identity documents. Secondary legal aid had been provided for 27,000 internally displaced people over the past three years, due to the full-scale invasion.

Officially, Ukraine recognised three indigenous groups of peoples, including Crimean Tartars, Karaims and Krymchaks. Crimean Tartars were represented by an executive body; the spiritual administration of Ukraine represented the Karaim people; and there was no official information regarding a body for the Krymchaks, although they had the full rights to establish such a body under law.

Currently, there was no definition of hate speech under Ukrainian law. The Government of Ukraine had prepared a draft roadmap covering this issue. In Ukraine, a working group made up of State authorities and public organizations was working on a definition of hate speech and establishing administrative and criminal liability depending on the severity of the crime.

The public broadcaster of Ukraine continued to create a single information space for minorities. The broadcaster produced programmes for national minorities in their national languages, across broadcast, radio and digital formats. The State bodies would do their best to cover all the information needs of the national minorities in Ukraine.

Closing Remarks

FAITH DIKELEDI PANSY TLAKULA, Committee Expert and Follow-Up Rapporteur, said the Committee would send Ukraine concluding observations after the dialogue, with specific recommendations to be enacted within a period of one year.

IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, thanked the delegation for the dialogue held, particularly given the context. War was ended through negotiation and diplomacy, not capitulation. It was hoped this would happen with Ukraine. The fact that Ukraine was here before the Committee was an example of the State’s willingness to cooperate. Ukraine was also meeting with the Committee against Torture at the same time, which may have weakened Ukraine’s ability to provide comprehensive answers.

IHOR LOSSOVSKYI, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience, thanked the Committee members for their time and interest in the situation in Ukraine. The Committee’s recommendations were very much appreciated.

MICHAL BALCERZAK, Committee Chair, said racial discrimination was about ethnic and national origin. The Committee was concerned when ethnic minorities were denied their identity. This led to wars. It was now the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention, and the first composition of the Committee had included an expert of Ukrainian origin.

___________

Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

CERD25.002E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

MIL-OSI USA: Three Members of an International Money Laundering Organization Charged with Laundering Millions of Dollars in Drug Proceeds

Source: US State of Vermont

A federal grand jury in Florence, South Carolina, returned an indictment on April 22, charging Nasir Ullah, 28, and Naim Ullah, 32, both of Sumter, South Carolina, and Puquan Huang, 49, of Buford, Georgia, with conspiring to launder millions of dollars of proceeds derived from drug trafficking.

“As alleged in the indictment, the defendants laundered tens of millions of dollars in drug proceeds from the United States through China and the Middle East, enabling a continuous flow of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into our country from Mexico,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Dismantling transnational criminal organizations and Chinese Money Laundering Organizations that support them is a critical priority for the Department. Alongside DEA and our local law enforcement partners, we will continue to prosecute the financial networks that fuel illegal drug trade and profit from the sale of deadly substances.”

“We are committed to dismantling criminal organizations that seek to profit through the distribution of dangerous drugs like cocaine and fentanyl across South Carolina and beyond,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “This $30 million money laundering operation, which has international ties, was conducted in multiple communities in our state. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to trace these illicit funds, disrupt these networks, and hold those involved accountable for the harm they present.”

“Cases like this exemplify the value of partnerships,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The volume of dangerous drugs, including deadly fentanyl, impacts our communities beyond comprehension. This investigation and subsequent arrests demonstrate DEA’s commitment to protecting our community by destroying these drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.”

According to court documents, unsealed today, Ullah, Naim Ullah, and Huang allegedly worked for a money laundering organization that laundered at least $30 million in proceeds related to the distribution of illegal drugs, including cocaine and fentanyl, which were unlawfully imported into the United States, typically through Mexico. Ullah, Naim Ullah, Huang, and their co-conspirators allegedly traveled throughout the United States to collect drug proceeds. They communicated with co-conspirators in China to arrange for the laundering of these proceeds through transactions designed to conceal the illegal source of the proceeds, including disguising the source of the drug proceeds by moving money through the shipment of electronic goods to China and the Middle East.

Ullah, Naim Ullah, and Huang are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The DEA’s Charleston, South Carolina Resident Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit; DEA’s Office of Special Intelligence, Document and Media Exploitation Unit; DEA’s offices in Columbia, South Carolina and Atlanta; the FBI’s offices in Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina; the U.S. Air Force, Office of Special Investigations; the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division; the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office; the South Carolina Highway Patrol; the Fort Mill Police Department; the York County Sheriff’s Office; the North Charleston Police Department; the Mount Pleasant Police Department; and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Trial Attorneys Mary K. Daly and Jasmin Salehi Fashami of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett E. McMillian for the District of South Carolina are prosecuting the case.

The Third and Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Offices of South Carolina provided assistance in this case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MIL-OSI: APA Corporation and Partners Lagniappe Alaska and Santos Announce Successful Flow Test in Alaska’s North Slope at Sockeye-2 Exploration Well

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

HOUSTON, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — APA Corporation (Nasdaq: APA) and its partners Lagniappe Alaska, LLC, an Armstrong company, and Oil Search (Alaska), LLC, a subsidiary of Santos Limited, today announced the results of the successful flow testing of the Sockeye-2 exploratory well. Apache holds a 50% working interest, operator Lagniappe and partner Santos each hold 25% working interests in the 325,411-acre exploratory block located on state lands of the eastern North Slope.

As previously announced, the Sockeye-2 well was successfully drilled to a depth of approximately 10,500 feet and encountered a high-quality Paleocene-aged clastic reservoir with an average porosity of 20%. The vertical Sockeye-2 well was completed in a single 25-foot interval at approximately 9,200 feet TVD, without stimulation. The well performed in line with expectations during the 12-day production test, averaging 2,700 barrels of oil per day during the final flow period, without artificial lift. The results of the flow test indicate significantly higher reservoir quality compared to similar topset discoveries to the west. Further appraisal drilling will determine the ultimate size of the discovery, but the flow test demonstrates the exceptional productivity of this shallow-marine reservoir.

“We are excited about the performance from the Sockeye-2 well, which could greatly benefit the state of Alaska and the U.S.,” said Bill Armstrong, CEO of Armstrong Oil & Gas. “This discovery significantly extends the prolific Brookian topset play first established with our Pikka discovery in 2013.  We have identified analogous anomalies to investigate following on this success.”

“The results from the Sockeye-2 flow test are consistent with our expectations, demonstrating high quality reservoir, confirming our geologic and geophysical models and derisking additional prospectivity in the block. We will evaluate the data from the Sockeye-2 well to determine the next steps in our Alaska program,” added John J. Christmann, APA Corporation CEO.

About APA

APA Corporation owns consolidated subsidiaries that explore for and produce oil and natural gas in the United States, Egypt and the United Kingdom and that explore for oil and natural gas offshore Suriname and elsewhere. APA posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and press releases on its website, www.apacorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “believes,” “continues,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “goals,” “guidance,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “possibly,” “potential,” “projects,” “prospects,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar references to future periods, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future plans, expectations, and objectives for operations, including statements about our capital plans, drilling plans, production expectations, asset sales, and monetizations. While forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by us that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, whether actual results and developments will meet our expectations and predictions depend on a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results, performance, and financial condition to differ materially from our expectations. See “Risk Factors” in APA’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risk factors that affect our business. Any forward-looking statement made in this news release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. APA and its subsidiaries undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future development or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Contacts

Investor: (281) 302-2286
Media: (713) 296-7276
Website: www.apacorp.com

APA-G

MIL-OSI: AXIS Completes Previously Announced Transaction With Enstar

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

PEMBROKE, Bermuda, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (“AXIS Capital” or “AXIS” or the “Company”) (NYSE: AXS) and Enstar Group Limited (“Enstar”) (Nasdaq: ESGR) announced today that they have completed a loss portfolio transfer (“LPT”) transaction, covering reinsurance segment reserves predominantly attributable to casualty portfolios related to 2021 and prior underwriting years.

The LPT reinsurance agreement covers reinsurance segment reserves totalling $3.1 billion at September 30, 2024, and is structured as a 75% ground-up quota share, with AXIS retroceding $2.3 billion of reinsurance segment reserves to Enstar.

The LPT reinsurance agreement was provided by Enstar’s wholly owned subsidiary, Cavello Bay Reinsurance Limited, which has S&P and AM Best ‘A’ financial strength ratings.

Completion of the transaction followed receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of various other closing conditions.

About AXIS Capital
AXIS Capital, through its operating subsidiaries, is a global specialty underwriter and provider of insurance and reinsurance solutions. The Company has shareholders’ equity of $6.1 billion at September 30, 2024, and locations in Bermuda, the United States, Europe, Singapore, and Canada. Its operating subsidiaries have been assigned a financial strength rating of “A+” (“Strong”) by Standard & Poor’s and “A” (“Excellent”) by A.M. Best. For more information about AXIS Capital, visit our website at www.axiscapital.com.

About Enstar

Enstar is a NASDAQ-listed global insurance group that offers innovative capital release solutions through its network of group companies in Bermuda, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Lichtenstein and Belgium. A market leader in completing legacy acquisitions, Enstar has acquired more than 120 companies and portfolios since its formation in 2001. For further information about Enstar, see www.enstargroup.com.

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Planning strategy faces revision after inspector review 24 April 2025 Isle of Wight’s planning strategy faces revision after inspector review

Source: Aisle of Wight

Planning inspectors have reviewed the Island Planning Strategy (IPS) and shared their initial views.

In a letter to the Isle of Wight Council, they agreed with planning officers that there was not a strong enough reason to lower annual housing targets by claiming ‘exceptional circumstances.’

However, they did not support the proposal to build 453 new homes per year as outlined in the plan, and, instead, effectively offered two alternative options to address their concerns:

Bring forward a short term (1-5 years) IPS with an annual housing target of 703, identifying additional land or sites.
Withdraw the plan from the examination process and start work on a new local plan using the current standard method of 1,100 dwellings per year.

Full Council will consider the options at an extraordinary meeting next month.

He said: “We understand the urgency and importance of addressing these housing figures.

“The council is committed to finding a solution that meets the needs of our community while adhering to the inspectors’ recommendations.

“We recognise the pressing need to resolve these housing issues. Our goal is to find a viable solution that balances the Island’s housing needs with regulatory requirements, ensuring sustainable development and meeting the growing demand and need for housing on the Isle of Wight.”

The IPS, which aims to guide future development on the Island, has recently undergone extensive review and consultation.

The council submitted the IPS to the government’s independent Planning Inspectorate after a Regulation 19 consultation in August 2024, during which more than 700 comments were reviewed.

Inspectors said most policies in the IPS were acceptable or could be made acceptable with minor adjustments.

They found no reasons to remove any proposed housing or employment sites and identified no procedural or legal compliance issues.

However, the inspectors did not agree with the council’s proposals to implement net zero requirements ahead of them becoming national policy.