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The first international astronomical observatory in Antarctica is completed after the Chilean government consistently refuses to allow other nations to build observatories in the Andes.
France detonates its first anti-matter bomb on an isolated Pacific atoll.
The first organ transplants using animal organs in humans are performed in the USSR.
The USA launches its first permanently manned space station, Skylab 1, into low Earth orbit. Like Starholme 1 it is a research station, but unlike Starholme 1 it never expands much beyond its original size, although it is still manned today.
Albert Einstein moves from America to Minerva where he begins to collaborate closely with the Amazon on a Unified Field Theory.
A Minervan Seeker probe reaches Saturn.
The US government, worried by Minerva's pre-eminence in space, sends the CIA to destroy Starholme 1. A CIA plant sabotages the stations life support systems so that oxygen is slowly drained from the air, hoping to asphyxiate the crew. When the crew fall unconscious and contact is lost with the station a Minervan shuttle is launched to attempt a rescue, but 'technical difficulties', again caused by the CIA mean that the launch has to be aborted and the shuttle ditches in the Atlantic. The ex-member of the Royal Elite Guard, Angel of Mercy, who has been observing the burgeoning activity in space with interest, picks up news broadcasts about the space station and flies in to investigate. Entering the space station she finds the CIA plant, who is the only person still conscious due to her wearing a space suit, and forces her to repair the life support system before re-establishing contact with the Earth. The Minervan authorities are shocked by what has happened, and extremely grateful for Solar Angels intervention, inviting her down to Earth so their gratitude can be expressed more fully. Leaving the CIA plant in the hands of the crew to be picked up by a shuttle later, Solar Angel lands in Minerva, where she receives huge public acclaim and is made an honorary citizen of Minerva, at the same time publicly changing her nom de guerre from Angel of Mercy to Solar Angel. She stays in Minerva for several months, catching up on the details of what has happened on Earth since she left, and then leaves for space again.
Following this incident security at all Minervan facilities is greatly upgraded to prevent any similar occurrence. Relations between Minerva and the USA practically cease for nearly a decade.
King George VI dies and is replaced on the throne by Queen Elizabeth II.
Japan regains its independence as occupying forces leave the country.
Albert Zerstoiten reappears under the name Dr Destroyer as a supplier of weaponry to terrorist and revolutionary groups throughout Central and South America.
In Japan Arakida Hisato, who becomes the superhuman Dr Hiroshima, publically manifests superhuman abilities. His vast powers of reality manipulation and his hugely impressive appearance cause him to be declared a god by some people. All he really wants to do is live his own life and carry on his research (he is a genuine Doctor of science), but public pressure forces him out of the lab. Over the next twenty years he uses his powers to fight injustice and social deprivation all over the Far East, which often brings him into conflict with various criminal groups (some of them superhuman) and national governments.
The USSR launches its first reusable space shuttle.
A serious diplomatic incident between Britain and the Chilean Empire is only narrowly averted after a Chilean soldier fires on a party of British scientists when they try to land at the Esperanza settlement in Antarctica. Fortunately no-one is hurt in the incident, though the soldier is later executed by the Chileans.
Winston Churchill is knighted for his services to Britain.
A combination of tide and weather causes widespread flooding in the Low Countries and the East of England. After this incident construction of new sea defences begins along the coasts involved.
The Treaty of Rome establishes the European Economic Community (EEC) between France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, Italy and the new West Germany, with the support, but not membership, of Minerva. At the same time the European Space Agency (ESA) is formed to further the member nations scientific and commercial space interests.
Stalin dies and Kruschev comes to power in the Soviet Union.
Minervas first self-contained orbital factory is launched from Starholme 1 and begins operation, exporting commercial goods which can only produced in zero-G down to Earth.
The last section of Minervas magnetic levitation underground is completed on schedule.
After Viet Minh forces defeat the French at Dien Bien Phu Vietnam gains its independence, with the country split into the Communist north and non-Communist south along the 17th parallel.
The last member of Les Liberatrices, Lament, dies of old age.
Minervan scientists launch the first orbital telescope, built at Starholme 1. It is a great success, and despite other larger and more advanced instruments being launched later, it is still in use today.
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) is formed at a meeting in Manilla.
The first commercial 'cold' fusion reactor comes on line in Minerva. This safer design of reactor soon begins to replace hot fusion power plants around the world.
Joshua Ogalu, the man who later becomes Dr Biafra, arrives at Cambridge University from Nigeria to begin his academic career. He soon becomes involved with Marxism there.
Dr Destroyer is approached by El Libertador, and shortly afterwards leaves for the Chilean Empire, where he continues his work for the Chilean Empire.
The Church of Dr Hiroshima is founded is Japan by Sotomura Kenichi, one of many people Dr Hiroshima saves from an earthquake-induced building collapse. Its followers believe that Dr Hiroshima is the second coming, but that the bible is wrong - the second coming is not Christ but God Himself, come to lead those who believe in him to salvation.
China detonates its first anti-matter bomb.
After more than twenty years of work, Albert Einstein and the Amazon jointly publish their unified field theory to the stunned applause of the world scientific community.
South Africa gains its independence from Britain after several years of protests and terrorist action, and becomes known as Azania. The first elections after independence bring the Zulus to power, who immediately clamp down on all opposition, including the whites, many of whom leave as violence between various tribal groups escalates. After months of conflict the Zulu Party re-establishes control, but the country has become a dictatorship, as it remains up to this day. However, unlike many African nations it is a rich dictatorship due to South Africas vast mineral wealth.
The first female President of the United States, Margaret Thompson, is elected.
Israel, aided by France and Britain, attacks Egypt to gain control of the Suez Canal. Unexpectedly Egypt nationalises the Canal and expels the British and French from control of it. After a cease-fire breaks down Israel pushes forward and takes the West Bank of the Canal, but America steps in and stops the war before they gain control of the Canal itself. Israel retreats in return for free passage through the Strait of Tiran.
Soviet troops enter Hungary after anti-communist demonstrations there.
Minervan scientists establish a manned radio observatory on the Far Side of the Moon.
The USSR lands a manned expedition commanded by Major Valentina Tereshkova on Mars, and claims it for worldwide Communism. After a massive outcry around the world the USSR 'donates' Mars to the United Nations 'for the good of all mankind'.
A Minervan Seeker probe reaches Uranus.
Superhumans begin to appear again all over the world. This time most of them keep away from any government involvement, whether criminals or heros, preferring to operate as individuals or in independent groups.
In India, as in the 19th Century, most of the superhumans who appear are taken as gods or representatives of gods. When approached by the Indian government most of these superhumans refuse to join it, and after several incidents in which widespread damage is caused when attempts are made to force compliance, in general superhumans are left alone if they refuse the governments offer. Several superhumans also appear working with some of the different Indian separatist groups in the Tamil, Kashmir and Punjab areas.
The Minervan Lunar Radio Observatory is joined by a variety of other instruments operated by other nations, primarily those involved with the ESA.
A few experimental anti-matter power plants are opened in different places around the world, but despite their huge power generation potential their inherent lack of safety, highlighted by the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, means they are not adopted on a large scale, cold fusion generally being used instead.
The Church of Dr Hiroshima spreads slowly across the Far East, much to his disgust, and despite all of his and the established churches attempts to stop it. Its followers become known as Hiroshimites. The Church interprets the attacks on it by Dr Hiroshima as a means of making sure that only the truly faithful persevere in his worship.
The superhuman known as the Affrighter reappears, working with DEMON on an occasional basis. He is also seen to work with other magic-based villains such as Dark Seraph from time to time.
Carmen Velasquez (Blackheart) becomes the head of the Minervan Intelligence Service.
A Communist-led insurrection starts in South Vietnam.
The UN adopts a convention supplementing the 1926 League of Nations International Slavery Convention to outlaw slavery and similar practices such as forced labour. It includes clauses condemning governments which coerce superhumans into their service by any means.
Albert Einstein dies peacefully in his sleep, Minervas advanced medical science extending his lifespan over that in the real world.
A localised earthquake is recorded near Waterford in Southern Ireland. Its origin is never determined.
The Peoples Republic of China attacks Taiwan in an attempt to take it over. The superhuman Gemingde Xiwang (The Hope of the Revolution) is seen for the first time fighting with the mainland Chinese. The communists attacks initially achieve great success, but slow and finally halt when the USSR and USA apply heavy diplomatic pressure to the Chinese government.
The superhuman Bora appears for the first time, working for a left-wing Italian terrorist group. Over the next twenty-five years she works for a variety of criminal enterprises around the world.
US troops enter Lebanon to prevent the overthrow of a government friendly to the USA.
After widespread reforms of the SAU's somewhat corrupt bureaucracy widespread anti-government feeling grows across the country.
Several nations independently develop a test which allows the determination of individuals possessing genes for superhuman abilities. It is found that all the genes for superhuman powers are concentrated in a single pair of chromosomes, the 'extra' chromosomes (as compared to gorillas and chimpanzees). The only place this test comes into widespread use is to prevent superhumans entering sporting competitions as its expense, the impracticality of applying it to large populations and objections from the public prevent its large-scale application.
Major Yuri Gagarin becomes commander of the Soviet Union's first permanently manned space habitat, known as Snezhynka (Snowflake) due to its shape, formed from a collection of reused shuttle fuel tanks.
The UN introduces a convention outlawing discrimination in employment or occupation due to race or religion.
The rich American businessman Clive Danbury breaks the bank at Monte Carlo in an unprecedented display of luck. Despite suspicions of his cheating no evidence for his doing so is ever found and he walks away with millions of dollars.
The Rock-and-Roll band The Champions headed by lead singer and songwriter Eleanor McLoughlin starts playing in the US. Over the years they achieve a moderate but dedicated following.
Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba.
Japan begins construction of a magnetic levitation rapid transport system under Tokyo.
The first baby is born in orbit aboard Starholme 1.
The 100th birthday of the Amazon is met with celebrations across Minerva.
After a series of carefully manipulated events designed to cause further anti-government feeling many of the anti-government groups in the SAU, covertly led and supplied by the Chilean Empire, rise up and attempt to overthrow the elected government. However their support turns out not to be nearly as widespread as they had thought and their revolt collapses within a week, although fighting continues for nearly a month in some areas of the country. When the Chilean connection is discovered a massive upwelling of public feeling against the Chileans almost causes the SAU to go to war before the UN convinces the SAU's government that it would be better to let the UN apply sanctions to the Chilean Empire in the hope of changing its ways. The sanctions have little effect and are still in force to this day.
Nigeria gains its independence from Britain.
Hawaii becomes the 50th state of the USA.
Minerva Montpelier, the clone-daughter of the Amazon is born in Minerva.
DEMON resurfaces as a world conquering organisation combining magic and high technology in their operations.
The businessman Clive Danbury is elected senator for Rhode Island, his home state.
The magician Dr Wraithe appears for the first time when he foils a DEMON operation taking place in Louisiana.
Cuba achieves full diplomatic relations with the USSR.
The UN introduces a convention outlawing discrimination in education due to race or religion.
Israeli Mossad agents kidnap the Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann from the Chilean Empire.
Joshua Ogalu gains his Doctorate at Cambridge.
The newly independent state of Congo becomes Africas first Marxist state.
Twelve thousand people are killed by an earthquake at Agadir, Morocco.
Vietnamese insurrectionist groups form the National Liberation Front under communist control.
In Chile Dr Destroyer builds his first suit of power armour to contain his aging body. Shortly after this the largest of a series of personality clashes with El Libertador causes him to leave the Chilean Empire and set up a hidden base in the Columbian jungle. He is followed by the man who later becomes Professor Meurte, Hernan Cortez, whom he has befriended.