India develops cheap, working, mass-producible Cell Phone
India has surprised the world by developing a cheap, mass-producible Cell Phone. This small device is a huge leap over models available currently, which are big, bulky, expensive, and don't work well. The Indian Model is a breakthrough in technology. It is only available for sale in India, and is being sold in the millions to Indians, many of whom now have the money to buy it thanks to the Indian Economic Boom. Once satellites are available to use these phones in the rest of the world, they will undoubtedly be bought by millions, and could catapult India into a first-world nation from the income they are expected to bring in. Already, they, and efforts to reduce poverty, have led to India's economy going up a level. The technology is currently owned by the Indian Government, but is expected to be sold soon to several large corporations, who will market it to the world. Some Indian Companies own the copyrights, but they only are selling them to Indians. This technology means that anybody anywhere in the world can call anybody else, provided there is Satellite Coverage, It is a breakthrough compared to corded phones.
Jihad declared against Russia by Hardline Muslims
It seems that Russia has unintentionally drawn the wrath of hardline Muslim groups, who have turned their anger against Russia, blaming them for many Muslim problems. Their claims that Russia is trying to build an empire by conquering Muslim territory seemed to gain strength as Russian Forces continue to battle it out in Afghanistan, as we shall report on later, and in Lebanon, as we shall report on later as well. Within Russia, there is several anti-Russian Muslim Terrorist networks operating, who seem to be eluding the KGB and other Russian Special Forces thus far. They have been routinely attacking Russian Federal Buildings, Russian Bureaucrats, and just about anybody else whom they deem an enemy. They have yet to do any serious damage, and their bombs and attacks are pretty crude, but their effect is far-reaching. Many claim that Lebed won the election, as we shall inform you about later, in part by promising to crack down on these groups, and provide security to the Russian people. The attacks, which have targeted business as well, have caused the Russian economy to stagnate, and, if they get worse, might cause it to decline, if the KGB cannot get a grip on the situation.
Afghanistan turns deadly for Russians
Afghanistan has turned into, well, a bit like Indonesia for Russian Troops. The Afghan Shah, or King, has died, of a stroke due to stress over the situation, leaving this poor mountainous nation leaderless. Russia has appointed an Interim President, and promised elections once the fighting stops, but it shows no sign of doing so. Russia is battling what experts deem an oddly well-funded group of mujahadeen, or Muslim Jihadists, called to action by hardline clerics. Russia has deployed a large amount of Special Forces to the area, and they are being quite successful at stopping about half of the attacks, but they do not seem able to completely stop the fighting, or the flow of militants into Afghanistan. Russia has accused Pakistan of funding and training the militants, but Pakistan has vehemently denied the charges. Afghanis seem to just want the fighting to end, and elections to be held, but a significant percentage of them support the insurgency, as WNN polls indicate. Afghanistan is a very war-torn country, and generations of Afghanis have not known peace. Elections have not been held in Afghanistan, well, in a very long time, to say the least.
Congress Party sweeps Indian Elections as India makes Marriage Equal
India has held an election, and, no surprise, the Congress Party, led by Indhira Ghandi, has once again swept to power. They and the Shiv Shena party were the only major contenders, the Shiv Shena being Conservative right-wingers who didn't have a clear vision for India, at least in the eyes of Indian Voters. Congress dropped a few seats, but went up slightly in popular supports. Either way, they retain their majority, and have the hope of Indians to bring their country into the 1990s as a fully modern country with a good economy. India is a ways from that, but Ghandi seems to be doing a good job. In other Indian news, India has made Marriage equal in that nation. Homosexuality has been removed from the Unnatural Sex Act, and Marriage has been redefined from the old definition of Between a man and a women to between 2 persons. The Conservatives and Muslims were bitterly opposed to the act, but it was passed, signed into law, and makes India the first nation to actually have Equal Marriage. Some nations, like Quebec and Norway, have Equal Civil Marriage, but India is the first to have Equal Marriage.
OOC Ok, I'm biased, so sue me. No need to ask which side of the issue I'm on, eh?
Mapuchans demand Independence as Chile gears for elections
Chile has been declared ready for elections by their Indian occupiers, and the ICJ, and they will hold their elections for a post-Pinochet Government in 2 months time. The southern Mapuche population, however, of which the ICJ has released figures which show that about 230,000 of them were murdered in a genocide by Chilean troops under the direct orders of Pinochet, is demanding their own state that would take a chunk of Chile and Argentina to be their own nation. They have started an Independence Party, and will be a headache for the incoming Chilean Government. Elections would have been held sooner, but the Mapuchans held up the process by attempting to negotiate with the Indians, Chilean Interim Government, and the ICJ for a separate state. The negotiations were apparently fruitless.
Droeger introduces Reforms to Germany
The German Nationalist Popularist leader Droeger has successfully implemented a series of Reforms in Germany, the first of which was to change the name of his nation from the Republic of Germany to the Greater German Reich, or Die Grossere Deutsch Reich (GDR). This is to represent the true Germany, according to Droeger. Then he created the Bundestag, or Territorial Parliament, which is composed of representatives from the Territories of Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. This Territorial Parliament is meant to advise the German Parliament and Droeger on issues relating to the German Territories, but when the elections were held for it, the results were not what the right-wing Droeger expected. Since Austria was annexed into Germany proper, on the logic that Austrians are ethnic Germans, the remaining 4 territories are the more Liberal in Germany. So, as a result, the parties that got the most seats in this Parliament were the Liberal Democrats, Social Democrats and Communist Bloq, being Liberals, Socialists, and Communists respectively. The Conservatives fairly poorly. The advice that this Parliament will send to Droeger will be, of course, advice that Droeger is likely to not listen to. For instance, one of the first Bills passes was to advise Droeger to allow the Territories to hold referendums, to ensure that they truly want to be in the GDR. Droeger has yet to react to this, but it is likely that he will do so with scorn. Other Reforms include a Flat Tax, 2 Tier health care, which is essentially health care for the poor, Economic Deregulation, a European Central Bank, to compete with the USE Euro Central Bank and the DNEIN, or a German Computer Networking System. All of these reforms have had the effect of stimulating the German economy sufficiently, along with rebuilding efforts in the Territories to increase it by 2 levels. In a move that some called muzzling the press, and others called organizing the press into a more efficient machine, the German Government has announced that all of the German Press has been nationalized and bundled into one company called the National German News Network, which is responsible for delivering the news to virtually all Germans. Some reacted negatively to the news, but the new Agency, sponsored by the Government, has so far shown itself to be fairly unbiased. The Territories are opposing it more then ethnic Germans.
Lebed's Conservatives sweep Russian Election!
The Russian President is known by many names. Some call him Uncle Lebed. Others know him simply as the General or the President. Whatever you call him, whatever his name, he is changing Russia dramatically, and apparently most Russians think it is for the good. But it is an interesting phenomenon that only Russians seem to like Lebed. The WNN conducted polls around the world about the popularity of Lebed, and it seems that he is greatly disliked, even despised around the world. Everybody but Russians seem to think of his as an extremist. But Russians see him as a Hero, and this could not be made more clear after the last Russian election. It was a huge turning point in the Russian History books, one that saw Vladimir Putin, the man who disbanded the Communist Coalition, and brought Russia so successfully into a full-fledged Democracy, and saw the Russian economy soar, be humiliatingly defeated. This election was dubbed The Left's Last Stand, and Putin was leading it. He assembled all the left-leaning parties, including the Communist ones, into a party known as United Russia, and attempted to defeat Lebed. He failed. Miserably. In fact, the Left in Russia is at an all-time low, and Lebed and his coalition of right-leaning parties, including the Fascist Rodina and the Nazi Liberal Democrats won enough seats in the Duma to be able to change the Constitution, that precious Russian Document engineered by Putin. Putin has retired from politics, and gone to live in the USA, according to reports. After this devastating loss, he knows he cannot win again in Russia. Lebed is totally in control of Russia, it seems, and its people seem happy. Party members of the 3 parties that make up Lebed's Constitutional Majority were out in the streets celebrating after their triumphant win. Only time will tell the consequences of this historic win. Lebed's Coalition used this opportunity to start fiddling, or effecientizing, as they call it, the Russian Constitution, removing the position of Prime Minister, making the Duma only in charge of Lawmaking, making Courts more dependent on the President, minor stuff like that. These only make the President in Russia a bit more powerful, which is good for Lebed, but perhaps not so good for Russians.
Anti-Americanism on the rise in Russia!
This is perhaps the first consequence of the win by Lebed, and it very well might lead to war. Russians were never happy when Putin unilaterally returned Alaska to the USA, and lifted the restrictions upon the American Military. Well, now that anger is rising up again, in the form of a Campaign started by opponents of Putin and supporters of Lebed who have joined forces to create a national Return Alaska campaign, which alleges that Alaska is rightfully and legally Russian, and that Russia should force America to return it. A WNN poll shows that ab out 45% of Russians feel that this is a priority, with only the Terrorism plaguing Russia scoring higher. A full 58% of Russians feel that Alaska is historically, ethnically, and legitimately Russian. Lebed has made no sign that he wants Alaska back, but these new numbers might change his mind.
WNN issues correction regarding recent article about Africa
The WNN would like to issue an official correction and apology. Recently we printed an article that updated our readers about the situation in Southern Africa, after the near-collapse of the AF. We printed a story that said that the American-aided nations were prospering while the Russian-aided nations were languishing. This story was wrong. The WNN had employed a News Service in Africa that was delivering incorrect stories to the WNN. We have since fired that News Service, and WNN Reporters have since gone to the area, and have the proper story for our loyal readers. We deeply apologize for this error, and we pledge to do our best to ensure that it never happens again. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Here, for the record, is the correct story:
Russia, America helping Southern African nations rebuild after AF
South Africa used to be in the grip of the African Federation, and used to be a part of the world suffering with a lack of development, and basic services. Well, no longer. Since the USA and Russia came in, and stabilized the Region, things have improved immeasurably. Those nations now have stable, Democratic Governments. Most of them have militaries which have taken over much of the keeping of the peace themselves. They are employing American and Russian companies to come and repair their nations. Some are even ready to formally as the Russians and Americans to remove their troops, as they will soon not be needed. This is a major step forward. Then, people lived in small communities separated from one another, and lacking in basic services. Now, they have access to proper schools, hospitals, roads, and other basic services. These countries are undergoing a Revolution, of sorts. Africa, at least the Southern Portion, is no longer the Continent of Despair, but the Continent of Hope, and Potential. Thanks to the USA and Russia, these nations have the change to lift themselves out of poverty for once and for all, and to enter the 1990s as developed, prosperous nations. The USA and Russia has given these people a gift, which is greater then mere money, this is the gift of living a good, happy life.
OOC Ok, ok, so I don't understand first year economics. Maybe because I've yet to take any first year economics courses.
Romanian Regime collapses as Russia sends troops
The chances of it not occurring were remote all along. Ceausescu's Authoritarian Regime in Romania has finally fell, at the sword of popular unsupport and Russian Intervention. When Russia realized that Ceausescu was not going quietly, and the crowds opposing him swelled, and the battles between the people and the Secrutariate grew by the day, Russia moved in. In a maneourve worthy of the Germans smashing the Maginot Line in WWII, the Russian Army came in, handily defeated the Secrutariate, and executed Ceausescu. Then they began the process of getting rid of the remnants of the Secrutariate, and putting down the small insurgencies brewing. Romania is under the control of an Interim President appointed by Lebed, but should be ready for elections next year. With Romania falling, this means one less Communist Regime is present in the world.
Russia attempts to assume control in Lebanon!
As the UIR Civil War dragged on, Russia apparently decided that it needed to do something to save the Christians in Lebanon, which has been comparatively peaceful to the battles raging across other parts of war torn UIR. It sent some troops and tanks there to calm the region, which caused a huge stir in Israel, when the Israelis assumed that they were coming ti invade Israel. The Russians landed troops, and started taking control, all the while under fierce attack. Then they realized that they were doing nothing more then getting Muslims angry at them as Muslims perceived that Russia was attacking them, and not liberating Christians. The Russians then changed their mind, and withdrew their troops. This event has caused the UIR Civil War to come to something of a close, as both factions in the fight realized that they were surrounded by enemies who might take advantage of them in their weak state. Israeli brokered peace talks have resulted in the UIR and the Rebels agreeing to hold fresh elections next year. It seems that the Russian invasion did nothing more then get Muslims angry at them, and end a Civil War, completely unintentionally.