European News Report
MAJOR EARTHQUAKE IN GREECE. Corinth, Italy. The Republic of Italy has been faced by yet another major earthquake this year, this time in a larger urban center. The Greek city of Corinth was hit by the most recent earthquake, though many agree the situation has not been as severe as the Lioni earthquake last year. Nonetheless, civilian casualties are said to be rather high for the smaller size of the quake, and the Red Cross and local Italian military forces have been dispatched to provide what aid is available, (-1 Population for Italy)
NORWAY'S AIR FORCE SOARS. Oslo, Norway. Foreign military observers in Norway have reported that in recent months, the Norwegian air force has displayed particular skill in their recent exercises. Some claim that this is the result of ever more efficient training for its pilots while others claim success for the Norwegian educational system. Whatever the cause it is clear that Norway's air force training is now better than ever.
BOHEMIA ELECTIONS. Prague, Bohemia. Despite the situation abroad, the people of Bohemia have continued to display their resistance to change. The Bohemian population has once again overwhelmingly voted to bring back the Monarchist Party into power. The Monarchists have vowed to maintain Bohemia's traditional path of neutrality and isolation from foreign politics and entanglements. (+1 Stability)
CRIMEA ELECTIONS. Odessa, Crimea. The recent outbreak of influenza globally and locally has caused many within the ruling Populist Movement scattering. Having failed to bring any sort of national reform for healthcare, or indeed, anything in the past, the Crimean government has faced a severe popular backlash. To capitalize upon this, the Socialist Party, long an underdog in Europe as a whole, has risen to the political forefront. They have pointed out the relative successes of the Icelandic health care system against the influenza outbreak. They managed to triumph, barely, in elections, bringing together a new socialist government, for the first time in Eastern Europe.
RIOTS PLAGUE GALICIA ELECTIONS. Lesko, Galicia. The coverage, or lack thereof, of the electoral campaign by Galicia's controlled media has not been unnoticed by the population. The overall refusal to cover the plague epidemic, even as it spread into Galicia's borders, has caused the outbreak of several riots as panic ensued over the lack of medical facilities. The Monarchist Party blamed the riots upon leftist agitation and ordered the immediate arrest of several leaders of the liberal Free Rights Party. This in turn sparked other riots, and the election eventually came to pass with only Monarchists venturing out to the polling stations, leading to, technically, an overwhelming electoral victory. (-1 Stability)
POLAND ELECTIONS. Warsaw, Poland. The arrival of the influenza in Poland not surprisingly brought about a dramatic change in national politics. The National Party was faced with harsh criticism that it was unable to provide for the Polish people in this time of crisis. The liberal Polish People's Party rose to the forefront, calling for immediate reform of the national health care system. They demanded that Poland never be caught unprepared for such an outbreak again. These concerns ultimately won the People's Party the election, bringing them to power for the first time since independence from Russia.
DEMONSTRATION TURNS VIOLENT IN LATVIA. Riga, Latvia. Stirred up by the lisist government, a major demonstration was held in Latvia rallying against the Russian Federation. Though initially staged as a peaceful demonstration against Russian politics and the Orthodox Party, ultimately agitators led to violence. People of Russian heritage were viciously attacked in the streets, and ultimately a large part of the mob besieged the Russian embassy. The situation escalated when Russian guards in the embassy fired at the crowd as they attempted to storm the building. Though this did disperse the mob, several were left dead by the Russian guards' fire. The Latvian people have continued to express their outrage and have demanded further sanctions against Russians in Latvia, even calling for their full expulsion from the nation. (+1 Stability)
CONSPIRATORS ARRESTED IN UKRAINE AS CRISIS ESCALATES. Kiev, Ukraine. A large number of conspirators were arrested by Ukrainian military police this year, many being linked to the nation's Orthodox Party. Along with them were many Russian produced weapons and gear, and plans for a takeover of the government, in preparation to rejoin Russia. The Ukrainian government has issued a stern warning to the Russian government, and have appealed for help from various other nations. With their decisive proof of Russian involvement in recent disorder and their plot to seize control of Ukraine, the military has been fully mobilized, hastily digging in along the border. Intensifying the situation, the Russian military has deployed a large number of soldiers to the border, preparing for what seems to be an inevitable war.
PROTESTS LEAD TO FAILURE OF CO-AXIAL PACT TALKS. Marseilles, France. Talks began between Italy and France this year about the possibility of resurrecting the old Co-Axial Pact which has fallen by the wayside since the end of the Second World War. The news of the talks were leaked to the Italian press, which ran with the story, denouncing it as a return to Italian subservience to Paris. The Italian people responded en masse, protesting this, claiming it as a step backward from their status as a Great Power. Soon after these protests, Italy withdrew from the talks, abandoning plans to resume the Co-Axial Pact. The French government has stated that the failure of the talks simply are due to the overall obsolescence of the organization's purpose.
OSLO UNIVERSITY HOME TO NEW ACADEMY. Oslo, Norway. The Chancellor of Norway was pleased to present the establishment of the newly created Naval Academy of Research and Development as an attachment to the Oslo University. Thousands of skilled workers have been given employment in the city as expansions onto the university continue to extend and some of the brightest minds of naval research have been hired to teach courses. The main focus of the new academy however, has been stated to be the overall improvement of naval technology, both civilian and military. In addition to the expansion of the university, new docks have been established in Oslo harbor for specialized use by the Academy.
FRANCE PUBLICIZES NEW SPACE PROGRAM. Algiers, France. Faced with the humiliating fact of Floridian and Mexican entry into space well before the alleged premiere Great Power, the French government has publically unveiled the agency which will bring France to the stars. The French Imperial Aeronautics and Space Administration has been established in the city of Algiers, in order to catch up with Mexico and Florida scientifically as well as to launch France's own exploration program. Overall the French populace have presented their full support to the program, though some foreign observers claim this may be to take the people's minds off the enormous casualties caused by the influenza pandemic.
SCOTLAND SECURES THE PRESS. Edinburgh, Scotland. The government of Scotland, though it has controlled the media in its nation since the end of the Second World War, has made some efforts in consolidating its control. The Scottish Administration for Culture and Communications has been established by the Ross government, and has officially unified all branches of the press under a single seat in the regime. Scotland was fortunate to evade much damage in the recent influenza outbreak, and the press have espoused this as a sign of God's protection over the nation. The other big platform has been the awakening threat of the rat-like English who indubitably seek to once again enslave the Scottish people.
PORTUGAL DEVELOPS NEW GRANTS FOR SCIENCE. Lisbon, Portugal. The Portuguese monarchy has begun efforts to rekindle the Portuguese scientific industry and universities, many which have lain dormant over recent years. King Miguel IV has declared the creation of the Royal Innovation and Ingenuity grants. These grants will provide large sums of money to Portuguese individuals or companies which create useful or theoretical inventions and patents as a reward for their initiative. Many hope that this new policy will bring Portugal back to the forefront of technology in Europe.
ITALY NATIONALIZES SPACE EXPLORATION. Milan, Italy. The Italian Rocket Club in Milan has officially been nationalized by the Italian government and reformed into the Italian National Aeronautics Agency. The new agency is stated to be formed to help speed along scientific research relating to space and its exploration. In direct competition with several other organizations, including the recently established French one, the Italian government has nonetheless faced internal criticism. Opponents of the move have claimed that not only is the Italian government shouldering unneeded expenses, but that nationalization is completely against the standard Italian way of doing business. Supporters claim that no private corporation possibly has the ability to mobilize the resources needed for such a revolutionary branch of science.
TENSIONS ERUPTING IN THE SOUTHERN BALKANS. Sofia, Bulgaria. Tensions have been rising between Italy and France in southeastern Europe, as accusations about mistreatment of the Greek minority in Bulgaria threaten to escalate into war. The Italian government have offered a stern warning to Bulgaria about mistreating the local Greek population, while the Bulgarians have vehemently denied the accusations. The Italians responded by deploying over three hundred thousand soldiers into Greece near the Bulgarian border. The Bulgarians have responded by publically releasing the exchange of this diplomacy and have appealed for French support. The French government has responded by insisting that Italy demobilize its forces from the border in order to accept mediation, and have suggested that further threats against Bulgarian sovereignty will be met with French intervention.
African News Report
PLOTTERS ARRESTED IN EGYPT. Cairo, Egypt. A hidden group of conspirators were arrested by Egyptian police when evidence came to lot of a plot against the el-Sadat regime. Indisputable evidence was provided by a loyal member of the military that these generals and other officers were planning on overthrowing the government and installing their own regime. Fortunately they were betrayed from within and Egypt was spared the horrors of a civil war or uprising. The Egyptian government has immediately cracked down on the army and has found further evidence of betrayal from within. Some elements of the press and government have blamed Rashid and French spies for the recent unrest and disloyalty.
EGYPT ANNOUNCES NEW PROGRAM. Cairo, Egypt. Despite recent internal issues and debates within the military, the Egyptian government has developed new programs in cooperation with Italian and Russian advisors. The regime has pledged to begin further work and development on harnessing the power of the yearly Nile floods to improve agriculture and modernize Egypt's farming infrastructure. Studies have been launched to make the process more efficient, but of course progress has been slowed by problems within the government and military.
NIJERIA NATIONALIZES OIL. Christiansburg, Nijeria. The Nijerian government made a controversial move, nationalizing the local moribund oil industry. Though it is one of the smallest elements of the Nijerian economy, the few wells which exist in the nation were seized by the military from their foreign owners. This has allowed for a marginal increase in the government's own economic strength, but has caused outrage among former landowners. Predominantly French and New Hollander businessmen have issued protests to the Nijerian government and have called for intervention on behalf of their own regimes. The French government issued a statement calling for the Nijerian government to immediate reimburse their businessmen for current losses and all potential losses for the next ten years. The French have also stated that Nijeria is warned that failure to reimburse the businesses as demanded will result in "collections by force."
SOUTH AFRICANS INITIATE MINING EFFORT. Capton, South Africa. In response to claims about incredibly backward mining practices, the South African government as done some research into the nation's most valuable resources. The government has begun major effort into modernizing the mines and have passed several new safety laws to help provide protection for those workers who partake in what some call the world's most dangerous profession. Critics of the program have denounced it for destroying the productivity of the nation and wasteful government spending at its worst. Supporters have stated that the move is a step forward for signs that the regime truly cares about the people and that the newly constructed mines with eyes for safety are a vision of the future.
Middle Eastern News Report
JORDAN ELECTIONS. Amman, Jordan. Elections in the Middle Eastern nation of Jordan have been a fairly quiet affair as the pandemic has hardly touched the area. The ruling Islamic Democratic Movement has easily won reelection in most of the nation's districts, bringing a return for their rule.
PALESTINE ELECTIONS. Al Quds, Palestine. The Palestinian Third Way continued to preserve its fragile hold on the national government this year, even though it faced assault from both liberals and conservatives. The coalition government has pledged to maintain its previous policies of isolation and has managed to portray many of its opponents as religious radicals, playing off fears of another religious civil war. Though some have expressed concern over the recent pandemic, so far Palestine seems nearly immune to its effects.
TURKS RISE IN BLOODY KURDISTAN UPRISING. Mosul, Kurdistan. The Turkish minority in Kurdistan has always been a matter of concern since the nation became independent from the Ottoman Empire. Generally they have been disbarred from participating in local politics and this has brought together a bit of disillusionment among the populace. This year, tensions at last came to a head as a the Turkish minority rose up in fully rebellion against the Kurdish government, hoping to gain power in their provinces in order to join the Turkish Republic politically. The Kurdish military responded promptly, and casualties have been enormous. The Kurds responded against the Turkish civilian population, as villages were strafed by fighters and the army butchered the Turks systematically. Fighting remained intense, but the remnants of the rebellions were ultimately forced into the hills or to retreat into Turkey. The Turkish government has protested the recent outbreak of violence and the large amount of Turks murdered by the Kurd government. The Kurds have claimed that Turkey outright supported the rebels in their uprising, and have demanded that all aid be ceased. Military forces have been moved to the Turkish border, as they prepare for the possibility of a Turkish intervention. The Kurds have continued their systematic hunt of any Turkish remnants within their borders, executing men, women, and children alike. (-2 Infantry Class D Brigades, -77 Population)
IRAQ AND OMAN BUILD TIES. Basra, Iraq. Following the 1979 nationalization of Oman's oil resources, the government there has made moves to improve its ties with other Middle Eastern nations. This came to a climax this year as Iraq and Oman signed a historical agreement to protect each other. Oman's financial resources were turned towards purchasing some foreign held oil wells aggressively while Iraq's government forced them to sell. In order to further build the two nation's ties, a mutual defense pact was signed in order to protect themselves against common threats and aggression in the region.
TURKEY WELCOMES RED CROSS. Ankara, Turkey. After last year's success of the International Red Cross in El Salvador, the Turkish government invited the researchers and doctors to assist with polio vaccine distribution as well. Large amounts of government funds and research were provided to the Red Cross, which has led to a surprising birth of a pharmaceutical enterprise overnight in the nation. As the new influenza spreads quickly across the world, Turkey is one of the few nations to stand as a virtual bulwark against the onslaught.
RASHID ARABIA LAUNCHES MAJOR OIL SURVEY. Riyadh, Rashid Arabia. The Arabian government has launched a major effort to locate even more black gold throughout their borders in order to be even more competitive on the market. With the strategic alliance between Oman and Iraq, and the still standing competition from Arabistan and Texas, the Arabians have felt the pressure to expand their operations. The Rashid royal family has done its best to finance the surveyors, but no results have yet been seen. The prospectors have claimed that it'll take at least a year before any significant results can be ascertained from the effort.
Asian/Pacific News Report
NEW HOLLAND ELECTIONS. Sydney, New Holland. The lousy living conditions for many whites within New Holland, not to mention the complete lack of local healthcare, led to a dramatic death rate within New Holland from the influenza pandemic. This led very nearly to a liberal backlash against the government, but the national censorship and conservative control of the press successfully managed to contain it to only a few rogue crackpots. The Christian Democratic Appeal Party has pledged to maintain the status quo despite all signs of disease or war, vowing to press forward with all its policies.
APACS WORKS ON UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. Seoul, Korea. Massive funding from both China and Korea have led to the establishment of the Seoul University System this year. This is not only a physical building with some of the greatest hired minds in a large variety of fields from across the Far East, but also a series of systematic scholarships for students who excel among the peoples of the APACS organization. The institution has unfortunately raised some tension among the organization's members, as the people of New Holland and New Zeeland have claimed that the organization discriminates against the European migrants who make up the majority of those nations' population. Proponents claim that the simple fact is that most Europeans are thoroughly unlikely to ever achieve a full education due to their levels of poverty within their own nations. This in turn has sparked rising tensions among the European populations against the Chinese and Koreans.
KOREAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES PROGRAMS OF DEVELOPMENT. Seoul, Korea. The government of Korea has announced dramatic new reforms in its local educational system to correspond with the development of the Seoul University System. Mandatory education has been introduced, forcing children from ages six to eighteen years of age to attend school. The Korean government has been faced with some criticism that this may reduce the overall productivity of the children in the working environment, as they will be too busy in the schools as opposed to working for the betterment of the Korean economy. Another key program introduced began with the surveying of possible railroad routes and lines through and around the major cities of Korea. The standing government has stated that this new program will not only provide jobs but encourage overall economic growth in Korea.
FISHING DISPUTE IN SEA OF JAPAN. Hiroshima, Japan. Over the course of the recent year, disputes have risen between Japanese and Korean fishermen, as Koreans aggressively begin fishing in what was previously recognized as Japanese territorial waters. This has led to occasional violent showdowns between fishermen of both nationalities, though fortunately, no one has been killed in the violence to date. Japanese officials have called for resolution upon the issue, claiming that the Korean government officially endorsed the Korean aggression, calling for the current poaching of traditional Japanese fishing areas.
MASSIVE RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE ERUPTS IN PANCASILA. Medan, Pancasila. Thousands are believed to be injured or killed in the violence, as Christians and Hindus alike were viciously attacked by mobs riled up by Pancasilian Islamic leaders. The theocratic government has mobilized its base of support as well as using the national military for its current ends. The Christians and Hindus have done their best to fight back, but many towns and settlements have been razed by the onslaught. Many have fled into the jungles, fighting a guerilla war against the Pancasilian government, and some very few have escaped from the islands to call for foreign support. So far though, the government has not spared anyone believed to be part of the offending religions and have gone as far as to blame them for the many deaths caused by the outbreak of flu in the islands. The fighting has gone well for the Muslims, but the other religions continue to fight back or flee from their wrath. (-293 Population)
BORNEO OPENS DOORS FOR COTTON IMPORTS. Kuching, Borneo. As Borneo moves to modernize its economy, several incredibly low costs textile factories have been established, claiming that cheap labor will allow cheap products. Cotton has been bought en masse from Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida and has poured across the Pacific Ocean into Borneo. Unfortunately, the new trade brought the new flu into Borneo, and death rates have been particularly high among the laborers in the new factories, and from there spreading to the rest of the nation. The resulting confusion has led to very few places to sell the resulting textiles, and have been accumulating in warehouses across the nation.
ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY FORMED IN NEW HOLLAND. Sydney, New Holland. After extensive lobbying from various conservative conservation groups, the New Hollander government is the first national regime to address the issues presented by environmental destruction. After viewing ecologists' predictions for the lands left barren by the Socialist Union's onslaught against the Amazon Rain Forest, the New Hollanders have instituted the creation of the Geofinancial Preservation Agency. The GPA will focus on investigating environmental issues within New Holland and make suggestions to help preserve nature for future generations. Supporters of the plan laud this as strike against the soulless exploitation represented by socialism and leftist thought, while critics have suggested that this may hinder the development of business and reduce the overall amount of jobs available on the New Hollander job market.
JAPAN LAUNCHES NEW NATIONALISM. Tokyo, Japan. The Samurai Coalition in the Japanese government have spearheaded an effort to revive and rekindle Japanese nationalism and identity. The recent affronts by the Koreans in the Sea of Japan have aided in this endeavor as the horrors of Korean occupation are brought back into the light. The samurai leaders, slightly more progressive than their former predecessors in the coalition, have also at last publicly acknowledged the idea of constructing Western devices such as railroads and modern transportation and communication. Some of the various samurai lords have already spent their own finances in constructing some villages first telephone systems and have even built some local railroads with some hired help. Talks have also begun about possible government participation in a development program.
CHINA BEGINS HOUSING CONSTRUCTION. Lanzhou, China. The Chinese government began spending massive amounts of capital this year on the development of housing projects in the southern cities of the nation. These new buildings are stated to be affordable housing for the swelling urban population of the region as more and more people migrate into the cities. The efforts have been plagued by the influenza, which has caused some people to flee the city and has on occasion even wiped out entire construction crews. Further trouble has arisen as leaders from the northern provinces claim that the national government is neglecting the population of other areas in order to win more votes in the next federal elections. However, there are those who say this is a step in the right direction, showing that the Chinese government is doing what it can for its people.
Yearly Movie Review
Yucatan Gomez and the Pillagers of the Ark
Producer: EmiloArts Productions
Running time: 102 minutes
Summary: This radical new film, taking inspiration from old New Englander serials from the 1930s, has met with significant controversy in Mexico despite its extreme success abroad. With the lead played by a New Englander and not a native Mexican, it faced significant prejudice from the population during production. Upon release, however, it has become one of the high grossing films of all time, meeting with international success across the world, despite its portrayal of the French. The plot of the film is based around hero archeologist Yucatan Gomez, and his attempts to recover the Ark of the Covenant before it can be claimed by an evil French archeologist. Having been filmed not only in Mexico, the production company actually travelled to Egypt to film on location. While it may have been highly grossing, it cost more than any movie before, but many agree it was well worth the price.
The Sports Page
OLYMPIC NEGOTIATIONS FAIL. Geneva, Switzerland. France has continued to refuse to provide any political support to the resumption of the Olympic Games and it is believed that they are unlikely to resume at any point in the near future. Money has ultimately run out for the Olympic Trust and to the moans of many, it seems the Olympic Games, once a staple of the global sporting community, have truly come to an end.
WORLD CUP REPORT:
Final Game: Virginia 1, Colombia 3
Diplomatic Pouch
To:
France and Italy
From: Ukraine
We appeal for any aid in our hour of need! The Russian bear is at the door and we need support if we are to preserve our independence from the march of the eastern onslaught.
World Map
F.E.A.R. looks like a promising book (thanks for spelling it out tho)!
