Prologue Journal – Page 32797 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

The Phony Debt-Ceiling ‘Calamity’

Wall Street Journal The Treasury made a plan to pay bondholders in 2011. It could do the same with Social Security. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-phony-debt-ceiling-calamity-x-date-default-social-security-roll-over-treasury-ac939d83

If supplied to Kiev, F-16 fighter jets will be based in Ukraine — Pentagon

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. “We’re talking about a Ukrainian capability, not a NATO capability,” Secretary of the US Air Force Frank Kendall said https://tass.com/world/1621347

Iran slams EU silence on border guard killings

Disclaimer: PressTV is affiliated with the state broadcasting agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and is not a reliable news source. Iran has criticized the silence of the self-proclaimed advocates of human rights and European ambassadors on a terrorist attack in southeast Iran that killed five border guards. https://presstv.ir/Detail/2023/05/22/703895/Iran-Foreign-Ministry-Kan-ani-border-guards-human-rights-terrorism-EU

Fighting Reported in Belgorod, Near Russian Border With Ukraine

New York Times The local Russian governor blamed a Ukrainian sabotage group, while Kyiv’s military intelligence agency said the perpetrators were “opposition-minded citizens of Russia.” https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/22/world/europe/belgorod-russia-ukraine-fighting.html

DOD Announces Winners of the 2022 DOD Fire and Emergency Services Awards

Defense.gov The Department of Defense announced the recipients of the 2022 DOD Fire and Emergency Services Awards for outstanding accomplishments of its fire departments, fire officers, and firefighters. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3402759/dod-announces-winners-of-the-2022-dod-fire-and-emergency-services-awards/

Fighting for Bakhmut continues, Ukraine’s artillery units strike 3 clusters of Russian personnel and equipment – General Staff report

Pravda Ukraine As of the evening of 22 May, Russian occupation forces are continuing to focus their main efforts on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka fronts. Fighting for the city of Bakhmut continues. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/05/22/7403364/

Gazprom Export receives termination notice from Finland’s Gasum

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. Last fall the Arbitration Court of Stockholm recognized the Russian President’s decree to switch to paying for gas in rubles as force majeure under the contract https://tass.com/economy/1621341

Israeli Navy rescues six from a sinking boat in Mediterranean Sea

Jerusalem Post https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-743867

Belarus pardons opposition blogger arrested after plane’s forced landing

Washington Post Protasevich’s arrest and prosecution sparked major concern among human rights groups. In May 20221, Protasevich was en route from Athens to Vilnius on a Ryanair flight with his girlfriend when his flight was diverted and landed in Minsk. He was immediately arrested. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/22/roman-protasevich-pardoned-belarus/

Counter-terror regime in place in Belgorod Region to fight Ukrainian saboteurs — governor

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. For the period of the counter-terror operation, various measures and restrictions have been introduced, from individuals’ identity checks to the suspension of the operation of hazardous production facilities and organizations using explosive, radioactive, chemical and biologically dangerous substances https://tass.com/politics/1621339