prologu5 – Page 38679 – Prologue Journal

General Staff remains silent about fighting in Bakhmut, ISW explains why

Pravda Ukraine The Institute for the Study of War has reported that the Ukrainian General Staff did not report on fighting in Bakhmut for the first time since December 2022, suggesting that Wagner Group Private Military Company forces may have made further advances within the city. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/05/24/7403572/

U.S. dollar opens up in Taipei trading

Taipei, May 24 (CNA) The U.S. dollar opened at NT$30.755 Wednesday on the Taipei Foreign Exchange, up NT$$0.007 from the previous close. https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202305240002

Bun tower builder happy to return and create traditional bamboo structures for Hong Kong festival after metal substitutes draw criticism

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Only contractor with skills to construct bamboo towers pledges to continue the tradition after festival forced to use shorter steel structures this year. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3221605/bun-tower-builder-happy-return-and-create-traditional-bamboo-structures-hong-kong-festival-after?utm_source=rss_feed

‘Coal country’ snubs Republicans in deep-red state, backs Democrat governor for re-election

Fox News A number of major coal operators in the commonwealth of Kentucky made a surprising political move Tuesday, announcing their endorsements of incumbent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear for re-election over his Republican challenger, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron. The endorsements, which included the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), and multiple leaders in Kentucky’s…

JPY Strengthens Amid Risk-Off Sentiment

Wall Street Journal JPY strengthened against most G-10 and Asian currencies in the morning session amid risk-off sentiment spurred by signs of little progress in U.S. debt-ceiling talks between U.S. President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy. https://www.wsj.com/articles/jpy-strengthens-amid-risk-off-sentiment-677eac8

Chechen leader slams Quran-burning incident in Volgograd as outrageous

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. According to Ramzan Kadyrov, about 60 thousand people came to the rally in Grozny “to express their indignation” https://tass.com/politics/1622051

Taiwan shares open lower

Taipei, May 24 (CNA) The Taiwan Stock Exchange’s main index opened down 1.41 points at 16.186.62 Wednesday on turnover of NT$1.27 billion (US$41.29 million). https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202305240001

Aukus was launched with fanfare to counter China, but now US red tape is testing Australia’s patience

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. A top Australian defence official blamed ‘a permafrost layer of middle management’ in the US government for delayed tech transfer from Washington to Canberra. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3221607/aukus-was-launched-fanfare-counter-china-now-us-red-tape-testing-australias-patience?utm_source=rss_feed

No anti-Russian sanctions as long Serbia’s foreign policy remains independent — president

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. After the start of a special military operation in Ukraine, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, in an address to the nation after a meeting of the Security Council, said that although Serbia supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine, it will not impose sanctions against…

Texas Man Who Tried to Breach Speaker’s Lobby on Jan. 6 Gets 7 Years

New York Times Christopher R. Grider had also tried to shut off the electricity at the U.S. Capitol, according to prosecutors. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/23/us/jan-6-texas-man-sentenced.html