News
ABA: New York’s proposed cyber security regulations would create consistency
New York’s proposed cyber security regulations for banks and insurance companies - the first such policy in the nation - would create some uniformity between state and federal rules, but the American Bankers Association (ABA) said that it is seeking clarification on certain provisions. “We... Read More »
Elusys Therapeutics publishes clinical trial data supporting approval for anthrax treatment
Elusys Therapeutics, Inc., published data on Thursday on more than 450 healthy adult subjects from five clinical trials used to support recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) marketing approval of ANTHIM injection. ANTHIM is used in adult and pediatric patients for the treatment of... Read More »
CBP recognized for support of largest health care fraud takedown in American history
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) in Florida recently recognized U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for supporting the largest health care fraud takedown in American history. The nationwide sweep, led by the Medicare Fraud Strike... Read More »Curmode participates in White House discussion on hometown preparedness activities
Chief Gary Curmode, second vice president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), represented the organization on Wednesday at a White House event to discuss hometown preparedness activities. The event was led by Josh Barnes, director for preparedness policy at the National... Read More »
OPCW holds workshop to assist nations in implementing Chemical Weapons Convention provisions
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently conducted a workshop attended by chemistry professionals from across Africa to assist in the implementation of industry-related provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The workshop, held in Nairobi, included... Read More »Sanchez amendments adopted in two Homeland Security bills
The House Committee on Homeland Security unanimously approved amendments on Tuesday authored by U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) on two different counterterrorism measures. The first bill, the Community Counterterrorism Preparedness Act, H.R. 5859, establishes a grant program to help major... Read More »
GAO: NNSA should evaluate surveillance program in assessing nuclear weapons stockpile
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a study on Wednesday evaluating the role of the enhanced surveillance program in assessing the condition of the U.S. nuclear stockpile. The GAO report found that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security... Read More »ECBC researchers developing systems to identify biological threats in food and water sources
A research team at the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) recently began work on a system that will utilize portable analytical equipment to help detect food and water contaminants. ECBC said that the system, called the Agents of Biological Origin Identifier (ABOid), could help... Read More »
First responders train with new technology at N.Y.’s largest emergency response exercise
More than 100 first responders gathered in New York this week for the state’s largest emergency response training exercise featuring realistic scenarios inspired by terrorist threats in the United States and abroad and utilizing the newest communications technology for law enforcement. The... Read More »
McSally questions Border Patrol chief at hearing on securing border
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) questioned Border Patrol Chief Mark Morgan on Tuesday about his agency’s strategy to secure the border at a hearing that featured testimony from Arizona residents. The resident’s testimony focused on the potential public safety threats they face due to Border... Read More »DARPA developing system to map UAS airspace in urban environments
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on Tuesday released plans for a new system to map the airspace of small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in urban terrain, called the Aerial Dragnet Program. The program focuses on innovative technologies to provide wide-area surveillance of... Read More »
Nuclear gauge device stolen from West Virginia-based company
The West Virginia-based Thrasher Engineering recently notified the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that a portable moisture-density gauge containing sealed sources of radioactive material has been stolen. Thrasher Engineering of Bridgeport reported that the device was stolen from a... Read More »
House passes Yoho’s anti-state sponsors of terrorism bill
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the State Sponsors of Terrorism Review Enhancement Act, H.R. 5484, authored by U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL). “Today, Congress sent a message to supporters of terrorism, if you engage in terrorist activity or are a state sponsor of terror; you... Read More »
Former CBP officer sentenced to 7.5 years in prison for role for alien smuggling, accepting bribes
A former supervisory officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was recently sentenced to 7.5 years in federal prison for his role in alien smuggling and for accepting a bribe. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security... Read More »GAO report questions DHS CBRNE program consolidation proposal
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a study regarding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) program consolidation proposal. The GAO report found that DHS’s documentation related to... Read More »U.S. Chamber of Commerce launches cyber working group with Gulf countries
A coalition of worldwide business groups recently met at a cybersecurity conference in Dubai to focus on facilitating a sustained dialogue between American companies and those in the Arabian Gulf. During the meeting, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Dubai Chamber of... Read More »NIH holding contest to develop diagnostic tools to detect antimicrobial resistant bacteria
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently released plans to hold a contest to develop new, innovative laboratory diagnostic tools that detect antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The contest, called the Antimicrobial Resistance Diagnostic Challenge, will award prizes totaling $20 million over... Read More »Laredo Sector Border Patrol Canine Unit welcomes four new members to the program
The Laredo Sector Border Patrol Canine Unit held a graduation on Friday to welcome four new Border Patrol agents to the program. “We all remember the events of Sept. 11, Sunday marks the 15th anniversary of this tragic day,” Anthony S. Good, division chief of the Laredo Sector Canine... Read More »
INTERPOL secretary general discusses combating terrorism with Central African Police Chiefs Committee
Secretary General of INTERPOL Jürgen Stock recently spoke at a meeting of security ministers from countries in the Central African Police Chiefs Committee (CAPCCO). Stock said that regional law enforcement cooperation is directly connected with security efforts across the continent and beyond.... Read More »Bechtel-owned pilot plant successfully processes chemical weapons
Bechtel, a global engineering, construction and project management company, applauded efforts by the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant on Thursday to successfully process chemical weapons previously held in the U.S. chemical stockpile. The pilot plant was built by and operated under... Read More »CMS finalizes new rule to strengthen emergency preparedness for facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid
The Centers for Medical and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule on Thursday to establish consistent emergency preparedness requirements for health care providers participating in Medicare and Medicaid. The new rule stems from recent natural and man-made disasters that have affected the... Read More »Donovan introduces bill to add flexibility to Transit Security Grant Program
U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) introduced the Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act, H.R.5943, on Thursday to improve the ability of transit agencies to prevent and respond to terror attacks. Donovan said that his bill will give flexibility to the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP),... Read More »
Higgins holds Northern Border Caucus meeting to help reduce delays at U.S.-Canada border crossings
U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) formally requested on Thursday at a Northern Border Caucus meeting with Canadian Ambassador David MacNaughton that Canadian officials increase border staffing to reduce delays. Prior to the caucus meeting, Higgins and MacNaughton briefly discussed traffic issues... Read More »
GAO report highlights TSA’s need to utilize complete data to improve screener training at airports
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Wednesday that found that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) should ensure testing data is complete and fully utilized to improve screener training and operations. The TSA uses a variety of programs to train and... Read More »
NTI, WINS holding workshop on radiological security in Berlin
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), along with the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS), is holding a one-day workshop entitled “Radiological Security: Increasing Transparency and Voluntary Reporting” this week in Berlin. The workshop serves as a key component to continued progress... Read More »
Rice calls for hearing to investigate airport preparedness and response measures
U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY) called for a hearing on Wednesday to investigate emergency preparedness and response procedures at multiple American airports in the wake of incidents in New York and Los Angeles. Rice’s call to action follows an Aug. 14 incident at John F. Kennedy International... Read More »
Rubio, Menendez introduce companion bill to Katko’s Cuban airport security legislation
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) applauded U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) on Wednesday for introducing the Cuban Airport Security Act in the Senate. “I welcome the support of Senators Rubio and Menendez on the issue of the safety and security of Americans traveling to... Read More »
Royce introduces bill to end cash payments to Iran
U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) introduced the Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act, H.R. 5931, on Tuesday as a measure to ensure that no future cash payments are made to the Iranian regime. “The Obama administration forked over a massive cash ransom to Iran, emboldening the world’s... Read More »GAO report: DoD should identify National Guard’s cyber capabilities and address challenges
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Tuesday that found that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) needs to identify the National Guard’s cyber capabilities and address challenges in its exercises. The GAO report said that DoD doesn’t have the visibility of... Read More »
European Commission proposes EU certification system for airport security equipment
The European Commission (EC) proposed the establishment of a single European Union (EU) certification procedure for aviation security screening equipment on Wednesday to enhance the competitiveness of the EU security industry. The EU certificate would allow security equipment approved in one... Read More »
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals announces positive data for delayed Ebola virus disease treatment
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., released positive results on Wednesday from a proof-of-concept study of its broad spectrum antiviral, BCX4430, for the delayed treatment of Ebola virus infection in rhesus macaques. The study sought to assess the effects of different dosing regimes of BCX4430... Read More »
Aeolus Pharmaceuticals confirms efficacy of sulfur mustard gas exposure treatment
Aeolus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., recently released data confirming the efficacy of AEOL 10150 as a medical countermeasure against sulfur mustard gas inhalation. Research for the study was conducted by Dr. Brian Day, vice chair of research at National Jewish Health, in collaboration with the U.S.... Read More »Congressional delegation discusses military readiness
A bipartisan coalition of congressional members met on Thursday to discuss overall military readiness and highlights of the delegation’s trip to California at a press conference in Oceanside. The group included U.S. Reps. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Mike Turner (R-OH), Darrell Issa (R-CA) and... Read More »
INTERPOL holds cybercrime training sessions for Latin America and Caribbean countries
INTERPOL recently conducted a series of cybercrime training sessions in Latin America and the Caribbean seeking to enhance regional law enforcement capacity to respond to and prevent cyberthreats. The training efforts served as an important part of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Capacity Building... Read More »