<p>World Alliances and Rivalries: World Report</p>
<p>Volume 3</p>
<p>For all actions since Volume 2, advancing the timeline to 6 March 2013 to 20 March 2013.</p>
<p>United Nations Security Council (Permanent Members): United States, United Kingdom, France, China, Russia</p>
<p>United Nations Security Council (Non-Permanent Members as of 3 February 2013):<br>Until May 30, 2013: Canada, South Africa, Panama, Poland, Australia<br>Until July 31, 2013: Japan, Brazil, Ethiopia, Denmark, Afghanistan</p>
<p>Pending UN Security Council Actions: none<br>Pending UN General Assembly Actions: None<br>United Nations Secretariat: No news.<br>=======================</p>
<p>GM Notes<br>=======================</p>
<p>It's not exactly 2 weeks, but trying to get back into the habit of sending the WR out by Friday.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Ian (Brazil), as noted, is on LOA til mid-September. I hope he comes back soon.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>-John</p>
<p>ACTION RESPONSES<br>=======================</p>
<p>BRAZIL<br>=============<br>Population Approval: 50%<br>Government Approval: 50%<br>International Favor: 50%<br>Economic Growth: 5%<br>Inflation: 5.8%<br>Unemployment: 9%<br>----------------------------</p>
<p>LOA</p>
<p>CANADA<br>=============<br>Population Approval: 47%<br>Government Approval: 43%<br>International Favor: 50%<br>Economic Growth: 3.1%<br>Inflation: 1%<br>Unemployment: 6.8%<br>----------------------------</p>
<p>No significant news to report.</p>
<p>CHINA (PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF)<br>==============<br>Population Approval: 50%<br>Government Approval: 48% (-2%)<br>International Favor: 50%<br>Economic Growth: 2%<br>Inflation: 6%<br>Unemployment: 9.1% (+.1%)<br>-----------------------------</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>JAPAN<br>======<br>Population Approval: 53%<br>Government Approval: 48%<br>International Favor: 50%<br>Economic Growth: 2%<br>Inflation: 1.8%<br>Unemployment: 4.4%<br>-----------------------------</p>
<p>No significant news to report.</p>
<p>FRANCE<br>====<br>Population Approval: 52% (+2%)<br>Government Approval: 48% (-2%)<br>International Favor: 48%<br>Economic Growth: 1.8%<br>Inflation: 1%<br>Unemployment: 9.2%<br>-----------------------------</p>
<p>(OOC: Holding off on the post re the Cardinal, since I'm presuming there are more posts to come on the CCRI)</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>UNITED STATES<br>==============<br>Population Approval: 55%<br>Government Approval: 53% (-2%)<br>International Favor: 50%<br>Economic Growth: 1.9%<br>Inflation: 4.8%<br>Unemployment: 6.2%<br>----------------------------</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>UNITED KINGDOM<br>==============<br>Population Approval: 50%<br>Government Approval: 50%<br>International Favor: 50%<br>Economic Growth: 2.0%<br>Inflation: 3.8%<br>Unemployment: 7.1%<br>----------------------------</p>
<p>No significant news to report.</p>
<p>RUSSIA<br>===============<br>Population Approval: 50%<br>Government Approval: 50%<br>International Favor: 50%<br>Economic Growth: 6.2%<br>Inflation: 13.9%<br>Unemployment: 6%<br>----------------------------</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>ETHIOPIA<br>===============<br>Population Approval: 50%<br>Government Approval: 50%<br>International Favor: 50%<br>Economic Growth: 8%<br>Inflation: 41%<br>Unemployment: 11%<br>----------------------------</p>
<p>No significant news to report.</p>
<p>ITALY<br>===============<br>Population Approval: 50%<br>Government Approval: 50%<br>International Favor: 50%<br>Economic Growth: 1.1%<br>Inflation: 3.6%<br>Unemployment: 10.1%<br>----------------------------</p>
<div>No significant news to report.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>================</div>