THE WEEK IN REVIEW: MARCH 15-21, 2015

TODAY IS NAW-RUZ FOR THOSE OF THE BAHÁ'Í FAITH.

NAMIBIA CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY.

IT'S MOTHER'S DAY IN THE ARABIAN WORLD.

MARCH 18th WAS THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST SPACE WALK EVER, BY COSMONAUT ALEKSEI LEONOV.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD THIS PAST WEEK...

*CYCLONE PAM IS STILL A CONCERN IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC! Meanwhile, people in areas already affected by the severe storm try to recover and assess the damage done.
*The United Nations warns that Earth's clean water resources may soon only meet 60% of the world's demand.
*The Philippines is seeking legal recourse to get China's claims to South China Sea resources renounced.
*A solar eclipse was visible over much of Europe March 20th.
*The Lancet medical journal's new study claims that babies who are breastfed are likely to have higher IQs, do better in school, and acquire higher earning jobs.

BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE UKRAINE...

*Russian President Vladimir Putin, suddenly returning to the public eye after an unexplained absence, has ordered the Russian military on full alert and prepared for "snap drills", citing increased NATO exercises in the region for the reason.
*Meanwhile, given the continued unrest in the Ukraine, the independent country of Poland worries that they might soon have separatist troubles, with "dissidents" wanting their country to rejoin the Soviet Union.

TERRIBLE TERRORIST ACTIVITIES...
*Suicide bombings at mosques in Sana'a, Yemen killed more than 130 people. ISIS/ISIL forces have since claimed responsibility for the attacks.
*Armed gunmen killed 21 people in an attack on the Bardo National Museum in Tunis.
*Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed was convicted on charges of terrorism and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

PASSING PARADE
*Sculptor Robert Clatworthy is no longer with us.
*Illustrator/Cartoonist Roy Doty (Judy Blume books, the comic strip adaption of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In) has left us.
*Michael Brown of The Left Banke ("Walk Away Renée") has passed away.
*Mike Porcaro of Toto is gone.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...
POLITICALLY...

*The Republican majority Congress has sent their 2015-2016 budget proposal to President Barack Obama. Amongst the "highlights" are doing away completely with The Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obama Care"; defunding Medicare along with other social programs, and offering additional tax incentives to those with high incomes.
*After being nominated 4 months ago, the Senate is still refusing to confirm Loretta Lynch as the new Attorney General. While no previous reason(s) were given, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been quoted by CNN as saying that unless a bill which includes denying victims of human trafficking funding for an abortion if necessary is passed, the Senate will not conduct any confirmation vote.
*Illinois Representative Aaron Schock (R) has resigned his Congressional post instead of facing possible charges of misusing tax payer funds.
ELSEWHERE...

*It has been reported that Tennessee State Senator Bo Watson (R) allegedly has such a huge hatred of organized labor unions, that he would rather see his state's unemployment rate rise instead of "risking" new job providers that might allow unions into Tennessee.
*The Premera Blue Cross health insurance company is just now making public the news that it was a cyber attack victim in May 2014, with over 11 million accounts hacked.
*The annual NCAA College Basketball Championships, also known as March Madness, are well underway.

For more news at any time, either scroll down to our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen or visit any other reputable news source.