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• Three CoreStreet OCSP products receive FIPS 201 approval • WidePoint receives GSA HSPD-12 approval for IT Schedule 70, SIN 132-6x series • Probaris SP/PIV wins HSPD-12 approval
U.S. government departments and agencies and private contractors doing business with them must comply with the HSPD-12-mandated FIPS 201 by 27 October 2006; during the past year many IT companies applied to the GSA to have their products and solutions approved, and the GSA is announcing such approvals at an ever-growing rate
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State of Maryland has a sleek, new mobile command center
The state of Maryland has a sleek, new mobile command center which looks a bit as if it came from a Sci-Fi movie
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Jurisdictional squabbles, looming mid-term elections, scuttle port security measures
Disagreements over jurisdiction and the coming November elections threaten to derail port security legislation; of special interest: The 100 percent container inspection clause passed by an overwhelming vote (421-2) in the House – but it is the only clause in the port safety legislation which is adamantly opposed by every part and every component of the shipping industry
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TCS sues two Virginia companies for patent infringement
A Maryland company is suing two Virginia companies for patent infringement relating to wireless emergency-related communication technology
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Analysis: Growing opposition to administration’s plan to relax foreign ownership rule of U.S. airlines
The administration wants to relax the rules prohibiting foreign ownership of U.S. airlines; critics argue that the administration’s agile word parsing with regard to the term “actual control” of airlines short-changes U.S. national security
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Britons want to know more about controversial ID card scheme
Liberal Democrats have been granted their request to have the DWP release the a feasibility report concerning the national biometric ID card plan; the DWP says this is not a good idea, but the commissioner ruled that the people have a right to know
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Legislation to review foreign ownership of critical infrastructure introduced in New York
Bipartisan legislation proposed to review thoroughly requests by foreign entities who want to control parts of New York’s critical infrastructure
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Canadian company releases booking and arrest solution tailored to U.S. market
Canadian company offers U.S. customers an improved version of booking and arrest solution
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New cottage industry: Helping shippers qualify for C-TPAT
Securing cargo containers is a massive — and lucrative — undertaking, and more and more companies want to participate, but you should see the paper work involved; there is thus a new industry emerging, one aiming to help large and small companies apply for DHS C-TPAT
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Border-security-only bill falls victim to collapse of comprehensive immigration bill
Last Friday the compromise immigration bill was pulled because Republicans and Democrats could not agree over how many amendments would be allowed to come to the floor for a vote; some senators tried to salvage from the impasse a border-security-only bill, but it failed to garner many votes
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Security agencies oppose congressional move to ease banking reporting requirements
Some federal agencies are in opposition to possible new bank reporting requirements because they feel relaxing regulations may compromise homeland security
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U.K. creates SOCA -- an FBI-like organization
SOCA (Serious Organized Crime Agency) has been created to tackle organized crime in the U.K. at the tune of 400million
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SecureInfo, Telos to collaborate after ending legal skirmishes
What do you know: These two companies were battling in court only days ago, accusing each other of intellectual property infringement; they have settled, and now are strategic partners
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Lords accept U.K. national ID compromise: No compulsory biometric ID before 2010
A compromise is reached in the U.K. over a mandatory biometric national ID; for a while the stalemate between the House of Commons and the House of Lords threatened a constitutional crisis, but now all agree for 2010 as target date for the new ID
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Some chemical plants get it, many others do not; plant safety legislation will change that
Ronald Reagan used to say: “If you cannot make them see the light, make them feel the heat”; some chemical plants have taken plant security seriously, and Geismar, Louisiana-based Honeywell is one of them; trouble is, most of the 15,000 U.S. plants have not followed Honeywell’s example; the threat of federal legislation may concentrate their minds
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The long view
Russia’s hostile measures threaten Europe: Report
A new RAND report examines current Russian hostile measures in Europe and forecasts how Russia might threaten Europe using these measures over the next few years. “Whatever the U.S. response, preparation for involvement in a wide range of conflicts can help reduce the risk of mismanagement, miscalculation, and escalation,” the report’s authos say.
Keeping the lights on during and after a disaster
The threat of an inevitable earthquake is the uncomfortable truth we all face in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which stretches from Alaska to California. Because the last major earthquake in the area was in the 1700s, our infrastructure developed without an appreciation and understanding of earthquake resilience. That means the next major earthquake will likely devastate our buildings, roads, bridges, and utility providers, posing immediate risks for the health and safety of those who live in the region. And later, there will be long-term economic aftershocks.