News
FDA grants military access to freeze-dried plasma
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted military emergency use authorization of freeze-dried plasma as a means of aiding injury treatment in a potential battlefield setting. Officials said the action clears the way for Pathogen-Reduced Leukocyte-Depleted Freeze-Dried Plasma to be used... Read More »
Nogales CBP nets near record drug seizure
Nogales Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Arizona recently arrested two Mexican nationals in separate failed smuggling attempts, resulting in the discovery of more than 364 pounds of methamphetamine, worth almost $1,092,300. Officers at the Mariposa Commercial Facility referred a... Read More »
Senate committee approves bill extending US security assistance to Israel
Legislation that would authorize at least $3.3 billion in annual security assistance to Israel through 2028 and extend war reserve stockpile authority in Israel through 2023 cleared the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday with bipartisan support. Introduced by U.S. Sens. Marco... Read More »
GAO recommends steps to enhance national security reviews of foreign investments in US companies
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued recommendations on Tuesday to help the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) better identify foreign investments in American companies that could potentially jeopardize national security. A GAO review found that the DoD Office of Manufacturing... Read More »
ISIS demoralized by escalating attacks in Syria, according to July terror report
Operation Roundup’s escalating efforts to target ISIS remnants in Syria through June have left the terrorist group demoralized, and more Iraqi citizens are returning home to reclaimed land among the country’s western border with Syria, according to the July Terror Threat Snapshot. The U.S.... Read More »
NTI participates in conference in Central Asia to address radiological security
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) participated in a conference in Central Asia last week that focused on strengthening radiological security in Central Asia. The focus of the conference was to identify ways to eliminate, secure, or replace the most vulnerable radioactive sources in central... Read More »
Sen. Costa announces plan to introduce police training legislation
State Minority Leader, and former law enforcement officer, Sen. Jay Costa (D-43rd District) recently announced that he would introduce measures designed to bolster police training initiatives in the wake of officer-involved shootings across the commonwealth and nation. “I believe it is... Read More »Infravec2 features new insect vector research tools, capabilities
Infravec2, the European Union-funded source for vector research products and services for scientists, launched new online resources in June regarding mosquito colonies that were previously unavailable and new arbovirus-infected mosquito combinations, among others. Composed of 24 partner... Read More »Triad National Security to begin operating Los Alamos National Laboratory
Triad National Security, LLC was awarded a $25 billion contract last month to operate the Los Alamos National Laboratory by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DoE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Consisting of Battelle, the University of California and Texas A&M University,... Read More »
Bill establishing Firefighter Cancer Registry signed into law
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will establish a Firefighter Cancer Registry to evaluate whether firefighters’ exposure to toxins and dangerous fumes is linked to cancer under a bill that was signed into law on Monday. Under the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, the CDC... Read More »
DHS S&T to conduct tests for first responders in Harris County, Texas
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is partnering with public safety agencies from Harris County, Texas, to conduct operational tests for first responders. The Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) – Harris County Operational... Read More »Artificial intelligence use during critical incidents explored
The United States and Canada launched last week an initiative designed to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and situational awareness technologies during critical incidents. Officials representing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)... Read More »
Contract extends military aircraft production
Bell Boeing recently approved the conversion of the previously awarded V-22 tiltrotor aircraft contract to a fixed-price-incentive-fee multiyear contract, providing for the manufacture and delivery to armed forces divisions. Officials said the $4,191,533,822 revision clears the way for 39... Read More »
Researchers prepare smart bandages for clinical trials
A “smart bandage” prototype developed by researchers at Tufts University aims to monitor chronic wounds and administer treatments that aid the healing process has proven effective in lab testing. The smart bandage was designed to actively treat skin wounds resulting from burns, diabetes and... Read More »
Oral smallpox treatment proves effective in animal trials
An oral smallpox treatment developed by SIGA Technologies, Inc. has proven effective through human safety and animal efficacy studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine this month. Known as tecovirimat, or TPOXX, the efficacy of the oral formulation was tested in lethal monkeypox... Read More »SAFETY Act Program grants 1,000th anti-terrorism technologies through DHS S&T
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has now approved more than 1,000 anti-terrorism technologies used in public places for legal protections over the last 15 years. Established under the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective... Read More »
Guardtime Federal expands cyber security contract with Lockheed Martin
Guardtime Federal expanded its contract with Lockheed Martin to integrate a variety of cyber-related capabilities into Lockheed Martin aircraft products and processes. The new contract will focus on reducing the attack surface of the information supply chain that forwards information to and... Read More »
Boeing, Embraer propose strategic partnership
Boeing and Embraer recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a strategic partnership to accelerate growth in global aerospace markets. The agreement, which is non-binding, proposes a joint venture comprising the commercial aircraft and services business of Embraer and the... Read More »
Research initiative targets Ebola virus
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) researchers are providing care to Ebola patients, monitoring survivors from the 2014 outbreak and testing the experimental drug remdesivir for emergency treatment. UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Medicine has been studying Ebola... Read More »
Numbers reflect Southwest Border migration decline
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said recently released numbers reflect June showed a decline in Southwest Border apprehensions and inadmissibles by 18 percent compared to May. In June, a total of 34,114 individuals were apprehended between ports of entry on the Southwest Border,... Read More »
Department of Justice seeks to revoke naturalized citizenship status of man convicted in 2009 terrorism case
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) filed a lawsuit on July 3 to revoke the naturalized U.S. citizenship of an Indian national convicted of providing material support to ISIS and traveling abroad with intent to murder or maim U.S. service members. Khaleel Ahmed, 37, pleaded guilty to the... Read More »
Enhanced anti-phishing mobile security platform available on iOS, Android operating systems
The Mobile Endpoint Security platform developed by Lookout, Inc. with funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is now on iOS and Android operating systems. DHS S&T announced the transition of the enhanced endpoint and anti-phishing... Read More »
New international data base aims to help forensic chemists quickly identify drug analogs
Forensic chemists can use a new international data hub to share information on new variants of fentanyl and the chemical signatures and variants of other drug analogs with scientists from around the world to help curb the opioid epidemic. The National Institute of Standards and Technology... Read More »
CBP seizes fake Super Bowl rings in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials recently seized a shipment of 108 counterfeit Super Bowl rings that, if authentic, had a retail value of $1,080,000. Officials said the seizure stemmed from an express consignment parcel that arrived in June from Hong Kong manifested as... Read More »
Expanded Spokane airport security checkpoint showcased
Spokane International Airport (GEG) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials are touting the benefits of an expanded security checkpoint designed to increase screening capacity. The expansion will be used by travelers departing on flights from the A/B concourse. Officials noted the... Read More »
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 »