Greater Díenstad News Feed

[Potthan]

IMPERIAL NEWS NETWORK

Government endorsed militia "Janka Had Budiro" (Our Way of Life) kills 34 foreign tourists in Agadesh.



This morning at roughly 7:32AM 7 armed gunmen approached the Bashir Nayat Resort & Casino in Agadesh, a popular destination among tourists and shot 34 people, killing them. There was also 104 injured. Out of those killed, 6 of them were minors aging between 8 months and 14 years. Emperor Jericho III stated "The imperial government has no comment" when asked about the attack. Protests in Jujalarim have begun about how little the government is doing to identify and arrest those who perpetrated the attack. 12 hostages still remain missing and shortly before noon today an execution video was published online by Janka Had Budiro with a man stating "We have no room for foreigners. The insolent swine that plans to invade this country will now see what we shall do to all of them and their families back home" and then proceeded to behead a man and woman.

Survivor of the attack, Nadil Badi, claimed she saw a legion soldier with them but it is uncertain if the legion troop is active duty. In recent events Agadesh is preparing for foreign invasion.

[United World Order]

F R E E • D Ì E N S T A D I • P R E S S

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Activists claim The Ordenite Reich has instituted Slavery with The "Retribution Through Labor" Law.
'Retribution Through Labor' law is set to affect over 70,000,000 in Deutsche Scythia.
Kieth Runstedt (@KRundstedt_FDP)
^{Sept. 18th, 2028 2:35PM | Macabea, The Golden Throne of The Macabees}

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Macabea, Macabees-Activists from the Sham region of Deutsche Scythia who are to remain anonymous in identity due to the nature of their secret activities that if caught would result in certain death for all involved. The activists in question who also were able to confirm the authenticity of what is known as the "Retribution Through Labor" law which was passed as law by Fuhrer Grossmann himself. The law in particular affects the region of Deutsche Scythia within the Ordenite Reich, more so a colonial holding. As to today the Ordenites have a large string of detention facilities within the region which condemn thousands to death every few months. It has been said by the activists that the Ordenites are looking to expand a labor force that essentially are 'Slaves' of the regime. It is well known that the Reich presently holds a incarcerated population of over 100,000,000 people who populate the various labor camps and other facilities. It is also known that the regime technically have had several 'Arbeit-Kommando' units formed for their use in state funded infrastructure projects and other requests made by the government on the behest of their Fuhrer. However a major shift in policy has occurred now with the implementation of the Retribution Through Labor law which basically dictates that all incarcerated members of society within the Reich will receive the opportunity to better themselves and make up for their mistakes through providing free labor to the state in return for a supposed ability to be pardoned for their crimes once completing the minimum requirement of 15 years of service. The said prisoner who completes the minimum requirement are said to be able to see a panel of judges who will decide if said inmate will be pardoned or not. Although from what the activists claim, the Reich's implementation of this law shows the beginning of a darker turn in policy regarding labor in which the regime is now making a way to gather a even larger labor force then already possessed.

It is becoming increasingly noticeable that Deutsche Scythia is to be the beginning of this law being put into affect. This would mean that millions of incarcerated persons in the region would be eligible to become laborers in return for a possible pardon of their offenses.

[Potthan]

IMPERIAL NEWS NETWORK

Warlord Boone Nayakul issues Sarin gas attack at humanitarian relief center in Kavash

Earlier this morning Warlord Boone Nayakul issues an attack on a foreign humanitarian relief center operating underground in Kavash using Sarin gas dispersed by the Special Munitions Brigades. It's reported 50 are dead and another 20 are fatally injured. Emperor Jericho III stated "Let this be a lesson to those who seek to infiltrate our population and attempt to offer relief to the inferiors.". The relief center was held up in an old abandoned shrine to Kavash. It's still yet to be determined a country or countries of origin but it's estimated they hail from eastern Greater Dienstad. The Imperial Investigation Legion is conducting an investigation to determine if there are other centers.

[Castille de Italia]

Sept. 20th, 2028 | CBC World Service

Castillian Broadcasting Corporation QuickReport: Trufant Hall (Defense Secretariat) spokesman Glenn Trippe spoke today to reporters in a pressbriefing following the conclusion of Operation Degradation. "It may come as a surprise to many that nuclear weapons have become a key component of our nation's military readiness drills, but nuclear warfare, despite how destructive it may be, is not an anomaly. International concern, and to be specific, Haize allegations of the 'wanton' use of nuclear weapons, blow the exercise completely out of proportion. Top scientists and military personnel planned the controlled detonation of the nuclear device at Mishkishi Atoll."

The Defense Secretariat has confirmed that despite early concern of disaster following the nuclear detonation, a majority of damage has been classified as minor. "Ickturk City is overhyping the reality of the situation," Trippe continued. "Despite the theories that the Haize Junta has, the 'supposedly democratic' Union has stood firm against fascism in the region. I will tell you this, Operation Degradation is designed to send a clear, firm, and strong message to the despots of Greater Dienstad. We will use whatever means to resist their vitriolic ideologies, and we will enforce compliance with international law upon them. I specifically mean the Raskov regime [Ralkovian Empire], and the Grossman regime [the Ordenite Reich]."

Upon a reporter asking him about a failure to mention the Potthani government, Trippe stated "I did not mention such an insignificant and incompetent government because there is no contest of forces between us and them. Castillian forces will prevail there."

[Mokastana]

MNN: SPECIAL REPORT!!!
News so short your can't help but read the full story...

TOP STORY:

Elections wrap up in the People's Unified Federation, Results posted below!

Mokastana City
People's Republic of the Islands and Tierra Nueva
People's Unified Federation

With Election season over, the votes have been tallied and listed below. The only election that is missing is the President of the Republic of Mejico. Federal Authorities are not discussing why this election is being held back from public reveal, but rumors are circulating. While many rumors have variations of theories behind them, it is important to remember that the Federation has the duty to ensure all elections within the Federation are handled fairly and accurately. Regardless of the cost of the delay of the vote count, it could not have come at a worst time. Already with the loss of Tatom, Mejico is under stress from recovering from losing nearly a third of its total landmass, a major sea port and control of the largest space port north of Panmoka. The nation needs leadership, now more than ever. For the moment, President Pablo Diego maintains leadership despite his losing popularity. Rumors regarding actions by the Parliament of Mejico are mostly without evidence. More on this situation as it develops.

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH :

Federal Parliament

24th ANNUAL PARLIAMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S UNIFIED FEDERATION
TOTAL SEATS: 299 Seats (300 Seats)
(Former Seats in italics)

The People’s Party(ARP): 67 Seats (72 Seats)
Liberal Party (OLP): 32 Seats (38 Seats)
New Conservative Party(COP): 51 Seats (51 Seats)
Socialist Worker's Party(SWP): 58 Seats (55 Seats)
Protectorate Party(PRP): 27 Seats (27 Seats)
Iron Hearts Party(IHP): 19 Seats (18 Seats)
Liberator Party(LBP): 12 Seats (15 Seats)
Royalists Party(RAP): 25 Seats (24 Seats)

Federal Senate

24th ANNUAL SENATE OF THE PEOPLE'S UNIFIED FEDERATION
TOTAL SEATS: 220 Seats (205 Seats)
(Former Seats in italics)

The People’s Party(ARP): 62 Seats (50 Seats)
Liberal Party (OLP): 21 Seats (20 Seats)
New Conservative Party(COP): 46 Seats (38 Seats)
Socialist Worker's Party(SWP): 42 Seats (40 Seats)
Protectorate Party(PRP): 20 Seats (15 Seats)
Iron Hearts Party(IHP): 19 Seats (18 Seats)
Liberator Party(LBP): 17 Seats (20 Seats)
Royalists Party(RAP): 3 Seats (4 Seats)
Zapatista Party(ZPA): 2 Seats (0 Seats)

EXECUTIVE BRANCH:

President of the Federation

- Six Year Term
- Run off Voting method
FINAL RESULTS: Ben Rodriguez of the People's Party wins with 413.73 Million Votes!

President of the People’s Republic of the Islands and Tierra Nueva

- Four Year Term
- Run off Voting method
FINAL RESULTS: Pedro Alverez of the People's Party wins with 27.42 Million Votes!

President of Mejico

- Four Year Term
- Run off Voting method
FINAL RESULTS: TO BE DETERMINED

President of the Republic of El Sur del Gran Mokastana

- Six Year Term
- Run off Voting method
FINAL RESULTS: Emilio Lomengo of the Conservative Party wins with 25.1 Million Votes!

Prime Minister of the Parliamentary Republic of Wellovia - Five Year Term

- Five Year Term
- First Past the Post Voting method
FINAL RESULTS: Current Conservative Coalition now holds 75 of 150 seats in Parliament, expecting new Conservative Prime Minister

[Morrdh]

HOTEL BLAST ROCKS PARTY CONFERENCE!!!

No Word On PM Or Cabinet

Firefighters Inspecting Structural Damage

Ramarck, CoM.- In the early hours of this morning an explosion ripped through the upper floors of a hotel in Ramarck where the PM Edmund Vermillion and members of the Cabinet were staying for the ruling Social Democrats' party conference.

A statement released by the City of Ramarck Police's Chief Constable, Richard Marsh, stated that no confirmation of casualties will be released at this stage and that the explosion will be fully investigated. The Chief Constable refused to answer whether it was a deliberate attack or simply a tragic accident, but pointed out in the interest of public safety the local gas board has been requested to cap of the local mains gas supply. A request to the Gwentian Provincial Police for extra officers has also been submitted. The area round the hotel remains cordoned off by police as the Gwentia Fire & Rescue Service continue rescue operations, though their progress has been impeded by a partial collapse within the hotel which has made access to parts of the building difficult. Likewise a large number of paramedics remain on the scene until all the hotel guests and staff have been accounted for.

With the fate of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet uncertain, Parliament has been temporarily suspended and governance has passed to the Provost Council. Though normally functioning as an advisory body to the Morridane Crown and government, the Council will assume the functions needed to keep the country running until the elected government can resume its roll. If the Cabinet has been wiped out then a leadership contest will be triggered within the Social Democrats party in addition to a possible general election being called. This event is likely to effect Morridane politics for some time to come.

[Potthan]

IMPERIAL NEWS NETWORK

Government scientists announce startup of Project Nemisis weapons development

In the midst of emerging war, government scientists have started a programed named Project Nemisis to research and hopefully create a weapon of mass destruction capable of creating hurricanes, tornado, and other destructive weather forms. A $5,000,000 investment was made from the Senate of Arms & Armaments as well as a $400,000 investment from the Senate of Geographical Science. Head scientist, Dr. Ashmun Fadahr, sees no progress in the near future but guarantees that progress shall be made.

"It's quite exciting really. Even if the device cannot be weaponized as per request by the Emperor, it can still offer a variety of scientifically advances. All to profit Potthan, of course." said Vice Head scientist Dr Gav Nadah. This isn't Dr Gav's first gig in creating weapons, she was also Vice Head in Project Damocles (A project in 1990 that led to the creation of X90 Chemical Compound, a biochemical weapon that causes insanity) as well as Project Diana (A project in 2005 that led to the creation of V88 Cyanide Gas). "Nonetheless we'll make sure there is progress to be made and inventions to be invented." Dr Gav stated in a press conference in the Golden Palace.

[Morrdh]

ALERT STATE RAISED!

MORRDH.- The Provost Council has ordered that the Commonwealth's alert state is to be set at BLACK SPECIAL, citing that whilst no specific threat has been identified it would be wise to put the Commonwealth in a high state of readiness in case of hostile actions by a foreign power.

The news is tempered by the recent confirmation that members of the Cabinet are currently in hospital, though no identities have been released as of yet and no word has been given on their condition. All hospitals in the Ramarck area have a strong police presence and a detachment of the Morridane Outriders* have been deployed to provide close protection details. In addition the Commonwealth Intelligence Service and officers of the Outriders have been in contact with various MPs to assess their security needs. Morrdun Tower, various Crown Estates and Parliament have been temporarily closed to the public until the present emergency is over.

With the raising of the Alert State, the Morridane Armed Forces have begun a partial mobilization to deploy additional units to New Garrack and Mordent. Tuktar has seen additional military units, though only airfield defence and anti-air units of the RMAF Regiment to bolster the defence of the Tuktar air base.

[Imbrinium]

Breaking News Breaking News Breaking News

This is a special breaking news special, for the first since the war with Morrdh the EMDF is on high alert along with the IAFM in Eastern Mordent in response to the Morrdh forces in Western Mordent being placed on high alert and reinforced. This comes shortly after the bombing of a hotel in Ramarck that might or might not have been terror-related going after the Cabinet of Morrdh. While no other information has come out of Morrdh the international community is asking Morrdh what’s going on let the international community know before you act.

[Morrdh]

Heightened Alert A Precaution Urges Provost Council

MORRDH.- With no clear information on the status of the Morridane Cabinet yet forthcoming, the Provost Council has stated that the raised alert state and reinforcement of Commonwealth garrisons round the region is a precautionary measure.

Speaking on behalf of the Provost Council Lord Provost Rogan Turlough, of the province of Gwentia, read a statement earlier today. "By now most people in Greater Dienstad should be aware of the recent hotel blast in the city of Ramarck where the Morridane Cabinet was staying, though at this stage we cannot say whether it was a tragic accident or a deliberate attack. We have to consider all possibilities and thus it was decided to raise the alert state and put the Commonwealth's military on a high state of readiness as a precautionary measure in case the hotel blast was the work of a hostile power. The move seems have to provoked a nervous response from other Dienstadi nations who's lands border our own, though all I have to say is imagine how we're feeling right now."

"I confirm that all members of the Cabinet have now been accounted for, though presently I can spare no further details beyond that some of the Cabinet are in a critical state. The Council has been in talks with the various parties of Parliament to form a caretaker government so that the normal functions of government can be resumed, though it is uncertain how long this state of affairs will last."

"Until we are more certain about the facts behind the tragic event in Ramarck the Commonwealth will remain on a high state of alert, though we will keep friends and allies up to date best we can and co-ordinate a response if needed."

[Bluepeace]

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Somewhere in the background, a person moved; his clothes disheveled, his posture shaky, and his body looking like a skeleton. He looked malnourished. His eyes were wild -- wild with fears: "Please... I have three daughters back home... they need a father figure." He was crying. He was pleading.

In front of him stood a boogeywoman; her stature lofty, her eyes a shade of green - clean and green. Thick lush hair, a shade of light auburn. Merciless eyes. She said: "... and what about your wife?"

"I divorced her six years ago for my secretary."

"I see...", the woman stood; in her left hand was a whip, in her right hand a Holy Book: Bluepeace International; The Fight to Combat Climate Change and Greed of Mankind.

"So I should have mercy for you but you did not have mercy for your wife... the one who loved you?" The woman stood still, watching the man now cowering in agony.

"Please... please... my three daughters... they are still in kindergarten..."

"I see... well you know the drill."

"Yes...", the man stood and received a note from the woman. He turned around to face the television: the International and World Assembly Channel. The abducted Foreign Minister said:

Announcement

Bluepeace is an international organisation that aims to protect the environment. We will accomplish our goal by any means -- including but not limited to: Kidnapping non-environmental government ministers; setting fire to legislative buildings (including climbing these buildings to demonstrate) or otherwise known as arson; seizing foreign ships and oil tankers that we feel are not environmental friendly; and broadcasting radio and television ads on the danger we face if we don't seriously fight climate change.

~This has been a public broadcast by the organisation: Bluepeace. Paid for and made for the international community of regions and nation states.

The woman turned off the recording channel; the whip in her left hand ominously waiting.

"Will you please let me go now...?" The middle-aged man begged.

"... No." The whip moved.

[ ... ]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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No sound.

[Yohannes]

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Monthly Report to Parliament — Economic Summary: Subject to the Members of Assembly

Monthly Report 2017 — Economic Summary -- An excerpt from the two hundred and thirtieth parliamentary hansard: Monday, 16 October 2017 — Volume 951; October Economic Summary — Subject to the Ministers of the Executive Council, Emperor, and Realm.




Monthly Overview — October 2017

Published under the authority of the Electoral College and Parliament — 2017

The Monthly Report 2017 — Economic Summary is a monthly summary of the nineteen countries economy. It includes the latest important economic data, e.g., gross domestic product (GDP) growth; nation state inflation; people not working; the difference between imports and exports; and the difference in total value between payments into and out of the nineteen countries. It can also include other financial data, e.g., Economic Palace’s imperial cash rate. Some relevant data from our main trading partners — e.g., Knootoss, Lamoni, and Mokastana, amongst others — and either one of the two largest economies in the international community of regions and nation states —i.e., Maxtopia or Bigtopia — can also be used as economic datum.



Economic expansion	[+]	0.247%	Monthly gross domestic product growth
People not working	[-]	0.083%	Monthly movement of unemployment rate
Monetary policy	[+]	0.041%	Monthly inflation change
Nation state surplus	[+]	$71.3b	Monthly current account surplus change
Imperial cash rate	[-]	0.020%	Monthly short-term bill of exchange movement



Office of Chief Economist point of view

For the last quarter of 2017 the economy is forecast to expand less in comparison to first and second quarters, which showed that output was affected by less import from trading partners in The East Pacific region for the first half of 2017. This is because of worrying outlook in certain overseas regions and nation states in the face of increasing aggression and gunboat diplomacy by expanding militaristic organisations and those opposing organisations — SACTO as one example and DEUN the other.

Participants of Economic Palace Monthly Polling think that economic growth for the September fiscal quarter will rest at 0.74 per cent. Citizen sector manufacturing and services index shows stable level correlating well with growth found in our finance and banking, machinery, semiconductor, and shipbuilding sectors. Monthly surveys conducted show the willingness of businesses to employ more people in comparison to June fiscal quarter. The Chair of the Board of Governors of Economic Palace has said that whilst she is prepared to slash imperial cash rate further in the first half of 2018, quote, the nation state must prepare for a hike in imperial cash rate in the second half of 2018. I personally want to urge mum and dad first homeowners to think very carefully before choosing to buy any particular property for the next two years; and for first time business owners to think properly before expanding assets, unquote.

Recent statistics

The Quertz russling continues to appreciate against the NationStates Dollar [or Universal Standard Dollar], climbing above 0.0121 NationStates Dollar in the September fiscal quarter. Economic Palace recorded that the last time the Quertz russling reached this level against the NationStates Dollar was in April 2012. The Federal Reserve System of the Empire of Maxtopia has more or less kept its discount rate steady since 2015, hovering from 1.75 per cent to 1.95 per cent. In case any downward movement of the Maxtopian economy will result in the Fed slashing its rate, the Economic Palace will attempt to avoid substantially increasing imperial cash rate further until at least the second half of 2018.

Gross domestic product grew in 15 Yohannesian countries in this quarter according to the Bank of Yohannes Empire-Wide Growth report. The Government of the Grand Duchy of Dali again recorded the highest quarterly contraction at [negative] 1.9 per cent, followed by the Government of the Kingdom of Burmecia at [negative] 1.3 per cent; the Crescent City Council at [negative] 0.7 per cent, and the Government of the Duchy of Blomgren at [negative] 0.1 per cent.

The ratio of index of the nineteen countries’ export prices to the index of its import prices is forecast to slightly decrease from its highest recorded level of growth — in five years — last month. In this monthly forecast the ratio of import-export prices is expected to grow by 1.3 per cent in comparison to last month’s 1.7 per cent, which again was the highest recorded monthly increase in import-export prices ratio since the 2012 March fiscal quarter. Again, worrying outlook in certain overseas regions and nation states in the face of increasing aggression and gunboat diplomacy by expanding militaristic organisations and those opposing organisations — SACTO as one example and DEUN the other — has led to slightly lower semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing prices in some nation states and certain regions overseas. Merkel Rothsdad Equal Weight Commodity Index has shown a downward trend of 0.2 per cent for the first two weeks of October so far. Continental Dry Index however has shown a very slight increase to reflect acceptable operating costs of fuel, crews, and vessels, and just slightly higher demand for merchant vessels in our trading partners.

Taking into account World Assembly’s trade-weighted effective exchange rate index, this nation state is doing well in comparison to nation states overseas affected by anarchy, chaos, and conflicts; i.e., They-who-must-not-be-named striking New Edom; intercontinental ballistic missile crisis in Puerto Colijito; the fearful stranglehold of religious extremism in Qaidi; religious revolution in Zukaristan; and anarchists rampage in Volkmacht, amongst many others unnamed here for reason of space.


Expansion of the economy

Background

According to Encyclopedia Maxtopia, the gross domestic product of a nation state is a monetary measure of the market value of all final goods and services produced in a period of time; reported commonly every quarter or year. In the nineteen countries, the most important way to track the state of the economy over the years is to check its real gross domestic product; that is, the value of economic output adjusted for price changes, i.e., inflation or deflation. The purpose of Parliament Analysis Archive’s Monthly Summary of the Economy is to allow foreign and World Assembly observers to conveniently track our empire-wide gross domestic product data and changes every month.

October 2017



Gross domestic product 2017	Monthly GDP growth at current market prices
Expenditure method	$39.318 billion
Per capita growth	0.071 per cent


Source: World Microcredit Foundation.
For the month of October, growth is forecast to be 0.247 per cent, 0.018 per cent less than September. The Office of the Chief Economist reiterates once again that this is due to output finally being affected by less import from trading partners in The East Pacific region for the first half of 2017. The amount of goods and services produced in the semiconductor industry is forecast to contract by 1.525 per cent as production of integrated circuits drop alongside base electrolytic capacitors and most optoelectronic components and devices. Semiconductor total exports are forecast to contract by 3.7 per cent by the end of October. Transducers, sensors, and detectors exports are forecast to contract by 1.45 per cent whilst those of electromechanical component exports by 1.035 per cent.

On Wednesday, 4 October, Export Industry Credit Administration (EICA) delivered its latest report on tradeable and non-tradeable sectors of the nineteen countries’ gross domestic product. In the nineteen countries, tradeable sectors are those industries delivering tradeable goods and services, i.e., producing machinery instead of building houses. Tradeable goods are also those goods facing foreign competition in the nineteen countries, i.e., products that can be imported, such as dairy products or everyday electrical components and machinery, amongst others. Tradeable industries export their products abroad. Non-tradeable goods are goods that do not face foreign competition in the nineteen countries. Non-tradeable can also be defined as something unproductive, i.e., investing in residential property instead of capital machinery and facilities for export. EICA forecast that tradeable activities in the economy is set to grow by 0.225 per cent in October, with non-tradeable growing by 0.269 per cent.

Miscellany



Empire-Wide Growth Surveys	September	October
Business Sentiment	63.9	59.0
Export Sales Volume	40.7	40.5


Source: BOY, Empire-Wide Growth Surveys.
Bank of Yohannes’ Consumer Discretionary Sector and Standard and Rich Chloe Jokes Indices’ S&R 200 Index both showed strong performance, and correlates well with forecast quantity of goods and services produced in October. The Bank of Yohannes summarised that, quote, gross domestic product growth in October is set to slow down from previous month’s high, with declining output in certain market vulnerable industries, e.g., automobiles, household durable goods, and textiles and clothing, amongst others, unquote.

Bank of Yohannes Empire-Wide Growth report highlighted growth in 15 Yohanesian countries in this quarter, with the Grand Duchy of Dali again showing highest quarterly contraction at [negative] 1.9 per cent, followed by the Kingdom of Burmecia at [negative] 1.3 per cent, the City State of Crescent at [negative] 0.7 per cent, and the Duchy of Blomgren at [negative] 0.1 per cent. Empire-wide, in the growing countries growth are registered at 4.25 per cent in total; with the Kingdom of Alexandria leading by increasing economic activities at 0.8 per cent, followed by the Regency of Lindblum at 0.5 per cent.

Point of view

Participants of Economic Palace Monthly Polling think that economic growth for the September fiscal quarter will rest at 0.74 per cent. Citizen sector manufacturing and services index shows stable level correlating well with growth found in our finance and banking, machinery, semiconductor, and shipbuilding sectors. Monthly surveys conducted show the willingness of businesses to employ more people in comparison to June fiscal quarter.

Chambers of Industry and Commerce Yohannes recently published its more downbeat forecast — a general agreement made by member Chambers to average their differing forecasts. It shows a somewhat more negative view on the economy as a result of the Greater Halsten property bubble and manufacturing decline in the heartland countries of Burmecia and Dali. The Chambers forecast a lower average monthly growth rate of 0.209 per cent in October. Export is predicted to slow down from previous figure last month, starting a downward trend until 2018 March fiscal quarter.




Economic expansion	2017 March fiscal quarter	2017 June fiscal quarter	2017 September fiscal quarter	2017 December fiscal quarter	2018 March fiscal quarter
Quarterly	0.508 per cent	0.671 per cent	0.74 per cent	0.662 per cent	0.635 per cent


Source: Office of the Minister of Economy, Industry, and Trade.


Unemployment rate and workforce

Background

According to Encyclopedia Maxtopia, the unemployment rate is a measure of how many people are not working in a nation state and is calculated as a percentage by dividing the number of people not working with the number of people who are working or the workforce; and reported commonly every quarter or year. In the nineteen countries, the workforce is defined as those adults — that is, twenty years and over — who are either employed under either one of the following contracts: Casual, part-time temporary, part-time permanent, and full-time permanent.

In the nineteen countries, the workforce definition also includes those who are temporarily without jobs but are registered as those looking for jobs by relevant oganisations of the Executive Council (e.g., Work and Parenting Income and Vocational Education Authority) and those who are not employed under any of the above mentioned contract but are classified under either one the following categories: ‘Enterpreneurial’, ‘Investor’, and ‘Self-employed.’ Another purpose of Parliament Analysis Archive’s Monthly Summary of the Economy is to allow foreign and World Assembly observers to conveniently track our empire-wide unemployment and workforce data and changes every month.

October 2017



BOY business sentiment studies (for the next two quarters)	September	October
Will have more workers (per cent)	20.7	25.8
More people will lose jobs (per cent)	17.9	25.4


Source: Bank of Yohannes.
In October, after accounting for seasonal adjustment, unemployment rate in the continent of Yohannes is forecast at 4.1 per cent; that is, there will be 15.5 million people registered as ‘unemployed’ by the end of October, out of a total population of 379 million, higher than originally forecast in February at 3.9 per cent, and is up 0.083 per cent from last month. Economic and Demographics Statistics Yohannes data showed that this is primarily caused by increasing participation rate but equally high net migration rate from non-Occidental nation states.

The workforce is forecast to increase by 0.467 per cent by the end of October, with marked increase identified in part-time temporary and full-time permanent contracts. Participation rate for adults — that is, twenty years and over — is set to increase by 0.417 per cent this month to reach 66.2 per cent, the highest level recorded since 2011 December fiscal quarter.

In the second and third quarters employment-to-population ratio increased by 1.713 per cent. For imperial citizens between the ages of twenty-eight to thirty-five, employment rate went up by 6.138 per cent since March; whilst for imperial citizens between the ages of fifty-six to seventy it went up by 5.496 per cent. Employment figures in the chemical, electrical engineering, machine tools, and optics industries indicate a rise of people working in these industries by 4.782 per cent since March. Employment in the steel and shipbuilding industries — mostly concentrated in the Kingdom of Burmecia and the Kingdom of Alexandria respectively — went down by 8.35 per cent; the highest recorded since the 1990 extended downturn.

Miscellany

Business sentiment studies indicated mixed results; more employers in October believe that the economy will expand in such a way as to allow them to hire more people; whilst and at the same time in comparison to last month more businesses believe that more people will lose jobs in certain market vulnerable industries.

Moogle Jobs and Employment — the two largest job vacancy and recruitment websites in the nineteen countries — have recorded a higher number of contracting, professional, and regular vacancy ads in the first two weeks of October when compared with the first two weeks of September. It corresponds with the Skilled Workforce and Labour Corporation’s Online Employment and Jobs Search September report, published to improve the number of universal apprenticeship, cadetship, and internship programmes in the nineteen countries by connecting small and medium-sized companies with skilled workforce and labour.


Nation state surplus

Background



Yearly comparison	October 2016	October 2017
Whole time equivalent average weekly earnings (after tax deduction)	$916.67	$902.10
Employment Cost Index movement	+1.7	+1.4


Source: Office of Economic Analysis and Forecast.
Nation state surplus (or deficit) can be gauged by looking at the difference in total value between payments into and out of that nation state, usually reported quarterly or yearly. A major part of that is the current account balance of the nation state, which is the difference between its investment, savings, and the difference between its imports and exports with the outside community of regions and nation states.

October 2017

The current account balance of the nineteen countries in October is predicted to be a surplus smaller than originally forecast in February, predicted to reach 71.3 billion NSD by the end of this month; that is, equal to 0.45 per cent of GDP. This drop in surplus has been attributed to lower shipbuilding export and higher dairy product, oil, and raw material prices. Recent fluctuations in variable manufacturing costs can also be attributed to the lower than expected surplus.

Miscellany

The amount of imports that the nineteen countries can afford to purchase with its exports is expected to fall from previous high in September. In this monthly forecast the ratio of import-export is expected to grow by 1.3 per cent in comparison to last month’s 1.7 per cent, which again was the highest recorded monthly increase in import-export prices ratio since the 2012 March fiscal quarter. This was caused by higher semiconductor prices and increasing electrical component exports to Mokastana and Tekeristan, and a brief increase in both civilian and military shipbuilding exports to Caracasus, the Scandinvans, and Vangaziland, amongst others.

Point of view

Imperial Bureau of Economic Research’s monthly report forecast that nation state surplus will decline further to 67.4 billion NSD by end of November; equal to 0.43 per cent of GDP. Surplus is forecast to further decline consecutively over the next five fiscal quarters; to turn back up at the start of 2018 December fiscal quarter.




Current account balance	2017 March fiscal quarter	2017 June fiscal quarter	2017 September fiscal quarter	2017 December fiscal quarter	2018 March fiscal quarter
Quarterly	$174.225 billion	$185.234 billion	$199.98 billion	$170.993 billion	$286.436 billion
Goods (yearly)	$256.944 billion	$239.976 billion	$253.712 billion	$261.186 billion	$303.909 billion
Services (yearly)	$218.564 billion	$220.988 billion	$217.453 billion	$225.735 billion	$217.958 billion
Investment (yearly)	$314.413 billion	$283.507 billion	$298.253 billion	$239.471 billion	$299.465 billion
Yearly total (post-adjustment)	$789.921 billion	$744.471 billion	$769.418 billion	$726.392 billion	$821.332 billion


Source: Office of Economic Analysis and Forecast.


Money matters

Background

The Nineteen Countries Trade Weighted Index (NCTWI) is derived from the original World Assembly’s trade weighted index; that is, an index measure of the value of the Quertz russling relative to other nation states’ currencies. Just like the Nineteen Countries Consumer Price Index (NCCPI), which is used as an economic indicator to measure inflation by tracking the price of commonly bought or essential goods and services, e.g., clothing, education, food, and transport services, amongst others, the Nineteen Countries Trade Weighted Index is used as an economic indicator to measure the worth of the Quertz russling by tracking the price of currencies of those nation states the nineteen countries commonly engage in commerce and trade with; weighting each currency with the volume of trade and gross domestic product of that currency’s nation state with the nineteen countries.

The Imperial Cash Rate (ICR) is the interest rate set by Economic Palace on overnight borrowing and lending between banking institutions of the citizen sector and Economic Palace. Economic Palace has regularly used the ICR as a tool to indirectly influence the direction of the economy and to ensure price stability. It also used the ICR to ensure that yearly inflation meets the Economic Palace’s explicit inflation rate target.

The Standard and Rich Chloe Jokes Indices’ S&R 200 Index is a share index of the 200 largest companies by market capitalisation in the nineteen countries. It is the leading stock market index in the nineteen countries, and is the official method used by parliament to measure the prosperity of businesses in the continent of Yohannes. The index is managed by Standard and Rich Incorporated and Chloe Jokes and Company.

October 2017



Fundamental imperial government borrowing	October 2017 (NS$)	October 2017 (per cent of GDP)
Gross debt issue	6.367 trillion	40.1


Source: Economic Palace.
In its recent report ‘An Assessment of Financial Stability in the Nineteen Countries: September 2017’, Economic Palace referenced the exorbitant levels of debt in the old industry sectors (i.e., coal, metallurgy, and steel) of heartland countries Bromgen, Burmecia, and Dali. Economic Palace warned that the debt-ridden coal and metallurgy industries of the Grand Duchy of Dali – with unemployment already rising by 1,300 to 459,000 in July, the highest figure recorded in ten years – are especially at risk to a fall in commodity prices or an increase in lending interest rates. Total debt in the mining sector as of the year ending September was 2.136 trillion NSD, with 1.127 trillion NSD of debt held by the Burmecian and Dalian mining sectors.

The Quertz russling continues to appreciate against the NationStates Dollar [or Universal Standard Dollar], climbing above 0.0121 NationStates Dollar in the September fiscal quarter. Economic Palace recorded that the last time the Quertz russling reached this level against the NationStates Dollar was in April 2012. The Federal Reserve System of the Empire of Maxtopia has more or less kept its discount rate steady since 2015, hovering from 1.75 per cent to 1.95 per cent. In case any downward movement of the Maxtopian economy will result in the Fed slashing its rate, the Economic Palace will attempt to avoid substantially increasing imperial cash rate further until at least the second half of 2018. Standard and Rich Chloe Jokes Indices’ S&R 200 Index was averaged at 26,793.62 points last month, and started in October at 26,343.12 points.

Interest rates for short-term borrowings resumed its slight fall alongside interest rates for long-term borrowings, with monthly movement registered at 0.020 per cent. The Chair of the Board of Governors of Economic Palace has said that whilst she is prepared to slash imperial cash rate further if required to move future average inflation closer within target range in the first half of 2018, quote, the nation state must prepare for a hike in imperial cash rate in the second half of 2018. I personally want to urge mum and dad first homeowners to think very carefully before choosing to buy any particular property for the next two years; and for first time business owners to think properly before expanding assets, unquote.


Nation state inflation

Background

Nation state inflation is the movement in prices of goods and services in a nation state’s economy in a period of time; reported commonly every quarter or year. In the nineteen countries, ‘nation state inflation’ is computed by Economic and Demographics Statistics Yohannes’ Nineteen Countries Consumer Price Index (NCCPI), which is used as an economic indicator to measure inflation by tracking the price of commonly bought or essential goods and services, e.g., clothing, education, food, and transport services, amongst others.

October 2017



Monthly movement	September	October
Market Valuation Corporation: Commercial property valuations	4.7 per cent	4.5 per cent
Yohannesian Real Estate Society: Residential property valuation	5.5 per cent	5.0 per cent
Food Commodity Groups Index	0.9 per cent	0.9 per cent


Source: Economic and Demographics Statistics Yohannes.
NCCPI showed that consumer prices went up by 0.29 per cent last month, which contributed to an increase of 0.041 per cent in inflation. Increasing overseas energy and oil prices caused by disruption to Yohannesian shipping — i.e., spike in organised piracy and expanding DEUN and SACTO conflicts and gunboat diplomacy — and increasing importation of fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and raw materials — from Grays Harbor, Imbrinium and Lamoni — were some of the major causes to higher consumer prices. Oil prices went up by 1.833 per cent in September, reflected in the cost of a litre of Standard Unleaded 95 petrol; ranging from 2.21 NSD up to 2.25 NSD last month. Prices of fruits and vegetables went up by 6.5 per cent in September, with noticeable spike in the prices of the most popular items in our supermarkets, i.e., banana, broccoli, potato, and mushroom.

Taking into account the latest monthly inflation change, yearly inflation has just exceeded the Economic Palace’s explicit inflation rate target for the medium term of 0.5 to 1.5 per cent. Other major movers are alcohols and popular beverages, dairy products, and machine tools; increasing by 3.133 per cent, 1.233 per cent, and 0.833 per cent respectively.

Miscellany

Studies conducted by Bank of Yohannes showed that respondents are expecting an inflation of at least 2.0 per cent by the 2018 March fiscal quarter, which will far exceed current inflation rate target of the Economic Palace. Pessimism of respondents are caused by such things as pressures in the construction and semiconductor industries; with bodies such as the Association of Imperial Professional Engineers, Association of Yohannesian Architects and Architectural Technologists, and Builders Yohannes unanimously expecting an inflation of at least 2.3 per cent by the 2018 March fiscal quarter. It reflects inability of citizen sector to meet demand and increasing costs of property prices caused by high-net migration from non-occidental nation states.

Point of view

Imperial Bureau of Economic Research’s monthly report has forecast that nation state inflation will slowly increase to reach 2 per cent by the 2018 March fiscal quarter. It further predicts that nation state inflation will then go down to reach 1.8 per cent again by the 2018 June fiscal quarter. It is yet to be decided whether Economic Palace’s explicit inflation rate target will be adjusted to reflect these information.




Nation state inflation	2017 March fiscal quarter	2017 June fiscal quarter	2017 September fiscal quarter	2017 December fiscal quarter	2018 March fiscal quarter
Nineteen Countries Consumer Price Index	0.73 per cent	0.85 per cent	0.87 per cent	0.83 per cent	0.79 per cent
Tradeable goods and services index	0.69 per cent	0.78 per cent	0.79 per cent	0.60 per cent	1.21 per cent
Non-tradeable goods and services index	0.41 per cent	0.43 per cent	0.41 per cent	0.42 per cent	0.47 per cent


Source: Office of the Minister of Economy, Industry, and Trade.

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[Delmonte]

Azzia Pecina Enclave in Castille De Italia; Island of Grand Bristol

The Magisterial Palace of Azzia Pecina was not used to catering to such high traffic. While the enclave functioned as a trade hub and large scale embassy for the Castillian Social Union, it was not the most important enclave in the Delmontese trade empire. That title belonged exclusively to Isola Bonossa in the Empire of the Batorys. But though Azzia Pecina was perhaps not the most important enclave to the Delmontese in general, it was certainly the most important enclave in Greater Dienstad.

Horvazzo Di Cambrio, the now ancient magistrate who had been managing the enclave for decades, assumed his normal pose: Sitting in a chair. The frequency of this pose could be attributed largely to his inability to walk. He breathed in slowly before speaking to the ministers in his sitting room.

“I apologize for my son’s absence. These sorts of meetings are the things he needs to see if he’s going to manage Azzia Pecina after I lie down for the Deepest Sleep.” He crossed himself and glanced expectantly at the two clergymen in attendance, who were shuffling through papers in dossiers on their laps. For his part, Cardinal Dellarei gave an annoyed sigh and made a hasty sign of the cross while muttering something in Latin that sounded vaguely comforting. Cardinal-Archbishop Raccio, however, completely ignored the opportunity to practice his spiritual responsibilities in favor of his temporal responsibilities.

Horvazzo continued. “However, he is away on important business. He’s securing a supplier in the Isola Beloria enclave for… raw materials that are in demand here. We can’t entirely neglect our fortune despite our patriotism inclining us to.” Here the magistrate nodded towards Lucovico Di Canossa, the Chancellor of Foreign Nations. Raccio had been in his home before, but Ludovico was the highest ranking member of Delmontese government to pay a visit. The entrepots and enclaves were important, but actually setting foot in them was generally relegated to lower ranking diplomats. His presence here, and the fact that their announcement was being made here, was to send a message.

Ludovico acknowledged the lesser politician’s kind gesture with a warm smile. It was impossible for one family alone to control the Most Serene Republic. The Di Canossas, powerful though they were, had to rely upon other families loyal to their cause. In this case, the Di Cambrio family. The Chancellor looked over to Dellarei.

“Eminence, how did we wind up faring with candidates so far?”

Dellarei cleared his throat and blinked his wrinkled eyelids and adjusted his reading glasses. “We’ve done well, I think. We received plenty of recommendations from the various magistrates who manage the enclaves. I’ve gone through them and provided you with a short list for each enclave. All in all, it could be a very good crop.”

“Excellent. No reason to wait now, given that we’re prepared. Let’s go.”

Dealing with Cardinals in public service was always a delicate issue. While Ludovico was their superior as the Chancellor of Foreign Nations, and they as his functionaries, they were still entitled to a degree of respect due to their station as princes of the Church. As all things with the Republic, it was a precarious balance that had to be struck. It would not be the first balance to be struck by the Chancellor today. He composed the last of his mannerisms mentally as he strode out onto the veranda with priests in tow.

He gave a curt nod to the press assembled who snapped their initial pictures of him in his robes of office.

“Thank you for joining me. This announcement is not being made on the steps of the Piazzo Del Toro, but instead in one of our many enclaves, very intentionally. This is because the announcement concerns the Republic’s enclaves first and foremost. You may know that the Most Serene Republic and Grand City of Delmonte relies upon her trade network, built upon her enclaves and entrepots, for a great deal of her wealth. But from this day forward, we hope to utilize them as a source for diplomatic talent as well.”

This solicited a subtle murmur from the Delmontese press.

“It has long been our tradition that foreigners could not become citizens of Delmonte under any condition, but that they have been able to become citizens of our various enclaves by meeting various requirements specific to each enclave. Typically involving a residence requirement and a wealth requirement. It is a point of pride for us that there are foreigners who choose to be citizens of our enclaves due to the advantages that citizenship of such provides.”

This was a diplomatic way of referring to the fact that being a citizen of an enclave tended to be very beneficial from a tax perspective.

“The Republic will now be considering citizens of enclaves who are also citizens of the nation whose borders the enclave abuts for special diplomatic posts. We think that these citizens who are foreign by birth but Delmontese by choice are an acutely under-utilized resource for communicating with their original nations. They have connections. They understand the culture and so on. These persons will be referred to henceforth as Enclave Delegates.”

This got the press going. Foreigners serving as diplomats for Delmonte? It sounded like a brash move.

“There will, of course, be strict requirements. The person in question must have been a citizen of the enclave they intend to serve for at least ten years, they must own considerable property and do business in the enclave, and their family must be at least somewhat intermarried with native-born Delmontese. And of course they have to be evaluated for security clearance purposes. These variables will be evaluated on a case by case basis by the newly established Vice-Chancellery of Enclave Delegacy under the Chancellery of Foreign Nations, which will oversee the entire Enclave Delegacy program, direct the Republic’s Delegates, and report on the status of the program to the Chancellor of Foreign Nations. The first Vice-Chancellor of Enclave Delegacy will be Cardinal Viro Dellarei, who will now answer any questions you have. Thank you.”

Ludovico made his exit with Raccio while leaving Dellarei to deal with the wolves. Privileges of rank and all that.

[Yohannes]

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[ Out of Character message from the author: Relevant forum posts [ here ], [ here ], [ here ], and [ here ] ]

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Annual Report to Parliament — Judicature Modernisation Summary: Subject to the Members of Assembly

Annual Report 2017 — Judicature Modernisation Summary -- An excerpt from the two hundred and thirtieth parliamentary hansard: Tuesday, 17 October 2017 — Volume 951; 2017 Judicature Overview — Subject to the Ministers of the Executive Council, Emperor, and Realm.




Yearly Overview — October 2017

Published under the authority of the Electoral College and Parliament — 2017

The Imperial Law Commission is an independent statutory entity formed by the tabling of the Imperial Law Commission Amendment Act 1990. Under section two, the Commission is a body corporate which enjoys perpetual succession and has a common seal. It is capable of acquiring, holding, and disposing of real and personal property and may enter into contracts, sue or be sued, and otherwise do and suffer all other acts and things body corporates and companies may do or suffer. The commission has one mission: To ensure the methodical yearly review and modernisation of the law of the nineteen countries.

The Annual Report — Judicature Modernisation for the year 2017 is a summary of judicature modernisation in the nineteen countries. It includes the latest reform on judicature practice, procedure, and structure. Released in October 2017, the purpose of this report is to summarise on the latest changes in practice and procedure of courts of the Unity Law in the nineteen countries. This report examined on the latest common affairs and matters concerning the highest court of the land: The Justices of the Peace of the Seven Highest Order.


Common affairs

Instructions

As of October 2017, the Law Commission reported that when a party has disputed a claim made in a civil court of the nineteen countries, the court will be obligated to hand ‘instructions’ — or court directions, in overseas jurisdictions — to the parties involved on the way they should prepare the case. A court of Unity Law may, concerning affairs raised by the parties involved, hand instructions as necessary to ensure the just and expeditious resolution of the affairs, including but not limited to deciding on the form of documents and papers to be filed in relation to the proceedings.^{[Note 1]}

In cases where there are no procedures stipulated by the Rules of the Justices of the Peace of the Seven Highest Orders 2010, the court must discard the case, within the boundaries of practicability, taking into account the provisions of 2010 amendment rules concerning similar cases. Another option may be used where there are no such rules to refer to; where the court may dispose of the case in the manner in which the court believes the principle of fair justice for parties involved can best be promoted.^{[Note 2]}

Note 1: Court of Unity Law — Justices of the Peace of the Seven Highest Order Rules Amendment 2010 (JRA 2010/100), S 8(2) and (7).
Note 2: Ibid. T 1(4).

Powers concerning affairs of ancillary nature

A permanent Justice of the Peace may make use of the power bestowed upon the court to hand instructions or to necessarily consider a matter other than the resolution of an application for leave to appeal an appeal.^{[Note 3]}

Note 3: Ibid. T 11.

Effect of non-compliance with rules

Non-compliance with the Justices of the Peace of the Seven Highest Order Rules Amendment 2010 (JRA 2010/100) does not make the application or appeal nugatory; it may, however, allow for the Justice to amend, discard, or otherwise set aside for later the application under the terms of the court. This includes instructing the party to fix the non-compliance issue.^{[Note 4]} A non-compliant evidence or document in relation to the rules may only be accepted and filed by leave of a Justice or an Officer of the court.^{[Note 5]}

Note 4: Ibid. S 9(2) and (6).
Note 5: Ibid. S 9(7).

Formatting

The introductory page or section of submitted and filed documents must have a clear heading showing:


• The sentence: “In the name of the Justices of the Peace assembled”; and
  
• The full names of the appellants, next to the capitalised word: “Appellant”; and
• The full names of respondents, next to the capitalised word: “Respondent.”^{[Note 6]}
• All documents must be legibly typed under default 12 point size.
• All pages of all documents must have a margin that must be:
  
  • At least one-quarter of the width of the paper; and
  • On the left-hand side of the page, or right-hand side of the page if the page is reversed on the paper.^{[Note 7]}
Note 6: Court of Unity Law — Justices of the Peace of the Seven Highest Order Rules Amendment 2010 (JRA 2010/100), S 10(2).
Note 7: Ibid. S 10(3) and (4).

Submission and filing

A document may be filed by an Officer of the court by:


• Handing the document in person.
• Sending the document to the Officer by way of email, fax, or mail.
• Sending the document through a medium by:
  
  • Sending it to the medium in person; or
  • Sending it ot the address of the medium; or
  • Sending it by mail to the postal address of the medium; or
  • Transferring it by way of fax to the fax number of the medium; or
  • Transferring it by way of email to the email address of the medium.
All documents sent by way of mail will be filed or be confirmed by an Officer to have been received on six working days after the date of sending, or the date the document has been received; whichever is the earlier. All documents sent by way of email or fax will be filed or be confirmed by an Officer to have been received on the next working day after the date of sending.

All documents sent on non-working days — i.e., not within the working hours of 8 am to 6 pm — will be filed or be confirmed by an Officer to have been received one day later after the dates stipulated above.^{[Note 8]}

Note 8: Ibid. S 12(2), (3), (4), and (5).


Leave to appeal

Authorising leave

Appeals received by the Justices of the Peace of the Highest Order can only be heard by leave of the Justices assembled.^{[Note 9]} The Justices of the Peace of the Highest Order are only authorised to allow leave to appeal if there is enough evidence that such leave is required to ensure the just and expeditious resolution of the affairs before the eyes of the institution. This would allow the Justices assembled to decide on whether to hear or determine the forwarded appeal.^{[Note 10]}

The above authorisation can only be realised if:


• The forwarded appeal is an appeal of special public importance;^{[Note 11]} or
• The court involved has failed to rightfully see the ends of justice, or will fail to rightfully see the ends of of justice if no leave is given;^{[Note 12]} or
• The forwarded appeal is an appeal of significant economic importance for the public or the nation state.^{[Note 13]}
The Justices assembled can give leave to hear an appeal from the Intermediary Appeal Court on an interlocutory application only if there is any substantial evidence of its importance to rightfully see the ends of justice. The Justices of the Peace assembled can give leave to an appeal from any other court beside the Intermediary Appeal Court only if there is any substantial evidence that such leave must be given in the interest of the public or the nation state.

Note 9: Judicature Modernisation Amendment Act 2016, S 9.
Note 10: Ibid. S 10(3).
Note 11: Ibid. S 10(5)(d). For reference see Xia v Attorney-General (Justices of the Peace, EV SA 20/08, 21 June 2008) where the question of whether Mr Zheng Xia should be granted bail from detention after being imprisoned for two years under the Imperial Immorality Act 1939 and Immigration Amendment Act 1957 was judged as a matter of special public importance. See also Goebbels v Broadcasting Decency Organisation, (Justices of the Peace, SA EV 16/08, 2 July 2008), in which leave to appeal was authorised to see to it matters of public broadcasting indecency concerning Mr Yannik Goebbels’ offensive party advertisement.
Note 12: Ibid. S 10(5)(e). For reference see Eisenstein v Erison (Justices of the Peace, EV SA 1/08, 13 March 2008), in which leave to appeal was turned down ascribable to lack of evidence that the court involved had failed in rightfully seeing the ends of justice.
Note 13: Ibid. S 10(5)(f). For reference see Rademacher Wastewater Treatment Systems Corporation v Halsten Regional City Council (Justices of the Peace, EV SA 3/08, 15 January 2008) in which leave to appeal was authorised ascribable to interests of ratepayers in seeing Halsten regional council addressing wastewater pipes problems being judged as a matter of significant economic importance.

Application time limit

To be eligible to apply for leave of the court, an appellant must put forward her or his application within twenty-eight working days after the date of disputed ruling. An application for leave by a respondent must be made within twenty-one working days after the date of the appellant’s application submission. The Justices of the Peace assembled may extend this time limit under special circumstances.^{[Note 14]}

Note 14: Court of Unity Law — Justices of the Peace of the Seven Highest Order Rules Amendment 2010 (JRA 2010/100), S 11(2), (3), and (4).

Application by written submissions

Leave to appeal applications for the Justices of the Peace assembled can be made by way of written submissions; may include pertinent supplementary information; and may include written responses to submissions made by any other party.^{[Note 15]} All applications must include the basis for appeal; the reasons why leave should be authorised; and the ruling expected by the applicant. All written submissions made for the application for leave to appeal must be:


• No more than thirteen pages long; and
• Concisely explain:
  • The narrative and report of facts;
  • The broad questions of law;
  • The rulings to be appealed;
  • The reasons why leave to appeal should be authorised; and
  • The rulings sought after.
Respondents may then file written submissions against appeal; in a concise manner, detailing why the original ruling should be held.^{[Note 16]} Before hearing is to commence, the Justices assembled may authorise for leave to be given to the parties involved to amend their original applications.^{[Note 17]}

Note 15: Judicature Modernisation Amendment Act 2016, S 12(2).
Note 16: Court of Unity Law — Justices of the Peace of the Seven Highest Order Rules Amendment 2010 (JRA 2010/100), S 14(2),(3), and (4).
Note 17: Ibid. S 15(2).

Application by oral submissions

Should the Justices assembled require that the hearing for an application for leave to appeal must be done orally, a notification must then be made by the Officer of the court to inform the parties involved. The Officer must also ensure that due consideration will be given, and consultations concerning the date of hearing will be made.^{[Note 18]} Five copies of supplementary supporting bundle of authorities must be submitted by the parties involved to the Officer, no later than seven working days before the date of hearing. In a case where there is a lack of authorities supporting the argument of the respondent, then the respondent may submit a bundle of authorities no later than five working days before the date of hearing.^{[Note 19]} Oral submissions must be no longer than:


• 20 minutes for opening submission (applicant);
• 20 minutes for submission (respondent); and
• 10 minutes for the applicant’s reply.^{[Note 20]}
Note 18: Court of Unity Law — Justices of the Peace of the Seven Highest Order Rules Amendment 2010 (JRA 2010/100), S 21.
Note 19: Ibid. S22(2) and (3).
Note 20: Ibid. S23(2).

Leave application form

A leave to civil appeal application for the Justices of the Peace assembled is legally made only when:


• The Officer of the Court has confirmed that she or he has received the application;
• When a copy has been served to every party; and
• When the original Court appealed from has received and filed the application.^{[Note 21]}
A leave to criminal appeal application for the Justices of the Peace assembled is legally made only when the application has been received and filed by the Officer. If a criminal appeal application is made by the defendant or the convicted person, then the Officer must dispatch a copy of the application to the original Court appealed from and to the Solicitor-General or chief prosecutor. If a criminal appeal application is made by the Solicitor-General or chief prosecutor, then she or he must dispatch a copy to the defendant or convicted person, and the Officer must by the next working day dispatch a copy to the Court appealed from.^{[Note 22]}

The application notice form must follow the standards specified by Court of Unity Law — Justices of the Peace of the Seven Highest Order Rules Amendment 2010.

Note 21: Ibid. S 3(2) and (3).
Note 22: Ibid. S 4(2), (3), and (4).

Supplementary documents

A leave to civil appeal application must be supported by five copies of:


• The original ruling;
• Any unrelated grounds supporting the original ruling; and
• All grounds behind every ruling in the proceedings, in a case where the ruling was given on appeal.^{[Note 23]}
A leave to criminal appeal application must be provided with five copies of:


• The trial transcripts;
• Summing-up by the trial judge; and
• All documents in relation to the proceedings.
A leave to Intermediary Appeal Court appeal application concerning a conviction or sentence must be supported by five copies of:


• The final case of appeal;
• Ruling concerning the appeal; and
• All grounds behind every ruling in the proceedings.^{[Note 24]}
Note 23: Court of Unity Law — Justices of the Peace of the Seven Highest Order Rules Amendment 2010 (JRA 2010/100), S 15. For standards of form see S 7. For standards of procedure see S 9.
Note 24: Ibid. S 18.

Deciding on a leave to appeal application

In deciding on the application, the Justices assembled must scrutinise all supplementary written submissions and pertinent supplementary information raised concerning the application. If an oral hearing was made as an alternative, the Justices assembled must scrutinise all the information raised at the hearing.^{[Note 25]} Any two or more permanent Justices of the Peace can act as a Court to decide whether the application should be decided just on the basis of written submissions, or an oral hearing should also be made to support the application.^{[Note 26]}

A judgment on leave to appeal must be made by the original Justices who were at the hearing concerning the application. Before the judgment is made, the Officer of the Court must inform the parties involved of the date of its delivery.^{[Note 27]}

Note 25: Judicature Modernisation Amendment Act 2016, S 12(4).
Note 26: Ibid. S 24(2).
Note 27: Ibid. Court of Unity Law — Justices of the Peace of the Seven Highest Order Rules Amendment 2010 (JRA 2010/100), S 26(2).

Judgment

If the Justices assembled as the Court has announced their judgment as a permission for leave to appeal, the appeal is commenced by the giving of that leave and no notice of appeal need be filed. The grounds which may be argued in support of an appeal are limited to the grounds approved in the order by which leave has been given. Neither an application for leave to appeal nor the giving of leave operates as a stay of proceedings in which the decision was given or a stay of execution of that decision. However pending the determination of the appeal, the original Court appealed from may, on application, order a stay of proceedings or grant any interim relief.^{[Note 28]}

If the Justices assembled as the Court has announced their judgment as a refusal for leave to appeal, the Court must give details of the grounds for refusal. The Court may announce a judgment of refusal for leave to the appellant and at the same time announce its judgment of permission for the respondent.^{[Note 29]}

Note 28: Judicature Modernisation Amendment Act 2016, S 20(2) and (4).
Note 29: Court of Unity Law — Justices of the Peace of the Seven Highest Order Rules Amendment 2010 (JRA 2010/100), S 24.


Tabling of matters

The commission will submit the above reform on judicature practice, procedure, and structure by the date that is one week following the publication of this report. A copy of the report will be tabled before parliament by the date that is one day following the publication of this report.

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[Morrdh]

PM VERMILLION DIES

MORRDH.- Following the hotel blast at the Social Deomcrats party conference in Ramarck it has now been confirmed that Prime Minister Edmund Vermillion has died from injuries sustained from the explosion.

The PM was on life support for days as doctors battled to save his life, but ultimately he ended up passing away in the early hours of yesterday morning. His loss will be keenly felt by the Commonwealth and his family, the latter of whom will arrange a private burial as per the late Prime Minister's wishes. The Minister of Defence Nathan Hay was killed by the blast as was the wife of the Home Secretary Richard Clarke, though the Home Secretary himself suffered severe injuries but is expected to pull through. Deputy Prime Minister Anthony Carne is another who suffered severe injuries, including a leg that had to be amputated, but it is unclear whether he'll resume his duties once recovered. Sir Gedney Hill, the Foreign Secretary, was lucky to have gotten away with a broken leg and reportedly is not letting being wheelchair bound stop him from getting back to work.

The head of the Ministry of Space, Sir George Whittleton, has been given leadership of the Social Democrats and thus made de facto Prime Minister until the party leadership contest have been resolved. It is likely that a General Election will be held in the new year so that a fresh government can go ahead with a full five year term, something that the new Social Democrats leader will be very keen on.

[United World Order]

F R E E • D Ì E N S T A D I • P R E S S

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Ordenite regime flaunts new missile technology, test launches unarmed ICBM capable of a operational range of 5000KM.
The V-16 ICBM which has only been in service with the Ordenite Wehrmacht for 5 years is test launched in Central Dienstad.
Kieth Runstedt (@KRundstedt_FDP)
^{Oct. 16th, 2028 3:35PM | Macabea, The Golden Throne of The Macabees}

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Macabea, Macabees- It has been confirmed through the public and several media corporations across the region that the Ordenite Reich has test launched the V-16 ICBM which has the operational range capacity of 5000KM and has been said in Ordenite media that the missile test was directed towards Stevid in the continuation of cold war style tensions between the two that caught media attention after a collision between the two navies submarines out at sea. It is noted by analysts that the V-16 missile has only been in production and use of the Wehrmacht for five years and that the missile was able to reach most of Central Dienstad and the major powers such as The Macabees, Stevid, and even the Mordent island and rumored to even be able to strike Imbrimium. The test was completed during the weekend and the missile when launched went just at the 5000km mark before plummeting into the ocean between Unilisia and the western coast of Macabees. The V-16 is said to be able to carry at least a 100 kiloton nuclear warhead or can also be fashioned as a long range cruise missile. Variants of the V-16 are not readily known to the public and other governments in Dienstad, and Ordenite officials were not available for comment.

[Yohannes]

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Annual Report to Parliament — Monetary Target Consensus: Subject to the Members of Assembly

Annual Report 2017 — Monetary Target Consensus -- An excerpt from the two hundred and thirtieth parliamentary hansard: Wednesday, 18 October 2017 — Volume 951; 2017 Monetary Target Consensus — Subject to the Ministers of the Executive Council, Emperor, and Realm.




Yearly Overview — October 2017

Published under the authority of the [ Electoral College and Parliament ] — 2017

The Imperial Cash Rate (ICR) is the interest rate set by Economic Palace — the central banking system of the nineteen countries — on overnight borrowing and lending between banking institutions of the citizen sector and Economic Palace. Economic Palace has regularly used the ICR as a tool to influence the direction of the economy and to ensure price stability. It also used the ICR to ensure that yearly inflation meets Economic Palace’s explicit inflation rate target.

Money in circulation



Year	ICR (per cent)
2000	5.10
2001	4.75
2002	4.80
2003	4.90
2004	4.75
2005	4.85
2006	5.00
2007	4.85
2008	4.70
2009	4.95
2010	6.70
2011	8.15
2012	6.70
2013	8.00
2014	2.70
2015	2.30
2016	3.00
2017	1.60


Source: World Microcredit Foundation.
The ICR is one important way the Executive Council can carry out and manage its monetary policy in the nineteen countries of the Yohannesian continent. The monetary policy of a nation state is the way that nation state’s central bank indirectly manages the total amount of money in circulation or in existence in that nation state, also known as its ‘monetary policy’, i.e., the [ Federal Reserve System Monetary Policy ].

Monetary policy is important, because without a good balance in money circulating in a nation state’s economy, a nation state will experience price instability in goods and services. Secondly, foreign institutions and nation states will have no confidence in that nation state’s currency, resulting in even further price instability. A good and bad monetary policy is the difference between having a struggling nation state and an economically thriving, prospering nation state. ICR currently stands at 1.6 per cent, which is just below fifteen-year low for interest rates as set by Economic Palace.

In the nineteen countries, the Chair of the Board of Governors of Economic Palace must regularly talk with both the Minister of Economy, Industry, and Trade and the Minister of the Treasury and Wealth Fund. They must agree together on what should be done for each year’s Monetary Target Consensus (MTS). The current MTS is the one directly taken from the MTS made in 2014 when the Christian Democratic Party won the election and was voted into office as the Thirty-sixth Christian Democratic Executive Council, i.e., government at the imperial level. The 2014 MTS said: “The Chairperson must make sure inflation be kept within the 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent range until the 2018 June fiscal quarter.” Ideally with current level of forecast growth inflation should be kept below 2.5 per cent but above 1.5 per cent. In theory it should be easy; realistically in practice it can sometimes be challenging (for more information see October Summary of the Economy report).

Executive Council intervention

How can a nation state’s central bank manage the total amount of money in circulation or in existence in that nation state’s economy?

Well, that nation’s central bank can establish interest rates to decide on a particular inflation target point (or inflation goal), which the central bank believes is the right rate to realising a stable business and investment environment for that central bank’s nation state. For the nineteen countries, a very limited and controlled inflation is considered the best way Economic Palace can encourage positive business and investment environment at present (it can always change in the future). An explicit target inflation rate for the medium term at 1 to 2 per cent will make sure businesses and hard-working people in the nineteen countries will be protected from extra costs of goods and services, whilst at the same time avoiding reduction of the general level of prices in the economy (i.e., deflation), which is not the things we want for now.

To some degree, moderate drops in certain products, such as food or energy, will have some positive effect on consumer spending. An uninterrupted and sustained fall in prices, however, can seriously affect growth and economic stability. It is the view of Economic Palace that we must avoid the aforementioned, especially when we look at the worrying outlook in some overseas regions and nation states in the face of increasing aggression and gunboat diplomacy by ever-expanding militaristic nation states and organisations and those opposing organisations — Allanea, DEUN, and SACTO to name just three.

Point of view

In the short term, Imperial Palace is seeking to flatten, or at least attempting to flatten as much as possible, fluctuations in demand. In the long-term Imperial Palace seek to tighten or loosen its policy further, subject to changes in the economy and international development, e.g., anarchy, chaos, and conflicts; i.e., They-who-must-not-be-named striking New Edom; intercontinental ballistic missile crisis in Puerto Colijito; the fearful stranglehold of religious extremism in Qaidi; religious revolution in Zukaristan; and anarchists rampage in Volkmacht, amongst many others unnamed here for reason of space.

Adjusting interest rates

There are both sides to the equation. Raising interest rates will result in more savings done by Yohannesian mum and dad businesses and families, and thus will lower final consumption expenditure and will lower demand in the citizen sector. In turn because of lower expenditure and lower demand, prices in general will be alleviated or pushed towards a lower level. The final result is lower inflation for the nation state. At the same time, if Imperial Palace tighten its policy further, borrowing will be more expensive for businesses and families, i.e., reduction in after tax spending and savings for those subjected to loans and mortgages. Investment projects or the extent of investment found all around the continent will also decrease, because the citizen sector will have less incentives to borrow due to increasing costs.

Finaly, the Quertz russling will appreciate against the NationStates Dollar (or Universal Standard Dollar) as more overseas body corporates and providers of funds will want to involve themselves in our economy, i.e., as interest charged to borrowers in the nineteen countries will increase, thus attracting higher return for non-Yohannesian depositors. Additionally, body corporates and commercial entities in the nineteen countries will possibly import more products from abroad, which in turn will result in more downward movement in the Tradeable goods and services index, which gives information about changes to the prices of tradeable goods and services in the nineteen countries (for more information see October Summary of the Economy report); however, Yohannesian exports will also be less competitive overseas, i.e., more costly, which can be bad, but will also reduce inflation as it will reduce output due to less demand for Yohannesian products.

Lowering interest rates, of course, will have the opposite effects to the above mentioned. In terms of spending, the value of the choice of the best alternative cost will become lower; borrowing schemes will become less costly; the Quertz russling will depreciate against the NationStates Dollar (or Universal Standard Dollar); Yohannesian exports will be more competitive overseas; and investment projects or the extent of investment found all around the continent will also increase. The end result will be higher inflation.



Monetary Target Consensus	Chair of the Board	MEIT and MTWF Ministers	Explicit inflation rate target
12 May 2000	Dr Bernhardt Kempf	Hon Edgar Friesinger and Hon Karl Nägelein	Within the 0 per cent to 2 per cent range until the 2002 March fiscal quarter.
8 December 2002	Dr Bernhardt Kempf	Hon Edgar Friesinger and Hon Dr Erika Blattner	Within the 0 per cent to 2 per cent range until the 2003 December fiscal quarter.
5 November 2004	Dr Bernhardt Kempf	Hon Edgar Friesinger and Hon Dr Erika Blattner	Within the 0 per cent to 2.5 per cent range until the 2006 March fiscal quarter.
10 December 2006	Dr Bernhardt Kempf	Hon Lukas Riederer and Rt Hon Loseton Petres	Within the 1 per cent to 3 per cent range.
17 September 2008	Dr Bernhardt Kempf	Hon Lukas Riederer and Rt Hon Loseton Petres	Within the 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent range.
11 December 2010	Dr Alice Ackner	Hon Jeremiah Williams and Rt Hon Loseton Petres	Within the 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent range.
19 October 2012	Dr Alice Ackner	Hon Phillip Blocher and Rt Hon Loseton Petres	Within the 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent range.
24 December 2014	Heidemarie Vogelweide	Hon Emily Kirchweger and Hon Alice Schneider	Within the 1 per cent to 3 per cent range.
11 September 2017	Heidemarie Vogelweide	Hon Emily Kirchweger and Hon Alice Schneider	Within the 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent range.


Source: Economic Palace Monetary Target Consensuses.

Imperial Cash Rate

The Imperial Cash Rate has existed in various forms since the Foreign Mission Act 1787, which sent three hundred and fifty of the brightest academics and students of higher learning of nineteen countries abroad, to study the art of foreign industrialisation and modernise the Yohannesian economy, and save the recently unified nineteen countries in the continent of Yohannes from colonial subjugation and economic exploitation by technologically superior, imperialist occidental nation states abroad. For more than two hundred years, the ICR has been used to modify short-term interest rates in the nineteen countries, with its adjustment by Economic Palace affecting the prices that money are sold and distributed for further reselling (i.e., further lending) by banking institutions in the nineteen countries.

These first-point banking institutions which borrowed directly from Economic Palace (i.e., wholesalers) are subjected to interest at 0.45 per cent more than whatever is the interest rate set by Economic Palace at that point in time (or 45 basis points higher than the ICR), and are given interest — equal to the OCR at first and then below the OCR by 0.9 per cent or 90 basis points — for their deposits from overnight activities, i.e. any activities where other institutions borrowing from these banks must repay the borrowed funds plus interest at the start of business the next day. In the process, this will create the acceptable upper and lower bounds of overnight rates in the eyes of Yohannesian banking institutions, i,e., they will reject anything outside those values. This is called the Quertz russling overnight rate (QROR); the rate used by large banking institutions in the nineteen countries to borrow and lend from one another.

Under normal circumstances, the QROR should be to a certain extent smaller than the ICR set by Economic Palace to influence the short-term and long-term rates in the Yohannesian market. Finally, international developments can also affect the circulation of money in the nineteen countries (i.e., interest rates found in major trading partners of the nineteen countries).

Policy review

Each year, the Chair of the Board of Governors reviews monetary policy (including the ICR) of the Economic Palace four times, starting at the first day of each fiscal quarter, i.e., March, June, September, and December. Unlike in most foreign nation states, in the nineteen countries it is the Chair alone who has the veto power and is responsible for overseeing the successful implementation of policy by statute, i.e., Central Bank Amendment Act 1946. The Board of Governors was founded to equally represent the interests of the nineteen countries, with each country being represented by one Governor. With deliberation and full agreement by a supermajority of the Board, the Chair can implement changes in monetary policy without any prior announcement or warning, e.g., the Incursus international incidents in 2011 resulted in the ICR being lifted up by 15 basis points to 8.15.

ICR through the years

Table 1 lists the Imperial Cash Rate since the turn of the twenty-first century. Cash rate was at its highest in May 2011 (the highest Yohannesian international economic and trade boom since the turn of the twenty-first century, paradoxically kick-started with the invasion of Osthia), from where it fell gradually by one hundred basis points (the Conglomerate crises, Incursus infighting, League of Imperial Nations conflicts, and others), until it rose briefly to reach its second highest peak point in 2013 (the second highest Yohannesian international economic and trade boom since the turn of the twenty-first century, paradoxically kick-started with the invasion of Hippostania).

The after effects of the [ 2012 Gholgoth crisis ] and general downturn and lack of confidence in the Yohannesian market and the Quertz russling, however, finally were out in full force and brought the economy to its knees, starting from the 2013 third and fourth fiscal quarters; with Economic Palace responding by gradually reducing ICR (down as much as five hundred basis points from previous high in 2013, to reach 2.30 by the 2015 first fiscal quarter.

ICR currently stands at 1.6 per cent, which is just below fifteen-year low for interest rates as set by Economic Palace.

Why MTC?

In accordance with the Central Bank Amendment Act 1946, both the Minister of Economic, Industry, and Trade and the Minister of the Treasury and Wealth Fund must agree to the Monetary Target Consensus (MTC) proposed by the Chair of the Board of Governors (with agreement by prior deliberation as a full board) each year. According to the Chair of the Board Heidemarie Vogelweide in 2015: “Explicit inflation rate targeting is not something commonly found overseas in many foreign nation states, as many nation states, especially those of the free market and hands-off-the-economy leanings, tend to see explicit inflation targeting as something comparable to being socialist. But we believe that we have to do what is right, within the realm of realism, and in view of our strong Christian Democratic and [ Yohannesian model ] ethos, well, I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

“The MTC is actually a pretty interesting concept, as many foreign observers would judge that its primary purpose is to influence the exchange rate of the Quertz russling. Or to keep the level of nominal income along a target path, i.e., to take into account historical price changes, shocks, and real economic activities. But those two are not the main reasons why we have the MTC today. Its main context is to simply exercise our sovereignty, following on our Christian Democratic ethos and the well-established Yohannesian Model, to target inflation annually and try to see how we can indirectly influence the economy further, ethically and within reasons.”

She concluded: “For this year’s MTC, there are three focus that we have chosen in terms of how we want to indirectly influence the Yohannesian economy. One: Targeting regime and checks in places. Economic Palace — our goal is to watch like a hawk changes happening in the economy. One way we do this is by tracking prices through such thing as the Nineteen Countries Consumer Price Index, Tradeable Goods and Services Index, or the Food Commodity Groups Index.”

“This year our target is to make sure that we can keep inflation within the 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent range. Of course it is unrealistic for us to always one hundred per cent successfully accomplish this and see its implementation on the ground all the time; but at least we are trying, and that is a good thing I believe, for the welfare of our people.”

“Two: This tool will allow us to see what will happen if we change ICR due to temporary, unexpected inflation upsets (e.g., caused by foreign development or international incidents). We can’t just change the ICR willy-nilly of course: this is not a Nintendo DS Pokemon game, as my daughter Erica would say. Changing the ICR by even just one basis point can have huge ramifications on empire-wide production (i.e., output) and unemployment rate.”

“And finally: Stability for prices of goods and services. We want stable prices in our market. This will ensure less fluctuation and more certainty in ratepayers satisfaction and standard of living and local and regional council tax revenues. It won’t affect us [the Executive Council at the imperial level] much, but we believe that changes must come from the down up to the top; from the grassroots level; that is, change will not come from top down, or the trickle-down effect: ‘Trickling-down’ is not the way of the Yohannesian [ Christian Democracy ]. We don’t believe in that kind of bull****.”



Governor	Entered office	Country	Term expires
Heidemarie Vogelweide (Chair)	24 December 2014 (as Chair) 24 December 2014 (as Governor)	Regency of Lindblum	17 December 2018 (as Chair) 24 December 2022 (as Governor)
Dr Jonathan Young	14 March 2012 (as Vice Chair) 7 March 2012 (as Governor)	Kingdom of Burmecia	14 March 2020 (as Vice Chair) 14 March 2020 (as Governor)
Dr August Pettersson	18 January 2016	Kingdom of Alexandria	18 January 2024
Matthäus Fassbender	20 September 2010	Grand Duchy of Dali	20 September 2018
Dr Greta Schottenstein	13 May 2016	Grand Duchy of Donata	13 May 2024
Richard Karlsson	3 June 2013	Noble Republic of Treno	3 June 2021
Dr Miriam Müntefering	10 May 2015	Grand Duchy of Kradenmark	10 May 2023
Dr Sackarias Ekberg	25 September 2017	Duchy of Blomgren	25 September 2025
Steffen Mergenthaler	9 July 2015	Merchant Republic of Alseca-Lorin	9 July 2023
Roswitha Goldreich	3 February 2014	Merchant Republic of Landburg	3 February 2022
Dr Leopold Outman	17 August 2010	Principality of Ahlgren	17 August 2026
Wilma Goldfeld	21 April 2017	Unitary Republic of Molander	21 April 2025
Matthias Wiedemann	5 December 2015	Democratic Republic of Cederström	5 December 2023
Dr Emmelie Stenmark	16 January 2016	Royal Realm of Cleyra	16 January 2024
Samuel Green	13 March 2013	Duchy of Gizamaluke-Grotto	13 March 2021
Dr Nicholas Webster	20 June 2014	Duchy of Ice Cavern	20 June 2022
Dr Jannik Bauernfeind	2 May 2012	Principality of Mandragora	2 May 2020
Alexander Westwood-Williams	16 December 2015	City State of Crescent	16 December 2023
Zidane Trance	1 December 2013	City State of Coral	1 December 2021


Source: Economic Palace Archive.

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[AHSCA]

AHSCA News Agency
-United Island Office of Public Information and Culture-

Duchess Villa Calls Special Election to Fill Vacancy

AURORA ISLAND - In the months following the retirement of Senator Olaf, Her Majesty, Duchess Marcella Villa has called a special open election, nationwide to elect a new senator to fill the vacant seat left by Senator Olaf. Officially, there's no constitutional procedure to fill in vacancies in Congress which left Her Majesty with a handful of options, appoint a current seated senator, appoint from the outside (cabinet officials, or other ranking men and women), leave it to Congress to appoint or vote in a new senator or call an early election with the general public to vote, which Her Majesty has decided on just that. "I had considered all options very carefully," Duchess Villa told UNIPIC. "In the end I felt the best option would be to have an early election and allow the public at large to decide."

In the short history of the Islands as a unified nation, at no point has a significant vacancy been left, making this a true first of its kind. While it's true some senators have passed prematurely it was always assumed a deputy command would immediately fill in until the next official election, which happens every 5-6 years, depending on the needs of Congress or the states. Senator Olaf had opted not to select a deputy who would work in her stead if she were to retire early or even die while in office. UNIPIC had reached out to inquire on why she had not appointed a replacement before leaving office but the Senator was unavailable for comment at this time.

Senator Oalf's position was Congressional Majority Leader, Speaker and in a sense, head of government. AHSCA fuses the ideas of republicanism and traditional monarchism as its government given split powers between The Duchess at the top of the Executive Branch with The Majority Leader and Speaker at head of the Legislative end. Even with most of the powers resting in Duchess Villa's rule, the position of Majority Leader is perhaps the second most powerful position in AHSCA. Being authorized to conduct state business at home and abroad and is also the fifth in line of succession (in peace time).

Though deciding on an open public election, Duchess Villa had conducted some personal interviews with potential candidates to fill in the position, before leaving it to open submission. By law anyone may submit themselves to run or they may rely on the party to ask them. With such a large and important position to be filled, the pool is one of the widest since AHSCA's first congressional election upon unifying as a republic, including a handful of newcomers to politics, native and foreign born alike are now vying for this illustrious position.

Candidate	State	Party	Background	Platform
Pacfica	Corona Island	National Island Party	Pacifica is a veteran of AHSCA's old Militia forces on her home state of Corona, before the reorganization into the Police and United Island Defense Forces (UNIDF). Having served during the unification war she's seen the harshness of combat and knows what it means to serve her country. Offered both positions in military and police she decided instead to retire to pursue a family by raising her daughter, Valora.	Strong national defense budget Tax incentives for single adults to raise children. General education for children 4-12, optional secondary or military education 12-16.
Ya-Xi Li	Hoshino Island	National Islander Party	An expat from an unorganized territory nearby and is currently the Vicerine of Hoshino Island with her husband, Viceroy Shinya Li, who is also current Deputy Defense Officer. Her time with her husband on Hoshino has taught her a lot about politics on the island and the needs of the state in comparison to needs of the nation.	Incentives for small locally made business Agriculture (farming/fishing) incentives Relax laws and taxes on high value imported goods (i.e. electronics, specialty foods, etc)
Kanea Arorah	Corona Island	National Liberal Party*	Kanea is a native of Corona and a veteran of AHSCA politics. She was the majority leader prior to the election of Mikela Olaff which saw the shift in majority but remained on as Minority Leader. She's hoping to take back the majority seat again.	Education remains non-compulsory Nationalize interstate sea transit, allow international transit to remain private. Scale back defense spending
Jonah Alfhild	Stillstando Island	Unaffiliated	An immigrant from Lamoni who married a native of the island. First entered into the political realm unsuccessfully running for Governor of the island, losing to current sitting Governor, Governor Sturm. He will run again if unsuccessful.	Criminal justice reforms Increased defense spending Green energy incentives to power homes.
Aina Indou	Animalpolis Island	AHSCA Communism Party	A ship captain with several regional trips made under her command. She's never been in politics before but feels there's some changes that could be made if she's given hold.	Nationalize the entire sea transport industry, both interstate and international. Constitutional amendments to grant more state and legislative power Create a special hurricane relief account only to be accessed in the event of catastrophic storms.
Koralo	Corona Island	National Liberal Party	A local chief of his village with many years of experience, Koralo has served since even the days before unification. Though he did once contend for Chiefdom in Corona he was passed in favor of Kino before the outbreak of war.	Strong environmental enforcement policies. Increased so called "faith tax" (a tax on all but the national religion of the islands). Organic agriculture expansion
Himiko Himemiya	Aurora Island	National Islander Party	Another migrant to the AHSCA isles, this one from Kuronami, Himiko came to train some locals how to be good teachers but fell in love with the island and a special woman she calls her wife. Since then she's doubled as a school teacher and as an artists and writer specializing in painting and romance novellas. However she's face blow back from anti-educational populous and has been frustrated by the lack of action by the government to push a real solution to AHSCA's educational problems.	Nationalized education program for youth through adolescence Labor incentives for families relying on physical labor to put their children into school Racial crime advocacy

The candidates make up broad diverse range but overwhelmingly many are hailing from Corona Island. "As a smaller state, Corona wants to assert itself clearly to it's neighbors." Said Chief Ayla, leader of Corona, to UNIPIC. "I feel we've always been treated very well since the days of unifying but there's always the sense that if we let our guard down we'll be pushed away by our much bigger neighbors." Corona Island while very active part of the republic has culturally been somewhat of an outlier. The island feels a stronger connection to nature and has been often labeled as backward in terms of the modern world, sometimes even in comparison to the other states. In spite of that, Corona has long held key positions in Congress with current Minority Leader, Kanea Arorah previously holding position as Majority Leader and even Party Head, prior to the re-branding of the National Liberal Party. Senator Arorah (who adopted her wife's name as her surname) is also campaigning to once again take back her position. "The NLP has grown since our first two major elections. We slipped from majority but we're ready to regain it and show what makes our nation truly special."

Also from Corona is Veteran Militiaman, Pacifica a veteran of the Unification War and mother of one. Pacifica has also received her first foreign endorsement from a foreign party. "As a veteran and single mother, I'm hoping to really make this country ship shape and one we can all be proud of."

Another surprise entry is, current Hoshino Island Vicerine Ya-Xi Li. As there is no prohibition for anyone holding two offices she would not be required to surrender her position, just as her husband serves as Deputy Defense Officer and Viceroy. "I love AHSCA with my heart and soul, it welcomed me when I had no home to go to." Li commented. "Serving in office is one more position for me to show that love and devotion I have to my country." Vicerine Li is also expected to be in attendance at a gala hosted by Great New England Confederation with her husband and will be working to drum up support there.

Speaking further of newcomers, AHSCA's Communism Party is looking to gain some seats in Congress by sending forth their new candidate, Ship Captain, Aina Indou. Indou who has been on the seas says she didn't have much interest in politics until last year's sinking of passenger ship, H.M.S.S. Azure* and this year with the July Hurricane that caused mass flooding on her home of Animalpolis. "As a captain myself, the sinking of the Azure shouldn't have hit as hard as it did but the loss of life really made me think just how much we need to make sure all ships in AHSCA meet our standards to handle the seas. Nothing is foolproof and there will still always be ships that will be lost but what happened with the Azure could have been avoided. As for the July hurricane, Animalpolis had just endured a storm like that just a couple months early and then the latest one sapped our resources. We need a national fund that we always pay into to help all states recover rather than expect states to maintain their storm funds." AHSCA sees around nineteen typhoons entering the UIS area of responsibility in a typical year and eight or nine of those making landfall.

The strongest voice of the opposition comes from immigrant, Himiko Himemiya, who is running on a strong pro-education platform. Education has long been a contentious issue in the islands, leaving much of it up to the individual states to decided the best methods of educating their students. Corona in particular has opposed any form of compulsive education standards to be enforced, effectively killing many chances in Congress for refrom. Senator Olaf always pledged to approach the education debate with non-partisanship and Duchess Villa has left it to Congress to decide effectively leading to an impasse. Ms. Himemiya has said she will take it all the way if she can keep the majority UIP. "I understand why Senator Olaf wanted this to be a non-partisan deal" Himemiya commented, "But the fact of it is, the NLP and NFLP** has been very clear in their anti-education policies. Even Senator Arorah continues to campaign on keeping education non-compulsory and that is just a mistake for our nation's children. If they won't do it, I will."

Voting has begun across the islands and will proceed through the month of October and first few weeks of November until all votes are collected and tallied.

_{*HMSS Azure was a passenger sailing ship that sunk in a major storm taking it's entire crew and passengers with it. The ship was operated as a private for-profit travel service and the crew and its builder were considered at fault for the incident.
**National Fem and Lesbian Party, a split off from National Liberal Party after the NLP re branded itself from being The National Lesbian Party, initially a fellowship for homosexual and bisexual women before becoming a political party.}

[The Scandinvans]

Imperial News Network Update

The Glorious Empire of the Scandinvans, the most blessed realm in the whole of existence for its the land which has been appointed to be the dominion that shall sire the honored dres'Erid, has deigned it proper to bequest the United Vallerian Republic with a total sum of 10,000 tons of processed steel ingots in order to curry favor with these dres'nalar in the hopes of encouraging them to open their eyes to the truth of the Almighty. Through such acts of goodwill does the mission of the faithful become easier. Christus invictus. May the light of our faith one day illuminate the United Vallerian Republic and bring them into an age of eternal graciousness and prosperity.

[The Macabees]

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Navitek Begins Construction
on New Datosk Port Facilities in Krasnova



The company, which also overseas the construction of the Jumanota Canal,
has been contracted by the Fourth Reich to rebuild Datosk's port facilities,
which had been destroyed in a nuclear attack during the Second Krasnovan War.

Fedorograd, Pezlevko-Rubino —

Three years ago, Navitek shook the world with its seizure of Holy Panooly's Jumanota isthmus, investing well over Ŗ250 billion (~$475 billion) on a canal that would allow commercial shipping out of Theohuanacu's ports easier access to eastern Greater Díenstadi markets. The company expects the project to be completed within the next two years, well ahead of schedule.

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Now Navitek is making a splash again after being awarded a contract to rebuild Datosk Port, in Krasnova. Valued at approximately Ŗ11.3 billion, the new facilities will include both state-of-the-art military and commercial installations that will go well beyond what existed to it prior. It is expected that Datosk will be the Reich's main port of entry in the western half of the country, acting as a commercial rival to the expanding port of Federograd on the island's southern coast. The deal is expected to involve a long-term payout related to the renting of wharf-space and facility-use to merchant ships calling port and certain logistical elements of the Kriegsmarine.

The company, based in Targul Frumos, will reportedly front the money of the port's construction itself. It will recoup its investment in the military harbor installation via limited contracts with the Kriegsmarine, taking in military supply vessels carrying low-security cargo. Navitek is expected to retain ownership of the commercial port under Krasnovan law.

A statement was released by the company earlier this week, confirming that construction has begun. While press access in the country is restricted, as Ordenite troops undertake military operations in western UESS, recent updates to Obitus Earth — the search company's colossal project to build an interactive global map using highly detailed satellite imagery — show bulldozers and other heavy equipment at the site, presumably to clear rubble left behind by the savage nuclear strike that destroyed much of the city just over a year ago. Decontamination of the soil had been originally undertaken by the Kendrov-regime, a lackluster program up until the arrival of the Ordenites earlier this year. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of soil have been imported from the Ordenite mainland already according to declassified reports published by the Agén Rognuklek, the Imperial agency in charge of the ongoing decontaminations of central Theohuanacu and the surface of New Empire.

It is certainly a risky undertaking, but Navitek is brimming with cash since its acquisition of Jumanota. The isthmus and its people, who pay taxes in return for security and judicial arbitration, have unexpectedly turned out to be a better investment than the canal even. New cities creep alongside the under-construction waterway with vibrant local markets and the region's once rampant unemployment has all but disappeared thanks to the work that the canal has brought.

Datosk may be a luxury, a branching investment aiming to capture trade between the Reich's mainland and its Krasnovan vassal, and soon to be territory perhaps.

The company may also be seeking to siphon from the burgeoning mercantile traffic flowing into Federograd, which has been enjoying a post-war boom in large part caused by the destruction of Datosk and Stavropol. Although the two Krasnovan wars and the recent conflicts in the area have certainly played their roles in collapsing the country's trade, stability in the Satrapy and an expansion of the naval base made possible the new commercial port's flourishing as goods pour into the country. While Datosk will most likely remain subject to the Reich's restrictive trade policies, commercial traffic is bound to overflow into the eastern Krasnovan city and the opportunity is evident.

Commercially, the investment promises to help fuel a rebirth of a dormant city left mostly depopulated after the strike. Navitek's commercial naval facilities will provide thousands of jobs, something which the country is in dire need of. And the city's new inhabitants will need food, clothing, and other necessities which will help employ shopkeepers and other vendors. Krasnova's government, under pressure from the Fourth Reich, has already allotted funds toward the reconstruction of Datosk around the future port area. Kendrov's regime has planned for wide apartment blocks designed to house dozens of families, promising them access to water, plumbing, and electricity. It all forms part of a much broader program to revitalize the country's shattered economy following the war, most likely urged on and funded by Ordenite backers. It is a dream that is still far away, but one that promises to make the new port a hub within a new expanding urban network.

Included in the contract are the Kriegsmarine new military port installations that will be built within the old harbor. Navitek will most likely be responsible for the majority of the infrastructure, handing the project over to Ordenite state defense companies responsible for setting up sensitive equipment like radars and other electronic hardware.

What ships the military harbor will base, or the nature of the base, are unknown. If it is to meant to base an Ordenite war fleet, this would be the first time the Kriegsmarine has permanently stationed warships in Krasnova since the end of the Second Krasnovan War, a major development that brings with it the uncertainty of how the community-at-large will respond.

What is clear is that with this latest investment, Navitek is more vocally stating its intent to become a major international player as a business entity and, perhaps, otherwise. Their growing global network of contracts, all suggest an ambitious plan to rival Greater Díenstad's greatest corporate elites, such as DíenBank and Mokastana's Montana Incorporated. Certainly, their annexation of Jumanota and their state-like administration of the territory speaks of grand plans that, when coupled with their willingness to work with quasi-pariah states like the Fourth Reich, have begun to raise eyebrows.

One wonders if the company will force the Golden Throne's Imperial Bureaucracy to reconsider its trade and regulatory policies, now as it becomes clearer how companies like Navitek can work against foreign policy as much as with it.

[Imbrinium]

Imbrinium Broadcasting Network Special News Report:

After the Ordenite Reich launched an ICBM toward a Crown allied nation the MOD has ordered the movement of a new mobile IADs (Integrated Air Defense System) to Eastern Mordent along with increased surveillance and intelligence gathering operations. The MOD has also ordered the RIN to move a Longsword fleet to Eastern Mordent to act as an ABMs till the new mobile system is fully operational. There have been also reporting that an increase of submarine and naval patrols between the three allied nations to ward off aggression from the Ordenite Reich or the new and numerous of other threats to the Central Block powers.

[Imbrinium]

Breaking News: From The Imbrinium Broadcasting Network

Two national police anti-terror police killed and two others wound along with four other officers wounded from local police while raiding a meeting of the ANTIMON (Anti-Monarchy group) which was classified as terror group just a few weeks ago and after months of riots across the kingdom. Their numbers have grown, their goal is to do away with the monarchy by any means. The raid happened late evening with at least ten ANTIMON personnel being killed and forty others arrested. Soon after riots broke out in response in ten major cities including the Capital with the untold destruction of local businesses and police equipment, as more news comes in we will break in and report it.

[Patrick OConner]

Statesboro Herald

Election Time

Election time is upon us once agian. And it grows ever closer. This time a third of the Senate is up for relection and all parties but one look to improve there postions. Key seats such as Senator Obrien of Alabama EconMen Party and Senator Jones of Georgia Independent Party are up. With eight other states up for grabs now the delicate balance of power in the Senate could be shattered with the War Hawks and Warriors and the Independent losing seats. While opposing them, the EconMen and Peacekeepers that currently make up many of the candidates running againist the previously mentioned parties stand to gain precious ground. Only time will tell.

[Yohannes]

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Five Issues of Nation State — A Brief Overview: Subject to the Members of Assembly

Issues of Nation State 2017 — A Brief Overview -- An excerpt from the two hundred and thirtieth parliamentary hansard: Friday, 20 October 2017 — Volume 951; Yearly Nation State Issues — Subject to the Ministers of the Executive Council, Emperor, and Realm.



Five Issues of Nation State — October 2017

Published under the authority of the [ Electoral College and Parliament — 2017 ]

A few times a year, Five Issues of Nation State — A Brief Overview is released as a report to summarise some of the key issues facing the nineteen countries in that year, i.e., for this year, 2017. How parliament respond determines almost everything about how the nation state evolves. There is very much micro-management. Parliament, in equal standing with the [ Three Executive ], controls the destiny of the nineteen countries by cooperating with the [ Executive Council ] of the day on making broad policy decisions, and also tweaking numbers. Some relevant data from our main trading partners — e.g., [ Knootoss ], [ Lamoni ], and [ Mokastana ], amongst others — and either one of the two largest economies in the international community of regions and nation states — i.e., [ Maxtopia ] or [ Bigtopia ] — can also be used as economic datum.



Trade in goods	[+]	5.7%	Annual bilateral trade growth
Not owning home	[+]	0.33%	Yearly movement of people not owning a home
Workers killed	[-]	160	Yearly workplace fatalities change
Research and development	[-]	$28.7b	Annual R&D spending growth
Gross debt issue	[-]	$150.7b	Yearly fundamental imperial government borrowing movement



Bilateral trade in goods

Background

According to Encyclopedia Maxtopia, bilateral trade in goods indicates the level of transfer of goods — excluding investments, services, and transfers of assets, money, and property — from a nation state to other nation states of the international community of regions, i.e., merchandise trade. In the nineteen countries, bilateral trade in goods is one of the principal drivers of wealth for the economy. Annual changes in the trading of goods denotes changes in total exports combined with total imports, reported without taking into account adjustment for price changes, i.e., inflation or deflation.

The following issues confront the Nineteen Countries

As the Quertz russling continues to appreciate against the NationStates Dollar [or Universal Standard Dollar], climbing above 0.0121 NationStates Dollar in the September fiscal quarter, bilateral trade in goods is forecast to grow by 5.7% to reach 23.081 trillion NSD in the year ending June 2018. The ratio of index of the nineteen countries’ export prices to the index of its import prices reached its highest recorded level of growth — in five years — in September. It has since then declined and is forecast to continue to decline until late March or April 2018. The top three destinations of Yohannesian goods — and sources of imports to the nineteen countries — which accounted for 48% of total exports in the year ending October 2017 are [ Greater Dienstad ], [ The East Pacific ], and [ Western Atlantic ], with the rest of merchandise trade volume reaching other trading partners of the nineteen countries. Average value added manufacturing continues to decline since the last quarter of 2014 by 0.255%.

The [ Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Trade ]’s focus on reducing fundamental imperial government debt to 30% of GDP by 2025 also comes with a primary goal to increase ratio of high-technology exports vis-à-vis manufactured exports by at least 3% over the next three years and a secondary, more ambitious goal of increasing non-hydroelectric renewable electricity production by at least 120% over the next five years. As of the 2017 third fiscal quarter, trade in goods contribution for current account balance was 32.5% of [ yearly total ] (post-adjustment), accounting for 1.6% of GDP at 254 billion NSD.

Table 2 shows the top five traded goods (by value) of total bilateral trade in goods.



Goods	Export value (billion NS$)	Of total M. trade	Goods	Import value (billion NS$)	Of total M. trade
Electronic components	721.28	3.125%	Petroleum products & crude oil	1,135.58	4.92%
Parts for vehicles (civilian & military)	720.12	3.12%	Medicaments packaged	701.66	3.04%
Parts for vessels (civilian & military)	708.58	3.07%	Motor cars (civilian)	493.01	2.136%
Merchant & military vessels	643.96	2.79%	Parts for aircraft (civilian & military)	487.01	2.11%
Optics & photonics components (civilian & military)	583.95	2.53%	Automatic data processing equipment	477.78	2.07%


Source: Office of Economic Analysis and Forecast.

There has been substantial growth of bilateral trade in goods from nation states and regions of the new world, i.e., fast-growing parts of the international community that the Executive Council have started to focus on since 2014 to cultivate new friendships and trade opportunities, e.g., [ Caracasus ], [ Novo Wagondia ], [ URA ], and [ Vangaziland ], amongst others. As part of the Executive Council’s foreign trade diversification programme since 2014, the value of merchandise exports to, and merchandised imports from many nation states of the fast-growing new world regions have continued to replace nation states from the declining old established world regions.

Current account surplus from bilateral trade in goods is forecast to decline until the 2018 March fiscal quarter. The contribution of non-manufacturing goods is also forecast to decline until 2019, due to over-reliance in a few volatile commodities (i.e., avocado, butter, cheese, milk powder, and orange), heavily subject to changes in overseas market prices and international incidents affecting market condition (the [ Qaidi religious incidents ] et al.). Imports have been higher than originally forecast in March 2016 due to continuing appreciation of the Quertz russling vis-à-vis the NationStates Dollar [or Universal Standard Dollar].


Home ownership

Background

According to Encyclopedia Maxtopia, home ownership (otherwise known as owner-occupancy) is a form of housing tenure where a person, called the owner-occupier, owner-occupant, or home owner, owns the home in which she or he lives. This home can be a house, apartment, condominium, or a housing cooperative. For the purpose of this issue, the definition of ‘home ownership’ largely relates to ‘mum and dad’ or family home owners, and not those of property developers or real estate investors; together with the tendency of most Yohannesians to equate ‘home ownership’ with owning a house (with a backyard or garden), not apartment or condominium.

The following issues confront the Nineteen Countries



Year	Ownership (per cent)
2010	70.1
2011	69.7
2012	69.5
2013	69.2
2014	69
2015	68.3
2016	67.9
2017	66.4


Source: World Microcredit Foundation.
The number of people who own their own homes have shrunk to an all time low at 66% of the population — a decline of more than 10% since the highest level of home ownership registered in 1980, with construction of new houses declining from one new house built for every one hundred and fifty people in 1980 to one new house built for every two hundred and thirty people today. Ownership rate is forecast to shrink by 0.33% in total from January 2017 to January 2018. In the super electorate of the Greater Halsten metropolitan area, over 25% of ratepayers polled believed that the Regency of Lindblum is experiencing a severe overcrowding in both housing and infrastructure, i.e., hospitals, schools, and public transportation. Over 50% of ratepayers polled in South East Burmecia believed that in the Kingdom of Burmecia unaffordable housing is caused by ‘too strict’ resource and management consenting regime (i.e., supply), too much immigration (i.e., demand), and lack of proper regulation on dirty (or not) money coming from overseas (i.e., foreign property investors influence).

Economic and Demographics Statistics Yohannes figures showed that a university-educated middle class and experienced professional in Royal Alexandria (capital city of the Kingdom of Alexandria) will need to save for fifteen years to afford the cheapest house (1.1 million NSD) in the cheapest suburb (Lindström) of the city. The average household spending on housing related matters has increased from 20% at the turn of this century to 28% in 2017, with over one third of rental properties having no proper insulation and failing to meet the latest Health and Safety regime (e.g., smoke alarms). In the year ending August 2017, empire-wide median house price was 483,000 NSD. This was an increase of 4,700 NSD from previous month and a change in price of 34,500 NSD since the previous year.

Economic Palace forecast that by the start of the 2018 second quarter total housing and commercial property stock is going to reach 20.9 trillion NSD, or 1.3 times greater than real GDP and 3.5 times greater than the market value of the Burmecia Stock Exchange, the third largest stock market in the nineteen countries. In November 2016, Economic Palace and the four major banking institutions of the nineteen countries have implemented a new public-private partnership regime and in-built mechanism to ensure financial stability, tilting the playing field towards a more conservative banking and financial capital requirements to reduce property speculation by domestic and foreign-based investors. A new ratio of loan to value of assets purchased was released to evaluate and to restrict demand from borrowing for subsequent commercial and residential properties — thus limiting excessive buying for investment purpose and not for occupation or family business purpose.

The Nation State Housing Amendment Act 2014 resulted in the release of the Central Provident Fund Housing Grant package in August 2017. CPFHG is a supplementary payment worth up to 7,100 NSD to assist struggling but hard-working families in their quests to relocate from overpriced metropolises and urban areas all around the continent to less populated, promising heartland provinces. A CPFHG household can also apply for an accommodation supplement assistance of up to 152 NSD per week. So far, primary nation state housing related schemes for Budget Reform 2017 is forecast to cost at least 21.5 billion NSD in operating funding over the next ten years, with a capital of 3.64 billion NSD.

Ratified trade agreements since the decision of the Christian Democratic Executive to remove the nineteen countries completely from [ international incidents ] and foreign military struggles and power politics in 2014 — e.g., Allanea Agreement and Equal Trade and Connecting of Economies 2017 and Connecting of Economies Arthropol Agreement 2017 — have been used to provide funding for long-term investment in various Central Provident Fund ‘FutureSaver’ schemes to help first time home buyers in the continent of Yohannes. Budget Reform 2017 saw the release of the First Homebuyer and Small and Medium Business Fund schemes, which was implemented to see the construction of 6.8 million new houses by 2025. In September 2017, Chancellor Annabelle Thorndon-Stevensonn confirmed that the Executive Council would increase ‘FutureSaver’ one-time opening government contribution to 1,350 NSD.

Table 4 shows the number of new dwellings consented per year.



New dwellings consented (year)	1990	1992	1994	1996	1998	2000	2002	2004	2006	2008	2010	2012	2014	2016
Number (thousand)	1,840	1,360	1,480	1,680	1,760	1,520	1,800	2,480	2,000	1,450	1,500	1,120	1,730	2,190
Non-commercial consents value (billion NS$)	268.64	201.28	223.48	250.32	265.76	250.30	328	472.59	372.00	260.75	288.00	218.40	344.27	466.47


Source: Economic and Demographics Statistics Yohannes.


Occupational health and safety

Background

In the nineteen countries, health and safety in places where people work follows a system of standards set by Standards Yohannes, specifically YO S1509:2014 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems — Specification with guidance for use). Parliament is in the process of seeing the tabling of a new piece of legislation to amend the outdated Health and Safety Amendment Act 1971, with focus placed on not just occupational health and safety management systems but also the environment. Under the proposed draft of the amendment legislation, a new agency will be created to support Industrial Health and Safety Administration in its task to assess and evaluate accidents and near misses concerning industrial infrastructure and structures, e.g., chemical leaks, explosions, fires, or other contingencies affecting the safety of industrial facilities.

The following issues confront the Nineteen Countries



Top five injury claims at work (/1,000 whole time equivalent)	2016	2017
Field logistics (forestry and construction)	335	338
Engineering and manufacturing	160	158
Agriculture and fishing	137	139
Sports and recreational activities	135	147
Electricity, gas, water, and waste treatment	130	128


Source: Industrial Health and Safety Administration.
Since the turn of this century until 2005, the occurrence of death by accidents in the workplace has slightly increased by an average of 30 fatal workplace accidents per year, resulting in the adoption and implementation of the Standards for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems of January 2014. Over the last three years the number of serious work injuries has decreased, from 6,031 by the end of 2014 to 4,080 in 2016 (with deaths from fatalities reduced by 160). In the year ending October 2017, the industries contributing the most to the number of fatal workplace accidents (taking into account their smaller size in comparison to other industries in the nineteen countries) are field logistics (i.e., forestry trucks and construction tractors), oil and gas (road related accidents and supporting activities for oil and gas extraction), and agriculture and fishing (i.e., lack of oversight, poor maintenance of personal safety devices, and lack of regular checks on vessels).

In comparison to foreign nation states, the nineteen countries has high work-related injury and fatality rate. There are many reasons behind this negative data, such as the over-reliance of current legislation on corporate and workplace governance self-regulation and the under-resourcing of relevant enforcement agencies since the [ 2012 Gholgoth crisis ] (e.g. Structural Standards Yohannes and Industrial Health and Safety Administration). This lack of focus and funding over the years has resulted in the tendency of higher up Health and Safety organisations to focus only on ‘important’ industries (for the nineteen countries), in the process neglecting other high-risk areas of the economy in terms of resource allocation for health and safety policing (agriculture, fishing, mining).

Members of the Labour and Workforce Committee are currently accepting submissions from important bodies and distinguished private citizens in relevant citizen sector industries. The incoming amendment to the Health and Safety Amendment Act 1971 comes with a goal of reducing workplace accidents and fatalities in the nineteen countries by at least 33% over the next eight years. The amendment Bill will replace existing focus with that of risks control; that is, all risks identified through the assessment process as requiring control will be controlled through a preferred order of control methods, i.e., hierarchy, based on reasonable practicability. Elimination will still be the first control method to be considered.

More responsibility will also be given to top management of body corporates and organisations in the nineteen countries, with blame to be allocated towards top management instead of simply middle managers (as in the previous Amendment Act). Top management will be required to regularly review existing Working Health and Safety Systems (WHSS) to ensure continuing adequacy, effectiveness, and suitability of their respective body corporates and organisations’ health and safety regimes. This shifting of responsibility towards top management will ensure that necessary information is collected and documented to continually improve on their health and safety regimes every year, with focus placed on “performance assessment and yearly Health and Safety Company of the Year Award” as incentives to eliminate risks as far as is practicably possible.



Workplace injury claims (for every 85,000 registered WTE)	2010	2012	2014	2016
16 to 25	11,920	11,760	11,901	11,280
26 to 35	8,800	8,880	8,640	8,620
36 to 45	8,160	8,010	7,790	7600
46 to 55	8,330	8,320	8,320	8,290
56 to 65	8,450	8,560	8,520	8,500
66 and older	10,480	10,330	10,070	10,030


Source: Economic and Demographics Statistics Yohannes.


Science and technological development

Background

Science and technological development in the nineteen countries of the Yohannesian continent are distinguished by a range of disciplines, good infrastructure, well-funded facilities, and efficient and capable workforce. The nineteen countries offers various forms of research locations: Universities, technical institutes, body corporates, and institutions run by or partially funded by governments at the national level and the Executive Council itself at the imperial level. There are around 4,500 partially state owned enterprises and institutions of science, research, and development in the continent of Yohannes. There are also a large number of research and development operations run by body corporates of the citizen sector.

The following issues confront the Nineteen Countries



Business R&D spending by 12-month moving average of monthly employee figure	Million NS$
0 to 9	32,508
10 to 49	52,013
50 to 249	57,106
250 to 449	94,973
500 and over	174,950


Source: World Microcredit Foundation.
A report of the [ World Assembly Scientific Programme ] (WASP) which criticised the nineteen countries analysed that overall productivity of the whole nation state is being held back by excessive over-investment in capital intensive knowledge-based sectors of the economy, to the detriment of non-knowledge-based sectors of the economy. Serious under-investment in non-knowledge-based industries — e.g., dairy farming and mining — have contributed to an overall decline in performance and productivity in these sectors, some by as high as 20% in comparison to overseas nation states of comparable stature with the nineteen countries. The necessity of balancing the economy has produced new challenges for key body corporates, legislators and politicians at the imperial level, and bureaucrats of the nation state.

Constrained by limited means and financial resources since the 2012 Gholgoth Crisis, and beset by continuing bias towards, and over-investment in, capital intensive knowledge-based industries of the economy, a “two economy” reality has become stronger by the year, as science and technological development, design and product innovation focus (i.e., awards and grants), and organisational expertise and human capital are heavily concentrated towards certain sectors of the economy, e.g., chemical, electrical engineering, machine tools, and photonics and optics; with other ‘abandoned’ sectors of the economy continuing their slow decline every year, e.g., non-merchant small and medium shipbuilding, iron and steel, and textiles and apparel.

The latest Chambers of Industry and Commerce Yohannes R&D Survey in June 2017 saw total research and development spending down 4.5% since 2016 to 606.5 billion NSD (3.81% of GDP), with Executive Council spending down by 31.9 billion NSD offset by an upswing of 3.2 billion NSD on science and technological development spending by the citizen sector. The biggest beneficiaries of total science and technological development spending in the year ending October 2017 were nanotechnologies and materials technologies (14%), marine engineering technology and climate and environmental sustainable technologies (13.7%), energy technologies (8.6%), and micro, small, and medium sized business innovation (7%).

Increased funding and grants allocation (up by 1.7%) for such bodies as the [ Agriculture Network Information Alliance ] and the Agricultural Research, Education and Economics Company reflect the recent shift of focus by governments at national level and the Executive Council at the imperial level to increase the competitiveness of the nineteen countries’ dairy farming and horticulture industries, with a goal of reducing the over-reliance of the nineteen countries on imports of many commodities (i.e., avocado, butter, cheese, milk powder, and orange) which are easily affected by changes in overseas market prices and international incidents affecting market condition ([ New Edomite LGBT crisis ] et al.).


Fundamental imperial government debt

Background

According to Encyclopedia Maxtopia, fundamental imperial government debt is the total debt owed by [ Executive Council organisations ], legislative branch agencies, and [ Economic Palace ], excluding [ nation state body corporate and enterprises ] and quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations. For the purpose of this issue, the definition of ‘fundamental imperial government debt’ largely relates to net debt, which includes only public debt (minus cash flows and financial assets) and which is seen as the more important indicator of how changes in public debt can affect interest rates and investment environment in the nineteen countries.

The following issues confront the Nineteen Countries

During the Budget Appropriation Declaration of the Executive Council of the Nineteen Countries (February 2017), the Office of the Minister of the Treasury and Wealth Fund announced its reliance on two borrowing indicators: One, gross sovereign-issued debt, otherwise known as Gross Debt Issue, which excludes Economic Palace Settlement Cash Financing (SCF) — as SCF are funded by banks and institutions of the citizen sector — and Bank Accepted Bills (BAB or bills of exchange, i.e., any unconditional order in writing between relevant parties to be paid on demand or at a fixed or determinable future time, a sum equal to the order of the bearer); and two, net fundamental imperial government debt, which for the purpose of realistic assessment of real ‘government indebtedness’ excludes all financial assets and advances of, and sovereign wealth funds affiliated with the [ Bank of Yohannes ] or its partner institutions.

The table below shows the level of fundamental imperial government borrowing at 1 December 2015 and 1 December 2020 as forecast by the Office of Economic Analysis and Forecast.



Fundamental imperial government borrowing	December 2015 (billion NS$)	% of GDP	December 2020 (billion NS$)	% of GDP
Gross borrowing issue	7,372.99	49.27	6,063.05	34.96
Net fundamental issue (excluding Bank of Yohannes state-owned funds)	5,336.20	30.77	4,908.99	28.31


Source: Office of Economic Analysis and Forecast.

Not taking domestic and international assets of Bank of Yohannes state-owned funds into account, net fundamental imperial government borrowing is forecast to briefly rise in the last fiscal quarter of 2018 due to various Budget Reform 2017 contributions and obligations (e.g., [ Housing Infrastructure Fund ] and Central Provident Fund [ ‘Futuresaver’ ]) before gradually falling below 30% of GDP by the 2020 first quarter. This takes into account the Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Trade’s focus on reducing fundamental imperial government debt to 30% of GDP by 2025. After that target has been reached, beyond 2025, the Executive Council is looking to increase spending and thus net borrowing to support under-performing sectors of the economy (e.g., dairy farming and telecommunication services).

The 2017-2018 fiscal year’s Executive Council Bond Offering is estimated to provide 2.72 trillion NSD over the forecast years, with 3.31 trillion NSD of debt already recorded to be paid back, providing an estimated net repayment rate of 590 billion NSD. There is not much variation in the issuance rate to reduce liability from volatility and to balance profile of supply over the forecast years. Beyond 2025, with increased spending in mind, the Executive Council will raise the amount of bonds issued but will ensure that it is kept below 30% of GDP over the years.



Year to the fourth quarter (billion NS$)	2017	2018	2019	2020
Face value of fundamental market issuance	680	650	660	780
Market issuance cash earnings	680	640	640	750
Market issuance to be repaid	430	1,060	810	1,010


Source: Office of Economic Analysis and Forecast.

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[Morrdh]

Alert State Lowered

MORRDH.- After the hotel blast at the Social Democrats party conference that claimed the life of Prime Minister Edmund Vermillion as well as others of the Morridane Cabinet, the Commonwealth's alert state has been lowered to BLACK.

An MOD spokesperson explained; "A BLACK alert state means a reduced possibility of an attack, meaning the readiness state of the military can be reduced and some units stood down. Rather than having a brigade from each division on a twenty-four hour warning to be deploy, it has now been reduced to a single battalion from each division. Similarly, the number of RMAF Fighter Command squadrons on Quick Reaction Alert has also been reduced with auxiliary squadrons being demobilised. The armed forces are on a state of alert and readiness that is deemed suitable to what is the assessed threat level to the Commonwealth. The BLACK SPECIAL alert state is really to prepare both the military and civil authorities for a possible increase to the AMBER alert state, where a specific threat has been identified and the Commonwealth then transitions to war. RED alert state would mean that a specific attack has been identified and puts the Commonwealth on a war footing."

"RED and AMBER are the highest levels of alert, though they are only meant to be maintained for a limited amount of time. The lowest of alert, WHITE, basically means 'situation stable' but has never been used in the history of the system. BLACK has always been the default setting."