Prologue Journal – Page 35948 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

Ukrainian defenders kill more than 500 occupiers and destroy 2 tanks and 17 drones

Pravda Ukraine Over the past day, Ukrainian Defence Forces killed another 510 occupiers and destroyed 2 tanks, 17 unmanned aerial vehicles and other military equipment. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces from 24 February 2022 to 7 July 2023 are estimated to be…

Ukraine wants and expects an invitation to join NATO. Allies are not sure.

Washington Post Kyiv is hoping for a historic decision at the upcoming NATO leaders’ summit in Vilnius, Lithuania but may have to settle for interim security guarantees. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/07/ukraine-nato-vilnius-summit-leaders/

Once hailed for decriminalizing drugs, Portugal is now having doubts

Washington Post As addiction become more visible in cities like Porto, authorities and citizens groups debate whether to undo Portugal’s landmark tolerance for drug use. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/07/portugal-drugs-decriminalization-heroin-crack/

Russian embassy warns US against using freedom of religion as tool of pressure

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. Commenting on new anti-Russian reports of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, the embassy underscored the blasphemous nature of accusations against Russia https://tass.com/politics/1643717

Your Friday Briefing

New York Times A weighty decision on contentious weapons for Ukraine. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/07/briefing/ukraine-cluster-wagner-heat.html

Fire in Milan retirement home kills 6 people, injures 81 – reports

Jerusalem Post https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-749226

White House says Ukraine must meet certain requirements to join NATO

Pravda Ukraine John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, has said that NATO membership would mean that Ukraine has to meet certain requirements. Source: John Kirby in an interview with Voice of America, as reported by European Pravda Details: At the same time, Kirby stressed that the…

Only a tenth of more than 1,000 old Hong Kong buildings with maintenance subsidies repaired in past 5 years, authority blames Covid pandemic

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Urban Renewal Authority reveals findings on buildings granted maintenance subsidy, citing delays caused by pandemic. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3226865/only-tenth-more-1000-old-hong-kong-buildings-maintenance-subsidies-repaired-past-5-years-authority?utm_source=rss_feed

Russia to close its advanced stealth corvette project — source

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. Severnaya Verf and the Amur Shipbuilding Plant will continue serial production of ships from Project 20380 and Project 20385 https://tass.com/defense/1643715

Israel considering law allowing parents to give fallen soldiers children

Jerusalem Post Proponents of the law passing argue that it would honor the fallen soldiers, allowing their legacy to continue on. There remain however, some ethical considerations. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-749219