News
Acting DHS secretary voices support for ending Diversity Visa Lottery Program
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Director Elaine Duke testified before a House committee on Thursday that the Diversity Visa Lottery Program is “rife with fraud,” backing a bill that would eliminate the program. During a House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Duke said that... Read More »
Romania agrees to purchase Raytheon’s Patriot missile defense system
Romania agreed to purchase Raytheon Co.’s Patriot integrated air and missile defense system from the U.S. Army on Wednesday, a move that sets the stage for contract negotiations between Raytheon and the U.S. government. Under the letter of offer and acceptance that the Romanian government... Read More »
German researchers discover protective antibodies following malaria infections
While no effective vaccine yet exists against malaria, researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have taken the world a huge step closer with the discovery of antibodies produced in the wake of malaria infection. Using mice, they identified long-lived memory cells formed and... Read More »
Sandia National Laboratories create altered simulation to fool hackers
Cyber researchers at the Sandia National Laboratories recently developed a simulation, which appears real but contains altered data, meant to trick hackers into believing they have infiltrated their target system. When a hacker is discovered, instead of simply removing them from the data... Read More »
NNSA’s Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) team leads strategic preparedness training event in Hawaii
The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) team recently led three days of training on countering a potential nuclear threat for more than 70 local, state, and federal responders in Hawaii. RAP held the event at the request of the state of... Read More »
House committee to markup bill revising intelligence gathering under FISA
A provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) used by the intelligence community to gather intelligence on terrorists located outside the United States would be amended under a bill introduced in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The FISA Amendments Reauthorization... Read More »
Bills aiming to crackdown on money laundering, financing of illicit activities subject of subcommittee hearing
Witnesses testified before a House subcommittee on Wednesday about the impact that two bills would have on efforts to eliminate access to banks by terrorist organizations, human traffickers, and drug cartels. The Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit and Terrorism and Illicit Finance... Read More »
National security executives offer dire forecasts during Homeland Security Committee hearing
Top executives of the government’s national security agencies offered troubling assessments of the growing threats from terrorism, both internationally and domestically, during a congressional hearing on Thursday. “Today, the magnitude of the threat we face from terrorism is equal to, and in... Read More »
Funding shortfalls lead to 5 million more malaria cases reported in 2016
Public health officials warned that malaria response efforts are at a crossroad following the Wednesday release of a report that found 5 million more malaria cases were reported in 2016 than in 2015. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Malaria Report 2017 concluded that funding... Read More »
DHS Science & Technology Directorate earns honors from American Security Today
At an American Security Today ceremony earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) found its efforts lauded, taking away four awards for current projects. The annual ASTOR Homeland Security Awards recognizes physical, IT, and port... Read More »
Terry Wallace named director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, president of Los Alamos National Security
Effective Jan. 1, 2018, Terry Wallace has been appointed director of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and president of Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS), which operates the laboratory for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Norman J. Pattiz and Barbara E. Rusinko,... Read More »
Canadian hacker pleads guilty to aiding Russian officers in compromising webmail accounts
A Canadian national and resident pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of computer hacking and other criminal offenses related to helping Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) to access webmail accounts. Karim Baratov, also known as Kay, Karim Taloverov, and Karim Akehmet Tokbergenov, was charged... Read More »
House bill would restore funding for federal programs that support surface transportation security
Programs that work to secure railroads, buses, public areas of airports and other “soft targets” for terrorist attacks would be revamped and restored under a bill introduced in the House of Representatives on Monday. The Surface Transportation and Public Area Security Act of 2017 seeks to... Read More »
Senators call for strategic plan, stricter sanctions after latest North Korea missile test
Following North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile test on Monday, lawmakers called for action on legislation that would require a strategy to confront the nuclear threat and step-up sanctions on North Korea. U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Forces... Read More »
Steep cuts to Prevention and Public Health Fund as part of House bill draws concerns
More than $6 billion in cuts to the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) included in legislation passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month could hinder how the United States responds to public health crises, an infectious disease expert says. The CHAMPIONING Healthy Kids... Read More »
ECBC researchers earn Federal Laboratory Consortium awards for interagency coordination
Researchers at Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) were recently recognized for developing testing methods for low-volatility agent permeation (LVAP) in clothing and protective gear, and for pioneering a system to use 3D printing to produce tactical gear. The researchers were recognized... Read More »WHO warns that despite slowing Madagascar plague epidemic, response must be maintained
While there appears to be hope for Madagascar with the slowing of a pneumonic plague outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns it is too early to call off containment measures. The number of new infections has been in steady decline for several weeks now, according to the Madagascar... Read More »World Health Organization delivers medicine to Yemen to tackle diphtheria outbreak
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently delivered 1,000 vials of anti-toxins and 17 tons of medical supplies to Sana’a, Yemen, after a three-week delay caused by the closure of sea and air ports. “It is shocking that in 2017, there are children dying of an ancient disease that is... Read More »
Researchers unveil fingerprinting, forensic analysis machine
Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) researchers recently delivered a prototype of a small machine that can perform fingerprinting and forensic analysis, which could help the U.S. armed forces identify insurgents responsible for planting explosive devices. U.S. and coalition forces may... Read More »
Advancement of B61-12 Life Extension Program continues with completion of qualification flights
Two qualification flight tests of the B61-12 gravity bomb completed at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada earlier this month demonstrated the bomb’s non-nuclear functions and the ability of F-15E aircraft to deliver the weapon. Led by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of... Read More »
Motorola Solutions showcases future incident command concept, connected officer concept
Motorola Solutions recently unveiled the next generation of its future incident command concept for police and firefighters and its connected first responder concept, Responder Alert, at PMRExpo in Germany. The updated incident command concept enables police and first responders to utilize an... Read More »
Thirteen Mexican nationals detained for illegally entering country on panga boat
Border Patrol agents detained 13 Mexican nationals in Imperial Beach, California, after they allegedly entered the United States illegally aboard a panga boat in the early morning hours of Nov. 22. Responding to reports of an incoming boat from Mexico, Border Patrol agents intercepted the... Read More »
BARDA funding development of rapidly deployable diagnostic platform for Anthrax cases
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is taking forward steps in the battle against Anthrax--notably by putting up $3,199,221 in funds to Tangen BioSciences for development of a new, low-cost diagnostic. That money was doled out back in September, establishing a... Read More »
CBP Air, Marine Operations disrupt aviation smuggling attempt at Texas airport
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations agents recently disrupted an attempt to smuggle three undocumented aliens via private aircraft at the Edinburg International Airport in Edinburg, Texas. Following a pilot document and immigration inspection, air interdiction... Read More »
Study finds heavy rainfall a time indicator of mosquito-borne Zika, Chikungunya outbreaks
A new study found that outbreaks of mosquito-borne viruses Zika and Chikungunya typically occur approximately three weeks after heavy rainfall. The researchers also discovered that Chikungunya will predominate over Zika when they circulate simultaneously because of Chikungunya’s shorter... Read More »
First human cases of yellow fever confirmed in Brazil since June
The first human cases of yellow fever since June have been confirmed in Brazil, and public health officials continue to monitor an epizootic outbreak among primates in São Paulo, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Friday. Seventy-one human cases of suspected yellow fever were... Read More »
Serbian civil servants complete NATO cyber defense advanced training
Civilians working for the Serbian government recently completed an advanced information systems security (INFOSEC) training session organized by NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme in Belgrade and Tallinn. Twelve representatives from Serbia’s Office of the National... Read More »
Funding cuts for President’s Malaria Initiative would result in 67 million additional malaria cases
A congressional proposal to cut the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) by 44 percent would lead to 67 million additional malaria cases in the next four years, according to a recent mathematical model’s estimates. PMI was launched in 2005 with a goal to reduce malaria by 50 percent in 15... Read More »National Urban Security Technology Lab celebrates 70 years of service
A federal organization with a varied history as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate is marking 70 years of service to national security’s scientific needs this month. The National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) has worked under a... Read More »
States Parties in Asia discuss path to adoption of national chemical weapons legislation
States Parties from Asia gathered earlier this month to discuss potential adoption of national legislation regarding chemical weapons during a Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) forum held in The Hague in the Netherlands. The Stakeholders Forum for States Parties in Asia on the Adoption of... Read More »
Bill to allow emergency medical responders to administer controlled substances signed into law
President Donald Trump recently signed into law the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act, which allows emergency medical responders to administer controlled substances under the supervision of a physician. U.S. Representatives Richard Hudson (R-NC) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC)... Read More »
DoJ awards most hiring grants to law enforcement agencies committed to working with federal immigration officers
More than $98 million in grants announced by the Department of Justice (DoJ) on Monday will help 179 law enforcement agencies across the nation hire 802 additional police officers in the coming years. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the funds would be awarded to state, local, and... Read More »
Following New York City bike path attack, House bill would eliminate Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
A visa program that allowed a terrorist who killed eight people on New York City bike path to enter the country would be eliminated under a bill introduced in the House of Representatives on Monday. Sayfullo Saipov immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan through the Diversity Immigrant... Read More »
Election Security Task Force calls for $400 million in upgrades to state voting systems
In response to reports that Russia targeted voting systems in 21 states during the 2016 elections, leaders of the Congressional Task Force on Election Security called on House appropriators to fund state efforts to secure voting infrastructure on Monday. Approximately $400 million remains... Read More »