Prologue Journal – Page 32725 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

District Council overhaul: Remembering the failures of Hong Kong’s democratic experiments

Hong Kong Free Press The UK, often lauded as having the “mother of parliaments,” has exported its parliamentary system to many parts of the world – but not Hong Kong, until the British rulers were about to depart. House of Commons. Photo: Flickr/UK Parliament. London did seriously consider introducing some form of representative government in Hong…

What’s De-risking and How Does It Compare to Decoupling

New York Times The newly fashionable term, reflecting an evolution in the discussion over dealing with a rising, assertive China, has a vexing history in financial policy. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/20/world/decoupling-china-de-risking.html

Leaders of G7 member states begin session on Ukraine with Zelensky in attendance

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. The Japanese Foreign Ministry announced earlier in the month that the Ukrainian president was initially expected to attend the summit online but “expressed a strong wish” to participate in person https://tass.com/world/1620663

Zelenskyy holds meeting with Trudeau: parties discuss situation at front

Pravda Ukraine Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Hiroshima where the G7 summit is underway. Source: Office of the President of Ukraine Quote from Zelenskyy: “[We] discussed topical issues of the bilateral agenda: further cooperation in the field of security and defence, the situation at the front,…

China scientists’ lab-grown fish fillets point the way to food future

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Study finds results ‘indistinguishable’ in flavour, colour and texture, suggesting potential as alternative protein source. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3221163/china-scientists-lab-grown-fish-fillets-point-way-food-future?utm_source=rss_feed

‘No room for us’: Hong Kong District Councillors say overhaul of local bodies serves gov’t interests, not residents

Hong Kong Free Press When Paul Zimmerman through Pok Fu Lam on his motorbike, he knows he has left his mark. Southern District Council vice-chairperson Paul Zimmerman. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The trees that line a main road in the southern Hong Kong Island neighbourhood are courtesy of a planting project, one of his first initiatives…

France’s Macron says G7 is opportunity to convince India, Brazil over Ukraine

Jerusalem Post https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-743702

Statements by Russia and Prigozhin about capture of Bakhmut have no strategic significance

Pravda Ukraine The statement by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Private Military Company, about the mercenaries’ withdrawal from Bakhmut may be an attempt to mislead Ukrainian troops. The occupiers’ words about the capture of the city are of no strategic importance, as they will not allow the exhausted Russian forces to create a…

Ukraine’s Zelensky to speak in Japan -Japanese gov’t

Jerusalem Post https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-743701

Crippling heatwaves deepen Asia’s reliance on Russian energy

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The impetus for the region to buy more Russian energy is likely to increase due to an emerging El Niño weather pattern. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3221286/crippling-heatwaves-deepen-asias-reliance-russian-energy?utm_source=rss_feed