Global News
MEXICANS REVOLUTIONIZE WARFARE. Mexico City, Mexico. In a great display of arms, the Mexican government has revealed its secret weapon in modern warfare. Using technology inspired by the development of the space program, rockets have been introduced to all elements of the Mexican military. The army has developed new anti-tank weapons of much smaller degree as well as developing new anti-personnel artillery systems. These artillery systems have been adapted to a degree by the navy, which has equipped their destroyers which the new rockets. Even more importantly, these rockets have been added to jets, allowing even greater firepower for Mexican forces in the air. These new developments have forced dramatic changes in military production and knowledge world-wide as the nations of the world stumble to match the new weapons and develop doctrines for them. (All nations except Mexico lose -1 to all military quality stats, units are downgraded where necessary to reflect need for development; fear not, units which you can no longer build but have will not be destroyed, also, you cannot go below 0)
REFUGEES SCATTER FROM PANCASILA. Calcutta, French Empire. As per the agreement with the Islamic government of Pancasila, the various non-Islamic groups within the island nation have been deported from the islands. The New Hollander government has provided aid in the effort, including a large part of the necessary shipping, sacrificing a good part of their export industry for the effort as private ships are commandeered. The refugees of all faiths have scattered to the far corners of the earth, as the various nations begin settling in with the new immigrants. Needless to say, some nations are experiencing the first signs of trouble from the arrival of a whole new subclass of society, threatening instability in the upcoming years as they establish themselves in their new homes.
ECONOMIC REPORT. Paris, France. The economic situation world-wide seems to be marginally improving or at the worst, stagnating, in most nations. Unfortunately, the continuing wars and outbreaks of violence in several new nations have disrupted more trade, causing the recession to slide ever more. Various governments have stumbled across some effective measures, and have even profited from the confusion internationally as new nations step into the economic scene. Below, as before, is the nation by nation economic report.
North American News
MIAMI INSTITUTES HEALTH CARE REFORM. Miami City, Miami. The Liberal Party government has fulfilled the first of its campaign promises this year, pushing minor health care programs into law. The first state funded hospitals have been opened, providing emergency care to any in need. The hospitals have even been provided with special vehicles for transportation on the local roads to quickly and speedily arrive at the scene of any emergency. Opponents continue to denounce the program, claiming it to be an atrocious waste of government funding and equipment.
KENTUCKY ELECTIONS RAISE DISPUTE. Danville, Kentucky. Elections for Congress and the Presidency were held this year in the North American nation of Kentucky. The Socialist Party defended their position, claiming that not only did they win Kentuckys independence from Virginia, but that they have done much to maintain it. The socialists were heatedly opposed by the Conservative Party, which claimed that the growing ties with the Socialist Union of South America meant that the Socialists were little more than pawns in government. Their efforts were made even better as a scandal broke out in Congress when it was revealed several members of the Socialist Party were implicated in taking bribes from various individuals. The elections were still hotly contested, as the Socialist Party managed to maintain control of the legislature. Despite this, the Conservatives managed to secure the presidency, ousting full socialist control of government. Some Kentuckians have claimed that the conservatives used unfair techniques to influence voters, including intimidation and bribery. (-1 Stability)
NEW FRANCE ELECTIONS. New Caen, New France. The reigning political party of New France the Troisieme Facon has been ousted in this years elections. The moderate coalition just proved too volatile to hold together as national security concerns became in the way of cooperation. The nations conservatives claimed that the moderates were compromising the security of the country in order to make a profit, allowing in Chinese and Mexican businessmen. They advocated closer ties with France and Europe, as opposed to the Pacific powers. The liberal Parti Social-Democratique were swept into power, regardless of these concerns, promising more jobs and employment through greater economic ties with the nations along the Pacific Rim.
VIOLENCE MARKS QUEBEC ELECTIONS. Quebec City, Quebec. The elections in Quebec this year turned extraordinarily nasty as the nation moved for war with Canada. The escalation in the fighting there and the brutal tactics used by the Quebecois military shocked the populace, watching it on TV as the atrocities were exposed. The government has taken a severe beating, made worse when protesters against the war were gunned down by the military in the capitol, leading to hundreds dead and wounded. The Parti Nationaliste has found its support waning rapidly, and the Parti Social-Democratique presented a new platform, calling for the peaceful restoration of order to Canada as opposed to brutal annexation, promising to remain only as long as it takes to secure the nations borders. This liberal party has also pledged to reduce troop numbers and maintain a neutral stance to any further foreign wars. This pacifist stance has proven highly popular among the people, and the Parti Social-Democratique has swept into control of the government. (-1 Stability)
WAR DOMINATES VIRGINIAN ELECTIONS. Richmond, Virginian Empire. The raging issue in this years elections for control of the legislature of Virginia has been the war against New England. The Liberal Party has begun calling for the end of the war, hoping to capitalize upon the dissent against it. Unfortunately the failure of the New Englander assault on Richmond has allowed the Conservatives to maintain the support of public opinion. The Conservative Party has pledged to win the war at all costs, securing North America from tyranny. They have won in a landslide, a public sign of allowing the war to continue once again. (+1 Stability)
UNDERGROUND VODOUN CAUSING TROUBLE IN BIG EASY. New Orleans, Louisiana. The government of Louisiana has issued a warning against an alleged underground movement led by religious vodoun leaders. The movement has been rallying people against the monarchy, using fear and their beliefs to intimidate people to join them. They have called the monarchy an abomination, and have vowed to remove the emperor and restore themselves to control over New Orleans. Protests and crime have risen exponentially and control over the nations capitol is being barely maintained, to the point where the emperor has considered declaring martial law and bringing in the military to restore order. (-1 Stability)
FLORIDA OFFERS AGRIBUSINESS SUBSIDIES. Saint Augustine, Florida. The Floridian government has begun a major program of subsidies for the nation's significant amount of agribusinesses. Massive amounts of funds have been provided for these companies in order to help improve their business, further undercutting other nations on the global market. Florida fruits and products continue to flood the world, even as the recession continues, helping begin a road to recovery.
UGSEA MAKES THEORETICAL BREAKTHROUGHS. Cape Menendez, Florida. The United Gulf Space Exploration Agency has commemorated its fifth test satellite launch this year, and have announced that several theoretical breakthroughs have been made. The Agency claims that it may be soon possible to launch living organisms into space perhaps as soon as 1985. Furthermore, the Agency has suggested in a few short years, it could be possible that warfare as a whole will end, as missiles and push-button bombing could conduct all war from the safety of a single base.
CANADA INVADED. Montreal, Quebec. The Quebecois, due to the outbreak of revolts and rebellion last year, have launched a full scale invasion of Canada. The Canadian military forces, already divided by the constant infighting of the past two years, fell like wheat in the harvest to the invading army. The air force was smashed in the opening hours of the attack and the army was routed soon afterwards as the Quebecois poured south. The heaviest fighting took place in Toronto, where the military and government took a final stand in house to house combat. Ultimately superior training, supplies, and numbers overwhelmed the Canadians and the lines were broken. With a lack of good hiding places in the mostly flat countryside, the remnants of the Canadian army scattered, many returning to their shattered homes. The Quebecois occupation has been notoriously brutal, with massive reprisals for disobedience and any civil protest by the Canadians. Over a thousand people are believed to have died in the reprisals, not including those killed during the prosecution of the war. The Quebecois have annexed Canada as a military territory, though recent changes in home politics have argued for a independent Canada under Quebecois control and occupation.
Casualty List
Quebec: -12 Class D Infantry Brigades, -8 Fighter Squadrons, -2 CAS Squadrons
Canada: -38 Militia Brigades, -15 Fighter Squadrons, -4 CAS Squadrons, -104
CUMBERLAND AGREEMENT SIGNED. Nashville, Tennessee. The governments of Kentucky and Tennessee met in various negotiations this year, and in the spirit of the short-lived Republic of the Cumberland, have signed a free trade agreement. The borders between the two nations have been thrown open in favor of free and unbiased trade between the peoples of these countries. The Cumberland Trade Agreement has been lauded for its cooperative intent, as both nations begin to work together for the better economic good of the region.
CHICAGO ABANDONS PENNSYLVIAN WAR. Chicago, Free City of Chicago. Despite a lack of any real activity in the fighting in Pennsylvania the Free City of Chicago has signed a peace treaty with New England. Seized assets and detained citizens of New England have been released from Chicagoan control after several weeks of negotiation. The Chicago government has stated since it is clearly the will of the Pennsylvanian people to be ruled from New England, that they have no business or sense in attempting to liberate people who do not desire the effort to be made.
PENNSYLVANIA WAR CONTINUES. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The war between Virginia and New England continued throughout this year as both sides continue to struggle for victory over the fate of Pennsylvania. In the skies, the New Englanders continue to maintain marginal superiority over most of the fronts, though they are hotly contested by the Virginians. The year began as Virginia continued the slog north through northern Pennsylvania, ultimately pushing into New York proper on their way to Albany. This was temporarily halted as New England unleashed its full force in a massive attack on all fronts, including opening a new theater of operations. New England maintained massive bombing raids throughout the year on Virginian cities and factories throughout Maryland and Ohio, inflicting increasing civilian casualties, though relatively minor damage in infrastructure. The Virginians have contested this as much as possible as the air war rages onward and New England uses tactical superiority to stem Virginian attacks. A small New Englander force managed to defeat Pennsylvanian and Virginian forces defending Harrisburg, pushing east against the enemy lines. The New Englander navy sortied for the first time en masse since the Second World War, engaging and defeating the Virginian navy at the battle of Chesapeake Bay. The main New Englander assault however, came along the James River, landing in Virginia proper, after smashing garrisons in southern Maryland to secure air bases for the attack. With the land bases and carrier support the main New Englander army pushed towards Richmond. The New Englander forces and marines managed to push aside initial resistance, even entering into the outskirts of Richmond itself, the first army ever to do so. At this point, arriving Virginian reinforcements pushed back, driving them out of the city and back towards the beachhead. By the end of the year, the New Englanders continued to hang on to their main bases and air fields, using air power and naval gunfire to keep the Virginians at bay.
Casualty List
New England: -9 Militia Brigades, -9 Class D Infantry Brigades, -8 Fighter Squadrons, -2 CAS Squadrons, -3 Bomber Squadrons, -4 Destroyers, -2 Frigates, -3 Submarines, -2 Population
Pennsylvania: -3 Militia Brigades, -11 Population
Virginia: -7 Class D Infantry Brigades, -10 Class C Infantry Brigades, -1 Class B Armored Brigade, -8 Destroyers, -6 Frigates, -6 Submarines, -2 Battleships, -7 Fighter Squadrons, -3 CAS Squadrons, -1 Bomber Squadron
DESERET BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF NEW TEMPLE. Youngsville, Deseret. The government of Deseret has announced the beginning of the construction of the first Mormon temple outside of the capitol of Bringamton. The city of Youngsville has been selected as the second largest city in the Mormon state, and the calls for greater facilities for the clergy have not gone unheeded. Included in the new structure are religious educational facilities as well as all the elements of a religious building for worship. Estimates say that the temple should be completed by sometime in the middle of 1985.
NEW GEORGIAN FLEET SETS SAIL. Savannah, Georgia. The government of Georgia announced this year the resurrection of the Georgian Republican Navy. A field of military service left mostly dormant by Georgian rulers since before the Second World War, the new navy is slated to be developed for use as coastal patrol and harbor security. As war continues to grow in the north, some foreign observers have stated that it appears as the start of saber rattling from Georgia against their northern neighbors.
Central/South American News
BOLIVIAN POLITICAL REFORM DODGES COUP ATTEMPT. Sucre, Bolivia. President Acevedo made full strides towards domestic reform this year, by expanding the presss printing rights and promising voting reform to return as well. Fearful of the loss of their own power, a group of generals began plotting to remove the president in favor of one of their own. Unfortunately, one of the generals aides caught wind of the movement and reported it to the president. The presidents handpicked men arrested the ringleaders of the potential rebellion, bringing it to a close before it even began. Acevedo has pledged that no number of conspirators will stop him from bringing much needed political reform to Bolivia. (+1 Stability)
HONDURAN EQUIPMENT STOLEN. Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Scandal took place in Honduras this year as it was revealed that high ranking members in the military have been supplementing their own accounts by selling off weapons and army equipment on the black market. Some of the best weapons available to the Honduran military were sold off ambitiously by these leaders, and have since spread to legal and illegal paramilitary organizations alike across the Caribbean. President Banks has immediately ordered the arrest of the offending officers, and show trials have convicted them of treason, afterwards they were promptly executed. Nonetheless, the officers have made the leadership incredibly unpopular among the rank and file of the military, and murmurs of dissent grow ever louder. (-1 Army Equipment quality, -1 Stability)
CUBAN ELECTIONS. Havana, Cuba. The liberal Populist Party in Cuba was faced with two blows against their politics this year as they faced disastrous elections. The president was implicated in a scandalous affair with multiple prostitutes, and was forced to resign shortly before the elections. The second choice for the Populist Party was barely able to get any sort of message out and was widely regarded as an empty suit. On the other side, the conservative Christian Home Party viciously attacked the Populists policies, decrying the stagnation to the economy and relatively high unemployment rates. This conservative movement has vowed to pursue other options to rebuild the nations economic strength with morality and dignity. (+1 Stability)
PARAGUAY ELECTIONS. Asuncion, Paraguay. This years elections in Paraguay were a cordial affair when compared to several other nations over the course of 1983. The Partido Salidario found itself on the defensive, as they were lambasted for the lack of security and lax doctrine among the military. The conservative Asociacion Nacional Republicana managed to win enough votes to establish a majority in Congress as well as gain full control of the executive branch of government. The new government has promised to maintain and improve both internal and external security measures.
WEST INDIES ELECTIONS. Kingston, West Indies Federation. Elections in the West Indies Federation became intense as the Populist Party faced intense challenges from the other political groups. A lack of a charismatic party head and a fluid platform made it hard for voters to back the Populists on any one issue. Only the lack of any convincing politicians opposing the government made victory possible. Regardless, the Populists have lost control of Congress even as they return to the control of the presidency. (-1 Stability)
MILITARY SEIZES POWER IN CHILE. Santiago, Chile. The Chilean republican government fell this year to a bloody military coup as a revolt was launched to establish full control of the nation by General Carlos Torres. The various smaller cities and military bases were seized by the rebels with relative ease, gaining support of the military ahead of time and arresting those not loyal to them. The fighting was more intense in Santiago, as the government had time to prepare a true defense. The fighting was brutal and left many dead, both from within the military and civilian casualties. Regardless, the remnants of the republican government have been exiled to Argentina as General Torres declares martial law and seizes power. (-4 Militia Brigades, -2 Population)
REVOLT IN EL SALVADOR. San Salvador, El Salvador. A republican led revolt took place among elements of the military this year in the Central American nation of El Salvador. Vowing to oust the Loayza regime, the rebels launched a bid for control of the various installations of the government. The rebels failed to take the majority of military bases and various other communities, and never even neared control of San Salvador itself. The government immediately cracked down with a massive offensive, wiping out the remaining cells or sending them fleeing into the jungles. Retaliations then commenced against those suspected of aiding the rebels, leading to the deaths of thousands more otherwise innocent civilians. (-1 Irregular Brigade, -6 Population)
DISPUTE RISES OVER DISTRICT PROPOSAL. Guatemala City, Guatemala. The government of Guatemala gave the go ahead to private businesses to set up shop in a primary district of the capitol. This has caused much concern at the treatment of these business and the entertainment facilities beginning to open. Among the new places are several hotels, and even a casino, which have opened up to attract foreign tourists, particularly from Mexico. Opponents have decried the pandering to foreigners taking place, and have stated that it is quite likely to turn into one of the Free Economic Zones made infamous in Lakota Sioux. Protests have been staged against the construction, hindering development and raising more problems for the Menso regime. (-1 Stability)
VENEZUELA ACCEPTS LOCAL BID FOR DAM. Caracas, Venezuela. Despite the hopes of Mexican business, the Venezuelan government has instead chosen to work with local companies for the construction of the Caroni River Dam. The greater cost of the project is stated to be the price of helping improve the local economy by creating new jobs and industry in the construction effort. Already numerous new jobs have been established, although foreign experts have had to be hired from Mexico and Russia, both which have had experience in constructing hydroelectric facilities.
HAITI COMPLETES NEW HIGHWAY SYSTEM. Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The work of several years has at last come to fruition in the nation of Haiti as a series of paved highway networks has been completed between the major cities of island. Automobiles will have a much easier time travelling between the cities without the blight of dirt roads and gravel. The completion of the project has led to a minor surge in the local economy as new jobs are created and a growth in local consumerism is recorded. (+1 Infrastructure)
NEW CRUISE LINES THREATENS SWEDE DOMINANCE IN CARIBBEAN. Kingston, West Indies Federation. A group of wealthy individuals have sponsored the construction of extremely new and modern cruise liners from Cuban shipyards. The newly established Grand Caribbean Cruise Lines offers travel all along the Gulf of Mexico and within the nations bordering the Caribbean Sea. The Royal Sweden Cruise Lines have been faced with heavy opposition from this new force, and the board of directors has announced that efforts have begun to construct new ships of their own, a task which they have not undertaken since the 1960s. The Swedish cruise line has faced further financial difficulties as the leading members of Grand Caribbean use their local influence to shut down several islands for their shipping.