NationStates

Gimme News

June 18, 2017

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Seventh Heaven
Gadea Carp win the Vikandi Cup 4-3 in Game 7
First Championship in 90 years and 7th overall

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G A D E A

2017 Vikandi Cup Champions

(Gadea, Gotorleku)- At long last. The longest drought in Ghantish sports history is over, and the Carp are league champions. The Carp win their first championship in ninety years in dramatic fashion at home in Game 7.

After 90 years of waiting, the Carp won the 2017 GHL Finals with a wild 4-3, Game 7 victory over the Goeporta Gulls on Sunday night at River Arena in Gadea. The triumph completed their climb back from a 2-0 deficit in the second period to claim their first championship since 1927.

A roller-coaster of emotions spilled out in a game that lasted nearly four hours, featuring some wacky plays, a shorthanded goal in the third period, a zamboni malfunction and some late game heroics that sealed the deal. In the Land of the Seven Lords, it took a Game 7 to win their seventh championship, by a deciding score of 4-3.

It was a perfect ending for a franchise that had waited forever for just one championship, and your stomach never will be the same.

When GHL Commissioner Josu Hobeto presented the cup to Captain Louis Arbona, he rose the cup triumphantly in front of a sold-out crowd at River Arena, in front of a home crowd that had been waiting for that moment their entire lives.

This is not a dream, the Carp actually did it. Here’s the series summary.

2 0 1 7

Gadea Carp VS Goeporta Gulls

Game 1:
Thursday, June 1 | Goeporta 1-2 OT Gadea | River Arena

Opening the series in River Arena in Gadea, popularly known as the “Fishbowl”, the Carp scored early and led 1–0 late in the third period before Martin Gamaras tied the game with 3:15 to play in regulation time. The Carp were all over the Gulls for the rest of the period and into overtime, until Carp LW Louis Arbona scored with 45 seconds remaining in first overtime to secure the series opener for Gadea.

Game 2:
Saturday, June 3 | Goeporta 5-4 Gadea | River Arena

Game 2 was a mostly back and forth shootout that culminated in a narrow victory by Goeporta to even the series, led by two goals from veteran Gulls RW Juno Maritxa to tie the series before it shifted to Goeporta.

Game 3:
Wednesday, June 7 | Gadea 1-4 Goeporta | GEEM Center

The Gulls came storming out in front of their home fans and Josu Targona scored on his first shift to give them the early lead. The Gulls never looked back, and went on to win Game 3 in dominant fashion and take a 2-1 series lead.

Game 4:
Friday, June 9 | Gadea 1-0 Goeporta | GEEM Center

Manny Gumbara scored the lone goal midway through the second period to tie the series at two games a piece, sending the series back to Gadea. Bobby Dignamu made 64 games in route to the shutout victory.

Game 5:
Monday, June 12 | Goeporta 1-3 Gadea | River Arena

Having returned to Goeporta, the Gulls once again took an early lead compliments of a powerplay goal by Josu Targona four minutes into the first period. However, they could not hold onto the lead, as Manny Gumbara struck in the second and third periods along with a goal by Louis Arbona to win the game and move the Carp within one win of winning their first championship in 90 years.

Game 6:
Thursday, June 15 | Gadea 2-3 2OT Goeporta | GEEM Center

The Carp dominated the game early, with Kurtzio Esponda scoring in the first period and Louis Arbona scoring in the second period, while Bobby Dignamu made 32 saves. However, halfway through the third period, the Gulls score thanks to Josu Targona. Shortly thereafter, the Gulls pull their goalie. With one minute and thirty seconds in regulation time remaining, Carp defenseman Dirk Jambor gets called for slashing Gulls offenseman Beni Danus. Filipo Yarcabal then scores for the Gulls on the resulting powerplay with 59 seconds remaining. Gulls LW Floro Marcho snipes a redline shot that scores the winning goal in double overtime to tie the series, sending it back to Gadea for the deciding Game 7.

Game 7:
Sunday, June 18 | Goeporta 3-4 Gadea | River Arena

In attendance at Game 7 included the likes of the Emperor, the Prime Minister, and several other high-profile individuals that truly added to the gravitas of the occasion. The game would not disappoint given the pregame buildup. The Gulls struck first early in the first period, while their goaltender Lucas Bambu made 20 saves in the first period to blank the Carp. The Gulls extended their lead in the second period with yet another series goal for Filipo Yarcabal. Down 2-0, Manny Gumbara scored with thirty seconds remaining in the second period. During the second intermission, one of the zamboni ice resurfacing machines malfunctioned on the ice, causing a prolonged intermission. When the game finally resumed with the third period, the Carp scored yet again thanks to Louis Arbona, tying the game with ten minutes remaining. However, the Gulls responded when Josu Targona tapped one in from the side of the net, putting the Gulls up 3-2. With only two and a half minutes remaining in the game, Manny Gumbara scores the tying goal. Now with the home crowd in a frenzy, Louis Arbona scores the go ahead and ultimately the game winning goal with one minute and ten seconds remaining to put the Carp up 4-3, which would be the deciding score.

For his heroic efforts, Manny Gumbara was named series MVP. Game 7 was the final game of Kurtzio Esponda's 22 year GHL career; he announced his retirement immediately afterward, during the post-game celebration.

Other News

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• Stock Market woes

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HYPERION LAUNCH SERVICES CONDUCTS SUCCESSFUL MARITIME LAUNCH AT EQUATOR
Joint Space Agency gains a new option with regards to light-medium payload space launch

22 June 2017
Loweport
0900


The Hyperion Launch Service has successfully completed its first space launch today at 0800 hours Loweport time.

The company, whose largest shareholder is the Joint Space Agency, offers an innovative space launch service by converting an old maritime oil rig into a launch platform for the Zenith rocket. The platform would then be towed to the equator, alongside the mission-control ship, where it would be launched into the low-earth orbit or the geostationary orbit.

The Joint Space Agency, was founded in 1966 as a confederation of civilian space authorities in Cornellia, in order to further the exploration of space in a cost-effective manner through the pooling of talent and resources on an international basis. It has two classes of membership: full member states, which pay an annual subscription fee, and whose representatives are entitled to sit on the Agency’s executive board, as well as associate members, who cooperate with the JSA on a project-by-project basis and who may send observers to the board. From 1998 onwards, corporate entities have become eligible for associate membership.

From its earliest days, the JSA had relied upon its primary space port, the International Launch Centre in Queimada. For this reason, Queimada enjoys special status within the JSA. It is the only full member of the Agency which is not only exempt from a membership subscription, but is paid a significant annual rent. The JSA also makes a substantial contribution to the Queimada economy in other respects, not least through the employment of a large contingent of local labour.

However, rent aside, the space port also has certain drawbacks. The most important among them is that, while it is located in the tropics, it remains some distance from the equator. Given the fact that it is where both the low earth orbit and the geostationary orbits are located, the closer one’s launch platform is to the equator, the more savings one makes in terms of rocket fuel. By launching directly on the equator, Hyperion is able to conduct launches at a measurably more competitive rate.

A second factor which led to the incorporation of Hyperion is to enable the JSA to fully exploit the commercial launch market. The JSA has always offered commercial launches on behalf of private clients. Indeed, this has allowed it to conduct its scientific missions on a partially self-funding basis. However, its mixed public-private roles have always existed in uneasy tension with one another. Hyperion, as a company incorporated and listed in Lion’s Rock, does not have this problem, even if the JSA retains a controlling shareholding in the company. Next year, the Executive Board of the JSA shall decide whether Hyperion shall be allowed to manage all commercial launch activities under the Agency’s aegis, including those conducted from the International Space Port in Queimada.

Despite the recent success of Hyperion, the Queimada launch facilities remain indispensable for the JSA. This is because the sea-based launch platform is not compatible with the Athena V heavy lift launcher, which is crucial to a significant part of the JSA’s launch activities, both commercial and scientific. The Athena V is also the only means of launching the Hermes Space Plane, the mainstay of the JSA’s programme of crewed space missions. Accordingly, it is highly unlikely that the importance of the International Launch Centre will be eclipsed for the short to medium term future.

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Twenty dead, many hurt in Liberation Square bombing.
Police shoot dead two attackers during terror in capital.

"My fellow countrymen. Tonight we commit ourselves to the solemn duty of mourning our dead. Today has been a day that shall live on in our minds and hearts for many days and many years, a day that has taken from us many of our beloved fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives. People whom merely went about their day as they went about many of their days in the capital of our great nation, never to do so again. As we all know from the news broadcasts, an attack has taken place in the square in which we honour our national heroes, the likes of Gretkos and Morellis, the likes of Leonidas and Andronikki. The attack appears to have focused first on the memorial for Gretkos, a war hero from the liberation of our nation from the Empire. The second attack focused on the memorial for Morellis, who ensured that the Imperial government over our land was destabilised enough for the liberation to take place. Whether this be a purpose, or a random target is something that our nation's best will uncover in due time. It is our duty to allow these men and women to conduct their work and, if necessary, to aid in this great effort.

My heart and my prayers go to those who mourn their family members and friends who have not lived to see the sun set, and our hopes go to those suffering still, that they may survive this test of body and mind and live on. This is not the first time our nation has been beset by tragedy such as this in our life-times. People, such as myself, who lived through the troubles of the seventies and early eighties will know the heart-ache that is caused by the death of a loved one so cruelly and heartlessly. I vow to those grieving, those suffering, and the perpetrators of this attack that this country under god will never kneel to terror. We will find the cause that has driven men to do this to our beloved nation, and we will drive it and those who follow the ethos of terror from our nation swiftly and without delay. For it is the Belfrasian way, it is the only way. We will stand united as we always have, and we shall prevail.

God bless and thank you all."

INACTIVATED 'HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION' WAR PLAN LEAKED ONLINE
Ministry of Defence refuses to comment on planned invasion of Estoni

The Eesti Civil War led to some 800,000 - 1 million civilian casualties

25 June 2017
Loweport
0900

A furore has erupted following the leak on the social news site 'Spreaddit' of an 'inactivated' Arthuristan war plan, codenamed ‘Operation Primrose’ to effectuate 'humanitarian intervention' in Estoni.

The plan, dating back to the year 2000, was drafted following the Eesti Civil War. The war, which saw the widespread commitment of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the belligerents, was amongst the deadliest conflicts in Belisaria in recent years. The authoritarian regime which emerged from the war possesses one of the worst human rights records in the world.

Evidently, the government instructed the Joint Services Staff to begin preparing a plan for 'humanitarian intervention' should the situation 'deteriorate' into 'genocide', or 'large scale ethnic cleansing' leading to an 'area-wide refugee crisis'. Such an intervention could take place within a coalition environment, either under the CPO aegis or a coalition of the willing, or else conducted unilaterally.

The plan was reported to be ‘inactivated’ by the Ministry of Defence around 2005.

Intervention
The kinetic phase of the intervention would be preceded by a period of final preparations. While the capabilities of the Eesti People’s Army are modest at best, Joint Staff planners were particularly concerned about its Air Defence Command, which possesses a significant number of SAM batteries, even if most are relatively dated systems. Long endurance Centaur E.1 electronic aircraft would skirt Estoni air space during the final preparatory period, where they would attempt to map the electronic signature of the Eesti air defence system in an attempt to locate missile batteries and radar sites. They would also attempt to locate the radar units of the EPA Coastal Defence Command and the headquarters and the signal units of major land formations.

The invasion would begin with a major missile bombardment by two Zeus Class cruise missile submarines and two Pallas Class strike destroyers offshore. They would attempt to eliminate as many of the high priority targets previously identified by Centaur E.1 flights as possible using ACM-1 Cerberus cruise missiles. Attempts would also be made to ‘decapitate’ the enemy political leadership, except for perhaps General Ljubo Mauzin, with whom negotiations were deemed ‘possible’.

The ground attack would commence with the simultaneous attack on the port city of Splitgorica by an airborne landing of the 16 Parachute Brigade, as well as an amphibious assault by the Commonwealth Marines’ 3rd Marine Brigade. Simultaneously, squadrons of the [[Commonwealth Air Force]] and the Fleet Air Arm would mount an unrelenting cycle of strikes in order to suppress enemy air defence units, aided by Centaur E.1s and Mercury ECR’swhich shall continue to provide real time electronic intelligence and warfare support.

Once a beachhead has been secured, the main force would be landed directly at the port itself. A heavy division of the Commonwealth Army, consisting of three armoured infantry brigade groups, supported by an artillery brigade, a combat aviation brigade and a logistics support brigade, would strike north from Splitgorica, aiming directly for the capital city itself. Given that the EPA is by and large not structured as a mobile force, it is envisaged that hostile units of the regular army would be destroyed en route. In particular, the Guards Armoured Brigade, the most potent element of the EPA, would be pinned down and immobilised by air attacks, then destroyed by concentrated artillery-delivered ‘assault breaker’ fires including ‘smart’ munitions such as the AMTI 155 or Bombardier Anti-Tank, as well as ‘dumb’ cluster munitions such as DPICM. A fourth armoured brigade group would wheel west and seal off the narrow ‘land bridge’ through which Rietumish forces may attempt to intervene in the intervention. The 16 Parachute Brigade and the 3rd Marine Brigade would have, by now, been liberated from the task of garrisoning Splitgorica by follow-on infantry brigades of the Territorial Reserves, and would be employed as heliborne contingency forces to police the rear area and screen the flanks of advancing forces. As the division advanced, JSTARS aircraft equipped with powerful ground surveillance radars would provide constant real time intelligence feeds to ground forces commanders.

Planners envisaged that the capital city, Majevica, would be surrounded by D+5 days. An ‘operational pause’ of between 12-24 hours would allow for gains to be consolidated and a final round of negotiations to open, in an attempt to persuade surviving elements of the faction led by ‘Dr’ Roki Vukovic to leave en bloc into comfortable exile, or at least its individual members to defect. In the worst case scenario, the three brigade groups of the heavy division, joined by the 3rd Marines and 16th Parachute, would execute a concentric assault on the capital city, supported by precision artillery fire and air support, with the aim of neutralising all resistance by D+14 days. Subsequent to the end of major combat operations, a provisional government, with Mikael, Duke of Slovdon as its figurehead, would be established, with the aim of creating a constitutional framework within nine months and democratic elections within one year.

Why the plan was abandoned

Eventually, reality caught up with the planners of Operation Primrose. The factors which led to its shelving in 2005 are numerous. The sheer number of mutually opposed ethnic, political and paramilitary factions operating in Estoni makes it difficult for any post-war government to arrive at a stable equilibrium. Secondly, the risk of a Rietumish counter-intervention is not to be taken lightly, given its large, if dated army of over 40 divisions.

Finally, and most importantly, the Eesti People’s Army, the regular, national military of the country, is only the tip of the iceberg as far as armed forces in Estoni are concerned. Theoretically, the regime may mobilise up to 300,000 plus reservists, militiamen and paramilitaries under arms in an emergency. While they may be armed with nothing more sophisticated than the rifles-and-RPG level, their sheer numbers was a significant problem. To put it simply, the Joint Staff considered that, even if the regular army could be decisively defeated, the presence of 300,000 irregulars renders the armed occupation of Estoni a virtually impossible proposition.

Pragmatism prevails

Instead of implementing Primrose, the Arthuristan government opted for a radically different course. Diplomats, as well as officials from the trade office, directly engaged with the leaders and high ranking members of the various political and ethnic factions, offering ‘developmental aid’ and trade opportunities. As of 2016, direct Arthuristan investment had reached some £5 billion annually, with a projected growth to at least £9 billion by 2020. Arthuristan companies are utilising Estoni as a major location for light manufacturing industries, especially electronics, taking advantage of its relatively low cost labour. Another growth industry, to which Arthuristan capital made a significant contribution, is ‘waste disposal’ – such as shipbreakers specialising in old, asbestos-filled hulls, as well as the processing of nuclear wastes, medical wastes and toxic chemical by-products.

The pursuit of such a course is, naturally, not without controversy. The direct engagement of a regime with such an odious human rights record, the exploitation of barely-paid Estoni labour in ‘sweat shops’, the complete disregard for environmental concerns – these are all charges levelled at the Arthuristan government, as well as businesses operating in Estoni. In response, however, the Foreign Office has argued that exposure to an open economy, and with it open society, can only help, not hinder, the gradual improvement of human rights conditions in Estoni, as well as the gradual buildup of mutual trust and confidence which would allow Arthurista to influence the Estoni government to steer towards a more democratic direction (and, preferably, away from the Rietumish orbit). Only time will tell whether these predictions would prove to be correct in the long run, although it seems incontrovertible that the Arthuristan economy has certainly benefitted from the pragmatic approach taken towards the Estoni regime.

New Edomite National News Report

Opening bars of Pictures at an Exhibition play as a globe spins with pins popping up on various points of the world. Split screen images of natural disasters, celebrations, military actions, elections, royal ceremonies, celebrity events are showing, occasionally with New Edomite news anchors talking about them, and then fades to a news desk.

A raven haired woman with olive skin, dark brown eyes with a rosebud mouth, a slim nose and a statuesque figure sat behind a news desk with the New Edomite flag imposed over a silhouette map of the Allied States of New Edom behind her. “Good evening,” she said, looking up with a smile. It was clear that above the waist at least she wore nothing but a gold cross on a chain, though her image was pixelated for those nations censoring such an appearance. “I’m Lavinia Tuller, and this is a NENN Evening News."

"In International news: following meetings with President Tolstoy of the Union of South Ceti, Ambassador Scroll's vital work in securing infrastructure and business ties with the Union have led to the opening of the King James Mining Company. Government operated mines in the Union of South Ceti, one of the nations of Arcologia were operating under dangerous conditions and had been investigated for human trafficking. However now in partnership with our own Mines and Resources Directorate there has been enormous improvement and new contracts have been agreed to.

"It has been appointed for a six-year period to provide mining services that include all drill, blast, load and haul functions for both ore and waste at the wholly owned Cabazon Beach area mine, where mobilisation is under way to ensure a timely start of mining activities from early September. As reported by Mineral Resources Online last month, Avantine Stock Exchange-listed eXtract subsidiary Union Mining Company announced that its five-year opencast mining contract at the diamond mine had been terminated on December 13 after two years.

"There have been security concerns due to piracy around Arcologia and local banditry. Our government has renewed security contracts, with newly promoted General Abishai Hagar taking over command from the late General Hesperinus. General Hagar has been commander of the elite 18th Mounted Light Infantry for the last ten years.

"Last month the Ministry also won a contract to establish and mine the Stone Harbor opencast zinc operation, which is being developed by the Nathan Daniels Mining Company. Ikon Geophysical Company's leaders have announced that they have a five year contract to continue exploring claims for mineral resources in the Union and Lesser Diols."

"Sympathies and mourning were given out to the people of Belfras following the Liberation Square bombing. The Ministry of Police neither confirms nor denies the presence of Homofront in Belfras. Officials have said that there are many possibilities and that communist insurgency should not be discounted. The Queen led members of the Royal Family and government to pray in Hillel, the home of the Prophet Under, for the souls of the dead and for those who mourn. King Elijah has made it clear that the government will do all it can to help people who may have been travelling from Belfras to get home safely if they need to be with loved ones, or receive such refuge as can be offered.

"According to Andreas Nimrod, our envoy to the CPO, New Edom remains committed to a peacekeeping mission to Deweden, but the official stance of the government is preference for a negotiateed peace. There are high hopes for this following Princess Jocasta's visit to Akai and the hope that this will help mediate a peaceful agreement between the two Dewedens and the nation of Rietumimark."

(The Foreign Minister, Hosidius Geta, is quoted saying, "We will not deny that we disapprove of, and indeed oppose, the atheistic and violent position of communist nations, but we will still seek peace, if it be an honourable peace, with Rietumimark. We also remain committed to a CPO mission as the best alternative to war at this time.")

"Finally, the Allied States government has unanimously stood behind the Roman Government in its efforts to improve its weapons manufacture and preparedness by testing thermobaric weapons. According to Ministry of Defense officials it is hardly a weapon that can casually threaten the borders of Rome's neighbors, and in the words of Minister of Defense Unwerth "People should just calm down a bit."

"And that is the evening news. Remember to enroll your children in sports activities like football and basketball this coming school session. According to the Ministry of Health, it keeps them from going gay. For NENN, I'm Lavinia Tuller."

Rietumish Tautas Jaunumi Aģentūra
Rietumish People's News Agency

Rietumimark Condemns Ecclesiastical State’s Aggression

Demonstrators in the Autonomous People’s Republic of Deweden, filling up the streets of Deroburg in protest against Ecclesiastical State.

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Order Eidos
International Press Statement

The Curia is shocked and appalled to learn of the horrific massacre of innocents in Cadiz, Garza. Wanton barbarism of this caliber is inexcusable and unforgivable. The victims' families shall have all of our most heartfelt prayers and condolences.

That this act has seemingly been carried out by a Magi priest is profoundly disturbing and bears further mention, even if the man was in the grip of madness. Father Pedro Tancredo had in fact been suspended by Bishop Acevedo while he was receiving treatment, for the nature of his condition poisoned his thoughts with evil notions. Although we are still attempting to piece together the full story, apparently Tancredo did not return calls from other priests for at least one full day before the massacre. It was impossible to know what this meant at the time.

Tancredo may have claimed that he was acting in the name of the Emperor, but it is also written that the Ruinous Powers can assume the guise of the righteous to deceive mortal men. The voices which turned this former man of the cloth to such madness can only have come from the yawning abyss itself. This must serve as a warning to be vigilant against evil at all times, for a mere moment of laxity can spawn atrocities.

The Magi Church shall cooperate fully with any investigation carried out in Garza. Bishop Acevedo will personally direct a prayer service and vigil in Cadiz for the victims. The Imperium shall hold noon prayers tomorrow nationwide in honor of the fallen.

A STATEMENT ON THE BEHALF OF THE IMPERIAL HOUSEHOLD OF HIS HOLY AND EXALTED PERFECTION

To all whom the Holy and Exalted Ditu’s heavenly wisdom may be received…

As the clock slowly ticks, as the sun dutifully rises and it falls, as the waves are tugged gently by the celestial forces of the moon. Harmony exists in this world must be maintained and must be ensured. However, without constant maintenance, it will end as do all matters of mortal efforts and such affairs. This is the fate of all order, all systems. Thusly it is the duty of all subjects beneath heaven that they are the instruments for which the Ditu’s tunes are played. However, to believe that the son of heaven does not take part in the preservation of this eternal balance is an arrogance imprudence, worthy of those uneducated in the matters of the world.

Thanks to our prosperous civilisation, we do have a fortunate parable to tell which can create further enlightenment. Were we a barbarian people without the graces of civilisation, perhaps one might say the existence of such a tale was a convenient coincidence. However, we are beyond the beliefs of those deprived of enlightenment, of those beneath even the lowest of the Ditu’s spiritual kin.

There once was a King who ruled over his demesne, which was wide and vast. It was dominated by a few noble lords each with a daughter to marry. The King himself was also unwed and was surrounded by a great many suitors from these noble houses.

The first of these was from a proud prestigious family, one deeply famous for their honour and skill in battle. Yet the daughter herself, however, was disinterested in her duties and rejected the traditions of her great ancestors and refused to learn those of the solitary one.

On the other hand, the second was from a family poor in the martial matters but well-connected and mercantile, providing its great wealth for which provided it equally vast influence. Their daughter, however, was unintelligent, bold and cruel as a character and would’ve made a terrible wife.

The solitary one thought deeply on who to choose for both families loathed one another, to marry one would be to alienate the other. He was also reminded of his duty to ensure the purity of his blood as well and that marrying these lesser nobles would be defeating that purpose and insulting the legacy of his ancestors whose divine blood needed to be preserved. With these two factors in common, he thusly he saw it as prudent to decline their offers of marriage and then gave his hand to his sister, the Princess and named the two daughters as consorts. In this, the King was proud in that were kept ensured that his duties were sufficed and all the benefits of such an action were endured.

Thusly this brings I, of the palace, to address the central matter at hand. There are further proclamations whose announcement is a dire necessity. The dragon’s face and the imperial household has come to the grand consensus that the Ditu’s betrothal should be proclaimed now before His Holy and Exalted Perfection’s dear subjects. It is henceforth proclaimed the Yinmi Ditu, Hulang shall be betrothed to Princess of the Blood, Jiexiu Lazin the twin and sister of His Perfection who shall become the Dihei of the Holy and Exalted land of the Ditu. Within the context of this betrothal as divined by the matchmakers, it will occur on the sixth day of Wu-Shen, the seventh month, 3rd year of the Yinmi era and 4715 years since the Shouditu. Such is the will of His Holy and Exalted Perfection, of his humble subjects within the court and the Dowager Dihei, I of the palace. This concludes this proclamation.

Wantiai Yinmi Ditu.

The Eagle's Cry

Shrailleeni News Unbiased
Serving the Children of the Mother Goddess and the Region

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Statement of Purpose: Founded on the principles of liberty, morality, and matriatism, the staff of the Eagle's Cry are dedicated to the principles of free speech and accessibility of information, except where this information could endanger the well-being of the Shrailleeni people. This news source will report to the Shrailleeni people and the region the true goings-on within the Shrailleeni Empire through foreign electronic and domestic printed mediums.

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International News
September, 1293 (2017)

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'Recovery Act' Applauded in Shrailleen

Avantine, Novitera - In an unusual move, the National Directorate of Novitera recently announced the passage of the 'Recovery Act,' a comprehensive piece of legislation designed to combat the regional recession caused by the Gallow's Street crash earlier this year. The provisions of the act call for support not only for the Noviteran economy, but also for the regional businesses associated with Noviteran assets. These were received warmly by the Shrailleeni government, with the Mother Empress encouraging Shrailleeni businesses to take advantage of the generous opportunity presented by the Noviteran government.

Many Shrailleeni businesses, especially private enterprises, suffered financial difficulties and even collapse as a result of Noviteran bankruptcy proceedings. For private businesses unwilling or unable to accept government subsidization, foreign investment is often the most attractive way to accrue necessary capital needed to compete in the Shrailleeni market. Additionally, private manufacturers mostly geared toward foreign exports, as well as retail and service industries, relied on Noviteran companies for investment and sales. The recession caused major losses for many of these companies, leading to restructuring, price slashing, and layoffs. The resulting increase in unemployment has placed considerable strain on Shrailleeni welfare and social support systems, and increased applications for foreign immigration among the Shrailleeni work force.

The 'Recovery Act' has promised to help alleviate these conditions by promising a judicial committee review process for monetary relief, to be awarded to foreign companies damaged by the loss of standing contracts with Noviteran corporations. Such relief is unusual, but it is seen as an act of goodwill toward Shrailleeni businesses and those of other regional nations which might otherwise have lost confidence in Noviteran corporations as business partners. Her Enlightened Majesty the Mother Empress and the Shrailleeni Matriarchy of Economics have both received the 'Recovery Act' warmly, praising the National Directorate for the decision and encouraging Shrailleeni businesses to proceed with the appeals process.

Regarding the damage done to Shrailleeni state-owned industries, which experienced losses of sales and investment to the Gallows Street crash, the Matriarchy of Economics voiced its continued support for Novitera as an important partner for the Shrailleeni economy.

"The Enlightened Matriarchy is honored and humbled by the esteemed efforts of the National Directorate of Novitera. It has shown itself to be an government of conscience and integrity, and its efforts to help alleviate the impact of the regional recession on Shrailleen do not go unappreciated. The Matriarchy of Economics respects these efforts and the appraisal of the Terician Monetti Mercantile Authority, and would like to express high confidence in Noviteran bonds."

The short-term impacts of the regional financial crisis continue to be unaffected by the Recovery Act, which will not take effect until at least another three years. In the meantime, Shrailleeni business have sought increased ties with nations other than Novitera, a process limited by the widespread effects of the recession. The Shrailleeni government has continued to sponsor emergency relief measures, most notably by shelving several projects for the continued advancement of Shrailleeni military and defense technologies. There is no word yet on how many Shrailleeni companies will be filing for aid under the Relief Act, or if confidence in Noviteran investment has actually been restored within the Shrailleeni private sector.

THE FINEBERG TIMES

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1 Copper Daily

October 25, 2017

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Chamber Votes for Public Banking

by Annabelle Barca

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FINEBERG, New Edom-- IN a reversal of its recently held position, the Chamber of Deputies has declared that publicly owned banks are one of New Edom’s strengths and that the nationalisation of banks will be one of the Government's most important achievements. This has, as expected, upset those who have supported the flirtation with financial liberalisation, which included an as yet unfinished drive to privatize public sector banks.

The declaration was first made by Secretary-General of the Chamber Christina Delmar at the National Leadership Summit. She argued that while the ongoing “economic upheaval” could “grievously affect the most vulnerable sections of our society”, her party had partially insulated New Edom’s poor from becoming “victims of the unchecked greed of bankers and businessmen”.

Coming from the Chamber's leadership following the first year that it has existed, this could be dismissed as mere rhetoric that is unlikely to influence policy. After all, National Wisdom Party leader Dr. Marius Campion had noted in the same speech that, the response to the economic slowdown resulting from the crisis should not be a return to the era of controls. But the cynics were surprised when just days after Dr. Delmar made her remarks, Finance Minister Count Lalery took the cue from the Chamber and extolled the virtues of a nationalised banking sector. Speaking at a function organised as part of the national independence celebrations, he emphasised that New Edom’s public sector banks would become strong pillars in the Region’s banking industry.

This was because, unlike the chief executives of private banks in Novitera and Tericio, public sector bank managers did not violate regulations in search of profits. For a Minister who has been pushing for the dilution of banking regulations, the privatisation of public banks, and the relaxation of the cap on voting rights of shareholders in banks, this is indeed a reversal of position. Three factors may have contributed to this change of opinion. First, the evidence that the managers of private banks pursuing profits had dropped all diligence and made decisions that have threatened and are still threatening the viability of leading banks in the developed capitalist countries. These include banks that the advocates of financial liberalisation and privatisation upheld as models of modern banking.

Second, the recognition that the only way in which the losses made by these banks could be socialised and their viability ensured was for the government to invest in their shares so as to recapitalise them. Across the world, the response to the financial crisis has shifted out of mere measures to inject liquidity into the system to backdoor nationalisation of these banks so as to save them from bankruptcy and to ensure that they keep lending.

Finally, the evidence that on an average, the public sector banks in New Edom have weathered the financial storm much better than the private banks, including some that had been celebrated as the post-liberalisation icons of innovative banking.However, if the argument stops here, the explicit or implicit defence of nationalisation and support for public banking can only be partial and circumstantial. What needs recognition is a conceptual case for regulated, public banking that emerges from the current and previous financial crises. It is now widely recognised that the current crisis can be traced to forces unleashed by the transformation of Noviteran banking in the 20th Century, when it moved away from the “lend and hold” model in which the interest margin – or the difference between interest paid on deposits and the interest charged on loans – determined the profits of banks.

With interest rates being controlled or regulated, this margin was small and implied that the profitability of banking was low and below that of the rest of the financial sector and even that of many non-financial industries. In fact, during the inflationary later decades of the 20th Century, profitability sank even further because savers moved out of bank deposits, returns on which were regulated, to other kinds of financial instruments.

There was a good reason why the banking system was thus regulated. As financial intermediaries, banks accept deposits from the public at large, including small savers. These deposits are insured against risk, are liquid and can be withdrawn at will.

On the other hand, the banks that pool these deposits provide medium or long-term advances to borrowers who are risky targets, creating loan assets that are relatively illiquid. Given the risk carried by these intermediaries, which are crucial to the real economy, they had to be protected and the savings of small savers and households secured through regulation, including regulation of interest rates. A consequence was that banking was an island of low profits, resulting in a conflict between this profit scenario and private ownership.

Some critics, particularly within the Intellectual and National Wisdom Parties have suggested that Count Lalery's change of heart and the swing towards nationalisation are not merely for financial reasons, however, but to curb the popularity growing once again among the ETC and the Free Congress. Following meetings between President Nicanor and Free Congress leader Sarah Carmel, it was resolved that the Free Congress would agree to a 'moderation' of ETC activism, which has resulted in more organized demonstrations, more negotiated voting in the Chamber. Therefore, Claudius Glaber of the Intellectual Party suggested, it is an attempt to avoid a direct confrontation between Monarchist and ETC, by "throwing a bone to the fears of regionalisation." Count Lalery has insisted that this is absurd and that the nationalisation trend will "Not be forever, but to protect our financial system during this time of recession and to build our nation's financial strength."

Count Lalery has insisted that this will not affect foreign banks operating currently in New Edom and in partnership with New Edomite based businesses or foreign owned businesses which use foreign banks for escrow. The Finance Minister insisted that there would be "No penalty to our trading partners. If our system is not competitive, then we will strive to do better."

In other news:
Miners and Factory Workers' Unions to Return to Negotiations
Adiran Summit Going Well, says Palace spokesman
Heroic Edomites, Allies Push on to Brod

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