Category Archives: International

International

H7N9 update: Proof it’s human caused?

12 April 2013 (20:58 UTC-07 Tango 11 April 2013)/01 Jumada t-Tania 1434/23 Farvardin 1391/03 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

Health officials have released details regarding the first three people to die from H7N9.

Fudan University’s Huashan Hospital report: The first person to die was a 52 years old woman, came down with symptoms on 27 March, sought medical help on 28 March.  Doctors put her on anti-biotics and sent her home.  A few days later she returned still sick.  Doctors then put her on intravenous anti-biotics for the next three days.  She got worse, developing pneumonia.  By this time doctors finally diagnosed her with a flu virus. They started anti-viral treatment, but amazingly, continued the anti-biotics!    She died 03 April

My comments: Not only do anti-biotics not work on viruses, they destroy your own body’s immune system.  I wouldn’t be surprised if her death was actually the result of the treatment with anti-biotics.

The woman’s husband was also sick, but tests for infections came up negative, so he was not reported has having H7N9. He recovered.

Comments from Fudan University’s Huashan Hospital doctor Yu-Mei Wen, and doctor Hans-Dieter Klenk from the University of Marburg in Germany: The next two people to die were men, one 87 years old, the other 27.  Realize the H7N9 is being called a bird flu, and tens of thousands of poultry are being exterminated out of fear.  These two men had never been around poultry.  They had been in contact with pigs, but so far all testing on pigs show negative for H7N9.  From the time the men started showing symptoms (chills, fever) to the time of severe pneumonia was five to ten days.

My comments: The details of the first three H7N9 human deaths calls into question the idea that this bird flu (which according to health officials in Thailand is new to continental Asia) ‘jumped’ from birds to humans.  Early on Japanese researchers said this new H7N9 is not detectable until the onset of pneumonia.  Also, testing done on thousands of poultry, and even wild birds in China, since the outbreak began, has only revealed a handful of infected birds.  Bird flu is known to be able to ‘jump’ to pigs more easily than to humans, yet testing done on the thousands of dead pigs that were found in the Huangpu River showed none were infected with H7N9.  Note that the first three human deaths were all in Shanghai, it looks like the famous Chinese city is ground zero for this new virus.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3, African Front: G8 + are main finaciers of War! Reveals Global goals through Africa conquest!

12 April 2013 (20:09 UTC-07 Tango 11 April 2013)/01 Jumada t-Tania 1434/23 Farvardin 1391/03 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

Mali: “….Ministers expressed their support for the efforts of France and its African partners to re-assert Malian state control……emphasised the strong international consensus in the United Nations Security Council, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States……..Ministers agreed to support a successful handover of stabilisation activity to AFISMA which has now successfully deployed to Mali and, as soon as conditions permit, to a multi-dimensional UN Operation. The Ministers welcomed the establishment of the EU Training Mission to train the Malian Armed Forces.”

Somalia: “….G8 Ministers underlined the need for continued early international support to the new Somali Government……..for rebuilding the state and establishing a new political order……provide high-level political support to the process of Somalia’s re-engagement with the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund…..Foreign Ministers acknowledged the importance of the Somali Government’s work to promote reconciliation, de-mobilise and re-integrate those Al Shabaab fighters who have renounced violence…”

DRC: “…..The Ministers welcomed the appointment of the UN Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region of Africa to oversee the implementation of the Peace Security and Cooperation Framework…..The Ministers welcomed UNSCR 2098 which renews the mandate of the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC…..”

Sudan & South Sudan: “…resumption of the production and export of oil from South Sudan…..They called for faster implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur….”

North & West Africa: “…..encouraged the United Nations and International Financial Institutions to adopt coherent and co-ordinated policies……called for rapid progress to finalise and implement the UN Integrated Regional Strategy……The Ministers specifically endorsed the need for a regional response to a wide range of security challenges, including: restricting the proliferation and illicit trafficking of conventional weapons, including small arms……encouraging counter-terrorism partnerships, including on crisis response and counter-radicalisation….”

Africa: “The African Union and African Regional organisations are increasingly resolved to intensify regional cooperation and to ensure peace and security on the continent.”

The Group of Eight are: United States, Russia, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, Canada, Japan, plus European Union

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3, East Asian Front: G8 threatens more sanctions against North Korea!

11 April 2013 (15:49 UTC-07 Tango)/30 Jumada l-Ula 1434/22 Farvardin 1391/02 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

“…..If the DPRK conducts another missile launch, or nuclear test, we committed ourselves to take further significant measures…..supported the commitment to strengthen the sanctions….and further significant measures in the event of a further test or launch by DPRK.”-Foreign Secretary’s Remarks on Constructive G8 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

H7N9 update: 38 cases, 10 deaths! KFC sales crashing!

11 April 2013 (09:17 UTC-07 Tango)/30 Jumada l-Ula 1434/22 Farvardin 1391/02 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission reports five new cases and one death in the H7N9 outbreak.  Two new cases in Jiangsu Province, and three new cases, including the death, in Shanghai.

The 74 years old man that died was confirmed to have H7N9 Wednesday night, but died today.  As with other H7N9 cases, he had been admitted to a hospital with pneumonia.

Chinese health officials say, so far none of the relatives of the sick people are showing any signs H7N9 infection.

Yum Brands, the company that owns KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, say sales at their Chinese KFC restaurants are crashing. They blame the H7N9 bird flu for scaring customers off from eating chicken.  Sales at Chinese KFCs dropped 16% in March.

However, there is a problem with their blame game for crashing sales: The H7N9 bird flu scare didn’t start until the end of March.  Yum Brands own records show their restaurants in China have been losing sales since January.  In January and February they saw a 20% drop in sales.

International

H7N9 update: China distributes new test for rapidly mutating virus!

11 April 2013 (23:25 UTC-07 Tango 10 April 2013)/30 Jumada l-Ula 1434/22 Farvardin 1391/02 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention is shipping out 160000 new tests (real-time PCR reagents) for the new H7N9 virus.

It’s hoped the new test will speed identification of new cases.  So far 33 people confirmed infected, nine have died.

International

World War 3, Asian Front: Pakistan & India launch ballistic missiles!

11 April 2013 (23:20 UTC-07 Tango 10 April 2013)/30 Jumada l-Ula 1434/22 Farvardin 1391/02 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

On 10 April Pakistan launched a medium range Hatf IV Shaheen-1 mobile ICBM.  No one in the international community seemed upset?

The launch comes after several missile launches by India.  In January India conducted a successful underwater launch of a medium range ICBM.  Then just last month, India tested their new cruise missile, and it failed.

Where was the international condemnation?

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3, Economic Front: IMF admits bailouts & austerity not working!

11 April 2013 (23:05 UTC-07 Tango 10 April 2013)/30 Jumada l-Ula 1434/22 Farvardin 1391/02 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

“….we do not expect global growth to be much higher this year than last. We are seeing new risks as well as old risks. In far too many countries, improvements in financial markets have not translated into improvements in the real economy, and in the lives of people.”-Christine Lagarde, International Monetary Fund

At a meeting of the Economic Club of New York, Lagarde divided up the World into three ‘speeds’ of recovery.

Emerging economies are recovering fastest: First Speed.

The United States is in the Second Speed category, but Lagarde warns “…an outstanding issue is that public finances appear unbalanced. Adjustment is too aggressive in the short term, and too timid in the medium term. This adds to uncertainty and casts a shadow on the recovery.”

Apparently Europe and Japan are in the worst Third Speed category.  It is interesting to note that the IMF is behind many of the European bailouts and austerity measures.

 

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3, East Asian Front: North Korea playing mind games with missiles? Travel agencies cancel trips!

11 April 2013 (22:26 UTC-07 Tango 10 April 2013)/30 Jumada l-Ula 1434/22 Farvardin 1391/02 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

“Because of the situation in North Korea, all tours are canceled from now. We will announce when tours begin again as soon as we get official information from North Korea.”-China based travel agency Explore North Korea statement

“We are in constant contact with our partners in North Korea, and they have told us that the North remains open to tourists and have encouraged us to run our scheduled tours.”-U.S. based travel agency Uri Tours statement

ROK and USFK upped security status to Watchcon 2, the second highest level.  However, some analysts in South Korea think the DPRK is playing mind games with their ICBMs: “…the North has been repeatedly moving its missiles in and out of a shed….”

It now appears that North Korea is purposely moving mobile ICBM systems all along their east coast.  One ROK analyst says the DPRK is trying to “fatigue” intelligence gatherers for South Korea and United States.

International, U.S.

World War 3, Asian Front: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 09 – 10 April 2013.

10 April 2013/29 Jumada l-Ula 1434/21 Farvardin 1391/01 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

In Ghor Province, an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier shot and wounded two Lithuanian/ISAF troops, using an RPG.  Government officials said the ANA was conducting a roadblock, and a Lithuanian/ISAF convoy refused to stop.  The ANA soldier fired an RPG destroying an ISAF armored vehicle, wounding two people inside.

In Herat Province, U.S. forces attacked a bus, killing two people and wounding another.  U.S. forces claim the bus got too close to their convoy.  Independent reports say the bus was behind the U.S. convoy, when it was attacked.

In Helmand Province, local government officials say a bomb exploded killing at least five people, and wounding five others.

09 April 2013/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

In Nangarhar Province, a U.S./NATO/ISAF helicopter crashed and killed two crewmen. Mujahideen claim to have shot it down.  Witnesses say the helicopter suddenly dropped from the sky.

In Kandahar Province, Panjwaee District, Mujahideen say the launched four hit and run attacks on a U.S. patrol. They say that in frustration the U.S. forces fired indiscriminately, wounding a Mujahid, and seven children.

In Kunar Province, Manugi District, local Mujahideen say they attacked Afghan government forces who had just kidnapped two people from a local village.  One Afghan government personnel killed, two wounded. No word on the kidnap victims.

In Nuristan Province, Mujahideen overran the main police checkpoint in Paron District. At least two Afghan National Police killed.

The last group of Red Coat British Royal Marine commandos left Helmand Province.  The unit had been deployed 12 times to Helmand.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3, Economic Front: California makes deal with China!

10 April 2013 (15:00 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Jumada l-Ula 1434/21 Farvardin 1391/01 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

“California could get new investment worth hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars from China by the end of 2020.”-Wang Chao, China’s Vice-Minister of Commerce

The city of Shanghai, and the provinces of Jiangsu, Shandong, Guangdong and Chongqing have signed a $1.4 billion USD trade deal with the U.S. state of California.

It’s the biggest trade deal with any U.S. state.  It involves more than 70 California companies and at least 100 Chinese entrepreneurs.