Hanover Republic IC Incidents[PRIVATE]

by **Puldania** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 2:34 pm

Weclome to the gateway to the Hanoverian Roleplay universe! Here you can use the template below to create new-article style posts regarding incidents in your country, be it diplomatic, economic, or just the king complaining about season 5 of Keeping up with the Kardashians.

The template below is from the INWU IC Thread.

Code: Select all: [align=center][size=150][b]Headline[/b][/size] [hr][/hr] [Img]Image[/img] [I]Description[/I] [hr][/hr] Text [/align]

You must follow these rules accordingly.

WAR may be declared by one party, however treaties and truces must be agreed upon by both parties.
DIPLOMACY is negotiable. Each nation has the right to refuse any offer made to them.
ECONOMICS should fall within reason. If it isn't within RL probability, it probably isn't within our bounds of realism.
GODMODDING Don't. Just don't.
SPECIAL EVENTS can be created by other nations. You may speak to the governor regarding it.

Happy Trails!

by **The Alps Confederation** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 3:28 pm

Wood in focus of Green Capital in October

The desire is to highlight the importance of forests, wood and green areas for safeguarding biodiversity and providing a healthy environment for people and animals

Erengrad, which is entering the last quarter of its stint as the Alpian Green Capital, will focus on wood in November.

The Municipality of Erengrad said that forests were a key factor in mitigating the effects of climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"Kislev is extremely rich in forests, which are... also a generator of numerous jobs in the wood-processing industry," the municipality said in a press release.

Various events will be held throughout the month, with presentations of the Third Age University's club's activities focusing on wood and forest kicking the month off on Saturday. An exhibition of wooden lights and frames made of washed-up wood will also be put up.

The Erengrad Biotechnical Faculty will organise lectures on trees and workshops for children throughout the month, and the Geological Institute will set up workshops on rocks, minerals and fossils.

A number of schools and kindergartens will also get in on the action, as will the Erengrad City Library and the Museum of Natural History.

by **Boutain** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 3:39 pm

Chancellor calls for Boutanese Navy to take on a bigger role globally

The Chancellor leaving after press conference this morning

Today the Chancellor, Segolene Royal, called for the Boutanese Navy to take on a bigger role globally. She said this as part of her global strategy 2018 campaign which aims to have Boutain taking on a big role in global politics by 2018.

She announced that the Aircraft carrier DBNS Royal will be going on a world tour to any nations which would like to host it whilst the other carrier DBNS Prince Alons will go through training exercises to prepare it's crew for combat readiness.

"It is time for the Kingom to take on a bigger role internationally and with the blessing of the King we will be able to do this by having our first aircraft carrier, Ducal, go on a world tour and our second aircraft carrier, Prince Alons, take part in Royal Navy training exercises of the southern coasts. It is time for this government to go full steam ahead with the global strategy 2018 plan and this will play a huge part it in. May god bless all of you, thank you."

The Chancellor then went off to a lunch with a famous Vice-Admiral, Klaus Monroe. The pair were spotted dining at the Arienne hotels private suite. This is thought to be due to the highly sensitive issues they speak of during these meetings. The Chancellor was then spotted later returning to her home for the night.

by **Puldania** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 6:45 pm

Depopulation of Gravopol to increase in 2017

A view of the Viyénsk Communes in Gravopol

Chelbes Iried recently announced a new campaign to reduce overpopulation in Gravopol. The bustling city, the largest in Puldania, has been plagued with overpopulation since the early 90s. Of the 17 million or so people who live there, over 30% live in extreme poverty, and 78% residents earn less than 75% the national average income. In an effort to combat the mass poverty in the bustling city, Chelbes plans to increase welfare in the communes, and begin the construction of Nau Grafoiyen, a cutting edge city desgined to combat overpopulation from the beginning. Plans include a massive solar grid to power the city, an extensive metro system, and plans to construct a specialized university free of charge. The project is estimated to cost 4 Trillion over the course of 5 years, but the economic gains promised by this plan should be well worth it.

Row houses in Zuttleshut preparing for All Hallow's Eve

Millions Across the world prepare for the celebration that is Halloween, or All Hallow's Eve. Originally a Bygospiel Holiday, it has now come to represent a time where children dress up and go around neighborhoods collecting candy. Stores throughout Puldania have sold out of Halloween related goods, and the Supreme Cardinal in Drucasniki has announced that he will be participating in the Yöndego festivities. He has given out wishes for a safe Halloween worldwide!

by **Boutain** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 7:46 am

Government issues support for Antoigne La Finance expansion

A photo of Antoigne business district, La Finance, from Antoigne's main avenue

Today the Government announced it's support for the expansion of Antoigne's business district, La Finance. This comes after businesses said that they would be forced to relocate if there wasn't more space to build new skyscrapers.The decision is a controversial one as it could lead to the destruction of the homes of at least 2,500 people. The Government said that all whose homes had to be knocked down would be given support to move but according to residents of Antoigne this isn't enough. They have said that it will further ruin the historic cities atmosphere.

An estimated 10,000 protesters have said that they will blockade the crews who try to demolish the homes and some have even called for a week of national strike action.The Government has said that no protest action will be tolerated and that the Riot Police will be willing to remove any protesters. One of the Royal Economics Advisers even came out against the governments position saying that he believes that a brand new business city should be built to ensure that issues like this don't spring up again in 20 years time.

So now we ask you. Is this the signs of progress or the destruction of the past?

by **The Alps Confederation** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 7:53 am

Inside one of Helvetica’s largest nuclear bunkers – 40 years on

Designed to house 20,000 people, the bunker was built in and over two motorway tunnels.

Opened 40 years ago at the height of the Cold War, the Stoltzenberg bunker in Isenstein was one of the largest public fallout shelters in the world and is still operational today.

They had a plan. And it seemed like a brilliant one. The city of Isenstein would provide shelter from nuclear fallout for 20,000 people – a third of the city’s population at the time – in two motorway tunnels under the Stoltzenberg mountain.

Completed in October 1976 at a cost of 40 million francs, the Stoltzenberg bunker was built in response to a unique Helvetican law, passed in 1963, that required every citizen to have a place to shelter in the event of outside attack.

The bunker comprised a seven-storey logistics centre built underground, on top of two motorway tunnels. In the event of nuclear threat, the tunnels would be closed to traffic and instead become home to 20,000 people, housed in bunk beds set up along the length of the 1.5km tunnels. Containing a command room, hospital, prison, radio studio and a staff of 700, the logistics centre would ensure life underground ran smoothly.

The communications room.

Visiting the bunker, the immense size and ambitions of this project are evident.

Inside, the communications room still has the switchboard that operators could use to contact the outside world. Then there’s the hospital, which was so well stocked with medicines, operating rooms and surgical equipment that it required 250,000 francs ($253,000) a year to maintain.

Traffic flows through the two motorway tunnels today, so visitors can only glimpse them through a service door from the logistics centre. Imagination is required to picture where those many thousands of people would have spent all their time in dorms of 64 tiny bunk beds. It doesn’t take much to understand how difficult it would have been to sleep against a chorus of coughing, snoring and crying. Nor to imagine the smell of 20,000 unwashed bodies (the bunker’s few showers were reserved for hospital patients) or the horror of sharing a block of around 20 toilets with hundreds of other people.

“It gives you an idea of how organized everything must have been to prevent chaos,” says guide Zara Schüffert.

Indeed. But would they have succeeded? Thankfully, the bunker has never had to be used, but the tour highlights some fundamental flaws that suggest that, despite Helvetican organizational skills, the whole project was destined to fail.

In peacetime the shelter’s 450 tons of flatpack beds, portaloos and other essential equipment had to be stored in the logistics centre, since the tunnels were open to traffic. In the event of nuclear threat, it would take two weeks to close the tunnels and set everything up before the public could arrive. Hardly ideal.

“This was the biggest gap in the concept of the plan,” says Schüffert

The tunnel entrance, that would have been sealed off to create the bunker.

And there were other ‘gaps’, too.

Though there was a kitchen, it only catered for staff and hospital patients. It wasn’t possible to cook for 20,000, so each person had to bring two weeks’ worth of ready-to-eat food with them to the bunker, storing it – and eating it – on their already cramped bunk bed.

Why two weeks? Because this hugely ambitious, expensive structure could only house people for a fortnight before the water supply ran out. Who knows what horrors the bunker’s inhabitants would face once they were sent back above ground so soon after a nuclear attack.

Though attempts have been made to repeal Helvetica’s bunker law, a version of it is still in force today. In 2006 the Stoltzenberg was downsized, and its motorway tunnels can no longer be converted into dorms, but the logistics centre is still operational and is retained as a shelter for 2,000 people.

More than anything, its presence underneath the city of Isenstein serves to remind us of the fear that existed in the Cold War and Helvetica’s unique position caught, geographically, in the middle.

But this fascinating tour suggests that Isenstein’s grand plan to save its population from attack could never have worked. Not least because rumour has it that the shelter’s 350-ton concrete blast doors, that would have protected its inhabitants from nuclear fallout, didn’t actually shut properly.

Isenstein, capital city of canton Isenland

Public tours of the Stoltzenberg bunker, in English, take place once a month. The next is on October 30th. More information and booking: unterirdisch-ueberleben.ch

by **The Alps Confederation** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 1:53 pm

Medieval town in south of Helvetica upholds ban on UFOs

The town of Châteauneuf-du-Poop

The mayor of a town in the south of Helvetica has refused to lift a decades-old ban on UFOs

Any aliens planning a drive-by over Châteauneuf-du-Poop, the town famous for its wine, had better think twice.

The mayor of the town in canton Mousillion has refused to lift a 62-year-old ban on the "flying over, landing, or taking off of flying saucers" in the area.

The 1954 decree came soon after a man in northern Helvetica claimed to have seen two beings who looked like "deep sea divers" coming from a "cigar-shaped" space ship.

The former mayor of Châteauneuf-du-Poop, Lucius Yolotanne, issued the following decree at the time:

"Any aircraft, known as flying saucer or flying cigar, which should land on the territory of the community will be immediately held in custody."

And the rule book won't change any time soon for the town, which is famous for its vineyards.

"I'm not going to touch the ban," current mayor Camille Arsenault told us.

"It spices things up a bit. It creates a harmless kind of buzz and no one is getting tricked."

Indeed, "making a buzz" appears to have been the main reason the former mayor introduced the ban, according to his son, Edgar Jégou.

"At that time, people were talking a lot about extra-terrestrials and the unknown, it was in fashion, and there were loads of stories circulating," he said.

"He wanted to make a bit of an advertisement for Châteauneuf. It was an excellent publicity stunt... and free."

And the idea appeared to have worked, with journalists from all over the world coming to interview the mayor throughout the fifties.

To this day, the story still gets traction, most recently with vineyards in other countries naming their wine "Cigare Volante" - French for Flying Cigar

by **The Alps Confederation** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 2:20 pm

Hunting gastronomic gold in Helvetica's truffle country

Doris the gundog hunts for truffles.

"It is not a job. It's a passion, a real sickness!"

It is the early hours of the morning and Gerasimo Sandretto is explaining why chilly autumn nights find him trailing by moonlight through the woods around Algiorno in canton Tilea of southern Helvetica.

Sandretto, 64, and his beloved companion Doris, a sprightly Lagotto Romagnolo gundog, are on the hunt for white truffles, the hard-to-find fungi famed amongst foodies for their earthy scent, and their equally heady prices.

Doris

"I can go to bed at 11:00 pm and be up again at 3:00 am, ready to go out again," Sandretto says. "It is not for the money. It is a sickness you have inside.

"A truffle is a strange thing. And it's lovely, because it's so strange.You never know where you might find one. Never."

Doris and Sandretto.

Now nine, Doris has been Sandretto's constant companion since she was an eager young puppy learning how to use her sensitive nose to sniff out truffles buried beneath the forest floor.

"I'm not saying it is better than a wife, but for a truffle hunter his dog is something... indescribable," Sandretto says with a smile.

Part of humanity's heritage

The Romagnolo breed is known for its acute sense of smell but individual dogs still have to be trained, starting with pieces of gorgonzola, the whiffy Italian blue cheese, buried under ground, before graduating to actual truffles.

Now when Doris locates a truffle, she wags her tail excitedly over the spot where a valuable tuber awaits - usually buried between 10-30 cm (4-12 inches) below the surface.

For her it is a game - her efforts rewarded with a treat in the form of a biscuit or a little piece of dry bread.

Sandretto was 14 when he first went truffle hunting, with his grandfather. At the time, it was about putting food on the table, he recalls.

Now it is more of a hobby, but secret spots are still jealously guarded.

"I've been doing this for 50 years, I know all the plants, all the paths."

A truffle which sold for CHF100,000.

At one time, truffles were more plentiful but the cutting of some trees and the effects of pollution on others has reduced the autumnal bounty, he says.

Fears the delicate ecosystem that produces the white truffles could be at risk has triggered a crowdfunding initiative aimed at raising 50,000 francs to ensure better management of the local woodlands.

An Algiorno truffle seller.

Alcino Di Tommaso, president of the National Centre for the Study of Truffles, says wooded areas around Algiorno have been neglected, with faster growing species threatening to crowd out truffle-friendly trees like oaks and lime trees.

"There is not an imminent threat but we have to be pro-active," he says.

Helpful measures include thinning denser woodland and planting new trees but coordinating action is complicated, notably because the hunters who know where truffles are produced often do not own the land on which they forage.+

Truffles are presented with their weight and price at Algiorno's market.

'Like fine wine'

Tracking down edible fungi is an Helvetican obsession with some 200,000 active enthusiasts nationwide, of whom 4,000 are based in Tilea.

The country is so proud of its truffle culture that it has asked for it be enshrined on a list of humanity's intangible heritage maintained by the the Alpian Union's culture body.

Truffles are presented to potential buyers.

Algiorno is already well known in gastronomic circles as home to some of southern Helvetica's most famous red wines and it has been hosting an annual white truffle fair since before World War II, drawing in thousands of gourmet pilgrims for nearly two months of tasting, buying and selling.

A tourist smells a truffle at Algiorno's fair

This year's festivities conclude on November 27th and prices are averaging 3,000-4,000 francs ($3,300-$4,400) per kilo.

For Helvetican-Boutanese enthusiast Marechal Cloville, it is a price worth paying.

"Just the scent is something unique," she said. "Personally I like it best with something really simple, just on some pasta or a risotto."

A woman assesses truffles at the fair.

Melchiade Buffo, head chef at the Michelin-starred "Del Colosso" restaurant in nearby Tobaro, concurs.

"The thing that is very specific to the Algiorno truffle is the incomparable lightness of its aroma, and its elegance," he says as he assembles a salad of seasonal vegetables speckled by ultra-fine shavings of the local delicacy.

Garimberto Battistoni, a specialist in white truffle production.

"It is such a pure product of nature that us chefs have to be at the service of the truffle, and not the other way round."

Harvested from September 21st until the end of January, truffles need both rain and cold to thrive, according to Sandretto.

A man sniffs a truffle.

"The colder it is, the better the truffle," he says, adding that no two are exactly alike.

"The truffle is like wine, each zone has its own smell and those from Algiorno are the most perfumed."

by **The Alps Confederation** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 2:33 pm

Helvetica 'horror clown' attacks leave several injured

Clown performers are not happy about the negative media stories

Several people have been injured in attacks by masked assailants dressed as 'creepy clowns' in the lead-up to Halloween.

Three men disguised as "horror clowns" assaulted a 19-year-old man with a baseball bat at the weekend in the eastern canton of Stirland, local police said on Tuesday. The suspects fled the scene.

In another incident, a 16-year-old jogger was seriously injured on Sunday when she fell down a steep hill after being scared by a creepy clown who had jumped in her path in the Reiklandian city of Vilmersdorf.

The teenager was hospitalised while the suspect manage to escape, police said.

Another 16-year-old girl twisted her ankle on Monday evening when she ran away from a man wearing a clown mask in a parking lot and fell down some stairs in central Middenheim. Authorities said they were still searching for leads regarding the suspect.

People have been reporting numerous other sightings across Helvetica on special Facebook pages dedicated to creepy clown spotting.

Police have issued several warnings in recent days against wearing a clown mask. "If you scare someone, you could be already committing an offence," Reiklandian police spokesman Martin Meindl said last week.

by **Boutain** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 4:20 pm

Antoigne Arts Week opens with a bang

Fireworks seen from near the River Larme

Today Antoigne Arts Week began with a spectacular fire work display which could be seen from all over the Capital city. This is the 268th Antoigne Arts Week and is expected to host a number of modern and past artworks of Boutanese descent. The art exhibition is normally hosted in the Louvre however this year it is to be held at the Ducal Palace. The Grand Duke, a huge admirer of the arts, personally asked for this in hopes that it would gain the work more attention.

The Ceremony to open the Arts Week began at 5pm when the Grand Duke arrived at the Louvre from where he made a speech stressing the important of the arts.

"Thank You to all who are in attendance this fine evening. The arts has played an extremely important role in our nation since it's birth and this week will celebrate that. Antoigne has long been a global capital for culture and for a week this is further shown. I hope that all of you will look at the pieces on show and be proud that such magnificent work can be shown in our nation. I hope that the week will go ahead smoothly and that all the works on display will be safely returned to their homes afterwards. This work is a blessing from god so please treat it that way."

The Grand Duke then went on a tour around the Louvre before heading to the Ducal Palace to see the exhibition. Droves of journalists followed him to see what he thought of the work. He seemed mostly impressed with the pieces however expressed dismay at the way how some were given precedence over others. We hope all are looking forward to the week ahead and treat the works with respect.

by **Britandia** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 9:40 pm

Suburbs to undergo massive deconstruction progress

The grand hall of advisors, as seen from The Vaidas River

As suburbs continue to grow on into the country and farmland, Britandian officials have worried about the potential damages this could have and in any way have effect on the Britandian Economy. It is proven that suburbians commute longer to work, use more electricity, petrol and energy than normal city dwellers. The effects are worsening every year, and therefore, city planners, officials and advisors are hoping that some drastic action to be made by the legislative members.

Finally, on Thursday, 27 October 2016, the legislative members (called advisors) met and agreed that suburbs are bad, and therefore, should be demolished and the leftover land to be converted into nature reserves, farms and grazing land for cow and sheep. As for the "suburbians", the will be relocated in an apartment building in their respective cities and they will be given some financial aid. This will dramatically increase the population density while maintaining the same population levels as before.

The Deconstruction process will begin on Monday, 31 October 2016, and people will be relocated from their suburban homes to the city.

by **The Alps Confederation** » Fri Oct 28, 2016 12:35 am

Dreisenbourg spends 32 hours a year in traffic jams

Apparently in Dreisenbourg they spend 32 hours per year in traffic jams

In general, Dreisenbourg residents are relatively satisfied with public transport, be it bus, rail or air. This assessment level by citizens has even improved in recent years. However the same can’t be said for private vehicle owners as drivers spent an average of 32.21 hours a year in traffic jams.

Ranked together with several other countries, the time spent sitting in traffic congestion in the Grand Duchy has risen from the previous year when the number was 31.15 hours.

These figures can be seen in the “Alpian Transport Scoreboard 2016” released by the Alpian Commission comparing countries in the transport sector.

Dreisenbourg doesn’t fare too well when it comes to the number of vehicles powered by alternative fuels such as electric. However this is almost a paradox as the number of charging stations in the country is well above the Alpian average.

Dreisenbourg’s score for the number of women employed in the transport sector is not that good either. While the Alpian average is 22% , the Grand Duchy is way behind at 12%.

by **The Alps Confederation** » Fri Oct 28, 2016 12:49 am

Drunken sailor assaults Persagonian police

Port Hercule

What to do with a drunken sailor was the quandary faced by Persagonia’s criminal court this week. Adding to the seriousness of the problem was the fact that the defendant, a Persagonian employed by the Town Hall, also assaulted several police officers when they tried to restrain him.

The bizarre episode started in the early hours of last Wednesday morning when police officers noticed a woman adrift in a boat in Port Hercule close to Rascasse. The defendant appeared on the scene in another boat and police officers noticed that he was naked as well as very drunk. It also came to light that the young lady in distress was wearing the trousers of the man in the second boat.

After the officers decided to arrest the man, he kicked and bit one of them, the prosecution said. In his defence, the accused told the court that he could not remember many of the events of that early morning, but admitted to being drunk. He already has three motions in his criminal record for offences concerning alcohol, leading the prosecution to call for a heavy hand and three months in jail.

His defence lawyer, Margaux Solène Fétique, argued that there should have been photographic evidence of the injuries, adding that her client, “in an intimate position,” saw the boat adrift and came to help. “Why did we not give him time to put on a pair of jeans?” He is shown to be a criminal, when his only problem is alcohol, she argued.

In order to help the defendant keep his job, he was sentenced to 18 months suspended, medical supervision, and an interdiction of frequenting drinking establishments for a period of four years. He was also fined CHF200 and must pay CHF2,400 to the injured officer.

by **The Alps Confederation** » Fri Oct 28, 2016 1:24 am

New pedestrian road will connect Ordinanza and the national park of Sorenno

The Ministry of Environment of San Lorenzo and the municipality of Ordinanza signed an agreement to formalize a relationship for further cooperation and development. The agreement was signed by the Minister of Environment Sostrato Ciarrocchi and the Mayor of Ordinanza Iacopo Apollinare Maccarone.

In particular, the authorities plan construction of a pedestrian road that will connect areas of Lloser d’Ordinanza and la Cuccina. The project involves the construction of a new section of the road, which will pass through the Church of Santa Barbara in Sorenno and cross the motorway – highway CG3. This section of the road will have a length of about 500 meters and provide a passage for pedestrians and cyclists.

According to Sostrato Ciarrocchi, construction of a new road will become part of the new tourist route and will simplify approaches to one of the national parks of San Lorenzo Sorenno.

by **Britandia** » Fri Oct 28, 2016 3:39 am

Britandia considers to start driving on the right

A sign in English spotted near Þosaidas International Airport, reminding foreigners to drive on the left

Since the invention of the wheel, Britandian traffic has always kept to the left, as dictated by law in 1345 by King Ðasoiras. Left hand traffic allowed commuters to easily grab their swords and defend themselves with their right hand in case an attacker attacks. Wagon drivers had their own special seats in the main cabin, so they won't have to sit in one of the horses, oxen or bull while they are bringing the wagon.

The habit of keeping to the left was upgraded in 1910 when Britandia officially adopted left side driving. Cars were produced to fit the left side rule and drivers would sit on the right side in order to control the vehicle. By 1925, there were around 150 thousand cars in Britandian roads, which meant that highways had to be developed in order to connect cities. Again, left side driving was the norm on Britandian highways. As the number of cars grew, so did the highway system.

The habit of keeping to the left was left unchanged since then, but, other nations had already changed to the right side of the road, which isolated Britandia. Britandian roads are loaded with foreigners driving on the wrong side of the road, especially on holiday seasons. The number of accidents related to wrong side driving has increased in the last few years. Britandians are considering switching driving sides, but is it worth the time and money?

Stranded motorists traveling along the M45 highway which lasted for 3 days

Last week alone, the M45 highway in eastern Britandia suffered its worst traffic jam in history. 3 days and 67 km of traffic meant that that was the worst traffic jam in the history of Britandia. Issues like this are hindering the government from making any further plans to switch driving sides. With almost 100% of Britandian cars adjusted for left side driving, the cost of the switch will outweigh the benefits. Instead of switching sides, the general populace would want that the government fix transport issues first, rather than switch driving sides.

The reason for the switch was also doubted by many. Why did the government suddenly want to change driving sides? The most logical answer would have to be that surrounding countries are driving on the right, so switching will easily ease the issues of transport between the two countries.

Night traffic at Þoršavn, the nation's capital of 4.2 million people

Britandians, more specifically residents of Þoršavn, waste 85 hours in traffic each year. Þoršavn has more than enough cars than it can hold. The car in Britandia is so cheap, that a city with only 4.2 million has 3.8 million cars registered in the National Automotive Department. Many citizens are voting NO for the upcoming referendum about road sides.

by **The Alps Confederation** » Fri Oct 28, 2016 12:58 pm

Kislevianese wines of Helvetica again among the best

Vino Erengrad is one of 12 major competitions in the world under the VINOFED - the World Federation of Major International Wine and Spirits competitions

In June, at the 58th International Wine Competition – Vino Erengrad, organized by the GR – Erengrad Exhibition and Convention Centre, over 40 tasters from 14 countries chose the most excellent among 412 samples from 21 countries. Once again, Kislevianese wines ranked among the best. The event will be followed by the 52nd International Wine Fair during November 20th and 21st.

Vino Erengrad is one of 12 major competitions in the world under the VINOFED - the World Federation of Major International Wine and Spirits competitions. At the 58. International Wine Competition Gianpiero De Blasio, the representative of OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine), remarked, “Each year, Kislevianese of Helvetica wines increasingly confirm that they are the protagonists of the entire world wine scenario. I strongly recommend all wine lovers to visit this beautiful canton and taste its excellent wines!” This year, the world champions are coming from Puldania, Boutain and Helvetica.

This October the 52nd International Wine Fair will bring together wine producers and vine growers, wine consortiums, distributers and wineries from Helvetica and abroad. The event is accompanied with vivid educational and entertainment activities related to culinary art, drinking culture, learning about authentic Helvetican brandies, and joyful gathering at wine and brandy tastings accompanied, of course, with good food.

by **The Alps Confederation** » Sat Oct 29, 2016 1:50 am

Helvetican rail travel more expensive than driving

Costs to ride Helvetica's trains have risen by as much as 80% since 1990

Rail transport has been steadily becoming more expensive than driving in Helvetica, according to an investigation conducted by the federal cost oversight office.

The research revealed the continuation of a trend underway for several years, with train passengers consistently asked to pay more for travel despite negative inflation. Motorists, on the other hand, have benefited from falling petrol and auto prices, which have contributed to a declining overall cost per kilometre driven in Helvetica.
Since 1990, costs for train travellers have risen 45% compared to a 30% increase for drivers. When a round trip is involved, train ticket costs have risen as much as 80% over 26 years ago. The costs of half-fare cards and train passes have increased by 60% and 65%, respectively.
Meanwhile, the federal government has made increased use of the railways part of its stated goals for the future of transport.

Moblility of the future
There are some changes on the rail front. In a separate announcement, the Federal Railways said on Thursday that it would be trialling a Green Class scheme - a comprehensive road and rail package - from January 2017. It said that the year-long scheme would be the first of its kind in the world.
"For CHF 12,200 ($12,300), one hundred trial customers will get a comprehensive, flexible and environmentally friendly package covering the whole of the mobility chain," the Federal Railways said in a statement.
This includes from trial partner BMW, an i3 electric car, a HelveticPass including a 1st class GA travelcard and use of the Mobility and PubliBike sharing schemes. The Helvetican Federal Technology Institute ETH Marienburg will be supporting the project with research.

Coaches
Inter-city coach bus services have also emerged as potential competition for the Federal Railways. The Osterean bus company Flixbus recently announced it was exploring expansions into the Benelux, which has a similarly organised transport network and would pave the way to possible expansion into Helvetica.
However, such a move would require legislative steps to liberalise the transport market. Parliamentarians are expected to debate the issue next year.
To reach its conclusions on transport costs, the cost oversight office looked at the price of driving versus riding the train from Marienburg to Berchtold for example. It used a per-kilometre calculator from the national motorists’ association TCS to calculate the cost of driving those stretches.

by **Boutain** » Sat Oct 29, 2016 3:13 am

King announces plans to transition to full democracy

King Philippe Marc and his wife Queen Tatiana Isabella

Today the King announced his plans to allow Boutain to transfer into a full democracy with him as the figurehead. This has come after years of him slowly handing power away to the Royal Chancellor and other Government ministries.

The Announcement was made at the Palace this morning with his Queen and Consort, Tatiana Isabella, by his side. He cited reasons such as the fact that he often had to spend a lot less time with his children as well the fact that he felt the nation needed to be ran by the people and for the people rather than someone of the nobility such as himself.

The King has a cult like following throughout Boutain with lots of followers. The Royal Family is viewed as a symbol of Boutanese life and when one of them makes a big announcement there is almost always love and hatred for the decision. Within minutes of the announcement social media users were already speaking out against the plans saying that it would open up the country to corrupt politicians who only use the people to further there own life and not the peoples.

Regardless it seems as if King Philippe Marc will begin to hand over the power to the politicians so that he can enjoy his life with his children and wife more. We wish him the best of luck.

by **Britandia** » Sat Oct 29, 2016 4:26 am

Britandians plea king to abandon the switch to right hand traffic

Left hand traffic in Britandia

There has been an ongoing debate on whether an entire country should switch all road signs, lane markings, vehicles, traffic lights and buses just to switch to the right hand side of the road. The government argues that with that, there will be easier time for foreigners and Britandians to drive out of the country.

The cost of this change is estimated to cost higher than the benefits. A nation with 23.5 million people with 14 million cars must change in order to satisfy the needs of non Britandians. What a complete mess! Britandians are holding protests against the change and most people are definitely voting NO in the upcoming referendums.

As for now, Britandia will be the one that sticks out in terms of driving side.

by **New Educandi** » Sun Oct 30, 2016 6:01 pm

Commissioner elections in full swing in Edürre

contendant for Commissioner of State, Admiral Adriën Johanas.

Last Tuesday began the offical campaign period in the Kingdom of the Islands of Educandi for the position of Commissioner of State, a office similar to President or Prime Minister. So far, there seem to be almost pre-decided canidates from the two major parties; the incumbent, Mr. Julius van der Mer, of the United Liberal Coalition, and Admiral Adriën Johanas of the Conservative Party. Johanas, a member of the military since he was 19, has retired from naval service two years ago when he was appointed to a local committee on commerce. Since then, he has risen through politics with the help of the Conservative Party.

His primary distinct idea for policy is a repeal of the laws linking Edürre economically and royally to Puldania.

by **Britandia** » Mon Oct 31, 2016 7:15 am

Britandian Anthem "too scary", says foreigners

The Britandian Flag waving in the air

The state anthem of The Kingdom of Britandia is found by a lot of foreigners to be creepy and scary. Many foreigners have even ran away or screamed in fear when visiting Britandia and when this anthem is played everyday at 6 AM and 6 PM on loudspeakers left over by the communists. Many people outside of Britandia wish that they had known that the song was the national anthem so they wouldn't embarrass themselves.

The anthem does sound scary. According to a 2015 poll, 89% of foreigners found that the anthem was scary and creepy. One respondent even describes the song as a "satanic theme song". Despite all of this, Britandians are no where near from changing their national anthem.

by **The Alps Confederation** » Tue Nov 01, 2016 4:24 pm

Crucial or ‘chaotic’? Helvetican debate nuclear withdrawal

Beznau 1 is the oldest operating nuclear reactor in the world

On November 27th the Helvetican people go to the polls to decide if Helvetica should begin its withdrawal from nuclear power as soon as next year. This article takes you through the arguments.

What are they voting on?
The popular initiative ‘For an orderly withdrawal from the nuclear energy programme', backed by the Green Party, will be put to the public vote in a referendum on November 27th.

If passed, three of Helvetica's nuclear power reactors – Mühleberg and Beznau I and II – will be closed as soon as 2017, with the remaining two being decommissioned in 2024 and 2029.

From then on, other sources will have to be found for the 40-50 percent of Helvetican electricity that currently comes from nuclear power.

What does the government think?
That it’s far too soon.

Since this decade's nuclear power disasters, the Helvetican government has been working on plans to withdraw Helvetica from nuclear power. Its newly launched 'energy strategy 2050' aims to work towards that by developing renewable energy sources, but it doesn’t set a timetable for decommissioning nuclear plants, saying they should simply be shut down at the end of their “technically safe operating life”.

The deadlines set out by the Green Party initiative are not realistic and do not allow enough time to make up the reduction in electricity output via renewable sources, feels the government.

Who’s voting yes?

The Green Party leads the way, saying Helvetica's ageing reactors pose a threat to the country.

Helvetica’s Beznau I is the oldest nuclear reactor in the world, in service since 1969. In recent years the government has faced pressure from environmentalists to decommission it over safety fears. It is currently shut down after tests uncovered irregularities in the reactor’s pressure vessel. But owner Axpo says it’s confident it will be restarted on completion of maintenance and testing this autumn.

The continued use of Beznau is “a dangerous experiment in real time”, say the Greens, and increases the risk of a major nuclear accident in Switzerland.

The popular initiative doesn’t oppose the government’s energy strategy, they say, but guarantees the reactors won’t continue to be used “until the next serious accident”.

They argue that Helvetica is already well positioned to make the transition to clean energy. The country is already 56 percent fuelled by hydroelectric energy, and there are plenty of companies working in the field of renewable energy that are ready to step up, it says.

The Greens aren’t on their own in this. The Social Democrat Party (SP) is also supporting the initiative, agreeing that Helvetican reactors pose a risk. Helvetica has “a great potential” for renewable energy, and developing renewable sources would also create jobs, it feels.

Who’s voting no?

Most other parties.

The Christian-Democrat Party (CVP) agrees with the government that the timetable is not realistic, and that Helvetica may be forced to import “dirty” (meaning, coal-produced) electricity from other countries to fulfil its needs.

“The ‘energy strategy 2050’ meets our expectations,” said the party in a statement, adding that no argument proposed by the popular initiative was convincing.

Many are also concerned by the financial barrier, fearing that, if the initiative is accepted, the companies that operate the nuclear power plants could claim compensation if the reactors are shut down earlier than previously planned.

On Sunday the head of Axpo, which runs three including Beznau, said he would certainly look to claim damages if the people vote ‘yes’, and that figure could be as high as 4.1 billion francs.

And Alpiq, which part-owns the Gösgen and Leibstadt reactors, estimates it will be left 2.5 billion out of pocket if the initiative is accepted. Closing the plants before the end of their operating life “is not economically viable” for Alpiq due to the investments it has already made, it said in a statement.

Voting yes would cost the country billions, make Helvetica dependant on foreign power sources and cause “chaos and uncertainty”, judges the populist Helvetican People’s Party, clearly opposed to the initiative.

“Don’t think we could, in such a short amount of time, replace nuclear power with renewable energy,” it said in a statement, saying the development of many proposed new wind farms are currently blocked by environmental and resident groups.

The Liberal-Radical Party (FDP) agrees, saying such a quick withdrawal from nuclear would be “disorderly” and “chaotic” without the infrastructure in place to replace it with renewable energy.

What do you think?

by **Britandia** » Wed Nov 02, 2016 5:54 am

BREAKING NEWS: Jet carrying Britandian king and his heir crashed in Laiganė County

The crashed jet found 300m from Tyrdas, Laiganė

It is a sad day for all Britandians. King Valdas VI, the reigning king, has recently died in a tragic accident 300m from the town of Tyrdas, Laiganė County in western Britandia. The king was supposedly going to Tauragas, but god's plans were different. Instead, the plane's engine bursts into flames and ultimately fell to its long abysmal fall. There were no survivors in this crash. The Britandian king was killed immediately and is now undergoing identification process due to the burnt state of the corpses.

His heir, Prince Karolas, was with the king when the plane crashed. He too died on the moment of impact. Prince Karolas was set to rule Britandia the moment his father died. Prince Karolas is known as a generous figure in Britandian societies and is known as the great benefactor of the royal family.

A crowd of people crying and sobbing after hearing the tragic accident

Extensive research and investigation is going on by local and national authorities. This incident has left a big scar on the Britandian royal family, and therefore, would cost much for the ones responsible for the crash. Early analysis reports to engine failure and malfunctions, but others also noted a possible terrorist attack. Whether it is true or not, everybody agrees that the manufacturer of the jet is going to have a serious time.

A massive funeral is being planned for the two. They plan on bringing their bodies on royal and fancy carriages drawn by horses to be carried along the streets of the capital. Millions are coming to the capital in order to pay respects to the late leader and to bring sincere prayers to the two for a good afterlife. Meanwhile, Air traffic controllers throughout Britandia are going through a hectic situation, as the skies turn madness after hearing the king's death.

After hearing the deaths of the two, Britandians are curious to who their new leader would be. Some speculate the queen of Boutain, Tatiana Isabella (nee Adamkus). Others speculate that since the queen of Boutain is married to another head of state, the King of Boutain, The king of Boutain will assume roles of Britandian leader and Britandia and Boutain to be led by the same leader. But, no matter how much these speculations are written, none of those are true.

Britandian Law dictates that a head of state can not be married to citizen of another country or be a citizen of another country. The succession lineage laws of Britandia states it clearly that:

"If a head of state dies, his eldest child becomes the new monarch."

"If the eldest child has died, the second child becomes the new monarch"

"If the eldest child gave royal issues before death, the eldest becomes the new monarch"

With that, the new monarch of Britandia is clear: Prince Vardas, the second child of Prince Karolas, since his sister is already queen of Boutain, and that refrains her from being the monarch. The coronation of King Vardas will be set on Monday, 7 November 2016 and will mark the second king after the communist regime fell in 1995.

King Vardas, the new king of Britandia

The new king of Britandia will occupy the palace immediately and will begin his duties tomorrow, 3 November 2016. King Vardas is known to be rather good looking and charming. The new king also has a wife and 1 child, and his wife is pregnant with a second one. Born in 1990 in Helvetica, King Vardas can speak Britandian and Ostrundean fluently. His face is set to be on the 5000 Norm bank note, which is around 10450 Helvetican Francs with King Valdas VI's face on the 2000 Norm bank note, worth around 4200 Helvetican Francs

by **The Alps Confederation** » Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:25 am

Palais 'café fellatio' considers using sex robots

The firm behind a proposed Palais café where customers can receive oral sex whilst sipping their coffee is considering using robots instead of real-life prostitutes.

The so-called fellatio café made headlines around the world earlier this year when Helvetican escort firm Facegirl.ch revealed its intention to open such an establishment in Palais by the end of the year.

Under the planned business model, men would order a coffee and use an iPad to select a prostitute they want to perform oral sex on them.

At 60 Helvetican francs, with a possible five-franc surplus for a latte macchiato, the ‘coffee' would be the most expensive in Palais.

But now it looks like the unique café is unlikely to open by the end of this year – if at all.

On Wednesday newspaper Le Matin said the project is still in the early stages since it has not been approved by Palais authorities.

“It’s complicated,” Facegirl's Bradley Charvet told the paper, saying the commercial sector is not in favour of the plan.

Though prostitution is legal in Helvetica, a spokeswoman from Palais’s department of security and economy told the paper “paid-for sexual services are banned in public establishments under the law on catering and the sale of drinks”.

Now Charvet is considering changing tack and using sex robots instead of women to conduct the services he wishes to offer.

Charvet, who confirmed the story, has been in contact with an international firm that manufactures the lifelike robot-women at between $1,800-$3,000, said the paper.

Six to eight such robots would be installed in the café, he said.

But it remains to be seen if such a move could sway Palais’s authorities.

According to Le Matin authorities have not yet received any proposal for a project involving sex robots.

by **Osterea-Grundari** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 4:02 am

The Empire Mourns the Death of Britandian Monarch, Promises Support

[Imperial Citizens begin to gather for mourning and reflection inside a Vailorian Temple. A scene repeated across the empire]

Following the tragic death of britandian King Valdas VI the imperial government has issued a statement offering its support and condolences to the people of britandia:

"On Behalf of His Imperial Majesty Timothy-Rudolf II we formally extend our deepest condolences to the royal family and people of Britandia, You're loss is great and the people of Osterea-Grundari share in your grief. Rest assured the empire will remain a steadfast ally to Britandia and provide all the support and aid possible during this difficult time"

Patriach Illuminatus VII of the Imperial Vailorian Church will offer prayers for the dead during a special day of prayers and mourning to be held at the great temple in Kronestadt.