NewzIntel.com

Category: Middle East

  • MIL-OSI Security: West Africa: INTERPOL border operation nets 45 arrests, seizures worth millions

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    30 January 2025

    Operation Screen targets international crime networks threatening regional security

    LYON, France – An INTERPOL-coordinated border security operation in West Africa has resulted in 45 arrests and the seizure of drugs, counterfeit medicines, and stolen vehicles worth millions of dollars.

    Held from 21 October to 24 November, Operation Screen West Africa 2024 brought together law enforcement agencies from 12 West African countries to strengthen border security and disrupt transnational organized crime networks.

    The operation notably led to the detection of a suspected Islamic State member at the Mali-Niger-Burkina Faso tri-border area and thwarted the plans of a North African suspect planning to transit through Europe to join ISIS in Syria.

    Frontline officers at land, air and sea border points were provided with INTERPOL Mobile Devices (IMDs) to access INTERPOL’s critical global intelligence, enabling them to conduct in real time over 1.3 million checks against INTERPOL’s databases.

    Checks against INTERPOL’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database detected 82 individuals travelling on stolen and irregular passports. Mauritanian authorities also launched an investigation into the international trafficking of French and Spanish passports.

     

    Over 1.3 million checks against INTERPOL’s databases were carried out by frontline officers, including in Togo.

    Weapons and ammunitions were seized in Côte d’Ivoire during the operation.

    Senegalese sea patrols participated in the INTERPOL-coordinated border security operation.

    Additionally, 11 suspects wanted internationally under INTERPOL Red Notices were arrested during the operation.

    Operational seizures included:

    • 1.6 tonnes of cocaine worth over USD 50 million in Cabo Verde

    • 10 tonnes of amphetamines in Burkina Faso

    • 33 types of counterfeit medicines in Benin and Togo

    • 40 tonnes of substandard pharmaceuticals in Côte d’Ivoire

    Over 100 luxury vehicles stolen in Canada and European countries were also recovered, exposing a network that trafficked stolen cars to West Africa. Almost 50 per cent of the stolen vehicles originated from Canada, where data sharing via INTERPOL’s database has helped identify over 1,500 stolen Canadian vehicles worldwide since February 2024.

    The proceeds from these stolen vehicles often fund organized crime activities, including arms smuggling, drug trafficking, and terror networks.

    Côte d’Ivoire’s Police Commissaire Divisionnaire Ami Flora Savane Fanny said:

    “By addressing critical challenges that transcend borders, Operation Screen has demonstrated the power of international collaboration in combating the scourges of organized crime and terrorism which undermine the security of our populations and weaken the foundations of our institutions.”

    Mohamed Moussa, INTERPOL’s Operation Screen Coordinator, added:

    “This operation marks a critical step in disrupting transnational organized crime networks that threaten regional stability and undermine efforts to build peace and foster development across West Africa.”

    Note to Editors

    The 12 participating countries were Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

    The operation fell under Project I-CT Shield, funded by the German Foreign Federal Office.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Four diseases you have probably never heard of

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    In the most remote places in the world, people are daily battling diseases that many people may never have heard of. Called neglected tropical diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognises 20 such conditions. They’re called neglected diseases because diagnostics and treatments for them are overlooked by governments, pharmaceutical companies, and philanthropists.

    In Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) projects, from South Sudan to Nigeria, and Ethiopia to Honduras, these diseases are hard to neglect. Our teams see how they are distressing, disfiguring, and stigmatising for people who are infected. Here are four neglected tropical diseases we see in communities we serve, and what can be done to prevent, control, eliminate, and eradicate them.

    1. Noma

    In the extreme northwest of Nigeria, an MSF team works with the Ministry of Health at the Sokoto noma hospital – a place where noma patients can receive treatment, reconstructive surgery, and mental health support away from stigma. Noma is a disease that disfigures the people it infects, and it can be fatal for 90 per cent of children who contract it.

    Noma begins as ulcers in the mouth that quickly turn gangrenous, eating away at facial tissue. If antibiotics are used early enough, noma is completely treatable. That’s why our project also focuses on community outreach activities, as awareness and prevention measures.

    Noma is the newest neglected tropical disease recognised by WHO. It was added to the official list in December 2023 after years of advocacy from noma survivors and people who support them. While we hope that the addition of noma to the list will mean more investment into understanding, preventing, and treating the disease, new developments are yet to be seen. Insights into noma will be a game changer for the estimated 140,000 people who are infected every year. 

    2. Schistosomiasis

    Schistosomiasis gets its common name, snail fever, because it is caused by a parasite in snails. These snails live in freshwater, making people who live near lakes and rivers susceptible to the disease. Schistosomiasis is found in tropical and subtropical countries around the world, but in South Sudan, the highest prevalence of the disease is in Jonglei state, where MSF runs a hospital in the remote town of Old Fangak.

    Old Fangak is subject to frequent and extreme flooding, and our teams suspect that many women and girls there are suffering from an advanced form of schistosomiasis, female genital schistosomiasis. Many of the interventions for the disease are preventive, and a vaccine is even in the early stages of development. But this is little comfort for people who have already been infected. People with female genital schistosomiasis have debilitating inflammation, and the disease can turn into cancer. In Old Fangak, we are working to ensure women and girls are accurately diagnosed and provided with the best treatment. 

    3. Visceral leishmaniasis

    Visceral leishmaniasis is also called kala azar (‘black fever’ in Hindi), and is most commonly found in Brazil, across East Africa, and in India. We’ve been treating visceral leishmaniasis for decades in Ethiopia. People infected with this neglected tropical disease will have their tissue attacked by a parasite, which is transmitted through the bites of sandflies. Initial mild symptoms – often mistaken for other diseases – develop into a prolonged fever, enlarged spleen, anaemia, and substantial weight loss. Without treatment, it can quickly become fatal.

    Thankfully, there is a cure. A combination of two drugs injected daily for 17 days can save an infected person’s life. Timely diagnosis and access to the drugs remain a challenge in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in East Africa, but continued advocacy has made progress in the last few years.

    4. Sleeping sickness

    In the last 25 years, there has been a 97 per cent reduction in the number of people suffering from sleeping sickness, also known as human African trypanosomiasis. This neglected disease, caused by parasites from tsetse fly bites, was eliminated in Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Uganda, and Chad in 2024. Now, Guinea also joins the list of countries that have eliminated sleeping sickness.

    The parasites that cause sleeping sickness attack the brain and spinal cord, leaving infected people to eventually fall into a coma. Without treatment, it’s fatal. Before the 1970s, the only available treatment, derived from arsenic, killed one in 20 people. Today, thanks to the work of our partner organisation Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, there is a simple and safe oral treatment. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New INTERPOL Regional Bureau for North Africa and the Middle East moves a step closer

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    30 January 2025

    RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The creation of a new INTERPOL Regional Bureau for North Africa and the Middle East (MENA) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken an important step forward.

    The ‘Host Country Agreement’ was signed at a ceremony attended by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of the Interior, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Saud Bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi and INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza.Aimed at strengthening INTERPOL’s engagement with the MENA region, the new Regional Bureau will serve as a hub for the Organization’s activities in supporting member countries in combating transnational crime and terrorism.

    It will also work closely with existing national and regional structures, such as the Arab Interiors Ministers’ Council, GCCPOL, and the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences to strengthen cooperation and information sharing.

    INTERPOL Secretary General (L) and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of the Interior (R) sign the agreement

    The establishment of the Regional Bureau was first proposed in 2016 at the INTERPOL Chiefs of Police Meeting for the MENA region. The plan was subsequently endorsed by INTERPOL’s General Assembly in Santiago, Chile, in 2019, with final approval for the Host Country Agreement from the Executive Committee in May 2024.

    The Agreement incorporates principles essential to ensuring the Regional Bureau’s proper functioning. The next steps in finalizing the creation and opening of the Regional Bureau will cover the financial, administrative, security and logistical aspects.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: SHELL PLC 4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

                                 
    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS    		        
                                                         
     
    SUMMARY OF UNAUDITED RESULTS
    Quarters $ million   Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023 %¹   Reference 2024 2023 %
    928    4,291    474    -78 Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders   16,093    19,359    -17
    3,661    6,028    7,306    -39 Adjusted Earnings A 23,716    28,250    -16
    14,281    16,005    16,335    -11 Adjusted EBITDA A 65,803    68,538    -4
    13,162    14,684    12,575    -10 Cash flow from operating activities   54,684    54,191    +1
    (4,431)   (3,857)   (5,657)     Cash flow from investing activities   (15,154)   (17,734)    
    8,731    10,827    6,918      Free cash flow G 39,530    36,457     
    6,924    4,950    7,113      Cash capital expenditure C 21,084    24,392     
    9,401    9,570    10,897    -2 Operating expenses F 36,918    39,960    -8
    9,138    8,864    10,565    +3 Underlying operating expenses F 35,707    39,201    -9
    11.3% 12.8% 12.8%   ROACE2 D 11.3% 12.8%  
    77,078    76,613    81,541      Total debt E 77,078    81,541     
    38,809    35,234    43,542      Net debt E 38,809    43,542     
    17.7% 15.7% 18.8%   Gearing E 17.7% 18.8%  
    2,815    2,801    2,827    +1 Oil and gas production available for sale (thousand boe/d)   2,836    2,791    +2
    0.15    0.69    0.07 -78 Basic earnings per share ($)   2.55    2.88    -11
    0.60    0.96    1.11    -38 Adjusted Earnings per share ($) B 3.76    4.20    -10
    0.3580    0.3440    0.3440    +4 Dividend per share ($)   1.3900    1.2935    +7

    1.Q4 on Q3 change

    2.Effective first quarter 2024, the definition has been amended and comparative information has been revised. See Reference D.

    Quarter Analysis1

    Income attributable to Shell plc shareholders, compared with the third quarter 2024, reflected higher exploration well write-offs, lower margins from crude and oil products trading and optimisation, lower Marketing margins and volumes, lower LNG trading and optimisation margins, lower realised oil prices, and unfavourable tax movements.

    Fourth quarter 2024 income attributable to Shell plc shareholders also included net impairment charges and reversals of $2.2 billion, and net losses related to sale of assets. These items are included in identified items amounting to a net loss of $2.8 billion in the quarter. This compares with identified items in the third quarter 2024 which amounted to a net loss of $1.3 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 fourth quarter 2024 was $13.2 billion, and primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, and working capital inflows of $2.4 billion partly offset by tax payments of $2.9 billion, and outflows relating to the timing impact of payments relating to emission certificates and biofuel programmes of $1.4 billion. The working capital inflows mainly reflected accounts receivable and payable movements, and initial margin inflow.

    Cash flow from investing activities for the quarter was an outflow of $4.4 billion, and included cash capital expenditure of $6.9 billion, partly offset by net other investing cash inflows of $1.1 billion, and divestment proceeds of $0.8 billion.

    Net debt and Gearing: At the end of the fourth quarter 2024, net debt was $38.8 billion, compared with $35.2 billion at the end of the third quarter 2024, mainly reflecting lease additions of $5.4 billion, share buybacks, cash dividends paid to Shell plc shareholders, and interest payments, partly offset by free cash flow. Gearing was 17.7% at the end of the fourth quarter 2024, compared with 15.7% at the end of the third quarter 2024, mainly driven by higher net debt.

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    Shareholder distributions

    Total shareholder distributions in the quarter amounted to $5.7 billion comprising repurchases of shares of $3.6 billion and cash dividends paid to Shell plc shareholders of $2.1 billion. Dividends declared to Shell plc shareholders for the fourth quarter 2024 amount to $0.3580 per share. Shell has now completed $3.5 billion of share buybacks announced in the third quarter 2024 results announcement. Today, Shell announces a share buyback programme of $3.5 billion which is expected to be completed by the first quarter 2025 results announcement.

    Full Year Analysis1

    Income attributable to Shell plc shareholders, compared with the full year 2023, reflected lower LNG trading and optimisation margins, lower realised prices, lower refining margins, as well as lower trading and optimisation margins of power and pipeline gas in Renewables and Energy Solutions, partly offset by lower operating expenses, and higher realised Chemicals margins.

    By focusing the portfolio and simplifying the organisation, $3.1 billion of pre-tax structural cost reductions3 were delivered through 2024 compared with 2022 levels, with $2.1 billion in the full year 2024.

    Full year 2024 income attributable to Shell plc shareholders also included net impairment charges and reversals of $4.4 billion, reclassifications from equity to profit and loss of cumulative currency translation differences related to funding structures, unfavourable movements relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives, and charges related to redundancy and restructuring. These charges, reclassifications and movements are included in identified items amounting to a net loss of $7.4 billion. This compares with identified items in the full year 2023 which amounted to a net loss of $8.2 billion.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 for the full year 2024 were driven by the same factors as income attributable to Shell plc shareholders and adjusted for identified items and the cost of supplies adjustment of positive $0.3 billion.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the full year 2024 was $54.7 billion, and primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, and working capital inflows of $2.1 billion, partly offset by tax payments of $12.0 billion.

    Cash flow from investing activities for the full year 2024 was an outflow of $15.2 billion and included cash capital expenditure of $21.1 billion, partly offset by divestment proceeds of $2.8 billion, and interest received of $2.4 billion.

    This Unaudited Condensed Financial Report, together with supplementary financial and operational disclosure for this quarter, is available at www.shell.com/investors 4 . Details of progress to date on the financial targets that were announced during Capital Markets Day in June 2023 is available at https://www.shell.com/progress-on-cmd24.html 4.

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

    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

    3.See Reference J.

    4.Not incorporated by reference.

    FOURTH QUARTER 2024 PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENTS

    Upstream

    In October 2024, we announced the start of production of the floating production storage and offloading facility (FPSO) Marechal Duque de Caxias in the Mero field, in the pre-salt area of the Santos Basin, offshore Brazil. Also known as Mero-3, the FPSO has an operational capacity of 180,000 barrels of oil per day (Shell share 19.3%).

    In December 2024, we, along with Equinor ASA, announced the combination of our UK offshore oil and gas assets and expertise to form a new company which will be the UK North Sea’s biggest independent producer. On deal completion, the new independent producer will be jointly owned by Equinor (50%) and Shell (50%). Completion of the transaction remains subject to approvals and is expected by the end of 2025.

    In December 2024, we announced a final investment decision (FID) on Bonga North, a deep-water project off the coast of Nigeria. Shell (55%) operates the Bonga field in partnership with Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd. (20%), Nigerian Agip Exploration Ltd. (12.5%), and TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd. (12.5%), on behalf of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

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

             Page 2

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    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, has taken a FID to expand its petrochemical complex in Daya Bay, Huizhou, south China.

    Renewables and Energy Solutions

    In October 2024, we signed an agreement to acquire 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. The deal was completed in January 2025.

             Page 2

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    PERFORMANCE BY SEGMENT

                                                         
     
    INTEGRATED GAS        
    Quarters $ million   Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023 %¹   Reference 2024 2023 %
    1,744    2,631    1,733    -34 Segment earnings   9,590    7,058    +36
    (421)   (240)   (2,235)     Of which: Identified items A (1,800)   (6,861)    
    2,165    2,871    3,968    -25 Adjusted Earnings A 11,390    13,919    -18
    4,568    5,234    6,584    -13 Adjusted EBITDA A 20,978    23,773    -12
    4,391    3,623    3,597    +21 Cash flow from operating activities A 16,909    17,520    -3
    1,337    1,236    1,196      Cash capital expenditure C 4,766    4,196     
    116    136    113    -15 Liquids production available for sale (thousand b/d)   132    128    +2
    4,574    4,669    4,570    -2 Natural gas production available for sale (million scf/d)   4,769    4,700    +1
    905    941    901    -4 Total production available for sale (thousand boe/d)   954    939    +2
    7.06    7.50    7.06    -6 LNG liquefaction volumes (million tonnes)   29.09    28.29    +3
    15.50    17.04    18.09    -9 LNG sales volumes (million tonnes)   65.82    67.09    -2

    1.Q4 on Q3 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

    Segment earnings, compared with the third quarter 2024, reflected the net effect of lower contributions from trading and optimisation mainly driven by the comparative (non-cash) impact of expiring hedging contracts and slightly higher realised prices (decrease of $340 million), lower volumes (decrease of $283 million), and higher exploration well write-offs (increase of $275 million), partly offset by lower operating expenses (decrease of $97 million).

    Fourth quarter 2024 segment earnings also 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 relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. These charges and favourable movements are part of identified items and compare with the third quarter 2024 which included unfavourable movements of $213 million due to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, net cash inflows related to derivatives of $120 million and working capital inflows of $114 million, partly offset by tax payments of $635 million.

    Total oil and gas production, compared with the third quarter 2024, decreased by 4% mainly due to planned maintenance in Pearl GTL (Qatar). LNG liquefaction volumes decreased by 6% mainly due to lower feedgas supply and fewer cargoes due to the timing of liftings.

    Full Year Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the full year 2023, reflected the combined effect of lower contributions from trading and optimisation and lower realised prices (decrease of $3,819 million), partly offset by higher volumes (increase of $514 million), lower operating expenses (decrease of $478 million), and favourable deferred tax movements ($399 million).

    Full year 2024 segment earnings also included unfavourable movements of $1,088 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives, impairment charges of $363 million, and a net loss of $96 million related to sale of assets. These unfavourable movements and charges are part of identified items and compare with the full year 2023 which included unfavourable movements of $4,407 million due to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives, and net impairment charges and reversals of $2,247 million. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

             Page 3

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the full year 2024 was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, and working capital inflows of $467 million, partly offset by tax payments of $2,955 million and net cash outflows related to derivatives of $1,466 million.

    Total oil and gas production, compared with the full year 2023, increased by 2% mainly due to ramp-up of fields in Oman and Australia. LNG liquefaction volumes increased by 3% mainly due to lower maintenance in Australia.

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

    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

             Page 4

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

                                                         
     
    UPSTREAM          
    Quarters $ million   Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023 %¹   Reference 2024 2023 %
    1,031    2,289    2,151    -55 Segment earnings   7,772    8,539    -9
    (651)   (153)   (909)     Of which: Identified items A (623)   (1,267)    
    1,682    2,443    3,060    -31 Adjusted Earnings A 8,395    9,806    -14
    7,676    7,871    7,872    -2 Adjusted EBITDA A 31,264    30,622    +2
    4,509    5,268    5,787    -14 Cash flow from operating activities A 21,244    21,450    -1
    2,076    1,974    2,436      Cash capital expenditure C 7,890    8,343     
    1,332    1,321    1,361    +1 Liquids production available for sale (thousand b/d)   1,320    1,325    —
    3,056    2,844    2,952    +7 Natural gas production available for sale (million scf/d)   2,964    2,754    +8
    1,859    1,811    1,870    +3 Total production available for sale (thousand boe/d)   1,831    1,800    +2

    1.Q4 on Q3 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

    Segment earnings, compared with the third quarter 2024, reflected higher operating expenses (increase of $291 million), higher exploration well write-offs (increase of $283 million), unfavourable tax movements ($245 million) and lower realised liquids prices (decrease of $227 million), partly offset by higher volumes (increase of $370 million).

    Fourth quarter 2024 segment earnings also included a loss of $161 million related to the impact of the weakening Brazilian real on a deferred tax position, and net impairment charges and reversals of $152 million. These charges are part of identified items, and compare with the third quarter 2024 which included charges of $138 million related to redundancy and restructuring and charges of $104 million related to decommissioning provisions.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, partly offset by tax payments of $2,019 million and working capital outflows of $611 million.

    Total production, compared with the third quarter 2024, increased mainly due to new oil production and lower scheduled maintenance.

    Full Year Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the full year 2023, reflected unfavourable tax movements ($1,289 million), lower realised prices (decrease of $949 million) and higher exploration well write-offs (increase of $541 million), partly offset by the comparative favourable impact of $962 million mainly relating to gas storage effects.

    Full year 2024 segment earnings also included a loss of $325 million related to the impact of the weakening Brazilian real on a deferred tax position, net impairment charges and reversals of $323 million and charges of $214 million related to redundancy and restructuring, partly offset by gains of $638 million related to the impact of inflationary adjustments in Argentina on a deferred tax position. These charges and gains are part of identified items, and compare with the full year 2023 which included net impairment charges and reversals of $642 million, and net charges of $295 million related to the impact of the weakening Argentine peso and strengthening Brazilian real on a deferred tax position.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the full year 2024 was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, partly offset by tax payments of $7,851 million and the timing impact of dividends (net of profits) from joint ventures and associates of $946 million.

    Total production, compared with the full year 2023, increased mainly due to new oil production, partly offset by field decline.

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

    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

             Page 5

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

                                                         
     
    MARKETING        
    Quarters $ million   Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023 %¹   Reference 2024 2023 %
    103    760    226    -86 Segment earnings2   1,894    3,058    -38
    (736)   (422)   (567)     Of which: Identified items2 A (1,991)   (254)    
    839    1,182    794    -29 Adjusted Earnings2 A 3,885    3,312    +17
    1,709    2,081    1,500    -18 Adjusted EBITDA2 A 7,476    6,337    +18
    1,363    2,722    1,767    -50 Cash flow from operating activities2 A 7,363    5,561    +32
    811    525    1,385      Cash capital expenditure2 C 2,445    5,790     
    2,795    2,945    2,997    -5 Marketing sales volumes (thousand b/d)2   2,843    3,045    -7

    1.Q4 on Q3 change

    2.Wholesale commercial fuels, previously reported in the Chemicals and Products segment, is reported in the Marketing segment (Mobility) with effect from Q1 2024. Comparative information for the Marketing segment and the Chemicals and Products segment has been revised.

    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

    Segment earnings, compared with the third quarter 2024, reflected lower Marketing margins (decrease of $395 million) mainly due to seasonal impact of lower volumes and lower Mobility unit margins as well as lower Sectors and Decarbonisation and Lubricants margins. These were partly offset by lower operating expenses (decrease of $118 million).

    Fourth quarter 2024 segment earnings also included impairment charges of $458 million, and net losses of $247 million related to sale of assets. These charges are part of identified items, and compare with the third quarter 2024 impairment charges of $179 million, charges of $98 million related to redundancy and restructuring, and net losses of $84 million related to sale of assets.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, working capital inflows of $845 million, and dividends (net of profits) from joint ventures and associates of $172 million. These inflows were partly offset by outflows relating to the timing impact of payments relating to emission certificates and biofuel programmes of $1,187 million and tax payments of $130 million.

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

    Full Year Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the full year 2023, reflected higher Marketing margins (increase of $483 million) including higher unit margins in Lubricants and Mobility partly offset by lower Sectors and Decarbonisation margins. Segment earnings also reflected lower operating expenses (decrease of $449 million). These were partly offset by unfavourable tax movements ($157 million) and higher depreciation charges (increase of $142 million).

    Full year 2024 segment earnings also included impairment charges of $1,423 million mainly relating to an asset in the Netherlands, net losses of $386 million related to the sale of assets and charges of $215 million related to redundancy and restructuring. These charges are part of identified items and compare with the full year 2023 which included net impairment charges and reversals of $466 million, and charges of $113 million related to redundancy and restructuring partly offset by gains of $298 million related to indirect tax credits.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the full year 2024 was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, working capital inflows of $998 million, and dividends (net of profits) from joint ventures and associates of $262 million. These inflows

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    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    were partly offset by tax payments of $562 million, non-cash cost of supplies adjustment of $254 million, and outflows relating to the timing impact of payments relating to emission certificates and biofuel programmes of $221 million.

    Marketing sales volumes (comprising hydrocarbon sales), compared with the full year 2023, decreased mainly in Mobility including increased focus on value over volume.

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

    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

             Page 7

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    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

                                                         
     
    CHEMICALS AND PRODUCTS        
    Quarters $ million   Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023 %¹   Reference 2024 2023 %
    (328)   341    (1,828)   -196 Segment earnings2   1,757    1,482    +19
    (99)   (122)   (1,857)     Of which: Identified items2 A (1,177)   (2,135)    
    (229)   463    29    -150 Adjusted Earnings2 A 2,934    3,617    -19
    475    1,240    670    -62 Adjusted EBITDA2 A 6,783    7,489    -9
    2,032    3,321    1,150    -39 Cash flow from operating activities2 A 7,253    7,513    -3
    1,392    761    986      Cash capital expenditure2 C 3,290    3,013     
    1,215    1,305    1,315    -7 Refinery processing intake (thousand b/d)   1,344    1,349    —
    2,926    3,015    2,588    -3 Chemicals sales volumes (thousand tonnes)   11,875    11,245    +6

    1.Q4 on Q3 change

    2.Wholesale commercial fuels, previously reported in the Chemicals and Products segment, is reported in the Marketing segment (Mobility) with effect from Q1 2024. Comparative information for the Marketing segment and the Chemicals and Products segment has been revised.

    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

    Segment earnings, compared with the third quarter 2024, reflected lower Products margins (decrease of $442 million) mainly driven by lower margins from trading and optimisation. Segment earnings also reflected lower Chemicals margins (decrease of $138 million) mainly due to lower realised prices. In addition, the fourth quarter 2024 reflected unfavourable tax movements ($67 million).

    Fourth quarter 2024 segment earnings also included net impairment charges and reversals of $224 million, partly offset by favourable deferred tax movements of $114 million. These charges and favourable movements are part of identified items, and compare with the third quarter 2024 which included charges of $101 million related to redundancy and restructuring, and net impairment charges and reversals of $92 million, partly offset by favourable movements of $95 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items. In the fourth quarter 2024, Chemicals had negative Adjusted Earnings of $258 million and Products had positive Adjusted Earnings of $29 million.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter was primarily driven by working capital inflows of $1,394 million, Adjusted EBITDA, net cash inflows relating to commodity derivatives of $230 million, dividends (net of profits) from joint ventures and associates of $139 million, and non-cash cost of supplies adjustment of $73 million. These inflows were partly offset by outflows relating to the timing impact of payments relating to emission certificates and biofuel programmes of $371 million.

    Chemicals manufacturing plant utilisation was 75% compared with 76% in the third quarter 2024.

    Refinery utilisation was 76% compared with 81% in the third quarter 2024, mainly due to higher planned maintenance.

    Full Year Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the full year 2023, reflected lower Products margins (decrease of $1,832 million), mainly driven by lower refining margins, and unfavourable tax movements ($248 million). These were partly offset by lower operating expenses (decrease of $812 million) and higher Chemicals margins (increase of $602 million).

    Full year 2024 segment earnings also included net impairment charges and reversals of $1,176 million mainly relating to assets in Singapore, charges of $142 million related to redundancy and restructuring, and unfavourable movements of $86 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives, partly offset by favourable deferred tax movements of $114 million. These charges and movements are part of identified items, and compare with the full year 2023 which included net impairment charges and reversals of $2,195 million mainly relating to

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    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    the Chemicals assets in Singapore, and charges of $82 million related to redundancy and restructuring partly offset by favourable movements of $214 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items. In the full year 2024, Chemicals had negative Adjusted Earnings of $432 million and Products had positive Adjusted Earnings of $3,366 million.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the full year 2024 was primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA, working capital inflows of $524 million, dividends (net of profits) from joint ventures and associates of $304 million and net cash inflows relating to commodity derivatives of $219 million. These inflows were partly offset by cash outflows relating to legal provisions of $215 million, tax payments of $146 million, cash outflows relating to the timing impact of payments relating to emission certificates and biofuel programmes of $114 million, and non-cash cost of supplies adjustment of $109 million.

    Chemicals manufacturing plant utilisation was 76% compared with 68% in the full year 2023, mainly due to economic optimisation in the full year 2023. The increase was also driven by ramp-up of Shell Polymers Monaca and lower unplanned maintenance in the full year 2024.

    Refinery utilisation was 85% compared with 85% in the full year 2023.

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

    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

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    RENEWABLES AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS        
    Quarters $ million   Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023 %¹   Reference 2024 2023 %
    (1,226)   (481)   (272)   -155 Segment earnings   (1,229)   3,089    -140
    (914)   (319)   (445)     Of which: Identified items A (732)   2,333     
    (311)   (162)   173    -92 Adjusted Earnings A (497)   756    -166
    (123)   (75)   253    -64 Adjusted EBITDA A (22)   1,481    -101
    850    (364)   (1,265)   +333 Cash flow from operating activities A 3,798    2,984    +27
    1,277    409    1,026      Cash capital expenditure C 2,549    2,681     
    76    79    68    -4 External power sales (terawatt hours)2   306    279    +10
    165    148    175    +11 Sales of pipeline gas to end-use customers (terawatt hours)3   652    738    -12

    1.Q4 on Q3 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

    Segment earnings, compared with the third quarter 2024, reflected unfavourable one-off tax movements ($107 million), and higher operating expenses (increase of $71 million).

    Fourth quarter 2024 segment earnings also included impairment charges of $996 million mainly relating to renewable generation assets in North America, partly offset by favourable movements of $50 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. These charges and favourable movements are part of identified items and compare with the third quarter 2024 which included unfavourable movements of $279 million due to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items. Most Renewables and Energy Solutions activities were loss-making in the fourth quarter 2024.

    Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter was primarily driven by net cash inflows related to derivatives of $533 million, and working capital inflows of $353 million, partly offset by Adjusted EBITDA.

    Full Year Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the full year 2023, reflected lower margins (decrease of $1,719 million) mainly from trading and optimisation primarily in Europe due to lower volatility, partly offset by lower operating expenses (decrease of $632 million).

    Full year 2024 segment earnings also included net impairment charges and reversals of $1,085 million mainly relating to renewable generation assets in North America, partly offset by favourable movements of $300 million relating to an accounting mismatch due to fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and a net gain on sale of assets of $94 million. These net charges and favourable movements are part of identified items and compare with the full year 2023 which included favourable movements of $2,756 million due to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives partly offset by net impairment charges and reversals of $669 million. As part of Shell’s normal business, commodity derivative hedge contracts are entered into for mitigation of economic exposures on future purchases, sales and inventory.

    Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA2 were driven by the same factors as the segment earnings and adjusted for identified items. Most Renewables and Energy Solutions activities were loss-making for the full year 2024, which was partly offset by positive Adjusted Earnings from trading and optimisation.

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    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    Cash flow from operating activities for the full year 2024 was primarily driven by net cash inflows related to derivatives of $3,012 million, and working capital inflows of $923 million, partly offset by tax payments of $457 million and Adjusted EBITDA.

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

    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

    Additional Growth Measures

                                                         
    Quarters     Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023 %¹     2024 2023 %
            Renewable power generation capacity (gigawatt):        
    3.4    3.4    2.5    — – In operation2   3.4    2.5    +34
    4.0    3.9    4.1    +2 – Under construction and/or committed for sale3   4.0    4.1    -1

    1.Q4 on Q3 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.

                                             
     
    CORPORATE      
    Quarters $ million   Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   Reference 2024 2023
    (335)   (647)   (629)   Segment earnings1   (2,992)   (2,944)  
    45    (3)   (19)   Of which: Identified items A (1,024)   (69)  
    (380)   (643)   (609)   Adjusted Earnings1 A (1,968)   (2,875)  
    (24)   (346)   (544)   Adjusted EBITDA1 A (675)   (1,164)  
    16    115    1,540    Cash flow from operating activities A (1,882)   (832)  

    1.From the first quarter 2024, Shell’s longer-term innovation portfolio is managed centrally and hence reported as part of the Corporate segment (previously all other segments). Prior period comparatives have been revised to conform with current year presentation with an offsetting impact on all the other segments.

    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 segment earnings rather than in the earnings of business segments.

    Quarter Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the third quarter 2024, reflected favourable tax movements and favourable currency exchange rate effects.

    Adjusted EBITDA2 was mainly driven by favourable currency exchange rate effects.

    Full Year Analysis1

    Segment earnings, compared with the full year 2023, were primarily driven by favourable tax movements, favourable net interest movements and favourable currency exchange rate effects.

    Full year 2024 segment earnings also included reclassifications from equity to profit and loss of cumulative currency translation differences related to funding structures resulting in unfavourable movements of $1,122 million. These reclassifications are included in identified items.

    Adjusted EBITDA2 was mainly driven by favourable currency exchange rate effects and lower operating expenses.

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

    2.Adjusted EBITDA is without taxation.

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    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    PRELIMINARY RESERVES UPDATE

    When final volumes are reported in the 2024 Annual Report and Accounts and 2024 Form 20-F, Shell expects that SEC proved oil and gas reserves additions before taking into account production will be approximately 0.9 billion boe, and that 2024 production will be approximately 1.1 billion boe. As a result, total proved reserves on an SEC basis are expected to be approximately 9.6 billion boe1, 2, 3. Acquisitions and divestments of 2024 reserves are expected to account for a net increase of approximately 0.05 billion boe.

    The proved Reserves Replacement Ratio on an SEC basis is expected to be 85% for the year (106% without debooking Groundbirch because of the low average AECO price in 2024) and 108% for the 3-year average. Excluding the impact of acquisitions and divestments, the proved Reserves Replacement Ratio is expected to be 80% (102% without debooking Groundbirch) for the year and 68% for the 3-year average.

    Further information will be provided in the 2024 Annual Report and Accounts and 2024 Form 20-F.

    1.Pursuant to our 2017 agreement with Canadian Natural Resources Limited, our remaining mining interest and associated synthetic crude oil reserves will be swapped for an additional 10% interest in the Scotford upgrader and Quest CCS project. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. The associated proved reserves at December 31, 2024 are 0.7 billion barrels (of which 50% attributable to non-controlling interest).

    2.On January 16, 2024, we announced an agreement to sell our Nigerian onshore subsidiary The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) which holds a 30% interest in the SPDC JV to Renaissance, subject to various conditions. As of December 31, 2024, we had proved reserves of 0.5 billion boe in SPDC.

    3.In December 2024, we, along with Equinor ASA, announced the combination of our UK offshore oil and gas assets and expertise to form a new company which will be the UK North Sea’s biggest independent producer. On deal completion, the new independent producer will be jointly owned by Equinor (50%) and Shell (50%) and 0.16 billion boe (as of December 31, 2024) of Shell’s proved reserves will be contributed to the new joint venture alongside proved reserves contributed by Equinor. Subsequently, Shell will report 50% of the proved reserves of the new joint venture as part of Shell’s share of proved reserves from joint ventures and associates.

             Page 12

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    OUTLOOK FOR THE FIRST 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 lower than our 2024 range, with more guidance to come at the Capital Markets Day 2025.

    Integrated Gas production is expected to be approximately 930 – 990 thousand boe/d. First quarter 2025 outlook reflects Pearl GTL back in operation after a major turnaround. LNG liquefaction volumes are expected to be approximately 6.6 – 7.2 million tonnes.

    Upstream production is expected to be approximately 1,750 – 1,950 thousand boe/d.

    Marketing sales volumes are expected to be approximately 2,500 – 3,000 thousand b/d.

    Refinery utilisation is expected to be approximately 80% – 88%. Chemicals manufacturing plant utilisation is expected to be approximately 78% – 86%.

    Corporate Adjusted Earnings were a net expense of $380 million1 for the fourth quarter 2024. Corporate Adjusted Earnings2 are expected to be a net expense of approximately $400 – $600 million in the first quarter 2025.

    1.From the first quarter 2024, Shell’s longer-term innovation portfolio is managed centrally and hence reported as part of the Corporate segment (previously all other segments). Prior period comparatives have been revised to conform with current year presentation with an offsetting impact on all the other segments.

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

    FORTHCOMING EVENTS

               
     
    Date Event
    February 25, 2025 Shell LNG Outlook 2025 publication
       
    March 25, 2025 Publication of Annual Report and Accounts and filing of Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024
    March 25, 2025 Capital Markets Day 2025
    May 2, 2025 First quarter 2025 results and dividends
    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 13

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    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                       
     
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME    
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    66,281    71,089    78,732    Revenue1 284,312    316,620   
    (156)   933    768    Share of profit/(loss) of joint ventures and associates 2,993    3,725   
    683    440    631    Interest and other income/(expenses)2 1,724    2,838   
    66,807    72,462    80,131    Total revenue and other income/(expenses) 289,029    323,183   
    43,610    48,225    54,745    Purchases 188,120    212,883   
    5,839    6,138    6,807    Production and manufacturing expenses 23,379    25,240   
    3,231    3,139    3,621    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses 12,439    13,433   
    331    294    469    Research and development 1,099    1,287   
    861    305    467    Exploration 2,411    1,750   
    7,520    5,916    11,221    Depreciation, depletion and amortisation2 26,872    31,290   
    1,213    1,174    1,166    Interest expense 4,787    4,673   
    62,605    65,190    78,496    Total expenditure 259,107    290,556   
    4,205    7,270    1,635    Income/(loss) before taxation 29,922    32,627   
    3,164    2,879    1,099    Taxation charge/(credit)2 13,401    12,991   
    1,041    4,391    536    Income/(loss) for the period 16,521    19,636   
    113    100    62    Income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest 427    277   
    928    4,291    474    Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders 16,093    19,359   
    0.15    0.69    0.07    Basic earnings per share ($)3 2.55    2.88   
    0.15    0.68    0.07    Diluted earnings per share ($)3 2.53    2.85   

    1.See Note 2 “Segment information”.

    2.See Note 8 “Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements”.

    3.See Note 4 “Earnings per share”.

                                       
     
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME    
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    1,041    4,391    536    Income/(loss) for the period 16,521    19,636   
          Other comprehensive income/(loss) net of tax:    
          Items that may be reclassified to income in later periods:    
    (4,899)   2,947    2,571    – Currency translation differences1 (3,248)   1,397   
    (11)   35    29    – Debt instruments remeasurements 5    41   
    224    (75)   11    – Cash flow hedging gains/(losses) 216    71   
    —    —    —    – Net investment hedging gains/(losses) —    (44)  
    (50)   (2)   (53)   – Deferred cost of hedging (73)   (148)  
    (91)   35    135    – Share of other comprehensive income/(loss) of joint ventures and associates (118)   18   
    (4,827)   2,940    2,692    Total (3,217)   1,335   
          Items that are not reclassified to income in later periods:    
    239    419    (1,207)   – Retirement benefits remeasurements 1,407    (1,083)  
    (50)   80    (84)   – Equity instruments remeasurements 28    (99)  
    46    (53)   (186)   – Share of other comprehensive income/(loss) of joint ventures and associates 47    (201)  
    235    446    (1,477)   Total 1,482    (1,383)  
    (4,592)   3,386    1,215    Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the period (1,735)   (48)  
    (3,552)   7,777    1,750    Comprehensive income/(loss) for the period 14,786    19,588   
    50    177    96    Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest 407    312   
    (3,602)   7,600    1,654    Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders 14,379    19,276   

    1.See Note 8 “Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements”.

             Page 14

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

                     
     
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
    $ million    
      December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
    Assets    
    Non-current assets    
    Goodwill 16,032    16,660   
    Other intangible assets 9,480    10,253   
    Property, plant and equipment 185,219    194,835   
    Joint ventures and associates 23,445    24,457   
    Investments in securities 2,255    3,246   
    Deferred tax 6,857    6,454   
    Retirement benefits1 10,003    9,151   
    Trade and other receivables 6,018    6,298   
    Derivative financial instruments² 374    801   
      259,681    272,155   
    Current assets    
    Inventories 23,426    26,019   
    Trade and other receivables 45,860    53,273   
    Derivative financial instruments² 9,673    15,098   
    Cash and cash equivalents 39,110    38,774   
      118,069    133,164   
    Assets classified as held for sale1 9,857    951   
      127,926    134,115   
    Total assets 387,607    406,270   
    Liabilities    
    Non-current liabilities    
    Debt 65,448    71,610   
    Trade and other payables 3,290    3,103   
    Derivative financial instruments² 2,185    2,301   
    Deferred tax 13,505    15,347   
    Retirement benefits1 6,752    7,549   
    Decommissioning and other provisions 21,227    22,531   
      112,408    122,441   
    Current liabilities    
    Debt 11,630    9,931   
    Trade and other payables 60,693    68,237   
    Derivative financial instruments² 7,391    9,529   
    Income taxes payable 4,648    3,422   
    Decommissioning and other provisions 4,469    4,041   
      88,831    95,160   
    Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale1 6,203    307   
      95,034    95,467   
    Total liabilities 207,442    217,908   
    Equity attributable to Shell plc shareholders 178,303    186,607   
    Non-controlling interest 1,861    1,755   
    Total equity 180,165    188,362   
    Total liabilities and equity 387,607    406,270   

    1.    See Note 8 “Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements”.

    2.    See Note 7 “Derivative financial instruments and debt excluding lease liabilities”.

             Page 15

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    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR 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, 2024 544    (997)   21,145    165,915    186,607    1,755      188,362   
    Comprehensive income/(loss) for the period —    —    (1,715)   16,093    14,378    407      14,785   
    Transfer from other comprehensive income —    —    193    (193)   —    —      —   
    Dividends³ —    —    —    (8,669)   (8,669)   (308)     (8,976)  
    Repurchases of shares4 (34)   —    34    (14,057)   (14,057)   —      (14,057)  
    Share-based compensation —    194    109    (354)   (52)   —      (52)  
    Other changes —    —    —    96    96    7      103   
    At December 31, 2024 510    (804)   19,766    158,832    178,303    1,861      180,165   
    At January 1, 2023 584    (726)   21,132    169,482    190,472    2,125      192,597   
    Comprehensive income/(loss) for the period —    —    (83)   19,359    19,276    312      19,588   
    Transfer from other comprehensive income —    —    (112)   112    —    —      —   
    Dividends3 —    —    —    (8,389)   (8,389)   (764)     (9,153)  
    Repurchases of shares4 (40)   —    40    (14,571)   (14,571)   —      (14,571)  
    Share-based compensation —    (271)   168    (85)   (188)   —      (188)  
    Other changes —    —    —    7    7    82      89   
    At December 31, 2023 544    (997)   21,145    165,915    186,607    1,755      188,362   

    1.    See Note 5 “Share capital”.

    2.    See Note 6 “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 16

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

                                             
     
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS    
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024   Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    4,205      7,270    1,635    Income before taxation for the period 29,922    32,627   
            Adjustment for:    
    665      554    571    – Interest expense (net) 2,415    2,360   
    7,520      5,916    11,221    – Depreciation, depletion and amortisation1 26,872    31,290   
    649      150    243    – Exploration well write-offs 1,622    868   
    288      154    (222)   – Net (gains)/losses on sale and revaluation of non-current assets and businesses 288    (246)  
    156      (933)   (768)   – Share of (profit)/loss of joint ventures and associates (2,993)   (3,725)  
    1,241      860    1,145    – Dividends received from joint ventures and associates 3,632    3,674   
    131      2,705    4,088    – (Increase)/decrease in inventories 1,273    6,325   
    751      4,057    (704)   – (Increase)/decrease in current receivables 6,578    12,401   
    1,524      (4,096)   (701)   – Increase/(decrease) in current payables2 (5,789)   (11,581)  
    111      735    328    – Derivative financial instruments 2,484    (5,723)  
    (58)     125    (68)   – Retirement benefits (326)   (37)  
    (256)     359    430    – Decommissioning and other provisions2 (828)   220   
    (856)     (144)   (1,021)   – Other1 1,536    (550)  
    (2,910)     (3,028)   (3,604)   Tax paid (12,002)   (13,712)  
    13,162      14,684    12,575    Cash flow from operating activities 54,684    54,191   
    (6,486)     (4,690)   (6,960)      Capital expenditure (19,601)   (22,993)  
    (421)     (222)   (109)      Investments in joint ventures and associates (1,404)   (1,202)  
    (17)     (38)   (44)      Investments in equity securities (80)   (197)  
    (6,924)     (4,950)   (7,113)   Cash capital expenditure (21,084)   (24,392)  
    493      94    540    Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and businesses 1,621    2,565   
    305      94    49    Proceeds from joint ventures and associates from sale, capital reduction and repayment of long-term loans 590    474   
    6      6    24    Proceeds from sale of equity securities 582    51   
    581      593    568    Interest received 2,399    2,124   
    1,762      1,074    960    Other investing cash inflows1 4,576    4,269   
    (655)     (769)   (685)   Other investing cash outflows (3,838)   (2,825)  
    (4,431)     (3,857)   (5,657)   Cash flow from investing activities (15,154)   (17,734)  
    65      (89)   (27)   Net increase/(decrease) in debt with maturity period within three months (310)   (211)  
            Other debt:    
    (13)     78    64    – New borrowings 363    1,029   
    (2,664)     (1,322)   (4,054)   – Repayments (9,672)   (10,650)  
    (1,379)     (979)   (1,366)   Interest paid (4,557)   (4,441)  
    (833)     652    702    Derivative financial instruments (594)   723   
    (10)     —    (1)   Change in non-controlling interest (15)   (22)  
            Cash dividends paid to:    
    (2,114)     (2,167)   (2,201)   – Shell plc shareholders (8,668)   (8,393)  
    (53)     (92)   (128)   – Non-controlling interest (295)   (764)  
    (3,579)     (3,537)   (3,977)   Repurchases of shares (13,898)   (14,617)  
    (309)     6    (714)   Shares held in trust: net sales/(purchases) and dividends received (789)   (889)  
    (10,889)     (7,452)   (11,703)   Cash flow from financing activities (38,434)   (38,235)  
    (985)     729    529    Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (761)   306   
    (3,142)     4,105    (4,256)   Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 336    (1,472)  
    42,252      38,148    43,031    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 38,774    40,246   
    39,110      42,252    38,774    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 39,110    38,774   

    1.See Note 8 “Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements”.

    2.To further enhance consistency between working capital and the Balance Sheet and the Statement of Cash Flows, from January 1, 2024, onwards movements in current other provisions are recognised in ‘Decommissioning and other provisions’ instead of ‘Increase/(decrease) in current payables’. Comparatives for the fourth quarter 2023 and the full year 2023 have been reclassified accordingly by $653 million and $693 million respectively to conform with current period presentation.

             Page 17

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    1. Basis of preparation

    These unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Shell plc (“the Company”) and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “Shell”) have been prepared on the basis of the same accounting principles as those used in the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts (pages 244 to 316) for the year ended December 31, 2023, 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 217 to 290) for the year ended December 31, 2023, 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 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, 2023, were published in Shell’s Annual Report and Accounts, a copy of which was delivered to the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales, and in Shell’s Form 20-F. The auditor’s report on those accounts was unqualified, did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying the report and did not contain a statement under sections 498(2) or 498(3) of the Act. The statutory accounts for the year ended December 31, 2024, will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales in due course.

    2. Segment information

    Segment earnings are presented on a current cost of supplies basis (CCS earnings), which is the earnings measure used by the Chief Executive Officer for the purposes of making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance. On this basis, the purchase price of volumes sold during the period is based on the current cost of supplies during the same period after making allowance for the tax effect. CCS earnings therefore exclude the effect of changes in the oil price on inventory carrying amounts. Sales between segments are based on prices generally equivalent to commercially available prices.

    From the first quarter 2024, Wholesale commercial fuels forms part of Mobility with inclusion in the Marketing segment (previously Chemicals and Products segment). The change in segmentation reflects the increasing alignment between the economic characteristics of Wholesale commercial fuels and other Mobility businesses, and is consistent with changes in the information provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker. Prior period comparatives have been revised to conform with current year presentation with an offsetting impact between the Marketing and the Chemicals and Products segment (see below). Also, from the first quarter 2024, Shell’s longer-term innovation portfolio is managed centrally and hence reported as part of the Corporate segment (previously all other segments). Prior period comparatives have been revised to conform with current year presentation with an offsetting impact on all the other segments (see below).

             Page 18

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

                                       
     
    REVENUE AND CCS EARNINGS BY SEGMENT    
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
          Third-party revenue    
    9,294    9,748    10,437    Integrated Gas 37,290    37,645   
    1,652    1,605    1,263    Upstream 6,606    6,475   
    27,524    30,519    31,761    Marketing2 120,088    130,560   
    19,992    22,608    24,957    Chemicals and Products2 90,918    97,079   
    7,808    6,599    10,302    Renewables and Energy Solutions 29,366    44,819   
    10    10    11    Corporate 43    42   
    66,281    71,089    78,732    Total third-party revenue1 284,312    316,620   
          Inter-segment revenue    
    2,024    2,131    2,614    Integrated Gas 8,715    11,560   
    9,931    9,618    10,948    Upstream 39,939    41,230   
    984    1,235    1,243    Marketing2 4,937    5,299   
    8,656    9,564    10,163    Chemicals and Products2 38,381    42,816   
    1,879    1,131    1,567    Renewables and Energy Solutions 4,971    4,707   
    —    —    —    Corporate —    —   
          CCS earnings    
    1,744    2,631    1,733    Integrated Gas 9,590    7,058   
    1,031    2,289    2,151    Upstream 7,772    8,539   
    103    760    226    Marketing2 1,894    3,058   
    (328)   341    (1,828)   Chemicals and Products2 1,757    1,482   
    (1,226)   (481)   (272)   Renewables and Energy Solutions (1,229)   3,089   
    (335)   (647)   (629)   Corporate3 (2,992)   (2,944)  
    989    4,894    1,381    Total CCS earnings4 16,792    20,281   

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

    2.From January 1, 2024, onwards Wholesale commercial fuels has been reallocated from the Chemicals and Products segment to the Marketing segment. Comparatives for the fourth quarter 2023 and the full year 2023 have been reclassified accordingly, by $5,332 million and $21,702 million respectively for Third-party revenue and by $82 million and $104 million respectively for CCS earnings to conform with current period presentation. For Inter-segment revenue the reallocation and revision of comparative figures for the fourth quarter 2023 and the full year 2023 led to an increase in inter-segment revenue in the Marketing segment of $1,058 million and $4,675 million respectively and an increase in the Chemicals and Products segment of $9,553 million and $40,564 million respectively.

    3.From January 1, 2024, onwards costs for Shell’s centrally managed longer-term innovation portfolio are reported as part of the Corporate segment. Prior period comparatives for Corporate for the fourth quarter 2023 and the full year 2023 have been revised by $43 million and $133 million respectively, with a net offsetting impact in all other segments to conform with current period presentation.

    4.See Note 3 “Reconciliation of income for the period to CCS Earnings, Operating expenses and Total Debt”.

             Page 19

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    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 Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
          Capital expenditure    
    1,123    1,090    1,034    Integrated Gas 4,095    3,491   
    2,205    1,998    2,547    Upstream 7,738    8,249   
    798    488    1,383    Marketing1 2,357    5,741   
    1,121    748    983    Chemicals and Products1 2,943    2,928   
    1,214    327    932    Renewables and Energy Solutions 2,338    2,314   
    25    39    81    Corporate 129    270   
    6,486    4,690    6,960    Total capital expenditure 19,601    22,993   
          Add: Investments in joint ventures and associates    
    214    147    162    Integrated Gas 671    705   
    (117)   (37)   (111)   Upstream 150    94   
    13    37    2    Marketing 88    49   
    271    13    2    Chemicals and Products 347    84   
    36    59    56    Renewables and Energy Solutions 138    261   
    4    3    (2)   Corporate 9    9   
    421    222    109    Total investments in joint ventures and associates 1,404    1,202   
          Add: Investments in equity securities    
    —    —    —    Integrated Gas —    —   
    (11)   12    —    Upstream 1    —   
    —    —    —    Marketing —    —   
    —    —    —    Chemicals and Products —    2   
    28    23    38    Renewables and Energy Solutions 73    106   
    —    3    6    Corporate 6    89   
    17    38    44    Total investments in equity securities 80    197   
          Cash capital expenditure    
    1,337    1,236    1,196    Integrated Gas 4,766    4,196   
    2,076    1,974    2,436    Upstream 7,890    8,343   
    811    525    1,385    Marketing1 2,445    5,790   
    1,392    761    986    Chemicals and Products1 3,290    3,013   
    1,277    409    1,026    Renewables and Energy Solutions 2,549    2,681   
    30    45    85    Corporate 144    368   
    6,924    4,950    7,113    Total Cash capital expenditure 21,084    24,392   

    1.From January 1, 2024, onwards Wholesale commercial fuels has been reallocated from the Chemicals and Products segment to the Marketing segment. Comparatives for the fourth quarter 2023 and the full year 2023 have been reclassified accordingly by $46 million and $178 million respectively for capital expenditure and cash capital expenditure to conform with current period presentation.

             Page 20

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    3. Reconciliation of income for the period to CCS Earnings, Operating expenses and Total Debt

                                       
     
    RECONCILIATION OF INCOME FOR THE PERIOD TO CCS EARNINGS    
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    928    4,291    474    Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders 16,093    19,359   
    113    100    62    Income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest 427    277   
    1,041    4,391    536    Income/(loss) for the period 16,521    19,636   
          Current cost of supplies adjustment:    
    (84)   668    1,089    Purchases 389    815   
    23    (162)   (263)   Taxation (91)   (203)  
    9    (2)   19    Share of profit/(loss) of joint ventures and associates (26)   33   
    (52)   503    846    Current cost of supplies adjustment 272    645   
          Of which:    
    (45)   477    811    Attributable to Shell plc shareholders 257    650
    (7)   26    34    Attributable to non-controlling interest 14    (5)
    989    4,894    1,381    CCS earnings 16,792    20,281   
          Of which:    
    883    4,768    1,285    CCS earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders 16,351    20,008   
    106    126    97    CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 442    273   
                                       
     
    RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING EXPENSES    
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    5,839    6,138    6,807    Production and manufacturing expenses 23,379    25,240   
    3,231    3,139    3,621    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses 12,439    13,433   
    331    294    469    Research and development 1,099    1,287   
    9,401    9,570    10,897    Operating expenses 36,918    39,960   
                                       
     
    RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL DEBT    
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    December 31, 2024 September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023   December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
    11,630    12,015    9,931    Current debt 11,630    9,931   
    65,448    64,597    71,610    Non-current debt 65,448    71,610   
    77,078    76,613    81,541    Total debt 77,078    81,541   

    4. Earnings per share

                                       
     
    EARNINGS PER SHARE
    Quarters   Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    928    4,291    474    Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders ($ million) 16,093    19,359   
               
          Weighted average number of shares used as the basis for determining:    
    6,148.4    6,256.5    6,558.3    Basic earnings per share (million) 6,299.6    6,733.5   
    6,213.9    6,320.9    6,631.1    Diluted earnings per share (million) 6,363.7    6,799.8   

             Page 21

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    5. Share capital

                             
     
    ISSUED AND FULLY PAID ORDINARY SHARES OF €0.07 EACH
      Number of shares   Nominal value
    ($ million)
    At January 1, 2024 6,524,109,049      544     
    Repurchases of shares (409,077,891)     (34)    
    At December 31, 2024 6,115,031,158      510     
    At January 1, 2023 7,003,503,393      584     
    Repurchases of shares (479,394,344)     (40)    
    At December 31, 2023 6,524,109,049      544     

    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.

    6. Other reserves

                                             
     
    OTHER RESERVES
    $ million Merger reserve Share premium reserve Capital redemption reserve Share plan reserve Accumulated other comprehensive income Total
    At January 1, 2024 37,298    154    236    1,308    (17,851)   21,145   
    Other comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders —    —    —    —    (1,715)   (1,715)  
    Transfer from other comprehensive income —    —    —    —    193    193   
    Repurchases of shares —    —    34    —    —    34   
    Share-based compensation —    —    —    109    —    109   
    At December 31, 2024 37,298    154    270    1,416    (19,373)   19,766   
    At January 1, 2023 37,298    154    196    1,140    (17,656)   21,132   
    Other comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders —    —    —    —    (83)   (83)  
    Transfer from other comprehensive income —    —    —    —    (112)   (112)  
    Repurchases of shares —    —    40    —    —    40   
    Share-based compensation —    —    —    168    —    168   
    At December 31, 2023 37,298    154    236    1,308    (17,851)   21,145   

    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.

    7. Derivative financial instruments and debt excluding lease liabilities

    As disclosed in the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, 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 December 31, 2024, are consistent with those used in the year ended December 31, 2023, though the carrying amounts of derivative financial instruments have changed since that

             Page 22

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    date. The movement of the derivative financial instruments between December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2024 is a decrease of $5,425 million for the current assets and a decrease of $2,138 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 December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
    Carrying amount1 48,376    53,832   
    Fair value2 44,119    50,866   

    1.    Shell issued no debt under the US shelf or under the Euro medium-term note programmes during the year 2024.

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

    8. Other notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

    Consolidated Statement of Income

    Interest and other income

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    683    440    631    Interest and other income/(expenses) 1,724    2,838   
          Of which:    
    548    619    595    Interest income 2,372    2,313   
    25    4    14    Dividend income (from investments in equity securities) 83    49   
    (288)   (154)   222    Net gains/(losses) on sales and revaluation of non-current assets and businesses (288)   257   
    267    (189)   (398)   Net foreign exchange gains/(losses) on financing activities (1,025)   (458)  
    131    159    199    Other 582    677   

    Depreciation, depletion and amortisation

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    7,520    5,916    11,221    Depreciation, depletion and amortisation 26,872    31,290   
          Of which:    
    5,829 5,578 5,986 Depreciation 22,703    23,106   
    1,797 340 5,508 Impairments 4,502    8,947   
    (106) (2) (273) Impairment reversals (333)   (762)  

    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). The impairment in Renewables and Energy Solutions was principally triggered by a portfolio choice regarding renewable generation assets in North America. The impairments in other segments relate to various smaller impairments.

    Impairments recognised in the third quarter 2024 of $340 million pre-tax ($290 million post-tax) mainly relate to various

    assets in Marketing and Chemicals and Products.

    Impairments recognised in the fourth quarter 2023 of $5,508 million pre-tax ($4,044 million post-tax) relate to various

    assets in Chemicals and Products ($2,490 million), Upstream ($1,161 million), Integrated Gas ($873 million), Renewables

    and Energy Solutions ($614 million) and Marketing ($370 million).

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    Taxation charge/credit

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    3,164    2,879    1,099    Taxation charge/(credit) 13,401    12,991   
          Of which:    
    3,125 2,834 1,099 Income tax excluding Pillar Two income tax 13,150    12,991   
    39 45 — Income tax related to Pillar Two income tax 251    —

    On June 20, 2023, the UK substantively enacted Pillar Two Model Rules, effective as from January 1, 2024.

    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 Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    (4,899)   2,947    2,571    Currency translation differences (3,248)   1,397   
          Of which:    
    (5,028) 2,912 2,578 Recognised in Other comprehensive income (4,504)   1,396   
    129 35 (7) (Gain)/loss reclassified to profit or loss 1,256    1

    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

    Retirement benefits

                     
     
    $ million    
      December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
    Non-current assets    
    Retirement benefits 10,003    9,151   
    Non-current liabilities    
    Retirement benefits 6,752    7,549   
    Surplus/(deficit) 3,251    1,602   

    Amounts recognised in the Balance Sheet in relation to defined benefit plans include both plan assets and obligations that are presented on a net basis on a plan-by-plan basis. The change in the net retirement benefit asset as at December 31, 2024, is mainly driven by an increase of the market yield on high-quality corporate bonds in the USA, the UK and Eurozone since December 31, 2023, partly offset by losses on plan assets.

    Assets classified as held for sale

                       
       
    $ million      
      December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023  
    Assets classified as held for sale 9,857    951     
    Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale 6,203    307     

    Assets classified as held for sale and associated liabilities at December 31, 2024 principally relate to Shell’s UK offshore oil and gas assets in Upstream, mining interests in Canada in Chemicals and Products and an energy and chemicals park in Chemicals and Products in Singapore. 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 December 31, 2024, are Property, plant and equipment ($8,283 million; December 31, 2023: $250 million), Inventories ($1,180 million; December 31, 2023:

             Page 24

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    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    $463 million), Decommissioning and other provisions ($3,053 million; December 31, 2023: $75 million), deferred tax liabilities ($2,042 million; December 31, 2023: nil) and Debt ($624 million; December 31, 2023: $84 million).

    Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

    Cash flow from operating activities – Other

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    (856)   (144)   (1,021)   Other 1,536    (550)  

    ‘Cash flow from operating activities – Other’ for the fourth quarter 2024 includes $1,447 million of net outflows (third quarter 2024: $432 million net inflows; fourth quarter 2023: $875 million net outflows) due to the timing of payments relating to emission certificates and biofuel programmes in Europe and North America and $672 million in relation to reversal of currency exchange losses on Cash and cash equivalents (third quarter 2024: $539 million gains; fourth quarter 2023: $398 million gains).

    Cash flow from investing activities – Other investing cash inflows

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    1,762    1,074    960    Other investing cash inflows 4,576    4,269   

    ‘Cash flow from investing activities – Other investing cash inflows’ for the fourth quarter 2024 mainly relates to the sale of pension-related debt securities and repayments of short-term loans.

    9. Post-balance sheet events

    On January 23, 2025, Shell announced changes to the Executive Committee. In line with the company’s ongoing transformation, Shell will continue to evolve its structure to enable Shell’s strategy to deliver more value with less emissions. As a result, Trading and Supply will move up to the Executive Committee and out of the Downstream, Renewables and Energy Solutions directorate with effect from April 1, 2025. These changes will not affect Shell’s financial reporting segments.

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    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.

    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.

                                       
         
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    928    4,291    474    Income/(loss) attributable to Shell plc shareholders 16,093    19,359   
    113    100    62    Income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interest 427    277   
    (45)   477    811    Add: Current cost of supplies adjustment attributable to Shell plc shareholders 257    650   
    (7)   26    34    Add: Current cost of supplies adjustment attributable to non-controlling interest 14    (5)  
    989    4,894    1,381    CCS earnings 16,792    20,281   
                                                   
     
    Q4 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    CCS earnings 989 1,744 1,031 103 (328) (1,226) (335)
    Less: Identified items (2,778) (421) (651) (736) (99) (914) 45
    Less: CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 106            
    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

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    Q3 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    CCS earnings 4,894 2,631 2,289 760 341 (481) (647)
    Less: Identified items (1,259) (240) (153) (422) (122) (319) (3)
    Less: CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 126            
    Add: Identified items attributable to non-controlling interest —            
    Adjusted Earnings 6,028            
    Add: Non-controlling interest 126            
    Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest 6,153 2,871 2,443 1,182 463 (162) (643)
    Add: Taxation charge/(credit) excluding tax impact of identified items 3,571 949 2,413 322 (73) (1) (39)
    Add: Depreciation, depletion and amortisation excluding impairments 5,578 1,369 2,691 564 862 86 6
    Add: Exploration well write-offs 150 2 148 — — — —
    Add: Interest expense excluding identified items 1,173 49 183 13 14 2 912
    Less: Interest income 619 5 8 — 25 — 581
    Adjusted EBITDA 16,005 5,234 7,871 2,081 1,240 (75) (346)
    Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation 665     334 331    
    Joint ventures and associates (dividends received less profit) (62) (146) (90) 51 63 61 —
    Derivative financial instruments 133 (373) 47 98 88 (106) 380
    Taxation paid (3,028) (814) (2,074) (241) 23 (33) 112
    Other (365) (32) (406) 275 107 (75) (234)
    (Increase)/decrease in working capital 2,665 (247) (78) 792 2,131 (136) 204
    Cash flow from operating activities 14,684 3,623 5,268 2,722 3,321 (364) 115
                                                   
     
    Q4 2023 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    CCS earnings 1,381 1,733 2,151 226 (1,828) (272) (629)
    Less: Identified items (6,033) (2,235) (909) (567) (1,857) (445) (19)
    Less: CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 97            
    Add: Identified items attributable to non-controlling interest (11)            
    Adjusted Earnings 7,306            
    Add: Non-controlling interest 108            
    Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest 7,414 3,968 3,060 794 29 173 (609)
    Add: Taxation charge/(credit) excluding tax impact of identified items 2,121 1,065 1,560 128 (271) (4) (358)
    Add: Depreciation, depletion and amortisation excluding impairments 5,986 1,457 2,951 569 915 89 6
    Add: Exploration well write-offs 243 63 180 — — — —
    Add: Interest expense excluding identified items 1,165 36 135 10 21 1 961
    Less: Interest income 595 4 14 1 24 7 544
    Adjusted EBITDA 16,335 6,584 7,872 1,500 670 253 (544)
    Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation 1,109     572 537    
    Joint ventures and associates (dividends received less profit) 246 208 (250) 32 225 29 1
    Derivative financial instruments (1,030) (1,596) 52 4 293 (268) 487
    Taxation paid (3,604) (731) (2,015) (282) (270) (413) 108
    Other (947) (229) 388 (508) (422) 146 (322)
    (Increase)/decrease in working capital 2,683 (639) (260) 1,593 1,191 (1,012) 1,810
    Cash flow from operating activities 12,575 3,597 5,787 1,767 1,150 (1,265) 1,540

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    Full year 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    CCS earnings 16,792 9,590 7,772 1,894 1,757 (1,229) (2,992)
    Less: Identified items (7,347) (1,800) (623) (1,991) (1,177) (732) (1,024)
    Less: CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 442            
    Add: Identified items attributable to non-controlling interest 18            
    Adjusted Earnings 23,716            
    Add: Non-controlling interest 424            
    Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest 24,139 11,390 8,395 3,885 2,934 (497) (1,968)
    Add: Taxation charge/(credit) excluding tax impact of identified items 15,013 3,520 9,865 1,305 364 87 (128)
    Add: Depreciation, depletion and amortisation excluding impairments 22,703 5,594 10,971 2,235 3,495 383 25
    Add: Exploration well write-offs 1,622 291 1,331        
    Add: Interest expense excluding identified items 4,697 189 720 52 70 6 3,660
    Less: Interest income 2,372 8 18 1 79 2 2,265
    Adjusted EBITDA 65,803 20,978 31,264 7,476 6,783 (22) (675)
    Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation 363     254 109    
    Joint ventures and associates (dividends received less profit) (328) (137) (946) 262 304 190 —
    Derivative financial instruments 1,472 (1,466) 24 59 219 3,012 (376)
    Taxation paid (12,002) (2,955) (7,851) (562) (146) (457) (31)
    Other (1,961) 23 (1,464) (616) (321) 152 264
    (Increase)/decrease in working capital 2,062 467 216 998 524 923 (1,065)
    Cash flow from operating activities 54,684 16,909 21,244 7,363 7,253 3,798 (1,882)
                                                   
     
    Full year 2023 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    CCS earnings 20,281 7,058 8,539 3,058 1,482 3,089 (2,944)
    Less: Identified items (8,252) (6,861) (1,267) (254) (2,135) 2,333 (69)
    Less: CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 273            
    Add: Identified items attributable to non-controlling interest (11)            
    Adjusted Earnings 28,250            
    Add: Non-controlling interest 284            
    Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest 28,534 13,919 9,806 3,312 3,617 756 (2,875)
    Add: Taxation charge/(credit) excluding tax impact of identified items 13,674 3,837 8,280 936 287 341 (8)
    Add: Depreciation, depletion and amortisation excluding impairments 23,106 5,756 11,309 2,048 3,582 392 19
    Add: Exploration well write-offs 867 121 746 — — — —
    Add: Interest expense excluding identified items 4,669 146 507 50 60 4 3,902
    Less: Interest income 2,313 6 27 9 57 12 2,201
    Adjusted EBITDA 68,538 23,773 30,622 6,337 7,489 1,481 (1,164)
    Less: Current cost of supplies adjustment before taxation 848     478 370    
    Joint ventures and associates (dividends received less profit) 79 241 (692) 117 310 102 3
    Derivative financial instruments (6,142) (4,668) 51 (14) 518 (1,988) (41)
    Taxation paid (13,712) (3,574) (8,470) (760) (467) (762) 322
    Other (865) (313) (142) (486) (138) 450 (237)
    (Increase)/decrease in working capital 7,145 2,061 82 845 172 3,701 284
    Cash flow from operating activities 54,191 17,520 21,450 5,561 7,513 2,984 (832)

    Identified Items

    Identified items comprise: divestment gains and losses, impairments, redundancy and restructuring, provisions for onerous contracts, fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts and the impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on certain deferred tax balances, and other items. Identified items in the tables below are presented on a net basis.

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    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)
    Provisions for onerous contracts — — — — — — —
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts 209 136 (14) 58 (38) 67 —
    Other (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)
    Provisions for onerous contracts — — — — — — —
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts 184 109 (4) 46 (17) 50 —
    Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances (210) (57) (199) — — — 46
    Other (147) (22) (212) (25) 113 — —
    Impact on CCS earnings (2,778) (421) (651) (736) (99) (914) 45
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest — — — — — — —
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders (2,778) (421) (651) (736) (99) (914) 45

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    Q3 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) (154) 1 (2) (110) (19) (20) (3)
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (338) (6) (3) (195) (120) (14) —
    Redundancy and restructuring (552) (69) (189) (136) (141) (26) 10
    Provisions for onerous contracts (7) — — (7) — — —
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts (602) (252) (13) (78) 126 (385) —
    Other1 (136) — (141) (1) (11) 16 —
    Total identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation (1,789) (327) (348) (526) (165) (430) 7
    Less: total identified items included in Taxation charge/(credit) (530) (87) (195) (104) (43) (111) 10
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) for the period              
    Divestment gains/(losses) (129) 1 (6) (84) (15) (23) (2)
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (288) (4) (2) (179) (92) (10) —
    Redundancy and restructuring (397) (48) (138) (98) (101) (19) 7
    Provisions for onerous contracts (5) — — (5) — — —
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts (456) (213) (3) (56) 95 (279) —
    Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances 120 24 104 — — — (8)
    Other (105) — (108) — (8) 12 —
    Impact on CCS earnings (1,259) (240) (153) (422) (122) (319) (3)
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest — — — — — — —
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders (1,259) (240) (153) (422) (122) (319) (3)

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    Q4 2023 $ 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) 222 (21) 134 (30) (33) 168 5
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (5,348) (873) (988) (460) (2,391) (636) —
    Redundancy and restructuring (275) (1) (11) (128) (102) (31) (2)
    Provisions for onerous contracts — — — — — — —
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts (1,357) (1,708) 60 (47) 199 138 —
    Other (33) 57 (170) 2 77 — —
    Total identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation (6,792) (2,545) (974) (664) (2,250) (361) 2
    Less: total identified items included in Taxation charge/(credit) (759) (309) (65) (96) (394) 84 22
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) for the period              
    Divestment gains/(losses) 227 (13) 128 (23) (26) 158 3
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (3,935) (547) (454) (415) (1,968) (551) —
    Redundancy and restructuring (206) — (6) (96) (78) (24) (1)
    Provisions for onerous contracts — — — — — — —
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts (1,336) (1,587) 21 (34) 138 125 —
    Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances (363) 31 (373) — — — (21)
    Other (419) (119) (225) 2 77 (154) —
    Impact on CCS earnings (6,033) (2,235) (909) (567) (1,857) (445) (19)
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest (11) — — (11) — — —
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders (6,022) (2,235) (909) (556) (1,857) (445) (19)

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    Full year 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) (100) 89 (400) 6 119 (3)
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (5,051) (555) (362) (1,747) (1,205) (1,181) (1)
    Redundancy and restructuring (1,012) (106) (320) (296) (195) (97) 2
    Provisions for onerous contracts (24) (3) (14) (7) — — —
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts (1,012) (1,286) (58) 49 (117) 399 —
    Other1 (1,481) (126) (436) (1) 146 39 (1,103)
    Total identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation (8,867) (2,176) (1,100) (2,402) (1,364) (720) (1,105)
    Less: total identified items included in Taxation charge/(credit) (1,521) (376) (477) (411) (187) 12 (81)
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) for the period              
    Divestment gains/(losses) (319) (96) 67 (386) 4 94 (2)
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (4,371) (363) (323) (1,423) (1,176) (1,085) (1)
    Redundancy and restructuring (712) (71) (214) (215) (142) (71) 1
    Provisions for onerous contracts (19) (3) (11) (5) — — —
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts (849) (1,088) (14) 40 (86) 300 —
    Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances 363 (49) 313 — — — 99
    Other1 (1,440) (130) (440) (1) 223 30 (1,122)
    Impact on CCS earnings (7,347) (1,800) (623) (1,991) (1,177) (732) (1,024)
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 18 — — — 18 — —
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders (7,365) (1,800) (623) (1,991) (1,195) (732) (1,024)

    1.Corporate includes reclassifications from equity to profit and loss of cumulative currency translation differences related to funding structures resulting in unfavourable movements of $1,122 million. These currency translation differences were previously recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income.

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    Full year 2023 $ 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) 257 (22) 209 1 (46) 109 5
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (8,300) (3,147) (1,187) (509) (2,690) (767) —
    Redundancy and restructuring (329) (1) (21) (150) (106) (32) (18)
    Provisions for onerous contracts (24) — — — (24) — —
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts (419) (4,755) 447 20 276 3,593 —
    Other 82 32 (615) 300 (43) 408 —
    Total identified items included in Income/(loss) before taxation (8,732) (7,892) (1,166) (339) (2,632) 3,311 (14)
    Less: total identified items included in Taxation charge/(credit) (481) (1,031) 100 (85) (497) 978 55
    Identified items included in Income/(loss) for the period              
    Divestment gains/(losses) 277 (14) 208 1 (35) 113 3
    Impairment reversals/(impairments) (6,219) (2,247) (642) (466) (2,195) (669) —
    Redundancy and restructuring (241) — (9) (113) (82) (24) (12)
    Provisions for onerous contracts (18) — — — (18) — —
    Fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts (1,284) (4,407) 127 26 214 2,756 —
    Impact of exchange rate movements and inflationary adjustments on tax balances (355) — (295) — — — (60)
    Other (412) (193) (656) 298 (19) 158 —
    Impact on CCS earnings (8,252) (6,861) (1,267) (254) (2,135) 2,333 (69)
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to non-controlling interest (11) — — (11) — — —
    Impact on CCS earnings attributable to Shell plc shareholders (8,240) (6,861) (1,267) (242) (2,135) 2,333 (69)

    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. Only pre-tax identified items reported by subsidiaries are taken into account in the calculation of underlying operating expenses (Reference F).

    Provisions for onerous contracts: Provisions for onerous contracts that relate to businesses that Shell has exited or to redundant assets or assets that cannot be used.

    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 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.

    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 losses (this primarily impacts the Upstream and Integrated Gas 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).

    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.

             Page 33

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    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 4).

    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. Effective first quarter 2024, the definition of capital employed has been amended to reflect the deduction of cash and cash equivalents. In addition, the numerator applied to ROACE on an Adjusted Earnings plus non-controlling interest basis has been amended to remove interest on cash and cash equivalents for consistency with the revised capital employed definition. Comparative information has been revised to reflect the updated definition. Also, the presentation of ROACE on a net income basis has been discontinued, as this measure is not routinely used by management in assessing the efficiency of capital employed.

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

    Management believes that the updated methodology better reflects Shell’s approach to managing capital employed, including the management of cash and cash equivalents alongside total debt and equity as part of the financial framework.

    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
      Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023
    Current debt 9,931 10,119 9,001
    Non-current debt 71,610 72,028 74,794
    Total equity 188,362 192,943 192,597
    Less: Cash and cash equivalents (38,774) (43,031) (40,246)
    Capital employed – opening 231,128 232,059 236,146
    Current debt 11,630 12,015 9,931
    Non-current debt 65,448 64,597 71,610
    Total equity 180,165 189,538 188,362
    Less: Cash and cash equivalents (39,110) (42,252) (38,774)
    Capital employed – closing 218,132 223,898 231,128
    Capital employed – average 224,630 227,979 233,637

             Page 34

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

                           
     
    $ million Quarters
      Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023
    Adjusted Earnings – current and previous three quarters (Reference A) 23,716 27,361 28,250
    Add: Income/(loss) attributable to NCI – current and previous three quarters 427 376 277
    Add: Current cost of supplies adjustment attributable to NCI – current and previous three quarters 14 56 (5)
    Less: Identified items attributable to NCI (Reference A) – current and previous three quarters 18 7 (11)
    Adjusted Earnings plus NCI excluding identified items – current and previous three quarters 24,139 27,787 28,534
    Add: Interest expense after tax – current and previous three quarters 2,701 2,698 2,728
    Less: Interest income after tax on cash and cash equivalents – current and previous three quarters 1,389 1,392 1,287
    Adjusted Earnings plus NCI excluding identified items before interest expense and interest income – current and previous three quarters 25,452 29,093 29,975
    Capital employed – average 224,630 227,979 233,637
    ROACE on an Adjusted Earnings plus NCI basis 11.3% 12.8% 12.8%

    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  
      December 31, 2024 September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
    Current debt 11,630    12,015    9,931   
    Non-current debt 65,448    64,597    71,610   
    Total debt 77,078    76,613    81,541   
    Of which lease liabilities 28,702    25,590    27,709   
    Add: Debt-related derivative financial instruments: net liability/(asset) 2,469    1,694    1,835   
    Add: Collateral on debt-related derivatives: net liability/(asset) (1,628)   (821)   (1,060)  
    Less: Cash and cash equivalents (39,110)   (42,252)   (38,774)  
    Net debt 38,809    35,234    43,542   
    Total equity 180,165    189,538    188,362   
    Total capital 218,974    224,772    231,902   
    Gearing 17.7  % 15.7  % 18.8  %

    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.

             Page 35

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

                                                   
     
    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
                                                   
     
    Q3 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Production and manufacturing expenses 6,138 1,164 2,394 367 1,766 453 (6)
    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses 3,139 (1) (39) 2,408 453 209 110
    Research and development 294 27 75 55 34 22 81
    Operating expenses 9,570 1,190 2,430 2,830 2,253 684 185
                                                   
     
    Q4 2023 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Production and manufacturing expenses 6,807 1,187 2,595 433 1,815 732 44
    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses1 3,621 39 109 2,520 530 271 153
    Research and development1 469 42 102 67 52 93 112
    Operating expenses 10,897 1,268 2,806 3,021 2,397 1,096 309
                                                   
     
    Full year 2024 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Production and manufacturing expenses 23,379 4,153 9,351 1,322 6,605 1,934 14
    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses 12,439 164 176 9,149 1,637 887 426
    Research and development 1,099 125 263 209 151 94 257
    Operating expenses 36,918 4,441 9,791 10,681 8,392 2,915 698
                                                   
     
    Full year 2023 $ million
      Total Integrated Gas Upstream Marketing Chemicals and Products Renewables and Energy Solutions Corporate
    Production and manufacturing expenses 25,240 4,529 9,186 1,463 7,394 2,610 58
    Selling, distribution and administrative expenses1 13,433 154 325 9,426 2,023 1,058 446
    Research and development1 1,287 126 318 252 181 96 314
    Operating expenses 39,960 4,808 9,829 11,141 9,598 3,763 818

    1.From the first quarter 2024, Wholesale commercial fuels forms part of Mobility with inclusion in the Marketing segment (previously Chemicals and Products segment). Prior period comparatives have been revised to conform with current year presentation with an offsetting impact between Marketing and Chemicals and Products segments (see Note 2). Also, from the first quarter 2024, Shell’s longer-term innovation portfolio is managed centrally and hence reported as part of the Corporate segment (previously all other segments). Prior period comparatives have been revised to conform with current year presentation with an offsetting impact on all the other segments (see Note 2).

    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.

             Page 36

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

                                       
         
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    9,401    9,570    10,897    Operating expenses 36,918    39,960   
    (174)   (552)   (274)   Redundancy and restructuring (charges)/reversal (1,009)   (325)  
    (88)   (154)   (58)   (Provisions)/reversal (454)   (434)  
    —    —    —    Other 252    —   
    (262)   (706)   (332)   Total identified items (1,210)   (758)  
    9,138    8,864    10,565    Underlying operating expenses 35,707    39,201   

    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.

                                       
     
    Quarters $ million Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    13,162    14,684    12,575    Cash flow from operating activities 54,684    54,191   
    (4,431)   (3,857)   (5,657)   Cash flow from investing activities (15,154)   (17,734)  
    8,731    10,827    6,918    Free cash flow 39,530    36,457   
    805    194    612    Less: Divestment proceeds (Reference I) 2,793    3,091   
    1    —    —    Add: Tax paid on divestments (reported under “Other investing cash outflows”) 1    —   
    525    —    206    Add: Cash outflows related to inorganic capital expenditure1 776    2,522   
    8,453    10,633    6,511    Organic free cash flow2 37,514    35,888   

    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 and 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 Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    13,162    14,684    12,575    Cash flow from operating activities 54,684    54,191   
    131    2,705    4,088    (Increase)/decrease in inventories 1,273    6,325   
    751    4,057    (704)   (Increase)/decrease in current receivables 6,578    12,401   
    1,524    (4,096)   (701)   Increase/(decrease) in current payables1 (5,789)   (11,581)  
    2,407    2,665    2,683    (Increase)/decrease in working capital 2,062    7,145   
    10,755    12,019    9,891    Cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements 52,622    47,052   

    1.To further enhance consistency between working capital and the Balance Sheet and the Statement of Cash Flows, from January 1, 2024, onwards movements in current other provisions are recognised in ‘Decommissioning and other provisions’ instead of ‘Increase/(decrease) in current payables’. Comparatives for the fourth quarter 2023 and the full year 2023 have been reclassified accordingly by $653 million and $693 million respectively to conform with current period presentation.

             Page 37

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    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 Full year
    Q4 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2023   2024 2023
    493    94 540 Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and businesses 1,621 2,565
    305    94 49 Proceeds from joint ventures and associates from sale, capital reduction and repayment of long-term loans 590 474
    6    6 24 Proceeds from sale of equity securities 582 51
    805    194 612 Divestment proceeds 2,793 3,091

    J.    Structural cost reduction

    The structural cost reduction target is used for the purpose of demonstrating how management drives cost discipline across the entire organisation, simplifying our processes and portfolio, and streamlining the way we work.

    Structural cost reduction describes the decrease in underlying operating expenses as a result of operational efficiencies, divestments, workforce reductions and other cost-saving measures that are expected to be sustainable compared with 2022 levels.

    The total change between periods in underlying operating expenses will reflect both structural cost reductions and other changes in spend, including market factors, such as inflation and foreign exchange impacts, as well as changes in activity levels and costs associated with new operations.

    Structural cost reductions are stewarded internally to support management’s oversight of spending over time. 2025 target reflects annualised saving achieved by end-2025.

                           
     
    $ million
      2024 2023 Total1
    Underlying Operating expenses current year 35,707    39,201     
    Underlying Operating expenses previous year 39,201    39,456     
    Total decrease in Underlying operating expenses (3,494)   (255)   (3,749)  
    Of which:      
    Structural cost reduction (2,132)   (987)   (3,119)  
    (Decrease)/Increase of underlying operating expenses except structural cost reduction (1,362)   732    (630)  

    1.Structural cost reductions up to 2024 compared with 2022.

             Page 38

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

    CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

    All amounts shown throughout this Unaudited Condensed Financial Report are unaudited. All peak production figures in Portfolio Developments are quoted at 100% expected production. The numbers presented throughout this Unaudited Condensed 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 Financial Report, “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to 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 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 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”; “believe”; “commit”; “commitment”; “could”; “estimate”; “expect”; “goals”; “intend”; “may”; “milestones”; “objectives”; “outlook”; “plan”; “probably”; “project”; “risks”; “schedule”; “seek”; “should”; “target”; “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 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; (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 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, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, and a significant cyber security breach; and (n) 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 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, 2023 (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 Financial Report and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this Unaudited Condensed Financial Report, January 30, 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 Financial Report.

    Shell’s Net Carbon Intensity

    Also, in this Unaudited Condensed 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, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is currently outside our planning period. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans 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 Financial Report may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as cash capital expenditure and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile 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 Financial Report do not form part of this Unaudited Condensed Financial Report.

    We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this Unaudited Condensed 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.

    This Unaudited Condensed Financial Report contains inside information.

    January 30, 2025

             Page 39

    SHELL PLC
    4th QUARTER 2024 AND FULL YEAR UNAUDITED RESULTS

         
    The information in this Unaudited Condensed 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; USA +1 832 337 4355

    LEI number of Shell plc: 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70

    Classification: Inside Information

             Page 40

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese satellite enterprises provide expanded, improved global services

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese space companies have been expanding their satellite services, including communication, navigation and remote sensing, while also accelerating the deployment of satellite constellations in pursuit of better services.

    At the start of 2025, China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), which offers commercial launch and satellite in-orbit delivery services, completed the delivery of an intelligent remote sensing satellite, known as IRSS-1, to an Omani company.

    Launched on Nov. 11, 2024, this one-meter resolution satellite weighs 95 kilograms and has a design life of five years. It will be used for surveys of land and forests, as well as urban planning and disaster monitoring.

    The successful delivery of the satellite will play an important role in improving Oman’s remote sensing satellite application capabilities, the CGWIC said.

    WIDE REMOTE SENSING COVERAGE

    Users from around the world who log on to the website of Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd, can browse satellite images captured by the company’s Jilin-1 satellite constellation.

    The Jilin-1 constellation, which had its first group of satellites launched back in October 2015, now features more than 117 satellites and is capable of observing any point on the globe about 40 times a day, according to Huang Jian, head of Chang Guang’s overseas business data application.

    The Jilin-1 constellation can cover the world six times a year and the entire China 24 times annually, and so can provide frequent updates of satellite images of any location, Huang said, while adding that this capability supports the company’s overseas business expansion.

    Chang Guang has been cooperating with more than 130 overseas users in providing services regarding land surveys, urban building investigations, agriculture and forestry.

    In response to disasters and emergencies, the company has recently provided satellite images of fires and floods in different parts of the world, following a request from the United Nations.

    Notably, the company is planning a new constellation consisting of 200 satellites, according to Xuan Ming, chairman and general manager of Chang Guang. This new constellation will have a spatial resolution of 20 centimeters and can cover the entire globe once a day.

    Its temporal resolution, combined with the contribution of the Jilin-1 constellation, will make it possible to revisit any point on Earth within approximately three minutes.

    EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

    The commercialization of China’s aerospace sector started in 2014, when the country’s State Council, in a guideline, encouraged private capital to participate in the construction of national civil space infrastructure.

    Founded in 2018, Geespace is a science and technology innovation enterprise under the Chinese automaker Geely. It currently operates 30 satellites in three orbital planes, thereby achieving 24-hour coverage of 90 percent of the world, and provides satellite communication services to overseas users.

    These satellites are part of the Geesatcom constellation. The low-orbit communication constellation can enable direct satellite connection for automotive autonomous driving, intelligent internet connection, smartphones and other consumer electronic products.

    Geesatcom in June 2024 completed its first commercial deployment test in the Middle East. It will cooperate with a number of global operators in switching on a worldwide commercial application.

    Through a combination of Geesatcom and its ground system, Geespace provides global medium-and-low-speed satellite communication operations, satellite-based high-precision positioning services and a satellite remote sensing AI service, according to Wan Yang, founder of Geespace.

    In the future, Geespace expects to provide access to its satellite application services to clients in both Southeast Asia and Africa.

    Another Chinese commercial satellite constellation, Spacesail, will provide satellite communication services to Brazil and broadband internet access for that country’s remote and under-served regions from 2026.

    Spacesail is a low Earth orbit mega-constellation with full frequency bands and a multi-layer and multi-orbit design. Its commercial network construction was officially launched on Aug. 6, 2024.

    The market for connecting smartphones directly to satellites has become increasingly promising. “Except for the North Pole and South Pole, almost any location on Earth, including oceans, deserts and remote mountainous regions where traditional communications are difficult to achieve, will enjoy a stable network connection — with smartphones directly connected to satellites,” said Wang.

    By the end of June 2024, 546 commercial space enterprises were registered and effectively operating in China, China Space Foundation Secretary General Wang Cheng said in November last year at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China) in Zhuhai, south China’s Guangdong Province.

    This booming development of Chinese commercial satellite companies was firmly supported by a series of related policies.

    China has issued both a medium- and long-term development plan for civil space infrastructure for the period from 2015 to 2025, aiming to support and regulate the development of its commercial space industry.

    The country is also mapping a development plan for civil space infrastructure from 2026 to 2035, according to Li Guoping, chief engineer at the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Klaus Agent Becomes the First Blockchain AI Agent to Integrate Custom DeepSeek Model

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Klaus Agent, the AI-powered blockchain assistant, has officially integrated a custom DeepSeek model, making it one of the most intelligent, cost-effective, and autonomous AI agents in the market.

    Built on the Klaus meme, the Klaus AI agent is designed to be an advanced digital assistant, capable of voice-to-voice interactions and executing real-world tasks such as sending emails, purchasing products, trading crypto, and managing schedules.

    With this latest integration, the Klaus development team has downloaded, modified, and optimized the DeepSeek large language model (LLM) to run on their own GPUs, enhancing performance, efficiency, and affordability within its proprietary tech stack.

    A Breakthrough AI Tech Stack

    Unlike most AI agents that rely solely on external LLMs, Klaus Agent operates on a proprietary AI system built for speed, intelligence, and autonomy. The core tech stack includes:

    • Google DialogFlow – Enables ultra-fast response times by interpreting user commands before engaging LLM processing.
    • Klaus Novel Graph – A supervised learning graph that categorizes and routes user queries, reducing reliance on generative AI.
    • Klaus Neural Network – A multi-cluster system that organizes and processes AI-driven tasks, from shopping to crypto trading.
    • Klaus Vectorized Database – A self-learning database that enables continuous improvement, user behavior adaptation, and seamless AI development.
    • Claude Anthropic – Enhances response structuring while providing advanced human-like interaction modeling.

    DeepSeek Integration: A New Era of AI Learning

    DeepSeek’s open-source model has now been fully incorporated into the Klaus Agent’s unsupervised learning framework. Unlike closed-source LLMs such as GPT or Claude, DeepSeek allows fine-tuning using the Klaus vectorized data, enabling the AI to learn and evolve based on real-world interactions.

    “This integration means Klaus Agent is no longer just a passive AI responding to prompts—it’s an adaptive digital entity, capable of learning from its experiences while leveraging DeepSeek’s extensive training data,” said the Klaus Agent’s Lead Developer.

    Klaus Agent’s First Live Deployment

    The first use case of this powerful AI integration is already live at x.com/Klaus_Agent, where Klaus:

    • Finds and verifies the latest news using AI-driven fact-checking.
    • Cross-references multiple sources to eliminate misinformation.
    • Presents unbiased, AI-curated insights in real time.

    Join the AI Revolution

    As one of the first blockchain AI agents with an independently trained DeepSeek model, Klaus is pioneering the future of autonomous digital assistants.

    For more information, visit x.com/Klaus_Agent and experience the next evolution in AI.

    Media details:
    Webmail: Info@klausoneth.com
    Website: https://www.klausoneth.com
    Location: Dubai, UAE
    Person Name: Liam Johnson

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Klaus on ETH. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in cloud mining and related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/96dd2bcd-841c-45f5-b2e3-2273b4d62ac0

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin: 32 architectural monuments to be restored in Kuzminki estate in three years

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Kuzminki Estate (Vlakhernskoye) is the largest in terms of the number of cultural heritage sites in Moscow. There are about 40 architectural monuments from the late 18th – early 20th centuries, each with its own individual appearance, referring to the traditions of both the West and the East. Last year, the long-awaited restoration of the estate began. The plans for the next three years include putting 32 architectural monuments in order. About this in his blog Sergei Sobyanin said.

    Famous architects and sculptors such as Ivan Zherebtsov, Rodion Kazakov, Ivan Egotov, Alessandro and Domenico Gilardi, Mikhail Bykovsky, Ivan Vitali, Pyotr Klodt, Andrey Voronikhin and others participated in the creation of the architectural ensemble of Kuzminki. The owners of the estate at different times were the barons Stroganov and the princes Golitsyn. The imperial persons – Peter I, Alexander II, Maria Feodorovna – visited here.

    Today, the estate and the surrounding park are a favorite place for walks for Muscovites and tourists. The museum-reserve also houses the residence of Father Frost and the K.G. Paustovsky Museum. City festivals are held in summer and winter.

    “The primary task is to put in order the buildings that form the core of the estate. The restorers are already working on 19 objects. Among them are the eastern and western wings of the main house, which form the front yard. The house itself has not survived, but the exquisite wings built by the architect Gilardi create the impression of mini-palaces,” the Moscow Mayor noted.

    During the work, specialists will clean the white-stone elements, tidy up the historical stucco decoration and roof. Special attention will be paid to preserving the sculptures of lions that adorn the fence of the main courtyard, the entrances to the wings and the Round (Lion) Pier.

    To date, the blind area in the outbuildings has been dismantled, the damaged plaster layer and floor coverings have been removed. And the original wooden windows and doors have been sent to workshops for careful restoration.

    Sergei Sobyanin announced the start of restoration of the capital’s Kuzminki estateSergei Sobyanin: 166 Moscow parks are cultural heritage sites

    The soap house, or bath house, was built in the late 18th – early 19th century on the site of an older building of the same purpose. The Golitsyn bathhouse was given the appearance of a strict park pavilion, echoing the outbuildings of the main house. In the 20th century, it was rebuilt, suffered fires, and was restored.

    The restoration of the soap house’s historical appearance continues. Specialized workshops will recreate the vases in the niches of the eastern facade, and clean the white-stone elements: steps, parapets, and basement. In addition, the unique copper roofing, typical of buildings of that time, will be put in order. Specialists have already started work, and the plastering of the walls and ceilings is currently being dismantled.

    The forge was rebuilt in the early 1820s from a poultry yard, where many exotic birds were kept before the war of 1812. It is well preserved and requires rather aesthetic restoration. Specialists will have to put in order the white-stone parts of the central and two side porches, the basement and the blind area, and also adapt the building for modern use.

    The laundry building on Slobodka, on the contrary, needs a comprehensive restoration. The work will affect the roof, windows and doors, as well as wooden stairs, panel parquet and stucco decoration.

    The single-arch and triple-arch grottoes were the first objects in Kuzminki where restoration work began in the summer of 2024. More than 20 years have passed since their last restoration, so the white-stone elements were partially lost, and the remaining ones needed to be cleared.

    In the single-arch grotto, specialists have already completed excavation work, installed waterproofing and a drainage system, and plastered the walls and ceiling. The three-arch grotto, which was used for theatrical productions and musical concerts during the holidays, has also been plastered. Now, craftsmen are working on installing a retaining slab and restoring the brick and white stone retaining wall.

    Three-arched, Bolshoi, “Belvedere”: what grottoes can be found in Moscow estatesCount Orlov’s Grotto has been restored for the first time in Neskuchny Garden

    Specialists are also restoring the music pavilion, one of the most recognizable buildings on the estate. It is decorated with the same equestrian figures by sculptor Pyotr Klodt as the Anichkov Bridge in St. Petersburg. The only difference is that they are made of cast iron, not bronze.

    Previously, the portico of columns was also crowned with a sculptural group of Apollo playing the lyre and two muses. In order to restore the historical appearance of the pavilion, it will be recreated during the work. In addition, the facades will be restored here. The white-stone row above the base will be plastered with the reconstruction of the rustication. Particular attention will be paid to the restoration of the stucco decor and cast-iron sculptures, and inside, the wooden floor made of larch will be put in order according to the existing model. Specialists have already begun installing scaffolding and are conducting trial clearings.

    The restoration of the Lion’s, or Round, pier on the bank of the Upper Kuzminsky Pond is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The Egyptian lions that adorn it will also be restored. They have already been dismantled and transported to specialized workshops. In addition, the fences will be put in order: lost elements will be replaced, and the cast-iron slabs of the observation deck will be cleaned and sorted out.

    This year, the bridge with griffins will also be put in order. Soon, the floor lamps with mythical sculptures will move to the workshops, and after the main work on the pylons is completed, they will return to their historical place. In addition, the bridge covering will be restored with the organization of a modern water drainage system on it. At the final stage, architectural and artistic lighting will appear here.

    In parallel, restoration of other objects will begin. For example, the interiors of the Orange Dacha (orange greenhouse) with an ancient Egyptian theme, which have survived to this day. After restoration, a unique wooden two-tiered chandelier with candlesticks in the form of lotus flowers, which survived the fire, will also return here.

    In addition, the craftsmen will put the kitchen wing (Egyptian pavilion) in order. The architecture of this unique building of the estate ensemble used motifs of ancient Egyptian architecture. For example, the pediment is decorated with an image of the head of a sphinx.

    “Once the work is completed, the estate buildings will house exhibitions and museum displays, and concerts and other events will be held,” the Moscow Mayor emphasized.

    Sheremetev’s Grotto, Shchukin’s Theatre and Katyushas: Which Moscow Parks Have Preserved Historical MonumentsSobyanin spoke about architectural monuments that are being restored in Moscow

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12312050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Questions Howard Lutnick at Confirmation Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, questioned Howard Lutnick at the confirmation hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of Commerce. 
    During the hearing, Senator Fischer’s exchange with Lutnick focused on federal spectrum management and its critical role in national security, the impact of retaliatory tariffs on agriculture and manufacturing, the need to expand export markets, preserving critical broadband funding, and strategies to counter threats from China in technology markets.

    Click the image above to watch a video of Senator Fischer’s questioning
    Click here to download audio
    Click here to download video
    On the Role Spectrum Plays in Protecting National Security:
    Senator Fischer: If confirmed, you will lead a massive federal agency across 13 bureaus. And to start with, I want to highlight one that you’ve already heard of—the NTIA. It has critical influence over the U.S. economy and over our security, as well. Among its roles . . . NTIA coordinates spectrum management, ensuring that federal airwaves are being used most effectively. But, as spectrum becomes more scarce, critical federal operations, especially those essential for our national security, have been seen as obstacles. At the onset, I want to make it clear to you that DOD airwaves are not lying dormant and that proposals to clear them would jeopardize our national security.
    We have constellations of DOD satellites that rely on spectrum. Our nuclear command and control relies on spectrum. Advanced fighter aircraft like F-35s rely on spectrum. And we are investing tens of billions of dollars in developing sixth-generation aircraft that will rely on spectrum. We have radar systems on our Navy ships tracking incoming missiles around the world. These allowed us to help defend Israel from over 300 missile and drone attacks last year. They rely on spectrum. I can go on and on, as my colleagues know, but this is all to say that I hope we can work together so that we can come up with a really strong strategy for federal spectrum management in the future.
    On Protecting Nebraska’s Industries From Retaliatory Tariffs:
    Senator Fischer: I’m from Nebraska, and Nebraska’s agricultural and manufacturing industries rely on our strong export markets for our products. You and I talked about trade and about the need under this administration for trade to be front and center. We know that we didn’t see much of that happen in the previous administration. We also know, though sir, that other countries may try to retaliate against our agricultural and our manufacturing industries. So, if confirmed, will you work with your colleagues at other agencies to understand the impact of retaliatory tariffs on agriculture and manufacturing?
    Howard Lutnick: I will.
    On Opportunities To Expand Export Markets:Senator Fischer: Thank you. Can you also talk a little bit about what opportunities you view that are out there so that we can expand certain export markets over the next four years under this administration?
    Howard Lutnick: I think our farmers, ranchers, and fishermen are treated with disrespect.Senator Fischer: Always, the fish.Howard Lutnick: Always, you have to include them. You know, how often do we eat seafood? Come on. So they are treated with disrespect around the world. They are our farmers, our ranchers, and our fishermen are treated with disrespect. The countries take advantage of American kindness, American gratitude, that we used to rebuild the world after the World Wars, and after the Korean War, and after the Vietnam War.
    We need that disrespect to end. And I think tariffs are a way to create reciprocity, to be treated fairly, to be treated appropriately. And I think it will help our farmers, our ranchers, and our fishermen to flourish. And that’s what I expect this administration is going to drive. And that’s why I am honored to serve President Trump in his pursuit of that reciprocity and that fairness, and the end of the disrespect.
    These countries have reliance on the American economy, and they need to start respecting us and respect us now.
    On Understanding the Importance of the BEAD Broadband Program:Senator Fischer: Thank you. You heard about the BEAD funding from Senator Thune and other members of this committee as well. And I hope you will take that to heart and help our states get through some of those regulations that are out there. It has been an impediment to us.
    On Bolstering American Competitiveness Against China:  Senator Fischer: I’d like to talk a little bit here in the last few seconds about technology and competitiveness. I think I have Senator Wicker’s time.
    In previous hearings, this committee has discussed the United States’ AI capabilities and that we are in a dead heat with China. This week, we heard about DeepSeek, and I think it’s having us to examine kind of where we are right now with that.
    If confirmed, given the Commerce Department’s breadth of influence on that issue, how will you address different threats that we see coming from the CCP within these information and technology markets?Howard Lutnick: I take a very jaundiced view of China. I think they only care about themselves and seek to harm us. We need to protect ourselves, we need to drive our innovation forward, and we need to stop helping them.
    Open platforms—Meta’s open platform, let DeepSeek rely on it. Nvidia’s chips, which they bought tons of and they found their ways around it, drive their DeepSeek model. It’s got to end.
    If they are going to compete with us, let them compete, but stop using our tools to compete with us. So I’m going to be very strong on that. I am thrilled to oversee BIS and I’m thrilled to coordinate and empower BIS with tariffs that will improve the strength. When we say no, that answer’s got to be no.Senator Fischer: I look forward to working with you, sir. Thank you.Howard Lutnick: Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Decries Trump Order to Revoke General Milley’s Security Detail

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC—This week, after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth revoked the security detail for retired General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019-2023, and initiated a series of punitive actions against him, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:
    “General Milley and other former Trump Administration officials continue to face credible, deadly threats from Iran because they carried out President Trump’s order to kill Iranian General Soleimani. It is unconscionable and recklessly negligent for President Trump and Secretary Hegseth to revoke General Milley’s security detail for their own political satisfaction. The Administration has placed Milley and his family in grave danger, and they have an obligation to immediately restore his federal protection.
    “Indeed, just months ago President Biden said that a foreign assassination attempt against then-candidate Trump would be an “act of war.” Do President Trump and Republicans—who celebrated the Soleimani strike—not believe that U.S. military servicemembers deserve the same protection?”
    The Director of National Intelligence’s most recent unclassified annual threat assessment includes the following finding: Iran seeks to target former and current U.S. officials as retaliation for the killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-Qods Force Commander Qasem Soleimani in January 2020, and previously has attempted to conduct lethal operations in the United States.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Impact of Brexit on Scottish Trade

    Source: Scottish Government

    New figures show possible cost of increased trade barriers.

    Analysis published today by the Office of the Chief Economic Advisor has estimated Brexit trade barriers could impact Scotland’s economy by £4 billion.

    This estimated economic cost is from the reduction in trade alone – not counting changes to productivity, investment or migration.

    Business Minister Richard Lochhead said the report demonstrated the urgent need to reverse the damage of Brexit to boost living standards and revenue for the NHS.

    According to the Trade Modelling Report, Scottish exports could be lower by 7.2% or £3 billion compared to continued EU membership.

    The chemical and pharmaceutical sector is estimated to be one of the hardest hit by post-Brexit trade barriers, with an estimated 9.1% reduction in output, followed by the computer and electronics sector with an estimated 7.7% fall. The 4.9% output drop estimated for the agrifood sector represents a loss of £827 million.

    Business Minister Richard Lochhead said:

    “On the eve of the fifth anniversary of Brexit, these new figures highlight the urgent need to change course to boost the economy and increase public revenue for the NHS.

    “This is the latest in a long line of studies highlighting how badly Brexit continues to impact Scotland and should cause the UK Government to consider its approach to economic growth.

    “The Scottish Government has been clear that Scotland’s place is in the EU and the huge European single market. But we are also a voice for greater co-operation with the EU right now and we urge the new UK Government to forge a much closer relationship with our fellow Europeans.”  

    Background

    Scottish Government’s Brexit Trade Modelling Report

    The report is the first to specifically analyse the impact of the UK’s post-Brexit trade agreements on Scotland’s economy. It examines the expected effect of actual or potential free trade agreements between the UK and Australia, India, Switzerland and Turkey, as well as the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and EU. It then compares that with the trade benefits Scotland would have received from continued EU membership.

    This report makes estimates based on the impact of trade barriers and does not account for changes in productivity and investment due to Brexit. This means that some of the headline figures differ from those in other reports – such as in modelling by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, which showed that UK GDP could be 5.7% lower – as they look at the overall impact of Brexit on the economy.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Named Ranking Member of Senate Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that she has been named the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism. Senator Rosen was also named a member of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues; and the Subcommittee on Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International Economic, Energy, and Environmental Policy.
    “I’m grateful for the honor to serve as the leading Democrat on the Senate Subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism,” said Senator Rosen. “At a time of unrest throughout the Middle East, U.S. leadership is needed more than ever to support Israel, oppose Iranian aggression, and navigate political transitions in Syria and Lebanon. I look forward to working with Chairman Dave McCormick to tackle these complex challenges and maintain strong, bipartisan support for the US-Israel relationship.”
    Senator Rosen has been a strong leader in maintaining U.S. support for Israel and our partners in the Middle East. Following the October 7th terrorist attack on Israel, Senator Rosen has repeatedly taken action to ensure Israel receives the unconditional support necessary to defend itself, defeat Hamas, and bring the hostages home. Senator Rosen was also outspoken in pushing her own party to counter Iranian aggression, including by freezing its assets. She sent a bipartisan letter calling on President Biden to leverage the U.S. relationship with Qatar to secure the immediate release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza by Hamas and urged the Administration to designate the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
    Section 1.  Purpose.  My Administration has fought and will continue to fight anti-Semitism in the United States and around the world.  On December 11, 2019, I issued Executive Order 13899, my first Executive Order on Combating Anti-Semitism, finding that students, in particular, faced anti-Semitic harassment in schools and on university and college campuses.  Executive Order 13899 provided interpretive assistance on the enforcement of the Nation’s civil rights laws to ensure that they would protect American Jews to the same extent to which all other American citizens are protected.  The prior administration effectively nullified Executive Order 13899 by failing to give the terms of the order full force and effect throughout the Government.  This order reaffirms Executive Order 13899 and directs additional measures to advance the policy thereof in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, against the people of Israel.  These attacks unleashed an unprecedented wave of vile anti-Semitic discrimination, vandalism, and violence against our citizens, especially in our schools and on our campuses.  Jewish students have faced an unrelenting barrage of discrimination; denial of access to campus common areas and facilities, including libraries and classrooms; and intimidation, harassment, and physical threats and assault.  A joint report by the House Committees on Education and the Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, Veterans’ Affairs, and Ways and Means calls the Federal Government’s failure to fight anti-Semitism and protect Jewish students “astounding.”  This failure is unacceptable and ends today. Sec. 2.  Policy.  It shall be the policy of the United States to combat anti-Semitism vigorously, using all available and appropriate legal tools, to prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence.
    Sec. 3.  Additional Measures to Combat Campus Anti-Semitism.  (a)  Within 60 days of the date of this order, the head of each executive department or agency (agency) shall submit a report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, identifying all civil and criminal authorities or actions within the jurisdiction of that agency, beyond those already implemented under Executive Order 13899, that might be used to curb or combat anti-Semitism, and containing an inventory and analysis of all pending administrative complaints, as of the date of the report, against or involving institutions of higher education alleging civil-rights violations related to or arising from post-October 7, 2023, campus anti-Semitism.(b)  The report submitted by the Attorney General under this section shall additionally include an inventory and an analysis of all court cases, as of the date of the report, against or involving institutions of higher education alleging civil-rights violations related to or arising from post-October 7, 2023, campus anti-Semitism and indicate whether the Attorney General intends to or has taken any action with respect to such matters, including filing statements of interest or intervention.(c)  The Attorney General is encouraged to employ appropriate civil-rights enforcement authorities, such as 18 U.S.C. 241, to combat anti-Semitism. (d)  The report submitted by the Secretary of Education under this section shall additionally include an inventory and an analysis of all Title VI complaints and administrative actions, including in K-12 education, related to anti-Semitism — pending or resolved after October 7, 2023 — within the Department’s Office for Civil Rights.(e)  In addition to identifying relevant authorities to curb or combat anti-Semitism generally required by this section, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with each other, shall include in their reports recommendations for familiarizing institutions of higher education with the grounds for inadmissibility under 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3) so that such institutions may monitor for and report activities by alien students and staff relevant to those grounds and for ensuring that such reports about aliens lead, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to investigations and, if warranted, actions to remove such aliens.
    Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Israel’s new laws banning UNRWA already taking effect

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    Israeli legislation banning the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, is due to enter into force in the coming hours, bringing fundamental changes to its operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, according to the agency and Palestinians they serve in Gaza who spoke with UN News on Wednesday.

    Soundcloud

    If implemented, the two new laws passed in October will simultaneously prohibit Israeli authorities from contacting UNRWA and ban the agency from operating in war-ravaged Gaza and East Jerusalem and the West Bank, according to UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler.

    As such, poised to change are Israel’s role as the occupying power and the work of the UN General Assembly-mandated agency known since 1949 as the backbone of humanitarian aid assisting nearly six million Palestine refugees today.

    Check out UN Photo’s essay What UNRWA Built here.

    © UNRWA

    The war in Gaza has seen an unprecedented number of attacks on UN premises and staff. (file)

    Evacuation and relocation

    Israel as the occupying power is responsible for issuing visas to international staff from humanitarian organizations like UNRWA, whose headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem comprise a compound protected by the 1946 Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

    © UNRWA

    UNRWA has been called the backbone of humanitarian assistance in war-ravaged Gaza.

    The Knesset legislation has yet to come into force but is already impacting UN operations in the region.

    Israel has shortened all visas for UNRWA’s international staff to expire on Wednesday, which “is tantamount to being evicted” or declared persona non grata, Mr. Fowler said.

    As such, UNRWA’s international staff at the East Jerusalem office had to evacuate and relocate to Amman, Jordan earlier in the day. Office equipment and vehicles have been moved out, and efforts are continuing to digitise its archives.

    National staff will remain in East Jerusalem, but they face risks, including upcoming demonstrations by Israeli protestors, Mr. Fowler said. During the Gaza war, the compound had faced security issues, including arson attacks and violent protests.

    UNRWA had to comply with Israeli orders due to visa requirements despite East Jerusalem being recognised as occupied territory under international law, he added.

    Will UNRWA shut down completely?

    UNRWA’s mandate has remained the same for decades and it will not be ceasing all operations, said Mr. Fowler. It is unique as a working model that has provided core services such as healthcare and education to refugees and their descendants in line with its General Assembly-approved mandate.

    The agency also provides services to Palestinians in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

    “UNRWA remains absolutely committed to stay and deliver,” Mr. Fowler said.

    “We will not stop. We’re not bowing down to this. But, we do know that the practical impacts, the uncertainty mean that our operations could be substantially affected.”

    © UNRWA

    UNRWA and partners begin the second round of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza in 2024. (file)

    Backbone of aid in Gaza

    Up to the current fragile ceasefire, Israeli forces killed more than 47,000 Palestinians – according to local health authorities – and 270 UNRWA staff members in Gaza. Yet, despite challenges, agency staff in Gaza continue to operate, providing essential humanitarian aid, Mr. Fowler said.

    Over the first three days of the 19 January ceasefire, UNRWA provided food for one million people and one million blankets.

    Indeed, the UN agency is responsible for over half of deliveries inside the Gaza Strip and over half the aid coming in.

    The ceasefire has allowed UNRWA to scale up aid, but the situation remains precarious, he stressed.

    © UNRWA

    Aid is delivered to Gaza as Palestinians return to their homes during the ceasefire.

    Impact on services

    The Israeli laws could halt all UNRWA operations in Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank, affecting schools, healthcare centres and other services, Mr. Fowler explained.

    Some Palestinians in Gaza are worried at the prospect of losing UNRWA, including Iman Hillis, who is currently staying in an UNRWA school with her family.

    “We will have nothing to eat or drink, and this will affect us greatly,” she told UN News. “All the people will be destroyed and will not have food, water or flour.”

    International response amid ‘biggest fears’

    UNRWA supporters, UN Member States and UN officials have pressed Israel to reverse course up to the last minute. However, there is concern about the precedent this situation could set for other UN operations worldwide, Mr. Fowler said.

    The current situation is as unique as the agency itself. Israel’s ban is unprecedented. Never before has a UN Member State tried to undo the mandate of a UN organization.

    ‘We’re at the 11th hour’

    “We face the risk of this becoming an example, which would then eventually morph into some kind of new normal,” Mr. Fowler said.

    In other places around the world, that “new normal” is a “very, very nightmarish scenario”, he warned.

    “The multilateral system is not perfect, but it’s the system that we have, and this is a unilateral blow against multilateralism,” he said.

    “We’re at the 11th hour. We all have to continue efforts to convince Israeli authorities to at least freeze this decision or void the laws completely. Our biggest fear is there is no Plan B.”

    Why can’t other aid agencies just take over?

    Uniquely, the UN General Assembly makes the decisions on UNRWA and how and where it operates.

    “No other agency has the scale and depth to do what we do,” Mr. Fowler said.

    However, under international humanitarian law, the occupying power is responsible to assure the wellbeing of the population under occupation, he added.

    “By voiding our mandate, the Israeli officials who have promoted this need to think hard about the fact that if there’s any Plan B, it’s on them,” he said.

    Soundcloud

    How will Israel’s role change?

    As the occupying power, Israel is and has been responsible for all services to the populations living in Occupied Palestinian Territory since it seized the areas in 1967.

    An agreement in 1967 between Israel and UNRWA recognised the UN Palestine relief agency and its General Assembly-mandated tasks serving Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

    With the new legislation that, in effect, cancels that agreement, Israel continues to be responsible as the occupying power, including for all public services.

    As such, Israel will need to absorb the cost. UNRWA’s annual budget runs at about $1 billion every year.

    UN News

    Over 20,000 displaced Palestinians are taking shelter in a UNRWA school in Gaza.

    What is UNRWA?

    Since 1950, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has contributed to the welfare and human development of Palestine refugees, defined as “persons whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 war”.

    © UNRWA

    Humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza.

    • The agency operates in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Established by a UN General Assembly resolution, UNRWA is funded almost entirely through voluntary contributions from UN Member States.
    • UNRWA has long faced misinformation and disinformation, including about its staff and operations. This has intensified since the war in Gaza began on 7 October 2023.
    • An example is the claim that the UN agencies that deliver humanitarian assistance in crisis zones across the globe would be better placed to do the work currently carried out by UNRWA.
    • In fact, UNRWA’s established infrastructure – the agency directly manages critical public-like services (schools, health centres, social protection), relying on 30,000 staff members, most of them Palestine refugees – and its cost-effectiveness have no equivalent elsewhere in the UN.
    • Find out more about the work UNRWA does here.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Slams Senate Democrats for Blocking Bill to Protect American Servicemembers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    January 29, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the following statement after Senate Democrats blockedbipartisan International Criminal Court (ICC) sanctions legislation:
    “The ICC is a lawless, politicized body that threatens our sovereignty, our servicemembers, and our allies. It is investigating American troops. It’s taken illegitimate action against Israel. This bill would have sent a strong response to this rogue international body. It already passed the House twice with strong bipartisan support. In blocking this bill, Senate Democrats chose political games over supporting the women and men who defend our country.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: OPEC Fund delivers record US$2.3 billion in development finance in 2024

    Source: OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund)

    Highlights in the 49th year of operation included:

    • Lending growth: 35 percent increase y-o-y to US$2.3 billion
    • Triple agriculture and food security investments
    • Climate Action Plan delivery ahead of target
    • Bond placements: US$500 million in January 2024
    • Advancing partnerships: A co-financing agreement with the World Bank Group; MoUs with IFAD, FONPLATA; Country Framework Agreements with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan.

    January 29, 2025: The OPEC Fund for International Development achieved a record US$2.3 billion in new commitments in 2024 — a 35 percent increase year-on-year. These commitments, distributed across 70 projects worldwide, are combating climate change, improving global food security, advancing the energy transition and fostering sustainable economic and social development.

    OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “In 2024, the OPEC Fund set a new benchmark in delivering impactful development finance to tackle global priorities. Our record commitments not only reflect our capacity to boost climate action and social resilience but also the strength of our cooperation with countries and development partners such as the World Bank and the Arab Coordination Group. As we approach our 50th anniversary, thanks to the strong support from our member countries and capital market investors, we are well positioned to maximize impact and create lasting benefits for communities worldwide.”

    In 2024, the OPEC Fund’s financing supported projects across the Middle East and North Africa & Europe and Central Asia (39 percent of total commitments), Sub-Saharan Africa (34 percent), Asia and the Pacific (13 percent) as well as Latin America & the Caribbean (11 percent). The remaining 3 percent of financing was provided to support regional and global projects. The funds were delivered through a range of financial instruments in public and private sector lending, trade finance and grants operations.

    The largest segment of last year’s funding was policy-based lending (19 percent), supporting government-led sustainable development programs and policy implementation in countries such as Armenia (US$50 million), Cote D’Ivoire (US$60 million), Jordan (US$100 million), Montenegro (US$50 million) , Morocco (US$100 million),  Sri Lanka (US$50 million) and Uzbekistan (US$70 million). 

    Significant delivery to support global food security and climate action:

    Compared to 2023, the OPEC Fund tripled its commitments to the agriculture sector, in line with its strategic priority to boost global food security. The OPEC Fund provided US$261 million in financing to promote agricultural sustainability in Benin (US$26 million), Eswatini (US$20 million), Honduras (US$15 million), Lesotho (US$20 million), Malawi (US$20 million), Rwanda (US$20 million), Tanzania (US$50 million) and Türkiye (US$50 million).

    In 2024, the OPEC Fund delivered on its Climate Action Plan ahead of target. Aligned with this strategy, renewable energy projects constituted nearly 40 percent of the institution’s energy sector commitments last year. These included the Begana and Gamri hydro project in Bhutan (US$50 million), the Suez wind farm in Egypt (US$30 million), the Rogun hydropower project in Tajikistan (US$25 million) and a 42 MW wind farm in Uganda (US$16.5 million). Additional energy investments targeted improved transmission and connectivity in the Dominican Republic (two US$60 million loans) and Mauritania (US$40 million), as well as expanded energy access in Uzbekistan (US$37.5 million), all contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 7 – Clean and Affordable Energy.

    Boosting sustainable and climate resilient infrastructure, significant funding (12 percent) was delivered to enhance connectivity in the transport sector. Major projects included investments in Madagascar (US$30 million), Oman (US$180 million), Paraguay (US$50 million), Senegal (US$38 million), Tanzania (US$41 million)  and Uganda (US$30 million).

    In the financial sector, the OPEC Fund allocated more than US$270 million to partner with governments and local banks for on-lending to small and medium-sized enterprises, driving job creation and enhancing access to finance in Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Dominican Republic, Nepal, Paraguay and Uzbekistan. Another US$375 million in trade finance supported the movement of critical commodities and goods, including agricultural products, to and from developing economies.

    In 2024, the OPEC Fund strengthened partnerships with key institutions, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), Arab Coordination Group (ACG), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB); signed a co-financing agreement with the World Bank Group and MoUs with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and FONPLATA. The OPEC Fund also signed Country Framework Agreements with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan aiming to further deepen the institution’s impact in the Central Asia region.

    About the OPEC Fund

    The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$29 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and AA+, Outlook Stable by S&P. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lead Defendants Plead Guilty to RICO Conspiracy to Transport, Hire, and Harbor Unauthorized Workers

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Criminal Enterprise Employed Unauthorized Workers at Dozens of Mexican Restaurants Across the Midwest

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Seven defendants, including an owner, president, chief financial officer, and controller of a Joplin, Mo., corporation, have pleaded guilty in federal court to their roles in a racketeering conspiracy to transport, hire, and harbor undocumented workers in several Midwestern states.

    “This case sends a clear and unequivocal message: employing unauthorized workers will not be tolerated and will be met with severe consequences,” said Mark Zito, HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge. “Our investigation uncovered a blatant and systemic disregard for our nation’s employment laws. Those who engage in such unlawful practices not only undermine the integrity of our labor market but also exploit vulnerable individuals. HSI Kansas City is relentless in our pursuit to dismantle these illegal operations and hold violators accountable to the fullest extent of the law. If you break the law, you will face the full force of our investigation and prosecution.”

    Jose Luis Bravo, 54, of Claremore, Oklahoma; Jose Guadalupe Razo, 54, of Carl Junction, Mo.; Anthony Edward Doll, 46, and Miguel Tarin-Martinez, 46, both of Joplin, Mo.; Alejandro Castillo-Ramirez, 43, a citizen of Mexico; Jaime Ramirez-Ceja, 46, a citizen of Mexico; and Veronica Razo de Lara, 50, of Great Bend, Kansas, have pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark.

    Each defendant admitted they were part of a RICO (racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations) conspiracy from Jan. 1, 2018, to Aug. 10, 2021, that transported and employed Mexican, Guatemalan, and El Salvadoran nationals who were not authorized to live or work in the United States. Conspirators also harbored and encouraged the unauthorized workers to remain and reside in the United States by providing them with housing and, in certain circumstances, fraudulent identification documentation.

    Bravo is the partial owner of Specialty Foods Distribution, a corporation based in Joplin. Specialty Foods Distribution is a wholesale Mexican food products and restaurant supply company. Razo is the president of Specialty Foods Distribution; Doll is the chief financial officer; Tarin-Martinez is the controller.

    Bravo, Razo, Doll, and Tarin-Martinez created and maintained a network of restaurants operating under multiple LLCs in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma that were serviced by Specialty Foods Distribution. The defendants conspired to staff these restaurants with unauthorized workers. Castillo-Ramirez, Ramirez-Ceja, and Razo de Lara managed three of the enterprise-affiliated restaurants that employed unauthorized workers.  By utilizing unauthorized workers — a workforce not available to law-abiding business owners — the defendants obtained an unfair and illegal competitive business advantage.

    In addition to transporting, harboring, and hiring unauthorized workers, the racketeering activity involved evasive and fraudulent actions. Specifically, to maintain high levels of unauthorized employees at the enterprise-affiliated restaurants, the defendants kept certain unauthorized workers off official payroll records; required certain unauthorized workers to work at times when federal officials were unlikely to conduct inspections; failed to collect or maintain complete and accurate Form I-9 documentation; falsely attested to the accuracy of information on Form I-9 documentation; submitted inaccurate wage and hour reports to state officials; and facilitated fraudulent identification documentation being produced, transported, and provided to unauthorized workers.

    Bravo specifically admitted that, as part of the RICO conspiracy, he facilitated the production and transportation of two fraudulent U.S. permanent resident cards from Claremore to Butler, Mo., as well as personally transported three unauthorized workers from  Claremore to the state of Kansas. Bavo has agreed to forfeit to the government approximately $5.7 million, comprising the forfeiture of proceeds he obtained from the RICO enterprise as well as property that afforded a source of influence over the RICO enterprise. The forfeiture agreement involves liquidation of five financial accounts; the government obtaining cash in lieu of Bravo’s interest in 12 real properties; and the government obtaining cash in lieu of Bravo’s interest in portions of 24 individual companies or corporations, including a portion of SFD, which Bravo admitted afforded a source of influence over the RICO enterprise.

    Razo specifically admitted that he conspired to harbor five unauthorized workers at enterprise-affiliated restaurants in Great Bend, and encouraged and induced three unauthorized workers at SFD to reside in the United States in violation of the law. Razo has agreed to forfeiture in the form of liquidation of one bank account and a money judgment in the amount of approximately $130,700, representing the proceeds he obtained from the RICO enterprise.

    Doll specifically admitted to encouraging unauthorized workers to reside in the United States by conspiring to create a Missouri LLC for the purpose of opening a new restaurant where certain unauthorized workers could gain employment, and conspiring to harbor unauthorized workers by taking steps to ensure unauthorized workers did not utilize established timeclock payroll systems at certain enterprise-affiliated restaurants. Doll has agreed to forfeiture in the form of liquidation of two bank accounts and a money judgment in the amount of approximately $132,300, representing the proceeds he obtained from the RICO enterprise.

    Tarin-Martinez specifically admitted to encouraging unauthorized workers to reside in the United States in violation of the law in Springfield, Mo., and in Pittsburg, Kan. Tarin-Martinez has agreed to forfeiture in the form of a money judgment in the amount of approximately $23,094, representing the proceeds he obtained from the RICO enterprise.

    Castillo-Ramirez specifically admitted to harboring two unauthorized workers at an enterprise-affiliated restaurant in Augusta, Kan. Castillo-Ramirez also admitted to encouraging the two unauthorized workers to reside in the United States in violation of the law by providing the unauthorized workers with employment, keeping them out of the established payroll system, and paying them in cash or by local check.

    Ramirez-Ceja specifically admitted to encouraging two unauthorized workers to reside in the United States in violation of the law by providing the workers with employment at an enterprise-affiliated restaurant in Lebanon, Mo., allowing the unauthorized workers to utilize fraudulent identification documents, and providing the unauthorized workers with housing. Additionally, Ramirez-Ceja admitted to making false attestations on two Form I-9 documents.

    Razo de Lara specifically admitted to conspiring to harbor four unauthorized workers at an enterprise-affiliated restaurant in Great Bend. As part of the conspiracy, Razo de Lara agreed to keep unauthorized workers out of the established payroll system, pay the unauthorized workers in cash, and have certain unauthorized workers complete work at times when federal agents were unlikely to inspect the restaurant.

    Under federal statutes, each of these defendants is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rudolph R. Rhodes IV, Leigh Farmakidis, and Nicholas Heberle. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from IRS-Criminal Investigations, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Department of Labor, Kansas Department of Revenue, Kansas Highway Patrol, and Missouri State Highway Patrol.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Aid efforts in Gaza escalate as risks from deadly unexploded ordnance grows

    Source: United Nations 4

    Humanitarian Aid

    As more than 423,000 displaced Palestinians return to their homes in northern Gaza following the opening of key roads, UN agencies are scaling up humanitarian aid and addressing the growing risks posed by unexploded ordnance such as landmines (UXO). 

    “Hope returns to Gaza, but it’s fragile,” said Corinne Fleischer, World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “With open crossings and sustained efforts, Gaza’s recovery can take root,” she emphasised.

    The WFP has doubled its aid deliveries, bringing in 22,000 metric tons of food in the past six days – more than the entire supply that entered Gaza in November.

    Scaling up essential services

    UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric highlighted further relief efforts, noting that six fuel tankers were delivered to northern Gaza on Wednesday.

    Aid workers stationed along the Salah ad Din and Al Rashid roads continue to assist people making their way back north to shattered homes, providing food, water, and hygiene kits, with the UN Children’s fund (UNICEF) distributing identification bracelets for children to help families stay connected.

    To support vulnerable groups, the World Health Organization (WHO) has supplied fuel, tents and equipment to establish trauma stabilization points along Al Rashid Road in collaboration with the Palestine Red Crescent Society.

    Meanwhile, efforts to provide emergency nutrition continue, with high-energy biscuits distributed to 19,000 people south of Wadi Gaza and 10,000 in the north.

    Shelter assistance is also being scaled up, with humanitarian partners distributing tents to families – many of whom are returning to homes that have been completely destroyed.

    Water remains a critical concern and aid workers are ramping up water trucking operations. In Rafah alone, 300 cubic meters of potable water – enough for 50,000 people – is being distributed daily.

    Danger underfoot

    Despite the increasing humanitarian response, returning residents face significant risks from UXO contamination.

    The UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has warned that between 5 to 10 percent of weapons fired into Gaza have failed to detonate, leaving behind deadly hazards.

    Since October 2023, at least 92 people have been killed or injured by explosive ordnance. Informal reports suggest 24 victims since the ceasefire began, according to Luke Irving, Chief of the UN Mine Action Programme (UNMAS) in the occupied Palestinian territories, briefing the press on Wednesday from the enclave.

    “Humanitarian convoys are finding items more and more, as we reach new areas which we previously could not get to, including large aircraft bombs, mortars, anti-tank weapons, rockets and rifle grenades,” he explained.

    © WFP

    An area of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip lies in ruins.

    Rubble removal

    To mitigate risks, UNMAS and its partners are conducting awareness sessions, distributing safety leaflets and escorting humanitarian convoys along high-risk routes.

    A newly established UN-led Gaza Debris Management Framework aims to ensure the safe removal of rubble, but progress is being hindered by UXO contamination, exposure to hazardous materials and complex property disputes.

    Several UN agencies are collaborating to address both the environmental and housing concerns associated with these issues.

    Deteriorating situation in West Bank

    Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, violence and military operations continue to escalate.

    The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported a drastic deterioration in the humanitarian situation, particularly in the governorates of Jenin and Tulkarm.

    “We’ve repeatedly expressed our concern over the use of lethal, war-like tactics in law enforcement operations,” Mr. Dujarric said.

    Israeli military operations in these areas have led to significant destruction of civilian infrastructure.

    In Tulkarm, access to water and electricity has been disrupted and initial estimates suggest that nearly 1,000 people have been displaced in recent days.

    Sustained humanitarian access

    With humanitarian efforts scaling up, UN agencies are calling for unhindered access to deliver aid safely and ensure the protection of both civilians and humanitarian workers.

    Mr. Dujarric reiterated the urgent need for safe passage for humanitarian workers, the protection of civilians and the acceleration of reconstruction efforts to support those returning home. 

    Soundcloud

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Call With Israel Minister of Defense Israel Katz

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Department of Defense Spokesman John Ullyot provided the following readout:

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held an introductory call today with Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel. Secretary Hegseth emphasized that under President Trump’s leadership, the United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself, and that Israel is a model ally for the region. The Secretary also reiterated that the United States is committed to deepening the bilateral security relationship to enhance Israel’s ability to address regional threats and ensure that Israel has the capabilities it needs. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact moving forward.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Scott Lead Colleagues in Reintroducing Bill to Expand School Choice, Educational Opportunity

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) led 24 Republican colleagues in introducing the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), bicameral legislation to expand education freedom and opportunity for students. Specifically, it provides a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education. U.S. Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE-03) introduced the companion legislation in the U.S House of Representatives. 
    “Parents want to see their child succeed. Giving them the ability to make decisions over their child’s education puts that child’s needs first,” said Dr. Cassidy. “More freedom empowers parents and allows American children to thrive in school.”
    “When you give parents a choice, you give kids a better chance at achieving their dreams,” said Senator Scott. “By empowering families with more education resources and freedom, this bill will unlock opportunities that have been out of reach for students across America who deserve every chance to succeed and a schooling system that fosters their potential.”
    “Giving students a brighter future, no matter their background or address, is critical to move American K-12 education forward,” said Representative Smith. “We must empower parents with more options, acknowledging they have the final say in what educational setting is best for their children. ECCA will benefit public, private, and homeschool students and increase the quality of education in our country. I thank Rep. Owens and Sen. Cassidy for championing this legislation alongside me.”
    The Educational Choice for Children Act:

    Provides $10 billion in annual tax credits to be made available to taxpayers. Allotment of these credits to individuals would be administered by the Treasury Department.
    Sets a base amount for each state and then distributes the credits on a first-come, first-serve basis.
    Uses a limited government approach with respect to federalism, thus avoiding mandates on states, localities, and school districts.
    Includes provisions that govern Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), as SGOs are given the ability to determine the individual amount of scholarship awards.

    An estimated two million students in any elementary or secondary education setting, including homeschool, are eligible to receive a scholarship. Eligible use of scholarships awards includes tuition, fees, book supplies, and equipment for the enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary school.
    Cassidy and Scott was joined by U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Thune (R-SD), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Kennedy (R-LA), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Jim Justice (R-WV), Jim Risch (R-ID), John Barrasso (R-WY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Todd Young (R-IN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Katie Britt (R-AL), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) in introducing the bill. 
    The Educational Choice for Children Act has received the endorsement from former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos; former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Dr. Mick Zais; former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr; Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley; LA Kids Matter; Louisiana Family Forum; Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors; ACE Scholarships Louisiana Founder Eddie Rispone; ACE Scholarships; Invest in Education Coalition; ACSI Children’s Education Fund; America First Policy Institute; American Association of Christian Schools; American Federation for Children (AFC); American Principles Project; Americans for Tax Reform; Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI); Black Mothers Forum; U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB); Catholic Education Partners; CatholicVote; Center for Education Reform; Children’s Scholarship Fund; Club for Growth; Coalition for Jewish Values; Agudath Israel of America; Orthodox Union Advocacy; Republican Jewish Coalition; Concerned Women for America; Council for American Private Education (CAPE); Defense of Freedom Institute (DFI); Family Policy Alliance; Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd); Freedom Foundation; Heartland Institute; Heritage Action for America; Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA); Independent Women’s Forum; Mountain States Policy Center; Parental Rights Foundation; Parents Defending Education Action; Partners in Mission; Project 21; Protect the First; 60Plus Association; Former Virginia & Florida Secretary of Education Gerard Robinson; several other conservative leaders; and more than 150 national and state groups.
    “School choice empowers parents, regardless of their zip code, to choose the education that best fits their child’s need,” said Anthony de Nicola, Chairman of Invest in Education Coalition. “I applaud Senator Cassidy for reintroducing the Educational Choice for Children Act in the Senate. Now is our time to pass this critical legislation that would help millions of students access an education of their choosing so they can achieve their God-given potential.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Court Orders International Enterprise to Pay Over $451 Million for Global Binary Options Fraud

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced the U.S. District Court for Northern District of Illinois issued an order of default judgment against five offshore entities and three individuals, finding them liable for fraud and other violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations in connection with a global retail binary options fraud that victimized U.S. residents. The defendants executed their unlawful scheme through internet websites using fictitious trade names such as BigOption, BinaryBook, and BinaryOnline. 
    The following foreign entities and Israeli citizens were found liable for, and enjoined from, fraud and other violations:

    Yukom Communications Ltd., incorporated in Israel
    Linkopia Mauritius Ltd., incorporated in Mauritius
    Wirestech Limited d/b/a BigOption, incorporated in the Marshall Islands
    WSB Investments Ltd. d/b/a BinaryBook, incorporated in Anguilla, the United Kingdom, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Gibraltar
    Zolarex Ltd. d/b/a BinaryOnline, incorporated in the Marshall Islands
    Yossi Herzog 
    Lee Elbaz 
    Shalom Peretz

    The order finds the defendants engaged in fraud and other violations and orders them to pay, jointly and severally, $112.9 million in restitution and a $338.7 million civil monetary penalty. The order also permanently enjoins them from engaging in conduct that violates the CEA, as charged, and permanently bans them from registering with the CFTC and from trading in any CFTC-regulated markets. 
    The order stems from the CFTC’s complaint, filed Aug. 12, 2019, charging defendants with fraud and other violations. [See CFTC Press Release No. 7995-19]
    Case Background
    The order finds that from March 26, 2014, until the filing of the complaint on Aug. 12, 2019, the defendants made numerous fraudulent misrepresentations to customers on websites and through email and telephone solicitations, telling customers that binary option transactions were profitable, when in fact the substantial majority of their customers lost money, and individual brokers misrepresented their names, financial expertise, and physical location. The order finds the defendants misappropriated customer funds and made additional misrepresentations to thwart customers’ attempts to withdraw their funds, including failing to disclose material information about so-called “bonuses” and “risk-free trades.” The defendants also manipulated their trading platform’s risk settings to limit or prevent customers from being “in the money” with winning trades.
    Previous Settlement
    The court previously entered a consent order against another defendant involved in the fraud, Yakov Cohen, which resolved similar allegations against Cohen and required that he disgorge $7 million in ill-gotten gains received from his participation in the fraudulent binary options scheme.  [See CFTC Press Release 8962-24]
    Parallel Criminal Actions
    On Aug. 7, 2019, Elbaz was convicted by a federal jury of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of criminal statutes based upon substantially the same underlying facts as alleged in the CFTC complaint, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and ordered to pay restitution of $28 million in United States v. Elbaz, No. 18-cr-00157 (D. Md.)
    Cohen pled guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud predicated on the same conduct charged in CFTC’s complaint. He was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison on Aug.15, 2024 and ordered to pay $7 million in restitution on January 22, 2025, in United States v. Yakov Cohen, No. 19 cr 77-1 PX (D. Md.).
    The CFTC thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland for their assistance in this matter. 
    The Division of Enforcement staff responsible for this case are Heather Dasso, Elizabeth N. Pendleton, Elizabeth Streit, Scott R. Williamson, and Robert T. Howell.   
    * * * * * * *
    Fraud Advisory
    The CFTC’s Office of Customer Education and Outreach and the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy have issued a joint investor alert to warn about fraudulent schemes involving binary options and their trading platforms. The alert warns customers the perpetrators of these unlawful schemes may refuse to credit customer accounts, deny fund reimbursement, commit identity theft, and manipulate software to generate losing trades.
    The CFTC also urges the public to verify a company’s registration at NFA BASIC before committing funds. Customers should be wary of providing funds to any unregistered entity.
    Suspicious activities or information, such as possible violations of commodity trading laws, can be reported to the Division of Enforcement via a toll-free hotline 866-FON-CFTC (866-366-2382) or file a tip or complaint online or contact the CFTC Whistleblower Office. Whistleblowers may be eligible to receive between 10 and 30 percent of the monetary sanctions collected, paid from the CFTC Customer Protection Fund financed through monetary sanctions paid to the CFTC by violators of the CEA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Women don’t have a ‘surge’ in fertility before menopause – but surprise pregnancies can happen, even after 45

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karin Hammarberg, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Global and Women’s Health, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University

    IKO-studio/Shutterstock

    Every now and then we see media reports about celebrities in their mid 40s having surprise pregnancies. Or you might hear stories like these from friends or relatives, or see them on TV.

    Menopause signals the end of a woman’s reproductive years and happens naturally between age 45 and 55 (the average is 51). After 12 months with no periods, a woman is considered postmenopausal.

    While the chance of pregnancy is very low in the years leading up to menopause – the so called menopausal transition or perimenopause – the chance is not zero.

    So, what do we know about the chance of conceiving naturally after age 45? And what are the risks?

    Is there a spike in fertility before menopause?

    The hormonal changes that accompany perimenopause cause changes to the menstrual cycle pattern, and some have suggested there can be a “surge” in fertility at perimenopause. But there’s no evidence this exists.

    In the years leading up to menopause, a woman’s periods often become irregular, and she might have some of the common symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes and night sweats.

    This might lead women to think they have hit menopause and can’t get pregnant anymore. But while pregnancy in a woman in her mid 40s is significantly less likely compared to a woman in her 20s or 30s, it’s still possible.

    The stats for natural pregnancies after age 45

    Although women in their mid- to late 40s sometimes have “miracle babies”, the chance of pregnancy is minimal in the five to ten years leading up to menopause.

    The monthly chance of pregnancy in a woman aged 30 is about 20%. By age 40 it’s less than 5% and by age 45 the chance is negligible.

    We don’t know exactly how many women become pregnant in their mid to late 40s, as many pregnancies at this age miscarry. The risk of miscarriage increases from 10% in women in their 20s to more than 50% in women aged 45 years or older. Also, for personal or medical reasons some pregnancies are terminated.

    According to a review of demographic data on age when women had their final birth across several countries, the median age was 38.6 years. But the range of ages reported for last birth in the reviewed studies showed a small proportion of women give birth after age 45.

    Having had many children before seems to increase the odds of giving birth after age 45. A study of 209 women in Israel who had conceived spontaneously and given birth after age 45 found 81% had already had six or more deliveries and almost half had had 11 or more previous deliveries.

    Conceiving naturally at age 45 plus is not unheard of.
    pixelheadphoto digitalskillet/Shutterstock

    There’s no reliable data on how common births after age 45 are in Australia. The most recent report on births in Australia show that about 5% of babies are born to women aged 40 years or older.

    However, most of those were likely born to women aged between 40 and 45. Also, the data includes women who conceive with assisted reproductive technologies, including with the use of donor eggs. For women in their 40s, using eggs donated by a younger woman significantly increases their chance of having a baby with IVF.

    What to be aware of if you experience a late unexpected pregnancy

    A surprise pregnancy late in life often comes as a shock and deciding what to do can be difficult.

    Depending on their personal circumstances, some women decide to terminate the pregnancy. Contrary to the stereotype that abortions are most common among very young women, women aged 40–44 are more likely to have an abortion than women aged 15–19.

    This may in part be explained by the fact older women are up to ten times more likely to have a fetus with chromosomal abnormalities.

    There are some extra risks involved in pregnancy when the mother is older. More than half of pregnancies in women aged 45 and older end in miscarriage and some are terminated if prenatal testing shows the fetus has the wrong number of chromosomes.

    This is because at that age, most eggs have chromosomal abnormalities. For example, the risk of having a pregnancy affected by Down syndrome is one in 86 at age 40 compared to one in 1,250 at age 20.

    There are some added risks associated with pregnancy when the mother is older.
    Natalia Deriabina/Shutterstock

    Apart from the increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities, advanced maternal age also increases the risk of stillbirth, fetal growth restriction (when the unborn baby doesn’t grow properly), preterm birth, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and caesarean section.

    However, it’s important to remember that since the overall risk of all these things is small, even with an increase, the risk is still small and most babies born to older mothers are born healthy.

    Multiple births are also more common in older women than in younger women. This is because older women are more likely to release more than one egg if and when they ovulate.

    A study of all births in England and Wales found women aged 45 and over were the most likely to have a multiple birth.

    The risks of babies being born prematurely and having health complications are higher in twin than singleton pregnancies, and the risks are highest in women of advanced maternal age.

    What if you want to become pregnant in your 40s?

    If you’re keen to avoid pregnancy during perimenopause, it’s recommended you use contraception.

    But if you want to get pregnant in your 40s, there are some things you can do to boost your chance of conceiving and having a healthy baby.

    These include preparing for pregnancy by seeing a GP for a preconception health check, taking folic acid and iodine supplements, not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and having a nutritious diet.

    If you get good news, talking to a doctor about what to expect and how to best manage a pregnancy in your 40s can help you be prepared and will allow you to get personalised advice based on your health and circumstances.

    Karin Hammarberg 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. Women don’t have a ‘surge’ in fertility before menopause – but surprise pregnancies can happen, even after 45 – https://theconversation.com/women-dont-have-a-surge-in-fertility-before-menopause-but-surprise-pregnancies-can-happen-even-after-45-247454

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy: “If you don’t believe we’re going to have to cut spending substantially, then you shouldn’t be driving”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    Watch Kennedy’s comments here. 
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) explained why Congress must focus on spending cuts over the next six months even as it bolsters America’s national defense, extends its 2017 tax cuts, addresses inflation and grows the country’s economy enough to pay down its national debt in a speech on the Senate floor.
    Key excerpts of Kennedy’s speech are below:
    “If we don’t extend those tax cuts, it is going to drive our GDP and our economy on a journey to the center of the Earth. Even my Democratic friends know those tax cuts have to be extended, but we have got other things we have to do, too. We are deficit spending. We are spending money around here like it was pond water, like it was ditch water. . . . I don’t want to blame it all on President Biden, but, if the shoe fits, wear it, Cinderella.”
    . . .
    “We have now got $36 trillion worth of national debt. . . . That is the most debt we have ever had, well over 100% of GDP. So, we have got to renew the tax cuts, . . . and we have got to stop the deficit spending, and we have got to reduce our debt—but there’s more. There’s more.
    “We have got to increase defense spending because President Xi is working with President Putin, who is working with the Ayatollah in Iran. . . . I don’t want America to be the world’s policeman, but I don’t want President Xi or President Putin or the Ayatollah in Iran to be the world’s policemen either. Weakness invites the wolves, and we have got to start spending more money on defense.
    “Now you don’t have to be Einstein’s cousin to figure out that all the things that I just described that we have to do in the next year-to-six-months could be called ‘competing interests’—tax cuts, stop deficit spending, reduce the debt, but find more money for defense. Something has got to give . . . we are going to have to reduce spending.
    “Since 2019, the American population has grown 2%. We are not having babies. Two percent—and that is after all the illegal immigration. Do you know what has happened to our budget? It has gone up [nearly] 55%.”
    . . .
    “We’re going to have to reduce spending to pre-pandemic levels, and that is what this [Office of Management and Budget] memorandum today—which temporarily held up the spending of some money, consistent with President Trump’s executive orders—was the first baby step toward. That is what this is all about. That is what this is all about. The world is not going to spin off its axis.”
    . . .
    “So, I hope all the folks today will go home and take off their Batman t-shirts, wash them [because they’re] probably a little sweaty. I hope everybody will go home—those who drink, have a cocktail—take their meds and put this all in perspective. That’s what that OMB memorandum was all about.”
    . . . 
    “If you don’t believe we’re going to have to cut spending substantially in order to get out of this mess that has been created, then you shouldn’t be driving.”
     Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 Speech

    Source: Scottish Greens

    29 Jan 2025 Peace

    Maggie Chapman MSP’s speech at Holocaust

    North East Scotland

    Justice, Equalities, Social Justice and Human Rights spokesperson

    More in Peace

    A memorial is an act of remembrance, and today we remember in two senses.

    We remember who it was who bore this unutterable pain, each individual and precious human being, those now lost to the world and those who remain with us.

    We remember them with love, with sorrow and with anger, reiterating the humanity that their oppressors tried so hard to deny.

    And we remember how it happened, and for us as politicians and parliamentarians, that is perhaps a harder memory. For the Holocaust was not an act of insurgency, a violation of domestic law and order. It came about not in spite of political processes: elections, legislation, policy implementation, but through and because of them.

    There were some bystanders who knew exactly what was going on. There were others who knew nothing. But in between, across Europe and beyond, was a wide spectrum of simultaneous knowledge and ignorance, of eyes that were closed, faces turned away. Reassurance that rhetoric was only that, that genocidal intent was the expression of legitimate concern, that there was no need to open doors or hearts, that reality was still represented by the diplomacy of gentlemen.

    And the bodies of children lay uncovered.

    We have learned the story of this deep, deep horror, but have we learned to recognise its narrative when it comes again, with different clothes, different names, different labels?

    When the richest man in the world salutes the most powerful man in the world with a gesture that specifically recalls that older story, do we shrug and move on?

    When that most powerful man uses the language of cleaning about the dispossession of already dispossessed people, already bereft of their children, do we pretend not to have heard?

    Hannah Arendt wrote, in the context of the Holocaust, about the banality of evil. For evil can be banal, can be ridiculous, can come with buffoonery and bluster, without subtlety or nuance. But when it announces itself, we would do well to listen.

    And we can listen, as well, to the voices of those with experience, those for whom that experience illuminates the realities of today. Suzanne Berliner Weiss writes:

    I am a survivor of the Jewish Holocaust, and understand the system of hate first hand. Hitler’s war against the Jews aimed to eradicate our history and the Jewish people. Nazism Is hatred of the other – it is racism…

    Judaism, the religion and its traditions, does not stand for racism.

    Conflating Zionism and Judaism is an unforgivable crime against the Jewish people, a crime against the Palestinians, and a crime to humanity.

    I was saved from Hitler by world solidarity. I was among the thousands of Jewish children in France who were saved by the solidarity of the Jewish resistance, communities of Christians in Southern France, and the peoples of the world united against Nazism….

    To be against Israel’s policies is not anti-Jewish. It is not anti-Semitic. We claim the Palestinians as our sisters and brothers. We are all humanity.

    We say: “Not in our name!”

    For the victims of the Holocaust, the world closed its eyes, its hearts and its doors until it was too late. Today we remember and honour them, with respect, with love and with bitter regret. Let us not close our eyes, our hearts, our doors in the face of genocide and oppression happening today in Palestine.

    Let us not make the same mistakes again.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Palestine: Hope that the ceasefire will hold – UNRWA Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Briefing by Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

    ———————————

    The Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini told the Security Council that if full implementation the Knesset legislation begins as expected on Thursday, operations in the occupied Palestinian territory “would be crippled,” and it will “sabotage Gaza’s recovery and political transition.”

    At stake, Lazzarini said, “is the fate of millions of Palestinians, the ceasefire and the prospect for a political solution that brings lasting peace and security.”

    The UNRWA Commissioner-General said, “tens of thousands of people are now returning to the decimated north to search for the living and to bury the dead. Across the Gaza Strip, Palestinians are turning to UNRWA, the agency they have known all their lives for support.”

    Contradicting claims by the government of Israel claims about UNRWA’s role in providing humanitarian assistance, he said, “in fact UNRWA constitute half the emergency response, with all other entities delivering the other half. Since October 2023, we have delivered two third of all food assistance, provided shelter to over a million displaced persons and vaccinated a quarter of million of children against polio.”

    Lazzarini told the Council that “the relentless assault on UNRWA is harming the lives and future of Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory. It is eroding the trust in the international community, jeopardizing prospects for peace and security.”

    He said, “the political attacks on the agency are motivated by the desire to strip Palestinians of the refugee statute, thereby unilaterally changing the long-established parameter for a political solution. The objective is to deny Palestinian refugees the right to self-determination and erase their history and identity.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsyLZHtWJFI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott, Cassidy, Lead Colleagues in Reintroducing Bill to Expand School Choice, Educational Opportunity

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), co-chair of the Congressional School Choice Caucus and member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), chair of the Senate HELP Committee, led 16 Republican colleagues in introducing the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), bicameral legislation to expand education freedom and opportunity for students. Specifically, it provides a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education.
    “When you give parents a choice, you give kids a better chance at achieving their dreams,” said Senator Scott. “By empowering families with more education resources and freedom, this bill will unlock opportunities that have been out of reach for students across America who deserve every chance to succeed and a schooling system that fosters their potential.”
    “Parents want to see their child succeed. Giving them the ability to make decisions over their child’s education puts that child’s needs first,” said Dr. Cassidy. “More freedom empowers parents and allows American children to thrive in school.”
    The Educational Choice for Children Act:
    Provides $10 billion in annual tax credits to be made available to taxpayers. Allotment of these credits to individuals would be administered by the Treasury Department.
    Sets a base amount for each state and then distributes the credits on a first-come, first-serve basis.
    Uses a limited government approach with respect to federalism, thus avoiding mandates on states, localities, and school districts.
    Includes provisions that govern Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), as SGOs are given the ability to determine the individual amount of scholarship awards.
    An estimated two million students in any elementary or secondary education setting, including homeschool, are eligible to receive a scholarship. Eligible use of scholarships awards includes tuition, fees, book supplies, and equipment for the enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary school.
    Senators Scott and Cassidy were joined by U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.) in introducing the bill. 
    The Educational Choice for Children Act has received the endorsement from former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos; former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Dr. Mick Zais; former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr; Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley; LA Kids Matter; Louisiana Family Forum; Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors; ACE Scholarships Louisiana Founder Eddie Rispone; ACE Scholarships; Invest in Education Coalition; ACSI Children’s Education Fund; America First Policy Institute; American Association of Christian Schools; American Federation for Children (AFC); American Principles Project; Americans for Tax Reform; Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI); Black Mothers Forum; U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB); Catholic Education Partners; CatholicVote; Center for Education Reform; Children’s Scholarship Fund; Club for Growth; Coalition for Jewish Values; Agudath Israel of America; Orthodox Union Advocacy; Republican Jewish Coalition; Concerned Women for America; Council for American Private Education (CAPE); Defense of Freedom Institute (DFI); Family Policy Alliance; Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd); Freedom Foundation; Heartland Institute; Heritage Action for America; Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA); Independent Women’s Forum; Mountain States Policy Center; Parental Rights Foundation; Parents Defending Education Action; Partners in Mission; Project 21; Protect the First; 60Plus Association; Former Virginia & Florida Secretary of Education Gerard Robinson; and several other conservative leaders.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Will the US get to Mars quicker if it drops or delays plans to visit the Moon?

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

    Esteban De Armas/Shutterstock

    The Artemis program has been Nasa’s best chance to get “boots on the Moon” again. But with the new US administration taking guidance from tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who is focused on Mars colonisation, will they end up abandoning or pushing back lunar missions?

    For example, there’s been speculation that returning US president Donald Trump may cancel the Space Launch System rocket, which Nasa intended to use to get from the Moon to Mars. But is this approach likely to help them get to Mars quicker?

    The last human presence on the lunar surface was Apollo 17 in 1972. So you may imagine that it should be easy for the US to return. However there have been plans to once again send people there since 2004, which have changed name with each incoming president, until its current incarnation as the Artemis program.

    The 2022 Artemis-1 test flight was successful in its mission to send an unmanned satellite around the lunar orbit and return using the new SLS rocket system. But Artemis-2, which will carry crew, is not scheduled for launch until 2026. When we consider private companies and other nations, this is comparatively slow progress.

    Artemis mission.
    Nasa

    The first successful landing of a spacecraft on the Moon by the Indian Space Agency, Isro, took place in 2023 with Chaandrayan-3, which was an amazing achievement with a low budget. China landed in 2013 with Chang’e 3, and Chang’e 4 in 2019 on the dark side.

    Russia have previously had landers on the Moon. Their more recent attempt at a lunar landing with Luna-25 was unsuccessful though. There are also future lander missions planned by the European Space Agency with Argonaut, a private Israeli company and other private industries. Clearly, there is no shortage of potential competitors which could eventually develop to send humans too.

    Implications for Mars

    So would turning to Martian exploration be a sensible move instead of heading for the Moon? It would likely mean abandoning the Lunar Gateway project, a space station in orbit around the Moon where astronauts could live. But as this is not planned until 2027 at the earliest, this would seem acceptable.

    However the difference between going to the Moon and going to Mars is like the difference between walking to the end of your road compared to walking to another country.

    Besides the incredible difference in distance (the distance to travel to Mars is 833 times greater than that of the distance to the Moon), the time taken to get there is far longer as well. The optimal lunar launch conditions repeat once a month. And you could still launch at times that are not ideal.

    The optimal fuel route for Mars involves arriving when the two planets are roughly on opposite sides of the Sun. This launch window repeats every 18 months, and the journey time of nine months means any problems onboard will need to be fixed by the crew, with no rescue option. Faster routes can be achieved (roughly six months) but this then becomes very energy intensive.

    This is why the lunar gateway would come in handy, allowing astronauts to take off from the Moon, away from the Earth’s immense gravity, and head to Mars from there. Of course the material for the gateway would need to be sent to the lunar gateway first. But by splitting the energy requirements up it means slower but more efficient propulsion methods can be used for part of the Mars journey.

    There is no doubt that, with some work, SpaceX will be able to make a landing on Mars. But will they be able to safely take people there and get them back? As a company the idea of profit will be a strong factor, along with astronaut safety. We only have to look at some of the more recent Boeing problems (astronauts have been stuck on the International Space Station for seven months at time of writing) to see that private companies may want to slow down a bit when it comes to transporting people.

    This is unlikely to happen though, with the considerable influence of Musk on the White House administration, and the suggestion of fellow billionaire Jared Isaacman (a private astronaut) as the new head of Nasa.

    Critical decisions

    So two options for Nasa to choose from: either keep going with their Artemis program and abandon the Lunar Gateway, or aim for Mars and be primarily dependent on Musk.

    Funding both options will likely mean that neither ever happens. Of course, the Mars mission would be easier if the gateway was already present at the Moon.

    The timelines involved here are important. SpaceX states that it will send five uncrewed Starships to Mars next year with an aim to send humans to Mars in 2028. This seems ambitious, particularly as it involves refuelling in orbit, but if additional funds and material are put towards the project it could potentially be sooner than this.

    As the lunar gateway would be built at the earliest in 2027, then it’d be unlikely to be operational in 2028 anyway. So prioritising Mars exploration over the lunar gateway may indeed get us to Mars quicker – but it will be risky.

    If the US pulls out of plans to explore the Moon, other nations can expand their presence in those areas more easily – with the potential to have an easier route to launch to Mars. These are likely to be on much longer time scales though, but if Musk fails to get humans to Mars in the next few years, these countries may have an edge.

    The conditions on Mars are slightly more favourable for human presence, with at least some atmospheric pressure and the potential for mining water. But as many studies have shown, it has no potential for terraforming, the process of altering a planet to make it more habitable for humans.

    The increased distance from the Sun also means that solar panels are slightly less effective, and Mars is not rich in deposited solar Helium-3, which can be used as a fuel for nuclear fusion.

    Of course the challenge is what excites many people and it may be a risk worth taking. But this decision should be left with the experts in the field, rather than politicians and billionaires.

    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. Will the US get to Mars quicker if it drops or delays plans to visit the Moon? – https://theconversation.com/will-the-us-get-to-mars-quicker-if-it-drops-or-delays-plans-to-visit-the-moon-248046

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: StuffThatWorks Survey Reveals High Patient Interest in Participating in Clinical Trials

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Data from the largest patient-reported real-world data exploration underlines new opportunities for medical research to accelerate drug development

    Over 93 percent of more than 6,000 respondents are interested in learning about clinical trials relevant to their condition, but unexpected barriers delay participation

    GAASH, Israel, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — StuffThatWorks, the largest, most up-to-date crowd-sourced patient-centric real-world data optimized for the medical and research community, today released the results of a new custom survey, Barriers in Clinical Trials, which shows that patients are primed to participate in clinical research1. The survey taps the reactions of over 6,000 patients with chronic conditions and reveals that an overwhelming majority of respondents consider clinical trials a path to accessing new medical treatments, with more than 93 percent interested in learning about trials that are relevant to their condition. 

    In addition, nearly 57 percent of respondents report that they are severely impacted by their medical condition, with nearly 43 percent believing they have exhausted all other treatment options, highlighting an urgent need for additional treatment pathways. The survey’s findings also reinforce the need for more proactive engagement and education; nearly 96 percent of respondents reported they received little or no information from providers about clinical trials in the last six months.

    “The survey data reveal a desire among patients to access clinical trials as viable treatment options, underscoring the need for medical professionals to actively consider clinical research for addressing their patients’ needs,” said Yael Elish, Founder and CEO of StuffThatWorks and a WAZE founding team member. “This unique patient perspective and experience collected in structured form along with other organized health information provides valuable insights and underlines a new way for clinicians and researchers to engage with patients to better inform the development of study protocols to benefit patients and advance the science of medicine.”

    The survey was conducted among patients with chronic conditions through StuffThatWorks, the world’s first large scale patient-generated Real World Data platform. StuffThatWorks empowers patients to transform their experiences and health information into structured organized Real World Data optimized for patient centric Real World Data research. Research organizations receive near real time comprehensive access to organized aggregated, de-identified data and corresponding patients. 

    With over 3 million members across 1,250+ conditions and 1.3 billion data points in the U.S. and globally, StuffThatWorks is the largest and most up-to-date patient-generated crowd-sourced Real World Data optimized for generation of unique patient journey insights. From rare to common chronic conditions, patient insights covering various topics, including symptoms, treatments, and disease burden, can be generated in real-time and broken down by racial and ethnic demographics, geography, lifestyle, symptoms, and more. In addition to real-time access to the data set, on-demand custom surveys like this current Barriers to Clinical Trial initiative can be fielded to gain real-world insights from patients.

    Patients on StuffThatWorks share anonymized health information at scale on an ongoing basis.  Instead of exhausting patients by re-asking mundane questions, our approach allows us to benefit from the already collected patient data and to conduct follow-up surveys for the missing information only.  In addition, customers benefit from built in powerful analysis and insight generation tools that cross all conditions. 

    “Until now, researching the experience of people living with chronic conditions in the real world meant interviewing individual patients or running one-off limited surveys, which are time-consuming, costly, and, more importantly, limited in their ability to represent the diversity of patient populations and to provide insight beyond the limited number of questions possible,” added Elish. “Patient crowdsourcing at scale can reveal unmatched insights on any patient-centric topic, in this case – the insights needed to address barriers to patient participation in clinical trials.”

    The custom survey Barriers in Clinical Trials included 6,004 respondents with an average age of 61. Patients who participated in the survey suffered from a wide range of chronic conditions, including COPD, fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, osteoarthritis, COVID-19, multiple sclerosis, migraine, high blood pressure, and clinical depression. 

    The study also revealed that:

    • Most respondents (98 percent) perceive clinical trials as a path through which they can significantly benefit by being included in the development of new medical options
    • Nearly one-third (29 percent) shared that their primary motivation for participating in clinical trials is to help advance science
    • Almost one-quarter (23 percent) want to participate in clinical research because they have no other treatment options available
    • For nearly one-quarter (23 percent), their physician recommended their participation in a trial, but the obstacles to involvement are travel costs and lost wages the patient would shoulder
    • One fifth (19 percent) of respondents shared that having their medical treatment and/or receiving an honorarium would motivate them to participate in a study
    • In addition, 41 percent shared being in a stressful or challenging financial situation, and more than 31 percent said their financials impact decision-making
    • Only 13 percent had a doctor explain why a clinical trial could be helpful for their condition, and an overwhelming majority (nearly 96 percent) revealed they did not receive information from doctors about clinical trials in the last six months
    • Participants indicated they are flexible regarding the possible format of clinical trials and would participate in in-person, virtual, or hybrid settings.

    “The survey’s data show that patients are not simply willing; they are eager to participate in clinical trials, provided they are informed and supported throughout the process,” said Chantal Beaudry, Senior Partner, Health Communications and Patient Recruitment at FINN Partners. “This dataset provides unique, real-world perspectives invaluable to organizations seeking to engage patients more effectively and optimize their clinical trials.” FINN Partners is working with StuffThatWorks to ensure these data are shared broadly to encourage greater participation in clinical trials and accelerate the delivery of new indications and therapies to patients.

    Additional data from the survey is being analyzed to provide information regarding insights and barriers in specific patient populations. This comprehensive database of patient-reported outcomes is now available for custom research and real-time data analysis. These custom surveys are a new offering and can be enriched with past and future data from the comprehensive StuffThatWorks database.

    For more information regarding StuffThatWorks, please visit www.stuffthatworks.health.

    About StuffThatWorks

    Created by Waze founding team members, StuffThatWorks uses crowdsourcing and AI to transform shared patient experiences and data into the first organized large scale, multidimensional, longitudinal, real-world data set facilitating a neutral representation of diverse populations and treatments, insights generation and direct engagement with patients throughout their journey.

    StuffThatWorks is the home to 3M members across 1,250 condition communities that have so far shared 1.3B data points. Already the largest organized Patient Level Real World Data platform, StuffThatWorks is differentiated by its powerful data collection, structuring and organization infrastructure. The unique, proprietary data set and unique AI and powerful Chat GPT like capabilities enable the efficient generation of insights for research, market access and drug development. 

    1. Data on file

    Contact:
    Glenn Silver, Media Relations
    FINN Partners
    +1 973 818 8198

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/49b9fbd5-e984-4f2e-ba4e-22217f2c5ee6

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Coons statement on leadership of Defense Appropriations Subcommittee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement upon the announcement that he would be the Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense for the 119th Congress:
    “Around the world today we face real threats to our nation and the post-World War Two international order that has provided us with decades of peace, prosperity, and security. Our security is threatened both by authoritarian adversaries like Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea, and from a rising tide of isolationism here at home.  
    As the senior Democrat on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I will work every day so that the robust American engagement with the world that has kept us safe for so long continues. I will make sure that our military remains the most capable and lethal fighting force in the world and has the weapons and resources required to project our values and defend our interests from the Arctic to Africa, from the Indo-Pacific to the North Atlantic. Lastly, I will send a clear message to the brave men and women of our armed forces, our intelligence services, and in our foreign services who serve every day without fear or favor: we have your back.
    “I look forward to partnering with Senator McConnell who will chair this crucial subcommittee. Senator McConnell has long been dedicated to a strong defense and to ensuring we continue to defend our critical global network of allies and partners.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South African poetry has a new digital archive – what’s behind the project

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Research Associate, University of Oxford

    South African poetry, rich with history, has long been an underappreciated cornerstone of the country’s cultural landscape. But a new free-to-access digital archive is helping change that.

    Focused on the poets published by a small but important press in a town called Makhanda in the Eastern Cape province, the Deep South Books and Archive initiative seeks to elevate their voices by offering an archive of background information about their work and lives as well as extensive excerpts from their books. It’s a rare window into a vital but overlooked tradition of South African literature.

    Read more: Podcasts bring southern Africa’s liberation struggle to life – thanks to an innovative new audio archive

    Robert Berold, after spending a decade as editor for New Coin journal, set up Deep South in 1995. For decades he has had a quiet influence on the South African poetry scene. His impulse to publish emerged from a place of need and outrage that some of the talented young black poets he was publishing in New Coin couldn’t get their books published in the new, democratic South Africa.

    Deep South Books

    Many of these poets had been using their words to fight for freedom, while a new generation of young poets was emerging with democracy. Ever since, Deep South has been an important arena where South African poets and their poems could speak to one another.

    My work on African literary production shows the importance of small presses in creating local literary ecologies.

    For Berold, the mission was always:

    To publish what was considered to be innovative and risk-taking South African poetry, regardless of market limitations.

    His many endeavours as a publisher, editor and teacher have been linked by the effort to rescue from oblivion, to supply context, to indicate points of continuity while insisting on the diversity of the South African experience.

    Deep South Books

    After 30 years of publishing, Berold is now sharing a vast catalogue and archive that would otherwise remain unknown. Even though the African Poetry Digital Portal, hosted by the University of Nebraska in the US, was created as a resource for the study of the history of African poetry from antiquity to the present, it does not give direct reference to particular communities.

    In bringing this archive to the internet, Berold is revealing the process and method of how contemporary South African poetry has been shaped into being.

    Behind the poems

    Much of the archive material is what Berold accumulated in dealing with the poets – correspondence, manuscripts, reviews. This is also physically deposited at the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature. He explains:

    I got into correspondence with everyone who sent in poems, trying to give helpful criticism, recommending poets for them to read. There was a certain inappropriateness about this at times, and some arrogance too on my part, but mostly people appreciated the feedback.

    The “difficult miracle of Black poetry”, as US poet June Jordan once remarked, is that it persists, published or not, loved or unloved. In racially segregated South Africa during apartheid, publishing spaces were few and far between.

    Black poets were often censored, banned or exiled as their work confronted the injustices of a racist system. This digital archive recasts the story of South African poetry as insurgent, independent and driven to define a distinct aesthetic.

    Deep South Books

    Deep South has, furthermore, made a particular impression by fostering a unique aesthetic in South African poetry through its investments in typography and design. As a small, independent press situated away from culture capitals – Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg – it has had the freedom to experiment.

    Deep South Books and Archive is therefore a significant tribute to the persistence of South African poetry, despite many historical and structural inequalities. It is a catalogue and a digital archive that provides a unique entry point into modern South African poetry.

    Inside the archive

    The digital archive’s architecture is simple. The poets are indexed in alphabetical order. Some of the featured names are Vonani Bila, Mangaliso Buzani, Angifi Dladla, Mzwandile Matiwana, Isabella Motadinyane, Seitlhamo Motsapi, Khulile Nxumalo, Mxolisi Nyezwa, Lesego Rampolokeng, Mxolisi Dolla Sapeta, Dimakatso Sedite and Phillip Zhuwao.

    Clicking through the carousel of finely designed book covers leads one to excerpts, book reviews, interviews available as PDF files, as well as links to other multimedia resources.

    Deep South Books

    Rampolokeng’s work may be iconoclastic, experimental, unclassifiable but he found a home with this press. He has published several of his groundbreaking collections with them. Defying category, they bend and shift, and culminate into a remarkable linguistic virtuoso. His interviews are an extension of his art, reflexive, autobiographical, and works in themselves.

    Unrecognised poets

    Then there are poets like Motadinyane and Zhuwao who died far too early, leaving behind only single collections. Luckily, even if their portraits and writings are fragmentary, we’re at least witness to the poetic geniuses that might have been. This is the superpower of this archive, to serve as a memorial for a canon (or collection of literary texts) that wasn’t even close to being fully blossomed.

    Deep South Books

    Historically, canon construction is the work of the few, foremost among them academics who edit anthologies and design syllabuses. Most of these poets do not feature in scholarly journals. As a result they almost exist in the underground, unremarked. Berold, now in his 70s and approaching retirement, has decided to do something about that with a digital archive that surfaces the voices of lesser-known poets.

    The lack of recognition for these poets is bothersome for him:

    Why nobody in academe has registered the importance of these poets is beyond me. It really makes me wonder whether these professional literary people are able to read.

    This is mostly an indictment of systems that undervalue black expression.

    Read more: How women’s untold histories shaped South Africa’s national poet

    This project may be for preservation, but there is another lesson: African literature demands constant acts of recovery. In this case, the internet serves as a kind of rear view mirror, which allows us a backward glance at poets and their works that have been overlooked or underappreciated, forgotten or misunderstood.

    – South African poetry has a new digital archive – what’s behind the project
    – https://theconversation.com/south-african-poetry-has-a-new-digital-archive-whats-behind-the-project-247599

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

    Source: The White House

    1:06 P.M. EST

         MS. LEAVITT:  Good afternoon, everybody. 

    Q    Good afternoon.

    MS. LEAVITT:  How are we?  Good to see all of you.  It’s an honor to be here with all of you.  A lot of familiar faces in the room, a lot of new faces.

    And President Trump is back, and the golden age of America has most definitely begun. 

    The Senate has already confirmed five of President Trump’s exceptional Cabinet nominees: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.  It is imperative that the Senate continues to confirm the remainder of the president’s well-qualified nominees as quickly as possible.

    As you have seen during the past week, President Trump is hard at work fulfilling the promises that he made to the American people on the campaign trail.  Since taking the oath of office, President Trump has taken more than 300 executive actions; secured nearly $1 trillion in U.S. investments; deported illegal alien rapists, gang members, and suspected terrorists from our homeland; and restored common sense to the federal government.

    I want to take a moment to go through some of these extraordinary actions. 

    On day one, President Trump declared a national emergency at our southern border to end the four-year-long invasion of illegal aliens under the previous administration.  Additionally, President Trump signed an executive order to end catch and release and finish construction of his effective border wall.  By using every lever of his federal power, President Trump has sent a loud and clear message to the entire world: America will no longer tolerate illegal immigration. 

    And this president expects that every nation on this planet will cooperate with the repatriation of their citizens, as proven by this weekend, when President Trump swiftly directed his team to issue harsh and effective sanctions and tariffs on the Colombian government upon hearing they were denied a U.S. military aircraft full of their own citizens who were deported by this administration.  Within hours, the Colombian government agreed to all of President Trump’s demands, proving America is once again respected on the world stage.

    So, to foreign nationals who are thinking about trying to illegally enter the United States, think again.  Under this president, you will be detained, and you will be deported. 

         Every day, Americans are safer because of the violent criminals that President Trump’s administration is removing from our communities.

    On January 23rd, ICE New York arrested a Turkish national for entry without inspection who is a known or suspected terrorist.  On January 23rd, ICE San Francisco arrested a citizen of Mexico unlawfully present in the United States who has been convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child aged 14 years or younger.  ICE Saint Paul has arrested a citizen of Honduras who was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.  ICE Buffalo arrested a citizen of Ecuador who has been convicted of rape. 

    ICE Boston arrested a citizen of the Dominican Republic who has a criminal conviction for second-degree murder.  This criminal was convicted of murder for beating his pregnant wife to death in front of her five-year-old son. 

         And ICE Saint Paul also arrested a citizen of Mexico who was convicted of possessing pornographic material of a minor on a work computer.

    These are the heinous individuals that this administration is removing from American communities every single day.  And to the brave state and local law enforcement officers, CBP, and ICE agents who are helping in the facilitation of this deportation operation, President Trump has your back and he is grateful for your hard work.

    On the economic front, President Trump took immediate action to lower costs for families who are suffering from four long years of the Biden administration’s destructive and inflationary policies.  President Trump ordered the heads of all executive departments and agencies to help deliver emergency price relief to the American people, untangle our economy from Biden’s regulatory constraints, and end the reckless war on American energy.

    President Trump also signed sweeping executive orders to end the weaponization of government and restore common sense to the federal bureaucracy.  He directed all federal agencies to terminate illegal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to help return America to a merit-based society.

    President Trump also signed an executive order declaring it is now the policy of the federal government that there are only two sexes: male and female.  Sanity has been restored.

    Before I take your questions, I would like to point out to — all of you once again have access to the most transparent and accessible president in American history.  There has never been a president who communicates with the American people and the American press corps as openly and authentically as the 45th and now 47th president of the United States. 

    This past week, President Trump has held multiple news conferences, gaggled on Air Force One multiple times, and sat down for a two-part interview on Fox News, which aired last week.  As Politico summed it up best, “Trump is everywhere again,” and that’s because President Trump has a great story to tell about the legendary American revival that is well underway.

    And in keeping with this revolutionary media approach that President Trump deployed during the campaign, the Trump White House will speak to all media outlets and personalities, not just the legacy media who are seated in this room, because apporting — according to recent polling from Gallup, Americans’ trust in mass media has fallen to a record low.  Millions of Americans, especially young people, have turned from traditional television outlets and newspapers to consume their news from podcasts, blogs, social media, and other independent outlets.

    It’s essential to our team that we share President Trump’s message everywhere and adapt this White House to the new media landscape in 2025.  To do this, I am excited to announce the following changes will be made to this historic James S. Brady Briefing Room, where Mr. Brady’s legacy will endure.

    This White House believes strongly in the First Amendment, so it’s why our team will work diligently to restore the press passes of the 440 journalists whose passes were wrongly revoked by the previous administration. 

    We’re also opening up this briefing room to new media voices who produce news-related content and whose outlet is not already represented by one of the seats in this room.  We welcome independent journalists, podcasters, social media influencers, and content creators to apply for credentials to cover this White House.  And you can apply now on our new website, WhiteHouse.gov/NewMedia. 

    Starting today, this seat in the front of the room, which is usually occupied by the press secretary staff, will be called the “new media” seat.  My team will review the applications and give credentials to new media applicants who meet our criteria and pass United States Secret Service requirements to enter the White House complex.

    So, in light of these announcements, our first questions for today’s briefing will go to these new media members whose outlets, despite being some of the most viewed news websites in the country, have not been given seats in this room. 

    And before I turn to questions, I do have news directly from the president of the United States that was just shared with me in the Oval Office from President Trump directly — an update on the New Jersey drones: After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons. 

    Many of these drones were also hobbyists — recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones.  In meanti- — in the — in time, it got worse, due to curiosity.  This was not the enemy.  A — a statement from the president of the United States to start this briefing with some news.

    And with that, I will turn it over to questions, and we will begin with our new media members: Mike Allen from Axios, Matt Boyle from Breitbart. 

         Mike, why don’t you go ahead.

    Q    Thank you very much.  Karoline, does the president see anything fishy about DeepSeek, either its origins or its cost?  And could China’s ability to make these models quicker, cheaper affect our thinking about expanding generation data centers, chip manufacturing?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Sure.  The president was asked about DeepSeek last night on Air Force One when he gaggled for, I think, the third or fourth time throughout the weekend with members of the traveling press corps.  The president said that he believes that this is a wake-up call to the American AI industry.  The last administration sat on their hands and allowed China to rapidly develop this AI program.

    And so, President Trump believes in restoring American AI dominance, and that’s why he took very strong executive action this past week to sign executive orders to roll back some of the onerous regulations on the AI industry.  And President Trump has also proudly appointed the first AI and crypto czar at this White House, David Sacks, whom I spoke with yesterday — very knowledgeable on this subject.  And his team is here working every single day to ensure American AI dominance.

    As for the national security implications, I spoke with NSC this morning.  They are looking into what those may be, and when I have an update, I will share it with you, Mike.

    Q    And, Karoline, you say “restore” U.S. dominance.  Is there fear that the U.S. either is falling or has fallen behind?  And how would the president make sure the U.S. stays ahead?

    MS. LEAVITT:  No.  The president is confident that we will restore American dominance in AI. 

    Matt.

    Q    Yeah.  So, Karoline, first off, thank you to you and President Trump for actually giving voices to new media outlets that represent millions and millions of Americans.  The thing I would add — the — I’ve got a two-part question for you.  The first is just: Can you expand upon what steps the White House is going to take to bring more voices, not less — which is what our founder, Andrew Breitbart, believed in — into this room, where they rightly belong?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah, absolutely.  And as I said in my opening statement, Matt, it is a priority of this White House to honor the First Amendment.  And it is a fact that Americans are consuming their news media from various different platforms, especially young people.  And as the youngest press secretary in history, thanks to President Trump, I take great pride in opening up this room to new media voices to share the president’s message with as many Americans as possible.

    In doing so, number one, we will ensure that outlets like yours — Axios and Breitbart, which are widely respected and viewed outlets — have an actual seat in this room every day.  We also, again, encourage anybody in this country — whether you are a TikTok content creator, a blogger, a podcaster — if you are producing legitimate news content, no matter the medium, you will be allowed to apply for press credentials to this White House. 

    And as I said earlier, our new media website is WhiteHouse.gov/NewMedia, and so we encourage people to apply.  Again, as long as you are creating news-related content of the day and you’re a legitimate independent journalist, you’re welcome to cover this White House. 

    Q    And secondly, Karoline, you sa- — you laid out several of the actions that President Trump has taken.  Obviously, it’s a stark contrast to the previous administration and a breakneck speed from President Trump.  Can we expect that pace to continue as the hun- — the — you know, the first 100 days moves along here and beyond that?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Absolutely.  There is no doubt President Trump has always been the hardest working man in politics.  I think that’s been proven over the past week.  This president has, again, signed more than 300 executive orders.  He’s taken historic action. 

    I gaggled aboard Air Force One to mark the first 100 days of this administration — 4:00 p.m. last Friday — first 100 hours, rather.  And this president did more in the first 100 hours than the previous president did in the first 100 days. 

    So, President Trump, I think you can all expect to — for him to continue to work at this breakneck speed.  So, I hope you’re all ready to work very hard.  I know that we are.

    Zeke Miller.

    Q    Thanks, Karoline.  A question that we’ve asked your predecessors of both parties in this job.  When you’re up here in this briefing room speaking to the American public, do you view yourself and your role as speaking on — advocating on behalf of the president, or providing the unvarnished truth that is, you know, not to lie, not to obfuscate to the American people?

    MS. LEAVITT:  I commit to telling the truth from this podium every single day.  I commit to speaking on behalf of the president of the United States.  That is my job. 

    And I will say it’s very easy to speak truth from this podium when you have a president who is implementing policies that are wildly popular with the American people, and that’s exactly what this administration is doing.  It’s correcting the lies and the wrongs of the past four years, many of the lies that have been told to your faces in this very briefing room.  I will not do that.

    But since you brought up truth, Zeke, I would like to point out, while I vow to provide the truth from this podium, we ask that all of you in this room hold yourselves to that same standard.  We know for a fact there have been lies that have been pushed by many legacy media outlets in this country about this president, about his family, and we will not accept that.  We will call you out when we feel that your reporting is wrong or there is misinformation about this White House. 

    So, yes, I will hold myself to the truth, and I expect everyone in this room to do the same. 

    Q    And, Karoline, just on a substantive question.  Yesterday, the White House Office of Management and Budget directed an across-the-board freeze with — with some exceptions for individual assistance.  We understand just federal grants.

    MS. LEAVITT:  Right.

    Q    It’s caused a lot of confusion around the country among Head Start providers, among providers — from services to homeless veterans, provid- — you know, Medicaid providers, states saying they’re having trouble accessing the portal.  Could you put — help us clear up some confusion —

    MS. LEAVITT:  Yes.

    Q    — give some certainty to folks?  And then also, is that uncertainty — how does that uncertainty service the president’s voters?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Well, I think there’s only uncertainty in this room amongst the media.  There’s no uncertainty in this building. 

    So, let me provide the certainty and the clarity that all of you need.  This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance in grant programs from the Trump administration.  Individual assistance, that includes — I’m not naming everything that’s included, but just to give you a few examples — Social Security benefits, Medicare benefits, food stamps, welfare benefits — assistance that is going directly to individuals will not be impacted by this pause. 

    And I want to make that very clear to any Americans who are watching at home who may be a little bit confused about some of the media reporting: This administration — if you are receiving individual assistance from the federal government, you will still continue to receive that. 

    However, it is the responsibility of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.  That is something that President Trump campaigned on.  That’s why he has launched DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, who is working alongside OMB.  And that’s why OMB sent out this memo last night, because the president signed an executive order directing OMB to do just this.  And the reason for this is to ensure that every penny that is going out the door is not conflicting with the executive orders and actions that this president has taken. 

    So, what does this pause mean?  It means no more funding for illegal DEI programs.  It means no more funding for the Green New Scam that has ta- — cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.  It means no more funding for transgenderism and wokeness across our federal bureaucracy and agencies.  No more funding for Green New Deal social engineering policies.  Again, people who are receiving individual asintan- — assistance, you will continue to receive that.

    And President Trump is looking out for you by issuing this pause because he is being good steward of your taxpayer dollars.

    Q    Thanks, Karoline. 

    MS. LEAVITT:  Sure.

    Q    How long is this pause going to last?  And how is the Trump administration recommending that organizations that rely on federal funding make payroll, pay their rent in the meantime?

    MS. LEAVITT:  It is a temporary pause, and the Office of Management and Budget is reviewing the federal funding that has been going out the door, again, not for individual assistance, but for all of these other programs that I mentioned.

    I also spoke with the incoming director of OMB this morning, and he told me to tell all of you that the line to his office is open for other federal government agencies across the board, and if they feel that programs are necessary and in line with the president’s agenda, then the Office of Management and Budget will review those policies. 

    I think this is a very responsible measure.  Again, the past four years, we’ve seen the Biden administration spend money like drunken sailors.  It’s a big reason we’ve had an inflation crisis in this country, and it’s incumbent upon this administration to make sure, again, that every penny is being accounted for honestly.

    Q    Why impose this pause with so little notice?  Why not give organizations more time to plan for the fact that they are about to lose, in some cases, really crucial federal funding —

    MS. LEAVITT:  There was —

    Q    — at least for a — for a period of time?

    MS. LEAVITT:  There was notice.  It was the executive order that the president signed. 

    There’s also a freeze on hiring, as you know; a regulatory freeze; and there’s also a freeze on foreign aid.  And this is a — again, incredibly important to ensure that this administration is taking into consideration how hard the American people are working.  And their tax dollars actually matter to this administration. 

    You know, just during this pause, DOGE and OMB have actually found that there was $37 million that was about to go out the door to the World Health Organization, which is an organization, as you all know, that President Trump, with the swipe of his pen in that executive order, is — no longer wants the United States to be a part of.  So, that wouldn’t be in line with the president’s agenda. 

    DOGE and OMB also found that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza.  That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money. 

    So, that’s what this pause is focused on: being good stewards of tax dollars. 

    Q    And so, this doesn’t affect —

    MS. LEAVITT:  Jennifer.

    Q    — Meals on Wheels or Head Start or disaster aid?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Again, it does not affect individual assistance that’s going to Americans.

    Q    To follow up on Nancy, do you think there will be a list of who is affected and how much money is affected?  How — how will these contractors and organizations know if they are actually being — having their funding frozen?

    And then, secondly, if you’re willing, can you just clarify, is the end goal of this to essentially challenge Congress or to — to prove that the president can withhold federal funding?  Is — in other words, is this an attempt to pick a fight to prove that he can do this?

    MS. LEAVITT:  No, absolutely not.  As it says right here in the memo, which I have — and I’d encourage all of you to read it — it says, “The American people elected President Trump to be the president of the United States and gave him a mandate to increase the impact of every federal dollar.”  “This memo requires federal agencies to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the president’s policies and requirements.” 

    The American people gave President Trump an overwhelming mandate on November 5th, and he’s just trying to ensure that the tax money going out the door in this very bankrupt city actually aligns with the will and the priorities of the American people. 

    (Cross-talk.)

    Brian Glenn.

    Q    Yes.  Welcome. 

    MS. LEAVITT:  Thank you.

    Q    You look great.  You’re doing a great job. 

    MS. LEAVITT:  Thank you.

    Q    You talked about transparency.  And some of us in this room know how just transparent President Trump has been the last five or six years; I think you’ll do the same. 

    My question is, do you think this latest incident with the president of Colombia is indicative of the global, powerful respect they have for President Trump moving forward not only to engage in — in economic diplomacy with these countries but also world peace?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Absolutely.  I’ll echo the answer that the president gave on Air Force One last night when he was asked a very similar question by one of your colleagues in the media: This signifies peace through strength is back, and this president will not tolerate illegal immigration into America’s interior. 

    And he expects every nation on this planet, again, to cooperate with the repatriation of their citizens who illegally entered into our country and broke America’s laws.  Won’t be tolerated. 

    And as you saw, the Colombian government quickly folded and agreed to all of President Trump’s demands.  Flights are underway once again.

    (Cross-talk.)

    Diana.

    Q    Two questions on deportations, if I may.  President Trump had said on the campaign trail that he would deport pro-Hamas students who are here on visas, and on his first day in office, he signed an executive order that said, quote, “The U.S. must ensure that admitted aliens and aliens otherwise already present in the U.S. do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.”  So, should we take this executive order as Trump saying he would be open to de- — deporting those students who are here on visas, but, you know, hold pro-Hamas sympathies?

    MS. LEAVITT:  The president is open to deporting individuals who have broken our nation’s immigrations laws.  So, if they are here illegally, then certainly he is open to deporting them, and that’s what this administration is hard at work at doing. 

    We receive data from DHS and from ICE every single day.  From what we hear on the ground, ICE agents are feeling incredibly empowered right now because they actually have a leader in this building who is supporting them in doing their jobs that they were hired to do, which is to detain, arrest, and deport illegal criminals who have invaded our nation’s borders over the past four years.  That’s what the president is committed to seeing. 

    Q    One more. 

    MS. LEAVITT:  Peter.
        
         Q    Just following up on that, Karoline —

    Q    Karoline, if I could ask you very quickly, just following up on the question on immigration.  First, President Trump, during the course of the campaign in 2024, said the following about illegal im- — immigration.  He said, “They’re going back home where they belong, and we start with the criminals.  There are many, many criminals.”  NBC News has learned that ICE arrested 1,179 undocumented immigrants on Sunday, but nearly half of them — 566 of the migrants — appear to have no prior criminal record besides entering the country illegally. 

    MS. LEAVITT:  (Laughs.)

    Q    Is the president still focused exclusiv- — which is a civil crime, not a — not a — it’s not criminal —

    MS. LEAVITT:  It’s a federal crime. 

    Q    It’s a fed- — so, I’m asking though, he said he was going to focus on those violent offenders first.  So, is violent offenders no longer the predicate for these people to be deported?

    MS. LEAVITT:  The president has said countless times on the campaign trail — I’ve been with him at the rallies; I know you’ve been there covering them too, Peter — that he is focused on launching the largest mass deportation operation in American history of illegal criminals. 

    And if you are an individual, a foreign national, who illegally enters the United States of America, you are, by definition, a criminal.  And so, therefore —

    Q    So, to be clear, it’s not exclusively —

    MS. LEAVITT:  — you are subject deportation. 

    Q    I apologize for interrupting.  So, to be clear, it’s not — violent criminals do not receive precedence in terms of the deportations taking place?

    MS. LEAVITT:  The president has also said — two things can be true at the same time.  We want to deport illegal criminals, illegal immigrants from this country.  But the president has said that, of course, the illegal dr- — criminal drug dealers, the rapists, the murderers, the individuals who have committed heinous acts on the interior of our country and who have terrorized law-abiding American citizens, absolutely, those should be the priority of ICE.  But that doesn’t mean that the other illegal criminals who entered our nation’s borders are off the table. 

    Q    Understood.  Then let me ask you a separate question about the confusion that still exists across the country right now as it relates to the — the freeze — or the pause, as it’s described.  President Trump, of course, ran — one of the key policy items was that he was going to lower prices, lower the cost of everything from groceries, as he often said.  But in many of the cases, it would seem that some of these moves could raise prices for real Americans on everything from low-income heating — that program; childcare programs.  Will nothing that the president is doing here, in terms of the freeze in these programs, raise prices on ordinary Americans?

    MS. LEAVITT:  What particular actions are you referring to that would —

    Q    I’m referring to LHEAP right now.  That’s the low-income heating program, for example.  We can talk about — there’s no clarity, so I could refer to a lot of them.  We don’t know what they are specifically.  Can you tell us that LHEAP — that LIHEAP is not one of those affected?

    MS. LEAVITT:  So, you’re asking a hypoc- — -thetical based on programs that you can’t even identify?

    Q    No, I just identified — I —

    MS. LEAVITT:  What I can tell you is that the —

    Q    Well, just to be — just to be clear, since you guys haven’t identified, let’s do it together, just for Americans at home.  Medicaid, is that affected?

    MS. LEAVITT:  I gave you a list of examples — Social Security, Medicare, welfare benefits —

    Q    Medicaid too, correct?

    MS. LEAVITT:  — food stamps — that will not be impacted by this federal pause.  I can get you the full list after this briefing from the Office of Management and Budget.

    But I do want to address the cost cutting, because that’s certainly very important, and — and cutting the cost of living in this country.  President Trump has taken historic action over the past week to do that.  He actually signed a memorandum to deliver emergency price relief for American families, which took a number of actions.  I can walk you through those. 

    He also repealed many onerous Biden administration regulations.  We know, over the past four years, American households has been essentially taxed $55,000 in regulations from the previous administration.  President Trump, with the swipe of his pen, rescinded those, which will ultimately put more money back in the pockets of the American people.  So, deregulation is a big deal. 

    And then, when it comes to energy, I mean, the president signed an executive order to declare a national energy emergency here at home, which is going to make America energy dominant.  We know that energy is one of the number-one drivers of inflation, and so that’s why the president wants to increase our energy supply: to bring down costs for Americans.  The Trump energy boom is incoming, and Americans can expect that.

    Q    Please share that memo.  Thank you.

    MS. LEAVITT:  I will.

    (Cross-talk.)

    Q    Karoline, I think — some of the confusion, I think, may be here with this pause on federal funding.  You’ve made it clear you’re not stopping funds that go directly to individuals, but there certainly are lots of organizations that receive funding and then may pass along a benefit — Meals on Wheels, for one.  They provide meals for over 2.2 million seniors. 

    What is the president’s message to Americans out there, many of whom supported him and voted for him, who are concerned that this is going to impact them directly, even if, as you said, the funding isn’t coming directly to their wallet?

    MS. LEAVITT:  I have now been asked and answered this question four times.  To individuals at home who receive direct assistance from the federal government, you will not be impacted by this federal freeze.  In fact, OMB just sent out a memo to Capitol Hill with Q and A to — to clarify some of the questions and the answers that all of you are a- — are asking me right now. 

    Again, direct assistance will not be impacted.  I’ve been asked and answered about this OMB memo.  There’s many other topics of the day. 

    Jacqui Heinrich. 

    Q    But on indirect assistance, Karoline —

    Q    Thank you, Karoline.

    Q    — if it’s going to another organization and then trickling down?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Direct assistance that is in the hands of the American people will not be impacted. 

    Again, as I said to Peter, we will continue to provide that list as it comes to fruition.  But OMB right now is focused on analyzing the federal government’s spending, which is exactly what the American people elected President Trump to do. 

    (Cross-talk.)

    Q    Thank you, Karoline.

    Q    And one question on immigration, Karoline.  On immigration. 

    Q    Thank you, Karo- —

    Q    Of the 3,500 arrests ICE has made so far since President Trump came back into office, can you just tell us the numbers?  How many have a criminal record versus those who are just in the country illegally.

    MS. LEAVITT:  All of them, because they illegally broke our nation’s laws, and, therefore, they are criminals, as far as this administration goes.  I know the last administration didn’t see it that way, so it’s a big culture shift in our nation to view someone who breaks our immigration laws as a criminal.  But that’s exactly what they are. 

    Jacqui.

    (Cross-talk.)

    Q    Karoline, on tariffs.

    Q    But you made a point of going with the worst first. 

    Q    On tariffs.

    Q    They all have a criminal record?

    Q    And welcome to the briefing room.

    MS. LEAVITT:  If they broke our nation’s laws, yes, they are a criminal. 

    Yes.

    Q    Thank you.  On stripping security details for figures like John Bolton, Pompeo, Brian Hook.  Senator Tom Cotton said that he’s seen the intelligence and the threat from Iran is real for anyone who played a role in the Soleimani strike.  He voiced concern it wouldn’t just impact those individuals but potentially their family, innocent bystanders, friends — anyone who is near them when they’re out in public.  Is the president open to reconsidering his decision?

    MS. LEAVITT:  The president was asked and answered this yesterday, and he was firm in his decision, despite some of the comments that you had referenced.  And he’s made it very clear that he does not believe American taxpayers should fund security details for individuals who have served in the government for the rest of their lives.  And there’s nothing stopping these individuals that you mentioned from obtaining private security. 

    That’s where the president stands on it.  I have no updates on that. 

    Q    Is there any concern that this decision might jeopardize the administration’s ability to hire the best advisers for these kinds of positions in the future?

    MS. LEAVITT:  No.  In fact, I’ve talked to the Presidential Personnel Office who has told me directly that there is such an influx of resumes for this administration that it’s incredibly overwhelming.  There is no lack of talent for the Trump administration. 

    Reagan Ree- —

    Q    And would he — would he take any responsibility —

    Q    Thanks, Karoline.

    Q    — if anything happened to these people?  Would he feel at all that his decision was a factor in that?

    MS. LEAVITT:  The president was asked and answered this yesterday.  I’d defer you to his comments.

    Q    Thanks, Karoline.

    Q    Karoline —

    MS. LEAVITT:  Reagan, since you’re in the back row, I hear y- — the back row hasn’t gotten much attention in the last four years —

    Q    Yes, thank you.

    MS. LEAVITT:  — so I’m happy to answer your question. 

    Q    And I can project.  (Laughter.)

    Does the president intend to permanently cut off funding to NGOs that are bringing illegal foreign nationals to the country, such as Catholic Charities?

         MS. LEAVITT:  I am actually quite certain that the president signed an executive order that did just that, and I can point you to that.

         Q    One more, Karoline.

    MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

    Q    President Trump issued an executive order on increased vetting for refugees in visa applications. 

    MS. LEAVITT:  That’s right.

    Q    Part of that order was considering an outright ban for countries that have deficient screening processes.  Has the president considered yet which countries might fall into this category?  Are countries like Afghanistan or Syria under consideration for a full ban?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.  So, the president signed an executive order to streamline the vetting for visa applicants and for illegal immigrants in this country who are coming, of course, from other nations. 

    It also directed the secretary of State to review the process and make sure that other countries around the world are being completely transparent with our nation and the individuals that they are sending here.  And so, the secretary of State has been directed to report back to the president.  I haven’t seen that report yet.  We’ve only been here for a few days.

    (Cross-talk.)

    Q    Karoline, two questions for you.  One on the freeze in federal funding.  Who advised the president on the legality of telling government agencies that they don’t have to spend money that was already appropriated by Congress?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Well, as the OMB memo states, this is certainly within the confines of the law. 

    So, White House Counsel’s Office believes that this is within the pe- — president’s power to do it, and therefore, he’s doing it.

    Q    Okay.  So, they disagree with lawmakers who say that they don’t have the power to — to freeze this funding?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Again, I would point you to the language in the memo that clearly states this is within the law.

    Q    And on what happened on Friday night.  The — the administration fired several inspectors general without giving Congress the 30-day legally required notification that they were being fired.  I think only two were left at DO- — DHS and the DOJ.  And then, yesterday, we saw several prosecutors — I believe 12 — fired from the Justice Department who worked on the investigations into the president.  As you know, they are career prosecutors; therefore, they are afforded civil service protections.  How is the administration deciding which laws to follow and which ones to ignore?

    MS. LEAVITT:  So, it is the belief of this White House and the White House Counsel’s Office that the president was within his exe- — executive authority to do that.  He is the executive of the executive branch, and, therefore, he has the power to fire anyone within the executive branch that he wishes to. 

    There’s also a case that went before the Supreme Court in 2020: Scaila [Seila] Law LLC, v. the Customs — the [Consumer Financial Protection] Bureau Protection.  I would advise you to look at that case, and that’s the legality that this White House has rested on. 

    Q    So, you’re confident that if they bring lawsuits against you — those prosecutors who were fired — that — that they will succeed?

    MS. LEAVITT:  We will win in court, yes.

    Q    And did he personally direct this, given they worked on the classified documents investigation and the election interference investigation?

    MS. LEAVITT:  This was a memo that went out by the Presidential Personnel Office, and the president is the leader of this White House.  So, yes.

    Q    So, it did come from him?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Yes, it came from this White House.

    (Cross-talk.)

    Q    Karoline.

    MS. LEAVITT:  Sir.

    Q    Thank you.  Congrats on your first day behind the podium.

    MS. LEAVITT:  Thank you.

    Q    President Trump ended funding for UNRWA and also designated the Houthis a foreign terrorist organization.

    MS. LEAVITT:  That’s right.

    Q    Both were decisions that the previous administration had reversed.  So, here’s my question: Will there be an investigation into who gave the previous administration this terrible advice?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Well, that’s a very good point.  I haven’t heard discussions about such an ins- — investigation, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea, considering that the Houthis cer- — certainly are terrorists.  They have launched attacks on U.S. naval ships across this world, and so I think it was a very wise move by this administration to redesignate them as a terrorist group, because they are.  And I think it was a foolish decision by the previous administration to do so. 

    As for an investigation, I’m not sure about that, but it’s not a bad idea.

    (Cross-talk.)

    Josh.

    Q    Thank you for the question.  I appreciate it.  Can you give us an update on the president’s plan for his tariff agenda?  He spoke a lot about this yesterday, and there’s a couple of dates coming up that —

    MS. LEAVITT:  Sure.

    Q    — he’s spoken to.  Number one, February 1st.  He’s alluded to both the potential for tariffs for Canada and Mexico but also China to take effect on those days.  Where is — what’s he thinking about that?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

    Q    Should those countries expect that on the 1st?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Again, he was asked and answered this question this past weekend when he took a lot of questions from the press, and he said that the February 1st date for Canada and Mexico still holds.

    Q    And what about the China 10 percent tariff that he also had mused about last Tuesday going into effect on the same date?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah, the president has said that he is very much still considering that for February 1st.

    Q    And then, separately, yesterday, he talked also about sectoral tariffs on, for instance, pharmaceuticals, as well as semiconductor computer chips.  He talked about steel, aluminum, and copper.  What’s the timeline on those?  Is that a similar sort of “coming days” thing or —

    MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah, so when the president talked about that in his speech yesterday, that actually wasn’t a new announcement.  That was within a presidential memorandum that he signed in one of the first days here in the White House on his America First trade agenda.  So, there’s more details on those tariffs in there.

    As far as a date, I don’t have a specific date to read out to you, but the president is committed to implementing tariffs effectively, just like he did in his first term.

    Q    And then — and then, finally, he also was asked on the plane when he gaggled about the potential for a universal tariff.  He was asked maybe about two and a half percent.

    MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

    Q    There was a report about that.  He said he wanted “much bigger than that.”  Should we understand that these tariffs would add up?  You know, in other words, you might have country-specific tariffs like Canada, Mexico, China.  You might have sectoral tariffs, like on pharmaceuticals, as well as a potential universal tariff on top of that.  Do these stack on one or the other, or would one sort of take precedence over another?

    MS. LEAVITT:  All I can point you to is what the president has said on this front: the February 1st date for Canada and Mexico and also the China tariff that he has discussed.

    He rejected the 2.5 percent tariff.  He said that was a little bit too low.  He wants it to be higher. 

    I’ll leave it to him to make any decisions on that front.

    Q    Do you have any comment on what the —

    (Cross-talk.)

    Q    — what the Mexicans and Canadians —

    MS. LEAVITT:  Phil.

    Q    — have done so far?  Do you have any comment on whether that has met the bar of what he wants to see on fentanyl?  Thank you.

    MS. LEAVITT:   I — I won’t get ahead of the president, again, on advocating to foreign nations on what they should or shouldn’t do to get away from these tariffs.  The president has made it very clear, again, that he expects every nation around this world to cooperate with the repatriation of their citizens.  And the president has also put out specific statements in terms of Canada and Mexico when it comes to what he expects in terms of border security.

    We have seen a historic level of cooperation from Mexico.  But, again, as far as I’m still tracking — and that was last night talking to the president directly — February 1st is still on the books.

    Q    Thank you.

    MS. LEAVITT:  Phil.

    Q    Thank you, Karoline.  Quick programming note, and then a question on taxes.

    MS. LEAVITT:  A programming note.

    Q    Well, in terms of programming, should —

    MS. LEAVITT:  That sounds fun. 

    Q    — we expect to see you here every day?  How frequently will these —

    Q    That’s a good question.

    Q    — press briefings be?

    MS. LEAVITT:  It is a good question, April.

    So, look, the president, as you know, is incredibly accessible.  First day here, he wanted all of you in the Oval Office.  You got a 60-minute press conference with the leader of the free world — while he was simultaneously signing executive orders, I may add.  That’s pretty impressive.  I don’t think the previous office holder would be able to pull such a thing off. 

    So, look, the president is the best spokesperson that this White House has, and I can assure you that you will be hearing from both him and me as much as possible.

    Q    And then a question about tax cuts.  You know, the president has promised to extend the tax cuts from the previous term.  I’m curious, you know, does the president support corresponding spending cuts, as some Republicans have called for in Congress?  And will the new Treasury secretary be leading those negotiations with the Hill, as Mnuchin did during the first administration?

    MS. LEAVITT:  The president is committed to both tax cuts and spending cuts.

    And he has a great team negotiating on his behalf, but there’s no better negotiator than Donald Trump, and I’m sure he’ll be involved in this reconciliation process as it moves forward.

    (Cross-talk.)

    Q    Karoline, in the announcement that you made last night on the Iron Dome, it said the president had directed that the United States will build this Iron Dome.

    MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

    Q    When you read into the executive order, it seemed short of that.  It asked for a series of studies —

    MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

    Q    — and reports back on — can you tell us whether the president has directed this and, if he is this concerned on this issue, why the suspensions that we saw listed by OMB included so many different nuclear programs, nonproliferation programs, programs to blend down nuclear weapons, and s- — and so forth?

    MS. LEAVITT:  First of all, when it comes to the Iron Dome, the executive order directed the implementation of the — of an Iron Dome.  It also, as you said, kind of directed research and studies to see if — or — or how the United States can go about doing this, particularly the Department of Defense.

    When it comes to the other question that you asked about those specific programs, again, I would say, this is not a — a ban; this is a temporary pause and a freeze to ensure that all of the money going out from Washington, D.C., is in align with the president’s agenda.

    And as the Office of Management and Budget has updates on what will be kick-started, once again, I will provide those to you. 

    Q    Can you clarify for a sec what you were saying before on Medicaid?  It wasn’t clear to me whether you were saying that no Medicaid would be cut off.  Obviously, a lot of this goes to states before it goes to individuals and so forth.  So, are you guaranteeing here that no individual now on Medicaid would see a cutoff because of the pause?

    MS. LEAVITT:  I’ll check back on that and get back to you. 

    Jon.

    Q    Thanks a lot, Karoline.  As you know, in the first week that the president was in office, signed an executive order as it relates to birthright citizenship — trying to eliminate that.  Now, 22 state attorney generals have said that this is unconstitutional.  A federal judge has just agreed with their argument.  What’s the administration’s argument for doing away with birthright citizenship?

    MS. LEAVITT:  The folks that you mentioned have a right to have that legal opinion, but it is in disagreement with the legal opinion of this administration. 

    This administration believes that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, and that is why President Trump signed that executive order.  Illegal immigrants who come to this country and have a child are not subject to the laws of this jurisdiction.  That’s the opinion of this administration. 

    We have already appealed the rul- — the lawsuit that was filed against this administration, and we are prepared to fight this all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to, because President Trump believes that this is a necessary step to secure our nation’s borders and protect our homeland. 

    Monica.

    Q    And then on foreign policy — on foreign policy, Karoline —

    Q    Thank you, Karoline.  It’s great to see you, and you’re doing a great —

    Q    — on foreign policy, if I may.  The president’s commitment to the NATO defense Alliance, is it as strong as the prior administration?  Is it the same as when he served as president in his first term in office?

    MS. LEAVITT:  As long as NATO pays their fair share.

    And President Trump has called on NATO Allies to increase their defense spending to 5 percent.  You actually saw the head of NATO at Davos last week on Bloomberg Television saying that President Trump is right and if Europe wants to keep itself safe, they should increase their defense spending. 

    I would just add that there was no greater ally to our European allies than President Trump in his first term.  The world, for all nations in Europe, and, of course, here at home was much safer because of Presidents Tru- — Trump’s peace through strength diplomatic approach. 

    Monica.

    Q    Karoline —

    Q    Thank you.  Thank you, Karoline.  And it’s great to finally be called on as well in the briefing room.  I appreciate that. 

    MS. LEAVITT:  You’re welcome. 

    Q    Of course, we know President Trump just got back from North Carolina and California meeting with victims of natural disasters.  There’s the two-year anniversary of the East Palestine, Ohio, toxic train derailment.  Does the president have any plans to go visit the victims of that toxic spill or just visit in general?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Not — no plans that I can read out for you here.  If that changes, I will certainly keep you posted. 

    What I can tell you is that President Trump still talks about his visit to East Palestine, Ohio.  That was one of the turning points, I would say, in the previous election campaign, where Americans were reminded that President Trump is a man of the people.  And he, as a candidate, visited that town that was just derailed by the train derailment — no pun intended — and he offered support and hope, just like I saw the president do this past week. 

    It was a purposeful decision by this president, on his first domestic trip, to go to North Carolina and to California to visit with Americans who were impacted by Hurricane Helene and also by the deadly fires — a red state and a blue state, both of which feel forgotten by the previous administration and the federal government.  That has now — that has now ended under President Trump. 

    He will continue to put Americans first, whether they’re in East Palestine, in Pacific Palisades, or in North Carolina.

    (Cross-talk.)

    Sure.

    Q    Thank you, Karoline.  On California, could you please clarify what the military did with the water last night, as referenced in the president’s Truth Social post?

    MS. LEAVITT:  The water has been turned back on in California, and this comes just days after President Trump visited Pacific Palisades and, as you all saw, applied tremendous pressure on state and local officials in Pacific Palisades, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, to turn on the water and to direct that water to places in the south and in the middle of the state that have been incredibly dry, which has led to the expansion — the rapid expansion of these fires.

    Q    So, could you clarify what the military’s role was, where the water came from, and how it got there?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Again, the Army Corps of Engineers has been on the ground in California to respond to the devastation from these wildfires.  And I would point out that just days after President Trump visited the devastation from these fires, the water was turned on.  That is because of the pressure campaign he put on state and local officials there, who clearly lack all common sense. 

    And I will never forget being at that round table with the president last week and hearing the frustration in the voices of Pacific Palisades residents who feel as though their government has just gone insane.  Before President Trump showed up on the scene, Karen Bass was telling private property owners that they would have to wait 18 months to access their private property.

    So, this administration, the president and his team that’s on the ground in California — Ric Grenell, who he has designated to oversee this great crisis — ha- — will continue to put pressure on Karen Bass and state and local officials to allow residents to access their properties. 

    This is a huge part of it.  These residents want to take part in their own clearing out of their properties.  They should be able to do that.  It’s the United States of America.  What happened to our freedom?  Clearly, it’s gone in California, but not anymore under President Trump.

    Q    Karoline —

    MS. LEAVITT:  April.

    Q    Karoline, welcome to the briefing room.

    MS. LEAVITT:  Thank you.

    Q    Several questions.  One on the pause.  Will minority-serving institutions, preferably colleges and universities, have those monies held back temporarily at this moment?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Again, I have not seen the entire list, because this memo was just sent out.  So, I will provide you all with updates as we receive them.  Okay?

    Q    Karoline —

    Q    And secondly — als- —

    Q    Karoline.

    Q    Also, secondly, when it comes to immigration, there is this southern border focus.  What happens to those who have overstayed their visas?  That is part of the broken immigration system.  In 2023, there was a report by the Biden administration, the Homeland Security Department, that said overstays of visas were three times more than usual.  Will there be a focus on the overstays for visas as well?

    MS. LEAVITT:  If an individual is overstaying their visa, they are therefore an illegal immigrant residing in this country, and they are subject to deportation.  

    Q    And also, lastly —

    MS. LEAVITT:  Yes.

    Q    Lastly, as we’re dealing with anti-DEI, anti-woke efforts, we understand this administration could — is thinking about celebrating Black History Month.  Have you got any word on that?  Anything that you can offer to us?

    MS. LEAVITT:  As far as I know, this White House certainly still intends to celebrate, and we will continue to celebrate American history and the contributions that all Americans, regardless of race, religion, or creed, have made to our great country.  And America is back.

    Christian Datoc.

    Q    Thanks, Karoline.  Just real quick.  You mentioned the inflation executive order the president signed, but egg prices have skyrocketed since President Trump took office.  So, what specifically is he doing to lower those costs for Americans?

    MS. LEAVITT:  Really glad you brought this up, because there is a lot of reporting out there that is putting the onus on this White House for the increased cost of eggs.  I would like to point out to each and every one of you that, in 2024, when Joe Biden was in the Oval Office — or upstairs in the residence sleeping; I’m not so sure — egg prices increased 65 percent in this country.  We also have seen the cost of everything, not just eggs — bacon, groceries, gasoline — have increased because of the inflationary policies of the last administration.

    As far as the egg shortage, what’s also contributing to that is that the Biden administration and the Department of Agriculture directed the mass killing of more than 100 million chickens, which has led to a lack of chicken supply in this country, therefore a lack of egg supply, which is leading to the shortage.

    So, I will leave you with this point.  This is an example of why it’s so incredibly important that the Senate moves swiftly to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees, including his nominee for the United States Department of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, who is already speaking with Kevin Hassett, who is leading the economic team here at the White House, on how we can address the egg shortage in this country.

    As for cots, I laid out — costs — I laid out the plethora of ways that President Trump has addressed saving costs for the American people over the past week.  He looks forward to continuing to doing that —

    Q    Karoline, what —

    MS. LEAVITT:  — in the days ahead.

    (Cross-talk.)

    Thank you, guys, so much.  I’ll see you soon.

    END                1:52 P.M. EST

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