Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Condemn Provisions on GOP Tax Plan that Would Eliminate Gun Safety Measures

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement condemning provisions in the Republican tax plan that would weaken gun safety measures that have been in place since 1934 by eliminating registration and ownership requirements for gun silencers under the National Firearms Act, increasing danger for law enforcement officers while saving gun manufacturers millions in unpaid manufacturer taxes:
    “The Republican tax plan being pushed through Congress not only cuts critical services Virginians rely on in order to give huge tax breaks to billionaires, but it also makes our communities less safe by weakening gun safety measures on silencers. Part of the reason that these registration and ownership requirements exist is because silencers, like the one that was used in the Virginia Beach mass shooting, make it harder for law enforcement to locate and respond to an active shooter. Americans deserve to feel safe in their communities, and we will oppose this disastrous bill when it comes to the Senate floor.”
    A gun silencer, also known as a suppressor, is attached to the barrel of a firearm in order to curb its sound, muzzle flash, and kickback. A silencer poses great danger to the public and makes it more difficult for law enforcement officers to detect the location of and respond to an active shooter. A silencer also diminishes the effectiveness of gunshot detection technology that relies on audio sensors to record the sound, time, and location of loud noises. A gun silencer was used in the Virginia Beach mass shooting on May 31, 2019. Law enforcement has historically supported silencer regulations because silencers make it harder, if not impossible, to figure out where the shooter is in an active shooter situation.
    Sens. Warner and Kaine have been sounding the alarm about the effects of the GOP plan on Virginia families if Republicans in Congress continue to insist on gutting vital programs in order to pay for tax breaks for the richest Americans. The senators have noted that the GOP bill would strip health insurance from more than 262,000 Virginians, cut SNAP benefits for more than 204,000 people in Virginia, raise energy costs for Virginia households, and jeopardize more than 20,000 Virginia jobs. The bill would also raise the deficit by $3.8 trillion, eliminate a program allowing Americans to file federal taxes for free, and raise taxes on minimum-wage workers while giving the richest 0.1% a $188,000 tax cut.
     

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Advances Ranching, Grasslands Priorities with USDA Under Secretary Nominee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    06.06.25
    Senator Urges Nominee to Ensure USFS Works with North Dakota Ranchers on Grazing Access, Wildfire Management & Pest Control
    WASHINGTON – At a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee this week, Senator John Hoeven advanced key priorities for North Dakota ranchers with Michael Boren, the nominee to serve as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment. In this role, Boren will oversee the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), which includes the national grasslands in North Dakota. Accordingly, Hoeven urged Boren to work with him on:
    Ensuring access to USFS lands for multiple use, including grazing and energy production.
    Hoeven stressed to Boren that section line rights-of-way are critical for enabling ranchers to access their cattle in the Little Missouri National Grasslands.

    Coordinating with local ranchers and rural fire departments on wildfire management, including protecting against impacts from controlled burns on federal lands.
    Better management of pests on USFS lands, such as prairie dogs and noxious weeds.
    Hoeven and Boren discussed the need for adequate buffers on federal lands to help prevent damage to private and state-held lands.
    Hoeven previously worked with USFS Deputy Chief Chris French on efforts to address noxious weeds on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands and urged Boren to maintain these efforts.

    “North Dakota is home to the largest national grasslands in the country, with the USFS managing more than a million acres of land in our state. That creates real challenges that require the federal government to work cooperatively with our local stakeholders, including our ag and energy producers,” said Hoeven. “In both the committee hearing and my meeting with Michael Boren, we drove home the importance of ensuring access to the grasslands for our grazers. Fair grazing agreements are essential, as is access through section lines to ensure ranchers can actually get to their cattle. At the same time, we’ve seen poor land management on federal acreage impacting private and state lands through the spread of noxious weeds, uncontrolled prairie dog colonies and wildfires. I appreciate Mr. Boren’s commitment to work with us on these critical issues.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Huizenga Introduces Clear the ROADS Act to hold Governor Newsom Accountable, Freeze Federal Highway Funding

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02)

    Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) announced the reintroduction of the Clear the ROADS (Reckless Obstructions and Dangers on Streets) Act. The Clear the ROADS Act is a direct response to the increasing trend of unlawful traffic-obstructing protests that have been deployed across the United States. News reports highlight how rioters and those protesting the removal of criminal illegal immigrants in California shut down the 101 in downtown Los Angeles.

    “The Clear the ROADS Act would provide the Trump Administration with another tool to hold states accountable for ensuring federally funded roads aren’t overrun by these dangerous roadblocking activities,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “If States are neglecting their duties to keep their federal taxpayer-funded roads free from these traffic-obstructing actions, then federal taxpayer funds should be withheld from those States. My legislation recognizes that endangering the free flow of ambulances, fire trucks, and other drivers is not an option. Based on Governor Gavin Newsom’s handling of the recent road-blocking riots in California, the Clear the ROADS Act would provide President Trump, Secretary Duffy, and the Administration with the ability to penalize California’s access to roughly 400 million in taxpayer-funded federal transportation dollars.”

    Currently, states are required to meet certain criteria and conditions to receive their federal transportation funding. These standards are used to encourage basic road safety and traffic laws, or even the national minimum drinking age. In a similar manner, the Clear the ROADS Act would:

    • Withhold 10% of a State’s federal highway funds if the State has not made reasonable efforts to prohibit the reckless obstruction of lawful vehicle traffic on their federal-aid eligible roadways
    • Require the Secretary of Transportation to annually certify whether a State has met this requirement prior to federal highway funds being apportioned

    The Clear the ROADS Act is supported by the America First Policy Institute. Text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Hawley Lead Bipartisan Bill to Raise the Federal Minimum Raise

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee,today joined Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) in introducing the Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and allow the federal minimum wage to increase with inflation in subsequent years. When adjusted for inflation, the current federal minimum wage is lower than at any point since the 1940s. Meanwhile, the cost of housing, health care, and education has skyrocketed, leaving millions of full-time workers struggling to make ends meet. 
    “We’re in the midst of a severe affordability crisis, with families in red and blue states alike struggling to afford necessities like housing and groceries. A stagnant federal minimum wage only adds fuel to the fire. Every hardworking American deserves a living wage that helps put a roof over their head and food on the table—$7.25 an hour doesn’t even come close,” said Senator Welch. “Times have changed, and working families deserve a wage that reflects today’s financial reality. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to raise the minimum wage nationwide to help more folks make ends meet.” 
    “For decades, working Americans have seen their wages flatline. One major culprit of this is the failure of the federal minimum wage to keep up with the economic reality facing hardworking Americans every day. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that workers across America benefit from higher wages,” Senator Hawley said.    
    Senator Welch has championed efforts in the Senate to boost the minimum wage and help more Vermonters make ends meet. In April, Senator Welch cosponsored the Raise the Wage Act, bicameral legislation to ensure American workers make a living wage, drive economic growth, and reduce income inequality by raising the minimum wage to $17 for all workers by 2030. The bill would also gradually eliminate subminimum wages for tipped workers, workers with disabilities.  
    Last Congress, Senator Welch joined colleagues in introducing the PRO Act to protect the right to unionize and stop predatory behavior from companies trying to hinder workplace organizing. Senator Welch also supported the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation that would guarantee the right of public sector employees to organize, act concertedly, and bargain collectively in states that currently do not afford these basic protections. 
    Read and download the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: PKK’s decision to disband shows the benefit of engaging in politics rather than an armed struggle

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rebecca Lucas, Senior Analyst – Defence Economics and Acquisition, RAND Europe

    The recent decision by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to disarm and disband has important lessons for any country facing a seemingly intractable insurgency. On May 12, the group stated that following its 12th Congress it will “dissolve the PKK’s organizational structure and end the armed struggle method”. The organisation has said that it will now pursue its goals “through democratic politics”.

    The PKK’s decision follows talks between the Turkish government and the group’s leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who has been in Turkish custody since 1998. Regional dynamics, Turkish domestic politics, and personal ambition have all played key roles in bringing the conflict to this point.

    Much uncertainty remains. The PKK and Turkey have embarked on peace processes before, only to return to conflict. But the group’s formal announcement of its intention to disband marks an important step towards ending an insurgency that has lasted over 40 years. If so, it will bring to an end a conflict that has cost all sides involved tens of thousands of lives.

    The possibility of ending this insurgency not only raises questions about this specific conflict, but also what we know more broadly about how insurgencies end.


    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 PKK has a long track record of combining military action with political struggle. As with many other insurgent organisations, the group has worked to gain and maintain public support among ethnic Kurds, despite its use of violence.

    Its strategy has also evolved over the years to adapt to circumstances. It moved away from the its original Marxist beginnings with the end of the cold war and over the years changed its fundamental aim from separatism to increased regional autonomy and local government, through the system of what it calls democratic confederalism. Over the decades the group and its affiliates have also decreased their use of terrorism in Europe and western Turkey.

    This is in keeping with characteristics that researchers have found facilitate the transformation of organisations from armed groups to participants in institutional politics. There are a large number of cases in which insurgencies or terrorist organisations shifted – successfully or unsuccessfully – to either transform into a political party or combine with one.

    There’s no doubt that military pressure has been important in downgrading the PKK as an insurgency. But military victories over the PKK have failed to end the conflict – in fact military oppression against the PKK has often backfired and reinforced public support for the group.

    Many of the factors that have made it possible for the PKK to transform itself have been political, rather than narrowly military. Research by the RAND Corporation thinktank has found that rather than simply aiming to defeat an insurgency, it’s usually more effective to combine military pressure with political reform that aims to remove the reasons for the insurgency.

    Combining armed force with political pressure

    Turkey has taken this mixed approach, something many analysts have attributed to the foreign minister, Hakan Fidan. Ankara has pursued parallel tracks of negotiation and force. This has included improved counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency techniques, investment in drones and other military pressure.

    But Ankara has in parallel cut off financial flows to the organisation, while strengthening economic opportunities for Kurdish citizens – particularly in western Turkey. Many Kurds moved west to escape violence in the traditionally Kurdish regions in Turkey’s southeast: Istanbul is now the city with the largest Kurdish population in Turkey.

    The Turkish government has also strengthened its relationships with other Kurdish groups, primarily the Kurdistan Democratic Party in northern Iraq, to provide both military and political support.

    This case is another example of the importance of blending strictly military tactics with diplomacy, economic policy and strategic communications. The celebrated Prussian military theorist, Carl von Clausewitz said that war is politics by other means – and many insurgencies are fundamentally political in nature. So this requires multiple lines of effort to be pursued in parallel to effectively respond to this – with an emphasis on political solutions rather than just the use of force.

    This has been seen in conflicts with a number of insurgent groups in recent years – including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) or the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (Biaf) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the Philippines. In all of these cases, central governments have engaged in constructive political dialogue, providing amnesty and other incentives for fighters to demobilise while offering broader concessions in order to build a more sustainable peace.

    Successfully bringing insurgencies to and through a negotiated settlement requires long-term investment and effort. The issues that caused the insurgency in the first place do not simply disappear when the document is signed. In the case of the PKK, there are a number of ways in which this recent progress could be reversed. Concerns have been raised about whether the Turkish government will deliver on promised constitutional reforms or prisoner releases. There is also the question of whether PKK fighters will be willing and able to demobilise and reintegrate into society.

    Research has indicated that states with flawed democracies have more difficulty ending insurgencies on favourable terms. Freedom House and similar organisations currently rank Turkey as “Not Free”. The country has been backsliding for years under the presidency of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

    Despite these misgivings, the initial success of Turkey’s approach support previous research on how insurgencies end, and how armed groups might turn instead to politics. For the governments of countries facing insurgency, it means taking a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach to encourage this to happen. Governments may also need to move away from a binary definition of “winning” or “losing” to a more nuanced understanding of how all parties stand to gain from the end of an insurgency.

    Rebecca Lucas 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. PKK’s decision to disband shows the benefit of engaging in politics rather than an armed struggle – https://theconversation.com/pkks-decision-to-disband-shows-the-benefit-of-engaging-in-politics-rather-than-an-armed-struggle-258221

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Save Loch Lomond: Minister recalls Flamingo Land appeal 

    Source: Scottish Greens

    The evidence of the damage Flamingo Land would do to Loch Lomond is overwhelming.

    The Scottish Greens are celebrating a huge win as Flamingo Land’s appeal to build a mega-resort on the banks of Loch Lomond has been recalled by Scottish Ministers.

    The National Park’s board unanimously rejected the development in September after receiving objections from expert groups including environment watchdog SEPA as well as a record 155,000 individuals. Flamingo Land appealed this decision with the Scottish Government, whose officials overturned the Park board’s decision and granted it permission to go ahead two weeks ago.

    When challenged by Scottish Green MSPs Ross Greer and Patrick Harvie both the Planning Minister and First Minister refused to use their powers to recall the application and make the final decision themselves.

    Following further pressure, including 50,000 individuals emailing the Planning Minister directly, the Scottish Government announced tonight that Ministers would recall the application.

    The destructive development could see 127 woodland lodges, two hotels, over 370 parking spaces, a water park, monorail and much more on a sensitive site by the loch shore at Balloch. The campaign against Flamingo Land over the last decade has been spear-headed by Mr Greer. It became the most objected to planning application in Scottish history, with over 155,000 individual objections, as well as those from groups including the Woodland Trust and National Trust for Scotland.

    Mr Greer said:

    “This is the right move by Ministers and a huge victory for the fifty thousand people who joined the Scottish Greens’ campaign for the decision to be recalled. I am glad that Ivan McKee has decided to do the right thing and use his power to intervene to protect Loch Lomond from destruction.

    “The evidence of the damage it would do to one of Scotland’s most iconic locations is overwhelming. Once Ministers consider the flood risk, loss of ancient woodland, hundreds of additional cars which would be brought onto notoriously congested roads and the litany of other devastating impacts it would have, I am sure they will reject the mega-resort application and finally end this decade-long saga.

    “People across Scotland expect their Government to protect our natural heritage. Given previous mistakes, including the approval of Donald Trump’s golf course despite local objections and serious environmental concerns, this is an opportunity for Ministers to show that they have learned and will now put people and planet ahead of greedy developers.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Environment and Climate Change Canada presents summer seasonal outlook

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 10, 2025 – Gatineau, Quebec

    Today, Environment and Climate Change Canada presented a seasonal outlook for summer. Experts predicted higher-than-normal temperatures are likely throughout most of Canada this summer, with cooler-than-normal conditions possible in some northwestern regions along the Beaufort Sea.

    This spring, parts of Canada saw an uneven transition out of winter, with many regions experiencing temperature swings. Additionally, much of Canada, particularly in the Prairies, experienced dry conditions. These conditions, in combination with the high likelihood of a warmer-than-normal summer, could increase the risk of wildfires in the coming months—potentially leading to poor air quality and health risks for you and your family.

    Understanding the risks of these extreme weather events can help Canadians make informed decisions to protect their health, safety, and property. Canada’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is an important tool to help people understand what the air quality around them means for their health.

    Climate change is causing more frequent and intense severe weather across the country. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s weather information and alerts are essential tools in protecting Canadians. The public is urged to regularly monitor weather forecasts, monitor the AQHI and UV Index, take all weather alerts seriously, and get prepared this summer. Canadians can download the WeatherCAN app to receive weather alerts directly on their mobile devices and set personal notifications for temperature and the AQHI.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Jake Ellzey Commends State and Local Leaders Amid Train Derailment in Waxahachie

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jake Ellzey (Texas, 6)

    Waxahachie, TX – On Monday evening, 16 cars from a Union Pacific freight train derailed near the downtown area. Fourteen cars overturned—many carrying ethanol. Local officials confirmed there were no leaks or immediate threats to public safety. Cleanup operations are ongoing, with surrounding roads closed from Peters Street to Gibson Street as crews work to remove the railcars and repair any damage.

    “I’m grateful to the first responders, local law enforcement, and city officials who acted quickly and professionally following last night’s derailment,” said Congressman Ellzey. “Thanks to their efforts, no injuries have been reported, and hazardous materials have been contained.”

    Ellzey continued, “I’ve been in contact with local leaders and will continue to monitor the situation closely. My office stands ready to assist with any federal support needed as the cleanup moves forward.

    In moments like these, our community’s strength and preparedness truly shine. I want to especially commend Waxahachie Police Chief Joe Wiser, City Manager Michael Scott, TxDOT’s Michael Anthony, Emergency Management Coordinator Thomas Griffith, and Fire Chief Ricky Boyd. Their leadership and coordination with Union Pacific helped minimize damage and, most importantly, ensured the safety of the people of Waxahachie.”

    “Our local leaders stepped up to the plate,” said Waxahachie Police Chief Joe Wiser. “From the moment we got the call, every agency worked hand in hand to assess the scene, secure the area, and keep the public informed. I’m proud of the coordination between our police, fire, city officials, and state partners. It’s a testament to the planning and relationships we’ve built over the years — and most importantly, it kept our community safe.”

    Congressman Ellzey encourages residents to follow guidance from city officials and avoid the area while work continues.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Transcript and Video: Rep. Dan Goldman Blasts Republicans for Using Boulder Attack to Politicize Antisemitism

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    Goldman: “To argue that somehow this is a reflection of our immigration system, uses Jews as a partisan pawn. It is the exact opposite of what we Jews in this country need.” 

     

    Goldman: “Every single Jewish institution has to significantly increase security. We all have to worry when we go into a synagogue whether we will be the next victim.  And here we are dealing with this resolution, that is trying to convert antisemitism and antisemitic violence into some immigration ‘gotcha’ game.” 

     

    Goldman: “What are we thanking ICE agents for? In a resolution commemorating and condemning antisemitism and remembering and honoring the victims when there were no ICE agents there? ICE has nothing to do with it.” 

     

    Goldman: “Mr. Speaker, I urge you and I urge my colleagues on the other side to come to your senses. Stop using antisemitism as a partisan weapon.” 

     

    Watch Goldman’s Floor Remarks Here 
    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today delivered remarks on the floor of the House condemning House Republicans for attempting to politicize the antisemitic firebomb attack in Boulder, CO. 
    Watch the Congressman’s comments on the House Floor here or below: 

    Congressman Dan Goldman: To argue that somehow this is a reflection of our immigration system, uses Jews as a partisan pawn. It is the exact opposite of what we Jews in this country need. And I get that we’re in a political body. I get that you like to put these resolutions. You weren’t here, Mr. Evans, last term, but there were about ten antisemitism resolutions that effectively said the same thing solely to score political points. 

    We Jews are sick and tired of being used as pawns. Antisemitism is rising to such a degree that people are now being murdered because they’re Jewish. We’re not just talking about protests on campus anymore.  

    Every single Jewish institution has to significantly increase security. We all have to worry when we go into a synagogue whether we will be the next victim.  And here we are dealing with this resolution, that is trying to convert antisemitism and antisemitic violence into some immigration gotcha game. 

    What are we thanking ICE  agents for? In a resolution commemorating and condemning antisemitism and remembering and honoring the victims when there were no ICE agents there? ICE has nothing to do with it.  

    It’s because ICE is spending so much time pulling non-violent, non-criminal immigrants out of court, where they’re going through a lawful process to come in here, so that they can be removed in expedited removal,  so that they can have their asylum claims– a lawful pathway– voided, so they can be kicked out of the country with minimal due process. 

    Just so Republicans and President Trump can meet their quota of mass deportations. You promised us you were going to go after convicted criminals. These people are not convicted criminals. 

    This resolution says that there’s cooperation between state, local and federal law enforcement. Really? Because as far as I know, the President of the United States ordered the National Guard to go into California over the objection of the governor of California– something that has not happened since 1965. And in 1965, it happened because the governor of the state was not following federal law. 

    Is that the kind of cooperation that we’re looking for here?  

    This resolution should be pulled immediately. Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Neguse, have offered resolutions that properly honor the victims, condemn antisemitism, give the American people the sense that Congress, as a unified body, will not tolerate antisemitic violence. But instead, we’re voting on an immigration ‘gotcha resolution’ that uses antisemitism as a political pawn.  

    Mr. Speaker, I urge you and I urge my colleagues on the other side to come to your senses. Stop using antisemitism as a partisan weapon. Pull this resolution. Allow Mr. Neguse’s resolution to be introduced and voted on, as is the tradition of this body, in parallel  along with Mr. Van Drew’s, which accurately reflects the threat not just in Boulder, Colorado, but in Washington, D.C. in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and all around the country. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: We Didn’t Need New Laws to Stop Illegal Immigration, We Just Needed a New President

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

    WASHINGTON  The dangerous, destructive border crisis was the defining issue of the Biden Administration. For four years, President Biden purposefully allowed millions of illegal aliens to flood into American communities, placing Americans in grave peril. Illegal aliens with no right to be here, committed acts of unspeakable violence against our citizens, put massive strain on our national and local resources, and overworked our brave law enforcement officers. Those days are over.

    “President Trump has kept his word to the American people and secured the border. In fewer than five months, the number of border encounters, known gotaways, drug smuggling, and migrant crossings are at record lows. The Trump Administration has made clear that we didn’t need a new set of laws to secure the border; all we needed was a new President,” Speaker Johnson said.

    Click here to watch

    “But the safety and security of the American people can only be maintained if the Administration gets the additional resources it needs. Through the One Big Beautiful Bill, Republicans in Congress will deliver the largest investment in border security in a generation and provide federal law enforcement with the resources necessary to permanently fortify our borders against foreign invaders and detain and deport the millions of illegals the Biden Administration allowed into our country.” Speaker Johnson continued.

    ALL WE NEEDED WAS A NEW PREDSIDENT

    President Biden created and presided over the worst border crisis this country has ever experienced. Over 10 million aliens were encountered at our borders. The average number of monthly border encounters was nearly 160,000. Hundreds from the terrorist watch list were encountered at our southern border, and an untold number of known gotaways escaped into our country. By 2024, there were over 660,000 noncitizens with criminal histories in our country.

    President Trump changed all of that in just a matter of weeks. In March of 2025, the average number of monthly encounters was just under 7,200 – the lowest monthly number of border encounters in recorded HISTORY. This represents a 95.5% reduction in monthly encounters. Since President Trump took office:

    • Daily border encounters are down by 93%
    • Encounters with “gotaways” are down by 95%
    • Migrant crossings are down by 99.99%

    It’s not just border security the Trump Administration is delivering on; it’s interior enforcement too. Just last week, the Trump Administration conducted the largest raid ever in Massachusetts, resulting in the arrests of nearly 1,500 illegals, and the One Big Beautiful Bill will enable ICE to detain and deport at least 1 million illegal aliens annually.

    THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT HELPS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CONTINUE DELIVERING ON ITS PROMISES

    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes the most significant investment in border security and deportations in history. It funds the completion of the border wall and makes significant investments in ICE and CBP.

    • Makes the largest investment in border security and interior enforcement, providing over $150 billion to secure the border and deport illegal aliens
    • Includes $45 billion to expand ICE detention capacity
    • Provides $46 billion to finish 701 miles of primary wall, 900 miles of river barriers, 629 miles of secondary barriers, and 141 miles of vehicle and pedestrian barriers.
    • Provides $12 billion in funding to hire 10,000 new ICE personnel, 5,000 new customs officers,  3,000 new Border Patrol agents, and 1,000 criminal investigators, among others
    • Includes $1.2 billion to hire 200 immigration judges and to expand immigration courtroom space
    • Includes $12 billion to reimburse states who expended resources securing the border where the Biden Administration failed

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union Scores Big Wins in Federal Sector Organizing Effort

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    As part of a strategic initiative to organize workers across National Parks and the Forest Service, the IAM Organizing Department and National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) has secured multiple election victories within the National Parks and Forest Service — all in Colorado. These wins collectively cover an impressive 650 employees, laying the groundwork for stronger worker representation and protections in the federal workforce.

    IAM Assistant Organizing Coordinator Jerry McCarty, with vital support from IAM Organizing Assistant Director Juan Eldridge, Special Representative Art Jackson, and multiple NFFE-IAM representatives, have filed dozens of election petitions since the start of the year.

    “We already knew a lot of these Forest Service folks,” said McCarty. “When the Trump Administration started threatening federal workers, people started reaching out for support. We are the largest union in the Forest Service already, and they knew we had their backs.”

    “We had a meeting on top of Yosemite Mountain,” said IAM Assistant Organizing Director Juan Eldridge. “Park rangers, biologists, firefighters—it was a wide mix of folks who just wanted a voice and some protection in their workplace.”

    Each unit required separate elections for what the forest service deemed professional and non-professional workers, but the energy on the ground among all was overwhelmingly pro-union.

    “We ended up signing them all up—just like dominoes,” said McCarty. “We’ve got at least another 30 or 40 election petitions filed right now. We’re talking about 3,000 more people by the end of this year.”

    This surge of new members will be covered under a master agreement already in place for Forest Service and National Park Service workers.

    A few of the most notable newly-organized locations are Pike San Isabel National Forest, San Juan National Forest, and Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest and Pawnee Grasslands.

    “It’s been 99% yes votes in some places,” said McCarty. “These workers are pumped to have union protection.”

    McCarty now has his sight set on 7,000 currently unrepresented U.S. Geological Survey employees.

    “We don’t plan on losing a single one of these elections,” said McCarty. “It’s been a real team effort, and the IAM Organizing Department has been behind us every step of the way.”

    “We are putting a lot of support from the International on these organizing efforts for workers in the federal sector,” said IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennet. “During a time when federal employees most need support, the IAM is there to stand with them and fight for them. This is all part of a greater effort to bring strong representation to workers in all our industries with large-scale organizing push.”

    As the victories pile up, the IAM’s federal sector campaign is becoming a model of effective organizing, proving that even the most remote workers in the most uncertain times can find power in a union.

    The post IAM Union Scores Big Wins in Federal Sector Organizing Effort appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 1378, TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 1378 would authorize the appropriation of $105 million for fiscal year 2026 and $25 million annually from 2027 through 2030 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop comprehensive datasets for training weather forecasting models, in coordination with other federal entities and technical experts.

    The bill also would allow NOAA to:

    • Use artificial intelligence (AI) to disseminate weather and wildfire risk information,
    • Partner with nonfederal entities to study and recommend best practices for AI-based weather forecasting, and
    • Recruit expert personnel to support AI weather forecasting.

    In addition, S. 1378 would require NOAA to report to the Congress on AI-based weather forecasting and potential security risks related to foreign access to weather data.

    The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment).

    Table 1.

    Estimated Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation Under S. 1378

     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

     
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2025-2030

    Authorization

    0

    105

    25

    25

    25

    25

    205

    Estimated Outlays

    0

    63

    38

    36

    26

    25

    188

    Using historical spending patterns for similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing S. 1378 would cost $188 million over the 2025-2030 period and $15 million after 2030, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Kelly Durand. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to North Carolina Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought and Extreme Heat

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

     ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in North Carolina of the July 7 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought and extreme heat occurring on May 7- Aug. 8, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the North Carolina counties of Camden, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Pasquotank, Perquimans as well as Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach in Virginia.

    Under this declaration SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”  

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 7, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Ohio Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Ohio of the July 7 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought occurring on Sept. 10, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Ohio counties of Erie, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca and Wood.

    Under this declaration SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”  

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 7, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Nepal: IMF Reaches Staff-level Agreement on Sixth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 10, 2025

    End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    • The Nepali authorities and the IMF team have reached staff-level agreement to conclude the sixth review of Nepal’s economic reform program supported by the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. Once the review is approved by IMF Management and completed by the IMF Executive Board, Nepal will have access to about $42.7 million in financing.
    • The growth recovery is expected to gather pace in FY2025/26 underpinned by policy measures announced in the budget aimed at improving project execution and boosting private sector confidence, while lending rates remain accommodative. However, timely and full execution of budget spending is important to durably strengthen economic growth.
    • Completion of the sixth review by the IMF’s Executive Board will require completing a prior action relating to further progress with the loan portfolio review.

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Ms. Sarwat Jahan visited Kathmandu during May 26 to June 10, 2025. After constructive discussions, Ms. Jahan issued the following statement at the end of the mission: “The Nepali authorities and IMF staff reached staff-level agreement on the policies and reforms needed to complete the sixth review under the ECF (see Press Release No. 22/6)[1]. The agreement is subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board. Upon completion of the Executive Board Review Nepal would have access to SDR 31.4 million (about US$42.7 million), bringing the total IMF financial support disbursed under the ECF to SDR 251.1 million (about US$331.8 million), from a total of SDR 282.4 million.

    “Nepal continues to make progress with the implementation of the ECF-supported program. Program performance has been satisfactory, with all quantitative performance metrics for mid‑January 2025 met except for the indicative target on child welfare grants. The implementation of structural benchmarks has gained momentum while reforms in some areas are still ongoing. Key reforms that have been completed or are on-track to be completed soon as part of the sixth review include completion of a tax expenditure report, publication of revised National Project Bank guidelines, and finalization of a post-Loan Portfolio Review (LPR) roadmap. Significant progress was made on bringing key recommendations from the IMF’s 2021 Safeguard Assessment and 2023 Financial Sector Stability Report into draft Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Act amendments in preparation for submission to Parliament. The NRB remains committed to completing the LPR and is finalizing the selection of the independent international consultant to assist with the LPR. The completion of the sixth review by the IMF’s Executive Board is contingent on NRB making further progress with the loan portfolio review.

    “Domestically, economic activity has continued to gradually recover, underpinned by a rebound in construction and manufacturing, continued expansion of hydropower capacity, and a good harvest that helped offset the impact of the September 2024 floods. Growth in FY2024/25 is estimated to exceed 4 percent, although still below potential. Inflation, which spiked temporarily following the floods, decelerated to 3.4 percent y/y in April 2025. The external position continued to strengthen, with robust growth in exports, remittances, and tourism receipts outpacing the recovery in imports.

    “Financial sector vulnerabilities have not yet eased, with non‑performing loans (NPLs) increasing to 5.2 percent in April 2025, impacting bank capital. The financial health of the savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) remains challenging.

    “Looking ahead, growth is projected to strengthen in FY2025/26, while inflation is expected to remain contained within the NRB’s tolerance level. However, the outlook is subject to important downside risks, including under-execution of capital projects, an increase in financial sector vulnerabilities, elevated global trade tensions and uncertainty, and potential disruptions to domestic policy continuity and reform implementation.

    “Against this background, policies and reforms envisaged under the ECF-supported program remain well-placed to help preserve macroeconomic stability and strengthen Nepal’s policymaking framework. The FY2025/26 budget is broadly consistent with the program objective to maintain fiscal and debt sustainability, while initiating reforms to increase capital spending, providing further incentives to encourage private sector investment, and expanding the public school midday meal program.

    “Monetary policy continues to follow a cautious data-driven approach, with maintaining focus on price and external stability a key to supporting growth. Amendments to the NRB Act would strengthen the central bank’s independence and governance and make the bank resolution regime more robust. Rising financial sector vulnerabilities warrant increased vigilance. In this context, it is essential to launch the LPR in a timely manner and prioritize measures to deal with problematic SACCOs. Creation of an Asset Management Company should be approached with extra caution given the risks involved and should be made conditional on improvements to the debt recovery framework, including the insolvency law, and a thorough review of the business case for such an entity. The authorities have continued to make tangible improvements to the anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) legal framework, and are now shifting their focus to effective implementation of Nepal’s AML/CFT Action Plan.

    “The IMF team held meetings with the Honorable Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mr. Bishnu Prasad Paudel, the National Planning Commission Vice-Chairman Honorable Dr. Shiva Raj Adhikari, the Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel, and other senior government and central bank officials. The IMF team also met with representatives from the private sector, think tank and development partners.”

    “The IMF team is grateful to the Nepali authorities for their hospitality and for open and constructive discussions.”

    [1] The Extended Credit Facility (ECF) provides financial assistance to countries with protracted balance of payments problems. It supports countries’ economic programs aimed at moving toward a stable and sustainable macroeconomic position consistent with strong and durable poverty reduction and growth. The ECF is expected to help catalyze additional foreign aid.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Pemba Sherpa

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/10/pr-25191-nepal-imf-reaches-agreement-on-6th-review-under-the-ecf

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: Equivu Capital Announces Sale of Atlantic Power Constructors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOCA RATON, Fla., June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Equivu Capital (“Equivu”), a South Florida-based private investment firm, today announced the sale of Atlantic Power Constructors (“APC”), a leading provider of electrical replacement, upgrade, and maintenance services, based in Manchester, Maine. William Blair acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Atlantic Power Constructors in connection with the transaction.

    During Equivu’s investment period beginning in 2023, APC grew revenue by over five times and expanded the business from its original operations in Maine throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

    “We are incredibly proud of the expansion and success of APC,” said Sal Calvino, Founder of Equivu. “The team at APC is second to none and we really enjoyed scaling this business with all of them.”

    About APC
    Atlantic Power Constructors, an electrical infrastructure services company, was formed by industry veterans with a combined more than 100 years of power sector experience. The company provides a full range of power grid solutions across transmission, distribution, and substation infrastructure, in addition to 24/7 storm restoration. For more information, please visit www.useapc.com.

    About Equivu Capital
    Equivu was founded by Sal Calvino in late 2020 with the idea that the team at Equivu would not only invest in growing businesses but bring a high level of management experience to companies in which Equivu commits its capital. Our mission is to be a visionary partner dedicated to building a strong foundation for success through transparent communication and collaborative efforts. We scale businesses by providing strategic and operational support, fostering entrepreneurial spirit, and promoting equity in every aspect of our work. With a focus on mentoring and leadership, we empower individuals and organizations to evaluate opportunities, optimize efficiency, and achieve lasting growth. Together, we create a structure for progress that is rooted in purpose, open communication, customer satisfaction and a shared commitment to excellence. For more information, please visit www.equivu.com.

    For more media information, contact:
    Lisa Hendrickson, LCH Communications for Equivu
    516-643-1642
    lisa@lchcommunications.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy, Cassidy, colleagues urge FEMA to end unaffordable Risk Rating 2.0 program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today joined Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and seven Republican colleagues in sending a letter to acting Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator David Richardson urging the agency to end the Biden administration’s failed Risk Rating 2.0 program.
    Under Risk Rating 2.0, an estimated 80 percent of Louisiana National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders experienced monthly flood insurance premium increases in 2025.
    “Since the Biden Administration’s rollout of Risk Rating 2.0, premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) increased in every state. By FEMA’s own estimates, 77 percent of all NFIP policies now pay more than under the old system,” the senators wrote.
    “The lack of transparency surrounding Risk Rating 2.0 is beyond troubling. FEMA has never allowed for meaningful public comment nor has it published the underlying data or assumptions used to justify the steep premium increases and refuses to disclose its actuarial model. Without transparency, communities cannot plan mitigation projects, lenders cannot accurately underwrite mortgages, and citizens cannot appeal punitive rate increases. Worse still, rising costs encourage policy lapses—shifting risk back to taxpayers when disasters strike,” they continued.
    “Each month that Risk Rating 2.0 continues unchecked, more families are forced to abandon their insurance coverage, neighborhoods face economic strain, and entire communities risk collapse after the next disaster,” the lawmakers added. 
    Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) also joined the letter.
    Background:
    In 2023, Kennedy introduced the Risk Rating 2.0 Transparency Act, which would require FEMA to publish an explanation of how the agency is determining flood insurance prices under Risk Rating 2.0. 
    In 2023, Kennedy also introduced the Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which would cap annual flood insurance premium increases.
    In 2024, Kennedy spoke in the Senate Banking Committee about FEMA’s dishonesty concerning the Risk Rating 2.0 program, noting that the agency “said a million people of the 5 million people [who hold NFIP policies] will see their rates go down. I haven’t talked to a single person who’s seen their rates go down.”
    The full letter is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Crow Agency woman pleads guilty to false statements

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BILLINGS – A Crow Agency woman accused of making false statements to federal law enforcement admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    The defendant, Micah Taryn Faith LaForge, 24, pleaded guilty to false statement. LaForge faces 5 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.

    U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date has not yet been set.  LaForge was released pending further proceedings.

    The government alleged in court documents that on January 18, 2023, a gunshot victim arrived at the emergency room at the IHS Crow/Northern Cheyenne Hospital in Crow Agency. He was pronounced dead upon arrival. He was transported to IHS in a vehicle driven by LaForge.

    LaForge lied to medical personnel and a BIA Special Agent at the hospital and then later that same day to an FBI Special Agent and a different BIA Special agent. She told all of these individuals she was driving between Crow Agency and Dunmore when she saw the gunshot victim lying in the road. LaForge claimed she stopped and loaded him into the passenger side of her vehicle and drove directly to IHS. LaForge continued with the lie by traveling to the purported location where she claimed that she saw the gunshot victim lying in the road with a BIA Special Agent. The agent noted there was no evidence, i.e., blood, shell casings, sign of a struggle that would support LaForge’s claim that this was the location where she encountered the gunshot victim.

    The gunshot victim was actually shot at a house on Crow River Road. The day after the initial statement, LaForge contacted law enforcement and admitted she had lied the day before. Her lie about finding the gunshot victim in the middle of the road stymied the investigation for over 15 hours as the investigators had only the false information she provided about the location, which kept the investigators from going to the residence where the victim was shot and collecting evidence. The firearm was never recovered.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation.

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute PCP

    Source: US FBI

                WASHINGTON – Norman Morris, 44, of the District of Columbia, was found guilty by a federal jury on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP).

                The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, DEA Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

                Sentencing for Morris, aka “Fibble,” is pending and will be set at a later date.

                According to court documents and testimony at trial before Judge Dabney L. Friedrich, the DEA and the FBI began conducting a criminal investigation in September 2023 of local PCP and fentanyl distributors, a group that included Morris and co-defendants Lamont M. Langston, Kelvin Sanker, and Jamar Bennett.

                Morris conducted apparent drug transactions outside of his residence on the 200 block of 58th Street NE. The transactions were monitored by law enforcement from November 2023 to March 2024. During this same period, Bennett and Langston were observed meeting at Morris’s residence to exchange suspected narcotics and cash.

                During the investigation, Bennett sold more than two kilograms of PCP to undercover officers over the course of nine transactions. The PCP was supplied by Langston and was stored and prepared by Sanker at Sanker’s home. Morris also retrieved 32 ounces of PCP from Sanker at the request of Langston after Langston was arrested with PCP and two firearms. Sixteen ounces of the PCP retrieved by Morris was sold to an undercover officer by Bennett.

                Bennett, 45, of the District, pleaded guilty Apr. 11, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was sentenced to 121 months in prison.

                Sanker, 43, of the District, pleaded guilty Oct. 22, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute PCP and was sentencing to 65 months in prison.

                Langston, 44, of the District, pleaded guilty Dec. 19, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP.  Langston’s sentencing is scheduled for June 30, 2025.

               This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

               This case was investigated by the the FBI’s Washington Field Office, DEA’s Washington Division, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Roman of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Division, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Stempel, with valuable assistance from Paralegal Michael Asmutis.

    24cr109

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Huntress Redefines Security Awareness Training With Hands-On Tradecraft Simulations That Put Users in Attackers’ Shoes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COLUMBIA, Md., June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Old-school security awareness training (SAT) programs aren’t cutting it against today’s hackers thanks to boring content and one-size-fits-all delivery methods. That’s why Huntress has launched Threat Simulator, a new feature for Huntress Managed SAT that gives users hands-on training with real-world hacker tradecraft.

    Paired with engaging, expert-backed episodes, Threat Simulator turns passive learning into active skill-building through quick, game-like simulations. Perfect for experiential learners, these simulations put users in hackers’ shoes, challenging them to carry out simulated attacks to understand the mindsets, methods, and motives of cybercriminals. This unique approach shows just how easily anyone can become a target and how little effort it takes for attackers to succeed, equipping users with lasting awareness of modern threats and teaching them to think like hackers so they can become better defenders.

    In 2024, 60% of data breaches had one thing in common: the human element. Whether it’s falling victim to phishing attempts and business email compromise scams or inadvertently installing malware, human error remains a leading cause of breaches. While old-school SAT programs were created to address this, they fall short in reducing human risk. Many are overly simplistic and riddled with clichés, while others are too complex for non-technical learners to grasp. Adding to this, many training programs rely solely on video-based content and are developed by generalists without in-depth knowledge of hacker tradecraft. This results in training that isn’t actionable, relatable, or memorable, and leaves employees unprepared to spot and respond to the threats they’re most likely to face. To tackle the human risk factor, SAT must be practical, engaging, and tailored to modern threats. This requires a layered approach to learning strategies, including immersive learning simulations for experiential learners.

    “Traditional security awareness training often fails to prepare users,” said Dima Kumets, Principal Product Manager at Huntress. “With Threat Simulator, we’re changing that. We’ve designed it in collaboration with our security researchers to push beyond basic phishing simulations and immerse users in real-world, hands-on scenarios that emulate hacker tradecraft. By teaching users to adopt the perspective of an attacker, we empower them to recognize and report hacker tradecraft while protecting themselves from becoming victims. This not only sharpens individual cybersecurity awareness but also helps organizations build a more proactive and resilient security culture.”

    Key Benefits of Threat Simulator:
    Available via Early Access since April, Threat Simulator is already shaking up traditional SAT. While users aren’t required to replay the 5-minute simulation, they frequently choose to do multiple sessions, spending an average of 7.5 to 12 minutes total practicing and refining their skills. Additionally, a survey of 2,000 Early Access users revealed that 90% gained new knowledge about security threats. These early results prove Threat Simulator’s ability to bust the “check-the-box” stigma of traditional SAT with willing participation and meaningful learning.

    Users say Threat Simulator is “fun”, “engaging”, and “informative” as it helps learners confidently tackle today’s most prevalent cybersecurity threats. Zvonimir Petric, Director of Managed Services at Campfire Technology Inc., shared, “Threat Simulator is engaging, focused, and actually fun. I suspect the users who engage in this will outperform their peers.” Here’s how it achieves this:

    • Training that goes beyond phishing simulations. Traditional SAT often stops at phishing simulations, leaving users unprepared for the full range of threats they face. Threat Simulator changes this by covering a broad range of hacker tradecraft, from open-source intelligence (OSINT) to spear phishing. It delivers training that mirrors real-world threats, building the adaptability needed to respond to attacks in any environment.
    • An interactive and immersive learning experience. Threat Simulator breaks free from traditional, passive learning methods with dynamic, hands-on experiences. The interactive, game-like simulations support kinesthetic learners and offer realistic scenarios that require critical thinking and active participation. These immersive exercises grab attention and boost retention to foster critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of threats.
    • Teaches users to identify hacker tradecraft. Creates lasting behavior changes by turning users into active participants in their organization’s cybersecurity. Through the simulations, learners internalize the realities of how hackers operate and how easily they can become targets. This deeper understanding naturally encourages users to be proactive and vigilant, making for smarter, more secure decisions.
    • Real-world scenarios guided by expert insight. All simulations are designed in partnership with the Huntress security team, informed by the real-world hacker tradecraft they see across millions of endpoints and identities. These scenarios are grounded in the most pressing and current threats facing organizations, ensuring learners are always training against the same techniques attackers are actively using.

    “Threat Simulator is a gamechanger. The OSINT training gave my staff and our employees a clear understanding of how hackers can gather seemingly innocent information off the web to create a profile for Social Engineering Attacks,” said Eric Nush Director of Technology, CETL, Homer School District 33Ct. “It made us think twice about the types of information we make publicly available on our website. This not only increased our awareness of the possible risks we have, but also inspired us to take several actions—like starting discussions about new procedures for limiting public website content or encouraging data-sensitive positions (HR, Payroll, Business, etc) to double-check their social media for information that can be leveraged by hackers.”

    Additional resources:

    About Huntress
    Huntress is the enterprise-grade, people-powered cybersecurity solution for all businesses, not just the 1%. With fully owned technology developed by and for its industry-defining team of security analysts, engineers, and researchers, Huntress elevates underresourced tech teams whether they work within outsourced IT environments or in-house IT and security teams.

    The 24/7 industry-leading Huntress Security Operations Center (SOC) covers cyber threats for outsourced IT and in-house teams through remediation with a false-positive rate of less than 1%. With a mission to break down barriers to enterprise-level security and always give back more than it takes, Huntress is often the first to respond to major hacks and threats while protecting its partners and shares tradecraft analysis and threat advisories with the community as they happen.

    As long as hackers keep hacking, Huntress keeps hunting. Join the hunt at www.huntress.com and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

    Huntress Contact:
    Aaron Deal
    press@huntresslabs.com

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/46f67bae-02af-4874-baad-0056961c44f9

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Chicken Road Game Online In India – Download, Play & Win Real Money

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Gurugram, Haryana, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Chicken Road is a fun arcade-style casino game made by InOut Games in 2024. In this exciting adventure, you help a brave little chicken walk across dangerous paths to grab a golden egg. But be careful there are hidden dangers along the way! 

    >>> Play Chicken Road Game Online >>>

    With a high return-to-player (RTP) rate of 98% and bets starting at just INR 90, Chicken Road is perfect for both new and experienced players.

    This page will tell you everything you need to know about the Chicken Road game online, along with smart tips to help you win more. Ready to play? Let’s go!

    >>> Play Chicken Road Game Online >>>

    What Is Chicken Road?

    Chicken Road is a simple yet thrilling game where you guide a chicken across a line of manholes. Some manholes are safe, while others hide dangerous fires. If the chicken steps on a safe manhole, your prize gets bigger. But if it hits a fire trap, the game ends and you lose your bet.

    >>> Play Chicken Road Game Online >>>

    You get to decide when to stop and cash out your winnings. That’s what makes the game fun—you’re in control! The farther your chicken walks, the higher your reward. But the risk also grows with each step.

    How to Play Chicken Road Game In India

    In India, the game is easy to learn and quick to play. Here’s how it works:

    1. Click the green “Go” button to start.
    2. Your chicken walks forward. If the first step is safe, you earn a multiplier.
    3. Each safe step earns you more money.
    4. If your chicken lands on a fire trap, you lose your bet, and the game ends.
    5. You can press the yellow “Cash Out” button at any time to take your winnings.

    You can keep going to try for bigger rewards, but remember, one wrong step and it’s game over.

    Why Chicken Road Game Is So Popular In India

    1. Easy Controls

    The game screen is easy to understand. You don’t need to read long rules or guides to start playing. Everything is simple and clear.

    2. Choose Your Difficulty

    You can pick from four levels depending on how risky you want to play:

    • Easy: 24 steps. Best for beginners who want small, steady wins.
    • Medium: 22 steps. A balanced level with good rewards and some risk.
    • Hard: 20 steps. For more experienced players who want higher multipliers.
    • Hardcore: 15 steps. Very risky but comes with the biggest prizes.

    You can change the level anytime between rounds.

    3. High RTP and Risk Options

    Chicken Road has an overall RTP of 98%, which means it’s designed to be fair to players. But your chance of winning on each step depends on the difficulty:

    • In Easy mode, each step has about a 96% chance of success.
    • In Hardcore mode, the risk is much higher. The RTP here can drop to 60%, but the rewards are also much bigger.

    Choose the level that fits your playing style.

    4. Bet Your Way

    Chicken Road works for all kinds of players. You may wager anything from INR 90 to INR 19,000 in a single round of play. It’s your choice to play with safety in mind or take more risky moves. A few players, in the beginning, make low bets and then increase their wagers as they get used to playing. Others wait for a winning streak before raising their bet.

    The Cash Out Feature

    One of the best parts of Chicken Road is the Cash Out option. At any point in the game, you can click this button and take home your winnings. You don’t have to finish the full path. This gives you control over how much risk you want to take.

    Try the Chicken Road Game Demo

    If you are new to Chicken Road, don’t worry. You can try the demo version of the game first. It works just like the real version but uses fake money. This is a great way to learn without taking any risks.

    Why Try the Demo?

    • No money needed
    • Learn the game rules
    • See how betting works
    • Practice using the Cash Out feature
    • Get familiar with the game layout

    The demo includes all the same features as the full game, so you get the full experience before betting real money.

    How to Sign Up to Play Chicken Road Game

    To play Chicken Road Game for real money, you need to register at an online casino that offers the game. Here’s how to do it:

    1. Choose a trusted online casino.
    2. Visit their website and click the “Register” button.
    3. Fill in your details, like your name, email, phone number, and address.
    4. Enter the verification code sent to your phone or email.
    5. Once you’re done, your account will be ready. You can now deposit money and start playing.

    Can I Play Chicken Road on My Phone?

    Yes! Let’s see how to get started:

    1. Pick a casino that offers the Chicken Road game.
    2. Go to their website on your phone.
    3. Find the Apps section and choose your device type.
    4. Download and install the casino app.
    5. Log in and start playing Chicken Road anytime, anywhere.

    How to Start Betting on Chicken Road

    Want to place your first real-money bet? Here’s a simple guide:

    1. Log in to your casino account (or create one if you haven’t yet).
    2. Click the “Deposit” button and add funds to your account.
    3. Open the Chicken Road game from the casino menu.
    4. Enter the amount you want to bet.
    5. Click the “Start” button to begin the game.
    6. Watch your chicken walk the path. Decide when to Cash Out based on your winnings.

    Your final prize depends on how far the chicken goes and the multiplier at the time you cash out.

    Best Strategies for Chicken Road

    You place a bet, help the chicken move forward, and decide when to cash out. But if you want to win more often, you need a plan.

    Many players use smart strategies to improve their chances. Below, you will find the most popular ones that can help you stay in the game longer and possibly earn bigger rewards.

    1. Safe Multiplier Strategy

    If you like playing it safe, this strategy is for you. It’s simple—cash out early, usually when the multiplier hits between 1.5x and 3x. Your wins won’t be huge, but you will win more often. Over time, these small wins can really add up, and you will lose less.

    2. Martingale Strategy

    This one is for players who don’t mind taking a little more risk. If you lose a round, you double your next bet. The idea is that when you finally win, you will cover all your past losses and still make a profit. But be careful—this strategy needs a good-sized balance and a bit of patience.

    3. Balanced Risk Strategy

    With this method, you adjust your bet size based on the difficulty level you choose. If you are playing on a harder level, place lower bets because the risk is higher. On easier levels, you can bet more since the chances of winning are better. This keeps your gameplay steady and balanced.

    4. The Lagom Approach – Balanced Play Style

    Inspired by the Swedish word “lagom,” which means “not too much, not too little,” this betting style helps you stay in control.

    Here’s how the Lagom Strategy works:

    • Start with a ₹500 bet.
    • If you win, lower your next bet to ₹300. This locks in some profit.
    • If you lose, raise your next bet slightly to ₹700 to try and recover.
    • Keep your bets in a safe range so you don’t risk too much.

    This approach keeps the game exciting but helps avoid the stress of big losses. It’s a great choice for players who want to stay consistent and in control.

    Download the Chicken Road Game App (APK)

    Want to play Chicken Road on your phone? It’s easy. It’s made to be quick, easy to use, and free from lag on every smartphone and tablet.

    Since the APK file is only 26.2 MB, your device will download it fast, and you won’t experience any further slowdown. You can enjoy Vampire Diaries: Struggle for Blood on your mobile browser, but its app has better controls and speed.

    How to Download the APK

    • Go to the official website or a trusted casino partner.
    • Tap on the download link for the Chicken Road APK.
    • Open the file and install it on your Android phone.
    • Once installed, just log in or sign up, and you’re ready to play.

    The game runs smoothly on Android and works great even on older phones. For iPhone users, many casinos also offer mobile apps that include Chicken Road.

    Chicken Road RTP and Winning Chances

    InOut Games is open about how Chicken Road works. The game is based on Provably Fair technology, meaning the results are created using a secure random system that players can trust.

    The RTP (Return to Player) for Chicken Road is 98%, which means most of the money bet by players is returned in winnings over time. Only a small 2% margin is used to support game development.

    Let’s break it down simply:

    • If you go for a 1.68x multiplier, your chance of winning is about 58%.
    • Going for a 2.80x multiplier gives you about a 35% chance.
    • A big win like 9.08x has around a 10% chance.
    • Going for something huge like 34.67x gives you a 2.8% chance.
    • The x1000 jackpot? Your chance is close to 0.1%—super rare, but possible.

    These numbers show that InOut Games keeps things fair, with only a small difference between the theoretical and actual win rates. Also, keep in mind that each round is random. Just because you won or lost before doesn’t affect what happens next.

    Is Chicken Road Real or Fake?

    Chicken Road is 100% real and fair. It’s created by a trusted company called InOut Games, and the game uses Provably Fair technology. This means that the game results are made using a secure system called cryptography. You can even check the fairness of every round.

    If you play Chicken Road at a licensed online casino, you’re in good hands. These casinos follow international gaming rules, so your gameplay is safe and your money is protected.

    Who Made Chicken Road?

    InOut Games is the company behind Chicken Road. They are known for making cool, easy-to-play mini-games that keep players coming back. Their games have:

    • High return-to-player (RTP) percentages
    • Simple and fun mechanics
    • Great design for both mobile and desktop

    Chicken Road is one of their most loved games. It’s fun, fast, and lets you use real strategies to win.

    Conclusion

    Chicken Road is a fast-paced, exciting game where your choices matter. Whether you’re someone who likes safe bets or wants to go all in for big wins, the game gives you options.

    You can play it your way:

    • Try safe steps and cash out early
    • Use smart betting strategies to stay ahead
    • Switch between easy and hard levels depending on your mood

    And with a high RTP and fun gameplay, you are always just one step away from a big win.

    Ready to take your chicken on a winning run? Start playing Chicken Road today and enjoy the thrill of every step!

    FAQs

    1. Can I play Chicken Road for free?

    Yes, many online casinos offer a demo version. You can play it without spending real money and learn how the game works.

    2. Where can I play Chicken Road?

    You can find Chicken Road on trusted online casinos that offer games from InOut Games.

    3. How does the game work?

    You place a bet and help the chicken move forward. Each step earns you more money, but you must choose the right time to cash out—before stepping into a trap.

    4. Are there any bonuses for Chicken Road?

    Yes. Many casinos offer free bets, deposit bonuses, cashback, and special promos for new and regular players.

    5. Is Chicken Road legal in India?

    Yes, as long as you’re playing on a licensed and legal online casino, Chicken Road is safe and legal in India.

    Media Details

    • Company Name – Chicken Road
    • Address – 673, JMD Building, Gurugram, Haryana
    • Company Website: https://chicken-roadd.com/
    • Email: sumit@chicken-roadd.com
    • Phone: +91-2049157035
    • Contact Person Name: Sumit

    Disclaimer
    This information is for general and entertainment purposes only—not legal, financial, or gambling advice. Always verify details and follow your local laws. Gambling carries risks; wager responsibly and only what you can afford to lose, and seek help if you feel out of control. Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you, and wild may be unavailable or restricted in certain regions.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Sherrill’s Community Project-Funded YMCA Facility Breaks Ground

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

    LIVINGSTON, NJ — This week, Representative Mikie Sherrill’s (NJ-11) team joined elected officials, YMCA leadership, and community members to break ground on the site of the new West Essex YMCA. Rep. Sherrill secured $850,000 in Community Project funding for this construction project. 

    “Whether it’s learning to swim, joining an after-school program, or spending summers at camp, the YMCA has been part of the fabric of the West Essex community for generations. I’m thrilled to see this project moving forward — and proud to have helped secure the funding to make it possible,” said Rep. Sherrill. “I want to thank the Mayor and Township Council of Livingston, and the executives at the YMCA for their hard work to make this project a reality. The new West Essex YMCA will be a place where families grow, kids thrive, and our community comes together”

    This project was a part of Rep. Sherrill’s Fiscal Year 2024 Community Projects request, totalling nearly $16 million. In addition to this YMCA construction project, her other funding will address issues of crime prevention, traffic safety, flood mitigation, open space preservation, water infrastructure, workforce development, and community development. 

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterbury Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Ring

    Source: US FBI

    David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE DELROSARIO-CANELA, also known as “Domi,” 39, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 32 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a Waterbury drug trafficking ring.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force and other law enforcement agencies investigated two drug trafficking organizations based in the city of Waterbury.  One organization operated in the area of William Street and the other operated in the area of Maple Avenue.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, video surveillance, GPS tracking of vehicles, and numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that the two organizations distributed cocaine, crack, and fentanyl through a network of sellers.  The organizations shared sources of supply and worked together to further their operations.

    During the investigation, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Delrosario-Canela, one of the main street-level distributors for the Maple Avenue organization.

    Seventeen individuals were charged with federal offenses as a result of the investigation.  Delrosario-Canela and several codefendants were arrested on November 29, 2023.  In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized approximately 700 grams of crack cocaine, more than 900 vials (“caps”) of crack, approximately 200 grams of loose fentanyl, more than 1,600 dose bags of fentanyl/heroin, two stolen firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, and more than $39,000 in cash.

    Delrosario-Canela has been detained since his arrest.  On February 11, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

    The FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task includes members from the FBI, the Waterbury Police Department, the Naugatuck Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction.  The DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Connecticut State Police, Wolcott Police Department, and Meriden Police Department have assisted the investigation.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Shan Patel through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the Waterbury State Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: ‘Much Needed’: Hawley Applauds Trump’s Approval of Disaster Aid For Missouri Storm Victims

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Monday, June 09, 2025

    This evening, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced federal disaster aid for Eastern Missouri’s devastating May storms, thanking U.S. President Donald Trump for swiftly green-lighting the funds.
    Senator Hawley has been a leading advocate for disaster aid following last month’s storms and tornadoes that claimed the lives of seven Missourians. The Senator surveyed the storm damage firsthand throughout St. Louis and met with residents, first responders, and other community leaders.
    Upon returning to Washington, Senator Hawley urged the Trump Administration to issue federal disaster aid and even secured a pledge from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem—who oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—to expedite relief. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: EIA expects low crude oil prices and declining rig count to affect U.S. crude oil production trends through 2026

    Source: US Energy Information Administration – EIA

    Headline: EIA expects low crude oil prices and declining rig count to affect U.S. crude oil production trends through 2026

    U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
    WASHINGTON DC 20585

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    June 10, 2025

    The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects the Brent crude oil price to fall to near $60 per barrel by the end of the year and to average about $59 per barrel in 2026. EIA expects the low price of crude oil to affect both U.S. crude oil production and retail gasoline prices in the short term.

    In its June Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), EIA forecasts U.S. crude oil production to average about 13.4 million barrels per day this year, just below the record highs earlier this year. For 2026, the forecast is slightly lower than 2025 levels. EIA expects U.S. retail gasoline prices to average below $3.10 per gallon through the end of 2026, which is about 6% lower than the 2024 average price.

    U.S. energy market indicators 2024 2025 2026
    Brent crude oil spot price (dollars per barrel) $81 $66 $59
    Retail gasoline price (dollars per gallon) $3.30 $3.10 $3.10
    U.S. crude oil production (million barrels per day) 13.2 13.4 13.4
    Natural gas price at Henry Hub (dollars per million British thermal units) $2.20 $4.00 $4.90
    U.S. liquefied natural gas gross exports (billion cubic feet per day) 12 15 16
    Shares of U.S. electricity generation       
    Natural gas 42% 40% 40%
    Coal 16% 16% 15%
    Renewables 23% 25% 27%
    Nuclear 19% 19% 18%
    U.S. GDP (percentage change) 2.8% 1.4% 1.7%
    U.S. CO2 emissions (billion metric tons) 4.8 4.8 4.8
    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, June 2025

    Some key highlights from the June STEO include:

    • Global oil supply, demand, and prices: EIA revised its 2025 global oil production forecast slightly upward and its global petroleum products consumption forecast slightly downward for both 2025 and 2026, leading to an expectation of growing global oil inventories. EIA expects oil inventories to grow by about 800,000 barrels per day in 2025 and 600,000 barrels per day in 2026. EIA’s expectations for inventory growth are the primary reason it expects oil prices to decline through this year and next year.
    • U.S. crude oil production: Domestic crude oil production reached an all-time high of 13.5 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2025. EIA expects U.S. crude oil production to decline from that high through the end of 2026 as oil producers respond to lower prices. Data from Baker Hughes shows the number of active drilling rigs declined last month by much more than EIA had expected. Fewer active rigs affect EIA’s forecast for how many wells U.S. operators will drill and complete throughout 2026. EIA expects U.S. crude oil production to average about 13.4 million barrels per day this year and just below that amount in 2026.
    • U.S. gasoline prices: Another effect of lower oil prices is that EIA expects lower average U.S. gasoline prices through 2026. Regular-grade retail gasoline prices average $3.10 per gallon in the third quarter of 2025 in EIA’s forecast, down 7% from the same period last year. EIA expects retail gasoline prices in the eastern part of the country to be below $3.00 per gallon for most of the next year and a half. On the West Coast, EIA expects refinery capacity reductions to cause a 4% annual price increase next year.
    • Natural gas prices: EIA expects the Henry Hub natural gas spot price to average about $4.00 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2025 and $4.90/MMBtu in 2026, compared with $2.20/MMBtu in 2024.
    • Electricity demand: EIA revised its forecast for electricity demand growth in 2025 upward by about 1% to reflect greater expected demand growth in the commercial and industrial sectors, particularly from data centers and manufacturing operations. This growth in power demand is especially notable in regions managed by the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas and PJM independent system operators. EIA expects that U.S. commercial sector electricity consumption will grow by 3% in 2025 and by 5% in 2026.
    • Electricity generation: EIA expects total U.S. electricity generation this summer will be about 1% greater than last summer. EIA expects higher natural gas prices this summer to result in less generation from natural gas-fired power plants compared with last summer, which is expected to be offset by more generation from coal, solar, and hydro.
    • Trade policy assumptions: The U.S. macroeconomic outlook we use in the STEO is based on S&P Global’s macroeconomic model. S&P Global’s most recent model reflects the tariffs announced in April and includes the 90-day temporary suspension of tariffs granted to certain countries. However, the model was finalized before the ruling by the Court of International Trade on May 28th that temporarily halted all reciprocal tariffs. As a result, our macroeconomic forecast assumes lower tariffs on China’s products compared with last month’s STEO and 10% tariffs on countries subject to the 90-day temporary suspension. These differences in tariff rates likely have offsetting effects on the macroeconomic forecast.

    The full June 2025 Short-Term Energy Outlook is available on the EIA website.

    The product described in this press release was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA’s data, analysis, and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the U.S. government. The views in the product and this press release therefore should not be construed as representing those of the U.S. Department of Energy or other federal agencies.

    EIA Program Contact: Tim Hess, STEO@eia.gov
    EIA Press Contact: Chris Higginbotham, EIAMedia@eia.gov

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Global: Rosebank oilfield: why more UK oil means more global emissions

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Fergus Green, Associate Professor in Political Theory and Public Policy, UCL

    Frode Koppang / shutterstock

    The UK government will soon face a momentous decision over whether to approve production in the Rosebank oilfield off the coast of Shetland.

    Rosebank is the UK’s biggest undeveloped field. Its proponents – the largest of which is Norwegian state-owned petroleum company, Equinor – estimate that it will produce the equivalent of up to 500 million barrels of oil between 2026 and 2051. When burned, this oil will generate up to 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is more than the combined annual emissions of 28 low-income countries.

    Thanks to recent court cases, the climate effects of those “combustion emissions” will need to be taken into account by the government when it decides whether to approve production at Rosebank. In a new report, two colleagues and I reviewed the evidence concerning the implications of new oil and gas fields in the UK.


    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.


    There is a rapidly dwindling global carbon budget for holding temperature increases to below 1.5°C of warming (the more conservative end of the Paris agreement’s temperature goal).

    Globally, the emissions from burning the fossil fuels in oil and gas fields and coalmines that are already operating or under development far exceed that budget. In this context, Rosebank’s combustion emissions are highly significant, as they add considerably to that excess.

    We also found that the projected production from existing fields is sufficient to meet or exceed global oil and gas demand in modelled economic scenarios in which climate warming is restrained to within 1.5°C. This is further evidence that new fields are not consistent with achieving globally agreed temperature goals.

    However, it is often asserted by supporters of new fields that keeping UK oil in the ground won’t reduce global emissions, because another producer will supply the demand and reap the benefits. This is a gross and dangerous oversimplification which, according to the United Nations Environment Programme, “defies basic economics of supply and demand”.

    Allowing a new field like Rosebank would increase the supply of oil globally, resulting in a fall in its price which, though small, would cause more oil to be consumed. As UK government advisers at the Climate Change Committee have acknowledged, new petroleum projects “support a larger global market overall” for petroleum. Stopping Rosebank would have the opposite effect, and lead to less oil consumed.

    Rosebank is found about 80 miles west of Shetland and its puffins.
    Philippe Clement / shutterstock

    The oil industry likes to trumpet the UK’s relatively low upstream emissions – that is, from the process of extracting oil – compared with those of competitors overseas. But this is a distraction from the bigger issue: the additional greenhouse gases emitted from consuming the extra oil that new fields produce.

    A recent peer-reviewed study by economists and experts in the emissions-intensity of oil and gas production concluded that limiting oil supply will almost always lead to lower overall emissions, regardless of the intensity of upstream emissions from different fields. It is highly likely that leaving Rosebank’s oil in the ground will result in lower global greenhouse gases than would occur if the field were developed.

    However, this focus on Rosebank’s aggregate emissions ignores two further reasons the field’s development consent should be refused on climate grounds.

    A litmus test of climate leadership

    First, exploiting new sources of oil supply like Rosebank locks in future oil and gas production, ultimately making it economically, politically and legally harder to wind the industry down.

    Second, as the Climate Change Committee also stated, decisions by the UK government concerning petroleum production have an important “signalling effect” internationally and at home.

    Internationally, the UK government has rightly acknowledged that climate action “must be accelerated drastically” to keep the average global temperature rise “below 1.5°C”.

    The UK has a proud reputation for climate leadership. It was the first country to enact a legally binding framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it rapidly phased out coal-fired power generation, and in 2019 it became the first country to adopt a net zero emissions target.

    Building on this legacy, the foreign secretary David Lammy has vowed to “push for the ambition needed to keep 1.5 degrees alive”. But approving Rosebank would signal to the world that the UK government is not sincere about keeping the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C goal “alive”, after all.

    Some might think that aspirations to climate leadership are futile given the Trump administration’s “drill, baby, drill” approach to fossil fuels. But Trump’s recklessness at a critical time for global climate efforts makes UK climate leadership more important than ever.

    The UK already chairs a suite of international energy transition alliances focused on the international phase-out of coal-fired power, the scale-up of renewables, and the financing of these transitions. It could plug a gap in its influence by rejecting Rosebank and joining the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance, a “club” of (currently) 25 national and sub-national governments that are working to phase-out oil and gas production and persuade other countries to follow suit.

    And it could deepen cooperation with the EU to drive down oil and gas demand and scale up clean energy throughout the region, yielding benefits that will outlive the Trump administration.

    Domestically, rejecting Rosebank would send a powerful signal to investors about the sincerity of the government’s commitment to achieve economic growth by becoming a “clean energy superpower”, as the governing Labour party pledged to do at the last election.

    But the benefits of clean prosperity must extend to the people and communities caught up in the transition, too. The UK’s North Sea oil and gas reserves, along with the jobs their production supports, are in terminal decline.

    Oil and gas workers and the communities in which they are based already face a volatile future. New fields like Rosebank would create some additional jobs in this declining industry. But they cannot arrest its long-term decline.

    The government recognises that this transition is already taking place and will continue. With targeted regional and industrial investment, support for workers and their families, and careful planning that meaningfully involves affected communities, the UK has an opportunity to demonstrate to the world how to achieve a just transition away from oil and gas.


    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.


    Fergus Green has received consulting fees from and provided expert evidence on behalf of an environmental nongovernmental organisation engaged in climate-related litigation against a fossil fuel company. He informally consults with a number of environmental nongovernmental organisations in relation to fossil fuel production issues in the UK and elsewhere. He is a member of the Just Transition Expert Group of the Powering Past Coal Alliance (the role is unremunerated).

    ref. Rosebank oilfield: why more UK oil means more global emissions – https://theconversation.com/rosebank-oilfield-why-more-uk-oil-means-more-global-emissions-253055

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: The world needs bold, equitable climate action at the 2025 G7 summit

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sharon E. Straus, Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto

    As climate change and disrupted weather patterns impact countries around the world, leaders must act to mitigate the negative effects on public health.

    Leaders from six western countries and Japan will soon gather in Kananaskis, Alta., for the Group of Seven (G7) meeting from June 15 to 17, 2025. In the lead-up to this meeting, the Royal Society of Canada hosted the Science 7 (S7). This is an engagement meeting of the leading academies of the G7 member countries.

    Following discussion and deliberation, three statements aimed at advancing science for society were published, entitled Advanced Technologies and Data Security, Sustainable Migration and Climate Action and Health Resilience.

    One of us (Sharon Straus) oversaw the S7 statement on Climate Action and Health Resilience. This statement draws attention to the health impacts of climate change and recommends several mitigation strategies.

    Wide-ranging health impacts

    Experts on health and climate change have outlined the growing impact of delayed climate action. The data are clear. Extreme weather events such as heat, floods, droughts and wildfires are having wide-ranging health impacts.

    In the 10 years between 2014-2023, there was a 167 per cent increase in heat-related deaths in those aged 65 years and older compared with the 10 years between 1990-99. Extreme weather events also directly impact food and water security, as well as infectious diseases and chronic diseases.

    The health consequences of climate change are not only the result of environmental factors. Of equal importance are recent decisions eliminating funding for programs that mitigate the risks of climate change.

    Consider for example, the multiple threats to recent progress in eliminating malaria. The World Malaria Report published in December 2024 by the World Health Organization estimated that 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million malaria deaths were averted between 2000 and 2023.

    Now, many countries anticipate a malaria resurgence. Antimalarial drug resistance, mosquito resistance to insecticides, changes in temperature and humidity affecting mosquito survival and the emergence of new mosquito species linked to climate change — combined with the recent abrupt funding freeze from the United States — are leading to a perfect storm.

    Economic impact of climate change

    The economic burden of climate change, which includes more health-care use, lost productivity, adaptation and mitigation expenses — to say nothing of the costs of rebuilding — is massive.

    Much of that burden is borne by those who live in low- and middle-income countries (80 per cent of the world’s population) and who are the lowest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions.

    To put this in perspective, in 2021, the United Nations Environment Program estimated the costs of annual adaptation for vulnerable countries at US$70 billion and predicted this would increase to US$140-300 billion by 2030.

    In addition to the costs of adaptation aimed at reducing vulnerability to climate change, there are the costs associated with losses resulting from climate change. The 2024 Lancet Countdown estimated that the average annual economic losses due to extreme weather-related events reached US$227 billion between 2019-2023. This value exceeds the gross domestic product of approximately 60 per cent of the world’s economies.

    What about Canada?

    In Canada, warming is happening at twice the global rate with resulting heat, wildfires and floods. There is also evidence of significant impacts on mental health and chronic diseases, leading to an increased need for health care.

    Indigenous communities, older adults and those who have experienced homelessness are disproportionately impacted by climate change. Indigenous Peoples, especially those living in remote and northern areas, are particularly vulnerable.

    Currently there are 37 long-term and 40 short-term drinking water advisories in First Nations communities across Canada. The lack of safe, clean drinking water can exacerbate climate-related food and water insecurity and lead to infectious disease transmission.

    The number of people experiencing homelessness is growing and many of these individuals are over 50 years old. These older adults are physiologically 15-20 years older than their housed counterparts and are at higher risk of chronic diseases, including those exacerbated by climate change.

    Similarly, frail older adults are at higher risk of health effects of climate change. It is worth remembering the impact of poor air quality and lack of air conditioning during the COVID-19 pandemic on those living in long-term care homes.

    Climate change costs health-care systems more each year. The Canadian Institute for Climate Choices recently estimated that health-related hospitalizations will increase by 21 per cent by mid-century. Our health systems are not prepared for this.

    In addition, the costs of death and reduced quality of life from heat-related climate change is estimated to rise between $3 billion and $3.9 billion by the middle of this century. Factoring in other impacts such as those from air pollution, flooding and wildfires, the total estimated costs are in the tens to hundreds of billions.

    S7’s recommendations

    The S7 statement on Climate Action and Health Resilience includes seven recommendations. Addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on populations who are particularly vulnerable and investing in innovative solutions are among them. Particularly critical are societal and political innovations that involve affected communities, including Indigenous communities.

    The S7’s climate and health resilience recommendations include:

    • Developing and optimizing climate change mitigation strategies to transform health and social services (such as early warning infectious disease systems and biomonitoring).

    • Developing new regulations nationally and internationally to transform health, public health and social services, increasing their readiness and safeguarding health from climate change impact.

    • Providing economic and regulatory incentives to foster adaptation and resiliency of health systems.

    • Investing in innovative solutions (including vaccine development for emerging diseases, wastewater surveillance) to mitigate climate change and its health risks.

    The G7 summit is an opportunity to centre climate change discussions and act on the S7 recommendations. Bold investment in innovations that address the health challenges resulting from climate change will benefit us all and drive new economic activity and resilience.

    Climate change is a health issue, a social justice issue and an economic issue, and the time to act is now. Scientists, policymakers, clinicians and the public must work together.

    Sharon E. Straus receives research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Public Health Agency of Canada. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

    Françoise Baylis is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

    ref. The world needs bold, equitable climate action at the 2025 G7 summit – https://theconversation.com/the-world-needs-bold-equitable-climate-action-at-the-2025-g7-summit-256876

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Teens say they can access firearms at home, even when parents lock them up, new research shows

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Katherine G. Hastings, PhD Candidate in Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia

    Most households that own firearms have more than one − and owners often don’t secure all of them. StockPlanets/E+ via Getty Images

    More than half of U.S. teens living in households with firearms believe they can access and load a firearm at home. Even when their parents report storing all firearms locked and unloaded, more than one-third of teens still believe they could access and load one. These are the main findings of our new study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

    We are behavioral scientists investigating youth injury prevention and youth safety. In this study, we analyzed national survey data from nearly 500 parents who owned firearms and their teens. One survey asked the parents to report how many firearms they had in the home and how they stored each one. Another asked their teens to estimate how quickly they could access and load a firearm at home.

    While the presence of unlocked and loaded firearms in the home was weakly linked to perceived access among teens, we found that parents’ storage practices alone were a poor predictor of whether teens believed they could access a firearm. What’s more, in households with more than one firearm, locking up more firearms was not at all linked to perceived access among teens if at least one remained unsecured.

    In short, just one unlocked firearm can undo the protective benefit of securing all other firearms in the home, our results showed.

    Why it matters

    In the U.S., firearms are now the leading cause of death among children and teens. In most of these cases, the firearm used belonged to a parent, relative or friend.

    Our study focused on teens’ beliefs about firearm access, not their actual access. However, these perceptions may provide important clues around firearm access and use. Prior research shows that teens who believe they can access a firearm are more likely to access and carry one. This is particularly concerning for teens who already have a higher risk for dying by suicide.

    One of the most widely supported ways to reduce teen injuries and deaths by firearms is to encourage owners to keep firearms locked and unloaded. However, most firearm-owning households in the U.S. have multiple firearms, and owners often store some firearms securely but not all.

    Firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teens.
    Kypros/Stock Photos Gun Safe via Getty Images

    Despite evidence that securely storing firearms saves lives, efforts to promote that messaging may be less effective when it is not universally applied to all firearms in the home or when teens still know how to access them.

    Our study also points to the need for messaging and safety strategies that consider teen behavior amid household firearm dynamics. For example, teens may observe where firearms are stored or know where keys or combinations are kept and unlock firearms in moments of impulsivity or emotional distress. Beyond securely storing firearms, encouraging parents to treat every firearm in the household as a potential source of risk and talking with teens about how to address conflicts and promote mental and emotional well-being may also be protective.

    Additionally, our study adds support for universal laws that require securely storing all firearms in homes in which children live and mandating routine assessments of teen firearm access by pediatricians.

    What still isn’t known

    It is still unclear how teens’ beliefs about their access to firearms affects whether they actually seek them out – or how the variability of parents’ practices on storing firearms affects teen access.

    Another important question is how teens’ perceptions of their access to firearms at home may vary depending on cultural backgrounds, geography and different households’ attitudes and beliefs around firearm use.

    Additionally, our study looked only at teens ages 14 to 18. Further research is needed to explore these associations among younger children in firearm-owning households.

    The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work.

    Rebeccah Sokol receives funding from the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Katherine G. Hastings 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. Teens say they can access firearms at home, even when parents lock them up, new research shows – https://theconversation.com/teens-say-they-can-access-firearms-at-home-even-when-parents-lock-them-up-new-research-shows-256550

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: Presidential Permit Authorizing Green Corridors, LLC, to Construct, Maintain, and Operate a Commercial Elevated Guideway Border Crossing Near Laredo, Texas, at the International Boundary Between the United States and Mexico

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States of America (the “President”), I hereby grant permission, subject to the conditions set forth herein, to Green Corridors, LLC (the “Permittee”), to construct, maintain, and operate a commercial elevated guideway crossing located on the United States border with Mexico in Laredo, Texas, as described in the “Presidential Permit Application: Green Corridors Intelligent Freight Transportation System” dated October 3, 2024, by the Permittee to the Secretary of State and made complete with additional information provided by the Permittee on February 14, 2025 (collectively, the “Application”), in accordance with 33 U.S.C. 535d and associated procedures.
         The term “Border facilities” as used in this permit consists of the elevated guideway and bridge over the Rio Grande which connects inland terminals near Monterrey, Mexico, in the state of Nuevo Leon and near Interstate 35, north of Laredo, Texas, its approaches, and any land, structures, installations, or equipment appurtenant thereto located on the United States side of the international boundary between the United States and Mexico, located just downstream from the Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge at the connection between Texas State Highway 255 and the Nuevo Leon State Highway Spur 1.
         This permit is subject to the following conditions:
         Article 1.  The Border facilities herein described and all aspects of their operation are subject to all the conditions, provisions, and requirements of this permit and any subsequent Presidential amendment to it.  The construction, maintenance, and operation of the Border facilities shall be in all material respects as described in the Application.
         Article 2.  The standards for and the manner of construction, maintenance, and operation of the Border facilities are subject to inspection by the representatives of appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies.  The Permittee shall grant officers and employees of such agencies that are duly authorized and performing their official duties free and unrestricted access to said Border facilities.
         Article 3.  The Permittee shall comply with all applicable Federal laws and regulations regarding the construction, maintenance, and operation of the Border facilities.
         Article 4.  (1)  The Permittee shall take or cause to be taken all appropriate measures to mitigate adverse impacts on or disruption of the human environment in connection with the construction, maintenance, and operation of the Border facilities.  Mitigation measures are those that avoid, minimize, or compensate for adverse impacts.
         (2)  The Permittee shall hold harmless and indemnify the United States for any claimed or adjudged liability arising out of construction, maintenance, and operation of the Border facilities, including environmental contamination from the release, threatened release, or discharge of hazardous substances or hazardous waste.
         (3)  The Permittee is responsible for obtaining any required Federal, State, and local permits, approvals, and authorizations prior to commencing construction activities.  The Permittee shall implement the mitigation identified in any environmental decision documents prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and Federal permits, including stormwater permits and permits issued in accordance with section 402 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1342).  The Permittee shall comply with applicable Federal, State, and local environmental laws.
         Article 5.  The Permittee shall immediately notify the President or his designee of any decision to transfer custody and control of the Border facilities or any part thereof to any executive department or agency (agency) of the United States Government.  Said notice shall identify the transferee agency and seek the approval of the President for the transfer of the permit.  In the event of approval by the President of such transfer, this permit shall remain in force and effect, and the Border facilities shall be subject to all the conditions, permissions, and requirements of this permit and any amendments thereof.  The Permittee may transfer ownership or control of the Border facilities to a non-Federal entity or individual only upon the prior express approval of such transfer by the President, which approval may include such conditions, permissions, and requirements that the President, in the President’s discretion, determines are appropriate and necessary for inclusion in the permit, to be effective on the date of transfer.
         Article 6.  The Permittee is responsible for acquiring and maintaining any right-of-way grants or easements, permits, and other authorizations as may become necessary or appropriate.  To ensure the safe operation of the Border facilities, the Permittee shall maintain them and every part of them in a condition of good repair and in compliance with applicable law and use of best management practices.
         Article 7.  To the extent authorized by law, and consistent with any Donation Acceptance Agreements (DAAs) already executed with the Permittee under the Donation Acceptance Authority found in 6 U.S.C. 301a and section 559 of title V of division F of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (Public Law 113-76), as amended, as continued by 6 U.S.C. 301b, the Permittee shall provide to the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Commissioner) of the Department of Homeland Security and the heads of any other relevant agencies, at no cost to the United States, suitable inspection facilities, infrastructure improvements, equipment, and maintenance, as set forth in the DAAs.  Nothing in this permit obligates such agencies to provide a particular level of services or staffing for such inspection facilities or for any other aspect of the port of entry associated with the Border facilities.
         Article 8.  Before beginning design activities, the Permittee shall fulfill requirements associated with the following conditions, as refined by the relevant agencies below and as consistent with applicable law:
         (1)  Provide a plan for the approval of the Commissioner detailing how the Permittee will fund and deliver the border facilities, staffing, vehicles, out year refresh cost and data sharing necessary for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to implement a design-appropriate inspections procedure and sustain it thereafter;
         (2)  Provide a plan for the approval of the Administrator of General Services (Administrator) and the Commissioner detailing how the Permittee will fund the necessary operations and maintenance costs for the Border facilities upon commencement of operations and thereafter;
         (3)  Provide a plan for the approval of the Administrator and the Commissioner detailing how the Permittee will fund construction, outfitting (furniture, fixtures, and equipment to include information technology and necessary inspection technologies), technology integration, and outyear refresh of said program elements for the Border facilities detailed in their Application; and
         (4)  Provide a plan for, and to the satisfaction of, the Secretary of Transportation detailing the Permittee’s design, deployment, operation, and related topics to enable the Department of Transportation to determine the regulatory framework that will govern the Permittee’s operations, as well as how the Permittee will ensure the necessary funding for appropriate Department of Transportation inspection facilities and staffing.
    Relevant agencies will coordinate with the Permittee to further refine the above conditions, as necessary, within 1 year of permit issuance.
         Article 9.  Before initiating construction, the Permittee shall obtain the concurrence of the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commissions, United States and Mexico.
         Article 10.  The Permittee shall not initiate construction until the Department of State has provided notification to the Permittee that the Department of State has completed its exchange of diplomatic notes with the Government of Mexico regarding authorization.  The Permittee shall provide written notification to the President or his designee at the time that the construction authorized by this permit begins, at the time as such construction is completed, interrupted, or discontinued, and at other times as may be requested by the President.
         Article 11.  Upon request, the Permittee shall provide appropriate information to the President or his designee with regard to the Border facilities.  Such requests could include requests for information concerning current conditions, environmental compliance, mitigation, or anticipated changes in ownership or control, construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of the Border facilities.
         Article 12.  The Permittee shall file any applicable statements and reports required by applicable Federal law in connection with the Border facilities.
         Article 13.  The Permittee shall make no substantial change inconsistent with the Application to the Border facilities, in the location of the Border facilities, or in the operation authorized by this permit, unless such changes have been approved by the President.  The President may terminate, revoke, or amend this permit at any time at his sole discretion.  The Permittee’s obligation to implement any amendment to this permit is subject to the availability of funds.  If the Permittee permanently closes the Green Corridors Intelligent Freight Transportation System and it is no longer used as an international crossing, then this permit shall terminate, and the Permittee may manage, utilize, or dispose of the Border facilities in accordance with applicable authorities.  This permit shall continue in full force and effect for only so long as the Permittee continues the operations hereby authorized.
         Article 14.  This permit shall expire 5 years from the date of its issuance if the Permittee has not commenced construction of the Border facilities by that date.
         Article 15.  This permit is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
    DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: EIA expects low crude oil prices and declining rig count to affect U.S. crude oil production trends through 2026

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
    WASHINGTON DC 20585

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    June 10, 2025

    The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects the Brent crude oil price to fall to near $60 per barrel by the end of the year and to average about $59 per barrel in 2026. EIA expects the low price of crude oil to affect both U.S. crude oil production and retail gasoline prices in the short term.

    In its June Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), EIA forecasts U.S. crude oil production to average about 13.4 million barrels per day this year, just below the record highs earlier this year. For 2026, the forecast is slightly lower than 2025 levels. EIA expects U.S. retail gasoline prices to average below $3.10 per gallon through the end of 2026, which is about 6% lower than the 2024 average price.

    U.S. energy market indicators 2024 2025 2026
    Brent crude oil spot price (dollars per barrel) $81 $66 $59
    Retail gasoline price (dollars per gallon) $3.30 $3.10 $3.10
    U.S. crude oil production (million barrels per day) 13.2 13.4 13.4
    Natural gas price at Henry Hub (dollars per million British thermal units) $2.20 $4.00 $4.90
    U.S. liquefied natural gas gross exports (billion cubic feet per day) 12 15 16
    Shares of U.S. electricity generation       
    Natural gas 42% 40% 40%
    Coal 16% 16% 15%
    Renewables 23% 25% 27%
    Nuclear 19% 19% 18%
    U.S. GDP (percentage change) 2.8% 1.4% 1.7%
    U.S. CO2 emissions (billion metric tons) 4.8 4.8 4.8
    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, June 2025

    Some key highlights from the June STEO include:

    • Global oil supply, demand, and prices: EIA revised its 2025 global oil production forecast slightly upward and its global petroleum products consumption forecast slightly downward for both 2025 and 2026, leading to an expectation of growing global oil inventories. EIA expects oil inventories to grow by about 800,000 barrels per day in 2025 and 600,000 barrels per day in 2026. EIA’s expectations for inventory growth are the primary reason it expects oil prices to decline through this year and next year.
    • U.S. crude oil production: Domestic crude oil production reached an all-time high of 13.5 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2025. EIA expects U.S. crude oil production to decline from that high through the end of 2026 as oil producers respond to lower prices. Data from Baker Hughes shows the number of active drilling rigs declined last month by much more than EIA had expected. Fewer active rigs affect EIA’s forecast for how many wells U.S. operators will drill and complete throughout 2026. EIA expects U.S. crude oil production to average about 13.4 million barrels per day this year and just below that amount in 2026.
    • U.S. gasoline prices: Another effect of lower oil prices is that EIA expects lower average U.S. gasoline prices through 2026. Regular-grade retail gasoline prices average $3.10 per gallon in the third quarter of 2025 in EIA’s forecast, down 7% from the same period last year. EIA expects retail gasoline prices in the eastern part of the country to be below $3.00 per gallon for most of the next year and a half. On the West Coast, EIA expects refinery capacity reductions to cause a 4% annual price increase next year.
    • Natural gas prices: EIA expects the Henry Hub natural gas spot price to average about $4.00 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2025 and $4.90/MMBtu in 2026, compared with $2.20/MMBtu in 2024.
    • Electricity demand: EIA revised its forecast for electricity demand growth in 2025 upward by about 1% to reflect greater expected demand growth in the commercial and industrial sectors, particularly from data centers and manufacturing operations. This growth in power demand is especially notable in regions managed by the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas and PJM independent system operators. EIA expects that U.S. commercial sector electricity consumption will grow by 3% in 2025 and by 5% in 2026.
    • Electricity generation: EIA expects total U.S. electricity generation this summer will be about 1% greater than last summer. EIA expects higher natural gas prices this summer to result in less generation from natural gas-fired power plants compared with last summer, which is expected to be offset by more generation from coal, solar, and hydro.
    • Trade policy assumptions: The U.S. macroeconomic outlook we use in the STEO is based on S&P Global’s macroeconomic model. S&P Global’s most recent model reflects the tariffs announced in April and includes the 90-day temporary suspension of tariffs granted to certain countries. However, the model was finalized before the ruling by the Court of International Trade on May 28th that temporarily halted all reciprocal tariffs. As a result, our macroeconomic forecast assumes lower tariffs on China’s products compared with last month’s STEO and 10% tariffs on countries subject to the 90-day temporary suspension. These differences in tariff rates likely have offsetting effects on the macroeconomic forecast.

    The full June 2025 Short-Term Energy Outlook is available on the EIA website.

    The product described in this press release was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA’s data, analysis, and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the U.S. government. The views in the product and this press release therefore should not be construed as representing those of the U.S. Department of Energy or other federal agencies.

    EIA Program Contact: Tim Hess, STEO@eia.gov
    EIA Press Contact: Chris Higginbotham, EIAMedia@eia.gov

    MIL OSI USA News