1985 - Japan invents the 'breadmaker' home appliance, which becomes popular in the United Kingdom and the United States.
1985 (POD) - Japan consents to US suggestions to raise the value of the yen and open up its markets for more US imports, along with a serious general financial reform. This causes a short period of little growth, but it prevents the stockmarket crash of the early 90s. This significantly strengthens the already strong American-Japanese relations.
1988 - A plebiscite in Chile returns the country to democracy after fifteen years under Pinochet. Chile will quickly become a regional trade-hub.
1988 - Iran signs the UNSC Resolution 598, ending the Iran-Iraq war.
1989 - Japan tries but fails to acquire an aircraft carrier, causing some to raise doubts about Japans 'checkbook' diplomacy.
1989 - Military occupation of Namibia by South Africa ends due to UN intervention.
1990 - Yemen reunifies.
1990 - A bout of national interest in the space program leads to several government discussions on the ambitious idea of a Japanese space program rivalling that of the United States and is seen as realistic within the country.
1990 - Malaysia continues to grow economically along with the other Asian Tigers.
1991 - The MiniDisc by Sony is released, for both audio and computer data storage. It will become extremely popular in Japan, and moderately successful in Europe and the US.
1991 - Japanese contributes substantial financial aid to the Gulf War, strengthening international relations, especially with the US. American politicians come to believe that Japan should use its wealth to become more active in world affairs especially in situations where resources are at stake. The events of the Gulf War occur much like OTL, with fewer US casualties and more successes against the Iraqi. A major difference is the creation of an Iraqi Kurdistan by the Bush administration because of promises made to Kurdish leaders preceding their assistance in the war.
1991 - Wars of Yugoslav Succession begin, independence movements force a civil war within the collapsing nation. Slobodan Miloslevic is able to diffuse some situations and barely averts a much bloodier war, though there are significant casualties and mobilizations of armies and peacekeeper forces. Slovenia gains independence quite quickly in a Ten-Day War. Croatia's government declares independence, and mobilizes its forces to attack border militaries, which begins Croatian hate-racism throughout the rest of the Balkans. Slobodan Miloslevic is soon assassinated by what appears to be Croatian covert soldiers, falling in the same day as a notable Muslim Bosniak leader dies from a heart attack, presumed to be poison.
1991 - The Collapse of the Soviet Union. All the SSRs secede to become sovereign nations of their own, but remain in the supranational entity of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Eastern Germany is re-united with Western Germany with the tearing apart of the Berlin Wall. Revolutions against communist governments spreads across Europe.
1991 - No massacre reaches the televisions of Portugal from Indonesia, and the East Timor problem never receives foreign aid. Significant reports of violations of human rights do force the UN to make judgements about Indonesia. Arms continue to be sold at East Timor, and the war of resistance by Timorese rebels continues as a cruel, bloody feud.
1991 - The first web site is built and hosted at CERN
1992 - Japanese Aerospace Development Agency (JADA) space agency organized.
1992 - Democratic push establishes some kind of neutrality between the Bosniaks and the Serbs, holding them together against Croatia.
1992 - Bill Clinton is elected President of the United States.
1992 - Increased interest of the Japanese space program due to the formation of JADA leads to greater funds being allocated towards the initiative. The future of Japan looks hopeful, and the turn of the decade emphasizes a proud cultural realization. It is in these years that a boom of anime and Japanese-related items appear in the creative market of the United States. Such ideas continue to influence American arts.
1992 - Massacres, mass rioting, and rebellion begins in South Africa due to the assassination of popular African leaders and UN politicians working with the conflict. When many citizens go dead due to the use of chemical warfare, the crisis prompts the mobilization of NATO coalition forces. The United Kingdom takes an active part in the operations, along with the United States. Soldiers storm Cape Town and land in Pretoria, leading rebel forces and certain factions of the South African military against those clinging to apartheism. The US finds this as one more woe of the turn of the decade, along with the Yugoslav Wars and the Gulf War, and it strains their militaries. Unfortunately, the further use of chemical warfare lends to many casualties throughout the conflict and 'South African' illnesses to those that return as veterans to their home nations.
1993 - The California-based Iomega Corporation releases the Zip drive, which provides substantial competition with the Sony MiniDisc.
1993 - Operation Gothic Serpent over Mogadishu is successful, the US regiment captures Omar Salad and his top political advisor, Mohamed Hassan Awale quickly and promptly, helping pacify the situation in the area.
1993 - The last remnants of pro-apartheid South Africans surrender, and the nation of South Africa enters a period of political fury. Mandela was made a martyr in the first massacres, and de Kirk expresses no desire to become a candidate. A transitional government instead takes power to create a new constitution. The subject of a new name comes up to strengthen national pride and remove the traces of imperialism upon their country. A referendum has the country renamed to the Democratic Republic of Azania, thanks to major contribution from the Azanian People's Organization during the rebellion of 1992.
1993 - Eritrea gains independence from Ethiopia over a peaceful referenda
1993 - Sony and Nintendo releases the PlayStation in Japan and the United States, which becomes a huge hit in the consumer market.
1993 - Turkey and Iran see a more powerful and violent Kurd movement within their territory advocating an expansion of Kurdistan, a movement that includes acts of terrorism around the borders. This is deliberately against the measures set into place by the United States and the United Nations. With election crises prompting civil war, the Arab League pressures the United Nations to dissolve the nation into Iraq or give authority over it to other nations.
1993 - Japan manages to get US support for a re-armament program by promising to remain firm allies with the United States and act within the motivations of America.
1993 - Given the growing threat of China and North Korea, as well as the fact that Japan is the new economic and technological superpower in the region and growing still, the government increases defense spending and begins to buy weapons from abroad. The United States assists Japan on commencing a satellite-building program. With some coordination with America, Japan begins research for the later stages of their space plan.
1993 - The Global Positioning System (GPS) is declared fully operational.
1993 - Japan begins giving significant aid to the new Federation of Russia, encouraging democracy and shrugging off the past of the Soviet Era.
1994 - Transition government held by a political council unifies Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro together into the Federal Republic of Slavia. Other nations surviving the Yugoslav Wars include Albania, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia. Sovereignty is dealt out from various nations.
1994 - Sony releases the Digital Mavica, the digital camera that records on floppy disks.
1994 - Many schools in Australia, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom, begin including Japanese language in their curriculum, recognizing the ascendance of Japan into the current age.
1994 - Marcus Bird, a little-known black school teacher formerly from Cape Town, with significant political experience, who became a war hero during the 1992 Revolution, becomes the major candidate in the elections. South Africans see him as a charismatic person of the people, and very down-to-earth. Sponsorship from fellow politicians allows him to come into the spotlight. The new constitution, very democratic and well-written, comes into power and recieves wide support in a national referendum. Very learned and proactive, Marcus Bird fast becomes popular and is elected the first President of the Democratic Republic of Azania that year.
1994 - Suai Massacre shows footage taken by Dutch reporters reveal the use of chemical weapons to kill a huge number of people in the town of Suai. Some international pressure forces some backing down of Indonesian military.
1994 - Japan rearms with American, British and French weapons. This is seen somewhat threatening by Beijing, who increases their rate of modernization of their military. Looking over the Persian Gulf War, they find how efficient modern weaponry and tactics are against the aging weapons of the Cold War used by Saddam. The People's Republic of China militarizes, as incognito as Japan.
1994 - Japan continues to diversify and encourage innovation, attempting to emulate the new high-tech industries of the United States - new science parks are built and places like Tsukuba Science city are expanded. Attempts are made to encourage individual entrepreneurship within the student population. This leads to a less strict and competitive education system although education and hard work are still extolled.
1994 - Japan begin a carrier program to create a new carrier for the national forces, with US technical assistance.
1994 - Neighbor countries of Japan return with alarm at the news of Japan's militarization. North Korean dictator Kim Jung Il declares that Japan is aiming to reconquer Korea and calls for reunification (under northern ideals). He gets no reply. His words are used to emphasise the threat he is by the Japanese government and to justify the transformation of Japan's military.
1994 - The Rwandan genocide begins, in which Hutus and Tutsis begin a rebellion after the President of the country leaves his post for Morocco, never to return, without making any amends of the government. Political confusion prompted the racism issues in the country to devolve into a bloody civil war. Of all the nations in the world, only Japan recognizes Rwanda's horrible crisis and sends a huge number of soldiers without the consent of other countries to aid in bringing peace and aid. Many were still killed, though Japan helped considerably and was made to look like something of a hero by the media, and bringing scorn to other nations. The UN shortly after stabilizes the nation. More Hutus and Tutsis survive, however, and their intentions of spilling blood aren't entirely spent.
1995 - Freemail is released on the world-wide web, a huge easily-accessible webmail service.
1995 - Kurdistan question remains as a controversy. Baghdad under Hussein moves against the area in response to terrorism, and holds the territory, prompting a response from the US-headed coalition force in Operation Second Strike. Japan is a huge benefactor throughout the endeavor. The decision to oust Saddam Hussein is made and he is imprisoned to be tried for war crimes. Japan sends soldiers over to assist in the occupation of Baghdad and abound. The country is to undergo US-directed reforms and the creation of a new democratic constitution.
1995 - Digital Audio Player is released by the SaeHan Corporation of South Korea, and quickly becomes popular.
1995 - Japan begins a large aid mission in Somalia and Eastern Africa, which are enforced by UN peacekeepers and some Japanese soldiers. Warlords fire upon the humanitarian missions, causing gunfights. Japanese will be stalwart, however, and continue their missions.
1995 - In an internationally surprising announcement, Russia agrees to sell the southern part of Sakhalin to Japan for much needed financial compensation, as well as Japanese acknowledgement of Russian sovereignty over the majority of the Kuril islands. A huge strain lifts from Russo-Japanese relations.
1995 - Japan now has a fair satellite network, leading to national pride. However, the Kobe earthquake shakes the countries confidence and leads to new measures designed to prevent earthquake deaths.
1995 - A capsule is sent into orbit with a Japanese astronaut, making it the first time a Japanese man has gone up in space on a Japanese space craft - the event initiates a wave of patriotism and support for the space program and cements the belief that Japan is finally a great power again, just the thing the country needs after the major earthquake. Japan continues to prosper, though the space program is given a well-earned short term rest. This prompts other nations across the globe that Japan may stealthily take over the US + Europe, so they in turn improve their space programs and related activities.
1995 - Personal video recorders released widescale.
1995 - East Timorese resistance has fallen short, with the loss of nearly half of the region's population. Several parties sign treaties with Suharto after their leaders are captured and imprisoned for life. Portugal and the UN still argue for a state to be created, and do not acknowledge sovereignty.
1995 - The first clone is produced, a pig named Cannelle, in France. It is seconded the same year in South Korea with a cow that dies after five months.
1995 - The Fourth Enlargement of the European Union takes place, with Austria, Greenland, Finland, Sweden, Iceland and Norway all becoming member states after popular referenda. There is some debate over the admission of Iceland and Norway, whose referendum only barely succeeded, and their conflict over territorial fishing waters. The Stockholm Protection Agency is created as a result, including the states of Greenland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, which advocates a unique council to respect territorial issues of these members of the European Union.
1996 - UN-observed election in the Federal Republic of Slavia sees a new democratic constitution being ratified, the third one designed. The Freedom Democracy Party of Slavia takes control, with Vojislav Kostunica becoming the first president.
1996 - The Digital8 camcorder is released by Sony.
1996 - Lee Teng-hui becomes the first democratically elected President of the Republic of China, Taiwan.
1996 - Colin Powell is elected the President of the United States, the first African American president.
1996 - Japanese English language 24-hour satellite news station is launched for international interest in Japan. Tourism is promoted in Japan to encourage exposure to the culture and people because of their new international importance.
1996 - Sepera Genomics established by the Perkin-Elmer Corporation with Dr. Craig Venter as its first project, intending on using advanced technology to sequence genes faster and more inexpensively than the government-paid organization working on the project.
1996 - Work begins on Taipei 101, a mega-skyscraper project in Taiwan for an earthquake/typhoon-resistant ultra-modern financial center.
1997 - Japan's new, improved space center is finished at Ishikari-shicho near Sapporo.
1997 - Sony releases the CLIE personal digital assistant.
1997 - The United States joins Japan in their aid of East Africa, helping considerably with defense forces. Under the two humanitarian operations, many warlords are ousted and Somalia begins coming along.
1997 - The Second Rwandan genocide occurs, a last laugh by the Hutus. It involves the firing upon of UN soldiers and the bombing of one of their headquarters, followed by a second uprising with more weapons and fury. This causes international uproar which finds coalition forces spearheaded by many African militaries as well as modern American, Chinese, European, and Japanese soldiers. In aftermath, it was a huge unifying factor for the world, because of the number of different countries involved in working together.
1997 - A consortium between IBM, Microsoft, Intel, Ericsson, and Nokia invents wireless technology under the codename 'Ramses'.
1997 - ASIMO is developed by Honda, a bipedal robot, can walk, react to its environment, and recognize images.
1997 - Slight militarization from nations around Japan due to their increasing military spending, a wary build-up begins but is mildly diffused in the next few years. Japan points to such activities to encourage the US to give it more military freedoms.
1998 - Construction on a small Japanese space station begins, built entirely on Japanese funds. Meanwhile, a joint American-European-Japanese lunar mission proposal is accepted and work begins on the operation.
1998 - The Second Congo War begins, a bloody inter-African war that will sunder the countries for no apparent gain, based on racist hate-crimes and hardlining ultra-nationalists. The United States and Japan, becoming more involved with Africa every year, play a large part along with the rest of the UN, orchestrating aid and moving non-combatants and refugees here and there. No one faction's side is taken in the conflict.
1998 - Elections fail to diffuse tensions between Shiites and Sunnites, commencing a civil war by religious extremists and nationalists. Major controversy over US administration leads to the souring of US relations and major changes in Washington's composition. Japan remains firm ally.
1998 - Trade agreement with Brazil and Japan leads to the two becoming strong economical allies. A free trade deal looks forward to the modernization of Brazil and new food imports to Japan.
1998 - Sony releases the PlayStation 2 to an excited market.
1998 - Japan begins work on a maglev system for commuters due to an overcrowded subway and proposed efficiency against earthquakes.
1998 - The carrier project between Japan and the United States is coming along, but going slowly, and so the US sells Japan one to familiarize themselves. Japan's defense spending increase may lead it to become a major weapon's exporter in the future.
1999 - Indonesia's authoritarian leader Haji Suharto comes under intense scrutiny over controlling the media and presumed intention of creating a one-party state. Riots in Jakarta and universities across the nation spark major controversy over human rights issues. The fighting becomes very violent, lending to so many casualties that UN peacekeepers are deployed to fill in for Indonesia's 'incompetence over internal security'.
1999 - Ethiopian-Eritrean War begins over alleged firefights taking place over the border. The United States has helped Ethiopia modernize its army quite a bit since a boost in foreign relations, these two nations do not have poor militaries.
1999 - The Sony Dream Robot (SDR) project begins to develop a bipedal humanoid robot to be manufactured for the common market.
1999 - Initiated by the Ansari X prize, Japan begins testing on a small test space plane. The United States is interested and the two exchange information on building it. The Ansari X prize contestants refuse to share information and become increasingly guarded in their development processes.
1999 - Ernest Woods recieves the first self-contained, artificial heart transplant produced by Georgia-based company Hematech.
1999 - Thabo Mbeki becomes the second President of Azania, taking control of a country where rampant crime has taken the place of rebellion and a swiftly emigrating white population.
1999 - The European Union announces a unified military partnership in the development of two new aircraft carriers that will be the first military vessels belonging to the central military administration of the European Union.
1999 - Japan's military declares the design and construction of new ultra-modern FACs (Future Aircraft Carrier) mimicking that of plans of the European Union.
1999 - The Roppongi Hills property development megaproject is finished and opened to the public after seventeen years. It consists of a large number of modern new buildings and the huge giant of a skyscraper, Mori Tower, which dominates as the centerpiece.
1999 - Work begins on the World Centre for Vedic Learning in India, a proposed superstructure that contributes much to Indian national pride.
1999 - Sepera Genomics is declared victorious in mapping 99% of the Human Genome with 99.999% accuracy. However, the United States recently passes a law to allow the information to be available to all, outside of the private sector.
2000 - The Treaty of Athens is signed between the competing factions of the Iraqi Civil War, leading to the formation of the Democratic People's Republic of Kurdistan, the Islamic Republic of Shiastan and the Republic of Sunnistan. Each country is under an extensive no-fly zone and subject to UN peacekeepers.
2000 - The PlayStation Portable is released by Sony, their first entry into handheld gaming.
2000 - The Ansari X Prize is won by a three-way partnership between Canadian Arrow, Romanian-based ARCA and Scaled Composites who produce the first privately-owned space plane. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group funds the company to produce a nine-seated space plane to take tourists into space, and to work with creating a privately-owned space hotel.
2000 - Ethiopia claims victory in the war against Eritrea, and occupies the battered country. Hundreds of thousands of Eritrean refugees are deported elsewhere, to southern Sudan, Kenya, and the more peaceful to Ethiopian cities. This quickly destabilized the resistance movement in Eritrea. As Ethiopian soldiers begin long-term occupation of Eritrea, the government allows soldiers to take their families into sheltered military camps if they desire. Propaganda also spreads in the ideal of a re-united Ethiopia, the oldest surviving nation, and one whose reign is due in the world scheme. The Eritrean nationalists become weak very quickly with the use of these tactics. The Security Council has obvious problems over this.
2000 - The Sony Bell cellular walkman is released to the public, and is a huge hit.
2000 - The other Asian Tigers join Japan on the financially supporting the construction of their space station, the Kibo Space Station, which is progressing fairly well. The 'Asian Station' comes as an object of scorn among some the US, prompting a rival only-American space station.
2000 - HUBO, a functional humanoid robot developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, becomes the most capable bipedal robot in the world, with mobile fingers.
2000 - James Soong wins the Presidential elections of the Republic of China (Taiwan). His conservative party advocates an eventual re-unification with the People's Republic of China.
2000 - Taipei 101 finishes in Taiwan, at 508 meters high, becoming the world's largest building.
2000 - Suharto resigns from power and a new election takes place, voting in President Megawati Sukarnoputri as the new president takes power. She agrees to a generous East Timorese special administration region to pacify Portugal and the UN, in return for sovereignty. The deal is made, and SARET (Special Administration Region of East Timor) comes into power over the said territory. President Mega advocates the complete autonomy of the region, and aids in peacekeeping, the disbandment of paramilitaries, and makes formal apologies to the East Timorese from the government. Considerable aid is given to rebuild the country. This is a wise move that wins good foreign relations from abound, especially with the ASEAN organization which as of late had fallen on hard times with the matter of Indonesia. Sukarnoputri provides enough democracy that she is able to ride the economical wave of the year 2000 with the rest of East Asia, which benefits Indonesia in a huge way.
2000 - Construction begins on the Burunga Solar Tower in Australia, a solar chimney power station of 1000 meters height.
2000 - Al Gore is elected President of the United States, contributing to a majority Democratic Congress.
2000 - Regeneration programs commence in Japanese cities to reduce overcrowding and increase the number of "green areas". The mega-project Tokyo Sky City recieves a 'go' and many multinational firms join to begin construction on the superstructure.
2000 - In many countries anime is now an established part of youth and young adult culture. Japanese films, especially those with the popular Japanese supernatural storyline, start slowly but surely making their way into western cinemas. By now Japanese troops are in peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world.
2001 - Second Intifada uprising in the Palestinian West Bank threatens the peace of the Israeli conflict zone.
2001 - Rebel forces make a concerted push for Kinshasa, and come increasingly close to taking the city. The Congolese President is assassinated by a planted servant, but this does not stop the war, as too many nations are already involved.
2001 - Chile signs an extensive free trade arrangement with the United States, complimenting its recent economical improvements.
2001 - The United States declares the first functional space plane which begins making trips to the International Space Station. A space craze begins to grip the world. Japan hurries to finish their own space plane and their space station in retaliation. This boosts American national pride in a time when they believed to be subverted constantly by Japanese technological improvements.
2001 - Late in the year the Rayblue Disc is released, with little initial interest, but over the next two years it will quickly replace modern data storage discs.
2001 - Japan's Self-Defense forces declare that the People's Republic of China is helping them with the development of what is being called the Tomuraushi class aircraft carrier, of which Japan is building three to come out in 2007, 2009, and 2011 and the People's Republic of China, two, to come out in 2008 and 2010 respectively. This causes something of a controversy as the United States is suddenly no longer a presence in the military dealings of Japan, and the relations between the two nations dwindle slightly in the light of a slowly-growing East Asian rival bloc.
2002 - Japan declares that it is building minimum-deterrant nuclear missiles and signs various nuclear treaties. The international community has no qualms and accepts their construction. This leads to greater freedoms being taken in Iran, Pakistan, India, and Korea due to what seems a peaceful ascendance to the right of nuclear arms. North Korea becomes extremely agitated by Japan having nuclear arms and begins on a substantial project of their own.
2002 - Taiwan under James Soong shakes hands with Jiang Zemin and the People's Republic of China, agreeing to a binding non-aggression pact.
2002 - Over the matter of Ethiopian expansionism, Russia and Japan on the Security Council declare that if Eritrea was allowed to exist, future conflict would be inevitable. This causes the United Nations to state that if Ethiopia returned to humanitarian standards and hosted a referendum for annexation, it can keep its land.
2002 - Privately-owned space port built in New Mexico by Virgin Universal, the new space-front of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group.
2002 - The huge, modernized, reputable Rokkasho nuclear powerplant becomes operational in Japan.
2002 - Samsung introduces the first Liquid Crystal Display television panel.
2002 - Chile signs free trade deals with South Korea, the People's Republic of China, aiding its connections with the Asian Tigers. The new moderate-leftist government advocates a style of business used in the PRC, and the country looks to a fast relationship with them. In the same year, an association agreement is signed with the European Union, compromising of free trade and political agreements.
2002 - Japan's first space plane is completed.
2002 - The London Millenium Tower is finished, two years delayed off schedule, adding to the spirit of mega-projectst taking the world by storm.
2003 - ASEAN member nations, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Korea and Japan become the founding members of the Asian Regional Cooperation Association (ARCA). There first issue is the re-unification between Taiwan and the Mainland, but significant strides in creating cooperation amongst East Asia are made as well. The USA fears the worst, that this new ARCA is forming a bloc against them.
2003 - The Chinese Shanghai World Financial Center at 492 meters height finishes completion in Shanghai, financed by multinational firms, East Asian banks and investors from throughout the world.
2003 - The PlayStation 3 is released, beginning a new wave of next-generation video games and media.
2003 - The Second Congo War ends with an unsettling peace accord, though paramilitaries and rebels still remain in the Republic of Congo. The government was devestated during the war, and the entire country is placed under UN peacekeeper forces. 3,190,000 casualties total out at the end.
2003 - Wen Jiabao becomes the new President of the People's Republic of China.
2003 - Japan liberalizes immigration laws and encourages both immigration and higher birth rate due to fears of a declining population.
2003 - Kurdistan nationalist leader declares that Tehran, Iran has several uranium enrichment sites and has a significant nuclear program. Tehran declares that it is using such only for peaceful, nuclear energy. International confusion appears over this issue, over whether to trust Iran or not on its alleged claims that it is not using nuclear energy for weapons.
2003 - China sends a Taikonaut into space, adding to the fury of the 21st century space craze.
2003 - Plans are made for a maglev rail system between Tokyo and Kobe.
2003 - South Korean institute, KAIST, performs a kidney transplant using genetically modified pig organs, of which is successful and accepted by the human body. This causes an uproar in the world scene, demanding that the technology be released to the public for worldwide healthcare uses. This is a source of major tension in the area, fueling the fire between the Japanese and the Koreans. KAIST believes that the Japanese are just trying to steal secrets that they had not been able to develop, and against this Japanese arrogance withheld the information, causing global political debate as to the institute's truthfulness and lack of concern to the rest of the world.
2003 - China and Japan declare a partnership in building new 'pebble bed reactors' for nuclear power.
2004 - The MARO ("Mission for A Robotic friend"), the evolution of the SDR project, is released by Sony as the first commercially available bipedal humanoid robot. It is purchased widely across the world, and is an astounding device, being able to recognize faces and voices. It is also capable of running and performing simple tasks. It is, however, incredibly expensive, has a short internal battery of three hours, and is subject to data errors that keeps the customer services sector very busy. It is much more of an entertainment robot than anything else. It is nonetheless a huge stride in robotics. (OTL 2010)
2004 - After James Soong's political career is destroyed after it is discover he had a part in certain funds being missing and transferred over to staff members, James Soong loses the re-election horribly to the moderate New Party's candidate, Wang Chien-shien. This would significantly slow the quick reunification process Taiwan had recently leapt into.
2004 - The Japanese Space Station Kibo is almost ready and recieves visits from the Japanese space plane. Many preparations are underway for the joint European-Japanese-US mission to the Moon with the intention of setting up a small moon base. Japanese military now conducts frequent excercises with US, British and Australian military. Japan is now widely regarded as the second superpower.
2004 - Referendum in Eritrea over the Ethiopian reunification which succeeds by a small margin. Excessive counting period leads some to believe that it was rigged. Ethiopia declares ownership of Eritrea by the years end and begins reconstruction.
2004 - The Fifth Enlargement of the European Union sees the largest number of countries joining, including Bulgaria, Malta, Slovenia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Estonia, and Latvia.
2004 - The final compartments are sent up to the International Space Station, and it is dubbed fully operational, prompting numerous celebrations around the world.
2004 - China replaces the majority of their rice production with genetically-modified rice in its place.
2004 - Al Gore is re-elected as the President of the United States.
2004 - The 1Kpixel artificial retina, "Sybil", is released by a consortium of high-tech medical firms.
2004 - Commercial spaceflights become available through Virgin Universal, allowing high-payers to take a short ride into orbit to safely experience nearly 15 minutes of weightlessness.
2004 - The joint moon landing is successful, and work begins on a small moon base.
2004 - The Buronga Solar Tower at Buronga, New South Wales, Australia, the world's first solar chimney power station at 1000 meters high, is declared operational.
2004 - The Burj Dubai mega-skyscraper is opened to the public in the United Arab Emirates, the world's tallest building.
2005 - HYPATIA released for commercial use by Honda, another functional robotic device but with a much more useful purpose, in that it can accomplish searching-and-fetching tasks unaided in a library environment. Though expensive, they become reputable symbols of prestige in famous libraries and universities.
2005 - Kibo, the Japanese-headed space station (with aid from many countries, mostly funds from the other Asian tigers) is completed with much ceremonial flourish that boosts the pride of East Asia as the coming modern civilization.
2005 - General Motors releases a commercially available self-driving car, though does not ship it to market over safety concerns and countless modification of the technology to be accident-proof.
2005 - Somaliland, Puntland, Jubaland, the Mogadishu Free State and the New Republic of Bakool and Hiraan gain sovereignty in the Treaty of Nairobi, dividing the formerly de jure nation of Somalia into five new entities. Some warring still continues at the borders, but it is otherwise much more civilized than a decade ago.
2006 - On September 11th, a long-term Al-Qaeda terrorist plot orchestrates one of the most disasterous series of calamities in one day, that will always be remembered internationally. Large the two tallest towers of the World Trade Center in Manhatten, the U.S. Department of Defense's headquarters in the Pentagon, the United States Capitol, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and newly-built Mori Tower.
2006 - Japanese arms industry becomes major exporter.
2006 - ARCA enlargement accepting the memberships of Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Mongolia, Bhutan, Russia and finally, Japan. The union has shifted from jealously guarding their association and accepting a wider membership. A famous speech is given by Wen Jiabao about the peaceful, continual rise of Asia and how all Asian nations are instrumental in the process, including Japan.
2006 - With the success of genetically modified rice plants, many developed nations around the worlds begin replacing their agricultural crops. One place this does not take hold is South America, where the new leftist streak feels against the use genetically modified organisms.
2006 - The East African Union of Coordination is created, a regional international organization for modernization, increased trade and development, and reclaiming national infrastructure from anarchy, piracy, rebellion. Its founding member states include a wary Sudan, Ethiopia, the new former Somalian sovereign nations, Kenya and Uganda. With liberation groups of some sort in practically every nation, the EAUC becomes very busy with many tasks at hand.
2006 - Talks for accepting Croatia, Macedonia, Slavia, and Switzerland begins, with the new authority in the Federal Republic of Slavia finally advocating to join the European Union, unlike recent presidents. Switzerland's majority finally recognizes the economical benefits of joining and recent polls shows that a referendum would definitely allow the state to join the EU.
2006 - The GMC ZeroH ("Zero Hands") is released. The wave of models using this new technology leads to a hi-tech craze in the United States. Still, incidents involving wireless hacking and the high cost of the new cars keeps a substantial number of drivers on the road.
2007 - Japanese plans for orbital factories, Japanese space tourism, a fleet of space planes and even small military space ships are on the drawing board. Growing Japanese corporations aid considerably in the dream of a Japanese dominated outerspace.
2007 - Japan finishes building the first of its Tomuraushi class FACs (Future Aircraft Carriers), a vessel that becomes the newest, largest, most modern aircraft carrier in the history of man.
2008 - The World Centre for Vedic Learning, a pyramid-shaped mega-skyscraper project is finished in Jabalpur, India. It is 677 meters tall and has 30 million square feet of living space in its combined 160 floors.
2010 - Space hotel under construction by an assorted consortium headed by Virgin Universal and start-up company Schneider Aerospace and including the interests of Japanese corporations of Sony and Mitsubishi.
There is my not-so-final final draft. How do you like it bird? Lots of butterflies, very detailed... I only have to do the 9/11 events afterwards and polish it up for style and readability.
Map? Hope you like it.
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