Counterterrorism measure advances House
House legislators recently advanced a measure designed to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) coordinates its counterterrorism efforts to limit duplication, inefficiency, and waste. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) authored the Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act of 2019, which is the first... Read More »
International study yields model to better predict, dissect infectious diseases
An international effort has created a new model for the identification and study of hosts critical to the spread of infectious diseases. Such hosts are known as superspreaders, but their superpower is their role in epidemics. Not every infected person has the same potential to damage. Take the... Read More »
Lockheed Martin awarded contract to develop electronic warfare systems
The U.S. Army recently awarded Lockheed Martin an $18 million Prototype Project Agreement to design, develop and test a cyber/electronic warfare podded system for the “Air Large” component of the army’s Multi-Function Electronic Warfare family of systems program. The agreement is part of... Read More »
Sen Markey, Rep. Lieu reintroduce bill to require Congressional approval for nuclear strike
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) reintroduced legislation to prevent the president from launching a nuclear first strike without congressional approval. Their bill, the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2019 (H.R.669/S.200), was also introduced in the 115th... Read More »
Marine rifle squads benefit from upgraded night vision devices
Marines Corps personnel are espousing the benefits of an updated helmet-mounted night vision system designed to enhance the infantry’s lethality and situational awareness in reduced visibility. Marine Corps Systems Command accelerated the acquisition of about 1,300 Squad Binocular Night Vision... Read More »
Boeing lands $2.4B Poseidon aircraft contract
Boeing has secured a $2.4 billion Navy contract to produce the next 19 P-8A Poseidon aircraft. The agreement calls for 10 aircraft to be added to the current inventory of P-8As in the Navy’s fleet, in addition to all five jets currently under contract for Norway and the four aircraft remaining... Read More »
Collaboration of US university researchers developing new Zika test
Scientists may have a new means of detecting and helping tailor therapies to meet the Zika virus’s onslaught. The technology in question utilizes optofluidic chips -- a combination of small biological samples used for detection purposes (microfluidics) and integrated optics, which use lasers... Read More »
CBP officers seize nearly $1M in currency
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Juarez-Lincoln Bridge, between Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, seized $988,550 in unreported currency Friday. The funds were discovered during a physical examination of a 2010 Nissan Maxima driven by a 20-year-old female U.S. citizen.... Read More »
Senate advances bill to bolster US-Israel alliance
The U.S. Senate advanced a bill this week that includes several measures to bolster the U.S.-Israel strategic alliance. The Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 (S. 1) would authorize security assistance to Israel over a 10-year period, reauthorize the United... Read More »
Michigan residents charged with conspiracy to support ISIS militants
FBI agents in Lansing, Mich., arrested and charged three people with conspiracy to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) last week. A criminal complaint, issued through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan, alleges that one of the... Read More »
Ebola treatment deemed safe, easy to administer
National Institutes of Health (NIH) early-stage clinical trial findings maintain the investigational Ebola treatment mAb114 is safe, well-tolerated, and easy to administer. Trial results published in The Lancet outlined the manner in which 18 healthy adults received mAb114 as part of a May 2018... Read More »
Sen. Tester tapped to lead group to find border security solution
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester will lead a bipartisan group of lawmakers tasked with crafting border security legislation following the agreement last Friday to end the 35-day government shutdown temporarily. President Donald Trump agreed to end the shutdown last Friday for three weeks while negotiations... Read More »
Rep. Hill introduces bill top provide protections for banks
U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-AR) introduced legislation last week designed to provide protections for financial institutions and banks against regulatory agency backlash when cooperating with a federal or state law enforcement agency investigation. Rep. Hill first introduced the bill -- the... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection to enforce no-fly zone during Super Bowl
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be supporting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enforce temporary flight restrictions around Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta during Super Bowl Sunday. The restrictions will be in effect from 3 p.m.... Read More »