Prologue Journal – Page 35218 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

Who Is Vladimir Kara-Murza, Russian Opposition Activist?

New York Times Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced on Monday to 25 years in a Russian penal colony. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/17/world/vladimir-kara-murza-russia-activism.html

Apple Launches High-Yield Savings Account

Wall Street Journal Apple Card credit-card holders can open accounts with a 4.15% annual percentage yield. https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-launches-high-yield-savings-account-4880ecc2

Finance Ministry considers wider use of additional income tax only for viscous oil

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. Additional income from hydrocarbon production tax is a relatively new tax that is applied to several categories of deposits depending on their depletion and geographical location https://tass.com/economy/1605521

Russian Foreign Minister arrives in Brazil to meet president, who made loud statements about Ukraine

Pravda Ukraine Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in Brazil, where he plans to meet not only with his Brazilian counterpart, but also with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Source: CNN; Russian Foreign Ministry on Telegram Details: On 17 April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Brazil on a “working visit”.…

U.S. Was Warned of Migrant Child Labor, but ‘Didn’t Want to Hear It’

New York Times The White House and federal agencies were repeatedly alerted to signs of children at risk. The warnings were ignored or missed. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/17/us/politics/migrant-child-labor-biden.html

Baltic Fleet kicks off drills with naval groups in Russia’s westernmost region

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. It is reported that the Baltic Fleet’s naval groups will carry out missile and artillery firings to strike the mock enemy’s ships and aircraft https://tass.com/defense/1605519

Biden’s green energy plans pose national security risk, Pentagon warns

Fox News The Department of Defense (DoD) recently warned that the Biden administration’s lofty offshore wind development goals could significantly impede naval military operations, Fox News Digital has confirmed. The conflict, which pits President Biden’s aggressive climate agenda against national security interests, was highlighted in an Oct. 6, 2022 report assembled by the U.S. Navy…

How I Rediscovered The Joy of Reading in Retirement

Wall Street Journal Having more free time has given me a kind of connection with books that I haven’t had since I was a little girl. But the experience hasn’t been what I expected. https://www.wsj.com/articles/reading-in-retirement-6609fed1

National security threats still ‘lurk’ in society, Hong Kong leader says

Hong Kong Free Press Threats to national security still “lurk” in Hong Kong society, Chief Executive John Lee has warned. Meanwhile, the city’s security chief said Beijing’s top official on Hong Kong affairs had reminded local authorities to “prepare for danger in times of peace.” Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee attends the opening ceremony…

Russian security official doesn’t rule out that US may knowingly leak information

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. In the future, “leaks in the interests of the American administration will continue from time to time,” Sergey Ivanov surmised https://tass.com/defense/1605517