NationStates Jolt Archive

Now broadcasting internationally is the Gibberish American National News Service, operated by the Satellite and Radio News Network Corporation, (C) 2008.

Introducing our anchorman, Daniel Chao, live from the capital Liberty City.

"Good evening, world. It's a nice and crisp, cool winter night here in the Gibberish American New York. Cars and people are moving out through the streets, going to and from home. The snowfall is just right and I'd like to welcome the rest of the world to enjoy our country's news."

Several weeks after the close election in the country, election winner Republican candidate Derek Schmidt has assumed office of the President of the USGA. He attended the Presidential Inauguration today at the Capitol Building here in Liberty City. A crowd of over 55,000 jammed the area, and news coverage from all over the country covered the inauguration. The inauguration ceremony was followed by a parade throughout lower Algonquin island and a State Dinner at the White House.

Schmidt is the first full white President of the country, and the 3rd President (the first President, Ryan Le, was of Chinese and Italian descent). His policies include abolishing many business regulations, building up the USGA armed forces, increasing relations with left-wing states, and pouring billions of dollars into healthcare and education. Though viewed as a socialist by other Republicans, he managed to convince many Democrats to switch parties before the election.

In the Caribbean Sea is a Spanish-speaking, mestizo-dominated island called San Esperito, which was acquired by the USGA government in 2006 after the CIA ousted right-wing (ironically communist) dictator Anastazio Mendoza. After that, the country's economy boomed with the help of foreign investments from corporations based in Gibberish America. However, the influence of these companies grew too great. The new leftist government lost its support due to their allocation of money to the military instead of healthcare and education. The corporations however, built schools, hospitals, and recreational facilities for their workers and their families. By the end of 2007, 45% of San Esperito-ense were living in subsidized corporate housing. In an election in early 2008, the national government was voted to become a USGA territory. The USGA Congress, however, did not let the vote pass until an agreement about their citizenship could be made. In November 2008, the Congress decided San Esperito-ense should have USGA citizenship along with full voting rights. Celebrations were held in San Esperito, and this has attracted thousands of tourists who now seek expansion within the new territory.

In recent months, gas prices have been dropping more quickly than ever before due to the drop in demand for crude oil and a higher demand for hybrid and electric cars. According to Universal Petroleum spokesmen in a press conference in Liberty City, the average gas price for regular gasoline is around 2.29 per gallon. As a result of this decline in oil, Universal Petroleum has taken part in a joint venture with other corportations like USGA Electric to help support and build alternative sources of energy like wind power and experiment hydrogen power.

MOSCOW, 12:24 AM
In a recent high in U.S.-Russian tensions, USGA Secretary of Defense Peter Szendrenyi visited President Dmitri Medvedev in Moscow earlier today to discuss the future of joint NATO-Russian military exercises and trade between the two nations. Russia's support for leftist Venezuela and its invasion of Georgia has caused a dip in relations between the U.S. and Russia, along with its protest of anti-ballistic missiles in Ukraine. In the USGA, ethnic Russians burn Medvedev's and Stalin's pictures in the streets of Vostok in front of the Russian consulate. The USGA has pulled out its timber, petrochemical, oil, and electronic industries out of the Russian Federation and has halted imports and exports to Russia. The USGA Army has halted production of weapons imports from Russia and the Russian ambassador is to be expelled from the USGA until some sort of agreement can be reached. SecDef Szendrenyi and President Medvedev are trying to discuss on both countries' common enemy: the Soviet Republic of Novistrana.

With global warming at the USGA's footsteps and hybrid cars becoming ever-so expensive, the USGA railroad companies Liberty City Central, Brown Streak Railroad, AmericaTrak, and RailUSGA have experienced increased ridership by 14% in the last year. New railroads are being set up in model-railroad fashions around the country as American locomotives and train cars are being imported from the mainland. Manufacturing industries are profiting along with this boom as well, as many of these industries collaborate with the railroad companies by selling the accomodations and conveniences inside the passenger cars. Besides railroad trains, inner-city subways or elevated rail have been experiencing overcrowding, prompting the Liberty City Transportation Authority and San Fierro-Los Santos City Council to construct new metropolitan commuter trains, such as a new MetroLink network.

[ooc: i can haz headline about civil unrest]?

sure. just give me some more details (i'm kinda too lazy 2 read ur threads right now)

In 1992, the city of San Fierro-Los Santos suffered widescale riots which led to 19 deaths and over $500 million in property damage. Sixteen years later, this San Francisco-L.A.-esque city has recovered greatly. The city is now bustling with business, culture, and transportation. It is now home to over 2 million people and is the capital of the USGA's music and film industries. Many posh neighborhoods like Santa Maria Beach, Rodeo, and Vinewood are filled with homes and businesses of the wealthy elite. Yet, one the other side of Interstate 101, are suburban neighborhoods (formerly home to gang violence) filled with those with memories of the riots. Mostly African Americans live in these neighborhoods, from Ganton to Jefferson and Willowbrook. 26-year-old Sean Wright was only 6 when the riots struck, but he remembers it clearly.

"Dozens of black men would run through the streets, breaking into houses, vandalizing cars, looting shops, and setting people's cars on fire. My family stayed in the basement until we heard how the National Guard arrived. When we came out, it looked like a warzone."

VOSTOK, VOSTOK OBLAST
3:50 PM

Earlier today, a crowd of about 5,000 ethnic Russians gathered outside the Russian consulate in Downtown Vostok. The thousands of students, workers, and shopowners waved signs and posters written in both Russian and English, with insults to the Medvedev administration. Until 2:00, the protest was just noise and distraction. Then, gunshots were heard from the consulate. It turned out that several Russian soldiers stationed to protect the embassy had opened AK-103 fire. 24 protestors were injured, and 4 are in critical condition. Vostok Police are investigating the shooting, but the question remains on whether the soldiers who injured the protestors should be tried in American or Russian courts. One protestor, Dmitri Andropov, stated his view.

"Obviously, we cannot trust the Russian court system to charge one of their own citizens of anything if they did it in another country. Plus, these people injured innocent protestors expressing their first amendment rights."

Their lawyer Vladimir Balkan, however, thinks otherwise.

"They were acting in self-defense. What else were they to do? A bunch of protestors saying 'f**k Medvedev!', 'f**k Russia!' Can't you say that's intimidating?"

The fate of the soldiers and the Russian diplomats are to be decided by the USGA State Department.

OOC: Are you going to do a report about the riots in San Andras

OOC: No that was done when the News Service didn't exist. This covers all events from the beginning of the news service. sorry.

http://www.radford.edu/~wkovarik/envhist/RenHist/2.water.pix/itaipu.better.jpg
Sherman Dam

After a year of construction, the Sherman Dam over the Lakota River is now up and running, powering all the buildings in nearby towns and the state capital. Located on the border of North and South Lakota states, the Sherman Dam is the first of its kind in the nation. After pressure from environmentalist and pro-business politicians, the government decided to authorize construction for the dam last year in 2007. However, it wasn't completed until last week, when hydroelectric engineers got the systems up and running as the paved road on top had dried. Out of speculation, several businesses such as a motel and gas station have sprung up in a forest clearing next to the dam, serving as tourist traps and conveniences to travelers.

LIBERTY CITY, LIBERTY
3:23 AM

Trying to stay alive during the world economic recession is Gibberish America and its largest city (and capital) Liberty City. This bustling center of commerce, finance, shipping, and manufacturing serves the country as the seat of the federal government and the home of people of all nationalities, with the largest ethnic groups in the city being Chinese, German, and Italian. From the skyscraper island of Algonquin to the rich hip-hop borough of Broker, this city is home to over 4 million people (OOC: RL Pop). However, the world economic stage has been tough, and many international businesses have ben forced to operate domestically. However, Liberty City's most famous celebration, the SW Emporium Thanksgiving Parade, is still taking place this year. Following the tradition of being bigger and better each year, thousands of people are expected to line up in the streets to watch the floats go from Star Junction to Fishmarket South, with live TV coverage all over the nation. However, many paraders have to cut back on spending in order to reduce the garbage left on the streets and the flow of traffic that must be redirected. Despite these setbacks, this year's Thanksgiving parade will go without a hitch, says Mayor CJ Wen.

Concerned of the situation in Gibberish American ally Chernobyl-Pripyat, the GSRN has begun coverage SRCP government has allowed the GSRN to shadow the situation in the SRCP. As of today, the Holy Empire of Koharia has been providing support to the neighboring nation of Kolgujevska, where severe fighting has been going on in the city of Petrovic. There, SRCP and Koharian forces are exchanging fire through the back alleys. Casualty figures are unknown, but they are estimated to be around a dozen. Word from the USGA Military Intelligence Bureau states that the USGA government will send a company of armor and helicopters to support the SRCP forces and possibly expel the Koharians, but is waiting for President Schmidt's approval.

Though it may not affect the nation on a national scale, the state anthem of Liberty State was ratified today at the state capital and national capital of Liberty City. The State Congress, in between choosing three songs for the state anthem, decided that "男兒當自強" (Man of Determination), sung in either Cantonese or Mandarin, would be the state anthem, representing the Chinese, the largest group in Liberty State with over 45% of the population (followed by the Germans (30%) and Italians (15%)).

The choice was down to:
男兒當自強 (Man of Determination) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW-_7YC0gYk&feature=related
射鵰英雄傳 (Legend of the Condor Heroes, Themesong 1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qyWuwMTyGw&feature=related
射鵰英雄傳 (Legend of the Condor Heroes, Themesong 2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=telLryR6e30&feature=related
射鵰英雄傳 (Legend of the Condor Heroes, Themesong 3)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jytSGHVuYpE&feature=related
上海灘 (Shanghai Bund) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGkSyt3bLdg

The GSRN Person of the Year Award goes to the average lower middle class industrial worker. They make up about 25% of the working population in the USGA. Their average income per year after taxes ranges from $39,000 to $59,000 a year according the USGA Department of Labor. These workers include the men and women working at oil refineries, power plants, car factories, manufacturing plants, shipping companies, railyard, and metal plants.

Previous Awards Went To:
2000: President Ryan Lai Ming Le
2001: The USGA Army Soldier
2002: The Immigrant
2003: The Retail Worker
2004: The Service Sector Worker
2005: The Law Enforcement Officer
2006: President Aloysius Lai
2007: The Educator

LIBERTY CITY
3:30 PM
December 3, 2008

A nation was shocked by a bank robbery today in the capital, where several masked robbers were revealed to be agents of a terror group called the Forgetten Army. Several AK-74-toting men stormed into the South Branch of the Bank of Liberty. The four robbers had attempted to steal over $1,000,000 in cash and hold over 50 people hostage. First responders were the LCPD, who learned quickly a bank robbery was underway and the robbers were heavily armed. NOOSE and the USGA Army were called in, as AH-60 Annihilators, Enforcer Armored Trucks, and over 100 law enforcement officers and soldiers were called to the scene. One robber fired blindly at the officers, who responded with M4A1 and AK-47 assault rifle fire. After a lull in gunfire, the robber peered out, only to be shot in the head by Sgt. Kevin Lam of the LC NOOSE. A SWAT team entered the bank from the roof and opened fire on the robbers from a raised platform while a terrorist opened AK-74M fire on the officers, wounding one. As the terrorist rushed up the stairs, NOOSE officer William Leung put a M1014 shell into his chest. The remaining 3 terrorists attempted to escape with the money and exchanged fire with fortified Army soldiers throughout the streets of Chinatown. As an Annihilator attempted to open minigun fire, the terrorists went underground into the subway, where a platoon led by Lt. Derek Li exchanged fire from both sides of the tracks. Sgt. Kyle Ming Liu killed one terrorist with his AK-47 as one was trying to reload his MP5. Sgt. Ricky Long put another down with his M4A1, as Lt. Li confronted the wounded terrorist leader.

"Who do you work for?"

"The ... Forgotten Army... will make its vengeance on you Western dogs... Yob tvoyu mat."

The terrorist lifted his MR-444 pistol in an attempt to shoot Li, only to be executed with a Desert Eagle.

Once the scene was clear, investigators hauled the bodies away and the hostages were freed. Police casualties: 4 wounded, 0 dead. Terrorist casualties: 5 dead.

Though Gibberish America is a capitalist country, industries based in the country have run its economy ever since its founding. However, in the wake of the economic recession, the USGA government is allowing foreign corporations to operate in Gibberish America, especially in the skyscraper capital of Liberty City.

http://www.archives.gov/press/press-kits/picturing-the-century-photos/images/space-shuttle-challenger.jpg

Though the USGA has launched communications satellites into outer space for the past two decades, the government has declared that the USGA Space Agency is sending its first manned mission into outer space. The mission will take place in a space shuttle and the astronauts will spend four days orbiting the Earth. Though criticized as a waste of money, the Space Agency states that the manned space program will bring new breakthroughs in science.

Universal Petroleum was one of the largest of the oil corporations, with subsidiaries in the USGA, in Severnaya Russia, Sahrani, and San Esperito. Its shares were priced $200 a share in 2007 and sold over 33% of the crude oil to the USGA public. However, with the slowing oil economy, Universal Petroleum decided to take up programs to research hydrogen energy and cold fusion power reactors to power large cities effectively and cheaply. Yet, the word "Petroleum" became out of the question, as Universal Petroleum's assets were losing demand in the USGA market.

In 2008, the company changed its name to Universal Electric as it acquired energy plants around the nation, from the hydrogen power plants to the wind farms in rural Midland. Universal Petroleum is now one of its subsidiaries, and is expected to shut down once the USGA declares energy independence in 2011.

GREENSBORO PARK, Tropicana
January 15, 2009
10:00 PM

The space agency's Freedom Star program was a hotbed of attention for four months. The Freedom Star program involved building a space station that would house a company of Marines and could be deployed by shuttle anywhere on the Earth within 90 minutes. The project created great controversy worldwide and within the country by both antiwar and antispending advocates. However, plans for the Freedom Star was approved by more than two-thirds of the representatives in Congress and was planned to be launched in February, with setup starting this month. However, today, despise for the Freedom Star boiled over at the launch pad in Greensboro Park.

A terrorist group known as the Forgotten Army attacked the launch site at 10:00 this morning when maintenance crews were inspecting the launch pad for any dangers to the Freedom Star which would launch in February. Several squads of men armed with AK-47s opened fire on workers. The Army was sent to take down the terrorists, leading to an ensuing gun battle leaving 10 workers wounded and all the terrorists dead.

ooc: the freedom star seems like a disaster waiting to happen O.o

OOC: That's from EndWar. Just started playing and it's tied into the WiC RP.

(OOC: This is kinda PMT)
LIBERTY CITY
January 17, 2009

Leaders of several nations from the European Federation and President Schmidt met today in the capital to discuss plans for a new anti-ballistic missile system from stations on the ground, at sea, and in outer space. These anti-missile defenses are to defend against potential nuclear attacks by the EF and USGA's enemy, the Soviet Republic of Novistrana. The project is expected to cost around $30 billion, and is predicted to have a negative response from the Novistranians. Project EndWar is expected to be completed in 2014, with satellites and AMDS batteries placed throughout the USGA and Western Europe.

LIBERTY CITY
January 19, 2009

Due to its location in the Arctic Ocean, Gibberish America faces frequent subzero freezes and high rates of precipitation in the form of snow. However, this year, a huge cold front is sweeping through the northern half of Gibberish America. According to satellite data, most of the northern states are covered with a huge blanket of white clouds, and temperatures are expected to drop as low as -17 degrees Celcius. Shipping lanes into port cities like the capital Liberty City and San Fierro-Los Santos have been closed due to these subzero temperatures and numerous flights have been delayed flying out of and into the country. As a result, many Gibberish Americans are choosing to take rail travel across the nation, hoping to lessen the manmade effects on the weather and to conserve fossil fuels. As for road travellers, people travelling by cars whether through city streets or on major freeways must wait for snow-clearing highway crews to move the snow aside. Once the storm clears, 3 feet of snow is expected to be the average snowpack across the nation.

In El Estado and El Sur, a war is going on between the borders of Gibberish America and Mexilando. No, the two countries are not engaged in hostilities. Instead, several drug cartels are battling authorities from both countries, who have allied to destroy the cartels with military force. Just last month, Mexilando President Jose Cheung Garcia sent over 80,000 Mexilando Army soldiers to assist the Mexilando Agencia Federal de Drogas, or the Mexilando DEA. In cooperation, President Schmidt sent 2,000 troops from the Army to assist the Federal Investigation Bureau (FIB). The battle has been ruthless for both police and civilians. The cartels have killed over 5,000 civilians this year and have terrorized border communities by executions, assassinations, extortion, and vandalism. Many police officers guilty of corruption charges and collaboration with the cartels have been arrested. If that isn't enough, the cartels are arming themselves with military-grade assault rifles like the Russian AK-47, the Belgian FN FNC, and the German G-3. Police and military forces have to deal with enemies at their level.

The conflict stemmed from the 1980s, when San Theodoran, Nuevo Rican and Palombian drug traffickers would smuggle drugs into the country with the help of the Mexilando gangs. As the South American drug trade declined in the 1990s, the Mexilando cartels took over their business and soon, the Calderon Cartel, Mendoza Cartel, Guerra Cartel, Xiucoatl Cartel, and Salinas Cartel were formed, each named after their home cities. In recent years, they have hired foreign mercenaries called the Zetas. With their marijuana and cocaine trade, the cartel has made hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal drug trade over the years. In the Mexilando border states of El Desierto and Aztlan, the people live in constant fear of attack by the cartels. Now, skirmishes between the military and traffickers have left over three thousand traffickers dead, five thousand in custody, and five hundred Army casualties. With the arrival of USGA Army troops, who knows how the conflict will end up.

NOW, A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR:

Live in a country where the climate is the same everywhere? Where the food is the same? The people? Well, Mexilando will turn all that around. From the deserts of Aztlan and beaches of Villa Azteca to the big cities of Ciudad Mexilando, Tenochtitlan, and Teotihuacan; Mexilando is a land of diverse places, people, and culture. Come to visit the Catedral de la Virgencita Guadalupe in the capital along with the Congress Building shaped like an Aztec pyramid and the statue of Mexican president Felipe Calderon. Meet the mestizo and Aztec-Spanish peoples who speak Spanish, English, and their Nahuatl. Try their authentic cuisine famous around the world: burritos, enchiladas, tamales, quesadillas, tacos, and more! Take part in the vibrant festivals of Dia de Los Muertos and Cinco de Mayo while hearing their ranchero (mariachi) and merengue music. Play soccer with the locals, and visit the Mayan rainforests on the border of neighboring Republica Maya. Mexilando is waiting to be discovered!

States:
Azteca
Salinas
Garcia
Chavez
Texcoco
Aztlan
El Desierto
Cambinas
Mayucatan

Major Cities:
Ciudad Mexilando (capital)
Tenochtitlan
Teotihuacan
Villa Azteca
Ciudad Calderon
Mendoza
Xiuhcoatl
Salinas
Ciudad Rodriguez
Ciudad Gonzalez

After the beginning of 2009, the Republic of Vertana invaded the USGA territory of San Esperito in the Caribbean Sea. The Vertanan People's Army (VPA) was able to overrun the capital of San Esperito, Ciudad de Capitalismo. In response, the USGA and its southern ally Mexilando declared war on Vertana and its dictator Roberto Granuja. USGA forces landed on San Esperito to support the resistance, a guerrilla group known as the Fuerzas Armadas de San Esperito (FASE). Meanwhile, the Mexilando Marine Corps assaulted the Vertanan mainland to divert attention from the forces in San Esperito. Since the campaign has started, two nations have joined the coalition against the Vertanan Republic: the Vamperial Kingdom of Lynion and the Confederacy of Defense Corporations. More to come on the situation.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Tet_Festival_Little_Saigon.jpg

LIBERTY CITY
January 21, 2009
by Jacob Nguyen, GSRN

Today, thousands of Vietnamese-Americans crowded the streets of Liberty City's Suffolk District, were Tet (Vietnamese New Year) festivities were being held. From lion dances to a live band performing, the streets were filled with the smell of bánh chưng and dưa hành from the food vendors selling them in the concession area in front of the Rotterdam Tower, the tallest building in Liberty City. This is Liberty City's 25th annual Tet Celebration, which was first organized by Vietnamese immigrants from the Vietnam War. Much of the food and activities were funded by the Liberty City Recreation and Parks Department, various Vietnamese businesses around town, and the USGA Vietnamese Association. The celebration is expected to go on until the beginning of Chinese Lunar New Year, where the nation's Chinese-American majority will celebrate along with a national holiday. Chúc mừng năm mới!

LIBERTY CITY
January 28, 2009
Frank Huang Li

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ChinNewYr-dragon1.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chinesenewyearfireworkman.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chinese_New_Year_market.jpg

恭喜發財! Gung hei faat choi! Gong xi fa cai! The Lunar New Year spirit is all over the nation, but is the strongest in the capital Liberty City, where thousands of Chinese have gathered in Chinatown for the Chinese New Year Parade as the Year of the Ox 2009 starts in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Lion dancers accompanied by percussionists, firecrackers, and dragon dances hit the streets, thanks to the Liberty Coalition of Chinese Americans (LCCA), which gathered the city's Chinese American majority and celebrated the most important holiday of the year. Most of the nation is on a national holiday, and the media is filled with Chinese New Year-related programs from karaoke songs to live news coverage of the parades in the major cities. Not only is the country's Chinese American majority participating, but also, businesses are profiting from the boost in tourism from overseas Chinese. As the Chinese New Year songs stream through the giant TV screens in Star Junction, let the new year come in!

SAN JUAN
February 22, 2009
Michael "Mike" Hen Kuai Le

http://www.vianica.com/special/jul_06/p3.jpg

After the failed invasion of the Gibberish American island of San Esperito and the subsequent counterattack into their territory, the socialist government of San Esperito has surrendered to the United States of Gibberish America and the United Mexilando States. President Granuja was captured by Mexican forces after a long air and land battle in the capital city, in which the Mexicans decimated Vertanian forces and forced them to surrender. Now that the war is over, much of the Vertanian countryside is devastated by war and the cities have been reduced to rubble with its people fleeing to places like Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the U.S. A temporary government has taken the place of the old socialist regime, but political analysts state that it cannot act on its own without foreign support. The USGA government has denied extensive help programs to the Vertanian government, but has left some 100 political advisers in Vertana to help rebuild and restructure in fear that rival factions may emerge and that drug cartels might take advantage of the lawless situation. Some 4,000 Mexican Marines remain in Vertana as a peacekeeping and rebuilding effort, while neighboring Venezuela has plans of its own for the island.

SIOUX PLAINS, Midland
February 28, 2009
Greg Shin Fai

http://celebratecanada.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/striations.jpg

Ever since its founding, the USGA has been a center for manufacturing, trade, and urban services. However, it has developed little farmland. As of 1976, the number of acres of farmland went from 1000 acres to only 10,000 to 2009. The amount of arable land, however, has stayed the same. As a result, the country has been forced to import most of its food from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and China. Yet, this is about to change.

Last week, Congress approved of the Agriculture Development Program. The project, known as Project 2020, aims to make the USGA self-sufficient on its basic food needs and to eliminate the need for the importation of overseas food. The program is expected to cost around $35 billion to provide potential farmers with seed, fertilizer, and equipment. Much of the program will take place in the states of North Lakota, South Lakota, and Midland where much of the landscape is grassland.

MARCH 2, 2009

"In the meantime, fighting has continued in the city of Petrovic, Kolgujevska, where the SRCP forces are attempting to force out the Imbrinium peacekeepers and the Vietnam Empire paratroopers. Casualties have mounted as both sides fight for the IAF HQ in Petrovic Airport. Meanwhile, in the Drakovian coast, a naval and air battle seems to be raging on which has surmounted an estimated casualty number in the hundreds. Now speaking to USGA envoy to Russia, Nikolai Gerasimov, who is in the GSRN office in Vostok. Mr. Gerasimov, can you explain our government's action in this role?"

"Certainly, Daniel. Apparently, two of our allies, Chernobyl-Pripyat and Imbrinium are warring against each other for the occupation of the small state of Kolgujevska. I've spoken to the President about this, and he has other issues in East Chernarus in the Belarus region, where many critics believe we should intervene. However, with the SRCP issue in mind, more public attention would be focused on the conflict in Kolgujevska. I mean, this country his home to over one million people with the same ethnic and cultural background in the SRCP, the Ukrainian population in Vostok. However, we have a further five million British with the same concerning that their people are simply trying to keep peace from a foreign aggressor. While the country's Chinese and German majority may stay neutral in this issue, there's going to be ethnic tensions where both Ukrainians and British are living together, say in the capital Liberty City."

"Nikolai, what's your opinion on the issue? I mean, things are already going bad in the mainland with the recession that President Obama's trying to fix. But really, should we take the risk of intervening and losing some of our most prized allies just for a title?"

"Certainly not, Daniel. We already have enough on our hands with trying to keep our economy up in the meanwhile observing Novistrana. They're gaining influence and look what they did in Vertana! The Vertanian military actually occupied our soil and it took us a month to get it back! In addition to that, who knows what's to happen in the next month? Unemployment rates and foreclosures are the highest rates in decades, and no one seems to see an end to them. We certainly cannot do anything but observe this war. Only if it involves us, we'll do something about it. For now, I've convinced the President we're fine."

ooc: I think that covers it pretty good so far

ooc: thanks. i tried my best.

Boston, East Ireland
March 17, 2009
Patrick McReary

Whether they're from Mainland Massachusetts or Irish Dublin, the USGA's ethnic Irish population is celebrating the holiday the country's Celts - Irish and Scottish - hold dear to their Catholic faith and their patron saint, St. Patrick, who, according to legend, explained Holy Trinity with a three-leaf clover. Boston, with the largest Irish population in the country, is up in festivities as the townsfolk engage in a huge parade team, watch their sports teams on TV, and consume Guiness Draught at their local Irish pubs. The city, according to Mayor Ryan McOrourke, is benefitting greatly from the tourism despite the recession, and a $1.1 billion is expected to be made from Irish tourists and companies.

Weather for the current week

Tuesday: Cloudy, variable temperature between 4c [40f] and 12c[55f]

Wednesday: Cloudy, chilly throughout the day. high chance of fog

Thursday: 30% chance of rain, overcast

Friday: Cloudy, windy.

Saturday: Expected to be cloudy and windy.

Sunday: Clear skies until evening, then partly cloudy

Monday[next]: sunny, clear skies expected

April 15, 2009
MOMBASA, Kenya
Danny Lao

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Tianyu-8.jpg

In the recent wave of Somali pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean, the fishing vessel Tian Yu has been overrun by pirate gangs based in the southern coast of Somalia. The photo above was taken by Ensign Andy Huang of the USGA Navy from the cruiser USS Long Jian. In the photo, pirates armed with AKM assault rifles corner the crew members at gunpoint.

Negotiations to let the crew go have commenced under Army Special Forces adviser 1st Lieutenant Gerald "Jay" D'Avanzo, with little avail. As of now, the pirates' intentions are to force the crew to sail to hostile Iranian waters, where the Iranian government has been known to supply and rearm the pirates as well as being transferred the custody of hostages.

Six pirates have been estimated to be on the ship, as well as 20 crew members including the captain. In the meantime, Navy SEAL snipers have been called into the area to deal with the pirates in the same manner that took place with the Maersk Alabama a few days ago.

LIBERTY CITY, Liberty
APRIL 16, 2009
DeMarcus Jackson

The seizure of the USGA fishing vessel Tian Yu has sparked public outrage in the States, leading to the Congress's approval of a piracy task force to operate in the area of operations off the coast of Somalia. Two naval battlegroups consisting of the aircraft carriers USS Admiral Roebuck and the USS Normandy along with several light cruisers and hunter-killer submarines have been deployed to patrol the central portion of the 1.2 million square mile area off the Horn of Africa. Their objective: to support international efforts to retake hijacked merchant ships and to attack pirate strongholds on the Somalian coast.

Their first order of business: to retake the Tian Yu from the Somali pirates currently holding the crew hostage.

LIBERTY CITY
APRIL 20, 2009
Logan Ching

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200706/r151536_540335.jpg

It's happening in the U.S. Millions of Americans are purchasing firearms and ammunition in fear of an economic collapse and shares for firearms companies such as Smith and Wesson have been at an all-time high. The weapon craze has his Gibberish America as well. Shares for weapons manufacturers like ArmaLite have risen since the bank robbery in Liberty City on December 3, 2008, when terrorists from the Forgotten Army attempted to rob the Liberty National Bank in Downtown Liberty City. Although none of the hostages nor police officers in the incident were killed, it was highlighted as a major threat to the country's national security. Army, police, and National Guard enlistments have doubled in the past three months, with demand for weapons and supplies increasing along with it. While this weapons rush has been harshly criticized by gun control lobbyists and supporters, experts agree that this rush has had positive effects on the national economy.

Employment at LCS Arms has risen form 20,000 in January to nearly 25,000 in April. LCS Arms is the nation's largest firearmys manufacturer and is based in the capital Liberty City.

May 18, 2009
DeMarcus Jackson
MOMBASA, Kenya

The month-long standoff at the USGA fishing vessel Tian Yu is finally over today after a team of Navy SEALs led by an Army Special Forces advisor sneaked onto the boat via scuba and shot down the pirates with AK-47 and M4A1 assault rifles. The crew was found unhurt yet very thristy and hungry. Most of the crew were taken to the hospital on the nearby USGA destroyer. The captain of the vessel, Lucas Chen, described the ordeal as "long, excruciating, and outright boring." While the pirates threatened the crew with their lives, the crew spent most of their days waiting for night to come and doing about with their daily tasks, from cleaning the rooms to cooking meals. The pirates held the crew of 20 for $5 million ransom, which was never paid.