Category: Natural Disasters

MIL-OSI Russia: Materials for the Government meeting on July 31, 2025

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The following issues are planned to be considered at the meeting:

1. On Amendments to the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of June 12, 2008 No. 450

The draft resolution was developed in order to consolidate the powers of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, established by Federal Law No. 52-FZ of April 1, 2025 “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”.

2. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Article 61-1 of the Federal Law “On Consumer Credit (Loan)”

The bill is aimed at supporting citizens in the event of the birth or adoption of a second child or subsequent children.

3. On the draft federal law “On Amending Article 3462 of Part Two of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation”

The bill is aimed at preserving the status of agricultural producers for organizations and individual entrepreneurs operating in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, in whose territory the legal regime of the counter-terrorism operation has been introduced and (or) was in effect.

4. On the allocation of budgetary allocations to Rosleskhoz in 2025 from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for the provision of subventions from the federal budget to the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation

The draft order is aimed at providing financial support for the costs of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation for extinguishing forest fires in emergency situations in forests of various types.

5. On the draft federal constitutional law “On Amendments to Certain Federal Constitutional Laws”

The draft law proposes to establish that in the territories of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, documents on the verification of measuring instruments issued by state and other official bodies of Ukraine, state and other official bodies of new entities, are valid until the end of their validity period. The draft law is expected to enter into force on January 1, 2026.

6. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 840725-8 “On Amendments to Articles 2463 and 427 of Part Two of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation”

The draft amendments are aimed at increasing the investment attractiveness of the preferential regime created in the Kuril Islands.

7. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 819547-8 “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”

The draft amendments are aimed at clarifying the provisions of the bill, which provides for the transfer of mandatory auctions by law to electronic form according to uniform unified rules.

8. On amendments to certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation (in terms of amendments to the Regulation on the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and the regulations on federal executive bodies subordinate to it)

The draft act is aimed at implementing the powers to establish a public easement by Rosmorrechflot, Rosavtodor, Rosaviatsia and the Ministry of Transport of Russia in cases stipulated by Federal Law No. 254-FZ of July 31, 2020 “On the specifics of regulating certain relations for the purpose of implementing priority projects for the modernization and expansion of infrastructure and on amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation.”

Moscow, July 30, 2025

The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Flood relief work underway in Tianjin

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

TIANJIN, July 30 (Xinhua) — Work is underway to eliminate the aftermath of flooding caused by heavy rainfall in Jizhou District of Tianjin City.

TIANJIN, July 30 (Xinhua) — Work is underway to eliminate the aftermath of flooding caused by heavy rainfall in Jizhou District of Tianjin City.

TIANJIN, July 30 (Xinhua) — Work is underway to eliminate the aftermath of flooding caused by heavy rainfall in Jizhou District of Tianjin City.

TIANJIN, July 30 (Xinhua) — Work is underway to eliminate the aftermath of flooding caused by heavy rainfall in Jizhou District of Tianjin City.

TIANJIN, July 30 (Xinhua) — Work is underway to eliminate the aftermath of flooding caused by heavy rainfall in Jizhou District of Tianjin City.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Over 10,000 people evacuated in southern Myanmar due to flooding

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

YANGON, July 31 (Xinhua) — A total of 10,395 people from 2,298 families have been evacuated to 24 temporary shelters due to flooding in Hpa-an township in Kayin state, state broadcaster Myanmar Radio Television reported late Wednesday.

The evacuation was carried out by disaster management committee members, firefighters, the Myanmar Red Cross Society and community organisations on Wednesday as the water level of the Thanlwin River exceeded the danger mark due to heavy rain, the statement said.

Water levels rose about six feet above the danger mark on Thursday and are expected to remain at that level for at least another day, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

The Kayin State Government, in collaboration with philanthropists, is providing basic food items, while the Ministry of Health is providing medical care and other services, the statement said. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: China’s manufacturing sector weakened in July, but new growth drivers are resilient

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) — China’s manufacturing sector weakened slightly in July due to seasonal factors, but the fundamental conditions for economic growth remained in place, new industries are gaining momentum and business confidence continues to strengthen.

China’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) stood at 49.3 in July, down 0.4 percentage points from June, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Thursday.

China’s manufacturing industry has entered its traditional low season, with the situation further affected by abnormally high temperatures and natural disasters, including heavy rains and floods in some regions, said NBS statistician Zhao Qinghe.

Despite the overall decline, Zhao Qinghe noted that a number of sub-indices showed positive dynamics. The business activity index in high-tech manufacturing was 50.6, and in equipment manufacturing – 50.3, both indicators remained above the threshold separating growth and decline.

Market expectations have improved markedly. The business expectations index rose to 52.6, up from 52 in June. Particularly optimistic were sectors such as automobile manufacturing, railway equipment manufacturing and electrical equipment manufacturing, with their expectations indexes exceeding 55.

Other positive signals revealed by the data include steady growth in the manufacturing index, continued price recovery and stable growth in large enterprises. -0-

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

August 5, 2025
Death toll rises in China’s north following extreme rain, state media says

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Extreme weather killed at least eight people in the city of Chengde just outside the Chinese capital Beijing, with 18 still unaccounted for, as heavy rainfall pounded the hilly region over the past week.

The deaths occurred in villages within the Xinglong area of Chengde in Hebei province, state-run Xinhua reported late on Wednesday citing local authorities, without specifying when or how the people died.

Work is still underway to locate those missing, Xinhua said.

Set against mountainous terrain, Chengde was known as a resort town for Qing dynasty emperors to escape Beijing’s heat in the summer centuries ago.

Extreme rains that began last Wednesday have lashed Beijing and surrounding regions, pouring a year’s worth of rain in less than a week in some areas and killing at least 30 in the outskirts of the capital. Twenty eight of those deaths occurred in hilly Miyun district.

The deaths in Chengde occurred in villages which border Miyun and sit about 25 km (16 miles) away from the Miyun reservoir, the largest in China’s north.

The reservoir saw record-breaking inflow and outflow of water, and overall water level and capacity during this round of rainfall which devastated nearby towns.

At its peak on Sunday, up to 6,550 cubic metres of water – about 2.5 Olympic-sized pools – flooded into the reservoir every second, pushing its capacity to a record high of 3.63 billion cubic metres since it was built in 1960.

The villages where eight have died sit on higher elevations in a valley, upstream of the Miyun reservoir.

In another village to the north of the reservoir, a landslide on Monday killed eight people while four remained missing.

Extreme rainfall and severe flooding, which meteorologists link to climate change, increasingly pose major challenges for Chinese policymakers, with officials partially attributing a slowdown in factory activities to heavy rains and flooding.

(Reuters)

August 5, 2025
London’s Heathrow hit by more flight cancellations after air traffic failure

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

At least 16 flights to and from London’s Heathrow Airport were cancelled on Thursday, a day after technical problems with Britain’s air traffic control system caused widespread disruption across the country’s airports.

National Air Traffic Services (NATS), which provides air traffic control services for planes flying in UK airspace and the eastern part of the North Atlantic, said on Wednesday its systems were fully operational with capacity returning to normal after it switched to a back-up system.

The second outage in as many years at NATS also affected Gatwick Airport near London, Edinburgh Airport in Scotland and other locations, resulting in 122 cancellations as of 1830 GMT on Wednesday, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Heathrow’s website showed that at least 16 flights, including departures to Brussels and Toronto and arrivals from New York and Berlin, had been cancelled on Thursday.

Heathrow, Britain’s largest and Europe’s busiest airport, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the latest cancellations.

Ryanair Chief Operating Officer Neal McMahon called on NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe to resign, saying no lessons had been learnt since the August 2023 disruption caused by a malfunctioning in the automatic processing of flight plans.

NATS, which on Wednesday apologised to those affected by the failure, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for a response to McMahon’s comments.

Heathrow was also hit by a fire at a power sub-station in March which stranded thousands of passengers.

(Reuters)

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Cambodia urges Thailand to release captured Cambodian soldiers

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

Cambodia on Thursday called on Thailand to release 20 Cambodian soldiers that it captured after a ceasefire took effect, said a Cambodian defense spokesperson.

Speaking in a press briefing, Cambodian Defense Ministry’s Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson, Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, said the Thai soldiers took 21 Cambodian soldiers under control on July 29 at 7:30 a.m. local time.

“So far, we have received one dead soldier,” she said. “We call on Thai side to send all 20 military personnel back to Cambodia as soon as possible.”

Socheata said Cambodia, with the mediation from Malaysia, the current chair of ASEAN, is negotiating with Thailand on this issue.

The Thai army said on Thursday that the detained Cambodian soldiers would be repatriated after legal procedure.

The Thai army said the Cambodian soldiers are being handled in accordance with international law and that they will be sent back once legal procedures are completed.

On July 24, armed clashes erupted between Cambodian and Thai soldiers in border areas. The two countries agreed on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire on Monday afternoon, taking effect at midnight on Monday.

MIL OSI China News –

August 5, 2025
At least 60 dead in north China following extreme rain, authorities say

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Extreme weather killed at least 60 people in northern China over the past week, with 31 deaths in an elderly care home in Beijing’s hilly Miyun district in one of the deadliest floods to have hit the Chinese capital in years.

In Beijing, 44 people were killed and nine were missing as of midday Thursday, deputy mayor of Beijing, Xia Linmao, said at a press conference.

Heavy rains began a week ago and peaked around Beijing and surrounding provinces on Monday, with Miyun experiencing rainfall of up to 573.5 mm (22.6 inches) – levels local media described as “extremely destructive.” The average annual rainfall in Beijing is around 600 mm.

In the nearby province of Hebei, 16 people died as a result of the intense rainfall, authorities said.

At least eight were killed in the city of Chengde just outside Beijing, with 18 unaccounted for.

The deaths occurred in villages within the Xinglong area of Chengde in Hebei province, state-run Xinhua reported late on Wednesday citing local authorities, without specifying when or how the people died.

The deaths in Chengde occurred in villages which border Beijing’s Miyun about 25 km (16 miles) from the Miyun reservoir, the largest in China’s north.

The reservoir saw record-breaking overall water levels and capacity during the rains which devastated nearby towns.

At its peak on Sunday, up to 6,550 cubic metres of water – about 2.5 Olympic-sized pools’ worth – flooded into the reservoir every second.

In another Hebei village north of the reservoir, a landslide on Monday killed eight people, with four missing.

Extreme rainfall and severe flooding, which meteorologists link to climate change, pose major challenges for Chinese policymakers, with officials partially attributing a slowdown in factory activity to such events.

(Reuters)

August 5, 2025
Flood threat in Rajasthan’s Dholpur as Chambal river swells; Army called in, Officials’ leave cancelled

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

A flood threat looms over rural areas in Rajasthan’s Dholpur district after heavy rainfall in the Hadoti region and nearby areas led to the release of nearly 5 lakh cusecs of water into the Chambal River – from both Kota Barrage and later the Navnera Barrage.

The Chambal’s water level surged to 141.10 metres by 10 PM on Wednesday, significantly breaching the danger mark of 131.79 metres, according to the Water Resources Department. The old Chambal bridge has submerged due to the rising water, prompting the district administration to request Army assistance. Troops are expected to reach Dholpur today.

Floodwaters have begun entering villages in the Sarmathura and Rajakheda subdivisions, sharply increasing the risk to life and property. In response, the leave of all government officers and employees has been cancelled to ensure coordinated relief efforts.

Despite the flooding of the old bridge, traffic on National Highway 44 remains unaffected, as vehicles are being rerouted via the new Chambal bridge.

Dholpur SP Vikas Sangwan and District Collector Nidhi B.T. are closely monitoring the situation and conducting visits to the affected areas. Army personnel will assist in relief and rescue operations, particularly in flood-prone zones like Rajakheda.

Meanwhile, Director of the Meteorological Center, Jaipur, Radheshyam Sharma, said that the low-pressure system, a remnant of the Bay of Bengal depression, is expected to weaken from August 2. However, due to the monsoon trough line currently passing through Bikaner and Sikar, heavy rainfall is still likely in parts of Rajasthan on Thursday. A reduction in rainfall activity is anticipated from August 1.

Earlier on Wednesday, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma conducted a detailed inspection of rain-affected areas in Jaipur, spending over two-and-a-half hours reviewing the situation.

He visited B-2 Bypass Road, Sanganer, Sumer Nagar, Surajmal Circle, Muhana Mandi, and Chauradia Petrol Pump, issuing immediate instructions to address waterlogging, damaged roads, potholes, and drainage issues.

The Chief Minister also inspected the Dravyavati River near B-2 Bypass Road and directed officials to prune overgrown trees and repair damaged ferro drain covers.

At the Sanganer camp office, he reviewed the status of waterlogged areas across the city. Later, at the Muhana Mandi intersection, he gave instructions for the construction of a traffic circle and urgent road repairs at Maharaja Surajmal Circle and Kesar Nagar intersection.

(With inputs from IANS)

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: /China Focus/ Beijing steps up recovery efforts after rare rainfall in city’s history

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) — Beijing is stepping up efforts to restore power, clear roads and deliver essential supplies to residents displaced by flash floods and landslides caused by some of the most intense rainfall in the capital’s mountainous suburbs.

In Miyun District, one of the hardest-hit areas of the Chinese capital, a temporary supply center in the village of Xizhuangzi was bustling with activity as of the morning of July 30, with supplies of bottled water, instant noodles, sausages and canned eggs ready to be shipped out.

More than 60 tons of relief supplies were distributed across Miyun District on July 28 and 29, and four helicopters were deployed on the morning of July 30 to further deliver relief supplies. Repair crews were also dispatched to restore damaged communication and power lines, according to local authorities.

As of midnight on July 28, 30 people had been confirmed dead in Beijing, including 28 in Miyun District and two in Yanqing District. Authorities said the Miyun Reservoir had recorded its highest inflow, highest water level and fastest outflow since it was built in 1959.

In Yanqing, more than 4,200 people were evacuated. Some 488 rescue teams with a total of more than 8,300 personnel were dispatched to provide emergency assistance. Communications were restored to all previously cut-off villages, while damaged roads were cleared and basic utilities such as electricity were restored.

Taotiaogou, a remote village in Yanqing, was the hardest hit. After more than 48 hours of rescue work, its 49 residents were gradually brought to safety.

“I have never seen such a powerful flood in my life,” said 89-year-old Zhai Cheng’an, recalling how his home was quickly inundated by torrents of dirty water.

Zhai Yonghui, deputy secretary of the Taotiaogou village party branch, said the downpour intensified at 10:20 p.m. on July 26, breaking local rainfall records. Yanqing County plans to help residents of the devastated village start new lives elsewhere.

“The waters will recede and we will have our homes again. We believe in that,” he added.

As part of ongoing restoration work, train services on the Beijing-Baotou high-speed railway will resume on Thursday after being suspended due to heavy rains in Beijing and Hebei province earlier this week, China Railway Hohhot Group Co., Ltd. said.

Heavy rains also hit other parts of northern China.

In Hebei province, eight people were confirmed dead and 18 were missing in Xinglong County, while eight people were killed after a rain-triggered landslide hit a village in Luanping County. Ten people were confirmed dead in Shanxi province after a mid-size bus carrying 14 passengers went missing on the morning of July 27 amid days of heavy rainfall. -0-

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Espionage cost Australia $12.5 billion in 2023-24, ASIO boss Mike Burgess says
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Espionage cost Australia $12.5 billion in 2023-24, according to a study by ASIO and the Australian Institute of Criminology.

The figure includes the direct costs of known espionage incidents, including state-sponsored theft of intellectual property, as well as the indirect costs of countering and responding.

Details of the Cost of Espionage report were released by the head of ASIO, Mike Burgess, in delivering the annual Hawke Lecture on Thursday night. Espionage is defined as “the theft of Australian information by another country that is seeking an advantage over Australia”.

Burgess said the Institute estimated foreign cyber spies stole nearly $2 billion from Australian companies and businesses in trade secrets and intellectual property in 2023-24.

In one instance, spies hacked into a major Australian exporters computer network, stealing commercially sensitive information.

“The theft gave the foreign country a significant advantage in subsequent contract negotiations, costing Australia hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Burgess pointed to another espionage incident several years ago when an overseas delegation visited a sensitive Australian horticultural facility.

A delegation member entered a restricted area and photographed a rare, valuable variety of fruit tree. A staff member intervened and deleted the image but it later turned out several of the tree’s branches had been stolen and smuggled out of Australia.

“Almost certainly, the stolen plant material allowed scientists in the other country to reverse engineer and replicate two decades of Australian research and development.”

In another instance, an Australian defence contractor invented and sold a world-leading innovation.

At first sales boomed but then they collapsed, and “customers began flooding the company’s repair centre with faulty products. While the returns looked genuine, closer examination revealed they were cheap and nasty knock offs.

“An investigation uncovered what happened.

“One year earlier, a company representative attended a defence industry event overseas and was approached by an enthusiastic local. She insisted on sharing some content via a USB, which was inserted into a company laptop. The USB infected the system with malware allowing hackers to steal the blueprints for the product.

“Almost certainly, the ‘enthusiastic local’ worked for a foreign intelligence service. The blueprints were given to a state-owned enterprise which mass-produced the knock-offs and deprived the Australian company millions of dollars in lost revenue – the tangible cost of espionage.”

Burgess said many entities do not realise their secrets have been stolen by espionage.

He stressed the institute was deliberately conservative, only modelling costs it could confirm and calculate.

“That means many of the most serious, significant and cascading costs of espionage are not included in the 12.5 billion dollar figure. The potential loss of strategic advantage, sovereign decision-making and warfighting capacity hold immense value, but not a quantifiable dollar value.”

“The Institute estimates Australia prevented tens of billions of dollars of additional costs by stopping or deterring spying,” Burgess said.

He said ASIO estimated the espionage threat “will only intensify. It is already more serious and sophisticated than ever before, so our response must also be more serious and sophisticated than ever before.”

Russian spies booted out in 2022

Burgess confirmed that in 2022 a number of “undeclared Russian intelligence officers” were removed from Australia.

“The decision followed a lengthy ASIO investigation that found the Russians recruiting proxies and agents to obtain sensitive information, and employing sophisticated tradecraft to disguise their activities.”

Last year, two Russian born Australian citizens were charged with an espionage related offence.

Russian remained a persistent and aggressive espionage threat, Burgess said. “But Russia is by no means the only country we have to deal with.

“You would be genuinely shocked by the number and names of countries trying to steal our secrets.

“The obvious candidates are very active – I’ve previously named China, Russia and Iran – but many other countries are also targeting anyone and anything that could give them a strategic or tactical advantage, including sensitive but unclassified information.”

Burgess said increasingly foreign intelligence services were broadening their collection efforts beyond traditional categories. They were aggressively targeting science and technology, and public and private sector projects, negotiations and investments. This includes Antarctic research, green technology, critical minerals and rare earths extraction and processing.

‘A very unhealthy’ interest in AUKUS

Burgess said foreign intelligence services were “taking a very unhealthy interest in AUKUS and its associated capabilities.”

“Australia’s defence sector is a top intelligence collection priority for foreign governments seeking to blunt our operational edge, gain insights into our operational readiness and tactics, and better understand our allies’ capabilities.

“Targets include maritime and aviation-related military capabilities, but also innovations with both commercial and military applications.

“And with AUKUS, we are not just defending our sovereign capability. We are also defending critical capability shared by and with our partners.”

He said foreign intelligence services were “proactive, creative and opportunistic” in targeting present and former defence employees.

There was relentless cyber espionage, in-person targeting and technical collection.

“In recent years, for example, defence employees travelling overseas have been subjected to covert room searches, been approached at conferences by spies in disguise and given gifts containing surveillance devices.”

Two dozen major disruptions in the last three years

Burgess said that ASIO had detected and disrupted 24 major cases of foreign interference in the last three years alone.

This was more than in the previous eight years combined. They were just the major disruptions – there were many other cases. Among the examples he gave were:
- spies recruited a security clearance holder who handed over official documents on free trade negotiations
- foreign companies connected to intelligence services sought to buy access to personal data sets; sought to buy land near sensitive military sites, and sought to collaborate with researchers developing sensitive technologies
- foreign intelligence services tried to get someone employed as a researcher in a media outlet, aiming to shape reporting and receive early warning of critical stories
- spies convinced a state bureaucrat to login to a database to obtain details of people considered dissidents by a foreign regime
- nation state hackers compromised a peak industry body’s network getting sensitive information
- a foreign intelligence service had multiple agents and their family members apply for Australian government jobs to get access to classified information.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Espionage cost Australia $12.5 billion in 2023-24, ASIO boss Mike Burgess says – https://theconversation.com/espionage-cost-australia-12-5-billion-in-2023-24-asio-boss-mike-burgess-says-262349
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Prospera Energy Inc. Provides Operations Update

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CALGARY, Alberta, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Prospera Energy Inc. (TSX.V: PEI, OTC: GXRFF) (“Prospera”, “PEI” or the “Corporation”)

Operations Update
Prospera continues to demonstrate strong operational performance, averaging gross production of 859 boe/d (97% oil) from July 1^st to July 23^rd. This sustained growth follows the successful completion of numerous projects across the company’s properties including well reactivations, rod repairs, sand control upgrades, engine maintenance and tune-ups, lease upgrades, mineral rights acquisitions, coil-tubing cleanouts, and waterflood optimizations. Nine additional wells have come online in the last 10 days and are currently in stages of load fluid recovery or initial optimization.

Notably, these figures exclude production from the recently acquired White Tundra Petroleum assets, which remains subject to TSXV acceptance. Comprehensive well-by-well analysis is now being conducted weekly, with production enhancement changes implemented on a daily basis through communication with field operations personnel. Concurrently, Prospera’s service rig continues to systematically work through a robust inventory of over 150 remaining workover and reactivation candidates across its heavy oil properties, further enhancing operational efficiency.

Prospera’s predominantly heavy oil production base continues to operate in favorable pricing conditions with WCS (Western Canadian Select) differentials in an optimal range, contributing to enhanced revenue and cash flow. The Corporation’s high netbacks support our strategy to reallocate capital efficiently into high-impact and reliable projects, with 50+ projects now completed and plans finalized for its Q3 and Q4 service rig programs including nine Luseland reactivations that have completed engineering and planning stages.

Cuthbert
Production at the Cuthbert pool has been rising steadily, averaging 356 boe/d (100% oil) from July 1^st to July 23^rd. This sustained growth is supported by ongoing waterflood optimization, increased pump speeds, and the completion of critical maintenance across wellsite and battery infrastructure.

A high-impact remediation project on the 16-28 HZ well has been successfully completed, involving the installation of a downhole bridge plug to isolate a section of the well previously drilled into coal and water-bearing part of the formation. Additionally, a high-impact remediation project on the 08-02 HZ well has been fully funded and is awaiting mobilization after lease conditions dry up. This project includes a casing cut and cementing to block water production from the heel of the well.

Hearts Hill
Production at the Hearts Hill pool remains stable, averaging 230 boe/d (91% oil) from July 1^st to 23^rd. The Corporation is actively advancing waterflood pattern optimization and fluid level drawdown initiatives to enhance reservoir performance. A comprehensive line-by-line review of all pipelines in the area has been completed to confirm injection volumes, validate pipeline integrity, and support the development of a final field reactivation and workover plan. Earlier Sparky zone recompletions continue to deliver consistent oil production, with future Sparky waterflood development held in inventory. Prospera is also actively evaluating uphole recompletion opportunities in the Waseca and Rex zones to further unlock production potential.

Luseland
The Corporation continues to advance its growth trajectory at the Luseland pool, averaging production of 193 boe/d (100% oil) from July 1^st to 23^rd. This performance is supported by ongoing workovers, well reactivations, and field optimizations. In the past 10 days, five reactivated wells have been brought online, with two additional wells recently completed under Single Well Battery setups and awaiting start-up.

Numerous other wells are currently undergoing optimization, including the installation of recycle pumps, application of sand suspension chemical treatments, increased pump speeds to accelerate fluid drawdown, flushby operations, and well loads to bring sand up the wellbore. These efforts are complemented by various initiatives aimed at reducing operating costs. Prospera’s engineering team is focused on well-by-well monitoring of all new reactivations to maximize production rates and enhance reservoir understanding while minimizing well failures and decline rates.

Several high-performing Luseland wells are featured in the accompanying Key Wells Report, demonstrating the success of Prospera’s strategic focus on revitalizing legacy wells with significant original oil in place (OOIP). By reactivating these assets, the company is effectively converting wells previously classified as No Reserves Associated (NRA) and burdened solely with Asset Retirement Obligations (ARO) into actively producing wells with meaningful Proved Developed Producing (PDP) reserves—resulting in sustainable revenue generation and positive cash flow.

Production, Workover Tracker, and Key Wells Report
Prospera is enhancing its transparency measures with the publishing of its updated production, workover tracker, and key wells report. Production volumes on each field will continue to be reported on a monthly basis, along with corporate revenue information. A detailed workover tracker will share production rates from all workovers and reactivations completed, with information on capital spend and cumulative production since start-up to be added to the August iteration of this report. Additionally, numerous key wells and their production graphs are explained in detail as the company further proves out its highly capital-efficient workover and reactivation business model.

Price Hedging
The Corporation is pleased to announce that it has entered into a contract to hedge a portion of its oil production. From September 2025 through February 2026, Prospera has hedged 100 barrels of oil per day at an average price of approximately USD $67.00 per barrel of WTI. This strategic initiative is aimed at providing improved cash flow stability, strengthening corporate governance through proactive risk management, and capitalizing on current favorable market pricing. It represents a disciplined approach to managing commodity price exposure while preserving upside potential across the remainder of PEI’s production.

Shares for Debt
Prospera has entered into agreements with two vendors to settle outstanding trade payables through the issuance of common shares. The first vendor has agreed to settle a total of $28,900.45 through the issuance of 125,000 common shares at a deemed price of $0.231 per share. The second vendor has agreed to settle $7,392.55 through the issuance of 40,000 common shares at a deemed price of $0.185 per share. The shares will be subject to a trading restriction of four months and a day from the date of issuance and are subject to TSXV acceptance.

Loan Amendment
The Corporation announces a further amendment to its $11,000,000 promissory note, originally dated June 7, 2024, in collaboration with its principal lender. Following previous increases, an additional $2,000,000 has been added, bringing the total principal amount to $18,700,000. The note retains its original terms, including a 12% interest rate and a two-year maturity, with no other changes. The proceeds are earmarked specifically towards production-increasing capital projects. This amendment remains subject to acceptance by the TSXV.

Promissory Note Update
The Corporation provides an update regarding the previously disclosed one-year secured promissory note on January 9th, 2025. The promissory note component of the offering will now be unsecured. The placement closed with four subscribers, raising aggregate gross proceeds of $900,000. Each unit, priced at $1,000, consists of: (i) a one-year unsecured promissory note with a principal amount of $1,000, carrying a 12% annual interest rate, and (ii) 5,000 common share purchase warrants of the Corporation, exercisable at $0.05 for a period of one year, for a total of 4,500,000 warrants. Subscribers are entitled to a 5% gross overriding royalty (GORR) for every $1,000,000 of principal investment on revenue from all Prospera properties on incremental production above 1,363 barrels per day, calculated on a monthly average until the principal debt is fully repaid. Interest on the notes will accrue and be paid quarterly, accompanied by a 2% facility fee. This offering has been accepted by the TSX Venture Exchange.

Insiders have participated in this offering for a principal amount of $800,000, which results in this being a Related Party Transaction pursuant to TSXV Policy 5.9 and MI 61-101. The Corporation is relying upon numerous exemptions under these policies with respect to minority approval and valuation requirements, including those found in section 5.5 (a), (b), and (c) and 5.7 (a) and (b). The following reporting Insiders have participated in this offering:

Summerhill Investments Corp. subscribed for $500,000 and was issued an aggregate of 2,500,000 warrants, each exercisable at $0.05 per share for a period of one year from the date of issuance.

Mantl Canada Inc. subscribed for $200,000 and was issued an aggregate of 1,000,000 warrants, each exercisable at $0.05 per share for a period of one year from the date of issuance.

Countryman Investments Ltd. subscribed for $100,000 and was issued an aggregate of 500,000 warrants, each exercisable at $0.05 per share for a period of one year from the date of issuance.

About Prospera
Prospera Energy Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian energy company specializing in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Prospera is dedicated to optimizing recovery from legacy fields using environmentally safe and efficient reservoir development methods and production practices. The company’s core properties are strategically located in Saskatchewan and Alberta, including Cuthbert, Luseland, Hearts Hill, and Brooks. Prospera Energy Inc. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PEI and the U.S. OTC Market under GXRFF.

Prospera reports gross production at the first point of sale, excluding gas used in operations and volumes from partners in arrears, even if cash proceeds are received. Gross production represents Prospera’s working interest before royalties, while net production reflects its working interest after royalty deductions. These definitions align with ASC 51-324 to ensure consistency and transparency in reporting.

For Further Information:

Shawn Mehler, PR
Email: investors@prosperaenergy.com

Chris Ludtke, CFO
Email: cludtke@prosperaenergy.com

Shubham Garg, Chairman of the Board
Email: sgarg@prosperaenergy.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Corporation and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “will,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “expects” and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Corporation, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Although Prospera believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Prospera can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks), commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Prospera. As a result, Prospera cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward- looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Prospera does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by Canadian securities law.

Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The MIL Network –

August 5, 2025

MIL-OSI: Cenovus announces second-quarter 2025 results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CALGARY, Alberta, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX: CVE) (NYSE: CVE) today announced its second-quarter 2025 financial and operating results. The company generated approximately $2.4 billion in cash from operating activities, $1.5 billion of adjusted funds flow and $355 million of free funds flow. Total upstream production was 765,900 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d)¹, reflecting planned turnarounds at the Foster Creek and Sunrise oil sands assets, maintenance at offshore facilities and short-term production impacts from wildfire activity at Christina Lake. Downstream crude throughput was 665,800 barrels per day (bbls/d), representing an overall utilization rate of 92% and including the successful completion of a turnaround at the Toledo Refinery 11 days ahead of schedule.

Highlights

Achieved first oil at Narrows Lake in July, with production expected to ramp up to peak incremental rates of 20,000 bbls/d – 30,000 bbls/d by the end of the year.
Delivered major milestones on the West White Rose project, with the concrete gravity structure (CGS) installed on the seabed in June and the topsides placed atop the CGS in mid-July. Hookup and commissioning work has commenced, with drilling expected to begin by year end.
Advanced the Foster Creek optimization project, with four new boilers brought online in July, which will add approximately 80,000 bbls/d of steam capacity to the facility.
Completed major turnarounds at Toledo, Sunrise and Foster Creek in the quarter, with exceptional execution, resulting in production at all assets resuming ahead of schedule.
Returned $819 million to shareholders, including $301 million through common share purchases, $368 million through common and preferred share dividends and $150 million through the redemption of Cenovus’s Series 7 preferred shares on June 30, 2025.

“Operating performance this quarter was exceptional, with turnaround execution exceeding our targets, major project milestones achieved on time and on budget, and our staff safely and efficiently restoring Christina Lake production following disruption from a wildfire,” said Jon McKenzie, Cenovus President & Chief Executive Officer. “Through the hard work and determination of our people, we have arrived at an inflection point, nearing completion of numerous growth projects and successfully concluding significant maintenance events. As investment in these initiatives is completed, we expect to generate increasing free funds flow.”

Financial summary

($ millions, except per share amounts)	2025 Q2	2025 Q1	2024 Q2
Cash from (used in) operating activities	2,374	1,315	2,807
Adjusted funds flow²	1,519	2,212	2,361
Per share (diluted)²	0.84	1.21	1.26
Capital investment	1,164	1,229	1,155
Free funds flow²	355	983	1,206
Excess free funds flow²	(306)	373	735
Net earnings (loss)	851	859	1,000
Per share (diluted)	0.45	0.47	0.53
Long-term debt, including current portion	7,241	7,524	7,275
Net debt	4,934	5,079	4,258

Production and throughput

(before royalties, net to Cenovus)	2025 Q2	2025 Q1	2024 Q2
Oil and NGLs (bbls/d)¹	624,000	670,900	656,300
Conventional natural gas (MMcf/d)	851.4	887.9	867.2
Total upstream production (BOE/d)¹	765,900	818,900	800,800
Total downstream crude throughput (bbls/d)	665,800	665,400	622,700

¹See Advisory for production by product type and by operating segment.
²Non-GAAP financial measure or contains a non-GAAP financial measure. See Advisory.

Second-quarter results

Operating¹

Cenovus’s total revenues were $12.3 billion in the second quarter, down from $13.3 billion in the first quarter of 2025. Upstream revenues were $6.8 billion, a decrease from $8.3 billion in the previous quarter, while Downstream revenues were $7.7 billion, in line with the previous quarter.

Total operating margin³ was $2.1 billion, compared with $2.8 billion in the previous quarter. Upstream operating margin⁴ was $2.1 billion, down from $3.0 billion in the first quarter due to lower benchmark oil prices, as well as lower production and sales volumes. The company had a Downstream operating margin⁴ shortfall of $71 million compared with a shortfall of $237 million in the previous quarter, benefiting from rising U.S. market crack spreads and a higher Canadian upgrading differential, as well as lower run-rate operating costs, excluding turnarounds, in both businesses. Operating margin in the U.S. Refining segment was a shortfall of $178 million, which included a $62 million inventory holding loss and $238 million of turnaround expenses.

Total Upstream production was 765,900 BOE/d in the second quarter, a decrease from 818,900 BOE/d in the first quarter. Christina Lake production was 217,900 bbls/d compared with 237,800 bbls/d in the prior quarter, as a wildfire near the facility temporarily impacted production in the second quarter. The field was shut in on May 29 and operations were restarted safely on June 3, with a return to full production about one week later. Foster Creek production was 186,100 bbls/d compared with 202,700 bbls/d in the first quarter, reflecting planned maintenance during the quarter that was successfully completed with production returning earlier than forecasted. Sunrise production was 50,300 bbls/d compared with 52,100 bbls/d in the first quarter due to planned maintenance at the facility.

Production from the Lloydminster thermal assets was 97,800 bbls/d, a decrease from 109,900 bbls/d in the prior quarter due to an unplanned outage at the Rush Lake facilities in west-central Saskatchewan. The company responded in early May to a steam release from a casing failure in an injection well and as a result, the Rush Lake facilities have been temporarily shut-in. The well has been brought under control, and the company is undertaking an investigation and developing a plan to safely restart production. Lloydminster conventional heavy oil output of 25,000 bbls/d increased from 21,800 bbls/d in the first quarter. Production in the Conventional segment was 119,800 BOE/d, down from 123,900 BOE/d in the previous quarter due in part to third-party outages.

In the Offshore segment, production was 66,300 BOE/d compared with 68,800 BOE/d in the first quarter. In Asia Pacific, production volumes were 53,800 BOE/d, lower than the 57,200 BOE/d in the previous quarter, primarily due to planned maintenance at the Liwan Gas Project. In the Atlantic region, production was 12,500 bbls/d, an increase from 11,600 bbls/d in the prior quarter, due to a full quarter of production from the White Rose field, offset in part by maintenance at the partner-operated Terra Nova field in June.

Total Downstream crude throughput in the second quarter was 665,800 bbls/d, up from 665,400 bbls/d in the first quarter. Crude throughput in Canadian Refining was 112,400 bbls/d, representing a utilization rate of 104%, compared with 111,900 bbls/d in the previous quarter.

In U.S. Refining, crude throughput was 553,400 bbls/d, representing a utilization rate of 90%, compared with 553,500 bbls/d in the first quarter, reflecting early completion of a planned turnaround at the Toledo Refinery. U.S. Refining revenues were $6.5 billion, slightly higher than $6.4 billion in the previous quarter. Adjusted market capture⁵ in U.S. Refining was 58%, compared with 62% in the first quarter, due primarily to a narrower heavy oil price differential.

³Non-GAAP financial measure. Total operating margin is the total of Upstream operating margin plus Downstream operating margin. See Advisory.
⁴Specified financial measure. See Advisory.
⁵Adjusted market capture excludes the impact of inventory holding gains or losses. Contains a non-GAAP financial measure. See Advisory.

Financial

Cash from operating activities in the second quarter increased to approximately $2.4 billion from $1.3 billion in the first quarter. Adjusted funds flow was $1.5 billion, compared with $2.2 billion in the prior quarter, and excess free funds flow (EFFF) was a shortfall of $306 million, compared with a surplus of $373 million in the first quarter. Net earnings in the second quarter declined slightly to $851 million from $859 million in the previous quarter. Second-quarter financial results were impacted by lower benchmark oil prices, lower Upstream production and higher planned maintenance costs relative to the first quarter.

Long-term debt, including the current portion, was $7.2 billion as at June 30, 2025. Net debt was $4.9 billion as at June 30, 2025, slightly reduced from the previous quarter, as free funds flow of $355 million and a $923 million release of non-cash working capital more than offset returns to shareholders of $819 million, including the redemption of Cenovus’s Series 7 preferred shares on June 30, 2025 for $150 million. Subsequent to the quarter on July 15, the company repaid its 5.38% unsecured notes with a principal of US$133 million in full. The company continues to steward toward net debt of $4.0 billion and returning 100% of EFFF to shareholders over time, in accordance with its financial framework.

Growth projects

In the Oil Sands segment, Narrows Lake achieved first oil in mid-July and will continue ramping up through the remainder of the year. The optimization project at Foster Creek is approximately 87% complete and four new boilers that will add approximately 80,000 bbls/d of steam capacity were brought online in July. The project is expected to produce first oil in early 2026. At Sunrise, one well pad was started up early in the quarter and the drilling program remains on track to increase production and fully utilize the asset’s steam capacity.

Significant progress has been made on the West White Rose project. The CGS was towed out and installed on the seabed ahead of schedule during the second quarter and the project’s topsides were safely lifted and set in place atop the CGS in mid-July. Hookup and commissioning have commenced, and the project is approximately 92% complete. Drilling is expected to begin by the end of the year and the project remains on schedule to produce first oil in the second quarter of 2026.

2025 guidance update

Cenovus has revised its 2025 corporate guidance to reflect the company’s updated outlook for the remainder of the year. It is available on cenovus.com under Investors.

Changes to the company’s 2025 guidance include:

Total upstream production of 805,000 BOE/d to 825,000 BOE/d, a decrease of 10,000 BOE/d at the midpoint. This includes the impacts of the temporary shut in of the Rush Lake facilities.
Canadian downstream throughput of 105,000 bbls/d to 110,000 bbls/d, an increase of 5,000 bbls/d at the midpoint, reflecting strong year-to-date performance.
Reducing the range of Canadian Refining per-unit operating expenses, excluding turnaround costs, to $11.00/bbl to $12.00/bbl, as a result of higher throughput rates and lower expected costs.
Downstream turnaround expenses of $420 million to $450 million have been reduced by $45 million at the midpoint, primarily due to early completion of the Toledo turnaround.

The company has also updated its commodity price assumptions and guidance range for cash taxes. Cenovus continues to execute its capital program and there has been no change to the expected capital investment range of $4.6 billion to $5.0 billion.

Sustainability
Cenovus’s 2024 Corporate Social Responsibility report, highlighting the company’s performance in safety, Indigenous reconciliation, and acceptance and belonging, was released today and is now available on the company’s website.

Dividend declarations and share purchases

The Board of Directors has declared a quarterly base dividend of $0.20 per common share, payable on September 29, 2025, to shareholders of record as of September 15, 2025.

In addition, the Board has declared a quarterly dividend on each of the Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares – Series 1 and Series 2 – payable on October 1, 2025 to shareholders of record as of September 15, 2025, as follows:

Preferred shares dividend summary

Share series	Rate (%)	Amount ($/share)
Series 1	2.577	0.16106
Series 2	4.374	0.27562

All dividends paid on Cenovus’s common and preferred shares will be designated as “eligible dividends” for Canadian federal income tax purposes. Declaration of dividends is at the sole discretion of the Board and will continue to be evaluated on a quarterly basis.

In the second quarter, the company returned $819 million to shareholders, composed of $301 million from its purchase of 17.2 million shares through its normal course issuer bid, $368 million through common and preferred share dividends, and $150 million through the redemption of Cenovus’s Series 7 preferred shares. Subsequent to the quarter, the company purchased 6.6 million common shares through July 28, 2025 for $129 million.

2025 planned maintenance

The following table provides details on planned maintenance activities at Cenovus assets in 2025 and anticipated production or throughput impacts.

Potential quarterly production/throughput impact (Mbbls/d or MBOE/d)

(MBOE/d or Mbbls/d)	Q3	Q4	Annualized impact
Upstream
Oil Sands	5 – 7	–	7 – 9
Offshore	2 – 4	–	1 – 2
Conventional	–	–	–
Downstream
Canadian Refining	–	–	–
U.S. Refining	–	10 – 15	12 – 14

Potential turnaround expenses

($ millions)	Q3	Q4	Annualized impact
Downstream
Canadian Refining	–	–	–
U.S. Refining	55 – 70	45 – 60	420 – 450

Conference call today

Cenovus will host a conference call today, July 31, 2025, starting at 9 a.m. MT (11 a.m. ET).

For analysts wanting to join the call, please register in advance.

To participate in the live conference call, you must complete the online registration form in advance of the conference call start time. Register ahead of time to receive a unique PIN to access the conference call via telephone. Once registered, participants can dial into the conference call from their telephone via the unique PIN or click on the “Call Me” option to receive an automated call directly on their telephone.

An audio webcast will also be available and archived for approximately 30 days.

Advisory

Basis of Presentation

Cenovus reports financial results in Canadian dollars and presents production volumes on a net to Cenovus before royalties basis, unless otherwise stated. Cenovus prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Accounting Standards.

Barrels of Oil Equivalent

Natural gas volumes have been converted to barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) on the basis of six thousand cubic feet (Mcf) to one barrel (bbl). BOE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A conversion ratio of one bbl to six Mcf is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil compared with natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency conversion ratio of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis is not an accurate reflection of value.

Product types

Product type by operating segment	Three months ended June 30, 2025
Oil Sands
Bitumen (Mbbls/d)	552.1
Heavy crude oil (Mbbls/d)	25.0
Conventional natural gas (MMcf/d)	16.5
Total Oil Sands segment production (MBOE/d)	579.8
Conventional
Light crude oil (Mbbls/d)	4.5
Natural gas liquids (Mbbls/d)	20.4
Conventional natural gas (MMcf/d)	569.2
Total Conventional segment production (MBOE/d)	119.8
Offshore
Light crude oil (Mbbls/d)	12.5
Natural gas liquids (Mbbls/d)	9.5
Conventional natural gas (MMcf/d)	265.7
Total Offshore segment production (MBOE/d)	66.3
Total Upstream production (MBOE/d)	765.9

Forward‐looking Information

This news release contains certain forward‐looking statements and forward‐looking information (collectively referred to as “forward‐looking information”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation about Cenovus’s current expectations, estimates and projections about the future of the company, based on certain assumptions made in light of the company’s experiences and perceptions of historical trends. Although Cenovus believes that the expectations represented by such forward‐looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward‐looking information in this document is identified by words such as “anticipate”, “continue”, “deliver”, “expect”, “plan”, “steward”, and “will” or similar expressions and includes suggestions of future outcomes, including, but not limited to, statements about: Net Debt target; returning Excess Free Funds Flow to shareholders; growth plans and projects; maximizing value; production guidance; timing of startup of the Foster Creek optimization project; ramping up production at Narrows Lake; investigating the Rush Lake incident and developing a plan to restart production; the Sunrise drilling program; the hookup and commissioning of, and timing of drilling at the West White Rose project; executing the capital program; 2025 planned maintenance; and dividend payments.

Developing forward‐looking information involves reliance on a number of assumptions and consideration of certain risks and uncertainties, some of which are specific to Cenovus and others that apply to the industry generally. The factors or assumptions on which the forward‐looking information in this news release are based include, but are not limited to: the allocation of free funds flow; commodity prices, inflation and supply chain constraints; Cenovus’s ability to produce on an unconstrained basis; Cenovus’s ability to access sufficient insurance coverage to pursue development plans; Cenovus’s ability to deliver safe and reliable operations and demonstrate strong governance; and the assumptions inherent in Cenovus’s updated 2025 corporate guidance available on cenovus.com.

The risk factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward‐looking information in this news release include, but are not limited to: the accuracy of estimates regarding commodity production and operating expenses, inflation, taxes, royalties, capital costs and currency and interest rates; risks inherent in the operation of Cenovus’s business; and risks associated with climate change and Cenovus’s assumptions relating thereto and other risks identified under “Risk Management and Risk Factors” and “Advisory” in Cenovus’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Except as required by applicable securities laws, Cenovus disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward‐looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists are not exhaustive and are made as at the date hereof. Events or circumstances could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and expressed in, or implied by, the forward‐looking information. For additional information regarding Cenovus’s material risk factors, the assumptions made, and risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the anticipated results, refer to “Risk Management and Risk Factors” and “Advisory” in Cenovus’s MD&A for the periods ended December 31, 2024 and June 30, 2025 and to the risk factors, assumptions and uncertainties described in other documents Cenovus files from time to time with securities regulatory authorities in Canada (available on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca, on EDGAR at sec.gov and Cenovus’s website at cenovus.com).

Specified Financial Measures

This news release contains references to certain specified financial measures that do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS Accounting Standards. Readers should not consider these measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the company’s results as reported under IFRS Accounting Standards. These measures are defined differently by different companies and, therefore, might not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For information on the composition of these measures, as well as an explanation of how the company uses these measures, refer to the Specified Financial Measures Advisory located in Cenovus’s MD&A for the period ended June 30, 2025 (available on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca, on EDGAR at sec.gov and on Cenovus’s website at cenovus.com) which is incorporated by reference into this news release.

Upstream Operating Margin and Downstream Operating Margin

Upstream Operating Margin and Downstream Operating Margin, and the individual components thereof, are included in Note 1 to the interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

Total Operating Margin

Total Operating Margin is the total of Upstream Operating Margin plus Downstream Operating Margin.

	Upstream ⁽⁶⁾			Downstream ⁽⁶⁾			Total
($ millions)	Q2 2025	Q1 2025	Q2 2024	Q2 2025	Q1 2025	Q2 2024	Q2 2025	Q1 2025	Q2 2024
Revenues
Gross Sales	7,394	9,252	8,715	7,743	7,705	8,750	15,137	16,957	17,465
Less: Royalties	(621)	(906)	(859)	—	—	—	(621)	(906)	(859)
	6,773	8,346	7,856	7,743	7,705	8,750	14,516	16,051	16,606
Expenses
Purchased Product	1,111	1,167	815	6,878	7,082	7,796	7,989	8,249	8,611
Transportation and Blending	2,621	3,247	3,043	—	—	—	2,621	3,247	3,043
Operating	896	893	889	947	854	1,099	1,843	1,747	1,988
Realized (Gain) Loss on Risk Management	8	(9)	20	(11)	6	8	(3)	(3)	28
Operating Margin	2,137	3,048	3,089	(71)	(237)	(153)	2,066	2,811	2,936

⁶Found in Note 1 of the June 30, 2025, or the March 31, 2025, interim Consolidated Financial Statements. Revenues and purchased product for Q2 2024 Downstream operations were revised. See Note 21 of our June 30, 2025, interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

Adjusted Funds Flow, Free Funds Flow and Excess Free Funds Flow

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash from (used in) operating activities found in Cenovus’s interim Consolidated Financial Statements to Adjusted Funds Flow, Free Funds Flow and Excess Free Funds Flow. Adjusted Funds Flow per Share – Basic and Adjusted Funds Flow per Share – Diluted are calculated by dividing Adjusted Funds Flow by the respective basic or diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period and may be useful to evaluate a company’s ability to generate cash.

	Three Months Ended
($ millions)	June 30, 2025	March 31, 2025	June 30, 2024
Cash From (Used in) Operating Activities ⁽⁷⁾	2,374	1,315	2,807
(Add) Deduct:
Settlement of Decommissioning Liabilities	(68)	(36)	(48)
Net Change in Non-Cash Working Capital	923	(861)	494
Adjusted Funds Flow	1,519	2,212	2,361
Capital Investment	1,164	1,229	1,155
Free Funds Flow	355	983	1,206
Add (Deduct):
Base Dividends Paid on Common Shares	(364)	(327)	(334)
Purchase of Common Shares under Employee Benefit Plan	(15)	(58)	—
Dividends Paid on Preferred Shares	(4)	(6)	(9)
Settlement of Decommissioning Liabilities	(68)	(36)	(48)
Principal Repayment of Leases	(94)	(83)	(75)
Acquisitions, Net of Cash Acquired	(129)	(100)	(5)
Proceeds From Divestitures	13	—	—
Excess Free Funds Flow	(306)	373	735

⁷Found in the June 30, 2025, or the March 31, 2025, interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

Adjusted Market Capture

Adjusted market capture contains a non-GAAP financial measure and is used in the company’s U.S. Refining segment to provide an indication of margin captured relative to what was available in the market based on widely-used benchmarks. Cenovus defines adjusted market capture as refining margin, net of holding gains and losses, divided by the weighted average 3-2-1 market benchmark crack, net of RINs, expressed as a percentage. The weighted average crack spread, net of RINs, is calculated on Cenovus’s operable capacity-weighted average of the Chicago and Group 3 3-2-1 benchmark market crack spreads, net of RINs.

The company previously disclosed market capture which did not exclude the effect of inventory holding gains or losses. Cenovus replaced market capture with adjusted market capture to exclude the impact of inventory holding gains or losses. The company believes this metric provides more comparability and accuracy when measuring the cash generating performance of our downstream operations. Comparative periods were revised to conform with our current presentation.

($ millions)	Three months ended June 30, 2025	Three months ended March 31, 2025
Revenues ⁽⁸⁾	6,455	6,423
Purchased Product ⁽⁸⁾	5,838	6,006
Gross Margin	617	417
Inventory Holding (Gain) Loss	62	23
Adjusted Gross Margin	679	440
Total Processed Inputs (Mbbls/d)	594.2	581.0
Adjusted Gross Margin ($/bbl)	12.57	8.41
Operable Capacity (Mbbls/d)	612.3	612.3
Operable Capacity by Regional Benchmark (percent)
Chicago 3-2-1 Crack Spread Weighting	81	81
Group 3 3-2-1 Crack Spread Weighting	19	19
Benchmark Prices and Exchange Rate
Chicago 3-2-1 Crack Spread (US$/bbl)	21.64	13.68
Group 3 3-2-1 Crack Spread (US$/bbl)	23.07	16.48
RINs (US$/bbl)	6.12	4.76
US$ per C$1 – Average	0.723	0.697
Weighted Average Crack Spread, Net of RINs ($/bbl)	21.86	13.58
Adjusted Market Capture (percent)	58	62

⁸Found in Note 1 of the June 30, 2025, or the March 31, 2025, interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Cenovus Energy Inc. is an integrated energy company with oil and natural gas production operations in Canada and the Asia Pacific region, and upgrading, refining and marketing operations in Canada and the United States. The company is committed to maximizing value by developing its assets in a safe, responsible and cost-efficient manner, integrating environmental, social and governance considerations into its business plans. Cenovus common shares and warrants are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges, and the company’s preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. For more information, visit cenovus.com.

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The MIL Network –

August 5, 2025

IMD forecasts week-long downpour in Northeast; rainfall subsides in central India

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over the Northeast and adjoining eastern India during the next seven days, with isolated extremely heavy showers expected in Assam and Meghalaya on August 2. In contrast, a significant reduction in rainfall is likely over eastern Rajasthan and western Madhya Pradesh starting August 1, while central and southern peninsular India are expected to witness subdued rainfall activity over the next six to seven days.

According to the IMD, very heavy rainfall is expected in Rajasthan on July 31, and across Arunachal Pradesh from August 1 to 6. Similarly, heavy rainfall is anticipated in Assam and Meghalaya between July 31 and August 3, and again on August 6. Other regions likely to experience very heavy rainfall include sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim from August 2 to 4, and Bihar on August 2 and 3.

In the past 24 hours (ending at 8:30 AM on July 31), heavy to very heavy rainfall (7–20 cm) was recorded at isolated places over eastern Rajasthan, western Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Heavy rainfall (7–11 cm) was also observed in parts of Haryana, Punjab, western Uttar Pradesh, western Rajasthan, West Bengal & Sikkim, Chhattisgarh, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya, Odisha, and Bihar.

For the Delhi-NCR region, the forecast indicates generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms through August 3.

On Thursday, the city is likely to receive one or two spells of light rain, with a possibility of moderate rain at isolated spots. Maximum temperatures will range between 30 to 32°C, below normal by 2 to 4°C. Surface winds will blow from the southeast at 5–10 kmph in the morning and afternoon, shifting to the northeast by evening.

On August 1, the capital will see very light to light rain with thunderstorms or lightning. Maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to range between 33 to 35°C and 23 to 25°C, respectively, both remaining below normal. Winds will shift from the northeast in the morning to southwest in the afternoon at 10–15 kmph, later coming from the southeast during the evening and night.

Rainfall will continue on August 2 and 3, with cloudy skies and light precipitation accompanied by thunderstorms. Temperatures will hover between 34 to 36°C for the maximum and 24 to 26°C for the minimum, with the latter staying below normal. Winds are expected to remain between 10–20 kmph from varying directions, predominantly from the northwest and northeast.

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Beijing accelerates recovery efforts after rare downpours

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

Beijing is ramping up recovery efforts to restore power, clear roads and deliver essential supplies to residents displaced by flash floods and landslides triggered by some of the most intense rainfall in the city’s mountainous outskirts.

In Miyun District, one of the worst-hit areas, a makeshift supply hub in Xizhuangzi Village was bustling by Wednesday morning, with stacks of bottled water, instant noodles, sausages and preserved eggs ready for dispatch.

More than 60 tonnes of emergency supplies were distributed across Miyun on Monday and Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning, four helicopters were deployed to continue airdropping relief materials. Repair crews were also dispatched to restore damaged communication and power lines, according to local authorities.

As of midnight Monday, 30 people had been confirmed dead in Beijing, including 28 in Miyun District and two in Yanqing District. Authorities said that the Miyun Reservoir recorded its highest inflow, highest water level and fastest outflow since its construction in 1959.

In Yanqing, more than 4,200 people have been relocated. Some 488 rescue teams, comprising over 8,300 personnel, were dispatched to carry out relief efforts. Communication has been reestablished in all previously unreachable villages, damaged roads cleared, and essential services such as power supply restored.

Taotiaogou, a remote village in Yanqing, was among the hardest hit. After over 48 hours of rescue efforts, its 49 residents were gradually brought to safety.

“I’ve never seen such ferocious floodwaters in my life,” said 89-year-old Zhai Cheng’an, recalling how his home was quickly engulfed by muddy torrents.

Zhai Yonghui, deputy Party chief of Taotiaogou Village, said the downpour intensified at 10:20 p.m. on July 26, breaking local rainfall records. Yanqing District plans to help residents from the devastated village start a new life in other sites.

“The water will recede, and we will have homes again. We believe in that,” he added.

As part of ongoing recovery efforts, train services on the Beijing-Baotou high-speed railway will resume Thursday after being suspended due to severe rain in Beijing and Hebei Province earlier in the week, according to China Railway Hohhot Group Co., Ltd.

The heavy rains have also battered other parts of northern China.

In Hebei, eight people have been confirmed dead and 18 remain missing in Xinglong County, while eight people were killed after a rain-triggered landslide struck a village in Luanping County. In Shanxi Province, 10 people were confirmed dead after a midsize bus carrying 14 passengers went missing Sunday morning following days of heavy rainfall.

MIL OSI China News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Noem is Taking a Sledgehammer to Criminal Human Trafficking Rings

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: Secretary Noem is Taking a Sledgehammer to Criminal Human Trafficking Rings

lass=”text-align-center”>On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security continue taking action to disrupt criminal human trafficking organizations
WASHINGTON – On this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is announcing a series of major crack downs against the worst of the worst criminal organizations: human trafficking rings

The previous administration’s open border policies empowered human traffickers and allowed over 450,000 unaccompanied children to be illegally smuggled over the border

Under President Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the full weight of the American government is bringing the hammer down on human trafficking rings

In just the first few months, the Trump administration has developed leads on thousands of human trafficking cases

DHS has also cracked down on the criminal terrorist gang Tren de Aragua, which enriches itself through the sex trafficking of vulnerable young women

The Trump administration has arrested more than 2,700 members of Tren de Aragua so far

This crisis is fueled by organized crime networks: sophisticated cartels that exploited the weakness of the previous administration, especially its open border and refusal to enforce immigration law, to rake in billions from forced labor, brutal sexual exploitation, coercing innocent people into drug running, and other heinous crimes

“The brave men and women of DHS are the best in the world at going after traffickers

They are always able to track down those who are trafficking individuals, find the ringleaders, and rip that evil off by its head,” said Secretary Kristi Noem

“I’m so thankful that I get the chance to lead individuals like that, and agents who get up every day to help save our children and to save women and men from the kind of slavery that we’ve seen

”
Below are some examples of how DHS is fighting to put human traffickers out of business:

July 28, 2025: As part of Operation Apex Predator, a Child Exploitation Investigations Unit initiative with the Cyber Crimes Center, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Newark arrested four illegal alien child predators over the course of four days

All four are registered sex offenders

July 23, 2025: ICE arrested 243 illegal aliens in the Denver metro area

Among those arrested were aliens wanted for human trafficking, and several members of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), including Tren de Aragua (TdA), Los Zetas, and the Sinaloa Cartel

July 22, 2025: Following an ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigation, a resident of Laredo, Texas was sentenced to 63 months in prison for smuggling 101 migrants in a locked trailer

Among the illegal aliens smuggled were 12 children

The suspect was sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to transport migrants

July 21, 2025: As a result of an investigation by ICE HSI Rio Grande Valley, a convicted human smuggler was sentenced to 20 years in prison for possessing images of sexual assaults of prepubescent children

July 10, 2025: ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana facilities in Carpinteria and Camarillo, California

In these facilities, at least 14 migrant children were rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking

During this operation, federal officers also arrested at least 361 illegal aliens

Among those arrested were criminals with convictions for kidnapping, rape, attempted rape, and attempted child molestation, among other charges

July 10, 2025: As the result of an ICE New York investigation, the leader of a Mexican sex trafficking organization was sentenced to 188 months in prison for sex trafficking multiple victims by force, fraud, and coercion

July 9, 2025: An ICE Del Rio investigation resulted in an illegal Honduran alien being sentenced to 10 years in prison, with three years of supervised release, for his role in smuggling thousands of aliens into the United States for financial gain

His smuggling conspiracy spanned three years and involved thousands of aliens from 11 different countries

July 7, 2025: Border Patrol agents assisted the U

S

Marshals in executing an arrest warrant on a high-priority target linked to a criminal syndicate operating in human exploitation

The suspect, a U

S

citizen, was wanted for multiple charges, including procurement of persons, placing individuals into prostitution, residing in a house of prostitution, and profiting from the earnings of prostitution

The suspect was arrested without incident in Yuma, Arizona

June 24, 2025: HSI Nashville identified one child victim and one adult victim of labor trafficking

During an immigration court proceeding, the child victim revealed that she and her 18-year-old brother had been forced by their sponsor to work to pay off their smuggling fees and to pay for the sponsor’s household expenses

June 16, 2025: A worksite enforcement operation by ICE HSI targeted employers and subcontractors who knowingly hire illegal aliens

During this operation, HSI Mobile identified and rescued a child and arrested eight foreign nationals for violating immigration law

The child was found to be working among adults and was believed to have never attended school since entering the United States two years ago

June 6, 2025: The Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Venezuelan illegal alien and member of MS-13 arrested by ICE, on charges of alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling

Despite the mainstream media insisting for months that Garcia was an innocent “Maryland father,” he is now standing trial after evidence emerged of his involvement in criminal smuggling rings

June 2, 2025: ICE Rio Grande Valley discovered a stash house in South Texas and subsequently arrested 16 illegal aliens

The owner of the property admitted to harboring the illegal aliens, who came from five different countries

A Mexican national was taken in for questioning for his role in human smuggling

May 28, 2025: HSI New York special agents arrested an adult male from Ecuador at his residence for violations relating to the sexual exploitation of a child

New York received information regarding a 15-year-old female who was apprehended near El Paso, Texas, after illegally entering the United States

At that time, she was pregnant with the adult’s child and had been in a relationship with him in Ecuador since the age of thirteen

The subject organized the smuggling of the teenager across the border to engage in sexual acts

His mother sponsored her after her illegal entry, and the subject continued his relationship with the children, living with his mother in Harlem

May 28, 2025: CBP issued a Withhold Release Order against Zhen Fa 7, a Chinese-flagged fishing vessel

As a result, CBP officers at all U

S

ports of entry will detain seafood harvested by Zhen Fa 7 based on reasonable suspicion that the vessel uses forced labor to harvest such seafood

May 28, 2025: Border Patrol agents in the San Diego Sector prevented an attempt to smuggle two Mexican nationals into the United States

The attempt involved one United States citizen and one Mexican national, who attempted to smuggle the illegal aliens across the border using a truck

Inside the truck were three fully loaded firearms, including a “ghost gun

” The suspected smugglers face felony charges of bringing in and harboring aliens, and unlawful acts involving firearms

May 12, 2025: HSI Austin identified and rescued a child, arrested two Guatemalan nationals for violating immigration law, and initiated an HSI-led investigation of state and federal charges of human trafficking and statutory rape

During a welfare check, HSI Agents, assisted by the FBI, identified a pregnant 14-year-old female residing with an unrelated adult male sponsor, later determined to be the biological father of the unborn child

May 7, 2025: CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) interdicted a vessel with four illegal aliens from Uzbekistan that were being smuggled into Puerto Rico

The vessel attempted to enter Puerto Rico on the island of Vieques; onboard were the four illegal aliens from Uzbekistan and three United States citizens

The Uzbeki nationals did not have any documents for an authorized entry or stay in the United States

May 4, 2025: Border Patrol agents in the Tucson Sector arrested a United States citizen and two Mexican nationals after a high-speed pursuit

The United States citizen, who was driving the car and had an extensive criminal history, fled from law enforcement at high speed after failing to stop at an immigration checkpoint

After crashing into another car, the three occupants fled on foot before being arrested

The driver faces federal charges that include human smuggling, fleeing law enforcement, and endangering human life

May 2, 2025: Four Mexican nationals in the United States illegally were charged for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that brought aliens across the Canadian border into the United States for profit

The smuggling organization had been operating for two years and smuggled hundreds of aliens per week through Canada

The aliens or their family members would pay thousands of dollars to be smuggled into the United States

April 29, 2025: CBP officers at the Area Port of San Luis arrested a woman in connection with the failed smuggling attempt of a child

The suspect, a Mexican citizen, had sedated the child prior to attempting to cross the border

The suspect also presented a false birth certificate and alleged that she was the mother; the officers discovered that there was no family relationship between the woman and the child

April 2, 2025: CBP issued a Withhold Release Order against Taepyung Salt Farm, based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor in the production of the company’s sea salt products

As a result, CBP personnel at all U

S

ports of entry will detain sea salt products from Taepyung Salt Farm in South Korea

March 25, 2025: After an ICE Arizona investigation with law enforcement partners, a human smuggling coordinator was sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in smuggling over 100 Colombians into the United States

She had been operating a travel agency in her native country, Colombia, where she would charge the victims a fee to travel to Mexico, with additional bribes required at Mexican airports

February 14, 2025: Working with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, an ICE investigation led to a four-count indictment against eight defendants with ties to Tren de Aragua on charges related to their involvement with a transnational commercial sex enterprise

Everyone can be part of the fight against human trafficking

The DHS Blue Campaign can help you recognize human trafficking and provide resources to report suspicious activity to law enforcement

###

MIL OSI USA News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Monroe Canyon Fire Intensifies

Source: NASA

The Monroe Canyon fire in central Utah grew quickly in late July 2025 amid a stretch of hot, dry, and windy weather. The blaze, burning near the communities of Richfield, Monroe, and Koosharem, began its rapid expansion the afternoon of July 25, when firefighters reported wind gusts exceeding 60 miles (97 kilometers) per hour. Its extent would more than double to 23,265 acres (9,415 hectares) by the morning of July 28.
The fire continued to rage that day, when the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image. A smoke plume from the blaze drifted hundreds of miles to the northeast, creating hazy skies and degrading air quality in areas downwind.
Fire activity prompted officials to close a portion of Fishlake National Forest and issue evacuation notices for residences within that area. Several buildings have been destroyed, according to news reports, and firefighters were working to prevent additional structures from being lost. About 1,000 personnel were involved in the firefighting response.

The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 captured the false-color image above, showing the Monroe Canyon fire on July 28. This combination of shortwave infrared, near infrared, and visible light (bands 7-5-4) makes it easier to identify unburned, vegetated areas (green) and the recently burned landscape (brown). Bright orange indicates the infrared signature of active burning.
By the morning of July 30, the fire had grown to 36,637 acres (14,830 hectares) with 11 percent containment. In addition to the fire-conducive weather, officials stated that “record-breaking low fuel moistures” contributed to the intense fire activity. A red flag warning was in effect for central and southern Utah, with low relative humidity and breezy conditions expected to continue.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey and MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Lindsey Doermann.

MIL OSI USA News –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the Outcome of the Special Meeting Hosted by Malaysia to Address the Current Situation Between Cambodia and Thailand

Source: ASEAN

We welcome the outcome of the Special Meeting chaired, hosted and witnessed by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia as the Chair of ASEAN, to address the situation between Cambodia and Thailand on 28 July 2025 in Putrajaya.

We commend Malaysia’s role in facilitating bilateral dialogue toward ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand. We are also appreciative of the role of the United States of America in co-organising the Special Meeting and the active participation of the People’s Republic of China, to promote a peaceful resolution to the ongoing situation.

We encourage Cambodia and Thailand to resolve the issue amicably in accordance with international law, and consistent with the principles enshrined in the United Nations (UN) Charter, ASEAN Charter, Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and in the spirit of ASEAN family, unity and good neighbourliness. We hope that the ceasefire agreed by both sides will be fully implemented in good faith.

We are confident that the goodwill demonstrated by both Cambodia and Thailand will result in the full and effective implementation of the ceasefire and all decisions of the Special Meeting. We also express support for Malaysia’s readiness to coordinate an observer team comprising ASEAN Member States to impartially verify and ensure the implementation of the ceasefire.

Download the full statement here.
The post ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the Outcome of the Special Meeting Hosted by Malaysia to Address the Current Situation Between Cambodia and Thailand appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

August 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: Aggrieved Liberals stamp their feet, testing Sussan Ley’s authority

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

As any leader of a political party knows, when you demote people they can become difficult, or worse.

Among Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s multiple problems are two very unhappy former frontbenchers. Sarah Henderson, who was opposition education spokeswoman last term, and Jane Hume, who had a high profile in finance, were dumped to the backbench in Ley’s reshuffle.

There were mixed views about Ley’s judgement. But it was clear neither would take the relegation lying down.

Henderson at the time declared she found it regrettable that “a number of high-performing Liberal women have been overlooked or demoted”. Hume said, ominously, “there is something very liberating about being on the backbench and being able to speak without having to stick to the party line and without having to stick to talking points”.

This week, both women used their freedom to freelance.

On the government’s student debt legislation, Henderson made her presence felt by moving an amendment designed to cap indexation. It got only a handful of votes from the crossbench. The opposition abstained.

Also in the Senate, Hume put down her marker, on a motion moved by One Nation repudiating the net zero target. Predictably, Matt Canavan (Nationals) and Alex Antic (right-wing South Australian Liberal) voted for the motion. The Liberals’ official position – given they’re in no-man’s land, reviewing their policy – was to abstain. But Hume and Andrew McLachlan (a moderate from South Australia), voted against the motion.

Hume has kept a regular spot on Sky News Australia, an opportunity to use her “liberated” voice.

Then there’s Andrew Hastie who, despite being a frontbencher, doesn’t feel under collective discipline. Hastie, whom some see as a possible future leader, didn’t get his wish for a non-security portfolio in the reshuffle. Instead, the former defence spokesman was moved to home affairs, a broad job that presents many opportunities.

When the Western Australian Liberal council passed a motion rejecting net zero at the weekend, Hastie gave his enthusiastic backing.

He then got stuck into state Liberal leader Basil Zempilas, who had said the WA parliamentary party supported “the status quo on the net zero targets”.

Hastie fired off a newsletter to supporters declaring, “This motion – moved and supported by my division of Canning – reflects a growing concern from mainstream Australians about our expensive energy bills, unreliable supply, and the erosion of our national sovereignty.

“I was therefore disappointed to see [Zempilas] publicly dismiss those concerns.”

The government was quick to exploit this, with Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen telling parliament on Thursday Hastie “will undermine any opposition leader he can find. He’s taking a practice run in Perth for what he intends to do in Canberra, some time in the next 12 months as we all know. He loves undermining leaders of the opposition.”

Peter Dutton was a disaster for the Liberals, as the election drubbing showed. But he was (mostly) able to impose substantial unity on the parliamentary party.

That was seen as a big achievement. But it had two downsides. At the time, it stifled what might have been useful internal debate, or warnings, that could have helped the opposition. And now it has left some Liberals who felt they held their tongues last time determined not to do so again. Even those not aggrieved for specific reasons are likely to be more inclined to be outspoken this term.

Ley will not be able to impose the degree of discipline that Dutton did.

Meanwhile, as the aggrieved Liberals were stamping their feet, their colleague James Paterson, new to his post of finance spokesman, was seeking to repair some of the political damage the opposition did by its attacks on the public service.

The hostility to the public service goes back a long way – some might argue it’s ingrained in the Liberals’ DNA. It was strong during Scott Morrison’s prime ministership.

Dutton promised massive cuts to the Canberra-based public service, which even the Liberals admit would have been unattainable. Hume’s plan to force public servants back into the office five days a week, a policy the opposition had to drop midway through the election campaign, has also left deep suspicion.

For the Liberals, attacking the public service has always appeared a ready road to savings. But the political dangers are obvious. It is not the seats directly affected – the ACT always votes Labor. But assaults on the public service can be readily segued by the Coalition’s opponents into code for attacks on government services.

Paterson, who’s also shadow minister for the public service, told an Australian Financial Review summit on government services, “It is not lost on me that promising significant cuts to the size of the APS or changing the way public servants work from home was poorly received and not just here in Canberra.”

Paterson said, “I have great respect for public servants, and I recognise the significant contributions they make to our democracy.

“The Coalition aspires to have a respectful, constructive relationship with the APS. We want a motivated, high-performing public service that works in genuine partnership with government to deliver the services Australians rely on. And we want it to do so as a trusted steward of taxpayer dollars.”

On the basis of history, the public servants will remain suspicious of the Liberals; Paterson’s aim will be to mitigate that as much as possible.

In a twist on the working-from-home debate, the secretary of the health department, Blair Comley, this week expressed some concern about the implications of the trend.

“I don’t think anyone is suggesting we go back to a rigid five days a week and no flexibility,” Comley told the AFR summit. But he was worried about what was happening to “learning, development, mentoring, and what’s happening to the social capital”.

Knowing the sensitivities of the issue, Comley was extremely careful with his words. Hume, having been burned once, was not putting her hand into this particular fire again. “That is not a policy that the Coalition has now, not a policy that we took to the election”, she said. There is a limit to being liberated.

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

– ref. Grattan on Friday: Aggrieved Liberals stamp their feet, testing Sussan Ley’s authority – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-aggrieved-liberals-stamp-their-feet-testing-sussan-leys-authority-262026

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Membership of Fundamental Review of Building Regulations Guidance
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Membership of Fundamental Review of Building Regulations Guidance

The government has appointed six members to the Fundamental Review of Building Regulations Guidance panel today.
Today (31 July), the government has announced the appointment of six members to the Fundamental Review of Building Regulations Guidance panel.

The panel is being appointed to support work to deliver on the recommendation from the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry Phase 2 report, accepted by the government, to review the statutory guidance which accompany the Building Regulations known as Approved Documents.

In December 2024, we announced that the Building Safety Regulator would be leading a fundamental review of the building regulations guidance, to centre on how they are produced, structured and presented. The Fundamental Review of Building Regulations Guidance panel members will support and inform the review and the members each come with extensive experience across a range of sectors.

The panel will provide an interim update in early 2026 and a final report in Summer 2026.

Minister for Building Safety, Alex Norris said:

“The appointment of this panel is an important step in our response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Guidance which supports compliance with Building Regulations must be clear, accurate, and practical, and subject to regular updates to ensure it remains effective.

“The work of the panel will support our delivery of 1.5 million new homes, by making compliance easier, improving safety and quality in construction, and ensuring greater confidence in the building safety system. I look forward to receiving the panel’s recommendations.”

Background on the Approved Documents and Building Regulations system

The Building Regulations set the minimum required standards for building work, referred to as the ‘functional requirements’.

The Approved Documents contain general guidance on the performance expected of materials and building work, including practical examples of how to achieve compliance in common building situations.

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry raised concerns about the way that the statutory guidance is expressed. In April 2023, the responsibility for updating and keeping Approved Documents under review was transferred to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), in line with their duty under the Building Safety Act 2022 to keep under review the safety and standards of buildings.

In December 2024, the BSR was commissioned by the government to conduct a fundamental review of the statutory guidance, and the new panel has been appointed to inform this work.

Further information

The establishment of the panel was announced on 31 July 2025.

The Grenfell Tower Phase 2 Inquiry recommended that the statutory guidance be urgently reviewed. On 2 December 2024 the Deputy Prime Minister announced a fundamental review of the statutory guidance to the Building Regulations. This panel will inform that review. The panel’s role is advisory.  The aim is to produce an interim report in early 2026 and a final report by Summer 2026.  

Further updates, including the panel’s Terms of Reference, will be published shortly.

Panel members

Dinah Bornat, Architect

Dinah is a renowned advocate for people-centred development. She is the Director & Co-founder of ZCD, a research-led practice based in London who work on residential, community and commercial projects. She has served as a design advocate for the Mayor of London and an adviser to local authorities and developers.

Dan Rossiter, Digital Expert

Dan is the Built Environment Sector Lead at the British Standards Institute, and Vice-President Technical at the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists. He has previously provided his expertise to several national committees relating to information management and technical documentation in the built environment.

Danielle Michalska-Morris, Housebuilder

Danielle is the Director of Research and Technical Innovation at Taylor Wimpey. She brings to the panel her expert knowledge and experience in low carbon building design and building services.

Rachel Ferguson, Planner

Rachel is Senior Development Manager at Pocket Living. She has extensive expertise in affordable housing, and brings her broad experience in planning including strategic masterplans, estate regeneration projects and new build residentials to this panel.

Professor Luke Bisby, Technical Expert

Luke is the Chair of Fire and Structures and Director of Discipline at the University of Edinburgh. He served as an expert witness to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, and will bring particular expertise on fire safety to this panel.

Dr Hywel Davies, Technical Expert   

Hywel is the former technical Director for the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). He served as the previous chair of DLUHC’s statutory committee, and the Building Regulations Advisory Committee. He brings to this panel his broad expertise on a range of technical areas.

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Published 31 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Op-Ed: Financing Energy Access in Africa: Leveraging Fossil Fuel Revenues to End Energy Poverty (By NJ Ayuk)

Source: APO – Report:

NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org)

In an emissions-focused world, do oil and gas revenues have a role to play in ending energy poverty in Africa? It may sound counterintuitive, but many would argue that they do, albeit as enablers of a future powered by alternative energy sources.

The key lies in recognizing that Africa’s situation is unique, and solutions take time, building on what we have and what we can do with it. This means that, in working towards a just energy transition, the continent’s oil and gas resources shouldn’t be viewed as obstacles that need to be immediately replaced by renewable energy sources. Instead, rather than prematurely phasing out fossil fuels in response to global pressure, Africa should harness these revenues responsibly to finance its energy transition and ultimately eradicate energy poverty.

Prioritizing Development Alongside Sustainability

Nearly 600 million Africans still live without access to electricity (https://apo-opa.co/3U6V4uH). This access is a fundamental human right, yet energy poverty remains one of the continent’s most significant barriers to development. This undermines health systems, education, industrialization, and dignity. As the world debates how to rapidly achieve net-zero, Africa’s priority is different: how to power its people now, while building a sustainable future.

Measuring Africa’s energy transition progress against external calls for an abrupt end to fossil fuels risks leaving millions behind. Our continent contributes less than 4% (https://apo-opa.co/4odEQxF) to global emissions, yet we are expected to decarbonize at the same pace as industrialized nations that built their wealth on hydrocarbons.

Instead, the continent’s abundance of fossil fuels should be viewed as a bridge, not a barrier. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) Africa-Paris Declaration (https://apo-opa.co/3GO1ImM) underscores this principle – Africa’s oil and gas revenues can and must be used as a financial lever to invest in electrification, clean energy, and infrastructure projects. This pragmatic and just approach prioritizes development alongside sustainability, not instead of.

There are several ways to achieve this. First, reinvesting oil and gas revenues into rural electrification can transform communities. Decentralized solutions like off-grid solar and mini-grids offer practical ways to reach remote areas. Although urban dwellers do experience power outages, for many rural populations, it’s a way of life. For the mother cooking with firewood or the student studying by candlelight, a small solar grid is life-changing. Fossil fuel revenues can finance these systems at scale, bridging the immediate access gap while longer-term grid expansions are in progress.

Second, establishing innovative financing mechanisms is essential. For instance, the fledgling Africa Energy Bank (https://apo-opa.co/4l5R2Of) aims to bridge the continent’s estimated $31 billion to $50 billion annual energy funding gap by focusing predominantly on financing energy projects. Launched in 2025, the bank is poised to play a transformative role in mobilizing capital for African energy projects. Additionally, global investors are increasingly exploring energy investment opportunities in Africa. In support of this, development finance institutions, such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the International Finance Corporation, are de-risking investments by offering concessional loans, guarantees, and technical assistance, making investment in African energy projects more attractive.

Third, policy reforms that create enabling environments are critical. Here, governments have a role to play in prioritizing revenue-generating projects, creating stable regulatory frameworks, and offering incentives for public-private partnerships. This will support investment, reduce risks, and unlock the transformative power of energy access.

These solutions demonstrate the importance of a fair and equitable transition and the vital role that fossil fuels will continue to play in achieving this goal. They also prove that this goal is achievable, even if it is on the continent’s own terms.

Unique Solutions to Africa’s Energy Challenges

Africa’s path to net-zero has the same end goal as the rest of the world, but it can’t mirror their journey. Our starting points are different, and our development needs are urgent. We understand that climate action can’t be delayed. But it can be just, inclusive, and rooted in African realities. And it can also be supported by revenues from our abundant natural resources.

The Africa-Paris Declaration notes that ‘a fair transition recognizes that fossil fuels remain valuable for Africa’s development, prosperity, and energy access goals. Africa doesn’t need to choose between oil and gas or renewables. Given our current position, all are important and require both strategic and sensible deployment. Fossil fuels generate the revenues to invest in solar, wind, hydropower, and grid infrastructure. They fuel industries that create jobs. They support healthcare, education, and innovation.

When managed responsibly, Africa’s fossil fuel revenue can serve as a bridge to a brighter, greener, and more prosperous continent. Will it be quick and easy? No. Will some question the approach? Most certainly. But the alternative is leaving hundreds of millions of people in the dark.

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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MIL OSI Africa –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: The quiet war: What’s fueling Israel’s surge of settler violence – and the lack of state response

Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Arie Perliger, Director of Security Studies and Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies, UMass Lowell

An Israeli soldier prays in the Evyatar outpost in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on July 7, 2024. AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg

Since Oct. 7, 2023, as Israel’s war against Hamas drags on in the Gaza Strip, a quieter but escalating war has unfolded in the West Bank between Israelis and Palestinians.

While precise figures are elusive, United Nations estimates indicate that Jewish settlers have carried out around 2,000 attacks against Palestinians since the war in Gaza began. That number represents a dramatic surge compared with any previous period during the nearly six decades Israel has controlled the West Bank.

Attacks include harassment of Palestinian villagers trying to access their crops or work outside their villages, as well as more extreme and organized violence, such as raiding villages to vandalize property. While many of the attacks are unprovoked, some are what settlers call “price tag” actions: retaliation for Palestinian violence against Israelis, such as car-rammings, rock-throwing and stabbings.

Settlers’ attacks displaced more than 1,500 Palestinians in the first year of the war in Gaza, and gun violence is increasingly common. Since October 2023, more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed. While most of these fatalities resulted from military operations, some were killed by settlers.

Mourners attend the funeral of three Palestinians who were killed when Jewish settlers stormed the West Bank village of Kafr Malik, on June 26, 2025.
AP Photo/Leo Correa

As a scholar who has studied Jewish religious extremism for over two decades, I contend this campaign is not merely a result of rising tension between the settlers and their Palestinian neighbors amid the Gaza conflict. Rather, it is fueled by a confluence of ideological fervor, opportunism and far-right Israelis’ political vision for the region.

Religious redemption

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967’s Six-Day War against Egypt, Jordan and Syria, transforming this small region of around 2,000 square miles (5,200 square kilometers) to an amalgam of Jewish and Palestinian enclaves. Most countries other than Israel consider Jewish settlements illegal, but they have rapidly expanded in recent decades, becoming a major challenge for any settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The ideological roots of violence lie within religious Zionism: a worldview embraced by about 20% of Israel’s Jewish population, including most West Bank settlers.

The great majority of the leaders of the early Zionist movement held strong secular views. They pushed for the creation of a Jewish state over the objections of Orthodox figures, who argued that it should be a divine creation rather than a human-made polity.

Religious Zionists, on the other hand, view the creation of modern-day Israel and its military victories as steps in a divine redemption, which will culminate in a Jewish kingdom led by a heaven-sent Messiah. Adherents believe contemporary events, particularly those asserting Jewish control over the entire historical land of Israel, can accelerate this process.

In recent decades, influential religious Zionist leaders have argued that final redemption requires Israel’s total military triumph and the annihilation of its enemies, particularly the Palestinian national movement. From this perspective, the devastation of Oct. 7 and the subsequent war are a divine test – one the nation can only pass by achieving a complete victory.

This belief system fuels most religious Zionists’ opposition to ending the war, as well as their advocacy for scorched-earth policies in Gaza. Some hope to rebuild the Jewish settlements in the strip that Israel evacuated in 2005.

Some religious Zionists hope to reestablish Jewish settlements in Gaza.‘
Sally Hayden/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The violence in the West Bank reflects an extension of the same beliefs. Extreme groups within the settler population aim to solidify Jewish control by making Palestinian communities’ lives in the region unsustainable.

Opportunistic violence

Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre, which killed over 1,200 Israelis, traumatized the nation. It also hardened many Jewish Israelis’ conviction that a Palestinian state would be an existential threat, and thus Palestinians cannot be partners for peace.

This shift in sentiment created a permissive environment for violence. While settler attacks previously drew criticism from across the political spectrum, extremist violence faces less public condemnation today – as does the government’s lack of effort to curb it.

This increase in violence is also enabled by a climate of impunity. Israeli security forces have been stretched thin by operations in Gaza, Syria, Iran and beyond. In the West Bank, the military increasingly relies on settler militias known as “Emergency Squads,” which are armed by the Israeli military for self-defense, and army units composed primarily of religious Zionist settlers, such as the Netzah Yehuda Battalion. Such groups have little incentive to stop attacks on Palestinians, and at times, they have participated.

This dynamic has dangerously blurred the line between the state military and militant settlers. The Israeli police, meanwhile, under the command of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, appear focused on protecting settlers. Police leadership has been accused of ignoring intelligence about planned attacks and failing to arrest violent settlers or enforce restraining orders. Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group, asserts that just 3% of attacks have resulted in a conviction.

In June 2025, military attempts to curb settler militancy triggered a violent backlash, as extremist settlers attacked military commanders and tried to set fire to military facilities. Settlers view efforts to restrict their actions as illegitimate and a betrayal of Jewish interests in the West Bank.

Political vision

Violence by extremist settlers is not random; it is one arm of a coordinated pincer strategy to entrench Jewish control over the West Bank.

Emergency volunteers put out a fire during an attack by Israeli right-wing settlers on the West Bank village of Turmusaya on June 26, 2025.
Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance via Getty Images

While militant settlers create a climate of fear, Israeli authorities have undermined legal efforts to stop the violence – ending administrative detention for settler suspects, for example. Meanwhile, the government has intensified policies that undermine Palestinians’ economic development, freedom of movement and land use. In May, finance minister and far-right leader Bezalel Smotrich approved 22 new settlements, calling it a “historic decision” that signaled a return to “construction, Zionism, and vision.”

Together, violence from below and policy from above advance a clear strategic goal: the coerced depopulation of Palestinians from rural areas to solidify Israeli sovereignty over the entire West Bank.

Levers for change

The militant elements of the settler movement constitute a fractional segment of Israeli society. When it comes to improving the situation in the West Bank, broad punitive measures against the entire country, such as economic boycotting and divestment, or blocking access to scientific, economic and cultural programs and organizations, have historically proved ineffective.

Instead, such policies seem to entrench many Israelis’ perception of international bias and double standards: the sense that critics are antisemitic, or that few outsiders understand the country’s challenges – particularly in light of threats from entitles like Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, which openly seek Israel’s elimination.

More targeted policies aim specifically at the Israeli far right, including sanctions – economic, political or cultural – directed at settler communities and their infrastructure. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and the U.K. have imposed travel bans on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, and frozen their assets in those countries. Similarly, I believe decisions to ban goods produced in the West Bank settlements, as Ireland has recently debated, would be more effective than banning all Israeli products.

This targeted approach, I would argue, would allow the international community to cultivate stronger alliances with the many Israelis concerned about the settlements and Palestinians’ rights in the West Bank.

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

– ref. The quiet war: What’s fueling Israel’s surge of settler violence – and the lack of state response – https://theconversation.com/the-quiet-war-whats-fueling-israels-surge-of-settler-violence-and-the-lack-of-state-response-261990

MIL OSI –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Roman Empire and the fall of Nero offer possible lessons for Trump about the cost of self-isolation

Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Kirk Freudenburg, Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Classics, Yale University

A marble statue of Nero on loan from the Louvre in Paris is seen at the Landesmuseum in Germany in 2016. Harald Tittel/Picture Alliance via Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s first term saw a record-high rate of turnover among his Cabinet members and chief advisers. Trump’s second term has, to date, seen far fewer Cabinet departures.

But some political commentators have observed that the president this time around has primarily appointed loyal advisers who will not challenge him.

As Thomas Friedman pointed out in The New York Times on June 3, 2025, “In Trump I, the president surrounded himself with some people of weight who could act as buffers. In Trump II, he has surrounded himself only with sycophants who act like amplifiers.”

As a scholar of Greco-Roman antiquity, I have spent many years studying the demise of truth-telling in periods of political upheaval. Spanning the period from 27 B.C.E. to 476 C.E., the Roman Empire still offers insights into what happens to political leaders when they interpret possibly helpful advice as dissent.

Particularly telling is the case of Nero, Rome’s emperor from 54 to 68 C.E., who responded to a disastrous fire in 64 with extreme cruelty and self-worship that did nothing to help desperate citizens.

Suppressing honest advice under Nero

Rome’s first emperor, Augustus, established a handpicked circle of advisers – called the consilium principis in Latin, meaning emperor’s council – to give a republican look to his autocratic regime. Augustus became the emperor of Rome in 27 B.C.E. and ruled over the empire, which stretched from Europe and North Africa to the Middle East at its peak, until his death in 14 C.E.

Augustus wanted to hear what others thought about the empire’s needs and his policies. At least some of Augustus’ advisers were bold enough to assert themselves and risk incurring his displeasure. Some, such as Cornelius Gallus, paid for their boldness with their lives, Gallus apparently took his own life, so that might not be the best example – unless it was a forced suicide while others, such as Cilnius Maecenas, managed to push their political agendas in softer ways that allowed them to maintain their influence.

But the Roman emperors who came after Augustus were either less skilled at maintaining a republican facade, or less interested in doing so.

Nero was the last of the emperors from the noble Julio-Claudian dynasty in ancient Rome at its peak of power. Historians who describe Nero’s rise and fall from power describe the first five years of his reign, or the quinquennium neronis in Latin, as a period of relative calm and prosperity for the empire.

Because Nero was just 16 years old when he acceded to power, he was assigned advisers to guide his policies. Their opinions carried significant weight.

But five years into his reign, chafing at their continued oversight, Nero began to purge these advisers from his life, via execution, forced suicide and exile.

Nero instead collected a small cadre of self-interested enablers who derived power for themselves by encouraging their leader’s delusions, such as his desire to project himself as the incarnation of the sun god, Apollo.

The single most unspeakably corrupt and nefarious of these preferred advisers was Ofonius Tigellinus. Tigellinus had caught Nero’s eye early in 62 by urging the senate to convict a Roman magistrate of treason for having composed poems that he deemed insulting to the emperor. Later that year, Tigellinus was appointed the head of the emperor’s personal army.

As praetorian prefect, Tigellinus was charged not only with protecting Nero from physical harm, but also with crafting and guarding the leader’s public image. Tigellinus urged Nero to stage an ongoing series of public spectacles – like theatrical performances and athletic competitions – that featured him as a divine ruler and a god on Earth.

The Roman Emperor Nero surveys the city of Rome after the disastrous fire in 64 C.E.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Up in flames

It was likely at Tigellinus’ urging that, in the aftermath of the great fire of 64 that raged for six days in Rome, Nero staged an exorbitant garden party where Christians were soaked in flammable oils and lit as human torches to illuminate a decadent late-night feast.

But, try as he might, Nero couldn’t outrun the fire and its aftermath by indulging in clever cruelties. Huge swathes of the city had been razed by the fire. Thousands of citizens lacked clothing. They were hungry, displaced and homeless.

For answers, the fire’s countless victims looked to Nero, their earthly Apollo, for help. But they did not encounter a sympathetic leader sweeping in to address their needs. Instead, they found a man desperate to place blame on others – in this case, foreigners from the east.

In order to squelch rumors that Nero had lit the fire, Tigellinus’ army unit rounded up Christians, falsely blamed them for starting the fire and executed them.

But this move just showcased Nero’s failure to focus on the dire needs of the poor, the very people who worshipped him. Instead, he sought to rise above the ashes by doubling down on his divine pretensions.

Once the rubble left by the fire was cleared away, Nero built a magnificent new home for himself. This palace, called the domus aurea in Latin, meaning house of gold, covered more than 120 acres in the heart of Rome. It featured spectacular water fountains, elaborate works of art and, standing tall in the entryway, a 120-foot bronze statue of Nero as the sun god, Apollo.

No truth-teller was there to tell Nero that maybe he shouldn’t rub his people’s noses in their suffering. (can we say ‘Maybe he shouldn’t exploit his people’s suffering in this way’?) this suggestion needs either accepted or rejected

Nero’s delusional response to the fire did not put an end to his career, but it did much to hasten its end.

Less than four years later, with armies bearing down on the city, Nero committed suicide. Rome tumbled into civil war.

President Donald Trump appears at an Independence Day event at the Mount Rushmore national monument near Keystone, S.D., in 2020.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Self-worship in the Trump era

Trump has long expressed a desire to have his face carved on Mount Rushmore, a national memorial in South Dakota that features the likenesses of legendary American presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt.

This dream became a bit closer to reality when Tennessee Representative Andy Ogles in July 2025 urged the Department of the Interior to explore adding Trump’s image to Mount Rushmore – even though such an addition might not be possible because of geological issues.
Trump’s critics have long noted the president’s propensity to focus on himself and his own greatness and power, rather than the needs of citizens.

As far away as the Roman Empire might seem, Nero’s rise and fall offers a lesson in what can happen when honest criticism of a political leader is sidelined in favor of idolatry.

Instead of honest solutions to real problems, what Romans got was a colossal statue that portrayed their leader as a god on Earth.

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

– ref. Roman Empire and the fall of Nero offer possible lessons for Trump about the cost of self-isolation – https://theconversation.com/roman-empire-and-the-fall-of-nero-offer-possible-lessons-for-trump-about-the-cost-of-self-isolation-257871

MIL OSI –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: What is personalized pricing, and how do I avoid it?

Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Jay L. Zagorsky, Associate Professor Questrom School of Business, Boston University

Recently, Delta Air Lines announced it would expand its use of artificial intelligence to provide individualized prices to customers. This move sparked concern among flyers and politicians. But Delta isn’t the only business interested in using AI this way. Personalized pricing has already spread across a range of industries, from finance to online gaming.

Customized pricing – where each customer receives a different price for the same product – is a holy grail for businesses because it boosts profits. With customized pricing, free-spending people pay more while the price-sensitive pay less. Just as clothes can be tailored to each person, custom pricing fits each person’s ability and desire to pay.

I am a professor who teaches business school students how to set prices. My latest book, “The Power of Cash: Why Using Paper Money is Good for You and Society,” highlights problems with custom pricing. Specifically, I’m worried that AI pricing models lack transparency and could unfairly take advantage of financially unsophisticated people.

The history of custom pricing

For much of history, customized pricing was the normal way things happened. In the past, business owners sized up each customer and then bargained face-to-face. The price paid depended on the buyer’s and seller’s bargaining skills – and desperation.

An old joke illustrates this process. Once, a very rich man was riding in his carriage at breakfast time. Hungry, he told his driver to stop at the next restaurant. He went inside, ordered some eggs and asked for the bill. When the owner handed him the check, the rich man was shocked at the price. “Are eggs rare in this neighborhood?” he asked. “No,” the owner said. “Eggs are plentiful, but very rich men are quite rare.”

Custom pricing through bargaining still exists in some industries. For example, car dealerships often negotiate a different price for each vehicle they sell. Economists refer to this as “first-degree” or “perfect” price discrimination, which is “perfect” from the seller’s perspective because it allows them to charge each customer the maximum amount they’re willing to pay.

Wanamaker’s department store in Philadelphia was a pricing pioneer.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Currently, most American shoppers don’t bargain but instead see set prices. Many scholars trace the rise of set prices to John Wanamaker’s Philadelphia department store, which opened in 1876. In his store, each item had a nonnegotiable price tag. These set prices made it simpler for customers to shop and became very popular.

Why uniform pricing caught on

Set prices have several advantages for businesses. For one thing, they allow stores to hire low-paid retail workers instead of employees who are experts in negotiation.

Historically, they also made it easier for stores to decide how much to charge. Before the advent of AI pricing, many companies determined prices using a “cost-plus” rule. Cost-plus means a business adds a fixed percentage or markup to an item’s cost. The markup is the percentage added to a product’s cost that covers a company’s profits and overhead.

The big-box retailer Costco still uses this rule. It determines prices by adding a roughly 15% maximum markup to each item on the warehouse floor. If something costs Costco $100, they sell it for about $115.

The problem with cost-plus is that it treats all items the same. For example, Costco sells wine in many stores. People buying expensive Champagne typically are willing to pay a much higher markup than customers purchasing inexpensive boxed wine. Using AI gets around this problem by letting a computer determine the optimal markup item by item.

What personalized pricing means for shoppers

AI needs a lot of data to operate effectively. The shift from cash to electronic payments has enabled businesses to collect what’s been called a “gold mine” of information. For example, Mastercard says its data lets companies “determine optimal pricing strategies.”

So much information is collected when you pay electronically that in 2024 the Federal Trade Commission issued civil subpoenas to Mastercard, JPMorgan Chase and other financial companies demanding to know “how artificial intelligence and other technological tools may allow companies to vary prices using data they collect about individual consumers’ finances and shopping habits.” Experiments at the FTC show that AI programs can even collude among themselves to raise prices without human intervention.

To prevent customized pricing, some states have laws requiring retailers to display a single price for each product for sale. Even with these laws, it’s simple to do custom pricing by using targeted digital coupons, which vary each shopper’s discount.

How you can outsmart AI pricing

There are ways to get around customized pricing. All depend on denying AI programs data on past purchases and knowledge of who you are. First, when shopping in brick-and-mortar stores, use paper money. Yes, good old-fashioned cash is private and leaves no data trail that follows you online.

Second, once online, clear your cache. Your search history and cookies provide algorithms with extensive amounts of information. Many articles say the protective power of clearing your cache is an urban myth. However, this information was based on how airlines used to price tickets. Recent analysis by the FTC shows the newest AI algorithms are changing prices based on this cached information.

Third, many computer pricing algorithms look at your location, since location is a good proxy for income. I was once in Botswana and needed to buy a plane ticket. The price on my computer was about $200. Unfortunately, before booking I was called away to dinner. After dinner my computer showed the cost was $1,000 − five times higher. It turned out after dinner I used my university’s VPN, which told the airline I was located in a rich American neighborhood. Before dinner I was located in a poor African town. Shutting off the VPN reduced the price.

Last, often to get a better price in face-to-face negotiations, you need to walk away. To do this online, put something in your basket and then wait before hitting purchase. I recently bought eyeglasses online. As a cash payer, I didn’t have my credit card handy. It took five minutes to find it, and the delay caused the site to offer a large discount to complete the purchase.

The computer revolution has created the ability to create custom products cheaply. The cashless society combined with AI is setting us up for customized prices. In a custom-pricing situation, seeing a high price doesn’t mean something is higher quality. Instead, a high price simply means a business views the customer as willing to part with more money.

Using cash more often can help defeat custom pricing. In my view, however, rapid advances in AI mean we need to start talking now about how prices are determined, before customized pricing takes over completely.

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

– ref. What is personalized pricing, and how do I avoid it? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-personalized-pricing-and-how-do-i-avoid-it-262195

MIL OSI –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Yosemite embodies the long war over US national park privatization

Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Michael Childers, Associate Professor of History, Colorado State University

The Ahwahnee is a privately run hotel inside Yosemite National Park. George Rose/Getty Images

The Trump administration’s cuts to the National Park Service’s budget and staffing have raised concerns among park advocates and the public that the administration is aiming to further privatize the national parks.

The nation has a long history of similar efforts, including a wildly unpopular 1980 attempt by Reagan administration Interior Secretary James Watt to promote development and expand private concessions in the parks. But debate over using public national park land for private profit dates back more than a century before that.

As I explain in my forthcoming book, no park has played a more central role in that debate than Yosemite, in California.

Early concerns

In early 1864, Central American Steamship Transit Company representative Israel Ward Raymond wrote a letter to John Conness, a U.S. senator from California, urging the government to move swiftly to preserve the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia trees to prevent them from falling into private hands. Five months later, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act, ceding the valley and the grove to the state of California, “upon the express conditions that the premises shall be held for public use, resort, and recreation.” This was years before Yellowstone became the first federal land designated a national park in 1872.

For centuries, the natural beauty of the Yosemite Valley has impressed visitors.
Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Controversy arose quickly at Yosemite. Two men – James Lamon and James Hutchings – had claimed land in the valley before the federal government gave it to California. Both began commercial operations, Lamon growing cash crops and Hutchings operating a hotel.

California said their businesses threatened the state’s ability to develop roads and trails in Yosemite by competing for tourist dollars. A legal battle ensued and was not resolved until an 1872 U.S. Supreme Court ruling found that the men’s land claims had not been fully validated according to the procedures of the time. The California legislature paid both men compensation for their land, and both left the park.

In 1890, neighboring parts of the Yosemite area became America’s third national park – and in 1906, the federal government again took possession of the Yosemite Valley itself and the Mariposa Grove, specifically to incorporate them into an expansion of the national park.

Development rights

Yet, as my research has found, the role of private interests in the park remained unsolved. Private companies under contract to the National Park Service have long provided needed amenities such as lodging and food within the national parks. But questions over what is acceptable in national parks in the pursuit of profit have shaped Yosemite’s history for generations.

In 1925, I found, the question centered on the right to build the first gas station inside the park, in Yosemite Valley. Two private businesses, the Curry Camping Company and the Yosemite National Park Company, had long competed for tourist dollars within the park. Each wanted to build a gas station to boost profits.

Frustrated over the need to decide, National Park Service Director Horace Albright ordered the rival firms to simplify management of the park’s concessions. The companies merged, and the newly formed Yosemite Park and Curry Company was granted the exclusive rights to run lodges, restaurants and other facilities within the park, including the new gas station.

But as I found in my research, the park service and the concessions company did not always see eye to eye on the purpose of the park. The conflict between profit and preservation is perhaps most clearly illustrated by the construction of a ski area within the park in the early 1930s. The park service initially opposed the development of Badger Pass Ski Area as not conducive to the national park ideal, but the Yosemite Park and Curry Company insisted it was key to boosting winter use of the park.

In 1973, the Music Corporation of America, an entertainment conglomerate, bought the Yosemite Park and Curry Company. The company already had a tourist attraction operating near Hollywood, where visitors could pay to tour movie sets, but had not yet changed its name to Universal Studios or launched major theme parks in Florida and California. Its purchase of the park’s concessions set off a firestorm of controversy over fears of turning Yosemite into a theme park.

That didn’t happen, but annual park visitor numbers climbed from 2.5 million to 3.8 million over the 20 years MCA ran the concessions, which sparked concerns about development and overcrowding in the park. Conservationists argued the park service had allowed the corporate giant to promote and develop the park in ways that threatened the very aspects of the park most people came to enjoy.

With three restaurants, two service stations with a total of 15 gas pumps, two cafeterias, two grocery stores, seven souvenir shops, a delicatessen, a bank, a skating rink, three swimming pools, a golf course, two tennis courts, kennels, a barbershop, a beauty shop, Badger Pass Ski Area and three lodges, the Yosemite Valley was a busy commercial district. Critics argued that such development contradicted the park service’s mandate to leave national parks unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.

Crowds gather at some of Yosemite’s most popular sites, such as the California Tunnel Tree.
David McNew/AFP via Getty Images

Who owns the names?

Falling profits and consolidation within the music industry led MCA to sell its concessions rights in Yosemite in 1993. The Delaware North Companies, a global hospitality corporation, took over and ran the park’s concessions until 2016, when it sold the rights to Aramark.

But in that sale, the question of public resources and private profits arose again. Delaware North demanded $51 million in compensation for Aramark continuing to use the names of several historic properties within the park, such as the Ahwahnee, a hotel, and Curry Village, another group of visitor accommodations. The company claimed those names were a part of its assets under its contract with the park service.

The park service rejected the claim, saying the names, which dated back more than a century, belonged to the American people. But to avoid legal problems during the transition, the agency temporarily renamed several sites, including calling the Ahwahnee the Majestic Yosemite Hotel and changing Curry Village to Half Dome Village. Public outrage erupted, denouncing the claim by Delaware North as commercial overreach that threatened to distort Yosemite’s heritage. In 2019, the park service and Aramark agreed to pay Delaware North a total of $12 million to settle the dispute, and the original names were restored.

Protesters unfurl an upside-down U.S. flag from the top of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in February 2025, protesting Trump administration changes to the National Park Service.

Renewed interest in commercial efforts

In June 2025, Yosemite again took center stage in the dispute over the role of federal funding versus private interests at the start of the second Trump administration when a group of climbers unfurled an American flag upside down off El Capitan in protest of the administration’s cuts in personnel and slashing of the park service’s budget.

Conservationists, including former National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis, argued that by defunding the park service and laying off as much as a quarter of its workforce, the Trump administration was “laying the groundwork to privatize” the national parks by allowing corporate interests more access to public lands. Those concerns echo ones raised during the first Trump administration, when the White House argued privatization would better serve the American public by improving visitor experiences and saving federal dollars.

Whichever side prevails in the short term, the debate over the role of private interests within national parks like Yosemite will undoubtedly continue.

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

– ref. Yosemite embodies the long war over US national park privatization – https://theconversation.com/yosemite-embodies-the-long-war-over-us-national-park-privatization-261133

MIL OSI –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: ServiceTrade Unveils 4 Keys to Unlocking Peak Valuations for Commercial Service Businesses
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

DURHAM, N.C., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ServiceTrade, an innovative software platform that optimizes commercial service business operations for growth and profit, today announced four key strategies to significantly boost business valuations and ensure successful M&A outcomes. These insights offer commercial service contractors practical strategies to build, measure, and enhance their business value using ServiceTrade.

The fire and life safety and mechanical service markets are experiencing a marked acceleration in consolidation activity. This trend began in 2023 and intensified through the first half of 2025, encompassing significant acquisitions exceeding $1 billion alongside numerous smaller roll-ups and consolidations. Notably, private equity deals in the mechanical and HVAC services market have surged 88%. In parallel, the fire and life safety markets maintain a robust average of 38 transactions per quarter this year.

“Whether you’re preparing for a future exit or building a strong, high-performing business, you need a plan to create long-term value,” said Billy Marshall, Founder of ServiceTrade. “Contractors that prioritize recurring revenue, technician productivity, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction consistently achieve higher valuations—and have more options when it’s time to sell.”

ServiceTrade has outlined four key areas of value creation that maximize growth, scale, and attractiveness to potential acquirers.

1. Revenue Predictability and Quality

Recent industry trends show recurring revenue streams command valuation premiums 3-5 times higher than one-off project revenue. Additionally, commercial service providers whose revenue primarily derives from recurring maintenance and inspection work grow at twice the rate of their peers. Prioritizing the most profitable customers and protecting margins through automation further enhances this.
- Aim for 80% of revenue to come from long-term service contracts and committed recurring revenue. Avoid “one-and-done” project customers.
- Focus on the most profitable customers and minimize low-quality projects or break/fix work.
2. Optimized for Technician Productivity

Commercial service companies that optimize technician productivity experience significantly higher margins and improved customer satisfaction. By utilizing mobile field technology and smart workforce management, these companies eliminate administrative burdens, empowering technicians to deliver more billable work and more value to the customer, while enjoying higher work satisfaction.
- Establish technician productivity baselines and implement tracking systems to meet or exceed industry-leading benchmarks.
- To attract and retain skilled technicians, eliminate unnecessary administrative tasks in the field, to overcome the ongoing skilled labor shortage.
- Streamline communications among technicians, office staff, and customers through digital work orders and automated customer updates.
3. Enhance Operational Efficiency with Better Technology

Companies that leverage tailored technology to streamline operations create significant competitive advantages by maximizing productivity, employee satisfaction, and customer experiences. Modern technology solutions provide staff with real-time data and tools to manage tasks and customer interactions efficiently, fostering an engaged, high-performing workforce.
- Utilize purpose-built technology to optimize technician performance and operational efficiency.
- Implement comprehensive, integrated solutions to manage workflows, digitally reduce errors, and minimize administrative tasks.
- Leverage technology to increase employee engagement, satisfaction, and accountability.
4. Prioritize Your Most Valuable Customers

Creating a customer-first culture dramatically improves customer retention and satisfaction, ultimately driving sustainable business growth. Companies position themselves as trusted, customer-focused partners by leveraging digital solutions to provide transparent, timely, and comprehensive customer communications.
- Make retaining and expanding your most profitable customers a corporate priority.
- Target a 90% customer retention rate through proactive and personalized customer engagement strategies.
- Digitize all customer communications, offering seamless access to service histories, quotes, invoices, approvals, and status updates.
- Develop comprehensive customer records, including detailed service histories, contractual agreements, profitability analyses, and revenue contribution insights.
Rod DiBona, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety’s Executive Vice President of Business Development, added insight for sellers in a recent webinar with ServiceTrade on M&A readiness:

“In today’s market, buyers are looking for more than just top-line revenue,” said DiBona, “Businesses that retain customers, are committed to their employees, grow accounts, and use technology to scale profitably are more valuable and attractive to strategic and private equity buyers.”

Commercial service contractors can learn more about building valuation using these resources:

Webinar: M&A Readiness with Pye-Barker: Building Your Toolkit for a Strong Exit

eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Building a Fire & Life Safety Business For a Successful Exit

eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Building a Commercial HVAC Business for a Successful Exit

Learn how ServiceTrade can help you build a more valuable business. Book a Demo with one of our experts.

About ServiceTrade
ServiceTrade, Inc., is a best-in-class field service management platform that enables commercial contractors to build efficient, profitable, and growing businesses. With a decade of innovation and 1300 customers, ServiceTrade is an end-to-end, fully integrated solution that maximizes technician performance, streamlines operations, and delivers digital-first experiences that win and delight customers. Commercial contractors can service smarter and scale faster with ServiceTrade.

Contact
media@ktcmarketingandpr.com

The MIL Network –
August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: U.S. Drone Market Outlook and Competitive Landscape Becoming a Sector Poised for Prosperous Expansion

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

PALM BEACH, Fla., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Recently, drone market insiders, have issued very optimistic reviews on where the U.S. drone market is heading. Industry observers note that this legislative backing de-risks investment in defense and dual-use drone companies, making them more attractive to institutional investors and venture firms alike. The new funding is poised to expand domestic manufacturing capabilities, support R&D in autonomy and AI, and reward companies prepared to operate within the tightened regulatory and sourcing frameworks. On such report from Dronelife.com said: “Compare the U.S. surge in drone investment to the investment contraction and global market realignment that Drone Industry Insights (DRONEII), reported on just a few months ago. The earlier DRONEII report underscores the U.S. government’s legislative actions as especially impactful, setting the pace for global realignment and influencing investment priorities worldwide. The direct result of these policy moves has been an influx of both venture and public market investment into U.S.-aligned drone companies. Companies such as Firestorm Labs and Unusual Machines have openly referenced the “clear demand signals” coming from Washington in their fundraising releases. Meanwhile, market analysis on platforms like Nasdaq and Investing.com track a sector-wide uptick in share prices and capital-infused balance sheets in July 2025 alone.” Active Companies in the drone industries include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PRZO), Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI), Arbe Robotics Ltd. (NASDAQ: ARBE).

The article continued discussing how legislative backing is a growth catalyst saying: “The strengthened investment environment for U.S. drone companies in the summer of 2025 is a direct response to aggressive legislative and executive action. As enhanced procurement mandates and funding priorities solidify, companies with domestic manufacturing capabilities and compliance adherence are best positioned to benefit. This unique interplay of policy and market forces is not only revitalizing the American drone industrial base but is also driving a more resilient, innovation-focused sector poised for further expansion.”

ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) ZenaDrone Initiates AUVSI Membership Upgrade, Enabling Leadership on Drone Policy and Strengthening US Defense and Government Engagement – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a business technology solution provider specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), Enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, today announces its drone subsidiary ZenaDrone has initiated upgrading its membership to the Advocacy level with the influential Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), enabling it to join both the Defense Advocacy Committee and Air Advocacy Committee. This upgrade enables the company to engage alongside top US drone and defense innovators, such as Skydio, Anduril, Leidos and Shield AI, to elevate its leadership role in shaping critical drone policy and procurement as well as deepening relationships with important stakeholders and decisionmakers.

“This is a clear investment in speed to market and long-term procurement success,” said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., ZenaTech CEO. “By joining AUVSI’s Defense and Air Advocacy Committees, ZenaDrone gains direct access to the policy, compliance, and acquisition conversations that shape Department of Defense agency procurement. It positions us alongside trusted defense leaders and innovators, accelerating our path to Green and Blue UAS certification by strengthening our ability to meet the security, interoperability, and regulatory expectations of federal buyers and leverage growth opportunities.”

Through an upgraded Advocacy membership, ZenaDrone will be able to collaborate with AUVSI’s network of industry leaders and regulators to influence federal drone policies and shape the future of the drone industry in the US. This participation provides direct access to federal decision-makers, enabling influence on key policy areas such as BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) regulation and streamlined procurement, while ensuring the company’s drone platforms remain aligned with the evolving operational needs and priorities of US defense and government agencies.

This involvement comes at a pivotal time, as recent Executive Orders and policy directives from the White House and Department of Defense accelerate support for NDAA-compliant, secure, and domestically produced drone technologies. These directives now move toward implementation, requiring practical policy frameworks and procurement processes—an area where ZenaDrone aims to contribute meaningfully.

Founded in 1972, AUVSI is the largest nonprofit advancing uncrewed and autonomous systems through innovation, policy, and collaboration. It connects government, industry, and academia to drive safe, efficient integration of emerging technologies. The Air Advocacy Committee shapes policies to expand drone operations in national airspace, while the Defense Advocacy Committee influences defense acquisition policies and promotes NDAA-compliant drone technology. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

Other recent developments in the markets include:

Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), recently announced the winners of the 30th Annual ‘FLIR Vision Awards’ at the APSCON 2025 Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

The FLIR Vision Awards are presented to members of the airborne law enforcement community who have best demonstrated use of thermal imaging systems in carrying out their missions, whether conducting search and rescue efforts, pursuing suspects, or saving lives in other ways. The awards are divided into four categories, including the FANG Award for operations involving a K-9 support team.

ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PRZO) recently announced the launch of its latest product, the SafeAir Raptor. This latest and innovative safety system is specifically engineered for compatibility with Anzu Robotics’ Raptor and Raptor T (thermal) drone models.

The SafeAir Raptor offers performance capabilities akin to ParaZero’s acclaimed SafeAir Mavic 3 System, providing autonomous monitoring and real-time failure detection to ensure optimal safety during drone operations. Notably, the SafeAir Raptor complies with ASTM F3322-22 standards, making it eligible for operations over people in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.

Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI), a leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered defense and security solutions, recently announced that it has been selected by the U.S. Army to participate in the Army Futures Command’s (AFC) Concept Focused Warfighting Experiment (CFWE) Maneuver (CFWE-M) 2026 event being held at Fort Benning, Georgia in March through April 2026.

Army Futures Command, established in 2018, helps ensure the Army and its soldiers remain at the forefront of technological innovation and warfighting ability. The CFWE-M is a live and constructive simulation experiment held annually by the U.S. Army and serves as the primary venue for experimentation focusing on the small unit level. CFWE-M supports small unit modernization by providing Cross Function Teams (CFT), Centers of Excellence (CoE) capability developers, Science and Technology (S&T) community, and industry an opportunity to collaborate with the Army.

Arbe Robotics Ltd. (NASDAQ: ARBE) recently announced that Sensrad, a leading radar Tier-1 supplier based in Sweden, has begun delivering its first radar series powered by Arbe’s chipset to customers. These radars are destined for deployment in a defense sector autonomous off-road vehicle application and in an intelligent road infrastructure project.

Sensrad recently placed a significant purchase order for Arbe chipsets, a key step toward the commercialization of its radar solutions. These chipsets will be used in multiple programs, including an initiative involving autonomous vehicles for off-road applications for a strategic US customer in the defense sector, the China-based Tianyi Transportation project, and several customer evaluations. Sensrad’s progress reflects its growing commitment to expanding radar adoption across diverse verticals beyond traditional passenger automotive markets.

To accelerate the deployment Arbe and Sensrad have signed a comprehensive support and maintenance agreement to reinforce Sensrad’s 4D Imaging Radar program built on Arbe’s advanced chipset technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Sensrad will pay Arbe a recurring fee for continued support, maintenance, and professional services.

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

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The MIL Network –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Metaforms raises $9M to give market research agencies their own AI workflows

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

San Francisco, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The market research boom is creating an unexpected casualty: the agencies themselves. In an industry where clients expect faster turnarounds, competitive pricing, and diverse capabilities, agencies are turning down work – not for lack of interest, but because outdated operational systems keep them from meeting client expectations. Metaforms, a startup born from this bottleneck, is helping research teams scale without burning out. Today, the company announces a $9 million Series A to expand its AI infrastructure platform and accelerate adoption across the $130 billion global research industry.

The round was led by Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia India), with participation from Nexus Venture Partners and Together Fund. It brings Metaforms’ total funding to just over $10 million and will be used to grow the team, expand into new workflows like report generation and voice-based research, and deepen integrations with tools like Decipher, SPSS, and Confirmit.

Metaforms cofounders Arjun S and Akshat Tyagi.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Akshat and Arjun as they reimagine what a market research agency could look like in an AI-first world. Metaforms is scaling rapidly, by enabling some of the largest research agencies globally to automate workflows such as survey programming and data processing through their suite of AI agents.” Shailendra Singh, MD, Peak XV

When a global brand like a shoe company wants to make critical decisions about how to market it’s new pair of shoes in a geography it has never ventured into before. It engages a market research agency to figure out lifestyle habits and cultural perceptions of a population. For this the agency has to recruit a target population, design a research study, convert the survey questions into an online link, clean the data for fraud, do in-person interviews, combine all the data to finally make a presentation.

Metaforms builds AI agents designed to work within research agencies’ existing workflows, automating the manual processes that limit capacity and erode margins. Instead of replacing research expertise, the platform acts as a force multiplier: turning questionnaires into survey code, flagging bad data before it breaks a project, coordinating panel vendors, and tracking quotas across complex multi-country studies.

Survey programming dashboard in Metaforms.

For many agencies, this means the difference between turning away work and scaling up confidently.

Metaforms has been incredibly successful thanks to their uniquely thoughtful approach to modernizing research operations—embedding seamlessly into the workflows, tools, and platforms that researchers and agencies already use. I’m excited to continue supporting the team as they build on that momentum with this Series A— Jonathan Tice, GTM Consultant [Prev: Chief Customer Officer, Forsta]

Founded in 2022 by Akshat Tyagi and Arjun S, Metaforms was born out of a personal pain point. As early-stage founders, they struggled to access professional market research. The problem wasn’t demand – it was bandwidth. So Akshat and Arjun set out to build software that gave agencies a way to do more with what they already have.

“Our goal is simple: help great research teams spend less time firefighting and more time doing the work that actually matters,” said Akshat Tyagi, co-founder and CEO of Metaforms. “When you automate the grunt work, you make high-quality research more accessible to more companies.”

Since launching commercially just six months ago, Metaforms has signed four of the world’s top twenty research agencies, including Strat7, one of the largest market research agencies globally. The platform now processes over 1,000 surveys per month, and serves Fortune 500 companies. Every customer that started with a single AI agent has expanded to adopt additional ones, achieving a 100% expansion rate.

Bidding management with Metaforms.

“Metaforms is a breakout example of the India-to-global play in AI,” said Manav Garg, Co-founder and managing partner at Together Fund. “They’re not just automating tasks — they’re rebuilding research infrastructure for the modern era. With their early traction across global agencies, Akshat and Arjun are showing what’s possible when deep customer empathy meets technical ambition.”

That accessibility is already changing the industry. By compressing turnaround times and reducing operational costs, Metaforms enables agencies to serve clients they would otherwise turn away, from early-stage startups testing their first ideas to global brands launching multi-country trackers.

“Our partnership has delivered strong ROl, thanks to Metaforms’ exceptional service and prompt support” added Tabita Razaila Head of operations, Strat7

“They’re solving a major pain point for the entire industry. That focus and ability to deeply understand customer needs and address that using genetic AI is the hallmark of Metaforms team. We are thrilled to back Akshat and Arjun in their journey of building a remarkable company!”, said Jishnu Bhattacharjee and Arjun Gandhi, Nexus Venture Partners.

Looking ahead, Metaforms plans to triple its team and continue expanding the breadth of its agent capabilities. Voice research, automated report generation, and expanded language support are all on the roadmap. The long-term vision is to process over 100,000 surveys per year and make professional-grade research available to every business that needs it.

“When research agencies grow, better business decisions get made,” added Akshat Tyagi. “We’re not here to replace the humans in the loop. We’re here to give them leverage.”

Media images can be found here.

About Metaforms
Metaforms is the AI platform that helps market research agencies operate smarter and win more business. Our AI Agents augment research teams’ work output across survey programming, data processing, bidding management, and voice research; enabling them to handle exponentially more projects while maintaining quality.

The MIL Network –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Analysis: Pacific tsunami: modern early warning systems prevent the catastrophic death tolls of the past

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ian Main, Professor of Seismology and Rock Physics, University of Edinburgh

The earthquake in Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula on July 30 2025 may have been one of the most severe on record, with a magnitude of 8.8. But innovations in science and technology gave governments vital time to warn and evacuate their people from the resulting tsunami.

Millions of people escaped to higher ground before the tsunami hit.

The 2004 Boxing Day 9.3 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Sumatra, which caused approximately 230,000 deaths, some as far away as Somalia on the other side of the Indian Ocean, shows how important these warnings are.

Early warning systems were not in place for the Indian Ocean in time for the 2004 disaster. But there is now a system in place, with 27 countries participating in the group effort.

The 2004 tsunami was particularly tragic because tsunami waves travel at a steady speed in the open ocean, about as fast as a jet plane. This means they can take several hours to reach shore across an ocean, with plenty of time for warning.

An early warning system for the Pacific Ocean, based in Hawaii, was created in 1948 following a deadly tsunami two years before. On April 1 1946, the magnitude 8.6 Aleutian Islands earthquake in the northern Pacific Ocean generated a tsunami that devastated parts of Hawaii hours later, leading to 146 fatalities.

The death toll was exacerbated by the leading wave being downwards. This happens in around 50% of tsunamis, and exposes the seashore in a similar way to when the tide goes out, but exposing a larger area than normal. People sometimes investigate out of curiosity, bringing them closer to the danger.

The accuracy and response times of early tsunami warnings have significantly improved since 1948.

How tsunamis happen

To understand the work involved in protecting coastal communities, first you need to understand how tsunamis are generated.

Tsunamis are caused by displacement of mass on the sea floor after an earthquake, landslide or volcanic eruption. This provides an energy source to set off a wave in the deep sea, not just near the surface like in the ocean waves we see whipped up by the wind and storms. Most are small. The Japanese word tsunami translates somewhat innocuously as “harbour wave”.

Detailed global mapping of the sea floor, pioneered by US geologist Marie Tharpe between 1957 and 1978, helped establish the modern theory of plate tectonics. It also improved the physical models for how the tsunami will travel in the ocean.

Wave height increases as it approaches the shore, and the topography of the sea floor can result in a complicated pattern of wave interference and concentration of the energy in stream-like patterns. The establishment of sea-floor observatories led to better data for the pressure at the sea floor (related to wave height) and satellite networks now directly monitor wave height globally using radar signals from space.

One of the factors that has helped scientists predict the range of a tsunami includes the setting up of the worldwide standard station network of seismometers in 1963, which allowed better estimations of earthquake location and magnitude.

These were superseded by the digital broadband global network of seismometers in 1978, which allowed more detail on the source to be calculated quickly. This includes a better estimate of earthquake size, the source rupture area and orientation in three dimensions.

It also tells scientists about the slip, which controls the pattern of displacement on the sea floor. This data is used to forecast the time of landing, the amplitude of the wave on the shoreline, and its height in areas where the wave travels further inland.

The Pacific Ocean warning system now has 46 countries contributing data. It also uses physical and statistical models for estimating tsunami height. The models developed as scientists learnt more about earthquake sources, mapped features on the sea floor and tested model forecasts against outcomes.

Today’s technology

The early warning systems we have today are due to a decades-long commitment to global research collaboration and open data. Scientists have also improved their forecast methods. Recently they started using trained AI algorithms which could improve the timeliness and accuracy.

Pioneered by the US Geological Survey, rapid data sharing is now used routinely to estimate earthquake parameters and make them available to the public soon after the rupture stops. This can be within minutes for an initial estimate then updated over the next few hours as more data comes in.

However, the forecast wave height is inherently uncertain, variable from place to place, and may turn out to be more or less than expected. Similarly, large earthquakes are rare, making it hard to estimate how likely they are on average, and therefore to design appropriate mitigation measures.

The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan destroyed or overtopped the eight-metre high protective sea walls that had been put in place based on such hazard estimates. There were over 19,000 fatalities. As a consequence, their height has been increased to 12-15 metres in some areas.

Early warning systems also rely on rapid communication to the public, including mass alerts communicated by mobile phone, coordination by the relevant authorities across borders, clear advice, and advance evacuation plans and occasional alarm tests or drills. Although tsunami waves slow down to the speed of a car as they approach the shore, it is impossible to outrun one, so it is better to act quickly and calmly.

The effectiveness of warnings also means accepting a degree of inconvenience in false alarms where the tsunami height is less than that forecast, because this is inevitable with the uncertainties involved. For good reason, authorities issuing alerts will err on the side of caution.

To give an example, nuclear power plants on Japan’s eastern seaboard were shut down on July 30.

So far it looks like the Pacific early warning system – combined with effective levels of preparedness and action by service providers and decision makers – has worked well in reducing the number of casualties that might have happened without it.

There will always be a level of uncertainty we will have to live with. On balance, it is a small price to pay for avoiding a catastrophe.

Ian Main is professor of Seismology and Rock Physics at the University of Edinburgh. He receives funding from UK Research and Innovation Research Council, a member of the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation Expert panel on external hazards, and acts as an independent reviewer for the Energy Industry-funded SeIsmic hazard and Ground Motion Assessment research program SIGMA3.

– ref. Pacific tsunami: modern early warning systems prevent the catastrophic death tolls of the past – https://theconversation.com/pacific-tsunami-modern-early-warning-systems-prevent-the-catastrophic-death-tolls-of-the-past-262283

MIL OSI Analysis –

August 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Analysis: Who is Odysseus, hero of Christopher Nolan’s new epic?

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephan Blum, Research associate, Institute for Prehistory and Early History and Medieval Archaeology, University of Tübingen

Somewhere between hero and hustler, family man and philanderer, king and con artist, Odysseus is one of ancient literature’s most complex figures. In the Iliad, he is the mastermind behind the Trojan horse.

In Homer’s Odyssey, he is the protagonist of a ten-year journey home – one that sees him encounter gods, monsters, temptations and profound moral dilemmas. Next year, he will be the hero of a new Christopher Nolan epic, and played by Matt Damon.

Odysseus’s journey from Troy to Ithaca in the Odyssey is anything but a straight line. It’s an epic zigzag through storms, temptations, divine grudges and existential threats. Instead of returning in weeks, he spends a decade adrift.

He is stranded by nymphs, resists sirens and watches his crew perish one by one. Every stop tests not only his wit but his very sense of self.

The Odyssey isn’t a tale of noble perseverance. It’s a study in survival. Odysseus deceives, disguises and entangles himself in morally grey romantic liaisons with a sorceress (Circe), nymph (Calypso) and princess (Nausicaa). He does so often as strategist and sometimes as willing participant.

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In Homer’s world, infidelity is a tool of survival. Odysseus survives not through moral clarity, but through his moral agility. His loyalty to his wife Penelope (reportedly played by Anne Hathaway in the new adaptation) is longitudinal, not linear. His compass is always aimed at returning to Ithaca, if not always in a straight line.

Would this flexibility pass modern ethical scrutiny? Probably not. But what made him successful wasn’t moral integrity – it was his ability to navigate each situation, even if that meant bending the rules.

While Odysseus adapts, Penelope endures with strategic resilience. For 20 years, she fends off suitors with deft delay tactics. She avoids them by weaving and unweaving a funeral shroud for her husband’s father, Laertes. It’s a defiant, slow motion resistance campaign, waged with thread and silence.

Penelope and the Suitors by John William Waterhouse (1912).
Aberdeen Art Gallery

If Odysseus navigates external monsters, Penelope masters the domestic battlefield. Her fidelity in her husband’s absence is deliberate, political and astute. In a patriarchal world, her power lies in pause. Her story is one of emotional labour and strategic survival.

Narrative loops and non-linear journeys

The Odyssey is an ancient masterpiece of non-linear storytelling. It begins in the middle of the action and uses nested narratives, flashbacks and shifting voices. Odysseus tells much of his own story, reframing events from his point of view and reshaping himself in hindsight. Memory becomes montage. Truth bends to necessity. Fact and fiction bleed into one another.

Homer doesn’t just tell a story – he constructs a labyrinth. The Odyssey anticipates the fractured forms of modernist literature and cinema, where identity is unstable and time itself is malleable.

Odysseus and Penelope by Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein (1802).
Wiki Commons

When Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca, disguised as a beggar and quietly assessing his ship’s wreckage, it’s no romantic climax. It’s a calculated risk. Penelope doesn’t swoon; she tests. Only when he passes her intimate knowledge test – he reacts with outrage when she suggests moving their bed, which he built around a living olive tree – does she relent. Their reunion is not a Hollywood embrace but a wary negotiation.

It signals restoration, yes. But also mistrust, trauma and mutual testing. Homecoming, like survival, is complicated.

Odysseus is not a flawless hero. He is a survivor who negotiates with monsters, debates with gods and crawls home disguised as a beggar. A man shaped as much by cunning as by consequence.

Would Odysseus pass a modern ethics exam? Certainly not. Would he charm the professor, flip the question and still walk out with an A? Absolutely. Some stories endure not because they are true, but because they were told by survivors.

This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Who is Odysseus, hero of Christopher Nolan’s new epic? – https://theconversation.com/who-is-odysseus-hero-of-christopher-nolans-new-epic-261781

MIL OSI Analysis –

August 5, 2025

Category: Natural Disasters

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