Prologue Journal – Page 188 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

Hong Kong fights back against rising scams with ‘despicable banana’

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The HKMA launched the first video in a new public awareness series titled ‘Click the Links, Fall for Scams!’ featuring a ‘despicable banana’. https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3302128/hong-kong-fights-back-against-rising-scams-despicable-banana?utm_source=rss_feed

Judges Are Pushing Back on Trump’s Actions. Here’s a Look at Key Rulings.

New York Times Taken as a whole, the rulings represent an effort to thwart Mr. Trump’s serial attempts to increase his power and the executive branch’s dominion over the government. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/us/politics/trump-policy-executive-orders-rulings.html

Brussels summit welcomes first-ever Syrian government representative

Jerusalem Post https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-845744

German Arms Maker Rheinmetall Has Record Sales in ‘Era of Rearmament’

New York Times Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the company moved quickly to meet Europe’s growing need for military spending. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/business/europe-defense-rheinmetall-earnings.html

Some Ukrainian army units flee Russia’s Kursk Region — media

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. According to the media outlet, service members from the most combat-ready Ukrainian brigades have fled the Kursk Region https://tass.com/world/1926721

Fines for injuring, killing pedestrians to rise: Transport minister

Taipei, March 12 (CNA) A law revision will be initiated this year to increase the financial penalties for drivers who injure or kill pedestrians, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) said Wednesday. https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202503120025

Will Iraq release Elizabeth Tsurkov two years after her kidnapping?

Jerusalem Post Russian-Israeli researcher citizenship was kidnapped by Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah in Baghdad in March 2023. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-845743

China’s No 3 Zhao Leji returns to public spotlight after missing end of ‘two sessions’

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The chairman of the National People’s Congress skipped its closing ceremony this week due to a respiratory tract infection. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3302124/chinas-no-3-zhao-leji-returns-public-spotlight-after-missing-end-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed

Separatists Are Still Holding Hundreds of Hostages in Pakistan Train Standoff

New York Times Security forces were trying to rescue passengers a day after Baloch ethnic fighters seized a train carrying more than 400 people. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/world/asia/pakistan-militants-train-hostages.html

Greenland’s center-right party pulls off upset victory as Trump seeks control

Fox News Greenland’s center-right Demokraatit party pulled off a surprise victory in the country’s parliamentary elections, taking Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Egede’s party, Inuit Ataqatigiit, out of power. Independence from Denmark became a focal point of the election amid President Donald Trump’s repeated talk of the U.S. taking control. “People want change … We want…