The Republic of Mali, a landlocked nation in Western Africa, is formerly known as French Sudan. Its capital city is Bamako and its official language is French.

In the late 1800s, Mali fell under French control, becoming part of French Sudan. On April 4, 1959, French Sudan was joined with Senegal to form the Mali Federation, which became fully independent within the French Community on June 20, 1960. The federation collapsed after 2 months when Senegal seceded. On September 22, 1960, French Sudan proclaimed itself the Republic of Mali and withdrew from the French Community.

Nowadays, Mali is considered to be one of the poorest nations in the world. Cotton is the country’s largest crop export, and 80% of its exports are gold, livestock and agriculture. Mali produces rice, millet, corn, vegetables, tobacco, tree crops, and soon, probably oil as well. The country is also quite famous for music; most well known African musicians come from Mali such as Ali Farka Touré, the Tuareg band, Tinariwen, and several Afro-pop artists such as Salif Keita, the duo Amadou et Mariam, Oumou Sangare, and Habib Koité.

This year, Mali is celebrating its 48th Anniversary of Independence.

The U.S. Navy currently has 282 deployable ships and is close to achieving its aim of having a fleet of 313 ships. The lingering question on the minds of shipbuilders is: Will the service acquire more? Lockheed Martin Corporation has sent its first Littoral combat ship to the Navy with an estimated price tag of $550 million and the ability to move speedily in coastal waters to rescue the Marines.

In April, the Navy asked for bids from both Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics Corp. to build three more ships. The service has envisioned awarding a contract for two ships to the winning bidder, while the other company would build the third. A decision on the contract was expected by August, but it has yet to be awarded.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Victor Chen stated that the service is still in the process of making a decision on the next LCS ships, and would not comment any further.

The Navy initially awarded contracts for four Littoral combat ships, two each to General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin, the largest U.S. defense contractor. But last year, the service canceled contracts for the second ships with both companies after revised Navy requirements and material delays from subcontractors led to significant cost overruns.

“Despite our challenges, the Navy and industry have continued to press on to build and deliver the first ship of a unique class,” Capt. James Murdoch, the Navy’s LCS program manager, announced.

Navy crews will currently move aboard the first LCS and prepare the vessel to depart Marinette Marine, Wisconsin, for Milwaukee, the location of the ship’s November 8 commissioning. Prior to delivery, the ship underwent Navy inspections and vigorous testing to authorize its capability.

General Dynamics’ ship is being built in a shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, and is scheduled to be christened next month. No delivery date has been announced.

This past September 11 saw a first in aviation history – a C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from McChord Air Force Base, Washington, performed the first known after-dark landing in Antarctica using night vision goggles. Combined with the use of reflective cones, the aircrew was able to verify the C-17’s capability to access McMurdo Station and successfully land in complete darkness.

The mission was flown as part of Operation Deep Freeze, which is commanded by US Pacific Command’s Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica. The job of JTF SFA is to provide air and sealift support to the National Science Foundation and US Antarctic Program.

Antarctica does not receive any sunlight for several months of the year, usually from late March to mid-August. The night vision goggle concept helps aircrews to safely and easily get into Earth’s southernmost continent regardless of the time of the year.

There are many reasons the National Science Foundation may need strategic airlift during winter months, said Maj. Corey Simmons, an evaluator pilot with McChord’s 62nd Operations Support Squadron and one of the pilots on the mission.

“There could be a contingency operation where someone is sick or hurt down here during the winter-over months, when they have complete darkness for four and a half months,” he said. “We have the capability now to get them out.”

Lt. Col. Jim McGann, commander of the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and the night vision goggle concept’s chief architect, adds, “Previously, we couldn’t physically light the entire runway; it wasn’t possible. Now, with the inherent [night vision goggle] capability in the C-17, the increased technological advances in night vision goggles, and 64 high-intensity retro-reflective cones placed on the runway edge, we can leverage the technologies and say, ‘Let’s see if we can get in there and access McMurdo at night.’

“We found the cones to be very good at illuminating the runway and providing critical situational awareness. When the aircraft turns to final [approach], the wingtip light reflects off the cones to the [night vision goggles] and we can see the entire runway.”

And even though they are not powered, the cones light up “like Christmas trees,” said Maj. Simmons. “Even if you looked under the [night vision goggles] with the naked eye, you could see these things from two or three miles out coming in to Pegasus. So the safety factor that we were able to give to this type of mission by adding something like this is exponential.”

The use of night vision goggles and reflective cones on the ground capitalizes on an inherent strength of the C-17 Globemaster III – the aircraft is built for night vision operations. Its Heads-Up-Display shows all of its operating parameters directly in front of its pilots on a piece of glass, allowing them to use night vision goggles to survey the area while keeping a close eye on the C-17’s performance at the same time.

Lt. Col. McGann said the concept will open up many opportunities for the National Science Foundation and US Antarctic Program. “ Now [the National Science Foundation]…can take advantage of the full capabilities of the C-17.”

An engine fire – not a terror attack appears to have caused the crash of a Russian jet that killed all 88 people on board.

The right engine of the Boeing 737-500 apparently failed and caught fire as the plane was preparing to land in the city of Perm in the Ural Mountains on Sunday. The plane slammed into the ground on the outskirts of the industrial city of 1 million people just a few hundred yards from small wooden houses and apartment buildings. Officials said no one on the ground was killed.

Flight 821 operated by a subsidiary of national flag carrier Aerofloat, carried 82 passengers, including six children under 10 years old, and six crew members. The plane’s flight recorders have been found, and officials said it will take three to four weeks to analyze them.