Harlem Suarez, a 23-year old man from Monroe County in Florida, was recently sentenced to life in prison for attempting to use an explosive device classified as a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to provide material support to the … Read More
The Democratic members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) recently published a report detailing the potential costs for President Trump’s proposed border wall with Mexico, with a cost estimate reaching as high as $70 billion. The … Read More
A team of researchers from the United States and Uganda recently identified a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)-like coronavirus, called PDF-2180, in a bat in Uganda which the researchers said gives evidence that similar coronaviruses originate in bats. In laboratory … Read More
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) was recently named champion of the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (NCCDC), defeating nine other universities in a simulated cyber attack scenario. Participants were tasked with securing a multi-site retail corporation with 160 … Read More
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) agents stationed at the International Falls Port of Entry in Minnesota recently apprehended an individual wanted as a material witness in a homicide case. The incident occurred on April … Read More
Textron Systems Unmanned Systems recently received a $14.8 million contract from the U.S. Navy to provide two additional common unmanned surface vehicles (CUSVs) for its Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) program. Textron describes the CUSV as a “multi-mission, unmanned surface … Read More
According to a recent study of nearly 5,000 Latin American-born Los Angeles County residents, approximately 1.24 percent tested positive for Chagas disease, which can cause life-threatening conditions in the heart if not properly treated. The study was coordinated by the … Read More
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) new developmental field-deployable, chemical warfare agent-scrubbing system successfully demonstrated that it can safely neutralize more than 99.9999 percent of toxic chemicals simulating sarin, soman, and mustard agents from soil without creating any hazardous … Read More
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry recently arrested a 26-year old woman from Eagle Pass, Texas for narcotics smuggling. The incident occurred on April 12 as the woman attempted to enter … Read More
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents working at various points of entry in California apprehended 28 individuals with outstanding felony warrants over the last week, two of which were wanted for homicide. The fugitives were wanted on a litany … Read More
A research team from Harvard Medical School recently revealed how the body’s immune system responds to the presence of anthrax spores. Anthrax bacterium, called Bacillus anthracis, was used as a weaponized chemical agent in 2001, when a series of letters … Read More
A group of leading medical researchers recently wrote an article, cautioning that the number of newly-trained infectious disease physicians will not match future needs posed by emerging diseases or the expected increase in resistant microbes. The group includes Rochelle Walensky … Read More
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) recently seized a vessel near the southern coast of Puerto Rico carrying approximately 1,320 pounds of cocaine. The incident began on April 12 as a CBP DHC-8 Maritime Patrol … Read More
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ (OPCW) Executive Council convened last week to discuss allegations that the Syrian regime, led by Bashar al-Assad, conducted a chemical weapons attack on its own people. On April 4, a chemical weapons … Read More
According to a recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, combating the next infectious disease epidemic will rely on strengthening clinical research programs on investigational therapeutics and vaccines in developing countries prior to the next epidemic … Read More
Marines assigned to the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Platoon, Marine Forces Reserve recently completed a seven-day assessment and consequence training exercise at the Volunteer Training Site in Catoosa, Georgia. Participants took part in exercises, including clearing buildings, … Read More
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), recently entered into an $8.9 million agreement with Tarrytown, New York-based Siemens Healthineers to develop a new diagnostic test … Read More
U.S. Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Ron DeSantis (R-FL) recently sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, requesting communications related to a 2013 chemical weapons agreement by the Obama Administration, the Russian Federation, and the Syrian government. … Read More
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released analysis of nuclear security reporting by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which stated the department could improve its reporting practices regarding its highly-enriched uranium housing facilities. Highly-enriched uranium is radioactive in … Read More
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü recently addressed the 17th Regular Session of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE), part of the Organization of American States (OAS), to discuss OPCW’s goals for the full … Read More
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released this week its electronic device search statistics for FY2017, which details the number of electronic devices the agency searched from international travelers as they passed through its various checkpoints. In total, the agency … Read More
According to a recent study conducted by the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston and the Instituto Evandro Chagas at the Ministry of Health in Brazil, the first live, attenuated Zika virus vaccine protected mice subjects against infection … Read More
In the wake of a recent decision to ban personal electronic devices (PEDs) larger than a cell phone in passenger cabins of select international commercial flights, the Flight Safety Foundation urged caution to United States legal authorities regarding the risks … Read More
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently began the extensive process to dismantle the international Kelihos botnet, which has facilitated thousands of malicious attacks and cybercrimes throughout the world. DOJ officials said the botnet played a part in harvesting thousands … Read More
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents assigned to the El Centro Sector in California recently apprehended two individuals suspected of drug smuggling and a previously-deported sex offender later that same day. The first incident began as agents assigned to … Read More
A delegation from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently visited the Blue Grass Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility (CWDF) in Kentucky after receiving an invitation from U.S. officials. The visit comes in the wake of a deadly … Read More
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced that a new radiation detection system recently began operations at the Trans Pacific Container Service Corporation (TraPac) terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. While all incoming cargo into the port … Read More
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently opened a new building at the Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL) to provide independent testing, evaluation, and certification of explosives detection equipment for use in checkpoint areas. The new … Read More
A group of 21 Democratic U.S. Senate members recently sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, requesting he reconsider the proposed budget cuts to mass transit security programs in order to fund President Trump’s border wall with … Read More
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) recently introduced a bill called the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act, which aims to restrict the use and export of dangerous cluster munitions to protect civilians during and after wartime. Cluster … Read More
A coalition of international health institutes and organizations will soon be launching a large clinical trial of Ebola vaccine candidates to identify proper regimens that could prevent a future outbreak of the deadly disease. The French National Institute of Health … Read More
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) recently called for continued resources to support a long-term public health response against Zika virus. The group’s request includes increased laboratory, epidemiological, and surveillance capacity, along with enhanced vector controls and … Read More
A research team at Rutgers University recently determined the three-dimensional structure of the target of the anti-tuberculosis drug rifampin and discovered a new class of drugs that could potentially kill multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) bacteria. Rifampin has been used as … Read More
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation recently advanced legislation that seeks to provide protections and resources for digital assets of small businesses at risk of falling victim to a cyberattack. The Making Available Information Now to Strengthen Trust … Read More
Battelle recently announced it has entered into a research and development agreement with Nanotherapeutics Inc. to expedite the creation of new medical countermeasures for deployed military forces facing a variety of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats. The agreement … Read More
