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Posts · by **Yohannes** » Fri Sep 07, 2018 3:16 am

World Assembly: Hemen Technologies to expand continental presence come 2019

Claudia A — Opinion Piece Author: ...... Originally founded in 1991 to digitise mapping and form pioneering in-car navigation solutions, over the next three decades, Hemen built a legacy in mapping technology. Today, the company is known for its living three-dimensional maps which showcase layers of information and insights..........

Royal Alexandria, 4 September 2018 — The second lowest home-ownership rates since the days of the Founding Monarchs; 2.7 million kids living in households below minimum acceptable community standard and 7.4 million people losing their manufacturing jobs; Chief Executive Officers of Yohannesian corporations earning as much as 73 times the salaries of the average Martin the middle class manager and Hilda the middle class clerk — it appears we are facing a wee existential crisis in this nation. Increasingly since the turn of the century, creeping nationwide wealth disparity has propelled our economists and politicians to put some big policy papers on the proverbial legislative table.

Do we need to raise the superannuation withdrawal age, or should we increase value-added tax for goods and services consumed in the Nineteen Countries instead? Even more extreme, but gaining traction on both sides of the aisle — do we need universal higher education to support the upskilling of the future generation? Or is the solution is, as many Christian Democrats would want you to believe, less government intervention and more deregulation — not the opposite?

Where do we go from here?

According to last year’s November Parliamentary Analysis Archive, there were 1,091,099 micro, small and medium sized enterprises which export their goods and services from the Nineteen Countries. Of these, 17,912 enterprises registered total business revenues of 5.5 billion Quertz russling (50 million NationStates Dollars or Universal Standard Dollars) and over; almost half dealing directly or indirectly in the chemical development, material engineering, and structural research and development industries. These businesses accounted for almost a third of total goods and services exported for the year.

The news was met with yet more questions on both sides of parliament’s chamber — how do we spread the wealth more equally for small “mum and dad” businesses from the multi-billion big corporates? Whilst GOP and the Christian Democrats wrestle over and debate day by day on how the nation should address these seemingly unsolvable questions, the Nineteen Countries’ oldest financial institution has been moving one step ahead to create a new relationship with yet another homebrand foreign-based company.

Hemen Technologies, a Nusalian company which provides navigation solution software for the automotive, enterprise, wireless and personal navigation industries, has struck a partnership with the Bank of Yohannes to secure 8.3 billion Quertz russling (75 million NSD) in investment from the “Marioncare” Industrial Care and Revitalisation Fund. The capital injection is set to be made just five months after the structural building modelling company won a competitive tender to implement a fleet management system and optimised routing and navigation reporting regime across more than 1,000 offices in the Regency of Lindblum, in what has been described as one of the most innovative commercial navigation and traffic management contracts to be handled by a foreign-based company in the continent of Yohannes.

Hemen Technologies is planning to use the capital injection from the seventh largest and fastest growing wealth fund in the Nineteen Countries to expand further in northwestern Lindblum and into other geographical markets in the continent next year. The company’s branch operation in the northern mainland, which is set to enter neighbouring Cederstrom next year, has set goals to double its employee numbers from 1,800 to 3,600 people over the next two years, and to open two offices in the city of Dagmar, home to the continent’s second-largest port of trade.

Figure 1: Part of the Greater Halsten Infrastructure Authority map in Reichsgau Staschoten am Richtenräschen, Regency of Lindblum.

Originally founded in 1991 to digitise mapping and form pioneering in-car navigation solutions, over the next three decades, Hemen built a legacy in mapping technology in the State of Nusalia. Today, the Global Economics and Trade index-listed company is known for its living three-dimensional maps which showcase layers of information and insights. Hemen Technologies operations can be found in more than ten nations outside the continent — “From the provision of location data, mapping and related services to individuals and companies, the company captures location content such as road networks, buildings, parks, and traffic patterns and agglomerate them as solutions for our clients.”, says Ms Natascha Hildebrandt, Fund Portfolio Completion General Manager.

And it seems the State of Nusalia’s homebrand company has timed its large scale entry into the Nineteen Countries market well.

Economic and Demographics Statistics Yohannes data in 2017 showed that the latest valuation of domestic demand in structural building modelling market in the Nineteen Countries stood roughly at 1.1 billion NSD. “It is forecast to grow by 2.1 billion NSD come 2022, which equates to a compound annual growth rate of just below 16 per cent over five years.”, says Dr Fat’hiyaa el-Rasheed, Economic Palace Chief Economist. Hemen’s range of structural building modelling products are self-regulating three-dimensional model based systems engineering that allow accredited engineers, construction managers and architectural technologists to more effectively manage, build, and design infrastructure building projects and software solutions.

According to Ms Daniela Hänel, Greater Halsten Infrastructure Authority Managing Director, “One of the important benefits of signing up with Hemen Technologies’ wide range of products is that they give multiple contractors from different locations the ability to access, update and share their centralised project reports. The typical project and engineering design process depends mostly on two-dimensional draftings. With Hemen you can use three-dimensional solutions and go beyond even that to supplement it with further four-dimensional period and five-dimensional costing options.”

Because of these apparent benefits, Hemen Technologies and other companies like it have registered astounding growth in popularity amongst major end-use sector players since 2014. Some other benefits include better net profit and cost ratio and reduced time and spending allocation. Such new initiatives as the Infrastructure of Nation State Significance Programme mean increasing number of construction activities will be had until 2025, and increasing consumer awareness of Hemen Technologies and other structural building modelling providers will further drive demand growth. However, their high initial investment prerequisites mean growth potential has been restrained since 2013, and other such things as high human capital and technical training requirements further add to delay in their widespread adoption by many small and medium sized enterprises. The public sector has nonetheless increasingly led the way since 2010, and “big corporates” such as the Bank of Yohannes, Halstenmetall and VMK are trailing not far behind.

Ms Hänel concludes, “For instance, our partnership with Hemen Technologies will include such local government services as spatial and geographic data system planning and specifications for infrastructure construction, which encompass number and state of structural building components — they will abide by the latest Health and Safety Amendment Act 1971 and relevant World Assembly resolutions.”

Since the turn of the century, structural building software solutions have increasingly been used by government agencies and citizen sector players who design, build, and manage things that drive the nation’s economic growth: taxpayer-funded bridges, highways and roads; ratepayer-funded hydrothermal and wind energy facilities; and ports of trade and railways for our people and thriving businesses across the continent.

More willingness by the executive council of the day to intervene by way of statutes and bylaws to embrace these technologies mean demand for infrastructure modelling solutions will continue to grow well until 2023. And with the election of Marion Maréchal-Le Men as Emperor in January, the incoming parliamentary election this December, and, for these reasons, the much higher political capital to be had from adopting a more interventionist economic policy vis-à-vis infrastructure expansion for the benefit of “mum and dad business concerns”, it seems that innovative foreign-based companies such as Hemen Technologies have entered the Nineteen Countries market at just the right time.

Today’s exchange rate: According to the International Securities and Exchange Commission, 1 NationStates Dollar or 1 Universal Standard Dollar (NSD/USD) (World Assembly and International Standard) is enough to buy 110.56 Quertz russling (Yohannesian); that is, a Yohannesian needs to spend at least §110.56 to be able to afford $1 NS.

Published by The Royal Alexandria Times

Author: Claudia A
claudia.a@tratimes.co.yo
@claudiaa

Claudia A is one of the underpaid interns at The Royal Alexandria Times. She is a Macroeconomics postgraduate student and professional procrastinator in between lectures by day. She has previously attempted green policy analysis and social justice reviews, but was suck at both. These days you can find her in her natural habitat — writing for the Parliamentary Analysis Archive and The Royal Alexandria Times in her leisure time. She can sometimes be found tweeting together with her friends Baxter W, Erica B, Yohannes D & co. at the Maxtopian social networking website NationStates.

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197 Comments

Martin1968

Thank you GOP — never saw this coming lol
GOP voters can’t complain nothing to complain bout — reduced immigration? Check. Head covering ban? Check. Deportation of asylum seekrs? Check. Infrastructure growth? Check. More schools for our people? Check.

Share 2 replies▼ ▲17 I ▼62
Theysaidwhat

A wee one. Next flight back to America at ten past seven — Donald Trump calls.

Share ▲60 I ▼1

ShadesOfGreyDarker

Voted for GOP knew they are going to build schools roads infrastructure etc though wish they treat our muslim asian immigrant and refugee friends better. we are all human after all we bleed the same colour we cry the same tears

Share ▲130 I ▼28
Alt_Write

Time to boycott Ni Hao Ma’s Yao Ming supermarket! Night of the Many Crystals!

Share ▲2 I ▼90

MyNanSurvived1944

@Alt_Write What a disgusting human being u should be ashamed of urself u piece of sheit

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Most Popular:
News from Radiatia — Perry gets the edgeon McCarthy after fiery debate: “You’re bribing Radiatians with their own money”
News from Nui-ta — Cadere Seorsum breaks opening night records: Newest Petyr Maloviich film sees successful opening night
News from Arthuria — Folkting debates largest liberalisation measure since end of the Social-Democratic Era

by **Radiatia** » Sat Sep 08, 2018 9:24 pm

RADIATIA GOES RED!
STEVEN McCARTHY WINS LANDSLIDE VICTORY.

September 9th 4064 Last updated 15:49 Exegrad Standard Time

ELECTION RESULTS
Steven Herbert McCarthy will be the next leader of Free Noctur, following a record-breaking landslide victory that saw the young Vice President carry 42 out of 45 states and a massive 58% of the popular vote.

Electoral College:
Steven McCarthy: 543
Vladimir Perry: 14
Popular Vote:
Steven McCarthy: 58%
Vladimir Perry: 42%
Senate:
Social Democratic Union: 50
Liberal-Conservative Party: 40
Federal Assembly:
Social Democratic Union: 302
Liberal-Conservative Party: 165

_{An electoral college map of the Radiatian Federation showing the states won by McCarthy (red) and Perry (blue)}

While McCarthy had spent most of the campaign ahead in the polls, riding on the coattails of the wildly popular Jaagen Autenberg, no one fully expected the extent of his victory which saw him absolutely demolish the Perry campaign.

McCarthy defied the polls to sweep the northern states and the election was called for him at around 9pm Exegrad time, when it was announced that he had won Alayenia.

But the landslide didn't stop there - McCarthy then proceeded to become the first Social Democrat in history to carry the solidly blue states of Amentra and Clode.

SENATE:
Social Democratic Union: 50
Liberal-Conservative Party: 40

FEDERAL ASSEMBLY:
Social Democratic Union: 301
Liberal-Conservative Party: 165

Early in the night signs looked okay for Vladimir Perry - he handily won Ziigrut, home state of his running mate Taisiya Pearce and seemed on track to reclaim the north. But it all came unstuck once Polaris was called for McCarthy.

Perry was also able to gain Eldura, who responded well to his message of federal government scepticism as well as Mendovium which takes the title as the bluest state in the country and is now the only state in the country to have never voted for the Social Democrats. (NB: There are no states in the country that have never voted for the LCP at least once - Saku was previously considered safe red, but voted for Angela Pavlovic in 4060.)

Premier Perry acknowledged the scale of Steven McCarthy's victory in his concession speech

"Whatever you think of him, it looks like he has won a landslide, he has a massive mandate from the people and we all have to support him now." He said to supporters in Exegrad. "His success is our country's success."

President Jaagen Autenberg also released a brief statement from Federation Square saying, "Hell yeah Steve I knew you were gonna win. Hot dang!"

McCarthy took the stage in Das Engel at midnight local time (2am Exegrad time) and appeared visibly emotional, perhaps shocked himself at the scale of his victory.

"I have a lot of people to thank for being able to stand where I am right now - my family, all of you, my running mate, my campaign team." He said to supporters. "But there is one very important person who this victory tonight could not have happened without: Please, a round of applause for President Jaagen Autenberg. Because really, this is his victory, not mine.

"I've been proud to have served in the only administration since the fall of communism that has seriously lowered income inequality and raised the level of education being offered to our young people. Over the next four years we will build on these momentous gains.

"We face challenges and uncertainty abroad but that's why I'm glad to know that we'll have Josko Ivers as our Vice President - the most experienced politician in the country probably, and an expert on all things foreign.

"And on a personal note, I could not be more honoured to be taking the torch of individualism and efficiency and running with it for a new generation.

"This will be a new beginning for Radiatia, but never forget that our best days are always yet to come."

Meanwhile, the SDU rode McCarthy (or perhaps Autenberg)'s coattails to a landslide victory in both chambers of the Federal Parliament, with all of the new states apparently casting votes for the SDU.

The Federal Assembly, now enlarged to 467 seats, saw the LCP actually lose 10 seats with the Social Democrats now commanding 302 seats - more than enough to secure McCarthy's agenda. In the now 90-seat Senate, the SDU gained 50 seats, and though the LCP gained two seats, there remains a 10 seat majority for the SDU in the upper house.

KAHLER: "THIS WAS AUTENBERG'S LANDSLIDE"

If there was one thing that the candidates agreed upon during the election campaign, it was that a vote for Steven McCarthy was a vote for Jaagen Autenberg.

The Radiatian people thus gave their verdict on four years of Jaagen Autenberg: It was a massive vote of approval, leading to a landslide for his successor.

But don't think for a second that this was ever about McCarthy or Perry: This election was about Autenberg and this was, by proxy, him winning a second term in a landslide.

While Social Democrats have many reasons to be excited and encouraged by the scale of this landslide, they should also exercise caution: Never before in Radiatian history has a candidate been elected to their first term with such a large mandate from the people.

Even the landslides of Skortch Takita in 4014 and Lena Toriah in 4030 were not such lopsided affairs, and certainly in the case of Takita they were not a license to begin on whatever radical project takes their fancy.

Radiatian voters are notoriously fickle and absolutely unforgiving of failure - just look at the way the pendulum swung between Fyoderov's landslide in '56 and Autenberg's victory in '60.

8 years ago we all assumed the LCP were undefeatable and would be in office for decades. Tonight we saw the LCP suffer their worst defeat ever, with some questioning whether they will ever be able to recover.

It's true that the scale of the victory gives McCarthy and the SDU license to go to town on whatever major project they wish to, but it also puts pressure on the President-elect to come up with something big, something to justify the scope of his victory.

This is where he could face some major challenges: If Radiatians don't see him as being a strong, revolutionary leader like Autenberg, he could well find himself turfed out in four years. But he must also balance that with the need to not let the scale of his victory fuel arrogance.

The President-elect can only hope that he turns out to be right when he says that Radiatia's best days lie ahead.

- RPNN

Brahman (St. Angersburg, Miitlania)
3 HOURS AGO
I was never a huge Autenberg supporter but I'm going to be sad to see him go. He was so entertaining.

400 likes

Moss (Minami, South Corpshire)
2 HOURS AGO
On one hand I'm proud to have a South Corpshirean as President... on the other hand if I had to choose a local politician to be President, Steve McCarthy isn't the guy I'd have chosen.

321 likes

Tagg (Taigluntz, Alayenia)
1 HOUR AGO
I don't know anyone who voted for McCarthy, how the hell did he win Alayenia? Let alone the country. Am I that out of touch?

101 likes

In Other News:

A look back at Autenberg's best moments
Who is Josko Ivers? The extraordinary life of our new Vice President.
New Vashuran Supreme Court rules "Beer doesn't count as alcohol"

Posts · by **Yohannes** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 6:16 am

World Assembly: 855 million NSD in additional investment for students with special educational needs and disabilities

Claudia A — Opinion Piece Author: ...... Budget Reform 2017, although generally received well, resulted in reduced general spending in favour of more targeted, focused spending. Whilst special attention paid to high achieving students is great, it can put pressure on funding for the less fortunate or those affected by circumstances not of their own making..........

Royal Alexandria, 4 September 2018 — A publication by the Ministry of Education this morning highlighted that subnational government authorities will receive up to 95.2 billion Quertz russling (855 million NationStates Dollars or Universal Standard Dollars) in supplementary assistance starting next month. The supplementary funding is set to provide additional classroom spaces and “twenty-first century” apparatus for students with disabilities and special learning conditions (DSLC). The report concluded by saying, “That this supplementary funding will provide more accessibility and educational options for parents of DSLC students over the five-year period ending FY 2023.”

The news followed prior executive council target in March this year, where it pledged to create 822.5 billion Quertz russling (7.4 billion NSD) in extra funding for the construction of 231,000 Decile 6 to Decile 10 primary school and college^{[Note 1]} seats, adding to the 2.3 million spaces that have been made available since 2014. The report’s publication also came with the release of another “unsettling” report by the Ministry of Education, which showed that roughly 70 per cent of new classroom spaces created since 2016 have been located in “high-income neighbourhoods” and “established suburbs.”

The supplementary funding will add to the already existing 266.4 billion Quertz russling (2.4 billion NSD) in investment announced last year for the provision of safe learning space and easy access to education for students with disabilities and special learning conditions. The Ministry of Education has estimated that the extra funding can potentially make up to 4,200 more learning spaces and specialised care for DSLC students, which would include such things as rooms “with interactive equipment and a relaxed pace of play” and “an all inclusive playground.”

The supplementary spending is the latest in a package of 24.3 trillion Quertz russling (218.5 billion NSD) in investment to be earmarked for the Universal Education Authority by the Thirty-sixth Christian Democratic Executive Council over the five-year period to 2023. According to the Ministry website, the aim is to provide easy access to high quality learning space for all Yohannesian children, irrespective of their conditions, ethnicity, and household background. According to Her Majesty Marion Maréchal-Le Men the eighteenth Yohannesian Emperor, “Our kids come first. When I was elected into office I made the future of Yohannesian children my number one priority. I want to make sure that they can reach their full potential. I know that Chancellor Annabelle Thorndon-Stevensonn will agree with me.”

The Honourable Ferdinand Goethe, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Lifelong and Vocational Education, agrees, “Every mother and father wants to have the best education for their children. They want to access high quality state and state integrated schools for their children. They want to know that our schools and teachers can meet the learning needs of their children, and support their development towards success. They want their children to reach their full potentials.” The Minister believes that the additional investment will result in the construction of hundreds of new, high quality schools for children across the continent — and DSLC students will not be left out too. In fact, this funding will ensure that their needs are being met.

The investment will boost existing commitment for the provision of new school places by 366.3 billion Quertz russling (3.3 billion NSD), following on the pledge of 266.4 billion Quertz russling (2.4 billion NSD) in investment made last year.

Under the scheme, more than one-third of the Nineteen Countries’ local and regional governments will receive up to 290 million Quertz russling (2.7 million NSD). This supplementary funding will be targeted towards not just the provision of smaller college^{[Note 1]} classrooms but also better educational facilities and playgrounds for younger DSLC students. Every subnational governing authority will be able to collect 144.3 million Quertz russling (1.3 million NSD) at the minimum, with higher allocation to be made according to decile ranking and school zone density.

Besides extra funding, the publication by the Ministry also highlighted a proposal to revamp the whole school decile ranking, which has been used by the Universal Education Authority since the turn of the century. “It is outdated; a leftover from the previous century, and frankly it’s time to change the whole system. For one, it doesn’t take into account the much higher immigration numbers we have seen since 1996. And two, it doesn’t take into account the tendency of many Yohannesian cities these days to ‘spread out’ rather than ‘go up’.”, says The Honourable Nickel Fallage, Chairperson of the Exiting International Incidents and Nation State Neutrality Select Committee. The report showed that 74 per cent of all primary schools and colleges created in the last fiscal year were those of Decile 7 to Decile 10 — that is, schools in “good” to “excellent” high-income neighbourhoods.

Figure 1: The latest Ardenfontein-Löfgren political poll (31 August 2018) showed that over 70 per cent of Yohannesians believe the education and future learning of their children to be some of the most important issues facing this nation.

“The Christian Democratic Party has increased funding for education since 2014 — bollocks, I say.”

Ms Xie Bae Ling, a spokesperson for the Asian Yohannesian Foundation, likes the announcement. She said, “The Asian Yohannesian Foundation is very happy to hear the news from the Ministry of Education concerning the increase in capital spending for the provision of extra places and the improvement of facilities in schools for all children regardless of circumstances, ethnicity, and household background. We welcome the possibility of seeing more investment put towards our low-income neighbourhoods.”

Many Asian Yohannesians are first and second generation immigrants and thus live in low-income neighbourhoods. I personally like the Asian Yohannesian Foundation — they are non partisan, which requires extraordinary willpower to achieve considering how embarrassing the GOP can be at times as regards their anti-Asian dog-whistling Southern Strategy.

Ms Bae Ling continued, “Students of Asian immigrant background are not eligible for free university education, even though they are permanent residents of the Nineteen Countries, nor are they eligible for student loan and student allowance programmes because they are not citizens.” She concluded by informing me of a recent survey by the University of Yohannes which indicated that Asian students are often ranked last in school admission application priorities to make way for “Yohannesian-born” students — this includes Asian DLSC students. “We welcome this news as one step forward in the right direction to improving the conditions of our immigrant children in the Nineteen Countries.”

I agree with Ms Bae Ling. Asian immigrants have children with special needs and disabilities too — many who arrived here with their parents, and are for that reason not eligible to apply for many of the extra services available for Yohannesian-born children with disabilities.

Budget Reform 2017, although generally received well, resulted in reduced general spending in favour of more targeted, focused spending. Whilst the special attention paid to high achieving students is great, it can put pressure on funding for the less fortunate or those affected by circumstances not of their own making. For that reason, it is imperative that this recent announcement will make an actual impact on children with special educational needs and disabilities. The Christian Democratic Party’s record in this area has been found wanting, if not embarrassing to date — only with the 2018 Electoral College election over were they finally willing to acknowledge their less-than-stellar management of the education sector.

Ms Heidi Steinbach, President of Nineteen Countries Parent-Teacher-Student Association (NCPTS), says, “We look forward to better provision for the inclusive needs of students with special circumstances and disabilities. Mainstream schools have worked hard to serve the educational needs of our children and for them to reach their full potentials. But we can always do better — and for that reason, we would like to commend Chancellor Annabelle Thorndon-Stevensonn and Her Majesty the Yohannesian Emperor Marion Maréchal-Le Men for their bipartisan compromise.

Although primary and secondary institutions must prioritise accessibility and inclusivity, the latest Economic and Demographics Statistics Yohannes report showed that this has not always been the case. According to Ms Steinbach, “Some schools have simply been underfunded to the extent that their specialist learning provisions have been found wanting; they cannot provide a peaceful atmosphere for children with hearing issues, for instance. I know that this has been the case with one particular school in Royal Alexandria. Another school in Halsten does not have acceptable toilets and changing facilities for students requiring specialist care. That is unacceptable and we must surely do something!” The organisation hopes that the recently announced supplementary funding will add to the already existing 266.4 billion Quertz russling (2.4 billion NSD) committed last year to help make a real difference to the lives of neglected students across the nation.

The NCTPS and other organisations like it have a role to play in reviewing the effectiveness of this latest increase in funding — and without strategic cooperation with local and regional governments and other educational organisations to ensure that their voices are being heard, no extra increase in funding will truly make an impact on the ground. Such initiatives as the latest announcement by the Ministry built on not just the Executive Council but also the community’s willingness to better the lives of students in special circumstances — from the provision of targeted education spending to assisting in the quest to provide first-world education for our students by understanding and meeting their individual needs.

Earlier this year, the Executive Council kick-started a working group to find better ways of allocating existing fund so that Universal Education Authority can produce better results for schoolchildren across the nation. The committee would review such things as how existing schemes are administered and which group of students would be better targeted to produce the best long-term results.

The Executive Council is planning to invest more than 24.3 trillion Quertz russling (218.5 billion NSD) for state and state integrated schools by 2023. The 95.2 billion Quertz russling (855 million NSD) announced this morning includes both fundamental need and special care allocations over the five-year-period, which are expected to produce 684,000 new learning spaces. These learning spaces raised and improved upon the everyday sacrifice and dedication of hard-working teachers across the nation, and the success of the Thirty-sixth Christian Democratic Executive Council’s “Budget Reform” since 2017 — resulting in over 2.3 million new learning spaces since 2014. At least 5.4 million more students are now in Decile 6 to Decile 10-ranked primary schools and colleges in comparison to 2014. Spending in education for children in special circumstances and disabilities has so far reached 7.6 trillion Quertz russling (68.1 billion NSD) this year — which as a percentage of overall budget is the highest to be committed so far by any executive council since the 2012 Financial Crisis.

Political analysts and pundits believe that the announcement was made strategically — the latest Ardenfontein-Löfgren political poll showed that over 70 per cent of Yohannesians believe the education and future learning of their children to be some of the most important issues facing this nation. This puts the issue in third place, just behind nation state neutrality and immigration.

According to Ms Irene Pollmächer, “The funding is a way for Chancellor Annabelle Thorndon-Stevensonn and the Thirty-sixth Christian Democratic Executive Council to say, ‘Look. We are finally acknowledging that schools overcrowding is real and the education sector has been increasingly neglected since 2010. What Marion Maréchal-Le Men said in the January Electoral College election was true. So now, please, vote for us in December and we will fix these problems and show you that we can change.’ It is pretty smart actually — that they actually have Marion’s backing for this whole thing.”

“That way, the voters are finally seeing the Christian Democratic Party’s willingness to find and reach for the middle, bipartisan ground.”

I hope that Ms Pollmächer is right. Here’s hoping that this and other compromise solutions along similar bipartisan ground might just do the trick come December.

Anything but Ronald Chump for Chancellor.

Note 1: In the Nineteen Countries, the word “college” refers to a secondary or high school.

Organisation profile: Asian Yohannesian Foundation is a non-partisan, non-profit forum founded in 2001 to represent Asian Yohannesians in the Nineteen Countries. It works with some of the nation’s most important academics, business leaders, and diplomats to positively portray Asian cultures in the continent of Yohannes. The Foundation regularly hosts cultural and educational events in Dagmar, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Cederstrom.

Nineteen Countries Parent-Teacher-Student Association is a confederation of individual parent-teacher associations and cultural groups in the Nineteen Countries. The governing body of the association comprises civil servants and concerned parents across the nation. It is primarily a grass-roots organisation of volunteers and dedicated mothers and fathers.

Today’s exchange rate: According to the International Securities and Exchange Commission, 1 NationStates Dollar or 1 Universal Standard Dollar (NSD/USD) (World Assembly and International Standard) is enough to buy 111.01 Quertz russling (Yohannesian); that is, a Yohannesian needs to spend at least §111.01 to be able to afford $1 NS.

Published by The Royal Alexandria Times

Author: Claudia A
claudia.a@tratimes.co.yo
@claudiaa

Claudia A is one of the underpaid interns at The Royal Alexandria Times. She is a Macroeconomics postgraduate student and professional procrastinator in between lectures by day. She has previously attempted green policy analysis and social justice reviews, but was suck at both. These days you can find her in her natural habitat — writing for the Parliamentary Analysis Archive and The Royal Alexandria Times in her leisure time. She can sometimes be found tweeting together with her friends Baxter W, Erica B, Yohannes D & co. at the Maxtopian social networking website NationStates.

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149 Comments

ElsaManning

Universal Education Authority is not competitive; finally can see why our rates jump yearly has always been so high. Stop leeching off ratepayers so much that you cant even fund our children properly. Why should we pay for Asian immigrants children to have good education. Look after our own first.

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Theysaidwhat

What about Yohannesian-born Asian and Muslim students — still not one of us?

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Yohannes First

@Theysaidwhat No

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ShadesOfGreyDarker

This is great news — more funding for our children!

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iPost

Universal Education Authority will never win with ratepayers. taxpayers complain so they shift responsibilities to local and regional governments. Ratepayers compalin they then must shift responsibilities to national governments or executive council. want good educaton? be prepared to pay for it. dont like paying for nation state costs? then be prepared to accept lower quality facilities. put your money where your mouth is and pay up or shut up and stop complaining.

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Most Popular:
News from Radiatia — Radiatia goes red! Steven McCarthy wins landslide victory
News from Nui-ta — Cadere Seorsum breaks opening night records: Newest Petyr Maloviich film sees successful opening night
News from Arthuria — Folkting debates largest liberalisation measure since end of the Social-Democratic Era

by **Radiatia** » Wed Sep 12, 2018 3:26 am

"CALL ME STEVE"
AN INTERVIEW WITH STEVEN McCARTHY

September 12th 4064 Last updated 20:23 Exegrad Standard Time

ELMYRA, SOUTH CORPSHIRE
He was once a committed socialist from the hard left of the SDU - but on Saturday, Vice President Steven McCarthy won a landslide victory to become the first President born after the fall of communism.

_{Steven McCarthy: Our first President born after the fall of communism}

There was some surprise in political circles when four years ago Jaagen Autenberg announced that Steven McCarthy - a hard left Senator from South Corpshire - would be his running mate.

After all, on the surface the two men seem as different as chalk and cheese: Autenberg was an elderly northerner with little formal education and no real political background (aside from serving Premier of a very sparsely populated state), while McCarthy was an ambitious career politician, a Xerconia insider and known for his ideological rigidity.

And yet, as I visit the small village of Elmyra, South Corpshire for the first time, it becomes clear what connects the two men: Both of them are country boys at heart.

Elmyra is located on the plains in central South Corpshire and accessible only by dirt roads and obscure state highways - there's not an interstate anywhere near it. It's a far cry from South Corpshire's two largest cities: Sukai in the north and Minami down in the panhandle and worlds away from such places as Exegrad or Xerconia.

"The first time President Autenberg visited here, he called it 'Solitude with Sunshine'," Says McCarthy with a smile. "[Solitude, Diatara and Elmyra] are both 'blink and you'll miss it' kind of towns... but I prefer it here because our winters are a lot milder than Diatara."

McCarthy greets me at the driveway of his ranch, dressed in a polo shirt and jeans and driving a pick-up truck.

But truth be told, it all feels contrived to me - it's like he's trying to impersonate Jaagen Autenberg and not quite succeeding.

Autenberg was able to pull of the "rural everyman" act because he genuinely was a rural everyman - but coming from a fairly well-off Xerconia insider like McCarthy it just seems disingenuous.

Indeed, while Autenberg (before becoming President) lived in the top floor of the pub he ran, McCarthy lives in a fairly lavish country manor with his wife Ksenia and daughter Meghan - he is many things, but man of the people he ain't.

That's not to say he isn't a nice guy, or that he doesn't genuinely hold his beliefs.

And reading between the lines, it's clear that he's a little unnerved by the scale of his victory - while he was no doubt prepared for victory, he probably wasn't expecting a landslide and there's clearly already pressure on the shoulders of the 47 year old, who is about to become Radiatia's second youngest ever President, after Yerkal Nathus.

We meet inside his not-so-humble country mansion where ordinarily I would begin with a standard question about where he was when the RPSU collapsed.

But the answer is that he wasn't born and wouldn't be for another three years. He entered the world just as Traiyan Silviu was preparing for his second term and Radiatia was to have its second ever free and fair democratic election.

Most Presidents became political due to some connection with the Radiatian Civil War - but McCarthy had totally different reasons.

"I came of age during the Vahnsehn Administration, at the time that Kurt Demodand was dismantling everything that the country had once built," Says McCarthy. "I grew up out here in the country so for most of my life it didn't matter who was in office, communism, capitalism, politics as I was so far away from any of it.

"But when I moved to the city [to Miniami, South Corpshire, where he studied law at university] I saw people living in cardboard boxes, in the middle of winter. And I was shocked. This wasn't even Exegrad either - this was a medium sized city.

"And what's worse was the government of the day were turfing more and more people out onto the street, the sick were left to die and multinational corporations were - literally - getting away with murder.

"So in university I joined the Worker's Party and swore then and there to dedicate my life to social and economic justice."

Throughout the campaign McCarthy was plagued by rumours that he once joined the Communist Party.

"It's not true, I knew enough history to know what the communists did and I wasn't going near it. My biggest mistake was one time sharing a platform with a communist, during a protest against Derro Vahnsehn."

Of course things changed under Lena Toriah - in fact his running mate was a Minister in the government.

"There were some things that Toriah did really well, such a healthcare and whatnot, but I was a socialist and she was a corporatist. What she did was let the corporations do whatever they wanted as long as it benefited Radiatia. I don't think that was a bad idea - but let's not pretend she was a champion for the working class because she didn't give a damn about the working class."

Does that criticism extend to Josko Ivers too?

"Of course not - and also I'm saying what I thought then. That was 30 years ago - you do get a bit more moderate as you get older."

So does that mean he's no longer a committed socialist?

"Sort of, yes. I'd call myself a Social Democrat now, rather than a Democratic Socialist. Or I'd call myself an "Autenberg Socialism" because I think he took a lot of socialist ideas and made them work in contemporary Radiatia."

This of course brings us onto the question of what, exactly, was his relationship with President Autenberg? A question I soon regret asking after the President-elect gushes with praise.

"I learned more in four years from President Autenberg than I learned in 20 years of public office. The people who think he's a simpleton are themselves simpletons - he's the greatest political genius this country has ever seen, and I mean ever. Not even Traiyan Silviu could have pulled off the miracles I saw him work."

McCarthy says his proudest achievement of the last four years was the fact that the rich-poor divide in the Radiatian Federation has finally receded for the first time since the collapse of communism. Surely he can take credit for that, given that he is allegedly the architect of 'AutenSurance'.

"It's true that I played a role in AutenSurance but it was a team effort and again it was Autenberg who worked the miracles to get that through Parliament," Said McCarthy. "I started off with a wild proposal for a typical welfare state, and we all knew that would never happen in Radiatia. That was about as far as I went - the basic concept. Everything else was down to a lot of very clever people and one genius from Diatara."

I note that he seems remarkably humble now that the campaign is over - most politicians would be jumping over themselves to take credit for something like AutenSurance.

"I guess I can be myself now that it's over... and hey I was raised with old-fashioned Corpshire manners. I'm not a greedy big-city type."

Is there too much greed in Radiatia?

"Yes and no. I mean this brings me back to what we were saying about Josko Ivers and Lena Toriah - they were right that it was possible to make the poor rich without making the rich poor.

"I'm not out to stop business doing what business does. But I am out to make sure they do it for the country and by that I mean the ordinary people of the country. A fair wage, a decent living standard, safe working conditions - if you can give us that, then make all the money you want and I'll back you up."

Yet for all his overtures to the left, McCarthy and indeed the Autenberg Administration have faced a lot of criticism from the left, particularly regarding their cosy relationship with the oil industry and vague environmental policies.

"Climate change is real. There I said it." Says the President-elect. "But for me people come first. I grew up at a time when we had ideologues who didn't care about how many lives they wrecked as long as they went by the book. But me? I'm not going to be tearing down the fossil fuel industry, or closing down coal mines, until I'm satisfied that those workers will have somewhere else to go and some other way of living in dignity.

"We can't escape the future, we know oil will run out, but Radiatia is not a place that has the means to go green overnight, unless you want to talk to the residents of states like Asgard and Midgard and explain to them why they're now living in poverty."

There are other controversial issues too like immigration and foreign policy.

"I think the travel ban should stay, I have no plans to let UNCA citizens into Radiatia," Says McCarthy, becoming quite serious. "But on foreign policy, we do need to take a balanced approach.

"On one hand we need to step up and take responsibility for the fact that we have a huge impact on the global economy and security. But we need to be doing all we can to keep out of wars, especially unnecessary foreign ones. There's no reason why Radiatians should die in some far flung place like Rango Mango, when there's no immediate threat to our national security."

We then turn to questions of the economy. I note that McCarthy was famously blase about the recent fall in the value of the Tsenyen.

"We're still, believe it or not, an exporting nation. I know we don't think we are, especially in the cities, but we are the manufacturing powerhouse of Noctur still. And having the Tsenyen worth, at one stage, 3 NS dollars just means our exports become too uncompetitive - it doesn't matter how efficient we are if foreigners can't afford to buy our currency let alone our products."

And what about the deficit? Is he worried?

"Of course I am, and it's going to be a bitter pill. I said on the campaign trail that if I won we'd have to raise taxes and if Premier Perry won we'd have to cut spending. I won quite substantially and I think Radiatians do see that we're going to have to tighten our belts just a little bit.

"The economy is doing fine, I think that a small tax increase will probably be just the ticket to stop it overheating."

But the real question is, what do Radiatians have to look forward to over the next four years? Surely more than a tax increase?

"Radiatians can look forward to finally being in a country where if they dream it, they can do it, no matter what background they're from. We've struggled and sacrificed for 50 years to become the richest country in Noctur - it's time to share the wealth now and it's time to enjoy the fruits of our labour."

And just as I prepare to leave I suddenly become aware that we were not alone in that room - the whole time, McCarthy was surrounded by members of the Radiatian Security Service, who seem to appear out of nowhere to inform me that the interview has ended.

A few days from now this young-ish man from rural South Corpshire will be the most powerful person in Noctur.

- RPNN

Zeeman (Faitsuva, Diifgrao)
3 HOURS AGO
Good god, he hasn't even been inaugurated yet and he's already betrayed his voters. I have buyer's remorse already.

325 likes

Complex Carl (New Aliyas, Alayenia)
2 HOURS AGO
Let's be honest: No one voted for McCarthy. Everyone either voted for Autenberg or voted against Perry. This guy guy is just a dime a dozen Social Democrat, nothing special here and he'll probably be a one term wonder or else forgotten by history when it's all over.

166 likes

Chronomon (Sukai, South Corpshire)
1 HOUR AGO
I remember when he was this hardcore socialist Senator and dammit he was good I actually believed in him. But if there's one thing that this interview made painfully obvious, it's that corporate money got to him and he sold out. He's another puppet President like Silviu, Pavlovic, etc.

I can't believe Autenberg endorsed this guy

708 likes

Other Interviews:

by **Radiatia** » Fri Sep 14, 2018 8:18 pm

JAAGEN AUTENBERG:
SAINT OR SPINNER?

September 14th 4064 NC Last updated 14:02 Exegrad Standard Time

EDITORIAL
At noon tomorrow, President Jaagen Melvin Autenberg's tenure of Chief of State will end - we take a look back at his four years in office and the legacy that he is likely to leave.

_{President Autenberg has seen both success
and failure in office}

While serious political commentators are unlikely to argue that Jaagen Autenberg was a failed President, there is a serious need for an objective perspective on his administration, one which ignores his personality and goes straight for the substance.

Certainly, when one considers the extremely low expectations that the public and the political class had of him when he first took office four years ago, there is no way he can be considered a failure - he hasn't just exceeded expectations, he blew them out of the water.

Autenberg, the most unexpected and unlikely President in Radiatian history, leaves office with the highest approval ratings of any national leader since Soden Larssen and it's for good reason.

Let's look at the successes: The most obvious is AutenSurance (officially the "Radiatian National Insurance Corporation"), representing the first federal-funded social safety net since the fall of communism.

The last time we had the Social Democratic President, his attempts to even fund education on a federal level were shot down by his own party, let alone what the LCP went on to do with healthcare and his economic plans.

Whether or not we like to admit it, on the whole Radiatia - even the Radiatian left - are pretty right-wing by world standards when it comes to matters of the economy. Even our most left-wing leaders have always avoided straying too far to the left, lest they be accused of sympathising with neo-communists.

So when Jaagen Autenberg controversially said that he believed life under communism was better for the working classes, what should have ended his career instead defined it: He became the first President brave enough to seriously undermine the free-market doctrine of the last 50 years and as a result the first President to seriously lower income inequality.

The facts are stark: In 4060, the top 10% of Radiatians had an average income of 300,000 Tsenyens per year while the bottom 10% had less than 30,000.

In 4064, while the rich still remain as rich as ever, the bottom 10% now earn an average of 70,000 Tsenyens per year, an amount which in most countries outside of Radiatia would place them in the top half of all earners (and which also goes to illustrate just how rich the Radiatian Federation is).

Since the days of Traiyan Silviu, politicians have promised that the free-market reforms would make Radiatia so rich that everyone would benefit - but so far this has happened only under the Autenberg Administration. Perhaps it's because Autenberg is the only President who truly understood the working class, and who truly understood where their money came from.

Education is another area where Autenberg succeeded: While Radiatia is unlikely to rank top of Noctur any time soon, Autenberg's investments in education have at the very least put Radiatia in the middle of the table, while illiteracy and innumeracy have been all but totally wiped out.

While initially dismissed as pork-barrel politics, Autenberg invested heavily in the northern states - building roads, railways, infrastructure and industry.

In fact he braved criticisms from the left and from environmental groups and put up barriers to support the oil and mining industries, because he knew that it would be the north who would lose out from the introduction of so-called "green technology".

He also harked back to some of the Toriah-era policies on trade: Raising barriers for the first time since the 4030s in order to support and build Radiatian industry which was slowly losing ground to countries like Yohannes, and even Arthuria.

While industry bosses blamed the Pavlovic Administration's controversial introduction of the "minimum wage" on the country's reduced productivity, or else blamed the unions as the usual scapegoat, Autenberg was never going to do anything that reduced working conditions and wages for the poor: Instead he blamed foreign competition and tried to level the playing field.

Of course this didn't last long, and the biggest problem with Autenberg's administration was the unpredictability, and frequent flip-flopping.

The latter half of his Presidency saw him change trade policies again, with his Cabinet claiming that the decision to raise tariffs had been "merely a bargaining chip to extract concessions in free trade negotiations". His plans to renegotiate trade deals like Nui-Ra, or the G2 agreement with Poldania, fell by the wayside.

On foreign policy, it was clear that the President was out of his depth. The man who began his Presidency planning to close down foreign bases to save money, and declaring most of Radiatia's foreign alliances null and void would later go on to spend billions of Tsenyens buying an island for the military, rescuing the Nui-Ra agreement and trying to cobble together some kind of better relationship with Higgins and Brown.

He was harshly criticised by military leaders in his time, and rather than stand his ground the way he did with industry, he instead kowtowed and admitted that he probably didn't know what the best defence strategies were and quietly wrote the FMoD a blank cheque.

This also happened with regards to economic policy, although to be fair Autenberg never explicitly gave an economic direction. Instead he tried to balance the demands of business - who wanted taxes low and regulations gone - with those of his working class constituency who wanted more public services and more job security.

Initially Autenberg's unorthodox economic policies were what lifted Radiatia from the brief recession of 4061, but by 4063 it was clear that he was playing a dangerous game. Economic growth was fine - not thunderous, but good - but the Autenberg Administration were borrowing money to pay for it.

Not that Autenberg was likely to know anything about the subject, it was basic Keynesianism: Lower taxes, spend more, boost the economy. The problem is that Autenberg failed to either reduce spending or raise taxes once the economy was growing, and the result has been a ballooning national debt.

In fact McCarthy had better watch it, because that debt crisis could become a major sword of Damocles over his administration - it is a ticking time bomb.

The other issue that Autenberg failed on was law and order, which is perhaps surprising considering he came to national attention for his decisive handling of a rape incident in his home state 30 years ago.

While it was assumed that he would get tough on crime, and give police the resources they needed he instead relied heavily on state government police forces, reduced funding for federal law enforcement and was even a little too forgiving in the criminal justice system, pardoning more federal criminals than any other President.

Pardoning Gregori Fyoderov is one thing, but pardoning triple-murderer Hannes Fuerman because he felt Fuerman "had had a hard life" was not the kind of thing people who voted for Autenberg were expecting.

Crime rates under Jaagen Autenberg soared and while in a country as large as this, crime is never the responsibility of the President alone, he deserves to take much of the blame considering that it was a rise in crime on a federal level, and it's something he refused repeatedly to do anything about.

So what is Autenberg's legacy going to be?

Well whatever it is, he's not a President anyone will ever forget in a hurry. Whether you loved him or loathed him, you can't deny he had style, he was entertaining, he was unpredictable and he genuinely cared about the people.

While it's clear that the criticism (dare I say, prejudice) he faced early in his political career was unmerited, and that he can count himself as by far the most successful Social Democratic President in history, he's no saint: The national debt and the crime problems, as well as his often muddy foreign policy, could turn into serious problems for the country down the line.

He is a President who has had extraordinary success and extraordinary failure - only time will tell which are remembered by history.

- RPNN

Dr. Boris Kahler is one of the Radiatian Federation's leading political analysts. He writes from neither a Social Democratic nor a Liberal-Conservative point of view.

presidentH8er52 (Dunriu, Zorbakh)
3 HOURS AGO
Autenberg is the only Social Democrat I've ever voted for and the only Social Democrat I WILL ever vote for.

98 likes

Chukwamba (Exegrad, Alayenia)
2 HOURS AGO
autenberg was an racist!! NO black ppl in his cabinet!! nd he try to stop imigrant from komming to radiatialand! cant believe articel never talk about this important issue

29 likes

Bulltoad (Midgard, Midgard)
1 HOUR AGO
Anyone remember when people thought Autenberg was a Seglandic spy? No? Funny how the media works...

107 likes

In Other News:

Nation awaits Steven McCarthy's inauguration
World reacts to McCarthy's election... with silence.
Actually the internet might be down, the rest of the world seems awful quiet

by **Radiatia** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:29 am

ARISE, PRESIDENT McCARTHY.
STEVEN McCARTHY SWORN IN AS 9TH PRESIDENT OF THE RADIATIAN FEDERATION

September 17th 4064 NC Last updated 19:17 Exegrad Standard Time

XERCONIA, FCT
Steven Herbert McCarthy has been sworn in as the 9th President of the Radiatian Federation.

_{Steven H. McCarthy has been sworn in as Radiatia's 9th President.}

McCarthy, who served as Vice President to the popular if unorthodox Jaagen Autenberg, became the first President born after the fall of the RPSU, and the first President since democratisation to be of the same political party of the President preceding him.

While the specifics of McCarthy's agenda remain unclear, in all likelihood it marks a continuation and refinement of Autenberg's agenda: With McCarthy in the Executive Tower and the SDU dominating both chambers of Parliament, you can expect the most interventionist federal government since the days of Jeneri Nazumi.

McCarthy, elected in a landslide along side his running mate - the widely respected elder statesman Josko Ivers of New Vashura - described himself as the "first of a new generation of Radiatian leaders"

"Today the torch has been passed from the Greatest Generation of Radiatians - that is, the generation who brought us our freedoms - to my generation, who have grown up knowing only the freedoms that they fought so hard for." He said. "I am standing on the shoulders of giants. We all are. Every time we go to vote, or buy food, start a business, use the internet, watch television or have a conversation... we are in their debt."

In his inauguration address, McCarthy focused not on his own agenda and plans for the future, but instead took time to reflect on the country's past and on the fact that he was being sworn in exactly 50 years after the country became a democracy.

"50 years ago we were enslaved and starving, under the boot of a regime that considered the murder of 10 million innocent people to be perfectly morally justified," He said. "But look where we are today. Today we live in a country where the bottom 10%, that is the poorest of all Radiatians, still rank in the top 30% of the richest people in the world."

President McCarthy hinted in his speech, as he did during his campaign, the Radiatia may take a slightly more active and responsible role in foreign policy. While by no means an interventionist, McCarthy has not always been the most enthusiastic cheerleader for "Radiatia First".

"[We must] ensure that Radiatia remains not just a beacon for freedom, but a beacon for human progress and human dignity." He said in his speech. "We live in a country with the power to feed the world, or destroy it. That is the responsibility that is upon us all, at all times."

"As this new generation takes over, where we go is up to us. Where our nation goes over the next fifty years will be determined by our endurance, our efficiency, our creativity and our hard work.

"Radiatia's best days are still yet to come!"

In related news, the incoming McCarthy Administration has announced its nominees for Cabinet - with McCarthy making a surprise move of breaking clean of Autenberg's Ministers and nominating an entirely new set of Ministers, something which could well be a sign that McCarthy does intend to move out from under Jaagen Autenberg's shadow.

Also notable is McCarthy's decision not to select a bipartisan Cabinet - almost all nominees are either independents, or Social Democrats and while this could be problematic for the Administration down the line, this is unlikely to matter in the short term thanks to the Social Democrat-controlled Senate, who are likely to rubber stamp the President's appointees.

Long-serving Defence Minister Kärtsy Nepula will be replaced by retired General Friedrich Marshall of the RFA - the former commander of RFTOCOMM.

Meanwhile, Senator Brita Reinhild of Tchort - a key McCarthy supporter during the campaign - will step up to the role of Foreign Affairs Minister and Arron Rothbauer, a key SDU donor, has been handed the keys to the Federal Treasury as the new Federal Minister of Finance.

Cabinet McCarthy:

Minister of Defence: Friedrich Marshall
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Brita Reinhild
Minister of Finance: Arron Rothbauer
Attorney-General: Dougal Marley
Minister of Internal Affairs: Višnja Zahradník
Minister of Health, Education and Social Services: Tatjana Wang
Minister of Environmental Protection: Anissa Kratochvil
Minister of Industry: Leifur Belmont
Minister of Agriculture: Alden Sinclair
Minister of Energy: Thomas Taft
Minister of Transport: Milivoj Stoddard
Minister of Immigration: Sigmund Jankauskas

- RPNN

Senator Janitor (Tavland, Clode)
3 HOURS AGO
He's all talk, no substance. The reason he didn't say what his agenda would be is because his corporate overlords haven't told him what it is yet.

390 likes

Grumbo (Acinatas, Navanga)
2 HOURS AGO
what a sell out

219 likes

Serious Sal (Shinerakku, North Corpshire)
1 HOUR AGO
I'm sick of these negative comments! He hasn't even STARTED as President and already the Autenberg fanboys are trying to throw him under the bus. And guess what? Autenberg wasn't that great! McCarthy was the brains behind the Autenberg Administation.

748 likes

In Other News:

Federal Ministry of Transport warns: "30% of all trans-Oriens flights are still being done with ancient RPSU-era aircraft"
Das Engel actress Tajana Martin turns to prostitution following box office flop, stating "Cocaine doesn't pay for itself, you know!"
Hadinian leaders congratulate McCarthy: Is reproachment on the cards?

by **Nui-ta** » Thu Sep 27, 2018 12:56 pm

NNN - Nui-tan News Network

ELECTION DAY: CONSERVATIVE CONQUEST

Neo-Cons and Derch See Victory At The Polls

Latera, Kavia --- 00:54 NST (September 24th, A.N 140) / 23:54 NZT, (September 25th, A.N 140)
NC 4064

Overview:

A coalition government between Binyamin Hajukugi and Rasim Kulkanni will see a hard-right government come to power in Nui-ta for the first time in over 40 years. The government holds 119 seats out of 218, with the Neo-Cons holding 67 seats and Derch holding 52. The lead party in opposition will be the CRP, which managed to win 53 seats, leaving Central with 40 seats, Leftist with just six, and Gold with absolutely nothing.

Full Story:

Women in Hephazi display their voting registration while in line for the polls.

Hurricane Patrick may have blown through the nation and even delayed elections, but Nui-tan democracy has marched on undeterred. As cleanup crews made progress with clearing roads and controlling flooded zones, Nui-tans hit the polls in record numbers. The last polling stations in the country, one hour behind the rest of the nation on mainland New Zanzes, shut down four hours ago. The Nui-tan News Network and the Nui-tan Election Commission are now projecting the results to be a decisive conservative victory, setting up what may well be the furthest right-wing government to take power in Nui-ta since before the Partition.

At the time of this writing, final vote counts have not been issued, but over 98% of precincts have reported in their results, and the numbers don't lie: the Neo-Cons have dominated the 6-party race for the Prime Ministry, overtaking the incumbent Central Party and far exceeding expectations placed upon them for this election season. Many people expected that Binyamin Hajukugi would enter Parliament and make the Neo-Cons a more permanent member of the national political stage, but not as many thought they'd be calling him Prime Minister. After tonight, however, that's now what the reality will be.

Insiders reported that from the get-go, Hajukugi had already entered and accepted talks with Derch Party's Rasim Kulkanni involving some sort of coalition, should both parties manage to be in a position to claim a coalition win. The actual set-up of the government is a bit turned on its head, however, as many in both parties expected Hajukugi to only gain enough votes and sway to take the second seat. When the states of Sangaur and Alinia called their results, however, Hajukugi suddenly found himself with more political power than he initially expected.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Talia Dehran had a dismal night from the start. Central Party's election night showing in Dehran's home state of Rahku proved to be particularly dismal, with Rahku State only managing 8 electoral votes out of 44. Dehran herself has managed to stay in office, but has now been pushed to the back-benches as her party goes from being the largest in Parliament to the second-smallest.

It should also be noted that Election 140 turned out to be a decent night for the CRP's Elena Raashan, who is seeing her party surge to become the main party in oppositions since the departure of former Prime Minister Paolo Medici from the political sphere. Raashan tried desperately to push herself forward after the Medici Administration as Medici's successor in 136, but Nui-tans ultimately voted in favor of Dehran (in no small part due to her vice Prime Ministry in coalition with Medici).

It did not help that Medici failed to endorse either Dehran or Raashan in 136, remaining totally quiet on the matter. Had Paolo Medici sought the Prime Ministry himself, he would very likely have won a second term: thus, his endorsement would have had quite a bit of pull for either campaign. In 140, from Arthuria, Medici did quietly endorse Raashan --- but four years too late, his word now only has so much impact for anyone except himself.

Nui-ta now sits on the furthest right government it has had before the Partition. How did we get here, and what does this mean for the Monarchy as a whole?

The victory of Nui-ta's conservatives in A.N 140 has many factors that can be attributed to it, but one of the biggest ones was the rise of Hajukugi's Neo-Conservatives. For many years, the Neo-Cons existed as a minor party, never quite making it to the front-lines of national politics. Outside of some state-wide successes in Rahku, the Neo-Cons had very little hope of real power until Binyamin Hajukugi took over the reins from the party's previous leader.

In a time where Rahku State's affairs dominate much of national politics --- the state holds a staggering 44 seats in Parliament, almost 1.5 times as much as the next largest state (Mercuria) --- Binyamin brought something new to the table. Originally from Tuvia, Hajukugi moved to Rahku State after completing secondary school, and his personality and politics merge Rahku's metropolitan vibe with aspects of Nui-ta's less diversified populations.

"A lot of politicians try and tout themselves off as being "the everyman"," said political analyst Dr. Jalal Bangasi. "Elena Raashan does it a lot, Rasim Kulkanni does it a lot, Ultimus Renton did it a lot, and Talia Dehran tried and failed at it miserably".

"Binyamin Hajukugi has never once tried to be an everyman: he focuses on what makes him uniquely qualified to take a position of power in this country. We've seen this happen before: Evan Isaci ran and won on outrageous charisma, Trenta i-Harendo ran and won on unwavering intelligence, and Paolo Medici ran and won on being the best diplomat this nation has ever seen. That's not to say that everyone who has used this tactic has come to power: you'll remember Ministers Hendri ri-Denshir and Benjamin Harvers from 30-something years ago, who ran on incredible military and economic aptitudes, respectively, and had as much money where their mouths were as Isaci, i-Harendo, and Medici on their respective claims".

"But in Hajukugi's case, so far this tactic has worked far better than I think even he anticipated it would. In his case, his claim to fame is his sincere appeal and understanding of every Nui-tan; he's not an everyman, but he is every Nui-tan's man".

"Dehran only appealed to metropolitan, isolationist voters. Raashan only appealed to left-leaning former colonial states. Kulkanni only appealed to the classic right of the nation --- Hajukugi could speak to everyone and empathize, even if there was more separating them than binding them together, whether they were a stay-at-home mother in Rahku, a soldier in Alinia, a banker from Sangaur, a college student in Mercuria, or a well-to-do family living in Yevzar. He had something to offer everyone despite his differences to them, and that really won him a lot of appeal".

"Furthermore, the Neo-Cons in general have been refining their platform over the previous few election, and their platform this year stuck squarely between Central and Derch. This wound up being an amazing tactical move, as it pushed the Neo-Cons firmly into the arms of swing-voters who'd usually be picking from only Central and Derch, and drew out frustrated voters who didn't like either Dehran or Kulkanni and probably would have stayed home if those two had been the only choices".

With the Neo-Cons having pushed themselves into such a position, they could have had a viable coalition with either the center of the political spectrum, or the right-wing. This election term, the right-wing became their only viable option, given Central's current lack of popularity.

"The right-wing has not been particular successful in Nui-ta's contemporary --- and by contemporary I mean since the Partition --- history," Dr. Bangasi said again. "Consider every Prime Minister we have had in the past 39 years. Evan Isaci's government at the start of the war was a break from conservative thought at the time, considering the massive social reforms that his entry into politics resulted in, so while he would probably fall more in line with the Neo-Cons today than Central, at the time he was not considered a conservative at all".

"Then you have the people who came after him. As much as people try and distance the two heads of what was once "the two-headed hydra" that allowed Central to dominate Nui-ta's politics for 15 years, you have to keep in mind that on paper, Evan Isaci and Trenta i-Harendo weren't that far apart. Despite all the bad things that have come to light involving Isaci, he had a larger hand than anyone in shaping i-Harendo's political platform, and it shows when you compare the fine details of their political views. Furthermore, where they did differ, Trenta i-Harendo always swung further to the left".

"After that, Nui-ta enters a radical left-shift. Prime Ministers Renton and Medici aren't conservative by anyone's standards, and Talia Dehran's one-term government pushed things back to the center --- but that was it".

"We haven't been this far right-of-center since the pre-Partition government of Prime Minister xi-Sendres. This is uncharted territory for Nui-ta, plain and simple, and it's anyone's guess as to how the next four years will go".

Despite this being "uncharted territory", it's actually fair to say that some predictions can already be made about the priorities of the Hajukugi Administration. Both the Neo-Cons and Derch have many things they agree on, and these are almost assuredly the things that will be acted on first.

Firstly, both the Neo-Cons and Derch agree on making drastic cuts to the tax code. Chief among these is instituting a flat-tax and wiping out sales-tax completely on all domestic goods, and matching this for some imported goods (like Radiatian or Detectatian goods).
Both the Neo-Cons and Derch seek to crack down on "blue-card abuse" within the college student population. Blue-card abuse, for those not in the know, is when college-level students prolong their education so that they can stay exempt from mandatory service via their student status. Both Hajukugi and Kulkanni have argued for raising the mandatory minimum number of credit hours per semester from six to ten, and for students seeking extensions to their blue-card terms to meet stricter guidelines in order to be granted the exceptions.
However, beyond these guidelines, the two parties actually disagree on other aspects of their plans (Kulkanni campaigned to reduce scholarship availability and enforce a minimum GPA; Hajukugi has denied supporting this).
Both the Neo-Cons and Derch wish to return Nui-ta's healthcare system (which currently looks an awful lot like Autensurance) to a fully privatized system. What their specific plans are vary between the two parties, but both can agree that the state-run insurance market needs to be scrapped, and that private insurance companies should be allowed to run as they please outside of a few minimal guidelines (like not being able to deny a person coverage for a pre-existing condition).
Both the Neo-Cons and Derch have been heavily pushing for South Zanzes to decide autonomously, within the next 20 years, whether or not it will assimilate into statehood within Nui-ta, or break away from Nui-ta altogether and become a fully sovereign entity. Hajukugi himself describes the situation as being akin to the colonial referendums in Kavia and Tuvia in NC 4050, in which both former colonies ultimately chose statehood. What should happen if South Zanzes is unable to decide on its fate by that time differs between parties. Hajukugi is willing to allow one push-back of the referendum to either NC 4075 or NC 4080. Kulkanni, on the other hand, argues unless South Zanzes decides to fully become part of Nui-ta, that NC 4070 should be the year it becomes fully independent.
Both the Neo-Cons and Derch push for a return to close co-operation with Radiatia regarding international affairs, with Hajukugi even once attacking the NC 4060 order to close San Dhohra "a huge mistake". Rasim Kulkanni was one of the strongest opponents to the base's closure --- as the governor of the state of Yevzar at the time of the decision, he argued for the Monarchy to allow Radiatia's RFSOUTHCOMM to re-establish themselves at Yevzar's San Jarahi [Emperor Rowan di-Amori ultimately declined this proposal, on the basis that San Jarahi was also set to be shut down due to security concerns following the Karasian War and could therefore not accomodate forces from an allied country; San Jarahi closed the same year as San Dhohra, and was replaced soon after by San Daraa'ha as Yevzar's primary military headquarters].

Of course, beyond these basic agreements, it's still too early to speculate much on the near future's politics. As of the time of this writing, the Neo-Cons and Derch have only just announced their coalition. A formal victory speech will be put off until tomorrow morning, as will most concession speeches. As of this time, the only major party leader to have made a concession speech is the CRP's Elena Raashan.

The Changing Tide: Where Will We Go From Here?
By Kalina Zohran

A break-down of how each state's Parliamentary seats were distributed.

Never did I ever: think I'd see the day where Derch didn't dominate the state of Sangaur.

Election 140 has broken so many electoral trends that it's very likely to go down in history just for being such a weird moment in this nation's political history. All the classic rules were broken: Derch MPs in Sangaur and CRP MPs in Alinia faced competition unlike anything they ever expected. Central Party experienced the worst fall from grace that it has ever seen. Fringe parties like Leftist and Gold had poor showings, with Gold Party's entire future now being called into question.

This is the first election in which the Baby-Boom Generation --- my generation ---- dominated the polls, making up the majority of voters. Baby-Boomer's in Nui-ta have grown up in a drastically different Nui-ta than their elders: they don't remember the Partition (I was being born in the middle of it, in A.N 103), and most also can't remember the era of Nui-tan isolationism (I was four when Nui-ta entered the Nui-Ra alliance). They are old enough to remember Nui-ta's rise from the third world to the first world, but young enough to have come of age in an era of privilege in Nui-ta never before seen by their ancestors.

We were the generation born after the apartheid question had already been answered, and after ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic barriers in the nation had started dwindling away from their pre-war state. Our elders in the Soft-Apartheid generation were the ones who fought for our rights, yes, but we were the ones who really embraced their vision and made it our way of life.

We have never questioned whether it was okay for a nobleman from Sangaur to marry a commoner from Yevzar. We have never questioned the ability of our Alinian, Kavian, or Tuvian counterparts to claim the same rights as us, provided they met the same responsibilities dictated by citizenship. We embraced a globalized identity in Nui-ta, heading to temple in the mornings in Aazeronian-made cars, shopping at the mall for Poldanian-made computers and household appliances, picking up Detectatian DVD's and fashion on the way out, snacking on our own domestic foods the whole time (or some Radiatian knock-off), and paying for it all via funds held in a bank which, more than likely, is Radiatian-based.

Our forefathers wondered about the decisions they made, and how it would change our nation forever --- but we were the ones who grew up under the new-world order and spurred those changes forward. We have watched our nation change in ways that no one before us ever thought possible, and all the while, we never even batted an eyelash.

Nowhere is that change more apparent than this election: the more the Baby-Boomers come into holding the power of the ballot, the more the political climate in Nui-ta changes.

The biggest casualty was Gold Party. The party managed less than 250,000 votes nationwide, in a nation that now boasts a population of over 33,000,000. Even worse for them: it wasn't enough for even one seat. Nearly all of those votes were from the most change-phobic elements of the Hard Apartheid Generation --- the Gold Party electorate is literally and figuratively dying off, day by day. Where they were too conservative for the newer electorate, they did not get votes, and where they were just conservative enough, less bigoted parties (like Derch, and now the Neo-Cons) did a better job.

It's not just that Baby-Boomers are drowning out the regressive policies of Gold Party, who, until A.N 136, wanted to re-institute restrictions on the political rights of certain populations in Nui-ta based on pre-Partition laws. It also has a lot to do with the fact that the very face of conservatism in Nui-ta is changing. Even when Gold Party cut most of the racism and xeno-phobia out of their platforms, it had become apparent that their biggest non-controversial argument had been disproven.

You can have a successful Nui-ta in this world, even as Nui-ta embraces a more globalized society and breaks some of its less logical traditions.

The non-nobility in Nui-ta held real, tangible political power for decades, and the nation didn't fall apart.

The rights of former colonists, who were once seen as "not Nui-tan enough" to fully join Nui-tan society, were expanded. The nation didn't fall apart.

Nui-tans spent a long period of time swinging left, politically, but society still remained "moral" as a whole. If anything, Nui-ta's position as one of the more socially conservative nations of Free Noctur has stayed perfectly intact.

The right-wing has survived this generational shift, and now we're even seeing a "new-right" (no pun intended) take concern with the values of the new electorate so that it can thrive.

Nowhere are these trends more visible than the states of Sangaur and Alinia, whose electoral patterns have radically changed to highlight this.

Starting with Sangaur, the third most-populous state of Nui-ta was usually considered a safe-state for Derch Party, and Derch Party still maintained a respectable showing with almost half of the state's 26 Parliamentary seats.

However, less than 50% is a huge drop for Derch in Sangaur, which usually polls closer to the 70th or 80th percentile there. Where did most of these other votes go? The Neo-Cons, who scored almost as many seats. Sangaur's Baby-Boomers are the most racially diverse from their parents, more often being descended from a union of Sangauranic and Zanzeanic Nui-tans; from higher-born blood as well as commoners. It's been established in previous elections that these Baby-Boomer Sangaurites are more liberal than their parents (but still pretty conservative compared to the rest of their generation).

The Neo-Cons had an amazing showing with these particular Baby-Boomers, who are quickly overtaking the state population to become the majority. It certainly helps that of the three most populous states in Nui-ta, Sangaur has the highest population growth rate (about 3%, compared to 2% for both Rahku State and Mercuria).

Of course, it isn't the fastest growing state in the nation: that title belongs to New Zanzes (with just over 8% growth).

But I'll address New Zanzes shortly. Let's talk about the second-fastest growing state in Nui-ta: Alinia.

Alinia is going through something of an internal boom right now, more so than other states in the nation. Once known for being a bombed-out, impoverished wreck after the Partition, Alinia has picked itself up from the ashes and focused on internal development. Under Medici's time in the state government, Alinia spent a good period of time revitalizing its population with many welfare programs and encouraging them to stay in Alinia rather than leave for sunnier pastures.

As people stayed, they focused on developing. Before long, this development saw jobs and industry flood the state, and this in turn saw an economic boom. The standard of living in Alinia today is among the highest in the nation, and this has in turn seen an increase in the birth-rate and immigration rate.

Of course, there's also the fact that Alinia has always been culturally Hadinian, more than Nui-tan, through its history. Until the Partition's end, Alinia was actually a Hadinian territory: the Edict of Partition re-drew the borders of mainland Nui-ta and then-colonial Hadin to make Alinia fall in line with Nui-ta.

What are Hadinians more than Nui-tans if not socially conservative? Alinia's always been a black sheep within any place in Noctur with Hadinian roots, admittedly. Today, it's the only historically Hadinian place in Noctur to be first-world, via being a Nui-tan state first and a Hadinian cultural bastion second. However, it's more important to note that when the HLF rose to power in Hadin and the Hadinian War began, Alinia was the only Hadinian land who rejected the fascist movement outright and supported Nui-ta and Radiatia. Oddly enough, this has resulted in them being one of the more "pro-Radiatia" states in today's Nui-ta (only Yevzar boasts higher approval ratings for Radiatia, and inter-marriage rates between Alinians and Radiatians are the highest in the nation [Radiatia's Vice-President elect was recently widowed: his late wife was born and raised in Alinia]).

Despite this social conservatism, Alinia was something of a safe-state for the CRP until this year. Unlike other western and southern states, Alinia wasn't quite as solidily purple as the states of Ocini or Kavia: but it was safe enough. The CRP's grassroots movement gained fuel at left-wing rallies in that particular state, and the most successful CRP politician, Prime Minister Medici, has been described by many as "a walking Alinian stereotype". The current leader of the CRP, Elena Raashan, is also from Alinia.

Yet this year, of 21 Parliamentary seats, only 8 went to the CRP, with 7 going to the Neo-Cons and a more predictable 2 votes for Central and 4 for Derch. More than any of the other lower-end states (and former colonies) from the pre-Partition era, Alinia has become a full part of Nui-ta. Even its enlistment rates show how much Alinians have embraced the change, with Alinia now having almost as many career soldiers, proportionate to population, as the long-running "military state" of Sangaur. With all of these trends having been established, a new brand of conservatism can gain plenty of ground there without the stigma that the old-right feared there.

And then there's yet another state that we should speak of: one in which the old-right never existed at all. Yes, it's that time: New Zanzes also needs to be addressed.

Alinia may have a higher birth-rate, but New Zanzes's total growth has eclipsed it. In NC 4050, New Zanzes had only just achieved statehood, alongside Kavia and Tuvia. Each state held a mere 5 Parliamentary seats. Today, New Zanzes holds more Parliamentary seats than both Kavia and Tuvia combined, and its population growth shows no signs of stopping.

As the long-term fate of the protectorate of South Zanzes hangs up in the air, many South Zanze have already decided that they'd prefer to remain subjects of the Nui-tan Monarchy. Depending on whose polls you check, the percentage of the population of South Zanzes who would vote for full integration with the Nui-tan Monarchy today sits somewhere between 48% and 70%. These numbers would be enough to call for a more official operation if the number of Nui-tans supporting the same initiative wasn't significantly lower (between 27% and 54%, again depending on whose polls you read).

Under this new administration, it's likely we'll be seeing talks about putting an official referendum on the table. However, on the off-chance that South Zanzes winds up leaving the Monarchy altogether, many Zanze have begun immigrating to Nui-ta. The easiest place to immigrate to? The state of New Zanzes.

Alinia is undergoing a similar issue, to a lesser degree, as ex-pats from mainland Hadin find it easier to assimilate to life in Alinia than any other state of the country.

While we talk about immigration, we should also mention emigration, both of the literal kind and the figurative kind.

Rahku State's days as Nui-ta's political powerhouse might be coming to a close. Every state of Nui-ta, including Rahku, has reported population growth. This is understandable, considering that the total population of the country is showing signs of preparing for another drastic increase. Nui-ta now has over 33 million people living within its 10 states, and this number will likely continue to rise.

Despite this, Rahku State's population growth was far less than other states, at just shy of 2%. The state isn't getting as many immigrants as the rest of the country, and many Nui-tans moving to other states are Rahkuites moving to greener pastures. There's signs that Rahku is becoming a bit over-saturated as the rest of the nation begins boasting more opportunities. For Election 144, Rahku State might actually have less MP's than it does now, as the population begins to drop.

All states might see a drop in the number of MP's they get, however. The Judiciary and Nui-tan Electoral Commission are heavily considering increasing the population requirement for an MP from 150,000 heads per electorate to 200,000, or even 250,000 persons.

What would that look like? Would it cut representation to all states, altogether, or would it largely serve to par down some of the more bloated states like Rahku and Mercuria? And at what point would it negatively impact smaller states like Kavia and Tuvia, who have less than 10 MP's a piece on the current system? A spokesman for the NEC's statement on the matter was that "it largely depends on how much the ratios were tweaked by".

"We've been considering a broad range of ratio-tweaks to ensure that the larger or smaller states of the nation don't get too much political dominion over one another. The current ratio worked well over the past 20 years, but population growth has now shifted to the point where this ratio is no longer an option, and we're seeing the smaller states drowned out. At the same time, we also don't want to make it so that we're effectively punishing larger states for being too huge. The whole idea is to keep a system that is as fair for all Nui-tans as possible".

"It's also for this reason that proposals for a staggered ratio system, not unlike what they have in Radiatia, were rejected. Having some states submit themselves to higher caps than others undermines that fairness that we're going for".

The math as to how Election 140 would have looked under different ratios confirms the problem the NEC is currently facing: too much or too little of a shift in one direction or another results in some states being seriously undermined. For example, if Election 140 had run with a ratio of 400,000 to 1, this would have seen Rahku State cut to just 16 MP's: which is fine until you notice that Kavia and Tuvia now only have 2 each. That's not much better than our current system, where Kavia has far more votes, but Rahku State still sits on 5 times as much.

A table of how the MP seats would have fallen under different ratios.

It's difficult to say how the votes themselves would have fallen, and whether or not this would have benefitted (or undercut) some parties more than others. One might attempt to do the math by a process as simple as carrying over the proportions of MP seats distributed against the total seats of a state, but when the ratios shrink too much, it's difficult to account for the 1 or 2 seats that still went to smaller parties like Leftist, or to parties that are dominant in some states, but only have a small pull in others (the Yevzar branch of the CRP, for example).

And of course, these ratio changes don't really matter for Election 140, which has already ended. Where they will matter is for Election 144 and beyond, at which time a map of Nui-ta's population might look drastically different. Slower growing states like Rahku State and Mercuria might begin to see their population taper, or even decline --- and we have yet to be able to accurately predict what that growth ratio (or drop) will look like. This year's counts were some of the most accurate we've had in our nation's history, because the national census was also just re-tabulated.

All of our election data is as accurate as possible considering that local precincts report births, deaths, voter registrations, and immigration records to the Ministry of Internal Works (and obviously, the NEC) on a far more regular basis, but the next major census won't be on the books until A.N 150 (NC 4074), and this means that there won't be another set of census data to back up the usual books by the MIW or NEC. Of course, the NEC isn't hurting for other places to pull their data from: the Ministry of Defense has a lot of valuable population data through meticulous records kept for conscription. The Ministry of Economics also possesses valuable data for projections of population turns, based on annual tax forms.

But the coming years for Nui-ta will be unpredictable. There is, after all, the looming possibility that we may be sitting on more than 10 states at some point between now and the next three major elections. South Zanzes boasts less accurate population data than Nui-ta, given that the nation is far behind Nui-ta and the rest of the world as far as modernization.

However, estimates by Nui-tan authorities range from 9 to 12 million, with the wide margin of error attributable to factors ranging from the isolation of many of the more rural communities in South Zanzes, to misreported numbers by the South Zanze, to poor record keeping. One good piece of news is that, perhaps anticipating a major change in the looming future, the Emperor's office issued an edict at the start of the year mandating South Zanzes to submit an accurate census report (with the assistance of the Nui-tan Census Bureau).

That census is close to being ready to submit, according to the NCB, and will assuredly meet its deadline (which is coming up next month).

Until future developments come to pass, there isn't any more room for speculation and analysis. Tonight's election has pushed forward a new act for Nui-ta. We will have to see where we go from here in person before anything more can be said.

For better or for worse, here's to the next four years, Nui-ta.

In Other News

Hurricane Patrick's Aftermath in Nui-ta and Hadin
Another One May Be Imminent: 90% Chance Of Hurricane Quastor Making Direct Hit With Karasian Islands
What You Need To Know About Radiatia's President McCarthy
What Does Gold Party's Dismal Political Performance Say About Today's Nui-ta?
Hadin and Arthuria: An Interesting International Friendship

by **Radiatia** » Sun Sep 30, 2018 10:40 am

SPECIAL EDITION!

50 YEARS OF FREEDOM:
MILLIONS OF RADIATIANS CELEBRATE HALF A CENTURY SINCE THE FALL OF COMMUNISM

October 1st 4064 NC Last updated 16:18 Exegrad Standard Time

Food, fireworks and flags of black and gold are to be found today in every town, village and major city in the Radiatian Federation today as millions mark half a century since the nation became a democracy.

Not normally ones for taking time off work or celebrating, Radiatians in every state, town and hamlet seemed in a celebratory mood as they marked 50 years of freedom with festivals and parades, beer and burgers, songs and street parties, while gold coloured fireworks light up the night sky from coast to coast.

In Musk, Vatfer - with Vatfer of course being the home state of the legendary Traiyan Silviu - President Steven McCarthy began the day by celebrating with members of the armed forces on board the aircraft carrier RFS Traiyan Silviu, as various naval vessels performed a 45-gun salute (one for each state of the Radiatian Federation), before being whisked away to official celebrations in Xerconia.

On the other side of the country in Das Engel, thousands camped out for the premiere of Silviu, a biopic of Radiatia's greatest hero released in time for the 50th anniversary of the collapse of communism.

But of course the biggest and loudest celebrations occurred in Exegrad, the city where the pro-democracy revolution began.

Not usually a city known for its friendliness toward strangers, today Exegraders took the streets often with a drink in hand, and embraced strangers, shared stories, songs and liquor while parades stretched over every major street in the city.

While the Exegrad Metropolitan Police boosted its presence on this day, and with the entire nation's defences focused on anti-terrorism, police commissioner Hudson Lockwood said that the day had gone ahead "efficiently and without a single incident - even the drunks were well behaved today".

_{Millions turned out to celebrate on the streets of Exegrad today}

In the capital, there was a special gathering of every former living President as well as visiting world leaders from Radiatia's friends abroad, with a special banquet held in Xerconia Castle before President Steven McCarthy delivered a special address to the nation in Federation Square, standing on the exact spot which 50 years ago today had been where Traiyan Silviu famously declared that the Radiatian People's Socialist Union had ceased to exist.

President McCarthy, in a very brief speech, said that today marks "A time to reflect on just how far we have come as a nation.

"Half a century ago we were subjugated and starving, and we must reflect on the monumental price that was paid in human lives for us to enjoy the freedoms we take for granted today. And today we are by far the richest and most powerful nation in Noctur.

"The wealth we have today is more than could ever have been conceived of 50 years ago. But we cannot rest on our laurels.

"We are a free people and what we do with our future is up to us. But we have a responsibility to those who fought for us to make choices that honour them, and their sacrifice, and which will secure an even better Radiatia for those who come after us in the next 50 years."

Meanwhile, the tomb of Traiyan Silviu in Federation Square found itself covered in a mountain of flowers and letters, many of which simply read "thank you" as Xerconians spontaneously decided to pay tribute to the man who brought freedom to Radiatia.

_{A young girl adds to the mountain of flowers on the tomb of Traiyan Silviu in Federation Square, Xerconia}

Hundreds of messages of celebration were found all over social media sites such as CONFERO, using the hashtag #50YearsofFreedom.

Debbie Atterberry, a Radiatian living in Aazeronia, wrote on Confero that "The fall of communism didn't just make Radiatia a better place - it made the world a better place. #50YearsofFreedom"

15 year old Carina Schultheiss of Rivabat, Radia wrote that she was "Only starting to understand the full impact of what the fall of communism meant for Radiatia now that I'm studying history in school. Can't believe my grandparents lived through that. #50YearsofFreedom"

In fact RPNN World was inundated with hundreds of emails and letters from Radiatians wishing to share their thoughts and stories of what #50YearsofFreedom meant to them exactly.

One of the more interesting points of view came from 83 year old Burt Hovachek of Kyunuu, Saskenya.

"One of my big fears with these celebrations is the fact that we have whitewashed history somewhat to create narrative, and to deify Traiyan Silviu.

"I was 33 when communism fell, and I remember communism well. It wasn't as bad as everyone said. In some ways it was better - we had free healthcare, education, housing, guaranteed jobs. It was more secure.

"There's no denying the regime were brutal to dissenters, but for ordinary people it was great and in many ways things haven't changed in terms of how much freedom we have. We've gone from being ruled by the communist party to now being ruled by a group of megacorporations - and I dare you to criticise whatever corporation you work for and see if you get away with it.

"Things aren't all that different."

Hovachek's view was certainly not one shared by the majority of people writing in, with many sharing horror stories of life under communism.

"I remember when I was a child there was a supply shortage and we literally found ourselves eating dirt," Said Gracelyn Dunbar, 56, of Xarenia, Garotch. "I was very young, but I remember that far from getting three meals a day under communism, sometimes it was three meals a week. And then when communism fell suddenly we had access to anything, we could buy foreign food for unbelievably cheap prices, soon there was Greasy Joe's and Kerpruss Fried Yak, and Nui-tan food...

"People complain today but I don't think people understand what poverty and famine really means. The post-communist generation don't understand that even the worse day under capitalism is better than the best days under communism."

And then of course, there were New Radiatians, whose lives were not shaped by communism but instead by their decision to emigrate to the Great Northern Land.

22 year old Omondi Afolayan, an Exegrad resident and naturalised Radiatian citizen whose family arrived from Rango Mango 19 years ago, had a far more simplistic take on the events of the day:

"I am celebrating because Radiatia is the greatest country in the world. There is nowhere like it!"

- RPNN

In Other News:

Centrist Binyamin Hajukugi defeats Talia Deranged to become Nui-ta's new Prime Minister, despite being falsely referred to as "far right"
11 dead in car pile-up in southern Chongluntz
Greasy Joe's Corporation planning to diversify into financial sector

Posts · by **Yohannes** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 7:13 am

World Assembly: RRA to meet rail infrastructure target come FY 2023-24

Claudia A — Opinion Piece Author: ...... The report reiterated the Economic Palace’s forecast that RRA’s growth will continue to rise faster than the economy... with our ongoing capital partnership with the Bank of Yohannes, we are focused on meeting the needs of the rate and taxpayers..........

Royal Alexandria, 1 October 2018 — In 2017, the Realm Railroad Administration (RRA) commissioned the Energy and Environmental Research Centre (EERC) to review the potential long-term baseline environmental and financial liabilities in relation to the provision of passenger ground service in roading and railway networks. The study was undertaken between January and June 2017 across the continent of Yohannes, using public transportation information for the fiscal year starting July 2016 and ending June 2017. The agency is planning to use this information to assess future schemes with the goal of increasing land transportation system performance.

The RRA believed that the report was sorely needed. For instance, at the time the report was compiled, up to a quarter of the Nineteen Countries’ non-Realm Motorway road network — especially those located within the jurisdiction of rural regional authorities — had an unsealed finish. The resulting high maintenance of uncompleted chipsealing could potentially result in more than three times higher greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to sealed paved surfaces over the 20-year period ending 2037. This rate would increase even higher with additional things included, such as emissions produced by vehicles using the paved areas.

In terms of public transportation by rail — taking into account rail infrastructure, their vehicles and related fuel consumption — fuel and electricity consumption for operation is the most important cause of higher energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, with rail infrastructure taking second place and railway vehicle maintenance and production taking last place. For railway freight (i.e. commodities and merchandise goods and cargo) transport, rail infrastructure is the most important cause of higher energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Traditional steel rails for the construction of new networks have been responsible for more than one-third of the Nineteen Countries’ long-term greenhouse gas emissions and higher energy consumption in rail infrastructure since the turn of the century. The report found that the sourcing of new materials from better best practice factories in large heavy industrial nations such as Greater Nifon would only moderately reduce long-term emissions and energy consumption for rail tracks. For that reason, if the Executive Council wants to meet stricter World Assembly requirements, new, non-traditional alternative sources of steel rails must be found.

Strategic investments in infrastructure use up a large amount of resources. The report believed that to more effectively reap the benefits from these investment projects, the Executive Council must ensure infrastructure and networks are maintained and revitalised to combat normal wear and aging damage — that is, maintenance and revitalisations will affect the efficiency and performance of the infrastructure (i.e. reducing delay costs). For a given level of network usage, public infrastructure managers must try to prevent unnecessary whole life maintenance and revitalisation costs. To meet the life cycle asset management requirements set by relevant local authorities, public infrastructure managers must also judge relevant intertemporal decision-making and to treat infrastructure management as input substitutes — that is, the decision to set aside current consumption in order to consume in future in maintaining and revitalising existing infrastructure.

Figure 1: Railway network expansion and improvement vis-à-vis patronage.^{[Full resolution]}

The report further added that any new cost minimising plan by local and regional governments must take into account account maintenance costs for existing assets that would increase over time; that is, the importance of revitalising the assets before maintenance cost levels increase because of lacking regular maintenance and revitalisation (e.g. lack of coverage, service delay). With current appropriation level as set by parliament, ideally periodical revitalisation should be started with high maintenance revitalisations succeeded by low maintenance revitalisations. Revitalisation spending should take at least one third of the total infrastructure maintenance spending by the Executive Council towards local and regional levels.

Despite being limited by the need to curtail spending in the face of lower growth forecasts, so far the Executive Council has tried to follow at least one of the report’s recommendations — almost 29,000 new long-distance high-speed trains are to enter service over the five-year period ending FY 2023-4. This is equal to more than half of the Nineteen Countries’ high-speed electric multiple-unit vehicle fleet in 2016. This long-term rolling stock procurement can only be realised because of external factors such as more access to finance and suppliers since 2017 (e.g. Arthropol, Greater Nifon), lower energy and manufacturing costs (e.g. Khataiy), better return rate and franchise standards (e.g. Nusalia), and newer train technologies resulting in better operation efficiency (e.g. cost-effectiveness, output to input ratio) in comparison to older legacy systems.

RRA Chief Executive Mr Matthäus Hegewald briefly touched on the issue of project costs in his interview for The Realm News’ current affairs programme The Nations. He noted that the agency’s recent deal with Yohannesian Railways Joint Stock Company was one example of the public sector’s increasing focus on working closer with the citizen sector to prevent immaturely planned projects. “This would hopefully prevent cost overrun. Working closely together with reputable multinational companies such as the Tairinese rolling stock manufacturer Linimo Railworks, RRA is planning to expand [our] existing rail network connecting major conurbations in the heartland region — the first time that a foreign infrastructure company would be involved in the Kingdom of Burmecia’s rail service.”

Extending from central Burmecia to the borders of Dali, the 1,000-kilometre Südostburmecien railway network is projected to service up to 4.7 million passengers every month. “This is part of the RRA’s commitment to meet the Executive Council’s long-term infrastructure of nation state significance programme.” According to the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade, RRA partner operators from the citizen sector will invest 470 billion NationStates Dollars over the next 15 years to gradually replace rolling stock and offer wireless local area networking and other services for current and future patrons. The funding will also be directed for miscellaneous projects set to benefit taxpayers and increase patronage — for instance, expanding parking spaces for cars and bicycles for busy stations and creating new ones for growing stations.

“As recorded by our September board meetings and minutes, ideally we want to deliver and put into service railway vehicle designs with long-term horizon that approach or extend the limit of what we can deliver as an Executive Council agency for the conveyance of passengers and goods by railways. Additionally, whenever Possible, we will to try to meet the Executive Council’s high-level and wider, long-term strategic objectives of reducing infrastructure costs and carbon emissions slowly over the years whilst maintaining capacity and customer satisfaction. We have to be realistic — there will be some failures along the way, but we are confident that we can meet some of these targets.”

“The report reiterated the Economic Palace’s forecast that RRA’s growth will continue to rise faster than the economy,” Hegewald concluded. “With our ongoing capital partnership with the Bank of Yohannes, we are focused on meeting the needs of the rate and taxpayers. The Yohannesian economy may not be growing as fast as was originally predicted by the Economic Palace’s 2017 quarterly forecasts, but we still believe in the overall stability of the Nineteen Countries economy come FY 2019-20.”

Today’s exchange rate: According to the International Securities and Exchange Commission, 1 NationStates Dollar or 1 Universal Standard Dollar (NSD/USD) (World Assembly and International Standard) is enough to buy 113.84 Quertz russling (Yohannesian); that is, a Yohannesian needs to spend at least §113.84 to be able to afford $1 NS.

Published by The Royal Alexandria Times

Author: Claudia A
claudia.a@tratimes.co.yo
@claudiaa

Claudia A is one of the underpaid interns at The Royal Alexandria Times. She is a Macroeconomics postgraduate student and professional procrastinator in between lectures by day. She has previously attempted green policy analysis and social justice reviews, but was suck at both. These days you can find her in her natural habitat — writing for the Parliamentary Analysis Archive and The Royal Alexandria Times in her leisure time. She can sometimes be found tweeting together with her friends Baxter W, Erica B, Yohannes D & co. at the Maxtopian social networking website NationStates.

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108 Comments

Consumets and Taxpaters

Paying taxes? All gud. Part of life. What I dislike is the goods and services value added tax stacked on well......... everything these days. Fuel train ticket fruit you name it they have it. Surely this double dipping is illegal? They even have GSVAT for capital gains can you believe that? They tax you...... after theyve taxed you.

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ShadesOfGreyDarker

Yup someone didnt read the article. Fuel? Very little to do with the exec. council and way more to do with international prices, greedy companies and high Maxtopian NationStates greenback

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Yohannes First

The nations need less Asian and Muslim immigrants and Israeil bankers were getting overcrowded its not even funny

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iPost

Want better service? Play by the rules. Pay up or shut up.

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Mrs Browns Boy

The Christian Democratic led confidence and supply executive council has no idea they govern for multibillion corporations not the people. The Quertz russling continues to fall. Reaching 114 now was 101 last month, purchasing power decrease minimum wage stays the same and now infrastructure expansion funded by....... more goods and services value added tax.......

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News from Radiatia — 50 years of freedom: millions of Radiatians celebrate half a century since the fall of communism
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by **Nui-ta** » Tue Oct 09, 2018 11:38 pm

NNN - Nui-tan News Network

ROYALS IN RADIATIA

The Emperor's Office Confirmed That The Emperor And His Family Will Make A State Visit For Radiatia's 50th Anniversary

Kaurizil, Sangaur --- 14:13 NST (September 27th, A.N 140) / 13:13 NZT
NC 4064

His Royal Highness Rowan di-Amori is set to make a state visit to Radiatia on October 1st, NC 4064, alongside Empress Sharina di-Amori and Crown Princess Eza di-Amori. Their visit will mark the 50th anniversary of the overthrowing of the Radiatian People's Socialist Union, and the founding of the Radiatian Federation as it stands today. This will be the Emperor's third state visit to the Radiatian Federation: but the first in which the ruling family will follow.

The Emperor welcomed now-former President Jaagen Autenberg on a state visit by the Radiatian President to Nui-ta two years prior. This visit is credited with informally restoring the Nui-Ra alliance to its former glory, following a dwindling in the same relationship during the Dehran administration.

A formal statement from the Emperor's office read:

"Sharina and I are thrilled to be welcomed to the Radiatian Federation to celebrate their fiftieth anniversary since their founding".

"Despite all its ups and downs, the Radiatian Federation and the Nui-tan Monarchy have enjoyed one of the most successful international relationships in modern Nocturian history. It is sustained through international co-operation on economic, military, and cultural matters, even as the two countries maintain their own distinct identities and ways of life. Nui-Ra is proof that we can get along despite our differences, and even help to allow each other to thrive. As we wish Radiatia 50 more successful years, we look forward to our visit".

This will be the Heir Apparent's first "political" public appearance on official business of the Monarchy, and spectators have already theorized what this could mean.

Dr. Jalal Bangasi noted that "the Crown Princess is still a bit young, but familiarizing a future Empress with her future job of being Nui-ta's Head of State is undoubtedly more effective when started early. Slow and steady wins the race, and no one knows that more than the current Emperor considering the circumstances behind his own rise to power and the rough adjustment period that marked the start of his reign".

"Having the Princess come along on a state visit to Radiatia --- undoubtedly one of Nui-ta's most important allies --- also shows just how close the two countries have been. This relationship, and the pomp and circumstance behind this particular visit, aren't done enough justice even with the current Head of State: Radiatia gets to meet the next one as well. There's no sign that the Emperor will be leaving his office anytime soon, but when the day comes that he does vacate, the Princess will be the one taking over. When that happens, the more she's established, the better".

The Emperor's office has confirmed that the Emperor's visit is scheduled to be from October 1st through October 6th, although there are some concerns that the Emperor's return may be delayed if Hurricane Quastor, which is set to make a direct impact with Hadin within 48 hours and may curve to hit Nui-ta as well around the time of the Emperor's scheduled return.

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by **Radiatia** » Wed Oct 10, 2018 2:38 am

NOCTUR'S LONGEST TRAIN TUNNEL OPENS IN ALAYENIA

October 10th 4064 NC Last updated 22:01 Exegrad Standard Time

YISSEL, ALAYENIA
Noctur's longest and deepest rail tunnel was officially opened by the President today in Alayenia, following over a decade of construction.

_{The Yissel Tunnel is the key component of the Exe-Rad High Speed Rail line, due to open in 4065.}

The Yissel Tunnel, which is just over 57km in length, runs underneath the Yissel Mountains in central Alayenia and is set to become a 'vital' piece of infrastructure linking northern and southern Alayenia and more importantly linking the cities of Radii and Exegrad.

President Steven McCarthy, in one of his first acts as President since his inauguration, was present to cut the ribbon and was aboard the first train to travel through the tunnel.

President McCarthy's campaign plan included a promise to commit federal funding to the proposed "Exe-Rad" High Speed Rail line between Exegrad and Radii and he reiterated this in his remarks at the opening ceremony. The Yissel Tunnel marks the most important and expensive component of the proposed railway line, which is due to finish construction next year.

"This tunnel is a monumental achievement and something that future generations of Radiatians will undoubtedly look back on with awe, wonder and pride," Said the President. "It is a fine example that, yes, Radiatia does boast some of the finest engineers in the world, and to construct such a monumental thing in the space of a decade is a shining example of Radiatian efficiency and our nation's strong work ethic.

"This tunnel is of national, federal importance - not only does it connect the northern and southern parts of our nation's largest state but it means that more freight can be transported more efficiently, people more cheaply, and it has a defence significant too in allowing faster troop mobilisation in the southern states if necessary.

"This is something for all Radiatians to be proud of. This is a revolution in transport efficiency."

The tunnel is expected to be used for freight transport, providing a valuable alternative route for those wishing to cross the Yissel Mountains. Currently travel is done either via road or via the Exer River, including over the dangerous Andal Pass.

One of the main arguments for the tunnel's construction was that freight transport over the mountains is often severely disrupted in winter, as icy conditions make crossing the mountain range or even using the Exer River, dangerous and impossible.

"We're very proud of what we have achieved," Said Oskar Walthier, CEO of transport giant Exegrad Selt - the company which is the majority shareholder in the Exe-Rad Project at the present time. "The economic benefits will be incredible, especially for towns along the line but really for the entire country.

"Despite the relatively short distance between Exegrad and Radii, it's actually easier to transport goods across the country to Chongluntz than it is to transport them between these two southern cities. The tunnel will change all of that."

Excluding the contributions of the federal government, Alayenia state government and Radia state government, the cost of the project has come primarily from private investment, who expect to gain a return by charging passengers and freight companies for the use of the tunnel.

29 workers were killed during the construction of the tunnel, which Mr. Walthier said was "A sign of improved safety in construction - we had budgeted for the loss of over 100 workers during the original planning, so to have so few casualties is a pleasant surprise even if it did come with the unwelcome side effect of increased wage costs. Oh er, I mean, how tragic, all human lives are valuable, yadda yadda."

The 29 workers killed during construction were of various nationalities - 17 were Radiatian, 5 from Nui-ta, 2 from Aazeronia, 3 from Higgins and Brown, 1 from Crata and 1 from Arthuria.

President McCarthy paid tribute to all of them, stating that "This tunnel will be their memorial, their sacrifice is not in vain."

At its deepest point, the tunnel lies 15km under the mountains and a journey through the tunnel takes approximately 20 minutes. It currently takes up to three hours to traverse the Yissel Mountains via Interstate 2, so the time saved for travellers is expected to be immense.

- RPNN

Contrau (Payip, Saskenya)
3 HOURS AGO
What a waste of money.

201 likes

Hifish (Exegrad, Alayenia)
2 HOURS AGO
As a former shareholder of Exegrad Selt, this disgusts me. No wonder share prices are dropping and the company is on the verge of bankruptcy.

401 likes

Gobsmuck (Etchod, Luntzbusch)
1 HOUR AGO
lol look at McCarthy trying to take credit for something that started during the Fyoderov Administration

690 likes

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Posts · by **Yohannes** » Thu Nov 15, 2018 6:39 am

World Assembly: New opening in Undarat and more closing in Yohannes

Claudia A — Opinion Piece Author: ...... According to Halsten University senior lecturer Dr Harvard Hergenröther, branch productivity benchmarking can be done in two different ways: by measuring the range of financial products and services available, and evaluating the provision of financial intermediation as well as the management of risk..........

Royal Alexandria, 3 October 2018 — Following a confirmation of approval by the Federal Government of the United States of Undarat this morning, the Bank of Yohannes has finally been given the green light to establish six fully operational branches in the United States of Undarat. Four will be located in Undarat City, one in San Mateo and another in Clinhurst, according to a report from the Embassy of the United States of Undarat — confirming old rumours inside the beltway last year that the Bank of Yohannes had been planning to establish its retail presence in Eastern Undarat since 2016.

The six locations will give the Nineteen Countries’ largest bank its first retail branches in Undarat. Already governing members of the bank have begun to draw up its business plan and concentrate on implementing its policy in Undarat, with 140 senior executives set to be flown into Undarat City to meet their Undaratian counterparts next week. They will start a general discussion in the field of commercial and investment banking as well as asset management in relation to the bank’s operation in Undarat’s major conurbations.

With permission from the Federal Government of Undarat, Sir Matthew Gilligan, Bank of Yohannes’ group chairman, has also confirmed before members of the senior press gallery this morning that the Bank of Yohannes is planning to eventually have 100 branches across the United States of Undarat by 2025, even as the bank continues to close down its branches in many rural regions across the Nineteen Countries. Sir Matthew did not mention the planned location of the new branches, although he did make a point by saying that the company will make its introduction into the lucrative United States market by first entering Undarat’s high density eastern conurbations, where most of the opportunities for foreign banks are.

The Bank of Yohannes’ retail operations in Undarat have been limited to only seven automated teller machines since 2015 — one in Undarat Capital Airport, two in Copper City, and four in Undarat City. “Over the next five years, we’re intending to build our community presence and revitalise the Bank of Yohannes brand in Undarat from the ground up”, Ms Tanja Hönigswald, designated president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Yohannes United States of Undarat General Partnership, said yesterday. She added that retail customers and commercial banking clients in Eastern Undarat will benefit from the presence of a new service provider.

The Ambassador of the Realm of Yohannes to the United States of Undarat will officiate the opening ceremony of all six branch locations, which are expected to open their doors to customers by March next year. The Bank of Yohannes’ website said that this reflects the company’s commitment to promote transnational finance growth and support community banking in retail for families. “We’re an international bank that strives to follow the rules of the world’s governing body — the World Assembly — by complying fully with passed WA resolutions.”

Figure 1: The decline of branch banking vis-à-vis mobile banking in Yohannes the continent.^{[Full resolution]}

The Bank of Yohannes’ latest announcement coincides well with the release of a report by the Nineteen Countries Bankers’ Association which analysed the performance of banking branch sales activities on the continent of Yohannes. Since the turn of the century, the ‘Big Five’ in Yohannesian banking — the Bank of Yohannes, Commerce Credit Institute Banking Group, Industrybank, Royal Bank of Alexandria, and the Yohannesian Postbank — have traditionally led the way in implementing new ways to improve operating efficiency. However, such a standardised system has yet to be devised to benchmark their branch and customer service points of contact operations.

“Faced with ever increasing competition and continuing decline in branch customer retention, we’ve decided to support the NCBA’s initiative to fund a working group comprising respected academic professionals and senior industry experts”, Dame Chloe McLachlan, Bank of Yohannes’ chairwoman of group sustainability committee, said in an interview. “The working group will study the performance of our branch sales activities in the Nineteen Countries”

Studies relating to the assessment of bank branch efficiency has thus far been done on an ad hoc basis. Dame Chloe believes that by extending the scope of the study and cooperating with the rest of the ‘Big Five’, the working group will be able to more effectively increase the accuracy of its findings, which will explore such topics as low branch performance and what are the ideal branch attributes in an innovative twenty-first century banking industry. To successfully bring about the research, senior management of the bank will also be carrying its own independent analysis report in close collaboration with researchers of the School of Economics and Finance at Halsten University.

According to Halsten University senior lecturer Dr Harvard Hergenröther, branch productivity benchmarking can be done in two different ways: by measuring the range of financial products and services available, and evaluating the provision of financial intermediation as well as the management of risk. “All across the Nineteen Countries, we can measure bank and branch performance and model bank branch profitability and effectiveness by using these data.”

At a parliamentary select committee hearing in April, the Bank of Yohannes research team believed that their most significant source of expenses is the operational inputs used to provide financial products and services. A publication by the Office of Economic Analysis and Forecast last month had seemed to support their statement: it found that these costs had ranged from 40 to 50 per cent of yearly total expenses in 2016 alone, involving mostly personnel, rent and supplies. The Bank of Yohannes has said nothing publicly about any studies pertaining to this topic, but The Royal Alexandria Times has learnt from an inside source that the NCBA study will explore possible ways to improve the bank’s branch performance — in the Nineteen Countries and outside the continent of Yohannes — by examining two types of efficiencies.

The first, profit efficiency, relates to financial intermediation and the identification, evaluation, and prioritisation of risks. It explores the availability of financial products and services and what steps can be taken to reduce operational inputs whilst increasing the number of products and services and their profitability for shareholders of the bank. In contrast, operational efficiency is important mainly for stakeholders of the bank — for instance, the assistant manager of a new branch in Undarat. In both areas of study, the working group will mainly focus on such variables as returns on investment and bank fees as well as interest costs and revenues.

Since the electoral victory of Marion Maréchal-Le Men, the GOP has politically committed itself to ensure “that such an interindustry working group will be created.” Meanwhile, still reeling from its electoral college presidential defeat at the hands of Marion Maréchal-Le Men’s GOP, the Christian Democratic Party is more than willing to support the industry, thus forming the political consensus required from both sides of the aisle to go ahead with the comprehensive committee report.

“We will endeavour to comply with the committee’s report by providing the information required for it to release its findings”, said three senior employees of the bank who attended the hearing. “They will include such things as intermediation growth in relation to credit lines and deposits as well as collection and lending margin efficiency.”

Despite its large scale growth outside the Nineteen Countries in 2018 — the highest seen since 2011 — the Bank of Yohannes has continued to shut down branches in rural areas across the Yohannesian continent. “The parliamentary select committee will touch on this issue next week”, The Honourable Saul Ryan, Speaker of the 115th Nineteen Countries Parliament, said in an The Realm News interview.

“People feeling better about our economy. Jobs are up and businesses are booming. Unemployment forecast has been good. But look, at the end of the day, even though we’ve got a very popular Yohannesian Emperor running the show, we’ve got to remember that business profit must go hand in hand with business obligation to support our community. And well, to be a wee bit honest with you, the banks have more or less abandoned heartland Yohannesians and the bible belt region.”

“The GOP — we will fight for that. We will fight for business profit to go hand in hand with their responsibility to support our rural communities.”

Today’s exchange rate: According to the International Securities and Exchange Commission, 1 NationStates Dollar or 1 Universal Standard Dollar (NSD/USD) (World Assembly and International Standard) is enough to buy 113.49 Quertz russling (Yohannesian); that is, a Yohannesian needs to spend at least §113.49 to be able to afford $1 NS.

Published by The Royal Alexandria Times

Author: Claudia A
claudia.a@tratimes.co.yo
@claudiaa

Claudia A is one of the underpaid interns at The Royal Alexandria Times. She is a Macroeconomics postgraduate student and professional procrastinator in between lectures by day. She has previously attempted green policy analysis and social justice reviews, but was suck at both. These days you can find her in her natural habitat — writing for the Parliamentary Analysis Archive and The Royal Alexandria Times in her leisure time. She can sometimes be found tweeting together with her friends Baxter W, Erica B, Yohannes D & co. at the Maxtopian social networking website NationStates.

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107 Comments

Yohannes First

“The GOP — we will fight for that. We will fight for business profit to go hand in hand with their responsibility to support our rural communities.” —Speaker Ryan. Good on them!

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ShadesOfGreyDarker

Not so good I’d say for Asian and Muslim migrants no? They are Yohannesians too why so ignorant of GOP’s dog-whistle politics?

Share ▲13 I ▼35

#metoo

I support the bill but not the hearings theyve been very biased. You can smell the GOPs intention all the way here. Whats that thats right more hand out for their bible belt and heartland supporters for votes. Bring on the 2018 parliamentary general election!

Share ▲40 I ▼29
Theysaidwhat

This will just be another tax on productive industry and businesses

Share ▲13 I ▼20

Feud For Thought

Under Marion as 18th Yohannesian Emperor and Annabelle as the lesbian Chancellor we have now seen the creation fo so many working groups suppose one more wouldn’t hurt. next workign group for secondary school netball competition....................

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News from Radiatia — Noctur’s longest train tunnel opens in Alayenia
News from Nui-ta — The Emperor’s Office confirmed that the Emperor and his family will make a state visit for Radiatia’s 50th Anniversary
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by **Hadin** » Thu Nov 29, 2018 12:06 am

OPINION: Hadinian Over-Acquiescence Costs Lives

Warning: The original political cartoon released alongside the article has been removed from un-restricted circulation per the Censorship Board (rationale: violent/politically sensitive content). In compliance with media-circulation and morality laws, this content has been removed from open circulation (CLASS A), but remains accessible to age-verified outlets as "mature, but otherwise compliant content" (CLASS B).

If you have an age-verified account with this media distributor, you may log in and view an un-restricted version of this article.

Otherwise, we apologize for any inconvenience. Have a blessed day.

Allowing Arthuria into Zanzes has now resulted in Hadinian casualties.

Every man in Hadin has been called to their compulsory service at some point in their life. Compulsory service is not unique to this nation, with even ideological antipodes to our state, such as Nui-ta, embracing the concept. We all know that there are several established benefits to this institution of our society. Our young men become capable adults, get an opportunity to develop skills and habits that can translate over to their careers, re-enter their civilian lives with an earned income from their time in the service --- and our society benefits as well, having as well-manned of a military to defend our nation as can be expected, and having a reduction in things like delinquency as our young men spend their energy doing something much better with their youthful years.

There are inconveniences as well, which are to be expected. The state has to fund a measure to actively enforce the draft, by both arresting the non-compliant and lawfully filtering out those with a genuine inability to answer the call to serve. Even the most compliant of young men don't usually like the prospect of five years of mandatory service (nearly always in the military). Even the most compliant of families don't receive the prospect any better: and I can't blame them. What mother honestly wants to see her child be drafted, even in peace-time?

Especially in peace-time, the draft is an understandable inconvenience that we all individually endure for our collective good. As evil as it can be, it is a necessary evil, and so all the sacrifices that make this measure possible are also necessary.

There does, however, come a time when sacrifices arise that were never necessary. The story of Private Runny Giancoli from Aelia is making headlines across Hadin just as the High-Envoy is returning from the Arthurian Federation after a state visit.

As has happened so many times in Hadin, Giancoli came of age and was called to the military for his national service. As has happened so many times during peace-time, he was told to consider himself lucky that we weren't currently at war. He was further told to consider himself lucky that reforms under our current national leadership have made it such so that new, young, fresh-faced recruits like himself were generally relegated to grunt-work, rather than combat.

Unfortunately for Giancoli, he was told this during a time where our military needs more men available than it has. With a necessary interest by the UNCA in safeguarding and shepherding North Zanzes on the path to civilization after a nasty Karasian War comes a priority measure to send soldiers to Zanzes. In the wake of this shortage, Giancoli was made to be a rare younger recruit pushed into the reconnaissance and border patrol efforts by our military along the border.

So far, everything that has been described is still "normal". Nothing is any different, no matter how unfortunate, than it would have been if it happened any other way.

Where Giancoli's tragedy unfolds begins with an unplanned encounter with Arthurian forces who were also patrolling the border. The usual patrol route by the Hadinian unit had been made impassable by a natural disaster. Attempts to communicate this to their command were foiled by bad weather and bad luck. Under strict orders to press forward and see their perimeter secured, Giancoli's squad pressed forward and unintentionally dipped into the patrol route of an Arthurian unit. This Arthurian unit then confronted the peaceful Hadinian unit in force, nearly resulting in conflict and perhaps even starting an armed conflict. The situation was, thankfully, defused due to the discretion of the Hadinian commanding officer. Unfortunately, the aftermath of the situation saw the youngest soldier, Giancoli, hospitalized.

That same soldier is now dead at only seventeen, through a series of events which all trace back to the mental instability caused by his presence during that confrontation. The very same Arthurians who were welcomed into the Buffer Zone under our (along with Nui-tan) acceptance of the Aesgard Accords, have now also had a hand in the first casualty. Worst of all, this could have all been prevented. How did Arthuria come to immediately assume they were under attack in such close proximity to both Hadinian and Nui-tan forces, both of whom also have vested interests and established presences on their respective sides of the border?

At best, the Giancoli Incident is a show as to why the Aesgard Accords may be a failure. Arthuria, who put forth the accords as a means to further facilitate a peace between Nui-ta and Hadin, may have now unintentionally jeopardized that peace. At worst, it is a sign that Hadin and the Nikastro High-Envoyship, however well-intentioned, have acquiesced to a foreign power with unsuspected sinister intentions here in Karas. The situation becomes ever more complex and difficult to evaluate, as the High Envoy's immediate state visit to Arthura (meant to address the debacle) has instead somehow resulted in a trade deal with Arthuria and no answer as to how situations like this will be resolved.

Will it take more Hadinian lives to find an answer?

The text bubble of the political cartoon, when translated into English, says: "Thanks for the help, friend. It wasn't possible without you".

by **Radiatia** » Thu Nov 29, 2018 3:06 am

~ Serving Southern Skorptsch Since 3985 NC! ~

MEGANORF WEATHER: Light snow, -2°C

BREAKING NEWS: TORNADO ALERT ISSUED FOR SOUTHERN SKORPTSCH AND NORTHERN DIIFGRAO. CLICK HERE FOR UPDATES.

A Burger Fit For a King!
Nui-tan Royal Family Visits Meganorf!

By Pieter Ubertak on October 3 4064

Citizens of Meganorf took to the streets in the hundreds to take a gander at a very special visitors, with none other than the King and Queen of Nui-ta (a foreign country), alongside President McCarthy, visiting the city as part of their tour of the Radiatian Federation.

Chefs at the original Greasy Joe's restaurant in Meganorf put the final touches on the royal burger

The family, who were touring Radiatia to mark the 50th anniversary of the fall of communism, decided to eschew the more popular tourist traps of Exegrad and Das Engel for some homegrown fun in the heartland - and the great state of Skorptsch was on their itinerary!

Local resident Duane Hopkins said he even got a wave from Rowan di-Amori as the royal motorcade rolled down Main Street.

"I done did him a wave with ma hand, an he done waved right back!" Said Mr. Hopkins. "Well I think so... he might o' just bin straightening his sleeve but I like to think he came by just to say hi to old Duane from Skorptsch, ayup!"

Of course it was no surprise what drew them to the state's largest city - the same thing that draws thousands of tourists a year: They wanted to visit the world's first Greasy Joe's restaurant!

The royal family took a brief tour of the mansion of the late Joseph "Greasy Joe" Bendicks - the city's most famous and beloved former son - before settling down to a specially prepared Greaseburger.

The burger was reportedly so large it took four cows to provide all the necessary beef, while the buns were baked by local artisan bakers and fine authentic Yakkum was used in the meal.

Despite the quality, the size of the burger was too much for the royals, who were not able to finish the entire thing.

It's expected that's what left of the royal burger will be sold, with profits going to the Joseph Bendicks Memorial Foundation to raise money for local children with heroin addictions.

Mayor Jimbob O'Toole welcomed the royal family and the President to the city in a formal ceremony, gifting him with a Skorptsch All-State Football Team jersey and a cowboy hat.

"It's a great diddly-dang honour to have y'all here in the great state of Skorptsch. We may not be all shiny like them big towns down south, but yer in real Radiatia and we all love you an' yer little foreign country for comin' here to celebrate our special day.

"Our great city is famous for three things - our football team, our glowin' green tap water and o' course, fer being the home of the late, great, Greasy Joe Bendicks.

"Y'all need anything, just holler!"

While the royal family spent most of the day in Meganorf, it's reported that they flew down to Exegrad for the night, as the local trailer park was deemed unsuitable accommodation for a foreign head of state.

OTHER LOCAL NEWS:

55 year old man arrested after posing as student at Meganorf East Primary School for six months. "We didn't notice, but it explains a lot" says school principal in statement.
Local girl selected for Radiatian national beach volleyball team
City council faces protests over that pothole on the corner of Main Street and Silviu Avenue

by **Radiatia** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 9:01 pm

Hot Topics: McCarthy prepares for State of the Federation | Greasy Joe's Corporation enters financial sector | Fears over Radiatia's credit rating

Investors panic amid "Market Correction", EXE plunges by 800 points
BS STAFF | Updated 9/12/64

EXEGRAD, ALAYENIA -- Investors are being urged not to panic after the EXE500 plunged by over 800 points this morning, following a raft of panic selling and a major drop in share prices.

Experts believe that today's drop in stock prices was reflective of an overvalued market undergoing a correction

The biggest drops came from the manufacturing sector, with Radiatian Motors, SKODY and Bluevaier all seeing large percentage drops in their stock prices, which they blamed primarily on foreign competition.

The financial sector have also had a mixed bag result, with EDEBC still struggling after being effectively bailed out by its Nui-tan subsidiary, while the Bank of Radiatia saw a sight drop in stock prices as the company braced for new domestic competition, follow the announcement that the Greasy Joe's Corporation intended to enter the banking sector, with the advent of "Greasy Joe's Extra Trustworthy Banking Corporation".

Indeed, the Greasy Joe's Corporation is now on track to become the country's largest corporation, with it being the strongest performer on the market following its expansion into the financial sector as well as plans to expand into arms manufacturing in the form of "Greasy Joe's Extra Deadly Armaments Manufacturing".

The energy sector also did well, with Radiatian Petroleum seeing an increase in stock prices after new figures showed that crude oil from Polaris has replaced manufacturing to become Radiatia's largest single export product. The company's retail division is also in the process of expanding worldwide.

"A lot of other countries are wasting money on green energy, and we think that's beneficial to us because it gives us an edge," Said RP spokesperson Mike Dietmar. "Green energy is expensive and unreliable. Sometimes the sun doesn't shine, sometimes the wind doesn't blow - but when you need to fill up your car, consumers know that fossil fuels have never let them down before!"

Seltstrum Mining held steady, as did Radiatian Airlines while other aircraft manufacturing companies such as Aleksandr, Nyabatroide Aerospace and Arsky all saw drops in stock prices with investors nervous over competition from Aazeronia.

Chongluntz based Fukyamama Industries was the only manufacturing company to see an increased stock price, with a free trade deal with Crata on the horizon looking likely to impact them positively.

Logistics firm Exegrad Selt also saw a major drop in stock prices due to concerns about the rise of competing Arthurian firm Søderberg Oceanic, while investors also expressed nervousness about the role the company is playing in the increasingly unpopular "Exe-Rad" high speed rail project.

The retail sector saw no major changes, though some retail companies have expressed concern over the declining value of the Tsenyen.

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Hideki Maynard, a market expert, said that there was "no cause for alarm" as stock markets across the Radiatian Federation including the EXE500, the Das Engel Composite and the Midgard SE100 all saw steep drops this morning.

"This isn't the beginning of a recession, and I don't think it's necessarily a bear market either," He said. "Basically it's like letting off steam. Things have been overvalued for too long, people have been over-optimistic in their projections and now reality is catching up.

"We've seen huge levels of economic growth since the recession of '61, and while consumer confidence is high we've actually not had the same levels of productivity. Not only that, Radiatian companies are facing a more competitive market abroad."

Maynard said that the market correction was also a reflection not so much of Radiatia's economic performance, but of the overall economic situation in Noctur, and that some companies had gained and others lost out from the international situation.

"The financial sector and the manufacturing sector - which to be fair are core components of our economy - have not been doing well," He said. "One of the biggest hurdles the Radiatian economy is facing is the rise of Yohannes and the fact that Yohannes is a competitor in every way but has some advantages that we don't have."

The incoming McCarthy Administration has been vocally critical of the government of Yohannes, for allowing the export of arms to regimes such as communist regimes and rogue states. Xerconia has also accused the Nineteen Countries of artificially devaluing the Quertz Russling in order to give its exporters an 'unfair' advantage in the international market.

"I don't know how they get away with having their currency valued so low compared to the NSD," Said incoming Federal Minister of Industry Leifur Belont in a recent press conference. "You have two products, same quality, same thing, one Radiatian, one Yohannesian - but you realise that one costs you Tsenyens, the most valuable currency in Noctur, and the other is in Quertz Russling which is worth less than a quarter of one Tsenyen.

"Obviously you're gonna go with the one that's cheaper on the currency markets."

The McCarthy Administration has also hinted that devaluing the Tsenyen could be on the cards, with the President himself stating as much following a dip in the value of the Tsenyen, which hit a recent low of being worth only NS$2.04.

"We're still, believe it or not, an exporting nation. I know we don't think we are, especially in the cities, but we are the manufacturing powerhouse of Noctur still. And having the Tsenyen worth, at one stage, 3 NS dollars just means our exports become too uncompetitive - it doesn't matter how efficient we are if foreigners can't afford to buy our currency let alone our products." The President said in an interview just prior to his inauguration.

Of course, any decision regarding the value of the Tsenyen - where the federal government is involved at all - must be made to reflect the interests of a wide variety of sectors. While it may be great the manufacturing sector, a low valued Tsenyen is not good for the financial sector or much of the retail sector.

"Radiatia still imports most of its food," Said Rachel Blackburn, a spokeswoman for Sally's Supermarkets (itself now a division of the Greasy Joe's Corporation). "A high valued Tsenyen means we can buy more produce on the international market, and sell it to consumers for less. It also helps our agricultural sector in the long run, because we are able to force international food prices up, and they're able to charge market prices for them.

"The more that a Tsenyen is worth in short, for most Radiatians, means the more food on the table."

While foreign competition has no doubt put pressure on the manufacturing industry, domestic competition has also made life difficult for some firms with the foreign markets actually becoming their saving grace.

The most notable example of this is the case of the Exegrad Das Engel Banking Corporation (EDEBC), Radiatia's fourth largest bank, who earlier this year teetered on the verge of bankruptcy until a large injection of capital from its subsidiary in Nui-ta saved it from going under.

"The global markets are a double edged sword - yes, we are seeing a lot of competition from Yohannes and actually even from Arthuria, with respect to things like the energy sector and the innovation sector, but we also are a very efficient country and we do have a huge global presence and this can be leveraged to our advantage." Said Maynard.

Some industry leaders, predictably, have also laid blame for the country's poor economic performance on the federal government.

"We used to have no problem competing with places like Yohannes before, particularly, the Pavlovic Administration introduced the federal minimum wage, which meant that wage costs went through the roof and we lost that competitive edge." Said Jack Starek of Radiatian Motors. "And it gets worse because we now have to pay National Insurance, thanks to Autenberg and I've heard McCarthy wants to raise taxes and give unions more power.

"All of these things, plus the strength of the Tsenyen, add up and mean we can't sell as cheaply anymore. We need the world to drive Radiatian cars, but all these costs mean that we have the raise prices, and if we're no longer the cheapest then people are going to buy shoddy third rate vehicles from other countries."

There has been some nervousness as well over the Radiatian Federal Reserve Banking Corporation's recent decision to raise interest rates, and what impact this might have on domestic consumption patterns.

But for the most part, analysts agree that the federal government has been very fair to business, even with the Social Democratic Union controlling both chambers of Parliament and the Presidency.

"Obviously we're all nervous that McCarthy wants to create a tax which is just for the rich, but all in all they've not been too bad - in fact the Autenberg Administration frankly saved our mining and oil sectors with some of his subsidies," Said Mike Dietmar of Radiatian Petroleum. "And there is an argument that could be made that, domestically at least, we have more disposable income than ever before, and this is great for business."

The other bit of good news for the economy is that the unemployment rate remains low, at below 4% and wage growth is high.

"People go on and on about how low the minimum wage is in Radiatia, but they forget that most wages here are at market rates... if employers don't pay you enough, then they can't hire anyone. The result is that most people earn a pretty decent living in Radiatia." Said Maynard.

"No one is denying that the Radiatian economy is slowing down, but we're still in a very robust position and there's more positive signs than negative ones right now."

- BS

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by **Segland** » Thu Dec 27, 2018 5:03 pm

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Chancellor Haussmann meets with Archbishop of Kanly in historic summit

RYUTSVAAG — Haussmann has today become the first sitting Seglandic chancellor since Nimitz to meet with a major religious official. In the dialogue between the respective heads of the Seglandic Republic and the Church of Segland¹, Chancellor Haussmann and Archbishop Heikki covered topics of mutual interest such as homosexuality and taxation of the Church.

The discussion took place at the Imperial Armoury in Old Ryutsvaag: now partially a museum, the Armoury has not performed its eponymous function since the start of the War² in 1911 necessitated the transfer of its contents elsewhere. The Imperial Armoury has served as a neutral meetinghouse on several occasions now since its decommissioning, including the signing of the 1993 disarmament agreement for Gays With Guns³.

The significance of the summit's location in Ryutsvaag cannot be overstated. No archbishop since Roald Naess in 1965 has visited the Seglandic capital. All have preferred instead to occupy the ancient holy city of Kanly in southwestern Segland, where the Church has traditionally been strongest, and which has been the seat of the Archbishop of Kanly -- the Church's main leader -- since 1016. But in a momentous change of attitude, the current Archbishop Halle Heikki agreed after preliminary negotiations in stonebuilt Kanly to meet with Chancellor Haussmann in the modern megalopolis of Ryutsvaag. In the words of a Church aide, the initial Demarchist envoys to Kanly cited a desire "to initiate dialogue between two destructively divorced aspects of Seglandic civilization."

At the Ryutsvaag summit, Tillo Urslerev, the Minister for Enlightenment; and Hans Danielsen, the Undersecretary for Religious and Civil Affairs, accompanied the chancellor, while Rami Welenstock, the Church Secretary of Public Affairs, accompanied the archbishop. Urslerev has been instrumental in seeding goodwill toward the Church of Segland in the past year and providing a foundation for formal dialogue; one of his most successful efforts was a month-long program on SegTV⁴ that chronicled the history of the Church since its conventional establishment date of April 28, 723. For his part, Welenstock was receptive to Urslerev's overtures of reconciliation and was one of the most ardent voices in persuading Archbishop Heikki to agree to the meeting.

One of the topics broached at the summit was in fact the earliest point of contention between the Church and the Demarchist Party, and it was for this reason that Roald Naess in the 60s set the precedent of archbishops avoiding Ryutsvaag: state taxation of the Church. Taxation and religion have an intimate history in Segland dating back centuries. Until disestablishment in 1949 with the secularist, postwar Feltsgad Constitution, the Church of Segland was the nation's state religion. It was thus entitled to a host of privileges, tax breaks and regular gifts straight from the Imperial Treasury being the greatest financial boons. All that changed in 1949, when the tax exemptions for all religious organizations ended, and the new Feltsgad government levied a special tax on the Church of Segland. There was discussion of revoking the tax in 1964 when the Demarchist Party was elected to power, but talks between Chancellor Hugo Nimitz and Archbishop Roald Naess soured and produced none of the hoped-for changes. Nor has the latest discussion between Haussmann and Heikki produced any changes in the tax code, but Haussmann expressed interest in revisiting the 1949 tax.

Another subject discussed was the legal status of homosexual couples. Since the HOME Act, homosexual couples have been allowed the title and privileges of civil union with the stipulation that at least one partner fulfill a four-year active duty requirement in one of the branches of the armed forces. (Lesbians are also included but, like all Seglandic women, can only serve in non-combat positions.) As a result, while only 2.1% of Seglanders identified as homosexual in a 2015 telephone survey, military records indicate that 9.5% of armed forces members are homosexual. Demarchist theory has no official standing on homosexuality, but the Catechism of the Church of Segland states that it is a sin and that marriage can only exist between one man and one woman. The Demarchist Party's conditional endorsement of homosexuality has, therefore, been an additional source of tension between Church and Party in the years since the 1993 HOME Act. Archbishop Heikki roundly criticized the HOME Act during his meeting with Chancellor Haussmann. Even so, the archbishop acknowledged that actual marriages in Segland still adhere to the Church of Segland's definition of marriage, and there he found common ground with Haussmann.

Conspicuously absent from the talks today was any significant mention of the Anatheon⁵. Both parties commented briefly on the "tragedies of 1967" and then moved on to other topics. The lack of any clashes over the events is perhaps the strongest indicator that reconciliation between the Party and the Church is achievable in the near future.

In Other News:
Arthurian soldiers slay Hadinian in Zanzes Buffer Zone
SPECIAL: The demographic flowering of the Church of Segland
Two billion mark infrastructure project approved for Der Arkangel

¹ Largest religious denomination in Segland. National branch of Christianity. Membership is 43 million in Segland (approx. 28% of total population).
² The Seglandic Civil War. A traumatic national experience lasting from the country's fragmentation in 1911 to the signing of the Feltsgad Treaty in 1949. Often referred to by Seglanders simply as "the War".
³ Major belligerent of the Queer Troubles (1990-93), a low-level urban conflict between government forces and armed homosexuals. Ultimately resolved with the 1993 HOME Act, which legalized civil unions for gays provided at least one partner be a member of the armed forces.
⁴ State television broadcaster of the Seglandic Republic. Along with Segland Radio, played key propaganda role during the Anatheon (1967-68), a nationwide mass murder of religious Seglanders that the Demarchist Party has been accused of provoking.
⁵ Aforementioned mass murder of the religious in Segland. Classified in many non-UNCA nations as a genocide. Followed period of intensely anti-religious state rhetoric. Paramilitary groups were the main participants, but credible claims have been made that clandestine Demarchist forces supplied and even engaged in the early stages of the killing. By 1968, the national situation had deteriorated such that Chancellor Hugo Nimitz was forced to deploy the military to destroy the paramilitaries and restore order.

by **Radiatia** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 10:59 pm

PARLIAMENT RATIFIES FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH CRATA

January 25th 4065NC Last updated 18:04 Exegrad Standard Time

XERCONIA, FCT
The Federal Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a bill to ratify a recently signed free trade agreement with the Federal Republic of Crata.

_{President Steven McCarthy signs the Closer Relations and Trade Agreement (CRATA) Act into law.}

President Steven McCarthy signed the Closer Relations and Trade Agreement (CRATA) Act into law this afternoon, with the bill marking a formal change in Radiatia's official foreign policy toward Crata.

The bipartisan bill was passed by 416 votes to 51 in the Federal Assembly, and it enjoyed unanimous support in the Senate.

The ratification comes after a free trade agreement was signed last July between the Crataan government and the Autenberg Administration, with negotiations taking place 'almost entirely by accident' after then Radiatian Foreign Minister Mark Fleischer ran into the President of Crata 'in a pub' while on holiday in northwestern Crata.

The bill marks a turning point into what has been, until now, a rocky relationship between the two nations.

Crataan-Radiatian relations took a nosedive during the Larssen Administration, after the Radiatian government unilaterally suspended its military obligations to Crata (then a formal ally), arguing that Crata was not "pulling its weight" in terms of defence spending. For its part Crata became vocally critical of Radiatia's nuclear weapons programme, arguing that Radiatia no longer had reason to continue nuclear tests now that there was truce between them and Tuthina.

Relations further soured after a Crataan citizen, David James Lindenberg was accused by R-SOD of espionage for leaking Radiatian military secrets publicly. The Crataan government repeatedly refused Radiatian requests to extradite him.

Relations saw their lowest point in 4044 when Vice Presidential nominee Donovan Brandt (at the time the Premier of New Vashura) called for drone strikes against Crata to capture Lindenberg, which caused outrage in both countries and is believed to have cost Gregori Fyoderov (who ran alongside Brandt) the election that year.

Relations were 'reset' during Keldon Silviu's administration, with the new foreign policy of "Friends but not Allies" coming into effect. During the Tressian Gulf War, the Crataan government even allowed Radiatian troops to move through Crata to get to Segland (which it borders), which was widely seen at the time of the first major rapprochement between the two nations.

Relations were cordial but never close during the Fyoderov and Pavlovic administrations (although it should be noted that Radiatian Foreign Affairs Minister Isaac Lichtenberg - one of Gregori Fyoderov's most prominent henchmen - was a naturalised Radiatian citizen born in Crata), however the volume of trade between the two nations grew to staggering proportions as Noctur's richest country sought to trade with what is believed to be one of Noctur's most populous countries.

The signing of the free trade agreement delivers what businesses and citizens have been crying out for for years - a chance to do business without disagreements between the two governments constantly interfering.

"Whatever differences our governments may have had in the past, person-to-person relations and economic relations between Crata and Radiatia have always been strong," Said Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Brita Reinheld, speaking just prior to the vote in Parliament. "This agreement at last recognises this fact and paves the way for closer and more positive relations in the future."

President McCarthy was full of praise for Crata upon signing the bill, noting that "Together we can achieve so much, by combining Crataan innovation and creativity with Radiatian industriousness and efficiency.

"Relations between our countries have never been as strong or as good as they are right now."

The President refused to answer questions on whether a military alliance was on the cards, or what the status of David James Lindenberg was, instead brushing such questions off by saying "These matters are now water under the bridge. We're not interested in the past, we're focussed on the future."

List of Radiatian Free Trade Agreements:

The Nui-Ra Pact (Nui-ta - signed and ratified 4034)
The G2 Agreement (Poldania - signed and ratifed 4039)
RAFTA (ArghNeedAName - signed and ratified 4053)
The Vestmanaeyjar Accords (The Arthurian Isles - signed 4059 but not ratified)
The CRATA Act (Crata - signed and ratified 4065)

- RPNN

A Very Smart Guy (Xerconia, FCT)
3 HOURS AGO
Interesting - I wonder if a lot of the support is not so much around the actual agreement but basically McCarthy trying to prove that he's not "Anti-Trade" like his opponents claim?

418 likes

Someone with an average IQ (Valar, Asgard)
2 HOURS AGO
My wife and I visited Crata a few years ago. Absolutely beautiful country, very clean. Would go again if it wasn't such a long flight.

102 likes

Quite possibly a chimpanzee with access to a laptop (Vatko, Mendovium)
1 HOUR AGO
iF I HAD IT MY WAY WEED BOMB THAT CRATER COUNTRY BACK TO THE STONE AGE i'LL NEVER FORGIVE THEM FOR WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY DID TO US

6 likes

In Other News:

Flights cancelled in Exegrad due to heavy snow, while overnight temperatures plummet to -30 degrees Celsius
Man drives from Chauch to Eldura over frozen northern ocean
6 ways to keep yourself safe, warm and above all indoors this winter!

Posts · by **Yohannes** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 11:01 pm

Das Reich: English Edition

Message from the Confederation — Administration and Nation-building 2019 Special Coverage

Once every six months, over 100 million people on the continent of Yohannes would turn on Parliament Channel to watch the elected President of the Electoral College deliver a message on the state of foreign policy of the Nineteen Countries from Parliament House. One year after her election to succeed the seventeenth Yohannesian Emperor, the Message from the Confederation of 4 March 2019 is the second Message to be delivered by the eighteenth Yohannesian Emperor.

Archive VI — The Second Message from the Confederation — Monday, 4 March 2019

[ The Anthem of the Realm starting the ceremony ]

ANNOUNCEMENT: Ladies and gentlemen — the first family of the Realm of fiords and mountain.

[ ... The Eighteenth President of the Electoral College and her multicultural family — the First Gentleman, His Honour Jeremiah Meyer the Fifty-seventh Regional Court Judge in the Kingdom of Burmecia and Pastor Emeritus of the African Yohannesian Resurrection Ascension Church, and their two adoring daughters, six-year-old smiling Shaniqua and four-year-old mischievous-looking Aliyah — entered Parliament House’s Embassy Celebration Ground... ]

[ ... Assembled civil servants of the Office of Embassy and Consulate Programme stood... ]

Hon MARGARET LARSSON (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Embassy and Consulate Programme; Christian Democratic Party — Christian Faction; Electorate of Königswinter): Civil servants of the nation-state and the most excellent foreign ambassadors and diplomats assembled, I have the high privilege, and distinct honour, of presenting to you the President of the Electoral College — the eighteenth Yohannesian Emperor.

[ ... Civil servants and attending dignitaries of the Embassy and Consulate Programme clapped their hands and smiled... ]

Rt Hon MARION MARÉCHAL-LE MEN (President of the Electoral College; Yohannes First Party): In the Hand of our Lord Jesus Christ the son of our Father, who art in heaven — thank you —

[ ... Civil servants and attending dignitaries of the Embassy and Consulate Programme continued to clap their hands... ]

Rt Hon MARION MARÉCHAL-LE MEN: Thank you —

[ ... Civil servants and attending dignitaries of the Embassy and Consulate Programme continued to clap their hands... ]

Rt Hon MARION MARÉCHAL-LE MEN: Thank you! Thank you very much!

[ ... Civil servants and attending dignitaries of the Embassy and Consulate Programme slowly seated themselves... ]

Rt Hon MARION MARÉCHAL-LE MEN: It is both my privilege and also, I believe, my responsibility to present this message to the Members and Elected Collegians of the Realm in Parliament assembled today. When the Yohannesian people elected me to take office on behalf of my GOP colleagues, I did promise that child poverty will be one of my main priorities — alongside unsustainable high net migration level, unaffordable house prices caused by cashed-up foreign investors and non-citizens from corrupt nations, and the provision of better infrastructure for the Yohannesian people, especially for the hard-working members of the rural heartland and the long-forgotten industrial bible belt.

Looking back, and without realising it myself, my early inspiration to enter politics and promote GOP’s political platform was to reduce the many social injustices we have seen since the slow but sure rise of excessive neoliberalism and uncontrolled mass immigration — and all the evils that they have caused in our society. Unaffordable house prices in many of our fastest growing cities; overcrowded state and state-integrated schools in many of our inner city neighbourhoods; long waiting times for the elderly and veterans of our nation in many of our hospitals; higher environmental pollution from traffic congestion in many of our once quiet roads and infrastructure entry points; and the tsunami of cheap, slave wage labour that have increasingly displaced the hard-working members of middle Yohannesians and the working class as dishonest, fraudulent employers find it easier to abuse their positions and drive down wages through the supply they have enjoyed from increasing illegal immigration and poor quality migration from second-class nation-builders’ nations.

That is why, as President of the Electoral College — your eighteenth Yohannesian Emperor — I have elected to strengthen the Office of the Minister of Equality and Social Welfare. That is why, as your head of state, representing the existence, legitimacy, and unity of the Yohannesian national people in this Realm of fiords and mountain, I have chosen to create the Office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Child Poverty Reduction. My resolution to fight for Yohannes First and the Yohannesian national people remains unshaken. I could no longer sit back and watch the many reports of our most vulnerable children going to primary school without breakfast and with no lunch boxes. I could no longer pretend to look the other way and ignore the many parliamentary select committee reports of low decile schools’ poor educational track record — the underfunding, the overcrowding and the crumbling facilities. It was then that I decided: “Enough is enough, I say.”

This morning, I’m proud to announce the creation of a working group comprising some of the most talented industry experts and members of the academia from the education and healthcare industry. The Commission for Child Poverty Reduction will recommend policy statements and will offer its industry-vetted analysis as to how the Thirty-sixth Christian Democratic Executive Council can better improve the lives of our many underprivileged children. In fact, and before I took office as your emperor, this executive council has already started working towards this goal. The Budget Reform 2017’s Re-skilling and Vocational Support Scheme will positively affect the lives of families of low and lower-middle incomes by 2020. The ten-year scheme — 120 billion NationStates Dollars of investment spread over ten years.

Last year, Vocational Education Authority’s Night Learning and Re-skill Programme had already shown its initial effects; it has made a real difference in the lives of mature students and reskilling participants in our Realm by helping them fight unfair age barriers so that they can reach their new goals and career pathways in life. By having access to this extended Re-Skilling programme, these enterprising and hard-working adults enjoy protective support from technical advisers, budgeting mentors, and other experts; in supporting their participation and realising their full engagement in education and on-the-ground apprenticeship — allowing for their eventual contribution to the future tax coffer of this nation by being employed in their chosen field. Young parents are also directed to a wraparound parenting programme to assist in their development of flexible work-parenting skills.

Child poverty is an intergenerational issue — it comes from the cries of the broken families; the neglect of drug-infested households; and the unfair coldness of poorly-insulated, damp state homes. It is time that we say: enough is enough. Successful nation-building should not be about the number of twenty-first century destroyers and the navy cruisers that a nation-state can muster. Succesful nation-building should not be about the success of one’s military operations in a remote land outside one’s border. Succesful nation-building should not be about the number-crunching of treasury forecasts and surpluses.

Here, in this Realm of fiords and mountain, it should be about the happiness, health and well-being of our children. It should be about employment opportunities for the Yohannesian national people. And it should be about how we are prepared to stand up in solidarity and hold our neighbours’ hands in times of fading light.

To fight for what is right!

[ ... Civil servants and attending dignitaries of the Embassy and Consulate Programme clapped their hands in unison... ]

Rt Hon MARION MARÉCHAL-LE MEN: Here — we have the chance; the chance to make the right choice and do what is right for our children and the future generations. We have the opportunity to say “enough is enough” to World Assembly-sanctioned mass immigration. The Yohannesian national people have the opportunity — no, the duties and privileges — to make their voices be heard in parliament, and to tell our lawmakers and civil servants what they believe we should do to better prepare this Realm of fiords and mountain for the future. One more aircraft carrier to intimidate other nations in trading partners such as the Empire of New Edom will not help our nation and will accomplish even less for our people. One more infantry formation and logistics personnel in a costly fictional overseas base will do next to nothing to advance our commerce and trade when we can do so peacefully — and permanently, with the aid of our hundreds of diplomatic and trading partners beyond the International Incidents. The Commonwealth Navy should be chosen as a last resort. Our priorities must lie with the Yohannesian national people and their children — our future generations of nation-builders.

Every executive council in this Realm of fiords and mountain — and every political party and their members who partake in their respective coalition agreements — must devote their time to ensuring that the children of the Yohannesian national people will have the best start in life. The right for our underprivileged children to enjoy a fair, equal education with their more privileged peers, or the opportunity for them to pursue their own paths to success should be one of our main priorities. With the opportunities we have given them, some will fail while others will thrive. Is our job to equalise results? No. But I believe that our job is to equalise — as much as will be practicably possible within affordability — the starting ground from where they could start, safe from deprivation and poverty. For this reason, I would like to thank The Right Honourable Annabelle Thorndon-Stevensonn and the Christian Democratic Party for their bipartisan support to seeing the realisation of this child poverty reduction working group. To table this piece of legislation, we require the support of our many responsible legislators and the cooperation of our countless devoted, hard-working civil servants.

Under my presidency as your elected emperor, I will make sure that this executive council will achieve its realistic targets to reduce child poverty. With the agreement of The Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament Saul Ryan, I promise you — the Yohannesian national people — that I will fight for your children. The Thirty-sixth Christian Democratic Executive Council will achieve its realistic target to reduce child poverty by 2.5 per cent every year. The Parliament of this Realm will table reasonable child equality and welfare initiatives in a bipartisan setting. This morning, because of what we agree to on this day, at this defining moment: Change will once again come to Yohannes!

[ ... Assembled civil servants of the Office of Embassy and Consulate Programme stood... ]

Rt Hon MARION MARÉCHAL-LE MEN: I commend this bipartisan initiative to the Members and Elected Collegians of the Realm in Parliament assembled, and I ask for your support.

[ ... Civil servants and attending dignitaries of the Embassy and Consulate Programme clapped their hands and smiled... ]

— @Maréchal-Le Men Parliament House to the Yohannesian people from the State of the Realm Address.

#GOP2019 #NationStates2019

Posts · by **Yohannes** » Tue Feb 19, 2019 1:57 am

Das Reich: English Edition

Physical and Intellectual Disability Day—Administration and Nation-building 2019 Special Coverage

Once every year, over 100 million people in the Yohannesian Realm would turn on Parliament Channel to watch the elected President of the Electoral College deliver a message from Parliament House to acknowledge how physical and intellectual disabilities affect the daily lives of more than a million Yohannesians with officially recognised disability. One year after her election to succeed the seventeenth Yohannesian Emperor, the Physical and Intellectual Disability Day Message of 19 February 2019 is the first to be delivered by the eighteenth Yohannesian Emperor.

Archive VI—Physical and Intellectual Disability Day Message: Tuesday, 19 February 2019

[ The Anthem of the Realm starting the ceremony ]

ANNOUNCEMENT: Ladies and gentlemen—the first family of the Realm of fiords and mountain.

[ The Eighteenth President of the Electoral College and her multicultural family—the First Gentleman, His Honour Jeremiah Meyer the fifty-seventh Regional Court Judge in the Kingdom of Burmecia and Pastor Emeritus of the African Yohannesian Resurrection Ascension Church, and their two adoring daughters, smiling six-year-old Shaniqua and four-year-old mischievous-looking Aliyah—entered Parliament House’s Embassy Celebration Ground. ]

[ Assembled civil servants of the Office of Embassy and Consulate Programme stood. ]

Hon MARGARET LARSSON (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Embassy and Consulate Programme; Christian Democratic Party—Christian Faction; Electorate of Königswinter): Civil servants of the nation-state and the most excellent foreign ambassadors and diplomats assembled, I have the high privilege, and distinct honour, of presenting to you the President of the Electoral College—the eighteenth Yohannesian Emperor.

[ Civil servants and attending dignitaries of the Embassy and Consulate Programme clapped their hands and smiled. ]

Rt Hon MARION MARÉCHAL-LE MEN (President of the Electoral College; Yohannes First Party): In the Hand of our Lord Jesus Christ the son of our Father, who art in heaven—thank you.

[ Civil servants and attending dignitaries of the Embassy and Consulate Programme slowly seated themselves. ]

Rt Hon MARION MARÉCHAL-LE MEN: Every citizen and legal resident in the Realm of Yohannes has the birthright and liberty to live their daily life without discrimination. This right includes the right of every hard-working disabled person to enjoy their daily life without discrimination. It is the Thirty-sixth Christian Democratic Executive Council’s aim to table a piece of legislation through the chamber of Parliament tomorrow that will improve the lives of our disabled brothers and sisters; our disabled mothers and fathers in this Realm of fiords and mountain.

Under the GOP and Christian Democratic Party’s proposed bipartisan amendment Bill to the original Gender, LGBT, Racial and Religious Minority Act 2016, disability will be mainly specified as follows:

A physical impairment or disability, and the limitations associated with them;
A physical health problem or illness;
An intellectual or psychological impairment or disability;
Limitations associated with atypical physiological, psychological or anatomical structure or function; and
The need for a guide dog, wheelchair, or other remedial support due to disability, illness, or injury.

The Gender, LGBT, Racial and Religious Minority Amendment Bill 2019 is the Thirty-sixth Christian Democratic Executive Council’s caring solution that will move the boundary of disability support away from family to taxpayer responsibilities in a fiscally responsible way. The funding for this initiative will come from our hard-earnt savings under the original “Marioncare” Act.

The prohibition on discrimination against disabled persons will be applied regardless of whether the disability is still present or was present in the past. The amendment Bill will give the Ministry of Health and Human Services the power to create a new policy with the aim of subsidising healthcare costs for parents and resident family members other than spouses of high need disabled persons aged thirteen and over. The amendment will also ban discriminatory practice against disabled family members and business employees.

I truly believe that a hard-working disabled person—a contributing taxpayer of this nation—should not be made to reveal their disability when looking for a job. Employers who want to employ them should only ask relevant official information that they will need to judge the interested applicant’s quality of being right for the job and roles expected of them.

Excluding some unique circumstances, direct disability discriminatory practice is against the law, especially when it victimises those unfortunate individuals in a workplace setting—and, for the purpose of this amendment, this includes independent employment contract relationship and voluntary or unpaid work setting. The Thirty-sixth Christian Democratic Executive Council will help see through the prohibition of discriminatory practice at any stage of the hiring process and recruitment phase against disabled Yohannesian citizens and legal residents.

The rights of our hard-working disabled citizens will extend to their protection during employment search and notice; interviews for jobs; contract offers and acceptance; the working environment and all existing circumstances that will affect labour in the workplace, including job hours and legal rights and responsibilities of disabled individuals; equal remuneration rights; and the involuntary ending of a disabled person’s career because of their disability.

Marioncare’s forward-thinking approach to investing into our future will provide enough funding for this scheme, which will be directed for the benefits of not just disabled workers but also their employers—in the form of subsidy for employers of high need and very high need employees. This supplementary funding will be used for the provision of special equipment, facilities, and much-needed services. For instance, Marioncare will provide some funding for special travel arrangements to and from the workplace. Another example is extra funding for compulsory equipment such as specially designed disability chairs, workstations and diagnostic and therapeutic devices.

Come 2022, it is my hope that this piece of legislation and its relevant collection of statutes will help a hard-working disabled person so that he or she can fulfill his or her job equally—or with minimum disadvantages—as a person without disability would be able to fulfill their job. At the same time, we hope that this piece of legislation will support those commendable employers who have decided to treat our hard-working disabled citizens and legal residents equally as they would treat their non-disabled employees.

We realise that it would not be fair for us to expect our many contributing small and medium-sized enterprises to provide all the necessary equipment and facilities without the support of this caring bipartisan government programme.

[ Assembled civil servants of the Office of Embassy and Consulate Programme stood. ]

Rt Hon MARION MARÉCHAL-LE MEN: I commend this bipartisan initiative to the Members and Elected Collegians of the Realm in Parliament assembled, and I ask for your support.

[ Civil servants and attending dignitaries of the Embassy and Consulate Programme clapped their hands and smiled. ]

—@Maréchal-Le Men Parliament House to the Yohannesian people from the Physical and Intellectual Disability Day Message.

#GOP2019 #NationStates2019

Posts · by **Yohannes** » Tue Feb 26, 2019 10:55 pm

[ Out-of-character information: Re-posting from The Archbishop and His Mission thread to help bump this in-character thread

]

World Assembly: New Rainbow Bridge to be built by 2021

Claudia A — Opinion Piece Editor: I don’t know which planet Mirjam was speaking from—because I don’t think she’s living on Planet Reality...

—Royal Alexandria Chamber of Commerce President Volkhardt Schönfinkel

Royal Alexandria, 1 July 2019—Originally projected to cost 21 million NationStates Dollars (NSD), a replacement for West Royal Alexandria’s Rainbow Bridge is “just reaching a quarter of the way there,” with only 10 per cent of the budget set aside to date; and the Royal Alexandria City Council is planning to get the most “bang for the buck” through a competitive royal grant, The Royal Alexandria Times has learnt.

Reported since 2013 as one of the most poorly built bridges in the Kingdom of Alexandria, work to replace the 10-year-old Rainbow Bridge will start next month.

Ratepayer associations have lodged multiple official complaints to the council about the poor state of the old bridge since 2013. The blockings, noise disturbances, and traffic delays that will accompany the repairs and extension for the existing overbridge overlooking the quay by the Pride Park will come as a big blow to West Royal Alexandria’s struggling shop owners, the Royal Alexandria City Council concluded Friday night.

That’s why councillors voted 8-2 at their special meeting yesterday to fast-track a local government statute approving the Royal Alexandria Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Association’s subsidy application for royal funding to replace the bridge. Besides the application to the Crown, the council also tabled a supplementary funding scheme totalling 1.7 million NSD for the project. Lord Mayor Günther Möhring has said the council will support the association by extending the reimbursement period to 2029 at 1.5 per cent interest.

Prior to the incident, the Royal Alexandria LGBT Pride Association had originally planned to fund the construction of a new replacement bridge with money from a new Goods and Services Tax that was promised by the December 2018 local government authority submission. Northern regional voters, however, rejected the submission, which would introduce a GST rate of 2.5 per cent on most goods and services and would be staggered in over 5 years.

Given the failure of the scheme, the association had then announced that it would not be able to complete a replacement bridge—with its existing budget of 7 million NSD—by 2023. The incident meant that without local authority and national government support, a project to completely rebuild the bridge would seriously disrupt commercial activities around construction sites, which could lead to customer losses for struggling small shop owners.

With council and national government support, local officials have agreed that disruptions during the week could be limited to late night hours.

Realm Road and Bridge Corporation senior infrastructure consultant Jürgen Schröpfer said the construction was going according to plan, and project completion report has shown that the new bridge will be ready by late 2021. The initial repair work—including but not limited to landscaping, Resource Management Amendment Act 1987 audits, and street realignment—should be finished by the end of August.

“The starting foundation of the bridge will be constructed then, which would take at least four weeks as the main contractor and starting subcontractors level the ground and refill the areas for improvements,” Schröpfer said.

“By December local residents will see the subcontractors sinking the piers, and the concrete columns should be started soon after that.”

The new bridge will have a width of 6 metres, making it wider than the old, historic bridge by almost 3 metres. According to a Ministry of Transport and Logistics spokesperson, “This means that the strengthened new bridge can now take heavier vehicles, because the width limit of an Alexandrian industrial truck with extra load is 2.6 metres.” The Realm Road and Bridge Corporation Rainbow Bridge Reconstruction website states that, previously, a vehicle wider than the specified width limit would require overweight and overdimension permits, or “they would not be allowed to cross the bridge.”

In his interview with The Realm News Breakfast this morning, Royal Alexandria Chamber of Commerce President Volkhardt Schönfinkel gave his go-ahead for the new bridge project. He said the gains it would bring to potential tourists and stallholders would improve local authority’s coffers.

Schönfinkel added that the new bridge has gained the financial support of member businesses during the chamber board meeting yesterday morning. He said the chamber would send a letter of financial support for the LGBT Pride Association to Her Majesty’s Government tomorrow.

Speaking from the Royal Alexandria Town Hall yesterday evening, Wolsno-Eastern Ward Councillor Mirjam Hartstein proposed for a by-law to be tabled and is asking for ratepayer submissions on behalf of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. “I want to see if it’s possible to design an even more expensive bridge that could accommodate heavier traffic instead.” Schönfinkel told Breakfast presenter Megyn Marie that he agreed with Hartstein’s opinion, but opposed risking completion of the bridge by tabling her proposal now. “The submission for royal grant must be completed next week.”

“I don’t know which planet Mirjam was speaking from—because I don’t think she’s living on Planet Reality.”

Today’s exchange rate: According to the International Securities and Exchange Commission, 1 NationStates Dollar or 1 Universal Standard Dollar (NSD/USD) (World Assembly and International Standard) can be exchanged for 115.59 Quertz russling (Yohannesian); that is, a Yohannesian must spend at least §115.59 to be able to afford $1 NS.

Published by The Royal Alexandria Times

Author: Claudia A
claudia.a@tratimes.co.yo
@claudiaa

Claudia A is one of the underpaid interns at The Royal Alexandria Times. She is a Macroeconomics postgraduate student and professional procrastinator in between lectures by day. She has previously attempted green policy analysis and social justice reviews, but was suck at both. These days you can find her in her natural habitat — writing for the Parliamentary Analysis Archive and The Royal Alexandria Times in her leisure time. She can sometimes be found tweeting together with her friends Baxter W, Erica B, Yohannes D & co. at the Maxtopian social networking website NationStates.

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107 Comments

Yohannes First

“Will come as a big blow to West Royal Alexandrias struggling shop owners...” —Who cares? Probably Asian Sweet and Sour Fly Lies shop owners anyway. They can go back to where they came from!

Share 2 replies▼ ▲14 I ▼39
ShadesOfGreyDarker

Why bring the GOP’s dog-whistle politics here? As the 18th Yohannesian Emperor said, let’s make this a moment of national unity.

Share ▲25 I ▼3
#metoo

The vast majority" is FOR a new, stronger Rainbow Bridge—not politics of envy @Yohannes First!

Share ▲40 I ▼29
Theysaidwhat

Lets seeas a small business owner,already pay heaps of tax. Pay $$$ rates from property profits also taxed and now they want to propose extra Goods and Services Tax? Over my dead body!

Share ▲18 I ▼17

iPost

Theysaidwhat, if you want to enjoy government benefits and good tax refunds, then be prepared to pay your dues by supporting the society that has supported your rise to prosperity!

Share ▲28 I ▼25

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Posts · by **Yohannes** » Thu Mar 07, 2019 9:48 pm

Das Reich: English Edition

The Von Bismarck Intercultural Scholar Awards

Regency of Lindblum, 2019—Last week, The Royal Alexandria Times published an article with pictures of the Von Bismarck Scholarship, and surprisingly, it left many college students and their parents wondering: what is the Von Bismarck Scholarship?

The Von Bismarck Scholarship is one of Yohannes’ two oldest intercultural exchange scholarships alongside the Physical and Intellectual Disability Foundation Programme, and has been a much cherished part of Yohannesian public diplomacy since 1871.

One of the most competitive grants for promising secondary school and university students in the Nineteen Countries, the Von Bismarck Scholarship forces participants to go outside their comfort zones on a culturally enriching exchange programme outside Yohannes. The Scholarship is a wraparound programme, meaning that participants have their tuitions and accommodation costs fully funded by the government while partaking in the programme.

For 100 years, the Von Bismarck Scholarship have sent Yohannesian college students and university undergraduate and research students abroad. They go to many places, from Fecaw to Majapahit and Soracana Islands to Tjorl.

With a few exceptions, Von Bismarck Scholarship participants have always been known as a responsible bunch. Their applications and nominations have always been carefully vetted by not only their school authorities but also local government authorities. And this is for the very simple reason that once outside the Nineteen Countries, a Von Bismarck Scholarship participant is seen as an official representative of the Yohannesian nation-state—that is, they are acting as unofficial ambassadors for Yohannes while studying overseas. Their views and their actions reflect the views and actions of the Yohannesian government back home. On top of this they must also complete their academic studies and pass with flying colours.

Some have criticised the government for the unrealistic expectations placed on Von Bismarck Scholarship participants abroad. For instance, in 2015 the Scholarship was criticised for expelling a grantee after he was caught sitting next to his drunk driving friend—and consequently was fined by a local police officer in Radiatia. One year later, a young undergraduate grantee from the Kingdom of Alexandria was caught running naked while binge drinking outside her campus: she was immediately expelled from the programme.

Figure 1: Audo von Bismarck was the longest serving Chancellor of the Nineteen Countries by time in office.

“I think it’s a bit high, really, this expectation,” says Cecilia Göring, a research student who graduated from the University of Yohannes with the help of the Scholarship in 2011. Now working for the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade, she writes, “I believe that beltway insiders have it much easier than actual scholars and young researchers who represent Yohannes out there, and I think that that is just a wee bit sad and wrong.” She concluded for her report last year: “We are being sent out there to act like official ambassadors of the Realm, when in fact we’re just young people who want to have some fun.”

Cäcilia Hölder, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Nortend, Cardoby and Hambria, believes that Göring was wrong. She said, “Von Bismarck Scholarship grantees are not just there to polish their future academic credentials—they’re also there to represent the state. They’re funded by the state to represent our people in a positive way. They’re not there to get to know drunk drivers while eating Mcdonald’s Big Mac®, or burn couches with their new foreign university friends every Wednesday night.”

“That is the Western culture and the Western way—not us. Yohannes is not an English-speaking nation, and we will never be an Anglo-Saxon Western nation. Chancellor Von Bismarck himself was a great statesman: he would never approve of such a thing.”

However, 100 hundred years after the creation of the Von Bismarck Scholarship, there is still some lack of consensus about the future direction of the programme and its ideal home inside the beltway. Some beltway insiders believe they should be scrapped and subsumed under an existing agency to save taxpayers money, while others believe that its cultural and educational exchange structure can be used to supplement public diplomacy. They think that it can help preserve Yohannesian diplomatic neutrality while encouraging greater understanding of “Yohannes’ harmless and relatively isolationist foreign policy in 2019.” This is just one of many ways, they believe, Yohannesian trade and investment can be maximised in a safe environment and protected from avoidable harm.

Media Contact: Aleksander Westwood-Wilhelm, Senior Press Gallery Reporter. Tel: +585 2 840 6510. Email: aleksander.wilhelm2@dr.com

by **Radiatia** » Thu May 30, 2019 3:13 am

STATE OF THE FEDERATION:
MCCARTHY TARGETS CORPORATE GREED AND CORRUPTION

May 30th 4065NC Last updated 21:15 Exegrad Standard Time

XERCONIA, FCT
President Steven McCarthy has delivered his first official State of the Federation address, pledging to rebuild infrastructure, aid development in the "new states" and announcing a crackdown on corruption.

_{President Steven McCarthy has delivered his first State of the Federation address.}

The President, who had been due to give his address in January but delayed it following a particularly extreme winter, gave a 30 minute speech to both chambers of the Federal Parliament, in which he laid down the goals of his administration.

While the President devoted the beginning of his address to looking back at how far Radiatia has come since 4014, and praising the efforts of his predecessor Jaagen Autenberg, he outlined a number of challenges that he felt the country faced and how he intended to solve them.

"We are by far the wealthiest nation in Noctur and we have come a long way, but we cannot rest on our laurels!" He said. "By landmass we are the largest nation in Noctur, by population we are among the fastest growing, and the challenges we face are what I would describe as 'Radiatia-sized' problems!"

McCarthy immediately announced that he would expand the Autenberg Administration's Northern Development Programme into a major infrastructure project aimed at improving highways and rail across the federation, and in particular to ensure economic and infrastructure development in the eight new states which joined the Federation in 4062, whose quality of life and GDP often lags behind the rest of the country.

"What is the point of having a thriving automotive industry, when our federal roads simply aren't up to the task of being somewhere that new and ever more high-powered vehicles can safely ride on?" The President said as he announced a massive overhaul of the Interstate highway system and expanded plans for high speed rail.

President McCarthy bucked the trend of most President, announcing that there would be no increased defence spending and committing to keeping spending levels frozen in order to free up federal funds for other programmes.

While he announced that the government would continue to fund research and development into next generation military technology, his focus was on individual servicemen and the pay that professional forces receive.

"Anyone who serves our nation should not be struggling to feed their family. It is my desire to ensure that our brave men and women in uniform see across the board payrises in recognition of their service to our nation." He told Parliament.

The President also stated that he felt that the poor state of federal infrastructure in many areas was "a national security risk", alleging that it took longer for a unit to travel from Mendovium to Naras than it did for a private citizen to travel by train from the west coast Clode to the east coast of Chongluntz.

While President McCarthy was brief on matters of foreign policy, he devoted the entirety of the second half of his speech to declaring war on corruption.

"There is not a single person in this room who is not aware of the amount of dirty money in politics." He told Parliament, with many in the room visibly shocked at the President's audaciousness. "But we must remember that our power is far greater than that of any corporation, or of any multinational. And the people we serve - the Radiatian people - are far more important masters than those who donate us money in exchange for whatever favours are asked of us."

The President went on to announce a raft of law and order measures aimed at targeting corruption on a local level, vowing to rid police forces from the presence of the mafia and harsh measures to stop human traffickers - with Radiatia remaining the number one source and destination for illegally trafficked persons in Noctur.

McCarthy also announced, as expected, that he planned to review Radiatia's tax system, taking aim at "multinationals" and "the ultra rich".

"The time has come to redesign the system in such a way that we retain the efficiency of our present system but ensure that those at the top, with the least to lose, are meeting their obligations to the rest of society. For too long the ultra rich have not been paying their fair share."

In a move that had surprised pundits, the President devoted two sections of his speech to praising the efforts of Radiatian individuals over government as the source of the nation's wealth and success.

"Facts are facts - Radiatia did not become an economic superpower because of big government, or because of who was President at the time. It was through the innovation, dedication, hard work and efficiency of the Radiatian people." Said the President, using surprising rhetoric that would not have sounded out of place at a Liberal-Conservative Party convention.

"It's a very surprising statement to make," Said Dr. Boris Kahler, a political scientist from the University of Saku. "Steven McCarthy has until recently been considered to have been on the Social Democratic Union's hard left - yet he is borrowing rhetoric that would have made Soden Larssen or Gregori Fyoderov proud.

"Of course if you read between the lines then President McCarthy's message is clear: He's saying that he's not an extremist, he's not a hardcore socialist, he's actually a safe pair of hands who understands the values of middle Radiatia.

"It's probably the reason why he has delivered an address that sounds, frankly, more like a dull budget announcement by a Finance Minister than a State of the Federation - he's wanting to show that he's not going to rock the boat, and after four years of Jaagen Autenberg that's not a bad thing.

"In saying that, I'm surprised he hasn't taken the opportunity to be more radical. He was elected in a landslide and the SDU control both chambers of Parliament - what he says goes.

"If he wanted to introduce something radical like publicly funded education, free healthcare or even universal basic income... he could probably have gotten away with it. Instead he's gone for something that sounds like what a Social Democratic President would say if the LCP controlled the Federal Assembly.

"Despite trying to appear risk averse, Steven McCarthy might have taken the biggest gamble of his political career to date. Will his decision to take the moderate route come back to haunt him? Only time will tell."

- RPNN

Jimini (Raven, South Chiridia)
3 HOURS AGO
That was SO BORING!!! I actually fell asleep watching him. McCarthy doesn't hold a candle to Jaagen Autenberg - bring back Autenberg!

501 likes

Nerdy Ned (Arcriconia, Xegfause)
2 HOURS AGO
Not a particularly interesting or inspiring speech but it actually shows things are pretty good. I don't think we're going to be going to war any time soon, and I certainly don't see President McCarthy leading us through any great crises, so yeah it's business as usual. This is good.

319 likes

REDWARD (Midgard, Midgard)
1 HOUR AGO
oi fuk this nobhed - i thought mccarthy was a proper socialist so i voted for him and he gos and pisses this lcp-lite horseshit and basically sells his principals to the corporations nah not voting for him ill fuking vote communist and i dont care if im put on a watchlist for saying that, the rpsu will rise again!!

3 likes

In Other News:

Hadinian dictator Pete Nikatro dies
Sea Force's new Stealth Destroyers - missing in action or just so stealth you can't see them yet?
Records broken in Exegrad in as the city sees its highest levels of rainfall in recorded history

by **Hadin** » Sat Jun 01, 2019 5:49 pm

TrickiBlog

The Opinion Column to TrickiLeaks

May 30th, 4065 NC

ON THE DEATH OF FIETE NIKASTRO

Let's cut straight to the chase: High-Envoy Fiete Nikastro is dead at age 54, apparently of a pulmonary embolism.

I'm probably disappointing a lot of people by commenting on it first via TrickiBlog instead of TrickiLeaks, but I want to assure everyone that this decision is meant purely for quality assurance reasons. I've had an uptick in reports and leads regarding the circumstances behind the passing of the late Fiete Nikastro, but with those upticks come the work of determining information from misinformation.

In the business of shedding light on some of the shadier news in Noctur, I have to be very careful to avoid misinformation. Misinformation, quite simply, makes me look bad. Misinformation makes other whistleblowers besides myself look bad. There are governments out there who would pay millions to silence me, and discrediting me may be as good of a way to do it as any other method.

A lot of reports have come in since the High-Envoy's death. So many of these conflict each other that there's obviously some misinformation in the batch. Fiete Nikastro couldn't possibly have died from an accident, a government conspiracy, a health problem, and all of the other methods that I've heard of so far, all at the same time. Officially, his cause of death was medically-related, and if this is true, it both does and does not surprise me.

Why I'm getting as many conflicting reports as I am could be related to all kinds of reasons. Some people may have genuinely heard a different story than what is real. Some people may just be trying to get their 15 minutes of fame by giving me whatever story seems TrickiLeaks-worthy, true or not. Still others may have more malicious intentions. It doesn't matter.

Until I know exactly what killed Fiete Nikastro, there won't be a TrickiLeaks article about the circumstances of his death. I'd rather publish a boring, mundane truth than a fabulous lie.

Of course, just because I don't have the facts on what killed the High-Envoy just yet, doesn't mean I don't have plenty to say about his death. Everyone has an opinion on this matter, and my opinion goes as follows:

I had no love for Mr. Nikastro. I met him personally while I was still living in Hadin. The Hadinian government officially denies that Fiete Nikastro helped make me what I am today, because it sheds light on the truth that their pious, glorious leader wasn't a perfect man. Fiete Nikastro was famous in Hadin for, among many things, putting a stop to the actions of the "terrorist", pro-democracy resistance in Hadin known as UMBRA. Rather than rooting out UMBRA members root and stem and executing them en masse like his predecessors, Nikastro handed them some concessions as far as government policy. He widened local elections and loosened some restrictions on freedom of media, speech, and public assembly. He also expunged several non-violent offenses off of records of people associated with UMBRA, in exchange for co-operation during his rather hostile take-over from Nico Hass at the end of the Karasian War.

Basically, if we weren't already violent towards the Theocracy, he made it easier (...slighty...) for liberals like us to re-enter society and peacefully drown out the more violent section of Hadinian society who were Hass-acolytes. Somewhere in his self-righteous train of thought, I think he genuinely thought he was giving us a second chance at life in Hadin.

I thought it too, for a while.

I had no violent charges against me when the Nikastro government reviewed my file, so I walked out of death row with a clean slate. The two main charges against me were deviancy (read: extreme homosexuality) and capital treason.

Back in the days of Nico Hass, homosexuality was a capital crime. If you were found to be gay, you were sentenced to death. This is how my husband died.

As for capital treason, it was a bunch of little things that all added up to the "capital" ruling. I was gay, but I also identified as being married to another man (something Hadin still refuses to acknowledge when they call me by the wrong last name). I was already a known rebel because I'd been caught at pro-democracy protests, even though I wasn't violent. I already expressed attitudes of atheism, even though they couldn't prove it. Worst of all, I did business with people who were VERY engrained within UMBRA. The kind of people who were so engrained with UMBRA that pretty much everyone who was associated with them disappeared while Nico Hass was around: it didn't matter if you were their family, their friend, or someone who sold them pierogi.

In short, I was gay enough for death row as it was, but the Hass government felt like adding some extra reasons to the file. They also felt like keeping me alive in a cell in death row for longer than they let some other people live. Whatever the reason was for that, it was enough time for Nikastro to start what I had described above. Suddenly, one day, Nikastro was in front of my door, telling me that one of the files that he'd picked to be expunged was mine --- IF I would agree to help keep UMBRA at heel.

A lot of other people in my position also agreed. It didn't hurt that Fiete Nikastro seemed like our best chance at seeing real, tangible change in Hadin, and that Nico Hass was such a sorry excuse for a leader. We liked some of the initial changes that came after Nikastro officially took over: less disappearances, less restrictions on what we were and weren't allowed to say outloud, less restrictions on voting, and far, far less war.

With my file thrown out and a cover story written up for me that I had been working with the secret police on a sting operation to uncover government dissidents, I even got to go home to my family.

Now I was a model version of a Hadinian male in his mid 20's. I had a job lined up pushing papers for the Hadinian bureaucracy as they processed the regime change. If I played my cards right, I had a path laid out to make it to a more respectable position in the government. I could walk the streets again freely.

For a bit, I thought I had made the right move --- but then I realized that Fiete Nikastro had just bought me and others like me.

Hadinian society was "freer" under Nikastro, but it certainly wasn't free. I was free to have a life in Hadin again, but I soon realized that this was only so long as it was the life that was constructed for me. The cover stories that were built for me and others like me to return to society were made to be convenient to the Nikastro administration, so that Fiete Nikastro could leverage them to take control over Hadin. The fact that we benefitted at all was just a convenience, and a way to make him look good.

He might have taken over Hadin's reins from a much more evil man, but the Nikastro administration still had evils of its own.

Under Fiete Nikastro, the Algrabadi-Hadinian citizen exchange program flourished. There were still many people in Hadin who were considered "undesirable" in society. Instead of killing them, Nikastro forced them into exile, to start new lives in a drastically different society. By accepting the Algrabadi dissidents, he was also promoting the injustices of the Algrabadi government who were doing the same thing to their "undesirables". Sure, nobody died, but how many families were broken apart forever? How many of those people were sent away from one country to the next just for not falling in line with gender roles appropriate to their home country? How many of those people were sent away just because someone in their home government wanted a "cleaner way" to dispose of someone with the wrong religious or economic views?

I had an aunt that took over as my maternal figure once my actual mother died. Once I got settled in at home, she started pressuring me to marry. By pressuring me, I mean she and my father pretty much coerced me to go to a matchmaker. I remember having to pretend I was invested in the idea so that they wouldn't start to worry again that I might have been gay. I couldn't get these visits to stop until I convinced everybody I knew that I was planning on saving enough money to buy my way into a Vir Consili's family for career advancement.

Unlike Hass, Nikastro wasn't out to kill the gays. Instead, he made popular the current belief that we were diseased. Suddenly I had a new fear: if someone found out I was gay, I was going to be thrown into a mental hospital until I "recovered", and I have heard horror stories about what they do to people like me within those institutions in the name of "treatment".

It wasn't just me. In highlighting Fiete Nikastro's contributions to a freer Hadin, people forget all of the flaws of his governance. Entire families no longer disappeared if one person was enough of a threat to the Hadinian Theocracy, but threats to that society were still punished. Mental health institutionalization rates increased by about 300% in certain parts of Hadin as "re-education" became the new way of dealing with people who were too out of line. Some people reading this might remember what happened to the famous Hadinian actor Domenic Albergh: his "re-education" when he was found to be gay and harbor sympathies that were too democratic for the Nikastro administration were so bad that he nearly killed himself.

Then they moved him to a different mental hospital, where they reportedly kept him in a padded cell under "intense treatment" until he was "cured". If you watch video clips of Albergh addressing the Hadinian press upon his release, you can see how much this ordeal aged him. You can see signs of Stockholm Syndrome in that poor man as he tells the cameras that he's cured of his affliction. After that press release, he had one highly publicized role in Terra Nova just to showcase that he was, indeed, "cured" and "able to return to society".

And now, he's basically on unofficial house arrest with no future career prospects for the rest of his life, having proven that even in the enlightened age of Nikastro's rule, that he's going to potentially always be dangerous.

Under Nikastro, Hadin had also started to move into North Zanzes and formally exert dominion over the captured territories. As many news agencies and whistleblowers, including myself, have reported: life is great in North Zanzes if you're a Septimist convert.

All of the other people who are living in North Zanzes live in third-world conditions where poverty and famine are rampant. The Nikastro administration loved to talk about how much better foreign policy had gotten from Hass and previous High-Envoys before Hass, given Nikastro's successes with Arthuria and Nui-ta.

They conveniently forget that North Zanzes has only ever been governed by one High-Envoy. The state is basically in a sort of apartheid, and Fiete Nikastro is to blame.

And now, Fiete Nikastro is dead.

I'm sure many Hadinians might actually miss him, especially if the next High-Envoy turns out to be a return to previous practices. I won't number myself among them, but I do share their concerns that it can get worse than Nikastro.

The newest High-Envoy of Nikastro is High-Envoy Matfei di Pascari, who is a bit older than Nikastro and had a few years longer under his belt within the Envoyship. Matfei di Pascari is known in Hadin as something of a moderate: not as interested in changing Hadinian society as Nikastro, but not as fascist and bloodthirsty as Nico Hass. Official state media from Hadin have already hinted that the di Pascari High-Envoyship does not intend to dismantle the industrial, medical, or economic advancements that Hadin had seen under its previous leader. Considering that to not do so would see an uprising in the streets, it's an expected move from this new administration.

They have announced that they will continue development programs in North Zanzes, which could simultaneously be a good thing and a bad one. As I discussed earlier, those Zanze who converted to Septimism have seen some real, tangible benefits from Hadinian conquests in the area. These people will probably continue to benefit.

Everyone else? At best, di Pascari will be the same as Nikastro, dangling a decent quality of life in front of them in exchange for their compliance, and continuing to punish them with poverty and degradation if they don't. I know that feeling all too well.

At worst, I shudder to think of what other options di Pascari could fine suitable to keep North Zanzes useful to him.

Another massive development in the wake of the regime change is that Matfei di Pascari wants to focus on strengthening the military, which he feels was neglected by the previous administration. He has brushed this off as a simple increase in military spending: Hadin has money now. It may as well update some of its defenses, buy a few new ships, and invest in better training for its new recruits.

At best, this could be business as usual. Years ago when I was a conscript, I remember being fresh out of training and being handed an outdated TA-88. You know: the rifles Hadin used in the Hadinian War? In consideration of this fact, updating to the new Dracovita-28s and Murta AR-7s is a reasonable move for any nation in the position of needing to modernize. No nation with a standing military of any kind can give Hadin shit just for wanting its own military equipment to be from this century.

At worst, this kind of move could be something much more dire. If Hadin wants anything besides a general update to its older armaments, then this could be the first sign of trouble on the horizon.

In a post-Nikastro Hadin, sadly, anything is possible.

-H. Sebastino

by **Hadin** » Sun Jun 02, 2019 1:05 am

TrickiLeaks

In a Time of Deceit, Telling the Truth is a Revolutionary Act

June 3rd, 4065 NC

THE NIKASTRO DEATH CERTIFICATE LEAK

Attachment: High-Envoy Nikastro's Death Certificate

In the past few weeks following the regime change, it seemed that Hadin was enjoying a relatively smooth transition of power. Unfortunately, it has recently been revealed to TrickiLeaks that High-Envoy Fiete Nikastro's death has some glaring inconsistencies.

To begin, within this news article are leaked copies of both Fiete Nikastro's death certificate and his full autopsy report.

Examining this birth certificate, it is fascinating to note the general procedure for releasing a death certificate in Hadin doesn't change much between a suspicious death and a non-suspicious death. In both cases, "tentative" death certificates are given for legal use (with the cause of death listed as "pending") until an official report is submitted to the local Office of Births, Marriages, and Deaths. If a person was expected to die for a while (let's say they were in hospice care), the official death certificate might take a week or so to come out after the tentative one. This is mainly to account for the time it takes for the time for the reporting physician to complete paperwork that certifies that the death was expected, as well as additional arrangements to be made and notarized as far as how and where the deceased remains were ultimately interred.

In the case of a suspicious death, like the sudden death of a High-Envoy, extra work has to be done by the Hadinian Medical Board to process an autopsy and run toxicology results. The conversion from a tentative death certificate to an official one could therefore take as long as a few months. High-Envoy Nikastro's official death certificate was filed only four days after his death.

The person who brought forward the tip regarding Nikastro's death paperwork acquired this information from one Dr. Pietro Kistner, who in turn was an assistant to the independently-affiliated Dr. Orso Volk. Doctor Volk's signature is present on the High-Envoy's finalized death certificate. In the days following the initial leak of this information, Dr. Kistner was arrested for allegedly agreeing to perform an abortion for a patient. Dr. Kistner is now in prison, awaiting an initial trial to evaluate the charges against him.

Adding to the suspicious circumstances surrounding the High-Envoy's cause of death, it is noted that a secondary co-morbidity cited on the death certificate is alcoholism. There's definitely a laxness to Hadin's alcohol culture, but alcoholism for a period of over 30 years would have been noted at some point in Fiete Nikastro's career prior to his ascension into the High-Envoyship. Fiete Nikastro himself cited in several interviews with Hadinian media that he usually had "a cold bottle of beer every other night". A drinker, sure: but hardly an alcoholic.

What's even more unusual about the diagnosis of death by pulmonary embolism is that Fiete Nikastro was hardly the type of person to have a pulmonary embolism in the first place. Most international health organizations in Noctur agree that there are several groups who are at elevated risk of suffering from a pulmonary embolism. These include persons who had a history of blood clots in the past, who suffered recent injury to their cardiovascular system, or who were immobile for long periods of time.

As far as present-day information goes, this isn't what one would call an apt description of Fiete Nikastro.

It's further damning that Nikastro's autopsy report included "abnormal" toxicology results. Typically, abnormal toxicology results of any kind would be thoroughly investigated. Reading through the entire Nikastro autospy report, however, there's only two passing mentions to these results.

One is simply a statement that Fiete Nikastro did indeed have "abnormal" results.

The other is a begrudging acknowledgement that the abnormal results may have contributed to the acute liver and kidney damage that was found during the autopsy. This organ damage is cited one other time in the autopsy report, as a possible co-morbidity.

That's it.

It's very difficult to report further on an autopsy report that is as half-done as this one, but I think the document speaks for itself. There is plenty of room for interpretation here, hopefully for a less controversial interpretation of these results.

If the Hadinian government would be so kind as to elaborate?

by **Nui-ta** » Tue Jun 11, 2019 12:09 am

NNN - Nui-tan News Network

THE CASE FOR MR.TRICKI

Nui-ta To Reconsider Asylum Policies For Hadinian Expats

Rahku City, RAHKU STATE --- 13:00 NST / 12:00 NZT, (July 8th, A.N 141)
NC 4065

As the debate on what to do with Hadinian asylum seekers resurges, the government announces it may open the doors to asylum for Mr. Tricki.

There is likely no one in Noctur by now who hasn't heard of Mr. Tricki.

From Higgins and Brownite government corruption to the shady dealings of Nui-tan Prime Ministers --- from Radiatian underhanded law enforcement practices to exposes on the human rights abuses in Hadin and the greater UNCA --- Hans Dietrich Sebastino has been the composer of a symphony of leaks. Some consider him a criminal. Other consider him a hero. He continues to have warrants out for his arrest in all member-states of the UNCA, while other countries like Crata and Arthuria have welcomed him in with political asylum and open arms.

Initially, other government reactions were frosty. Mr. Tricki's reception in Nui-ta was controversial enough in A.N 140 to be a hot-button topic for the elections. The left pushed for asylum. The right, including Prime Minister Hajukugi, preferred policies closer to the ban on UNCA nationals (such as Mr. Tricki). The centrists abstained from the debate altogether.

It is therefore very interesting to see now in A.N 142 that Mr. Tricki might be closer than ever to gaining asylum under the current government. Prime Minister Hajukugi announced in a public address yesterday that the Nui-tan government is "reconsidering" its stance on denying Hans Sebastino asylum in Nui-ta. A formal vote on the matter may take place within the next few weeks. For many members of Parliament, the change-of-heart could well be electoral. Opinion polls of Sebastino's actions regarding TrickiLeaks have shown a marked jump in approval within the Nui-tan populace within the last two years. Following his most recent post regarding the shady circumstances around the death of High-Envoy Nikastro and the rise of High-Envoy di Pascari, national polls are as high as 72%.

State-wide polls are even higher in some areas. Some states, like Sangaur and Hephazi, poll a little less favorably for Sebastino (although he's still managed a 62% and a 64% respectively). Others, like Yevzar and Alinia, boast numbers as high as 80% and 88%.

Alinia's high-approval of Sebastino is particularly important considering several factors.

Firstly, so many other Hadinian ex-pats pass through (or settle in) Alinia. Given Alinia's cultural ties to Hadin, but its political history as a Nui-tan state, some within Noctur even jokingly call Alinia "first world Hadin". If someone like Mr. Tricki were to be offered asylum in Nui-ta, Alinia is very likely where he would end up.

Secondly, Sebastino has been to Alinia before, several times. In an interview with a Nui-tan news outlet in Vestmannaeyjar, Sebastino remarked that he had visited Alinia several times as a small child, before his family's defection from Nui-ta and his subsequent relocation to the Theocracy. Sebastino further reported that he had passed through Alinia illegally while in transit from Hadin to Vestmannaeyjar. Considering that he was not legally allowed to enter the Nui-tan Monarchy at the time of his defection to Arthuria, but somehow made it to the embassy in Rahku City anyway, it makes sense that he would have found a way to blend in within Alinia before traversing half of Nui-ta and reaching the capital.

Thirdly, as Hans Sebastino becomes more and more famous across Noctur, he also generates more and more attention. His work has caused more people to know who he is and to take an interest in what it is that he has to say. Additionally, Sebastino's unique background as a high-profile Hadinian ex-pat gives much of the first world a fascinating look at what the heavily guarded Hadinian Theocracy is like from a cultural standpoint. Sebastino's very existence is a reminder that the rigidity and fanaticism of the Hadinian Theocratic regime is not all that exists within Hadin, and that there are other people like him who have lived their entire lives knowing nothing of the freedoms offered in the rest of Noctur.

Of course, Sebastino himself was surprisingly not born in Hadin proper. His ability to visit Alinia as a small child (visits that he reports he can barely remember) were entirely due to the fact that he was born on the grounds of San Jarahi Military Base in Yevzar, Nui-ta.

This is verified information by both Sebastino's own paperwork and Nui-tan birth certificate records: Mr. Tricki was born a Nui-tan citizen. His life in Hadin is due entirely to the defection of his parents to the Hadinian Theocracy upon its founding. When Mr. Tricki's parents defected, they took their four year old son and two year old daughter with them. Those children, and many other children like them, were taken across the border and made Hadinian citizens under the provisions of the Hadinian Rosario Doctrine.

For the sins of their parents, children such as Mr. Tricki were stripped of their Nui-tan citizenship and lost all ability to return to their homeland. They spend the rest of their formative years growing up under the Hadinian Theocracy. As the human rights abuses in that nation become more evident and shocking to the rest of the world, Nui-ta now finds itself facing the question of whether or not to offer these now-grown children the ability to return to the land of their birth and start over.

Some laws already exist in regards to the treatment of Hadinian expats who show up in Nui-ta. Tightened travel restrictions between the two countries are something of a paradox. Nui-ta does not officially welcome Hadinians citizens into the Nui-tan Monarchy for any reason outside of a diplomatic visit, but will also not turn away Hadinian refugees who manage to make it into Nui-ta illegally and then declare themselves after they have already entered the Monarchy. Most Hadinian refugees who make it to Nui-ta and apply for refugee status ultimately wind up relocated to other countries such as South Zanzes or Arthuria. Several more Hadinians manage to settle down in Alinia, where policies towards Hadinian asylum seekers are noticeably more relaxed.

Whether or not Nui-ta even needs to consider the asylum question is still being debated, although the latest leaks of news from Hadin, via TrickiLeaks and other sources, reveals that the relatively calm waters within Hadin of late are beginning to return to a boil. At this point in time, the government has still not issued a statement in response to the allegation that Hadin may have assassinated its own Head of State and then written the incident off as a cover-up for a massive power-grab.

The time to do so may be running out.

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