Through purchases of Chinese-made military equipment by state-owned manufacturers‚ North American consumers may be providing feedback to the communist nation on how to better their technology. Argus Night Vision is reportedly a Chinese night vision housing and image intensifier tube manufacturer based in Tianjin‚ China‚ that sells products in the United States and Canada.The company has received preferential treatment from the Chinese government‚ including preferential tax policies‚ special government financial incentives‚ staff settlement bonuses‚ and policy benefits such as office space or wage support.Vermilion China also reported that through the sales of night vision goggles to Western markets‚ the Chinese manufacturers benefit from feedback to improve the quality of their equipment.According to their confidential sources‚ the outlet said that Argus has contacted Americans who are affiliated with the military and offered to have them travel to China for training on night vision equipment and to provide product feedback. While the outlet could not corroborate such information with Argus‚ it was however able to confirm that Canadian companies that sell Argus products are indeed facilitating the product development through feedback.According to HCC Tactical‚ a U.S. firm that has a government contract and sells Argus products‚ its "sister company in Canada (Opfor Night Solutions) has worked directly with Argus to improve and evaluate the BNVD-1431 series of products.""Their feedback and recommendations led directly to many of the improvements made to this housing for the MK II. Their weatherproofing service is no longer necessary as all changes have been made at the factory‚ and the OPFPR Night Solutions upgrade screw kit has been supplied to the factory so all units come with them as standard."In a video posted to the Kinetic Consulting YouTube channel‚ the host described being in a class with the OpFor Night Solutions owner‚ who then sent the host a pair of night-vision goggles. The host went on to describe how Argus took the owner of the Canadian company's suggestions and then made them standard for the product. "I originally got [the goggles] from OpFor Night Vision in Canada‚ they offered to send them to me after we were spending time in the class — the owner and I were in a class together down here in Miami and we had a great time‚" the YouTube presenter recalled. "He was offering up some cool night vision or housings that were optimized by him originally‚ and then Argus started taking in all his optimizations and making them standard for that Mark II system."During an interview with what was described as an industry representative‚ Vermilion China was told that "individuals and companies involved in distributing Chinese thermal devices in the U.S. help guide their development and production efforts."At least four U.S. companies were listed as selling the Chinese products‚ without mentioning their origins.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

“Civil War” is trending on social media following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this week overturning a lower court injunction in the case of Texas versus the Biden administration over border security. The injunction had temporarily prohibited the federal government from removing concertina wire deployed by Texas National Guard troops‚ who are seeking to secure the border under the direction of Governor Greg Abbott. In response to the court’s decision‚ Abbott released a letter boldly declaring Texas’ right to defend itself from the ongoing border invasion and stating that the National Guard would continue its work. While many in the media have painted Abbott as defying the Supreme Court‚ the removal of the injunction does not legally prevent the Texas National Guard from continuing to place obstacles along the border as Abbott has vowed. The federal government is simply no longer barred from also removing the obstacles‚ as was the policy before the injunction. The legal status of Texas’ deployment of obstacles at the border must await an actual ruling on the case itself. This has not stopped Democrats‚ including U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) from demanding that Biden federalize the Texas National Guard to take away the state’s ability to defend itself. Others have compared Abbott’s efforts to uphold the law with Southern governors defying desegregation in the 1960s. The comparison is not merely defamatory. It has a legal component. To federalize the Texas National Guard (and activate other federal troops)‚ Biden would need to invoke the Insurrection Act‚ which he can do only in limited legal circumstances citing one of three separate sections of the law‚ found under Title 10 of U.S. Code‚ sections 331‚ 332‚ and 333. Section 331 requires the approval of the state legislature or the governor when a state asks for help in quelling a rebellion against state authority. Not applicable in this case. The idea that “no human being is illegal” and therefore has a right to enter the country is the beating heart of the left’s open-borders policy. Section 332 allows the president to invoke the Insurrection Act and federalize National Guard troops absent a request from a state legislature‚ “whenever the President considers that unlawful obstructions‚ combinations‚ or assemblages‚ or rebellion against the authority of the United States‚ make it impracticable to enforce the laws of the United States in any State by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings.” President Biden might try to cite this section arguing that Abbott is unlawfully obstructing‚ but it seems unlikely the White House can argue that judicial proceedings are ineffective‚ since the legal case is still ongoing. The use of this section is further complicated by the fact that Biden seeks to enforce an open-border policy that — as Abbott argues in his letter — is a violation of the federal government’s constitutional responsibility to protect the states. Claiming Texas is engaged in obstruction puts a spotlight on the Biden administration’s failure to enforce existing federal immigration law. This leaves Title 10‚ Section 333‚ which allows the president to federalize a state’s National Guard when “any part or class of its people” are “deprived of a right‚ privilege‚ immunity‚ or protection named in the Constitution and secured by law” when “the constituted authorities of that State are unable‚ fail‚ or refuse to protect that right‚ privilege‚ or immunity‚ or to give that protection.” Section 333 was originally derived from the 1871 Civil Rights Act‚ known as the “Ku Klux Klan Act‚” which gave then-President Ulysses S. Grant the authority to use the military to suppress the Klan’s violent conspiracy to stop recently freed black citizens from voting. Despite concerns about the act’s constitutionality when it was passed‚ it would be revived by courts in the 1960s to enforce civil rights decrees and eventually be folded into the Insurrection Act. In this case‚ Biden would be forced to argue that illegal aliens are a “class of its people‚” which is to say American and Texas citizens‚ and further that illegally crossing the border is a right “named in the Constitution and secured by law.” While legally laughable‚ the idea that “no human being is illegal” and therefore has a right to enter the country is the beating heart of the left’s open-borders policy. So one can’t dismiss the notion that Biden might be convinced to go ahead with such a scheme‚ since the left’s ideological logic essentially demands it. Against such an effort is likely to be the Pentagon’s National Guard Bureau‚ which would have to weigh this flimsy claim against the fact that the National Guard has not been federalized over a state’s objections in more than 60 years. As generals nervously watch the hemorrhaging of American military recruitment‚ one imagines they won’t be eager to inject themselves into such a squabble‚ particularly when the optics of letting military-age males swarm the border are not nearly as attractive as images of U.S. troops protecting schoolgirls from snarling racists. The continued promotion of the left’s “wokeness” ideology among the U.S. military general staff means we can’t be entirely certain where the Pentagon would come down‚ but bureaucratic inertia alone may be enough for the general staff to discourage the Biden White House. Still‚ the burgeoning constitutional crisis is real‚ and the left’s willingness to go immediately for the jugular with a demand to federalize the Texas National Guard has to be treated with the utmost seriousness. To further discourage the Biden administration from escalating a crisis‚ red-state governors should ask their adjutant generals to use all their influence to ensure the Adjutant Generals’ Corps Association and the National Guard Association lobby the National Guard Bureau to discourage and publicly downplay any such effort by the Biden administration. State attorneys general should consider a joint letter of support for Abbott’s authority as commander of the Texas National Guard and articulate that any attempt by Biden to federalize the Guard in this case would be a gross violation of his authority. The House of Representatives should pass a resolution supporting Abbott’s declaration that Texas is facing an invasion and affirming his right to use the Texas Military Department to resist it. A strong message publicly rebuking a scheme to federalize the National Guard is necessary to lower tensions and prevent the Biden administration from making a mistake that could have terrible unforeseen consequences.

An intruder tried to force his way into a Phoenix home Thursday night‚ police said — but the homeowner shot the suspect‚ sending him running off.What are the details?Police said the information they gathered indicates that an adult male "was attempting to force entry into a home when the homeowner shot the man‚" KSAZ-TV reported‚ citing a statement from Phoenix police.Police said the incident went down just after 8 p.m. in the area of 5th Avenue and Lynwood Street‚ KPNX-TV reported.Detectives said the suspect ran from the home and later was found in the area of 7th Avenue and Lynwood Street‚ KSAZ said‚ adding that the suspect suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.The suspect has been identified as 24-year-old Isaiah Roggenbuck‚ KTVK-TV reported. The suspect was taken to a hospital‚ KSAZ said.Police said Roggenbuck has since been released from the hospital and booked into the Maricopa County jail on one count of criminal trespassing‚ KTVK said.The homeowner wasn’t hurt‚ KTVK reported‚ adding that an investigation is underway. Homeowner shoots suspected home intruder: Phoenix PD youtu.be How are folks reacting?Commenters under KTVK's Facebook post about the incident were unanimous in their appreciation for the homeowner — and had no sympathy for the suspect:"He’ll be a lot easier to catch from now on‚" one commenter quipped."Another win for the good guys‚" another commenter added."Great job homeowner‚" another commenter declared while adding an "always carry" image.A user replying to the aforementioned comment noted‚ "I do. 357 mag Taurus 6 1/2 inch barrel and my trusty 9mm."Another commenter opined about the suspect — with just a smidgen of sarcasm sprinkled in: "I'm sure he was a good person‚ and it's everyone else's fault but his own for getting shot."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A viral dashcam video shows the moment an Oklahoma trooper narrowly avoided disaster after a car smashed into a vehicle that had been pulled over by the law enforcement officer. Miraculously‚ there were no severe injuries from the devastating car crash that happened during the traffic stop. Trooper Jesse Gregory with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol pulled over a white SUV on Jan. 18. Gregory was on the passenger side of the SUV and speaking to the driver. Suddenly‚ out of nowhere‚ a black SUV zooming down the highway violently slammed into the car. Debris from the forceful collision flew into the air‚ and the trooper was launched into the grass from the impact of the car crash. Despite being involved in the brutal collision‚ Gregory was able to jump to his feet and can be seen in the dashcam video running out of frame. Gregory told KWTV-DT‚ "And after watching the video‚ I don't even remember barrel-rolling to my feet."The Oklahoma Highway Patrol described the police dashcam footage of the terrifying car crash as "difficult to watch."The trooper said‚ "Hopefully this is my scare of the career."The crash is being investigated‚ and it has yet to be determined whether the vehicle that plowed into the stationary car had been speeding. Luckily‚ all three people in the accident had not only survived the car crash but had already been "treated and released‚" according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Trooper Gregory said he is "ready to come back" to work. He admitted‚ "And just kind of work through it because I know it's going to take a little bit mentally to come back."The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said in a post on Facebook that it had posted the shocking video to remind the public of "distracted or impaired driving and the importance of the slow down‚ move over law.""We are in the middle of a distracted driving emphasis right now in honor of Trooper Nicholas Dees‚ who lost his life in the line of duty after being struck by a distracted driver‚" the Oklahoma Highway Patrol stated. Trooper Nicholas Dees was investigating a tractor-trailer accident around 10 p.m. on Jan‚ 31‚ 2015‚ when he was struck and killed by a distracted driver. The driver was reportedly updating his social media while driving and killed Dees in the line of duty. The driver was charged with manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison. Ironically‚ Gregory was involved in another police traffic stop crash that happened just weeks ago. On Jan. 5‚ Canadian County Deputy Jose Mendoza was tossed to the ground after a pickup truck barreled into the vehicle that had been pulled over to the shoulder. Gregory is seen in the police dashcam footage rushing to provide Mendoza with assistance. Gregory said‚ "He was struck in the exact same situation. I was less than a mile from him‚ and I was actually first on scene and called for help."Mendoza and the others involved in the car accident all survived and suffered varying levels of injuries. The Canadian County Sheriff's Office said Mendoza is recovering in a long-term rehabilitation facility. 2 Early Year Traffic Stop Accidents Injure Deputy And Trooper www.youtube.com Like Blaze News? Circumvent the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The United States is pausing its funding of a United Nations agency tasked with providing aid to Palestinians after at least a dozen employees were accused of participating directly in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has long faced accusations that its workers are anti-Israel and support Hamas. On Friday‚ UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini confirmed an investigation into employees whom Israel accuses of participating in Oct. 7."The Israeli Authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on 7 October‚" Lazzarini said.With evidence in hand‚ Lazzarini said the UNRWA has fired the accused workers. He explained:To protect the Agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance‚ I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay. Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable‚ including through criminal prosecution.In response‚ Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the United Nations needs "major changes.""Terrorism under the guise of humanitarian work is a disgrace to the @UN and the principles it claims to represent‚" Gallant said.Meanwhile‚ the State Department said the U.S. will temporarily halt sending any taxpayer money to the UNRWA. "The United States is extremely troubled by the allegations that twelve UNRWA employees may have been involved in the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel‚" spokesman Matthew Miller said. "The Department of State has temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them."American taxpayers fund a significant portion of the agency's budget‚ which was $1.6 billion in 2022. Former President Donald Trump suspended aid to the UNRWA in 2018‚ but Biden restarted the funding after he came into office. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A Christian club organization filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Hawai'i State Department of Education‚ accusing education officials of blocking it from operating after-school clubs in several public school districts.In 2022 and 2023‚ the Child Evangelism Fellowship of Hawaii attempted to register its Good News Club with several schools across the state. The group decided to take legal action after the HIDOE repeatedly denied its application requests and "either expressly or effectively denied every appeal‚" according to the lawsuit.The CEF alleges that the HIDOE discriminated against the club because of its religious affiliation while it allows other similar‚ non-religious clubs to operate. The lawsuit stated that one school even sent a letter to the CEF stating that its club could not be approved because it is religious."For nearly two years‚ Defendants have blocked CEF from hosting its elementary school Good News Clubs in certain District facilities that are open to other‚ similarly situated non-religious organizations‚" the complaint states. "Defendants' policies of unequal access‚ pretextual denials‚ and hostility to CEF's religious message violate the Constitution and have denied some Hawaii elementary school students access to free‚ positive‚ and character-building Good News Clubs that enrich countless students' lives in other Hawaii schools and throughout the country."The Good News Club is a weekly elementary school Bible club that aims to help local "churches to reach lost children and their families with the Gospel‚" according to the CEF's website."Here in Hawaii‚ the law says that after the school day is complete‚ every public school is considered a public use facility‚" a CEF flyer explaining its club states. "This essentially means that any organization can use space at any public school once the school day is over."A 2001 Supreme Court ruling declared that "if a school opens its campus after school hours for any organization‚ they have to open them for all organizations‚" the CEF added.A press release from Liberty Counsel‚ a nonprofit litigation organization representing CEF‚ stated that by denying the CEF's request to host its club on public school campuses‚ the HIDOE had violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments‚ state laws‚ and school discrimination policies. Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver stated‚ "The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that public schools cannot discriminate against Christian viewpoints regarding use of school facilities. Child Evangelism Fellowship gives children a biblically based education that includes moral and character development. Good News Clubs should be in every public elementary school and that includes in these Hawaii schools." The HIDOE did not respond to a request for comment‚ the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

They say the best things in life are free‚ and that's certainly the case right now if you're a fan of all things Warhammer‚ or more specifically Mordheim: City of the Damned. That's because you can now bag this massive RPG for absolutely nothing‚ but you only have a couple of weeks to secure the deal. Continue reading Huge Warhammer RPG is free to keep forever if you’re fast

The potential return of Dark and Darker to Steam is still somewhat of an unknown‚ but a new hardcore dungeon crawler hopes to satisfy all your competitive multiplayer RPG desires‚ and you’ll be able to try it soon as an open alpha test joins Steam Next Fest in February. Just revealed with a gorgeous new trailer‚ Dungeonborne integrates the high-tension extraction format of Escape From Tarkov and Call of Duty DMZ with a gorgeous fantasy setting evoking the likes of Dungeons and Dragons or The Elder Scrolls Skyrim. Continue reading Dark and Darker has a rival in new multiplayer RPG coming to Steam

The zoo is hoping that by adding the eight cursing African grey parrots to a larger flock‚ their swearing will become "diluted." The post British Zoo Launches New Plan To Curb Parrots’ Nonstop Swearing appeared first on All That's Interesting.

The final amount was nearly $60 million more than what Carroll’s side was seeking‚ which was $24 million.