News
OPCW holds training seminar for Eastern European officials on cross border chemical transfers
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently held a training seminar for customs officials in Eastern Europe to strengthen their ability to uphold the global ban on chemical weapon. The seminar, held in Krakow, Poland on Sept. 27-30, featured 32 participants from such... Read More »
Sandia National Laboratory examines how IEDs explode
A Sandia National Laboratory research team recently used high-speed cameras, imaging techniques and advanced computer modeling to study fragmenting explosives. The Sandia research team wanted to study how improvised explosive devices (IEDs) come apart in explosions in order to lessen the damage... Read More »Payne says interoperability for first responders among biggest challenges
U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) recently said that continuing to improve interoperability among first responders and ensuring that they have access to the best equipment and technology are his top goals. Payne, who serves as the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on... Read More »USIC: Russian government may be responsible for email hacks
The U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) recently publicly indicated that the Russian government may be responsible for hacking the emails of U.S. persons and organizations to compromise election results. USIC said that the trove of emails leaked to sites like WikiLeaks and DCLeaks.com was... Read More »
CBP arrests two, seizes four pounds of cocaine at George Bush Intercontinental Airport
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, recently seized more than four pounds of cocaine and arrested two U.S. citizens in a single incident. “This smuggling attempt illustrates the lengths criminals will go to... Read More »
FBI issues list of notable cyber threats to increase cybersecurity awareness
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently released a list of notable cyber threats that have been affecting computer systems for citizens and businesses across the country. The FBI released its list, which includes ransomware, business email compromises (BEC) and intellectual property... Read More »
Althoff named DCPA of Border Patrol’s Grand Forks Sector
The U.S. Border Patrol recently appointed Andrew J. Althoff as the Grand Forks Sector’s new deputy chief patrol agent (DCPA). Althoff is now second in command of the Grand Forks Sector, which consists of Iowa, Kansas Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The... Read More »Senators urge FCC to address impact of stingray technology on communities of color, emergency services
A group of 12 U.S. senators recently sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler urging him to address the potential impacts of stingray technology on communities of color. The concern stems from allegations that state and local law enforcement agencies have... Read More »McCaul releases report on financial revenue infrastructure of ISIS
ISIS continues to fundraise despite having a number of revenue sources cut off, according to a recent report released by House Homeland Security Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX). The report, titled “Cash to Chaos: Dismantling ISIS’ Financial Infrastructure,” details how... Read More »HHS purchases two products to combat bone marrow-related radiological injuries
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) recently purchased two medical products to treat injuries to bone marrow in radiological or nuclear incidents. The products, called colony stimulating factors, work by... Read More »GAO: Improved procurement of land mobile radios by OMB could enhance interoperability
An improved procurement process of land mobile radios (LMRs) could enhance interoperability and cut overall costs, according to a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). LMRs are generally used by federal agencies in public safety incidents, firefighting and emergency... Read More »
BARDA sponsors late-stage development of two tests for radiation absorption
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently sponsored the late-stage development of two different biodosimetry tests to determine how much radiation a human’s body has absorbed. The tests are intended for use in clinical health care laboratories that examine blood samples... Read More »
HHS awards funds to protect private sector healthcare providers from cyber threats
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently awarded cooperative agreements worth $350,000 to assist healthcare providers and public health sector partners to respond to potential cybersecurity threats. The funds were awarded through HHS’ Office of the National Coordinator... Read More »
HHS, BioProtection Systems collaborate to advance Ebola vaccine
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response recently entered into a $24.75 million contract with BioProtection Systems Corp. for the development of an Ebola vaccine. The contract comes in the wake of a two-year long battle... Read More »
McCaul releases terror threat “snapshot” for October
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) on Wednesday released a monthly terror threat “snapshot” report to give insight into potential threats the country and its allies are currently facing. “The recent arrest in Maryland of an ISIS supporter plotting... Read More »Thompson voices support for implementation of Cybersecurity Act of 2015
U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) voiced his support on Wednesday for the implementation of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015. Thompson’s support comes in the wake of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) review of the department’s implementation of... Read More »
NNSA, Bulgaria complete implementation of nuclear detection systems
Representatives with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DoE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian government recently completed Bulgaria’s new nuclear detection architecture. The representatives said that the new architecture will... Read More »
CBP AMO P-3 crews intercept two vessels smuggling large shipment of cocaine
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents recently apprehended multiple individuals and seized two vessels carrying approximately 2,700 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The incident began as two CBP AMO crews aboard a P-3 airborne early... Read More »FSR commits to NCSA’s Lock Down Your Login Campaign to increase cyber security awareness
The Financial Services Roundtable (FSR) recently publicly committed to the National Cyber Security Alliance’s (NCSA) internet safety and security initiative called “Lock Down Your Login.” The initiative was announced by the White House earlier this year and to help Americans better protect... Read More »
Legislators urge enhanced due process protections for individuals on no fly list
A group of legislators recently urged Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson to ensure enhanced due process protections for individuals placed on the No Fly List. U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Ted Poe (R-TX) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) requested further clarification on the... Read More »
Alion names Zember chief technology officer
Alion Science and Technology appointed Christopher Zember as chief technology officer on Thursday. Zember’s new position places him in charge of the company’s future technology development. “Alion is positioned to respond to the DoD’s need for technology solutions that are developed... Read More »
Border Patrol apprehends two previously-deported sex offenders during separate incidents
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Carrizo Springs and Eagle Pass stations recently apprehended two previously convicted sex offenders during separate incidents. The first incident occurred on Sept. 24 when agents arrested Pedro Gomez-Vidal, a 24-year-old undocumented migrant from Mexico,... Read More »House Energy and Commerce Committee, GAO release report on FDA cyber security
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Thursday regarding cybersecurity and control weaknesses at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The report, titled “FDA Needs to Rectify Control Weaknesses That Place Industry and Public Health Data at Risk,” was... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., releases update on BioThrax procurement contract with CDC
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., released an update on Friday of the status of its 2011 procurement contract for BioThrax with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). BioThrax is the only anthrax vaccine licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccine is... Read More »
DNA vaccine shows promise against combating Zika virus
A team of researchers from the National Institutes of Health and other research institutions recently developed a DNA vaccine to combat the spread of Zika virus. Research teams with the Kansas State University (KSU) Biosecurity Research Institute, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro,... Read More »
HHS, Emergent BioSolutions enter into contract for anthrax vaccine development
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) recently moved forward with the development of the anthrax vaccine NuThrax. ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Emergent... Read More »
Legislation introduced to cut funding for Palestinian terrorist attacks
A group of Republican U.S. senators recently introduced the Taylor Force Act to require the secretary of state to certify that the Palestinian Authority has ended its policy of funding terrorists and their families. The bill was introduced by U.S. Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Lindsey Graham (R-SC),... Read More »Heery appointed chief medical officer for Bavarian Nordic A/S
Bavarian Nordic A/S appointed Dr. Christopher R. Heery to the role of chief medical officer for the company on Wednesday. Heery will manage the preclinical and clinical development of Bavarian Nordic’s infectious disease and immune-oncology portfolio. His position is based on the east coast... Read More »Upstate Medical University researchers use collaborative approach to study the spread of mosquito-borne viruses
An Upstate Medical University research team recently began utilizing a social-ecological systems (SES) approach to study mosquito-borne viruses such as Zika, chikungunya and dengue fever. The SES approach builds upon new information as it becomes available to the multi-disciplinary research team... Read More »
INTERPOL, Europol meet in Singapore to discuss ways to combat cyber crime
A coalition of leaders from law enforcement agencies, the private sector and academic institutions from across the world met in Singapore this week to address the growing threat of cyber crimes. The meeting, titled “Solutions for Attribution,” saw approximately 200 participants from 56... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., signs multi-year contract for next-gen anthrax vaccine candidate
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., announced on Friday that it has signed a multi-year contract for the advanced development and delivery of NuThrax (vaccine adsorbed with CPG 7909 adjuvant), the company’s next-generation anthrax vaccine candidate. The contract, signed with the Biomedical Advanced... Read More »
House Oversight Subcommittee holds hearing on inactivation of dangerous pathogens
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on Tuesday regarding the inactivation of dangerous pathogens and the bioresearch labs that study them. According to a recent report by the U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO), changes... Read More »House passes six homeland security-related bills
The U.S. House of Representatives passed six bipartisan bills on Tuesday to enhance national security efforts within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “I commend the work of my committee on the passage of these important pieces of legislation which seek to provide necessary... Read More »House passes two Donovan-sponsored homeland security bills
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed two homeland security-related bills introduced by U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) with a bipartisan voice vote. “Your government’s chief responsibility is to protect you and your family from attack,” Donovan said. “Last weekend’s bombings... Read More »