News
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 »
Smiths Detection to deliver high-resolution baggage screening technology to Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Germany’s Procurement Agency of the Federal Ministry of the Interior recently contracted Smiths Detection to provide baggage-screening equipment for the German Federal Police at the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport. The HI-SCAN 10080 XCT system utilizes a high-resolution x-ray scanner, computed... Read More »Zika virus vaccine candidate receives funding from BARDA to expedite development
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) approved a contract on Monday to develop an inactivated Zika virus vaccine candidate. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under the... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee releases update to encryption report
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released an update on Tuesday to a previous committee report regarding encryption and its impact on law enforcement and counterterrorism. The original report, titled “Going Dark, Going Forward,” was... Read More »
Payne, Jr.’s amendment to coordinate DHS agencies included in recently-passed House bill
The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed the Securing Our Agriculture and Food Act, H.R. 5346, which included an amendment introduced by U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ). Payne, Jr.’s amendment seeks to enhance coordination among U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »CBP agents discover 10 pounds of alleged liquid methamphetamine concealed in aloe vera juice bottles
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed at the Hidalgo, Pharr, Anzalduas Port of Entry recently arrested an individual carrying approximately 10 pounds of alleged liquid methamphetamine concealed within aloe vera juice bottles. The incident began on Sept. 20 at the Pharr... Read More »
Ernst questions Carter, Dunford on the rise of ISIS in Southeast Asian countries
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) questioned two senior U.S. Department of Defense officials on Thursday about the rise of ISIS in Southeast Asian countries. At a hearing titled “U.S. National Security Challenges and Ongoing Military Operations,” Ernst heard testimony from U.S. Department of... Read More »KSU study finds no Zika transmission amongst Culex mosquitoes
A team of researchers from the Kansas State University (KSU) Biosecurity Research Institute recently conducted a study with Culex species mosquitoes from across the country to find ways to stop the spread of Zika virus. Findings from the study were published in the journal Vector-Borne and... Read More »
Johnson responds to Carper’s request for information regarding cybersecurity for local election systems
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) recently received a response to his request for information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding reports that foreign actors hacked into American political organizations. Carper asked DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson to provide information about how... Read More »Massive data breach affects approximately 500 million Yahoo! accounts
Yahoo! recently disclosed a massive data breach affecting approximately 500 million email accounts that occurred in late 2014. “Major data breaches remind us that we must do our part and be vigilant in protecting our personal online information,” Michael Kaiser, executive director of the... Read More »
House passes McCaul’s first responder grant bill
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Community Counterterrorism Preparedness Act, H.R. 5859, on Thursday, to provide assistance to first responders in communities across the country. The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and passed with bipartisan support, authorizes... Read More »Ratcliffe hears testimony from law enforcement regarding 1033 program
U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) recently heard testimony from law enforcement officials regarding President Barack Obama’s decision to curtail access to the 1033 program, which gave excess military equipment to local law enforcement agencies. Ratcliffe recently introduced a bill to reverse... Read More »
Johnson requests information from DHS regarding humanitarian crisis at southwest border
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) requested information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday regarding the surge of unaccompanied minors from Central America arriving at the nation’s southwest border. Johnson, in a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, also requested... Read More »GAO report: High-containment labs need improved pathogen oversight
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Wednesday on high-containment laboratories and how improved oversight of dangerous pathogens is needed to mitigate any potential risks. The GAO report said the total number of incidents involving incomplete inactivation, a... Read More »
Royce voices support for Taiwan’s participation at upcoming aviation safety meeting
U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, reiterated his support on Tuesday for Taiwan’s participation in the upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) 39th assembly meeting. “Last year alone Taiwan took care of nearly 60 million... Read More »Carper visits Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, tours TSA training facilities
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) visited the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia, on Tuesday. FLETC provides training for tens of thousands of federal, state and local law enforcement officers each year in approximately 100 courses. “The Federal Law Enforcement... Read More »Report: Decommissioning first-gen nuclear reactors in Lithuania, Bulgaria and Slovakia could cost $12.7 billion
According to a recent report by the European Court of Auditors, the estimated costs of decommissioning first-generation nuclear reactors, along with associated waste disposal, in Lithuania, Bulgaria and Slovakia could be at least $12.7 billion. The auditors said that financing from European... Read More »