News Thread [Kylaris|Canon|IC]

by **Legatia** » Fri Jul 28, 2017 6:17 am

NEMATSU OFFERS MEDIATION IN NOVEAU ANGLET CONFLICT
Terada Yasunari, in a press conference, has offered Nematsujin intermediary services to both nations

Tae Yoshida @Toshida
28/07/17 09:30 |Teien, Nematsu

Terada Yasunari in a speech to the National Diet earlier yesterday. The Shikken has offered "our government's full services" in resolving the conflict.
Photo courtesy of Harada Hitoshi

ASABIRO, NEMATSU-

In light of controversy regarding the status of the Gaullican-controlled, Negaran-claimed Noveau Anglet islands, Nematsu has offered to step in and help both parties come to a peaceful solution.

"Gaullica and Negara are both respectable and noble nations. Noble nations such as they need not fight, lest they abandon their ideals." Terada said, during an announcement of the offer to the Diet. Nematsu, although its military and economic interests are more heavily vested in Negara then they are in Gaullica, does not want to see a divide between the two powers; Terada said, and that it was "in the best interests of Coius and Euclea" that the situation not escalate.

Nematsu has justified its situation in its positive alignments with both Gaullica and Negara. Gaullica has provided technical support to Nematsu throughout its history-
first as a modernizing force, and more recently in helping develop military technology. Negara has been crucial in Nematsu's economic and military networking, helping to keep its economy stable while defending it from the Songhuan menace across the sea.

"For these reasons, it is within our interests to offer mediation between these two powers over these islands." Terada stated. "I believe still that peace and mediation is the best way to solve this conflict. Heated words and contested results will only stoke the fire that will burn down the bridges of friendship.

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by **Alinora** » Fri Jul 28, 2017 7:45 am

MONTSIMMARD BOMBER CAUGHT!
The months'-long manhunt has ended as Delmar Lavoie is caught in the town of Barndt, Marais

Erin McKinley (@ErinMcKinley)
July 28th 2017| Freeminster, Federation

Delmar Lavoie being detained by Police & FIS Agents
Photo courtesy of the Federal Intelligence Services Department of Classification

BARNDT, MARAIS, FEDERATION -

Only a matter of days after the Federal Government announced that it would assist Valentiri authorities in hunting down the prime suspect of the Montsimmard Bombing this May, Delmar Lavoie has been detained by Marais State Police and FIS Agents, who responded to a 911 call that reported that customers to a local bar in the small town of Barndt, the "Hardhat Tavern", had captured him and were holding him at gunpoint. Local Police were the first to arrive, followed by FIS Agents and State Police who had been operating a roadblock not far away. Upon arrival, they discovered a bloodied Lavoie who was being held to the ground by three men, with numerous others in the bar holding pistols at the suspect.

After speaking with the customers who were at the bar at the time, Federal Authorities found out exactly what happened. Ryan Hayman, the man who recognized Lavoie from the wanted posters and commercials, gave his report to police: "He came in with a hood on - shy and all, ain't got a word to say and this is a bar for regulars, a small town,
we all know each other. He sits over there yonder, at the bar, face down, and I walk up to him and ask him to pull down his hood - it's disrespectful, ya know? He looks up at me, and then I knew - that's the fella. I grab him by the neck and drop him to the floor, yelling how he's the terrorist the feds have been lookin' for, and he struggles, I put a couple of knuckle dents in his face, some of the other guys jump on to and we beat the sum b**** to a pulp, held him down, and held him there at gunpoint while ol' Sally called the police."

Delmar Lavoie has since been detained by Federal Authorities and is being held in an undisclosed location until Valentiri officials confirm that it is, indeed, the terrorist they've been looking for. Once it is confirmed, Lavoie will likely be taken back to Valentir to stand trial. President Avery made a statement shortly after Lavoie was captured, calling it "a big win - I'm glad we were able to catch him, and I thank those quick-thinking Asterians who recognized him, and acted to prevent him from escaping."

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by **Caltarania** » Sat Jul 29, 2017 5:43 am

SAVANT DIYWETH PASSES AWAY AT AGE 91
The death of the Lotherist spiritual leader leaves the subject of succession unclear

Ïrdtydylr Ülrgleiril Kristith (@ÜlrgleirilKristith)
29 July 2017 | Lyrath, Althira

Elected as Savant aged 43, Diyweth held the spiritual leadership position for almost fifty years, and was well regarded.
Photo courtesy of the Ylyath Llyr Photography Department.

LYRATH, ALTHIRA -

Troubled news from the holy mountain of Hryth Llyr today, as officials representing the Lotherist faith announced on the steps of their monastery that Savant Diyweth has, at the age of 91, died in their care.

The news comes a year after the announcement that the elderly spiritual leader was battling numerous life-threatening illnesses.

Despite having been expected, the death of the Savant leaves the subject of succession up in the air. The Council of Erudites has been, for the past year, unable to assemble of list of prospective candidates for the position, citing internal disagreements as "slowing down the process". Experts and onlookers alike suspect that the disagreements are theological in nature.

Savant Diyweth was known as a conciliatory character; a compromise candidate between those holding differing opinions both in the Council and the clergy as a whole. He rarely took part in doctrinal or theological disputes, instead focusing his tenure on other, more material pursuits, such as the expansion of the faith's preacher caste.

His passing has, however, caused rifts between members of the faith to reappear; this time deeper and wider. An expert on the Lotherist faith told us that "the age old split between the Literalists and the Interpretationists has risen once again" despite having been held down for close to five decades under the modest Savant Diyweth.

The split between the Literalists and Interpretationists is an age old one, as the expert said; many historians believe it can be traced back to the death of Lother well over a thousand years ago.

Primarily, the two sides dispute how Saint Lother's writings should be interpreted. The Literalists believe that Lother wrote with a literal intent; when he speaks of an eternal, spiritual battle between God and Lucifer,
he speaks of an eternal, spiritual battle, in which we are all participants. The Interpretationists, on the other hand, would interpret Lother's writings as metaphors; believing his chapters on the eternal struggles to instead speak of the unending battle within oneself between good and evil, piety and impiety.

Much beyond only this, the split echoes throughout every doctrine, every tenet and every writing made by Lother; and, too, the split is felt throughout every echelon of the clergy, from the monks to the preachers.

While Savant Diyweth was able to calm both sides by taking a middle-of-the-road approach, and in some cases avoiding the subject entirely, the discussion over the matter of his successor has not had the same care taken, with both sides refusing to allow the other to nominate a candidate espousing their views. This, of course, leads to an effective deadlock in the Council of Erudites.

If any Savant is to be chosen in good time, it will have to either be another conciliatory candidate - this time one even weaker than their predecessor - or one of the two sides will have to win in this dispute. Given the history of the Lotherist faith and the Council of Erudites, both of these options seem to be drifting further from reach.

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by **Vredlandia** » Sat Jul 29, 2017 1:50 pm

LIVETICKER: FOOTBALL GAME OUT OF CONTROL -- RIOT POLICE DISPATCHED

Anton Graf Flottreiter (@grafflottreiter)
29th of July 2017 | Vredensund, Vredlandia

Scenes of chaos as fans of Vredensund started rioting
Photograph courtesy of Rolf Flitzer

Vredensund, Vredlandia - The sixteenth annual TeleVR CUP has been brought to an end violently. As fans of the SV Vredensund and BV Verania Königsbrück skirmish across town, the inner city and main station are under lockdown.

4:01 PM - The game begins. The clubs of Vredensund and Königsbrück share a huge rivalry, with Vredensund being home to a leftist-oriented crowd of mainly Vreden origin and Königsbrück a rightist-oriented fanbase with mostly Weranian origin. Fans of both clubs had to enter the stadium seperately, with the fans of Königsbrück coming in a whole two hours in advance. It's unclear to say from the looks of it whether there are actually more security units than the ~ 1200 Verania Ultras, as the hardcore base of Königsbrück fans is called. Usually fans aren't allowed to attend matches of those two teams in the stadium, but TeleVR and the clubs insisted. Referee for today's game is John Newly, an Estmere native.

4:38 PM - Königsbrück strike their first goal. Vredensund fans are unhappy.

4:42 PM - First fireworks - despite a general ban and strict security measures - have been set off. The game continues nevertheless, the situation calms down.

4:48 PM - Just seconds before the referee calls the first half of the game, Vredensund manages to strike a goal. The following half time is thus relatively calm. Vredensund's mayor has tweeted: He wishes the town's team best success. Attached is an image of him and his staff celebrating.

5:14 PM - Königsbrück just scored two goals within two minutes. Vredensund's fans are absolutely mad and reacting with a literal firestorm of fireworks. Both football teams have returned to their cabins for security reasons and security units stormed onto the ranks of the fans. The announcer calls for all fans to end their aggressive behavior or else the game won't resume: Vredensund's fans don't care, they overwhelm the security forces and storm onto the field.

5:22 PM - The game has now officially been stopped. Police units are escorting Königsbrück's fans outside. One of our colleagues from local news tweets that the mayor has left his office and entered the Police HQ. Police units have worked on emergency measures far in advance of the match, although only yesterday it was leaked that they are likely understaffed and that requests for additional units had been denied by the Minister of Law, a staunch ally of Seneschal Kloth.

5:36 - Fans of Königsbrück sing "Fly High, Red Eagle" as they're escorted to the main station. Provocation would be too nice of a term for what they're doing. This is absolutely offensive to the fans of Vredensund and all Vredensund inhabitants. It is clear they're aiming for further escalation.

5:38 PM - For those who don't realise how offensive this actually is: "Fly High, Red Eagle" claims the North-East of Vredlandia is Weranian land, when it is mainly Vreden inhabited. Weranian fascists in Vredlandia used it as their anthem, so when the government wanted to exchange the revolutionary national anthem for "Fly High, Red Eagle" in 1966, Vredlandia was struck by the most violent unrest in Post-War times. Singing the anthem (or a regional Vreden one for that matter) is technically not allowed during sports events.

5:41 PM - And now the escort has been brought to a halt. Hooligans are attacking with bottles and rocks. Königsbrück fans are reportedly using the confusion to break from the escort and venture through town on their own. The mayor threatened that "harshest action" would be taken if the violence wouldn't end.

6:20 PM - Police only count half of Königsbrück's registred fans at the main station. Their train can't leave, though. The rails are being blocked.

8:06 PM - The train left the main station after the rails had been cleared. Reportedly around 400 fans of Königsbrück are still in the city. One reader sent us a video of a brawl in a small sidestreet. Watch the video on twitter: (twitter.kyl/dailyvr1/status/856540028016701440)

9:17 PM - A larger gathering at the edge of the inner city, at the corner Rue Arnaud/Place de la Revolution, is being encircled. Police says that the attendants reportedly rioted and destroyed local business.

9:24 PM - Water cannons find their first use today. Rioters react with violence. Police retreats under thunderous cheering.

Hospitals in the area counted 64 victims injured related to the match. Vredensund leftists are known to have their own ambulances, though, so the victim count should be far higher. An additional six officers are currently being treated.

9:43 PM - The mayor has dispatched riot police. They are closing in with water cannons once more, but this time the officers carry rubber guns.

9:46 PM - Units are shooting tear gas from a helicopter.

10:29 PM - Although leftist twitter stars are calling for the crowd to stay strong and not give in to "police violence", the crowd seems to have been dispersed. The mayor's office confirmed that he returned home to his wife and family. Minor skirmishes are still ongoing.

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by **The Ik Ka Ek Akai** » Sat Jul 29, 2017 7:31 pm

VIOLENCE IN THE JUNGLE
Several found in jungle after apparent conflict

Keanu La'au ( @KlauTele )
28 07 2017 9:30 PM | Makuahine, Celestial Isles

Censored photograph captured in the aftermath of a battle
Photo courtesy of Keanu La'au.

MAKUAHINE, CELESTIAL ISLES - Bloody conflict has never been a stranger to the Celestial Isles. Archaeological evidence reveals many wars in Yocatullic prehistory, and the people of The Isles have a strong warrior tradition. Oral legend tells of great heroes performing impossible feats on the battlefield to overcome their rival tribes. Ancient temple complexes have evidence of human sacrifice scattered all throughout. However, little people realize that these conflicts did not disappear centuries ago.

From 1623-1630, The Celestial Isles underwent a long civil war, each of the twelve tribes fighting for superiority in the confederation. The use of new foreign weapons was devastating to the local populations, and after the war was over, many firearms were systematically destroyed in the century following. Only in 1730 would The Isles reopen its borders to foreigners, and begin to once again trust the outside world. This went well, and the Yocatullic people made a name for themselves as a distinct and large ethnic group of the Sublustrian. Anthropologists studied them intensely, while Yocatullic natives also went abroad as explorers and curiosities both. It was in the year 1732 that Kohatuwaoa discovered Euclea, making contact with local pale-skinned tribes and their leaders. His intricate tattoos became a curiosity of the Eucleans, who had never seen such advanced artwork before. When Kohatuwaoa arrived in Gaullica he would have seen families living in primitive, damp and unsanitary conditions and a brutal society that punished almost any act of disobedience, from theft to associating with heretics, with death. The Gaullicans were a warlike people, renowned and feared for their prowess at fighting other Euclean tribes and even raiding and conquering lands and taking slaves on distant continents. Today Gaullica is a thriving multi-cultural nation producing a range of quality exports whilst preserving its rich heritage and traditions. ‪

The Yocatullic people even fought in The Great War! Many made a name for themselves, earning glory, honor, tattoos, and trophies for their participation. This was the last major external conflict that the Yocatullic people fought in for the entirety of the 20th century, however it was glorious. Many warriors, including Pe'a Oranirani himself, came home bearing great honor and new ideas and technologies from abroad. Among these was animation. Following the Great War, the Celestial Isles entered a period of strict migration practices. Often compared to the period of the Closed Country, but lacking the same severity, the Celestial Isles became wary of the outside once more as the conflict between large blocs threatened international security. Agents of subterfuge and discord were rumored to be infiltrating near everywhere, and so the Yocatullic people took any outside influence in baby steps- Oranirani, as a native of The Isles, was trusted with his craft and experienced a freedom that others in The Isles did not.

Due to such a long period of isolation, and general distrust of the outside world that persists today, The Celestial Isles is practically a living museum of its pre-contact self. Traditional dances and songs are sung around traditional bonfires as people eat traditional food and pray to traditional deities. The warriors dance and spar for tourists, they compete in wrestling and contests, and many show off their artistic skills as well. They explain their tattoos to tourists, offering an explanation for each stroke of ink. What the tourists do not see, however, is the bloody conflict they also endure.

In the modern Celestial Isles, tribal conflict still occurs. Although the traditional method of resolving these conflicts can involve mediation from a gathering of the tribal council, that is using chieftains as arbiters to deal with the debates between two chieftains, skirmishes and wars are all to present to ignore. Although it is generally said that the coastal 'cities' are safe, there are rural communities more inland where such conflicts are more common. Bands of warriors from the cities, however, also partake in traditional warfare- one such example being the Gaullican loggers who were assaulted not long ago. Using traditional clubs, blades, spears, and bows, these groups engage one another. It is rare that the battles are captured on film, even the aftermath is usually cleaned up before pictures can be taken, but this time we managed to capture a still-breathing warrior impaled by several spears.

The man was rushed to the hospital and his spears were removed, but his condition remains critical. The issue with these conflcits is that, however they start, they never end peacefully. While the two villages who fought may have initially been competing for hunting grounds, today their conflict likely rages on as a result of a call for revenge. Where one side kills someone, the other seeks revenge, and so they attack in return, and then they seek revenge and so on. In combination with the highly tribalistic mindset of the modern Celestial Isles, and the very pro-tradition culture and atmosphere, these conflicts are unlikely to end any time soon. The best that can be hoped is that the Celestial Empress, Kaila'au, is able to continue her plans for advancing her people into modernity.

The Celestial Isles is a poor and underdeveloped nation that relies on a traditional way of life with a largely self-contained economy.
To support their nation and the preservation of their culture, buy the high-quality chocolate and vanilla marked as exported from the Celestial Isles. Also: please consider the Yoconut™. Yoconut™ brand fruits and vegetables, such as taro, are popular among the Yocatullic diaspora and also help fund the preservation of rainforests and the cultures within them. Several charities dedicated to the Celestial Isles are also listed on our homepage. Thank you for your consideration.

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by **Vredlandia** » Sun Jul 30, 2017 7:32 am

Seneschal Kloth Presents Reform Bill As Anger Mounts in Vredensund & Elsewhere

Anton Graf Flottreiter (@grafflottreiter)
30th of July 2017 | Eldburg, Vredlandia

Seneschal Kloth at his Press Conference
Photograph courtesy of Pierre Debussy

Eldburg, Vredlandia - In the midst of all the turmoil in Vredensund, Seneschal Kloth has announced his budget. The bill will be introduced to the floor on Monday and voted on Saturday. "If we don't introduce these austerity measures, our moral and financial credibility is up for debate", the Seneschal said.

All of Vredensund listened when "their" Seneschal, the former mayor of Vredensund, Raivo Kloth announced his schedule. A Press Conference on a Sunday? It seemed inevitable he would address the riots in Vredensund, at best promise to aid local authorities by allocating units to them. But Kloth has always lacked a sense of relating to others. Why should he be concerned about some rioting football hooligans, when he is working on the biggest reforms Vredlandia has seen in its modern times? And so he came to talk to the media for a whole two hours, addressing every little detail in his budget, but not even mentioning the Vredensund situation once.

That would be very understandable, but shows a certain disconnect from reality. The rioters in Vredensund are far from "only" being football hooligans. In fact, by now that is probably the smallest share of demonstrators. That's the good thing about them - They only care for a day. No, the bulk of those on the streets today are leftists, anarchists and, since it came out that the gathering yesterday that was dissolved violently hadn't done anything illegal, simply solidary citizens. He could have given them only the smallest gesture of solidarity, or merely attention. Instead he unloads the harshest austerity measures Vredlandia has seen on them.

When Seneschal Kloth talks about his reform bill, it sounds fantastic. But the details behind those soundbites are disastrous: The government may aim towards full employment, but it does so by cutting unemployment fees, introducing a brake to increasing the minimum wage until at least 2020 and making it harder to sue businesses. They want to reduce public holidays from 13 to 9. The military will not receive budget increases for three years, and neither will the Education Department. Indeed, foreign students will in the future no longer be allowed to study in Vredlandia for free. Agricultural subsidies will be cut. Also, to finance investment measures, the government wants to sell the Vredlandian railway system and the Vredlandian Mail. Less controversial: The government also intends to legalise cannabis once and for all and to tax it. Furthermore, instead of marriage tax incentives there will be tax incentives for childbirth and families.

The Assemblyman from Eldburg-Rodevik has already announced that he will not vote in favour of the bill in the National Assembly, but instead introduce a bill to hold a referendum on it. Asked about the idea, Seneschal Kloth was critical. "I don't think I can get behind that. Pardon me for saying so, but the media tends to be hysterical, and I'd rather we vote on it and Vredlandians see for themselves that these measures were necessary and ultimately good."

Several unions announced their intention to strike next week. Demonstrations are being registred all over the country.

Maybe our Seneschal would have been better off talking about the Vredensund situation after all.

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by **Liecthenbourg** » Sun Jul 30, 2017 1:15 pm

VERLOIS PRAISES "NEMATSUJIN TACT AND DIPLOMACY"
De Troumpe: "The notion that some of the Directors in Negara refuse to come to the table, with Nematsu having to pick up the mantle of proposed mediator, truly shows how far Negara has fallen in terms of diplomatic reputability."

Antoinette Giourd (@agiourd)
^{30 July 2017 | Verlois, Gaullica}

De Troumpe, explaining to journalists what Negara is doing to itself on the diplomatic stage.
Photo courtesy of Joanna Demarq

Verlois, Gaullica -

The tension between Gaullica and Negara have continued to rise as, despite the intentions of calming the storm with a diplomatic front, several directors of Negara completely reject the proposals put forward by the Gaullican government. The proposal was given following Negara's contesting of the referendum on Nouveau Anglet, which saw the denizens of the island vote in favour of remaining with Gaullica - as they had done twice in the past before.

Director Jida Ambonta, who seemed open to the ideas of a diplomatic parlay, has been ostracised by his fellow directors. Director Ribok, a famed more conservative member of the Negaran Government - especially in relations to Euclea's supposed notions of "imperialism" - announced he would "not stand" for the attempts to "negotiate" over Nouveau Anglet. This has been a setback to many in the Gaullican Social Democratic Party,
which holds a fleeting dominance in Gaullica's Senate. Many have also felt the actions taken by Negara's own Social Democratic Party, which has sought to completely disavow from negotiations, as a misunderstanding on the part of two - on paper - very similar parties.

As First Minister Degar-Abdulrashid noted; "This has been a complete misunderstanding between two Social Democratic Parties. We can see that our party notes that workers have been benefiting under our economic programmes; but we can understand that perhaps members of Negara's social democratic party note this as a dealing with "class consciousness" or perhaps even economically strangle-holding the workers of Nouveau Anglet. We can assure them that this is not the case."

Despite the words of the First Minister, Gaullica'a Minister of Foreign Affairs - the renowned De Troumpe - has called out Negara for its refusal to come to the table:

"I just don't get it. The referendum has happened. The results were agreed to be respected. There is no change, this was the status quo. This is how things were a month ago, and we did not have these bad relations then. Negara's refusal to come to talk out the grievances, perhaps reach a compromise to propose to the Gaullicans of Nouveau Anglet, has cemented that perhaps we should not budge at all. They refuse to cross the bridge we've laid out for them, they turn and squint and eye us as being "imperialists." Negara should remember fondly that the age of imperialism is over; and it was through a democratic mandate that Nouveau Anglet remained with Gaullica."

"Yet I have to say that Director Ambonta has earned my infinite respect. He is a man with a plan, not beset by blind stereotypes or conceptions. Director Ambonta is willing to put aside the notions spewed by some of the directors and instead has shown he is willing to act."

"But one director does not change policy. It is quite a disappointment, especially those who value the important trade between Gaullica and Negara, that it has fallen upon Nematsu to act as a cordial diplomatic voice in these times. The notion that some of the Directors in Negara refuse to come to the table, with Nematsu having to pick up the mantle of proposed mediator, truly shows how far Negara has fallen in terms of diplomatic reputability. I, on behalf of the Gaullican government, thank Shikken Terada Yasunari for his diplomatic tact in this trying time. I can assure you that Gaullica would welcome your mediation."

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by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Sun Jul 30, 2017 7:31 pm

MAC SUIBHNE FACES AN UPHILL BATTLE AS SDs LEADER, BUT HE WILL PREVAIL
If there is anyone who can revitalize a party in absolute ruin following a crushing defeat, it is without a doubt Stiofán Mac Suibhne

Gerry McMaster - Guest Columnist (@mcmasteraim)
^{30 July 2017 | Spálgleann, Glytter}

Newly elected SDs leader Stiofán Mac Suibhne has the chance to fundamentally rebuild his party following its fourth consecutive flop.

To some, the fourth consecutive electoral defeat of the Social Democratic Party came as a surprise. However, when I woke up on 13 June, I did not wake up surprised; just disappointed.

Since the 2002 Comhthionól the party has been battered with loss after loss. While the loss after ten years of Leneghan's tenure came as no real surprise, defeats by Walker in 2007 and 2012 dealt a massive blow to both the pragmatic and leftist wings of the party. The Liberty Party, who has proven to have adopted a winning strategy of pragmatism and bi-partisanship, won four consecutive elections. This broke the previous record held by Eleanore Rosaiteir, who saw historic victories in 1937, 42, and 47. However, even she was denied a fourth consecutive victory. Now, we face twenty consecutive years of Liberty governments. Uninterrupted. I would add unrestrained, but Walker's pragmatic tenure brought the Centre Party into the fold for the past decade, implementing a check on her party.

Walker, who has openly said she was inspired by the third-way, neoliberal tenure of Leneghan, managed to save her party from ruin. The recession that plagued global markets in the mid-2000s knocked the wind out of her predecessor, who managed to maintain the Flowerite grip on the Liberty Party until he realized he had no choice but to resign. Walker, who for all her faults is arguably one of the most reasonable and steady hands in Glytteronian and perhaps even Euclean politics, took her rise as an opportunity. In 2007, she and her newly appointed party chair, coordinated what can only be described as a purge of Flowerites from Liberty's voter roles. Instead, the pragmatic, centrist backbenchers took charge, and many new candidates who ran in 2007 were just that, pragmatic centrists. This is not to say that Walker completely isolated the right-wing of her party. Throughout her decade long tenure many prominent right-wingers had very comfy and very senior positions in the cabinet. Even after her second victory, though a pyrrhic one, the ex-Taoiseach allowed the right-wingers to keep control of half the cabinet. This created harmony within her ranks. While many of the party's leading right-wingers did not always agree with every Walker policy, they were reassured by the presence of senior fellow right-wingers. Walker could have easily won a third term if she so desired, and probably a fourth. She did that good of a job restructuring what many talking heads deemed a shattered party.

There are many similarities between the Liberty Party of yesteryear and the SDs of present day. However, one very important difference is that while Liberty has been taking loses, it has not lost. This is due to the Walker sponsored harmony the party enjoys, something the SDs desperately need. While Ballíck had the right ideas, he was not an inspiring leader. In fact, I always viewed him as more of a caretaker. He was given a five year stint as opposition leader so the party could cast him aside in 2017 and finally pick a leader with a shot at becoming Taoiseach. The fact that Ballíck lost two of the country's most prominent unions says wonders about his ability to maintain a cohesive caucus. Unlike Walker, he isolated a huge part of his party's base: the unionists. Towards the onset of this year's election, he decided the Greens were a better potential coalition partner than Labour. This is not a huge surprise. The SDs have maintained a rocky relationship with their fellow leftists. After all, Labour did splinter from the party over disputes during the Leneghan tenure. However, instead of choosing to wait until after the election to name a coalition partner, Ballíck approach the Greens in advance. The Greens, who hope to obliterate the oil and mining sectors, are hardly a preferable partner for the unionists. I myself was deeply concerned by the concessions the Greens would demand from Ballíck in order to enter a government with him. However, as a staunch unionist and dedicated Social Democrat there was no chance in hell I would abandon ship. That said, I can understand why the unions that jumped did. They have suffered greatly and no one except Labour ever seemed to give a damn. Ballíck was too concerned with trees and not concerned enough with the unions, I remember one of my members saying.

In a sense, that is true. Ballíck, who is a very nice and good-intentioned individual, often ignored the advice of his deputy, an ex-president of the Association of Iron Miners and my predecessor. Stiofán Mac Suibhne, who in a twist now leads this broken party, was right in that the unions needed something to galvanize them, and that something was not an electoral pact with the Greens. Many union members, despite the advice and direction of their unions, voted for Labour and even worse, the FMP, this past election and in all sorts of elections before it. Is it any wonder why Bulfawst, the heart of Glytteronian industry, has been dominated by the right as of late?

Mac Suibhne is in a unique position. His party desperately needs a savoir, it desperately needs a Walker. I am fully confident in his ability to salvage this party. He not only understands his base, but he knows how to effectively communicate them. A pat on the back from SNS is enough to reassure any union member having doubts about the direction of the party. His ability to communicate effectively does not stop with his own union, but extends to the youth vote. While Centre capitalized on the lack of substantive policy aimed at voters aged 18-25, many of those very voters follow and retweet Mac Suibhne daily. He has one of the most popular twitter accounts in the country. Young people seem to love him without even realizing who he is.

He will be able to unite the party once more and restore order. In fact, I would argue he has already done so. Just look at his shadow cabinet. Of the six positions in it, two come from the unions, two the centre, and two are under thirty-five. This matters more than you may think. A reflective leadership helps keep the troops in line. I can definitely say this pleases both the unions and the old rank and file Leneghan neoliberals. Likewise, the presence of two very young shadow ministers could easily help win the backing of the youth vote.

If anyone can captivate young minds and restore the faith of the unions, it is SNS. If anyone can bring the Social Democratic Party back from the brink of all out ruin, it is SNS. If anyone can rival Walker as a reasonable and stable leader, it is SNS.

Gerry McMaster is the Executive President of the Association of Iron Miners. His opinions are his own, and do not represent the Glytteronian Broadcasting Federation or the Kylaris Union of Broadcasting.

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by **Vredlandia** » Mon Jul 31, 2017 1:00 pm

Oliver S. Harlo ends his television career.. To challenge Seneschal Kloth's seat

Anton Graf Flottreiter (@grafflottreiter)
30th of July 2017 | Eldburg, Vredlandia

Harlo and Kloth live in the same voting district. The TV star was one of Kloth's major allies until recently.
Photograph courtesy of Pierre Debussy

Eldburg, Vredlandia - More trouble for Seneschal Kloth: Entertainer Oliver Harlo announced his intent to "kick Seneschal Kloth out of office". The highly awarded TV star also announced an end to his daily show, which has been running for 14 years straight now.

For fourteen years now Oliver Harlo has been at the frontbench of Vredlandian television. Starting his career as a radio moderator, he soon became known as a revolutionary. Instead of copying Gaullican shows, he created an own brand - One that remains challenged only by media mogul Johann von Geldrich. International celebrities enjoy his company, and he enjoys their name on his show. Ruthlessly he abandoned conventions and allies to rise to the very highest levels of Vredlandian society. People either loved him, or they loved hating him.

And thus he has always attracted not just attention, but those who seeked attention by associating with him. In his glory days as radio moderator of Radio Vredensund, a young mayoral candidate came to him with an idea: Harlo and his radio show would accompany the candidate on his journeys through Vredensund and the challenges he endured as candidate, and in return he would give them exclusive access if he won. Now Harlo didn't need the access, but he saw something in the candidate: The strength and will, unbound energy, to reform the mess that Vredensund was at the time. Their show became a major success far beyond the city itself, and the candidate would become known as Raivo Kloth, youngest mayor of Vredensund ever.

For many years, it seemed like they would never break this useful alliance, but then they did.

A source close to both recalled the events to us: Harlo, the entertainer, had eyed the mayor's office of Vredensund for many years. When Kloth finally resigned his office in order to become Seneschal to his Holy Father, Harlo felt like it was his chance. With the Seneschal at his side, nothing could go wrong - But while he was cancelling events, meetings and deals, Seneschal Kloth stood in front of the media and publicly endorsed another candidate. Harlo's run ended before it begun.

Now he is back to take another office for himself, and he chose the best time for it, too. Seneschal Kloth's reform bill is detested, his image as reformer and shiny youngster making room for one of a cold-hearted, greedy elitist. It has never been easier to challenge him.

Not that Oliver Harlo is different: He might very well be one of the wealthiest in the entertainment business. All of his kids are in Gaullica, where they attend classes in elite institutions. Harlo himself loves art and orchestras. On his show, he often made fun of the feeble and weak. And not that he could challenge him legally. Outside of legally called elections, so after the death, resignation, removal of an Assemblyman or during general elections, there is no way to take the seat of an incumbent.

But he also made fun of himself, showed himself fighting celebraties and common folk, getting knocked out and swimming through mud. Bitterly taking on anyone without restraint. And he can do everything humanly imaginable to weaken Seneschal Kloth's rule.

Kloth has won against worse odds, as has Harlo. Their fight is sure to entertain us for a while, though.

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by **Senkaku** » Mon Jul 31, 2017 9:31 pm

JADE STAR MEDIA GROUP

NAVY'S WESTERN COMMAND ORDERS MAJOR EXERCISES
Battleship Jufeng Leads Xunhai Division in Response to Western Entity's Aggression

Chang Yulin (@yulinchang )
31 July 2017 08:00 | Xianggang, Songguo

The battleship Jufeng fires a missile while on exercises with her battle group, the Xunhai Division.
Photo courtesy of the Imperial Navy.

Xianggang, Qingzhou Governorate -

Elements of the Imperial Navy, consisting of the battleship Jufeng and her escorts (the Xunhai Division), made a forceful sortie into the Red Sea and the Bay of Basurhat beginning yesterday evening, when the Navy's Western Command ordered them to begin exercises expected to continue throughout the next several days. The battleship Hailang, leading the Xianggang Division, is expected to rendezvous with the Jufeng and her escorts to continue the exercises throughout the coming ten days, along with various other elements of the Navy's North and Red Sea Fleets, the Air Force's Emerald Delta Regional Command, and the Strategic Missile Forces. Led by two nuclear-powered guided missile battleships, and including nuclear attack and ballistic missile submarines as well as supersonic land-based and carrier-based aircraft, the exercise is expected to send a strong message that Songguo's naval might remains unequaled in the Southern Hemisphere.

Supreme Command has acknowledged the exercises are a response to the recent commissioning of the Western Entity's carrier Shinano, with the Gate's spokesman Colonel Wu Chanming calling its construction a "direct provocation and attempt to upset the established order." Top brass within the Gate have criticized the Western Entity since the carrier's construction began, and it has spurred concern among some government officials, such as Chief Deputy of the Grand Assembly Lin Huihong, that the Navy requires additional funding to ensure the Western Entity is not able to chip away at the Empire's naval might. However, while Navy officials did acknowledge the Shinano's potential threat, they also downplayed the threat it posed to the fleet, noting it would take years of training for the Western Entity's pilots and crews to master operations on the craft and that it remained vulnerable to the massed missile firepower of the Song fleet. "We have nothing to fear," Colonel Wu noted, "but we must remain vigilant and not allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of security. Shinano represents a significant long-term investment by our enemy to attempt to unbalance the strategic field, and we must ensure we remain ahead of any new threats they choose to attempt to pose."

As the Xianggang Division prepared to sail, Supreme Command reportedly has also considered ordering the Chunshi Division, led by the battleship Bingshan and based in Meidao, to sortie on exercises as well, as an added demonstration of global might.

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by **Legatia** » Tue Aug 01, 2017 4:42 pm

BREAKING:
NEMATSUJIN MARITIME SERVICE CONDUCTS EMERGENCY SORTIES INTO HONGHAI SEA, BAY OF BASHURAT
Nematsu in uproar following aggressive Song naval maneuvers

Sae Nijima @N_Sae
01/08/17 16:20 |Asabiro, Nematsu

A Nematsujin naval strike fighter taking off from the deck of Carrier Battle Group 1's fleet carrier NMS Shokaku during emergency operations within the Bay of Bashurat.
The response is intended to show Songgou that "Nematsu refuses to concede", says the MoD.
Photo courtesy of Takami Shuu

INTERNATIONAL WATERS-

In the face of aggressive Songhuan naval maneuvers in the shared maritime borders, the Nematsujin Maritime Service has ordered the First Carrier Battle Group (Koku-bokan sento shudan), lead by fleet carrier NMS Shokaku to sortie immediately into the area in full force. It will be joined soon after by the Third Carrier Battle Group and elements from the Second Fleet including guided missile destroyers and cruisers, submarines, and to include one of Nematsu's three remaining Toaketsu-class battlehsips, Haishinyari.

In an emergency press conference, the Minister of Defense, Makobo Akira, responded incredibly harshly to the Songhuan naval maneuvers. "The Song barbarians have the gall to threaten our people and to upset this stability they so passionately clamor to uphold. Nematsu refuses to concede, and we will not take kindly to such blatant and undignified aggression."

A general military alert was issued immediately after reconnaissance assets and satellite imagery confirmed that Songhuan naval assets were indeed mobilized in force. Land-based aircraft including tactical and strategic bombers as well as air superiority and strike fighters were scrambled over northern and eastern areas over and surrounding Nematsu and have maintained a vigil over these areas since.

The Imperial Diet voted unanimously to condemn the move, and discussion of moving to further cut off tenative trade relations with the Song nation has been slated for discussion. Shikken Terada was unable to be reached for a proper comment, but a public statement was released by his office. "Nematsu will never bow its head in submission- not to the Song, not to anyone. We will match them and meet them wherever they challenge us, and we will prevail."

A massive public uproar in major metropolitan centers has seen the mass burning of Song flags, as well as the lynching of effigies of their Imperial Family and top government officials. Protests have taken place in solidarity with the government, with large crowds of citizens marching with the state flag flying in their ranks. "These Song are not a country as they claim to be;" The Minister of Defense continued in his own speech. "They are a collection of rabble and refuse that have floated out from their landfill of a country to pollute the seas."

Naval and government officials have responded to the claims being made against the carrier Shinano, which has long been a source of tension between the two nations. "The construction and commissioning of Shinano was and remains an initiative by the government of Nematsu to preserve and ensure its sovereignty, and not as a measure to inflict fear and pain. The Government of Nematsu condemns this childish and ill-witted decision and denounces all those involved in its execution."

Carrier Battle Group 1 is expected to maintain a high level of combat readiness throughout the exercises performed by the Songhuan Navy, and will be prepared to undergo defensive operations if provoked.

"This is our warning to Songgou." Makobo-san said, concluding his speech. "Any further acts of aggression from the Song will be treated as such, and any provocation will receive retribution in proportion."

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by **Elepis** » Wed Aug 02, 2017 7:36 am

Defence Ministry authorises sale of Saeqeh attack planes to Darshistan and Marirana
Darshistan and Marirana are to join other Coian nations in buying the Farsi attack and counter-insurgency Saeqeh aircraft

Parima Chhibber
(@pchhibber)
^{2 August 2017 | Susa, Fars}

Saeqeh-99 attack aircraft above northern Fars
Photo courtesy Bashir Arsaces

Susa, Fars-

The Defence Ministry today announced the sale of 38 Saeqeh-99 light attack and counter insurgency aircraft to the Republic of Darshistan and the Mariranan Free State in a deal worth 400 million dollars to the Farsi economy. The Minister of Defence, Behrouz Rudina along with Manoush Tarapore, the Chair of the Joint Chief of Staff, announced the sale at a joint-press conference today saying:

"The sale of these planes to the Darshistan National Air Force and the Mariranan air force will significantly improve their capacity to deal with both internal and external threats. Our brothers in Darshistan live under the constant threat of renewed violence following the Gayneva Accords which have maintained peace in the country for the last twenty years while our partners in Mariranan face an active and dangerous insurgency at the hands of rebels-come-drug-dealers. Of course in all conflicts the first option must always be dialogue but the threat of surgical and precise military force is always needed and we believe the sale of these planes will aid our partners in that regard."

When asked to comment the office of Premier Pasha Alavi stated that the deal "underlines once again that Fars is a great, global, trading nation as has been the case since the founding of the ancient spice road and will secure key jobs in the Farsi arms sector for decades to come."

The Saeqeh-99 (in Estmerish, Lightening-99) attack air craft is a turboprop light attack aircraft designed for counter-insurgency, close air support, and aerial reconnaissance missions in low-threat environments, as well as providing pilot training. Designed to operate in high temperature and humidity conditions in extremely rugged terrain, the Saeqeh is highly manoeuvrable, has a low heat signature, and incorporates fourth-generation avionics and weapons systems to deliver precision-guided munitions. Based off an earlier training air craft produced in Fars the air craft is currently in use by both the Farsi People's Air Force and the Farsi National Gendarmerie as well as the air force of the Bahian nation of Kigomba and the south Coian states of Songguo and Namkwon. The plane's design allows it to carry a wide variety of weapons including missiles, rockets, machine guns, laser guided bombs and anti-armour canon.

According to the deal 18 will be sold to Marirana with ten to be delivered this year and eight in 2018 and Darshistan will receive twenty, ten in 2017 and ten in 2018.

The sale, has been welcomed by the Darshistan government saying: "Recently the world has become a more volatile place, with revolutions and military coups in Coius and even nearby Badawiya. There has been fears that this unrest my spread to the Republic of Darshistan however but thanks to the precautions taken by the President and Prime minister, this has not yet materialise. Nevertheless, the Republic still faces numerous internal and external threats and the sale of these air craft, will help the National Armed Forces defend our people."

The deal has also been welcomed by Farsi economists who see it as a further step towards the diversification of the Farsi economy away from it's traditional reliance on hydrocarbons. Last year the government announced it's plans for economic diversification which included new investment in, among others, mining, tourism and arms manufacturing. While far from being a large scale arms exporter, since the 1990's following the Darshi Civil War Fars has been developing its own indigenous arms sector with the Saeqeh being its most exported product and this is seem as a symbol of Fars's continued economic development.

However, some of condemned the sale with the chairman of the Farsi Zoulvisian Union, which represents Fars's 2 million Zoulvisian citizens saying that the moves was designed to provoke Ahnurvey stating that the planes are being used as a bribe to ensure the loyalty of Darshistan's power sharing government to Fars rather than Ahnurvey, and antagonise Ahnurvey in to action against Darshistan and Fars. The government responded to this, repeating their commitment to the neutrality of Darshistan and peace between Fars and Ahnurvey. Some Northern human rights groups have also condemned the sale of the planes to Marirana fearing they will be used against civilians in their ongoing civil war.

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by **Liecthenbourg** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 6:02 am

FIRST MINISTER VERBALLY ASSAULTED AMIDST SESSION OF PARLIAMENT
First Minister Monique Degar-Abdulrashid faced verbal abuse in the middle of a session of parliament in a combination of sexist and racist remarks from members of the First Chamber of the Senate.

Antoinette Giourd (@agiourd)
^{5 August, 2017| Verlois, Gaullica}

First Minister Abdulrashid has served since the resignation of the CLU's Antonine Duquesne in August of last year.
Photo courtesy of Joanna Demarq

Verlois, Gaullica -

Controversy has hit the Premiere Chambre of the Gaullican Senate following remarks and comments made against the First Minister Monique Degar-Abdulrashid. She became First Minister following a minor cabinet reshuffle following the Spálgleann Paper revelations that the previous First Minister, Antonine Duquesne - in addition to various seating members and the leader of the Conservatives - had been embezzling money in a Glytteronian firm. Mlle Degar-Abdulrashid, the Minister of the Interior, was selected to become the First Minister following De Troumpe - who had been elected as the new leader of the CLU - declined the need of a member of the CLU to be in the position.

Mlle Degar-Abdulrashid has been noted to be the first Mumim to be the First Minister of Gaullica and certainly one of the more powerful ones post the Great War, given how role as First Minister and Minister of the Interior.

Yet today she became the centre of a controversial move in the middle of the Senate. August 5th, the Feast Day of Saint Chloé (one of Gaullica's patron saints), has long been held as an informal holiday and treated with respect. Upon the opening of the lower house this morning a "long tradition" had been done, with members of the Senate singing the Lord's Prayer in commemoration of the day. Mlle Degar-Abdulrashid did not sing the song and became targeted by traditionalist members across the floor for her refusal to do so.

Alfred Boulanger, leader of Gaullica's Front National, decried that she was "Unfit to serve as First Minister if she was unwilling to stand to the traditions that make Gaullica what she is. Your failure to sing this prayer, Mlle, is a slight on this chamber and what it stands for!" Several members of the party also decried that she was "clearly not one to stand with the traditions of Gaullica because she does not follow the same faith."

When the First Minister replied that she was "as fit to be First Minister as any" and that "her faith did not dictate her capability to serve." Many SDs supported her, giving her an ovation, but the CLU was less enthusiastic.

Notably, Émile Doisneau, the unofficial representative of the more conservative section of the party, declared that "Whilst the First Minister is in the right to do as she likes, she clearly should have joined in the prayer due to the symbolic ties it holds to the functionality and power of this chamber. St. Chloé is a Gaullican hero."

Members of the Communal Coalition highlighted that this was a "religious move in a secular chamber."

Problems grew worse for the First Minister when she inadvertently shouted a reply to some of her fellow peers, decrying that "I do not believe in this, and felt uncomfortable and insulting to participate in it alongside believers!" At this, the monarchist Gilles Bruneau snickered that clearly it was "that time of month" and perhaps "the First Minister should refrain from participating if 'biologically unable'." This received an immense disapproval from the government's parties, the greens and the communist coalition, who demanded Mr. Bruneau be removed for this session. He willingly left shortly after.

Jean Vallette rallied to the support of his First Minister, highlighting that her "decision not to participate in prayer was out of respect, as a believer in Salam she felt she did not feel she was fitting to sing a prayer in the name of a Saint. We should respect her decision and thank her for her thoughts. But, I am also thoroughly disappointed in the words of Mr. Bruneau and others, such as Mr. Boulanger, whom target the First Minister on her faith and gender."

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by **Marirana** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 3:07 pm

PRESIDENT IMPLICATED IN CORRUPTION SCANDAL
Concerns over corruption and the arming of death squads has led to protests against President

Virginia Morceli (@MorceliVirginia )
05 August 2017 | Aquinas, Marirana

Stock photo of President Giorgio Macciocchi, dated July 2017
Photo courtesy of Roberto Giolatelli.

AQUINAS, MARIRANA - A report by the Public Prosecutors office today has implicated several members of the government, including President Giorgio Macciocchi, Minister of the Interior Mario Tambroni and Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfonso Hatoyama, in wide ranging corruption charges concerning the manipulation of money intended for relief for the Fonnaia earthquake in December last year.

The charges of corruption were first brought to the public prosecutors by the Democratic Left Alliance Senator Silvio Occhetto, who represents the Fonnaia district in the House of Senators. Occhetto reportedly gave evidence that the Macciocchi government had colluded with provincial authorities in Mederio and Umbertide to in Occhetto's words "pocket money donated by the International White Cross for disaster relief into the coffers of corrupt officials and insurgent groups." An investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau has discovered that the central government had "wilfully overlooked" a large scale network in Umbertide and Mederio where relief money was redirected into corrupt local officials, members of the central government and drug syndicates. The investigation furthermore presented evidence that Minister of the Interior Mario Tambroni used such money to give over $2 million to the Catholic Volunteer Corps, a move reportedly approved by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Social Democrat leader Alfonso Hatoyama alongside President Macciocchi.

The public prosecutors report has galvanised thousands to protest against president with over 300,000 protesting in San Marco alone today. Many of the protests, encouraged by leftist activists, are demanding for the presidents resignation over the scandals alongside his poor human rights record and current economic policy which has seen the poverty line surpass 50% for the first time since 1989. Macciocchi has responded to the protesters demands by saying he has "no part to play in these scandals" and has accused the public prosecutors report as being politically motivated. His approval rating today has tanked, going from 29% to 16% with his disapproval rating climbing from 46% to 64%.

If Macciocchi is proven to have had full knowledge of and approved this widespread corruption than it is likely that Parliament will begin an impeachment process against him, as he would be violating the constitution that explicitly forbids the president from "unlawful acts". Occhetto has indicated that the Democratic Left Alliance is "ready to begin impeachment if the President is found to be violating the constitution".

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by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Mon Aug 07, 2017 3:52 pm

ANALYSIS: MONDAY'S SUPER SESSION, BILL BY BILL

James Kelley (@jkelleygbf)
^{6 August 2017 | Spálgleann, Glytter}

Taoiseach Jimmy O'Reilly hailed the session, which took place before the Summer Recess began, as a "clear sign" of progress.

On Monday, the O'Reilly Coalition voted through a series of legislation that had previously been outlined in Taoiseach Jimmy O'Reilly's Taoiseach's Address. Some fifteen bills received the approval of both houses of the Tionól in what the Taoiseach described as a "super session". In an election year, the advancement of a flurry of legislation such as this is not unusual. Every five years new or newly re-elected governments typically spend much of the time between June 12 and July 31 hurrying through legislation in order to keep their campaign promises. Some of these new bills only received the vote of all 205 members of the coalition government while others received much broader, cross-party support.

Mr. O'Reilly and many of his senior cabinet officials have praised the session. The Taoiseach described it as a "clear sign of progress" and said it was "evidence he was sticking to his contract".

"As I said in my contract, I will not raise the income tax, I will not raise the petroleum tax, and I will not raise the sales tax. I have kept my word, and much of the legislation we've passed is further proof of that" he said on Monday.

However, he has come under fire from critics on both the left and the right. The parliamentary leader of the National Party, Bairre Ó Raghallaigh, said the Taoiseach "de facto raised the sales tax" by expanding it to cover online sales.

"While the percentage was not increased, the scope of the tax was. [Taoiseach] O'Reilly is correct when he says he did not raise the tax, but it is simply incorrect to say he has not expanded this tax. And just because this tax and the [income and petroleum] taxes were not raised does not mean we should overlook the fact that he has passed legislation that has raised several other taxes across the board" Mr. Ó Raghallaigh said.

However, the Minister of Finance, Meave Cullen, said the government was "being fiscally responsible" by raising certain taxes in order to cover increased spending.

"Unfunded mandates are devastating to county and local governments. A small increase in the percentage of a tax on luxury and leisure items, such as marijuana and alcohol, is simply a small price to pay for new services the Glytteronian people voted for" she told reporters on Tuesday.

Analysis

In order to better understand the controversy and celebration surrounding Monday's super session, GBF Chief Political and National Correspondent James Kelley offers his analysis of the most significant legislation passed.

Renewed Agricultural Subsidies Act - This act will see an increase in subsidies to the country's agricultural sector by €1.25 million. The subsidies will only be distributed among small and medium commercial farmers, with large farming corporations having been excluded. It was introduced to the Comhthionól by Tánaiste Malcolm Fitzpatrick and several other prominent Centre Party TCs, namely the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Rían Mac Domhnaill. The act received widespread cross-party support. The subsidies will be funded by a 1% increase in the Alcohol Tax, which was passed separately.

Gaullican Language Act - The Gaullican Language Act is the first major education initiative of the O'Reilly Government. It mandates that all treascoile schools require Gaullican language courses for all students. Its goal is to increase the percentage of Gaullican speakers in Glytter to 70% by 2030, up from 52% now. Under this act, €10 million is allocated for the implementation and continuation of Gaullican language programs.

Resources for Policing Act - This will see an increase the funding of the national police force by €10 million. The act sets a goal of 2,500 new officers added to the force by 2020. It will be funded by an increase in the Firearms Tax, which will be raised from 10% to 15%.

Intelligence Security Act - This act permits Glytter's intelligence agencies to share intelligence with international partners, such as Gaullica, more easily. Now, intelligence sharing only requires the approval of the national security council, the Security Board. Previously, the approval of both the board and the cabinet was required.

Repeal of the Travel Ban on Government Agencies to the Federation of Asteria Act - With the passage of this act, government agencies, departments, and ministries are allowed to resume publicly funded travel to the Federation. It officially reverses the ban which was put in place last June over the controversial Mason acts. The O'Reilly Government believes that the administration of Federation President Benjamin Avery has taken "initiative" in bolstering LGBT+ rights and the Taoiseach applauded the repeal of the Mason Acts, warranting the repeal.

Expansion of the Sales Tax to Online Transactions Act - Under the national sales tax, which is 7%, will now be expanded to all online transactions. This is the most controversial bill passed this session as its critics claim that O'Reilly has broken his promise by expanding the sales tax. Sales made online have never been subject to the national sales tax, which has caused a lot of discontent among small and medium Glytteronian businesses. Th this act was conditional for the Glytter Democrats, who market themselves as the party of small business, to join the governing coalition. The government has said this act closes a loophole that directly benefits online, predominately Federation-based corporations.

New Tax Increases - The alcohol tax will be increased by 1% and the recreational drug tax will be increased by 3% effective 1 November.

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by **Kisinger** » Tue Aug 08, 2017 9:46 am

DIRECTORATE CAUGHT IN DEADLOCK AS DIRECTOR YUDA SURYADI ABSTAINS
Director Yuda Suryadi has abstained from voting effectively preventing any meaningful diplomatic negotiations with Gaullica regarding the Pulau Emerald Referendum

Hamdani Kuwat @kuwathamdani
July 21st 2017| Kota Merdeka, Negara

Guards Outside the Directorate Building
Photo courtesy of Agung Ary Santoso.

Kota Merdeka -

After a long period of silence from the Directorate, a statement was finally released stating that they were unable to come to an agreement and it still remains a tie, following several meetings of the Directorate taking place over the last few days concerning possible negotiations with Gaullica in regards to the Pulau Emerald Referendum. The statement is as follows,

"We the Directorate of the people of Negara, are unable to come to an agreement concerning what direction to take in terms of any binding agreement with the nation of Gaullica concerning the recent referendum, however the Directorate is willing to discuss possible directions that both may take though Negara will continue to and will forever recognize that Pulau Emerald is under unlawful foreign occupation by an imperialist power."

In effect, this means that Negara is willing to talk about the referendum but is unwilling to acknowledge that it was true and legitimate and that it will not be able to continue past negotiations to an agreement until the Directorate has gets the majority it needs one way or another. In essence the Directorate is locked in a grid that will not be able to be broken until Director Yuda Suryadi comes forward to pick a side in the debate and allow the Directorate to move on to issues that are becoming more pressing, such as the approval for the new military reforms to happen over the next ten years.

Overall, the domestic approval of Director Yuda seems to have dropped significantly, reaching the lowest of any Director in the last 40 years,largely inpart due to her believed corruption and bribery scandal that rocked Negara's Governmental institutions last year, and now it has fallen even lower to 31% following this recent attempt at preventing the Directorate from moving forward to issues pressing Negara in terms of domestic protection.

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by **Vredlandia** » Wed Aug 09, 2017 1:30 pm

Referendum Bill Passes As Cabinet Turns on Seneschal Kloth

Anton Graf Flottreiter (@grafflottreiter)
9th of August, 2017 | Eldburg, Vredlandia

Seneschal Kloth alone on the Cabinet rows of the National Assembly during the referendum bill vote
Photograph courtesy of Pierre Debussy

Eldburg, Vredlandia - In a dramatic turn of events, far more than half of the National Assembly rejected the Seneschal's reform bill. Instead, a referendum will be held to decide on the fate of the reform bill. Things are looking dire for Seneschal Kloth, who has nearly half of his Cabinet publicly against him.

When the Reform Bill was rejected on Friday, Kloth still downplayed the scale of events. In a secret vote, 284 members of the National Assembly stood against him. But Kloth went in front of the media and told them that he still stood firmly behind his bill, and that he was confident the Assembly would "allow" the bill to go to a referendum. Unsurprisingly, the Assembly did, but the media barely lost words about that. Far more interesting were the surroundings of the whole vote. A whole four Cabinet members didn't follow their Seneschal's lead -- More importantly, they actively campaigned against his bill. It is a disobedience never seen before in modern Vredlandia.

The voice of the rogue Cabinet members is Minister of Agriculture Carl Woywod. His favourability in the electorate is huge, and has been steadily increasing. When he announced that he would be in favour of a referendum bill, party unity (and silence) broke down and the government engulfed in chaos. Woywod was one of the strongest allies of Seneschal Kloth in the latter's race for office, but being faced with a decision between betraying his electorate by cutting agriculture subsidies and his Seneschal, he made the easier choice. Heir to an economical giant and well beloved in Vredlandia, the wrath of the Seneschal assumedly didn't frighten him. Interestingly though, behind closed doors they will tell you that someone else holds the resistance to the referendum bill in Eldburg together - The Minister of Defence.

Franz Grunwald is young and charismatic, but vocally attacking his Seneschal as Woywod does? As Minister of Defence, that would send a wrong signal to the citizens of Vredlandia. But he is said to have his own ambitions for the office of Seneschal, and Kloth supposedly toyed with his loyalty when he announced defence policy without consultation. It was humiliating for Grunwald, who is said to hold incredible grudges. Few doubt the influence he had on the decision of the Home Minister and Education Minister to reject the Seneschal's bill. The Home Minister later said she feared it would aid in the destruction of Vredlandia's cultural scene. Minister of Education Herzog, whose political inactivity many thought to be the key to his unquestioning loyalty to the Seneschal, said something along the same lines. Especially the latter's break with Kloth was shocking, as politically inactive and "outside the system" of Eldburg, the actions carried immense weight.

On the other side, Kloth's allies are fuming. The Secretary of State is said to have called in to the Cabinet meeting only to rant for twenty minutes about the "treacherous amateurs" that sat on the table with the Seneschal. The Minister of Health and the one of Social Services defended the reform bill, even though their Ministries would be hit the hardest. Most curiously, Minister of Coin Treuwegen has taken the role of Mati Saam, the Minister of Law, in being the Seneschal's outside voice. Not that the Minister of Law didn't vote for it, but it was Treuwegen who went to the media and lobbied for the bill day and night. Lightheaded followers of the drama quickly commented that Treuwegen may have trashed the chances of ever becoming Seneschal with that move, but they clearly haven't known him for long. Arthur Treuwegen is one of the most cunning players in Eldburg, and he would never simply risk his career like that.

It is more likely that he realised the risk of going with the Seneschal's choice was rather low. Most will forgive you for going with your leader's decision -- It is far more risky to oppose such decision or to make it yourself. No matter the outcome of the referendum, the loyal Ministers will likely be fine.

Between Seneschal Kloth and the rogue Cabinet, however, it will be a battle for their future in the Cabinet. Indeed, there might be far more on the table than just personal careers. Many in Eldburg consider it to be a battle for tradition and the system overall.

Seneschal Kloth has denied to comment on any of this. "Cabinet business is done in the Cabinet, and not in the media", he said.

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by **Liecthenbourg** » Wed Aug 09, 2017 5:08 pm

DE TROUMPE: "THE MUMMER'S FARCE HAS BEEN EXPOSED."
De Troumpe lambastes Negara for their "incapability to come to the diplomatic table."

Antoinette Giourd (@agiourd)
^{10 August, 2017| Verlois, Gaullica}

Augustine De Troumpe mid speech.
Photo courtesy of Joanna Demarq

Verlois, Gaullica -

Tensions rise high once again as Gaullica and Negara come to diplomatic blows over Negara's refusal to come to parlay over Nouveau Anglet. A contentious issue for the Directorate, seeing as they hold the belief that the island is theirs, the Directors in support of a dialogue were resoundingly beset as Director Yuda Suryadi declared he would abstain from voting. As said by Antara News, "effectively preventing any meaningful diplomatic negotiations with Gaullica". Verlois, in its ever present fashion, has hit back at the refusal through Foreign Minister Augustine De Troumpe.

"Fine, let them play their games. They're inviting us to the negotiation table but have nothing they wish to discuss. They've said it themselves, that these talks will mean nothing. So its done. The Mummer's Farce has been exposed. But if they want to talk, to sit around and do nothing, I'm more than welcome. Nematsu has even offered to mediate the discussions. I have to pity Director Yuda, a noble voice, who's being ostracised and losing his popularity because he dares to question convention and discuss."

He went on to add that; "I fear the issue is contentious for them, and the reason for their incapability to come to the diplomatic table, is that they don't have a conceivable argument as to why we are at fault. They're doing a disservice not only to Gaullica and Nouveau Anglet, but to all the Gaullicans on the island who voted to join Negara in the referendum. They don't care, they're sabre-rattling to sabre-rattling."

Kusno Tanjung, the leader of the "Gaullicans of Nouveau Anglet" movement, retweeted the statements on Twitter. He also argued that "Minister De Troumpe is correct; the Negarans are only claiming Nouveau Anglet because they can. They do not care about you or I on this island, they care for their own imperialism. The imperialism they so decry that Gaullica commits - they themselves wish to commit here on this very island."

President Vallette also supported the statements of De Troumpe, stating that "Negara - a trusted friend and trade partner - is being utterly foolish in this debate. They are placing blind nationalism, in a place in which it doesn't exist, ahead of our years of built-up relationship."

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Seneschal Kloth has been given a "Night of the Long Knives" by his cabinet.[ 11,951 ]
Analysis: Gaullica may find herself trading with Songguo, or Hyndana, by the turn of the decade. [ 4684 ]

by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 11:31 am

JUSTICE MINISTRY ANNOUNCES IT WILL REOPEN INVESTIGATIONS INTO EX-FMP LEADERS
O'Reilly's successor intends to make sure a "de-politicized investigation" can take place outside of an election cycle.

James Kelley (@jkelleygbf)
^{10 August 2017 | Spálgleann, Glytter}

Minister of Justice & Equality Cairenn O'Hare said the ministry must look into all violations of the law, especially from party leaders.

SPÁLGLEANN – Today the Ministry of Justice and Equality announced it would be re-opening investigations into two ex-leaders of the Free Market Party. The investigations deal with controversial statements made by Pádraigín Ó Baoighill who served as party head from 2009 until her resignation in 2016, and Saorla Ní Chadhla, who was leader from 2016 to 2017.

The investigation into comments made by Ms. Ó Baoighill in the wake of the 23 August attacks last summer was initially suspended by ex-Minister of Justice and current Taoiseach Jimmy O'Reilly. It dealt with a series of statements made by the ex-party leader on 23 August 2016. The ex-leader, who resigned over her remarks, was quick to blame the attacks on Salamist extremists and called for legislative action against Salam and Mumins. Many have blamed her for inciting violent anti-Salam riots which broke out in the city of Bulfawst.

Less than thirty minutes after the attacks began, Ms. Ó Baoighill called into COXX News' coverage and blamed "Salamic barbarians who wish to destroy our nation and our values" for the attacks which saw 87 people killed and left 432 were wounded. Around thirty minutes after her phone interview, anti-Salam protests began in Bulfawst. The protests were led by local FMP party leaders and elected officials. Soon after the protests began, she tweeted that Walker is a "traitor to the Ghallish people".

Two hours after the attacks began she called into COXX News again. Ms. Ó Baoighill alleged that a police raid on an apartment in the "leading Salamic district" of the capital was evidence confirmation that the attacks were carried out by Salamic terrorists. She then called for the deportation of all Mumins from Glytter and urges her supporters to take to the streets nationwide.

"We cannot and will not let them destroy our country" she said on the air.

Less than ten minutes after her call to arms the anti-Salam protests in Bulfawst turned violent when protesters tried to storm a Mosque. The riots left one officer is in critical condition as anti-Salam protesters clashed with police. Hundreds were arrested before the violence subsided. Among the arrests made was FMP Bulfwast City Councilman Conán Ó Cadhla, the face of the party in the city.

The attacks were in fact carried out by the Mohrist Revolutionary Front, a left-wing extremist group with ties to the Socialist Revolutionary Front.

A joint statement was released by all major parties serving in the Comhthionól Náisiúnta, with the exception of the FMP, that denounced the violence in Bulfawst. It also said that leaders should "not play into fear".

Critics said that the lack of inaction from Ms. Ó Baoighill and the FMP was evidence that she incited violence. However, then Justice Minister O'Reilly said it was best to put the issue to rest following Ms. Ó Baoighill's resignation.

It seems the new Minister of Justice disagrees with her predecessor and Taoiseach.

"Nearly a year has past and many of the wounds are starting to be healed. However, it is simply unjust to ignore a potential call to violence by a leading elected official. This is especially true given the violent riots in Bulfawst that took place so soon after such deplorable comments were publicly made" said Justice Minister Cairenn O'Hare.

"The Ministry must look into all violations of the law, as it is our duty. Thorough investigations must take place of all potential offenders, including elected officials".

Prominent legal experts believe this may be a legal grey area and that there is a real chance Ms. Ó Baoighill could face cares.

"It doesn't look good" Rudi Shultz-MacCarthy, a top legal scholar at the University of Gayneva, believes.

"There is a real chance that [Ó Baoighill] could face charges, and potentially a prison sentence" he said.

The Justice Ministry will also be continuing its investigation as to whether or not Ms. Ó Baoighill's successor, Saorla Ní Chadhla, leaked classified information to the press when she alleged the government of Songguo orchestrated the 23 August attacks.

"The timeline is of concern to us, as was the email dump from Unileaks during the election cycle" the Justice Minister said.

"We must ensure that there was no breach of or mishandling of classified information. This is not just a legal issue, but one of national security".

The ex-leader, who resigned after the FMP's lost over third seats in the June election, alleged that the Songhua government planned and executed the attacks in order to distract the Northern Hemisphere from its intervention in the Siamati Conflict. A leak soon after her claims were made appeared to confirm the government's intelligence agencies also believed that Songhua foreign intelligence service, the MSJ, was behind the attacks.

The findings of the Higgins-Fitzwallace Commission, whose first bi-monthly report covered the role of the Songhua government in the 23 August attacks, indicate that it was no the Songhua government but a rogue cell of MSJ agents who aided the MRF in carrying out the attacks.

Many were surprised that a case regarding Ms. Ní Chadhla was being re-opened, as the Justice Ministry had never before confirmed such a case existed.

"It was a sensitive political time when the case was first opened" a spokesperson for the Ministry said.

"There was the general election and the former Minister [Jimmy O'Reilly] was running against the FMP leader at the time. The investigation would have been instantly derailed, and it was suspended over fears of politicization".

"With the election behind us, a fair investigation is able to take place".

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by **Alinora** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 6:38 am

THE MARIRANAN INSURGENCY
The most recent updates on the war in Marirana

Erin McKinley (@ErinMcKinley)
August 11th 2017| Freeminster, Federation

A Federal Army Ranger advancing through coca fields in northern Marirana
Photo courtesy of the Citadel Department of Photograph Documentation

MARIRANA -

With the conflict entering it's first full year, the Citadel has released a series of reports to explain the progress that JDF forces are making against the various insurgent organizations in Marirana. The Citadel, in a six-page report released to the public on Wednesday, told about the progress of the military operations - primarily those against the "Red Army" and the Ospeletto Cartel. According to the recent report, Asterian forces have been working closely with Roessan and Mariranan troops to "Dismantle Cartels" - with Special Forces targeting gold mines, Cartel-run coca farms, processing plants, and many other key parts of the cocaine manufacturing/distribution network. The Citadel claims that they've "crippled key parts of these operations", and that "the Ospeletto Cartel has seen intense losses - inflicted on their ranks, and their industry itself." As of August 1st, the Federation has nearly seven-thousand troops in Umbertide Province - the heart of Mariranan coca country - where fighting has become increasingly-brutal in a three-way fight between Red Army, Cartel, and JDF forces.

The Citadel also reported that the Red Army had suffered "serious setbacks" as a result of JDF Operations, as well as it's own conflicts with other groups - primarily the Ospeletto Cartel. The Federation's attack and subsequent capture of a key Red Army airbase used as a junction for aircraft trafficking drugs in June has the Red Army's first major loss in Umbertide Province, but Drone Strikes on armored convoys carrying supplies and constant raids on warehouses and storage faculties continues to wear down the organization. Roessan and Asterian forces have launched coordinated assaults on numerous Red Army firebases in the region - seizing and destroying millions of dollars worth of drugs and equipment - namely helicopters, which the Red Army maintains a sizable fleet of, which poses and massive threat to Federation and JDF forces in the region. The Citadel claims that the Red Army's leadership and chain of command is "mostly intact" as opposed to the Cartel, where operations by Army Rangers, Marine Raiders, and other Special Forces groups have been taking out key members of it's leadership.

The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Indigenous Peoples (FDLPI), operating primarily in the Mederio, Ritaldi, Umbertide and Catacosi provinces, has also seen significant losses as a result of the JDF's operations that target the very foundations of the cocaine industry. While they maintain an alliance with the Red Army, they've suffered numerous defeats at the hands of the Ospeletto Cartel. They, like the Freedom Association who allies with the Ospeletto Cartel, are finding their operations crumbling, and their ability to project military power waning, despite their large base of supporters.

Various other groups actively fighting in Marirana have suffered as a result of JDF operations as well, but President Avery insists that it "isn't enough." While the Federation's plan to "Dismantle Cartels" has seen successes, groups like the Red Army and Ospeletto Cartel remain powerful, and very capable of resisting the efforts of the Federation, Roeselle, and the Mariranan Government. Secretary of Defense Trevor McNamara said during a press release that JDF forces will continue to be "relentless and undeterred" in their efforts, and "don't intend on giving the enemy any room to breathe, let alone coordinate a response."

As of August 1st, the Federation has just over 45,000 troops deployed throughout Marirana - more than its Roessan counterparts - and Citadel reports suggest that this number may rise as operations against insurgent groups increase, in an effort to "prevent these organizations from bouncing back." So far, 236 Asterians have been reported to have been Killed in Action, with 671 wounded, and around 25 Missing in Action. While this is a large number, it pales in comparison to the losses that Marirana's key insurgent groups have suffered - the Citadel estimating that almost 1,170 hostile forces have been killed by JDF forces since the Federation and Roeselle became involved in 2016.

"We've kicked in their knees" said President Avery, "now we need to grab them by the shoulders, and drag them to the ground."

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by **Vredlandia** » Sat Aug 12, 2017 3:46 am

Excitement in Archeological Circles -- Grave of the Fabled Giant King Found?

Marlen Niedersaß (@culturevdaily)
12th of August, 2017 | Grohlich, Vredlandia

The burial hill from the outside, Laughing Wood Forest (n. Grohlich)
Photograph courtesy of Johan Merse

Grohlich, Vredlandia - The Giant King of the Vreden: With cunning wits and force, he united the Vreden tribes and led them against greater enemies -- successfully. The riches they won in these wars are historically well documented, and it is said that they made the Giant King the richest man on earth. He, who was the most wise, who beat a dozen men in combat on his own, and who could eat a whole boar alone. Much of the tales and fables that survived into this age were documented by historians and authors of the 18th and 19th century, their value is arguable at best. Now one of these sources led to the discovery of what could very well be the Giant King's Grave.

"A village, where two rivers meet and the fields are fruitful and livestock healthy, of not more than twelve families laid quietly at the edge of a forest. It was almost at night when the Giant King and his Guard -- all of them on horses, tall albeit no giants, with the most beautifully decorated armour -- arrived. The villagers hid inside, fearful to offend the King. But a child, not older than five winters, came to him and asked if he could really eat a boar. And the Giant King laughed so long and loud, all the other villagers came outside to see what had amused him. 'We shall have a feast here, and we will have boar', the King commanded, and his booming voice echoed through the woods, and the boars came outside willingly to serve as King's meal. And they feasted for three whole days, and since the Giant King had enjoyed their company so much, he would return every autumn to feast another three days with them. On his sixth return, however, his mood was grim. 'I am becoming old, my bones weak. The time for a new King has come. Join me and feast with me one last time, and then bury me and go back to work', the King commanded them. And so they feasted another three days, their laughter filling the air with joy, and then they buried him in the woods and they went back to work. And every autumn, they left him a boar and some wine on his grave, and they never returned to find it still standing. In return, the ghosts of the Giant King and his Guard would shield the village. Until one autumn, the villagers no longer thought it necessary to 'feast with the dead', and rainfall buried the village. Some say, you can hear the Giant King's laughter in the woods when it rains ever since."

This small tale was given as a gift from the historian Albert E. Widderlin to the city of Grohlich in 1881. Chronicles and sources from the time denounce his tale as "fantasy", a story he imagined would be behind the Laughing Wood Forest, and thus the mayor of Grohlich simply archived the tale and it was forgotten over time.

In 1996, the Vredlandian Historical Institute got a hold of the record. It wasn't known which subdivision should read into it, though, and nobody took responsibility until the inner debate in the V.H.I. was solved in 2011. Now Home Minister, back then Director for Religion & Mythology at the V.H.I., Anna Thielmann started an inquiry into the text. An official program was launched in 2014, and a series of excavations in the Laughing Wood Forest one of her final decisions as Director. The excavations started earlier this year, and the tomb was found on the 27th of June. The Directory decided to not release any information until there was a clearer view of the situation, though. Now they seem to be more comfortable with it.

According to the Directory for Religion & Mythology, the burial chamber is around 8.5 metres high, and has a diameter of 38 metres. Inside, they found the remains of what they believe to be a horse, as well as a great assortment of gifts for the dead. Most of them are well decorated, and some tell stories that will have to be looked at more closely. The Directory assumes that the very most of them were not of local origin, and think it should be interesting to follow the route the goods took. "Where did they raid? Who did they trade with? What were they interested in? This can be very enlightening for us as historians and all of Vredlandia, because it so deeply touches our national identity."

In a second, smaller chamber they found what could very well be the "Giant King". A skeleton that indicates a height of around 2 metres -- we still call others of that height giants sometimes, it's not hard to imagine what he must have looked like to people of his time, where they had a significantly lower average height --, several fractured bones (from years of fighting maybe). Unknown to the scientists are the origins of two small stone statues in the chamber. They could very well show his wives, or even Goddesses they believed in. Since there were certainly more than two Goddesses in the old Vreden mythology, and since the number of wives accounted for the Giant King range from none to a thousand, it is too early to say at this stage.

Home Minister Thielmann congratulated the team and said she followed news on it closely. An official, finalized, first study on the excavation site is not said to be finished before 2019, however, and that only includes the burial site and not the lost village or dead Guard's men assumed to lay near the site.

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by **The Ik Ka Ek Akai** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 6:25 pm

MYSTERIOUS MUMMY: MALEFACTOR'S MALICIOUS MURDER?
An ancient mummy sheds light on violent past

Kheto Fho ( @Fhokhet )
15 08 2017 6:30 PM | Pelore, Cheospetia

A lifelike reconstruction of the mummy in life.
Photo courtesy of Kheto Fho.

PELORE, CHEOSPETIA - A female mummy was uncovered in the wilderness of Cheospetia. Buried in ice and snow near to a large glacier, the mummy is believed to date back several thousand years. Her clothes were fully intact, and traces of body paint were found covering a large amount of her body. Several serious injuries were discovered on the corpse, leading researchers to believe she may have been killed, rather than passing naturally. Studies have been undertaken to reveal precise details about her appearance to attain a better understanding of ancient Cheospetia, where a great deal of knowledge is reliant upon outside and potentially biased sources.

Fully clothed and even painted, the mummy came as a shock to the couple hiking through the glacial valley where she was discovered. The couple, Llyrpuld Lyral and Diyrhotryer Veyle, came to Cheospetia on vacation hoping to experience its scenic views and rich artistic traditions. Separating from their tour group for an independent excursion to Phefo Valley, the couple went on a three-day camping trip as they traversed a more isolated part of the region than less extreme. This area, known for its rough terrain and scarce ideal spots for rest, is also known for its exceeding beauty. It was on their third day at roughly 9:15 in the morning when the couple stumbled across the body after deciding to explore a crevice.

"It was terrible" Veyle has gone on record saying, "We thought we stumbled on a murder." She proceeded to explain: "We were traversing an old cave in the middle of nowhere. It was cold and dark, and in the corner of my eye I saw something. I took my flashlight and climbed into this really small space. It smelled awful, and when I turned my light to it my face was just a little bit away from it. I screamed and crawled out, and my husband came to check on me. I told him what we saw, and when we got to a ranger outpost a few hours later, we reported that there had been a murder and the body was probably months old. We had no idea that we were staring at a 2500 year old warrior!"

The woman is believed to have been a warrior, but her circumstances of death are mysterious. She was found near an iron sword, indicating great wealth in a society still using predominantly bone tools at the time. Her body paint, though faded, is another indicator. Lastly, she bore multiple stab wounds and a fractured tibia. Despite this, the quality of her last meal was very poor for someone of such status, and that her sword was found near, rather than with, her has led to some questioning the narrative. Some have suggested that she was an escaped slave, using her master's sword to free herself. Others say she was the victim of a murder,
and that the sword was actually the murderer's weapon. These early guesses were made without a comprehensive record of the body and items found at the site, however.

The body mummy was found with her hair intact. Long dark-brown hair was molded into thick dreadlocks, and these were then bound at the back into a long ponytail. An ornate circlet was also found helping control the mass. These two things reaffirm the theory that the woman was of notable status. Her ancient clothing, consisting of a mixture between skins, fur, and patterned wool together forming a dress, leggings, boots, and a cape or cloak. Her sword was crafted in an indigenous style using traditional engraving techniques in place of a blood groove. This would indicate that the sword and hilt, crafted from the same piece of iron, were forged by a local smith using imported iron, rather than the sword itself being imported as a completed product.

The woman's name is believed to be Yetto, based on a carving on the hilt of the sword. Her story, as reconstructed by the leading researchers, stands like this:

Yetto's tribe is ambushed by rivals, killing many and capturing the rest. Yetto is struck by a club in the conflict, and the pain causes her to collapse. As she is being bound to be taken prisoner, likely to be ransomed back to her tribe, she takes hold of her sword and slashes at her captor. Due to the lightweight nature of early Cheospetic ironworks, she is able to successfully injure her captor and run away. She cuts herself loose on the blade as she runs, but her wrists remain bruised. In the ensuing chase, enemy warriors track and chase her. She is fatigued due to missing her meal, and eats what she can as she takes evasive maneuvering. Chased into the valley, where less foliage is present to hide in, she is struck in her weakened and bruised leg with an arrow, which fractures her tibia. Falling in pain, she is injured by men with bone knives. She fends them off with her sword, throws a knife to kill the archer, and takes cover in a cave to hide from the remaining pursuers. She performs makeshift surgery, using her sword to cut the arrow and remove it from her leg. Unable to continue running in her condition, she hides in a crevice to wait out those hunting her. She succumbed to her wounds and lost consciousness, later dying in her sleep.

Researchers say that even though the body is damaged, it is very informative. They hope to find more corroborating evidence to support their constructed narrative, but state that finding bodies and weapons would be unlikely given the amount of time that has passed and the likelihood of the bodies being collected by the remainder of her pursuers. For the moment, only what is in the cave is preserved. Despite this, the unusual and remarkable level of preservation has allowed researchers to discover cuts, punctures, and bruises, as well as corresponding damage to her clothing. It is from these that her narrative has been reconstructed. The project leaders are optimistic about what other details the mummy might reveal about the distant past where surviving examples of writing from within Cheospetia are exceedingly rare, hoping to dispel myths or confirm with archaeology what Althiric and Solarian writers had told about the Cheospetii in surviving accounts.

As for Yetto, her popularity in Cheospetic circles is already rising sharply, and many see her as a potential national symbol.

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by **Hyndana-** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 7:39 pm

Socialists Demand Imperial Burial Treasures
Basawon Vaidya, Movement's Leader, Claims Poverty could be Eradicated

Jayesh Bhola (@JaBhola)
^{15 August 2017 | Jalandhar, Hyndana}

The Lauhari Jahan Mausoleum houses the burial treasures of the Imperial Crown

JALANDHAR - The Socialist Front of Hyndana triggered a controversy on Monday morning when its leader, Basawon Vaidya, demanded that the Imperial Crown donate all burial treasures to the working classes of the country. The statements were based on a recent study by the State University of Jalpur that calculated the treasures to be worth approximately $75.3 billion. The study, which was released last Friday, found that on the hard-face value and the historical richness of these treasures, the Imperial Crown was sitting tens of billions of untapped wealth.

As it's customary in the country, every time an Emperor dies, the leaders of all the Hyndanan States send a burial gift to the Imperial Family in order to pay their respects. This tradition dates back to the times of Emperor Shujat II, grandson of the first Hyndanan Emperor. At first the gifts were meant to signify the respective state's continuing interest in forming part of the Confederacy. However, over time this practice evolved to becoming a sign of loyalty and respect to the Crown after the Emperor's death. Most of the treasures are stored in underground levels of the mausoleum palace, the rest being displayed in the higher levels of the complex.

Basawon Vaidya voiced his criticism in a popular radio show in the city of Jalpur. In addition to demanding that these treasures be sold for the benefit of Hyndanan workers, Vaidya stated, "it's inconceivable that billions are literally rooting away in a mausoleum while millions of workers live on their small paychecks. Why so much money for people that are dead anyway?" His statements have generated dozens of public statements, some in favor and some against, yet so far the Imperial Crown has not released any statement on the topic.

Most Hyndanan States have condemned the leader for his cold and disrespectful attacks against previous Emperors. The Chair of the Political Science Department at Jalpur State University, Dr. Rohana Neto, interpreted the united backlash as having two goals: The first, to show loyalty to the Emperor and to the customs already built in place for generations, and second, to preserve their own legitimacy. In the former, Dr. Neto explains that the different leaders from all the Hyndanan States prefer the current status quo, one in which they already know the "rules to the game" and know how to play. Siding against the Emperor could create an entirely new facet of Hyndanan politics in which the rules are unknown and allies uncertain. Legitimizing the Socialist Front, according to Dr. Neto, could harm the different leaders and create political forces that are destructive to their system and that they cannot easily control. In the latter, Dr. Neto elaborates that by siding with the Socialist Vaidya, the leaders could risk losing their own fortunes. "If they attempt to delegitimize something as sacred as Lauhari Jahan they could put in danger their own family treasures as the Socialist Front is likely to expand its train of thought to the different princely states" according to Neto.

Neto further explained that the event clearly demonstrated how complex Hyndanan politics is. On the one hand, each princely state has its own interests and goals which may or may not come into conflict with the regional politics of the Emperor. On the other hand, the current establishment is also working to stop the new radical ideals of the 20th century century from gaining ground. A united front of princely states legitimizing the Socialist Front could dispel the rise of socialist ideals which could eventually limit or even extinguish the power and influence of these states. In such reasoning, Dr. Neto affirmed that the Imperial Crown will not make a statement about the issue in order to appear as "neutral" before the Hyndanan people, instead letting the princely states reject the demands. By doing such, the Imperial Crown shields itself from politicizing the Lauhari Jahan, highly respected by many in the country, and taking sides in a regional political debate that could alienate certain segments of the population and certain princely states.

According to Professor Neto, if the Crown enters the regional debate, the Lauhari Jahan could lose its cultural value to some groups such as the Republicans, who want to evidently create a republic but preserve the historical treasures of Hyndanan history. More over, taking sides may put some princely states in a tough political field where they want to preserve the status quo but don't want to seem as if they have become the new defenders of the Emperor - something that may anger some elites that want greater autonomy.

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by **Valentir** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 11:42 pm

PRIME MINISTER VISITS ASTERIA, MEETS WITH AVERY
Prime Minister Ian Fairfax went to Asteria to meet with Avery to discuss Lavoie and his extradition

Caitlyn Grayson (@cgrayson)
^{15 August 2017 | Valema, Valentir}

Prime Minister Fairfax and President Avery discussed a number of topics over lunch
Photo courtesy of Jean-Marc Cotillard

Columbia, Asteria -

Prime Minister Ian Fairfax visited the Federation of Asteria today, leaving for the country early this morning. He was hosted by Asterian President Benjamin Avery at the State House.

Prime Minister Fairfax was given a tour of the building and met with members of the Asterian cabinet and Congress. The then two held a joint press conference before enjoying a private lunch in the gardens of the presidential residence.

During the conference the two leaders addressed a number of key issues important to the people in their respective countries, including the controversy between Negara and Gaullica over the Nouveau Anglet referendum. The Prime Minister, who has so far remained silent on the issue, stated that "Negara and Gaullica are important members of the international community and this should be handled with great care."

When pressed about opinions on trade, Valentir being pro free trade and Asteria having becoming more weary of free trade, the Prime Minister said that, "It is the duty of any leader to look after his country's interests first and foremost and I respect the President's pursuit in this regard, that said trade is the life blood of nations and I believe that we can work out a trade deal that is favourable to both of our countries."

Concerning the extradition of Delmar Lavoie the prime minister provided only a brief comment. "We intend on discussing the issue in private and I'm optimistic we can work out terms that will satisfy the Valentiri peoples' desire for justice."

After the press conference we are told that the two leaders talked privately in the Oval Office, the talks lasting a little more than three hours.

He then attended a Congressional sessions before departing for Valentir the following morning.

His first meeting with the Asterian president, it is an important move in establishing a new working relationship with Asteria , a major Valentiri trade and military partner.

The meeting is also important in securing the extradition of Delmar Lavoie, who was taken into Asteria custody after being spotted at a bar in the small town of Barndt. Mr. Fairfax was able to convey his personal thanks to the three individuals who caught Mr. Lavoie, who were invited to the White House to meet the President and Prime Minister.

The prime minister said that, "These brave men are all that is good about the Federation, the common man bringing justice to those who would commit evil against the innocent."

According to official statements released by the Asterian and Valentiri governments Delmar Lavoie will be extradited to Valentir at unknown date and time and to an unknown location in order to ensure that he will not "escape the justice awaiting him back home."

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by **Senkaku** » Wed Aug 16, 2017 7:47 pm

BAISHADAO JOURNAL

SONGHUA EXERCISES CAPPED BY PROVOCATIVE BALLISTIC MISSILE TEST
BF-31 Missile Lands in North Sea after Foreign Ministry Warns of "Fire and Fury"

Yang Xilin (@yulinchang )
15 August 2017 08:00 | Baishadao, Songguo

A Bei Feng-31 ballistic missile rises from the Huangyuxie Launch Facility near Chunling.
Photo courtesy of the Strategic Missile Forces.

Baishadao, Lai Delta Special Administrative Zone -

As readers know, Songguo's recent naval exercises after the launch of the Nematsujin carrier Shinano, which had angered Songhua officials, provoked a notably harsh reaction from Nematsu, which deployed ships and airplanes in response and placed its military on high alert. The Songhua Foreign Ministry responded by warning of "fire and fury like the world has never seen" if "all parties do not resume level-headed and sensible conduct," while Supreme Command widened the scope of the exercises to include several Group Armies along the eastern coast. However, as the last drills come ot a close and Songhua naval vessels return to port, the Strategic Missile Forces have literally put a shot across Nematsu's bow, test-firing a new Bei Feng-31 intercontinental ballistic missile into the waters of the North Sea (known abroad as the Bay of Basurhat). The provocative move is sure to raise hackles across the region, which has been disturbed several times over the last year by test-firings of the BF-31 and other new missiles as the Strategic Missile Forces apparently have received more leeway to experiment with their newest weaponry.

An unidentified Strategic Missile Force spokesman stated that the test was a "routine experimental flight", intended only to give the Songhua military better data about one of its newest weapons platforms, and stated that it had been directed so as not to land "excessively near" any Nematsujin naval vessels or any commercial ships transiting the region. However, many analysts were quick to contest the Songhua military's characterization of events, with most taking the view that the missile test was intended as a confrontational move after Nematsu's harsh response towards the Songhua exercises. While no ships immediately appear to have been in the area where the missile splashed down, it landed not far from sea lanes that are transited daily by countless commercial vessels, and also not far from where Nematsujin naval vessels had been maneuvering as part of some of their exercises only days earlier. When asked for comment, the Foreign Ministry simply noted that the test fell within international law, saying it was simply "an experimental flight as part of normal attempts to enhance Songguo's ability to defend itself" and directing further questions to Supreme Command and the Strategic Missile Forces.

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