Tag Archives: ows

Business/Economics

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Indiana & Washington losing Sears! Virginia Kmart closing!

04 May 2013 (23:15 UTC-07 Tango 03 May 2013)/23 Jumada t-Tania 1434/14 Ordibehest 1391/25 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

After 80 years in operation, the East Wenatchee Sears in Washington will be closed down.  59 people out-o-work.

In Indiana, the Sears located at the Richmond Square Mall is closing.  49 jobs lost.  The Sears store first set up shop in that area in 1928!

After 36 years of operation the Kmart on East Little Creek Road in Norfolk, Virginia, will close.  Sears Holdings is trying to get out of the lease contract early. 77 employees let go.

Here’s the updated list of Sears/Kmart store closings since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost).

California:   El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart.

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost).

Guam:  Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost),  Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart.

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!!!).

Vacant bedroom/bathroom section.

One corner of the half vacant Chubbuck, Idaho, Sears. No official closing announcement was made.

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).  No official announcement, but it’s painfully obvious the Chubbuck Sears going’ down. Or, maybe it’s preps for Shop within a Shop?

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), recently revealed Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost).

Illinois:  Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost).  Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost). 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale.  By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state.  The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials.

North Carolina: High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost),  West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost).   Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost),  both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart.

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors.

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost),  Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), recently revealed Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost),  Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), recently revealed East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears will be closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (will be closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

Business/Economics

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 04 March 2013. Thousands more laid off! Schools keep getting hit!

Soho Shoes in North Carolina closed.  It’s because the parent company, Urban Hype, now bankrupt.  The company claims they have zero assets and nothing but debt.

Illinois based YTB International now bankrupt.  The company has had many problems, such as declining sales and a lawsuit by the California attorney general.  Also, at least seven Illinois companies announced more than 1200 people being laid off!  Those companies are Ball Metal Beverage, General Cable, John Costigan Residential Center, L3 Electrodynamics, NanoInk, Vie de France Yamazaki and Portola Packaging.

The Katonah-Lewisboro School District, in New York, is laying off 11 employees, and jacking up local taxes by 5%.  School officials say it’s the only way to balance next year’s school budget.

The Liberty Academy Charter School in Jersey City, New Jersey, closed down.  School officials blamed lack of academic performance.

In California, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District announced that it is forced to take drastic action because of millions of dollars in budget shortfalls and funding cuts.  In Los Angeles, the Playa Rivera restaurant closed down.  Most people considered the restaurant a success, but apparently the owners had much higher expectations and considered it a failure.  In San Francisco BioWare (a division of video game maker EA) shut down, 30 people out-o-work.  In Sacramento, the big pub Pyramid Alehouse closed down due to the bad economy.  80 employees laid off.

The news source Daily Voice closed down its Massachusetts locations.  At least 11 employees laid off.  An unnamed former employee said company officials led them on to think nothing was wrong with the company: “The news came really out of nowhere, considering the emails that were reassuring that we’re fine.”

In Connecticut, Minnesota-based uniform rental and linen supplier AmeriPride ended its Hartford operations. At least 55 employees laid off.

In Alexandria, Virginia, decor and furniture store Bizim Collection closed down.  The owners are leaving the United States.

In Florida, J.C. Penney closing its West Palm Beach store.  125 people laid off!

Mining equipment manufacturer Joy Global closing its Millersburg, Kentucky, factory in October. 150 people will be let go!  The company has been closing other factories, and blames it on crashing demand for their products.

Texas based Tesoro oil company shutting down its Kapolei, Hawaii refinery.  It’s selling it off along with 31 Hawaiian gas stations.  Company officials say its no longer worth it to refine fuel for the Hawaiian market.  210 employees out-o-work!

 

 

International

World War 3, West Asian Front: Israel bombs Syria!

04 May 2013 (22:39 UTC-07 Tango 03 May 2013)/23 Jumada t-Tania 1434/14 Ordibehest 1391/25 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

“Israel bombed Syria tonight.”-Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator from South Carolina

Unnamed U.S. intelligence officials announced that Israel launched an airstrike on a supposed Syrian chemical weapons depot. The unconfirmed announcement was first reported by CNN (Cable News Network).

Sources in Lebanon supposedly told U.S. officials that 16 IDF (Israeli Defense Force) aircraft violated Lebanese airspace on their way to Syria.

Unnamed Israeli officials implied they launched the airstrike because they thought Syrian WMDs were being taken by U.S. backed insurgents.

International

New coronavirus killing people in Saudi Arabia!

03 May 2013 (10:41 UTC-07 Tango)/22 Jumada t-Tania 1434/13 Ordibehest 1391/24 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

A new SARS like virus is attacking people in Saudi Arabia.  It was first discovered last year, and is sometimes called Saudi, or London, SARS.  It’s a new (novel) type of coronavirus (aka London 1, nCoV).

Since September 2012 there have been 24 lab confirmed human cases, and 16 deaths, in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and the United Kingdom.  In the past week Saudi Arabia reported seven new cases, and five deaths. Death is usually caused by kidney (renal) failure.

The Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia says they have not been able to find an origin, or connection, to the outbreak.

Influenza

H7N9 update: Man recovers from death bed! Thailand & U.K. on alert!

03 May 2013 (10:26 UTC-07 Tango)/22 Jumada t-Tania 1434/13 Ordibehest 1392/24 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

The government of Thailand is drafting an emergency plan to deal with a potential outbreak of H7N9: “Personally I believe the outbreak of this avian flu virus will reach Thailand by October, because of the rainy season. It will also deal a psychological blow to the poultry industry, not only in frozen chickens but cooked chicken as well.”-Pornthep Siriwanarangson, Disease Control Department

A 38 years  old man is now considered recovered after several days on death’s door.  Health officials in Zhejiang Province say he had been hospitalized for 22 days.  He was one of nine people recovered from H7N9 and released from hospitals on Friday.

In Taiwan, health officials say their first, and so far only human case of H7N9 is recovering.  The 53 years old man came back from a trip to China sick.  He’s been hospitalized since the first week of April.

Doctors in United Kingdom have been told to be on the alert for symptoms of H7N9 in Britishers.  The reason is that about 11000 Britishers visit China every week.  Also, about 3500 Chinese visit the U.K. every week.

Yet another study has confirmed what earlier studies have said about where H7N9 came from: It’s mutated from several other viruses.

 The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other universities, identified some of the genes.  One set of genes came from ducks in the Yangtze River Delta region.  Another set of genes are believed to have come from wild migrating birds.  Six other gene types evolved from two different groups of H9N2.  Some of the genes are resistant to tamiflu anti-viral treatment.

 

International

World War 3, African Front: Japan increasing troops in Sudan, U.K. increasing troops in Mali!

03 May 2013 (09:47 UTC-07 Tango)/22 Jumada t-Tania 1434/13 Ordibehest 1391/24 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

Japan currently has 350 troops in Sudan, working under the United Nations.  The UN has just asked Japan to send more Ground Self-Defense Force personnel.  Japan’s Senior Vice Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Yasutoshi Nishimura, has just started a weekend visit to Sudan, and will discuss the issue with UN and Sudanese officials.

In Libya, a police station in Benghazi was destroyed.  The same police station was attacked last week.  Also, militia groups have surrounded pro-U.S./European government buildings.  They will not lift their blockade until their demands are met.  They want all former officials connected to Muammar Gaddafi to be banned from holding government jobs.

In Democratic Republic of Congo, the March 23 (M23) organization has ended talks with UN officials because they’ve detected that they are about to be attacked by the newly created, and precedent setting, UN Intervention Brigade.  M23 spokesman, Stanislas Baleke, said they “…are waiting for the brigade. We are ready. Our men are on maximum alert.”

In Horn of Africa, Somalia, the government is about to forcefully relocate 80000 people.  A UN spokesman said even though the pro-U.S./European government is instigating the move, the UN will help.  The government claims the refugees will be moved to a larger concentration camp, I mean refugee camp.

In Nigeria, battles have been raging in the north eastern part of the country.  In the past week at least 200 people have been killed.

The United Kingdom announces it will send more Red Coats to Mali. They claim it’s part of the European Union Training Mission to train up pro-U.S./European forces in Mali, for a major offensive: “What we are here to do is form a battalion into a cohesive unit so that it’s ready to go on operations at the end of the 10 week package.”-Major Simon Holden, 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment

 

International

World War 3, North American Front: Canada loses $3 billion in War on Terror, can’t explain where it went!

03 May 2013 (09:19 UTC-07 Tango)/22 Jumada t-Tania 1434/13 Ordibehest 1391/24 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

It figures, like its neighbor to the south, Canadian leadership is rife with corruption.

Canada’s Auditor General, Michael Furguson, investigated how all the tax money for the War on Terror is being spent, and he found that $3.1 billion CAD is missing!

He got no explanation from the Canadian Treasury.  Canada’s crony Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, explained it away saying the money isn’t missing, it’s just a matter of how you categorize the tax dollars!

Business/Economics

World War 3, Economic Front: U.S. job losses & store closings 02-03 March 2013. More proof God can’t stop the economic crash!

Snuffer’s Restaurant bankrupt in Texas.  Company officials blame mounting debt financing due to the bad economy.  The company was founded in 1978.

California’s Vallejo School Board considering laying off 46 employees.  They already laid off 115 employees last year!  They blame funding cuts.  Also, Corinthian Colleges shutting down its WyoTech, West Sacramento campus.  The automotive tech education center is being sold.

In Illinois, after 51 years of education Chicago Height’s Saint Kieran Christian school shutting down. It’s one of five schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago closing due to millions of dollars in budget cuts, and a drastic decline in enrollment.  Many families reporting that they can’t afford the $4000 to $5000 tuition (gee, god can’t help out?). The other schools being closed are Saint Gregory the Great High School, Saint Bernardine Elementary School, Saint Helena of the Cross Elementary School and Saint Paul-Our Lady of Vilna Elementary School.

New Jersey’s Newark Public Schools laid off 129 employees!  School officials said they were way overstaffed, unions are crying foul.

In Virginia, Alleghany County School Board closing two elementary schools. Officials blamed a 25% drop in enrollment and a $1.5 million USD shortfall.

In Minnesota, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis laid off eight people.  The layoffs are blamed on a half million dollars budget shortfall.

In Pennsylvania, in Wayne the Cream & Sugar coffee shop closed down.  Death in the family being blamed.  In Lancaster, the Weis Markets grocery store shut down. 45 employees affected.  Officials said the store was no longer “economically feasible.”

In Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the Margaux restaurant shut down without explanation.

Wicked Gelato in Farmington, Maine, closed.  The owner no longer has the time, now that she’s going to school to become a nurse.

After 40 years, the Ali Baba Time Out Deli closed in Knoxville, Tennessee.   The 69 years old owner said businesses is good, but he wants to retire.  Apparently nobody wants to take over the successful eatery.

In Moultrie, Georgia, Dalton’s Chicken closed down.  The Dalton family has been running successful restaurants for more than 50 years, and they say it’s time to retire.  Just like above, nobody wanted to take over?

 

 

 

 

 

International

World War 3, Asian Front: More U.S. deaths! Proof opium production is supporting organizations outside Afghanistan!

30 April 2013/19 Jumada t-Tania 1434/10 Ordibehest 1391/21 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

In Helmand Province, Nahr-e-Saraj District, nine Afghan National Army (ANA) troops killed along with three United Kingdom (Scottish)/NATO Red Coats after a home made bomb exploded.  Six Red Coats were also wounded.  ISAF said: “Three International Security Assistance Force service members died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan.”  (notice ISAF doesn’t mention the ANA deaths)

In relation to the Red Coat deaths, apparently they were in an armored vehicle called a Mastiff.  Prime Minister David Cameron claims he will investigate why the Mujahideen have been successful in killing Red Coats riding in a Mastiff AFV.  Here’s a clue, the thing rolled over on them when the bomb went off!

In Kapisa Province, Mujahideen say they’ve shot down a NATO/ISAF attack helicopter in Alasay District.  A medivac ‘copter was later seen at the site of the crash.

In Herat Province, a NATO/ISAF recon drone (UAV) crashed in Shindand District.  Mujahideen say they’ve recovered the wreckage.

In Farah Province, Bakwa District, a NATO/ISAF supply convoy was ambushed.  Reports say ten security guards were killed, 12 wounded.  Three patrol vehicles and three fuelers were destroyed.

In Faryab Province, Khwaja Musa District, Mujahideen ambushed ANA vehicle patrol.  Nine ANA troops joined the Mujahideen.

This year’s opium eradication campaign is going badly for the Afghan National Army and Police (ANP).  The operation began 40 days ago and already 141  government personnel have been killed, 86 wounded.   According to Afghanistan’s deputy counter-narcotics minister, Ibrahim Azhar, the Afghan opium poppy industry is generating $70 billion USD per year, yet only 5% of that ends up in Afghanistan.  So who’s getting the lions share?

In Kunar Province, more claims that Pakistan fired artillery rockets into Afghanistan.  Local government officials say 37 rockets hit Dangdam District, no casualties reported.

In Badakhshan Province, provincial officials say they’ve won the release of ten ANA personnel.  They had been captured by Mujahideen in Wardoj District, back in March.  The capture of the ANA troops resulted in a major offensive launched by Afghan and U.S./NATO units, which failed to free the government soldiers.

29 April 2013/18 Jumada t-Tania 1434/09 Ordibehest 1391/20 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

In Parwan Province, a dramatic crash of a Boeing 747 cargo plane was captured on video.  The U.S. contractor operated plane had just taken off from Bagram airbase, and appears to stall out over a well traveled road.  The stall could be a sign the plane was overloaded, or the pilot had the plane at too steep of an angle starving the engines of air.  Everyone onboard was killed.  The plane was on its way to Dubai.

Also in Parwan Province, Afghan NDS officials claim they arrested two fueler drivers who place explosives on their fueler trucks, bound for Bagram airbase.

In Farah Province, in Petawak area between Bakwa and Gulistan districts, a NATO/ISAF supply convoy was ambushed.  Mujahideen claim they killed 25 security guards and wounded 10 others. The vehicles in the convoy were destroyed.

In Pakistan, a suicide bomber used a motorcycle bomb to kill at least eight people and wound 45 others.  Several diplomats from Afghanistan were among those killed, however, Pakistan police say the target of the attack was a Pakistani police official.

The New York Times reports that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has paid President Hamid Karzai tens of millions of U.S. tax dollars.  Karzai admitted to reporters that the Afghan National Security Council has been paid off with U.S. tax dollars for the past ten years. An unnamed U.S. government official said what I’ve been saying: “The biggest source of corruption in Afghanistan, was the United States.”

28 April 2013/17 Jumada t-Tania 1434/08 Ordibehest 1391/19 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

U.S. military officials admitted that an USAF Beechcraft MC-12 spy aircraft went down in Zabul Province the day before. Four U.S. aircrew were killed.

In Parwan Province, Siyagard District, Mujahideen attacked a checkpoint, which resulted in a three hours long battle.  Mujahideen captured the checkpoint, along with large amounts of weapons, ammo and radio equipment.

In Ghazni Province, Zana Khan District, the deputy police chief, and his two bodyguards were assassinated by explosion. Local Mujahideen announced “Today was our first day of the new operation….”

In Herat Province, Rabat-e-Sangi District, at midnight Mujahideen launched a two hours long battle against the Tor Ghondi logistics base.  Several people killed and wounded, eight fuelers destroyed and 10 other fuel trucks damaged.

In Daikondi Province, Mujahideen claim to have taken control of the Bandar District after a brief battle with Afghan government forces.

In Zabul Province, Mujahideen ended their four day battle for Nawbahar District.  Dozens killed and wounded.  Mujahideen say they broke off the engagement when U.S./NATO/ISAF attack helicopters showed up.

In Nangarhar Province, Chaparhar District, director of provincial development council, Malak Mohkam Khan, said a U.S. patrol open fired on a family working in a farm field.  Two adults and two children were killed.  Khan said the U.S. personnel claimed they were being shot at from the farm field.

International

H7N9 update: 128 cases, 27 deaths!

02 May 2013 (01:47 UTC-07 Tango)/21 Jumada t-Tania 1434/12 Ordibehest 1391/23 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

The Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission reported that as of 01 May 2013, there were 127 human infections of H7N9.

On 02 May 2013, a 55 years old man died from the ‘bird’ flu in Hunan Province.  Apparently he got sick in Jiangxi Province and was transferred to Hunan on 26 April.

Also on 02 May, Hunan Province reported a new human case in the city of Shaoyang.