Out & About in America This Week

While out & about in America, @KalToons reflected about the State of Affairs and Trevor Noah also reflected: 

We Join In Honoring All Essential Workers On This Essential Workers Day 2021

Notations On Our World (Weekly Edition): On the Week That Was....

Our team was on the prowl this week as we captured the image above from JFTB-Los Alamitos.  As it was a challenging week, we wanted to begin with praise of all who served in Afghanistan as America withdraws by September 11: 

It was also the week that saw justice for George Floyd although the struggle continues to remain and the Politico's Matt Wuercker reflected about the continued challenges of Racism in America: 

The week that was also was the week that saw the Annual EarthDay 2021 celebration and this admonition was critical to be remembered in this endeavor: 

We leave all with a snapshot of the week that was:   

 

'We don't need to panic': US and European powers alarmed by growing 'danger' from Putin's Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin’s crackdown on domestic dissidents and military buildup along Ukraine’s border are driving relations between Moscow and the Western powers toward a perilous inflection point, according to U.S. and European officials. Read the full story here.

Global Economy Draghi plans €220bn overhaul of Italy’s economy PM aims to use share of EU pandemic recovery funds for digitalisation and high-speed rail APRIL 21, 2021 by Miles Johnson in Rome and Sam Fleming in Brussels Analysis || Why Turkey Isn't Up in Arms Over Biden's Recognition of Armenian Genocide Zvi Bar'el | 25.04.2021

1 Abbas faces tough decision on Palestinian elections The pressure is intensifying for President Mahmoud Abbas to postpone the elections, which are becoming a dangerous game for the Israelis and other concerned parties.

2 Anti-Netanyahu bloc gets second chance The vote over the Knesset’s Arrangement Committee has offered the so-called Bloc for Change a second shot at assembling the next government.

3 Why are train accidents frequent in Egypt? Despite government efforts to develop the Egyptian railway network, train accidents have become recurrent.

4 Palestinian women still underrepresented on electoral lists Although the Palestinian electoral law has been amended to raise the quota for women's participation in the Palestinian elections from 20% to 26%, Palestinian women continue to be unfairly represented on electoral lists.

5 Desperate Netanyahu could fail to compose government Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of April 2021 is a wounded animal, whose attention is focused on one goal only: saving himself.

6 Will Syrian women get wider representation in opposition? The Syrian opposition is working to empower women and increase their participation at the political level, amid low female representation in official institutions.

7 Erdogan is MENA’s most popular leader, Arab Barometer finds Turkey's promotion of cultural heritage, including through its tourism and entertainment sectors, is one reason for Erdogan's popularity. However, the perception of the Ottoman legacy is gradually shifting from one of praise to one of condemnation toward Turkish policies.

8 Egypt, Qatar rapprochement picks up momentum Months after a reconciliation agreement was signed, relations between Egypt and Qatar remain shy amid small steps at rapprochement.

9 Israel lifts outdoor mask requirement, acquires more vaccine doses A majority of Israelis have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

10 Turkey nearly leading the world in daily COVID-19 cases Turkish authorities also expanded vaccine eligibility today.

11 Bahrain's Gulf Air to offer direct Israel flights starting in June The announcement comes less than a year after the two countries agreed to establish formal ties as part of the Abraham Accords.

12 Assyrian Syriac powers looking to unify positions for future of Syria Along the lines of the inter-Kurdish talks, Syria’s Syriacs and Assyrians appear to be joining hands in holding an internal dialogue to unify their vision and national discourse in the country.

13 Saudi Arabia, Iran held direct talks in bid to ease tensions Talks between the two countries were organized by Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Opinion || How Modi Led India Into a COVID Catastrophe Mohamed Zeeshan | 25.04.2021 A Section of Trump Border Wall in South Texas Cost $27 Million a Mile. It's Being Foiled by $5 Ladders. Texas Monthly – Aaron Nelsen – Apr 21, 6:00 AM Every month for the past decade, Scott Nicol, a 51-year-old artist and activist, has set out from his home in McAllen to roam the Rio Grande Valley in search of ladders used to scale the border wall in South Texas. On a cool and overcast day in… Politics ‘It is much worse this time’: India’s devastating second wave New variant suspected of stoking surge that is overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums APRIL 21, 2021 by Benjamin Parkin, Jyotsna Singh and Stephanie Findlay in New Delhi, and John Burn-Murdoch in London