23 August 2012, after buying back control of its Swedish cell phone operation, Sony announced it will lay off 15% of the employees.
Sony will also move most of the Mobile Communication division back to Japan.
Until Sony’s buyback, the Mobil Communication division was a joint venture with Sweden’s Ericsson. The cuts are on top of planned lay offs in Sony’s television division.
20 August 2012
USA (USA without periods means United States Army) General Martin Dempsey is in Afghanistan to find out why so many Afghan government forces are getting pissed off enough at U.S. forces that they open fire upon them. Dempsey is meeting with USMC General John Allen.
ISAF stated: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died when an individual wearing an Afghan Uniformed Police uniform turned his weapon against ISAF service members in southern Afghanistan today.”
In Paktiya Province, a convoy belonging to an advisor to President Hamid Karzai, ran over a mine: “Mriza Ali Zadran, brother of Amanullah Khan Zadran, his uncle and his nephew were killed following the blast.”-Rohullah Samoon, governor of Paktiya
19 August 2012
ISAF stated: “Three International Security Assistance Force service members died following an improvised explosive device attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”
ISAF claims they killed a “leader” in Kunar Province, using a NATO airstrike.
In Bamiyan Province, at least four New Zealand Kiwi troops were killed, after crossing a road where Mujahideen planted a mine.
Afghan police officials in Kandahar Province claim a policeman shot and killed a U.S. led occupying soldier. They say the shooting took place inside a police station.
USMC General John Allen met with President Hamid Karzai, to discuss the increasing Green on Blue attacks. This after numb nuts U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta demanded Karzai do something about such attacks.
In Kunar Province, villagers caught a murderer. The man was convicted of killing another man from a rival family. But at the execution, where about 80 people had gathered, the United States launched a drone strike, killing about 60. ISAF said this about the drone strike: “…there are no civilian casualties…” ISAF swears all the people present were Mujahideen planning an attack.
18 August 2012
In Kunar Province, local government officials say the United States killed four civilians during an airstrike.
In Helmand Province, U.K. Ministry of Defence says one of their occupying Red Coat soldiers was killed.
17 August 2012
In Kandahar Province, two U.S. occupying personnel were wounded by an Afghan government soldier.
ISAF stated: “Two U.S. Forces-Afghanistan service members died this morning as a result of an insider threat attack in Farah province, Afghanistan today. A member of the Afghan Local Police turned his weapon against two USFOR-A service members. The attacker was shot and killed.”
In Faryab Province, an Afghan politician was assassinated. He was shot while walking out of a Mosque.
“Inside this embassy in the dark, I could hear teams of police swarming up into the building through its internal fire escape……. If the U.K. did not throw away the Vienna Conventions the other night, it is because the world was watching.”-Julian Assange, 19 August 2012 statement from Ecuadorian embassy in London
“We are continuing to seek a diplomatic solution. We remain ready to continue the conversations we have had, but that is now a question for the Ecuadorians.”-British government statement
“We warn the government of the United Kingdom that it will face grave consequences around the world if it directly breaches the territorial integrity of the embassy of the Republic of Ecuador in London!”-Bolivian Alliance for the People of Our America
“I ask President Obama to do the right thing. The United States must renounce its witch hunt against WikiLeaks. The United States must dissolve its FBI investigation. The United States must vow that it will not seek to prosecute our staff or our supporters. The United States must pledge, before the world, that it will not pursue journalists for shining a light on the secret crimes of the powerful!”-Julian Assange, 19 August statement from Ecuadorian embassy in London
“We believe this is a bilateral issue between Ecuador and the United Kingdom and that the OAS [U.S. created Organization of American States] has no role to play in this matter.”-U.S. State Department statement
“They’re [United Kingdom] out of touch. Who do they think they’re dealing with? Can’t they see that this is a dignified and sovereign government which will not kneel down before anyone?”-Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador
“And to the [U.S.] Army private who remains in military prison in Ft Leavenworth, Kansas, who was found by the United Nations to have endured months of tortuous detention in Quantico, Virginia, and who has yet, after two years in prison, to see a trial, he must be released. Bradley Manning must be released! If Bradley Manning did as he was accused, he is a hero and an example to all of us, and one of the World’s foremost political prisoners. Bradley Manning must be released! On Wednesday Bradley Manning spent his 815th day on detention without trial. The legal maximum is 120 days!”–-Julian Assange, 19 August statement from Ecuadorian embassy in London
“This is a sort of declaration of war. The U.S. has degenerated into a rogue state. What the U.S. wants, the U.S. gets from its allies, regardless of if it’s legal or if it’s ethical or in breach of human or legal rights. We’re all lackeys.”-Christine Assange, mother of Julian Assange
“This is not a bilateral dispute between two countries, it is about respect for international law, respect for humanitarian law and respect for embassies and diplomatic corps!”-Nicolás Maduro, Chancellor of Venezuela
“This Friday, there will be an emergency meeting of the foreign ministers of Latin America, in Washington DC, to address this very situation.”-Julian Assange, 19 August statement from Ecuadorian embassy in London
“Britain….is wrong. The threat is not only an aggression to Ecuador, it’s against Bolivia, it’s against South America, against the whole of Latin America!”-Evo Morales, President of Bolivia
“To my family, and to my children who have been denied their father: Forgive me, we will be reunited soon.”-Julian Assange, 19 August statement from Ecuadorian embassy in London (see video of speech here)
IX Declaration of the ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America) Political Council
1. We reject intimidation threats uttered by government spokesmen in the U.K. of Great Britain for violating the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, and the principles of international law.
2. Categorically reaffirm our support for the sovereign right of the Government of Ecuador to grant diplomatic asylum to citizen Julian Assange.
3. We express our opposition to the U.K.’s position of trying to resolve in a manner contrary to international law, disputes with the nations of the world, particularly Latin America and the Caribbean.
4. We support the request for the invitation of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) to discuss the hostile position of the Government of the United Kingdom against the Government of the Republic of Ecuador, and set a clear position of support for Ecuador.
5. We believe in promoting relevant United Nations a broad debate about the inviolability of diplomatic premises and full respect by all States of the principles of international law.
6. We warn the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain about the serious consequences that would be triggered worldwide, in case of a direct attack on the territorial integrity of the Republic of Ecuador in London.
7. We call on all governments in the world, Social Movements, the intelligentsia, to oppose this new claim of the British Government to impose by force its will on sovereign nations of the World.
8. We promise to do our best to give the widest publicity with this declaration.
Members of ALBA: Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador, Dominica, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Antigua & Barbuda.
17 August 2012, the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA) ordered an investigation into TIBOR, or Tokyo Inter-Bank Offered Rate.
It’s a system similar to Britain’s LIBOR, and tries to regulate interest and currency rates.
18 financial institutions in Japan have been ordered to reveal their TIBOR operations. Specifically the FSA is looking for evidence that bank employees unfairly manipulated rates. FSA is concerned about the credibility of the TIBOR system.
The Japanese Bankers Association gave an immediate response to the order, saying their were no TIBOR irregularities, despite the European and U.S. investigations into TIBOR.
16 August 2012, after an emergency meeting was held, officials decided it was likely that the Doel nuclear plant in Belgium will be shut down permanently.
But this means dozens of other nuclear reactors throughout western Europe could be shut down as well. The whole thing started in 2004 when France inspected two reactors and found perpendicular micro-cracks in the containment vessels.
The perpendicular cracks were not from age, but had been there from day one. It was a design flaw!
Belgium decided to check their reactors, since they were the same design, and found even more micro-cracks. The boss of Belgium’s Federal Agency of Nuclear Control told the emergency meeting that they found “something else”; thousands of parallel cracks as well as the perpendicular cracks.
The defects are so numerous that Belgium officials say it is unlikely they can be repaired. Belgium will shut down two reactors, and continue investigations. A final report will be presented in October.
14 August 2012, the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control is shutting down Reactor 3 at the Doel nuclear power plant in Belgium.
Workers discovered cracks, and other ‘anomalies’, in the containment vessel. The reactor was built by a company that went bankrupt 40 years ago. Dozens of nuclear plants across western Europe use the same design.
Belgian officials have called for an emergency meeting, with international experts, to be held on 16 August. Belgium gets 50% of its electricity from nuclear power.
07 August 2012
ISAF says: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”
Also: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died when two individuals wearing Afghan National Army uniforms turned their weapons against ISAF service members in eastern Afghanistan.”
Also: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan today.”
As of 07 August 2012 at least 214 U.S. led occupiers have been killed since January 2012.
In Nuristan Province, people protested Quran burning, but this time it’s Muslim insurgents getting the blame. A school was burned down, and it had as many as 300 Qurans inside.
In Kabul city, eight people were killed, four wounded, when the bus they were in drove over a mine.
In Logar Province, a suicide bomber tried driving a bomb truck onto a U.S. led a ISAF/NATO base: “A truck loaded with explosives detonated at the coalition forces’ camp in Pule Alam city.”-Ghulam Sakhi Rogh Lewanai, Logar police chief At least three people were killed, dozens wounded, in the explosion.
In Nimroz Province, local government officials say U.S. led occupiers killed four civilians, and wounded two children, in a night time raid.
After being questioned about claims that Pakistan was attacking, and even invading Afghanistan, the Afghan Defense Minister, Abdul Rahim Wardak, resigned. The Afghan House of Representatives had already fired him, but President Hamid Karzai has final say, and stated that the guy could keep his job.
In Kapisa Province, one French occupation soldier was killed, another wounded, in battle with Mujahideen. French officials say they killed ten Mujahideen.
In Helmand Province, Afghan cops were ambushed, three killed, three wounded.
06 August 2012
ISAF claims to have killed yet another “leader” from Pakistan, using a NATO airstrike.
The Afghan Interior Ministry claims: “The national police backed by army and the NATO led coalition force have killed six Taliban militants and arrested eight others during series of operations in Logar, Ghazni, and Herat provinces. Three militants were also injured over the past 24 hours.”
In Helmand Province 11 cops defected to the Mujahideen. They took their weapons and three motorcycles with them.
In Sar-e Pol Province, a local government official, and his brother, were assassinated in their house.
In Ghor Province, the local security chief, as well a local development boss, were assassinated by suicide bombing.
In Bamiyan Province, occupation troops from New Zealand were attacked. This is the second time Kiwis have been attacked. The Mujahideen are targeting the Kiwis because New Zealand had recently expanded their military mission in Bamiyan.
Pakistani officials are now accusing the U.S. puppet government of Afghanistan of being the ones who are secretly supporting Mujahideen.
05 August 2012
In Bamiyan Province, two New Zealand occupying troops were killed. One was killed when an RPG hit the armored vehicle he was in. The other was killed while he patrolled on foot.
Military leaders of the United Kingdom are asking the British government to keep their troops in Afghanistan past the 2014 pull out date. An unnamed British military source said: “The plan is for British and U.S. troops to take a back seat role next year but that is not going to happen in reality. The ANA [Afghan National Army] has been able to build capacity but it lacks quality and that’s the worry.”
In Herat Province, three children were killed after a bomb went off in the area they were playing in.
ISAF claims an al Qaeda “leader” was killed in Kunar Province.
04 August 2012
Afghan Interior Ministry and Afghan National Police Forces claim they killed 21 Mujahideen in the past 24 hours in battles in the provinces of Kapisa, Kandahar, Herat and Farah.
The Afghan House of Representatives officially fired the defense and interior ministers over what could be artillery attacks by Pakistan upon Afghanistan.
03 August 2012
At least three Italian occupiers were wounded in Badghis Province: “An armored vehicle of Italian troops were on their way to an American base in Bala Morghab district on Friday night and struck a roadside bomb.”-ISAF statement
In Kunar Province, local government officials say massive attacks by insurgents took place all day Friday. At least two people killed, the targets were government facilities. Afghan officials once again blame Pakistan: “All the attacks are carried out with the support of Pakistan’s Inter Service Intelligence. The attacks were carried out following cross border shelling by Pakistani army which paved the way for the coordinated attacks by militants.”-Fazlullah Wahidi, Governor of Kunar
Wahidi is now claiming that Pakistan has launched 30,000 rockets into Afghanistan!!!
ISAF claims to have arrested a Mujahideen financier, in Paktiya Province.
In Uruzgan Province, local government officials arrested a police commander. They say he is responsible for the murders of at least 17 civilians. The police commander was actually from neighboring Ghazni Province. He claims he did it for revenge after two of his police officers were assassinated. The people he killed included children.
In Nangarhar Province, a Mosque was blown up, wounding 30 people.
02 August 2012
ISAF says two U.S. led occupiers were killed by an explosion in southern Afghanistan.
Officials investigating corruption within the Afghan government are recommending that Finance Minister, Hazrat Omer Zakhilwal, be replaced. Afghan investigators implied that Zakhilwal is interfering in the investigation, and they are suspicious of a $1 million USD transfer made to his bank account.
Officials with the Afghan National Directorate of Security have arrested 15 government employees. They are accused of spying for Pakistan and Iran.
In Logar Province, two cops and three civilians were killed, two cops and two civilians wounded, after a bomb planted near a water pipe exploded. Local police say they have arrested the man who did it.
In Kabul Province, seven Mujahideen were killed by local police. Police claim the men were about to launch an attack: “A group of insurgents armed with suicide vests, rockets and machine guns planned to seize a tall building in Kabul’s Shar-i-Naw area.”-Lutfullah Mahsal, National Directorate of Security spokesman
ISAF claims to have arrested an explosives expert in Baghlan Province. They say he specialized in explosive vests.
In Helmand Province, a local police chief and his two bodyguards were assassinated.
01 August 2012
The Afghan National Directorate for Security (NDS) accuses Pakistan of creating safe havens for Afghan Mujahideen. The NDS also claims that Pakistani troops have invaded areas of Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar and Paktia provinces.
In related news, the Afghan House of Representatives has called interior, defense, foreign affairs and intelligence officials to explain why Pakistan is seemingly attacking Afghanistan.
ISAF says two occupying troops died following an improvised explosive device attack in eastern Afghanistan, their interpreter was also killed. And two more occupying troops were killed in southern Afghanistan.
ISAF claims they captured a “leader” in Zabul Province.
At Kabul’s polytechnic university a firefight brook out among students. No one knows why.
In Maidan Wardak Province, local government officials say a NATO airstrike killed four people suspected of planting mines. Also, four people who wanted to join the police were assassinated. A fifth person was kidnapped.
Recent fighting on the border with Tajikistan is being blamed on the United States and United Kingdom. According to members of Afghanistan’s National Congress Party, it’s all part of plans to create a new independent country in northeastern Afghanistan, and its adjacent parts in Tajikistan, for the Ismaelite Muslims.
“This is not part of the global program, it’s just a quarterly cull.”-unnamed government source
03 August 2012, news media in the United Kingdom have discovered that Hewlett Packard (HP) has told the British government they will let go at least 268 employees.
British law requires companies that are laying off more than 20 employees to notify the government.
Despite the unnamed government official’s statement, some analysts believe this is part of the planed layoff of 27,000 HP employees by October 2014.
HP officials in France and Germany said they’re planing to cut their workforce by 10%. In Sweden it could be as high as 14%. Italy and Spain are still awaiting HP’s layoff estimates. Even the announced 268 layoffs in the U.K. are not considered the final cut.
Unions in Britain are claiming that HP will end up laying off at least 1,600 employees. CEO Meg Whitman, refused to answer British media questions.
On 30 July 2012, the Wall Street Journal reported that HP was finding it harder and harder to get credit default swaps on its debt. The cost of such swaps has quadrupled for HP since last year. That’s because more and more investors are worried that HP will end up busted.
Also, HP’s debt load is now at $21 million USD, no thanks to its recent purchase of a company called Autonomy.
As a result HP has turned to General Electric (GE) for financial help.
On 02 August 2012, GE Capital announced they will offer credit to HP resellers. The offer includes 60 days of no interest re-payments: “Resellers of any size can view this kind of financing as working capital that they can use to help grow their markets and expand their businesses. We’re pleased to be working with HP to support its resellers.”-Mike Marcolina, GE Capital Commercial Distribution Finance