Prologue Journal – Page 35997 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

Putin Scrambles to Reinforce His Defenses After Wagner Mutiny

New York Times Long focused on security, the Russian president is rewarding loyalty among the ruling elite and showering his most important constituency — the men with guns — with cash. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/04/world/europe/russia-putin-prigozhin.html

German court gives man life in prison for killing teenage girl

Jerusalem Post https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-748802

Amsterdam Tries to Make Red-Light District Less Touristy

New York Times The mayor wants to improve the neighborhood for residents, but sex workers oppose measures recently put in place. Now the city is looking to set up legal prostitution elsewhere. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/04/world/europe/amsterdam-red-light-district-ban.html

Your Room Is Ready. Don’t Mind the Picket Line.

New York Times Hotel workers are on strike in Los Angeles as thousands of tourists, wedding guests and visitors have arrived in the city over the Fourth of July holiday. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/04/us/la-hotel-workers-strike.html

Hotel Workers’ Strike in Los Angeles Disrupts Holiday Weekend

About Those July 4 Fireworks, Drone Shows and Climate Change

New York Times As concerns over wildfires and air quality mount, drones and laser shows offer an alternative to fireworks on July 4 and other holidays. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/04/climate/fireworks-air-quality-drones-laser.html

Republicans Are Divided on Impeaching Biden as Panel Begins New Inquiry

New York Times A vote to send the Homeland Security Committee impeachment articles against President Biden for his border policies has underscored rifts in the G.O.P. about whether to try to remove him, and for what. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/04/us/republicans-biden-inquiry.html

Putin: Russia will stand up against sanctions and ‘provocations’

Jerusalem Post https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-748801

Why Biden Goes Silent at Some Key Moments

Wall Street Journal While the president’s allies say there are clear reasons for the strategy, potential downsides are involved in having the nation’s leader be quiet at crucial junctures. https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-biden-goes-silent-at-some-key-moments-702478dc

Indian prime minister opens SCO summit, urging common fight against financing of terrorism

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. According to Narendra Modi, “some countries use cross-border terrorism as a policy tool and provide shelter to terrorists” https://tass.com/defense/1642231