News of Astol (CLOSED, NO POSTING)

[Wolfenium]

Wolfen Imperial News Agency - Headlines

Artillery Showdown over DMZ
7 Dead, over 100 wounded as Cerise and major cities are hit by artillery fire over Alisagrad terror attack.


Alisagrad Metro, hit by a terrorist bombing by the Schatten der Vergangenheit


Cerise, Southern Halkenginia, hit by artillery shells just 14 km away

Cerise, Southern Halkenginia. In what was to be the most serious military exchange since the Bruhl armistice, Amythysian artillery batteries stationed along the Zhukov Line behind the Demilitarized Zone fired over 250 rockets and artillery shells over the frontline into major cities and strategic bases all across Belka and Southern Halkenginia. In response, Wolfen artillery stationed along the Heidi Line launched artillery barrages on key locations across the DMZ. So far, 4 Wolfen military personnel and 3 civilians have been killed, most in the town of Cerise, and over a hundred wounded. The exchange lasted throughout the afternoon, with Cerise bearing the brunt of the attack while major cities such as Tristania, Ixpellia and Saint Olivie also suffered damage.

Amythyst claimed that the attacks were initiated by a rogue commander, who was provoked over the recent terrorist bombing of the Alisagrad Metro by the Schatten der Vergangenheit, an extreme nationalist group seeking to achieve Wolfen dominance in the region. The bombing, which had resulted in 3 dead and dozens wounded, was thought to be a meticulous assassination plot on the head of the Gvardiya's most elite Black Ops unit, the Nochʹ Ryeĭdera, who was killed in the blast.

Cerise itself, a frontline headquarters for Wolfen occupation forces in Southern Halkenginia, was devastated in the attack. Hundreds of residences were hit in the barrage while other areas, such as the military base, had also sustained serious damage. Civilians in the affected areas were swiftly evacuated into the bunkers as the first in three waves of artillery shells fell on the town.

There was smoke everywhere. We couldn't breathe. The buildings around me were ablaze. We didn't know what was happening. We thought the war had started all over again...

-An eyewitness account in Cerise

Chancellor Sibylle Paulus has strongly condemned the attacks, and demanded an international inquiry over the incident.

This was no isolated incident... This is a deliberate breach of the Bruhl Armistice. I call upon the sanctity of the Amythysian government to explain their actions, and to issue a formal apology to the victims for such an unprovoked assault on Wolfen sovereignty... If they truly wish to seek peace with us, then it is time they stop tormenting our citizens with such callous actions...

-Chancellor Paulus, in an emergency session in the Reichstag

Alisagrad had yet to issue a formal statement over the issue, although unconfirmed reports indicate that the Duma would send an arrest warrant for the people responsible for the attack. But for now, Cerise would have to lick its wounds as Astol watches in bated breath of the events to come. This is Sarah Junker, WINA, Cerise.

[Wolfenium]

Wolfen Imperial News Agency - Headlines

Wolfen-Orlkjestadi Friendship Pact Forged
Wolfenium promises mutual defence, trade and ease of travel with the Intercontinental Federation of Orlkjestad

Wolfsburg, I.C.T. (Imperial Capital Territories). A nation once founded on the united spirit of its people, Wolfenium now seeks to recapture the spirit of friendship with a landmark treaty signed between Grand Duchess Eva von Wolfenstein and Prime Minister Adriaen Christiaansen of the Intercontinental Federation of Orlkjestad, during an official state visit to the imperial capital. The treaty, the first signed with any foreign nation in nearly half a decade, promises to increase bilateral trade and cooperation, ease travel restrictions and, most importantly, a defence pact which guarantees mutual protection against any aggresor.

Content:-

• Promise of mutual trade cooperation
  
  • Export of food products from Orlkjestad to Wolfenium
  • Export of petroleum, liquid gas and coal products from Orlkjestad to Wolfenium
  • Export of military hardware from Wolfenium to Orlkjestad
  • Export of luxury items and jewellry from Wolfenium to Orlkjestad
• Military cooperation between the Wolfen Imperial Defence Force and the Orlkjestadi Military
  
  • Mutual defence of both nations
  • Sharing of military knowledge between the two nations
    
    • Exchange of military experts and officers
    • Presentation of military hardware
• Easing of Travel Restrictions
  
  • Implementation of Visa Exception Program and use of Electronic Visa Clearance for Wolfen and Orlkjestadi passport holders

Chancellor Sibylle Paulus, who stood at an address in Parliament the same day, had addressed her support for the new pact.

It is with great hope that with this new pact comes our ascension to the international stage and the forging of stronger bonds with our friends across the oceans

-Chancellor Paulus, at a parliamentary address

However, such high hopes are not without skepticism as political analysts suspect the treaty as an attempt at sidelining their arch-nemesis, Amythyst, with the aim of crafting a peaceful resolution to the First Astoli War in their favour. Many abroad see this as a means to counteract Amythysian aggression following the artillery exchange over Cerise.

Amythyst would likely see the pact as another attempt by the empire to exact reparations over the damage done by Commnwealth forces on their territory through international pressure. In a worst-case scenario, it could even be an attempt by Wolfenium to gather allies in a final standoff against Amythyst in the event of war...

-Samuel Westin, Professor of Political Science, San Marin University

Average citizens, however, remain apathetic to the new treaty, with their attention fixed solely on the rapidly deteriorating relationship with the north.

Personally, I don't what the government is doing to resolve this. The faster we get rid of the Amythysians, the better. Life would be far easier without them breathing down their necks.

-Average Citizen in Wolfsburg

Whatever the reasons, Wolfeners have every reason to feel cautiously optimistic of the new treaty. As border tension spike and the probability of a peace treaty in jeaporady, Wolfenium would take great in keeping their newly earned allies informed, should the day come when the Fatherland would have to take up arms once again. This is Rudolf Hahn, W.I.N.A., Wolfsburg.

[Wolfenium]

Wolfen Imperial News Agency - Headlines

Election Fever Hits Wolfenium
Party rallies kickstart Wolfenium's General Election campaign. Largest to be held to date

Kristallburg, Wolfenium. The largest party rally to be held to date, Members of Parliament from the ruling Nationalist Coalition met up with supporters in what was to be the most important General Election to date. Wolfenium's General Elections are set to be held this May as the ruling coalition and the main opposition Reform Alliance, began announcing their list of candidates for the elections. The 2011 General Elections iwill be the biggest to date, with a massive expansion of the Reichstag from 243 seats in the last elections in 2006, to 297 in 2011, following the inclusion of all former special administrative regions under military rule, the largest being the Province of Belka. The Reform Alliance has already expressed interest in contesting the vast majority of seats in hopes of forming the next government, while the Nationalist Coalition would be gearing up to reclaim their legislative majority as they prepare to fill up the new seats and fend off the opposition challenge.

Several major issues had been raised so far amongst the people during the election campaign so far, ranging from Wolfenium's post-war conduct and negotiations with the Commonwealth of Amythyist to the widening income gap between the coastal, urban cities and the rural inner heartland. Both sides were keen to raise the issues and many analysts say that this election would be the closest and hardest fought in Wolfenium's history.

We'll be seeing a lot of close results this election... Areas such as Belka, the Greater Demon Kingdom and Kristallin would be among the hardest fought, especially with the expansion of the Reichstag. It's still too early to point out a victor at this point, but the likely result is that neither side, whoever is the victor, would be able to hold a two-third majority in parliament, a result needed for the passing of legislature

-Ernst Hemmingway, Professor of Political Science in the University of Saint Olivie

The two blocs are already making headways in their campaigns, as each side declared its goals and promises to the public.

More details to be provided in the election coverage in the General Elections Update. For now, this is Sarah Junker, W.I.N.A., Wolfsburg.