DTN News: 2010 UK Election ~ UK 'Wakes up To Hung Parliament'

DTN News: 2010 UK Election ~ UK 'Wakes up To Hung Parliament' Source: DTN News / BBC (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 7, 2010: British voters are used to seeing triumphant prime ministers on the steps of Downing Street after election day. This year things may be very different. Who will move into this famous address may not be obvious

Page last updated at 05:49 GMT, Friday, 7 May 2010 06:49 UK

RESULTS 326 to win Party Predicted seats SEATS CHANGE VOTE % Conservative 282 +85 36.4 Labour 227 -78 28.6 Liberal Democrat 48 -7 22.8 Prediction 583 of 650 seats declared Full results UK 'wakes up to hung Parliament' 2 / 8 David Cameron says Labour "has lost its mandate to govern" as the Conservatives look set to be the biggest party in a hung parliament.

The Conservatives are set to make big gains, but the exit poll suggests they may not be sufficiently large to give David Cameron an overall majority. Labour has lost many seats, but not yet its prime minister. As the incumbent at Number 10, it is down to Gordon Brown to decide whether he can do a deal to stay in power, or whether he should resign. The Liberal Democrats seem set for disappointment. A party that had the highest hopes after the TV debates may have to make do with a middling performance. The party leaders' statements at their counts were inconclusive. David Cameron said Labour had lost its mandate to govern. Gordon Brown said it was his duty to play a part in Britain having a strong, stable government. They - like the rest of us - do not know what will happen next. Each party has had its triumphs and disappointments. The Liberal Democrats lost Montgomeryshire and one of their most colourful figures, Lembit Opik, with a 13% swing to the Tories, and Evan Harris in Oxford West. But the party gained Eastbourne from the Tories. The Conservatives won many seats, but failed to eject Labour candidates they had hoped to defeat like Sadiq Khan in Tooting and Gisela Stuart in Birmingham Edgbaston. Labour saw two former home secretaries defeated in Jacqui Smith and Charles Clarke, but the schools secretary Ed Balls and former communities secretary Hazel Blears escaped with their seats. In some cases, voters appeared to be making decisions on local rather than national issues. In Redcar, where the steelworks have been mothballed, the Labour MP Vera Baird was ejected with a huge swing to the Liberal Democrats. Others missed out on their chance to have a say. At polling stations across the country, queues of people were still standing outside when the doors closed. It led to some angry scenes, and may yet result in legal challenges from disappointed candidates. The party leaders now have to make sense of a confusing situation. If it results in a Conservative overall majority, things will be simple. If it does not, Gordon Brown may try to do a deal with the Lib Dems. If he fails or does not attempt that, David Cameron will have to decide whether to rely on a loose agreement with minor parties, to encourage the Liberal Democrats to support a Tory Queens Speech and Budget, or try to entice Nick Clegg with a place in a formal coalition. Should the general election of 2010 end in that sort of deal making, the true outcome could be some time coming.

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated May 6, 2010

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated May 6, 2010 Source: U.S. DoD issued May 6, 2010 (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - May 6, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued May 6, 2010 are undermentioned; CONTRACTS NAVY ~United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded an advance acquisition contract with an estimated value of $138,800,000 for long lead components, parts and materials associated with the Lot V low rate initial production of 22 F135 conventional take off and landing propulsion systems for the Air Force; 13 short take-off and vertical landing propulsion systems for the Marine Corps; and 7 carrier variant propulsion systems for the Navy. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Conn. (70 percent); Bristol, United Kingdom (19 percent); and Indianapolis, Ind. (11 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force ($51,300,000; 37 percent); Marine Corps ($65,600,000; 47 percent); and Navy ($21,900,000; 16 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-10-C-0005). ~Clark/Balfour Beatty, JV, Bethesda, Md., is being awarded a $49,595,866 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of main operating rooms in Building 9 at National Naval Medical Center Bethesda. The work to be performed provides for repair, upgrade, and reconfiguration of 17 existing operating rooms. The project also includes the configuration and renovation of adjacent supporting spaces and systems including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure. Work will be performed in Bethesda, Md., and is expected to be completed by May 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was procured as a sole-source in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, “only one responsible source.” The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N40080-10-C-4405). ~Sword & Shield Enterprise Security, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn., is being awarded a ceiling price $31,800,000 firm-fixed-priced, blanket purchase agreement for production and logistic support of the AN/TRC-170A (V)3/(V)5 Troposcatter antenna system replacement. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla., and is expected to be completed within three and one-half years after award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via NASA’s Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement vehicle. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-10-A-7044). ~Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., McLean, Va., is being awarded a $23,517,593 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-09-C-0016) to provide for additional technical and engineering services for communications-electronics advanced technology systems supporting the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Special Communications Requirements Division. The estimated level of effort for this modification is 336,000 man-hours. Work will be performed in Lexington Park, Md. (70 percent), and St. Inigoes, Md. (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity. ~General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz., is being awarded a $10,025,760 delivery order #0009 under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (M67854-06-D-5079) for integrated trailer-environmental control unit generators (ITEGs). The ITEG shall provide electrical power and environmental conditioning to multiple-type users in all anticipated environments. Its principal means of transport will be towed behind a tactical vehicle. Work will be performed in Scottsdale, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by May 6, 2011. Contract funds will not expire by the end of the current fiscal year. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-06-D-5079). ~ViaSat, Carlsbad, Calif., is being awarded a $6,051,119 firm-fixed-price delivery order #0001 under previously awarded contract (N00039-10-D-0032) for multifunctional information distribution system-low volume terminals (MIDS-LVTs). The MIDS-LVT provides secure, high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital data, and voice communications capability for Navy, Air Force, and Army platforms. Contract funds in the amount of $428,506 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, Calif. (30 percent), and various other sites worldwide (70 percent). Work is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2011. This contract was competitively procured via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems E-commerce Web site, with an unlimited number of proposals solicited and two offers received. The synopsis was released via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity. ~Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., is being awarded a $5,186,360 fixed-price delivery order #0073 under previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-06-D-5028) to purchase 85 armor kits to include Engineering Change Proposals 4, 5, and 6, for the logistic vehicle system replacement production cargo vehicles. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., and is expected to be complete by May 31, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE ~Universal Technology Corp., Dayton, Ohio, was awarded a $49,000,000 contract which will provide solutions for broadly defined military needs and make the transition into the design and development phase with a focus on improving or developing new and creative non-destructive evaluation health management techniques based upon applied research and advanced development technology. At this time, $701,000 has been obligated. Det 1 AFRL/PKMM, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-10-D-5210). ARMY ~Force Protection Industries, Inc., Ladson, S.C., was awarded on May 4 a $32,934,778 firm-fixed-price contract for Buffalo mine protected clearance vehicles, data items, field support representative, and technical manuals. Work is to be performed in Ladson, S.C., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 1, 2012. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-C-0028). ~Tetra Tech EC, Inc., Metairie, La., was awarded on April 30 a $28,945,972 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of Westbank and vicinity, New Orleans, Louisiana, hurricane storm damage risk reduction system wbv-74 western tie-in closure structure, St. Charles Parish, La. Work is to be performed in St. Charles Parish, La., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 10, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with three bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hurricane Protection Office, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-10-C-0076). ~Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Hurst, Texas, was awarded on April 30 a $20,720,482 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of two, with an option for one, standard commercially configured Bell Helicopter 412 EP aircraft with optional equipment requirements and complementary pilot and maintainer training. Work is to be performed in Quebec, Canada (88 percent), and Piney Flats, Tenn. (8 percent), with an estimated completion date of Oct. 1, 2012. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, CCAM-RD-F, Redstone, Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-10-C-0080). ~Hellfire Systems, LLC, Orlando, Fla., was awarded on April 30 a $15,839,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the transition of the new AGM-114R Hellfire II Romeo missile into the current Hellfire II missile production line. Work is to be performed in Orlando, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2013. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, AMCOM Contracting Center, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-08-C-0361). ~General Atomics Aeronautical System, Poway, Calif., was awarded on April 30 a $15,215,147 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the exercise option for contract W58RGZ-09-C-0151 in support of the extended range/multi-purpose system production readiness test asset. Work is to be performed in Poway, Calif., with an estimated completion date of April 09, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Commands, CCAM-AR-A, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-09-C-0151). ~QinetiQ North America, Waltham, Mass., was awarded on May 3 a $15,181,067 firm-fixed-price contract for Talon robotic systems and sustainment parts. Work is to be performed in Waltham, Mass., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2010. One bid was solicited with one bid received. TACOM Contracting Center, Warren CCTA-AHL-D, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-10-C-0320). ~CUH2A/Smith Carter/Hemisphere, JV, Lawrenceville, N.J., was awarded on May 4 a $14,471,840 firm-fixed-price contract for construction, administration support services for the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) replacement facility at Fort Detrick, Md. The Institute plays a key role as the only laboratory equipped to safely study high hazardous infectious agent requiring maximum containment at biosafety level. This project will design the replacement, expansion, and renovation of the existing USAMRIID facilities, which will include approximately 686,787 gross square feet of new biomedical research and vivarium facilities. Work is to be performed in Fort Detrick, Md., with an estimated completion date of May 30, 2014. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with six bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity (W912DR-06-C-0009). ~Kipper Tool Co., Gainesville, Ga., was awarded on May 3 a $13,402,000 firm-fixed-price contract for 64 standard automotive tools sets. This is a current contract to place a delivery order for an additional 64. Work is to be performed in Gainesville, Ga., with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. TACOM Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., is the contracting activity (DAAE20-03-D-0085). ~The Whiting Turner Contracting Co., Towson, Md., was awarded on May 4 a $13,332,934 firm-fixed-price contract for the contracting of Heat Engine Systems Altitude Test Facility, Army Research Laboratory. Work is to be performed in Aberdeen, Md., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2011. One-hundred-and-eight bids were solicited with four bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity (W912DR-10-C-0078). ~RQ Construction, Inc., Carlsbad, Calif., was awarded on May 3 a $12,544,000 firm-fixed-price contract for fiscal 2010 to design and construct a new 51,150 square foo 144-person dormitory. Work is to be performed in Pima County, Ariz., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 25, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with nine bids received. U.S Army Engineer District, Los Angeles, Calif., is the contracting activity (W912PL-10-C-0027). ~Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., LLC, Oak Brook, Ill., was awarded on April 30 a $10,248,000 firm-fixed-price contract for 2010 north coast dredging, including the mouth of the Columbia River. Work is to be performed along the Columbia River in Washington State and Oregon, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 1, 2010. Two bids were solicited with two bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, Portland, Ore., is the contracting activity (W9127N-10-C-0026). ~H-S, JV, Atlanta, Ga., was awarded on April 30 a $9,630,000 firm-fixed-price contract to construct a 1300-soldier enlisted personnel dining facility to include supporting site work and surrounding area. The contractor will: relocate utilities currently in the proposed building footprints as necessary to maintain continuity of services; design and construct supporting facility for the new building and parking to include electrical, water sewer, and natural gas services not handled by privatized utility company; and design and construct security lighting, exterior communications, fire protection, storm sewer system, detention structure, roads and parking lots to include striping, curbs, and gutters. The work is to include site preparation, erosion control, grassing, landscaping, fencing and signage. Work is to be performed in Fort Bragg, N.C., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 1, 2011. Three bids solicited with three bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W92236-10-D-0011).

DTN News: 2010 UK Election ~ Updates

DTN News: 2010 UK Election ~ Updates Source: DTN News / BBC (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 6, 2010: Different sets of data suggest different outcomes in this general election, but none of them are very cheering for the Labour party.

RESULTS

326 to win

Party	Predicted seats	SEATS	CHANGE	VOTE %
	Conservative	206	+53	36.6
	Labour	153	-47	27.4
	Liberal Democrat	30	-5	22.3

• Prediction
• 415 of 650 seats declared
• Full results

Conservatives head for big gains

1 / 9

Exit polls suggest the Conservatives will fall 21 short of a majority, amid anger as queuing voters are turned away from polling stations.

The BBC's exit poll indicates the Conservatives will win 305 seats, giving them the status of the largest party in the House of Commons but not an overall majority. That would leave David Cameron relying on the support of other parties to govern. The Conservatives, though, will be cheered by a number of results - not least their first gain of the night in Kingswood - which show a swing from Labour to the Tories of 9%. If this was reflected across the country, David Cameron would have more than the 326 seats he needs to outvote every other party and govern on his own. There is more to this, though, than a simple dash to the finish line. If the Conservatives secure more than 300 votes they will probably be able to get most of their

business done in the Commons by relying on the support - or abstentions - of smaller parties. The exit poll held bad news for the Liberal Democrats - suggesting they would lose a seat. Its forecasts have been dismissed by some senior party figures who remain confident Nick Clegg's high profile and opinion poll results will be turned into real success. Brown deal hint The Lib Dems may yet be central to the story of the night.

If there is no overall majority, the Conservatives will only get a chance to try to form a government once Gordon Brown has resigned. Labour's Lord Mandelson told the BBC: "If it's a hung parliament it's not the party with the largest number of seats that has first go, it's the sitting government." In other words, if a hung parliament results then Gordon Brown can try to do a deal with the Lib Dems to keep him in Number 10. Many will take that statement of constitutional fact as a hint the Labour leader will attempt just that. If he does he will face fury from the Conservatives, and Nick Clegg will have to make some very important decisions. For many the queues outside polling stations are the feature of this election that will stick in the memory. It is clear now voters at locations across the country have arrived to have their say in this election and been turned away. The Electoral Commission will review what has happened, but it has also said the confusion could result in legal challenges. If candidates or parties contest the outcomes of individual counts, a question mark could settle over the future of a number of newly elected MPs.

DTN News: One Pirate Dead, 10 Captured In Russia Tanker Rescue

DTN News: One Pirate Dead, 10 Captured In Russia Tanker Rescue Source: DTN News / Reuters (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - May 6, 2010: One Somali pirate was killed and 10 captured in an armed rescue mission by a Russian warship to free a Russian-owned oil tanker hijacked off the coast of Yemen, state-run RIA news agency said on Thursday.Russian sailors from the anti-ship cruiser Marshal Shaposhnikov have released a Russian tanker hijacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, a high-ranking official from the maritime coalition forces said on Thursday. Citing an unnamed Russian navy official, RIA said the Russian warship returned fire after the pirates started shooting, resulting in "the death of one of the pirates". A Russian defence ministry official said earlier on Thursday all 23 crew on board the China-bound MV Moscow University tanker, which was seized on Wednesday with $52 million worth of crude oil, were alive and well following the rescue.

(Reporting by Amie Ferris-Rotman; Editing by Louise Ireland)

DTN News: China Eager For Russian Air Technology

DTN News: China Eager For Russian Air Technology Source: DTN News / By Reuben F. Johnson SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - May 6, 2010: Recent activity in Russia by Chinese aircraft-engine-industry employees and intelligence officers highlights Beijing's continuing dependence on Russian jet-engine technology. A large group of Chinese collectors were seen at the recent biennial Russian Aeroengines trade show in Moscow. The aircraft-engine-technology trade show this year had a smaller turnout than in previous years following Moscow's consolidation of almost all of the aviation-engine design and production facilities into one large, state-mandated firm. "By far the largest delegation from any country was a group of about 30 Chinese specialists who had all obviously come to this show with specific assignments for targeted collection of technical data on Russian jet-propulsion systems," said a Russian aerospace-industry analyst who spoke to The Washington Times. "They broke up into groups of two or three persons each and then systematically launched out at the displays of jet-engine hardware or models that they were tasked to learn all they could about." China's jet-fighter program has advanced in recent years as part of Beijing's major military buildup, with recent fielding of a new indigenous jet and development of a more advanced fighter announced in November. Aerospace and military trade shows often are used by specialists from foreign industry and intelligence services to gather data on new design concepts and technologies from Russian industry, the analyst said. "But this 'field trip' that these Chinese specialists were on was just over the top. For one, it was too many people — like ants on the march," the analyst said. The analyst noted that at this year's trade show, the Chinese were especially aggressive. "It was all too obvious that they had been well-briefed on what their targets were for collecting information." China's active partnership with Russia in defense technology began in the early 1990s with the purchase of an initial batch of Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft, at the time Russia's most advanced warplane. Later orders for Su-27s and eventually an agreement to produce the jet in China under license at the Shenyang Aircraft Works (SAC), along with purchases of a more advanced model, the Su-30MKK, followed throughout the next decade. Since the 1990s, Russian defense industrial know-how has been turned over to the Chinese through such trade, creating a renaissance within China's defense sector and resulting in the production of what are viewed widely as world-class weapon systems. But production of current-day jet engines that are reliable and operate at acceptable levels of military efficiency still eludes most of China's aerospace sector. Two of the newest fighter aircraft developed and produced at the Chengdu Aerospace Complex (CAC) in Sichuan province — the FC-1 and the J-10 — are both powered with Russian-built engines. The engines are manufactured in Moscow and St. Petersburg in special configurations for Chinese aircraft and then delivered to CAC as finished products, so there is minimal technology transfer to Chinese industry with these engines. The J-10 is based on Israel's canceled Lavi fighter-aircraft design, which included U.S. technology. The J-10 recently was made the new aircraft for China's Bai-Yi demonstration squadron — the equivalent of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. China's propulsion technology is one of the few industrial sectors where Beijing has been unable to match the production skills of the Russians, mainly because of the difficult demands of aircraft-engine manufacturing. In addition to jet-fighter engines, China also is working on turbofan engines for its growing arsenal of cruise missiles. For example, in October, China unveiled its first long-range land-attack cruise missile, the DH-10. The weapons are part of what the Pentagon calls "area-denial" weapons that would be used to attack U.S. aircraft carriers that likely would be sent to waters near Taiwan in any future conflict over the island. The military goal appears to be among the highest priorities for Chinese weapon designers. "There were so many Chinese huddled around the mock-up of the Saturn TRDD-50 [cruise missile] engine at this show it reminded me of bees buzzing around honey," said one of the Russian participants in the show who spoke to The Times.

DTN News: New Elbit Hermes UAS selected By Israel

DTN News: New Elbit Hermes UAS selected By Israel Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) HAIFA, Israel,- May 6, 2010: The Israeli Defense Ministry selected Elbit Systems to deliver its unmanned aircraft system variants to strengthen the Israeli military's UAS fleet. Elbit Systems has recently added the Hermes 900 to its growing UAV family. With its 15 m wingspan and 970 kg max takeoff weight, the Hermes 900 is a natural extension of the Hermes 450 tactical UAV systems with full compatibility in missions and support infrastructure. While offering all Hermes UAV family capabilities (Hermes 180, Hermes 450 and Hermes 1500), it features larger multi-payload configurations, higher flight altitude and extended flight time. The Hermes 900 is an all weather UAV system. Its IATOL (Internal Auto Takeoff and Landing) system enables auto-landing even in alternate non-instrumented runways. Like the Hermes 450, internationally renowned for its unmatched safety record and reliability, the Hermes 900 features full redundancy and fault tolerant avionics and electronics architecture. Its fully-certified Rotax engine is safe and quiet. The new UAV is well-equipped with advanced features including built-in autonomous emergency procedures, ATC Air Traffic Control radio, Radio relay, and IFF transponder. With larger payload capacity (300Kg) and longer endurance ,the Hermes 900 is controlled by Elbit Systems UGCS Universal Ground Control Station which can control two UAVs at any given time from a single station while a single operator operates the AV Air Vehicle and payloads for each UAV. The new Hermes delivers the highest quality of performance for the lowest life cycle cost; a distinction based predominantly on its lowest number of operators and maintenance crew requirements. The Hermes 900 system supports numerous missions and specialized applications such as Electro-optics, IR Imaging Laser range finder and Laser designation as well as SAR/GMTI, COMINT DF , ELINT an Electronic Warfare. The system maintains secured redundant Line Of Sight (LOS) Data link as well as Redundant Satellite communication (BLOS) Beyond Line of Sight. Israeli defense company Elbit announced it will provide its Hermes 900 and Hermes 450 UAS variants for deployment by the Israeli military in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations supporting counter-terrorism programs. The $50 million contract expands the fleet of Hermes 450 with the Israeli military and introduces Elbit's new Hermes 900 UAS, which is based on the company's universal command-and-control ground station. "By introducing the Hermes 900 into our growing UAS portfolio, we continue to provide the Israeli military with effective solutions for its varying operational needs," Joseph Ackerman, Elbit Systems president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. In addition to the Hermes family of UAS technologies the Israeli military also operates Elbit's Skylark I-LE, a miniature UAS.