Prologue Journal – Page 35957 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

Foreign trade dynamics largely defines moves of ruble’s exchange rate — Bank of Russia

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. Elvira Nabiullina pointed out that the floating rate was a blessing that enabled the economy to absorb external shocks more easily https://tass.com/economy/1643501

Analysis: European Earnings Resilience to Be Tested by Slowing Economy

Wall Street Journal A slowing eurozone economy has investment strategists fearing corporate profits will soon fall under pressure. https://www.wsj.com/articles/european-earnings-resilience-to-be-tested-by-slowing-economy-dfab5cc2

Taiwan keeps close watch on Guatemala presidential run-off, after losing Honduras to Beijing in March

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Centre-left candidate Bernardo Arevalo, who will be facing former first lady Sandra Torres in the August 20 run-off, has promised closer ties with Beijing. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3226816/taiwan-keeps-close-watch-guatemala-presidential-run-after-losing-honduras-beijing-march?utm_source=rss_feed

Number Puzzles (Saturday, July 08)

Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/number-puzzles-saturday-july-08-f49f84cd

Olivia Rodrigo and the Art of Doing the Same Thing Twice

Wall Street Journal From its quiet piano intro to the use of the color purple, the new single ‘Vampire’ builds on the star’s older ‘Drivers License’—and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. https://www.wsj.com/articles/olivia-rodrigo-vampire-new-song-5a29f207

China announces land link with Taliban-controlled Afghanistan

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. State media heralded the departure of a cargo from Lanzhou, a key transport hub, but analysts said its main importance is the symbolism. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3226822/china-announces-land-link-taliban-controlled-afghanistan?utm_source=rss_feed

ZNPP power units cooled down for almost a year, risks to population are minimal – ZNPP employee

Pravda Ukraine One of the employees of the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), who is still working at the plant, revealed on condition of anonymity that the ZNPP power units have been cooled for almost a year, so the risk of radionuclide emission has decreased significantly. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/07/6/7410145/

Cannabis Is Linked to Mental Illness

Wall Street Journal A major new study shows that people who abuse the drug are more likely to be diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder. https://www.wsj.com/articles/cannabis-is-linked-to-mental-illness-e8d1db54

Marine explains for the first time how he tried to blow up bridges connecting Crimea and mainland Ukraine

Pravda Ukraine Soldier Ivan Sestryvatovskyi, who was on duty on the border with Crimea on 24 February 2022, has explained for the first time how he tried to blow up the Chonhar bridges connecting temporarily occupied Crimea with mainland Ukraine, but the explosive devices did not work. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/07/6/7410143/

Russians mined Zaporizhzhia NPP in first weeks of occupation, no changes since – ZNPP employee

Pravda Ukraine The Russians have mined the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in the first weeks of the occupation, there have been no major changes in their behaviour at the plant after that. Source: Current employee of ZNPP in an interview with Suspilne. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/07/6/7410144/