NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China to showcase more advanced weapons and equipment at Sept. 3 military parade

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) — Weapons and military equipment to be displayed at a military parade in China on Sept. 3 will demonstrate the systemic combat capabilities, new combat forces and strategic deterrence power of China’s armed forces, Wu Zeke, an official with the Joint Staff of the Central Military Commission, said at a press conference on Tuesday.

    All the weapons and equipment that will appear in the parade are the main combat equipment in active service with the PLA, reflecting China’s independent innovative capability in weapons development, Wu Zeke said.

    According to him, the military parade will feature only domestically produced weapons and equipment, which are distinguished by higher strike accuracy, improved adaptability on the battlefield and greater combat effectiveness.

    On the same day, it was announced at a press conference that a military parade would be held on September 3 in Tiananmen Square in Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War.

    Wu Zeke added that all weapons and equipment in the upcoming parade will be selected from combat units of various services and branches of the armed forces, including strategic strike forces, advanced operational and tactical equipment, and new-model combat forces suitable for future forms of warfare.

    The weapons and military equipment that will be on display at the parade will also cover the full range of capabilities related to command, control, reconnaissance, early warning, air and missile defence, as well as fire strikes and integrated support.

    In addition, the parade will be organized according to battle groups, embodying the basic principles of using information as the main tool, system support, elite troop operations and joint force victory, Wu Zeke said.

    Wu Zeke noted that in recent years, China has made a series of technological breakthroughs and developed a batch of advanced weapons and equipment, opening a new era in the development of its weapons.

    He added that the latest aircraft carriers, destroyers, stealth fighters, unmanned aerial vehicles and strategic missiles have been put into service at an accelerated pace, marking a major leap forward in the development of the Chinese military’s weapons and equipment and providing strong support for the substantial enhancement of its combat capabilities.

    “This has given our military more confidence in its ability to fight and win,” Wu Zeke concluded. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The fiasco of Western strategy in Ukraine is obvious – S. Lavrov

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Moscow, June 24 /Xinhua/ — The strategy of Western countries in the conflict around Ukraine has suffered a defeat, now the West is no longer talking about the possibility of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield, but is begging for a ceasefire for Ukraine without additional conditions. This was stated on Tuesday by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking at the 11th International Scientific and Expert Forum “Primakov Readings”.

    “Remember how it all began? “Russia needs to be strategically defeated on the battlefield.” They shouted hysterically. After some time, the slogan changed, and they began to loudly declare that Russia should not win in Ukraine. And now they demand, ask, beg for an immediate ceasefire without preconditions,” said S. Lavrov.

    “That is, the fiasco of Western strategy and tactics is obvious, but Europe is still trying,” he added.

    According to him, Western countries, including Germany, are now trying to hide behind the alleged establishment of their own military production in Ukraine, but in reality they are supplying weapons there.

    “They have now come up with a scheme according to which they will allegedly produce weapons on the territory of Ukraine,” said the Russian Foreign Minister. “Many observers have already cited facts that nothing like this will happen, this is simply a cover for supplying weapons from the same Germany and other European countries to the Ukrainian armed forces, referring to the fact that this is not support, not pumping up, but assistance in establishing their own production – and many such tricks are being implemented,” S. Lavrov emphasized. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Louis Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Shootings and Carjacking

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon who committed an armed 2018 carjacking, a 2021 shooting and two other crimes involving guns to 25 years in prison.

    Darnell L. Clemons left a string of victims terrified and traumatized, according to testimony at Monday’s sentencing hearing.

    On May 16, 2018, Darnell L. Clemons and a nephew robbed and carjacked the manager of a University City, Missouri restaurant. Clemons stole the victim’s 2015 Toyota Corolla, cash and her phone after placing the muzzle of a handgun to her forehead and stomach.

    On July 29, 2021, Clemons’ nephew spotted a gun in a bag belonging to a customer at a Florissant, Missouri gas station and convenience store. The nephew tried to steal the gun, triggering a struggle. Clemons spotted the struggle, ran into the store and shot the victim in the back, resulting in permanent injury. He fired another shot from outside of the store.

    On Aug. 4, 2021, following a shootout with unknown individuals in a car, Clemons jumped through a stranger’s window in the O’Fallon neighborhood in St. Louis. Police found a stolen 9mm pistol with the slide locked back and no ammunition, indicating that Clemons had fired it recently. Clemons initially gave his brother’s name to police and claimed that officers planted the gun they found. A witness saw Clemons with the gun and his fingerprint was on the pistol’s magazine, however.

    On Dec. 8, 2021, Clemons was arrested on outstanding warrants by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Fugitive Unit with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. After a foot chase through the Delmar Loop, officers found a 9mm Glock loaded with a large capacity drum magazine. Clemons again gave his brother’s name and falsely claimed that police had planted the gun. He later told police he “should have shot it out with you all” rather than surrendering, and threatened to kill an officer that he recognized, and that officer’s mother.

    Clemons was a “one-man crime wave” for 20 years before that arrest, placing him in the highest criminal history category, according to a sentencing memo. That crime wave included a carjacking committed by Clemons and his nephew at a church and resisting-arrest convictions dating back to age 16. Clemons also “capped off months of domestic abuse by throwing his pregnant girlfriend through a table, causing her to miscarry his own child,” the memo says. He also shot her, the memo says. In a letter to Judge Autrey, Clemons’ former girlfriend said Clemons’ gun went off while he was pistol-whipping her on Mother’s Day. “Hurting people made you laugh, and that’s where you found your joy in life,” she wrote in her letter. “To this day, I still deal with not feeling safe, not even when the police would come, because you have successfully broken into my house countless times. Not only are you my worst nightmare, but also the mother of a child’s worst nightmare as well.”

    “This was a career criminal with no regard for human life and demonstrated a willingness to terrorize communities with violence,” said Mark Zito, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City. “This is exactly the kind of dangerous offender HSI targets: armed, repeat violent criminals who think they can operate without consequence. Let this sentencing serve as a clear warning – if you prey on the public with guns and fear, we will find you, we will build the case, and we will make sure you face the full weight of the justice system.”

    Clemons, 38, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of carjacking, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

    The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the University City Police Department, the Florissant Police Department and the St. Louis County Crime Lab investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bluestone and Matthew Martin prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Louis Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Shootings and Carjacking

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon who committed an armed 2018 carjacking, a 2021 shooting and two other crimes involving guns to 25 years in prison.

    Darnell L. Clemons left a string of victims terrified and traumatized, according to testimony at Monday’s sentencing hearing.

    On May 16, 2018, Darnell L. Clemons and a nephew robbed and carjacked the manager of a University City, Missouri restaurant. Clemons stole the victim’s 2015 Toyota Corolla, cash and her phone after placing the muzzle of a handgun to her forehead and stomach.

    On July 29, 2021, Clemons’ nephew spotted a gun in a bag belonging to a customer at a Florissant, Missouri gas station and convenience store. The nephew tried to steal the gun, triggering a struggle. Clemons spotted the struggle, ran into the store and shot the victim in the back, resulting in permanent injury. He fired another shot from outside of the store.

    On Aug. 4, 2021, following a shootout with unknown individuals in a car, Clemons jumped through a stranger’s window in the O’Fallon neighborhood in St. Louis. Police found a stolen 9mm pistol with the slide locked back and no ammunition, indicating that Clemons had fired it recently. Clemons initially gave his brother’s name to police and claimed that officers planted the gun they found. A witness saw Clemons with the gun and his fingerprint was on the pistol’s magazine, however.

    On Dec. 8, 2021, Clemons was arrested on outstanding warrants by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Fugitive Unit with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. After a foot chase through the Delmar Loop, officers found a 9mm Glock loaded with a large capacity drum magazine. Clemons again gave his brother’s name and falsely claimed that police had planted the gun. He later told police he “should have shot it out with you all” rather than surrendering, and threatened to kill an officer that he recognized, and that officer’s mother.

    Clemons was a “one-man crime wave” for 20 years before that arrest, placing him in the highest criminal history category, according to a sentencing memo. That crime wave included a carjacking committed by Clemons and his nephew at a church and resisting-arrest convictions dating back to age 16. Clemons also “capped off months of domestic abuse by throwing his pregnant girlfriend through a table, causing her to miscarry his own child,” the memo says. He also shot her, the memo says. In a letter to Judge Autrey, Clemons’ former girlfriend said Clemons’ gun went off while he was pistol-whipping her on Mother’s Day. “Hurting people made you laugh, and that’s where you found your joy in life,” she wrote in her letter. “To this day, I still deal with not feeling safe, not even when the police would come, because you have successfully broken into my house countless times. Not only are you my worst nightmare, but also the mother of a child’s worst nightmare as well.”

    “This was a career criminal with no regard for human life and demonstrated a willingness to terrorize communities with violence,” said Mark Zito, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City. “This is exactly the kind of dangerous offender HSI targets: armed, repeat violent criminals who think they can operate without consequence. Let this sentencing serve as a clear warning – if you prey on the public with guns and fear, we will find you, we will build the case, and we will make sure you face the full weight of the justice system.”

    Clemons, 38, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of carjacking, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

    The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the University City Police Department, the Florissant Police Department and the St. Louis County Crime Lab investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bluestone and Matthew Martin prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Mill Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cederick Dion Dixon, 38, of Fort Mill, has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Jan. 15, 2023, a South Carolina Highway Patrol state trooper initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for a defective equipment violation. He identified the driver and sole occupant as Dixon. Dixon admitted that his license was suspended and a records check revealed that his driver’s license was suspended as a habitual traffic offender. Dixon was arrested and a search of the vehicle uncovered a small baggie of marijuana in the driver’s side door handle along with an open bottle of liquor in the backseat.  Inside of a backpack in the front seat, troopers found a firearm along with 9mm ammunition, and an assortment of narcotics.  

    Dixon is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to prior convictions for attempted armed robbery, unlawful carrying of a weapon, distribution of crack cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

    United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Dixon to 87 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.  Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Mill Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cederick Dion Dixon, 38, of Fort Mill, has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Jan. 15, 2023, a South Carolina Highway Patrol state trooper initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for a defective equipment violation. He identified the driver and sole occupant as Dixon. Dixon admitted that his license was suspended and a records check revealed that his driver’s license was suspended as a habitual traffic offender. Dixon was arrested and a search of the vehicle uncovered a small baggie of marijuana in the driver’s side door handle along with an open bottle of liquor in the backseat.  Inside of a backpack in the front seat, troopers found a firearm along with 9mm ammunition, and an assortment of narcotics.  

    Dixon is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to prior convictions for attempted armed robbery, unlawful carrying of a weapon, distribution of crack cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

    United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Dixon to 87 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.  Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously convicted felon sentenced to 95 months for firearm possession and cocaine trafficking

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    A man with multiple prior felony convictions was sentenced to 95 months in federal prison for trafficking cocaine while armed, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.

    On June 18, 2025, Eric Dwayne Ned was sentenced by United States District Judge Ada Brown to 95 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

    Court documents reflect that Ned was arrested in June 2021 for evading arrest, unlawful possession of body armor, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance by state and local authorities.  He bonded out of state custody and was arrested again in September 2021 for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and resisting arrest.  After bonding out of state custody again, he was arrested a third time in March 2022 for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and delivery of a controlled substance.  

    Special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives reviewed his March 2022 conduct and initiated federal charges.  In addition to Ned’s prior felony convictions for drug offenses and several domestic violence assaults, court records reveal that Ned continued committing violent acts while incarcerated, including engaging in fights with other inmates and jail staff.

    ATF conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney John Boyle prosecuted the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Schenectady Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun Offenses

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Garrow, age 39, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty on June 9 to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

    United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.

    Garrow admitted to trafficking drugs for several months in 2024. In May 2024, officers arrested Garrow on unrelated state arrest warrants and discovered cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and a revolver in his backpack.

    United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Gun-toting drug dealers should be afraid – not just of dying in the streets as a result of their chosen profession, but of swift and decisive federal prosecution that will put them behind bars for many years. Schenectady County will be safer with this criminal off the streets.”

    ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller stated: “Protecting the public from violent crime remains one of our highest priorities. This case reflects how illegal firearms and drug trafficking often go hand in hand, creating serious threats to our communities. Strong partnerships with local law enforcement are essential to disrupting these dangerous networks and holding offenders accountable. ATF New York thanks our partners from the Schenectady PD, the Schenectady County DA’s Office & U.S. Attorney’s Office of Northern District of NY for their continued dedication to public safety and collaboration in pursuit of justice.”

    Schenectady County District Attorney Robert M. Carney stated: “We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its successful prosecution of Mr. Garrow, who did present a real danger to our community.  I know that Assistant District Attorney James Faucher from our Major Crimes Bureau worked closely with federal authorities to help shape this case for federal prosecution based on his knowledge of Mr. Garrow’s activities from other matters. We have over my tenure as DA often referred gun cases to federal prosecutors and I thank Mr. Sarcone for continuing that association.”

    At sentencing, Garrow faces a prison term of at least 10 years and up to life, and a supervised release term of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

    ATF investigated the case with assistance from the Schenectady Police Department and the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Libya: Médecins sans frontières (MSF) stands ready to resume medical activities, two-and-a-half months following MSFs forced suspension


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    Two and a half months after the forced suspension of its activities by Libyan authorities, following a wave of repression that affected ten humanitarian organizations present in the West of the country, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reaffirms its willingness to resume its medical services and its support to the Libyan authorities. The organization also remains very concerned about the health of its former patients and the interruption of access to healthcare for the most vulnerable populations in Libya.

    On March 27, 2025, MSF was forced to suspend the medical aid it was providing in the country, following the closure of its premises by the ISA and the interrogation of several members of its team. All MSF staff were released, but after the crackdown, MSF was forced to evacuate its international employees from Libya and to terminate the contracts of its Libyan staff.

    Since mid-March, the Internal Security Agency (ISA) of Libya began summoning and interrogating the staff of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) providing care to migrants and refugees in Libya.

    “MSF is ready to resume the medical projects that were underway for tuberculosis (TB), mental health and maternal health, for any patient in need of care, and in collaboration with the relevant Libyan authorities” states Steven Purbrick, MSF head of mission for Libya, “provided that the safety of our staff and patients is guaranteed, MSF calls for its suspension to be lifted.”

    MSF had received no formal notification of the basis for the ISA actions and regrets this intimidatory crackdown which compromises access to medical care. MSF is deeply concerned with the consequences for patients’ health. Among them, migrants and refugees are subjected to abuse and violence with severe health consequences and acute medical needs. MSF’s referral mechanism to UNHCR or IOM to evacuate migrants and refugee patients identified as medical priority cases has now come to a halt.

    Before the suspension of activities, MSF was treating a cohort of more than 300 Libyan, migrant and refugee patients, mostly for TB care, antenatal care and psychological support, especially for survivors of violence. Some patients were in a critical situation. MSF managed to refer most of them to other facilities, such as the National Center for Disease Control, but also lost contact with several of them.

    “Two of our TB patients died in Misrata immediately after our suspension. We hear that a further four other inpatients have since passed away in the same facility” says Carla Peruzzo, medical coordinator for MSF in Libya. “We are very concerned about patients with chronic diseases like diabetic patients in need of insulin and people in need of dialysis, with kidney chronic disease.”

    MSF was supporting the only public center for TB patients in Libya. The TB unit was implemented by MSF within the Misrata Chest Hospital in 2020.

    Medications destined for donation to public hospitals were locked inside MSF’s premises, which MSF will now be obliged to destroy due to the loss of temperature control.

    “The medical needs met by MSF are not always covered in Libya’s public health system, which faces structural challenges, such as understaffing and shortages of medication supply”, explains Carla Peruzzo. “A breakdown in TB treatment can lead to the development of a drug-resistant form of the disease, rapid deterioration in the patient’s state of health and even death”.

    Over the years MSF had successfully developed a technical collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Program to reinforce capacities to detect cases in specialized facilities, review national guidelines of the central laboratory in Tripoli and support the department of health education. MSF is ready to continue its planned support to the National Tuberculosis Program and the rest of its medical activities.

    MSF in Libya

    MSF has been working in eastern and western Libya since 2011, providing primary healthcare, TB diagnosis and care, mental health support and maternal health consultations.

    In 2023, MSF provided emergency medical support following the flooding in Derna, supporting two primary health care centres and providing medical consultations to almost 5,000 people. MSF also provided mental health services after the disaster.

    In 2024, MSF conducted 15,018 medical consultations, 3,024 mental health consultations, and 2,035 consultations on tuberculosis.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Regular Press Briefing of the Ministry of National Defense on June 13, 2025 2025-06-24 On the afternoon of June 13, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answered recent media queries concerning the military.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

    On the afternoon of June 13, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answered recent media queries concerning the military.

    On the afternoon of June 13, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answers recent media queries concerning the military. (Photo by Sun Yue)

    (The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

    Jiang Bin: First, I would like to announce two pieces of information.

    First, the third China-ASEAN Defense Think Tank Exchange will be held in Guiyang from June 18 to 20. Themed on “Jointly Promote Regional Peace and Build a Safe and Secure Home”, the Exchange focuses on topics such as innovation in China-ASEAN defense cooperation, maritime security cooperation, and crisis management, providing insights and suggestions for building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. Defense policy officials, experts and scholars, as well as think tank representatives from China, ASEAN countries, and Timor-Leste will attend the event.

    Second, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) will start recruiting the 14th batch of female pilot cadets among high school graduates across 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) from June 2025. The selection process will be conducted in two stages: preliminary selection and final selection. Female candidates with excellent National College Entrance Examination scores and outstanding flight potential will have the opportunity to be admitted bythe “joint degree programs”, allowing them to study both at the PLAAF academies and at Peking University, Tsinghua University, or Beihang University. We welcome more aspiring young women to apply for recruitment and join the PLAAF, a force full of honour and dreams. For more details, please visit the official website of the Pilot Selection Bureau of PLA Air Force at www.kjzfw.mil.cn.

    Journalist: It is reported that President Xi Jinping recently had a phone call with US President Donald Trump at the request of the latter. President Xi pointed out that the two sides should enhance exchanges in the fields of diplomacy, economy and trade, military affairs, and law enforcement. What are your expectations on China-US mil-to-mil relations?

    Jiang Bin: China upholds the principle of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and stays committed to promoting the stable, sound, and sustainable development of China-US military-to-military relations. It is hopedthat the US side stop hyping up the so-called “China threat”, earnestly respect China’s core interests and major concerns, work with China towards the same direction to strengthen communication and dialogue, properly manage differences, and enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust, so as to jointly improve and develop relations between the two militaries.

    Journalist: It is reported that the 2025 military academy enrollment plan for high school graduates has recently been released, which has attracted wide public attention. Could you elaborate on the new features and changes in this year’s enrollment plan?

    Jiang Bin: In line with Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, the 2025 enrollment work of military academies fully implements the overarching plan for deepening the reform of military academies, focuses on the core needs of combat readiness, and integrates the needs for cultivating high-calibre military talents and developing academic disciplines.The number of high schoolgraduates that the military academies plan to admit this year is basically the same as last year.

    There are four changes in this year’s recruitment. First,there has been a change in the number of enrolling academies, which has been reduced from 27 to 22, so that the military talent cultivation systembecomes more efficient and streamlined. The PLA Army (PLAA) Special Operations Academy, the PLAA Academy of Border and Coastal Defense, the Special Police College of the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the PAP Coast Guard College will no longer directly enroll high school graduates. Instead, they will enroll students from other PLAA and PAP academies to continue their specialized military training. Second, the method ofcadet cultivation has been changed. In their enrollment plans, the military academies will no longer make the distinction between “commanding” and “non-commanding” categories. The removal of such a distinction and the resulting clarification of cultivation goals will facilitate the students to have a clearer career plan from the outset. Third, military academy graduates are allowed to directly apply for a master’s degree. Starting from 2025, allmilitary academy graduates will have the opportunity to directly apply for master’s programs in related fields, providing more diverse career paths for cadets. Fourth, a special operations talent selection program has been established. Whiling studying in military academies, those who aspire to join the special operations forces will havethe opportunity to participate in a selection program and receive professional and elite training in special operations.

    Military academies are the cradle for cultivating military talents. What’s more important is that they provide a broad stage for young students to pursue their dreams of serving the country. Here, you will be educated with cutting-edge military science and technology, grow alongside like-minded comrades, and forge an iron will and a strong team spirit. In the journey to make our armed forces strong, opportunities awaits you here. We warmly welcome young aspirants to actively apply for military academies, so as to write a magnificent chapter on strengthening the nation and the military with your passion and youth.

    Journalist: The Japanese Ministry of Defense recently stated that two Chinese aircraft carriers operated simultaneously in the Pacific for the first time, and that carrier-based aircraft came “unusually close” to Japanese Self-Defense Force aircraft. What’s your comment?

    Jiang Bin: Recently, the task groups of the PLA Navy’s aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong conducted routine training in the West Pacific. During the training, Japanese vessels and aircraft repeatedly made close-in provocations, and even deliberately created maritime and air securityrisks. We are strongly dissatisfied and has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side.

    The Chinese aircraft carrier task groups conducted training activities on the high seas, which did not target any specific country or objective, and was in full compliance with international law and international practices. The Chinese side,in response to the Japanese vessels and aircraft’s forcible entryinto the training area, took legitimate, lawful, professional, and restrainedcountermeasures all the way through. We urge the Japanese side to stop dangerous and provocative actions, so as to prevent accidents at sea and in the air.

    Journalist: According to reports, the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation recently held an unofficial “chief-of-staff” level war-gaming on a Taiwan crisis for the first time. The former “Chief of the General Staff” of the Taiwan military, the former Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the former Chief of Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces participated the event. In addition, the US and Taiwan held the so-called Defense Industry Forum in Taipei, advocating closer cooperation in weaponry and equipment. What’s your comment?

    Jiang Bin: The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair, which brooks no external interference. Any action that emboldens the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces to seek secession will undermine cross-Strait peace and stability. Whoever does that is bound to get burnt for playing with fire, and taste the bitter fruit of its own doing. We urge relevant countries to truly abide by the one-China principle, and stop sending any wrong signal to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. In front of the prevailing trend of the ultimate andcertain reunification of China, any scheme to solicit foreign support for independence and contain China with Taiwan is doomed to failure.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Interview of Dmitry Patrushev to the newspaper “Komsomolskaya Pravda”.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Dmitry Patrushev: Environmental issues have no boundaries, no age, no political views.

    Dmitry Patrushev answered questions about environmental protection. What has been achieved this year? What still needs to be done? He spoke about this and much more in an exclusive interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda.

    Photo: Press service of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev

    I. Ostanin: In 2025, the implementation of new national projects began. One of the areas is the environmental situation related to water bodies. I cannot help but touch on the topic related to the great Russian river Volga. This topic attracts a lot of attention, Komsomolskaya Pravda conducted a large investigation on this topic: previously built treatment facilities are working at only 5%… Dmitry Nikolaevich, what do you think about ways to solve the problem? How to keep the Volga clean?

    D. Patrushev: Environmental improvement of the Volga over the past six years has involved more than just the construction of treatment facilities. In addition, landfills have been eliminated and measures have been taken to increase the river’s capacity. This allows people to be provided with water during dry periods, including for irrigation.

    Regarding the treatment facilities, I will say that problems were indeed identified in this block of activities. At the finish line of the previous national project, when I was given this direction under my supervision, it became clear that a number of facilities were not completed.

    Moreover, not the most positive results were obtained as a result of inspections of the quality of wastewater treatment at already commissioned facilities.

    Throughout the past year, we have been systematically changing our approach to work. A headquarters was set up at the government site, where each facility was literally analyzed “under a magnifying glass.” Based on the results, a schedule was created for completing construction and reaching standard cleaning indicators. Monitoring of plan execution is carried out through digital tools. Therefore, any deviations are visible to both us and regional leaders. There were many other transformations. As a result, the dynamics of construction have increased significantly.

    For the future, within the framework of the new national project “Ecological Well-Being”, we have completely restructured the approach to project implementation. For example, now an object cannot be considered commissioned until Rosprirodnadzor confirms the required quality of wastewater treatment.

    I am convinced that responsibility for the implementation of projects should be increased, including at the local level. After all, it is there that one can see better what has been built and how it affects the environmental situation. The involvement of subjects should be not only organizational, but also financial. We have also taken this into account in the new national project.

    Let me emphasize that all objects will be completed and brought up to standard indicators!

    I. Ostanin: You said that the approaches changed when working within the framework of the new national project, but the geography of the work has also significantly expanded. As far as I know, now it is planned to include other reservoirs and rivers in addition to the Volga and Baikal.

    D. Patrushev: Indeed, through the federal project “Water of Russia” the improvement, one way or another, will affect almost all major waterways of our country. This will not only be new treatment facilities, but also the cleaning of more than 1000 kilometers of rivers, which will create comfortable conditions for millions of people living near water bodies. In addition, measures are planned to improve the condition of lakes and reservoirs.

    We pay special attention to events within the boundaries of cultural heritage sites, specially protected natural areas, historical tourist centers. As an example, I will cite the restoration of the rivers and lakes of the Gatchina Park in the Leningrad Region.

    I would like to note that we will continue to monitor all work on improving the health of water bodies at the government level.

    By the way, this year funds have already been allocated for the Krasnogorsk Irtysh hydroelectric complex in the Omsk region and the Elizavetinsky reservoir hydroelectric complex, the most important source of drinking water for residents of the Lugansk People’s Republic.

    I. Ostanin: Let’s continue by talking about the ecology of Lake Baikal. Many spears have been broken around this topic. How is it planned to build the development of the Baikal region?

    D. Patrushev: We must certainly do everything to preserve Baikal, our unique natural site.

    However, the territory needs to be developed, providing the local population with quality living conditions. Developing a policy on how to regulate this is a long-standing issue. The Ministry of Natural Resources is developing a corresponding bill.

    It was adopted in the first reading last year. However, some of its provisions required adjustments. Now the government’s amendments are ready. I will not make premature statements, but I expect a balanced decision to be made that will take into account the possibility of preserving the incredible nature of Baikal and economically developing the territories. I hope that the reasonable balance found will become a prerequisite for the sustainable development of these territories for many years.

    I. Ostanin: Development of ecotourism is another important part of the national project “Ecological Well-being”. The holiday season has arrived. Tell us how the authorities are going to develop ecotourism? What routes, directions, maybe even new resorts will appear?

    Photo: Press service of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev

    D. Patrushev: Domestic tourism is currently experiencing a rapid rise. In 2024, Russia broke its own record for the number of domestic tourist trips, exceeding 90 million. But the President has ordered that this figure reach 140 million by 2030.

    I have no doubt that our national parks can become an excellent point of attraction for tourists. Over the past six years, the tourist flow to them has grown from 6 to 17 million people. As part of the national project “Ecological Well-Being”, we continue to create conditions for popularizing this type of recreation for people.

    To this end, among other things, we will remove unreasonable restrictions that hinder the development of tourism infrastructure in specially protected natural areas.

    By the way, the Ministry of Natural Resources is also developing cruise tourism. For example, today those who wish can visit national parks in the Far East and see natural attractions that are inaccessible to “land” tours in Khabarovsk, Primorsky and Kamchatka Krais, Magadan and Sakhalin Oblasts, as well as Chukotka.

    National parks and reserves also develop excursion programs – for example, for weekend routes, they equip walking trails, open visitor centers, and arrange the necessary infrastructure. For example, Sochi National Park offers tourists updated eco-trails this season. We aim to make national parks interesting and comfortable in terms of improvement.

    I. Ostanin: Preservation and increase of our pride, Russian forests, is one of the tasks of the national project “Ecological Well-being”. What is being done to restore forests?

    D. Patrushev: Russia is home to a fifth of the world’s forest reserves. Understanding this, we take on increased obligations to preserve and increase them. Over the past 6 years, the area of new plantings has reached almost 8 million hectares.

    And, contrary to the global trend, more forests appear in our country than disappear. We have maintained this dynamic for several years in a row.

    People, our caring citizens, make a significant contribution to forest restoration. This deserves special gratitude. The country annually holds the “Garden of Memory” and “Save the Forest” campaigns. Over the years, more than 350 million trees have been planted, and public figures, politicians, and guests from foreign countries have taken part.

    However, wildfires remain a serious challenge for many countries — and for us too. The areas annually engulfed in flames, despite all preventive measures, are still quite significant. The government, for its part, is doing a lot of work to reduce them. In 2025, regions have been allocated almost 20 billion rubles. Including more than 5 billion additionally allocated to the most “burning” subjects — Yakutia, Transbaikalia and Krasnoyarsk Krai. The regions, for their part, are also increasing funding.

    And, of course, forest conservation requires full control over the movement of timber. In 2020, the President set the task of creating a system that would make the process completely transparent. Much has already been done for this. Strengthening supervision and introducing digital technologies in the industry have made it possible to reduce the number of violations by 2.5 times in 5 years. We can now track the movement of timber from harvesting to final products and export. But the improvement of control mechanisms in this area continues.

    From January 1, 2025, data on the forestry complex must be entered into the new state information system (FGIS Forestry Complex). And from this year, all timber trucks must be equipped with the GLONASS system.

    This will allow us to more effectively suppress “gray schemes”, because in real time we can see every logging site and all special equipment. Monitoring of the execution of the President’s order will be constant.

    I. Ostanin: The so-called “garbage reform” is being implemented in the country. At what point are we? And what will be done to achieve the indicators outlined by the President?

    D. Patrushev: On the instructions of the President, we are developing a closed-loop economy. What does this mean? Firstly, by 2030, waste sorting should be 100%, secondly, we need to reduce the volume of landfill disposal by 50%, and thirdly, which is very important, a quarter of the waste should be recycled. Currently, approximately 55% of waste is sorted, and only 14% is recycled.

    Over the past six years, almost 300 facilities for sorting, recycling and placing solid municipal waste have appeared in the country. In order to achieve the required indicators, it is planned to build another 400 facilities by 2030. So that we can monitor how the subjects cope with this task at the federal level, a special headquarters is working on the government platform. And we will continue to work in this format.

    But we must understand that waste management reform is not only about large enterprises. It starts in our yards and will always be in the public eye. Everything matters here: how involved local authorities are, whether the containers are clean, whether there are enough garbage trucks in the region, how financially stable the regional operators are, whether everything is taken into account in the regulatory framework. We are consistently working on all these areas in dialogue with regional leaders, senators and deputies.

    I. Ostanin: Dmitry Nikolaevich, as is known, the activities of enterprises in the agro-industrial complex can also affect the environment. How can we find a balance between the development of our agriculture and a caring attitude towards nature?

    Photo: Press service of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev

    D. Patrushev: Companies in the agro-industrial complex are no different from other industries in this regard. In particular, those that have the most significant impact on the environment must obtain comprehensive environmental permits. These are documents that indicate the compliance of production with certain environmental requirements and standards or confirm the existence of modernization plans.

    In general, agriculture is now one of the most advanced areas of the Russian economy. But at the same time, we strive for the industry to develop in harmony with nature and “be friends” with it. Much is being done for this in modern production facilities.

    Another example: since 2023, work has been underway to improve the efficiency of involving livestock by-products in production, including for the restoration of agricultural land fertility.

    I. Ostanin: Let’s move from ecology to issues of ensuring our food security. The production of agricultural products, in general, is growing; in recent years we have set records for the harvest of grain, rice, fruit and berry crops, etc. What do you think helped us not only maintain production volumes under sanctions, but also increase them?

    D. Patrushev: Today the industry can rightfully be proud of its status as a guarantor of our food security. The state has created all the conditions for this.

    The turning point in many ways was 2014, when the food embargo was introduced. Our president’s decision in the sphere of geopolitics created completely new opportunities for the economy. I have already spoken about this: Crimea is now ours, and – in relation to the agricultural industry – the food shelf. At the start, there were many concerns: skeptics predicted that we could be left without food.

    But the move towards domestic production allowed the agro-industrial complex to become the driver of the economy. Entire areas made a sharp leap. For example, we essentially rebuilt greenhouse vegetable growing. New super-intensive gardens were planted, which gave us their own fruits. We now have more than 9 thousand types of Russian-made cheese, and its production volumes have doubled.

    So the fears were not justified.

    It must be said that our farmers are a colossal growth point. The state, for its part, has provided them with the necessary support.

    In general, there are now tools for all categories of agricultural business – for large players and for the smallest farms. Last year, the government allocated 682 billion rubles to the agro-industrial and fisheries complexes!

    Today we are on the path to achieving technological sovereignty. A new national project has been created for this purpose (“Technological Support for Food Security”). It covers those areas of the agro-industrial complex and related industries where deficit positions still remain. This concerns selection and genetics, agricultural machinery and equipment. It is necessary to increase the share of domestic veterinary drugs and vaccines on the market, and develop biotechnology.

    And, of course, there are people behind any success. Therefore, we strive to ensure that the training of personnel keeps pace with the development of the high-tech and advanced industry that our agricultural industry is. At the same time, it is necessary to start educating effective farmers as early as possible, for which purpose agro-technological classes are created. In addition to general education subjects, children learn about farm animal breeding technologies, learn how to operate unmanned aerial vehicles and work with modern agricultural machinery. Children will be able to get their first profession in agriculture already at school. There should be 18 thousand such classes by 2030. We are waiting for young and motivated specialists.

    I. Ostanin: An alarming trend that we are seeing is that last year the prices of dairy products were rising, for example, butter. Now everyone is talking about potato prices. Why do we see sharp price increases for certain products from time to time? And what can be done to avoid this?

    D. Patrushev: It is important to understand several points here. The food market is sensitive to fluctuations in supply and demand. Last year, the demand for dairy products grew significantly. And not only from buyers, but also from the food industry.

    Our confectionery and cheese industries have increased their output. But this requires a large amount of dairy raw materials.

    And although farmers are steadily increasing the production of raw milk, at the moment the current volumes were insufficient. This caused a temporary imbalance in the market.

    The situation was stabilized, including due to the opening of supplies from friendly countries. A similar mechanism is used for some vegetables of the “borscht set”, potatoes and apples. But here too there is a fork. After all, the price directly depends on the harvest, especially if we are talking about products with a limited shelf life.

    For a certain period of time, potatoes have been rising in price. However, if you look at the statistics, you will see that the prices were not much different from the cost of a couple of years ago. The growth is due to the fact that in 2023 we received a record potato harvest – 8.6 million tons. Inevitably, prices for it fell. And the 2024 harvest is comparable to what was two years before. The cost is “recouping” its fall, because farmers cannot work at a loss. Now the new harvest is already beginning. At the same time, the sowing area for potatoes has increased this year. And at the moment, we see that the growth in prices for it has stopped.

    Therefore, we apply regulatory measures selectively and carefully. The main task is to systematically increase our own production, which the Russian agro-industrial complex copes with quite successfully.

    I. Ostanin: Dmitry Nikolaevich, it has been a year since you took the position of Deputy Prime Minister. What conclusions have you drawn for yourself and what would you call the most difficult thing about working in this position?

    D. Patrushev: One of the important conclusions is that environmental issues have no borders, no age, no political views. This is not just my opinion. The Nevsky International Ecological Congress was recently held, which brought together more than 70 countries, as well as representatives of specialized international organizations.

    We talked about the harmony of man and nature. All participants agreed that with such rapid economic development as today, man’s responsibility to the surrounding world is constantly increasing. The issue of ensuring a balance between the economy and ecology is very relevant. And this is what I am now constantly working with.

    Russia is fully aware of its responsibility to the world for preserving natural resources. Therefore, we take on increased obligations in relation to the environment. And we will maintain this vector.

    As for the difficulties, I think it is not timely to talk about them. Our country is solving problems of historical scale today. Everyone in their place must do everything and even more to meet this level.

    Basically, overcoming obstacles is a motivator that allows you to achieve more.

    Source –newspaper “Komsomolskaya Pravda”.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ted Olson, Professor of Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies, East Tennessee State University

    The star attorneys of the Scopes trial: Clarence Darrow, left, for the defense and William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution. Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images/Getty Images

    Ask Americans about the Scopes trial, and they might have heard of it as the “trial of the century,” a showdown over teaching human evolution.

    Less well known are its origins. As historian Edward J. Larson observed in “Summer for the Gods,” his Pulitzer Prize-winning book: “Like so many archetypal American events, the trial itself began as a publicity stunt.”

    Held during July 1925 in the tiny railroad town of Dayton, Tennessee, located not far from the public university where I teach Appalachian studies, the trial was a “stunt” prompted by the state legislature’s passage of the Butler Act, which forbade educators in public schools from teaching “any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.” Tennessee was the first state to enact this type of legislation.

    This “monkey trial” – so dubbed by journalist H. L. Mencken, for humans’ common ancestor with apes – exposed a cultural rift in the United States, as many Christians wrestled with how to reconcile biblical beliefs with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. That rift would be widened by media coverage and national response. Over the past century, collective memories of the trial, as interpreted through music, film and literature, have proven a bellwether of the ongoing “culture wars” in American society.

    Publicity stunt

    In Tennessee, support for the Butler Act was hardly universal. Not in favor was George Rappleyea, manager of a Dayton-area coal and iron mining operation. Rappleyea lobbied other community leaders, some of whom supported the new law, to collectively stage a trial, hoping media attention would generate economic activity in the town.

    Those instigators approached John T. Scopes, a social science and math teacher at the local public high school who had also substitute-taught some biology lessons. The 24-year-old could not recall if his lectures had in fact violated the Butler Act, but the textbook in use at his school included evolutionary theory. Scopes agreed to participate.

    Testifying against their teacher were three students who had clearly been coached to do so. Nevertheless, the presiding judge persuaded the grand jury to indict.

    As an early indication of outside interest, Paul Patterson, the publisher of The Baltimore Sun, paid Scopes’ bail, and the ACLU announced it would defend him.

    Center of the storm

    Arguments started on July 10, 1925, at the Rhea County Courthouse. The trial may have begun as a determination of whether Scopes had violated the Butler Act, but both sides soon focused on debating the relative merits of biblical cosmology versus Darwinian theory.

    American teacher John Scopes, second from left, stands during his trial for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution.
    Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    Representing the creationist perspective was prosecuting attorney Tom Stewart, a future senator from Tennessee. Special counsel William Jennings Bryan, a former U.S. secretary of state, was included on the prosecution team at the behest of a Christian fundamentalist organization.

    The evolutionary theory position was argued by prominent trade union lawyer Clarence Darrow. An agnostic who distrusted religious fundamentalism, Darrow wrote that “there was no limit to the mischief that might be accomplished unless the country was aroused to the evil at hand.”

    A circuslike atmosphere enveloped Dayton. Embodying the “monkey trial” was the performing chimpanzee Joe Mendi, whose trainers posed him for photographs around town. More than 200 journalists attended the trial, with articles appearing in The New York Times, The New Yorker and other publications around the nation.

    Joe Mendi, a monkey who performed in films and theater, was brought to Dayton during the trial.
    Looking Back at Tennessee Photograph Collection, 1890-1981/Tennessee State Library & Archives

    Receiving the most attention was Mencken, whose reportage for The Baltimore Sun did not attempt to disguise his bias against the cultural values of rural America. Dayton’s people, he wrote, “are simply unable to imagine a man who rejects the literal authority of the Bible.”

    Updates were circulated in real time via radio – the first U.S. trial to be broadcast live nationally. Filmed footage was rushed from Dayton to be shared in the nation’s theaters as newsreels.

    The trial ended on July 21, 1925, with a conviction and a fine. Scopes’ conviction was eventually overturned on a technicality. Since the trial had not challenged the legality of the Butler Act, however, that law remained on the books in Tennessee for more than four decades.

    ‘Monkey Biz-Ness’

    Commenting on the Scopes trial were two 1925 recordings by major singers of the day: a comedic jazz ditty entitled “Monkey Biz-Ness (Down in Tennessee),” performed by the International Novelty Orchestra with singer Billy Murray; and the country hit “The John T. Scopes Trial (The Old Religion’s Better After All),” sung by Vernon Dalhart. The latter song’s lyrics, composed by Carson Robison, warned listeners that “you may find a new belief, it will only bring you grief.”

    Other songs of the era – with titles such as “The Bible’s True,” “You Can’t Make a Monkey Out of Me,” “You Talk Like a Monkey and You Walk Like a Monkey” and “Ain’t No Bugs on Me” – echoed that same line of thought: “rural” skepticism toward the “urban,” pro-science perspective on the origins of humankind.

    Supporters of the ‘Anti-Evolution League’ amid the Scopes trial. From Literary Digest, July 25, 1925.
    Mike Licht/Flickr via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    Whereas Scopes was the subject of ridicule in those songs, he and his defenders were celebrated as heroes in “Inherit the Wind,” a 1955 Broadway play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee. A fictionalized portrayal of the Scopes trial, the play powerfully defended free speech – veiled criticism of Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s recent investigations of various American citizens for their political positions and beliefs.

    “Inherit the Wind” inspired a 1960 film of the same name, directed by Stanley Kramer. Its “fanaticism and ignorance” speech depicts the character based on Darrow – played by Spencer Tracy – arguing that without science, society would regress back to a time of unconstrained bigotry. The film received its debut American screening in Dayton on the 35th anniversary of the end of the Scopes trial; Scopes himself was the guest of honor.

    ‘Fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding.’

    Representations of rural Tennessee in popular culture depictions and in media coverage of the trial drew from a font of stereotypes about Appalachia that have continued into the present century. Condescending depictions of the region have been present in American culture since before the Civil War.

    Centennial commemoration

    Memory of the Scopes trial endures in popular culture. Take, for instance, a reference in Bruce Springsteen’s 1990 song “Part Man, Part Monkey,” or Ronald Kidd’s 2006 “Monkey Town,” a historical novel for young adults.

    Dayton did benefit from the notoriety of the Scopes trial, thanks to sustained cultural tourism. Proud of its unique history, the town today boasts a historical marker to alert passersby to the significance of the landmark event that took place in the Rhea County Courthouse. And in 2025, Dayton has been hosting a series of events to commemorate the trial’s centennial.

    Back in 1925, even the Baltimore journalist Mencken begrudgingly praised Dayton and its townspeople, admitting, “It would be hard to imagine a more moral town than Dayton.”

    “I expected to find a squalid Southern village … What I found was a country town of charm and even beauty,” he wrote.

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

    – ref. ‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since – https://theconversation.com/monkey-biz-ness-pop-culture-helped-fan-the-flames-of-the-scopes-monkey-trial-100-years-ago-and-ever-since-255946

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ted Olson, Professor of Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies, East Tennessee State University

    The star attorneys of the Scopes trial: Clarence Darrow, left, for the defense and William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution. Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images/Getty Images

    Ask Americans about the Scopes trial, and they might have heard of it as the “trial of the century,” a showdown over teaching human evolution.

    Less well known are its origins. As historian Edward J. Larson observed in “Summer for the Gods,” his Pulitzer Prize-winning book: “Like so many archetypal American events, the trial itself began as a publicity stunt.”

    Held during July 1925 in the tiny railroad town of Dayton, Tennessee, located not far from the public university where I teach Appalachian studies, the trial was a “stunt” prompted by the state legislature’s passage of the Butler Act, which forbade educators in public schools from teaching “any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.” Tennessee was the first state to enact this type of legislation.

    This “monkey trial” – so dubbed by journalist H. L. Mencken, for humans’ common ancestor with apes – exposed a cultural rift in the United States, as many Christians wrestled with how to reconcile biblical beliefs with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. That rift would be widened by media coverage and national response. Over the past century, collective memories of the trial, as interpreted through music, film and literature, have proven a bellwether of the ongoing “culture wars” in American society.

    Publicity stunt

    In Tennessee, support for the Butler Act was hardly universal. Not in favor was George Rappleyea, manager of a Dayton-area coal and iron mining operation. Rappleyea lobbied other community leaders, some of whom supported the new law, to collectively stage a trial, hoping media attention would generate economic activity in the town.

    Those instigators approached John T. Scopes, a social science and math teacher at the local public high school who had also substitute-taught some biology lessons. The 24-year-old could not recall if his lectures had in fact violated the Butler Act, but the textbook in use at his school included evolutionary theory. Scopes agreed to participate.

    Testifying against their teacher were three students who had clearly been coached to do so. Nevertheless, the presiding judge persuaded the grand jury to indict.

    As an early indication of outside interest, Paul Patterson, the publisher of The Baltimore Sun, paid Scopes’ bail, and the ACLU announced it would defend him.

    Center of the storm

    Arguments started on July 10, 1925, at the Rhea County Courthouse. The trial may have begun as a determination of whether Scopes had violated the Butler Act, but both sides soon focused on debating the relative merits of biblical cosmology versus Darwinian theory.

    American teacher John Scopes, second from left, stands during his trial for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution.
    Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    Representing the creationist perspective was prosecuting attorney Tom Stewart, a future senator from Tennessee. Special counsel William Jennings Bryan, a former U.S. secretary of state, was included on the prosecution team at the behest of a Christian fundamentalist organization.

    The evolutionary theory position was argued by prominent trade union lawyer Clarence Darrow. An agnostic who distrusted religious fundamentalism, Darrow wrote that “there was no limit to the mischief that might be accomplished unless the country was aroused to the evil at hand.”

    A circuslike atmosphere enveloped Dayton. Embodying the “monkey trial” was the performing chimpanzee Joe Mendi, whose trainers posed him for photographs around town. More than 200 journalists attended the trial, with articles appearing in The New York Times, The New Yorker and other publications around the nation.

    Joe Mendi, a monkey who performed in films and theater, was brought to Dayton during the trial.
    Looking Back at Tennessee Photograph Collection, 1890-1981/Tennessee State Library & Archives

    Receiving the most attention was Mencken, whose reportage for The Baltimore Sun did not attempt to disguise his bias against the cultural values of rural America. Dayton’s people, he wrote, “are simply unable to imagine a man who rejects the literal authority of the Bible.”

    Updates were circulated in real time via radio – the first U.S. trial to be broadcast live nationally. Filmed footage was rushed from Dayton to be shared in the nation’s theaters as newsreels.

    The trial ended on July 21, 1925, with a conviction and a fine. Scopes’ conviction was eventually overturned on a technicality. Since the trial had not challenged the legality of the Butler Act, however, that law remained on the books in Tennessee for more than four decades.

    ‘Monkey Biz-Ness’

    Commenting on the Scopes trial were two 1925 recordings by major singers of the day: a comedic jazz ditty entitled “Monkey Biz-Ness (Down in Tennessee),” performed by the International Novelty Orchestra with singer Billy Murray; and the country hit “The John T. Scopes Trial (The Old Religion’s Better After All),” sung by Vernon Dalhart. The latter song’s lyrics, composed by Carson Robison, warned listeners that “you may find a new belief, it will only bring you grief.”

    Other songs of the era – with titles such as “The Bible’s True,” “You Can’t Make a Monkey Out of Me,” “You Talk Like a Monkey and You Walk Like a Monkey” and “Ain’t No Bugs on Me” – echoed that same line of thought: “rural” skepticism toward the “urban,” pro-science perspective on the origins of humankind.

    Supporters of the ‘Anti-Evolution League’ amid the Scopes trial. From Literary Digest, July 25, 1925.
    Mike Licht/Flickr via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    Whereas Scopes was the subject of ridicule in those songs, he and his defenders were celebrated as heroes in “Inherit the Wind,” a 1955 Broadway play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee. A fictionalized portrayal of the Scopes trial, the play powerfully defended free speech – veiled criticism of Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s recent investigations of various American citizens for their political positions and beliefs.

    “Inherit the Wind” inspired a 1960 film of the same name, directed by Stanley Kramer. Its “fanaticism and ignorance” speech depicts the character based on Darrow – played by Spencer Tracy – arguing that without science, society would regress back to a time of unconstrained bigotry. The film received its debut American screening in Dayton on the 35th anniversary of the end of the Scopes trial; Scopes himself was the guest of honor.

    ‘Fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding.’

    Representations of rural Tennessee in popular culture depictions and in media coverage of the trial drew from a font of stereotypes about Appalachia that have continued into the present century. Condescending depictions of the region have been present in American culture since before the Civil War.

    Centennial commemoration

    Memory of the Scopes trial endures in popular culture. Take, for instance, a reference in Bruce Springsteen’s 1990 song “Part Man, Part Monkey,” or Ronald Kidd’s 2006 “Monkey Town,” a historical novel for young adults.

    Dayton did benefit from the notoriety of the Scopes trial, thanks to sustained cultural tourism. Proud of its unique history, the town today boasts a historical marker to alert passersby to the significance of the landmark event that took place in the Rhea County Courthouse. And in 2025, Dayton has been hosting a series of events to commemorate the trial’s centennial.

    Back in 1925, even the Baltimore journalist Mencken begrudgingly praised Dayton and its townspeople, admitting, “It would be hard to imagine a more moral town than Dayton.”

    “I expected to find a squalid Southern village … What I found was a country town of charm and even beauty,” he wrote.

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

    – ref. ‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since – https://theconversation.com/monkey-biz-ness-pop-culture-helped-fan-the-flames-of-the-scopes-monkey-trial-100-years-ago-and-ever-since-255946

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Orion180 Announces Completion of Its 2025 Hurricane Season Reinsurance Towers Totaling $845M

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MELBOURNE, Fla., June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orion180, a leading provider of innovative insurance solutions, has successfully completed its $845M reinsurance placement for excess-of-loss (XOL) and net quota share agreements for the 2025 hurricane season. The combined tower now totals $845M, covering both Orion180 Insurance and Orion180 Select Insurance companies. This placement represents a 31% increase from 2024 and covers multiple events for the 2025 hurricane season. The renewed reinsurance program is backed by a robust panel of 35 leading global reinsurers.

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted an above-normal hurricane season, forecasting a range of 13 to 19 total named storms. In anticipation, and to support the company’s continued growth, Orion180 has secured the reinsurance placements to back its expanding personal lines portfolio across the U.S. including its FLEX Home Insurance and Residential Private Flood Insurance offerings. According to S&P Global data, Orion180 Insurance Company is the second largest E&S home insurance company in the country by premium.

    “By providing additional insurance capacity, our reinsurance partners empower us to deliver much-needed tailored coverage to homeowners in catastrophe-prone markets,” said Ken Gregg. “Independent agents and customers can rest easy, knowing that Orion180 can fulfill its promise of offering protection in higher risk areas of the United States when few others will.”

    Orion180’s FLEX Home Insurance is available now in Texas and Florida, and its Residential Private Flood Insurance is available in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee with plans to expand to other new States in need in 2025. Independent agents interested in quoting insurance coverage should visit Orion180.com/partner-with-us.

    About Orion180
    Orion180 is a technology-driven and customer-centric insurance brand that combines proprietary technology, real-time data, and straightforward underwriting practices to provide a seamless and premier insurance experience. Orion180 operates through Orion180 Insurance Co., a surplus lines insurance company serving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Colorado (Flood only), Tennessee (Flood only), Illinois (Flood only) and Arizona, and Orion180 Select Insurance Co., an admitted insurance company offering coverage in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Ohio. With its proprietary MY180 platform and third-party integrations, Orion180 offers unmatched efficiency and innovation, fulfilling its vision of becoming the global leader in insurance solutions while maintaining its mission to deliver superior customer experiences and a comprehensive suite of products. Connect with Orion180 on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TruthSocial, and YouTube. For more information, visit www.Orion180.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What Glastonbury is like for deaf people – one of the festival’s DeafZone coordinators explains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dai O’Brien, Associate Professor, BSL and Deaf Studies, York St John University

    The sense of community is something Deaf people share with how hearing people experience festivals. Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock

    For the past few years at Glastonbury, sign language interpreters have gone viral on social media for enthusiastically signing songs beside the stage. But those clips tell us nothing about what the overall experience of the festival is like for deaf people. How do deaf people experience and enjoy live music, and how do they create their own alternative space which is not focused around sound?

    I am deaf and use British Sign Language (BSL) as my preferred language. As well as my academic job teaching BSL and Deaf studies at York St John University, I am also one of the coordinators of DeafZone. It’s a small charity which organises, among other things, the BSL interpreters of events like Glastonbury.

    But a key reason for setting up DeafZone was to instigate a space for cultural exchange. In the DeafZone, the more progressive, open-minded people who are attracted to Glastonbury’s tradition as a space of radical thought and alternative lifestyles may be open to learning more about deaf people, our languages and cultures.

    An absolutely key element of deaf people’s experience of festivals is the creation of alternative deaf spaces. Deaf people do not experience festivals in the same way as hearing people in more ways that the simple absence of sound.

    We create our own spaces which are visual and tactile. The interpretation of song lyrics into BSL is only a small, albeit very visible, part of this alternative festival space.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    People often look at me strangely when I tell them that one of my best every festival experiences was in a portaloo. Understandable, I suppose, when you consider what usually happens in portaloos in festivals.

    However, this particular experience was focused on the way in which the plastic walls of the portaloo acted as a gigantic amplifier of the sound vibrations in the air. This made the inside of the loo an intensely tactile experience of music, with different frequencies vibrating through different parts of my body.

    A less smelly way of accessing this tactile experience of music is through plastic drinks holders or balloons. Balloons can be a risky option, however, as security sometimes confiscate them under the impression that they are full of nitrous oxide. This is frustrating, but can result in conversations which invite them into the lived deaf space we are inhabiting and give them an alternative way of appreciating music which does not rely on sound.

    Of course, deaf people often also simply position themselves directly in front of the sound stacks. But the key is that the experience of sound is again a physical, tactile one, subverting the idea that music must be enjoyed as an auditory experience.

    The values of the space created have some overlaps with those of the wider festival. Deaf spaces centre the use of signed languages. Their creators – including myself – firmly believe that deaf children should have access to signed languages from birth to stave off language deprivation.

    We also resist the medicalisation of deafness. These are beliefs which find common ground in the radical political roots of Glastonbury, in which ideas of equality and acceptance are core principles.

    This means that at its heart, the festival is a very welcoming space for deaf people, regardless of whether there is a shared language or not. There’s a shared respect for humanity that transcends language modality.

    This comes back to the fact that DeafZone is not just about organising interpreters for access to song lyrics. We give non-signing people a chance to engage with us in our space, to appreciate our values, and to learn about the mistreatment that deaf communities and cultures have suffered.

    Regardless of whether you’re deaf or hearing, the uniqueness of the Glastonbury festival provides opportunities to learn from each other and enjoy each other’s languages. If that includes room for dancing together to your favourite band, so much the better.

    Dai O’Brien is affiliated with DeafZone.

    – ref. What Glastonbury is like for deaf people – one of the festival’s DeafZone coordinators explains – https://theconversation.com/what-glastonbury-is-like-for-deaf-people-one-of-the-festivals-deafzone-coordinators-explains-258532

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What Glastonbury is like for deaf people – one of the festival’s DeafZone coordinators explains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dai O’Brien, Associate Professor, BSL and Deaf Studies, York St John University

    The sense of community is something Deaf people share with how hearing people experience festivals. Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock

    For the past few years at Glastonbury, sign language interpreters have gone viral on social media for enthusiastically signing songs beside the stage. But those clips tell us nothing about what the overall experience of the festival is like for deaf people. How do deaf people experience and enjoy live music, and how do they create their own alternative space which is not focused around sound?

    I am deaf and use British Sign Language (BSL) as my preferred language. As well as my academic job teaching BSL and Deaf studies at York St John University, I am also one of the coordinators of DeafZone. It’s a small charity which organises, among other things, the BSL interpreters of events like Glastonbury.

    But a key reason for setting up DeafZone was to instigate a space for cultural exchange. In the DeafZone, the more progressive, open-minded people who are attracted to Glastonbury’s tradition as a space of radical thought and alternative lifestyles may be open to learning more about deaf people, our languages and cultures.

    An absolutely key element of deaf people’s experience of festivals is the creation of alternative deaf spaces. Deaf people do not experience festivals in the same way as hearing people in more ways that the simple absence of sound.

    We create our own spaces which are visual and tactile. The interpretation of song lyrics into BSL is only a small, albeit very visible, part of this alternative festival space.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    People often look at me strangely when I tell them that one of my best every festival experiences was in a portaloo. Understandable, I suppose, when you consider what usually happens in portaloos in festivals.

    However, this particular experience was focused on the way in which the plastic walls of the portaloo acted as a gigantic amplifier of the sound vibrations in the air. This made the inside of the loo an intensely tactile experience of music, with different frequencies vibrating through different parts of my body.

    A less smelly way of accessing this tactile experience of music is through plastic drinks holders or balloons. Balloons can be a risky option, however, as security sometimes confiscate them under the impression that they are full of nitrous oxide. This is frustrating, but can result in conversations which invite them into the lived deaf space we are inhabiting and give them an alternative way of appreciating music which does not rely on sound.

    Of course, deaf people often also simply position themselves directly in front of the sound stacks. But the key is that the experience of sound is again a physical, tactile one, subverting the idea that music must be enjoyed as an auditory experience.

    The values of the space created have some overlaps with those of the wider festival. Deaf spaces centre the use of signed languages. Their creators – including myself – firmly believe that deaf children should have access to signed languages from birth to stave off language deprivation.

    We also resist the medicalisation of deafness. These are beliefs which find common ground in the radical political roots of Glastonbury, in which ideas of equality and acceptance are core principles.

    This means that at its heart, the festival is a very welcoming space for deaf people, regardless of whether there is a shared language or not. There’s a shared respect for humanity that transcends language modality.

    This comes back to the fact that DeafZone is not just about organising interpreters for access to song lyrics. We give non-signing people a chance to engage with us in our space, to appreciate our values, and to learn about the mistreatment that deaf communities and cultures have suffered.

    Regardless of whether you’re deaf or hearing, the uniqueness of the Glastonbury festival provides opportunities to learn from each other and enjoy each other’s languages. If that includes room for dancing together to your favourite band, so much the better.

    Dai O’Brien is affiliated with DeafZone.

    – ref. What Glastonbury is like for deaf people – one of the festival’s DeafZone coordinators explains – https://theconversation.com/what-glastonbury-is-like-for-deaf-people-one-of-the-festivals-deafzone-coordinators-explains-258532

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Take Extreme Caution as Heat and Severe Weather Persist

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today urged New Yorkers to take safety precautions during periods of extreme heat throughout Primary Day. New Yorkers can expect dangerously hot and humid conditions to continue today with feels-like temperatures between 90-106 degrees statewide. In addition, there is the potential for severe thunderstorms throughout most of the state this afternoon and evening that could contain damaging winds. Feels-like temperatures on Wednesday are expected to be 82-100 degrees with the potential for severe thunderstorms with damaging winds in the southern part of the state possible in the afternoon and evening. In response to the severe weather that impacted Central New York over the weekend, Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency in 32 counties and state agencies are responding to assist New Yorkers with storm damage and impacts from extreme heat.

    “With dangerously hot weather expected throughout most of the state today, I am urging all New Yorkers to stay cool and safe — especially those waiting in line to cast ballots,” Governor Hochul said. “State emergency response personnel are standing by and prepared to help New Yorkers through this extreme weather, and as this heat wave peaks, I am reminding everyone to have a safe place to stay cool, limit time outdoors, and drink plenty of water.”

    This weekend, Governor Hochul signed legislation repealing an outdated section of New York’s election law — the new legislation now supports voters by allowing refreshments to be provided as they wait in line to exercise their civic duty.

    Governor Hochul today directed the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to offer extended hours at State swimming and cooling facilities and other State parks during the current heat wave as a way to help New Yorkers beat the heat.

    New Yorkers can also stay cool by utilizing nearby cooling centers. Find a cooling center near you on the State Department of Health website. Residents of New York City can find cooling center information here. Certain State Park swimming facilities will also extend their hours on Tuesday and Wednesday.

    For Those Impacted by Storms on Sunday
    In response to severe weather that impacted the State over the weekend, Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency in 32 counties. At the Governor’s direction, the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services has activated the State Emergency Operations Center to Enhanced Monitoring Mode to track the storms and damage. They are working closely with local emergency managers and governments to support requests and provide assistance as requested. State agencies stand ready to respond with equipment and personnel. Light towers have been provided to Oneida County and other materials stored in the State’s nine stockpiles including generators and pumps are also available to support local needs.

    Homeowners and businesses in impacted areas are encouraged to fill out an online form allowing residents to self-report damages to their homes and/or businesses. The purpose of this form is solely to collect information that may help state and local officials identify supplemental damages to develop and augment potential requests for available federal assistance programs. This is not an application for relief programs.

    The Department of Financial Services also has a number of resources for homeowners dealing with their insurance companies following a disaster:

    • File Claims Promptly
    • Making Necessary Repairs
    • Keep Records of Dealings with Insurance Representatives
    • Inventory Your Belongings
    • Flood Damage
    • Keep Your Receipts If You Relocate During Repairs
    • Filing Complaints
    • Information on Homeowners’ Insurance

    More resources are available at the DFS Disaster and Flood Recovery Resource Center.

    State Agency Response

    Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
    The Office of Emergency Management is in regular contact with county emergency managers to ensure cooling centers are available, and to offer support and advise on extreme heat risks. In addition, the agency is facilitating preparations and coordinating guidance and communications with State agency partners. Information on how to manage extreme heat can be found online. To receive real time weather and emergency alerts, New Yorkers are encouraged to text the name of their county or borough to 333111.

    New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
    The following State Park swimming facilities will be open for extended hours:

    Long Island

    • Jones Beach State Park: Field 6 & Central Mall; extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Robert Moses State Park: Field 2 & 5; extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Sunken Meadow State Park: Main Beach; extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Hither Hills State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    Hudson Valley

    • Bear Mountain State Park: extended swimming until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Lake Tiorati State Park: extended swimming until 6:45 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Rockland Lake State Park: extended swimming until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Lake Minnewaska: extended swimming until 7:45 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Lake Minnewaska-Awosting: extended swimming until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    New York City

    • Gantry Plaza State Park: spray pad hours extended to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Four Freedoms State Park: spray pad hours extended to 6:45 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    Capital District

    • Grafton Lakes State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday
    • Thompson’s Lake Campground/Thacher State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday
    • Moreau Lake State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday
    • Saratoga Spa State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday
    • Lake Taghkanic State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Taconic-Copake State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Taconic Kiddie Pool: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    Western New York

    • Allegany State Park – Red House Lake: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Allegany State Park – Quaker Lake: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Beaver Island State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Evangola State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Fort Niagara State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Woodlawn Beach State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    Central New York

    • Green Lakes State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Delta Lake State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Verona Beach State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Chenango Valley State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    Finger Lakes

    • Letchworth State Park: extended swimming until 7:45 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Fair Haven Beach State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Robert Treman State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Seneca Lake-Spray Ground: spray ground hours extended until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Taughannock Falls State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Sampson State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Filmore Glen State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    North Country

    • Southwick Beach State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Westcott Beach State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    Swimming availability may be affected by hazardous weather, changing water conditions or staffing. Please check State Parks’ website parks.ny.gov or call the park you wish to visit directly to confirm availability.

    Department of Financial Services
    After contacting insurance companies, residents can get assistance with insurance information regarding policy coverage for losses and suggestions on how to document their losses and safeguard their property by calling the Department’s Disaster Hotline at 800-339-1759.

    New Yorkers who have been impacted by flooding are encouraged to visit the DFS Disaster and Flood Recovery Resource Center for helpful information.

    New York State Department of Public Service
    DPS is tracking electric system conditions and overseeing utility response to any situations that may arise as a result of this week’s extreme heat and potential thunderstorm activity. There are currently 9,997 electric outages reported statewide. DPS remains in direct contact with utility operations Leadership to ensure they are continuously tracking system conditions and responding to cases of trouble and outages as quickly as possible to restore the system and customers. New York’s utilities have approximately 5,500 workers available, as necessary, to engage in damage assessment, response, repair and restoration efforts across New York State for this heat event. Agency staff will track utilities’ work throughout the event and ensure utilities shift appropriate staffing to regions that experience the greatest impact.

    During heat waves, increased usage of electric devices such as air conditioners place a considerable demand on the state’s electricity system and instances of low voltage or isolated power outages can result. The record for such usage was set on July 19, 2013, when it reached 33,956 MWs (one megawatt of electricity is enough to power up to 1,000 average-sized homes).

    National Grid will continue with repair and restoration efforts today for the remaining electric customers impacted by Sunday morning’s severe thunderstorms. Some portions of National Grid’s territory experienced straight-line winds exceeding 90 mph and an EF-1 tornado with winds up to 105 mph, with more than 101,000 electric customers affected statewide.

    Department of Health
    The State Health Department is taking a number of steps to promote the safety of all New Yorkers in periods of extreme heat, especially those most at risk. The Department has distributed guidance to all hospitals, diagnostic and treatment centers, adult care facilities, home care and hospice providers and nursing homes and has issued additional guidance to hosts of any scheduled public events with more than 5,000 people in attendance. The Department is working with DSHES and local health departments and emergency managers to ensure access to cooling centers and safe spaces during this extreme heat.

    Learn more about heat related illness, including signs and symptoms and when to take action on the State Health Department’s extreme heat advice webpage.

    The New York State Department of Health’s interactive Heat Risk and Illness Dashboard allows the public and county health care officials to determine the forecasted level of heat-related health risks in their area and raise awareness about the dangers of heat exposure.

    NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets
    The agency has compiled important information, including preventative measures, to help mitigate the effects of extreme heat on farm workers and farm animals. The Department will also be working closely with partners at The New York Extension Disaster Education Network (NY EDEN) at Cornell University to monitor any potential impacts of the extreme heat expected this week. NY EDEN is also a resource for farmers and farm workers during a heat wave, and additional information can be found at https://eden.cce.cornell.edu/natural-hazards/heat-wave/.

    Department of Environmental Conservation
    DEC reminds outdoor adventurers that unpredictable weather — including rapidly changing temperatures and storms in the Adirondacks, Catskills, and other backcountry areas — can create unexpectedly hazardous conditions. Visitors should be prepared with proper clothing and equipment for rain, mud and warmer temperatures to ensure a safe outdoor experience.

    Hikers in the Adirondacks are encouraged to check the Adirondack Backcountry Information webpages for updates on trail conditions, seasonal road closures and general recreation information.

    Hiking in the heat is always risky. New Yorkers and visitors should review the following tips to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke:

    • Slow your pace.
    • Drink water and rest often.
    • Seek shade and avoid long periods in direct sunlight.
    • Bring at least 2 liters of water for any hike.
    • Bring a water filter, especially for longer hikes.
    • Bring salty snacks to keep your electrolytes in check.
    • Wear sunscreen.
    • Leave your pets at home — the heat is harder on them, especially walking on hot rocks.
    • Consider staying home yourself and rescheduling for another day when weather conditions improve.

    Even if the weather is forecast to be high heat all day, there’s always a chance of hypothermia due to a sudden storm or drop in temperatures. This can increase dramatically if you’re sweating and not wearing sweat-wicking clothing (made of fabrics like wool or polyester). Many cases of hypothermia are in the summer when people least expect it.

    Whether you are hiking, mountain biking or paddling, Hike Smart NY can help you prepare with a list of 10 essentials, guidance on what to wear, and tips for planning your trip with safety and sustainability in mind. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. To request Forest Ranger assistance, call 1-833-NYS-RANGERS.

    Air Quality
    DEC is continuing to monitor air quality across the State and will issue air quality health advisories as necessary. New Yorkers are encouraged be “Air Quality Aware” and check airnow.gov for accurate information on air quality forecasts and conditions. To view the latest DEC air quality forecasts, visit the DEC website.

    Extreme Heat
    DEC recently released preliminary Urban Heat Island maps to help communities better understand, plan for, and adapt to extreme heat exposures on the neighborhood level. Links to the maps, as well as additional information and data, can be found on DEC’s Extreme Heat Action Plan webpage  and posted at nys-heat.daveyinstitute.com/hottest-hour. The project advances a key action in the Extreme Heat Action Plan and advances a 2022 law signed by Governor Hochul directing DEC to study the impacts of disproportionate concentrations of extreme heat in disadvantaged communities across the State.

    Harmful Algal Blooms
    Following periods of heavy rainfall, nutrient runoff can cause harmful algal blooms (HABs) to form in freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. New Yorkers should avoid swimming, boating, recreating in, or drinking water with a bloom.

    When it comes to HABs, DEC encourages New Yorkers to “KNOW IT, AVOID IT, REPORT IT”:

    • KNOW IT – HABs vary in appearance from scattered green dots in the water to long, linear green streaks, pea soup or spilled green paint, to blue-green or white coloration.  
    • AVOID IT – People, pets, and livestock should avoid contact with water that is discolored or has algal scums on the surface.  
    • REPORT IT – If members of the public suspect a HAB, report it through the NYHABs online reporting form available on DEC’s website. Symptoms or health concerns related to HABs should be reported to New York State Department of Health at [email protected]. 

    The New York State Department of Labor has released comprehensive guidance to help employers better protect outdoor workers during extreme heat and advises workers and employers to engage in extreme heat best practices such as:

    • Ensure access to clean drinking water at no cost to workers, available at all times and as close to the worksite as possible.
    • Provide shade and paid rest when the heat index reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit or above, and more frequent rest breaks once the heat index exceeds 90 degrees.
    • Wear proper PPE so long as they do not interfere with safety equipment, including sunscreen, cooling vests, wide-brim hats, and lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.

    More information on best practices for working in extreme heat can be found here.

    Thruway Authority maintenance crews will be conducting standard daily operations during times where temperatures are lowest and will enhance patrols monitoring the highway. Motorists are reminded and encouraged to take breaks at one of 26 service areas or three Welcome Centers located on the Thruway system.

    Department of Transportation maintenance crews will conduct most outdoor work during morning hours and follow established hydration and rest protocols to help mitigate the risks associated with high temperatures.

    Office of Children and Family Services
    The agency is taking a number of actions to ensure activities at residential centers, detention programs and congregate care programs are conducted in a safe manner during the heat. This includes checking cooling equipment, ensuring proper amounts of water are available and consumed, rescheduling activities and meetings, and identifying staff and clients who may be affected by heat. They are also providing guidance to child care programs and groups associated with the Commission for the Blind statewide.

    New York State Office of Mental Health
    In advance of the hot conditions, New Yorkers should be aware of the impact high heat may have on individuals receiving antipsychotic medications, who are at particular risk of heat stroke and neuroleptic malignant syndrome during periods of extreme heat, which is more likely in poorly ventilated areas. Children and the elderly are at increased risk.

    In addition to monitoring individuals at risk, such conditions are best prevented by a heightened attention to hydration, particularly those at high risk, including individuals taking antipsychotic medications, the elderly, children and those with poor fluid intake.

    Also, individuals at high-risk should remain in cooler areas; be monitored for temperature elevations; avoid direct exposure to sunlight and wear protective clothing and sunscreen. Anticholinergic medications may interfere with sweating and should be minimized.

    Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
    The agency is reminding local departments of social services and emergency homeless shelter operators of the need to provide fans to help maintain reasonable air circulation during times of extreme heat and humidity. Also, shelter providers should provide a cooling room in the facility for residents, if feasible.

    Metropolitan Transportation Authority
    To reduce potential impacts to service and reduce response times to heat-related events, NYC Transit will implement heat patrols to proactively increase track inspections and stage extra personnel in key risk areas including power substations, machine rooms, generators, cables, and connections. To ensure functioning air conditioning, subway railcars and buses will be inspected before being placed in service. Paratransit service providers are reminded vehicles must have functioning air-conditioning. Buses and operators will be on standby for any support needed with subways or emergency service. NYC Transit also completes a continuous welded rail watch when rail temperatures exceed 100 degrees to be vigilant of rail kinks or other issues.

    Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad crews will be staged at key locations to be able to respond quickly to weather-related issues. The railroads will monitor rail temperatures, deploy heat patrols to inspect the rails for any kinks, and stage additional Power Department personnel to protect power substations and overhead aerial lines. Train crews have been instructed to report any rail conditions that need attention.

    The Port Authority Office of Emergency Management coordinates with facility teams to monitor weather conditions and operational impacts and maintains communication with regional partners to support response readiness during periods of elevated temperatures.

    For a complete listing of weather watches, warnings, advisories and latest forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously deported Mexican national sentenced to 262 months for methamphetamine distribution, second Mexican national sentenced to 168 months

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    TYLER, Texas – Two Mexican nationals were sentenced to lengthy federal prison sentences for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

    Leopoldo Alonso-Palacios, 38, and Juan Luis Salinas-Leon, 37, both Mexican nationals illegally living in Center, were sentenced to 168 months and 262 months, respectively, by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on June 23, 2025.

    According to information presented in court, on March 4, 2025, Alonso-Palacios and Salinas-Leon were stopped while driving on Interstate-20 in Wills Point for speeding.  During the stop, they consented to a search of the vehicle, which resulted in the discovery of 937.7 grams of methamphetamine.  During his arrest, officers found Salinas-Leon in possession of a firearm. The two men then confessed to having additional methamphetamine at their homes in Center.  Federal agents searched the residences, where they discovered large plastic tubs containing chicken lard that tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine, along with paraphernalia such as metal pots and mesh screens, materials commonly used in a methamphetamine conversion lab. At such clandestine labs, methamphetamine concealed in other substances is extracted by applying chemical processes and reconstituted into distributable drugs. In total, agents recovered more than six kilograms of methamphetamine ready for distribution as well as 22 kilograms of liquids in various stages of the conversion process, which also tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

    Immigration records reveal that both men were unlawfully present in the United States and that Salinas-Leon has been previously prosecuted for illegally entering the country.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive; Gregg County Sheriff’s Office; and Wills Point Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Qatar Welcomes Ceasefire Agreement between Iran and Israel

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Doha, June 24, 2025

    The State of Qatar welcomes the ceasefire agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses Qatar’s hope that the agreement serves as a meaningful step toward adopting dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts in the region and beyond. Qatar underscores the importance of using peaceful means to achieve lasting stability and comprehensive, sustainable peace at the same time, the Ministry reaffirms that the Iranian violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and airspace forms part of a dangerous escalation in the region, which require sincere and collective efforts to deter all irresponsible actions.

    The Ministry reaffirms that the State of Qatar will continue to serve as a driving force for peace. Its commitment to peace is grounded in principle and is not influenced by specific events or shifting political considerations. Qatar remains dedicated to the values of good neighborliness and fully supports all sincere efforts aimed at resolving crises and building a more secure, cooperative, and prosperous world.

    The Ministry expresses the State of Qatar’s sincere appreciation for the efforts of His Excellency President Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, in facilitating this agreement. It also expresses hope that both parties will fully uphold and adhere to its terms.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Death toll from recent floods continues to rise

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has confirmed that the official death toll from the recent floods has risen to 100, following additional recoveries by search teams. 

    The numbers are likely to increase, as there are still individuals who have been reported missing by their families and search operations continue in the affected areas.

    The floods, which swept through the province early this month, have caused widespread loss of life, disruption in livelihoods and significant damage in infrastructure. 

    “As per the latest report, 94 bodies have been positively identified and handed over to their families, while processes are ongoing to identify the six remaining bodies. OR Tambo accounts for 76 of the deceased, while Amathole is 10, Alfred Nzo five, Chris Hani five, Joe Gqabi two and Sarah Baartman two. 

    “Out of the 100 deceased persons, 63 are adults and 37 children of which 22 are learners,” said the provincial government in a statement on Tuesday.

    The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has extended heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and “are now left with a profound and multifaceted impact on their lives”. 

    The disaster has significantly disrupted families and Eastern Cape communities at large. 

    The provincial government continues with the provision of psychosocial support to the affected communities and schools, as well as the provision of relief efforts to overcome this disastrous situation. 

    “The provincial government further wishes to applaud the multidisciplinary search and recovery teams for their commendable work since the onset of the tragic weather event in the province. 

    “Their tireless efforts have been instrumental in recovering dozens of bodies and providing critical support to affected families, even as the search continues.

    The provincial government continues to provide humanitarian support in partnership with NGOs and the private sector, with Old Mutual and Amathole District Municipality due to implement a two-day humanitarian aid programme in Mnquma Local Municipality, on 26–27 June 2025. 

    The intervention will provide essentials, including blankets for beneficiaries. 

    Meanwhile, the OR Tambo District Municipality has made notable progress in restoring basic water services following the devastating floods. 

    Currently, 95% of the affected areas are receiving water, although some parts of Mthatha West, Coffee Bay, Mdlankala, and Mhlanga remain without water. 

    The municipality is providing water tankers in the affected areas. 

    “The provincial government expresses its sincere gratitude to the community for their patience while our teams work around the clock to repair damaged infrastructure, restore stability, and ensure access to clean water across the affected areas. 

    “Government remains committed to accelerating recovery programmes and ensuring that displaced and affected communities receive the assistance they need to rebuild their lives.” – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Consultation Process Approved to Tackle Standards in the Private Rented Sector in Preston

    Source: City of Preston

    In a bid to tackle unscrupulous landlords in Preston and improve the quality of the Private Rented Sector (PRS) homes in the city, an external consultant will be employed to work on behalf of the council to carry out a consultation that will consider the introduction of Selective Licensing in three pilot wards in Preston.

    The three wards where this consultation will take place are St Matthews, City Centre and Plungington.

    Selective Licensing in the PRS is a scheme where local authorities designate areas that will benefit from tighter regulation, requiring landlords in those areas to obtain a licence for their privately rented properties.

    Under Selective Licensing, Preston Council can ensure landlords or their property managers are subject to criminal record checks and their rental properties are checked to meet certain standards and conditions like having up-to-date fire and gas safety checks, damp proofing, tenant welfare, good management practices etc; this helps to address issues such as poor property conditions, anti-social behaviour and low demand.

    If landlords fail to comply with the licensing conditions, local authorities can take enforcement action which could include fines and penalties.

    Councillor Zafar Coupland, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Preston City Council said:

    “Around a quarter of all housing in Preston is privately rented and due to many factors such as the cost of living crisis and the ongoing recovery from the Covid pandemic, a lack of investment in privately owned, rented housing stock has seen living standards decline, with many of our residents experiencing poor living conditions, which is unacceptable.

    The introduction of Selective Licensing to help better regulate the Private Rented Sector and tackle the most deprived areas of the city, is a priority in our emerging Corporate Plan, and this consultation around the three pilot wards, where deprivation is prevalent, is the first crucial step in rolling out a more robust way to tackle poor quality housing and raise the housing standards for our residents.”

    Main image credit – Tony Worrall

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Byrna Technologies to Report Fiscal Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. ET

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Byrna Technologies Inc. (“Byrna” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BYRN), a personal defense technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions, will hold a conference call on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended May 31, 2025. Financial results will be issued in a press release prior to the call.

    Byrna management will host the presentation, followed by a question-and-answer period.

    Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
    Time: 9:00 a.m. Eastern time
    Toll-Free Dial-In: 877-709-8150
    International Dial-In: +1 201-689-8354
    Conference ID: 13754369

    Please call the conference telephone number 10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at 949-574-3860.

    The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here and via the Investor Relations section of Byrna’s website.

    About Byrna Technologies Inc.
    Byrna is a technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions. For more information on the Company, please visit the corporate website here or the Company’s investor relations site here. The Company is the manufacturer of the Byrna® SD personal security device, a state-of-the-art handheld CO2 powered launcher designed to provide a less-lethal alternative to a firearm for the consumer, private security, and law enforcement markets. To purchase Byrna products, visit the Company’s e-commerce store.

    Investor Contact:
    Tom Colton and Alec Wilson
    Gateway Group, Inc.
    949-574-3860
    BYRN@gateway-grp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Byrna Technologies to Report Fiscal Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. ET

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Byrna Technologies Inc. (“Byrna” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BYRN), a personal defense technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions, will hold a conference call on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended May 31, 2025. Financial results will be issued in a press release prior to the call.

    Byrna management will host the presentation, followed by a question-and-answer period.

    Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
    Time: 9:00 a.m. Eastern time
    Toll-Free Dial-In: 877-709-8150
    International Dial-In: +1 201-689-8354
    Conference ID: 13754369

    Please call the conference telephone number 10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at 949-574-3860.

    The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here and via the Investor Relations section of Byrna’s website.

    About Byrna Technologies Inc.
    Byrna is a technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions. For more information on the Company, please visit the corporate website here or the Company’s investor relations site here. The Company is the manufacturer of the Byrna® SD personal security device, a state-of-the-art handheld CO2 powered launcher designed to provide a less-lethal alternative to a firearm for the consumer, private security, and law enforcement markets. To purchase Byrna products, visit the Company’s e-commerce store.

    Investor Contact:
    Tom Colton and Alec Wilson
    Gateway Group, Inc.
    949-574-3860
    BYRN@gateway-grp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Byrna Technologies to Report Fiscal Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. ET

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Byrna Technologies Inc. (“Byrna” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BYRN), a personal defense technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions, will hold a conference call on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended May 31, 2025. Financial results will be issued in a press release prior to the call.

    Byrna management will host the presentation, followed by a question-and-answer period.

    Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
    Time: 9:00 a.m. Eastern time
    Toll-Free Dial-In: 877-709-8150
    International Dial-In: +1 201-689-8354
    Conference ID: 13754369

    Please call the conference telephone number 10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at 949-574-3860.

    The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here and via the Investor Relations section of Byrna’s website.

    About Byrna Technologies Inc.
    Byrna is a technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions. For more information on the Company, please visit the corporate website here or the Company’s investor relations site here. The Company is the manufacturer of the Byrna® SD personal security device, a state-of-the-art handheld CO2 powered launcher designed to provide a less-lethal alternative to a firearm for the consumer, private security, and law enforcement markets. To purchase Byrna products, visit the Company’s e-commerce store.

    Investor Contact:
    Tom Colton and Alec Wilson
    Gateway Group, Inc.
    949-574-3860
    BYRN@gateway-grp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China hopes for speedy ceasefire between Israel and Iran – MFA /detailed version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) — China pays close attention to the developments in the Middle East, does not want tensions to escalate again and hopes for an early ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on Tuesday.

    The Chinese diplomat made the statement while commenting on US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a comprehensive ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran.

    Facts have proven that military means cannot bring peace, and dialogue and negotiations are the right way to solve problems, he said.

    China calls on relevant parties to return to the correct path of political settlement as soon as possible. China is willing to work with the international community to make efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East region, Guo Jiakun assured. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Hungary to oppose Ukraine’s integration into NATO and EU at key summits – V. Orban

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BUDAPEST, June 24 (Xinhua) — Hungary will try to block Ukraine’s integration into NATO and the EU at key summits of the two Western blocs this week, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on social media on Monday.

    He said Hungary was seeking to prevent the establishment of institutional links between Ukraine and the two associations that could lead to conflict and financial instability in the region.

    Orban described Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO as an “immediate and direct threat” due to the alliance’s collective defense commitments. Ukraine’s accession to the EU, he added, would pose a “constant and indirect threat” that could intensify at any time.

    According to the Prime Minister, Ukraine’s membership in the European Union could have a negative impact on Hungary’s economy, harming the interests of farmers, leading to a decrease in wages, depriving Hungarian citizens of jobs and diverting funds from Hungary to Ukrainian needs.

    Hungary will confidently overcome “stormy waters” with the help of experience and strength, V. Orban commented on the upcoming NATO and EU summits, which will be held this week in The Hague and Brussels, respectively. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. International Transactions, 1st Quarter 2025 and Annual Update

    Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Current-Account Deficit Widened by 44.3 Percent in the First Quarter

    Current-Account Balance (Table 1 and Chart 1)

    The U.S. current-account deficit, which reflects the combined balances on trade in goods and services and income flows between U.S. residents and residents of other countries, widened by $138.2 billion, or 44.3 percent, to $450.2 billion in the first quarter of 2025, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The revised fourth-quarter deficit was $312.0 billion (table A).

    The first-quarter deficit was 6.0 percent of current-dollar gross domestic product, up from 4.2 percent in the fourth quarter.

    The $138.2 billion widening of the current-account deficit in the first quarter mostly reflected an expanded deficit on goods.

    Current-Account Transactions (tables 1–5 and chart 2)

    Exports of goods and services to, and income received from, foreign residents decreased $3.9 billion to $1.24 trillion in the first quarter. Imports of goods and services from, and income paid to, foreign residents increased $134.3 billion to $1.69 trillion.1

    Trade in goods (table 2)

    Exports of goods increased $21.1 billion to $539.0 billion, and imports of goods increased $158.2 billion to $1.00 trillion. The increase in exports was led by capital goods, mainly civilian aircraft and computer accessories, peripherals, and parts. The increase in imports was led by nonmonetary gold and consumer goods, mostly medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical products (see “Additional Information” for a definition of nonmonetary gold under “Goods”).

    Trade in services (table 3)

    Exports of services decreased $4.4 billion to $293.2 billion, reflecting decreases in government goods and services, mostly military units and agencies, in travel, mostly “other personal travel,” and in “other business services,” mainly professional and management consulting services. These decreases were partly offset by an increase in maintenance and repair services. Imports of services decreased $1.8 billion to $217.8 billion, reflecting a decrease in charges for the use of intellectual property, mostly licenses for the use of outcomes of research and development.

    Primary income (table 4)

    Receipts of primary income decreased $22.9 billion to $355.1 billion, and payments of primary income decreased $13.7 billion to $362.7 billion. The decreases in both receipts and payments reflected a decrease in direct investment income, mostly earnings.

    Secondary income (table 5)

    Receipts of secondary income increased $2.3 billion to $49.6 billion, reflecting an increase in private transfers, primarily fines and penalties. Payments of secondary income decreased $8.4 billion to $101.5 billion, reflecting a decrease in general government transfers, primarily international cooperation.

    Capital-Account Transactions (table 1)

    Capital-transfer receipts decreased $2.4 billion to $8.9 billion in the first quarter. The decrease reflected first-quarter receipts from foreign insurance companies for losses resulting from wildfires in Southern California that were lower than fourth-quarter receipts for losses resulting from Hurricane Milton. For information on transactions associated with hurricanes and other disasters, see “How do losses recovered from foreign insurance companies following natural or man-made disasters affect foreign transactions, the current account balance, and net lending or net borrowing?”. Capital-transfer payments increased $0.5 billion to $2.0 billion.

    Financial-Account Transactions (tables 1, 6, 7, and 8 and chart 3)

    Net financial-account transactions were −$299.5 billion in the first quarter, reflecting net U.S. borrowing from foreign residents.

    Financial assets (tables 1, 6, 7, and 8)

    First-quarter transactions increased U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets by $524.9 billion. Transactions increased “other investment assets,” mostly short-term loans, by $328.2 billion; portfolio investment assets, mostly debt securities, by $128.4 billion; direct investment assets, mostly equity, by $66.8 billion; and reserve assets by $1.5 billion.

    Liabilities (tables 1, 6, 7, and 8)

    First-quarter transactions increased U.S. liabilities to foreign residents by $843.7 billion. Transactions increased portfolio investment liabilities, mostly long-term debt securities, by $429.9 billion; “other investment liabilities,” mainly short-term deposits and loans, by $358.9 billion; and direct investment liabilities, mostly equity, by $54.9 billion.

    Financial derivatives (table 1)

    Net transactions in financial derivatives were $19.3 billion in the first quarter, reflecting net U.S. lending to foreign residents.

      

    Table A. Updates to Fourth-Quarter 2024 International Transactions Accounts Balances

    [Billions of dollars, seasonally adjusted]
      Preliminary estimates Revised estimates
    Current-account balance –303.9 −312.0
        Goods balance −326.1 −328.9
        Services balance 76.1 78.0
        Primary income balance 2.3 1.6
        Secondary income balance −56.2 −62.6
    Net financial-account transactions −385.3 −350.8
    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Annual Update of the U.S. International Transactions Accounts

    The statistics in this release reflect the annual update of the U.S. International Transactions Accounts. With this update, BEA has incorporated newly available and revised source data and recalculated seasonal and trading-day adjustments beginning with 2018. This annual update also reflects the incorporation of (1) BEA’s 2022 Benchmark Survey of Transactions in Selected Services and Intellectual Property With Foreign Persons, (2) a new balance of payments adjustment to exports of goods to redistribute estimates for late receipts for Canada from “other goods” to detailed commodities, (3) a new method for estimating other investment assets and other investment liabilities transactions by maturity, and (4) new statistics for transactions, income, and positions related to a repurchase agreement facility for foreign and international monetary authorities. A summary of the revisions to high-level aggregates is shown in table 9.

    Table B. Newly Available and Revised Source Data: Key Providers and Years Affected

    Agency Data Years affected
    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Quarterly and benchmark international trade in services surveys 2018–2024
    Annual and quarterly direct investment surveys 2022–2024
    U.S. Census Bureau Revised source data for international trade in goods 2022–2024
    U.S. Department of the Treasury Quarterly and monthly portfolio and other investment surveys 2022–2024
    Benchmark and quarterly portfolio investment surveys 2023–2024
    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

    More information on the annual update is available in “Preview of the 2025 Annual Update of the International Economic Accounts” in the Survey of Current Business. Additional information will be provided in the Survey in July 2025. U.S. International Economic Accounts: Concepts and Methods will be updated in September 2025 accordingly.

    For resources, definitions, and more, visit “Additional Information.”

    Next release: September 23, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
    U.S. International Transactions, 2nd Quarter 2025

    1 U.S. international transactions are presented in current dollars in accordance with international statistical presentation guidelines. For a comparison of current-dollar, or nominal, and inflation-adjusted, or real, measures of international transactions, see “SECTION 4 – FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS” of the National Income and Product Accounts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. International Transactions, 1st Quarter 2025 and Annual Update

    Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Current-Account Deficit Widened by 44.3 Percent in the First Quarter

    Current-Account Balance (Table 1 and Chart 1)

    The U.S. current-account deficit, which reflects the combined balances on trade in goods and services and income flows between U.S. residents and residents of other countries, widened by $138.2 billion, or 44.3 percent, to $450.2 billion in the first quarter of 2025, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The revised fourth-quarter deficit was $312.0 billion (table A).

    The first-quarter deficit was 6.0 percent of current-dollar gross domestic product, up from 4.2 percent in the fourth quarter.

    The $138.2 billion widening of the current-account deficit in the first quarter mostly reflected an expanded deficit on goods.

    Current-Account Transactions (tables 1–5 and chart 2)

    Exports of goods and services to, and income received from, foreign residents decreased $3.9 billion to $1.24 trillion in the first quarter. Imports of goods and services from, and income paid to, foreign residents increased $134.3 billion to $1.69 trillion.1

    Trade in goods (table 2)

    Exports of goods increased $21.1 billion to $539.0 billion, and imports of goods increased $158.2 billion to $1.00 trillion. The increase in exports was led by capital goods, mainly civilian aircraft and computer accessories, peripherals, and parts. The increase in imports was led by nonmonetary gold and consumer goods, mostly medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical products (see “Additional Information” for a definition of nonmonetary gold under “Goods”).

    Trade in services (table 3)

    Exports of services decreased $4.4 billion to $293.2 billion, reflecting decreases in government goods and services, mostly military units and agencies, in travel, mostly “other personal travel,” and in “other business services,” mainly professional and management consulting services. These decreases were partly offset by an increase in maintenance and repair services. Imports of services decreased $1.8 billion to $217.8 billion, reflecting a decrease in charges for the use of intellectual property, mostly licenses for the use of outcomes of research and development.

    Primary income (table 4)

    Receipts of primary income decreased $22.9 billion to $355.1 billion, and payments of primary income decreased $13.7 billion to $362.7 billion. The decreases in both receipts and payments reflected a decrease in direct investment income, mostly earnings.

    Secondary income (table 5)

    Receipts of secondary income increased $2.3 billion to $49.6 billion, reflecting an increase in private transfers, primarily fines and penalties. Payments of secondary income decreased $8.4 billion to $101.5 billion, reflecting a decrease in general government transfers, primarily international cooperation.

    Capital-Account Transactions (table 1)

    Capital-transfer receipts decreased $2.4 billion to $8.9 billion in the first quarter. The decrease reflected first-quarter receipts from foreign insurance companies for losses resulting from wildfires in Southern California that were lower than fourth-quarter receipts for losses resulting from Hurricane Milton. For information on transactions associated with hurricanes and other disasters, see “How do losses recovered from foreign insurance companies following natural or man-made disasters affect foreign transactions, the current account balance, and net lending or net borrowing?”. Capital-transfer payments increased $0.5 billion to $2.0 billion.

    Financial-Account Transactions (tables 1, 6, 7, and 8 and chart 3)

    Net financial-account transactions were −$299.5 billion in the first quarter, reflecting net U.S. borrowing from foreign residents.

    Financial assets (tables 1, 6, 7, and 8)

    First-quarter transactions increased U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets by $524.9 billion. Transactions increased “other investment assets,” mostly short-term loans, by $328.2 billion; portfolio investment assets, mostly debt securities, by $128.4 billion; direct investment assets, mostly equity, by $66.8 billion; and reserve assets by $1.5 billion.

    Liabilities (tables 1, 6, 7, and 8)

    First-quarter transactions increased U.S. liabilities to foreign residents by $843.7 billion. Transactions increased portfolio investment liabilities, mostly long-term debt securities, by $429.9 billion; “other investment liabilities,” mainly short-term deposits and loans, by $358.9 billion; and direct investment liabilities, mostly equity, by $54.9 billion.

    Financial derivatives (table 1)

    Net transactions in financial derivatives were $19.3 billion in the first quarter, reflecting net U.S. lending to foreign residents.

      

    Table A. Updates to Fourth-Quarter 2024 International Transactions Accounts Balances

    [Billions of dollars, seasonally adjusted]
      Preliminary estimates Revised estimates
    Current-account balance –303.9 −312.0
        Goods balance −326.1 −328.9
        Services balance 76.1 78.0
        Primary income balance 2.3 1.6
        Secondary income balance −56.2 −62.6
    Net financial-account transactions −385.3 −350.8
    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Annual Update of the U.S. International Transactions Accounts

    The statistics in this release reflect the annual update of the U.S. International Transactions Accounts. With this update, BEA has incorporated newly available and revised source data and recalculated seasonal and trading-day adjustments beginning with 2018. This annual update also reflects the incorporation of (1) BEA’s 2022 Benchmark Survey of Transactions in Selected Services and Intellectual Property With Foreign Persons, (2) a new balance of payments adjustment to exports of goods to redistribute estimates for late receipts for Canada from “other goods” to detailed commodities, (3) a new method for estimating other investment assets and other investment liabilities transactions by maturity, and (4) new statistics for transactions, income, and positions related to a repurchase agreement facility for foreign and international monetary authorities. A summary of the revisions to high-level aggregates is shown in table 9.

    Table B. Newly Available and Revised Source Data: Key Providers and Years Affected

    Agency Data Years affected
    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Quarterly and benchmark international trade in services surveys 2018–2024
    Annual and quarterly direct investment surveys 2022–2024
    U.S. Census Bureau Revised source data for international trade in goods 2022–2024
    U.S. Department of the Treasury Quarterly and monthly portfolio and other investment surveys 2022–2024
    Benchmark and quarterly portfolio investment surveys 2023–2024
    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

    More information on the annual update is available in “Preview of the 2025 Annual Update of the International Economic Accounts” in the Survey of Current Business. Additional information will be provided in the Survey in July 2025. U.S. International Economic Accounts: Concepts and Methods will be updated in September 2025 accordingly.

    For resources, definitions, and more, visit “Additional Information.”

    Next release: September 23, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
    U.S. International Transactions, 2nd Quarter 2025

    1 U.S. international transactions are presented in current dollars in accordance with international statistical presentation guidelines. For a comparison of current-dollar, or nominal, and inflation-adjusted, or real, measures of international transactions, see “SECTION 4 – FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS” of the National Income and Product Accounts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Kremlin rejects charge it did little to help Iran

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Kremlin on Tuesday pushed back against criticism that it had not done enough to back Iran, saying it had taken a “clear position” by condemning U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic.

    President Vladimir Putin has condemned what he called “unjustified” U.S. attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, with which he signed a strategic cooperation treaty in January. He said on Monday that Russia would try to help the Iranian people, although he gave no specifics.

    Iranian sources told media earlier this week that Tehran had not been impressed with Russia’s support so far.

    Asked about comparisons to the toppling last year of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, when Moscow refused to send troops or more air power to keep its ally in power, the Kremlin said some people were trying to spoil the Russian-Iranian partnership.

    “Russia actually supported Iran with its clear position,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had appreciated Moscow’s stance when he met Putin on Monday.

    It was still too early to assess the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities, Peskov said.

    “Some information is coming through the appropriate channels, but it is still too early,” Peskov said. “Hardly anyone has a clear understanding right now.”

    Asked about a Reuters report that Araqchi had brought a letter to Putin from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Peskov said there had been no written document handed over.

    “The fact that there were certain messages from the Iranian leadership is true. But this Reuters report is not true,” Peskov said.

    U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday a complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran, potentially ending the 12-day war that saw millions flee Tehran and prompted fears of further escalation in the war-torn region.

    “If it has really been possible to achieve a ceasefire, then this can only be welcomed,” Peskov said, adding that Qatar had helped to broker the ceasefire.

    “This is what the Russian Federation has been calling for since the very beginning of this conflict. Therefore, yes, this can and should be welcomed, and we hope that this will be a sustainable ceasefire.”

    (Reuters)

  • 10 years of AMRUT: A decade of urban transformation in India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India marks a significant milestone as the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) completes 10 years since its launch on June 25, 2015. Introduced as a transformative initiative to improve the quality of life in urban areas, AMRUT has focused on delivering basic infrastructure and services—especially water supply, sewerage, urban mobility, and green spaces—to citizens across 500 cities and towns.

    Over the past decade, AMRUT has redefined India’s urban development landscape. The Mission prioritized inclusive planning, targeting the urban poor with a strong focus on providing universal access to tap water and sewer connections. A notable feature was the allocation of up to 2.5% of project costs towards developing parks with amenities for children and the elderly, thereby enhancing the livability of cities.

    A total of ₹77,640 crore worth of State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) have been approved under AMRUT, with ₹35,990 crore committed as Central Assistance. Projects worth ₹79,401 crore have already been completed, and ₹72,656 crore has been expended. The Mission’s core areas—water supply, sewerage, septage management, stormwater drainage, non-motorized urban transport, and the development of green spaces—have brought about tangible change in urban India.

    In the area of water supply, the Mission has facilitated the augmentation of water systems, treatment plants, universal metering, and the rejuvenation of water bodies. Special provisions have been made for difficult areas, including hilly and coastal regions. Similarly, sewerage projects have focused on underground networks, rehabilitation of old systems, and reuse of treated wastewater. Faecal sludge management and the mechanical cleaning of septic tanks and sewers have also been addressed to improve sanitation outcomes.

    Stormwater drainage projects have reduced urban flooding, while the urban transport component supported the development of footpaths, ferry services, cycle tracks, and multi-level parking. Capacity-building programs have strengthened both institutional and individual capabilities within Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), enabling better governance and service delivery.

    Building on the foundation of AMRUT, the government launched AMRUT 2.0 on October 1, 2021. The expanded version covers all ULBs across the country and aims to ensure water security and self-reliance. It seeks universal coverage of sewerage and septage management in the original AMRUT cities, with a total indicative outlay of ₹2.99 lakh crore, including a Central share of ₹76,760 crore over five years.

    Under AMRUT 2.0, 3,568 water supply projects worth ₹1,14,220.62 crore have been approved, including 181 lakh new tap connections and 10,647 MLD of water treatment capacity. Additionally, 1,487 projects have been equipped with SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) technology for efficient monitoring.

    In the sewerage and septage sector, 592 projects worth ₹67,607.67 crore have been approved, adding over 67.11 lakh new sewer connections and 6,739 MLD of sewage treatment capacity. Innovation has also been a key pillar, with the Technology Sub-Mission under AMRUT 2.0 shortlisting 120 start-ups for pilot projects across 82 cities.

    Together, AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 have sanctioned 14,828 projects worth ₹2,73,649 crore, of which works worth ₹1,12,368 crore have been physically completed. The total Central Assistance allocated is ₹1,02,786 crore, with ₹47,625 crore already disbursed. Over 2.03 crore households have been provided with tap water connections and 1.5 crore with sewerage connections. Additionally, 544 water bodies covering 9,511 acres have been rejuvenated.

    Innovative initiatives like ‘AMRUT Mitra’ have engaged over 10,000 women from Self-Help Groups in monitoring and awareness activities. The ‘Drink from Tap’ initiative has seen 381 projects worth ₹23,490 crore sanctioned, likely to benefit 8 lakh households. More than 90,000 individuals—including contractors, plant operators, plumbers, youth, and officials—have been trained to support capacity-building across states.

    As AMRUT completes a decade, it represents a paradigm shift in India’s urban development narrative—one that combines infrastructure growth with inclusivity, sustainability, and improved quality of life. With its strong foundation and the launch of AMRUT 2.0, the Mission continues to pave the way for resilient, future-ready cities that cater to the needs of all citizens.