From the Bassan English Herald

17 December 2014

Leaders from across the political spectrum, as well as business titans, congratulated the US and Cuba on mending relations after half a century of mutual hatred.

"Today, two of the world's most bitter enemies have reconciled, in a move that bodes well for longstanding conflicts around the world. The US president has announced that he will begin to restore Americans' freedom of movement and trade and will petition Congress to lift the remainder of the trade embargo against Cuba. Simultaneously, Cuban ruler Raul Castro announced the release of at least one political prisoner from his country's jails. We look forward to assisting Cuba in its evolution towards a social-democratic future," reported President Zak Michel (Democratic Worker's Party, third cousin to Pras of the Fugees, in an official translation from the Creole).

"Praise is deserved for His Holiness Pope Francis!" announced the leaders of the VDP (Vodou Democratic Party) in an unsigned statement.

The only major political organization to express concern was the Right Sector, a far-right political alliance consisting of the Alternative for Bassa, National Democratic Party, Kreyol Front, and Awakening Bloc. This array of parties together only holds five out of 320 seats in the Bassan Parliament (pictured below) but has grown fast thanks to concern about European migration and excessive Americanization.

Stock in the country's largest homebuilder, Lakay Bassa, increased over 5% during the trading day with the expectation that lucrative contracts could be awarded in the near future. The image below shows a Lakay Bassa sales center at the under-cosntruction Dajabon Golf Resort.

At the same time, concerns mounted that the country's filming industry could decline, as several historic towns have been used as stand-ins for the Havana Malecon by American and European productions.

Bassa's auto industry is also expected to perform well. Most of the country's automakers were founded by Cuban emigrants and Cuban-style "kit cars" still dominate many a Bassan street.