News
Border patrol agents seize $1.4 million worth of cocaine concealed in bus toilet stall
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed at the Sarita Checkpoint in Rio Grande Valley, Texas recently seized more than 44 pounds of cocaine in a single incident. The incident began as agents referred a local commercial bus for a secondary inspection after a K-9 unit alerted... Read More »
Clinical trial of chikungunya virus vaccine begins enrollment
A Phase 1/2 clinical trial to test an experimental chikungunya virus vaccine candidate, called MV-CHIKV, recently began enrolling healthy adults at three sites in the United States. A previous Phase 1 trial of MV-CHIKV was conducted in 2014 by vaccine developer Themis Bioscience of Vienna,... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee opposes Trump’s budget cuts to local first responders at hearing
Members of the House Homeland Security Committee from both parties expressed opposition to the Trump administration’s proposed budget that would cut funding for training and deployment for local security programs by as much as 30 percent next year, even while the overall funding for the... Read More »
IATA adopts safety resolution to enhance aviation security
A resolution that reaffirms the airline industry’s commitment to keep air travel secure and promote greater public-private collaboration was recently adopted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) at its 73rd Annual General Meeting. The resolution was used to highlight the... Read More »
OPCW training course held to enhance toxic chemical response capabilities in Latin America, Caribbean
A training course on strengthening toxic chemical response capabilities for first responders from Latin America and the Caribbean was recently co-hosted by Uruguay’s National Authority and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The course featured experts in the... Read More »
New Zika vaccine candidate gives single-dose protection from virus in mice models
A vaccine based on the Zika virus NS1 protein was shown to give single-dose protection against the virus in an immunocompetent lethal mouse challenge model, according to a recent study presented by Farshad Guirakhoo, chief scientific officer of GeoVax, Inc. Guirakhoo presented his findings at... Read More »
Biometric facial recognition exit system deployed at Washington-Dulles Int’l Airport
A new facial recognition biometric exit system was recently deployed to the Washington-Dulles International Airport to be used for one daily flight from the United States to Dubai, according to officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The biometric technology uses flight... Read More »
Organizations cite lack of resources to combat growing cyber threats, new study shows
Persistent resource challenges combined with new and evolving cyber threats have limited various organization’s ability to defend themselves against cyber threats, according to a second installment of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association’s (ISACA) 2017 State of Cyber Security... Read More »
New study to examine neurological effects of West Nile, Zika viruses
A five-year, $7.7 million grant to study the effects of Zika and West Nile virus on the human central nervous system was recently awarded to researchers at Georgia State University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Florida State University. The three-part study will aim to develop... Read More »
Asian States Parties emphasize push to implement Chemical Weapons Convention provisions at regional OPCW meeting
At a commemoration ceremony celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), more than 40 participants gathered from 29 Asian States Parties to offer robust cooperation practices to implement provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). ... Read More »
Anti-Sanctuary City bill may violate Tenth Amendment, according to National League of Cities
In the wake of the introduction of the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act, which gives local police officers the ability to enforce federal immigration laws on undocumented immigrants, the National League of Cities (NLC) released a public statement coming out strongly against the legislation. ... Read More »
New study reveals how Lassa virus research provides pathway for development of vaccine treatments
A team of scientists led by Katherine Hastie and Erica Ollmann Saphire from the Scripps Research Institute recently discovered the means in which the Lassa virus uses to enter human cells, which they believe provides a blueprint to design a potential vaccine for the virus. Lassa virus, which... Read More »OPCW holds training exercise on chemical decontamination, rescue operations in Buenos Aires
A training exercise designed to teach participants on the use of individual protective equipment, chemical containment, rescue operations, forensic techniques, and decontamination procedures was recently held in Buenos Aires, Argentina and hosted by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical... Read More »Sen. Hoeven provides update on drone applications in North Dakota
Speaking at the third annual Drone Focus Conference in Fargo, North Dakota last week, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) said that his state was positioned to take the lead on new developments in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) applications. Hoeven said that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)... Read More »Zika may have spread undetected for up to one year prior to identification, according to NIH study
The Zika virus may have circulated undetected for up to a year in certain regions before public health officials could identify it, according to a recent study conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH... Read More »
Sens. Blumenthal, Markey request information regarding airline bag fees, TSA screening procedures
U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward Markey (D-MA) recently sent a public letter to Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly requesting information regarding airline bag fees and their impact on screening procedures within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The letter... Read More »
Defense Department biomedical facility researching, developing various infectious disease vaccines
Researchers at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) are taking a leading role in the development of vaccines to combat some of the world’s most-infectious diseases, including Zika virus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), malaria, and chikungunya virus. After the... Read More »
California border patrol officers seize 270 pounds of narcotics, arrest 14 fugitives from justice
Over the Memorial Day weekend, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed at various ports of entry in California intercepted a total of 270 pounds of narcotics and apprehended 14 fugitives with outstanding felony warrants. From May 27-29, CBP officers seized approximately 120... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee delegation travels to Europe to discuss cybersecurity, countering Russian aggression
In the wake of reports that the Russian Federation interfered with recent elections in the United States and Europe, a Congressional delegation of members from the House Homeland Security Committee recently visited France, Poland, Estonia, and Ukraine to examine cybersecurity issues and discuss how... Read More »
New strategy identified for potential treatment of Chikungunya, other viruses
A manganese-based peptide antioxidant of Deinococcus combined with radiation was shown to be a promising step in developing a vaccine to counter both the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV) and Chikungunya virus, according to a recent study conducted by the Uniformed Services University... Read More »
Common microbe could help control dengue-spreading mosquitoes in large areas, according to new study
Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes are significantly worse vectors for transmitting dengue fever, however, the means in which spread is established and continued among urban mosquito populations remains unclear, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of California at Davis... Read More »Air Force veteran sentenced to 35 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to ISIS
A former member of the U.S. Air Force, Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh, was recently sentenced to 35 years in prison after being found guilty of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and obstruction of justice. Pugh first traveled from Egypt to Turkey... Read More »
Bill to establish cyber bug bounty program at DHS introduced in Senate
A bill to establish a bounty program where white hats, also known as ethical hackers, identify bugs in computer systems at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in order to strengthen cyber defenses was recently introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan... Read More »
Sen. Hoeven discusses importance of drone technology with DHS Secretary Kelly
During a recent hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) discussed the importance of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for securing the nation’s international borders. In speaking to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John... Read More »
Workshop on strengthening security around radiological sources in Central Asia held in Kazakhstan
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), in conjunction with the Moscow-based Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the Government of Kazakhstan, recently sponsored a workshop on radiological security and safety procedures. The event... Read More »
CBP approves Reno-Tahoe Airport proposal to participate in agency’s Reimbursable Services Program
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently approved an application from the Reno-Tahoe Airport to participate in the agency’s Reimbursable Services Program (RSP), which allows the airport to hire additional CBP personnel to help process international travelers. CBP’s approval also... Read More »Ridge to give keynote address on cybersecurity issues facing financial services industry
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge is scheduled to deliver a keynote address on cybersecurity issues to 700 financial services professionals at the 2017 American Bankers Association (ABA) Stonier Graduate School of Banking program in Philadelphia on June 3. The program will take place June 1-8... Read More »Rep. Delany expresses “very little support” of FY2018 budget, closing of National Biodefense Center
In response to the President’s recently-proposed fiscal year 2018 budget, which includes zeroing out funding for and closing the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) in Frederick, Maryland, U.S. Rep. John K. Delaney (D-MD) used a public letter to come out strongly... Read More »
Edgewood Chemical Biological Center tests new Joint Service Aircrew Mask
A new mask that provides individual respiratory, eye, and skin protection from various chemical and biological warfare agents, including radiological particulates, for pilots and aircrew recently underwent testing at Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) facilities at Maryland's Aberdeen... Read More »
Department of Energy needs to address management challenges, according to GAO report
The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) must address various management challenges, including aligning budgets with plans to modernize its nuclear weapons systems, according to a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). GAO said its report was based on 13 different reports... Read More »Lund University thesis describes how cell phones could reveal radiation exposure
According to a thesis published recently by Lund University in Sweden, it may be possible to analyze mobile phones and other objects that come into close contact with the body to determine if an individual has been exposed to a radioactive substance. The thesis stems from concerns that a large... Read More »
Bill to counter terrorist financing efforts introduced in House
A bill that would expand the ability of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to collect information under geographic targeting orders (GTOs) to prevent money laundering for terrorist groups was recently introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA). The bill, titled... Read More »
Defense officials offer testimony on nuclear modernization, replacement programs
Modernizing and replacing programs related to the United States nuclear triad is the first priority for both the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Navy, according to testimony from key defense officials at a recent House Armed Services Strategic Force... Read More »
Bill to manage the use of recreational drones introduced in Senate
A bill that would establish a process for federal, state and local governments to work together to manage the use of recreational and commercial drones was recently introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). ... Read More »