prologu5 – Page 218 – Prologue Journal

US intends to discuss issue of territories liberated by Russia

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz added that “there is going to be a discussion of security guarantees” https://tass.com/world/1915441

Air defenses intercept nine Ukrainian drones over Russia last night

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. “On-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed three Ukrainian UAVs over the Bryansk Region, one over the Tatarstan Region and four over the Black Sea,” the Russian Defense Ministry said https://tass.com/politics/1915439

Trump Signs Order Expanding Power Over Independent Agencies Like FCC and SEC

New York Times The president has already challenged statutory protections against summarily firing officials overseeing such agencies without cause. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/us/trump-executive-order-sec-ftc-fcc.html

Expanding ties between Ethiopia, Russia benefits national interests — official

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. Valentina Matviyenko added that cooperation in the spheres of energy, agriculture, business and trade is being discussed https://tass.com/politics/1915437

Wednesday Briefing

New York Times Here’s what you need to know. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/briefing/russia-ukraine-trump-hamas.html

Jet-Skis in Rwanda. Bodies Ashore in Congo.

New York Times The Rwandan shore of Lake Kivu offers leisure and relaxation. Across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the same lake was recently the site of devastation and misery after a rebel offensive. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/world/africa/rwanda-congo-m23-lake-kivu-conflict.html

Nepal Took a Risk on a $500 Million U.S. Grant. It May Now Regret It.

New York Times President Trump’s freezing of foreign aid provides an opening for China to portray America as an unreliable partner. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/world/asia/nepal-trump-foreign-aid.html

Under Trump, U.S. diplomacy finds its own ‘wolf warriors’

Washington Post China’s “wolf warrior” approach to geopolitics wasn’t effective diplomacy — a lesson Trump’s representatives on the global stage may relearn the hard way. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/02/19/trump-vance-china-wolf-warrior-diplomacy/

Hong Kong taxi strike cancelled after meeting government advisory body

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. City leader John Lee earlier urged top taxi union against taking any drastic action and to instead discuss solutions with transport advisory body. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3299258/hong-kong-taxi-strike-cancelled-after-meeting-government-advisory-body?utm_source=rss_feed

Five Taiwanese freed from Myanmar scam rings return to Taiwan

Taipei/Bangkok, Feb. 19 (CNA) Five of the seven Taiwanese nationals freed from Myanmar fraud rings cleared checks by Thai authorities and landed back in Taiwan early Wednesday, according to Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB). https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202502190007