The Global Standard (APSIA Only/IC)

[McFreedomstan]

Major Powers - Unconventional Conquest

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As major conflicts come to an end, new borders are drawn, and defenses are shored up, a new question emerges: Who's in charge? Not who has the largest military, for that's obviously the Union. No, guns can only conquer so much in the modern world. Whoever has control of every transaction, every bit of international trade, that's who's in charge. The Landersvich Mark, the Hong Kong Dollar, the Niagaran Dollar, the Japanese Yen they all vy for reserve currency status. More modern states push to use their market size and relative stability to back their currency, while traditionalists like in Canton and Landersvich put their faith in gold and other precious metals.

The matter of getting other nations to accept their currency, to hold on to stockpiles and become reliant on it, its not something that can be fought for. The sheer costs of a global conquest would sink even the Great French Empire of days past. This war must be fought through the press, through media, through diplomats and celebrities. Soft Power warfare, a relatively new strategy, must be utilized to sway the nations of the world to become pliant to your will.

Minor Powers - The Great Equalizer

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While large nations continue their quest for global dominance, the smaller nations of the world have found themselves pushed further and further into a corner. The advent of new technologies, has however, given them a new way of fighting back. Hacking developments have given middle powers like Helmand a way to strike at major economic unions with little recourse. Aggressive marketing and self promotion has given Sarwanusan culture a disproportionately large sway in global politics.

Faced with ambitions from major foreign powers and their own neighbors, the minor powers of the world must decide their next strategy to preserve their autonomy and expand their influence in the world. Be it through soft power projecting, technological prowess, alliance networks, consolidation, or other means.

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Rules

1. Only members of the APSIA region are allowed to participate in this RP.
2. Any RP-related secrets in Discord, telegrams, or any other medium must be disclosed when asked. No exceptions. Note that disclosed secret information cannot be used in-character by anybody except for those who know it in-character.
3. You must use APSIA time and every post you make must include at least the date. Failure to use APSIA time will result in your post being nulled.
4. No godmodding. If you think it's godmodding, it most likely is.
5. You must clearly state with OOC tags when a post is not in-character.
6. Weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear weapons) are not allowed to be deployed unless all damage is self inflicted.
7. If you are using a puppet, you must clearly state who the puppet belongs to. Failure to do so will result in the nulling of any posts related to that puppet and you getting removed from the RP.
8. You must have an account on Discord and be on the APSIA Discord Server in order to participate in this RP.
9. Your posts are allowed to be humorous, but the tone has to fit with both your nation and the APSIA region as a whole.

[McFreedomstan]

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June 28th, 2006

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Oil Price Hits $68.25/Barrel - Helmandi Hackers to Blame for Bank of Japan Attack - 14 Albanians Found Dead Near Aegean Coast - ACR Cases Decline by 11% in Balkans - Barnetian Foods Suffers from Wildfires in Eastern Province

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Trujilo Business Leaders Meet with Lasirian Leadership




CEO Buenrostro and PM Sadaya



With Trujilo rapidly becoming a major industrial hub in Latin America, many nations are taking an interest in closer ties with both Santa Rosan and Trujilo leadership. Lasir broke conventions earlier today to invite several members of Trujilo's food processing industry to meet with their Prime Minister to discuss large scale cooperation between Lasirian agriculture and Trujilan processing plants. Some have criticized the move, claiming that it supports the notion of Tujilan autonomy. Lasir has opted not to comment on the matter.

Regardless of political intent, Trujilo continues to present itself as a beacon of manufacturing prowess in Latin America.

[Greater Toluca]

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June 30, 2006

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Pro Communists Stage Protest in Toluca City - Aztechnologies Donates Computers to Rural Schools - 9 Dead after Shootout Between Police and Cartels in Southern Toluca - Cartels Reportedly Sabotaging Construction Sites Across Toluca

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Aztechnologies Preparing to Build a New Corporate Building In Toluca City Designed to Look like an Aztec Temple




Concept Art of the Proposed Building



Aztechnologies has always maintained a connection with our ancestors in there name and how they name certain products. But now the Corporations has announced they will be building a monolithic Pyramid in the center of Toluca City to use as there Corporate HQ as well as the central distribution hub for there products sold in Toluca. The building will be primarely made from concrete stone and glass, and will feature a large glass dome at it top, as well as the Aztechnologies logo being featured prominently on all four sides. The Basic Design also seems to have room for shopping centers, and housing on the lower and mid floors for use by Aztechnologies workers and plans to include a hospital, and fire department are also listed in the plan though not yet worked out.

If the plan moves forward Aztechnologies has stated that they will being hiring nearly 100,000 workers to build it in shifts working day and night until it is finished.

[Nice-Pontivy]

French Federation Internal Report: Internal Security Forces CLASSIFIED: DO NOT REDISTRIBUTE July 2nd, 2006 Internal Note: A report on this scale is frankly unprecedented, but I see the need. Our team got a lot of pushback from the governors while we were compiling our evidence. It's been resolved, but other teams need to keep this in mind for further reports. Addendum: Since Jules asked, yes, I want this on the final report. As requested by President Macron, this report details the overall state of France's internal security forces. Paris Military Garrison Personnel: 55,000. Notes: The Parisian garrison contains the vast majority of France’s airmobile forces, as well as significant armored reserves. The Parisian provincial government is often quick to declare martial law in times of crisis as a result of experience from the pre-Federation era. Gendarmerie Personnel: 25,000. Notes: The Parisian gendarmerie were established relatively recently, due to only recently acquiring the rural areas of Lache. Parisian obsession with military service has nonetheless made the Parisian gendarmerie swell in size, making it the largest in the country. Police Personnel: 50,000. Notes: The Parisian model is what most French police forces are based on. Primarily tasked with policing Parisian cities, especially the Paris metropolitan area, the Parisian police does an admirable job at this. North Pontivy Military Garrison Personnel: 20,000. Notes: North Pontivy garrison contains disproportionately large amounts of French special forces, as a result of North Pontivy’s obsession with infantry excellence pre-reunification, and North Pontivi Command is often tasked with training prospective special forces recruits. Gendarmerie Personnel: 7,000. Notes: The North Pontivi gendarmerie is severely underfunded and equipped, usually forced to make do with 80s-90s-era military surplus. Years of neglect by successive French Labor Party administrations has left it a shadow of other gendarmerie forces. Police Personnel: 20,000. Notes: In contrast to the gendarmerie, the North Pontivi police are some of the most effective in the nation, as a result of years of FLP reform. Public confidence in their services is high, and provinces like South Pontivy are attempting to replicate their success. South Pontivy Military Garrison Personnel: 40,000. Notes: The South Pontivi garrison is fairly standard among the French military, primarily tasked with guarding the border with Alicia. Gendarmerie Personnel: 15,000. Notes: South Pontivy’s gendarmerie are nowhere near the quality of the Nican gendarmerie, but they do a fine job regardless. It prides itself on their mobility, a doctrine developed while Pontivy was surrounded by Lache and Occitania. Police Personnel: 40,000. Notes: South Pontivy’s police force is primarily tasked with curbing economic crime, due to Bordeuax’s economic position. It is currently in the middle of reforms attempting to emulate the success of the North Pontivi police. Nice Military Garrison Personnel: 40,000. Notes: Nice is the primary center of the French Navy and their attached marines, as well as the political core of the south. The Nican garrison is often called upon by the provincial government in times of emergency, such as the Tomboco Virus outbreak. Gendarmerie Personnel: 21,000. Notes: The Nican gendarmerie are drilled almost to the same standard as their military counterparts, and as a result are the gold standard among the gendarmerie. Provincial neighbors often rely on Nican gendarmerie to deploy to their regions should a major issue arise. Police Personnel: 40,000. Notes: The Nican police are not nearly as disciplined as the gendarmerie, but they are still effective at their jobs. They are fairly typical for a police force, generally tasked with guarding Nican cities. Piedmont Military Garrison Personnel: 60,000. Notes:The Piedmont military garrison is primarily tasked with protecting the border with Vitolia and the Rhone Republic. The Piedmont garrison consists primarily of Nican alpine troops, and the number of Piedmontese in the military is quite low due to Piedmont not having a significant tradition of military service compared to the French states. Due to the cultural disconnect, the garrison doesn’t involve itself in anything except counter-terror. Gendarmerie Personnel: 20,000. Notes: The Piedmont gendarmerie are, like their police counterparts, primarily Vitolian speakers. The gendarmerie is skilled in alpine situations, hardened by experience from the Piedmontese War. The gendarmerie bears the brunt of the fight against pro-Vitolian terrorists who plague the region. Police Personnel: 35,000. Notes: The Piedmont police are inefficient, but they do their jobs well enough. Corruption is a major issue within the police. Some in the DGSI suspect that pro-Vitolian organizations have infiltrated the department, but evidence is sparse and no significant problems have been reported. Froussard Military Garrison Personnel: 35,000 Notes: Due to the nature of Froussard’s reserves, French High Command has enough confidence to leave Froussard relatively unguarded. French forces in the region are primarily tasked with guarding the border with Rhone and Froussard’s impressive, albeit significantly outdated, arsenals. Gendarmerie Personnel: 15,000. Notes: Froussard’s gendarmerie are overworked and underfunded in comparison to their neighbors, although this is alleviated somewhat by the constant use of Froussard’s reserves for extraordinary situations. Active Reservist Personnel: 30,000. Notes: Froussard is unique in its treatment of its reserves. As the largest French military pre-reunification, Froussard has a long history of maintaining large, well-organized reservist forces. As a term of its late reunification, Froussard maintained some control over its reserves, being able to call up reservists on its own (although the military, as always, has highest priority). Froussard is by far the largest contributor to France’s reserves, and the Froussardian reserves are noted by their peers as being at peak readiness, able to quickly mobilize at a moment’s notice. Reservists are generally used by the Froussardian provincial government to deal with terrorist activity and organized crime. Police Personnel: 25,000. Notes: Froussard’s police, uncharacteristically for a French civilian police force, are tasked with supporting Froussard’s overstretched gendarmerie in law enforcement in Froussard’s large countryside, in addition to their duties in major cities. Belgium Military Garrison Personnel: 60,000. Notes: Belgium’s garrison is mainly tasked with guarding the border with the Netherlands (an easy task considering France’s healthy relationship with the Netherlands), and rotating out with the Grand Est garrison when necessary. Military involvement in Belgian internal issues is unheard of. State Guard Personnel: 15,000. Notes: Belgium’s state guard is roughly equivalent to the gendarmerie of other provinces, but is unique in some respects. It is generally not used for day-to-day security, reserved by the Belgian provincial government for extraordinary matters such as counter-terror operations. The Belgian provincial government maintains higher control over the state guard than other provinces do over their gendarmerie, and are responsible for equipping them. Police Personnel: 50,000. Notes: Belgium’s police are a combination of gendarmerie and regular police. As a result, Belgium’s police are tasked with dealing with the vast majority of law enforcement in the province. Belgium’s police force is well run, but inexperienced in counter-terror operations, an area which has traditionally fallen to the state guard. Grand Est Military Garrison Personnel: 100,000. Notes: Grand Est’s garrison is extremely large due to the threat of Bisingen on the border. Despite this, little is spared for internal issues, with the military commander in the area preferring to leave internal problems to the provincial government’s forces. Gendarmerie Personnel: 5,000. Notes: Grand Est’s gendarmerie were recently created, and as such are inexperienced compared to other gendarmerie sections. The provincial watch assists their activities, a practice which many in the gendarmerie seek to end, due to the gendarmerie often getting in the crossfire of controversy involving the watch. Provincial Watch Personnel: 7,000. Notes: Grand Est’s provincial watch is a holdover from the Continuation War, when West Bisingen had to mobilize its own forces for its defense. The Provincial Watch have attracted controversy over allegations of misconduct during and in the aftermath of the GFPM paramilitary’s de facto occupation of Grand Est, and are universally distrusted in Grand Est. Despite this, they are arguably the best force in the province. Police Personnel: 20,000. Notes: Grand Est’s police forces are experienced due to their previous service when Grand Est was a part of Bisingen. However, the provincial government regularly accuses police chiefs of having DSABP loyalties, and the vast majority speak German, in comparison to every other force in the province that speaks French. ​ Jointly composed by the Federal Oversight Bureau

[McFreedomstan]

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July 5th, 2006

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New Horizons Sued by Woerden Miners Union - Paramilitaries in Sarwanusa "Voluntarily" Surrender - French Protest Police Crackdown - King of Algiers Dead - Ten APSIA Peacekeepers Killed in Salamut Artillery Attack

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South Asian Central Bank Officially Chartered




Samples of the new South Asian Rupee



As major banks move to increase the usage of their currencies and claim more global market share, smaller nations like Laoshu and Bengal have found themselves trading at a disadvantage. Proponents of the South Asian Central Bank argue that by creating a single currency for the alliance, it can further decouple its weaker states from foreign currencies and have a higher degree of bargaining power and control in trade. The New Rupee is set to become standard by 2007, making it one of the top 30 currencies in the world by market size.

The South Asian Central Bank has formally invited Lasir, Tanah Naga, and Greater Tamil to join.

[Unified Capitalist Kingship]

July 5th, 2006




Jall Hamal Still Missing. Turkish Man Pops From Being Too Obese. Hungarians Described As "Funky Monkies".

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The Fire Roars And The Water Flows.






As tensions rise in Jerusalem and other such crowded cites across Yahel, municipal, provincial, regional and the federal council have convened in order to address the issue. Prior to addressing the issue, government outlets released a statement condemning the violent outburst seen in Jerusalem, stating that "Every Yaheli has a voice. Every Yaheli has the ability to partake in council elections on every state of government as well as the right to peaceful protest. Violence is unneeded and acts of terrorism as such do nothing but work against the goals you and the rest of the nation are working towards. Such individuals caught partaking in violent protests will be subject to the full extent of the law, fair and just."

Following the initial announcement, the council revealed their plan for dealing with exuberant housing prices across said cities. In the announcement, Economist Brunk Junkly stated that "The Yaheli population is one of progress. The vast majority of people embrace modernity over tradition and we believe that the nation as a whole should reflect that. Going forward, these cities of old must be elevated to the standards of the rest of the nation. Jerusalem, Aden, Muscat and others will be undergoing rigorous redevelopment projects, bringing down inefficient crude buildings from the age of past and replacing them with modern works. In optimizing these cities, rent will fall, commodities will be more readily available and streets will be less congested. While ceremonial sites will be preserved indefinitely going forward, everything else must be replaced in this manner for Yahel to truly be the bastion of development and modernity throughout the region."

Preliminary planning has allocated $30Bn of the future budget towards this effort while municipal administrators have opened up the cities to lenient opportunities for foreign nations to aid in this development effort, giving international organizations an early in to the new markets.

Citizens effected by the re-development of these cities are offered compensation packages to provide living space and transportation to their place of work while the project takes its course, as well as living spaces to move back into once the project concludes. The intent is to make this development seamless so that citizens may not only return to their normal lives, but to improved ones.

[McFreedomstan]

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July 7th, 2006

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Gazprom Lands African Deal - NVTV Now Airing "El Borbo" - Sun Hai Realty to Build HLR Toluca HQ - King of Algiers Dead - Thousands Gather to Oppose Yaheli Destruction of "Historical Landmarks" - HLR given sell rating by Edward & Marsh

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Canton Yuan Scheduled to Adopt Silver Standard




10 Yuan coin samples



While Canton has accepted gold and silver as legal tender since its inception, the Provisional Council has pushed policy to standardize currency across the Confederacy. It has elected to use silver as the underlying value of the Canton Yuan, defining a Yuan as 3.1g of pure silver. It has also entered a partnership with New Horizons Mining Co. to exploit the gold & silver rich mountains in Joseon to build up national reserves.

The Yuan will be minted in the following denominations:

0.1 Yuan
0.25 Yuan
0.5 Yuan
1 Yuan
5 Yuan
10 Yuan
50 Yuan
100 Yuan

Paper Yuan will still be minted, though with more sophisticated anti-counterfeiting measures. Old Yuan and other currencies from the various autonomous regions will be given a flat conversion rate that will be honored until March 2nd, 2007.

[Yustrait]

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July 11th, 2006

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Exclusive Op-ed: HLR AG Executive Chairman Otto Handel Presents Case for Landersvichian Mark Hegemony, Discusses Return to Gold Standard

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Read more:
English-Speaking Islanders Do Not Understand How Finance Works · TV N-Word Airs Bizarre Episode · Prince Juan Caverly Assumes More Royal Duties · Is Edward & Marsh CEO Blake Cartwright Mentally Ill? · Wei Faces Massive Exodus Amidst Authoritarian Measures

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The first successful deployment of a nuclear warhead in 2002, the rise of Terence Cola and the Free Cities Movement in Santa Rosa, the democratisation and economic liberalisation of the Niagara Union and, most notably, the emergence of the Cantonese Confederacy as the geopolitical and economic successor of the Qing Dynasty are all events that have contributed to the diminishing relevance of a country's military prowess and the globalisation and financialisation of the global economy. This has already shown its main fault, namely, spillover. The prices of commodities and securities, which have serious socio-economic implications that must be accounted for, are determined by the laws of supply and demand. If a broker working for TK Whampoa Financial Co., Ltd. neglects his duty to place an ISEx buy order at the market open because his wife is in labour back home, that can let selling pressure overwhelm the underlying security. The falling price of the security might in turn trigger stop-loss orders placed by hedge funds, which causes the exponential growth of more and more selling pressure. This can happen to a single stock, or to an entire segment of the market. The danger of spillover creates a powerful incentive for the governments of the world to cooperate with one another and seek diplomatic solutions to international disputes, and to prioritise the projection and expansion of their so-called "soft power" - economic dominance - over their "hard power" - military capabilities, firepower. With all of this in mind, the Niagara Union, Republic of Yahel, Republic of Japan and the Empire of Landersvich are engaged in a contest over the status of their legal tender as the global reserve currency. In this article, I will present my case for the dominance of the Landersvichian Mark and explore the possibility of returning to a full or partial gold standard.

Let's first examine all the other contenders, starting with the Niagara Dollar. The Niagara Dollar is the sole legal tender in the Niagara Union. It is a fiat, free-floating currency created through the Federal Reserve system. The Niagara Union itself is a state encompassing the entirety of North America that is undergoing a process of transformation from a state-controlled centrally planned socialist economy to a heavily deregulated privatised market-based economy. It is known for its military prowess, which has been employed several times in numerous conflicts, from the invasion of the American Federation and the quelling of the Caribbean Rebellions, to the Niagaran Civil War and the Security Accord's intervention in the brief, but destructive, Sutherysken Civil War. It has a massive government budget of NU$3.192 trillion that it tends to spend rather recklessly, with its military budget of NU$446.96 billion. It has the largest gold reserves in the world, with the estimated holdings of the Niagara Union Treasury and the Federal Reserve totalling 5,332 imperial tons (4,837 metric tonnes), it has over NU$5.890 trillion in sovereign debt, high taxes and, as a result, a small tax base, and it is highly unlikely that it will ever adopt the Hayekian principles of minla government intervention, austerity, low taxation, low spending, low debt and budget surpluses and both the Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve have objected to backing any proportion of the Niagara Union's money supply to gold, silver or any other precious metal. And what about its financial system? The Niagara Union is a large economy with a large population, but its financial services sector is almost entirely dominated by foreign-owned banks, shadow banks and wealth management firms, with the only prominent Niagaran financial services firm being InvesCo., Inc., an investment management firm and retail mutual fund distributor. The economic policies of the Niagaran Union are inflationary, and the Niagara Dollar has consistently and steadily declined in value over the course of its existence. It is not suitable, therefore, for the role of the world's reserve currency, to which many other currencies are pegged.

Another relatively new contender is the Japanese Yen, which replaced the Hong Kong Dollar as legal tender in the Republic of Japan in December, 2005. Just as the Niagara Dollar, it is a fiat, free-floating currency that is not backed by gold, silver or any other precious metal, nor is pegged to any other currency. While it is in use by the largest company in the world, in terms of market value, the McKennedy Group, Inc. and one of the largest banks in the world, Shinra Pacific Holdings, Inc., and is the primary, if not sole, means of transaction at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the reasons for why it should be the global monetary standard are myriad and crystal clear. To start with, the Bank of Japan is trying to get Japan out of its recession by artificially manipulating interest rates through open market operations and by increasing access to low-cost lending facilities for insolvent businesses that would otherwise have failed. To quote journalist Walter Bagehot's famous dictum for the Bank of Albion (the central bank) in the late 19th century, in times of crisis, it is imperative to discount freely, but at a high rate of discount. In other words, central banks should be prepared to freely lend money to businesses, as much as they need or want, provided that they are willing to pay a high price and put up solid collateral. This forces merchants to be honest with themselves: Is my business just illiquid and in need of short-term revitalisation, or is it insolvent and there is no use for me to try and revive it? Another absurd inflationary policy adopted by the Bank of Japan is over HK$2.098 trillion in 'quantitative easing', the process of purchasing government bonds and other securities - even exchange-traded funds (ETFs) - from commercial banks and other financial institutions, so as to assist them in buffering toxic assets and shoring up balance sheets and to increase their overall lending capacity and thus the supply of money. The Japanese Yen is declining more and more in value, day-by-day, solely because of the Bank of Japan's misplaced and illegitimate fear of deflation which, contrary to the teachings of John Maynard Keynes and other contemporary mainstream economists, is not a negative phenomenon, and mild deflation, is, in fact, far more preferable to the working man and the businessman than mild inflation. The transparency and accountability of the Bank of Japan is also a serious problem that has not been properly addressed, and it is not an institution that can be relied upon. The bottom line is that the Japanese Yen is weak and unstable and should not be in use by the governments of the world in any capacity whatsoever.

The third contender for the status of the global reserve currency and standard is the Hong Kong Dollar, in use by the Republic of Yahel and its dependencies, which include Hong Kong, and - up until 2005 - the Republic of Japan. The Hong Kong Dollar is printed, distributed and controlled by HSBC Co., Ltd., a Hong Kong-domiciled universal bank that is wholly-owned by the Republic of Yahel. This - surprise, surprise! - fiat, free-floating currency is even more weak and unstable than the Japanese Yen. The Republic of Yahel is the most politically exposed country in the world, not least because it spans and administers the entire Middle East, including the widely disputed and grossly overpopulated Holy City of Jerusalem. Yahel is a net oil exporter, its largest oil and gas producer and distributor being Yaheli Oil Co., Ltd., a member of GLASCOM and has a Shenzhen Insider Soft Power Ranking of 8. The country is occupied by countless ethnic groups, from Jews and Bosnians to Kurds and Songjiangians. It should be no surprise, therefore, that its legal tender, the Hong Kong Dollar, has all sorts of vulnerabilities. Its immense exposure to oil, with Wuxing LLC being the only means of diversification for the Yaheli Federal Government, alone should a good enough reason for governments, central bankers and financiers to completely abandon the notion of the HKD hegemony. Other risks include Yahel's Rykovian and Keynesian policies of high debt, high government spending, budget deficits, heavy regulation and government intervention. Fiat money is also a Rykovian principle, and so its gold reserves of 363 tonnes is not a valid argument in favour of the global dominance of the Hong Kong Dollar. The Republic of Yahel also maintains a 300,000-man mercenary army and one of the largest, most powerful - and therefore, most expensive - navies in the world. As a net oil exporter, it has its own individual interests and has repeatedly displayed an inclination to manipulate the crude oil market, not to mention its anti-government rhetoric in Landersvich. Crude oil is a highly volatile commodity that's the subject of geopolitical maneuvers and disputes, and the Hong Kong Dollar is de facto pegged to petroleum. One only needs to look at the HKD's performance in the foreign exchange market during the collapse of the prices of crude oil contracts in late 2005.

That leaves us with the Landersvichian Mark, the sole legal tender in the Empire of Landersvich and a common means of payment in Africa and the Cantonese Confederacy. It is a fiat, free-floating currency printed, distributed and controlled by the Landersvichian Imperial Bank, an institution that unlike many other central banks acts solely at the direct and explicit behest of the Crown. The Governor and the Board of Trustees are appointed by His Imperial Highness the Emperor and can be dismissed at any given time. Elected and appointed officials, bureaucrats, politicians, whatever you want to call them - the establishment - have a powerful incentive to create inflation. Why? Let's assume that HLR AG owes the Crown a sum of 10 million marks and must issue a payment of 10 million marks to His Imperial Highness in 10 years. Irrespective of actual value and purchasing power of those 10 million marks, HLR AG still owes the Crown 10 million marks. You can see how this is an issue when it comes to Landersvich's sovereign debt, which currently stands at around 805 billion marks. Ideally, the annual real (inflation-adjusted) gross domestic product grows at a healthy rate of between 3% and 5% and as a matter of consequence the government enjoys higher tax revenues, some of which it can then allocate to servicing debt. The world that we live in is far from ideal, however, and achieving positive real growth is difficult. The government will opt for nominal economic growth over real economic growth with deflation if it has to. Meanwhile, the common working man does not even need a pay raise to see the quality of life around him improve as living costs fall in a deflationary world, and falling prices will prompt him to allocate more of his earnings to savings and investments, something that isn’t taxed in Landersvich at all.

As far as monetary policy is concerned, there is and always has been a conflict of interest between the government and the citizenry. The Landersvichian Imperial Bank is unique in the way that its interests are aligned with that of the citizenry; the House of Landersvich is an entrepreneurial family that specialises in sound long-term investments first and foremost. Another Landersvichian particularity is the role that the government plays in the economy. It is not a government that spends money to promote economic growth, regardless of how well or not well the economy is doing. It spends money to keep the government alive, to maintain the state-owned highways in Wien, Niederlandersvich and Istria, to pay for the Royal Secretary’s travels and to justly compensate federal employees. All else has been entrusted to the efficient free market. The people of Landersvich also adhere to a unique work ethic and are far more inclined to save and invest than to consume. Which is why even though Landersvich has a fractional reserve banking system in place, with the current federal minimum reserve requirement being 15%, and a very large financial services and banking sector, which makes privately owned lenders such as HLR AG the main creators of the money supply. Most loans issued in Landersvich, however, are productive loans taken by businesses and entrepreneurs to invest in the acquisition of technology and labour. Landersvichians are a disciplined people and do not take on too much debt. Very few Landersvichians have credit cards and even fewer Landersvichians take consumption loans. Landersvichian financial institutions uphold the highest ethical, privacy, secrecy and anonymity standards and engage in strict know-your-customer practices, which significantly limits access to credit. As a result, inflation in Landersvich is very low and the Landersvichian Mark has remained strong. Another reason for why the Landersvichian Mark should be the global standard is its relationship with gold.

Gold. Aurum, atomic number 79. Gold is money. Gold is insurance, it’s resilient. Rykovians and Keynesians, who have lead a successful sixty-year crusade against the precious metal, will tell you that it is not a commodity. It’s a metal that shines that yields no return and has no intrinsic value. I will start by saying that the notion of “intrinsic value” is a derivation of the Marxist Labour Theory of Value, which is utterly false. The price of a commodity is entirely dependent on supply and demand. Prices are determined by how people feel about certain commodities, products or services. No matter how much money and labour has been allocated to the creation of an inflatable cutting board, no one will willingly pay any meaningful sum for it. In fact, many people will treat it as garbage and actually pay someone to get rid of it. That means that the inflatable cutting board has a negative market price, when surely it is not “undervalued” and the cost of capital and labour that went into the creation of it was definitely not negative. As to gold having no yield - well, no, it doesn’t. But how is that in any way an argument against the gold standard. Gold has no yield and no return because buying it involved no risk. If I buy a kilogram of gold bullion and store it somewhere safe, then in ten years I will have a kilogram of gold. Gold does not mature, it does not expire, and there is no risk in buying it, only a cost. Just as any other currency in the world. The Landersvichian Mark yields no return as it has no risk. Storage and security might be an issue, but, generally, if I have 10 marks in my wallet today, unless I willingly get rid of it, I will have 10 marks in my wallet in 90 days. Gold is money. To see just how destined it is to be the global standard, take a look at the periodic table of elements and which elements are suitable for use as a currency. First off, you obviously need to eliminate all gases - they’d just float away, after all. Then you need to eliminate all liquids, such as mercury. That leaves us with several metals and radioactive elements. Uranium, plutonium, thorium and other radioactive elements cannot be used solely because of how dangerous they are. Arsenic is poisonous. Einsteinium is man-made and dissolves not long after it is formed. Metals like magnesium and potassium react with water. Iron does not last - it rusts. Copper turns green. That leaves us with eight precious metals, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, iridium, osmium, rhodium and ruthenium. All of these elements are too rare, with the exception of gold and silver. Silver is also an excellent store of value and currency standard, but it also has dozens of practical uses; it is one of the best conductors of electricity and heat, for example. Gold, on the other hand, is used in negligible quantities in the production of phones, computers and other electronic products, as well as jewellery. Gold is the best store of value that there is, and government around the world are restoring their gold reserves.

This raises the question, why do governments of the world disparage the role of gold in the monetary system? There are two reasons why that is. The first reason is that most governments have not fully executed their gold acquisition programmes and are doing everything they can to try and keep demand for physical gold low, so that it does not have to spend - or, rather, print - too much money. The second reason is that politicians and bureaucrats want their constituents to be ignorant of the role of gold in the monetary system. Why? Because the gold standard empowers the people and constrains the government. When a currency is backed by a real, tangible precious metal, such as gold, it becomes legitimate and its value is defined as a specific quantity of gold, rather than as whatever it is that it can buy. A gold standard prevents the government and the central bank from imposing inflationary policies and forces them to work to create real economic growth, real prosperity, while mild deflation empowers the middle class as real wages rise and prices fall. The cost of living falls and the quality of life increases, and the government can focus on servicing the country's external debt without infringing upon the inalienable political and economic liberties of the citizen. One could skeptically inquire as to how any of this is relevant to the Landersvichian Mark, a currency that has not been backed by gold since 1992. I have already explained by the Landersvichian Imperial Bank is an institution that elevates the individual over the state. The Imperial Gold Commission of the Imperial Council has been conducting extensive research with the intent of laying out a proper plan for a return to the gold standard, if that is what the Imperial Council and the Crown choose to pursue. I had dinner with Claus Faehlmann three days ago, the Governor of the Landersvichian Imperial Bank and a close friend of mine. He informed me that the Landersvichian Imperial Bank has held 580 tonnes of gold bullion as of June, 2006, about 12 billion marks' worth at mark-to-market value, and that it is currently pursuing a gold acquisition programme. Much to the relief of paleo-libertarian elements of the Imperial Council, these purchases are being financed by the government budget, rather than money created out of thin air.

In conclusion, the 21st century will be an era when governments lay emphasis on expedient diplomacy, shrewd allocations, measures and policies that will serve as drivers, rather than - as they have up until this moment - disruptors, of economic growth and worldwide prosperity, the projection of economic and financial influence, rather than military prowess and an unprecedented degree of integration into the global financial system. It will be an age of great wealth, but also inequality, market instability, spillover, volatility and general unpredictability. The market is complex and its direction is determined by supply and demand which in turn is governed by emotions, by abstract feelings and sensations, and equilibrium models employed by central banks and other prominent financial institutions need not and simply do not apply. Politicians and financiers with PhDs rely on mathematical models to predict economic trends and then lay out a policy framework. But both finance and economics are fields of praxeology, the study of how humans act. Governments are separate institutions with their own separate, institutional interests and worldview. They lack a proper understanding of human nature, which is the only way to have a firm grasp of how the market really works and how one can make money and bring about prosperity by actively participating in it. Both world governments and common citizens need a point of reference, something to go back to and rely on in times of crisis. There needs to be a strong, independent, geopolitically and politically invulnerable and unexposed and reliable currency that can serve as the world's reserve currency and the global standard. The Landersvichian Mark is the only currency that is in every conceivable way suitable for such an important role. It is already held in vast quantities by several African governments. Its decline in value has always been low and will soon, upon its official return to the gold standard, reach negative levels. There will be mild deflation, so that the Landersvichian middle class will be able to enjoy an unprecedented degree of prosperity and the governments of the world will be able to keep reserves of billions of Landersvichian Marks, knowing that they will consistently become stronger and stronger and that they are the ultimate safeguard against the next meltdown of the global financial system.

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Written by Otto Handel
It must be noted that this article is not necessarily a reflection of the views of the editorial board, owners and affiliates of Die Wiener Zeitung

[Bisingen]

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July 14, 2006

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Major Changes Coming with the Three-Year Plan

The recent approval of the Three-Year Plan by the Reichstag marks the beginning of great change to the economy of Bisingen, and that change won’t simply be confined to the national level. The economic policies to be implemented and goals to be reached along with countless reforms will drastically change the lives of many in the country, especially those of the working class. The primary objective of the plan has been laid out as being the creation of a New Manufacturing Economy built around a large and wealthy working class, and to achieve this many new programs and reforms are being implemented or will be implemented in a matter of time. One of the most immediate changes that has accompanied the Three-Year Plan is the opening of the Deutschsozialistischer Arbeiterbund (German-Socialist Workers’ Association) to those who aren’t members of the DSABP. Additionally, anyone who graduates from the Neue Deutsche Arbeit (New German Labor) program will have the option to join the association as well. The opening of the country’s largest labor organization to non-party members is being done to increase democratization of society and to ensure that as many people as possible have ways to have their collective interests represented.

The first main goal of the plan, as stated, is to create a large working class. While programs like Neue Deutsche Arbeit are a part of this and will certainly help train skilled laborers, it is not the only of its kind. Greater encouragement for students to go to trade schools will also be a factor alongside the opening of new trade schools and encouragement of apprenticeship programs. A new welfare program is also being created called Auferstanden aus Ruinen (Risen from Ruins) is also being created to reduce unemployment by helping the unemployed and homeless find jobs and give them training free-of-charge. It is hoped that upward social mobility via other programs will create a vacuum for unskilled labor which can be filled by those in the Auferstanden aus Ruinen program. While not directly tied to growing the working class, new systems will also be put in place to make it easier for qualified employees in lower-management to make the transition to middle-management, and education will be made more accessible to those in lower-level management to give them additional skills and help them move upwards. These priorities are designed to make it easier for industries to respond to sudden and/or unexpected fluctuations in demand for types of labor by making the workforce more fluid.

Second, a major priority comes not only in ensuring that the working class grows, but that the lives of workers are comfortable financially. Labor organizations such as the Deutschsozialistischer Arbeiterbund will be a big part of this, helping to negotiate fair wages that are acceptable to both employers and employees. The Bisingen government will also intervene through welfare programs to ensure that every citizen can afford a place to live, a television, and access to the increasingly necessary internet. The DSABP has clarified multiple times that they do not believe the way towards a socialist economy is through nationalization and expropriating industry or through direct state control, but instead focusing on the socialization of people. Classless society can’t be achieved by destruction—the abolition of one class in favor of the other—but through construction. By building bridges and mutual understanding between the classes their lines will become blurred and will functionally cease to exist. This “Constructive Socialism”, as it has been dubbed by the Berlin Party School of the DSABP, is to be the basis for all future economic development through the Three-Year Plan.

[Toluca-]

Government Memo July 20, 2006 Classified: Overview of the nations of the world ​ Recent events have called for the need for an overview and consolidation of the Union's opinion on the nations of the world. While not every nation will be listed, the vast majority will. These opinions range from being private to public. Toluca A bothersome nation. Their presence in the Panama Pact is threatening to us, and their leadership is problematic. However, we do not wish for their integration back into the Union, but more so for their subjugation or obliteration. Threat Level: 4 Probability of conflict: 10% Santa Rosa + sphere The world's paragon of virtue: Santa Rosa. While efforts in the past few years have lead to a slight easing of relations, tensions are obvious between our gigantic nations. We lament their virtuous mask, but overall, there is no reason for conflict, yet. Though, as has occurred in history, this is likely to change at the drop of a hat. Threat Level: 6 Probability of conflict: 30% Santana One of the first members of the Security Accord and a faithful ally. Our nations have come to enjoy an excellent bond, culturally and politically. We're eager to continue building our relationship, and to use them as a deterrent to Santa Rosan threats. Threat Level: 0 Probability of Conflict: 0% France Niagara's closest ally, our nations have worked together extensively in our pursuit of power. Scheming, illegal military actions, interventionism and expansionism, truly the greatest foundations for friendship. While we'd like to expand our cultural ties, the Union and France share a priceless alliance. Threat Level: 0 Probability of Conflict: 0% Alicia A dormant power. We have had almost zero interaction with the Alicians. In fact, their inability to do anything on the global stage is almost comical. However, TRETO's democratic nature and their desire to protect human rights is potentially dangerous. Threat Level: 4 Probability of Conflict: 10% Bisingen Currently out of our influence. Our French allies wish to dismantle the nation, which we'd help with happily. Their potential for aligning with Pavlovsk is worrying, and a close eye must be kept on the Germans, or Bisingeners, whatever they're called. Threat Level: 4 Probability of Conflict: 2% Landersvich An economic ally, Landersvich's banks and institutions have proved eager to capitalise on the Niagaran economic boom. This is something that works for us. We do not see any reason to antagonise them and will attempt to appease them. Threat Level: 3 Probability of Conflict: 0% Prilozhia The corpse of Sutherysk: a union of the Empire's democratic and rykovian elements. This nation is bloated and unstable. It may be wise to exploit this. They seem unwilling to bend to foreign pressure, and it's likely they won't align with any other nation. Still, something to keep in mind. Threat Level: 0 Probability of Conflict: 3% Carpathia Pavlovksi-aligned. Not on our radar. Strong economic growth. Threat Level: 0 Probability of Conflict: 0% Albion TRETO aligned but relatively isolationist. Doesn't seem to take many foreign actions. Irrelevant. Threat Level: 0 Probability of Conflict: 0% Pavlovsk The single biggest threat to Niagaran hegemony. A massive empire. We lament the fact that we are known as the imperialists while the Pavovski's aren't. Conflict, even if it isn't direct war, is likely. Actions will be taken at every step to curb their influence. Threat Level: 7 Probability of Conflict: 70% Yahel The shrewd Yahelis are powerful, though not in the traditional sense. They have colonies that span the world even greater than Niagara yet no-one cares. Pavlovski-aligned, yet they are open to cooperation as seen with the Jazira Debacle. Threat Level: 5 Probability of Conflict: 30% Helmand The Sick Man of Asia, a joke nation. It is an overweight man that at too much and his about to collapse. It's in our best interests to secure autonomy for the oppressed regions of this neo-Empire. Threat Level: 0 Probability of Conflict: 10% Cantonese Confederacy Initially, we wished to co-operate with the Cantonese in establishing dominance over the Pacific. However, despite our generous forgetting of jets that they destroyed, they seem unwilling to co-operate and almost pro-Pavlovski, at least compared to their affection for us. We still hope to align them. Threat Level: 5 Probability of Conflict: 1% Japan A shell of its former self. Mildly threatening, but dormant. Our biggest concern would be them banding together with another nation. Threat Level: 1 Probability of Conflict: 0% Kayanesia ASEAN member, bothersome. However, they're weak. From our position in Woerden, we're able to project our power onto them easily. Bringing Mindanao into the fold helps us weaken the Kayanesians as well. They're our main target in terms of expanding our influence in South-East Asia. Conflict likely. Threat Level: 2 Probability of Conflict: 50% Sarwanusa Another seemingly virtuous nation. However, we know the truth. They're a Kayanesian ally, but other than that, unnotable. Threat Level: 1 Probability of Conflict: 30% Woerden Another one of our esteemed allies. They've been very co-operative with Accord efforts and they are proving to have quite shrewd leadership. Our partnership is likely to continue to grow. Threat Level: 0 Probability of Conflict: 0% Arica, Micronesia and Mindanao The Union's three smaller partners. All three are in strategically advantageous positions for projecting power. The eventual goal is to bring these nations into the Niagaran currency union, which Arica is currently transitioning. Positive relations should be kept up with these nations, both for strategic reasons and economic ones. Mbale A long time friend of the Federation and the Union. A semi-valuable ally. They'll be kept on board for their strong leadership and for boosting the Accord's numbers. Kaapland Strong trade partner. It would be worthwhile bringing them into the Niagaran sphere, though this may be controversial. Overall, Niagara's foreign policy over the coming decade will be interventionism. If the world wants to call us an imperialistic nation, so be it, we will live up to that name. The world belongs to Niagara and those fortunate enough to align itself with it. Ernest Hutchinson President of the Union

[Free Titano]

The voice of the People

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July 22th, 2006

WAR IS OVER!

Today, after several weeks where our valiant citizens (helped by our eternal allies in the struggle) fought day and night to remove the threat on the north front, the fake Politurbo of Hanoi declared the surrender of the People's Republic of Vinh. On this glorious day, the entire population of the peninsula will celebrate the first day of lasting peace that will affect our nation in the years to come. Without the threats from the enemy hanging over our heads every day, Vinh will be able to show the world what is the true potential of our great nation.
These are the words that opened Prime Minister Uàt Duy Thông first official War press-conference this morning. The Coalition troops, as soon as they received the news of the victory, left their weapons and burst into a great liberating cry of happiness. “The eternal enemy is defeated”. These are the words written on a banner that appeared in the center of the capital square. The government has officially announced that this date will become a national holiday in the name of "Victory in the Vinh War".
Crowds gathered across the country, waiting for word that North Vinh had unconditionally surrendered to end the war. Crowds in Ho Chi Minh gathered to congratulate the Prime Minister and parade around town, as they did in most cities. Music and dancing broke out in the streets of Little North Vinh, “confetti” made of scraps of cloth rained down in the Hado District, two million people packed into 10 blocks to express their jubilation. Children who hadn't seen their fathers or uncles or big brothers in months to guard the border will soon see them coming home in uniforms with dufflebags on their shoulders. No more blackouts. No more round-the-clock watching for enemy planes or boats. This is a day you will tell your children and your grandchildren you were here to live it.

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[Sietsk]

7/25/2006 State of the Nation The Highways of Carpathia, finally complete President Gavril Wilhelmson has announced that the Highways are now complete. The Ukrainian, Romanian and Bulgarian, in one word, the Carpathian Highways are now ready to be used and economists predict that the newly gained freedom of travelling safe and fast will boost the Carpathian economy. The president has also said that Carpathia is now a proper European gateway to Glascom. Let us not forget that the Constanta Port was finished by the previous president, Gregor Stanev, and is now of the largest and most important in Europe. The Port is also connected to the highways, which means a fast shipping of goods is ensured. The Biggest Medical Facility changes names The "Ciufulești-Pătrățoasa Medical Facility" (CPMF / CPM) will be renamed to "Walter Weiss Laboratories" (WWL). The reason for this was not specified, but it seems probable that it was done by the Government in order to appease a dangerous yet bright political rival. A photo was provided, showing the recent renovations. "This is where we're cooking. Cooking cures." said one of the scientists interviewed by us.

[Nationalist Gold Union]

July 25, 2006

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Consensus among parties formed; Costanza first Prime Minister

CIUDAD BELDAD — Today marks the fifth day since the new Congress assembled and took their oaths and the day that the first cabinet government under the new constitutional amendments was formed. The new governing coalition between the center-right Democratic Party and the libertarian Free Cities Movement was poised to pick a slate of pro-business neoliberals to fill all of the ministries, but they faced one significant roadblock.

The Democratic coalition does control the National Assembly, but the two parties combined do not have a majority in the Senate, which needs to approve any government appointments. The center-left Socialist Party, which controlled the most seats in the Senate, would have to approve the cabinet picks. The Socialists wouldn't approve a slate of capitalists to run the government. A compromise would have to be made.

That's where President Terence Cola came in. Under the new amendments to the constitution, the president is supposed to serve as a independent sort of figurehead, though that isn't to say they aren't to have any influence on the government. Cola suggested that the Democrats tap Marina Costanza, a political independent who ran the Federal Revenue Service, to be the Prime Minister. He also suggested that the Democrats allow the Socialists to have three picks for cabinet positions.

Prime Minister Marina Costanza

The Socialists agreed, seeing it as their best case scenario, agreeing with their wise idol President Cola. The Socialists got to pick the environmental, education, and foreign affairs ministers, tapping Billy Marino to continue to be in charge of the latter.

The result of all these troubles was a sort of consensus government. The short-lived alliance between the Socialists and Democrats from the brief previous term was no more, though the parties still had some sort of agreement. While the Socialists don't intend to support the entire agenda of the government in the Senate, at least there is some amicability, thanks to President Cola's leadership.

The lack of serious political fighting will help solidify Santa Rosa's democratic image abroad. The building of consensus among the parties will help prove the recently passed amendments quite useful. It will now be up to Prime Minister Costanza to devise an agenda that will continue to honor these trends.

We shall see.

[Nationalist Gold Union]

August 11, 2006

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PM Costanza travels to Alicia to strengthen ties

MADRID, ALICIA — As part of Santa Rosa's attempt to shift it's foreign policy towards democratic nations, Prime Minister Marina Costanza visited President Ricardo Espina of Alicia last week to discuss with him various ways to strengthen the Santa Rosan and Alician relationship.

Espina and Costanza

The two generally agreed on the danger of democratic backsliding in Bisingen and France. Costanza emphasized the danger that the Niagara Union played to small republics like Micronesia and to liberal democracy as a whole. The two also seemed to not mention the altercation in Arica earlier this year, showing that the two countries have moved on beyond that.

Overall, Santa Rosa seems to be shifting its view on Alicia away from "former colonial oppressor" to "democratic friend." Costanza said Santa Rosa received an invitation to the TRETO organization, though she would communicatr with Congress before taking any stance.

[Noorizadeh]

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Tales From Tehran:
Reporting on Helmand, from Helmand

August 20, 2006





The Burial Site.



Tragedy in Toopkhaneh
An unknown group has attempted to set off a number of bombs in the parliament building while Majiles-e Avali was in session. Due to a failure in their planning, guard troops were able to escort multiple high-level officials out. However, 73 still died. No group has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack yet, however all eyes are on the government, who has promised to investigate this further.

President Nazari has refused to comment on the bombings, and when pushed by media, has said that his focus is on helping the injured, and the nation, recover, both spiritually and physically.

Helmandi Defense Corp Nearing Bankruptcy
Helmandi Defense Corp's CEO, Mohammad Ali Victor, has stated to multiple prominent business sources that since the Corporation's recent disagreements with the government, it has had substantially less business, even from the Helmandi Army, who's weaponry, while standardized branch-wide, is often determined by the current lieutenant's dealings. "If this keeps up we may need to seek out alternative financing to keep afloat" he said in a press conference, scaring economic consultant Geroge Polishname, who has remarked that such a change could interrupt markets.

Foreign Jackals Get Out!
Director of Defense Mohammad Marvi has denounced non-Indian powers meddling beyond their place in India. With the ongoing Panjali insurrection, Marvi has been quoted saying that nations who sponsored the insurrection as an independent state were "fighting a fight that they had no right to touch". He neglected to comment on what Helmand would do about it. Multiple Helmandis polled have agreed, and the consensus seems that Helmand's affairs are for herself only.



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Written by Berlioz

[McFreedomstan]

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August 24th, 2006

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Batalon Human Rights Watch Dog Goes Missing, Jerusalem Riots Come to a Close, 220 Dead Peacekeepers in Salamut Found in Nile River, Kaapland Seeks to Decouple from HLR Africa, Albion Announces New Caribbean Strategy

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Japan to Start New Foreign Influence Campaign




Prime Minister Tominaga Yoshinori during press conference.



The Republic of Japan has announced a new cultural and economic outreach program to help spread traditional Japanese culture around the globe, a task largely retarded by the corporatist motives of the previous Shinra Corporation. A Foreign Fund has been established, with over $10Bn in tax dollars to be spent on foreign aid, investment, cultural exchange, media, and language education. The biggest recipients, Arica ($920Mn), Canton ($515Mn), Helmand ($495Mn), Tanah Naga ($440Mn), Sarwanusa ($400Mn), Tamil ($350Mn), and Kadavu ($115Mn) are of "strategic importance" to the Republic, either due to their manufacturing capabilities or natural resources.

The Republic of Japan has issued a formal apology for the actions of Shinra™ and its subsidiaries, and has already imprisoned over 1,100 former Shinra Employees. It vows to maintain beneficial and harmonious relations with its neighbors, and pursue close diplomatic, economic, cultural, and military relations with nations covered by the Foreign Fund.

[McFreedomstan]

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August 28th, 2006

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Albion to Vote on $885Mn "Caribbean Supply Chain Bill" - Alician Traffic Jam Leaves 2 Dead from Heatstroke - Ethnic Ukrainians in Pavlovsk Push for Autonomy Act

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International Security Organization Conference Concludes, Attains New Members




Attendees during the ISO Conference.



The ISO hosted a large conference regarding its new focus on promoting mutual economic development, security, and diplomatic cooperation among members. Plans for common markets, accounting standards, and tariff reductions took up the brunt of the first hour. Resilient diplomatic channels, arbitration techniques, and collective bargaining on the global stage took up the next hour long portion. The ISO closed by unveiling its unique anti-subversive measures and dynamic defensive strategies to counter the influence of major powers and organizations.

Most attendees left with a newfound respect for the ISO as a legitimate international organization, but certain nations invited like Sowza, Victoria, Sardinia, and Oghuz have expressed interest in joining the organization. Others have joined on as observers, being invited to most ISO meetings, but having no formal role in the organization. Kaapland, the Saharan Federation, and Albania have joined as observers as of today.

[Bisingen]

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September 3, 2006

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Projects Beginning to Revitalize the Ruhr

The government of Bisingen has just announced a series of massive public works and economic projects all set to begin in the near future, the first of which will take place in the Ruhr District. The upcoming projects are to be divided into two groups: Reichsprojekte, which will focus on increasing productivity and efficiency, and Volksprojekte, which will focus on increasing disposable income, consumer spending, and quality of life. In the case of the Ruhr, there will be two projects named "Reichsprojekt Ahorn" and "Volksprojekt Apfelbaum", which will aim to transform the Ruhr from a stale and aged industrial center hindered by poverty into the capital of European industry and among the wealthiest areas in the Bisingen.

First, Reichsprojekt Ahorn will see a total of 20 billion marks in grants to municipal governments in and around the Ruhr district to rebuild infrastructure to modern standards alongside 5 billion marks in subsidies given to major companies like Allgemeine Waffen and auto-giant VMW to expand and modernize factories in the region and to construct new factories. To help power the Ruhr region and reduce reliance on coal-power, 3 new nuclear power plants will be built along the outskirts of the region. Two will be 3-reactor plants while the final and largest will be a 4-reactor plant, all of which will be operated by Novak Energy. These new power plants are all to begin construction as soon as possible and will take 4-7 years to build. Once finished, however, the Ruhr region will be able to operate based almost entirely from the energy these power plants produce. The entire Ruhr region will also be designated as a special economic zone with heavily reduced taxation in nearly every category, lessening the tax burden both on largest corporations and on the poorest households.

It's counterpart, Volksprojekt Apfelbaum, will focus on a massive public works campaign centered on Gelsenkirchen, which is both geographically central to the region as well as the most impoverished. The city will have a large nature resort constructed just to its north-east, and a new airport roughly the size of the one in Dortmund. Both of these will be connected to the city center via a monorail system which will also run between various neighboring cities. Across the Ruhr region, new parks, recreational centers, and public swimming facilities will be constructed alongside new schools and administrative centers. Vast swathes of low-income residential areas in the city will also be renovated at no cost to the residents, who will also be aided by government-subsidized housing programs. The government has also begun working alongside VMW, subsidizing a project to design and produce cars which are more efficient and affordable. Preparation and designing of both of these projects are to begin immediately with the planning phase to finish by early 2007. Construction for nearly all aspects will then begin in earnest in mid-2007, with most projects to be completed by 2009.

[Unified Capitalist Kingship]

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World News At A Fraction of The Price


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September 14th, 2006

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Deterioration In The Balkans



With the end of the 1st Balkan civil war and the collapse of the bloated Sutherysk State, new unofficial borders have largely consolidated in the region. While lines hold, this hardly means that these borders will stick. With governments still largely in development, much of the power across the land still lies in the hands of the commanders that lead the armies to where they are in the first place. Just 5 days prior on September 9th, it was reported that several small scale border conflicts between Balaton and Prilozhia broke out, with Balaton claiming that post-war borders didn't accurately reflect the historical and cultural aspects of the region. Subsequently, Myrto independent militias have taken it upon themselves to march north and occupy small border regions in the hopes of a unified Greece once more.

Due to this abundant conflict and widespread instability, refugees from across the Balkans have been spreading out like wildfire, and with it come health issues. Under the Sutherysk administration, ACR cases were mostly under control, but with the explosion of refugee rates across bordering nations, the bacteria weaselled it's way back into existence, with refugee camps across Jazira, Myrto and Vitolia seeing massive outbreaks of the bacteria. The nation hit the hardest by this outbreak has been Carpathia, which has seen its border overrun completely by immigrants and refugees seeking to start a new life in the nation. With the border so congested with traffic, government officials have been unable to snuff out the spread of ACR, and local officials have deemed the crisis a threat to national security. It seems that even when the fire of revolt is out, that the effects of the Balkans still spread far beyond their borders.

[McFreedomstan]

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September 18th, 2006

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Niagaran Film "The Unknown" Grosses $39Mn in Opening Week - Woerden Tourists Kidnapped by Sarwanusan Gangs - Canton Industrial Fire Leaves 29 Dead - Reverdin Holdings Gives HLR a Sell Rating - Mutumbo Invited to the ISO

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Canton National Food Bank Feeds 100 Millionth Family, Why this is a Problem for Many




Woman in Dongbaak enjoying a free meal.



Thanks to the out pour of support from large corporations and governments, most notably the Nizaam Food Group, Helmand, HLR Canton, the Borbo Foundation, and Bosphorus Arms, the Canton National Food Bank has been able to acquire enough resources to conduct national, comprehensive hunger reduction campaigns. While this has been great for many, locals are stuck dealing with higher prices on protein sources like fish, pork, beef, and chicken due to the CNFB's large acquisitions. Chicken alone has risen from about $0.89/lb to $1.30/lb in the past few months, and market analysts state that $2/lb chicken is not an unrealistic scenario.

CEO Wong and Director of the Interior Seung have reached out to major meat producers like Santana, Woerden, Santa Rosa, and Helmand to create supply chains to meet the Confederacy's demand.

[Unified Capitalist Kingship]

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World News At A Fraction of The Price


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September 23, 2006

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The Balkan Bloc Falls Further



With little done to stem the flow of refugees or the bacteria its self, ACR hotspots like refugee camps and border crossing have stopped being isolated zones of infection. Cases have begun to spread into bordering regions, while not currently posing a large threat due to nations like Vitolia and Jazira having some of the highest incomes per family and advanced medical care being widely available, certain hospitals have begun having their services strained due to the abundance of citizens seeking either pre-emptive of post-infection treatment. One victim of this boom in infection rates has been King G'tuuk of Albania, who addressed his people, revealing that he had tested positive and subsequently gone into seclusion. Little to no relief has been seen in the Balkans, neither domestic or foreign, and analysts predict that the issue could spiral out of control if not dealt with soon.

Biological issues are not the only issues that plague the region though. Balatonian revolutionary guard have begun new campaigns, purging non-radicals and removing them from the government in an attempt to solidify control of the nation and remove any opposition from ideological rivals. This has left the nation in a precarious spot, in which many of the generals and officers of the civil war period have been forcibly removed, leaving Balaton at a lack of skilled leadership. Programs have begun to seek out new potential in politically aligned recruits, but this process could take years, which Balaton, if they doesn't play their cards right, may not have. Similar issues have rocked the nations of Albania and Prilozhia. Albania, having little representation in the old Sutherysk state, and many who did administer the region, instead opting to work under Prilozhian command, have found themselves with a complete lack of options to appoint effective leaders. Many of the administrators that have been already appointed have easily proven incompetent in nearly every way and the general public is voicing its concerns on the matter. On the other hand, in Prilozhia, centralization of the new state has not come easy. Bosnian radicalists occupying the region of Bosnia since the end of the civil war have refused to relinquish control of regional industry and provincial governance, stating that the Bosnian peoples deserve to have their own freedom to self-governance. While not pushing for independence, the level of autonomy in the region is not far off. Little comes easy in the Balkans, and as it goes, little seems to be improving. The existence of the current Balkan states is currently not expected to last into the next century, but hopes still remain high that reform may come.

[McFreedomstan]

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September 24th, 2006

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Pork Imports to Canton Secured from International Partners - Wildfires tear through Southwestern Niagaran Provinces - Hausan Separatists Kill 12 in Suicide Bombing - Fighting in Salamut Leaves 580 Peacekeepers Dead, 4,700 Wounded

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Oghuz-Bengali Joint Mission to FSR Ayask Woo's Locals, Unofficial Government Joins ISO




Some the Tribal and City Leaders from the FSR Ayask sitting down for a picture.



In a move to consolidate power in Anatolia, the Oghuz and Bengali governments went on a diplomatic mission to the former Oghuzian nation to discuss the security of the fledgling nation, the risks imposed by the un-elected, and non-transparent Glascom appointed administrative government, mutual economic development, visa free travel and free trade status with Oghuz, along with reconstruction funds that the ISO would provide regardless of their decision to join the organization. The Glascom government was sidestepped in favor of meeting with 90 community leaders from the informal "people's council", who cumulatively represent around 74% of the population in official and unofficial capacities. Fears of a second foreign occupation, even if indirect, motivated the representatives to overwhelmingly vote in favor of joining the ISO. Many also claimed that the benefits offered by their entry into the organization would ease family concerns for a large percentage of the population.

By accepting their vote, the ISO has now officially recognized the People's Council as the legitimate leadership of Ayask and has vowed to protect it as any other member state. The vote has angered some, as segments of the population, particularly non-ethnic Oghuzians, want to maintain a distance from Oghuz and maintain firm ties with the European mainland.

[Noorizadeh]

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Political Happenings:
Top Majiles Reporting, 24/7

September 23, 2006


Curious New Ideas
Inspired by Santa Rosa's Free Cities party, prominent Majiles-e Sevomi representative Mahmud Hedayat has formed a new political party, calling itself the Hezb-e Rastakhiz, or the Resurgence Party. The party's stated objective is to decentralize Helmand's government in favor of a number of smaller regional authorities, operating their own elections and reporting directly to the central government only for broad administrative strokes.

While Hedayat's party is lacking in popular support, his legislation could very well shape the future of Helmand, as recent legislative vacancies not being filled have allowed for much more closer votes in the majiles. Many parliamentarians have expressed their disillusionment with the warmongering of Helmand's government, and given the failed promise of President Nazarat Nazari to end it, alternative parties like Hedayat's may well become the norm.

All Eyes on India!
The Helmandi government has assembled a task force to get down to the big question: who set up and later detonated the bombs in Parliament? Called the "Lawless Plot", due to a tip sent to police about an anarchistic coalition attempting to execute the bombing, public figures have distanced themselves from this theory. Popular conspiracies have been floating around that the bombing was the result of some Indian revolutionary group trying to attack Helmand at it's core, with rabid nationalism fueling this sentiment. It seems the people are frothing for a scapegoat, and are currently fighting an insurgency against an available target.

Popular Changes in the Cabinet!
One sad side-effect of the bombing is the death of popular figures, including the Director of Defense Mohammad Marvi. Representing old blood, Marvi, and his ambitions, have been swept to the wayside. In his stead, Indian general and prominent governor Farid Suri has been chosen. Suri, a protege of Shapour Shiqi who rejected the former's nationalistic rhetoric in favor of a united rhetoric, has risen to the top in Helmand. Most popular among the massive Indian minority, Suri has claimed he aims to tear down boundaries of race in the primarily Persian higher echelons of government, although xenophobia from the recent bombing threatens his rise.

Whatever be in the future for Helmand, it is clear that a new generation of lawmakers will mold it, not one of invasion, but one aiming at coexistance.

Next Up in Kaveh Magazine:
Debutante Demagouges? The Inside Scoop!
What is a Carpathian, anyways?
A step-by-step guide on Kurd removal.



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Written by Berlioz

[Nomiconia]

Zhovkvan SFR October 14, 2006 Internal Dispatch - New Zhovkvan Administration In response to increased Zhovkvan nationalism and resentment towards the FPRP since the last rebellion in the area the government of Pavlovsk has replaced theState Governor of the Zhovkva Federal Socialist Republic, the area consisting of the territories annexed away from the Zhovkvan Republic during the year of 1991, with Ivan Skoropadskyi. The new Governor has been granted further powers and tasked with increasing the trust of the People of Zhovkva with the Pavlovski government and decreasing the influence of the Organization of Zhovkvan Nationalists. May God wish Ivan well, as the future of Pavlovsk rests on his shoulders.

[Toluca-]

October 18th, 2006




Suicide epidemic in Texas • Chicago Metro area receives revitalisation grants • Cuban population 'dropped between 4mn and 6mn' since 1993

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Formation of the Nationalist Party of North America (NPNA)
The Communist Party of Niagara, the political group in power from 1992 - 2002, existed to serve the needs of an inefficient and dated ideology of communism. The CPN was a bureaucratic nightmare, and in its tenure, the CPN accomplished seemingly nothing due to absurd and almost comical clauses in its founding documents that made any but the most safe legislation impossible to pass through the Capitol Building.

However, today, President Ernest Hutchinson is claiming to have 'wiped away the stains of the Old Days' by reforming the Communist Party into a new political entity, the Nationalist Party of North America, abbreviated as NPNA. The Nationalist Party will be chaired by Ernest Hutchinson and the Chairman will have executive power over the entire party.

Due to the nature of the Upper Committee at this time, there is unlikely to be any noticeable change for the citizens of the Union, the Ernest Hutchinson has given himself slightly more power in the Upper Committee, attaining a third vote, making his position 3x more powerful than other members.

Chairman Hutchinson has declared Roman Dean to be the Vice-Chairman of the NPNA, which comes just days after Dean announced his desire to be the next leader. Could this olive branch be Hutchinson's subtle signal he's ready to retire?



President Hutchinson, also Chairman of the NPNA



Execution of Lance Chadstrong announced
Chief Justice, John Simmons, has announced that a date has been set for the execution of Lance Chadstrong, war criminal and conspirator. Chadstrong, who's trial occurred in December 2004, has been charged with the crimes of high treason against the Niagara Union, high treason against the people of North America, conspiracy against the Upper Committee and incitement of violence, among other smaller crimes. Chadstrong will be executed on December 2nd, 2006 by way of firing squad.


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In other news...
• The Hudson region is seeing the highest economic growth in the country. New York City, a former financial bastion under the Gettysburger SEZ, has been revitalised into one of the most economically important cities in the entire world.
• Eccentric billionaire, Frederick-Wilhelm Onfroy von Jah, has reached out to the Cantonese Government to discuss the creation of three moderately sized artificial islands off the coast of Yuhuan. Jah is quickly rising as one of Niagara's most well known celebrities, mainly due to these crazy publicity stunts.