News
Smiths’ IONSCAN 600 device approved for Air Cargo Screening Technology List
Smiths Detection’s IONSCAN 600 recently became the first trace explosives detection system to be approved on the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Air Cargo Screening Technology List (ACSTL) under its latest program requirements. Developed to ensure security of cargo... Read More »
California CBP officers seize 842 pounds of illicit narcotics over separate incidents
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed at various ports of entry along the California-Mexico international border recently seized more than 842 pounds of various narcotics over a series of incidents. From Nov. 9. through Nov. 12., CBP agents intercepted 15 different... Read More »Emergent BioSolutions given FDA approval to manufacture smallpox vaccine in Mass. facility
The Emergent BioSolutions Inc. facility in Canton, Massachusetts, will soon be manufacturing the ACAM2000 smallpox vaccine, thanks to approval of a license by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week. ACAM2000 is notable for being the only FDA-licensed vaccine for active... Read More »
Record number of firearms found at Atlanta International Airport this year, TSA says
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers discovered 211 firearms at security checkpoints at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) this year as of Nov. 16, setting a new record for the most guns found at an airport in a single year. ATL TSA officers have discovered... Read More »
New York City Economic Development Corporation launches efforts to support growth of cybersecurity industry
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking partners for a range of city initiatives designed to facilitate the growth of New York City's cybersecurity industry. The plan is part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's Cyber NYC initiative and... Read More »
DOE, university scientists identify Ebola biomarkers
Scientists from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and a collaboration of universities have found a biomarker indicator that can identify which patients infected with Ebola are most at risk of death. The discovery, published in the journal Cell Host &... Read More »
Sen. Johnson applauds ICE operation resulting in arrests of 214 MS-13 gang members
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) recently applauded Immigration and Customs Enforcement's ICE) announcement that “Operation Raging Bull” recently resulted in the arrest of 214 MS-13 gang members in the United States and 53 in El Salvador. Of the 214 gang members arrested in the United States,... Read More »
Congressional panel probes effectiveness of cyber threat indicator sharing among public, private entities
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Automated Indicator Sharing (AIS) was recently the focus of a House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure hearing that examined how effectively cyber threat information sharing practices are advancing national security.... Read More »NCTC Director Rasmussen announces retirement
Following a career in counterterrorism and diplomacy that spanned more than two decades, Nicholas Rasmussen recently announced his resignation from his position as director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) at the end of the year. NCTC Deputy Director Russ Travers will serve as... Read More »
PwC analysis finds defense spending likely to increase in majority of countries
According to recent analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the compound annual growth rate of defense spending will likely increase in 58 of 71 nations between 2017-2021 as the global defense environment becomes increasingly complex. PwC Global Defense Perspectives 2017 analyzes defense... Read More »
BAE Systems create new system to protect flights from laser attacks
Responding to a growing concern over laser attacks against pilots and air crews, engineers from BAE Systems have created a new system to block such transmissions and prevent deterioration of vision. “Lasers operate at specific wavelengths,” Leslie Laycock, executive scientist at BAE Systems,... Read More »
Rep. Langevin lauds revamped Vulnerabilities Equities Process
The National Security Council’s release of a new charter for the Vulnerabilities Equities Process (VEP) drew praise from U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) on Wednesday for bolstering transparency and for bringing diverse stakeholders into the conversation. Cybersecurity Advisor Rob Joyce... Read More »
Introduction of consumer privacy bill in Senate follows Equifax data breach
Companies would be required to take minimum steps to prevent data breaches that expose the personal information of customers and to make timely notifications when breaches occur, under a bill introduced in the Senate on Tuesday. The Consumer Privacy Protection Act of 2017 would establish... Read More »
Provision to delay potential closure of Ft. Detrick biodefense lab included in NDAA Conference Report
In a move that would head-off the potential closure of the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) at Fort Detrick, the House of Representatives approved a mandatory study of the facility and the nation’s biodefense vulnerabilities on Tuesday. The House approved the... Read More »
DHS, FBI release joint technical alerts on malicious cyber activity by North Korea
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released Tuesday a pair of Joint Technical Alerts detailing tools and infrastructure used by the North Korean government to conduct malicious cyber activity. The activity noted in the alerts is part of a... Read More »
DHS Science and Technology Directorate working with first responders to address electronic jamming issues
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is collaborating with first responders to prevent, detect, and mitigate illegal jamming of communications systems through exercises, data collection, outreach and education campaigns and proposed new tools. In... Read More »
University of California researchers engineer insects to combat infectious spread
The University of California, Riverside has a team of researchers genetically engineering mosquitoes to insinuate themselves among other, disease-carrying insects and suppress the spread of infectious disease. The team published a study this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of... Read More »
Acting DHS secretary tours Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers
During a visit to Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) headquarters in Glynco, Georgia, on Tuesday, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke received an operation briefing, observed training programs, and toured a port of entry training simulator. FLETC trains most of the... Read More »
Lawmakers raise questions about discontinued NIH funding for gun violence research
Questions were raised by members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday about reports that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) discontinued funding for research on gun violence under the Trump Administration. In a letter to NIH Director Francis Collins, U.S. Reps. Frank... Read More »
BAE Systems to develop testbed software architecture for military’s Hallmark program
BAE Systems will develop a space evaluation and analysis testbed that enables the military to develop, integrate and analyze advanced space enterprise command and control (C2) under a contract announced by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on Tuesday. Under the contract,... Read More »
Senators urge Federal Elections Commission to close regulatory loophole for online political ads
A group of 15 Democratic senators urged the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) on Monday to subject online political ads to the same requirements as political ads aired on television, radio and satellite. U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) submitted... Read More »
National lab scientists conduct plutonium criticality test
Researchers from Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos national laboratories recently successfully conducted a critical experiment using plutonium in order to enhance nuclear safety. The test was the first successfully conducted critical experiment designed by Livermore Lawrence National Laboratory... Read More »
Cooperative effort from international researchers links 60 years of cholera outbreaks
Research from an assortment of international institutions could yield improved efforts to control and contain cholera outbreaks, thanks to two comprehensive studies that have traced 60 years of outbreaks across the world. Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean were all the focus of the... Read More »
Senate report addresses lack of information on cost and timeline for border wall land seizure
The Democratic staff of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee released a report Monday detailing a lack of information from the Trump Administration on costs and timeline for land seizures needed for the proposed border wall. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)... Read More »
Walker tapped to serve as director of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Steven Walker will lead the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s efforts to target investments in emerging technologies to advance national security as the 21st director of DARPA, the agency recently announced. Prior to his appointment as director, Walker had been serving as the deputy... Read More »
House bill would better target money laundering, terrorism financing
Financial institutions would have more latitude to share suspicious activity reports when money laundering or terrorism financing is suspected, and the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) would be modernized, under a bill introduced in the House of Representatives... Read More »
La Jolla Institute researchers find dengue immunity can protect against Zika virus
Researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology recently found that immunity to dengue can defend against the Zika virus and identified cytotoxic T-cells that can protect against both infections. “In some parts of the world Zika is almost like a secondary infection,” Sujan... Read More »TSA concurs with DHS Office of Inspector General findings
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said that it agreed with the findings of recent covert testing conducted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) and said it would implement the OIG’s recommendations. Members of the Office of Inspector... Read More »
National Science Foundation grant to go toward zoonotic disease prediction through artificial intelligence
A team of researchers from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, the University of Georgia, and North Carolina A&T State University have attained a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation for computer-driven methods of disease forecasting. The institutions hope to develop tools,... Read More »
CBP officers seize $3.2 million in cocaine at Laredo Port of Entry
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recovered 424 pounds of cocaine inside a tractor-trailer hauling paper towels across World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas, on Nov. 6. The cocaine, which has an estimated street value of $3.2 million, was discovered after a CBP officer referred the... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security extends job offers to hundreds of veterans
Following a job fair called “Continue Your Service to America” held in August, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Thursday that job offers had been extended to 207 veterans. Approximately 2,500 veterans attended the two-day job fair. Onsite job interviews were given to... Read More »
Upcoming OPCW Conference of State Parties to consider new efforts to eliminate chemical weapons stockpiles
Progress in eliminating chemical weapons stockpiles and the appointment of a new director general will highlight the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ (OPCW) upcoming 22nd Conference of the States Parties (CSP-22) scheduled from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1. Hamid Ali Rao, the deputy... Read More »OPCW Deputy Director-General visits Mexico
The Deputy Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Hamid Ali Rao, recently visited Mexico where he discussed the importance of preparedness against chemical emergencies and peaceful uses of chemistry. Rao opened the Table Top Exercise on Chemical... Read More »
Science and Technology Directorate to host Biometric Technology Rallies
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently announced that it would hold a series of Biometric Technology Rallies to support technological advancement relevant to DHS and Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE) operations. The first rally will... Read More »