Wednesday, November 24, 2010

DTN News - BREAKING NEWS: Five Somali Pirates Convicted Of Attacking US Naval ship

Defense News: DTN News - BREAKING NEWS: Five Somali Pirates Convicted Of Attacking US Naval ship
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By staff writers From: NewsCore
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - November 24, 2010: A US federal jury in Norfolk, Virginia, today convicted five Somali men of attacking a US Naval ship - in what is believed to be the first time a jury has convicted anyone of piracy since 1820.

The men were captured on April 1 after they decided to target the USS Nicholas, believing it was a merchant ship, as the vessel was operating west of the Seychelles islands in the Indian Ocean. The USS Nicholas is an Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate homeported in Norfolk, according to

the Justice Department.

Three of the men - Mohammed Modin Hasan, Gabul Abdullahi Ali and Abdi Wali Dire - used a small vessel to launch the attack, firing assault weapons and a rocket propelled grenade.

The three men - along with Abdi Mohammed Gurewardher and Abdi Mohammed Umar, who were aboard a larger supply vessel - were detained by the sailors aboard the USS Nicholas and later brought to the US.

The charges levelled against the men included piracy, attack to plunder a vessel and assault with a dangerous weapon in the special maritime jurisdiction.

The men face a mandatory sentence of life in prison when they are sentenced March 14, 2011.

"Today marks the first conviction of piracy in more than 190 years," US lawyer Neil MacBride said in a statement after the men were convicted.

"Modern-day pirates not only threaten human lives but also disrupt international commerce by extorting hundreds of millions of dollars in ransom payments.

"Today's conviction demonstrates that armed attacks on US-flagged vessels are crimes against the international community and that pirates will face severe consequences in US courts."



*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact:
dtnnews@ymail.com
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DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated November 24, 2010

Defense News: DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated November 24, 2010
Source: U.S. DoD issued No. 1087-10 November 24, 2010
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - November 24, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued November 24, 2010 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

AIR FORCE

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Corporation of Sunnyvale, Calif., was awarded an $85,859,894 contract modification to exercise the option to continue service under MILSATCOM Orbital Operations and Logistics Support. At this time, no funds have been obligated. SMC SLG/PKM, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., is the contracting activity (FA8808-10-C-0002, PO0016).

General Electric Aviation of Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded a $50,494,694 contract modification which will provide newly redesigned High Pressure Compressor and High Pressure Turbine assemblies, newly redesigned Aging Engine Upgrade Components, initial provisioning spares, and new technical data to support the Service Life Extension Plan and Aging Engine Upgrade initiatives applicable to the F110-GE-100/-129 Engine for F-16 aircraft. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 448 SCMG/PKBC, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8104-05-C-0053, PO0018).

Saint Louis University of Saint Louis, Mo., was awarded a $24,000,000 contract which will provide research and analysis for the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine’s critical care air transport team and expeditionary medicine missions. At this time, $608,588 has been obligated. AFRL/PKHB, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-11-2-6140, order 6C01).

Loadpath LLC of Albuquerque, N.M., was awarded an $8,693,434 contract which will create advances in composite payloads, bus technologies, and payload accommodation structures. At this time, $230,000 has been obligated. AFRL/RVKV, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., is the contracting activity (FA9453-11-C-0265).

NAVY

Science Applications International Corporation, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $26,737,880 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide ashore and afloat networks and information engineering services in support of networks and information systems. The scope of work includes support for tasks associated with shipboard wide area networks, programs associated with developing and maintaining local area networks, and future technology development and technical services for Naval and Marine Corps intranet requirements. The networks described in the scope of work are specialized networks that are beyond the scope of the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI). This contract is one of two contracts awarded: both awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two, one-year options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to a potential $45,179,948. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and work is expected to be completed Nov. 23, 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website, and the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website, with seven offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-11-D-0017).

Computer Sciences Corporation, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $26,221,307 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide ashore and afloat networks and information engineering services in support of networks and information systems. The scope of work includes support for tasks associated with shipboard wide area networks, programs associated with developing and maintaining local area networks, and future technology development and technical services for Naval and Marine Corps intranet requirements. The networks described in the scope of work are specialized networks that are beyond the scope of the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI). This contract is one of two contracts awarded: both awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two, one-year options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to a potential $44,861,537. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and work is expected to be completed Nov. 23, 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website, and the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website, with seven offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-11-D-0016).

EDO Communications & Countermeasures Systems, Thousand Oaks, Calif., is being awarded a $16,720,922 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed fee, and cost-only contract for 425 band C upgrade kits, initial and depot spares, and engineering support services to upgrade Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare vehicle-mounted 2.1 systems currently in theater in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Work will be performed in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and is expected to be completed by June 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-11-C-6301).

Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group, Inc., of Pasadena, Calif., is being awarded a $6,815,688 modification under a multiple award contract firm-fixed-price task order for the exercise of option year two for Program and Engineering Support services. The total cumulative task order amount after exercise of this option will be $18,682,386. The task order also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $34,807,091. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by November 2011. Contract funds ($177,138) will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00178-05-D-4487-EFE3).


*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com
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DTN News: Japan Top Stories / Headlines News Dated November 24, 2010

Defense News: DTN News: Japan Top Stories / Headlines News Dated November 24, 2010
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - November 24, 2010: Comprehensive daily news related to Japan for the world of TODAY.
*Comprehensive daily news related to Japan Top Stories / Headlines News for the world of TODAY
The Japan Times Online

National news

Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010

Kan confers with Lee on North threat

Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his Seoul counterpart, Lee Myung Bak, agree their countries and the United States must work closely to confront any provocations by North Korea, which the previous day shelled a South Korean island in the Yellow Sea, causing four confirmed deaths.

Cabinet support rate hits new low of 23.6%

The support rate for Prime Minister Naoto Kan's embattled Cabinet falls to a new low of 23.6 percent in a Kyodo News survey, down 9.1 percentage points from the previous poll earlier this month.

Trio must be firm with North

Growing military tension on the Korean Peninsula poses another major diplomatic challenge for Prime Minister Naoto Kan's Cabinet, and Japan needs to form a firm united front with the United States and South Korea to deal with Pyongyang's provocations, critics say.

Man admits killing professor, claims disorder

Nagoya recall petition fails

Australia: southern bluefin in danger

Row seen denting Chinese tourism

Chinese welcome 'anime' director

Rare cranes get 'residency' cards

Selective immigration for highly skilled urged

Higashi-Honganji Temple turns to first new bell in 400 years

High school students compete at growing rice

Ultimate rickshaw wedding trip

Abuse of seniors increased 4.9% to hit record level 15,615 cases in 2009

Japan, France in tie atop Michelin

SDF dispatch may up Senkaku ante

TALK TURKEY

Nov. 24, 2010

An employee stocks frozen turkeys at Nissin World Delicatessen in Minato Ward, Tokyo, ahead of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday.

SATOKO KAWASAKI PHOTO

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com
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