Levilion News Thread – [IC]

by **Tyrnica** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 6:45 pm

Introduction

Greetings! This is the news thread for Levilion, which aims to document the current happenings and notable events going on around the world. Naturally, this is only open to members of the region — however, we encourage you to read along and even sign up if you're interested!

Guidelines

As aforementioned, the usage of this thread is exclusive to members of Levilion who have received the appropriate roles on our regional Discord server.
News posts should take on the appropriate appearance — include what you'd expect to see on a real news website!
This is an in-character thread, so news posts should come from an in-character perspective.

Table of Contents

by **Songha** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:36 pm

Her Majesty, Empress La'akea, speaking with journalists in Jiasing

Bi-annual Wargames to be held in Songha
Songhese Central News Agency

^{SHARE THIS:}

Yu Uyongu-Kan (@YuUK-SCNA)
^{Thursday July 9 2020, 8:40 AM | Liu-Hu, Songha}

Her Majesty, La'akea Yunga-Seung, arrived in Liu-Hu earlier this morning, alongside other high ranking members of the Imperial Council, and members of the royal family, presumably to oversee the start of the bi-annual Songhese Wargames, coined the "Songhese Practices of Sovereignty and Dignity" by some in the Government. The wargames are to take place on land, sea, and air. Naval forces will conduct live-fire practices in the Bay of Padmer, while Land Forces will conduct practices in multiple places spanning up and down the Western Seaboard of Songha; the largest of these will take place to the Southwest of Liu-Hu. Air Forces will coordinate in the practices of both divisions, while also having smaller performances of their own.

These wargames will coincide with the 77th Anniversary of the end of the Great War of Qes, or the Second Great War as it is called in Auressia. Taking advantage of the mobilised force numbers, many of these forces will march in parades and celebrations along the coast alongside local forces, in a show of force and respect to the world. Similar, but smaller, celebrations will take place across the nation - the largest celebrations will, of course, take place in Liu-Hu and Jiasing.

Some question the function of these wargames in the 21st Century, posing the perspective that surely the modern world has moved past the need for combat-ready armed forces at a given notice; however, nonetheless, the government pushes forward with these exercises, insisting that with the history of aggression Songha has faced, that the nation must be ready to defend itself ruthlessly in all situations. Nonetheless, whether you support or oppose the wargames, all must admit it's a great show of patriotism and unity for the whole country in coordination with Unity Day.

Other Popular Articles

How will the raise in Sales Tax affect your cost of living? Read here 1,249,722 views
Lightning strike at a Caitasi lumber mill leaves one dead, two in critical condition 433,799 views
Why Kinross Succeeds - the lone city of the West Coast 41,237 views

gregsbury · 2 days ago
Not sure why they voted on such a minute issue.. Honestly, the tax and unions deserve the headline more than this.
762 up · 20 down
REPLY · UPVOTE · DOWNVOTE

Tilli.moira95 · 2 days ago
Cool. Beltra felt super disconnected from the rest of Mòrainea, so this will be positive methinks.
668 up · 59 down
REPLY · UPVOTE · DOWNVOTE

Tlytdeck12350987 · 1 day ago
How You Can Lose 5 Pounds In 24 Hours Or Less For Free CLICK HERE!
17 up · 791 down
REPLY · UPVOTE · DOWNVOTE

by **Amandine** » Mon Sep 07, 2020 6:58 pm

New Diplomacy

Amand Ambassador Daphnée Sara Caron (above)

Pierre Vidal | Monday September 7 2020, 8:25 PM | Colette, Amandine

On Sunday, September 6th, the State Department released a public statement nominating Ambassador Daphnée Sara Caron (née Robert) to the Amand Mission to Tìrmon. While President Simone Lachance has frequently swiveled between diplomats over her three years across missions, this replacement is a significant move for her administration and for Amandine's foreign policy at large. Since the syndicalist Tìrmoni Revolution in 1917, Amandine claimed the Democratic Republic as an illegitimate government "unrepresentative of the well-intentioned citizen" (Secretary of State Manu Vidal, 1921). While this precedent was set for the following decades, it was only until 1949 when President Henri Philippe's administration altered Amandine's stance, finally recognizing the state in a limited capacity. Even though Philippe was on record discussing his support for a Tìrmoni government involved in a post-Second Great War Auressia, his actions were far more moderate to appeal to a growing faction of conservative parliament members who reluctantly agreed to any change at all. Only five years later, Amandine once again struck against the Democratic Republic, placing harsh embargoes and pushing allied powers to do the same. Finally, Les Démocrates Libéraux in 1989 lifted economic sanctions and established a permanent mission in Ùrraon; even with this progress, relations persisted with unsubstantial support as Tìrmon slowly faded from Amand foreign interests.

Following her foreign policy commitments of expanding market access to governments outside of the liberal sphere, President Simone Lachance has replaced the current ambassador with Mrs. Caron, arguably one of Amandine's most experienced diplomats. As a seasoned figure in the Foreign Service, Ambassador Caron first began her career in 1986 with a position in Saint-Baptiste. Since then, she has led missions in Rocia, Aiyaca, and Rythene (for a short period), with her name on the shortlist for Secretary of State in 2010. With her tenure, the Lachance Administration hopes that Tìrmon's government will be closer to normalizing relations in the near future. Ultimately, the two parties seek to collaborate in consumer technological and medical research, foreign market opportunities, and trans-Hesperian commercial flight access. Even though these proposed goals are not concrete, Ambassador Caron recently stated:

"Under this Administration, I have seen foreign policy decisions that truly give people like me the necessary resources to make real change in an ever-connective world. Tìrmon is a nation that deserves the full attention of Amandine's Federal Republic, and I will ensure that President Lachance's goals are met in a timely and lasting manner".

Now-former Ambassador Edgard Planque has been relieved of his duties for the time being and gave his congratulations to the new leadership change hours after the declaration was made. Planque, the Ambassador of Tìrmon since 2002, and President Lachance have had a contentious relationship over the years with fundamental ideological disagreements stalling developments in Lachance's foreign policy plans in Western Auressia. While it is unknown if Ambassador Planque will have a newfound role in the Administration, President Lachance did not rule out such an idea. L'Ouest will continue to monitor the situation over the coming weeks.

Pierre Vidal is a senior political analyst for L'Ouest. As a dedicated staff member since 2012, Mr. Vidal has written on Amand foreign policy related to Western and Northern Auressia, while also spending time on the ground in Tìrmon and Rythene. In his free time, Vidal enjoys drawing, notably of Tyrnican wolves and Albrennian ospreys. He also loves to spend time with his family and enjoys taking long hikes with them along the Adrienne Sea's Amand beaches. Read more.

by **Saint-Baptiste** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 8:34 pm

“1.5 to Stay Alive”: Climate change protest ramps up outside Place Rose
Activists and protesters call for PM to fight for increased international attention to climate change
Éloi Lavasseur | 16 September 2020

PM Marc-Antoine Vernier is facing increased calls to pursue a more active and ambitious
climate policy, namely supporting a maximum 1.5 degree increase in global temperature.

Port-Anne — Protests continued for the second day at Place Rose as environmentalists gathered in the square to place pressure on Prime Minister Marc-Antoine Vernier to push for an international agreement to limit global warming by an increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius, as the PM prepares to meet with Marceaunian leaders at an environmental conference within the next few months. Environmental activists have in recent years called for Saint-Baptiste to officially adopt an aggressive policy on stopping further climate change, often connecting itself with the “1.5 to Stay Alive” movement, which aims for the above-stated 1.5 degree maximum increase in global temperature.

“It’s a matter of survival”, stated Camille Messier, a co-founder of the local organization A Greener Future. “A lot of Auressian and Marceaunian countries and governments have stated that a maximum increase of 2 degrees Celsius is ideal, that that should be our goal as a global community. The issue is a 2 degree global increase means islands like Saint-Baptiste are in some ways destroyed.” A 2017 climate survey from the University of Delhaven states that a 2 degree increase would cause severe damage to the Rum Gulf, including most of Saint-Baptiste’s lowlands and main population centres. “We simply can’t afford anything higher than 1.5”, said Messier.

Since coming to power in 2011, PM Vernier and his government have consistently placed climate change as a focus in successive campaigns and policy announcements. However, the Prime Minister’s Office has only officially showed support for a 2 degree maximum increase since the 2016 Colette climate summit, and as repeatedly called the “1.5 to Stay Alive” movement as “needlessly apocalyptic” and “utopian”, according to a press meeting held yesterday.

Despite the PM’s criticisms, protesters have stated they will remain at Place Rose until. As of writing, around 300 people attended today’s protest, up from around 100 yesterday.

by **Amandine** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 10:02 am

Amand Vacation Goer Arrested in Saint-Baptiste

Gwendoline Blaise | Saturday December 12, 2020, 9:15 AM | Colette, Amandine

Yesterday, Saint Baptistois law enforcement had quite the predicament to deal with. Planting the Amand flag outside of the Jean-Jacques Celice International Airport, a vacation goer declared the Republic of Sainte-Jean-Baptiste as rightful possession of Amandine. There was initially little cause for concern with only a few passersby interacting with the man. However, the situation quickly escalated when a crowd started to gather upon a heckle. The man, reported as being in his late fifties, started threatening the Saint-Baptiste resident over his remark. The police soon arrived at the scene after being called for the growing public disturbance.

"We tried to calm him down," reported Porte-Anne Police Chief Adrien Edmonde, "but he refused to stop shouting. He then turn to violence and started swinging the flag and its pole at us." At this point, the Amand flag was considered a weapon so the police were forced to subdue him. The crowd cheered as he was handcuffed and taken away. "It was actually quite frightening," one onlooker said. Meanwhile, another remarked that "it was hilarious!" Currently, the man is being held in jail but is expected to be released on bond by his close family this afternoon. His name has not been released. The government of Saint-Baptiste is also not expected to closely follow the case or to reach out to the Amand government for an apology.

While this is a fascinating story on its own, there is a historical connection to be made. Following Amandine's independence in 1807, many former regional Blaykish colonies were simultaneously included in the newly independent country. Even though the Blaykish formally held onto Saint-Baptiste as outlined in the Treaty of Priscille, Amandine's Belmont Administration refused to concede the island until the government was forced to decades later. L'Ouest reached out to Martin Ulysse from the University of Lorena, a professor of Amandine history. He told us, "of course there is no legal question over the existence of Saint-Baptiste's republic. 1836's Treaty of Anne-Marie settled Amandine's dispute with the Blaykish, ending any claims to ownership by a Marceaunian state."

This is not the first time such an event has occurred between both countries' citizens, with a retired Amand veteran planting the national flag by the Porte-Anne capital building in 2018. Although, he eventually took it down after being asked by local law enforcement. Some legal experts believe this rise in anti-independence sentiment against Saint-Baptiste is rising in Amandine after the political party Les Republicains made unfounded claims that the Federal Republic has rightful ownership to the island after the Treaty of Anne-Marie was supposedly violated during its transition from Blayk in 1947. Representatives from the increasingly fringe party even wrote a bill to request a purchase for the island, but it was swiftly shot down for being a flagrant violation of Saint-Baptiste's sovereignty.

The State Department of Amandine has stated on numerous occasions that both countries have a strong friendship that will only continue to flourish in the years to come.

Gwendoline (Gwen) Blaise is a reporter for L'Ouest. A member of the staff since 2019, Blaise has written on current events pertaining to the Rum Gulf. She graduated from the University of Anne-Marie with degrees in International Relations and Journalism. In her free time, Blaise enjoys cooking and experimenting with ingredients from around the world (most notably from Isuan and southern Idica). She also is an avid movie watcher, with her favorite film being 1951's critically acclaimed "Black Smoke" from Albrennia's Swanhill Films. Read more.

by **Bhikkustan** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 3:30 am

by **Saint-Baptiste** » Sat Jan 01, 2022 9:43 am

Live: Results From the 2022 referendum on electoral reform
STV wins after third round, Saint-Baptiste "to change its electoral system", says PM.
Amaury Azéma and Irène Piaget | 2 January 2022

LIVE RESULTS (1st Round)
FPTP: 3,511 (25.02%)
MMP: 2,992 (21.32%)
PR: 1,836 (13.08%)
STV: 5,694 (40.58%)
Turnout: 14,136 (59.12%)

LIVE RESULTS (2nd Round)
FPTP: 3,981 (28.37%)
MMP: 3,807 (27.13%)
STV: 6,245 (44.50%)

LIVE RESULTS (3rd Round)
FPTP: 5,123 (36.51%)
STV: 8,910 (63.49%)

Port-Anne — Welcome to our live results for the 2022 referendum on electoral reform. Join reporters Amaury Azéma and Irène Piaget as they keep you updated throughout the night.
LIVE CHAT:

9:45 | Amaury Azéma - Hello, I'm Amaury Azéma, and welcome to our coverage of the Baptistois referendum on electoral reform. Polls are closing as we speak, and we should be receiving our first results in around 10 PM. Irène Piaget is joining me in the office today, keeping you updated with both our live chat and our live results tracking on at the top right of your screens.

9:47 | Irène Piaget - Hi, everyone, I'm Irène Piaget. We'll be keeping track of all rounds of the referendum, and providing helpful graphs and maps along the way.

10:00 | Irène Piaget - And, now at 10, the polls are officially closed. Election officials will soon have a rough estimate of turnout and our first results soon. Unlike in general elections, Radio-SB will not have an exit poll.

10:11 | Amaury Azéma - Only a few minutes in, reports state turnout may be lower than last year's presidential election, with around 55-60% of the electorate voting. The Chamber initially stated it would seriously consider any result above a 50% majority, so it seems this referendum will be considered binding. Initial reports of STV leading the pack, if narrowly.

10:15 | Amaury Azéma - Turnout called at 14,136 votes, or 59.12% of eligible voters. PM Vasseur has stated he will accept the results of the referendum, no official word from his own party or the opposition.

10:25 | Irène Piaget - Results have been released for the first round. No majority, but STV has gained a wide gap between it and the other choices. With only 13% of voters choosing it as their first preference, the choice for Party-list proportional has been eliminated. A new round will occur, and the eliminated votes re-counted. Radio-SB's graphics department has more:

10:31 | Amaury Azéma - Cheers erupt at POB headquarters as the party, who supported STV, sees the results of the first round. Similar celebrations reports at PAREF headquarters as a spokesperson states "FPTP will be eliminated in the second round".

10:40 | Amaury Azéma - As the second round is counted, PLB leader and former PM Robert Ménard admits his leadership rests on a victory for FPTP in the second round. The Leader of the Opposition has been facing calls to resign since a string of incidents from August to November of last year led to him facing a vote of no confidence and a government shuffle that has brought his party into opposition for the first time in 11 years.

10:50 | Irène Piaget - A rather shocking development as Elections Saint-Baptiste begin to release the results of the second round. Although the elimination of PR has seemed to help MMP the most, FPTP remains in second place, and STV remains first in the vote. MMP is eliminated, and a final round is set between FPTP and STV. Many pro-electoral reform groups have already called the referendum a victory for STV. Radio-SB's graphics department has more:

11:00 | Irène Piaget - As we hit 11 PM, early reports state a resounding victory for STV as pro-electoral reform votes are moved to the new choice. Jeanne Duclos, leader of the POB, has called the assumed win "a victory for democracy and fair elections." No response from the PLB.

11:05 |Amaury Azéma - Confirming past rumours, STV has trounced FPTP in early results for the third round, with over 60% of eligible voters accepting the new system as one of their preferences. Saint-Baptiste, for the first time since independence, may have a new way to elect the Chamber of Deputies. Radio-SB's graphics department has more:

11:20 | Amaury Azéma - The results have been finalized by Elections Saint-Baptiste, with two-thirds of voters approving a change to single transferable vote for elections to the Chamber of Deputies. PM Vasseur has stated he has accepted the result, and will move to officially pass legislation in the Chamber to confirm these changes. PAREF and POB deputies have confirmed they will vote for the reform, with the sole Victory SB deputy stating he will "most likely support the change", granting STV a majority in the Chamber. For Radio-SB, I'm Amaury Azéma. Thank you to Irène Piaget for her help tonight, and that is the end of our coverage. Have a good night, Saint-Baptiste!

by **Surrow** » Sat Oct 01, 2022 11:41 pm

President Timbrell calls general election

By Cole Danielsdon · SBC News
Posted on: October 3, 2022, 8:22 am · Updated: October 3, 2022, 11:07 am

President Dwight Timbrell at Government House

Surrowese voters now know when to head to the polls, as President Dwight Timbrell officially dropped the writ for the upcoming general election.

"In accordance with the procedures outlined in the constitution, and cognisant of people's desires for an election to be held at a reasonable time," Timbrell said at a ceremony inside Government House, "I have, upon consulting with the cabinet, agreed to hold the general election on Monday, November 14th."

Following the ceremony, Timbrell launched his campaign at the United People's Party headquarters for a second term as President of Surrow.

"We will continue to maintain a close partnership and a close friendship with Albrennia," Timbrell declared, "we will continue our focus on economic diversification, and we will continue to govern in accordance with common sense Surrowese principles!"

At the ACTU headquarters, leader Wyatt Martel said at his campaign launch that "over the past four years, we have seen Surrow stagnate: we have seen people fall behind while the fat cats reap all the benefits that we, the people, have sown."

"If we want any chance of putting the people first, if we want any chance of continuing our work to make Surrow the best place it can be, then we must get out there, and spread the word," Martel declared.

Meanwhile at Our Surrow's campaign headquarters, party leader and former SBC comedian Seth Fraser said "this election, we need to show Surrowese that we are the party of reason that is so lacking in Surrowese politics these days, that we are the party of compromise, and that we are the party of competence."

While this election is expected to be a race between the governing United People's Party and the opposition ACTU, with Our Surrow having an uphill battle to gain more than what they have, it remains to be seen how the major parties address issues such as economic diversification, welfare, and administrative reform.