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Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Leads SASC Hearing to Consider Five Senior Pentagon Nominations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker
    Watch Video Here
     
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today led a hearing to consider the qualifications of five senior nominees to serve within the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, and the Department of the Navy.
    Mr. Hung Cao, nominated to serve as Under Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Michael F. Dodd, nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies, Mr. Jules W. Hurst III, nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Mr. Brent G. Ingraham, nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, and Mr. William J. Gillis, nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment all appeared before the committee.
    In his opening remarks, Chairman Wicker praised the extensive experience and expertise of the nominees and emphasized the need for quality leadership in today’s threat environment.
    Read Chairman Wicker’s hearing opening statement as delivered.
    I welcome our nominees and their families, and I am grateful for their willingness to serve our nation. The United States faces a very dangerous threat environment, and we need people like this to step up, now more than ever.
    Mr. Hung Cao has been nominated to serve as Under Secretary of the Navy. He is a 25-year Navy veteran with industry experience. As Under Secretary, he would play a critical role in the daily management of the Navy and Marine Corps. And there will be plenty to keep him busy: revitalizing shipbuilding, improving maintenance to meet 80 percent surge readiness, and enhancing the welfare of our sailors and marines. His leadership and willingness to partner with Congress will be essential for a mission-ready Navy.
    Mr. Michael Dodd has been nominated for the position of Assistant Secretary of the Defense for Critical Technologies. If confirmed, Mr. Dodd will be the first individual to hold this position officially. Mr. Dodd brings experience at the Defense Innovation Unit and in thought leadership, particularly in microelectronics. I am interested to hear what actions Mr. Dodd believes we should take to make progress in delivering our most critical technologies to the battlefield.
    Mr. Jay Hurst has been nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Recent transformations in the Army will leave him to manage a workforce that is leaner, more agile, and more effective, while also ensuring soldiers and their families receive the support they need. Mr. Hurst is a seasoned Army Reserve officer with experience as a government contractor, in civil service at the DOD, and in national security roles on Capitol Hill. I look forward to hearing his plans for strengthening the force and supporting those who serve.
    Mr. Brent Ingraham has been nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology. He has devoted nearly two decades of service to the Department of Defense, including in his current role as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Platform and Weapons Portfolio Management. I look forward to hearing Mr. Ingraham’s plan in his new role to ensure the Army stays on track.
    And finally, Mr. Jordan Gillis has been nominated to be the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy, Installations, and Environment. As a former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, his experience will be crucial to ensuring the Department of the Army follows the law in implementing minimum Plant Replacement Value of 4 percent starting in 2030. I hope to hear today from Mr. Gillis on this issue, along with many other facility sustainment concerns.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Secure Michigan’s Propane Supply

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    Published: 06.26.2025
    Peters’ Bill Aims to Lower Energy Costs, Help Ensure Michiganders Can Heat Their Homes & Stay Safe During the Winter

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) introduced bipartisan legislation to better secure our nation’s propane supply. Peters’ Securing Our Propane Supply Act – which he introduced with U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) – would direct the Department of Energy (DOE), in consultation with the Energy Information Administration (EIA), to study and address the harm that propane shortages have on communities in Michigan and across the country. In particular, the bill would direct DOE to evaluate the effectiveness of establishing a National Strategic Propane Reserve to prevent future shortages. Michigan residents use more propane for home heating than any other state in the country, leaving our communities uniquely vulnerable to supply shortages. Peters’ legislation aims to strengthen the national propane supply, lower energy costs, and ensure Michiganders can heat their homes during the winter.
    “Hundreds of thousands of Michigan households rely on propane to heat their homes in the dead of winter, but supply shortages have led to higher prices and put folks’ safety at risk,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan bill would help ensure that families can reliably and affordably heat their homes when temperatures drop.”
    Michigan uses more propane in the residential sector than any other state in the country. An estimated 320,000 Michigan households use propane as their primary heating fuel. In the Upper Peninsula, that number is disproportionately higher, where roughly 18 percent of households primarily heat with propane. In fact, if the Upper Peninsula were its own state, it alone would lead the nation in the share of households that heat with propane. In 2014 and 2021, Michigan declared a state of emergency in the face of propane shortages during the height of winter. Peters’ legislation aims to prevent future shortages and ensure Americans can access affordable, reliable heat during the cold winter months.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Senators Urge Trump Admin to Protect Workers, Expand Access to Overtime Pay

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    June 26, 2025
    Biden-era rule would have made 4.3 million more workers eligible for overtime pay
    “Repealing this rule would be a huge blow to working families across the country and is another way in which Republicans continue to run on working-class values but govern according to billionaires’ wishes.” 
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led members of the Senate Democratic Caucus in writing to the Secretary of the Department of Labor (DoL), Lori Chavez-DeRemer, urging the department to preserve President Biden’s expansion of the overtime threshold. 
    Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) joined in signing the letter. 
    Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, certain hourly, non-salaried workers who work more than 40 hours a week get paid 1.5 times their regular pay rate for the extra hours they work. But these overtime protections do not cover “bona fide executive, administrative or professional employees,” as “defined and delimited” by regulations promulgated by DOL. Under the current regulation, only those workers making a salary less than $35,568 automatically qualify for overtime. Above that salary, workers are subject to the opaque and very employer-friendly duties test to determine if their work qualifies for exemption.
    In 2024, President Biden’s DoL updated the rule, which would have raised the salary cap to $43,888 and again in January 2025 to $58,656, instituted an automatic increase every three years, and provided clearer guidance and definitions to prevent employers from misclassifying employees. 
    The changes would have made 4.3 million more workers eligible for overtime pay and put $1.5 billion into workers’ pockets annually. 
    Unfortunately, in November 2024, a Trump-appointed District Court judge in the Fifth Circuit blocked this rule from going into effect. The Biden Administration immediately appealed this ruling. But on April 24, 2025, the Trump administration indicated it would abandon its efforts to appeal the ruling and revive the 2024 rule, robbing millions of Americans of overtime protections and the thousands of dollars the rule would have earned them.
    “This refusal to defend the overtime rule in court flies in the face of President Trump’s campaign promises to help workers. It is particularly cruel as President Trump and Congressional Republicans work to force through their ‘big beautiful bill,’ which would be the biggest wealth transfer in a single bill from working class Americans to billionaires this country has ever seen,” wrote the senators. 
    Senator Warren urged Secretary DeRemer to continue fighting to preserve the rule and provide an analysis or justification for why the Department decided to stop the appeals process to defend the rule by July 5, 2025. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Schumer, Wyden, Whitehouse Demand Explanation from Big Oil Corporations Lobbying for Giveaways at Expense of American Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    June 26, 2025
    Senate Republicans have included a $1 trillion loophole for Big Oil in “big, beautiful bill” that would allow massive corporations to avoid paying federal taxes despite earning billions. 
    “Congress should not raise energy prices for working families to deliver handouts to Big Oil.”
    Text of Letters to Big Oil Companies (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environmental Public Works Committee, and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader, pushed Big Oil companies ConocoPhillips and Ovintiv Inc. (Ovintiv) on their companies’ lobbying efforts to win a $1.1 billion tax loophole in President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” leaving middle-class families stuck with higher energy costs. 
    The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 imposed a corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT) on the nation’s wealthiest companies, requiring companies reporting over $1 billion in annual profits to pay at least 15% of those profits in taxes. Section 70523 of the Senate Republicans’ reconciliation bill would add a loophole to CAMT for Big Oil. If enacted, this provision would reduce or even eliminate tax liabilities for oil and gas companies under CAMT, allowing some to pay no federal income taxes whatsoever.
    “Even after the IRA’s passage, corporations lobbied furiously to weaken CAMT as much as possible, and Senate Republicans are now close to delivering on one of Big Oil’s key requests by granting the industry a huge loophole,” wrote the senators.
    Senate Republicans are paying for this handout by cutting clean energy tax credits and vital energy programs. Experts have said the Republican bill would contribute to “higher electricity costs for consumers,” adding to already too-high utility bills. Households are at risk of losing over $2,200 in savings per year on utility bills.
    “Adding this tax break for Big Oil to the reconciliation package is especially insulting since Senate Republicans are trying to pay for this handout with cuts to other programs that would end up raising energy prices for everyday Americans,” wrote the senators. “Congress should not raise energy prices for working families to deliver handouts to Big Oil.”
    The senators are pushing ConocoPhillips and Ovintiv Inc. for answers on their involvement in lobbying for this handout, with responses due by July 9, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Australia’s set to accept its one millionth refugee – AMES

    Source: AMES

    Sometime, probably around October this year, a person will step off aircraft somewhere in Australia in the last stage of their journey way from conflict or persecution.

    This person will be the one millionth refugee settled in Australia since the end of World War II.

    The Department of Home Affairs says Australia has successfully settled more than 985,000 refugees and humanitarian entrants since the country’s first humanitarian intake occurred in 1947.

    With 20,000 refugee places currently allocated for each financial year, the million milestone is due to be reached in the early months of the 2025-26 financial year.

    Based on these figures, it is expected the one-millionth arrival to occur sometime between September and November 2025.

    The milestone represents a million individual journeys toward refuge and a million stories of people rebuilding their lives in safety with hope for the future.

    Since the 1930s, Australia has welcomed refugees fleeing global conflicts — from Jewish refugees before and after World War Two, to Southeast Asians after the Vietnam War.

    Following World War Two, Australia entered formal agreements with international bodies to accept displaced people from Europe.

    In November 1947, more than 800 people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania arrived in Fremantle. They were the first of 170,000 displaced persons resettled in Australia after World War Two.

    Later decades saw more structured resettlement, particularly in response to major global conflicts.

    Over the past 40 years, Australia has continued to resettle people from conflict-riven regions, including the Southeast Asia the Middle East, Africa and Myanmar.

    Today, refugees from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Iraq, Syria, Myanmar and countries in the Horn of Africa continue to arrive under the humanitarian program.

    In two recent emergency situations, Australia evacuated 4100 refugees from Afghanistan following the return of the Taliban to power in 2021 and around 4,000 Ukrainians, mostly women and children, who initially arrived on tourist visas after the Russian invasion are new transitioning to permanent protection visas.

    CEO of AMES Australia Cath Scarth said the million-refugee mark was a reflection of Australia’s proud history of affording refugee to people fleeing war, conflict or persecution.

    “Australia has a generous and sophisticated refugee settlement program that not only offers refuge to people fleeing war or persecution but also equips them to build successful lives and become contributors,” Ms Scarth said.

    “We are an example to the world at a time when more than 122 million people are displaced due to war, conflict or persecution,” she said.

    Australia is a leading refugee resettlement country, ranking among the top few resettlement countries on a per capita basis.

    The United States has historically accepted the greatest number of refugees, but its program has recently been effectively shuttered by the Trump administration, meaning the loss of 100,000 annual resettlement places.

    Among refugees who have come to Australia in recent years are:

    Iraqi doctor Asseel Yako who, in his homeland, tended to battlefield wounds suffered by soldiers or militia members fighting ISIS or patching up women children horrifically injured in explosions of gunfire.

    Ten years later he is still saving lives working a consultant physician, specialising in internal medicine at Warragul Hospital, in Gippsland, Victoria.

    The job is the culmination of years of hard work, striving to get his qualifications recognised in Australia.

    He had studied and worked as a doctor for almost twenty years before arriving in Australia, but he was forced to jump through extraordinary hoops to be able practice medicine again.

    Cambodian refugee Chan Uoy has helped breathe new life into the struggling regional town of Dimboola, in Victoria’s west.

    Chan has opened the Dimboola Imaginarium, an eclectic and exotic gift shop and Air BnB recently featured in the high-end magazine Conde Nast Traveller. Chan has also recently become the deputy mayor of the local Hindmarsh Shire.

    The Dimboola Imaginarium is a stimulating space with a cornucopia of exotic wares, including an almost life-size giraffe, oversize world globes, and colourfully painted rocking horses. The five Air BB bedrooms have differing but exotic and indulgent décor.

    He has also launched the Wimmera Steampunk Festival, which this year is expected to attract 5000 visitors to the town.

    Young soccer star Yaya Dukuly is the embodiment of refugee aspiration and success.

    The 22-year-old Adelaide United soccer star was born into a refugee family in Guinea. His father is a Liberian and his mother is from Guinea.

    Yaya arrived in Australia with his family as a child and grew up in Adelaide. Now a professional footballer and Australian under-23 representative, he is also an emerging community leader and role model.

    Yaya brought is powerful and authentic new voice in the multicultural sector, supporting newly arrived refugees and advocating for their communities.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEA to recognize nine extraordinary individuals and organizations with its highest honor

    Source: US National Education Union

    Washington – For their exemplary work as advocates in, and outside of, their communities, nine extraordinary individuals and organizations will receive NEA’s highest and most prestigious award, the Human and Civil Rights (HRC) Awards, on July 2, at the Oregon Convention Center, in Portland, Ore.

    The theme of the 58th annual award dinner is “Building a Legacy for Collective Freedom: A Celebration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” a timely acknowledgement of the current administration’s attempts to roll back progress on DEI initiatives, and more importantly, a recognition to the accomplishments of this year’s recipients.

    In 1966, the NEA and the American Teachers Association (ATA), a union for Black teachers at segregated schools in the south, merged into one organization. To carry on with the ATA tradition of honoring leaders of the civil rights movement, the NEA continued to sponsor the HRC awards ceremonies, holding the first award dinner of the merged Association in 1967.

    “This year’s recipients of the NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards are not just meeting the moment—they are redefining it,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “They’re giving voice to the unheard, breaking barriers, defending the truth of our shared history, and preparing the activists of tomorrow to shine the light across the country. By standing firm against attacks on public education and rooting their deeds and actions in racial and social justice, they are reigniting the promise of democracy—one classroom at a time, one school at a time, one community at a time.”

    Meet the 2025 NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards Recipients

    These NEA allies and partners received HCR awards for leading with courage, creativity, and commitment to advancing social and racial justice:

    A Modern Day MLK

    Leshun “Ship” Collins dedicates his time at Orange High School in Pepper Pike, Ohio to more than just his role as a health and physical education instructor. He has spent the past two decades mentoring young African American men to see their full potential in spite of typical societal perceptions by connecting their pride in their identity to academic achievement.

    The Male Minority Leadership Group, an afterschool mentorship program Collins created, offers a safe space young Black men to bond over their commonalities and embrace their differences. He hopes that they will learn to take control of their destiny through his program.

    As a board member of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Collin is also dedicated to respecting and protecting women. His initiative, the White Ribbon Campaign, focuses on the issue of domestic abuse. Collins uses his allyship to support women by raising awareness and advocating for gender equality.

    Collins is the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Award, a fitting honor for the community activist.

    Teaching Her Story So It’s Never Repeated

    Holocaust survivor and educator Maude Dahme is committed to teaching young people to stand up for what they believe in. Her own education as a child was interrupted when the German occupation of Holland ordered her and her family into a detention center.

    In 1950, Dahme immigrated to New Jersey, where she started her teaching career. For twenty years, Dahme was a member of the New Jersey Board of Education. For five of those years, she served as president and used her leadership role to implement Holocaust education into the curriculum. As a New Jersey Education Association member, she spends her summers at teacher seminars and visiting concentration camps around the world.

    Dahne is the embodiment of the word “resilient.” Her decision to use her story to teach the younger generation how to accept differences so that the history she teaches them is never repeated is why she was chosen as the recipient of the Dorros Peace and International Understanding Award.

    Breaking Glass Ceilings

    Marissa Winmill, one of the nation’s most influential figures in advancing academic opportunities for young women, strives to create future female icons. Her unrelenting will to break barriers for young women is why she is the recipient of the Mary Hatwood Futrell Award.

    Her position as a board member for the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board has allowed her to propose policies to benefit both female instructors and their students. While teaching at Washington’s Kent-Meridian High School, Winmill started a Girls Who Code club, giving female students access to tools needed to succeed in STEM fields.

    Her initiatives ensure that teenage girls are never denied access to the opportunities they need to reach their full potential show that she is following in the footsteps of former NEA President Mary Hatwood Futrell.

    The Activists of Today and Tomorrow

    Marta Silva is the recipient of the George I. Sánchez Memorial Award. In her role as a heritage language instructor at Olathe North High School in Kentucky and as the creator of the Heritage Language program, an initiative in her district to level the playing field for Hispanic students by promoting translation and interpretation skills, and career training practices, she empowers Latino students to pursue higher education and push through barriers.

    Elise Carter, one of the few African American educators in her district, in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, is carrying on the “Father of Black History’s” mission to advance African American culture, which has earned her the Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award. Carter created an innovative Social Equity course and stood firm when community leaders criticized it as critical race theory. Through years of persistence, she ensured that Black history and principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion remained part of her district’s curriculum.

    Jesús Valle is the recipient of the Wilma Mankiller Memorial Award. Through his work as a tenured professor of Native American Studies at Sacramento’s American River College, as well as his initiative of creating the Native Resource Center for Northern California Indigenous youth, he has advocated for inclusivity, pride and dignity, strengthening Native communities.

    The Showing Up for Education-Kansas City, Education Core (SURJ-KC) is an organization that consists of locally-based white educators in Kansas City seeking to educate themselves on the effects racism and white supremacy has on the public school system. SURJ-KC also creates space in its community for other individuals to gain an understanding of racial injustices by hosting public forums and panel discussions led by diverse speakers. SURJ-KC exemplifies the true allyship that is needed to dismantle harmful systems and ideologies, earning it the H. Councill Trenholm Memorial Award.

    The Mississippi Minority Farmers Alliance of North Mississippi (MMFA) is the recipient of the Reg Weaver Human and Civil Rights Award. Founded by a small group of Black farmers, the MMFA has supported marginalized farmers and brought equity to the world of agriculture.

    As the most developed school in the United States to teach an Indigenous language, Ke Kula ‘O Nāwahīokalani ‘Ōpu ‘U Iki Public Charter School is making a way for Asian American and Pacific Islander youth to embrace their culture by keeping the Hawai’ian language alive. Because of the school’s commitment to reject attempts of assimilation and instead celebrate their students’ Hawai’ian identities, it is the recipient of the Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal grand jury indicts Cheektowaga man on multiple sex trafficking charges

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

    BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a nine-count indictment charging Darryl Lamont Paul, a/k/a Darryl Lamont, 59, of Cheektowaga, NY, with sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, transportation across state lines of an individual with intent that such individual engage in prostitution, and using and maintaining a drug-involved premises. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, for the last 25 years, Lamont has owned NoLimit Entertainment (NLE), a company that provides entertainment, including nude dancers and topless bartenders, for parties such as stags and birthdays. Lamont is accused of conspiring with others to recruit young vulnerable women from area strip clubs, to work for NLE, and he would also refer young women to these strip clubs for additional employment.

    During that time, Lamont is accused of using force, fraud, and coercion to sex traffic a total of six victims. He is also accused of transporting one of the victims across state lines to engage in prostitution. In addition, from 2021 to March 13, 2025, Lamont maintained a Beach Road apartment in Cheektowaga, for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, and using cocaine.

    Lamont was arraigned this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was detained.

    The indictment is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm.

    The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pacific Partnership 2025 Conducts Mission Stop in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 26, 2025 [Image 1 of 8]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga (June 26, 2025) U.S. Navy Cmdr. Christina Carter, public health nurse deployed in support of Pacific Partnership 2025 (PP-25), writes on a whiteboard during a tabletop training exercise with local nurses of Vaiola Hospital as part of PP-25 in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 26, 2025. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/Released)

    Date Taken: 06.26.2025
    Date Posted: 06.26.2025 18:43
    Photo ID: 9134605
    VIRIN: 250626-N-ED646-9883
    Resolution: 7888×5261
    Size: 8.65 MB
    Location: NUKU’ALOFA, TO
    Web Views: 2
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  • MIL-OSI Security: Pacific Partnership 2025 Conducts Mission Stop in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 26, 2025 [Image 2 of 8]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga (June 26, 2025) U.S. Navy Capt. Andrew Kaplan, right, and Chief Hospital Corpsman David, center, both deployed in support of Pacific Partnership 2025 (PP-25), assist a local doctor perform an ultrasound during PP-25 in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 26, 2025. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/Released)

    Date Taken: 06.26.2025
    Date Posted: 06.26.2025 18:43
    Photo ID: 9134606
    VIRIN: 250626-N-ED646-3171
    Resolution: 8640×5760
    Size: 12.03 MB
    Location: NUKU’ALOFA, TO
    Web Views: 2
    Downloads: 0

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Honors World War II Army Rangers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – Following her bipartisan bill to honor World War II Army Rangers, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran, recognized their distinguished service and sacrifice as Rangers Joseph Drake and John Wardell were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
    During her remarks, Ernst noted that she embarked on this effort initially because of Iowan Lester Cook, a member of the original 1st Ranger Battalion Darby Rangers.
    Watch Ernst’s full remarks here.
    Download more pictures here.
    “I was blessed to become part of the Ranger family in the early 90s…Rangers came together to celebrate the past, the present and those future warriors. What I experienced during those hot summers in Georgia and the time spent with Rangers is the young rangers of the three remaining battalions would sit in awe and listen to the stories of the Rangers that had gone before them – those Rangers of World War II.”
    “I thank you so much for your strength and your courage in leading the way through the deserts of Africa, the Far East, liberating camps of prisoners of war, and the actions that you took on D-Day, leading the way off the beach. This has been a personal endeavor for many of us for many years, and I want to thank our bill sponsors as well. It has taken seven long years to be able to present these medals to you. Gentlemen, thank you for all that you have given to your country,” said Ernst.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Recognizing Tunisia’s Leadership in the Arab Spring, Calling Out Troubling Democratic Backsliding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    June 26, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined four of his Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution recognizing Tunisia’s leadership in the Arab Spring and expressing support for upholding its democratic principles and norms. Under the country’s current President Kais Saied, Tunisia has seen a recent backslide of the democratic gains made in the years following the Arab Spring. This includes a notable increase in arrests of political opponents and critics of his Administration. 
    Specifically, the resolution:
    1.      Recognizes Tunisia as the symbolic birthplace of the historic Arab Spring movement and the country’s notable democratic reforms that emerged during that period;
    2.      Commends the Tunisian people for their courage and democratic achievements made in the immediate years following the Arab Spring;
    3.      Expresses deep concern for more recent reversals of such democratic gains, including the erosion of judicial independence; political repression and arrests; and the undemocratic consolidation of power;
    4.      Urges the Government of Tunisia to release all political prisoners – including a United States citizen; to respect the rights of the people to free exercise of peaceful assembly, expression, and the press; to restore and respect the independence of electoral, judicial, and anti-corruption institutions;  
    5.      Urges the Trump Administration to sanction those Tunisian officials primarily involved in repression of peaceful democratic activity.
    U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) also cosponsored the bill.
    Full text of the resolution is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Appropriations Committee Approves Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G. Valadao (California)

    WASHINGTON – The House Appropriations Committee met today to consider the Fiscal Year 2026 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act. Congressman David Valadao (CA-22), Chairman of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, released the following statement on the bill’s passage out of full committee markup:

    “After months of hard work preparing the FY26 bill as Chairman of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, I’m proud to see it advance out of full committee markup,” said Congressman Valadao. “This bill not only ensures Congress has the resources needed to effectively serve the American people—it also reins in unnecessary spending and refocuses our priorities to reflect our core values. Most importantly, this legislation provides the necessary funding to support Capitol Police as they work to keep Members of Congress, visitors, and staff safe. I’m grateful to Chairman Cole for his leadership and guidance throughout this process, and I look forward to building on this momentum as the bill heads to the House floor.”

    Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, “Our greatest duty is to our constituents—and this bill reflects that. The FY26 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act makes targeted and responsible investments to strengthen the institutions that serve Americans. It protects key functions of our democracy, supports critical oversight responsibilities, and ensures the safety and accessibility of the Capitol complex. Under Chairman Valadao’s leadership, we’ve advanced a measure that upholds core missions and safeguards taxpayer dollars. It’s a clear commitment to transparency, accountability, and putting the people first.”

    Legislative Branch Subcommittee Chairman David Valadao began the markup with remarks on the bill. Watch his full remarks here or read as prepared below:

    It is my pleasure to present the FY26 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill and report for your consideration today. I appreciate the opportunity to work once again with Ranking Member Espaillat and the minority staff throughout the FY26 process. I’d also like to thank Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro for their continued leadership. 

    We received a record number of requests from our colleagues and the Members present today, and we had the pleasure of accommodating items from both sides of the aisle in a bipartisan manner.

    This bill provides $5 billion – a 5.3 percent decrease from the FY 2025 enacted House level. By tradition, we do not consider Senate items in the House mark, but when we take them into account, the discretionary allocation totals $6.7 billion, a $51 million decrease from the FY25 enacted CR. While we had to make a number of tough choices in this bill, we believe that as the legislative branch, it is our responsibility to lead by example and make responsible funding decreases where appropriate.

    As I mentioned in our subcommittee markup on Monday, we recognize the tragic events that recently took place in Minnesota, and I am deeply concerned and saddened by the increase in political violence in this nation.

    As appropriators we have the responsibility to provide for the safety and security for Members of Congress and the United States Capitol complex, and the bill under consideration today reflects our ongoing commitment to this duty. In 2017, the Members’ Representational Allowance was increased for the purpose of providing Member security when they are away from the Capitol complex, and this bill continues to carry that increase. It also includes increased funding for the House Sergeant at Arms and the United States Capitol Police. 

    I want to take a brief moment to highlight the funding requested by the USCP for mutual aid reimbursements. As noted in the report, the Department requested 5-year funds at the rate of $5 million per year for mutual aid. This bill provides $10 million for FY26, which is double the proposed annual amount. We intend to continue providing funds on an annual basis to ensure we are providing sufficient funding that is reflective of the growing needs at hand. 

    I would also like to thank the House Sergeant at Arms and his team for the rapid manner in which they developed a number of proposals, in consultation with Members and Leadership, regarding additional security measures. In the days ahead, we look forward to discussing these proposals with our colleagues to determine the most appropriate path forward. We plan to continue the discussion on security measures and recommend that we incorporate any needed changes when we conference with the Senate. 

    Again, I’d like to thank all Members for their thoughtful contributions to the FY26 Legislative Branch Bill and report and the staff from both the majority and the minority. 


     ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: BlackRock® Canada Announces Risk Rating Changes, Annual Management Fee Reductions and Commencement of Securities Lending Transactions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (“BlackRock Canada”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) (NYSE:BLK) today announced updates to the investment risk ratings of certain iShares exchange-traded funds (“iShares ETFs”), a reduction to the annual management fees of certain iShares ETFs, and the commencement of securities lending transactions of certain iShares ETFs, as further described below.

    Risk Rating Changes

    BlackRock Canada announces updated investment risk ratings of the iShares ETFs listed below, effective as of June 26, 2025:

    iShares ETF Name Ticker Previous Risk Rating Updated Risk Rating
    iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index ETF(1) XDU Medium to Low Medium
    iShares Japan Fundamental Index Fund (CAD-Hedged) CJP Medium to High Medium
    iShares US Fundamental Index ETF(2) CLU Medium Medium to High
           

    (1) This investment risk rating change only applies to the Canadian dollar units (XDU) and not to the U.S. dollar units (XDU.U).
    (2) This investment risk rating change only applies to the hedged units (CLU) and not to the non-hedged units (CLU.C).

    Annual Management Fee Reductions

    BlackRock Canada has reduced the annual management fees of the iShares ETFs listed below, effective as of July 2, 2025:

    iShares ETF Name Ticker Current Management Fee New Management Fee
    iShares 0-5 TIPS Bond Index ETF XSTP, XSTP.U 0.15% 0.10%
    iShares 0-5 TIPS Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XSTH 0.15% 0.10%
           

    Securities Lending Transactions

    BlackRock Canada also announces that it may engage in securities lending transactions (the “Transactions”) from time to time for iShares Bitcoin ETF (“IBIT”) in compliance with applicable securities laws.  This is a standard practice for many Canadian iShares ETFs.

    BlackRock Canada is issuing this announcement to provide 60 days’ prior written notice to unitholders of IBIT that IBIT may enter into the Transactions on or after August 25, 2025.

    The prospectus of IBIT dated June 26, 2025, discloses additional information regarding the Transactions, including the policies related to engaging in the Transactions and the related risks.

    About BlackRock

    BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate.

    About iShares

    iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 1500+ exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) and US$4.3 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2025, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock.

    iShares ETFs are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional.

    Standard & Poor’s® and S&P® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”). TSX is a registered trademark of TSX Inc. (“TSX”). All of the foregoing trademarks have been licensed to S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and sublicensed for certain purposes to BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”), which in turn has sub-licensed these marks to its affiliate, BlackRock on behalf of the applicable ETFs. The Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, and has been licensed for use by BFA and by extension, BlackRock and the applicable ETFs. The ETFs are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P, any of their respective affiliates (collectively known as “S&P Dow Jones Indices”) or TSX, or any of their respective affiliates. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices nor TSX make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in the ETFs.

    MSCI is a trademark of MSCI, Inc. (“MSCI”). The ETFs are permitted to use the MSCI mark pursuant to a license agreement between MSCI and BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., relating to, among other things, the license granted to BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. to use the Index. BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. has sublicensed the use of this trademark to BlackRock. The ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by MSCI and MSCI makes no representation, condition or warranty regarding the advisability of investing in the ETF.

    ©2025 BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc., or its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. Used with permission.

    Contact for Media:
    Sydney Punchard
    Email: Sydney.Punchard@blackrock.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: GraniteShares Announces Forward Split of PTIR

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GraniteShares has announced it will execute a forward share split for the GraniteShares 2x Long PLTR (the “Fund”). The total market value of the shares outstanding will not be affected as a result of these splits.

    After the close of the markets on July 08, 2025 (the “Payable Date”), the Fund will effect a forward split of its issued and outstanding shares as follows:

    As a result of the share split, shareholders of the Fund will receive fifteen shares for each share held as indicated in the table above. Accordingly, the number of the Fund’s issued and outstanding shares will increase by the approximate percentage indicated above.

    The ticker and CUSIP will not be affected by the transaction.

    The share split will apply to shareholders of record as of the close of the NASDAQ Stock Market (the “NASDAQ”) on July 08, 2025 (the “Record Date”), payable after the close of the NASDAQ on the Payable Date. Shares of the Funds will begin trading on the NASDAQ on a split-adjusted basis on July 09, 2025 (the “Ex-Date”). On the Ex-Date, the opening market value of the Fund’s issued and outstanding shares, and thus a shareholder’s investment value, will not be affected by the share split. However, the per share net asset value (“NAV”) and opening market price on the Ex-Date will be approximately one-fifteenth. The table below illustrates the effect of a hypothetical fifteen-for-one split on a shareholder’s investment.

    15-for-1 forward split

    Period # of shares owned Hypothetical NAV Total Market Value
    Pre-Split 10 US$ 300 US$ 3,000
    Post-Split 150 US$ 20 US$ 3,000


    About GraniteShares

    GraniteShares is an independent ETF issuer headquartered in New York City. GraniteShares offers the following leveraged single stock ETFs:

    ETF Name Ticker Underlying Stock Management Fee/Total Expense with fee waiver(1) /Total Expense without fee waiver(3)
    GraniteShares 2x Long AAPL Daily ETF AAPB Apple 0.99%/1.15%/1.65%
    GraniteShares 2x Long AMD Daily ETF AMDL AMD 0.99%/1.15%/6.04%
    GraniteShares 2x Long AMZN Daily ETF AMZZ Amazon.com 0.99%/1.15%/2.28%
    GraniteShares 2x Long BABA Daily ETF BABX Alibaba 0.99%/1.15%/1.52%
    GraniteShares 2x Long COIN Daily ETF CONL Coinbase 0.99%/1.15%/1.12%
    GraniteShares 2x Short COIN Daily ETF CONI Coinbase 0.99%/1.15%/1.12%
    GraniteShares 2x Long CRWD Daily ETF CRWL CrowdStrike 1.30%/1.50%/2.30%
    GraniteShares 2x Long DELL Daily ETF DLLL Dell Technologies 1.30%/1.50%/2.30%
    GraniteShares 2x Long INTC Daily ETF INTW Intel 1.30%/1.50%/2.30%
    GraniteShares 2x Long IONQ Daily ETF IONL IONQ 1.30%/1.50%/1.50%
    GraniteShares 2x Long LCID Daily ETF LCDL Lucid 0.99%/1.15%/1.43%
    GraniteShares 2x Long MARA Daily ETF MRAL MARA Holding 1.30%/1.50%/1.50%
    GraniteShares 2x Long META Daily ETF FBL Meta Platform 0.99%/1.15%/1.22%
    GraniteShares 2x Long MRVL Daily ETF MVLL Marvell Technology 1.30%/1.50%/1.50%
    GraniteShares 2x Long MSFT Daily ETF MSFL Microsoft 0.99%/1.15%/3.55%
    GraniteShares 2x Long MSTR Daily ETF MSTP MicroStrategy 1.30%/1.50%/1.50%
    GraniteShares 2x Short MSTR Daily ETF MSDD MicroStrategy 1.30%/1.50%/1.50%
    GraniteShares 2x Long MU Daily ETF MULL Micron Technology 1.30%/1.50%/1.50%
    GraniteShares 2x Long NVDA Daily ETF NVDL NVIDIA 0.99%/1.15%/1.06%
    GraniteShares 2x Short NVDA Daily ETF NVD NVIDIA 0.99%/1.15%/1.73
    GraniteShares 2x Long PLTR Daily ETF PTIR Palantir 0.99%/1.15%/1.18%
    GraniteShares 2x Long QCOM Daily ETF QCML Qualcomm 1.30%/1.50%/1.50%
    GraniteShares 2x Long RDDT Daily ETF RDTL Reddit 1.30%/1.50%/1.50%
    GraniteShares 2x Long RIVN Daily ETF RVNL Rivian 0.99%/1.15%/1.50%
    GraniteShares 2x Long SMCI Daily ETF SMCL Super Micro Computer 1.30%/1.50%/2.30%
    GraniteShares 1.25x Long TSLA Daily ETF TSL Tesla 0.99%/1.15%/1.98%
    GraniteShares 2x Long TSLA Daily ETF TSLR Tesla 0.99%/1.15%/1.63%
    GraniteShares 2x Short TSLA Daily ETF TSDD Tesla 0.99%/1.15%/2.59%
    GraniteShares 2x Long TSM Daily ETF TSML Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 1.30%/1.50%/2.30%
    GraniteShares 2x Long Uber Daily ETF UBRL Uber 0.99%/1.15%/1.18%
    GraniteShares 2x Long VRT Daily ETF VRTL Vertiv 1.30%/1.50%/1.50%

    In addition, GraniteShares’ ETF suite includes the following ETFs:

    (1)   GraniteShares Advisors LLC has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses (exclusive of any (i) interest, (ii) brokerage fees and commission, (iii) acquired fund fees and expenses, (iv) fees and expenses associated with instruments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example options and swap fees and expenses), (v) interest and dividend expense on short sales, (vi) taxes, (vii) other fees related to underlying investments (such as option fees and expenses or swap fees and expenses), (viii) expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization or (ix) extraordinary expenses such as litigation) will not exceed 1.15%. This agreement is effective until December 31, 2025, and it may be terminated before that date only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. GraniteShares Advisors LLC may request recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Fund for three years from the date such fees and expenses were waived or paid, if such reimbursement will not cause the Fund’s total expense ratio to exceed the expense limitation in place at the time of the waiver and/or expense payment and the expense limitation in place at the time of the recoupment.

    (2)   Estimated total cost in the absence of fee waiver or reimbursement.

    Contact Information:
    William Rhind, CEO
    GraniteShares Inc
    +1 646 876 5049
    william.rhind@graniteshares.com

    Important Information

    Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the GraniteShares funds (the “Funds”) carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about the Funds, please call (844) 476 8747, or visit the website at www.graniteshares.com. Read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

    To obtain a prospectus for BAR, please visit
    https://www.graniteshares.com/Documents/25/Prospectus-GraniteShares-Gold-Trust.pdf

    To obtain a prospectus for PLTM, please visit
    https://graniteshares.com/media/gwrbh3ah/pltm_prospectus.pdf

    To obtain a prospectus for COMB, please visit
    https://graniteshares.com/media/4crf2x4e/graniteshares-etf-trust-comb-summary-prospectus.pdf

    Except as described above regarding the liquidation of the ETFs, shares of the Funds may be sold during trading hours on the exchange through any brokerage account, shares are not individually redeemable, and shares may only be redeemed directly from a Fund by Authorized Participants. There can be no assurance that an active trading market for shares in a Fund will develop or be maintained. Shares may trade above or below NAV. Brokerage commissions will apply.

    Fund Risks

    Multiple funds have a limited operating history of less than a year and risks associated with a new fund. The Leveraged and Daily Inverse Funds are not suitable for all investors. The investment program of the funds is speculative, entails substantial risks and include asset classes and investment techniques not employed by most ETFs and mutual funds. Investments in the ETFs are not bank deposits and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund is designed to be utilized only by knowledgeable investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily leveraged (2X) or daily inverse (-1X and -2X) investment results, understand the risks associated with the use of leverage and are willing to monitor their portfolios frequently. For periods longer than a single day, the Fund will lose money if the Underlying Stock’s performance is flat, and it is possible that the Fund will lose money even if the Underlying Stock’s performance increases over a period longer than a single day. An investor could lose the full principal value of his/her investment within a single day. The funds do not directly invest in the underlying stock.

    The Funds seek daily inverse or leveraged investment results and are intended to be used as short-term trading vehicles. Each Fund with “Long” in its name attempts to provide daily investment results that correspond to the respective long leveraged multiple of the performance of an underlying stock (each a Leveraged Long Fund). Each Fund with “Short” in its name attempts to provide daily investment results that correspond to the inverse (or opposite) multiple of the performance of an underlying stock (each an Inverse Fund).

    Investors should note that the Long Leveraged Funds and the Daily Inverse Funds pursue daily leveraged investment objectives and daily inverse investment objectives (respectively), which means that the fund is riskier than alternatives that do not use leverage and inverse strategies because the fund magnifies the performance of their underlying security. The volatility of the underlying security may affect a Funds’ return as much as, or more than, the return of the underlying security.

    For the Leveraged Long Funds because of daily rebalancing and the compounding of each day’s return over time, the return of the Fund for periods longer than a single day will be the result of each day’s returns compounded over the period, which will very likely differ from 200% of the return of the Underlying Stock over the same period. The Fund will lose money if the Underlying Stock’s performance is flat over time, and as a result of daily rebalancing, the Underlying Stock volatility and the effects of compounding, it is even possible that the Fund will lose money over time while the Underlying Stock’s performance increases over a period longer than a single day.

    For the Daily Inverse Funds because of daily rebalancing and the compounding of each day’s return over time, the return of the Fund for periods longer than a single day will be the result of each day’s returns compounded over the period, which will very likely differ from -100% and 200% of the return of the Underlying Stock over the same period. The Fund will lose money if the Underlying Stock’s performance is flat over time, and as a result of daily rebalancing, the Underlying Stock volatility and the effects of compounding, it is even possible that the Fund will lose money over time while the Underlying Stock’s performance decreases over a period longer than a single day.

    Shares are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the ETF. There can be no guarantee that an active trading market for ETF shares will develop or be maintained, or that their listing will continue or remain unchanged. Buying or selling ETF shares on an exchange may require the payment of brokerage commissions and frequent trading may incur brokerage costs that detract significantly from investment returns.

    An investment in the Fund involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. The Fund is non-diversified and includes risks associated with the Fund concentrating its investments in a particular industry, sector, or geographic region which can result in increased volatility. The use of derivatives such as futures contracts and swaps are subject to market risks that may cause their price to fluctuate over time. Risks of the Fund include Effects of Compounding and Market Volatility Risk, Inverse Risk, Market Risk, Counterparty Risk, Rebalancing Risk, Intra-Day Investment Risk, Daily Index Correlation Risk, Other Investment Companies (including ETFs) Risk, and risks specific to the securities of the Underlying Stock and the sector in which it operates. These and other risks can be found in the prospectus.

    Investing in physical commodities, including through commodity-linked derivative instruments such as Commodity Futures, Commodity Swaps, as well as other commodity-linked instruments, is speculative and can be extremely volatile and may not be suitable for all investors. Market prices of commodities may fluctuate rapidly based on numerous factors, including: changes in supply and demand relationships (whether actual, perceived, anticipated, unanticipated or unrealized); weather; agriculture; trade; domestic and foreign political and economic events and policies; diseases; pestilence; technological developments; currency exchange rate fluctuations; and monetary and other governmental policies, action and inaction.

    A liquid secondary market may not exist for the types of commodity-linked derivative instruments the Fund buys, which may make it difficult for the Fund to sell them at an acceptable price. The Fund is new with no operating history. As a result, there can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case it could ultimately liquidate.

    Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in market conditions and may amplify risks and losses.

    This information is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of any Funds to any person in any jurisdiction in which an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. Please consult your tax advisor about the tax consequences of an investment in Fund shares, including the possible application of foreign, state, and local tax laws. You could lose money by investing in the ETFs. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Funds will be achieved. None of the Funds should be relied upon as a complete investment program.

    The Fund is distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc, which is not affiliated with GraniteShares or any of its affiliates ©2025 GraniteShares Inc. All rights reserved. GraniteShares, GraniteShares Trusts, and the GraniteShares logo are registered and unregistered trademarks of GraniteShares Inc., in the United States and elsewhere. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

    Gregory FCA for GraniteShares
    Kathleen Elicker, 484-889-6597
    graniteshares@gregoryfca.com

    Important Information

    Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about the Funds, please call (844) 476 8747 or visit www.graniteshares.com. Read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

    The investment program of the funds is speculative, entails substantial risks and include asset classes and investment techniques not employed by more traditional mutual funds.

    PRINCIPAL FUND RISKS (see the Prospectus for more information)

    GraniteShares Leveraged Long and Inverse Daily ETFs are not suitable for all investors. The funds seek daily leveraged investment results and are intended to be used as short-term trading vehicles. The funds pursue daily leveraged investment objectives, which means that the funds are riskier than alternatives that do not use leverage because the fund magnifies the performance of the underlying security. The volatility of the underlying security may affect the fund return as much as, or more than, the return of the underlying security. Investors who do not understand the Funds, or do not intend to actively manage their funds and monitor their investments, should not buy the Funds. The Funds are designed to be utilized only by traders and sophisticated investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily inverse and/or leveraged investment results, understand the risks associated with the use of leverage and/or short sales and are willing to monitor their portfolios frequently. For periods longer than a single day, the Funds will lose money if the underlying stock’s performance is flat, and it is possible that the Funds will lose money even if the underlying stock’s performance increases over a period longer than a single day. An investor could lose the full principal value of his/her investment within a single day. The Funds track the price of a single stock rather than an index, eliminating the benefits of diversification that most mutual funds and exchange-traded funds offer. Although the Funds will be listed and traded on an exchange, an investment in a Fund may not be suitable for every investor. The Funds pose risks that are unique and complex.

    This information is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of any Funds to any person in any jurisdiction in which an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

    THE FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED BY ALPS DISTRIBIUTORS, INC. GRANITESHRES IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ALPS DISTRIBUTORS, INC

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Statement on Vote on H.R. 875

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – On June 26, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) issued the following statement on his vote against H.R. 875, the Protect Our Communities From DUI Act.

    “I have and will continue to support effective, bipartisan ways to secure our border,” said Vasquez. “But I will not support stunts that undermine our democracy. Today, American citizens are being wrongly deported, and this bill will lead to the haphazard deportation of more legal residents and citizens, workers, and parents across this country.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 06/26/2025 Blackburn Introduces Legislation to Ensure U.S. Foreign Aid Recipients Cannot Undermine America’s Interests

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced legislation to ensure United States foreign aid does not squander taxpayer dollars by propping up governments represented in the United Nations (U.N.) that undermine U.S. interests:

    “No more should American taxpayers have to question the value of foreign assistance to countries that oppose our values and interests,” said Senator Blackburn. “The United States must be a good steward of taxpayer dollars, ensuring every dollar that we send to foreign nations drives global stability and advances American interests. The United Nations Voting Accountability Act would ensure that taxpayers are not forced to fund countries that undermine and vote against the U.S. in the United Nations.”

    The United Nations Voting Accountability Act is sponsored by U.S. Representative Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) in the House of Representatives.

    BACKGROUND

    • Every year, the U.S. spends tens of billions of dollars on foreign aid for countries around the world. The U.S. also contributes more to the United Nations than any other country, and many recipient countries of U.S. foreign aid often vote against America’s interests at the U.N., leaving American taxpayers questioning the value of continued assistance.
    • After the U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Russia, China, and Pakistan began circulating a U.N. resolution calling for an unconditional ceasefire, which ignores Iran’s support for terrorism and shields the Iranian regime from accountability.
    • While the resolution does not name the U.S. or Israel, its intent is obvious. It is unacceptable for U.S. aid recipients to use international platforms to undermine America and protect adversaries like Iran. 

    THE UNITED NATIONS VOTING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

    The United Nations Voting Accountability Act would block U.S. foreign aid to any country that opposes the U.S. at the U.N. or sponsors or leads resolutions that target the U.S. or its allies.

    The U.S. Secretary of State may exempt a country if it is determined that:

    • There has been a fundamental change in the leadership and policies of the government of the country to which the prohibition applies; and
    • As a result of such change, the government will no longer oppose the position of the U.S. in the U.N.

    Click here for bill text.

    RELATED

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein On Budget Impasse

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein On Budget Impasse

    Governor Stein On Budget Impasse
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Stein released the following statement after the General Assembly adjourned without passing a budget: 

    “The Senate and the House failed to come together to meet the needs of North Carolinians before the start of the new budget year. While I am gratified that the legislature took action to get more Helene funding out the door, we face many other urgent challenges across the state that need to be addressed through a fiscally responsible, full budget. Our teachers, law enforcement, and other state employees deserve real pay raises so we can recruit and retain the best. In addition, at a time when the federal government is proposing severe cuts to Medicaid, leaving Raleigh without taking steps to fully fund North Carolina’s Medicaid program is irresponsible. I stand ready to work with the General Assembly to invest in our people and expand opportunities so every person can succeed.” 

    Jun 26, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein On Budget Impasse

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein On Budget Impasse

    Governor Stein On Budget Impasse
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Stein released the following statement after the General Assembly adjourned without passing a budget: 

    “The Senate and the House failed to come together to meet the needs of North Carolinians before the start of the new budget year. While I am gratified that the legislature took action to get more Helene funding out the door, we face many other urgent challenges across the state that need to be addressed through a fiscally responsible, full budget. Our teachers, law enforcement, and other state employees deserve real pay raises so we can recruit and retain the best. In addition, at a time when the federal government is proposing severe cuts to Medicaid, leaving Raleigh without taking steps to fully fund North Carolina’s Medicaid program is irresponsible. I stand ready to work with the General Assembly to invest in our people and expand opportunities so every person can succeed.” 

    Jun 26, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Blunt Rochester Lead Coalition of Senators in Condemning Trump Administration For Rescinding Approval of High-Speed Internet Funding for Nevada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    Senators Will Delay Department Of Commerce Nominees Until States Receive Funding.
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) led over a dozen of their Senate colleagues in a letter condemning the Trump Administration’s reckless decision to rescind approval for states to receive their share of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding. The BEAD program was created to connect families in the hardest-to-serve communities to high-speed internet and close the digital divide. The Trump Administration’s new guidance rescinded the final approval of three states, including Nevada and Delaware, and forces all states to redo burdensome steps in their processes, hindering states’ ability to connect communities to high-speed internet. In their letter, the Senators committed to blocking all related Department of Commerce nominees until states receive their full BEAD allocation.
    Senators Rosen and Blunt Rochester were joined by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Mark Warner (D-VA).
    “We write to express our deep concern with the recent guidance the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued regarding the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This guidance will add needless delay to connecting millions of Americans to high-speed internet, while going against Congressional intent and betraying unconnected Americans in the process,” wrote the Senators. “Until states receive the entire amount of BEAD funds they are owed, including nondeployment funds, we will not consent to expedited consideration of any related Commerce Department nominees on the Senate floor.”
    “With three states fully approved and ready to put shovels in the ground and 42 other states having completed or started the process of receiving project bids and selecting BEAD subgrantees, NTIA’s new guidance upends years of work and threatens to delay the program at a critical point… Simply claiming states will be able to comply with NTIA’s new requirements within 90 days does not make it true,” the Senators’ letter continued. “With this in mind, we implore you to provide states with the maximum flexibility possible and ensure states receive the full amount of funding they are owed. Should you fail to do so, we will continue to block the expeditious advancement of all Commerce Department nominees overseeing broadband policy, along with any related nominees.”
    The full text of the letter can be found HERE.
    Senator Rosen has been a strong advocate for expanding high-speed internet access in Nevada and nationwide. Senator Rosen worked across party lines to help create the BEAD program, having helped write the broadband section of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which secured $65 billion in nationwide investments to make high-speed internet affordable for Americans. She also successfully pushed the Federal Communications Commission to update its deeply flawed National Broadband Map and ensure Nevada receives its fair share of BEAD funding. After reports that the Trump Administration was rescinding the approval of BEAD funding, Senator Rosen blasted the Trump Administration for its wrongheaded decision and announced that she would block nominees to the Department of Commerce.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Paving the Way for States to Ban Planned Parenthood from Seeing Medicaid Patients

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement on the Supreme Court ruling that paves the way for states to ban Medicaid recipients from getting health care at a Planned Parenthood clinic.
    “Women in Nevada and across the nation rely on Planned Parenthood for lifesaving health care – including cancer screenings, pregnancy testing, and other reproductive care services,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m outraged that at a time when Congressional Republicans are looking to kick people off of Medicaid, the Supreme Court is opening the floodgates for anti-choice extremists to ban Medicaid recipients from accessing care at Planned Parenthood. This terrible decision will put women at risk, and it’s why I’ll keep fighting to fully restore women’s reproductive freedom.”
    Senator Rosen has been a fighter for women’s reproductive rights, taking action to safeguard access to essential health care for women. This week, she helped introduce the Women’s Health Protection Act to enshrine Roe protections in federal law and restore women’s reproductive freedom. Earlier this year, Senator Rosen joined Senate colleagues in introducing the Right to Contraception Act, aimed at federally guaranteeing the right to obtain and use contraceptives and shielding providers who prescribe and offer them.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins’ Statement on U.S. Strike on Iranian Nuclear Sites

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement on the strike by U.S. forces on nuclear sites in Iran:

    “The precision strike that the President ordered was a necessary response to Iran’s aggressive pursuit of nuclear weapons. This limited and decisive action is far preferable to the much broader conflict that would be all but inevitable if Iran were to obtain nuclear weapons.

    “A nuclear-armed Iran poses an existential threat to our ally Israel. Ultimately, as Iran continues to develop the capacity of its ballistic missiles, our country is also in danger.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Baldwin, Congresswoman DelBene Lead Resolution Marking June 26 as “Equality Day”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01) introduced a resolution to designate June 26 as “Equality Day.” The resolution commemorates the anniversary of three historic Supreme Court victories that have played a pivotal role in advancing LGBTQ+ equality.

    “Today, we honor the giants who came before us in the fight for a more equal country and celebrate the progress we have made. But, we cannot mistake our progress for victory,” said Senator Baldwin. “Still, too many LGBTQ+ Americans face violence, harassment, and discrimination simply because of who they are and who they love. I will never stop fighting for a future where everyone has the freedom to live their true, authentic self and has an equal opportunity to pursue their dreams.”

    “In the face of active attacks and restrictive Supreme Court judgements, we must commemorate the monumental rulings that advanced LGBTQ+ equality over the past twenty-two years,” said Congresswoman DelBene. “By honoring our past victories, we remember why we fight for freedom and justice in the first place. There is much more work to be done. The violence and discrimination that LGBTQ+ Americans still face are why I continue fighting for the rights everyone deserves.”

    Over the past two decades, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued three landmark rulings on June 26 that helped eliminate LGBTQ+ discrimination, affirm the dignity of same-sex couples and move our country toward a more perfect union:

    • Lawrence v. Texas (June 26, 2003). Twenty-two years ago, the Court ruled on June 26, that states could no longer criminalize the private intimate conduct of same-sex couples, invalidating hateful and discriminatory laws in more than a dozen states.
    • United States v. Windsor (June 26, 2013). Twelve years ago, the Court overturned Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on June 26 and ruled that legally married same-sex couples deserve all of the rights, benefits and protections provided by marriage under federal law.
    • Obergefell v. Hodges (June 26, 2015). Ten years ago, the Court ruled on June 26, that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, putting the United States on the right side of history and ending marriage discrimination once and for all.

    Senator Baldwin and Congresswoman DelBene’s resolution is supported by the Congressional Equality Caucus and the Human Rights Campaign.

    Full text of this resolution is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: Meink, Allvin, Saltzman outline strategies, priorities necessary to secure the nation

    Source: United States Airforce

    DAF senior leaders highlighted the recent U.S. strike on Iran as a vivid example for what is possible – but also at risk – unless Congress ensures sufficient, uninterrupted funding for the Air Force and Space Force.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal, Frost Introduce Legislation to Decriminalize Homelessness

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) are introducing legislation on the one-year anniversary of the disastrous City of Grants Pass v. Johnson decision, which allows cities to criminalize homelessness. The Housing Not Handcuffs Act aims to prohibit the criminalization of homeless persons on public lands when there is nowhere else to go. 

    “Every single person in the richest country in the world should be able to have a roof over their head and a safe place to sleep, it’s that simple,” said Jayapal. “There is nowhere in this country where you can pay rent on a minimum wage salary. By criminalizing aspects of homelessness, cities and states across this country are only creating greater barriers for people to access housing — something that is already far too scarce. Fining people who already can’t afford to live makes no sense and will only result in longer-term homelessness.”

    “Since the Grants Pass decision, cities across the country have passed nearly 220 bills to criminalize homelessness, including in my own district. These policies don’t solve homelessness instead they dehumanize our unhoused, saddle them with criminal records, and make it even harder for them to find stable housing. It’s a vicious cycle that the Housing Not Handcuffs Act seeks to end,” said Rep. Maxwell Frost. “At a time when the cost of living is at an all-time high and Trump’s Big Ugly Bill will only help the rich get richer and the working poor get poorer— we’re fighting to make sure everyone has access to safe, decent, and affordable housing, not handcuffs.”

    In 2024, homelessness increased by 18 percent nationwide, with a record high of 771,480 people experiencing homelessness. At the same time, there is a nationwide shortage of 200,000 shelter beds and a shortage of 7.1 million affordable and available rental homes. 

    Since the Grants Pass ruling, over 260 anti-homeless laws have been passed by cities and states. Criminalizing homelessness creates greater barriers to accessing housing. Typically, these punishments come with fines, which create further financial strain on people who can already not afford the basics, and may create a criminal record, making it more difficult to get a job or apply for housing. 

    The Housing Not Handcuffs Act will ensure that people who are homeless cannot be criminally or civilly punished for:

    • Living on federal lands unless safe, decent, accessible shelter is available;
    • Asking for or sharing food, water, money, or other donations in public places;
    • Praying, meditating, or practicing religion in public spaces;
    • Occupying a lawfully parked motor vehicle;
    • Storing their possessions and enjoying privacy in their personal property to the same degree as property in a private dwelling.

    The legislation is sponsored by Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Jr (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07).

    It is also endorsed by A Way Home America; American Civil Liberties Union; Catalyst Montana; Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund; Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO); Equal Justice Under Law ; Fines & Fees Justice Center; Fund for Empowerment; Funders Together to End Homelessness; Health Students Taking Action Together (H-STAT); Homeless Action Center; Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky; Homeless Rights Advocacy Project; Hygiene4All; Invisible People; Justice in Aging; Juvenile Law Center; Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice; Law Enforcement Action Partnership; Legal Action Center; Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency; Miriam’s Kitchen; Mountain State Justice, Inc.; National Alliance to End Homelessness; National Coalition for the Homeless; National Harm Reduction Coalition; National Health Care for the Homeless Council; National HIV/AIDS Housing Coalition; National Homelessness Law Center, National Housing Law Project; National Low Income Housing Coalition; National Network to End Domestic Violence; National Vehicle Residency Collective ; One Love World ; Open Table Nashville ; People’s Action; Prison Policy Initiative; RESULTS Educational Fund; Sexual Violence Law Center; Southern Poverty Law Center; Street Books; Street Democracy; University of Miami School of Law Human Rights Clinic; VOCAL-TX; Voice of the Experienced; Voters Organized to Educate; Western Regional Advocacy Project.

    Issues: Housing, Transportation, & Infrastructure, Public Safety & Criminal Justice

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LEMOYNE – Shapiro Administration Continues to Stand Up for Pennsylvania Farmers and Businesses Who Will be Hurt by Proposed Federal SNAP Funding Cuts

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    June 27, 2025 – Lemoyne, PA

    ADVISORY – LEMOYNE – Shapiro Administration Continues to Stand Up for Pennsylvania Farmers and Businesses Who Will be Hurt by Proposed Federal SNAP Funding Cuts

    Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding will join agriculture and manufacturing leaders and farmers at Karns Foods to bring attention to the potentially devastating implications of proposed federal funding cuts for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and how they will hurt Pennsylvania farmers, food businesses, and families.

    Media are invited to attend the press conference at the grocery store to hear directly from Secretary Redding and those who will be harmed by federal funding cuts proposed by Congress.

    The event will highlight the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to fighting hunger in Pennsylvania while supporting our farmers, manufacturing, and agriculture industry and holding government accountable. Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 proposed budget increases investments to help end hunger and support farms across Pennsylvania.

    WHO:
    Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding
    State Representative Nate Davidson
    Karns Foods Board Chairman Scott Karns
    Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association Communications Director John Zimmerman
    Local farmers

    WHEN:
    Friday, June 27, 2025, at 10:30 AM

    WHERE:
    Karns Foods
    1023 State Street
    Lemoyne, PA 17043

    RSVP:
    Press attending should RSVP with news outlet and photographer and reporter names to aginfo@pa.gov “.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Recommit Efforts to Protect Elder Americans From Fraud and Other Abuse

    Source: US FBI

    LAS VEGAS – The month of June is World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada and the FBI Las Vegas Division are reinvigorating its efforts to protect older citizens from fraudulent and other criminal schemes that cost the United States billions of dollars and threaten to victimize over 100,000 elder Americans each year. 

    “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protect our seniors from fraudulent schemes targeting their hearts and bank accounts,” said United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “We will continue to work with our partners at the FBI and other partner agencies to investigate and prosecute financial exploitation crimes and bring criminals to justice.”

    “It is essential that we educate the public, specifically our seniors, about the devastating effects of elder fraud schemes,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rafik Mattar for the FBI Las Vegas Division. “These schemes are critical to protecting them and their hard-earned money. The far-reaching consequences of these elaborate schemes can decimate the life savings of elderly individuals. The FBI works with our local and federal partners to ensure that our seniors, their caregivers, families, and friends know the signs to look for to keep Americans safe from falling victim to these deceitful criminals.”

    Romance Fraud

    United States v. Aurora Phelps. A 21-count superseding indictment charged Aurora Phelps, who has residences in Las Vegas and Guadalajara, Mexico, for allegedly luring older men she met through online dating services and stealing their monies for her personal benefit. In September 2023, a grand jury indicted Phelps with seven counts of wire fraud; three counts of mail fraud; six counts of bank fraud; three counts of identity theft; one count of kidnapping; and one count of kidnapping resulting in death. Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    National Elder Fraud Hotline

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

    More information about the department’s efforts to help older Americans is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage, which can be found at elderjustice.gov. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints can be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, at www.ovc.gov.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Global Healthcare Technology Leader Selects Kneat

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LIMERICK, Ireland, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — kneat.com, inc. (TSX: KSI) (OTCQC: KSIOF), a leader in digitizing and automating validation and quality processes, is pleased to announce that a leading healthcare technology and diagnostics company (“the Company”) has signed a multi-year Master Services Agreement with Kneat.

    The Company, which is headquartered in the United States, employs over 50,000 people and manufactures in more than a dozen countries worldwide. This manufacturer of medical technology, including medical devices and pharmaceutical diagnostics, will use the Kneat Gx platform initially to digitize its Commissioning, Qualification and Validation workflows for facilities, equipment and computer systems at several lead manufacturing sites.

    “After an extensive evaluation process this global leader selected Kneat to drive efficiency, quality and compliance through greater digitalization of their Validation processes,” said Eddie Ryan, Kneat CEO. “I’m happy that Kneat will be supporting both new builds and ongoing operations where we are proven to deliver significant business value.”

    The steady pace of Kneat’s strategic customer wins indicates that digital validation is progressively becoming the norm for life sciences companies. The State of Validation 2025 study also supports this trend. The total percentage of organizations surveyed that are either using or planning to use digital validation is now 93 percent, versus 86 percent in the 2024 study. The shift is unsurprising. Done right, digital validation delivers speed to market; trustworthy, scalable compliance; and a foundation to leverage integrated automation and AI-driven innovations in the future.

    About Kneat

    Kneat Solutions provides leading companies in highly regulated industries with unparalleled efficiency in validation and compliance through its digital validation platform Kneat Gx. As an industry leader in customer satisfaction, Kneat boasts an excellent record for implementation, powered by our user-friendly design, expert support, and on-demand training academy. Kneat Gx is an industry-leading digital validation platform that enables highly regulated companies to manage any validation discipline from end-to-end. Kneat Gx is fully ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified, fully validated, and 21 CFR Part 11/Annex 11 compliant. Multiple independent customer studies show up to 40% reduction in documentation cycle times, up to 20% faster speed to market, and a higher compliance standard.

    Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

    Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the relationship between Kneat and the customer, Kneat’s business development activities, the use and implementation timelines of Kneat’s software within the customer’s validation processes, the ability and intent of the customer to scale the use of Kneat’s software within the customer’s organization, and the compliance of Kneat’s platform under regulatory audit and inspection. While such forward-looking statements are expressed by Kneat, as stated in this release, in good faith and believed by Kneat to have a reasonable basis, they are subject to important risks and uncertainties. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, given that they involve risks and uncertainties.

    Kneat does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any forward-looking statement, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued forward-looking statement constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on forward-looking statements is at an investor’s own risk.

    For more information visit www.kneat.com.

    Contact:

    Katie Keita, Kneat Investor Relations
    P: + 1 902-450-2660
    E: investors@kneat.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes LaLota-Backed Bill Requiring Dating Apps to Warn Users of Fraud

    Source: US Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

    Washington, D.C. — Congressman Nick LaLota (Suffolk County, NY) released the following statement after voting to pass the bipartisan H.R. 2481 Romance Scam Prevention Act, a bill requiring dating apps to label profiles and usernames which have been banned for fraud while empowering the Federal Trade Commission and state attorney generals to enforce this requirement. 

    “Too many Americans—especially seniors and vulnerable individuals—are being targeted by online predators who exploit trust and loneliness to steal life savings. The Romance Scam Prevention Act brings common-sense safeguards that empower users and help stop these heartbreaking crimes before they start,” said Rep. LaLota. “By passing this bill, the House is sending a clear message: we will not sit by while criminals use digital platforms to defraud the innocent. I’m proud to support this bipartisan step to protect our communities and hold scammers accountable.”

    To read the full text of the resolution, click HERE. 

    Background:

    Romance scams are among the fastest-growing forms of online fraud in the United States, contributing to a record $10 billion in reported consumer fraud losses in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC Data Spotlight, Feb. 2024). While younger adults report scams more frequently, particularly through online shopping, job, and cryptocurrency frauds, older Americans suffer the steepest financial losses, with victims aged 60 and older losing an average of nearly $34,000 in romance scams (FTC, Protecting Older Consumers Report, Oct. 2023). These scams often begin on dating apps or social media, where bad actors build fake profiles, foster emotional trust, and then manipulate victims into sending money or financial information. Once these fraudsters are removed from the platform, their victims—many of whom continue communication via text or email—are rarely informed, leaving them at serious ongoing risk.

    The Romance Scam Prevention Act (H.R. 2481), introduced by Rep. David Valadao and passed unanimously by the House in June 2025 (Congress.gov – H.R. 2481), aims to close that notification gap. The bill requires online dating services to send a “fraud ban notification” to any user who exchanged messages with a person later banned for suspected fraud. The notification must include the banned user’s profile name, the last time messages were exchanged, a warning about possible identity fraud, tips for avoiding scams, and a customer service contact. The bill gives enforcement authority to the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, and it sets a uniform federal standard that preempts inconsistent state laws (House Energy and Commerce Committee Summary). These safeguards are designed to help prevent fraud before it happens and to protect vulnerable users, especially seniors, from devastating financial and emotional harm.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene Applauds House Passage of Her Special Interest Alien Reporting Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA, 14)

    Today, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed with bipartisan support her bill, the Special Interest Alien Reporting Act (H.R. 275), which requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to publicly disclose monthly reports on encounters with Special Interest Aliens at the border.

    “I’m proud the House has passed my Special Interest Alien Reporting Act,” said Greene.

    “The American people deserve to know when dangerous foreign nationals are crossing our border. My bill forces transparency and exposes the national security threats created by Joe Biden’s open-border policies.

    This is a huge win for America First, for public safety, and for holding the Biden administration accountable.”

    The bill requires DHS to report the number, nationality, and location of encounters with individuals classified as Special Interest Aliens—non-U.S. nationals flagged as potential national security risks due to travel patterns, country of origin, or other indicators.

    The first report under the legislation will include data from January 20, 2021, through January 19, 2025, covering the full scope of the Biden administration’s border crisis.

    All subsequent reports must be published monthly and submitted to the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees.

    On the day Joe Biden took office, the number of foreign nationals from adversarial countries such as China, Iran, and Syria encountered at the U.S. border skyrocketed. These encounters pose significant risks to national security and public safety. Thankfully, President Trump is securing our borders once again.

    The bill passed the House with the backing of House Homeland Security Committee Republicans and now awaits action in the U.S. Senate.

    Watch Congresswoman Greene’s remarks on the House Floor here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani Leads Effort to Honor Former Arizona Congressman Jim Kolbe

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

    TUCSON, AZ — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani reintroduced a bipartisan effort to honor former Congressman Jim Kolbe by naming a post office after him in Patagonia, AZ. 

    Reintroduction of the legislation is timed to coincide with what would have been Kolbe’s 83rd birthday on Saturday, June 28.  

    Kolbe represented southeastern Arizona for eleven terms, from 1985 to 2007, and was one of Arizona’s most respected members of Congress. Like Ciscomani, Kolbe served on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, rising to chairman of one of the committee’s twelve subcommittees. 

    “Jim Kolbe lived a life of service dedicated to not only our state but our country as a whole,” said Ciscomani. “He was a Navy veteran who represented Arizona as a true statesman, leading in foreign affairs, trade, and fiscal discipline, while staying true to his values. He continues to inspire my own service in Congress and his impactful leadership will long be remembered.” 

    Ciscomani’s legislation would rename the post office located at 100 North Taylor Lane in Patagonia, Arizona, as the Jim Kolbe Memorial Post Office. Kolbe grew up in Patagonia, attending Patagonia Elementary School and Patagonia Union High School.  

    Prior to his election to the House of Representatives, former Congressman Kolbe served in the Navy from 1967 – 1977 and the Arizona state legislature from 1977 – 1982.  

    Ciscomani is joined by Reps. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), and Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) in this effort. 
     

    Read the full bill text here. 
    In January 2023, Congressman Ciscomani gave his maiden floor speech honoring Kolbe following his death in December 2022. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –