US firefighters being trained to spot terroristshttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/27/wterror127.xml
A scheme to train firefighters in major cities to look out for terrorists has raised fears that their iconic standing in American society could be damaged.
Unlike police, firemen and paramedics do not need warrants to get into homes and other buildings during technical inspections of emergency facilities, making them particularly useful for spotting signs of terrorist planning.
The Homeland Security Department has been secretly testing a pilot scheme in New York in which firefighters are trained to identify suspicious material or behaviour. If successful, the programme will be extended to other large cities.
However, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) says that using firemen to gather intelligence is a step toward limiting people's privacy.
Since the September 11 attacks, Americans have given up some of their privacy rights in an effort to prevent future strikes. (BS cont..)
Free Flu Shots During Emergency Drill (AZ)
http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=656819
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health is offering 3,000 flu shots free during a mass vaccination exercise Wednesday at Glendale Community College.
The exercise will test the county's response capabilities to a health emergency.
"This holiday season, the last thing you want is for you or your loved ones to get the flu," said County Supervisor Max Wilson. "This is a great opportunity to protect yourself and those close to you by getting a free flu shot and helping your health department prepare for emergencies while you're at it."
Mass vaccination exercises help the Public Health department prepare for emergencies by testing their ability to vaccinate thousands of people within a few hours. During Wednesday's exercise, the flu shots will be available from noon until 7 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Glendale Community College gym, 6000 W. Olive Ave.
Participants in Wednesday's exercise include Glendale Community College, Glendale Police Department, Glendale Fire Department, Glendale Emergency Management, Peoria Fire Department, Phoenix Fire Department, Arizona Public Service Co., Arizona Department of Health Services, Avondale Fire Department, Indian Health Services, Arizona Department of Emergency Management, and Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
DigitalGlobe's WorldView-1 Reaches Full Operational Capability With the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,229490.shtml
LONGMONT, Colo., Nov. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- DigitalGlobe, provider of the world's highest-resolution commercial satellite imagery and geospatial information products, today announced that WorldView-1 has completed its commissioning, meets all of its requirements, and is delivering imagery to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) as part of the NextView program. Full Operating Capability (FOC) with NGA began on November 17th. Following a controlled roll-out with NGA, DigitalGlobe will begin taking orders for WorldView-1 imagery from its global resellers, partners and customers on January 3, 2008. The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on September 18, and delivered its first sample set of high-resolution images on October 15.
"We are thrilled to announce that we have started delivering WorldView-1 imagery to NGA and we are excited for the general availability of WorldView-1 imagery" said Jill Smith, chief executive officer of DigitalGlobe. "This is truly a fabulous milestone for DigitalGlobe, we are proud to be serving the NextView contract and excited to be operating a new imaging satellite that addresses the worldwide demand for map accurate satellite imaging capacity."
WorldView-1 is part of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's (NGA) NextView program, and was partially financed through an agreement with the NGA. The majority of the imagery captured by WorldView-1 for the NGA will also be available for distribution through DigitalGlobe's ImageLibrary. Additionally, WorldView-1 frees capacity on DigitalGlobe's QuickBird satellite to meet the growing commercial demand for multi-spectral geospatial imagery
WorldView-1 is the first of two new next-generation satellites DigitalGlobe plans to launch in the near term. In late 2008, Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. and ITT Corporation will complete WorldView-2, bringing the total number of satellites DigitalGlobe has in orbit to three and enabling the company to offer a constellation of spacecraft that will provide the highest commercial collection capacity, with more than 1 million square kilometers per day of high-resolution Earth imagery. Additionally, WorldView-2 will provide eight bands of multi-spectral for life-like true color imagery and greater spectral applications in the mapping and monitoring markets.
UNITECH(R) Highlights Training & Simulation Solutions at I/ITSEC Nov. 26-29, to Prepare U.S. Troops, Combat IEDs
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,230925.shtml
WINTER PARK, Fla., Nov. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- UNITECH(R), a world-class leader in interactive training, simulation and security solutions, will showcase the latest T&S innovations at the annual Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) conference Nov. 26-29 in Orlando, Fla.
UNITECH will focus on its emerging technologies by highlighting several product lines, with an emphasis on training and simulation, at its I/ITSEC booth No. 3700 in the West Hall of the Orange County Convention Center. It's the epicenter of continuously changing 5- to 10-minute demonstrations on the latest training and simulation technologies, including urban training, OneMILES, UNITREX, RAD, IEDs, weaponry and serious gaming.
"UNITECH is excited to once again be a part of I/ITSEC," said Earl W. Stafford, UNITECH Chairman and CEO.
UNITECH is an award-winning, solutions-oriented professional services company specializing in first-response training and simulation, international and federal programs, maritime security and technology and training solutions.
UNITECH is one of the mid-Atlantic's fastest growing companies and has earned a reputation as an industry leader in MILES training technology and overall simulation products and services in the live and test domains. Military operations use live forces and instrumented weapon systems interacting on training, test and exercise ranges. Those exercises simulate experiences during actual operational conditions
CAE collaborates with Microsoft on defence, homeland security markets
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hIhTj3bu9heIQbfAgh4seyVh17Lg
Lockheed Martin wins $849 mln missile contract
http://www.reuters.com/article/tnBasicIndustries-SP/idUSN2642099420071127
WASHINGTON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Monday it awarded No. 1 U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp(LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) a $849 million contract for continued work on the Trident II (D5) Missile, a submarine-launched ballistic missile armed with nuclear (cont…)
General Dynamics Buys Mediaware International
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/856495/
Nov 26, 2007 (INTERNET BUSINESS NEWS via COMTEX) -- GD charts news PowerRating -- General Dynamics has acquired Mediaware International, a developer of real-time full-motion compressed digital video processing software and systems for defense, intelligence and commercial customers
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