Prologue Journal – Page 32708 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

KMT presidential nominee Hou Yu-ih vows to return party to power

Taipei, May 17 (CNA) New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) said on Wednesday that he will unite supporters and lead the Kuomintang (KMT) to a return to power in the 2024 presidential election, after the opposition party nominated him as its candidate in the race. https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202305170011

Former British prime minister Liz Truss urges UK to get tough with China on Taiwan

Hong Kong Free Press By Amber Wang Britain’s former prime minister Liz Truss on Wednesday urged her successor Rishi Sunak to get tough with China on Taiwan, describing the democratic island as “an enduring rebuke to totalitarianism.” Former UK prime minister Liz Truss in Taiwan. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan), via Twitter. China…

FSB nabs 165 underground gunsmiths in 44 Russian regions

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. The FSB operatives seized 399 domestic and foreign firearms, including three machine-guns; 46 assault rifles; 36 submachine-guns; 107 rifles, carbines and other guns; and 207 pistols and revolvers https://tass.com/society/1618615

Turkish opposition, trailing Erdogan, faces hard post-election truths

Washington Post On the streets of Istanbul, and in opposition party headquarters across Turkey, supporters of Kemal Kilicdaroglu despaired about their chances of defeating Erdogan. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/17/turkey-election-runoff-erdogan-kilicdaroglu/

Chinese special representative for Eurasian affairs arrives in Ukraine — agency

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. It is so far unclear if the diplomat will meet with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, the news outlet said https://tass.com/world/1618605

The Religious Right’s Hidden Sway as Japan Trails Allies on Gay Rights

New York Times As a G7 summit nears in Hiroshima, Japan is under pressure to show greater support for equality. A national Shinto group has spread a more hostile message. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/world/asia/japan-same-sex-marriage.html

As G-7 approaches, Japan remains an outlier on LGBTQ rights

Washington Post Japanese lawmakers have introduced a watered-down bill that would merely “promote the understanding” of LGBTQ communities, with no additional legal protection. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/17/japan-g7-summit-lgbt-rights/

At Bike-Path Killer’s Sentencing, Victims’ Families Will Be Heard

New York Times Sayfullo Saipov was convicted on 28 counts in the terrorist attack that killed eight people. The jury was unable to agree on a sentence of capital punishment. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/nyregion/saipov-sentencing-bike-path-killer.html

Kevin McCarthy Can Now Engage With President Biden on Debt Limit

New York Times Mr. McCarthy, who Republicans believe has been treated dismissively by Democrats, was buoyed by President Biden’s decision to negotiate more directly with him on the debt ceiling. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/us/mccarthy-biden-debt-ceiling.html

Democrats to Launch Discharge Petition, Aiming to Force Debt-Ceiling Vote

Wall Street Journal The bid to circumvent House Republican leadership is seen as long-shot fallback plan if talks fail, and would require the backing of at least five GOP representatives. https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-to-launch-discharge-petition-aiming-to-force-debt-ceiling-vote-cb82484f