The Western Wire [Regional News]

[Upper Virginia]

The Courtland Daily Courier
Online Edition

Democratic Union Sits Atop Polls
Campaign Enters Final Weeks

(Courtland) Even as the surge of “sympathy” support following her escape from an assassin's bullet has ebbed, Gwen Ubrecht of the Democratic Union of Workers, Farmers, Greens and Students, appears almost certain of leading her party to a plurality in the next National Assembly. With the Upper Virginia Liberal Party still polling a close third behind the Liberty and Prosperity Party, a left-wing coalition between the Democratic Union and the Liberals seems poised to hold a solid majority in new Assembly. This makes it likely that Ubrecht will become the first leader associated with the former communist insurgents of the Free Virginia Liberation Army to assume the prime ministership. Although Ubrecht has denied any direct association with the FLVA during its guerilla war against the Altman regime and its decade-long occupation of the City of Harrington, she does admit to being an “activist” opposed to the military dictatorship and a member of the Democratic Union even before peace accords legalised its long-suspected underground association with the FVLA.

[Excalbia]

Popular People Online

Princess Christiana Weds Long-time Gal Pal in Xirnium

According to multiple sources, Princess Christiana, 53, and her Chief of Staff and long-suspected lover Janet Latsone, 48, jetted off to Xirnium where they married in a civil ceremony. The wedding, reportedly witnessed by Princess Christiana’s adopted son, Lord Tariq of Mezciems, and Latsone’s mother, was followed by a blessing at a Lutheran Church in Närväryn. The Imperial Household Agency has confirmed that Latsone has formally resigned as Princess Christiana’s Chief of Staff. A spokesman for the Emperor released a statement appearing to confirm the wedding, without confirming any details:

His Imperial Majesty loves his sister very much and is pleased that she has found happiness in her marriage. His Imperial Majesty is pleased to recognize Ms. Latsone as his sister-in-law.

Under a recent Imperial Edict, the Princess’ Xirniumite marriage to Latsone can be recognized as legal for most purposes in the Excalbia, despite the continuation of the ban on same sex marriages being performed in the Holy Empire.

[Soveriegn States]

The Daily National Register
Online Edition

Secession On The Ballot!

(Jefferson) Earlier today Congress passed a measure that will formally place the question of whether or not Saxmere should secede from the Confederation on the ballot in Saxmere . The referendum will take place as part of regularly scheduled mid-term and local elections later this year. President Collins, a native of Saxmere, declined to sign the legislation, but also refused to veto it, allowing it to become law without his approval. A statement from the Presidential Mansion said that the President considers secession “a settled matter” and that he urges Saxmereans to “vote to maintain the bonds of unity and brotherhood” with the rest of the Confederation.

According to the Saxmere Secession Referendum Act, if the citizens of Saxmere approve secession, it will automatically become the first order of business in the new Congress. It is expected that Congress would approve secession and that the debate and subsequent Articles of Secession would be necessary only to resolve issues such as the division of debts and assets, the establishment of borders, and citizenship and immigration procedures.

[Zamimbia]

The New Hope New Day

Protests Turn Violent in Winburg

(Winburg) Competing groups of protestors clashed today in the Soutwestern Province twon of Winburg. The first group was a sanctioned demonstration by Boer parents protesting the closure of several schools in the Province and demanding their reopening. A second group broke off the first and began chanting slogans demanding secession and union with the break-away South-West Epheronian Republic, a pseudo-state not universally recognised. The main body of the protestors replied with chants opposing session and demanding equality within Zamimbia. Near-by National Police units observed the shouting match between the rival groups of Boers without taking action.

Unexpectedly, a third group of demonstrators, claiming to be members of the Buta National Congress, arrived by bus and joined the fray. They carried signs denouncing South Epheron for apartheid and South-West Epheron for “treason”. When they began denouncing the Boer demonstrators as “racists,” the groups began to clash. According to reports posted on social media, the National Police stood by and allowed the groups to fight with each other.

As injuries began to mount on both sides, a mechanised infantry regiment of the Republican Army arrived and soldiers moved to stop the violence. Reportedly, the soldiers fired rubber bullets into the crowd. Several people on both sides were arrested and taken into military custody.

While neither the Army nor the National Police would respond to inquiries, Winburg Mayor Mattys Timmerman released a statement regretting that “disruptive elements on all sides” turned a peaceful demonstration into a violent confrontation. He added that his government and “his fellow Boer citizens of Zamimbia categorically reject violence, secession and union with South-West Epheron”. He thanked the Republican Army and Field Marshal Amupanda for acting to restore order and called for all parties to enter into peaceful negotiations.

[Sabaristan]

The Yangikent Times

YANGIKENT - The State Diet voted today to affirm a government ultimatum to the Leagran over the arrest and trial of the Nüzhen religious leader Prince Ilušun, with right-wing, traditionalist, and hawk parties joining First Minister Namnansüren's New Dawn Party to pass the measure over the objections of leftist and other reform parties.

According to a spokesman for the government, the Sabaristani representative in Leagran is to deliver the following: "In light of the outrageous behavior of the Leagran government toward ethnic and religious minorities in its environs, and given the refusal of the Leagrani government to engage in reasonable and equitable diplomatic talks, the Sublime Khanate of Sabaristan issues the following demanss: That first, the Prince Ilušun, also known at the Aqa Khan or the Splendid Master, the hereditary chieftain of the Nüzhen, a Jurchen people in Leagran who share kinship with Sabari Jurchens, will be released from prison and subject to no harm or interference, and be permitted to travel as his conscience dictates. Second, the discriminatory policies visited on the Nüzhen people will cease, and they will be permitted the free exercise of their religious and cultural practices in keeping with the universal rights of all sapient beings. If these demands are not met, the Khanate of Sabaristan shall take appropriate and justified action."

The statement, already delivered to the Foreign Ministry for transmission to the Sabari representative in Leagran, received loud boos in the Diet chamber, which was immediately adjourned by the Presiding Chairman, Toqto'a. The opposing Reform, Center-Left, and Left parties vowed to oppose any future government initiatives if war was in the cards at press conferences in the aftermath of the vote; so far, the government has not commented on the use of force to compel Leagran to adhere to the ultimatum, but it seems likely given the reports from Jade Tercel Palace of the Khan's attitude toward the arrest of the Aqa Khan and behavior of Leagran.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government of Leagran has seventy-two hours to respond to the ultimatum, at which time the Sabari government will act.

[Zamimbia]

The New Hope New Day

Foreign Minister Nkosi and Public Safety Minister Gambo Murdered!
Culture Minister Abiwole Named Foreign Minister
Special Security Measures Announced; Troops Secure The Streets

(New Hope) Early this morning, unknown gunmen assassinated Foreign Minister Tuilika Nkosi as she prepared to leave her home. Her husband, businessman Geoffrey Nkosi, two of their children and a nanny were also killed. Shortly thereafter, Public Safety Minister Mohammed Gambo’s vehicle was ambushed. He was killed along with a secretary and his driver. Following these dire events, President Joseph Duna announced special security measures that give the Army law enforcement authority and place Field Marshal Amupanda in charge of public safety. The President also announced that Culture Minister Ricards Abiwole the new Foreign Minister and dispatched him to represent Zamimbia at an international peace conference taking place in New Excalbia.

(click to continue reading)

[Upper Virginia]

Courtland Daily Courier
Online Edition

Democratic Union-UVLP Alliance Wins Majority
Former Communists To Govern
Gwen Ubrecht To Be Named Prime Minister

(Courtland) The Dominion Electoral Commission confirmed late last night that the Democratic Union has won 212 seats in the next National Assembly. Together with its coalition partners in the Upper Virginia Liberal Party, the Democratic Union will hold a 321-seat majority - enough to form a government, but not enough to override any Presidential vetoes or amend the Constitution. The current ruling party, the Liberty and Prosperity Party, will be left with 108 seats, while surprisingly strong showings from the National Recovery Party and Democratic Recovery Party will give them 87 and 84 seats respectively. Addressing a crowd of supporters in Harrington last night, Democratic Union leader and likely Prime Ministerial nominee Gwen Ubrecht thanked Prime Minister Marcus Poole for a “extraordinarily kind” phone call offering his concession and urged her voters to continue working for “positive change” to improve the lot of “workers, minorities and the poor” through political action and “personal acts of solidarity”.

(click to continue)

[The Ernestine Empire]

The Bullionist
Online Edition

Shares Rally as Coalition Agreement Signed

The convertible mark rose against the ducat yesterday as the Market welcomed the formation of a new government. The agreement signed by the Christian Democrats and the Socialists marks the first peacetime coalition between the two parties almost seven months after the results of the election.

Speaking to reporters from Parliament yesterday the Prime Minister, His Grace the Duke of Strarograd, said that he hoped the new government would ‘put an end to this protracted period of uncertainty’ and that it “signalled the resolve of all responsible political parties to work together for the national good”.

News of the Coalition Agreement brought angry protests in the capital as radical supporters of the Socialist Party voiced their dismay at the deal. “We never voted for this,” said party member Goran Hasanbegović (23), “We never voted to prop-up the dying CD regime and its neoliberal agenda.” The leader of the party, Mr Osvát Keszthelyi, told reporters that whilst there may be “some discontent”, the agreement “allows for the implementation of a significant proportion of our manifesto”. In a rebuke to those in his party who have accused Mr Keszthelyi of betrayal the newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister stated that “a policy that brings about implementation of our policies is always preferable to those who would rather we sit in splendid isolation and achieve nothing of our goals.”

In a move that surprised commentators the Ruthenian Farmers Party is to remain in government and the party leader, Mr Leonid Hrytsenko, is to remain as Foreign Secretary. Sources close to the Christian Democrat leadership stated that the retention of RFP in government had come at the direct insistence of the King who, at the recently held International Garden Party, had been pressed by a visiting dignitary to retain Mr Hrytsenko’s service as Foreign Secretary. The Bullionist asked the Palace whether the story could be confirmed but was told that they “do not comment on His Majesty’s private conversations”.

The Prime Minister refused to be drawn on Socialist demands for the nationalisation of key industries, instead saying that “there are ongoing discussions regarding the feasibility of transferring some assets from private to public ownership”. Shares in mining companies fell on news that…

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[Saxmere]

The Umbra Daily Journal

INDEPENDENCE!

(Umbra, Saxmere) With all precincts counted, an overwhelming majority of Saxmerean voters have chosen independence. The Independent Electoral Commission of the Autonomous Grand Duchy confirmed early this morning that the referendum on secession had been approved by a margin of 71% to 29%. Prime Minister Paul Mardan has issued a statement saying that his government will immediately begin negotiations with the Confederation government to secure the Grand Duchy’s “peaceful secession from the Confederation of Sovereign States”. Leaders of the Liberty Party, which will control nearly half the seats in the new Confederal House of Representatives, announced their willingness to work with the Grand Duchy’s government on a “smooth and rapid transition”.

[Soveriegn States]

The Daily National Register
Online Edition

Saxmere Votes to Secede!
Liberty Party Gains Plurality; Vows Quick Work on Secession

Jefferson - In a shocking reversal, voters in Saxmere have reversed their decade-old decision to remain in the Confederation and have voted for secession and full independence. Meanwhile, the opposition Liberty Party appears set to nearly double its seats in the House Representatives - coming within 22 seats of having an outright majority. It is expected that the Party will form an alliance with the Sovereignty Party to form a functional majority. Despite its origins in an internal revolt against former Liberty Party President Tom Caine, it is also expected that the National Renewal Party will side with the Liberty Party-Sovereignty Party majority on most issues.

The combination of Saxmere’s vote in favour of secession and the electoral gains for the Liberty Party represents a stunning electoral rebuke for President Sean Collins. Although Collins’ Democratic Labour Party held its own, losses by its left-of-centre allies virtually guarantees that President’s governing initiatives will be scuttled by the Congress. Collins also campaigned strongly in his Saxmere - his native state - against secession. Despite rumours, the presidential administration has insisted that President Collins will neither resign nor claim Saxmerean citizenship. There are, however, unconfirmed reports that Attorney General Bridgette Toole, along with several other senior officials from Saxmere, will resign and return to Saxmere before secession is finalised.

[Snefaldia]

Courier-Sarge: "Maššana-Pijama-Maddu Promoted to Top United Front Post"

Snefaldia's leading daily newspaper, the partially state-owned Courier Sarge, reported today that Maššana-Pijama-Maddu, the Hapallasehan Scholar-Superior, has been promoted from the position of Second Minister of the United Front Commission, with former First Minister Adab Tudhaliyatti moving to the Ministry of State as Fourth Minister Junior Grade.

Maššana-Pijama-Maddu, the head of government of the monastic state of Hapalla and Seha, received the Second Minister post in April of this year, the first citizen of a Snefaldian Dominion to receive such a high post in a state agency. Maššana-Pijama-Maddu is by Snefaldian standards an ultraconservative, reflecting his Hapallasehan origins; the mountain state is often considered a fundamentalist theocratic state. His promotion to the leadership of the Commission perhaps signifies broader acceptance within the Supreme Council for so-called "Luwite Snefaldianism," the idea that the state of Snefaldia should be led by members of the Luwite ethnic group, and Luwite culture should be central to Snefaldian cultural identity.

The United Front Commission is largely responsible for the promotion of Snefaldian culture abroad, including support for the Overseas Snefaldian community, such as those ethnic groups of Snefaldian descent in Zamimbia, Aerion, and the Caldan Union. Maššana-Pijama-Maddu's leadership will be watched closely; during his tenure as head of government in the Dominion new restrictions on non-Aatem Nal, non-Luwite nationals participating in daily life and government have been introduced, such as stricter requirements for residence permits and naturalization.

[Excalbia]

The Citadel Daily Post
Online Edition

Imperial Family Welcomes New Prince and Princess!

(Citadel Excalbia) The Imperial Household Agency announced early this morning that Her Imperial Highness Princess Rebecca has given birth to twins - a boy and a girl. According to the IHA, the Princess delivered her children at the University Hospital at the University of Excalbia with her husband, His Imperial Highness Duke Andrik, in attendance and her parents, the Emperor and Empress, nearby. Although names have not been officially announced, sources close to the couple have said that the newborns will be named Andrew Fradrick David and Rachel Elizabeth Julea.

[Pantocratoria]

Imperial Monitor
Move Over Moray
Sir Isaac Comnenus becomes Chancellor as UCF votes to form Coalition with PNA
THE United Christian Front party room has broken the deadlock to the formation of a new Government by replacing Sir Thierry del Moray as party leader and thus Imperial Chancellor.

The outgoing Chancellor was pushing for a fresh election rather than forming a Coalition Government with the Party for National Action, following the break-down of negotiations between the United Christian Front and the Socialists, but many UCF MPs feared that even more seats would be lost in a fresh general election as voters deserted the party on its fringes on both left and right.

Sir Isaac Comnenus announced his intention to call for a spill motion for the leadership at the first meeting of the UCF party room on Wednesday last week, but since the Imperial Parliament has not yet been called, the time and date of that meeting was unknown at the time the challenge was made.

In what in retrospect was clearly a tactical error of the grossest kind, Sir Thierry called an extraordinary meeting of the UCF party room, which met after Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of Christ Pantocrator in New Rome, apparently intending to dispatch his leadership challenger and then go to the Emperor to demand a fresh election with a more certain leadership mandate from his party.

Instead, the Imperial Chancellor was defeated by a comfortable 21 vote margin, 130 to 109, representing a significant miscalculation on the part of Sir Thierry del Moray's trusted party whip, Sir François d'Umberville.

Sir Isaac Comnenus won the leadership promising to negotiate with Colonel Nogent, leader of the Party for National Action, and those negotiations were quickly concluded late on Sunday evening, when it was announced that Colonel Nogent will serve as Deputy Chancellor and Minister for Defence in a new Comnenus Cabinet, which both the United Christian Front and Party for National Action have announced they will support in Parliament on all motions of confidence and supply.

The new Coalition agreement does not, however, bind the parties to vote together on other legislation, even on items described as key policies in each party's election manifesto.

The other members of the new Imperial Cabinet will be announced in the coming week.

[Pantocratoria]

Imperial Monitor
Prince Resigns
Chancellor set to announce Cabinet: Prince Constantine out
HIH Prince Constantine resigned as Minister for Public Safety and as a member of the Imperial Cabinet today, voicing concerns over the new coalition between the United Christian Front and the Party for National Action.

"The formal coalition agreement imposes no restrictions on and makes no demands of Action-Nationale, and it is clear to me that the Imperial Chancellor is unwilling to risk angering his new coalition partners by demanding any curtailing of the street violence and intimidation perpetrated by Action-Nationale in exchange for his partnership with their political wing." Prince Constantine told the media at a press conference at the Palais du Parlement today. "Since he is not prepared to demand respect for law and the standards of decency from Action-Nationale, I am not prepared to serve alongside Action-Nationale representatives in the Government."

Sources close to the Imperial Chancellor claim that the Prince jumped before he was pushed, and that the Prince's protests against Action-Nationale's community activities are an attempt to obfuscate the true reason for the Prince's departure from Cabinet - poor performance.

"(His Imperial Highness) badly handled that aftermath of the kidnapping and assaults at Feurvel Prison School, amongst other bungling." asserted a member of new Chancellor Sir Isaac Comnenus's staff, on condition on anonymity.

Whatever the true cause of the Prince's announcement, it has attracted widespread support from Opposition MPs and even from some UCF backbenchers.

The Prince has indicated that he will remain in Parliament, but it is unclear whether he will support the Government on motions of confidence and supply.

[Excalbia]

Landing Journal
Morning First Edition

Election Results: New National Union Remains in Control
New Coalition with Christian Union Will Hold 67 Seats; Liberals Reduced to 18 Seats; Right Opposition Will Hold 13 Seats

(Citadel Excalbia) The centrist coalition of the New National Union and the Christian Union will hold a commanding two thirds majority in the next Imperial Senate. It is expected that the Emperor will name New National Union leader Baron Dainis Murniece, currently serving as Minister of the Treasury in Lady Ashley Gordon-Robb’s outgoing government, as the new Imperial Chancellor. Lady Vivian Bodniece, leader of the Christian Union, is expected to be named Minister of State and de facto deputy Chancellor. The remaining members of the cabinet have yet to be announced, although it is expected that Dr. Arturs Anders, who jumped from the New Liberals to the New National Union just ahead of the elections, will remain as Minister of Defence.

This year’s election has been particularly notable for the large number of Senators retiring from public service, including outgoing Chancellor Lady Ashley Gordon-Robb, State Minister Lady Christina Freedman, Lord Speaker Sir Harrison Grasis, and New Liberal leader Lord Solomon Myers. As a result, there will be a number of new faces in the Imperial Senate. Among the most notable will be Jessica Cummings-Taylor, the daughter of former Chancellor Sir Albert Cummings, who was elected from her father’s old New Fairfax constituency. Retired General Alonzo Kingabe, the former Vice Chief of the General Staff, was elected from Woodlawn on the New National Union ticket. Perhaps the most unexpected, and intriguing new arrival, is Baroness Celeste de Frankopolis Skrastins. The Pantocratorian-born Baroness, who is the widow of accused traitor Alexander Skratins, has built a rural political base on a strange mix of economic populism - blaming banks and urban institutions for the debt crunch facing many farmers, devolutionism - calling for power to be shifted from the Imperial government to local governments and baronies, and a mixed bag of progressive and traditionalist cultural policies that seem to shift from one rally to the next. Baroness Celeste entered into what she called an “electoral alliance” with the New Liberals and seems poised, following the party’s losses, to enter party leadership.

[Excalbia]

Popular People Online

((Photo of a twenty-something man with a medium brown complexion dressed in a red cotton sports coat over a pale blue shirt sitting in an outdoor cafe, his head leaning close to an attractive woman with a dark brown complexion wearing a pale violet sleeveless dress.))

Caption: Lord Tariq and Charity Amupanda share a close moment in Providencia

Island Liaison

(Providencia, Providencia y San Andrés) Lord Tariq of Mezciems, adopted son of Princess Christiana and nephew of the Emperor, was spotted out on the town in the tropical paradise of Providencia with Charity Amupanda, the accomplished and beautiful daughter of Zamimbian military leaders Field Marshal Lwazi Amupanda. Reportedly, Lord Tariq traveled to Providencia for a brief holiday. Both he and Ms. Amupanda are staying in the same luxury hotel in the Providencia y San Andres capital. Ms. Amupanda, a noted attorney and businesswoman, is reportedly in Providencia for business. As rumours of money laundering continue to swirl about the Providencian banking industry, some might question whether Ms. Amupanda’s business is connected in anyway to her father’s alleged corruption. The Imperial Household Agency, speaking on behalf of Lord Tariq, declined to comment. Providencian police ordered our reporter to “move along” when he attempted to speak with the couple at their dinner.

[Excalbia]

Landing Journal
Evening Final Edition

Zamimbia Conference: Apartheid Ends In South Epheron, But At What Cost? Protests Greet Agreement

(Citadel Excalbia) It has been reported that the Zamimbia Peace Conference in New Excalbia is drawing close to a settlement and, in an unexpected development, it seems that the Republic of Zamimbia has reached an agreement with the Republic of South Epheron to end apartheid in South Epheron. However, the reported price of this deal is a territorial swap, which will place the last of Zamimbia’s white Boers within South Epheron’s borders, while consigning most of South Epheron’s indigenous blacks to Zamimbia’s territory as newly minted Zamimbian citizens.

Protests in both Tarana and Citadel Excalbia greeted the news that both the Excalbian and Caldan governments will accept Zamimbia’s agreement with South Epheron. Protesters in Tarana sang the praises of Pantocratorian Chancellor Sir Isaac Comnenus for apparently speaking out against the agreement in New Excalbia. In addition, the demonstrators called for the ouster of Caldan Prime Minister Lola Foster. Adding weight to those calls, Labour MP Dr. August Williams announced that he would challenge Prime Minister Foster for the Labour Party’s leadership upon her return to Caldas. Protests in Citadel Excalbia were somewhat muted as the Imperial Senate stands in recess, and Imperial Chancellor Ashley Gordon-Robb has already announced her retirement from politics.

When asked about the turmoil surrounding the forthcoming agreement in New Excalbia, a spokesman for the Ministry of State said that while the government understands that public opinion is mixed, it must balance public opinion with the public interest. “While this is not a perfect agreement,” the spokesman said, “everyone’s interests have been well-served by avoiding war over Zamimbia and civil war in Zamimbia.” He emphasized that the agreement will set the stage for lasting peace between Zamimbia and South Epheron. He also noted that the specific agreement on ending apartheid and trading territory between Zamimbia and South Epheron was negotiated by the Zamimbians themselves in direct talks with South Epheron on the margins of the Conference. He further suggested that refusing to accept Zamimbia’s decision to make this agreement would, itself, amount to racism and imperialism.

In response to specific questions about the protests in Tarana, and the the possibility of Prime Minister Foster being unseated, the spokesman said, “His Imperial Majesty’s Government does not comment on the internal political developments of her allies, other to say that we have the utmost respect for Her Caldan Majesty’s Government.” Some observers have suggested that Dr. Williams’ challenge to Prime Minister Foster represents political opportunism, rather than principled dissent.

[Excalbia]

The Citadel Daily Post Online

Final Goodbye

(Citadel Excalbia) Late this morning, the body of Emperor David IV was laid to rest in the Imperial family crypt  beneath the Church of the Redeemer atop Citadel Mount. The brief, private ceremony, filled with pomp and circumstance, was attended by many of the crowned heads of the Western Atlantic in addition to the late Emperor's family. The interment followed a state funeral earlier this morning at Excalbia Cathedral. (Click here for the photo gallery.)

The funeral (click here for the full article), which was televised nationally and internationally, was attended by several heads of state, current and former government officials and the late Emperor's large family. David IV was eulogized as a man of generosity and noble character. (Click here for the full text of the eulogies.)

The Imperial Senate and the Synod of Bishops of the Church of Excalbia are schedule to meet first thing tomorrow morning to confirm Crown Prince Joseph's ascension as Emperor and to formally name his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, the Crown Princess. (Click here for an analysis of the new Emperor's likely policy priorities.) 

[Zamimbia]

The New Hope New Day

Mbala Survives No Confidence Vote
President Abiwole Expresses Support For Government

(New Hope) Prime Minister Abarran Mbala survived his fifth no confidence vote yesterday by rallying support from centre-right opposition, Christian and Islamic democrats and centre of his own Buta National Party against the centre-left, including some of his own backbenchers. After the vote, Mbala said, "Our efforts to ensure a equal place in the sun for all Zamimbians continues. I beg my fellow Butas and progressives for patience. The existing inequalities did not emerge over night and will not be solved in a day."

In conjunction with his statement, Mbala announced a new tranche of financial support for primary schools in Butaland and Sakoto from the Federal Treasury. In apparent return for the movement of Federal funds, the Prime Minister announced a further devolution of control over schools to the States, which will allow Nalu State and Coast State to pursue more technology-centric curricula in their schools, utilizing state rather than Federal funds.

Speaking from the Presidential Palace, President Ricards Abiwole said that he was pleased with the outcome of the vote and had full confidence in Mbala and his government.

[Abt]

ABT REPUBLIC STARTS NEGOTIATIONS TO JOIN THE ATLANTIC DUCAT

• MOVE YEARS IN THE MAKING
• LATEST TRENDS SUGGEST THE COMMON CURRENCY IS HIGHLY POPULAR WITH ABTIANS
  

BELGOROD, ABT REPUBLIC – The Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Abt Republic has confirmed today that formal negotiations to join the Atlantic Ducat have started with the participating states.

The move has been years in the making as the Republic aligned its economic and financial policies along the bloc led primarily by Knootoss and Pantocratoria. The countries using the Atlantic Ducat have collectively overtaken the Caldan Union as the Republic's primary import and export destinations in the Western Atlantic, and Abt's close alignment on Knootoss made the development quite expected.

[Excalbia]

The Citadel Daily Post Online

New Senators Increase Government’s Margin

(Citadel Excalbia) - Franklin Alexander (NNU) has been elected to fill the Signal Hill seat in the Imperial Senate vacated by Ainars Bastiks (FP), a former senior partner in the investment banking firm of Bastiks, Murniece and Derks, who was recently confirmed by the Senate as the new Ambassador to Knootoss. In the day’s second special election, Ginta Zintara (NNU) was elected to the North Southport seat previously filled by former Home Minister Alexandra Baker (NNU), who resigned to accept Emperor Joseph’s appointment as Ambassador to the Caldan Union. This represents a net gain of one seat for the coalition-leading New National Union, which now holds 43 seats. Together with the Christian Union, the governing coalition now controls a commanding 70 seats in the 100-seat Senate.

[Excalbia]

The Citadel Daily Post
Online Edition

Church of Excalbia Announces New Religious Orders in Honor of David IV

Fulfilling a long held goal of the late-Emperor David IV, the Church of Excalbia has announced the formation of the new religious Order of the Holy Redeemer. The new order will include both traditional male and female religious communities, which will adhere to the monastic order, including vows of celibacy and poverty, and will constitute the Church’s first communities of monks and nuns. The Rt. Rev. William Rapa has been named the first Superior of the Order. In addition, the Order will permit tertiaries, lay members who will take modified vows that will permit marriage and family life, while living in dispersed communities committed to acts of charity and the propagation of the gospel. Among the first members of this new “Third Order” is Jennifer Blums, Lady of Latgale, who is the second cousin of the Emperor. When asked for a comment, Lady Jennifer said that the-late Emperor David IV had treated her “as a niece” and that is was his “affection and deep faith” that had led her to join the Order.

[Excalbia]

The Citadel Daily Post Online

Move to ‘canonize’ David IV on the anniversary of his death
Yulia Arbola, Religion Reporter

(Citadel Excalbia) As the nation approaches the first anniversary of the death of David IV, there is a grassroots movement within the Church of Excalbia to add his name to the Calendar of the Saints. The Calendar is used as part of the organization of the liturgical year within the Church of Excalbia and sets aside certain dates to commemorate the traditional saints - largely inherited from the General Roman Calendar of the Catholic Church - and exceptional post-Reformation Protestant leaders. While the Church of Excalbia, like most Protestant churches, has no formal mechanism for canonizing new saints, inclusion in the Calendar is widely considered the closest equivalent to canonization outside the Catholic Church.

If the movement were to be successful, David IV would join Joshua I, the founder of the Holy Empire and the Church of Excalbia, as only the second Excalbian monarch recognized in the Calendar of the Saints. Robert Ursis, one of the leaders of the movement, has called David IV “the greatest Excalbian leader since Mary I and maybe since Joshua I himself” and has said that “[his] commitment to the faith, to ecumenical dialog, to justice and morality, and his unwavering compassion for all people” justifies the late Emperor’s inclusion in the Calendar. Members of the movement have also taken to referring to David IV as “Emperor David, the Great” in much the same way many call Joshua I “Joshua, the Great” or King Alsgood “Alsood, the Great”. If the movement is successful, they would like the late Emperor’s day of commemoration to be on his birthday, April 11. When contacted for a statement, neither His Imperial Majesty nor the newly-elected Presiding Bishop would comment on the movement.

[Excalbia]

The Citadel Daily Post Online

New Liberals and Democratic Labour in Merger Talks

(Citadel Excalbia - staff reporters) According to unnamed sources in both parties, the New Liberal Party (NLP) has opened discussions with the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) about forming a coalition in the Imperial Senate and establishing an electoral pact for the upcoming 2023 elections. While immediate merger is not on the table at this moment, according to sources, there has been discussion that a smoothly functioning minority coalition and a successful electoral pact might lead to a formal merger.

Currently, the NLP holds 18 seats in the Imperial Senate and five delegates from the newly established autonomous provinces of Southland and Deandra. The DLP, which was originally established in the Confederation of Sovereign States prior to the secession of Southland and Deandra, has 12 delegates from the two autonomous provinces.

Recent polls, however, show that the DLP is outperforming the NLP among left-liberal and progressive voters throughout Excalbia, and could replace the NLP as the primary progressive party in the next elections. Experts attribute the DLP poll numbers to two factors: negative perceptions of the NLP due to its predecessor’s involvement in the 2006 constitutional crisis and the nativist populism of outspoken NLP Senator Baroness Celeste de Frankopolis Skrastins; and to the novelty of the DLP among many Excalbian voters.

Sources knowledgeable to the negotiations between the parties have said that the DLP would like to see the NLP “disassociate itself” from Baroness de Frankopolis Skrastins before the pact is signed. Other sources close to the Baroness say that she is considering leaving the NLP on her own terms to form her own populist movement.

[Ernestria]

This is Nationales Fernsehnetz Nightly News with your host Ingrid von Hannenheim

“Good evening,

An End to VODAIS restrictions. The Prime Minister tells Parliament the ‘long national nightmare is, at last, over’.

“My Lords, I would take the opportunity at this time to pay homage to the courage, fortitude and endurance of our united peoples in the face of the most terrible adversity. This day is not just a victory for judicious planning and the timely implementation of the vaccine rollout but a victory for everyone who has endured the storm with the good-humoured spirit that Ernestrians are famous throughout the world for.”

But with the expiry of the Vodais Emergency Measures came tragic news.

“It is, however with profound regret that I must confirm to your noble lordships that the rumours which have circulated the capital, of which I am aware, are, for the most part, correct. His Majesty the King did contract the virus early in the epidemic; a fact which, for reasons of national morale, we did not feel it appropriate to divulge at the time. As such, it was the decision of His Majesty’s Government that Prince Cyrille act as Regent during the emergency regulations until such time as His Majesty’s health returned. I must tell your noble lordships that His Majesty’s doctors have advised us that, whilst the Royal condition is improved, they do not feel, at this juncture, able to advise His Majesty to return to his duties on account of the persistent effects of Long Vodais. For this reason His Majesty’s Government intends to introduce legislation later today to formalise and continue Prince Cyrille’s role as Prince Regent. I would echo the comments of many in this House our profound gratitude to His Royal Highness to the diligence and thoroughness with which he has taken to performing the duties of His Majesty. I am sure that he, together with my noble lords, look forward to the day when His Majesty is well enough to resume his duties.”

News of the King’s illness had been rumoured for some time but not confirmed until today. I am joined now by our Royal correspondent Wilhelm Knechtel.”

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