[War] WAR World Report, Volume 3

[John Penta]

World Alliances and Rivalries: World Report

Volume 3

For all actions since Volume 2, advancing the timeline to 6 March 2013 to 20
March 2013.

United Nations Security Council (Permanent Members): United States, United
Kingdom, France, China, Russia

United Nations Security Council (Non-Permanent Members as of 3 February
2013):
Until May 30, 2013: Canada, South Africa, Panama, Poland, Australia
Until July 31, 2013: Japan, Brazil, Ethiopia, Denmark, Afghanistan

Pending UN Security Council Actions: none
Pending UN General Assembly Actions: None
United Nations Secretariat: No news.
=======================

GM Notes
=======================

It's not exactly 2 weeks, but trying to get back into the habit of sending
the WR out by Friday.

A word re Bryan's JP with me: I'll happily write the Holy See or local
Church hierarchy if you need it, among other NPCs. Don't in any way take it
as GM opinion - I write pretty straight, pulling from what I know/have heard
of the RL clerics involved, inventing new ones (or drawing up personalities
from whole cloth if all I know is a name) if I need to. (It's actually
pretty surprising what I can dig up given enough time.) When they speak on
doctrinal matters, I do my best to reflect actual Church positions - or at
least the theology as I know it - including where they speak on the
intersection of doctrine and politics.

Ian (Brazil), as noted, is on LOA til mid-September. I hope he comes back
soon.

Oh, also. New feature down below. In parentheses after the ratings, if
there's been a change from the last WR, is the amount of change; that way
you don't need to flip back to the previous WR and compare the two. Thank
Bryan for suggesting it.

In less-happy news: After this WR, I'm going to start applying the activity
policy as written - in summary, if you can't post, that's fine...Just say
something to me. LOAs will be granted liberally - *before* the due date.:) 3
consecutive WRs without word, which roughly equals 6 weeks, and I presume
you've left us, and your country becomes open. You're welcome back at any
time - as your country previously, provided someone hasn't taken it up in
the meantime, or as another country if someone has. To be fair, everybody
will start with a clean slate.

Finally, a newbie status report: We have 2 newbies in various stages of the
joining process as of 6 PM EDT, 21 August. One wants Venezuela (and is on
the lists - say hi), one picked Australia (and is not yet on the lists).
Generally, I sign people on to the lists after the first draft of their
country writeup is received, right after I send back my comments.

-John

ACTION RESPONSES
=======================

BRAZIL
=============
Population Approval: 50%
Government Approval: 50%
International Favor: 50%
Economic Growth: 5%
Inflation: 5.8%
Unemployment: 9%
----------------------------

LOA

CANADA
=============
Population Approval: 47%
Government Approval: 43%
International Favor: 50%
Economic Growth: 3.1%
Inflation: 1%
Unemployment: 6.8%
----------------------------

No significant news to report.

CHINA (PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF)
==============
Population Approval: 50%
Government Approval: 48% (-2%)
International Favor: 50%
Economic Growth: 2%
Inflation: 6%
Unemployment: 9.1% (+.1%)
-----------------------------

No matter how you portray it, 20 thousand job cuts don't go down easily,
especially in a still-fragile global economy...And especially when the jobs
of question are government jobs, generally considered secure jobs in, well,
any other country.

It's not like there are protests in the streets or anything (this is China,
after all), but officials seem to be...waiting for the other shoe to drop.

With that said, reorganization is proceeding apace, and should be complete
by the first week of May, though the after-effects will continue for some
time.

JAPAN
======
Population Approval: 53%
Government Approval: 48%
International Favor: 50%
Economic Growth: 2%
Inflation: 1.8%
Unemployment: 4.4%
-----------------------------

No significant news to report.

FRANCE
====
Population Approval: 52% (+2%)
Government Approval: 48% (-2%)
International Favor: 48%
Economic Growth: 1.8%
Inflation: 1%
Unemployment: 9.2%
-----------------------------

(OOC: Holding off on the post re the Cardinal, since I'm presuming there are
more posts to come on the CCRI)

The President's hunt for the leaker goes about as expected - namely, not
very successfully. A low-level staffer is fired, but then promptly sues for
unwarranted dismissal. This all hits the papers, naturally.

Combined with the austerity measures, this doesn't make the President
especially popular with (respectively) the media (who see him as going after
their sources), or the civil service (who see him as going straight after
them). The audit of the National Assembly has members up in arms, claiming a
breach of separation of powers, as well. The austerity measures do gain the
President a small degree of popularity with the public, though.

UNITED STATES
==============
Population Approval: 55%
Government Approval: 53% (-2%)
International Favor: 50%
Economic Growth: 1.9%
Inflation: 4.8%
Unemployment: 6.2%
----------------------------

The case of Brayden Smithe-Jenkins has exploded onto the front pages with
the sentencing of the American college student to death on drug-smuggling
charges. Smithe-Jenkins's member of Congress and senators have all requested
that the White House intervene with the Kremlin - and both senators from his
home state (California) have announced their intention to put a hold on any
of the President's cabinet nominations that come up for a vote unless
Smithe-Jenkins at least is given a reprieve from a death sentence. This is
widely denounced (even by other Democrats) as obstructionist, however, and
the holds have yet to be formally made. Yet.

UNITED KINGDOM
==============
Population Approval: 50%
Government Approval: 50%
International Favor: 50%
Economic Growth: 2.0%
Inflation: 3.8%
Unemployment: 7.1%
----------------------------

No significant news to report.

RUSSIA
===============
Population Approval: 50%
Government Approval: 50%
International Favor: 50%
Economic Growth: 6.2%
Inflation: 13.9%
Unemployment: 6%
----------------------------

As expected, the tabloids have a field day. First with the President's
alleged amorous adventures, then with the release of documents on Tunguska -
which have even serious papers digging, asking "what else are they hiding?"
The Ministry of Defense, in particular, is growing increasingly concerned re
media and other digging in regards to activities in various closed cities,
warning of the possibility of leaks and foreign infiltration.

In other news, the case of Brayden Smithe-Jenkins, an American college
student facing execution by firing squad in Russia for allegedly smuggling
marijuana, has hit the papers worldwide. European nations are protesting
that Russia would violate European norms by executing anyone; the US
Government is also said to have protested and sought commutation of the
death sentence. Within Russia, though, there isn't much protest, except from
human-rights groups.

ETHIOPIA
===============
Population Approval: 50%
Government Approval: 50%
International Favor: 50%
Economic Growth: 8%
Inflation: 41%
Unemployment: 11%
----------------------------

No significant news to report.

ITALY
===============
Population Approval: 50%
Government Approval: 50%
International Favor: 50%
Economic Growth: 1.1%
Inflation: 3.6%
Unemployment: 10.1%
----------------------------
No significant news to report.

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