Prologue Journal – Page 32776 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

California Wildflower Scientist Searches for Rare Species After Wet Winter

New York Times A wet winter has provided a narrow window for botanists to search for wildflowers that have been lying dormant for years in California. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/22/us/california-wildflower-hunt.html

Mexican Official, Alejandro Encinas, Victim of Pegasus Spyware Attack

New York Times While looking into abuses by the armed forces, the country’s top human rights official was targeted with Pegasus, the world’s most notorious spyware, The Times found. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/22/world/americas/mexico-spying-pegasus-israel.html

Andrew Tate Finds Romania Less Lawless Than He Hoped

New York Times The online influencer, popular with young men, is facing charges of human trafficking and rape, after seeking out a place where “corruption is accessible to everybody.” https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/22/world/europe/andrew-tate-arrest-romania.html

How DeSantis Is Trying to Lure Older Voters Away From Trump

New York Times The Florida governor is courting the large, politically influential group by pointing to his efforts to lower prescription drug prices. But his pitch can be lost on some voters. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/22/us/politics/desantis-trump-older-voters-prescription-drugs.html

Applied Materials to Build $4 Billion Chip Research Facility in Silicon Valley

Wall Street Journal The aim is to speed development of advanced semiconductors through “inclusive innovation.” https://www.wsj.com/articles/applied-materials-to-build-4-billion-chip-research-facility-in-silicon-valley-efe8069

Israeli hazy forecast may turn into isolated sandstorms

Jerusalem Post The Environmental Protection and Health ministries warned that high to very high levels of air pollution will affect most of the country. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-743812

Lukashenko to visit Putin to discuss “problems in relations”

Pravda Ukraine Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, will meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss “problems that should not exist in [their] relations”. Source: BelTA, a Belarusian state-owned news outlet, citing Lukashenko’s statement at a meeting with Dmitry Krutoi, Belarus’ Ambassador to Russia Quote: “According to government reports, there are…

Russia to boost production of large tonnage polymers by 34% by 2025 — Novak

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. “In three years only the production of large tonnage polymers rose by 25% to 7.4 mln tons, which enabled us to get rid of dependence on imports in the segment of large tonnage polymers,” the minister said https://tass.com/economy/1620975

Possible US decisions regarding New START are its internal affair — Russian MFA

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. Sergey Ryabkov noted that Russia, although it suspended the treaty, voluntarily continued “to adhere to its main quantitative caps on delivery vehicles” https://tass.com/politics/1620973

Explosions in Belgorod Oblast: Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion urge not to resist

Pravda Ukraine The Russian Volunteer Corps, whose fighters claim to be fighting on the side of Ukraine, said it was performing combat missions on the territory of the Russian Federation, and the Freedom of Russia Legion called on residents of Russian border regions to stay at home and “not resist”. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/05/22/7403263/