Prologue Journal – Page 35398 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

LeBron James Just Wanted a Chance at the Playoffs. Now He’s Got It.

Wall Street Journal The Los Angeles Lakers spent the majority of the season injured and outside the playoff picture. As the postseason gets under way, they’re healthy, whole and hitting their stride. https://www.wsj.com/articles/lebron-james-los-angeles-lakers-nba-playoffs-fa9a2b1d

In Photos: Russian Military Ramps Up Army Recruitment Drive

Moscow Times The Russian army is reportedly aiming to recruit 400,000 new contract soldiers to bolster its stagnating invasion of Ukraine. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/04/12/in-photos-russian-military-ramps-up-army-recruitment-drive-a80794

Moldova reduces consumption of Russian gas by 56% in March — Moldovagaz

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. Gas tariffs in Moldova have jumped 7-fold since the end of 2021, to $1.6 per cubic meter of gas https://tass.com/economy/1603245

German officials seize cooked bats from van crossing border from Belgium

Fox News German officials seized cooked bats and nearly a ton of unrefrigerated fish after police stopped a van that had entered the country from Belgium, authorities said Wednesday. Federal police said a patrol on Monday stopped the vehicle at a highway exit on the edge of the border city of Aachen, and found the…

Columbia’s plan to open Israel center sparks faculty outcry over ‘right wing’ government: report

Fox News Columbia University will move forward with a “Global Center” in Tel Aviv in the face of vocal opposition from a group of faculty members. The university announced its plan last week, calling the Global Centers “foundational to Columbia’s mission to engage with the world.” Columbia already has centers in 10 other cities, including…

Netherlands to end LNG imports from Russia -Bloomberg, citing minister

Jerusalem Post https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-739038

U.S. Regulators Playing Catch-Up With Tesla-Focused Detroit

Wall Street Journal American car manufacturers already had plenty of reasons to invest in EVs before Washington’s new tailpipe-emissions proposal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-regulators-playing-catch-up-with-tesla-focused-detroit-e7aa264

A Panda Is Coming Home, and Her Chinese Fans Say It’s About Time

New York Times Ya Ya, who has been at the Memphis Zoo for 20 years, will soon return to China, where a campaign accusing the zoo of mistreating her has resonated on social media. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/12/world/asia/panda-china-memphis-zoo-ya-ya.html

China announces fair trade inspections on 2,455 products from Taiwan

Taipei, April 12 (CNA) China on Wednesday announced that it will start inspecting whether 2,455 products from Taiwan conform to the nation’s fair trade rules, including agricultural products, textiles, metals, coal and minerals, effective immediately. https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202304120022

At Mexico’s Chichen Itza, archaeologists discover Mayan scoreboard

Jerusalem Post The circular piece, measuring just over 32 centimeters (12.6 inches) in diameter and weighing 40 kilos (88 lb), displays hieroglyphic writing surrounding two players standing next to a ball. https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-739037