Category Archives: International

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Money Changers in the Temple: Catholic Church goes Cash Only, caught breaking money laundering laws!

“A lot of tourists don’t have cash on them, so they have to get euros and don’t know where to get them.”-Fluger William Hunter, tourist from United States

The Catholic country of Vatican City is now cash only.  (Vatican City is the world’s smallest country)

All credit/debit card payments have been suspended, and ATMs have been shut down.

The Bank of Italy is taking the tough action against the Temple of the Western Christians, saying Vatican officials are disobeying European Union anti-money laundering laws.  Because of that no European Union member bank can conduct operations in Vatican City.

The Catholic Church does not have its own electronic banking system, and has been relying on outside banks for the service.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 25 – 28 December 2012. Attacks increasing! U.S. bombs Afghan government militias! Tit for tat increases with Pakistan. Cops keep attacking fellow cops! More waste of U.S. taxpayer money!

28 December 2012

Mujahideen claim wave of attacks in Kandahar Province.  In Shahwalikot district, battles raged since the day before. Mujahideen are not sure of how much damage they inflicted on enemy troops, but they think they blew up a U.S./NATO armored vehicle.  Also, in the same district a local cop joined the Mujahideen.  In Panjwaee district, a cop was sniped.  In Kandahar city, a police vehicle was blown up with a bicycle bomb, killing four and wounding one.  In Ghorak district, a police vehicle was blown up with a landmine.  In Hisark district, 15 U.S./NATO personnel were killed in a firefight.

Pakistan closed the Torkham gate on the border with Afghanistan, claiming two Pakistani truck drivers had been tortured by Afghan border police.  This was apparently in retaliation for Pakistani police harassing 29 Afghan truck drivers.  And that was in retaliation for Afghan harassment of Pakistani workers the week prior!

In another example of wasted U.S. taxpayer money; two Afghan women returned from the United States after receiving helicopter pilot training.  The problem is that the Afghan air force refuses to let the women do their jobs as pilots.  The two 2nd Lieutenants are the first female pilots for Afghanistan since the Soviet occupation in the 1980s.

Afghans are suing Germany over an airstrike that killed almost one hundred civilians, and wounded at least 142.  It happened in 2009, when German ground troops called in an airstrike on two fuelers that had been captured by Mujahideen.  USAF F-15 Eagles blew up the fuel trucks in a crowded part of Kunduz city.

Australia began officially withdrawing from Afghanistan.  They claim they will be out by the end of 2013.

27 December 2012

In Logar Province, Mujahideen claim heavy fighting.  Two U.S. led troops on foot patrol killed, and two wounded, using a remote detonated bomb.  They also claim to have killed two Afghan government troops when they blew up their vehicle.  A policeman was sniped by Mujahideen as well.

In Uruzgan Province, Mujahideen attacked a police checkpoint. Government reports say four cops killed, four wounded. Mujahideen claim six cops killed.  Reports say the attack was led by a local cop.

In Kunar Province,  Mujahideen are calling it the Battle of Kunar.  In Chapa Darah district, they claim to have killed seven enemy troops and blew up three vehicles.  In Manugi district, they claim to have killed three enemy troops, wounded dozens, and destroyed three vehicles.

26 December 2012

In Nangarhar Province, in Khogiyani district, U.S./NATO forces used helicopters to bomb Afghan government militia troops and local police, killing 15.  It happened during an intense battle with Mujahideen.  Apparently the U.S. led forces mistook the local government militia/cops as Mujahideen.  No comment from ISAF, so far.  Mujahideen say, “na, na, you missed me, you didn’t even touch me!”

In Faryab Province, in Dawlatabad district, Mujahideen attacked a police checkpoint chasing off the cops and taking two motorcycles and a supply truck.  In Chilgazi district, Mujahideen killed 10 Afghan National Army (ANA) troops, and captured one.

In Khost Province, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Chapman was hit by a car bomb: “Three Afghan nationals are killed and seven Afghan nationals are wounded. We have no report of coalition casualties right now.”-International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)

Afghan media reports say President Hamid Karzai has met with Mujahideen leaders.  He promised them he would take their complaints directly to U.S. President Barack Obama.

Afghan investigators say the police woman who killed a U.S. police contractor, is from Iran.  They say she came to Afghanistan ten years ago with her husband.  Although investigators are trying to blame the shooting on the fact that she’s originally from Iran, they have not found any links to Mujahideen.  The female cop said she did it to get vengeance for being sexually harassed.

France will offer asylum to Afghans that have worked for the French military.  French officials admit those Afghans who worked for the French military will not be safe once French troops leave Afghanistan.

Today was the 33rd anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.  The Soviets had advanced weapons, highly trained troops, much more firepower including air power, yet still lost.  They occupied Afghanistan (on their own, not with allies like the United states) for ten years.

25 December 2012 

In Kandahar Province, Panjwaee district, Mujahideen say they attacked a enemy foot patrol by ambush and landmines.  Two killed, one wounded. In Karez bazaar of Kandahar city, Mujahideen attacked a police check point with grenades. As government reinforcements arrived, Mujahideen attacked them with bombs. Six killed.  In Boldak district, three border police were killed, one wounded, when they drove over a landmine.

In Farah Province, three people were killed when they drove over a landmine.

In Helmand Province, in Bari Gul bazaar area of Nad Ali district, U.S./NATO forces raided a village. Three people were beat up then kidnapped.

In Paktika Province, an ANA soldier joined the Mujahideen.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Class Warfare: More proof Fiscal Cliff is a done deal to screw over taxpayers! End of part one in the ongoing Fiscal Cliff Hanger saga!

“We Republicans need to be willing to tolerate a temporary, partial government shutdown, which is what that could mean.”-Pat Toomey, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania

“Go fuck yourself!”-John Boehner, Speaker of the House, reply to Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader

“More remains to be done to put U.S. public finances back on a sustainable path without harming the still fragile recovery.”-Gerry Rice, International Monetary Fund (IMF), commenting on the so called fiscal cliff deal in the United States

“As the IMF have said, anything short of a deep and wide reaching resolution will not be good enough this time around.”–Wayne Swan, Treasurer of Australia, commenting on the so called fiscal cliff deal in the United States

The so called budget agreement to avoid a fiscal cliff (austerity measures) is a total sham.  As I posted before, this fiscal cliff is a done deal.

Proof is the fact that there will be across the board 2% income/payroll tax increases for everyone, not just the wealthy!  So much for some of those states that recently raised their mandatory minimum wage levels (or maybe that’s why they raised it, they knew what was coming).

One small business owner said he can not afford to try and help his employees deal with the increased income tax by giving them a raise: “Any business that survived the recession did so by digging a big hole. We can’t dig any deeper.”-Mike Brey, Hobby Works

The 2% payroll tax increase comes as a temporary decrease on Social Security taxes ended with the first round of fiscal cliff BS.  That’s right, this is just first round.  Despite what the incompetent main stream U.S. TV media is reporting, there are more fiscal cliff hangers coming.

According to many economists, this latest deal does not cut spending enough, or at all, and the amount of increase in taxes is piddly, so the end result is deeper government debt.

Over the next two months there will be more fiscal cliff hangers, over the national debt ceiling, more taxes and government spending cuts.  Isn’t this what we’ve been seeing in several European countries in the past couple of years?

 

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

What Economic Recovery? Hewlett Packard on the ropes, and going down! Blames War on Terror!

“Terrorist acts, conflicts of wars (wherever located throughout the world) may cause damage or disruption to HP, our employees, facilities, partners, suppliers, distributors, resellers or customers or adversely affect our ability to manage logistics……..The potential for future attacks, the national and international responses……or wars, including ongoing military operations in Afghanistan, have created many economic and political uncertainties……actions against or by the United States may impact our business and employees.”-HP Form 10-K, Security & Exchange Commission report, 27 December 2012

Hewlett Packard filed a 10-K report with the U.S. SEC, and it’s full of what if scenarios, mostly bad scenarios.  Obviously the executives of HP are not positive about 2013.  Employees will continue to be shed: “The restructuring plan includes both voluntary early retirement programs and non-voluntary workforce reductions and is expected to result in 29,000 employees exiting the company by the end of the period [by the end of 2014].”   

HP is also dealing with trouble from competitors, dealers and divisions.

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating HP’s claims that the executives of the British company Autonomy, lied about its financial situation. HP shelled out $11 billion USD for Autonomy in 2011!

After a challenge by IBM (International Business Machines) the U.S. Federal government will continue with a $543 million five year Department of Veterans Affairs contract with HP.

Despite Idaho voters rejecting a laptop for students proposition, HP was awarded a $180 million contract to provide the laptops, at least one week before the voting took place!!!

Skycom Tech, a business partner of Chinese company Huawei, tried to sell $1.72 million worth of HP communication equipment to an Iranian company, some say in violation of U.S./European sanctions.  The deal didn’t go through, but Huawei said: “Huawei’s business in Iran is in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations including those of the UN, U.S. and EU….”

HP officials said: “HP’s distribution contract terms prohibit the sale of HP products into Iran…”

There are reports that HP is no longer directly selling printers on Amazon. Some analysts think it’s actually retaliation by Amazon, because HP’s new Cloud computing system is in direct competition with Amazon’s own computing system.

A report out of India says a state government is investigating HP’s claims of being able to supply 1,500,000 school laptops by a certain date.  If government officials don’t think HP can make the deadline they will split up the contract to other competitors:  “If HP is found to have insufficient capacity, then it could, accordingly, get a contract to supply a reduced quantity of laptops and the remaining quantity will be divided among the bidders ready to offer the quantity at the rate quoted by HP.”-Uttar Pradesh government statement

HP and General Motors (GM) are going after each other in court.  It involves GM’s recent decision to hire away from HP 3,000 employees, to start its own inhouse tech service. HP claims it’s more than coincidence that GM’s plans to dump HP (and IBM) as tech service providers come after GM hired several HP executives to run GM’s technology operations. HP said the initial 18 HP employees hired by GM resigned “en masse and without notice.”


International, U.S.

World War 3: China, France and United States evacuating CAR. France and U.S. increase troop presence. IMF says it’s all about the oil, baby!

31 December 2012, Central African Republic (CAR) government forces are abandoning their capitol city, as rebel forces move in.  The most recent reports say the coalition of three rebel groups (known as Seleka) are one town away from victory.

U.S. President Barack Obama has informed Congress that he is sending 50 additional troops to help evacuate U.S. citizens.

China has evacuated about 300 citizens from CAR.  More are expected to leave in the next few days.

France has increased its troop presence to 400.  Officials say it’s only to help evacuate French citizens.

Reports say that the government of CAR has repeatedly asked France and the U.S. for help fighting the rebels, but got no response.

CAR has significant resources, like oil.  As recently as October 2012, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that there is so much oil in central Africa that the expected revenues have the “….Power to Transform Countries of Central Africa”.

The IMF even published a policy book on it, called Oil Wealth in Central Africa: Policies for Inclusive Growth.  Six countries are talked about: Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo.

One IMF economist said that most of the governments are reluctant to adopt IMF policies regarding economic progress, and implies that those countries need some prodding: “…of all the countries that are in this region, none of them are fully compliant with EITI, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative….” , “To some extent, there is a reluctance to move, because at the end of the day these are political choices…….We think that with greater awareness, and also particularly of the cost of what is not being achieved, these circumstances will change.”-Sharmini Coorey, IMF Institute for Capacity Development

 

 

 

International, U.S.

Norovirus update, 31 December 2012: 1 million sick in U.K.! More deaths in Japan! More cruise ships hit hard! Hospitals refusing service! U.S. prisons getting hit! Mis-diagnosed as flu! New version found in California!

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is trying to find out what made at least 400 people sick, on two xmas time cruise ships.

Officials with the CDC suspect norovirus.  The latest cruise ship outbreaks took place on ships belonging to Cunard and Princess Cruises.

In Japan, people are still dying from norovirus.  In a third outbreak just in the Gregorian month of December, four more people have died.  This latest outbreak is taking place in a hospital in Yokohama.  At least 68 patients are sick, as well as  27 hospital staff.

In United Kingdom, more than one million people are confirmed sick with norovirus like symptoms (3,538 have so far been confirmed as norovirus by lab tests, which takes time), and hospitals are being shut down.  The vomiting bug (as it’s called in Britain) has shut down East Surrey Hospital, for the third time in the past two months!  U.K. is experiencing an 83% increase in norovirus cases, compared to the same time last year.  Just in the past two weeks 70 British hospitals have reported outbreaks! To make matters worse, an average of 5,000 health workers have been calling in sick everyday!  Health officials say it’s a little early for the vomiting bug: “The number of laboratory confirmed cases has risen once again as it appears that we have seen the rise in cases that usually begins in January start a little earlier than we normally expect.”-John Harris, Health Protection Agency

Back in the U.S.A., in Illinois officials are reporting norovirus outbreaks in prisons.  At least 140 inmates were sick in the Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet.  Prison officials say the first cases showed up on xmas day.

In Iowa, media in Sioux City are reporting that many cases of norovirus are being misdiagnosed as influenza. In fact, here in the U.S. norovirus is often incorrectly called “stomach flu”.  Another factor is that Iowa doctors and hospitals are not required to report cases of norovirus to state health officials!

A nurse in Maine explains the main differences between norovirus and influenza: “Basically the biggest difference between norovirus and the actual flu is that the norovirus causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. The actual flu that we all are vaccinated against every year is mostly respiratory in nature, with cough, aches, fever and chills. As far as numbers of cases, I cannot say exactly how much of either but will say that this is one of the busiest seasons I have seen in a while for both norovirus and the flu.”-Chris Reeder, York Hospital

In California, officials in San Luis Obispo County are reporting what they think is a new strain of norovirus. They are reporting three outbreaks in the past month. It’s thought to have come from Australia.   California has been dealing with norovirus outbreaks all year!  In October a middle school in Oak Park, Ventura County, saw at least 320 students out sick.  A pizza restaurant, in Contra Costa County, was shut down because of the vomiting bug back in June.  In July the Alisal Guest Ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, was investigated after customers got sick at the end of June.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, since September there have been one confirmed and five suspected outbreaks in several nursing homes.

In Michigan, Lansing area health officials are reporting 75 cases at a local retirement home.

There is no treatment for norovirus, no vaccine, and your body does not develop immunity so you can get sick again and again and again….

Check my previous postings about norovirus.  You’ll notice most outbreaks involve hospitals.  You’ll also read about a recent study that says cleanliness might not have any affect on viruses (it’s actually the first study ever to investigate such claims).

International, U.S.

World War 3: Barack Obama deploying U.S. forces throughout Africa! Use of Domino theory is more evidence of U.S. invasion of Mali! UN OKs Mali war!

On 24 December 2012, the Associated Press revealed that the United States is deploying thousands of troops to 35 African countries.

Approximately 4,000 personnel from the U.S. Army’s 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (Dagger Brigade, based at Fort Riley, Kansas), will deploy in March 2013.  This report follows earlier reports that plans were being made to invade Mali.

On 23 December, the Associated Press published an article which revealed that the United Nations Security Council approved the request of the African Union (AU) for military action in Mali.  It just so happens that the AU invasion plan calls for at least 3,300 troops.

It’s also coincidentally convenient that some of the U.S. Army’s Dagger Brigade soldiers are from Africa: “We do have some soldiers who either came over from Africa and went to school here and then joined the military or came over with their families.”-Colonel Jeff Broadwater

Officially the deployment is for training purposes.

Regarding Mali, a 25 December 2012 National Public Radio (NPR) report gave strong proof that the U.S. is about to ramp up activity in the western African country; one U.S. General is using the old Domino theory to justify war:  “What I worry about more than anything is a growing linkage which I think poses the greatest threat to regional stability across Africa, certainly into Europe and to the United States as well.”-General Carter Ham, U.S. Africa Command

NPR also interviewed an analyst who says ‘terrorism’ in Africa is more about poverty and predatory governments (like the U.S. government?): “Terrorism is really a symptom of a lot of other problems that really the military is not the best organization to solve.”-Richard Downie

You’d think after 11 years of failed War on Terrorism our exalted leaders would understand that.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? United Nations says it ain’t gonna happen

A recent economic report from the UN says western economies (Europe, North America, Japan) will not see any recovery of the tens of millions of job losses since 2008, for at least five more years.

UN economists point to low projected GDP numbers as proof: “This pace of growth will be far from sufficient to overcome the continued jobs crisis that many countries are still facing.”-World Economic Situation and Prospects 2013

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 17 – 24 December 2012. Lil’ol Afghan Woman kills big tough U.S. cop! Police commander kills own cops? Spain says they will stay after the 2014 pullout! More proof taxpayers are fools! Soviet landmines still at work!

24 December 2012

ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”

In Badghis Province, local government officials reporting that at least ten local cops joined the Mujahideen.  This is the largest group defection in the province, so far.  People of the Chehl-Gazi area, in Abkamari district, say the cops had been making plans to become Mujahideen for some time.

In Kabul city, a local policewoman shot and killed a U.S. police adviser.  Reports say it happened in a police station. The policewoman has been arrested.  Some reports say the policewoman was seeking vengeance against her male supervisors, however she could not find them in the police station, and her only target of opportunity was the U.S. adviser.

23 December 2012

In Jowzjan Province, five local cops were assassinated, by their own commander! Some reports say the commander joined the Mujahideen and started his rebellion by attacking a police check point, killing his former underlings. However, other reports say the commander was kidnapped when Mujahideen attacked the police check point.  The commander was responsible for recently freeing two Turkish citizens that had been kidnapped.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said: “During an operation in Sherzad district, Nangarhar Province, Sunday, an Afghan and coalition security force killed Obaidullah, one of the top Taliban leaders in the district.”

Possibly in response, Mujahideen attacked a U.S. led military convoy in Nangarhar Province. Reports say as many as ten U.S. personnel were killed, along with three civilians. No comment from ISAF.

In Kabul city, 600 shops burned up after a fire started in a busy market. Some reports say people were hurt, and that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.  However, the city police chief says they are looking for a private security guard, working at the market, who went missing right before the fire stated.

22 December 2012

In Ghanzi Province, Ghazni city, an explosion wounded three people.  It was caused by a bicycle bomb, local police say the target was an intelligence officer.

Pakistan is accusing Afghanistan of torture, and has closed its borders: “The Government of Pakistan takes serious note of the incident involving 29 Pakistanis who were returning from Afghanistan and were badly beaten en-route reportedly by Afghan forces despite having valid travel documents/passports.”-Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement

After several investigations revealed that most of the corruption in Afghanistan involves taxpayer money laundering by foreigners (like the U.S.), President Hamid Karzai blasted them: “Corruption in Afghanistan is a reality, a bitter reality. The part of this corruption that is in our offices is a small part: that is bribes. The other part of corruption, the large part, is hundreds of millions dollars that are not ours. We shouldn’t blame ourselves for that. That part is from others and imposed on us.”

The Spanish Prime Minister, and the Defense Minister, paid a visit to a Spanish NATO logistics base in Herat Province.  It was the first time the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, was in Afghanistan.  He said some Spanish NATO troops will stay in Afghanistan past the official 2014 U.S./NATO pullout.

Afghanistan uses the Solar Hijri calendar system, and their lawmakers have just rejected the budget for the upcoming year of 1392.  The main reasons is that the proposed budget is not balanced and there is hardly any funding for infrastructure.  Most of the funding was slated for police and military.

21 December 2012

Apparently there was a media blackout on this day.

20 December 2012

In Nimroz Province, two Afghan security personnel and five civilians were killed, and one cop wounded, after a large roadside bomb exploded.  Government officials say they’re investigating to find out what happened.

The Georgian Ministry of Defense revealed that one of their soldiers has been missing since 19 December. Georgia has troops based in Helmand Province.

A report says that female cops in Afghanistan are enduring sexual harassment, even rape, at the hands of male cops. One female cop said most of the men wish the Taliban were in charge again: “They want it to be like the time of the Taliban. They tell us every day we are bad women and should not be allowed to work here.”

The United States Army wants to execute Sergeant Robert Bales, accused of mass murder of two Afghan families.  There are those who think the U.S. is making a scapegoat out of Bales because many witnesses said there were at least 20 U.S. soldiers involved.  Afghan police investigation also concluded the killings involved more than one shooter.

19 December 2012

Yet another report says Green on Blue attacks are caused by U.S./NATO personnel treating their Afghan counterparts like crap.  The latest report actually involves U.S. military investigation, which said the majority of Green on Blue attacks were due to “personal issues”, not Mujahideen infiltrating Afghan government forces; 38% were likely to have been triggered by personal motives, 14% were attributed to co-option (insurgents persuaded a member of the security forces to help carry out an attack), only 6% were suspected cases of enemy infiltration.

Yet another report says U.S. taxpayer money being thrown away in Afghanistan.  The U.S. State Department’s Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) found that millions of U.S. dollars have been given to contractors who did no work. One example is $5.76 million given to a contractor to do electrical utility work, which was never completed.  The scams involve the military as well: “Almost $12.8 million in equipment purchased to meet urgent needs in support of the counterinsurgency strategy is sitting unused in storage… without a clear plan for installation.”-John Sopko, SIGAR

18 December 2012

In Nangarhar Province, unknown gunmen assassinated a movie actor.  There is no explanation other than the actor might have been a social activist.

In Kandahar Province, four border cops were killed, and three wounded, by a fellow border cop.  Investigators say the victims were first poisoned before being shot.

In Nuristan Province, reports of heavy fighting between Afghan government forces and Mujahideen.  Government officials claim they’ve killed three Mujahideen, the Mujahideen claim they’ve killed or wounded several government personnel.

17 December 2012

In Kabul city, the office of a U.S. military contractor, Contrack International, was hit with a car bomb: “A small truck packed with explosives detonated between Contrack and Najeeb Zarab factories, one person is dead and 15 others are wounded.”-Mohammad Ayoub Salangi, Kabul police chief

In Nangarhar Province, ten girls were killed when they set off a landmine while collecting firewood.  Local government officials said the landmine apparently had been there since the Soviet occupation in the 1980s.

International, U.S.

Norovirus update: Hospital being blamed!

24 December 2012, prefectural health officials, in Miyazaki Prefecture, say the hospital’s bad hygiene habits, and diagnostic incompetence could be to blame for the latest norovirus outbreak in Japan.

The hospital also delayed reporting deaths.

Officials say the hospital did not report any norovirus infections until three days after the first person died. The hospital did not even mention the death in their first report.  It was another five days, and after several more people had died, before the hospital revealed any deaths.

Six people died between the 14th and 22nd of December.

Hospital staff say they didn’t think the patients had norovirus!

Prefectual officials say the way staff handled the bio-hazard waste from the patients’ discharges (vomiting, etc) could have caused the outbreak in the hospital.  There are still at least 44 people sick, five are in serious condition.