Portugal Travel: Walking Tour Of Alfama In Lisbon

Frank in Portugal Films (July 30, 2023) – The steep streets of Alfama, one of Lisbon’s oldest areas, are lined with shops selling traditional crafts and cafes. Passengers pack the historic no. 28 tram, which winds through Alfama on its way up to 11th-century São Jorge Castle.

Views from Miradouro da Graça terrace stretch over the city to the River Tagus. In the evening, melancholy Fado music can be heard in some of the area’s long-running restaurants. 

#Lisbon #Portugal #Walkingtour

News: Niger Junta, Trump Obstruction Indictments, Hunter Biden Plea Deal

The Globalist Podcast, Monday, July 31, 2023: We discuss the fate of Niger as experts fear that the situation could exacerbate regional instability.

Plus: the latest charges against Donald Trump, Brazil’s ambitious green transition package and a roundup of Asia-Pacific stories.

The New York Times — Monday, July 31, 2023

Image

Trump Crushing DeSantis and G.O.P. Rivals, Times/Siena Poll Finds

The twice-indicted former president leads across nearly every category and region, as primary voters wave off concerns about his escalating legal jeopardy.

Who Paid for a Mysterious Spy Tool? The F.B.I., an F.B.I. Inquiry Found

A branch of the hacking firm NSO in Sapir, Israel. The Biden administration put the company on a Commerce Department blacklist in 2021.

After a Times report, the bureau canceled its contract with a government contractor that used the tool on its behalf. But questions remain.

Amid the Counterattack’s Deadly Slog, a Glimmer of Success for Ukraine

Recapturing the village of Staromaiorske was such welcome news for the country that President Volodymyr Zelensky announced it himself. But formidable Russian defenses have stymied progress elsewhere.

Heat Is Costing the U.S. Economy Billions in Lost Productivity

From meatpackers to home health aides, workers are struggling in sweltering temperatures and productivity is taking a hit.

Travel: Tour Of Ushguli In The Caucasus Of Georgia

DW Travel (July 30, 2023) – A tour of Ushguli, a village in Georgia. The World Heritage Site sits some 2,200 meters above sea level in the Caucasus Mountains.

Only 70 families live in the village up on the country’s highest mountain – the Shkhara. During the summer, tourists love visiting the village to see its unique tower houses – an old medieval defense method.

Sunday Morning: Stories From London & Merano

July 30, 2023 – Emma Nelson, Latika Bourke and David Bodanis on the weekend’s biggest talking points.

We are joined from the Alps by Monocle’s editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, and also speak to our North Africa correspondent, Mary Fitzgerald.

The New York Times — Sunday, July 30, 2023

Image

The Secret History of Gun Rights: How Lawmakers Armed the N.R.A.

They served in Congress and on the N.R.A.’s board at the same time. Over decades, a small group of legislators led by a prominent Democrat pushed the gun lobby to help transform the law, the courts and views on the Second Amendment.

A Climate Warning from the Cradle of Civilization

How extreme temperatures and dwindling water are pushing the Fertile Crescent toward the brink.

U.S. Hunts Chinese Malware That Could Disrupt American Military Operations

American intelligence officials believe the malware could give China the power to disrupt or slow American deployments or resupply operations, including during a Chinese move against Taiwan.

New York City Had a Migrant Crisis. It Hired a Covid Expert to Help.

DocGo, a medical services company, received a $432 million no-bid contract to move hundreds of asylum seekers outside the city. Many say they have been threatened, mistreated and lied to.

Analysis: Ukraine’s Deadly ‘Storm Shadow Missiles’

Wall Street Journal (July 29, 2023) – Storm Shadow missiles equip Ukraine’s military counteroffensive with the ability to hit Russian targets more than 150 miles away with pinpoint accuracy.

Video timeline: 0:00 A weapon to help with counteroffensive 0:30 How Storm Shadow missiles work 4:31 Weaknesses 6:07 What’s next?

The weapon has three times the range of that on the HIMARS rockets in Ukraine, forcing Moscow to rethink its logistics. WSJ takes a look at how these long-range, deep-strike missiles work and why the Storm Shadow is equipped to take out key Russian command and control centers.

#Russia #Ukraine #WSJ

World Economic Forum: Top Stories- July 29, 2023

World Economic Forum (July 29, 2023) – This week’s top stories of the week include:

6 energy saving tips for hot weather – When it’s hot, your ceiling fan should turn anti-clockwise. This creates a downdraft and circulates the cool air. On winter mode, fans move clockwise instead. Pulling hot air upwards and dispersing it around the room.

France will help pay for people’s clothing repairs – The government will refund €6-€25 of the cost of mending shoes and clothes. It hopes the scheme will cut textile waste and help to create a more circular textile sector. 700,000 tonnes of clothing are thrown away in France every year. Two-thirds of it ends up in landfill. The global textile industry is a major source of both pollution and CO2. It generates 10% of the world’s total CO2 emissions. By 2050, this could be 25%.

This Finnish island wants you to turn off your phone – This summer, Ulko-Tammio is encouraging visitors not to look at their devices. Ulko-Tammio is a small island in the Eastern Gulf of Finland. It’s uninhabited and home to rare birds and plants. Visitors arrive by boat to birdwatch, hike and camp. Now, the island is encouraging them to switch off their devices, take a break from emails and social media and focus attention on their surroundings rather than their screen.

Japan is encouraging more women into science – Currently, only 1 in 7 Japanese scientists are women. So from 2024, a dozen universities are introducing quotas to urge more women to major in science, technology, engineering and maths, also known as STEM. The Tokyo Institute of Technology wants women to make up 20-30% of new students, up from 13% today. Nagoya University, Shimane University and the University of Toyama are also putting quotas in place. Currently, only 7% of female students in Japan major in science and engineering. The lowest in the OECD.

_____________________________________________

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

Art Deco Design Tour: Prince De Galles Hotel ‘Lalique Suite’ In Paris

the Luxury Travel Expert Films (June 29, 2023) – A full tour of 5-star Prince De Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Paris, France.

Video timeline: 0:00 Intro 2:08 Facade 4:12 Lobby 7:27 Suite Lalique 16:43 Rooftop 25:13 Restaurants 27:57 Courtyard 30:10 Brunch 34:59 Dinner 41:46 Breakfast 44:15 Gym & Spa

The iconic Art Deco hotel is home to Paris’ most exclusive hotel suite, the Suite Lalique by Patrick Hellmann (a dazzling duplex suite with stunning design & rooftop).

Saturday Morning: News And Stories From London

Monocle on Saturday, July 29, 2023: A look at the week’s news and culture with Georgina Godwin.

We’re joined by the deputy publishing editor of ‘Newsweek’, Paul Rhodes, to flick through the morning’s papers and Monocle’s culture editor, Chiara Rimella, guides us through Italian beach club culture. 

News, Views and Reviews For The Intellectually Curious