Monday, April 4, 2011

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ Fury Over Driver Who Parks At Handicapped Lot....NSI News Source Info # 1770

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ Fury Over Driver Who Parks At Handicapped Lot....NSI News Source Info # 1770

April 4, 2011: A white BMW that is regularly parked at a lot reserved for the disabled has raised the ire of civic-minded Singaporeans.The car, which is missing a handicapped label, usually hogs the only available parking space reserved for the handicapped at a carpark in Bukit Purmei HDB estate.

The driver's inconsiderate behaviour has enraged a resident so much so he alerted the district's Member of Parliament Sam Tan, reported The Sunday Times (ST).

The latter then informed the Housing & Development Board (HDB).

The driver of the BMW with licence plate number ER 61U has been identified as 34-year-old Yew Chee Heng, owner of Rich Harvest Florist & Trading. His shop is located near the carpark in question.

The HDB told the paper it is aware of the case "where an inconsiderate driver repeatedly parked his car in the reserved space for disabled drivers".

The authority has been taking enforcement action, a spokesman said.

"For recalcitrant motorists such as this case, we will intensify our enforcement action against the offender and mete out stiffer penalties," a spokeswoman said.

A check on the HDB website revealed, between 16 March to 1 April, Yew chalked up seven parking summonses, all unpaid, each with a fine of $50.

Yew declined to be interviewed when contacted by the same paper.

President of the Handicaps Welfare Association Nancy Chia said such illegal parking is "a big problem."

"If the non-disabled cannot support the disabled, then where else can we get support from?"

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-singapore-news-fury.html

Asian Defense News: Singapore Defense News ~ Singapore Takes Over Command Of Multinational Counter-Piracy Task Force....NSI News Source Info # 1769

Asian Defense News: Singapore Defense News ~ Singapore Takes Over Command Of Multinational Counter-Piracy Task Force....NSI News Source Info # 1769

April 4, 2011: Singapore has taken over command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, a multinational counter-piracy task force. The change-of-command ceremony was held on board the Royal Navy frigate HMS Cornwall, in Djibouti this morning. The ceremony was witnessed by Commander Combined Maritime Forces Vice Admiral (VADM) Mark Fox and attended by Singapore's Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral (RADM) Ng Chee Peng. This is the second time Singapore has commanded CTF 151.

RADM Harris Chan from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) will lead the CTF 151 command team to coordinate counter-piracy operations by CTF 151 in deterring and disrupting piracy in the Gulf of Aden (GoA) over the next three months. The command team, comprising 25 SAF personnel, will operate from the US Navy destroyer USS Mason and will work closely with task forces from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union as well as with navies from other countries assigned to protect national vessels operating in GoA. Joining the SAF command team are five officers from Indonesia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Saudi Arabia.

Asian Defense News: Singapore Defense News ~ Singapore And US Military Cooperate For M-Learning....NSI News Source Info # 1768

Asian Defense News: Singapore Defense News ~ Singapore And US Military Cooperate For M-Learning....NSI News Source Info # 1768

April 4, 2011: Singapore’s Ministry of Defense and the US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) have teamed up to make medical-related training content available on mobile devices under an Office of the Secretary of Defense Coalition Warefare Programme (CWP) on mobile learning.

Under the CWP project, the effectiveness of distributing critical medical training content using cellular infrastructures in more than 20 nations will be evaluated and according to the plan, allow medical responders from multiple nations to access needed information from the site of a natural disaster.

Scott Shephard, Chief of the Joint Training Directorate, USJFCOM, said that this project has the potential to help improve US medical efficiencies as well as benefit medical personnel from other nations. “Singapore’s participation is key as they bring a high level of mobile learning expertise to the table,” he added.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

DTN News - BATTLE FOR LIBYA: Libyan Rebels Attack Brega....NSI News Source Info # 1767

DTN News - BATTLE FOR LIBYA: Libyan Rebels Attack Brega....NSI News Source Info # 1767

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 3, 2011: Libyan rebels shell pro Gadhafi positions just outside Brega, Libya, Sunday, April 3, 2011. Libyan rebels want to install a parliamentary democracy in place of longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi, one of their top leaders said Sunday, dismissing Western fears that their movement could be hijacked by Islamic extremists.

DTN News - ISRAEL DEFENSE NEWS: IDF Prepares For Multi-Front War In War Games....NSI News Source Info # 1766

DTN News - ISRAEL DEFENSE NEWS: IDF Prepares For Multi-Front War In War Games....NSI News Source Info # 1766
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 3, 2011: Military holds drill aimed at preparing forces for all-out war against Hezbollah, Syria, Hamas; exercise did not include soldiers, live-fire.

In the face of a changing Middle East, the IDF held a set of war games this week aimed at preparing the military for all-out war against Hezbollah, Syria and Hamas.

The exercise did not include soldiers or live-fire exercises, but was held to drill commanders and their decisions in the event of a large-scale war on multiple fronts.

The exercise was the first overseen by new Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz. It was organizedby Maj.-Gen. Gershon Hacohen, head of the IDF Colleges.

The coffee miracle

Coffee's definitely getting better for each and every day with the new espresso machine. We're both more than satisfied with the breakfast development since this machine came into our lives. And it is so damn stylish! I would also like to point out what an extremely quick delivery Londinium accomplished for our machine. It was with us within three days from London and their personal service and enthusiasm is exactly how you would wish all companies to treat their clients. +++++ for the machine, the service and the assistance in how to make the best out of the machine. How I love dealing with brands, companies and people who know what they are doing, are efficient in their methods and perform what is promised. Quality all the way through. This machine is what I believe, the best one out there for the cruiser who values real coffee and want to find a comfortable and easy way to have it made. The machine might have a bit higher price tag than the regular percolators or moka machines but then again, this one makes real espresso and as far as I know, there is only this machine to get it done onboard a boat without using electricity. /T

The Caribbean dogs

Look at my little hairy friend underneath my seat. He's resting here in the shadow on the open harbor café where I use to hang out with my laptop. Sometimes I have as much as three dogs under the same couch, making it impossible to put my feet on the ground. Sweet. On these islands there are dogs running around everywhere. In many areas, especially in St Lucia as what we've seen, the dogs are getting badly treated by local kids and elders who hit them hard and throw things on them when they pass them by on the streets. Some say it is a remaining behavior from inherited memories from the colonial times when the dogs were better treated and higher valued than the african slaves. The dogs were the ones who guarded the white men's sugar plantations and when slaves intended to flee, they were hunted down with dogs and got killed. The uncomfortable treatment of the dogs seen on the streets of today might hurt to observe coming from a Scandinavian/European country where dogs are our friends and family members, but I also understand that all things have their own reason and have to have their own natural cycle. Can't change deeply ingrained behaviors like those in one day. Here under my seat they are more than welcome though. /T

Asian Defense News: Man Dies On SIA Flight Bound For San Francisco....NSI News Source Info # 1765

Asian Defense News: Man Dies On SIA Flight Bound For San Francisco....NSI News Source Info # 1765

April 3, 2011: A man, whose identity is not yet known, died on a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight bound forSan Francisco on Saturday.

The cause of death has not been confirmed.

SQ flight 2 was on the way to San Francisco from Singapore via Hong Kong, reportedChannel NewsAsia.

According to SIA, the man, who was holding aUS passport, was found unconscious 90 minutes before the flight landed.

Three passengers, believed to be in the medical field, tried to provide medical assistance but their attempts at reviving him were unsuccessful.

SIA said it will provide any form of assistance needed by the man's family.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-man-dies-on-sia.html

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ 14-Year-Old Girl Hit By MRT Train....NSI News Source Info # 1764

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ 14-Year-Old Girl Hit By MRT Train....NSI News Source Info # 1764
April 3, 2011: A 14-year-old Thai girl is severely injured after being hit by an MRT train at Ang Mo Kio station on Sunday morning.

Local media reported theSingapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received a call about the incident at 11.11 am. A spokesman said, the girl's lower limbs were severely injured.

The teenager, who was conscious throughout the ordeal, has been sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Some eye-witnesses took to micro-blogging platform Twitter to describe the scene. They said there were many police cars at the MRT station and the teenager appeared to have broken both her legs.

Felicia Chen (@caesius_helios) tweeted that she was on the way to Toa Payoh when "people suddenly screamed" and she saw the accident victim under the train before MRT officers "ushered us down from the platform".

She said, "(her) lower limbs broke, can see (her) knee bone jutting out, head bleeding. Serious injury."

Described Zhen Qin (@lithoworqz): "Something happened at AMK station; train services to Marina Bay stopped, policemen everywhere, train only pulled into station halfway."

An SMRT spokesman said train services were not disrupted. Commuters however said there were delays of five to 10 minutes on the North-South Line.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-singapore-news-14.html

Asian Defense News: Afghanistan News ~ Deadly Afghanistan Koran-Burning Protests Continue....NSI News Source Info # 1763

Asian Defense News: Afghanistan News ~ Deadly Afghanistan Koran-Burning Protests Continue....NSI News Source Info # 1763
April 3, 2011: At least one person was killed and 16 others injured on Sunday as new protests erupted in the Afghan province ofKandahar against the burning of a Koran in the United States, local officials said.

A fresh wave of protests took place in Kandahar and the adjoining districts of Dand and Panjwayi -- the third day of violent demonstrations against the burning of a copy of Koran organised by a Florida pastor.

"They have brought 16 wounded suffering from stone injuries and bullet wounds. Two are police officers," Abdul Qayoum Pukhla, the provincial health director told AFP.

At least one person was killed, according to another government official who asked not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Asian Defense News: Japan News ~ Japan Nuclear Struggle Focuses On Cracked Reactor Pit....NSI News Source Info # 1762

Asian Defense News: Japan News ~ Japan Nuclear Struggle Focuses On Cracked Reactor Pit....NSI News Source Info # 1762

April 3, 2011: TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese engineers grappling on Sunday to control the world's worst nuclear crisis sinceChernobyl tried to seal a crack leaking radiation into the Pacific sea from a crippled reactor.

The drama at the six-reactor Fukushima Daiichi complex has dragged into a fourth week, unsettling the global nuclear industry and compounding Japan's suffering after an earthquake and tsunami that left about 27,500 people dead or missing.

Radiation has leaked into the sea, food, drinking water and air. It is hindering efforts to cool overheating fuel rods work at the plant and regain control of the damaged reactors.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-japan-news-japan.html

Saturday, April 2, 2011

DTN News - SPORTS NEWS: India Won The World Cup 2011....NSI News Source Info # 1761


DTN News - SPORTS NEWS: India Won The World Cup 2011....NSI News Source Info # 1761
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 2, 2011:

India beat Sri Lanka to win the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni guiding the run chase Saturday to deliver the great Sachin Tendulkar his first title in six attempts.

Dhoni scored an unbeaten 91, sharing a 109-run stand with Gautam Gambhir (97) and finishing with a giant six, as India chased down Sri Lanka's 274-6 to win by six wickets in front of an ecstatic crowd at Mumbai.

India became the first team to win batting second in a final since Sri Lanka beat Australia by eight wickets in 1996. The victors passed the 275 target with 10 balls to go.

There was no winning farewell to international cricket for Muttiah Muralitharan, the only survivor from Sri Lanka's '96 winning squad.

Tendulkar didn't get his 100th international century but earned a cherished Cup title and he was lifted onto the shoulders of his teammates for a victory lap.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/04/dtn-news-sports-news-india-won-world.html

Friday, April 1, 2011

Postcard from Carib


Some of you love them, a few of you hate them but either way it was a very long time since there was a bikini pic featured on this blog. Six long days ago, to be perfectly precise.

So with this simple postcard we would like to wish you all a very pleasant weekend, wherever you are in the world.

T&A

One night in St Lucia




We're glad that we have had the chance to revisit St Lucia at various occasions while waiting for deliveries etc as that island has much more of cultural entertainment and a somewhat warmer evening ambiance to boast with than Martinique. Martinique might be interesting for several other reasons but for getting in touch with the local culture, devouring in musical experiences and to reach the core of the identity of a state, St Lucia has shown to be much more fulfilling. Here's two short clips from one of those nights in St Lucia. Amazing drummer, that old man, isn't he? /T

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2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Official Theme Song Free Download:
ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2011 THEME SONG FREE DOWNLOAD

Thursday, March 31, 2011

DTN News - BATTLE FOR LIBYA: Libyan Rebels Near Brega....NSI News Source Info # 1760

DTN News - BATTLE FOR LIBYA: Libyan Rebels Near Brega....NSI News Source Info # 1760

Libyan rebels take position near the eastern town of Brega on March 31, 2011 as street battles raged between them and forces loyal to Moamer Kadhafi who suffered a major blow with the defection of his foreign minister. (Photo - Getty Images)

DTN News - PAKISTAN UNREST: NWFP Under Militants Attack....NSI News Source Info # 1759

DTN News - PAKISTAN UNREST: NWFP Under Militants Attack....NSI News Source Info # 1759

A policeman gestures in front of a shop damaged by a bomb explosion in Charsadda, in Pakistan's northwest March 31, 2011. A prominent Pakistani Islamist politician narrowly escaped an apparent assassination attempt on Thursday when the bomb exploded near his car in the the country's volatile northwest, killing at least 11 people, government officials and aides said. (Photo - Reuters Pictures)

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/

Answers to your questions


Dear readers,

I need to thank you all for your emails and comments you keep sending to us. We read everything very carefully and we value and truthfully appreciate that you're getting in touch. Unfortunately we have came to realize that there would be no time for anything else in life than responding to your emails if that is what we would have chosen to do and even though I would like to personally reply to each and everyone of you who take your precious time to write to us, it is just simply impossible. And instead of me feeling bad for not responding to the 247 unanswered emails we have in the inbox in this very moment, I would now like to take the chance to answer to some of the most frequently asked questions which we encounter in the daily emails and comments from you.

Many of you seem to enjoy the photos on this blog, thank you very much, and you want to know what equipment is used: I am photographing with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II and used are lenses such as: Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II, Canon EOS 70-200 mm f/2.8 L IS USM and a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. Occasionally I throw over the camera to Alex, how else would we get all those narcissistic bikini pictures of yours truly. Sometimes there is also a remote control from Canon and a tripod from Hama Star in use, that's when Alex is fed up with taking my photos and also when we're both featured in the images.

The 5D is also a great video camera and while we still haven't even started any serious video shootings, I will with time show you how amazing videos this camera produces. The old camera which is the one used for all photos featured in this blog before September 2010, is a more simpler Canon camera. The Canon EOS 450D (called Digital Rebel XSi in the US) is the one I would like to recommend to anyone who are in the thoughts of beginning to understand the difference between a compact digital and a digital SLR camera. To this one I used the standard lens which came with it and also sometimes a great macro lens, the Canon EF-S 60 mm f/2.8. This camera is still quite a lot in use, especially because it is much lighter to carry around with than the 5D and also because I love the macro lens mentioned for close ups.

More frequently asked questions: 

How are we able to stay in such good shape when living aboard a small boat and can we give some advice for others who wants to stay fit while cruising? Ok, this is a tricky one as I assume you might think there are some miracle advice, but I'm sorry there aren't. Alex is simply born the way he is and all his sporty young years have made him an athlete for ever. Lucky him, I say, myself I'm born as a woman and while not being 21 any longer, I need my weekly workout and also I need to somewhat regulate my chocolate, cheese and wine intake, if you know what I mean. Added to that I am, just like many other women out there, pending in weight like a yo-yo depending on how much water my body contains for the day and even though I might look very well trained and fit one day, I could equally swollen up like a balloon for the day after. Obviously I will only show myself in this blog when I have my skinnier days, so keep that in mind as well. Other than that, I have my own workout scheme adjusted to the life aboard a sailing boat and if you are really really nice I might give you some video instructions one day. I'm joking.

Then we have a few of you who wants to know where my bikinis are from and on that I can tell you that they're purchased from everything from Missoni and Mango to H&M, La Perla and Calzedonia and all are blended and used in a sweet melange. My favorite mix is the black La Perla bottom with the yellow Calzedonia top.

Many of you guys out there are also planning your own great escape from mundanity and you want our help and advice in areas regarding sponsors, cruising budget, planning of a journey, advice on how to break free from the normality and other things concerning a life change/cruising/financials etc, as well as Alex practical suggestions for gear, equipment etc and as soon as our new website is up and running (hopefully launched in next week) I promise that you will have our reply on some of those questions, and maybe even all of it with time, over there. 

And that would be all for now. Thank you again for your emails and comments, they mean a lot to us. Please keep them coming.

/Taru

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Still in transit

Who knew we would stay in Martinique for a whole month, not us, that's for sure. We were supposed to get a replacement unit sent to us for the device which mystically stopped functioning on the Atlantic ocean, but one whole month has now gone and still no new device in sight. Last information we received was that it had arrived in St Marteen, and that was for more than one week ago. Extremely slow service at KVH. Let's see if they can manage to get it solved this week.

During our waiting here we at least had the time to reorganize ourselves after the Atlantic crossing and it took its little time. There were all those stanchions that had to get polished, portholes that had to get cleaned and polished and all lines which had to get washed and scrubbed etc etc. All loose things in the boat are now in their right place again, in the boxes where they belong and everything that we have found out not to be necessary, like all those extra sails that took too much space, are thrown out and left to people who better need them. The hull is cleaned, the bathing platform's treated, all the food and cartons of cans and bottles are reorganized. All of the clothes and garments are washed and everything else is now back to it's shiny, comfortable appearance. Thank god for that, you should only have seen the disaster we managed to create in 3,5 weeks on the sea. Alex has also had the time to fix some fiberglass on our boat and also helped a couple of other boats with their fiberglass work (yes he's a pro in that as well) and in between the cleaning, washing and reorganizing I have kept myself busy creating a new website. A website which will be up in the next couple of days or so. So good and necessary things has definitely gotten done, but still, all this enforced waiting is driving us insane. We need to move on now!

Defense News: HMS Cumberland Ready For Embargo Operations In Libya....NSI News Source Info # 1758

Defense News: HMS Cumberland Ready For Embargo Operations In Libya....NSI News Source Info # 1758

March 30, 2011: HMS Cumberland is ready to move into the next phase of operations in Libya by enforcing the arms embargo under UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973.

The Royal Navy Type 22 frigate has been a key part of the UK's response to the crisis in Libya since the beginning of the troubles in February.

One way she is able to enforce the arms embargo is through her embarked Lynx helicopter which can search a wide area of the sea quickly to assess the activities of Libyan forces and search out any vessels which are in breach of the UN-sanctioned arms embargo on Libya.

The ship's Royal Marines and Royal Navy boarding parties have been honing their skills recently so they are ready to be deployed at minutes' notice if needed to conduct searches of suspect vessels stopped by the Type 22 frigate under the embargo.

The boarding teams can be deployed rapidly by sea boat or by fast-roping onto the deck of a suspect vessel from Cumberland's Lynx helicopter.

HMS Cumberland's Commanding Officer, Captain Steve Dainton, said:

"Cumberland is demonstrating her capability as a highly flexible asset, capable of enforcing the will of the international community. Over the last month, we have conducted three evacuation operations from Benghazi, conducted patrols off the coast and acted as an effective deterrent to Gaddafi's naval forces.


http://defensenews-updates.blogspot.com/2011/03/defense-news-hms-cumberland-ready-for.html

Defense News: US Likely To Help Taiwan Upgrade F-16s ~ Premier....NSI News Source Info # 1757

Defense News: US Likely To Help Taiwan Upgrade F-16s ~ Premier....NSI News Source Info # 1757
March 30, 2011: TAIPEI — Taiwan Premier Wu Den-yih confirmed Tuesday that the United States is likely to help the island upgrade its F-16 A/B fighters as it is reluctant to arm Taipei with more advanced jets.

Taiwan has been pressing for the more powerful F-16 C/Ds, saying it badly needs the weaponry as a bargaining chip against its former bitter rival China.

But the fate of a proposed arms deal remains uncertain, Wu said, amid speculation that it could jeopardise Washington's ties with Beijing.

"My understanding is that Washington does not say 'yes' or 'no'. The deal is still under Washington's evaluation," Wu said during a press conference in Taipei.

Wu said that "upgrading the F-16A/Bs is the more likely direction".

The US Congress in 1979 passed the Taiwan Relations Act requiring the United States to provide the island with defensive weapons.

A sale of F-16 C/Ds to Taiwan would be certain to ignite the anger of Beijing, which reacted furiously when the Barack Obama administration in January 2010 announced a 6.4-billion-dollar arms package for the self-governing island.

The package included Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters, and equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet, but no submarines or new fighter jets.

http://defensenews-updates.blogspot.com/2011/03/defense-news-us-likely-to-help-taiwan.html

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 29, 2011....NSI News Source Info # 1756

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 29, 2011....
NSI News Source Info # 1756
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 29, 2011: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued March 29, 2011 are undermentioned;


CONTRACTS

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

The Missile Defense Agency is awarding a cost-plus-incentive fee modification to Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Ariz., for contract N00024-07-C-6119, CLIN 0016, for $312,663,118. The modification is to manufacture 24 Standard Missile-3 Block IB missiles. The work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. The period of performance is March 2011 through June 2013. Fiscal 2011 research, development, test and evaluation funds will be used to incrementally fund the modification for $47,826,087. The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a modification to decrease contract N00024-07-C-6119, CLIN 0004, by $72,306,105 from $229,900,477, to a new total value of $157,594,372. The modification is to reduce the quantity of Standard Missile-3 Block IA missiles manufactured, from 24 to 18. The remaining work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. The performance period is from March 2011 through April 2012. The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting activity.

ARMY

The Engility Corp., Billerica, Mass., was awarded on March 24 an $84,181,310 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The award will provide for management, engineering, integration, logistical staff, and liaison support services for Program Executive Office Soldier. Work will be performed in Fort Lewis, Wash.; Eatontown, N.J.; Fort Knox, Ky.; and Fort Belvoir, Va., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91CRB-11-D-0074).

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-us-department-of-defense_29.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Libyan War Damages Russia's Economic Interests....NSI News Source Info # 1755


DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Libyan War Damages Russia's Economic Interests....NSI News Source Info # 1755
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 29, 2011: The events in Libya are impacting the economic interests of Russia. While Russian raw materials companies working in this country may still cherish the hope to participate in some projects, the loss of Rosoboronexport's contract with the Jamahiriya will amount to over $4 billion. In the event of the victory of the Western coalition the country's weapons market will be closed for Russia.

With regard to the companies working directly on the territory of Libya, there are three most active Russian companies - Tatneft, Gazprom and the Russian Railways (RZD). Stroytransgaz has an office in the country as well.

Tatneft has been operating in the country for 6 years. The company received a concession to develop an oil block in the Ghadames (Unit 82-4) and won the rights to three oil blocks in the Sirte basin and Ghadames. The Russian company is involved in the projects under the production sharing agreement with Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC). In 2009 alone it has invested $43 million in the projects.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-defense-news-libyan-war.html

DTN News - POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE CONFLICT NEWS: Iran To Punish Saudi Arabia Brutally....NSI News Source Info # 1754


DTN News - POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE CONFLICT NEWS: Iran To Punish Saudi Arabia Brutally....NSI News Source Info # 1754
(NSI News Source Info) TEHRAN, Iran - March 29, 2011: To suppress the revolution in Bahrain, the local king called on local troops from the neighboring Saudi Arabia. The British media that has its sources in the Bahraini royal family talked about such a possibility earlier. In particular, this was reported by the authoritative publication The Guardian.

Such a request was received by Riyadh on March 14, and he responded immediately. As stated earlier by the representatives of the ruling Saudi dynasty, they are ready to assist "the ruler and the people of the friendly country of Bahrain." Fortunately, it is allowed by the existing agreements on mutual support between the two countries, members of the Council on Cooperation in the Persian Gulf.

Yet, it is difficult to say who is considered the "people" by Saudi authorities since the anti-government rallies are attended not only by the representatives of the Shiite majority (70 percent of the population of Bahrain), but rather numerous representatives of the Left (including the Communists) from among the Sunnis.

The rallies in Bahrain have been ongoing for over a month. The Shiite majority actively opposes the oppression by the ruling Sunni minority, which includes Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, who is especially zealous in insisting on foreign intervention.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-possibility-of-future-conflict.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Probe into German-Greek Arms Deals Reveals Murky Side Of Defense Sales....NSI News Source Info # 1753

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Probe into German-Greek Arms Deals Reveals Murky Side Of Defense Sales....NSI News Source Info # 1753
(NSI News Source Info)

ATHENS, Greece,

-
March 29, 2011:
Despite being heavily in debt, Greece keeps spending on arms. A probe into its accounts has led to an investigation into submarine deals with Germany and alleged corruption in the grey areas of the EU's defense sector.

Greek financial investigators have ascertained that more than $140 million in bribes were paid by a German submarine maker to local politicians and officials to facilitate a lucrative defense contract.


The deal focused on the purchase of four submarines, a $1.5 billion controversial contract that had drawn heated political debate.

Sources told the Greek Kathimerini newspaper that "numerous bribes were paid before the contract was signed," alleging that some of the ways in which the final bill was inflated involved requests by the Greek navy and Defense Ministry for extra equipment on the submarines.

The first submarine, named Papanikolis, was commissioned for development by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel, Germany, with the remaining three scheduled for construction at Greece's Hellenic Shipyards, west of Athens.

Shortly after the Papanikolis was built in 2001 and launched three years later, Greek navy experts determined a host of technical problems with the T-214 diesel-electric submarine. The most severe: excessive rolling in bad weather conditions when the submarine surfaced for sea keeping in high seas.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-defense-news-probe-into-german.html

Monday, March 28, 2011

DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN NEWS: Multipurpose HELLFIRE II ‘Romeo’ Strikes Target, Completes Proof-Of-Principle Flight Tests....NSI # 1752

DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN NEWS: Multipurpose HELLFIRE II ‘Romeo’ Strikes Target, Completes Proof-Of-Principle Flight Tests....NSI News Source Info # 1752
(NSI News Source Info)

ORLANDO, FL, - March 28, 2011: The U.S. Army’s Joint Attack Munition Systems (JAMS) Project Office and Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] successfully fired a multipurpose AGM 114R HELLFIRE II “Romeo” missile with a live warhead and penetrated a brick-over-block target in its sixth proof-of-principle (POP) test.

The flight test, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., demonstrated the Romeo’s enhanced software capability and superior performance in a military-operations-in-urban-terrain scenario. The new Romeo’s multipurpose warhead design enables the missile, with a designator spot laser, to seek out and defeat hard, soft and enclosed targets with outstanding success. The initial fielding of the HELLFIRE II Romeo is scheduled for late 2012.

“The AGM-114R baseline design is now defined and allows us to go into system qualification,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mike Brown, HELLFIRE Systems product manager at JAMS. “The R model remains on cost and on schedule, and meets all performance objectives.”

Engineers ground-launched the single HELLFIRE II Romeo missile in a lock-on-after-launch mode, simulating the missile being fired from a rotary-wing platform. The short-range (2.5 kilometer) high-speed impact shot penetrated the brick-over-block target and successfully detonated with the specified fuze delay.

This was the final POP test for this next-generation precision missile. The Romeo’s advanced fuze technology and new warhead design performed flawlessly in test flights, proving reduced risk through system performance. Additionally, Lockheed Martin’s Joint-Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) incorporates the same warhead technology and fuze design that is present in the HELLFIRE II Romeo.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-lockheed-martin-news.html

Espresso in the making

You remember once we were talking about things we would miss on our tour around the world, I had quite some things on my list though that list has slowly decreased in size, while Alex's only concern was how to get a hold on a proper cup of coffee on the oceans where it is hard to use an electrical coffee/espresso machine. 

While not being a passionate coffee enthusiast myself (yet), I have still tried many varieties to make my man satisfied concerning his coffee needs. So several different moka pots and 5-6 different coffee brands were tested (Illy being the best so far), different types of preparations have been exercised and obviously we also got a proper electrical frother to get the right fluffy consistence on the milk and it was all OK in the end. He was kind of satisfied. But I could see it was just OK. Something was clearly missing. What we didn't know at this time was that there actually existed a stove top espresso machine specially developed for gas burners. So when Londinium Espresso contacted Alex with an offer of a Bacchi espresso machine from Trieste, Italy, he/we naturally got very interested.

When the espresso maker arrived for some day ago and we picked it up from its (beautiful) packaging we instantly got stunned by the extraordinary design of the machine. It is definitely a real piece of art and the sophisticated look of it puzzled well with our vision of how a proper galley should look. It was just like this was that last missing part for our kitchen. Solid, anodized aluminum is used and the machine has an old fashioned valve that whistles when coffee's ready. There are quite some more features and parts to describe the coffee maker fully but these are our first superficial impressions so far. Like with any coffee/moka/espresso machine, they reach their full capacity when used several times and when the piping is fully saturated with coffee flavor so let Alex get back with judgements on the actual coffee in a while and let's admire this beautiful piece of art until then. But it definitely looks like this elegant machine might be able to save us from the coffee related tensions occurred in the mornings. Let's see!