Alternatus Historia- Regional News Thread (AH ONLY!)

[Osten-Deutschland]

Published Time: 14 December 2018 at 17:29

General Secretary von Kaulbach to visit the Soviet Kremlin for talks with Zhidkov

Eberhard Sommerfeld
Neues Deutschland

POTSDAM -- General Secretary Leopold von Kaulbach along with Foreign Minister Wilhelm Knirsch is to visit the Soviet capital of Moscow this weekend to meet with fellow Soviet General Secretary Artem Zhidkov. Both von Kaulbach and Knirsch are expected to arrive at the Moscow Domodedovo Airport after departing from Berlin Schönefeld Airport earlier this afternoon. From there, they will be escorted in a motorcade to the Kremlin to meet with General Secretary Zhidkov and the Soviet Foreign Minister.

Both von Kaulbach and Zhidkov are expected to hold talks on Saturday following a tour of the Kremlin complex. The expected topics include the diplomatic relations between the German Democratic Republic and it's trusted ally, the Soviet Union. Among the others include talks over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline expansion. The main pipeline begins at the Leningrad Oblast in Vyborg, runs through the Baltic Sea, and runs into the city of Greifswald in the GDR. This pipeline expansion between the USSR and GDR has received considerable opposition from some Western Europe nations for the most part.

Following the expected talks between both General Secretaries are over, both will hold a televised news conference broadcast both by Deutscher Fernsehfunk in the GDR and CT USSR Programme One in the Soviet Union. Several Western media groups are expected to cover the news conference as well. Following the planned news conference, the General Secretary is expected to leave Moscow on Sunday evening and return to Berlin the following night.

[AH Albion]

World U20 Hockey Championships - 2018-19
Piestany, Czechoslovakia

ALB 6 - CZE 1
Albion romps to lopsided win over Czechoslovakia

Albion's quest to defend its World U20 gold began on the right foot.

Lane Gibson scored twice and four other players had goals as Albion routed Czechoslovakia 6-1. The lopsided result left the home crowd muted but awakened the large Alban cheering section typical of World U20 tournaments.

Albion took a 3-0 lead in the first period after Gibson, Aiden Kelly and Ryan Scott all scored, chasing Czechoslovak netminder Radim Jezek. Backup Zdenek Kubicek came in in relief at the end of the period and held the Czechoslovaks in through the rest of the game despite being bombarded with another 37 shots.

Czechoslovakia made it 3-1 in the second when Jan Hanak caught a stretch pass from Jaromil Matousek and put the puck over sprawling Albion netminder Daniel Sharp. But Sharp cut off a Czech rally with two dramatic saves on shots by Felix Sedlak, and Gibson scored again at 17:35 of the second to put the game out of reach.

Corey Harris added another second-period goal before Sean Green scored in the third.


DEN 3 - EGR 4
East Germans pull out win over Denmark

Already surprising many by arriving in Division 1, East Germany proved why they belong there Wednesday.

Max Pilcz scored a late game-winning goal and Jacob Hesse made 34 saves as East Germany overcame a 2-0 deficit to best Denmark 4-3. The East German team's first Division 1 game was a nail-biter, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.

Denmark put the East Germans in a hole in the first period when Jannik Petersen scored twice, exploiting a slow start by the jittery East German team. But Hesse was near-perfect after that, robbing the Danish team and bringing the crowd to their feet as he shut down Mikkel Bjerg on the breakaway.

Jacob Feig and Alois Achenbach tied the game with second-period goals, with Paul Stuber adding a power-play marker at the top of the third to put the Germans ahead. Blueliner Pilcz capped off the rally with a long bomb that skipped over Danish goalie Jesper Frost's glove and in.

Mark Mortensen scored for Denmark in the last minute with Frost pulled for the extra skater, but Hesse denied a close-in attempt by Petersen to secure the win for the East Germans.


FIN 2 - NFR 3 (OT)
Gaudreau scores twice as New France bests Finns

A New French team known for its heavy firepower overcame a Finnish team known for its stiff goaltending Wednesday.

Tristan Gaudreau scored twice as New France overcame a 48-save performance by Finnish goalie Janne Leinonen to skate away with a 3-2 overtime win. But though the shot clock was tilted New France's way, Leinonen's elite goaltending and Finland's opportunistic offense kept them in the game.

After a scoreless first period, New France and Finland traded goals in the second, as Gaudreau and Rami Hirvonen each scored. Lucien Couvreur scored a second time in the third, but Finland forced overtime at the last minute: With Leinonen pulled for the extra man, Kimmo Laine put a rebound over New French goalie Jeremy Chereau.

Gaudreau scored three minutes into overtime to put the game away.


USSR 5 - SWE 3
Late goals give Russia win over Swedish

The Soviet Union's disciplined style of hockey delivered the goods against a talented Swedish roster.

Five players scored and Slava Zarubin had three assists as Russia defeated Sweden 5-3. While the Swedish team dazzled the crowd with flashy offense and Swedish star centre Axel Almqvist scored twice, the Swedes could not solve the famous Soviet discipline and team play.

The Soviet first line - Red Army teammates Pavel Kornilov, Zarubin and Yuri Mizenov - combined on three of the goals, with Kornilov and blueliner Slava Sapozhnikov converting Zarubin assists in the firt and Mizenov taking a Zarubin pass in the third to beat Swedish goalie Oliver Ekberg beneath his glove hand.

Almqvist made it 2-1 to end the first before Vadim Putilov scored short-handed in the second to make it 3-2. Sweden rallied with a power-play goal by Almqvist and another goal by Mats Vikstrom to tie the game at 3, but Mizenov and Jakubs Krievins scored in the third period to put the game out of reach.

[AH Albion]

World U20 Hockey Championships - 2018-19
Piestany, Czechoslovakia

CZE 5 - DEN 2
Czechoslovaks rout Danish 5-2


EGR 5 - SWI 2
East German goalie scores in 5-1 win over Swiss

As if a 32-save performance wasn't enough, East German goalie Jacob Hesse added his name to the scoresheet Friday.

Hesse scored a goal - a rarity for a goalie in international play - as East Germany skated to a 5-2 win over Switzerland. The goal topped a two-goal performance by Alois Achenbach as the East Germans stacked up a second win in the tournament.

With East Germany up 4-2 at the bottom of the third period, the Swiss pulled their goalie to try and even the score. But Hesse put the game away by making a save off of Swiss winger Paul Witz, then fired the puck across the ice into the empty net to put the game away.

The Swiss drew first blood on a goal by Rato Looser, but Achenbach evened it up with two first-period goals, one on the power play. Willie Herder and Rob Hammerstein scored in the second to give East Germany a 4-1 lead.

Levi Bernegger replied in the third for the Swiss.


NFR 4 - USSR 3
Buzzer-beater gives New France win over Soviets

It took until the very last second to determine which of two hockey powerhouses would skate away victorious Friday.

Loic Grosjean scored with two seconds left in regulation time to give New France a 4-3 win over the Soviet Union. In the first showdown of hockey powerhouses in the tournament, both teams traded goals throughout the game, with the Soviet Union setting the pace and New France remaining in the fight.

Yuri Mizenov opened the scoring for the Soviet Union after converting a cross-ice pass from Slava Zarubin, but New France tied it up after Lucien Couvreur flipped a puck over Soviet goalie Pavel Nekrasov's glove hand and in. Goals from Skaistis Paleckas and Remi Demaret left the game tied to end the first period.

A scoreless second period saw both teams trade chances before the Soviet Union took the lead in the third when Pavel Kornilov scored on the breakaway. But New France tied the game with three minutes left after Jean-Marc Deshaies scraped a rebound past Nekrasov on the power play.

New French goaltender Jeremy Chereau robbed Zarubin and Slava Sapozhnikov in the last minute of play before being pulled for the extra man in the last 40 seconds.


USA 4 - SWE 2
Americans thump Sweden in 4-2 win

A strong early performance delivered victory for a confident American squad Friday.

Mike Stone scored twice and Jake Porter made 31 saves as the US stormed to a 4-2 win over Sweden in their first action of the tournament. Riding a three-goal first period, the US boosted to an early lead and never looked back, putting in a strong showing against a skilled Swedish team.

Stone's two goals in the first bookended a power-play marker by Ben Pearce, but Sweden came out strong in the second period, with netminder Oliver Ekberg denying American shooters on several chances.

Smart passing from Axel Almqvist put Sweden back in the game, feeding Patrik Skold in the crease for a goal. Lukas Ernman added a power-play goal to end the period at 3-2.

The US put the game out of reach when Brandon Collins scored on the power play in the third.

[AH Albion]

World U20 Hockey Championships - 2018-19
Piestany, Czechoslovakia

ALB 5 - EGR 3
Scott hat trick leads Albion to win over East Germany

Ryan Scott scored a hat trick as Albion skated to a win over upstart East Germany Saturday.

Scott scored twice in 56 seconds the second period and once more on the power play in the third as Albion dealt the surprising East Germans their first loss of the tournament. But the East Germans kept the game close, surprising observers who assumed the team to be a fluke in their first Division 1 showing.

Landon Douglas opened the scoring for Albion with a power-play marker in the first. But Albion ended the period down 2-1 after Jacob Feig scored on a two-man advantage and Philipp Ruhle added a goal from a bad angle.

Scott put Albion back on top with back-to-back goals before Luke Bishop scored on the power-play to make it 4-2 Albion after two.

Scott added one more in the third period before Robin Fincke gave the East Germans a spark of hope, scoring off a point shot through a screen to bring the game to 5-3.

The win moves Albion into the Group A lead, tied for points with East Germany but leading on goal differential.


SWI 3 - DEN 4
Mortensen scores winner as Denmark edges Switzerland


FIN 3 - SWE 0
Leinonen shuts out Swedes in 42-save Finnish showing


USSR 4 - USA 3
Zarubin's four-point game gives Soviets win over USA

Slava Zarubin is considered a top-three pick in the 2019 KHL draft. Saturday, he demonstrated why.

With the game-winning goal and three assists, Zarubin was involved in all of the Soviet Union's four goal in a 4-3 win over the United States.

While the Russians struggled at times to match the Americans' grit, the so-called "Red Army Five" - the Soviet first line of Pavel Kornilov, Zarubin and Yuri Mizenov, with Slava Sapozhnikov and Nikolay Sharshin on defense - dominated with skill and coordination. Kornilov scored twice in the first period to put the Soviets ahead.

Mason Barnes made the game 2-1 in the last minute of the second period. The second period appeared scoreless until a late hit by Denis Mokhov put the US on the power play, and Brandon Collins scored to tie it up.

Grigoriy Tretyakov and Owen Rees scored in the third before Zarubin scored on a dazzling end-to-end rush, beating American goalie Jake Porter on the breakaway.

[AH Albion]

World U20 Hockey Championships - 2018-19
Piestany, Czechoslovakia

ALB 12 - SWI 2
Eight players score as Albion blows out Switzerland

The ice tilted Albion's way Saturday night as eight players scored in a 12-2 rout of Switzerland.

Lane Gibson led the way with a hat trick and three assists while Aiden Kelly and Sean Green both scored twice in a game lopsided from the start. Albion put 54 shots on Sweden's shell-shocked goaltending duo, taking a 5-0 lead in the first and stretching it to 10-1 in the second.

Rato Looser's two-goal performance was the only saving grace for Switzerland as the hockey upstart simply couldn't compete against perennial finalist Albion, putting just 21 shots on Alban goalie Shane Rusynski.

The win clinches a semifinal berth for Albion.


CZE 2 - EGR 3
Surprising East Germany edges Czechoslovakia in close game

East Germany continued to defy expectations Sunday with a three-goal comeback win over Czechoslovakia.

Jacob Hesse made 38 saves, missing only two first-period shots by Filip Kovac and David Laska which gave the Czechoslovaks a 2-0 lead going into the second.

But Hesse shut the door from there, and East Germany fought back into the game after Alois Achenbach fed a pass to Marc Rosler in the crease to make it 2-1. Achenbach scored shorthanded to make it 2-2.

A tight game was broken open in the third when Christoph Grassl's long bomb on the power play made it through a screen and in.

The win clinches a semifinal berth for East Germany.


NFR 5 - SWE 4
New France sends Sweden home winless in 5-4 victory

Sweden's juniors will go home winless and disappointed after coughing up a 4-2 lead over New France to lose 5-4 Saturday.

Despite a first-period hat trick from Axel Almqvist, the Swedes fell apart in the third period, surrendering two goals to Tristan Gaudreau and one more to grinder Maxime Berlioz in the last seven minutes of play.

"We're going to have to go home and figure out what happened," Almqvist said after the game. "We weren't good enough this year. We just didn't get it done."

After Simon Bechard opened the scoring, Almqvist's three goals put Sweden up 3-1 after 20 minutes. Fabien Barbeau added another in the second, but Adam Byfors scored on the power play to make it 4-2.


FIN 1 - USA 2
Last-minute heroics give US win over Finns

It took 49 minutes of play for the United States to solve Janne Leinonen and secure a win Saturday.

Mike Stone broke open a 1-0 game on a two-on-one rush and Zack McGowan also scored to deliver the US a 2-1 win over the Finns. The win moves the Americans into a do-or-die game with New France on Sunday, with the winner guaranteed a berth in the semifinals.

But their path there went through Leinonen, the star Finnish netminder, who made 38 saves and denied breakaways by Ryan Stone and Mark Gardner, keeping the Americans off the scoreboard for most of the game.

A scoreless first period was followed by Seppo Koivunen's power-play goal in the second period.

Finland can still move on to the semifinals if it defeats the Soviet Union Sunday.

[AH Albion]

World U20 Hockey Championships - 2018-19
Piestany, Czechoslovakia

NFR 4 - USA 2
New France clinches Group B with 4-2 win over US

New France edged the United States in a heavyweight showdown Monday, clinching Group B.

Fabien Barbeau led the way with two goals and an assist as New France broke open a 0-0 tie in the second period. A late American rally was iced when Tristan Gaudreau put the puck into an empty net with the US icing the extra man to try and tie the game.

The scoreless game was broken open at 13:21 of the second when Barbeau scored, with Loic Grosjean adding another marker on the power play. Zack McGowan pulled the US to within a goal.

Another goal by Barbeau in the third gave New France a 3-1 lead, but Ben Pearce scored with the extra skater in the last minute to pull the US to within 2.

French goalie Jeremy Chereau robbed Mike Stone in the final seconds before Gaudreau sent the puck down the ice into the empty net to put the game out of reach.


ALB 4 - DEN 1
Albion cruises to 4-1 win over Denmark


SWI 2 - CZE 6
Czechoslovakia sails to quarterfinals with 6-2 win


FIN 1 - USSR 5
Soviets chase Leinonen in 5-1 romp

Quarterfinal Matchups

[1A] Albion vs. [4B] Finland
[2B] Soviet Union vs. [3A] Czechoslovakia

[2A] East Germany vs. [3B] United States
[1B] New France vs. [4B] Denmark

[AH Albion]

World U20 Hockey Championships - 2018-19
Piestany, Czechoslovakia

ALB 3 FIN 1
Green scores twice as Albion ousts Finns in quarterfinals


USSR 4 CZE 2
USSR ousts Czechoslovakia 4-2, sets showdown with Albion


EGR 2 USA 5
Four players score as USA ends East German Cinderella story

East Germany's underdog run through the World U20 tournament ended Wednesday against a hard-driving United States team.

Zack McGowan scored twice and three other players also scored as Team USA ousted the East Germans from the tournament. The German team was the tournament's biggest surprise, challenging Albion for the Group A lead and defeating Czechoslovakia en route to a strong showing, but couldn't solve American goalie Jake Porter or America's strong field of defensemen.

American captain Jon Nieber put in roughly 28 minutes of ice time, shutting down the East Germans' top line and keeping Alois Achenbach and Mark Rosler off the scoresheet.

"They were the better team," Achenbach said. "It hurts. It really hurts. But we did better than people thought. Next year we will be better."

By the time Christoph Grassl put the East Germans on the board late in the second, the US had already racked up a three-goal lead.

Robin Fincke scored on the power play three minutes later to narrow the game to 3-2, but Nieber scored on a long blast with 12 seconds left in the second to put the game out of reach.


NFR 6 DEN 1
New France steamrolls Denmark, showdown with USA set

SEMIFINALS (Winners advance to gold-medal game):

[1A] Albion vs. [2B] Soviet Union
[3B] United States vs. [1B] New France

[AH Albion]

World U20 Hockey Championships - 2018-19
Piestany, Czechoslovakia

ALB 3 USSR 5
Soviets thump Albion to reach gold-medal game

The Soviet Union has its eyes on the gold after surviving an Alban onslaught to skate away with a 5-3 win.

Slava Zarubin scored twice and Pavel Nekrasov made 38 saves as the USSR outlasted a hard-driving Alban offensive assault. Despite being outshot 41-25, the Soviets made the most of their opportunities, exploiting defensive lapses and preying on Albion on the power play to secure the win.

"They were good team. All we can do is continue to play as team and do our best," Nekrasov said after the game.

The Russians bolted out to a 2-0 lead as they exploited a shaky start by Alban goaltender Shane Rusynski, who missed a long bomb on the second shot by the game by Zarubin and then coughed up a rebound directly onto the stick of Evgeni Saltzev, who scored into a wide-open net.

Albion evened up the game with goals by Ryan Scott and Lane Gibson, then pulled ahead when Sean Green scored on the power play in the second.

But the penalties began to add up for Albion in the second and third. A late hit by Scott on Yuri Mizenov and a subsequent interference call on Shawn Bellemore enabled Slava Sapozhnikov to score on the 5-on-3 to tie the game going into the third.

Pavel Kornilov scored on the power play in the third to put the Soviets up 4-3.

Zarubin added an empty-net goal in the dying minutes after Albion pulled the goalie for the extra man.

The Soviets advance to the gold-medal game. The USSR last won gold in 2014-15.

Albion will compete for bronze against the winner of the USA-New France game.


USA 3 NFR 4
New France sets date with USSR in 4-3 win over US

New France set a date for a golden rematch with the Soviet Union after narrowly eking past the USA 4-3 Sunday.

Patrice Hebert's overtime winner and Mathieu Grosvenor's two goals and an assist led New France past the Americans after a close game. Both sides traded the lead throughout the game, but New France's skill and offense ultimately won the day against a tough, rugged American team.

An early shot advantage by New France was belied when Mike Stone put the Americans on the board first with a power-play goal.

Grosvenor tied the game at 1 early in the first before Brandon Collins gave America the lead again, beating Jeremy Chereau on a 2-on-1.

Marc Lucier scored shorthanded in the second to tie the game, and America went into the third back on its heels before Stone stole the puck from Grosvenor and went in alone on Chereau, putting the puck over the sprawling goaltender to put the Americans up 3-2.

With a minute and a half left, New France pulled Chereau for the extra man, and Grosvenor avenged the steal by undressing Stone and dumping the puck into the net to tie the game.

Hebert scored a minute into overtime after collecting a Jean-Marc Deshaies shot in the crease.

New France moves on to the gold medal match against the Soviet Union, whom they defeated in the round robin, while the US moves into the bronze-medal game against Albion.

GOLD MEDAL GAME
[2B] Soviet Union vs. [1B] New France

BRONZE MEDAL GAME
[1A] Albion vs. [3B] United States

[AH Albion]

World U20 Hockey Championships - 2018-19
Piestany, Czechoslovakia

ALB 4 - USA 2
Albion takes home bronze with 4-2 win over US

Albion skated home with the bronze medal Tuesday in a hard-fought win over the United States.

Aiden Kelly scored twice and Lane Gibson added three assists as Albion outlasted the hard-driving Americans. Albion, last year's champions, avenged their loss to the Soviet Union in Tuesday morning's game with a strong, assertive performance, but America gave as good as it got, matching Albion almost shot fot shot.

The difference-maker proved to be Albion's defense: Many of America's shots came from the outside, while Albion's forwards were more often able to go to the net and finish plays at close range, making the most of their shots.

"We're proud we made it this far," Gibson said. "We want to be back next year and do even better."

A scoreless second period came to life in the second when Kelly opened the scoring after slamming a rebound past Jake Porter. But the US battled back with goals by Ben Pearce and Mason Barnes to go into the third up by a goal and well ahead on the shot clock.

But Albion came out motivated in the third and battled back on three goals set up by Gibson. Landon Douglas, Ryan Scott and Kelly all scored, Scott's coming on the power play as Albion tilted the ice and overwhelmed the US team.

"We didn't get it done tonight. That's on us. That's on us," Scott said.


USSR 5 - NFR 6
New France takes gold over Soviets in OT thriller

Call it a golden comeback.

New France rallied from a three-goal deficit to defeat the Soviet Union in overtime and secure the gold medal at the World Juniors Tuesday night. Trailing 5-2 in the third, New France scored four unanswered goals to rally back and seize victory against a determined Soviet team.

"It says something about the character of this team that they could just never say die," said coach Pierre-March Laframboise.

"They went out there and didn't even think about defeat. These guys will go down in hockey history. Absolute history."

History seemed less certain early in the game, when the Soviets sprinted to a lead in the first after a series of sloppy penalties led to power-play goals by Yuri Mizenov and Evgeni Saltzev.

Mizenov struck again deep in the third after splitting two New French defenders and going in alone on New French goalie Jeremy Chereau, who he faked out before putting the puck in the open net to make the game 3-0.

But Laframboise stuck with Chereau in the second, and New France rallied after Marc Lucier slipped a puck through traffic to beat a screened Pavel Nekrasov. Jean-Marc Deshaies scored on the power play to narrow the game to 3-2.

Jakubs Krievins restored the USSR's cushion after blasting a slapshot past Chereau, and Slava Zarubin made it 5-2 after eluding New French backchecking and firing a no-look shot into the net.

Russia met New France in the third with stifling defensive play. But New France appeared energized after Paul Demers fought Soviet checker Denis Mokhov and bloodied him, rallying in a burst of aggressive play.

New France got a break when Lucien Couvreur scored in close, with Nekrasov screened by his own defenseman on the play. Another fight broke out after Zarubin was hit by Loic Grosjean and left the game with a lower body injury. Grosjean was called for boarding, but Deshaies scored shorthanded to draw the game to 5-4.

A last scramble in the third saw Simon Bechard score with the extra man to tie the game at five.

Chereau denied the Soviets on several strong chances in overtime before Grosjean dumped a loose puck past Nekrasov to seal the comeback win.

MEDALISTS:
GOLD: New France
SILVER: Soviet Union
BRONZE: Albion

[AH Rossiya]

Soviet Union recognizes Alban slaughters of Plains First Nations as genocide

Published Time: 9 Jan 2019 9:48

The Soviet Union has recognized Albion's massacres of Indigenous Americans of the Great Plains as genocide, putting pressure on the nation to come to grips with its history of murder and ethnic cleansing.

The recognition approved by the Supreme Soviet marks the important highlighting of the many crimes of Western nations as they conquered the Americas and robbed hundreds of indigenous peoples of their land and culture. Many of these crimes have never been acknowledged by nations like Albion and the United States, despite such countries frequently lecturing other countries about their human rights records.

"Albion has never been forced to answer for its actions. The Soviet Union is not afraid to call Albion's land seizures what they are: Genocide," said Minister Responsible for Indigenous Regions Arkady Karamzin. "We absolutely cannot let Albion hide the blood underlying its foundations anymore."

The recognition acknowledges that in the late 1800s, the government of Albion deliberately murdered the buffalo herds native to the American plains in order to starve the Indigenous peoples, and forced them to live on substandard land while giving the best land to farmers. The government also for several decades created special "residential schools" in which Indigenous children were kidnapped from their families and subjected to horrible abuses and torture.

The use of these "residential schools" only ceased due to an immense nation-wide outbreak of anti-Catholic bigotry, in which religious rioters killed Irish people.

Karamzin said the Soviet Union will also consider recognizing genocides inflicted by the United States, which are similar in nature to those of Albion and continue to this day.

Many of the Indigenous peoples who survived these acts of ethnic cleansing are treated as subject peoples whose land claims are not respected and who have little regional autonomy. These groups tend to have very little access to amenities and are prevented by the government from improving the poor quality of life forced upon them through restrictive treaties and discriminatory laws.

By contrast, while the former Russian Empire integrated significant numbers of ethnic minorities into its territory, many of whom continue to live in the Soviet Union, these large ethnic groups are considered autonomous and have their own devolved governments and language rights. As well, there are no ethnic barriers to advancement or prosperity. It is clear that the rights of minorities and indigenous groups in the Soviet Union far exceeds those in Albion.

"We find it disappointing that NATO nations like to declare that other nations are human rights abusers while standing on a foundation of their own violations of human dignity," said Karamzin.

Karamzin said the Ministry will also conduct an inquiry into whether to acknowledge the lynching of blacks in the United States and Confederate States as ethnic cleansing.

[AH Albion]

DEVELOPING: Honey, I shrunk the kids

Steer, Grits win majority in Columbia election


Premier-elect Gord Steer, centre.

WINDSOR -- Gord Steer's Liberal Party has won a sweeping majority government in Albion's most populous province.

Steer's party captured 77 of 125 seats in the Columbia provincial legislature in Tuesday's elections, defeating Premier Michael Yeo in his own riding en route to sweeping out his embattled Labour government. The decisive win, capturing 41% of the popular vote, puts the province in the hands of a fiery populist who campaigned on a platform of abolishing carbon taxes in Columbia and easing the regulatory burden on business.

"My friends, the party with the taxpayers' money is over," a jubilant Steer told supporters at a packed hall in his home riding of Prince John Tuesday night.

"We're going to govern this province for the people," he said, repeating a slogan that served him well throughout the campaign.

The victory completes an unlikely journey for Steer, a political newbie whose only prior experience was a term served on Windsor city council from 2010 to 2014. A prolific and inflammatory Chirp personality who was previously believed to support the Reform Party, Steer, owner of a company which produces fake ferns, jumped to the Liberals and won the party's leadership by a hair by running as a populist outsider. His campaign targeted "downtown Windsor elites" and "out-of-touch socialists" in Yeo's unpopular Labour government.

Steer's victory robs Prime Minister Rachael Shergold of a reliable provincial ally. Yeo has been a close Shergold ally, following the federal government's lead on environmental and infrastructure policy.

The results set up a showdown between Shergold and Steer, who have little in common. Steer made Shergold an election issue, campaigning against the federal government's establishment of carbon pricing. Provinces which did not pass a carbon tax would have had a federal carbon tax imposed, which Shergold says is revenue-neutral and coupled with tax cuts for homeowners and small business.

Yeo, appointed in 2013 to succeed Premier Anne Denisty and re-elected with a majority in 2015, struggled to connect with voters in a campaign marked by heavy criticism of Labour's handling of the Green Energy Act and the carbon tax. Yeo was hounded by accusations of corruption after a review of the Province's sex ed curriculum was contracted out to a firm owned by a close friend of Education Minister Frank Evershed.

Labour has governed Columbia steadily since 2004, and for 24 of the past 30 years.

"Clearly the people felt that it was time to change course," said long-time Labour MPP Charles Peller, who was defeated in his bid to re-election in Bellingham - a riding he represented since 1984.

In Peterborough, a subdued Yeo urged teary-eyed supporters not to lose hope.

"On the broad strokes, people agree with what we believe in," Yeo said. "They want a greener environment. They want a price on carbon. They want an updated sex ed curriculum. That gives me hope for tomorrow."

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STEER NATION · 52 minutes ago
MAKE ALBION GREAT AGAIN!!!! FOR THE PEOPLE!!! #MAGA #SteerNation

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FOLKS up · ELITES down

Idi Amin · 39 minutes ago
For the people, we must get rid of all of the Obote men in Columbia. We must get all the Obote men out. Do not put your faith in this Steer Nation, for the only nation that matters is the nation of the Conqueror of the British Empire. I am the greatest and all the women love me.

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438 up · 28 down

Justice For Columbian Workers · 33 minutes ago
How could anyone vote for this blowhard? It's so obvious that he's just a charlatan and a con artist with no ideas! RIP Columbia

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239 up · 112 down

[Osten-Deutschland]

Published Time: 6 April 2019 at 16:41

National People's Army holds military exercisives with the Soviet Armed Forces in WESTEN 2019 event

Soviet soldiers of the 27th Guards Motor Rifle Division at the WESTEN 2019 event

Konstantin Hartmann
Neues Deutschland

ERFURT -- Both the German Democratic Republic and the Soviet Union are currently participating in a week-long military exercise in the massive WESTEN 2019 military exercise in the Thuringia Länder and as well the Ostbaltland SAR. This has been the second largest military exercise held in the German Democratic Republic since the last exercise "Zapad 2017", which caused some concern to several neighboring Western-aligned nations such as West Germany, Sweden, and Finland. The exercise, in turn, caused a NATO-held military exercise on the German Democratic Republic's border that following week.

The first major part of the WESTEN 2019 exercise will be the drill consisting of units from the Soviet's 8th Guards Combined Arms Army and the GDR's Military District III (South). This exercise will portray the GDR as the "BLUFOR" or "friendly forces", while the Soviets will portray the "OPFOR" or "opposing forces". As part, the Soviet OPFOR will launch as simulated offensive into GDR-held territory, while GDR's BLUFOR will have to defend key-points against the OPFOR in this exercise.

Another major part of the WESTEN 2019 exercise, will be an airborne landing and naval landing from the GDR's military forces in the Ostbaltland SAR. In this, the GDR military will be the offensive in this drill, while the Soviets have to hold a defend several beachheads along the Baltic Sea coastline. Besides air and land exercises in this drill, parts of the GDR's Volksmarine and the Soviet Navy will also participate in this drill.

The WESTEN 2019 exercise is expected to go on as expected until the event ends on the noon of April 10th. General Secretary Leopold von Kaulbach and Soviet General Secretary Artem Zhidkov are expected to attend the event and spectate it with several other key officials of the GDR and Soviet military.

[AH Albion]

DEVELOPING: Tree climbs cat, firefighters baffled

Shergold plan would double population of Albion by 2065


CHURCHILL, MK -- Prime Minister Rachael Neel-Shergold is setting an ambitious goal of doubling Albion's population by 2060, primarily through immigration.

"We're one of the largest nations in the world in terms of land area, and we think we have more to offer," Shergold said as she addressed media Thursday at the Port of Churchill. Albion's eastern entrepot served as the backdrop to Labour's immigration plan, which will increase Albion's refugee commitment and lower barriers to highly-skilled immigrants.

The plan is projected to boost Albion's population from its 2016 total of 28.5 million people to 57 million by 2065 at the latest.

The country is on its way to increasing that total: Statistics Albion estimated that in the three years since the last census, Albion's population likely reached 30 million. Much of this growth came from immigration.

Thursday, Shergold invoked past Labour governments to champion Albion's history of welcoming immigrants. She highlighted Albion's decision to take in European Jewish refugees during the years before the Second World War and, later, to welcome refugees displaced by the War in the Pacific.

"We've always believed what was said after the (Second World) War that Albans are Albans, no matter where they come from," she said.

"There would not be an Albion without immigrants. We are a nation of immigrants. We have more than enough room in this country for everyone."

The move comes in the face of rising anti-immigrant sentiments in some parts of the world, including Europe.

And it comes not long after the release of a startling report by the Alban Security and Intelligence Service on extremist groups in Albion. The report cited far-right and white supremacist extremists as "a significant national security threat" and cited a spike in hate crimes against immigrants and visible minorities, particularly in Eastern Albion.

Asked about the report, Shergold said, "That's not who we are as a country."

---

SAUL FOR ALL #MAGA #SAULNATION · 58 minutes ago
SHE-GHOUL IS LETTING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE INTO OUR COUNTRY WE NEED ADELSON TO CLOSE THE BORDERS !!!!! #MAGA

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Bob #SteerNation #MAGA · 55 minutes ago
where does this lady get off on moving all these foreigners in here to replace our culture! we need to preserve what makes albion great! can't wait to kick her butt out of office in 2020! in before LIEBOUR SNOWFLAKES call me a racist for wanting common sense immigration reform!!

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Sakura from Windsor · 11 minutes ago
The comments on this article are just disgusting. Why don't some of you #MAGA morons take a look at your family trees? Maybe ask a Salish or Haida person about who the immigrants are? You guys are trash.

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[AH Albion]

DEVELOPING: Man bites dog, dogcatchers baffled

Shergold wanted donor picked for Windsor House rebuild


WINDSOR -- Prime Minister Rachael Neer Shergold urged bureaucrats to choose one of her donors to rebuild the aging prime-ministerial residence, leaked emails show.

"I think this company should be given a second look," Shergold writes to federal procurement staff in an email concerning Raven Construction, an Indigenous-owned firm which donated $1,600 to Shergold's campaign in 2016 and thousands more to the Labour Party and various candidates. The firm is well-known in the Coast Salish community and had been assessed as the runner-up in the competition to rebuild Windsor House, which is in a state of disrepair.

Raven was not reassessed and the $10 million project was awarded to PACICON. But sources say Shergold's comments represent inappropriate interference into what is supposed to be a non-partisan project.

"She tried to put her thumb on the scale. It made everyone in the department incredibly uncomfortable," said a senior official, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisal.

Sources told ABC Shergold met with Raven CEO John Cross days before sending the email. Cross is a long-time Shergold supporter and has donated to each of her last four campaigns as a business.

The procurement process is typically insulated from political interference. While ministers may set the terms of reference, politicians are not supposed to pick winners and losers, as this is usually determined by a matrix and overseen by bureaucrats.

A spokesman for Shergold said the email was not intended to influence the process.

"The Prime Minister was forwarding a constituent's concern to the proper staff, in keeping with her role as a Member of Parliament," said Press Secretary George Edenshaw. "Ultimately the procurement process concluded along proper lines and the successful candidate was chosen."

Reaction was swift after the story broke in the Windsor Times.

"It's disgraceful that any Prime Minister would try to rig the system to favour her donor buddies," said Liberal Leader Stephen Oppal.

Oppal called on the federal Ethics Commissioner to conduct an investigation into the affair. He said if no investigation occurs, the matter should be referred to the Royal Alban Mounted Police as part of a corruption inquiry.

"This is another ethical failure from a government past its sell-by date," Oppal said.

Reform Party Leader Saul Adelson called on Shergold to resign in a flurry of Tweets Wednesday.

"Total corruption and corporate welfare! Need to drain the swamp," he Tweeted.

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WE WANT SAUL #SAULFORALL · 52 minutes ago
CROOKED SHERGOLD RESIGN NOW!!! DRAIN THE SWAMP #MAGA

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Lucy Lee · 51 minutes ago
This is so overblown. So she advocated for a constituent. So what?

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778 up · 1432 down

[AH Albion]

DEVELOPING: WHO warns of dancing plague spread, predicts 'pandemic of funk'

Labour holds on to minority government

WINDSOR -- Albion's Labour government emerged battered but victorious after a bruising whirlwind election campaign, holding on to just enough seats to secure a minority government.

Unofficial final results show that Rachael Neel Shergold's party will hold 151 of the 318 seats in Parliament. That's down from 170, and just shy of the 160 needed to form a majority government. The opposition Liberals were the main beneficiaries of Labour's decline, climbing from 107 seats to 118.

The Green Party picked up five seats, while the Reform Party added four and the Progressives lost one open seat.

Labour managed to come out ahead despite a raft of mid-campaign polls showing the Liberals narrowly ahead. With the ballots counted, however, Labour won 36% of the popular vote to 33% for the Liberals.

"Tonight, voters rejected divisiveness and dishonesty. They rejected cuts and austerity and voted for a strong progressive agenda for the middle class," Shergold told cheering supporters at a victory rally in her Granville Centre riding, where she was re-elected with little difficulty.

In a campaign defined in part by declining oil prices deepening an economic recession in Athabasca and Kisatchewan, the Liberals dominated the seat count in these oil-producing regions. All but two Labour MPs in Athabasca lost their seats to Liberal or Reform challengers as eastern economic angst delivered the Grits just over 60% of the popular vote in the two provinces.

Grit candidate Darcy Hutsulak easily ousted Infrastructure Minister Lisa McKinley in the riding of Augusta Elbowview, eliminating Labour's only seat in the nation's oil capital. Further north, Public Safety Minister Jillian Painter lost her seat in Blackstone City to Reform candidate and far-right WeTuber Greg Stumpf. Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Debbie Armstrong held her Edmonton Strathcona seat by four points, her weakest showing ever in Labour's only traditional Athabascan stronghold.

In Kisatchewan, Justice Minister Monique Freeman-Green narrowly staved off a Grit challenger to hold her seat in Minishic East by just 239 votes. A stronger-than-expected third-place Reform showing seems to have weakened the Liberal showing there, but the result is the narrowest in a riding represented by Labour since the 1990s.

The economic angst failed to translate west of the Rockies, where Labour candidates performed strongly.

Liberal Leader Stephen Oppal called the results a "wake-up call" for Shergold's government.

"Tonight's result puts us a step closer to where we want to be," said Oppal, who took over the leadership following former leader Stephen Bodnarchuk's ouster on misconduct charges. "The people have put Rachael Neel Shergold on notice, and Miss Shergold, when your government falls, Liberals will be ready to give Albans the better choice they deserve."

Green candidates, meanwhile, won a series of close races in Fraser to increase their share of the House. The party stands to hold the balance of power in a minority parliament, something Green Leader Liane Aglukark didn't rule out.

"The voters have spoken and they want us to make sure the next government is doing everything it can to fight climate change," Aglukark told supporters Sunday night after securing victory in her Nanaimo riding.

While the Reform Party made some gains, they were a far cry from early polling showing the far-right insurgent party breaking 25 seats. Leader Saul Adelson, who drew heavy criticism during the campaign after suggesting the Eastern provinces could secede if the Grits won, predicted the minority situation wouldn't last long.

"We'll see you again in a few months, and we'll be giving you the boot," Adelson boisterously threatened Shergold before a throng of supporters.

The night was a grim one for the Progressive Party: Leader John Korderas lost his Nakanuk-Bayside seat to a Green challenger, leaving the party with just one seat in the House. It was the latest blow in a long fall for the former upstart party, which has increasingly hemorrhaged voters to the Greens.

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Lucy Gee · 51 minutes ago
Labour-Green coalition? Oh my gosh, yes please. I want this. Save the planet AND the working class!

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ATHABEXIT NOW · 46 minutes ago
SHE-GHOUL RIGGED THE ELECTION AND FAKESERVATIVE OPAL STUFFED BALLOT BOXES TO STOP ADELSON, THE EAST CAN ONLY BE STRONG IF WE LEAVE ALBION, GOOGLE ATHABEXIT.COM ATHABEXIT.COM ATHABEXIT.COM

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679 up · 712 down

Idi Amin · 20 minutes ago
The only winner of this election was me, the Conqueror of the British Empire. The voters have told me to get rid of the Obote men. We must get the Obote men out. Only I can do this.

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[AH Albion]

DEVELOPING: News really does happen in Albion, says local man

Muskegon, Kisatchewan seek funds to bridge Lake Winnipeg

CHURCHILL -- A bridge over Lake Winnipeg is vitally needed to link Muskegon to the rest of Albion by road, say two Eastern premiers in a bid for a federal cost-sharing agreement.

Premiers George Flay of Muskegon and Paul Cherney of Kisatchewan announced a finalized inter-provincial agreement Thursday to build the new bridge, a proposed three-kilometre span intended to link Muskegon to the interlake region of Kisatchewan. The provinces are seeking help from the federal government to fund the project, a key component of the ambitious Eastern Road Plan that would see a new highway built between Fife, Kisa. and fast-growing Miskwaham, Musk.

"The East is booming," Flay said. "There's a lot in store for this province and we need more than winter roads and fly-ins if we're going to make the most of our opportunities."

The bridge project actually consists of two crossings at Hecla Provincial Park and an improvement to an existing causeway. The main span, about 2.5 kilometres in length, would connect Gull Harbour to Black Island, with a smaller causeway linking Black Island to an existing Muskegon road north of Wanipigow. Once completed, the project would see a new highway built and expanded in Muskegon and existing rural roads in Kisatchewan improved between the Lake Winnipegosis Narrows and the new crossing.

A bridge is considered necessary because of the American border: The peninsula known as the Wanasing Spur separates Selkirk, Kisa. and Pine Falls, Musk. at the lake's southern end, requiring any land road to pass through the United States. Going north around the lake would require even higher costs. But even with a shorter route over water and the improvement of existing roadwork the bridgework alone comes with a nearly $2.5 billion price tag and significant political and environmental hurdles.

"This is a bridge to nowhere," said Steve Toldo, head of the Alban Taxpayers Federation.

Toldo said the areas the bridge would connect are thinly populated to nearly empty. Much of the land consists of rugged Hudsonian shieldlands, forming a beautiful but inhospitable landscape separating Miskwaham from the rest of Albion.

That pristine landscape should be preserved in perpetuity, said federal Green Party leader Liane Aglukark.

"The damage to the environment would be extreme. These premiers are asking for billions to bulldoze thousands of kilometres of old-growth forest. It's insanity," she said.

The Green Party's opposition imperils any federal effort to fund a bridge. While federal Transportation Minister Roger Yee's spokesperson noted that the project is "under review," the governing Labour Party's minority government relies on support from the Green Party to maintain power. Reform Party leader Saul Adelson said his party also opposes the bridge.

A spokesperson for Liberal Leader Stephen Oppal said the party is open to considering an agreement that "makes good use of the taxpayers' money" but suggested the government "can't be trusted to cut a good deal with the provinces."

Flay said a road link would pay for itself by promoting the development of key cities in the east, including creating links to border towns such as Pine Falls and Pinawa, where the soil is sufficient to be farmed.

"It's not just rocks and permafrost out here. We have an entire province that gets overlooked by people from the west coast," Flay said.

"It's high time Windsor comes to the table for the people of Muskegon and gets this deal done."

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Frustrated Taxpayer · 54 minutes ago
What the hoody-hoo roody-poo? They're going to throw billions down a hole to build a bridge to basically some rocks? This is the kind of crap our tax money is going to?

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MINE SWINE MATTY · 38 minutes ago
WE'RE TIRED OF BEING FORGOTTEN BY THE REST OF ALBION ITS TIME FOR SHE-GHOUL AND THE LIEBOUR COMMIES TO SPEND SOME MONEY ON REAL ALBANS IN THE EAST FOR A CHANGE!!!

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not a bot · 31 minutes ago
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3 up · 99999999999 down

[AH Albion]

DEVELOPING: Snek boops man, snoot authorities baffled

"Big Doc" will retire in 2021: Coast Guard


ACGS Edward B. Green icebreaking in the Arctic in 2014.

CHURCHILL -- After fifty-five years of shattering Arctic ice en route to groundbreaking scientific discoveries, Albion's oldest icebreaker is set to retire next spring.

The heavy icebreaker Edward B. Green will wind down her long career once the winter of 2020-21 ends, the Alban Coast Guard announced. The news comes with the ship's replacement, ACGS Leonard Jeffrey, wrapping up her final sea trials and slated to enter full service by the end of 2020.

That comes after the ship, first launched in 1966, has dodged several prior brushes with retirement en route to a distinguished career in Albion's far north. In 1994, Green, named for Prime Minister Edward "Doc" Green and known affectionately as "Big Doc" in Coast Guard lore, was the first North American surface ship to reach the North Pole. She returned to the pole in 2006, among other achievements such as fully transiting North America and exploring the Northwest Passage along the way.

"Big Doc is a huge piece of our maritime history. We'll miss her, but she's had an amazing run," said Fisheries Minister Alexandra Dewhurst, whose ministry oversees the Coast Guard.

The ship, originally designed as a coastal icebreaker, was controversially upgraded in the 1980s after an American icebreaker traveled through the Northwest Passage without Albion's permission. The upgraded "Big Doc" quickly rounded into the linchpin of Albion's efforts to explore and claim the High Arctic, even spearheading a landmark charting mission to map the continental shelf.

Green dodged retirement in 2000 after budget cuts caused a proposed replacement heavy icebreaker to be pushed back. She was spared the chopping block again in 2014 despite the commissioning of the more modern and more powerful polar icebreaker Donald MacNaughton when it was decided that Albion needed a second heavy icebreaker to counter the launch of Russia's new wave of nuclear icebreakers.

Despite her legendary reliability, Green was finally declared superfluous with Jeffrey, the second MacNaughton-class icebreaker, ready to enter service.

The Coast Guard said the ship will be laid up at the Port of Churchill for the time being.

Dewhurst said the government has not decided if the icebreaker will be spared as a museum ship.

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Coastie · 59 minutes ago
I served on Big Doc for years. She's a good, reliable ship. A lot of breakers came and went in her time, but she managed to outlast them all. Shame to see her go, but it was time, and she's more than paid for herself. Godspeed, Big Doc!

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[AH New Caledonia]

Navy launches record mission to map sunken Zealandia continent


PHOTO: The Marine nationale ship NNC Maurice Vendégou under sail in 2015.

Joint mission with New Zealand builds on groundbreaking studies of the landmass underlying the two nations

NOUMÉA - The Marine Nationale is setting out to develop the most detailed maps yet of the continental fragment sunken beneath New Caledonia and New Zealand.

The science ship Maurice Vendégou will join a counterpart ship from New Zealand this week as part of the Zealandia 2020 mapping project. The joint venture builds on previous working efforts between scientists from New Caledonia and New Zealand in charting and studying the Zealandia undersea landmass, which has been broadly recognized as a continent following previous joint surveys.

New Caledonia lies at the north end of the sunken continent, while New Zealand forms the south-central region.

"There's still a lot we don't understand about the earth and about our corner of it. Working with our international partners, we can expand our understanding of where we live," said Prof. Sylvia Koevira, a geologist from the University de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa.

Koevira said the expedition will be accompanied by a delegation of students from the geology department. "This will be an opportunity for them to gain experience studying in the field."

Maurice Vendégou was also involved in previous surveys of Zealandia and has been critical to the study of the continent since the ship was purchased from the United States a decade ago.

Funding for the mission is being provided by the federal Ministry of Higher Education and Research, as well as a significant grant from the Pacific Science Organization.

[AH Rossiya]

Kliper spaceplane soars on first mission

Published Time: 24 Sep 2020 09:45


The Kliper spaceplane in this SOVCOSMOS file art.

The Soviet Union's newest spaceplane has completed its first mission, marking a tremendous milestone in the exploration of space.

Thursday, the spacecraft Kliper returned from the space station Zarya and touched down in Baikonur. The mission marks the official debut of SOVCOSMOS's next-generation spaceplane, which will replace the venerable Buran programme.

The Kliper is the first of a new class of partially reusable spaceplanes. During its first mission, it docked with the waiting Parom space tug module in orbit, and upon leaving, left the module behind to be used by the next Kliper mission. The tug module is expected to be infinitely reusable.

"This mission demonstrates decisively that the Soviet Union continues to stand at the forefront of space research. With this new programme, we can expand our horizons of science and learning into a new stratosphere," says Col.Gen. Vitaly Pozdnyakov, the Commander-in-Chief of SOVCOSMOS and the Soviet Space Forces.

The mission was commanded by the veteran cosmonaut Aleksandr Korobov, who has commanded numerous prior launches of the Buran spaceplane.

The Kliper crew, which consisted of six cosmonauts, remained aboard Zarya for a period of one month to conduct scientific experiments. During this time, the capabilities of the Kliper vehicle were tested in a series of orbital maneuvers. These experiments demonstrated the functionality of the innovative Strela II space arm, which was built for the Kliper spacecraft based on the modular arms used on both Zarya and the former space station Mir.

"We're pleased that the space arm functioned perfectly. This is a great triumph for our ability to conduct scientific experiments in space," says Pozdnyakov.

With the success of the first Kliper launch, the remaining Buran spaceplanes will retire to make way for their new and more sophisticated replacements.

SOVCOSMOS announced that the original Buran will be decomissioned and placed on display in the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow.

[AH Albion]

DEVELOPING: Mali president claims Azawad flouting Kumasi Accord ceasefire

Medicare expansion would cover drugs, dental



Shergold proposal faces uncertain fate in Parliament as Greens raise concerns bill doesn't go far enough

Michael Winfree · ABC News
Posted: Sep 28, 2020 4:08 PM PST


The Parliament of Albion building.

WINDSOR -- Drugs and dental care could soon be covered by the public health care system under a sweeping health care expansion proposed by the federal government.

The proposal by Prime Minister Rachael Neel Shergold's government would expand the public system to create universal insurance programs for prescription drugs and dental care. Currently the National Health System Act does not require these services to be covered, though some provinces do cover them.

"In the year 2020, no Alban should ever have to choose between paying the bills and paying for insulin," said Health Minister Anne Cheechoo, speaking as she introduced the legislation on Parliament Hill Monday.

The bill faces a gauntlet to pass through a minority Parliament. The opposition Liberals quickly declared their opposition to the bill, declaring it an imposition on the private sector. And Green Party leader Liane Aglukark didn't rule out voting against the bill, expressing concerns that the bill doesn't go far enough. Without the support of one of the other three major parties in Parliament, the bill is dead in the water.

"We're going to look at it very closely, but I'm concerned that we won't be doing enough to take care of the people who need the most help," Aglukark told reporters.

Liberal health critic Lorinda Gregorovicius said the bill would create redundancy and overburden Alban taxpayers. "This is duplicating the efforts of the private sector," she said. "We think this needs a serious overhaul.

"Albans don't trust this government to create even more expensive red tape," Gregorovicius said.

Health care in Albion is largely delivered by the provinces along lines determined by federal law. While existing laws don't require dental and drugs to be covered, they are in Columbia and Fraser. Cheechoo said Fraser's system should serve as "a model of success for the nation."

In a media release, the Labour Party claimed Albion is the only country with universal health care that does not offer a publicly-funded insurance program for pharmaceuticals.

"We have a gap," Cheechoo said. "Many Albans are fortunate to receive coverage through benefits they receive from their employer. But there are thousands of Albans who don't have that option, or who need more than what their benefits are willing to offer."

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DEPLORABLE MICK #SAULFORALL · 43 minutes ago
CROOKED SHE-GHOUL IS TRYING TO SHOVE COMMUNISM DOWN OUR THROATS WITH HER CROOKED RED MEDICINE!!SHE IS A SOVIET AGENT THIS IS WHY WENEED ADELSON AND WHY WE NEED TO ATHABEXIT NOW!!! #MAGA #SAULFORALL

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Raven Chat · 41 minutes ago
heck yeah it's about time we became a legit modern country, i just hoper shergold doesn't half-heartedly do it, no corporate handouts plz

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Idi Amin · 32 minutes ago
The only thing that should be universal is the removal of the Obote men. We must get the Obote men out. Join me and I will get them out. I have this power, as the Conqueror of the British Empire. All the women love me and all the men want to be me.

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[AH Albion]

DEVELOPING: Mali claims "ridiculous saber-rattling:" Azawad

Prairie premiers slam proposed medicare expansion



Kyl, Cherney say Labour pharmacare and dental bill treads on provincial turf

Michael Winfree, Anna Fey, Chandrakala Sarkar · ABC News
Posted: Sep 29, 2020 6:32 PM PST


Insulin would be one of the key drugs covered under the proposed universal pharmacare program.

EDMONTON -- Two prairie premiers are pushing back on a proposed federal medicare expansion, calling it a slap in the face to their provinces.

"This is stomping all over provincial jurisdiction," said Athabasca Premier Justin Kyl, who along with Kisatchewan Premier Paul Cherney released statements opposing Prime Minister Rachael Neel Shergold's proposal to extend universal coverage to pharmaceuticals and dental care. While the federal government sets overarching health care policy, individual provinces are responsible for overseeing service delivery.

"The people of Athabasca don't need Windsor coming in and imposing huge tax burdens on people who are already struggling to pay the bills," Kyl said. "The Prime Minister needs to stick to her own jurisdiction and leave health care up to the provinces. That's what it says in the constitution."

Speaking to reporters in Stannassippi Tuesday morning, Cherney called the proposed legislation "red medicine" and said it would force the province to either raise taxes or cut services elsewhere to cover the costs.

"The people I talk to don't trust this federal government to run a bath, much less a health care system," he said.

Bill C-204 - the Complete Care Act - would create a universal public insurance program for pharmaceutical care, intended to support Albans who cannot access private medical benefits. It would also require the provinces to provide coverage for basic and necessary dental care, like checkups and essential surgeries.

Kyl, leader of the right-wing Athabascan Alliance Party, and Kisatchewan Conservative premier Cherney formed the core of a group of mostly conservative premiers who expressed reservations about the bill.

Yukon Premier John Saltsev, of the libertarian-leaning Yukon Independents, said the legislation was "unnecessary big government imposition.

"The free market can take care of this. People are already sick of being taxed to death," Saltsev said.

"We're trying to get our economy back on track," said Stikine Premier Richard Pumper, a Liberal. "I'm concerned about the bottom line here. We don't want to put a new tax burden on Stikinians."

Muskegon Premier George Flay, a Liberal, also expressed concerns about the cost of the program, but said he was "open to what the Prime Minister is proposing."

Notably breaking ranks with the other Liberal and conservative-leaning premiers was Columbia Premier Gord Steer. The province's Liberal government expressed support for the proposed expansion. Columbia is one of two provinces to provide existing coverage for dental and pharmaceuticals.

"Good for the federal government. Listen, we want folks to live longer," Steer said. "I totally support the Prime Minister here.

"I get folks calling me all the time, saying 'Premier, we're so glad we can afford our insulin or our heart medication.' And it's good for business, too. You want to be healthy. You don't want them to sit around the kitchen table worrying about whether they pay for their meds or their heating bill."

Premiers Andrew Makysmowicz of Kootenay, Peter Basso of Calapuya and Kathleen Sammurtok of Fraser voiced support for the proposed expansion. All three head up Labour governments, and Fraser provides both services already. Vancouver Premier Lauren Hayek, a Green, also supported the program.

"It's time we looked after our most in-need citizens," Maksymowicz said.

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True Blue Grit · 48 minutes ago
Look, nobody who opposes this wants people to die. What we're saying is the private sector already does this more efficiently than the federal government. If you make this a government bureaucracy, you're going to create death panels. You take this out of the hands of doctors and patients and put it in the hands of faceless bureaucrats in Windsor. That's not good for anyone, and it'll make drugs more expensive by eliminating competition and innovation.

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Shauna from Minishic · 37 minutes ago
im diabetic and need insulin to live. my cheapo employer doesnt offer benefits so ive gotta always scrape together money to get my meds. its awful. anyone who doesnt support this is saying they want me to die of a preventable disease

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723 up · 554 down

fleck · 28 minutes ago
but will this bill cover potate, it needs to cover latvian potate

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[AH Albion]

DEVELOPING: Explosion kills 17 in Timbuktu, Ansar Dine claims credit

Greens want assistive devices covered by medicare bill



Proposal put forward by Diabetes Albion would increase price of $35 billion health care expansion

Michael Winfree · ABC News
Posted: Oct 1, 2020 10:04 AM PST


Insulin pumps are increasingly popular with Albans with diabetes.

WINDSOR -- The Green Party is making universal coverage for medical devices key to which way they'll vote on a proposed health care expansion.

"Drugs are one thing, but millions of Albans require assistive devices like compression garments and insulin pumps," said Green Party Leader Liane Aglukark Thursday. "We'll be looking at the bill closely to see what it does for those people."

Her statement came following an open letter released by Diabetes Albion, the country's primary advocacy group for Albans with diabetes, calling on the government to include universal device coverage in Bill C-204, the Complete Care Act. The Labour government's proposal would require the provinces to extend universal public coverage to pharmaceuticals and dental care, but Diabetes Albion said the proposal leaves out important devices like glucometers and pumps, which are essential for Albans with diabetes to manage the condition.

While many provinces maintain grant programs to offset significant device costs, Diabetes Albion said the system is a "patchwork quilt" and requires patients to "jump through innumerable hoops" to get even partial assistance.

"The cost of equipment is as serious as the cost of insulin for some people," said Diabetes Albion executive director Paulette MacKay. "We think an equitable health care system is one where every diabetic has the opportunity to get what they need to manage their diabetes, regardless of their income or wealth."

The proposal would mean extra costs on top of the projected $35 billion over 10 years estimated by the Parliamentary Budget Office just for pharmaceutical coverage.

The Labour government, which allocated $6 billion in the 2020 budget to begin talks on a medicare expansion, said the program will be paid for by increasing marginal tax rates for the upper brackets.

The Opposition Liberals have decried that funding strategy as "hostile to business," while Reform Party Leader Saul Adelson accused Labour of pursuing "tax-and-spend red medicine." Both parties have said they will vote against expanding medicare when Bill C-204 comes to the floor.

Thursday, Prime Minister Rachael Neel Shergold said the cost discussion is a distraction from the purpose of the proposed expansion.

"We're talking about helping Albans live longer and happier lives. If we can't even agree that it's worth every penny to keep our fellow citizens healthy, happy and alive, no matter their background and circumstances, I find that pretty sad," she said.

"Albans care about each other," Shergold said. "None of us want to see our neighbours struggle with manageable conditions because of money."

Asked about the Diabetes Albion proposal, she said, "We're going to meet with them and see what we can do to address their concerns."

Aglukark, who has periodically discussed her own struggle with type 1 diabetes, said the issue is "near and dear to my heart," but that the party's decision will come down to "policy, not personal feelings.

"We want to make sure that if we support anything, it's a bill that gives Albans what they need," she said.

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Beet Hero · 51 minutes ago
I'm a type 1 diabetic and have been since the age of nine. I pay out the nose for assistive stuff - sensors, lancets, pump, all of it. Even in a country like this, it's disgustingly expensive to live with diabetes. This bill would be a freaking godsend. If this passes, Labour has my vote forever and ever.

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881 up · 209 down

TAKE ALBION BACK #MAGA · 48 minutes ago
THIS IS A CORRUPT SCHEME BY CROOKED SHE-GHOUL TO TAKE OUR MONEY AND GIVE IT TO BIG PHARMA COMMUNITS WE NEED TO GET ADELSON IN BEFORE LIEBOUR COMMIES DESTROY THIS COUNTRY AND TAX US ALL TO DEATH!!!! #MAGA #TAB #SAULFORALL

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Powdered Toast Man · 37 minutes ago
Did you know cinnamon can cure diabeetus?! My cinnamon sugar windpuffs can save you all! Quick, inject cinnamon directly into your panc!

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[AH Albion]

DEVELOPING: Azawad denies cooperation in Ansar Dine attacks

Greens will back revised health care expansion



Coverage for assistive devices incorporated into multibillion-dollar Bill C-204

Michael Winfree · ABC News
Posted: Oct 7, 2020 10:34 AM PST


The Parliament Building in Windsor.

WINDSOR -- The Green Party is vowing to back a beefed-up version of the proposed medicare expansion plan, all but assuring its passage through Parliament.

The party announced it would support the plan following amendments which added significant coverage for assistive devices on top of requirements to fully cover the costs of dental care and prescription drugs for those without private insurance. The new plan would require provinces to replace the existing patchwork of opt-in grants available to substantially cover devices like insulin pumps or hearing aids.

"On balance we think this would benefit Albans," said Green Leader Liane Aglukark. "We're willing to support the government on this."

But the addition significantly balloons the cost of the program, which the Parliamentary Budget Office initially estimated to carry a price tag of more than $35 billion over 10 years. Much of the cost of delivery will fall on the provinces: Provincial governments are largely responsible for delivering health care services.

Health Minister Anne Cheechoo said the federal government plans to increase transfer payments to the provinces to cover the cost. She said additional expenses have been budgeted for and would not require an increase in taxes, instead being covered by "efficiencies elsewhere in the budget.

"This is something Albans have needed for a long time," Cheechoo said.

"If you look at the polls, Albans are consistently proud of our public health care system. We're going to make sure that our system remains a world-class system."

Both the Liberal Party and the Reform Party have promised to vote against the expansion.

"Alban taxpayers are telling us we need to be more efficient in how we do health care," said Liberal Leader Stephen Oppal. He said a Liberal government would "re-examine" the expansion program if elected, specifically looking for means to save money and deliver better services.

"We want a universal system. That doesn't mean we can't work with independent practitioners to ensure that everyone has access to fully-covered services in an efficient way," he said.

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Grampa Joe · 55 minutes ago
Thank God for this government! I've needed a new hearing aid for a long time but the cost is outrageous. Maybe now I'll finally be able to get what I need.

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A PATRIOT · 45 minutes ago
SOCIALIST TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE GETS EVEN WORSE NOW SHE-GHOUL ISS GOING TO CREATE DENTIST GULAGS AND TAKR AWAY YOUR DOCTOR THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO #ATHABEXIT BEFORE SHE-GHOUL DESTROYS OUR COUNTRY!!!!

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Idi Amin · 44 minutes ago
Truly, the only universal service should be Obotemenectomy. We must remove the Obote men from the body politic. Believe me, if you have a problem with Obote men, only I can remove them. Call me on my cell phone and I will come to your house and remove the Obote men. Take it from me, the Conqueror of the British Empire.

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Milton Obote · 43 minutes ago
HOW CAN YOU GET RID OF MY MEN, IDI AMIN, WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY HERE?!

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[AH Albion]

DEVELOPING: WSX opens up 200 points on strong jobs report

Bomber fleet will be retired in 2021



Labour says aging AF-111s will be taken out of service as a cost-saving measure

Cassidy Paine · ABC News
Posted: Oct 13, 2020 9:12 AM PST


An AF-111 "Pig" in flight.

WINDSOR -- The Labour government is vowing to retire Albion's 40-year-old fighter-bomber fleet in time for the next budget.

The Royal Air Force of Albion's dozen remaining AF-111 Aardvark bombers are well past their service life, Defence Minister Christopher Steckler said Tuesday. Retiring the force will save Albion millions of dollars in maintenance, the government argues, at a time when Prime Minister Rachael Neel Shergold's government is preparing to launch an expensive pharmacare expansion.

"The F-111s make up 10 per cent of the RAFA's fleet, but account for 25 per cent of the maintenance budget," Steckler said. "These aircraft were due to retire in 2012 and only continued to operate due to extenuating circumstances. Those circumstances have passed.

"We think now is the right time."

The move to retire the bombers comes without an obvious replacement for them. While the F-39 Griffin fighter aircraft has been chosen to replace the RAFA's fleet of aging AF-14 Tomcats, it is a smaller aircraft than the F-111 and could not fill its role as an aircraft built to deliver heavy bomb loads against enemies on the ground.

An earlier plan to retire the F-111s by 2012 was cancelled during Albion's participation in the War in Mali, when twelve aircraft were put back into service to attack Ansar Dine extremist positions in Azawad. The aircraft have remained in service since, maintained with spare parts cobbled from a dozen retired airframes.

Liberal Leader Stephen Oppal said that it would be "irresponsible" to retire the F-111s without a replacement.

"We're losing a capability from our military here. This government needs to do better to give our troops the tools they need to support our allies," Oppal said.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said the air-to-ground strike role could be adopted by AF-18 Super Hornets from the Fleet Air Arm. But the RAFA and AFAA operate as separate branches of the Alban Forces and have worked together with some tension in past conflicts. As well, the AF-18s - while larger than the incoming Griffins - still don't have the size and bomb load of the F-111s.

"There really isn't much out there to replace this kind of capacity, unless you want to buy a heavy bomber or a ground attack plane," said defense analyst Ron Yzebaert.

"The trend has been to phase out big bomb trucks like (the F-111) and go towards multirole fighters," Yzebaert said. "Most of the ground attack aircraft out there are older ones from the '80s - there really isn't much that's new or innovative. There really aren't many countries still operating bombers in this way at all. Albion's the last one to fly F-111s at all."

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RAFA Brat · 59 minutes ago
This government once again makes a foolish decision to weaken the military at a time when the Soviet Union is up-arming. We look like complete chumps on the world stage. Once again, Shergold is an embarrassment to Albion. I can't wait for her to lose the next election so a real government run by adults can take over.

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Ted from Churchill · 55 minutes ago
dude, these dumb planes are like 40 years old. like who do we even have to bomb anymore? we basically used them one time in the last decade and it was to drop bombs on a couple of sand dunes. it was literally like swatting a fly with a bazooka. we literally don't need them anymore. just get rid of them and spend the $$$ on health care and social services that actual citizens will get to benefit from instead of paying for expensive toys from the 1980s for like a dozen jacked-up pilot geeks

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Donald Trump · 44 minutes ago
This is such a stupid idea. Just so bad. Li'l Chris and Weak Rachael are destroying the military to pay for socialism. They are destroying the country. I feel so bad for the great soldiers. So bad. Believe me. Just the other -- I was at a rally, great rally, very nice people -- I had a soldier come up to me, big man, very strong man, and he gave me the biggest hug ever and he said, "Sir, they're taking away our ability to fight the bad guys." And I said that's the worst thing ever. We can't have leaders who do this. No government has ever done more to hurt the great soldiers from Albion. Very bad, folks. My good friend Saul Adelson, he called me on the cell phone and he said "Mr. Trump sir, I'll rebuild the military." And I said he's a killer. Tremendous guy. Tremendous guy. I can't vote in Albion - believe me, I'd love to vote in Albion - so all of you Albion people, all of you should go out there and vote for my very great friend Saul Adelson. Look, he's gonna make Albion great again. You should vote so many times you'll get tired of voting. Very fine people on both sides. On both sides.

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[AH New Caledonia]

Vanuatuan ship bumps Navy patrol boat off Hunter Island


PHOTO: The Marine nationale ship NNC L'Adepte in this 2019 file photo

No injuries and minor damage as ships cross paths off island disputed with Vanuatu

A collision between a Navy patrol ship and a counterpart from Vanuatu has a long-running dispute over two southern islands back in focus.

The Navy said Wednesday that the patrol boat NNC L'Adepte was bumped Tuesday evening by the Vanuatuan patrol boat RVS Tukoro while sailing off Hunter Island. No one was injured in the low-speed collision, but both ships suffered minor damage to their hulls.

Hunter Island and nearby Matthew Island were occupied by New Caledonia in 1965. While they are uninhabited, a government weather station operates on Hunter Island. Vanuatu claimed the islands in the 1980s but has not moved to occupy them beyond the occasional visit.

"This was an example of very irresponsible behaviour on the part of our neighbours," said Defence Minister Adrien Caze Wednesday afternoon. "It is well-established that Matthew and Hunter Islands are New Caledonia and we don't understand why this remains a point of contention."

Asked about the damage to L'Adepte, he said it was "very minimal, but the fact remains that this collision should never have happened. The other ship was in New Caledonian territorial waters and sailing dangerously close to our ship. This could have been much worse if not for the very careful actions of our sailors."

Calls to the Vanuatu Police Force were not returned.

The dispute over the islands has been a point of tension in the otherwise amicable relations between New Caledonia and neighbouring Vanuatu. Navy patrol ships make regular visits to the islands, usually to plant a flag or check the weather station there. The science ship Maurice Vendégou attended in June to monitor volcanic activity there.

Visits from Vanuatu are very uncommon, largely because the Vanuatu Police Force has only the one ship suitable for such activities.

Caze, Wednesday, said the incident was "disappointing" but that the government would take it as an accident.

"We would think that the other ship was not trying to be deliberately provocative. We're sure their commanding officers have an explanation and we're going to look to them to tell us why this happened," he said.