Brief - West, Middle East, Eastern Europe

BRIEF - MISC The West #Latvia - after Sweden pimps out the princess, Vatican pimps out the Pope: "Pope Francis meets with President of Latvia" - radiovaticana.va Christine Chilver ('Fifi') WWII British-Latvian seductress - SEO spy - http://goo.gl/ojGcrd  - said 2 bedded trainees / sleep talking #EU open borders joy >> 30-40 Latvian former prisoners now living in #UK (only obliged 2email probation officers) - http://goo.gl/2MZc1s  > EU law does allows requests 4 criminal history - if essential - but by law such enquires NOT allowed as ROUTINE !!! - #EU FRANCE France’s Sarkozy announces political comeback http://dlvr.it/6z2zLX NZ New Zealand Jewish PM wins third term http://toi.sr/1tLpnoH  via @timesofisrael >> #NZpol “Key’s victory comes just weeks after Israel rejected Wellington’s proposed non-resident envoy to Israel, Jonathan Curr”  [TimesofIsrael] Look-up:  rejected b/c also envoy to Palestine Authority. [abcnews/net/au] Middle East YEMEN BREAKING NEWS: #Yemen Shiite rebels seize government HQ: AFP via @jerryliet #cdnpoli #BREAKING: #Yemeni prime minister submits resignation http://ara.tv/m3a6v Yemen PM [Prime Minster Mohammad Basindawa] quits as violence rages in capital #Yemen - Houthis = Zaidi branch of Shia Islam aka Fivers - sect almost excl/ present in Yemen - similar 2 Sunni - Believe prophet / Imam ? - Iraq, Lebanon & Iran = Twelvers Shia - which different.  Houthis in Yemen described as 'powerful clan'. Alleged Iran backed. - Yemeni govt backing allegedly al-Qaeda + Saudi Arabia. Looks like Houthis have taken control of Yemen - PM resigned. #NATO’s "Terror Hordes in Iraq a Pretext for #Syria Invasion" >> http://goo.gl/jcx9ua  >> bit involved 4 me but good info on Middle East #Iran Facebook, Twitter & YouTube inaccessible w/out illegal software. Viber, Tango and WhatsApp 2 be banned - http://goo.gl/8nxcII -----------------------------------------  Eastern Europe #Novorossiya >> What's with the disarm deal? Sounds like a double-cross trap being set up by Ukr. & friends. #Russia - anti-war protests - Igor Irtenyev Russian poet agitates >> "In 2011, he emigrated to Israel in opposition to Vladimir Putin" PEN Intl - w/wide assoc. of writers, formed London, comm. 1920s to promote 'friendship' etc - One of 1st NGOs / intl HR advoc/ AFP "#Russian national TV has portrayed Kiev authorities as a "fascist junta" bent on persecuting Russian-speakers during the conflict." >> But fail to clarify that this is EXACTLY what the Ukies are! What a joke! >> "I believe that the war has been provoked by Putin" .. Is there an Obama blackout over there? Dude can't see what US did. -------------------------------------- COMMENT Just random bits of information and comments. Really don't think it's a good idea to disarm for anyone fighting over independence and territory. Yemen seems to be where all the action was.  At first I thought that the Houthis have taken over.  But maybe I'm wrong and they just wanted a change of government.    Discovered that it's easier to remember information about countries if you see some photos associated with the country. In my mind's eye I can see downtown Sana'a, so it helps remember the news (I think). Hmmm ... just had a look at Google images and, boy, was I wrong imagining Sana'a as a modern city.  Guess you've got to look at more than one photo.  LOL.   The city isn't familiar, like I imagined. It's very old and 'alien' looking (from my western urban perceptive).  I'm taking a guess that large parts of the city and, maybe the customs, are unchanged from biblical times.  What else? Surprised Russia isn't clamping down on foreign agitator NGOs in their midst. I've not read the Sarkozy come-back article yet.    Bling Bling should get elected no problems in France, as they've got a history of political figures associated with corruption allegations who remained in power. The Israelis are funny.  Surprised to see the word 'c*cksucker' in Times of Israel.  The impression I get of them is that they're people who kind of let it all hang out -- and from snippets I've encountered here and there, I also get the impression they've got a sense of humour.   Surprised anyone (non-western) allows PEN International to operate within their borders.   When I see NGO, all I can think is:  stirring up trouble by stealth.  NZ’s Jonathan Curr’s now ambassador in Turkey.  Turkey’s nice and slack.  No danger of kidnap.   Don’t know who wound up with the Middle East appointment.  Too lazy too check.  Expect it will pop up some time during online travels.