FOREIGN SERVICE UPDATES

Sweden Kuwait Qatar Saudi Arabia Bahrain Oman + UAE “emphatically” condemning statements by Sweden’s FM  Margot Wallström.  Sweden statements incompatible with international law / non-interference domestic affairs Sweden has been selling arms to Saudi Arabia for years. strained relationship with Saudi could affect business in Arab world. http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/kuwait/gcc-unites-against-sweden-minister-over-saudi-comments-1.1474096 -- Japan - Japan diplomat - Mitsuhiro Wada - recalled from China for wearing female clothes  http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150321000103&cid=1101 -- Philippines 50 containers of reeking Canada garbage, incl. used adult diapers, in port of Manila for almost 2 years / Angry protesters http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/5518229-canadian-waste-angers-filipinos-canada-says-it-s-private-commercial-matter-/ -- FBI Texas LA - armed & suicidal $25,000 reward - Fired Los Angeles ex-LAPD Officer Henry Solis, 27 ex-LAPD Officer Henry Solis =  former Marine, once stationed as guard at multiple US Embassies http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20150320/fbi-25k-reward-for-information-leading-to-capture-of-fired-lapd-officer -- Florida University of Florida mechanical engineering professor / John Schueller / detained in UAE http://www.wogx.com/story/28576675/uf-professors-detainment-in-uae-a-personal-matter-says-university-spokesperson -- Iran - Obama calling on release of US citizens  Amir Hekmati (alleged spy) - death sentence overturned:  10 years for allegedly cooperating with US Saeed Abedini Jason Rezaian & find: Robert Levinson http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/03/obama_calls_for_freedom_for_am.html -- Canada businessman Sarkis Yacoubian / accused spy Cuba interrogation 2011 {see Cy Tokmakjian } 9 years prison + $7m fine Cuba - Major Carlito squeezed his crotch in more ways than one. Denies spying & corruption. Investor interest not dampened.  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/latin-american-business/canadian-businessman-accused-of-spying-lost-everything-in-cuba/article23569652/  -- Lebanon concern re US Ambassador David Hale’s posting to Pakistan / Lebanon ranks lower in US priorities? http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2015/Mar-21/291661-foreign-ministry-to-allow-appointed-ambassadors.ashx --  Liberia @embassymonrovia encouraging journalist dissemination of info for democracy building  http://www.gnnliberia.com/articles/2015/03/20/liberia-us-embassy-official-challenges-liberian-journalists  {but USA persecuting WikiLeaks publisher ASSANGE} -- US diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia will resume full consular services on Sunday, following a week-long closure http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/721656 Pakistan Islamabad Foreign Office seeks SC time shifting of foreign embassies from residential sectors to Diplomatic Enclave Islamabad Diplomatic Enclave Sector G5 = 43 embassies & high commissions / blocked roads http://tribune.com.pk/story/857118/embassies-next-door-foreign-office-seeks-more-time-to-shift-missions/ Australia / Melbourne / India Australia embassy clean bowls World Cup contest winner  / financial grounds - http://www.mid-day.com/articles/australia-embassy-denies-visa-to-mumbai-fan-who-won-world-cup-final-seat/16081180 -- UK   /   Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Embassy London stormed / release Itai Dzamara (abducted by CIO (govt) agents)  >>  http://www.zimeye.com/uk-police-called-in-as-zimbabweans-storm-close-down-embassy-demand-itai-dzamara/ Activists demand release of Itai Dzamara Zimbawe embassy London 19/03/15 Direct Link:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uHvbuHUZTgA More on:  Itai Dzamara http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/03/us-deeply-concerned-over-zimbabwe-activist-abduction/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/itaidzamara   / not used since 4 March. -- Nigeria Independent National Electoral Comm. accredits US, UK embassies, 105 others /  Mar 28 + Apr 11 elections http://thenationonlineng.net/new/polls-inec-accredits-us-uk-embassies-105-others/ -- Somalia Katherine Simonds Dhanani nominated next US ambassador / first since 1991 closure emb. / career Foreign Service If confirmed:   initially be stationed in Nairobi, Kenya, until a suitable secure facility is constructed in Somalia. http://www.allgov.com/news/appointments-and-resignations/us-ambassador-to-somalia-who-is-katherine-dhanani-150321?news=856022 -- Tunisia Spanish, Italian, German + Polish tourists killed in terrorist attack on Wed at Bardo National Museum in Tunis [theyucatantimes] -- US evacuating remaining 100 special forces troops from Yemen / counterterrorism ops against al-Qaeda & affiliates http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/03/21/U-S-evacuating-remaining-100-special-forces-troops-from-Yemen-.htm -- LatAm Columbia wiretapping investigation of illegal spying by former Colombia intel agency DAS / Jorge Noguera LatAm Columbia USA = close ally & financial contributor to Colombia LatAm - illegal surveillance “Colombian Watergate” / implicated Columbia President / drew ties to US http://colombiareports.co/wiretapping-scandal-increasingly-reveals-political-persecution-under-uribe/ -- Really love going through this kind of news but one person can't do this kind of thing justice, or indefinitely indulge in such a time consuming fixation ...  (: Anyway, this is just a snippet of what's happening right now. The Columbia spy story is BIG (well, to Latin America and to me).  Haven't check how it's doing in mainstream western media right now.  But it ought to be HUGE.  A former journalist, activist Itai Dzamara, has likely been abducted by the Zimbabwe Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), and there's been a big protest at the Zimbabwe embassy in London (video above).  That news ought to be huge, too.  Don't fancy his chances after a passage of two weeks, but I'm no expert.  That's probably just for standard crimes.  Maybe it doesn't apply to intelligence service abductions.