U.K. airport chooses iris recognition

Manchester Airport in the United Kingdom is launching that nation's first iris recognition access-control system for airport employees.

British Columbia rolls out hybrid license

British Columbia is accepting volunteers to apply for Canada's first hybrid driver's license that doubles as a border crossing card for entry into the U.S.

FCC spectrum auction hits snag

The fate of the planned nationwide broadband network for first responders is still up in the air.

SBInet goes mobile with radar

DHS is adding mobile radar units to its $8 billion SBInet border surveillance system to provide extra capabilities and fill small gaps in coverage.

State, DHS urged to better integrate travel systems

The departments of Homeland Security and State should better integrate their IT systems that handle international business travel, according to a new report.

Joint forces to sharpen disaster response

The U.S. Joint Forces Command and Northern Command are planning a series of computer-based disaster drills with four states this year as part of their Noble Resolve 2008 preparedness exercises.

Unisys wins Customs RFID tag work

Unisys Corp. has won a task order from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency to deploy readers and other technologies to support the use of RFID on new ID cards at U.S. borders.

EU inks UAV agreement with consortium

The European Union's joint defense ministry has signed an agreement with a consortium of European defense contractors to develop a strategy for integrating UAVs into European airspace by 2015.

Defense community on same page for secure e-mail

Defense officials and contractors in the U.S. and U.K. recently endorsed standards for secure e-mail circulated by the Transglobal Secure Collaboration Program.

Real ID ready for prime time

DHS today released the final rule for implementing the Real ID Act that would standardize the handling of personal information for driver's licenses.

Waxman hammers TSA over portal contract

<font color="CC0000">(UPDATED) </font color> Rep. Henry Waxman today accused TSA of sloppy acquisition management and an apparent conflict of interest in the 2006 hiring of a Virginia contractor whose work put at risk the personal information of thousands of travelers.

Real ID enters the final stretch

States scramble for upgrades and overhauls as deadline looms.

FCC's unanswered questions

As spectrum auction nears, management and interoperability fears rise.

Frontline Wireless shuts down

Frontline Wireless LLC, a prominent prospective bidder for the upcoming auction to create a national wireless network for first responders, abruptly shut down this week.

GAO: Global ports need security overhaul

Without a stronger global compliance scheme there is a risk of terrorist infiltration and attack

Web extra: States face Real ID privacy dilemma

The Real ID Act requires states to confirm personal information with one another, which worries some privacy advocates

Ridge gets emergency alert consulting gig

Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has been hired to advise a Texas company that is selling a patented high-speed public alert and notification system.

Web extra: Real ID also affects states' systems

Vendors have opportunities to assist states that must upgrade back-end systems that support the new cards mandated by the Real ID Act.

Coast Guard seeks Deepwater refund

The Coast Guard has asked for a $96.1 million refund from its Deepwater contractors and has charged them with delivering defective boats that do not meet requirements.

Telephonics to help Customs with ground surveillance

Telephonics Corp. will supply a fully integrated mobile ground surveillance radar system to the Customs and Border Protection agency.