14 March 2013/02 Jumada l-Ula 1434/24 Esfand 1391/3 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
Scott's Ski & Sports going out-o-business! This used to be an appliance/electronics store a while back. Scott's moved in from another location a few years ago.
Long time winter sports equipment supplier (as well as bikes and other sporting stuff) in Pocatello, Idaho, going out of business. There’s currently no mention on their website, and so far no mention in the local media.
That no one may buy or sell again except one who has the mark of the name of The Beast or the number of its name.-Revelation 13:17, Aramaic Bible
The news source Reuters says they’ve seen a U.S. Treasury document that authorizes the CIA and NSA to have access to your bank account!
“The Obama administration is drawing up plans to give all U.S. spy agencies full access to a massive database that contains financial data on American citizens….”-Reuters
Up ’till now only the FBI had such access. The Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency currently have to make case by case requests on specific accounts.
Officials with the Obama administration say allowing the CIA and NSA full and free access to your bank account is part of the War on Terror and is legal.
“We plan to get to the point where we would not need to export crude oil anymore…..it would be of great benefit to our country.”-Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran
14 March 2013/02 Jumada l-Ula 1434/24 Esfand 1391/3 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
Iranian leaders want to end their oil exports, as a way to guarantee self sufficiency, and counter economic sanctions by the West.
It’s estimated that if Iran builds more refineries to make fuel and petrochemicals for export, it can make three to four times more money than from exporting raw crude oil. (this is exactly what the U.S. oil industry is doing, and the real reason why U.S. domestic fuel prices go up when U.S. oil prices have been relatively constant)
Domestically, it’s estimated that by producing more petrochemicals for Iranian industries as much as five times more money could be made: “The country’s oil industry has witnessed big developments, among them launching gasoline making unit of Abadan oil refinery. By launching the project the country no longer needs to import gasoline.”-Rostam Qassemi, Iranian Oil Minister
14 March 2013/02 Jumada l-Ula 1434/24 Esfand 1391/3 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
Chinese media revealing that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has dozens of Chinese bank accounts under false names.
However, it’s highly unlikely the Chinese government will take action because it still supports North Korea: “Beijing would be reluctant to take action if the bank accounts were personal accounts of Kim Jong-un. Beijing is worried that it could damage personal ties with the North Korean leader.”-Du Jifeng, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
13 March 2013/01 Jumada l-Ula 1434/23 Esfand 1391
In Badakhshan Province, reports of nearly 300 families fleeing their homes in Akshira village in Wardaj District. Apparently Mujahideen are using the area to prepare for a major battle with U.S. led Afghan National Army (ANA). Provincial government officials believe Mujahideen are about to launch an offensive to take control of at least four districts, including the province’s capital city.
In Kunduz Province, a suicide bomber killed as many as 20 people, and wounded 35, after he blew himself up at a sporting event. Among those killed are the son and the father of the Afghan Speaker of the House. Some reports suggest they were the target of the bomber.
In Baghlan Province, children were playing with what turned out to be unexploded ordinance (UXO). The bomb went off killing six kids and wounding five. Local government officials say the bomb was left over from a recent battle.
In Helmand Province, unconfirmed reports that an explosion killed two U.S./U.K. led personnel. Also, President Hamid Karzai told University students and local elders that the U.S. led War on Terror is a lie, and that some Mujahideen are actually working for the United States! He also stated that Afghanistan and Pakistan must unite in order to fight their own War on Terror.
In Nangarhar Province, 21000 kg (about 20 tons) of morphine and heroin was captured by Afghan and Russian forces. It’s considered the biggest drug bust in years, and is proof that everything the U.S. has done to supposedly stop opium drug production has failed.
U.S. National Intelligence Director, James Clapper, told the U.S. Senate that Afghanistan was too unstable for U.S. forces to pullout: “the Taliban-led insurgency has diminished in some areas of Afghanistan but remains resilient and capable of challenging U.S. and international goals. The coalition drawdown will have an impact on Afghanistan’s economy, which is likely to decline after 2014.”
The German Development Bank just pledged $89 million USD for the construction of an electricity network in Balkh and Samang provinces, and the building of a dam in Baghlan Province.
12 March 2013/29 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/22 Esfand 1391
In Kandahar Province, a U.S. helicopter crashed, killing five U.S. personnel. Mujahideen claim they hit the ‘copter with a rocket, but ISAF said: “The cause of the crash is under investigation, however initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident.”
In Parwan Province, reports that U.S. Bagram air base was hit by rocket attacks.
In Helmand Province, in Khashin district five people were killed after they drove over a landmine. In Musa Qaleh district, a woman and two girls were killed when a mortar round hit their house.
Textron Marine & Land Systems announced they are being paid $113.4 million USD by the U.S. government, to provide Afghanistan with armored vehicles. The deal is being handled by the U.S. Army Foreign Military Sales (FMS). The company is currently working to fulfill a 2011 U.S. contract for the same armored vehicles.
11 March 2013/28 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/21 Esfand 1391/30 Yi-Mao 4711
Both the United States and Republic of Korea (ROK) have imposed new economic sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The United Nations is already working on more sanctions.
President Barack Obama has added the Foreign Trade Bank of North Korea to sanctions. This means the bank can not continue transactions with U.S. banks. It also includes four individuals and the Korean Workers’ Party.
Earlier in the day there were reports that South Korea imposed their own new financial sanctions against the North.
In California, the company behind the computer effects in the movie Life of Pi, now bankrupt! Rhythm & Hues laid off at least 200 employees! The company is apparently broke and can’t even pay employees.
Schmidt’s Bakery and Delicatessen in Colorado bankrupt. 40 people out-o-work. Former employees must now deal with state tax officials to try and get their final paychecks. State tax officials seized the company on 08 January 2013.
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) warned of up to 450 layoffs. These are not because of government spending cuts, but are being blamed on increased costs of operations.
In New York, the Horseheads Central School District said they will have to lay of employees and close down at least one school. They blame it on a $8.2 million USD budget shortfall. Also, Garden City says they will layoff six firefighters, and a lieutenant reduced in pay. Some of the city officials said the city needed to save money and their fire department was overstaffed. In Leicester 70 years old Christano Hardware closed down. Owners blame competition from national chain stores. A Kmart in Depew will close down by April, 68 people out-o-work. Advanced Monolythic Ceramics shutting down their Ocean factory, 65 people out-o-work. Company officials blamed the bad economy for forcing a consolidation of operations.
Epic Game’s closing its Maryland operation. Company officials said things just weren’t “working out”.
In Pennsylvania, Kettering Corner ice cream shop closed down. The owner says she can’t do it anymore, since her husband died. And Jonathan Best gourmet grocery store closing down by the end of March. The owner blamed increased competition.
The Circle II Restaurant in North Carolina seized by state tax officials. State officials say the owners owe $178000 in back taxes. The Women’s Choice clinic closed down, no details as to why, but several protesters said they are happy about it.
In Batavia, Illinois, Portola Packaging closing its factory and consolidating operations to Tennessee and Arizona. 76 people out-o-work in Illinois. It’s not that the company doesn’t have the money, they’re spending $12 million USD on upgrading the Tennessee and Arizona factories.
In Texas, Gene Allen’s Gifts closing down its Arlington shop on 15 March. The owner blames the greedy landlord.
Too Big to Jail, U.K. based Barclays increased their planned layoffs to 3700 worldwide! The layoffs will affect employees in the United States. The massive layoffs are being called Project Transform.
It’s been revealed that a major drug maker, Pfizer, has laid off more people than it officially announced two years ago. It turns out that the pharmaceutical company laid off 250 more people at its Groton laboratories, than first stated!
11 March 2013/28 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/21 Esfand 1391/30 Yi-Mao 4711
As war drums are beating, unnamed officials in Republic of Korea (ROK) are blaming Idaho based Micron Technology of fixing prices for computer memory chips: “It’s quite strange that the global memory chip market is seeing unexpected price rises amid less demand for conventional personal computers. It’s highly possible that the chipmakers are engaged in price-fixing. Among other firms, Micron Technology is apparently using its commanding position to manipulate computer chip prices. We are watching it closely.”
Micron apparently controls half the World’s chip market! ROK’s SK Hynix controls 30%, and Samsung 15%. Those three companies are the only major memory chip makers left in the World, several years ago there were more than ten!
Officials from ROK base their claim on decreasing computer demand on information recently released by International Data Corporation.
This isn’t the first time Idaho’s Micron has been accused of price fixing.
10 March 2013/27 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/20 Esfand 1391/29 Yi-Mao 4711
For all the whining the United States government does about cyber attacks, even going as far as making it an act of war and justifying the extra-judicial killing of hackers, it turns out that the biggest perpetrator is the United States.
According to China’s National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team Coordination Center, between September 2012 to February 2013 89 cyber attacks were made against Chinese public and company websites. 39 of those attacks originated from U.S. IP addresses.
According to China’s National Vulnerability Database, between November 2012 to January 2013, 5792 attempted cyber attacks were launched from U.S. IP addresses. Also, 2194 of servers using viruses or botnets to control Chinese mainframes are located in the U.S. And, 73% of phishing sites targeting Chinese e-commerce are based in the U.S.
China is not the only country to point to the United States as being behind most cyber attacks, Iranian officials say they are constantly dealing with cyber attacks coming from the U.S.
10 March 2013/27 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/20 Esfand 1391/29 Yi-Mao 4711
The booming economy in China has not reduced crime and corruption, it’s actually accelerating it!
The Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) reported that the Chinese year 4710 (approximating to Gregorian year 2012) was another record setting year for investigations into government corruption.
47388 government employees were investigated for corruption, up 2800 from year 4709. In fact the SPP said corruption investigations have gone up four years in a row.
The investigations included 13000 county/state level officials, and 30 officials at the national level.
China’s Supreme Court system convicted 143000 people of bribery and fraud in 4710! Why does the United States have such a problem going after corruption?