World Cup 91 [roleplays]

[Darmen]

Parliamentary Journal
Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs - Questions for the Government
2:00pm, Tuesday, July 15th, 2055

Committee Members
Government MP’s
Chairperson of the Committee and MP for the Metropolitan Region, Mr. Dan Mulligan (Republican Party)
MP for the Northwest Region, Mr. Davie Rolland (Republican Party)
MP for Aylesbury, Mrs. Moreen Jeffers (Republican Party)
MP for the Western Border, Mr. Leonardo Steed (Republican Party)
MP for the Southwest Region, Mr. Daniel Weekes (Republican Party)
MP for the Metropolitan Region, Mr. Desmond McAlister (National Patriotic Party)

Opposition MP’s
MP for the Southeast Region, Sr. Immanuel Gutierrez (National Labor Party)
MP for the Northwest Region, Mr. Oswald Frost (National Labor Party)
MP for the Southwest Region, Mrs. Stacy Dittmar (National Labor Party)
MP for the Metropolitan Region, Mr. Gerald Coleman (Liberal Party)

Other Opposition MP’s
MP for Overseas Citizens, Mrs. Kristin Tash (Progressive Solidarity)

Representing the Government
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Thomas Gwerder (Republican Party)

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MP Mulligan: The Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs is hereby called to order. This committee has questions for the government, will the government answer?

Sec. Gwerder: The government is prepared to answer this committee’s questions.

MP Mulligan: The chair recognizes the honorable Mr. Steed.

MP Steed: Thank you. The government is no doubt aware of the upcoming elections in Nyowani Kitara, as well as the growing concern of the illicit drugs trade which has begun to spring up in that nation. Will the government please provide to this committee its stance on these two important issues?

Sec. Gwerder: Certainly. As far as the election is concerned, it remains this government’s policy to refrain from endorsing any of the political parties or any of their individual candidates contesting the election. Our sole hope for these elections is that they occur in a free, fair and peaceful manner and produce a result which is representative of the will of the people of Nyowani Kitara. As it pertains to the trafficking of drugs in that country which has become a problem in recent times, the government is currently gathering more information in order to further develop its policy on the situation. Unfortunately at this time, we simply do not know enough about the drugs, who the traffickers are, where the drugs are coming from and where they're headed, how much money might be involved. But I can assure this committee that our intelligence and law enforcement agencies are gathering as much information on the situation as they can to help us formulate our policy on it.

MP Steed: Thank you Mr. Secretary.

MP Mulligan: The chair recognizes the honorable Mr. Frost.

MP Frost: Thank you. Once the election in Nyowani Kitara has produced a result, what are the government’s plans as it relates to the relations between Darmen and Nyowani Kitara and the governments of both nations?

Sec. Gwerder: This government seeks to have peaceful and positive relations with all nations in Rushmore and beyond. As part of that we will, assuming the election proceeds in a free, fair and peaceful manner, congratulate whichever party or coalition of parties which wins the election and will offer our support and willingness to work with them on issues of common interest, in particular on combating the trafficking of drugs in that country.

MP Frost: And if the elections don’t proceed in a free, fair and peaceful manner?

Sec. Gwerder: Our response in that situation would be dependent on the response of those nations overseeing the election. In particular, we would be keen to know how the Eurans might respond and would likely emulate their response ourselves.

MP Frost: But certainly Darmeni foreign policy is formulated in Scott City and not Bastion?

Sec. Gwerder: Yes.

MP Frost: Yes, Darmeni foreign policy is formulated in Bastion? Or, yes, in Scott City?

Sec. Gwerder: The latter, obviously. But the opinion of Bastion is highly valued.

MP Frost: And has Bastion given their opinion on what they might do should the election fail to proceed in a free and fair manner?

Sec. Gwerder: Not publicly, no. In any case Mr. Frost, there has been no indication so far that the elections will not proceed in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

MP Frost: Very well, I yield to the chair.

MP Mulligan: The chair recognizes the honorable Mrs. Jeffers.

MP Jeffers: Thank you. What is the government’s opinion of the Smith Fund and does the government have any plans on contributing to the fund.

Sec. Gwerder: The government is generally supportive of the Smith Fund and its facilitation of funds for the rebuilding of Nyowani Kitara following the devastating conflict in that nation. However, any contribution to the fund on behalf of Darmen will not occur until after the upcoming election and will likely be conditional on a review of the activities of the Fund.

MP Jeffers: And what might such a review look at?

Sec. Gwerder: Any number of things really. We’d take a look into who runs the Fund and the people that make decisions about how the Fund’s funds are spent. We’d look into completed projects, the impacts they’ve had on the people they impact, what kind of budgetary discipline there is, or isn’t, in place to properly steward the use of the funds released to projects. Things of that nature.

MP Jeffers: Thank you Mr. Secretary.

MP Mulligan: The chair recognizes the honorable Mr. Coleman.

MP Coleman: Thank you. Is the government aware of the situation unfolding in Yuezhou, with its former Vice President having been recently arrested on suspicion of corruption and the bombing of Xingruichang Plaza and if so, what is the government’s policy with regards to Darmeni-Yuezhou relations at his time?

Sec. Gwerder: First off, let me state once again the government’s strong condemnation of the bombing attack on the Xingruichang Plaza, the needless killing of innocent Yueren was an abhorent and cowardly act. The Darmeni government has expressed our condolences to the people of Yuezhou as well as offering the government of Yuezhou our assistance in the investigation into the attacks and bringing the perpetrators to justice, in whatever form that might take. As for the arrest of the country’s former Vice President, Huang Erlin, the government has no opinion on that matter directly, but we do support the efforts of the Yuezhou government to stamp out corruption in that nation. As I said before this committee last week, the current administration views increased cooperation with our neighbors, in particular Yuezhou and Xinhua, as being of the utmost importance and it is ultimately our goal to secure some form of formal agreement between the three countries on cooperation in various matters, primarily in economy and trade. Such an agreement can not be reached unless the situation in Yuezhou is stable and both corruption and terrorist activities tend to be destablizing. Any and all efforts to put an end to them are wholly welcomed by this government and if requested by the government of Yuezhou, we will offer our full assistance.

MP Coleman: Thank you Mr. Secretary.

MP Mulligan: The chair recognizes the honorable Mrs. Tash.

MP Tash: Thank you. What action is the government taking with regards to the recent news coming out of Cassadaigua?

Sec. Gwerder: The Darmeni government considers the succession battle an internal Cassadagan matter. We will, regardless of who should sit on the throne in Concord Heights, continue to cooperate with Cassadiagua on matters of mutual interest.

MP Tash: What I was actually referring to Mr. Secretary, was the Cassadagan territorial claims, made just this morning, to claim land to the north of the country and along Sicoutimont’s western border. What is the government’s opinion on that development?

Sec. Gwerder: Ah, my apologies. Well, as you said yourself, it's a development that only came to our attention this morning. Therefore the government can’t possibly have formulated its policy on the matter in such a short time.

MP Tash: But certainly you and the President and the other relevant members of the Executive Cabinet were briefed were you not? Did intelligence know the Cassadagans were about to make this kind of move? Are you not the slightest bit concerned that this type of shenanigans seems to be becoming normal behavior in otherwise benign countries, in particular I would point out the similarities with the Cassadagan expansion and the Tumbran escapade in the Northlands. How long does it take the government to formulate policy on unexpected developments?

Sec. Gwerder: Yes, I and the President and other members of the cabinet were briefed on the situation. No, intelligence did not have any indication this was coming. And no, the government has no condemnation for countries which wish to expand into terra nullius, although we may have reservations about the particular tactics that nations employ when doing so. As for your final question, that depends on how unexpected the development is. The government works faster when it can expect things, naturally, so when something it has never anticipated happening happens, things take longer to process and discuss and formulate policy on. Oftentimes, when the government finally does arrive at a policy it wishes to pursue, new developments, expected or unexpected, necessitate change in the government’s policy, meaning the original policy has to be abandoned and a new one agreed upon. As a general rule, most departments and ministries overseeing foreign affairs around the multiverse work very hard to maintain the status quo, it makes foreign policy much easier to handle. Except when the status quo is detrimental or completely untenable, but that’s a different matter.

MP Tash: I’ll... I’ll pretend that made sense. I yield to the chair.

MP Mulligan: One final thing, Mr. Secretary, before you leave. What is the government’s opinion on the All Greens qualification campaign?

Sec. Gwerder: We are all most disappointed in the national team, but I think we’ll all need to come to terms that this was always going to be a rebuilding cycle and that things can’t get much worse than they are.

MP Mulligan: Thank you Mr. Secretary. Without objection, this committee will recess for the next fifteen minutes before we reconvene to discuss Esportivan matters and the elimination of export tariffs on flax destined for the Ochre Islands. Hearing no objections, this committee is hereby adjourned.

[Farfadillis]

Cut-offsies.

[Baggieland]

[Delte]

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Tyskerlund 1–2 Delte
Player-Reporter Kim Samrodd in Handersea, Tyskerlund for The Famous Askirk Bookshop Community Noticeboard

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It was a long way to go for a football match, and I have to say yours truly found the going harder than most after being surprisingly selected for the Baptism of Fire Boom! Best XI. My teammates have been on at me ever since, particularly the bit about mixing up the pronouns and calling me a girl. They loved that. I told them that in some parts of the world Kim is a girls name or even a psychotic stay-puff dictator name but that just seemed to amuse them even more. I'm still curious to know who played as me in the two exhibition matches because it certainly wasn't me, I only just found out about the whole thing. I suspect it was Enor Perro, who got a pro contract in Farfadillis after pretending to be our top striker, Tai Cerotha, during the Baptism of Fire. I wonder how he's doing these days?

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Delte 5–4 Cassadaigua
Sports Correspondent Polka Lunn in Oswark for the Rothwarrodton Recipe & Puzzler Weekend Edition

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I won't dwell overly long on the finer details of this match, but certainly mention should be made of The Representatives finest hour on the football pitch. Here at the sports desk of the Recipe & Puzzler, we've been waiting for some time to use the pun 'This is the Group of Delte!', thinking the only thing that might split the top four would be a surprising loss at Ildemorton Road. We certainly didn't think it would be The Fillies but, perhaps distracted by talk of war and succession, they allowed early domination and a healthy lead to slip away, snatching an embarrassing defeat from the jaws of straightforward and goal difference-boosting victory. Unfortunately Electrum's defeat at Darmen and Sarzonia's outstanding football kits not helping against Huayramarca means it's not so much Delte deciding the outcome of the group, but who wants it the least.

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Ready Player 5: Iack Tase
Vignettes of The Representatives

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Defensive central midfielder, age 20, for Ughmirren FC; trainee stonemason - Iack should’ve been studying for his second undergraduate year at the world famous Statue Maker’s School in Oswark, as the latest in the long production line of talented sculptors that have gone out into the universe to cast likenesses of favoured people (and animals, monsters, aliens, machines and other noteworthy subjects). Many of course don’t go anywhere at all, because there isn’t a lot of call for that sort of work in the world generally, and because in the Delte Valley at least they’ll have a ‘job for life’ given the community’s unique appreciation for statues. And because a lot of their statue-making friends have already decided to stay for that same reason. There are so many of them, per capita, that they even have their own team in the Friday Night & Saturday Morning Ultra Premier League, the 6-a-side fútsal championship: Oswark Statuettes - and quite good they are too. But Iack Tase can’t play for them because he’s not a woman (the best football championship in the valley is the women’s code) and because he didn’t finish his studies at the Statue Maker’s School. Whilst the Dean of the school, Dr. Roda Cathale, has agreed that he was a promising student, he entirely messed up his end of year exams, firstly when his essay on statues of infamous Gholgothic psychopath Damien Dreadfire failed the ethics and morals test (which is an extremely low bar in the world of statue making); and then when his practical task was revealed at the end-of-year maquette show and he’d made a model of the Dean herself - or at least, that is what he labelled it. What it actually was… well, there has been a blanket silence on that outside of the Statue Maker’s School and even his friends on the course won’t speak about it. Rumours abound. Iack has since taken a stonemasonry apprenticeship with Shyetarry & Daughters, undertakers of reknown in Ughmirren, where he has been trusted to engrave fitting tributes to the recently departed.

[Bollonich]

Politics - Peace Treaty signed, Populace rejoices

The negotiations that unfolded over the past week took centre stage in Rushmori politics as more than a dozen nations sent representatives to observe the conference and provide international facilitation to the process of establishing peace in the region. Brookstation’s involvement in international politics of this scale by volunteering themselves to host the peace talks represents their readiness to preserve peace in the Pavolan sub-region. More importantly, the results of this conference will be crucial in determining the future of cooperation of Bollonich with fellow Pavolan nations. Both parties arrived at the destination of the discussions with certain agendas in mind as should. Most of which was achieved pretty simply in the very first week of negotiations as both parties with the assistance of observer states drew up ceasefire conditions. The establishment of a ceasefire in the region would have been one of the primary items on a rather short list of goals for the conference.

The involved Parties came to a rather straightforward agreement in this regard despite setting up a number of elaborate conditions to prevent the breakout of violence once again. There were two especially interesting conditions, one regarding the establishment of a demilitarised zone on the land border of the Maribayan Peninsula and the Hofvinger Exclave which would mean that the conflict was indeed about to be fought on land fronts as well which would explain the military build up on the border. This condition appears to negate any future border skirmishes due to the presence of a demilitarised zone. Brookstation also seems to have taken additional responsibility upon themselves as they will be responsible for overseeing that neither Party violates the ceasefire conditions which could threaten the security of the whole region. The ceasefire however appeared to be the easy part, what would be more difficult would be to get both Parties to agree upon the root of the conflict.

The question of the sovereignty of the Maribayan Peninsula however goes much deeper. Culturally the Græntfjaller influence could not be understated and given that it was the State of Græntfjall itself granting Bollonich this territory this dispute finds itself in a difficult grey area of international law. Communist Græntfjall did not recognise what at that time was the Independent Republic of Hofvinger which in fact made the concession of the Maribayan Peninsula to Bollonich. And given Græntfjall used to claim Hofvinger as a part of themselves, the state’s legal claim over the area cannot be dismissed completely. This issue is further compounded by the nature of the reunification agreement between Græntfjall and Hofvinger which does not contain any explicit recognition of Hofvinger as a separate political entity prior to reunification. Despite these historical claims over the region, the matter of the fact remains that the region has been under Bollonischian administration for the past 66 years since the signing of the 1958 Bugembe Accords which is an internationally recognised agreement between Bollonich and Hofvinger detailing the concessions made to the Bollonischian Government. This is why the status of the Maribayan Peninsula remained a point of constant contention between the Parties even bringing peace talks to a grinding halt.

This deadlock was released heading into the second week of negotiations following increased pressure from Rushmori delegations to get Græntfjall to accept the terms to remove any future possibility of conflict. The proposition of a referendum among the Maribayan population to decide for themselves whether they would like to remain a part of Bollonich or not. This suggestion was quickly dismissed as the results of such a referendum possibly being in Græntfjall’s favour was very unlikely and the Bollonischian delegation did not want to grant any sort of legitimacy to Græntfjall’s claims by even considering the possibility of a referendum. When all was said and done, Græntfjall ended up agreeing to Bollonischian conditions requiring them to recognise the 1958 Bugembe Accords and the territories conceded to Bollonich. The signatories also felt it necessary to initiate demilitarisation in the region by both parties to cool presently existing tensions and for smooth functioning of the regional commercial system dependent on waterways.

This conference bore major ramifications for international relations in Rushmore as a number of Rushmori nations were present to oversee the diplomatic process. Representatives of nations such as Nephara, Eura, Sargossa, Tikariot, Yue Zhou and Gatchingerrak Union were present and played a crucial role in influencing proceedings and also applied pressure on the Parties to quickly come to a compromise with the goal of peace in the region. This represents the concern the greater Rushmori community bears for international affairs and threats to peace which is evidently a direct result of the recently concluded Nyowani Kitaran crisis. The international community shall be trying their best to prevent such a conflict from occurring again especially in the subregion of Pavola which has already been subject to massive conflict in recent times.

The domestic impact of the treaty was also very important for Terry Spence’s Presidential challenge in the upcoming Federal Elections as this peace deal will be a major victory for his administration. The effect of his win can be displayed by his approval ratings which immediately shot up by 10% which puts him firmly back in the advantage once again with his re-election looking a likely result unless the Left Coalition manages to pull something out of the pocket. Celebrations erupted across the nation on the announcement of the confirmation of the signing of the Peace Treaty.

The signing of the Peace Treaty marks the turning of a page in Bollonischian international relations, especially a crucial partnership which was developing between Græntfjall and Bollonich. Future administrations will look to rekindle this partnership to take advantage of the untapped potential in such a partnership which would be crucial to Bollonischian standing in Rushmore.

THE PEACE TREATY BETWEEN BOLLONICH AND GRÆNTFJALL

SIGNED: Republic of Bollonich, Queendom of Græntfjall

SPECIAL SIGNATORY: Republic of Brookstation

OBSERVERS: Nephara, Savojarna, Eura, Yuezhou, Gatchingerrak Union, Oberour Ar Moro, Cabo Azure, Sargossa, Darmen

ARTICLE 1

The Republic of Bollonich and the Queendom of Græntfjall, henceforth referred to as the Parties, recognise the futile nature of the present conflict in the Komodo Channel and shall work towards the resumption of normalcy in Bollonich-Græntfjaller relations.

ARTICLE 2

The Parties shall agree to an immediate and permanent ceasefire on all fronts of conflict;

1. Any and all military units of the Parties currently engaged in combat are to immediately disengage and begin the process of withdrawal.
2. Græntfjaller military troops and vessels in the Bollonischian Contiguous Zone off the coasts of the Maribayan Peninsula, defined as 24 nautical miles, shall be withdrawn.
3. A demilitarised zone, to ensure prevention of such escalation in the future, is to be established along the land border of the Maribayan Peninsula, governed by Bollonich, and the Hofvinger Exclave, governed by Græntfjall. The demilitarised zone is to last for as long as the ceasefire conditions remain valid and until normal relations between the Parties can be resumed.
4. The Hofvinger Peace Operations Force, an independent peacekeeping operation, is to be set up by the Republic of Brookstation in cooperation with the Parties. The main duties of this Peace Operations Force shall be to;
1. ensure the maintaining of the ceasefire conditions by the armed forces of both parties.
2. try any defectors found in violation of the ceasefire conditions.
5. In case any party is collectively seen to be violating the ceasefire conditions including hostility to the Hofvinger Peace Operations Force, the defecting Party shall be observed to have resorted to hostility and the Parties shall be officially at war.
6. The ceasefire conditions are to remain valid for an initial period of five years, following which the Parties shall reconvene to decide further steps based on a report provided by the Hofvinger Peace Operations Force.

ARTICLE 3

The Queendom of Græntfjall shall recognise the Maribayan Peninsula as a sovereign, territorial part of Bollonich and respect its sovereignty. The territorial extent of the Maribayan Peninsula is as defined in the 1958 Bugembe Accords signed by the Republic of Bollonich and the Independent Republic of Hofvinger.

ARTICLE 4

With regard to the present tensions, including the increased militarization in the Hofvinger Exclave and naval conflict in the Komodo Channel, the Parties must;
1. bilaterally work towards reducing the naval presence of the Parties in the Komodo Channel and make it open for economic activities once again.
2. initiate rapid demilitarisation in the regions of the Hofvinger Exclave along with the withdrawal of any excess troops committed to the region in light of the growing conflict.

ARTICLE 5

The Parties shall be guided by a spirit of friendship and cooperation in all their interactions, possess mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and work towards maintaining peace in the Pavolan subregion.

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Politics - Government responds to Cassadaiguan expansion, Socialists slam “terra nullius” claims

Developments in the Rushmori realm of politics have not been limited to the Peace Conference hosted in Norwegian Wood. Based on reports coming out this very morning, the Cassadaiguan government had launched a military operation expanding their territory into the north with the most likely goal being to gain control of a river originating in this unclaimed region to exploit it for its economic capabilities. This morning in a press conference, government representative Bill Ruth stated:-

At this moment we are analysing the situation and working on better understanding the situation there. We however do recognise Cassadaigua’s right to annex any unclaimed territory northward as we feel the principle of terra nullius is applicable in this case. We however make an earnest request to the Cassadaiguan Government to ensure the minimisation of any bloodshed in the region and work towards preventing starting another Rushmori conflict.

The Government’s relatively mute stance in this matter is understandable given such a decision would hardly have any impact on Bollonich's international stature and Cassadaigua remains an important partner in the Rushmore. The chairman of the Socialist Party, Jennifer Clunsy, however did not feel the same way and was not holding back any of her punches in an exclusive conversation with the Karvian Chronicle She stated that:-

The fact that the present administration can support such blatant disregard of the right to self determination of the people of the annexed territory is simply awful however much expected. The claim of terra nullius in this case is extremely invalid given the land they are annexing is neither uninhabited nor unoccupied. There are human beings residing in the region who deserve the most basic right of self determination. The only method by which such a move can be considered legally justifiable or possibly held up in a court of law is if a referendum is held among the people of the region regarding their future without intimidation and the people vote for joining Cassadaigua. The Northlands crisis and this now represents a disturbing disregard for the political freedom of people which serves as a fundamental principle for all of our institutions. We must pressurise the present government to retract their statements in support of such shenanigans and pressurise the administration to sound their strong opposition to such moves.

[Tumbra]

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BREAKING > Top
⬤ Blackthorn Town Hall Bombing LIVE: Updates as Prime Minister declares state of emergency in Northlands; Defence Minister promises rapid deployment of troops to Northlands

Several people have been injured after a bomb targeting the Blackthorn Town Hall went off at 2 am. Search and rescue operations are underway for any other possible survivors.

⬤ This is a LIVE event. Refresh your page to get the latest updates on this story as it happens.
Last refreshed less than one minute ago. Last update posted at: 9:07am

PINNED
Tim Staveley
6h ago
Several people have been injured and an unknown amount of people are possibly dead after a bomb went off at the Blackthorn Town Hall, authorities say.

BLACKTHORN, NORTHLANDS — A bomb exploded at 2am local time, injuring at least six people and causing the collapse of the Blackthorn Town Hall, state police officials have said, in the first act of terrorism committed on Tumbran soil since the 1994 September Crisis. Blackthorn Town Hall, the seat of local government in the middle of the fledgling city, has been "destroyed" by the strength of the explosion. Rescue efforts are underway to search for other survivors, authorities have announced, while local police chief Deputy Assistant Commissioner Rebecca Sharp also announced that the Federal Police Service has begun preliminary investigations.

The Chief Executive of the Northlands, former Minister for Immigration Kevin Steinmann, held a press conference at 3am after being notified of the news. "This has been a horrific attack on a government building," he said in his opening remarks. "We will work together with the federal government and all the authorities possible to bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible."

As Tumbra woke up to the news of violence in the north, questions were once again asked online over the security of the Northlands, as well as Tumbra as a whole. Unsubstantiated rumours have flown around the Internet attributing blame to the United Clans, a terrorist organisation claiming sovereignty over the Northlands. These rumours have stoked discussions over whether the Northlands conflict, which has, up to now, been reported as a low-intensity irregular, defensive war, threatens the safety of settlements in the north of the country like Franport, Ridgewell and Colbrook. All three have seen a steady influx of refugees from the Northlands, and there are now fears that similar incidents could happen...more

Jessica Dawkins
3m ago
Minister for Defence Prentice promises a build-up in Northlands defense capabilities, "additional military deployment" very likely

STRATON — Speaking in his early morning brief, Defence Minister Michael Prentice outlined the future plan for the Northlands . Speaking liberally about the military capabilities of forces stationed in the Northlands, the capstone announcement was a planned increase in the military forces deployed to the Northlands — both to aid in maintaining peace and security up north, and to bring an end to the Northlands conflict as soon as possible. The press conference seemed to confirm the link between the bombing and the United Clans, though Prentice stressed that there was no official link between the two — and that the planned build-up of capabilities would serve both as a "security guarantee" and a "fighting force", being able to achieve both aims.

Rumours have continued to swirl over the identities of the perpetrators...more

Elliot Hodgson
12m ago
Heads of major political parties send condolences, messages of thanks; controversy swirls over Conservative Party response

STRATON — Several members of Tumbra's largest opposition party, the Liberal Party, have expressed their sentiments on the bombing of the Blackthorn Town Hall. Stephen Williams, the Leader of the Opposition, mentioned that he was "thankful" for those serving in the Northlands, and was hoping that "those responsible would be brought to justice quickly." Similar sentiments were expressed by the Leader of the National Party, Jon Blair, and the Leader of the Moderate Party, William Boyd. Alan Spalko, one-time presidential candidate and Leader of the Conservative Party, courted controversy when he slated the incumbent government's security policy as a "lackadaisical" one, and said that events like these were "preventable, w/ right leader and right policies - incl zero tolerance and heavy screening on all united clans citizenship applicants. Lab govt has been too lenient on these ppl - intend to raise issue when Parl sits."

The twii courted a media firestorm from both sides of the political aisle, including those criticising Spalko for using this event as an opportunity "to score political points", and others supporting him, saying that these were questions that "needed to be asked". Shadow Law and Justice Minister Lawrence Newell, a prominent member of the conservative wing of the Liberal party, seemingly aligned himself with Spalko's statements when he announced that he would press the government on why the bombing occurred...more

Richard Shafer
1h ago

BLACKTHORN — Whomever placed the bombs "acutely knew the structure of the building, and knew where to place them to cause maximum damage," said Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Darren Bryce in a short press conference just now. He was just at the scene of the wreckage to examine and oversee the rescue efforts; and to be updated on the overall situation. I'm told he was flown in from Straton on very short notice; accompanying him were several members of the Internal Security Department, Tumbra's domestic security and counterintelligence agency.

Richard Shafer
1h ago

BLACKTHORN — The sentiment on the ground is that whomever set off the bomb must have worked in the building; security arrangements were arranged in a way that the structure of the building was kept extremely secret. One civil servant who works here and turned up in the morning to find her office had disappeared said that the building had several Northlanders working for it; mainly, however, in junior administrative or caretaker roles.

Danish Siddiqui
2h ago
Round-up of Prime Minister's Address: State of Emergency declaration, greater military intervention, warning to foreign nations

STRATON — The Prime Minister's address to the nation on the bombings just concluded — here are the key points of the speech.

On the bombing itself: The Prime Minister expressed anger at the bombing, and condemned the perpetrators; saying that "violence is never a legitimate form of political discourse." While he maintained that the identities of the bombers are currently not known, he emphasised that "unsubstantiated accusations" should not be thrown around, and speculation on the matter could threaten Tumbra's social fabric. He also stressed that the perpetrators would be found "at the earliest possible moment, and brought to justice as soon as possible."

On the Northlands: A reassurance that the Northlands was safe was expressed; over two hundred thousand people have moved to the Northlands so far. The Prime Minister took the address to promise stronger security measures, and a full examination of current measures to see what happened. A full inquiry was also announced; and the Prime Minister also emphasised that the entirety of the Government is fully committed to the ongoing pacification efforts in the Northlands.

On the State of Emergency: The Prime Minister also announced that an immediate state of emergency would be enacted in the Northlands. Because the Northlands are not a state of Tumbra — typically the enactment of the state of emergency would require an emergency meeting of both Houses of Parliament to approve it — the Prime Minister mentioned that the decree would go into effect immediately after the President gave their approval, with no Parliamentary vote required. He stated that he would, however, schedule a Parliamentary debate when more information was made known to him, where he would share his findings with the rest of Parliament. No mention was made of how long the state of emergency would last.

On foreign nations: The address ended on an unusually strong note, with the Prime Minister claiming that several nations had "aided, or offered aid to the terrorist organisation known as the United Clans", and doing so, or continuing to do so, was a "grave mistake". No names were dropped; instead he discouraged these nations from continuing in their efforts, at risk of "undermining the rules-based order of our shared existence." He also re-affirmed that Tumbra's military would not pose a threat to any other recognised nations, pointing out that the Constitution explicitly forbids the declaration of war by Tumbra — and that any countries stirring up threats were talking "nonsense." The Prime Minister also declared that the Bill proposed by Esportivan Assembly member Emma Pearson "unworkable," stating that "the government does not negotiate with non-state forces hostile to it."

The speech is expected to generate a flurry of debate over the airwaves as Tumbra wakes up to an exceptionally unusual morning.

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[Audioslavia]

Cathair Herald Protests RJ Styrn's Continued Employment By Changing Every Word In Tuesday's Newspaper To 'Beans'

Never one to pass up the opportunity to do a gimmick (remember the time they decided to publish their newspaper entirely on Tikariot video-sharing website Tik-Tok?), Audioslavia's best-selling newspaper (which is a bit like being a country's best VCR repairman) pulled a bait-and-switch on Tuesday morning.

The version of the frontpage shown online the previous evening, two hours after Audioslavia's worthless 1-1 tie with Drawkland

The only version for sale yesterday morning

The 'beans-and-switch' gimmick has most recently been employed by various social media teams from Vdara who, an hour before a big game, are prone to publish their official roster as simply the word 'beans' rather than a list of eleven players plus substitutes, with the effect that data scrapers, AIs and particularly lazy or clueless journalists will automatically print said post.

Following yesterday's dismal match against Drawkland and the previous matchday's disaster against The Worst Valladares Side In Living Memory, some clever twii-tur commenters have claimed that Audioslavia's national team would function better if they were each replaced by a single bean, failing to realize that that exact technique was once employed to great effect by The Holy Empire, arguably the greatest football team(s) in the history of multiversal football.

With only three games to go in qualifying, Audioslavia's national team face an almost impossible task. The side must win their three remaining games and hope against hope that one of the two teams above fail to muster five points from four games. For a side who has, since seeded double round-robin qualifying began in World Cup 7, always, always qualified when inside the world's top fifty, dropping into the Cup of Harmony while ranked eighth will be a miserable experience.

As for whether under-fire manager R.J. Styrn will stay on, reports from around the Audioslavia camp suggest that the FFA are not planning to fire her, nor is Styrn planning to step down from the position before the end of the first phase of her contract, which happens after Audioslavia are eliminated entirely from the cycle's tournaments. Styrn, then, will take charge of the Bulls going into the Cup of Harmony, where realistically only a victory - one to match the manager's CAFA Cup from before this disaster of a qualifying campaign started - would be enough for the FFA, Audioslavia as a whole and, yes, even the Cathair Herald, to consider her worthy of leading the national team forward into cycle ninety-two.

[Gnejs]

The Issue With Failure

The Issue

You decided to enter your national football team into the qualifications for the 91st World Cup, despite them having zero experience or rank. It was such a blissful time of unbridled enthusiasm, those early days before it all kicked off. Expectations amongst the populace were through the roof, and you overseeing the nation’s accession to the World Cup was seen as destiny manifested. Now, the end of qualifications are nearing, and it looks all but certain that the team won’t qualify. A ragtag bunch of prominent citizens have gathered in your office to tell you how you should handle this unpleasant fact.

The Debate

"You should acknowledge this campaign for what it is, a great show of strength," asserts pale-faced team coach Bjørnstjerne Eriksen, looking like he’s just seen large parts of his life flashing before his eyes. "I’ve repeatedly told you, the team and pretty much everyone that we can’t enter into this with unrealistic expectations, because we’ll never be able to live up to that. We’ve lost a few, we’ve drawn a few and we also most definitely won a few. This is a great foundation to build on, and we’ll come back stronger next time. That should be your message to the people."

Accept

"Why come back stronger in a sport that is obviously substandard and beneath our Union’s dignity?" queries Dorotea Granit, renowned international tennis star and egg enthusiast, carrying her diary under her arm. "Football is a plebiscite game that has no finesse. It’s ugly and dirty, and honestly we should be grateful that it’ll all be over soon. Come back stronger? No, kick the corpse to make sure it’s dead, bury it deep and salt the earth as to secure this kind of folly can never sprout again. The Union is a tennis nation, and this football nonsense merely an unfortunate deviation never to be repeated. The same goes for baseball, which is arguably even worse. That should be your message to the people."

Accept

"There’s an obvious solution to this problem!" screams Fandango Molineux III, part-time poetry columnist and full-time assbag. "Why are we not performing grandly, dominating the world in a manner worthy of our Union’s greatness? Because of Baggieland. Yes, that is the hard truth of things. Why? Because, that’s why. In fact, I contend they are the source of all maladies plaguing the Union. Get the Rock of Friendship back at once, mount it on a pike and carry it as you lead all your subjects to wage holy war on that loathsome King Alswitch. That should be your message to the people."

Accept

"Oh, they’re all so bothersome, these petitioners," chuckles your assistant Miss Dis, while pushing Molineux into a broom closet. "In my experience, the best decision is often not making any decision at all. No unintended consequences, and people forget so quickly. They might think they care now, but odds are they won’t in a few weeks. How to handle a difficult case file? Put it behind the radiator, and it’ll solve itself eventually. There’s no message, just the sounds of silence."

Accept

[Graintfjall]

After 9 MDs of RPing (18 matches), 112 nations have earned >0 RP bonus. Counting only those who have RPed:

• The mean RP bonus earned is ~62% of the total available.
• The median RP bonus earned is ~65% of the total available.
• The STDEV of RP bonus earned is ~18%.
• 75% of nations have earned at least 50% of the max total RP bonus available.
• ~27% have earned at least 75% of the max bonus available.

[Southwest Eastnorth]

Big changes coming for SWEN in Domestics?
source: http://www.swensport.swe

SWEN - Domestically the sport of football could see another upheavel. Southwest Eastnorth's governing body for domestic football the SWENFA has already been dealing with all sorts of weird issues in the three years it has been an IFCF member. First came the international player revolution, then the issues cropped up with semi-pro teams wanting their say in domestic football. That issue still hasn't been fully resolved yet and may not for a while. But now recent comments by former MVP Garrett Stronginthearm have the SWENFA and Directional Premier League up in arms as they may have started an exodus.

Stronginthearm's biggest comments came when he mentioned that he felt his play warrant an inclusion in the Nepharan national team. the 29 year old who was signed from Ingram Township has been a wonderkid of sorts for the Southwest Rangers since coming over from the fourth tier Nepharan side. But it's clear he wants to move on. SW Rangers had to deal with a lot during this season and finished fourth, but lagged behind the other three significantly, but their roster held up enough to prevent an injury bug and Stronginthearms comments and like of will to tank the team.

The other big news Item was "New Baltimore City, and the fire sale of Ripken River AA. Xannerian group Alexandria City bought the team. The team after the sale went through a lot of changes, The Roth's both had left, with Father Roth now focusing on construction and Jessica in Quebec, the team looked to move on and managed to take their patchwork team to a surprisingly decent 8th place. WHich actually was the highest finishing result they've had in three years.

Meanwhile the Awards went as followed.

MVP: Ulysses Barnett III (ST - Auberlein Originals)
GOLDEN BOOT: Fremicheal Anderson 36 (ST - AWAC Express)
FOREIGN PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bull Shrimp (QAS - ST - Oasis Blur FC)
BEST KEEPER: Ty Raines (VNV - Auberlein Originals)
BEST MIDFIELDER: Roberto Fillipe (SWE - Hartlespool Hurricanes)
BEST DEFENDER: Mary Sturgeon (KSK - Virginia United)
BEST STRIKER: Ulysses Barnett III (Auberlein Originals)

(NONE) Southwest Eastnorth 0-3 Ko-oren Bonstirthinden Goal 19', 62' yCinrhadd 35'

(

NONE) Southwest Eastnorth 0-0 Gnejs (NONE)

[Pluvia and the Saxean Isles]

Veterans, newcomers, pick up pace for Magpies in second half

Christopher Teschner, Marienburg Herald

When Pluvia and the Saxean Isles manager Laurent Chambéry announced his plans to give younger reserves significant playing time in the second half of World Cup 91 qualifying, many were either aghast that he would give up on the qualifying campaign or skeptical that it would make much of a difference. Instead, it has seemed to jump-start the side. In the five games since he made his announcement, the Magpies are 2-3-0, riding a five-match undefeated streak. They have even climbed back within shouting distance of contention, and the mood around the locker room is a buoyant one. Could Chambéry's plans have revitalised the Magpies?

The performance of the youngsters (or not quite as young, in some cases) has been fairly solid so far. In the three games Chambéry has played mostly reserves, the squad has defeated North and South Vietnam 2-1 on the road, downed United Adaikes 1-0 at home, and took a point from Tjorl on the road. In those games, it's been Michael Schuster, of Port Marian FC, who has provided a spark. Schuster set up Rory Goldberg, team captain, for the game-winning goal against NSV, created several chances against United Adaikes, and took the corner kick that resulted in the game-tying goal against Tjorl, finding fellow midfielder Finlay Muir, of Marienburg City for the header. But we shouldn't overlook Flynn McKay (Racing Club Alenard), who deftly slotted a ball home against United Adaikes in the 35th minute to provide the final margin, nor the impressive defensive work of Marius Bohlen (Victoria Alenard) in keeping the Panthers off the board.

In fact, the almost all-new midfield of Schuster, Muir, Bohlen, and Brodie McGuire (Claesey Athletic) has been strong for reserves, though not without their lapses. Chambéry noted that while they have plenty of physical fitness, at times they still find themselves out of position or having mental lapses that lead to giveaways. While their mistakes haven't been big enough to result in a loss, Chambéry is clear that play must improve: "This is the next generation we're talking about. If they want to qualify for the World Cup or even sniff the playoff rounds in the Cup of Harmony, we have to buckle down and stop the mental mistakes."

Key to the Magpies' success has also been the back line and the keepers. Manuel Schuettler (Marienburg City) has taken his place alongside Joshua Weidenfeld, Alistair Bradley, and Tristan Baumeister, with one of the three veterans rotating off the back line and onto the bench for each game. He's shown a strong boot and excellent physicality, even if his on-ball defending isn't up to snuff against more brilliant attackers. Meanwhile, Danny Brandt (RSC Marienburg) has looked solid on the road against North and South Vietnam and Tjorl, conceding just once each while showing the ability to be an excellent field general in defensive situations. Bram Holger, the regular starter, praised him for his acumen: "Danny's gotten a lot better at controlling the space around the goal. Part of that is your own aggressiveness, but a lot is making sure all your guys are in the right place, and he's been much more vocal about that recently. I'm proud of him." Leo Zoecke (Port Marian FC) got the nod against United Adaikes and delivered with a clean sheet, showing impressive physical skills, especially in the air. However, it was only his physical skills that saved him when he misjudged an attack, scrambling across the mouth of the goal and diving just in time to tip the ball out of bounds and save a goal. According to Chambéry, he's still got some maturing to do, but will have his chance against Kamisato Ayaka in the Magpies' next match.

It's not just the reserves that have played well, though. The Magpies' regulars have earned two points against Oberour ar Moro and Yuezhou, both teams ranked solidly ahead of PSI, and in the Yueren's case, a team tipped by many to contend for a World Cup spot. Although they've conceded five goals, they have also scored five, led by Carsten Francke's two, with Davis Kingsley contributing a goal and two assists as well. Although both of the draws came at home, in games where Magpies faithful probably expected at least one win, Chambéry sees positives. "We have held our own against these two teams that are quite strong. Our defense leaves something to be desired, but I cannot say that we did not play well." The mood in the clubhouse seems to be on the upswing as well. Goldberg remarked recently that the team is having fun again. "That 6-2 loss to Nephara and the blah performance we turned in against Valentine Z deflated us, I think. But we're getting back into it; guys are joking, the room's loose, and the results on the field are good."

So good, in fact, that the Magpies are now five points behind Valentine Z, with four games to play, including one against the Valentians. It's not just their solid play that has helped, however. Valentine Z, in the same five-game stretch as PSI, has gone 0-3-2, picking up just three points against the Magpie's nine. A lead that seemed insurmountable now suddenly seems within reach. But not so fast. Oberour ar Moro, Mercedini, Yuezhou, and Tjorl all have at least the same number of points as the Magpies, and potentially an easier schedule. PSI should be favored against Kamisato Ayaka, but they have Nephara, Valentine Z, and Mercedini to get through still, all of which rank ahead of the Magpies in the international rankings, and against whom they turned in a 1-0-2 record in the first half. That simply won't get it done. It will likely take victories in three of their four games, including wins over Valentine Z and Mercedini, to get the Magpies through, and that's no easy task. In fact, a stumble against Kamisato Ayaka could stop the train before it gets out of the station. This second-half surge has earned the Magpies a second lease on life, but all it takes is one little mistake to snuff out their hopes. Chambéry will have his work cut out for him over this pivotal four-game stretch.

Zoecke (GK), Schuettler (D), Muir/Bohlen/Schuster/McGuire (MF), and MacKay (FW) will start against Kamisato Ayaka Nation.

[Garifunya]

Presidential Palace, Frederykvil, Garifunya

Immanuel Prins, President of the Republic, was reviewing the press release his government intended to put out about the upcoming trade deal with Banija. He scratched out a few words, scribbled in the margins a bit, then called for his secretary to take his revisions back to the speechwriting team. Yes, this was the fourth draft, but it wasn't right, and by God, the fifth draft would be better. Entering the room shortly after his secretary left was François Celestin, his advisor.

François bowed deeply as he entered the room. "Mr. President, I wonder if you might have a few moments to discuss the upcoming presidential tour."

Prins smiled. "Of course, my friend, for you I have nothing but time."

François cleared his throat. "I have commissioned a public opinion survey to gauge the nation's views of you. Unsurprisingly, Vrijport, and Platanakust in general, remains your strongest bastion of support. In Mytelbeerg and wider Klenzeeland, opinion is lukewarm. When asked what would improve their opinion of you, we see notable jumps under the headings of "expand trade" and "create more private-sector jobs", which bodes well for the future, especially considering the National Party draws support from this region. Aryncasse, as you might expect, remains solidly, though not irredeemably, against you. This will be the major stronghold for the Patriotic Union, but residents indicated that better prices for their crops would move the needle, again a promising sign. Unfortunately, in Frederykvil, residents had a net negative opinion of you, with very few undecided. It was narrowly negative, but with less room for growth. Frederykvil residents want most an end to gang violence, fewer guns, and more housing. The left-wing parties will attack you heavily on these issues. It is not enough for them to win, but enough that they may drive you into a runoff election."

"But François," said Prins, "I did not ask you to commission a poll. I asked you to co-ordinate my presidential tour and help me make nice with the press. You take too much upon yourself."

François' mouth tightened just a little before he spoke. "I appreciate your concern, Mr. President, but you asked me to be your campaign manager. That entails me doing whatever I can to aid your re-election. I may be officially retired, but I have plenty of life left with which to serve my country."

Prins patted his friend on the arm. "All right, François. What do you suggest we do?"

François slid a piece of paper across the desk to the president. "I have taken the liberty of preparing a draft itinerary for your tour with the Banijan officials. There is no harm in campaigning a little, sir, especially with a foreign heavyweight by your side, implicitly endorsing you. We will, of course, stick to legitimate sites of interest for the Banijans, but I have weighted the schedule heavily towards Klenzeeland and Aryncasse, to plant the seed and reverse the unfavorable political environment in these depaamans. Once the trade agreement is signed and the official presidential campaign has begun, you can pivot to the left and assuage the concerns of Frederykvil."

"A good plan, François," said Prins. "I will need to be all things to all people in this campaign."

"What of the Foreign Minister and the Vice President, Mr. President?"

"The Foreign Minister will be contacted slightly before the press release goes out and slightly after the Banijans accept our offer of a formal visit. We continue to run a tight ship here. I have told the Vice President of the agreement. She had some procedural concerns relating to the Foreign Minister, but she shares my opinion of him as largely feckless and so will not raise a fuss. She has agreed to share this information only with David Temmink, the leader of her party, until the news goes out. She has assured me that he will support the deal. He is a long-time supporter of foreign engagement and, I think, both he and she have an eye on making him Foreign Minister after re-election. The Social Democrats will, after all, demand a price for their support."

François raised an eyebrow. "Greater than the vice-presidency and presumptive front-runner status for Lunenborg in five years' time? That is bold."

Prins sighed. "Yes, nevertheless, I do think we will have to find a place for dear old David after the election. Perhaps as a prominent ambassador, somewhere he can be wined and dined and feel himself important. Or maybe some sort of special advisor position. We'll massage Parliament so we can find him some kind of prestigious, yet ultimately unimportant position. After all, Foreign Minister is already spoken for and a figure of that stature in government could cause...regrettable disagreements."

"I completely agree, Mr. President."

"I'm glad you do, François. Now go get some rest. I'll look over the schedule and get back to you with my revisions. I am also just finishing up the press release and official invitation to the Banijans. Hopefully we can get this train moving as soon as possible. I do need to officially declare my candidacy in just over a month."

François bowed again. "Yes, Mr. President. The signature-gathering process has already begun, but we will not officially submit until the deal with the Banijans is in the bag."

He left the room and Prins began drafting the invitation.

From the Office of Immanuel Prins, President of the Republic of Garifunya

Your Highness, Isebantu Mutungi,

Greetings to you from the depths of our hearts! May God bless yourself, the Royal House, and both of our nations. I am pleased to hear that my representatives' negotiations with you in Busukuma were fruitful. I expect that our planned trade agreement will benefit both of our nations for decades to come. I am even more pleased to invite you, your advisors, and representatives of RTC and other Banijans firms, at your earliest convenience, to Garifunya. There we will make our pact official and begin the process of deepening the relationship between our two nations.

We will be happy to reserve rooms for you and your party at the Royaal Frederyk Hotel, our finest establishment, and to provide access to your every need while you stay with us. We look forward to offering you our finest delicacies and excellent entertainment in addition to exploring business opportunities. We have several sites we would like for you and your team to visit, both in Frederykvil and around the nation, that we believe will bear the first fruits of the co-operation between our two nations.

Our entire government stands ready to hammer out the final details of the trade agreement, which we believe will be fair and beneficial to all parties. A new era of prosperity awaits but your visit. Share our hospitality, meet our people, and lay the cornerstone of an enduring legacy. We thank you once more and we look forward to your prompt response.

Respectfully yours,

Immanuel Prins

[Chartistan]

THE BILLBOARD GAZETTE

TWINKLE TWINKLE GODDAMN BENCH

Chartistan bench player Lillian Kurate under fire for "Yet another thing stolen from Olisa Rodgers"

While the Chartistan national team has been locked into a battle for a spot in the World Cup 91 playoffs with Garifunya and Astograth, to say that the team wasn't fighting with a little bit of controversy plaguing the side would be absolutely wrong. In fact, this new controversy, involving one of the bench players on the team just like the case of Slimy Weebs Gone, has been several cycles in the making and could cost someone with potential Hot 11 aspirations a place at the Cup of Harmony or even the World Cup. Lillian Kurate, a Billboard resident who smashed a place onto the Bubbling Under Hot 11 after stating in a video 10 reasons why she absolutely despises her ex boyfriend, recently released a video onto popular social media platform Twii.tur of her applying a parody to a well known children's rhyme.

Twinkle twinkle goddamn bench
Just give me a fighting chance
Let me play on this good team
Gone away from Harmony
Twinkle twinkle goddamn bench
Just give me a fighting chance

Kurate's moaning and droning about not being able to get any semblance of game time in games that aren't against Unpleasant would be controversial enough as is, as it might have been deemed a version of the popular crime "Blackmail", but her position as a member of the "Young Girls who Talk About Breakups Way Too Much", in the same camp as Gabby Yves, Tatertot Crazy, Sarah Inglesias and Loreen Smith-Shuster, has led to her receiving blowback across the social media platform. Here are just a couple examples.

@OtherGuyWithHat
@LilKurate10 Hey, maybe you should stop posting your vents on a foreign-owned platform and instead actually work on making the team!

@TheYeet
@LilKurate10 Bruh. Stupidest decision I've ever seen, and that's ahead of Combbrush selecting you to the bench!

@OriginalMegaM
@LilKurate10 What in God's name are you doing here doing yet another thing stolen from Olisa Rodgers?

@JoseLePuebes
@LilKurate10 And I thought my love for girls in tight jeans was bad...

With former Chartistani players, either on the team at one point or not, all berating the young Lillian for such a bad nursery rhyme, it wouldn't take long for some current Chartistan NT members to speak out on her.

@TheAirLatte
@LilKurate10 Just reactivated my Twii.tur just to throw a tomato at you. What the hell.

@HollySmier
@LilKurate10 You even got the goddamn captain to mock you online. Can't wait for Combbrush to send you packing, street begger.

@HelloAnneDelphine
@LilKurate10 Absolutely fowl. Why were you even selected for this team? Was it because of business ties?

While Doctor Lucas Combbrush hasn't commented on Lillian's ordeal ahead of a critical matchup with Astograth away from home, it's clear that most people want to see her dropped by the manager either before the Unpleasant game or, more likely, before the Cup of Harmony or even the World Cup proper should Chartistan qualify. With 3 games to go, however, the decision on his desk will be one that he can't ignore right away. The final two games for Chartistan, against Unpleasant and Darkmania, while both teams are weaker opposition, could be bargaining chips for Kurate, especially the home tie against Unpleasant. However, a loss against an Astograth team also fighting for playoff position and a potential backdoor to Farfadillis and Græntfjall could mean that Lucas may have to put Kurate kicking and screaming by the wayside in order for the team to have a shot at making it.

Fool her once, shame on you. Fool her twice, she'll smack you in the face.

[Squidroidia]

The Inkopolis Times

---

FRONT PAGE

FUJIWARA LEADS SQUIDROIDIA

Yoshiro Fujiwara wins Squidroidian Leader elections, vows "New reign of anarchy"

---

In a nail-biting election to figure out who would succeed from the late Higa Takanori as Leader of Squidroidia, intense counting across all districts has led to Yoshiro Fujiwara, an Independent and anarchist, winning by a narrow margin against Tatsuya Kamiya and Noriko Yūki Nishimura. The election, touted by some as a battle of "The one candidate you hate the least" due to the apparent lack of "good" politicians running for the top job in the country, took several days to calculate the initial results and a recount just to confirm the results after a margin of less than 300 votes separated Fujiwara, who sat in first, and 2nd place Nishimura. In the end, Fujiwara won by a frightening 218 votes over the green centralist.

In a victory rally near the Takanori Army Base, the main headquarters of the Squidroidian Armed Forces where Fujiwara dominated in a landslide when it came to active soldiers, he claimed a resounding victory for anarchy that would drive the nation forward. "No longer will our people have to rely on a single system passing laws that may or may not help or hurt them. Now the Squidroidians will be able to do what they want, so long as the Squidroidian way of life isn't hindered in some way, shape or form. This is freedom the Squidroidian way, one that future generations will be able to herald as the dawn of a new nation entirely... The ideal Squidroidia."

While Fujiwara has pivoted to promoting a "Democratic anarchy", one without most laws except those outlined in a potential rewritten Squidroidian constitution, to sway voters away from Nishimura in such a tight race, some key tenants of his original ideas will be kept. The Squidroidian Parliament will still exist, but will exist only in a ceremonial role and will only pass laws "About once or twice every 3 months". The positions will be elected like before, in the same 100 precincts as it was during the Takanori era.

Another key tenant of Fujiwara's anarchy is degovernance on every single government or non-government agency in the country. As a result, we should expect the Squidroidian Armed Forces to be independently run away from Fujiwara's administration, and that could come with the branches of the SAF - Army, Navy, Air Force Squidbreak Squadron - Splitting up into their own administrative units. The Squidroidian football system will also be broken up, with the SFA likely not able to run the Squidroidian national team and instead soly focus on governing the sport of football in the country only, with the Squidroidian Super League, plagued by finance issues, likely to dissolve before Fujiwara takes office. What will become of the Squidroidian system is unknown at this time.

Nevertheless, an era of Squidroidia is over and, as Fujiwara said, a dawn of a new nation is upon us. With Squidroidia officially being labeled an anarchy when Fujiwara is sworn in, the path the nation will go down under will be winding and branch off into fractals, each one explored all at once. The ride has only just begun.

---

FINAL RESULTS
Squidroidia Leader Elections

Yoshiro FUJIWARA - 24.9% (1,060,372)
Noriko Yūki NISHIMURA - 24.9% (1,060,154)
Tatsuya KAMIYA - 20.6% (875,729)
Go KYUSHICHI - 11.5% (489,629)
Sakiko TAMAGUCHI - 10.9% (467,312)
OTHER/SCRATCHED AND BLANK VOTES - 7.1% (301,286)
TOTAL VOTES - 4,254,482 (70,5% of eligible voters)

[Jeruselem]

Aaliyah Lust and Princess Katherine Annabelle Dallas (naked) at Dazza Dallas Stadium, Jeruselem, for qualification match day 17 after Jeruselem beat Gortolekua 1-0

Aaliyah: Hey everyone, this is Aaliyah Lust for Naked News Jeruselem once gain covering the World Cup 91. It's qualification match day 17, and we're back home here at Dazza Dallas Stadium. I'm with the boss Princess Katherine Annabelle Dallas once again to discuss today's results in Group 4 and other totally unrelated stuff later ...
Kate: Hey everyone
Aaliyah: Well, 17 rounds of qualification and we only have 5 left. And we are yet to sit out our bye on match day 20.
Kate: Yes but if you look more carefully, our rivals Commonwealth of Baker Park and Trolleborg have byes late in the rounds too
Aaliyah: Yes, hopefully we can hang on from here.
Kate: Yeah, we're not doing as well in the 2nd half as the 1st half but we're still hanging on to 2nd spot.

<The usual waffle about football>

Aaliyah: Well, Jeruselem did somehow get three more valuable points and holding off Trolleborg for now. Commonwealth of Baker Park have a huge advantage over us so we expect them to finish at the top where they are now.
Kate: Realistically there's only three teams in contention here and it's the teams we expected to be in contention.
Aaliyah: Before we go, you've been busy with job interviews for new positions at Naked News Jeruselem
Kate: Yeah, we got a huge response and there's sure a lot of people who want to work here
Aaliyah: I'm not surprised at all, I'm lucky to just have my job
Kate: There's a lot of girls who want your job

Aaliyah: So how are the job interviews going?
Kate: There's a lot of quality candidates out there to choose from, as soon as you weed out the trash as well.
Aaliyah: Like the weirdos who apply because ... they can
Kate: Yes well, you always get weirdos apply for jobs. We attract the special kind of weirdos too especially the perverts.
Aaliyah: You would if the workplace is full of undressed females
Kate: But the good news is there are people who are actually qualified to do the work

Aaliyah: I assume you haven't finished yet
Kate: Not yet, I've been flat out just processing job applications
Aaliyah: How many females apply for the cameramen, sorry camera people .... positions
Kate: Very few, but hey I don't expect girls to apply for that job anyway. You're dealing with heavy equipment, something best left for the guys to deal with. Not being sexist there but we're not suited to that job anyway.
Aaliyah: What about the research jobs?
Kate: That type job is well, quite different. We've got a lot of people interested in working for us and there's plenty of just overqualified people who want to work for us. There people just know stuff I would never think about ...

Aaliyah: What type of people?
Kate: Independent thinkers who refuse conform to strict corporate agendas. I know Naked News Jeruselem is not agenda free, as we still are controlled arm of the royal family - I mean I am the King's cousin if anyone doesn't know. But they see the oddball weirdos who work here and think it's different from other places. I mean most of the anchors wandered around naked most of the time, it's not a normal workplace.
Aaliyah: I wasn't hired for my intelligence ... or knowledge ... or ability to think.
Kate: Hey, you're not that stupid. OK, you're a little slow but that's OK.
Aaliyah: My sister took all my smartness ...
Kate: Nevermind girl, you got all the looks and personality to compensate.

Aaliyah: Oh yes, you are not forced to work at Naked News Jeruselem.
Kate: I keep forgetting to tell people that, oops.
Aaliyah: Pretty much the anchors are ones who are naked, other people don't have to be.
Kate: Some just choose to not wear much, I get the environment lets them do it.
Aaliyah: I just forget to wear clothes ... err, yeah
Kate: I think that's enough from us. Applications are still open, but not for much longer as we might be getting enough people to fill them.

Aaliyah: Next up is a road trip to Britonisea then back here to host Potenzia.
Kate: And then we have a forced holiday called a bye.
Aaliyah: Which is also when Baker Park plays Trolleborg
Kate: I guess it means only one of them gets 3 points, not both.
Aaliyah: See you all later.
Kate: I have to get back to job applications ...

[Kelssek]

ALL
FOR
NOTHING

“...it’s a light-hearted moment ahead of a tense clash that might be Kelssek’s last chance to push themselves back into a chance of qualifying. No one will admit responsibility, but the prime suspect is firm in his denials.”

COLM O TUATHAIL: “I did the prank with the shoe polish on the black toilet seat one time. One time. What, ten years ago. And now everyone looks at me when it happens.”

* * *
“Kelssek has no shortage of talented strikers, and that’s often meant even elite players like Thor Ibrahim Ahmad find it difficult to get regular starts. When he’s been given a chance, though, Thor’s had a habit of scoring some crucial goals for the national team.”

[archive footage of Thor Ibrahim Ahmad’s goal against Sargossa that secured qualification via the playoffs]

FAN [shouting, red-faced, at least six drinks deep]: “I love Ahmad. He’s so ****ing clutch, so ****ing big when it matters.”

Narrator: “The score is tied 1-1 as Kelssek are in a crucial match against Savigliane with, once again, a hope to reach the qualification playoff on the time. Ahmad is sent on, off the bench, replacing his club teammate, Loïc Maçon-Petrault. It’s a dynamic that’s been the subject of lots of speculation.”

THOR IBRAHIM AHMAD: “It’s not like that, we are good friends, I respect him a lot, I learn from him a lot. I’m not there yet but of course I aim to do as well as him. We push each other to be better, you know.”

JORGE GUARDIA: “It’s not a question of playing bad. I think about, well this match and the tactics, what the team needs, it’s not right or I have someone who fits the opponent’s weaknesses and what we are planning to do better. Sometimes, you change because it forces them to do something different, right?”

Commentator: “...great touch by Laishram. And a great pass out wide! Ahmad surely...!! Kelssek into the lead thanks to Thor Ibrahim Ahmad! The subs make their impact with ten minutes to go!”

Narrator: “It’s vindication, too, for another player who’s had limited opportunities and been much maligned by Kelssek fans, too. Earning only his fourth cap for Kelssek and setting up what stands as the winning goal is Pierre-Louis Laishram, who left Kelssek under acrimonious circumstances, only for his club to win the Kelssek league title the following year. Langlois fans have never let him forget it.”

PIERRE-LOUIS LAISHRAM: “All the time, people send me that stuff you know. Shut up, you left Oceanic and they won... I actually really hate the fans in Kelssek now. So I think of it as a way to show them how wrong they are.”

JORGE GUARDIA: "It's not so easy now, you know. We've made it hard for ourselves, but we're now going to do it the hard way." [shrugs] "Wish I could say I had some kind of magic solution to make sure we win those matches. But it's what we'll have to do."

[Chromatika]

Matchday 18: Saterun 3-1 Chromatika
Goal: Damani '29
Starting XI: (4-2-3-1) - Enax; Vitan - Ansoll - Nodis - Guess (C); Ju - Apt; Baum - Laurette - Damani; Oveni.
Substitutes: Kruetzberg -> Baum ('58), Fillar, B. -> Apt ('71), Aimée -> Guess ('76)
MVP for Chromatika: LW Sakia Damani

---

Matchday 19 vs. (72) Cabo Azure @ The Shock, Wirr Tsi, Capital District, Chromatika (Cap. 51,350; 18,000 Seats) and Matchday 20 @ (294) Stresia
Predicted Starting XI: (4-1-4-1) - Fillar J.; Fillar, G. - de Aea - Anbient - Ighv; Zuniga; Wen - Hauser - Fillar, B. - Kuznetsov; Gainsbourg.
Reserves: GK Kathie Begley, GK Lorée Bautista, RB Victoire De St. Pierre, CB Damon Ingram, CB Giles Ken, LB Ipati Aimée, RW Emilie Kruetzberg, DM Kara Larriet-Cortes, DM Mare Si, AM Alissar Pheon, LW Edith Fillar, ST Paskal Toussaint.

Was this really happening again?

Saterun was a side that deserved it. They'd blitzed the Chromatiks, and scored three in the first fifteen minutes. Her charges got one back before half, but then Saterun pinned everything back in the second half and hung on for the 3-1 victory.

However...

1-4-1 in the last six. All hopes of catching Pemecutan was pretty much gone. They were now a point behind Saterun in third, a point ahead of Cabo Azure in fourth, three points ahead of HUElavia in fifth. All that mattered now was getting their form back, getting to some kind of a rhythm, and the biggest thing - making sure that they didn't slide out of the playoffs.

Imagine if that happened. The Cup of Harmony win would mean nothing. She (Sandra Sybill) and Rachel Hellion would be out of a job. The CFF would be starting from square zero. It would be a total mess.

Chromatik football was always supposed to be more than this.

It was very close to losing its way.

Now, for the last four games, Juxon Fillar, Grayson Fillar, Henri de Aea, Keira Anbient, Ha'nei Ighv, Kateryna Zuniga, Wen Xhose, Haley Hauser, Baillaire Fillar, Vasiliy Marten Kuznetsov, and Alicia Gainsbourg will have a chance to show that the Cup of Harmony wasn't a fluke and that they deserved a spot back in the World Cup Proper.

Or the entire structure would need to be redone.

If that was something that needed to be done, nobody wanted to embrace that potential truth.

No, not at all.

---

2. Saterun - 33
World Rank: (130)
Remaining Schedule:
Matchday 19 - BYE
Matchday 20 - @ (72) Cabo Azure
Matchday 21 - vs. (294) Stresia
Matchday 22 - @ (97) Kimi-Suomi

3. Chromatika - 32
World Rank: (26)
Remaining Schedule:
Matchday 19 - vs. (72) Cabo Azure
Matchday 20 - @ (294) Stresia
Matchday 21 - vs. (97) Kimi-Suomi
Matchday 22 - @ (116) Al Qurija

4. Cabo Azure - 31
World Rank: (72)
Remaining Schedule:
Matchday 19 - @ (26) Chromatika
Matchday 20 - vs. (130) Saterun
Matchday 21 - BYE
Matchday 22 - @ (294) Stresia

5. HUElavia - 29
World Rank: 45
Remaining Schedule:
Matchday 19 - @ (58) Saltstead
Matchday 20 - vs. (4) Pemecutan
Matchday 21 - @ (218) Raspotochje
Matchday 22 - vs. (UR) Thibaea

Analysis: On paper, Chromatika is still the favorite - they've had their BYE, while Saterun and Cabo Azure hadn't had theirs. Their fateful clash in Matchday 20 will decide which one has a shot at the playoff as long as the Chromatiks make use of the extra game that they've yet to play. HUElavia have the hardest chance because of facing Saltstead and Pemecutan in the next two matches before having the easiest matches at the end.

Chromatika still haven't lost any matches at home; the fact that the games against Cabo Azure and Kimi-Suomi are at home give them some advantage. On paper, the Anomalies will be favored in all four, and with the eleven exact starters that won the Cup of Harmony, they should qualify for the Playoff - but anything is possible.

[Zwangzug]

Fulpog wasn't even that big, Neha fumed. How could there be more than one zebra?

That was a bit unfair. Zwangzug was very densely populated, and just because Fulpog wasn't "downtown" Spenson didn't mean it wasn't full of people, human and otherwise. And the DHA were making inroads, even if they amounted to only a tiny fragment of the population overall.

In past generations, a sect like the DHA, finding themselves persecuted in their homelands of origin, might have decamped for the country yet to be known as Zwangzug en masse, founding a tiny utopian commune. Would they have survived as a "first generation" city, or would the zealots have proven above such mundane duties as changing diapers? Perhaps they might have scattered into one of the larger cities, with only the strength of their fervor uniting them with strange neighbors whose equally-insular villages had dispersed.

Now, they reached out through the internet instead. Much as they bemoaned Zwangzug's policies on wumfish imports, they at least preferred its freedom of speech and marriage equality postures to other parts of the world. With the multiverse at their fingertips, who needed to have children when you could convert your neighbors'?

Neha wasn't sure which was the better approach; neither appealed to her. She enjoyed seeking out truth in narrow puzzles, seeking and scrutinizing until she could understood every detail of one particular case but having no knowledge of the larger surroundings. If an angel spoke to her, she was not sure she'd appreciate it, if she even recognized it as such.

Finally, she made up her mind to move on. If nothing else, back in Guariday she could research other Zebs; not Seven-Winds herself, but acquaintances who might know where a young runaway would have ventured. And if she wasn't going to stay in Fulpog, there was nothing to lose from asking bluntly. "I don't suppose any of you know a Brave-Stripe?"

"No," said Qiang. "Sorry."

"You mean Jerry," said Stacey, sharply.

"Do I?" Neha asked vaguely. It was not unusual for Zebs to take a human nickname, though most of them preferred more common Namirite ones.

"Jerry, of the Worshipful Cherubim."

"Maybe," said Neha, choosing her words carefully. "Shorter, heavyset guy? Vegetarian? Maybe has family down in Guariday?"

Harvey smiled. "That's our Jerry."

"You should come next week," said Jess. "It's his first scale."

"Oh?" said Neha, trying to act as if she knew what that meant. "I mean, I'll have to check my calendar."

Only when she was safely in her short-term rental did she allow herself to search for the scale. She had imagined a scale as in a measuring item--the scales of justice, tipping the scales. But no, it was the scale of a wumfish. A new convert's first taste of the sacred food, in the expectation that there would be many more to follow.

Neha blinked. Could Zebs even eat fish?

(Soto 47, González 68; Sokhi 21, Dulk-Fough 32, Helsen-Roan 79)
(Leykauf 33)

[Brenecia]

Brenecia 2 - 1 Mertagne
(4-3-3) 12 - Tanner; 17 - Lovibond, 18 - Killen, 5 - Shrine, 3 - Seeler; 8 - Conway (23 - Sitko 79'), 19 - Mikoliunas, 11 - Covolan (13 - Garrard 71'); 7 - Carpenter (15 - Wake 57'), 21 - Lofthouse, 10 - Byrne
Goals: Killen 19', Wake 68'

Gyatso-kai 1 - 1 Brenecia
(4-3-3) 12 - Tanner; 17 - Lovibond, 18 - Killen, 5 - Shrine, 3 - Seeler; 8 - Conway (13 - Garrard 76'), 19 - Mikoliunas, 11 - Covolan; 15 - Wake (7 - Carpenter 76'), 21 - Lofthouse (14 - Tristram 61'), 10 - Byrne
Goal: Covolan 49'

THE ROZELLE OBSERVER
Princess Etain clashes with Queen Mairin in dispute over, microcosm of and symbol for Dagan succession crisis
Corwen Rourke

Princess Etain, heir to the Brenecian throne, has shocked pundits and crown-watchers - if not those who know her best - by directly and stridently contradicting her mother's on-the-record thoughts on the ongoing Dagan succession feud, endorsing Princess Brianna and describing her claim as 'strong'.

In a sensational interview with abysmal gossip rag Capital Daily, Etain spoke at length on her belief in a modern, proactive monarchy. "We're entering an age where strong leadership at the top is more important, not less," she argued. "Now, I'm not talking legislative power - unelected monarchs should not have that level of responsibility - but the future of royalty is to be proactive about tackling the issues of the day."

"Quite frankly," she added, unprompted, "I'm just not sure it's a job that can be done by someone in their dotage. I'd like to see vibrant and forward-thinking figures step up. To borrow from the current headlines, I've been very impressed by Princess Brianna from Cassadaigua - and I think she has a solid legal case for her ascension, too."

Asked by Capital Daily hack Eva Godwin if this meant she believed in almost a meritocratic monarchy, Etain replied, "That's a good way to describe it. From within a certain subset of people raised with a very specific mentality and skillset, yes, it should be the worthiest that does the job. And usually that means experience, but there are limits to be conscious of."


Known for her intelligence and charm, Etain is considered by many to be a panacea to Brenecia's ailing crown.

This interview is considered largely consistent with Etain's character, a young and energetic woman who earned a degree with flying colours. But it is a surprise to see her so strident on this issue when her mother, the Queen Mairin IV, has stated directly and bluntly in a rare public appearance that "stability is paramount in monarchy ... Cassie should retain the throne as long as she feels able and eventually, in the fullness of time, pass it to Cassie."

Etain herself does not face any situation like the feuding Dagan royals; the only child to Mairin, her claim is completely uncontested. But she is undeniably ambitious and grows increasingly vocal, just as her mother grows increasingly reclusive. The 28-year old daughter of a 54-year old queen who is known to be in poor health, just how long will she remain content on the sidelines?

BRENECIAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 10
Goalkeepers: 1 - Anthea Finnan (Holdenberg City, EUR), 12 - Sorcha Tanner (Southern Star), 20 - Cairbre Dundalk (North Laithland, NPH)
Defenders: 2 - Clovette Bravender (Ulsa, EUR), 3 - Mynah Seeler (Southern Star), 5 - Athelney Shrine (Falourr, EUR), 6 - Casey Giltanan (Workers Union, EUR), 17 - Felice Lovibond (Kingsgrove), 18 - Iucharba Killen (North Laithland, NPH), 22 - Nimue Culpepper (Rozelle)
Midfielders: 4 - Skaidrina Briggs (Southern Star), 8 - Iseult Conway (Northern Union, c), 11 - Lienke Covolan (Vermillion Rage, NPH), 13 - Consaidin Garrard (FK Metropola Borograd, STL), 19 - Kurtis Mikoliunas (Mâ Âlâmëómë, FFD), 23 - Rajmund Sitko (Rozelle)
Forwards: 7 - Kendra Carpenter (Wirr Tsi, CMT), 9 - Cantwell Lamorak (Twin Saints), 10 - Katua Byrne (KT Itzalovalle, AUD), 14 - Danand Tristram (Northern Stallions), 15 - Maerhen Wake (1830 Cathair, AUD), 16 - Sylvia Marusak (North Hall), 21 - Jadwiga Lofthouse (Northern Union)

[size=75]Brenecia 4 - 0 Kuraita
Natanians and Nosts 0 - 0 Brenecia
Brenecia 4 - 2 Arjunnagar
Eura 1 - 0 Brenecia
Brenecia 4 - 3 Srednjaci
Mertagne 0 - 3 Brenecia
Brenecia 5 - 2 Gyatso-kai
Polkopia 1 - 2 Brenecia
BYE
Brenecia 3 - 3 Maphidon
Omerica 0 - 3 Brenecia
Kuraita 0 - 0 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 0 Natanians and Nosts
Arjunnagar 0 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 0 - 1 Eura
Srednjaci 0 - 4 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 1 Mertagne
Gyatso-kai 1 - 1 Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Polkopia
BYE
Maphidon vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Omerica

[Eraman]

It was a grand night in the Daulapura Palace, a historic moment as leaders of the Melayu Archipelago gathered for a gala dinner on the eve of the AMAN Leaders Meeting.

Leaders of the Melayu Archipelago and their delegations arrived at the Daulapura Palace, the official residence for the delegations for the meeting since the afternoon. The delegations were then checked into one of the 2000 rooms in the underground of the palace. They were then free to use all the amenities on the 15 underground floor of the palace which includes spas, bars, and swimming pools for the evening.

The delegates then made their way up to the ground floor from their rooms starting from 7:30 pm where they were ushered into a special lobby for VVIP guests. They head to the banquet hall at around 7:50 pm before the dinner begins 10 minutes later. Not long after that, there was the sound of a cannon banging 3 times marking the start of the AMAN Leaders Meeting.

The dinner, hosted by the Maharaja of Eraman himself, Maharaja Nila Petara was in a joyous mood as the guests were served with nasi kuning, chicken rendang, stewed lamb shank, butter prawn, chili soft-shell crab, yam ring, and coconut tapioca soup accompanied by slow keroncong music.

_______________

On the next day, the delegations made their way to the Daulapura International Convention Center, located just next to the palace as early as 7 in the morning. Breakfast such as nasi lemak and chicken curry puff as well as coffee and tea were served at the venue of the meeting.

The Bendahara of Eraman, Tun Rendra Usin accompanied by his cousin and the Temenggong of Eraman, Isam Usim, and their delegations arrived at 7:35 in the morning. They were greeted by traditional zapin dancers from the Department of Culture at the entrance before making their way into the room where breakfast was served. They spent about an hour in the room, then headed towards the Grand Ballroom where the AMAN Leaders Meeting was held.

As the host, Tun Rendra Usin was the first speaker of the day.

"Your Excellencies the Heads of State and Government of the Melayu Archipelago nations," he started his speech with a short salutation.

The room was quiet and all focus was on Tun Rendra Usin.

"In this AMAN Leaders Meeting, I would like to reaffirm the Eramanian government's commitment to advancing AMAN cooperation. For Eraman, AMAN is a platform for building cooperation that is beneficial for our people, for development in our countries, for peace and stability in our region," he continued.

He stopped for a while to have a sip of water that was placed at the table in front of him.

"So on this occasion, in front of the leaders in the region, I am proposing 3 things," he said

They were a few murmurs in the room as the delegates look at each other. They were only expecting a proposal to change the name of the region. What are the other two?

"Firstly," he continued. "I am proposing that AMAN as a bloc condemn the bombing of the Pemecutanan Gili Anakan Military Base in Cakranegara. The attack is a serious threat to peace and security and has no place in the region," he said.

A thunderous clap erupts as Tun Rendra Usin said that.

"Secondly, I am proposing to change the name of the region," he continues. "Meilawati has been part of the region's history and will continue to be an integral part of the region. The great empire exported their language to become the lingua franca of most of the region. They exported their rich culture and functioned as the trading hub in the past. However, there is a need for a more neutral and inclusive name that is not tied to the ancient empire to make everyone in the region feel welcomed," he said.

He then again stopped a second and reached the glass of water in from of him, glanced at everyone in the room, and took a deep breath before continuing.

"And finally, I am proposing for a Putrasian independence referendum," he said.

The room was suddenly dead quiet. The delegations were shocked. The situation in Putrasia was not even that bad. They were not expecting this one.

"The fate of the Putrasians shall be determined by the Putrasians," he continued.

That was how the Bendahara of Eraman, Tun Rendra Usin finished his opening speech at the AMAN Leaders Meeting.

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

© Sporting Times Daily 2022
Player pool trimmed ahead of runup to WC
by Mindy Cartwright, National Soccer Editor

The final media availability prior to the penultimate home fixture for the Commonwealth National Team at State Fairgrounds Stadium came the day after the qualifying player pool was trimmed down to the 26 squad members who will play out the remaining matches in Group 4 and the World Cup Finals.

NT manager Jennifer Prescott made an emotional statement after the list was released and before addressing the match itself, which ended up as a 6-3 win over a Pyazhnaya side which has held their own so far in the tournament.

"There are days when I hate this job more than I've ever hated anything in my life. Days when I dread coming to work, when I'd rather be be doing anything else except this. Days when I wish Mr T or Pam was still here, even though I know in their own way they both also felt like I do in the similar situation.

It's a terrible feeling when you have to sit down with men and women you've known their entire adult lives—and make no mistake, I've known some of these players from when they were technically still kids—and explain to them the decisions on how we come up with the final squad selection. No matter how brave a face they put on, it hurts them to be told you've not made it this time, but we still value you and we aren't saying goodbye to you because there's plenty for you to contribute to the team down the road.

It's not any easier when someone comes to you and says give my spot to someone else, I've not played well enough to be in the squad and the younger players deserve a shot ahead of me.. We had a few veterans who told us that in the last week or so which shocked us on the staff, because we certainly didn't feel their performance was lacking. That being said, it showed an enormous amount of selflessness on their part, much like we saw back in 82 & 83 when the vets then wanted to let the younger generation lead the way and stepped aside without a second thought.

This is a business, we are professionals. But calling it part of the job doesn't make it any easier even for the ones who know that this a step on the ladder that has to be climbed. We don't head into this match in a very happy frame of mind as a group."

Among the veterans who won't be making the trip to Farfadillis or Graintfjall are Derion Hutchins, Susana Aguillar, Max Rizzo (for the second straight WC), Amy Freeman, Darren Flowers, Hayley Gibson, Karrie Price and Tim Cassell. Aguillar was expected to miss the final cut, but almost of all the rest were victims of positional overload, a recurring theme in the BPNT that has been a problem that many nations would love to have.

The 2-0 win over Tekatus on the road saw Rod Callaway earn his second clean sheet and the Bees' third in a row, with Aguillar's probable final cap highlighted by a goal, which along with Lainey Wadsworth's tally was more than enough to earn all three points; in Springfield, Christa Vuckovic had a brace with Price and Quinton Harris adding singles and Alonzo Boyle off the bench getting a fifth BP marker to go along with an own goal by the visitors.

With three matches remaining plus a bye, Baker Park have a nine point lead over third place Trolleborg who they will meet next, and a six point gap ahead of Jeruselem in second. They have the 3rd best overall record in the competition behind Ko-oren on 45 points and tied with Banija at 44 with all three nations having 14 wins to date and one of 13 nations who have lost fewer than 2 matches.

Lineup vs Trolleborg:

Johnston; Edmonds, Onikambe, Harrison; Eichorn, D'Amico, Nolan (C), Altman; Craig; West, Pryor

[Indusse]

IFA NEWS NETWORK
Top 5 Things Thinks

---

By Nila Chowdhury

Last time, Top 5 Things Thinks talked about the top five events and festivities in the nation. From the religious festivals to the Ma Bhauma like events, the diversity as well as joyful environment was been described through the factoid. This time we are back with another top five thing thinks article talking about the nation's most famous chocolates. This list doesn't include foreign chocolates but only those made in Indusse.

Top 5 : Native Chocolate Brands
#5: Lavish: Lavish is one of the major milk and milk product brands in Indusse. Founded by Michelle Zedark, a dairy farmer based on Southbay as Michelle's Dairy around the eve of the independence wars, this form used to supply milk to the Patriots at the warside. The colonial government had sealed the firm due to this and Michelle had to move out with their cattle and products towards a secret countryside. Michelle continued to supply milk to the Patriots through hidden methods such as hiding them in carts and bags. After the independence, Michelle came back to their hometown and restarted the dairy farm. Due to their contribution to the nation's independence, the government gave subsidies and incentives to the firm. With enough capital in hand, Michelle decided to rename the firm to Lavish Dairy Products and started to manufacture Milk and milk products such as cheese, curd and butter. After the death of Michelle, their son Benedict decided to take over the business and also stepped into the chocolate manufacturing industry. Starting with the Lavish Bars which is a 4×4 Chocolate bar, Lavish became one of the leading Chocolate producers in Indusse.

#4: Snubbles: Starting out as a producer of biscuits and crunchy snacks, this firm got to be a major producer of chocolates and choco related snacks. With a variety of Chocolate products, Snubbles are one of the major chocolate brands you can find in one's refrigerator. Starting with the "Snubbles Gnubble" which are small chocolate balls with some choco chips inside, is one of the major products of the firm. You can find a kid out there eating the Gnubble as if they are eating popcorns at the theater. The "Snubble Stic" are Chocolate sticks which are sometimes filled with Jam, Chocolate or Caramel. Just like most of the chocolate brands, Snubbles have their own bar chocolate known as "Sphinx". Almost a rectangle with a irregular topside, the chocolate can contain nuts and fruits and maybe crunchy chips. Snubble also releases "Snips", which are their famous crunchy Chocolate chips.

#3: Chocolata: Chocolata is a Chocolate manufacturing company who has just two varieties of products. Eventhough they have just two varieties, these get to be one of the most purchased and tastiest chocolates in Indusse. The Milk Chocolate and The Dark Chocolate, are two traditional variety of Chocolates and the same tradition is followed here with their special ingredients in the Chocolate. This makes the chocolate tasty, crunchy and gives you the flavor of the true chocolates. Chocolata also holds the record of having the highest profit turnout with minimum diversity of products.

#2: Nirvana: Nirvana is one famous business name in the whole of Indusse. Not just chocolates but they are a total business giant with production of Beverages, Snacks and even Hotels and Restaurents. They recently also joined the clothing business and has also made a milestone in the industry. Nirvana T-Shirts are now the latest fashion. Nirvana Beers and Whiskeys are one of the most purchased beverages, Nirvana's Potato chips are one of the most sought snacks. But the Nirvana Chocolate makes your mouth full of water enough to ride a ship through. The Nirvana Sweet n Sour, Dark Chocolates, White Chocolates, Nuts and Fruits, the OG, Chip Chocs are various leading varities of their products. Unlike Chocolata, Nirvana has a large amount of varieties and due to that they're able to generate enormous profit. Nirvana would be #1 in the list if we had not included the below cooperative firm but taking corporates into consideration, Nirvana stands out.

#1: The Cocoa Street: The Cocoa Street is more like a cooperative society, an association of all home made Chocolate manufacturers. Cocoa Street collects Homemade Chocolates from the manufacturers part of the association, they set up shops which serves as markets and sells these home made chocolates. There exists about 45000 shops big and small for the cocoa Street all over Indusse and it's protectorates. The Profit generated through sales are divided into two parts, ten percent of the profit is taken into the accounts of the Cocoa Street and the rest are divided in respective rations and given to the producers. This is also one of the most successful cooperative societies in Indusse.

[Pemecutan]

Pemecutan 3-0 Stresia
@ Manguwi Stadium, Mengwi

Formation
4-3-3
Line Up
1 - A. Jandisuga/GK; 13 - Y. Nehusandak/LB; 3 - S. B. Wijaya/CB; 5 - S. P. Laksamana/CB; 6 - D. R. Putra/RB; 7 - A. Kusumawijaya/LM; 8 - R. Karyadi/CM; 9 - B. Hermawan/RM; 12 - K. T. Mahayana/AT; 14 - D. P. Mahardika/AT; 25 - L. Olivando/ST
Bench
4 - A. Gunadarma/GK; 2 - D. P. Kusuma/LB; 15 - S. Aksapadan/CB; 16 - O. T. Atmaja/RB; 18 - B. Padurjana/LM; 20 - A. Setiahadi/CM; 21 - S. Hermawan/RM; 11 - A. T. Wijaya/AT; 22 - W. Pramana/ST
Goal
Dewa Putu Mahardika (21')
Leo Olivando (42')
Rama Karyadi (67')
Substitution
Agus Kusumawijaya <--> Basubala Padurjana (77')
Komang Trisna Mahayana <--> Arya Tungga Wijaya (80')

---

Kimi-Suomi 1-2 Pemecutan
@ The Nest, Kimi City

Formation
4-3-3
Line Up
1 - A. Jandisuga/GK; 13 - Y. Nehusandak/LB; 3 - S. B. Wijaya/CB; 5 - S. P. Laksamana/CB; 6 - D. R. Putra/RB; 7 - A. Kusumawijaya/LM; 8 - R. Karyadi/CM; 9 - B. Hermawan/RM; 12 - K. T. Mahayana/AT; 14 - D. P. Mahardika/AT; 25 - L. Olivando/ST
Bench
4 - A. Gunadarma/GK; 2 - D. P. Kusuma/LB; 15 - S. Aksapadan/CB; 16 - O. T. Atmaja/RB; 18 - B. Padurjana/LM; 20 - A. Setiahadi/CM; 21 - S. Hermawan/RM; 11 - A. T. Wijaya/AT; 22 - W. Pramana/ST
Goal
Rama Karyadi (11')
Leo Olivando (89')
Substitution
Rama Karyadi <--> Agus Setiahadi (72')
Dewa Putu Mahardika <--> Arya Tungga Wijaya (77')

---

Goal score table

Leo Olivando (13)
Komang Trisna Mahayana (10)
Rama Karyadi (10)
Agus Kusumawijaya (8)
Dewa Putu Mahardika (7)
Wisnu Pramana (3)
Bayu Hermawan (2)
Agus Setiahadi (1)
Arya Tungga Wijaya (1)

---

Part 4.1 | Part 4.2 | Part 4.3 | Part 4.4 | Part 4.5 | Part 4.6 | Part 4.7 | Part 4.8

---

Part 4.9

The Daulapura Palace looks stunning tonight as the leaders of the region gather together. Eraman Bendahara, Tun Rendra Usin surely give 1000% effort to welcomed all the leaders. This is a grand meeting after all. And the first of such meeting happen in the country. Sure, Eraman wants to serve their guests in luxurious way.

Patih Agung Ngurah Agung Kusumajaya looks around to some familiar faces. President Joao Makarin of Acastanha, President Paulus Etamba of Sendhang, Mangkubumi of Samudera Darussalam and of course Pemecutan southern neighbor, Southern Palm Islands which represented by their President. And another new faces from Pulang and Koaiwa. This meeting is surely very diverse.

After some times to chit-chatting knowing one another and recall their condition, it's dinner time. Can't go in a serious talk with an empty stomach. The dinner is lavish with dishes of Eramanian meal. This is a good way to know what other countries cuisine is like. But Kusumajaya is always be careful with the ingredients especially meat based dishes as he is intolerant with beef. For a Sanatana Krama majority country, Eraman cuisine might not use beef but pork is everywhere.

Sitting next to President Makarin and Akirama, Kusumajaya have a good conversation during the dinner. President Makarin even hinted for them to have a private conversation later after the meeting things. He wonders what is he wants to talks about. The night become more special with the canon fire as the cue that the AMAN meeting is officially open.

The Talk of the Future

The morning come to Toluiwan capital, Asakote. Partayasa have arrived in the city last night. Getting a descent sleep to revive his body from flight exhaustion. And now he is standing in front of the National Palace, Toluiwan Presidential palace where he will meet the Prime Minister of the country. It is a great idea to have their President and Prime Minister reside in the same building. Simplicity to meet both leaders all at once. Although Partayasa is now only have the appointment to meet the Prime Minister.

Two uniformed men are escorted him to the designated room where he will meet the Prime Minister, Abdul Qadari. As they enter the room, PM Qadari give a bright smile and shake Partayasa's hands vigorously. It overwhelmed Partayasa for a moment. Pemecutan is Toluiwan major trade partner. The country also investing a lot in Toluiwa. This making the visit is like an honor to Toluiwan leaders. But Partayasa still hides his own feeling. This mission that is given to him, although won't be happening anytime soon but it will start right here in Toluiwa capital.

'Honestly, I'm quite surprise with your sudden call,' says PM Qadari after his warm welcome.
They are both sitting at the seating area to the right of the central desk. The seating is quite comfy as they can also overlook to the window on the left side.
'I'm so sorry with the sudden call.'
'Oh, don't be. I'm just being curious. It's not like how you used to when you visit here,' cut PM Qadari.
'About that, I was happen to be in Ampenan before I came here,' explain Partayasa.
'For the referendum?' he ask. Partayasa nodded. 'I hope it went well there. We also sent our delegation to overlook the process. They are still there,' add Qadari.
'Yes. I met then when I was in Selaparang,' informed Partayasa.
'Oh, that's great.'
'To be honest Mr. Qadari. I am here because of our Patih Agung ask me to,' interrupt Partayasa.
'What's going on? Is there something wrong?' ask Qadari a little bit confused.
'Nothing's wrong, really,' answer Partayasa. Qadari sigh in relieve. 'Our Patih Agung invites some of our closest allies for a meeting in Pemecutan. And I'm here to personally invite you to the meeting,' informed Partayasa.
Qadari lean back. His forehead is twitch. 'What is the ocassion? It is such a sudden invitation. Is it have something to do with Gili Anakan incident? Or about the grand meeting in Eraman?' Qadari ask confusingly.
'It's nothing related to that issue and situation,' say Partayasa.
'Then what?' Qadari become more curious.
'Our Patih Agung, Kusumajaya, have the vision to strengthen the region's position internationally. We can see how Cendana Islands is left behind with this AMAN things going on,' explain Partayasa.
Qadari rise his eyebrows. 'Well, I never expected that. Although it is very interesting to know the detail about it. You've got my interest there,' say Qadari.
Partayasa slightly smile. It seems that the meeting is success.

---

The situation in the meeting room of Daulapura International Convention Center where the leaders of the region gathers becomes intense. This happen after Eraman Bendahara, Tun Rendra Usin speech which is also officially open the meeting. Putrasia Referendum? No one ever think about that in the first place. Kusumajaya feels that it is his time to break the ice.

'Good morning, esteem leaders. First of all, I'm thanking Mr. Tun Rendra Usin for his idea to bring us all here for this excellent meeting. It is a rare ocassion for all of us. Secondly, I'm also thanking Mr. Tun Rendra Usin and Eraman as a whole for their concern about the incident in Gili Anakan. We, the government of Pemecutan and Cakranegara are in cooperation to catch the perpetrators. We already got the names but their location is very vague because they are moving a lot,' Kusumajaya pause for a few seconds. A murmured come across the meeting room at the last sentence of Kusumajaya's speech.

'Rest assure, their location is still inside Cakranegara. So you don't need to worry about their possibility to occur in your respective country,' explain Kusumajaya.
The leaders are in relieve after the explanation.

'Thirdly, although I understand and I find it reasonable with that base reason to exchange the name of the region. Although I'm still confuse on how we will do it. Fourth and lastly, I obviously rejected the idea to hold the referendum in Putrasia. I do understand that it is their rights but it is Sendhangite domestic issue and we as foreign entities have no rights to interfere them that far. I hope this is something to be reconsider,' closed Kusumajaya.

The atmosphere of the meeting room become heaten after Kusumajaya speech. While President Makarin who is sitting next to Kusumajaya is seen to whisper to him. No one's know what are they talking about.

---

Pemecutan v Al-Qurija
@ Manguwi Stadium, Mengwi

Formation
4-3-3
Line Up
1 - A. Jandisuga/GK; 13 - Y. Nehusandak/LB; 3 - S. B. Wijaya/CB; 5 - S. P. Laksamana/CB; 6 - D. R. Putra/RB; 7 - A. Kusumawijaya/LM; 8 - R. Karyadi/CM; 9 - B. Hermawan/RM; 12 - K. T. Mahayana/AT; 14 - D. P. Mahardika/AT; 25 - L. Olivando/ST
Bench
4 - A. Gunadarma/GK; 2 - D. P. Kusuma/LB; 15 - S. Aksapadan/CB; 16 - O. T. Atmaja/RB; 18 - B. Padurjana/LM; 20 - A. Setiahadi/CM; 21 - S. Hermawan/RM; 11 - A. T. Wijaya/AT; 22 - W. Pramana/ST

---

HUElavia v Pemecutan
@ HUGames Stadium, Sega

Formation
4-3-3
Line Up
1 - A. Jandisuga/GK; 13 - Y. Nehusandak/LB; 3 - S. B. Wijaya/CB; 5 - S. P. Laksamana/CB; 6 - D. R. Putra/RB; 7 - A. Kusumawijaya/LM; 8 - R. Karyadi/CM; 9 - B. Hermawan/RM; 12 - K. T. Mahayana/AT; 14 - D. P. Mahardika/AT; 25 - L. Olivando/ST
Bench
4 - A. Gunadarma/GK; 2 - D. P. Kusuma/LB; 15 - S. Aksapadan/CB; 16 - O. T. Atmaja/RB; 18 - B. Padurjana/LM; 20 - A. Setiahadi/CM; 21 - S. Hermawan/RM; 11 - A. T. Wijaya/AT; 22 - W. Pramana/ST

[Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom]

RekanSport
World Cup 91; Number Crunches Duel With Destiny
By Iwan Miletić

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Nation         3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
Ko-oren        200  200  190 (Playoffs)
Nyowani Kitara 193  116   10
Delaclava      110   46  N/A
Poafmersia      87   36  N/A
Sharktail        9    2  N/A
Other            1  N/A  N/A
Others: Xanneria, Proasic Union

Ko-oren and their unbreakable style will be in the next phases of the World Cup, the only question is where. The Dragonflies won ninety five percent of RekanSport Oracle’s simulations. Nyowani Kitara are the only side which could possibly take the group away from Ko-Oren, but it will be by no means easy. Delaclava and Poafmersia are fighting for third place, with Sharktail subtly nipping at the heels of the other nations. Xanneria were able to qualify for the playoffs in one simulated result.

Nephara               200  200  198 (Playoffs)
Valentine Z           173   91    2
Pluvia & Saxean Isles  98   42  N/A
Oberour Ar Moro        68   34  N/A
Other                  32   12  N/A
Mercedini              29   11  N/A
Others: Yuezhou, Tjorl, Kamisato Ayaka Nation, United Adaikes

Group 2 has the most teams eligible for the World Cup. In addition, eight of them are fighting for two spots. Mercedini and Oberour Ar Moro at the halfway mark ten and eleven points away from second place Valentine Z. Pluvia & Saxean Isles are a steady team with the third lowest number of losses thus far, and were in the playoff 49% of the time. Yuezhou qualified fourteen times for the playoffs, Kamisato Ayaka Nation and Tjorl eight times, and United Adaikes qualified twice. Twice the order “Valentine Z-Nephara-Pluvia & Saxean Isles” popped up.

Nation    3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
Zwangzug  171  129   98
Adab      148  112   86
Tumbra     58   37    3
Sendhang   16    9    1
Other       4    0  N/A
Ceni        3    1    0
Others: Eshialand

Four teams could say they won group three, with Zwangzug actually taking the most victories and top three places ahead of group leader Adab. Adab was however still strong, and is a major favorite to finish in the playoffs. Tumbra and Sendhang too won the group in some simulations, but had issues consistently finishing in the top three, especially Sendhang. Even Ceni and Eshialand could qualify for the playoffs, but it would be like finding hay in a needle stack for those associations.

Nation     3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
Baker Park 200  198  158 (Playoffs)
Jeruselem  189  116   41
Trolleborg 144   82    1
Acastanha   57    4  N/A
Gortolekua   7  N/A  N/A
Other        3  N/A  N/A
Others: Pyazhnaya, Ranoria

The Commonwealth of Baker Park are the favorites to win Group 4 with around an 80% shot at becoming the automatic qualifiers. Baker Park cannot finish below third. Jeruselem are the only able to win one fifth of the time, but qualify for the playoffs almost 95% of the time. Trolleborg are in third place with more points than sixteen sides in playoff positions. Acastanha are the only club which can realistically catch Trollborg, six points back with twelve points to play for compared to Trolleborg’s nine.

Nation       3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
Huayramarca  196  181   86
Electrum     152  108   50
Cassadaigua  140   64   33
Sarzonia     108   47   32
Delte          4    1    0

Only the top five in the group will be racing for the playoffs. Huayramarca, Electrum, and Cassadaigua all have byes. One side in the group, Darmen, have the highest number of points of any county eliminated from the main event. Delte are total afterthoughts in the group, while Sarzonia have a game in hand, but must be careful to not waste it. Cassadaigua will perhaps finish their group campaign in a decisive battle. Electrum are in a tough spot by being second place a five way race which can quickly turn into four. Huayramarca seldom go down into forth, but it did happen in Oracle sims.

Nation             3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
I.A. Quebec        198  171  125
Vdara              185  107   42
Mytanija           178  111   46
The Cordian Isles   31   11    1
Quasden              7  N/A  N/A
Other                1  N/A  N/A
Others: Gardelrya

Both Mytanija and Vdara share three opponents, so the algorithm went haywire with this group. Mytanija loved to win their game in hand to squeak past an inconsistent Vdara side. Vdara finished in the playoffs more, but Mytanija finished in second and first more often. Both however were consistently in the top three. Quebec was winning a lot, and The Cordian Isles and Quasden just couldn’t break into the top three regularly. Gardelrya can go from seventh to third, but only did so once in the Oracle’s scoring sessions. Treekidisan in sixth simply cannot pass Mytanija or Vdara.

Nation       3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
Drawkland    200  178  162 (Playoffs)
Squidroidia  177  130   33
ZRH          143   75    5
Audioslavia   72   17  N/A
Soldera        5    0  N/A
Other          3  N/A  N/A
Others: StrayaRoos

Group seven is an exciting group, and not just because over ninety percent of RekanSport’s reader base live in Zeta Reka. Two podium places are open in Zeta Reka’s group. StrayaRoos were able to finish in third when Audioslavia collects one win, Zeta Reka loses all games, and StrayaRoos win four in a row. Drawkland usually wins the home tie versus StrayaRoos. Games like Audioslavia-Soldera, Drawkland-Soldera, Drawkland-Squidroidia, and Squidroidia-Zeta Reka will decide the positions. Owning to a one point lead, past results, and a game against StrayaRoos Barrier Islands, Squidroidia are favorites for second place. ZRH have won eight of the last nine. Only two wins are needed to ice out the World’s seventh best nation, Audioslavia. Even Soldera can take the spot more than 2% of the time.

Nation      3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
Eura        200  196  113 (Playoffs)
Brenecia    193  153   86
Srednjaci    87   36    1
Gyatso-kai   57   11  N/A
Omerica      52    3  N/A
Others       11    1  N/A
Others: Mertagne, Kuraita

Only three associations can win the group, but seven could advance to the playoffs. Mertagne is the lion’s share of the “other” category, but Kuraita did advance to the playoffs on three occasions. Mertagne did also finish in second when Srednjaci won all games, and Brenecia fell into fourth. Eura is guaranteed to finish in the top three, and will hope not be stuck in the playoffs. If any side can stop the Eurans both mathematically and in terms of football it is Brenecia and their weaker schedule. Both Erua and Brenecia must however face Srednjaci and Omerica respectively.

Nation    3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
Tikariot  200  171  136
Pasarga   176  120   61
TJUN-ia   104   51    0
Bollonich  98   58    1
Cardenao   22  N/A  N/A

Tikariot was picked to win the group over Pasarga quite often. Likely the pick was due to having a game in hand which kept going well. Pasarga’s schedule includes Tikariot, making the game a set peice for the entire World Cup. Pasarga also faces playoff contender Cardenao in both side’s final match. TJUN-ia squeaked by in terms of finishing third by facing Muralos and not Cardenao, plus being picked by the Oracle to pick up points against Bollonich. Bollonich did have finish second more often and even won the group in a fluke.

Nation          3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
Kandorith       200  194  177 (Playoffs)
Saint Eleanor   184  105   21
South Newlandia 113   38  N/A
Krytenia         86   29    2
Indusse          15  N/A  N/A
Other             2  N/A  N/A
Others: Fort McKinley

Saint Eleanor’s lead and deficit with games in hand makes them a major contender for the playoffs. Direct qualification is possible, but they’ll need to win two more games than Kandorith and then still account for tiebreakers. Kandorith can actually finish behind both Saint Eleanor and Krytenia. Kandorith are playing three playoff contenders with all games. South Newlandia are in a solid playoff position, but have a tight schedule on paper compared to Krytenia and cannot top the group. Indusse are able to peak in third and did so around eight percent of the time in Oracle’s sims. Fort McKinley are an unlikely third place, but are still eligible contenders for the spot.

Nation      3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
Pemecutan   200  200  197 (Playoffs)
Saterun     172  129  N/A
Chromatika   89   49    3
Cabo Azure   73   10  N/A
HUElavia     60   11  N/A
Others        6    1  N/A
Others: Kimi-Sumoi, Al Qurija

Pemecutan are the only side which can realistically qualify directly, but the group is anything but simple. Four points separate second from fourth. All sides have top half nations to play in the final games, with Cabo Azure having two (Saterun/Chromatika), while HUElavia has to face the World Cup 90’s Runners Up. Chromatika need to pick up wins and essentially drop no points in a dead heat with Saterun who are fighting hard for second. Both Saterun and Chrom are playoff favorites. Cabo Azure might take advantage of Chromatika’s sloppy form to slide into third place in the home tie on the nineteenth week.

Nation          3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
Banija          200  200  197 (Plyoffs)
Brookstation    172   99    3
Squornshelan RS 127   75  N/A
Eraman           73   23  N/A
Sargossa         24    3  N/A
Others            4  N/A  N/A
Others: Efnakia, Milchama

Banija are the favorites to win the group by a long shot, but could fall to Brookstation in extreme circumstances. Both Brookstation and the Squornshelan Remnant States have a game which could tip the scales in favor the third place team. Eraman might just be able to finish in second in they best Banija. Efnakia and Milchama require Eraman and the SRS to wash out and for Sargossa to only collect four points from matches with SRS, Milchama and Efnakia.

Nation          3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
The Holy Empire 200  200  136 (Playoffs)
Vilita          194  143   64
Chartistan       92   49  N/A
Astograth        67  N/A  N/A
Garifunya        44    8  N/A
Other             3  N/A  N/A
Others: Aut-Ves-Nat, Geektopia

The Holy Empire will most likely advance and so will Vilita. The third playoff spot is up in the air, with Aut-Ves-Nat and Geektopia each finishing in third in after some mock rounds. Astograth and Chartistan each have three games left and get to play the utterly imperfect nation Unpleasant. Garifunya have teams in contention across the entire schedule, and this prevents them from placing ahead of Astograth in the RekanSport Oracle standings.

Nation      3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
Turori      164  132  75
Juvencus    154  110  79
Wreckeria   116   83  31
Flavovespia 108   61  14
Starblaydia  50   14   1
Other         8    0   0
Others: The 14 Stars

The numbers went haywire in the penultimate group. Savojarna, a large sporting nation home to two clubs with Rekan national team players, is out of contention. Starblaydia only won a single time in Oracle’s sims, with just fifty playoff appearances. Wreckeria and Flavovespia are in similar spots, and play each other in an implication filled tie. Flavovespia won last time, but are away for the rematch. Turori and Juvencus each qualified for something big more than seventy five percent of the time, with Turori all but guaranteed to play in at least the playoffs. The 14 Stars made six playoffs and did so when they won every game.

Nation     3rd+ 2nd+ 1st
Valanora   186  150   79
Hapilopper 176  151   73
Savigliane 129   48   20
Kelssek    105   51   31
Baggieland   2  N/A  N/A
Other        2  N/A  N/A
Others: Euran Oceanian Territories

Group fifteen has been a wild group, and a heck of a way to end it all. Firstly, fifth place Baggieland and sixth place Euran Oceania Territories each qualified two times for the playoffs. Kelssek actually won the group more than Savigliane, who both face Valanora. Valanora are thus playing some risky games, and actually finish in the top two less than Hapilopper, but win the group six times more. “I’m not sure myself why the machine made these picks,” RekanSport Oracle inventor Šojka Tomičić explained, “The group has an odd kind of parity placed in neatly stratified tiers, but not fully.”

RekanSport's Personal Oracle
RekanSport’s number crunchers worked overtime again, offering the public two different predictions of how the world cup is shaping up. Firstly is the ever popular RekanSport Oracle program. Two hundred simulations of the remaining WC91 matchups were created by the RekanSport Oracle program. The RekanSport Oracle Simulation System (ROSS) was invented by RekanSport’s own Šojka Tomičić and was used to predict 16/16 teams in the seventy two domestic Rekan seasons. While its performance in the world’s game has been limited, Tomičić remains confident in version three of the Oracle.

Thanks to web design, readers can open the tabs to the side of the base article and find info on all fifteen World Cup 91 groups. The info shows the top five most successful teams across the group's two hundred simulations. The teams are ordered by how often they finished third or better. Teams outside of the the top five are marked as Other and listed below. Commentary by RekanSport analyst Simon Linsenhoff is provided for all groups.

RekanSport’s Staff Picks
In addition to the work of RekanSport Oracle to find the optimal group positions, a panel of experts selected fifteen group winners, and the playoff matchups from across the groups. The panel, which has been reshuffled after a low success rate last time, has nine footballing analysts, writers, and regular contributors. The group also selected sixty fours teams for the Cup or Harmony, tough the format is yet unknown and the sporting criterion for the tournament is always unpredictable.

RekanSport World Cup 91 Lineup

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Play-Offs

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Hapilopper      >  Astograth
Vilita          >  Oberour Ar Moro
Nyowani Kitara  <  HUElavia
Saint Eleanor   >  Squornshelan RS
Brenecia        >  The Cordian Isles
Zwangzug        <  Delaclava
Mytanija        >  Gyatso-kai
Turori          >  Zeta Reka
Sarzonia        <  Trolleborg
Jeruselem       <  Savigliane
Squidroidia     >  Wreckeria
Tikariot        >  Electrum
Saterun         >  Adab
Brookstation    <  Krytenia
Valentine Z     <  TJUN-ia

World Cup

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Hosts
Graintfjall      Farfadillis
Group Winners
Ko-oren          I.A. Quebec  Pemecutan
Nephara          Drawkland    Banija
Tumbra           Eura         The Holy Empire
Baker Park       Pasarga      Juvencus
Huayramarca      Kandorith    Valanora 
Play-off Winners
Hapilopper       Delaclava    Squidroidia
Vilita           Mytanija     Tikariot
HUElavia         Turori       Saterun
Saint Eleanor    Trolleborg   Krytenia
Brenecia         Savigliane   TJUN-ia

Cup of Harmony

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Acastanha       Adab              Al Qurija         Astograth
Audioslavia     Baggieland        Barunia           Bollonich
Brookstation    Cabo Azure        Cassadaigua       Cardenao
Ceni            Chartistan        Chromatika        Darmen
Delte           Efnakia           Electrum          Eraman
Eshialand       Euran O.T.        Frb. Territories  Ft. McKinley
Flavovespia     Garifunya         Geektopia         Gortolekua
Indusse         Jeruselem         Kamisato Ayaka    Kelssek
Kimi-Suomi      Krytenia          Nyowani Kitara    Mercedini
Mertagne        Milchama          Oberour Ar Moro   Pluvia & Saxean Isles
Poafmersia      Proasic Union     Ranoria           República Guanacasteca
Savojarna       Sargossa          Sarzonia          Sendhang
Soldera         South Newlandia   Squornshelan RS   Srednjaci
Starblaydia     The Cordian Ils.  The 14 Stars      Tjorl
United Adaikes  Valentine Z       Xanneria          Yuezhou
Wreckeria       Zeta Reka         Ziwana            Zwangzug

Panel Members:
Ljubomira Jewrić (Chief Editor), Lukas Seifert (Head of Analytics), Rajko Iwanić (Head of International Coverage)
Xavier Lulling (Rekan NT Field Reporter), Simon Linsenhoff (International Analyst), Radoslava Stnkowić (Rushmore Field Reporter)
Marko Dusan (Contributor, former ZRHMNT Head Coach, Capital Cove NT Director), Dragoljub Wladić (Contributor, retired player), Nikola Alekić (Contributor, retired sportswriter)

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RekanSport Top 6:

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• World Cup 91; Zeta Reka Score Eight In Two Special Free Article
• Federal Government Prosecute Ultras Connected DD Porto Nowi Staffer
• World Cup 91; Number Crunches Duel With Destiny
• Proud Tigers Executive Living With Married Woman
• Rekan Marketing Firm Allegedly Embezzles ZRH Basketball Association
• Welko Urošić Tears ACL After Game

Free Articles remaining this month: 3

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Home — Contact — Jobs — Legal — Cookie Policy — Languages (English — Rekan — Hügeltalian)

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@ Squidroidia

GK: Zlatko Wukowić
CB: Yousef Iwanić
CB: Marka Krušlin
CB: Lukas Skaaland
LWB: Nikola Djordjewić
RWB: Zaur-Luka Igorić
DM: Nikola Branić
CM: Stanimir Rekawić
CM: Tim Ulrich
FW: “Fen” Scwartzhammer
FW: Bogdan Rawić (c)
Named Subs
GK: Branislaw Mucić
CB: Anubis Zlatkowić
CB: Sigmund Hafner
CB: Sidon Mauer
LWB: Marko Dieter
RWB: Wladan Momirić
DM: Marko Djuradjić
CM: Edwin Markozy
CM: Marko Zup
FW: Miloš Simeoniwić
FW: Wladmir Imilić

Vs. StrayaRoos (@ Winkle-Industrija Stadion, Matov-Uri, Max Cap 28,500)

GK: Zlatko Wukowić (c)
CB: Anubis Zlatkowić
CB: Marka Krušlin
CB: Lukas Skaaland
LWB: Marko Dieter
RWB: Jan Mayer
DM: Ena Bratić
CM: Maria Wieder
CM: Markus Rolfes
FW: Arnald Gal
FW: Jakow Krstowić
Named Subs
GK: Aleksander Basilić
CB: Didi Wukowić
CB: “BM” Barto Milosawljewić
CB: Sigmund Hafner
LWB/CB: Leo Wendschuch
RWB: Wladan Momirić
DM: Marko Desimirić
CM: Wladoslaw Dorboslawić
CM: Danica Wultz
FW: Leonard Lölling
FW: Olu Osanyinleye

The predictions given are in no way a reflection on ZRH’s OOC opinions, *especially* when pertaining to Cup of Harmony invites. For brevity’s sake a lot of different pieces of rng, and searching for pretty paterns were used for everything instead of firing up a scorinator hundreds of times or grading RPs. Is all bullshido, I know, don't bite me. *Meep!*

[Kuraita]

KURAITASTRAVA
international

The Official International News Agency of The Republic of Kuraita

What will Kuraita’s future be?

Arcjuga - With the initial Parliamentary Elections coming up in Kuraita, the Arcjuga Institute of Politics released its third national election poll in cooperation with the National University of Savojarna’ Institute for Public Opinion at Sjoedrhavn. The AIP/IPOS poll continues to see Armandas Cigoras in first place for Prime Minister, but sees liberals and nationalists collapsing in favour of centre-left and centre-right. What could that mean for the country?

Armandas Cigoras, unofficial leader of the Kuraitan democratic reform movement, remains the hot favourite for the premiership in the first free election in 17 years. Compared to the last two waves of polls, Cigoras’ Citizens for the Future (PN) party rose from 27 to 30 percent, commanding a clear lead that is unlikely to be broken. But the coalition formation process is likely to remain messy, as the natural ally of the PN, the Kuraitan Democratic Liberal Party (KDLP) fell down to 7%, behind even the nationalists led by the Makojan former Army major Boras Indrits. In the centre, the moderate conservatives and social democrats are both maintaining their standing, staying at 19 and rising to 16 percent respectively. A grand coalition including the top three has been touted recently by Cigoras, but criticised by social democratic leader Ruks Konols. The 58 year old union leader with Nepharan heritage stated that his party was open for coalition negotiations, but any coalition including the SDPK would require “a social spin that we can identify with, rather than a broad compromise that runs just on lofty promises of liberal democracy”. Most notably, Konols has rejected any possibility of working with the Conservatives thus far, demanding cooperation either with the KDLP or either of the small Green or Feminist Parties. Amidst this mess, we are bringing you the complete list of who is in the running, and what their goals and demands are.

Citizens for the Future (PN)
Leading candidate: Armandas Cigoras (46, Arcjuga)
Standpoints: Democracy, anti-corruption, national unity
Projected seats: 28-32

Kuraita’s biggest political force at the moment primarily runs off the steam that Armandas Cigoras, hero of the democratisation movement, who swept Kuraitans off their feet with his smart speeches from Savojar exile. Hugely popular across the country, but particularly among middle-class families and younger people with no allegiance to any of the traditional parties, Cigoras is the future of Kuraita personified. However, his actual standpoints are vague, something that according to professor Tanja Redunaite is partially responsible for his popularity, but also the lack of trust many voters have. “We’ve really expected that Cigoras might be trending to absolute majority, but this fracturing is a surprise, and I think it’s really because people are reading the manifestos and watching the debates and realise he doesn’t have much to offer beyond democracy and freedom”. Cigoras, who has not been a political figure before his rise to prominence, was a journalist and author; it appears that his transition from activist to party leader has not gone as seamlessly as some expected.

Social Democratic Party of Kuraita (SDPK)
Leading candidate: Ruks Konols (58, Arcjuga)
Standpoints: Trade unionism, welfare state expansion, military neutrality, internationalism
Projected seats: 17-21

One of the most organised parties following the legalisation of democratic politics, the social democrats profited massively from an established network of trade unions that remained legal under the military regime. Unsurprisingly, their main candidate Konols also emerged from trade union stock, and has been an important figure in Arcjuga. Locally popular after having brokered a much welcome general agreement with the Arcjuga Port Authority five years ago, Konols has the image of a hard worker and fighter for his constituents, making him popular despite being rather uncharismatic. After an early surge, his party struggled to make inroads outside his base of working class voters as he had repeatedly vowed to prioritise worker rights and labour politics over the general transition to democracy, including questioning a broad representative coalition if it wasn’t sufficiently social democratic. Touted as a potential strong opposition leader with the power to stand up to Cigoras’ public appeal.

Conservative Party of Kuraita (KPK)
Leading candidate: Lauris Morcins (64, Krustojnis)
Standpoints: Internationalism, moderate social conservatism, recognition of religion
Projected seats: 14-17

The KPK is one of the three traditional parties of pre-military Kuraita, but turned into a shadow of its former self as it was both considered an accessory of the army coup as well as then splintered into two over the foundation of the modern-day NASK. Having started out in a position of being hated by democratic activists for having helped the army, and hated by the army for having turned away from it during its reign when the army stopped maintaining the nominal independence of Parliament, the KPK was considered dead - and shot to third biggest party as it claimed a centre-right vacuum. It demands the recognition of Kuraita’s three biggest religious communities as state recognised religions, and opposes some more progressive demands from the centre-left. On top of that, it stands for a more moderate liberalism economically, promoting lower taxes and a restricted welfare state compared to the social democratic position, but opposing widespread privatization.

Kuraitan Democratic and Liberal Party (KDLP)
Leading candidate: Samanta Indrata (43, Aziklirins)
Standpoints: Democracy, Economic Liberalism, free trade, internationalism, education expansion
Projected seats: 10-15

The KDLP was the last government party before the coup, led by likely future president Rihards Daugavinš, and long expected to resume its familiar spot at the top. But then, it turned out that a large chunk of its liberal base moved over to Cigoras’ movement, and its message of low taxes and privatisation did not offer much to the electorate at large, leading to the KLDP’s collapse to fourth place. It hastily tried to reposition itself as a party of the future, with a heavy focus on education, and through the promotion of social media savvy leading candidate Samanta Indrata, who appears to have stemmed the bleeding. Still, the Liberals might just be too close to the PN to actually convince many voters, with the main difference between the two being a more defined economic policy of the KDLP - sadly, not a highly popular one.

National Alliance for a Strong Kuraita (NASK)
Leading candidate: Boras Indrits (66, Makospils)
Standpoints: International isolation, military investment, nationalism
Projected seats: 9-11

By far the most divisive party in the running, the NASK is basically the party of the old Mandrins regime. Left alive in order to fulfil a demand of the Army to agree to its dethroning, it doesn’t even try to hide anything about its past: Boras Indrits served as minister for labour in the old regime, as well as being an Army major and working in the international service before his ministerial post. Behind him, multiple other officials of the old regime have coalesced in the NASK, most importantly the former head of the secret service, Kaspars Irbe. While the NASK has pledged itself to the new constitution, it still wants to maintain a core role for the military, pledging to continue dictatorship-era conscription laws, investing into new weaponry, and entering no international non-military alliances. Furthermore, it proposed severe restrictions to immigration, something relatively uncommon in Kuraitan history, as well as wanting to promote a general amnesty of dictatorship-era crimes. Particularly popular in Makoja province, the home of Indrits and a stronghold of the old regime.

Minor Parties

Green Party of Kuraita (Green)
Leading candidate: Mantas Liparaitis (47, Valtspils)
Standpoints: Environmental protection, neutrality, welfare state expansion
Projected seats: 6-8

Kuraitan Communist Worker’s Party (KKSP)
Leading candidate: Maris Kvelberis (55, Krustojnis)
Standpoints: Revolutionary socialism, Krugerism, Socialist Internationalism, consequences for old leaders
Projected seats: 4-5

National Movement for Freedom (NKB)
Leading candidate: Vytautas Liżkus (51, Arcjuga)
Standpoints: Radical libertarianism, flat taxation, welfare state abolition
Projected seats: 3-4

Feminist Movement (FK)
Leading candidate: Adriana Kistomaite (37, Auksturts)
Standpoints: Gender equality, international equality, consequences for old leaders
Projected seats: 2-3

None of these four parties are considered as important as the Big Five, although the Greens in particular have been making waves. Led by a well-known author in Mantas Liparaitis, who wrote two well-regarded popular science books about climatology, and supported by Prof. Zemgus Aliaitis, the chair of the University of Arcjuga’s scientific institute, the Greens are slated to make a small run for the seats and might be a part of a future coalition. That is unlikely for the three other minor parties. Kuraita’s communist party rejects all cooperation, with the potential exception of the Social Democrats. However, the SDPK rejects the idea of holding military leaders accountable in court, stating that it has agreed to the Arcjuga Accords, which regulate such dealings strictly. As the same goes for the Feminist Movement, a loose youth party around Auksturts University sociologist and activist Adriana Kistomaite that gathered steam on social media and among AU students, they too are unlikely to enter any formal power. The National Movement for Freedom caught attention early in the cycle, as they are backed by well-known people, including three big tech entrepreneurs and the well-regarded economics professor Vytautas Liżkus. However, as polls came around, it turned out their policy of strict deregulation was unpopular in an unstable time, leading to the NKB not expected to score high in the elections.