The Astyrian Network

by **Trellin** » Sat Oct 07, 2017 10:15 pm

Empire launches second ocean research satellite
New geostationary satellite to monitor ocean temperatures

Last updated: 5:15 AM TCT | 08/10/2017

A multinational project headed by Cadenzan scientists has launched its second research satellite, MOST-2, from Ruh Barb Space Centre into a geostationary transfer orbit. It joins MOST-1, which entered orbit over the Sea of Jajich in May 2016, and over the next three days will assume a position over the eastern Mare Ferum at the equator.

The MOST project, which stands for Marine Observation Satellite, monitors ocean salinity and Sea Surface Temperature (SST), regarded by its members as key indicators for climate change. Project leaders hope to put a third satellite into orbit in mid-2018, to monitor the ocean between Bungussi and Jenrak, as part of a growing network of climate change-oriented monitoring systems.

"Climate change is an urgent threat to coastal communities across Astyria, not just in Trellin," says Azmiri coastal engineer Khal Toreq, "but it's hard to formulate an effective response if you can't measure that threat. Projects like MOST are essential for preparing and preventing catastrophe."

Scientists from across the empire contributed to the numerous systems on-board, led by members of the Berúna Institute of Engineering, Cadenzan Meteorological Institute and National Maritime Institute at Canve. Aside from one or two components, the satellite was manufactured in Medlar, testimony to Kur'zhet's growing 'space industry' as the larger of Trellin's two island protectorates attempts to steer its economy out of the dirtier industries that have been its mainstay.

The launching contract was won by Kur'zheti firm Launchbox, who beat out competitors from Arimathea, Namija and further afield to give Ruh Barb Space Centre only its third launch of the year. The multi-billion fioren facility has seen only occasional use, but its administrators believe the future is bright for the Kur'zheti space industry, with several launches already lined up for next year. The space centre has been courting potential clients from across Astyria and hopes to reap rich rewards in coming years.

Government commentators have claimed the satellite as a victory for the environmentalist campaign of Queen Azara, but scientists have noted that this project has been in development since 2013. "'It fits in splendidly with the government agenda,' that's what everyone's saying. But we received tenders from our launch partners in January 2015, long before Mahrim had even abdicated," says Doctor Marzha ti'Fineq of the Cadenzan Meteorological Institute, dismissive of suggestions that the project is motivated by imperial policy changes. "Really, it's about time government caught up with the scientific realities."

Teredi Vondan
Ruh Barb

by **British Hifax** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:37 pm

''Tourism in Hifax will increse this summer''
Sara Vinz, Minister of Tourism talked in a press conference about the impact of the embargo in the tourism industry of the city-state.

Entrance to the Akoya International Airport | Photo: AFP Hifax

PRINCETOWN - 20:24 | Despite the embargo imposed by the Blackhelm Confederacy in Hifax, tourism in the Principality won't be affected. The Minister of Tourism of the city-state said during a press conference that the country isn't in risk of a ''massive loss'' of tourists after the embargo, however -she said- the confederate tourism was an important pillar in the hifaxian most popular economic activity.

Lucas Goch, CEO of Royal Air, the flag carrier airline of the Principality that were also present in the press conference told us that the although the airline suspended their destinations to the Confederacy that won't be a huge problem, ''Our network Office is already working on that, we had planned 3 new destinations to substitute those in the Blackhelm Confederacy...''. The second main topic in the press conference was the Akoya International Airport that transport usually 58% of the tourists that enter to the Principality of British Hifax, ''.. the growing number of passenger and cargo operations are a testament to our resilience and sustainable airport operations...'' said Sara Vinz after a periodist asked her about the situation at AKY. Last year the Akoya Airport had a movement of 20,255,142 passengers with and without Princetown as their final destination.

LONGER TRIPS
According to Lucas Goch the only ''bad consequence'' of the embargo was longer trips for passengers flying with Royal Air to Blackhelm Confederacy, the airline via codeshares agreements is trying to reach the final destinations of several of confederates and hifaxian passengers that usually have to fly between both countries.

Emma Brum a 45-year-old mother of two kids told us her adventure coming travelling to Telora: ''My husband lives in Telora as an engineer so I fly there every two months with our two kids, unfortunatelly we had to fly first to Eden and from there to Paradise City to finally reach our destination...'' - after the embargo Royal Air had a direct route between Pricnetown and Telora with approximated 13 hours of flight - ''... in part it was good, Sasha and Lina had the chance to visit a new city and the procedures done by Royal Air to reach our destination were incredibly satisfactory'' concluded Emma after telling us a history that is being more common for usual travelers in AKY.

As the CEO of the airline said, Royal Air and the goverment of British Hifax did agreements so passengers flying from Princetown to airports in the Blackhelm Confederacy don't have to face more customs procedures, this was the case of several confederates living in Pricnetown and hifaxians living in Paradise City who had to came back to their respective country after the execution of the confederate measure.

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by **Trellin** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:24 pm

Kamënus to meet with Prince of Hifax
» Cadenza warms to Hifax; Hifax cools to EATA

By Avureg int'Khelari, 10/10/'17

Two months ago, Royal Air applied for rights to serve international routes to Lema Airport. They were declined. Why? Because the plane they wanted to use for the route was too big for Lema's runway. The airport administration expressed their chagrin at the lack of funding despite five years of lobbying. Routes like Princetown-Lema, they said, could only bring benefits to the Cadenzan economy.

At the end of last month, Hifaxian citizens went to the polls to decide whether their city-state should remain a member of the EATA. Prince Pierre Giusti, who vowed to hold the referendum soon after succeeding his late father, Ismael I, has been a vocal critic of Hifaxian membership since inheriting the small principality's throne. Many in British Hifax believe the EATA - led by the Blackhelm Confederacy, Caprica and Scottopia - does not represent their outlook on Astyrian politics, and they took the opportunity to show their disapproval by voting overwhelmingly to leave the alliance.

Needless to say, the EATA was shocked by this decision. The Confederate government promptly urged its citizens and businesses to leave the city-state as quickly as possible, going nought-to-sixty in record time as the EATA abandons its outgoing ally. Last minute negotiations are expected to take place behind closed doors between the Confederate chancellor and Hifaxian prince, during which Eaglebrand will either beg the young prince to somehow annul the referendum's results or dictate the terms of Hifax's withdrawal.

Although its government has not yet acted on the vote, and its prince has not yet resigned despite his promise, Hifax is feeling itself isolated and economically for the first time in decades.

This afternoon, the Cadenzan finance ministry announced that funds had been made available for the redevelopment of Lema Airport. The runway will be lengthened by nearly 800 metres, making it long enough to receive Royal Air's preferred aircraft. The development has been pushed to the top of the transport ministry's priority list and is slated for completion in early 2018 - a miracle among government projects anywhere.

Royal Air is Hifax's flag carrier and a very visible symbol of the principality, but even so it is not likely to be a high-traffic route. The decision is clearly political rather than economic. Indeed, Duke Adrahil Kamënus announced today that he will be meeting with Prince Pierre early next week to discuss the place of small states in Astyrian diplomacy.

The two states have much in common, after all. Just as Cadenza has its dependencies, Laeryt and Torim Viqalka, Hifax has the island of Saint Barthélemy. Like Cadenza, Hifax has been the banker for its alliance, although it seems certain to lose this role in the EATA reshuffle. Both have made their names as financial centres and tourism destinations. Cadenza frequently takes an opposite stance to its TARP allies, attempting to ease tensions and prevent rash decisions. At a time when Hifax seems rife with emotional responses, Cadenzan involvement should come as no surprise. The two countries share a pro-neutrality outlook which is likely to see Kamënus persuade his counterpart to join TARP, or at least to secure economic ties that will keep Hifax afloat to the benefit of the Duchy.

As Royal Air's slogan goes, "Hello Tomorrow." The future begins with airplanes.

by **Nikolia** » Wed Oct 11, 2017 7:30 am

Среда/Środa, 11 октобар/Październik 2017
© 2017 Jasna Kusnički, Radio Television of Nikolia

JOVANOVSKI: WE WILL STAND WITH BRITISH HIFAX
Chancellor of Nikolia, Branislav Jovanovski held a press conference after the Crown Council meeting earlier this day

Chancellor Branislav Jovanovski

Carigrad, Nikolia | His Majesty the King has ordered the members of his Crown Council to immediately assemble in his working palace, the Imperial Palace in Carigrad to discuss the ongoing situation in the region. The reasons of such immediate meeting was not known until the end of it, when the Chancellor, Branislav Jovanovski stepped in front of the news crews to answer the questions.

As per his words, His Majesty assembled them in order to discuss the ongoing situation that is happening in eastern Astyria, most notably the Caprica-Aswick situation, and the Hifaxian separation from the East Astyrian Treaty Alliance. Earlier this month Caprica and Aswick reacted to the increasing tensions between Mesoland and Nova Deseret and installed a no-fly zone in the area. Both navies threatened with immediate action should the rule be broken. This led to tensions between the two countries and fears of many east Astyrians that the tensions can easily develop into a war.
On the other side of Astyria, Prince Pierre of Hifax, who succeeded his late father, instructed his government to initiate a referendum on the membership of his country to the EATA.
Such decision was made based several factors, the most prominent being that many citizens and public figures critiqued the membership of Hifax in EATA, as it directly went against the neutrality inscribed in the Hifaxian Constitution. One of the founding nations of EATA, Blackhelm Confederacy responded harshly to the withdrawal by introducing economic blockage to this small principality, and instructed its citizens to immediately leave British Hifax and return to the Confederacy.

Chancellor Jovanovski has said that His Majesty the King and the Crown Council agreed to stand with British Hifax and that he will meet with Hifaxian Prince soon. He commented on the situation that "the move of EATA is pretty cowardly. It is like when you were little and were playing football with your friends and then one that owns the ball wants to go home.
Obviously the rest of the friends would be a bit annoyed, but they won't beat that kid because he took the ball out of the game...".
The Chancellor further added that he will talk more with the Crown Council in order to decide how will Nikolia react to the rising tensions. "There is possibility that we might act should the situation get to a higher level. We cannot stand and watch as the region enters into a yet another crisis." he finished.

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by **British Hifax** » Thu Oct 26, 2017 4:08 pm

''Constitutional decisions''

National Parliament of Hifax | Photo: AFP Hifax

After three weeks of the referendum that seemed to change the direction of the external politic of the Principality of British Hifax the population start asking to themselves if it had any concrete effect besides the embargo imposed by the Blackhelm Confederacy. Although the public thought, the referendum where the ''Yes'' for the withdraw of Hifax from the East Astyrian Treaty Alliance had an important effect in the political scene, particularly in the National Parliament where it revived the ''EATA Topic'' and if it really violated the constitution.

In the last Official Communique from the Prince Pierre he told to the hifaxians that he, the Minister of State and his administration were already trying to solve the diplomatic crisis, finding new commercial partners or leaving the referendum without effect were two of the most relevant options of the government, according to official sources during the last week Pierre maintained a communication with the Chancellor Eaglebrand from the Blackhelm Confederacy where both expressed their concern about the situation and the ways of solving it, according to the source the Prince was open to start conversations again with the Alliance and the Chancellor to accept the terms and conditions offered by the Prince but as the Minister of State said during in a press conference, ''the Principality can't leave this case to be a hole in the democratic history that gave us an incredible political stability'' and making reference to the conversation between the Prince and his Confederate par, ''I specially won't leave this to happen without having a constitutional period'', now the the hifaxian people will have to wait at least one more week to see the official and last parliamentary action about the EATA Topic.

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by **Andamonia** » Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:36 pm

Patapoztotla joins AstyRail group
» Membership a "boon to Astyria and a reborn Andamonia"

By Pachu Chimekli, 14/11/'17

Patapoztotla, the semi-state company which is Andamonia's largest passenger rail service, is to become a full member of AstyRail by the end of November, a company spokesman has revealed. The company concluded negotiations on Monday to enter the AstyRail group, whose membership includes national and private rail operators across Lorecia and Teudallum.

The AstyRail network extends across Astyra's two western continents, connecting the Aurora Confederacy and Nouvel Ecosse in the north to Cassonne in the south. Patapoztotla's membership of the organisation will give Andamonian citizens direct access to more than twenty countries: a ticket bought from one AstyRail provider can take you across two continents on one fare. The announcement has received praise from the tourism sector, with industry representatives anticipating substantial revenue to the capital and coastal provinces.

The announcement has revived old grievances about the government's preference for its more prosperous areas, however. The Sarmize - Qerikuah line was recently reopened after being damaged by monsoon floods last month, while key roads in the Ubeylatl and Rohocar regions have been, according to local politicians, "unusable" for up to a year after bombings and sabotage.

Patapoztotla representatives claim that AstyRail membership is both a boon to Andamonia's economy and a sign of growing faith in the nation's recovery. Reportedly, membership was only granted following guarantees and hard evidence that Andamonia's railways are being protected from attack. Company president Tixuhel Taitlaan, speaking recently on the then-ongoing negotiations, referred to Patapoztotla's potential membership a "a glorious boon to Astyria and a symbol of a reborn Andamonia."

Patapoztotla owns an estimated 60% of the nation's railways and holds an 80% share in the passenger rail market. Although neither other passenger rail operators nor the company's own freight carrier have joined the AstyRail group, speculators anticipate a strong uptake in western Astyria. Most notably, Andamonia has long functioned as a corridor for trade between Cassonne and Heideland, across whose border only a trickle of commerce flows. This development is likely to increase the amount of traffic across both eastern borders, a prospect which delights Ubeyli industry leaders. "Anything which gets more money into this country is a good move, I'd say," stated Eltoajon Chair of Commerce Keba ha'Sanaan. "Maybe we'll finally see Andamonia back on its feet."

Related: Hifax and Cadenza advance economic ties | DramFreight signs shipping deal in Cohorvu | Timaloc takes flak for border remarks | Locals: "campaign of terror" unrelenting in Aluraxla

by **British Hifax** » Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:09 am

The return of Hifax to the Alliance

Internet & Media City, Montecito-Quarry Reserve | Photo: EFE

PRINCETOWN 16:06 | With the official announcement of the cease of the embargo from the Blackhelm Confederacy and the reconstruction of relations between both states, the Prince Pierre and the Chancellor Eaglebrand had reunited to verify the conditions of the return of the city-state.

From the Principal government there has been a concern about the future location of the Reserve Bank of East Astyria, however there has been official notices about an East Astyrian Trade Center located in the same building or near, ‘’...the Trade Center will take the place of the Reserve ,we are still working with the authorities of the Alliance and from the countries members to specify which companies are going to be headquartered in the Center.’’ said Pablo West, Minister of Foreign Affairs in a conference with Frederich Stauber, Minister of Economy and Finances where both also specified the location of the future Trade Center near the actual Internet & Media City in the Montecito area. According to EATA’s sources the Center won’t affect the activity of the Internet & Media City due to it will be only for companies of countries members of the Alliance.

Pablo West also remarked the reopening of the confederate Embassy in Princetown, the incresement of relations with Cadenza and Nikolia and the future situation of Hifax in the Alliance where, according to him, the country will have clear politics against wars and interventions, the Minister also announced the participation of the Princetown Police Department in cooperation with the Sovereign Military Order of Montesa in the MarEx with two helicopters used for international aid.

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© EL DÍA 2017

by **Nikolia** » Mon Nov 20, 2017 11:59 am

Недеља/Niedziela, 19 новембар/listopad 2017
© 2017 Jasna Kusnički, Radio Television of Nikolia

DRUG TRAFFICKERS ARRESTED
Nikolian Coast Guard arrested three Caranad citizens trying to sail into Nikolia with 700kg of narcotics

Nikolian Coast Guard members boarding the vessel

Carigrad, Nikolia | The Nikolian Coast Guard has issued a statement after the seizure of a vessel full of narcotics and counterfeit money. It stands in the statement that the three individuals arrested are Caranad citizens, Javier Renato Busto (42), Antonio José Nieves (25) and Sancho Manu Gonzales (33). They were arrested when they tried to illegally enter Nikolian territorial waters with an unregistered vessel. Patrol vessel of the Nikolian Coast Guard was dispatched to intercept the vessel and get in contact with the operators. After several failed attempts to contact the vessel through the radio, the Coast Guard vessel approached and fired warning shots, after which the crew of the unregistered vessel surrendered. A team of Nikolian Coast Guard members boarded the vessel and arrested the individuals.
Both persons and the vessel were transported to the Aleksandrovo Port. Upon further inspection of the vessel, the agents found around 500 kilograms of cocaine, 200 kilograms of marijuana and around 10 million counterfeit Nikolian Dukats in the vessel structure. Estimated worth of narcotics is around 155 million Nikolian Dukats.
Against these three individuals the public prosecutor's office in Aleksandrovo pressed charges for illegal possession of narcotics, intention of distribution of narcotics, smuggling and illegal operation of a vessel. With these charges, these persons can face up to 20 years in prison.

This was one of the largest catches of drug smuggling by the Nikolian Coast Guard in this year. Earlier this year, the Nikolian Coast Guard seized more than 500 kilograms of various narcotics hidden and transported in a shipment of bananas from Andamonia. The Nikolian authorities regularly cooperate with other authorities in the region in order to break the chain of drug smuggling.

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by **The Selkie** » Mon Nov 20, 2017 2:10 pm

Silverport Herald, Internet-Edition, published 20th of Novembre 2017.

Let it snow, let it snow...

After a surprisingly long autumn, with the temperatures going below ten degrees only a few days ago, Winter came abruptly.

Silverport - Yesterday Morning, the City Guard of Silverport called for the Assembly of the Militias of Silverport - and the City at the mouth of the Iasc River wasn't alone in its call for the city's very own manpower pools as abruptly the winter descended upon the Mainland, after t-shirts had been weather-appropriate clothing just a little less then a week ago. Silverport's Militias, including the Younger Militia, began to valiantly fight the snow-masses, which descended from the skies in generous helpings.
By the copy deadline, the City reported around 25 centimetres of new snow since the evening of the 18th.
Other cities in the Free Lands were hit harder: Traverse reported this morning, that 30 centimetres fell in one night, Crarae is cut off due to the snow masses, Launceston reports in the usual Icy Shore Humour the loss of white sheep in the snow, the list goes on. So far, no dead or serious injuries.
With the snowfall, many airports are closed until the Winter Service is established (which is planned for Wednesday in the cases of Silverport and Traverse International), with the repatriation of travellers being taken care of by the airlines in question. "The situation is under control.", the administration of Silverport International released as a press statement, "The people in need to be repatriated will be housed in a few inns in the town on our budget, until the Winter Service is set up. We ask them to be patient until then." Trains were delayed or, in some rare cases, stuck, with rescue operations commencing quickly.
The chaos expected every year did, again, not come, but street vendors for hot drinks registered a substantial increase in their profits. Many households began, albeit a bit hurriedly, to check on winter supplies and stocks.
The cold front coming from the North-East, out of the direction of the Northern Islands (Rua, 75 cm in one night), is expected by scientists of the University of Leuda to stay above the Mainland for a while, at least until the end of the week, before it continues down south, towards Vellenge, where it will arrive as rain, as the forecast said. According to them, the winter is there and is, for now, there to stay, due to another cold front following the first one, bringing snow and the first winter storms. The temperatures during the day are said to be around 0 degrees Celsius and -5, while it can get "substantially colder" during the night, as the leading weather-frog of Silverport put it.
ACC, Soc.

by **Aquitayne** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 5:51 pm

Old Blood, New Ideas: An Introspective on the Rise of Richard Larrow

By JESSICA ALBRIGHTNovember 21, 2017

Majority Whip Richard Larrow speaks to a young crowd as he consolidates power within the Royalist Party.

Telora, Aquitayne -

Ever since the announcement by Prime Minister Zaeir in late March that he would not be seeking re-appointment as the head of the Royalist Party, internal divides have surfaced and one man has come out on top: Richard Larrow. Larrow, a native of the 349th District, was elected to Parliament in 1982, and has held his seat consecutively for the past 35 years. Until recently he was seen as a fringe player in parliament, but was a key figure in the rapid rise of James Zaeir into the premiership. His knowledge of parliamentary procedure and tact for rallying support on crucial issues allowed him to ride the wave of optimism Zaeir took, and become the party whip.

Larrow is more left-leaning than the current administration, which is what the party base is looking for as it goes into the December elections with baggage. Larrow, while supporting the Aquitaynian interventions in Insula Fera and the Western Tundra, also spoke out against rash military action and possibly creating a special committee on limiting the King's power to deploy troops abroad without the consent of parliament. This controversial stance has landed him in hot water with some of the party base, but has garnered some support in the Republicans. It is unclear as to what extent Larrow may be willing to go to to limit the King's power, but what is certain is that he has successfully consolidated his base within the party, and is keen on winning the premiership.

Larrow's ascent to the top of the Royalist Party began last year, as he slowly began distancing himself from Prime Minister Zaeir. It became clear within months that Larrow was gearing up for a run at Prime Minister, but what nobody could expect was Prime Minister Zaeir paving the way for him. His lobbying of the party began in November, with closed-door meetings with almost every member of the party to take stock of their positions and how they were feeling about their chances in the upcoming election. Reportedly, Larrow made promises and also met with party leaders from the People's Party and Republicans, which is not uncommon for the majority whip.

Using his position as the whip he successfully hid his intentions, until a closed-door meeting with Prime Minister Zaeir was held in late March, where it is rumored Larrow told Zaeir to step aside for new leadership. Whether this meeting was the reason behind Zaeir's abrupt decision not to seek re-election or not, the message was clear: Zaeir was out, and Larrow was taking his place. At the May Royalist Convention, Larrow was one of the keynote speakers, alongside prominent past Prime Ministers and the current one. In a speech that successfully rallied the party base and the youth of the nation, Larrow promised political and policy changes not only within the party itself, but throughout the nation. In what has been billeted as his 'Socialist Address' by some, Larrow promised increases in the NHS, social security funds, pension funds, a trillion dollar infrastructure bill, and a decrease in military interventionism and gunboat diplomacy abroad.

These issues are direct results of the policies and actions of the Zaeir administration, who often diverted funds from the NHS and social programs to increase the defense budget to fund foreign occupations and interventions, all in the name of keeping up with the rising political and military strength of the EATA. Since the May convention, Larrow has been touring the nation, becoming the new face of the Royalist Party and energizing the young liberal population of Aquitayne to "vote their hearts" in December. He is attempting to directly combat the rise of right-wing nationalism that has been sweeping the globe in the last five years, and attempt to prevent the rise of the Nation First political movement that has swept through the nation.

Larrow is a staunch supporter of enhanced gun restrictions as well, and increasing background checks on any individual who wants to purchase a gun of any type. He is also running on a platform of staunch diplomatic intervention before military action, a direct response to the 'act first, ask later' policy of the Zaeir administration supporting the King's interventionism abroad. It remains to be seen, however, how much the base of the Royalist Party will accept any infringement on the King's rights granted by the constitution, and getting a constitutional amendment in today's political climate seems highly unlikely.

Until the results of the December 8th elections come in, no one will know how much power Larrow will truly hold in parliament. The Royalist Party are operating under the assumption that they will be in power for another four years, with a coalition possibly made with the Environmentalists and the Republicans, but the People's Party is also feeling confident in their abilities to put together a large turnout in the coming weeks and finally take back parliament after almost a decade of playing second-fiddle.

Larrow's vision, however, extends beyond even inter-party politics or infighting in the party. It extends over the entire nation, as well as the region, in the methods in which he wants to shape his own legacy in the global stage. One of the major pieces of legislation he intends to bring to parliament is the possibility of having Aquitayne become a member of the Lorecian Community, an entity of 5 member states that share open borders, goods, trades, and peoples without restriction. Entrance into the international bloc has been blocked in the past, and the last attempt to bring Aquitayne into the fold was just after Prime Minister Zaeir entered the premiership in 2008. If the Royalist Party does gain a majority in the House of Commons, it will be possible for Larrow to achieve this goal - however it remains to be seen whether the King would allow such a drastic change in affairs to occur, and it remains to be seen if anyone else shares Larrow's grand vision.

_________

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by **Aquitayne** » Wed Nov 22, 2017 9:03 am

The Face of Nationalism: Evelyn Varys

By JESSICA ALBRIGHTNovember 21, 2017

Ms. Varys sits in on the First Nation First Congress on June 12th, 2016.

Telora, Aquitayne -

How do you select a figurehead for a fledgling political movement? Get a well educated, young, attractive, white female to be its poster-child, of course. This figure for the Nation First movement is none other than the controversial Evelyn Varys.

Evelyn Varys has been a member of the People's Party since her time in university, but was elected to her first official government position representing the 759th District in 2014, beating out a long-term incumbent who had held the seat for over 20 years. The young and energetic Varys easily swept the district elections, winning with 74% of the popular vote, and avoiding any run-off elections. She ran as a more right leaning member of the People's Party, and quickly became a voice of dissent within the party's own political stratagem.

Notably, in 2014, only a few months into her term, she spoke out against the party rolling over for the Royalists on the intervention in Insula Fera. In a speech to her constituents at the time, she asked "why we are sending our blood to foreign soil to fight and die for foreigners who have never given a damn about us or our values?" It was clear then that she would not be the typical reliable freshman representative that many expected.

Varys continued her crusade against the party's leadership throughout 2016, constantly calling into question why they accepted Royalist terms on immigration law and financial reform, conceding party issues and giving the Royalists the advantage in negotiations. By the mid-point in her term, she had garnered support from the fringes of the party and had created a coalition of representatives many inside and out of the party referred to in unofficial terms as the 'radical lunatics'. The group consisted of roughly 10 ministers by the end of 2016. The creation of a faction within the People's Party ultimately hindered the party's ability to negate Royalist legislation, as they not only had to concede with the Royalists, but this new entity as well.

Varys was keen on exploiting the weakness of the People's Party by consistently introducing legislation she knew would bog down parliament and force the People's Party to take a firm stand on. One such piece of legislation was limiting the legal immigration rate and drastically decreasing funding for refugee relocation efforts to Aquitayne. The party's reaction to this legislation was not, however, what she expected. The leadership expressly rejected supporting the legislation and effectively ostracized Varys from any future party plans.

It was after this that Varys began officially separating herself from the party, and latched on to the nationalist movement that had been sweeping through the country as of late. She quickly began to become the face of the online Nation First movement, giving the right wing ideology a level of legitimacy that typical nationalist movements have lacked since the early 20th century by having a member in government.

Varys also assisted in organizing the First Nation First Congress, a collective of individuals, intellectuals, and prominent journalists that supported the political movement to set out a plan of action to legitimize the party and take actionable steps towards making a push for parliament in 2017. Massive protests met the congress outside the building where they met in downtown Telora, and clashes were recorded with over 20 protesters being arrested. It was at this congress that Varys consolidated her power base and officially became the head of the party.

Varys' stated goal for the party is to "usurp the power collective that the Royalists and People's Party have gained over the last 200 years and bring power back to true-blooded Aquitaynians." Varys has since been given a protection detail, as death threats have poured in against her since her speech at the congress in June of last year. It remains to be seen if Varys will hold onto her seat, as she is fighting against a liberal Royalist contender, and just how much success Nation First will have in the December 8th election.

If Nation First does gain a considerable presence in parliament, however, it will mark the first time in over 70 years that an openly nationalist right-wing organization has held a seat in parliament.
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by **Nildwalden** » Thu Nov 23, 2017 11:00 am

''Cologne and Saint Moritz covered in snow''

The Ducal Palace of Cologne covered in snow this morning|Photo: REUTERS

COLOGNE|This morning Cologne, Saint Moritz and the highest zones of Nidwalden have woken up with the first day of snow. In Cologne 5 schools were closed due to the weather situation however the authorities expect to reopen them for tomorrow as the situation isn’t as extreme as it looks like.

In Aspen the locals celebrated as usual the first day of snow of the season, the owner of a shop in the Main Avenue told us that this year the snow took them by surprise as the forecast didn’t announced it until the first days of December. The main economical activity of the town of Aspen is the tourism and services during winter were thousands of tourists visit the city attracted by one of the most famous ski resorts in Nidwalden.

The president of the Meteorologists Community of Nidwalden said that this first snowmass in Cologne, Saint Moritz and the highest areas of the Duchy are being affected by low pressures with warm and cold fronts, he also emphasized in the fact that the Aspen-Pitkin Airport registred an average of winds of 55 km/h.

The latests reports from the Met. Community in Saint Moritz noted the cancellation of some domestic flights of Air Nid Connection and one international flight of Royal Air to Princetown, Hifax.

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|EN| Nidwalden Wort 2017

by **Hindia Belanda** » Sun Nov 26, 2017 12:22 pm

Alexandros Malik | Editor-in-Chief
^{26 November 2017 | Jakarta, Hindia Belanda}

It was the Monday after Ashura last month, the Shia day of remembrance in honour of the Passion of Imam Husayn, when Maryam Rahmadisoerja formally received her commission, written not by the Queen herself (although the parchment does say otherwise), but most definitely by some government clerk somewhere in Weltevreden, the seat of the Hindia Belandan government.

The commission, handwritten on a brown vellum, began with a formulaic phrase asserting the authority of the Crown over the Commonwealth: "We, Anne Charlotte the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of Hindia Belanda". The parliamentary clerk, with an assertive voice and an elocution that would have impressed the general public of the 19th century, read out the rest of the commission to a sea of visibly unexcited MPs (some of them did fall asleep, and, unsurprisingly, became immortalised as an internet meme that very same day).

A chicly-dressed Rahmadisoerja then took her oath of office, and swore her faith and allegiance to Her Majesty and the heirs of her body being Protestant. Rahmadisoerja, who only a few years ago was a staunch supporter of a future without the Crown—herself the former mouthpiece of the neo-republican movement Hindia Belanda Mardijka—is now, ironically, the loyal representative in Hindia Belanda of that very same ancient institution whose head resides thousands of miles away across the ocean, and towards whom she once felt "virtually no sympathy".

Governor-General Maryam Rahmadisoerja

It is both remarkable and, for some of her Republican colleagues, completely baffling that she managed not only to moderate her political views but to rise so swiftly to the very top of Hindia Belandan politics, achieving nothing less than the esteemed office of Vicereine, and all within the span of just three years. Her climb to political prominence is the kind of story that not even the most seasoned Weltevreden politician could ever dream of. And yet she is there, against all odds, as the sole tenant of Waterlooplein Palace, now ranking second in the Commonwealth Order of Precedence.

Yet, whilst Rahmadisoerja has seemingly reconciled with what was once her arch-enemy, she never at any point disavowed her republican beliefs. And it appears that a sizeable majority of the Hindia Belandan population shares her animus towards the Noordenstaatian monarchy: the numbers appear to only have gone up by 2 percent, from 51 percent to 53 percent, according to the findings of a nationwide poll ran by the non-governmental think tank Salemba Council.

The poll suggests a majority of Hindia Belandans support the outright abolition of the monarchy, in its stead an elected non-partisan head of state who must be Hindia Belandan. It is an idea now universally espoused by opposition frontbenchers in Parliament and some of their allies in the Aliansi Sekular, with the Leader of the Opposition even going as far as promising that he would take the question to a plebiscite if his party, the Social Democrats, were to win the next General Elections and form a government in Her Majesty’s name.

The ruling party, the Partai Liberal Demokrat, whose majority back the monarchy, know their days are numbered. And with each passing day, Hindia Belandans are getting closer to having a fellow national as their head of state.

So what exactly is behind the recent surge of republicanism in Hindia Belanda? The eminent professor and Chancellor of the Royal University of Jakarta, Antje Mirasoelarsi who is also a moderate republican, thinks that a new emerging strain of national identity, one tinged with a certain distaste towards inherited privilege, more so when that privilege falls to a foreigner, is ultimately responsible.

She observed that more Hindia Belandans are rediscovering their national pride, on top of a new affinity with egalitarian ideas. Those ideas were ignited in the collective mind of Hindia Belandans when, in 2007, all five native royal families were forcibly bereft of their traditional right to rule.

“We rid of our native royal houses a decade ago, their privileges and birthright stripped off of their persons overnight. So why should the Noordenstaatian royals, who are foreign, be treated any different than those native royals in this Commonwealth?”

GG Maryam Rahmadisoerja meeting her 'employer'

Antje is asking the question that so many Hindia Belandans had been hesitant to ask, but has now become part of the national conversation thanks to that momentous day ten years ago. Already people are talking about possible scenarios for the abolition of the monarchy and the installation of its elected substitute.

The most popular scenario, and arguably the most considerate one, comes from the moderate Republican camp whereby no plebiscite on the future of the monarchy should be held for as long as the Queen’s mother, the former Queen Sophie I, is alive. But once she passes, this scenario calls for the installation of an elected presidential office with nothing but ceremonial powers—in other words, a rebranded office of the Governor-General zonder any reference to Anne Charlotte and the monarchy.

Another scenario, now promoted by 8 frontbenchers and 16 backbenchers in the opposition side, calls for the same series of actions except that they should preferably take place within the next 8 months. This particular scenario, however, lacks the needed momentum and support base in parliament.

“The Queen is only good for signing laws into effect, but we’ve got the Governor-General—who is an actual Hindia Belandan—to cover for her already, considering she’s… you know, never around!” says Antje at the twelfth annual republican conference to a resounding applause. "I can't see why we shouldn't nationalise the viceregal office".

If the appointment of Maryam Rahmadisoerja as our Governor-General, a high profile republican, is indicative of what is to come, then we are likely witnessing the waning days of the monarchy itself. It is now a matter of when, not if, and it all depends on Princess Sophie’s life expectancy (long may she live, as a monarchist would say).

National Archives · by **Ord Caprica** » Sun Dec 03, 2017 5:02 pm

Orenburg losing control
Violence intensifies in Eastern Arstotska
Jame McManus (@JayMcManus)

^{3 December 2017 | Ulysses, C.D, United States of Caprica}

Nizhny Airport, Eastern Arstotska| UP photo

Ulysses, C.D., United States - The violent clashes between separatist elements in major Eastern Arstotskan cities intensified over the weekend with reports of dozens dead and upwards of a hundred people seriously injured in increasingly deadly shootouts between militia forces and security forces sent in by Arstotskan Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

The world has held it's breath in hopes that the conflict brewing in Central Astyria would simmer down but now it looks as if last months outbreak is only beginning as Arstotskan Army forces are forced to engage in an increasingly dangerous fight for control of it's Eastern provinces against pro-Belkan forces operating primarily out of the city of Nizhny, a city of just under a million people who are now effectively under siege.

Reports coming out of the city from embedded reporters tell shocking tales of running gun battles between soldiers sent by Yatsenyuk to restore order in the East and separatists that many citizens claim are being supplied by Belkan supporters across the border and if the feeling on the street is to be believed, it looks as if this situation is quickly poised to get out of hand .

Army spokesperson Major Arseny Zhoga said in a special press conference earlier in the week that ''Soldiers from the 1st Mechanized Division were engaged in anti-terrorist operations in 3 out of the five major cities in Eastern Arstotska that were experiencing separatist actions and were making immediate gains in suppressing terrorist activity.'' This is a far cry from what is being felt on the ground in the cultural home of the movement of Nizhny where separatists have seized and continue to maintain control of the regional administration building and the majority of the government quarter. The army has reportedly been forced to set up camp in the industrial sector of the city and even then only conducts patrols as far as the residential sector and only during the daytime hours out of fear of separatist ambushes.

The Commander of the Nizhny Volunteer Force, Arstotska's largest pro-Belkan militia released a statement in response to Major Zhoga claims that the Army is making any gains in Nizhny proper and asserting that the NVF is in full control of the government district and will remain in control.

The NVF has gained a measure of legitimacy in the last few months as it has been on the tip of the spear of the action to first to protect peaceful protesters and later to take control of government buildings in the aftermath of a deadly police shooting last month that left dozens dead and even more wounded outside the regional administration building.

With both sides putting out disputing reports of whose actually in charge in the city, the facts on the ground paint picture of a city under siege. While basic utility services are still up and running the city, all government administration of the city has ceased from the collecting of taxes and the replacement of the justice system with NVF sponsored ''People's Courts'' where government collaborators face the very real possibility of death on trumped up charges of ''Crimes against the people'' and ''High Treason against the soil''. While there has been no official confirmation that these people's tribunals are carrying out executions, it's increasingly apparent that the central government in Orenburg isn't the exerting sole sovereign control in the city's center.

Orenburg's Reaction

The Prime Minister continues to assert claims that the situation in Nizhny and across Eastern Arstotska is well under control and that order will be restored shortly despite popular claims to the contrary. Government insiders are more realistic about the situation with reports coming out of the capital saying that recruitment for the national military and reserve forces are up 20% across the western provinces and many citizens are beginning to stockpile vital supplies in preparation for what they believe will be a long campaign to reclaim their wayward eastern provinces from the separatists, with or without international help.

Belka

On the opposite side of the fence, Belka's been noticeably silent on the matter outside of the realm of social media. Though there are unsubstantiated claims that the Belkan government is covertly supporting the separatists with training and small arms. Officially, the government is refusing the comment on the escalating conflict though unofficially, Belkan officials are reportedly working through back channels to curtain the violence along the border between Arstotskan border troops and militia forces attempting to deregulate border action, itself an action that is inconsistent with conventional thinking if the separatists aren't receiving some form of aid over the border.

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by **British Hifax** » Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:35 pm

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The end of the investigation.

Sea Boulevard Tunnel and the Audi Q7 crashed|Photo: BHHN

PRICNETOWN 01:32 a.m. |There has been passed four months since the night of the 23rd of August when the city-state of Hifax woke up in the middle of the night with the notice of the Prince’s death in an apparent car accident, although his death has been surrounded by mysteries and hypothesis the Principal Palace wanted to break them with the communication of the cessation of investigations and the public dissemination of the last report.

The accident occurred during the last weeks of the month in the Sea Boulevard Tunnel where the Prince was riding his private Audi Q7 at 110 km/h in a zone of 50 km/h at 11:20 p.m., although the investigation has proved that the Prince didn’t died in the moment of the accident this wasn’t something done by purpose as the security cameras of the day can show the jams on the princetonians streets.

SUICIDE, MURDER OR A SECRET ESCAPE

There has been three hypothesis of the accident, suicide, murder and the last one and less provable, a secret escape. The first one was part of a serie of theories talked on TV during the four months since the death, according to sources in the police department and inside the Principal Palace, Ismael I had been showing signs of depression related to his private life and the future of the Principality (which tend to be very interwoven during the last time). However, the hypothesis was indicated by his daughter, Letizia, as something that his father would never do. The second hypothesis, a murder, could take us to the medieval ages when there were seeing as normal between members of the Principal family, but after all which ones was the reasons to go back thousands of years in history? the answers are many, the assumption of Pierre to the throne and the change of politics or the Hifax Papers and the private business in the banking area were only some of the proves presented on several TV programmes were the tardiness of the ambulances and the presence of at least 5 paparazzis around the accident scene showed gave certain veracity to the theory, however his son Pierre, one of the principal characters of the hypothesis said during a private press conference celebrated during the mid of the investigation that there has been no reasons to think in a murder, especially with him as a character underscoring the strong relation he had with his father and the 700 years of stability that the Principal family has maintained until today.

Last photo of the Prince alive

This theory has been also proved to be false on several media alleging that the anger of Pierre to the East Astyrian Treaty Alliance was part of his pain. Finally the last and craziest hypothesis, a perfect secret escape from the public life. There has been theories on Internet about a secret escape from the Prince, the proofs were ‘clear’, the ambulances didn’t reached the accident scene until 5 minutes later, the presence, again, of paparazzis around the Prince (now with a better image) that helped to the Prince to escape in a yacht from the Prince's Port and the silence of the Palace during the four months, however, a source in the Principal Palace of Princetown told us after asking about this hypothesis that the silence of the Palace was for respect of the Principal family and in special for the Prince and Princess Pierre and Letizia.

Today the Principal Palace of Princetown transmitted on every channel in the Principality the official message of His Majesty the Prince Pierre about the end of the investigation and the final results. During the message the Prince talked about 5 paparazzis who apparently temporary blinded the Prince with a white flash of a camera and after this, the Prince lost the control of his luxurious SUV, however the car could saved him but unfortunately he didn’t have the safe belt put. According to the Prince, two of those paparazzis were registered on the security cameras of the Police Department but the Principal family didn’t want to present charges against them as they only were doing his job.

by **Trellin** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 12:30 am

Andamonia's Third Republic: a midstream retrospective
» Where are last December's presidential candidates now?

By Valaiha Piylorin, 07/12/'17

Almost a year ago, on Christmas Day, Andamonia elected its seventeenth president and began its third republic. Azanj Timaloc has had a rollercoaster presidency since his inauguration in mid-January, most of that time spent with his hands and feet firmly inside the vehicle. Between drafting an uninspiring constitution and hiding from diplomatic and domestic controversy, Andamonia's first president in a century has struggled to find his feet or time to earn praise.

Timaloc won the presidency while standing on a platform of platitudes and placation. Many have been vocally underwhelmed, although no one is really surprised that the least controversial candidate has done nothing to stir up controversy. There is an air of disappointment when Andamonians talk politics these days, but the country does seem to be on the road toward prosperity. How would other candidates have delivered?

Mirhitoc Hyaalna received more than a sixth of all votes cast in the election. Under the empire, he was one of the lead figures in the Department for Maritime Industry and is given credit for ensuring the maritime economy consistently buoyed Andamonia's GDP. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Timaloc was quick to shuffle his lead opponent into a high-ranking position that seems tailored for Hyaalna: Minister for Economic Growth, which lets him help steer numerous other ministries at the same time. Recent developments, like the renewed DramFreight contract for the Trophy Ports and Andamonia's national rail carrier joining the AstyRail group, have reportedly been prompted and overseen by the forty-eight year-old Cevrazuan. A Hyaalna presidency promised diplomatic feuding with his neighbours on the Sea of Velar; politicians in Mar'theqa and New London breathed audible sighs of relief when he came in second, but Andamonia is still benefitting from his undeniable abilities.

Juhraisi Telmaa was the other hard-line pro-economy candidate everyone remembers. Mayor of Zadé Axochizin for four years, her campaign team - the same people ran her mayoral and presidential runs - have suggested she intends on retaking the capital when that seat comes open again in 2019. In the meantime, she's been holding onto some of the limelight she found last December, winning a majority of government contracts to redevelop the nation's transport infrastructure after promises she made during her presidential bid. The pivotal Zadé - Makami motorway is just one of many which are being upgraded by Telmaa's large construction company, inherited from her father. Even if it is now a toll road, the national road network is visibly improving. Her investment in the impoverished east and northwest also seem perfectly designed to curry favour. Political manoeuvring it may be, but Andamonia seems better for it.

It's easy to forget many of the other former candidates when these three have formed some sort of loose triumvirate; and yet, any of the dozen or so frontrunners could easily have been president if constant controversy hadn't dogged their campaigns. Take Caharen ha'Alhlatli for example. He once polled at 21% of first-preference votes, far more than Timaloc received and more than Timaloc won in total. Many of ha'Alhlatli's supporters feel cheated; their candidate was, they argue, the only one who proposed real reforms. Yet Andamonia is not a country likely to transform any time soon into the liberal, somewhat socialist democracy that ha'Alhlatli preached. The country, like so much of Teudallum, clearly stays firmly right of the centre. ha'Alhlatli is currently on a tour of Andamonian universities, with one of his spokesmen telling the Lema Examiner that he is in high demand as a speaker across Astyria. Is he considering a presidential run in 2019? Possibly, but few would predict his victory with things as they are.

Many candidates struggled to stand out; few were as politically contre la mode as ha'Alhlatli, and those who lacked the high profiles of the leading candidates chose to adopt a certain radicalism to gain attention. Former political lecturer Rahaca Omaktli was never more than a niche candidate whose share of the vote could only have been larger in a disenfranchised, elitist Andamonian society. His militant anti-religion stance is contrasted with Timaloc's moderate placation, with Letroc Saluis' minority-wrangling, and with Maliyaia Rihasanai's hate-mongering. Saluis, one-term mayor of Naratunza, has been out of work since the election but remakes occasional appearance on talk radio and television. Rihasanai has been less fortunate: statements she made during her campaign won her only a cell in prison for hate speech, a stay that will end in July 2020.

Then there were the single-issue candidates, whose campaigns seemed less about getting elected and more about bringing social problems to the fore. Self-proclaimed protest candidate Oceimet Taleznaan has returned to managing his multiple corporations, but his complaints against bureaucracy and the tax system have been upheld by many across the republic and now feature in numerous local politicians' manifestos. Will the legislative elections scheduled for next month see Taleznaan's teachings inscribed in Andamonian law? Commentators are hopeful that new brooms will sweep clean, but others fear that the brooms will remain the same as under the ancien régime.

Raxemtli Pakrimoi still leads Ahandomus, the nation's main homeless charity, which received substantial foreign donations during and after his campaign. He continues to speak around the country and organise shelter for the homeless and refugees - with tens of thousands still internally displaced in Andamonia - and legislation currently moving through the Grand Assembly is believed to have been heavily influenced by Pakrimoi's philosophy. Necauhoi Quemet ran on a strong environmentalist platform but suffered from its lack of supporting planks. He has since become Chairman of the Imperial Conservation Board, which has seen much stronger government patronage than it enjoyed under the empire. This is, by all accounts, both an apology and thank you to Quemet from Timaloc, who was one of many rival candidates to lift Quemet's platform into their own. Quemet insists it isn't enough, and has been lobbying for expansive tracts of land, especially in the northwest, to be protected environments.

What is clear is that, for many of Andamonia's lead candidates, running for election has allowed them to advance their interests without winning the election. Unsurprisingly, allegations of corruption occasionally surface, citing these appointments and endorsements as 'backhanders,' but the election was deemed valid and largely free of suspect irregularities. Timaloc was sufficiently palatable for the entire electorate to be elected honestly, nor has he ever been considered corrupt. If an oligarchy is emerging around him, it was not premeditated. Timaloc was regularly criticised for basing his campaign on those of his rivals, either by appropriating the points which suited him or by attacking those which did not. It should come as no surprise, then, that he builds his republic around those prominent people, composing his idea of a 'Ministry of All the Talents.' It is his inner and outer circle that are doing the dirty work of rebuilding Andamonia, with the Andamonian president an aloof observer.

He surely cannot have missed the rising stars that refuse to align to his inclusive worldview, however: former Ubeyli Ata governor Shala Lamarilo, who continues to push vociferously for federalisation, and youthful technocrat Livoheta Monyaan, whose vocal opposition to state-run welfare renders her politics anathema for most Andamonians. Lamarilo is currently one of the most active campaigners for a seat in the Grand Assembly; her consistent championing of provincial rights, especially those of her native Ubeylatl Ata, is likely to see her elected to the venue where she can most directly challenge Timaloc's centralisation agenda. Monyaan was recently elected to a council seat in Teraxi Yú, her home city and one of Andamonia's major ports. Mayoral elections are scheduled for the end of the month and thirty year-old Monyaan is a favourite to win.

There is an increasingly obvious disconnect between the rural interior and urban coast of the republic, and even such disparate voices as Lamarilo and Monyaan are likely to push together for a diminished central government, aided and abetted by the disciples of Taleznaan and others. The next major milestone for the reformation of Andamonian politics is this first legislative election under the republic. How it goes will shape the course of the country's development for years to come and will be a major influence on who stands for election in 2019.

Conspicuously absent from this article: former emperor Amahuiz Tlacapilzi, who dissolved the monarchy in favour of a republic, received over three hundred thousand votes in all. He is the subject of an article appearing in the Lema Examiner next week.

by **British Hifax** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 8:37 pm

''An upcoming coronation''

Villa Euphrussi, events villa of the House of Giusti | Photo: TPI

Princetown 01:00 p.m. |The city-state has woke-up this morning with the notice of the end of the investigation about the death of the Prince Ismael I after four months of silence from the Principal Palace, the Police Department and the two sons of the Prince, Pierre and Letizia. However this morning after the Official Communique of the Principal Palace informing the end of the investigation our reporters had saw the Princess leaving her mansion in Cap-Ferrat in direction to Princetown. The rumors did not waited in appear, some paparazzis followed her on motorbikes while our reporters stayed in front of the house waiting for a response or a return from the Princess, and at 10:00 a.m. the Princes was back in her house. The only thing she said before closing the gate was: ‘expect the news, guys’, and that was what we did. Finally at 10:30 the Palace released a communique titled ‘Upcoming Coronation of HSH Prince Pierre Giusti’.

Since the death of Ismael I the city-state known by its luxurious festivals and glamorous royal events, remained in silence under a national mourning which ended this morning with the two officials notices. According to the official schedule the coronation will be held at the Principal Palace of Princetown in front of international leaders and monarchs at 12:00 p.m., after the coronation there is programmed a quick speech of the new Prince. At 10:00 p.m. the Principality will offer a fireworks show at the Princess Port which will be seen from everywhere in the city-state and finally, from 10:30 p.m. there will be a celebration in one of the villas of the Giusti Family, Villa Ephrussi or Villa Leopolda, both located at the top of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, there are invited 2.000 famous hifaxians, besides of international figures like monarchs and leaders of the region, to the party.

The Princetown Insider has done a quick research with our sources in the Palace to find out who is the Principality going to invite since during the last months the politics were shaked by a confederate embargo against Hifax, new economic partnerships like Nikolia, Cadenza and the increasing relations with the nidwaldester royalty.

In a presumed list of invitations found by our researchers you could find names from the nikolian, scottopian, trellinese and nidwaldester royalties besides of important businessmen and figures like Presidents, Governors and others from Hindia Belanda, Bankampar, Hifax and obviously, the Blackhelm Confederacy, the country which had a tense relation during the last months of this 2017 with the Principality of British Hifax.

Stay tuned to the Princetown Insider to find out who is going to attend to the coronation party which is going to be celebrated this weekend in Princetown.

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The Princetown Insider 2017

by **Greater Belkan Reich** » Sat Dec 16, 2017 9:08 pm

The Dinsmark Times
International News Service

Violence escalates along the DMZ

Author: Alina Petrova
Published: 2017-12-16

Dinsmark,Belka- Reports continue to trickle in increasing violence along the DMZ as separatists attempt to violate the demilitarized border zone separating Eastern Arstotska and Belka.

According to official reports released by the Belkan Ministry of Defense, there have been more than a dozen skirmishes observed on the opposite side of the border area with causalities being observed on both sides.

Our Belkan brothers are beginning to exercise their god given right to self-determination and freedom of association though not without resistance from the illegal government in Orenburg which continues to use it's mercenary forces to impede and interdict the freedom fighters from cross the border which has been declared a free crossing area to all ethnic Belkans by the federal government after repeated calls from the people's assemblies to provide sanctuary as the number of refugees fleeing the escalating conflict.

by **British Hifax** » Tue Jan 02, 2018 7:46 am

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Return operation in Princetown and Saint Barthélemy.

José Ignacio town in the coast of Saint Barthélemy | Photo: BHHN

PRINCETOWN |The Police of Princetown and Saint Barthélemy are now under the ''Return Operation'' after the massive arrival of tourists trough highways and airports in the city-state and the island for the long weekend of New Year. According to official stats the Principality received through its customs more than 1 million tourists more whose 400.000 are expected to leave while the rest will stay occupying the 87% of the accommodation capacity of Hifax.

For this return operation the Police has informed that only three of the nine lanes of the principal border custom of Princetown will be operative for the entrance of vehicles to the city-state, in addition to this the immigration procedures in the Akoya International Airport and José Ignacio International Airport are going to be thought in order to prevent problematics such as drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

The traffic division of the hifaxian Police also remarked the maximum velocity of 90 km/h in the Highway A1 which drives from Princetown to the airport, and 70 km/h in the Inter-resort Route of Saint Barthélemy.

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British Hifax News Network 2018

by **Scottopian Isles** » Fri Jan 26, 2018 9:14 pm

R.S.N COMMONWEALTH TAKES TO THE SEA'S

INVERCLYDE ISLES - On Thursday morning, tens of thousands bore witness as the Royal Navy christened its new aircraft carrier and released her from Clydebank Shipyards in the port of New Greenock. Against a backdrop of a rising Scottopian Isles seeking to project its influence over regional security matters, a bottle of champagne was smashed for good luck against the hull of the vessel. The Scottopian national anthem played proudly as the ship furthered from shore and along the coast, where crowds cheered & waved as the ship made its way into the Urquhart Channel towards open water. The ceremony to launch the carrier was hosted by Admiral Alan Watt, commander of the Royal Scottopian Navy, with the King & Queen in attendance along with Prime Minister Brian Beahm & officials from allied partners.

It is the nations second such vessel after the RSN Royal, which was put into commission in 2012. Much like the first, the RSN Commonwealth is 315 meters long and 75 meters wide, has a cruising speed of 31 knots and a displacement of 70,000 tonnes. As well as containing an 35-40 fixed wing or rotary aircraft, the RSN Commonwealth will be home to almost 2,500 Sailors, Marines & Airmen. The Royal Navy begun developing the vessel in April 2012 before the first steps of building it in the dock began early in September 2013, as opposed to January 2015. Even though its layout is almost the same as the 'Royal', the 'Commonwealth' features a wider array of defensive armaments, newly adapted technical equipment and a more advanced operational concept, including a more efficient Sea/Air radar system, bigger hangar to carry more multi-role aircraft and other improved lessons from its predecessor.

Experts said the launch of the new carrier represented great progress of Scottopia’s military modernization effort, an on going process over the previous decade. The RSN Commonwealth will next depart New Greenock, its home port, and head to the East Scottopian Straits for combat simulated sea trials & maneuvers with "His Majesty's Second Fleet". The newly established force is expected to fill a majority of the responsibilities & roles in the EATA Western Naval Sector following an rise in global events.

- - - - - - -

EATA CONFIRMS SHOOTDOWN

KAMALBIA - The Ministry of Defense has admitted the reports are true that a SAF-11 Cyclone has been shot down during an mission over Bafwangmbiri. The city in the northern reaches of the country has become the deadliest obstacle for Allied forces since the transfer of power to the Kamalbian authorities.

A sect associated with Ansar al-Tawhid has claimed they downed the aircraft with missile fire while it was taking part in a raid on a location where insurgents were gathered in the city. Amateur video showed parts wreckage of the craft was strewn at the scene but no word on the location of the pilot has been mentioned. A senior official in the Royal Scottopian Air Force when questioned said the craft was apparently shot down by insurgents, but spoke on condition of anonymity because the crash is being investigated.

EATA confirmed the crash took place and that there was "substantial enemy activity in the area", but they relitterated their re-assesment of troop numbers in the conflict zone and confirmed allied partners were currently conducting a recovery operation. No further details were issued at this time.

by **British Hifax** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 2:25 pm

A quick outlook of the hifaxian economy for this 2018

Downtown Core, financial heart of Hifax

PRINCETOWN | Princetown’s economy has staged a dramatic turnaround during 2017, from the constant growth that always characterized the city-state to three weeks of small -but important- recession where the embargo from the Blackhelkm Confederacy caused a flight of capital, workforce and gold. However the forecasts done by the Ministry of Finance & Economy did not failed, the ‘strong and efficient’ -as the Prince Pierre pondered the hifaxian economy- economy of the Principality survived with almost no consequences.

Now, with a month passed of the new year the economists of the city-state had been making projections for 2018 based on the last numbers of 2017. The Ikkari 227 reported a net profit of $165.8 million the 31st of December at 5:06 pm, last trading hour of the Princetown Stock Exchange, in addition, the Diamonds Stock Exchange closed also with a revenue of 27% in comparison with the same day of 2016. This is explained by the economists as an effect caused after the EATA referendum and the Confederate Embargo, ‘The referendum served as a proof of the democratic and constitutional government of Hifax…’ says Marcos Ferní, an economist of the ‘Princetown Group’ (the recognisable group of economists and financial statisticians of Hifax), ‘...wealthiest and companies saw the stability of our system during the embargo…’.

However, there is a question for 2018 and about 2017. Was the embargo the only factor of the revenues reported by the Stock Exchanges and the Ministry?, 'No', says Marcos, ‘the Minister of Finances and the Monetary Authority of Hifax has been doing a very hard work maintaining the Hifaxian Franc at a stable position in front of other currencies and specially the NSD’, Marco also explained that the politics of stabilisation of the Franc mixed with the assumption of the new Prince to the throne created a good environment for the investments in Hifax.

The 'Grupo de Princetown', reported, after an important research that is expected a growth of, at least, 6.5 per cent to 7 per cent for the GDP, driven on its majority by the services sector followed by the cosmetics and biothermics, the last high-value-added and non-polluting addition of the hifaxian economy. The Monte Carlo Casino and high-level tourism that always characterised the Principality will also register an increase of 2.1 per cent in relation with the past year, this caused primarily by the opening of the cruise terminal and the expansion of the Portofino moorings.

Other news:
•Return operations for this 2018 summer, Saint Barthélemy and Princetown
•Everything you should know about the Coronation
•Increase of violence in Belka
•Death of Prince Ismael I, end of the investigation

Comments [ 112 ]

British Hifax News Network 2018

by **Nova Deseret** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:56 am

CHANCELLOR OFFERS PRISONER RELEASE AFTER
CAPRICAN NO-FLY ZONE FAILS

The Nova Deseret Navy have been on more frequent patrols in the Gulf of Saqui to enforce our sovereignty in the waters since the seizure of the MV Black Castle caused international outcry

The Grand Republic has announced intent to release 17 crewmen detained from the MV Black Castle, which was seized in April of last year, as a goodwill gesture later this week. The crew members have been held in the Zumbuga Detention Facility in the city of Saqui for the past year, accused by Nauvoo City of illegally operating a vessel in Nova Deseret's territorial waters. At 300 days since the event, it is understood their time incarcerated will be considered time served upon their records, but they will not be permitted to work or travel in Nova Deseret for 15 years according to officials. The ships captain, Abraham Uzaniwa, and 3 others who were in positions of command will not be joining them however and are expected for their final hearing at the Peoples National Courthouse on the case against them on February 1st.

This will be the second attempt by Nova Deseret to rectify the issue after an initial early release plan was rejected back in September, where said prisoners were to be handed over to authorities at the Murkubal border crossing near the Meso city of Royan. The plan made it to within 24 hours only to break down due to the failure in talks regarding the treatment of political prisoners within Mesoland representing our natives still residing in the "Lost Lands". Although details are not known publicly at this time, certain concessions against the Meso Agenda must have been made in our favor in order for the Grand Republic to consider releasing prisoners back to the Colonials, knowing their reluctance to continue sentencing of offenders defiant of our laws & customs.

A recent review of court documents over the previous 15 years shows Novan authorities tried 3,521 similar cases against Meso citizens from ranges of from resisting custody, dangerous operation of a vessel while at sea, infringing upon our territorial waters, illegal fishing or the shipment of forbidden cargo within our borders. Roughly 230 a year, they often remained in prison for long periods, some times multiple years, awaiting cooperation from their home nation, until being released during goodwill gestures by our government due to troubles in hurdling the bureaucracy while dealing with the Meso government at much burden of our National & Provincial governments.

Not only has the incident further deteriorated the relations between Nova Deseret & Mesoland, it has caused foreign powers such as the Scottopian Isles, Ord Caprica & their imperial EATA allies to position their forces to perpetrate breaches of international law such as the blockade of the international waters & enacting a no-fly zone over large tracts of area that are in control of no single nation. These foolish moves have not weakened Nova Deseret, but only strengthened our resolve against those who wish ill-well against our Grand Republics existence and proven why we must continue the defense of our peoples sovereignty.

by **Mesoland** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 2:17 pm

Meso prisoner release shadowed by fresh reports of "ethnic cleansing" in Meso communities across Nova Deseret

Ethnic cleansing in Nova Deseret is "evil" and "will not be tolerated" - President Harris

Less than a month after being elected to office as the successor to "the Godfather of modern Mesoland", Richard Fufemwe, President Alexander Harris faces yet another major challenge as a row over a merchant vessel captured by the Nova Deseret Navy has spiralled into what observers have described as "ethnic cleansing in the heart of Nova Deseret." Late last night, 17 of the 20 crew-members of the cargo ship MV Black Castle were released from prison in Nova Deseret where they had been held for almost 10 months in a "goodwill gesture" from the Nova Deseret government. However, this exchange was widely unreported in Meso media, the public long having forgotten the original catalyst for the recent feud between Mesoland and Nova Deseret in the wake of reports from independent observers that migrant Meso workers, the majority of whom are black and living well below the poverty line, are being forcefully removed from their homes and being transported to "facilities", with reports from the town of Murkubal further suggesting that "dozens" of Meso citizens may have been wrongfully killed at the hands of the Nova Deseret armed forces. Videos of brutal beatings, children being separated from their families and homes being torched have surfaced online with at least one video depicting the brutal execution-style murder of a Meso man - dressed in only in his underwear - by Nova Deseret forces.

Following the permanent closure of the Meso embassy in Nauvoo City early last year, the Nova Deseret government introduced a number of discriminatory laws against Meso citizens in Nova Deseret. Ranging from forced closures of Meso-owned businesses to curfews being placed on Meso citizens, an illegal crackdown on all ties to Mesoland within Nova Deseret has led to a massive surge in anti-Meso sentiment within Nova Deseret society. In a statement this morning, President Harris said:
"The Meso government has consistently condemned the discriminatory and tyrannical actions of the Nova Deseret government over the past year and have offered support and guidance to all citizens affected by their new laws, almost all of which are in contravention of numerous World Assembly articles. From our own intelligence sources, however, we have reason to believe that a nation-wide ethnic cleansing of Meso citizens has begun within the borders of Nova Deseret. Not only are our own men and women being murdered in cold blood in a land they travelled to seeking new horizons, they are being rounded up and caged like animals in a situation that one worries could become something akin to genocide. These actions are abhorrent, evil and will not be tolerated. I will be in contact with other Astyrian leaders in the coming hours and days, however let me make it absolutely clear to the Nova Deseret government that should they fail to yield in this situation and end the illegal detention and slaughter of proud Meso citizens effective immediately, the government of The United Communities of Mesoland will be forced to consider its military position in response to these events. While not to downplay their plight, the mere detention of a ship's crew has now escalated to the point at which the Armed Forces of Mesoland may well be called into duty during the coming weeks should the massacre of innocent citizens fail to cease. Rest assured, your government is doing all it can and this situation will be solved one way or another."

Many have suggested that firebrand newly elected President Harris, who ran on a ticket promising more funding for the military and a hardline stance on Nova Deseret, may be serious in his intentions to seek military intervention should the situation not come to a peaceful resolution. With one of the largest militaries in the region, President Harris has a large arsenal to his disposal, however it is predicted that mobilising the entire military could take "weeks" and the idea of a war on Mesoland's doorstep would certainly frighten some. Official response from the Nova Deseret government is yet to follow.

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