The big news of the day is that  Israel and the Hamas reached a deal to release 50 civilian women  and children held in Gaza .   Details on equivalent Paletinian prisoners are being worked out, but 150 women and children could well be in that mix.   There will also be a four-day pause in fighting.  Thank Qatar, especially lead negotiator and Minister of State, Mohammed Al-Khlaifi, plus Egypt and the White House.  Photo above. Additionally, an average of 42 aid trucks per day have been going into Gaza through the Rafah gate since October 21. Israel remains recalcitrant and indicated that there will be continued warfare until ALL hostages are returned. Big day for Joe Biden. The overwhelming relief to the above is that expanded hostilities seem now to be unlikely, and the path to a two-country solution appears on the horizon. So back to our Japan Rail Pass.  I mentioned yesterday that all we saw were banks of clouds when our Bullet Train passed...