5/10/2015

Notations For the Week-End: Quite a Few Days on #Yemen, #Iran, #Israel & #VEDay70

We have simmering tensions on-going around the World especially as the War in Yemen has been going on despite a ceasefire going into effect later on this week.     Houthis have accepted the Saudi ceasefire offer.     We will continue to monitor this throughout the week as some 1400 people have so far died as a result of the bombings by the Saudi-led coalition.  One of the targets bombed was the home of the former President Saleh.

 The #Outsider team also was trying to assess the upcoming summit President Obama has conveyed with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council.   There are some interesting developments as King Salman has backed out at the last minute and will be sending his Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Nayef and his Son and Defense Minister, Prince Mohammad.     Only 2 out of the 6 leaders are attending to underscore the apparent profound displeasure of the emerging deal with Iran.   We will have comments throughout the week.

This was a week-end to remember and celebrate the victory over Nazi Germany.    Ceremonies were held throughout Europe.     This from the British Monarchy was quite telling on reflections by Queen Elizabeth:

The ceremony  at Westminister Abbey was quite moving which also featured a parade by the living Veterans presided over by the Prince of Wales.      What happened in Russia was also quite impressive as the BBC provided live coverage of the parade in Moscow's Red Square:
Although Western Leaders boycotted the event, the Presidents of China and India were there as troops from their countries marched.    It was quite a pagaentry as the ceremony began with the Defense Minister greeting the Units (some 16,000 soldiers) and all marched in perfect unisom before Vladimir Putin and the other dignitaries.     In addition to Chinese and Indian Soliders, soldiers from former Soviet States (including Kazahestan and Azerbeijian) also  marched.   28 Million Soviets died in World War II--referred to as the Great Patriotic War that has impacted every family in Russia. 

There is also Israel.    As we went to press here, our team could not agree ever more with +i24news EN  Correspodent Tal Shalav when she noted how the Government of Israel in its' current form   "  is a mess".    The Israeli Prime Minister is trying to expand the Government as opposition is crying fool and as the deadline for the new Government to be formed keeps getting pushed back with a 61-member majority.    It is just amazing how there is a prohibition against no member of the Parliamentary Caucus in the Knesset  leaving Jersuelaeum as "the Mess" is sorted out.   

It was quite a development as well as Raul Castro visting Pope Francis noted how impressed he was with his humility--and even more startling that he would consider returning to the Catholic Church if this persisted.    He noted this during his news conference with the Italian Prime Minister as Prime Minister Renzi smiled broadly at this.       

As we went to press, we received news in our Virtual Newsroom on the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jalayaitha, being cleared of corruption charges.  This is as the actor Salman Khan was given a suspended sentence for a vehicular manslaughter charge he was convicted of.      The twists and turns of the Indian Justice system may be of concern as the Prime Minister is trying to transform India--and as a resurrgent Congress is trying to get its' groove after a challenging year and a half.     

It is bound to be fascinating this week in #outsiders....

5/09/2015

On this Mothers' Day Week-End In the United States.....

As we go "dark" here in #Outsiders, we wanted to wish all the Mothers a wonderful Mothers' Day Week_End and not forget how blessed we all are.  This simple yet profound image from #bing says it all:

 

As we hope all also enjoy this from "Guide Post" available by clicking here, from all of us at #Outsiders:

Happy Mother's Day!!!

5/08/2015

Notations On Our World: On #Iran & The #US :-)

As the talks continue,it is also a welcome development to see this as we here @ #Outsiders worked away on our "Daily Roundup":


Notations From the Grid (II): Saluting Veterans

In the United States, Memorial Day to honor all who have served will be held on May 25.     It was ever so gratifing that the Guardian took on this project to interview Veterans from World War II.  In honor of all who have served, we wanted to feature this that our founder shared on Twitter:





We here @ #Outsiders salute all who have served and constantly put themselves in Harms Way.


5/07/2015

Notations on Our World: On the #UK Elections

The elections in the UK are in and all indications are that the Conservative Party has won handily--even though it will not have any represenation in Scotland.    It was also quite startling how the Exit Poll by the BBC (that we shared on Twitter as Big Ben Struck 10 PM in London began):


As we continue to monitor the final results, it is clear that the UK Labor Party has suffered a massive defeat and the Liberal Democrats (the Junior Partner in the Outgoing Goverment) has been decimated.    A number of key Liberal Democratic Leaders are no longer in office as of now.    It will be interesting to see how the new Government is going to be formed because there is going to be a different Government which will present profound challenges due to a defacto minority Government and the challenge of keeping a much-changed United Kingdom together.




Notations From the Grid: On The Internally Displaced

As our team finished the latest "Daily Round-up", one tweet we saw was of profound concern:


38,000,000 People are displaced throughout the World as a result of Wars in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Nigeria and 164 other countries around the World.    It is becoming ever so challenging to deal with the Wars especially as the World is also having to deal with the natural calamities--including the earthquake in Nepal, the volcano eruption in Chile and the torandoes landing in Oklahoma.    

Challening Times...Ever So.....

5/06/2015

An #Outsider Newsflash: Briefly On Latest From #Afghanistan

The BBC is right now reporting from Afghanistan about a massive Taliban Offensive being supported by Daesh (also referred to as the Islamic State).   The Provisional Capital of Kunduz is under threat right now.   This is as Afghanistan is also dealing with a resurrengence of the drug trade yet again: