Prologue Journal – Page 32481 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

U.K. Retail Sales Steady in March

Wall Street Journal U.K. retail sales rose 5.1% last month, down slightly from February, as the wettest March in over forty years dampened demand for fashion and gardening products and despite a modest Mother’s Day boost. https://www.wsj.com/articles/uk-retail-sales-growth-stabilized-in-march-despite-mothers-day-7abf3292

Japan concerned over Russia, China’s joint military activities near its border — report

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. Previously, the Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly stressed that such drills and patrols are conducted in strict compliance with international law and do not violate foreign airspaces https://tass.com/world/1602367

Taiwan shares close up 0.24%

Taipei, April 11 (CNA) Taiwan shares closed up 37.71 points, or 0.24 percent, at 15,913.88 Tuesday on turnover of NT$217.62 billion (US$7.14 billion). https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202304110007

Singapore supermarket says sorry for ‘no India, only Malay’ remark after Muslim couple ‘shooed’ away from iftar snacks

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. A major supermarket chain in Singapore has apologised to a Muslim couple after one of its staff members insisted that complimentary snacks provided to Muslim customers during Ramadan were only for Malays. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3216638/singapore-supermarket-says-sorry-no-india-only-malay-remark-after-muslim-couple-shooed-away-iftar?utm_source=rss_feed

GOP moves to ‘save women’s sports’: Bill backed by Riley Gaines headed for House vote

Fox News House Republicans are setting up a vote next week on legislation aimed at keeping biological males out of girls’ and women’s sports at colleges, universities and public schools across the nation. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act was introduced by Rep. Greg Steube, a Florida Republican who says it’s time…

14 Chinese military aircraft spotted in Taiwan’s ADIZ in 5 hours

Taipei, April 11 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said it detected 14 Chinese military aircraft entering Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) Thursday morning, with some of the planes also crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202304110006

US rushing to quell allies’ worries about leak of classified information — newspaper

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. It is noted that the Five Eyes intel consortium of the United States, Australia, Great Britain, New Zealand and Canada have requested a briefing from Washington but have not received a substantive response yet https://tass.com/world/1602365

Top Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong affairs set for 6-day visit to city, first since plan for restructuring of office revealed

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Xia Baolong also plans to hold meetings with mainland officials to enhance their understanding of President Xi Jinping’s political philosophy, sources say. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3216643/top-beijing-official-overseeing-hong-kong-affairs-set-6-day-visit-city-first-plan-restructuring?utm_source=rss_feed

Russian forces stop Ukrainian firing group from advancing toward Russia’s positions

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. According to Alexander Gordeyev, a Russian Penitsillin artillery reconnaissance system uncovered a Ukrainian Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer that was later destroyed by a Giatsint-B field gun crew https://tass.com/defense/1602363

Online clues may narrow the search for the leaker of Pentagon war documents, U.S. officials say.

New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/11/world/europe/online-clues-may-narrow-the-search-for-the-leaker-of-pentagon-war-documents-us-officials-say.html