Maredoratican News Depository

[Questers]

- This is a thread where nations in Maredoratica can post news articles.

[Rochehaut]

Malaria outbreak scares Northern Rochehaut

Malaria begins with a bite from an infected female Anopheles mosquito, which introduces the parasite through saliva into the circulatory system. In the blood, they travel to the liver to mature and reproduce.

Liése - An outbreak of malaria in Northern Rochehaut has driven the State Health Board to issue a warning discouraging non-essential travel to the area and prompted the National Health Cooperative to send a response team into the region.

Emergency response was triggered after local clinics were flooded with patients exhibitting high fever and convulsions, most of them under the age of 15. The CNS response team arrived last night, in a Civil Protection League aircraft, and went to work almost immediately.

"We are doing everything we can", Dr. Maurice Leclerc, the senior doctor in the clinic said, "But the truth is that malaria is a difficult foe to fight against".

The local regional council has already started an indoor residual spraying campaign in the area, using DDT in an attempt to control the mosquito which spreads the disease.

The State Health Board has asked people across the country for blood donations, since malaria causes severe anemia and patients frequently need blood transfusions. The military has placed four aircraft at the service of the Board, to transport blood and other supplies to the affected area.

Local volunteers are also providing local communities with advice on how to protect themselves from malaria and about how it's important to seek medical help as soon as symptoms appear.

"Early detection is vital to shorten the time of recovery, but prevention and information is also indispensable in stopping the spread of the disease", says Stéphane Ambroise, chairman of the regional health surveillance committee.

The Health Board expects the emergency response team to remain in the reagion until the end of the month to assist the local healthcare community.

[Questers]

REPUBLIC TIMES

Northern girl to be awarded posthumous Heroine of the Social Republic

Amanda Pickering from Ellashire, 19, a volunteer with the National Overseas Development Organisation, is to be posthumously awarded the Hero(ine) of the Social Republic, the country's highest award, the Republic Times has learned. Ms Pickering contracted malaria while working with an aid organisation in Rochehaut and died despite the aid of medical procedures, according to the Questarian embassy in that country. The Ministry of Information reports that Ms Pickering's last words, which may not lawfully be printed, "regarded her family... and a concerned patriotism."

The Secretary of State for Information, Mj-Gen. Adams, justified the award by quoting the distinction as "awarded to anyone who has performed some heroic feat for the Social Republic's state and society. Aid Volunteer Pickering elected the difficult task of assisting those less fortunate than herself in the service of our society, and in giving her life, espoused the most patriotic and virtuous characteristics of a great and heroic citizen."

Personnel Director of NODO ROCHEHAUT, the umbrella organisation responsible for distributing Questarian aid, which this year totaled $9.5 billion, gave a short statement. "We were shocked to discover that Volunteer Pickering had passed away. Our deepest sympathies lie with her family and we know that the people who's lives she touched will never forget her conscientiousness and the principles of human solidarity which she espoused."

Questarian foreign aid spending amounted this year to 72 billion USD, 1.5% of the GDP. While both women and men have a two year mandatory national service period, women can opt to serve in an administrative service or an overseas development organisation, instead of the military. The Hero of the Social Republic is awarded to both civil and military personnel and is the highest honour the Questarian state can award.

[Chendu]

Chendese Central Broadcasting

United, Socialism moves foward!

Chendu to expand bilateral ties with Erusea

Government spokesman Cheng Xilin has stated the government and party's intentions to expand the People's Social Republic ties with the Free Erusean Republic. The two nations have enjoyed warm relations since the 1960s and both states have agreed to forward ties, as trade increases. Chendu has been somewhat cautious towards Erusea, warning it of the 'False Comrade' and it's ever growing intentions to extend it's weak and poison filled socialism abroad.

Chendu currently stands as one of the most powerful states in Eastern Maredoratica, yet the government has been eager to expand it's ties with Erusea as to develop a stronger presence over Eastern Maredoratica. Spokesman Cheng Xilin spoke to journalists this morning, stating, "The People's Social Republic never tires in it's efforts to cement and develop it's worthwhile friendship with the Free Erusean Republic, we both stand as nations of equality and prosperity for all in Eastern Maredoratica, together we can acheive much more than alone. We must both stand vigilant of the False Comrade, it's influence in Eastern Maredoratica would threaten all that we have created". Spokesman Xilin also slammed the Jesselton Treaty as an insult to the Socialist venture, he again confirmed Chendu's opposition to the Questarian effort to insert itself as the leader of the Socialist community.

"Yet again the so called socialist state has attempted to enforce it's socialist agenda upon the Socialist community. They have used economic imperialism to turn Rochehaut into a client state and now they attempt to do so, with every memeber of the Treaty Agreement, we again warn our Erusean friends to avoid falling for the False Comrade's poisonous influence" Spokesman Xilin said.

Trade between Chendu and Erusea currently stands at $15.4 billion and is expected to grow to $21.8 billion by 2020. In April, the Party Committee on Erusean Relations urged the government to expand ties as to allow both nations to cooperate and develop together on various different issues, last year the government began formulating an agreement to see Erusean and Chendese cooperation on international policing and security issues. Last month Premier Zhang Jinping declared towards Erusea - 'Liberation through Cooperation', in which together they would see an end to predatory capitalism and economic injustice.

[Questers]

edit wow

[Sondstead]

I'll leave this here for Roche~

First Bora superplane for Loft Sündstedr delivered
"Next-Generation" supersonic airliner quietly whisks 128 passengers at twice the speed of sound

26 July 2013

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Loft Sündstedr supervisory board chairwoman Kada Abrams-
-sunr tours the Bora cockpit at Aerosalon Findel 2010.

Venezia — In a gala event at the factory of Van Luxemburg based aircraft maker Monteluci in Venezia, Sondstead's largest airline was handed the keys to the first of two Bora supersonic passenger jets by representatives of the manufacturer and of the lessor, Firema Capital Services — becoming the first airline in Alisna to acquire the 2,400 kilometre per hour plane.

"The Monteluci Bora is a phenomenal engineering achievement, and we are incredibly proud to be the first in Alisna to fly it.", said Loft Sündstedr's CEO E̊sbjus-Karl DeFris, on hand for the delivery ceremony. "Our planned supersonic route to Kington Langley and Maltropia will allow us to further leverage our codeshare agreement with Royal Kingtonian Airways and Windstrand's strong potential to be a gateway hub for Maredoratica and really make us a visible player in the premium international market.".

Flights on the aircraft will certainly come at a premium for customers; the cheapest round trip fares to Maltropia will be business class tickets starting at Kr 74,000 ($12,669), more than a 10% premium above present business class fares, and first class will set travelers back a whopping Kr 141,000 ($24,140). For the few who can afford it however, little expense has been spared; the aircraft will even feature an onboard bar stocked with a dizzying array of beverages ranging from Sondsteadish craft beers to premiere Morivaine wines — with a bottle of some choices setting one back over Kr 15,000 ($2,568) on it's own.

Not everyone is convinced however — some analysts warn it could be a flight of fancy.

"Loft Sündstedr has a good reputation, yes, especially when it comes to safety.", says Helmut Däumler, an aviation expert based in Brunswick-Swabia. "But it's not the kind of premium reputation for example GFG or Jungastian Imperial enjoy, so to capture that segment of the market will be an uphill battle, and it's not necessarily an uphill battle the airline can afford given it's under-performace financially in recent years.".

Nevertheless, the airline is optimistic.

"High risk plans also tend to be high-reward.", explained DeFris. "And with our existing Maredoratic network and Windstrand's geographic position longitudinally between the major markets and latitudinally north of them, it's a logical hub point for polar routes between Maredoratica and other destinations. Other connecting hubs potentially mean backtracking to get to a given final destination.".

Loft Sündstedr will use the Bora on normal routes to Clairmont, Grouse, Saint Eustace, and Trondheim starting 5 August in order to train crews and demonstrate the aircraft to the public, before beginning regular service between Windstrand and Corcaigh Nua (via Kingsmouth) on 2 September. The aircraft delivered today, christened "Sündstedr", will arrive in Windstrand this evening.

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Comment or read more at www.srrsondsteadworld.org

[Questers]

THE DAILY STAR

Sondsteader elites get new plane

SONDSTEAD's national airline, "LOFT SUNDSTEDR", has just bought two new planes from Van Luxemburg firm Monteluci.

But superplane 'Bora' isn't for low cost travel, with tickets costing more than one THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED pounds, more than most Questarians earn in a year. It will travel at two times the speed of sound and can only carry 128 passengers.

And that's only for the "economy" class. A seat in plushy business class would cost TWICE that. And a bottle of WINE could go up to FOUR HUNDRED pounds.

The Daily Star condemns the greed of the Sondsteader and international business elites who earn their money by exploiting honest workers. While Sondstead and Van Luxemburg are co-operating to find new ways for their super—rich to burn their money, we can be glad that at least our country is investing in healthcare and schools.

"The cost of buying one bottle of wine on one of these planes would pay a month's salary for two teachers," Social Economics professor Tim Byrne, University College Jesselton, told the Star. "We can really see where the concerns of the Sondsteader ruling class lie."

But the vile wealth of Sondsteader business elites could have dangerous impacts beyond their own country. Questarian officials warned that the speed and pattern of flying of the aircraft resembles a cruise missile. "It looks like a missile on a radar screen," Air Defence Forces spokesman Mark Winters told the Daily Star. "If our troops see one of these planes coming towards our country, they might mistake it for an attack, and retaliate." The Air Defence Forces had given a warning to Luft Sundstedr about the aircraft's dangerous profile, but were ignored.

Most adults will never forget the famous Champagne Incident. In 1998 Prince Peter beat to death a waiter for spilling his champagne. Don't let's forget what he was heard to have said — "This bottle costs more than your life."

[Questers]

REPUBLIC TIMES

GSR makes stunning diplomatic counter—stroke: launches Economic Conference of Emerging Countries

The Thomas Brown Building, Headquarters of the International Developmental Aid Department, where the Conference will be held, Jesselton

In response to the Brezier Group meeting scheduled to take place this week, the Questarian Government has announced its new diplomatic programme. "To confront the schemes of the wealthy capital-powers," Foreign Secretary Gen. Snowden said to the Times. "Who intend to suppress the growing economic strength of the free peoples of Maredoratica, we are launching the Economic Conference of Emerging Countries, known also as Econemcon. We have had positive feedback from the Morivaine Government on this issue, who will assist and observe our Conference."

The Conference will take place in Jesselton, where the Government has invited representatives from Rochehaut, Erusea, and controversially, Prekonate, which it has called "emerging countries." The Conference will have a number of subjects, broadly focused on how to develop inter-related economies for an alternative, fairer society. The Questarian Government has lodged strong, formal complaints about the Brezier Group in the past and recently, labelling the group, which consists of Sondstead, Jungastia, Van Luxemburg and Akimonad, as "capital-powers" and "bloodsuckers... leeches of international economics."

A sub-topic of the Conference will include how much, and how best, to allocate the foreign aid spending of the GSR, which in total amounts to around 340 billion pounds (79bn USD). Questers already spends annually almost £35 billion (8bn USD) on developmental aid to Rochehaut and £17 billion (4bn USD) to Erusea. Progress on developmental aid and where to move in the next direction will discussed. The Secretary of State for Foreign Development released in a news statement that the General Social Republic intends to "outstrip completely the meagre tossings from the table given to our friends and allies by the capital-powers... within the next five years."

The Conference may in the future, the Foreign Secretary revealed, be linked to the Jesselton Economic and Defence Agreements, known also as the Jesselton Treaty, but there are no immediate plans for this.

[Jungastia]

RTJ News Centre, Saint-Andre, Jungastia


Breaking News


Much anticipated Brezier Group Meeting to be held in Brezier on Wednesday

Although most people on the face of the planet have known about the meeting of the worlds most powerful developed countries in the small Jungastian town of Brezier for months, RTJ received the official announcement today.

As was expected, the leaders of Akimonad, Aquileia, Brünisried, Jungastia, Sondstead and Van Luxemburg, will visit Campus Brezier, to engage in the annual Heads of Government meeting.

The topic is still being kept under wraps by the Group, with speculation tipping it to revolve around moving the groups aid commitments into a new era.

The town itself has undergone immense security preparations, and as expected much of the route from the nearby ALA Saint-Ouen airstrip to the campus some 43km away, has been combed and readied, with the 12km of route that runs through the town being closed for the entire five day period of the conference.

The Secretariat Building on Campus Brezier

Marianne Ferier, a local resident and owner of the bakery on Rue de Montserrat, spoke today to RTJ - "The fact that the route through town will be closed to traffic for a lot of the time of the conference is a tad inconvenient, however all of the businesses are reporting a huge increase in business from the media circus and support staff and visitors coming for the conference"

The conference itself is open to the public, and seats in the 700 seat public gallery are allocated on a first come first served basis. with Thousands, from pressure groups to interested citizens, expected to queue for hours.

Aside from the conference, leaders are expected to be visiting a local College, a Secondary school, as well as be shown the Recently introduced FRDS V-225 stock on the Brezier - Kent line. The Jungastian Premier will undoubtedly take in a visit to the Brezier Racecourse.

It is not yet known if the Jungastian Monarch will make an appearance, though many in the town are hoping. Twelve year old Henri LaFayette said to RTJ "I hope the King comes, I haven't seen him before in person, and would like to shake his hand"

As predicted, All eyes are on this small Jungastian town for this the 37th Annual Leaders Conference.

Edith Bruni, for RTJ International News

[Oseato]

"I BESEECH YOU, IN GOD'S NAME, TO CARRY AID PROMPTLY TO THOSE CHRISTIANS AND TO DESTROY THAT VILE RACE FROM THE LANDS OF OUR FRIENDS!"
Pope Innocent IV calls for action in Karamanite Civil War.

Moselle - Following the news of the fall of the Questarian Embassy in the capital city of Corum and the disclosure of the discovery of mass graves in southern Karaman by Morivaine intelligence, the Holy See of Sévérac held a rally at Place Saint-Julien to make an impassioned plea for the Morivaine government and for Catholics around the world to assist in the protection of the Karamanite Christians currently fighting against radical Islamist militants and former government forces. Premier Duclerc, while not mentioning the Pope's comments in her speech to the nation, is said to have been in regular contact with the Pope before she announced the establishment of a safe zone under Morivaine control in the Karaman city of Ortaca.

Pope Innocent addresses the crowd outside Place Saint-Julien.

Karaman has been in a state of civil war for the past year following the removal of General Mehmet Yunnus Pasha's government after mass uprisings. Mehmet Yunnus' government, which had removed the democratically elected government several years before, was well renown for its repressive and pervasive police force and for the establishment of Sharia courts in Karaman. No one force has risen to fill the vacuum left by Pasha's government and a variety of militias continue to claim to be the rightful government of the island.

The Morivaine arms embargo on Karaman has not yet come to vote in the Maredoratica League's General Assembly, however it is being reported by numerous sources in the Ministry of Foreign affairs have claimed that Morivaine diplomats are currently entering negotiations with both the General Social Republic and Prekonate to enact the embargo before the vote takes place. Many critics of the administration have voiced their strong disapproval with the religious rhetoric being used by Duclerc in her speech and have called the Pope's comments "inflammatory in the extreme" believing that the Morivaine government should be more careful to make this a secular issue. Jean Delacroix, the Movement solidaire delegate from Sétif, issued a strong statement condemning Duclerc's actions stating that the moves may cause the start of a Third Intifada by militant elements of the Mouvement nationaliste arabe.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2013 La Resistance

[Questers]

REPUBLIC TIMES

GSR Questers to enact blockade, requests Morieux and Prekonate to assist

Destroyer GSRN Yeoman in the open seas

Following recent events in the Karaman civil war, in which a Questarian embassy was attacked, and following a "call to arms" by the Pope in Moselle, Questers is enacting plans to enforce a military blockade of the Turkic island nation, citing human rights violations and international stability. "We have waited long enough for the infertile Maredoratican League to impose an embargo," military spokesperson J P Woods told the Times. "The time to act is now. We have plans to completely cut off the flow of arms and munitions to Karaman and we are going to put these into action. Naval exercises scheduled with Morieux have been cancelled and forces that were intended for those exercises have been put on alert."

In a speech in Jesselton, Foreign Secretary Gen. Snowden informed the international community that Questers intended to blockade Karaman and that a full scale intervention was not "off the cards." The General-Minister also formally requested co-operation and assistance from the countries of Morieux and Prekonate, who have "similar goals" in the region. "In the name of peace," the General-Minister said, "We and our regional partners must act to stabilise this country and return it to normalcy. We won't wash our hands of our international responsibilities and we won't stand by as people are murdered in the streets. The Defence Forces were ordered by the Committee for General Security to prepare a plan for intervention and that plan is in the opening stages of being implemented."

[Akimonad]

The Kent Enquirer is your source for news from Akimonad, Maredoratica, and the world.

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Aid to be withdrawn from Milograd
Quigley: 'Corrupt' Milogradian government 'squandered' aid monies

Kent, Akimonad - In a stunning, unexpected about-face, President Quigley today announced that foreign aid to the fledgling state of Milograd would come to an end. Akimonad aid to Milograd has been estimated at over $3 billion. That plug, it seems, is now being pulled, amid persistent corruption permeating all levels of the Milogradian government.

"The government of Milograd has no care for its people, and has lately taken to frustrating our efforts to provide them with basic needs by requiring aid to be routed through 'official channels'," Quigley said. "From there it is embezzled down to nothing. The Republic and Commonwealth will not be responsible for subsidizing the lifestyles of corrupt authoritarians."

Quigley stressed that it had been hoped that a peaceful solution could be reached, but the Milogradian regime was stubborn in its refusal to give way. "A military solution was out of the question, as armed conflict with Milograd would only result in Akimonadi stewardship of the country for the foreseeable future, which would be an immense, unnecessary burden."

Armed forces stationed in Milograd will therefore be pulled out as a result of the policy changes. "Our boys are coming home," Quigley said.

When pressed by reporters about the lingering irredentist claims on Milograd by Prekonate, Quigley stated, "I don't think Prekonati designs on Milograd will ever come to pass, frankly." He deflected further questions about whether or not Akimonad would come to Milograd's aid in the event of attack.

The Milogradian government has yet to react to the announcement.

[Sondstead]

Karamish diaspora, others react to Pope Innocent comments on civil war
Comments seen as advocating genocide of Karamish Muslims denounced as "disgusting and inflammatory to the highest degree"

29 July 2013

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Windstrand — The ethnic Karamish diaspora in Sondstead and Muslim organizations, among others, have reacted with revulsion to an address made today by the Sévérac Pope, Innocent IV, on the subject of the civil war in Karaman.

Part of the address included a call to arms by Pope Innocent, who stated "I beseech you, in God's name, to carry aid promptly to those Christians and to destroy that vile race from the lands of our friends!".

The comments, widely seen to be advocating genocide of the majority Muslim population of the island nation, came in the wake of fierce sectarian tensions in Karaman and reports from Questarian and Morivaine intelligence of atrocities against the country's Christian minority and the discovery of mass graves alleged to be interring Christians murdered by Islamist militias. Particularly with this background in mind, the comments have been created controversy internationally as well as in Morieux.

"It is an outrage that a figure in that sort of position of respect and influence, who is also alleged to be closely influencing Morieux's foreign policy, has made such vile comments.", Ceren Tiryaki, a Socialist Labour MPA of Karamish descent representing Bänkjstedr-Centre told SRR in a radio interview. "Those comments were disgusting and inflammatory to the highest degree and will only serve to make things worse for everyone.".

An official statement of the Sondsteadish government also condemned the statements, calling them "unwise, inflammatory, and counterproductive.". The government also called for a more cautious, multilateral approach to the conflict, warning that unilateral intervention, particularly by Morieux in light of the Pope's comments, runs the risk of "engendering further escalation.".

Various Muslim and Karamish community groups, as well as anti-war activists, have called called for protests in Windstrand at both the Morivaine consulate-general in Centre Sten and at Windstrand's Sévérac Catholic cathedral in Asttun this Wednesday.

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Comment or read more at www.srrsondsteadworld.org

[Questers]

REPUBLIC TIMES

CGS orders Sondstead not to interfere in peacekeeping mission

Questarian paratroops landed in Karaman yesterday. This image was taken locally.

The Committee of General Security today issued a harsh warning to the Sondstead Government. The CGS formal statement "order[ed] the Kingdom of Sondstead not to exacerbate the situation" by "supporting and commanding its citizens to make panic-mongering comments and actions." The CGS, the country's executive body, remarked that; "Questarian military forces have been deployed in an attempt to restore peace and order to the country of Karaman and we won't allow anyone to interfere with our mission to end the bloodshed and anarchy. Any attempt at diplomatic interference is an act of aggression against the people of Questers and Karaman."

The formal statement said that "GSR Questers, as a secular and peace-loving country, is committed to ensuring an equal standard of human rights... that's the basis of our mission in Karaman. Bourgeoisie can sit in their ivory tower in Windstrand and talk about peace but people in Karaman are being killed and we are deploying our forces to prevent a wholescale bloodbath. Intelligence we have received that points to growing radicalisation and militarisation of religious groups in Karaman means that we can't stand back and wait until there is a complete genocide in that country against minority groups. The pen has failed, partially due to obfuscation from bourgeoisie countries like Sondstead and others, and now the sword must speak."

Questarian paratroops landed in Izmir, Karaman, yesterday although reports about activities have been tightly controlled and little information has been given to the media. An Army spokesman told the Times it is "too early to comment" and "a full report will soon be given about activities and intentions in the region." He was able to confirm that Questers was preparing "a larger, more comprehensive" military force to intervene in the region. "We are controlling tightly information about the operation for security purposes. When the deployment is complete, that's when the facts will be revealed to the public."

[Akimonad]

Quigley: 'Cooler heads must prevail' in Karaman Crisis
Violence erupts in ethnically divided nation.

Kent, Akimonad - President Jonathan S. Quigley has reacted to comments from the Morivaine pope which seemingly called for open genocide of Karamish muslims in the civil war that has erupted as of late.

The Morivaine pope is reported to have said, "I beseech you, in God's name, to carry aid promptly to those Christians and to destroy that vile race from the lands of our friends!" It is widely believed that the Pope was referring to the muslims that make up a significant portion of the Karamish population.

President Quigley warned against "dangerous, inciteful rhetoric", saying that "cooler heads must prevail, and a peaceful settlement must be reached," urging the parties in the conflict to enter into negotiations to bring an end to hostilities.

"The Questerians speak of wholesale slaughter, but this slaughter is their own doing, and shall continue unabated until a peace settlement is reached. The health and well-being of all Karamish citizens should be the primary concern, outweighing petty distinctions such as race, religion, or creed."

Quigley also said that Akimonad may see fit to deploy peacekeepers to Karaman to "ensure that civil and human rights are guaranteed to all" in Karaman.

"The intentions of the Questerian and Prekonati republics are hard to discern, but, given their history, I do not feel gratified by their intervention," Quigley remarked. "We shall be monitoring events in Karaman very closely."

Quigley declined to comment on rumours that he had been in touch with the government of Sondstead.

[Sondstead]

Breaking: Federal Diet approves support for MASTAMIK
Special joint session of Senate, People's Assembly approves deployment of peacekeepers to Karaman

3 August 2013

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Sidebar: Karaman
conflict in pictures

Sondsteadish Prime Minister Kristinä Lindkwist
addresses the Federal Diet on 1 August, tabling a
a motion to deploy up to 1,000 peacekeepers.

Morivaine First Citizen Monique Duclerc speaks at a
media round table on 31 July, following the beginning of
Morieux's formal peacekeeping mission in Karaman.

Abandoned, battle-damaged Karamish Republican
Army tank outside Ortaca, southwestern Karaman.

House destroyed during fighting in rural
southwestern Karaman, near Narlıca.

Breakdown of aye votes, nay votes, and absentions
by party, in both the People's Assembly and Senate.

How did your MPA vote?
Click here for the full roll call and breakdown by state.

Asteriopol — After an additional — and unusual — day of debate called for by Prime Minister Lindkwist following yesterday's official Maredoratic League sanctioning of the peacekeeping mission in Karaman — now dubbed MASTAMIK, for Maredoratic Stabilisation Mission in Karaman — both houses of the Federal Diet have granted approval by wide margins to a motion tabled by the Lindkwist government authorising the deployment of up to 1,000 peacekeepers to the war-torn island nation.

In the People's Assembly, just over seventy percent approved the motion, with 247 members voting in favour, 84 against, and 20 abstaining. Four out of the five major parties — all except the Green-Left Party — gave the motion their support, with the Christian Democratic Alliance doing so unanimously.

Lindkwist's Conservatives were almost unanimous in supporting the motion, with all signs suggesting they would have voted strongly in favour even without the government whipping the vote. Unexpectedly however, twelve Conservative backbenchers rejected the party whip and abstained from voting, largely to protest the very short timeframe for a decision being pushed by the government. While all coalition parties strongly supported the motion, a backbench revolt was also seen from the Centre Liberal ranks, with fourteen CLP MPAs voting against the motion and one more choosing to abstain.

The Socialist Labour Party by and large agreed with the humanitarian goals outlined by the government, although expressing reservations over potential escalation of Sondsteadish involvement later on, and strongly supported the measure as well, while the smaller parties largely opposed it on various grounds.

Following the Assembly roll call vote, the Senate approved the measure, with 37 Senators voting in favour, 10 against, and one abstaining. In the Senate, all parties save the Party for Makeland either voted in favour of the motion, or, in the case of the Green-Left Party, evenly split.

The Maredoratic League mission comes after evidence was released by the Morivaine government of mass graves, predominantly in the more heavily Christian regions of the majority Muslim country, and after Morieux, Prekonate, and Questers committed to intervention even if Maredoratic League sanctioning was not secured. In particular, concerns over Prekonate's human rights record have been raised with some suspecting Ostrava's intention is explicitly to back the country's Orthodox Christian minority. Some eyewitness reports on social media have suggested evidence of Prekonati war crimes in northeastern Karaman.

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Also in the news today

• KMF AlisnaJet AJ310 airliner successfully completes maiden flight
• Summer food trend: National dishes out, "Cool Cuisine" in?
• Windstrand Consulate-General attack sparks distrust in heavily Arab southern Morieux

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Comment or read more at www.srrsondsteadworld.org

[Oseato]

GENERAL DE MONFORT CALLS FOR SURRENDER
Commander of Republican Forces in Karaman issued an ultimatum to the Commune of Corum giving the city 24 hours to surrender.

Ortaca - In an statement announcing the arrival of the 21e Brigade de Cavalerie and the 17e Bridgade de Chasseur at the outskirts of the capital of Karaman, General Jean-Baptiste de Monfort issued an ultimatum to the Provisional People's Government in the city to surrender to Morivaine forces by 2200 Hours on the 5th of August. When asked about the possible impact of heavy fighting on the many historical sites and people of Corum, the General reiterated his regret that force might become necessary and stated that his staff was well prepared to use precision strikes to minimize the risks of collateral damage in the city. No mention was made of operations being conducted by the Questarians or the Prekonatis, though it was indicated that they are approaching the city if they are not already there.

Members of the 21e Brigade de Cavalerie prepare to move their armored vehicles into action outside Corum.

With the statements made the Maredoratic League and the arrival of Akimonadi and Sondsteader troops, General de Monfort again called for the recognition of his command as the rightful head of the Maredoratic League contingent stating, "It was Morivaine government that called for the emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Karaman, and it should be the Morivaine military that leads the operation. The Maredoratic League's failure to recognize our role in this conflict is a slight that will not be forgotten." The General also stated that he had no plans to liaise with the Akimonadi, Sondsteader, or Erusean forces until such a time when they were placed under his command. "If the Maredoratic League does not want to constructively contribute to the missions currently underway in the Holy Land, I do not feel the need to divert resources and officers to hold their hand through their operation," the General was quoted as saying.

General de Monfort also announced the formal cessation of combat operations in the Ortaca metropolitan area, declaring that the city was finally free from the turmoils of civil war. Heavy fighting was reported in the city of Dalaman as elements of the 13e Brigade Mécanisée have moved north from Narlica to establish Morivaine control. Dalaman, the infamous hometown of General Mehmet Yunnus Pasha, is expected to be the sight of the fiercest fighting of the peacekeeping operation. It has been rumored that the 3e Brigade Parachutiste might be removed from Clairmont to assist in pacifying the city. So far the Ministry of War has declined to comment on the rumor, though sources inside the Ministry have stated that high level discussions regarding the reinforcement of the Karaman mission were taking place nearly around the clock.

Languages: French | English | Arabic
© 2013 La Resistance

[Sondstead]

Breaking: Sondstead to recognise Karamish Provisional People's Government
Government promises aid to "Corum Commune", recognition as "legitimate interim government" of Karaman

5 August 2013

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Asteriopol — In an early morning press conference, Prime Minister Lindkwist unexpectedly announced a deal had been struck with representatives from the Provisional People's Government of Karaman to grant official recognition as the "legitimate interim government" of Karaman and to provide aid, making Sondstead the first western country to recognise the so-called "Corum Commune".

The interim government, established by rebels early in the revolt against the military government of General Mehmet Yunnus Pasha, has secured effective control over much of the Corum metropolitan area despite continued resistance from the remnants of the Karamish Army. Presently the government is being lead by a provisional council, chaired by self-proclaimed Acting President Mustafa Serkan Askoy and largely made up by secular liberals and socialists, with a significant minority bloc of moderate Islamists.

Western support for the "Corum Commune", as the GHH (Geçici Halk Hükûmet, Provisional People's Government) has been dubbed, has not been forthcoming, both due to concerns about the Islamist presence and about the biography of Acting President Askoy. Askoy, the former Home Minister for the pre-coup government who was sidelined by the military government of General Pasha, nevertheless cooperated with Pasha despite being a critic of the regime before defecting to the GHH. At the time Askoy was the most senior official to defect to the rebels, raising accusations of him being an opportunist interested in seizing power himself.

Concerns have also been raised that a significant number of the members of the GHH — and an even larger portion of the GHH-backed fighters — are Islamists, particularly after allegations were raised by Morieux and Questers that Islamist groups, predominantly based in the countryside, have been involved in atrocities against the minority Christian population. GHH representatives however have contended that the government represents a broad section of Karamish society and that the moderate Islamist groups participating in the provisional government are distinct from the fundamentalist groups carrying out sectarian attacks in the rural areas of Karaman, pointing out that members of the Christian, Jewish, and Shiite minorities in Karaman are represented among it's supporters.

The announcement comes the day after the commander of the Morivaine forces in Karaman, General Simon de Monfort, called on the GHH to surrender within twenty-four hours and allow Morivaine troops to enter the city, an ultimatum which expires at 22:00 this evening. Lindkwist denied the announcement had "any significant correlation" with the Morivaine ultimatum, stating that negotiations with the GHH had commenced several days ago, but did state that if Morieux followed through on it's ultimatum it would "destroy a nascent democratic government with strong native support" and represent "a significant obstacle to peace". Lindkwist also confirmed that, given the agreement to support the GHH, Sondsteadish peacekeepers would be deployed to Karaman "as soon as is practical.".

The government signaled that it expected further recognition of the GHH to come from other governments as early as this evening.

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[Sondstead]

Federal Election 2013: Elfred Wirt voted next Centre Liberal leader
Hawkish Defence Minister to replace Kle̊mssunr, will lead CLP in October elections

18 August 2013

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Defence Minister Elfred Wirt speaks to supporters
after his narrow leadership election victory.

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CLP conference at a glance

• Round 1: Jülia Gran 37.86%, Elfred Wirt 27.90%,
  Wiktorja Ingjessünr 21.55%, Hörner eliminated,
  E̊ugje̊nssunr withdrew
• Round 2: Jülia Gran 42.95%, Elfred Wirt 30.86%,
  Wiktorja Ingjessünr 26.19%, Ingjessünr eliminated
• Round 3: Elfed Wirt 51.43%, Jülia Gran 48.57%,
  Wirt elected

Nörtkjeäben, Windstrand — At the conclusion of the Centre Liberal Party conference in Nörtkjeäben, Defence Minister and foreign policy hawk Elfred was elected by party members to replace retiring Interior Minister Rübert Kle̊mssunr as party leader, raising concerns in some circles that tensions with Questers and Prekonate may continue to rise.

Wirt was one of five candidates to be on the ballot at the leadership convention, which was primarily held as an internet vote open to all party members, along with Agricultural Minister Wiktorja Ingjessünr, Immigration, Integration, and Equality Jülia Gran, and backbenchers Gaard E̊ugje̊nssunr and Kjen Hörner.

Over 39,000 voters cast ballots, straining the internet-based voting system. Despite Gran taking an earlier lead over a party right split between Ingjessünr and Wirt, she struggled to break fifty percent and when it came down to a head to head vote, Wirt emerged victorious, although by a much narrower than expected margin of just over one thousand votes.

As Defence Minister, Wirt has been a particularly staunch critic of armed forces downsizing and budget cuts which previous governments had carried out since the collapse of the communist regime in Prekonate in the mid 1990s, and is reported to have been instrumental in killing a plan to significantly cut the armed forces' personnel and abolish national service proposed by the Socialist Labour government in 2009 and rejected by the centre-right coalition shortly after it took office in October of that year. Wirt has also been a key supporter of a plan passed by the People's Assembly in June to extend mandatory national service to women.

Wirt's advocacy for stronger defence measures and perceived hawkish tone towards Questers and Prekonate have made him a polarizing figure, even within his own party; during the leadership campaign, both E̊ugje̊nssunr and Gran criticized Wirt's foreign policy positions as "provocative", while criticism from the opposition has been especially sharp, with Green-Left Party co-chairwoman Hedjin Le̊fssunr describing Wirt's rhetoric on armed forces policy as "dangerous to continued Sondsteadish neutrality".

Wirt reiterated his party's intention to contest the elections in October in cooperation with it's Conservative and KDA coalition partners, and that the three parties will coordinate their candidate slates to attempt to maximize overall coalition gains.

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[Jungastia]

RTJ News Centre, Saint-Andre, Jungastia


Breaking News

The Prime Minister, Dr Angélique Aveline Tailleur, appeared on all Jungastian based Television and Radio this morning to Announce the Death of His Imperial Majesty The King.

In the Statement, Prepared by His Late Majesty's Personal Secretary, Dr Aveline Taileur announced that The King passed at 05.35am this morning, Tuesday, 20th August 2013, in his private bedchamber at the Chateau Deauxvilles. The rest of the Imperial Family were byhis side at the time. As of yet the cause of death is not known.

RTJ understands from the Cabinet Office, that a three day national mourning period will commence from today. His Late Majesty's body will be returned to Saint-Andre to lie in state for one week.

RTJ will now cease broadcasting for the day, aside from news bulletins and the shipping forecast.

RTJ extends its deepest sympathy to the Imperial Family.

[Sondstead]

Jungastia's King Edouard IX, 62, dies
Monarch passed away of unspecified causes early this morning

20 August 2013

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Saint-Andre — Jungastian Prime Minister Angélique Aveline Tailleur this morning unexpectedly announced that at 5:35 (3:35 EAST) the Jungastian monarch, King Edouard IX, had passed away of unspecified causes after twenty-nine years on the throne.

The King's death came as a shock to many Jungastians; nothing had been mentioned in the news of the King's health prior to the announcement of his death, and the King had reportedly been in good health just weeks before when he presided over a meeting between representatives of the Jungastian government and the ambassadors of Morieux, Prekonate, and Questers.

While the King had been highly regarded among Jungastians over much of his twenty-nine year reign, he distinguised himself from most other monarchs in Maredoratica by taking a more expressly political role, and because of this was often not immune from political criticism, particularly for his overtly conservative, traditionalist politics and manner. While the King introduced and championed a bill allowing for gay marriage in 2009, he did so only after his son, Prince Jacques, came out as gay. Personally, the King was renowned for his short temper; the memoirs of former Sondsteadish Prime Minister Eädweärd Tomassunr described one encounter during the King's first state visit to Sondstead in 1987, during which a visibly frustrated Edouard left a state dinner early after a contentious discussion on trade policy.

Despite political disagreements some had with his governance, however, both Edouard and the institution of the monarchy remained popular in Jungastia, and the King in his later years had grew out of his image as a brash monarch, ascended to the throne at a relatively young age, to become a respected Maredoratic statesman.

Edouard is survived by his wife, Queen Marianne, three sons, and a daughter, and will be succeeded as King by his son Augustin, 29, who will accede to the throne as King Augustin III. King Christopher IX offered the Jungastian people and royal family his "sincerest condolences on this sad day for their country", and the Prime Minister's Office also released a statement offering the government's condolences.

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[Questers]

[Sondstead]

Federal Election 2013: Parties deliver final pitches as voting approaches
Incumbent coalition touts strong economy against opposition accusations of growing inequalities

4 October 2013

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Prime Minister Lindkwist prepares to
speak in the industrial town of Eskerrös.

Eskerrös, Chamrland — Prime Minister Lindkwist's campaign jet landed at Eskerrös-Fikjen Airport today for a final stop in traditional Socialist Labour territory, to deliver a last election pitch before returning to her home constituency in Windstrand City; touting strong economic growth in response to opposition accusations that her premiership has coincided with "the most significant growth in inequity in this country in decades", as opposition leader Karl D'Ambrosio described it.

"My primary goal has been to competently manage the economy without the sort of ideological and divisive rhetoric or policies some on both sides have suggested.", Lindkwist told supporters gathered — despite the drizzling, clouded weather — on a market square in the town. "I am confident I have accomplished this and that common sense reforms and job creation efforts have succeeded in creating an environment that is both good for business and good for employees. This good business environment is partly responsible for, in this city, KMF creating 1,200 new jobs to export cars around the world."

Tomorrow, Lindkwist will fly home to Windstrand, holding a final campaign rally in her home constituency before voters cast their ballots on Monday.

Elsewhere in the country, Lindkwist's coalition partners repeated many of the same economic talking points, while at the same time attempting to shore up support among core support bases who have questioned coalition policies; new Centre Liberal Party leader Elfred Wirt, likely to become Deputy Prime Minister if the coalition wins reelection, campaigned in his home town of Öfreräberg, Mideldal emphasising the coalition's continued commitment to a neutral foreign policy, strong defence, and agricultural policies favourable to farmers — issues closely watched by rural CLP voters. Some analysts have suggested gains in the polls made by the right populist, anti-immigrant Sondsteadish People's Party may be attributable to CLP supporters disgruntled with the coalition's internationalist foreign and trade policy jumping ship.

The opposition Socialist Labour Party, hoping to make gains despite slipping poll numbers and a popular incumbent government, held major coordinated rallies in a dozen cities, including an appeal to expatriate voters in Mannheim, with party leader Karl D'Ambrosio speaking at a union hall in Bankstead, where he told steel and heavy equipment workers an SAP government's first priority would be "not just jobs, but good jobs" and touting his plan to supplement tripartite bargaining with a guaranteed minimum wage of 68 Kr ($11.64) per hour, while tieing a stagnant average wage and increasing gap between the salaries of a base level employee and a CEO in an average company to Lindkwist's policies.

Concurrent elections

Elections will also be held in three states and territories concurrent with the federal elections.

In Sitonland, all 40 seats of the State Senate, the upper house of the state's bicameral legislature, are up for reelection.

In Windstrand State, 128 seats in the State Diet are up for election. The 2013 state general election is the first to be held under a reform passed earlier this year abolishing Windstrand's tricameral Diet and it's replacement by a unicameral legislature elected using mixed-member proportional representation; leaving Sitonland as the only state retaining multiple chambers in it's Diet.

In the Sondsteadish Antilles, all 19 seats in the Territorial Council are up for reelection.

A non-binding referendum will be held in all states and territories asking voters if they approve or disapprove of Sondstead joining the Maredoratic League; the Lindkwist government has been involved in negotiation Sondsteadish membership in the transnational organisation since this May. Prime Minister Lindkwist has guaranteed that the government will respect a potential no vote.

Opinion polling

International Policy Opinions Centre/Tet Mörgen Post, Mäximiliän Hanssunr Institut, OQ Media, and SRR Pölidigen released their final opinion polls before the legal cutoff Friday evening. The SRR Composite Poll, averaged from all four sources, showed;

• The Conservatives at 36.8%, down from an early August peak, but remaining 4.5 points up from the 2009 election.
• Socialist Labour at 28.3%, improved from a February low point and 2.2 points down from 2009; just outside the (averaged) 2% margin of error. However, this would never the less represent the lowest vote share for the party since the 1957 federal election, surpassing 1981 as the worst SAP performance in the past half century.
• The Centre Liberals at 13.9%, down 1.3 points, within the margin of error, from 2009.
• The Christian Democrats at 6.7%, virtually unchanged from 2009.
• The Green Left Party at 4.9%, another within the margin of error drop (0.9 points) from 2009.
• The People's Party at 4.0%, a 1.1 point gain from 2009 (within the margin of error), despite continued controversy since the party entered parliament in 2009.
• The Party for Makeland at 2.7%, up 0.7 points from 2009.
• In the Maredoratic League referendum, the Yes side maintains a thin lead at 49.6%, with 44.1% saying they'll vote No and 6.3% remaining undecided. While narrow, the Yes side's lead is now firmly outside the margin of error.

Such numbers holding would, roughly, result in a People's Assembly with the Conservatives holding 134 seats, Socialist Labour 107 seats, Centre Liberals 46 seats, Christian Democrats 23 seats, Green Left 17 seats, and the Party for Makeland and the People's Party 9 seats each, with other parties holding 6 seats as the balance. The KP/CLP/KDA coalition would return holding 203 seats in total, increasing by nine seats and holding a comfortable 27 seat majority.

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[Jungastia]

RTJ International Office, Saint-Andre, Jungastia

Headlines In Brief


Date for Coronation Set --- Cause of Death of Late King Revealed --- Saint-Andre Tram Receives New Vehicles

Coronation to be held on August 19th 2014

Cathedral of Our Lady of Saint-Andre

The Imperial Household and the Prime Minister's Office Jointly announced this morning the proposed date of the coronation ceremony for Augustin, due to be crowned Augustin III. The date chosen, 19th August 2014, will be the 60th anniversary of the relinquishing of colonies and the formal establishment of the Royal Federation.

It is believed that the ceremony will remain much the same as those that have gone before, and will be the third televised ceremony, but as before the anointing will remain a hidden affair. The Interior Ministry has announced that the day of the coronation and the day before will be bank holidays.

RTJ will also be hosting a concert in the grounds of the Charmenbroug Palace with top acts from across Maredoratica.


Sudden Death of the late Jungastian King, Edouard, Explained

The as of yet unexplained death of the Late Jungastian Monarch, Edouard, has been explained by the personal physician, Dr I.D. de la Croix to the former King this morning in a statement released to the public through the "La Journal du Saint-Andre". After the traditional wait until after the state Funeral.

Dr. de la Croix, in his statement confirmed that the late King had died from multiple strokes in two large phases, on earlier on in the evening, and the the terminal phase just after twenty past five that morning. It was stated that the passing was peaceful and that the Late King was strong willed right up until the last.

FRDS Cité-80.6

New FRDS Trams see service on main routes in Saint-Andre

The Saint-Andre Tram and Pre-metro network began the full-scale rollout of new FRDS Cité-80.6 tram cars on all major city routes. The model features a new ground supply system for power collection to remove the masses of tram wires in the historic city centre.

The rollout comes after a six month trial on Routes 5, 12, and 27 in which passengers praised the new design, and the comfort of the ride. The order, subsidised by federation government and topped up by the Saint-Andre Federate City government, will inject billions of Libra into the economy of four states of the Federation and is expected to creat over 600 jobs over the course of the project to roll our the Cité family of trams across the country.

[Sondstead]

Federal Election 2013: Official results confirm coalition gains, Yes vote on ML
Coalition takes home smaller than expected net gain of four seats, voters approve Maredoratic League membership


Prime Minister Kristinä Lindkwist, supporters, watch election night returns on television

8 October 2013

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Asteriopol — With preliminary official results released by the Federal Election Returns Bureau, the incumbent coalition government, while performing less dramatically than some anticipated, has made small gains.

The Conservatives received roughly 34.9% of the vote, up 2.6 points from 2009 and a high water mark since the 1981 elections, but markedly below pre-election poll numbers. When the People's Assembly returns to session on 21 October, the party will hold an estimated 129 seats, up eight from the outgoing parliament, and remaining by a fair margin the largest party in the assembly. The Christian Democratic Alliance also made small gains, going from 23 to 24 seats.

In comparison, the Conservative's largest coalition partner, the Centre Liberals, took 13.5%, down 1.7 points from 2009 and expected to return to parliament with 45 seats, down five from the outgoing one. The Centre Liberals lost ground to their Conservative partners, but also to the far right Sondsteadish People's Party; the later likely drew some support off from the CLP among voters unhappy with the party's tacit support for the coalition foreign policy. The SFP was able to gain more than half a point and go from 6 to 9 seats in parliament.

In total, the governing coalition took an increased majority with 198 seats. However, this represented a slightly smaller than expected four seat net gain and a relatively small change in the internal dynamics of the coalition.

The night went poorly for both of the former coalition partners in the 2005 to 2009 centre-left government, who, as expected, suffered additional loses on top of their dramatic fall in the 2009 elections. Socialist Labour declined to 29.4% and an estimated 109 seats, while the Green Left Party declined slightly to 5.4%, losing a seat and entering the next parliament with an estimated 19 seats.

In Makeland, the nationalist Erakond Mägimaa picked up half a point, to receive 2.5% and take an additional two seats, finishing at a total of 9 seats and becoming the largest party in the state's assembly delegation. The minor parties of the Independent Working Group made up the balance with 2.4% and 7 seats. Turnout declined slightly to 73.5%, despite a potentially contentious referendum also appearing on the ballot.

In gaining an increased majority on the strength of a strengthened Conservative performance, Lindkwist was able to convince voters about the coalition's economic record, despite more contentious issues of defence funding and foreign policy surfacing.

"While very rarely is it the only thing on the mind of voters, the state of the economy is generally a top issue for most people", said Mäximiliän Hanssunr Institut analyst Lars Lütsebürher. "If the state is stable and the economy is growing, it naturally favours the incumbent, if the economy is unstable and people can't find work, it favours the challenger."

Maredoratic League referendum

Concurrently with the People's Assembly election, voters were also given a chance to make their opinion known on one of the longest running questions in Sondsteadish foreign policy; if the country should remain outside the Maredoratic League, or join it. After continual discussions since the transnational organisation's establishment in 1973, Sondsteadish voters rejected full membership by a nearly ten point margin in 1997, although by that point the country had became an observer state and established less official cooperation.

In 1997, the Yes campaign had only cautious support from the Conservative and SAP leaders, despite supporters convincing then Prime Minister Peder Fritssunr to hold the referendum. In contrast, the 2013 Yes campaign had strong support from the Conservative leadership, especially from Prime Minister Lindkwist who was instrumental in organising renewed membership talks on the back of heightened fears in some circles over future Questarian or Prekonati militarism.

It is likely this change of tone that helped the Yes side achieve a narrow victory, 51.7% to the No side's 48.3%. However, analysts also see a bigger shift in opinions.

"It is now a popular opinion that being a Maredoratic League state does not mean giving up neutrality", said Tödrikjr Ärtemssünr, a fellow at the Sondsteadish Maredoratic Institute, a leading think tank. "There is a marked shift toward a different view of neutrality, which does not see international participation as being opposed to the traditional model of neutrality. The present view also doesn't value as much the sort of non-involvement doctrine which was popular in the mid 20th century. To a degree, anti-internationalist movements such as the People's Party are a reaction to the fact that anti-internationalism is no longer the definitive mainstream, so proponents of it are forced to look toward movements which are outside the prevailing establishment."

The previously issued government roadmap in the event of a Yes vote suggested that Sondsteadish accession should be achieved by the end of 2014 but that additional negotiations will likely be necessary even following a referendum.

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