Bill to provide first responders with better training and communications resources passes House
The U.S. House of Representatives recently unanimously passed a bipartisan bill aimed at supporting first responders by making sure they have the resources they need to handle hazardous events, including crude oil train derailments. The Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs... Read More »
Bipartisan bill to protect first responders from anthrax exposure heads to Obama for signature
Legislation to protect first responders from anthrax exposure in the event of a biological attack passed the House on Tuesday and will now go to President Barack Obama to be signed into law. The First Responder Anthrax Preparedness Act would authorize a pilot program for the Department of... Read More »
OPCW chief meets with Afghanistan’s Karzai to discuss chemical weapons nonproliferation
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü recently met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan H.E. Hekmat Kahlil Karzai to discuss advancing the goals of the Chemical Weapons Convention. While meeting at OPCW... Read More »
Raytheon demonstrates new electronic warfare program management tool
Raytheon Co. recently demonstrated its electronic warfare planning and management tool (EWPMT) with third party interoperability, called the Cyber and Electromagnetic Battle Management (CEMBM) Tool, for the U.S. Army. The demonstration integrated CEMBM with the Marine Corps’ electronic warfare... Read More »
Center for Nonproliferation Studies calls on Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention to address biosecurity concerns
According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) recently called upon the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) to address security issues related to major developments in gene drive systems at its upcoming review conference. Gene drive systems... Read More »
Senators seek answers from DOJ on expanded mass hacking authority rule change
U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Chris Coons (D-DE) continue to push for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to substantively answer questions from 23 Congress members about a new expanded mass hacking authority that is set to go into effect in December if Congress does not act. “The American... Read More »
DOD’s Carter presents DOE’s Moniz with DOD Distinguished Public Service Award
U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter recently honored Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz with the Department of Defense’s Distinguished Public Service Award, the department’s highest civilian honor. Moniz was honored in recognition of his leadership in strengthening the partnership between the... Read More »
DHS, ICE resume removal proceedings for illegal Haitian nationals
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), recently resumed the removal of Haitian nationals who are present in the country illegally. Removals were previously scheduled to begin on Oct. 4, however, DHS decided to delay the removal... Read More »
EU’s Civil Liberties Committee approves stronger data protection standards framework
The European Union’s (EU) Civil Liberties Committee recently approved the framework of new data protection standards for law enforcement in the EU and the United States to exchange information, including to prevent terrorism. The so-called Umbrella Agreement seeks to ensure high data... Read More »Bavarian Nordic completes Phase 3 enrollment for Imvamune smallpox vaccine study
Bavarian Nordic A/S recently completed its enrollment of a Phase 3 clinical study designed to demonstrate non-inferiority between the company’s investigational, non-replicating smallpox vaccine called Imvamune and ACAM2000, the current U.S.-licensed and replicating smallpox vaccine. The U.S.... Read More »
Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents discover five illegal migrants in two separate incidents
Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to immigration checkpoints recently discovered five Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States over two separate incidents on Nov. 22. The first incident began when agents stopped a 2009 Hyundai sedan for routine questioning at an... Read More »
ECBC to collaborate with acclaimed researcher to help combat effects of biological agents
The U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) is collaborating with renowned researcher Anthony Atala, director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, on a project to help combat the effects of chemical and biological agents. The project, called Ex Vivo Console of... Read More »
MEPs call for increased pooling of defense resources among EU member states
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in a recently passed resolution have called for greater cooperation between countries in Europe to strengthen security and defense to combat an increase in terrorism, cyber threats and energy insecurity. “Our union is not equipped to face overwhelming... Read More »