News
Senate panel concurs with Intelligence Committee Assessment on Russian meddling in 2016 election
Russian cyber operations went beyond the hack of Democratic National Committee emails during 2016 elections, and the Intelligence Committee Assessment (ICA) on Russian activities is “well-supported,” according to a summary released on Tuesday by the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.... Read More »
Federal grand jury indicts 24 alleged MS-13 gang members on murder, racketeering, money laundering charges
A federal grand jury in Baltimore indicted 24 alleged MS-13 gang members on violent racketeering, money laundering conspiracy and murder from 2015 to 2017, according to a June 26 indictment that was unsealed on Monday. The defendants are accused of murdering five people, conspiring to murder... Read More »
IAEA concludes Austria is committed to nuclear, radiation safety
After a nine-day legal and regulatory review, a team of International Atomic Agency (IAEA) researchers has concluded that Austria is committed to nuclear and radiation safety and made recommendations for improvements. The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team recommended steps to... Read More »
Army laser in development phase at Raytheon
Defense, civil government, and cybersecurity solutions firm Raytheon is developing a 100 kW class laser weapon system for the Army, to integrate onboard the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles. The effort stems from a $10 million Army High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstration program... Read More »
Study links Zika, greater miscarriage threat
Researchers maintain more women could be losing their pregnancies to the Zika virus without knowing they are infected. Findings of a probe by California National Primate Research Center at UC Davis investigators published in Nature Medicine determined 26 percent of non-human primates infected... Read More »
Ronald Vitiello named ICE deputy director, acting director
Ronald Vitiello has been tapped to serve as the deputy director and acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) effective June 30, replacing retiring ICE Acting Director Tom Homan. In making the announcement, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen noted that... Read More »
DHS S&T enlists Cyber 20/20 to enhance cyber security capabilities for financial services
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) has awarded Cyber 20/20, Inc. a contract to enhance the capabilities of existing cybersecurity tools to detect and respond to malicious cyber-security attacks on financial institutions. Awarded under the first... Read More »
Rhode Island delegation backs bill to crack down on “lie-and-buy” gun purchases
Amid reports that federal authorities have been unable to take action against irresponsible gun owners due to vague gun licensing regulations, members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation backed legislation on Monday that aims to enhance accountability. U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse... Read More »
University of Wisconsin develops Neighborhood Atlas research tool
A new online tool called the Neighborhood Atlas has been launched to help researchers to view socioeconomic data on communities. The platform, developed at the University of Wisconsin, allows researchers to rank and map neighborhoods according to income, education, employment, housing quality... Read More »
Business incubator to aid startup research of US health threats
The Department of Health and Human Services' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has chosen the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) to help end influenza and sepsis. M2D2 is one of eight business incubators in the nation selected to aid startups in... Read More »
Symposium unites female chemists, encourages chemical science voice
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the Canadian government recently joined forces to gather female chemists, during the Symposium on Women in Chemistry in Ottawa, Canada. OPCW officials said the two-day effort involved discussing how the women support each other... Read More »
Up to $25 million in federal grant funding now available for school security
School districts can now apply for resources to enhance coordination with local police, install metal detectors and other protective measures, and provide additional training to prevent student violence through the School Violence Prevention Program. The School Violence Prevention Program’s... Read More »
US-Lebanon Joint Military Commission meets in capital
A meeting of the U.S.-Lebanon Joint Military Commission held in Washington, D.C., last week focused on the partnership between the two nations to secure regional security, to counter terrorism and to protect Lebanon’s sovereignty. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security... Read More »
Federal authorities arrest three dozen darknet vendors, seize millions in cash and drugs
Federal authorities arrested last week more than three dozen darknet vendors across the country, seizing drugs, weapons, and more than $23.6 million in cash and cryptocurrency. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection... Read More »
International Atomic Energy Agency reviews UAE infrastructure for nuclear power
A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) went on an eight-day mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to review its infrastructure to develop a nuclear power program. The UAE is building its first nuclear power plant at the Barakah site in Abu Dhabi. The IAEA’s... Read More »
Defense spending bill includes funding for Arizona military programs
The fiscal year 2019 Defense Appropriations Act, which the House advanced last week, includes increased funding for several Arizona military programs and installations. The package includes $144 million for new A-10 wings which will re-wing between 14-20 planes, Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) said.... Read More »
Curtiss-Wright lands submarine parts contract
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation has secured a $28 million government contract to provide valves for the Navy’s Virginia-class submarines. The global innovative company’s role supports ship construction and spare parts procurement, noting the contract includes FY18 orders for two ship sets of... Read More »
Zika test incorporates smartphone technology
Researchers are exploring the nuances of digital health systems and nanotechnology as a means of transforming a smartphone into a Zika detecting device. Work of Brigham and Women's Hospital investigators published in ACS Nano details efforts to rapidly and accurately diagnose Zika using mobile... Read More »
House advances Defense Appropriations Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced last week the Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2019, which marks a roughly 2.5 percent increase over 2018 funding levels. The bill provides $674.6 billion for the Department of Defense, including $606.5 billion in base discretionary funding... Read More »
House E&C subcommittee members advance draft PAHPA bill to combat biological threats
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on June 27 passed the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2018 (PAHPRA), sending it to the full committee along with four other public health bills under consideration. “The mark up of these five important bills... Read More »
Boeing Chinook aircraft upgrades move to final assembly
A modernization effort for U.S. Army and special operations Chinook helicopters recently achieved a milestone in the wake of the loading of the first engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) helicopter into final assembly this week. Boeing said the contract to develop the next-generation... Read More »
New York lawmakers thwart effort to shift 9/11 health program for first responders
Four New York lawmakers led an effort to defeat a proposal to separate the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides treatment services for first responders and survivors with 9/11-related health conditions, from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, according to a June... Read More »
GAO recommends how CBP can help better retain employees
While U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has tripled the number of applications it has received for law enforcement positions in recent years, it has had problems retaining employees. To address this issue, CBP asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office to examine CBP’s efforts to... Read More »
First responders embrace FirstNet initiative
Organizers of FirstNet, the nationwide public safety communications platform dedicated to America's first responders, said the endeavor has been fervently embraced. More than 1,000 public safety agencies across 52 states and territories have joined FirstNet, officials noted, nearly doubling the... Read More »
New observatory monitors disease outbreaks and large-scale vaccinations in real time
The hectic nature of public health emergencies may hardly leave officials time to reflect on what lessons are being learned on the ground, and in real time. The Outbreak Observatory aims to change that. Comprised of experts in public health and biosecurity, the Observatory’s team captures... Read More »
Measures seek to bolster border security efforts
A pair of bills introduced by Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) designed to enhance Department of Homeland Security (DHS) border security efforts garnered House approval Monday. The Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) Authorization Act seeks to establish the OBIM as the primary biometric... Read More »
DARPA Summit to include future electronics investment initiatives
Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) officials are incorporating the organization’s Electronics Resurgence Initiative (ERI) into a three-day gathering designed to galvanize industry professionals. The ERI, introduced in June 2017, is a multi-year, $1.5 billion investment in... Read More »Bipartisan effort urges president to support bans on Chinese telecom companies
Citing significant threats to national security, U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Mark Warner (D-VA) urged the president on Tuesday to reconsider lifting a ban on Chinese telecommunications company ZTE and to support banning government purchases of Huawei equipment. The senators noted in a... Read More »
House approves 10 bills to secure homeland security, identify cyber threats
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved seven bills this week that aim to help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to better identify cyber threats, secure the nation’s borders, shore up transportation security and improve reporting systems for suspicious activity. U.S. Rep.... Read More »
AktiVax awarded federal contract to develop new auto-injector for nerve agent antidotes
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has tasked AktiVax, Inc. with developing an auto-injector that allows drugs designed to counter chemical nerve agents to be administered without specialized training. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)... Read More »
New study shows skills gap exists among cybersecurity professionals
New research from BAE Systems finds a gap between the number of skilled cybersecurity professionals and the number of available positions in corporate America. The BAE study says 50 percent of businesses claim there is a lack of staff with the required security skills and expertise. Further, 40... Read More »
Lockheed Martin secures $364 million missile contract
Global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin has been awarded a 364 million contract to produce Army missiles, the company announced Monday. The production agreement for Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles also applies to a Foreign Military Sales customer. The service... Read More »
New cholera tracking approach may aid control strategies
Researchers recently found that preventing the chain of cholera transmission within households in high-burden areas may significantly impact efforts to reduce the number of cases worldwide. Work by Wellcome Sanger Institute and their collaborators published in Nature Genetics outlined nearly 80... Read More »
House approves bill aiming to secure industrial control systems against cyberattacks
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be directed to secure information and operational technologies used in critical applications to address vulnerabilities under a bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday. The DHS Industrial Control Systems Capabilities... Read More »