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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China-Russia cooperation refutes Western-imposed misconceptions about Chinese industrial policy – Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui

    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

    Moscow, July 14 /Xinhua/ — Cooperation between China and Russia refutes the Western-imposed claims that “China’s industrial policy distorts the global market” and “China’s excess production capacity creates unfair competition.” Such claims are absurd and unfounded. This was stated by Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui in an article titled “The Era of True Friendship between China and Russia: Cooperation Refutes Misconceptions, Mutual Benefit Determines the Future,” published recently in the Russian newspaper Trud.

    “Politicians and media in the United States and Western countries have long been actively spreading groundless claims such as ‘China’s industrial policy is distorting the world market’ and ‘China’s excess production capacity is creating unfair competition’. They are trying their best to denigrate the industrial policy of developing countries and suppress their right to development based on the desire to maintain their economic hegemony,” the publication says.

    The essence of these false claims, according to the Chinese diplomat, is “politicizing the economy and using economic and trade levers to achieve political goals.” “This line of behavior only creates obstacles to international trade, disrupts the stability of global supply chains, and ultimately leads to losses for all involved,” he warned.

    Zhang Hanhui stressed that all countries have the right to stimulate economic development through the implementation of reasonable industrial policies. “In the context of the acceleration of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, industrial subsidies have become an important tool for enhancing innovation potential and stimulating economic growth. Industrial subsidies are practiced in both developed countries and countries with developing economies,” the ambassador stated.

    The article points out that China’s industrial subsidy policy is based on the principles of openness, fairness and compliance with established standards. “It is not selective and applies equally to all market participants. China’s state-owned enterprises, as independent market participants, do not enjoy any advantages under the subsidy policy due to their status and do not provide subsidies to other enterprises,” the author noted, adding that the flexible subsidy model not only meets China’s needs for industrial modernization, but is also fully consistent with the commitments China made when joining the World Trade Organization.

    Zhang Hanhui called the US and Western countries’ accusations against China regarding “overcapacity” “a cover for their protectionist policies.” “Under the pretext of “overcapacity,” some countries impose restrictions on Chinese exports and investment cooperation. All this is pure protectionism, artificial interference and division of the world market,” he said.

    The Chinese diplomat is convinced that only free trade and fair competition can form an optimal structure of global production capacities. He cited China and Russia as an example of such interaction. “Both countries have complementary economic advantages, great potential for cooperation and huge opportunities for development,” Zhang Hanhui believes. He drew attention to the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly publicly refuted statements by the United States and Western countries about “China’s excess production capacity.”

    “China and Russia, as stabilizing, positive and progressive forces in the international community, must continue to maintain unity, expand cooperation, strengthen trade, economic and energy ties, improve mechanisms that ensure a high level of trade and economic interaction, and effectively counter unilateral actions and protectionism,” concluded the Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation. –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 Russia: China does not seek competitive advantage through currency devaluation – deputy head of the Central Bank

    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

    BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) — China does not seek to gain an international competitive advantage through currency devaluation, Zou Lan, deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC, central bank), said at a press conference on Monday.

    As he noted, the US dollar index and US Treasury yields have recently experienced increased volatility, which has led to side effects on global financial markets.

    On the contrary, China’s financial market has shown strong resilience and is functioning stably overall, Zou Lan noted. Since the publication of a joint statement on the results of the Sino-American trade and economic talks held in Geneva in May, the yuan to dollar exchange rate has shown two-way fluctuations, steadily remaining below 7.2 yuan per dollar.

    “The dynamics of the US dollar currently remain uncertain, while China’s domestic fundamentals continue to improve. The yuan exchange rate continues to fluctuate in both directions, with a solid foundation for maintaining basic stability,” Zou Lan said.

    Major developed economies have entered a cycle of interest rate cuts and market expectations for renewed monetary easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve are growing, with the interest rate differential between China and the United States expected to show a narrowing trend, the vice governor added.

    According to him, China’s balance of payments is generally balanced, the financial market is functioning stably, and significant progress has been made in building the foreign exchange market.

    Zou Lan assured that the PBOC will remain committed to the decisive role of the market in determining the exchange rate, maintain exchange rate flexibility, strengthen expectations management, prevent the risk of excessive fluctuations, and maintain the overall stability of the yuan at a reasonable and balanced level. –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 –

  • Over 6.6 crore electors in Bihar included in draft electoral roll; ECI steps up efforts with 11 days left

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    With just 11 days remaining for the last date of submission of Enumeration Forms (EFs) under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has collected EFs from over 6.6 crore electors so far.

    According to official figures, out of Bihar’s total 7,89,69,844 electors, EFs of 6,60,67,208 voters—amounting to 83.66%—have been received after two rounds of door-to-door visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

    So far, about 1.59% of electors have been found deceased, 2.2% have permanently shifted, and 0.73% were found enrolled at more than one location. This means that 88.18% of electors have either submitted their forms, been confirmed deceased, or have shifted residence.

    Only about 11.82% of electors now remain to submit their forms. Many among them have sought additional time to complete and submit their EFs with supporting documents in the coming days.

    The ECI has directed nearly one lakh BLOs to begin a third round of door-to-door visits to ensure that no eligible voter is left out of the draft Electoral Roll. Their efforts are being supported by around 1.5 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties, with each BLA permitted to certify and submit up to 50 forms daily.

    To strengthen urban voter enrollment, special camps are being organised across all 5,683 wards under the 261 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of Bihar.

    For electors who may have temporarily migrated out of Bihar, the Commission has stepped up outreach through newspaper advertisements and direct contact to help them submit their forms on time. Such electors can also submit EFs online using their mobile phones via the ECINet App or the official website (https://voters.eci.gov.in). They may also send completed forms to the concerned BLO through family members, WhatsApp, or other online modes.

    The newly launched ECINet platform, which integrates 40 previous ECI applications into a single portal, is playing a key role in the Bihar SIR. It enables electors to submit forms online, check names in the 2003 Electoral Roll where needed, and directly connect with election officials, including BLOs.

    As of 6 PM today, over 5.74 crore Enumeration Forms have been uploaded through ECINet. Its document review module has also accelerated the verification of electors’ eligibility by Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and District Election Officers (DEOs).

    The draft Electoral Roll for Bihar will be published on August 1, 2025. The ECI has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that no eligible voter is left out of the electoral process.

  • MIL-OSI China: Japan urged to exercise prudence in military, security fields 2025-07-14 23:52:29 China on Monday urged Japan to draw lessons from history, in a bid to exercise prudence in security issues as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

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

      BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) — China on Monday urged Japan to draw lessons from history, in a bid to exercise prudence in security issues as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

      Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media request for comment on claims by Japanese government sources that the country plans to export six Abukuma-class ships to the Philippines.

      The spokesperson reiterated China’s position that defense and security cooperation between countries should neither target a third party nor undermine the interests of any third party.

      Jiang highlighted the historical responsibilities of Japanese militarism during World War II, including invasions and colonial rule over neighboring countries such as China and the Philippines, as well as the occupation of islands in the South China Sea.

      In recent years, Japan has breached the constraints of its pacifist constitution and the exclusive defense-oriented principle, continuously exporting weapons and military equipment abroad, the spokesperson noted.

      Such actions are seen as attempts to form exclusive blocs and stir instability in the South China Sea and the broader Asia-Pacific region, he said.

      “We urge the Japanese side to engage in deep reflection, draw lessons from history, exercise prudence in both words and actions regarding military and security matters, and make contributions to regional peace and stability,” the spokesperson said. 

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Japan urged to exercise prudence in military, security fields 2025-07-14 23:52:29 China on Monday urged Japan to draw lessons from history, in a bid to exercise prudence in security issues as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

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

      BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) — China on Monday urged Japan to draw lessons from history, in a bid to exercise prudence in security issues as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

      Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media request for comment on claims by Japanese government sources that the country plans to export six Abukuma-class ships to the Philippines.

      The spokesperson reiterated China’s position that defense and security cooperation between countries should neither target a third party nor undermine the interests of any third party.

      Jiang highlighted the historical responsibilities of Japanese militarism during World War II, including invasions and colonial rule over neighboring countries such as China and the Philippines, as well as the occupation of islands in the South China Sea.

      In recent years, Japan has breached the constraints of its pacifist constitution and the exclusive defense-oriented principle, continuously exporting weapons and military equipment abroad, the spokesperson noted.

      Such actions are seen as attempts to form exclusive blocs and stir instability in the South China Sea and the broader Asia-Pacific region, he said.

      “We urge the Japanese side to engage in deep reflection, draw lessons from history, exercise prudence in both words and actions regarding military and security matters, and make contributions to regional peace and stability,” the spokesperson said. 

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Japan urged to exercise prudence in military, security fields 2025-07-14 23:52:29 China on Monday urged Japan to draw lessons from history, in a bid to exercise prudence in security issues as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

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

      BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) — China on Monday urged Japan to draw lessons from history, in a bid to exercise prudence in security issues as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

      Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media request for comment on claims by Japanese government sources that the country plans to export six Abukuma-class ships to the Philippines.

      The spokesperson reiterated China’s position that defense and security cooperation between countries should neither target a third party nor undermine the interests of any third party.

      Jiang highlighted the historical responsibilities of Japanese militarism during World War II, including invasions and colonial rule over neighboring countries such as China and the Philippines, as well as the occupation of islands in the South China Sea.

      In recent years, Japan has breached the constraints of its pacifist constitution and the exclusive defense-oriented principle, continuously exporting weapons and military equipment abroad, the spokesperson noted.

      Such actions are seen as attempts to form exclusive blocs and stir instability in the South China Sea and the broader Asia-Pacific region, he said.

      “We urge the Japanese side to engage in deep reflection, draw lessons from history, exercise prudence in both words and actions regarding military and security matters, and make contributions to regional peace and stability,” the spokesperson said. 

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIST Ion Clock Sets New Record for Most Accurate Clock in the World

    Source: US Government research organizations

    (From left to right) Mason Marshall, David Hume, Willa Arthur-Dworschack and Daniel Rodriguez Castillo stand in front of the aluminum ion clock at NIST. With its recent improvements, the clock can pave the way for the campaign to redefine the second as well as explore new ideas in physics.

    Credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

    There’s a new record holder for the most accurate clock in the world. Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have improved their atomic clock based on a trapped aluminum ion. Part of the latest wave of optical atomic clocks, it can perform timekeeping with 19 decimal places of accuracy.   

    Optical clocks are typically evaluated on two levels — accuracy (how close a clock comes to measuring the ideal “true” time, also known as systematic uncertainty) and stability (how efficiently a clock can measure time, related to statistical uncertainty). This new record in accuracy comes out of 20 years of continuous improvement of the aluminum ion clock. Beyond its world-best accuracy, 41% greater than the previous record, this new clock is also 2.6 times more stable than any other ion clock. Reaching these levels has meant carefully improving every aspect of the clock, from the laser to the trap and the vacuum chamber.

    The team published its results in Physical Review Letters.

    “It’s exciting to work on the most accurate clock ever,” said Mason Marshall, NIST researcher and first author on the paper. “At NIST we get to carry out these long-term plans in precision measurement that can push the field of physics and our understanding of the world around us.”

    NIST physicist David Hume holds the newly modified ion trap for the aluminum ion clock. By modifying the trap, the aluminum ion and its magnesium ion partner were able to “tick” unperturbed.

    Credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

    The aluminum ion makes an exceptionally good clock, with an extremely steady, high-frequency “ticking” rate. Its ticks are more stable than those of cesium, which provides the current scientific definition of the second, said David Hume, the NIST physicist leading the aluminum ion clock project. And the aluminum ion isn’t as sensitive to some environmental conditions, like temperature and magnetic fields.

    But the aluminum ion is kind of shy, Marshall explained. Aluminum is difficult to probe and cool with lasers, both necessary techniques for atomic clocks. The research group therefore paired the aluminum ion with magnesium. Magnesium doesn’t have the beautiful ticking properties of aluminum, but it can be easily controlled with lasers. “This ‘buddy system’ for ions is called quantum logic spectroscopy,” said Willa Arthur-Dworschack, a graduate student on the project. The magnesium ion cools the aluminum ion, slowing it down. It also moves in tandem with its aluminum partner, and the state of the clock can be read out via the magnesium ion’s motion, making this a “quantum logic” clock. Even with this coordination, there was still an array of physical effects to characterize, said Daniel Rodriguez Castillo, also a graduate student on the project.

    “It’s a big, complex challenge, because every part of the clock’s design affects the clock,” Rodriguez Castillo said.

    One challenge was the design of the trap where the ions are held, which was causing tiny movements of the ions, called excess micromotion, that were lowering the clock’s accuracy. That excess micromotion throws off the ions’ tick rate. Electrical imbalances at opposite sides of the trap were creating extra fields that disturbed the ions. The team redesigned the trap, putting it on a thicker diamond wafer and modifying the gold coatings on the electrodes to fix the imbalance of the electric field. They also made the gold coatings thicker to reduce resistance. Refining the trap this way slowed the ions’ motion and let them “tick” unperturbed.

    The newly modified ion trap for NIST’s aluminum ion clock, with an inset showing a CCD image of the aluminum-magnesium ion pair. The circle shows the position of the aluminum ion, which is dark to the camera as it can only be read out using quantum logic spectroscopy via the magnesium ion.

    Credit: NIST

    The vacuum system in which the trap must operate was also causing problems. Hydrogen diffuses out of the steel body of a typical vacuum chamber, Marshall said. Traces of hydrogen gas collided with the ions, interrupting the clock’s operation. That limited how long the experiment could run before the ions needed to be reloaded. The team redesigned the vacuum chamber and had it rebuilt out of titanium, which lowered the background hydrogen gas by 150 times. That meant they could go days without reloading the trap, rather than reloading every 30 minutes.

    There was still one more ingredient they needed: a more stable laser to probe the ions and count their ticks. The 2019 version of the clock had to be run for weeks to average out quantum fluctuations — temporary random changes in the ions’ energy state — caused by its laser. To reduce that time, the team turned to NIST’s own Jun Ye, whose lab at JILA (a joint institute of NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder) hosts one of the most stable lasers in the world. Ye’s strontium lattice clock, Strontium 1, held the previous record for accuracy. 

    This was a team effort. Using fiber links under the street, Ye’s group at JILA sent the ultrastable laser beam 3.6 kilometers (a little more than 2 miles) to the frequency comb in the lab of Tara Fortier at NIST. The frequency comb, which acts as a “ruler for light,” allowed the aluminum ion clock group to compare its laser with Ye’s ultrastable one. This process enabled the Ye lab’s laser to transfer its stability to the aluminum clock laser. With this improvement, the researchers could probe the ions for a full second compared to their previous record of 150 milliseconds. This improves the clock’s stability, reducing the time required to measure down to the 19th decimal place from three weeks to a day and a half.

    (From left to right) Daniel Rodriguez Castillo, Willa Arthur-Dworschack and Mason Marshall work together on the aluminum ion clock at NIST in Boulder. This atomic clock sets a new record for accuracy.

    Credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

    With this new record, the aluminum ion clock contributes to the international effort to redefine the second to much greater levels of accuracy than before, facilitating new scientific and technological advances. The upgrades also drastically improve its use as a quantum logic testbed, exploring new concepts in quantum physics and building the tools needed for quantum technology, an exciting prospect for those involved. More importantly, by cutting down the averaging time from weeks to days, this clock can be a tool to make new measurements of Earth’s geodesy and explore physics beyond the Standard Model, such as the possibility that the fundamental constants of nature are not fixed values but actually changing. 

    “With this platform, we’re poised to explore new clock architectures — like scaling up the number of clock ions and even entangling them — further improving our measurement capabilities,” Arthur-Dworschack said.

    Paper: Mason C. Marshall, Daniel A. Rodriguez Castillo, Willa J. Arthur-Dworschack, Alexander Aeppli, Kyungtae Kim, Dahyeon Lee, William Warfield, Joost Hinrichs, Nicholas V. Nardelli, Tara M. Fortier, Jun Ye, David R. Leibrandt and David B. Hume. High-stability single-ion clock with 5.5×10−19 systematic uncertainty. Physical Review Letters. Published online July 14, 2025. DOI: 10.1103/hb3c-dk28

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIST Ion Clock Sets New Record for Most Accurate Clock in the World

    Source: US Government research organizations

    (From left to right) Mason Marshall, David Hume, Willa Arthur-Dworschack and Daniel Rodriguez Castillo stand in front of the aluminum ion clock at NIST. With its recent improvements, the clock can pave the way for the campaign to redefine the second as well as explore new ideas in physics.

    Credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

    There’s a new record holder for the most accurate clock in the world. Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have improved their atomic clock based on a trapped aluminum ion. Part of the latest wave of optical atomic clocks, it can perform timekeeping with 19 decimal places of accuracy.   

    Optical clocks are typically evaluated on two levels — accuracy (how close a clock comes to measuring the ideal “true” time, also known as systematic uncertainty) and stability (how efficiently a clock can measure time, related to statistical uncertainty). This new record in accuracy comes out of 20 years of continuous improvement of the aluminum ion clock. Beyond its world-best accuracy, 41% greater than the previous record, this new clock is also 2.6 times more stable than any other ion clock. Reaching these levels has meant carefully improving every aspect of the clock, from the laser to the trap and the vacuum chamber.

    The team published its results in Physical Review Letters.

    “It’s exciting to work on the most accurate clock ever,” said Mason Marshall, NIST researcher and first author on the paper. “At NIST we get to carry out these long-term plans in precision measurement that can push the field of physics and our understanding of the world around us.”

    NIST physicist David Hume holds the newly modified ion trap for the aluminum ion clock. By modifying the trap, the aluminum ion and its magnesium ion partner were able to “tick” unperturbed.

    Credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

    The aluminum ion makes an exceptionally good clock, with an extremely steady, high-frequency “ticking” rate. Its ticks are more stable than those of cesium, which provides the current scientific definition of the second, said David Hume, the NIST physicist leading the aluminum ion clock project. And the aluminum ion isn’t as sensitive to some environmental conditions, like temperature and magnetic fields.

    But the aluminum ion is kind of shy, Marshall explained. Aluminum is difficult to probe and cool with lasers, both necessary techniques for atomic clocks. The research group therefore paired the aluminum ion with magnesium. Magnesium doesn’t have the beautiful ticking properties of aluminum, but it can be easily controlled with lasers. “This ‘buddy system’ for ions is called quantum logic spectroscopy,” said Willa Arthur-Dworschack, a graduate student on the project. The magnesium ion cools the aluminum ion, slowing it down. It also moves in tandem with its aluminum partner, and the state of the clock can be read out via the magnesium ion’s motion, making this a “quantum logic” clock. Even with this coordination, there was still an array of physical effects to characterize, said Daniel Rodriguez Castillo, also a graduate student on the project.

    “It’s a big, complex challenge, because every part of the clock’s design affects the clock,” Rodriguez Castillo said.

    One challenge was the design of the trap where the ions are held, which was causing tiny movements of the ions, called excess micromotion, that were lowering the clock’s accuracy. That excess micromotion throws off the ions’ tick rate. Electrical imbalances at opposite sides of the trap were creating extra fields that disturbed the ions. The team redesigned the trap, putting it on a thicker diamond wafer and modifying the gold coatings on the electrodes to fix the imbalance of the electric field. They also made the gold coatings thicker to reduce resistance. Refining the trap this way slowed the ions’ motion and let them “tick” unperturbed.

    The newly modified ion trap for NIST’s aluminum ion clock, with an inset showing a CCD image of the aluminum-magnesium ion pair. The circle shows the position of the aluminum ion, which is dark to the camera as it can only be read out using quantum logic spectroscopy via the magnesium ion.

    Credit: NIST

    The vacuum system in which the trap must operate was also causing problems. Hydrogen diffuses out of the steel body of a typical vacuum chamber, Marshall said. Traces of hydrogen gas collided with the ions, interrupting the clock’s operation. That limited how long the experiment could run before the ions needed to be reloaded. The team redesigned the vacuum chamber and had it rebuilt out of titanium, which lowered the background hydrogen gas by 150 times. That meant they could go days without reloading the trap, rather than reloading every 30 minutes.

    There was still one more ingredient they needed: a more stable laser to probe the ions and count their ticks. The 2019 version of the clock had to be run for weeks to average out quantum fluctuations — temporary random changes in the ions’ energy state — caused by its laser. To reduce that time, the team turned to NIST’s own Jun Ye, whose lab at JILA (a joint institute of NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder) hosts one of the most stable lasers in the world. Ye’s strontium lattice clock, Strontium 1, held the previous record for accuracy. 

    This was a team effort. Using fiber links under the street, Ye’s group at JILA sent the ultrastable laser beam 3.6 kilometers (a little more than 2 miles) to the frequency comb in the lab of Tara Fortier at NIST. The frequency comb, which acts as a “ruler for light,” allowed the aluminum ion clock group to compare its laser with Ye’s ultrastable one. This process enabled the Ye lab’s laser to transfer its stability to the aluminum clock laser. With this improvement, the researchers could probe the ions for a full second compared to their previous record of 150 milliseconds. This improves the clock’s stability, reducing the time required to measure down to the 19th decimal place from three weeks to a day and a half.

    (From left to right) Daniel Rodriguez Castillo, Willa Arthur-Dworschack and Mason Marshall work together on the aluminum ion clock at NIST in Boulder. This atomic clock sets a new record for accuracy.

    Credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

    With this new record, the aluminum ion clock contributes to the international effort to redefine the second to much greater levels of accuracy than before, facilitating new scientific and technological advances. The upgrades also drastically improve its use as a quantum logic testbed, exploring new concepts in quantum physics and building the tools needed for quantum technology, an exciting prospect for those involved. More importantly, by cutting down the averaging time from weeks to days, this clock can be a tool to make new measurements of Earth’s geodesy and explore physics beyond the Standard Model, such as the possibility that the fundamental constants of nature are not fixed values but actually changing. 

    “With this platform, we’re poised to explore new clock architectures — like scaling up the number of clock ions and even entangling them — further improving our measurement capabilities,” Arthur-Dworschack said.

    Paper: Mason C. Marshall, Daniel A. Rodriguez Castillo, Willa J. Arthur-Dworschack, Alexander Aeppli, Kyungtae Kim, Dahyeon Lee, William Warfield, Joost Hinrichs, Nicholas V. Nardelli, Tara M. Fortier, Jun Ye, David R. Leibrandt and David B. Hume. High-stability single-ion clock with 5.5×10−19 systematic uncertainty. Physical Review Letters. Published online July 14, 2025. DOI: 10.1103/hb3c-dk28

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIST Ion Clock Sets New Record for Most Accurate Clock in the World

    Source: US Government research organizations

    (From left to right) Mason Marshall, David Hume, Willa Arthur-Dworschack and Daniel Rodriguez Castillo stand in front of the aluminum ion clock at NIST. With its recent improvements, the clock can pave the way for the campaign to redefine the second as well as explore new ideas in physics.

    Credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

    There’s a new record holder for the most accurate clock in the world. Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have improved their atomic clock based on a trapped aluminum ion. Part of the latest wave of optical atomic clocks, it can perform timekeeping with 19 decimal places of accuracy.   

    Optical clocks are typically evaluated on two levels — accuracy (how close a clock comes to measuring the ideal “true” time, also known as systematic uncertainty) and stability (how efficiently a clock can measure time, related to statistical uncertainty). This new record in accuracy comes out of 20 years of continuous improvement of the aluminum ion clock. Beyond its world-best accuracy, 41% greater than the previous record, this new clock is also 2.6 times more stable than any other ion clock. Reaching these levels has meant carefully improving every aspect of the clock, from the laser to the trap and the vacuum chamber.

    The team published its results in Physical Review Letters.

    “It’s exciting to work on the most accurate clock ever,” said Mason Marshall, NIST researcher and first author on the paper. “At NIST we get to carry out these long-term plans in precision measurement that can push the field of physics and our understanding of the world around us.”

    NIST physicist David Hume holds the newly modified ion trap for the aluminum ion clock. By modifying the trap, the aluminum ion and its magnesium ion partner were able to “tick” unperturbed.

    Credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

    The aluminum ion makes an exceptionally good clock, with an extremely steady, high-frequency “ticking” rate. Its ticks are more stable than those of cesium, which provides the current scientific definition of the second, said David Hume, the NIST physicist leading the aluminum ion clock project. And the aluminum ion isn’t as sensitive to some environmental conditions, like temperature and magnetic fields.

    But the aluminum ion is kind of shy, Marshall explained. Aluminum is difficult to probe and cool with lasers, both necessary techniques for atomic clocks. The research group therefore paired the aluminum ion with magnesium. Magnesium doesn’t have the beautiful ticking properties of aluminum, but it can be easily controlled with lasers. “This ‘buddy system’ for ions is called quantum logic spectroscopy,” said Willa Arthur-Dworschack, a graduate student on the project. The magnesium ion cools the aluminum ion, slowing it down. It also moves in tandem with its aluminum partner, and the state of the clock can be read out via the magnesium ion’s motion, making this a “quantum logic” clock. Even with this coordination, there was still an array of physical effects to characterize, said Daniel Rodriguez Castillo, also a graduate student on the project.

    “It’s a big, complex challenge, because every part of the clock’s design affects the clock,” Rodriguez Castillo said.

    One challenge was the design of the trap where the ions are held, which was causing tiny movements of the ions, called excess micromotion, that were lowering the clock’s accuracy. That excess micromotion throws off the ions’ tick rate. Electrical imbalances at opposite sides of the trap were creating extra fields that disturbed the ions. The team redesigned the trap, putting it on a thicker diamond wafer and modifying the gold coatings on the electrodes to fix the imbalance of the electric field. They also made the gold coatings thicker to reduce resistance. Refining the trap this way slowed the ions’ motion and let them “tick” unperturbed.

    The newly modified ion trap for NIST’s aluminum ion clock, with an inset showing a CCD image of the aluminum-magnesium ion pair. The circle shows the position of the aluminum ion, which is dark to the camera as it can only be read out using quantum logic spectroscopy via the magnesium ion.

    Credit: NIST

    The vacuum system in which the trap must operate was also causing problems. Hydrogen diffuses out of the steel body of a typical vacuum chamber, Marshall said. Traces of hydrogen gas collided with the ions, interrupting the clock’s operation. That limited how long the experiment could run before the ions needed to be reloaded. The team redesigned the vacuum chamber and had it rebuilt out of titanium, which lowered the background hydrogen gas by 150 times. That meant they could go days without reloading the trap, rather than reloading every 30 minutes.

    There was still one more ingredient they needed: a more stable laser to probe the ions and count their ticks. The 2019 version of the clock had to be run for weeks to average out quantum fluctuations — temporary random changes in the ions’ energy state — caused by its laser. To reduce that time, the team turned to NIST’s own Jun Ye, whose lab at JILA (a joint institute of NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder) hosts one of the most stable lasers in the world. Ye’s strontium lattice clock, Strontium 1, held the previous record for accuracy. 

    This was a team effort. Using fiber links under the street, Ye’s group at JILA sent the ultrastable laser beam 3.6 kilometers (a little more than 2 miles) to the frequency comb in the lab of Tara Fortier at NIST. The frequency comb, which acts as a “ruler for light,” allowed the aluminum ion clock group to compare its laser with Ye’s ultrastable one. This process enabled the Ye lab’s laser to transfer its stability to the aluminum clock laser. With this improvement, the researchers could probe the ions for a full second compared to their previous record of 150 milliseconds. This improves the clock’s stability, reducing the time required to measure down to the 19th decimal place from three weeks to a day and a half.

    (From left to right) Daniel Rodriguez Castillo, Willa Arthur-Dworschack and Mason Marshall work together on the aluminum ion clock at NIST in Boulder. This atomic clock sets a new record for accuracy.

    Credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

    With this new record, the aluminum ion clock contributes to the international effort to redefine the second to much greater levels of accuracy than before, facilitating new scientific and technological advances. The upgrades also drastically improve its use as a quantum logic testbed, exploring new concepts in quantum physics and building the tools needed for quantum technology, an exciting prospect for those involved. More importantly, by cutting down the averaging time from weeks to days, this clock can be a tool to make new measurements of Earth’s geodesy and explore physics beyond the Standard Model, such as the possibility that the fundamental constants of nature are not fixed values but actually changing. 

    “With this platform, we’re poised to explore new clock architectures — like scaling up the number of clock ions and even entangling them — further improving our measurement capabilities,” Arthur-Dworschack said.

    Paper: Mason C. Marshall, Daniel A. Rodriguez Castillo, Willa J. Arthur-Dworschack, Alexander Aeppli, Kyungtae Kim, Dahyeon Lee, William Warfield, Joost Hinrichs, Nicholas V. Nardelli, Tara M. Fortier, Jun Ye, David R. Leibrandt and David B. Hume. High-stability single-ion clock with 5.5×10−19 systematic uncertainty. Physical Review Letters. Published online July 14, 2025. DOI: 10.1103/hb3c-dk28

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIST Ion Clock Sets New Record for Most Accurate Clock in the World

    Source: US Government research organizations

    (From left to right) Mason Marshall, David Hume, Willa Arthur-Dworschack and Daniel Rodriguez Castillo stand in front of the aluminum ion clock at NIST. With its recent improvements, the clock can pave the way for the campaign to redefine the second as well as explore new ideas in physics.

    Credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

    There’s a new record holder for the most accurate clock in the world. Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have improved their atomic clock based on a trapped aluminum ion. Part of the latest wave of optical atomic clocks, it can perform timekeeping with 19 decimal places of accuracy.   

    Optical clocks are typically evaluated on two levels — accuracy (how close a clock comes to measuring the ideal “true” time, also known as systematic uncertainty) and stability (how efficiently a clock can measure time, related to statistical uncertainty). This new record in accuracy comes out of 20 years of continuous improvement of the aluminum ion clock. Beyond its world-best accuracy, 41% greater than the previous record, this new clock is also 2.6 times more stable than any other ion clock. Reaching these levels has meant carefully improving every aspect of the clock, from the laser to the trap and the vacuum chamber.

    The team published its results in Physical Review Letters.

    “It’s exciting to work on the most accurate clock ever,” said Mason Marshall, NIST researcher and first author on the paper. “At NIST we get to carry out these long-term plans in precision measurement that can push the field of physics and our understanding of the world around us.”

    NIST physicist David Hume holds the newly modified ion trap for the aluminum ion clock. By modifying the trap, the aluminum ion and its magnesium ion partner were able to “tick” unperturbed.

    Credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

    The aluminum ion makes an exceptionally good clock, with an extremely steady, high-frequency “ticking” rate. Its ticks are more stable than those of cesium, which provides the current scientific definition of the second, said David Hume, the NIST physicist leading the aluminum ion clock project. And the aluminum ion isn’t as sensitive to some environmental conditions, like temperature and magnetic fields.

    But the aluminum ion is kind of shy, Marshall explained. Aluminum is difficult to probe and cool with lasers, both necessary techniques for atomic clocks. The research group therefore paired the aluminum ion with magnesium. Magnesium doesn’t have the beautiful ticking properties of aluminum, but it can be easily controlled with lasers. “This ‘buddy system’ for ions is called quantum logic spectroscopy,” said Willa Arthur-Dworschack, a graduate student on the project. The magnesium ion cools the aluminum ion, slowing it down. It also moves in tandem with its aluminum partner, and the state of the clock can be read out via the magnesium ion’s motion, making this a “quantum logic” clock. Even with this coordination, there was still an array of physical effects to characterize, said Daniel Rodriguez Castillo, also a graduate student on the project.

    “It’s a big, complex challenge, because every part of the clock’s design affects the clock,” Rodriguez Castillo said.

    One challenge was the design of the trap where the ions are held, which was causing tiny movements of the ions, called excess micromotion, that were lowering the clock’s accuracy. That excess micromotion throws off the ions’ tick rate. Electrical imbalances at opposite sides of the trap were creating extra fields that disturbed the ions. The team redesigned the trap, putting it on a thicker diamond wafer and modifying the gold coatings on the electrodes to fix the imbalance of the electric field. They also made the gold coatings thicker to reduce resistance. Refining the trap this way slowed the ions’ motion and let them “tick” unperturbed.

    The newly modified ion trap for NIST’s aluminum ion clock, with an inset showing a CCD image of the aluminum-magnesium ion pair. The circle shows the position of the aluminum ion, which is dark to the camera as it can only be read out using quantum logic spectroscopy via the magnesium ion.

    Credit: NIST

    The vacuum system in which the trap must operate was also causing problems. Hydrogen diffuses out of the steel body of a typical vacuum chamber, Marshall said. Traces of hydrogen gas collided with the ions, interrupting the clock’s operation. That limited how long the experiment could run before the ions needed to be reloaded. The team redesigned the vacuum chamber and had it rebuilt out of titanium, which lowered the background hydrogen gas by 150 times. That meant they could go days without reloading the trap, rather than reloading every 30 minutes.

    There was still one more ingredient they needed: a more stable laser to probe the ions and count their ticks. The 2019 version of the clock had to be run for weeks to average out quantum fluctuations — temporary random changes in the ions’ energy state — caused by its laser. To reduce that time, the team turned to NIST’s own Jun Ye, whose lab at JILA (a joint institute of NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder) hosts one of the most stable lasers in the world. Ye’s strontium lattice clock, Strontium 1, held the previous record for accuracy. 

    This was a team effort. Using fiber links under the street, Ye’s group at JILA sent the ultrastable laser beam 3.6 kilometers (a little more than 2 miles) to the frequency comb in the lab of Tara Fortier at NIST. The frequency comb, which acts as a “ruler for light,” allowed the aluminum ion clock group to compare its laser with Ye’s ultrastable one. This process enabled the Ye lab’s laser to transfer its stability to the aluminum clock laser. With this improvement, the researchers could probe the ions for a full second compared to their previous record of 150 milliseconds. This improves the clock’s stability, reducing the time required to measure down to the 19th decimal place from three weeks to a day and a half.

    (From left to right) Daniel Rodriguez Castillo, Willa Arthur-Dworschack and Mason Marshall work together on the aluminum ion clock at NIST in Boulder. This atomic clock sets a new record for accuracy.

    Credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

    With this new record, the aluminum ion clock contributes to the international effort to redefine the second to much greater levels of accuracy than before, facilitating new scientific and technological advances. The upgrades also drastically improve its use as a quantum logic testbed, exploring new concepts in quantum physics and building the tools needed for quantum technology, an exciting prospect for those involved. More importantly, by cutting down the averaging time from weeks to days, this clock can be a tool to make new measurements of Earth’s geodesy and explore physics beyond the Standard Model, such as the possibility that the fundamental constants of nature are not fixed values but actually changing. 

    “With this platform, we’re poised to explore new clock architectures — like scaling up the number of clock ions and even entangling them — further improving our measurement capabilities,” Arthur-Dworschack said.

    Paper: Mason C. Marshall, Daniel A. Rodriguez Castillo, Willa J. Arthur-Dworschack, Alexander Aeppli, Kyungtae Kim, Dahyeon Lee, William Warfield, Joost Hinrichs, Nicholas V. Nardelli, Tara M. Fortier, Jun Ye, David R. Leibrandt and David B. Hume. High-stability single-ion clock with 5.5×10−19 systematic uncertainty. Physical Review Letters. Published online July 14, 2025. DOI: 10.1103/hb3c-dk28

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three arrested in connection with Knightsbridge murder

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives have arrested three men in their 20s in connection with the murder of Blue Stevens, who was stabbed to death in Knightsbridge.

    Two were arrested at an address in Hounslow on Saturday, 12 July.

    One man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. He remains in police custody.

    Another man was arrested on suspicion of murder. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.

    Following their arrests, Met officers obtained a warrant to search two properties in Chiswick where significant evidence was recovered.

    The third man was arrested on Monday, 14 July on suspicion of assisting an offender. He remains in police custody.

    Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah, who leads policing in Central West London, said: “These arrests mark a significant milestone in this complex and unfolding murder investigation.

    “We continue to progress at pace. While we retain an open mind around motive, one line of enquiry is now that this may have been a targeted attack.

    “Increased police patrols remain active in and around the Knightsbridge area. Please do speak with an officer if you have any questions or concerns.”

    A murder investigation was launched after officers were called to reports of a stabbing in Seville Street at 21:24hrs on Wednesday, 9 July.

    Met officers responded with paramedics from London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance. Blue Stevens, 24, was found with stab wounds. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he sadly died at the scene.

    His next-of-kin continue to be supported by specialist officers.

    Please call police on 0208 721 4961 referencing CAD 8521/09JUL if you were a witness or have any information which might help.

    You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pickens man arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material* chargesRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Dallon Christopher Barnwell, 22, of Pickens, S.C., on 10 charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office made the arrest. Investigators with the Attorney General’s Office, also a member of the state’s ICAC Task Force, assisted with the investigation.

     

    Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which led them to Barnwell. Investigators state that Barnwell possessed files of child sexual abuse material.

     

    Barnwell was arrested on July 3, 2025. He is charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree (§16-15-410), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count.

     

    This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

     

    Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

     

     

     

    * Child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, is a more accurate reflection of the material involved in these heinous and abusive crimes. “Pornography” can imply the child was a consenting participant.  Globally, the term child pornography is being replaced by CSAM for this reason.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In historic first, California powered by two-thirds clean energy – becoming largest economy in the world to achieve milestone

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jul 14, 2025

    What you need to know: Clean energy reliably powered California to levels never seen before – 67% in 2023 – as renewable energy and clean resources continue to advance the state’s world-leading energy transition while fueling the nation’s largest clean energy workforce, more than a half-million strong.

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced California achieved an historic milestone – the state was powered by two-thirds clean energy in 2023, the latest year for which data is available. California is the largest economy in the world to achieve this level of clean energy. 

    The state released new data showing California’s continued progress toward a clean energy future with 67% of the state’s retail electricity sales in 2023 coming from renewable and zero-carbon electricity generation — compared to just 61% the previous year and around 41% a decade ago. Sources of clean energy include generation from solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, geothermal and biomass. 

    In 2024, the state added a record-breaking 7,000 megawatts (MW) of clean capacity to the grid, representing the largest single-year increase in clean energy capacity added to the grid in state history. This new figure broke the previous records set in both 2022 and 2023, marking a third consecutive year of unprecedented clean energy growth.

    As the federal government turns its back on innovation and commonsense, California is making our clean energy future a reality. The world’s fourth largest economy is running on two-thirds clean power – the largest economy on the planet to achieve this milestone.

    And for the first time ever, clean energy provided 100% of the state’s power nearly every day this year for some part of the day. Not since the Industrial Revolution have we seen this kind of rapid transformation. 

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Historic investments over the past 15 years have led to an extraordinary pace of development in new clean energy generation. And as the grid is increasingly powered by clean energy, pollution is down and the economy is up. Greenhouse gas emissions in California are down 20% since 2000 – even as the state’s GDP increased 78% in that same time period. The power sector is a major driver of the decline in greenhouse gases – emissions from electric power have been cut in half since 2009, helping the state achieve its emissions reductions goals years ahead of schedule.

    California is home to the most clean energy jobs in the U.S. and the state’s renewable energy and clean vehicle industries lead the nation in growth. California boasts more than a half-million green jobs and has 7 times more clean jobs than fossil fuel jobs. Solar and wind jobs account for a majority of green jobs, and battery storage and grid modernization is the second-fastest growing sector within California’s clean energy workforce.  

    California continues to move at a rapid pace on bringing clean energy online. Since 2019, a record 25,000 MW of new energy resources statewide have been added to the grid, with most of that being solar and battery storage. This aligns with the Governor’s roadmap to the state’s clean energy future released in 2023, which called for 148,000 megawatts (MW) of new clean power by 2045.

    “California has achieved yet another major milestone on our journey to a clean energy future. The latest numbers show how our state is demonstrating that clean energy is mainstream and is here to stay,” said California Energy Commission (CEC) Chair David Hochschild. 

    Sources eligible under the state’ Renewables Portfolio Standard – such as solar and wind – made up 43% of the power mix in 2023, up from 39% in 2022. Other zero carbon resources continue to power the grid with large hydro accounting for 12% and nuclear power at 12% in 2023.

    “California has set ambitious clean energy goals, and utilities and community choice aggregators have stepped up to deliver clean resources at competitive prices to communities up and down the state,” said California Public Utilities Commission President Alice Reynolds. “We are bringing renewable energy online at an unprecedented scale and pace never seen before.”

    Solar represents the technology with the largest amount of installed renewable energy capacity in the state – over 21,000 MW of solar capacity operates the electric grid and another 19,000 MW of behind-the-meter generation. The California grid regularly breaks solar generation peak record levels  – the latest solar peak recorded in late May was over 21,500 MW of solar generation.

    The state is also doubling down on its goals by swiftly increasing its battery energy storage capacity. The state’s battery fleet now stands at over 15,000 MW – 1,944% higher than when the Governor took office in 2019. The state’s storage fleet is regularly storing any available extra solar energy generated during the day, and supporting the grid by dispatching during the evening.  

    Clean energy days

    More than 9 out of 10 days so far this year have been powered by 100% clean energy for at least some part of the day in California. In 2025, California’s grid has run on 100% clean electricity for an average of 7 hours a day.

    Data compiled by the California Energy Commission shows clean energy has powered the equivalent of 51.9 days in the state – nearly 30% of the year to date running on 100% clean electricity. That already surpasses the amount of “clean energy days” last year – and represents a 750% increase in clean energy days since 2022.

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    Jul 11, 2025

    News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today on the court’s decision in Vasquez Perdomo, et al. v. Noem to temporarily stop federal immigration agents from unlawful suspicionless stops in California:  Justice prevailed today…

    Jul 11, 2025

    News What you need to know: Californians are strongly encouraged to use state and local resources to protect themselves from heat illness as triple digit temperatures move across the state. SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom is encouraging Californians to prepare for…

    Jul 11, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom is announcing that the California Employment Development Department is awarding $11 million to help six California organizations connect underserved adults — including veterans, people with disabilities, and at-risk young…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: To’Hajiilee Man Sentenced to 17 Years for 2020 Murder

    Source: US FBI

    ALBUQUERQUE – A To’Hajiilee man was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for the brutal killing of a local man in 2020. Earlier this month, that man also pled guilty in a separate case to assaulting a federal detention officer while he was in custody awaiting trial.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court documents, on June 24, 2020, Antonio Chaco, 42, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, argued with Thomas Anthony Brown outside Chaco’s trailer home in To’Hajiilee. Without warning or cause, Chaco struck Brown in the face and continued to punch and kick Brown until he lost consciousness. Chaco then wrapped Brown in a square of carpet, transported Brown to a remote desert location within the Navajo Nation, and continued his assault before abandoning Brown—leaving Brown to perish in the wilderness without water, food, phone, or shelter.

    On July 4, 2020, Thomas Anthony Brown’s family found Brown’s skeletonized remains in the To’Hajiilee wilderness. The Office of the Medical Investigator later determined Brown’s cause of death was homicidal violence, including blunt-head trauma.

    Thomas Brown’s picture and cowboy hat, as displayed during sentencing

    Upon his release from prison for this crime, Chaco will be subject to five years of supervised release.

    In a separate case, Chaco pled guilty on June 30, 2025, to assaulting a federal detention officer at the Cibola County Correctional Facility while Chaco was in custody pending trial for the murder of Thomas Brown. For this offense, Chaco faces up to 20 years in prison. That sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones and Brittany DuChaussee are prosecuting these cases. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Las Cruces Felon Sentenced for Firearm-Related Drug Trafficking Death

    Source: US FBI

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man was sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison for fatally shooting another man during a fentanyl drug deal, following his guilty plea to multiple federal drug trafficking and firearms charges.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court records, on January 24, 2022, Rudy Garcia, 38, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, arranged a deal for the victim and an acquaintance to purchase 100 fentanyl-laced pills for $500 from Garcia’s ex-wife. Prior to getting the pills, Garcia and the victim had a conversation at a motel where Garcia let the victim know he had a shotgun and displayed the shotgun so that it was visible to him. Garcia expressed concern that the victim had developed a reputation for conducting “drug rips” and did not want any trouble during the deal.

    After obtaining the pills, Garcia and the victim walked together to a vehicle. As they were getting in, Garcia claimed he saw the victim reach for a pistol. Feeling threatened, Garcia exited the vehicle, pulled out his shotgun, and shot the victim. The victim died from the gunshot wound.

    Garcia was arrested and charged with conspiracy, distribution of fentanyl, using and discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking crime resulting in death, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

    Following his arrest, Garcia admitted to his involvement in the drug deal and the shooting during an interview with detectives. Surveillance footage and witness accounts corroborated the events leading to the victim’s death.

    Garcia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, discharging said firearm, and causing death through use of said firearm, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition

    Upon his release from prison, Garcia will be subject to three years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Randy M. Castellano prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Providence VA Service Representative Admits to Federal Extortion, Bribery, Witness Tampering Charges

    Source: US FBI

    PROVIDENCE, RI – A former benefits service representative with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Providence pleaded guilty today to a six-count indictment that charges him with three counts of bribery and one count each of extortion, gratuity received by a public official, and witness tampering, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    Michael Darrah, 47, of Taunton, MA., solicited and accepted bribes from veterans and the family member of a veteran to approve requested dependent care benefits and/or disability benefits. In requesting payments, Darrah claimed that some of the money he sought from his victims would be used to purchase gift cards for other purported VA employees who Darrah claimed either could or did assist him in expediting and approving benefits claims.

    As reflected in the indictment:

    • Darrah requested payments and accepted approximately $3,385 from a veteran to “grease the wheels” to push paperwork through and expedite a claim for disability benefits.
    • Darrah corruptly sought and accepted $16,566 from a second veteran to expedite and approve a claim for  disability benefits.
    • Darrah sought and accepted $2,700 from a relative of a third veteran to expedite and approve the veteran’s benefits claim and he sought and accepted a “gratuity” of approximately $5,000 from the same veteran for having successfully used his position at the VA to get other VA employees to expedite and approve the claims. The indictment reflects that Darrah requested this “gratuity” despite being advised that the veteran was facing homelessness as his house was being foreclosed.
    • After becoming aware of the government’s investigation into his conduct, Darrah attempted to corruptly persuade a witness not to cooperate with the investigation and to lie about the nature of payments made to him.

    Darrah is scheduled to be sentenced on October 14, 2025. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter I. Roklan and Ly T. Chin.

    The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the FBI, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Veterans Administration Police.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Seek Public Assistance Locating Murder Suspect

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Boise, ID – The U.S. Marshals Service Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force is seeking the assistance of the public who were recreating in the Sawtooth National Forest in the last 24 hours – specific to the Bear Creek area.

    Travis Caleb Decker is wanted by the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office in Washington State for 3 counts of murder and 3 counts of kidnapping of his 3 children aged 5, 8, and 9 on 5/30/2025.

    Beginning on July 5, 2025, the U.S. Marshal Service received a tip from a family recreating in the Bear Creek area of the Sawtooth National Forest, consistent with the description of Travis Decker.

    The person believed to be Travis Decker was described as a white male, 5’8”-5”10 wearing a black mesh cap, black gauged earrings, cream colored t-shirt, black shorts, long ponytail, black Garmin style watch, beard and mustache overgrown, wearing a black Jan Sport backpack and either converse or vans low top shoes.

    The U.S. Marshals Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force is a state-wide cooperative to locate and arrest violent state and federal fugitives. Member agencies who work together with the U.S. Marshal Service throughout the State of Idaho are the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Caldwell Police Department, Coeur d’Alene Police Department, Idaho State Police, Idaho Department of Corrections, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Nampa Police Department, and the Pocatello Police Department. 

    Anyone with information on wanted fugitives is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshal Service Communication Center at 1-800-336- 0102, or USMS Tips at www.usmarshals.gov/tips.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union Air Transport Territory Demands Increased Protections After Guilty Plea in Violent Assault on IAM Union Member, United Airlines Worker at Washington Dulles International Airport

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    The IAM Union Air Transport Territory issued a strong call for action and accountability following a guilty plea in a violent assault against a United Airlines gate agent and IAM member at Washington Dulles International Airport.

    On July 10, 2025, Christopher Stuart Crittenden pleaded guilty in federal court to charges stemming from an attack in which he punched an IAM Union member/United Airlines customer service agent, knocking them unconscious, and attempted to assault another IAM member who barely avoided the assault. 

    Your IAM Union leadership responded swiftly with renewed calls for greater protections for our members in the airline industry.

    “No airline worker should ever fear being physically attacked for doing their job,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “This plea is a step toward justice but cannot stop here. Our members show up every day to keep travelers safe. We need Congress and federal agencies to show up for them by ensuring they are fully protected under the law.”

    The IAM represents over 100,000 airline workers, including customer service agents, ramp workers, aircraft mechanics, fleet service workers, flight attendants, stock clerks, and more. This latest assault justifies the need for stronger deterrents and enforcement mechanisms, as physical and verbal assaults on airline workers have spiked in recent years.

    “We are grateful that Mr. Crittenden has admitted guilt,” said IAM Union Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “But this isn’t just about one individual. It’s about a system that has too often failed to protect frontline workers from harassment and violence. We demand change, not just for our member at United Airlines, but for every airline employee.”

    Click here to read the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release on Crittenden’s guilty plea.

    “This was a completely preventable act of violence,” said IAM Union Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser. “Too many of our members have been assaulted while trying to do their jobs with professionalism and care. They’re not asking for applause — just for the ability to work without being punched or screamed at.”

    This assault has spotlighted the demands for legislative and regulatory action.

    “District 141 stands behind our member and their family every step of the way,” said IAM Union District 141 President and Directing General Chair Mike Klemm. “It’s not enough to just prosecute after the fact. We need action from the Department of Transportation and airline management to create safer workplaces for gate agents and all airport employees.”

    The IAM continues to push for reforms that include:

    • Mandatory federal penalties for assaults on all aviation workers;
    • Increased staffing and security in high-risk airport areas;
    • Expanded training for de-escalation and reporting;
    • Zero-tolerance policies that are jointly enforced by airlines and federal agencies.

    “We have been leading this fight on customer service assaults on Capitol Hill for years,” said IAM Union National Legislative and Political Director Hasan Solomon. “We’ve called on Congress and the Department of Justice to treat assaults on airline workers with the same urgency as assaults on flight crews or law enforcement. This person was banned from ever flying on United Airlines, but these types of incidents should get a person banned forever on all airlines.”

    The IAM urges the public, elected officials, and airline companies to stand with frontline workers and ensure they receive the dignity and security they deserve.

    The post IAM Union Air Transport Territory Demands Increased Protections After Guilty Plea in Violent Assault on IAM Union Member, United Airlines Worker at Washington Dulles International Airport appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Calling on Federal Leaders for Increased Drone Detection

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul issued a letter to President Trump and Congressional leaders regarding the threat posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, and highlighting the critical need for a federal comprehensive strategy on drone detection capabilities. Late last year in the New York City area and the Hudson Valley, a number of drone sightings underscored the inadequacy of the federal government’s posture and the constrained ability of state authorities to detect and mitigate these threats.

    In the letter, Governor Hochul also urges federal leaders to grant states the ability to maintain and expand the authority to improve detection and mitigation of drone threats in coordination with federal agencies.

    The full text of the letter is below:

    Dear President Trump:

    I am writing to you with respect to the critical need for federal action regarding the threat posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly known as drones. As you are aware, late last year, the New York City area and the Hudson Valley experienced concerning UAS sightings that underscored the inadequacy of the federal government’s posture and the constrained ability of state authorities to detect and mitigate these threats.

    In early June, the Ukrainian military launched a successful surprise attack against Russian strategic air forces using drones. This serves as a stark reminder of the evolving and significant danger these systems present. An attack against strategic military and critical infrastructure in New York poses an urgent danger to the United States. I urge the Administration to proactively improve the UAS detection and mitigation posture in New York and for Congress to extend existing authorities and expand states’ abilities to detect and mitigate these threats themselves.

    The reality is that the federal government is unprepared and poorly postured to detect and mitigate UAS threats and states are hamstrung by a lack of legislative authority and action by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The time for decisive action is now.

    I am asking your immediate attention on two fronts:

    1. Coordinated Federal Action on Drone Threats. We need a comprehensive federal strategy that not only dramatically improves drone detection capabilities nationally but also provides robust, multi-layered mitigation measures. These detection and mitigation measures must first protect critical infrastructure like population centers, utilities, and military assets, but also be able to be swiftly deployed to areas of concern when necessary. In the summer of 2026-12 short months away – the New York area will be the epicenter for multiple high-profile events, including the World Cup, the flotilla of Tall Ships, International Naval Review, the largest ever Macy’s fireworks show, and America’s 250th birthday celebration, which will present prime targets.

    2. Increased Authority for States to Detect and Mitigate Drones. New York State must maintain the authority to take proactive steps to detect and mitigate drones. The previous Congress extended important counter-drone authorities granted to the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation, but only to September 2025. The sunset of this authority puts the U.S. at risk and this authority must be extended. Additionally, expanded authorities and capabilities must be granted to states, such as through the measures proposed by the Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act. Granting states the authority they need to improve detection and mitigation of UAS threats, in coordination with federal agencies, is no longer a matter of preference. It is a matter of urgent concern.

    The security of our state and the nation demands a coordinated and robust response to the challenge posed by drones. I urge you to prioritize this issue and take swift action before it is too late.

    We stand ready to collaborate with the federal government and Congress to address this critical threat.

    Sincerely,

    Kathy Hochul

    Governor

    CC:

    The Honorable Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security

    The Honorable Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation

    The Honorable Chris Rocheleau, Acting Administrator of the FAA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty After Assaulting an Airline Gate Agent

    Source: US FBI

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland man pled guilty today to interfering with security screening personnel.

    According to court documents, on March 13, Christopher Stuart Crittenden, 54, of Frederick, who had consumed multiple alcoholic beverages, became irate about a delay and his seating assignment for his flight from Washington Dulles International Airport. Crittenden shouted expletives at a gate agent. The agent informed the flight captain, who was on the jet bridge, that Crittenden was likely inebriated and verbally harassing airline staff. The captain came to the gate to speak with Crittenden and ultimately informed him that he could not fly on the aircraft.

    Crittenden then assaulted the agent by punching him in the face, temporarily rendering the victim unconscious. Crittenden also attempted to punch another gate agent, but that gate agent avoided the assault.

    Crittenden is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 9 and faces up to 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Joshua P. Stone, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterterrorism Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff accepted the plea.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Clement is prosecuting the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-167.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and Czechia to lead global race on small modular reactors

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    UK and Czechia to lead global race on small modular reactors

    British workers will further benefit from a new generation of nuclear power.

    • Golden age of nuclear receives a major new boost, as the Prime Minister and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala sign first of a kind partnership at Downing Street today
    • both countries will now work closer together on small modular reactors to seize export opportunities, support highly-skilled jobs, boost economic growth and deliver clean, homegrown energy as part of the Plan for Change
    • follows government backing for new nuclear at the Spending Review, including selection of Rolls-Royce SMR as the preferred bidder to build the UK’s first small modular reactors and £14.2 billion investment to build Sizewell C

    British workers will further benefit from a new generation of nuclear power, as the government signs a landmark agreement with Czechia to kickstart the next chapter in the UK’s golden age of nuclear and secure high-skilled jobs. 

    Today’s agreement, set to be signed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala at Downing Street, will unlock new opportunities for industrial collaboration and the potential for the UK and Czechia to export small modular reactors to other countries in Europe. 

    It will also support the delivery of up to six new reactors in Czechia by Rolls-Royce SMR, potentially worth billions of pounds.

    It comes after Rolls Royce SMR and the Czechia’s largest public company, ČEZ, agreed last year to partner on SMR, with ČEZ acquiring a 20% stake.

    The leaders will also host a business roundtable as part of the visit to drive closer trade and investment links between the UK and Czechia to support working people.

    Building more nuclear will help drive the UK’s energy security, as part of the government’s mission to protect family finances by replacing the UK’s dependency on fossil fuel markets controlled by dictators with clean power that we control. 

    Small modular reactors are also smaller and quicker to build than traditional nuclear plants, with costs likely to come down as units are rolled out, helping to delivering clean, homegrown energy for British billpayers. 

    The government’s clean energy mission is the only route to energy security, lower bills and good jobs for the country. Investment is already booming, with over £40 billion of private investment in clean energy announced since last July.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    This agreement is about delivering for Britain – cleaner energy, better jobs, and greater security.

    By working with our Czech partners on small modular reactors, we’re backing British engineering, strengthening our industrial base, and putting the UK in a leading position to export the technologies of the future.

    This is our Plan for Change in action, taking practical steps to rebuild our economy, bring down bills, and give working people a stake in our clean energy transition.

    Peter Fiala, Prime Minister of Czechia, said:

    Nuclear energy holds significant potential for the coming years, as the sector is undergoing a true renaissance. That is why I am especially pleased that ČEZ and Rolls-Royce will cooperate on the development and production of small modular reactors. This collaboration will bring tangible benefits to both Czech and British economies, including job creation.

    The Czech Republic and the United Kingdom share a common approach to energy policy, and we have a very similar vision of what the future of energy should look like. We see the ideal energy mix as a combination of large nuclear power plants, small modular reactors and renewable energy sources.

    I am confident that this partnership with the United Kingdom will help us ensure energy security and affordable energy for future generations — a key priority of our government.

    UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 

    This government is driving to make the UK a clean energy superpower, replacing our dependence on fossil fuel markets controlled by petrostates with clean homegrown power we control. 

    Nuclear power is an essential part of that, which is why this government is ending years of a no-nuclear status quo to seize the benefits of a nuclear golden age for Britain. 

    This agreement will put the UK back where it belongs – at the very forefront of the global race on nuclear, working in lockstep with our Czech partners to deliver economic growth, clean energy and highly-skilled jobs for both nations.

    According to the International Energy Agency, the global SMR market is projected to reach up to nearly £500 billion by 2050, with today’s announcement giving the UK and Czechia the competitive advantage as frontrunners in the global race to build and export new nuclear technology. 

    This follows Rolls-Royce SMR being selected as the preferred bidder to partner with Great British Energy – Nuclear to develop small modular reactors, subject to final government approvals and contract signature – unlocking a new golden age of nuclear in the UK.  

    As part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy to revive Britain’s industrial heartlands, the government has pledged over £2.5 billion for the overall small modular reactor programme – with this project potentially supporting up to 3,000 new skilled jobs and powering the equivalent of around 3 million homes with clean, secure homegrown energy. 

    Great British Energy – Nuclear is aiming to allocate a site later this year and connect projects to the grid in the mid-2030s. Once small modular reactors and Sizewell C come online in the 2030s, combined with the new station at Hinkley Point C, this will deliver more nuclear to the grid than over the previous half century. 

    Last week, during the President Macron’s State Visit to the UK, French energy giant EDF confirmed it will take a 12.5% stake in Sizewell C, taking the project one step closer to being given the green light. At peak construction, Sizewell C will support 10,000 jobs, and thousands more in the nationwide supply chain, and create 1,500 apprenticeships.  

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Raleigh Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Nine Years

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

    RALEIGH, N.C. – Enrico Ferrante Cotton, a 55-year-old resident of Raleigh, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for distribution of a quantity of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.  Cotton pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025.

    According to court documents and other information presented in court, law enforcement received a tip from a confidential source in February 2024, indicating that Cotton was selling fentanyl and cocaine in the Raleigh area. On March 1, 2024, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of 32.82 grams of fentanyl from Cotton for $1,500. During this transaction, Cotton and the buyer discussed the sale of cocaine.

    In the following days, authorities learned that Cotton frequently visited a storage unit. On March 6, 2024, the K-9 unit detected substances at the storage unit, leading law enforcement to execute a search warrant. During this search, law enforcement located and seized heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (ANPP), and various drug paraphernalia.

    On the same day, law enforcement conducted a follow-up search at Cotton’s residence, where they discovered 47.35 grams of fentanyl and ANPP hidden in the toilet. Additionally, they seized $9,231 in cash, four cellular phones, a loaded magazine, a money counter, and 55 rounds of ammunition from various locations within the house.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Raleigh Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted it.   

    Related court documents and information can be found on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina’s website or on PACER by searching for case number 5:24-CR-00328-BO.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Raleigh Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Nine Years

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

    RALEIGH, N.C. – Enrico Ferrante Cotton, a 55-year-old resident of Raleigh, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for distribution of a quantity of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.  Cotton pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025.

    According to court documents and other information presented in court, law enforcement received a tip from a confidential source in February 2024, indicating that Cotton was selling fentanyl and cocaine in the Raleigh area. On March 1, 2024, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of 32.82 grams of fentanyl from Cotton for $1,500. During this transaction, Cotton and the buyer discussed the sale of cocaine.

    In the following days, authorities learned that Cotton frequently visited a storage unit. On March 6, 2024, the K-9 unit detected substances at the storage unit, leading law enforcement to execute a search warrant. During this search, law enforcement located and seized heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (ANPP), and various drug paraphernalia.

    On the same day, law enforcement conducted a follow-up search at Cotton’s residence, where they discovered 47.35 grams of fentanyl and ANPP hidden in the toilet. Additionally, they seized $9,231 in cash, four cellular phones, a loaded magazine, a money counter, and 55 rounds of ammunition from various locations within the house.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Raleigh Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted it.   

    Related court documents and information can be found on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina’s website or on PACER by searching for case number 5:24-CR-00328-BO.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Applauds NYCEDC for Moving Staten Island–Brooklyn Ferry Closer to Reality

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    July 14, 2025

    (NEW YORK, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) today issued the following statement regarding news that plans to launch a new ferry route reconnecting Staten Island and Brooklyn have moved one step closer to becoming a reality.

     

    “As a member of the Congressional Ferry Caucus and one of the lawmakers who voted for the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law which has invested in our infrastructure, ports, and waterways, I’m pleased that today’s announcement reflects a top priority of mine to strengthen, modernize, and expand our maritime transportation and ferry network.

     

    For years, we’ve urged the city to better utilize our waterways to ease traffic and expand transportation options for Staten Islanders and Brooklynites. Now, for the first time in decades, the city is one step closer to reconnecting Staten Island and Brooklyn by ferry. If there is enough positive response during the upcoming public comment period, this long-awaited route could become a reality as soon as this winter. When the feedback period opens, we urge Staten Islanders and Brooklynites to weigh in so both boroughs have greater access to reliable and affordable ferries.”

    Earlier this year, Malliotakis launched the Bipartisan Congressional Ferry Caucus, aiming to advocate for the needs of communities that rely on ferry transportation, highlight the benefits of ferry systems, and secure long-term federal investments to strengthen marine operations, shoreside infrastructure, and workforce development.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Applauds NYCEDC for Moving Staten Island–Brooklyn Ferry Closer to Reality

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    July 14, 2025

    (NEW YORK, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) today issued the following statement regarding news that plans to launch a new ferry route reconnecting Staten Island and Brooklyn have moved one step closer to becoming a reality.

     

    “As a member of the Congressional Ferry Caucus and one of the lawmakers who voted for the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law which has invested in our infrastructure, ports, and waterways, I’m pleased that today’s announcement reflects a top priority of mine to strengthen, modernize, and expand our maritime transportation and ferry network.

     

    For years, we’ve urged the city to better utilize our waterways to ease traffic and expand transportation options for Staten Islanders and Brooklynites. Now, for the first time in decades, the city is one step closer to reconnecting Staten Island and Brooklyn by ferry. If there is enough positive response during the upcoming public comment period, this long-awaited route could become a reality as soon as this winter. When the feedback period opens, we urge Staten Islanders and Brooklynites to weigh in so both boroughs have greater access to reliable and affordable ferries.”

    Earlier this year, Malliotakis launched the Bipartisan Congressional Ferry Caucus, aiming to advocate for the needs of communities that rely on ferry transportation, highlight the benefits of ferry systems, and secure long-term federal investments to strengthen marine operations, shoreside infrastructure, and workforce development.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Applauds NYCEDC for Moving Staten Island–Brooklyn Ferry Closer to Reality

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    July 14, 2025

    (NEW YORK, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) today issued the following statement regarding news that plans to launch a new ferry route reconnecting Staten Island and Brooklyn have moved one step closer to becoming a reality.

     

    “As a member of the Congressional Ferry Caucus and one of the lawmakers who voted for the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law which has invested in our infrastructure, ports, and waterways, I’m pleased that today’s announcement reflects a top priority of mine to strengthen, modernize, and expand our maritime transportation and ferry network.

     

    For years, we’ve urged the city to better utilize our waterways to ease traffic and expand transportation options for Staten Islanders and Brooklynites. Now, for the first time in decades, the city is one step closer to reconnecting Staten Island and Brooklyn by ferry. If there is enough positive response during the upcoming public comment period, this long-awaited route could become a reality as soon as this winter. When the feedback period opens, we urge Staten Islanders and Brooklynites to weigh in so both boroughs have greater access to reliable and affordable ferries.”

    Earlier this year, Malliotakis launched the Bipartisan Congressional Ferry Caucus, aiming to advocate for the needs of communities that rely on ferry transportation, highlight the benefits of ferry systems, and secure long-term federal investments to strengthen marine operations, shoreside infrastructure, and workforce development.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Louisville Men Sentenced for Distribution of Over 21,000 Fentanyl Pills and Firearm Offenses

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

    Louisville, KY – Two local men were sentenced last week for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  

    U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, Chief Barry Wilkerson of the St. Matthews Police Department, and Sheriff Joe Milam of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.

    According to court documents, Jamie Shelby, Jr., 26, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Kevon Smith, 25, was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.

    Between April 12, 2024, and July 9, 2024, Shelby, Jr. and Smith conspired with each other to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute it and distributed fentanyl. The investigation involved four controlled purchases for a total of 4,200 fentanyl pills from Shelby, Jr. and Smith. During the execution of a search warrant at Shelby Jr.’s residence on July 12, 2024, over 17,000 fentanyl pills and four firearms were seized. The firearms seized included a Glock, Model 43X, 9-millimeter pistol; a Springfield, Model 911, .380 caliber pistol; a Glock, Model 22, .40 caliber pistol; and a Sig Sauer, Model P320, 9-millimeter pistol. The estimated street value of the over 21,000 fentanyl pills seized in the case is $106,000.

    Shelby, Jr. had been convicted of the following felony offenses.

    On September 26, 2019, in Harrison Superior Court, Harrison County, Indiana, Shelby, Jr. was convicted of the offense of conspiracy to commit robbery.

    On March 12, 2020, in Clark Circuit Court 3, Clark County, Indiana, Shelby, Jr. was convicted of the offense of domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than sixteen years old.

    “These defendants earned every second of the sentences imposed for their callous disregard of the people of the Western District of Kentucky,” said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. “The pattern of fentanyl pouring across the border and into our community must stop; with these sentences, two more distributors of illicit substances are off our streets.”

    “Counterfeit pharmaceuticals laced with deadly doses of fentanyl continue to devastate our communities. But thanks to the strong partnerships with our federal, state, and local partners, the dangerous criminals responsible for trafficking this poison for profit have been taken off our streets. The DEA remains committed to protecting lives and holding those who profit from this crisis accountable,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott.  

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case was investigated by the DEA, with assistance from the ATF Louisville Field Division, the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, the St. Matthews Police Department, and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Erwin Roberts prosecuted the case.

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

    ###
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Louisville Men Sentenced for Distribution of Over 21,000 Fentanyl Pills and Firearm Offenses

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

    Louisville, KY – Two local men were sentenced last week for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  

    U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, Chief Barry Wilkerson of the St. Matthews Police Department, and Sheriff Joe Milam of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.

    According to court documents, Jamie Shelby, Jr., 26, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Kevon Smith, 25, was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.

    Between April 12, 2024, and July 9, 2024, Shelby, Jr. and Smith conspired with each other to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute it and distributed fentanyl. The investigation involved four controlled purchases for a total of 4,200 fentanyl pills from Shelby, Jr. and Smith. During the execution of a search warrant at Shelby Jr.’s residence on July 12, 2024, over 17,000 fentanyl pills and four firearms were seized. The firearms seized included a Glock, Model 43X, 9-millimeter pistol; a Springfield, Model 911, .380 caliber pistol; a Glock, Model 22, .40 caliber pistol; and a Sig Sauer, Model P320, 9-millimeter pistol. The estimated street value of the over 21,000 fentanyl pills seized in the case is $106,000.

    Shelby, Jr. had been convicted of the following felony offenses.

    On September 26, 2019, in Harrison Superior Court, Harrison County, Indiana, Shelby, Jr. was convicted of the offense of conspiracy to commit robbery.

    On March 12, 2020, in Clark Circuit Court 3, Clark County, Indiana, Shelby, Jr. was convicted of the offense of domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than sixteen years old.

    “These defendants earned every second of the sentences imposed for their callous disregard of the people of the Western District of Kentucky,” said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. “The pattern of fentanyl pouring across the border and into our community must stop; with these sentences, two more distributors of illicit substances are off our streets.”

    “Counterfeit pharmaceuticals laced with deadly doses of fentanyl continue to devastate our communities. But thanks to the strong partnerships with our federal, state, and local partners, the dangerous criminals responsible for trafficking this poison for profit have been taken off our streets. The DEA remains committed to protecting lives and holding those who profit from this crisis accountable,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott.  

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case was investigated by the DEA, with assistance from the ATF Louisville Field Division, the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, the St. Matthews Police Department, and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Erwin Roberts prosecuted the case.

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

    ###
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Provincial Traffic Safety Fund Delivers $1.54M in Grants to Saskatchewan Communities

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on July 14, 2025

    62 new projects will improve traffic and pedestrian safety 

    Flashing pedestrian crossing signs in Estevan, a crosswalk in Lampman and streetlights on the Red Earth Cree Nation are among the road safety enhancements that will be delivered using funding provided in the Provincial Traffic Safety Fund’s latest round of grants. 

    Sixty-two projects in 61 Saskatchewan communities will receive grants, totalling nearly $1.54 million. Grants in this round range from $853 to $100,000.  

    “The Government of Saskatchewan and SGI are committed to delivering safer roads for everyone in Saskatchewan,” Minister Responsible for SGI Jeremy Harrison said. “This $1.5 million in provincial grants will enable 61 municipalities and First Nations throughout our province to deliver enhancements to traffic safety in their communities.” 

    The full list of approved projects and grant amounts can be found on SGI’s website. 

    Provincial Traffic Safety Fund grants are awarded to communities twice a year, using proceeds from photo speed enforcement. A total of $14.55 million has been awarded to 918 projects in Saskatchewan since the program was established in 2019. 

    Eligible projects must focus on one or more of these traffic safety priorities: speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, occupant protection, intersection safety, aggressive driving, vulnerable road users or medically-at-risk drivers. 

    Applications are reviewed by a committee made up of representatives from the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, the Prince Albert Grand Council, the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Highways and SGI. 

    Applications are now being accepted for the next round of funding. The deadline for applications is Sept. 30, 2025. For more information and for the full list of approved projects, visit SGI’s website: https://sgi.sk.ca/community-grants-programs.  

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Provincial Traffic Safety Fund Delivers $1.54M in Grants to Saskatchewan Communities

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on July 14, 2025

    62 new projects will improve traffic and pedestrian safety 

    Flashing pedestrian crossing signs in Estevan, a crosswalk in Lampman and streetlights on the Red Earth Cree Nation are among the road safety enhancements that will be delivered using funding provided in the Provincial Traffic Safety Fund’s latest round of grants. 

    Sixty-two projects in 61 Saskatchewan communities will receive grants, totalling nearly $1.54 million. Grants in this round range from $853 to $100,000.  

    “The Government of Saskatchewan and SGI are committed to delivering safer roads for everyone in Saskatchewan,” Minister Responsible for SGI Jeremy Harrison said. “This $1.5 million in provincial grants will enable 61 municipalities and First Nations throughout our province to deliver enhancements to traffic safety in their communities.” 

    The full list of approved projects and grant amounts can be found on SGI’s website. 

    Provincial Traffic Safety Fund grants are awarded to communities twice a year, using proceeds from photo speed enforcement. A total of $14.55 million has been awarded to 918 projects in Saskatchewan since the program was established in 2019. 

    Eligible projects must focus on one or more of these traffic safety priorities: speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, occupant protection, intersection safety, aggressive driving, vulnerable road users or medically-at-risk drivers. 

    Applications are reviewed by a committee made up of representatives from the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, the Prince Albert Grand Council, the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Highways and SGI. 

    Applications are now being accepted for the next round of funding. The deadline for applications is Sept. 30, 2025. For more information and for the full list of approved projects, visit SGI’s website: https://sgi.sk.ca/community-grants-programs.  

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –