The Homeland Defense (HD) Digest is a curated bi-weekly news summary from worldwide sources, showing headlines of innovative, emerging technologies in HDIAC's eight focus areas.

HDIAC ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The HDIAC Podcast – Rethinking Culture in the Context of Civil-Military Relations – Part 1 of 3 - HDIAC

This podcast is the first in a multi-part series discussing the impact of culture in the context of civil-military relations. In this episode, Dr. Corri Zoli and Dr. Robert Rubinstein explore definitions of culture and discuss how different organizational cultures have led the U.S. military and humanitarian groups to pursue divergent on-the-ground security strategies in conflict zones.

In Case You Missed It – HDIAC Webinar: Historical Significance of Endemic Infectious Diseases and Loss of Warfighter Combat Effectiveness - HDIAC

In this presentation, a historical review of infectious disease-related combat injuries and deaths will be presented with an emphasis on the 1918 Influenza Pandemic during WWI, dengue and US Marine Forces in Saipan during WWII, dengue and US Forces Haiti and Somalia, malaria outbreak in US Marines deployed to Monrovia, and leishmaniasis and multi-drug resistant bacteria in US Forces during Persian Gulf War II. Lessons learned for future deployments will also be discussed.

RECENT HEADLINES:

DHS Issues Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, the Importation of Goods Produced with Forced Labor, and Child Sexual Exploitation - Homeland Security

Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is publishing its first Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, the Importation of Goods Produced with Forced Labor, and Child Sexual Exploitation.

2019 Preliminary Semiannual Crime Statistics Overview - FBI.gov

The FBI's Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report reveals overall declines in the number of violent crimes and property crimes reported for the first six months of 2019 when compared with figures for the first six months of 2018. The report is based on information from 14,273 law enforcement agencies that submitted three to six months of comparable data for both years to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.

Unused Stockpiles of Nuclear Waste Could Be More Useful Than We Might Think - ScienceDaily

Chemists have found a new use for the waste product of nuclear power, transforming an unused stockpile into a versatile compound which could be used to create valuable commodity chemicals as well as new energy sources.

New Strategy in the Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance - ScienceDaily

Bioscience engineers have developed a new antibacterial strategy that weakens bacteria by preventing them from cooperating. Unlike with antibiotics, there is no resistance to this strategy.

New Pentagon Team Will Develop Ways to Fight Enemy Drones - Military.com

After announcing the Pentagon would ramp up its counter-drone efforts in the new year, the Defense Department recently established a new office to address the growing challenge of targeting pesky and sometimes lethal enemy drones, according to a top official.

Securing Radiological Sources on the Go - Homeland Security

Radioactive materials are a critical tool in a number of industrial applications, particularly oil and gas drilling and welding. While these sources are safe and well-regulated for their intended use; if lost or stolen the materials could be used by terrorists to make dirty bombs.

Painkiller Overprescription at 3 Military Hospitals Prompts Scathing Watchdog Report - Military.com

Patients were routinely overprescribed opioids at three military hospitals under a system that failed to follow medical guidelines, according to a scathing report from the Defense Department's Inspector General.

FBI Announces New Policy for Notifying State and Local Election Officials of Cyber Intrusions Affecting Election Infrastructure - FBI.gov

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a new internal policy to clarify and guide the timely federal notification of appropriate state and local officials of cyber intrusions affecting election infrastructure.

Human-to-Human Transmission of Coronavirus in China Confirmed - FoxNews

A new coronavirus sickening dozens in China is transmissible between humans, officials confirmed, sparking fears that the pneumonia-like illness which has been tied to at least three deaths may spread more quickly than previously believed.

Snapshot: S&T-Funded SABER Helps Communities Get Back to Business During and After Disasters - Homeland Security

In recent years, severe storm surges, flooding, mass power outages and other natural or man-made emergencies and disasters have affected businesses in myriad ways. When these disasters strike, the Homeland Security Enterprise relies on real-time data to effectively help businesses, and in turn, private citizens, recover and get back on their feet.

Justice Department Needs Counter-Biometric Experts - Nextgov

The U.S. Marshals Service wants to learn more about the market for counter-biometric expertise, including evading the tech and preventing criminals from doing the same.

Smart City Spending Climbs Along With Deep Reservations By Residents - BiometricUpdate

Citizen protests and lawsuits notwithstanding, municipalities around the world are rushing to install surveillance systems marketed as smart city technology.

The Homeland Defense and Security Information Analysis Center (HDIAC) is a Department of Defense (DoD) Information Analysis Center (IAC) sponsored by the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC). The HD Digest provides links to third party Websites. The HDIAC is not responsible for the availability of, and content provided on, third party Websites. You should refer to the policies posted by other Websites regarding their privacy and other topics before you use them. The HDIAC is not responsible for third party content accessible through the HDIAC HD Digest, including opinions, advice, statements, advertisements and endorsements, and you bear all risks associated with the use of such content.