Category Archives: International

Business/Economics, International

New Bird Flu? First pigs now thousands of dead ducks pulled from river! Pigs in river now past 16000!

26 March 2013/14 Jumada l-Ula 1434/06 Farvardin 1391/15 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

In Sichuan Province, China, locals have been pulling dead ducks from the Pengshan River.  At least 1000 so far.

Health officials are not able to determine what killed the ducks, as most were too decomposed.  Officials say there is no concern over the water in the Pengshan as it’s not used for drinking.

However, over in Zhejiang and Shanghai provinces the Huangpu River is used for drinking, and that’s where the number of dead pigs has hit 16000!

A week ago health officials blamed weather, government cuts and the economy for the pig deaths.

 

Business/Economics, International

Nursing shortage continues for Japan, only 30 applicants pass new certification test!

26 March 2013/14 Jumada l-Ula 1434/06 Farvardin 1391/15 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Japan is so desperate for nurses that they’ve eased up on testing requirements for foreign applicants, yet only 9.5% passed the latest exam.

Last year officials said they were making this year’s test easier regarding Japanese language skills, and they were adding 30 minutes to the test.  Obviously it’s not enough.

Officials say those who failed, but reached a certain score will be allowed to stay in Japan one more year to help prepare for their next exam.

Even some Japanese wanna-be nurses have trouble with the certification.  This year 88.8% of Japanese who took the test passed.

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Government Incompetence & World War 3: Now South Korea accuses one of its own for cyber attacks!

25 March 2013/13 Jumada l-Ula 1434/05 Farvardin 1391/14 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“We traced some IP addresses found on MBC and YTN computer networks to overseas sources like the U.S. and a few European countries. We’re still trying to find out who is behind the attacks on the other institutions.”-Korean [South] Communications Commission

Republic of Korea’s (ROK) National Police Agency (NPA) now blaming one of their own corporations for part of the massive cyber attack last week!

In a cyber attack originally blamed on China and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the NPA now says what they thought was a Chinese IP address is actually the IP address of a single employee with the South Korean corporation Nonghyup.

Other attacks have been traced to European and U.S. IP addresses.  However, NPA officials are still claiming the attacks were originally launched from North Korea, although it’s pure speculation because they admit they have no proof at this point.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Japan to amend constitution to allow Japanese military to fight alongside the U.S. in new Korean War!

25 March 2013/13 Jumada l-Ula 1434/05 Farvardin 1391/14 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, agreed to help President Barack Obama in preparations for war with Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.  Abe is asking the Diet to amend Article 9 of Japan’s constitution.

Currently Japan’s U.S. imposed constitution does not allow the Japanese to take part in military action outside the country.  It has been recently amended to allow for ‘peacekeeping’ operations. Abe reminded Obama that Japan’s constitution would have to be changed in order for Japan to help the U.S. against DPRK.

Abe’s request would allow the Japanese Self Defense Forces (SDF) to be used in Korea, under the guise of collective self defense alongside U.S. troops. This is not the first time that Japan was allowed to change their U.S. imposed constitution, the first time was during the First Korean War.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. & South Korea have new military pact! North Korea is right, U.S. has been building up troops in violation of agreement!

25 March 2013/13 Jumada l-Ula 1434/05 Farvardin 1391/14 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The United States and Republic of Korea have signed a new military pact, giving South Korea the lead in any reaction to attack from North Korea.  The U.S. Forces Korea would act in a support role (and would involve U.S. Forces Japan and U.S. Pacific Command).

This comes after reports that the United States has been increasing military personnel in South Korea.  According to a 2008 agreement there are supposed to be only 28500 U.S. military personnel in ROK.  However, even the most recent U.S. Department of Defense documents show troop strength has actually been increased over the past few years, exactly as North Korea claims.

The 2012 Base Structure Report shows 37354 U.S. personnel in south Korea as of September 2011.  Some analysts think the increase is from the Iraq pullout, and have pointed out that such increases are being seen in Germany, Japan and even Kuwait.

This suggests that U.S. personnel pulled out of Iraq are not being sent home to the U.S., but are being held in reserve in Germany, Japan, Kuwait and South Korea for future planned wars.

 

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? New Cyprus bailout equals 40% tax on bank accounts! Russia calling European Union a bunch of thieves, yet happy about it? More reason to get your money out of the banks!

25 March 2013/13 Jumada l-Ula 1434/05 Farvardin 1391/14 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“The stealing of what has already been stolen continues…”-Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Prime Minister

Medvedev is referring to the latest bailout offer for Cyprus from the European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund, in a round-a-bout way saying the whole thing was a done deal from the beginning.

The previous offer, which was rejected by parliament, included up to 10% tax on bank accounts. This new one imposes up to 40% tax on accounts with $100000 or more, and does not require parliamentary approval!!!

Most of the big money depositors in Cyprus are foreigners, and they’re going to pullout all their money.  Guess where many of those depositors are going to put their money now?  In Russian banks!

That’s the real reason Russia didn’t really try to give Cyprus a bailout, and why Russia isn’t really that upset about Cypriot bank accounts being robbed by the ECB and IMF (despite what Western media analysts say).

The result of the foreign depositors pulling out their money, and the harsh austerity caused by the bailout (such as the 2nd largest bank of Cyprus will be shut down under the deal), will be the economic destruction of Cyprus (and the take over of the island county’s stake in the huge Leviathan petroleum field).

 

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: France invades CAR, backed up by United States! Will this lead to the first Pan-African War?

25 March 2013/13 Jumada l-Ula 1434/05 Farvardin 1391/14 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“The council has decided to suspend with immediate effect Central African Republic from all African Union activities and to impose sanctions, travel restrictions and an asset freeze on Seleka’s leaders.”-Ramtane Lamamra, African Union peace and security chief

Did you already forget about the U.S./U.K. supported French invasion of Mali?  France is still slugging it out in that North West African country, and now they’ve invaded the Central African Republic (with U.S./U.K. help of course).

This is because rebel forces have taken over the country’s capital city of Bangui, and President Francois Bozize is now reported as missing.

Rebel leaders have already declared a new government. The African Union is refusing to recognize the new government.  France actually invaded over the weekend, reporting that they’ve captured (there were no rebel fighters there) the airport near the capital city.

A few days ago French officials had asked for a UN Security Council resolution to prevent the rebels from taking the capital city.  The United Nations now condemns the rebel take over of CAR.

South Africa, a member of the African Union, is reporting that 13 of their troops were killed and 27 wounded, as 2000 CAR rebels stormed the capital city.  One South African ‘peacekeeper’ is missing: “Our soldiers paid the ultimate price in the service of their country. Just over 200 of our soldiers fought bandits who wanted to cause harm…..”-Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa

South Africa still has military personnel in CAR, and at this point officials have decided to keep them in the fight.

While CAR has no significant petroleum deposits it is surrounded by countries that do, and European and U.S. companies have invested a lot of money into those countries.  The fear, as in Mali, is that the ‘extremists’ will spread into the oil rich U.S./European dominated countries.

 

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

World War 3: South Korea changes tune on recent cyber attacks. Now blaming United States!

25 March 2013/13 Jumada l-Ula 1434/05 Farvardin 1391/14 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

A few days ago the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) National Police Agency (NPA) blamed a crippling cyber attack on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) via China.

Now ROK’s National Police Agency has changed its claim and is blaming Europe and the United States!!!

South Korean cops now say the cyber attack that shut down three major TV broadcasters and three major banks, and disabled 32000 computers, came from IP addresses in three European countries and the U.S.

ROK NPA investigators suspect other countries are involved.  The question now is why were U.S. and South Korean officials so quick to blame China and the DPRK?

International

What Democracy? Japan’s recent elections invalid & unconstitutional!

25 March 2013/13 Jumada l-Ula 1434/05 Farvardin 1391/14 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Japan continues to have problems with elections, after two previous elections were declared unconstitutional, yet another has been voided!

The Hiroshima High Court has ruled results in the Lower House elections in 2 constituencies in Hiroshima Prefecture invalid.  The elections took place in December 2012.

Two groups of attorneys filed a lawsuit over the elections, claiming there was massive voter disparities.  They claim the difference between densely and sparsely populated constituencies was as great as 2.43.  The size of such disparity has been growing since 2009, as has court rulings declaring the elections fraudulent!

In 2009, and again in 2011, elections for Lower House positions were voided for voter disparity.  Rules were changed by the Diet last year, but it turns out December’s elections were run under the old rules.

This latest court case was preceded by five other courts, all ruling the December elections unconstitutional.  Japan’s supposed elected officials will appeal all the way to the Supreme Court.

International, U.S.

Norovirus update 24 March 2013: Nora Virus? A huge unnecessary health care cost in the United States! Unnecessary and costly use of ambulances in United Kingdom! Connection to IBS & nutcracker esophagus?

In Oregon U.S.A., at least 15 people got sick, and one man died, after a state forestry committee meeting.  Lab tests have confirmed norovirus, but investigators have yet to find the source.  Unfortunately the local media is already blaming the food, or employees, at the restaurant, even though there have been many cases this season that did not involve food and has inspectors stumped. So far only the people attending the forestry meeting got sick, no other customers are sick, none of the employees are sick, which suggests it’s not the restaurant.  The restaurant owner is upset: “I prayed to God that we didn’t do anything bad. We’re so diligent about food safety.”-Maggie Pike

The U.S. CDC says the norovirus (first appearing in 1968) is now the number one cause of stomach problems in children.  It’s now blamed for most cases of gastroenteritis. Norovirus has become the leading cause because treatments for the other causes have greatly reduced their occurrence, there is no vaccine or treatment for norvirus. Between 2009-10 one million U.S. kids were sick with it, and it’s estimated that the virus is costing families and insurance companies $273 million per year.  When you realize that there is no treatment for the norovirus itself, and most people are well within 48 hours,  you’ll begin to realize that most of the health care costs associated with norovirus are unnecessary, as long as people drink enough fluids. The main reason for people being hospitalized is dehydration.

The Rhode Island (U.S.A.) Department of Health confirmed an outbreak at Brown University (is that a joke by god or what? Brown…norovirus).   Officials say it’s the first time in ten years. At least 49 students are sick.

In Sacramento County, California U.S.A., a restaurant is being investigated for a stomach bug outbreak back in February.  It’s based on the number of complaints county officials got at the end of February.  The restaurant had just passed its health inspection before the complaints.

In the world of bicycle racing, in South Africa both Topeak-Ergon teams ended their runs (pun) in the Cape Epic race. Some reasons included crashes, but other team members developed gastrointestinal infections.

In the world of Baseball, Roy Halliday, pitcher for Philadelphia Phillies, says he lost ten pounds in two days after getting sick with vomiting bug.  And the Texas Ranges are dealing with a player that keeps getting sick.  Derek Holland is recovering from a recent bout with stomach bug.  Holland was sick with stomach bug last year as well.  Humans do not build resistance to norovirus.

A United Kingdom doctor, Martin Scurr, responded to a question from a woman who began having trouble swallowing after two bouts of stomach bug infections. He said her nutcracker esophagus might be connected to “a type of post-infection irritable bowel syndrome.”

The Queen of England made her first public appearance after getting sick.  It was for the 150th anniversary of London’s “Tube” subway system.

In Whitehaven U.K., the North Cumbria University NHS Hospitals Trust had to move patients from the West Cumberland Hospital, 75 miles away to the Northumbrian hospital, because of ongoing infections.  There are so many sick people in the hospital, that new patients have to be transferred.

In Norwich, England U.K., an academic teaching hospital imposed visitor restrictions. The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital reported increased cases.  Also, in London the Lewisham Hospital relaxed visitor restrictions, however there were warnings that restrictions could be re-imposed because of the ongoing infections.

In Eastbourne, East Sussex U.K., the Eastbourne District General Hospital restricted visitation to three wards because of an outbreak.

In Lancashire U.K., the Lindum Hotel closed down for a second time, just five days after re-opening from another norovirus caused shutdown.  This time the hotel management decided to close after three guests became sick, saying they didn’t want to take any chances.

Also in U.K., Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is closed to new patients because an outbreak has filled all their beds with sick people (and not just sick in the head).  And, an ambulance service is asking people sick with stomach bug not to call.  The service is reporting a 16% increase in calls, mostly for people with vomiting bug.  Ambulance operators are asking people to call only in “real emergencies”.

In the Central American country of Belize, the Ministry of Health is reporting increased cases of norovirus, commonly and incorrectly being called stomach flu.  The Ministry of Health is for some reason calling it Nora Virus.

In Saskatchewan, Canada, visitor restrictions were lifted at Saint Paul’s Hospital.

In Wellington, New Zealand, reports that an outbreak at the Karori Normal School is spreading.  The school’s principal says the outbreak at the school is the result of infections already present in the community.  New Zealand is also dealing with outbreaks of cryptosporidium, and people are being told to stay out of swimming pools if they are sick.