Prologue Journal – Page 35479 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

Saudi and Iranian Foreign Ministers Meet in China After Thaw

New York Times The high-level talks were a sign that the regional rivals were moving ahead with an agreement to re-establish relations, mediated last month by Beijing. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/06/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-iran-meeting.html

Russia’s Wagner Chief Says Cemetery for Fighters ‘Growing’

Moscow Times The mercenary group’s forces have been spearheading Russia’s offensives in eastern Ukraine, taking heavy losses. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/04/06/russias-wagner-chief-says-cemetery-for-fighters-growing-a80744

German banks hit by wave of complaints from savers

Reuters Through a review of official data, Reuters exclusively revealed that complaints from consumers about banks and other financial firms in Germany rose by a fifth last year as regulators attempt to build trust in the sector. The post German banks hit by wave of complaints from savers appeared first on Reuters News Agency. https://www.reutersagency.com/en/reutersbest/article/german-banks-hit-by-wave-of-complaints-from-savers/

Buyout firm EnCap eyes nearly $3 bln of Permian asset sales

Reuters Reuters exclusively revealed that EnCap Investments is exploring the sale of two Permian basin-focused oil and gas producers that could collectively fetch the private equity firm nearly $3 billion. The post Buyout firm EnCap eyes nearly $3 bln of Permian asset sales appeared first on Reuters News Agency. https://www.reutersagency.com/en/reutersbest/article/buyout-firm-encap-eyes-nearly-3-bln-of-permian-asset-sales/

Brokerage CICC slashes bonuses as Beijing dials up income disparity rhetoric

Reuters Reuters exclusively revealed that China International Capital Corp (CICC) (3908.HK) intends to cut bonuses by as much as 40% in one of the financial sector’s biggest cuts in two years since a renewed government push to narrow income disparity. The post Brokerage CICC slashes bonuses as Beijing dials up income disparity rhetoric appeared first…

Reuters Poll: Bank of Canada will stay put this year, rate cuts unlikely

Reuters In a recent poll, Reuters learned economists believe the Bank of Canada will keep its key interest rate steady at 4.5% through the end of the year. The post Reuters Poll: Bank of Canada will stay put this year, rate cuts unlikely appeared first on Reuters News Agency. https://www.reutersagency.com/en/reutersbest/article/reuters-poll-bank-of-canada-will-stay-put-this-year-rate-cuts-unlikely/

Russian Prosecutors Seek 25-Year Prison Term for Kremlin Critic Kara-Murza

Moscow Times Vladimir Kara-Murza has been charged with high treason, affiliation with an “undesirable” group and spreading “fake news” about the army. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/04/06/russian-prosecutors-seek-25-year-prison-term-for-kremlin-critic-kara-murza-a80743

China plans $500 million subsea internet cable to rival US-backed project

Reuters Reuters exclusively reported that state-owned telecom firms are developing a $500 million undersea fiber-optic internet cable network that would link Asia, the Middle East and Europe to rival a similar U.S.-backed project. The plan is a sign that an intensifying tech war between Beijing and Washington risks tearing the fabric of the internet. The…

Russian Orthodox Church Establishes ‘Head Military Priest’ Post

Moscow Times The church official will be responsible for the “spiritual mentoring” of soldiers fighting in Ukraine. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/04/06/russian-orthodox-church-establishes-head-military-priest-post-a80742

IDF: Hamas factions fired Lebanon rocket barrage, Iran involvement possible

Jerusalem Post Even though the barrage into Israel was fired from Hezbollah-controlled southern Lebanon, sources indicate that Palestinian groups may be to blame. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-738604