Gholgoth Regional News Association

[Tosmaldevo]

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[Milograd]

Milogradian Governor and Family Lost at Sea - Feared Dead
^{By Teora Munta (@teoramunta)
Aug. 9, 2011}

Governor Hakor's Yacht.

Argyz, Milograd - The Argyzian Authority released a statement earlier today concerning the status of Governor Hakor and his family, all of whom were vacationing in the Vorgothic Seas of Gholgoth Minor for what was supposed to be a one week break. As it is now known, Governor Hakor's yacht exploded at approximately 5:00pm yesterday, although the cause of the explosion is still unknown.

The Dh'arco Rahavuhra was not available for comment, although sources inside the government have suggested that Derlana Colnes will be appointed governor of the Milogradian territory, if in fact Hakor has perished. Hakor's yacht was slightly off the Bursalvorian maritime border at the time of the explosion, and such has raised questions about foul play. The Milogradian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has contacted the Sultanate, and has requested that the Bursalvorian Government assist in the search for Hakor and his family, as confirmed by Insixkurkia Naius. Naius refused to comment on the possibility of foul play.

The Imperial Milogradian Navy has begun the search for the Governor Hakor, his family, and remains of the Governor's Yacht. More on this story will be included as it unfolds.

• Council of Gothic Lords Assembled in Ule [ 329 ]
• Cleanup Efforts in Yutzkil Begin: A City Reborn [ 44 ]

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© Argyz Media Conglomerate

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Riots Rock Milograd as ALC Releases More Documents
^{by Teora Munta (@teoramunta)
Sep. 15, 2011 || 11:04 PM MGT}

The southern side of Argyz.

Argyz, Milograd - In a day that has been most eventful for the Empire of Milograd, the capital city of Argyz's government district has been in a state of havoc for the last twenty four hours as protestors and rioters continue to force the Resource Initiative Police to work overtime. Smoke continues to float over the streets of Argyz and fires continue to bring hell to architecture and scenery in the area. These riots and protests have begun in light of the recent releases by the Alikarhian Liberation Coalition ( ALC ).

At 3:30pm on Tuesday afternoon, the Alikarhian Liberation Coalition released several documents that claimed to "shed light on the wrongdoings of the Dh'arco Rahavuhra's administration in cooperation with the Resource Initiative." The Alikarhian Liberation Coalition is a extremist anarchist organization founded in 2005 by the remaining members of the Tadami Clan ( with Commander Ahrao Tadami serving as an exception to this ); and in the last six years the ALC has been responsible for multiple terrorist attacks in the Milogradian territories of both Gholgoth and Varathron. The organization itself is currently lead by exiled former Dh'arco Rahavuhra Seiji Tadami, who's whereabouts within Milograd are unknown at this time ( if it is indeed true that he is still in Milograd ).

The documents spread across the internet at incredible speeds and became the buzz of social networking sites within mere hours after their release. Various movements were then established on large online communities such as talkhub, which have since been shut down by the Argyzian Authority on the grounds that said "pages" were advocating and encouraging Milogradian youth to participate in acts of terrorism. While the Argyzian Authority has done what they can to eliminate traces of the contents of the ALC's reports on the internet*, naturally such has proven to be quite a difficult endeavor. When asked why this content was being supressed, the Argyzian Authority claimed that said content had been removed in hopes of "eliminating the source of the fire before it can spread any further."

Riots and protesters began to assemble in some of Milograd's cities at approximately 4:00pm this afternoon, and it is believed that over 20,000 protesters are present in the streets of Argyz as of 10:00pm. It is also worth noting that hundreds of thousands of Milogradians have begun condemning the riots through the means that are available to them.

An estimated fifty six people have died in the riots at this time, with over one hundred people being injured.

More on this story will be included as it unfolds. Thank you for choosing Argyz Media; we suggest that you stay safe and remain indoors.

* Technically the content of these reports are being supressed within the Empire; and are available in any nation outside of Milograd.

• Seiji Tadami and Dh'arco Jukill: A History [ 4,451 ]
• Bephelgoria begins expansion in Varathron, Milograd responds [ 1,049 ]

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[Tosmaldevo]

News Bulletin
• Gholgoth launches offensive in Varathron against Belphegoria
• 5 MPAs imprisoned over Catulus-Merenda affair
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.
Wednesday 2 November 2011
.
COMMENT (34 comments)

KEY POINTS
• Tosmaldevo has bought
a 25% stake in the AOC,
an important Milogradian
oil company.
• The AOC is
discussing a mission with
Tosminco into inner
Tosmaldevo to search
for oil deposits
estimated to be worth
13 billion barrels.
• Pontiff Cilo has stressed
the need for nova urbiem
protection.

.
Government Buys 25% stake
in the Atraezan Oil Corporation

The Ministry of Trade has confirmed reports that the Tosvanne state has purchased a 25% stake in the principal Milogradian oil company, the Atraezan Oil Corporation (AOC). AOC, now with 45% of its shares owned by Tosmaldevo and the Lyran Protectorate (20%), has begun expanding operations to Tosmaldevo in recent months, with Prefect Aemilianius confirming the possibility of negotiations regarding a joint Tosminco-AOC exploratory effort in the Tosvanne interior, in search of massive crude oil reserves estimated by the Saxifrage Geological Journal to be 'physically worth 13 billion barrels'.

The AOC, formed from a merger of three of Milograd's largest oil companies, is an environmentally conscious corporation operating throughout Gholgoth, Varathron, Judea, Minyang and other regions in the world, has had interests in Tosmaldevo for a substantial period following the rapid jolt in trade between Milograd and the Prefecture since mid-2007, with total trade value being estimated by the Ministry of External Relations (MER) to be worth $300 billion USD from a 2000 rate of $65bn USD. This increase has been primarily caused by increased export from Tosmaldevo of minerals and investment in the booming Tosvanne manufacturing industry by Milograd, spurred by the Arvello Paper that ordered the deregulation of the Tosvanne economy in February 2005.

Interior Tosmaldevo, consisting mostly of densely-forested coniferous woodland, has been marked by numerous geological surveys as possessing several gigantic oil reserves with a rough estimation of 95bn barrels being provided by the Saxifrage Geological Journal; however, External Minister Tiberia Paetus has claimed them to be worth 'over 100 billion barrels'.

Paetus said, "The latest figures from the Antermae School of Economics that we are privy to suggest over one hundred billion barrels of oil in the Tosvanne interior. This is by far the largest untapped oil deposits ever recorded in Gholgoth, with oil money easily able to make hundreds of billions."

Paetus, one of the most outspoken supporters for oil exploration, has faced determined opposition from civium of nova urbiem. Nova urbiem, or new cities, are agricultural or mining towns established and funded by the state to increase production of high-value agricultural crops, such as meat, fruits and vegetables, or to increase mineral production to support the struggling mining sector currently led by the military-owned Tosvanne Mining Corporation (Tosminco). Nova urbiem, generally established in deforested regions of former woodland, regularly are situated upon or near proven oil reserves, sparking fears that the discovery of much larger reserves could impact the future of their settlements.

Nova urbiem is largely supported in Tosmaldevo, with many Tosvannes have some familial connections to them and with the general perception agricultural and mining output have significantly increased thanks to dedicated farming or mining communities subsidised by the state. However, the cost of governmental grants to nova urbiem is an undisclosed but gargantuan sum in the $100bn USD range, according to investigative magazine Eye on Whitewash, sparking calls in the Senate for the scaling-down of nova urbiem expansion or the complete scrapping of the programme in favour of oil investment. The Pontiff of the Vencailene Church, Marcus Cilo, has vigorously defended the settlements, with many of the settlements avowedly Vencailene and half the Pontiffs upon the Ecclesiastical College being registered citizens of nova urbiem, alongside the Church's economic interests in agriculture.

Cilo said, "If the state was to abandon these people in favour of oil, we would find the immediate collapse of agriculture and mining in Tosmaldevo, directly leading to a depression, and many a devout Vencailene would find themselves without a home, without a job and with hope. Is this the government we wish to govern a Vencailene state?"

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.
Tuesday 29 November 2011
.
COMMENT (438 comments)

KEY POINTS
• The Tosvanne
government
passed a bill today
giving it greater authority
over Tosvanne Catholicism
• The bill
was prompted by the
Catholic
Church's refusal to
obey taxes on
non-Vencailene places
of worship
• Catholics have
organised massive
protests but no violent
action.

.
Parliament passes act
attacking the Catholic Church
Original

The Prefectural Assembly today passed a National Liberal-led bill that dramatically increases state control over the national Catholic church. In retaliation for the Church's refusal to obey previous legislation authorising taxes on non-Vencailene places of worship at a rate of 10% of income, National Liberal leader Publius Varro introduced the proposal to 'exercise state authority over non-Vencailene bodies'. Officially entitled the Assertion of State Policy Coordination with the Catholic Church, it was dubbed the Assertion Laws by lawmakers, and passed with a slim majority of 54% - 108 seats to 96 - amid strong Catholic-based Moderate and trade union-supported Socialist opposition.

The Laws force Catholic parishes to work under state supervision, with priests forced to attend state-controlled Catholic collegiates and initially attain a secular degree. Approvals for priesthood would be conducted by the Vencailene bureaucracy, sparking fears that the Vencailene Orthodox Church would use its new authority over Tosvanne Catholicism to undermine the rival church within Tosmaldevo. Churches would be required to pay a 10% tax, with priests subject to 45% income tax and a 0.7% increase in interest upon credit card purchases, this increase being paid directly to the state.

It is estimated that, with 80,000 Catholic churches and 90,000 priests, the state is set to profit on up to $1.2bn USD from the Assertion Laws, with the average church being taxed $1250 or 10% of its income annually excluding hidden taxes. Prefect Aemilianius has refused to comment on the Laws, though already major budgetary fighting has begun over the 1.2 billion; the Secretariat of Education seems most likely to receive it, according to sources.

The Centre and Socialist Parties condemned the Laws, the former saying in a statement that it was 'discriminatory and persecutive [sic] in nature'. The Centre Party holds its support base in Catholics, and is openly expecting to be targeted by the government soon. The Socialists, however, have primary sponsorship from two Catholic trade unions, the Union of Catholic Public Sector Workers (UCPS) and the Association for Young Catholic Farmers (AYCF), who have pressured the party into condemning the Laws at significant political expense among an increasingly anti-religious base.

The head of the Tosvanne Catholic Church, the Archbishop of Saxifrage, Aulus Helva, has condemned the Assertion Laws, saying at a press conference, "What we see here, coming from the Assembly, is the first clear attack upon religious liberty and Catholicism within Tosmaldevo. I only see one option here for our community; fight or flight."

His threats of revolt against the state prompted the Saxifrage Constabulary to publish an open letter, replying that Helva is subject to the 'possibility of arrest' at any moment until the New Year. Unconfirmed reports of Catholic insurrection in Tergeste were denied by local authorities, with Governor Vibius Licinus saying, "There has been no Catholic revolution in Tergeste, this is what all our sources tell us."

While no violence has been confirmed, Catholic lobbying groups, accompanied by the Socialist and Centre Parties, have organised massive protests. Catholic trade unions intend to coordinate nationwide one-day strike action on the 10th December, though several police forces have threatened to disperse all protests - prompting further threats of action by liberal groups, such as the online-based Liberty Tosmaldevo

[Kylarnatia]

Anglo-Kylarnatia changes to new currency
^{By Josie Whitehall (#josiewhitehall)
Oct. 23rd, 2011}

Krisdall Government Building

Krisdall, Anglo-Kylarnatia - The Kylarnatian Dollar has always been the main currency of the Imperium Antiquum since 1901 after the collapse of the Soverign in the years before. It had always been the aim of the Imperium to keep this tie strong, trying to keep out of any single currencys that the regions the Imperium stretched over may create. Though that is now over, as today the Imperium Colony of Anglo-Kylarnatia has changed to the Afric, becoming a part of the new Afric-Zone being set up in the United Africa region that the colony is situated in.

The Imperium Regent, Dr. Francois Andrews, put the proposal forward to the Caesar earlier this month and with what has been reported as a small margin victory, the Imperial Court has passed the proposal, saying that the Imperium Colonies all had the right to govern themselves in modern times, as long as they respected the overruling right of the Caesar. Francois Andrews met with me today outside the Krisdall Government Building (pictured) in the capital of the colony, Krisdall. He was overjoyed by the decision, stating that, "...it would improve the quality of the colonies of the Imperium, and promote greater independence throughout the empire." Though not many of the citizens of Anglo-Kylarnatia seem pleased by the decision.

Some say it makes them feel "...seperated from the Imperium.", whereas others just say that it's "...a pathway to economical decline in the colony." Though the politicians of the Krisdall Building say otherwise. Whatever the people may feel, the proposal has been passed and is in effect as of tommorow, though their Kylarnatian Dollars will still be maintained at the value they were till all their money is converted to the Afric, the currency of the new single currency zone, set up by the United Tribes of Ibeiria some months ago. Currently, 10 nations of the 122 nations apart of United Africa have joined the new Afric-Zone.

Anglo-Kylarnatia is apart of P.A.P.I Group, the four strongest economies in the region (Paradice, Anglo-Kylarnatia, Popaholick, Ibeiria).

• Talks in Sondria Underway [ 187 ]
• Tensions in Varathron Rise [ 398 ]

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[Drakonian Imperium]

EHO warns of exacerbating Humanitarian Crisis in Ralkovia
July 22, 2010

Article Features

• EHO releases report on humanitarian situation in Ralkovia.
• 1 in 3 Ralkovians malnourished and without proper healthcare.
• Ralkovian rural population relies on Aid Agencies for food and healthcare.
• Road Infrastructure mostly nonexistent in rural areas.
• Blockade likely to delay aid shipments.
• Drakonian government criticized by EHO for blockade.

PORT IMPERIAL, Mille Mortifere (ENN) - The Emirate Humanitarian Organization (EHO) has warned that the humanitarian situation in the rural Ralkovia could be exacerbated by the embargo.

The EHO released a report, Starvation in rural Ralkovia, early this Wednesday detailing the humanitarian crisis faced by residents in the Ralkovian countryside, including widespread starvation and a serious lack of healthcare services. The report further went on to conclude that the Gholgothic Coalition blockade, organized by the Drakonian Imperium, could delay vital food and aid shipments.

"The unintended consequences could be disastrous," the report said, going on to further explain that Ralkovia will likely meticulously search every ship that has passed through the blockade to prevent terrorism and espionage. This means that ships bringing food and aid into Ralkovia could be critically delayed. In particular, the report worries that food could spoil before reaching it destination.

The study found that roughly 30% of the population, or one in every three, are malnourished. That amounts to over a billion starving Ralkovians. This malnutrition is largely limited to the rural population and rare among those living in Ralkovia's cities. Due to a lack of government welfare, these people living in rural areas are dependent upon aid groups to provide food and healthcare.

To make matters worse, much of the rural countryside lacks major transportation infrastructure common to most nations. Highways, even major roads, simply do not exist. In place of that infrastructure are dirt tracks and roads. Rail lines do exist, but are primarily only used for military purposes, the average citizen does not have access.

This makes it difficult for aid workers to provide aid, and the only healthcare programs are depend on aid programs to bring the rural population to the city hospitals for healthcare, a lack in roads can result in needless suffering and loss of life.

"As much as we understand and appreciate what the Drakonian government is trying to accomplish," an EHO spokesman told ENN. "We don't believe that a military solution is the best way to bring an end to slavery in Ralkovia. The best way to solve the problem is through diplomacy and economic aid. We should be building infrastructure in Ralkovia, making peoples lives better, instead of preparing to tear them down."

The Emirate Humanitarian Organization is a non-governmental organization, originally founded as part of the United Emirates, an intergovernmental organization, of which the Drakonian Imperium, Tersanctus, and Menelmacar are prominent members. Among the EHO's responsibilities are humanitarian and disaster relief, international development, and international public health.

The organization also works to advance other humanitarian goals including the protection of Sentient Rights, the promotion independent and unbiased media and freedom of the press, the promotion and cooperation in science and education (including literacy), the study and preservation of international and national history and culture (in particular support for archaeological and anthropological studies, and the preservation and maintenance of historical and cultural sites).

A special relationship is enjoyed between the EHO and the Drakonian government. In early 2004, a deal was signed in which the EHO agreed to take responsibility for all Drakonian humanitarian and disaster relief, as well all international development, in exchange for funding from the Imperial Treasury. The agreement insures the continued existence of the EHO and preservation and promotion of Drakonian interests and projects in humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

The EHO report on Ralkovia was completed as part of an EHO program to study the needs for humanitarian assistance and aid in Gholgoth so as to expand humanitarian projects in the Gholgothic Continents. The research was conducted by interviewing over a hundred Ralkovians, who left the country between 2005 to early 2010. Aid workers and health professional that work in Ralkovia, and those country sending aid to Ralkovia, were also consulted.

[Kylarnatia]

Over 47,000 Infected by Sondrian Virus
^{By Josie Whitehall (#josiewhitehall)
19th December 2011}

Tiamian Police mask themselves

The Citadel, Tiami - It's uncomfortably quiet in the Citadel tonight, as the Crown Dependency pays it's respects to those who've fallen victim to a regional wide virus which has spread in less then a few hours. People are frightened as they're ordered by the government to wear masks and report for testing to see if they're carriers. Nobody can be certain, as it's believed it takes up to two days for actual symptoms to begin arising, if the virus itself hasn't killed them already.

I too, have to wear a mask at this very moment. Some areas of the Crown Dependency's capital have become quarantine zones after the official figure of infected individuals has risen to 47,000. This also includes other parts of the country which have also reported infected. As a result of this outbreak and the fast number of lives that have been taken, small protests are now starting to emerge accusing the government of 'underfunding' the healthcare system and 'not doing its best to protect the lives of citizens'. Therefore, the Tiamian Police Force have been deployed in the capital tonight, to make sure violence is kept to a minimal.

When I spoke to a police officer earlier this evening, he told me that "...everything is under control." And that "...Tiamian citizens should not fear any mass outbreaks of violence in the days to come." However, some are sceptical of what will indeed happen in the next few days. It is also rumoured that pro-Tiami demonstrators shall also try and cause disturbances in an effort to downsize the Imperium Antiquums rule over the Crown Dependency.

Meanwhile, no official statement as of yet has come from the Crown Regent, Marisike Yamaku or the Tiamian Government itself, apart from the orders given to the populace. No statement has been released by the Fangthane Palace either, though it is believed that the Caesar shall impose emergency powers over the Crown Dependency in days to come.

Many other Sondrian nations are affected by the virus, including Aquilinia, Crontor, and the Mighty Islands. The Provinces have not reported any infected individuals as of yet, and to make sure that nobody is infected the borders have been closed off and are currently being patrolled by military personnel. The Mighty Islands has called a conference in the Sondrian Regional Council Chambers which preside in a small batch of islands owned by all members of the Sondrian Regional Council, to discuss the matter. It's not known what matter of Kylarnatian Delegation shall attend, if not at all.

• Talks with Bristain and Ireland to begin soon [ 138 ]
• Tensions in Judea continue to grow [ 3,211 ]

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[Drakonian Imperium]

Drakonian Captain cleared, amid continued Blockade turmoil
November 29, 2010

Article Features

• Imperial Navy Captain cleared of all charges related to freighter's destruction.
• Support for Anti-Slave Blockade in Gholgoth continues to wane.
• Drakonian Praetor sharply criticized for risking war with Ralkovia.
• Tension over Slavery Issue in Gholgoth remain.

ALEXANDRIA, Drakonia (ENN) - A Court Martial has cleared an Imperial Navy Captain of all responsibility for the destruction of a Ralkovian freighter.

The presiding Imperial Authorities stated that the Captain acted "properly and legally" when he ordered his ship to fire upon the freighter as it attempted to flee the recent Gholgothic blockade of Ralkovia.

The Ralkovian-registered freighter, Jewish Hope, had repulsed repeated attempts to board and inspect the ship, believed to be smuggling slaves, when the Imperial Navy warship fired upon it in order to subdue resistance. The freighter was subsequently destroyed in an explosion.

Over a hundred people, both crew and passengers are believed to have been killed in the blast. 67 bodies were recovered by Drakonian ships and returned to Ralkovia. No survivors were found.

The cause of the blast has not been determined. However, expert testimony during the trial suggested that the ship was likely rigged to explode in order to prevent the slaves being found and seized by Gholgothic authorities.


Continued Tensions over Slavery Issue in Gholgoth

Despite the blockade's failure to curtail slavery within Ralkovia and Gholgoth, it has continued to fuel furor and tension between Pro-Slavery and Anti-Slavery States in the region.

Last Tuesday, the senior Imperial Navy Commander in charge of the Drakonian Fleet Operations in Gholgoth, Admiral Patrick Halvorsen, stated that the Imperial Drakonian Navy and its counterpart the Territorial Navy of Mille Mortifere would continue to intercept and inspect any suspected slave trafficking ships they come across, despite the dissolution of the Coalition Command. While the commander in charge of all Gholgothic Blockade Forces, Marshal Kaeso Falco, condemned the lacked of "political will in Drakonia to fight slavery in the world, much less Gholgoth."

Those statements come amidst continued criticism, both within the Imperium and from Gholgoth, against the Drakonian government for provoking a regional ally and risking a major war in central Gholgoth. Several Drakonian politicians have spoken out against the Praetor suggesting that his government has intentionally sought to sow discord among the regional alliance and to start a large-scale war.

The blockade against Ralkovia was initiated by the Imperium with support from several Gholgothic States in order to curtail the practice of Human and Sentient trafficking and slavery within the region of Gholgoth. The practice has come under increasing international scrutiny of late, and it is widely known that several Gholgothic States condone or support such actions, including most notably Ralkovia and the Scandinvans.

As well as supporting the practice of slavery and violating individual rights, Drakonia charged the Ralkovian Government with engaging in repeated conflicts to support and legitimize itself, and sabotaging the international peace.

The blockade however, failed to achieve its goals after a Ralkovian fleet was allowed to escape to Schultaria after the destruction of one of its freighters, the Jewish Hope. The mysterious circumstances of the Jewish Hope's destruction prompted widespread criticism and caused the Imperial Government to reassess its efforts and ultimately to dissolve Coalition Command so as to prevent further loss of civilian life.

Andrew Titius, the Drakonian Ambassador to Gholgoth, has intimated that the Imperium's actions may have not irreparable damage to relations with some governments in Gholgoth. He added that he does not see Ralkovia and Drakonia ever again having an amicable relationship.

One remaining issue is the expatriate community hosted in the Drakonian Colony of Mille Mortifere, which consists largely of political refugees from Ralkovian. During the crisis, the Imperial Army went as far as arming and training a number of volunteer regiments, collectively referred to as the Free Ralkovian Army. Those units have continued their training, and a recent Imperial Army statement referred to them as "vital to the defense of Mille Mortifere." It seems unlikely they will be disarmed or disbanded.

As such, tensions between Ralkovia and Drakonia will likely remain high for the foreseeable future.


Imperial Navy Captain to return to Duty

Meanwhile in Drakonia, the Captain cleared during the Court Martial, Ambrose Ransom, is set to return to full duty. Captain Ransom is a veteran of the Imperial Navy and served in the Drakonian intervention in East Turkestan, and the naval action with the Ardan Naval Forces during Fyreheart Civil War. He is expected to return to his ship, the refitted Pre-War Cruiser, IDS Venerable, in the Millian Sea. The Venerable is due to begin a cruise of Varathron and the South Gholgothic Sea in mid-October of next year.

[New Azura]

• Southeastern Gothic Empire Takes Shape [ 5,234 ]
• Azuran Troops Despatched to Varathron [ 1,458 ]

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© Azuran News Corps 2011-2012

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A New Southern Gothic Hegemony?
How will the new coalition between the Scandinvan Empire and Variazura alter Gothic Politics?

ANC—Capodimonte, Azura.+

Gothic political leaders took notice Thursday as a new sovereign hegemony was christened, irreparably changing the balance of power in Southeast Gholgoth for the foreseeable future. The Glorious Empire of the Scandinvans has agreed in principle to treaty terms proposed by the Coalition Government of Variazura, creating a vast territorial Empire in Central and Southeastern Gholgoth—tentatively the Great Gothic Empire of the Scandinvans and Variazura. People flocked to the Holy See in Montreat, the official residence of the High Priest of the Rithosian Orthodoxy following the announcement to take part in the historic moment. The announcement comes just days after the official reconciliation of the Rithosian Orthodox Church to its parent organization in the Scandinvan Empire, the Scandinvan Catholic Church, creating a religious hegemony in Southeast Gholgoth for the first time since the 9th Century C.E.

Crowds gathered outside the Holy See on Thursday
to celebrate the announcement of the preliminary
political union between the Scandinvan Empire and
Variazura.

The tentative agreement in place would create a hegemony union of similar stature to another Rithosian-inspired amalgamation south of Gholgoth: the Greater Dienstad-Tetrakon Azumethronnian Imperiate. The treaty grants an economic free trade zone privilege throughout Azura, the Scandinvan Empire, and Variante while also legalizing the exchange of Azuran, Scandinvan and Variante currencies in each member state. The Scandinvan Empire (representing the Eastern Imperiate) would enter into a mutual defense and cooperation pact with the Coalition Government of Variazura (representing the Western Imperiate), and both Imperiates would enjoy autonomous self-rule under the merger. The final treaty points came in the form of concessions on the part of both sides: the Scandinvan Government agreed to notify the regional governments in Azura and Variante about an impending indentured debt to be entered into by citizens of the Western Imperiate, while the Azuran Government in Capodimonte agreed to pay restitution costs for any damages incurred by the Scandinvan Empire under such circumstances. And both Imperiates agreed to mutual exclusivity, with each side unable to enforce legal statutes or laws upon the other side.

"This was an important day for the people of Azura, and for the people of Gholgoth," Foreign Minister Daniel Kinsley spoke at a news conference held shortly after 4:00 PM this afternoon in Capodimonte. "The people of Gholgoth represent the finest, most determined culture in the world. Our three nations can now contribute to what surely will become one of the most prodigious events in human history." There is no word yet on when a formal treaty will be constructed; the Coalition Government of Variazura had no more scheduled meetings to discuss their compact as part of the Western Imperiate before Christmas Sunday. Talks were scheduled to resume in private shortly thereafter. "This will long be remembered as the birth of the world's first hyperpower."

By the Numbers:
The Great Gothic Empire of the Scandinvans and Variazura would represent the world's largest combined Gross Domestic Product, topping $1.4 Quadrillion U.S.D. in protected net worth. Domestic population totals for the three main nations would top 31 Billion, with a little over half situated in the Scandinvan Empire alone. The Scandinvan Empire and Variazura would control most of the extraterritorial waters in Southeastern Gholgoth under the proposed arrangement, creating a new bulwark state in the East as an economic hub for the new Hegemony. —— Azuran News Corps, 2011-2012.

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[Automagfreek]

Freekish Empire Retaliates Against WA Proposal

ULE CITY- Automagfreek - Documents obtained by the Gholgoth Regional News Association details plans by the Freekish Defense Department to begin military targeting of civilian shipping of "World Assembly" member-states for a recently proposed condemnation of Automagfreek for its supposed "crimes against humanity".

The documents reveal a high level of animosity between the Great Hall and the Defense Department in the days following the "Condemn Automagfreek" proposal, with Lord Damien Dreadfire ordering strategic assaults on the "World Assembly" personnel, and Defense Chairman Marv Bonesplitter suggesting otherwise.

Following the brief back and forth, an agreement was made to send an undisclosed number of 'Supremacy' class attack submarines to harass commercial shipping lanes of those behind the Proposal. This mirrors past actions undertaken against the United League of Nations, an alliance which ultimately met its demise thanks to Gothic pressure, most notably from the Empire itself.

Following the release of these documents, pundits have began speculating as to the ultimate intentions behind the retaliatory strikes. Some have suggested that the Empire is engaging itself in a war of attrition with the "World Assembly", a notion historically dismissed as mere folly. Such a move would not be without precedent, but past attempts at armed conflict with the "Assembly" have ultimately failed.

Others have speculated that the strikes will be little more than the Empire's reminder that it, and by extension, Gholgoth, maintains the ultimate power in the hemisphere. Either way, both entities now find themselves on a collision course of epic proportion.

[Ralkovia]

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• Crown Prince Benjamin Visiting Epicnopolis; Emperor heading to Sisters Wedding
• Beth Olim Massacre: The Aftermath

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Ralkovia Releases Findings Of Jewish Hope Investigation

Animonoc, Ralkovia

Infants and small children made up the majority of passengers on the Jewish Hope.

+ All but one of the bodies of the Jewish Hope massacre have been recovered by Ralkovian Naval Recovery Crew after the Drakonian Imperium Forces sunk the civilian freighter that had been carrying child evacuees to Schultaria Prime in anticipation of conflict between the Drakonian Coalition and Ralkovia .

Over three hundred and ninety bodies were recovered after two months of work in the Northern Gothic Sea. The Jewish Hope captained by Dietrich Gideon had been part of the Child Protection Evacuation Committees plan to send off children between the ages of one and twelve to the nation of Schultaria Prime in expectation that a war between Drakonia, its allies, and Ralkovia would occur. The ship had been broadcasting on all frequencies that it was a civilian ship carrying women and children when Drakonian helicopters attempted to takeover the ship. Ralkovian crew men did their best to fight off Drakonian attempts to take the ship, doing their best to prevent the children from being captured and used for whatever aims the Drakonians had. It was reported that the Drakonians then sunk the ship after they had been repulsed again, abandoning the four hundred and fifty eight passengers to perish in the cold waters of the Northern Gothic Sea. The Drakonians had sent back the bodies of sixty seven Ralkovians, mostly belonging to the crews defenders all showed major damage to the bodies by explosive force.

One body remains missing

Dietrich Gideon, the Captain of the Jewish Hope, has still not been found. His body is the subject of an intense focus by the Ralkovian Naval Ministry at the behest of Emperor Joshua Raskov II. While the body is still missing, his family has been awarded the Imperial Duty Award, the highest honor a civilian can receive. He is survived by his wife and six sons.

Emperor Joshua Raskov II said in a speech, last Sunday,"Captain Dietrich Gideon is a hero. He died in the line of duty, a duty he volunteered for knowing the risks. Since he did his very best, it is only fair that we must do our very best to recover his body. I have sheperded every last one of them to Heaven, yet without Dietrich's body I can not make sure such a great man arrives in G-ds arms. Everybody in our great nation has been hit by this great tragedy and we must not forget the victims and we must not forget the heroes..."


Drakonian Captain Responsible For Massacre Cleared Of All Charges

Drakonian News had reported that the man responsible for the deaths of so many was cleared of all charges and returned to service. Ralkovians flooded the streets in demands for the blood of the men responsible for the Ralkovian losses.

Adding Insult to Injury, the Drakonian Press released the statement that "expert testimony during the trial suggested that the ship was likely rigged to explode in order to prevent the slaves being found and seized by Gholgothic authorities."

This comes despite the fact that Ralkovia has been quite open in explaining that all victims on the ship were White Ralkovian Jews and protected from being sentenced to slavery. The Ralkovian Government was not informed of the trial of Captain Ambrose Ransom, the man responsible for the deaths of the Ralkovians on board the ship, and was therefore not able to lodge evidence against the man or participate in his trial.

With the Captain walking free and returning to duty the Emperor had this to say from the same speech,"We can only understand that the Drakonians would let Ralkovia remain uninformed because they were not interested in justice. This was a show trial that would have only ended with this bloody man remaining innocent. The only thing that remains is to forever stand in opposition to all Drakonian aims. They are not good people, they arm your own brothers to fight against you. They talk about taking the moral high ground yet they fight for men who have been convicted by a jury of their peers and sentenced to bondage. They fight for criminals. They kill so criminals can be free. They are interested in only mindless violence. So we must oppose them. We must never find ourselves in agreement to these murderers. By the word of G-d, this is his decree."

[Yohannes]

VMK Contract to Ten Countries In One Week - Notable Record

British Qatar, Karlsland, Minroz, New, Wolfenium; To name just a few, VMK Aktiengesellschaft has announced that it approved a total of over ten contracts made by foreign governments overseas in the space of a single week. A new record indeed, as stated by a company representative this morning.

In total combined, the ten contracts in one week is calculated to be worth no less than US$500 billion, with over thirty thousand armoured vehicles, each with the trademark "Made in Yohannes", a significant showing of engineering quality and high craftsmanship, to commence in manufacturing session for the next eight years.

The company representative however has avoided any specific details regarding export of Yohannesian main battle tanks towards the Dictatorship of New, with the latest controversies regarding the said country's poor track record of civil and human right, altogether with politically oppressive regime. The company has also kept silent on the latest report regarding its export to other similar countries with poor governmental human right record, such as that of the Tehraani state and Aquitayne.

Approximately more than three hundred Yohannesian peacekeeping organisations have expressed their strong opposition to this latest news, with formal complaint and multiple protests stage in front of the VMK headquarters in Ardenfontein CBD this morning.

Main battle tanks from the Yohannesian Commonwealth, especially that of the internationally renowned Panthera Tigris, have been deployed en-masse in multiple countries to reinforce its respective oppressive regimes' operation against peaceful protests, mainly to crush any notable oppositions with the showing of brute force and unknown as-of-late brutality, psychologically.

The Commonwealth has exported over one hundred thousand Panthera Tigris to oppressive regimes internationally, a recent independent international peacekeeping organisation concluded upon its survey.

[Kylarnatia]

2012: A Year of Conflict or Peace?
^{By Michael Hammond (#michaelh.)
1st January 2012}

Krytopia, Kylarnatia - As the year changes from 2011 to 2012, there is mass celebration here in Krytopia, Kylarnatia's extravagent capital. People cheer and dance in the streets as a parade passes by, the Tsarina herself bearing witness to it all from atop a golden throne. However, as I watch this parade pass by me I do contemplate what the next year will bring for the nation. 2011 has seen a lot of change for our nation, as every year generally does, but we've also witnessed a lot of conflict.

From simple colonial disputes to the war still raging on in Varathron, historians and common spectators say that "...Kylarnatian military action has increased ten-fold in the past year alone." and they believe it's only going to grow. An annual report published by the Imperial Court every year, accounting government spending throughout that previous year, showed today that in 2011, Defence spending increased from 3% of the budget in the year before that, all the way to 18% in the space of a year. It is therefore estimated that the military budget of 2011 was worth K$30tn (Thirty Trillion Kylarnatian Dollars).

A statement from the Imperial Court said that "All budgets were built upon the demands of the public." and that "...increase in defence spending was necassary to protect the swelling borders of the Imperium." An additional statement from the Fangthane Palace, on behalf of the Tsarina herself, said that "The Caesar worked non-stop in twenty-eleven to keep a balance in the budgets." And "...She walked lightly as to not upset her subjects."

However, small scale protests have taken place throughout the past year, condemning the economic policy of the Tsarina and her government, who only came into session halfway through the past year. Protesters have said that the economic policy is "Greedy." And "...totally under military control."

Though not everyone is arguing against the policy, there is no denial that it has changed the face of the Kylarnatian economy. At the beginning of 2011, Kylarnatian citizens payed hardly any income tax. Now, they pay up to 68% Income Tax, even higher for those earning over K$320,000 a year. That means that the Private Sector has also been punished, previously having a 100% Grip on the economy, now losing over 20% to the new Public Sector, and it is forcast that they shall lose an additional 15% over 2012. A spokesperson for a Private Sector group said that the companies he represented felt "Squeezed." And "...as if they were being lashed by the government."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Economics, however, said that "The shrinking of the Private Sector was necassary to save the Imperium from the leadership of Conglomerates and the collapse of the economy." And that "...growth in the Public Sector is aiding towards better hospitals and schools, and improvements in public transport and mail."

Though that is partly true, overall public sector funding for things like Education has dropped overall in the past year due to military demand. At the beginning of 2011, the Education Budget recieved a massive 20% of Government spending. Now, by the end of the year, it recieves just over 12%. This has led to rumours that Student and Teacher Unions plan to strike as soon as mid-January.

So, with conflicts seemed to continue and arise abroad and at home, 2012 does not look as if it is going to be a peaceful one. In February, the Imperial Court is to discuss the budget for the rest of the upcoming year, and there is hope that it will not create a majority 'reciever'. However, it is believed that the Defence Budget is only going to increase, much to the dismay of others in the other budget areas.

• Kylarnatia joins ANTO [ 388 ]
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[The Master M]

Nuclear Disarmament: The Hidden Truth

Paraiso Central News has learned today from sources within Strategic Operations Command, the branch of the military that is responsible for almost all of the nation's weapons of mass destruction and space based weaponry, that the Most Serene Republic's arsenal of strategic nuclear warheads has been almost completely decommissioned. Out of an estimated ninety-six thousand strategic warheads less than five years ago, the nation is believed to possess less than two thousand today, with these destined to be decommissioned by the end of the year. In a nutshell, this means that the Most Serene Republic of the Master M will cease to have any form of strategic nuclear deterrence, something which has evoked mixed reactions from the population.

“I think it's horrendous,” stated one concerned citizen, “I mean, what power will we have to resist if a nuclear power demands we do something?” This sentiment has been shared by many, with the head of the Mian Central Party claiming that “the Master M now has no power to deter any rouge nuclear state.” Protests in the government districts of both Paraiso and Vastera have been under way for the last few hours, with thousands gathered to show their displeasure at the secretive disarmament of the nation's nuclear deterrent. Some groups have hailed the decision, citing it as a “positive step towards a brighter future, one where the threat of nuclear war in non-existent.”

Advocates of the decommissioning within the military have stated that it was utterly pointless to possess such a large stockpile of weapons that offer very little in the way of military advantage. Commenting on the fears of those concerned about the vulnerability of a nuclear free Master M, commander of the Strategic Operations Command General Mark Aldridge has this to say: “People seem to be under the impression that we're getting rid of all of our nuclear weapons, and this simply isn't the case. We've begun to scrap all of our large warheads – the larger the warhead, the less efficient they are. We classify all warheads larger than two hundred and fifty kilotons of explosive power as strategic, and those below that threshold as tactical, and it's the larger, strategic warheads that have been decommissioned or proliferated to our smaller international dependants.

“We're very much keeping intact our stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons, and with them the ability to strike at potential enemies wherever they may be in the world. The only difference is that instead of hitting an enemy city with an overly destructive weapon in excess of twenty megatons, we will target precise locations with smaller, more accurate weaponry. We still retain the ability to launch warheads of up to, and including, two hundred and fifty kilotons from a variety of platforms, including the many space based platforms.”

Despite what this may or may not mean for the nation's foreign affairs, it does free up an estimated five trillion Steryls a year from the current government budget. Although most of this money is expected to be allocated to other branches of the military, an expected one trillion is to funnelled into the education system, which critics claim has been “seriously underfunded in the last ten years”. A Master M that swaps nukes for textbooks? I certainly never thought I'd see that in my lifetime.

[Milograd]

Hunting Laws established concerning Negroes
^{By Teora Munta (@teoramunta)
Jan. 7, 2011}

Argyz, Milograd - For as long as most Milogradians can remember it has been a popular pastime to find, hunt, and consume negroes during summer vacations. Many may recall hunting negroes in gym class throughout their youth, or maybe even cooking negroes over a well lit bonfire. Unfortunately the days of negro-related fun are, as of January 12th, over.

The Dh'arconian Senate has passed laws outlawing the hunting of the negro subhumans within Milograd. Previously it was legal to hunt negroes insofar as they were not covered under the "murder laws" of the Empire. Subhumans were never protected by the murder laws, and hunting regulations have always been limited to "all non-humans may be hunted by any Milogradian citizen." The right to hunt negroes has been legally viewed as a loophole within Dh'arconian Law for nearly a decade now, but only recently has it been amended. The announcement of this amendment was made yesterday at the Grand Hall of Argyz.

This amendment to Dh'arconian Law will be formalized in five days.

For the first time in several years a public disapproval of any change in Milogradian law has been seen throughout the Empire; dissatisfaction with the removal of valued rights has lead to much debate as to whether or not the government is suppressing Milogradian culture. Naturally, however, the Dh'arconian Senate is acting within the state's best interests - and when asked what the motivation behind this amendment was, the Argyzian Authority responded with the following:

"It has been deemed provocative by the international community for negroes, which are apparently considered human in other nations, to be hunted by 'their fellow humans' as sport. While we understand the cultural significance that comes with hunting negroes, it is within the state's best interests to not provoke the international community. We have made this decision in the interests of our citizens, and sincerely hope that the population will understand our reasoning for doing so. The reckless, interventionist hordes of this world would likely take advantage of a situation like this, unfortunately. "

It is speculated that the misguided and incredibly biased condemnation of Milograd recently passed by the World Assembly contributed to this decision.

Hunting negroes is a practice that has forever reshaped Milogradian culture and, despite the practice being outlawed, Milogradians are welcome to hunt negroes for five more days. If you are interested in commenting on this article, or recalling some old negro-hunting stories; Argyz Media invites you to post them below.

• Embargo placed on ICAC [ 907 ]
• Radiation reaches Ludkin [ 591 ]

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[Ikruchystan]

Ikruchystani Unionized News Service

Gunmen attack residence of Admiral Piri Reis

Blas D'Cruz, reporting from Altanka, Ikruchystan- On January 22nd, gunmen assaulted the residence of Admiral Piri Reis, Commander-in-Chief of the Unionized Navy, the military authorities said Monday. As soon as emergency responders arrived on the scene, the Admiral was rushed to Altanka General Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

An armored car was seen moving towards the Reis residence approximately thirty minutes before the attack, suggesting the involvement of Unionized Army or other militia personnel. The Admiral was widely known to be an outspoken critic of the policies of General Ezkrovan Marquez and had allegedly refused to commit his forces to support the Gothic intervention in Belphegoria.

The Unionized Army categorically rejected accusations of involvement in the attack, stating that it was the work of terrorist elements from Western Ikruchystan, releasing the following statement:

"This heinous and counter-revolutionary attack clearly bears the mark of terrorist involvement. To suggest that the Armed Forces of the Halk-Cephesi were behind the attacks is arbitrary, capricious, and untruthful."

The intelligence services of the Halk-Cephesi have begun a full investigation into the assault, acting independently of the Unionized Army.

[New Azura]

• Southeastern Gothic Empire Takes Shape [ 5,234 ]
• Azuran Troops Despatched to Varathron [ 1,458 ]

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© Azuran News Corps 2011-2012

---

The Eternal Realm: A Militant Empire?
Colonial claims, Completion of the Delta IV Project Raises Eyebrows in Eastern Gholgoth

ANC—Montreat, Azura.+

After weeks of rumors and speculation, the Interior Ministry of the Eternal Realm confirmed Friday that the long-rumored completion of the Delta IV Project was less than a month away, following an almost Ɽ800 Billion Rankmark infusion into the long-standing initiative. The project, begun in 1972 by then-High Priest Castyel XIII and Major General V'dam Skragar, has seen intermittent work begun over the past three decades. And while the progress has been slow and steady, it would appear as though the military overhaul is nearing the end of the tunnel.

"This is a major step forward for the Eternal Realm," Lieutenant General Elias Sachem commented at a Government Briefing this afternoon. "Azurans everywhere can be proud of the accomplishments our glorious Eternal Realm has achieved, through the blood of our people, and the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who guard the Empire all across the world."

The rapid military expansion of the Azuran Realm
has garnered considerable attention from a more
educated public.

The 1972 initiative outlined a fifteen year strategic overhaul of the mainland Azuran infrastructure, along with increased military facilities in the twenty one (now twenty five) overseas dependencies. The crown jewel of the project, the Azuran Subterranean Transit Network, connected twenty-seven military districts at key points throughout mainland Azura by way of a vast network of military-operated subways and subterranean motorways, which allow for the secure transport of men, materiel, and some armor and artillery throughout the country. The above-ground rail system was also expanded as part of the initiative; the first system went online back in 1991, with the completion of the system coming in 2005.

The transportation network was the focal point of a larger military buildup, designed to expand Azura's military reach and adapt to a rapidly changing world political structure. "By the grace of God, our military leadership in 1972 understood in part that the key to the future was not massive bloc armies, but smaller and more maneuverable bodies," General Sachem remarked. "The Imperial Legions do just that." Indeed, the advent of the Imperial Legion design was met with much controversy upon its formal inception in 1979, but the work into redefining the Azuran military doctrine has paid off immeasurably today.

The number of military facilities has jumped in the last twenty years, from a mere 700 in 1992 to almost 2,300 across the Empire with the opening of the Valle Crucis Armory in December. Manpower in the Azuran Armed Services has never been higher, with more than three hundred million men serving across the Realm. More than Ɽ56.7 Trillion has been spent since 1972 to upgrade the Azuran arsenal; a process which is now in the final stages of completion after all these years. It remains to be seen what prompted such a hasty completion to a project that many pundits speculated would never get done. —— Azuran News Corps, 2011-2012.

---

[United Gordonopia]

Confusion, Betrayal, War in Gholgoth

Sentinal – The death toll rises as war continues to rage in Gholgoth. What began as a border dispute between Ralkovia and Sniper Country over land formerly occupied by Vetalia has grown into the largest conflict in recent memory. Now, the once infallible Gholgoth alliance is shattered, and the fight for the future of the region continues.

On January 9, the first signs of unrest emerged as minor struggles along the new Ralkovian-Sniper Country border emerged. The territory in question had been recently purchased by Ralkovia from the Republic of Vetalia, though the legitimacy of the purchase was challenged by Sniper Country. Soon after Sniper Country contested the transfer of land, however, Ralkovia backed down and in a surprise move transferred the strip of land back to Vetalia, saying that they only wanted a southern port.

(Read Full Article)

[Milograd]

Milograd Prepares to Emerge Victorious in Conflict with Reich
^{By Teora Munta (@teoramunta)
Feb. 18, 2012}

Argyz, Milograd - The Empire of Milograd, as just about anyone knows, has been threatened by the interventionist hordes yet again, this time from the Empire's former allies in the Imperial Fortress Reich. The Reich, desiring a "New Gothic Order," watched quietly as Dephire submitted to them prior to the initial assault on Milograd. As Gholgoth continues to rage in conflict, one thing is for certain; Kraven has made a fateful mistake in declaring war on Milograd.

"He wears the mask to hide his
ugly face!" joked a ARN commentator.

The glorious leadership of the Dh'arconian state has called for the citizenship of the Empire to unite for the sake of survival, and with a strong population of one and a half billion people, such only goes to show that the Kravenites will not be capable of making easy work with Milograd. The Imperial Armies have mobilized and scattered themselves all across the Atraezan continent, and with military recruitment running at all time highs, it has become quite manifest that the Empire is ready to repel whatever the Reich wishes to throw at it. A massive Ad hoc fleet of warships has been assembled in the northern waters of Milograd, and it is anticipated that the aforesaid fleet is present therein as a means of combatting the Naval Arm of the Kravenite military. After having been revamped merely last year, one can say that the Imperial Navy is in top form at this time.

The Continental Army has been organizing and hosting clinics in Resource Initiative prison facilities for the past few days, and these clinics are open to visit to the entirety of the Milogradian populace. Therein one can learn how to address and repel Capitol Police agents, how to defend their families, and how to conserve necessities such as food, water, and clothing during the forthcoming war. A spectacular initiative that only goes to show how prepared Milograd is for war, spectators may visit the clinic whenever they can - it is open twenty four hours a day - and can find out the location of their local clinic by getting in contact with their local police department.

All public schooling has been closed down in light of the Kravenite Invasion, and the National Schoolboard has exclaimed that "It is optimal and ideal that the children spend time with their families during this conflict. Schooling will resume upon its completion, and winter break may have to be postponed as a result of this mass cancellation. We encourage the students to enjoy their family's presence and to have a good time during their vacation."

An interview of a clinic instructor proved to be interesting; when asked what the Empire's greatest asset against the Reich is, he responded, "Kraven demands fear, and the best way to counter the Kravenites is to remain in good spirits." said Sergeant Yurx from the Continental Army's Clinical Team ( CACT ). Milograd will remain in high spirits, and will inevitably win this war with Kraven. Milograd will remain in good spirits, and such will be Kraven's downfall!

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[Black Century International]

---

^{Lucoras Placed Under Lockdown}

^{GOTHNet+News | G.R.N.A.}

---

On the heals of a four-month campaign aimed to educate the public on Centurian-Moravic relations –

specifically the communalistic aspects and cooperative endeavors between native population of the former Dh'arconian protectorate of “Moravica” and Black Century International – known as “Know Your Neighbor,” Corporate Command and Control^(C³) officially activated “Immuration Protocols” (colloquially known as “entombment”) for the Moravic-designated community of Lucoras at 0135 hours (1:35 AM Local Time), effectively truncating communication and travel out-of the centralized, Moravic establishment on the banks of Cobori Luca.

With tensions on the rise in Gholgoth and the flames of conflict spreading to encompass much of the reason, many spectators and skeptics from abroad have speculated on the inactivity of Black Century and the reasoning behind its lack of involvement. Though official press releases have stated – and continue to state – a neutrality in regard to what are calling the “Gholgothic Civil War,” foreign political and financial pundits have asked the question: “Can they afford such war?”

While business is booming – such a large conflict offering, as it was recently stated at a corporate-press meeting in Anathema, “abundant opportunities” – close inspect of recent events in the Incorporated Sovereignty detail a lengthy period of recent, internal strife with a largely disaffected and seemingly “disenfranchised” native population. Though Black Century International has made no qualms nor expressed scruples in regard to its handling of the former citizenry of the Dh'arconian protectorate it gained after the Seven Year War, as of late, be it due to a spreading flame of regional dissent and dissatisfaction or a combination of a rapidly-aging population with a small, yet vocal, adolescent population, the “Moravic Movement” seems to be gaining headway – and not in political or activist enterprises.

A string of suicide bombings in Golsestra and continued insurgency presence in Nevegrad has, since 2008, prompted strict and swift justices from C³, often ending in the use of physical and military might to suppress small flames of rebellious indignation, the recent outbreak of not only protests and riots in Lucoras, but also last weeks bombing of the Terrestik Hotel, have largely forced Anathema's hand.

Such, in truth, begs the question: “Can Black Century afford to choose a side in the intra-regional conflict within Gholgoth?”

In a brief press release notifying the region of the activation of “Immuration Protocols” in Lucoras, Chief Operations Executive Pytor Voltelyn stated:

”Black Century International is committed to maintaining the status quo of Moravic-Centurion relations in the Incorporated Sovereignty. […] Four years of relative peace, where children and families need not fear for their safety; four years of serenity where autonomous rights have been granted to Moravic cities, towns and communities; four years of happiness will not be allowed to be crushed by the violence of a vocal, shrieking minority. […] As such, Corporate Command has authorized the used of 'Immuration Protocols' in the metropolitan area of 'Lucoras.' […] Executive forces are en route to restore peace and order. All Centurions are requested to be on alert in the possibility of Executive Activation of their licenses. Though we in C³ hope such will not be necessary, we must be ready to defend ourselves at a moment's notice.”

C.O.E. Voltelyn went on to state that, while Black Century is “committed to the maintenance of Gholgoth,” as an “incorporated sovereign enterprise,” Centurion interests play little role in regional politics in-and-of itself. Black Century, since the start of the conflict – initiated in Ralkovia – has maintained its neutrality; yet, given the nature of its particular enterprise, some foreign journalists and analysts, even inside of Gholgoth, have questioned whether Anathema had already involved itself. Given the nature as, predominantly, a private defense firm, Black Century International – in the eyes of some – is a largely unaccountable “wild car” in the intra-regional strife, poised to assist either side, regardless of political allegiances, if but for the sake of monetary gain.

Recent financial releases indicate that Black Century had a 24.6% growth-rate in the final, fiscal quarter of 2011, as compared to the meager 9.6% rate in the third quarter of the same year. Due to this, Anathema has repeatedly stated that its involvement in the conflict will “only be to maintain prior, contractual obligations.” Even so, some spectators still wonder.

Yet, with the events in Lucoras, some have come to believe that C³ is having a difficult time maintaining stability within its own, incorporated borders. This speculation has been given some credence due merely to the rights granted to the Centurion Corps in areas deemed “entombed” by Immuration Protocols.

In short, Immuration Protocols authorize the use of the “threat of physical violence to deter criminal intent, halt aggression, or dissuade further violence”; such license, however, does not stop merely at the threat of damage or harm. Furthermore, the Protocols stipulate that “in events of dire circumstance, Centurion Corpsman are authorized to enact physical violence in order to restrain, detain, or neutralize potential threats.” While such is seemingly a harsh treatment, given the nature of Anathema's relationship with the Moravic population of its main, capital asset, it is hardly from abnormal or even unprecedent.

Since 2008, Immuration Protocols have been activated three times: once in Kraibezhev; in Nevegrad, where such Protocols are still in effect; and, lastly, in Lucoras. Such authorization, in effect, placed such cities – and now, Lucoras – under a daily, twenty-one hour curfew. Three hours for necessary business are permitted between 1100 hours (11:00 AM Local Time) and 1400 hours (2:00 PM Local Time). Aside from such an allocated period, any individual not identifiable as a member of the Centurion Corpsman may be detained for questioning and future arrest.

Though draconian, such a lockdown does not cease merely at curfew. Since the time of its the initiation of its “immuration,” Lucoras has been forcibly removed from “the grid.” Lines of electronic communication have been deactivated; transit into and out-of the city have been physical obstructed, enforced by both ground and aerial patrols; and power from the nearby Cobori Nuclear Power Station has been terminated, effectively locking the metropolitan district into a “black-out state.”

With Centurion Executive Forces en route, however, some question as to the effectiveness of the “immuration.” With a history of violent repression in response to signs of insurgency, Black Century International has been known to stretch the boundaries of “sovereignty” – whether political or corporate – in order to insure the safety and security of its own interests.

As the situation evolves, the Centurion News Network will continue to update this article.


♦ UPDATE: (1540 | 3:40PM) Violent street fighting began within the hour on Country Highway N344. Moravic protesters turn to violence after Centurion Corpsmen attempt to impose Immuration Protocols. Backlash from power black-out continues to grow. No current fatalities, though six Moravic casualties have been reported. Currently, most incidents of violence seem to be initiated by Moravic youth; wooden boards, scrap metal, and other improvised weapons seem to be the main method of offense.

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[Kylarnatia]

Imperium Armed Forces Mobilize for Gothic Civil War
^{By Josie Whitehall (#josiewhitehall)
10th March 2012}

The flag of the now fractured Gholgoth Regional Alliance

Greswald, Kylarnatia - For the past few weeks, there has been huge activity within the region. And not of the positive kind. Within hours of 'reawakening', the Kraven Reich, a state that only exists as a permanent war machine with no emotion, crossed the demilitarized zone between them and the nation of Dephire, which immediately came into union with the Reich. This stunned the entire region and put us all on high alert, as the Kravenites only negotiate on their terms, so we all knew it would amount to war. The Dh'arconian Empire of Milograd, which is directly below Kraven, is now under heavy threat, with intense bombings already pounding their shores. The rest of Gholgoth was immediately made to choose: side with Kraven, fight for the old order, or go rogue.

The Imperium Antiquum has chosen to fight for the old order, but within a union. To the north of Kylarnatia is Sambizie, the third biggest state in Gholgoth, and throughout our entire history we've gone through border disputes and even minor conflicts. However, today it has been revealed that the Kylarnatians and Sambizians are now in "Close union." And apparently always have been. Neither my colleagues or I could get a word with a government official, but we can definitely understand how this could have all come about. With this union now called, the Imperium has been able to call up all it has in its arsenal to support the war effort. Reserves were immediately called up, and Arms Manufacturing capacity almost doubled over night due to the order of the Imperialis Senatus.

Schools have also been closed down, with the national curriculum being "Put on hold." while a decision is being made on what would be best for the children and families. The students, aged from 13-18, will still have to report to their schools to partake in the 'Military Practice' which was already apart of their timetables. Talks are also being held to discuss if it would be a good idea to invite adults into the scheme, too, to refresh their minds about the training they went through also as a student. There is no doubt this will go through.

In the past few days, we've seen massive amounts of troops, vehicles and supplies flood into the Military Port of Greswald. It is estimated that almost five million troops have been called up from the Imperium Antiquum alone to tackle the threat of the Kraven Reich. The Senatus has confirmed that Dux Imperator Duncan Treii Octavian, a seasoned veteran from Imperium High Command, shall be at the helm of this massive force. This seems to have installed massive amounts of hope in the military, and civilian populace. In the early hours of yesterday morning, the fleet departed to meet up with the Sambizian support coming down from the North. It is estimated that it will be a day or two before we engage in the conflict, but the soldiers seem to hope that they arrive before Milograd is possibly destroyed.

Meanwhile, there has been no word on Kylarnatian action against Ralkovia. The Freekish Empire is, along with the Sniper Confederacy, fighting on that front against Emperor Joshua Raskov II and his men. Lord Damien Dreadfire is active there himself, at the head of the entire 1st Cohort, which totals almost one-hundred million men. Once again, there has been no word on any possibility of Imperium deployment there, yet.

• Aldarminia suffering from internal conflict [ 5,908 ]
• Unitedia begins mass war in Varathron [ 3,111 ]

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© Kylarnatian Imperial News International

[Drakonian Imperium]

Drakonian Carriers sail for War in Gholgoth
March 19, 2012

Article Features

• Five Aircraft Carriers sail from Sava for Gholgoth.
• Numerous other warships at sea and sailing to Gholgoth.
• Troops sent from Fyria to support Drakonian forces in Gholgoth.
• Drakonian Praetor expected to address the Imperium.
• Drakonia likely to declare war on Ralkovia and Kraven.

SAVA CITY, Sava (ENN) - As fighting intensifies in Gholgoth, five of Drakonian's largest aircraft carriers have sailed north from the colonial island port of Sava, far south of Gholgoth in the southern oceans, accompanied by dozens of smaller escorts.

The Dragon-Class Fleet Carriers, IDS Wyrm, IDS Leviathon, IDS Manticore, IDS Salamander, and IDS Daemon, were joined as they left port by the older Pegasus-Class Light Carriers IDS Anubis and IDS Angel and a fleet, which included a wide range of warships from heavy cruisers to patrol boats and minesweepers.

However, these great ships are only a few of Drakonian warships now at sea. Amphibious Assault Ships of the Imperial Navy's 2nd Amphibious Ready Group accompanied by their escorts sailed north in the southern seas, yesterday, and, in Alexandria, the 1st Amphibious Ready Group, with the Imperial Army's elite 1st Expeditionary Legion are expected to sail for Gholgoth, tomorrow.

Furthermore, the ships of the 5th Amphibious Ready Group are expected to return to Varathron and the Drakonian Colony of Disia, to support the nearly twenty thousand Imperial Army troops they deployed early on during the Varathron War. With the Belphegorian Empire shattered from within and that war essentially over, Imperial Army troops in Disia could soon see combat in Gholgoth.

As well, the Strike Groups of the Inexorable-Class Battleships, IDS Imperator, IDS Supremacy, and IDS Ascendancy, were also reported to be at sea and sailing for Gholgoth and the Colony of Mille Mortifere when the carriers left.


Drakonia expected to join the war in Gholgoth

With so much of the Imperial Navy already at sea, and a massive airlift of Imperial Army troops already underway to Gholgoth and Varathron to defend Drakonian colonists in Disia, political analysts expect the Imperium to declare its support for nations still loyal to the Gholgoth Regional Alliance in the coming days.

An address from Praetor Augustus Drake has been scheduled for later this week. The Praetor has not addressed the nation in some time and there has been much speculation over the content of his forthcoming speech. Insiders in the Imperial Government have suggested that declarations of war will follow, not just against Ralkovia, but also Kraven.

Tension in the Drakonia has risen with wide scale mobilization of reserves and the hiring of private military forces by the Imperial Government and the Territorial Government of Mille Mortifere. The Drakonian Colony of Mille Mortifere, in Gholgoth, has fully mobilized its roughly 160,000 soldier Territorial Army and has begun deployments of the controversial Free Ralkovian Volunteer units to Sniper Country. The colony is has also continued recruitment efforts, begun as the War in Varathron broke out, and is now forming regiments of Tersanctan and Nova Castran Volunteers. Militias within Mille Mortifere have also been placed on alert.

The Drakonian Government has also requested support from the Federal Republic of Fyria, a protectorate and part of the Imperium. Fyria, it is reported, has made two divisions ready for transport to Gholgoth, under Imperial Army command.

These mobilizations and deployments are the largest seen in the recent history of Drakonia. Not since the early 1940s and the Emiratus War have so many warships sailed, or so many Drakonian men and woman been prepared for war.

With fighting continuing to intensify in Gholgoth, the entry of the Drakonian Imperium to the war, it seems, is inevitable.

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NOTE: This post originally appeared in Operation: Foxhunt and was duplicated in The Awakening Beast, due to additionaly relevance to that story.

[Yohannes]

National rental market give tenants the upper hand

Published : 25 March 2012

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Confidence in our property and real estate market has finally went up from last year, but it will still take quite a while for investors and property managers' confidence to bounce and leap forward after the devastating economic recession located throughout the nineteen countries last year

Greater Ardenfontein's rental property market scale and rating has triggered itself drastically forward from a shortage of scale to surplus, according to the Organisation of Ardenfontein City Housing Market.

The stock market index of the Yohannesian National Real Estate, a semi-private real estate firm based on the capital city of Ardenfontein in the periphery of the central business district has indicated that recent trend described in the firm's website that its housing listing in the east Valedonia district alone grew by at least 15 percent, while the price of rent goes up by approximately 1 percent, after a previously annual decline of 12 percent for the year of 2010 and 10% for the year of 2009.

As a result of the fewer listing of available renting spot and permanent housing accomodation, the rental market property pendulum has swung up considerably, and with as much as 11 percent fewer listing the demand has went up by approximately 14%. However, Susanne Engberg, the current senior market analyst of the Yohannesian National Real Estate Firm commented, that this current shortage appeared to localised and arrested more or less, as a result of the sheer volume of still unsold properties even up to this year.

"Confidence in our property and real estate market has finally went up from last year, but it will still take quite a while for investors and property managers' confidence to bounce and leap forward after the devastating economic recession located throughout the nineteen countries last year", commented Susanne. "A significant fall of the supply scale is still indicative when we look at the property market indicator in Bloemfontein and Pretoria, where real estate listing went down by 16% alone last year."

The demand for rentals, as measured by the approximate number of inquiries last week, was more or less static, although the average price of weekly rent has risen by approximately 2 percent, up to β439 per week.

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Economics

Ardenfontein Herald

[Kylarnatia]

Muslims massacred in Ralkovia!
^{By an Anonymous Reporter
4th April 2012}

The Village of To'aki in flames

Lumbistan, Ralkovia - It has always been apparent to the world, that the Empire of Ralkovia is very tense towards other ethnic groups that do not follow the teachings of Judaism. None more so then the Muslim community. Although some would say that is understandable, due to the historic feud between the two major religions, I doubt anybody would condone the amount of brutality used by the Ralkovian Death Guard here this afternoon in such places like the village of To'aki, in the province of Lumbistan, just outside the capital of New Ramkov.

To'aki is just one example of massacres happening across the whole of what is a Muslim-majority province. Out of the three-hundred and eighty nine inhabitants of To'aki, which sources suggest was split into forty-seven families, none have survived. Not a single soul. Now if we were to imagine that as the same for every single village or town in the province of Lumbistan, which number in the hundreds of thousands if not millions, the number of dead is bound to be off the scale. The methods of execution are barbaric. Women beheaded like chickens, men tied to the back of APCs and dragged for miles in the desert. Babies ripped apart and thrown into the air like clay shooting disks. And that is only a small part of the picture. The rest would probably have to be censored.

These attacks were provoked by the attempted Muslim uprising earlier this year, in which attacks were made just miles outside of the capital of New Ramkov. Fifty-thousand Ralkovian colonialists were killed during the attacks. Therefore, some may feel that these attacks are acceptable, but they're not just killing the terrorists who committed the attacks, they're killing every Muslim, one by one. They use the attack as the excuse to do so, and plan to get away with it. Though I intend for this article, which will be streaming worldwide, to foil these plans.

The hunting down of terrorists is one thing, but the slaughter of millions who affiliate themselves to Islam, is a completely different affair.

• Attacks on Kraven continue! [ 23,900 ]
• War in Greater Diensted [ 11,523 ]

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© Kylarnatian Imperial News International

[Ikruchystan]

Sendikaseri recognizes Ashikaga Shogunate as "Semi-Autonomous State"

Onhegashima, Ikruchystan-

Unionized Army troops withdraw from Uesugi Territories

In light of the Shogunate's successful military campaign and rising tensions with Aldarminia, the Sendikaseri voted overwhelmingly in favor of approving the Treaty of Gozyuku; thereby ending the military occupation of Uesugi regions and beginning a gradual transition to Uesugi self-rule within Ikruchystan. The Ashikaga Shogunate has been declared a domestic dependent nation.This decision has drawn widespread support from various groups within Ikruchystan, including military command and various anti-war groups, as well as Uesugi nationalists.

"I believe that this was the right decision, at least from a military standpoint. We are now beginning a drawdown of Ikruvoni Forces in the region and have already begun ceding control to Shogunate troops. However, enough troops will be maintained in the region to ensure that Shogunate forces do adhere to the laws of this nation and do not carry out any retaliatory, genocidal, or otherwise illegal actions against any Ungyar or Hunen communities in the region," said a military spokesman today. He went on to cite rising tensions with Aldarminia and budgetary concerns as further reasons for withdrawal.

Despite the drawdown in Uesugi areas, this will not mean a decrease in military mobilization, as the men returning from the East will be deployed along the Ikruchystani-Aldarminian border.

[New Azura]

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Straželja is Declared in Azura
Hundreds of thousands gather in the nation's capital to celebrate the passing of their leader.

Thousands of Azurans take to the western shore of Lake Legnica on Monday night to
celebrate the Declaration of Straželja throughout the country. Officials estimate that
more than one million people may visit Tsyion during the three-day holiday.

Tsyion, Azura [ National Press Corps ] — The Government of Azura declared a State of Straželja on Monday, beginning a three-day festival all across the major commercial centers of the nation. Industries both great and small will be recognizing the holiday, as thousands take to the streets in a massive celebration of the life of the recently deceased national leader, Gran Vänæzár Gael Raziya II Colossus. "This is what the nation needs right now," Lady Adrienne Constantinides, the daughter and temporary successor of the Gran Vänæzár. "It is time for the country as a whole to shake off the pall of death and renew its collective mind, body and spirit in the throes of passionate celebration."

A Straželja, first conceived in the late-nineteenth century by noted Cistalizt philosopher Viktor Grol, is a three-day nationwide celebration aimed at honoring the lives of great figures in the nation's history, along with celebrating immense military achievements throughout the country's recent history. The period of Straželja is marked by its extraordinary public behavior, even by the rather loose standards of Azuran culture. Free alcohol and promiscuous sex in public are often highlights of the Straželja in most cities, while other locales turn to shows of firework, music and revelry throughout the nights of the festival. Local hospitals in areas experiencing a rise in celebration have not yet reported an influx of injured or sickened guests, but local staffers have begun to beef up regular shifts in preparation for the eventuality. "We're working hand-in-hand with the Government here in Tsyion to make sure that things get taken care of properly, as all other municipalities are doing this evening," Health Director Sergei Aegis reported earlier today. "We have the capacity to handle an increased workload for situations just like this.

This is the first Straželja since 2008, when another period of celebration was declared to mourn the passing of Gael Raziya's predecessor.

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The Birth of Tvrđava Aszuricas
The Interim Government Prepares to Dedicate Cistalizts' 30-Year 'Battle Projekat'.

A shot of the Kittron-Koa Sea Wall near Resen in the
south of New Azura. The Strateški Bitka Inicijativa,
also known as Tvrđava Aszuricas, has cost the nation
more than $3.2 Trillion U.S.D. in adjusted 2012 figures.

Allon-Bachuth, Azura [ National Press Corps ] — After nearly thirty years of patient waiting, three redesigns and mounting costs, the Strateški Bitka Inicijativa of Gran Vänæzár Elias IV will finally be realized this week with the completion of the Hazor-Iconium Podzemni Konektor [Underground Connector], the last missing link of Azura's underground transportation grid known as POZI. It marks the culmination of more than thirty years worth of work, but moreover—it represents the culmination of a Cistalizt dream which has been fostered and nurtured in this country for more than a century. The official dedication ceremony for the new section will coincide with larger celebrations later this week in Tsyion.

"This is an incredible day for our country," retired General and political adviser Konstantin Valeria said at a press gathering this morning to announce the news. "Long have we held the dream to fortify our nation amidst the ravenous Gothic Lords—to not only promote the war culture from within, but to guarantee our safety and our security from all challengers. In a region with so many warmongers and titans of conflict, these measures will help keep Azura shining as the Gem of Southeastern Gholgoth." There are five distinct parts to the overall plan, which have been incremented into the national defense initiative over the last thirty years. They include:

1. POZI [Podzemni Obred Zeitgeist Inicijativa] — An underground network of high-speed rail lines, tunnels and platforms designed to help move heavy military equipment and troops rapidly without becoming entangled in civilian traffic. The system is a thread network which links all major population centers of mainland Azura together, creating a rapid response window for any major engagement in the nation.

2. Glativa [Glavni Inicijativa] — The organizational restructuring of the Azuran Armed Forces into the Azuran Imperial Armed Services, redesigning the tactical military strategy from block armies to self-sufficient Legions—smaller, more manageable deployment forces that help extend Azura's overall force projection and help ensure more rapid defensive capabilities.

3. Crvenajivica [Crevena Grabljivica] — The realization of Operation Red Predator: the tactical deployment of the Integrated Hydrophone Sound Surveillance System, or IH-SOSUS. Using underwater hydrophones and tactical relay emitters placed in the territorial waters surrounding Azura, the project creates a comprehensive surface / underwater tracking net which detects unauthorized intrusions into Azuran waters.

4. Strareža [Stražar Mreža] — The deployment of the Tactical Sky Guard Network, or "SkyGuard". SkyGuard is the missile defense network of the Imperial Armed Services, utilizing a computer monitoring system to relay launch alerts from reconnaissance satellites positioned in High-Earth
Orbit, as well as tracking data to observation stations on the ground. The system coordinates directly with Orbital Weapons Platforms carrying the MiC-7A Cerberus Interceptor Missile and the ground-based SAM sites utilizing the MiC-G24 Daedalus II Interceptor Missile as an automatic first response wave against any inbound attack, allowing for an additional window of time for military analysts to determine a proper strategic response.

5. KuStraIn [Kući Stražar Inicijativa] — A package of initiatives designed to help better prepare the Azuran Nation in the event of a war or hostile military action undertaken by an enemy combatant. The program creates a national database of reserve conscripts who have completed their basic orientation by their location and skill set, helping maximize the efficiency of draft organization in the event of a rapid recall. The Kittron-Koa Sea Wall Project, a lengthy construction project creating concrete moats and other beachhead obstacles in high-priority landing sites was among the first parts of the overall initiative brought to light. The Homeland Rapid Response Zone creates a network of arsenals and ammunition depots with MAGLEV rail connections to fortifications and defensive positions all along the Kittron-Koa Sea Wall. The Rapid Uniform Accessibility Act allotted for the construction of major expressways and thoroughfares which could be requisitioned in emergencies for military usage, transporting vehicles en masse on roads where bridge clearances are no longer an issue. Finally, the Utility Conservation Act requires that all cable, natural gas, power and telephone lines within three hundred kilometers of the shoreline be buried underground to help preserve utility services in the event of a major attack.

More Information Here.

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• Southeastern Gothic Empire Takes Shape [ 5,234 ]
• Azuran Troops Dispatched to Adrastos [ 1,458 ]

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© Azuran News Corps 2011-2012

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