LETTERS

MAN OF THE YEAR 306  

AFRAZURE'S YOUNG KING IMPRESSES     Fresh from taking his law degree in Midlburgh, Mounir II's youngest son, installed as his successor by Altland, has spent his first year on the throne establishing his leadership and strengthening his prestige, as the Altlanders gradually withdraw their military forces and civilian advisors. Already Youssef has put his own stamp on the government and created the impression that he is both wise and efficient.

NATION                             

ALTLANDERS: NOT PARTY ANIMALS           The Royal Commission chartered to investigate the viability of a party system for elections to the Popular Assembly has concluded that the vast majority of His Altlandic Majesty's subjects are simply not interested.

THE VEX 

THE EMPEROR'S NEW WOES                       With an increasingly restive populace at home and a newly agressive Feniz stirring just to his north, Phenixia's Pantaleon Bonhomme, having recently promoted himself to "Emperor," may soon be called upon to demonstrate the military and political genius he has until now merely claimed to possess.

BUSINESS                           

IS THE AUTO INDUSTRY DOOMED?        Recently tightened legal restrictions on the domestic sale of private cars have made the Strada Motor Corp. more dependent on the export market, where it is now finding it ever harder to compete. Luckily the military and mass transit divisions continue to do well.

SPORTS                             

TALK OF A THIRD FOOTBALL LEAGUE          As interest in football and attendance at the games continues to grow remarkably in Altland, several smaller cities have developed first-class clubs which would like to go professional but cannot do so within the present structure. Two solutions have been bruited: a system of "relegation" and the creation of a third league composed initially of the four Disondan teams and the four from Port Marie, with four new teams to be added to all three leagues. The RAAC is set to hold open hearings on the idea of third league next month.

CULTURE                        

SOME MASTERPIECES ARE TO DIE FOR Reputed Sperança Mob-boss Vito "Marbles"Vitellino, accused of illegally importing masterpieces of ancient sculpture from Neoliliana, insists he is a legitimate art dealer and an internationally recognized, as he says, "cornersewer." Now he has been implicated in the death of Aldo Migliavacca, his onetime confederate.

MILLSTONES