News
Lynch, Johnson host EU representatives for Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting
At a United States-European Union Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs this week, officials reaffirmed the strong bonds between the two governmental bodies and committed to continue working together to combat terrorism and in other areas. The event was hosted at the U.S. Department of... Read More »Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity releases assessment of nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure
The Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity recently released an assessment of the current state of U.S. cybersecurity and provided a series of recommendations that the government and private sector could take to enhance the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure. “The commission... Read More »
U.S. Rep. McSally adds Southern Arizona-specific provisions to FY2017 NDAA
Multiple provisions introduced by U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) were included in the recently passed FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). They included full funding for two aircraft at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the A-10 and EC-130H Compass Call, and stronger retention and... Read More »Dept. of Treasury sanctions North Korean entities, individuals for supporting nuclear and weapons proliferation efforts
In response to North Korea’s September 2016 nuclear test and ongoing violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 16 entities and seven individuals for their ties to the Government of North... Read More »
McCaul elected to chair House Homeland Security Committee for third term
The House Republican Conference voted last week to select U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) for a third term as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee in the 115th Congress. “I am honored to continue my service as Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and want to thank the... Read More »SAIC awarded to support cyber program for Joint Staff J6 Directorate’s C4 and cyber program
Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) was recently awarded a contract by the Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center to support the Joint Staff J6 Directorate’s command, control, communications and computers (C4), and cyber program. The contract covers a five-year period... Read More »CDP utilizes emerging hand-held technology for discovering explosives precursors
The Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) recently indicated the agency plans to implement new technology into its training courses, including the latest evolution of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. IMS technology revolves around a... Read More »
Thompson requests improved ICE oversight over DHS use of private detention facilities
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) recently publicly requested that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) improve and expand its oversight into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s use of private, for-profit detention facilities. Thompson’s request comes in the wake of a Homeland... Read More »
GAO report: DHS fleet of radiation portal monitors lasting longer than expected
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report assessing U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) fleet of radiation portal monitors (RPMs), concluding that the fleet is lasting longer than expected and that future acquisitions should focus on operational... Read More »FLIR Systems acquires Prox Dynamics AS for $134 mln
FLIR Systems Inc. recently acquired Prox Dynamics AS, a company that develops and manufactures nano-class unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for military and para-military intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications, for $134 million. Norway-based Prox Dynamics develops, manufactures... Read More »
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 »