Prologue Journal – Page 70 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

Hamas agrees to return bodies of 4 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners

Fox News With just days to go before the first phase of the fragile ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was set to expire, the terrorist group has agreed to release the bodies of four dead Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Israel has delayed the release of about 600 Palestinian prisoners…

Vologda Region Officials Arrested on Bribery Charges Amid Growing Pressure on Governor

Moscow Times The arrests add to a growing political storm surrounding Vologda region Governor Georgy Filimonov, who has been embroiled in a series of controversies in recent weeks. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/02/26/vologda-region-officials-arrested-on-bribery-charges-amid-growing-pressure-on-governor-a88169

Repairs at CPC station damaged in drone attack to take about two months

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. The representatives of Transneft, which is the Russian shareholder of the international consortium, “expressed serious concern over this terrorist act and stated that such attacks on CPC facilities protected by international law were unacceptable,” according to the statement https://tass.com/economy/1919249

South Koreans Are Having More Babies After Years of Decline

New York Times South Korea reported a rare increase in births last year as the country grapples with a dwindling population. Its fertility rate remains the world’s lowest. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/world/asia/south-korea-babies-birthrate.html

Israeli settlers stab disabled Palestinian in occupied West Bank

Disclaimer: PressTV is affiliated with the state broadcasting agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and is not a reliable news source. Medics say Israeli settlers have stabbed a disabled Palestinian man in the northeastern part of the occupied West Bank. https://presstv.ir/Detail/2025/02/26/743526/Illegal-Israeli-settlers-stab-disabled-Palestinian-in-northeastern-West-Bank

Russia-Bissau talks to be held on February 26 in Moscow — Kremlin

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. “There will be a welcoming ceremony, a restricted conversation, then Russia-Bissau talks, and then the two presidents will have a separate working lunch” https://tass.com/politics/1919241

Belarusian parliament’s lower house ratifies security pact with Russia

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. The State Duma and the Federation Council (Russian parliament’s lower and upper houses) ratified the document on February 18 and 26 correspondingly https://tass.com/defense/1919239

Romanian PM opposes sending Romanian troops to Ukraine

Pravda Ukraine Marcel Ciolacu, Romania’s Prime Minister and head of the Social Democratic Party, said on Wednesday, 26 February, that he opposes the deployment of Romanian troops to Ukraine. Source: European Pravda with reference to Digi24 Details: The statement was made in the context of consultations initiated at the presidential palace by acting President Ilie…

Armament Manufacturers Council launched in Ukraine

Pravda Ukraine The Ukrainian Armament Manufacturers Council has started its work. It is a platform that consolidates the private defence industry for effective interaction with government agencies, military, and international partners. Source: press service of the Armament Manufacturers Council Details: The Armament Manufacturers Council includes the League of Defense Сompanies of Ukraine, Ukraine’s Robotic Forces,…

Trump Takes Aim at Chinese Shipping Amid Widening Trade War

New York Times A new proposal would impose steep levies on Chinese-made ships arriving at U.S. ports, threatening to increase costs for imports. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/business/trump-china-shipping.html