Europe – Page 202 – Prologue Journal

Bank of England Holds Rates Steady, Despite Slower Inflation

New York Times Officials kept rates at their highest level since 2008 for a seventh consecutive meeting, even as inflation dipped to 2 percent in May. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/business/bank-of-england-interest-rates.html

How Architecture Became One of Ukraine’s Essential Defenses

New York Times An exhibition in downtown Manhattan showcases more than a dozen grass-roots efforts to rebuild war-stricken cities. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/arts/design/architecture-ukraine-war-rebuild-review.html

Thursday Briefing

New York Times Russia and North Korea pledge mutual defense. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/briefing/russia-north-korea-defense.html

Putin’s Presidential Planes: What We Know

New York Times The Kremlin clings to Soviet-designed aircraft even as Russia’s commercial carriers opt for Western planes. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/19/world/europe/putins-presidential-planes-what-we-know.html

Officer in Sunak’s Protection Team Accused of Placing U.K. Election Bet

New York Times The allegations came a week after a lawmaker and aide to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologized for having placed a similar bet on the date of the vote before it was officially announced. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/19/world/europe/uk-sunak-election-bet.html

Why Is Putin Traveling to Vietnam?

New York Times President Vladimir V. Putin arrived in Hanoi keen to maintain the longstanding military ties between Russia and Vietnam, as Hanoi has developed deeper bonds with Washington. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/19/world/asia/putin-russia-vietnam-visit.html

Beluga Whales Are Rescued From Ukrainian War Zone to New Home in Spain

New York Times A pair of beluga whales were extricated from the besieged city of Kharkiv and taken to an aquarium in Spain with help from experts around the world. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/19/world/europe/kharkiv-ukraine-beluga-whales-spain.html

Group of Austrians Picks 77 Charities to Receive Heiress’s Fortune

New York Times Marlene Engelhorn, a descendant of the founder of one of the world’s largest chemical companies, decided to give away most of her inheritance. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/19/world/europe/marlene-engelhorn-heiress-fortune.html

France Warned by E.U. About ‘Excessive’ Deficit

New York Times The rebuke for breaking European Union rules that require strict financial discipline comes two weeks before French voters head to the polls for parliamentary elections. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/19/business/france-budget-deficit-macron.html

Dozens Die as Intense Heat Grips Mecca During Hajj Pilgrimage

New York Times Reports from official media in the Middle East and Africa suggest that dozens of people died during this year’s hajj pilgrimage as temperatures soared. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/19/world/europe/hajj-deaths-mecca-heat.html