The extension, and another exchange of hostages and prisoners, raised hopes that more people would be set free and more humanitarian aid would reach people in the Gaza Strip.
At the president’s urging, the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas was extended two more days. The challenge is what comes next.
Inside U.S. Efforts to Untangle an A.I. Giant’s Ties to China
American spy agencies have warned about the Emirati firm G42 and its work with large Chinese companies that U.S. officials consider security threats.
Russian Women Protest Long Deployments for Soldiers in Ukraine
“Make way for someone else,” a new grass-roots movement demands as women challenge the official argument that the mobilized troops are needed in combat indefinitely.
FRANCE 24 English Films (November 27, 2023) – The French region of Alsace is famous for its traditional half-timbered houses. But this centuries-old heritage is threatened by the passage of time and urban development.
Every year, 400 of these remarkable old houses are demolished. But a few locals are trying to safeguard their heritage. One young couple have embarked on a project to renovate their old house, using ancestral techniques.
Meanwhile, a company near Strasbourg specialises in dismantling the half-timbering of abandoned houses, renovating them and reusing them on new structures. We take a closer look.
DW Travel (November 26, 2023) – With its old town center, its castle and numerous romantic bridges, the city of Prague is a veritable tourist magnet. That’s why you’ll always find so many amazing photos of the Czech capital on Instagram – and it all looks soooooo gorgeous.
Video timeline:00:00 Intro 00:42 Hradčany, Prague’s castle district 02:33 Charles Bridge 03:28 Trdelník 04:11 Old Town Square 05:30 Conclusion
But do these images reflect the true face of Prague? And is the city really worth visiting?
Prague, capital city of the Czech Republic, is bisected by the Vltava River. Nicknamed “the City of a Hundred Spires,” it’s known for its Old Town Square, the heart of its historic core, with colorful baroque buildings, Gothic churches and the medieval Astronomical Clock, which gives an animated hourly show. Completed in 1402, pedestrian Charles Bridge is lined with statues of Catholic saints.
A third group of captives released from Gaza included a 4-year-old dual American-Israeli citizen whose parents were killed in the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.
Pentagon researchers say weapons like shoulder-fired rockets expose troops who fire them to blast waves far above safety limits, but they remain in wide use.
Members of Congress Head for the Exits, Many Citing Dysfunction
More than three dozen incumbents have announced they will not seek re-election next year. Some are running for other offices, while others intend to leave Congress altogether.
As Groundwater Dwindles, Powerful Players Block Change
Here are some of the people fighting efforts to conserve a vital resource that’s disappearing across the United States.
山間漫譚 Mountain talk Films (November 24, 2023) – Lofoten is an archipelago in Norway. Its known for its dramatic scenery, with peaks like the Svolværgeita pinnacle jutting up into the sky. Himmeltindan Mountain sits on Vestvågøya Island.
The nearby Lofotr Viking Museum features a Viking longhouse reconstruction. Cycle routes cover the islands, passing through fishing villages like Henningsvær, which has colorful buildings lining its waterways.
The cease-fire can be extended by daily releases of hostages, making it progressively harder for Israel to restart military operations.
Gaza Civilians, Under Israeli Barrage, Are Being Killed at Historic Pace
Even a conservative assessment of the reported Gaza casualty figures shows that the rate of death during Israel’s assault has few precedents in this century, experts say.
Despite Bans, Disabled Women Are Still Being Sterilized in Europe
Governments have declared the practice a human rights violation. But they have made exceptions that are divisive among parents, doctors and social workers.
In This Atlanta Suburb, Teens Taste Freedom at 10 M.P.H.
In Peachtree City, Ga., golf carts are everywhere, giving young people in particular an early chance to take life by the wheel.
Hamas freed two dozen hostages, Israel released 39 imprisoned Palestinians, and more than 130 aid trucks reached Gaza over the first day of a tense, temporary truce after seven weeks of war.
More than 24,000 Chinese citizens have been apprehended crossing into the United States from Mexico in the past year. That is more than in the preceding 10 years combined.
How Electricity Is Changing, Country by Country
Carbon-free electricity has never been more plentiful. Wind and solar power have taken off over the past two decades, faster than experts ever expected. But it hasn’t yet been enough to halt the rise of coal- and gas-burning generation.
Could Haley Really Beat Trump? Big Donors Are Daring to Dream.
Powerful players in the business world have gravitated toward Nikki Haley, aware that she remains an underdog but beginning to believe she has a chance.
The Local Project (November 24, 2023) – Located in a leafy pocket of Hawthorn is Shakespeare Grove by B.E. Architecture, a dream house designed as a family home and devised by a memorable palette of materials.
Video timeline:00:00 – Introduction to the Dark and Moody Dream House 01:12 – Designed as Two Halves 01:40 – The Decorative and Private Sector 02:00 – Incorporating A Sense of Scale and Sculpture 02:38 – The Casual and Family Sector 03:01 – A Reduced Material Palette and Light Quality 03:53 – Incorporating Custom Made Personal Items 05:12 – Enjoyable Aspects of the Design
B.E. Architecture’s overarching responsibility was to create a residence that responded to the area and catered to the council, town planners, heritage planners, neighbours and, ultimately, its clients. Designed as two halves, the dream house features a distinct façade that hides the intimate and warm interior. Furthermore, when looking to simplify the expression of the building, the team used consistent materials across both the interior and exterior. Moving the house tour inside, the front half of the home holds the master bedroom, ensuite and study, as well as the formal dining and living areas.
Though facing the street, the front half of Shakespeare Grove is kept private and offers an inward-facing inner experience. The interior design is typified by the inlaid timber ceilings and cocooning walls of felt, and the first half of the dream house is designed to be more decorative than the second. Also shown through the house tour is a generous architectural scale, as seen in the details of the staircase. Moreover, a vaulted hallway leads from the formal part of the dream house to the casual spaces. The rear of the dream house holds the social areas such as the kitchen, lounge and dining space – all of which are open to the natural surrounds and flow to the outdoor entertaining zones.
Prodded by the U.S., Israel agreed to the pause in hostilities and the release of 150 imprisoned Palestinians in exchange for 50 hostages held in Gaza.
PBS Films (November 22, 2023) – Follow Cecil (Mark Umbers) as he provides a behind-the-scenes look at some of the iconic rooms, terraces, and views from Hotel Portofino.
Along the tour, he reveals insight as to what it’s like filming in the Mediterranean and even hints at what to expect in the show’s second season. This video was recorded prior to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
山間漫譚 Mountain talk
Boomers Daily 