Category «Defense»

National Foundation for Credit Counseling Survey – Financial Weaknesses Among Military Servicemembers

News release: ” In recognition of Military Appreciation Month, a new financial survey of military personnel was released today. Commissioned by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC®) and sponsored by Pioneer Services, a division of MidCountry Bank, the survey revealed some troubling financial behaviors among servicemembers. Consider the following survey findings: Seventy-seven percent of servicemembers have …

Subjects: Defense, Economy, Financial System

WaPo – How a backlogged VA determines the true cost of war

Greg Jaffe – “The longest stretch of fighting in American history is producing disability claims at rates that surpass those of any of the country’s previous wars. Nearly half of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are filing for these benefits when they leave the military — a flood of claims that has overwhelmed the VA and generated a …

Subjects: Defense, Government Documents, Health Care, Medicine

New GAO Reports – U.S. Arctic Council Participation, DOD Common Contractor Manpower Data System

Better Direction and Management of Voluntary Recommendations Could Enhance U.S. Arctic Council Participation, GAO-14-435: Published: May 16, 2014. Publicly Released: May 19, 2014: “Six key federal agencies hold leadership roles in the Arctic Council and other agencies participate through the Council’s working groups and task forces. The U.S. Department of State (State) leads this participation and collaborates …

Subjects: Defense, Economy, Government Documents

Council on Foreign Relations Cybersecurity Policy Research Links

“How can the United States protect cyberspace “control system of our country,” without restricting the open “flow of information on the Internet“? What should countries consider when developing international cybersecurity standards and protocol? What should their citizens know to protect their information and their rights? Cybersecurity Policy Research Links provide news, background information, legislation, analysis, …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Defense, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, PC Security, Privacy

Climate Change, Migration, and Nontraditional Security Threats in China

Complex Crisis Scenarios and Policy Options for China and the World, By Michael Werz and Lauren Reed | May 16, 2014 “Climate change, migration, and sociopolitical conflicts associated with China’s epic economic transformation over the past 35 years are coming to a head in this second decade of the 21st century. These interlaced dynamics are causing internal upheaval and …

Subjects: Climate Change, Defense, Government Documents

CRS – Afghanistan: Drug Trafficking and the 2014 Transition

Afghanistan: Drug Trafficking and the 2014 Transition, Liana Rosen, Specialist in International Crime and Narcotics; Kenneth Katzman; Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs. May 9, 2014, “Experts widely assess that Afghanistan will remain the world’s primary source of opium poppy cultivation and opium and heroin production, as well as a major global source of cannabis resin, in the coming years. In …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents, Legislation

New GAO Reports – Biological Defense, Export Controls, Int’l Labor Grants, National Nuclear Security, VA Health Care

BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE: DOD Has Strengthened Coordination on Medical Countermeasures but Can Improve Its Process for Threat Prioritization, GAO-14-442: Published: May 15, 2014. Publicly Released: May 15, 2014. EXPORT CONTROLS: NASA Management Action and Improved Oversight Needed to Reduce the Risk of Unauthorized Access to Its Technologies, GAO-14-315: Published: Apr 15, 2014. Publicly Released: May 15, 2014. FINANCIAL AUDIT: Congressional Award Foundation’s Fiscal …

Subjects: Defense, Economy, Government Documents, Health Care

Uranium Marketing Annual Report

Uranium purchases and prices: “Owners and operators of U.S. civilian nuclear power reactors (“civilian owner/operators” or “COOs”) purchased a total of 57 million pounds U3O8e (equivalent1) of deliveries from U.S. suppliers and foreign suppliers during 2013, at a weighted-average price of $51.99 per pound U3O8e. The 2013 total of 57 million pounds U3O8e decreased slightly compared …

Subjects: Defense, Economy, Energy, Government Documents

New GAO Reports – Critical Infrastructure Protection, Disaster Resilience, Law Enforcement Body Armor

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION: Observations on DHS Efforts to Implement and Manage its Chemical Security Program, GAO-14-608T: Published: May 14, 2014. Publicly Released: May 14, 2014. DISASTER RESILIENCE: Actions Are Underway, but Federal Fiscal Exposure Highlights the Need for Continued Attention to Longstanding Challenges, GAO-14-603T: Published: May 14, 2014. Publicly Released: May 14, 2014. LAW ENFORCEMENT BODY ARMOR: Status of DOJ’s Efforts …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Defense, Government Documents, Legal Research

CRS – Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy

Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy, Steven Woehrel, Specialist in European Affairs. May 8, 2014 “After a failed effort to violently disperse pro-European Union protests, the government of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych collapsed on February 21, 2014. The Ukrainian parliament approved a new pro-reform, pro-Western government on February 27. New presidential elections arescheduled for May 25. Russia has …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Economy, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

New GAO Reports – DOD Financial Management, VA Education Benefits

DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: Actions Under Way Need to Be Successfully Completed to Address Long-standing Funds Control Weaknesses, GAO-14-94: Published: Apr 29, 2014. Publicly Released: May 13, 2014. DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: Effect of Continuing Weaknesses on Management and Operations and Status of Key Challenges, GAO-14-576T: Published: May 13, 2014. Publicly Released: May 13, 2014. VA EDUCATION BENEFITS: VA Should Strengthen Its Efforts to …

Subjects: Defense, Economy, Education, Financial System

New Documents Reveal Close Ties Between NSA and Tech Companies, PBS Special to Air

EPIC: “New e-mails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal former NSA Director Keith Alexander’s close communication with technology companies regarding emerging cybersecurity threats. The CEOs of Google, Apple, Microsoft, and other technology companies were invited to classified briefings as part of the “Enduring Security Framework,” a government initiative focused on sharing “cyber threat information with the …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Defense, E-Government, E-Mail, E-Records, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Internet, Patriot Act, Privacy

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