Category Archives: International

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

LIBOR: Japan orders investigation

17 August 2012, the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA) ordered an investigation into TIBOR, or Tokyo Inter-Bank Offered Rate.

It’s a system similar to Britain’s LIBOR, and tries to regulate interest and currency rates.

18 financial institutions in Japan have been ordered to reveal their TIBOR operations. Specifically the FSA is looking for evidence that bank employees unfairly manipulated rates.  FSA is concerned about the credibility of the TIBOR system.

The Japanese Bankers Association gave an immediate response to the order, saying their were no TIBOR irregularities, despite the European and U.S. investigations into TIBOR.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Ecuador to pursue legal action against Britain, over Julian Assange asylum

17 August 2012, Ecuadorian presidential staff adviser, Alexis Mera, announced: “We are open to discuss with Britain the solution to this problem, and if there is no diplomatic solution, we may resort to the International Court of Justice.”

Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, Ricardo Patino, also said that the Swedish sex crimes trial is just a ruse, that Assange would be handed over to the United States as soon as he arrived in Sweden. This qualifies Assange for protection under the “fair trial” clause of the internationally accepted (excepted for the United Kingdom) asylum rules.

“They have to comply with diplomatic and legal obligations under the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and respect the sovereignty of a country that has granted asylum.”-Baltasar Garzon, Assange legal team

Business/Economics, International, Technology

Nuclear Disaster Reactors: Damage to Belgian reactor impossible to repair?

16 August 2012, after an emergency meeting was held, officials decided it was likely that the Doel nuclear plant in Belgium will be shut down permanently.

But this means dozens of other nuclear reactors throughout western Europe could be shut down as well.  The whole thing started in 2004 when France inspected two reactors and found perpendicular micro-cracks in the containment vessels.

The perpendicular cracks were not from age, but had been there from day one. It was a design flaw!

Belgium decided to check their reactors, since they were the same design, and found even more micro-cracks. The boss of Belgium’s Federal Agency of Nuclear Control told the emergency meeting that they found “something else”; thousands of parallel cracks as well as the perpendicular cracks.

The defects are so numerous that Belgium officials say it is unlikely they can be repaired.  Belgium will shut down two reactors, and continue investigations. A final report will be presented in October.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 15 Aug – 16 Aug. Black Hawk down, 11 dead! First Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of attcking them, now they blame Iran! NATO says most military contractors are corrupt!

16 August 2012

ISAF said: “An ISAF helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan today. The crash resulted in the deaths of four International Security Assistance Force service members, three United States Forces-Afghanistan service members, three members of the Afghan National Security Forces, and one Afghan civilian interpreter.”

Mujahideen stated: “Our Mujahideen shot down an ISAF helicopter in Chenarto area of Shah Wali Kot district in Kandahar province at around 11:00 am (0630 GMT).”

In Faryab Province, a firefight broke out between villagers and local police.  Two of the villagers are accused of raping an eight year old girl. The police were trying to arrest them. The villagers are also begging the Mujahideen not to execute the two men accused of rape.

In Maidan Wardak Province, a senior security official was killed while trying to defuse a bomb.

In Baghlan Province, seven Afghan government soldiers were killed, two wounded, when they drove over a mine.

The Afghan parliament is now blaming Iran for coordinated suicide attacks in Nimroz Province.

15 August 2012

ISAF stated: “A U.S. Forces-Afghanistan service member died following an improvised explosive device attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”

ISAF also stated: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan.“

In Herat Province, a bicycle bomb exploded, wounding at least 20 people.

A report by U.S. led NATO says most military contractors are corrupt. General Ricky Waddell revealed that dozens of contractors are under investigation, and some are already facing prosecution.  The cases involve both Afghan contractors, and contractors from other countries.

The presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan stated they will work with each other to find out who is responsible for ongoing artillery attacks, being launched from Pakistan into Afghanistan.

In Kunduz Province, an alleged suicide bomber was killed by U.S. troops.  Local government officials claim the suicide bomber was targeting a bus full of cops.

In Badakhshan Province, Mujahideen ambushed an Afghan government border patrol.  Two top border patrol commanders were killed, along with two other border patrol troops. Three border patrol troops were wounded.

In Kabul Province, a fire destroyed a warehouse with $2 million USD worth of electrical equipment.  Local government officials say the fire was caused by a wildfire.

In Khost Province, Mujahideen claim they attacked a U.S. base. ISAF has not confirmed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

International, Opinion, U.S.

World War 3: Assange granted asylum in Ecuadorian embassy, Britain virtually declares war! Removes diplomatic status of embassy, bully bobbies preparing to storm embassy!

“We will not allow Mr Assange safe passage out of the United Kingdom, nor is there any legal basis for us to do so. The United Kingdom does not recognize the principle of diplomatic asylum.”-William Hague, United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary

“We can’t allow spokespeople from the U.K. to gleefully say they have been honest when they have threatened us in such a way!”-Ricardo Patino, Ecuadorian Foreign Minister

“It was not Britain or my home country, Australia, that stood up to protect me from persecution, but a courageous, independent Latin American nation. While today is a historic victory, our struggles have just begun. The unprecedented U.S. investigation against Wikileaks must be stopped. While today much of the focus will be on the decision of the Ecuadorean government, it is just as important that we remember Bradley Manning has been detained without trial for over 800 days!”-Julian Assange, statement made from Ecuadorian embassy in London

16 August 2012, after days of rumors that Ecuador was prepared to grant Julian Assange asylum, it’s now official.  But the United Kingdom won’t have any of it!

“…the British ought to just back off, and the U.S. ought to just back off! He has a legal right to asylum under the refugee convention. Under the UN declarations, there cannot be any adverse consequences for countries granting asylum. It’s considered a humanitarian act. And for the British to say that they’re going to go into the embassy and get out someone who’s been granted asylum would turn the refugee convention and asylum completely on its head. It’s unheard of. As far as I know, it’s never been done before that you’ve gone into an embassy to pull out someone granted asylum. The British are only doing this as bullies, bullies most likely for the United States!”-Michael Ratner, attorney

After Ecuador confirmed they were granting Assange asylum the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office sent a note to their embassy in London, saying Britain will invoke their Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987, removing diplomatic status for the Ecuadorian embassy.  Politically, that could be seen as an act of war.

“Julian Assange has been under such incredible pressure, with the threats to go in and get him, with prosecutions by the U.S., etc., that this is an incredibly courageous move by Ecuador. I mean, you have to think about it. Julian Assange, in doing what he and WikiLeaks did, stood up to the great powers of the world. And now you see Ecuador, again, standing up to the great powers.”-Michael Ratner, attorney

There are reports that people are gathering outside the Ecuadorian embassy, to interfere with any attempt by British police to storm the embassy.

Sweden has summoned the Ecuadorian ambassador to explain why they want to stop Assange from being extradited for alleged sex crimes in the Scandinavian country. The real question is why is Sweden, United Kingdom and United States so adamant about having someone prosecuted for alleged sex crimes?  I mean, Britain is willing to basically declare war on Ecuador!  This is proof that the information Wikileaks has on the British and U.S. governments is factual, and damaging, and people should be paying attention to it!

A friend of Assange pointed out that Ecuador offered to let Swedish investigators question Assange in the embassy, but Sweden refused.  Yet, Sweden was willing to question alleged murderers in other countries embassies: “They have interviewed an alleged murderer in Serbia but they choose not to come to London to interview Julian Assange. I think that’s very disappointing.”-Vaughan Smith

Occupy Wall Streeters are reportedly going to protest outside the British consulate in New York city.

International, Technology, U.S.

World War 3: NATO member Turkey deploys new SP anti-aircraft tanks to border with Syria

15 August 2012, one day after holding what was officially called ‘war games’ near the border with Syria, Turkey is now deploying Atilgan self propelled anti-aircraft missile batteries to the border.

The Atilgan is a Turkish designed Pedestal Mounted Air Defence System (PMADS) firing U.S. designed Stinger missiles. The PMADS is mounted on a U.S. designed M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).

It’s interesting that even the Turkish media said yesterday’s war games were actually show of force preparations against Syria.

There are also reports that Turkey is expanding their air force operations at Sazgin Airport.  The same airport was used for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Also, on 13 August the Turkish government held emergency meeting regarding Syria.  The meeting included local government leaders from towns along the border with Syria.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 12 Aug – 14 Aug. Coordinated bombings. Cops shoot U.S. led occupyers! Claims of new Pakistani attacks! U.S. to attack Pakistan!!!

14 August 2012

In Kunduz Province, late Tuesday night a motorcycle bomb went off, killing at least ten people and wounding 30 others.

In Nimroz Province, at least 30 people are dead, 60 wounded, after coordinated suicide bombings.  Suicide bombers launched their attack on the city of Zaranj.  Afghan police killed three bombers before they exploded themselves, but three other bombers were successful. The local police chief is among those killed. Local officials say the attackers are not from Nimroz Province.

In Kunar Province, local government officials claim the Pakistani military launched another attack on Afghan border posts.  A local security official said the Pakistani attack started at 04:00 hours, with artillery fire.  Afghans returned fire, and the battle lasted four hours.  At least one person killed, five wounded.

13 August 2012

In Nimroz Province, police killed two men they say were trying to launch a suicide attack on the city of Zaranj.

In Nangarhar Province, an Afghan policeman fired on U.S. led occupying troops.  NATO/ISAF officials say no one was hurt, the policeman fled the scene.  Local police officials say two occupying troops were wounded, along with one Afghan government troop.

Also in Nangarhar Province, a bomb went off near a Mosque in Jalalabad city, wounding five people.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will launch ground attacks on Mujahideen in Pakistan.  This is according to the Speaker of the House in Afghanistan’s parliament: “All complaints in regards to cross border incursion by Pakistan should be submitted to the coordinative center. ISAF will visit the area and conduct operation against the militants inside the Afghanistan soil and if complaints were received regarding cross border incursion by militants then ISAF will conduct operations with the Pakistani troops inside the Pakistan soil.”-Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi

According to Ibrahimi, USMC General John Allen told the Afghan parliament leaders that a new plan has been developed.  U.S. led occupying forces, along with Afghan government forces and Pakistani government forces, will work together to surround an area of Pakistan that is known as a safe haven for Mujahideen.  The Pakistani government has apparently agreed to allow U.S. ground troops into Pakistan to do battle with the Mujahideen.

In Ghazni Province, Mujahideen hanged a man after he kidnapped a child and then demanded ransom for its safe return.

In Takhar Province, a town mayor, and four other local government officials, were assassinated with a bomb.

In Kunar Province, local government officials claim the Pakistani military fired 45 rockets into their province.

ISAF stated: “Afghan and coalition security force arrested a senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in Chahar Darah district, Kunduz province, today.”

The Defense Ministry of Afghanistan reported three Afghan soldiers killed, five wounded, in battles in Logar, Paktiya, Maidan Wardak and Helmand provinces.

12 August 2012

A political analyst in Afghanistan says it is the way the U.S. led occupiers are treating the Afghan government forces that’s causing the “green on blue” attacks: “…Afghan officers, even high ranking officers are being treated with a great deal of contempt by low ranking American officers, or low ranking NATO officers, in fact I have first hand observations on several occasions that Afghan colonels have been treated like dirt, if you will, by an American captain!”-Mohammed Daoud Miraki

In Herat Province, a village elder was assassinated when gunmen shot him in his house. His wife was wounded.

In Laghman Province, the provincial governor and his three bodyguards were killed when they drove over a mine.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, Technology

Nuclear Disaster Reactors: Belgium shuts down nuke plant; cracked containment vessel, emergency international meeting!

14 August 2012, the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control is shutting down Reactor 3 at the Doel nuclear power plant in Belgium.

Workers discovered cracks, and other ‘anomalies’, in the containment vessel.  The reactor was built by a company that went bankrupt 40 years ago. Dozens of nuclear plants across western Europe use the same design.

Belgian officials have called for an emergency meeting, with international experts, to be held on 16 August.  Belgium gets 50% of its electricity from nuclear power.

Idaho, International, U.S.

4th annual Eastern Idaho Scottish Games, Chubbuck Days

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11 August 2012 wasn’t just the annual Chubbuck Days festival, at Cotant park, it was also the 4th annual Eastern Idaho Scottish Games Heavy Athletic Event!

Click pics to make bigger

www.eastidahoscots.org

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Government Incompetence: U.S. Navy collides with Japanese oil tanker in Persian Gulf

12 August 2012, on the same day that Japan announced it was sending minesweepers to join the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf, a USN destroyer collides with a Japanese oil tanker.

It happened in the middle of the night, near the Hormuz Strait.  The USS Porter is badly damaged and must be repaired.  No injuries were reported. The USN is investigating why the crew of the USS Porter did not see the huge Japanese oil tanker.

There has been no word about damage to the tanker.

Japan had recently allowed the government backing of insurance for Japanese tankers carrying Iranian oil, as a way to get around U.S./European sanctions.  Japan also discussed with Iran the possibility of using Iranian insurance companies.