NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • Iran strikes Israeli broadcaster as Tehran seeks diplomatic exit through Gulf intermediaries

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Iran’s national broadcaster, came under direct attack in what Israeli military officials described as retaliation for strikes on Israeli media infrastructure. The assault on IRIB marks a troubling escalation in the targeting of civilian facilities by both sides.

    On Monday, Iranian missiles struck Israel’s Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa, destroying homes and causing civilian casualties as the conflict between the two nations entered its fourth consecutive day. In response, Israel launched airstrikes on buildings housing Iranian state-owned media organizations in Tehran, including the IRIB television facility—hit during a live broadcast.

    The intensifying confrontation has prompted urgent diplomatic efforts by Gulf nations and raised alarm among global leaders gathered at the G7 Summit over the risk of a wider regional war.

    Tehran has reached out to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, urging these Gulf intermediaries to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to use his influence on Israel to agree to an immediate ceasefire. In exchange, Iran has signaled openness to renewed flexibility in nuclear negotiations. Gulf leaders and their top diplomats are reportedly engaged in round-the-clock communication with Tehran, Washington, and other capitals in an effort to contain what is now considered the most serious direct confrontation between the two longstanding rivals in West Asia.

    The diplomatic push comes amid ongoing missile and drone strikes targeting each other’s military, nuclear, and civilian infrastructure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday did not rule out a potential strike on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating that such an action could “end the conflict.” However, according to a U.S. official, President Trump has reportedly rejected Israeli plans to assassinate the Iranian leader.

    The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to residents and personnel in target areas of Tehran before conducting the strikes. Similar warnings were also issued within Israel.

    Speaking at the G7 Summit in Canada, President Trump urged Iran to return to the negotiating table over its nuclear program to help resolve the crisis. “They should talk, and they should talk immediately before it’s too late,” Trump said. While the United States has not provided direct military support to Israel so far, the president has indicated that future involvement remains a possibility.

    Despite mounting destruction and civilian casualties, there are currently no clear signs of de-escalation. Iran has expressed a willingness to return to nuclear negotiations if Israeli attacks cease, but both nations appear entrenched in their positions.

    As a security precaution, the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority has announced a complete closure of airspace over major cities, while Iran has imposed similar restrictions on civilian flights over Tehran and other urban centers. Both militaries have issued evacuation advisories to civilians in high-risk zones, though their effectiveness in preventing casualties remains uncertain.

  • MIL-OSI Security: US Army Pacific Celebrates the Army’s 250th Birthday

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — The U.S. Army marked a historic milestone in 2025 as it celebrated its 250th birthday, and U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) led the way in the Pacific theater with a week of events designed to honor the past, inspire the present, and shape the future of the Army.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • Will share my thoughts on important global issues, says PM Modi ahead of G7 Summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary, Canada on Tuesday (local time) to participate in the G7 Summit, where he will meet with global leaders and share India’s views on key international challenges.
     
    As part of his ongoing three-nation tour — which began in Cyprus and will conclude in Croatia — PM Modi said that he would highlight the concerns of the Global South during the Summit. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Landed in Calgary, Canada, to take part in the G7 Summit. Will be meeting various leaders at the Summit and sharing my thoughts on important global issues. Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South.”
     
    Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that PM Modi will participate in G7 discussions on the future of energy security. These discussions will focus on diversification, technological innovation, infrastructure, and investment, aimed at ensuring access and affordability in a changing global landscape.
     
    “At the invitation of PM @MarkJCarney, PM @narendramodi arrives in Alberta, Canada for the G7 Summit,” Jaiswal wrote on X. “PM will be participating in @G7 discussions on energy security… and will also hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines.”
     
    PM Modi’s arrival in Canada comes at a time of diplomatic recalibration between the two nations, following a period of strained relations.
     
    Other invitees to the G7 meeting are Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, and Lee Jae-Myung of South Korea, and Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese of Australia and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.
     
    The G7 Summit is an annual gathering of leaders from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, and the European Union. This year’s edition marks PM Modi’s sixth straight attendance at the Summit.
     
    (ANI)

  • MIL-OSI: ChampionsGate Acquisition Corporation Announces the Separate Trading of its Class A Ordinary Shares and Rights, Commencing on June 20, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Monterey, CA, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ChampionsGate Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CHPGU), a blank check company, today announced that, commencing on June 20, 2025, holders of the 7,475,000 units (the “Units”) sold in the Company’s initial public offering (the “Offering”) including Units sold upon a full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, may elect to separately trade the Class A ordinary shares and rights included in the Units. Any Units not separated will continue to trade on the NASDAQ Global Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “CHPGU.” Any underlying Class A ordinary shares and rights that are separated will trade on the NASDAQ under the symbols “CHPG” and “CHPGR,” respectively. Holders of Units will need to have their brokers contact the Company’s transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, in order to separate the holders’ Units into Class A ordinary shares and rights.

    The Units were initially offered by the Company in an underwritten offering. Clear Street LLC acted as the sole book-running manager for the Offering. A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-283689) relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 14, 2025. The Offering was made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained from Clear Street, Attn: Syndicate Department, 150 Greenwich Street, 45th floor, New York, NY 10007, or by email at ecm@clearstreet.io, or by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About ChampionsGate Acquisition Corporation

    ChampionsGate Acquisition Corporation is a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability for the purpose of effecting into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Registration Statement and related preliminary prospectus filed in connection with the initial public offering with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov.

    Contact Information:

    ChampionsGate Acquisition Corp.

    Bala Padmakumar
    Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
    419 Webster Street
    Monterey, CA 93940
    Email: bala@championsgate.biz

    The MIL Network –

  • Trump urges Tehran evacuation as Iran-Israel conflict enters fifth day

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israel and Iran attacked each other for a fifth straight day on Tuesday, and U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iranians to evacuate Tehran, citing what he said was the country’s rejection of a deal to curb nuclear weapons development.

    Trump was due to leave the Group of Seven summit in Canada later on Monday, a day early, due to the Middle East situation, the White House said. Fox News reported he would convene his National Security Council.

    “Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform.

    French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump’s early departure from the G7 was positive, given the immediate objective was to get Israel and Iran to agree to a ceasefire that the U.S. had proposed.

    “There is an offer that has been made, especially to have a ceasefire and to initiate broader discussions. And I think this is a very good thing,” Macron told reporters. “So now we need to see what the stakeholders will do.”

    Iranian media reported explosions and heavy air defence fire in Tehran early on Tuesday. Air defences were activated also in Natanz, home to key nuclear installations 320 km (200 miles) away, the Asriran news website reported.

    A White House aide said it was not true that the U.S. was attacking Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News that Trump was still aiming for a nuclear deal with Iran, while adding the U.S. would defend its assets in the region.

    In Israel, air raid sirens wailed in Tel Aviv after midnight and an explosion was heard as Iranian missiles targeted the country again.

    Iranian officials reported 224 deaths, mostly civilians, in five days, while Israel said 24 civilians had been killed. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said nearly 3,000 Israelis had been evacuated due to damage from Iranian strikes.

    Sources told Reuters that Tehran had asked Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to urge Trump to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to an immediate ceasefire. In return, Iran would show flexibility in nuclear negotiations, according to two Iranian and three regional sources.

    “If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on X. “Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue.”

    Netanyahu told reporters on Monday that Israel was committed to eliminating threats posed by Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, adding, “If this can be achieved in another way—fine. But we gave it a 60-day chance.”

    Speaking to Reuters on Friday, the first day of Israel’s assault, Trump said he had given the Iranians 60 days to come to an agreement to halt uranium enrichment and that the time had expired with no deal. Iran says its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes.

    Oil prices rallied more than 2% early in Asia on Tuesday after Trump’s evacuation warning, reversing losses on Monday amid reports that Iran was seeking an end to hostilities.

    CHINESE URGED TO LEAVE ISRAEL

    With security concerns growing and Israeli airspace closed because of the war, the Chinese embassy in Israel urged its citizens to leave the country via land border crossings as soon as possible.

    The Iran-Israel air war – the biggest battle ever between the two longtime enemies – escalated on Monday with Israel targeting Iran’s state broadcaster and uranium enrichment facilities.

    Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the BBC that the Natanz plant sustained extensive damage, likely destroying 15,000 centrifuges, while Iran’s Fordow plant remained largely intact.

    Talks between the United States and Iran, hosted by Oman, had been scheduled for June 15 but were scrapped, with Tehran saying it could not negotiate while under attack.

    Israel launched its air war with a surprise attack that has killed nearly the entire top echelon of Iran’s military commanders and its leading nuclear scientists. It says it now has control of Iranian airspace and intends to escalate the campaign in the coming days.

    Trump has consistently said the Israeli assault could end quickly if Iran agreed to U.S. demands that it accept strict curbs on its nuclear programme.

    “As I’ve been saying, I think a deal will be signed, or something will happen, but a deal will be signed, and I think Iran is foolish not to sign,” Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada on Monday.

    A U.S. official said Trump would not sign a draft statement from G7 leaders calling for a de-escalation of the conflict. The draft statement says Iran must never have a nuclear weapon and that Israel has the right to defend itself.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Photo & Video Chronology — June 16, 2025 — Mauna Loa GPS Campaign and Kīlauea’s Growing Tephra Deposit

    Source: US Geological Survey

    USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff are conducting the annual Mauna Loa GPS campaign. During the survey, GPS instruments are deployed at established benchmarks so that their recorded positions can be compared with those from previous years to discern small changes in ground deformation associated with volcanic activity. Temporary GPS receivers and antennas are placed on tripods centered over benchmarks, which serve as a reference point for centering of the antenna. The equipment is left in place to collect data for a couple of days at each site. USGS photo by A. Ellis.

    Campaign, also known as ‘survey’, GPS data augment the permanent, continuously recording GPS instruments in HVO’s monitoring network. In this photo, a tripod mounted with a GPS antenna is temporarily installed over a benchmark the rim of Moku‘āweoweo, the caldera at the summit of Mauna Loa. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Mauna Loa Summit Cabin is visible in the background. USGS image by A. Ellis.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Meets with Local Iowa Leaders

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    RED OAK, Iowa – Over the past few weeks, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has met with local leaders representing cities and chambers of commerce across Iowa to discuss their top priorities.
    Ernst’s discussions included the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, the Quad Cities Chamber, and the City of Cedar Rapids.
    “Whether traveling River to River or in meetings with constituents, hearing directly from folks at home about the issues that matter most to them is essential to my efforts to bring Iowa common sense and values to Washington,” said Senator Ernst. “From my work to resolve Urbandale’s ZIP code boundary dispute and standing up for the National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City to unleashing small business innovation as Chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, I will always bring Iowans’ concerns to the highest levels.”

    Ernst meets with leaders from the City of Bondurant.
    Download photos from more of her meetings here.
    See what local leaders are saying about Ernst’s work for Iowans:
    “For 70 years, the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce has descended upon our nation’s capital to share our primary concerns, priorities, and political positions,” said Chris McGowan, President of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. “With this in mind, we are here this week, with over 40 Siouxland business leaders, to advocate for our tri-state community with our federal elected officials, including United States Senator Joni Ernst.”
    “Strong businesses create strong communities. The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce met with the Iowa delegation to underscore the importance of certainty to guarantee investment in our communities,”said Molly Grover, President of the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce. “We’re here with our community leaders from the public and private sector to advocate for a robust business climate conducive to economic job growth and development as well as a more vibrant and prosperous Dubuque.”
    “We are incredibly grateful for Senator Ernst’s support for Iowa, including to create high-quality jobs and a stable tax base,” said Hollie Zajicek, Director of the Economic Development Director for the City of Norwalk and Commissioner of the Greater Des Moines Sister Cities Commission. “I remember working with Senator Ernst years ago when she was the auditor for Montgomery County. I’m proud to say she’s the same person now that she was then; genuine, kind, hardworking, brave, and always doing the right thing for taxpayers, the great state of Iowa, and our amazing United States of America. We look forward to her continuous work to put Iowans first for many years to come.” 
    “We greatly appreciate discussing the issues that are most important to our community with Senator Ernst and her staff while in Washington, D.C.,” said Bob Andeweg, Mayor of the City of Urbandale.“The Senator has a proven track record of not only listening to our needs and concerns but taking action to address them and serve Iowans. Look no further than her work to resolve the ongoing ZIP code boundary dispute in Urbandale. She has been a leader in resolving this issue to get our residents the timely and efficient mail service they need.”
    “It was an honor to join Senator Ernst in Washington, D.C., and advocate alongside fellow Chamber leaders and city officials on key issues impacting the Des Moines region,” said Tiffany Menke, President of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce. “For Urbandale, one of the most pressing concerns is the ZIP code boundary challenge, which affects everything from business perception to service delivery. We’re grateful for Senator Ernst’s openness to hearing our concerns and her ongoing commitment to supporting Iowa’s local economies through responsive, informed policymaking.”
    “The Partnership trip provides an opportunity for us to come together and advocate for the issues we see as most impactful to Central Iowa,” said Doug Elrod, Mayor of the City of Bondurant. “Senator Ernst takes the time to dig in and understand these, along with the specific issues which are important for Bondurant.  We feel she knows our community and has been with us along our journey. We are thankful to the Senator and her team for their service to Central Iowa and Bondurant!”
    “Meeting with Senator Ernst and her staff in Washington, DC is a critical opportunity for our members and community stakeholders to ensure their voices are heard at the highest levels,” said Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. “These visits strengthen our advocacy efforts and reinforce our shared priorities, which is why we place such a strong emphasis on being present and engaged in our nation’s capital.”
    “We were proud to represent Cedar Rapids in Washington, D.C. this week, meeting with members of our federal delegation and key administration officials to advocate for critical infrastructure and economic development projects,” said Tiffany O’Donnell, Mayor of the City of Cedar Rapids. “We explored targeted grant opportunities and strengthened federal partnerships to help turn today’s conversations into tomorrow’s benefits for our community. We also expressed our appreciation for Senator Ernst’s continued support in advancing important projects like our Flood Control System and 8th Avenue Bridge replacement.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, PowerTech

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    Published: June 16, 2025

    Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.

    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: PowerTech of Pottawattamie County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    “Josh and Cody have generated a company that delivers not just expertise, but heart,” said Chair Ernst. “From emergency response to community outreach, PowerTech provides top-tier electrical services that truly spark trust across commercial, industrial, and residential clients in Iowa. Operating out of multiple state-of-the-art facilities, they’ve become a current leader in the Council Bluffs community.”

    Download photos from Ernst’s recent visit to PowerTech here.
    Since acquiring the business in 2016, longtime friends Josh Kallsen and Cody Forristall have transformed PowerTech into one of the Midwest’s premier electrical service providers. Headquartered in Council Bluffs, the company offers 24/7 facility maintenance, generator services, emergency response, and comprehensive electrical solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. In 2020, they launched Power to Give, a philanthropic initiative that supports employee volunteerism with local nonprofits – particularly those serving children and mental health causes. Through their PowerTech Cares Program, they donate electrical services to a family in need each month.
    Stay tuned as Chair Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: G7 Leaders’ statement on recent developments between Israel and Iran

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East.

    In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel.

    We also affirm the importance of the protection of civilians.

    Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror.

    We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.

    We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza.

    We will remain vigilant to the implications for international energy markets and stand ready to coordinate, including with like-minded partners, to safeguard market stability.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Media Advisory: Tara H. Jackson is the new Prince George’s County State’s Attorney

    Source: US State of Maryland

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    June 16, 2025

    Government Relations and Public Affairs
    187 Harry S. Truman Parkway
    Annapolis, Maryland 21401

    Media Advisory:
    Tara H. Jackson is the new Prince George’s County State’s Attorney 

    UPPER MARLBORO, Md. – Tara H. Jackson has been selected as the new State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County. Jackson succeeded Angela D. Alsobrooks, who was elected to the U.S. Senate, to serve as the Acting County Executive for Prince George’s County, Maryland. Jackson will serve as Prince George’s County State’s Attorney as Aisha Braveboy will be sworn in as county executive this week.

    Jackson’s career includes more than 20 years in the government and legal community. Jackson formerly served as Prince George’s County’s Chief Administrative Officer, beginning in December 2020. She began her career in public service as a prosecutor in the State’s Attorney’s Office, and later took on a role serving as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Government Operations under County Executive Alsobrooks.

    Jackson earned a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law, and a Master of Divinity in Leadership Development from the Phoenix Seminary.

    Pursuant to Article V of the Maryland Constitution, the circuit court judges of Prince George’s County appointed Jackson to fill the vacancy of State’s Attorney for the remaining term.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: LeddarTech Announces Intention to File under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in Canada

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    QUEBEC CITY, Canada, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LeddarTech® Holdings Inc. (“LeddarTech” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LDTC), an AI-powered software company recognized for its innovation in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD), today announces that, further to its press release dated June 11, 2025, it intends on making an assignment into bankruptcy pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) (the “BIA”).

    After careful consideration of all available alternatives, including undertaking a strategic review which was unsuccessful in identifying a suitable acquirer or commercial partner or raising sufficient capital, as well as further to the Company having received a notice of default under its bridge financing offer entered into with certain bridge lenders, the board of directors of the Company has determined that it was in the best interest of the Company and its stakeholders to make an assignment into bankruptcy under the BIA as soon as reasonably practicable. The Company expects that Raymond Chabot Inc., a licensed insolvency trustee, will be appointed as the trustee under the BIA proceedings.

    In connection with the BIA proceedings, each member of the board of directors of the Company will resign effective upon the assignment under the BIA.

    As was disclosed in its June 11, 2025 press release, the Company does not expect to resume active operations and cautions investors that there is significant risk that holders of our securities will receive little to no value under the BIA proceedings.

    Further announcements regarding the status of the Company’s BIA proceedings will be made as developments warrant. Additional information with respect to the BIA proceedings will be available in due course on Raymond Chabot Inc.’s website.

    The Company expects that its common shares and warrants trading on the Nasdaq will be halted as a result of the BIA proceedings. The Company anticipates that it will ultimately be delisted from the Nasdaq.

    About LeddarTech

    A global software company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Quebec City with additional R&D centers in Montreal and Tel Aviv, Israel, LeddarTech develops and provides comprehensive AI-based low-level sensor fusion and perception software solutions that enable the deployment of ADAS, autonomous driving (AD) and parking applications. LeddarTech’s automotive-grade software applies advanced AI and computer vision algorithms to generate accurate 3D models of the environment to achieve better decision making and safer navigation. This high-performance, scalable, cost-effective technology is available to OEMs and Tier 1-2 suppliers to efficiently implement automotive and off- road vehicle ADAS solutions.

    LeddarTech is responsible for several remote-sensing innovations, with over 190 patent applications (112 granted) that enhance ADAS, AD and parking capabilities. Better awareness around the vehicle is critical in making global mobility safer, more efficient, sustainable and affordable: this is what drives LeddarTech to seek to become the most widely adopted sensor fusion and perception software solution.

    Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.leddartech.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter (X), Facebook and YouTube.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements contained in this Press Release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (which forward-looking statements also include forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws). Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the issuance of cease trade orders, the BIA proceedings, and the potential for shareholder value recovery. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the risk factors as detailed from time to time in LeddarTech’s reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risk factors contained in LeddarTech’s Form 20-F filed with the SEC. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Except as required by applicable law, LeddarTech does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Contact:
    Chris Stewart, Chief Financial Officer, LeddarTech Holdings Inc.
    Tel.: + 1-514-427-0858, chris.stewart@leddartech.com

    Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, VAYADrive, VayaVision and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners.

    LeddarTech Holdings Inc. is a public company listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “LDTC.”

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Club World Cup: Chelsea see off LAFC in dominant fashion

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

    Chelsea kicked off its Club World Cup campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win against LAFC in a half-empty Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

    Chelsea was the better side, although LAFC looked to move the ball around against a rival that started the match with three of its four new signings on the bench.

    Liam Delap (3rd R) of Chelsea vies with Timothy Tillman (2nd R) of Los Angeles FC during the Group D match between Chelsea of England and Los Angeles FC of the United States at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in Atlanta, the United States, June 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

    Chelsea had to withstand a bright start from LAFC in a ground where there were far too many empty seats, but after around 15 minutes the Conference League champions began to get control of midfield.

    The more Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson got involved, the more danger Chelsea created, with Palmer, now wearing the number 10 shirt, curled an effort just after 20 minutes.

    Jackson was involved in the opening goal with a smart pass to Pedro Neto, who left his marker on the floor before beating Hugo Lloris with a cool finish in the 34th minute.

    LAFC had to replace Nathan Ordaz with David Martinez two minutes later after the El Salvador international suffered a knock on the head.

    Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca had said he didn’t want his side to treat the game like a friendly, but at times the pace seemed labored from both sides and Maresca was obviously thinking about keeping his players fresh when he replaced Reece James and Romeo Lavia with Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez at the break, while Olivier Giroud came on for LAFC against one of his former clubs.

    Jackson had a chance to double Chelsea’s lead when his goal-bound header was deflected just wide, while at the other end Denis Bouanga produced a moment of power and skill to draw a good save from Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez in a rare attack.

    Chelsea brought Liam Delap, one of the club’s summer signings on for Jackson in the 64th minute and after Ryan Hollingshead fired over for LAFC, Delap capped his debut with an assist as he whipped in a cross for Fernandez to score from close range to secure the win.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Tuesday, June 17, 2025

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Note: All times local

    Kananaskis, Alberta

    8:00 a.m. The Prime Minister will welcome the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Mark Rutte.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Note for media:

    • Pooled photo opportunity

    8:15 a.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Mark Rutte.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Note for media:

    8:45 a.m. The Prime Minister will welcome the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Note for media:

    • Pooled photo opportunity

    8:55 a.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Note for media:

    9:30 a.m. The Prime Minister will participate in the G7 working breakfast on a strong and sovereign Ukraine with G7 leaders and invited guests.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Note for media:

    10:30 a.m. The Prime Minister will participate in the G7 closing session.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Closed to media

    11:00 a.m. The Prime Minister will welcome outreach countries and international organizations.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Note for media:

    • Pooled photo opportunity

    11:15 a.m. The Prime Minister will participate in a G7 family photo with outreach countries, international organizations, and invited guests.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Note for media:

    • Pooled photo opportunity

    11:30 a.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Note for media:

    11:50 a.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Note for media:

    1:00 p.m. The Prime Minister will participate in the G7 working luncheon on energy security with outreach countries and international organizations.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Note for media:

    • Pooled photo opportunity

    4:05 p.m. The Prime Minister will hold a G7 Presidency press conference.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Country Golf Course

    Open to media

    4:40 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Note for media:

    5:15 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Jae Myung.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Note for media:

    5:40 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum.

    Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

    Note for media:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Introduces Resolution to Celebrate the 250th Birthday of the United States Army

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – On Monday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) introduced a resolution to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States Army, honoring its storied history from the American Revolution to the Global War on Terror.
    The resolution also honors the bravery and patriotism of soldiers and veterans from Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the former of which recently joined Senator Marshall at the Army’s 250th birthday parade on Saturday, June 14, in Washington, D.C.
    “It was a pleasure and honor to host 450 troops from Kansas’ own Fort Riley, honoring the ‘Big Red One,’ especially as they passed the storied 1st Division Monument, which holds special meaning as we celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday and honor all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” said Senator Marshall. “These young men and women are the best of the best, the first division that the President calls to defend our freedoms. This event was an important demonstration of patriotism that American citizens need to see, and it is a breath of fresh air to finally have a President who is going above and beyond to honor our nation’s heroes.”
    Senator Marshall comes from a long line of Americans who served in the US Army, including his son, brother, father, and grandfather. Specifically, Senator Marshall was honorably discharged from the National Guard with the rank of Captain in 1991.
    Click here to read the full text of the resolution.
    Background:

    Kansas is home to critical military installations, including Fort Riley, home of the First Infantry Division – the oldest continuously serving division in the U.S. Army – and Fort Leavenworth, home of the U.S. Army’s Combined Arms Center (CAC) and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
    Fort Leavenworth, established in 1827, is the oldest continuously operating military installation west of the Mississippi River and the oldest permanent settlement in Kansas. Known historically as the “intellectual center of the Army,” all modern 5-star Army generals have passed through and studied at Fort Leavenworth, including George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Henry Arnold, Dwight Eisenhower, and Omar Bradley.
    The 1st Infantry Division, currently garrisoned at Fort Riley, is the oldest continuously serving division in the Army and was constituted on May 24, 1917. The Division has consistently been the first division to deploy into the wars of the United States, sending the first troops into World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During World War II, the 1st Infantry Division was the first to reach England, the first to fight the enemy in North Africa and Sicily, the first on the beaches in Normandy during D-Day, and the first to capture a major German city.
    Senator Marshall recently attended the 250th birthday parade celebration of the U.S. Army, alongside 450 troops from Fort Riley’s ‘Big Red One.’
    Senator Marshall worked for seven years on the FIRST Act, legislation that added 631 names of Big Red One Soldiers to the First Infantry Division Monument.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Op-Ed: The U.S. Army’s 250th Birthday: A Personal and National Triumph

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – On Monday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) published an op-ed in The Washington Times, marking the celebration of the 250th Birthday of the United States Army, and reflecting on how these celebrations can restore pride in America again.
    Read the full op-ed HERE or below:
    The Army’s 250th Birthday: A Personal and National Triumph
    Senator Roger Marshall
    The Washington Times
    June 16, 2024
    Standing in a quiet room at Gettysburg last month, I read about Lincoln’s Address—many headlines from 1863 called it “silly,” others “a perfected gem.” That’s the America I love: where we speak freely, protest boldly, and debate fiercely. Yet, as I scanned coverage of the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday celebration on June 14, 2025, one truth was missing: 1.3 million soldiers gave their lives to protect those freedoms. The grand parade and festival on the National Mall weren’t just a showcase of strength; it was a rebirth of patriotism, a moment that hit me personally and resonated for our nation.
    My family’s story is woven into the Army’s 250 years. Every generation has served. Three ancestors fell in the Civil War’s brutal fields. A great-uncle, along with many other brave soldiers, suffocated from nerve gas in the Argonne Forest during World War I, the “war to end all wars.” Two other great-uncles stormed Normandy’s beaches; later in the Second World War, my wife lost an uncle. My dad served, my brother served, I served, and my son serves today. I’ve always believed every American should serve, not just for duty, but to feel the weight of sacrifice. At this great celebration, watching my grandsons’ eyes light up as tanks rumbled by on the Mall, I saw history spark their young hearts. This celebration wasn’t just about the past; it was about inspiring the future.
    I’ve lived through patriotism’s highs and lows. The Korean War, before my time, sparked questions about America’s global role. Vietnam, which I watched as a kid, left us confused—protests clashed with America First pride. The Gulf Wars came, and as 9/11’s memory faded, we debated how far was too far. Over the last four years, an open border signaled a nation adrift, with our military and law enforcement wondering if their commander-in-chief had their backs. Patriotism seemed shattered. But June 14 was a new day. The first-ever Army birthday celebration on the National Mall, with 6,600 soldiers marching, felt like a reset—a bold reclaiming of national pride.
    My daughter and niece, there with their young kids, saw it too. They said the parade taught their children military history, American pride, and gratitude for freedoms won through sacrifice. Veterans at home, glued to their TVs, felt seen—many watched every moment, marveling at “cool weapons,” tanks, and drones. Nearby us was a mom whose son re-enlisted, sworn in by President Trump. Tears streamed down her face as she waved her flag, her Army shirt emblazoned with her son’s regiment. “This is for all who served,” she said. I wish every veteran could’ve been flown to D.C. to feel that joy.
    The celebration’s significance ran deeper. It honored a legacy: the Army, born a year before the Declaration of Independence, secured our freedom in the Revolutionary War and defended us through the Civil War, World Wars, and modern conflicts. It showcased unity, with events like the wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier echoing the Army’s motto, “This We’ll Defend.” It highlighted innovation—radar, the internet, wireless tech—all rooted in Army ingenuity that shaped global progress. It inspired, with the “Be All You Can Be” campaign driving recruitment to 85% of 2025’s target, promising the strongest class in years. And as a prelude to America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, it set the stage for national reflection.
    While too much of the media focused on other issues, no one can doubt that this celebration restored pride, boosted military morale, and sent a message to the world. As my grandson exclaimed, “America’s Army is undefeated,” rolling through 250 years of victories. To those burning flags or kneeling during the anthem, it’s a gut punch—a pain that breaks the hearts of those who served. I wish they’d served, felt the cost of freedom, had held a dying soldier in their arms as they said their last words, or joined a Chaplain as they delivered the news of a lost loved one to a young wife and children.  As riots flare, let’s remember: millions died so we can stand, debate, and rebuild.
    Regardless, when the President calls, the Army is rolling along!

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Buffalo, Gillibrand Highlights How President Trump’s Big Beautiful Betrayal Will Hurt Buffalo Hospitals, Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Proposal Would Increase Costs, Put Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closure, Threaten Nursing Home Operations, And Make It Harder For Kids To Access Care

    If Bill Passes, An Estimated 45,000 People Would Lose Health Insurance And 31,000 Risk Losing Some Or All SNAP Benefits In The Buffalo Area Alone

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited the St. Joseph Campus of Catholic Health to highlight how President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” will hurt Buffalo hospitals and families. If passed, this legislation would cause 10.9 million Americans, including up to 1.5 million New Yorkers, to lose their health insurance coverage by 2034, and 11million would be at risk of having their SNAP benefits reduced or eliminated.

    President Trump’s bill would cause Americans to lose their benefits by imposing work requirements on people receiving Medicaid and even stricter, more onerous work requirements for SNAP recipients. This would force families with children and people with disabilities to jump through more hoops to access benefits, and it would generate additional administrative costs for the program. In New York State, work requirements for Medicaid will cost an estimated $510 million annually to administer and enforce.

    President Trump’s bill would also put rural hospitals at risk of closure by limiting the use of provider taxes, which help make it possible for rural and urban hospitals and clinics to remain open and care for patients by providing maternity, emergency, and behavioral health care. Funds collected by states through provider taxes are often directed to health care providers whose costs far exceed base Medicaid payment rates. These providers are typically located in rural America – where health care services are hard to find – or in dense urban areas, where the cost to deliver health care is high and health care providers are serving more people with Medicaid.

    “President Trump’s bill is not ‘beautiful’—it’s a betrayal of millions of hard-working Americans,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill includes the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history, and it puts the future of our state’s critical rural hospitals in jeopardy. Congress and the Trump administration should be focused on bringing down the cost of essentials, not limiting access to the health care and benefits that so many New Yorkers rely on to get care and put food on the table. This is an unacceptable piece of legislation, and I will do everything in my power to stop it from passing.”

    “As an Occupational Therapist, I’ve seen firsthand the impacts of delayed and diminished healthcare,” said Rep. Kennedy (NY-26). “Treatable conditions become chronic illnesses, quality of life decreases, and ultimately, lives are cut short. The Republican reconciliation bill is a direct attack on working families and the healthcare they rely on in every community across our nation. This bill will make Americans less healthy and hurt Western New Yorkers.”

    Gillibrand was joined by Joyce Markiewicz, President and CEO of Catholic Health, and Denise Abbott, President of the Buffalo Central Labor Council.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is ‘cognitive shuffling’ and does it really help you get to sleep? Two sleep scientists explain

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melinda Jackson, Associate Professor at Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University

    Ursula Ferrara/Shutterstock

    If you’ve been on social media lately – perhaps scrolling in the middle of the night, when you know you shouldn’t but you just can’t sleep – you might have seen those videos promoting a get-to-sleep technique called “cognitive shuffling”.

    The idea, proponents say, is to engage your mind with random ideas and images via a special formula:

    1. pick a random word (such as “cake”)
    2. focus on the first letter of the word (in this case, C) and list a bunch of words starting with that letter: cat, carrot, calendar and so on
    3. visualise each word as you go along
    4. when you feel ready, move onto the next letter (A) and repeat the process
    5. continue with each letter of the original word (so, in this case, K and then E) until you feel ready to switch to a new word or until you drift off to sleep.

    It’s popular on Instagram and TikTok, but does “cognitive shuffling” have any basis in science?

    Where did this idea come from?

    The cognitive shuffling technique was made famous by Canada-based researcher Luc P. Beaudoin more than a decade ago, when he published a paper about how what he called “serial diverse imagining” could help with sleep.

    One of Beaudoin’s hypothetical examples involved a woman thinking of the word “blanket”, then thinking bicycle (and imagining a bicycle), buying (imagining buying shoes), banana (visualising a banana tree) and so on.

    Soon, Beaudoin writes, she moves onto the letter L, thinking about her friend Larry, the word “like” (imagining her son hugging his dog). She soon transitions to the letter A, thinking of the word “Amsterdam”:

    and she might very vaguely imagine the large hand of a sailor gesturing for another order of fries in an Amsterdam pub while a rancid accordion plays in the background.

    Sleep soon ensues. The goal, according to Beaudoin, is to think briefly about:

    a neutral or pleasant target and frequently [switch] to unrelated targets (normally every 5-15 seconds).

    Don’t try to relate one word with another or find a link between the words; resist the mind’s natural tendency toward sense-making.

    While the research into this technique is still in its infancy, the idea is grounded in science. That’s because we know from other research good sleepers tend to have different kinds of thoughts in bed to bad sleepers.

    People with insomnia are more focused on worries, problems, or noises in the environment, and are often preoccupied with not sleeping.

    Good sleepers, on the other hand, typically have dream-like, hallucinatory, less ordered thoughts before nodding off.

    Good sleepers typically have dream-like, hallucinatory, less ordered thoughts before nodding off.
    fran_kie/Shutterstock

    Sorting the pro-somnolent wheat from the insomnolent chaff

    Cognitive shuffling attempts to mimic the thinking patterns of good sleepers by simulating the dream-like and random thought patterns they generally have before drifting off to sleep.

    In particular, Beaudoin’s research describes two types of sleep-related thoughts: insomnolent (or anti-sleep) and pro-somnolent (sleep-promoting) thoughts.

    Insomnolent thoughts include things such as worrying, planning, rehearsing, and ruminating on perceived problems or failings.

    Pro-somnolent thoughts on the other hand involve thoughts that can help you fall asleep, such as dream-like imagery or having a calm, relaxed state of mind.

    Cognitive shuffling aims to distract from or interfere with insomnolent thought. It offers a calm, neutral path for your racing mind, and can reduce the stress associated with not sleeping.

    Cognitive shuffling also helps tell your brain you are ready for sleep.

    In fact, the process of “shuffling” between different thoughts is similar to the way your brain naturally drifts off to sleep. During the transition to sleep, brain activity slows. Your brain starts to generate disconnected images and fleeting scenes, known as hypnagogic hallucinations, without a conscious effort to make sense of them.

    By mimicking these scattered, disconnected, and random thought patterns, cognitive shuffling may help you transition from wakefulness to sleep.

    And the preliminary research into this is promising. Beaudoin and his team have found serial diverse imagining helps to lower arousal before sleep, improve sleep quality and reduce the effort involved in falling asleep.

    However, with only a small number of research studies, more work is needed here.

    It didn’t work. Now what?

    As with every new strategy, however, practise makes perfect. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t see an improvement straight away; these things take time.

    Stay consistent and be kind to yourself.

    And what works for some won’t work for others. Different people benefit from different types of strategies depending on how they relate to and experience stress or stressful thoughts.

    Other strategies to help create the right conditions for sleep include:

    If, despite all your best efforts, night time thoughts continue to impact your sleep or overall wellbeing, consider seeking professional help from your doctor or a trained sleep specialist.

    Melinda Jackson has received funding from the Medical Research Future Fund, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) and Dementia Australia. She a board member of the Australasian Sleep Association.

    Eleni Kavaliotis has previously received funding from an Australian government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship. She is a member of the Australasian Sleep Association’s Insomnia and Sleep Health Council.

    – ref. What is ‘cognitive shuffling’ and does it really help you get to sleep? Two sleep scientists explain – https://theconversation.com/what-is-cognitive-shuffling-and-does-it-really-help-you-get-to-sleep-two-sleep-scientists-explain-256444

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is ‘cognitive shuffling’ and does it really help you get to sleep? Two sleep scientists explain

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melinda Jackson, Associate Professor at Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University

    Ursula Ferrara/Shutterstock

    If you’ve been on social media lately – perhaps scrolling in the middle of the night, when you know you shouldn’t but you just can’t sleep – you might have seen those videos promoting a get-to-sleep technique called “cognitive shuffling”.

    The idea, proponents say, is to engage your mind with random ideas and images via a special formula:

    1. pick a random word (such as “cake”)
    2. focus on the first letter of the word (in this case, C) and list a bunch of words starting with that letter: cat, carrot, calendar and so on
    3. visualise each word as you go along
    4. when you feel ready, move onto the next letter (A) and repeat the process
    5. continue with each letter of the original word (so, in this case, K and then E) until you feel ready to switch to a new word or until you drift off to sleep.

    It’s popular on Instagram and TikTok, but does “cognitive shuffling” have any basis in science?

    Where did this idea come from?

    The cognitive shuffling technique was made famous by Canada-based researcher Luc P. Beaudoin more than a decade ago, when he published a paper about how what he called “serial diverse imagining” could help with sleep.

    One of Beaudoin’s hypothetical examples involved a woman thinking of the word “blanket”, then thinking bicycle (and imagining a bicycle), buying (imagining buying shoes), banana (visualising a banana tree) and so on.

    Soon, Beaudoin writes, she moves onto the letter L, thinking about her friend Larry, the word “like” (imagining her son hugging his dog). She soon transitions to the letter A, thinking of the word “Amsterdam”:

    and she might very vaguely imagine the large hand of a sailor gesturing for another order of fries in an Amsterdam pub while a rancid accordion plays in the background.

    Sleep soon ensues. The goal, according to Beaudoin, is to think briefly about:

    a neutral or pleasant target and frequently [switch] to unrelated targets (normally every 5-15 seconds).

    Don’t try to relate one word with another or find a link between the words; resist the mind’s natural tendency toward sense-making.

    While the research into this technique is still in its infancy, the idea is grounded in science. That’s because we know from other research good sleepers tend to have different kinds of thoughts in bed to bad sleepers.

    People with insomnia are more focused on worries, problems, or noises in the environment, and are often preoccupied with not sleeping.

    Good sleepers, on the other hand, typically have dream-like, hallucinatory, less ordered thoughts before nodding off.

    Good sleepers typically have dream-like, hallucinatory, less ordered thoughts before nodding off.
    fran_kie/Shutterstock

    Sorting the pro-somnolent wheat from the insomnolent chaff

    Cognitive shuffling attempts to mimic the thinking patterns of good sleepers by simulating the dream-like and random thought patterns they generally have before drifting off to sleep.

    In particular, Beaudoin’s research describes two types of sleep-related thoughts: insomnolent (or anti-sleep) and pro-somnolent (sleep-promoting) thoughts.

    Insomnolent thoughts include things such as worrying, planning, rehearsing, and ruminating on perceived problems or failings.

    Pro-somnolent thoughts on the other hand involve thoughts that can help you fall asleep, such as dream-like imagery or having a calm, relaxed state of mind.

    Cognitive shuffling aims to distract from or interfere with insomnolent thought. It offers a calm, neutral path for your racing mind, and can reduce the stress associated with not sleeping.

    Cognitive shuffling also helps tell your brain you are ready for sleep.

    In fact, the process of “shuffling” between different thoughts is similar to the way your brain naturally drifts off to sleep. During the transition to sleep, brain activity slows. Your brain starts to generate disconnected images and fleeting scenes, known as hypnagogic hallucinations, without a conscious effort to make sense of them.

    By mimicking these scattered, disconnected, and random thought patterns, cognitive shuffling may help you transition from wakefulness to sleep.

    And the preliminary research into this is promising. Beaudoin and his team have found serial diverse imagining helps to lower arousal before sleep, improve sleep quality and reduce the effort involved in falling asleep.

    However, with only a small number of research studies, more work is needed here.

    It didn’t work. Now what?

    As with every new strategy, however, practise makes perfect. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t see an improvement straight away; these things take time.

    Stay consistent and be kind to yourself.

    And what works for some won’t work for others. Different people benefit from different types of strategies depending on how they relate to and experience stress or stressful thoughts.

    Other strategies to help create the right conditions for sleep include:

    If, despite all your best efforts, night time thoughts continue to impact your sleep or overall wellbeing, consider seeking professional help from your doctor or a trained sleep specialist.

    Melinda Jackson has received funding from the Medical Research Future Fund, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) and Dementia Australia. She a board member of the Australasian Sleep Association.

    Eleni Kavaliotis has previously received funding from an Australian government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship. She is a member of the Australasian Sleep Association’s Insomnia and Sleep Health Council.

    – ref. What is ‘cognitive shuffling’ and does it really help you get to sleep? Two sleep scientists explain – https://theconversation.com/what-is-cognitive-shuffling-and-does-it-really-help-you-get-to-sleep-two-sleep-scientists-explain-256444

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Previews SAC-D Hearing on FY 26 Budget Request for the Intelligence Community

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement in advance of the June 17th closed hearing with Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and Lieutenant General William J. Hartman, Acting Director of the National Security Agency:

    “U.S. national security depends on the professionalism, objectivity, and integrity of a well-resourced intelligence community. As I’ve observed before, fighting conflict is far costlier than deterring it. And the costs of strategic surprise – the failure of intelligence – can be catastrophic. That’s why the defense subcommittee takes very seriously its responsibility to equip the IC for an array of sensitive and evolving missions.

    “In return, we expect the nation’s seniormost intelligence officials to provide candid observations on the challenges facing both the IC and the decisionmakers their work informs. I look forward, in particular, to thorough assessments of U.S. interests in ongoing conflicts:

    “I will expect Director Gabbard, Director Ratcliffe, and General Hartman to address the current state of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the potential consequences of an outcome that strengthens Vladimir Putin, and the potential damage to U.S. alliances and partnerships of withholding further support to Ukraine.

    “Likewise, I will expect them to assess Israel’s ongoing response to Iran’s decades-long war against America, Israel, and our Arab partners, and the stakes of allowing Iran to continue its nuclear enrichment operations and support for terrorist proxies.

    “Even more broadly, I will expect the leaders of the IC to demonstrate their grasp of the undeniable alignment and coordination of America’s adversaries. I expect them to outline how Chinese economic support for Iran and Iranian material support for Russia’s war informs the global assessments they offer to the Commander-in-Chief.

    “Allies and partners from Europe to Japan are looking to the United States to meet this coordinated aggression with a coordinated response. Retreating from this mantle of leadership will not strengthen or advance American interests.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Previews SAC-D Hearing on FY 26 Budget Request for the Intelligence Community

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement in advance of the June 17th closed hearing with Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and Lieutenant General William J. Hartman, Acting Director of the National Security Agency:

    “U.S. national security depends on the professionalism, objectivity, and integrity of a well-resourced intelligence community. As I’ve observed before, fighting conflict is far costlier than deterring it. And the costs of strategic surprise – the failure of intelligence – can be catastrophic. That’s why the defense subcommittee takes very seriously its responsibility to equip the IC for an array of sensitive and evolving missions.

    “In return, we expect the nation’s seniormost intelligence officials to provide candid observations on the challenges facing both the IC and the decisionmakers their work informs. I look forward, in particular, to thorough assessments of U.S. interests in ongoing conflicts:

    “I will expect Director Gabbard, Director Ratcliffe, and General Hartman to address the current state of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the potential consequences of an outcome that strengthens Vladimir Putin, and the potential damage to U.S. alliances and partnerships of withholding further support to Ukraine.

    “Likewise, I will expect them to assess Israel’s ongoing response to Iran’s decades-long war against America, Israel, and our Arab partners, and the stakes of allowing Iran to continue its nuclear enrichment operations and support for terrorist proxies.

    “Even more broadly, I will expect the leaders of the IC to demonstrate their grasp of the undeniable alignment and coordination of America’s adversaries. I expect them to outline how Chinese economic support for Iran and Iranian material support for Russia’s war informs the global assessments they offer to the Commander-in-Chief.

    “Allies and partners from Europe to Japan are looking to the United States to meet this coordinated aggression with a coordinated response. Retreating from this mantle of leadership will not strengthen or advance American interests.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Van Hollen, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Sanction Salvadoran Officials for Human Rights Abuses, Collusion with Trump Administration in Violation of Constitutional Rights

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Van Hollen, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Sanction Salvadoran Officials for Human Rights Abuses, Collusion with Trump Administration in Violation of Constitutional Rights

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced new legislation in a continuation of their efforts to hold El Salvador accountable for its human rights abuses and its collusion with the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States without due process. The Senators’ legislation would apply sanctions on Salvadoran officials and others who have engaged in international human rights violations or worked to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their rights under the U.S. Constitution.

    The legislation would additionally explicitly sanction Salvadoran President Bukele and Vice President Ulloa, as well as El Salvador’s Ministers of Foreign Relations, Defense, and Justice and Public Security, among others. In addition to its actions alongside the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States, Bukele and his government have continued to jail and persecute innocent Salvadoran citizens, including journalists and human rights advocates such as Ruth López.

    “President Bukele and his regime are continuing to commit abhorrent human rights atrocities and eradicate due process,” said Senator Padilla. “We must hold Bukele and all responsible parties accountable for the suspension of constitutional rights and continued collusion with the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States without due process. Imposing economic sanctions and visa restrictions on Bukele and his corrupt government is a necessary step to push El Salvador to finally uphold international human rights law and respect fundamental civil liberties.”

    “President Bukele and the Government of El Salvador are colluding with the Trump Administration, taking American taxpayer dollars to imprison people as part of a scheme to violate their constitutional rights. We must hold Bukele and his cronies accountable for these wrongful actions as well as for the gross violations of human rights they are committing in El Salvador. This legislation would do just that by placing sanctions on Bukele and those in his government who are responsible for these abuses. We must send a clear signal that these injustices are unacceptable and must end,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    “Under President Bukele, tens of thousands of Salvadorans and even U.S. residents remain jammed in megaprisons without due process. President Bukele may think he has a friend in President Trump, but he should know that Americans will not tolerate his efforts to undermine the rule of law and democratic institutions—whether in El Salvador or here in the United States,” said Senator Kaine. “That’s why I’m introducing this legislation with my colleagues to sanction foreign nationals complicit in Bukele’s behavior and the Trump Administration’s illegal actions to deny due process to people living in the United States.”

    The Senators’ legislation is supported by the Latin America Working Group, the Washington Office on Latin America, Human Rights Watch, and Immigration Hub.

    Additional Background:

    • Sanctions: Imposes property-blocking and visa sanctions on President Bukele, key members of his cabinet, and other foreign persons working on behalf of the Salvadoran government that have:
      • engaged in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, including in connection with the ongoing “state of exception” in El Salvador;
      • engaged in the scheme, including by accepting U.S. taxpayer dollars, to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their Constitutional rights; or
      • provided material support to any person that has engaged in the above activities.
    • Termination/Snapback of Sanctions: Sanctions cannot be terminated until at least four years after the bill is enacted and unless the President certifies to Congress that the Government of El Salvador is no longer engaged in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights and no longer engaged in the scheme, including by accepting U.S. taxpayer dollars, to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their Constitutional rights. If the President determines that either of those conditions resume, then sanctions shall be reimposed.
    • Reporting Requirements: Requires reports to Congress that provide transparency on Salvadoran officials subject to a variety of sanctions authorities, U.S. government assistance to El Salvador, bilateral written agreements between the United States and El Salvador, and compliance with U.S. laws including the Leahy Laws and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Also requires a report on the actions of Salvadoran officials, including President Bukele, to use cryptocurrency as a mechanism for gross corruption, graft, and sanctions evasion.
    • Blocking International Financial Assistance: Instructs the United States to use its voice and vote in international financial institutions to oppose financial assistance to the Government of El Salvador until the appropriate Presidential certification is transmitted to Congress.
    • Prohibiting U.S. Funds for El Salvador: Prohibits any U.S. funding for the Government of El Salvador until the appropriate Presidential certification is transmitted to Congress.

    “Senators Van Hollen, Kaine, and Padilla’s bill to impose sanctions on the regime of President Nayib Bukele is timely and importantly puts a spotlight on the gross violation of human rights that have occurred under President Bukele’s state of exception. Since March 2022, 85,000 people have been detained, constitutional guarantees have been suspended, and over 350 people have died while under state custody. Systemic torture and persecution are state policies. Significantly, the bill also addresses the pervasive corruption that has occurred since President Bukele took office and prevents the IMF and other international financial institutions not to lend support. Not one penny of our tax dollars should support this regime until there is an end to the human rights violations, and the rule of law, judicial independence, and government transparency are restored.  All Members of Congress should get behind this bill,” said Vicki Gass, Executive Director, Latin America Working Group.  

    “Targeted individual sanctions for gross human rights violations are a critical diplomatic tool the U.S. can use to push for change and hold authoritarian actors accountable; as El Salvador’s political and human rights crisis deepens, strong international action like this becomes essential,” said Ana María Méndez-Dardón, Director for Central America at the Washington Office on Latin America.

    “We are heartened to see Senators confronting the human rights abuses of government officials in El Salvador. This bill an important reminder that uncritical US government support to President Bukele will not last forever and a recognition that nobody should be deported to Salvadoran prisons,” said Juan Pappier, Deputy Director of the Americas division, Human Rights Watch.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Van Hollen, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Sanction Salvadoran Officials for Human Rights Abuses, Collusion with Trump Administration in Violation of Constitutional Rights

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Van Hollen, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Sanction Salvadoran Officials for Human Rights Abuses, Collusion with Trump Administration in Violation of Constitutional Rights

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced new legislation in a continuation of their efforts to hold El Salvador accountable for its human rights abuses and its collusion with the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States without due process. The Senators’ legislation would apply sanctions on Salvadoran officials and others who have engaged in international human rights violations or worked to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their rights under the U.S. Constitution.

    The legislation would additionally explicitly sanction Salvadoran President Bukele and Vice President Ulloa, as well as El Salvador’s Ministers of Foreign Relations, Defense, and Justice and Public Security, among others. In addition to its actions alongside the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States, Bukele and his government have continued to jail and persecute innocent Salvadoran citizens, including journalists and human rights advocates such as Ruth López.

    “President Bukele and his regime are continuing to commit abhorrent human rights atrocities and eradicate due process,” said Senator Padilla. “We must hold Bukele and all responsible parties accountable for the suspension of constitutional rights and continued collusion with the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States without due process. Imposing economic sanctions and visa restrictions on Bukele and his corrupt government is a necessary step to push El Salvador to finally uphold international human rights law and respect fundamental civil liberties.”

    “President Bukele and the Government of El Salvador are colluding with the Trump Administration, taking American taxpayer dollars to imprison people as part of a scheme to violate their constitutional rights. We must hold Bukele and his cronies accountable for these wrongful actions as well as for the gross violations of human rights they are committing in El Salvador. This legislation would do just that by placing sanctions on Bukele and those in his government who are responsible for these abuses. We must send a clear signal that these injustices are unacceptable and must end,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    “Under President Bukele, tens of thousands of Salvadorans and even U.S. residents remain jammed in megaprisons without due process. President Bukele may think he has a friend in President Trump, but he should know that Americans will not tolerate his efforts to undermine the rule of law and democratic institutions—whether in El Salvador or here in the United States,” said Senator Kaine. “That’s why I’m introducing this legislation with my colleagues to sanction foreign nationals complicit in Bukele’s behavior and the Trump Administration’s illegal actions to deny due process to people living in the United States.”

    The Senators’ legislation is supported by the Latin America Working Group, the Washington Office on Latin America, Human Rights Watch, and Immigration Hub.

    Additional Background:

    • Sanctions: Imposes property-blocking and visa sanctions on President Bukele, key members of his cabinet, and other foreign persons working on behalf of the Salvadoran government that have:
      • engaged in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, including in connection with the ongoing “state of exception” in El Salvador;
      • engaged in the scheme, including by accepting U.S. taxpayer dollars, to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their Constitutional rights; or
      • provided material support to any person that has engaged in the above activities.
    • Termination/Snapback of Sanctions: Sanctions cannot be terminated until at least four years after the bill is enacted and unless the President certifies to Congress that the Government of El Salvador is no longer engaged in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights and no longer engaged in the scheme, including by accepting U.S. taxpayer dollars, to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their Constitutional rights. If the President determines that either of those conditions resume, then sanctions shall be reimposed.
    • Reporting Requirements: Requires reports to Congress that provide transparency on Salvadoran officials subject to a variety of sanctions authorities, U.S. government assistance to El Salvador, bilateral written agreements between the United States and El Salvador, and compliance with U.S. laws including the Leahy Laws and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Also requires a report on the actions of Salvadoran officials, including President Bukele, to use cryptocurrency as a mechanism for gross corruption, graft, and sanctions evasion.
    • Blocking International Financial Assistance: Instructs the United States to use its voice and vote in international financial institutions to oppose financial assistance to the Government of El Salvador until the appropriate Presidential certification is transmitted to Congress.
    • Prohibiting U.S. Funds for El Salvador: Prohibits any U.S. funding for the Government of El Salvador until the appropriate Presidential certification is transmitted to Congress.

    “Senators Van Hollen, Kaine, and Padilla’s bill to impose sanctions on the regime of President Nayib Bukele is timely and importantly puts a spotlight on the gross violation of human rights that have occurred under President Bukele’s state of exception. Since March 2022, 85,000 people have been detained, constitutional guarantees have been suspended, and over 350 people have died while under state custody. Systemic torture and persecution are state policies. Significantly, the bill also addresses the pervasive corruption that has occurred since President Bukele took office and prevents the IMF and other international financial institutions not to lend support. Not one penny of our tax dollars should support this regime until there is an end to the human rights violations, and the rule of law, judicial independence, and government transparency are restored.  All Members of Congress should get behind this bill,” said Vicki Gass, Executive Director, Latin America Working Group.  

    “Targeted individual sanctions for gross human rights violations are a critical diplomatic tool the U.S. can use to push for change and hold authoritarian actors accountable; as El Salvador’s political and human rights crisis deepens, strong international action like this becomes essential,” said Ana María Méndez-Dardón, Director for Central America at the Washington Office on Latin America.

    “We are heartened to see Senators confronting the human rights abuses of government officials in El Salvador. This bill an important reminder that uncritical US government support to President Bukele will not last forever and a recognition that nobody should be deported to Salvadoran prisons,” said Juan Pappier, Deputy Director of the Americas division, Human Rights Watch.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoyer Tours Food Bank, Defends Food Assistance Amid Trump Administration Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: FM spokesperson: China welcomes Vietnam to join as BRICS partner country

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

    China welcomes Vietnam to join as a BRICS partner country, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

    Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked to comment on the news that the BRICS chair Brazil announced the formal admission of Vietnam as a partner country of the group on Friday.

    China welcomes Vietnam to join the BRICS as a partner country, Guo said, noting that Vietnam’s participation in BRICS cooperation will not only benefit its own development but also align with the common interests of BRICS and the Global South.

    “We believe that Vietnam will make positive contributions to the BRICS mechanism,” the spokesperson added.

    A new partner to the BRICS family marks a further expansion of the mechanism’s representativeness and highlights its appeal and influence, Guo said, noting that China stands ready to work with other member and partner countries to build a more comprehensive, close, practical, and inclusive partnership, advance the high-quality development of “BRICS Plus” cooperation, and make greater contributions to upholding multilateralism, defending fairness, and promoting shared development.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China urges US to stop coercing other countries into taking sides

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

    China has always supported Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Panama, in upholding their independence and autonomy and opposing hegemony, bullying and foreign interference, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

    Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks in response to reports that the U.S. Embassy in Panama stated the United States will work with Panama to install seven new communications towers with U.S. technology, replacing Chinese company Huawei’s equipment. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has urged the U.S. embassy to refrain from making public declarations regarding decisions made solely by the Panamanian government.

    Addressing a regular press briefing, Guo said that the United States has long conducted surveillance and cyberattacks in Latin America and the Caribbean, causing adverse effects across the Western Hemisphere and leaving countries in the Americas feeling insecure.

    He added that while carrying out friendly cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries, China has always adhered to the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, openness, inclusiveness and win-win collaboration. “China never seeks spheres of influence, nor does it engage in geopolitical competition, let alone coerce other countries into taking sides,” the spokesperson said.

    Noting that Latin America and the Caribbean are not anyone’s backyard, Guo urged the United States to stop politicizing economic, trade, and scientific and technological issues, stop interfering in other countries’ internal affairs and undermining their sovereignty and independence, stop coercing other countries into taking sides or restricting cooperation with China, and instead focus on promoting regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sao Paulo parts ways with manager Zubeldia

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

    Sao Paulo has sacked Argentine manager Luis Zubeldia after a poor start to the Brazilian Serie A season, the club said on Monday.

    Sao Paulo is currently 14th in Brazil’s 20-team top-flight standings with just two wins from 12 games so far. The club has fared better in the Copa Libertadores, finishing top of its group to advance to the last 16, where it will meet Colombia’s Atletico Nacional over two legs in August.

    “By mutual agreement and in an amicable manner, it was decided that Luis Zubeldia will not remain in charge of the team,” Sao Paulo said in a statement on its official website.

    Zubeldia guided Sao Paulo to 38 wins, 27 draws and 20 losses after taking charge in April last year.

    Media reports said former Argentina striker Hernan Crespo was the frontrunner to assume the vacant position. Crespo, who had an eight-month spell in charge of the club in 2021, has been out of work since parting ways with United Arab Emirates outfit Al Ain last November. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    16 Giugno 2025

    The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, met with the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, today, on the occasion of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada.
    The joint statement adopted is provided below.

    Joint statement (pdf)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: TRANSCRIPT: Governor Phil Scott Delivers Adjournment Address

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today delivered his annual adjournment address to lawmakers.

    A transcript of the Senate-version of Governor’s prepared adjournment remarks can be found below:

    Governor Scott: Mr. President, Pro Tem. Baruth, Leader Ram Hinsdale, Leader Beck, and Members of the Senate.

    It’s only been about five months since we were all sworn in. In some ways, especially after today, it feels like a long session. But in other ways, it’s gone by quickly.   

    I want to start by telling you how much I appreciate the time and effort you’ve made this session, and the effort the majority has made to hear my point of view and the view of the minority.  

    This is especially true on difficult issues.  

    In January I asked that we focus on four areas: public safety, affordability, housing and education because I believe those are the areas impacting Vermonters the most. 

    And within these areas, we’ve made some meaningful progress. 

    We found common ground to make Vermont safer and while there’s still more work to do, this been a good start toward increasing accountability and recognizing an area that needs more attention. 

    I’m also appreciative of our work on tax relief, so Vermonters can keep a little more of what they earn whether they’re a veteran, a retiree living on social security, a low-income worker or a parent with young children.  

    And I’ll continue to advocate for more relief so Vermonters can thrive in Vermont, not just survive. 

    On housing, we passed much needed infrastructure support, getting the expansion of TIFs over the finish line, something many of us have been working on for years.  

    This will help level the playing field so rural communities with fewer resources have some of the same economic tools as larger towns. 

    We still need to work on regulatory reform in the second half of the biennium because without it, we won’t make the progress needed to make housing affordable and revitalize communities, schools and fill jobs. 

    On education, we found a compromise which will set us on a path towards a system that will better serve our kids and communities at a cost Vermonters can afford.  

    I realize this hasn’t been easy, and I know there are many who have and will continue to criticize our work.  

    But our current system is unsustainable for students and taxpayers.  

    This is only the first step and the work ahead will be just as, if not more important than what we’ve done this session.  

    But good work takes time, and it takes courage. And I appreciate the work each one of you has done to contribute to this effort. 

    What we’ve accomplished over these last few months is important, but what comes next will be even more important. We cannot make the mistake others have made to declare victory and assume our many crises have been solved.   

    I look forward to working with you into the next session to deliver the results our communities are calling for and Vermonters deserve.  

    Thank you again and I hope you enjoy the summer with family and friends. 

     ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: This Gun Violence Prevention Month, Congressmen Amo, Neguse, Thompson Lead 60 Colleagues in Calling on Senate to Strip the Provision Deregulating Firearm Silencers from Republicans’ Big, Bad Bill

    Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI), Assistant Leader Neguse (D-CO), and Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair Mike Thompson (D-CA) led over 60 members of the Democratic Caucus in sending a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, urging them to remove language that eliminates excise taxes on firearm silencers and deregulates their use under the National Firearms Act currently included in the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” 

    READ THE FULL LETTER HERE.

    Congressman Amo spoke at the marathon House Rules Committee hearing against Republicans’ last-minute move to eliminate firearm silencer regulations. A silencer, when attached to the barrel of a firearm, muffles the sound of gunfire—obstructing law enforcement efforts to respond to active shooters and making it more difficult to recognize the sound of gunfire and locate the source of gunshots quickly and effectively. 

    “In the dead of night, our Republican colleagues added a provision (Sec. 112029) to H.R.1 that would remove firearm silencers from the NFA. This change, which was ultimately included in the legislation, would be catastrophic to public safety and greatly impede law enforcement efforts to keep our communities safe,” wrote Amo, Neguse, and Thompson.

    The lawmakers continued: “As you know, the so-called ‘Byrd Rule’ under the Congressional Budget Act makes clear that, in short, non-budgetary provisions cannot be included in reconciliation legislation. Removing the regulatory structure for firearm silencers is thus not only dangerous, but blatantly violative of the Byrd Rule. Put simply, the provision represents a clear attempt to make a significant policy change to a century-old law, and cannot be adopted through the reconciliation process on that basis alone.” 

    “Congress has long maintained strong regulations for firearm silencers under the NFA for good reason. Law enforcement has identified silencers in crimes across the country–including in mass shootings in Monterey Park, California, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and by a gunman that killed two police officers during a 10-day shooting spree in Southern California. Furthermore, according to data from the ATF, in 2023 alone, over 400 silencers were recovered and traced from violent crime scenes. It is with this in mind, that we strongly urge you to remove Section 112029, and any provision that would deregulate and eliminate excise taxes on firearm silencers as the Senate considers the FY25 reconciliation bill. If enacted, these provisions would place the public and our brave law enforcement officers in harm’s way. The American people and our law enforcement deserve better,” they concluded. 

    The full letter is supported by Brady: United Against Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Giffords.  

    “The inclusion of the deregulation of silencers under the National Firearms Act in the budget reconciliation bill is unconscionable and demonstrates a complete disregard for public safety. In the wrong hands, silencers are extremely dangerous as they make it much more difficult for victims, bystanders, and law enforcement to recognize and react to gunfire and to identify shooters, even when in close proximity. Deregulating these under the NFA devices will enable mass shooters and other bad actors, putting the lives of law enforcement and the public at risk across the nation,” said Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy at Brady.

    “The silencer provisions in this bill will put law enforcement and our communities at greater risk from gun violence while costing taxpayers more than a billion dollars. We urge the Senate to remove these harmful provisions, and thank Rep. Neguse for his leadership on this issue,” said Monisha Henley, Everytown’s Senior Vice President, Government Affairs.

    “Instead of fighting crime and keeping American families safe, House Republicans gave gun industry CEOs a $1.5 billion tax break to boost their bottom line. Silencers enable shooters to cause more violence without being detected. Law enforcement has opposed efforts to sell silencers without background checks for a reason — they make law enforcement’s jobs harder. We thank Rep. Neguse for his leadership on this issue, and urge the Senate to keep silencers out of the hands of dangerous people,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director of GIFFORDS.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Whitehouse, Heinrich Statement on Trump Firing NRC Commissioner Hanson

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Washington, D.C. — After Trump fired Commissioner and former Chair Chris Hanson from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), an independent agency created by Congress that is charged with ensuring the safe use of radioactive materials, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee; Senator Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee; and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement.  The President can only remove Commissioners for cause—which is restricted to inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office—and the Trump Administration has provided no evidence of wrongdoing nor cited any cause in its termination of Commissioner Hanson.

    “Trump’s lawlessness threatens the Commission’s ability to ensure that nuclear power plants and nuclear materials are safe and free from political interference. In removing NRC Commissioner Hanson, Trump has overstepped his authority, jeopardizing U.S. nuclear leadership at a critical time. It’s hard to understand this when so much nuclear reform progress has been bipartisan.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –