Category: Australia

MIL-OSI Australia: School road safety operation results
Source: New South Wales – News

South Australia Police detected multiple speeding, licence and drug offences during a state-wide operation focussed on road safety around school zones.

Operation Return to School was conducted from Monday 28 to Tuesday 29 April around pick up and drop off times. It focussed on the safety of children and pedestrians around schools at the commencement of a school term.

Police detected:
- 37 speeding offences
- 28 other offences including parking and stopping offences
- 13 licence and vehicle registration offences
- Two drug driving offences.
Police also defected four vehicles.

Officer in Charge, Traffic Services Branch Superintendent Shane Johnson said police will not tolerate drivers putting vulnerable school children at risk.

“Drivers are reminded that the speed around school zones is 25 kilometres per hour when children are present and this is for everyone’s safety,” Superintendent Johnson said.

“During school hours there will be increased traffic in these areas and the lower speed limit provides drivers with more time to react and stop if they need to.

“Reduced speed limits apply regardless of whether children are on the road, footpath, median strip or on a bicycle.

“The 25 kilometres per hour speed limit also applies when school crossing lights are flashing and when passing a school bus that has stopped to pick up or drop off children.

“Speeding drivers are reminded that they not only risk a fine but could cause a serious injury or death.”

An incident of note involved a 40-year-old woman of Taperoo who tested positive for drug driving within the vicinity of a school zone.

Drivers can revise speed limits on the My Licence SA website here.

MIL OSI News –
May 2, 2025

MIL-OSI: Shell Plc 1st Quarter 2025 Unaudited Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS



SUMMARY OF UNAUDITED RESULTS
Quarters				$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024	%¹		Reference
4,780	928	7,358	+415	Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders
5,577	3,661	7,734	+52	Adjusted Earnings	A
15,250	14,281	18,711	+7	Adjusted EBITDA	A
9,281	13,162	13,330	-29	Cash flow from operating activities
(3,959)	(4,431)	(3,528)		Cash flow from investing activities
5,322	8,731	9,802		Free cash flow	G
4,175	6,924	4,493		Cash capital expenditure	C
8,575	9,401	8,997	-9	Operating expenses	F
8,453	9,138	9,054	-7	Underlying operating expenses	F
10.4%	11.3%	12.0%		ROACE	D
76,511	77,078	79,931		Total debt	E
41,521	38,809	40,513		Net debt	E
18.7%	17.7%	17.7%		Gearing	E
2,838	2,815	2,911	+1	Oil and gas production available for sale (thousand boe/d)
0.79	0.15	1.14	+427	Basic earnings per share ($)
0.92	0.60	1.20	+53	Adjusted Earnings per share ($)	B
0.3580	0.3580	0.3440	—	Dividend per share ($)

1.Q1 on Q4 change

Quarter Analysis1

Income attributable to Shell plc shareholders, compared with the fourth quarter 2024, reflected lower exploration well write-offs, lower operating expenses and higher Products margins.

First quarter 2025 income attributable to Shell plc shareholders also included a charge of $0.5 billion related to the UK Energy Profits Levy and impairment charges. These items are included in identified items amounting to a net loss of $0.8 billion in the quarter. This compares with identified items in the fourth quarter 2024 which amounted to a net loss of $2.8 billion.

Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as income attributable to Shell plc shareholders and adjusted for the above identified items.

Cash flow from operating activities for the first quarter 2025 was $9.3 billion and primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, partly offset by tax payments of $2.9 billion and working capital outflows of $2.7 billion. The working capital outflows mainly reflected accounts receivable and payable movements.

Cash flow from investing activities for the first quarter 2025 was an outflow of $4.0 billion, and included cash capital expenditure of $4.2 billion, and net other investing cash outflows of $0.9 billion which included the drawdowns on loan facilities provided at completion of the sale of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) in Nigeria, partly offset by divestment proceeds of $0.6 billion.

Net debt and Gearing: At the end of the first quarter 2025, net debt was $41.5 billion, compared with $38.8 billion at the end of the fourth quarter 2024. This reflects free cash flow of $5.3 billion, which included working capital outflows of $2.7 billion, more than offset by share buybacks of $3.3 billion, cash dividends paid to Shell plc shareholders of $2.2 billion, lease additions of $1.3 billion including those related to the Pavilion Energy Pte. Ltd. acquisition and interest payments of $0.8 billion. Gearing was 18.7% at the end of the first quarter 2025, compared with 17.7% at the end of the fourth quarter 2024, mainly driven by higher net debt.

SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

Shareholder distributions

Total shareholder distributions in the quarter amounted to $5.5 billion comprising repurchases of shares of $3.3 billion and cash dividends paid to Shell plc shareholders of $2.2 billion. Dividends declared to Shell plc shareholders for the first quarter 2025 amount to $0.3580 per share. Shell has now completed $3.5 billion of share buybacks announced in the fourth quarter 2024 results announcement. Today, Shell announces a share buyback programme of $3.5 billion which is expected to be completed by the second quarter 2025 results announcement.

This Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report, together with supplementary financial and operational disclosure for this quarter, is available at www.shell.com/investors 3.

1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

2.Adjusted EBITDA is without interest, taxation, exploration well write-offs and depreciation, depletion and amortisation (DD&A) expenses.

3.Not incorporated by reference.

PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENTS

Integrated Gas

In March 2025, we completed the previously announced acquisition of 100% of the shares in Pavilion Energy Pte. Ltd. (Pavilion Energy). Pavilion Energy, headquartered in Singapore, operates a global LNG trading business with contracted supply volume of approximately 6.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).

Upstream

In January 2025, we announced the start of production at the Shell-operated Whale floating production facility in the Gulf of America. The Whale development is owned by Shell (60%, operator) and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (40%).

In February 2025, we announced production restart at the Penguins field in the UK North Sea with a modern floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility (Shell 50%, operator; NEO Energy 50%). The previous export route for this field was via the Brent Charlie platform, which ceased production in 2021 and is being decommissioned.

In February 2025, we signed an agreement to acquire a 15.96% working interest from ConocoPhillips Company in the Shell-operated Ursa platform in the Gulf of America. The transaction completed on May 1, 2025 which increases Shell’s working interest in the Ursa platform from 45.3884% to 61.3484%.

In March 2025, we completed the sale of SPDC to Renaissance, as announced in January 2024.

In March 2025, we announced the Final Investment Decision (FID) for Gato do Mato, a deep-water project in the pre-salt area of the Santos Basin, offshore Brazil. The Gato do Mato Consortium includes Shell (operator, 50%), Ecopetrol (30%), TotalEnergies (20%) and Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. (PPSA) acting as the manager of the production sharing contract (PSC).

Chemicals and Products

In January 2025, CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals Company Limited (CSPC), a 50:50 joint venture between Shell and CNOOC Petrochemicals Investment Ltd, took an FID to expand its petrochemical complex in Daya Bay, Huizhou, south China.

In April 2025, we completed the previously announced sale of our Energy and Chemicals Park in Singapore to CAPGC Pte. Ltd. (CAPGC), a joint venture between Chandra Asri Capital Pte. Ltd. and Glencore Asian Holdings Pte. Ltd.

In April 2025, we agreed to sell our 16.125% interest in Colonial Enterprises, Inc. (“Colonial”) to Colossus AcquireCo LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. and its institutional partners (collectively, “Brookfield”), for $1.45 billion. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Renewables and Energy Solutions

In January 2025, we completed the previously announced acquisition of a 100% equity stake in RISEC Holdings, LLC, which owns a 609-megawatt (MW) two-unit combined-cycle gas turbine power plant in Rhode Island, USA.

Page 2

SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

PERFORMANCE BY SEGMENT



INTEGRATED GAS
Quarters				$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024	%¹		Reference
2,789	1,744	2,761	+60	Income/(loss) for the period
306	(421)	(919)		Of which: Identified items	A
2,483	2,165	3,680	+15	Adjusted Earnings	A
4,735	4,568	6,136	+4	Adjusted EBITDA	A
3,463	4,391	4,712	-21	Cash flow from operating activities	A
1,116	1,337	1,041		Cash capital expenditure	C
126	116	137	+9	Liquids production available for sale (thousand b/d)
4,644	4,574	4,954	+2	Natural gas production available for sale (million scf/d)
927	905	992	+2	Total production available for sale (thousand boe/d)
6.60	7.06	7.58	-6	LNG liquefaction volumes (million tonnes)
16.49	15.50	16.87	+6	LNG sales volumes (million tonnes)

1.Q1 on Q4 change

Integrated Gas includes liquefied natural gas (LNG), conversion of natural gas into gas-to-liquids (GTL) fuels and other products. It includes natural gas and liquids exploration and extraction, and the operation of the upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver these to market. Integrated Gas also includes the marketing, trading and optimisation of LNG.

Quarter Analysis1

Income/(loss) for the period was driven by the same factors as Adjusted Earnings and includes identified items.

Adjusted Earnings, compared with the fourth quarter 2024, reflected lower exploration well write-offs ($277 million), partly offset by lower LNG liquefaction volumes (decrease of $68 million). The net effect of contributions from trading and optimisation and realised prices was in line with the fourth quarter 2024 despite higher unfavourable (non-cash) impact of expiring hedging contracts.

Identified items in the first quarter 2025 included favourable movements of $362 million due to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives, that as part of Shell’s normal business are entered into as hedges for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory. These favourable movements compare with the fourth quarter 2024 which included impairment charges of $339 million and a loss of $96 million related to sale of assets, partly offset by favourable movements of $109 million due to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives.

Adjusted EBITDA2 was driven by the same factors as Adjusted Earnings.

Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, and net cash inflows related to derivatives of $542 million, partly offset by tax payments of $773 million and working capital outflows of $687 million.

Total oil and gas production, compared with the fourth quarter 2024, increased by 2% mainly due to lower planned maintenance in Pearl GTL (Qatar), partly offset by unplanned maintenance and weather constraints in Australia. LNG liquefaction volumes decreased by 6% mainly due to unplanned maintenance and weather constraints in Australia.

1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

2.Adjusted EBITDA is without interest, taxation, exploration well write-offs and DD&A expenses.

Page 3

SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS



UPSTREAM
Quarters				$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024	%¹		Reference
2,080	1,031	2,272	+102	Income/(loss) for the period
(257)	(651)	339		Of which: Identified items	A
2,337	1,682	1,933	+39	Adjusted Earnings	A
7,387	7,676	7,888	-4	Adjusted EBITDA	A
3,945	4,509	5,727	-13	Cash flow from operating activities	A
1,923	2,076	2,010		Cash capital expenditure	C
1,335	1,332	1,331	—	Liquids production available for sale (thousand b/d)
3,020	3,056	3,136	-1	Natural gas production available for sale (million scf/d)
1,855	1,859	1,872	—	Total production available for sale (thousand boe/d)

1.Q1 on Q4 change

The Upstream segment includes exploration and extraction of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. It also markets and transports oil and gas, and operates the infrastructure necessary to deliver them to the market.

Quarter Analysis1

Income/(loss) for the period was driven by the same factors as Adjusted Earnings and includes identified items.

Adjusted Earnings, compared with the fourth quarter 2024, reflected lower exploration well write-offs ($346 million), lower depreciation, depletion and amortisation expenses (decrease of $330 million), lower operating expenses ($194 million) and comparative favourable tax movements ($179 million), partly offset by lower volumes (decrease of $359 million).

Identified items in the first quarter 2025 included a charge of $509 million related to the UK Energy Profits Levy, partly offset by gains of $159 million from disposal of assets and gains of $95 million related to the impact of the strengthening Brazilian real on a deferred tax position. These charges and favourable movements compare with the fourth quarter 2024 which included a loss of $161 million related to the impact of the weakening Brazilian real on a deferred tax position, and impairment charges of $152 million.

Adjusted EBITDA2 was driven by the same factors as Adjusted Earnings.

Cash flow from operating activities for the first quarter 2025 was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, partly offset by tax payments of $1,999 million and working capital outflows of $913 million.

Total production, compared with the fourth quarter 2024, decreased mainly due to the SPDC divestment, largely offset by new oil production.

1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

2.Adjusted EBITDA is without interest, taxation, exploration well write-offs and DD&A expenses.

Page 4

SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS



MARKETING
Quarters				$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024	%¹		Reference
814	103	896	+688	Income/(loss) for the period
(49)	(736)	(7)		Of which: Identified items	A
900	839	781	+7	Adjusted Earnings	A
1,869	1,709	1,686	+9	Adjusted EBITDA	A
1,907	1,363	1,319	+40	Cash flow from operating activities	A
256	811	465		Cash capital expenditure	C
2,674	2,795	2,763	-4	Marketing sales volumes (thousand b/d)

1.Q1 on Q4 change

The Marketing segment comprises the Mobility, Lubricants, and Sectors and Decarbonisation businesses. The Mobility business operates Shell’s retail network including electric vehicle charging services and the Wholesale commercial fuels business which provides fuels for transport, industry and heating. The Lubricants business produces, markets and sells lubricants for road transport, and machinery used in manufacturing, mining, power generation, agriculture and construction. The Sectors and Decarbonisation business sells fuels, speciality products and services including low-carbon energy solutions to a broad range of commercial customers including the aviation, marine, and agricultural sectors.

Quarter Analysis1

Income/(loss) for the period was driven by the same factors as Adjusted Earnings and includes identified items.

Adjusted Earnings, compared with the fourth quarter 2024, reflected lower operating expenses (decrease of $69 million), and higher Marketing margins (increase of $54 million) mainly due to higher Lubricants unit margins and seasonal impact of higher volumes partly offset by lower Mobility margins due to seasonal impact of lower volumes and lower Sectors and Decarbonisation margins. These net gains were partly offset by unfavourable tax movements ($109 million).

Identified items in the first quarter 2025 included net losses of $61 million related to sale of assets. These losses compare with the fourth quarter 2024 which included impairment charges of $458 million, and net losses of $247 million related to sale of assets.

Adjusted EBITDA2 was driven by the same factors as Adjusted Earnings.

Cash flow from operating activities for the first quarter 2025 was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, inflows relating to the timing impact of payments related to emission certificates and biofuel programmes of $540 million, and dividends (net of profits) from joint ventures and associates of $203 million. These inflows were partly offset by working capital outflows of $344 million and tax payments of $174 million.

Marketing sales volumes (comprising hydrocarbon sales), compared with the fourth quarter 2024, decreased mainly due to seasonality.

1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

2.Adjusted EBITDA is without interest, taxation, exploration well write-offs and DD&A expenses.

Page 5

SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS



CHEMICALS AND PRODUCTS
Quarters				$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024	%¹		Reference
(77)	(276)	1,311	+72	Income/(loss) for the period
(581)	(99)	(458)		Of which: Identified items	A
449	(229)	1,615	+296	Adjusted Earnings	A
1,410	475	2,826	+197	Adjusted EBITDA	A
130	2,032	(349)	-94	Cash flow from operating activities	A
458	1,392	500		Cash capital expenditure	C
1,362	1,215	1,430	+12	Refinery processing intake (thousand b/d)
2,813	2,926	2,883	-4	Chemicals sales volumes (thousand tonnes)

1.Q1 on Q4 change

The Chemicals and Products segment includes chemicals manufacturing plants with their own marketing network, and refineries which turn crude oil and other feedstocks into a range of oil products which are moved and marketed around the world for domestic, industrial and transport use. The segment also includes the pipeline business, trading and optimisation of crude oil, oil products and petrochemicals, and Oil Sands activities (the extraction of bitumen from mined oil sands and its conversion into synthetic crude oil).

Quarter Analysis1

Income/(loss) for the period was driven by the same factors as Adjusted Earnings and includes identified items.

Adjusted Earnings, compared with the fourth quarter 2024, reflected higher Products margins (increase of $546 million) mainly driven by higher margins from trading and optimisation and higher refining margins. Adjusted Earnings also reflected higher Chemicals margins (increase of $115 million). In addition, the first quarter 2025 reflected lower operating expenses (decrease of $134 million). These net gains were partly offset by comparative unfavourable tax movements ($96 million).

In the first quarter 2025, Chemicals had negative Adjusted Earnings of $137 million and Products had positive Adjusted Earnings of $586 million.

Identified items in the first quarter 2025 included impairment charges of $277 million, and unfavourable movements of $202 million due to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives, that as part of Shell’s normal business are entered into as hedges for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory. These charges and unfavourable movements compare with the fourth quarter 2024 which included impairment charges of $224 million, partly offset by favourable deferred tax movements of $114 million..

Adjusted EBITDA2 was driven by the same factors as Adjusted Earnings.

Cash flow from operating activities for the first quarter 2025 was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, and inflows relating to the timing impact of payments relating to emission certificates and biofuel programmes of $125 million. These inflows were partly offset by working capital outflows of $1,081 million, and net cash outflows relating to commodity derivatives of $508 million.

Chemicals manufacturing plant utilisation was 81% compared with 75% in the fourth quarter 2024, mainly due to lower planned and unplanned maintenance.

Refinery utilisation was 85% compared with 76% in the fourth quarter 2024, mainly due to lower planned maintenance.

1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

2.Adjusted EBITDA is without interest, taxation, exploration well write-offs and DD&A expenses.

Page 6

SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS



RENEWABLES AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Quarters				$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024	%¹		Reference
(247)	(1,226)	553	+80	Income/(loss) for the period
(205)	(914)	390		Of which: Identified items	A
(42)	(311)	163	+87	Adjusted Earnings	A
111	(123)	267	+190	Adjusted EBITDA	A
367	850	2,466	-57	Cash flow from operating activities	A
403	1,277	438		Cash capital expenditure	C
76	76	77	+1	External power sales (terawatt hours)2
184	165	190	+12	Sales of pipeline gas to end-use customers (terawatt hours)3

1.Q1 on Q4 change

2.Physical power sales to third parties; excluding financial trades and physical trade with brokers, investors, financial institutions, trading platforms, and wholesale traders.

3.Physical natural gas sales to third parties; excluding financial trades and physical trade with brokers, investors, financial institutions, trading platforms, and wholesale traders. Excluding sales of natural gas by other segments and LNG sales.

Renewables and Energy Solutions includes activities such as renewable power generation, the marketing and trading and optimisation of power and pipeline gas, as well as carbon credits, and digitally enabled customer solutions. It also includes the production and marketing of hydrogen, development of commercial carbon capture and storage hubs, investment in nature-based projects that avoid or reduce carbon emissions, and Shell Ventures, which invests in companies that work to accelerate the energy and mobility transformation.

Quarter Analysis1

Income/(loss) for the period was driven by the same factors as Adjusted Earnings and includes identified items.

Adjusted Earnings, compared with the fourth quarter 2024, reflected higher margins (increase of $99 million) mainly due to higher trading and optimisation in the Americas as a result of higher seasonal demand and volatility, lower operating expenses (decrease of $90 million) and comparative favourable tax movements ($89 million). Most Renewables and Energy Solutions activities were loss-making in the first quarter 2025, which was partly offset by positive Adjusted Earnings from trading and optimisation.

Identified items in the first quarter 2025 included a charge of $143 million related to the disposal of assets. These charges compare with the fourth quarter 2024 which included impairment charges of $996 million mainly relating to renewable generation assets in North America, partly offset by favourable movements of $50 million due to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives, that as part of Shell’s normal business are entered into as hedges for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

Adjusted EBITDA2 was driven by the same factors as Adjusted Earnings.

Cash flow from operating activities for the first quarter 2025 was primarily driven by net cash inflows relating to working capital of $380 million and Adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by outflows related to derivatives of $169 million.

1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

2.Adjusted EBITDA is without interest, taxation, exploration well write-offs and DD&A expenses.

Additional Growth Measures


Quarters
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024	%¹
				Renewable power generation capacity (gigawatt):
3.5	3.4	3.2	+4	– In operation2
4.0	4.0	3.5	-1	– Under construction and/or committed for sale3

1.Q1 on Q4 change

2.Shell’s equity share of renewable generation capacity post commercial operation date. It excludes Shell’s equity share of associates where information cannot be obtained.

3.Shell’s equity share of renewable generation capacity under construction and/or committed for sale under long-term offtake agreements (PPA). It excludes Shell’s equity share of associates where information cannot be obtained.

Page 7

SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS



CORPORATE
Quarters			$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024		Reference
(483)	(335)	(354)	Income/(loss) for the period
(26)	45	14	Of which: Identified items	A
(457)	(380)	(368)	Adjusted Earnings	A
(261)	(24)	(92)	Adjusted EBITDA	A
(531)	16	(545)	Cash flow from operating activities	A

The Corporate segment covers the non-operating activities supporting Shell. It comprises Shell’s holdings and treasury organisation, headquarters and central functions, self-insurance activities and centrally managed longer-term innovation portfolio. All finance expense, income and related taxes are included in Corporate Adjusted Earnings rather than in the earnings of business segments.

Quarter Analysis1

Income/(loss) for the period was driven by the same factors as Adjusted Earnings and includes identified items.

Adjusted Earnings, compared with the fourth quarter 2024, reflected unfavourable currency exchange rate effects, partly offset by lower operating expenses.

Adjusted EBITDA2 was driven by the same factors as Adjusted Earnings.

1.All earnings amounts are shown post-tax, unless stated otherwise.

2.Adjusted EBITDA is without interest, taxation, exploration well write-offs and DD&A expenses.

Page 8

SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

OUTLOOK FOR THE SECOND QUARTER 2025

Full year 2024 cash capital expenditure was $21 billion. Our cash capital expenditure range for the full year 2025 is expected to be within $20 – $22 billion.

Integrated Gas production is expected to be approximately 890 – 950 thousand boe/d. LNG liquefaction volumes are expected to be approximately 6.3 – 6.9 million tonnes. Second quarter 2025 outlook reflects scheduled maintenance across the portfolio.

Upstream production is expected to be approximately 1,560 – 1,760 thousand boe/d. Production outlook reflects the SPDC divestment in March 2025 and the scheduled maintenance across the portfolio.

Marketing sales volumes are expected to be approximately 2,600 – 3,100 thousand b/d.

Refinery utilisation is expected to be approximately 87% – 95%. Chemicals manufacturing plant utilisation is expected to be approximately 74% – 82%. Second quarter 2025 utilisation outlook reflects the sale of the Energy and Chemicals Park in Singapore which was completed in April 2025.

Corporate Adjusted Earnings1 were a net expense of $457 million for the first quarter 2025. Corporate Adjusted Earnings are expected to be a net expense of approximately $400 – $600 million in the second quarter 2025.

1.For the definition of Adjusted Earnings and the most comparable GAAP measure see reference A.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS



Date			Event
May 20, 2025			Annual General Meeting
July 31, 2025			Second quarter 2025 results and dividends
October 30, 2025			Third quarter 2025 results and dividends

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SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Quarters			$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
69,234	66,281	72,478	Revenue1
615	(156)	1,318	Share of profit/(loss) of joint ventures and associates
302	683	907	Interest and other income/(expenses)2
70,152	66,807	74,703	Total revenue and other income/(expenses)
45,849	43,610	46,867	Purchases
5,549	5,839	5,810	Production and manufacturing expenses
2,840	3,231	2,975	Selling, distribution and administrative expenses
185	331	212	Research and development
210	861	750	Exploration
5,441	7,520	5,881	Depreciation, depletion and amortisation2
1,120	1,213	1,164	Interest expense
61,194	62,605	63,659	Total expenditure
8,959	4,205	11,044	Income/(loss) before taxation
4,083	3,164	3,604	Taxation charge/(credit)2
4,875	1,041	7,439	Income/(loss) for the period
95	113	82	Income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest
4,780	928	7,358	Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders
0.79	0.15	1.14	Basic earnings per share ($)3
0.79	0.15	1.13	Diluted earnings per share ($)3

1.See Note 2 “Segment information”.

2.See Note 7 “Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements”.

3.See Note 3 “Earnings per share”.



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Quarters			$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
4,875	1,041	7,439	Income/(loss) for the period
			Other comprehensive income/(loss) net of tax:
			Items that may be reclassified to income in later periods:
1,711	(4,899)	(1,995)	– Currency translation differences1
6	(11)	(6)	– Debt instruments remeasurements
(25)	224	53	– Cash flow hedging gains/(losses)
(42)	(50)	(14)	– Deferred cost of hedging
74	(91)	(12)	– Share of other comprehensive income/(loss) of joint ventures and associates
1,723	(4,827)	(1,974)	Total
			Items that are not reclassified to income in later periods:
306	239	439	– Retirement benefits remeasurements
(16)	(50)	78	– Equity instruments remeasurements
(36)	46	10	– Share of other comprehensive income/(loss) of joint ventures and associates
254	235	528	Total
1,977	(4,592)	(1,445)	Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the period
6,852	(3,552)	5,994	Comprehensive income/(loss) for the period
105	50	56	Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest
6,748	(3,602)	5,937	Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders

1.See Note 7 “Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements”.

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SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
$ million
	March 31, 2025	December 31, 2024
Assets
Non-current assets
Goodwill	16,072	16,032
Other intangible assets1	11,365	9,480
Property, plant and equipment	183,712	185,219
Joint ventures and associates	24,236	23,445
Investments in securities	2,284	2,255
Deferred tax	6,989	6,857
Retirement benefits	10,266	10,003
Trade and other receivables	7,269	6,018
Derivative financial instruments²	400	374
	262,593	259,683
Current assets
Inventories	22,984	23,426
Trade and other receivables	48,247	45,860
Derivative financial instruments²	8,941	9,673
Cash and cash equivalents	35,601	39,110
	115,773	118,069
Assets classified as held for sale1	10,881	9,857
	126,654	127,926
Total assets	389,248	387,609
Liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Debt	65,120	65,448
Trade and other payables	5,487	3,290
Derivative financial instruments²	1,565	2,185
Deferred tax	13,257	13,505
Retirement benefits	6,756	6,752
Decommissioning and other provisions	20,313	21,227
	112,498	112,407
Current liabilities
Debt	11,391	11,630
Trade and other payables	60,870	60,693
Derivative financial instruments²	6,371	7,391
Income taxes payable	4,343	4,648
Decommissioning and other provisions	5,104	4,469
	88,079	88,831
Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale1	8,001	6,203
	96,080	95,034
Total liabilities	208,578	207,441
Equity attributable to Shell plc shareholders	178,813	178,307
Non-controlling interest	1,856	1,861
Total equity	180,670	180,168
Total liabilities and equity	389,248	387,609

1. See Note 7 “Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements”.

2. See Note 6 “Derivative financial instruments and debt excluding lease liabilities”.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
	Equity attributable to Shell plc shareholders
$ million	Share capital1	Shares held in trust	Other reserves²	Retained earnings	Total	Non-controlling interest	Total equity
At January 1, 2025	510	(803)	19,766	158,834	178,307	1,861	180,168
Comprehensive income/(loss) for the period	—	—	1,967	4,780	6,748	105	6,852
Transfer from other comprehensive income	—	—	11	(11)	—	—	—
Dividends³	—	—	—	(2,179)	(2,179)	(86)	(2,265)
Repurchases of shares4	(8)	—	8	(3,513)	(3,513)	—	(3,513)
Share-based compensation	—	500	(663)	(405)	(567)	—	(567)
Other changes	—	—	—	23	22	(24)	(2)
At March 31, 2025	502	(304)	21,090	157,527	178,813	1,856	180,670
At January 1, 2024	544	(997)	21,145	165,915	186,607	1,755	188,362
Comprehensive income/(loss) for the period	—	—	(1,420)	7,358	5,937	56	5,994
Transfer from other comprehensive income	—	—	138	(138)	—	—	—
Dividends3	—	—	—	(2,210)	(2,210)	(68)	(2,278)
Repurchases of shares4	(7)	—	7	(3,502)	(3,502)	—	(3,502)
Share-based compensation	—	543	(426)	(392)	(275)	—	(275)
Other changes	—	—	—	8	8	(4)	4
At March 31, 2024	537	(455)	19,445	167,038	186,565	1,739	188,304

1. See Note 4 “Share capital”.

2. See Note 5 “Other reserves”.

3. The amount charged to retained earnings is based on prevailing exchange rates on payment date.

4. Includes shares committed to repurchase under an irrevocable contract and repurchases subject to settlement at the end of the quarter.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Quarters			$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
8,959	4,205	11,044	Income before taxation for the period
			Adjustment for:
636	665	576	– Interest expense (net)
5,441	7,520	5,881	– Depreciation, depletion and amortisation1
28	649	554	– Exploration well write-offs
127	288	(10)	– Net (gains)/losses on sale and revaluation of non-current assets and businesses
(615)	156	(1,318)	– Share of (profit)/loss of joint ventures and associates
523	1,241	738	– Dividends received from joint ventures and associates
854	131	(608)	– (Increase)/decrease in inventories
(2,610)	751	(195)	– (Increase)/decrease in current receivables
(907)	1,524	(1,949)	– Increase/(decrease) in current payables
(244)	111	1,386	– Derivative financial instruments
(100)	(58)	(61)	– Retirement benefits
(480)	(256)	(600)	– Decommissioning and other provisions
570	(856)	509	– Other1
(2,900)	(2,910)	(2,616)	Tax paid
9,281	13,162	13,330	Cash flow from operating activities
(3,748)	(6,486)	(3,980)	Capital expenditure
(413)	(421)	(500)	Investments in joint ventures and associates
(15)	(17)	(13)	Investments in equity securities
(4,175)	(6,924)	(4,493)	Cash capital expenditure
559	493	323	Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and businesses
33	305	133	Proceeds from joint ventures and associates from sale, capital reduction and repayment of long-term loans
5	6	569	Proceeds from sale of equity securities
508	581	577	Interest received
506	1,762	857	Other investing cash inflows
(1,394)	(655)	(1,494)	Other investing cash outflows1
(3,959)	(4,431)	(3,528)	Cash flow from investing activities
80	65	(107)	Net increase/(decrease) in debt with maturity period within three months
			Other debt:
139	(13)	167	– New borrowings
(2,514)	(2,664)	(1,532)	– Repayments
(846)	(1,379)	(911)	Interest paid
326	(833)	(297)	Derivative financial instruments
(25)	(10)	(4)	Change in non-controlling interest
			Cash dividends paid to:
(2,179)	(2,114)	(2,210)	– Shell plc shareholders
(86)	(53)	(68)	– Non-controlling interest
(3,311)	(3,579)	(2,824)	Repurchases of shares
(768)	(309)	(462)	Shares held in trust: net sales/(purchases) and dividends received
(9,183)	(10,889)	(8,248)	Cash flow from financing activities
353	(985)	(379)	Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(3,509)	(3,142)	1,175	Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
39,110	42,252	38,774	Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
35,601	39,110	39,949	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

1.See Note 7 “Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements”.

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of preparation

These unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements of Shell plc (“the Company”) and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “Shell”) have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and adopted by the UK, and on the basis of the same accounting principles as those used in the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts (pages 240 to 312) for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales and as filed with the Autoriteit Financiële Markten (the Netherlands) and Form 20-F (pages 223 to 296) for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and should be read in conjunction with these filings.

The financial information presented in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434(3) of the Companies Act 2006 (“the Act”). Statutory accounts for the year ended December 31, 2024, were published in Shell’s Annual Report and Accounts, a copy of which was delivered to the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales. The auditor’s report on those accounts was unqualified, did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying the report and did not contain a statement under sections 498(2) or 498(3) of the Act.

Key accounting considerations, significant judgements and estimates

Future commodity price assumptions and management’s view on the future development of refining and chemicals margins represent a significant estimate and were subject to change in 2024. These assumptions continue to apply for impairment testing purposes in the first quarter 2025. As per the normal process outlined in the 2024 Annual Report and Accounts and Form 20-F, these assumptions are subject to review later this year.

The discount rates applied for impairment testing and the discount rate applied to provisions are reviewed on a regular basis. Both discount rates applied in the first quarter 2025 remain unchanged compared with 2024.

2. Segment information

With effect from January 1, 2025, segment earnings are presented on an Adjusted Earnings basis (Adjusted Earnings), which is the earnings measure used by the Chief Executive Officer, who serves as the Chief Operating Decision Maker, for the purposes of making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance. This aligns with Shell’s focus on performance, discipline and simplification.

The Adjusted Earnings measure is presented on a current cost of supplies (CCS) basis and aims to facilitate a comparative understanding of Shell’s financial performance from period to period by removing the effects of oil price changes on inventory carrying amounts and removing the effects of identified items. Identified items are in some cases driven by external factors and may, either individually or collectively, hinder the comparative understanding of Shell’s financial results from period to period.

The segment earnings measure used until December 31, 2024 was CCS earnings. The difference between CCS earnings and Adjusted Earnings are the identified items. Comparative periods are presented below on an Adjusted Earnings basis.

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REVENUE AND ADJUSTED EARNINGS BY SEGMENT
Quarters			$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
			Third-party revenue
9,602	9,294	9,195	Integrated Gas
1,510	1,652	1,759	Upstream
27,083	27,524	30,041	Marketing
21,610	19,992	23,735	Chemicals and Products
9,417	7,808	7,737	Renewables and Energy Solutions
12	10	11	Corporate
69,234	66,281	72,478	Total third-party revenue1
			Inter-segment revenue
2,675	2,024	2,404	Integrated Gas
9,854	9,931	10,287	Upstream
1,849	984	1,355	Marketing
8,255	8,656	10,312	Chemicals and Products
1,164	1,879	1,005	Renewables and Energy Solutions
—	—	—	Corporate
			Adjusted Earnings
2,483	2,165	3,680	Integrated Gas
2,337	1,682	1,933	Upstream
900	839	781	Marketing
449	(229)	1,615	Chemicals and Products
(42)	(311)	163	Renewables and Energy Solutions
(457)	(380)	(368)	Corporate
5,670	3,766	7,804	Total Adjusted Earnings2
5,577	3,661	7,734	Adjusted Earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders
94	106	70	Adjusted Earnings attributable to non-controlling interest

1.Includes revenue from sources other than from contracts with customers, which mainly comprises the impact of fair value accounting of commodity derivatives.

2.See Reconciliation of income for the period to Adjusted Earnings below.

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Cash capital expenditure is a measure used by the Chief Executive Officer for the purposes of making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance.



CASH CAPITAL EXPENDITURE BY SEGMENT
Quarters			$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
			Capital expenditure
943	1,123	858	Integrated Gas
1,727	2,205	1,766	Upstream
252	798	427	Marketing
451	1,121	474	Chemicals and Products
358	1,214	421	Renewables and Energy Solutions
17	25	34	Corporate
3,748	6,486	3,980	Total capital expenditure
			Add: Investments in joint ventures and associates
174	214	184	Integrated Gas
197	(117)	244	Upstream
4	13	38	Marketing
7	271	26	Chemicals and Products
30	36	8	Renewables and Energy Solutions
1	4	—	Corporate
413	421	500	Total investments in joint ventures and associates
			Add: Investments in equity securities
—	—	—	Integrated Gas
—	(11)	—	Upstream
—	—	—	Marketing
—	—	—	Chemicals and Products
14	28	10	Renewables and Energy Solutions
—	—	3	Corporate
15	17	13	Total investments in equity securities
			Cash capital expenditure
1,116	1,337	1,041	Integrated Gas
1,923	2,076	2,010	Upstream
256	811	465	Marketing
458	1,392	500	Chemicals and Products
403	1,277	438	Renewables and Energy Solutions
19	30	37	Corporate
4,175	6,924	4,493	Total Cash capital expenditure

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RECONCILIATION OF INCOME FOR THE PERIOD TO ADJUSTED EARNINGS
Quarters			$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
4,780	928	7,358	Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders
95	113	82	Income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest
4,875	1,041	7,439	Income/(loss) for the period
(15)	(75)	(360)	Add: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation
(2)	23	84	Add: Tax on current cost of supplies adjustment
(510)	(3,008)	(1,244)	Less: Identified items adjustment before taxation
301	(230)	(604)	Add: Tax on identified items adjustment
5,670	3,766	7,804	Adjusted Earnings
5,577	3,661	7,734	Adjusted Earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders
94	106	70	Adjusted Earnings attributable to non-controlling interest

Identified items

The objective of identified items is to remove material impacts on net income/loss arising from transactions which are generally uncontrollable and unusual (infrequent or non-recurring) in nature or giving rise to a mismatch between accounting and economic results, or certain transactions that are generally excluded from underlying results in the industry.

Identified items comprise: divestment gains and losses, impairments and impairment reversals, redundancy and restructuring, fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts that gives rise to a mismatch between accounting and economic results, the impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on certain deferred tax balances, and other items.



Q1 2025	$ million
	Total	Integrated Gas	Upstream	Marketing	Chemicals and Products	Renewables and Energy Solutions	Corporate
Identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation
Divestment gains/(losses)	(106)	(1)	154	(57)	(15)	(187)	—
Impairment reversals/(impairments)	(341)	—	(21)	10	(293)	(38)	—
Redundancy and restructuring	(44)	(1)	(15)	(9)	(13)	(9)	4
Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts1	194	420	(1)	12	(258)	20	—
Other2	(212)	(70)	4	—	(101)	(46)	—
Total identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation	(510)	348	121	(44)	(679)	(260)	4
Less: Total identified items included in Taxation charge/(credit)	301	43	378	4	(99)	(54)	29
Identified items included in Income/(loss) for the period
Divestment gains/(losses)	(208)	—	8	(61)	(12)	(143)	—
Impairment reversals/(impairments)	(317)	—	(15)	6	(277)	(31)	—
Redundancy and restructuring	(24)	(1)	(5)	(1)	(12)	(7)	2
Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts1	187	362	—	7	(202)	20	—
Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances3	108	4	132	—	—	—	(28)
Other2	(558)	(59)	(377)	—	(77)	(45)	—
Impact on Adjusted Earnings	(811)	306	(257)	(49)	(581)	(205)	(26)
Impact on Adjusted Earnings attributable to non-controlling interest	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Impact on Adjusted Earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders	(811)	306	(257)	(49)	(581)	(205)	(26)

1.Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts: In the ordinary course of business, Shell enters into contracts to supply or purchase oil and gas products, as well as power and environmental products. Shell also enters into contracts for tolling, pipeline and storage capacity. Derivative contracts are entered into for mitigation of resulting economic exposures (generally price exposure) and these derivative contracts are carried at period-end

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market price (fair value), with movements in fair value recognised in income for the period. Supply and purchase contracts entered into for operational purposes, as well as contracts for tolling, pipeline and storage capacity, are, by contrast, recognised when the transaction occurs; furthermore, inventory is carried at historical cost or net realisable value, whichever is lower. As a consequence, accounting mismatches occur because: (a) the supply or purchase transaction is recognised in a different period; or (b) the inventory is measured on a different basis. In addition, certain contracts are, due to pricing or delivery conditions, deemed to contain embedded derivatives or written options and are also required to be carried at fair value even though they are entered into for operational purposes. The accounting impacts are reported as identified items.

2.Other identified items represent other credits or charges that based on Shell management’s assessment hinder the comparative understanding of Shell’s financial results from period to period.

3.Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances represents the impact on tax balances of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments arising on: (a) the conversion to dollars of the local currency tax base of non-monetary assets and liabilities, as well as recognised tax losses (this primarily impacts the Integrated Gas and Upstream segments); and (b) the conversion of dollar-denominated inter-segment loans to local currency, leading to taxable exchange rate gains or losses (this primarily impacts the Corporate segment).



Q4 2024	$ million
	Total	Integrated Gas	Upstream	Marketing	Chemicals and Products	Renewables and Energy Solutions	Corporate
Identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation
Divestment gains/(losses)	(288)	(99)	(66)	(216)	42	51	—
Impairment reversals/(impairments)	(2,554)	(523)	(183)	(493)	(288)	(1,065)	(1)
Redundancy and restructuring	(175)	(27)	(62)	(70)	(5)	(11)	(1)
Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts1	209	136	(14)	58	(38)	67	—
Other1	(200)	—	(165)	(33)	(2)	—	—
Total identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation	(3,008)	(514)	(491)	(753)	(291)	(958)	(2)
Less: Total identified items included in Taxation charge/(credit)	(230)	(92)	160	(17)	(191)	(43)	(47)
Identified items included in Income/(loss) for the period
Divestment gains/(losses)	(321)	(96)	(51)	(247)	33	40	—
Impairment reversals/(impairments)	(2,170)	(339)	(152)	(458)	(224)	(996)	(1)
Redundancy and restructuring	(115)	(16)	(34)	(52)	(3)	(8)	(1)
Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts1	184	109	(4)	46	(17)	50	—
Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances1	(210)	(57)	(199)	—	—	—	46
Other1	(147)	(22)	(212)	(25)	113	—	—
Impact on Adjusted Earnings	(2,778)	(421)	(651)	(736)	(99)	(914)	45
Impact on Adjusted Earnings attributable to non-controlling interest	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Impact on Adjusted Earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders	(2,778)	(421)	(651)	(736)	(99)	(914)	45

1.For a detailed description, see the corresponding footnotes to the Q1 2025 identified items table above.

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Q1 2024	$ million
	Total	Integrated Gas	Upstream	Marketing	Chemicals and Products	Renewables and Energy Solutions	Corporate
Identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation
Divestment gains/(losses)	10	(3)	27	(15)	(9)	10	—
Impairment reversals/(impairments)	(227)	(8)	(96)	(4)	(178)	59	—
Redundancy and restructuring	(74)	(1)	(13)	(20)	(18)	(15)	(6)
Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts1	(1,079)	(1,068)	(2)	6	(416)	400	—
Other1	126	4	38	23	45	16	—
Total identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation	(1,244)	(1,075)	(46)	(11)	(575)	469	(6)
Less: Total identified items included in Taxation charge/(credit)	(604)	(157)	(385)	(4)	(118)	80	(20)
Identified items included in Income/(loss) for the period
Divestment gains/(losses)	(4)	(2)	10	(11)	(7)	6	—
Impairment reversals/(impairments)	(186)	(5)	(102)	(3)	(152)	77	—
Redundancy and restructuring	(53)	(1)	(9)	(15)	(14)	(11)	(4)
Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts1	(896)	(887)	—	5	(319)	306	—
Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances1	403	(27)	412	—	—	—	18
Other1	95	3	28	17	34	12	—
Impact on Adjusted Earnings	(641)	(919)	339	(7)	(458)	390	14
Impact on Adjusted Earnings attributable to non-controlling interest	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Impact on Adjusted Earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders	(641)	(919)	339	(7)	(458)	390	14

1.For a detailed description, see the corresponding footnotes to the Q1 2025 identified items table above.

The identified items categories above may include after-tax impacts of identified items of joint ventures and associates which are fully reported within “Share of profit/(loss) of joint ventures and associates” in the Consolidated Statement of Income, and fully reported as identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation in the table above. Identified items related to subsidiaries are consolidated and reported across appropriate lines of the Consolidated Statement of Income.

3. Earnings per share



EARNINGS PER SHARE
Quarters
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
4,780	928	7,358	Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders ($ million)

			Weighted average number of shares used as the basis for determining:
6,033.5	6,148.4	6,440.1	Basic earnings per share (million)
6,087.8	6,213.9	6,504.3	Diluted earnings per share (million)

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4. Share capital

ISSUED AND FULLY PAID ORDINARY SHARES OF €0.07 EACH

Number of shares

Nominal value
($ million)

At January 1, 2025

6,115,031,158

510

Repurchases of shares

(98,948,766)

(8)

At March 31, 2025

6,016,082,392

502

At January 1, 2024

6,524,109,049

544

Repurchases of shares

(88,893,999)

(7)

At March 31, 2024

6,435,215,050

537

At Shell plc’s Annual General Meeting on May 21, 2024, the Board was authorised to allot ordinary shares in Shell plc, and to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert, any security into ordinary shares in Shell plc, up to an aggregate nominal amount of approximately €150 million (representing approximately 2,147 million ordinary shares of €0.07 each), and to list such shares or rights on any stock exchange. This authority expires at the earlier of the close of business on August 20, 2025, or the end of the Annual General Meeting to be held in 2025, unless previously renewed, revoked or varied by Shell plc in a general meeting.

5. Other reserves



OTHER RESERVES
$ million	Merger reserve	Share premium reserve	Capital redemption reserve	Share plan reserve	Accumulated other comprehensive income	Total
At January 1, 2025	37,298	154	270	1,417	(19,373)	19,766
Other comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders	—	—	—	—	1,967	1,967
Transfer from other comprehensive income	—	—	—	—	11	11
Repurchases of shares	—	—	8	—	—	8
Share-based compensation	—	—	—	(663)	—	(663)
At March 31, 2025	37,298	154	279	754	(17,394)	21,090
At January 1, 2024	37,298	154	236	1,308	(17,851)	21,145
Other comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders	—	—	—	—	(1,420)	(1,420)
Transfer from other comprehensive income	—	—	—	—	138	138
Repurchases of shares	—	—	7	—	—	7
Share-based compensation	—	—	—	(426)	—	(426)
At March 31, 2024	37,298	154	244	882	(19,132)	19,445

The merger reserve and share premium reserve were established as a consequence of Shell plc (formerly Royal Dutch Shell plc) becoming the single parent company of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company and The “Shell” Transport and Trading Company, p.l.c., now The Shell Transport and Trading Company Limited, in 2005. The merger reserve increased in 2016 following the issuance of shares for the acquisition of BG Group plc. The capital redemption reserve was established in connection with repurchases of shares of Shell plc. The share plan reserve is in respect of equity-settled share-based compensation plans.

6. Derivative financial instruments and debt excluding lease liabilities

As disclosed in the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, presented in the Annual Report and Accounts and Form 20-F for that year, Shell is exposed to the risks of changes in fair value of its financial assets and liabilities. The fair values of the financial assets and liabilities are defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair values at March 31, 2025, are consistent with those used in the year ended December 31, 2024, though the carrying amounts of derivative financial instruments have changed since that date.

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The movement of the derivative financial instruments between December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025 is a decrease of $732 million for the current assets and a decrease of $1,020 million for the current liabilities.

The table below provides the comparison of the fair value with the carrying amount of debt excluding lease liabilities, disclosed in accordance with IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures.



DEBT EXCLUDING LEASE LIABILITIES
$ million	March 31, 2025	December 31, 2024
Carrying amount1	48,023	48,376
Fair value2	44,240	44,119

1. Shell issued no debt under the US shelf or under the Euro medium-term note programmes during the first quarter 2025.

2. Mainly determined from the prices quoted for these securities.

7. Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

Consolidated Statement of Income

Interest and other income



Quarters			$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
302	683	907	Interest and other income/(expenses)
			Of which:
481	548	588	Interest income
1	25	23	Dividend income (from investments in equity securities)
(127)	(288)	10	Net gains/(losses) on sales and revaluation of non-current assets and businesses
(137)	267	66	Net foreign exchange gains/(losses) on financing activities
85	131	219	Other

Depreciation, depletion and amortisation



Quarters			$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
5,441	7,520	5,881	Depreciation, depletion and amortisation
			Of which:
5,130	5,829	5,654	Depreciation
311	1,797	382	Impairments
(1)	(106)	(154)	Impairment reversals

Impairments recognised in the first quarter 2025 of $311 million pre-tax ($287 million post-tax) principally relate to Chemicals and Products.

Impairments recognised in the fourth quarter 2024 of $2,659 million pre-tax ($2,245 million post-tax), of which $1,797 million recognised in depreciation, depletion and amortisation and $863 million recognised in share of profit of joint ventures and associates, mainly relate to Renewables and Energy Solutions ($1,068 million pre-tax; $1,000 million post-tax), Integrated Gas ($532 million pre-tax; $345 million post-tax), Marketing ($495 million pre-tax; $459 million post-tax), Chemicals and Products ($315 million pre-tax; $247 million post-tax) and Upstream ($248 million pre-tax; $194 million post-tax).

Impairments recognised in the first quarter 2024 of $382 million pre-tax ($332 million post-tax) include smaller

impairments in various segments.

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Taxation charge/credit

Quarters

$ million

Q1 2025

Q4 2024

Q1 2024

4,083

3,164

3,604

Taxation charge/(credit)

Of which:

4,024

3,125

3,525

Income tax excluding Pillar Two income tax

Income tax related to Pillar Two income tax

As required by IAS 12 Income Taxes, Shell has applied the exception to recognising and disclosing information about deferred tax assets and liabilities related to Pillar Two income taxes.

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Currency translation differences

Quarters

$ million

Q1 2025

Q4 2024

Q1 2024

1,711

(4,899)

(1,995)

Currency translation differences

Of which:

1,618

(5,028)

(1,983)

Recognised in Other comprehensive income

129

(12)

(Gain)/loss reclassified to profit or loss

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

Other intangible assets



$ million
	March 31, 2025	December 31, 2024
Other intangible assets	11,365	9,480

The increase in other intangible assets as at March 31, 2025 compared with December 31, 2024 is mainly related to initial recognition at fair value of favourable LNG, gas offtake and sales contracts. These were recognised following completion of the acquisition of Pavilion Energy Pte. Ltd. during the first quarter 2025. The fair value of unfavourable LNG, gas offtake and sales contracts acquired was recognised under trade and other payables.

Assets classified as held for sale



$ million
	March 31, 2025	December 31, 2024
Assets classified as held for sale	10,881	9,857
Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale	8,001	6,203

Assets classified as held for sale and associated liabilities at March 31, 2025 principally relate to Shell’s UK offshore oil and gas assets in Upstream, mining interests in Canada and an energy and chemicals park in Singapore, both in Chemicals and Products. Upon completion of the sale, Shell’s UK offshore assets will be derecognised in exchange for a 50% interest in a newly formed joint venture.

The major classes of assets and liabilities classified as held for sale at March 31, 2025, are Property, plant and equipment ($8,866 million; December 31, 2024: $8,283 million), Inventories ($1,003 million; December 31, 2024: $1,180 million), Decommissioning and other provisions ($3,228 million; December 31, 2024: $3,053 million), deferred tax liabilities ($2,823 million; December 31, 2024: $2,042 million), Trade and other payables ($1,000 million; December 31, 2024: $484 million) and Debt ($839 million; December 31, 2024: $624 million).

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SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Cash flow from operating activities – Other

Quarters

$ million

Q1 2025

Q4 2024

Q1 2024

570

(856)

509

Other

‘Cash flow from operating activities – Other’ for the first quarter 2025 includes $652 million of net inflows (fourth quarter 2024: $1,447 million net outflows; first quarter 2024: $188 million net inflows) due to the timing of payments relating to emission certificates and biofuel programmes in Europe and North America and $255 million in relation to reversal of currency exchange gains on Cash and cash equivalents (fourth quarter 2024: $672 million losses; first quarter 2024: $253 million losses).

Cash flow from investing activities – Other investing cash outflows

Quarters

$ million

Q1 2025

Q4 2024

Q1 2024

(1,394)

(655)

(1,494)

Other investing cash outflows

‘Cash flow from investing activities – Other investing cash outflows’ for the first quarter 2025 includes $818 million secured term loans provided to The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) upon completion of the sale of SPDC. The first quarter 2024 includes $645 million of debt securities acquired in the Corporate segment.

8. Reconciliation of Operating expenses and Total Debt



RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING EXPENSES
Quarters			$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
5,549	5,839	5,810	Production and manufacturing expenses
2,840	3,231	2,975	Selling, distribution and administrative expenses
185	331	212	Research and development
8,575	9,401	8,997	Operating expenses

RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL DEBT

March 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

March 31, 2024

$ million

11,391

11,630

11,046

Current debt

65,120

65,448

68,886

Non-current debt

76,511

77,078

79,931

Total debt

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SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE (NON-GAAP) MEASURES

A.Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (“Adjusted EBITDA”) and Cash flow from operating activities

The “Adjusted Earnings” measure aims to facilitate a comparative understanding of Shell’s financial performance from period to period by removing the effects of oil price changes on inventory carrying amounts and removing the effects of identified items. These items are in some cases driven by external factors and may, either individually or collectively, hinder the comparative understanding of Shell’s financial results from period to period. This measure excludes earnings attributable to non-controlling interest when presenting the total Shell Group result but includes these items when presenting individual segment Adjusted Earnings as set out in the table below.

We define “Adjusted EBITDA” as “Income/(loss) for the period” adjusted for current cost of supplies; identified items; tax charge/(credit); depreciation, amortisation and depletion; exploration well write-offs and net interest expense. All items include the non-controlling interest component. Management uses this measure to evaluate Shell’s performance in the period and over time.



Q1 2025	$ million
	Total	Integrated Gas	Upstream	Marketing	Chemicals and Products	Renewables and Energy Solutions	Corporate
Income/(loss) for the period	4,875	2,789	2,080	814	(77)	(247)	(483)
Add: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation	(15)			52	(67)
Add: Tax on current cost of supplies adjustment	(2)			(14)	12
Less: Identified items	(811)	306	(257)	(49)	(581)	(205)	(26)
Less: Income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	95
Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment attributable to non-controlling interest	(1)
Add: Identified items attributable to non-controlling interest	—
Adjusted Earnings	5,577
Add: Non-controlling interest	94
Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest	5,670	2,483	2,337	900	449	(42)	(457)
Add: Taxation charge/(credit) excluding tax impact of identified items	3,784	803	2,619	391	99	63	(191)
Add: Depreciation, depletion and amortisation excluding impairments	5,130	1,404	2,213	566	852	90	6
Add: Exploration well write-offs	28	—	29
Add: Interest expense excluding identified items	1,119	51	200	12	14	2	841
Less: Interest income	481	4	11	—	4	2	461
Adjusted EBITDA	15,250	4,735	7,387	1,869	1,410	111	(261)
Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation	(15)			52	(67)
Joint ventures and associates (dividends received less profit)	(178)	(286)	(159)	203	54	10	—
Derivative financial instruments	(38)	542	14	10	(508)	(169)	73
Taxation paid	(2,900)	(773)	(1,999)	(174)	63	52	(68)
Other	(206)	(68)	(386)	396	125	(17)	(257)
(Increase)/decrease in working capital	(2,663)	(687)	(913)	(344)	(1,081)	380	(19)
Cash flow from operating activities	9,281	3,463	3,945	1,907	130	367	(531)

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1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS



Q4 2024	$ million
	Total	Integrated Gas	Upstream	Marketing	Chemicals and Products	Renewables and Energy Solutions	Corporate
Income/(loss) for the period	1,041	1,744	1,031	103	(276)	(1,226)	(335)
Add: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation	(75)			(2)	(73)
Add: Tax on current cost of supplies adjustment	23			2	21
Less: Identified items	(2,778)	(421)	(651)	(736)	(99)	(914)	45
Less: Income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	113
Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment attributable to non-controlling interest	(7)
Add: Identified items attributable to non-controlling interest	—
Adjusted Earnings	3,661
Add: Non-controlling interest	106
Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest	3,766	2,165	1,682	839	(229)	(311)	(380)
Add: Taxation charge/(credit) excluding tax impact of identified items	3,371	635	2,618	266	(198)	97	(46)
Add: Depreciation, depletion and amortisation excluding impairments	5,829	1,440	2,803	587	896	96	8
Add: Exploration well write-offs	649	277	372	—	—	—	—
Add: Interest expense excluding identified items	1,213	54	201	17	16	2	923
Less: Interest income	548	3	—	—	10	7	529
Adjusted EBITDA	14,281	4,568	7,676	1,709	475	(123)	(24)
Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation	(75)			(2)	(73)
Joint ventures and associates (dividends received less profit)	451	110	(22)	172	139	51	—
Derivative financial instruments	319	120	(28)	(8)	230	533	(527)
Taxation paid	(2,910)	(635)	(2,019)	(130)	36	(41)	(120)
Other	(1,461)	114	(486)	(1,227)	(313)	77	375
(Increase)/decrease in working capital	2,407	114	(611)	845	1,394	353	312
Cash flow from operating activities	13,162	4,391	4,509	1,363	2,032	850	16



Q1 2024	$ million
	Total	Integrated Gas	Upstream	Marketing	Chemicals and Products	Renewables and Energy Solutions	Corporate
Income/(loss) for the period	7,439	2,761	2,272	896	1,311	553	(354)
Add: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation	(360)			(153)	(207)
Add: Tax on current cost of supplies adjustment	84			30	54
Less: Identified items	(641)	(919)	339	(7)	(458)	390	14
Less: Income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	82
Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment attributable to non-controlling interest	(12)
Add: Identified items attributable to non-controlling interest	—
Adjusted Earnings	7,734
Add: Non-controlling interest	70
Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest	7,804	3,680	1,933	781	1,615	163	(368)
Add: Taxation charge/(credit) excluding tax impact of identified items	4,124	996	2,522	358	338	—	(91)
Add: Depreciation, depletion and amortisation excluding impairments	5,654	1,410	2,727	535	870	106	6
Add: Exploration well write-offs	554	8	546	—	—	—	—
Add: Interest expense excluding identified items	1,163	42	169	12	17	1	922
Less: Interest income	588	—	10	—	14	4	560
Adjusted EBITDA	18,711	6,136	7,888	1,686	2,826	267	(92)
Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation	(360)			(153)	(207)
Joint ventures and associates (dividends received less profit)	(582)	(197)	(546)	93	56	13	—
Derivative financial instruments	306	(1,080)	(3)	(39)	(402)	1,978	(149)
Taxation paid	(2,616)	(467)	(1,802)	(175)	(19)	(244)	91
Other	(97)	45	(231)	393	(378)	(30)	104
(Increase)/decrease in working capital	(2,752)	275	421	(792)	(2,639)	481	(499)
Cash flow from operating activities	13,330	4,712	5,727	1,319	(349)	2,466	(545)

Identified items

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SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

See Note 2 “Segment information” for details.

B. Adjusted Earnings per share

Adjusted Earnings per share is calculated as Adjusted Earnings (see Reference A), divided by the weighted average number of shares used as the basis for basic earnings per share (see Note 3).

C. Cash capital expenditure

Cash capital expenditure represents cash spent on maintaining and developing assets as well as on investments in the period. Management regularly monitors this measure as a key lever to delivering sustainable cash flows. Cash capital expenditure is the sum of the following lines from the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows: Capital expenditure, Investments in joint ventures and associates and Investments in equity securities.

See Note 2 “Segment information” for the reconciliation of cash capital expenditure.

D. Capital employed and Return on average capital employed

Return on average capital employed (“ROACE”) measures the efficiency of Shell’s utilisation of the capital that it employs.

The measure refers to Capital employed which consists of total equity, current debt, and non-current debt reduced by cash and cash equivalents.

In this calculation, the sum of Adjusted Earnings (see Reference A) plus non-controlling interest (NCI) excluding identified items for the current and previous three quarters, adjusted for after-tax interest expense and after-tax interest income, is expressed as a percentage of the average capital employed excluding cash and cash equivalents for the same period.



$ million	Quarters
	Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
Current debt	11,046	9,931	9,044
Non-current debt	68,886	71,610	76,098
Total equity	188,304	188,362	195,530
Less: Cash and cash equivalents	(39,949)	(38,774)	(42,074)
Capital employed – opening	228,286	231,128	238,598
Current debt	11,391	11,630	11,046
Non-current debt	65,120	65,448	68,886
Total equity	180,670	180,168	188,304
Less: Cash and cash equivalents	(35,601)	(39,110)	(39,949)
Capital employed – closing	221,580	218,134	228,286
Capital employed – average	224,933	224,630	233,442

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1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS



$ million	Quarters
	Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
Adjusted Earnings – current and previous three quarters (Reference A)	21,558	23,716	26,338
Add: Income/(loss) attributable to NCI – current and previous three quarters	441	427	295
Add: Current cost of supplies adjustment attributable to NCI – current and previous three quarters	25	14	(24)
Less: Identified items attributable to NCI (Reference A) – current and previous three quarters	18	18	(11)
Adjusted Earnings plus NCI excluding identified items – current and previous three quarters	22,005	24,139	26,620
Add: Interest expense after tax – current and previous three quarters	2,639	2,701	2,718
Less: Interest income after tax on cash and cash equivalents – current and previous three quarters	1,329	1,389	1,368
Adjusted Earnings plus NCI excluding identified items before interest expense and interest income – current and previous three quarters	23,315	25,452	27,971
Capital employed – average	224,933	224,630	233,442
ROACE on an Adjusted Earnings plus NCI basis	10.4%	11.3%	12.0%

E. Net debt and gearing

Net debt is defined as the sum of current and non-current debt, less cash and cash equivalents, adjusted for the fair value of derivative financial instruments used to hedge foreign exchange and interest rate risk relating to debt, and associated collateral balances. Management considers this adjustment useful because it reduces the volatility of net debt caused by fluctuations in foreign exchange and interest rates, and eliminates the potential impact of related collateral payments or receipts. Debt-related derivative financial instruments are a subset of the derivative financial instrument assets and liabilities presented on the balance sheet. Collateral balances are reported under “Trade and other receivables” or “Trade and other payables” as appropriate.

Gearing is a measure of Shell’s capital structure and is defined as net debt (total debt less cash and cash equivalents) as a percentage of total capital (net debt plus total equity).



$ million
	March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024		March 31, 2024
Current debt	11,391		11,630		11,046
Non-current debt	65,120		65,448		68,886
Total debt	76,511		77,078		79,931
Of which: Lease liabilities	28,488		28,702		26,885
Add: Debt-related derivative financial instruments: net liability/(asset)	1,905		2,469		1,888
Add: Collateral on debt-related derivatives: net liability/(asset)	(1,295)		(1,628)		(1,357)
Less: Cash and cash equivalents	(35,601)		(39,110)		(39,949)
Net debt	41,521		38,809		40,513
Total equity	180,670		180,168		188,304
Total capital	222,190		218,974		228,817
Gearing	18.7	%	17.7	%	17.7	%

F. Operating expenses and Underlying operating expenses

Operating expenses

Operating expenses is a measure of Shell’s cost management performance, comprising the following items from the Consolidated Statement of Income: production and manufacturing expenses; selling, distribution and administrative expenses; and research and development expenses.

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Q1 2025	$ million
	Total	Integrated Gas	Upstream	Marketing	Chemicals and Products	Renewables and Energy Solutions	Corporate
Production and manufacturing expenses	5,549	947	2,139	349	1,621	486	8
Selling, distribution and administrative expenses	2,840	38	42	2,053	442	153	111
Research and development	185	22	32	42	25	21	43
Operating expenses	8,575	1,006	2,213	2,444	2,088	661	162



Q4 2024	$ million
	Total	Integrated Gas	Upstream	Marketing	Chemicals and Products	Renewables and Energy Solutions	Corporate
Production and manufacturing expenses	5,839	982	2,470	270	1,632	480	5
Selling, distribution and administrative expenses	3,231	39	96	2,258	471	241	126
Research and development	331	40	69	73	46	37	66
Operating expenses	9,401	1,061	2,635	2,602	2,149	757	196



Q1 2024	$ million
	Total	Integrated Gas	Upstream	Marketing	Chemicals and Products	Renewables and Energy Solutions	Corporate
Production and manufacturing expenses	5,810	956	2,269	366	1,634	579	5
Selling, distribution and administrative expenses	2,975	62	58	2,188	420	158	89
Research and development	212	26	58	34	34	12	49
Operating expenses	8,997	1,044	2,385	2,587	2,088	749	144

Underlying operating expenses

Underlying operating expenses is a measure aimed at facilitating a comparative understanding of performance from period to period by removing the effects of identified items, which, either individually or collectively, can cause volatility, in some cases driven by external factors.

Quarters

$ million

Q1 2025

Q4 2024

Q1 2024

8,575

9,401

8,997

Operating expenses

(44)

(174)

(73)

Redundancy and restructuring (charges)/reversal

(101)

(88)

—

(Provisions)/reversal

—

130

Other

(121)

(262)

Total identified items

8,453

9,138

9,054

Underlying operating expenses

G. Free cash flow and Organic free cash flow

Free cash flow is used to evaluate cash available for financing activities, including dividend payments and debt servicing, after investment in maintaining and growing the business. It is defined as the sum of “Cash flow from operating activities” and “Cash flow from investing activities”.

Cash flows from acquisition and divestment activities are removed from Free cash flow to arrive at the Organic free cash flow, a measure used by management to evaluate the generation of free cash flow without these activities.

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Quarters			$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
9,281	13,162	13,330	Cash flow from operating activities
(3,959)	(4,431)	(3,528)	Cash flow from investing activities
5,322	8,731	9,802	Free cash flow
597	805	1,025	Less: Divestment proceeds (Reference I)
45	1	—	Add: Tax paid on divestments (reported under “Other investing cash outflows”)
130	525	62	Add: Cash outflows related to inorganic capital expenditure1
4,899	8,453	8,839	Organic free cash flow2

1.Cash outflows related to inorganic capital expenditure includes portfolio actions which expand Shell’s activities through acquisitions and restructuring activities as reported in capital expenditure lines in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

2.Free cash flow less divestment proceeds, adding back outflows related to inorganic expenditure.

H. Cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements

Working capital movements are defined as the sum of the following items in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows: (i) (increase)/decrease in inventories, (ii) (increase)/decrease in current receivables, and (iii) increase/(decrease) in current payables.

Cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements is a measure used by Shell to analyse its operating cash generation over time excluding the timing effects of changes in inventories and operating receivables and payables from period to period.

Quarters

$ million

Q1 2025

Q4 2024

Q1 2024

9,281

13,162

13,330

Cash flow from operating activities

854

131

(608)

(Increase)/decrease in inventories

(2,610)

751

(195)

(Increase)/decrease in current receivables

(907)

1,524

(1,949)

Increase/(decrease) in current payables

(2,663)

2,407

(2,752)

(Increase)/decrease in working capital

11,944

10,755

16,082

Cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements

I. Divestment proceeds

Divestment proceeds represent cash received from divestment activities in the period. Management regularly monitors this measure as a key lever to deliver free cash flow.



Quarters			$ million
Q1 2025	Q4 2024	Q1 2024
559	493	323	Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and businesses
33	305	133	Proceeds from joint ventures and associates from sale, capital reduction and repayment of long-term loans
5	6	569	Proceeds from sale of equity securities
597	805	1,025	Divestment proceeds

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SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

All amounts shown throughout this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report are unaudited. All peak production figures in Portfolio Developments are quoted at 100% expected production. The numbers presented throughout this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report may not sum precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures, due to rounding.

The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report, “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience to reference Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report, refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The terms “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

Forward-Looking statements

This Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; ‘‘anticipate’’; “aspire”, “aspiration”, ‘‘believe’’; “commit”; “commitment”; ‘‘could’’; “desire”; ‘‘estimate’’; ‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; ‘‘objectives’’; ‘‘outlook’’; ‘‘plan’’; ‘‘probably’’; ‘‘project’’; ‘‘risks’’; “schedule”; ‘‘seek’’; ‘‘should’’; ‘‘target’’; “vision”; ‘‘will’’; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks, including climate change; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including tariffs and regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East, and a significant cyber security, data privacy or IT incident; (n) the pace of the energy transition; and (o) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report, May 2, 2025. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report.

Shell’s net carbon intensity

Also, in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report we may refer to Shell’s “net carbon intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “net carbon intensity” or NCI is for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.

Shell’s net-zero emissions target

Shell’s operating plan and outlook are forecasted for a three-year period and ten-year period, respectively, and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next three and ten years. Accordingly, the outlook reflects our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plan and outlook cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is outside our planning period. Such future operating plans and outlooks could include changes to our portfolio, efficiency improvements and the use of carbon capture and storage and carbon credits. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans and outlooks to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.

Forward-Looking non-GAAP measures

This Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as cash capital expenditure and Adjusted Earnings. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements.

The contents of websites referred to in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report do not form part of this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

Page 30

SHELL PLC
1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

This announcement contains inside information.

May 2, 2025


The information in this Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Report reflects the unaudited consolidated financial position and results of Shell plc. Company No. 4366849, Registered Office: Shell Centre, London, SE1 7NA, England, UK.

Contacts:

– Sean Ashley, Company Secretary

– Media: International +44 (0) 207 934 5550; U.S. and Canada: https://www.shell.us/about-us/news-and-insights/media/submit-an-inquiry.html

LEI number of Shell plc: 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70

Classification: Inside Information

Page 31

The MIL Network –

May 2, 2025

MIL-OSI: Shell plc publishes first quarter 2025 press release

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

London, May 2, 2025

“Shell delivered another solid set of results in the first quarter of 2025. We further strengthened our leading LNG business by completing the acquisition of Pavilion Energy, and high-graded our portfolio with the completion of the Nigeria onshore and the Singapore Energy and Chemicals Park divestments.

Our strong performance and resilient balance sheet give us the confidence to commence another $3.5 billion of buybacks for the next three months, consistent with the strategic direction we set out at our Capital Markets Day in March.”

Shell plc Chief Executive Officer, Wael Sawan

SOLID RESULTS; RESILIENT BALANCE SHEET; CONSISTENT DISTRIBUTIONS

Q1 2025 Adjusted Earnings¹ of $5.6 billion reflect strong performance across the business. CFFO excluding working capital was $11.9 billion for the quarter. Working capital outflow was $2.7 billion in Q1 2025.
Strengthened LNG trading and optimisation capabilities with the Pavilion Energy acquisition and high-graded the portfolio with the completion of the divestments of the Singapore Energy and Chemicals Park², and SPDC³ in Nigeria.
Disciplined capital allocation, with 2025 cash capex outlook of $20 – 22 billion.
Commencing another $3.5 billion share buyback programme for the next 3 months, making this the 14^th consecutive quarter of at least $3 billion in buybacks. Total shareholder distributions paid over the last 4 quarters were 45% of CFFO, consistent with the 40 – 50% of CFFO through the cycle distribution target announced at Capital Markets Day 2025.
Resilient balance sheet with gearing (including leases) of 19%.

$ million¹		Adj. Earnings	Adj. EBITDA	CFFO	Cash capex
Integrated Gas		2,483	4,735	3,463	1,116
Upstream		2,337	7,387	3,945	1,923
Marketing		900	1,869	1,907	256
Chemicals & Products⁴		449	1,410	130	458
Renewables & Energy Solutions		(42)	111	367	403
Corporate		(457)	(261)	(531)	19
Less: Non-controlling interest (NCI)		94
Shell	Q1 2025	5,577	15,250	9,281	4,175
Shell	Q4 2024	3,661	14,281	13,162	6,924

¹Income/(loss) attributable to shareholders for Q1 2025 is $4.8 billion. Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures can be found in the unaudited results, available at www.shell.com/investors.
² Completed on April 1, 2025.
³The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited.
⁴Chemicals & Products Adjusted Earnings at a subsegment level are as follows: Chemicals $(0.1) billion and Products $0.6 billion.

CFFO excluding working capital is $11.9 billion in Q1 2025 and reflects tax payments of $2.9 billion. Working capital outflow is $2.7 billion, consistent with outflows as we have seen in the first quarters of recent years.
Net debt of $41.5 billion includes the lease additions related to the Pavilion Energy acquisition as well as a drawdown on the loan facilities provided at the completion of the sale of SPDC in Nigeria.

$ billion¹	Q1 2024	Q2 2024	Q3 2024	Q4 2024	Q1 2025
Working capital	(2.8)	(0.3)	2.7	2.4	(2.7)
Divestment proceeds	1.0	0.8	0.2	0.8	0.6
Free cash flow	9.8	10.2	10.8	8.7	5.3
Net debt	40.5	38.3	35.2	38.8	41.5

¹ Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures can be found in the unaudited results, available at www.shell.com/investors.

Q1 2025 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE DRIVERS

INTEGRATED GAS

Key data	Q4 2024	Q1 2025	Q2 2025 outlook
Realised liquids price ($/bbl)	63	64	—
Realised gas price ($/thousand scf)	8.1	7.4	—
Production (kboe/d)	905	927	890 – 950
LNG liquefaction volumes (MT)	7.1	6.6	6.3 – 6.9
LNG sales volumes (MT)	15.5	16.5	—

Adjusted Earnings were higher than in Q4 2024, reflecting lower exploration well write-offs. Trading and optimisation results were in line with Q4 2024, despite higher unfavourable (non-cash) impact from expiring hedging contracts.
Q2 2025 production and liquefaction outlook reflects higher scheduled maintenance across the portfolio.

UPSTREAM

Key data	Q4 2024	Q1 2025	Q2 2025 outlook
Realised liquids price ($/bbl)	71	71	—
Realised gas price ($/thousand scf)	7.0	7.4	—
Liquids production (kboe/d)	1,332	1,335	—
Gas production (million scf/d)	3,056	3,020	—
Total production (kboe/d)	1,859	1,855	1,560 – 1,760

Adjusted Earnings were higher than in Q4 2024, reflecting lower depreciation following year-end reserves updates and lower well write-offs, partially offset by lower sales volumes.
Q2 2025 production outlook reflects scheduled maintenance and the completed sale of SPDC in March 2025.

MARKETING

Key data	Q4 2024	Q1 2025	Q2 2025 outlook
Marketing sales volumes (kb/d)	2,795	2,674	2,600 – 3,100
Mobility (kb/d)	2,041	1,964	—
Lubricants (kb/d)	77	87	—
Sectors & Decarbonisation (kb/d)	678	623	—

Adjusted Earnings were higher than in Q4 2024, supported by seasonally stronger margins in Lubricants.

CHEMICALS & PRODUCTS

Key data	Q4 2024	Q1 2025	Q2 2025 outlook¹
Refinery processing intake (kb/d)	1,215	1,362	—
Chemicals sales volumes (kT)	2,926	2,813	—
Refinery utilisation (%)	76	85	87 – 95
Chemicals manufacturing plant utilisation (%)	75	81	74 – 82
Global indicative refining margin ($/bbl)	5.5	6.2	—
Global indicative chemical margin ($/t)	138	126	—

¹Following the Singapore Energy and Chemicals Park divestment, IRM, ICM and associated sensitivities have been updated for Q2 2025; see the guidance tab of the Quarterly Databook, available at www.shell.com/investors.

Trading and optimisation results were significantly higher than in Q4 2024 and in line with contributions in Q2 and Q3 of 2024, while the Chemicals results continued to be impacted by a weak margin environment.
Q2 2025 outlook reflects the completed sale of the Energy and Chemicals Park in Singapore.

RENEWABLES & ENERGY SOLUTIONS

Key data	Q4 2024	Q1 2025
External power sales (TWh)	76	76
Sales of pipeline gas to end-use customers (TWh)	165	184
Renewables power generation capacity (GW)*	7.4	7.5
in operation (GW)	3.4	3.5
under construction and/or committed for sale (GW)	4.0	4.0

*Excludes Shell’s equity share of associates where information cannot be obtained.

Adjusted Earnings were higher than in Q4 2024, with higher seasonal demand and volatility driving higher trading and optimisation, particularly in the Americas.

CORPORATE

Key data	Q4 2024	Q1 2025	Q2 2025 outlook
Adjusted Earnings ($ billion)	(0.4)	(0.5)	(0.6) – (0.4)

UPCOMING INVESTOR EVENTS

May 20, 2025	Annual General Meeting
July 31, 2025	Second quarter 2025 results and dividends
October 30, 2025	Third quarter 2025 results and dividends

USEFUL LINKS

Results materials Q 1 202 5
Quarterly Databook Q 1 20 25
Webcast registration Q 1 20 25
Dividend announcement Q 1 20 25
C apital Mar kets Day 2025 materials

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE (NON-GAAP) MEASURES
This announcement includes certain measures that are calculated and presented on the basis of methodologies other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) such as IFRS, including Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted EBITDA, CFFO excluding working capital movements, free cash flow, Divestment proceeds and Net debt. This information, along with comparable GAAP measures, is useful to investors because it provides a basis for measuring Shell plc’s operating performance and ability to retire debt and invest in new business opportunities. Shell plc’s management uses these financial measures, along with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, in evaluating the business performance.

This announcement may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as Adjusted Earnings and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile the non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of the company, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are estimated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement, “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience to reference Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. “Subsidiaries”, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The terms “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; “anticipate”; “aspire”; “aspiration”; ‘‘believe’’; “commit”; “commitment”; ‘‘could’’; “desire”; ‘‘estimate’’; ‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; ‘‘objectives’’; ‘‘outlook’’; ‘‘plan’’; ‘‘probably’’; ‘‘project’’; ‘‘risks’’; “schedule”; ‘‘seek’’; ‘‘should’’; ‘‘target’’; “vision”; ‘‘will’’; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks, including climate change; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including tariffs and regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East, and a significant cyber security, data privacy or IT incident; (n) the pace of the energy transition; and (o) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, May 2, 2025. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.
All amounts shown throughout this announcement are unaudited. The numbers presented throughout this announcement may not sum precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures, due to rounding.
Shell’s Net Carbon Intensity
Also, in this announcement, we may refer to Shell’s “net carbon intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “net carbon intensity” or NCI is for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.

Shell’s Net-Zero Emissions Target
Shell’s operating plan and outlook are forecasted for a three-year period and ten-year period, respectively, and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next three and ten years. Accordingly, the outlook reflects our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plan and outlook cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is outside our planning period. Such future operating plans and outlooks could include changes to our portfolio, efficiency improvements and the use of carbon capture and storage and carbon credits. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans and outlooks to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.

The content of websites referred to in this announcement does not form part of this announcement.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

The financial information presented in this announcement does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434(3) of the Companies Act 2006 (“the Act”). Statutory accounts for the year ended December 31, 2024 were published in Shell’s Annual Report and Accounts, a copy of which was delivered to the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales. The auditor’s report on those accounts was unqualified, did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying the report and did not contain a statement under sections 498(2) or 498(3) of the Act.

The information in this announcement does not constitute the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements which are contained in Shell’s first quarter 2025 unaudited results available on www.shell.com/investors.

CONTACTS

Media: International +44 207 934 5550; U.S. and Canada: C ontact form

The MIL Network –

May 2, 2025

MIL-OSI New Zealand: Recall of specific batches of Ārepa drinks as they may cause injury due to a packaging fault

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is supporting Alphagen NZ Limited in its recall of specific batches of Ārepa brand The Brain Drink as it may cause injury due to a packaging fault (chipped top of glass bottle).

“The concern with some 300ml bottles of Ārepa’s The Brain Drink for Performance is that due to a packaging fault the glass on the top of the bottle maybe chipped,” says NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.

Batch details of the specific products are on the NZFS recall page.

Food recall: Ārepa brand The Brain Drink for Performance

“If you have any of these affected products at home, don’t drink them. You can return them to the place of purchase for a refund. If that’s not possible, throw them out.”

The affected products – which are sold at supermarkets and retailers nationwide – have been removed from store shelves.

They have been exported to Australia and NZFS has contacted the relevant authorities.

Visit NZFS’s recall page for batch details, up-to-date information and photographs of the affected product.

NZFS has received a notification of associated injury.

“As is our usual practice, NZFS will work with Alphagen to understand how this happened and implement corrective actions,” says Mr Arbuckle.

The vast majority of food sold in New Zealand is safe, but sometimes problems can occur. Help keep yourself and your family safe by subscribing to our recall alerts. Information on how to subscribe is on the NZFS food recall page.

For more information please email: NZFoodSafety_media@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Papua New Guinea

Source:

We continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution in Papua New Guinea due to high levels of crime, tribal violence and civil unrest. Higher levels apply in some areas.

Local level elections will take place across the country between May and August 2025. Be alert to the possibility of tensions and violence during elections.

Local communities can block the Kokoda Track at short notice. Check with your trekking company for the latest information (see ‘Travel’).

Ongoing fuel shortages can disrupt domestic travel, including air travel, with little or no notice. Protests, civil disorder and tribal violence can escalate quickly. Avoid areas where violence occurs and be alert to personal safety risks. Monitor local media for updates (see ‘Safety’).

MIL OSI News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Two in custody following alleged Tasman Highway evade

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Two in custody following alleged Tasman Highway evade

Friday, 2 May 2025 – 4:00 pm.

Two people remain in custody and are assisting police with their inquiries following an alleged evade incident in Southern Tasmania earlier today.
Significant police resources were deployed after a vehicle allegedly evaded police at Colebrook just after 12.30pm.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter assisted by safely maintaining observations and reducing the risk posed to the public and police.
A blue Ford Courier ute was observed by the helicopter allegedly driving dangerously on the highway, travelling on the incorrect side of the road and into oncoming traffic.
The ute was successfully spiked by police before the alleged offenders were provided with another vehicle by a person known to them and they were again detected driving erratically in a silver Ford Laser.
The alleged offenders were safely taken into custody at Brighton just before 2pm after their sedan crashed into another vehicle and they unsuccessfully attempted to carjack another vehicle.
The driver and passenger of the vehicle the alleged offenders crashed into were taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital as a precaution.
Investigations are ongoing and police would like to thank members of the public who reported the vehicles during the incident.
Anyone with information about a blue Ford Courier ute or a silver Ford Laser driving dangerously on the Tasman Highway in the Colebrook, Lindisfarne or Risdon Vale areas between 12.30pm and 2pm should contact police on 131 444 and quote ESCAD 185-02052025
Dash cam footage can be uploaded here

MIL OSI News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Culture wars and costings: election special podcast with Michelle Grattan and Amanda Dunn

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

As we roll into the dying hours of the election campaign, the polls are suggesting a Labor win, although it is not yet clear if it will be in minority or majority. Chief Political Correspondent Michelle Grattan and Politics Editor Amanda Dunn discuss why the Coalition has focussed on culture wars issues this week, plus the parties’ policies finally costed after millions of Australians have already voted.

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

– ref. Culture wars and costings: election special podcast with Michelle Grattan and Amanda Dunn – https://theconversation.com/culture-wars-and-costings-election-special-podcast-with-michelle-grattan-and-amanda-dunn-255774

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Voluntary surrender program exceeds gaming machine reduction target

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

Released 02/05/2025

Two venues have gone completely gaming machine free and 296 gaming machine authorisations have been surrendered since March 2024 as part of the ACT Government’s voluntary surrender program.

The voluntary electronic gaming machine surrender program, which ended yesterday, successfully reduced the number of machines in the territory to less than 3500.

With the success of the voluntary surrender program the number of machine authorisations in the ACT has decreased by almost 30 per cent from 4,956 in 2018 to 3494 today.

As part of the program, both The Statesman Hotel in Curtin and the Canberra Bowling Club in Forrest have voluntarily surrendered all of their gaming machine licenses.

Minister for Gaming Reform, Dr Marisa Paterson, expressed gratitude to the venues for their participation in the voluntary surrender process, but emphasized that there is still significant work ahead.

“The government has met its commitment to reduce poker machine authorisations in the ACT to 3,500 by 1 July 2025, and we remain dedicated to further reducing that number to 1,000 by 2045,” Minister Paterson said.

“I commend the licensees who have embraced the opportunity to participate in the voluntary surrender scheme. This is a crucial step in diversifying their revenue streams away from a reliance on revenue from electronic gaming machines.

“It’s especially pleasing to see some venues taking the opportunity to go pokie-free, providing great examples to the community and club sector that there is a strong future for clubs without machines.”

The $5.145 million voluntary surrender program offered venues $15,000 for each gaming machine authorisation surrendered, with $20,000 per authorisation for venues that gave up all of their gaming machines.

A total of 28 different venues surrendered gaming machine authorisations as part of the program. The Vikings Group and Canberra Southern Cross Club Group both led the way with 40 surrenders each, and the Canberra Raiders Sports Club Group surrendered 38.

“The ACT Government remains committed to reducing gambling-related harm, and we will continue working with local clubs to build a sustainable industry – one that fosters community connections without depending on gambling revenue,” Minister Paterson said.

The ACT Government last month opened a tender to conduct the Independent inquiry into the future of the ACT clubs industry. The tender closes on 20 May, with a report due back to government in early 2026.

Quotes attributable to Canberra Bowling Club President, David Kimber:

“The Canberra Bowling Club is using the revenue from surrendering our poker machines to help strengthen the club’s future.

“We have invested some of the returns into a live music setup, including a stage, PA system and curtains, and have plans for a large deck to provide an outside hospitality space.

“We are also taking this opportunity to bring forward a review of our medium to long-term future. We are looking at how we make ourselves sustainable, and what sort of club we will be with alternatives to pokies and gambling. We recognise the need to build on our bowls-related revenue. The increased cash reserve creates opportunities that we might not otherwise have had to invest in new strategic directions and broaden our sources of revenue.”

– Statement ends –

Marisa Paterson, MLA | Media Releases

«ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

MIL OSI News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: New agreement strengthens severe weather warning capability across NSW & ACT

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

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Released 02/05/2025

The ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) and the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) have signed an agreement to ensure consistent cross-border warnings for severe weather events.

Under this agreement the NSW SES will now incorporate the ACT in severe weather warnings that affect the wider region. These warnings will be issued under the Australian Warnings System, a nationally consistent approach to warnings across Australia.

This means that if members of the community look at the NSW SES website or the Hazards Near Me NSW app they will soon be able to see severe weather warnings for both NSW and the ACT.

With the agreement being signed this week, these changes will be implemented over the next few months and in place for the next storm season.

The Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Dr Marisa Paterson, welcomes this agreement and the benefits it will have for the ACT.

“Given that the ACT is surrounded by New South Wales, strong collaboration with our cross-border partners is crucial for the benefit of our community. This agreement between the NSW SES and ESA highlights the power of sector cooperation, enhancing the way our community receives timely and effective warnings.

“A strong relationship is founded on trust and mutual support. Once again, our NSW counterparts are demonstrating this commitment, which will not only enhance the effectiveness of severe weather warnings but also strengthen the long-term partnership between us.”

Quotes attributable to ESA Commissioner, Wayne Phillips

“Storms and other high-risk weather events are not bound by borders and our warnings for them shouldn’t be either. This agreement will provide the ACT community more opportunities to be alerted and take action to stay safe in emergencies.

“I would like to thank the NSW SES for their commitment and cooperation to working to protect all communities through consistent, targeted and timely warnings. The NSW SES have and always will be a close partner of the ESA and agreements such as this show how strong our relationship is, which I know will only grow over time.”

Quotes attributable to NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing AFSM

“Storms and floods don’t stop at state and territory boundaries. This is an important step forward to ensure people can access information whether they are travelling within the ACT or NSW. NSW SES is delighted to continue to work with the ESA to help keep communities informed and safe.”

– Statement ends –

Marisa Paterson, MLA | Media Releases

«ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

MIL OSI News –

May 2, 2025

MIL-OSI: ING posts 1Q2025 net result of €1,455 million, with strong growth in customer balances and fee income

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ING posts 1Q2025 net result of €1,455 million, with strong growth in customer balances and fee income


1Q2025 profit before tax of €2,124 million with a CET1 ratio of 13.6%
•	Strong increase in fee income, driven especially by an increase in investment products
•	Total income was resilient, supported by an excellent growth in deposits and a continued increase in mortgage volumes, as well as strong results in Financial Markets
•	Operating expenses excluding regulatory costs slightly lower quarter-on-quarter
•	We continue to move our capital towards our target level and announce a €2.0 billion share buyback
CEO statement “While the geopolitical and macroeconomic circumstances remain uncertain, we believe there is an opportunity for Europe to collectively drive competitiveness and resilience through simplification of regulations and investments in infrastructure, technology and defence,” said Steven van Rijswijk, CEO of ING Group. “As one of the largest and most geographically diversified European banks, we are well-positioned to play a key role in supporting this growth while navigating volatility. During these times, we are staying particularly close to our clients to understand their concerns and banking needs. Our scale, strong performance and robust capital ratios enable us to provide our customers with the support required to manage uncertainties, mitigate risks and capture opportunities. “During the first quarter of 2025, we have delivered continued commercial growth, driven by excellent growth in deposits and higher mortgage volumes. Total income has increased, supported by resilient commercial net interest income and a strong increase in fee income. Expenses have decreased slightly quarter-on-quarter and the increase year-on-year was in line with our guidance, reflecting the impact of inflation and client acquisition expenses. Risk costs were €313 million and below our through-the-cycle-average, reflecting the quality of our loan portfolio. “In Retail Banking, our mobile primary customer base has grown by 174,000 customers this quarter, mainly attributable to Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland. We have attracted €17 billion in retail core deposits, primarily in Germany. And we have increased core lending by €9 billion, of which €6 billion is in residential mortgages, particularly in the Netherlands and Germany, and nearly €2 billion in Business Banking. Across our markets, we have seen 125,000 mortgage applications during this quarter, up 20% year-on-year. Retail fee income has risen 18% year-on-year, primarily driven by growth in the number of investment product customers, higher assets under management and an increase in customer trading activity. “In Wholesale Banking, total income was stable, with strong results in Financial Markets as we have supported our clients during the turbulent market conditions. This turbulence has also led to muted lending volumes. Fee income in Wholesale Banking has increased quarter-on-quarter, mainly driven by higher fees from Global Capital Markets and Trade Finance. Moreover, we have continued to invest in front office growth, our digital customer experience and the scalability of our systems. “We continue to support clients in their sustainability transition by launching innovative services or by entering into partnerships. In Wholesale Banking, we have increased sustainable volume mobilised to €30 billion, a 23% increase versus last year. In Spain, we have launched a service that helps retail customers get insights into their CO2e emissions and provides tips on how to reduce their environmental footprint. In Australia, ING has become the first bank to participate in a new digital energy ratings programme that provides our customers with free energy ratings of their homes and identifies potential sustainability improvements. “We continue to converge our CET1 ratio to our target level while taking the ongoing geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty into account. In that light, today we announce a share buyback programme of €2.0 billion. “We’re pleased with our first-quarter performance and are confident in our ability to deliver value to our stakeholders in the current macroeconomic turbulence. We are well on track to meet our 2027 targets and I would like to thank our employees across the world for their contributions to these strong results and their commitment to serving our customers.”

Further information All publications related to ING’s 1Q 2025 results can be found at the quarterly results page on ING.com. For more on investor information, go to www.ing.com/investors. A short ING ON AIR video with CEO Steven van Rijswijk discussing our 1Q 2025 results is available on Youtube. For further information on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom or via the @ING_news feed on X. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.

Investor conference call and webcast Steven van Rijswijk, Tanate Phutrakul and Ljiljana Čortan will discuss the results in an Investor conference call on 2 May 2025 at 9:00 a.m. CET. Members of the investment community can join the conference call at +31 20 708 5074 (NL), or +44 330 551 0202 (UK) (registration required via invitation) and via live audio webcast at www.ing.com.

Investor enquiries E: investor.relations@ing.com Press enquiries T: +31 20 576 5000 E: media.relations@ing.com

ING Profile ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank’s more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 100 countries. ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N). ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING’s ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as ‘AA’ in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of December 2023, in Sustainalytics’ view, ING’s management of ESG material risk is ‘Strong’. Our current ESG Risk Rating, is 17.2 (Low Risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Important legal information Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 (‘Market Abuse Regulation’). ING Group’s annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (‘IFRS- EU’). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2024 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding. Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation: (1) changes in general economic conditions and customer behaviour, in particular economic conditions in ING’s core markets, including changes affecting currency exchange rates and the regional and global economic impact of the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and related international response measures (2) changes affecting interest rate levels (3) any default of a major market participant and related market disruption (4) changes in performance of financial markets, including in Europe and developing markets (5) fiscal uncertainty in Europe and the United States (6) discontinuation of or changes in ‘benchmark’ indices (7) inflation and deflation in our principal markets (8) changes in conditions in the credit and capital markets generally, including changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness (9) failures of banks falling under the scope of state compensation schemes (10) noncompliance with or changes in laws and regulations, including those concerning financial services, financial economic crimes and tax laws, and the interpretation and application thereof (11) geopolitical risks, political instabilities and policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, including in connection with the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and the related international response measures (12) legal and regulatory risks in certain countries with less developed legal and regulatory frameworks (13) prudential supervision and regulations, including in relation to stress tests and regulatory restrictions on dividends and distributions (also among members of the group) (14) ING’s ability to meet minimum capital and other prudential regulatory requirements (15) changes in regulation of US commodities and derivatives businesses of ING and its customers (16) application of bank recovery and resolution regimes, including write down and conversion powers in relation to our securities (17) outcome of current and future litigation, enforcement proceedings, investigations or other regulatory actions, including claims by customers or stakeholders who feel misled or treated unfairly, and other conduct issues (18) changes in tax laws and regulations and risks of non-compliance or investigation in connection with tax laws, including FATCA (19) operational and IT risks, such as system disruptions or failures, breaches of security, cyber-attacks, human error, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including in respect of third parties with which we do business and including any risks as a result of incomplete, inaccurate, or otherwise flawed outputs from the algorithms and data sets utilized in artificial intelligence (20) risks and challenges related to cybercrime including the effects of cyberattacks and changes in legislation and regulation related to cybersecurity and data privacy, including such risks and challenges as a consequence of the use of emerging technologies, such as advanced forms of artificial intelligence and quantum computing (21) changes in general competitive factors, including ability to increase or maintain market share (22) inability to protect our intellectual property and infringement claims by third parties (23) inability of counterparties to meet financial obligations or ability to enforce rights against such counterparties (24) changes in credit ratings (25) business, operational, regulatory, reputation, transition and other risks and challenges in connection with climate change, diversity, equity and inclusion and other ESG-related matters, including data gathering and reporting and also including managing the conflicting laws and requirements of governments, regulators and authorities with respect to these topics (26) inability to attract and retain key personnel (27) future liabilities under defined benefit retirement plans (28) failure to manage business risks, including in connection with use of models, use of derivatives, or maintaining appropriate policies and guidelines (29) changes in capital and credit markets, including interbank funding, as well as customer deposits, which provide the liquidity and capital required to fund our operations, and (30) the other risks and uncertainties detailed in the most recent annual report of ING Groep N.V. (including the Risk Factors contained therein) and ING’s more recent disclosures, including press releases, which are available on www.ING.com. This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information. Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are “green” or “sustainable.” Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security. This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING’s control. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason. This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

Attachment

Full ING 1Q2025 Results Press Release (PDF)

The MIL Network –

May 2, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Parking changes to Liverpool city centre approved
Source: City of Liverpool

Dangerous and anti-social car parking will be targeted on the streets of Liverpool City Centre thanks to a new parking regime.

Liverpool City Council will implement significant changes to its City Centre Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) to address growing parking demands, improve road safety, and enhance air quality.

These proposals, approved by Liverpool City Council’s Highways and Spaces Representation Committee, aim to ensure the CPZ remains fit for purpose in light of the city’s evolving residential population and thriving night-time economy.

There has been growing concerns from residents about reckless and inconsiderate parking in the city centre. This has been further highlighted recently with inconsiderate parking on Victoria Street, which has been occurring outside of existing operational hours.

The CPZ changes will enable the Council to undertake robust enforcement over a longer time period.

The changes that will be implemented will see the CPZ operational hours extended from 8am–6pm to 7am–11pm, Monday to Sunday. They will come into effect from the beginning of June.

This change will increase enforcement on single yellow lines and parking bays, including pay-and-display and resident bays.

The approval by the committee includes the provision that there will be a review in 12months’ time and an extra focus on safety in car parks.

Other significant changes include:
1. Increased Maximum Stay in Hope Street Area: Pay-and-display bays on Hope Street, Blackburne Place, Falkner Street, Maryland Street, and Caledonia Street will have their maximum stay increased from 2 hours to 4 hours, with no return within 1 hour. This adjustment supports the area’s growing night-time economy and hospitality sector.
2. Shared Use Parking Bays: Certain loading and limited waiting bays will be converted to pay-and-display, resident, or disabled bays during evening hours.
3. Revised Parking Tariffs: Parking charges will increase to align with other major UK cities, encouraging sustainable travel and reducing congestion.
Extensive public consultations were conducted, including informal and statutory consultations.

While some concerns were raised, the Council has adjusted the proposals to address feedback, particularly from local businesses. These include increasing the maximum stay in the Hope Street area to four hours and introducing shared-use bays after 6pm for disabled, resident, pay and display or single yellow lines, at a number of locations.

The recent increase in parking charges saw Liverpool’s fees come into line with other similar sized cities, and is only the second rise in over a decade.

The Council currently generates the lowest net income from parking services amongst the Core Cities, achieving £3.839m in 2023/24 compared to a Core City’s average of £10.603m.

The Council controls just 28% of parking across the City, and, up till recently has on average charged 47% less than private sector car parks and other Core Cities for equivalent parking provision.

The changes to the city centre’s controlled parking zone is needed as Liverpool has undergone substantial growth in recent years, including new developments, pedestrianised areas, and an expanding residential population.

The rise of the night-time economy has placed significant pressure on parking availability, leading to congestion, illegal parking, and reduced access for residents and businesses. The proposed changes aim to reduce congestion and improve road safety. They will also enhance air quality and promote sustainable travel, while ensuring better turnover of parking spaces for residents, businesses, and visitors.
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: The MMR vaccine doesn’t contain ‘aborted fetus debris’, as RFK Jr has claimed. Here’s the science

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University

Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the United States’ top public health official, recently claimed some religious groups avoid the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine because it contains “aborted fetus debris” and “DNA particles”.

The US is facing its worst measles outbreaks in years with nearly 900 cases across the country and active outbreaks in several states.

At the same time, Kennedy, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, continues to erode trust in vaccines.

So what can we make of his latest claims?

There’s no fetal debris in the MMR vaccine

Kennedy said “aborted fetus debris” in MMR vaccines is the reason many religious people refuse vaccination. He referred specifically to the Mennonites in Texas, a deeply religious community, who have been among the hardest hit by the current measles outbreaks.

Many vaccines work by using a small amount of an attenuated (weakened) form of a virus, or in the case of the MMR vaccine, attenuated forms of the viruses that cause measles, mumps and rubella. This gives the immune system a safe opportunity to learn how to recognise and respond to these viruses.

As a result, if a person is later exposed to the actual infection, their immune system can react swiftly and effectively, preventing serious illness.

Kennedy’s claim about fetal debris specifically refers to the rubella component of the MMR vaccine. The rubella virus is generally grown in a human cell line known as WI-38, which was originally derived from lung tissue of a single elective abortion in the 1960s. This cell line has been used for decades, and no new fetal tissue has been used since.

Certain vaccines for other diseases, such as chickenpox, hepatitis A and rabies, have also been made by growing the viruses in fetal cells.

These cells are used not because of their origin, but because they provide a stable, safe and reliable environment for growing the attenuated virus. They serve only as a growth medium for the virus and they are not part of the final product.

You might think of the cells as virus-producing factories. Once the virus is grown, it’s extracted and purified as part of a rigorous process to meet strict safety and quality standards. What remains in the final vaccine is the virus itself and stabilising agents, but not human cells, nor fetal tissue.

So claims about “fetal debris” in the vaccine are false.

It’s also worth noting the world’s major religions permit the use of vaccines developed from cells originally derived from fetal tissue when there are no alternative products available.

Are there fragments of DNA in the MMR vaccine?

Kennedy claimed the Mennonites’ reluctance to vaccinate stems from “religious objections” to what he described as “a lot of aborted fetus debris and DNA particles” in the MMR vaccine.

The latter claim, about the vaccine containing DNA particles, is technically true. Trace amounts of DNA fragments from the human cell lines used to produce the rubella component of the MMR vaccine may remain even after purification.

However, with this claim, there’s an implication these fragments pose a health risk. This is false.

Any DNA that may be present in this vaccine exists in extremely small amounts, is highly fragmented and degraded, and is biologically inert – that is, it cannot cause harm.

Even if, hypothetically, intact DNA were present in the vaccine (which it’s not), it would not have the capacity to cause harm. One common (but unfounded) concern is that foreign DNA could integrate with a person’s own DNA, and alter their genome.

Introducing DNA into human cells in a way that leads to integration is very difficult. Even when scientists are deliberately trying to do this, for example, in gene therapy, it requires precise tools, special viral delivery systems and controlled conditions.

It’s also important to remember our bodies are exposed to foreign DNA constantly, through food, bacteria and even our own microbiome. Our immune system routinely digests and disposes of this material without incorporating it into our genome.

This question has been extensively studied over decades. Multiple health authorities, including Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration, have addressed the misinformation regarding perceived harm from residual DNA in vaccines.

Ultimately, the idea that fragmented DNA in a vaccine could cause genetic harm is false.

The bottom line

Despite what Kennedy would have you believe, there’s no fetal debris in the MMR vaccine, and the trace amounts of DNA fragments that may remain pose no health risk.

What the evidence does show, however, is that vaccines like the MMR vaccine offer excellent protection against deadly and preventable diseases, and have saved millions of lives around the world.

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

– ref. The MMR vaccine doesn’t contain ‘aborted fetus debris’, as RFK Jr has claimed. Here’s the science – https://theconversation.com/the-mmr-vaccine-doesnt-contain-aborted-fetus-debris-as-rfk-jr-has-claimed-heres-the-science-255718

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Fake news and the election campaign – how worried should voters be?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Carson, 2024 Oxford University visiting research fellow RIJS; Professor of Political Communication., La Trobe University

shutterstock JRdes/Shutterstock

The spread of electoral misinformation and disinformation is undermining democracies around the world.

The World Economic Forum has identified the proliferation of false content as the leading short-term global risk in 2025 for a second consecutive year. Misleading information poses a bigger threat to global GDP, population and natural resources than even climate change or armed conflict.

Here in Australia, is the federal election facing the same threat from misinformation and disinformation? And how concerned should we be?

Fake information is real

Our latest study on public trust shows Australians are encountering electoral misinformation and are worried about it.

We surveyed more than 7,000 people during March and April when the election campaign was heating up. At least two-thirds of respondents said they had already encountered false or misleading election information.

Whether deliberate (disinformation) or unintentional (misinformation), we found Australians were exposed to different types of election falsehoods involving:
- issues and candidates
- election procedures
- election integrity, such as alleged rigged outcomes and unsupported attacks on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
Consistent with other Australian and international misinformation studies, people are clearly anxious about being misled. An overwhelming majority of respondents (94%) viewed political misinformation as a problem; more than half regarded it as a “big” or “very big problem”.

An array of falsehoods

Our team, based across four universities, examined the types of electoral misinformation and disinformation Australians reported seeing. Almost two-thirds, 63.1%, encountered falsehoods about issues or candidates, such as misleading claims about parties’ policy proposals.

Thirty-nine percent reported misinformation/disinformation about voting procedures, such as when and how to vote. A similar share, 38.4%, identified fake content about election integrity, including false claims that elections are rigged or that the Australian Electoral Commission is colluding with political parties.

A significant number of people, 20-30%, were also unsure whether they had encountered misleading content. This uncertainty is concerning in itself. Being unable to judge the accuracy of information can undermine the formation of informed opinion.

It also aligns with other research showing many Australians feel they have limited ability to verify information online.

The most prominent examples of misinformation/disinformation related to major election issues, such as:
- Medicare
- nuclear energy
- housing
- cost of living
- climate
The most common names that people associated with misleading information were:
- Donald Trump
- Clive Palmer
- Labor Party
- Liberal Party
- Facebook
Deeper analysis is needed to understand the context of these self-reported claims of misinformation and disinformation during the campaign. However, we do know that those exposed to false content identified it in both mainstream daily news and social media sources.

Should we be alarmed?

Research across the fields of psychology, communication and political science shows exposure is not the same as impact. Yet, misinformation and disinformation can influence attitudes and behaviour among vulnerable groups.

Our own work on the 2023 Voice referendum showed disinformation targeting the Australian Electoral Commission had a small but noticeable effect on public trust, even though trust remained high overall.

In another global study, we found online disinformation can distort perceptions of election fairness.

These findings underscore the need to counter falsehoods. Electoral authorities and political leaders must work to protect democratic trust and prevent the kind of election denialism that led to the January 6 Capitol insurrection in the United States.

Of course, people might not always accurately judge how much misinformation or disinformation they’ve seen. This is a common challenge in studies like ours. But even if their perceptions don’t match reality, simply feeling exposed to false or misleading information is linked to greater political cynicism.

Fighting falsehoods

Encouragingly, most Australians recognise the problem and want action. In our survey, 89% said it’s important to know how to spot it, while 83% agreed the practice makes it harder for others to separate fact from fiction. But only 69% felt false information affected them personally.

Many feel especially vulnerable about false claims about candidates and election issues (see Figure 1). Such falsehoods are currently unregulated at the federal level in Australia. But the AEC ranks among the world’s most innovative electoral authorities in countering disinformation, even without “truth in advertising” laws.

In another, yet unpublished study, we found the AEC is a global role model with its multi-pronged strategy to counter misleading information. Its tools include a public disinformation register, media partnerships, and the “Stop and Consider” campaign, which provides clear, accurate information to help voters think critically before sharing content.

Our own study revealed other encouraging signs. Individuals who are more satisfied with Australian democracy perceive disinformation as less of an existential threat than those who are already dissatisfied. This suggests a positive attitude towards democracy helps protect democratic institutions.

This provides a strong rationale for non-profits such as the Susan McKinnon Foundation to promote the value of democratic governance. The Scanlon Foundation, is also making an important contribution with its recent Voices of Australia podcast series, “Truth, Trust and Politics”.

Whoever wins the election, our study shows one thing is clear – fighting electoral misinformation and disinformation is in everyone’s democratic interest.

Andrea Carson receives funding from the Australian Research Council for this project led by AJ Brown at Griffith University: DP230101777 — Mapping & Harnessing Public Mistrust: Constitutional Values Survey 2023-27.

Max Grömping receives funding from the Australian Research Council for this project led by AJ Brown at Griffith University: DP230101777 — Mapping & Harnessing Public Mistrust: Constitutional Values Survey 2023-27.

– ref. Fake news and the election campaign – how worried should voters be? – https://theconversation.com/fake-news-and-the-election-campaign-how-worried-should-voters-be-255514
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
May 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: What is iNaturalist? The citizen science app playing an unlikely role in Erin Patterson’s mushroom murder trial

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlyn Forster, Associate Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney

Death cap mushrooms (_Amanita phalloides_) Jolanda Aalbers/Shutterstock

The world has been gripped by the case of Australian woman Erin Patterson, who was charged with the murder of three people after allegedly serving them a lunch of beef wellington containing poisonous death cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides).

A new element of the sensational story emerged in court this week, when prosecutors reportedly alleged Patterson used iNaturalist to locate and visit places where death cap mushrooms were known to grow.

So what exactly is iNaturalist? And how is this 17-year-old citizen science project being used to better understand our world?

More than 240 million observations worldwide

iNaturalist is an app that allows users to take photos of plants, fungi, animals and any piece of nature. The photos are uploaded, and identified using a combination of crowd-sourcing and artificial intelligence.

When a user uploads an image, they can also choose to make the location public, so others can see where it was found. iNaturalist’s database holds more than 240 million observations wordlwide. More than 10.6 million of these are in Australia.

All of this data is extremely important for scientists to understand the ecology of different species. iNaturalist has played a key role in the discovery of new species as well as sightings of species that have previously not been seen for decades.

iNaturalist might turn out to be an important part of Patterson’s trial, but how else can our observations be used?

Finding the unusual

Real people usually collect images for iNaturalist as part of their everyday life, rather than systematically as part of their job. That means there are patterns to the data that is collected.

Observations tend to be recorded on weekends and in good weather, and to involve life forms people find strange, unusual or interesting.

For example, at the time of writing, iNaturalist had recorded 1,382 sightings of domestic cats in Australia, compared with 29,660 koalas. But cataloguing the rare and wonderful can be useful.

When a user uploads an image to iNaturalist, they can also choose to make the location public, so others can see where it was found.
iNaturalist

iNaturalist can be used to track invasive species

One key use of iNaturalist is understanding the native range of plants and animals.

Australia invests a lot of resources in preventing species from entering the country. But we still see incursions frequently. Observant citizen scientists can be really important for finding species outside their native range. In Australia, if observations of biosecurity threats are made, alerts are automatically sent to biosecurity teams for further investigations.

In the same vein, species commonly found in the pet trade can be quickly observed and captured to prevent the spread of invasive species.

iNaturalist can be used to track invasive species.
ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock

But how safe are the observations?

In 2011, iNaturalist added more features to protect geoprivacy – which allows locations of observations to be obscured. Rare and exciting pets, and collectable insects could be found by looking at location data on iNaturalist.

There is previous evidence this has occurred. Nowadays, species of concern for poaching automatically have their locations obscured, preventing them from being illegally poached or collected. This can also be helpful to prevent people crowding popular endangered animals when they have been sighted.

Typically, anything listed as endangered will automatically have an obscured location on iNaturalist.

Observations on iNaturalist can be helpful for forensics

Observing nature, and taking photos of plants and animals in their native environment, can give us a much better understanding of where they naturally live and grow.

Aside from being fantastic for conservation reasons, this has potential use for forensic investigation of crimes. The use of insects, animals and plants in forensic cases is well established. For example the Sarcosaprophagous Beetle is used in Australia to help understand the time since death when bodies are found.

This sort of science is underpinned by an understanding of where insects naturally live, their lifespans and the sort of environments they thrive in, which are all features iNaturalist can help with.

Should I worry about my location data on iNaturalist?

Observing nature has huge benefits to understanding our natural world. But these observations do collect a lot of personal data in terms of where and when the observation occurred.

Although iNaturalist doesn’t sell users’ information, and users can obscure their precise location, the pictures a person shares can still contain enough information to figure out where they are.

This could be used for forensic intelligence to locate plants and animals of interest, and to place people with them at the time the photo was taken.

If you’re lucky enough to see a rare or threatened species, consider taking a photo that has little background information that can give away the precise details of the locations, particularly when observing immobile organisms like such as plants and fungi.

iNaturalist has played a key role in the discovery of new species.
kodartcha/Shutterstock

iNaturalist is a fantastic resource for observing nature. More data points to understand where plants, animals, and mushrooms can be found is vital for understanding their ecology, and potentially conserving species.

It also has huge ramifications for biosecurity, forensics, and even understanding movements that may have occurred during an alleged crime. So it’s really worth getting out in nature and taking photos of interesting things you see!

Melissa Humphries receives funding from the MRFF, NIH, USDoD and DSTG.

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

– ref. What is iNaturalist? The citizen science app playing an unlikely role in Erin Patterson’s mushroom murder trial – https://theconversation.com/what-is-inaturalist-the-citizen-science-app-playing-an-unlikely-role-in-erin-pattersons-mushroom-murder-trial-255714

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: New Police Security Officers reporting for duty

Source: New South Wales – News

It was a particularly happy Friday for 14 new Police Security Officers (PSOs) who today graduated from the South Australia Police Academy.

Nine men and five women bring a diverse range of backgrounds and experience to the role, including from retail, administration, disability work and as a prison officer.

Ranging in age from 19 to 45 years, today’s graduates from PSO Qualification Program 6 provide an invaluable boost to SAPOL’s Police Security Services Branch.

Following weeks of training in law and procedure, communications, and operational safety the new PSOs will now be posted to a variety of metropolitan locations, including high risk and critical infrastructure sites.

Hannah is looking forward to ensuring the safety and security of government buildings, assets and people, while working closely with police officers.

“I like the idea of every day being different and the range of pathways and opportunities,” she said.

“I applied for SAPOL as soon as I turned 18. Prior I was working at a supermarket as a front-end supervisor, while also balancing out university and studying early childhood education.

“I enjoy going to the gym, running and being active. I also have a passion for playing footy.”

During her time at the academy, Hannah has gained confidence in her abilities.

“I found the first few weeks of written exams stressful, but overcame that and passed the exams,” she said.

“Out phase was a great experience and helped me relate to my academy learning.”

Fellow graduate Nikhil worked in Victorian corrections as a prison officer and played indoor cricket before making the move to South Australia and joining SAPOL.

“This experience developed my communication in conflict resolution and resilience skills which I found very helpful throughout the training and will continue to benefit me as a PSO,” he said.

“The opportunity for personal growth and development, career stability and job security, a healthy work/life balance, and chance to contribute meaningful safety to the community are reasons why I applied to SAPOL.

“The application process was thorough, but smooth, and it was encouraging to see the support offered throughout the recruitment process.”

The support of mentors and course mates enabled Nikhil to overcome initial challenges, particularly with firearms training.

“We built a strong team culture, checking in on each other regularly, offering support and help during assessments, exams and celebrating each other’s successes,” he added.

“I have become more resilient, confident and better at managing high-pressure situations calmly and professionally.”

Hannah hopes to one day become a police officer and to join Dog Operations Unit, while Nikhil aims to develop his skills as a PSO and eventually explore opportunities in operational support units.

If you are looking for job security, career progression pathways and a chance to make a real difference in local communities visit Achievemore – Join Us (police.sa.gov.au)

Nikhil and Hannah are among 14 new Police Security Officers to graduate today from the South Australia Police Academy.

MIL OSI News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 208

Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Note: The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
SEL8

URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 208
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1055 PM CDT Thu May 1 2025

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
Western, Central, and Eastern Oklahoma
North Texas

* Effective this Thursday night and Friday morning from 1055 PM
until 700 AM CDT.

* Primary threats include…
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5
inches in diameter possible
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
A tornado or two possible

SUMMARY…A broken band of thunderstorms will likely continue east
into the Watch tonight. Scattered storm development near a frontal
zone is forecast, in addition to upscale growth into an eastward
moving squall line. Large to very large hail will be possible with
the stronger cells. Severe gusts are possible with the more intense
portions of the squall line. A threat for a brief tornado cannot be
ruled out mainly across south-central Oklahoma into eastern Oklahoma
late tonight.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 85
statute miles north and south of a line from 45 miles west northwest
of Altus OK to 65 miles east of Mcalester OK. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 205…WW 207…

AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
27035.

…Smith

SEL8

URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 208
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1055 PM CDT Thu May 1 2025

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
Western, Central, and Eastern Oklahoma
North Texas

* Effective this Thursday night and Friday morning from 1055 PM
until 700 AM CDT.

* Primary threats include…
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5
inches in diameter possible
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
A tornado or two possible

SUMMARY…A broken band of thunderstorms will likely continue east
into the Watch tonight. Scattered storm development near a frontal
zone is forecast, in addition to upscale growth into an eastward
moving squall line. Large to very large hail will be possible with
the stronger cells. Severe gusts are possible with the more intense
portions of the squall line. A threat for a brief tornado cannot be
ruled out mainly across south-central Oklahoma into eastern Oklahoma
late tonight.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 85
statute miles north and south of a line from 45 miles west northwest
of Altus OK to 65 miles east of Mcalester OK. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 205…WW 207…

AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
27035.

…Smith

Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
SAW8
WW 208 SEVERE TSTM OK TX 020355Z – 021200Z
AXIS..85 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF LINE..
45WNW LTS/ALTUS OK/ – 65E MLC/MCALESTER OK/
..AVIATION COORDS.. 75NM N/S /34NNE CDS – 35SSW FSM/
HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..2.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 27035.

LAT…LON 36130000 36099463 33649463 33660000

THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
FOR WOU8.

Watch 208 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

Note: Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

Low (20%)

Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

Low (5%)

Wind

Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

Mod (50%)

Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

Low (20%)

Hail

Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

Mod (40%)

Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

Mod (40%)

Combined Severe Hail/Wind

Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

High (80%)

For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets Japan’s LDP Youth Division delegation

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Details
2025-04-29
President Lai meets NBR delegation
On the morning of April 29, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR). In remarks, President Lai stated that as Taiwan stands at the very frontline of defense of global democracy, we are actively implementing our Four Pillars of Peace action plan, which includes continuing to enhance our national defense capabilities, demonstrating our commitment to defending freedom and democracy. The president said he hopes to further advance national security and industrial cooperation between Taiwan and the United States. He also expressed hope that this will help boost economic resilience for both sides and establish each as a key pillar of regional security, elevating our relations to even higher levels. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to meet with Admiral John Aquilino again today. I also warmly welcome NBR President Michael Wills and our distinguished guests from the bureau to Taiwan. I look forward to exchanging views with you all on Taiwan-US relations and the regional situation. During his tenure as commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Aquilino placed much attention on the Taiwan Strait issue. And the NBR has conducted a wealth of research and analysis focusing on matters of regional security. Thanks to all of your outstanding contributions and efforts, the international community has gained a better understanding of the role Taiwan plays in the Indo-Pacific region and in global democratic development. For this, I want to extend my deepest gratitude. Taiwan stands at the very frontline of defending global democracy and is located at a strategically important location in the first island chain. We are actively implementing our Four Pillars of Peace action plan, which includes continuing to enhance our national defense capabilities, building economic security, demonstrating stable and principled cross-strait leadership, and standing side-by-side with the democratic community to jointly demonstrate the strength of deterrence and safeguard regional peace and stability. At the beginning of this month, I announced an increase in military allowances for volunteer service members and combat troops. The government will also continue to reform national defense and enhance self-sufficiency in defense. In addition, we will prioritize special budget allocations to ensure that Taiwan’s defense budget exceeds 3 percent of GDP. These efforts continue to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and demonstrate our commitment to defending freedom and democracy. As we mark the 46th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, we thank the US government for continuing its arms sales to Taiwan and strengthening the Taiwan-US partnership over the years. We believe that, in addition to engaging in military exchanges and cooperation, Taiwan and the US can build an even closer economic and trade relationship, boosting each other’s economic resilience and establishing each as a key pillar of regional security. I expect that your continued assistance will help advance national security and industrial cooperation between Taiwan and the US, elevating our relations to even higher levels. Once again, I welcome our distinguished guests to Taiwan and wish you a pleasant and successful trip. I hope that through this visit, you gain a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of Taiwan’s economy and national defense. Admiral Aquilino then delivered remarks, thanking the Ministry of National Defense for the invitation and President Lai for receiving and spending time with them. Mentioning that this is his second visit in five months, he said he continues to be incredibly impressed with the president’s leadership and the actions he has taken to secure Taiwan and defend its people. Admiral Aquilino said that he has watched the efforts of the ministers on whole-of-society defense to demonstrate deterrence and added that the pace of the work is nothing short of inspiring. Admiral Aquilino noted that Taiwan’s thriving democracy is incredibly important to the peace and stability of the region. He stated that he, alongside the NBR, will continue to offer support, noting that President Wills and his team are an asset to Taiwan and the US that helps continue our close relationship and ensure peace and stability in the region.

Details
2025-04-28
President Lai meets Japanese Diet Member and former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi Sanae
On the afternoon of April 28, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Member of the Japanese House of Representatives and former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi Sanae. In remarks, President Lai thanked the government of Japan for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at important international venues. The president expressed hope that in the face of China’s continually expanding red supply chains, Taiwan and Japan can continue to cooperate closely in such fields as semiconductors, energy, and AI technology to create non-red supply chains that enhance economic resilience and industrial competitiveness for both sides, and jointly pave the way for further prosperity and growth in the Indo-Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: First, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Representative Takaichi as she returns for another visit to Taiwan. I am also very happy to have Members of the House of Representatives Kikawada Hitoshi and Ozaki Masanao, and Member of the House of Councillors Sato Kei all gathered together here to engage in these very important exchanges. Our visitors will be taking part in many exchange activities during this trip. Earlier today at the Indo-Pacific Strategy Thinktank’s International Political and Economic Forum, Representative Takaichi delivered a speech in which she clearly demonstrated the great importance she places upon the friendship between Taiwan and Japan. For this I want to express my deepest appreciation to each of our guests. The peoples of Taiwan and Japan have a deep friendship and mutual trust. We have a shared commitment to the universal values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights, but beyond that, we both have striven to contribute to regional peace and stability. I also want to thank the government of Japan for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at important international venues. Tomorrow you will all make a trip to Kaohsiung to visit a bronze statue of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who once said, “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” We will always remember the firm support and friendship he showed Taiwan. Since taking office last year, I have worked hard to improve Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense resilience and implement our Four Pillars of Peace action plan. By strengthening our national defense capabilities, building up economic security, demonstrating stable and principled cross-strait leadership, and deepening partnerships with democratic countries including Japan, we can together maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and across the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, in the face of China’s continually expanding red supply chains, we hope that Taiwan and Japan, as important economic and trade partners, can continue to cooperate closely in such fields as semiconductors, energy, and AI technology to create non-red supply chains that further enhance economic resilience and industrial competitiveness for both sides. Going forward, Taiwan will work hard to play an important role in the international community and contribute its key strengths. I hope that, with the support of our guests, Taiwan can soon accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and sign an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with Japan so that we can jointly pave the way for further prosperity and growth in the Indo-Pacific region. Lastly, I thank each of you once again for taking concrete action to support Taiwan. I am confident that your visit will help deepen Taiwan-Japan ties and create even greater opportunities for cooperation. Let us all strive together to keep propelling Taiwan-Japan relations forward. Representative Takaichi then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai and Taiwanese political leaders for the warm hospitality they extended to the delegation, and mentioning that the visiting delegation members are all like-minded partners carrying on the legacy of former Prime Minister Abe. July 8 this year will mark the third anniversary of the passing of former Prime Minister Abe, she said, and when the former prime minister unfortunately passed away, President Lai, then serving as vice president, was among the first to come offer condolences, for which she expressed sincere admiration and gratitude. Representative Takaichi stated that Taiwan and Japan are island nations that face the same circumstances and problems, and that Japan’s trade activities rely heavily on ocean transport, so once a problem arises nearby that threatens maritime shipping lanes, it will be a matter of life and death for Japan. Taiwan and Japan are similar, as once a problem arises, both will face food and energy security issues, and supply chains may even be threatened, she said. Regarding Taiwan-Japan cooperation, Representative Takaichi stated that both sides must first protect and strengthen supply chain resilience. President Lai has previously said that he wants to turn Taiwan into an AI island, she said, and in semiconductors, Taiwan has the world’s leading technology. Representative Takaichi went on to say that Taiwan and Japan can collaborate in the fields of AI and semiconductors, quantum computing, and dual-use industries, as well as in areas such as drones and new energy technologies to build more resilient supply chains, so that if problems arise, we can maintain our current standard of living with peace of mind. Representative Takaichi indicated that cooperation in the defense sector is also crucial, and that by uniting like-minded countries including Taiwan, the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia, and even countries in Europe, we can build a stronger network to jointly maintain our security guarantees. Representative Takaichi expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan will continue to strengthen substantive non-governmental relations, including personnel exchange visits and information sharing, so that we can jointly face and respond to crises when they arise. Regarding the hope to sign a Taiwan-Japan EPA that President Lai had mentioned earlier, she also expressed support and said she looks forward to upcoming exchanges and talks. The visiting delegation also included Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.

Details
2025-04-23
President Lai delivers remarks at International Holocaust Remembrance Day event
On the afternoon of April 23, President Lai Ching-te attended an International Holocaust Remembrance Day event and delivered remarks, in which he emphasized that peace is priceless, and war has no winners, while morality, democracy, and respect for human rights are powerful forces against violence and tyranny. The president stated that Taiwan will continue to expand cooperation with democratic partners and safeguard regional and global peace and stability, defending democracy, freedom, and human rights. He said we must never forget history, and must overcome our differences and join in solidarity to ensure that the next generations live in a world that is more just and more peaceful. Upon arriving at the event, President Lai heard a testimony from the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, followed by a rabbi’s recitation of the prayer “El Maleh Rachamim.” He then joined other distinguished guests in lighting candles in memory of the victims. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: To begin, I want to thank the Israel Economic and Cultural Office (ISECO) in Taipei, German Institute Taipei, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for co-organizing this deeply significant memorial ceremony again this year. I also want to thank everyone for attending. We are here today to remember the victims of the Holocaust, express sympathy for the survivors, honor the brave individuals who protected the victims, and acknowledge all who were impacted by this atrocity. It was deeply moving to hear Ms. [Orly] Sela share the story of how her grandmother, Yehudit Biksz, escaped the Nazi regime. I want to thank her specially for traveling so far to attend this event. From the 1930s through World War II, the Nazi regime sought to exclude Jewish people from society. In their campaign, they perpetrated systematic genocide driven by their ideology. Policies and directives under the authoritarian Nazi regime resulted in the deaths of approximately 6 million Jews. Millions of others were persecuted, including Romani people, persons with disabilities, the gay community, and anyone who disagreed with Nazi ideology. It is one of the darkest chapters in human history. Many countries, including Taiwan, have enacted anti-massacre legislation, and observe a remembrance day each year. Those occasions help us remember the victims, preserve historical memory, and most importantly, reinforce our resolve to fight against hatred and discrimination. Twenty-three years ago, Chelujan (車路墘) Church in Tainan founded the Taiwan Holocaust Memorial Museum. It is the first Jewish museum in Taiwan, and the second Holocaust museum in Asia. Its founding mission urges us to forget hatred and love one another; put an end to war and advocate peace. Many of the exhibition items come from Jewish people, connecting Taiwan closer with Israel and helping Taiwanese better understand the experiences of Jewish people. In this way, we grow to more deeply cherish peace. When I was mayor of Tainan, I took part in an exhibition event at Chelujan Church. I was also invited by the Israeli government to join the International Mayors Conference in Israel, where I visited the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. I will never forget how deeply that experience moved me, and as a result, peace and human rights became even more important issues for me. These issues are valued by Taiwan and our friends and allies. They are also important links connecting Taiwan with the world. Peace is priceless, and war has no winners. We will continue to expand cooperation with democratic partners and safeguard regional and global peace and stability. We will also continue to make greater contributions and work with the international community to defend democracy, freedom, and human rights. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. However, we still see wars raging around the world. We see a resurgence of authoritarian powers, which could severely impact global democracy, peace, and prosperous development. Today’s event allows for more than reflection on the past; it also serves as a warning for the future. We are reminded of the threats that hatred, prejudice, and extremism pose to humanity. But we are also reminded that morality, democracy, and respect for human rights are powerful forces against violence and tyranny. We must never forget history. We must overcome our differences and join in solidarity for a better future. Let’s work together to ensure that the next generations live in a world that is more just and more peaceful. Also in attendance at the event were Member of the Israeli Knesset (parliament) and Taiwan friendship group Chair Boaz Toporovsky, ISECO Representative Maya Yaron, and German Institute Taipei Deputy Director General Andreas Hofem.

Details
2025-04-23
President Lai pays respects to Pope Francis
On the morning of April 23, President Lai Ching-te visited the Taipei Archdiocesan Curia to pay respects in a memorial ceremony for His Holiness Pope Francis. As officiant of the ceremony, President Lai burned incense and presented flowers, fruits, and wine to pay his respects to Pope Francis. At the direction of the master of ceremonies, the president then bowed three times in front of Pope Francis’s memorial portrait, conveying his grief and deep respect for the late pope. After hearing of Pope Francis’s passing on April 21, President Lai promptly requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express sincere condolences from the people and government of Taiwan to the Vatican. The president also instructed Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) to convey condolences to the Holy See’s Apostolic Nunciature in Taiwan.

Details
2025-04-23
President Lai meets US CNAS NextGen fellows
On the morning of April 23, President Lai Ching-te met with fellows from the Shawn Brimley Next Generation National Security Leaders Program (NextGen) run by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). In remarks, President Lai thanked the government of the United States for continuing its arms sales to Taiwan over the years, supporting Taiwan’s efforts to enhance its national defense capabilities and jointly maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The president pointed out that we will promote our “Taiwan plus one” policy, that is, new arrangements for Taiwan plus the US, and form a “Taiwan investment in the US team” to expand investment and bring about even closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, allowing us to reduce the trade deficit and generate development that benefits both sides. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Ms. Michèle Flournoy, chair of the CNAS Board of Directors, is a good friend of Taiwan, and she has made major contributions to Taiwan-US relations through her long-time efforts on various aspects of our cooperation. I am happy to welcome Chair Flournoy, who is once again leading a NextGen Fellowship delegation to Taiwan. CNAS is a prominent think tank focusing on US national security and defense policy based in Washington, DC. Its NextGen Fellowship has fostered talented individuals in the fields of national security and foreign affairs. This year’s delegation is significantly larger than those of the past, demonstrating the increased importance that the next generation of US leaders attach to Taiwan. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend my sincerest welcome to you all. The Taiwan Strait, an issue of importance for our guests, has become a global issue. There is a high degree of international consensus that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are indispensable elements in global security and prosperity. Facing military threats from China, Taiwan proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we are actively implementing military reforms, enhancing whole-of-society defense resilience, and working to increase our defense budget to more than 3 percent of GDP. Second, we are strengthening our economic resilience. As Taiwan’s economy must keep advancing, we can no longer put all our eggs in one basket. We are taking action to remain firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence and marketing worldwide. In these efforts, we are already seeing results. Third, we are standing side-by-side with other democratic countries to demonstrate the strength of deterrence and achieve our goal of peace through strength. And fourth, Taiwan is willing, under the principles of parity and dignity, to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China towards achieving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. This April 10 marked the 46th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act. We thank the US government for continuing its arms sales to Taiwan over the years, supporting Taiwan’s efforts to enhance its national defense capabilities and jointly maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. We look forward to Taiwan and the US continuing to strengthen collaboration on the development of both our defense industries as well as the building of non-red supply chains. This will yield even more results and further deepen our economic and trade partnership. The US is now the main destination for outbound investment from Taiwan. Moving forward, we will promote our “Taiwan plus one” policy, that is, new arrangements for Taiwan plus the US. And our government will form a “Taiwan investment in the US team” to expand investment. We hope this will bring Taiwan-US economic and trade cooperation even closer and, through mutually beneficial assistance, allow us to generate development that benefits both our sides while reducing our trade deficit. In closing, thank you once again for visiting Taiwan. We hope your trip is fruitful and leaves you with a deep impression of Taiwan. We also hope that going forward you continue supporting Taiwan and advancing even greater development for Taiwan-US ties. Chair Flournoy then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for making time to receive their delegation. Referring to President Lai’s earlier remarks, she said that it is quite an impressive group, as past members of this program have gone on to become members of the US Congress, leading government experts, and leaders in the think-tank world and in the private sector. She remarked that investing in this group is a wonderful privilege for her and that they appreciate President Lai’s agreeing to take the time to engage in exchange with them. Chair Flournoy emphasized that they are visiting Taiwan at a critical moment, when there is so much change and volatility in the geostrategic environment, a lot of uncertainty, and a lot of unpredictability. She stated that given our shared values, our shared passion for democracy and human rights, and our shared interests in peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, this is an important time for dialogue, collaboration, and looking for additional opportunities where we can work together towards regional peace and stability.

Details
2025-04-06
President Lai delivers remarks on US tariff policy response
On April 6, President Lai Ching-te delivered recorded remarks regarding the impact of the 32 percent tariff that the United States government recently imposed on imports from Taiwan in the name of reciprocity. In his remarks, President Lai explained that the government will adopt five response strategies, including making every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations, adopting a support plan for affected domestic industries, adopting medium- and long-term economic development plans, forming new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements, and launching industry listening tours. The president emphasized that as we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and expressed hope that all parties, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: My fellow citizens, good evening. The US government recently announced higher tariffs on countries around the world in the name of reciprocity, including imposing a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan. This is bound to have a major impact on our nation. Various countries have already responded, and some have even adopted retaliatory measures. Tremendous changes in the global economy are expected. Taiwan is an export-led economy, and in facing future challenges there will inevitably be difficulties, so we must proceed carefully to turn danger into safety. During this time, I want to express gratitude to all sectors of society for providing valuable opinions, which the government regards highly, and will use as a reference to make policy decisions. However, if we calmly and carefully analyze Taiwan’s trade with the US, we find that last year Taiwan’s exports to the US were valued at US$111.4 billion, accounting for 23.4 percent of total export value, with the other 75-plus percent of products sold worldwide to countries other than the US. Of products sold to the US, competitive ICT products and electronic components accounted for 65.4 percent. This shows that Taiwan’s economy does still have considerable resilience. As long as our response strategies are appropriate, and the public and private sectors join forces, we can reduce impacts. Please do not panic. To address the reciprocal tariffs by the US, Taiwan has no plans to adopt retaliatory tariffs. There will be no change in corporate investment commitments to the US, as long as they are consistent with national interests. But we must ensure the US clearly understands Taiwan’s contributions to US economic development. More importantly, we must actively seek to understand changes in the global economic situation, strengthen Taiwan-US industry cooperation, elevate the status of Taiwan industries in global supply chains, and with safeguarding the continued development of Taiwan’s economy as our goal, adopt the following five strategies to respond. Strategy one: Make every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations using the following five methods: 1. Taiwan has already formed a negotiation team led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君). The team includes members from the National Security Council, the Office of Trade Negotiations, and relevant Executive Yuan ministries and agencies, as well as academia and industry. Like the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, negotiations on tariffs can start from Taiwan-US bilateral zero-tariff treatment. 2. To expand purchases from the US and thereby reduce the trade deficit, the Executive Yuan has already completed an inventory regarding large-scale procurement plans for agricultural, industrial, petroleum, and natural gas products, and the Ministry of National Defense has also proposed a military procurement list. All procurement plans will be actively pursued. 3. Expand investments in the US. Taiwan’s cumulative investment in the US already exceeds US$100 billion, creating approximately 400,000 jobs. In the future, in addition to increased investment in the US by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, other industries such as electronics, ICT, petrochemicals, and natural gas can all increase their US investments, deepening Taiwan-US industry cooperation. Taiwan’s government has helped form a “Taiwan investment in the US” team, and hopes that the US will reciprocate by forming a “US investment in Taiwan” team to bring about closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, jointly creating a future economic golden age. 4. We must eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade. Non-tariff barriers are an indicator by which the US assesses whether a trading partner is trading fairly with the US. Therefore, we will proactively resolve longstanding non-tariff barriers so that negotiations can proceed more smoothly. 5. We must resolve two issues that have been matters of longstanding concern to the US. One regards high-tech export controls, and the other regards illegal transshipment of dumped goods, otherwise referred to as “origin washing.” Strategy two: We must adopt a plan for supporting our industries. For industries that will be affected by the tariffs, and especially traditional industries as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, we will provide timely and needed support and assistance. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and his administrative team recently announced a package of 20 specific measures designed to address nine areas. Moving forward, the support we provide to different industries will depend on how they are affected by the tariffs, will take into account the particular features of each industry, and will help each industry innovate, upgrade, and transform. Strategy three: We must adopt medium- and long-term economic development plans. At this point in time, our government must simultaneously adopt new strategies for economic and industrial development. This is also the fundamental path to solutions for future economic challenges. The government will proactively cooperate with friends and allies, develop a diverse range of markets, and achieve closer integration of entities in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of industrial supply chains. This course of action will make Taiwan’s industrial ecosystem more complete, and will help Taiwanese industries upgrade and transform. We must also make good use of the competitive advantages we possess in such areas as semiconductor manufacturing, integrated chip design, ICT, and smart manufacturing to build Taiwan into an AI island, and promote relevant applications for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as military, security and surveillance, next-generation communications, and the medical and health and wellness industries as we advance toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more prosperous new Taiwan. Strategy four: “Taiwan plus one,” i.e., new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements: While staying firmly rooted in Taiwan, our enterprises are expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. This has been our national economic development strategy, and the most important aspect is maintaining a solid base here in Taiwan. We absolutely must maintain a solid footing, and cannot allow the present strife to cause us to waver. Therefore, our government will incentivize investments, carry out deregulation, and continue to improve Taiwan’s investment climate by actively resolving problems involving access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent. This will enable corporations to stay in Taiwan and continue investing here. In addition, we must also help the overseas manufacturing facilities of offshore Taiwanese businesses to make necessary adjustments to support our “Taiwan plus one” policy, in that our national economic development strategy will be adjusted as follows: to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence, strengthening US ties, and marketing worldwide. We intend to make use of the new state of supply chains to strengthen cooperation between Taiwanese and US industries, and gain further access to US markets. Strategy five: Launch industry listening tours: All industrial firms, regardless of sector or size, will be affected to some degree once the US reciprocal tariffs go into effect. The administrative teams led by myself and Premier Cho will hear out industry concerns so that we can quickly resolve problems and make sure policies meet actual needs. My fellow citizens, over the past half-century and more, Taiwan has been through two energy crises, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and pandemics. We have been able to not only withstand one test after another, but even turn crises into opportunities. The Taiwanese economy has emerged from these crises stronger and more resilient than ever. As we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and I hope that all parties in the legislature, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. Let us join together and give it our all. Thank you.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Archibald Packing Room Prize goes to Abdul Abdullah for Jason Phu portrait, among broader set of bold and deeply personal works

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanna Mendelssohn, Honorary Senior Fellow, School of Culture and Communication. Editor in Chief, Design and Art of Australia Online, The University of Melbourne

Winner Packing Room Prize 2025, Abdul Abdullah ‘No mountain high enough’, oil on linen, 162.4 x 136.7cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter

More than 50 years ago, when I was a junior curatorial assistant at the Art Gallery of NSW, I had the daunting experience of hanging the annual Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes.

At the time the professional staff held the exhibitions in such disregard, they complained about the news media’s interest in this mediocrity while ignoring more worthy events.

Attitudes changed in the 1980s with the late director Edmund Capon, who recognised popularity was an asset – not a disadvantage.

Capon raised the prize money with sponsorships and started charging the public to see the winners. His strategy proved so successful that the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman exhibitions are now a significant source of revenue for the gallery.

This year, the highly experienced Beatrice Gralton, Senior Curator of Contemporary Australian Art, has curated the exhibitions with support from a crew of more than 40 colleagues.

Packing Room Prize goes to Abdul Abdullah

In the 1970s, the media was refused access to the exhibitions until just before the winner was announced. Now it is actively courted with a public viewing of the works that survive the rigorous culling process.

This takes place a week before the final judging, when the Packing Room Prize is announced. The changing status of this prize is also evidenced by changing personnel. Those who did the physical work of packing and loading artworks in the past were not expected to know much about art – and often gave the prize to paintings that would otherwise not be hung.

In 2025, the specialist installation crew that handles the portraits in the packing room are most likely to be professional artists themselves – a reminder that most artists need another gig to stay afloat.

This year’s Packing Room Prize winner is Abdul Abdullah’s portrait of fellow artist Jason Phu, No mountain high enough. There is a glorious irony in this, as Abdullah has long been a critic of the self-important art establishment.

Winner Packing Room Prize 2025, Abdul Abdullah ‘No mountain high enough’, oil on linen, 162.4 x 136.7cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter.

His work is a riff on the heroic paintings of 19th century landscapes, except for the flock of twittering birds that surround the head of the solitary rider, a bit like a halo.

His subject, fellow artist Phu, has to be seen as a serious contender for the main prize, which will be announced on May 9. Phu’s portrait of actor Hugo Weaving – older hugo from the future fighting hugo from right now in a swamp and all the frogs and insects and fish and flowers now look on – has both the humour and energy that has long characterised his work.

Archibald Prize 2025 finalist, Jason Phu ‘older hugo from the future fighting hugo from right now in a swamp and all the frogs and insects and fish and flowers now look on’, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 183.2 x 152.5cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter.

But there are many serious contenders for this year’s prize. Kurdish refugee Mostafa Azimitabar first exhibited in the Archibald in 2022, with a self-portrait painted in coffee, with a toothbrush. Art became his refuge during the many years he spent incarcerated as an asylum seeker.

He still uses a toothbrush, but has used paint for his wonderfully fierce painting of a taut Grace Tame, appropriately named The definition of hope.

Archibald Prize 2025 finalist, Mostafa Azimitabar ‘The definition of hope’, oil on linen, 198.5 x 137.3cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter.

Then there’s Kaylene Whiskey’s delightful self-portrait From comic to canvas, which manages to include images of her heroines, Dolly Parton and Tina Turner.

Archibald Prize 2025 finalist, Kaylene Whiskey ‘From comic to canvas’, synthetic polymer paint and book pages on plywood, 79.8 x 114.3cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter. Sitter, Kaylene Whiskey.

Not all works are so strident, however. Lucila Zentner’s Wendy in the gallery, is a subdued portrait of fellow artist Wendy Sharpe, placing her in the context of her art, almost as a decoration.

Archibald Prize 2025 finalist, Lucila Zentner ‘Wendy in the gallery’, oil on canvas, 60.3 x 50.5cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter.

A suite of diverse storytelling

As is spelt out in J.F. Archibald’s will, the judges of the Archibald Prize must be the trustees of the gallery, and no one else may interfere in their decision.

However, for decades after a spectacular court case resulting from the 1943 Archibald, the trustees were so nervous of litigation that the final judging was administered by the NSW electoral office. In a court case in 1944, plaintiffs claimed the trustees’ 1943 decision was a breach of trust as the winning painting wasn’t a portrait. And one trustee claimed he had accidentally voted for the winner, thinking he was voting against it.

Today, all decisions are made in-house. Court cases have been fought over whether entries were paintings (or not), painted from life (or not), selected by the trustees (or not). In 1990 Sidney Nolan had to withdraw his entry after it was pointed out he could not be described as a “resident in Australasia for 12 months preceding the date of entry”.

But once the entry conditions are met, the curator has a free hand. This year, Gralton has hung all three exhibitions on the premise they are “about stories and storytelling”.

There is the joyous extravagance of Meagan Pelham’s Magic Nikki and Charlie fancy pants party … Djaaaaaaaay, the stark analysis of Chris O’Doherty’s Self-portrait with nose tube, and the wildly painterly approach of Loribelle Spirovski’s Finger painting of William Barton.

Archibald Prize 2025 finalist, Loribelle Spirovski ‘Finger painting of William Barton’, oil on canvas, 182.6 x 137cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter.

In the Sulman prize exhibition – awarded for best subject painting, genre painting or mural project – the once academic modernist Mitch Cairns has gone full conceptual with his stark Narrow cast (studio mural). It looks like something straight out of the 1970s Art & Language movement.

But my money is on Thom Roberts’ Mrs Picture Book and the three bears, a painting as a book, in three canvases.

Sulman Prize 2025 finalist, Thom Roberts ‘Mrs Picture Book and the three bears’, triptych: synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 120 x 106.5 x 13cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio.

The Wynne prize is for both Australian landscapes and sculptures. This year there are many three-dimensional works, ranging from the elaborate Billy Bain to the almost agonised restraint of Heather B. Swann.

Lucy Culliton’s Cliff Hole, Bottom Bullock, hangs alongside Betty Muffler’s Ngangkaṟi Ngura – healing Country – both paintings of Country.

Wynne Prize 2025 finalist, Betty Muffler ‘Ngangkaṟi Ngura – healing Country’, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 197.3 x 243.5cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio.

Then there is Mehwish Iqbal’s beautiful, delicate Zameen muqaddas (sacred earth), a pen and ink contrast of fine botanical drawing and delicate wash, all on handmade paper.

Wynne Prize 2025 finalist, Mehwish Iqbal ‘Zameen muqaddas (sacred earth)’, watercolour and ink on handmade paper, 18 parts: 30 x 30cm each; 152 x 120cm overall © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio.

While artist Elizabeth Pulie has already judged the Sulman prize, the judging for the Archibald and Wynne will be finalised early morning on May 9. This year’s result is anyone’s guess.

Joanna Mendelssohn has in the past received funding from the ARC.

– ref. Archibald Packing Room Prize goes to Abdul Abdullah for Jason Phu portrait, among broader set of bold and deeply personal works – https://theconversation.com/archibald-packing-room-prize-goes-to-abdul-abdullah-for-jason-phu-portrait-among-broader-set-of-bold-and-deeply-personal-works-253747

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Scientists surprised to discover mayflies and shrimp making their bodies out of ancient gas

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul McInerney, Senior Research Scientist in Ecosystem Ecology, CSIRO

The native shrimp _Paratya australiensis_ was among the species found to incorporate carbon from natural gas into their bodies in the Condamine River. Chris Van Wyk/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

What’s the currency for all life on Earth? Carbon. Every living thing needs a source of carbon to grow and reproduce. In the form of organic molecules, carbon contains chemical energy that is transferred between organisms when one eats the other.

Plants carry out photosynthesis, using energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen. Animals get carbon by consuming organic matter in their diet – herbivores from plants, carnivores from eating other animals. They use this carbon for energy and to produce the molecules their bodies need, with some carbon dioxide released by breathing.

But there are other, stranger ways of getting carbon. In our new research, we found something very surprising. River animals were feeding on methane-eating bacteria, which in turn were consuming fossil fuel as food.

Usually, the carbon used as food by river creatures is new in the sense it has been recently converted from gas (carbon dioxide) to solid carbon through photosynthesising algae or trees along the bank. But in a few rivers, such as the Condamine River in Queensland, there’s another source: ancient natural gas bubbling up from underground, which is eaten by microorganisms. Insects such as mayflies have taken to this methane-based carbon with gusto.

How does a river usually get its carbon?

The way photosynthesised carbon moves from a plant to an animal and then another animal can be described as a food web. Food webs show the many different feeding relationships between organisms, and show how species depend on each other for sustenance in an intricate balance.

In a river food web, carbon usually comes from one of two sources: plants growing and photosynthesising in the river (such as algae), or when organic matter such as leaves are washed in by rain or blown in by wind.

Rivers that are well connected to their floodplains often get plenty of carbon from leaf litter from trees which dissolves in water or is eaten directly by animals. Algae in rivers provide a high-quality source of carbon for animals because they can contain high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids essential for growth and reproduction.
The primary source of carbon for river animals varies depending on prevailing conditions and the individual river.

The carbon of the Condamine

Some microorganisms called archaea naturally produce small amounts of methane in oxygen-depleted sediments of rivers.

But we wanted to look at the Condamine to see whether much larger volumes of methane could be used as food.

After it forms deep underground, natural gas can slowly escape through cracks in the earth. If a river bed is directly above, this methane-rich gas will seep into the river.

That’s what happens in Queensland’s Condamine River. The river rises on Mount Superbus, inland from Brisbane, and flows inland until it meets the Darling River.

In some parts of the river, methane bubbles up constantly through the water column from a natural gas reservoir that formed since the Late Pleistocene.

In these stretches of river, dissolved methane concentrations are extremely high: up to 350 times greater than trace concentrations upriver, away from the methane seep.

We wanted to see whether methanotrophic bacteria consuming methane from natural gas were being eaten by river animals, and whether we could trace the carbon signature through the food web.

To find out, we analysed the carbon in the bodies of river animals such as zooplankton, insects, shrimp, prawns and fish, and compared it to the different sources of carbon that could make up their food.

The results were clear: animals within reach of the natural gas seeping from underground had a distinct carbon signature showing they were eating food derived from the natural gas. In fact, for insects such as mayflies, methane-based food made up more than half (55%) of their diet.

Over time, this methane-derived food moved up the food web, showing up in prawns and even fish. Here too, it contributed a significant portion of their carbon.

Natural gas bubbles up through the water column to the surface of the Condamine in some stretches.
Gavin Rees, CC BY-NC-ND

We found this methane–derived carbon moved through multiple levels of the local food web. It made up almost a fifth (19%) of the carbon in shrimp and 28% of the carbon in carnivorous fish.

For river shrimp and prawns, leaves washed into the river were still important sources of carbon. For mayflies, algae was still an important source of food.

But our work shows that natural gas seeps can be a major, even dominant, source of energy for the entire food web. This is very surprising. It shows an unexpected connection between Earth’s geology and living creatures in a river.

Why does this matter?

Until now, researchers have focused on river and land plants as the main way a river gets its carbon. Our research has uncovered a surprisingly significant way some rivers get their carbon – methane.

In deep sea research, this pathway is better understood. Methane-eating bacteria can form the basis of entire ecosystems which have sprung up around deep sea hydrothermal vents of hot water.

But until now, we have overlooked the role methane-eating bacteria can play in rivers. With this knowledge, we can better track the flows of carbon in rivers so we can gauge ecosystem productivity and see how a food web is functioning.

Paul McInerney receives funding from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder.

– ref. Scientists surprised to discover mayflies and shrimp making their bodies out of ancient gas – https://theconversation.com/scientists-surprised-to-discover-mayflies-and-shrimp-making-their-bodies-out-of-ancient-gas-253334

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: The Liberals’ women problem may seem intractable, but here’s what they could learn from the Teals

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phoebe Hayman, PhD Candidate and Casual Academic in Politics, La Trobe University

The impression of the Liberal Party as out of touch with women persists in this year’s election.

The party’s “women problem” was brought into sharp focus by the backlash to its now-abandoned policy to stop public servants working from home.

Then there was a candidate claiming women should be removed from the military, and misogynistic social media posts from a Liberal campaign manager. These recurring issues suggest there are larger problems that have not been dealt with.

Until the party does so, Liberal claims of broad representation remain in doubt. It also makes the party more vulnerable to independent insurgencies, making its path to majority government unclear.

My new research shows how a key Liberal weakness became an independent success for “Teal” candidates. The results provide key lessons for the Liberals on how the Teal campaigns that won against them in the previous election recruited women to their movement.

Read more:
When ‘equal’ does not mean ‘the same’: Liberals still do not understand their women problem

An intractable problem

The Liberal Party has long had a lack of female representation in its ranks.

Although only 29% of federal Liberal MPs are women, the party has been reluctant to adopt gender quotas.

It’s instead adopted a gender parity by 2025 target, which will almost certainly not be met. Recent research has shown women still make up only one in three Liberal candidates and are less likely to run in safe seats.

A review of gender within the Liberal Party in 2020 found women made up 34.8% of Young Liberals and only 23.4% of branch presidents or similar leaders. Despite targets, these numbers have remained sticky.

Recruiting more women to take up positions throughout the organisation is vital. Without this, parties have a smaller pool of prospective women candidates and are less likely to preselect women.

My study

As part of my recently published study, I conducted 55 interviews in 2022 with volunteers, campaigners and candidates to examine how Teal campaigns recruited.

This study found women’s social and professional networks are vital for recruitment, for everyone from boots-on-the-ground volunteers to candidates.

Recruiting through personal networks is more effective than other means often used, such as individuals signing themselves up alone. Interviewees gave examples of recruiting their friends and family members into independent campaigns, like the woman who designed the graphics for a campaign because she was an old schoolmate of the candidate.

People’s social networks are often full of people who are similar to them. Among the independents, the women who volunteered were often skilled professionals, who recruited other professional women.

This recruitment developed organically through friendships and colleagues. Interviewees gave examples, such as a volunteer who:

[…] invited eight or ten of her own friends, who she knew were pretty well onside, but asked them to bring friends to that gathering, which ended up being 50 or so people.

Many independent volunteers had also been active in local community organisations. As one interviewee put it:

it’s women who get things done. It’s always the women who are organising barbecues and whatever needs to be done at school and whatever community organisation there is, whether it’s a community garden or a football club. It always seems to be women who just quietly go about the work.

There is a long literature exploring who is a “joiner” and why that supports this approach. Women involved in other causes and organisations – political or not – are more likely to participate and be effective.

Recruiting from civic organisations is not unique to independents. The Liberal Party effectively engaged with the Women’s Leagues in its formative years. Doing so again would likely provide volunteers who are well-known and connected in their communities, enthusiastic and full of expertise the campaigns could draw on.

Women seeing potential in other women

As the independent campaigns developed, they required supporters with specialist skills, such as website development. To find these people quickly, campaign leaders recruited trusted friends and professional contacts instead of advertising externally.

This meant women were recruited directly to the higher levels of the campaign, making up the majority of leaders across the movement.

In turn, these leaders shaped the candidate-selection processes, searching for “the candidate from central casting”, as one interviewee described Allegra Spender. Most saw a professional woman as the ideal candidate in 2022.

Women are more likely to believe women candidates are electable, shaping who gets preselected to run as a candidate.

Within the Liberal Party, women campaigned for more female candidates last year. To succeed in these factional battles, more women must hold leadership positions.

The continued lack of progress on gender parity suggests the Liberal Party needs to do more to actively engage with the women who are already members of the party and engage with leaders across civic and political organisations that already exist within the community. Members may be their most important resource in achieving parliamentary gender parity.

However, achieving this means first having women in the room. Independent interviewees viewed parties as masculine and hierarchical organisations.

Dealing with this perception will be no easy feat, but must be the first step in any attempt to bring women back to the Liberal Party.

Phoebe Hayman receives funding from an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship.

– ref. The Liberals’ women problem may seem intractable, but here’s what they could learn from the Teals – https://theconversation.com/the-liberals-women-problem-may-seem-intractable-but-heres-what-they-could-learn-from-the-teals-254058

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Advice under development – administration issues

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

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MIL OSI News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Advice under development – capital gains tax issues

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

[3953] Back-to-back CGT rollovers [updated]

Title

Draft Practical Compliance Guideline

Back-to-back CGT roll-overs – ATO compliance approach

Purpose

This draft Guideline will explain when we are more likely to apply compliance resources to consider potential tax risks, including the application of Part IVA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (the general anti-avoidance provisions of the income tax law) to an arrangement that comprises multiple CGT rollovers.

Expected completion

Late 2025

Comments

Estimated completion in late 2025 is subject to the High Court’s finalisation of the appeal of the Full Federal Court’s decision in AusNet Services Limited v Commissioner of Taxation [2025] FCAFC 21.

Contact

Tara McLachlan, Private Wealth

Phone: (07) 3149 5339

Tara.McLachlan@ato.gov.au

[4172] Application of CGT event K6

Title

Addendum to Taxation Ruling

Taxation Ruling TR 2004/18 Income tax: capital gains: application of CGT event K6 (about pre-CGT shares and pre-CGT trust interests) in section 104-230 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

Purpose

The addendum will revise aspects of TR 2004/18 about how the capital gain is calculated when a CGT event K6 happens. It will focus on the interpretation and application of subsection 104-230(6) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, including the approach to working out which items of post-CGT property relevant capital proceeds are reasonably attributable to.

Expected completion

To be advised

Comments

The draft update to Taxation Ruling TR 2004/18DC Income tax: capital gains: application of CGT event K6 (about pre-CGT shares and pre-CGT trust interests) in section 104-230 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 published on 11 December 2024. Comments period closed on 14 February 2025.

Contact

Heran Kim, Private Wealth

Phone: (02) 9685 8516

Heran.Kim@ato.gov.au

[4188] Deceased estates: ‘double death’ [updated]

Title

Draft Taxation Determination

CGT consequences under Division 128 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 when a beneficiary of a deceased estate dies before a CGT asset of the deceased estate passes to them

Purpose

This guidance will clarify the Commissioner’s view on the application of the CGT rollover concession in Division 128 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 when a beneficiary of a deceased estate dies before a CGT asset of the deceased estate passes to them.

Expected completion

Late 2025

Contact

Danijela Jablanovic, Individuals and Intermediaries

Phone: (07) 3213 5864

Danijela.jablanovic@ato.gov.au

[4189] Deceased estates: right to occupy [updated]

Title

Draft Taxation Determination

What constitutes a right to occupy a dwelling ‘under a deceased’s will’ for the purpose of obtaining the CGT exemption in section 118-195 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997?

Purpose

This guidance will provide the Commissioner’s view on when an individual has a right to occupy a dwelling under a deceased’s will for the purposes of subsection 118-195(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to obtain a CGT main residence exemption.

Expected completion

Mid 2026

Contact

Penny Hextall, Individuals and Intermediaries

Phone: (03) 8601 9423

Penny.Hextall@ato.gov.au

MIL OSI News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 2, 2025

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 2, 2025.

Unexpected humour and reflections on a complex past: my top 5 films from the 2025 German Film Festival
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claudia Sandberg, Senior Lecturer, Technology in Culture and Society, The University of Melbourne Foreign audiences often associate German cinema with tragedy, trauma and death. Certainly, major historical events such as the second world war and the Fall of the Berlin Wall — cornerstones of German film —

Explainer: what mental health support do refugees and asylum seekers get in Australia?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philippa Specker, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program, School of Psychology, UNSW Sydney PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock When Australia signed the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention, it committed to providing protection to people who have fled war, persecution and human rights violations. Refugees

Dark money: Labor and Liberal join forces in attacks on Teals and Greens for Australian election
Teals and Greens are under political attack from a new pro-fossil fuel, pro-Israel astroturfing group, adding to the onslaught by far-right lobbyists Advance Australia for Australian federal election tomorrow — World Press Freedom Day. Wendy Bacon and Yaakov Aharon investigate. SPECIAL REPORT: By Wendy Bacon and Yaakov Aharon On February 12 this year, former prime

How the US ‘war on woke’ and women risks weakening its own military capability
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bethan Greener, Associate Professor of Politics, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a visit with Michigan Air National Guard troops, April 29. Getty Images With US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s “proud” cancellation this week of the military’s Women, Peace

What are the symptoms of measles? How long does the vaccine last? Experts answer 6 key questions
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phoebe Williams, Paediatrician & Infectious Diseases Physician; Senior Lecturer & NHMRC Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney fotohay/Shutterstock So far in 2025 (as of May 1), 70 cases of measles have been notified in Australia, with all states and territories except Tasmania and the Australian Capital

Logging devastated Victoria’s native forests – and new research shows 20% has failed to grow back
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maldwyn John Evans, Senior Research Fellow, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Old growth mountain ash forest in the Maroondah water supply catchment, Victoria. Chris Taylor Following the end of native logging in Victoria on January 1 2024, the state’s majestic forests might be

Schools today also teach social and emotional skills. Why is this important? And what’s involved?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kristin R. Laurens, Professor, School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology DGLImages/Shutterstock The school curriculum has changed a lot from when many parents and grandparents were at school. Alongside new approaches to learning maths and increasing attention on technology, there is a compulsory focus on

As Dutton champions nuclear power, Indigenous artists recall the profound loss of land and life that came from it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Josephine Goldman, Sessional Academic, School of Languages and Cultures, Discipline of French and Francophone Studies, University of Sydney Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s promise to power Australia with nuclear energy has been described by experts as a costly “mirage” that risks postponing the clean energy transition. Beyond this,

Grattan on Friday: Key markers on the bumpy road to this election
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When we look back, we can see the road to election day has had a multitude of signposts, flashing red lights, twists, turns and potholes. Some came before the formal campaign; others in the final countdown days; some have been

NZ doctors defend nationwide strike action over recruitment
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Gallery: Doctors, health workers challenge NZ government over national crisis
Asia Pacific Report Thousands of senior hospital doctors and specialists walked off the job today for an unprecedented 24-hour strike in protest over stalled contract negotiations and thousands of other health workers protested across Aotearoa New Zealand against the coalition government’s cutbacks to the public health service Te Whatu Ora. In spite of the disruptive

The Coalition’s costings show some savings, but a larger deficit than Labor in the first two years
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Bartos, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra The Coalition’s policy costings have been released, just two days ahead of the federal election. The costings show the Coalition would run up a larger budget deficit than Labor in the first two years of government, but make a

Tourism to the US is tanking. Flight Centre is facing a $100m hit as a result
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anita Manfreda, Senior Lecturer in Tourism, Torrens University Australia Doubletree Studio/Shutterstock Flight Centre, one of the world’s largest travel agencies, has warned it could lose more than A$100 million in earnings this year, citing weakening demand for travel to the United States. In a statement to the

The rise of right-wing Christian populism and its powerful impact on Australian politics
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elenie Poulos, Adjunct Fellow, Macquarie University As Australians cast pre-poll votes in record numbers, it is not only political parties and candidates who are trying to influence votes. Australian Christian Right (ACR) groups have produced “scorecards” that rate party policies according to so-called Christian values. And they

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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Digital Storytelling Team, The Conversation We’re at the tail end of five weeks of intense campaigning for the federal election. The major and minor parties, as well as independents, have thrown a slew of policies at the Australian people, most of which we’ve catalogued in our Policy

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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A YouGov MRP poll has Labor clearly winning a majority of seats in the federal election – 84 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives.

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How do candidates skirt Chinese social media bans on political content? They use influencers
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fan Yang, Research fellow at Melbourne Law School, the University of Melbourne and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society., The University of Melbourne This election, social media has been a major battleground as candidates try to reach younger voters. As Gen Z and

Who would win in a fight between 100 men and 1 gorilla? An evolutionary expert weighs in
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Professor in Geochronology and Geochemistry, Southern Cross University Hung Hung Chih/Shutterstock The internet’s latest absurd obsession is: who would win in a no-rules fight between 100 average human men and one adult male gorilla? This hypothetical and strange question has taken over Reddit, TikTok, YouTube

The global costs of the US-China tariff war are mounting. And the worst may be yet to come
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kai He, Professor of International Relations, Griffith University The United States and China remain in a standoff in their tariff war. Neither side appears willing to budge. After US President Donald Trump imposed massive 145% tariffs on Chinese imports in early April, China retaliated with its own

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – Similar to owls, sharp hearing helps hunting harriers home in on their prey – Flinders

Source: Flinders University

Owls, well adapted to hearing the exact location of prey, have something in common with an unrelated group of raptors – harriers.

A new study led by Canadian and Australian researchers has found that harriers across the world are able to keep a much better ear out for their next meal than previously thought.

The international team of University of Lethbridge and Flinders University researchers made the discovery when they found unexpected owl-like traits in the ear and brain of several harrier species, such as the Australian spotted harrier.

The new article published in Journal of Anatomy features the work of the Iwaniuk Lab at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta and Associate Professor Vera Weisbecker’s ‘Bones and Diversity Lab’ at Flinders University in South Australia.

University of Lethbridge PhD student Sara Citron, who led the study, says owls have fine-tuned hearing abilities, allowing some of their species to locate prey in complete darkness.

“Until recently, it was assumed that all their hearing adaptations were unique to owls. However, our study shows that harriers have independently evolved several key adaptations for finding prey by sound,” she says.

The research team focused on harriers – a group of hawks found in North America, Australia, NZ, Europe, and parts of Africa and Asia – because they show some unusual, owl-like hunting behaviours.

Senior author and PhD supervisor Dr Andrew Iwaniuk, Associate Professor at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, says: “Hawks tend to hunt primarily by sight. But unlike other hawks, harriers fly low over tall grass with their beak pointed to the ground.

“During this so-called ‘quartering flight’, they are not only looking for prey, they are also listening for it,” he says.

Co-author Aubrey Keirnan, a PhD student at Flinders University who is also co-supervised by Dr Iwaniuk and Flinders University Associate Professor Vera Weisbecker, says that simply by looking at the harrier, you can see similarities with owls.

“The Australian Spotted Harrier is a great example,” she says. “When you look at this species’ face, you can see a distinctive disc-shaped face, which may improve their prey localisation just like owls.”

The discovery matches older behavioural studies showing that harriers can locate sounds with similar accuracy to owls, but how they did this has been a mystery.

Using specimens from wildlife rehabilitators and museums in Australia and Canada, the team examined the anatomy of the skull and brain of harriers and other closely related hawk species such as the wedge-tailed eagle.

They found that, like owls, harriers have enlarged ear openings and two expanded brain regions that are essential for calculating where a sound is coming from.

“These auditory nuclei are found in the brainstem and compare the time at which sounds arrive at the left or right ear,” says co-author Associate Professor in evolutionary biology Vera Weisbecker, from Flinders University’s College of Science and Engineering.

“If a sound arrives at both ears at the same time, then the sound is coming from directly in front of an animal. If there is a delay, this indicates that the prey is more to the left or right,” she says.

“By having these two brain regions expanded, harriers can make such computations more accurately than other hawks, allowing them to locate where a potential rat, mouse or other prey is hiding in the grass.”

“Harriers have therefore evolved an auditory system similar to owls, enabling them to target sounds as accurately as owls in a remarkable example of convergent evolution of both brain and behaviour in animals separated by over 60 million years,” adds first author Ms Citron.

The team is careful to point out that the auditory system of many owls is far more sophisticated than that of harriers. This explains the ability of some owl species, such as the barn owl, to hunt in complete darkness whereas hawks only hunt during the day.

“There are several other features that help owls with their keen hearing which we did not find in harriers. For example, some owl species have asymmetric ears that allow them to locate sound with greater acuity, and these owls also have several other enlarged brain regions that were not enlarged in harriers,” says Ms Citron.

The team hopes their study results will encourage further research on bird anatomy to find out how a species perceives its surrounds.

“Anatomical studies like ours are a window into how a bird perceives the world around it, which can be extremely useful for bird conservation,” adds Dr Iwaniuk. “For example, harriers’ reliance on sound for prey location means that they are likely more sensitive to traffic and industrial noise. This could be contributing to the large decreases in Northern Harrier populations we have seen in Canada.”

The article, ‘The evolution of an “owl-like” auditory system in harriers: Anatomical evidence’ (2025) by Sara Citron, Cristian Gutierrez-Ibanez, Aubrey Keirnan, Vera Weisbecker, Douglas Wylie, Andrew N Iwaniuk has been published in Journal of Anatomy (Wiley Online Library) DOI: 10.1111/joa.14264.

First published: 29 April 2025 https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.14264

MIL OSI – Submitted News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Unexpected humour and reflections on a complex past: my top 5 films from the 2025 German Film Festival

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claudia Sandberg, Senior Lecturer, Technology in Culture and Society, The University of Melbourne

Foreign audiences often associate German cinema with tragedy, trauma and death. Certainly, major historical events such as the second world war and the Fall of the Berlin Wall — cornerstones of German film — are present in this year’s selection at the 2025 German Film Festival.

Alongside these themes is a variety of contemporary topics, innovative fictional formats and strong documentary work. The increased presence of women in directing and producing roles also brings female experiences sharply into focus.

Here are my highlights from this year’s programme.

Riefenstahl (2024)

Leni Riefenstahl (1902–2003), Hitler’s favourite filmmaker, has been a subject of controversy for decades – explored in documentaries such as The Wonderful Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl (1993).

Now, with access to new material from Riefenstahls’ private archive, director Andres Veiel and journalist Sandra Maischberger cast a fresh eye over this complex figure.

Using extensive visual materials, they trace Riefenstahl’s journey from dancer to actress, to filmmaker and photographer – capturing everything from her pioneering cinematic techniques to her entanglement with political power and personal vanity. And they are not afraid to confront uncomfortable aspects of her past.

Her claim to have endured an unwanted romantic pursuit by Nazi minister of propaganda Joseph Goebbels (first made in her 1987 memoir) appears in new light as an older Riefenstahl faces questioning from aggressive TV interviewers. She unflinchingly and fiercely maintains her version of events.

Is Leni Riefenstahl a creative genius, a political victim, or an ignorant perpetrator? This film invites audiences to grapple with this old question anew — and perhaps come to their own conclusion.

Montages depict Riefenstahl’s life from youth to old age, culminating in an image of an elderly lady who, even late in life, manipulates camera angles and lighting to ensure a more flattering appearance.

Two to One (2024)

Some German films such as Balloon (2018) or The Last Execution (2022) have a tendency to explore East Germans as either victims of oppression, or complicit with the regime of the German Democratic Republic.

But there are also films that rebel against such simplification – such as Beauty and Decay (2019), Dear Thomas (2021) and Someday We’ll Tell Each Other Everything (2023) – to powerfully present the many dimensions of former East Germany and its people.

Among them is Two to One, a thoughtful picture by director Nadja Brunckhorst, which fluctuates between thriller, comedy and melodrama. Based on a true story, this film remembers the delirious time between the Fall of the Berlin Wall and Reunification.

It is July 1990, and just days after the deadline for exchanging East German marks to more valued West German marks at the exchange rate of 2:1. This halved the life savings of many East Germans.

We follow a Hausgemeinschaft (community of renters) who discover millions of East German mark bills in an underground bunker. They cleverly use the more privileged members of their old and new worlds – sleek Western sales representatives and former East German diplomats – to transform the worthless bills into West mark and buy goods for everyone.

Two to One stars Ronald Zehrfeld (also in the festival opener Long Story Short), Sandra Hueller and Peter Kurth in top form.

Dying (2024)

As a contender in the 2024 Berlin Film Festival (where it won best screenplay), and winner of the 2024 German Film Award, Dying comes highly recommended.

Versatile German actor Lars Eidinger is cast as Tom, a youth orchestra conductor trying to pull off his best friend’s composition “Dying”. Not only does the performance never please the composer, his private world is also a mess.

Tom is raising someone else’s child. His father (Hans-Uwe Bauer) suffers dementia. His sister Ellen (Lilith Stangenberg) can’t keep up with the expectations of their estranged parents. And his mother’s (Corinna Harfouch) thinly veiled contempt for her own son is visible in a breathtaking scene involving the seemingly innocent ritual of coffee and cake.

But despite its weighty subject matter, humour appears in the most unexpected places.

There is Ellen’s affair with her boss, a dentist, who ends up drunk in a bar — where she pulls one of his teeth. There is also the quietly absurd scene of her ageing parents trying to drive home from the supermarket: one nearly blind, the other unable to remember where they live.

A film that uses absurdity and tenderness to break through emotional tension with surprising charm, Dying is a must see.

I Want It All (2025)

Singer and actress Hildegard Knef would have turned 100 this year.

Knef was one of the most prominent and daring post-WWII West German female artists. Driven from a young age to become successful, she began her career in the 1946 rubble film, The Murderers Are Among Us.

In her 2025 documentary I Want It All, director Luzia Schmidt captures Knef in rehearsals, at home, in the recording studio and through press photos. The film is a vivid portrait of an unapologetic woman constantly under scrutiny, as the German public seemed entitled to access every corner of her life.

Knef comes across as sharp but self-aware. The artist discusses her stage fright and the art of holding an audience’s attention. Her candid remarks about undergoing plastic surgery, as a female artist navigating the ruthless entertainment industry, remain just as relevant today.

Arguably the greatest assets of the film are the reflective comments from Knef’s daughter, Tinta, who speaks with empathy and kindness about her mother’s ambition and vulnerabilities.

I Want It All is a treat for anyone who is familiar with Knef, and for those who want to know more about this grand dame of German culture.

Cicadas (2025)

An idyllic countryside in summer: a paradise retreat for some, and a prison for others.

Isabell is the daughter of an architect, who is paralysed by a stroke. His beautifully designed house is in disrepair and no one can pay for it, but Isabell can’t get him to sell it. Meanwhile, Isabell’s marriage to her needy French husband Philippe is strained by a shared trauma.

Anja, a single mum to young Greta, navigates a fragile existence. In a region with weak infrastructure, she moves between low-paying jobs, barely making ends meet.

When the two women meet, their bond forms cautiously. Both are shaped by differences in class, age and life experience, yet there is a connection that bridges these divides.

Carried by compelling performances by Saskia Rosenthal and Nina Hoss (the latter of whom had worked with director Ina Weisse in The Audition (2019)), Cicadas is a quiet drama about vulnerability and loss of control that evolves in the open landscapes of the Brandenburg region.

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

– ref. Unexpected humour and reflections on a complex past: my top 5 films from the 2025 German Film Festival – https://theconversation.com/unexpected-humour-and-reflections-on-a-complex-past-my-top-5-films-from-the-2025-german-film-festival-254788

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: International visitors flock to Greater Bendigo

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

International visitors are spending more money and staying longer in the Bendigo Loddon region, according to the latest figures from Tourism Australia.

New data for the year ending 2024 shows the region is almost back to pre-pandemic international tourist numbers and smashing international visitor spend records.

There were 27,000 overnight international visitors compared to 16,000 in 2023. This is a 68 per cent increase. International visitor spending has significantly increased to $37 million, compared to $14 million ten years ago.

City of Greater Bendigo Manager Economy & Experience James Myatt said the Bendigo Loddon region was a key destination of choice for international tourists visiting Victoria.

“It is fantastic to see more people from overseas coming to the region and spending a lot more time here,” Mr Myatt said.

“We know that international visitors are drawn to our Gold Rush heritage, arts and cultural experiences, farm stays, beautiful natural landscapes, and food and wine offerings.

“Popular attractions amongst international visitors include Bendigo Tramways, Central Deborah Gold Mine, The Great Stupa, Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo Pottery, Dumawul Tours, and the Golden Dragon Museum.

“Greater Bendigo is also a key destination on the Sydney Melbourne Inland Discovery drive, a self-drive touring route promoted primarily in the United States, UK, Europe, and New Zealand tourism markets throughout the year.

“Over the past ten years, the City has focused on attracting and marketing major events and developing highly engaging destination marketing and activation campaigns.

“The figures show strong growth in the international market and people want to visit Greater Bendigo for the range of experiences we offer all year round.

“The survey results prove our strategies are working. The passion and commitment from many tourism operators contribute to this very positive trend.”

The City has hosted over 50 travel agents from across the world over the past nine months, giving them the opportunity to experience attractions firsthand. That knowledge is shared with their teams and potential visitors from their countries.

The City held a training session with Visit Victoria earlier this year to guide local tourism and service operators on how to attract international visitors.

Key destination campaigns, such as the tulip displays during Bloom and major events like the Bendigo Easter Festival are promoted to Melbourne’s Indian and Chinese communities, attracting families and their visiting friends and relatives from overseas.

The Greater Bendigo region is being represented at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) this week in Brisbane, the largest international trade show hosted by Tourism Australia. Over 100 meetings are organised with media and travel agents from around the world to promote Greater Bendigo’s unique visitor destination offerings. For the first time, representatives from Greater Bendigo have also been invited to showcase Agri-tourism experiences in the region.

“We see some great opportunities to build business at ATE with key decision makers who promote Australia across the world. In particular, our focus is on attracting visitation from the UK, Europe, New Zealand, India, China and South East Asia markets,” Mr Myatt said.

Tourism Research Australia is the country’s leading provider of quality tourism intelligence across both international and domestic markets. Their data underpins government tourism policy and helps improve the performance of the tourism industry for the benefit of the Australian community.

MIL OSI News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Celebrate Canberra Tree Week 2025!

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Canberra’s annual celebration of trees is back from Saturday 3 May to Sunday 11 May 2025 with many free events across the ACT to encourage Canberrans to admire, celebrate and learn more about the importance of our urban trees.

MIL OSI News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: First National Bank Alaska Declares Dividend for Second Quarter 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At the Board of Directors Meeting held April 30, 2025, a cash dividend of $4.00 per share was declared, payable on June 15, 2025, and distributed on June 16, 2025, to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2025.

CONTACT: Cheri Gillian
Secretary to the Board of Directors
907-777-3409

The MIL Network –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Bonamici Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Educate Students About Danger of Accidental Fentanyl Poisoning

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, DC [5/1/25] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced bipartisan legislation based on a successful Oregon program to protect students from accidental fentanyl poisoning.

The Fentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools (FACTS) Act is modeled on the Beaverton School District’s Fake and Fatal fentanyl awareness curriculum in Oregon, which has successfully prevented student deaths since its launch. The bill will also develop a federal interagency task force to fight the synthetic opioid crisis through education and prevention and improve federal education and health data collection efforts to understand and highlight the effects of synthetic opioids on youth.

Oregonians Jon and Jennifer Epstein lost their son Cal to fentanyl poisoning when he mistakenly took a fake pill, and they were instrumental in creating the Fake and Fatal curriculum and advocating for its expansion. Jon was Bonamici’s guest for the 2024 State of the Union.

“I continue to be inspired by Jon and Jennifer’s dedication to saving lives following the tragic loss of their son,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “The educational programs they helped create are already saving students by increasing awareness about the dangers of fake pills laced with fentanyl. The FACTS Act will build on that legacy by spreading this powerful and effective curriculum to reach students in schools across the country.”

“An accidental fentanyl poisoning forever changed our family,” said Jon and Jennifer Epstein. “Like many youth still today, Cal had no idea that something 50x more powerful than heroin was being made into fake pills that look exactly like real pharmaceuticals and sold on social media for a few bucks. Cal made a tragic mistake thinking that buying something like this online was safe; he had no idea the risk he was taking, and it turned out to be fatal. The FACTS Act will reduce the number of families from suffering the devastation ours did by giving youth trustworthy facts and information about today’s drug landscape and how to keep themselves and their friends safe. We’re incredibly grateful to Rep. Bonamici and the other members for bringing forward and supporting this valuable legislation; closing the knowledge gap and changing the perception of harm around off script medicine use will undoubtably save young lives and lessen the future burden of harmful substance use. There are no magic wands in this crisis, but upstream awareness, education, and primary prevention efforts are largely untapped mitigations with huge potential.

“As a mother who lost a child to this scourge, I am grateful to see members of Congress from opposite sides of the aisle introduce this legislation. I want to thank Representative Bonamici, Representative Wittman, Representative Neguse, and Representative Van Drew for introducing the Fentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools (FACTS) Act, which will bring awareness to this issue and save lives,” said Laura Didier, Outreach Coordinator at Song for Charlie.

The FACTS Act is cosponsored by Representatives Rob Wittman (R-VA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ).

“Far too many families in Virginia’s First District and across America have experienced the heartbreak of losing a loved one to accidental fentanyl poisoning,” said Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01). “I’m proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing the FACTS Act to help stop this crisis before it starts in schools —by giving students, parents, and educators the tools they need to recognize the dangers of counterfeit pills laced with deadly synthetic opioids. Education is prevention, and this bipartisan bill will help save lives by expanding access to proven awareness programs in schools across the country.”

“The harsh reality we are dealing with is fentanyl is destroying families and taking lives right here in our communities,” said Congressman Jeff Van Drew. “The FACTS Act is a proactive step to arm our students, teachers, and families with the knowledge and tools they need to fight back. By educating our youth about the dangers of counterfeit pills and synthetic opioids, we are giving them the power to make safer choices.”

Only 2 in 5 young Americans consider themselves knowledgeable about fentanyl, according to Song for Charlie. The organization, which is dedicated to raising awareness about fake pills, also found that only 36 percent of teens are aware that fentanyl is being used to create counterfeit pills.

The FACTS Act is endorsed by: Song for Charlie, National PTA, School Superintendents Association (AASA), American Psychological Association (APA), National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), National Association of Counties (NACo), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

“The recent decline in youth fentanyl deaths indicate that public awareness campaigns are having a positive impact,” said Ed Ternan, President of Song for Charlie, a nonprofit that educates kids and families about the fentanyl crisis. “The FACTS Act facilitates the critical next step – implementing educational programs in classrooms and community centers across the country.”

“The solution to the problem of substance use by youth requires a collaborative effort,” said Yvonne Johnson, president of National PTA, the nation’s oldest and largest child advocacy association. “PTA applauds Representative Bonamici for reintroducing the FACTS Act. The bill would provide funding to establish and strengthen partnerships between public health agencies, nonprofit organizations and state and local education agencies to help raise awareness and prevent the use of fentanyl by children and teens.”

“Fentanyl education works,” said Dr. Gustavo Balderas, Superintendent of the Beaverton School District, where a robust fentanyl awareness program, called Fake & Fatal, has been in practice since April 2021. “When you intentionally and consistently inform students and their families about the dangers of fake pills made from deadly fentanyl, you equip them with the knowledge to make life-saving decisions. It is my hope that this legislation will provide other school districts around the country with the tools and encouragement to implement curriculum and support systems that save lives.”

A fact sheet on the FACTS Act can be found here and the full text can be found here.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

May 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Mexican Fiesta Street Party in Hargreaves Mall

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

In celebration of the exclusive Frida Kahlo: In her own image exhibition at Bendigo Art Gallery, Hargreaves Mall will be transformed into a Mexican-themed Fiesta Bendigo Street Party tomorrow, Saturday May 3, 2025 from 11am to 4pm.

This community event will celebrate the rich music, delicious food, colourful culture, stunning fashion, and engaging dance of Mexico.

The City of Greater Bendigo has curated the event in partnership with the Mexican Social and Cultural Association of Victoria, a non-profit organisation that seeks to promote and share Mexican culture with Victorians.

Coordinator Creative City Maree Tonkin said the street party was a fun day out for the whole family.

“The Fiesta Bendigo Street Party in Hargreaves Mall will bring together the vibrant colours, fun and excitement of Mexican culture,” Ms Tonkin said.

“People of all ages will be entertained with stage performances from The Mexican Music Man, Mexbourne Dance Company, Lenin, and 7-piece Mariachi band Los Romanticos.

“Children can join in the fun with free activities that includes breaking open piñatas which are an important part of Mexican cultural celebration tradition.

“The fiesta will also have face painting, circus activities and craft workshops to keep little hands creative and entertained.

“You can also browse a special market with Mexican-inspired treasures and there will be two food stalls to complement the Fiesta Party.

“Bring your family and friends and join us for a day full of festivities and immerse yourself in the spirit of Mexico at the Fiesta Bendigo Street Party in Hargreaves Mall tomorrow, Saturday May 3.”

One of the key aims in the City’s adopted Hargreaves Mall Action Plan is to get more people, more often into the city centre.

The City has hosted over 200 fantastic activations in Hargreaves Mall over the past year, offering free entertainment for families including popular school holiday events.

For the full Fiesta Bendigo program, visit:

MIL OSI News –

May 2, 2025

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Riefenstahl (2024)

Two to One (2024)

Dying (2024)

I Want It All (2025)

Cicadas (2025)