The Western Isles News

by **Martenyika** » Thu Jan 09, 2020 3:01 am

Thursday January 9, 2020
RKT - Royal Kessa Times
Kessa, Martenyika

Zubele Involves Military Assets Against Organized Crime

National Guard reservists were activated to support Wednesday's crime sting in Hazhariland.

Early this morning national law enforcement as well as military assets were involved in a strike against organized crime in northwest Martenyika. Elements from both the Gendarmerie and National Guard played a crucial role in assaulting an organized crime facility in the northwest Hazhariland region.

Several suspects were taken into custody, and others were injured or killed during the course of the operation. The suspects were employed by a known criminal enterprise originating within the Republic of Aziria. Although several suspects have been identified as local Hazhari or Martenyikan, two were from Aziria itself. It is believed that they may hold considerable rank within the Azirian group's Martenyikan apparatus.

Sources from the Gendarmerie, national government, and military confirm that President Zubele authorized the usage of military assets to support efforts against the criminal organization. A company of soldiers from the Ambojary area National Guard Battalion was activated and sent northward with the President's instruction. The President's actions confirm prior suspicions about a hard line against organized crime for the new year, based on statements in his new year's speech. Zubele claimed that organized crime should be "erased with swift justice" and that criminal enterprises hold Martenyika back. The sentiment echoed Almorean President Alasdair Hallowell's anti-cartel rhetoric following a rocket strike against a cartel compound within Almorea days ago. Commentators were quick to speculate that President Zubele would adopt an "Almorean strategy" against entrenched organized crime.

According to reports, the National Guard employed two light armored vehicles equipped with machine guns, as well as grenades during the operation. "Our role was to provide support in case of resistance, which we did, and terminated a firefight quickly so that no officers or troops were injured." Indeed, there were no casualties amongst the reservists nor Gendarmerie troopers present, although several armed criminals were killed or injured in the exchange. Grenades are believed to have killed two or three of the suspects. Action reports claim that these suspects were impossible to root out otherwise, without incurring losses among the forces involved. While some call the usage of force in this situation and the overarching Almorean strategy into question, the President stands by the strategy so far, stating that "Martenyika just too the first step towards liberating itself from the heinous, bloodsucking, and slaving criminal organizations that have encroached upon it. We can only excel if we rid ourselves of their chains."

by **New Aapelistan** » Fri Jan 10, 2020 1:39 am

Aprosia Daily

— 6th of January, 2020 —
13th National Party Congress; NPC-APF approves the Federal Government policies

DAŠARÓD, DAŠARÓD CAPITAL REGION

Yesterday, the National Party Congress of the Aprosian People’s Front finished its 13th session since the founding of the Front in 1924. Exactly 3,000 representatives represented the 4 million members of the Aprosian People’s Front, with the gathering being hosted by the Central Committee of the All-Union Party Congress, headed by General Secretary Alí Hamaném of the Central Committee. Historically the largest National Party Congress in the history of the Aprosian People’s Front, the representatives of the National Party Congress were swore to duty during the opening of the National Party Congress on January 2nd in the Palace of the Aprosian Revolution, located in downtown Dašaród. During the official opening, both the Central Committee and delegations representing the Aprosian People’s Front renewed their pledges to continue the strife for Aprosian socialism and peaceful unification of the Aprosian lands.

Lasting from its opening in January 2nd until January 5th, a plethora of proposals and ideological matters that had been presented were processed by the National Party Congress, with the proposed economic and foreign policies brought by the current Federal Government receiving the bulk of attention by the National Party Congress and interest by many of its delegates and media outlets reporting on the session of the National Party Congress. However, continuing its predecessors, the 13th National Party Congress continued to stress the importance of Pan-Aprosian nationalism in the Aprosian lands, alongside continuing the drive for unification through peaceful ways with the temporary federal administration of Shanzie. Ever since the 1990s and the leadership of passed Vardám Menán, furthering peaceful relations and connections with the eastern Aprosian nation has been a key piece of policy of the Aprosian People’s Front and the Front has advanced peaceful Pan-Aprosian unification ever since.

While other proposals and pieces of legislation were processed swiftly, the inspection of the proposed policies of the Federal Government of Aprosia and the debate on these matters took most time in the National Party Congress. The so-called Two Great Advancements, constituted of ‘economic re-organization’ and ‘peaceful co-existance’, were proposed by the Hamaném administration during the middle of 2019. The contents of the Advancements, economic reforms in preparation for the achievement of an Aprosian socialist society and reinstituted foreign relations based on common benefit and shared respect of one-other’s sovereignty instead of a revolutionary manner in foreign politics, based purely on socialist solidarity, have been contested matters in Aprosian politics for long, with the earliest mainstream political proposals ranging back to the leadership of Menán. While the economic re-organization proposed to the 13th National Party Congress has never passed the All-Union Party Congress or the Supreme People’s Assembly in its current extent, it was preceded by the Economic Federalisation Plan of 1992, passed by all of the federal subject legislatures and the Supreme People’s Assembly. In a historical turn of events, the 13th National Party Congress has passed the Two Great Advancements as official Front policies, with 2147 representatives voting for the Advancements and 842 voting against, alongside 11 abstentions.

With the confirmation of the Federal Government policy and the policy of Aprosian People’s Front, the move has been regarded as a major shift in Aprosian politics by politicians and observers alike. While not yet passed by the Supreme People’s Assembly, as the Two Great Advancements are officially policies of the Federal Government instead of proposed legislation, Secretary General Alí Hamaném has commented that the policy will be taken to legislation ‘as soon as possible’.

Officially as a part of the economic re-organization of the Aprosian national economy, the Two Great Advancements claim that the Aprosian state has advanced far enough in the road to Aprosian socialism, that the socialist models of economy, currently in use in Aprosia, are no longer necessary and the next steps of national development should be economic re-organization, commonly seen as a form of economic privatization. Official proposals include just that, privatization of the economy under the models of a socialist market economy advancing the Aprosian nation further in the road of Aprosian socialism. Officially regarded as a proposal for an economic development plan, such developments would need to be first drafted by the Committees of Economic Planning, under the direction of future federal legislation and the Council of Federal Economic Affairs. Such legislation and draft for a future economic plan would need to be passed by the federal Supreme People’s Assembly and further by the individual national legislatures of the federal subjects. Such drafts are expected to come up by the next assembly of the Supreme People’s Assembly, following Hamaném’s comments on the Two Great Advancements.

Furthermore, as under the Two Great Advancements, the new foreign policy of Hameném’s administration of the Federal Government was passed as ideologically legitimate by the 13th National Party Congress and have been enacted as full Federal Government and party policy without the need for approval by the Supreme People’s Assembly or the individual national legislatures. Stressed as a necessary step to achieve the socialist market economy proposed by the economic re-organization, the Federal Government has officially stated the peaceful co-existance as a new piece of government foreign policy, a significant change from the historical foreign policies based on models of socialist solidarity, with the new foreign policy instead based on ideals of common benefit and equal respect to one-other’s sovereignty. The Federal Government is expected to take significant actions in the field of foreign relations according to the new piece of government policy.

While the Federal Government policy has been regarded as ideologically legitimate by the 13th National Party Congress and has been adopted as official Front policy, the pieces of policy that require approval of the federal legislature are yet to be fully enacted. The Federal Government is expected to present further legislation by the next session of the Supreme People’s Assembly in Dašaród, with the next session of the Assembly meeting on 15th of January.

by **Ainslie** » Fri Jan 10, 2020 2:34 pm

Your Weather: Arnton - 12C/-1C

INTERNATIONAL: “Significant” and “profitable” natural resource deposits found in Southpaw
Arnton, Ainslie

Scientists from the Upper Wesland University today made a discovery of the oil and natural gas kind on the distant landmass of Southpaw Atoll as they were surveying the area on behalf of the International Parks and Nature Organisation (IPNO) and a prominent investment firm based in Ainslie. It was a project performed in connection with the TWI Environmental Research and Conservation Commission (TWI-ERC) in order to survey for potential underground lifeforms and how they interact with different natural features. A year and a half later, complications with the research were resolved through further investigation which has revealed that there are significant oil deposits and natural gas sources within close proximity of the Atoll

Arendai International contacted Associate Professor Josiah Nallaren, who led the project.

“Trust me, we weren’t trying to find oil or natural gas. To be truthful, it messes things up, really, the finding of such significant and profitable oil deposits when you are trying to do ecological research.”

Specifically, the deposits were found near the continental shelf northeast of the Atoll.

The Ahnslen Natural Resource Extraction Federation, a wide-spanning industry group expressed surprise and pleasure at the news of the new discovery, whilst environmental groups have rushed to caution the business community to exercise restraint.

“What we have here is a discovery of a highly valuable resource in international waters. We also have an undisturbed, preserved environment with biodiversity likely unmatched in any Atoll in the eastern Seas.”
Thomas Narani, Ainslie Ocean’s Institute.

The presence of the resource in international waters also presents unique challenges from a legal dimension.

There is currently no precedent for a situation like this, according to a statement from the legal team of the International Parks and Nature Organisation.

“We can’t lie and say the discovery does not concern us. It benefits no-one to see some rush to exploit this resource. We urge for reason and order, and for the cooler heads of international law to guide any potential extraction operations.”

The Mariners, an Ahnslen environmental organisation today declared their stake on the issue - a vision for an ‘international’ area of marine preservation jointly administered by ACESTI and IPNO. Financial markets are, however, backing major resource companies to benefit from this discovery, with stocks in the industry leaders surging upwards across exchanges in Vancouvia, Keverai and Ainslie.

There have been no statements or comments yet from these companies, although they are expected and highly anticipated.

SPORT: MAX League “overhaul” inbound
Arnton, Ainslie

A 32 game season, two rebranded franchises, new venues and a brand new transfer window was what MAX League Director Liarm Henar fronted the press today to unveil. The radical overhaul of the tournament means that each team will play against one another twice in the regular season - with major beneficiaries of the expanded tournament being Highland Ridge which will get one game, Anertah which will receive two games alongside Kianara and Watarah who will both receive one game each.

Henar stated that these new venues will provide “easier access to supporters who may never have been able to get into the big cities to watch games”. However, the new venues come at the expense of major cities - who will see two of their teams rebranded from city-based franchises to regional teams. This was done to “better brand the intentions of the teams”.

The Arnton Wildfires are to become the Central Sundowners - with home games to be predominantly played at the Kerandale Cricket Ground in Arnton and a further three games leaving the city to be played in Anertah and Highland Ridge. Wildfires coach Nathan Hester stated that although the team was grateful for the new opportunities that the additional games provide. The Mayors of Highland Ridge and Anertah both signalled their support of the move, with the Governor of Arlanah weighing in, jokingly stating that Arlanah should have its “own team that will dominate the league” - but that “this would be a good start”. The Rathane Seafarers are also to be transformed into the Southern Surge and will play both of their trial games at Watarah and one regular season game.

Henar also announced the introduction of a “transfer window”, which would be the only period where players could switch teams or sign new players. This, according to Henar started today and will run until February 18 with the five franchises said to be already aware of the window.

“Expect a raft of signings”, the Director stated.

The T20 MAX League is set to begin on the 29th of February, with the Arboran Anchors taking on the Arnton Rapids in the nation’s capital.

National Weather
City (Max / Min)
Anertah (13C / 5C)
Arborai (13C / 9C)
Arnton (12C / -1C)
Hauton (9C / -5C)
Highland Ridge (14C / 6C)
Kennedai (14C / 3C)
Mandara (12C / 9C)
Menindai (15C / 2C)
Port Blaxland (14C / 5C)
Rathane (13C / 10C)
Quirindi (16C / 3C)
Watarah (12C / 6C)

by **Havalland** » Sat Jan 11, 2020 1:55 am

Royal Cryer

Kingston Devil sentenced, Jade Cobb comes clean.

After the horrific killings in Kingston, a woman was arrested and questioned. Jade Cobb, the number one suspect of the killings admitted to her crimes on Christmas day. Cobb said the killings were meant to spark a revolution, she claims that she didn't make as much as her male co-worker as a product of sexism. however, her only male co-worker was her superior, she believed in a gendered pay gap in Havalland. The WWC and other Havallish feminist groups have disowned Jade Cobb, claiming that Jade is misled and that these feminist groups is not about the women of Havalland, its to bring equality to other parts of the world. After a doctor's evaluation is was evident that Jade was schizophrenic and subject to other illnesses leading her to commit these murders.

Some minor groups have taken the side of Cobb. Jade was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to execution by lethal injection. protests against the death sentence and for Jade Cobb to be freed. Kingston authorities do not put the blame on these organizations and praise the ones that gave a helping hand to the case like WWC and HWPO. Jade's sister April Cobb gave a speech today right after Jade was found guilty. "I wish I could have known what drove my sister to commit such abhorrent acts, she thought she was right but she wasn't. my sister didn't get help, she didn't reach out, I plead any who feel the need to reach out to do so and I beg the Parlament to fund research into mental illness and support these people."

by **San Jimenez** » Sun Jan 12, 2020 3:27 pm

Above: Archbishop Antonio de Vera Cruz behind other Jimenean bishops into the National Shrine of Saint Bolivar.

Jimenean Bishops Arrive in Del Agua City for Annual Conference to discuss the Future of The Jimenean Catholic Church.

Del Agua City, January 12, 2019

|"Conference of Bishops."||S.J.|
The streets were crowded today as 8 million were in attendance as the Bishops of the Jimenean Catholic Church arrived in Del Agua City for their annual conference in the "holy city". The Conference began with a Spanish Mass being held in the National Shrine of Saint Bolivar Jimenez. Afterward, the Jimenean bishops led the faithful on a massive procession throughout the city to various religious sites. Topics to be discussed will most likely be sexual abuse, abortion, vocations, and the rise of the Traditional Latin Mass.

The conference comes at an interesting time for Jimenean Catholics. In 2019, the overall Catholic Church was ravaged by sexual abuse scandals that have left a number of Catholics in San Jimenez to voice their concerns with the leaders. Archbishop Antonio de Vera Cruz stated last year that it was a top priority of the Jimenean Church to ensure the safety of its parishioners and the integrity of its clergy. It is assumed that the issue will be discussed by the bishops over the period of the conference. There have been low reports of sexual abuse from clergy in San Jimenez and the Jimenean archbishop intends to maintain/lower those reports. Archbishop Vera Cruz has suspended clergy in San Jimenez who has been proven guilty of sexual abuse and now wishes to ensure his bishops will do the same.

Another expected topic is the bishops' response to the rise of "Traditional Catholicism". Over the past few years, the number of traditional Catholics has steadily risen and is now estimated to make up 38% of Jimenean Catholics. However, the lack of Traditional Latin Masses in the country has led to the frustration of those who seek the mass. Archbishop Vera Cruz had begun offering the Latin Mass in national shrine about a year ago as many Catholics were left with little options. Some bishops have suggested training more priests who are capable of offering the Latin mass in San Jimenez. That suggestion is likely to be discussed amongst the Jimenean bishops. Four of the six bishops have stated their support for the Novus Ordo mass in English and Spanish for Jimenean Catholics while the other two have voiced their support for the Traditional Latin Mass. It will be up to Archbishop Vera Cruz to convince the conference to come to an agreement.

With 92% of Jimeneans identifying as Catholics, the implications of this conference will most definitely be felt throughout the nation. The bishops are expected to have their closing mass in roughly two weeks and return to their respective dioceses.

Thank you for choosing and supporting the Gran Teran Gazette. We bring you reliable news from a reliable source!

by **New Aapelistan** » Fri Jan 17, 2020 3:34 am

Aprosia Daily

— 15th of January, 2020 —
Supreme People’s Assembly approves liberalization: preparation for the 500-Day Program begin

DAŠARÓD, DAŠARÓD CAPITAL REGION

A historical National Party Congress has paved the way for a historical bill in the Supreme People’s Assembly of Aprosia, as the Federal Government of Aprosia passed the ‘All-Union Directive on the 500-Day Program for the Advancement of the Aprosian National Economy and the Aprosian Socialist Revolution’. The directive, proposed by the Hamaném administration, was passed in the Supreme People’s Assembly today with 422 representatives voting for the proposed directive, with 142 voting against and 36 abstaining from the vote. The Federal Government, represented by Prime Minister Mašrán Dorán during the absence of the President, congratulated the representatives of the Supreme People’s Assembly and the people it represents on the massive step taken today towards the achievement of Aprosian socialism in the Aprosian homeland.

Fruit of the Two Great Advancements policy of the Federal Government of Aprosia that was endorsed as ideologically legitimate by the 13th National Party Congress, the Federal Government has attempted to compose the proposed policies into functional federal legislation since the formation of the concurrent Federal Government in early February of 2019. However, opposing elements in the Supreme People’s Assembly and uncertainty of the ideological and economic elements of the proposed legislation has previously kept the legislation from passing in the Supreme People’s Assembly. Further discussion and the approval of the Two Great Advancements as official policy of the Aprosian People’s Front has however broken the standstill regarding the now once again proposed legislation, leading to the Supreme People’s Assembly passing the legislation. The federal directive is anticipated to bring major changes to the Aprosian nation in the form of the 500-Day Program. As a federal directive, the legislation is further passed down from the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Union to the individual national legislatures of the federal subjects to be further adopted as legislation in the federal subjects, with different steps taken by each federal subject to achieve a common announced goal. Furthermore as a form of an economic plan, all of the individual Committees of Economic Affairs of each federal subject is expected to work in conjunction with the Committee of Federal Economic Affairs to achieve the intended goals of the federal directive legislation.

What in effect the 500-Day Program and the approved federal legislation is driving for however is the liberalization and privatization of the Aprosian national economy, with only a few sectors or assets of the economy remaining in state-ownership. Ranging from March 24th until the August 6th of the next year, major portions of the agriculture, industry and service industry are to be privatized under the new proposed government body, Committee of Economic Privatization, to achieve a socialist market economy advancing the Aprosian nation further into the goal of Aprosian socialism. Privatization of these sectors will be achieved through making the individual enterprises responsible for their profits, spending and overall activity, cutting the control of the national system of economic control and creating a system where individual private entities and people can either receive or purchase economic assets. To achieve this, the Federal Government has declared the opening of the first modern Aprosian stock exchange to be opened in the capital on 24th of March.

Aprosia Daily

— 15th of January, 2020 —
President Hamaném and his delegation to visit Almorea

DAŠARÓD, DAŠARÓD CAPITAL REGION

Starting tomorrow, President Hamaném will attend a foreign diplomatic meeting in Ellsburgh, the capital of Almorea. The President will travel from Dimíras Ketséluv International in Dašaród with a delegation consisting of himself as the President and the General Secretary, Foreign Minister Ramán Mandárem, Central Committee member Danír Haján and others from the federal subjects and enterprises of the Aprosian Union. The visit has been regarded as a part of the ‘peaceful co-existance’ policy of the Federal Government of Aprosia. The visit will signify an important shift in the relations between the two countries as the first official visit of a head of state into either of the countries. As such, both states have declared to change their ‘charge d’affairs’ representatives into proper ambassadors.

Representing Almorea during the visit will be the President of Almorea, Alasdair Hallowell and his deputy Nora Soodalter, alongside Secretary of State Kirk Thurson and Royce Canseco, the Mayor of Ellsburgh. The visit will primarily take place in Ellsburgh.

by **Almorea** » Fri Jan 17, 2020 4:00 pm

JANUARY 17, 2020

Hallowell hosts Aprosia's Hamaném, flipping the diplomatic "on" switch

President Alasdair Hallowell speaks at the re-opening at the Museum of the Grand Army of the Republic in Ellsburgh on January 14, 2020

ELLSBURGH- President Alasdair Hallowell and the nation's top officials turned out in Ellsburgh today to welcome Aprosian President Alí Hamaném and his delegation for an official state visit, marking the start of new diplomatic ties after decades of cool relations.

Mr. Hallowell, wearing a tightly-pressed suit and red-and-blue tie, was joined on the steps of Carldon Hall by Deputy President Nora Soodalter, Secretary of State Kirk Thurson, and Royce Canseco, the businessman recently elected as Ellsburgh's new mayor. Also accompanying the President were Senate presiding officer Jon Fitzlane (F-Frasyrland), representing Congress, and Navy Secretary Eleanor Speed, representing the armed forces.

Special Security personnel were thick on the ground, and High Street was closed for most of the day, causing snarling traffic congestion throughout the capital.

200 men of the Republican Guard drew up in parade formation when Mr. Hamaném and his delegation, including Aprosian foreign minister Ramán Mandárem, arrived at Carldon Hall. Mr. Hamaném, who is also General Secretary of the socialist nation's ruling Central Committee, shook hands with Mr. Hallowell before the two presidents stood at attention to hear the Almorean and Aprosian anthems played by a brass band.

The two presidents reviewed the troops of the Guard before retiring into the Burgundy Room of Carldon Hall, festooned with Almorean tricolors and the red-and-blue banners of Aprosia, for an hour-long photo op.

Mr. Hallowell and Mr. Hamaném, sitting in the Burgundy Room, hailed the visit as the first step towards a "new era" in Almorean-Aprosian relations. As part of the process of normalization, Mr. Hallowell announced that he would inform the Senate of his nomination of an official ambassador to Aprosia, replacing the interim charge d'affaires currently residing in Dašaród, a step reciprocated by the Aprosian government.

"We'll be sending an ambassador over there. We've got a great choice picked out," Mr. Hallowell told gathered reporters. "It's called turning a page in the history of our two countries. New trade, new everything. You're all gonna like it."

The visit from Aprosia, a socialist nation with a state-controlled economy and few political freedoms, was welcomed by leftist politicians in Almorea, many of them belonging to Mr. Hallowell's Almorean Party (AMP), which controls the executive branch. Sen. Patrick Concannon (A-Baranor) hailed the visit as "a diplomatic triumph[...] a good way to invigorate our foreign outlook in the new decade", while Rep. Dawna Pennie (A-Culawee) praised Mr. Hamaném as "a shrewd, and valuable, friend" and thanked President Hallowell for inviting him.

Sen. Estanislau Carvalho (A-New Arvan), who represents a more conservative province, was more tepid, pointing to "Aprosia's lack of civil rights" as a disincentive to "full cooperation" but still commending Mr. Hallowell for arranging the visit.

The conservative Federal Party, which controls both houses of Congress, stood opposed to the Aprosian visit, with sixteen Federalist senators and 214 representatives signing a letter to Deputy President Soodalter, who is the ceremonial head of Congress, condemning Aprosia as "a communist dictatorship" and criticizing the Hallowell administration for "holding out the hand of friendship to a state where freedom is criminalized". Mrs. Soodalter called the letter "damaging to our diplomacy" and said its authors were "misguided".

The Hallowell administration envisions renewed trade ties with Aprosia, a majority-Islamic nation and a significant military and economic power located in the Southern Sea region. Relations between the countries have been frosty ever since the Ralston administration cut diplomatic ties in 1969, citing "aggressive de-Christianization". An attempt to revive normal contact under the socialist administration of Stephen Carvalho failed in 1978, when Carvalho resigned after being impeached for misuse of public funds. Aprosia was torn by civil war at the time.

Some analysts believe that the re-opening of ties with Aprosia signals Mr. Hallowell's intention to shift the AMP towards the left as the 2020 legislative elections approach. In his annual address to Congress on February 18, which will be broadcast on national television, the President is expected to announce more openly socialist policies, such as extending state control over railways and Almorea's national airline, and repealing debt caps to allow increased federal spending on the Department of Public Assistance and subsidies to farmers.

The Times of Ellsburgh reserves all rights to this publication. Copyright MMXX.

by **Nhoor** » Sun Jan 19, 2020 5:00 am

by **Martenyika** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 3:58 am

Saturday January 25, 2020
RKT - Royal Kessa Times
Kessa, Martenyika

Mountain Troops Join the New War on Crime

Soldiers of the 21st Mountain Battalion training in steep terrain.

The new war on crime has continued with another strike against organized crime elements within the nation. The strike, which took place in a mountainous region of Martenyika, involved soldiers specialized in mountain warfare.

Members of the 21st Mountain Battalion played a crucial role in the assault. A team of mountaineers negotiated steep and rocky cliffs in order to infiltrate organized crime territory, at which point they struck a fortified compound. According to military spokespeople, analysts believed that the cliffs would be largely unguarded, due to the difficulty of the terrain. The plan called for mountain troops to exploit this weakness and attack an organized crime compound.

Although thought to be nearly impervious to law enforcement prosecution, the high altitude compound fell in large part due to the mountain troopers involved. The compound would be almost impossible to attack normally, because the criminal element controlling it could see law enforcement officers approaching from the main road well before they could arrive. The criminals were also capable of defending the road into their compound with dangerous automatic weapons and explosives. Mountaineers infiltrated by way of the cliff face, where they used similar weaponry of their own in order to dislodge organized crime resistance. Locals claim that there was a series of explosions prior to an eruption of gunfire. Another source claims that the mountaineers used at least one mortar to target specific spots within the compound, allowing law enforcement officers to advance with better safety.

The 21st Mountain Battalion was involved in the "Jackal Summit" exercises three months ago, a joint training exercise welcoming San Montagnan Alpine troops to Martenyika. As the Martenyikan Forces Newsletter reported in October, Jackal Summit was the first of its kind for mountaineers since 2008. The two forces tested each other's tactics and experience, although proponents of President Zubele's new anti-organized crime policy might ultimately thank San Montagna for the mountaineers' success. There are no comments about whether or not Jackal Summit was planned to help train for the assault, three months in advance, or if it was unrelated.

by **New Totzka** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 7:04 pm

The death of Nikitha Savitri was a tragic combination of both historical violence and modern corruption

Cha-Kassa-Avael is a typically picturesque Picoan village nestled in western Faixa Oeste, overlooking a misty valley populated by herds of goats. The village’s predominantly Buddhist and Pamil-speaking inhabitants have gathered in its main square to commemorate the short life of 6 year old Nikitha Savitri who was tragically killed when she stepped on revolution era shoebox mine while playing on the mountainside, her life a victim of a war that ended over three decades before she was born. The coffin is closed casket.

Nikitha will likely be the first of an estimated two hundred and thirty one Totzkans who are annually killed or injured in landmine related accidents, the vast majority of whom live in rural settlements with limited contact to emergency services like Cha-Kassa-Avael, a village which also suffers from irregular access to electricity or clean water. The closest hospital is located around thirty miles away in the valley town of Oleiro, but it takes a three-hour drive along poorly maintained mountain roads to reach it. Many of the residents here claim that Nikitha’s life could have been saved had she received the proper care.

According to a government report published in 2016, there are an estimated seventy former minefields in Totzka that still pose a threat to life, although many critics have argued that this is a severe undercount. These minefields date from the Totzkan Revolution where landmining was a tactic employed by most of the major factions although the National Liberation Legion (LELINAR) and the United Totzkan’s Revolutionary Army (ERPU), which would go on to form the early governments of the Totzka, were notoriously prolific users of the weapons. The landmine that claimed Nikitha’s life was likely part of a minefield constructed by LELINAR forces under the command of Olavo Guerra to protect their position during the siege of Oleiro in 1969. Guerra would later serve a deputy director of Housing under President Amitabh Sanjiv, LELINAR’s former commander-in-chief. The fact that in 2020 the life of Buddhist child was taken by a landmine placed by a catholic sectarian organisation has already attracted much social comment, highlighting the so-called religious fault line of Totzka.

The shoe-box landmine responsible for the death is a particularly brutal instrument, a weapon built with the philosophy that it is preferable to maim an opponent rather than to kill them to force the enemy to divert resources to care for the wounded. The typically shoe-box landmine is no bigger than a hand and built from plastic to avoid discovery from metal detectors. Inside are packed just enough explosives to blow away the foot of the unfortunate soul whose steps on it.

Since the conclusion of the revolution in 1979 successive governments have repeatedly made promises to identify and clear the remaining minefields in Totzka. There have been some successes, all South Totzkan states were declared landmine free in 1998 with Osyante-Apayo following suit in 2005. However, these achievements have not been replicated in the poor eastern states. Indeed, almost all of the two hundred and four landmine incidents reported last year occurred in Yhaiva and the Picoan states. This disparity has been blamed on both endemic corruption at the state level and a lack of attention by the federal government.

In 2016, the Faixa Oeste state government renewed a 40-million-dollar contract to Geossoluções PLC to help clear the state of landmines. A cursory look at Geossoluções’ board of directors will reveal names such as Chael Sachairi Siôr, Faixa Oeste’s former State-Governor and Agãta Tércio Jerônimo, the adopted son of former leader of the criminal organisation Sindicato Aristocrático. The Sindicato Aristocrático involvement in the incident stands directly in contrasts with repeated government claims that the Sindicato Aristocrático have been eradicated from the Picoan states and the days of the syndicate’s drug empire based in the mountainous states are a thing of history.

Nikitha’s death is direct consequence of the failure to address such sleaze and no doubt the federal government will face calls to investigate, although considering the current government’s reluctance to deal with corrupt public officials its likely that action to address the underlying issues to this tragedy will be limited and slow to take effect.

by **Brulafi** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 10:58 pm

Third Woman Found Dead Near Budakraj, More Missing:
A Killer on the Loose?

Volunteer searchers applaud solemnly as a Miliţija car escorts the body of a young woman.

BUDAKRAJ—The city of Budakraj is mourning today after another one of its daughters were found buried in the hills surrounding the lakeside late Thursday. The death, the third in recent months to be connected together by some, likely happened earlier in the month, when the woman and two others went missing in the early morning hours of January 1st. The already very close-knit community has drawn even closer after these deaths and disappearances, with a candlelight vigil held on Friday night and frequent, community-organized search parties delving deeper and deeper into the wooded hills with fading hope of finding the last two girls. Despite the death of one victim, and the ever-increasing time it has taken to find them, the town clings to the feeling that the two others may yet be found alive. Time and time again, dedicated community members, whether they knew the girls or not, board onto buses and head into the woods to begin searching, ultimately returning empty-handed. Regardless, the local Miliţija bureau has refused to release details pertaining to the wider nation and media. Indeed, the almost-total lack of public information regarding the case has come to frustrate many, both in Budakraj and the surrounding Lakeside area, though the Miliţija defend their actions; they cite the victims being legal minors, respecting family's concerns for privacy, and intentions to prevent copycat killings as their primary motives behind their controversial decision.

Despite the shocking murders of the two women late at night earlier in the year, the City decided to hold New Years' celebrations as usual, in defiance of such a murderer. But after three young women disappeared following the festivities—with one later turning up dead—many citizens wonder if there may be, indeed, someone so deranged as to stalk the night and, almost ritualistically, leech off the city's socialites for their own sick, deranged pleasure. The causes of death for all three young women, while too gruesome to be detailed in a family publication, do seem to match and have led investigators to suspect that, indeed, one person may be the killer of all three women.

With three confirmed deaths and two seeming more possible by the day, the former bauxite boomtown of Budakraj has descended into an atmosphere of fear and paranoia. In a town where parents used to let even their youngest children roam free at night without fear, an air of eerie silence descends like a fog after sundown. Even adults fear leaving their houses in anything but broad daylight. The jovial atmosphere of an industrial town has now been replaced, for the moment, with a sense of razor-thin paranoia that may snap at a moment's notice. Even out-of-place sounds, like an autobus engine backfiring, caused brief upstarts of panic downtown yesterday. As one resident intimated in a local bar the night that the third victim was brought out of the woods, "I used to be in a Forward Operations Unit up in Chuli back in the day. Budakraj now feels a lot less like the Budakraj that I grew up in, and a lot more like those forsaken outposts up there. You feel just so alone, and afeared* that someone's gonna grab your daughter, or your son, or even you, next. And the guy's probably one of us, too. I mean, he has to know this town well." Indeed, many residents, and the Miliţija, share this concern that the killer is a longtime resident of the city.

For now, all that can be hoped is that the last two girls are found, that the killings stop, and that Budakraj can try to go back to the jovial place it once was. The Dudley Lake Beacon extends its heartfelt condolences to the victims' families in this trying time, and wishes that justice prevails in the end on behalf of these innocent victims.

*slang pronunciation of a Brulafi word that was translated into English version to retain interview authenticity.

by **Dragao do Mar** » Wed Jan 29, 2020 9:43 am

29th of January | Meireles, AL

Jacirianist temple attacked in Meireles

Jacirian temple in fire.

In the night of yesterday, Tuesday, a group of masked men approached to a Jacirianist temple in a suburb of Meireles and set fire on it. The public surveillance registered the moment when the criminals spilled gasoline and put on fire in the building. The structure that was made of wood and straw burned quickly and collapsed, and 13 persons who were in a ceremony inside of it couldn't get out in time. All the victims were transported to the public hospital Tratamento de Emergência Meireles, but nine of them didn't resist to the burns. The hate crime, which killed a entire family and the temple's priest, Omari Kassaro, is believed to be an act of religious intolerance, which is growing in Dragão do Mar especially in the north of the province of Aldeota, know for being a region with a conservative culture and where is located the city of Meireles, the third most populous Marian city.

The Jacirianism, which is the cult to the goddess Jaci and other divinities of the ancient Tabajaran culture, is a neopaganist religious celebration that was born in the mid of the 20th century in the city of Messejana. It started with a single chapel, and slowly it attracted the attention of people across the country, mostly young people from the province of Messejana, located in the south of Dragão do Mar. The cult was criminalized in the 60's, which was a period marked series of conflicts between conservative Catholics and persons adept to other religions, including the Buddhism, Gurung Dharma and Whindism. The Jacirianism was only decriminalized in the 70's, and in the years after 1992 the reports of hate crimes based in religious faiths decreased exponentially.

According to a research of the sociologist Amanda Okubo, a professor of the Provincial University of Aldeota, there are more than 93 active extremist groups in Dragão do Mar, and 66 of them are concentrated in the north of the country, mostly in the city of Meireles. The researcher has found that around 2 thousand persons are linked to these groups, which includes movements that support Neo-Nazism, fascism, racial segregation and conservative Catholicism.

"I'll be in deep sorrow for a long time thinking about the victims of this attack" said Luana Iracema, the leader of the Jacirianist institution "For me it's haunting that, yet in the year of 2020, religious intolerance is still exist. Dragão do Mar doesn't deserve to live together with that. It's a matter of time until the justice of Jaci arrive to punish those who disseminate prejudice"

The Marian police is investigating the public surveillance of Meireles in search for suspects.

by **Negarakita** » Wed Jan 29, 2020 10:07 am

Suvurnia
The rise of roti?

Survey data shows that traditional Suvurnian hawker food is making a comeback

Hawker stands such as these, once decried as a public nuisance, are in vogue again

By: Augustin Yanyan

The yearly Suvurnian culinary advisory board survey on alimentary habits has been released for 2019, and the results have come as somewhat of a surprise to many. While many in the city will remember LegCon's 2003 campaign to clean up Suvurnia's streets in order to promote the futuristic image planned out in their Vision 2015 directive, the taxes and zoning limits passed on hawker stands have done little to diminish the popularity of Suvurnia's "traditional fast food". Quite the contrary, in the most recent alimentary habits survey over 86% of all those surveyed indicated that they purchased food at hawker stalls frequently.

The drivers? According to the survey, there were several major factors which have contributed to the rising popularity of street food in Suvurnia. The first is practicality. Most survey respondents identified that their lives were often very busy and they did not possess the time to eat at a restaurant or to prepare their own meals, so the prospect of a meal that can be eaten on the go and where the time delay between ordering and eating is a matter of seconds is highly appealing. While zoning laws have limited the universal nature of street food stands to specific areas, these are still sufficiently placed to ensure that every Suvurnian has a stall either on the way to work from the metro station or close to work for that lunch break rush.

Another key factor is the price. Restaurants increasingly tailor themselves to the burgeoning tourist sector, with prices at sit-in restaurants rising by an average of 5% across the territory and up to 20% in some of the tourist hotspots. In contrast, despite the application of taxes on hawker stands in 2003, their low operational costs and limited menu diversity (most stands have specialities they stick to) mean that prices have remained more or less stable since 2003 and undercut restaurants considerably. As living costs rise in other areas, being able to cut several Areu out of one's monthly expenditure by eating at a hawker centre is a major positive.

Taste was also cited as a reason. According to many, the only way to get an authentic taste of Suvurnian cuisine is to eat it on the streets where it is traditionally sold. This is helped by the touristic nature of many restaurants, who tout "authentic Suvurnian" tastes which end up bland to appeal to the foreign palate. Hawker stalls often sell traditional family recipes and their staff, again by virtue of their smaller menu sizes, know how to cook what they cook.

The trend of hawker revival was initially deemed to be a hipster trend, with millennials looking for new and "undiscovered" ways to eat. However, the immense popularity of hashtags such as #SuvStreetEats with all demographics reveals that it is not an isolated trend. The implications of this trend are yet to be seen, however, it is sure that those in the hospitality sector will be paying closer attention to the street food scene and how to capitalise off this new interest.

by **Nhoor** » Sat Feb 01, 2020 11:37 am

by **Almorea** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 3:51 pm

NEWSWIRE

Navy partners with Nhoor fleet for first bilateral exercises

Noble Island (APA)- The Almorean Navy today took to the North Mesder Sea for joint exercises with its counterpart from Nhoor, in a show of military cooperation between the two Raedlon nations.

Operating out of the Navy's base on Noble Island off the coast of Roonmore province, two destroyers and five frigates of the North Mesder Battlegroup joined the assault carrier St. Michael the Archangel for maneuvers with the Nhoor navy. Besides executing tactical movements, the two nations' warships practiced targeting and signalling exercises. The Almorean assault carrier launched Corindi-made Ansar fighter jets, allowing pilots to rehearse their landings.

Rear Admiral Harrison Barnaby, the Almorean commander, hoisted his flag in the destroyer Robert William Howard and was joined for the exercises by Navy Secretary Eleanor Speed, as well as by Major General John Steele, the nation's top military commander and war secretary.

The Nhoor navy, known colloquially as the Sasīnti, participated with an array of destroyers, frigates, submarines, and auxiliary ships. Its commander, Admīral Orumha Hwrcech-W̦stws, observed from her flagship before joining Admiral Barnaby for lunch on board the St. Michael the Archangel. She was joined by Nhoor defense minister Parhus Parhecuch.

President Alasdair Hallowell called the exercises "strong" and professed his excitement for their continuation; a second and third round of maneuvers are expected to be held later in February.

Mr. Hallowell also praised Nhoor prime minister Huldoro Sā̦ƨws-Patorheqh as "an excellent, smart woman" and confirmed his plans to attend the coronation of Prince Maximus of Havalland as King of Nhoor later in the spring of 2020. The prince, a descendant of the country's extinct Cenharruc dynasty, was formally invited to take the throne last month.

Almorea and Nhoor have recently been drawn closer into talks about increased cooperation, potentially including tightened security and trade ties. The Hallowell administration views a Nhoor alliance as a useful compliment to the ailing ALDRATO bloc. Last week, former president Andrew Crawford, currently the Almorean ambassador to Nhoor, warned that ALDRATO "risks becoming mired in passivity".

Some reports have suggested that the President will seek to extend his tenure as chief of ALDRATO into early 2021, in a move to ensure tighter Almorean control of the alliance's institutions. Mr. Hallowell has angrily rejected these motives, attacking speculation as "trying to paint me with an evil brush".

Reports allege Hallowell improperly accepted gifts from Aprosian delegation

ELLSBURGH (APA)- The nation's capital was in uproar today after allegations surfaced that President Alasdair Hallowell improperly accepted gifts from the Aprosian government, in a possible violation of anti-bribery laws.

A leaked communication between the State and Justice Departments, obtained by the Daily Stalwart newspaper, refers to "multiple complaints" that Mr. Hallowell violated the Integrity Act by directing his personal comptroller to file paperwork accepting valuable Aprosian gifts, including a $9,000 suit and a $45,000 jewelled necklace, after the state visit on January 17. The gifts were reportedly purchased outside Aprosia.

On January 27, ten days after the state visit, Mr. Hallowell fired his comptroller and had another staffer in the Executive Office, which manages the President's personal affairs, reassigned to the Treasury Department. A third employee was suspended on January 31.

At the time, the Office's spokesperson claimed the suspension was due to "sexual misconduct". In a statement issued this evening, Carldon Hall defended the firing of the comptroller as "a minor matter of housekeeping".

Attorney General Dave Merenlaine refused to comment on the leaked allegations. President Alasdair Hallowell, who has spent the day touring western Roonmore amidst ongoing naval exercises with Nhoor, called the Daily Stalwart's report "a big nothing" and pointing out that his predecessors had accepted gifts also.

"Mitch Manners got a big mechanical bull," Mr. Hallowell said, referring to his conservative predecessor, "and other people have gotten other things. You get things all the time. You give and you take. That's just how the world works. That's just diplomacy," the President continued.

Mr. Hallowell is due to give his annual address to Congress on February 18, a major event that will be televised nationally. Tonight, three Federalist senators called the allegations "worrying", while Rep. Doug Merriman (F-Talavora) raised the specter of an "impeachable offense".

Sen. Patrick Concannon (A-Baranor), a four-month senator who has emerged as one of the administration's staunchest defenders, told reporters that "the media should really be focusing on things other than whatever stupid thing is coming out of Ellsburgh every hour."

When asked to provide an example, the senator cited "the low price of lettuce."

ALMOREAN PRESS ASSOCIATION- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ©MMXX

by **Haasar** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 5:54 pm

February 5th, 2020
The Selago Chronicle
Titan City, Haasar

TITAN CITY VIGILANTE?

At approximately noon today, a group of four men, armed with shotguns and rifles, entered the Titan City Central Bank, taking all 14 of the people inside hostage. Police arrived at the scene at 12:30 to automatic gunfire coming from inside, and upon entering, found two of the robbers dead, and the other two in a gunfight with an armored man on the second floor of the bank. For another 5 minutes, the police, robbers, and armored man exchanged gunfire between each other until the armored man threw a concussion grenade into the bottom floor, and killed the last two robbers before fleeing the scene. The individual is described as wearing a heavy duty bulletproof vest, and a distinct ballistic helmet with red eyes and a white skull printed on the front. This individual has also been witnessed at numerous other crime scenes killing robbers and even engaging with members of the WDF. Does Titan City have a vigilante on our hands?

by **Martenyika** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 9:53 pm

Wednesday February 5, 2020
RKT - Royal Kessa Times

Member of Parliament Blasts Zubele for Militarization Against Organized Crime

Following a string of militarized raids against organized crime bases, Martenyikans have been debating over the necessity of involving military assets. The most recent assault involved soldiers who were trained in mountain warfare, who reportedly struck organized criminals with explosive mortar fire. Before that, reserve soldiers of the National Guard were deployed in Hazhariland. Today Eastern Citizens Party leader Mondli Asani called out the President on the issue. The financial cost alone is unjustifiable, according to the leader. "President Zubele, leave law enforcement to law enforcement. The money we will waste from your military involvement could be used to improve the lives of struggling Martenyikans," Asani said in a short speech. Although the Eastern Citizens Party is not considered a major party, Mondli Asani called on his fellow members to support him in his opposition on the issue...READ MORE >>>

Future Grim for Kinahtown Mining Company, Economist Predicts

It has been several months since the Kinahtown disaster killed seven coal miners and injured several others. While some of the injured miners have recovered, others are trying to survive, much like the company itself. The Kinahtown Mining Company has had accusations, investigations, and strikes levied against them by disgruntled individuals. United Workers of Martenyika official Adin Orande organized strikes starting in late December, and strikes persisted through late January. All of this has had a profoundly negative effect on the company according to economist Benjamin Zubery. "It's a very tumultuous and costly time for the company, and without what is essentially their flagship mine, I don't see them lasting for much longer..."READ MORE >>>

by **San Jimenez** » Thu Feb 06, 2020 2:13 pm

Jimenean officials, along with Hearn Canone, arrive at the Basilica of Saint Anthony in Del Agua to meet with the archbishop.

HEARN CANONE AND ARCHBISHOP DE VERA MEET TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN THE COUNTRY.

Del Agua City, March 24, 2020

|"Church and State"||S.J.|
Government officials departed Gran Teran this morning for their annual meeting with the head of the Jimenean Catholic Church, Archbishop De Vera. The meeting began with an opening Mass and a procession through Del Agua city. At the conclusion of the procession, the archbishop and officials arrived at the Basilica of Saint Anthony where Archbishop De Vera addressed the crowd that had gathered around the building. After the final blessing was given by the archbishop, he and Hearn Lucas Canone met privately in the bishop's office at the basilica.

Multiple schools, Churches, hospitals, community centers, and various public buildings have received government aid to prepare for any possibilities.

Thank you for choosing and supporting the Gran Teran Gazette. We bring you reliable news from a reliable source!

by **Mageek** » Mon Feb 10, 2020 6:15 pm

February 10, 2020
The Magekite Voice
The Republic of Mageek

Mageek Announces Popular Armament Plan

"We have nothing to fear from our own. By arming ourselves, we empower our workers and encourage them not to fear any invader, either."

Mageek's vulnerability to invasion has long been a painful reality for Magekite officials. Generally relying on alliances and on international law to protect themselves, many Magekites had adopted a rather cynical view on hypothetical military scenarios, with most experts hypothesizing Mageek's fall in hours in the event of a well-coordinated invasion.

"This is only one step towards ensuring our independence," comments Minister of Defense Ashur Lutfullayev. "However, combating defeatism is arguably among the most important."

Volunteers will receive a yearly combination of standardized and location-specific military training, as well as the right to own weapons at home. Officials rushed to point out that controls would still be in place to prevent guns from falling into the hands of potential abusers.

They will also be trained to communicate and coordinate with Mageek's small professional military, along with getting survival training and supplies in the event of a prolonged guerilla war.

"Let Mageek be a bastion of freedom for the Magekite," said Zakir Yahyayev, displaying an unusual glimpse of patriotism.

A cost-effective solution to the security issue, no doubt. Will it work? Hopefully, we'll never find out.

by **Brulafi** » Fri Feb 14, 2020 5:21 pm

SARIN GAS ATTACK IN MAGARAT!
Nation Falls to Chaos; Brulafi Troops Arriving to Restore Order

Brulafi troops en-route to an airbase in northern Magarat, part of an increased presence claimed to be "peacekeeping."

KHOTEHANG, ATHARA MAGARAT- Reports are now reaching outside media outlets that the city of Khotehang in northern Athara Magarat was attacked using sarin gas four days ago. Information is sparse at this time; it is still not known to the wider world how many people were either killed or injured in this incident. It is not likely that any Brulafi nationals have been injured or killed with available information. The sarin attack mostly targeted civilians, and seems to have been perpetrated as a means of subduing the populace through fear. The city of Khotehang, formerly a bustling mid-sized metropolis and a keystone in the northern Magarati economy, now is rapidly becoming merely another hotspot of conflict as the country falls into a vortex of civil unrest that many fear is falling irreversibly into war. This attack enshrines widespread violence that is the worst that the country has seen for decades, and serves as a rather unfortunate rebuke to experts who thought the nation was stabilizing and returning to a sense of peace and normalcy. The current government attempting to keep hold on power seems to be losing more grip by the day as ever more regionalist factions sprout up to force them out. It is not known at this time which of these groups perpetrated the attack, as nobody has claimed responsibility. The central government of Athara Magarat has declared the attack as being the handiwork of one of a myriad of new armed groups beginning to take various stances in opposition to the government.

Regardless of who actually perpetrated the attack, however, it is clear that the situation in Magarat is not likely to improve without serious intervention from other forces. Even before the attack, the Presidium of the General Assembly had made overtures to the Magarati government of aid and men; following this attack, and the requests of the central government, the numbers being promised just keep increasing. The first Brulafi troops have already begun to arrive and are constructing their own base system across the country, working in tandem with remaining loyal Magarati troops to further their construction. The presence of the Revolutionary Defence Force in the region marks the first major international deployment that Brulafi has seen in the 21st century, but comes only thirty years after the last major deployment to the country of Athara Magarat. Many Brulafi comrades remain much more skeptical than the central authority about the necessity and benefits of Brulafi involvement in Magarat, especially in the south, where anti-war sentiment has run high ever since the withdrawal from Chuli in the mid-1990s. In the north and north-west regions, however, the situation is much more complicated. Many Brulafis who claim Magarati ancestry have begun to vocalize support for various factions based on ethnic and familial ties. In Narakraj last week, for example, the Miliţija dispatched a Rapid Response Unit to clear up a scene of violence between two opposing Magarati groups in the center of town. On the whole, Brulafi remains on edge as the entire country turns its eyes north and anxiously awaits the results of the first widescale deployment of the Third Millennium.

by **Alteran Republics** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 8:21 am

Altera in talks with Vancouvian, Alteran
and other firms over new high-speed line

The CfII is always keen to learn from the experience of others and to consider approaches that offer value for money to the taxpayer,

If we start now, services could be running by the end of the decade. So today... the council has given high-speed rail the green signal,

We are certain that we can offer a cost that is significantly lower than the projections we have seen.

The advantages are too great, in our opinion, too great to dismiss on the basis that there are obstacles to overcome.

You will find that the Alteran way is to seek solutions, not linger on obstacles and difficulties,” it added.

The following is a paid advertisement.

by **Mokov** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 1:28 pm

16/02/2020
Lidskà Pravda
Mokovi People’s Republic

The Revolution is Here!

Late last night, members of our glorious party arrested the reactionary and antirevolutionary Ivan z Mokova, last of a long line of tyrants of this island. General Secretary Kalintov officially stripped the despot of all power and has imprisoned him and his family for crimes against the people. Long live the revolution!

by **Almorea** » Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:58 am

FEBRUARY 20, 2020

Hallowell addresses Congress on national TV, praising agenda and bashing enemies

President Alasdair Hallowell, attended by the Republican Guard, arrives outside the Palace of Congress to deliver his annual address on the evening of
February 19, 2020

ELLSBURGH- President Alasdair Hallowell stepped up before Congress last night to deliver the annual presidential address, a pompous event that was broadcast live on national television.

Members of the Cabinet joined justices of the Supreme Court in the front seats of the joint chamber of the Palace of Congress to view the speech. The rest of the room's 300 seats were filled partially with the members of both houses of Congress- 33 senators and 204 members of the Chamber of Representatives.

President Hallowell entered the room wearing the tricolor sash of state, which the President dons at state ceremonies. He was introduced by the constitutional head of Congress, none other than Deputy President Nora Soodalter, who sat in a seat placed slightly lower than Mr. Hallowell's platform on the presidium. The playing of the national anthem was begun with the blast of trumpets.

Mr. Hallowell delivered an address lasting for an hour and 47 minutes, one of the longest speeches ever delivered by the head of state. The President's words were calibrated for an election year, as Almoreans will elect a new Congress in December. Mr. Hallowell is banking on strong performances by his Almorean Party (AMP), which is currently relegated to a minority status in Congress, to unseat the majority Federalists in high-income areas. Sources inside Carldon Hall say that the President has focused especially on the three seats needed to give the AMP a 17-seat majority in the Senate.

In his 107 minutes speaking from the presidium, Mr. Hallowell ticked off the items on the AMP campaign platform, before launching into a harangue at Federalist lawmakers for obstructing his agenda. He praised his administration's trade policy and took time to elaborate on trade agreements negotiated with Martenyika and Nhoor. He also hailed the proposed creation of a Raedlon Trade Council, before asking senators to ratify plans for a regional monetary fund.

Mr. Hallowell defended his January rocket strike on a cartel compound in Gray Hills, describing it as "a nest of vipers" before vowing to find and destroy more such installations. To help resolve what he called "the cancer of syndicate crime", the President proposed that Congress fund a $500 million federal prison to process cartel inmates from the southern provinces.

Mr. Hallowell also called on Congress to back his proposed $12 billion funding increase for Almorean welfare agencies. He heaped praise on welfare secretary Bill Seiders, and announced his decision to place Mr. Seiders at the head of an advisory National Welfare Council. He also called for more money to flow to Almorean national drug plans, which provide federal aid to lower the cost of pharmaceuticals.

The President did not save his praise only for the welfare secretary. He warmly commended who the "lions, tigers, and sharks" within the ranks of the AMP who "fight every single day" in his defense. Singling out Adashawnee Rep. Mark Parde (A), Mr. Hallowell called him "a man with a very bright future" and announced his appointment to the War Council. He also announced that he had raised Ashwaith, a wealthy city in Talavora province and a prime target for the AMP in December, to special commercial status.

The end of the speech was set aside for Mr. Hallowell's grievances. The President blasted recent bribery allegations against him as a "sham story[...] cooked up by militant rightists" and defended his conduct as legal, insisting that "I stayed within the Constitution entirely."

"You can't handle it. You can't handle it," he said, as Federalists jeered and groaned. "The country does not trust you to legislate," Mr. Hallowell interjected, pointing his finger at the Federalist side of the chamber. The tense atmosphere was, however, punctuated by a few light moments. Mr. Hallowell and his audience shared a laugh when he misread a sentence on the teleprompter. At the end of the speech, the President called down God's blessing on the nation, drawing broad applause and even cheering from some Federalists.

Mr. Hallowell concluded his remarks by bowing to the framed Constitution displayed behind the presidium, a traditional act of humility made by the chief executive. But the President left the room with much less humility, strutting out of the chamber with his shoulders back and his head held high. Within an hour, he was back at Carldon Hall, where he huddled with advisers today to pore over focus group results.

Reactions to the speech on social media were generally positive. Mr. Hallowell's nationwide approval rating currently stands at 35%. An APA/FBCA poll conducted online showed that 61% of respondents gave "great" or "good" reviews to the President's address.

The Times of Ellsburgh reserves all rights to this publication. Copyright MMXX.

by **Nhoor** » Thu Feb 20, 2020 9:32 am

by **Roendavar** » Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:26 pm

21 vi Alecros, 2020

ARMED RESISTANCE IN SOUTHPAW ATOLL, CULT OF LORAS RELEASES VIDEO AND DECLARATION
Alcurascilis fontârescon i Southpaw Formeșia, Lorasixienon alaathaion electrăți oth aleiaon

The Cult of Loras, also known as the Lorasixienon, has released a video to the public detailing potential armed resistance in Southpaw Atoll. It was released through a social media site and has caused a stir in both their home country of Roendavar and the international community.

The Cult of Loras is one of the cults that make up the majority religion of Roendavar, Protacism. All of its followers believe in environmentalism and simplistic living. This is apparent in their headquarters near Ciara City in Tillianan where pockets of treehouses are constructed atop trees in the Great Lorason Forest on the Thasmon Line. The Cult of Loras is involved in several projects throughout Roendavar, mainly the conservation and protection of the country's numerous national parks. However, the cult is also linked to several eco-terrorism plots and attacks throughout the world. An example of this is the Tresi Factory Attack in 1983 that killed 56 people in the state capital of Vastaros, Lantaroci City.

The 17-minute video detailed the cult's operations around Southpaw Atoll. Without the knowledge of the international community, they managed to reach the atoll aboard three ships after departing from Marai City in Roendavar in the afternoon of February 11. The cult, along with two more boats occupied by suspected mercenaries from McHenry's Port, is seen docked in one of the atoll's small islands. The video also shows weaponry and explosives, which was demonstrated at around the 12-minute mark when a small boat was intentionally blown apart by explosives. It is estimated that around 2 dozen people are currently on the atoll, not counting mercenaries.

The leader of the band of cultists, identified as Sumeon Elgarius Velthigren, declared to the international community at the end of the video in Roendavarian, saying,

"Let this be a warning to the greedy nations of this planet. We, along with many more around the world, are willing to spill our blood to protect the environment at whatever cost. Some would find our actions drastic, some might even say madness, but who is madder? Those who wish to save our civilization for future generations? Or those who are willing to sacrifice our health, our safety, our future for more cash in their pockets?! Who is eviler? Let us point at the true evil that continues to wreak havoc in our society! It is them! The corporations! The governments! It is their avarice that will kill us all! That is evil! And we, here, are willing to do everything to stop such evil from doing further harm, especially to the pristine and important waters of Southpaw Atoll! We call upon people around the world to do everything they can to strengthen the voice of the people that serve as the embodiment of Nature! We call for a revolution! And to those who seek to stop us, we are ready to fight."

Meanwhile, the Roendavarian government, especially the King, refused to comment on the situation despite the cult's obvious affiliation with the country. Minister of the Environment Lord Iason III Alexandros Vladirai was asked for their comment on the matter but only replied with "There is nothing to comment.". A prominent critic of the government and radio host of the Voices of Dissent program, Henrius Agafon, stated in a social media post, "The hesitation of our government only proves that they support this threat to violence which goes against the values enshrined in our Constitution to uphold peace.".

The Ahnslen government has released a statement through FM Aaron Gerslin stating,

"The Unified Electorates are concerned about the recent developments coming out of Southpaw Atoll and we have entered discussions with the Roendavarian Government and other key stakeholders to provide a window for de-escalation and containment of these terrorists. We have begun to deploy a multifaceted response to the unfolding events, beginning with increased travel restrictions and border security"

Other governments around the world have yet to respond to the matter. One thing is for certain, the current situation will test the international community and will set the stage for the future of not just Southpaw Atoll, but of the world as well.

The Western Isles News

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