Author Archive

Diane Barnes

Diane Barnes is a reporter with Global Security Newswire, having first joined the publication as a staff writer in 2007. She covers daily developments on Syria's chemical weapons, Iran's nuclear program, strategic arms control and other issues. Barnes has contributed to publications including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Palm Beach Post and the London Daily Telegraph. She is a graduate of George Washington University.
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DHS Shifts Nuclear-Screening Focus to 'High-Risk' Cargo

A new international standard known as “ISO 37120” lays out 46 performance measures.

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Accused Proliferator May Try to Build Ballistic-Missile Parts

Newly uncovered information suggests Chinese businessman Li Fangwei has obtained substantial stakes in a number of sensitive enterprises.

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Auditors Fault Pentagon Sorting of Biggest Bioweapon Threats

DoD rules require the agency each year to revisit its list of top biological-weapon threats.

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CDC Official Protests Federal Medical Response Cuts

Reduced spending has been "extremely damaging" to capabilities across the country, Dr. Ali Khan says.

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Algorithm May Enable Common X-Rays to Identify Tiny Amounts of Uranium and Plutonium

The code is based on a close examination of how radiation passes through various substances.

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Boston Considers Banning Deadliest Pathogens From New Biolab

Downtown biodefense lab wants to study some of the world's deadliest disease agents.

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U.S. Nuclear Security Agency Has 'Failed,' Advisory Panel Says

Drastic reforms needed to address NNSA's 'systemic' management shortcomings, group says.

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Pentagon Seeks to Design Virus-Fighting Protein 'Cocktails'

'Monoclonal antibodies' could protect against Ebola and 'alphaviruses,' such as Venezuelan equine encephalitis.

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Experimental Drug Could Treat Child Bioterrorism Victims

The United States announced a $17.7 million push to secure federal licensure of antibiotic.

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HHS Bets on New Model to Fund Biodefense Drug Development

The approach is more flexible than the government's traditional strategy of funding drugs.

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East Coast 'Well Protected' Without Proposed Antimissile Site, Official Says

The country has 30 silo-based ballistic missile interceptors, and 14 more slated for deployment.

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DOD Aims to Shield Nuke Operations From Budget Cuts

Administration officials say U.S. nuclear weapons operations are a national priority.

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Aging technology endangers Pantex security, auditors warn

Energy Department IG says plant's security system could malfunction if it does not receive maintenance.

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Lawmakers reaffirm demand for biowatch data

Letter says CDC has not been forthcoming in providing information.

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U.S. lawmaker demands action to secure alleged Syrian uranium

Experts have suggested the Bashar Assad regime might have amassed up to 50 metric tons of the substance.

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DHS defends acquisition plan for bioweapon detectors

Several auditors and lawmakers have urged the department to pause reassess its effort