Funding shortfalls lead to 5 million more malaria cases reported in 2016
Public health officials warned that malaria response efforts are at a crossroad following the Wednesday release of a report that found 5 million more malaria cases were reported in 2016 than in 2015. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Malaria Report 2017 concluded that funding... Read More »
DHS Science & Technology Directorate earns honors from American Security Today
At an American Security Today ceremony earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) found its efforts lauded, taking away four awards for current projects. The annual ASTOR Homeland Security Awards recognizes physical, IT, and port... Read More »
Terry Wallace named director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, president of Los Alamos National Security
Effective Jan. 1, 2018, Terry Wallace has been appointed director of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and president of Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS), which operates the laboratory for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Norman J. Pattiz and Barbara E. Rusinko,... Read More »
Canadian hacker pleads guilty to aiding Russian officers in compromising webmail accounts
A Canadian national and resident pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of computer hacking and other criminal offenses related to helping Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) to access webmail accounts. Karim Baratov, also known as Kay, Karim Taloverov, and Karim Akehmet Tokbergenov, was charged... Read More »
House bill would restore funding for federal programs that support surface transportation security
Programs that work to secure railroads, buses, public areas of airports and other “soft targets” for terrorist attacks would be revamped and restored under a bill introduced in the House of Representatives on Monday. The Surface Transportation and Public Area Security Act of 2017 seeks to... Read More »
Senators call for strategic plan, stricter sanctions after latest North Korea missile test
Following North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile test on Monday, lawmakers called for action on legislation that would require a strategy to confront the nuclear threat and step-up sanctions on North Korea. U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Forces... Read More »
Steep cuts to Prevention and Public Health Fund as part of House bill draws concerns
More than $6 billion in cuts to the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) included in legislation passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month could hinder how the United States responds to public health crises, an infectious disease expert says. The CHAMPIONING Healthy Kids... Read More »
ECBC researchers earn Federal Laboratory Consortium awards for interagency coordination
Researchers at Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) were recently recognized for developing testing methods for low-volatility agent permeation (LVAP) in clothing and protective gear, and for pioneering a system to use 3D printing to produce tactical gear. The researchers were recognized... Read More »WHO warns that despite slowing Madagascar plague epidemic, response must be maintained
While there appears to be hope for Madagascar with the slowing of a pneumonic plague outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns it is too early to call off containment measures. The number of new infections has been in steady decline for several weeks now, according to the Madagascar... Read More »World Health Organization delivers medicine to Yemen to tackle diphtheria outbreak
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently delivered 1,000 vials of anti-toxins and 17 tons of medical supplies to Sana’a, Yemen, after a three-week delay caused by the closure of sea and air ports. “It is shocking that in 2017, there are children dying of an ancient disease that is... Read More »
Researchers unveil fingerprinting, forensic analysis machine
Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) researchers recently delivered a prototype of a small machine that can perform fingerprinting and forensic analysis, which could help the U.S. armed forces identify insurgents responsible for planting explosive devices. U.S. and coalition forces may... Read More »
Advancement of B61-12 Life Extension Program continues with completion of qualification flights
Two qualification flight tests of the B61-12 gravity bomb completed at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada earlier this month demonstrated the bomb’s non-nuclear functions and the ability of F-15E aircraft to deliver the weapon. Led by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of... Read More »
Motorola Solutions showcases future incident command concept, connected officer concept
Motorola Solutions recently unveiled the next generation of its future incident command concept for police and firefighters and its connected first responder concept, Responder Alert, at PMRExpo in Germany. The updated incident command concept enables police and first responders to utilize an... Read More »
Thirteen Mexican nationals detained for illegally entering country on panga boat
Border Patrol agents detained 13 Mexican nationals in Imperial Beach, California, after they allegedly entered the United States illegally aboard a panga boat in the early morning hours of Nov. 22. Responding to reports of an incoming boat from Mexico, Border Patrol agents intercepted the... Read More »