Australia plans to develop missile system

Kongsberg-designed NASAMS defense system is to be used as the basis for an Australian air defense project. Photo courtesy of Kongsberg

Australia intends to develop a ground-based missile capability using the Kongsberg-designed National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System.

The NASAMS-based solution for the Australian Army will come through a single supplier limited tender process to Raytheon Australia, which will be the prime systems integrator. Kongsberg, which manufactures NASAMS along with Raytheon, will be a major subcontractor.

"We are pleased to see that NASAMS is recognized as the preferred ground-based air defense capability solution for the Australian Army and we are looking forward to the process leading to a contract," said Eirik Lie, president of Kongsberg Defense Systems.

The Australian NASAMS will feature locally made components and be mounted on Hawkei vehicles.

"A modern and integrated ground-based air defense system is needed to protect our deployed forces from increasingly sophisticated air threats, both globally and within our region," said Australia Minister for Defense Marise Payne.

"Australia's current short-range capability is 30 years old and due to be retired early next decade. The replacement system will provide improved protection for our deployed service men and women."

Australia's Department of Defense said Raytheon will conduct workshops across the country to give them the opportunity to be part of the project's supply chain.

Russia to upgrade Iskander-M missile

Russian armed forces will receive an enhanced version of the Iskander-M tactical missile by 2020, Rostec officials say. Photo courtesy of the Russian Ministry of Defense

 Russia's state-owned Rostec corporation announced plans to upgrade the country's Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile systems on Tuesday.

Speaking with the TASS news agency, Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov said his company aims to deliver an improved tactical missile to the Kremlin by 2020.

"In accordance with the adopted strategy of the cluster Armaments within ten years we are going to upgrade the tactical missile systems," he said. "After 2020 an upgraded version of the Iskander system will be presented."

Russian defense officials went on to note the Machine-Building Design Bureau KBM, which is responsible for developing the Iskander-M and various other smart weapon systems, turned 75 on the day of Chemezov's interview.

KBM is Russia's only designer of the Iskander system. It also develops shoulder-launched anti-aircraft platforms as well as anti-tank weapons.

The Iskander-M is a tactical ballistic missile system designed to conduct strikes on small, high-value land targets. The system is capable of hitting targets roughly 173 miles away from its launch site. It's effective range has been limited in accordance to the Missile Technology Control Regime.

Lockheed Martin gets $372 million contract mod for F-35 work

Lockheed Martin has been contracted to address several deficiencies for F-35 planes operated by the U.S. and its foreign military customers. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo

Lockheed Martin received a $372 million contact modification from the U.S. Navy to address several issues with the F-35 Lightning II.

The contract facilitates deficiency corrections for U.S. operators as well as the country's foreign military customers. The U.S. Department of Defense did not specify which capabilities would be included.

The work will be performed in various locations in Texas, California, New Hampshire, Japan and Britain, and is expected to be complete by March 2020.

Lockheed Martin received $105 million in funding at the time of the contract modification award. The project will be managed by the Naval Air Systems Command.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th-generation multirole fighter designed to replace several legacy platforms operated by the U.S. Armed Forces and its allies, such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet and the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

In addition to the United States, the jet is being procured by Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Turkey.

Dozens dead in Palm Sunday bombings in Egypt

Egyptian security personnel investigate the scene of a bomb explosion inside a Coptic church in Tanta, 55 miles north of Cairo, on Sunday as church officials watch. At least 31 people died in Egypt after explosions targeted two Coptic churches -- in Tanta and Alexandria -- as Christians celebrated Palm Sunday, state media outlets reported. Photo by Khaled Elfiqi/EPA

 At least 31 people died in Egypt after explosions targeted two Coptic churches as Christians celebrated Palm Sunday, state media outlets reported.

A bomb hidden underneath a seat in the main prayer hall exploded at the Saint George Coptic church in the northern Egyptian city of Tanta and killed at least 25 people and injured at least 60 others, Egypt's state-run Nile reported.

In the city of Alexandria, at least six people died and 33 others were wounded in a suicide bomb attack targeting the Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, where the head of Egypt's Coptic Church Pope Tawadros II was during a ceremony, Egypt's state-run al-Masriya TV reported. The Coptic leader was not harmed, officials said.

Egypt's security forces were previously put on alert in anticipation for attacks. The Islamic State has taken responsibility for the attacks on the Coptic churches. In February, the Islamic State warned of more attacks against Copts.

"Terrorism hits Egypt again, this time on Palm Sunday. Another obnoxious but failed attempt against all Egyptians," Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement. "As we grieve the tragic and heartbreaking loss of Egyptian lives, it is still a failed attempt against our unity."

Stockholm attack suspect sympathetic to Islamic State, police say

The suspect in the truck attack that killed four people in Stockholm, Sweden's capital, was sympathetic to extremist groups, including the Islamic State, police said Sunday.

When authorities arrested an unidentified 39-year-old man from the central Asian nation of Uzbekistan on Friday, he was known to Swedish intelligence services.

"We know he has shown sympathies to extreme groups, among them ISIS. We won't comment any further on that," Swedish police spokesman Jonas Hysing said at a news conference, using an acronym for the Islamic State.

In 2014, the suspect had applied for residency but it was rejected in December last year, another police spokesman, Jan Evensson, told reporters. In February his case was handed to police to deport him after he had failed to leave the country.

The suspect was seen only as a "marginal character," Sweden's National Police Commissioner Dan Eliasson told reporters.

Another person was arrested as "suspected of terror crimes through murder," said Karin Rosander, spokeswoman for Sweden's prosecutors office.

"He is suspected on reasonable grounds, which is the lower degree of suspicion. The other individual is suspected with probable cause, the higher degree of suspicion," she said.

On Friday, a beer truck plowed into a department store in Stockholm.

Killed in the attack were two Swedes, one Brit and one Belgian. Fifteen people were injured, four of them critically, Stockholm County Council said.

The truck was stolen minutes before the attack during delivery at a restaurant.

A bag of undetonated explosives was found inside the truck, Sweden's public broadcaster SVT reported.

The suspect was detained Friday in Marsta, about 25 miles north of Stockholm near the city's main international airport.

On Sunday, several thousand people gathered at Stockholm's Sergel Square to remember the victims.

Attendees laid flowers on a large Swedish flag placed down the square's steps.

"Sweden is united," Stockholm resident Olsa Ekermann said to CNN. "This will change things though. People are more alert, and earlier I heard an ambulance, and everyone looked afraid like something was happening."

Scholarships: The Belt and Road Master Degree Program in Intellectual Property Student

Admissions

The Belt and Road Master Degree Program in Intellectual Property Student Recruitment Brochure

2017-03-08

“Belt and Road” Master Program of Intellectual Property (B&R MIP)

Program Introduction:

Adhering to the spirit of the Silk Road “Peaceful cooperation, openness and tolerance, mutual learning and mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win situation”, the Belt and Road Master Degree Program in Intellectual Property (hereinafter: B&R MIP) is aimed to strengthen the “The Belt and Road” countries’ knowledge of the Chinese system of intellectual property rights and mutual communications in the aspects of creation, practice, protection and management, as well as to promote the coordination of laws and policies on intellectual property rights among countries thereof. It will contribute to regional cooperation in greater range, higher and deeper level and establish a solid foundation for making a framework in regional intellectual property and innovation cooperation which is open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all. The Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and SIPO agree to entrust Tongji University to implement the B&R MIP Program since 2017.

The program is aimed to provide an international and innovative perspective for students to understanding the creation, practice, protection and service assurance of Intellectual Property. Students should grasp the knowledge of the concept of intellectual property rights, relevant laws, management, practical system and related content of International Intellectual Property Protection. Internationalization, practicality and interdiscipline are the three key features of the program.

Duration of Study: 2.5 years (among which the course duration is 1 year in China and the rest time is for practical training, thesis writing and online defense in China or student’s country. Students who complete the courses will obtained the Certificate of Courses by the State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic of China and Tongji University; students who complete all the training program will be obtained the Master Degree in Law (LLM) and Diploma of Tongji University; the excellent students can apply for the graduation in advance, with 2 years of study at minimum.)

Certificates:

	In China	In China or student’s   country
Duration	1 Year: -Courses	2 Years -Thesis writing and defense -Internship
Requirement	-Complete all the courses	-Complete the thesis defense -Published more than 1 paper (academic   journals or academic conference)
Graduation Certificate	√the Course Certificate by the SIPO and   Tongji University	√Master Degree in Law (LLM) of Tongji   University √Diploma of Tongji University

Scholarship:

Chinese Government IPR Scholarship Program (25 Persons/Year)

Note: Tuition, living expenses, accommodation, accidental injury and hospital medical insurance will be paid by the scholarship.

Admission Requirements:

1. Above 18 years old, non-Chinese citizen in good health

2. Bachelor Degree, Master Degree obtained in the “One Belt One Road” countries and accredited by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (no major limited)

3. Minimum 1 year work experience in Intellectual Property

4. English language proficiency: TOFEL, IELTS or other proof of English proficiency

Note: Since 2010, those who immigrated to other countries from the Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan and applying to study in Tongji University as international students, should satisfy the following additional requirements: the applicants must hold valid passport or other relevant international recognized documents for at least 4 years; meanwhile, in the latest 4 years (by each April 30th of the year of University registration), the applicants must live 2 years (Living overseas for 9 months can be converted to 1 year, which is subject to the exit-entry stamp on visa.).

Application Materials:

1. Application Form for International Students of Tongji University with the applicant’s signature.

2. A photocopy of passport (pages with photo).

3. A photocopy of the bachelor/master degree certificate and diploma. If the certificate is not in Chinese or English, the original notarized translated versions must be submitted.

Note: The certificate should be notarized by local Chinse Embassy of local Chinse Consulate (or foreign embassies or consulates in China).

4. Certificate of expected graduation issued by the university (for applicants who will be graduating from university before July only). The university diploma is required to be verified and notarized documents must be submitted at the registration.

5. Original or notarized academic transcripts (not a copy). If the academic transcripts are not in Chinese or English, the original notarized translated document must be submitted.

Note: The transcript should be notarized by local Chinese Embassy or local Chinese Consulates (or foreign embassies or consulates in China)

6. Certification of English Proficiency

7. Recommendation letters from two professors of associate professors, in Chinese or English (signature and contact information are necessary).

8. Personal statement in English, around 1000 words for master candidates, including the study and work experience, academic research achievement, planned research proposal should be included and individual development objective after graduation.

9. Self-introduction video material for admission (ONLY required for selected applicants. Tongji University will inform these applicants of specific information soon after application period.)

10. Catalogue and abstract of published papers, and other documents that can prove the academic ability.

Note: In addition to the above application materials, the International Student Office of Tongji University may require applicant to provide supplementary materials, depending on the circumstances. Application documents will not be returned.

Expenses:

Application fee: 410RMB

Note: Application fee should be paid when applying the fee is non-refundable.

URL for the application procedure (English version):

http://sicip.tongji.edu.cn/sicipen/cf/71/c5075a53105/page.htm

Contact: Coordinator: Prof.Yu Xinmiao, Email: yuxm@tongji.edu.cn; Contact person: marina Kong, Email: marina_kong@tongji.edu.cn; Tel: 0086-21-65983113 Fax: No;

Address: Room 1001, Zonghe Building, No.1239, Siping Road, Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property, Tongji University (SICIP), Shanghai 200092