Extra, Extra

Peace Out: America stops to vote, but world just keeps on keeping on. NYT: Netanyahu Fires Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant. “Mr. Gallant was pushing for a cease-fire deal in Gaza that would secure the release of hostages, and his dismissal removes the main proponent in the government for such an agreement.” There are big protests.

+ Road and Belt: “Japan is planning to build an automated cargo transport corridor between Tokyo and Osaka, dubbed a ‘conveyor belt road’ by the government, to make up for a shortage of truck drivers.” Japan plans automated cargo transport system to relieve shortage of drivers and cut emissions. (It might make sense to build one of these between Amazon and my front door.)

+ Q Factor: “It was in 1964 when Sinatra and Jones collaborated for that first studio album, It Might as Well Be Swing. At the time Sinatra was a commercial colossus, with a blockbuster career in film and music. But as he neared age 50, with jazz quickly giving ground to rock’n’roll, it appeared as if Sinatra, AKA the Chairman of the Board, wouldn’t remain on top for much longer.” Quincy Jones and Frank Sinatra: the audacious partnership that rocketed them to another planet.

+ Kissless and Tell: BBC: Never been kissed – Japan’s teen boys losing out on love. “A new survey of Japanese high school students has revealed that four out of five 15-18-year-old boys have yet to reach the milestone. And things aren’t looking much different for the girls, with just over one in four female high schoolers having had their first kiss.” (Seems like there’s a workable solution if both groups are willing to work together.)