Category: Aviation

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: High-Level Meeting Held to Strengthen Energy Security of Tamil Nadu

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 5:39PM by PIB Delhi

    A High level meeting was held on 02nd May 2025 at Chennai, between Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Government of India and Shri N. Muruganandam, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, on enhancing energy security in the State of Tamil Nadu.

    Other dignitaries present included Shri Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, CMD, NLC India Limited, Shri Sanjeev Kumar Kassi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Shri Mukesh Choudhary, Director (Marketing), Coal India Limited and Shri. Dr. Alby John Varghese, IAS, Managing Director, Tamilnadu Power Generation Corporation Limited.

    The deliberations focussed on the State’s projected power demand, availability of lignite & coal, and proactive measures required to meet peak load conditions during the summer and monsoon seasons. The issues of NLCIL related land acquisition, facilitation required for promoting of Overburden to M-Sand in Neyveli mines, Land acquisition of Lignite Mines, starting operations of Neyveli airport and formation of JV between TNGECL & NIRL were also discussed, on which State Government would extend the necessary support.

    The proactive and progressive approach taken by the State in today’s meeting is expected to significantly mitigate supply-side challenges and ensure reliable, affordable, and sustainable power for Tamil Nadu and resolve the issues of NLCIL.

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    Shuhaib T

    (Release ID: 2126217) Visitor Counter : 80

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, accompanied by Indian Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Andhra Pradesh Minister Kandula Durgesh, monks, and officials, arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Source: Government of India

    Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, accompanied by Indian Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Andhra Pradesh Minister Kandula Durgesh, monks, and officials, arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Union Minister conveyed a meaningful message on behalf of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the people of India

    A Sacred Bodhi tree sapling from India was planted by the Union Minister at the Vietnam Buddhist University

    Relics were enshrined at Thanh Tam Monastery following ceremonial prayers

    Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 5:57PM by PIB Delhi

    In a significant cultural and spiritual milestone, the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha arrived in Ho Chi Minh City today aboard a special aircraft from India, marking the beginning of the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations in Vietnam from May 6–8, 2025.

    The Indian delegation, led by Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju and Andhra Pradesh Minister Shri Kandula Durgesh, was joined by monks and senior officials in accompanying the Sacred Relics from Sarnath, India. Upon arrival, they were warmly received by the Government of Vietnam and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, reflecting the profound and shared spiritual values that unite both nations.

    Following ceremonial prayers, the Holy Relics were reverently enshrined at Thanh Tam Monastery. In a symbolic gesture of peace and friendship, a Sacred Bodhi Tree sapling from India was also planted at the Vietnam Buddhist University. A joint press conference was held by the Indian delegation and leaders of the Vietnamese Sangha, where Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju conveyed a heartfelt message from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the people of India. The Government of Vietnam expressed its sincere gratitude for this sacred gesture, which stands as a symbol of the enduring civilizational and spiritual ties between the two countries.

    The Holy Relics are being exhibited with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the National Museum of India, and the International Buddha Confederation. They will be displayed to the public in Ho Chi Minh City until May 7, 2025, before continuing to Tay Ninh, Hanoi, and Ha Nam until May 21, 2025.

    A grand public procession brought the Sacred Relics to Thanh Tam Pagoda, where they will remain on public exposition. Cultural programs, including a specially curated exhibition and a dance-drama on the life of Lord Buddha, will accompany the celebrations, underscoring the deep-rooted India-Vietnam Buddhist heritage.

    The Sacred Relics will be in Vietnam from May 2 to May 21, 2025, as part of the Vesak Day commemorations, strengthening people-to-people connections and honoring Lord Buddha’s message of peace, compassion, and harmony.

    ***

    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2126226) Visitor Counter : 73

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India all set to emerge as Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) capital of the world- Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

    Source: Government of India

    India all set to emerge as Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) capital of the world- Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

    About 700 leading industry players and decision maker from the exhibition sector attend

    Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 4:19PM by PIB Delhi

    With the construction of the state-of-the art exhibition and conference complexes in the country, India is all set to become MICE ((Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) capital of the world.

    “The new segments of tourism are getting developed, in which MICE tourism is the most important and is the fastest growing segment in the country. The exhibition and conference infrastructure we see across the nation including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Jaipur and even small cities post G20 meet indicates that India is standing at the threshold of strong possibilities for this sector,” said Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union minister of Culture and Tourism, while inaugurating a Two-day Seminar on India: The land of Exponential Growth organised by the Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA) , the apex national body of exhibition industry in the country.

    “The government and the private exhibition industry has to work together to make India a centre of MICE tourism. Several events which are happening globally can be calendarized and brought here in India. Besides being a destination India, the country is also becoming a big Exhibition and conference hub with planned expansion in road, aviation and railway sectors along with expansion of the conference and exhibition sector, the country has a great future for economic growth,” Shekhawat said.

    “After 2014, India has shown a tremendous growth curve in infrastructure given the boom in infrastructure, be it the construction of roads over 1,50,000 km, new railway stations, semi high-speed trains, inland waterways and more than 150 operational airports. All of these have contributed to India’s prowess with regards to the MICE events (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions). The confidence also built following India’s hosting of G20 nations, the entire world is looking at India in awe and curiosity. In times to come, India will emerge as the MICE capital of the world.” Said Mr Shekhawat.

    “The IEIA Open Seminar and Exhibition Services Expo is the annual international conclave of the Indian Exhibition Industry attended by the captains of the industry from all regions of the country and overseas. The event acts as one of its kind meaningful platforms for business networking, knowledge exchange, and discussions on the emerging trends shaping our industry’s future.” Said Mr Sooraj Dhawan, President. Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA).

    “The 14th edition, the IEIA Open Seminar is expected to attract over 700 leading industry players at decision maker levels including leading Exhibition/ Event Organisers, heads of various trade bodies, sectoral associations and key govt. bodies. India is the fastest growing exhibition market in the world and has grown at 40% post Covid. The Exhibition Industry’s contribution to the Indian economy is Rs. 50,000 crores. Business generated through exhibitions is Rs. 300,000 crores.” Said Mr Dhawan.

    “The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE).  refers to a specialized segment of the tourism and hospitality industry focused on organizing and hosting business events. We urge the govt to announce October 1 as the National MICE Day as further boosting the morale of the industry.” Said Mr Dhawan.

    MICE is also known as the event industry. Over the past decades, the MICE industry has been recognized as a significant market segment and an important contributor to national economies. It not only gives a boost to the economy in the form of income generation, but creates huge employment opportunities in related hospitality services providing sectors like accommodation, food and beverage, convention services, transportation, tourism and entertainment.

    Those present on the occasion included Mr Premjeet Lal ED, ITPO, Mr Rakesh Kumar, MD, India Expo mart, Mr Jagdish Patanakar Hon Secretary IEIA, and Mr Ravinder Sethi, vice president, IEIA 

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    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2126161) Visitor Counter : 97

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Who gets to be called an astronaut? Private space travel has reignited debate over use of prestigious title

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ian Whittaker, Senior Lecturer in Physics, Nottingham Trent University

    Copyright: Blue Origin

    The recent all-women spaceflight carried out on Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin vehicle has raised discussion of who gets to be called an astronaut. Sean Duffy, Donald Trump’s transportation secretary, disputed the astronaut title given to those on the flight, including singer Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King.

    The term astronaut was only rarely disputed until the first “celebrity” suborbital flight in 2021. In the 1960s, pilots flying the experimental, rocket-powered X-15 jet were awarded astronaut status by the US Air Force if they flew above 50 miles (80km).

    Sir Richard Branson’s 2021 flight aboard his Virgin Galactic vehicle reached 53 miles (85km) – an altitude recognised by some experts as being within outer space. Bezos followed a few days later, travelling on his Blue Origin New Shepard vehicle. This flight reached about 68 miles (106km) in altitude.

    Bezos has focused on reaching an altitude of about 62.1 miles (100km), one proposed boundary of space known as the Kármán line, named after the early 20th-century polymath Theodore von Kármán.

    A 2021 post on social media by Bezos’s Blue Origin capitalised on the fact that his New Shepard vehicle reached the higher boundary. The suggestion from the post was that those who travelled to the lower boundary on rival Virgin Galactic flights could have their “space traveller” status questioned, whereas those who travelled with Blue Origin could not.

    This particular post did not mention the question of who is an “astronaut”. However, this is how Blue Origin currently describes those who travel on New Shepard.

    Indeed, some definitions of “astronaut” simply state that it is a person who has been to space. Therefore, another implication of the post – intentional or not – might be that those who travel with Bezos’s company are more eligible for such a designation than those who have been to lower altitudes.

    While Blue Origin calls the Kármán line an “internationally recognised boundary” of space, it is far from universally accepted. Theodore von Kármán wanted to separate out aeronautics (the science of flying aircraft) and astronautics (the science of space travel).

    As a byproduct, he calculated the maximum altitude that an aircraft could go without reaching orbital velocity (where it would start orbiting the Earth) to be around 52 miles (84km).

    A researcher and associate of von Kármán called Andrew Haley was interested in space law. He established von Kármán’s calculation as the boundary of space. This was later raised to 62.1 miles (100km) by the world governing body for air sports, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.

    The Kármán line has very little scientific rationale, however. If you ask a geologist, an atmospheric scientist and a space physics expert where the definition of space is, you will get vastly different answers.

    For example, as somebody who specialises in magnetospheric physics and solar influence, I would say space properly starts at the plasmapause. This is a boundary around the Earth that’s based on differences in the charged particles that exist on either side of the division. The plasmapause sits at an altitude of around 35,000 miles (57,000km).

    Who is an astronaut?

    The recent Blue Origin flight understandably made a strong positive impression on the passengers. Gayle King compared the flight to the historic launch in 1961 that made Nasa astronaut Alan Shepard the first American in space.

    The effusive reactions from the passengers, along with King’s and Blue Origin’s use of the term “astronaut” to describe the team members prompted a backlash online. King noted that men on similar flights hadn’t been subjected to such criticism, and Katy Perry says she felt “battered and bruised” by the reaction.

    Among the critics was the US transport secretary, Sean Duffy, who stated that the participants could not be astronauts as they failed to meet the FAA astronaut criteria. The FAA requirements for an astronaut are for them to be a member of crew, to contribute to spaceflight safety and to demonstrate activities essential to public safety. Their minimum altitude for “space” is the 50 mile (80km) limit.

    As New Shepard is fully automated, none of the passengers could really be considered “crew members”. Similarly, if you buy a ticket on a plane, you are not crew unless employed by the airline to do a job.

    Would it be different if private space travellers were able to carry out scientific research during their journey? This might make them more than just passengers and potentially qualify them for the “crew” designation. Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are actually not suited for any sort of weightlessness research. Passengers experience around 3-4 minutes of weightlessness.

    By contrast, a flight on the Airbus A310 zero-G plane gives 25-30 seconds of weightlessness. When this is repeated 25-30 times, you get between 10 and 15 minutes of weightlessness in total. This avenue for carrying out research in microgravity is also open to anybody with a sensible scientific idea to test rather than just members of the rich elite.

    Why it matters

    Does it matter what space travellers actually call themselves? The FAA designation of “astronaut” is not the only one. Some dictionary definitions simply define an astronaut as a person trained to go into space or, as mentioned, a person who has flown in space. The passengers on Blue Origin’s New Shepard flights would probably qualify under both of these definitions.

    But let’s consider the legal dimension. Star Trek actor William Shatner flew with Blue Origin on a New Shepard vehicle in 2021. If Shatner had experienced a health-related incident during the flight, who would have been at fault?

    If Shatner was an “astronaut”, could it be argued that he held a greater level of responsibility for any adverse effects from the flight? If he was simply a passenger, might the company share more responsibility?

    Thankfully, such a situation has not yet occurred, which means that any associated legal arguments remain hypothetical. But as more paying passengers travel on flights to space, the chances of adverse incidents increase.

    Ultimately, everyone can have an opinion about whether just going into space – wherever the boundary may lie – makes you an astronaut. But there may be more to consider than a nice title.

    Ian Whittaker 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. Who gets to be called an astronaut? Private space travel has reignited debate over use of prestigious title – https://theconversation.com/who-gets-to-be-called-an-astronaut-private-space-travel-has-reignited-debate-over-use-of-prestigious-title-255630

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bahamian National Pleads Guilty to Alien Smuggling Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – A Miami federal district judge adjudicated a Bahamian national guilty on alien smuggling charges.  

    According to court documents and statements made in court hearings, on Dec. 19, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers aboard a CBP aircraft observed Shakerio Michael Jones, 31, traveling from the direction of The Bahamas toward the United States, and notified CBP officers on the water.

    Once the boat crossed into United States waters, off the coast of Miami-Dade County, Fla., the CBP officers onboard a CBP Air and Maritime Operations vessel approached the go-fast boat and ordered the driver to stop. The CBP officers brought all the individuals from the boat onboard the USCG Cutter Bernard C. Webber and confirmed that the 13 individuals did not have permission to enter the United States. The CBP officers determined that the individuals were nationals of the United Kingdom, Haiti, Honduras, Ireland, India and The Bahamas, and that Jones had been previously removed from the United States.

    The CBP officers brought Jones to shore to face charges. The rest of the aliens were returned to The Bahamas.

    On April 24, Jones entered a guilty plea before magistrate judge Edwin G. Torres, who issued a report recommending that the plea be accepted. On April 30, U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra adopted the report and recommendations and adjudicated the defendant guilty.

    Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18 at 10:00 a.m. in Miami. He faces up to 20 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

    HSI Miami investigated the case with assistance from CBP and USCG, 7th Coast Guard District. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl is prosecuting the case.

    You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-10027.

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    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Amex Exploration to Present at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference May 6th

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MONTREAL, May 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Amex Exploration Inc. ((TSXV: AMX) (FSE: MX0) (OTCQX: AMXEF)), based in Quebec, Canada, focused on the development and expansion of their high-grade gold Perron Project, today announced that Victor Cantore, President and CEO, will present live at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on May 6th

    DATE: May 6th
    TIME: 11:30 am ET
    LINK: REGISTER HERE
    Available for 1×1 meetings: May 6 to 9th

    This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

    It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.  

    Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

    Recent Company Highlights

    • Amex Awards Environmental Baseline Study Contract to Norda Stelo
    • Amex Exploration Completes Acquisition of Perron West Project
    • Amex Expands Central Polymetallic Zone – Drills 39.06 g/t Au, 331.92 g/t Ag, 1.14% Cu, 3.38% Zn, and 2.35% Pb over 1.30 m
    • Amex to Acquire Strategic Perron West Property – Forms District Scale Land Package at Perron
    • Amex Hunts for More High-Grade Gold at Perron – Outlines 2025 Expansion and Regional Drill Programs


    About Amex

    Amex Exploration Inc. has made significant high-grade gold discoveries, along with copper-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) zones, at its 100%-owned Perron Gold Project, located approximately 110 kilometres north of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The project comprises 117 contiguous claims (45.18 km²) and hosts both bulk-tonnage and high-grade gold mineralization styles.

    When combined with the adjacent Perron West Project-which includes 48 claims (17.37 km²) in Quebec and 35 claims (134.55 km²) in Ontario-the consolidated land package spans a district-scale 197.52 km². This extensive property lies within highly prospective geology favourable for both high-grade gold and VMS mineralization.

    The project benefits from excellent infrastructure: it is accessible by a year-round road, located just 20 minutes from an airport, and approximately 8 km from the town of Normétal. It is also in close proximity to several milling operations owned by major gold producers.

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®
    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access.  Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    CONTACTS:
    Virtual Investor Conferences
    John M. Viglotti
    SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
    OTC Markets Group
    (212) 220-2221
    johnv@otcmarkets.com 

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New PFAS hydrogeological report published02 May 2025 ​The Government of Jersey has published an independent hydrogeological report on the current state of PFAS in surface water and groundwater around Jersey Airport. The report by Arcadis, a world leading… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    02 May 2025

    The Government of Jersey has published an independent hydrogeological report on the current state of PFAS in surface water and groundwater around Jersey Airport. 

    The report by Arcadis, a world leading environmental consultancy, assessed PFAS across the St Ouen’s Bay and Upper Pont Marquet areas, potential risks and possible clean up options. 

    There is no immediate risk to the health of the broader population, as the report confirms that Jersey Water do not draw water from these impacted catchment areas for public water supply. 

    Assessing a broad range of PFAS, the report found that the extent of affected groundwater near the airport, the “plume area”, is larger than previously understood. 

    PFAS is a global issue. PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a large group of over 12,000 man-made chemicals that have been used since the 1940s in everyday products. These chemicals don’t break down easily, so they can build up over time in the environment. Some types of PFAS have been linked to health risks. 

    In Jersey, the historic use of firefighting foam at the Airport has created a PFAS “hot spot”. To better understand this, the Government of Jersey commissioned an independent study and risk assessment by Arcadis. 

    Arcadis considered PFAS levels in the groundwater, water which lies below the surface, and the surface water, water which lies on the surface, such as in ponds and streams. The report evaluates and shortlists a wide range of remediation options for the affected soil, groundwater and surface water. 

    The Minister for the Environment will review the report’s findings over the next six weeks and produce a full response by 12 June, including details of how the Government will move remediation options forward. 

    The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce said: “I want to thank Arcadis for this detailed and thorough report, which will help us chart the best way forward. 

    “PFAS is not just in Jersey, it’s everywhere. But we’re coming up with scientific, evidence-based solutions to deal with it. There are only a few other jurisdictions around the world who are doing as much as we are. 

    “We are following the evolving science. We commissioned this report to give us a better understanding of where PFAS is and what we can do about it. It is a detailed report on a complex matter and its findings deserve proper consideration. I will carefully review it and respond more fully, with details of how we plan to move forwards, on 12 June.”

    ​The Arcadis Hydrogeological Study and other PFAS information is available at Gov.je​.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Security: Post Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Pointing Laser at Helicopter

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COEUR D’ALENE – Aspen August Schaffer, 31, of Post Falls, was sentenced to 35 months in federal prison for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.  Schaffer will serve an additional 3 years on supervised release after he is released from prison.

    According to court records, Schaffer was indicted in September 2024 by a grand jury and charged with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft in violation of federal law.  On August 16, 2024, Schaffer was out with friends and pointed a bright green laser at the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office helicopter as it flew overhead.  The laser struck the helicopter multiple times and impaired the vision of the pilot, the sergeant and the deputy who were on board.  The helicopter lost altitude, but the pilot regained control and brought the helicopter back up to altitude.  Law enforcement tracked the car Schaffer was in and arrested him.  Schaffer had a blood alcohol level of .11 when he was booked into jail.  Schaffer was known to law enforcement and has prior felony convictions.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Coeur d’Alene Police Department which led to the charges.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci J. Whelan prosecuted the case.

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    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dame Angela McLean’s speech at the Royal Institution

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Dame Angela McLean’s speech at the Royal Institution

    This is a draft text of the speech ‘Discourse: The future of engineering biology’ delivered by Government Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame Angela McLean at The Royal Institution on 25 April 2025.

    I want to start by asking you all to think about how you got here tonight.

    I don’t mean in some philosophical sense; that kind of question is better left to other speakers. I mean literally: how did you make your way, here, to the Royal Institution?

    If you’re anything like me, you relied on Google Maps to show you the way (although I may be obliged to say “Other providers are available”). Perhaps you also used your phone to pay for the bus or Tube.

    If you’re joining us online – hello to you all! – you’ll be watching on a phone, tablet or laptop. So, one way or another, most of us made it here thanks to 1 of these devices.

    Now I want you to think about the battery in your phone. Chances are it’s a lithium-ion battery. And if you came in an electric car or bus, you would also have depended on a lithium-ion battery.

    The advantage of lithium-ion batteries compared to traditional alkaline batteries – the kind you may still put in the back of your TV remote – is that they can provide more energy and are rechargeable. People old enough to have depended entirely on alkaline batteries for many more devices besides the TV remote will remember the frustration when they ran out of power – and trying to cobble together another set of batteries to get them working again. Our phones may go dead, but it’s simple and convenient to recharge them.

    But there is a downside, namely all the metals that go into making these modern batteries and electrical products, including lithium, cobalt and other rare earth elements.

    Getting hold of these metals is hard. Most are currently extracted and purified from compounds in rocks, a process which can be very energy-intensive as well as very polluting.

    Recycling and reusing these same metals is also hard.

    This is the periodic table of the elements created by Dmitri Mendeleev, first published in 1869 and subsequently presented right here at the Royal Institution some 20 years later.

    How many elements do you think are used in electronic products?

    Electronic products can contain up to 60 different elements – around 52 of them metals (those are the elements highlighted in blue on the slide) – and we currently rely on inefficient and environmentally damaging methods to isolate and recycle individual metals.

    Indeed, many electronic items cannot be recycled. They simply go to landfill. This is already a serious issue and it’s 1 that will only get worse as global demand for electronics increases.

    Well, what if I told you that researchers here in the UK have identified naturally occurring bacteria, which have the ability to extract and recycle metals from this sort of waste?

    Hats off to anyone in the audience familiar with the strain of bacteria called Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, which can remove manganese from lithium-ion batteries. Or the bacteria Desulfovibrio alaskensis, which is capable of precipitating cobalt out from a mixture of the different metals and chemicals in lithium-ion batteries.

    I’m only aware of these bacteria thanks to amazing research taking place in the UK, including by Louise Horsfall’s group at the University of Edinburgh. Louise’s team have been collaborating with researchers from across the country as part of the ReLib project, which stands for the reuse and recycling of lithium-ion batteries.

    Actually, 1 of the funders for this project is the Faraday Institution, the UK’s flagship battery research programme named for the great Michael Faraday whose desk is in front of me.

    On his desk I have a few items to use to help explain battery recycling.

    Louise’s team have primarily been focused on recycling metals from large lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. However, they can be pretty large – too large for me to bring here tonight. Nevertheless, many of you will know what a lithium-ion battery looks like from your phone – and the science behind how we can recycle these batteries is no different.

    Once lithium-ion batteries reach the end of their life they can be disassembled and shredded using mechanical methods to produce this. In this case, the shredded material has come from part of the battery called the cathode, which contains lots of the metals we want to recycle.

    Once we’ve dissolved this shredded material using chemical or biological methods, we get this solution here… called metal leachate. This contains the useful metals we’re interested in and it’s at this point that we introduce the bacteria I mentioned earlier.

    The bacteria collect and excrete specific metals as tiny nanoparticles which we can recover to give us something like this… which is manganese that Louise’s team has produced in the way I’ve just described from this exact process! We can then use this manganese to build new batteries or other devices.

    You might be wondering what do we do with what’s left behind in the leachate solution. Well, after the bacteria have done their work we are left with this biobrine which is rich in lithium – and resembles what you might find in lithium deposits in South America. This too can be used to make new batteries.

    And I’m not just talking about using a few types of microorganism to improve the extraction and recycling of 1 or 2 metals. There appear to be lots of different microbes out there capable of extracting different metals. Indeed, it’s possible that the bacteria have evolved this capability in a way that detoxifies their own environment, collecting up and excreting harmful metals and so not being poisoned.

    So if we use combinations of these bacteria and we tweak the characteristics of these strains, we can increase the efficiency with which metals are purified and recycled from waste.

    That word tweaking is important and it doesn’t do justice to the science involved. What we’re really talking about is engineering existing microbes to extract and recycle metals.

    Extracting metals from the ground is a hugely expensive and damaging process. It looks rather like this:

    What you can see on the bottom part of this slide is an open cast manganese mine.

    And once we’re finished with products needing such metals, we throw them away. The top part of this slide shows a landfill site after a fire. There have been reports of lithium-ion batteries causing fires at landfill sites across the world.

    With engineering biology, we only need to remove metals from the ground once; thereafter they can become part of a genuine circular economy through continual re-use.

    We use physics, chemistry and engineering to get them out of the ground but then we can and should use biology and engineering to keep recycling them.

    And this is just 1 example of what is within our grasp thanks to the power and potential of the scientific field called engineering biology.

    I’m speaking about engineering biology this evening because I believe it could be the most significant branch of science for decades to come.

    I want to explain why I think that’s the case – and to share my excitement about this field for 2 main reasons.

    The first is that the science and engineering involved in this field is, frankly, beautiful.

    The second – and more important – reason is that both current and future applications will make a huge difference to the everyday lives of people in the UK and across the world.

    I’m here to try to convince you of both these things, but if I can convince you of only 1, I want it to be the latter.

    I’m really keen for people to recognise that the scientists and engineers in this field are working to  produce solutions that most, if not all, of us can agree are necessary… urgently necessary even.

    To kick off, I ought to say that – as Government Chief Scientific Adviser – my role is to advise the Prime Minister and the Government on all matters related to science, technology and engineering.

    The job – and the advice – is a mixture of proactive and reactive work. It covers everything from providing scientific and technical advice during a national emergency to explaining the risks and opportunities around emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and engineering biology.

    Now, in getting to grips with the promise of engineering biology, I did have a little bit of a head start.

    I am a mathematical biologist by background. My own research focused on using mathematical models to improve our understanding of the evolution and spread of infections like measles and HIV.

    I don’t, however, have any background in engineering, nor in biochemistry. So I have had to get up to speed over the past few years.

    At this point let me explain what engineering biology actually is.

    Engineering biology involves applying engineering to biological processes in order to bend biology to our will.

    In other words, it’s the practice of using ideas and tools taken from engineering to design and modify living organisms or biological systems.

    Using tools and ideas developed over recent decades, the goal is to develop new materials and energy sources; to improve animal, plant and human health; to address environmental issues in new and sustainable ways.

    What we’re talking about is the ability to harness and control biology predictably, repeatably and – I’ve said this already – usefully. Sometimes that will mean working with what’s already available in nature; at other times, it will involve genetic modification techniques.

    Let me unpack some of this a bit further.

    Firstly, on the engineering side. Here, I want to start with the design-build-test-learn cycle – DBTL for short.

    This approach has been central to product development in engineering disciplines for some time. It drives continuous refinement and innovation, making research and development faster and more efficient.

    In engineering biology, design-build-test-learn is brought to bear on biological processes – by which I mean the activities occurring within living organisms.

    Image of the design-build-test-learn cycle. Each element is located in a different quarter and all 4 quarters make up a circle.

    Essentially, I’m talking about designing something biological – like a version of a cell, or it could be a biological process (such as cell division) or a genetically-engineered system…

    Then building it, maybe in the lab…

    Then testing it to see how well it works…

    Before finally, and perhaps most importantly, learning from what did and didn’t work and then feeding the lessons into another round of design, making improvements again and again around this cycle, towards an end goal.

    This looks like being a more efficient way of recycling metals, to use the case study I gave at the start.

    And why is this approach necessary? Well, because living organisms are highly complex, with many different parts and networks of interactions between those parts.

    One could argue that physical or chemical systems are a bit more straightforward, more predictable, more easily quantifiable. We’ve been using this design-build-test-learn process to bend chemistry and physics to our will for more than a century – very successfully.

    The complex and often unpredictable nature of biological systems means we need to work through multiple permutations to get to a desired outcome – and that’s where the engineering in engineering biology comes in.

    If we can get this approach right – and I’m going to offer some further examples later showing where we already are – then we have the power to systematically develop biological systems to meet some of the biggest challenges we face.

    Let me be more definitive. If the nineteenth century was chemistry’s golden age, and the twentieth century was the same thing for physics, I believe the twenty-first century should be the golden age for biology.

    Why am I so optimistic?

    This century can belong to biology because of a series of extraordinary advances in scientific understanding.

    Where to begin? Of course, we have spent thousands of years modifying the living world.

    But I’m not going to go all the way back to the domestication of wild crops. I’m not even going back to Darwin and Mendel.

    Instead I’ll start with Watson, Crick and Wilkins – as well as the often overlooked Rosalind Franklin; 3 of the 4 received a Nobel Prize in 1962. By determining the structure of DNA, they discovered what we can call the language of biology.

    Understanding the structure of DNA opened the door to reading this complex language, then editing it, then actually writing it ourselves.

    Our ability to read DNA took a big step forward thanks to Walter Gilbert and Fred Sanger, who shared half of the 1980 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Gilbert and Sanger did lots of work to understand the building blocks of DNA – the nucleotide alphabet of biology, if you like.

    The next game-changer was in 1983 when an American biochemist, Kary Mullis, developed something called the Polymerase Chain Reaction. Better known as PCR, it is a laboratory technique that’s used to make copies of particular pieces of DNA. Think of it as a photocopier for DNA.

    The technique lets scientists easily – and cheaply – create many millions of copies of DNA segments from very small original amounts – and that makes reading the DNA in a sample possible even if it is only there in tiny amounts.

    You will all have become familiar with PCR during the Covid pandemic, when it was used to make many copies of the viral genetic material to allow reliable diagnosis of a Covid infection. That was the test where you did a swab, popped it in a test tube and then sent it away in the post. It was particularly important early on, before we had home testing kits.    

    The invention of PCR also earned a share of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Chemistry – that’s DNA Nobel number 3.

    Fast forward 10 years to 2003 and the completion of the Human Genome Project. Researchers across the world spent some 13 years cataloguing the precise sequence of all the DNA in the cells of a human being. It was a huge effort and that first whole genome sequence of a human cost an estimated £2.5 billion.

    Thankfully – but also remarkably – sequencing technology has come on leaps and bounds over the past 20 years. Now, it is possible to sequence the same amount of DNA analysed by the Human Genome Project in a single day – and for just a few hundred pounds! We’ve even developed pocket-sized machines which are capable of reading DNA in real-time.

    In fact, I have 1 here: a portable sequencing device made by Oxford Nanopore. You simply add your sample into the middle here – this contains the sensor that will help to read the DNA sequence of your sample. Then simply close the lid and press go. And the results are delivered straight to your laptop via a USB-C cable which plugs into the end here.

    This is useful for situations where we can’t send off a sample for analysis and wait days for the results – if, say, we’re urgently trying to identify the cause of an infection in some far-flung corner of the world.

    So… we’ve learned to amplify DNA using PCR and we’ve learned to read DNA – fast – using rapid sequencing technologies.

    We’ve also started learning – and do emphasise “started” – to accurately and precisely “edit” DNA.

    Previously, when we wanted to do this, the methods were somewhat cruder – such as gene guns, which were used to literally fire DNA into cells.

    We now have tools like CRISPR-Cas9 (another Nobel prize-winning technology developed by Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna), and we can now take a targeted portion of DNA and change it very accurately in specific places. Some people have compared CRISPR to using a pair of genetic scissors.

    Some of you might be wondering whether engineering biology is any different from another common term: synthetic biology. They are often applied interchangeably, although different countries interpret them in different ways.

    The way I see it, synthetic biology refers to tools like CRISPR, used to design and build new biological components. Engineering biology is taking these tools – with or without genetic modification – and using the DBTL cycle to apply these tools at scale to find solutions to problems in the world around us.

    There are still challenges with the accuracy of such tools, but the possibilities are vast.

    We know that certain diseases are caused by mutations in a single gene. Sickle cell disease, for example, is caused by mutations in the beta-globin gene, resulting in red blood cells which are misshapen. As a result, these red cells don’t flow around the body as well as they should. This can cause those affected – roughly 17,500 people in the UK – to suffer from anaemia as well as complications like terrible pain and organ damage.

    In the past, the only treatment was to rely on regular blood transfusions or a bone marrow transplant, neither of which comes without risks or complications. However, researchers have been using CRISPR to precisely edit the gene responsible for sickle cell with great success – so much so that, in January this year, the treatment was approved for use in the NHS as the world’s first gene-editing treatment for blood disorders.

    And this is just 1 of many gene-editing clinical trials going on right now, including treatments for liver disease, heart disease and some cancers.

    The possibilities are not confined to human diseases. We can use these genetic scissors to develop crops that are better at withstanding drought and more resistant to insects, so we don’t have to rely so much on pesticides.

    And it’s these tools that are being used to modify the bacteria designed for metal recycling that I spoke about at the start.

    Now, it would be remiss of me to talk about the tools of the future without mentioning AI and the transformative impacts it could have.

    A prime example is the challenge of understanding and predicting how proteins fold up intricately and precisely in all of our cells. Decoding this process is something scientists have been trying to achieve for decades.

    And in 2018, DeepMind came along with its AI model AlphaFold. AlphaFold has since been used to calculate the structure of hundreds of millions of proteins. And, yes, it earned the UK’s Demis Hassabis a share of last year’s Nobel prize in chemistry.

    Timeline starting with images of James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin above the year 1962. Images of Walter Gilbert and Frederick Sanger are next to the year 1980. Image of Kary Mullis is next to the year 1993. Images of Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna are below the year 2020 and an image of Demis Hassabis is below the year 2024.

    All that’s missing on my timeline now is the capacity to design a new protein from scratch de novo. That will bring us into the realm of being able to write the language of biology – designing and printing a sequence of synthetic DNA to produce a protein with the properties that we want, from scratch.

    I’ve just been talking about how technologies such as AI, and tools such as CRISPR, are helping to broaden the range of biological powers at our disposal and increase our ability to design and optimise biological systems.

    And all this comes with valid concerns about risks. An example which springs to my mind was when scientists in Australia created a version of a mouse virus back in 2001 that instead of causing the normal mild symptoms, killed all of the mice within nine days. They were conducting some innocent genetic engineering research to try and make a mouse contraceptive vaccine for pest control and inadvertently found a way of creating a much more deadly version of the mousepox virus. Unsurprisingly, this made quite a splash in the media – although I think it was good that such a story was not buried.

    The point I want to make is that we must develop the right practices and regulation so that we ensure that research is carried out safely and responsibly but we do not stifle innovation.

    We refer to this as “responsible innovation” and it is 1 of the pillars of our government vision for engineering biology. That has given rise to new guidance on which genetic sequences people should be allowed to order for their research – welcome progress.

    Having the UK take a lead in this kind of responsible innovation – where we are thinking carefully about the desired benefits of our research as well as about how to avoid negative impacts – lets us manage the risks and harness the wealth of opportunities that engineering biology can offer.

    There are also other challenges to overcome. What’s standing in the way of us exploiting engineering biology for good? I won’t dwell for long on this, because you’re here to hear about science, not policy – but it is important to talk about the barriers.

    We’ve already spoken about proper regulation for engineering biology. We also need to have proper ways of funding the basic research that drives this wonderful new technology and also the application of that research that lets us solve real-world problems. Then there’s also the task of making more people aware of the potential for progress here.

    But a key area for me – and also a common issue across all areas of science and technology – is making sure we have the right skills in our future workforce to perform the future jobs that come with new technologies.

    The skill set for engineering biology is particularly broad: the field is a combination many different skill-sets and mindsets. Mostly we train people either to become biologists or to become engineers, and for this technology we need people who can think with both those mindsets. So we need to think about a pipeline which starts in schools, with children getting the right grounding in key subjects – and children also hearing about the exciting careers they can pursue through developing and using the technologies I’ve talked about.

    I think it’s vital that we don’t think exclusively about technical skills: communication skills are extremely important too. It’s a wonderful thing to do pioneering, cutting-edge research but we also need to be able to explain what that’s about and why people should want it.

    So far, I’ve told you a bit about what engineering biology is and how we’ve got to this point, poised for biological century. I’ve also talked a bit about risks and challenges, but I think it’s now time to delve further into the applications that I think are so inspiring.

    Today, I launched a report called “Engineering Biology Aspirations”. It’s our attempt to share our excitement about the possibilities that this technology opens up – and we want to share it with everyone, my colleagues inside government and also much more widely.

    It contains case studies, written by UK-based experts, that illustrate some of the diverse problems we can address using engineering biology. Microbial metal extraction is 1 of them. I want to highlight some others during the rest of this talk – and to recognise some of the amazing research taking place in the UK.

    One of the reasons that I commissioned the report is that all too often, when someone mentions engineering biology or synthetic biology, the examples will involve vaccines or medicines.

    Of course those are fantastic, important applications: with the Covid pandemic such a fresh memory, we are all acutely aware of the life-saving importance of rapid and effective vaccine production. And I’m in awe of those researchers who can edit the gene that causes sickle cell disease.

    But I want to make sure that we also shine a light on the true breadth of opportunities that engineering biology presents, not only in health, but across agriculture, materials, chemicals, energy, defence.

    So, let’s shift gear and think about the fashion industry. Unlike metal recycling, it’s a sector familiar to all of us. We all buy and wear clothes, but we don’t often stop to think about where they’ve come from, how they’ve been made, and at what cost to the environment.

    Putting aside issues around workforce conditions and waste, the fashion industry is 1 of the world’s largest polluters, responsible for up to 8 per cent of carbon emissions globally…

    Not to mention the pollution generated in the form of clothing and textiles dumped in landfills, like this 1 in Bangladesh, never to biodegrade.

    At the same time, 1/5 of the pollution of clean water around the world is caused by dyeing and treating textiles.

    And there’s also growing awareness of the environmental damage caused by the microfibres shed by polyester clothing.

    So it’s no surprise that plenty of researchers and companies here in the UK and beyond are seeking inspiration from biological processes to make new materials that don’t rely on fossil fuels or on animal products such as leather.

    You may have been wondering why there are bottled drinks and a handbag beside each other on the Faraday desk. Well, they’re made of essentially the same material.

    The process of making both items starts with microbes that naturally produce a material called nanocellulose.

    In the case of Mogu Mogu – a coconut water drink you might find in your local supermarket – the nanocellulose is responsible for the lumps of jelly you can see in this bowl. 

    It is a polymer produced through fermentation – the same process used to make beer.

    Now, 1 company I visited last year is called Modern Synthesis, based in South London and founded by Jen Keane and Ben Reeve. They’re aiming to develop scalable solutions to meet the fashion industry’s need for high-performing, versatile materials that don’t pollute the planet.

    Modern Synthesis make nanocellulose fibres and then combine them with textiles such as cotton or linen to create new composites. These are then finished with natural coatings like waxes and oils to improve performance and to enhance look and feel, which are of course critical to customers. The result is this handbag!

    Image of black, biologically derived material

    And on the slide behind me, you can see in more detail the fibres that make up the handbag. These miniscule nanocellulose fibres are actually really, really strong – 8 times stronger than stainless steel relative to weight!

    Modern Synthesis is just 1 example of a pioneering UK company making waves in this area. Another example is Solena Materials who are using AI to help design completely new materials from scratch, including fibres that are effective at absorbing energy. This makes them relevant for the military and the police, who need blast-, ballistic- and stab-proof clothing. As the ex-Chief Scientific Adviser for the Ministry of Defence, it’s great to see engineering biology applications offering benefits for defence.

    Developing new materials like these can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional material production. This includes minimising the environmental impacts of raising livestock for leather or the energy-intensive processes involved in creating synthetic textiles such as polyesters and nylons. Better still, these materials can be designed for biodegradability, getting away from the big problem of plastic pollution.

    Allow me to quote from our report for a second: “Imagine a world where every piece of your clothing has minimal cost to the environment, with zero waste going to landfills. Even if a piece of clothing is accidentally discarded into the environment, it safely biodegrades to leave no trace of its existence. This is the future of fashion, and engineering biology is helping to make it happen.”

    Let me move now to another pervasive problem: inefficiencies in food production. Most of you will be aware that fertilisers are used by farmers across the world to supply nitrogen to their crops. Without fertilisers, yields suffer.

    But there are 2 problems. First, the process for making nitrogen fertilisers is very energy-intensive. It’s responsible for between 1 and 2% of the entire world’s energy use – and generates matching CO2 emissions. Second, using fertilisers has considerable environmental impacts, releasing further greenhouse gas emissions and damaging waterways thanks to fertiliser runoff from fields.

    This slide shows excessive algae growth – a common impact of fertiliser runoff – in the River Wantsum in Kent.

    Currently, farmers across the world use more than 200 million tonnes of chemical fertilisers every year.

    Diagram showing molecules of nitrogen and hydrogen converted into molecules of ammonia, with a chemical equilibrium sign betweem ammonia and molecules of nitrogen that combine with molecules of hydrogen

    Now, this ability to produce nitrogen at scale – via the Haber-Bosch process – was without question the most important chemical breakthrough of the 20th century. The reaction that underpins this industrial process is shown behind me – converting nitrogen and hydrogen into ammonia, which is commonly used in fertilisers. It was discovered by Fritz Haber. Over half the global population depends for survival on foods fertilised using industrial production of nitrogen. But for the reasons I’ve outlined, we do need to do better.   

    So how can engineering biology help?

    What if we could engineer cereals crops to absorb their own nitrogen from the environment, without relying on fertilisers? We call that “fixing” nitrogen.

    There are actually examples of this happening in nature. There are bacteria in the soil called rhizobia which are particularly good at fixing nitrogen; in fact, they convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into ammonia – which is precisely the form of nitrogen that plants need. Legumes such as peas, clover and lupins attract these rhizobia bacteria to live in their roots – in small structures called nodules. In return for a steady supply of ammonia, the plant houses and feeds the bacteria, forming an ideal symbiotic relationship.

    Behind me is an illustration of a plant with root nodules… but in classic Blue Peter style, here are a couple I grew earlier!

    This clover plant from my lawn has nodules on its roots – but, because they are a bit tiny, I have also brought a photo of the same plant.

    For these sort of plants, we can already coat their seeds with rhizobia and achieve increases in yields. And we can even go a step further by adding the bacteria directly to fields in a process called soil inoculation.

    But the trouble with cereal crops like wheat, barley and maize is that they don’t have those root nodules and nor do they produce the special signalling chemicals that legumes use to attract bacteria.

    Image showing a clover plant with roots that have small circular nodules on them in the bottom left-hand corner and a sweet-corn plant with roots without nodules in the top right-hand corner

    Here is another plant that I’ve brought in from my garden. This 1 is sweet-corn, a variety of maize and a major cereal crop worldwide. You can see its roots here on the top part of the slide… no nodules! These kinds of crops do not set up this kind of symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

    So what researchers, like Phil Poole at the University of Oxford, are doing is trying to engineer a new generation of fertiliser-free crops, drawing on plant genetics, biochemistry and soil ecology.

    One approach, given what I’ve just described, is to engineer cereals to form nodules on their roots that can host nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

    The UK is leading the way on this – Oxford and Cambridge universities have major programmes backed by investment from our research councils and from the Gates Foundation. In fact, the teams involved work together as part of a larger collaboration, and have recently made some significant advances, engineering barley to form nodule-like structures and engineering barley roots to release the chemical signal rhizopine that prompts rhizobia to start fixing nitrogen.

    The design-build-test-learn cycle I described earlier is a part of this research. All of the progress made so far has built on round after round of modifying, testing and redesigning organisms.

    There are still many hurdles to overcome, both from a technical perspective and societally; genetic modification of crops is a very sensitive issue. But the value of the prize here is large, and I think scientists should not be shy about describing it.

    Imagine a world where humanity’s main source of carbohydrates – cereal crops like wheat and barley – are able to generate their own nitrogen fertiliser.

    We could tackle global food shortages on a much more sustainable basis and at the same solve 1 of the most urgent climate challenges, consigning industrially-produced nitrogen to the past.

    Now, let’s just think about crops in a further context, because harvesting doesn’t have to be the end of their engineering biology journey!

    At the start of this talk, I name-dropped a couple of bacterial strains in relation to metal recycling. Well the biologist in me can’t help but tell you another 1 – this time being a type of bacteria called Halomonas.

    Researchers like Nigel Scrutton up at the University of Manchester, are engineering these bacteria to act as efficient factories for converting food waste into fuel via fermentation. When I say factories, I’m not talking about the massive industrial sites we would normally associate with fuel production.

    This photo is of Fawley oil refinery in Hampshire.

    Diagram showing drawings representing bacteria, food waste feedstock, a cylinder that produces fuel and container. The diagram shows that the result of feeding bacteria and food waste feedstock is fermentation that then produces fuel, which can be housed in a portable and scalable container

    By contrast, these fuel-producing bacteria can be housed in different-sized containers like the ones on this slide – some of them not too dissimilar to shipping containers.

    The beauty of this technology, therefore, is that it is inherently portable and scaleable to meet demand – with transformative implications for remote areas of the world where energy infrastructure can be scarce. And crucially, these are cleaner, fossil-free fuels that can be used to power homes, businesses, even aircraft.

    Let’s focus on that last application for a second. At the moment, the aviation industry relies almost completely on kerosene-based fuels, which account for a staggering 3% of global CO2 emissions.

    Burning fossil fuels is generally accepted as the main cause of global warming, so it is essential that we find ways to transition to sustainable sources of energy.

    Engineering biology solutions like Nigel’s can therefore play a significant role in creating a future without fossil fuels. One of the benefits of using bacteria to turn waste into useful fuels is that this can create another circular economy in which we no longer need to extract and burn more and more harmful fossil fuels; instead we recycle the carbon we already have.

    Personally, I think the environmental benefits are reason enough to get excited by this technology. But 1 of the great benefits of bacteria-fuel factories is how portable they are! In other words, they remove the need for large-scale bioreactor infrastructure.

    Imagine a world where clean fuels could be produced locally and on demand – including in all those remote and sparsely populated regions which currently struggle to access the fuels they require.

    Now, I argued just a moment ago that I want to convince people that engineering biology is about so much more than vaccines and medicines – and I hope that I’ve surprised at least some of you with the breadth of the examples I’ve described so far.

    But I do have 1 example from medicine that is just too fascinating to leave out, and that’s research into laboratory-grown blood.

    Why would we need such a product?

    Currently, the world relies almost entirely on human blood donations to treat disease and for emergency medicine. In many countries, including the UK, donation rates fluctuate, and shortages can happen. On top of that, donated blood has a limited shelf life. It is challenging to store and challenging to distribute. When you consider the fact that some countries don’t have the infrastructure to deliver blood products safely, or think about conflict or humanitarian emergencies, the problems associated with donated blood become even clearer.

    There are a few more issues too. It can be very difficult to source some rare blood types. And although blood services of course use screening to avoid known pathogens, there is always a risk of new ones arising, and being passed on to patients who receive blood transfusions.

    For all these reasons, finding new ways to produce blood would be another game changer, and, once more engineering biology can help us.

    Researchers, like Ash Toye at the University of Bristol, are exploring the possibility of banking unlimited supplies of red blood cells, either by transforming stem cells or genetically reprogramming donated precursor blood cells.

    What you can see on the screen is a beautiful illustration by artist Claudia Stocker, which provides a visualisation of CRISPR – the “genetic scissors” technology I mentioned earlier – being used here to edit the genetic material of the precursor cells that will go on to become red blood cells.

    The part of the image to focus on is the centre of the slide and specifically the spiral spools of DNA emanating from the big blue circle in the middle – the cell that will eventually give rise to the red blood cells around the outside of the slide. The little blue doughnuts represent the CRISPR technology in action, actively and precisely editing the DNA as we have instructed it to do.

    This editing can enable us to produce precursor cells that can grow and divide indefinitely in a controlled environment, giving us unlimited blood supplies.

    The Bristol team pioneering this research has been working closely with NHS Blood and Transplant and other partners in a ground-breaking clinical trial called RESTORERESTORE being the acronym for REcovery and survival of STem cell Originated REd cells.

    It’s the first time in the world that red blood cells grown in a laboratory have been given to another person as part of a trial into blood transfusion – you might have seen media coverage of this programme, which has attracted interest from all over the world. The trial should produce further results by the end of this year or early next.

    In the future, we could go a step further and use CRISPR to delete the genes responsible for blood groups, and – in doing so – create “universal” blood that would be invaluable in providing blood transfusions for individuals with rarer blood types.

    Image of a table containing the combinations of blood types of a donor and a recipient that match each other and ones that do not. The matches are highlighted in purple and the mismatches in red

    This slide is a brief reminder of the complexities around ensuring blood compatibility between donors and recipients. Only the combinations in purple are suitable.

    The prospects here are again tantalising. Imagine a world where no patient dies due to a lack of compatible blood following an accident or during surgery. Where safe blood is available on demand, can be stored for longer and is free of disease transmission risks.

    So there are all these amazing opportunities, which you can tell I love talking about!

    We’ve covered a fair bit of ground about engineering biology: not just historically but geographically, in universities and companies, and across a range of applications.

    I’m so proud that our country can lay claim to so much ingenuity. Microbial metal recycling from Edinburgh. Biosynthetic fuels from Manchester. Lab-grown blood from Bristol. Nitrogen-fixing cereals from Oxford.  And nanocellulose-based materials from right here in London.

    I want to end, though on a broader point concerning emerging technologies such as engineering biology and others besides.

    Earlier, you heard me talk about risks and challenges, including the need for responsible innovation.

    Another challenge – though – is about how we, as a society, talk about science and technology in general.

    Clearly, 1 of my aims this evening has been to raise awareness of engineering biology.

    But it strikes me that we’re living through a period where public engagement around science is getting harder.

    That’s not just because of the unprecedented volumes of misinformation circulating around us.

    We now live in a less paternalistic society – which is surely a good thing – it is no longer enough for scientists to tell people what’s good for them and expect them to toe the line. Instead, we know we need to have a proper, well-informed debate about these issues.

    Clearly, it would be possible for the promise of engineering biology to be compromised by public opposition. We need to listen to public concerns – really listen! – and understand that if we don’t respond to those concerns people will be perfectly within their rights to not support, or actively block, the engineering biology advances that we’re trying to create.

    There is a lot of work to do here. I don’t think we can ever be finished listening to the public.

    Essentially, the technologies we’re developing in engineering biology need to offer solutions to problems that people actually care about.

    Health, nutrition, climate, the environment, sustainability, global equity. I know that these are problems that billions of people care about.

    I hope I’ve persuaded you that when it comes to these problems, engineering biology can provide solutions.

    Image of the front cover of the ‘Engineering Biology Aspirations’ report on the left-hand side and a QR code to the webpage with the report on the right-hand side

    Thank you for listening – do read our report; here it is – and thank you to the Royal Institution for asking me to speak in this 200th anniversary year for discourses.

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI: Willis Lease Finance Corporation Announces Quarterly Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COCONUT CREEK, Fla., May 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) (“WLFC” or the “Company”) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share on outstanding shares of WLFC common stock. The dividend is expected to be paid on May 22, 2025 to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 12, 2025.

    Willis Lease Finance Corporation

    WLFC leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines, auxiliary power units and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers worldwide. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools and asset management services through Willis Asset Management Limited, as well as various end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials provided through Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. Through Willis Engine Repair Center®, Jet Centre by Willis, and Willis Aviation Services Limited, the Company’s service offerings include Part 145 engine maintenance, aircraft line and base maintenance, aircraft disassembly, parking and storage, airport FBO and ground and cargo handling services.

    Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are subject to change in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed, either expressly or implicitly, in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as war, terrorist activity and natural disasters; changes in oil prices, rising inflation and other disruptions to world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is advisable, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in such filings. These statements constitute the Company’s cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

     CONTACT: Scott B. Flaherty
      Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
      sflaherty@willislease.com
      561.413.0112

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Holy Relics of Lord Buddha accompanied by Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju arrives in Vietnam

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 2:50PM by PIB Delhi

    Holy Relics of Lord Buddha, accompanied by Union Minister of Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Tourism and Culture of Andhra Pradesh Shri Kandula Durgesh, revered monks and senior officials from India arrived in Ho Chi Minh City today morning by a special Indian aircraft. The visit is taking place in the context of the United Nations (UN) Day of Vesak celebrations being hosted by Vietnam from 6-8 May 2025.

    The Holy Relics and the Minister were received by Dao Ngoc Dung, Minister of Religious and Ethnic Affairs of Vietnam, Duong Ngoc Hai, Standing Vice-Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Thích Trí Quảng and venerable monks of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. Special ceremonial prayers were held at the airport on arrival followed by prayers led by the Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the enshrinement of the Holy Relics at Thanh Tam Monastery, Ho Chi Minh City. On the occasion, a sapling of the Sacred Bodhi tree brought from India was planted by the visiting Minister from India and the Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha at the Buddhist University, Ho Chi Minh City. The Holy Relics will be at the Thanh Tam Monastery from 2-7 May 2025 followed by their exposition at Tay Ninh, Ha Noi and Ha Nam provinces till 21 May 2025.

    The Holy Relics of Lord Buddha have travelled from the Sacred site of Sarnath, the venue of the first sermon by Lord Buddha. The Relics have been provided through the Mahabodhi Society of India and the National Museum of the Government of India with the support of the International Buddha Confederation.  The Holy Relics hold special significance for the Buddhist Community around the world and are visiting Vietnam for the first time.  The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha with the kind cooperation of the Government of Vietnam have extended local support for the Holy Relics in Vietnam as per mutual arrangements between the two countries.

    In the context of the UN Day of Vesak and deep connections between India and Vietnam, a specially curated exhibition about historical linkage relating to Buddhist spiritual beliefs and arts and culture dating back about two millennia will also be displayed during the UN Day of Vesak at Vietnam Buddhist University, Ho Chi Minh City. Further, an Indian cultural group will travel from India to present a special dance-drama “The Journey of Gautama Buddha” representing the life and messages of Shakyamuni Buddha in Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Ha Noi and other locations between 5-13 May 2025.

    India treasures the strong bonds between the people of India and Vietnam and wish that the visit of Holy Relics to Vietnam and other related activities will further deepen these close ties between India and Vietnam.

    ***

    SS/ISA

    (Release ID: 2126109) Visitor Counter : 44

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicates Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala worth ₹8,800 crore to the nation

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicates Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala worth ₹8,800 crore to the nation

    The Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala is a significant advancement in India’s maritime infrastructure: PM

    Today is the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Adi Shankaracharya, Adi Shankaracharya ji awakened the consciousness of the nation by coming out of Kerala and establishing monasteries in different corners of the country, I pay tribute to him on this auspicious occasion: PM

    India’s coastal states and our port cities will become key centres of growth for a Viksit Bharat: PM

    Government in collaboration with the state governments has upgraded the port infrastructure under the Sagarmala project enhancing port connectivity: PM

    Under PM-Gatishakti, the inter-connectivity of waterways, railways, highways and airways is being improved at a fast pace: PM

    In the last 10 years investments under Public-Private Partnerships have not only upgraded our ports to global standards, but have also made them future ready: PM

    The world will always remember Pope Francis for his spirit of service: PM

    Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 1:16PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport worth Rs 8,800 crore to the nation today in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Addressing the gathering on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Adi Shankaracharya, the Prime Minister highlighted that three years ago, in September, he had the privilege of visiting the revered birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya. He expressed his joy that a grand statue of Adi Shankaracharya has been installed in the Vishwanath Dham complex in his parliamentary constituency, Kashi. He emphasized that this installation stands as a tribute to the immense spiritual wisdom and teachings of Adi Shankaracharya. He further highlighted that he also had the honor of unveiling the divine statue of Adi Shankaracharya at the sacred Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand. The Prime Minister noted that today marks another special occasion as the doors of the Kedarnath temple have been opened to devotees. Prime Minister Modi underscored that Adi Shankaracharya, originating from Kerala, established monasteries in different corners of the country, awakening the consciousness of the nation. He emphasized that his efforts laid the foundation for a unified and spiritually enlightened Bharat.

    Shri Modi highlighted the vast ocean, rich with immense possibilities, standing on one side, while on the other, nature’s breathtaking beauty adds to the grandeur. Amidst all this, he emphasized that the Vizhinjam Deep-Water Sea Port has now emerged as a symbol of new age development. He extended his congratulations to the people of Kerala and the entire nation on this remarkable achievement.

    Underscoring that the Vizhinjam Deep-Water Sea Port has been developed at a cost of ₹8,800 crore, the Prime Minister remarked that the capacity of this transshipment hub will triple in the coming years, enabling the smooth arrival of some of the world’s largest cargo ships. He pointed out that 75% of India’s transshipment operations were previously conducted at foreign ports, leading to significant revenue loss for the country. Emphasizing that this situation is now set to change, he asserted that India’s money will now serve India and the funds that once flowed outside the country will now generate new economic opportunities for Kerala and Vizhinjam’s people.

    Shri Modi remarked that before colonial rule, India witnessed centuries of prosperity, emphasising that at one point, India held a major share in the global GDP. He highlighted that what set India apart from other nations during that era was its maritime capacity and the economic activity of its port cities. Noting that Kerala played a significant role in this maritime strength and economic growth, he highlighted Kerala’s historical role in maritime trade, emphasizing that through the Arabian Sea, India maintained trade links with multiple nations. He noted that ships from Kerala carried goods to various countries, making it a vital hub for global commerce. “Today, the Government of India is committed to further strengthening this channel of economic power”, he added and asserted, “India’s coastal states and port cities will become key centers for the growth of a developed India”.

    “The port economy reaches its full potential when infrastructure and ease of doing business are promoted together”, emphasised the Prime Minister, stating that over the past 10 years, this has been the blueprint of the Government of India’s port and waterways policy. He highlighted that the government has accelerated efforts for industrial activities and holistic development of states. He further remarked that the Government of India, in collaboration with state governments, has upgraded port infrastructure under the Sagarmala Project and strengthened port connectivity. He noted that under PM Gati Shakti, waterways, railways, highways, and airways are being rapidly integrated for seamless connectivity. He added that these reforms in ease of doing business have led to greater investment in ports and infrastructure sectors. The Prime Minister stated that the Government of India has also reformed regulations concerning Indian seafarers, yielding significant results. He pointed out that in 2014, the number of Indian seafarers was below 1.25 lakh. Today, this figure has surged beyond 3.25 lakh. He emphasized that India now ranks among the top three countries globally in terms of seafarer numbers.

    Highlighting that a decade ago, ships faced long waiting times at ports, significantly delaying unloading operations, Shri Modi noted that this slowdown affected businesses, industries, and the overall economy. He stressed that the situation has now transformed  and over the past 10 years, India’s major ports have reduced ship turn-around time by 30%, improving operational efficiency. He remarked that due to enhanced port efficiency, India is now handling greater cargo volumes in shorter durations, strengthening the nation’s logistics and trade capabilities.

    “India’s maritime success is a result of a decade-long vision and effort”, exclaimed the Prime Minister, underlining that over the past 10 years, India has doubled the capacity of its ports and expanded its National Waterways eightfold. He noted that today, two Indian ports are among the global top 30 ports, while India’s ranking on the Logistics Performance Index has also improved. Additionally, he pointed out that India is now among the top 20 countries in global shipbuilding. The Prime Minister further remarked that after strengthening the country’s basic infrastructure, the focus has now shifted towards India’s strategic position in global trade. He announced the launch of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision, which outlines India’s maritime strategy to achieve the goal of a developed India. He recalled the G-20 Summit, where India collaborated with several major countries to establish the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, highlighting Kerala’s critical role in this corridor, emphasizing that the state will greatly benefit from this initiative.

    Underscoring the critical role of the private sector in elevating India’s maritime industry to new heights, Shri Modi said that under Public-Private Partnerships, thousands of crores have been invested over the past 10 years. He emphasized that this collaboration has not only upgraded India’s ports to global standards but has also made them future-ready. He noted that private sector participation has driven innovation and enhanced efficiency.

    Prime Minister highlighted that India is advancing towards the establishment of a shipbuilding and repair cluster in Kochi. He emphasized that once completed, this cluster will create numerous new employment opportunities, providing Kerala’s local talent and youth with a platform for growth. The Prime Minister further stated that India is now setting ambitious targets to strengthen its shipbuilding capabilities. He noted that this year’s Union Budget introduced a new policy to promote the construction of large ships in India, which will significantly boost the manufacturing sector. He emphasized that this initiative will have direct benefits for MSMEs, generating a large number of employment and entrepreneurship opportunities across the country.

    “True development is achieved when infrastructure is built, trade expands, and basic needs of the common people are met”, stressed the Prime Minister, remarking that the people of Kerala have witnessed rapid progress over the past 10 years, not just in port infrastructure, but also in highways, railways, and airports. He highlighted that projects like the Kollam Bypass and Alappuzha Bypass, which had been stalled for years, were advanced by the Government of India. He also noted that Kerala has been provided with modern Vande Bharat trains, further strengthening its transport network and connectivity.

    Shri Modi emphasized that the Government of India firmly believes in the principle that Kerala’s development contributes to India’s overall growth. He remarked that the government operates with the spirit of cooperative federalism, ensuring Kerala’s progress across key social parameters over the past decade. He highlighted several initiatives that have benefited the people of Kerala, including Jal Jeevan Mission, Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, and Pradhan Mantri Suryagarh Free Electricity Scheme.

    Reiterating that the welfare of fishermen remains a top priority, the Prime Minister noted that under Blue Revolution and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, projects worth hundreds of crores have been sanctioned for Kerala. He further highlighted the modernization of fishing harbors, including Ponnani and Puthiyappa. Additionally, he remarked that thousands of fishermen in Kerala have been provided Kisan Credit Cards, enabling them to receive financial assistance worth hundreds of crores.

    Underlining that Kerala has always been a land of harmony and tolerance, Shri Modi highlighted that centuries ago, Saint Thomas Church, one of the oldest churches in the world, was established here. He acknowledged the recent moment of grief that has touched people across the world when Pope Francis passed away a few days ago, leaving behind a profound legacy. He added that President Droupadi Murmu represented India at his funeral, paying respects on behalf of the nation. Shri Modi once again expressed his condolences to all those mourning this loss from the sacred land of Kerala.

    Paying tribute to Pope Francis, acknowledging his spirit of service and his efforts to ensure inclusivity within Christian traditions, the Prime Minister remarked that the world will always remember his contributions. He shared his personal experiences, expressing his gratitude for having had multiple opportunities to meet Pope Francis. He noted that he received special warmth from him and cherished their discussions on humanity, service, and peace, which will continue to inspire him.

    Extending his best wishes to all present at the event, Shri Modi envisioned Kerala as a major center for global maritime trade, leading to the creation of thousands of new jobs. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of India, working alongside the state government, to advance this goal. Shri Modi concluded by expressing confidence in the capabilities of Kerala’s people and stated, “India’s maritime sector will reach new heights”.

    The Governor of Kerala, Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Ministers, Shri Suresh Prabhu, Shri George Kurien were present among other dignitaries at the event.

    Background

    Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport worth Rs 8,800 crore is country’s first dedicated container transshipment port that represents the transformative advancements being made in India’s maritime sector as part of the unified vision of Viksit Bharat.

    Vizhinjam Port, having strategic importance, has been identified as a key priority project which will contribute in strengthening India’s position in global trade, enhance logistics efficiency, and reduce reliance on foreign ports for cargo transshipment. Its natural deep draft of nearly 20 meters and location near one of the world’s busiest sea trade routes further strengthens India’s position in global trade.

     

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2126080) Visitor Counter : 47

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: AAIA publishes investigation report on accident involving PHI Fantasia 22 paraglider

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    AAIA publishes investigation report on accident involving PHI Fantasia 22 paraglider     
        The investigation was conducted by a team of professional investigators in strict adherence to international standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). “The objective of the investigation was to identify the circumstances and causes of the accident with a view to preventing a recurrence,” an AAIA spokesperson said.Issued at HKT 15:14

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prime Minister hails game changing UK-made RAF drones

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Prime Minister hails game changing UK-made RAF drones

    Hundreds of highly skilled jobs are being supported by the RAF’s new cutting-edge UK made drones.

    • New British-made ‘StormShroud’ drones are at the cutting edge of defence combat air, taking advantage of learnings from countering Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine
    • Brand new tech supports hundreds of jobs and shows investment in UK defence is driving economic growth, making communities better off, and bolstering national security by delivering on the Plan for Change
    • Getting from the factory to the frontline at an unprecedented pace, the drones will fly alongside crewed aircraft as part of crucial RAF frontline missions, to knock out enemy air defences
    • Tekever, who manufacture the drones, announce a further £400 million investment in the UK

    Hundreds of highly skilled jobs are being supported by the RAF’s new cutting-edge UK made drones, known as ‘StormShroud’, which come into operation today (Friday 2 May), as the Prime Minister further bolsters UK national security. 

    It is the latest boost to the UK’s defence capabilities as the armed forces reap the benefits from Ukraine’s battlefield experience, and comes as the UK continues to play a leading role in peace negotiations, including building momentum in talks between leaders in Rome last weekend. The UK is also driving forward Coalition of the Willing planning as well as accelerating UK-Ukrainian defence industrial cooperation.

    The StormShroud drone is a groundbreaking first-of-its-kind drone that will make the RAF’s world-class combat aircraft more survivable and more lethal. The drones offer a step change in capability by using a high-tech BriteStorm signal jammer to disrupt enemy radar at long ranges, protecting our aircraft and pilots. In revolutionary new tactics, the drones support aircraft like Typhoon and F35 Lightning, by confusing enemy radars and allowing combat aircraft to attack targets unseen. This means for the first time, the RAF will benefit from high-end electronic warfare without needing crew to man it, freeing them up for other vital frontline missions.  

    The RAF is investing an initial £19 million into the cutting-edge drones, which are made in the UK and directly support 200 highly skilled engineering jobs at multiple UK locations already from West Wales to Somerset, with further opportunities expected in future. StormShroud is just the first of a family of next-generation drones – known as Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs) – being delivered to the RAF.

    The Tekever AR3 and AR5 have had extensive use on the frontline fighting Putin’s illegal war, racking up more than 10,000 hours of flight for Ukraine’s forces. The RAF is taking the next step by integrating best-in-class signal scrambling technology into the drones to boost the UK’s defences at home, as the Prime Minister steps up UK defence capabilities to counter complex threats in the face of global instability. 

    In a further vote of confidence in Britain’s defence industry, British-Portuguese tech company Tekever, who manufacture the drones in the UK, plan to invest a further £400 million over the next 5 years across the UK and create up to 1,000 more highly skilled jobs. 

    The Prime Minister will visit to a Leonardo UK site in the South East today to see first-hand the expertise that goes into manufacturing the drones, and meeting the staff involved in delivering it, including many engineering apprentices representing the next generation of British defence industry excellence.

    As well as stepping up to protect our interests on the world stage, this government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 means more secure, well-paid jobs for a generation that’s proud to keep our country safe. 

    Just last week, the Carrier Strike Group launched its eight-month deployment and will join exercises, operations and visits with 30 countries across the Mediterranean, Middle East, south-east Asia, Japan and Australia – led by the Royal Navy’s largest and most powerful aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales. The deployment sends a powerful message that the UK and its allies stand ready to protect vital trade routes in the Indo-Pacific region.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    Investment in our defence is an investment in this country’s future.  Putting money behind our Armed Forces and defence industry is safeguarding our economic and national security by putting money back in the pockets of hard-working British people and protecting them for generations to come.

    Together with our allies, this government is taking the bold action needed to stand up to Putin and ruthlessly protect UK and European security, which is vital for us to deliver our Plan for Change and improve lives of working people up and down the country. 

    It is a privilege to meet and learn from the young minds driving innovation in defence technology, and we will continue to invest in the industries of the future to deliver security and opportunity for the British people through our Plan for Change.

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden procures new tactical transport aircraft

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Sweden is investing billions in the procurement of four new tactical transport aircraft. Together with the Netherlands and Austria, Sweden is purchasing C-390 aircraft from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. As Sweden is joining an existing contract, delivery times will be shortened.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • 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   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   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   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   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   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   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          
            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

             Page 9


    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    
      (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”.

             Page 10


    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”.

             Page 11


    SHELL PLC
    1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

                                                         
     
    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)   —      (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)   —      (3,502)   (3,502)   —      (3,502)  
    Share-based compensation —    543    (426)   (392)   (275)   —      (275)  
    Other changes —    —    —        (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.

             Page 12


    SHELL PLC
    1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

                                     
     
    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    
          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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    SHELL PLC
    1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    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    
      13    38    Marketing    
      271    26    Chemicals and Products    
    30    36      Renewables and Energy Solutions    
        —    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    
    —    —      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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    SHELL PLC
    1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

                               
                 
    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

             Page 17


    SHELL PLC
    1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    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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    1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

                                                   
     
    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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    SHELL PLC
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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 —    —      —    —     
    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 —    —      —    —     
    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    
      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    
    59 39 79 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    
    92 129 (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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    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    

             Page 23


    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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    SHELL PLC
    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

    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.

             Page 25


    SHELL PLC
    1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

    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.

    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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    SHELL PLC
    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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    SHELL PLC
    1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

                                                   
     
    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    
    23    —    130    Other    
    (121)   (262)   57    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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    SHELL PLC
    1st QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED RESULTS

                               
     
    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      —    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    
      6 569 Proceeds from sale of equity securities    
    597    805 1,025 Divestment proceeds    

             Page 29


    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

  • 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

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Oil and gas companies add renewable fuels to low-carbon portfolio, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Oil and gas companies add renewable fuels to low-carbon portfolio, says GlobalData

    Posted in Oil & Gas

    The global energy landscape is steadily moving toward cleaner sources, with a gradual decline in fossil fuel dependence. The share of fossil fuels in the world’s energy mix has declined from 82% in 2022 to 81.5% in 2023, indicating a gradual shift. This transition is driven by the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming. Against this backdrop, biofuels are emerging as a low-carbon alternative in transportation, with their share in total liquid fuel demand expected to grow to 6.4% in 2030, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s Strategic Intelligence report, “Biofuels,” evaluates the role of oil and gas companies in the biofuels theme. It benchmarks the efforts of oil majors, such as TotalEnergies, BP, Shell, and ExxonMobil, in the biofuels value chain. It also identifies the key developments influencing this theme and provides an outlook for renewable fuels – an emerging category of biofuels.

    Ravindra Puranik, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The oil and gas industry—including producers, contractors—are relatively new entrants in the biofuels space. Despite this, they are making notable movements in the competitive landscape for renewable fuels, such as renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Prominent refiner Neste is leading the renewable fuels segment, particularly renewable diesel with four active refineries around the world.”

    Despite their clean energy profile, biofuels face significant challenges related to production costs and competition with fossil fuels. Processing advanced biomass sources, such as agricultural and forestry waste, remains expensive, limiting large-scale viability. However, refiners like Neste, Valero, and Marathon Petroleum are making strategic investments to scale biofuel production and lower costs. Technological innovations in refining are also critical in improving biofuel affordability and availability.

    Puranik continues: “Although biofuels contribute towards energy security while reducing emissions, their adoption remains nascent and restricted to certain markets globally. As a result, companies are cautious while pledging investments for new facilities, and even halting project development, as was seen in the case of Shell’s upcoming facility in Rotterdam.”

    Global renewable refinery capacity is experiencing significant growth, with 15 new facilities under construction in 2025 while two already operational this year. By 2030, an additional 218 facilities are expected to come online, expanding global capacity from 9,340 million gallons per year (mmgy) in 2024 to a projected 32,618 mmgy. The US currently accounts for 51% share in global renewable fuel production, driven by policy incentives, but the recent political shifts, including Trump’s attempts to repeal parts of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), create uncertainty.

    Puranik concludes: “Policy approaches vary widely around the world. While the European Union (EU) enforce strict mandates, such as the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative requiring a minimum of 2% SAF blending by 2025, some of the other regions lack such clear policies, leading to disparities in biofuel adoption and investment. The commitment of a nation to achieve interim net-zero objectives, availability of biomass, and affordability of petroleum fuels are critical factors influencing policy support for biofuels.”

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Carbajal, Dunn, Luján, Moody Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Spaceport Infrastructure Investments

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

    Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Neal Dunn, M.D. (R-FL-02) joined Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Ashley Moody (R-FL) to reintroduce bicameral and bipartisan legislation to incentivize investment in spaceport infrastructure. The Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act will provide spaceports like Vandenberg Space Force Base eligibility for tax-exempt municipal revenue bonds, which are typically used to attract private investment for critical infrastructure projects.

    Currently, projects such as airports and docks qualify for these tax-exempt municipal revenue bonds. The Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act provides spaceports the same opportunities to garner needed investment for a rapidly evolving industry.

    “We’re in the middle of a new space race and we need to give American spaceports the tools they need to maintain their competitive edge,” said Rep. Carbajal, senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Our bipartisan bill is an important step forward to improving public-private investments into our growing space industry and ensuring our country doesn’t fall behind our foreign competitors.”

    Rep. Dunn said, “The United States must invest heavily in its space infrastructure to maintain our economic dominance and national security interests in space. Florida communities are eager to expand investments in space infrastructure, and Congress must be willing to facilitate these efforts. This bipartisan legislation will help secure our commercial and defense interests while paving the way for American dominance in space.”

    Sen. Moody said, “I have seen firsthand how public and private entities can come together to make great strides in innovation on Florida’s Space Coast. It is vital to incentivize these partnerships and ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of the space industry to not only build upon Florida’s economic successes but protect national security interests as well. I am thankful for my colleagues that have joined me in introducing this important legislation and look forward to bolstering Florida’s position as the leader of space exploration.”

    Sen. Luján said, “As our adversaries rapidly invest in space innovation and infrastructure, we must act decisively to maintain our leadership in space innovation. Strengthening investments in spaceports – like Spaceport America in New Mexico and others nationwide – is critical to this effort. That is why I’m proud to introduce this bill that creates pathways for public and private partnerships to ensure our country remains at the forefront of space innovation.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ARMD Research Solicitations (Updated May 1)

    Source: NASA

    THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED ON MAY 1, 2025(Added Advanced Air Vehicles Program Fellowship Opportunities.)
    This Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) solicitations page compiles the opportunities to collaborate with NASA’s aeronautical innovators and/or contribute to their research to enable new and improved air transportation systems.
    Most opportunities to participate in research are officially announced through the Web-based NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System, better known as NSPIRES. You are encouraged to visit the NSPIRES web site, create an account, and sign up for automated email announcements.
    Other types of collaborative opportunities, such as those involving Requests for Information or academic research contests, also are included on this page.
    This page has four major sections:

    Advanced Air Vehicles Program Fellowship OpportunitiesProposals are due by June 11, 2025.
    University Leadership InitiativeStep-A proposals due by June 26, 2025.
    University Student Research ChallengeProposals for Cycle 3 are due by June 26, 2025.

    ROA-2025 NRA Amendment 1 – OPEN
    Advanced Air Vehicles Program Fellowship Opportunities
    (View the full ROA-2025 NRA Amendment 1 text here.)
    This announcement solicits proposals from accredited U.S. institutions for research training grants to begin the academic year. This Notice of Funding Opportunity is designed to support independently conceived research projects by highly qualified graduate students in disciplines needed to help advance NASA’s mission, thus affording these students the opportunity to directly contribute to advancements in STEM-related areas of study. These opportunities are focused on innovation and the generation of measurable research results that contribute to NASA’s current and future science and technology goals.
    Research proposals are sought to address the key challenges summarized in the Elements section at the end of the Amendment 1 document, and which reference NASA’s Hypersonic Technology and Transformational Tools & Technologies projects.
    Notices of Intent are not required.
    A budget breakdown for each proposal is required, detailing the allocation of the award funds by year. The budget document may adhere to any format or template provided by the applicant’s institution. Two pre-proposal teleconferences for potential proposers will be held and meeting links will be posted on NSPIRES.
    Proposals are due by 5 p.m. EDT on June 11, 2025.

    ROA-2024 NRA Amendment 2 – OPEN
    University Leadership Initiative
    (View the full ROA-2024 NRA Amendment 2 text here.)
    NASA’s University Leadership Initiative (ULI) provides the opportunity for university teams to exercise technical and organizational leadership in proposing unique technical challenges in aeronautics, defining multi-disciplinary solutions, establishing peer review mechanisms, and applying innovative teaming strategies to strengthen the research impact.
    Research proposals are sought in six ULI topic areas in Appendix D.4.
    Topic 1: Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations
    Topic 2: Innovation in Commercial High-Speed Aircraft
    Topic 3: Ultra-Efficient Subsonic Transports
    Topic 4: Safe, Quiet, and Affordable Vertical Lift Air Vehicles
    Topic 5: In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance
    Topic 6: Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation
    This NASA Research Announcement will utilize a two-step proposal submission and evaluation process. The initial step is a short mandatory Step-A proposal, which is due June 26, 2025. Those offerors submitting the most highly rated Step-A proposals will be invited to submit a Step-B proposal. All proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES at https://nspires.nasaprs.com. An Applicant’s Workshop will be held on Thursday April 30, 2025; 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET (https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/applicants-workshops/workshop9) (Page will be live closer to the event.)
    An interested partners list for this ULI is at https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/partners. To be listed as an interested lead or partner, please send an email to hq-univpartnerships@mail.nasa.gov with “ULI Partnerships” in the subject line and include the information required for the table on that web page.

    ROA-2024 NRA Amendment 4 – OPEN
    University Student Research Challenge
    (View the full ROA-2024 NRA Amendment 4 text here)
    NASA’s University Student Research Challenge (USRC) seeks to challenge students to propose new ideas/concepts that are relevant to NASA Aeronautics.  The challenge will provide students from accredited U.S. colleges or universities with grants for their projects, as well as the challenge of raising cost share funds through a crowdfunding campaign. The process of creating and implementing a crowdfunding campaign acts as a teaching accelerator — requiring students to act like entrepreneurs and raise awareness about their research among the public.
    The solicitation goal can be accomplished through project ideas such as advancing the design, developing technology or capabilities in support of aviation, by demonstrating a novel concept, or enabling advancement of aeronautics-related technologies.
    Notices of Intent are not required for this solicitation.
    Proposals for Cycle 3 are due June 26, 2025.
    Proposals can also be submitted later and evaluated in the second and third cycles.
    The USRC Q&A/Info Session and Proposal Workshop will be held on the days/times below. Please join us on TEAMS using the Meeting Link, or call in via +1 256-715-9946,,317928116#.

    USRC Cycle
    Information Session/Q&A Date
    Proposal Due Date

    Cycle 1
    Sept. 20, 2024 at 2 pm ET
    Nov. 7, 2024

    Cycle 2
    Jan. 27, 2025 at 2 pm ET
    March 13, 2025

    Cycle 3
    May 12, 2025 at 2 pm ET
    June 26, 2025

    Aeronautics Innovation Challenges – OPEN
    NASA’s nationwide team of aeronautical innovators are committed to giving students of all ages opportunities to solve some of the biggest technical challenges facing the aviation community today. Through NASA-sponsored challenges and competitions, students representing multiple disciplines will put their skills to work by designing and building solutions to real-world problems.

    Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations RFI – CLOSED
    View the full ACERO RFI announcement here.
    NASA’s Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project used this request for information to identify technologies that addressed current challenges facing the wildland firefighting community. NASA was seeking information on data collection, airborne connectivity and communications solutions, unmanned aircraft systems traffic management, aircraft operations and autonomy, and more. This would support development of a partnership strategy for future collaborative demonstrations.
    Interested parties were requested to respond to this notice with an information package submitted via https://nari.arc.nasa.gov/acero-rfi no later than 4 pm ET, October 15, 2023. Submissions were accepted only from U.S. companies.

    Advanced Air Mobility Mission RFI – CLOSED
    View the full AAM RFI announcement here.
    This request for information is being used to gather market research for NASA to make informed decisions regarding potential partnership strategies and future research to enable Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). NASA is seeking information from public, private, and academic organizations to determine technical needs and community interests that may lead to future solicitations regarding AAM research and development.
    This particular RFI is just one avenue of multiple planned opportunities for formal feedback on or participation in NASA’s AAM Mission-related efforts to develop these requirements and help enable AAM. 
    The respond by date for this RFI closed on Feb. 1, 2025, at 6 p.m. EST.

    ROA-2024 NRA Amendment 1 – CLOSED
    (View the full ROA-2024 NRA Amendment 1 text here.)
    The announcement solicited proposals from accredited U.S. institutions for research training grants to begin the academic year. This Notice of Funding Opportunity was designed to support independently conceived research projects by highly qualified graduate students, in disciplines needed to help advance NASA’s mission, thus affording these students the opportunity to directly contribute to advancements in STEM-related areas of study. Advanced Air Vehicle Program fellowship opportunities are focused on innovation and the generation of measurable research results that contribute to NASA’s current and future science and technology goals.
    Research proposals were sought to address key challenges provided in Elements of Appendix A.8.
    A budget breakdown for each proposal was required, detailing the allocation of the award funds by year. The budget document could adhere to any format or template provided by the applicant’s institution.
    Proposals were due by April 30, 2024, at 5 PM ET.

    ROA-2024 NRA Amendment 3 – CLOSED
    (View the full ROA-2024 NRA Amendment 3 text here)
    NASA’s Commercial Supersonic Technology project sought proposals for a fuel injector design concept and fabrication for testing at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
    The proposal for the fuel injector design aimed to establish current state-of-the-art in low NOx supersonic cruise while meeting reasonable landing take-off NOx emissions. The technology application timeline is targeted for a supersonic aircraft with entry into service in the 2035+ timeframe.
    Proposals were due by May 31, 2024 at 5 pm EDT.

    Competition for NRA awards is open to both academia and industry.
    The current open solicitations for ARMD Research Opportunities are ROA-2024 and ROA-2025.
    Here is some general information to know about the NRA process.

    NRA solicitations are released by NASA Headquarters through the Web-based NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES).
    All NRA technical work is defined and managed by project teams within these four programs: Advanced Air Vehicles Program, Airspace Operations and Safety Program, Integrated Aviation Systems Program, and Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program.
    NRA awards originate from NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, Ames Research Center in California, Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, and Armstrong Flight Research Center in California.
    Competition for NRA awards is full and open.
    Participation is open to all categories of organizations, including educational institutions, industry, and nonprofits.
    Any updates or amendments to an NRA is posted on the appropriate NSPIRES web pages as noted in the Amendments detailed below.
    ARMD sends notifications of NRA updates through the NSPIRES email system. In order to receive these email notifications, you must be a Registered User of NSPIRES. However, note that NASA is not responsible for inadvertently failing to provide notification of a future NRA. Parties are responsible for regularly checking the NSPIRES website for updated NRAs.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Highlighting Investments in Mental Health

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today recognized May as Mental Health Awareness Month throughout New York, issuing a proclamation and highlighting the unprecedented investments made into strengthening the state’s system of care since she launched her landmark $1 billion mental health initiative in 2023. This funding has resulted in the largest expansion of capacity at state-operated psychiatric centers in years, the availability of more beds at community-based hospitals, and a dramatic expansion of outpatient and prevention services.

    “Our historic investments into mental health have dramatically improved our system of care, allowing more New Yorkers to access treatment and positioning our state as a national leader.” Governor Hochul said. “As we recognize the start of Mental Health Awareness Month today, we stand proudly committed to providing services and supports responsive to the needs of all individuals and families throughout our state.”

    Governor Hochul’s investments into mental health have resulted in more than $105 million in operating funding and $831 million in capital awards. These investments extend to all facets of the mental health system and include the largest expansion of inpatient capacity in decades, stronger regulations to connect New Yorkers with treatment when they leave inpatient and emergency settings, more outpatient supports to help individuals live safely in their community, thousands of new units of specialized housing dedicated to individuals living with mental illness and sweeping insurance reforms to improve access to care.

    Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Governor Hochul’s unprecedented investments into mental health over the past three years has created a more effective and accessible system of care statewide, helping more people get the treatment when and where they need it most. Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity for us to engage in conversations about mental illness, champion stories of recovery, and help every New Yorker understand that help is available.”

    As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, OMH is posting a video to social media each week in May to highlight individual stories of recovery from mental illness. The agency also posted a short message to New Yorkers from Commissioner Sullivan, compiled a list of public events taking place statewide to raise mental health awareness and is encouraging all New Yorkers to be mindful of their own mental wellbeing, offering tips for self-care at Be Well, a state-funded website dedicated to improving mental wellness.

    Since Governor Hochul took office, New York State has added 875 psychiatric beds, including 550 that were brought back online at community-based hospitals, and 325 — 125 since December — at state-operated psychiatric centers, marking the largest expansion at these facilities in years. In addition, the state has funded 109 new beds now under development at community based hospitals and is preparing to build a new 75-bed Transition to Home unit at the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens.

    Under Governor Hochul’s direction, the State Office of Mental Health and Department of Health recently adopted new regulations now in effect to ensure individuals needing inpatient and emergency psychiatric care are provided with connections to outpatient care once they are discharged from inpatient and emergency psychiatric care. These regulations standardize admission and discharge criteria, require facilities to schedule follow-up appointments, screen for suicide risk, and coordinate discharge details with care managers.

    State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Mental health awareness month is an important time to remember that good mental health is a vital component to good physical health. These investments under the leadership of Governor Hochul will give more New Yorkers access to treatment and expanded services at all levels across New York’s health system while reducing stigma surrounding mental health conditions.”

    As part of this effort, the state has established 13 new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics statewide, with another 13 expected to be licensed this summer, bringing the total to 39. These clinics provide mental health and substance use disorder services to anyone who walks in the door, regardless of whether they have insurance, and now serve more than 38,000 Medicaid-enrolled New Yorkers.

    OMH is also establishing 50 Critical Time Intervention teams in all areas of the state to provide care management services and support to help individuals during transitions in care, such as leaving inpatient settings. With the first 31 now funded, these teams will have the capacity to serve 3,480 New Yorkers.

    Governor Hochul’s mental health initiative has also established four new Intensive and Sustained Engagement or INSET teams, which are peer-led and provide support services for individuals with complex mental health needs and who have difficulty connecting with traditional forms of care. Teams are now operating in New York City, the Rochester area, Westchester, and on Long Island, collectively serving more than 300 individuals.

    This investment also funded 43 new Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams, with the capacity to provide services to 1,836 individuals living with mental illness within their community rather than a more restrictive hospital setting.

    The mental health initiative greatly expanded the Safe Options Support program, which has now helped permanently house more than 1,000 individuals, including 147 in OMH-licensed housing. With the first teams launched in Spring 2022, the SOS program now has 28 teams, including ones canvassing all five boroughs of New York City, both counties on Long Island, and 19 additional counties across the state.

    This funding has also helped open 1,296 units of specialized housing, with an additional 2,204 housing units that are under development. The units under development include community residence-single room occupancy units, supportive housing-single room occupancy units and short term transitional residential units.

    Under Governor Hochul’s direction, the state has also adopted new regulations to establish network adequacy standards for behavioral health services for insurers. Set to go in effect on July 1, these regulations give commercial and Medicaid managed care plans 10 days to connect New Yorkers with in-network mental health or substance use disorder services, or else allow the individual to access an out-of-network provider at no additional cost.

    The mental health initiative has also greatly expanded services for children and youth, establishing more than 1,200 school-based mental health clinic satellites to provide mental health services at school districts statewide. Additionally, the state now funds 30 Youth Assertive Community Treatment teams in 38 counties, providing support for young New Yorkers with serious emotional disturbances who are either at risk of entering or are returning home from an inpatient or residential setting.

    As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, Governor Hochul directed that 15 state buildings and landmarks be illuminated in green – the color that has come to symbolize mental health awareness — at dusk tonight, Thursday, May 1. This includes:

    • 1WTC
    • Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
    • Kosciuszko Bridge
    • The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
    • State Education Building
    • Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
    • Empire State Plaza
    • State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
    • Niagara Falls
    • The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
    • Albany International Airport Gateway
    • Lake Placid Olympic Center
    • MTA LIRR – East End Gateway at Penn Station
    • Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
    • Moynihan Train Hall

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ramirez,Warren, Blumenthal, Correa, 40+ Lawmakers Open Investigation into “Troubling” Customs and Border Protection Tactics

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Delia Ramirez – Illinois (3rd District)

    Reports allege due process violations, mistreatment, prolonged detention, and politicized denials of entry at air and land ports

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), along with Representatives Lou Correa (D-Calif.) led a letter to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) demanding an explanation about the troubling reports alleging due process violations, mistreatment, prolonged detention, and politicized denials of entry at air and land ports since President Trump took office. 

    “Trump and Secretary Noem have abused the Department of Homeland Security and its agencies, including Customs and Border Patrol, to terrorize our communities, profile Latinos, and arrest U.S. citizens. While Republicans have proven unwilling or incapable of conducting oversight, the Administration continues to violate our rights and undermine due process,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “We deserve answers, and we will use every tool at our disposal to get them.”

    Several recent incidents have sparked serious concerns. For example, on March 7, a green card holder returning to the United States reportedly was “violently interrogated” at an airport — including being strip-searched, forced into a cold shower, and denied access to his medications. His mother reported that “he hardly got anything to drink,” collapsed, and was later transported by ambulance to the hospital.

    U.S. citizens have also reportedly been detained and mistreated by CBP in recent weeks. For example, on February 18, a U.S. citizen reportedly was handcuffed, chained to a bench, and “subjected to a humiliating body search” after asking CBP officials why her partner, a German national with whom she was traveling, was being detained. 

    CBP also appears to be more frequently searching travelers’ phones and sometimes denying entry after finding evidence of their political opinions on their devices. The CBP says it searches mobile phones and other electronic devices only “on rare occasions,” but early indications from the Trump administration suggest the practice is on the rise.

    “These incidents are a sharp departure from CBP’s normal practices,” wrote the lawmakers.

    To better understand the recent changes in the CBP’s practices, the lawmakers are pressing for answers to questions including: what steps CBP is taking to ensure that it promptly complies with time-sensitive court orders staying deportations; how CBP will comply with civil rights requirements like due process; among other questions. 

    The lawmakers are also requesting information, including the number of complaints regarding officer misconduct received by CBP; a copy of any policy documents related to questioning and vetting of travelers with valid travel documents; the number of travelers whose electronic devices CBP has searched; and the number of U.S. citizens CBP has detained.

    After members sent their letter to the Administration, a federal court ruled that law enforcement can’t conduct warrantless immigration stops. The rules reaffirmed that law enforcement can’t pursue immigration enforcement based on racial profiling. 

    The following Senators joined in signing the letter: Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

    The following Representatives joined in signing the letter: Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), André Carson (D-Ind.), Troy Carter (D-La.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Cleo Fields (D-La.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Henry Johnson (D-Ga.), Timothy Kennedy (D-N.Y.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Eleanor Norton (D-D.C.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.).

    To read the full letter, CLICK HERE.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Don Davis Votes in Support of Defense Funding Package

    Source: US Congressman Don Davis (NC-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) issued the following statement after voting to support a defense funding package during the first-ever U.S. House Armed Services Committee budget reconciliation markup.  

    “One of my top priorities has been preventing the retirement of the F-15E aircraft at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and securing increased F-15EX procurement. We are also committed to strengthening our workforce pipeline by expanding shipbuilding job opportunities for North Carolinians in shipyards like Newport News. I believe this defense package moves us in the right direction,” said Congressman Don Davis. “Preserving jobs and investing in Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is vital to our readiness and national defense.” 

    The House Armed Services Committee passed the defense funding package by a margin of 35-21. 

    Highlights include:

    • $127.5 million to prevent the retirement of F-15E aircraft
    • $3.15 billion to support F-15EX aircraft procurement
    • $678 million to accelerate the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program to build semi-autonomous drones that fly alongside manned fighters 
    • $34 billion to support shipbuilding and the maritime industrial base (including $4.6 billion for a second Virginia-class submarine in fiscal year 2027 and $450 million for additional maritime industrial workforce development programs)

    Other highlights include:

    • $9 billion for servicemember quality of life (including $1.2 billion for military housing and $100 million for childcare)
    • $5 billion for border support and counter-drug missions
    • $11 billion for Pacific deterrence

    There are 94 F-15E fighters at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base employs more than 6,200 military and civilian personnel. Congressman Davis’ Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA provision prohibits F-15E divestment through at least Fiscal Year 2027. The bill now moves to the Budget Committee. 

    Timeline of action on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base:

    • On November 20, 2023, Congressman Davis toured Seymour Johnson Air Force Base during an official congressional delegation visit to deepen his understanding of its operations and challenges of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and to express unwavering support for the brave men and women in uniform.
    • On March 13, 2024, Congressman Davis delivered remarks on the House Floor regarding plans by the Air Force to divest a combat squadron and strip away 520 jobs at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. A Full Video of Congressman Davis’ speech on the House Floor is here.
    • Congressman Davis sent a letter dated March 29, 2024, to President Joe Biden urging the administration not to divest an F-15E aircraft fighter squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Read the full letter here.
    • On April 17, 2024, Congressman Davis questioned the Secretary of the Air Force at a House Armed Service Committee hearing on what communication he or his team had had with the local community, what the economic impact of divestment would be, and whether the U.S. Air Force planned to deliver the late report on force structure decisions.
    • On May 14, 2024, Congressman Davis announced a provision prohibiting the retirement of F-15E aircraft until at least Fiscal Year 2027.
    • On December 11, 2024, Congressman Davis voted to support the Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA (Public Law 118-159), which includes his provision prohibiting the retirement of F-15E aircraft until at least Fiscal Year 2027.
    • On March 7, 2025, Congressman Davis submitted his Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA priorities, including several requests in the defense funding package, including F-15EX procurement, F-15E maintenance and upgrades, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft funding.

    Military installations in eastern North Carolina include Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City, Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and Fort Bragg.

    Congressman Don Davis is a 1994 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and a U.S. Air Force veteran. He serves as the vice ranking member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee where he serves on the Readiness and Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittees. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson Outlines Roadmap for America’s Industrial Comeback

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson delivered closing remarks at the Hill and Valley Forum that detailed how President Trump and Republicans in Congress are laying the groundwork for America’s industrial renewal.

    Click here to watch the full speech

    Read Speaker Johnson’s remarks below:

    I want to talk to you about an important issue that I know is top of mind for all of you and that’s about some long-held assumptions. There’s a long-held assumption out there that government and innovation must be at odds. We don’t believe that. You don’t believe that.

    But I think today’s thoughtful and insightful conversations – and most of American history for that matter – actually tell a different story. Many of our most consequential innovations have emerged from a healthy interplay between private ingenuity and public engagement.  

    Today, America is eager to get back to the days of making and building things again. And rightly so. For the better part of this century, we’ve actually been moving in the opposite direction. From the steel towns of Pennsylvania to the textile mills of the Carolinas, American communities watched as their factories shut down and main streets emptied out. We were told that we could simply innovate here and build elsewhere. The result was a gradual erosion of our industrial strength, which was part of the great strength of America.

    In recent years, we’ve seen the consequences of allowing the industrial backbone of our economy to atrophy, whether it’s strategic vulnerabilities in semiconductors, rare earths, and pharmaceuticals, or the regulations that smother businesses and jobs far too often.

    Our economy is coming back. We are doing the right things right now. We are making the right decisions to get this going. And that’s after the very damaging effects of Bidenomics the last four years, but we also see warning signs below the surface.

    I think we owe it to ourselves to be frank about this because we’re the ones that have to figure this out. Company profits are up, but the productivity of key American industries of course is down. Unemployment is low, but the number of Americans in job market still stagnates still below pre-pandemic levels. And our industrial capacity – the real engine of a resilient economy – has barely begun to recover from decades of neglect.

    What we are slowly learning is that our technological and our industrial strength is inextricably linked to our national prosperity and security. People in this room understand that, but others are taking notice.

    This situation didn’t happen by accident, it didn’t happen overnight. Decades worth of policymakers made it too easy to offshore entire industries, while providing few incentives to reinvest here in the USA. And it happened because government forgot that its role is not to control the markets, but to cultivate the conditions in which innovation can not only survive, but thrive.

    We saw this failure play out in real time under the last administration. I mean this is just objective fact, I don’t want to give you a partisan speech, but we need to look at reality. President Biden put the full weight of government behind clean energy, EVs, and broadband as a way to implement his green new economy. What we got instead was billions in spending with very little to show for it, if anything at all.

    The EV charger program has to be one of the worst boondoggles ever.  There were fewer than 10 functioning stations built in the first three years. Billions went into these failed programs, while burdensome permitting processes and red tape worked against the very innovation the Administration hoped to spur.

    And while Joe Biden paused America’s LNG exports, his Administration enriched adversaries like Russia, who were all too willing to fill this void in the market. Our European allies quite literally had to go get their natural gas and get their energy needs met by Vladimir Putin. It fueled his war machine and caused so much of the chaos we’re still dealing with.

    These policies don’t just handicap America and American technology; they fundamentally misunderstood the role of government in our system of free enterprise.

    Republicans, and especially President Trump, see things very differently. We believe government’s job is not to pick winners and losers. It’s to set the rules of the road, clear the obstacles, and get out of the way so American capital and ingenuity can get to work.

    We have to allow the job creators, and the risk takers, and the entrepreneurs, and the economy to do what they do. government can’t have a boot on the neck of those people and expect them to perform today.

    We’ve got an opportunity to reckon with all these failures, to recalibrate appropriately and get America back to being an industrial powerhouse once again. Our survival as a nation, I think, depends upon this. So what role should government actually play? Let me just outline three quick, broad policies that Republicans in Congress are pursuing right now to accomplish all this in concert with the White House, because this is a – we’re trying to operate as a seamless team. You’ll see that we’re working day to day, hand in hand with the administration, and that Republicans who control now both chambers of Congress, because we have unified government, you’ll see the Senate and House Republicans working together in tandem. That’s very deliberate, I think, very, very important.

    But three broad policies that we’re pursuing: number one, unleashing abundant American energy. I don’t have to tell the people in this auditorium why that’s so important. Artificial intelligence and data centers are consuming enormous amounts of energy, and this demand is growing exponentially. They come in and show us the charts where the demand goes like this on a chart, and we’re behind the eight ball already, as we know, if we’re to support these innovations and build the jobs and factories of tomorrow, we need reliable, affordable, abundant energy. And that means that unleashing the full potential of American energy and cutting red tape and tapping into every energy source, like commercial nuclear and liquefied natural gas, is just critically important. 

    Our second priority that we’re trying to pursue here is keeping taxes low and keeping competition in the marketplace. The 2017 Trump tax cuts sparked a real resurgence in American industry. The year after they passed, business investment jumped by roughly 10% real wages grew and companies began to reinvest in US manufacturing again. I mean, quite literally, all boats were rising. We say in these big forums as going around the country to a campaign and say, look, President Trump is a known entity. The first Trump Administration, look at what he did and what he was able to do prior to COVID, we had the greatest economy in the history of the world since we cut taxes and cut regulations. It’s not rocket science. We aspire to get back to that at that time, every boat was rising. I mean literally, every demographic in the country and every region in the country was doing better because these policies were implemented.

    Right now, we’re working to make these tax cuts, the tax cuts of the first administration, permanent, not just for families, but also to ensure that American innovators have the confidence to take risks and to reinvest boldly in expanding our industrial base. 

    The third big priority I wanted to mention today is reducing the size and scope of government. We get two important levers to do that. One is reining in wasteful spending. Number two, it’s cutting back regulations again. Under President Biden, we cross the dangerous threshold of $35 trillion in national debt. This is a dire situation. I know the people in this room understand it. A lot of people back home don’t have a full scope of the threat that this is. When we bring in leaders in the Pentagon or the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the last several years, I served on the House Armed Services Committee, among other assignments. We would ask them, “what is the greatest national threat to  our country? What is our top national security concern?” And you would expect them to say, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea. They don’t. They say the debt. And it’s true that our interest payments alone are on track to outpace our entire defense fund. It’s not a sustainable situation, and everybody knows that. Our adversaries know it as well.

    So we’re working right now on the one big, beautiful bill is the reconciliation process, and we’re going through that. We’re taking an honest look at every corner of the budget, including programs along considered to be “untouchable.” We know that when we work to root out wasteful and abuse, just like any smart business, we make our system and these vital programs more effective and efficient the people who really need and deserve them. And we’ve got all hands on deck to do this at the same time. We need to cut harmful regulations that smother innovation.

    All of you run into this, I’m sure at some point or another, may be dealing with it today, but I hope to tell you, in good faith that help is on the way. America’s industrial comeback can’t wait on government bureaucracy. We need to clear the runway for capital to move swiftly into new factories and robotics and advanced automation. Just before COVID, Tesla built its giga factory in Shanghai. They did it in under one year. If you did that same thing here, it would take just as long to pull together the darn permits just to get started building. We can and we must do better. We cannot allow other countries to exceed our performance in that way. 

    Nowhere is it more necessary for Congress to move with caution than AI. If we over regulate here, which you know, Washington tends to do, we don’t just risk regulating American AI out of existence. We would cede critical grounded China and this fateful race to dominate this new technology, and it’s a race that we cannot afford to lose.

    Our priority with AI and technology more broadly, is create an environment that’s competitive and open to new and emerging players, and not just one that benefits the big guys, right?

    Let me talk about tariffs briefly, and I know I’m the last speaker today, so I don’t want to give you a long policy speech, but I think some of this is important, and I’m sure it’s timely for you, and it’s probably one of the questions you would ask if we opened it up.

    President Trump is taking a serious look at our trade relationships, and it’s something I think that we should applaud. We have been mistreated. We have unfair trade partners around the globe, and this has been going on for quite some time. We’re living in the relic of really, what happened after World War II. Think about it, the historical terms I mean, we emerged as a great superpower, and Europe largely had to be rebuilt. So all these trade agreements were made with America as the new great nation, and the emerging superpower, and they sort of rationalized, “well, Americans can afford it, and we need a break.”

    Well, I mean, we’re a long time past World War II. President Trump’s right to point it out. He said, reciprocal trade means it’s got to be fair. He said, every time I talk to him “Mr. President, we’re free traders, free market guys.” He goes “yeah, free and fair trade.” Well, that’s a good point. So tariffs are one tool among many that he’s using to try to do a rebalancing there. He’s trying to rebalance trade and restore a level playing field for American workers and businesses. We’re in uncharted waters on this. This hasn’t been done, so there’s bound to be some market disruption. That’s what we’ve all kind of lived through the last several weeks.

    But I trust the President’s instincts here, and I know that American business leaders are tired of tactics from China. They just constantly undercut and outmaneuver American firms. They’ve stolen our IP, everybody here knows it. People are tired of competing with Chinese firms that are propped up by state subsidies and use actual slave labor to produce their products and they steal our intellectual property.

    But tariffs are just one part of the equation securing our long-term security and the competitive edge that will depend that we’ll need all that’s going to depend on leaning into innovations like AI and advanced robotics and automation. I really empathize with Americans who feel uneasy about the rapid pace of technology advancement.  I get that, but history gives us reason to be optimistic about this. From the automobile to the aircraft to the internet, each new breakthrough has unlocked entirely new industries and professions and forms of prosperity that have worked in our favor. They’ve transformed the way we live. We should always invite and celebrate those advances, because we know the better technology makes our workers more productive, and when our workers are more productive, they earn more, they build more and we see more human flourishing. 

    At the end of the day, that is our objective. We are trying to bring about human flourishing. That’s the goal of all this. It should be the goal of all of our public policy. Not everybody thinks about it that way, but we’re trying to, we’re trying to change things that they do. We should invite new ideas to reinvigorate our industrial base, not just to decouple from China, although that’s critical, but to give the American people a renewed sense of pride in what we make and what we build and what we export to the world, I have to say I’m incredibly bullish on America, not just because of the talent and ingenuity in this room and across the country, but because of what I’ve seen with my own eyes around the country. 

    I’ll just leave you with this quick anecdote. Two weeks ago, I was down in south Texas. I visited Saronic. You’ll probably know some of you guys know company. Y’all heard about it earlier on the stage, I think, but its headquarters sit in an unassuming lot right outside downtown Austin. I drove up and I was like, we’re here, but what I saw inside this building was truly extraordinary. What they’re doing is incredible work to bring back American shipbuilding, essentially from the ashes. We’re blessed where I’m from because Saronic is soon expanding manufacturing operation in my home state, Louisiana, and we’re going to welcome them with open arms, because it’s really exciting stuff.

    I’m telling this story because that is what American renewal looks like. It’s not just about Silicon Valley or Washington or bringing back the smokestacks of the 50’s. This is about expanding the pool of opportunity for every American in every community, in every corner of this great country. It’s about pioneering innovation. It’s about taking risks and betting big on America. Once again, it can happen anywhere in the country, and we want to bring about the conditions to allow that to happen. And that’s why I’m more confident than ever that our best days still lie ahead of us.

    Last thought, because I know you want to go. In July of next year, we’ll celebrate our 250th anniversary as a nation. This grand experiment in self-governance has lasted two and a half centuries. We have already exceeded the expiration date, the lifespan of a nation like ours, a republic, and we’ve done something totally different that no one had ever done before. America was truly revolutionary. The very concept was and we’re built upon these very firm foundations, these ideas, some of the things I’ve articulated today are made us who we are.

    Sometimes in this job, I take the opportunity to go and speak to university and college students, and I’m often alarmed my friends, because I will ask at the beginning, I’ll get on a stage like this, and I’ll say, “would you raise your hand if you agree that you live in the greatest nation in the history of the world?” And sadly, sometimes you get 10-15% of the hands raised in an auditorium like this, I’ll say, “gee, well, you don’t believe in the live in the greatest nation? Would you at least concede you live in a great nation?” Get a few more hands, and then I spend the rest of time explaining to them. I’m a constitutional law attorney. I can put on my case. I need several hours, but I try to convince it, and in 20 minutes or so I say “look, you live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. It’s not even close by any objective measure.” We’re the most successful, most powerful, most free, most benevolent nation that has ever been on the earth.

    But there’s a reason that we are, and it’s incumbent upon us as stewards of this great Republic if we are going to keep this grand experiment in self-governance, it is incumbent upon us to understand what those foundations are and to nurture them, to get back to those foundations, because we can’t allow them to be destroyed.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: 2022 St. Louis Murder-For-Hire Results in Life Term in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Thursday sentenced a St. Louis County, Missouri man to life in prison for the murder of a New Jersey man in 2022.

    Moreion Lindsey, 35, was found guilty at a trial in January in U.S. District Court in St. Louis of one count of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and one count of murder-for-hire. Evidence and testimony showed that Lindsey fatally shot Titus Armstead on April 21, 2022, in Penrose Park in St. Louis.

    Lindsey had been hired for the murder by Jerome Williams, at the request of a Seattle man, Ray Bradley, who trafficked cocaine and marijuana to St. Louis and other cities. Bradley falsely blamed Armstead for the theft of drugs and millions of dollars from a Bradley “stash” house in New Jersey. Bradley had Armstead fly to St. Louis, purportedly to protect him from possible harm. Bradley’s real goal was to have him killed in St. Louis because Williams said he knew someone who could do the job, evidence and testimony showed. Lindsey met Armstead at the airport and drove him to Penrose Park, where he fatally shot Armstead with a .45-caliber handgun, evidence showed. He then took a photo of the body using a prepaid “burner” phone to provide proof of the death to Williams and Bradley.

    Lindsey was later paid $15,000 by Williams. Williams disposed of evidence, including the burner phone, Armstead’s Social Security card and other belongings. Lindsey had the SUV that he used to drive Armstead to the park reported stolen and then used $5,000 to buy another SUV.

    In a victim impact letter to the court, Armstead’s sister wrote, “In a world full of limitless opportunities—where every day offers a chance to grow, create, and build a meaningful life—why choose a path of destruction and harm? It is deeply saddening that amidst all the gifts and possibilities life offers, some would resign themselves to a life of drugs and violence.”

    “Moreion Lindsey, you threw away your life for $15,000—an amount you could have earned in six months of full-time work at minimum wage,” she added. “Instead, you chose a path that has deprived your children of a father and your mother of her son. You will spend the rest of your life without freedom—unable to enjoy a warm shower, a comfortable bed, or even the simple joys of being with your family.”

    Williams, 52, pleaded guilty in December to a charge of destruction of evidence to obstruct a federal investigation. He was sentenced April 23 to 138 months in prison.

    Bradley, 46, pleaded guilty in June to one count of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced in September to 25 years in prison.

    The case was investigated by the FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Atlanta Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Petroleum Marketing Monthly

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    Notice: EIA has suspended data collection for two surveys supporting the Petroleum Marketing Monthly. We will continue to update the PMM crude oil prices section (data tables 1, 1A, 18 – 27). See our latest press release for more details.

    Monthly price and volume statistics on crude oil and petroleum products at a national, regional and state level.

    Categories24/7 OSI, Energy, MIL-OSI, United States Government, US Energy Information Administration

    Highlights
    Petroleum marketing monthly highlights PDF
    Summary statistics tables PDF
    1 Crude oil prices PDF  
    1A Refiner acquisition cost of crude oil by PAD Districts PDF  
    2 U.S. refiner prices of petroleum products to end users PDF  
    3 U.S. refiner volumes of petroleum products to end users PDF  
         
         
         
    4 U.S. refiner prices of petroleum products for resale PDF  
    5 U.S. refiner volumes of petroleum products for resale PDF  
         
         
         
    6 U.S. refiner motor gasoline prices by grade and sales type PDF  
    7 U.S. refiner motor gasoline volumes by grade and sales type PDF  
    8 U.S. refiner conventional motor gasoline prices by grade and sales type PDF  
    9 U.S. refiner conventional motor gasoline volumes by grade and sales type PDF  
    10 U.S. refiner reformulated motor gasoline prices by grade and sales type PDF  
    11 U.S. refiner reformulated motor gasoline volumes by grade and sales type PDF  
    12 U.S. propane (consumer grade) prices by sales type PDF  
    13 U.S. No. 2 distillate prices by sales type PDF  
    14 U.S. No. 2 diesel fuel prices by sulfur content and sales type PDF  
    15 Prices of No. 2 distillate to residences by PAD District and selected states PDF  
    16 U.S. refiner residual fuel prices PDF  
    17 U.S. refiner residual fuel volumes PDF  
    Summary statistics figures
    1 Crude oil prices PDF
    2 U.S. refiner retail petroleum product prices PDF
    3 U.S. refiner retail petroleum product volumes PDF
    4 U.S. refiner wholesale petroleum product prices PDF
    5 U.S. refiner wholesale petroleum product volumes PDF
    6 U.S. No.2 distillate prices to residences by PAD District PDF
    7 U.S. refiner residual fuel oil prices PDF
    Crude oil prices tables PDF
    18 Domestic crude oil first purchase prices PDF  
    19 Domestic crude oil first purchase prices for selected crude streams PDF  
    20 Domestic crude oil first purchase prices by API gravity PDF  
    21 F.O.B. costs of imported crude oil by selected country PDF  
    22 Landed costs of imported crude oil by selected country PDF  
    23 F.O.B. costs of imported crude oil by API gravity PDF  
    24 Landed costs of imported crude oil by API gravity PDF  
    25 Percentages of total imported crude oil by API gravity PDF  
    26 F.O.B. costs of imported crude oil for selected crude streams PDF  
    27 Landed costs of imported crude oil for selected crude streams PDF  
    Prices of petroleum products tables PDF
    28 Motor gasoline prices by grade, sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    29 Conventional motor gasoline prices by grade, sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    30 Reformulated motor gasoline prices by grade, sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    31 Refiner motor gasoline prices by grade, sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    32 Refiner prices of aviation fuels and kerosene by PAD District and state PDF  
    33 Refiner prices of distillate fuels by PAD District and state PDF  
    34 Propane (consumer grade) prices by sales type and PAD District PDF  
    35 No. 2 distillate prices by sales type, PAD District, and selected states PDF  
    36 No. 2 diesel fuel prices by sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    37 No. 2 diesel fuel prices by sulfur content, Sales type, and PAD District PDF  
    38 Residual fuel oil prices by PAD District and selected states PDF  
    Volumes of petroleum products tables PDF
    39 Refiner motor gasoline volumes by grade, sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    40 Refiner motor gasoline volumes by formulation, sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    41 Refiner volumes of aviation fuels, kerosene, No. 1 distillate, and propane by PAD District and state PDF  
    42 Refiner No. 2 diesel fuel volumes by PAD District and state PDF  
    43 Refiner No. 2 distillate and fuel oil volumes by PAD District and state PDF  
    44 Refiner residual fuel oil and No. 4 fuel volumes by PAD District PDF  
    Prime supplier sales volumes of petroleum products for local consumption tables PDF
    45 Prime supplier sales volumes of motor gasoline by grade, formulation, PAD District, and state PDF  
    46 Prime supplier sales volumes of aviation fuels, No. 4 fuel oil, propane, and residual fuel oil by PAD District and state PDF  
    47 Prime supplier sales volumes of distillate fuel oils and kerosene by PAD District and state PDF  

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Clyburn Statement on Vance Visit to South Carolina Marking 100 Days of Failed Trump Economic Policies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative James E (Jim) Clyburn (6th District of South Carolina)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following statement on Vice President J.D. Vance’s visit to South Carolina to deliver remarks on economic policy:

    “South Carolinians will not be fooled by J.D. Vance’s rhetoric. The Trump Administration’s economic record in its first 100 days has been an abysmal failure, and a substantial course correction is needed to prevent grave harm to families and businesses. Trump’s exorbitant tariffs—imposed on countless essential products without any strategy—are increasing costs, jeopardizing retirement savings, threatening jobs, and putting small businesses at risk.  We are one of the most trade-dependent states in the nation, and are proud of our contributions to the global economy. South Carolina stands to be harmed disproportionately.  The Vice President would be better served by using his visit today to hear from South Carolinians from all walks of life—longshoremen, autoworkers, farmers, aircraft assemblers, hospitality employees, small business owners, and everyone else trying to make ends meet and urging the Administration to alter its approach before it is too late.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Drone-Mounted Lidar Systems for Bathymetric Surveys Market Expected to Reach $890 Million By 2032

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Bathymetry is a rising subset of uses in the drone universe. Bathymetry is the study of the “beds” or “floors” of water bodies, including the ocean, rivers, streams, and lakes. LIDAR and drones drive this segment. According to a recent industry report from Grand View Research said: “The drone-mounted LiDAR systems for bathymetric surveys market is projected to experience significant growth, with the global LiDAR drone market expected to reach around $892 million by 2032. The market is driven by factors such as increasing demand for high-precision geospatial data, technological advancements in LiDAR sensors, and the integration of LiDAR with AI and machine learning. Advancements in LiDAR technology, such as improved accuracy and reduced costs, have made it more accessible for a wide range of applications. Moreover, LiDAR integration with drones and autonomous vehicles is driving market expansion. The airborne segment dominated the U.S. LiDAR industry with a revenue share of over 44.9% in 2024. Airborne LiDAR holds a dominant position in the U.S. market and is also the fastest-growing segment, driven by its extensive use in large-scale mapping, urban planning, and environmental monitoring. The ability of airborne LiDAR to cover vast areas with high accuracy makes it an essential tool for applications such as topographic mapping, flood risk assessment, and forest management. The integration of LiDAR systems with advanced drones and aircraft has further enhanced its utility, enabling cost-effective and efficient data acquisition. The rise of smart city initiatives and infrastructure development projects in the U.S. is another key factor propelling the growth of airborne LiDAR.”   Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PRZO), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS), EHang (NASDAQ: EH), Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS).

    Grand View Research continued: “The mobile & UAV accounted to hold significant market share in 2024. The mobile and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) LiDAR segment is experiencing significant growth in the U.S., primarily due to its versatility and ability to collect data in dynamic environments. Mobile LiDAR systems, mounted on vehicles, are widely used for road mapping, urban modeling, and autonomous vehicle navigation. UAV-based LiDAR has gained traction in industries like agriculture, construction, and mining, where flexibility and accessibility are critical. The reduced cost of UAV platforms and advancements in compact LiDAR sensors have made this technology more accessible to a broader range of industries. Additionally, advancements in miniaturization and cost reduction are opening up new opportunities for LiDAR applications. Smaller, more affordable sensors are becoming available for use in drones, allowing for rapid aerial mapping and surveying in hard-to-reach areas.”

    ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) Drone as a Service (DaaS) Offerings Expand to Bathymetric Surveys for Underwater Terrain Mapping for Commercial and Government Customers ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces its DaaS offerings have expanded to include bathymetric surveys, a specialized method of mapping underwater terrain using drones equipped with sonar. These surveys are important for critical underwater depth and contour data to support maintenance, dredging, environmental planning, and aquatic development for both commercial and government customers.

    ZenaTech’s DaaS bathymetric surveys are now available in South Florida through the recently acquired Wallace Surveying where the team has both golf course and Intracoastal Waterway project relationships and surveying expertise. Utilizing advanced sonar and ZenaDrone drones, high-resolution underwater maps help customers make informed decisions ─ from enhanced water management and lake and channel design strategies, to ensuring long-term sustainability.

    “The Wallace team brings key customer relationships and bathymetric survey expertise that will enhance our national DaaS drone offerings. Bathymetric surveys using aerial drones offer faster, safer, and more cost-effective data collection, especially in hard-to-reach or hazardous environments. Unlike conventional manned survey vessel methods, drones require fewer personnel, reduce operational risks, and can access shallow or narrow areas with greater precision,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    According to DataIntelo market research, the global Bathymetry Survey Sonar Market was valued at approximately $1.2 billion in 2023, this market is projected to reach $2.1 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.2%. This encompasses sonar systems utilized in bathymetric surveys, including those deployed on drones.

    ZenaTech’s DaaS business will incorporate the ZenaDrone 1000 and the IQ series of multifunction autonomous drones to provide a variety of service solutions from land surveys to power line inspections or power washing, made accessible and cost effective through an Uber-like business model on a regular subscription or pay-per-use basis. Customers can conveniently access drones for eliminating manual or time-consuming tasks achieving superior results, such as for surveying, inspections, security and law enforcement, or precision farming applications, without having to buy, operate, or maintain the drones themselves.

    The DaaS business model offers customers such as government agencies, real estate developers, construction firms, farmers or energy companies reduced upfront costs as there is no need to purchase expensive drones, as well as convenience, as there is no need to manage maintenance and operation. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and enables access to advanced drone technology sensors or attachments without the need for specialized training.   Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PRZO) announced recently that official marketing approval from the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s Defense Export Controls Agency (DECA) was received for the DropAir™ Precision Airdrop System, developed in collaboration with Heven Drones (“Heven”).

    Heven is a leading U.S. drone manufacturer with roots in Israel that specializes in custom autonomous UAV platforms. This authorization from DECA enables ParaZero and Heven to actively market their joint DropAir-integrated solution to global clients across commercial, defense, and humanitarian sectors.

    The DropAir system, integrated with Heven’s advanced UAVs, enables accurate and safe aerial delivery of critical payloads, including medical supplies, tactical equipment, and humanitarian aid. The combined solution is designed for autonomous deployment, enhanced safety, and mission-critical precision—especially in hard-to-reach or hazardous environments.

    AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS) recently announced the launch of its eBee VISION next generation application software featuring a variety of critical updates. Of particular note, is the capability for autonomous position updates with map referencing to provide precise navigation even in GNSS-denied areas where satellite signals are unavailable or unreliable due to various factors.

    AgEagle CEO Bill Irby commented, “Of the many new features provided in our latest software update, overcoming GNSS-denied shortfalls marks a significant leap forward in drone operations especially for defense personnel, public safety agencies and industrial teams working in high-stakes, GNSS-denied environments. Whether operating in dense urban centers, near critical installations, or in contested zones with active signal interference, our global eBee VISION customers can now maintain full navigational command of their drone using only the camera and map-based interface. This feature directly addresses a core challenge faced by tactical and industrial drone operators in today’s complex mission environments. Our technical team will continue to work relentlessly on refinements and ongoing advancements to ensure AgEagle remains at the forefront of UAV innovation.”

    EHang (NASDAQ: EH), the world’s leading Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology platform company, recently announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Guangdong EHang General Aviation Co., Ltd. (“EHang General Aviation”), and its joint venture company in Hefei, Hefei HeYi Aviation Co., Ltd. (“HeYi Aviation”), have been granted the first batch of Air Operator Certificates (“OC”) for civil human-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (“CAAC”).

    This milestone officially marks the launch of China’s human-carrying flight era in the low-altitude economy, allowing citizens and consumers to purchase flight tickets for low-altitude tourism, urban sightseeing, and diverse commercial human-carrying flight services at related operation sites in Guangzhou and Hefei. In the future, operators will also gradually expand into more other scenarios such as urban commuting based on operational conditions legally and compliantly. The issuance of the first batch of OCs sets a new benchmark for the low-altitude economy and urban air mobility and further unleashing a more powerful vitality of the new-quality productive forces.

    Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS) recently announced it has secured a $3.4 million order for its Iron Drone Raider Counter-UAS system from renowned European defense contractor for their governmental end client. This marks the initial deployment of the Iron Drone Raider in Europe and represents a major milestone in the global expansion of Ondas’ counter-UAS business.

    “Ongoing geopolitical instability and the rapid proliferation of hostile drone technologies have intensified the urgency for effective counter-UAS capabilities across NATO-aligned and partner nations,” said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas. “This order reflects the rising global demand for autonomous aerial defense systems that can be rapidly deployed, scaled, and adapted to modern threat environments. Iron Drone Raider delivers a differentiated solution for military and homeland security operators charged with safeguarding critical infrastructure and civilian populations from increasingly sophisticated aerial threats.”

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

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    DISCLAIMER:  FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels.  FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein.  FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.  FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities.  The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material.  All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks.  All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release.  FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers.  Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks.  For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty one hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company.  FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:
    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Unmanned Drones Carrying Bathymetric Lidar Systems Being Utilized to Cover Larger Areas Quickly

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – LIDAR is being used in more industries across all markets and in many environments… one of which is water. People have studied the underwater depth of river, sea, and ocean floors for thousands of years to be able to safely navigate boats through the water. Today, such depth measurements are done using advanced technology that includes either sound (sonar), or laser pulses (LiDAR). The study of underwater topographies is called bathymetry, whereas studying underwater depths is known under terms such as seafloor mapping or imaging. According to a recent report from Precedence Research the global LiDAR market, including bathymetric LiDAR, is projected to reach a substantial $13.74 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 21.56% from 2024 to 2033. This growth is driven by increased adoption in various sectors, including autonomous vehicles, infrastructure development, and environmental applications like forestry and flood modeling. A recent article by an industry insider said: “Bathymetric LiDAR was first used to detect submarines. However, many more applications have been developed that use bathymetric LiDAR as a result of advancing sensor technology. With smaller platforms including unmanned drones and small helicopters that can carry heavier payloads, bathymetric LiDAR systems can cover large areas quickly and capture accurate 3D data that includes the seabed and surrounding terrain of different water bodies.   Over time, bathymetric LiDAR has proven to be a fast, reliable, accurate, and safe technique for rapidly mapping nearshore waters, beaches, coastal engineering structures, and more. Compared to traditional methods, such as sonar-based systems or manual depth soundings, bathymetric LiDAR can generate more detailed and precise maps of underwater topography. It also allows for seamless mapping of both water and surrounding land, with the ability to reach up to three times the visible water depth.” Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), Ouster, Inc. (NASDAQ: OUST).

    The article continued: “The advantage of using green light for bathymetric LiDAR is that it penetrates further into the water than other frequencies, to capture deeper depths that standard bathymetry methods may miss. Green light also scatters less off suspended particles than other wavelengths, reducing inaccuracies caused by suspended sediment or algae in the water column.   Bathymetric LiDAR is also a more sustainable and safer option for underwater mapping as it doesn’t require expensive and fuel-consuming survey vessels, or people entering the water. These might get lost or injured during surveys, while the use of bathymetric LiDAR sensors eliminates such potential risks. Bathymetric LiDAR technology offers rapid, accurate, and cost-effective data collection for hydrographic surveying, which involves measuring the physical features of water bodies (depth, currents, and underwater topography). Using bathymetric LiDAR, submerged archeological sites are found and studied, such as ancient shipwrecks and submerged settlements.”

    ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) Drone as a Service (DaaS) Offerings Expand to Bathymetric Surveys for Underwater Terrain Mapping for Commercial and Government Customers ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces its DaaS offerings have expanded to include bathymetric surveys, a specialized method of mapping underwater terrain using drones equipped with sonar. These surveys are important for critical underwater depth and contour data to support maintenance, dredging, environmental planning, and aquatic development for both commercial and government customers.

    ZenaTech’s DaaS bathymetric surveys are now available in South Florida through the recently acquired Wallace Surveying where the team has both golf course and Intracoastal Waterway project relationships and surveying expertise. Utilizing advanced sonar and ZenaDrone drones, high-resolution underwater maps help customers make informed decisions ─ from enhanced water management and lake and channel design strategies, to ensuring long-term sustainability.

    “The Wallace team brings key customer relationships and bathymetric survey expertise that will enhance our national DaaS drone offerings. Bathymetric surveys using aerial drones offer faster, safer, and more cost-effective data collection, especially in hard-to-reach or hazardous environments. Unlike conventional manned survey vessel methods, drones require fewer personnel, reduce operational risks, and can access shallow or narrow areas with greater precision,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    According to DataIntelo market research, the global Bathymetry Survey Sonar Market was valued at approximately $1.2 billion in 2023, this market is projected to reach $2.1 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.2%. This encompasses sonar systems utilized in bathymetric surveys, including those deployed on drones.

    ZenaTech’s DaaS business will incorporate the ZenaDrone 1000 and the IQ series of multifunction autonomous drones to provide a variety of service solutions from land surveys to power line inspections or power washing, made accessible and cost effective through an Uber-like business model on a regular subscription or pay-per-use basis. Customers can conveniently access drones for eliminating manual or time-consuming tasks achieving superior results, such as for surveying, inspections, security and law enforcement, or precision farming applications, without having to buy, operate, or maintain the drones themselves.

    The DaaS business model offers customers such as government agencies, real estate developers, construction firms, farmers or energy companies reduced upfront costs as there is no need to purchase expensive drones, as well as convenience, as there is no need to manage maintenance and operation. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and enables access to advanced drone technology sensors or attachments without the need for specialized training.   Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain autonomous systems, recently announced it has been awarded a $46.6M contract by the Italian Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the delivery of its JUMP® 20 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) medium uncrewed aircraft system (MUAS). The five-year contract encompasses the procurement of JUMP 20 air vehicles, engineering services, initial sustainment and onsite technical support – ensuring rapid fielding and operational readiness from day one.

    JUMP 20 is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), fixed-wing UAS with 30 pounds of payload capacity, 13+ hours of endurance and an operational range of 185 km (115 mi). Purpose-built for expeditionary operations, the system can be stored and transported with ease and autonomously launched and recovered without personnel intervention, making it ideal for dynamic on-the-move operations.

    In a new whitepaper, Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), says that emerging cost-effective precision strike solutions that can be safely recovered and reused offer a strong alternative to more commonly deployed ‘One-Way Attack’ or First Person View (FPV) drones.

    In the new paper, USE IT, DON’T LOSE IT: The Case for Recoverable and Reusable Loitering Munitions, FLIR Defense argues that newer, advanced loitering munition unmanned aircraft systems (LMUAS) are better suited to support operations in the ‘atmospheric littoral.’ An emerging strategic concept, the atmospheric littoral describes the very low-altitude airspace (up to several hundred feet above ground level) which, if controlled, can significantly enhance the ground maneuver of combat units.

    Ouster, Inc. (NASDAQ: OUST) recently announced the launch of a cloud portal for Ouster Gemini, its digital lidar perception platform for security, intelligent transportation systems, crowd analytics, and logistics. With the cloud portal, users can seamlessly configure, manage, and view all of their on-premise Ouster Gemini lidar deployments through a unified interface.

    Ouster Gemini combines Ouster’s 3D digital lidar with AI-powered perception software to accurately detect, classify, and track people and vehicles, even in adverse weather or low light conditions. The solution offers seamless integration with video management systems and traffic controllers, delivering high-performance real-time 3D situational awareness to enhance security, safety, and operational efficiency.

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), an industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems, recently announced the formation of its Public Safety Advisory Board. This new initiative reinforces Draganfly’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge, mission-critical technologies that support enforcement and public safety agencies worldwide. Renowned global public safety expert and Homeland Security advisor Paul Goldenberg will serve as the inaugural Chair of the Board.

    With more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement, global security, and national intelligence, Goldenberg brings unparalleled expertise to the role. Recently named America’s Most Influential Person in Homeland Security, he has advised U.S. Presidents, members of Congress, and international security bodies on counterterrorism, cybercrime, and public safety. As a former senior member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC), Goldenberg led pivotal initiatives, including the DHS Cybersecurity Task Force and the Countering Foreign Influence Task Force. He currently serves as Chief Advisor for Policy and International Policing at the Rutgers University Miller Center on Policing, a Distinguished Visiting Fellow for Transnational Security at the University of Ottawa, and a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association Southern Border Security Committee.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

    Follow us on Facebook to receive the latest news updates: https://www.facebook.com/financialnewsmedia

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    DISCLAIMER:  FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels.  FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein.  FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.  FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities.  The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material.  All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks.  All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release.  FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers.  Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks.  For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty one hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company.  FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:
    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Aemetis Biogas Completes $1.6 million of LCFS and D3 RIN Sales in April

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CUPERTINO, Calif., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX), a diversified global renewable natural gas and biofuels company, announced today that the Aemetis Biogas subsidiary of the company completed $1.6 million of sales of California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits and federal Renewable Fuel Standard D3 Renewable Identification Numbers (D3 RINs) during April 2025.

    The LCFS credits were generated for Q4 2024 at the default rate of -150 carbon intensity. A pending application to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for seven digesters is in the final approval process, with approval expected this quarter in time for the next quarterly LCFS credit sale. The seven pending dairy digesters are expected to average lower than -350 carbon intensity, a significant increase of more than 120% of the number of LCFS credits that will be received by Aemetis Biogas after the completion of sale transactions compared to the -150 default pathway.

    “Aemetis Biogas production and revenues from dairy RNG continues to grow, with more biogas production from four more dairies planned to come online this quarter,” stated Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis. “The expected adoption of 20 years of low carbon biofuel mandates in the next few months by CARB after completion of the OAL process is expected to increase the value of the LCFS credits rapidly, compounded by our expected approval of pathways for seven dairies that will increase the number of credits generated by those digesters by an estimated 120%.”

    Aemetis Biogas has signed agreements with 50 diaries and has 11 digesters operating to process waste from 12 dairies. An additional four dairies that supply one large biogas digester are planned to be operational in Q2 2025. The company has installed 36 miles of biogas pipeline, with environmental approval for 60 miles of biogas pipeline to be installed as dairy digesters are completed.

    Dairy RNG generates revenues from sale of the fuel, California LCFS credits, federal D3 RINs and federal Section 45Z production tax credits, in addition to federal Section 48 investment tax credits. In the past 18 months, Aemetis has received $70 million from the sale of $83 million of Section 48 investment tax credits to two corporate purchasers. Additional Section 48 investment tax credit sales are expected to be completed in the next few months as additional dairy digesters are completed.

    Starting in January 2025, Aemetis Biogas generated 45Z production tax credits from dairy RNG production. The sale of 45Z tax credits is in process, with the first sales expected to be completed in summer 2025.

    About Aemetis

    Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is a renewable natural gas and biofuels company focused on the operation, acquisition, development, and commercialization of innovative technologies that support energy independence and security. Founded in 2006, Aemetis operates and is expanding a California biogas digester network and pipeline system to convert dairy waste into renewable natural gas. Aemetis owns and operates a 65 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California’s Central Valley near Modesto that also supplies about 80 dairies with animal feed. Aemetis owns and operates an 80 million gallon per year biofuels facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin. Aemetis is developing a sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel biorefinery and a carbon sequestration project in California. For additional information about Aemetis, please visit www.aemetis.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events or other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections of financial results; statements related to the development, engineering, financing, construction, timing, and operation of biodiesel, biogas, sustainable aviation fuel, CO2 sequestration, and other facilities; our ability to promote, develop, finance, and construct such facilities; and statements about future market demand and market prices and results of government actions. Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “targets,” “view,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and predictions and are subject to many risks and uncertainties. Actual results or events could differ materially from those set forth or implied by such forward-looking statements and related assumptions due to certain factors, including, without limitation, competition in the ethanol, biodiesel and other industries in which we operate, commodity market risks including those that may result from current weather conditions, financial market risks, customer adoption, counter-party risks, risks associated with changes to government policy or regulation, and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and in our other filings with the SEC. We are not obligated, and do not intend, to update any of these forward-looking statements at any time unless an update is required by applicable securities laws.

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

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

    The MIL Network