Septentrion Regional Headlines

[Roskian Federation]

Yugoslovenski Federal Times
Riots in Zepce end after military escalation
4:31PM; 30.4.2018

Yugoslovenski military forces fire watercannons on loan from Maldania

ZEPCE - Yugoslovenski Military and Police along with Komarom Police from Maldania used water cannons, tear gas, smoke grenades, and rubber bullets to end a two week long riots in Zepce. Police reported no further deaths during the two and a half hour struggle between demonstrators and government forces.

Police have struggled with riots after flash protests in the Zepce turned violent. Initial military unwillingness to respond changed on Sunday after military installations set to help wounded was attacked by rioters. Three rioters and one servicemen were killed in the incident.

National hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties after several incidences and struggles, including on the 16th when police fired indiscriminately into a crowd of protestors and rioters. Total casualties are 52 dead and 416 wounded, the worse single incident since the bombing of Porkot in 1993.

Yugoslovenski has cancelled national alerts for Zepce, but the Yugoslovenski Embassy in Ostland still has a travel advisory to those travelling to the Zetenski Republic. The highway which travels into Zetenski from Maldania has also been temporarily been closed as well.

[New Hayabusa]

The Rising Sun Tribune

BREAKING: TAKENA METRO BOMBED, 30 DEAD/220+ INJURED

PM Vows Retaliation for Lives Lost, Calls GA to Conference

IDA Home Guard troops were deployed in metro stations across Dayashina and it's territories, Shizuna Station pictured

Endo, Hideo | 5 May, 2018 - Barely under an hour ago, reports buzzed in from sources all over Honsho island that an explosion was sighted and heard in the Takena Underground. Confusion ran rampant among the media and people on the ground immediately following the unfortunate happening as bystanders flooded out of the metro to report what they had seen. Seconds after the explosion, multiple gunshots were heard, prompting a dispersion from people around the scene. As our reporters spoke with eyewitnesses to the event, it was confirmed that a bomb had been set off in one of the terminals that connects the Underground with Takena International Airport. Eyewitnesses also reported seeing three men wielding small arms firing off rounds into crowds of people.

“It all happened so quickly,” a crying eyewitness, choosing to remain anonymous, said, “one second everything was normal and the next, I was on the ground with someone else’s blood all over me.”

“I barely escaped,” remarked Futoshi Nakamura, another distraught eyewitness survivor, “I shouldn’t have. The concussion from the blast was so strong that it knocked me off my feet and far away from where it had happened. My ears are still ringing, I can barely hear anything around me. I don’t know how or why I’ve been spared death, but it’s not something I’m inclined to question.”

As confirmation of a terrorist attack was given, IDA Home Guard troops were dropped into Takena to deal with the suspected terrorists who were reported still alive and causing chaos in the underground. Three fireteams were dispatched through the three main points of entry to the station while policemen moved into position to guard other possible routes of escape. Following a brief firefight, the IDA teams reported two confirmed kills on men bearing compacted sub-machine guns and handguns. A few minutes later, the teams reported again, this time confirming a capture of the last suspect after he reportedly ran out of ammunition in a gunfight.

After the events, accurate estimates of casualty counts were reported - with 30 people presumed or confirmed dead and around 220 people deemed as injured, with 24 in critical condition. Intelligence suggested that the attack was carried out by a prevalent Kouraki militant group, dedicated to destroying any semblance of modern civilisation and the enforcement of “Sharia Law” on the Meridian continent and abroad.

Simultaneously, as the raid on the Metro station was taking place, Home Guard troops were also deployed into other high-density areas nationwide, suspecting a follow up attack. While the greater area of Takena was placed on a state of lockdown and emergency, business as usual continued around the rest of Dayashina’s cities, under the vigilant watch of the Home Guard and the resources of metropolitan police departments.

The Celestial Complex, the seat of power in Nakazara, was abuzz as
information about the attack flowed in and government officials rapidly
formulated their responses

About thirty minutes directly following the attack, from the Complex in Nakazara, the Prime Minister went on air to deliver a reaction and provide some further details on the matter. Noru began in a somber tone following a moment of silence for the lives lost, and steadily crescendoed his tone and diction from that point onward.

“On my honour, I vow to exact immediate retaliation on the organisation responsible for claiming the lives of dozens of our dutiful, innocent civilians,” Noru remarked with emphasis, “these acts can not and will not be tolerated on our soil. The Imperial Armed Forces High Command is already in conversation with allied powers, and I have called on numerous Grand Alliance heads of state to a online conference which will determine international policy regarding the terrorist group.”

“The full power of the Dayashinese Armed Forces will be brought down upon this band of untrained, uneducated terrorists,” blasted Iemasa Kobayashi, a spokesman for the IAF, “and these acts of unwarranted brutality will responded to with the extreme pace and lethal efficiency that our brave defenders can put forward onto the battlefield. As we are speaking with numerous allied governments regarding how action will be taken against this band of terror, military assets are already en route to positions to prepare for action on the honour of those lost today.”

When asked by a reporter about the possibility of Dayashina becoming bogged down in a localised ground war against an ideology, Kobayashi refused to respond, stating that he would not be speaking on sensitive intelligence matters until operation were already in motion.

In Other News:
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Further information released regarding YF-23, Dayashina's future multirole fighter aircraft [62,588 views]
Dayashinese F-35 buzzed armed Maracaiban vessel in international waters [NEW] [46,926 views]

[Themiclesia]

May 6th, 2018
咸安元年三月戊戌　哉死霸四日

Explosions and Gunfire in Takena Airport Metro
Dayashinese PM to Respond with Force

Dayashinese soldiers (stock image)

Driang-k'riang, Takena Correspondent—Early in the morning, Takena Airport's underground metro stop was the site of a fatal terrorist attack, says the Dayashinese government spokesperson, Mr. Hayabusa; another source desiring to remain anonymous has affirmed the government's stipulations to this newspaper.

As yet the precise casualty figures are not precisely and finally known, though over 20 have been declared dead and more than 200 removed to nearby hospitals from the site, which was seen pelted with bullets and shattered glass, amongst other manners of mangled debris. The death toll is expected only to climb in the approaching days.

In less than a half-hour after the incident, the Dayashinese Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Mr. Noru, made an emphatic declaration deploring the bombing and massacre; he led the correspondents in attendance first with a moment of silence recognizing the lives lost and injuries sustained, then, with great conviction and staking his "honour", committed the nation's attention and forces to retaliate against the culprit—without naming one—behind this grisly episode.

Formations of the Dayashinese Home Guard have been dispatched to other stations of public transit, in anticipation of similar events there.

The head of government further stated that he has reached out to the heads of state of the Grand Alliance, in discussion for possible responses to the matter. At the transmission of this edition, our correspondent in Takena has not received any information describing responses by foreign governments.

Gho Nehm-piehm, Correspondant-at-Large, adding to the article above, to appear in print in the Afternoon Issue—The Prime Minister has today been confronted with revelations by his Dayashinese counterpart, who, according to this newspaper's correspondant in Takena, Mr. Driang-kriang, has sought foreign attention in preparing a response to the deadly incident unfolding in Takena this morning.

The Prime Minister averred in the customary joint press conference at the South Side Gate that the Dayashinese chief minister has indeed telegraphed to the effect relayed by Mr. Driang-kriang.

"In recognition of the magnitude of the disaster transpired today and the situation that the highly esteemed Mr. Noru, has elucidated, this government will, at present, refrain from unnecessary comment; my colleagues and I have countersigned proclamation an edict setting forth the Emperor's condolences for those that perished for no good reason today," the PM said.

In a responding statement published by the Civil Air Transport Administration (CAT), the Director thereof desires "to inform the public that no such danger is proximal in any domestic airport and their tangent infranstructure, and appropriate authorities have been directed to take information emanating from this most unfortunate incident under advisement pertaining to their jurisdictions."

When probed for the government's plan of action, the Prime Minister reiterated the "very sensitive nature" of the situation prevents premature disclosure. However, the Foreign Secretary submitted in writing very soon afterwards to the editor of this agency that Themiclesia will "honour all obligations towards the Grand Alliance and most expeditiously deliver any humanitarian assistance to Dayashina and her citizens."

Gho Nehm-piehm, Correspondant-at-Large, extending the article above, to appear in print in the Afternoon Issue—In a statement released by the Court of Correspondence Administration less than an hour ago, the government has conferred with the Meridian Chancery to appoint the Foreign Secretary as Envoy Extraordinary to the Grand Alliance, for the conference that the Dayashinese PM has summoned. This paper notes that around two hours ago, the Organized States has expressed its intention to be represented at the same event by its Vice President, Defense Secretary, and Chairman of the Joint-Chiefs-of-Staff.

"The prolonged indisposition of my colleague, Mr. Seaw, Secretary of State for Defence, unfortunately prohibits his attendance," the Foreign Secretary tweeted shortly after the statement's release, "I will be taking his place."

[Minilov]

Mlaz Airways pilots issue strike notice

MALJUBAV, Minilov — The unions that represent pilots at the Maljubav-based airline Mlaz Airways have issued a strike notice for next Sunday 13 May. The conflict will provide a first test for the airline’s CEO Ioana Foerster who took on the job as head of Mlaz Airways just over a month ago.

Although there is still time for the strike to be averted, the strike notice means that it is possible that Mlaz Airways’ customers will have to make alternative travel arrangements next Sunday.

The strike notice has been issued after consultations with the pilots, the vast majority of whom say that they reject managements’ “final” proposals on salaries and pensions that was published last week.

The proposals found acceptable by just 8% of Mlaz Airways’ pilots. The unions say that of those that rejected the proposals 80% are in favour of taking strike action.

"The strength of the signal the pilots are sending out is clear. Since the changes at the top two months ago there has been no clarity about future plans within the Trans-Casaterra Group”.

"We want there to be clarity about a clear growth scenario for Mlaz Airways with room for everyone that has made sacrifices for the company during the past few years.

The unions and Mlaz Airways’ management now have a week to find a solution. If they fail to do so the pilots will down tools around midday next Sunday. If the pilots go on strike it will be only the 2nd time in the Mlaz Airways’ 16-year history.

The first time was a 1-day pilot’s strike in 2013. 500 pilots work for Mlaz Airways.

[Nova Sylva]

SYLVA TO DEPLOY NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN MERIDIA
Permanent bases and temporary mobile launchers

The T-3 missile has the capacity to carry a nuclear warhead up to 80 kt, as well as a combination of chemical, biological, and conventional warheads.

CHANDLER - Parliament, in a 631 - 294 vote, removed Sylva’s Meridian enclaves "Nuclear Weapon Free Status" clearing the way for the Ministry of War to go ahead with plans to station an unknown number of T-3 Émancipateur theatre ballistic missiles on the Maraciaban Peninsula and Valencian Islands. Rumours have circulated that the Sylvan military has repeatedly stationed units with easy access to nuclear weapons in Valencia since 1971, however, several investigations by the Parliament Oversight Committe demonstrated that the Ministry of War did follow through on the removal of major missile installations across the department after tensions had passed. Following the rise of tensions between MEDA, the GA, and Menghe against Sylva, her allies, and their interests in the past few years, the Ministry of War announced it would be exploring the possibility of returning nuclear missiles to the islands early this year to "insure the continued security of Sylvan jurisdiction in the Eastern hemisphere."

Several members of the Syndicalist Party who voted against the measure, against the wishes of their party leadership, noted that such a move was unnecessarily provocative. Supporters of the action justified their actions as "necessary in the face of an increasingly unstable world." The newly created Committee for the Security of Liberal Septentrion announced that it would like to seek the removal of the nuclear free weapon status of the Sylvan bases in other foreign holdings as the next step toward "the continued stability and security of liberal regimes across our world." However, many observers, both foreign and domestic, sense that the new change in policy mirrors Sylva's increased military and economic commitments towards the Commonwealth of Maracaibo, who's plans for territorial expansion across Meridia have been made well-known by its charismatic leader, Prime Minister George Robert Kerman. Despite these actions and words, His Majesty’s government has refused to comment at this time.

Parliament is expected to pass a resolution calling for the Ministry of War to begin immediate implementation of any plans to restore the decommissioned missile facilities in the Valencian Islands and for the implementation of plans to build new missiles silos and control facilities on the Maracaiban Peninsula within the next two years. A spokesperson for the Ministry of War confirmed that "mobile nuclear weapons" would likely be deployed in the coming weeks and months while preparations were made to construct more permanent homes for the T-3 missiles. The spokesperson refused to comment on the exact form the "mobile nuclear weapons" would take or under whose control they would be placed. Stated Sylvan nuclear weapon doctrine requires the express permission of His Majesty to be released and used by military commanders, though some members of the Parliament are now discussing the possibility of revising the nuclear doctrine in order to place the weapons under the direct control and discretion of local commanders.

Ignacio Velasquez contributed to this article.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION | REGIONAL HEADLINES | ABOUT APJ |

[Minilov]

Mlaz Airways: "Don’t come to the airport”

MALJUBAV, Minilov — Ahead of the strike on Sunday and Monday, Mlaz Airways has all its call centres fully staffed to assist passengers that have seen their travel plans hit by the pilots’ industrial action. The call centres will also be fully staffed on Monday. The airline says that there is no point going to the airport.

More than 400 flights have been cancelled on Sunday and Monday and 63,000 passengers are affected by the strike.

Mlaz Airways’ Cim Danci told MNTV that "We have contacted between 45,000 and 50,000 passengers over the past few days.”

A total of 5 call centres are being used in order to contact all the passengers. “There is no point coming to the Maljubav airport. We won’t be able to cope with big queues at the airport as we have deployed everyone to the call centres”.

Mlaz Airways’ management and the pilots’ representatives will meet again this afternoon in an effort to resolve the dispute. Mlaz Airways’ new proposals focus more on issues related to pilots’ work-life balance. The airline hopes that an agreement can be today tonight, so that tonight’s strike can be averted.

[Jedoria]

The Tukayyid Sentinel

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Jedoria reflects on 10th anniversary of Civil War's end

In cities across Jedoria, including Strana Mechty, Leoben, Taurach, Dranga, Impor, Lothas and Gol, parades and ceremonies were hold in honor of the tenth anniversary of the conclusion of the Jedorian Civil War. On May 20th, 2008, the last bastions of the Jedorian Revolutionary Defense Forces, the armed services of the Socialist Republic of Jedoria, laid down their arms and surrendered to members of the 7th Tukayyid Guards, signifying the end to hostilities. Over the course of four years of war, nearly 2 million Jedorians are believed to have lost their lives, while another 8 million were internally displaced by the fighting. In Strana Mechty, Archon Jaan Kask, himself a veteran of the conflict, urged Jedorians to remember those who had fallen to overthrow the corrupt Socialist regime, and to remain positive about the future of the Federated Combine.

The Socialist Republic had ruled Jedoria since 1954 when it splintered 60 years later in September 2004, after years of economic decline and a regression of civil liberties saw public opinion swing against the Jedorian Communist Party. Although hundreds of thousands of Jedorians remained loyal to the Socialist Republic, the majority of the population turned on the Central Government (headquartered in Lothas), and sparked what is today known as the Uprising. Supported by a mass defection from the Jedorian Revolutionary Armed Forces, the newly christened Jedorian Combine declared it's intentions to end Socialist Rule. Strana Mechty was declared the capital and soon fighting broke out across the country between the rebels and the Socialists, sparking the Civil War and plunging Jedoria into chaos. But from Chaos, the rebels rose. In Satalice, Arstotzka, Radstadt and Tikinov the Combine rebels defeated the forces of the Socialist Republic, and after a hard fight drove them out of our homes, and eventually forced the collapse of the Socialist Republic.

Although many today will celebrate the end of tyranny, many others will solemnly reflect on those who lost their lives during the war. The Federated Combine estimates that 1.8 million Jedorians were killed, including nearly 500,000 civilians. We may never know the exact number of casualties, but millions more were wounded or left scarred by the war. In Strana Mechty, the senior general staff of Central Command laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Rebel, commemorating the hundreds of thousands of rebels who fought and died during the war. Archon Kask personally laid flowers at the site of the Kentares Massacre, where Socialist forces murdered 1,052 innocent civilians in 2006.

A decade has passed, but in many locations the scars seem fresh. Satalice, where 1/3rd of all casualties of the war occurred, is still covered with unexploded ordinance. Mine clearing operations are still undergoing across many states. Debris and rusted remains of armored vehicles can be found scattered across countless battlefields. Hastily dug graves are unearthed every week. Skeletons and expended ammunition can be found in almost every town. The Luminovian Canal was only re-opened in 2014. Economic recovery has been slow and uneven. The Federated Combine still has numerous issues to handle, few of which have proven easy to solve. At least for today, the Jedorian people can look back and agree that they've come a long way.

[Minilov]

Minilov trade mission to New Tyran

HADAWAY, New Tyran — The Minilovan President Yaroslav Miher (Liberal Democratic Party) left for New Tyran on Saturday for a week-long trade mission. Representatives of than 50 Minilovan companies are with Mr Miher on the mission to the South Casaterran country. They hope to find a new market for Minilovan products such as pork and frozen chips. The trade mission has been organized by Minilov Investment & Trade. It got underway on Saturday 19 May and runs until Friday 1 June. The mission will visit Hadaway and Harrington.

Last year New Tyran enjoyed more than 4% economic growth was. The accountancy and audit firm Costaquahome Coopers (CaC) expects the country that has a population of 78 million to be among the world’s top economies by 2025. New Tyran has a growing middle class and there is increasing demand for quality food.

Around a third of the Minilovan trade delegation is made up of representatives from the agricultural and food industries. As well as the brewers and cabbage-make that traditional go on foreign trade missions there are numerous representatives of the pork and poultry industries as well as companies that deal in fresh fruit and vegetables and frozen chips.

The Minilovan Centre for Agricultural and Fisheries Marketing writes in a press release that “New Tyran is an important market in Casaterra and this is why there is such a large delegation from the agricultural and food industries”.

As well as on food the focus of the mission is also on urbanisation and maritime development. There are also meetings planned with politicians and academic institutions.

[The Soodean Imperium]

中央日報 중앙일보
Jung'ang Ilbo
Foreign Edition

Look to the facts when seeking the truth

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30th National Day Celebration: What You Need to Know

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Song Ŭn-ji; 2018 / 05 / 25

Today - May 25th, 2018 - marks the 30th anniversary of the formal establishment of the Socialist Republic of Menghe, which formally ended the temporary period under the Interim Council for National Restoration that followed the Decembrist Revolution. A national holiday across the country, it is also known as National Day or Constitution Day, a time when all non-essential businesses and public offices close in observance of a great moment in national history.

Today's celebration in Donggyŏng, which had been carefully planned for months in advance, was the grandest the country had hosted so far. It surpassed even the spectacular 20th anniversary celebration in 2008. The speeches, displays, and conferences took the date as an opportunity to look back on the progress Menghe had made in the last three decades. In 1987, under the inept leadership of Ryŏ Ho-jun, the country was gripped by poverty and famine; today, it boasts the second-largest economy in Septentrion, and has seen enormous improvement in the population's average standard of living. Through the policies of the Socialist Party, Menghe has been utterly transformed within the span of one generation, and the day's events made a special point of highlighting this outstanding transformation.

In the opening speeches at 9:00, the highest national leaders made this focus clear, highlighting the many areas in which Menghe has moved forward. Supreme Commander Choe Sŭng-min gave the longest set of remarks, thanking the Menghean people above all else for their determination and commitment in building up the country and moving it along the road of national restoration. In a development foreshadowed at the Revolution Day celebrations and the Party conference earlier this year, he formally announced that Menghe had attained the status of a "moderately prosperous society," an enormous milestone which for many years had appeared only as a goal in the distance.

The opening speeches from Donggwangsan Palace were followed by a military parade, a long-standing tradition in National Day ceremonies. Soldiers of the Menghean Army and Menghean Navy marched south along the city's central avenue, following a time-honored route which Choe's own soldiers had incidentally followed when liberating the city in 1987.

Past National Day parades have served as opportunities to show off new military equipment, and this one was no exception. Leading the armored vehicles section was a ten-vehicle unit of the JCh-8 main battle tank, an advanced fighting vehicle comparable to the latest generation of MBTs developed in Tol Galen and Casaterra. Of entirely domestic design, it boasts a hydropneumatic suspension, a high-power diesel engine, and a state-of-the-art fire control system, all on the cutting edge of the technological frontier. It also mounts the "Thundercloud" active protection system, also a domestic weapon, and it can be upgraded to carry a 140mm high-velocity cannon. Contrary to initial speculation, it was not armed with a 35mm autocannon in the co-axial position or turret cheek, but announcements during the parade stated that it could be upgraded with a 35mm autocannon in the turret bustle if needed. "Thundercloud" APS was also featured on the JCh-6M tank, a new upgrade which brings many of the JCh-8's improvements to the battle-tested "Vanguard;" this model followed the JCh-8 through the parade.

The second great surprise came in the air: the first ever public debut of the SL-10 fifth-generation stealth fighter, which made an overhead pass during the airshow portion of the parade. In development for many years, the SL-10 seems finally mature enough to reveal; in fact, announcements during the parade confirmed that it had passed performance tests in the preceding months, and the Army already had several hundred on pending order. Menghe's lack of a fifth-generation stealth fighter has long been a source of consternation in military circles and even among the general populace, and the long-awaited arrival of the SL-10 will shore up a long-standing weakness in Menghean aviation capabilities.

In the afternoon, the center of activity moved to the Sinsuk Convention Center, built in 2012 as the Sinsuk Olympic Park. Here, a vast convention allowed visitors to see the many advances in development, technology, architecture, and culture which Menghe has achieved since 1988. Popular attractions included a vast digital map tracking the rapid growth of train lines and metro systems across the country; an artistic exhibit by Choe Jiwŏn, who tracked down the vantage points in thirty pre-Revolution photographs to juxtapose them alongside the radically developed skylines of today; interactive models of the planned Yŏng'an Thorium Molten Salt Reactor; and a life-size mock-up of the lander module for the proposed Galeno-Menghean manned mission to Venus.

In contrast to the morning's events, most of these exhibits focused on civilian accomplishments, with the exception of a "military pavilion" displaying the latest in Menghean military technology. Additionally, while the core exhibits were curated by the Menghean government, a large number were set up by private corporations or individual artists. The emerging technology giant Sinsegye gave a preview of its upcoming Arirang 5 smartphone, which promises to offer the Arirang 4's features in a more compact and user-friendly package, and the Samsan Industries Group showed visitors its "electric car for the mass market." Some exhibitions were even co-curated by representatives from foreign governments or corporations.

Diplomats and other official functionaries from more than a dozen countries attended the expo, and a few took part in well-attended roundtable presentations on the Socialist Republic's relations with their countries. Among these were not only traditional Menghean allies like Dzhungestan and Polvokia, but also representatives from Tol Galen, Themiclesia, and other invaluable partners in economic and technological development. A retired Themiclesian diplomat and his Menghean counterpart from that time reminisced about the "friendship train" filled with famine aid which had set the two countries on a favorable course so many years ago. Even New Tyran sent a visiting delegation to the parade and convention in an effort to patch relations; Yugoslovenski planned to send representatives, but they were turned down, a clear snub apparently directed at Yugoslovenski's continuing political influence in North Saintonge.

Contemporaneously with the convention, the National Assembly held a ceremonial vote to choose the new national leadership. The 76-year-old Choe Sŭng-min was unanimously elected Chairman to roaring applause, and Kim Pyŏng-so was elected First Deputy Chairman, the next-highest post. Both ran unopposed and received all votes. Mun Jae-sin, the well-regarded Minister of National Economic Development, was elevated to the post of Deputy Chairman, replacing Choe Tae-sŏk, who had announced plans to retire the year before. Yet it was the election of the Speaker of the National Assembly, who by convention is also given a Deputy Chairman post, that drew the most attention. For the first time in the history of the Socialist Republic, there were two Party-endorsed candidates for this post: An Gyŏng-jae and Ryŏm Hyŏn-sŏk. Representative An won with 161 votes out of 278, with 98 representatives voting for Ryŏm Hyŏn-sŏk and 19 abstaining. This genuinely contested vote margin, which many analysts had anticipated, reflects the continuing evolution of intra-party democracy in Menghe, and the country's continued movement toward a system of flexible consensus-building.

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Other News

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Menghe Expands Special Student Visa Program for Ummayan Youths
Introduced in 2007, the Special Student Visa Program offers a much-needed opportunity for Ummayan students seeking a university education in world-class institutions abroad, but who are unable to find admission elsewhere due to discriminatory immigration controls on the Theocratic Republic. In 2017, there were 46,000 Ummayan students studying at Menghean universities, and if the visa program is expanded that number is likely to climb. more

Statue of Cho Myŏng-wŏn Draws Criticism and Productive Discussion
Built in the city of Yŏjin, the grand statue is one of many in Menghe devoted to Cho Myŏng-wŏn, the famed "Tiger of the West" who led a successful campaign in Themiclesia during the Ŭi dynasty. The main controversy centered on the statue's inscription praising Cho's promise to unite all Meng peoples, in terms which many Menghean netizens argued was unduly hostile toward the sovereignty of Themiclesia, today a trusted Menghean ally. more

[Minilov]

National Bank issues warning about cheap mortgages

MALJUBAV, Minilov — The Governor of the National Bank of Minilov Nedo Statak has said that Minilovan banks should be aware of the risks of them granted mortgages with very low rates of interest. Although not wishing to over-dramatise, Mr Statak says that it leaves the banks vulnerable.

Banks know that customers that take out mortgages are very loyal. Consequently, they try and lure potential customers with low mortgage interest rates.

However, the Governor of the National Bank warns that "I think that we have a healthy real estate market, but there are some areas in which it is vulnerable”.

The Minilovan real estate market didn’t suffer ill-effects from the 2008 financial crisis. Since 2000, taking into account inflation, property prices have risen by almost 75%.

Those buying property are lending increasingly greater sums of money. Half of the mortgages issued to Minilovan lenders cover more than 80% of the value of the property purchased. In a third of cases, this is more than 90% of the value. The average amount lent is 160.000 ruble.

Mortgages account for 1/5 of banks assets. In order to protect themselves from any ill-effects that might arise from a real estate crisis, since last month the banks have been obliged to set aside and 600 million rubles for a buffer to cover mortgage risks. This is in addition to the 900 million rubles already set aside.

"We have asked the banks to set a bit more capital aside in case risks should emerge on the real estate market”, Mr Statak explained.

[Maverica]

Die Nationale Bauer
Working with you to feed the world...

Maverican farmers exploit marijuana trade

For two years since President Nurzan signed the Weed Bill into effect a new breed of Maverican eager and initiative farmers have been reaping the benifits ever since. The Weed Bill passed in June of 2015 legalized marijuana and opium growing but continued the long tradition of keeping it illegal. Instead the bill focused on the export potential for marijuana and opium to nations that have legalized the drug for medical use.

Farmers received this with open arms praising the President for his initiative in opening the way for Maverica to exploit and prosper off this new trade. Most of the marijuana is exported to the Organized States of Columbia with limited amounts to Casterra. However, some Maverican citizens met this as unfair to the Maverican people as marijuana and most opium products are still criminalized. In respons to the unrest, taxes on tobbaco products have been reduced quelling most of the unrest.

However the bill limited the amount of land that can be cultivated for these products by selling licenses to produce marijuana or opium. By the first year the limited had been reached causing many farmers to push for no ceiling licenses allowing thousands of small farms to grow the crop with a license. With the increasing demand for marijuana across the globe for its legal medical and recreational uses, Maverica has the chance to lead the world in this new industry.

Many members of the Federal Council have expressed agreement with the farmers and a bill is currently in the works. This new bill would remove the ceiling on marijuana and opium production and increase the number of licenses given out to farmers while keeping it criminalized at home. However it doesn't come without resistance. Some party members in Council and Council members staunchly oppose the bill citing that Maverica will be seen as a global drug cartel and that the country will lose it's values. President Nurzan refused to comment however he did assure the old guards that legalization of use in Maverica will never happen. The bill is planned to be voted on next week.

[Maltecna]

Artsakh Oracle
Issue 2018

Operation Arevelyan k’amin deemed success

With Operation Arevelyan k’amin nearing its conclusion, Divisional Commander of the 1st Guards Motor Rifle Division, Sirekan Hazarapetyan has stated in a recent press conference in Serevan that ''Separatist have been pushed an additional 15 kilometers back, and have lost valuable equipment''. This statement was made following the decisive armored battle at Dilijan, where tanks of the 1st Guards Motor Rifle Division met the Separatist Armored Unit ''the Eastern Tigers''. Following the battle, and a decisive Government victory, Separatist forces were forced to retreat due to a lack of armor to combat two entire Motor Rifle Divisions thrusting into their center.


Armored vehicles with invasion markings covered in infantry of the 1st Guards Motor Rifle Division advance down a road


Pro-Government militia boasting light armored vehicles securing a street in the recently captured town of Dilijan

Increased Government action made to raise the voice of Ethnic Artsakhans

The Artsakh Government has taken action to raise the voice of Ethnic Artsakhans present in the border regions in Artanor. As a result, the Artsakhan Government has requested the Federal Socialist Republics (FSR) to support Artsakh in this time of support for ethnic Artsakhans. Furthermore, the Artsakhan Government has called for the Artanor government to commit to a referendum in the border regions to decide whether the Ethnic Artsakhans wish to join territorially with Artsakh.


President Zareh Koumjian speaking to the National Assembly on the matter of Ethnic Artsakhans in Artanor

National Assembly prepares road revitalization legislation

Notorious for poor road quality, with some roads having been built more than half a century ago, the National Assembly has prepared a session for voting of legislation which will allocate additional funds to the Ministry of Transportation to repair the neglected road system, especially between major cities such as Serevan and Artanat. The vote will be held on Friday, with results being issued in the following hours.

[Minilov]

Fewer children born in Minilov in 2017

MALJUBAV, Minilov — According to figures released by the Minilovan Children’s Agency, 65,000 children were born in Minilov during 2017. This is 2.2% fewer than in 2016. A fall in the number of births was recorded in all 6 Minilovan provinces. The fall in the birth rate was most pronounced in Rekaušće (-4.5%) and Nasjeveru (-3.8%).

The figure of 65,308 births recorded by the organisation Dijete i Obitelj (Child and Family) in 2017 in the six provinces that make up the Minilovan nation was 1,495 down of the number record in 2016. With the exception of a slight rise in 2016, the birthrate has been going down in Minilov since 2011. Compared with 2011 there were almost 5,000 fewer children born. The 2017 birth rate is now at the same level as in 2005.

More boys than girls were born in 2017 (51.1% as against 48.9%). 44.2% of children born were first-born children. 35.6% were second-born. 71.1% of babies were born to mothers between 25 and 35 years of age. 1.2% had a mother younger than 20 and 2.9% of new mothers were over 40.

28.1% of the children born in 2017 have a mother that didn’t have Minilovan nationality when she was born. This is 1.7% more up on 2016. The largest groups are mothers with Erquinian (4.6%), Beloslavian (2.1%) and Vurtakaset (1.9%) nationality or roots. The fact that a mother a had different nationality when she was born doesn’t necessarily mean that she is a migrant. Many women in this group have lived here all their lives.

[Vyzhva]

-- Ⰽ Ⱁ Ⱃ Ⰳ Ⰰ Ⱃ --
VOICE OF THE VYZHVAN PROLETARIAT

THE VYZHVAN PROLETARIAT MARCHES ON

Piruz Zhuravel
13/6/2018 - Zygar, Vyzhvan Collectivist State

---

Photo Courtesy: Bohdan Lutsenko

Thanks to the vigourosity of our workers' brigades, our glorious proletariat has managed to fulfill the periodical goal set by our Collective People's Maslihat, and not just that, our proletariat has also managed to surpass the periodical goal, an achievement which truly needs to be celebrated. These glorious news were announced this afternoon by our paramount leader, Vazyl Ruban, during a speech concerning our goal of ultimate self-sufficiency.

The goals were achived, and surpassed, in all industrial as well as agricultural sectors. These results may only point toward the proven ethnic supremacy, and inherited vigorousity, of the Vyzhvan people, as compared to our degenerated capitalist neighbours. These results also show the superiority of Zayetism-Collectivism, as devised by Ygor Zayet.

With these happy news, we may also announce that the People's Mobilisation has hit an amount of manpower never seen before in Vyzhvan military history. Surely this is a result of increased Vyzhvan awareness of the current geopolitical status, but also because of increased patriotism towards the motherland. With these factors in mind, the ever-expanding size and quality of our military, and the superiority of the Zayetist system, Vyzhvan national sovereignity is assured, at least for the coming years. However, we must not commit the fatal mistake of letting out guard down.

May the Vyzhvan people continue to recieve such happy and glorious news, and may our People's Mobilisation protect us from the ever-present aggressors who possess the intent of bringing the regime of our glorious Paramount Leader to a grinding halt. May we pray for the continued prospoerity of the Vyzhvan motherland. Vitayu!

Approved By The Ministry of Domestic Information

[Minilov]

National Bank remains optimistic despite fall in economic growth

MALJUBAV, Minilov — The National Bank of Minilov says that the Minilovan economy will grow less this year than had been initially predicted. The bank now predicts that our country’s economy will grow by 1.5% this year. Despite the National Bank having revised down its growth predictions, the bank’s Governor Nedo Statak says that the situation is returning to normal and that there is no question of an economic slowdown.

The figure of 1.5% is lower than was initially predicted. However, the National Bank still believes in what it describes as stable expansion.

“If the economy is growing less quickly now, we consider this to be a return to normal after last year’s strong growth. Pressure is slowly building on the labour market that can act as a brake on production”, Mr Statak told MNTV.

The Governor of the National Bank says that the rest of the Casaterra is in the same boat. An extra 97.000 jobs are expected to be created with unemployment in Minilov as a whole expected to fall to 7%.

“7% is from a historical perspective very low, but really it is still too high. We need to carry on with structural reforms if we are to get unemployment down still further”.

“A lot has already happened, such as the reform of the pensions system and the tax shift, but we need to continue surfing on this wave and make the labour market even more dynamic.

[Minilov]

Maljubav South Station is Minilov's busiest rail hub

MALJUBAV, Minilov — The Maljubav South Station saw an average of 61,179 passengers coming and going on a daily basis (on weekdays) last year, making it Minilov's busiest station. That's according to statistics released by Minilovan Rail. The local station in Pourtes (Ljubimaca province) is bottom-of-the-table with just... four passengers.

Traffic jams in and around Maljubav are long, despite a big number of commuters travelling to the capital by train. The whole top-3 is made up of the Maljubavs main stations, with Maljubav Central on number two (59,258 on weekdays) and Maljubav East on three (58,461).

Sjevernate Saint-Basil takes fourth place, claiming the title of busiest station in Uplaninama province (56.314). Trziste Central and Jezerograd follow in fourth and fifth place, a long way behind Sjevernate, with passenger numbers between 34,000 and 35,000.

Minilovan Rail boasts 549 stations or stopping places across Minilov. Seven of these have less than 20 travellers per day. Most of these places are situated in Ljubimaca province. The figures are based on countings on the sites, during a relatively short period in October, and may not be completely accurate, Minilovan Rail says.

[Roskian Federation]

BREAKING Saintonge invaded: Clash on the border results in Yugoslovenski invasion


Yugoslovenski M-84AB1 in Maldania, 2014

Yugoslovenski military forces have crossed the border into Saintonge, a source from the Ministry of Defence confirms. Military forces crossed the border Thursday after Saintonge forces fired at Yugoslovenski forces early in the morning, killing 8 and wounding 15 more. Air strikes have also occurred on the border with Saintonge.

Yugoslovenski and Saintonge forces clashed Monday, with Saintonge forces being forced to withdraw from the border after suffering heavy losses.

The government has declared that Saintonge can avoid continued war by immediately surrendering the northern portion of its country, which has a majority Sebrenskan ethnic population. This is similar to the previous demands made by the Yugoslovenski Government to Saintonge in the past, including during the 2017 Summit Attempt by Sieuxerr to have Saintonge and Yugoslovenski meet to discuss after a series of escalating clashes between the two during the year. Yugoslovenski declined the Summit after Saintonge stated that surrendering of the Sebrenskan North was completely off the tables.

The Yugoslovenski Armed Forces have declared that Active Reserves need to go to their respective bases immediately.

This article will be updated as more information is available.

[Minilov]

Unemployment will continue to fall despite a slowdown in economic growth

MALJUBAV, Minilov — The Interior Ministry of Ioan Pekmez has published its predictions for the Minilovan economy in the coming 5 years. Although economic growth will slow down there will be a growth in the number of jobs. Growth will remain stable at 1,6% until 2020.

This is largely thanks to increased domestic demand. Minilovans’ disposable income is increasing thanks to a tax shift. This is reflected in increased consumption and more new jobs being created. The increase in disposable income will tail off between 2020 and 2023 and the balance of trade will be negative. This will be reflected in the economic growth predictions. Growth will fall back to 1,2% by 2023.

A quarter of a million jobs will be created over the next 5 years. This is considerably more than over the past 5 years. Fewer industrial jobs will be lost than in the past 5 years. Meanwhile, it is predicted that 24.000 jobs will be created in the construction industry.

Although the percentage of the working age population in employment will rise by more than 3%, this will still be less than the average in Casaterra. By 2020 it is expected that 70,4% of the working-age population will be working, while the actual target agreed for 2020 is 73,2%. In 2023 the Interior Ministry predicts that 72% of the working-age population will be in employment.

Unemployment will fall sharply this year. This trend will continue over the coming 5 years. It is predicted to fall to 7,2%, this would be its lowest level since the 1970’s. The percentage of people working will increase in, amongst others, the age category between 55 and 64 years-of-age.

The Interior Ministry predicts that the budget deficit will rise to 1,7% in 2020 unless additional efforts are made. The prediction of an increase in interest rates is bad news for Finance Minister Anđeo Marić, as around 2 thirds of the saving that have been made over the past five years have been thanks to the low-interest rate levels.

[Organized States]

Navy SEAL killed in Southern Caño Negro, DoD Says

Stephanie Boxer
Senior Space and Defense Policy Correspondent
(5/27/18)

FAIRFORD - The Defense Department says a raid in southern Caño Negro has resulted in the death of a member of the elite special operations team known as the OS Navy SEALs. The raid took place early Tuesday morning against what the Heptagon called a "suspected training camp" for the Green Legion, a radical ecoterrorist group that was responsible for the infamous Fairford Metro Bombings last year. Colonel Bryan Gerald, Heptagon spokesman, said that the raid was authorized by President Beauregard in light of an "outstanding threat" to the homeland originating from the camp. According to Gerald, the Marines took fire immediately upon their landing in what was described as a "botched raid". Despite taking fire, the SEALs were able to successfully neutralize the facility, but at the cost of a currently unnamed SEAL. OS Forces have escalated their involvement in the small nation in recent months following President Beauregard's addition of the Matamoros Drug Cartel to the list of multinational terrorist organizations. The Matamoros Drug Cartel is believed by the OS Intelligence Community to have partnered itself with organizations like the Green Legion as it has grown its human smuggling operations into the OS Mainland.

[Maltecna]

Luftwaffe Announces new Aircraft Procurement

Amidst over 15 years of service with the Luftwaffe, Generalleutnant Max Fiedler announced that the Luftwaffe plans to procure 110 McDonnell Douglas F-15OASE (Ostland Advanced Strike Eagle) Multi-role Strike Fighters. This was made after a Request for Information (RFI) bill issued by the Luftwaffe in early 2017, which aimed to acquire a more advanced model of the F-15O or an entirely new aircraft to replace it. Generalleutnant Fiedler in the same Press Conference was asked for the reasoning behind the replacement of the Notorious 'O' Variant, Fiedler stated ''With technology advancing every day, We must adapt to the new threats, the F-15O has served its purpose, and it is now being replaced.'' The Luftwaffe expects to receive its first F-15OASE in December of 2018.

Military expansion denounced by Dawn Coalition

With the Ostlandic Wehrmacht witnessing mass expansion and rearmament to adapt to new threats globally, the Dawn Coalition, headed by the Liberal Party and Socialist Dawn Party openly denounced the expansion, which is being carried out by and supported by the Alliance Coalition. Following the denouncing of the expansion, members of both Coalitions debated each other on the matter, with Axel Wahl, a prominent member of the Horizon Party stating ''Despite the defeatist Socialists attempting to talk down of our Military, we will continue to support the Military amidst this defeatist wave of hate''. Despite the Dawn Coalition denouncing the Military, majority of the Reichstag has continued its support for military expansion, despite some members of the Left Party changing their stance.

Exercise Northern Resolve 18 begins

Exercise Northern Resolve, a major annual exercise carried out throughout Ostland every year has begun once more, with the scenario being an OPFOR incursion into Ostlandic territory, following up with a subsequent counter-attack. Units involved include from Ostland 4 Infantry Brigades, 2 Armored Brigades, and the 1st Panzerlehrbrigade. Foreign participants include Tol Galen, Organized States of Columbia, and Themiclesia. The exercise in question is being carried out in the States of Kommerania and Eisenbenen.

[Minilov]

Government announces 1.25 billion investment in projects around the Maljubav Orbital

MALJUBAV, Minilov — The Minilovan Government has announced investments totalling 1,25 billion rubles in a total of 18 projects designed to improve the quality of life for those living and working around the Maljubav Orbital motorway. As was announced earlier, stretches of the motorway will be covered over. However, this will not be done along its entire length.

Last year the city council reached an agreement with a number of action committees concerning orbital motorway. It was agreed that a roof be put on the Maljubav Orbital Motorway in a similar way to how the other authorities tackled the issues from noise nuisance and pollution in their capital cities. It was also decided that throughgoing traffic should be separated from local traffic. The city council also agreed to take measures to reduce the number of cars in Maljubav.

The Minilovan Government is investing 1 billion rubles while the City of Maljubav is investing a total of 250 million rubles. "Half of the cranes used for in the construction industry in Minilov are already in Maljubav, now the other half can come here too”, the Mayor of Maljubav Baros Tkalac joked. Meanwhile, the Minilovan Transport Minister Dobravoda Tolleb said that "This is only the start, but it is a serious investment”.

[Jedoria]

Jedorian troops lead the world in ability to surrender en masse

The Silver Rock, Jedoria’s Finest News Source

FORT VIKARS - Saying that there was no real competition in the field, the Central Command of the Federated Combine Mustered Soldiery announced that when it comes to surrendering, Jedorian troops possessed no equal in the world. Colonel General Bronislavs Vītoliņš, senior commander of Central Command, said in a press release that “Jedorian soldiers maintain the unrivaled capability of recognizing the conventional superiority of their opponents, and immediately dropping their weapons, raising their arms above their heads, and surrendering en masse to what force they may encounter, regardless of intention or the numerical inferiority of the enemy.

According to the official report published by the Department of Internal Reviews, which operates under the Bureau of Defense, Jedorian soldiers, sailors, and airmen were uniquely qualified to surrender far faster and more efficiently than any other national military or defense force in the world, thanks in large part to the variety of circumstances that allow Jedorian forces to more quickly recognize their complete inferiority in combined arms implementation, tactics, operational planning, information gathering, reconnaissance, rifle marksmanship, maneuver under fire, battle drills, technology, and information management. “Jedorian soldiers simply possess no equal, thanks in large to the fact that nearly all of our equipment is underpowered, lacking in maintenance, was produced more than 30 years ago, hardly a single soldier in the entire Mustered Soldiery has ever fired their rifle outside of training, the majority of our personnel are conscripts, and that most of our troops spend all their time assisting in reconstruction efforts than any actual combat or technical training.” Vītoliņš explained.

The Colonel General highlighted a recent multinational exercise with Sylvan and Tyrannian troops earlier this year as proof of the Jedorian ability to surrender markedly faster than any foreign counterpart. “It was actually pretty tricky to get it all down, because both the Sylvans and Tyrannians brought combined arms forces that forced us to respond to each situation, but I’d say our boys handled it fairly well. First our anti-armor battalion surrendered when they realized their anti-tank guns and rocket launchers, which were all built in the 60s, were powerless to penetrate the armor of modern tanks like the Sylvan Caballero. Our air defense battalion abandoned their equipment once they realized that basic Tyrannian jamming rendered all of our triple A and SAMs useless. And of course our tank and mechanized infantry battalions gave up when they realized that their Syvlan OPFOR had them out-ranged by more than a kilometer on virtually every weapon system.”

“Hell, our artillery batteries even took the initiative by surrendering before they had received any requests for fire missions by just walking away after the trucks that were towing their howitzers broke down.”

Vītoliņš admitted the exercise was not without it’s flaws. “We did have an overeager Senior Lieutenant of a mechanized platoon successfully hold off two Syvlan companies by taking advantage of some easily defensible terrain near a ridge line that ran all the way to an unforded river, but once their chain-of-command got wind the entire platoon threw up their arms and marched into captivity.”

According to Central Command, the Federated Combine Navy and Air Force had also shown remarkable aptitude in surrendering, the Navy by scuttling their ships as soon as they left port and the Air Force by bombing their own hangars and runways to render them unusable. “We’re all very proud of our troops.” A beaming Vītoliņš told reporters. “You never know when the Vyzvhans, Andorans, or Soviets are gonna come pouring over that border, and all of us can rest easy tonight knowing that in the event of a war, Jedorian troops will be standing at the ready, prepared to throw down their weapons, flee, or beg for mercy from whatever enemy their facing.”

In other news:
-Scientists confirm that electro-swing music is good, but not great
-Second headline usually a let down
-New study says Jedorians kiddos ain’t learning good

[Roskian Federation]

Yugoslovenski Government releases 438 page document detailing reasons for invasion of Saintonge


Yugoslovenski MiG-29 takes off for assault against Saintonge

Yugoslovenski has published a 438 page document, highlighting its goals in Saintonge, as tensions between the Organized States, Sieuxerr, and Yugoslovenski continue to climb over the violence in Saintonge. In it, the government details a "United Slavic Nation", the ultimate goal of attacking the country. It indicates a proposed partition of the country, with the Sebrenskan majority portion being annexed into Yugoslovenski as the Federal Soviet Republic of Northern Saintonge and the Federal Soviet Republic of Southern Saintonge, and the southern portion, mostly French and Eisen, being annexed into Sieuxerr, who has territorial claims over the entire country.

In the document, the struggle of the Sebrenskans in Saintonge is described to be part of the "United Slavic Struggle", in which it describes the slavic people as oppressed in countries where they are not the majority but are the largest minority. Saintonge is the biggest example of this, with a French majority and a French patriarch, but minimal Sebrenskan Representation.

It further describes the civil war as "the united slavic struggle against French imperialism - the Yugoslovenski troops have convinced the slavic people to put down their hammers, break their chains, and fight back with Nikonov rifles to end their many decades of oppression... and unite with their comrades in the North."

Yugoslovenski continues to fight in Saintonge, in which military forces have made singificant gains near the border with the country. It is unknown what will happen when Saintonge and Yugoslovenski forces meet, or where they would meet.

[Themiclesia]

Jul. 15th, 2018
咸安元年六月（三日）戊申　

Editorial: Statue to Drjaw Mrjengh-ngjwan Arouses Controversy in Menghe
An Unusually Liberal Course of Events in the Autocrat's State

(Please be advised that editorials do not represent the position of this newspaper or any of its employees and affiliates.)

The statue in question

Lak-lang—May last, the state news agency of Menghe, Jung'ang Ilbo (中央日報, Trjung-'jang-ngjot-puh) released an article commenting on the unusually proliferate Internet discussion around a newly erected statue of Drjaw' Mrjengh-ngjwan (Cho Myŏng-wŏn), the Menghean general during the Ngjarh (Ŭi) Dynasty that invaded Themiclesia in 1385 (Dzed Dynasty, 2nd Year of Sjo-tsung).

While none of us are so blissfully unaware of the multitudinous and devious tactics that the Autocrat Tswoi is wont to employ to concentrate the affection and devotion of his subjects upon himself, and their anger against his nemeses, that this statue should have become controversial demands analysis.

We do not propose or consider that Tswoi has any intention of granting his subjects any more intellectual freedom than the excessive amount they already enjoy, but we must entertain the possibility that the longevity of this conversation on the Internet can only result from especial clemency from none other than the Autocrat himself.

One is tempted to narrate an excursus on the historical realities as they pertain to the statue. In 1384, the Ngjar ruler commanded Drjaw' to invade Themiclesia in an effort to "subdue the rebellion of a thousand years"; this much is quite forthcoming of the edict (which seems to have been recorded verbatim). Of course, Themiclesia by this point had indeed been a state for thousand years and then some, but never once in any document prior to 1384 has Themiclesia ever been described as a "rebellion". That the Ngjar ruler took this view is absurd in and of itself, and then that it is implicitly accepted by the individuals who drafted the inscription inevitably rings alarms globally over the historical veracity of his averments and the fantastical inscription that upon it rests and monstrously flourishes.

Taking an alternate perspective, the Ngjar polity is itself nothing short of a rebellion. It arose out of a peasant revolt (thus much admitted by Menghean scholars in Menghe) and overthrew the Sung-hrwar (Sung-hwa) court; in contrast, all but one dynastic succession on this side of the continent occurred by peaceful abdication. We admit that by peaceful we do not imply voluntary, but in this context, involition appears less of an ethical and political problem than outright civil war.

In either event, that the statue's sponsors decided to commemorate this aspect of the rule of Ngjar (amongst others of a much more acceptable character) is utterly stupefying.

The inscription further asserts the existence of a promise to "unite the Meng peoples", which they attribute to Drjaw'. Aside from the very probable situation that the attribution is apocryphal or fictitious, Drjaw' himself, according to both states' histories, was not demonstrative of any effort to "unite" the two nations, unless by "unite" they mean engage in war. In fact, we would go so far as to say that, absent the quick thinking of Ghjwang Kred (then Prime Minister of Correspondence), Drjaw' could very well have reneged upon his promise to "unite" and gave in to "annihilate". If the statue had instead praised Drjaw' for his tactical deftness, it would be marginally yet appreciably more acceptable than his present characterization.

And then one must assess whether he delivered on his "promise". Aside from exacting 100 catties in gold every year and procuring annual missions to Trjung-krjang, we fail to see how Drjaw' has fulfilled his commitment. We do not say he deceived his sovereign, but we do assay that, as far as the inscription is concerned, both the promise and the fulfilment are historically unfounded.

The astute supporter of the Autocrat, perhaps under his retention, will assert that Drjaw' opened a trade route which led to centuries of profitable commerce for merchants of both origins. We demur, however, that trade across the Hemithean deserts has always occurred, and what prevented Themiclesian merchants from making our products available over there is, ironically, the instability then regnant in Menghe. Under such circumstances, few merchants would trek the desert, knowing that there would remain the trial of civil war barring trade. We further rejoin that, if someone in Menghe ought be credited for this actual increase in trade volume, it would be the good sense of the Ngjar court and its ministers that advocated trade; Drjaw' clearly did not merit this posthumous accredition.

In Themiclesia, it is commonly accepted that the means of government is the Domestic Registry, which identifies each natural person to the state. This is the foundation of civil governance. Yet Drjaw' did not request this country to submit the registry to the Ngjar court, nor did the Ngjar court offer any reciprocol benefit to this country. Additionally, Drjaw' may claim the credit of several thousand Themiclesian lives lost in resisting his incursion, which Themiclesia did nothing to provoke. Even in Menghean sources it is stated without disgiuse that the operation was an agressive war, waged purely out of the Ngjar court's volition. We put to the sponsors of the statue the question over Drjaw' substantive contribution to the civil government of this country, which surely is the basis of any reasonable definition of "unity".

While the inscription does not include an overt qualifier of "political" to "unity", as therein appearing, we have good reason to suspect that it is connoted or intimated. For then it was obvious, now it is obvious, to our progenitors it was obvious, and to Drjaw' it must have also been obvious, as citizens of this country that in Tyrannian is called Themiclesia, we have not ceased bearing the mantle of Meng culture. We write Meng. We speak Meng. We use a Meng calendar. We obey a legal code first compiled by Meng jurists. We have a government first devised by Meng statesmen. For the nigh-2,000 years of history that Meng people have settled in Themiclesia, its cultural heritage has been grafted from what was once of the State of Meng—which the Kjom (and its progeny) destroyed.

For the first two dynasties in this land, we have persisted using the final reign name of the Meng Dynasty (建安, Kian-'an). We wrote of the rump state of Dzjwan-rar (Chŏnro) as the Restored Meng (中孟). When the Dzjwan-rar collapsed in 542, and its rulership fled here, we conferred the title of Emperor Superior, one that we had never appropriated for our own rulers, upon the head of the dynasty-in-exile. It is not until 618, when that line died out, that courtiers at that time were confident of the demise of the Meng line and that the only place where Meng culture thrived was here, hence the assumption of that title.

In all this, and certainly much more, we say that Drjaw' has earned a statue as a general; we do not accept a statue in memory of his "promise" of "unity", and we conversely find it ghoulish and a misrepresentation of history, one that has the taint of the Autocrat ubiquitously engrossed upon its surface and substance. From this, we conclude that Ts'woi, by permitting this discourse and luring his innocent subjects into participating therein, presumes to diminish and debase the historical identity of this nation and to diguise his personal rule and monologous control of the faculty of thought in Menghe now in continuance.

—Mr Beens

(Please be advised that editorials do not represent the position of this newspaper or its affiliates.)

—Letters—
Sir—It has been a considerable interval of time since I last read nonsense on this highly reputable paper. How is it that the Capital Correspondent prints an article about an assuredly immaterial thing to a politician of Ts'woi's calibre and state, analyzed in such excruciating detail, and which bears even less relevance to the public of this country? I pray you, Sir, answer this question before those are put to the Menghean sponsors of the statue.

Sir—It troubles me to become aware of the recent trend of exaggerating information and inbuing malice—nay, conspiracy—into everything one can see, especially through your lens, Sir. Even in that country presumption of innocence is accepted conceptually (though not always in practice), and few are the causes for publishing this indictment on one who may prove a valuable ally to this country and its public.

Sir—You do amuse me.

Sir—We will not longer suffer to read your polemics. If you, Sir, desire to publish articles of this nature, may I venture to suggest that Menghe may attest to be an accommodating place for one of your mind, given a few minor alterations in your perspectives and prejudices.

[Minilov]

Political Parties Comment on Budget Bill

MALJUBAV, Minilov — National Assembly president Aurél Blago Bohumil of the ruling LDP party called the 2019 bill a budget for families that would ensure steady growth. In the debate, he said the budget would preserve Minilov’s security, maintain economic growth and support for families while keeping the creation of full employment in mind. He said since 2010 LDP had pursued responsible budget management. The budget deficit is declining and economic growth is no longer based on foreign credit, he added.

József Blažej Kocsis of the conservative opposition CAO party called the 2019 budget “unsustainable” from an economic and social point of view, saying it failed to address the challenges faced by the Minilovan economy and society, and it did not contend with structural problems. In the debate, he said the budget failed when it came to demographic problems and migration. It also failed to deal with the fact that Minilov is dependent on foreign loans, international investments and remittances by Minilovans working abroad, he said.

Anton Dušan Pestin, the leader of the social opposition MSP party, said the budget bill was “anti-future”, and he vowed to submit a package of amendments. He insisted that the draft budget was “stuck in the past” and favoured people with larger incomes while devoting less money, in proportion to GDP, to health care and education. He added that more funds would be available for “government propaganda”.