News
Sen. Daines amendment to elevate Cyber Command included in 2017 NDAA bill
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) recently said his amendment to elevate the U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) to a Combatant Command has been included in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). U.S. Cyber Command is currently a subordinate unit to U.S. Strategic Command, which was developed... Read More »
European Commission proposes European Defense Fund to support Member States
The European Commission (EC) recently proposed a European Defense Fund, which would support more efficient spending by Member States in joint defense capabilities and strengthen European citizens’ security. “To guarantee our collective security, we must invest in the common development of... Read More »
House passes U.S.-Israeli cybersecurity legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation introduced by U.S. Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) and Jim Langevin (D-RI) that aims to strengthen collaborative cybersecurity research and development efforts between the United States and Israel. The bills, the United States-Israel... Read More »International chemical industry condemns the use of chlorine as a weapon
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), along with 40 international and national scientific societies from Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America, recently condemned the use of chlorine as a weapon. The scientific societies, in letters to Ahmet Üzümcü,... Read More »
U.S. Sen. King participates in briefing on northern border security
U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) recently participated in a classified briefing held before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security to discuss security along the northern U.S. border with Canada. King, along with senators from other states along the northern border, were briefed... Read More »
Bill to provide first responders with better training and communications resources passes House
The U.S. House of Representatives recently unanimously passed a bipartisan bill aimed at supporting first responders by making sure they have the resources they need to handle hazardous events, including crude oil train derailments. The Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs... Read More »
Bipartisan bill to protect first responders from anthrax exposure heads to Obama for signature
Legislation to protect first responders from anthrax exposure in the event of a biological attack passed the House on Tuesday and will now go to President Barack Obama to be signed into law. The First Responder Anthrax Preparedness Act would authorize a pilot program for the Department of... Read More »
OPCW chief meets with Afghanistan’s Karzai to discuss chemical weapons nonproliferation
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü recently met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan H.E. Hekmat Kahlil Karzai to discuss advancing the goals of the Chemical Weapons Convention. While meeting at OPCW... Read More »
Raytheon demonstrates new electronic warfare program management tool
Raytheon Co. recently demonstrated its electronic warfare planning and management tool (EWPMT) with third party interoperability, called the Cyber and Electromagnetic Battle Management (CEMBM) Tool, for the U.S. Army. The demonstration integrated CEMBM with the Marine Corps’ electronic warfare... Read More »
Center for Nonproliferation Studies calls on Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention to address biosecurity concerns
According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) recently called upon the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) to address security issues related to major developments in gene drive systems at its upcoming review conference. Gene drive systems... Read More »
Senators seek answers from DOJ on expanded mass hacking authority rule change
U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Chris Coons (D-DE) continue to push for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to substantively answer questions from 23 Congress members about a new expanded mass hacking authority that is set to go into effect in December if Congress does not act. “The American... Read More »
DOD’s Carter presents DOE’s Moniz with DOD Distinguished Public Service Award
U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter recently honored Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz with the Department of Defense’s Distinguished Public Service Award, the department’s highest civilian honor. Moniz was honored in recognition of his leadership in strengthening the partnership between the... Read More »
DHS, ICE resume removal proceedings for illegal Haitian nationals
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), recently resumed the removal of Haitian nationals who are present in the country illegally. Removals were previously scheduled to begin on Oct. 4, however, DHS decided to delay the removal... Read More »
EU’s Civil Liberties Committee approves stronger data protection standards framework
The European Union’s (EU) Civil Liberties Committee recently approved the framework of new data protection standards for law enforcement in the EU and the United States to exchange information, including to prevent terrorism. The so-called Umbrella Agreement seeks to ensure high data... Read More »Malaria parasite found to produce false negative tests in children
According to a recent study by the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, a particular malaria parasite affecting children in Africa is evading rapid diagnostic tests (RDT), threatening malaria eradication efforts. Most RDTs rely on the detection of histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2),... Read More »
Africa state parties pledge support of Chemical Weapons Convention
A coalition of state parties from Africa recently voiced their support for adopting provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) into their national legislations during a stakeholders forum. The forum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania earlier this month included more than 45 representatives from... Read More »
Senate passes bill to improve security at northern border
The U.S. Senate has passed the Northern Border Security Review Act, which requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to update its threat assessment by conducting a comprehensive examination of current resources and to fully evaluate challenges with protecting the U.S.-Canadian... Read More »Costa Rica leader meets with OPCW to discuss chemical weapons disarmament
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü recently met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica H.E. Alejandro Solano Ortiz to discuss a range of issues related to chemical weapons disarmament and the Chemical Weapons... Read More »Warner selected vice chairman of Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) was recently selected to serve as the vice chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in the 115th Congress. “With a new administration starting to assemble its national security team, I look forward to fulfilling the Committee’s primary... Read More »
CSIS calls for comprehensive strategy for combatting growing threat of terrorism
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), through its Commission on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), recently called for a comprehensive strategy to combat the growing threat of violent extremism against the United States and abroad. The commission, chaired by former CIA... Read More »
House subcommittees hold joint hearing on cybersecurity and IoT devices
The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology and the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade held a joint hearing on Wednesday that examined the recent distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) on Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices. On Oct. 21, hackers infiltrated... Read More »
Champlain Border Patrol, NY agents arrest two Albanian nationals for illegal entry into US
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Champlain Border Patrol Station, Swanton Sector, in New York, arrested two Albanian nationals on Nov. 13 who entered the country illegally after their visa requests were denied. The Swanton Border Patrol Sector Tactical Communications Center advised... Read More »DHS releases guide on cybersecurity related to Internet of Things
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently issued a guide for Internet of Things (IoT) cybersecurity to equip stakeholders with the knowledge to make risk-based decisions as they design, manufacture and use internet-connected devices and systems. DHS issued the set of strategic... Read More »McCaul releases terror threat snapshot for November
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a November terror threat snapshot that the growing threat of ISIS’ messaging continues to resonate in America, while the terror group targets the West at an alarming rate. So far this year, 34 people... Read More »NIH releases study on big data collection and identifying emerging disease threats
A team of researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently published a study in The Journal of Infectious Diseases on the impact big data, such as electronic health records and social media, could have on identifying emerging disease threats or potential outbreaks. Traditional... Read More »New guidelines released for identifying and combating emerging leishmaniasis infections
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) recently released new guidelines for preventing and combating an emerging parasitic infection called leishmaniasis. The leishmania parasite is found in approximately 90 percent of... Read More »
DHS provides update on increase in arrests at southwest border
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson said 46,195 individuals were arrested in October between ports of entry along the U.S. southwest border, up from 39,501 the prior month. “I have told our border security and immigration enforcement personnel that we must keep... Read More »
DARPA conducts largest test of SIGMA program in National Mall
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently conducted the largest-ever test of its SIGMA program, a network of lower-cost radiation detectors with spectroscopic gamma and neutron-sensing capabilities. The sensors are networked via smartphones to provide first responders and... Read More »
HHS announces Bright selected as director of BARDA
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) on Friday announced the selection of Rick Bright for the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). “BARDA succeeds through... Read More »
Dept. of Treasury takes aim at key al-Nusrah Front leaders
The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently took proactive steps to disrupt al-Nusrah Front’s military, recruitment and financing operations. OFAC blocked all property and interests in property of four key al-Nusrah Front leaders —... Read More »
FirstNet opens innovative lab to test public safety devices, apps
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) marked the opening of a new test lab this week that will specialize in testing public safety features, devices and apps before network deployment. The FirstNet Innovation and Test Lab, operating at FirstNet’s technical headquarters in... Read More »
ASM identifies three key public health initiatives for incoming presidential administration
The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) on Wednesday identified three specific areas the the incoming Trump Administration should address to benefit public health -- combatting drug-resistant infectious diseases, dedicating federal funding for rapid response to microbial outbreaks and promoting... Read More »
Interpol says lack of biometric data on terrorists remains weak link
A lack of biometric data sharing regarding terrorist groups at the international level creates a security gap that could be exploited by returning foreign fighters, Interpol said on Wednesday. The Interpol General Assembly has said the threat needs to be addressed quickly, especially given that... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions appoints Dr. Kathryn Zoon to board of directors
Global specialty biopharmaceutical company Emergent Biosolutions Inc. has appointed Dr. Kathryn Zoon to its board of directors. Zoon is currently a Scientist Emeritus of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Zoon’s connection... Read More »