Prologue Journal – Page 36072 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

Hong Kong declared free of Sars, after more than 100 days of fears and tears – from the SCMP archive

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. From the SCMP archive: With the passing of 20 days since the last case was put into isolation, the chain of infections was considered broken, the WHO said. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3224201/hong-kong-declared-free-sars-after-more-100-days-fears-and-tears-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed

Indian carriers’ record plane deals could pose ‘serious threat’ to Middle East aviation hubs

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. IndiGo and Air India’s massive plane orders come ahead of India’s plans to open Asia’s largest airport next year as part of its regional connectivity scheme. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3225078/indian-carriers-record-plane-deals-could-pose-serious-threat-middle-east-aviation-hubs?utm_source=rss_feed

Biden’s State Dinner Ignores the Discord Just Beyond the Gates

New York Times The mix of political adversaries created a dinner scene so dissonant that no amount of glass clinking could have drowned out the partisan undercurrents. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/22/us/politics/biden-india-state-dinner.html

Gazprom sees potential for cooperation with African countries

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. An increase in natural gas production will help meet the growth in gas demand on the African continent https://tass.com/russia/1636869

Two civilians killed, three injured in militant attack in Syria’s Hama — SANA

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. According to the report, militants used a drone to attack a residential neighborhood in the town of Tal Salhab https://tass.com/world/1636867

3M Settles ‘Forever Chemicals’ Litigation for Up to $12.5 Billion

Wall Street Journal Lawsuits said the company’s PFAS, used in firefighting foam, contaminated drinking water. https://www.wsj.com/articles/3m-settles-forever-chemicals-litigation-for-up-to-12-5-billion-abbeba36

Hong Kong rolls out first AI curriculum for junior secondary students, including on ChatGPT, with ‘lives definitely affected by artificial intelligence’

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Education official says ‘students may not take up jobs in innovation and technology in the future, but their lives will definitely be affected by AI’. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3224954/hong-kong-rolls-out-first-ai-curriculum-junior-secondary-students-including-chatgpt-lives-definitely?utm_source=rss_feed

Readout of the Inaugural U.S.-Ecuador Defense Bilateral Working Group

Defense.gov Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs Mr. Daniel Erikson co-chaired the inaugural U.S.-Ecuador Defense Bilateral Working Group with Ecuador’s Minister of National Defense, Luis Eduardo Lara Jaramillo. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3436659/readout-of-the-inaugural-us-ecuador-defense-bilateral-working-group/

This time for Africa: Chinese lured by untapped potential say it’s ‘not optimal market’, but one ‘where we could survive’

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Africa has managed to elevate its status among Chinese traders seeking to expand their overseas business, but safety and stability concerns may still outweigh the benefits of low costs and fewer trade barriers. https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3225014/time-africa-chinese-lured-untapped-potential-say-its-not-optimal-market-one-where-we-could-survive?utm_source=rss_feed

US film director Cameron sees similarities between Titanic, Titan

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. According to Cameron, a number of leading experts in the deep-submergence engineering community wrote letters to the company, saying that the submersible “was too experimental to carry passengers and that it needed to be certified” https://tass.com/world/1636865