Greater Olympus News *OUTDATED*

[Winst]

Shiloh, Winst

At 10 am today the Dead Produzir Valley Nuclear Energy Facility was evacuated following a deadly mudslide. The facility which powers south western Winst has been in operation for 50 years leading some to worry whether the failsafe are up to the challenge of keeping the reactor from overheating. Residents of the area including Siloh are being informed to evacuate the area. If the reactor does go critical neighboring nations of Etrurie, Lunderfrau, and Arideo may be within reach of the fallout.

More to follow

[Lykens]

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ARP sweeps into office in traditional PF stronghold

07/31/2018

- Teodoro Vázquez

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The incoming Chief Minister, Rosalia Domingo Esparanza of the ARP, leading the first ARP government in thirty years.

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The political establishment of the southern province of Aguadilla was shaken by a 9.7 magnitude earthquake after Saturday’s provincial election where voters rejected the longest government in the history of the province and quite possibly the entire Federal Republic. Recently beset by numerous charges of corruption and ethical lapses, the ruling Progressive Front government returned its worst showing in provincial history, sinking to a mere 10% of the vote, barely securing the threshold to hold seats in the Provincial Assembly.

The ethical woes began shortly after the incumbent Chief Minister, Rodrigo ‘Ruy’ Jiménez began his third term. Allegations of money laundering were leaked to the media by a campaign whistleblower and amid a firestorm, the Chief Minister ordered the appointment of an independent counsel via the Minister of Interior. Four years of a constant drip drip of leaks, numerous indictments, and one [url]LNN Expose[/url] later, Chief Minister Jiménez is entering political retirement early, having tarnished a twelve year legacy and three decades of party rule with 33 separate indictments ranging from money laundering, conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, extortion, abuse of power, and falsification of records, among other charges.

Sweeping into office with an unprecedented 77 seats out of 150, the ARP is secured for the next four years with a majority government. Before this past weekend, such a government in the River Provinces would have been completely unheard of and even laughed about. Politics in this southern part of the nation are usually skewed towards the PF as these provinces are more inclined towards manufacturing and urban centers, but the ARP has shown that it can compete in these demographically less orthodox regions.

[Arideo]

Crown Princess Amadelia II to join citizenry in celebrating Sunburn Day!

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August 3, 2018 | Gvardio de Monteto | 10:54

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In a surprise, Her Highess Crown Princess Amadelia II announced to La Gardisto that she would be attending the Sunburn festivities in the center of Gvardio de Monteto later this week personally. This announcement is the latest in a series of public appearances, but is the first time that a monarch has left Castrio for a public appearance since the FRA rebels murdered His Highness Wilbert X in 1955.

The schedule for Her Highness has not yet been released, and it is widely believed that she'll not spend much time in the open, but excitement runs high amongst the citizenry regardless!

"I think it's great that the royalty will be attending the Sunburn festival. It's gonna be the largest one yet, so royalty showing up will befinetly help," the Lord-Councilor of Gvardio de Monteto, Peroux Zanders said during a press conference. "I expect this year's festival will be one to remember for centuries to come!"

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Outlander's Section

The Sunburn Festival is an annual event held in one of Arideo's cities (though mostly held in Gvardio de Monteto due to the city's image). The event celebrates the founding of Arideo; More specifically, the Battle of Sunburn Fields, where Aridite forces finally defeated its rebellious lands and unified the country into what it is today. The battle is most likely the deadliest in Aridite history; Over three weeks, of the 125 000 that took part in the battle at the outset, only 56 000 Aridites emerged; Not a single rebel survived of the 37 000 that took part.

[Arideo]

BREAKING NEWS: Terrorist attack during the Sunburn celebration

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August 5, 2018 | Gvardio de Monteto | 18:42

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Though details are scarce at this time, reports say a bomb has gone off at the Highland Plaza in Gvardio de Monteto, where the annual Sunburn celebration was held. We will update as we find out more about what is going on.

Update, 19:04 - GdMPD officials have been seen speeding around the city, locking down various districts and urging citizens not to go outside whilst they sort out the situation. Rapid gunfire is reportedly being heard from Highland Plaza.
Update, 19:07 - The EKR has arrived at the Highland Plaza, and the entire city has been locked down as the GdMPD fears a third revolution might be under way.
Update, 19:13 - Gunfire has ceased at Highland Plaza. Even La Gardisto journalists have been denied access to the plaza by the EKR, citing "civilian presence in the area would threaten national security". Officials have refused to comment on the status of Crown Princess Amadelia II.
Update, 19:37 - La Gardisto have finally been granted access to the plaza. The remains of flag of the democratic rebels can be seen on the ground in front of the Lightbringer statue.
Final update, 22:30 - The lockdown on Gvardio has been lifted, and the GdMPD has confirmed many's suspicion: This was, indeed, a planned terrorist attack by the radical organization "Republicans of Arideo" targeted specifically at Amadelia II during her visit to the Highland Plaza. The five rebels on the site arrived via a black unmarked van which smashed through the fence surrounding the plaza. The five gunmen then jumped out of the van and started firing at Crown Princess Amadelia II's personal vehicle whilst planting their flag on the Lightbringer. GdMPD assets on the scene were able to contain the rebels long enough for Amadelia II's personal guard to evacuate her to safety.

The final death toll are all five rebels, who refused to surrender even when surrounded and out-numbered 5 to 1 by the EKR, 4 civilians killed and 15 injured in the crossfire and the chaos, and seven GdMPD officers shot to death by the rebels. Amadelia II has, according to an anonymous government official, heavily condemned the attack, calling it "little more than a show of intimidation in an attempt at making Arideo fit their twisted narrative".

[Gebeta]

Gebetan News

GSN

8-7-2018


Tatra Armored Carrier- Not just an enforcement, but also a rescue truck

Good Morning Gebeta, our top story today is a Terrorist attack during the Sunbeam Festivals. Reports indicate that there was a total of 5 attackers armed with assault rifles. In response to this, Police forces responded to the conflict. After a firefight, which left the 5 attackers dead, 7 officers dead and civilian casualties.
In Response, Gebeta has vowed to assist Ariedo in securing its streets from further attacks. Gebeta has offered to donate 12 Tatra Armored Personnel Carriers and 600 armored used by the Heer and Marines.

The President has stated that there is great sorrow in the attack, condemning it as nothing more than a cowardly and useless attack, costing innocent and brave men and women lives.

In Gebeta itself, Chief of Police Harrold Enrik said
“This is something that is becoming an issue. In the coming weeks, the city of Gerdsburg is having an annual festival. Attacks like these are not meant to cause damage to Military targets, but to cause fear and terror in a civilian populace. Heer force in our city will work closely in hand with Police forces to secure the city for all to enjoy.”

On the other hand, 90-Year-old Gertude Michael says
“Its tragic, the attack, but where do you draw the line. In the 50s I remember having to cross 3 Military Checkpoints just to visit my sister. We run the risk of having to live in a police state again. It was horrible. They could deny you, arrest you for no reason or seize your car all the same.”

The Tatra is a modified military model, 6 wheeled transport. Its shaped to withstand mine explosions, off-road speeds, and in place of the 25mm gun, it has been given an armored camera array for recording incidents. The Tatra is expected to help police approach hostile situations on safety. Its camera array can be removed leaving the view turret for use by a commander. It can be configured for either transport of SWAT or uses as a medical truck. In addition to this, Stahl, the builder of the Tatra, says that its ability to be used as a flood rescue truck with no modification needed makes it more than just an enforcement unit.

There has been no word on when the deliveries will take place.

[Ecelea]

TARAGRAD COURIER - VIOLENCE IN ARIDEO: TERRORISTS OR LIBERATORS?

[Arideo]

Amadelia II to commence the largest counter-terrorism operation in Aridite history

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August 10, 2018 | Gvardio de Monteto | 10:26

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Five days ago, on Sunday, 5th of August, a terrorist attack targeted at Crown Princess Amadelia II herself occured at the Highland Plaza in Gvardio de Monteto, killing 4 civilians and wounding 15. It is the first terrorist attack on a major city since the terrorist attack on Castrio Castle in 1955, when King Wilbert X and most of the royal bloodline was killed, but minor terrorist attacks have been taking place all over the country, with more common occurences in the far west and the territories held by the rebels in the second civil war.

Amadelia II held a press conference earlier today about the aims of the operation (officially Operacio Serĉanto), of which there are three;
1. The forceful restoration of the monarchy in areas with high rebel influence in order to prevent another major terrorist attack in Aridite cities.
2. Locating and destroying rebel hideouts to prevent them from gathering in any significant number.
3. Establishment of province checkpoints to catch rebels trying to organize in a single province.

Serĉanto will according to the Minister of the Interior, Jack Aubery, be the largest counter-terrorism operation in Aridite history, dwarfing even the then massive Operacio Restarigo, active 1982 to 1984.

Many government officials have expressed approval over the move, which was launched without the express approval of King Wilbert XI, as His Highness' health continues declining and Amadelia II is expected to take the throne later this year. Serĉanto will officially come into effect on August 15, and the full effect is expected to hit a week later, on August 22.

[Produzir]

Produz Broadcasting Company, EdRP
Ospreys Sell Stadium Naming Rights to PIAA Bank
by Julio Barros

The Ativo Ospreys have sold the naming rights to their Gonçalo Stadium on the banks of the Ária River just outside downtown Portuária to the
cosigned company known as PIAA Bank, a subsidiary of PIAA (Portuaria Insurance and Annuity). Gonçalo Shipping held the naming rights to the stadium for the last thirteen years when they bought the rights to the Ospreys new stadium in August of 2005 when the Ospreys moved downtown from their previous 35-year old Osprey Stadium. Gonçalo's contract expired though and the Ospreys decided not to renew it, instead selling it to the Portuaria-based company known as PIAA. So the Ativo Ospreys home field will now be known as PIAA Bank Field.

[Valley Green]

Sloosmont Daily Gazette
Ecoterrorists Run Rampant!
by Bradford Holloway

A pair of well-planned and highly orchestrated terrorist attacks that occurred yesterday has the entire country united in grief and the fishing industry rocked back on its heels.

Shortly after midnight Monday morning, a terrorist attack occurred in the sleepy little town of Valaki, population 6,400. Valaki's fishing port boasts the most successful fleet of trawlers that are not owned by a major fishing concern, but instead a small private one. The cannery, fishing trawlers, and processing plant are all owned and run locally and not by big business concerns. One has to wonder then why this little town was the target of last night's vicious raid.

Authorities report that at least four persons entered the harbor in two speedboats and threw dynamite and molotov cocktails at the docked fishing boats, which were going to depart at dawn. One stick of dynamite was intentionally thrown into a guard shack, and another into the dockside fuel tanks. The resulting fires destroyed the town's entire fishing fleet and the warehouses, cannery, and fish processing plant onshore as well as several other buildings. Over one billion dollars in damage was sustained and two security guards were killed in the attack. One of the more than two hundred firefighters who responded to the scene also died when a building collapsed. Police say that accomplices of the attackers intentionally caused a rockslide which blocked one of the two roads leading into the small town in order to delay the responding fire crews. Despite this the fire was brought under control and extinguished shortly before dawn.

At daybreak, the townspeople gathered around to watch the firemen poke through the wreckage of their lives. When interviewed, local resident Isaac Little, who sits on the town council said: "I really don't know what we're going to do. We are a fishing town at heart. I guess we'll try to rebuild." The mayor reported that two-thirds of the town's jobs and over eighty percent of the local economy is based around the fishing port. He says that he will probably have to seek federal assistance. The Counter-Terrorism Center of the National Police Service is investigating the incident.

Meanwhile in the capital city of Van Der Stam, another attack took place yesterday afternoon. A brand new factory ship, the Titan ,owned by the PISCES Conglomerate, the nation's second-largest fishing concern, sank as it was making its way out of the harbor to join the fishing fleets off of Vadkness. Reports from eyewitnesses suggest that a half dozen large explosions took place simultaneously along the ship's starboard side. The ship, in the deepwater harbor entrance channel at the time, capsized and sank in less than five minutes. Of the hundred and ten strong crew, twelve have been confirmed dead, fifty-five survivors were rescued by Harbor Police and the Coastal Patrol and forty-two are still missing as of this printing. It is believed by Van Der Stam police that the explosions were caused by time bombs placed on the inside of the ship's hull by saboteurs.

In response to these atrocities, Chief Minister Krieger has ordered the National Police and Intelligence Services to take steps to counter ecoterrorists. A note left on the dock the Titan departed from claiming responsibility for the attack was signed AVEW. It is unknown if this is a new terrorist group or an individual person. It is also unknown if the two attacks yesterday were perpetrated by the same people. At this time a special hotline is being set up for any citizens with information to alert the authorities.

[Velkanika]

President Utkin Unveils New Foreign Policy

Velkanika Wire Services
By Katya Pavlovsky, Reporter
August 25 at 2:28 PM

Velkanikan President Utkin revealed in a prepared statement today a dramatic change in foreign policy. The new policy, already being referred to as the "Utkin Doctrine" by foreign policy commentators, has dramatically expanded the conditions under which Velkanika will use military force in future crises.

Citing the "dramatic and alarming increase in global tensions and military deployments by global Conservative elements," the President declared that Velkanika would "use military force in order to spread economic and social freedom for the Proletariat in the face of Reactionary aggression." This marks a dramatic departure from previous Velkanikan foreign policy doctrine, which previously limited military force to self-defense and the defense of nations already espousing Socio-Economic Justice for their citizens.

This story is developing.

[Produzir]

[Parthonopia]

September 5, 2018

Military News
Article by
Pepi Panforte

Previously Approved Draft

Goes Into Effect

Ahead of Schedule

Forces Increased Near Coast

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"When the fate of history and our people hangs in the balance...Parthonopians will not be caught unprepared next time around." - Prince Carlo addressing the public via broadcast, announcing the institution of a draft, well ahead of schedule.

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An M113 APC and crew from the 13th Cavaleggeri di San Marco Battalion, part of the III Corp,
on maneuvers outside of the village of Trieste in the Marcomer Republic.

Since its initial founding in 2010, the Parthonopian Legion has vastly increased in not only size but organization and quality of equipment. As of the beginning of 2018, eight years from its founding alongside the Risorgimento movement, the ranks of the Legion stand around 800,000 strong. With another 400,000 in reserves, as per a report from the Convention on the Cormor on the status of their military wing, which puts the official count of active Commonwealth forces hovering around the 1.2 million mark. The past four years have seen a drastic improvement in the organization, upkeep and capabilities of the Legion's forces; massive stockpiles of equipment surplus from foreign armed forces, specifically that of Carelia, were bought up and dispersed throughout the Corps, significantly updating their armament. This has heavily been attributed to the similarly timed change of command to the current Grand Marshal, Vico Bartolomeo Ongaro, as well as authority over the Legion being handed to the Convention.

Despite these major developments over recent years, the Legion's preparedness for an international dispute has been put into question. The upkeep and use of the Legion being the most consuming topic of the Convention's time on the floor, a potential plan for a draft was passed through last year. Scheduled to take effect only after the Commonwealth would declare itself a single state, the originally accepted date between 2020-21. These conscription laws would have enforced mandatory service of five years terms for any able bodied male between the ages of 18-28. Tensions and turmoil running rampant in the diaspora of Liran politics, with acts of terror and armed conflict rising the world over, today these laws were announced and that they would going into action immediately. Prince Carlo dell'Ancona once again addressed the Parthonopian region, this time from his office in the Castello d'Cormor after his visit to Fortezza Nuoro where he inspected the shape of the Legion. Accompanied by the force's upper echelon of the chain of command, yesterday they were able to convince the Convention of the change in plans. The entirety of the reserves would be called to active duty and rallied throughout the coastal nations of the Commonwealth. From there the goal of the draft projects a new total of the armed forces to sit around 2.2 million, close to 6% of the male population.

Prince Carlo had began his address at noon today, one of many recent public speeches and rallies, a stark contrast to his less than often appearances in the early years of the unification movement. Tensions high domestically, the fear of famine and war heavy on the mind of the average Parthonopian lately, he started his speech by consoling the people and reassuring the continued safety and prosperity for this region and these lands. Continuing to applaud the efforts of the Grand Marshal Ongaro and the abilities of the Legion currently, he urged that its inabilities were not of our own blame but of a lack of opportunity. With the institution of this draft and a significantly larger pool of recruits, outside of the fully volunteer force that it has been to date, the Legion could accomplish much more and be vastly more prepared in the unlikely event of an invasion. While remaining optimistic, he recognizes the precarious situation of the Parthonopian people. He states that these are combatable issues, however, and this is a step in doing so. The verdict is still out on the peoples opinion of this new law, but Prince Carlo preemptively had this to say to any detractors of it; "History may not be allowed to repeat itself, a divided land allowed for the abhorrent rapid expansion of the Porduzi... remaining divided now on defense of this land paves the road for a new oppressor."

Happening alongside the new draft, a change in structure and leadership will be rolled out due to the projected massive increase in size. Starting with the promotion to Field Marshal of the Massan General Cecilio Di Pietro, a veteran of Risorgimento. His role commanding the III Corp will now expand to cover, with the addition of the immediately activated reserve, five Corps to encompass the newly formed Esercito della Guardia Meridionale. Field Marshal Di Pietro's first duty, after completing the formation of the Army, is to mobilize to south eastern states of the Commonwealth. Specifically to further bolster the force in the Marcomer Republic, which Di Pietro had previously commanded during the successful campaign to strike out the remainder of terrorist forces in that region. After the core of terrorist forces disbanded at the start of last year the Republic was handed back to the surviving members of the Senate. Acts of terror remain a threat in the region, however, and the presence of the Legion is still a necessity there today, this being the reasoning to the positioning of the EdGM.

This act piggy backs off of a series of recent tumultuous events which have urged the Convention to take precautionary measures. A forewarning to the Convention, King Wilbert XI reactivating the wartime draft in Arideo weighed heavily in the decision to institute one in the Parthonopian region. Not seen since the conclusion of the last Aridite Civil War, enacting an emergency draft was a haunting move and caused by threats from their neighbor to the North. The Wintonians are know for their aggressive meddling in the affairs of foreign nations, especially those of the less fortunate Orthurian ones. Prince Carlo addressed this today, amid his announcement of the new legislature, "..a threat to [Arideo] is a threat to us... as seen in their civil wars, what harms an Aridite does not necessarily remain within their own border."

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[Produzir]

Produz Broadcasting Company, EdRP
Autistic Girl from South Ausbrichten, Produzland Kicked Off Airplane
October 4th, 2018
by Julio Barros

A South Ausbrichten family was traveling with their 13-year-old daughter with autism when she and her family were removed from a LiroAurum flight from Anaholm, Carelia to Aatream when the plane made an emergency landing in Orestes for what the airline calls a "disruptive situation", the family calls it "an outrage".

Cellphone footage captured by another passenger and posted on YouTube shows the family, including the 13-year-old autistic girl, being escorted off the plane by several security officials during an emergency landing in Orestes.

In the video, the girl appears calm as she leaves her seat and walks through the aisle with headphones on.

The teen’s mother, Dr. Maria Guimarães of Barreto, South Ausbrichten, told EdRP station TDL of Amagotes, South Ausbrichten, that her daughter, Carina, became agitated during a layover because she was hungry.

According to the report, Guimarães requested a meal for her daughter, and once received, she calmed down and watched a movie, but soon after, a crew member made an announcement that the plane would be making an emergency landing because of "a passenger on board with a behavior issue."

Once the plane landed, police officers boarded it and escorted the entire family off.

In a statement to EdRP, LiroAurum Airways said its "crew made the best decision for the safety and comfort of all of our customers and elected to divert to Orestes after the situation became disruptive."

Guimarães has filed official complaints with LiroAurum and the Produz Aviation Administration and plans to sue the airline "not for money, but rather to ask that airline staff receive training," she said.

[Lykens]

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A Sheep Shearer’s Story (Have fun saying that three times really fast)

08/15/2018

- Juana Delgado

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A sheep is shorn by a sheep shearer as its wool has reached the appropriate length for shearing.

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This is the first installation of a series on the powerhouse of the Lykensburgish economy, sheep husbandry.

Dawn has barely broken across las Montañas Afeitadas and yet the day has already started for local shearer Teodoro Delgado. He rises at a the ungodly hour of 4:15 to prepare for the coming day, usually leaving his home at about five o’clock in the morning and arriving at his union’s sheep station at a quarter to six o’clock. He works from 7-9, takes an hour break, back to work until noon, another hour long break, and then four grueling hours of near constant shearing as the flocks of the next ranch are cycled through. A final hour of paid break time closes out the day and Teodoro makes the forty five minute drive home to spend time with his wife and kids before going to sleep promptly at 9:30.

This is a day in the life of one of Lykens’ most crucial workers in one of the most important sectors of our economy, the powerhouse that is sheep husbandry.

Teodoro is just one of approximately five million sheep shearers spread throughout the rural provinces. He’s been shearing since he was 14 years old and his father gave to him his first set of blade shears. He still owns the pair, he was happy to note, and they’re displayed in a glass case above the mantle in his living room. He hopes to buy a nice first set for his eldest son who has displayed an interest in carrying on the family legacy. In addition to shearing for the last thirty years, Teodoro’s father was a shearer for fifty years prior and his grandfather for fifty years before that going back generations, like many of the men he works with, their last names had been colleagues for decades prior.

Having a long line of sheep shearers come before you has its perks but also some downsides.

“The legacies, that’s what they call us who’ve been doing this shit for generations, do get special perks. We usually get pretty good spots in the stations with good lighting, air conditioner, you know the works. We do have some preferences when it comes to requesting time off, we’re more liable to make up the work when we come back and management knows we’re good for it. It’s better to let the guy who can clip a sheep at two-thirty have a day or couple off than the guy who can’t get below three-fifty, you know? The guy at two-thirty can make up what the other guy can do in a day.” He shrugged his shoulders at my puzzled expression before explaining some of the jargon of his industry.

‘Two-thirty’ refers to the amount of time it takes Teodoro to shear a single sheep, and the national average is about three-fifteen. He says he’s not even the fastest among his closest colleagues, and that a few of the men he’s been shearing with for years can get down to two-ten professionally, but have been known to hit two minutes flat in competitions.

As for downsides? Teodoro grumbled for a minute before answering.

“My family has been shearing sheep since my three times great grandfather, and two of my sons seem likely to follow my footsteps. And yet in all of that time, not a single one of us has been promoted to management.” He glared up at the mantle for a few minutes.

Legacies throughout the industry are routinely passed over for promotions for newcomers who have distinguished themselves early. While it’s true that there have been a few exceptions, those exceptions have been just that, very, very few. Of all management positions held by former sheep shearers going back fifty years, only fifty men out of the thousands had family members previously work as shearers. Union officials frequently argue that it is difficult to promote legacies due to their skill, and replacing it is difficult to do, whereas newcomers can often have the slack picked up by their promotion by legacies and those trained by them.

Many unions have scores of legacies throughout their leadership, and many positions come with stipends, so it has usually been glossed over. To Teodoro, it’s still a little hurtful.

“I won’t say it’s discrimination, it’s not. There are women and men who have it a whole lot harder than any of us because they’re women or whatever different, but it’s disheartening to know you’ll never be rewarded the same way as someone else just because of the success of your family, you know?” Teodoro sat quietly for a minute before continuing. “That sounds awfully ungrateful, I’m happy for all I have and I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given, but it is a little disheartening, I’ll be in that station until I retire.” He put on a small smile and nodded.

“At least it’s doing what I love.”

Teodoro went on to describe the strength of his union and how strongly it fights for the shearers of his station, as well as the importance of it in the industry and country.

“It’s a closed-shop station, so we’re all in the union. Lykens Shearer’s Union Local 331 is mine, one of the best in the whole province, personally I’d say the nation.” He flashed another toothy grin.

“I’ve been Executive Vice President the last eight years, we do a lot of good work by our shearers. We fight back unlawful terminations pretty frequently, you’d think they’d [management] would get the hint already.” He stopped to laugh for a bit.

“We negotiate fairly for our guys but we do take into account economic conditions and the like, we’re not rabid communists like some people like to paint us. The shearers can only succeed as long as management is succeeding with us. We do our part to keep the balance.”
Indeed, Teodoro’s union recently secured a piece rate increase for entry-level shearers, to 2.5 up from 1.75, an increase of nearly 12,000 Lykens dollars before tax. Teodoro obfuscated and dodged when I inquired about his piece rate, saying it was due to years and years of work before relenting and informing me it was 3.5 as of the last two years. Upon my surprise at such a low number, Teodoro shrugged saying I couldn’t understand without context.

“See, every sheep I shear is three dollars fifty. I shear 200 sheep a day, five days a week. Four weeks a month, six months a year. It’s a hefty paycheck. For the new people, piece rate of 2.5, and they shear maybe 100 sheep? That’s a substantially less amount than I make. It’s usually why they’re excused from union dues for the first six months. They have to learn the trade well so that they can pay their bills and keep food on the table. Once you’re in the swing of this job, it pays.”

With such a high potential to earn, I had to ask why it is becoming harder and harder for newer shearers to break into the industry, if there is as much help provided as Teodoro seemed to imply.

“Lots of times, at least in my station and a few stations I have a few buddies in, what will happen is some young kid from the urban provinces will hike out east, decide to join our relatively well paying field, try to learn the trade and burnout in six months. It’s not an easy job. I’m awake almost 16 ½ hours a day, and for eight of those hours I’m working the whole time with three more hours at my place of work. My father had terrible back pain because of the constant positions he sat in at work and then being sedentary at home, it’s vigorous. Hats off to the rousies and shepards, because they’re out and about the whole time while I’m in the shed shearing. Our industry is laborious and it pays well to match that, I don’t think most people realize to make as much money as we do we have to put in the work.”

The unsung heroes of the sheep husbandry industry put hours and hours into greasing the wheels of the global and domestic economy, powering the textile industry that employs millions in the urban provinces, it truly is the lifeblood of our country. One of the oldest professions of this area of Mu-kal, it has provided the backbone of Lykens for hundreds of years and hopefully hundreds to come. Spending time learning and experiencing everything this job requires and offers has truly been eye opening.

I asked what things Teodoro did to alleviate the hard work and what he could change to close out our interview.

“Well. If I could shear sheep sitting down in a nice comfy chair, I’d be a lot happier. I do a lot of yoga when I get off work to help with my joints and whatnot, I haven’t been getting younger.” Another toothy grin flashed.
“I don’t think I’d change anything for the world. For all of its hardships, shearing has taught me a lot about myself as a person, about others, and how to live my life. Work hard and always use every work experience as a learning experience, you can never learn enough and always work to make yourself more efficient, harder working, and overall better. And that’s all the advice I can offer.”

A warm hug from Teodoro, a tearful goodbye from his wife, a basket of food, and my own pair of shearers’ moccasins, I departed their rural dwelling and was on my way, content with a new knowledge of how the economy worked and people made their living.

[Lykens]

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Shearer’s Union Launches Massive Strike in Arecibo

09/14/2018

- Hector Rivera

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Members of the Lykensburgish Shearer’s Association form a picket line outside of their shearing station.

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The second largest shearer’s union has gone on strike in the nation’s largest province. Fresh off of successful negotiations with industry leaders achieving piece rate increases and implementation of penalty rates sought after by LSA leadership, the decision to strike was an unexpected development announced only a weekend before the start of the workweek. Catching labor experts and economists by surprise as the summer enters its final weeks and shearing ramps up before the close of the busiest parts of the year.

Chief Minister Christian Rodríguez had earlier this month pushed through the creation of the first in the nation penalty rates. These penalty rates will add an extra point to piece rates that occur during holidays or overtime outside of the workweek. Previously resisted by industry leaders who for generations worked fastidiously to freeze out any work on holidays or during the weekends, even going to lengths such as losing clients and money, simply to avoid working shearers on their days off.

But as the flocks of sheep throughout the rural provinces of Lykens continue to grow year after year, the back flow resulting from adhering to a strict 40 hour work week has crumbled the resolve of industry leaders. Repeatedly working the lower rung shearers of their stations on the weekends and holidays to cope, Station Chiefs have begun to incur the wrath of the more senior shearers and their union when it came to light that the lower paid shearers were being paid the same rate as senior shearers. Strikes were immediately threatened, slowdowns across the province of Arecibo began, and the two shearer unions began to demand the opening of mid-contract negotiations to right the injustice they believe was occurring.

Chief Minister Christian Rodriguez offered to mediate between the two sides, and Lykens Shearers’ Association and the Lykensburgish Shearers’ Union sent top negotiating officials to the sleepy capital city of Arecibo, Santa Clarita. Industry representatives sent to the negotiations include the Sheep Station Business Association, representing 500 or so independently owned and operated stations, the Lykensburgish Textile Manufacturing Corporation, which operates 67 stations, Empresa de Zapato Amarillo, which operates 46 stations, La Diosa Verde Diseñador Empresa, which operates 30 stations, Mu-kal Textile Shipping Co. operating 19 stations, and Blanco Family Holding, which operates 5 of their own stations.

Having campaigned on penalty rates nearly eight years ago while in opposition, the legislative timetables never favored a return to the debate regarding the penalty rates for Chief Minister Rodriguez. While shearers, their unions, wool classers and rouseabouts made up a huge portion of the ARP base, there was always another policy goal more achievable, an infrastructure project more important, or subsidy audits that demanded attention. The start of negotiations jump started legislative action, and Rodriguez immediately went about pushing a bill to require penalty rates for shearers, classers, and rouseabouts. As negotiations drew on due to penalty rate disagreements, Rodriguez came to understand that the imposition of penalty rates in Provincial Law would be the only way to break the logjam.

After passing the bill through the provincial assembly, negotiators zeroed in on a point increase for penalty rates on top of the point and a half piece rate raises that they had previously secured in the negotiations. Unions traded away a longer work week, now raised to 45 hours, less secure positions for shearers who have been at a station for less than 120 days, up from 90 days, and the loss of ⅔ seniority when shearers move to a new station.

The deal was signed just last week, and now a strike has been called. Sources say that the reason has nothing to do with the negotiations or employer abuse, but one reason many across the political spectrum and the nation have come to condemn voraciously, the sexuality of the Chief Minister of Arecibo, Christian Rodriguez, and his husband of ten years, State Counselor of Lykens, Kenneth Diaz. Union sources say that many union members may even go to work on Monday or even worse for the union, switch entire locals to the rival union, the LSU. The call to strike allegedly came down from the socially conservative executive council of the Arecibo Provincial Branch of the LSA.

Chief Minister Rodriguez’s office offered a one sentence statement upon requests for comment, saying that,

”The Chief Minister’s Office will not stoop to engaging with alleged homophobic drabble who seek to advance their own selfish, pointedly discriminatory agenda over the livelihodd of the hard working men and women they are alleged to represent.”

Neither the National or Provincial Branch LSA Executive Councils has not yet responded to repeated requests for comment at the time of publishing.

[Lykens]

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Union Strikes raises concerns of Raiding by Rival Union

09/22/2018

- Julío Montoya

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Counter-protesters wave picket signs at striking shearers

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As the Lykensburgish Shearers’ Association strike hits the official one week mark, the Lykens Shearers’ Union has sat on a perch of moral superiority, blasting out releases kissing the ring of the the ARP party establishment, offering support and solidarity with the focus of the strikes, State Counselor Kenneth Diaz and Chief Minister Christian Rodríguez. They’ve blasted the Arecibo Provincial Branch LSA Executive Council for their silence regarding the strike, while boosting the condemnations from on higher at the National LSA Executive Council.

Dutifully abiding by agreements forged between the two labor behemoths that are frequently renewed, sources say that the LSU might just renege on one of the most important factors in the long-term success of an LSA that has been badly hemorrhaging shearers for years at a slow clip.

“The LSU has maintained these agreements for so long out of comity, it’s better for labor to be united when put up against the employers, and it helps negotiations go smoother. I don’t want to say LSU is ‘afraid’ of the LSA, but they’ve definitely been more apprehensive in past interactions due to the more militant and strike-happy nature of LSA-Arecibo branch members. Even with a larger member pool and with more cash in its coffers, the LSU was always happy to keep everyone happy and labor united,” is what a high-ranking LSU official had to say regarding the past agreements.

As several locals across the province grumbled about being forced to strike after getting pay raises, there were rumors that some locals might completely disaffiliate with the LSA and switch to the LSU, which if done on their own volition is completely acceptable under the past agreements. Many of these locals simply engaged in temporary slow downs before resuming work during the back half of the work day. The whispering abounded today though, as a week marks a likely long term strike.

A leaked memo sent from LSA-Arecibo President Jorge Castillo to his fellow executive council members denounces the marriage between Chief Minister Rodríguez and State Counselor Diaz as an ‘abomination of God’, and an affront to society. He derides the recent penalty rate requirements as pandering ‘to bring true believers of the faith into their complicity regarding the homosexual agenda.’

Since the reporting of the memo, the provincial branch’s executive council has been complete radio silence. Many LSA members expressed incredulity at the memo, as many have long known the executive council to harbor more staunchly socially conservative views that are not shared among the union they represent or even the general populace of the province.
Many believe Castillo harbors ambitions for political office, and is using the strike to gain leverage over Rodríguez or even oust him. The ARP party machinery is totally controlled by Rodríguez and his husband State Counselor Diaz, with the pair behind the orchestration of the current majority government during the election of 2010. Some have speculated Castillo may even run in the Fatherland Union list and use the strike as evidence of his socially conservative chops.

In any event, LSU officials are watching keenly, not actively encouraging locals to begin switching affiliations but offering harsh and cryptic warnings of ‘unintended consequences’ for the ‘despicable actions of the LSA leadership’.

[Riscelnia]

Major mine collapse; Sabotage or accident?

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October 5, 2018 | Vintergard, Slizae | 18:07

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Three hours ago, the Vallvärd titanium mine, located east of the city of Vintergard reportedly collapsed; Seventeen mine workers were injured in the collapse as various equipment failed, but no one was killed. It is currently unknown exactly how the mine collapsed, as the Labour Accidents Investigative Office (LAIO) has refused to comment on any potential causes this early into the investigation, but theories circling online have pointed out the sketchy record of the company that owns most of the local mines, Vintergard Gruvindustrier AB, which was caught in 2014 attempting to engineer an accident in an attempt at shutting down an unprofitable mine; By coincidence, said mine was the one that collapsed today. This coincidence has drawn the ire both of the LAIO and the Federal Tax Agency (FTA), and a full inspection of all of VGAB's mines has officially been scheduled for October 27th.

VGAB have denied the allegations, claiming that they were either sabotaged by a rival company or a foreign nation and that they will challenge the inspections in the courts as excessive government intervention, should they go through. Both LAIO or the FTA have refused to comment on whether or not they suspect VGAB of foul play, and are instead saying that they will 'wait until the investigation is finished' before they give a comment.

Popular opinion seems to be generally against VGAB; Supposedly most of the locals have long suspected VGAB of foul play, but due to the isolated location of Vintergard, VGAB is essentially the only thing keeping the town on the map, and nearly everyone who works in the town works either for VGAB or one of the local stores which supply the local miners with food and other goods.

The CEO of VGAB, Hugo Sommardal, has said that the mine will stay closed until cleared up and that all workers in the mine will be moved to one of the other mines near the town.

[Bjallard]

Bjallard National News
====================================================================================================================
A message from the President.
"Gusa yi lo exزloumyi yi, Uz' Touzep Bjallard. Oc yigu lo uf guuzoc yi' uzyi lo loti gu reuryi lo urocyi welo uf uzyi lo زguyi lo Gu lo at wegu yi guyi lo loti. Yi guto umrion lo guyi lo yiinguعuzri ufyi gu gu guuzoc tegu uz eptiyi guufyo زguon ur gu gu ziuzep. Teur uf lo toguon teuz ur yi loyi lo at uf ex Bjallard looc. - Touzep Gu Guum"
TRANSLATION:
Allow me to introduce myself, I'm President Al Abbumah. On behalf of our nation we'd like to offer a chance for anyone who would like to travel to Bjallard to see what we have to offer. We are pushing to attempt to establish ourself as a nation that is centered around trading and as a friend. Thank you for reading this and we hope to see you in Bjallard soon. - President Al Abbumah

[Agrurg]

Craasas Times
April 26, 2019, Recent reports from seismographs around the volcano Mount Tason have reported increased seismic activity is occurring at shallow depths beneath the volcano. Geologists speculate that this could mean a volcanic eruption in the future, though this is just speculation and more data is needed to confirm a volcanic threat.

[Lykens]

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Association of Ranchers and Planters sweeps province en route to 3rd consecutive term

12/01/2018

- Claudia Bustillo Prieto

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A triumphant Chief Minister Christian Rodríguez appears before supporters

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Incumbent Chief Minister Christian Rodríguez has declared victory in this year's provincial elections. The incumbent led his party to a crushing 64% victory in the largest and most populous province in the country. Tonight's results were expected, although the margin of victory was unexpectedly large as most pundits and analysts predicted the total vote percentage to not exceed more thanp 56%, down from the 57% Rodríguez pulled in the 2014 elections four years ago. The huge jump has mostly been attributed to the two month long strike by the Lykensburgish Shearer's Association and the implementation of penalty rates. The first action drove many social conservatives from the Progressive Front who would otherwise favor the left wing party into the arms of the socially conservative right wing Fatherland Union. This led to the utter collapse of the PF voter base, with the party sinking below the 10% threshold to 9.8%, narrowly missing out on representation in the provincial assembly for this term.

With 161 seats out of 225, the Association of Ranchers and Planters is locked into a very secure majority government, free to continue implementing the agenda of Rodríguez who was elected eight years ago riding a backlash against the incumbent FU government which had sought to undermine and transform the politics and economy of Arecibo during their single four year term. Rodríguez has spent much of the last eight year reversing all of the reforms and changes made by the FU government, namely restarting or beginning infrastructure projects that the FU government had hoped to privatize by reinstating state funding, bringing back agricultural subsidies, and abolishing strict anti-union regulations that had severely curtailed the rights and powers of unions. Rewarded with a majority government in his reelection in 2014, Rodríguez was forced to contend with not only the FU opposition, but the election of a couple dozen Progressive Front members as the party cracked the 10% ceiling for that election. Hounded on his right and left for the first time in his premiership many didn't expect any major policy initiatives from Rodríguez for the entirety of his term. The Chief Minister earlier this year set about another major infrastructure project to expand the existing rural broadband network with an additional $1.5 billion dollar investment.

The second major policy initiative came in late July as the Chief Minister embarked on several dozen listening tours at shearing stations and several round tables with owners who form the Sheep Station Business Association to gauge support and feelings for instituting a mandate for penalty rates paid to workers in sheep husbandry. By mid August legislative proposals were being debated on the floor of the provincial assembly and after several weeks of debate the penalty rate mandate was passed by the provincial assembly and signed by the Governor, Imelda Oquendo. Rodríguez then mediated negotiations between the Shearers' Unions and management groups, before facing a strike by the LSA. Led by the socially conservative Jorge Castillo, the strike lasted until the entire executive council of the LSA-Arecibo branch was forced out by several votes of no confidence from rank and file members. Castillo promptly launched a bid for leadership of the Fatherland Union, as was expected by many pundits and ARP officials, and led the party into this election.

While the FU fell very far short of anywhere near a majority, and with no independents who could possibly prop up their minority government due to voting rules changes that the party themselves engineered after their last stint in power, they managed to snag many of the seats former members of the Progressive Front occupied by snatching away socially conservative old left voters who prioritized social issues. This was seen to be a major factor in Castillo's decision to strike after successful negotiations, and Castillo has come under fire from his former union, both the newly seated provincial branch's executive council and the national branch, for prioritizing his political career over that of hard working men and women who lost wages because of his strike. The LSA-Arecibo branch also lost almost 70 locals during the strike, all of which affiliated with the LSU-Arecibo branch, causing the union to lose out on prized union dues that fill its coffers. It'll be at least a year to see if the branch can recover from the losses it has faced.

Genoveva Montero, leader of the Arecibo Progressive Front, is now faced with a daunting task, rebuilding her collapsed party. Swept out of all 23 seats, the PF has been relegated to outsider status, not even able to register official opposition to legislation offered by either of the other two parties. The PF is no stranger to this position, but the challenge is all the more greater when sixteen and fifty-five points separate their opponents. It'll be a test of her leadership as to whether or not she can break through in the next four years and lead her party to victory. Losing socially conservative voters to the FU over the homophobic strike of the LSA and bleeding even more union members than in previous cycles due to the implementation of penalty rates to the ARP, the PF has a very narrow pathway back to the Provincial Assembly and it's yet to be seen if they can perform.

ARP - Votes: 2754651/64.3% Seats: 161/225
FU - Votes: 1104651/25.8% Seats:67/225
PF - Votes: 423920/9.9% Seats: 0/225

[Lykens]

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Factional Infighting Threatens State Counselor's Re-Election Bid

04/30/2019

- Solfornio Salcedo

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The factional chasms of the ARP Assembly Caucus have broken out into the open

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A faction leadership meeting ended in yelling and harsh words as the right leaning factions stormed out of the State Counselor’s Suite late this afternoon. Attending this weekly meeting of the various faction leaders of the Association of Ranchers and Planters Caucus were Maximiliano Artemio de Santiago of the Old Guard, Abel Guadarrama of the Labor Forum, Yolanda Enieda Campana of the Industrial League, Delia Iglesias of the Pink Group, and Gabriel Vega of the Alliance of Moderates and Liberals.

Each of these five factions collectively make up nearly 90% of the ARP caucus, as all leadership positions excluding the cabinet are required to be independent of factions for the duration of their terms and those Assembly Members that are unaffiliated with any of the powerful blocs. The factions range in all sizes, from the smallest being the Pink Group.

The Pink Group is composed of 20 women, which is ideologically varied and owes most of its influence from its leader, ‘Dulce Delia’ Iglesias, and their ability to maintain cohesiveness during negotiations or tough votes. Iglesias has been leading a group of women for the last ten years of her 19 years overall in the Grand Assembly, and has spent much of that time cutting her teeth in a male dominated political sphere. Ostensibly, the group is bound together to advance the cause of womens’ and childrens’ rights as well as education and healthcare funding. Many have come to view the Pink Group as an arm of the leadership hower, as Iglesias has been a strong ally of State Counselor Kenneth Diaz since his early days as Chairman of the Arecibo branch ARP. They maintain a strong friendship and often disavow any critiques of favoritism, as party leadership is required to remain about the factional fray. As State Counselor Diaz entered parliamentary leadership very early in his career, he never established a strong factional base of support, and most attribute the closest thing to it in the form of the Pink Group.

The Old Guard is 27 rock ribbed social conservatives and protectionists who have been dwindling in numbers and influence for years as the Fatherland Union began picking off right-wing and socially conservative voters in earnest from the ARP. Once upon a time comprising near half of the total ARP caucus in opposition to more liberal members, this faction has become almost informal as all members derive their list placements from their leader, Maximiliano Artemio de Santiago, who has served in the Grand Assembly for 39 years.. One of the wealthiest agrarian magnates in the entire country, de Santiago has been bankrolling social conservative and protectionist leaning candidates throughout the country, ensuring that the loyalty of this bloc is to him alone by ensuring hefty contributions to state branches that place his candidates in good list positions. de Santiago was, however, one of the earliest backers of Kenneth Diaz prior to his ascension as permanent leader of the ARP, and swung his faction behind the first openly gay State Counselor in the history of Lykens. The comity ended there however, as de Santiago frequently holds out til the last minute for tough votes and negotiations.

The Industrial League is comprised of 74 AMs who are generally pro-business and support free trade. Yolanda Eneida Campana was elected Chairwoman of the group after the 2015 elections and has been a hard charging advocate for her bloc. Its members typically hail from the River Provinces, where industry is heavier, although there are a scattered few from the rural provinces as well. Generally ranging from center right to center left, the group is a major player within the ARP Caucus. As one of the top three factions, the Industrial League is very well positioned to have its sway over major legislation that has its interests involved. Often times pushing more employer and manufacturer friendly policies, the caucus often finds its mostly free trade supporting agenda supplanted by the rest of the caucus, as even the freest traders are a minority group within this faction. Infrastructure is always a top priority of the Industrial League.

The Labor Forum is led by Abel Guadarrama, a 29 year veteran of the Grand Assembly who leads the 77 AMs whose politics align on the left wing of the ARP caucus. Extremely close with organized labor, the Labor Forum is the premier ally of the unions that make up the base of ARP support. Supporting initiatives such a labor protection laws in trade deals, penalty rates, and further workplace regulations. Environmental and other pocketbook issues from the left leaning end of the political spectrum are also focused on.

The Alliance of Moderates and Liberals is the largest faction of the ARP caucus, with 96 declared members. Gabriel Vega has been Chairman of the group for the last 9 years and has led it down the steady path it has occupied for the last 20-30 years, as the stabilizing group of moderate minded members who temper their more ideological colleagues. As the largest faction, making up almost a third of the entire caucus, the Alliance is nominally inclined to pursue policies that can garner the most support from all factions to minimize division and continue good governance.

These groups make up the governing party of Lykens and their unity is needed for the implementation of any ARP agenda. Upon becoming State Counselor in 2017, Kenneth Diaz immediate set about bringing the disparate groups together to continue implementing the agenda his predecessor had been reelected on. A weekly meeting with the faction chiefs to smooth out any differences and prevent surprise hiccups from causing problems that could cause problems on the floor of the Grand Assembly and any potential embarrassments.

This delicate balancing act has worked for the last two years, but today the Old Guard and Industrial League stormed out of the State Counselor’s Suite over disputes involving an environmental protection bill being pushed by the Pink Group and Labor Forum. State Counselor Diaz offered his support for the bill several weeks ago, and had convened the factional warlords together to negotiate on the specifics. Sources say that issues arose over natural gas extraction and regulations regarding how close extraction sites could be to residential areas as well as other environmental protections that the Industrial League took issue with.

Old Guard members were said to be highly dissatisfied with the lack of protection for natural gas extractors and wanted the bill to add tariffs to natural gas imports. Members of the Industrial League took immediate issue with any inclusion of tariff language, which prompted a vicious back and forth with Labor Forum negotiators about adding labor protections to the bill to counter protections for extraction companies.

When the State Counselor intervened to restart the course of the discussion, Yolanda Eneida Campana of the Industrial League demanded the shelving of the bill due to the contentious nature of it, prompting Abel Guadarrama to declare the bill would not pass with business protections but not labor protections. Maximiliano Atremio de Santiago interjected that his faction would not support a final bill that didn’t include at least modest tariffs and ended his participation in the meeting by leaving, followed by Campana.

With two of the factions having stormed out of the meeting, Diaz announced that it had concluded and he would be in touch with the remaining faction leaders regarding the bill in the near future. Sources say that Diaz immediately phoned the two leaders and worked to soothe their concerns before chastising the pair for exiting in such an unprofessional manner. Representatives for the three have refused to comment regarding the meeting and subsequent phone calls.

It remains to be seen whether or not this is a rift over a single bill, or spells danger for the 9 year old ARP government, as elections are only a few months away and Diaz has managed to keep infighting to a minimum both publicly and privately.

[Agrurg]

Agrurgan National News

May 2 2019, Agrurgan geologists have confirmed the volcanic threat at Mt Tason and it appears to be quite major. Shallow earthquake swarms have repeatly occurred beneath the volcano signaling that magma is rising towards the surface and the ground has deformed and risen around the mountain. The temperatures in geothermal features has jumped significantly and more SO2 is recorded being vented from them. With this signs, the geological service warns that a major eruption might happen soon and the government has ordered a mass evacuation of everyone living within a 23-mile radius of the crater.

Mount Tason is a volcano with a past of rare but violent eruptions. It has been known to erupt large amounts of ash and unleash devastating pyroclastic flows that destroy anything in it’s path. It lasted erupted in 76 CE.

[Vienna Eliot]

State House Daily Press Briefing
Executive Press Briefing Room | The State House at Annheim, Oceania

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TIM KELLY:  Good afternoon, folks. I'll be filling in for Moira today, as she is with the President in Schloe. As are most of your chief correspondents, it looks like from here. So I'll just go over some announcements, and then we can take your questions. Okay?

The President vetoed the AI Human Partnership Bill yesterday, as you should have seen in the statement all of you got this morning. As an Administration devoted to protecting both the economy and the workforce, the President respectfully disagrees with Council liberals' assessment that quota requirements should relieve corporations of a certain size from fulfilling their healthcare obligations to their human employees. This is another case for the necessity of the line item veto that the Council refuses to provide the President.

On a different note, the President is traveling to the Agoura Province this week to meet with provincial and local leaders and to speak out against the proposed Amendment 9, which would prohibit unmanned planes from launching from the province. This would devastate the commercial flight industry and hurt not just Agoura, but all of the Republic. The State House looks forward to continued investment in the industry, especially aerospace drone technology.

Lastly, I have some tough news, which has been distributed already. The Vice President has fallen ill, as you have been informed. He will personally be conducting a press conference this evening to discuss his condition, his family, and his steps moving forward. The State House keeps the Vice President and his family in our prayers.

With that, I'll take questions. Ann.

Q:    Hi, Tim.  First, I'm so sorry to hear about Vice President Kahn's illness and I hope he gets better soon. So, does the State House expect the veto to be overridden in the Council? Or even the Cabinet, for that matter.

KELLY:  Well, the President made his objections clear before the Council voted to accept the committee amendments, and Minority Leader Koons in the Council, as well as most of the Cabinet, is in agreement with the President on this one. So the State House does not expect any progress to be made on reconsidering this bill. Which is a shame, because if the President had the line item veto, there were some worthwhile provisions in this legislation that the President would have accepted and signed into law.

Q: Great. I was also wondering if you could comment on the Kiteahu-Velkanika situation right now.

KELLY:  The President recognizes, like, right — The President recognizes he's in a very influential position, here, and it's in cases like these when our allies are looking around for help. But Oceania is not the region's police — that was our campaign promise five years ago, ten years ago, and we're sticking with that. That includes economics. The global economy, that's tough stuff, it's difficult to navigate. We're looking into it, but don't expect the President to be requesting sanctions on behalf of another sovereign state. That's just not how this State House does things, you know that Ann.

Janine.

Q: I'll be quick. Did the President — did Councillor Lilliese's decision to cross the floor and join Minority Leadership influence the President's decision, last night, to veto the bill?

KELLY:  No it did not. The President made his decision — a heavily considered one — based on the contents of the bill, his conscience, and his obligations to the Oceanian people.

Ryan.

Q: The Elicia case is headed to the High Court. Will the Attorney General submit an amicus brief?

KELLY:  I'd refer you to the Attorney General's office on that one. I doubt it.

Q: The President has previously been opposed to Elician autonomy. Why is the Administration silent now? If you don't mind me asking. (laughter)

KELLY:  I don't mind, and I do see what you're asking here. And I can tell you that the President sees his position as an executor of the law. The President was opposed to this system years ago, when it was on the ballot, when it was in the commission, etcetera. The President doesn't see himself as a maker of the laws, or as the interpreter of the law. So now that it is in the courts, and I want you to check the record on this, because he has not said anything about this system since it's gone to national courts, and the State House has not said anything about it since then either.

Kate.

Q:    Again, so sorry to hear about the Vice President's condition. Uh, will the State House comment on the recent Cavendish memo?

KELLY:  Yes. First of all, we're so sorry to hear about the disappearance of Mrs. Cavendish. Second of all, the benefits to the tentative agreement are substantial: even enough to balance the backlash from violating the Environment Proclamation in this one, isolated case. So put that on the record, that we as an Administration are for the benefits of a new Cavendish Corporation factory, out there in an economically underdeveloped area. Because that's important to the well-being of the Oceania Economy. I don't even think our biggest adversaries in the Council would disagree with that assessment.

Last question, let'g go with Doug.

Q: I'm surprised no one has asked. Will the President be taking military action against Kiteahu in the wake of the nuclear revelations?

KELLY:  Certainly not. I didn't know we had to say that.

Q: Okay. Will he be taking any actions?

KELLY:  Great question. I don't think any of us know the answer to that. The President and the rest of the Cabinet released a strong condemnation of Sepura's nuclear ambitions last year. And they will this year, too, for Kiteahu. I suspect — well, no, I won't speculate at all. Moira should have the answer to that when she's back.

Let me do the week ahead, and then we’ll let you guys get on with your work.
Today and tomorrow, the President will meet with trade delegations in Schloe at the Multilateral Conference.
On Wednesday, the President will meet with Elician community leaders. He will not deliver remarks to the provincial commission.
On Thursday the President will travel to Agoura to meet with business leaders from around the province in Santa Maria. Ms. Amelina will be among them, of course.
And on Friday, the President will have a Cabinet meeting here at the State House.

That's all for today. Keep the Vice President in your prayers, folks. Her press conference will be this evening at, I think 7, but you can confirm that with her office, in this room. Have a good day, folks.

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[Larsaka]

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Michael Li Leads Progressive Party to Large Majority in Senate
By Edward Jerome 9:21PM

The Progressive Party under Michael Li secured a large majority in senate elections today, where they won 136 seats in precincts across the country. The Progressive’s large majority has shocked pollsters and pundits alike, who all predicted a surge in support for the Progressives yet also predicted they would likely have to govern in a coalition with the Environment Party. Liberal Party stronghold ErJiang flipped decisively to the Progressives, with returns there ensuring the win became a landslide. This historic result likely marks a new era in Larsakan Politics.

President Elect Li first started as an underdog candidate in the Progressive Party primary, a relatively unknown Senator from a precinct in a suburb of Larsaka City known mainly as the origin of the Lemon Fish Sandwich. Previously a member of a Progressive think tank and the Larsakan Institute for Democracy, candidate Li was able to distinguish himself with his sweeping rhetoric, positions on social justice, and radical new foreign policy vision. He and Liberal Party Candidate Owen Insfield, the two clear front runners at the end of the primaries, clashed heavily on foreign policy, where Insfield insisted the “Strategic Isolation” doctrine of previous Liberal Party Presidents was still the best path for Larsakan foreign Policy. He argued that Strategic Isolation had brought Larsaka the benefits of international trade without the quagmires of international politics, and that it was vital to continue this policy in order to maintain economic stability. In contrast, Candidate Li advocated for a “New Direction” that was based on Larsakan participation in world affairs for both moral and economic reasons. His platform included support for free trade, multilateral organizations, and advocating for human rights.

Domestically, Candidate Li campaigned on economic development through environmental technology, a lane that had traditionally been dominated by the Environment Party. Insfield accused Li’s plan of being dangerous for the federal budget and an undue burden on Larsaka’s already over regulated private sector. It was an attempt by Insfield to pivot to the right of traditional Liberal Politics, which has often involved passing Progressive Policies in order to maintain a broader coalition. However, despite the fierce debate surrounding the economy, foreign policy seemed to matter most to voters in several precincts that won President Elect Li his majority: exit polls had over 56% of voters in Erjiang state that Foreign Policy was their main consideration when choosing a candidate in the election.

Now, with a strong mandate from the electorate, it remains to be seen how Michael Li will implement his campaign promises. Already, there are grumblings from his campaign and rapidly forming transition team about his cabinet members and policies, as well as opposition strategies from popular Liberal Party Senators. One fact remains true, however; countries around the world should be prepared for a Larsaka more active on the global stage.

[Vienna Eliot]

3 takeaways from the President's emergency press conference
www.onn.com

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By Eric Bradner, ONN
Updated 7:01 PM EMK, Fri June 28, 2019

SCHLOE — President Eliot held an emergency press conference earlier today, telling reporters that "The State of Kiteahu now poses a global threat to democracy." In the wake of rising nationalist tensions in the dictatorship, Kiteahu's nuclear positions have become increasingly projecting. But the urgency of the situation did not prevent the President from making some clear points today when addressing the press.

President Eliot took questions on rising threats, disagreements with Members of the National Council, and how Oceania and other democracies were planning to combat the rogue state. Here are three takeaways.

1. Kiteahu is a threat to democracy
It's clear what the President and his Administration sees as the greatest threat Kiteahu poses today — what will the world's democracies look like tomorrow? With the President constantly returning to the risk posed to democracy by Kiteahu's nuclear ambitions, the Administration made its main priority clear.

When Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alison Ricardo spoke, her campaign-ish mention of "democracy's three E's" may have garnered some eye-rolls, but she triggered a long strain of questions from the press when she stressed that "The way forward is not a choice between strength and diplomacy. It isn't our choice, anyway — the corporations behind Kiteahu's dictatorship will be forced to make that decision between their image and their people's interests."

The President held no punches when calling on neighboring democracies to fight against the dictatorship alongside him. "To our Mu-Kal and Kanchaka neighbors — this is your fight too. Kiteahu is not going to be satisfied with terrorizing and massacring its own people. The democracies of the world, and the citizens of those democracies, will be next."

2. Nothing is off the table
The President announced early on in the emergency press conference that he has authorized a naval blockade against Kiteahu. Reserves from the Republican Navy and the Republican Air Force are expected to be fully mobilized within one week, after which it will take two more weeks to deploy off the coast of Kiteahu.

"But we're not fencing ourselves in," President Eliot said. "Nothing is off the table." That could mean the use of military force, Defense Secretary Fawza Hussain said: the RNS Ulysses will be carrying a fleet capable of asserting air superiority and bombing suspected nuclear sites, of which more had been discovered, Ricardo said, by Oceanian intelligence.

Nothing happens without diplomacy, though, President Eliot insisted, and "If Kiteahu is willing to listen to what our diplomats have to say," crisis can be averted. Don't let that catch you off guard, though, Ricardo reminded the press corps: "This is a state that has never listened to reason."

3. Oceania is business as usual
"We aren't going to let a dictatorship without missiles powerful enough to reach us ruin the progress we've been making domestically," said the President, mentioning among other things that the Olympian Multilateral Trade Facilitation Conference — a the first round of major trade talks happening in Schloe — had gathered dozens of diplomats from across the world to make progress on a universal comprehensive trade agreement.

President Eliot will be addressing the conference tomorrow. There is no word yet on whether Kiteahu will be represented in the talks.

Vienna Eliot is shitting us into war

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Elise Marlowe :: @e_marl
Fri June 28, 2019

Vienna Eliot, hot on the heels of a landslide and unfortunately unsurprising election, is trying to lead us into war. So, you might reasonably ask, what the fuck?

The self-proclaimed Leader of the Democratic Sphere held an "emergency" press conference this afternoon, plucking journalists out of meetings, workrooms, and interviews to give what was essentially a steaming pile of rhetorical bullshit.

And yes, he had Foreign Secretary Alison Ricardo there, confirming once again that he has no problem surrounding himself with war criminals. The real kicker, though, was Defense Secretary Fawza Hussain's (probably reluctant) appearance. The fact that she was there shows this was no impromptu, off the cuff press conference. It means he's probably been lobbying his own cabinet for weeks.

And he’s certainly been lobbying members of his own party in the National Council. Council committees can authorize certain executive actions, and they often do. Typically they’ll just delegate it straight to an executive, but for controversial issues, they’ll send it to the whole Council. Well, the Defense and Intelligence committees have been holding an awful lot of secret meetings lately, yet they’ve sent nothing over to the Council for consideration. Either the “emergency” pretenses of this meeting are bullshit, or the President is lying about something even worse.

Not that being honest has ever stopped Vienna Eliot. After all, a week to mobilize? It doesn’t take a week to mobilize a naval blockade: it can take months. That means they’ve been planning this. For a while.

Labor was elected with a mandate. It’s a bad sign for our democracy, but don’t count on them to do anything about their own manipulative campaign tactics. In the meantime, it’s on the press to keep this president in check. We can start by not letting him booty call us for a propaganda conference whenever he sees fit.