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FAA unveils new air traffic control system
New control system, built by Lockheed Martin, will allow controllers better and more expanded coverage of air traffic over U.S.
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New U.K. biomteric trial at Gatwick
U.K. Border and Immigration Agency aims to check biometrics from all non-European Economic Area non-visa nationals at the U.K. arrival control check-points by 2011
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TSA to increase cooperation with non-U.S. sister agencies
Transportation Security Administration creates new office — Office of Global Strategies — to work with sister agencies abroad on common air traffic security issues
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TSA awards $52 million for piloting different detection technologies
On the TSA’s shopping list: Advanced technology (AT) X-ray, automated explosives detection (auto-EDS) for security checkpoints, bottled liquid scanners, passive millimeter wave, and a cast/prosthetics screening device
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Formula One technologies help U.K. military
BAE collaborates with Motorsport Industry Association for the purpose of using suitable motor sports tehcnologies for making military vehicles more secure and durable
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Canada begins arming its border guards
A recent GAO report says the U.S.-Canada border is porous; Canada is beginning to do something about it on its side of the border by armings its border guards; numbers are still very small
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Rio Grande levees offered as alternative to border fence
Rebuilding the Rio Grande levee system would cost about $200 million; building a 700-mile fence on parts of the U.S.-Mexico border would cost from $3 billion to $30 billion; Texans say restoring the levees would be more effective, too
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Senate approves defense budget; more money to border security
Senate passes a record $459 billion budget for the Pentagon; budget, even adjusted for inflation, is more than 20 percent higher than the average cold war budget; it has gone up more than 40 percent since 9/11
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U.S. introduces new citizenship test
New citzenship test will be adminsitered from October 2008; replaces memorization of facts and figures with questions which test understanding of the fundamentals of American civic life
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TSA keeps an eye on remote control devices
TSA instructed airport security screeners to pay additional attention to remote control devices carried on board by passengers; childrens’ toys included
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WHTI travel rule back in effect
Relaxation of WHTI travel rules, put in owing to passport application backlog, expired at midnight; Congress-mandated passport requirement back in effect as of today
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LAX uses random numbers theory to place security check points
Using random numbers generator developed by a USC engineering student, LAX security authorities place check points and security details at random, unpredictable locations throughout the sparawling airport
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TSA approves first biometric products for airport screening
Three years after being instructed to establish a “qualified products list” for airport screening programs, TSA names first products to qualify; strict requirements deter vendors
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GAO report says security lax along U.S.-Canada border
The U.S. and Canada share more than 5,000 miles of border; the U.S. and Mexico share 1,900 miles of border; the U.S. had 972 Border Patrol agents on the northern border — but almost 12,000 on the southern one; GAO says this disparity creates vulnerabilities
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European businesses bitterly criticize 100% container insepction rule
European shipowners, port operators, and retailers say 100% container inspection rule will have “disastrous effects” on trade; European customs commissioner say it will result in Europe’s taxpayers footing the bill for U.S. security
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The long view
Calls Grow for U.S. to Counter Chinese Control, Influence in Western Ports
Experts say Washington should consider buying back some ports, offer incentives to allies to decouple from China.