IDSA presents priorities at World Health Assembly
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) presented and joined statements reflecting various aspects of its priorities at the 71st World Health Assembly in Geneva last week. In one statement, IDSA expressed its support for recommendations on the global strategy and plan of action on... Read More »Haspel highlights her priorities as CIA director during swearing-in ceremony
At her swearing-in ceremony last week, CIA Director Gina Haspel highlighted the need for the agency to bolster its foreign language proficiency, build stronger partnerships and deploy more field officers. Haspel, the first woman to lead the CIA in the agency’s 70-year history, was joined by... Read More »
FLIR Systems offering three new radar, thermal products for use by military, border patrol
FLIR Systems, Inc. introduced last week three new radar and thermal imaging systems that can be used by militaries and government border patrol agencies to detect objects on land and in the air, including microdrones. The FLIR Ranger R8SS-3D and R8SS radars can provide mid-range detection... Read More »
Senate bill would give police fast access to cell phone location data in missing persons cases
Cellular service providers would be required to provide limited cell phone data to police departments in emergency situations like missing persons cases under a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on May 24. The Kelsey Smith Act is named for an 18-year-old woman who was abducted and murdered in... Read More »
Agency seeks national security solutions
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is requesting input on concepts for advanced research, development, and demonstration of systems for military missions regarding national security. The agency’s Tactical Technology Office will host a Virtual Proposers Day June 6-7 to... Read More »Research develop framework to identify microorganisms with high pandemic potential
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security recently developed a framework to help identify microorganisms that are most likely to cause a global pandemic to inform future preparedness and response efforts. The report from the researchers, "The Characteristics of Pandemic... Read More »
CBP Laredo Field Office makes plans to ease border crossing during busy summer travel season
With peak summer travel season approaching, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Laredo Field Office will open additional traffic lanes and has encouraged travelers to secure tourist permits ahead of time and to enroll in trusted traveler programs to help reduce wait times. CBP has also... Read More »
Senate committee approves NDAA with more than 30 amendments from Sen. Cruz
Highlighting the importance of “peace through strength,” U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced more than 30 amendments to the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2019 during U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee markup, which concluded on May 24. In total,... Read More »
DARPA kicking off four-year effort to leverage gene tuning to mitigate threats
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plans to host an informational event on June 13 for those interested in participating in a new program that seeks to temporarily leverage the human body’s natural genetic responses to counter biological, chemical, and radiological threats.... Read More »
DHS seeks to better secure federal assets from cybersecurity threats
The Department of Homeland Security is seeking to enhance its approach to securing the federal government’s High Value Assets (HVAs) from cybersecurity threats. DHS has worked for the past several years with federal agencies to identify, prioritize, and assess the cybersecurity needs of the... Read More »
Operation yields human trafficking arrests
A three-week Border Patrol operation west of Yuma, Arizona, between April and May yielded the arrests of 170 human trafficking suspects. Special Operations Detachment (SOD) and Intelligence Border Patrol agents detected the suspects near the Imperial Sand Dunes. Operation Sandman apprehended a... Read More »
Homeland Security Department awards $3 million to small businesses for research projects
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program recently announced that it awarded $2.94 million across 20 competitive research contracts to 19 small businesses in 10 states. Each of the Phase I awardees will... Read More »
FBI seizes control of key server used in massive Russian botnet cyberattacks
A Russian botnet that has infected about a half million routers used in homes and business around the world with malware was disrupted on Thursday by the FBI’s seizure of a key server. Referred to by federal officials and cybersecurity experts as “VPNFilter,” the botnet has attacked... Read More »
Sen. Portman calls for continued “maximum pressure campaign” against North Korea
In response to reports that President Donald Trump had canceled the planned June 12 summit with North Korea, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) called on Thursday to maintain pressure by continuing talks, engaging the international community and upholding tougher sanctions. Portman, a member of the... Read More »