Tag Archives: employment

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. cancels plans to show off F-22s to media! North Koreans vote for more nukes! South Korean leader begs her military to put aside differences! Polls show ROKies are nuke happy!

01 April 2013/20 Jumada l-Ula 1434/12 Farvardin 1391/21 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Japanese and South Korean media outlets were disappointed when U.S. Air force officials canceled a planned viewing of the F-22s, supposedly at Osan Air Base, South Korea.

The planes flew in from Okinawa, Japan.  NHK (Nippon Housou Kyoukai) says they were told by USAF officials that the viewing was canceled on fears that it would “upset” North Korea, and that the situation has “changed”!

And at the yearly Supreme People’s Assembly in Pyongyang, North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK), officials voted to increase nuclear power and rocket programs.

South Korea’s recently ‘elected’ President, Park Geun-hye, asked her military units to forget political differences: “In this crisis of security, our military’s role is very important in securing the Republic of Korea’s sovereign power and security. As commander in chief of the armed forces, I will trust the military’s judgment on abrupt and surprise provocations by North Korea.”

She even revealed how important North Korea’s Kaesŏng Industrial Region (KIR) is to the economy of South Korea: “We should also monitor the safety of our people in the Kaesong Industrial District.”

According to Canadian media, South Korean capitalist corporations made $470 million USD worth of products using the massive North Korean labor camp.

Several surveys conducted in South Korea (Republic of Korea, ROK) revealed that many ROKies want their own nukes!

A Gallop Korea poll shows 64% want nukes in South Korea.  Another poll done for Asan Institute for Policy Studies showed 66.5% support South Korea making its own nukes.  The polls were conducted back in February!

International, U.S.

World War 3: F-22 Raptors deployed to South Korea! Confusing media reports.

31 March 2013/19 Jumada l-Ula 1434/11 Farvardin 1391/20 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The United States has deployed F-22 Raptors to South Korea, however, main streamer media is giving different reasons.

Some media sources say it’s part of annual Foal Eagle war games, while others say it is a direct response to North Korea’s increased threats of war. One media source said it was both.

Also confusing is that some media sources say the F-22s were deployed from the U.S., while other sources say they are from the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Japan.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 29 – 31 March 2013. More battles, home invasions, drone strikes! Red Coats getting out of Helmand! More burden upon the U.S. taxpayer!

31 March 2013/19 Jumada l-Ula 1434/11 Farvardin 1391/20 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

In Logar Province, reports that U.S./Afghan forces conducted night time home invasions. At least four people were kidnapped.  No details on the exact location of the night raid.

In Helmand Province, in Wacha Neicha Karez area of Zamindawar region, Kajaki district, Mujahideen claim to have led a U.S./NATO raid into a compound that was rigged with explosives.  The U.S. led forces withdrew, and Mujahideen claim they captured night vision devices left behind by the raiders.

British Red Coat Royal Marines are preparing to leave Helmand Province in the next couple of days.  Most U.K. NATO forces will be out by the end of 2013.

The United States has been pulling out for the past year, and when it’s officially done in 2014 it will have cost U.S. taxpayers as much as $6 billion USD!!!  The U.S. Department of Defense does not call it withdrawal, they call it ‘retrograde operations’.  25000 military vehicles were removed in 2012.  But another 25000 vehicles remain, along with 100000 shipping containers full of equipment.   U.S. Army Brigadier General Steven Shapiro says the $6 billion figure could go higher: “The figures of five to six billion dollars corresponds to the total cost of retrograde from 2012 through 2014, and they’re constantly being reevaluated.”

However, the U.S. Army Reserve’s 56th Military Police Company was just called up to go to Afghanistan.  More than 170 reservists from Arizona, California, Texas, Oklahoma and Utah held their deployment ceremony on Easter Sunday.

In Kapisa Province, a Turkish Engineer captured by Mujahideen two years ago, was turned over to Turkish officials after successful negotiations.

30 March 2013/18 Jumada l-Ula 1434/10 Farvardin 1391/19 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

In Maidan Warkdak Province, reports that U.S. SOF units have withdrawn from Nirkh District.

In Ghazni Province, reports that U.S./NATO airstrikes wounded dozens of civilians. The attack took place in Espand-De village.  An Afghan government spokesman said the airstrike was called in against a vehicle suspected of carrying Mujahhideen.  He said a number of Mujahideen were killed and at least 25 people were wounded.  Mujahideen confirm they attacked a U.S./Afghan government convoy, resulting in a two hour battle.  U.S./NATO attack helicopters were called in.  Mujahideen say 16 U.S./Afghan forces killed, 14 civilians killed and five Mujahideen killed.

In Logar Province, the Afghan government is investigating the killing of civilians by U.S./NATO forces after a two day offensive in Barak-e Barak District last week.  In October 2012 a similar offensive was launched with similar results.  ISAF eventually admitted that U.S. led troops killed civilians in that attack.

Pakistan accused Afghanistan of firing three artillery rounds into Pakistan.

In Tennessee U.S.A., a mall security cop threw out a Afghan war veteran because of his handicap vehicle. Michael Trost was a U.S. Army Master Sergeant who was shot four times in Afghanistan.  One of the bullets severed his sciatic nerve in his leg and he rides a Segway scooter as a handicap vehicle.  The mall cop accused the veteran of being reckless.

29 March 2013/17 Jumada l-Ula 1434/09 Farvardin 1391/18 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

In Ghazni Province, a drone (UAV) was shot down in Ab Band district.  Mujahideen say it was an armed assassination drone because they were able to recover two missiles from the wreckage.

In Badakhshan Province, Wardaj district, reports that several U.S. airstrikes have killed seven civilians.

In Nangarhar Province, Hisarak district, 18 cops joined the Mujahideen.  A large amount of military weapons/gear was also given to Mujahideen.  In a show of confidence the Mujahideen published the names of the cops that joined them.

The U.S. Department of Defense says 2174 U.S. military personnel have died in the Afghan war.  That’s almost as much as the victims of 9/11, was it worth it?  (lets not forget the 4486 U.S. personnel killed in Iraq, and the hundreds of thousands of people killed in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and the fact that the U.S. invasions of both countries is costing U.S. taxpayers more than $4 trillion and counting!!!)

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: North Korea has tactical nukes targeting U.S. bases in Japan! Attack map revealed! North Korea standing up for slave laborers of U.S. backed South Korea real reason for War!

31 March 2013/19 Jumada l-Ula 1434/11 Farvardin 1391/20 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The North Korean newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, stated that U.S. bases in Japan and Guam are being targeted with weapons that are equivalent to tactical nuclear weapons.

Also, recently it was pointed out that photos of Kim Jong Un in a war room meeting show a wallmap in the background indicating attack points on the United States.  Some of the targets are located on the Atlantic coast.  One analyst pointed out that the straight lines drawn on the map can’t be true indicators of attack because planes and ICBMs don’t fly in straight lines:  “It seems reasonable to suppose that the target map is designed for home consumption and to create an impression of war readiness for DPRK citizens that is part of a wider policy of strengthening national resolve.”-John Swenson-Wright, University of Cambridge

And in an apparent move to show that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is not desperate for western cash, Kim Jong Un threatened to close down the Gaeseong slave wage labor complex (aka Kaesŏng Industrial Region, aka KIR).  The massive labor camp was set up in a 2002 deal between North and South Korea.  The North provides dirt cheap labor for western capitalist corporations from South Korea (Republic of Korea).  According to Japanese media reports that labor camp employees 50000 North Koreans.

In 2009 North Korea demanded more money for the KIR workers.  Up ’till then workers were paid a paltry $75 USD per month!  North Korean officials wanted the pay increased to $300 per month.  Notice this is about the time the United States ramped up anti-North Korean rhetoric, and North Korea responded with the nuke testing!

By 2012 the average pay for KIR workers was only $160 per month.  That’s one fifth the minimum wage in South Korea, and a quarter of what most Chinese slave wage workers make.  Also, North Korea decided it was time for the U.S. backed South Korean companies to pay their fare share in taxes.  Many of the capitalist corporations claimed that even with the slave wages they were paying they weren’t making profits!

Maybe DPRK’s threat to shut down the KIR is a realization that the U.S. backed ROK is addicted to the cheap North Korean labor, and perhaps will hurt the South’s economy more than the North’s.

There are currently 123 South Korean companies taking advantage of the cheap North Korean labor.  Everything from clothing to jewelry to automotive parts to electronics are made there.

Influenza

Influenza update, 31 March 2013: New killer H7N9! More people dying of Swine Flu! Government cover up! Flu season twice as long as last year’s! Preps underway for pandemic! More studies say vaccine is bad for you!

China is reporting two people dead, caused by the latest type of bird flu, H7N9.  The UN World Health Organization (WHO) says the human deaths in China are the first in the world for this type of bird flu.  Two men in Shanghai (the same place where thousands of dead pigs were pulled from the river, some reports say as many as 3300) became the first people known to get infected with H7N9 bird flu, and it killed them fast.  A third person is infected, a woman, and she in in the hospital in critical condition.

In the recent past health officials were concerned with H5N1 bird flu, but H7N9 looks to be more lethal, now that it’s jumping to humans.

On top of the dead pigs in the Huangpu River, Chinese have also been pulling thousands of dead ducks out of the Pengshan/Nanhe River.

In Australia, two people died at a old folks home in Queensland. There was an outbreak of flu.  14 people were infected with flu A.  Seven were hospitalized and 15 employees became sick as well.  This is just the beginning of the flu season Down Under.

In Pakistan, flu has made an appearance by killing a doctor.  Recently a surgeon at the Holy Family Hospital died.  Nurses at the hospital complain that only doctors are given gloves and masks, while they and ward boys go unprotected.  Pakistan’s National Institute of Health said the doctor’s death was the result of his being treated for allergies with steroids which weakened his immune system.  There have been five deaths related to other types of flus as well.

In the country of Georgia, health officials reporting 22 deaths connected to both versions of H1N1 bird and swine flu.

In India, more deaths being reported.  A woman just died from H1N1 swine flu in the state of Gujarat.  Gujarat and Rajasthan are dealing with the most cases of swine flu.  In all of India, from 01 January to 24 March there have been at least 445 human deaths caused by swine flu!  But wait, there’s more!  Gujarat is expecting thousands of religious pilgrims for two days of religious celebrations, and the fear is swine flu will spread like wildfire.  They’ve even called up 2500 law enforcement/health personnel: “Following the alert we have in all set up 16 stalls of which 6 will be in Dakor while 10 will be on the routes leading to the holy place. We will keep an eye on people who may have swine flu like symptoms and will convince them to return.”–HF Patel, district health officer of Kheda

Despite the obvious epidemic in India, the Indian Council of Medical Research actually ordered state health officials to treat swine flu as a normal seasonal flu.  This brought condemnation and accusations of government cover up from the High Court in Gurjarat, the hardest hit state.   The Gurjarat High Court is basing their case on the number of prisoner requests to visit sick and dying relatives, which has skyrocketed, and the fact that even doctors are dying.  The court gave local health officials until 09 April to present a detailed report of cases.  A judge blasted the poor conditions of government run hospitals: “Even for patients there are no beds in hospitals, what rain basera [guest beds?] for their relatives? This is an eye-wash! They are sleeping outside the Civil Hospital. And health and hygiene are worst in government hospitals.”

In United Kingdom, reports say swine flu is resistant to treatment with Tamiflu. A study done in collaboration with UN WHO and Australian researchers, shows a small increase in swine flu that is resistant to Tamiflu.  But the big worry is that most of the patients in the study had never been treated with Tamiflu before, which means they caught a swine flu that had become resistant to Tamiflu on its own.

In Sweden, researchers confirmed that the swine flu vaccine, Pandemrix, causes narcolepsy.  The government ordered the Swedish Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket) to do the study, when more than a hundred people developed the sleeping disorder after getting the flu shot.  The study found that the younger you are the more chance of getting narcolepsy from Pandemrix.

In Republic of Ireland, people are protesting the Health Minister, because of increased cases of narcolepsy in children. Last April the Minister issued the results of their own study which showed swine flu vaccine causes narcolepsy. Some Irish families are now suing GlaxoSmith-Kline, the maker of Pandemrix.

Speaking of vaccines, in Texas U.S.A., A&M University announced it’s joining with pharmaceutical companies to help prepare for a influenza pandemic.  They are helping to create and run a $91 million USD vaccine factory. The goal is to be able to produce 50 million doses within four months of a pandemic outbreak!

In Belgium, health officials announced the worst of their flu season has past. They said the epidemic lasted 12 weeks, compared to only six weeks last year.  At the peak of the epidemic 1083 people sought medical help.

The U.S. Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention says the dominate strain of influenza is now flu B.

 

 

 

International, U.S.

Measles making a come back, new Rubella virus attacking adults? Japan sees 22% increase in cases! Vaccine proves to be temporary!

31 March 2013/19 Jumada l-Ula 1434/11 Farvardin 1391/20 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

More than 12 months ago Japanese media warned of the growing number of Rubella/German Measles cases.  Reports said that there were significant increases in the previous three years involving adult cases, and most people who got sick were men.  Now, Japanese media reporting a 22% increase in adult cases in the first eleven weeks of Gregorian year 2013.

In January 2012 there were 19 reported cases in Japan, in January 2013 there were 254 cases!  Compare that to the yearly average, between 2008-2011, of 288.

Rubella can be spread through the air, by coughing, sneezing or just simple breathing.

Rubella will cause birth defects in pregnant women, and there have been increased cases of pregnant women in Japan getting sick and giving birth to children with defects, such as holes in their hearts or deafness and/or blindness.

Rubella/3 Day Measles is often thought of as a childhood disease, but what’s been happening in many Asian countries is that more and more adults are getting infected. People in Japan are being told to get vaccinated before they travel outside of their country, even if they got vaccinated as children, because it turns out that the vaccine is only temporary: “For some people, the concentration of antibodies may decrease even if they’ve been vaccinated in the past…”-Katsuhiro Komase, Japan’s Infectious Disease Surveillance Center

The problem in Japan is that the vaccine is not free, people wanting the shot must pay $50 to $100 per shot.  Some local governments are trying subsidize the vaccinations.

Another problem is that back in 1993 Japan banned the three shot MMR (mumps, measles, rubella combo) vaccine, because many children had severe reactions to it, such as non-viral meningitis.  Japan uses a vaccine specifically for rubella.

Japanese health officials have traced most virus samples back to Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines.  Vietnam has ordered a major eradication program.

Since 2011 Vietnam has been dealing with the new rubella.  By the end of 2011 50% of all abortions performed were because of severe birth defects as a result of rubella infection.   A recently published study by Vietnamese health officials said: “Rubella virus identified in Vietnam belonged to the genotype 2B. Importantly, the infection rate of rubella virus in fetuses/newborns was 100%….”

The Philippines started having trouble with rubella in 2010.  By 2011 the government started a door to door vaccination program. Recently the British Colombia Centre for Disease Control, in Canada, reported cases of rubella that were all “…compatible with acquisition during travel to the Philippines.”

In 2012, a rubella/measles outbreak in several European countries was blamed on people coming back from trips to Thailand.

In India, health officials there are now telling women who plan to get pregnant to get vaccinated at least three months prior.

In the United States, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that there were three cases of newborns affected by rubella in 2012, the first time since 2008.   The U.S. was even declared rubella free in 2004.

The biggest risk is for the unborn children of pregnant women.  U.S. health officials say women should not get the vaccine while pregnant.  Women should wait at least 28 days after getting the shot before getting pregnant.  If adults are not sure if they’ve been vaccinated, they can have their blood tested to see if they have immunity to rubella.

Business/Economics, International

Evil Banks lie again: Tax on bank accounts hits 60%!!! More reason to get your money out of the banks!

30 March 2013/18 Jumada l-Ula 1434/10 Farvardin 1391/19 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Reports out of Cyrpus that bank accounts with more than $100000 USD are being ‘taxed’ by at least 60%.  Originally Cypriot officials, along with European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF), said those accounts would be hit with up to 40% charge.

This unexpected increase is targeting the Bank of Cyprus specifically.  Apparently 37.5% of accounts are going directly as kickbacks to the ECB and IMF, and for those accounts at the Bank of Cyprus an additional 22.5% will go directly to the bank!

On 25 March 2013, the ECB, IMF and the President of Cyprus made a bailout deal that somehow did not need the approval of the Cypriot Parliament (the parliament voted down the first bailout offer).

The new deal imposes an even higher and outrageous tax on accounts with more than $100000, than the first bailout deal.  Also, while you can still deposit checks written to you, you can not cash checks.  Withdrawals are limited to $384 per day.  People traveling out of Cyprus are limited to $1282.  The government is trying to keep people from not only taking their money out of the banks, but from taking their money out of the country!

 

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Florida losing another Kmart!

Here’s the updated list of store closings since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost).

California:   El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost).

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost).

Guam:  Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost),  Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), recently revealed Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!!!).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Illinois:  Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost).  Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost). By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state.  The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line.

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials.

North Carolina: High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost),  West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New York: Depew Kmart (68 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost).   Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost),  one of two Greenville Kmarts (74 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart.

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors.

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost),  Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost),  Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears will be closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (will be closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

International, U.S.

World War 3: North Korea’s “State of War” & “Final Warning” statement!

30 March 2013/18 Jumada l-Ula 1434/10 Farvardin 1391/19 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The moves of the U.S. imperialists to violate the sovereignty of the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] and encroach upon its supreme interests have entered an extremely grave phase. Under this situation, the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un, brilliant commander of Mt. Paektu, convened an urgent operation meeting on the performance of duty of the Strategic Rocket Force of the Korean People’s Army for firepower strike and finally examined and ratified a plan for firepower strike.

 The important decision made by him is the declaration of a do-or-die battle to provide an epochal occasion for putting an end to the history of the long-standing showdown with the U.S. and opening a new era. It is also a last warning of justice served to the U.S., south Korean group and other anti-reunification hostile forces. The decision reflects the strong will of the army and people of the DPRK to annihilate the enemies.

  Now the heroic service personnel and all other people of the DPRK are full of surging anger at the U.S. imperialists’ reckless war provocation moves, and the strong will to turn out as one in the death-defying battle with the enemies and achieve a final victory of the great war for national reunification true to the important decision made by Kim Jong Un.

 The Supreme Command of the KPA [Korean People’s Army] in its previous statement solemnly declared at home and abroad the will of the army and people of the DPRK to take decisive military counteraction to defend the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of its supreme leadership as regards the war moves of the U.S. and south Korean puppets that have reached the most extreme phase.

Not content with letting B-52 make sorties into the sky over south Korea in succession despite the repeated warnings of the DPRK, the U.S. made B-2A stealth strategic bomber and other ultra-modern strategic strike means fly from the U.S. mainland to south Korea to stage a bombing drill targeting the DPRK. This is an unpardonable and heinous provocation and an open challenge.

By taking advantage of the U.S. reckless campaign for a nuclear war against the DPRK, the south Korean puppets vociferated about “preemptive attack” and “strong counteraction” and even “strike at the commanding forces”, openly revealing the attempt to destroy monuments symbolic of the dignity of the DPRK’s supreme leadership.

This clearly shows that the U.S. brigandish ambition for aggression and the puppets’ attempt to invade the DPRK have gone beyond the limit and their threats have entered the reckless phase of an actual war from the phase of threat and blackmail.

The prevailing grim situation more clearly proves that the Supreme Command of the KPA was just when it made the judgment and decision to decisively settle accounts with the U.S. imperialists and south Korean puppets by dint of the arms of Songun [military doctrine], because time when words could work has passed.

 Now they are openly claiming that the B-2A stealth strategic bombers’ drill of dropping nuclear bombs was “not to irritate the north” but “the defensive one”. The U.S. also says the drill is “to defend the interests of its ally”. However, it is nothing but a lame pretext to cover up its aggressive nature, evade the denunciation at home and abroad and escape from the DPRK’s retaliatory blows.

 The era when the U.S. resorted to the policy of strength by brandishing nuclear weapons has gone. 

 It is the resolute answer of the DPRK and its steadfast stand to counter the nuclear blackmail of the U.S. imperialists with merciless nuclear attack and their war of aggression with just all-out war.

 They should clearly know that in the era of Marshal Kim Jong Un, the greatest-ever commander, all things are different from what they used to be in the past.

The hostile forces will clearly realize the iron will, matchless grit and extraordinary mettle of the brilliant commander of Mt. Paektu that the earth cannot exist without Songun Korea. 

Time has come to stage a do-or-die final battle.

The government, political parties and organizations of the DPRK solemnly declare as follows reflecting the final decision made by Kim Jong Un at the operation meeting of the KPA Supreme Command and the unanimous will of all service personnel and people of the DPRK who are waiting for a final order from him.

1.  From this moment, the north-south relations will be put at the state of war and all the issues arousing between the north and the south will be dealt with according to the wartime regulations.

The state of neither peace nor war has ended on the Korean Peninsula.

 Now that the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK have entered into an actual military action, the inter-Korean relations have naturally entered the state of war. Accordingly, the DPRK will immediately punish any slightest provocation hurting its dignity and sovereignty with resolute and merciless physical actions without any prior notice.

2. If the U.S. and the south Korean puppet group perpetrate a military provocation for igniting a war against the DPRK in any area including the five islands in the West Sea of Korea or in the area along the Military Demarcation Line, it will not be limited to a local war, but develop into an all-out war, a nuclear war. 

 It is self-evident that any military conflict on the Korean Peninsula is bound to lead to an all-out war, a nuclear war now that even U.S. nuclear strategic bombers in its military bases in the Pacific including Hawaii and Guam and in its mainland are flying into the sky above south Korea to participate in the madcap DPRK-targeted nuclear war moves.

The first strike of the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK will blow up the U.S. bases for aggression in its mainland and in the Pacific operational theatres including Hawaii and Guam and reduce not only its military bases in south Korea but the puppets’ ruling institutions including Chongwadae and puppet army’s bases to ashes at once, to say nothing of the aggressors and the provokers.

3. The DPRK will never miss the golden chance to win a final victory in a great war for national reunification. 

This war will not be a three day-war but it will be a blitz war through which the KPA will occupy all areas of south Korea including Jeju Island at one strike, not giving the U.S. and the puppet warmongers time to come to their senses, and a three-dimensional war to be fought in the air, land and seas and on the front line and in the rear.

This sacred war of justice will be a nation-wide, all-people resistance involving all Koreans in the north and the south and overseas in which the traitors to the nation including heinous confrontation maniacs, warmongers and human scum will be mercilessly swept away.

No force on earth can break the will of the service personnel and people of the DPRK all out in the just great war for national reunification and of all other Koreans and overpower their might. 

Holding in high esteem the peerlessly great men of Mt. Paektu, the Korean people will give vent to the pent-up grudge and realize their cherished desire and thus bring a bright day of national reunification and build the best power on this land without fail. 

International, U.S.

World War 3: North Korea in “state of war” with South Korea!

30 March 2013/18 Jumada l-Ula 1434/10 Farvardin 1391/19 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“North Korea’s launch sites to fire off mid- and long-range missiles have recently shown increased movement of vehicles and forces. We are closely watching possibilities of missile launches.”-unnamed South Korean military source, quoted by Yonhap News Agency

“North Korea said Saturday that inter-Korean relations have entered into a state of war and all cross-border issues will be dealt with in a wartime manner.”-South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency

“Situations on the Korean Peninsula, which are neither in peace nor at war, have come to an end.”-North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency

“…the time has come to settle accounts with the U.S. imperialists in view of the prevailing situation…”-attributed to North Korean officials

“A battle to be fought by the DPRK against the U.S. will become a war for national liberation to defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country and, at the same time, a revolutionary war to defend the human cause of independence and the justice of the international community!”-Minju Joson, North Korean political commentator

“Under the present situation reminiscent of the eve of the Fatherland Liberation War (1950-1953), the army and the people of the DPRK have turned out for a sacred war of justice for defending the nation’s destiny. 
    Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army Marshal Kim Jong Unat 00:30 Friday finally examined and ratified the plan for firepower strike of the KPA strategic rocket forces so that they may strike any time the U.S. mainland and its military bases in Hawaii, Guam and south Korea.                                           All weapons of the KPA have already aimed at the bases while the Worker-Peasant Red Guards and the Young Red Guards are on standby for action.”-North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency