News
New platform to be developed to speed up vaccine production
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Imperial College London are partnering to develop a vaccine that fights against multiple viral pathogens. The self-amplifying RNA vaccine platform called RapidVAC enables tailored—just-in-time—vaccine production against multiple... Read More »
Joint NGO statement questions lack of resources for Biological Weapons Convention, highlights importance of engagement
A collection of more than 40 individuals and non-governmental organizations have endorsed a joint NGO statement to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), following its 2018 Meeting of States Parties and first annual Global Forum on Scientific Advances Important to the BWC. That statement began... Read More »
FBI releases 2017 National Incident-Based Reporting System crime data
FBI officials have released information regarding law enforcement agency use of its National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) in 2017, noting the transition to the more informative crime reporting system. Authorities cited the system's more detailed data collection capabilities, stating... Read More »
Man arrested in connection with planned synagogue attack
An Ohio man has been arrested and charged in connection with plans to launch an attack on a synagogue in Toledo, according to Department of Justice officials. Damon M. Joseph, 21, of Holland, Ohio, was charged in federal court with one count of attempting to provide material support to the... Read More »
DARPA to host meeting on electronic applications in defense
In an effort to tackle obstacles facing electronics advancement of the last 50 years, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently launched phase two of its Electronics Resurgence Initiative (ERI). ERI is a five-year, $1.5 billion program to tackle obstacles facing advanced... Read More »
Immigrants with claims of fear increases in 2017-2018
The number and percentage of aliens seeking admission or unlawfully entering the United States who assert fear of persecution or apply for asylum have increased, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Those who claim fear or seek asylum, believe they will be harmed if they are... Read More »
Connell of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity speaks about the future of biosecurity research, ethics
Thirty years ago, Nancy Connell was working to get thousands of scientists, including Nobel laureates, to sign a pledge presented at the United Nations, an agreement that said they would not knowingly engage in research that would lead to the development of a biological weapon. Connell was a... Read More »
DHS partners with United Airlines to fight human trafficking
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign is sharing resources with United Airlines in a new partnership meant to counter human trafficking. Under this joint endeavor, the Blue Campaign’s awareness materials will be co-branded with United Airlines and used to support that... Read More »
Homeland Security measure garners Senate approval
The DHS Data Framework Act, which seeks to unify protective measures for the country’s information-sharing system, was recently advanced by the U.S. Senate. “We live in an increasingly connected world and must be able to get the right information to the right people at the right time in... Read More »
F-35 Lightning II fighter to be housed at Tyndall AFB
In the wake of damage to Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) caused by Hurricane Michael, the U.S. Air Force is recommending the base be rebuilt to house the F-35 Lightning II fighter. Air Force officials are advocating Congress use supplemental funding for rebuilding the base, noting a preliminary... Read More »
NYPD to launch Unmanned Aircraft Systems program
The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced last week the agency will be launching an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) program, which will be comprised of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), or drones, and the licensed NYPD officers in the Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU) who will operate... Read More »
Sandia Labs tests ‘friendly’ EMP for improved electronic survival
While electromagnetic pulses (EMP) are often devastating to the survival capabilities of various electronic devices, Sandia National Laboratories has been conducting tests on an EMP generator to determine the effects and capabilities of various devices. The ElectroMagnetic Environment Simulator... Read More »
Legislation seeks to fully fund border wall
Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), John Kennedy (R-LA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced last week a bill that would fully fund the border wall southern section. The four legislators said the WALL Act also serves as the first bill that will fund the wall by identifying specific funding... Read More »
Legislation seeks to bolster cybersecurity efforts
Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) recently introduced a bill designed to bolster cybersecurity efforts by requiring a cyber-vulnerabilities disclosure program (VDP) to address deficiencies. The Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Act would require the Department of Homeland... Read More »
BAE Systems awarded two US Navy contracts
BAE Systems recently was awarded two indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts totaling more than $150 million with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD). Both contracts support the sustainment and rapid integration of command, control, communications, computers,... Read More »
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency issues $15M contract for arctic surveillance data
GeoNorth Information Systems (GNIS), in collaboration with the University of Alaska and Lockheed Martin, will survey the Arctic region under contract with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for the next five years. The $15-million contract will see Lockheed Martin’s scalable... Read More »
Asia Reassurance Initiative Act garners Senate approval
The Senate advanced Wednesday the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (ARIA), which serves as a policy framework to enhance American leadership in the Indo-Pacific region. The measure, authored by Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Ed Markey (D-MA), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), also... Read More »
Senate resolution holds Saudi crown prince responsible for journalist’s death
Six U.S. senators introduced a resolution Wednesday that holds Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman accountable for contributing for a variety of actions including the unjustified killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Lindsey Graham... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation would fund cybersecurity education
U.S. Reps Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Glenn Thompson (R-PA), introduced legislation Monday that provides resources to develop cybersecurity education programs at technical schools. The Cybersecurity Education Integration Act would establish a competitive grant program to add cybersecurity into new... Read More »
Nearly 30 national organizations urge immediate federal action on all-hazards, pandemic reauthorization
A coalition of national organizations representing public health, healthcare providers, biotechnology companies, and researchers this week urged congressional leaders to swiftly approve the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation (PAHPAI) Act of 2018 before Congress adjourns... Read More »
Cybersecurity Roadmap prioritizes TSA security measures
The Transportation Security Administration released Tuesday its first Cybersecurity Roadmap, a guide that prioritizes the administration’s cybersecurity efforts. The guide highlights efforts both within the TSA and the transportation systems sector. It is part of the 2018-2026 TSA Strategy... Read More »
Sen. Young announces support for criminal justice reform bill
U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) announced Tuesday his support for criminal justice reform legislation recently proposed in Congress. The First Step Act (S.3649) would reduce federal recidivism and crime, prepare inmates for a successful return to society, enhance prison security and officer safety,... Read More »
Montana State University leading international project to counter bat-spread diseases
More than 20 scientists from five continents led by Montana State University will study bats in Australia, Bangladesh, Madagascar, and Ghana to research disease prevention. Scientists hope to uncover the complex causes of bat-borne viruses and what has led them to jump to humans, fueling... Read More »
Canada to donate additional CA$10 mil to CEPI for anti-epidemic efforts
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau affirmed another 10 million Canadian dollars for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) this week, in an effort to bolster the development of vaccines. The announcement was made following the recent G20 summit and supports that body’s... Read More »
DHS seeks innovative solutions from startups to address digital forgery, counterfeiting
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is reaching out to startups as a means of bolstering anti-forgery and counterfeiting capabilities for digital documentation. The request is being made through a new solicitation, “Preventing Forgery and... Read More »
Soldier sentenced for attempting to provide material aid to ISIS
Army Sgt. First Class Ikaika Erik Kang has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Officials said Kang, 35, formerly stationed at Schofield Barracks, was sentenced to 240 months on Counts 2, 3 and 4 to run... Read More »
US colleges competitively defend energy infrastructure in DOE CyberForce challenge
Teams from 14 colleges and universities throughout the United States competed this week as part of the Department of Energy CyberForce Competition held at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) campus. The competition marks the second held at the PNNL campus. Students had to build and... Read More »
International effort to vaccinate 250 in Burkina Faso typhoid conjugate vaccine study
The Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) at the Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé (GRAS) are launching a vaccine study in Burkina Faso, focused on a typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV). The study represents their second effort in the area... Read More »
Report examines radioactive source security challenges
A new report released by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and Moscow-based Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS) maintains that sustained regional dialogue is essential to addressing Central Asia's radioactive source security challenges. “Largely as a result of poor... Read More »
Space launch aids Arctic search, rescue missions
The Coast Guard Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) Program, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently launched two 6U CubeSats as a means of evaluating the effectiveness of space-based sensors in support of... Read More »
Boeing program completes Phase II receiver certification testing
Boeing’s KC-46 tanker program recently completed planned Phase II receiver certification flight tests. The certification comes after three weeks of flights with F-15E aircraft from Edwards Air Force Base in California. Testing began in April with Boeing and U.S. Air Force KC-46 crews... Read More »
US senators urge Trump not to withdraw from INF Treaty with Russia
Several U.S. senators have expressed concern with President Donald Trump expressed intention to pull the United States out of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is an arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, then... Read More »
DARPA showcases advanced awareness, coordination for small combat units through first Squad X test
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) successfully conducted a test of the Squad X Experimentation program last week, pairing Army and Marine units with autonomous technology. Squad X involves an integrated system that boosted the coordination, threat detection and combat... Read More »
AAR secures more than $50M maintenance, logistics support services contract for US Marshals Service prisoner transport aircraft
AAR recently secured a five-year, $51 million U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) contract to perform support services for Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System Boeing 737 series aircraft. The agreement covers maintenance and logistical work for the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation... Read More »