Prologue Journal – Page 40141 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

Philippines seeks 330,000 tonnes of rice imports amid dwindling stocks and price rise

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The state grains agency needs to increase its buffer stocks for emergency relief operations, but ramping up its purchases from local farmers could push domestic prices higher. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3217086/philippines-seeks-330000-tons-rice-imports-amid-dwindling-stocks-and-price-rise?utm_source=rss_feed

Ukraine recovers bodies of 82 fallen defenders

Pravda Ukraine The bodies of another 82 dead soldiers were brought back to Ukraine on 14 April. Source: Press service of the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories Quote: “We managed to bring home the bodies of 82 fallen Ukrainian soldiers. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/04/14/7397853/

Adherents of breakaway OCU take over canonical church building in western Ukrainian city

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. The UOJ specified that, “people with no connection to the church congregation gathered near the place of worship, and then proceeded to break down the door and take over the church” https://tass.com/world/1604257

IEA warns of deficit on oil market after additional OPEC+ cuts

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. On April 2, a number of OPEC+ nations announced a voluntary output reduction from May to the end of 2023 https://tass.com/economy/1604255

Russia Moves to Outlaw Compliance With International Criminal Court

Moscow Times The ICC issued a shock arrest warrant for Putin and his children’s rights commissioner in March. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/04/14/russia-moves-to-outlaw-compliance-with-international-criminal-court-a80824

Ukraine puts Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi, CEO Lei Jun on war sponsor list over business in Russia

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Sales of Chinese smartphones in Russia have jumped after Apple and Samsung left the market because of geopolitical developments. https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3217067/ukraine-puts-chinese-smartphone-giant-xiaomi-ceo-lei-jun-war-sponsor-list-over-business-russia?utm_source=rss_feed

Ghosts Past and Present Cross Paths as War Comes to Nuclear Wasteland

New York Times Not everyone evacuated when the Chernobyl nuclear plant melted down in 1986. The few who stayed lived through another calamity when Russian troops marched in. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/14/world/europe/chernobyl-russia-ukraine-war.html

Conflict in Ukraine to end when support from US, EU is terminated — Hungary’s Orban

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. It is stated that Ukraine is an economically non-existent country https://tass.com/world/1604249

China’s Car Buyers Have Fallen Out of Love With Foreign Brands

New York Times Domestic companies are now selling more vehicles than their multinational rivals, which have failed to keep up with Chinese consumers’ demand for electric cars and S.U.V.s. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/14/business/china-shanghai-auto-show.html

The Conundrum of the DeSantis Base: Pro-Trump and Anti-Trump Voters

New York Times Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has had to appeal to two conflicting elements of his base: Republicans who are repelled by Donald Trump, and those who remain enthralled by him. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/14/us/politics/desantis-trump-republican-voters.html