WASHINGTON, April 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11783) on April 16, 2026, by Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * Biometric Technologies and Global Security Biometric technologies use unique biological or behavioral attributes - such as DNA, fingerprints, cardiac signatures, voice or gait patterns, and facial or ocular measurements - to authenticate an individual's   more

OTTAWA, Ontario, April 18 -- The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives issued the following commentary on April 17, 2026, by journalist and photographer Changiz M. Varzi: * * * Canadians oppose the Middle East war. The federal government doesn't Canada has consistently refused to condemn the illegal and aggressive actions of the United States. * The war that the U.S. and Israel launched against Iran on February 28 has once again put Prime Minister Mark Carney and his foreign affairs team   more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Castro, Casten, Van Hollen, Kaine Demand Transparency from Trump Administration on United States-Venezuela Energy Deal * April 17, 2026 WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) are demanding transparency from the Trump Administration on its energy deal with Venezuela, an unprecedente  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Florida, issued the following news release: * * * Chairwoman Salazar Leads Key Hearing on What Comes Next for Cuba and Latin America After Maduro * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Chairwoman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, led a key hearing titled "Latin America After the Fall of Maduro," examining next steps for Cuba and the region as dynamics shift following Nicolas Maduro's fall. The regional balance has   more

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense released the following testimony by Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, from an April 17, 2026, hearing on the fiscal 2027 budget: * * * Chairman Calvert, Ranking Member McCollum, and esteemed members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of the 435,000 Soldiers, Airmen, and civilian teammates of the National Guard. I also want to thank SEA Raines, the Senior Enli  more