China watchU.S. “Undeterred” over China Sanctions By Patsy Widakuswara Published 24 July 2021 Earlier Friday, China sanctioned former U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and several other Americans who have been involved in U.S. China trade policies and human rights issues, following Washington’s sanctions against seven deputy directors and the director of Beijing’s Hong Kong liaison

WMDProtecting the U.S. against WMD Published 24 July 2021 The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office was established within DHS in December 2018 to address the challenge of WMD. GAO has reviewed how the CWMD office manages programs intended to enhance the U.S. ability to detect, deter, and defend against chemical, biological, radiological, and

ExtremismDHS Can Bolster Its Efforts to Counter Violent Extremism Published 24 July 2021 There were eighty-one fatal violent extremist attacks in the United States from 2010 through 2020, resulting in 240 deaths. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) strategy for preventing targeted violence and terrorism, including its efforts to

Coastal challengesHigh-Tide Flood Risk Is Accelerating, Putting Coastal Economies at Risk By Renee Collini Published 23 July 2021 The frequency of high-tide flooding along the U.S. coasts has doubled since 2000, and it’s expected to increase five to 15 times more in the next 30 years. Already, areas at risk from sea level rise have

Coastal challengesDOD, Navy Confront Climate Change Challenges in Southern Virginia Published 23 July 2021 The Navy and Defense Department have efforts underway to mitigate the challenges posed by climate change in one of the most military-dense regions of the country. The Hampton Roads area in southern Virginia is home to dozens of military installations, including Naval

China watchFrance Accuses China of “Vast” Cyberattacks Campaign against French Organizations, Companies Published 22 July 2021 The director-general of ANSSI, France’s cyber defense agency, said France has been under a sustained and sever cyberattacks by Chinese government hackers since the beginning of the year. France has so far abstained from publicly attributing cyberattacks on its

ExtremismNorway Mourns Victims of Worst-Ever Terror Attack 10 Years On Published 22 July 2021 The bomb and shooting attacks by a far-right extremist have been described as the Nordic country’s worst peacetime violence. On Thursday, Norway came to a standstill to remember those who died. Norway is marking the tenth anniversary of the Nordic country’s worst-ever terror attack.

SpywarePegasus Project Shows the Need for Real Device Security, Accountability and Redress for those Facing State-Sponsored Malware By Cindy Cohn Published 22 July 2021 It is no surprise that people around the world are angry to learn that surveillance software sold by NSO Group to governments has been found on cellphones worldwide. People all around

SpywareSpyware: Why the Booming Surveillance Tech Industry Is Vulnerable to Corruption and Abuse By Christian Kemp Published 22 July 2021 The latest revelations about NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware are the latest indication that the spyware industry is out of control, with licensed customers free to spy on political and civilian targets as well as suspected

Water securitySmartphone Screens Effective Sensors for Soil or Water Contamination Published 22 July 2021 The touchscreen technology used in billions of smartphones and tablets could also be used as a powerful sensor, without the need for any modifications. Researchers from the University of Cambridge have demonstrated how a typical touchscreen could be used to identify common