The Democritus Times (Democritus Only)

[Serria]

Federation's Economy Feels the Strain

September 10th, 2026

As the quarantine continues to drag on, many enterprises have been complaining that they lack the funds to pay their employees. This has only further worsened as the scope of the quarantine continues to expand, with now over a hundred million estimated to be under quarantine. In order to help remedy the situation, Leticia has announced that it will undertake a comprehensive plan to stop the virus' economic ramifications. Yet despite that, the Federation is expected to enter a recession, with real GDP expected to contract 5.2% in the fourth quarter. Part of the reason for this is due to the tumultuous period the decade has been for the FSR so far. However, Fujimori has stated that he he's confident that the Federation will pursue an economic rebound after the epidemic ends.

With Leticia's new intervention, the government will directly send relief check to workers who have lost their job due to the SARS-H11 epidemic. These checks, which will be sent monthly, will be as much as $5200 Ameros ($650 USD). The relief checks, when combined with the existing subsidies on rent and utilities, will help many workers weather the storm caused by the epidemic. This has also come with the news that the government has ordered the NIB to send non-essential workers home, even in non-quarantined areas. This will happen in phases, with jobs deemed to be high-risk set to be demobilized first.

Other news
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- Department of Education orders all schools to be closed over concerns of virus targeting children.
- All people arriving from overseas to be quarantined for two weeks to avoid re-importation of cases.
- FSR to start building PCR-capable laboratory centers in Angola, NSR, and Madagascar.
- Andean crime syndicates pledge to fill in counterfeiting market once again, after discontinuation of the NAF Dollar.
- Metros and buses to begin regular decontamination schedule. Find out your new local schedule.

[Lusophone]

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Joao Barcelos inaugurated as President

Joao Andre Barcelos became the 23rd President of the Portuguese Republic Wednesday, with a promise to usher in an era of change. In a day of high pageantry and symbolic gesture, Barcelos made his inaugural speech under the chandeliers of Belem Palace, which will be his home for the next two and a half years.

I will defend the independence of Portugal. I will defend the identity of Portugal,

said the 71-year old, who is the first president in Portugal's modern history to be elected in a first round vote.

There is a need to unite the Portuguese people ... and to meet commitments because never before has (public) confidence been so shaken and so fragile,

he said in an apparent dig at his predecessor.

Seen as a bustling modernizer, Barcelos is expected to bolster Portugal's role in global affairs as well as improve economic conditions. Barcelos' presidency has been embraced by the global community despite coming out of a campaign that was almost entirely focused on domestic issues.

Barcelos is expected to catalyze the country with swift reforms. The 23rd President of the Portuguese Republic appealed to those cautious of him in an effort to bolster support for his initiatives that include amending Portugal's constitution. Barcelos said he was not asking rivals to give up their beliefs but that individuals would have to make up their own minds about how best to serve their country. While he is appealing to traditional values of morality, hard work and law and order, Barcelos is also trying to reconcile those things with progress and change in an effort to convince the country his reforms are the way forward.

Elected on a platform of economic reform and tough policies related to law and order, Barcelos who cited Miguel Torga in his inaugural address, said as president he would use the mandate the Portuguese people had given him to push forward progress in their name.

At this, so solemn a time, I think above all, of the Portuguese people and am reminded of the words of one of our greatest, Miguel Torga. Who wrote in 1987, almost forty years now:

We are not a dead nation, not even exhausted. We still have a big role to play within the nations, as the most ecumenical of all. The world today does not need our poor technique, or our precarious industry or our scarce raw materials. It needs our culture and our calling to heartily embrace, as if it was the natural heritage of all men.

This portrait may sound very distant, when multiplied, in science, in technology, in the creation of wealth, so many examples of the Portuguese inventive among us or in the confines of the universe. Yet, Torga saw the essential. The essential is that we continue to minimize what we are worth. And yet, we are worth much more than we think or say. The essential is that our genius - what differentiates us from others - is the unbending creative restlessness that leads our ecumenical calling.

READ MORE

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New Exchequer Secretary delivers autumn budget

New Secretary of State for the Exchequer and Economic Affairs William Ruis Jr., has delivered his first budget in the National Assembly, announcing the spending plans for the year ahead. The billionaire investor and turnaround specialist was personally tapped by Prime Minister Danilo Castelo.

William Ruis is a champion of Portuguese manufacturing and knows how to help companies succeed,

Castelo said in a statement when he announced Ruis.

William knows that cutting taxes for working families, reducing burdensome government regulations and unleashing Portugal's energy resources will strengthen our economy at a time when our country needs to see significant growth.

Over the years, Ruis has grown rich by buying troubled companies in industries such as steel, textiles and auto-parts and restructuring them, often with significant layoffs and budget cuts. He is said to be worth $2.9 billion, making him the country's 4th richest person.

Ruis, a Conservadores, announced in his autumn budget that the government has future plans to cut spending, but for now spending will stand at 32.3% of GDP, approximately $106.1 billion. Here is a breakdown of government expenditure by ministry:

• Foreign and Lusophone Affairs: $4.32 billion (4.05%)
• Exchequer and Economic Affairs: $23.26 billion (21.76%)
• National Defense: $18.92 billion (17.7%)
• Justice and the Interior: $6.43 billion (6.01%)
• Culture, Society and Sports: $2.00 billion (1.8%)
• Education and Innovation: $12.67 billion (11.86%)
• Health and Social Affairs: $426.85 billion (25.12%)
• Environment, Transportation and Rural Affairs: $12.41 billion (11.60%)

Portugal's economy is slated to grow only 0.9%, due to the effects of the Second Fantastic War and the Left Bloc's economic handling, the lowest projected growth in the last five years history.

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TAG(S): PORTUGAL, PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC, LUSOPHONE

[Lendenburgh]

September 17, 2026

Alfhild Ramussen creates new government by Royal Decree
In the wake of massive public protests, and several days of deliberation by the King, Chief Admiral Alfhild Ramussen, and President Pro-Tempore of Finland Karpinnen, a new government has been established by the Royal Decree of 2026. The decree essentially empowers Ramussen with full executive and legislative authority, under a new position called "the Autarchy." This is the most significant departure from democracy that the Federation has ever made, but Ramussen assures that adequate provisions have been made for the resumption of elections after order is restored to the Federation.

According to sources in the palace, King Oscar was extremely reluctant to take such divisive action, but decided that the Parliament was ultimately inadequate in its attempts to preserve the Federation or address the concerns of the people. As such, the Parliament has been completely dissolved, along with the executive office of Prime Minister.

The decree requires elections to resume at the very latest by May 1st, 2028, but Ramussen has said that it will come much sooner. According to preliminary polls, around 65% of the population supports Ramussen's government, and only 32% described the new government as "overly authoritarian." Such results show extreme distrust in the Riksdag's ability to work through this crisis, and a widespread recognition of central authority's necessity to resolve the disorder the Federation faces.

Freyj Poulsen found dead of apparent suicide
After being released on bail, and following the destruction of the Statoil headquarters, the former CEO of the state run oil company, Statoil, has been found dead in his private residence in Bergen. The police are ruling the event an apparent suicide. Freyj's family was out of the country at the time the body was found, reportedly forced to leave the country by Freyj, fearing media harassment. Police reports indicate there were no signs of forced entry, and security cameras on the property show no unusual activity. On social media, this has caused outrage and debate, with many expressing sympathy towards his family for the tragic occurrence, while others called him a coward for not being able to face justice for his treason.

There is no word whether a trial will still be held in absentia, as the court's authorities have been revoked by the Royal Decree, and elections have not yet taken place to populate the bench of the Provisional High Court.

Two rounds of special elections announced by the Ramussen government
In accordance with the Royal Decree, elections for the fifteen judicial seats on the newly formed Provisional High Court will be held earlier than expected: on November 12th. Previously appointed Federal judges will be eligible for election, and will be expected to announce their candidacies within the next two weeks to be included on the ballot.

Ramussen has also announced that special elections at the local level, for both municipalities and regional governments, will be held on January 4th, 2027. He clarified that even though total legislative and executive power has been concentrated in the Office of the Autarch, cursory orders will be issued that re-establish the pre-Royal Decree authorities of municipalities and regions as soon as the elections take place. Insiders say he hopes that the occurrence of both of these elections will solidify public trust in the government, and show his primary goal of a smooth transition back to democracy. Furthermore, an official statement was issued saying that, until the elections, Ramussen will not attempt to interfere in the policy or governance of any local authorities.

Finland re-enters the Federation
Under the first of two "Autarchal Resolutions" that Ramussen has issued, the Finnish government will be temporarily dissolved, until the end of the year. It specifically stipulates that the title of President Pro-Tempore will be revoked from Eljas Karpinnen, but gives some elements of preferential treatment to the State in the coming months. For example, though both the Eduskunta and the Governor General's office have been dissolved under the resolution, it mandates that authority will be returned to an elected Governor General by January 1st. This Governor General is expected to be Karpinnen, who will serve out the remaining two years of his term.

After the governor's re-accession to office, he will have the power to liberate the courts, as long as they respect the supremacy of the Provisional High Court, and also to reestablish the legislature, which is expected to operate in exactly the same manner as the Eduskunta currently does.

In this sense, the order essentially provides a 3 month period to restore order and reintegrate the country, before all pre-Decree institutions area allowed to go back into effect. The Finland National Party has criticized Karpinnen's agreement to the Resolution, but has not yet brought any sort of legal or political challenge against it.

Government reorganization
The Ramussen Government also issued a second Autarchal Resolution, just earlier today, which provided for the establishment of nine different ministries to govern the country in the so-called "Interregnum" in the absence of a national parliament. The ministries are divided into two categories: Consiliary, under the direct control and administration of the Autarch, and Executive, which will have elected ministers and be able to create policy without the interference of the Autarch.

The Consiliary Ministries include: Internal Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Armed Forces, and Infrastructure; while the Executive Ministries include: Treasury, Education and Culture, Health, Industry, and Communications.

The elections for Executive Ministers are expected to be held on the same day as the snap elections for regional governments, January 4th of next year. In the meantime, temporary ministers will be appointed by Ramussen to the positions.

Calm returns to the streets

Some sense of normality returned to the streets of Stockholm today. Most protests have subsided, leaving just a few pockets of peaceful picketers scattered around the metro area. People could be seen going out to shop or eat at a café for the first time in several weeks. Sanitation crews have begun to address some of the damage in large urban areas, including Oslo, Copenhagen, Bergen, and Malmö, but for many it will be weeks before the damage is fully repaired and debris is swept off the streets.

Estimates for the total damage of riots to the Federation run between kr. 29,500,00 and kr. 186,000,000, but on either end of the scale, the protests have affected the lives of most people in the nation. Most notably, the high speed rail line between Gothenburg and Stockholm was partially damaged, and train service has been routed through Halmstad.

Many smaller municipalities have already resumed their normal work day, but in larger cities, especially Stockholm, it may be months before some neighborhoods return to work as infrastructure is repaired and areas are cleaned. In Vasastan, Stockholm the street was reportedly so badly damaged by the used of explosives and incendiaries, municipal plans for its redevelopment so far include ripping the remaining asphalt out of the ground, and turning the area into a memorial park for the victims of the Vasastan Massacre, a plan which Admiral Ramussen is reportedly a fan of.

[The East African Commonwealth]

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Mount Kilimanjaro Isolated

Following seismic activity around the most famous mountain on the African continent, authorities have closed off Mount Kilimanjaro National Park until they are better able to understand what is occurring win the area. While seismic activity in the area is not uncommon, it is mostly on a minor scale with no real threat to anyone in the region. The last major eruption or tectonic event of any sort was over 200 years ago leading many have dismissed the dangers of living next to a volcano until now. Seismic readings in the area have gradually increased over the last month leading researchers to believe that one of the park's peaks may be building up to an eruption event. Since the region is set aside as a national park, evacuations are not needed and a simple park closure is all that is required to ensure safety. To make sure the public and the international community can still observe the mountain the Commonwealth Government is setting aside 24 Million EAS to build an observation platform and cultural center 40 miles south of the park's border as scientists are unsure how long the park will remain closed. The government is also setting up a small facility near the base of the mountain to establish a permanent seismic station to monitor and record any changes to seismic activity. There is no current estimate on how much damage an eruption fro the park could cause, but many expect a halt on air travel and an ash cloud covering a major portion of Africa at a minimum.

JSI Partners with the International Community

As Ukora Island continues to see a rapid rate of construction thanks to funds from the government, it appears special attention is now being given to the runway, launching pads, and hanger facilities. This is likely due to the announcement that JSI has now officially partnered with the North American Space Administration, the Kawa Space Research Initiative, and the National Space Activities Commission to conduct joint missions and programs. This news was met with jubilation by many in the space community as these partnerships will boost the resources and abilities of the JSI as the organization, which has no prior experience in space, is now working with some of the top minds and programs on the planet. While there has been no confirmation on what programs, designs, or missions these partnerships will produce, JSI has confirmed that all three space programs will have unlimited access to Ukora Island and its facilities. Being just short of the equator, the island is a perfect launch site and offers a cheap alternative to other launch platforms. On top of that, the planned all in one facility could expedite rocket design and launching to create a fast-track way to develop newer and more efficient space technologies. There have been talks about expanding the partnerships to Europe and reforming the partnerships into a joint international agency but there has been no confirmation on those plans as of yet. Regardless, this seems like another step forward for JSI and the EAC into making a space program a reality.

Government Begins Drafting Space Legislation

With the JSI making connections abroad and enthusiasm for the space program growing, the legislature has begun drafting guidelines and laws that will outline the actions of the EAC and JSI during operations in space. Some of these laws touch on issues that are general such as rocket testing dates, weather and safety guidelines, and an emphasis on reusable equipment to decrease chances of adding debris to orbital spaceflights. Three major concerns of the legislation are mining rights, territorial claims, and the weaponization of space. In terms of mining, the only other nations who have legislation on mining in space are Italy and FUNA with both operating space based systems. This legislation has to do with mining claims, where any asteroids could be brought, and if this would be open to the private sector or restricted to the space programs only. Territorial claims are another concern as nations like Pacifica have actual claims on the moon. This raises the question of what is considered territory in space and is anything neutral ground? Lastly, while weapons in space are frowned upon and do not exist in any known capacity, the CSN has never been clear on allowing weapons to exist with the last time the matter was brought to the floor it was vetoed. Many lawmakers will begin pushing laws forward to establish a guideline for the EAC, but many are also requesting that the EAC's Ambassador to the CSN begin drafting similar legislation as well to ensure there is a least some kind of global standard.

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| Amity Fleet Prepares for New Ships| New Zambia United Project Expected | DEU-EAC Economic Cooperation Expected to Increase |
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[Grandes Terres]

21st September 2026

Aeronautica Militare launches review, revealing more assets needed in several areas

Today the Aeronautica Militare has announced that it has launched a strategic review into its assets and has found that in several areas the air force is severely under equipped particularly in areas such as electronic warfare and maritime patrol. The findings of the review, which was commissioned by the Chief of Staff of Military Aviation Lieutenant General Alberto Rosso, will be sent to the Minister of Defence who, in correspondence with the PM, will ultimately approve or deny funding for the asset procurement that the air force deems as "fundamentally crucial to the effectiveness of the Aeronautica Militare." Below are the asset requirements compiled by the Aeronautica Militare so far:

Tanker Aircraft (current):

- 4 x Boeing KC-767
- 3 x KC-130J Hercules

Tanker Aircraft (proposed):

- 4 x Boeing KC-767
- 3 x KC-130J Hercules
- 10 x Airbus A330 MRTT (+10)

Maritime Patrol Aircraft (current):

- 3 x ATR P-72AS

Maritime Patrol Aircraft (proposed):

- 21 x ATR P-72AS (+18)

Electronic Warfare (current):

- 3 x Alenia EC-27 Spartan

Electronic Warfare (proposed):

- 28 x Alenia EC-27 Spartan (+25)

Airborne Radar (current):

- 8 x Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
- 2 x IAI EL/W-2085

Airborne Radar (proposed):

- 8 x Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
- 10 x IAI EL/W-2085 (+8)

[Puertollano]

BREAKING: President Castillo diagnosed with terminal cancer

In the early hours of the morning, the Caracas Metropolitan Health District advised the media that President Nicolo Castillo had been admitted to hospital. The communique said that the President has been diagnosed with terminal cancer of the brain, with no chance of survival. Reportedly, doctors are estimating that the President has only 6 months or less before he dies. All of this information was confirmed by the President's family, including Cristina Castillo, Castillo's wife who has been at his bed side since hospitalized. This confirms the health concerns that were being spiraled around following his absence at an the important opening of the extension of the Panama Canal, instead delegating the duty to his Vice President. Pro-government activists have arrived at the hospital in inner-Caracas where the President is being cared for. Many of them are "praying" for a recovery, however slim that may be. They're calling for national solidarity behind Nicolo Castillo, who (according to them): "led our great nation to triumph and victory". Many important individuals have come out and wished the President well, including the Minister of Health Carlos Alvarado González who visited the President on his hospital bed. Other important officials in the government have come out of the clock work to pray for the well-being of Castillo, including the Vice-President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the Missions, the Minister of Defense and the High General of the Armed Forces. The Movement Towards Socialism Party is still grappling with the latest news, and has no current intentions to announce their candidate to succeed from the President. Although, many speculate that Castillo himself with hand-pick his successor. It is expected that Nicolo Castillo will given an address to the nation when relieved from care.

[New Metropolitan France]

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The Continental Standard

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Long live Europa

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Europe establishes an Integrated Trading System

The DEU Assembly has approved the creation of an Integrated Trading System within the European Internal Market, in a move which further illustrates the unprecedented success story that is Europe's developing economic and monetary union. The new ITS framework seeks to eliminate a variety of barriers to trade, including unequal export subsidies, arbitrary licensing requirements, import deposits, price controls, localization/nationality requirements, anti-dumping and countervailing regulations/duties/taxes. The most significant measure to be successfully included within ITS is the 'most favored nation' clause, which will guarantee a level-playing field for all European member-states. The Integrated Trading System will also bring recent conditionality innovations that had been exclusively included within DEU ERAs, such as open bidding for national public procurement, into the regulatory realm of the EIM.

The Integrated Trading System is a world first, comprehensively opening trade across the continent beyond the shallow gains offered by basic free trade agreements. ITS is specifically optimized for Europe's domestic economy, which has evolved and developed over the last decade. For more than ten years, the DEU has worked to build the strong foundations of the European Internal Market; the ITS will now elevate the benefits offered by the free movement of goods, services, capital and people exponentially.

Of course, the DEU recognizes that such deeply integrated trade policies are likely to exacerbate potential negative externalities and be subject to close legal scrutiny. As a consequence, a Dispute Resolution Mechanism will be offered that includes the ability to seek rulings from an impartial Dispute Arbitration Commission that is comprised of judges from the member-states. The ability of the DEU Assembly to act as a final appellate institution will also guarantee national interests are fairly considered, and as a means of resolving any irregularities arising from the new System.

ERA signed with EAC after "intense negotiations"

The Democratic European Union has today signed and ratified an Extended Relations Accord with the East African Commonwealth, greatly opening the markets of the two economies. It is understood that this milestone did not pass without complication, however; according to one source the DEU Assembly had previously expected to proceed with ratification along an advanced timetable, however this was rendered politically impossible due to a "sudden directive from the Trade Regulatory Office". The source alleges that the two negotiation teams had unexpectedly discovered "multiple disagreements on structural arrangements within the preliminary text", necessitating a fresh round of "intense negotiations that would bridge the gaps between the respective perspectives of both signatories". Arguably these changes have contributed to the competence and merits of the final agreement, with the new ERA entering into force under terms that reflect the principle of greater reciprocity and respect between the signatories.

The leading French Trade Representative to the Democratic European Union has since addressed these claims directly, publicly commending the East African Commonwealth for the strength of their negotiation team, and acknowledging the pragmatism of both sides that has secured valuable gains for the EAC whilst advancing Europe's desired international trading agenda.

Barriers to trade face "eradication" under new framework

The DEU has continued its international trade policy offensive by negotiating amendments to existing ERA PLUS agreements in operation with FUNA, Australia, Bengal and San Martinia. The new clauses will see rapid processing of European perishable products as a top priority for all countries, while Australia, Bengal and San Martinia have also agreed to eliminate other barriers such as customs procedural/administrative/bureaucratic/technical delays, import deposits, price controls, localization/nationality requirements, and countervailing regulations/duties/taxes in relation to trade with the European Internal Market. The DEU has responded reciprocally in both cases, albeit with safeguards on major EIM regulatory framework (included but not limited to Corporate Responsibility and Labor Protection, and Europe's Geographic Origin and Indications Policy).

Trade Regulatory Office granted strengthened powers

The DEU's advancement of an ambitious progressive trade agenda has seen much success in recent years; Periphery Partnerships and Extended Relations Accords have been signed and ratified with major economies such as FUNA, China, Indonesia, Bengal, San Martinia, Australia and Persia. There has, however, been some concern that these agreements will contribute to a downturn of revenue derived through the EIM's common external tariff. In order to prevent this, the DEU Trade Regulatory Office has been granted strengthened powers which enable a cost to be imposed upon the licencing of Europe's Geographic Origin and Indications Policy. The TRO's position as chief import regulator of the Union will ensure that the bureaucratic administration of these costs is as streamlined as possible for EIM retailers and foreign exporters. As an addition EIM security measure, import deposit requirements are now able to be levied by the DEU TRO upon companies that violate European trade policy requirements.

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Published 30 September, 2026

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[Bengal and Assam]

One More Step for Kawa. KASEI signs up with 3 other countries in joint Space initiative


By Junior Correspondent, Park Moon Hwang

Prime Minister Carter Phillips, Minister of National Defence Yayoi Takeiyama, KASEI Director Kim Jong-Mun and representatives from the East African Commonwealth have signed an agreement today at Government House to bring forth a joint approach to each countries’ quest for reaching space.

The Joint Space Program has been proposed by the EAC to brush aside politics, and form a common ground for space research. As of now, 4 countries including Bengal have signed up to the program.

At the meeting with the EAC representatives, Bengal has promised to provide technological support, as well as contribute in the construction of a Space Research and Vehicle launch site in the EAC. However, Prime Minister Phillips has also said that “As of now, we just want to be members of a global space organisation, where we share our research with other signatories openly. But, as of this moment, we have no interest in getting entirely in the boat until a sense of trust is built among everyone working at the SRV Complex in Africa.”


[/box]

AD by the Coca Cola Company of Kawa

[Grandes Terres]

29th September 2026

ASI launches LOSAMM satellites bound for lunar orbit

Today the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana launched its LOSAMM (Lunar Orbit Satellites for Arranging a Manned surface Mission) satellites into space, en route to a lunar orbit. The two satellites were launched from the Guiana
Space Centre in French Guiana using an Ariane 6 rocket at 10:30 this morning, representing the first stage of the ASI's long-term plans to establish a ground station on the surface of the moon.

The LOSAMM satellites will be used to monitor the surface of the moon in order to establish the optimum location for the establishment of a ground station on the lunar surface. Before the station is set up however, the first Italian manned mission to the moon will take place, which will visit the planned lunar ground station location in order to take soil samples and survey the landscape to ensure that it is entirely suitable for a ground station to be established.

The first manned mission to the lunar surface is not scheduled to take place for years to come, as the ASI must first develop a moon landing capsule which is currently still in concept phase, with full funding for the initial manned mission not yet authorised by the government, which wants to see more progress before going all-in. The ASI hopes that todays launch of the LOSAMM satellites will allow full funding to be approved.

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[The East African Commonwealth]

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JSI Reveals Plans for Complex, New Partnerships, and Programs

With the EAC's Representatives in the CSN passing the Wayward Star Agreement and the recent addition of the Italian Space Program to the list of partners JSI is working with, The Afrika Times decided to sit down with the head and co-founder of JSI, Terek Etienam, to ask a few questions in regard to the program, the facilities on Ukora Island, and his plans for the future of Africa's first space program.

Question 1: Why should citizens of the EAC want a space program? How does this benefit them?

This question is one that I am asked often, particularly by media outlets and critics. My answer is a simple one: why shouldn't they? Space Programs have been a source of national pride and innovation, the American Apollo Mission is the prime example in this case. Every major nation on the planet has a space program, so why should the EAC be left out? As for the second part of the question, while it is likely most of our citizens will never fly to space it will indirectly benefit them. NASA's work in the 20th Century yielded hundreds of innovations that have ushered in the modern age from Velcro to computers. A program such as ours brings innovation, new ideas, and a new understanding of science. So in short, I do not only believe that our program is needed, but essential for the growth of the EAC as a nation.

Question 2: Why did you choose Ukora Island as your complex site?

Unlike many other locations within the EAC, Ukora offer some advantages. First off, the lake around the island is a bit of an advantage for creating hydrogen based fuels and allows us to have easier recovery missions should one of our rocket tests go wrong and we need to recover the crew. It also allows for easier construction of facilities as the island is relatively underdeveloped. While it is a bit far from any major highways or rails which has made transport of materials...difficult...the site also has the massive benefit of being just short of the equator, which was the primary reason for its selection. Launching rockets from this site will be cheaper then anywhere else on the planet, giving our program a massive advantage by saving us launch costs.

Question 3: There has been issues with the relocation of residents of Ukora Island, do you have any comments on that?

To be honest, I expected this and was unhappy from the start about the choice to relocate people. I had hoped to build the facility around existing towns, but the complex was too large. The relocation of the island's eastern residents has been problematic and underfunded from the start which is why as of last week I am now using my personal funds to feed and house all of those residents. I am willing to devote everything I have built to making JSI succeed, but not while people suffer as it is being built. This should have not been allowed to happen in the first place and it is the responsibility of JSI to care for these people. I cannot express how sorry we at JSI are that this occurred to begin with.

Question 4: We have heard a lot about this facility on Ukora, but not much in terms of specifics. Are you able to share any of those with us?

While many facilities are still in planning stages, several have either begun construction or have been approved that I can discuss here. Our rocket fabrication facility, or at least what we are calling Tent-1 for now, has one small canvas structure completed with three more on the way. These are all temporary, but they will allow us to begin building and prototyping designs for our rockets. The main rocket assembly building and machine shop have seen accelerated construction thanks to Kawa's donation of materials. They should be up and running next year sometime. This is also going to be paired with our stainless steel rollers which should be arriving from Zambia United next week thanks to an agreement we made last week. Our rocket testing ground has also been approved and three launch platforms are to be built in this field. A mile north of that, our five launchpads are being constructed as well, however, only Pad-1 is set to have its hanger completed by the end of the year so far. Lastly, our fuel production will all be done on site thanks to a methane and hydrogen processor and refinery. While the structures will not be operation for quite a while, we have already begun construction on the massive floating solar array we are building on the lake to power the facilities. We are just running into issues finding enough panels as the EAC lacks production on that front. We do have some concepts being drawn up such as a small scale mass driver system, but we lack the funding for that currently and will be sticking to conventional systems for now.

Question 5: Over the last two months we have seen JSI reach out to many foreign partners, why is that?

Well that's for multiple reasons, one of the most obvious is experience. We are attempting something no one in Africa has ever attempted to do and that means no one has any experience building or flying rockets. We are quite literally learning as we go. For that reason we need international partners who have more then enough experience, some over 50 years like those from North America's FISOR. We also do not have a budget needed for huge programs, so we need to think creatively on how we can create a space program in a way that won't send costs through the roof. Our partners can help us avoid their mistakes and recommend technologies and production methods to help us develop our program at a much faster and cost efficient rate. However, the largest reason for these partnerships is that I believe that this should not just be an African initiative, but a global one. Some of my international colleges may be a little nervous at that notion, but I think that the true way forward into space is not through competition, but cooperation. Time will tell which philosophy will hold out.

Question 6: As our final question, what is the future of this program? What are you setting for its current goals?

That's a tricky question right now because until we have our facilities in operation, we can't promise much. We have our global partnerships and are hoping to further them as you have seen over the past two months. We have even been in contact with the Commonwealth's CSN representative as they have begun drafting additional space legislation. So long term goals would just be to ensure we have a solid foundation physically and in international and national law. In terms of short term plans we have three major programs that have already begun being the RX-01 Rocket, an orbital telescope, and what we are calling the Lunar Construction Interface (LCI). The RX-01 is currently under construction in very basic prototype form at the Tent and will be our version of a reusable rocket. This is to cut both costs and environmental impact. We hope to have it flying by 2028 but only time will tell as it is our first design. The telescope is a joint program between us and our friends in Italy. The construction will be taking place in Turin since we have no production facilities and we are hoping that our scientists will be able to get insight into rocket deployment, orbital vehicles, and communications systems during the project. Lastly, the LCI is another program we have partnered with Italy on, but it originates here at JSI. The program is actually something I designed a while back for E-Tech to create a system capable of constructing objects and structures on the moon via ROVs and 3D printers using lunar resources, I just lacked a way to help fund a physical prototype. The project is four years old now and it has made progress in terms of materials used and software but we have been running into hardware problems left and right. I am hoping the Italians have some insight into some of those issues, or anyone for that matter. This project could have a major impact on lunar development and has vast potential, but like all space programs it has to get off the ground first.

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| Corruption Scandal Confirms Link to EAC Funding| Lionsguard Deploying to Northern Tanzania | Amity Fleet Preps for New Programs |
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[Grandes Terres]

15th October 2026

Milan fall fashion week 2026 is finally here

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[Lendenburgh]

October 24, 2026

Sovereign Wealth Fund Established
Today, at the Ministry of the Treasury, a resolution was issued which will establish a sovereign wealth fund to further supplement the pension and social welfare payments issued by the government. In the lead-up to the implementation of the Bancor system internationally, the Treasury has expressed a willingness to be able to invest the massive currency reserves that the Federation currently holds. Such a system would be able to effectively convert profits from the export of goods, especially petroleum products, from the Federation into a sustainable national investment portfolio. Ramussen made the following remarks on the Fund's establishment:

Since the origins of the Folkhemmet ideology in the wake of the Second World War, the people of Scandinavia have realized the critical nature of a strong social welfare program, which provides support and security to the most vulnerable in our society. Today, we continue that mission by establishing the Nordic Sovereign Wealth Fund. I want to express my gratitude to the Governor of the Bank of the Nordic Federation, and the many hardworking people at the Ministry of the Treasury for advising me during this process, and allowing our nation to secure its financial future. When we look twenty or thirty years ahead, we must realize that the natural gifts our nation has received in the form of petroleum will most certainly run out, and while we continue to increase the output of renewable energy, we must also look for alternatives to oil profits to support our economy. Doubtlessly, my predecessors and the people have been successful in diversifying the economy, but this will allow us to stretch the benefits of our natural gifts for decades to come, and increase the social welfare that each and every citizen receives.

The Fund will be managed entirely by the Central Bank, and will reportedly be focused on "conservative, long term investment" that contribute to the financial security of the nation and its people.

New Aircraft Carrier Commissioned
The Nordic Navy today announced their interest in contracting with shipbuilders in the State of Kalmar to construct another Gustav-class aircraft carrier, which would bring the strength of the Nordic Navy to three super carriers, each capable of hosting around 75 to 90 aircraft. Ramussen seemed to infer in a recent press conference that he was interested in a general revitalization of the nation's navy, including possible plans for a helicopter carrier to station in the Baltic, and the reorganization of the nation's fleets, which have persisted from the days of the Kalmar Union.

Funding has not yet been approved for the project, but the proposal is expected to reach the Autarch and his advisory council sometime in the next week. Social media is already coming up with creative names for the new ship, while others are criticizing the Autarch for focusing on the military in a time where the nation should be rebuilding from the recent failure of the government.

The interim Cheif Admiral made the following speech to the executive council last week in the process of requesting funds for modernization and the new carrier:

Though I hesitate to ask for such a great deal of funding in the midst of our nation's rebuilding period, I must stress how important the navy is to the global power projection of the Federation. More so than the army and the air force combined, the navy singularly allows the Federation to protect its interests the world over. The maintenance of a modern and large high seas fleet is critical, not only to our defense, but the protection of our economy and politically-aligned partners across the globe as well. If we can learn anything from being observers of the Second Fantastic War and our participation in the situation in Nigeria, it is the emphasis of Nordic naval superiority in every theater possible is the only way to expand our influence beyond the North Sea and Europe. In spite of our natural resources, the protection of the European Sphere, and generally friendly relations with nations the world over, there has never been a clearer need for an adequate fleet to protect us. This carrier is key to the Navy's relevance on the global stage, and to repair the decay of the Nordic armed forces which has undeniably occurred over the past decade.

Candidates for Provisional High Court Elections
With elections just a few weeks away, many federal judges have announced their interest in running for a seat on the Provisional High Court. The Stockholm Gazette has prepared brief statements from the candidates on their positions on important issues in order to help inform voters in the upcoming November 12th election.

From the Nordic Supreme Court
Amanda Petersen: The third woman to serve on the Nordic Supreme Court, Amanda considers herself a strict Constitutionalist.

My primary goal while I served on the Supreme Court was upholding the Constitution to the best of my ability. I do not consider judicial work political in any way, we are simply the mediators that protect the people's rights and the structure of the government from authoritarian leaders. I strongly disagree with the way Alfhild Ramussen took power, and would seek to expedite the Federation's transition back into a true democracy if at all possible. In terms of a tribunal for the Sarekis and the perpetrators of the Vasastan massacre, I would require that an official inquest be completed to establish the facts of each individual case before the Court makes a decision.

Godtfred Heinrikson: Seen as a driving member behind the court's progressive social policies, he has been serving as a federal judge for nearly 30 years, starting in his home province of Uppsala under the Swedish government.

The foundation of the court's responsibility must include interpretation, but also cognizance of the court's power to influence policy. I don't believe that any justice can make a decision without considering impacts beyond the law, whether it be social or economic, or any number of other things. During my tenure on the supreme court I sought to extend full rights to transgender individuals, and made an effort to fully ban the death penalty. These are not things that were strictly mentioned in the Constitution, but I think that it is our job to look pas documents that were written decades, or in some cases centuries, ago, and to extend the law into the modern day with consideration for the society as a whole. If elected, I would pursue the prosecution of the perpetrators of the Vasastan massacre aggressively. For the Sarekis, I think that official investigations by the Ministry of Justice need to find the full extend and nuance of the scandal before the court can play their role.

From lower courts
Abel Nyström: A prosecutor for five years, he was appointed as the federal judge for the Lapland province in 2017, and considers himself a champion of civil and social rights, and a strong advocate for the Sámi tribes.

I consider the ultimate role of the court to be the protector of rights. Especially in our Federation, it can be easy to gloss over minority groups such as the Sámi, or the Inuit Peoples of Greenland. During my tenure on the bench in Lapland, or as I prefer to call it Sápmi, I strongly adjudicated in a way that would protect the rights of minorities within our country. I think that while strict Constructionalism is appropriate in the interpretation of most criminal cases, our judgements must take into account the social factors which influence a person, and that we must consider beyond the written law when confronted with certain circumstances. If elected, beyond the immediate prosecution of Vasastan perpetrators and Sarekis, I would seek to advance the autonomy of Greenland as a state for the Inuit people, and provide legal protections for their tribes, as well as the Sámi.

Seventeen other judges from lower courts have announced their candidacy, so the race will undoubtedly be tight to fill the seats in November. We have made more policy positions are available on our website, and many will be published in the newspaper in the coming weeks before the election.

[United Democratic Christian States]

Germanic Times

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- 2027 Elections - Bismarck Doctrine - Internal Policy - Foreign Affairs - Education - DEU - GUAF Central -

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Muller announces official Sahrawi Republic elections to be held June 1, 2027

Earlier today Muller officially announced the long awaited elections for the occupied Western Sahara state as promised during the German invasion as part of the 2nd Fantastic War. It is currently believed the Social Democrat party of the Sahwari People will prevail in the election as the main party spawning from the Polisario Front who have been assisting the GU in running the state since the occupation. The 2 sides have also been in talks of writing a constitution.

According to sources for the Times, celebrations have taken place all over the new Republic as the Independence and Freedom they have long desired has finally been achieved.

CLASSIFIED OTHER NEWS-(OOC: Confirmed by Frank)

"Aryan" Special Forces/Intelligence agents have been dispatched to Libya to investigate reports of ICN activity

[Bengal and Assam]

Protests in Minato as Locals demand Opt-Out from Integrated Information Scheme, similar to Foreign Residents. Prime Minister Phillips meets protesters in Point Elizabeth district of Minato.

By Junior Correspondent, Park Moon Hwang

Protests have broken out across the country after the Foreign Ministry has announced an Opt-Out from the Integrated Information Scheme for Foreign and Commonwealth Origin Residents.
The protests were mainly limited to Cyberactivism on social networking services, imageboards and online forums for the past few months, with the first in-person protest taking place in Calcutta about a week ago. Yesterday, protests were held across the country, with many of the protesters uneasy with the idea of such a huge amount of data being in the hands and in the control of one single government department.

According to the protesters,

[box]“Once the Integrated Information Scheme is fully implemented, we will be one signature away from being a police state. ”

“If the department responsible for managing the entire system is hacked, the said hackers will make away with a huge amount of private information at one go. The system we have as of now is slower, but it is more secure since it’s a lot decentralised. Let’s keep it that way."

In related news, Prime Minister Phillips stopped by one of the protests on his way back home from the Legislative Council, and had a glass of beer with the protesters while asking their views in person.

“You guys are young but have a sound argument against the IIS. And also, I personally believe that its discriminative on the government’s part to provide Opt-Outs just to Foreign Residents while ignoring Locals, who deserve it even more. Government House is going to request for the Information Integration Bill to be sent back to the Legislative Council, and work out a mutually beneficial solution, or be repealed in the worst case scenario.”

AD by the Public Awareness Department

[Serria]

FSR To Begin Limited Re-Opening

October 27, 2026

It has been over three months since the pandemic started. By now, over half of the FSR's population is subject to quarantine, and the lock down has become just another regular part of life. However, today Fujimori has stated that he plans to start the re-opening of the FSR, including starting the Third Five-Five Year Plan by 2027. However, re-opening will likely take a while, with some saying that the country may not fully re-open for years.

For the purpose of the re-opening plan, four designated stages have been created. Phase I, which involves slowing the spread of the virus. Phase II, which involves limited re-opening, and Phase III, which involves the establishment of immune protection and the lifting of social distancing measures. Phase IV involves increasing the FSR's readiness for a future pandemic. While the FSR is currently at Phase II, the planned re-opening may lead to a surge of cases, which could lead to affected districts rolling back into Phase I.

Although changes may occur in the future, the current Phase II plan involves the following steps:

1) Expand Classification: Now that the Health Service no longer being strained with the number cases, more thorough measures can be taken to monitor spread of new cases and ensure testing. Extra care will be given to monitor and secure the safety of vulnerable populations. Additionally, much emphasis shall be placed into the validation and widespread introduction of serology tests. This shall be used to aid further research towards discovering the effectiveness and longevity of an immune response against SARS-H11.

2) Relax The Quarantine: Through a phased rollout, districts shall open up their industries once more. The process of re-opening the economy shall happen gradually, with the industries that are judged safer or more essential being set to re-open first. If possible, enterprises and state agencies are to keep sustaining teleworking as much as possible. From now on, and until successful implementation of Phase III, everyone traveling outside will be required to wear a mask, even if its just a washable clothe mask. People shall also be reminded to keep following the district-determined social distancing regulations, and that fines and arrests will be doled out for repeat offenders.

3) Introduce New Drugs: The pharmaceutical industry shall receive much needed aid to speed up the development and introduction of new drugs. As of now, the main priority will be to introduce new therapeutic drugs, with the second highest priority being the introduction of a vaccine.

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In Other News: New bill criminalizes possession of more than eight grams of cannabis, or two grams of derivatives at at time. | All public utility enterprises converted from cooperatives to state-owned enterprises. | NIB orders halt of imports of "unhealthy" foodstuffs amid economic downturn.

[Greater Persian State]

Tehran Daily Mail

For all except the Religious, veils have become extinct
The Rights of Women

For women in Persia it has been a rollercoaster in terms of rights. In antiquity and history woman have been oppressed, relegated solely to roles as wives and mothers, and faced horrific violence on many occasions. They lived without rights. The Shah changed these rules, and introduced liberalization, women began to enter Iranian society. In Iraq and Syria women never got such a chance, though in Syria there were some examples of women's rights being exercised given its religious diversity. Then there was the Islamic Revolution, women's rights were erased and women were subjugated, and excluded from careers or education. One Leader Davud Akbar's own mother was beaten to death in one of many examples of violence dealt out by the thugs who acted as the government's enforcers. When the Mullahs fell the military regime relaxed the rules, though the cultural dynamic didn't change. Under the Federative Republic things have changed for the better. Laws against women have been repealed everywhere, and women have become free to pursue their dreams where they like. Culturally things have changed as well, women not marrying has become more acceptable, women in government and business has become commonplace, and the veil, that instrument of repression has become less common. Though the religious are free to wear them, and they surely do, it has become far less common. Even in the Sunni triangle of Iraq and the borderlands with Afghanistan the veil has become far less common. But today the government took another step, a vote was passed over the objections of the Persia First bloc that inserted a passage into the constitution dictating that "no individual shall be deprived of equal legal treatment, or be deprived of their civil and human rights do to their sex." The religious objections have come, but they have not been as loud as previously. More and more realize the wisdom of inviting women to the faith on their own terms.


Other Bulletins
-If Homosexuality is legal, perhaps marriage can one day come?
-PM Khoroushi cuts ribbon on new nuclear power plant
-Cyrus funds dedicated to sound budgeting and new subterranean passageways
-Social Democratic Union pledges that the nation will be powered by all renewable fuels by 2040

[Anxiety Cafe]

Your Weekly News

Experts Claim Virus Is from Santiago: The current estimates for infected cases in Santiago de Chile number in the tens of thousands, all displaying symptoms of the FSR Virus. The metropolitan area of millions of people has been put under strict quarantine and curfews, and has been blamed as the epicenter of the virus spread in San Martinia, with cases also known in other cities, especially Mendoza and Córdoba, but also as far north as Resistencia and as far south as Ushuaia. Now, information is being released linking the spread of the virus to the mass protests that occurred months ago. Patient Zero, who has chosen to remain anonymous, apparently contracted the virus while in the FSR, before attending the environmental protests that facilitated its rapid spread. The national government has enforced a ban on all non-essential travel, alongside a mandatory national quarantine.

Mapuche Sue Temuco Police: Following the creation of the Wallmapu Autonomous Republic, Mapuche organizations and communities across the nation have looked to the Wallmapu government for leadership and guidance in the national political environment, where indigenouns concerns and issues are often overlooked. The Wallmapu government, in response, has helped form a national Butalmapu, which aims to unite the various Mapuche organizations in order to push for a more influence in the national government. This Butalmapu's first action was suing the police department of the city of Temuco for excessive violence, following the death of Nahuel Muñoz and the hospitalizations and arrests of many others in the nationwide environmental protests. There has been widespread backlash against the city's police by Mapuche communities because it is known to harbor racist attitudes towards Mapuche. The Butalmapu says that it is looking to clean the police of racists and therefore help stop the various killings, beatings, and harassment they claim the police department has been inflicting on Mapuches for years.

Castillo's Cancer and Why Everyone Cares: President Nicolo Castillo of Puertollano recently was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer with no chance of survival, and many in San Martinia were happy to hear the news. The common sentiment was that Emilia Rojas, representative in the state government of Santiago del Estero, said that "we must thank God for giving the Puertollanoan people their freedom by striking down their dictator," while popular online memes of Castillo's rumored addiction to coca satirized the president's upcoming death. The son of the San Martinian ambassador to Puertollano, known for running a meme account and starting such rumors, made many jokes concerning perceived effects of tumors on Castillo's behaviors and actions, which he claimed "only a crazy person would do."

[Serria]

El Comercio - Weekly

Reopening Woes: Less than a week ago, the FSR began the process of reopening, in accordance with the Phase II guidelines. As predicted, the loosening of the quarantine led to a spike in the number of cases. However, this time the hospitals were much more prepared, and at the current rate its not expected for them to be overwhelmed once more. Though as a safety measure, production needed for protective equipment and testing will still continue, even if only as a preparation for a future outbreak. But with the focus currently on the present, the Health Service noticed that people were more likely to act out rashly under the influence of alcohol, acting as a potential virus vector. As a result, a new law was passed, prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages outside of one's home until further notice. Additionally, the Health Service has put forward the Standard Information Form for SARS-H11 (SIF-SARS-H11), which is to be adopted across the entire FSR. The new testing form will allow for the Health Service to view comprehensive data on those tested, and the reason why the test was carried out. It will allow for statistical standardization, and easy analysis of how many people were testing in each data stratum. This will all help with the tracking of the viral outbreak. If all goes according to plan, then it would allow for the FSR to focus on economic recovery in the near future.

Military Reorganization: After the disastrous defeat at Galicia, it's clear that the FSR's military is in need of drastic reorganization. Fujimori has refused the idea of expanding the military budget for the time being, instead saying that structural reform will be key for the FSR's defense policy in the future. Fujimori has also stated that he plans to promote promising junior officers up the ranks, in order to bring new ideas to the FSR's arms forces. But as of now, the main priorities of the FSR military will be to rebuild and modernize the navy, the expansion of the Embraer C-390 fleet, and to bring new armored vehicle deigns into service (with the exception of the T-30 Jaguar, which entered service in 2020).

NSS Becomes Its Own Agency: Another policy which Fujimori announced is that the National Security Service will become its own agency. Prior to the reform, the NSS was part of the military, which led to many NSS officers complaining regarding their lack of operational independence. While the armed forces shall still retain its military intelligence capabilities, the NSS's newfound independence will allow for it to play a more assertive role in the future.

[Puertollano]

Possible successors to the President?

Nicolas Maduro Moros

Nicolas Maduro Moros, or otherwise referred to as Nicolas Maduro, is a key figure in the current socialist government. He was a personal friend of the President during the 80s and has since held many and varied positions in government and overseas. He served as the top South American correspondent for TeleSUR News, before being promoted internationally to serve on the TeleSUR international board as an editor. Maduro later served the Overseer of the Missions, where under the Castillo-government, oversaw the largest social programs in the countries history. He quit the position to make an official run for the Speaker of the Council of Sovereign Nations. Having failed to win the vote, Maduro served as the permanent Bolivarian Ambassador to the CSN for a considerable period of time. Nicolas returned to the Bolivarian Republic and was appointed the Minister of Social Services and Missions, a larger and more power portfolio than he hand when he was the Overseer. As a Minister in the current government, it gives him powerful leverage among the party to be a possible candidate to replace President Castillo when he passes away. He has strong connections with the National Transportation Worker's Union who hold important influence within the Movement Towards Socialism Party. His supporters would argue he has the best claim to become the next President under the socialist ticket because he has extensive domestic and foreign policy experience. Though his detractors would argue he is nowhere near as charismatic as Castillo.

Desiree Alameda

Desiree Alameda is a long-time Castillo ally and socialist stalwart, believed to be responsible for leading the effort to abandon the Left Front and join the Movement Towards Socialism. She served as the long-time Communist Mayor of Tumaco before running for a seat in the National Assembly. Desiree spent the majority of her career in the National Assembly as a United Left Front MP, though became known for crossing the floor against the wishes of the government. After jumping ship to the Movement Towards Socialism, Desiree quit electoral politics and was instead elected the President of the Movement Towards Socialism Party. She was known for her ability to get communist, anarcho-communist and syndicalist forces into the party and was hand-picked in 2025 to be Vice-President of the Bolivarian Republic. Since then, Desiree has served many domestic and international functions for the Bolivarian Republic. Due to being picked as the Vice-President by Castillo himself, she has strong support from the party loyalists, many of whom see Castillo as a deity. This gives her an air of legitimacy compared to the other candidates, but is often looked at skeptically due to her connections to the Communist Party of Puertollano.

Cristina Castillo

Cristina Castillo a newcomer to Puertollanoan politics. Obviously, she became the First Lady of the Bolivarian Republic once Nicolo Castillo took the reigns of government. Though in recent years, Cristina has become more involved in the political sphere, although seemingly long-shot for President. She was appointed the President of the Socialist Women's Association of Puertollano in 2020 and has many ties to the socialist Premier of Ecuador. However, some public opinion has soured after she was caught stealing from a store in Bogota. The media pounced on the news story immediately and Cristina was forced out of the public eye until recently. Solely due to her name, many analysts believe that she has a shot to the claim of President, and perhaps sway many of the Castilloists who once supported her husband to jump in behind her.

Manuel Quivdeo

In a country where oil exports are the greatest export, the Bolivarian Republic has high priority over the state-run oil company PDPSA. The current President of PDPSA Manuel Quivdeo is a major factional power broker within the socialist forces of Puertollano. He has run the PDPSA through thick-and-thin throughout the leadership and tenure of President Castillo and has amassed increasing levels of clout within the top echelons of the government. The Presidnet of PDPSA was a former oil worker union leader and a key proponent of the nationalization of petroleum industries in the Bolivarian Republic. Thus, among the thousands of workers under his guidance, see him as the father of petroleum in Puertollano. However, his main draw-backs is a lack of connection with the grass-roots among the Movement Towards Socialist Party with little tangible and public support. Unlike Castillo, Mr Quivdeo lacks the charisma of the former leader, but is seen as a stable hand on the economy. This may be a detriment should he attempt a tilt at the top job: President of the Bolivarian Republic of Puertollano.

Jorge Arreaza

Jorge Arreaza was considered President Castillo's second choice for Vice President, instead giving the position to Desiree Alameda. He currently serves as the Foreign Minister of the Bolivarian Republic of Puertollano, with a strong record among the anti-imperialist qualities of a possible Puertollanoan President. He was a lawyer before being a twice failed Communist candidate for the National Assembly. Jorge found his luck when he was elected as a United Left Front MP, but quickly jumped ship with the Castillo and Alameda. After a concerted campaign by the major opposition party, Jorge lost his seat to an opponent to his right. However, President Castillo appointed him Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, and then later the official Foreign Affairs Minister. His credentials among the socialist grass-roots is strong, but he does not have the same ability to whip up a crowd like Castillo could. He is a current fixture on the Puertollano Broadcasting Station and TeleSUR South America, which has made him a figurehead of the socialist left against European imperialism. Some pundits say he is too young to take the reigns of government, but he certainly has the experience.

Vladimir Pedrino Lopez

Vladimir Lopez is a newcomer to the socialist sphere. He previously served as a Lieutenant in the Armed Forces of Puertollano and a former conservative. President Castillo was reportedly surprised and pleased at his capabilities as a military leader during the war in Nigeria and was quickly accelerated through the ranks. Castillo appointed him as a General, and later Minister of Defense. In that position, Lopez's positions on government changed drastically, as he dutifully implemented the controversial politicization of the armed forces. That included the pledge of allegiance to the newly formed Bolivarian Revolution, and the changed name of the armed forces to the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Puertollano. Since then, Lopez is seen as a hero among the socialist left, although looked on with some skepticism among the communist ranks of the Movement Towards Socialism Party. The war in Galicia and the Caribbean has greatly improved his popularity and approval ratings, and has cult-like support among the military, second only to the President himself.

[Puertollano]

Vice-President announces new pandemic measures

While President Castillo is confined to the hospital, Vice-President Desiree Alameda has announced new pandemic restriction measures to combat the virus coming from the Federation of Socialist Republics. It is estimated that there are currently tens of thousands of cases within Puertollano, with the Bogota acting as an epicenter of the virus. In order to combat the pandemic, a national quarantine has been implemented, with all non-essential travel prohibited. Additionally, all citizens will be required to wear some sort of mask outside. Many schools across the Bolivarian Republic will close their doors early, initiating public holidays a week early than expected. Children's whose parents are front-line workers can still attend school for the coming week. The Bolivarian Republic has also adopted the 'Colour Code' app, utilized in the neighboring FSR to curb the spread of the SARS virus. The Puertollanoan Ministry of Health has also decided to implement the Standard Information Form, which the FSR currently uses. Today, a FSR Red Cross plane also arrived, carrying 30 tons of medical equipment and nine medical experts. The FSR has also pledged to supply Puertollano with additional medical equipment in the future, with FSR factories churning 24/7 in order to produce needed supplies.

[Serria]

November 15th, 2026

National Quarantine Introduced

In the past, the FSR's aggressive quarantine measures allowed for the virus to be largely contained without the need for a national quarantine. Albeit, about half of the population still ended up being under lock down. And even in areas which were officially "non-quarantined," non-essential jobs were still closed down. However, with the quarantined areas in the process of re-opening, it has led to the virus to start trickling out to formerly non-infected areas. Rather than repeating the FSR's original strategy, President Fujimori signed an executive order enacting a national-level quarantine, to be set into effect immediately. In order to track the spread of new cases, all the newly quarantined areas will be set to follow Phase I regulations for the next 2.5 weeks. For the most part, the main way this will affect residents will be due to major restrictions on non-essential movements. After the 2.5 weeks are over, each each district will either stay on Phase I or move on to Phase II, depending on the severity of their situation. Incidentally, Color Code has been updated to include contact tracing functionality. Due to privacy concerns, the feature will be opt-out.

Fujimori's Nationalization Attempts

While at first glance, the FSR is simply a planned economy - in reality there's a bit more nuance to it to that. While the socialist sector makes up the vast majority of the economy, with it contributing 96% of output, there's actually two further sub-sectors which ought to be taken into account. There's the state sector and the cooperative sector. In the former, enterprise directors are appointed, and in the latter they're elected. Prior to Fujimori's presidency, the state sector was solely comprised of Petrobras and National Rail, the latter which formerly was Orostan National Railways.

Given that both state-owned enterprises and cooperatives ultimately have to follow the Five-Year Plans set by the National Industrial Board, the distinction might seem pointless. However, the NIB is an independent agency, whose leadership is elected by enterprise directors. Henceforth, it's rather easy to see how Fujimori could expand his influence in the NIB if the state had the authority to appoint enterprise directors.

The dominance of the cooperative sector within the FSR was completely uncontested until Fujimori came to power. A while back ago, Fujimori proposed a bill to nationalize utility companies. With Fujimori's Communist Party controlling the majority of the People's Assembly, the bill passed without issue. In fact, while many within the Socialist Party and the Social Democratic Party voted against the bill, there was little opposition after the vote was over.

The fact that the bill past so easily last time must have emboldened Fujimori, as he tried it again. This time, he proposed a bill to nationalize all transportation and defense companies. However, this time the representatives of the People's Assembly caught on to what Fujimori was trying to do. There was huge backlash in the Assembly, as many representatives accused Fujimori of being a revisionist for trying to undermine worker democracy. Some representatives even went as far of accusing Fujimori of being a Trotskyist!

After the room calmed down, Fujimori was able to make his case. He argued that although the idea of workplace democracy was a good thing, that under the current system too many unqualified people were getting elected into management positions, saying that many people got elected due to popularity rather than merit. Even so, the Assembly remained against the measure, with his own party starkly divided.

Perhaps realizing that he couldn't afford to ostracize his own party, Fujimori backed down from the proposal. But then, there was a twist of fate. Pueblo Rivera, a junior representative from Acre, pointed out that the NIB had failed to properly invest into the interior FSR, despite multiple government initiatives ordering them to do so. Rivera claimed that this was due to the NIB's need to appease coastal workers, rather than taking the FSR's long-term future into account.

A new bill was proposed, this time from Rivera. The bill would create the Board of Directors of the NIB. The Board of Directors would be appointed by the president, though approved by the Assembly's Economic Committee. The Directory would serve as a counterbalance of the President of the NIB, which is elected internally. Rivera's proposal managed to pass through the Assembly, a major victory for Fujimori. In the aftermath, Fujimori thanked his supporters, and pledged to uphold workplace democracy.

[Lendenburgh]

November 15, 2026

Elections results are in!
With all of the votes from November 12th being tallied, the results for the Provisional High Court are finally in. The court has taken a much more leftward swing that first expected, with the flagship candidate for those wanting a return to the old constitution- Amanda Pedersen- losing in her district by nearly 20%.

Instead, Abel Nyström, who made a shocking move by abandoning his home district in Lapland to pursue candidacy in Upland, took the election on a platform of liberal interpretation of the law and advocacy of minority rights. Progressive judges Lyndsay and Enrikson were elected from Finnish districts, as well.

Analysts say, as the nation approaches the time to draft a new constitution, this could have widespread implication for human rights and environmental policy in the decades to come.

Nyström's victory speech is being heavily quoted on social media in what people are calling the 'new leftist wave' in Scandinavia:

This election represents a victory, not only for myself, but for those who are often overlooked by the government. We are going to ensure that the court is responsible for the advancement of all minority groups, and the codification of their rights into law. As we are presented with the once in a lifetime opportunity to assist in the rewriting of our constitution, we must make sure that it prioritizes the rights and safety of the people above all else, and set the best example possible for our neighbors in Europe, and other nations around the world.

Preparations begin for virus taskforce, funding preemptively allocated

With the first reopenings occurring in South America, Europe is on high alert as they wait to see if a viral outbreak makes its way to the shores of the continent. Minister of Health, Susanne Beck, gave a public statement, announcing that there would be preemptive funding for a taskforce in order to better deal with a pandemic, should it occur.

Thankfully, thus far, we have been able to avoid an outbreak of the virus on the continent, but we cannot expect our luck to last forever. Even if it is not one of the viruses currently causing immense hardship in South America, it is apparent that the Nordic Federation needs to update its pandemic response protocols, and be prepared for anything nature throws our way. In the wake of the events of the last two months, the last thing we need is people senselessly dying because the government is not prepared to deal with this kind of large scale crisis which will put strain on our economy and healthcare system. This is why I have called upon the leading epidemiologists and health experts to convene in Oslo to develop a comprehensive plan for outbreak control and response.

The taskforce will begin their meetings on December 1st, and will receive input from the Ministry of the Treasury, Ministry of Industry, and will consult with the local operators of hospitals in municipalities that are deemed to be especially susceptible from the virus. They are expected to have full guidelines ready by the end of the year.

Cooperation treaty signed with United Roman Triumvirate
Some exciting news for students and lovers of the Latin language came out of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier this week. The Nordic government and the governments of the United Roman Triumvirate have signed a "Cultural Cooperation and Exchange Treaty" which will provide greater opportunities for students in each nation to learn the other's language and culture. The treaty also includes bans for discriminatory tuition increases, and would allow for students to continue permanently living in one country while attending university in the other.

The University of Gothenburg's Professor Emeritus Harald Olsonn, who currently chairs the Department for Italian and Roman Studies, issued a memo to his staff about the treaty, greatly praising it:

We are fortunate to educate in a country so open to cultural exchange. This treaty will be a useful tool in allowing our students to not only look at primary texts from the Triumvirate, but also will make study abroad programs easier to coordinate. I see bright days ahead for our department and the many like it across the Federation.

The similar architecture of the National Operas in Stockholm and Vienna

Joint initiative with Soviets for Great Northern Railroad
Another announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was issued today, with very interesting implications for those living in the very North of the country. The Nordic and Soviet governments have agreed to cooperate on the construction of a high-speed rail line between Tromso and Murmansk. This would provide railroad access to many on the Arctic Coast for the first time, and allow the two northern ports to be connected by land. The Minister of Infrastructure has also outlined his desire to use the rail as a backbone to increase the size of the regional network spanning across Finnmark, Lapland, and Sapmi.

No word has been given yet on the estimated completion date of the project.

[Greater Persian State]

Tehran Daily Mail

Prime Minister Khoroushi lays out the antiviral plan
Viral Protection Strategy

South America has been struck by a horrific respiratory disease SARS H-11 which has killed thousands throughout the continent on a scale not seen in the world since the 1918 Flu Pandemic, originating from Zackarothian bioweapons years ago. It is highly contagious and many nations, especially in Europe have begun preparatory measures for a devastating outbreak which could kill further thousands. Over the past months as the outbreak has spread, the Khoroushi government has focused on expanding the capabilities of the healthcare system, expanding the production of ventilators, face masks, ICU beds, test kits, and expanding the capacity of the system if an outbreak were to hit. However in a press conference today Khoroushi delivered the entirety of preparatory measures for an outbreak. The plan, called the Antiviral Action Plan or AAP has three sections, Prepare, Contain, and Recover. Preparation includes travel restrictions for countries overwhelmed by the virus, expansion of the capacity of the healthcare system to bear a virus, and the introduction of temperature checks and mild distancing in the general public. Contain includes in the event of a potential outbreak limiting outbreaks through local quarantines, contact tracing, and a substantial capacity to test. As well as the exclusion of at risk immune-compromised populations from risky activities. Recovery is primarily research on treatments and a potential vaccination. The Prime Minister said that he was opposed to national lockdowns or quarantine and remained opposed to any effort to shut down society. He noted that expanded capacity of the healthcare system was more important that any effort to shut down society. However he did say that at risk populations may have to engage in social distancing for their own health. He is supported in his efforts by a strong majority in Parliament, with the exception of the Tudeh Party who called for a nationwide lockdown and far stricter measures, and described the government approach as a "sellout to big business over the working peoples of the nation."

Other Bulletins
-What is Social Distancing?
-Production in Health Supplies Dramatically Increases
-All parties agree, Thorium research is worth it
-Persian Freedom Party unveils platform, neoliberal economic reform combined with social liberalism

[Grandes Terres]

Romance countries of Western Europe back new Council of Romance Languages
23rd November 2026

Today the Council of Romance Languages, an organisation consisting of France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Galicia, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Malta, was officially inaugurated in a ceremony at Villa Farnesina, a Renaissance suburban villa on the bank of the river Tiber in Rome. The location was chosen for the headquarters of the council as the river is the cradle of the Latin language, which ultimately lead to the romance languages. President Sergio Mattarella of Italy attended the ceremony as a patron of the organisation.

Missions of the Council

• Build closer cultural and economic bonds between member states.
  
• Promote the teaching of romance languages globally through education initiatives across the globe.
  
• Aid work in poorer countries to help build up education infrastructure and curriculums.
  
• Promote the cultural assets and global significance of member states.
  
• Expand media such as music, television and film from member states into new markets.

[United Democratic Christian States]

Germanic Times

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Muller Announces South American travel ban due to Zackarothian virus outbreak, officially congrats Joao on Portugese Presidency win in press conference, gives opinion on Castillo terminal brain cancer.

It’s been a long day for LOTEC (Leader of the Executive Council) Muller, as he held his first in person press conference today, relieving press secretary Jones of her duties today.

3 Major discussions happened today as Muller opened his beginning speech with a brief in person congratulations to the newly elected President of Portugal. While he tweeted his congratulations before. He said he felt the need to say it in person. He ended by saying he cannot wait to meet the new President.

Muller then moved on to the reason for calling the press conference, as he announced a complete blanket travel ban over all travel to the continent of South America. Calling for all Germans to come home immediately. He was quoted in saying “Due to the current outbreak of the Zackarothian Flu, Germany will immediately suspend all travel to and from the continent of South America for the safety of all Germans. We will also be testing and clearing all Germans who come home from South America once they land back in Germany. While trade may continue with San Martinia, all precautions must be taken and guidelines for interactions will come out this week.”

Later during questions Muller was asked about his thoughts on the newly terminally ill leader of Puertollano.

“Well, I’m sure it’s a very heartbreaking time for Castillo’s family, and my heart goes out to them for their loss. However with his disgrace of the work Jetil did for that country I cannot say I blame the good lord for putting that tumor in his head. The tyrant sure as hell wouldn’t give up his power, same as he has done in the Caribbean.”

OOC:Classified-confirmed with UMU-However going on without knowledge or consent of Canadian government

Across the Canadian occupied islands German Special Forces have begun to slip into the ranks of French Canadian peacekeepers before quickly slipping out once they arrive on the island. Taking shelter among known friendly locals gathered from intelligence prior to Puertollano occupation. Taking little more equipment than their rifles and up to a few spare rifles.