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by **Amaurita** » Wed Jul 06, 2022 9:21 am

HLA Act to be Challenged
Reseda, Palma
Published On: 6 July | Authored By: Joaquin Ramirez

A coalition of companies in the fast food, beverage, and snack industries announced today, in a press conference at the McAllister’s Headquarters in Reseda, that it would seek to challenge several provisions of the recently enacted Healthy Living Act, through the facilitation of a national petition to hold a referendum on the Healthy Living Act.

An corporate press conference in Reseda, Palma, materializes
opposition against the HLA

The Coalition for Freedom in Business, or CFB, is currently comprised of the Corporations of McAllister’s, Tricon Global Restaurants, Restaurant Brands International, Pemberton, Bradham, and Jarritos, representing a wide collection of businesses in the fast food, snack, and soda sectors of the Amauritan economy. The Coalition, as confirmed at the press conference, aims to get HLA Article II repealed through the facilitation of a national referendum, or legal action against the Federal Government if a referendum fails to gain any ground for the coalition. The coalition announced that it would begin facilitating the signing of a petition to bring the law up for referendum, which was drafted by the individual members of the McAllister’s Board of Directors and signed by the individual members of each member company’s board of directors.

Under the petition that the Coalition for Freedom in Business has endorsed, HLA Article II would be repealed, and the already existing excise tax on fast foods would be lifted entirely. Under HLA Article II, the excise tax on fast food was doubled from 6% to 12%, and was expanded to cover a larger range of foods deemed to be ‘unhealthy and dangerous if consumed in excess,’ such as sodas. The Coalition has actively called these excise taxes a direct infringement on the coalition member’s ability to conduct business free from excessive taxations and regulations. Furthermore, the Pemberton, Jarrito’s and Bradham Corporations have all voiced discontent with the law’s provisions mandating labels warn about excess added sugar contents of soda beverages, claiming an infringement on free speech in the advertisement of their products.

Under the United States Constitution, private citizens have the ability to call for a referendum on a Federal Law, if the petition to do so gains 50,000,000 signatures within 90 days. When a referendum reaches this threshold, a national vote is scheduled, either on the next election day or on a different date designated by Congress. In the referendum, voters can opt to repeal a Federal Law via a simple majority vote. Through these outlined mechanics, Voters may also propose new federal legislation, and even propose amendments to the United States Constitution, although this requires one hundred million signatures over the span of eighteen months, and a double majority of the popular vote and within the Legislatures of the States. Virtually every Federal Subject in the Union has similar mechanics in place.

As of writing, the Coalition’s petition has been in circulation for approximately 24 hours, and has since amassed one million signatures from across the nation. A majority of signatures have originated from the States of Palma, Nevada, Arisona, Alderney, Jersey, and Scioto, although signatures have originated from across the United States. Within the next 89 days, if the petition amasses an additional forty-nine million votes, a national referendum will be scheduled to determine if HLA Article II should stay on the books or get repealed entirely. Early polling, conducted by Amauritan News Network, confirmed that a national referendum would be more or less split on a national scale, with more uneven divisions in favor of HLA Article II found in the Northeast, California, and Maritimes Regions, with more voters not in favor in the Southeast, Caribbean, and Dixie Regions of the United States.

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by **Alegeharia** » Wed Jul 06, 2022 2:15 pm

<} ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Kingdom of Alegeharia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ {>
Il Tempo Reclama Tutto

Herein, The King Proclaims

I, Malik Velkari, the king of Alegeharia, Have decided to enact a policy where Para-military services, weapons, and vehicles, will hereby require; proper training, vehicle certifications, and a proper maintenance of an elite paramilitary force in the local police departments; such as: SWAT, CIRT/CERT, on a governmental level, Militia's and National Guard. Other Law Enforcement groups must acquire and maintain licenses for paramilitary training and equipment.

Malik Velkari,
King of Alegeharia
Tlasohtlalistli ka semikak

Royal Castle Post Office,
44 Watchers Way, Ichla'eon, Alegeharia

by **Torisakia** » Wed Jul 06, 2022 10:55 pm

July 6, 2022
9:17 AM TST

Price at pumps continues to rise for Torisakians

Photo of prices at a gas station in Douglas-La Pryor. An Anti-McDowell sticker is visible.

TOKAI - Gas prices are up for a third week in a row and approaching historical numbers within Torisakia. A recent report from the Ministry of Transportation showed that the average gas price in Torisakia has increased nearly 85% since June 2021, going from an average cost of T$1.29 to T$2.39 ($2.00 to $3.69 NSD) per gallon. The last time the average price of a gallon of gas passed the T$2.00 threshold was during the 2006-2007 recession where it reached an average price of T$2.59 ($3.98 NSD) a gallon, the highest recorded price ever in Torisakian history.

This record is on the verge of being broken, as the average price of gasoline continues to increase within Torisakia. According to the Ministry of Transportation, the average price has increasing by roughly T$0.09 a week since April 2022. While the price has fluctuated over the past few months, it has been steadily increasing for three weeks straight for a rate of +35%. If this trend continues, Torisakians could be paying an average of T$2.89 ($4.45 NSD) by the end of July.

The cause of the increase in gas prices is largely due to inflation within the Torisakian economy. As of June 2022 the Consumer Price Index in Torisakia has increase by 11% from 2021, the largest increase in nearly 40 years. Increasing inflation limits the purchasing power of the Torisakian Dollar, and in turn goods and services are more expensive to buy. Also contributing to the rising gas prices is the increase in the gas tax by the Torisakia government over the past several years, which has risen from T$0.25 in 2018 to T$0.55 in 2022. Along with increasing taxes on individual's income by way of the Soto Act, and in turn less disposable income, has led to struggles at the pump for many Torisakians. Currently, the highest price for gasoline anywhere in Torisakia is in Vogel, Postmeridian, where the average price is T$2.45 ($3.77 NSD) a gallon.

While there exists a soft scientific explanation for the increase in gas prices, there is no shortage of Torisakians who are placing the blame solely on President Doug McDowell's administration. The McDowell administration, in power since 2016, has introduced multiple new excise and progressive taxes that have statistically reduced the average disposable income of many Torisakians. While this would normally stave off inflation by decreasing demand and easing prices, the time and scale of these taxes have exceeded the rate of demand. This has led to a large increase in the government's money supply, which has lowered the actual value of the Torisakian Dollar and has thus led to increased prices.

Opponents of McDowell have claimed that his administration and its actions are pushing the Torisakia economy to a near collapse and that an economic recession could occur by 2024. These claims are corroborated by former Minister of Economic Development Marsh Eubanks, who told TNN "[at] the rate that McDowell's economic policies are trending, and with the increase in the Consumer Price Index each year since McDowell took office in 2016, we could see the worst economic recession in our country in almost 80 years". In recent months, many Torisakians, most of whom support the Conservative Party, have protested against the rising prices and inflation of the McDowell government. These protests have included staged demonstrations, truck convoys, intentionally barricading gas stations to prevent entry, and stickers placed on gas pumps blaming McDowell.

When questioned about his plans to fight inflation and rising prices, McDowell stated that he is "currently in talks with the Minister of Economic Development as well as the National Torisakia Bank to implement a contractionary monetary policy, including federal rate hikes and open market operations, to help ease the burden of inflation off the Torisakian people". Dan Farrington, chairman of the National Torisakia Bank, said in an interview with TNN that he would "reduce the money supply by any means necessary, even if I have to burn down the Treasury vault myself". Farrington's statement, while obviously metaphorical and hyperbolic, has not been received well by many Torisakians, leading to increased worries on how the government will handle the situation in the coming future.

by **Drongonia** » Thu Jul 07, 2022 2:45 am

Afghan migrant shot dead after brandishing gun, shooting at police in Nelson suburb
Nelson, Drongonia
July 7, 2022 | Emma Wilson

Police cordoned off several areas of the Davenport and Beller suburbs around
midday as they pursued the gunman.

Residents of the wealthy Nelson suburbs Davenport and Beller were sent into lockdown earlier today as a gunman fired shots into a bus and terrorised motorists while being pursued through traffic by police. The gunman, now identified as Raheem Kassam of Afghani nationality, was shot dead by police after firing multiple shots towards officers during a foot pursuit.

Police were first alerted to Karim's behaviour at approximately 9pm, following a call from a Davenport-based business owner complaining of a shoplifting incident. After attending the scene and questioning Karim, Police issued him with a trespass notice and left without incident. Police were called again following Karim's attempted armed highjacking of a bus at approximately 10:30am, kicking off a ninety minute chase through one of Nelson's most upscale streets.

The bus had stopped outside North Nelson Grammar School on Lake Road, when Karim allegedly boarded the bus and threatened the driver with a firearm. Witnesses say that the driver, aided by members of the public then pushed Karim from the bus before it sped away. Passengers TVDG spoke to recalled that as the bus sped away, two shots were fired at its rear, luckily becoming lodged in the rear-mounted engine.

Armed Police arrived at the bus stop to find Karim talking on his phone while brandishing a handgun. Police say that attempted to communicate with Karim via a megaphone, but were shot at in reponse. Both Police and witnesses allege that Karim then forced a nearby driver from his vehicle, speeding away and sparking a vehicular pursuit from Police.

After speeding down Lake Road and reaching speeds of over 120km/h in the 50km/h school zone, Karim collided with an oncoming vehicle and lost control of the stolen car, careering into a fence. The driver of the other vehicle remains in Nixon Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Police then pursued Karim on foot from a distance, with Karim eventually turning and facing Police, appearing to surrender. As an officer approached to attempt to speak to Karim, he allegedly fired shots at Police and was subsequently shot dead by other attending officers. Police say none of their officers were injured during the wild pursuit, but that the officers were attended to by ambulance staff after the scene had been declared safe.

Immigration spokeswoman Kathleen Case confirmed that Karim arrived in Drongonia earlier this year, as part of the controversial LGBTQ+ refugee intake from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Karim had no known family within Drongonia and it is unclear what motivated the behaviour.

Nelson District Area Commander Roger Sutton addressed media earlier this afternoon, assuring the public that "Police are confident Mr. Karim was alone". When pressed, Sutton said Police are declining to classify the incident as an act of terror. "...these was no direct ideological link to this incident. Karim did not have any known links to terror groups and was not known to authorities", Sutton stated.

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by **Amaurita** » Sat Jul 09, 2022 7:59 am

Columbia National Bank Broken
Alexandria, Columbia
Published On: 9 July | Authored By: Jamison Andrews

For many generations, the Columbia National Bank has stood at the heart of the Federal District of Columbia, as the financial heart of the national capital. Over its many years of service, the Columbia National Bank held Confederate Gold captured in the Civil War, received the first social security checks under President Franklin D. Vanderberg, and has hosted the fortunes of Kings and Celebrities, Presidents and Prime Ministers alike. Yet, in all that time, the Columbia National Bank has never been broken successfully. Yet, that all changed on Friday, as Columbia stood in awe on that morning as the Columbia National Bank was knocked down in a daring heist.

The Columbia National Bank's 5th Avenue Entrance was subject
to a chaotic scene on Friday

At approximately 09:12 AM on Friday morning, a power surge with an unknown source at Columbia National Bank took the bank’s security systems offline. Shortly after, a dozen men equipped with military grade armor and weapons stormed the bank and overpowered the Bank’s security staff, taking multiple hostages in the process. Although the Columbia Metropolitan Police Department quickly convened on the bank, the Department was forced to settle into a several hours long standoff. At approximately 09:46 AM, Columbia Police confirmed that the Bank’s central vault has been breached. And, finally at 10:36 AM, an unmarked HAG-77 Dropship landed on the bank’s rooftop. Police and onlookers alike stood in shock as dozens of duffle bags were loaded into the dropship’s cargo bay, after which the heisters boarded and escaped.

The Columbia Metropolitan Police, alongside special response teams from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, attempted several assaults on the Columbia National Bank to neutralize the criminals and free the hostages, and were ultimately repelled. The final assault, starting at 10:32 AM, was successful, albeit slow in gaining ground, as the heisters had begun withdrawing to the roof to prepare for their escape. Police finally managed to scale the bank roof at 10:46 AM, exchanging several bursts of fire with the heisters as they boarded their dropship and made their escape. Police had failed to capture any of the heisters and suffered a dozen non-lethal injuries, but were able to recover all of the civilian hostages as the heisters withdrew.

All in all, just over 100 million Thallers were stolen from Columbia National Bank in physical items, including cash, bonds, jewelry, gold and silver bullion, alongside other valuable items stored in the Central Vault. Bank officials have also reported that several servers, carrying an additional 200 million Thallers in digital assets had been lifted from the Central Vault, mainly in the form of CryptoThallers, the digital version of the United States Thaller that serves as a primary currency for online transactions. Columbia National Bank reported no physical damage, apart from several windows and skylights that were broken by law enforcement during their several assaults on the Bank, alongside a now damaged central vault door and multiple ATM Vaults that were sawed open and looted.

The Columbia Metropolitan Police Department announced a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigations into the robbery on Friday afternoon. Both agencies suspect the heist was carried out by the supposedly retired ‘Payday Gang,’ given the intrinsic coordination during the heist and the usage of clown themed masks, as described by witnesses and law enforcement. The Payday Gang, once a prominent criminal organization that had operated in and around the Federal District of Columbia, was once thought to have gone into voluntary retirement, after several investigations failed to bring any of the gang members to justice. Now, if they’re active once again, Police are going to have to work much harder to tackle crime in the Federal District of Columbia. But, Commissioner Solomon Garrett of the Columbia Metropolitan Police Department says the CMPD is ready to tackle the challenge.

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by **Drongonia** » Sun Jul 10, 2022 2:49 am

Nelson mayoral race may swing right for first time since 1970s - Labour's Fairbright preparing to potentially be pipped at the post by Nat-endorsed Paul Price
Nelson, Drongonia
July 10, 2022 | Ella Day

Longtime Nelson mayor Phil Fielding's surprise departure has made
way for a tight race between establishment candidates.

Nelson's mayoral race is heating up, with two opinion polls putting the two major-party candidates from Labour and National within a percentage point of each other in next month's mayoral election.

So far, candidates backed by each major party, as well as independents, have thrown their hats in the ring for the mayoralty, following longtime mayor Phil Fielding's surprise departure. A poll of 5,870 Nelson voters conducted by TVDG last week placed Labour's candidate Justin Fairbright in the lead with 43.1% of the vote, with National's Paul Price just behind on 41.9%. A poll of similar size conducted by FUX News showed the two candidates even closer, with Price on 43.6% of the vote and Peterson on 42.9%.

Nelson's current mayor, Phil Fielding, was first elected in a landslide in 2003, handily beating out several independents with over 65% of the vote. Subsequent elections have seen Fielding stay in power for nearly 20 years with little real opposition from either the National-backed candidates or independents. However, Fielding recently announced a diagnosis of lung cancer, and described his reasons for giving up the mayoralty so quickly as "being born from the desire to seek treatment as quickly as possible."

National-level Parliamentary politics are well-split between the two major parties, as well as the minor players. However, many have noted that council-level politics are often more skewed leftwards, with Nelson's council being a textbook example of this. Currently, of the 25 city councillors, 17 of them are members of the Labour Party. If National's candidate Paul Price is elected, it would be the first time a right-wing mayor has led the city since 1975, when ex-National MP Charles Tedder left office. Political analysts have noted that whichever party has its candidate win here will be given much more control over national affairs, considering the nation's most populous city's leadership is what's at stake.

Traditionally, Nelson has been both a city council and Parliamentary Labour stronghold. However, in the 2020 General Election, Labour lost many of its largest suburban Nelson seats, with many residents concerned about crime and the rising cost of living. National's Price said during an interview on FUX Daily today that "this race isn't about a left vs right thing, it's quite disconnected from Parliamentary politics. It's about who has the answers and who doesn't. Labour and Fairbright are clearly complacent, they obviously thought they'd be able to just waltz in and win because they're wearing red ties and leafy lapel pins." Justin Fairbright hit back in a Peaker post, asserting that "Price/Nats are digging hard into the fact Labour want to win this election alongside me. Thing is, I'm running to do better by Nelson, not because the Labour Party wants me to."

Voting in the election is due to begin on August 1, with ballots being sent out by mail and physical ballot stations being open from August 1 to August 14. The drop-dead date for receival of mail-in ballots is August 18

TVDG - Nelson Votes 2022
Question asked: Of the Nelson mayoral candidates who've announced they are running, who are you most likely to vote for?
LAB 43.9% | Justin Fairbright
NAT 41.2% | Paul Price
IND 4.9% | Matthew Faulkner
GRN 3.2% | Leilani Fua'lofa
IND 2.7% | Sukhdeep Maan
IND 2.4% | Ingrid Parker
OTH 1.7% | Other candidates

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by **Drongonia** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 10:34 pm

Defence Force completes scaling back of international operations
Christchurch, Drongonia
July 12, 2022 | Derek Bentlebury

DDF Helicopter crews operating in Europe, 2019.

Peace activists, military spouses and Government accountants are among those celebrating today after the Ministry of Defence confirmed it had completed the scaling back of the Drongonian Defence Force's international operations.

Since January 2020, the Defence Force has been conducting what it calls an "organised scaling back" of its overseas operations, withdrawing personnel, equipment, and aid deployed worldwide with an intention to refocus its efforts on both national defence and fulfilling commitments to Pacific partners.

Treasury analysts have estimated that the reduction of Drongonia's international operations will save the country approximately $24bn over the next five years. Ministry of Defence officials have confirmed that of the approximately $24bn savings, only a portion will be re-invested into the Defence Force. However, the neither the Ministry accountants or its spokespeople were able give exact figures when pressed.

In December 2019, before the reductions began, Drongonia had approximately 12,500 personnel deployed worldwide, with the majority of these being outside of the Pacific Defence Area. At present, the number now sits closer to 4,000, but the Defence Force remains tight-lipped about the exact numbers, citing operational security reasons.

As part of the 2020 Revised Defence Strategy, the Defence Force planned to reduce the number of personnel deployed at any one time to approximately 5,000, with 80% of those personnel being stationed within the Pacific Defence Area. The Pacific Defence Area encompasses Drongonia, New Zealand, Cancolastan, Great Pacific Switzerland, and the majority of the smaller Pacific Island nations.

Defence Force spokesman Tony Clark confirmed that the force was committed to maintaining "a high enough number of deployed personnel to fulfill both our national and regional defence obligations, as well as react to any unforseen circumstances as and when they may arise". Military and political analysts believe that Clark is largely alluding to the Anglospheric Defence Pact, to which Drongonia is a key signatory. Under the agreement, all signatories must have a specified number of personnel available for defensive activities at any given time. Under the ADP, Drongonia's requirement is for 3,000 personnel to be in a state of "high readiness" at all times.

Both major parties supported the move, for different reasons. During Parliamentary Question Time today, Labour leader Sarah Ellice commended "the growing restraint the Defence Force is showing internationally", while Prime Minister Bill English talked of "...the increased need for our Defence Force to be concentrated regionally, to protect against threats on the home front". Deputy PM Simon Baker, of the People's Front, also supported the move, saying that "there is much talk of the global village, but our forces must be situated in our global front lawn, patrolling the global street we live on, rather than being on the other side of the village unable to protect us."

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by **Amaurita** » Wed Jul 13, 2022 12:40 pm

New Outdoor Range Open to the Public
Schaumburg, Hanover
Published On: 13 July | Authored By: Elisabeth Schmidt

Shooting Clubs in the Greater Hanover area celebrated today as the brand new Schaumburg Shooting Range has officially been opened for public use, as the Range kicks off its grand opening with complimentary lessons for all patrons.

Shooting Sports enthusiasts
prepare for a busy summer season

The Schaumburg Shooting Range is by far the largest indoor and outdoor shooting range in the Great Lakes region of the United States, dwarfing the next largest range in the region, which is located in Indiana. The Schaumburg Range is located between the suburb of Schaumburg and the Schaumburg State Park, and is a fifteen minute drive from downtown Hanover. Complete with dozens of instructors well versed in firearms training and safety, an outdoor hunting simulation area, a fully stocked pro-shop, and even a quick-service restaurant on site, a visit to the Schaumburg Shooting Range has amenities available for everyone. The grand opening celebration at the Range has become an all day affair for patrons, as complimentary lessons and discounted rentals are available all day for all visiting patrons on Friday and Saturday, from 0800 to 2000 for the indoor range, and from 0800 to sunset for outdoor facilities. The range is closed on Sundays.

The opening of the Schaumburg Shooting Range comes at a perfect time, as athletes within the region are beginning to gear up for the next Amauritan Olympic Summer Games, scheduled to occur the summer after next. Athletes from across the nation will represent their home states while participating in a wide range of athletic activities, including shooting sports. Although unconfirmed, rumors have held that the next summer Olympics are to be held in Hanover, this being the first time the city has had the privilege of hosting the Amauritan Summer Olympics. At the previous Summer Games, hosted in Duncan, Colorado, the team representing the State of Hanover performed well in most of the games, yet lagged in shooting sports, often being bested by the teams representing Texas, Wyoming, and Absaroka, the latter taking home a majority of the gold medals for shooting sports in the previous summer games. Now, the Hanover teams hope to perform better.

Gun ownership is widespread in the United States, given long standing traditions of shooting sports and hunting within Amauritan culture. As of writing, there is an estimated 81.2 firearms per 100 residents, meaning that approximately 60% of Amauritan households own firearms. The permit to purchase semi-automatic weapons are subject to a shall-issue scheme in all States, whereas automatic firearms are subject to a may-issue permit scheme in all States, both of which require background checks and a letter from a licensed psychiatrist verifying the applicant is in good mental health. Certain types of firearms, such as bolt action rifles, only require a background check to verify a clean criminal record. Federally, all licensed firearms owners are required to undergo a sixteen hour safety course at a licensed range, although many states mandate additional training hours; in addition to most states having safe storage, safe transport, and ‘red flag’ laws in place to ensure public safety.

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by **Drongonia** » Wed Jul 13, 2022 6:50 pm

Government declines EV charging network joint-venture
Christchurch, Drongonia
July 14, 2022 | Monica Flange

A ChargeNet 300kw "TURBOcharger" in Invercargill operated by
New Zealand-based Gull Energy.

In a decision published by the Ministry for the Environment, the Government has rejected a joint-venture offer from New Zealand-based Gull Energy to operate a network of electric vehicle chargers throughout Drongonia.

In a draft initiative first proposed in late 2020, New Zealand-based Gull Energy were seeking a $1bn investment from the Ministry for the Environment and the Drongonian Transport Agency to build what it referred to as "a national network of next-generation electric vehicle charging stations". The deal would have seen both Government departments owning 24.5% of the joint corporation, named in its proposal phase "ChargeNet Drongonia", following the naming convention of its existing ChargeNet network in New Zealand. The remaining 51% would have remained with Gull Energy New Zealand Limited.

It was estimated that the deal would have seen approximately 1,000 "charge centres" with multiple chargers each built around the country within a 10-year timeframe. The joint decision by the MotE and DGTA, however, disputed the viability of this, suggesting that "a network this large, potentially containing more than 5,000 300kwh chargers would require significantly more than a $1bn all-of-Government investment in the areas of land acquisition, power delivery and other infrastructure works."

Rachel Norris, Gull Energy NZ CEO, fronted media this morning to express the company's disappointment with the Government's decision. "We believe that the Drongonian Government has just passed over the opportunity of a generation. This infrastructure would have propelled Drongonia's transformation into a 21st century powerhouse, and we're very disappointed that they [the Government] were either unwilling or unable to realise that", she said during a radio interview on FUX Talk.

Minister of the Environment, Alexandra Fields, said that while the joint venture was "a great indication that private industry is ready and willing to work with us to achieve our sustainability goals" she reaffirmed the Government's stance, saying "ultimately, however, the deal didn't look to be a good fit for Drongonia." In a Peaker post with over 100,000 likes, Labour's Environmental Spokesperson Katherine Painter said simply "In rejecting Gull's deal, the government has just proven that they are inept and really don't care for the environment. But most of all - that they're just plain stupid."

Last year, the Drongonian Transport Agency hinted at plans to make a subsidy available for existing petrol stations to host EV chargers, but this has yet to come to fruition. No other Government departments have publicly announced their intention to pursue policy which would make EV chargers more accessible or affordable.

It is estimated that electric vehicle sales in Drongonia made up just 1.37% of all new car sales in 2021, with the Drongonian-made NMW e100 series being the most popular new all-electric vehicles being registered on the road.

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by **Stevencousin** » Thu Jul 14, 2022 8:36 pm

NATIONAL ECHO

A medical marijuana registration framework will be introduced this year

The government will introduce a framework for the registration of cannabidiol (CBD) -based products, the active ingredient of cannabis, this year. It is to enable it to be used for medical purposes through a doctor's prescription. "The framework will outline the regulatory process, education and training as well as the sharing of scientific data related to use cases," Science, Health and Environment Minister, Dr. Margaret Widdowson said on Twitter. Yesterday, Dr. Widdowson said several CBD products are expected to be registered next year. She said the Ministry of Science, Health, and Environment was committed based on evidence and science.

“In other words, if science points in a certain direction, we can’t dodge,” she was quoted as saying. She, however, said Stevencousin would not be in a hurry to follow other nation's move to no longer consider cannabis as a drug and allow it to be grown. "Our steps are careful, first we list some CBD products, and we look at the acceptance of doctors and patients.

"After that, if the acceptance is high, safe, and effective, then we can think about planting, many send papers to make cannabis farms and so on, but we have not reached that level yet," she said. MOSHE Minister Dr. Widdowson said clinical studies on the use of cannabis in medicine could be done. Dr. Widdowson said, every policy must be based on evidence and so far no complete clinical study has been received by the Ministry of Science, Health, and Environment (MOSHE). “Recently, there have been many discussions regarding the use of cannabis in medicine.

“The MOSHE has consistently adopted an evidence-based policy. That is why we have welcomed clinical studies on the use of CBD (cannabis oil) for medical purposes, "she said on Twitter today. Dr. Widdowson said clinical studies could be coordinated by the Clinical Research Center under the National Institutes of Health. “So far, there has been no full application for a clinical study/trial. Many voiced interest and advocacy on social media. “MOSHE welcomes research by industry and academia for the use of CBD in medicine. We are ready to work together, "she added.

More Info
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol or CBD is a type of cannabinoid or a naturally occurring compound found in cannabis and hemp plants. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), or other types of cannabinoids, CBD does not cause the hangover or “floating” feeling associated with marijuana use.

What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is one of the many cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. The two compounds in marijuana are delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol THC and CBD. To date, THC is the most well-known compound in marijuana. This substance has the most active constituents and has a psychological effect. This substance makes the effect of high or floating. Usually, people use it by smoking cigarettes or cooking. CBD, on the other hand, has no psychoactive effects. CBD does not change a person's state of mind when using it. However, CBD oil brings significant medical benefits to the body.

by **Karrubia** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 10:14 am

Abortion could be subsidized by the NHS under new bill
Seren’gar, Karrubia

Daniel Rodman, the Social Democratic MP
that wrote the RHSA bill.

In a new bill introduced to Parliament, abortion could be completely free when conducted by the National Health Service. Member of Parliament Daniel Rosmun from the Social Democratic Party authored the bill, known as the “Reproductive Healthcare Subsidy Act 2022,” or RHSA. The RHSA would also overrule the Lethal Contraception Criminalization Act 1983, allowing for the nation’s citizens to legally purchase morning-after pills to avoid conception. The bill was also mentioned by Prime Minister Sakorum during Question Hour yesterday, when the Leader of the Opposition asked if she supported it. Sakorum answered yes.

Polls from YouGov have shown broad public support for the RHSA, with about 68% of respondents supporting the bill.

Minister for Health Tom Nerra lauded the bill, saying, “The RHSA will allow access to reproductive care for millions of Karrubians, including the many working class Karrubians unable to get an abortion due to the cost under the current system. It will also expand access to contraception by legalizing morning-after pills. Overall, this is a great and necessary bill.”

Leader of the Opposition Harkun Nermuk wasn’t as complimentary, saying that, “The Labour government is allowing anyone to kill a child for free and avoid the consequences of their actions. This course of action displeases not just the public, but Rasheti as well.” His last statement has been seen as controversial, as he is introducing Rashetism, Karrubia’s predominant religion, into its politics. Also, according to several theology experts, his statement is wrong, as the Sunya o Reshti, or Book of Creation states that life begins at first breath.

by **Karrubia** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 12:51 pm

2022 Parliamentary Election: New polls show first SDP majority government in twenty years is likely
Seren’gar, Karrubia

Opinion polls over the past 4 years.

The newest polls for the upcoming Parliament election have shown an SDP majority government is very likely. This would mean they wouldn’t need to form a minority government with the Green Party for the first time since the 2002 Parliamentary Election.

Approval for the SDP has surged after the completion of many of their promises, such as the legalization of marijuana for personal use, the restructuring of the National Health Service, the passing of a new wealth tax to fund the newly restructured NHS, and the regulation of carbon emissions.

With the election only days away, the likelihood of the National Party forming a government is slim.

by **Drongonia** » Sun Jul 17, 2022 1:47 am

Ministry of Transport, DGTA to trial "speed limit free zones" in Southland, West Coast
Gilroy Bay, Drongonia
July 17, 2022 | Richard Day

The trials contain a corridor of State
Highway 6, which stretches from Jacks
Point to Kingston.

Spokespeople from the Ministry of Transport and Drongonian Transport Agency held a surprise press conference yesterday, in which they shared a new proposal which would change road transport in Drongonia significantly.

The proposal, which has already passed through the Ministry of Transport's road safety division, aims to create "speed limit free zones" through areas of the State Highway network that the two agencies have identified as being "suitable for sustained speeds in excess of 120km/h". The stretches of highways in question include areas within the district council boundaries of Queenstown, Gilroy Bay, Invercargill and Halver.

The roads stated in the proposal will have additional northbound and southbound lanes added on the drivers' left of the existing lanes. The new lanes will be signposted as being for usage for drivers who do not wish to drive in excess of 110km/h. The existing lanes will be improved and utilised as the portion of the roads which will have no effective speed limits. Both the "slow" and "fast" lanes will have no legal speed restrictions applied, meaning that in theory a driver could use the slow lanes to drive at any speed.

To administer the new road zones, a new "EF0" road classification will be created, with the selected roads being the only roadways coming under its jurisdiction. Police say that they're on board with the idea, and will be assisting the Drongonian Transport Agency in installing speed sensors along the stretches of road. Officials from the Drongonian Transport Agency said as part of the press conference that "the roads will be jam-packed full of speed sensors. We recommend all boy racers and hoons to turn off your radar detectors as they'll be useless at best, or annoying at worst."

Both the Labour Party and road safety campaigners, however, don't see the new zones in a positive light. For example Labour's spokesperson for transport, Nathan Harris said via a Peaker post that "[the] DGTA and Ministry of Transport have gone mad! These no-speed zones are just going to kill people and for what? Some study? Crazy stuff!". As a party, Labour has had a consistent track record of disagreement with the Drongonian Transport Agency, going as far as to table legislation for its restructuring and merging with the Ministry of Transport in 2014. However, the legislation did not pass through Parliament as it was blocked by all other parties, as well as some Labour MPs.

Residents of the small community of Wye Creek, situated near the side of State Highway 6, have already petitioned to the Ministry of Transport to stop the project, but had their concerns rejected by Ministry officials. Kelly Bradshaw, a longtime Wye Creek local, told TVDG that "this is honestly just a case of people legislating from Christchurch with no regard for reality. Have they actually visited this road? I've never seen Ministry people here, or DGTA people. Never, besides when they come to fix the roads every so often - but never about this."

Bradshaw says her concerns are shared almost unanimously among all of Wye Creek's approximately 500 residents. "We're worried that we won't be able to get on the motorway safely and access the vital services we need. We know we're seen as a tiny hick town in the middle of nowhere, and that's fine. But we don't have a lot here and we need to be guaranteed safe passage to the larger towns so we can get what we need. What happens when we go to pull out onto the motorway and there's some pack of hoons flying past doing 170? How are we supposed to merge on safely?"

According to documents released by the Drongonian Transport Agency, the purpose of the programme is to "study driver behaviour in a seemingly unrestricted, but legislatively controlled environment". The programme is expected to commence by October this year and be active until October 31 2023.

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by **Drongonia** » Mon Jul 18, 2022 1:41 am

Overseas Investment Authority blocks China-backed $20bn 5G deal
Christchurch, Drongonia
July 18, 2022 | Jordan Croftfield

The deal would have allowed Chinese company Huawei to construct
over 1,000 5G towers in Drongonia.

The Overseas Investment Authority has released a draft ruling today in which it has moved to block a near-$20bn 5G infrastructure investment deal between Chinese-government backed telecommunications giant Huawei, and Drongonian mobile network Vodafone DG.

The OIA cited "significant national security concerns" as part of its rationale within the ruling's 55-page report, noting that "as of current figures, Vodafone's Drongonian arm controls approximately 30% of the mobile telecommunications market, meaning that any breach of operational or network security is liable to affect the public on an unprecedented scale."

The ruling comes just weeks after the OIA also moved to block an investment which would have totaled over $45.5bn over the course of a decade by American mega-corporation Blackrock, which similarly had its sights set on the nation's telecommunications infrastructure. In their proposed deal, Blackrock had looked to partner with the Vocus Group, which is a consortium of smaller ISPs and mobile providers, to provide the groundwork for an extensive upgrade of the group's fibre and 4G/5G infrastructure. Their proposal was blocked largely on the grounds of "protecting the sovereignty of nationally significant infrastructure", with national security not considered as serious of a concern by the OIA in the case of that deal.

China's recently-replaced Ambassador to Drongonia, Chen Hia, expressed disappointment at the news, condemning it as "rubbish", and "Western imperialism gone mad" in a statement from the Chinese Embassy earlier today. "This decision from the OIA is purely rubbish. While we respect Drongonia's sovereignty to make such decisions, we firmly believe this is an example of Western imperialism gone mad." Hia went on to express disappointment with the "racist" OIA screening process. "It is clear to all who choose to look that the OIA is a racist entity that only seeks to keep White people investing in Drongonia, effectively shutting out all other races under false protestations of 'national security' and other such nonsense."

In December 2021, a Washington Post report revealed the potential links between Huawei and the Chinese Communist Party. Facing such accusations is far from uncharted territory for Huawei, which was the subject of attack from British MPs following usage of its network hardware in the UK's 5G network in 2020. While the OIA does not name any agencies specifically, its report does mention that the Authority consulted with "important stakeholders within Drongonia's national security and intelligence sphere".

While the sale of Huawei's mobile phones, routers and other network hardware is not explicitly banned in Drongonia, no major retailers or mobile networks currently provide the option to purchase them. However, Huawei's hardware can be purchased directly via online from Huawei's website. It is believed that Huawei targets its hardware at Chinese diaspora living in Drongonia, as large parts of the website are in Mandarin.

It is widely believed by analysts within the telecommunications industry that Vodafone will pursue opportunities with other network providers. However, Vodafone's Drongonian arm has yet to issue any statement following the ruling.

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by **Marxist West Canada** » Mon Jul 18, 2022 1:47 am

Recent reports from the People's Revolutionary Army of Canada suggest multiple small scale skirmishes with American soldiers near Vancouver.

Intel from the front lines tells us the harrowing tale of an American assault along the south west border of British Columbia, where at approximately 3 am July 17, American tanks rolled over the border fences followed by hundreds of U.S. soldiers. The initial report estimates the assault to have contained about 200 foreign soldiers and a dozen foreign armored vehicles. Luckily our forces were on high alert from the recent U.S. Naval activity in the port of Victoria and were able to quickly outnumber and subdue the enemy forces.

This is expected to be the first attack in an upcoming full scale conflict with the U.S. unless our diplomats can encourage peace talks between the two parties.

by **Amaurita** » Mon Jul 18, 2022 10:46 am

Columbia National Bank falls under Federal Investigation
Markington, Federal District of Columbia
Published On: 18 July | Authored By: Gabriella Papaioannou

The Federal Bureau of Investigations announced that it would commence a sweeping investigation into potentially criminal acts committed by the Columbia National Bank, following a robbery that cleaned out the Bank’s assets, in a partnership with the Financial Crimes Division of the Columbia Metropolitan Police Department and the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Internal Revenues.

FBI Agents responded to the CNB Robbery Last Friday

Last Friday, the Columbia National Bank was knocked down in a daring heist, and the first successful heist in the history of the Bank. Executed by the notorious Payday Gang, the nation stood in awe as the Columbia National Bank was emptied of virtually of its assets, being beld dry of cash, jewelry, crypto-carrying servers, gold bullion, and other valuables; to the tune of hundreds of millions of U.S Thallers. In addition to being the first successful takeover in the history of the Columbia National Bank, this heist in particular stands to contend for the title of being one of the largest bank heists in Amauritan history. The Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, in a partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, announced a joint task force to investigate the robbery on Friday afternoon, intending to leave no stone unturned in order to bring the perpetrators, the Payday Gang, to justice.

In the investigation, however, took a turn when the Federal Bureau of Investigations announced an investigation into potentially criminal activities that have been taking place within the halls of the CNB. As part of the robbery investigation, the FBI uncovered scores of documented records that were inconsistent with official bank statements to the Bureau of Internal Revenues, with official reports to the BIR indicating that the CNB had significantly fewer assets on hand compared to what was reported stolen, with no official records of any major deposits or reserve drops from the Federal Reserve. Additionally, official records submitted by the Columbia National Bank to the Bureau of Internal Revenues indicated a net decline in total assets for the last quarter, whereas unofficial documents located in the central archives and data centers of the Bank indicated growth in total assets. This evidence alone, according to FBI spokesperson Kevin Wilkinson, indicates to the Bureau that some level of financial crime may have been committed by the CNB.

On top of this, the joint task force investigating the robbery found that when the silent alarm was initially activated at the bank, the alarm was not initially directed to emergency services, but rather sent to a series of private numbers, with emergency services being notified of the silent alarm several minutes after being pulled. This fact, according to CMPD Commissioner Solomon Garrett, may have been initially missed due to the high volume of emergency calls made in that area during that time frame, leading Columbia Metropolitan Police to convene on the Columbia National Bank in a fast manner regardless of the alarm. Time stamps for the silent alarm indicated that the alarm was activated at 09:16 AM, and Police were officially notified of the robbery in progress at about 09:26 AM, although law enforcement officers had already been present for several minutes due to a large volume of emergency service calls made to the police by private citizens.

Rumors that the halls within the Columbia National Bank were host to financial criminals and even mob activity had been largely counter argued by the Bank, especially after a series of successful FBI operations led to numerous mob related arrests in the Federal District of Columbia. Yet, with evidence piling up against the Columbia National Bank, the notion that bank employees may be responsible for criminal activity is back on the table within law enforcement investigations. The Federal Bureau of Investigations confirmed in a press conference on Monday morning that they had accumulated sufficient enough evidence to warrant a full scale investigation into the Columbia National Bank’s activities, in partnership with the Bureau of Internal Revenues and the Financial Crimes Division of the Columbia Metropolitan Police Department. Multiple members of the Bank’s administration, including the bank’s Board of Directors and Bank President, have all been called forward for questioning by all three agencies over this next week, with the hope that something will finally come to light.

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by **Stevencousin** » Mon Jul 18, 2022 3:13 pm

NATIONAL ECHO

The Cassaholm Metro Authority (CMA) is studying a smart parking system in open -air parking lots

CMA is conducting a study on the smart parking system through the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in an effort to upgrade the facility in the capital by collaborating with the country's smart parking solution provider, ExtraPark. Mayor Rix Fairstone said the digital technology-based system would be applied in 60,000 CMA -owned roadside parking lots in the capital. "All these parking spaces require a uniform, orderly and centralized technology system thus facilitating users, especially in terms of time and payment. I believe, this system will help overcome various parking problems other than the issue of CMA revenue leakage, when it is introduced later," Mayor Fairstone said the CMA needs to be dynamic and productive in managing municipal issues by strengthening service delivery, especially those based on digital technology. The initiative, he said, made a meaningful history for the CMA which took the first step to get out of the cocoon of habit in the management and the parking fee collection system to shift to smart parking management. He also said that the introduction was in line with the global environment over the past 5 years which has seen the adaptation and implementation of more comprehensive digital transformation around the world.

by **Drongonia** » Mon Jul 18, 2022 7:19 pm

Drongonia's oldest supermarket chain says goodbye with emotional Blenheim store closure
Blenheim, Drongonia
July 19, 2022 | Lucy Tomlinson

The final Write Price supermarket in Blenheim, pictured during a
quiet moment on July 12 2009.

Owners of the Blenheim branch of Write Price supermarkets, Todd and Jane McCarthy, are closing their doors for the final time today after over 45 years at the Willis Street location. The closure comes following the sale of the land and property to supermarket corporate Foodstuffs Drongonia, who already owned the Write Price brand and plan to redevelop the site into a New World branch.

Originally launched in 1960, Write Price were a chain of discount supermarkets which peaked at nearly 100 locations in the 1980s, but by 2015, the McCarthys were left to go it alone as the other remaining branches shut down following a buyout of the brand. The brand-based assets of Write Price were purchased by Foodstuffs Drongonia in 2015, which also owns the more popular New World and Pak'n'Save supermarkets. Foodstuffs came to an agreement with the McCarthys that they were permitted to keep using the Write Price brand, so long as they used Foodstuff's suppliers and adhered to their stock guidelines.

Since Sunday night, the Willis Street store has been having what co-owner Todd McCarthy has called a "final blowout" sale in which items are priced as low as 90% off in a bid to clear the store shelves and prevent food wastage when the site's redevelopment begins. McCarthy joked with reporters when asked how he kept his prices low in spite of being forced to use Foodstuffs' suppliers. "Have you seen the place? Last time we painted it, I still had hair!". One local resident said the decor hadn't been updated "since the days of Anna Nolan", referring to the Prime Minister who led a Labour government from 1989 - 1999.

Blenheim's mayor, Karen Shields, said she was "disappointed but not surprised" to see the final Write Price close its doors. "Write Price has stood on Willis Street for as long as I've lived in Blenheim, and my family moved here when I was only 6. Seeing it there has been a constant in my life for basically as long as I can remember, and I'll be sad to see it go, like many other long-time residents. But, having said that, I think Jane and Todd can have a well-earned rest now, and let the younger generation take over the place as it gets revamped and relaunches."

Foodstuffs Drongonia Northern Manager Christopher Ryan told reporters that "We [Foodstuffs] plan to give the store a massive makeover and well and truly bring it into the 21st century, while still paying tribute to the decades of hard work the McCarthys put into the store."

Blenheim's Write Price closes its doors for the final time at 9pm tonight, with the New World expected to open before Christmas this year. Both Todd and Jane McCarthy have been invited by Foodstuffs to attend the grand opening of the New World as VIPs.

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by **Drago Soviet Russia** » Tue Jul 19, 2022 9:11 pm

Moscow Times,
20 July, 2022
Vadim Shostavsky

Comrade Georgi Stepanovich Maximov, our esteemed leader and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, has passed away rather suddenly from unknown causes. While there is no clear basis for succession, there are already rumors about who might replace him in that capacity. Maximov, who replaced Comrade Sergei Kirov in 1975, had been General Secretary for the past forty-seven years as a result, the longest single period of unifying leadership in the history of the Party. Like Kirov, who succeeded Comrade Joseph Stalin in 1935, Maximov instituted necessary structural reforms intended to reorganize socialism and prepare for the ultimate victory of Communism in Mother Russia and beyond.

Maximov's main legacy, of course, was to liberalize key parts of the Soviet Criminal Code, including the bans on homosexuality, prostitution, and religious instruction. While these practices are still socially ostracized, criminal penalties against them have been virtually abolished. Of these, however, the latter two now require consider state oversight, including state brothels and state-licensed seminaries which are forbidden to engage in any political activity whatsoever. These reforms were completed by 2011 and have represented an increase in the existence of civil society in Soviet civilization. Even so, political dissent remains largely criminal and is seldom overlooked in terms of retarding one's career or professional advancement.

The primary contenders for the post of General Secretary are as follows: Dmitri Andreyev, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet; Yuri Pavlik, Chairman of the Soviet of People's Commissars, and Gennady Stolypin, Chairman of the Committee for State Security. None of these persons have been reached for comment as of this moment.

by **Zeleniya** » Wed Jul 20, 2022 11:46 am

Zeleniyan Broadcasting System
Justice Office announces that drug trafficker's execution will proceed, despite international outcry

Yelizovo
20th of July, 2022

The Zeleniyan Government has announced, in response to international criticism, that it will proceed with the execution of Jamal Thompson, an American native to Los Angeles that was arrested five months ago while going through customs at Yelizovo Suvorov International Airport and being caught going into the country with drugs far beyond the amnesty limit, which is the known limit that, if exceeded, will automatically render someone for the death penalty.

Before he landed after hailing a Zelenavia flight from Los Angeles five months ago, agents of the Zeleniyan Federal Police Agency ran through publicly-available records of Thompson, which stated that he had recently been released from California's San Quetin State Prison after serving a five year sentence for drug dealing. After landing and breezing through the passport checkpoint at customs, Mr. Thompson would be called to Secondary Screening where Federal Agents discovered one kilogram of liquified fentanyl hidden in his baggage. Immediately he was detained and transported to the Yelizovo Metropolitan Corrections Complex where he was kept for five months to appear before a federal judge. Upon appearing before a judge five months after being detained, Mr. Thompson confessed to bringing in the fentanyl with the intent to sell, refusing to list any potential clients he had queued for future transactions. Federal Judge Ivan Petrov of the 1st Circuit handed an automatic death penalty to Jamal, stating that it is handed to him for the intentional smuggling of 1kg of fentanyl, far above the amnesty limit of 100 mcg, which requires extensive paperwork with the Justice Office and an officially sanctioned prescription approved by the Health Office, his domestic Health Agency (in this case the US Department of Health and Human Services) and a board-certified, government-sanctioned physician in Zeleniya who would keep him accountable.

For the past month, Mr. Thompson had been kept in the Death Row Section of the Yelizovo Metropolitan Corrections Complex. During this time, activists in America, particularly from the African-American Community, strongly condemned the Zeleniyan Government's treatment of Mr. Thompson, accusing the Zeleniyan Government of "arbitrary arrest" and "gross human right violations," and calling upon the United States Government to pressure the Zeleniyan Government to release him. Shea Louise Thompson, Jamal's mother, described her 24 year-old son's time in Zeleniyan prison as "torture" and "hell beyond imagination," accusing the Zeleniyan authorities of maltreatment. Protests in the form of mid-scale picketing rallies in front of the Zeleniyan Embassy of Washington, D.C. and the Consulate-Generals of Seattle, Chicago, New York and Houston, occurred throughout Mr. Thompson's detainment. The hashtag #JusticeForJamal quickly became associated with the Black Lives Matter movement and it's internationalization, with organizations such as Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission calling for his release and repatriation back to America.

Early this morning, however, the Justice Office has formally green-lighted his execution. In a press conference, the Press Secretary of the Justice Office, Adam Barkov, stated that:

(Translated from Zeleniyan Russian) "Mr. Thompson's punishment is well-within the scope of the National Security Law, which strictly prohibits the illegal smuggling and distribution of drugs. If it were not for the vigilant uniformed men and women that detained him at the airport, that one kilogram of fentanyl would have killed over 500,000 people and have dramatically affected and ruined the lives of five times as many more colleagues, friends, significant others and loved ones. By signing his name on those [Pre-Entry Screening and Customs Declaration] forms and crossing the amnesty line at the airport without hesitation, he has indeed acknowledged his understanding of the grave consequences that come with attempting to upend the livelihoods of half a million Zeleniyans by means of drug trafficking. Drug traffickers are on the same, low level as rapists and murderers, and shall be handed the death penalty, for such deviant acts have no place to be carried out within this country. It is in this regard that we shall proceed with carrying out this sentence."

President Suvorkin, in addressing the press in his daily press conferences, added to the recent announcement in light of a flurry of international controversy that has resulted from it:

(In English) "The media and many non-Zeleniyan people have rather colorful language to describe our system here, almost as if they think they can run this country better than the people actually living here. (Chuckle) We freely welcome whatever criticism they may have, and we encourage our citizens to have this sort of conversation. The fact that this is being discussed only emphasizes the need to set examples out of people such as the criminal drug trafficker in question. In America, drug traffickers go through prison and then they are glorified by the music industry that pampers them. In Zeleniya, they have no place here, and I'm not the only one that stands by this: the people and the families of Zeleniya very much will reciprocate this same sentiment as do the victims of drug abuse and other horrific tragedies perpetrated and enabled by criminals."

Activists on twitter are strongly critical of his response, seeing that he has refused to Mr. Thompson by name but only as the "drug trafficker in question." Tamir Johnson, one of the cofounders of the activist group known on twitter as @theBlackCollective, strongly condemned President Suvorkin's brief statement:

"The fact that he spent no less than 30 seconds to not even mention Jamal by name is beyond reprehensible. #JusticeForJamal #BlackLivesMatter," wrote Johnson under the twitter handle @theBlackCollective.

A recent independent poll taken over the past week shows that an overwhelming 76% of Zeleniyans approve of Mr. Thompson's death sentence, with 15% being apathetic and around 9% being critical of the ruling. This statistic consistently falls in line with recent conversation across Zeleniyan social media, with Zeleniyans mainly condemning Jamal Thompson and expressing their support for the death penalty served upon him.

More on this story as it develops.

UPDATE 11:45PM
The Yelizovo Metropolitan Corrections Complex has confirmed, through social media, that it has carried out Jamal Thompson's execution by hanging "for the gross charge of drug trafficking." In addition to this announcement, the Justice Office has announced that it is in contact with the Thompson Family and that his body will be repatriated back to the United States by the end of July.

by **Drongonia** » Wed Jul 20, 2022 9:11 pm

Police conduct nationwide raids to combat influx of New Zealand gangs
Richmond, Drongonia
July 21, 2022 | Eric Parker

Police raided a rural property 50km south of Richmond as part of a
wider crackdown on gang activity.

Multiple raids have been conducted across the country this week in an effort to thwart the efforts of incoming gang members from New Zealand-based street gangs, primarily from the Mongrel Mob and Killer Beez.

Police raided properties and businesses in rural Richmond, Nelson, Gilroy Bay, Christchurch and Dunedin as part of a co-ordinated effort to orchestrate the deportation of several hundred recently arrived individuals who they believe are members of illegal street gangs. Police have estimated that of the 350 arrests made over the past week, approximately 90% of the alleged offenders were either born in or arrived from New Zealand.

New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, has seen a sharp rise in firearm-related crimes, with monthly reports almost doubling amid a gang turf war which has left innocent citizens and businesses caught in the crossfire. Additionally, the city's youth have taken the opportunity to act while the Police are busy with gang crime, culminating in a spate of ram raids and robberies. Police have been quick to assure the public, however, that they are not expecting similar events to kick off in Drongonia. "There is no indication that the general rate of crime is increasing, and the operations we're conducting at the moment are mainly targeted at the organised crime world", Northland Policing District Commander William Potter said in a short interview with media this morning.

A request made under the Official Information Act by TVDG has revealed that since the start of the year, the Ministry of Immigration has deported over 100 recent arrivals from New Zealand in relation to illegal gang activities. Additionally, Parliament passed an amendment to the Prescribed Illegal Organisations Act 1970 to add a number of New Zealand-based criminal groups to the list, making it illegal to publicly associate with them or conduct activities on their behalf, including those which would otherwise be legal.

Minister of Immigration Holly North met with her New Zealand counterpart Michael Wood last week to discuss deportation of New Zealanders from Drongonia, among other things. Wood told media that "New Zealand is willing to cooperate with Drongonia 100 percent, we're not looking to prevent the return of New Zealanders who've broken the law in Drongonia." North said the meeting was "productive and very cordial", and that "discussion was definitely a two-way street".

Police have yet to release details on those arrested, but have said that every arrest made was of someone connected to a gang either directly, through membership, or by business association.

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by **Amaurita** » Thu Jul 21, 2022 8:21 am

Wildlife Crossings to be added to Interstate System
Manila, Luzon
Published On: 21 July | Authored By:

Conservationists celebrated today as a congressional bill aimed at improving conservation efforts was signed into law by President Cunningham.

WF-808, spanning over Interstate 15 in Athabasca

The Securing of Animal Safety Act, or SASA, was passed by the Parliament of Representatives on Monday, and passed the Senate yesterday, before being signed into law by President Cunningham today at the Presidential Mansion in Markington. SASA aims to improve protections for wild animals through installing more animal safety features on federal infrastructure, most notably on the Federal Interstate System. Under SASA, Federal Interstate Highways will now be required to have wildlife crossings located every twenty-four kilometers, or every twelve kilometers in regions where the Interstate bisects a National Park or designated conservation areas. Wildlife Crossings will be required to be a minimum of two hundred meters wide, and must be ‘green,’ or covered in foliage and plants. Crossings must also feature guard rails or fences, to prevent animals from falling over onto the highway below, as well as fences lining the highway for up to 200 meters before and after the crossing.

In the past year, motor vehicle collisions with wild animals have risen nearly 30% across the nation, according to a study conducted by the University of Kalinea. In some regions of the nation, such as the States of Vandalia, Luzon, or Athabasca, motor vehicle accidents involving wild animals are up nearly 42%, according to data taken from the same study. This leads to approximately 75,000 injuries for motorists and nearly 1,000 deaths annually, on top of the almost certain loss of life for the animal involved. The study conducted by the University of Kalinea mainly attributed the increase of animal involved motor vehicle accidents to increased animal activity, especially as animals migrate across rural regions of the United States, and cross major federal highways during the process of migrating. The study has also found that a majority of accidents occurred between the hours of 1800 and 0600, with nocturnal animals being at higher risk.

The project is estimated to cost upwards of three million UST per wildlife crossing, with the total number of crossings needed currently under estimation. Yet, it is expected to save motorists a projected 2.5 to 3 billion UST annually, through preventing damage to motor vehicles that comes from animal involved collisions. Furthermore, it is expected that total injuries and deaths for both humans and animals will be reduced drastically as a result of wildlife crossings, which saves lives and prevents unnecessary emergency room visits. And, most importantly, the increased safety measures for wild animals will help conservation efforts by enabling wild animals, including endangered or nearly endangered species, to traverse major highways without concern for motorists. Fewer migratory restrictions on animals, such as constructing highway crossings for animals, would enable species to have a greater range of access to their natural habitat, as noted by Dr. Howard Singh, the architect of the University of Kalinea’s study on wildlife related accidents.

The United States spans a wide range of ecosystem, encompassing nearly every climate type habitable to life as Humans understand it. As such, Amaurita has the distinct honor of being considered a ‘megadiverse’ nation, meaning that the majority of species, including large numbers of endemic species, call the United States home. This varies from the Buffalo of the Great Plains and North Plains; the Carabao of the Philippines region; the Amauritan Jaguar of the Southwest, Sierra Madre and Caribbean Regions; and the Amauritan Black Bear, which can be found across the United States; alongside thousands of other species of animals, plants, and insects. Given this, the urge to conserve the many species that call Amaurita home is paramount, lest we risk a future where no one gets to witness the many unique and astonishing animals that can be found in the country.

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by **Drongonia** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 2:14 am

National maintains commanding lead in latest TVDG poll, Labour gains, minor parties suffer
Christchurch, Drongonia
July 22, 2022 | Emily Hart

Results of the poll were released online yesterday. Over 14,000 registered voters were surveyed.

The results of TVDG's latest political poll were released online yesterday, with the governing National Party maintaining a 12.5 percent lead over the opposition Labour Party, being able to govern alone in a theoretical election scenario.

Things aren't all rosy for National, however, as the almost 20 percent lead they had in previous February polling has been slashed. Analysts believe most of the gains for Labour have come from the party backing away from its stance on drug liberalisation and focusing on traditional political battleground issues such as the economy and crime.

The poll also suggests that voters are somewhat turning towards the major parties, with the minor party share of the vote decreasing from 8.7 percent in February to 7.3 percent in the latest poll. The largest victims of this shift were right-leaning parties, with People's Front and the Libertarian party losing 0.7 and 0.5 percent support respectively.

When asked which issues voters found the most pressing, the economy scored highest with 34 percent, with immigration coming in second at 16 percent and healthcare a distant third with 8 percent. Analysts widely believe the concern surrounding immigration is linked to the growing amount of recent gang-affiliated arrivals from New Zealand, and the crime they have the potential to commit.

Labour leader Sarah Ellice said in an interview that "The numbers are certainly encouraging. 2024['s election] is a long time away, but the movement we're seeing now is representative of a shift towards evidence-based, sensible politics, rather than tired old policies that don't work."

Neither the National Party or the Office of the Prime Minister responded to TVDG's request for comment. National MPs TVDG contacted unanimously declined to comment on the poll.

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by **Fallenstorm** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:17 pm

Berryfoot International Airport

Berryfoot International Airpor will be a catalyst for development
The Berryfoot International Airport, which was upgraded at the end of last year, will be a catalyst for driving development in the district, especially in the ecotourism sector. Secretary Of State for Public Transport Rosa Y. Brightwind said the project worth $80.9 million was approved in 2018 and construction started in 2019, among other things involving the extension of the existing track from 2,133 kilometers to 2.5 kilometers. "This can directly encourage more commercial airlines to fly directly to Berryfoot International.

"It will also increase the influx of tourists from within and outside the country and further increase economic, commercial, and tourism competitiveness," she told reporters after officiating the upgrade of the runway and inspecting the airport today. Also, present, was the Governor of Berryfoot, Rossmont Kimberhurst. Secretary Brightwind said efforts were focused on attracting tourists to Berryfoot and tasked the Civil Aviation Agency to ensure that happened.

She said the project also involved widening the aircraft parking area which Zone C will operate by the international operator from Stevencousin, ExtraPark, upgrading flight navigation equipment, and replacing and improving the air traffic management system in the Berryfoot Flight Information Region. "The installation of radar and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast equipment in Berryfoot Airport has been improved and the airspace that was previously shielded from radar coverage due to the Sungods Mountain can be completely overcome. "Even this radar data is shared by the Civil Aviation Agency and the USF Air Force which is responsible for ensuring that the airspace in this region is safe from the invasion of outside elements," she said.

by **Drongonia** » Mon Jul 25, 2022 2:33 am

Wild weather causes multiple accidents, crippling Christchurch's motorways
Christchurch, Drongonia
July 25, 2022 | Callum Waters

A still from the Fort Street northbound traffic cam, which captured one of
the accidents as it unfolded.

Christchurch has experienced rapid rainfall and wind gusts up to 100km/h over the past few days, with the weather causing commuters a severe case of the Mondays as sections of the motorway came to a halt citywide.

Christchurch Police Area Commander Gary Balder told TVDG in an interview this afternoon that "while the weather is always partly to blame, motorists need to take the conditions into account every time they get in their cars." in a bid to reduce accidents.

An overloaded tall truck was to blame for the closure of State Highway 6 northbound near Fort Street this morning, with the truck tipping after being hit by a rogue gust of wind. The driver escaped with only minor injuries, with nobody else being hurt. State Highway 10 suffered a similar fate, with a truck vs car accident claiming the lives of two and shutting the motorway citybound for hours while a scene examination took place.

In the north of the city, the Northwestern Motorway (Route 94) was closed for almost two hours after two motorcyclists collided. Police interviewed at the scene said the accident may have been caused by the riders racing in the poor weather, with one likely falling first and taking the other with them. Both riders were transferred to North Shore's NorthCentral Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Commander Balder commented on the nature of the accidents, pleading with motorists to "Slow down for God's sake. Five minutes is absolutely not worth your life, or the life of someone else. You risk not only hurting or killing yourself or others, but writing your vehicle off and causing thousands of people grief with the roads being shut, just because you decided you wanted to get to work a bit quicker."

Christchurch Police said in a statement released via their website that Motorway Patrol would be increasing their presence around the motorway network tomorrow.

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