NewzIntel.com

Category: Vehicles

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Iran/Israel: Iranian forces’ use of cluster munition in ’12 day war’ violated international humanitarian law

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Unlawful ballistic missile strikes utilising cluster munitions landed in residential areas in Israel

    ‘Cluster munitions are inherently indiscriminate weapons that must never be used’ – Erika Guevara Rosas

    The Iranian forces’ use of cluster munitions during the ‘12 Day War’ with Israel was a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, Amnesty International said today.

    Last month, the Iranian forces fired ballistic missiles whose warheads contained submunitions into populated residential areas of Israel, in attacks endangering civilians. Amnesty analysed photos and videos showing cluster munitions that, according to media reports, struck inside the Gush Dan metropolitan area around Tel Aviv on 19 June.

    In addition, the cities of Beersheba, southern Israel (20 June), and Rishon LeZion, to the south of Tel Aviv (22 June), were also struck with ordnance that left multiple impact craters consistent with the submunitions seen in Gush Dan. Such submunitions hit a school and basketball court in Beersheba, but no deaths or injuries were reported.

    Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, said:

    “Cluster munitions are inherently indiscriminate weapons that must never be used. By using such weapons in or near populated residential areas, Iranian forces endangered civilian lives and demonstrated clear disregard for international humanitarian law.

    “Civilians, particularly children, are most at risk of injury or death from unexploded submunitions. Iranian forces’ deliberate use of such inherently indiscriminate weapons is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”

    Customary international humanitarian law prohibits the use of inherently indiscriminate weapons, and launching indiscriminate attacks that kill or injure civilians constitutes a war crime.

    Cluster munitions are conventional ordnance designed to disperse or release small explosive submunitions. Typically, such submunitions are launched and dispersed by rockets, artillery, or air-dropped containers, scattering ordnance over a wide area, sometimes as large as a football pitch, which often remain unexploded.

    According to media reports, the warheads deployed by Iranian forces against Israel dispersed their payload several kilometres above the ground, spreading their submunitions over a very large area.

    Many systems have high “dud” rates, leaving large areas contaminated with unexploded ordnance which can remain lethal for years or even decades after a conflict has ended.

    The Convention on Cluster Munitions, which entered into force on 1 August 2010, bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions. Amnesty has called on all states that have not acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, including Iran and Israel, to become a party to it and strictly comply with its terms.

    Amnesty sent questions regarding the use of cluster munitions to the Iranian authorities on 15 July. At the time of publication, no response had yet been received.

    Missiles fired at Israel

    On 19 June, media reported that the Israeli military announced that Iranian forces had fired “a missile that contained cluster submunitions at a densely populated civilian area” in central Israel, and that approximately 20 submunitions fell over an estimated eight-kilometre radius.

    Amnesty’s weapon experts were able to identify an unexploded submunition apparently found in the Gush Dan metropolitan area on 19 June. Amnesty could not independently establish where this submunition landed.

    According to Haaretz, another cluster munition struck the top floor of a home in Azor shortly after 7am where a man and his son had been asleep. The father and son were woken up by sirens and managed to reach a safe room downstairs just before the submunition hit.

    Amnesty’s weapons experts identified the submunitions (above) from images shared by the media, which cited Israeli military’s Home Front Command.

    Furthermore, media reports of simultaneous impacts in Beersheba on 20 June seemingly indicate that cluster munitions were also used in that area. Among the several locations that were hit, Amnesty was able to verify that a submunition hit the basketball court of Gevim School in Beersheba. No deaths or injuries were reported. However, due to the high dud rate, there is the possibility that unexploded munitions not yet found could cause death or injury in the future.

    Israeli media also reported a cluster munitions strike on Rishon LeZion on 22 June. Amnesty analysed photographs of a crater in a residential street, which was consistent with impact craters left by submunitions used in the attack on the Gush Dan area.

    The ballistic missiles used by Iranian forces proved wildly inaccurate, and thus completely inappropriate for use near or in civilian residential areas. For example, an analysis of the October 2024 ballistic missiles strikes by Iranian forces against Israel showed that the missiles missed their intended target by an average of half-a-kilometre or more.

    International humanitarian law prohibits indiscriminate attacks, including through the use of weapons which cannot be directed at a specific military objective.

    Fin-stabilised submunitions

    While it has not been possible to determine precisely what kind of ballistic missile was used in these three attacks, the submunitions it dispersed bear a striking resemblance to a fin-stabilised submunition that appeared to have landed in the city of Gorgan, Golestan province, in Iran on 18 September 2023, following a failed missile test. Two citizens were reportedly injured.

    A picture of the submunition was published by Mashregh News, a news organisation in Iran, amid widespread reports of multiple explosions being heard and ordnance landing in and around the city. The Iranian authorities did not acknowledge testing cluster munitions; instead, Iran’s Ministry of Defence announced on 18 September 2023 that: “During a research test of offensive and drone systems conducted in a desert area, one of the systems under testing experienced a technical malfunction, veered off its intended path, and disintegrated, with parts of it falling in areas of the city of Gorgan.”

    The cluster munitions used by the Iranian forces also bear external resemblance to those showcased during defence exhibitions in Tehran in 2016.

    Civilians killed

    During the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, at least 1,100 people were killed in Iran, including at least 132 women and 45 children, according to Iran’s Foundation for Martyrs and Veterans Affairs. Amnesty is calling for Israel’s attack on Evin prison in Tehran on 23 June that killed and injured scores of civilians, including a child, to be investigated as a war crime following an in-depth investigation.

    At least 29 people, including women and children, were killed as a result of Iranian attacks in Israel, according to the Israeli Health Ministry. In one of the deadliest incidents, four members of the same family – three women and one child – were killed by an Iranian missile that hit the Palestinian town of Tamra in northern Israel on 14 June.  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tenders invited for licence of fee-paying public car park at Chai Wan Municipal Services Building

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         The Government Property Agency (GPA) is inviting tenders for a three-year licence of a fee-paying public car park on portions of Basement Two and a portion of Basement One of Chai Wan Municipal Services Building, 338 Chai Wan Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong.

         The premises should only be used to operate a fee-paying public car park for the parking of private cars and motor cycles.

         The tender notice was uploaded today (July 24) to the GPA Property Portal: www.gpaproperty.gov.hk/en/index.html. Tender documents are available for collection at the GPA, 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during the period from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, except public holidays. The documents can also be downloaded from the GPA Property Portal.

         Interested tenderers who wish to conduct a site inspection of the premises should make a prior appointment with the GPA by calling 3842 6775 by August 6.

         Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box placed on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, before noon on August 14. Late tenders will not be accepted.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Everything Blockchain Inc. Advances MemeStrategy Spin-Off Process. Initiates Preparation of Form S-1 for Public Memecoin Treasury.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Jacksonville, Florida, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Everything Blockchain Inc. (OTC: EBZT), a public company building a diversified, yield generating crypto treasury, today announced the next stage in its MemeStrategy spin-off, formally initiating the S-1 registration process and preparing for a potential NASDAQ uplisting through a capital raise and strategic acquisition.

    Under the current plan, EBZT will distribute 1 share of MemeStrategy for every 6 shares of EBZT held, contingent on SEC registration. The company previously announced its intent to create MemeStrategy, and is now taking concrete steps to structure it as the first public meme asset treasury vehicle, modeled after MicroStrategy but tailored to the crypto memecoin economy. 

    MemeStrategy will accumulate culturally significant tokens such as PEPE, BONK, and SPX6900, with the goal of providing transparent public market exposure to memecoin dynamics. strategic outreach is being initiated to relevant token communities, including BONK, PEPE, and SPX6900, to explore collaboration opportunities.

    “We believe memecoins are more than speculation they’re a cultural asset class,” said Arthur Rozenberg, CEO of Everything Blockchain Inc. “MemeStrategy is designed to bring structure and transparency to the meme asset class, with the goal of long term public market access through a potential Nasdaq listing.”

    To execute the uplisting strategy, MemeStrategy is currently interviewing:

    • A seasoned M&A advisor with experience in public company mergers

    • Crypto native Venture Capital aligned with long term meme treasury value creation

    This spin off is part of a broader strategic repositioning of EBZT. Under new leadership, the company is working to distance itself from the prior chapter of legacy liabilities and OTC stigma. As part of that effort, EBZT is exploring alternative exchange listings, including the TSX Venture Exchange in Toronto, to expand investor reach and enhance credibility.

    MemeStrategy is expected to be distributed as a dividend to EBZT shareholders following SEC registration and completion of the merger and listing process. Further details will be shared as the filing progresses.

    For updates or to explore collaboration, visit: www.MemeStrategy.lol

    About Everything Blockchain Inc.

    Everything Blockchain Inc. (OTC: EBZT) is a public company focused on identifying and capitalizing on opportunities within the rapidly evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors. The company’s strategy centers on building a diversified portfolio of leading crypto networks, with primary focus on Solana infrastructure, while pioneering innovative approaches to public company operations through blockchain technology. EBZT is positioned to become the first U.S. OTC-listed company to fully tokenize its equity.
    For more information, visit: www.everythingblockchain.io

    Contact Information

    Arthur Rozenberg

    CEO, Everything Blockchain, Inc.arthur.rozenberg@everythingblockchain.io

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to plans related to tokenization, treasury strategy, market opportunities, capital raises, and anticipated benefits of proposed initiatives. These statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the completion of necessary financing, regulatory approval, technical execution, market acceptance, competitive factors, and general economic conditions.
    Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Everything Blockchain Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Crossing improvement work to begin close to local school

    Source: City of Leicester

    TRAFFIC restrictions will be in place on Leicester’s St Barnabas Road from this weekend, while crossing and footpath improvement works take place.

    Leicester City Council will be repairing and improving paving on part of the road, and creating new footpath build-outs to provide a safer crossing point close to St Barnabas Primary School.

    The works are expected to take around four weeks to complete and will require traffic restrictions to be in place.

    Over the coming weekend – Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July – St Barnabas Road will be closed to all traffic between its junctions with Uppingham Road and French Road, while drainage works are carried out. Well-signposted diversions will be in place. Pedestrian access and vehicle access to properties in the area will be maintained.

    Then, from Monday 28 July, the road will be one-way only, towards Uppingham Road, until late-August. A short well-signposted diversion will be in place.

    The new footpath build-outs will be created on both sides of the road at the point where the school crossing patrol operates. The improvements will reduce the width of the crossing, prevent vehicles from parking and help reduce traffic speed making it safer for people to cross at all times of day.

    The scheme will cost around £100,000 and is part of a rolling programme of pedestrian crossing improvements across the city.

    Cllr Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said: “This is part of an ongoing programme of work in neighbourhoods across the city, where people have raised concerns, input ideas or highlighted possible areas for improvement.

    “By working with local communities in this way, we are able to invest in highways schemes that make a real difference to the daily lives of residents.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Update 304 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) this week provided Ukraine with a freight vehicle for the transport of radioactive material, its 150th delivery of equipment to support nuclear safety and security in the country during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

    State Enterprise USIE Izotop – involved in the management of radioactive material intended for medical, industrial and other purposes – received the truck that was funded by the European Union (EU) and Sweden. IAEA staff helped ensure that transport safety and security considerations were taken into account in the design of the vehicle.

    “Since the start of the conflict three and a half years ago, the IAEA has coordinated assistance for Ukraine of a wide range of technical equipment, medical supplies and other items that are of vital importance for nuclear safety and security. These deliveries are part of our overall efforts aimed at preventing a nuclear accident during this devastating war,” Director General Grossi said.

    “Thanks to the generous support of many of our Member States and the European Union, we have now carried out shipments with a total value of more than 19 million euros, each one helping to enhance different aspects of nuclear safety and security,” he said.

    Several other deliveries have taken place in recent weeks, supported by Belgium, the EU and Japan: the regional state laboratory in Mykolaiv province – badly affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in mid-2023 – received a real-time PCR cycler (Polymerase Chain Reaction, a nuclear-derived technique) for fast and accurate analysis to help it fight the spread of disease as a result of the flooding; the medical unit of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant received an ultrasound system; and a subsidiary of national nuclear operator Energoatom received a cryostat system ensuring continuity of services affected by power cuts and liquid nitrogen supply challenges.

    Director General Grossi said nuclear safety and security remains under threat in Ukraine.

    At the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the IAEA team based at the site has continued to hear shelling, explosions, and gunfire almost every day.

    Earlier this month, the ZNPP informed the IAEA team that the site’s training centre was targeted in a drone strike on 13 July, resulting in damage to its roof. There were no reports of casualties. The team was not granted access to assess the damage to the training centre located outside the site perimeter, with the plant citing security concerns.

    In addition, the ZNPP’s off-site power situation continues to be extremely fragile, with the plant having had access to just one single power line for almost three months now, compared to ten before the conflict.

    The nearby city of Enerhodar – where most ZNPP staff live – suffered an electricity blackout on 17 July due to damage to its main power line, according to information provided to the IAEA team members.  They were also told that subsequent shelling had damaged some buildings in the city, which was also observed when the team visited Enerhodar on 19 July.

    A forest fire near Enerhodar that caused smoke which was observed by the IAEA team last weekend has been extinguished without any impact on nuclear safety, the plant said.  

    The IAEA team has continued to carry out walkdowns across the ZNPP site to monitor nuclear safety and security, observing the testing of three emergency diesel generators as well as visiting the containment and safety system rooms of two reactor units.

    They also discussed with the plant management different options for refilling the plant’s cooling pond following the loss of the Kakhovka dam two years ago and further planning on emergency preparedness and response, including preparations for a site exercise later this year.

    At Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – three of their total of nine units are currently in shutdown for refuelling and maintenance.

    The IAEA team based at these plants, and the Chornobyl site, reported hearing air raid alarms nearly every day over the past week.

    At the Khmelnytskyy and South Ukraine NPPs, the IAEA teams were informed that during the night of 18 July drones were detected a few kilometres away from the two sites. That same evening, the team at Chornobyl observed flashes of light and heard explosions in the distance.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Update 304 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) this week provided Ukraine with a freight vehicle for the transport of radioactive material, its 150th delivery of equipment to support nuclear safety and security in the country during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

    State Enterprise USIE Izotop – involved in the management of radioactive material intended for medical, industrial and other purposes – received the truck that was funded by the European Union (EU) and Sweden. IAEA staff helped ensure that transport safety and security considerations were taken into account in the design of the vehicle.

    “Since the start of the conflict three and a half years ago, the IAEA has coordinated assistance for Ukraine of a wide range of technical equipment, medical supplies and other items that are of vital importance for nuclear safety and security. These deliveries are part of our overall efforts aimed at preventing a nuclear accident during this devastating war,” Director General Grossi said.

    “Thanks to the generous support of many of our Member States and the European Union, we have now carried out shipments with a total value of more than 19 million euros, each one helping to enhance different aspects of nuclear safety and security,” he said.

    Several other deliveries have taken place in recent weeks, supported by Belgium, the EU and Japan: the regional state laboratory in Mykolaiv province – badly affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in mid-2023 – received a real-time PCR cycler (Polymerase Chain Reaction, a nuclear-derived technique) for fast and accurate analysis to help it fight the spread of disease as a result of the flooding; the medical unit of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant received an ultrasound system; and a subsidiary of national nuclear operator Energoatom received a cryostat system ensuring continuity of services affected by power cuts and liquid nitrogen supply challenges.

    Director General Grossi said nuclear safety and security remains under threat in Ukraine.

    At the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the IAEA team based at the site has continued to hear shelling, explosions, and gunfire almost every day.

    Earlier this month, the ZNPP informed the IAEA team that the site’s training centre was targeted in a drone strike on 13 July, resulting in damage to its roof. There were no reports of casualties. The team was not granted access to assess the damage to the training centre located outside the site perimeter, with the plant citing security concerns.

    In addition, the ZNPP’s off-site power situation continues to be extremely fragile, with the plant having had access to just one single power line for almost three months now, compared to ten before the conflict.

    The nearby city of Enerhodar – where most ZNPP staff live – suffered an electricity blackout on 17 July due to damage to its main power line, according to information provided to the IAEA team members.  They were also told that subsequent shelling had damaged some buildings in the city, which was also observed when the team visited Enerhodar on 19 July.

    A forest fire near Enerhodar that caused smoke which was observed by the IAEA team last weekend has been extinguished without any impact on nuclear safety, the plant said.  

    The IAEA team has continued to carry out walkdowns across the ZNPP site to monitor nuclear safety and security, observing the testing of three emergency diesel generators as well as visiting the containment and safety system rooms of two reactor units.

    They also discussed with the plant management different options for refilling the plant’s cooling pond following the loss of the Kakhovka dam two years ago and further planning on emergency preparedness and response, including preparations for a site exercise later this year.

    At Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – three of their total of nine units are currently in shutdown for refuelling and maintenance.

    The IAEA team based at these plants, and the Chornobyl site, reported hearing air raid alarms nearly every day over the past week.

    At the Khmelnytskyy and South Ukraine NPPs, the IAEA teams were informed that during the night of 18 July drones were detected a few kilometres away from the two sites. That same evening, the team at Chornobyl observed flashes of light and heard explosions in the distance.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Update 304 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) this week provided Ukraine with a freight vehicle for the transport of radioactive material, its 150th delivery of equipment to support nuclear safety and security in the country during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

    State Enterprise USIE Izotop – involved in the management of radioactive material intended for medical, industrial and other purposes – received the truck that was funded by the European Union (EU) and Sweden. IAEA staff helped ensure that transport safety and security considerations were taken into account in the design of the vehicle.

    “Since the start of the conflict three and a half years ago, the IAEA has coordinated assistance for Ukraine of a wide range of technical equipment, medical supplies and other items that are of vital importance for nuclear safety and security. These deliveries are part of our overall efforts aimed at preventing a nuclear accident during this devastating war,” Director General Grossi said.

    “Thanks to the generous support of many of our Member States and the European Union, we have now carried out shipments with a total value of more than 19 million euros, each one helping to enhance different aspects of nuclear safety and security,” he said.

    Several other deliveries have taken place in recent weeks, supported by Belgium, the EU and Japan: the regional state laboratory in Mykolaiv province – badly affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in mid-2023 – received a real-time PCR cycler (Polymerase Chain Reaction, a nuclear-derived technique) for fast and accurate analysis to help it fight the spread of disease as a result of the flooding; the medical unit of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant received an ultrasound system; and a subsidiary of national nuclear operator Energoatom received a cryostat system ensuring continuity of services affected by power cuts and liquid nitrogen supply challenges.

    Director General Grossi said nuclear safety and security remains under threat in Ukraine.

    At the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the IAEA team based at the site has continued to hear shelling, explosions, and gunfire almost every day.

    Earlier this month, the ZNPP informed the IAEA team that the site’s training centre was targeted in a drone strike on 13 July, resulting in damage to its roof. There were no reports of casualties. The team was not granted access to assess the damage to the training centre located outside the site perimeter, with the plant citing security concerns.

    In addition, the ZNPP’s off-site power situation continues to be extremely fragile, with the plant having had access to just one single power line for almost three months now, compared to ten before the conflict.

    The nearby city of Enerhodar – where most ZNPP staff live – suffered an electricity blackout on 17 July due to damage to its main power line, according to information provided to the IAEA team members.  They were also told that subsequent shelling had damaged some buildings in the city, which was also observed when the team visited Enerhodar on 19 July.

    A forest fire near Enerhodar that caused smoke which was observed by the IAEA team last weekend has been extinguished without any impact on nuclear safety, the plant said.  

    The IAEA team has continued to carry out walkdowns across the ZNPP site to monitor nuclear safety and security, observing the testing of three emergency diesel generators as well as visiting the containment and safety system rooms of two reactor units.

    They also discussed with the plant management different options for refilling the plant’s cooling pond following the loss of the Kakhovka dam two years ago and further planning on emergency preparedness and response, including preparations for a site exercise later this year.

    At Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – three of their total of nine units are currently in shutdown for refuelling and maintenance.

    The IAEA team based at these plants, and the Chornobyl site, reported hearing air raid alarms nearly every day over the past week.

    At the Khmelnytskyy and South Ukraine NPPs, the IAEA teams were informed that during the night of 18 July drones were detected a few kilometres away from the two sites. That same evening, the team at Chornobyl observed flashes of light and heard explosions in the distance.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Smuggler of Firearms from Key West to Haiti Sentenced in D.C. to 30 Months in Prison

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

                WASHINGTON – Jean Wiltene Eugene, 57, of Key West, Florida, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison and a $20,000 fine for his role in a gunrunning operation that illegally exported firearms to Haiti, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

                Eugene pleaded guilty on April 11, 2025, to one count of smuggling. In addition to the prison term, Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Eugene to serve 24 months of supervised release.

                Joining in the announcement of the sentence were Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Justin Fleck of the Miami Field Office.

                According to court documents, Eugene is a U.S. citizen who was born in Haiti and resides in Key West. On Sept. 23, 2021, Eugene knowingly exported more than two firearms from the United States to Haiti contrary to U.S. laws and regulations, including the prohibitions in the Export Administration Regulations and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, knowing the firearms were intended for exportation contrary to such laws and regulations. In particular, Eugene exported the firearms without having first obtained the required license from the Bureau of Industry and Security, located in the District of Columbia. Anyone who violates the smuggling statute may be fined up to $250,000 and imprisoned for up to 10 years.

                Eugene arranged to ship vehicles to Haiti through a Florida-based export company. Eugene signed the company’s terms and conditions of shipments, which required the shipper to affirm that the vehicles did not contain any firearms or ammunition. In a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Eugene admitted that, in 2020 and 2021, he shipped two vehicles to Haiti with firearms hidden inside. Eugene stated that he placed food and other items around the bins holding the firearms so border authorities would not find the weapons.

                In a later interview with federal agents, Eugene stated that nine firearms he purchased in Key West under his name were currently located at his gas station in Haiti and that none of those firearms remained in the United States. He admitted that he knew it was illegal to ship weapons to Haiti when confronted by the federal agents.

                Eugene was arrested May 4, 2024, in Key West.

                This case was investigated by the FBI Miami Field Office with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorney Pravallika Palacharla. Substantial assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.

    25cr78

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Togo’s ‘Nana-Benz’: how cheap Chinese imports of African fabrics have hurt the famous women traders

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Fidele B. Ebia, Postdoctoral fellow, Duke Africa Initiative, Duke University

    The manufacturing of African print textiles has shifted to China in the 21st century. While they are widely consumed in African countries – and symbolic of the continent – the rise of “made in China” has undermined the African women traders who have long shaped the retail and distribution of this cloth.

    For many decades Vlisco, the Dutch textile group which traces its origins to 1846 and whose products had been supplied to west Africa by European trading houses since the late 19th century, dominated manufacture of the cloth. But in the last 25 years dozens of factories in China have begun to supply African print textiles to west African markets. Qingdao Phoenix Hitarget Ltd, Sanhe Linqing Textile Group and Waxhaux Ltd are among the best known.

    We conducted research to establish how the rise of Chinese-made cloth has affected the African print textiles trade. We focused on Togo. Though it’s a tiny country with a population of only 9.7 million, the capital city, Lomé, is the trading hub in west Africa for the textiles.

    We conducted over 100 interviews with traders, street sellers, port agents or brokers, government officials and representatives of manufacturing companies to learn about how their activities have changed.

    “Made in China” African print textiles are substantially cheaper and more accessible to a wider population than Vlisco fabric. Our market observations in Lomé’s famous Assigamé market found that Chinese African print textiles cost about 9,000 CFA (US$16) for six yards – one complete outfit. Wax Hollandais (50,000 CFA or US$87) cost over five times more.

    Data is hard to come by, but our estimates suggest that 90% of imports of these textiles to Lomé port in 2019 came from China.

    One Togolese trader summed up the attraction:

    Who could resist a cloth that looked similar, but that cost much less than real Vlisco?

    Our research shows how the rise of China manufactured cloth has undermined Vlisco’s once dominant market share as well as the monopoly on the trade of Dutch African print textiles that Togolese traders once enjoyed.

    The traders, known as Nana-Benz because of the expensive cars they drove, once enjoyed an economic and political significance disproportionate to their small numbers. Their political influence was such that they were key backers of Togo’s first president, Sylvanus Olympio – himself a former director of the United Africa Company, which distributed Dutch cloth.

    In turn, Olympio and long-term leader General Gnassingbé Eyadéma provided policy favours – such as low taxes – to support trading activity. In the 1970s, African print textile trade was considered as significant as the phosphate industry – the country’s primary export.

    Nana-Benz have since been displaced – their numbers falling from 50 to about 20. Newer Togolese traders – known as Nanettes or “little Nanas” – have taken their place. While they have carved out a niche in mediating the textiles trade with China, they have lower economic and political stature. In turn, they too are increasingly threatened by Chinese competition, more recently within trading and distribution as well.

    China displaces the Dutch

    Dating back to the colonial period, African women traders have played essential roles in the wholesale and distribution of Dutch cloth in west African markets. As many countries in the region attained independence from the 1950s onwards, Grand Marché – or Assigamé – in Lomé became the hub for African print textile trade.

    While neighbouring countries such as Ghana limited imports as part of efforts to promote domestic industrialisation, Togolese traders secured favourable conditions. These included low taxes and use of the port.

    Read more: West Africans ditch Dutch wax prints for Chinese ‘real-fakes’

    Togolese women traders knew the taste of predominantly female, west African customers better than their mostly male, Dutch designers. The Nana-Benz were brought into the African print textile production and design process, selecting patterns and giving names to designs they knew would sell.

    They acquired such wealth from this trade that they earned the Nana-Benz nickname from the cars they purchased and which they used to collect and move merchandise.

    Nana-Benz exclusivity of trading and retailing of African print textiles cloth in west African markets has been disrupted. As Vlisco has responded to falling revenues – over 30% in the first five years of the 21st century – due to its Chinese competition, Togolese traders’ role in the supply chain of Dutch cloth has been downgraded.

    In response to the flood of Chinese imports, the Dutch manufacturer re-positioned itself as a luxury fashion brand and placed greater focus on the marketing and distribution of the textiles.

    Vlisco has opened several boutique stores in west and central Africa, starting with Cotonou (2008), Lomé (2008) and Abidjan (2009). The surviving Nana-Benz – an estimated 20 of the original 50 – operate under contract as retailers rather than traders and must follow strict rules of sale and pricing.

    While newer Togolese traders known as Nanettes are involved in the sourcing of textiles from China, they have lower economic and political stature. Up to 60 are involved in the trade.

    Former street sellers of textiles and other petty commodities, Nanettes began travelling to China in the early to mid-2000s to source African print textiles. They are involved in commissioning and advising on the manufacturing of African print textiles in China and the distribution in Africa.

    While many Nanettes order the common Chinese brands, some own and market their own. These include what are now well-known designs in Lomé and west Africa such as “Femme de Caractère”, “Binta”, “Prestige”, “Rebecca Wax”, “GMG” and “Homeland”.

    Compared to their Nana-Benz predecessors, the Nanettes carve out their business from the smaller pie available from the sale of cheaper Chinese cloth. Though the volumes traded are large, the margins are smaller due to the much lower final retail price compared to Dutch cloth.

    After procuring African print textiles from China, Nanettes sell wholesale to independent local traders or “sellers” as well as traders from neighbouring countries. These sellers in turn break down the bulk they have purchased and sell it in smaller quantities to independent street vendors.

    All African print textiles from China arrive in west Africa as an incomplete product – as six-yard or 12-yard segments of cloth, not as finished garments. Local tailors and seamstresses then make clothes according to consumer taste. Some fashion designers have also opened shops where they sell prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear) garments made from bolts of African print and tailored to local taste. Thus, even though the monopoly of the Nana-Benz has been eroded, value is still added and captured locally.

    Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese actors have become more involved in trading activity – and not just manufacturing. The further evolution of Chinese presence risks an even greater marginalisation of locals, already excluded from manufacturing, from the trading and distribution end of the value chain. Maintaining their role – tailoring products to local culture and trends and linking the formal and informal economy – is vital not just for Togolese traders, but also the wider economy.

    – Togo’s ‘Nana-Benz’: how cheap Chinese imports of African fabrics have hurt the famous women traders
    – https://theconversation.com/togos-nana-benz-how-cheap-chinese-imports-of-african-fabrics-have-hurt-the-famous-women-traders-260924

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Togo’s ‘Nana-Benz’: how cheap Chinese imports of African fabrics have hurt the famous women traders

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Fidele B. Ebia, Postdoctoral fellow, Duke Africa Initiative, Duke University

    The manufacturing of African print textiles has shifted to China in the 21st century. While they are widely consumed in African countries – and symbolic of the continent – the rise of “made in China” has undermined the African women traders who have long shaped the retail and distribution of this cloth.

    For many decades Vlisco, the Dutch textile group which traces its origins to 1846 and whose products had been supplied to west Africa by European trading houses since the late 19th century, dominated manufacture of the cloth. But in the last 25 years dozens of factories in China have begun to supply African print textiles to west African markets. Qingdao Phoenix Hitarget Ltd, Sanhe Linqing Textile Group and Waxhaux Ltd are among the best known.

    We conducted research to establish how the rise of Chinese-made cloth has affected the African print textiles trade. We focused on Togo. Though it’s a tiny country with a population of only 9.7 million, the capital city, Lomé, is the trading hub in west Africa for the textiles.

    We conducted over 100 interviews with traders, street sellers, port agents or brokers, government officials and representatives of manufacturing companies to learn about how their activities have changed.

    “Made in China” African print textiles are substantially cheaper and more accessible to a wider population than Vlisco fabric. Our market observations in Lomé’s famous Assigamé market found that Chinese African print textiles cost about 9,000 CFA (US$16) for six yards – one complete outfit. Wax Hollandais (50,000 CFA or US$87) cost over five times more.

    Data is hard to come by, but our estimates suggest that 90% of imports of these textiles to Lomé port in 2019 came from China.

    One Togolese trader summed up the attraction:

    Who could resist a cloth that looked similar, but that cost much less than real Vlisco?

    Our research shows how the rise of China manufactured cloth has undermined Vlisco’s once dominant market share as well as the monopoly on the trade of Dutch African print textiles that Togolese traders once enjoyed.

    The traders, known as Nana-Benz because of the expensive cars they drove, once enjoyed an economic and political significance disproportionate to their small numbers. Their political influence was such that they were key backers of Togo’s first president, Sylvanus Olympio – himself a former director of the United Africa Company, which distributed Dutch cloth.

    In turn, Olympio and long-term leader General Gnassingbé Eyadéma provided policy favours – such as low taxes – to support trading activity. In the 1970s, African print textile trade was considered as significant as the phosphate industry – the country’s primary export.

    Nana-Benz have since been displaced – their numbers falling from 50 to about 20. Newer Togolese traders – known as Nanettes or “little Nanas” – have taken their place. While they have carved out a niche in mediating the textiles trade with China, they have lower economic and political stature. In turn, they too are increasingly threatened by Chinese competition, more recently within trading and distribution as well.

    China displaces the Dutch

    Dating back to the colonial period, African women traders have played essential roles in the wholesale and distribution of Dutch cloth in west African markets. As many countries in the region attained independence from the 1950s onwards, Grand Marché – or Assigamé – in Lomé became the hub for African print textile trade.

    While neighbouring countries such as Ghana limited imports as part of efforts to promote domestic industrialisation, Togolese traders secured favourable conditions. These included low taxes and use of the port.



    Read more:
    West Africans ditch Dutch wax prints for Chinese ‘real-fakes’

    Togolese women traders knew the taste of predominantly female, west African customers better than their mostly male, Dutch designers. The Nana-Benz were brought into the African print textile production and design process, selecting patterns and giving names to designs they knew would sell.

    They acquired such wealth from this trade that they earned the Nana-Benz nickname from the cars they purchased and which they used to collect and move merchandise.

    Nana-Benz exclusivity of trading and retailing of African print textiles cloth in west African markets has been disrupted. As Vlisco has responded to falling revenues – over 30% in the first five years of the 21st century – due to its Chinese competition, Togolese traders’ role in the supply chain of Dutch cloth has been downgraded.

    In response to the flood of Chinese imports, the Dutch manufacturer re-positioned itself as a luxury fashion brand and placed greater focus on the marketing and distribution of the textiles.

    Vlisco has opened several boutique stores in west and central Africa, starting with Cotonou (2008), Lomé (2008) and Abidjan (2009). The surviving Nana-Benz – an estimated 20 of the original 50 – operate under contract as retailers rather than traders and must follow strict rules of sale and pricing.

    While newer Togolese traders known as Nanettes are involved in the sourcing of textiles from China, they have lower economic and political stature. Up to 60 are involved in the trade.

    Former street sellers of textiles and other petty commodities, Nanettes began travelling to China in the early to mid-2000s to source African print textiles. They are involved in commissioning and advising on the manufacturing of African print textiles in China and the distribution in Africa.

    While many Nanettes order the common Chinese brands, some own and market their own. These include what are now well-known designs in Lomé and west Africa such as “Femme de Caractère”, “Binta”, “Prestige”, “Rebecca Wax”, “GMG” and “Homeland”.

    Compared to their Nana-Benz predecessors, the Nanettes carve out their business from the smaller pie available from the sale of cheaper Chinese cloth. Though the volumes traded are large, the margins are smaller due to the much lower final retail price compared to Dutch cloth.

    After procuring African print textiles from China, Nanettes sell wholesale to independent local traders or “sellers” as well as traders from neighbouring countries. These sellers in turn break down the bulk they have purchased and sell it in smaller quantities to independent street vendors.

    All African print textiles from China arrive in west Africa as an incomplete product – as six-yard or 12-yard segments of cloth, not as finished garments. Local tailors and seamstresses then make clothes according to consumer taste. Some fashion designers have also opened shops where they sell prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear) garments made from bolts of African print and tailored to local taste. Thus, even though the monopoly of the Nana-Benz has been eroded, value is still added and captured locally.

    Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese actors have become more involved in trading activity – and not just manufacturing. The further evolution of Chinese presence risks an even greater marginalisation of locals, already excluded from manufacturing, from the trading and distribution end of the value chain. Maintaining their role – tailoring products to local culture and trends and linking the formal and informal economy – is vital not just for Togolese traders, but also the wider economy.

    Rory Horner receives funding from the British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship. He is also a Research Associate at the Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies at the University of Johannesburg.

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

    – ref. Togo’s ‘Nana-Benz’: how cheap Chinese imports of African fabrics have hurt the famous women traders – https://theconversation.com/togos-nana-benz-how-cheap-chinese-imports-of-african-fabrics-have-hurt-the-famous-women-traders-260924

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New research reveals scars of Gambia’s witch hunts

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    A map showing the location of The Gambia

    A new United Nations-funded study has highlighted the lasting psychological and social scars left by a state-sponsored witch hunt in The Gambia, more than a decade after it was carried out by former President Yahya Jammeh.

    The research, led by Professor Mick Finlay of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in collaboration with the University of The Gambia and Nottingham Trent University, is the first academic study into the stigma associated with government-led witchcraft accusations, and includes interviews with victims and their families from the villages most affected by the campaign.

    Jammeh’s 22-year dictatorship, which ended in 2016, was marked by human rights abuses including torture, extrajudicial killings and disappearances. Between 2008-2009, he orchestrated a campaign of witch hunts focusing on the West Coast and North Bank regions. These were led by a group of “witch hunters” from neighbouring countries, supported by The Gambia’s security forces.

    Hundreds of people, mainly elderly, were detained, beaten, raped and subjected to degrading treatment. It is thought 41 people died and the survivors faced social exclusion and discrimination when they returned home because of the stigma associated with the witchcraft accusations.

    The new study, published in the Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology and funded by the United Nations Development Program (The Gambia), involved interviewing and surveying the victims and their families, as well as members of their communities.

    There was widespread sympathy for those affected – 98% of survey respondents expressed compassion for victims and their families – and a high level of agreement that the government (99%) and the community (92%) should provide more help for victims, indicating that the effects of the witch hunts were still being experienced.

    The study also highlighted the complex role of traditional beliefs in perpetuating stigma. Although most participants believed the witch hunts were organised to frighten people not to oppose President Jammeh (89%) or to sow division (87%), 25% believed the threat from witches was real, including 22% of victims and the families of victims surveyed.

    However, there was overwhelming support for legal reform. Almost all participants agreed that accusations of witchcraft should be made illegal (98%), and those responsible should be punished (95%).

    Through interviews, the researchers found that the stigma extended beyond individuals to their families and entire villages. Children of victims were bullied at school, families were shunned, and some communities were labelled as “witch villages” by neighbouring areas. This led to broken relationships, mistrust and long-lasting divisions within and between communities.

    Victims reported a range of psychological conditions including anxiety, panic attacks and post-traumatic symptoms. Many described feeling powerless and socially isolated. Some withdrew from public life entirely, while others struggled to find work.

    Although The Gambia’s current government established a Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) to investigate the human rights abuses carried out by Jammeh, the study found many victims felt more needed to be done to address the specific harms caused by the witch hunts.

    Participants proposed a range of measures to support reconciliation and healing including public declarations of innocence, legal reforms to criminalise witchcraft accusations, counselling, educational support, financial reparations and community-led dialogues to restore victims’ reputations.

    “Our extensive fieldwork showed that not only did victims of the witchcraft accusations have to deal with the trauma of the human rights abuses, they also experienced a range of longer-term stigmatising effects from sections of their communities.

    “There was a strong desire among those we spoke to for official recognition of the injustice they suffered. Addressing the stigma of Jammeh’s witch hunts involves restoring the good name of the victims through official declarations as well as rebuilding their social roles and relationships.

    “Although The Gambia is undergoing transitional justice processes to address the impacts of the dictatorship, the recommendations by the participants should help the government and NGOs to further develop reparation and reconciliation processes related to the specific case of state-sanctioned witch hunts.

    “Our findings will be of interest to other countries going through transitional justice processes when human rights come into conflict with traditional beliefs, especially belief in witchcraft.”

    Mick Finlay, the lead author of the study and Professor of Social and Applied Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)

    The open access study also involved the Women’s Association of Victims’ Empowerment (WAVE) charity in The Gambia and is published by the Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology. It will be available at the following DOI: 10.1002/casp.70147

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Rhombus Expands AI-Powered Operational Analytics by Launching Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rhombus, a leader in cloud-managed physical security solutions, today announced the expansion of its AI-powered Operational Analytics capabilities with two powerful new features: Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting. These solutions give organizations real-time spatial intelligence tools to improve how they manage traffic flow, space utilization, and staffing. Both work with existing Rhombus camera infrastructure and can be centrally managed from the Rhombus console.

    Rhombus continues to expand video intelligence beyond traditional surveillance by unlocking AI-fueled insights that help businesses solve everyday operational challenges. With these new features, security footage instantly becomes a live source of business intelligence to give teams a clear understanding of precisely how spaces are used and how to improve them.

    “Video systems have long been siloed for security use only,” said Brandon Salzberg, Chief Technology Officer at Rhombus. “But with the right AI and powerful analytics, those same systems can also power real-time operational intelligence that helps businesses grow. Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting are great new examples of how we’re unlocking broader value from existing security camera infrastructure.”

    Line Crossing

    Line Crossing lets organizations define custom boundaries within camera views to monitor the directional traffic of how and when people or vehicles cross from one area to another. These insights are critical for identifying peak usage patterns and making layout or schedule changes that improve flow and efficiency. From retail store entrances to manufacturing loading docks, Line Crossing provides actionable data through clear, intuitive reporting.

    “We built Line Crossing to answer a simple question: how are people actually using your space?” said Rickey Cox, VP of Product at Rhombus. “We can surface directional insights that help organizations fine-tune everything from where to place employees to broader site design changes, without relying on guesswork.”

    Occupancy Counting

    Occupancy Counting provides ongoing estimates of how many people are in a given area by using AI models. The solution eliminates the need for manual headcounts or check-in systems, enabling teams to manage capacity and identify underused areas. These insights help organizations respond to fluctuations in foot traffic, optimize space layout, and better align staffing with actual demand.

    Solutions Built for Real-World Use Cases

    Both Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting are designed to support a wide range of operational needs across industries. For example:

    • In retail environments, traffic flow data can inform smarter product placement and optimize underperforming departments.
    • In manufacturing settings, tracking vendor deliveries can reduce congestion at loading docks.
    • At fitness centers, occupancy visibility enables better fitness class and staff planning while minimizing safety hazards.

    Rhombus’ Vision for Smarter Security, Smarter Operations

    The expansion of the Operational Analytics suite underscores Rhombus’ broader commitment to making its video intelligence solutions continually smarter, faster, and more adaptive. From real-time alerts to natural language video search, Rhombus uses AI to eliminate otherwise tedious manual efforts, accelerate investigations, and proactively detect threats. At the same time, the platform helps teams improve safety, increase efficiency, and make better decisions across their operations. By combining AI-enabled video analytics, audio detection, and IoT sensor data, Rhombus delivers a unified solution that adapts to each customer’s needs, supports evolving workflows, and helps organizations get more value from their existing security infrastructure.

    Seamless Integration with the Rhombus Platform

    Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting work with Rhombus’ dome, bullet, and multisensor camera series, and are available with no additional hardware or complex setup. Teams can access trends and reports through the same intuitive cloud-managed platform they already use, or pull data into their systems via Rhombus’ open APIs.

    Availability

    Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting are now available in limited release to customers with a Rhombus Enterprise license. Organizations interested in exploring the unique advantages of Rhombus’ Operational Analytics can book a demo: https://www.rhombus.com/live-demo/

    About Rhombus

    Rhombus is an open, cloud-managed physical security platform that brings security cameras, access control, sensors, alarm monitoring, and integrations together under a single pane of glass. Thousands of organizations trust Rhombus to drive operational excellence, improve safety, and streamline workflows through a comprehensive suite of smart security solutions and 50+ integrations with leading business systems. Rhombus is backed by NightDragon, Bluestone Equity Partners, Cota Capital, Caden Capital, Tru Arrow Partners, and Uncorrelated Ventures, and is on a mission to make the world safer with a smart, powerful physical security platform that is built to protect and designed to adapt.

    Visit www.rhombus.com to book a demo.

    Contact
    Kyle Peterson / Clement | Peterson
    kyle@clementpeterson.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f7015666-d6fb-468a-8a5e-7c950800f6f6

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa visits BMW Group 

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Thursday, July 24, 2025

    President Cyril Ramaphosa will this morning attend a showcase of the successful implementation of the latest investment for production of the new BMW X3 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle at the automaker’s plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria. 

    President Ramaphosa will deliver remarks at the end of his tour of the plant, where he will be accompanied only by BMW representatives.

    Themed “BMW Group South Africa: Leading Today, Enabling Tomorrow”, the event marking the start of the new vehicle will highlight the firm’s commitment to strengthening South Africa’s economic vitality and advancing industrial innovation.

    “The event will showcase the active partnership between industry and government – a collaboration essential for driving innovation, catalysing job creation, and propelling sustainable growth within South Africa’s automotive sector.

    “It also demonstrates the BMW Group’s dedication to leading today through operational excellence and enabling tomorrow by strategically investing in the nation’s future,” the Presidency said of Thursday’s visit.

    The new BMW X3 has been declared South Africa’s Car of the Year for 2025.

    The BMW Group announced further investment in its plant operations in Rosslyn during the President’s Investment Conference held on 13 April 2023, as a commitment to South Africa.

    BMW has a long history in the country, and its footprint has grown significantly over time. Its investment at the Rosslyn plant located in Gauteng dates back five decades.

    The plant operations are also a significant anchor and justification for the continued operations of BMW in South Africa, including the National Sales Company, BMW Financial Services, and BMW IT Development Hub. 

    BMW and its supply chain sustain tens of thousands of livelihoods directly and indirectly as a result of BMW Group activities in South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: China releases new e-bike safety standards enforcement guidelines

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

    BEIJING, July 24 — China has issued a set of guidelines ensuring the effective implementation of new mandatory national safety standards for electric bicycles (e-bikes), in an effort to improve regulation of this sector.

    The document, released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Public Security, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Fire and Rescue Administration, outlines comprehensive measures which apply across the industry chain.

    There will be stricter oversight ranging from manufacturing to sales and registration, as well as the replacement of outdated vehicles, according to the guidelines.

    This move comes amid growing safety concerns over substandard e-bikes and unauthorized modifications, stoked by incidents involving e-bike fires and traffic accidents in recent years — which were often linked to illegal retrofitting that can make e-bikes exceed speed limits.

    To address these risks, China has already launched campaigns targeting safety hazards, while the new national standards will take effect on September 1.

    Preliminary results have indicated positive progress. In the first half of 2025, the country recorded 7,048 e-bike-related fire incidents, a 44.7-percent decrease compared to the same period last year.

    According to the MIIT, these guidelines aim to help manufacturers deliver compliant products to the market more quickly and accelerate the phasing out of non-conforming inventory. Efforts, notably, will be made to reinforce quality supervision endeavors and crack down on the production of non-compliant vehicles and illegal retrofitting.

    Meanwhile, China will continue to offer subsidies aimed at encouraging consumers to replace outdated e-bikes. So far this year, nearly 9.06 million new e-bikes have been sold nationwide via the government trade-in program.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Workshops and a tour of the plant: how the Summer School of Engineering and Economics 2025 is going

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Official website of the State –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On July 22, a busy lecture day was held for the participants of the Summer Engineering and Economics School – 2025. Young scientists from the GGNTU named after academician M.D. Millionshchikov – a partner of the State University of Management in the project of the Advanced Engineering School “RosGeoTech” – held 2 master classes.

    Assistant of the Department of Automation of Technological Processes and Production of the Institute of Power Engineering Ayub Sadulaev spoke about smart control of the water level as part of the development of a laboratory complex based on OWEN. The audience learned details about the development device: levels of automated control systems, increasing efficiency through automation of processes, features of the control system and the use of the laboratory complex in real conditions.

    Assistant of the Department of Technological Machines and Equipment of the Institute of Oil and Gas Yusup Taramov presented the engineering solutions of the university, created on the basis of the engineering development center of GGNTU, and highlighted their role in the scientific and technical process. The speaker noted that the Engineering Development Center solves real engineering problems and trains a new generation of engineers in the areas of the automotive industry, mechanical engineering and unmanned aircraft systems. Yusup Taramov also spoke about examples of successful projects implemented by students and the experience of cooperation with local enterprises.

    The staff of the Engineering Project Management Center and the Reverse Engineering Laboratory of the State University of Management conducted practical training for students as part of the activities of the State University of Management Student Design Bureau “Innovative Solutions”.

    During the practical lesson “Car Structure”, which was conducted by the Laboratory specialist Denis Yudin, the participants not only understood the design of modern cars, but also discussed the advantages and disadvantages of different types of basic car components by design.

    Vladimir Kutkov and Nikita Akinshin, specialists from the Engineering Project Management Center, spoke about the history of the development of unmanned aircraft systems, the most popular and universal designs of modern drones, the features of intelligent systems, and the autonomy of UAS during the practical course “Device of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.”

    On July 23, participants of the Summer Engineering and Economics School 2025 visited the Demikhovsky Machine-Building Plant (JSC DMZ), which is part of JSC Transmashholding.

    The guests were greeted by the plant’s CEO Vladimir Chekalin and HR and Transformation Director Yulia Smirnova, who spoke about the development of the enterprise, its products and the current state of production. In 2025, the Demikhovsky Machine-Building Plant celebrates its 90th anniversary since its foundation. Today, DMZ is the leading enterprise for the production of electric trains in Russia. The plant produces EP2DM DC electric trains and EP3D AC electric trains. The trains manufactured by the enterprise are successfully operated in all climatic zones of the Russian Federation, as well as in the CIS countries.

    At the Exhibition Center, the excursion participants learned about the history of the Demikhovsky Machine-Building Plant, seeing documents, awards, photographs of events, employees, veterans of JSC DMZ, models of electric trains and narrow-gauge rolling stock. A unique exhibit of the museum is an interactive miniature railway, reflecting the geography of the operation of DMZ electric trains. It recreates natural landscapes and exact copies of railway stations in the regions where electric trains manufactured at the plant run – Moscow Region, the Far East, Armenia and Kazakhstan. The model presents real regions of operation and rolling stock, which is used in these areas.

    Young scientists visited production shops: mechanical assembly, electrical installation, welding, wagon assembly, repair and others. In addition to the production of wagons and electric trains, the plant carries out major repairs of passenger rolling stock, manufactures wheel sets for metro cars, electric trains and rail buses.

    Excursions to production facilities are traditionally an integral part of the program of the engineering and economics school. A visit to the Demikhovsky Machine-Building Plant, organized with the support and participation of the TMH Corporate University, allowed young scientists to see the work of an enterprise in the real sector of the economy, immerse themselves in the production environment and get acquainted with modern technologies and processes.

    The opening of the “Summer Engineering and Economics School – 2025” was reported in this article.

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • EU’s von der Leyen says China ties are at ‘inflection point’ at tense summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for an “essential” rebalancing of trade ties with China during a tense summit on Thursday with President Xi Jinping, saying ties stood at an “inflection point”, according to a pool report.

    Expectations were low for the summit marking 50 years of diplomatic ties after weeks of escalating tension and wrangling over its format, with the duration abruptly halved to a single day at Beijing’s request.

    Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa met Xi at the start of an event set to be dominated by thorny issues ranging from trade frictions to the Ukraine war.

    “As our cooperation has deepened, so have imbalances. We have reached an inflection point,” von der Leyen told Xi during the meeting in the Great Hall of the People.

    She was referring to the EU’s trade deficit with China, which ballooned to a historic 305.8 billion euros ($360 billion) last year.

    “Rebalancing of our bilateral relation is essential … It is vital for China and Europe to acknowledge our respective concerns and come forward with real solutions.”

    However, Xi urged the EU to “make correct strategic choices” during the meeting, state broadcaster CCTV said, in a veiled criticism of Brussels’ hawkish stance on China.

    “The more severe and complex the international situation, the more China and the EU must strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust and deepen cooperation,” Xi told von der Leyen and Costa, it said.

    “Chinese and European leaders should … make correct strategic choices that meet the expectations of the people.”

    The weeks before the summit were dominated by tit-for-tat trade disputes and hawkish European rhetoric, such as a July 8 accusation by von der Leyen that China was flooding global markets as a result of its overcapacity and “enabling Russia’s war economy”.

    Shortly before the summit, however, von der Leyen struck a more conciliatory tone, describing it as an opportunity to “both advance and rebalance our relationship” in a post on X on Thursday.

    “I’m convinced there can be a mutually beneficial cooperation,” von der Leyen added.

    The two EU officials are set to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang later. Both sides are hoping to reach a modest joint statement on climate, currently one of the only bright spots in EU-China cooperation.

    State news agency Xinhua also appeared to downplay Beijing’s rivalry with the 27-member bloc, saying China was a “critical partner” for Europe, with a range of shared interests.

    “China is a critical partner to Europe, not a systemic rival,” it said in a commentary.

    The two shared interests in trade, climate, and global governance, it said, adding, “These areas of common ground should not be eclipsed by isolated points of friction.”

    The EU defines China as a “partner, competitor and systemic rival”, which frames its strategic approach to China policy.

    At the summit, European leaders are also expected to raise topics such as electric vehicles and Chinese industrial overcapacity.

    China launched rare earth export controls in April that disrupted supply chains worldwide, leading to temporary stoppages in European automotive production lines the following month.

    But its exports of rare earth magnets to the EU surged in June by 245% from May, to stand at 1,364 metric tons, though that was still 35% lower than the year-earlier figure, customs data showed.

    The EU is likely to seal a trade deal with the United States for a broad tariff of 15% on its exports after intense negotiations, avoiding a harsher 30% figure threatened by President Donald Trump.

    (Reuters)

  • Israeli strike kills hungry Gaza family in their sleep

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Al-Shaer family went to bed hungry at their home in Gaza City. An Israeli airstrike killed them in their sleep.

    The family – freelance journalist Wala al-Jaabari, her husband and their five children – were among more than 100 people killed in 24 hours of Israeli strikes or gunfire, according to health officials.

    Their corpses lay in white shrouds outside their bombed home on Wednesday with their names scribbled in pen. Blood seeped through the shrouds as they lay there, staining them red.

    “This is my cousin. He was 10. We dug them out of the rubble,” Amr al-Shaer, holding one of the bodies after retrieving it.

    Iman al-Shaer, another relative who lives nearby, said the family hadn’t eaten anything before the bombs came down. “The children slept without food,” he said.

    The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike at the family’s home, but said its air force had struck 120 targets throughout Gaza in the past day, including “terrorist cells, military structures, tunnels, booby-trapped structures, and additional terrorist infrastructure sites”.

    Relatives said some neighbours were spared only because they had been out searching for food at the time of the strike.

    Ten more Palestinians died overnight from starvation, the Gaza health ministry said, bringing the total number of people who have starved to death to 111, most of them in recent weeks as a wave of hunger crashes on the Palestinian enclave.

    The World Health Organization said on Wednesday 21 children under the age of five were among those who died of malnutrition so far this year. It said it had been unable to deliver any food for nearly 80 days between March and May and that a resumption of food deliveries was still far below what is needed.

    In a statement on Wednesday, 111 organisations, including Mercy Corps, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Refugees International, said mass starvation was spreading even as tons of food, clean water and medical supplies sit untouched just outside Gaza, where aid groups are blocked from accessing them.

    Israel, which cut off all supplies to Gaza from the start of March and reopened it with new restrictions in May, says it is committed to allowing in aid but must control it to prevent it from being diverted by militants. It says it has let enough food into Gaza during the war and blames Hamas for the suffering of Gaza’s 2.2 million people.

    Israel has also accused the United Nations of failing to act in a timely fashion, saying 700 truckloads of aid are idling inside Gaza. “It is time for them to pick it up and stop blaming Israel for the bottlenecks which are occurring,” Israeli government spokesman David Mercer said on Wednesday.

    The United Nations and aid groups trying to deliver food to Gaza say Israel, which controls everything that comes in and out, is choking delivery, and Israeli troops have shot hundreds of Palestinians dead close to aid collection points since May.

    “We have a minimum set of requirements to be able to operate inside Gaza,” Ross Smith, the director of emergencies at the U.N. World Food Programme, told Reuters. “One of the most important things I want to emphasize is that we need to have no armed actors near our distribution points, near our convoys.”

    Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told the Security Council on Wednesday that Israel will now grant only one-month visas to international staff from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

    FALTERING PEACE TALKS

    The war between Israel and Hamas has been raging for nearly two years since Hamas killed some 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages from southern Israel in the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.

    Israel has since killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza, decimated Hamas as a military force, reduced most of the territory to ruins and forced nearly the entire population to flee their homes multiple times.

    U.S. Middle East peace envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to hold new ceasefire talks, travelling to Europe this week for meetings on the Gaza war and a range of other issues, a U.S. official said on Tuesday.

    A Palestinian official close to the Gaza ceasefire talks and the mediation efforts told Reuters on Wednesday that Hamas had handed its response on the ceasefire proposal to mediators, declining to elaborate further.

    Talks on a proposal for a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which would include the release of more of the 50 hostages still being held in Gaza, are being mediated by Qatar and Egypt with Washington’s backing.

    Successive rounds of negotiations have achieved no breakthrough since the collapse of a ceasefire in March.

    Israel’s President Isaac Herzog told soldiers during a visit to Gaza on Wednesday that “intensive negotiations” about returning the hostages held there were underway and he hoped that they would soon “hear good news”, according to a statement.

    A senior Palestinian official earlier told Reuters Hamas might give mediators a response to the latest proposals in Doha later on Wednesday, on the condition that amendments be made to two major sticking points: details on an Israeli military withdrawal, and on how to distribute aid during a truce.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet includes far-right parties that oppose any agreement that ends without the total destruction of Hamas.

    “The second I spot weakness in the prime minister and if I come to think, heaven forbid, that this is about to end with us surrendering instead of with Hamas’s absolute surrender, I won’t remain (in the government) for even a single day,” Finance Minister Belalel Smotrich told Army Radio.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese automakers unveil new models in Indonesia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    JAKARTA, July 24 (Xinhua) — Chinese automakers on Wednesday unveiled new electric vehicle models in Indonesia, where demand for them continues to grow.

    At the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) in Tangerang, Banten Province, Chinese automaker BYD unveiled the Atto 1, known in China as the Seagull or Dolphin Mini.

    “This is the first Atto 1 in Southeast Asia. We offer it in two variants: Dynamic and Premium,” said Nathan Sun, COO of BYD Indonesia, during the launch.

    In turn, Wuling presented a new multi-purpose vehicle Cortez Darion, designed for both family and business use. It will be available in two versions: hybrid and fully electric.

    GIIAS 2025 officially opened on Wednesday and will be open to the general public from July 24 to August 3. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden, Collins introduce bipartisan legislation to create disaster relief fund for loggers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act, which would establish a new program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support loggers who have lost income due to natural disasters.

    Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) are original cosponsors of the legislation, while Congressman Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) is the lead cosponsor in the House. 

    Current law excludes loggers from the kinds of disaster relief and assistance available to other industries, including fishermen and farmers, when natural disasters strike. Under the Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act, a disaster declaration from the president or governor would unlock federal assistance eligibility for logging businesses with at least a 10 percent loss in revenue or volume compared to the prior year. Covered damage would include high winds, fire, flooding, insect infestation and drought. 

    “You can’t write the story of Maine without loggers. Our forest products industry has provided for generations of Mainers and continues to be the economic bedrock of many rural communities. There must be a safety net to ensure one particularly bad season cannot uproot logging families and communities” Golden said. “I’m proud of our loggers, and I’m proud of the rock-solid coalition we’re building to support them. ”

    “Maine’s forest products industry has long supported good‑paying jobs and helped grow local economies across our state. Loggers are at the heart of that industry, but devastating storms in recent years have severely impacted the ability of logging businesses to operate at full capacity,” Senator Collins said. “This bipartisan bill would provide targeted financial assistance to help loggers recover from federally declared disasters, so that they can continue their important work, sustain rural communities, and contribute to our state’s economy.”

    “In Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District, our forest products industry has created good paying jobs and driven our local economies,” Stauber said. “Unfortunately, this crucial industry is currently facing a wide variety of threats, from wildfires and drought to insect infestation. Minnesota’s loggers have supported our communities for generations, and it is now our turn to support them. That’s why I am proud to introduce legislation with my friend, Congressman Jared Golden, to establish a new program through the USDA that will provide financial assistance to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that have seen their bottom line impacted by natural disasters. I look forward to seeing this legislation help ensure Minnesota’s forest products industry remains strong and resilient.”

    In December 2023, Maine’s logging industry lost $2.6 million after just one particularly severe storm — with a survey released by the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast later finding that more than 90 percent of the industry’s businesses suffered damage to equipment or logistics. In total, Maine’s economy lost $5.5 million due to the loss in logging revenue and productivity that winter.

    “Generations of loggers have spent their lifetimes powering our state’s economy while providing for their families, which is why it is so important to protect and sustain this historic industry,”  Senator King said. “As natural disasters across Maine increase, the bipartisan Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act will help establish a new program within the USDA to support loggers who need assistance to overcome damage and lost income. The logging industry has supported rural Maine families and communities for hundreds of years, and it’s imperative that investments in our foresting community evolve for today’s challenges as we protect it for a sturdy future.” 

    “As Maine experiences more extreme weather events and natural disasters, it’s imperative that we protect our state’s loggers from potentially devastating financial impacts—just as we’ve long done for our fishermen and farmers,” Pingree, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, said.“We’ve already seen the harmful impacts climate change has created for our forest products industry, from delayed harvests to damaged equipment and infrastructure. This common-sense, bipartisan legislation will provide real relief to the families and communities that rely on Maine’s forests for their livelihoods and wellbeing.”

    Logging industry leaders praised the bipartisan legislation: 

    • Dana Doran, executive director of the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast: “For too long, logging and forest trucking contractors in the Northeast have been left out of federal relief efforts in the wake of natural disasters, despite suffering losses as severe as those in other industries like fishing and farming that have received aid. The extreme weather our region has experienced in recent years has idled harvest operations for long periods, destroyed logging and timber hauling infrastructure, and driven up costs at a time when the logging industry is already grappling with unprecedented challenges and can least afford it. We are grateful to Congressmen Golden and the rest of Maine’s delegation for their leadership in this effort to secure fair treatment for these hard-working small family businesses, and we encourage swift passage of the Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act to provide the aid the industry deserves.”
    • Chuck Ames, president of SDR Logging, Sebec, ME: “I talk to loggers every day and most are struggling, but all they ask for is a level playing field with other industries. I believe this legislation is a step in the right direction toward treating loggers the same as farmers and fishermen. We are all harvesting natural resources, and are all impacted by natural disasters. I appreciate the efforts of Congressman Golden and the rest of Maine’s congressional delegation to recognize that and pass this bill on our behalf.”
    • Marc Greaney, president of Western Maine Timberlands, Fryeburg, ME: “I have been logging for decades in Western Maine, and in recent years have seen severe weather limit my company’s ability to harvest and truck wood for longer periods of time than ever before. When we can’t cut and move wood we don’t get paid, and this is happening at the same time that operating costs are continuing to rise, so I am grateful to Congressman Golden and the other members of Maine’s congressional delegation for attempting to provide disaster relief to loggers in the same way it has been provided to other industries in the past.”
    • Scott Dane, executive director of the American Loggers Council: “The timber industry invests in public and private stumpage (timber) years in advance. A multiyear timber portfolio is necessary to adjust for market and weather conditions. This is an essential element for a logger’s business plan. When unforeseen natural disasters such as drought, wildfire, winds, and invasive species infestations occur, the timber is lost. There are limited options, if any, to replace that timber with new tracts in a timely manner. These losses are extremely disruptive to a logger’s harvest plan and create a significant revenue loss. Congressman Golden’s Loggers Assistance and Relief Act is necessary to support the timber industry, similar to assistance programs for other natural resource and agricultural sectors. The American Loggers Council appreciates the Maine Congressional Delegation, and other sponsors, for this Bill and the security it will provide to logging and trucking businesses” 

    Full text of the legislation can be found here.

    ###

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Over 3.42 pilgrims had ‘Darshan’ in 21 days, Amarnath Yatra to cross officially expected 3.5-lakh mark today

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Since this year’s Amarnath Yatra started on July 3, more than 3.42 lakh yatris have had ‘darshan’ so far while a fresh batch of 3,500 pilgrims started their journey on Thursday from Jammu towards the two base camps, officials said.

    Officials said that more than 3.42 lakh yatris have performed the ongoing Amarnath Yatra during the last 21 days as the huge rush of pilgrims continues unabated.

    “The officially expected figure of 3.50 lakh yatris performing the Yatra this year is likely to be crossed on Thursday, while 17 days are still left for the conclusion of this year’s Yatra.”

    “The Yatra has been going on peacefully, smoothly and this has encouraged the devotees to come in record numbers. As more than 3.42 lakh have had darshan in the last 21 days, we had another batch of 3,500 yatris, who left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu for the Valley on Thursday.”

    “Of these, the first escorted convoy of 45 vehicles carrying 832 yatris left for the Baltal base camp at 3:25 a.m. while the second convoy of 95 vehicles carrying 2,668 yatris to the Pahalgam base camp left at 4:01 a.m.,” officials said.

    The Bhumi Pujan of ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (Lord Shiva’s Holy Mace) was performed at Pahalgam on July 10. The Chhari Mubarak was then taken back to its seat at the Dashnami Akhara building.

    It will start its final journey towards the cave shrine from Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar on August 4 and will reach the holy cave shrine on August 9, marking the official conclusion of the Yatra.

    Authorities have made extensive multi-tier security arrangements for this year’s Amarnath Yatra, as it takes place after the cowardly attack of April 22 in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians after segregating them based on faith in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

    Additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been brought in to augment the existing strength of the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB and the local police.

    The Army has deployed more than 8,000 special commandos to secure the passage of the pilgrims this year.

    The Yatra started on July 3 and will end after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

    Yatris approach the holy cave shrine situated ,888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas either from the traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route.

    Those using the Pahalgam route pass through Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni to reach the cave shrine, covering a distance of 46 km on foot.

    This trek takes a pilgrim four days to get to the cave shrine.

    Those using the shorter Baltal route have to trek 14 km to reach the cave shrine and return to the base camp the same day after having darshan.

    No helicopter services are available to yatris this year due to security reasons.

    The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.

    Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Transport – Supply chain partners face significant fines if they contribute to speeding, fatigue or overloading by truck drivers

    Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

    The national road freight association, Transporting New Zealand, is calling on all parties across the supply chain to play their part in preventing speeding, breach of work time rules and overladen trucks.
    Transporting New Zealand has launched a set of resources raising awareness about the “Chain of Responsibility” provisions in the Land Transport Act, that can result in serious fines for those who influence truck drivers to breach transport rules.
    Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says that it isn’t just truck drivers with road safety responsibilities.
    “If your conduct contributes to truck drivers exceeding speed limits, breaching work time rules, or operating overweight vehicles, you can be liable for a fine of up to $25,000 under the Land Transport Act.”
    “This is relevant to everyone from transport company directors, cargo owners, processors, and ports. All those supply chain parties whose instructions, expectations and facilities can contribute to non-compliance.”
    “While it is ultimately the responsibility of truck drivers and road freight businesses to ensure they are operating safely and compliantly, the Chain of Responsibility provisions recognise that other parties are often in a position of power when it comes to getting freight delivered.”
    “Transporting New Zealand has always maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards deliberate non-compliance by transport operators, and that remains unchanged.”
    Kalasih says he hopes that the Chain of Responsibility resources will encourage conversations between transporters, their clients, and transport facilities like processing plants and ports.
    “Issues that really put road freight companies under pressure include last minute timing and delivery changes, unrealistic ultimatums from supply chain partners, and a lack of weighing facilities or parking facilities.”
    Kalasih would like to see supply chain partners have clear chain of responsibility policies, and increased use of written contracts with appropriate protections for transporters.
    “If all parties across the supply chain play their part, it puts truck drivers and road freight companies in the best position to deliver the freight task safely and efficiently.”
    Chain of Responsibility Resources
    Chain of Responsibility Posters can be downloaded here.
    The NZTA Chain of Responsibility Fact Sheet is available here.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Taisugar Gas Stations Mid-Year Giveaway (July 15 to August 5),Fuel Up and Strengthen Your Joints!

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    To thank customers for their longstanding and continued support, Taisugar Gas Stations are launching the “Fuel Up for Strength” mid-year appreciation campaign. From July 15 to August 5, customers who refuel 30 liters of gasoline or 50 liters of diesel (for both general customers and members) at any Taisugar Gas Station nationwide will receive one bottle of Taisugar Glucosamine Plus. The more you refuel, the more you receive-don’t miss the chance to give your car a full tank and give your body a boost!

    According to Taisugar, this year’s event combines fuel service with health promotion, not only as a token of appreciation for long-term customer loyalty but also to highlight the company’s commitment to driving safety and public well-being. For over 20 years, Taisugar Gas Stations have used premium CPC fuel, rigorously maintaining fuel quality through regular sediment removal, filter replacement, moisture and octane testing, and volume calibration to ensure clean and stable fuel for a smooth, safe journey.

    Beyond refueling services, Taisugar Gas Stations are closely connected with everyday life. In support of the net-zero emissions policy, Taisugar has actively expanded its electric vehicle infrastructure, including installing EV charging stations and 69 electric scooter battery swap stations, encouraging the public to embrace low-carbon transportation. Stations also offer a selection of Taisugar household products for added convenience and have upgraded to accept a range of mobile payment systems, including CPC Pay, LINE Pay, iPASS MONEY, JKO Pay, PX Pay Plus, and Taiwan Pay, to meet the diverse needs of modern consumers.

    This campaign’s featured gift, Taisugar Glucosamine Plus, is a health supplement developed by Taisugar’s Biotechnology Division. It contains chondroitin, collagen, and other essential nutrients, enhanced with a proprietary calcium delivery technology. Free of preservatives, artificial coloring, and Western pharmaceuticals, it offers a refreshing fruity taste and high bioavailability in liquid form, supporting joint flexibility and everyday mobility with zero burden on the body. With this special campaign, customers can fuel up their vehicles and energize their joints, making every trip safer and more powerful. Don’t miss out-visit your nearest Taisugar Gas Station and enjoy this limited-time mid-year bonus!

    TSC News Contact Person:
    Lin Hsin-Chih
    Petroleum Business Devision, TSC
    Contact Number: 886-6-632-8703 #802 / 886-939-919-530
    Email:a62462@taisugar.com.tw

    Tai Chih-Mou
    Petroleum Business Devision, TSC
    Contact Number: 886-6-632-8703 #101 / 886-988-721-867
    Email:a63425@taisugar.com.tw

    Petroleum Business Devision Customer Services Phone: 886-6-632-8703 #786 or 788

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Why Texas Hill Country, where a devastating flood killed more than 135 people, is one of the deadliest places in the US for flash flooding

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Hatim Sharif, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio

    A Kerrville, Texas, resident watches the flooded Guadalupe River on July 4, 2025. Eric Vryn/Getty Images

    Texas Hill Country is known for its landscapes, where shallow rivers wind among hills and through rugged valleys. That geography also makes it one of the deadliest places in the U.S. for flash flooding.

    In the early hours of July 4, 2025, a flash flood swept through an area of Hill Country dotted with summer camps and small towns about 70 miles northwest of San Antonio. More than 135 people died in the flooding. The majority of them were in Kerr County, including more than two dozen girls and counselors at one summer camp, Camp Mystic. Dozens more people were still unaccounted for a week later.

    The flooding began with a heavy downpour, with more than 10 inches of rain in some areas, that sent water sheeting off the hillsides and into creeks. The creeks poured into the Guadalupe River.

    A river gauge at Hunt, Texas, near Camp Mystic, showed how quickly the river flooded: Around 3 a.m. on July 4, the Guadalupe River was rising about 1 foot every 5 minutes at the gauge, National Weather Service data shows. By 4:30 a.m., it had risen more than 20 feet. As the water moved downstream, it reached Kerrville, where the river rose even faster.

    Flood expert Hatim Sharif, a hydrologist and civil engineer at the University of Texas at San Antonio, explains what makes this part of the country, known as Flash Flood Alley, so dangerous.

    What makes Hill Country so prone to flooding?

    Texas as a whole leads the nation in flood deaths, and by a wide margin. A colleague and I analyzed data from 1959 to 2019 and found 1,069 people had died in flooding in Texas over those six decades. The next highest total was in Louisiana, with 693.

    Many of those flood deaths have been in Hill County. It’s part of an area known as Flash Flood Alley, a crescent of land that curves from near Dallas down to San Antonio and then westward.

    The hills are steep, and the water moves quickly when it floods. This is a semi-arid area with soils that don’t soak up much water, so the water sheets off quickly and the shallow creeks can rise fast.

    When those creeks converge on a river, they can create a surge of water that wipes out homes and washes away cars and, unfortunately, anyone in its path.

    Hill Country has seen some devastating flash floods. In 1987, heavy rain in western Kerr County quickly flooded the Guadalupe River, triggering a flash flood similar to the one in 2025. Ten teenagers being evacuated from a camp died in the rushing water.

    San Antonio, at the eastern edge of Hill Country, was hit with a flash flood on June 12, 2025, that killed 13 people whose cars were swept away by high water from a fast-flooding creek near an interstate ramp in the early morning.

    Why does the region get such strong downpours?

    One reason Hill Country gets powerful downpours is the Balcones Escarpment.

    The escarpment is a line of cliffs and steep hills created by a geologic fault. When warm air from the Gulf rushes up the escarpment, it condenses and can dump a lot of moisture. That water flows down the hills quickly, from many different directions, filling streams and rivers below.

    As temperature rise, the warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, increasing the downpour and flood risk.

    A tour of the Guadalupe River and its flood risk.

    The same effect can contribute to flash flooding in San Antonio, where the large amount of paved land and lack of updated drainage to control runoff adds to the risk.

    What can be done to improve flash flood safety?

    First, it’s important for people to understand why flash flooding happens and just how fast the water can rise and flow. In many arid areas, dry or shallow creeks can quickly fill up with fast-moving water and become deadly. So people should be aware of the risks and pay attention to the weather.

    Improving flood forecasting, with more detailed models of the physics and water velocity at different locations, can also help.

    Probabilistic forecasting, for example, can provide a range of rainfall scenarios, enabling authorities to prepare for worst-case scenarios. A scientific framework linking rainfall forecasts to the local impacts, such as streamflow, flood depth and water velocity, could also help decision-makers implement timely evacuations or road closures.

    Education is particularly essential for drivers. One to two feet of moving water can wash away a car. People may think their trucks and SUVs can go through anything, but fast-moving water can flip a truck and carry it away.

    Officials can also do more to barricade roads when the flood risk is high to prevent people from driving into harm’s way. We found that 58% of the flood deaths in Texas over the past six decades involved vehicles. The storm on June 12 in San Antonio was an example. It was early morning, and drivers had poor visibility. The cars were hit by fast-rising floodwater from an adjacent creek.

    This article, originally published July 5, 2025, has been updated with the death toll rising.

    Hatim Sharif 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. Why Texas Hill Country, where a devastating flood killed more than 135 people, is one of the deadliest places in the US for flash flooding – https://theconversation.com/why-texas-hill-country-where-a-devastating-flood-killed-more-than-135-people-is-one-of-the-deadliest-places-in-the-us-for-flash-flooding-260555

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: July 23rd, 2025 Heinrich Blasts Trump Administration for Raising Electricity Costs on American Families Amidst Growing Energy Demand

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — In his opening statement during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on rising energy demand, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Committee, raised the alarm on the energy affordability crisis facing working families and cited recent, irresponsible actions taken by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans that will raise energy costs on working families — including the passage of their Big, Bad Bill, their dismantling of our nation’s clean energy industry, and a recent directive from the Department of the Interior that will inevitably delay new generation additions to the grid and drive up costs further.

    VIDEO: Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) blasts Trump Administration for raising electricity prices on working families during a hearing on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, July 23, 2025.

    “As Mr. Gramlich points out in his testimony, electricity bills are starting to become unaffordable for too many Americans,” said Heinrich. “And recent actions by President Trump and the Republican reconciliation bill will only make it worse.”

    “The reconciliation bill alone is estimated to increase annual energy costs more than $16 billion in 2030 and more than $33 billion by 2035,” continued Heinrich. “This is because, at a time when we need every electron we can get, the reconciliation bill is causing many clean energy projects to be canceled.”

    Heinrich additionally noted his concerns on how a new directive from the Department of the Interior that requires Secretary Doug Burgum to personally review and sign off on wind and solar projects on federal lands will risk delaying new generation additions to the grid, subsequently driving up families’ energy costs.

    A video of Heinrich’s opening remarks can be found here.

    A transcript of Heinrich’s remarks as delivered is below:

    Thank you, Chairman Lee. Welcome to our witnesses, Mr. Gramlich, Mr. Huntsman, and Mr. Tench.

    As we’ll discuss today, the scale and drivers of today’s rising electricity demand are relatively unprecedented.

    It’s not just that electricity demand is reaching record highs, it’s that we’re entering a new era of a sustained load growth.

    The structural forces underlying today’s load growth are converging: the growth of AI data centers; the electrification of vehicles, buildings, industry; as well as a resurgence in domestic manufacturing.

    And meeting this load growth will require structural changes to how we permit and build our energy infrastructure.

    In his testimony, Mr. Tench states that Vantage would prefer to “source power from the grid” but the “system is out of sync.”

    From interconnection timelines that are too long, transmission lines that take too long to build, and permitting that is too fragmented, the challenges that Mr. Tench articulates are the same ones that this Committee has been trying to address for some time.

    As Mr. Tench noted in his testimony, “No single business or technical workaround can substitute for a coordinated, modern, responsive grid.”

    Fortunately, we sit on the Committee that can help make that happen.

    The urgency isn’t just about maintaining our edge in AI innovation, it’s about affordability.

    As Mr. Gramlich points out in his testimony today, electricity bills are becoming unaffordable for too many Americans.

    And recent actions by President Trump and by the ‘Big, Bad Bill’ will make this worse.

    The reconciliation bill alone is estimated to increase annual energy costs more than $16 billion in 2030 and more than $33 billion by 2035.

    This is because, at a time when we need every single electron we can get, the reconciliation bill is causing many clean energy projects to be canceled.

    And the President’s tariffs are driving up equipment costs—raising the cost of all energy generation resources. All of them.

    This is leading directly to Americans spending more on their utility bills.

    And on top of this, an aging electrical grid is causing many energy projects to be stalled for years in interconnection queues.

    In June 2025, Grid Strategies released a study that found that investing in well-planned, high-capacity transmission could save U.S. households between $6.3 and $10.4 billion annually—and that’s even after accounting for the cost of actually building those transmission lines.

    The amount of energy currently in U.S. interconnection queues substantially exceeds the existing electricity demands—if only the grid could integrate it.

    According to the Energy Information Administration, in 2024, the U.S. installed nearly 49 gigawatts of new grid capacity, 95% of which was from renewable resources.

    This year, the EIA estimates that developers will build 63 GW of new capacity, including 32.5 GW of new utility-scale solar, 7.7 GW of wind power, 18.2 GW of energy storage, and just 4.4 GW of natural gas-fired generation.

    Clean energy is the most affordable and it’s the fastest type of energy generation to deploy—outpacing natural gas, which is facing years-long backlogs in turbine availability.

    If you order a gas, combine cycle natural gas turbine today, you’ll be lucky if it puts its first electron on the grid before 2032.

    Meanwhile, states like Texas and California are demonstrating that high levels of renewable energy do not compromise grid reliability—in fact, they improve it.

    After Texas added 9,600 MW of clean energy, including 5,400 MW of solar, 3,800 MW of energy storage, and 253 MW of wind, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas said that the risk of grid emergencies dropped to less than 1 percent, that’s down from 16 percent the previous year.

    NERC’s 2025 Summer Reliability Assessment confirmed this trend, showing that the risk of rolling blackouts in Texas fell from 15 percent to 3 percent as battery capacity came online.

    I’ll close by saying that I am deeply disturbed by the recent Department of Interior policy that requires Secretary Doug Burgum to personally review and sign off on wind and solar projects on federal lands.

    This nakedly political decision will risk delaying new generation additions to the grid when we need them the most.

    And consequently, will drive up costs.

    According to the Department of Energy, federal lands in the contiguous United States could support more than 7,700 GW of renewable energy capacity.

    And with that said, I look forward to discussing how we can meet the rise in electricity demand and lower energy costs for households by integrating the most affordable and rapidly deployable energy resources today, while also investing in long-term modernization.

    Thank you, Chairman.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Muscatine Men Sentenced to Federal Prison Related to Events Surrounding Officer Involved Shooting

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

    DAVENPORT, Iowa – Two Muscatine men were sentenced on July 22, 2025, to federal prison for drug and gun crimes, related to an officer involved shooting in Muscatine on May 29, 2024.

    According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, on May 29, 2024, Juan Aldo Beltran Delgado, 34, and Isidro Barajas, Jr., 30, drove to a residence in Muscatine, Iowa, to await the delivery of a package they expected to contain more than 4.5 pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement observed Beltran Delgado and Barajas pick up the package from the residence and attempted to stop their vehicle. Beltran Delgado was driving the vehicle and drove over 100 miles per hour through Muscatine, drove through multiple red lights, attempting to evade law enforcement. Ultimately, Beltran Delgado crashed into two other vehicles near Highway 61 and Cedar Street. After crashing, both Beltran Delgado and Barajas fled from the car on foot carrying firearms. Officers arrived in the area and Beltran Delgado shot at officers. Officers were able to take both Beltran and Delgado and Barajas into custody.

    Beltran Delgado was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release, following his plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and carrying and discharging a firearm during an in relation to his drug trafficking. Barajas was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release, following his plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, carrying and displaying a firearm during an in relation to his drug trafficking, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. There is no parole in the federal system.

    United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Muscatine Police Department, Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, Muscatine County Drug Task Force, Johnson County Drug Taskforce, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

    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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Bali is built on informal and ‘illegal’ settlements. Bulldozing Bingin Beach misses the real threat of overdevelopment

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Dovey, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design, The University of Melbourne

    Balinese officials have begun the demolition of more than 40 businesses at Bingin Beach, a popular tourist spot in the Uluwatu region.

    In June, the Balinese House of Representatives determined the settlement is on public land, and is therefore illegal and needs to be demolished. But I’d argue it doesn’t.

    The ‘illegal’ settlement

    The Bingin Beach coastal settlement began development in the 1970s as an informal surfer hub at the base of a steep escarpment. The beach is a few hundred metres long and largely disappears at high tide.

    Originally lined with a string of makeshift warungs (small food stores) and cheap accommodations, the settlement has grown incrementally over the decades, up and along the escarpment, with an intensive mix of surf shops, restaurants and small hotels.

    The steepness of the slope precludes vehicle access. The only public access is via two somewhat narrow pedestrian stairways.

    While it initially served the surfer community, the settlement now caters to a broader tourist market, with some rooms going for upwards of US$150 per night.

    But after more than 50 years of incremental development, the House of Representatives has declared the settlement was illegally constructed on state land, and has ordered the demolition of 45 buildings – effectively the entire settlement.

    While most of the buildings seem highly durable, the demolition order is based on illegality, and not durability. A spokesperson for the traders argues most of the businesses are locally owned, and livelihoods are at stake.

    The ‘legal’ settlement

    The former farmland at the top of the escarpment is also covered with tourist developments that mostly emerged since 2010, and now extend up to a kilometre inland. This is a much more familiar landscape for Bali: a mix of walled hotel compounds and private villas, with manicured gardens and swimming pools.

    However, one could scarcely call this larger settlement “planned”. Shops and restaurants emerge wherever they can find a market along the narrow roads. There are no sidewalks and pedestrians are constantly engaged in an anxious game of negotiated passing.

    The infrastructure of roads and lanes has also been designed incrementally, across the former farm fields, as the settlement developed. The resulting street network is convoluted and largely unwalkable. The most common street sign is “no beach access this way”.

    What is informality?

    I’m an academic, architect and urban planner who studies informal settlements and informal urbanism more generally. In this context “informal” can mean illegal, makeshift and unplanned, but it can also mean incremental, adaptive and inventive.

    Informal settlement is the means by which a large proportion of Indonesians produce affordable housing. It is also the most traditional form of indigenous housing globally.

    After many decades of governments trying to demolish such settlements, the overwhelming consensus across the United Nations Human Settlements Programme is that wholesale demolition is rarely an answer. On-site formalisation and upgrading is the more sustainable pathway.

    When engaging with informal settlements, we need to preserve the infrastructures that work and only demolish where necessary. The Bingin Beach escarpment settlement has proven sustainable and has become an integral part of the local heritage.

    Its demolition will destroy livelihoods and displace the surfing market, while feathering other nests.

    So why is it being demolished? Perhaps to clear the ground for the next round of up-market resorts – what urban studies research calls “accumulation by disposession”. Bingin is widely seen as a major real estate hotspot for investment.

    What is overdevelopment?

    One of the key dangers of informal settlement is “overdevelopment”. Without
    formal planning codes, density can escalate to destroy the very attraction that produced the settlement.

    Most buildings along the Bingin Beach escarpment are two to four storeys, and step back with the slope of the escarpment. The exception is the 2019 addition of the Morabito Art Cliff hotel that rises more than six storeys, obscuring the natural landscape, blocking views, and setting a precedent for more of the same.

    If everyone in the area built like this, the Bingin settlement would be replaced with a cliff of buildings. To demolish this one building would set a useful precedent of containing the settlement to a sustainable scale.

    The Impossibles dream

    A few hundred metres south-west of Bingin Beach, a different story unfolds near the beach known as Impossibles. Here, a precarious limestone cliff largely precludes access to the beach, and the clifftop has long been lined with low-rise tourist compounds.

    An aeriel view of the Uluwatu coast shows Bingin Beach and the Impossibles.
    Map data: Google, 2025 Maxar Technologies

    This earlier layer of development is now being demolished and replaced with larger, denser resorts as part of the Amali project which claims a “rare cliff-front location”. The location is “rare” because about half of the 50-metre-high cliff has been excavated to construct villa units quite literally in the cliff.

    This excavation was well underway when, in May 2024, it caused much of the remaining natural cliff face to collapse onto the beach and into the ocean. It remains unclear whether the excavation was formally approved. Either way, it prompts the question: what if everyone did that?

    The Bingin escarpment and the Impossibles cliff face represent very different kinds of development. One is incremental, irregular and geared to its social and environmental context, while the other is large-grain and environmentally destructive. It makes no sense to demolish the former in order to make way for the latter.

    It is imperative to not only save the Bingin Beach settlement, which is part of Bali’s surfing heritage, but also to awaken from the impossible dream of building more and more villas on this fragile and limited coastland.

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

    – ref. Bali is built on informal and ‘illegal’ settlements. Bulldozing Bingin Beach misses the real threat of overdevelopment – https://theconversation.com/bali-is-built-on-informal-and-illegal-settlements-bulldozing-bingin-beach-misses-the-real-threat-of-overdevelopment-261755

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Bali is built on informal and ‘illegal’ settlements. Bulldozing Bingin Beach misses the real threat of overdevelopment

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Kim Dovey, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design, The University of Melbourne

    Balinese officials have begun the demolition of more than 40 businesses at Bingin Beach, a popular tourist spot in the Uluwatu region.

    In June, the Balinese House of Representatives determined the settlement is on public land, and is therefore illegal and needs to be demolished. But I’d argue it doesn’t.

    The ‘illegal’ settlement

    The Bingin Beach coastal settlement began development in the 1970s as an informal surfer hub at the base of a steep escarpment. The beach is a few hundred metres long and largely disappears at high tide.

    Originally lined with a string of makeshift warungs (small food stores) and cheap accommodations, the settlement has grown incrementally over the decades, up and along the escarpment, with an intensive mix of surf shops, restaurants and small hotels.

    The steepness of the slope precludes vehicle access. The only public access is via two somewhat narrow pedestrian stairways.

    While it initially served the surfer community, the settlement now caters to a broader tourist market, with some rooms going for upwards of US$150 per night.

    But after more than 50 years of incremental development, the House of Representatives has declared the settlement was illegally constructed on state land, and has ordered the demolition of 45 buildings – effectively the entire settlement.

    While most of the buildings seem highly durable, the demolition order is based on illegality, and not durability. A spokesperson for the traders argues most of the businesses are locally owned, and livelihoods are at stake.

    The ‘legal’ settlement

    The former farmland at the top of the escarpment is also covered with tourist developments that mostly emerged since 2010, and now extend up to a kilometre inland. This is a much more familiar landscape for Bali: a mix of walled hotel compounds and private villas, with manicured gardens and swimming pools.

    However, one could scarcely call this larger settlement “planned”. Shops and restaurants emerge wherever they can find a market along the narrow roads. There are no sidewalks and pedestrians are constantly engaged in an anxious game of negotiated passing.

    The infrastructure of roads and lanes has also been designed incrementally, across the former farm fields, as the settlement developed. The resulting street network is convoluted and largely unwalkable. The most common street sign is “no beach access this way”.

    What is informality?

    I’m an academic, architect and urban planner who studies informal settlements and informal urbanism more generally. In this context “informal” can mean illegal, makeshift and unplanned, but it can also mean incremental, adaptive and inventive.

    Informal settlement is the means by which a large proportion of Indonesians produce affordable housing. It is also the most traditional form of indigenous housing globally.

    After many decades of governments trying to demolish such settlements, the overwhelming consensus across the United Nations Human Settlements Programme is that wholesale demolition is rarely an answer. On-site formalisation and upgrading is the more sustainable pathway.

    When engaging with informal settlements, we need to preserve the infrastructures that work and only demolish where necessary. The Bingin Beach escarpment settlement has proven sustainable and has become an integral part of the local heritage.

    Its demolition will destroy livelihoods and displace the surfing market, while feathering other nests.

    So why is it being demolished? Perhaps to clear the ground for the next round of up-market resorts – what urban studies research calls “accumulation by disposession”. Bingin is widely seen as a major real estate hotspot for investment.

    What is overdevelopment?

    One of the key dangers of informal settlement is “overdevelopment”. Without
    formal planning codes, density can escalate to destroy the very attraction that produced the settlement.

    Most buildings along the Bingin Beach escarpment are two to four storeys, and step back with the slope of the escarpment. The exception is the 2019 addition of the Morabito Art Cliff hotel that rises more than six storeys, obscuring the natural landscape, blocking views, and setting a precedent for more of the same.

    If everyone in the area built like this, the Bingin settlement would be replaced with a cliff of buildings. To demolish this one building would set a useful precedent of containing the settlement to a sustainable scale.

    The Impossibles dream

    A few hundred metres south-west of Bingin Beach, a different story unfolds near the beach known as Impossibles. Here, a precarious limestone cliff largely precludes access to the beach, and the clifftop has long been lined with low-rise tourist compounds.

    An aeriel view of the Uluwatu coast shows Bingin Beach and the Impossibles.
    Map data: Google, 2025 Maxar Technologies

    This earlier layer of development is now being demolished and replaced with larger, denser resorts as part of the Amali project which claims a “rare cliff-front location”. The location is “rare” because about half of the 50-metre-high cliff has been excavated to construct villa units quite literally in the cliff.

    This excavation was well underway when, in May 2024, it caused much of the remaining natural cliff face to collapse onto the beach and into the ocean. It remains unclear whether the excavation was formally approved. Either way, it prompts the question: what if everyone did that?

    The Bingin escarpment and the Impossibles cliff face represent very different kinds of development. One is incremental, irregular and geared to its social and environmental context, while the other is large-grain and environmentally destructive. It makes no sense to demolish the former in order to make way for the latter.

    It is imperative to not only save the Bingin Beach settlement, which is part of Bali’s surfing heritage, but also to awaken from the impossible dream of building more and more villas on this fragile and limited coastland.

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

    – ref. Bali is built on informal and ‘illegal’ settlements. Bulldozing Bingin Beach misses the real threat of overdevelopment – https://theconversation.com/bali-is-built-on-informal-and-illegal-settlements-bulldozing-bingin-beach-misses-the-real-threat-of-overdevelopment-261755

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray, British Columbia Premier Eby, WA Small Businesses Speak Out About How Trump’s Reckless Trade War with Canada is Creating Chaos, Hurting Business, and Raising Costs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Senator Murray Hears from Mayors and Business Leaders About How Trump’s Trade War is Hurting Border Communities in Northwest Washington

    AP: Trump’s 35% Canada tariff plan deepens a rift between the neighbors

    ***WATCH HERE; DOWNLOAD HERE***

    Washington, D.C. –  Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a virtual press conference with British Columbia Premier David Eby and Washington state business leaders to sound the alarm on how President Trump’s trade war with Canada is driving down business and creating chaos for families, small businesses, and economies on both sides of the border.

    Canada is the second-largest export market for Washington state, exporting $7.9 billion in goods and $2.2 billion in services annually. Washington state imports $17.8 billion in goods from Canada each year, with energy imports accounting for 54 percent of that total. 608 Canadian-owned companies employ 25,050 workers in Washington state. Canada is also the largest source of international visitors to the U.S., accounting for 20.4 million visits and $20.5 billion in spending in 2024. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported a 35 percent drop in border crossings into the U.S. through the Peace Arch and Pacific Highway Crossings in Washington state this May, compared to the same month last year. Additional data on trade between Washington state and Canada is available HERE.  

    President Trump recently announced a plan to impose 35 percent tariffs across-the-board on imports from Canada beginning August 1st. This comes after Trump has already applied 50 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum—of which Canada is the largest exporter to the United States—and 25 percent duties on cars, excluding U.S. made parts. Yesterday, after a meeting with Canada’s political leaders—including Premier Eby—Prime Minister Mark Carney downplayed the chances of success in talks aimed at reaching a trade deal with President Trump.

    “Canada isn’t just a trading partner for us—it is our ally, and they are our neighbor. We have friends, and families that span that northern border. We have supply lines and businesses that depend on the open flow of trade, tourism, and goodwill between our countries,” Senator Murray said at the press conference today. “Canada is one of our largest trading partners—accounting for, every year, nearly $8 billion in exports including our seafood, apples, and airplane parts and more than $2 billion in cross-border tourism and business. Not to mention we actually import nearly $18 billion in goods from Canada each year. So, for us, having Trump throw a tantrum with these tariffs is really throwing a wrench into our businesses that have operated for decades, and throwing communities on both sides of the border into chaos, and really throwing our neighborly way of life into jeopardy.”

    “Here’s what Trump needs to understand: this is not reality TV. It is actual reality,” Senator Murray continued. “These aren’t people playing ‘businessman’—they are trying to run actual businesses, that employ actual Americans. Unlike him, they don’t thrive on outrage. And they do not want any drama, they need certainty, they need common sense. And they need policies that bring in customers, not drive them away, and bring prices down, not drive them up. So, I want you all to know I am going to keep fighting in Congress to put an end to these pointless tariffs that are making life harder for people on both sides of our border. And I will keep pushing for legislation to reassert Congress’s power over tariff policy. It is beyond clear we cannot entrust this responsibility to a President who is toggling economic policies on and off like a kid with a joystick.”

    “We have a long and happy relationship with the American people; they’re our friends, our family members and coworkers. President Trump’s actions have broken our trust with his government, but they’ll never shake our relationship with our closest neighbours. I am grateful for Senator Murray’s leadership at this time in calling out a President that ran on an affordability agenda and is now bringing in tariffs that are raising the price of everyday goods for hard working families,” said David Eby, Premier of British Columbia.  

    “President Trump seems to have created the 51st state that he was talking about, which is the great state of uncertainty. And this is affecting all of us and that we predict that in 2025 alone, that tariffs will cost SEL $100 million in unanticipated federal taxes. These $100 million, divided by our 7000 owners, is a hit of $14,000 per employee around the world. And I agree so much with Senator Murray that the best thing we can do is to support the efforts by Democrats and Republicans in both the House and the Senate to restore congressional control over tariffs and block this President and future ones from abusing executive orders, especially here in the case of free trade,” saidDr. Ed Schweitzer, founder of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories in Pullman.

    “Maintaining good relations with our northern neighbors is paramount to our maritime industry. Along with being a key supplier for vital parts of the industry, our relations also impact negotiations, such as the Pacific Salmon Treaty being negotiated right now. These negotiations and trade rely on goodwill and good relations, and we cannot state enough how much we value our Canadian partners in all sectors of our maritime industry here in the United States,” said Dan Tucker, Executive Director of the Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition.

    Washington state has one of the most trade-dependent economies of any state in the country, with 40 percent of jobs in the state tied to international commerce. Washington state is the top U.S. producer of apples, blueberries, hops, pears, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries—all of which risk losing vital export markets due to retaliatory tariffs from key trading partners including Canada. Additionally, more than 12,000 small and medium-sized companies in Washington state export goods and will struggle to absorb the impact of retaliatory tariffs. Trump’s tariffs during his first term were extremely costly for Washington state—for example, India imposed a 20 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S. apples, causing Washington apple shipments to India to fall by 99 percent and growers to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in exports.

    Senator Murray has been a vocal opponent of Trump’s chaotic trade war and has been constantly lifting up the voices of people in every corner of Washington state who are being harmed by this administration’s approach to trade. Senator Murray continues to call on Republicans to end Trump’s trade war—which Congress has the power to do—and take back Congress’ Constitutionally-granted power to impose tariffs. Earlier this year—among many other events—Senator Murray brought together leaders across Washington state to highlight how Trump’s ongoing trade war is already a devastating hit to Washington state’s economy, businesses, and our agriculture sector, and held a roundtable discussion in Blaine on how Trump’s chaotic trade war and senseless tariffs are specifically hurting Washington state’s border communities and local businesses. Senator Murray has also taken to the Senate floor to lay out how Trump’s chaotic trade war is seriously threatening our economy, American businesses, families’ retirement savings, and so much else.

    Senator Murray’s full remarks, as delivered, are below and video is HERE:

    “Thank you everyone for joining us today.

    “You know for a so-called businessman, President Trump doesn’t seem to know the first thing about running a business—then again, maybe that explains his six bankruptcies. But besides that, every time Trump opens his mouth, he is demonstrating that he doesn’t understand how tariffs work and doesn’t care if his absurd tax hikes are hurting our economy and our small businesses. The reality is plain as day. Especially in places like Washington state where we are on the front line of a trade war with our neighbors that nobody asked for.

    “Canada isn’t just a trading partner for us—it is our ally, and they are our neighbor. We have friends, and families that span that northern border. We have supply lines and businesses that depend on the open flow of trade, tourism, and goodwill between our countries.

    “Canada is one of our largest trading partners—accounting for, every year, nearly $8 billion in exports including our seafood, apples, and airplane parts and more than $2 billion in cross-border tourism and business. Not to mention we actually import nearly $18 billion in goods from Canada each year.  

    “So, for us, having Trump throw a tantrum with these tariffs is really throwing a wrench into our businesses that have operated for decades, and throwing communities on both sides of the border into chaos, and really throwing our neighborly way of life into jeopardy.

    “How are farmers supposed to stay afloat when Trump just jacked up the cost of the supplies they need, at the same time that he is driving some of their best customers away?

    “How are businesses and factories supposed to keep the lights on when their supply chains are being disrupted, and their inputs—like energy, and steel, and aluminum—keep getting more expensive?

    “How are hotels and towns that are fueled by tourism supposed to keep their doors open, when cancellations are going up, bookings are going down, and 75 percent of Canadian travelers who weregoing to visit the U.S. are deciding they’d now rather go somewhere the President doesn’t constantly attack?

    “So, let’s be clear, these aren’t hypothetical questions. They are the cold, hard realities Trump is forcing onto our communities. It doesn’t take much imagination to see how hard Trump’s trade war is making life for people—especially for our border communities.

    “All you have to do is listen. Talk to ferry operators, who are feeling the squeeze of reduced travel. Talk to community leaders in Bellingham and Whatcom County, where 12 percent of taxable retail sales came from Canadians. Talk to business owners in Point Roberts, which just completely depends on Canadian trade and tourism.

    “I have been telling this over and over to my colleagues and anyone who will listen. If you want to understand the real cost of what is happening, come to Washington state, talk to people on the front lines of this pointless, painful trade war.

    “And that’s exactly why we are having this call today. To put a spotlight on what we are seeing on both sides of the border; to make more of these voices heard; to raise the alarm; and maybe even offer a little economics lesson to Trump—since he appears to need it.

    “When you raise the costs for small businesses—which is exactly what tariffs do, when you drive away loyal customers, and trading partners—which is exactly what happens when you toss up barriers and toss out insults—you make life harder, and you raise costs for everyday Americans. It is very clear that President Trump wants to treat tariffs like a reality TV show, constantly playing up the outrage and the uncertainty of the ‘Will he? Won’t he?’ drama that he seems to like living in. But the questions that I am hearing when I talk to folks home in Washington state, are more like, ‘Why on Earth would he do this?’ and ‘What the heck is he thinking?’ and ‘How am I going to be able to afford this?’

    “Because here’s what Trump needs to understand: this is not reality TV. This is actual reality. These aren’t peopleplaying ‘businessman’—they are trying to run actual businesses, that employ actual Americans. Unlike him, they don’t thrive on outrage. And they do not want any drama, they need certainty, they need common sense. And they need policies that bring in customers, not drive them away, and bring prices down, not drive them up.

    “So, I want you all to know I am going to keep fighting in Congress to put an end to these pointless tariffs that are making life harder for people on both sides of our border. And I will keep pushing for legislation to reassert Congress’s power over tariff policy.

    “It is beyond clear we cannot entrust this responsibility to a President who is toggling economic policies on and off like a kid with a joystick.

    “We have got to keep talking about this, which is why we are having this call today, until more of my Republican colleagues get the message. And I thank everybody who’s participating in this today to talk about what you are seeing.

    “So, I’m joined on this call by British Columbia Premier David Eby, he will be speaking next. As I’ve told him in the past, I appreciate our relationship and thank you for working with us on this. It’s a joy to have you on this call.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Highway safety blitz catches speeding drivers

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Highway safety blitz catches speeding drivers

    Thursday, 24 July 2025 – 11:11 am.

    Tasmania Police issued 24 drivers with speeding infringements during a four-hour road safety blitz on the Bass Highway on Wednesday.
    Officers from Western and Northern Road Policing Services conducted the joint operation on the highway, between Westbury and Latrobe, between 8am and noon.
    Police detected 24 speeding offences, including five drivers travelling 20km/h to 30km/h over the posted speed limit. There was also one unregistered and uninsured vehicle.
    Western District Acting Inspector Martin Parker said the higher range speeding offences were committed near the Paramatta Creek weigh bridge, where the speed limit had been reduced to 80km/h due to officers from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator conducting operations at the weigh bridge.
    “It is concerning that motorists are disregarding highly visual speed reduction signs when the weigh bridge station was operating,” Acting Inspector Parker said.
    “The speed limit had been reduced to allow NVHR officers to safely conduct their work and the safe flow of traffic in the area, when trucks are exiting and re-entering the highway.”
    Tasmania Police is committed to continuing road safety activities with the aim to reduce crashes on our roads, particularly serious and fatal crashes.
    One death or serious injury is one too many and has the potential to severely impact the community.
    Incidents of dangerous driving can be reported to police on 131 444 or call triple zero (000) if the behaviour is life threatening. Reports can also be made via Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrests – Aggravated robberies and ram raids – Darwin Northern Suburbs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police Force has arrested four youths following multiple aggravated robberies and a ram raid in the northern suburbs overnight.

    Around 10:35pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received a report that a woman had allegedly been threatened with an edged weapon and had her silver Mitsubishi ASX stolen outside her residence on Aralia Street.

    It is alleged that victim was sitting in her parked vehicle when she was approached by two youths, one of which threatened her with an edged weapon and demanded the keys to the vehicle. They subsequently fled the scene in the Mitsubishi ASX.

    The victim was not physically harmed during the incident.

    Around 12:05am, the JESCC received a report that three youths entered a residence on Carnoustie Circuit before being confronted by the occupants. The offenders then threated the occupants with a machete and demanded money and vehicle keys before fleeing the scene in a Mitsubishi ASX.

    The offenders subsequently drove to a shopping complex on Yanula Drive where they allegedly used the stolen vehicle to ram through the rear gate of the premises and cause significant property damage before fleeing the scene.

    A short time later, the stolen Mitsubishi, occupied by three youths, was allegedly used to ram the roller door of a bottle shop on Baroalba Street, Leanyer. Once inside the group stole a quantity of alcohol and fled the scene.

    Police later observed the stolen vehicle travelling towards Darwin City on Tiger Brennan Drive. A pursuit was initiated, however, was terminated shortly after the stolen Mitsubishi attempted to ram the police vehicle. At this time, it was identified that two female youths were also occupied the offending vehicle.

    CCTV operators later observed the offenders abandon the vehicle on Voyager Street, Stuart Park. A large quantity of alcohol was located inside the vehicle.

    General duties officers, Strike Force Trident and the Dog Operations Unit deployed to the area and arrested two females aged 13 and 14, and two males aged 14 and 17. The fifth offender remains outstanding.

    At the time of arrest, one of the offenders was armed with a large machete and another was in possession of a bottle of alcohol believed to have been stolen during the ram raid.

    Three of the youths have been charged in relation to the offending:

    • A 17-year-old male has been charged with multiple property related offences, weapons offences, aggravated robbery, ram raid and traffic offences.
    • A 14-year-old male was charged with multiple aggravated robbery offences, property offences, ram raid, going armed in public and traffic offences.
    • A 14-year-old female was charged with Drive/use motor vehicle without consent, Possess stolen property and armed with offensive weapon.

    The 13-year-old female will be dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act 2005.

    Police urge anyone with information to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25196901. Anonymous reports can be made via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/. 

    MIL OSI News –