Prologue Journal – Page 35950 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

Who Is Aleksandr Lukashenko?

New York Times The brief mutiny by the Wagner mercenary force last month has given Belarus’s autocratic leader Aleksandr G. Lukashenko an opening to upend his subservient relationship with Moscow. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/06/world/europe/who-is-lukashenko-belarus-ukraine.html

The Tour de France’s 140-Pound Heavyweights Wage a Fierce Fight in the Pyrenees

Wall Street Journal Two thrilling days in the mountains have left defending champion Jonas Vingegaard in the yellow jersey with two-time winner Tadej Pogacar just 25 seconds behind him. https://www.wsj.com/articles/tour-de-france-jonas-vingegaard-tadej-pogacar-classification-e3608621

Ruble Hits Early War Lows Following Prigozhin’s Mutiny

New York Times The ruble fell as low as 94 rubles per dollar on Thursday before making a slight recovery by the end of the trading day. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/06/world/europe/ruble-prigozhin-mutiny-russia-economy.html

Guterres: UN won’t send int’l force to protect Palestinians in West Bank

Jerusalem Post UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the UN would not be sending forces to the West Bank following Israel’s two day military campaign in the West Bank city of Jenin. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-749162

EV Sales Growth in First Half Slowed From Torrid Pace

Wall Street Journal Rising inventory on dealership lots will offer test of future demand for electric vehicles. https://www.wsj.com/articles/ev-sales-growth-in-first-half-slows-from-torrid-pace-2bd2790e

UK lawmaker faces likely ejection after London nightclub groping incident

Fox News A British lawmaker accused of drunkenly groping two men at a private members’ club should be suspended from Parliament for eight weeks for “completely unacceptable” conduct, a standards watchdog said Thursday. The ruling will likely result in Chris Pincher being ejected from the House of Commons by his constituents, triggering a special election…

US still considering whether to supply cluster bombs to Ukraine — White House

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia Laura Cooper said in June that cluster munitions could impact the situation on the battlefield, coming in handy for the Ukrainian armed forces https://tass.com/world/1643627

Bank of Russia supports idea of international depositary hub — Central Bank chief

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. VTB CEO Andrey Kostin suggested earlier creating an alternative international depositary settlement hub to be located in one of Persian Gulf countries https://tass.com/economy/1643629

Finnish mercenaries encountered on LPR’s Krasny Liman direction — Russian special forces

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. Previously, an officer from Omon’s unit told reporters that they intercepted radio communications in French language https://tass.com/military-operation-in-ukraine/1643617

Saudi Arabia to take wait-and-see approach to oil cuts — Energy Minister

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. The country previously decided to voluntarily reduce oil production by one million barrels per day in July and then extended that to August https://tass.com/economy/1643625