HEADLINES:

• Denim announces new Earthquake-detection experiment
• Terrorist bombing in Beirut, 10 dead
• New Alliance signed by Denim, Yellow, and Orange
• Blue, Crimson trade threats
• New leaderships in Japan and China
• Resource shortage hits Blue, Red
• Mass Demonstrations in Brazil

IN GAME TERMS:

• Turn 1.5 Orders will be due on before midnight on Monday, November 29^th, 1999. They are being pushed back slightly due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, which will cause several players to be unable to send email over the holiday weekend. If you need other arrangements, please contact the General Moderator. Orders should be sent to both the General Moderator and Technical Moderator.
• Despite having a full two weeks, several players did not send in orders or even pleas for more time. Lloyd in Magenta and Norallene in Black will be kicked out of the game if this continues.
• Rules Clarification of the Week, Part I: If a unit is not mobile, such as ICBM, FORT, IRBM, SOSUS, or GSDI, existing units cannot be sold. You can't crate up and move a large building or a missile silo. Okay, you can, but it is expensive. If you want to sell one of these units, simply build a new one at the location you desire. You CAN build facilities in other countries using your cash, of course.
• Rules Clarification of the Week, Part II: If you sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), your cash income decreases by one point, starting with the turn AFTER you sign the agreement, NOT the same turn as the agreement is signed.
• Marcus Johnston in Red has resigned due to insufficient time to play the game. His replacement is Rashad Mohammed, a Paratrooper in the Canadian Army. We still have players in 6 U.S. States (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, North Carolina, California) and one foreign Country (Canada), although we lost our player in Korea. We're still an international game, but no longer an intercontinental game. We'll all miss you, Marcus.

NEWS IN DEPTH:

SCIENTISTS ANNOUNCE IMPROVED EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION PROGRAM.

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA (AP) - Today scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have unveiled their plans for a new and ambitious method for predicting earthquakes. According to Dr. Fishman, the project SkyPattern lead, the Scientists plan on using a series of specially designed high-resolution satellites. These satellites, once in orbit, will observe a large area of the earth's surface and watch the weather patterns. Using new advances in the field of Chaos Theory, they will observe the weather over certain key fault lines. If the weather deviates along the line of a fault, they will know that an event is about to take place. "Chaos theory is not something new," says Dr. Fishman, "but with the new advances in Chaos Theory since it's conception back in the 1980's, we've been able to observe seemingly patternless events, and draw patterns and thus conclusions from them. I'm very excited by the possibilities once we have enough satellite data to fine-tune our predictions."

While Dr. Fishman and his team are very excited about these advances, they are not alone. The Mayor of San Francisco had this to say, "Finally, when the SkyPattern system is in place, the people of San Francisco can relax, confident that when the next big one comes, we'll be able to predict it in enough time to prevent the tragedies that occurred in the 1989 Loma Preida quake." The Loma Prieda quake, which measured 7.1 on the Richter scale, destroyed several key highways including a section of the Bay Bridge, and caused the only suspension of a World Series game when Candlestick Park was hit by the quake.

A SkyPattern Satellite undergoing final assembly at Vandenberg Air Force Base

When asked about the details of the SkyPattern satellites, Dr. Fishman was reticent. "I'm sorry, there's a lot of new technology in there that I can't tell you about. New military grade optics, special resolution enhancing algorithms, and more. [The satellite] will be the most accurate weather satellite ever launched."

The first satellite is scheduled for launch sometime in January of February of 2001. It will be a geostationary satellite, but will target areas that are traditionally more earthquake-prone than California. When asked where the pilot satellite will be located, Dr. Fishman said simply, "That's classified. But once it's up, and we have enough data to start making predictions, that information will be released."

When asked why so much secrecy surrounds a simple weather satellite, Major Riley, the US Government advisor to the SkyPattern project said simply, "This project involves a lot of cutting edge equipment that could be used by an unscrupulous government for purposes other than earthquake prediction. We are simply trying to prevent these secrets from getting into the wrong hands."

"The 'wrong' hands, or the 'Red' hands?" I asked him.

"What's the difference?" he replied, laughing.

TEN DIE IN CAR BOMBING IN LEBANON

BEIRUT, LEBANON (UIR) - Ten people died when a car bomb was detonated in Beirut today. UIR anti-terrorist police have confirmed that the outlaw militant group "Islamic Jihad" has claimed responsibility for this terrible action. Four suspected I.J. members have been detained for questioning. Terrorist activity has been on the decline for the last eighteen months, largely due to increasing police and military crackdowns on known terrorist groups by the new Moderate government of the UIR, lead by Sultan Kurtis Kharnei. This latest atrocity is though to be a reprisal aimed at slowing down the Government's "war" on Terrorism. Sultan Kharnei's regime was catapulted into power early last year as the Islamic people, having achieved their long-sought goal of a united homeland, turned to thoughts of peace and prosperity. "We did not fight for the sake of fighting; we fought to protect the True Religion and our homeland. Now those things are truly ours, and the meddling nations of the West have recognized our legitimate claims. It is wrong to continue to hate; let us embrace our neighbors, near and far, to the prosperity of all!" Sultan Kharnei said in the State of the Union address last month.

PRESIDENT TRACY SPEAKS

PARIS, FRANCE (SENN) - This morning in a press statement, President Tracy of the Southern European Union stated that: "We do not wish the destruction of the world. Even with our enemies we wish that we could come to an agreement and settle our differences, but mark our words, we WILL NOT hesitate to strike with nuclear efficiency on any country that sees themselves fit to oppose us. We do not wish war, but we will take part in it if it is brought to Southern Europe's table. Please, do not aggravate us. We do not want to destroy the world. We are only trying to unite it under our diplomacy. If it will not accept it, then we will accept that. But we will not accept invasion or attack.

We do not want to be the grim reaper of earth. We would rather be seen as the dove of humanity. But we will accept either if the need be."

Ranking members of the Southern European Union were quick to get behind what President Tracy had to say; indeed, the Union is apparently as unified as ever. This could be the beginning of an era of understanding, or a walk down death row.

DEMONSTRATORS IN BRAZIL DEMAND WAR

BRASILIA, BRAZIL (LJR) - An estimated 50,000 protesters marched on the capital of the Green Guerillas last week, as popular sentiment turned against their neighbors in the Orange Oligarchy. The demonstrators were demanding a declaration of war against the Argentine leadership and an invasion to liberate the oppressed peoples of Colombia and Peru. The Brazilian paramilitary police forces were present in force at the demonstration, but did not move to disperse the crowd and only a handful of arrests were made, all on charges of public drunkenness after a brewery sympathetic to the picketers distributed free beer. The protest was mostly peaceful, although Presidente Felix Cortez of the Orange Oligarchy was burned in effigy and the Argentine flag was desecrated. Both Presidente Cortez or the Brazilian leadership refused to comment on the incident.

Protesters march in Brasilia demanding war with Orange

CRIMSON ANNOUNCES ALLIANCE WITH RED

Berlin (NEP) - Late last night the Northern European Commonwealth announced it's alliance with the Associated State of America. Prime Minister Michael Streiker commented "We share many of the same views as the ASA, and also recognized their right of existence. The United States government no longer serves the needs of the ASA people, and any democracy that doesn't serve the people is not those people's government. Therefore we say Abschied zu unserem formal demokratischen Verbündeten. I hope that they can resolve their problems peacefully." Also in the diplomatic news, the NEC has proposed a NAP with both the Magenta Mob and Malachite Monarchy. "We wish to improve relations with those of those nations in the future. Fighting them would prove rather pointless". Although many citizens are somewhat unhappy about the signing of a Non-Aggression Pact with Russia, it is generally agreed that peace is better than war.

NEW LEADERSHIP FOR THE JADE JUNTA

BEIJING, CHINA (CCJG) - There was a new leader of China reigned in today. The new leader Chong Lee Xing has taken power of the Jade Junta. The new leader has promised peace and that it is time to make the Chinese civilization a national power, one that will be fitting for it's over 2 billion people. General Chong was the governor of Hunan Province who was responsible for the bloody repression of the Changsha Riots two years ago. Amnesty International has protested the ascension to power of "The Butcher of Changsha", but since all Amnesty International members in China have been shot, that didn't stand in the way of the installation of the new ruler of the world's most populous nation.

MUTUAL DEFENCE ALLIANCE TREATY SIGNED BY THREE NATIONS

NEW YORK, NY (OSS) Last week the leaders of the United States, Empire of Japan, and Republica Democratica de Argentina signed what is formally called the "Mutual Alliance of Defense and Cooperation Across the Pacific", informally called M.A.D.C.A.P. "Although our nations are separated by thousands of miles of ocean, the diplomats from all three of our countries came together and found common ground and common interest." announced Felix Cortez, the president of the Orange Oligarchy.

"The agreement was met with wide support in my country. The Japanese people are pleased that we are now moving in a new direction. We want to preserve peace" said one Japanese spokesman.

According to one United States diplomat, "I like to think of MADCAP not just as a defense treaty but as an association. It is an agreement in which all- participating members have an equal voice. Collectively, we make decisions. We invite other countries to consider the advantages of joining our coalition. In the months ahead the world could be a very unstable place filled with uncertainty. If there is one thing that is for sure in MADCAP, all of our countries have a bright future."

RESOURCE SHORTAGE HITS BLUE, RED

PARIS, FRANCE (LJR) - A mass demonstration broke out in the streets of Paris today to protest rising prices for gasoline and heating oil. With winter at its peak, the price of home heating oil has tripled in recent weeks as a massive energy shortage wracked the northern French countryside. With gasoline prices rising all over the Southern European Union, economists worry about the long-term economic effects. The continued oil embargo by the Silver Scimitar and non-delivery of oil shipments from Siberia and Indonesia are blamed for the energy crisis. In a related story, a deadlock in the Red Republic's congressional debate over trade restrictions have delayed oil deals with Venezuela and Nigeria, which have protested the high tariffs Red has imposed on imports. Gasoline prices are also rising in the Associated States, and the Capitol in Richmond has been picketed by rival groups demanding both protectionist trade barriers and a solution to the oil shortage.

Police in Atlanta detain a protester after the demonstrations about the gas shortage

JAPAN'S NEWEST LEADER TAKES THE THRONE

TOKYO, JAPAN (NHK) - The coronation ceremony for Japan's newest monarch has just taken place. Today, Murasaki Shikibu was crowned queen of Japan. Although an exciting ceremony for all the Japanese, the people are a bit wary of her liberal ways. She has already commenced trade deals with traditional foes, such as China. Plus, she has allied with American forces, which they fear will try to take over their lifestyle and country. When asked about the ceremony and her new responsibilities, Empress Shikibu had no comment.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Wanted: The UIR (Silver) is searching for a supplier of modern Fighter aircraft for national defense. Purchase orders are expected to go out for bidding over the next several months. Any nations wishing to bid are encouraged to contact awiggin@slip.net. Andrew Wiggin, authorized purchase agent for the United Islamic Republic.

For Sale: SS, FF, all the way up to WSATs for sale, contact the Crimson Commonwealth.