Category Archives: International

International

Rubella outbreak update from Japan!

10 April 2013 (02:38 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Jumada l-Ula 1434/21 Farvardin 1391/01 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases says 375 new cases of rubella were reported at the end of March.  Between January and March 2905 cases reported, 25 times more than the same time last year!

Health officials say 90% of the cases involve adults, most have never been vaccinated.  Pregnant women who catch the airborne rubella have babies with severe birth defects.

Recently it was reported that rubella was making a come back, and that the vaccine might be only temporary.

 

 

 

 

 

International

H7N9 update: Chinese and Japanese have evidence of rapid mutations, almost AIDS like! Resistance is futile?

10 April 2013 (02:29 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Jumada l-Ula 1434/21 Farvardin 1391/01 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

Chinese and Japanese researchers have made independent reports, indicating the new H7N9 is rapidly mutating.  This could explain the difficulty in detecting it.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo said H7N9 samples from four Chinese victims showed noticeable differences in gene sequences, from person to person. The Researchers think the infections were from multiple sources.

In China, researchers at South University of Science and Technology said they noticed rapid mutation in nine of H7N9’s 560 amino acids. They estimate the new virus is mutating eight times faster than ‘normal’ flu viruses: “It happened in just one or two weeks. The speed may not have caught up with the HIV, but it’s quite unusual for a flu.”-He Jiankui, South University of Science and Technology

The rapid mutation will make it almost impossible to develop vaccines or anti-virals for the new ‘bird’ flu.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3, East Asian Front: China closes border! Multiple Missiles ready for launch!

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

China has closed a border crossing with North Korea: “Travel agencies are not allowed to take tourist groups to go there, since the North Korean government is now asking foreign people to leave.”-unnamed official with the Dandong Border Office

South Korean media reporting that military satellite imagery shows multiple ICBMs ready for launch in North Korea.  The missiles include short range Scud, medium range Nodong as well as the BM25 Musudan: “There are clear signs that the North could simultaneously fire off Musudan, Scud and Nodong missiles.”-unnamed ROK spokesman

International

H7N9 update: 9 people dead! Still no connection to birds!

10 April 2013 (19:50 UTC-07 Tango 09 April 2013)/29 Jumada l-Ula 1434/21 Farvardin 1391/01 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

A 35 years old woman has died in Anhui Province. So far 28 cases, nine deaths since the end of March.

Chinese health researchers have yet to find a definite connection between birds and humans.  This suggests the H7N9 infecting humans is unique to humans.  The new strain of H7N9 hasn’t been found in pigs either.

Yesterday, the top veterinarian in China stated that this new H7N9 came from outside continental Asia, which backed up what health officials in Thailand said a couple of days ago.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3, Gun Control Front: Man wounds 14 college students….with a craft razor!

09 April 2013 (15:17 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

A college student decided to take out as many of his fellow students as he could, with a razor knife.

14 Lone Star College students were stabbed in Cypress, Texas.  12 hospitalized, two are in critical condition.

Police are calling the edged weapon and “unknown weapon”.  A witness called the “unknown weapon” an ‘X-acto’ type razor knife used in making crafts. Apparently the ‘mass shooter’ stabbed people in the neck.  (he must’ve had the type with multiple blades in the handle, oh no, now they are going to be banned)

I use those X-acto blades when I build my model kits.  Oh my god!   Am I going to have to go through a background check just to buy my crafts supplies?

You know if one of those students had a gun…….

 

International, U.S.

H7N9 update: Chinese Agriculture Ministry joins Thailand in accusing the United States of spreading the new disease!

09 April 2013 (14:50 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Yesterday, Thai health officials pointed out that H7N9 is new to continental Asia, that it’s only been found in Japan, Europe and United States.

Today China’s chief veterinarian, Yu Kangzhen, revealed that this is the first time the H7N9 virus has been detected in China.  To make things more interesting, Yu says so far no connection has been found between the poultry cases and the human cases.  He believes the source of infection for both poultry and humans came from outside China.

This announcement by China’s Ministry of Agriculture comes two days after a Chinese air force Colonel, Dai Xu, accused the United States of biological warfare.

International, U.S.

World War 3, East Asian Front: South Korea accuses North of psyops! U.S. will not shoot down missile!

09 April 2013 (14:35 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“We believe that foreigners in South Korea as well as our nationals will be unfazed as they have great confidence and trust in our military and the Republic of Korea.”–Kim Haing, ROK presidential spokeswoman

Officials in Republic of Korea say the DPRK’s warning that foreigners should leave South Korea is nothing more than psychological warfare.

And in front of the U.S. Congress, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Locklear, said that U.S. forces would shoot down a DPRK missile if it was targeting the United States or an ally.  But, he “would not recommend” shooting it down if it is truly a test launch that does not target anyone.

Business/Economics, International

H7N9 update: 8 dead, 28 infected! Competition to make a new vaccine threatens co-operation!

09 April 2013 (14:20 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

An 83 years old man in Jiangsu Province died.  Two people in Shanghai and two in Zhejiang province confirmed to have H7N9 infection.  This brings the cases to 28 in the past couple of weeks.

Citing time constraints, Taiwan’s Deputy Health Minister, Lin Tzou-yien, says his country will not co-operate with mainland China in developing a vaccine.  Could this be a capitalist maneuver because of concerns over patent rights?

Here’s how China responded: China’s State Food and Drug Administration is warning medical personnel and local health departments to inspect protective apparel, respirators, anesthesia machines and diagnostic reagents, among other equipment. Chinese officials want to make sure those products have officially-approved labels and manuals.   Also, the Chinese FDA is warning that prosecutions could take place for those who do not follow proper product registration laws in regards to H7N9 research.

The UN World health Organization says that , so far, H7N9 is not showing up in pigs.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3, East Asian Front: North Korea warns all foreigners in South Korea to leave! South Korea asks banks to suspend collection of debts from capitalist KIR companies!

09 April 2013 (02:11 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is warning all foreigners in South Korea to prepare to evacuate: “The committee informs all foreign institutions and enterprises and foreigners including tourists in Seoul and all other parts of South Korea that they are requested to take measures for shelter and evacuation in advance for their safety.”-DPRK Asia-Pacific Peace Committee statement

In the Republic of Korea, the Finance Supervisory Service (FSS) has asked South Korean banks to hold off on collecting debts from the capitalist companies working in the now closed Kaesŏng Industrial Region (KIR).

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3, Africa Front: Obama increases military aid and troops for Somalia, I mean Horn of Africa!

09 April 2013 (00:16 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“The United States is committed to being a long term partner in assisting the defense forces in Somalia to become professional military forces.”-Caitlin Hayden, National Security Council spokeswoman

U.S. President, and peace prize winner, Barack Obama has just authorized the increased shipment of military aid to Somalia, at the taxpayers expense of course.

The United States pushed for the end of a 1992 arms embargo against Somalia, just so we could provide them free weapons.  Since 2007 U.S. taxpayers have been forced to fork over $133 million USD in military assistance to the pro-U.S., anti-Muslim government.

In January 2013 the United States officially recognized the anti-Muslim government of Somalia.  It was at that time that Obama revealed that U.S. forces helped France in its failed attempt to rescue hostages in Somalia.

In June 2012, Somali military officer, Abdiwahab Mohamed Ali, told regional media sources that the U.S. had 390 personnel incountry, training anti-Muslim forces.   The U.S. military has been avoiding using the term ‘Somalia’, instead referring to their secret Area of Operation (AO) as Horn of Africa.

It was recently revealed that two units of the Indiana National Guard were to deploy to Somalia, oh, I mean Horn of Africa.  Reports said they had been training for two years for the deployment.  Because the U.S. Army realized it’s much, much cheaper to use Regular Army (RA) soldiers instead of state militias, the Indiana deployment was canceled in favor of active Army units.

The ‘Horn of Africa’ (Somalia, Djibouti and Ethiopia) AO, as well as other African AOs, are considered part of the Operation Enduring Freedom mission in the Asian country of Afghanistan.

The U.S. Marine Corps has been training Ugandan troops for deployment to Somalia.  The USMC is helping build up forces from African countries for the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission.

The U.S. has also made two other Horn of Africa countries, Djibouti and Ethiopia, home bases for U.S. drones (UAVs).