News
New Ebola vaccine shows promising results after Phase 1 trial
A newly-developed Ebola virus disease (EVD) vaccine was found to be well-tolerated with no safety concerns, according to a Phase 1 randomized clinical trial conducted by a team of researchers led by the Canadian Immunization Research Network. The vaccine used in the trial, the vesicular... Read More »
OPCW Director-General visits china, discusses chemical weapons destruction
Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), recently met with senior Chinese government officials during an official OPCW visit to China to deliver a lecture of chemical weapons destruction and the threat of chemical weapons use by non-state... Read More »
Sens. McCaskill, Johnson inquire about increased ICE personnel injuries in the field
In response to recent reports of an increase in assaults against law enforcement officials across the country, U.S. Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) recently called for an investigation into ways to increase safety for agents within Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ... Read More »
Indiana University-Bloomington researchers discover mechanism that blocks mosquito-borne diseases
A bacterium called Wolbachia may prevent mosquitoes from transmitting deadly flaviviruses such as dengue fever and Zika virus, according to a recent study conducted by researchers from the Indiana University-Bloomington (IU). According to the study, which was published in a recent issue of the... Read More »
Transportation Security Administration to demonstrate new CT scanners in Phoenix, Boston
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will soon be demonstrating new computed tomography (CT) scanners at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and the Logan International Airport in Boston over the course of the month. The technology will strengthen threat detection... Read More »
Proposed cost-saving plan to close DHS national laboratory could yield catastrophic results, expert says
As the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) locks in its budget priorities, on the potential chopping block is the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC)—a potentially devastating public health concern, one expert says. That center, which aided governmental response... Read More »
Payne, Jr. authors three amendments included in Homeland Security reauthorization bill
Three amendments, authored by U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), were included in the recently-passed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Authorization Act of 2017 by the U.S. House of Representatives, each of which addresses a specific challenge in disaster response, oversight and... Read More »Temecula Border Patrol seizes more than 100 pounds of cocaine in single incident
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to a checkpoint inspection site along Interstate 15 in Temecula, California recently seized more than 100 pounds of alleged cocaine in a single incident. The situation began as officers encountered a 2000 Infinity QX4 SUV driven by an unnamed 46-year old man.... Read More »
ASTHO urges public health officials to remain focused on preventing the spread of Zika virus, related birth defects
In the wake of a recent report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which found that Zika infection during any trimester of a pregnancy can lead to severe birth defects, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) called on public health leaders to... Read More »
Sen. Nelson seeks assurances that newly-developed Zika virus vaccine remains affordable for US patients
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (R-FL) recently sent a letter to U.S. Army Acting Secretary Robert Spencer seeking assurances that the vaccine will be affordable for U.S. patients as they need it. The request was made prior to the U.S. Army granting commercial exclusivity of a taxpayer-funded Zika virus... Read More »
University of Nebraska reorganizes public health efforts to face future disease threats under central umbrella
The University of Nebraska Medical Center is transforming and centralizing infectious disease response and biodefense research with the creation of the Global Center for Health Security. Such efforts are part of the brave new world of public health which, for years, has been plagued with... Read More »
Norway organizes NATO discussions on strengthening scientific cooperation among member states
During a meeting of the Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Program, various scientists and experts from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partner countries recently examined opportunities for cooperation to address emerging security-related challenges. Organized in conjunction with... Read More »
California CBP officers seize more than 540 pounds of narcotics over weekend
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed along various ports of entry in southern California recently seized more than 540 pounds of illicit narcotics over a series of incidents throughout the weekend. In total, agents seized more than 372 pounds of methamphetamine, 120 pounds... Read More »
TSA testing fingerprint identification technology for more-efficient passenger travel
Beginning this week, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be assessing new checkpoint screening technology at a designated TSA PreCheck lane at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. The assessment is part of a proof-of-concept demonstration to evaluate both... Read More »
AT&T selects Motorola Solutions to deliver mobile apps, software for new nationwide public safety broadband network
AT&T recently selected Motorola Solutions to provide a variety of mobile applications, software and services as part of its rollout of the first nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network for first responders. AT&T was chosen as the developer of the network by the First Responder... Read More »
NIST awards $38.5 million for multiple first responder communications projects
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an organization within the U.S. Department of Commerce, recently awarded $38.5 million for 33 different research and development projects that seek to advance broadband communication technologies for first responders. The grants are... Read More »
Subcommittee hearing examines vulnerabilities within wireless technology, wireless networks
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology recently held a hearing to assess cybersecurity risks within wireless technologies and the networks to which they connect. U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who chairs the subcommittee, said the... Read More »
Laredo Border Patrol rescues 59 undocumented immigrants over three separate incidents
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo Sector in Texas recently rescued 59 undocumented immigrants over the course of three incidents. The first incident occurred on June 2, when a tractor-trailer approached agents at the Highway 35 Checkpoint. After a brief round of questioning, the... Read More »K-State’s National Agricultural Center hosts intern through DHS program
Brianna Willis, a Texas A&M University graduate and current intern at Kansas State University’s (K-State) National Agricultural Biosecurity Center (NABC), was recently selected by her alma mater to participate as one of six interns in its Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases (IIAD) summer... Read More »
Latvian man indicted for “scareware” hacking scheme on Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s website
A Latvian man was recently extradited from Poland to face charges in Minneapolis regarding his involvement in a “scareware” hacking scheme, which targeted the website of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and caused millions of dollars in losses. Peteris Sahurovs, known by the hacker pseudonyms... Read More »
Democrats urge against cuts to biological threat preparedness programs
In a public letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), a group of Democratic House members requested that the committee hold a hearing regarding the country’s ability to be prepared for and respond to various biological threats. The group, which... Read More »
Smiths Detection receives European Union approval for three scanners
Smiths Detection, a manufacturer of threat detection and screening technologies for military and homeland security applications, recently received explosives detection system (EDS) cabin baggage (CB) approvals for three of its scanners from the European Union (EU). After its HI-SCAN 6040aTiX... Read More »
FDA grants fast track designation for new acute radiation syndrome treatment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted fast track designation for Aeolus Pharmaceuticals’ treatment to prevent respiratory failure among patients at risk for radiation pneumonitis following a radiological incident which often leads to acute radiation syndrome (Lung-ARS). ... Read More »
Mask prototype developed to better protect warfighters against biological agents
The Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC), the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, the Battle Memorial Institute, and Priority Designs recently partnered to produce an improved protective mask against biological agents for soldiers in the field. The new... Read More »
OPCW Confidentiality Commission elects new chair, discusses review and dispute procedures
The Commission for the Settlement of Disputes Related to Confidentiality, a subsidiary of the Conference of State Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), recently named Alireza Jahangiri as its new chairperson during a recent meeting at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical... Read More »
ICE-Newark arrests 113 criminal targets in recent removal operation
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) with the Newark Field Office in New Jersey recently conducted an immigration enforcement operation from June 5 to 9, which resulted in the arrest of 113 criminal targets throughout its jurisdiction. Each... Read More »
Interpol holds meeting on mitigating threats of foreign terrorist fighters, transnational terrorism
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) recently held an international counterterrorism meeting in Athens, Greece to discuss regional and global trends on foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and the threats they pose to their home countries. The meeting was held under... Read More »
TSA installs state-of-the-art body scanners at six Minnesota airports
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently installed the latest checkpoint screening technology at six different Minnesota airports over the past five weeks. Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT), an advanced body-scanning system, scans passengers for metallic and non-metallic items... Read More »
Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee examines healthcare cybersecurity in wake of international ransomware attacks
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations recently held a hearing assessing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) role in cybersecurity in the nation’s healthcare sector. The goal of the discussion centered on two HHS reports... Read More »
Bill to provide Congressional oversight of military cyber operations introduced in House
A bill that aims to strengthen Congressional oversight of sensitive military cyber operations and cyber weapons was recently introduced in the House by U.S. Reps. Adam Smith (D-WA), Mac Thornberry (R-TX), James Langevin (D-RI), and Elise Stefanik (R-NY). In describing the bill, Smith said the... Read More »
Small protein found in Ebola virus may be responsible for its rapid spread, study says
A Tulane University-lead study recently revealed how a small protein found within the Ebola virus may be responsible for the virus’ ability to spread rapidly from person-to-person. Ebola-infected patients are known to produce large quantities of a compound known as delta peptide. The... Read More »
National League of Cities criticizes concealed carry reciprocity bill
In the wake of reports that a large number of U.S. House and Senate members cosponsored a bill to extend concealed carry reciprocity to any locale in the United States, Yucel Ors, Program Director of Public Safety and Crime Prevention at the National League of Cities, released a public statement... Read More »
California CBP officers seize more than 830 pounds of narcotics over weekend
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed at various ports of entry in the San Diego and Imperial Counties in California recently seized more than 830 pounds of narcotics over multiple incidents. In total, CBP seized 388 pounds of methamphetamine, 250 pounds of marijuana, 162... Read More »
Jury convicts 27-year old U.S. citizen of providing material support to ISIS
A 27-year old Virginia man, Mohamad Jamal Khweis, was convicted by a federal jury on Wednesday of providing material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of Justice. According to court evidence,... Read More »