Esamir National News Network

Two major religious groups in the UKZ, the Rohtanganistines and the Hindus begin the celebrations of Levi Day and Diwali respectively.


LEVI DAY


Levi Day celebrates the crowning of the son of Rohtang as the God of the Sun. Levi came down to earth to fight the demon who destroyed the old sun and 20 days after his victory he takes his role as the Ferrier of the new sun every year. The new sun is believed to be empowered by the life of Rohtang and as such the light from the sun on Levi Day morning will be used to renew the holy flame which was extinguished at the beginning of Victory Days (9 days before Levi's victory over the demon).

Rohtanganistines believe that this flame is the embodiment of Goddess Rohtang and will be central to all worship services in the coming year until its time for its extinguishing next year.

The celebrations begin at 12 am where the temples are opened for people to come in offer offerings and burnt sacrifices in the form of incense and fragrant oils, till 6 am when the temples will celebrate its first, morning service in 29 days.

Holy flame is often distributed to the faithful in the form of charred wood or embers who keep the same lit in their homes throughout this festive season. Some temples ignite the tops of tall pillars with this holy flame throughout the festive season of 5 days.

DIWALI OR DEEPAWALI


Diwali is the most important Hindu festival, it celebrates the return of Lord Ram from his exile to his kingdom of Ayodhya, after rescuing his wife Sita from the clutches of the Demon King of Lanka (or Ceylon) called Ravan.
The festival is considered the festival of lights and goes on for 5 days, each day is dedicated to a unique form of celebration.

Fireworks, oil lamps, rangolis and sweets are all a part of the celebrations which comes with a three day shut down of the government offices and of banks.

The Prime Minister and Her Majesty The Queen wished all Zacks and people across the Commonwealth a very happy Levi Day and a Shubh Deepawali!

According to Chackle's latest GDP statistics the nation's economy has seen a very slow growth within the last couple of months, with the recent oil industrial boom the country has seen it slow down dramatically as it was growing by nearly 15% last month, that dropped to 6.7% in recent studies. Chackle's automotive industry is the largest sector in the nation's industrial sector as it holds nearly 16% of the countries GDP, recent stats show the it has declined by .7% and experts predict that it could soon crash having devestating effects on the country. Chackle's economy still looks very stable and healthy but could still possibly start declining if the market doesn't start seeing any positive signs of prosperity. Although the nation's monthly GDP growth is still a stable 3.2% it has dropped a devestating 5.3%, from 8.5%. King Comrac stated that he would try to slow down the obvious crash that is soon to occur if the market doesn't soon start healing by investing into other sectors to expand the nations economy.

In a more positive sense, the country has seen its agriculture sector grow by 5.6% which is up from -1.2%, this is mostly because of the tobacco industry booming and nearly tripling profits from last year. Although this is good for the economy it is not so good for the countries health. A doctor from Fyresk stated that Chackle's smoking population has grown by nearly 350 million people in 5 years, with the average age of smokers being 24.6 years old 5 years ago and is now 21.1 years old as of now. This has resulted in a 40% increase in smoke related deaths.

The Zack Parliament will convene from the 9th of November to the 22nd of December 2017 for the Winter Session of parliament. This parliament session is the first since the incumbent government completed 1 year in office and signals the countdown for the Commonwealth Council (Upper House) elections.

The government is geared up to face a scathing attack from the opposition benches on the what is building up to be the largest unemployment crisis the country has faced since the end of the second world war. The government, however, has not announced any key legislation to be passed in this session which is also the shortest session of the Parliament year.

The Royal Decrees that award reservation for women and other economically and socially backward classes will face the test of parliament along with the Conservatives push to decrease welfare spending (one of the highest in the world).

This is session will also be closely monitored by the international community as the UKZ stands at a turning point of its economy where it is either destined for a rapid rise or a great fall. Furthermore, the questions of visas on arrival for Arveryans will also be discussed as several questions have been asked about it to the Foreign Minister, The government stands firm in its policy to not revoke the same however we are yet to see if the government might buckle under the opposition pressure.

The session ends on the 22nd of December with a joint session to review the calendar year 2017 and the official Season's Greetings to members by the Provost of Cair Paravel (Queen's Representative to the Constitutional Government) in the Central Hall of Parliament and adjournment of the session. Also, a Christmas Carol Concert in The Provost's Residence (Rashtrapati Bhavan).
Parliament will once again convene for the Budget Session 2018.

NEWS IN ANTANARES

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Election year for main cities around the country

It is arrived the end for the mandate of the mayor of the main cities around the Federation. At the end of the month, are expected to be held the election in Velikogovolka, Sessadraina, Javor, Ilium and Cape Wolf, probably the most important cities around the entire Antanares. With a strict majority in the main chamber of the parliament, the Bruma, the Loyalist Party, the main supporter of the new politics enacted from His Highness, is expected to gain majority around all the five cities.
Despite all the exit polls support that probability, there are some clouds in the horizon. Alexander Bresliv, runner for the seat in Palace Novimberga (house of the Velikogovolka's government) and member of the Doliravash Party, left-wing extremists, is the second in the main polls but, some voices murmur, could easily became the next mayor of the city if his good campaign continue that way. It is not the first time that Doliravash, probably one of the most ancient party of Antanares, arrives near the government of a local position. Despite the fact that it remains always outside the national office, as the Bruma, it obtains consistent result in the local elections. Ten years ago or two mandates ago, Doliravash was able to obtain a majority of seats in the City's Parliament of Javor, mostly entering in conflict with the Loyalist's Party and creating a series of disastrous situation that leaved Javor in a real bad shape, compared to the other regional's capitals. Now, all the analysts observe with attention the current election, with an eye in particular for Velikogovolka and Cape Wolf.

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Is it not a country for tourists?

In spite of the general good stability of the economy of the country, the tourist's sector is encountering some difficulties. It is difficult to understand why this sector is in crisis. Some experts suggest that is probably fault of a lack of interest of the government in the sector, despite a good numbers of tourists, in the order of millions, visit regularly the nation, with a particular interest in the east coast and in the region of Sessadraina. In the last years, anyway, the government was more interested in invest billions of Jedaros in different sectors, as the technological one and the military, with good results but, in this way, leaving an economical sector, as the touristic one, really alone in the hands of the private.
Most of the public's work, in that matter, was headed in the field of the regulations and the laws about the traffic, the arrivals and the construction of new structures without a real set of public's policies to determine a real change.

Riesa, Montferrat: At least 20 people are dead and over 30 wounded after an explosive device ripped through a marketplace in the city of Chrysopolis, the recently-founded capital of Achaian Oriento. Local police forces, seconded by Achaian military detachments, are investigating the possibility of Achaian Church involvement, and specifically that of the faction associated with the former primate of the Church, Akakios Doukas. The former Bishop of Mystras and his associates have previously claimed Oriento as a “new Achaian homeland” as opposed to Morea, where Sultana Aikaterini II Baumbach-Kallergis has declared Akakios a criminal and a traitor to the Sultanate. Chrysopolis was founded on the Sultana’s orders as a power base for Achaians and immigrants loyal to the Sultana’s government in Nafplio, in order to contest the influence of Doukas, his faction of clerics, and a number of Achaians from Morea who have migrated to Oriento to support the former bishop there.

In response to this most recent attack, Nafplio has announced an increase in military deployments to the area, as well as sending a personal representative of the Sultana to maintain order to the best of his ability. Interestingly, however, the named representative was Richard Brawn, Chamberlain of Baumbach House in Riesa and a prominent official in the government of the Duchy of Montferrat, whose association with Sultana Aikaterini stems from her position as Duchess-Consort to Duke Nico II Baumbach of Montferrat. According to the announcement from the Sultana’s household, the presence of a Montferrati official in Chrysopolis is intended to maintain discipline among the soldiers already deployed to Oriento, many of whom are Makarian troops from Montferrat who are also serving Sultana Aikaterini in her position as Duchess and who technically serve under the Duchy’s authority. However, some political analysts are suggesting that Montferrat is again establishing its authority in the Morean-Montferrati partnership, and possibly that Duke Nico is exercising his own power over his wife Sultana Aikaterini while she remains in seclusion in the wake of the birth of Prince Ioannis Baumbach-Kallergis, heir to both the Duchy and the Sultanate.

In a prepared statement, Chamberlain Brawn expressed his appreciation of Sultana Aikaterini’s confidence in his ability to pacify Oriento and bring Akakios Doukas to justice. “There is nowhere on that continent that such a disgraceful individual could possibly hide,” Brawn said. “His days of freely attacking his rightful overlords are numbered—and he knows it. This attack, and any other like it, mark the beginning of a very desperate end for him.”

Duke Nico of Montferrat could not be reached for comment. On his behalf, Duke’s Minister David Augustin said, “The Duchy will miss Chamberlain Brawn’s efforts for a time, but we are all grateful that his work for the Sultanate of Morea will ultimately benefit Montferrat no less.”

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IN OTHER NEWS:

Nafplio Rejects Zack Cultural Organization’s Request to Operate in Morea

Eurasian Revelations “Old News in a Literal Sense,” Dismiss Military Leaders

Besançon, Marquette -- A march in the nation's capital today attracted protesters in droves, an unexpected turn of events for what was expected to be a mediocre turnout. Protesters, mostly associated with the Social Advancement of Marquetien Workers Party (SAMW) carried signs making such declarations as, "we will be heard," and, "the system is a farce." Nearly a dozen arrests were made, with reports of only minor injuries due to the unprecedented amount of people on the city's narrow streets.

The march comes as senators depart from the capital at the end of the autumn session, not to return until the spring session begins in March of next year. It was also intended as a response to the Marquetien government's silence amid the growing Operation Mariposa scandal involving Eurasian intelligence. While none of the leaked documents explicitly suggest any Marquetien involvement, many in Marquette are dubious about their government's complicity. The operation was conducted at a time where Marquette and Eurasia saw rapid improvement in relations, and when both nations signed numerous mutual security and economic agreements.

Chancellor Charpentier gave a statement immediately, stating that Marquetien leadership has long valued transparency and would not have partaken in such a breach of human rights. In the most public act of criticism of Eurasia by a Marquetien leader in decades, he went on to say, "While we highly value cooperation with the Eurasian Empire, their response to these allegations thus far has been nothing less than alarming. We would like to see those responsible for these atrocities to brought to justice and for the public to maintain its confidence in our government while this mess is sorted out."

Critics of Charpentier remain unconvinced that the House of Secrets, Marquette's intelligence agency, is blameless in this matter. They point to the fact that it was founded at the height of Mariposa, and widely-held suspicions that its budget is grossly underestimated and that its headquarters' location is misrepresented only add to speculation.

In an unprecedented act of defiance, Maya Silva, the leader of the Green Party, made a brief statement shortly after the chancellor's. "It does us no good to make groundless accusations based on hysteria when no evidence has even remotely suggested Marquetien involvement in Operation Mariposa. However, a significant trust deficit is forming in the last few years and party leaders would do well to take note of this. We [the Greens] will do whatever it takes to regain the public's trust."

ALMERIA, GRANADA, ARVERA == As nightfall sets in on the cobblestone streets of the City of Almeria, the historical home for the Jewish population of Arveyres, Hanukkah celebrations are beginning city-wide. Lighting of the ceremonial menorah in the center of Almeria Square, an annual tradition that began in the wake of Almerian independence in the 200s, has also begun. Local Arveyran Jews have reported to Arveyran news affiliates that they are "happier than usual" as the festivities begin.

Chackle's King, in which has been gaining a lot more popularity recently, due to his recent increase in the countries health care and educational systems budgets, he hopes that his new budget increase in the nations military budget will increase his popularity even more. He announced this Monday that he'd be increasing the nations defense budget by 20% over a 1 year span. He stated that this would be spent by buying new much more advanced technology and equipment, and replacing some of the countries more out dated technology. He also stated that the country would focus it more on the defensive side and less on the assault side, stating that he doesn't want to put Chackle's military in a attack ready status but more of a defense ready status. He also stated that the nation would add another 4 million troops the military in the next 5 years. King Comrac's leading military advisor stated that this move would place Chackle's military in a much better spot in the worlds strongest armies as it would be a huge step towards a much more war ready Chackle.

After his press conference about the 20% increase the military budget many people think that this will keep them in a much safer position in the world, but that this would also put the country in a much stronger place if it ever needs to defend any of its allies. The countries military budget was cut by 40% not too long ago due to a economic crash, but the country hopes to rebuild its military with a much more powerful and advanced military.

Chrysopolis, Oriento: More than a month after an explosion ripped through a busy market in this newly-established capital of Morean Oriento, in an attack attributed to the radical wing of the Achaian Church, a video message featuring the leader of that faction, Akakios Doukas, has surfaced in which the former Bishop of Mystras denied all responsibility for the attack. The video, which bears a timestamp indicating that it was recorded only a day after the attack in Chrysopolis killed 22 people, was obtained by the Herald only yesterday evening. In it, Akakios Doukas vehemently denied all responsibility for the violence, and condemned those responsible as “offensive to God.”

“Evil has overrun all of Morea, and the Achaian people suffer as the righteous remain silent in their fear,” Doukas proclaimed, possibly referring to his own silence in the months since his flight from Mystras after the murder of Sultan Ioannis IX Kallergis. “May the Lord protect the Achaians, His most beloved, from those who wish them ill. Oriento must be made their refuge, if nowhere else.”

Doukas’s message prompted a contemptuous response from the royal household in Nafplio. Stamatios Karamanlis, secretary to Sultana Aikaterini II Baumbach-Kallergis and to Sultan Ioannis IX before her, provided the gathered press with the Sultana’s statement late this afternoon. “This villain proclaims himself to be a righteous man of God,” Secretary Karamanlis read, “and in the same breath reveals himself to be a hypocrite of the worst kind. The Lord does not love murderers, and He must despise those who murder in His Name, only to recant out of fear for their mortal lives.” The Sultana’s statement concluded, as expected, with firm assurances that the criminals responsible for the Chrysopolis bombing would be caught and punished, beginning with Akakios Doukas and his ally and recent spokesman Gavriil Ekklisias, who was removed from his role as Bishop of Raitia by Montferrati armed intervention. Already 17 conspirators have been arrested by Morean authorities under the direction of Montferrati Chamberlain Richard Brawn, and investigators continue in both Morean Oriento and neighboring Tarajani territory in the hopes of determining the location of the erstwhile primate of the Achaian Church.

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Mystras, Morea: The city of Mystras, still legally the capital of Morea, has remained largely desolate since Gavriil Ekklisias, the former Bishop of Raitia, called on the “true Achaians” of Morea to abandon Sultana Aikaterini II Baumbach-Kallergis and make a new home in Oriento. Kallimarmaro Cathedral, the seat of the Achaian Church, remains closed as neither the Church nor Sultana Aikaterini has seen fit to promote a new Bishop of Mystras to replace Akakios Doukas, the previous primate of the Church and the man responsible for placing Ekklisias at the head of the Church in Norda. Both men are wanted by Morean and international authorities in connection with multiple crimes in Norda and elsewhere.

With the heart of the Achaian Church all but empty, Mystras and Morea as a whole have had little direction in the national Christmas celebrations that would normally dominate Achaian life at this time of year. The royal household in Nafplio has been unusually subdued in its Christmas preparations, possibly a result of the large Makarian presence in the fast-growing town. Individual churches throughout Morea have been doing what they can to fill the gap, but the lack of central support and funding has limited these community celebrations as well.

“The Achaian way of life is defined by our Christianity,” said Nikolaos Markopoulos, the Herald’s chief cultural editor. “And our religion is dominated by the two holidays of Christmas and Easter. This past year has shown just how far Achaian leaders have drifted from the norm in these specific cases, and the entire Achaian identity is now in danger, or at least in flux, simply because the central pole on which we fixed our national heritage has begun to tip over. The Sultanate is not what we once thought it was, and the Achaian Church is all but gone from the national discourse.”

Time will tell if matters improve in future years, or if Christmas as we once knew it will be gone forever.

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IN OTHER NEWS:

Prince Chrysanthos Thanks King Frederick Wilhelm for Tarajani Efforts to Find Akakios

Duke Nico of Montferrat Receives Further Support from Nordan Makarians

Today in Chackle's capital, Fyresk, King Comrac had a press conference about the legalization of recreational Marijuana, he awnsered many questions which oppose the new legalization, and a lot more that like the new concept. King Comrac stated that he wanted his people to experience one of the worlds best natural medicines, he also stated that if it does become legal that it would be a taxed like cigarettes. King Comrac also stated that he would be opened to investing 7 trillion dollars into the Marijuana industry, as he hopes the 7 trillion dollar investment would turn into a 56 trillion dollar industry. He also stated that it would help give jobs to nearly 34.5 million people as Chackle's jobless population continues to swell over 110 million Chackleans. This new industry in the country would bring a lot of growth to many small dying villages, as they would most likely be the places where Marijuana farms would be placed, the average Marijuana farmer would be making nearly $110'455 a year. As this may be good news, it might affect major cities in a less so good way, Economist Yvan Bedroin, stated that this will slow down population growth in a lot of major cities, and it may also have a bad affect in major cities economies as it thew legalization may push people to move in rural Marijuana growing industries.

Breaking News ---- Breaking News ---- Breaking News ---- Breaking News ---- Breaking News ---- Breaking News


Horatstadt.
The news came unexpected: Maximilian V Van Sondenburg, Prince of Horat and Lord President of the Landsraad, died yesterday evening in his family residence at Horatstadt, capital city of the Principality.
Although the prince was already suffering from heart issues, the official cause of the death is still undisclosed to the public.
The only, brief, comment came from a spokesperson of House Van Sondenburg, who announced the death of the prince, and the succession at this place of his 43 years son, Godfried: "The Princely House Van Sondenburg invites all the inhabitants of the Principality not to mourn, but to remember with gratitude the existence of such a benevolent lord." he concluded.
King Friederick Wilhelm and the whole Royal House immediately sent their condolences, together with the rest of the Major Houses. The King himself will lead the ceremony in memory of the prince, which will take place in Horatstadt at the end of the week.


However, the consequences of the death of the old prince are already beginning to show up: the last living member of the Tarajani aristocracy born into exile (Sassadraina, the 12th May 1932), he has always been very close to King Conrad III (he was only 14 when he succeeded his father, Maximilian IV, as the head of the family, after the latter had died during the final stages of the civil war), thus enjoying uncontested authority among the other Major Houses and the highest respect by all Tarajani kings since then. It came as no surprise, then, that he was to be chosen as Lord President of the Landsraad in 1989, a position he kept until his death. Although he never hid his skepticism about the new liberal direction impressed upon the Kingdom by King Friederick Wilhelm, he always kept an unshakable loyalty to the Royal House, refusing to support the attempted coup of 2009, this way probably avoiding the risk of the Landsraad splitting on the issue, with all the dire consequences of the case.
Thus, with the end of his chairmanship and his disappearance from the political scene, the ball goes back to the Houses of the Landsraad, with the risk of old and dangerous divisions reemerging. A hint of this scenario can already be grasped by the fact that the most important assembly of the Kingdom didn't release a common statement over the issue, nor it announced the holding of a special session to elect the new Lord President, as customary. Rumors point toward a rising fracture between eastern and western Houses, on the lines of what already seen during the first decade of the XX century and after the Restauration: the main issue on the table is the acceptance into the Landsraad of the Houses of Meisjegronden, the former mainstay of Tarajani colonial empire, made into a special jurisdiction (provisionally with the title of Grand Duchy) by King Friederick Wilhelm. The immission of new Houses into the Landsraad would be seen by the eastern Houses as a counter-balance to the numbers in the hands of the westerners who, on their side, are fearful of the possibility to loose their traditional advantage. More importantly, not all Houses are content with the course of Tarajani politics and the Liberal Project of the sovereign, which some fears could undermine their power and authority. The reform enacted in 2010, in particular, which raised the Diet to a more parithetic level with the Landsraad, has been viewed by many as an attack to the privileges of the Major Houses.
Also, it is still to be seen if the new prince will be able to keep House Van Sondenburg at the same level of power and authority as his predecessor has done for decades. The fall of such an important House to a relatively secondary role could ignite the appetites of others in the Landsraad who would like to exploit this temporary vacuum of power.
Which course this dangerous situation will take, only time could tell: however, many are already looking at the King, as the man who could defuse the crisis before it explodes, suggesting a compromise candidate for this fundamental role.

BONNEVILLE, Patagonia -- Queen Victoria III and her family are wrapping up a week spent in Bonneville, Patagonia, attending the world-famous Bonneville Speed Trials. The Trials are held at the Bonneville Salt Flats, an extremely flat and arid part of Diamanto's Great Interior Basin. The Bonneville Valley was once the bottom of the ancient Salt Lake Bonneville. All of the natural features of the Salt Flats make them the best place in the world for these speed trials. The Speed Trials have been held almost every year since 1912. The only exception was in 1972, when rains came early and made the salt flats unusable for the speed trials.

Queen Victoria, a known car enthusiast, recently became a patron of the National Aloian Stock Car Racing Association (otherwise known as NASCAR). NASCAR is a major sponsor of the Speed Trials and they invited the Queen to come and open the Trials. The Queen's brother, Prince Carl Philip, himself also a car lover and NASCAR patron, got to perform one of his own speed trials. He took an Aloian-made Porsche out onto the salt and wowed the crowd with his speed and skill.

The Royal Family are now on their way to San Francisco, the largest city in Argentine Aloia. The family will spend a week there before continuing their tour north to Campostella for a few days, then head west to Natal, to spend a few days in Chicago. Before returning to Zumbrota, they will then head to Vinland, where they will spend a week at their Wonderstrand estate.

Fiery Cross Base almost complete

FIERY CROSS REEF, South Coral Sea -- The Royal Aloian Navy reported that construction is nearing completion at the new Fiery Cross Reef Base. The base has been built on top of Fiery Cross Reef, a coral atoll in the south Coral Sea. Aloian ships arrived almost a decade ago to begin pumping reclaimed sand over the reef. Concrete has been poured over the sand, and a fully functional Aloian military base has been constructed on top of this foundation. The reef was first claimed by Aloia in 1754, when Aloian sailors on the ship SS Fiery Cross sighted the reef. Aloia built a small outpost on the reef 30 years ago, but this original outpost has now been surrounded rendered obsolete by the new base.

The Navy has caught a lot of flack for building here from environmental groups and from international observers. The destruction of the coral reefs on the island and the militarization of the South Coral Sea are two objectionable outcomes of this construction. The Navy has countered by claiming that the island is being built in response to the increase in activity in the southern seas by the Nacostan Revolutionary Army, an anti-Aloia terrorist group. The South Coral Sea is the most remote area of ocean in Esamir, and Aloia says they need this base to ensure the safety of Aloian and allied cargo ships.

(Olive) Oil Spill!!

MAHTOMEDI, Anglia -- Southern Aloia is facing a shortage of olive oil following a spill from the country's largest EVOO storage facilities, located on the property of celebrity chef Rachael May's Terracotta Food Company. Terracotta's international headquarters is located in the eastern Minneapolis metro, in the suburb of Mahtomedi. Terracotta's headquarters was built on the shores of White Bear Lake, the second largest lake in the metro. Early this morning, their large tanks full of Rachael May's famous Extra Virgin Olive Oil started emptying into White Bear Lake. Locals awoke this morning to see their lake covered in a layer of EVOO and the Royal Conservation Agency was called in to deal with the situation. It's unknown at this point if the spill was a result of an accident or human actions.

Aloia's Baltic coastal region is known for its olive trees and the high quality olive oil the country produces. In fact, Aloian olive oil is one of the country's top exports in the food industry. Top restaurants throughout the world are preparing for the shortage of premium Aloian olive oil, and may start turning to lower quality olive oil from Rachael May's competitors or from other countries.

Royal Conservation Agency officials have already begun the process of siphoning off all the oil from the lake, but much of the damage has already been done. "This situation could have been much worse," spokesman Peter Golightly said. "Of all the products in all Aloia's industries that could be spilled, olive oil is probably one of the safest, as it is a natural product. We expect the cleanup to be completed within a week."

Local residents had divided opinions. "I mean, it sucks that we can't use the lake for a week," neighbor Patrick Aster said. "But now the neighborhood smells like Aloia's highest quality olive oil. You can't beat that."

Some people are saying the spill may have even been a result of a Nacostan Resistance Army (NRA) attack. Terracotta and the Mahtomedi Police are performing a review and their findings will be publicized later.

Astana.
Celebrations for the Nowruz, the traditional Ajanic New Year, has finally begun all around the Kingdom. In the capital city of Astana, parades and dances in the streets have taken place, while the traditional ball was held at the Royal Palace under the patronage of King Friederick Wilhelm. The celebrations will last until the end of the weekend, when a final parade, through the whole Ajanic citadel of Astana, will mark the end of the festivities.
Despite the climate of political turmoil which is haunting the Kingdom during the last months, most Landsraad Houses didn't renounce to organize their own balls and festivals, both at their residences in Astana and Vieneskel and in their own lordships: particularly in the western part of the Kingdom, Nowruz is still strongly felt as an integral part of Tarajani culture.
Like every year, a great amount of tourists flooded the most important cities, and particularly Astana, in order to watch the incredible show offered by Ajanic dancers and musicians, or to eat traditional delicacies. Data released by the Ministry of Tourism point toward a slight increase in the number of foreign tourists during this Nowruz season, always welcome in a country which heavily relies on tourism, such as New Tarajan.
There's great curiosity, among the crowd, about the firework show which will take place this evening: indeed, this year the show was wholly financed by the Landsraad, with many Houses practically racing among each other in offering financial support for the event. Thus, expectations are ostensibly high.

Timothy McKenney, leader of the Far-Right party New Ireland, was indicted today on charges of sedition, conspiracy to commit terrorism, the formation of an illegal militia, corruption, and threats against politicians from Sinn Fein and Irish Conservatives. The indictment comes two weeks after his arrest by the National Security Forces at the order of Sinn Fein President Edward Collins. The Judicial Council, a council of appointed judges funded by the political parties lobbying for a united Ireland, indicted McKenney early in the morning which means his case will now go before a select judge of the Council for trial without a jury where if found guilty he could face up to 50 years in prison.

However, many have raised the point of whether such actions are even legal. "We don't have a constitution. We don't have an elected government. We don't have laws. We don't have independence. I don't care what side of the issue you support but we do not have the authority to do this." said McKenney's lawyer Eddie Bega. Some have even gone as far as to call for the arrest of Edward Collins. "He's acting outside any authority he could possibly have. He's trying to act like Ireland is already free and that there are no foreign powers here. Violating their laws and their legal system. He needs to be arrested. He's arresting people. He's set up a court. He's done so much that warrants an arrest." says Deputy New Ireland Leader Michael David

Fuerteventura, Marquette -- April 20th marks the height of the Festival of Saint Severin, the champion of fertility and passion in the pantheon of adherents to the Marquetien Orthodox faith. This is one of the holiest days for Marquetiens, as it ushers in a period of mirth and solidarity as the people give thanks to the gods for the good things that have happened throughout the year. Thousands flock to the city of Fuerteventura, the cultural and religious center of Marquetien Orthodoxy. Celebrations begin on Thursday evening when the Magna Omna offers a burnt offering of various native herbs, after which follows a procession to the Saint François River where holy texts are read and more offerings are made. Friday is a day of introspection and showing appreciation for family and friends. Gifts are often exchanged at lavish celebrations. Saturday is a day for caring for the environment and planning for the future. Community members assemble at local temples and discuss the year to come. Sunday is the last day of the festival, and includes more services at the temple.

Most people celebrate with their home parishes, often making similar processions into the wilderness. Cities have adopted certain traditions of their own, like the mountain city of Cabrovizzi, which puts on a reenactment of the siege of Marlusson Fortress, the infamous last stronghold of the Christian knights in Marquette. In Vila, a daring group of the faithful assembles and attempts to climb high into the mountains to the monastery of High Beynac, the single holiest site in Marquetien Orthodoxy, and where a small group of chosen priests communicate with the gods.

Special Landsraad session convened by King Friederick Wilhelm: hope is restoring political stability soon ---- Protests erupt in Alleskandberg, Eindhoven, Hoogeveen, Bergen: far-left activists behind them, police ---- "Astana will not fall prey to far-left activity. The city is safe.", Lord Mayor said during interview ---- Eindhoven Stock Exchange closed under government authorization ---- Would you like to know more? More updates and insights on www.ntko.co.tj



[justified]Astana.
The political crisis is still looming over the Kingdom, with no Lord President appointed yet by the Landsraad and the clash among the Major Houses increasing; together with that, the Royal Diet is also falling prey to factionalism, as parties are splitting themselves on different positions about the delicate issue, while far-left activism and protesting is equally increasing in intensity in varius cities all around the country.
To avoid the situation spiralling out of control, King Friederick Wilhelm has announced a special session of the Landsraad to begin today, under his personal presidency. The agenda comprises both electing a new Lord President of the powerful assemblies, and deciding the status of Meisjegronden, which still sees itself at the crossroad between remaining a colonial territory and officially joining the Kingdom on equal footing with the other States.
It is difficult for political analyst to predict an outcome of this special session: everything depends upon the King's ability to broker a compromise between the two main antagonistic factions which divides the Landsraad, namely the Eastern Houses, which support the candidacy of Duke Meinhard III Van Geldern of Eindhoven, and the Westerns ones, supporting Grand Duke Wilhelm V Van Ceytal of Middensteden. Behind the division, there is a fight for control over federal resources, with the Eastern Houses complaining that their States have been systematically ignored in favour of the West for decades, leading to a slow, but significant, economic impoverishment and growing infrastructure obsolescence. Some of the Houses still has not taken an official position, in particular House De Witte (whose position is made more precarious by the Prime Minister belonging to one of its cadet branches), House Van Leeuwen, and House Van de Groot.
The King had met with all Major Houses representatives during the last months, in closed-doors meetings at the Royal Palace, so there is at least hope that the session will simply acknowledge what had already been decided during these meetings. Still, uncertainty is looming, increased also by the ambiguous opinions casually expressed by represetatives of the armed forces. The fear, both inside and outside the Kingdom, is of a more dangerous repetition of the attempted 2010 coup by a group of military officers.
Prime Minister De Witte-Beulen, in the meanwhile, is at work limiting damages inside the Diet: calling for stricter party discipline inside his own formation, he is now focusing on stemming the political ascendancy of the socialists both inside the Diet and among the public opinion, not to mention the risk of a far-left led coalition emerging in the Tarajani political world.[/justified]

Grand Duke Wilhelm V Van Ceytal is the 122nd Lord President of the Landsraad, official ---- Landsraad succession: Grand Duke Wilhelm V will be officially appointed next month ---- Political terrorism may lay behind recent shop vandalism in Eindhoven, police official ---- Stocks rising as political crisis approaches end, though financial danger persists, analysts ---- Eindhoven Stock Exchange Indexes: AFIX +5.0% ; FIX +4.5% ; NTIA +3.5% ---- Would you like to know more? More updates and insights on www.ntko.co.tj


Astana.
The results have finally be made public, and the surprise couldn't be higher. After a six-hours long session, the Landsraad have finally succeeded in electing its new Lord President, after a year-long standstill.
The newly-elected Lord President is Grand Duke Wilhelm V Van Ceytal, lord of Middensteden, and the candidate supported by the Major Houses of the Eastern half of the Kingdom. A resounding victory for those who feared that the political vacuum left by the death of Maximiliam Van Sondenburg-Sorenberg, Prince of Horat, and last Lord President, would have been filled by another representative of the Western Houses, leaving the East once again in a marginal role.
The political crisis, the most serious one since the failed coup of 2010, had sparked from the Landsraad through the Minor Houses and then the Diet, involving even the civil society into what came to be generally perceived as a fight between two different ways of conceving the distribution of duties and privileges inside the Federal Kingdom. A crisis so acute that it risked to lead to the fall of the government led by Prime Minister De Witte-Beulen, and to involve the King himself, who tried to broker a settlement between the two conflicting parties and to avoid an escalation.
Apparently, he succeeded. Although the details have yet to be disclosed, it is clear that the Western Houses, or at least part of them, have renounced to support their own candidate, Duke Meinhard III Van Geldern of Eindhoven. Particular significance has the fact that of those Houses still looking from the fence until a few weeks ago, House Van Leeuwen and House Van de Groot both voted in favour of Wilhelm V, while the abstention of House De Witte is easily interpreted as a way not to compromise the Prime Minister (who belongs to a cadet branch of this prestigious House).
The King, who personally chaired the session, also gave his vote as representative of House Van Vinkel, together with all the Free Cities. No official comment has been released by the Royal Palace yet, nor by Palace Van Geldern, seat of the Landsraad, but the Prime Minister is the first one to feel relieved, as his statement, released a few hours after the announcement, reveals: "It is with great joy that I heard of the news coming from the Landsraad. Me and my government wish to Grand Duke Wilhelm Van Ceytal a fruitful chairmanship, while at the same time hoping in a stronger cooperation between the Diet, the Council, and the Landsraad itself."
Positive responses also came from the opposition benches, and particularly from the TSDP, the Tarajani Socialist Party.


The news have been welcomed with a mix of joy and surprise in Middensteden, where the Grand Duke already enjoys the reputation of being one of the best lords the State ever had since the end of the Sinaic Order. Fireworks and spectacles have been organized in Winterstadt, the State's capital, at the municipality's expense.
The official appointment of Wilhelm V Van Ceytal as Lord President of the Landsraad will take place next month, in Palace Van Geldern. As per tradition, the new Lord President will organize a grand ball, with the participation of the whole Tarajani aristocracy. An occasion to bridge the gap opened between the Western Houses and the Eastern ones, perhaps; or at least, to make a first step in that direction. But also an opportunity to informally discuss the next hot issue on the table: wheter Meisjegronden will be accepted as a new member State of the Kindom, or not.
Meanwhile, far-left activists, who took the opportunity offered by this crisis to spark tensions among the population, instigating protests against the monarchy and the Landsraad, and actively promoting dissident actions against the Kingdom's institutions, do not desist from the criminal intents, now joined by members affiliated to the far-right movement of former chief-of-staff Baron Van Oerstaedt. While the federal police is investigating many of these illicit activities after tens have been arrested in all major cities of the Kingdom after the protests of last month, there are rumors spreading about a possible attempt to organize an official political party for the next Diet elections. A potential political threat which can be more than a simple headache for Prime Minister De Witte-Beulen.

All Saints' Day Celebrated

ZUMBROTA -- All Saints' Day festivities are being held throughout the Aloian nation. All Saints' Day is a church holiday to celebrate all Christians, past and present, and it has long been one of Aloia's most celebrated holidays. Queen Victoria and the rest of the Tordenskjolds celebrated the day by going to a special service at the Cathedral of the Four Evangelists and participating in a parade down Zumbrota's main roads with church officials including the Archbishop of Zumbrota.

On the other side of the world, 12 hours later, San Francisco's residents celebrated with a special service and celebration at Grace Cathedral, followed by a boat parade around San Francisco Bay. Celebrations continued throughout the city for the rest of the day, ending with fireworks being launched over the Bay after the sun had gone down.

Georgiou's festivities included their own special services at Ascension Cathedral. The city gathered around the central plaza, where the Chaseville Nacosta Nation performed a ceremonial haka for the festivities. Princess Madeleine and her family were in Georgiou on vacation and were seen enjoying themselves at the events.

Raadspensionaris De Witte-Beulen submits draft for new status for Meisjegronden, Overseas Territories ---- States General meeting convened in Astana: follow it live on NTKO Channel 3 ---- Prince Godfried III Van Sondenburg suffers from fever; unable to reach Astana for Landsraad's celebrations, House spokesperson ---- Works at Eindhoven International Airport stops after ruins found on the site, official ---- Eidhoven Stock Exchange Indexes: AFIX +7.0% ; FIX +3.4% ; NTIA +2.5% ---- Would you like to know more? More updates and insights on www.ntko.co.tj


Astana.
The Landsraad may finally have a new Lord President after almost a year of vacancy, but the true core of the political crisis which sparked in the Kingdom is still on the table: the accession (or not) of Meisjegronden as a new Prefecture of New Tarajan.
Until now, the largest remnant of the Tarajani colonial empire has been governed as a Grand Duchy, under a Viceroy directly appointed by the King, and with autonomous legislative, executive, and judicial bodies. This meant that, at all effects, all Noble Houses residing there, and convening in the Landsraad in Groenestadt, Meisjegronden's capital, were considered to be Minor Houses, depending from the Royal House, despite some of their lordships being as large and prosperous as some on the Tarajani mainland. Since the last decade, a political current among these Houses has looked for allies inside the Royal Landsraad, to push forward the full accession of Meisjegronden as part of the Kingdom, transforming the Grand Duchy into a Prefecture, and thus allowing its Houses to take the rank of Major Houses, and to seat inside the powerful legislative assemby in Astana. Such a project had found its supporters among those Major Houses governing the eastern half of the Kingdom: suffering from the permanent majority enjoyed by their westernmost counterparts, and protesting against decades of policies (in their opinion) favouring too much the western half of New Tarajan, these Houses never hid their idea that the inclusion of Meisjegronden's aristocracy inside the Royal Landsraad had the potential of bringing in a more balanced relationship.
With their candidate, Grand Duke Wilhelm V Van Ceytal of Middensteden, now appointed as Lord President, seems that the road is finally paved for realizing this ambitious project. However, it is a road full of obstacles: already during the celebrations at Palace Van Geldern, the heads of the western Houses didn't hide their intention to fight hard against any proposal in this sense. Tensions are still high, as visibly demonstrated by the behavior of Prince Godfried III Van Sondenburg: the heir and successor of Maximilian V, the deceased Lord President, didn't join the celebrations, sending his cousin, Philippe Van Sondenburg-Vittil, as his representative. The defiance of such a prominent member of the western aristocracy didn't escape notice, and rumors from the Royal Palace indicates that the King himself have sent a letter to the prince reprimanding his decision.


In order to defuse a new stalemate, and to give an answer to both the Houses and the public opinion in the Kingdom and in Meisjegronden (where protests erupted since last year, almost ending in riots in Groenestadt), Grand Pensionary De Witte-Beulen announced a new proposal by the government in front of a joint Landsraad-Diet session in Palace Van Telmar-Sigmaringen-Hurris. The draft submitted to the two legislative assemblies aims at abolishing for good the status of Royal Colony, replacing it with a new administrative and political structure for both Meisjegronden and all the others Overseas Territories of New Tarajan.
Each territory (including Meisjegronden) would gain the rank of Overseas Prefecture, governed by a Stadhouder, with powers substantially similar to those enjoyed by Prefects in the mainland. The difference will be that each Overseas Prefecture (with its States officially recognized as such) will have its Stadhouder elected by the local States General, and subsequently appointed by the King. The Stadhouder will then represent his or her Prefecture inside the Royal Landsraad, though the local Houses will obtain the rank of Major Houses.
A political compromise, an attempt at accepting the substance of the requests forwarded by the eastern Houses and their Meisjegronden's allied, at same time easing some of the most critical concerns of their western rivals. As for any kind of compromise, though, the risk is to dissatisfy everyone: indeed, the new seats inside the Landsraad will barely be enough to counter-balance the traditional predominance of the western States inside the assembly; also, the ambiguous position of the overseas Houses, detaining the formal rank of a Major House but without actually enjoying one of its strongest prerogatives, has the potential to become a political bomb.
Moreover, to transform the old colonies in Prefectures means that the Royal House Van Vinkel will be effectively deprived of its high sovereignty upon them in favour of the Crown (it should be remembered that, in the Tarajani system, the two concepts are not the same), a change far from being purely nominal or symbolic, and which risks to undermine the support that the Grand Pensionary has enjoyed from the Royal Palace, until now. Also, it is yet to be seen what the potential consequences would be, for the development and the economic, social, and political position of the new Prefectures inside the Kingdom and in respect of the outside world: the ties linking them with the mainland could be strengthened, but at the same time the new chair of Stadhouder, and the greater autonomy granted to these new kind of Prefectures risks to lay the ground for independentist movements which could explode sooner or later.
These, however, are only hypotheses. If De Witte-Beulen has moved as far as this in order to find a viable compromise, it is solely because he believes the situation requires it; an opinion shared by many, both inside and outside the government, who would prefer not to see a repeat, and perhaps a more dangerous one, of the crisis which had shaked the Kingdom during the last year.
Whatever the intentions, now the ball has passed in the hands of the States General: both the Diet and the Landsraad will have to debate the proposal, eventually modifying it, before passing it into law. It is likely that it will be a long, and far from straightforward, process.

The Commonwealth Council is the upper house of the Zack Parliament. Its members are elected by the various legislative assemblies of the presidencies that make up the UKZ. Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) elect the representatives for their presidencies by a single transferable vote. MLAs are allowed to defect from their party's stand while electing their representatives.
Each Presidency gets 6 councillors to represent them. The Council goes to polls every 4 years.

THE COMMONWEALTH COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS 2018:

With these results, many are claiming that the Liberal party has redeemed itself from the humiliating defeat it received in the 2016 general elections. The Liberals have equalled their friends turned foe- ZNC and are being seen as the main contender against the Conservative Party in 2020. As the Conservatives become the single largest party in the upper house, this will make it increasingly difficult for Prime Minister Tharoor to go ahead with his planned legislation. However, it is expected that the Liberal support for the ZNC will be a key player in foiling the plans of the Conservatives in blocking legislation.

The presidencies of Ukhta and Trivandrum (The PM's Home presidency) will be going to polls in 2019 before the next general election and that could be an indication of the way things will be in the next general election.

The ZNC, needs to now prove that they are a viable contender for the PMs post in the 2020 general election, and it seems like they only way they can prove the same is by taking risks. Sticking to the status quo has never worked before in zack politics and the voters seem to reward those that take risks.

THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS LANGUAGE OFFENSIVE TO SOME
It was a bizarre morning in the Senate today, with the Second Consul Philipus Trebatus Nestor rushing back from a meeting in an attempt to halt a Senator's speech. There were shouts and jeers filling the chamber as Senators and Proconsuls watched, aghast, as a freshman Senator gave an inflammatory, vitriolic speech. Donaldus Maximus Trumplius, an Optimate from Mosa Trajectum, took the floor at ten o'clock to give the second speech of his career, and immediately launched into a winding, at times unhinged oratory which filled the floor with invective. His speech touched on immigrants from New Zealand and on a range of conspiratorial theories against the Populares.

"When New Zealand sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists, they'll burn our temples and salt our fields so nothing will ever grow again, they'll rape our women and girls and slit the throats of our children in sick, Kiwi rituals, they'll murder our nobles and shit on our flag. Some, I assume, are good people."

Just an excerpt from Sen. Trumplius's speech, which caused expressions of horror and disgust from both sides of the isle, causing a bipartisan group of Senators and Proconsuls to rush across the large building to the Second Consul's office. Several of the conservative Optimates stood and left the chamber, whereas others attempted obscure parliamentary procedures to censure the Senator.


"They're fake. They're fake. They quote sources -- 'A source within the Trumplius office said' -- a source. They don't have a source. I don't, I don't think they know what tremendous, tremendous trouble they'll be in. Oh, they're gonna have it. I'm gonna give it to them. I will sodomize them and facefuck them. Populares want anarchy, they really do, and they don't know who they're playing with, folks. I'll run them out of office and crucify them on the Appian way, just like Cephorus did back in the day. Cephorus, tough cookie. Real tough cookie. Liked him a lot."

His speech also veered towards outright racism against New Zealanders and Tarajanis, while at the same time praising the dictator of Ivania, Jonah Luca, as well as hinting at anti-Deosian sentiment.

"Everybody knows, I mean everybody, folks, Kiwis are some bad dudes. Bad hombres, bad dudes. They lie, they cheat, they steal, bad stuff, bad stuff. They fornicate with our daughters, miscegenate with pure-blooded Eurasians, cosanguinate with their own children and parents, lynch innocent Maiorists in droves, sodomizing each other with big dragon dildos, big-lipped, big-nosed animals. We gotta stop 'em, guys, we gotta. I'm gonna build a great, big, buxom wall on our border with them. That'll keep those goat-fuckers out, big league. And Luca, in Ivania, wouldn't it be nice if we could get along with him? Seize control of a nation like he did and run it as an autocrat with no checks on my power? Swell guy, so tough. So tough. Another thing, next time I do my taxes, and you'll never see the fucking returns you goddamn vultures, I need a Deosian guy, tremendous guys those Deosians, so good with money and stuff, I love 'em most of the time, except that they control banks."

It was at this point that the Second Consul rushed to his dais and attempted to call the speech to a close, but was unable to as Sen. Trumplius continued, even after his microphone was cut.


"You know, they're, they're trying to shut me up, shut me up. But they can't, they can't because, because the Gods are on my side, I'll tell you. We're gonna boot every one of you, every one of you out of office, and then we're gonna enslave your women and daughters and kill your menfolk, raise your lands and estates to the ground and burn out your bloodlines from this earth evermore. It is therefore, today, I am announcing my candidacy for the Consulship of the Senate of Eurasia. We're gonna win, we're gonna win big league, and I'm, I'm gonna win for all the forgotten men and women. Tremendous."

Sen. Trumplius has been censured by the Senate in an emergency motion proposed by Proconsul Egnatius Carolus Pompilus of Civitius, but he has since taken to the airwaves and television channels to continue his agenda. Consul Robledo also returned from a holiday vacation to address the Senators, saying simply, "I have absolutely no idea how or why this has happened to us."

GILL OUT AS VC, HVISTENDAHL IN

SAN FRANCISCO, Patagonia -- Flanked by Chancellor John Mark Nelson, Vice Chancellor Sebastian Gill announced his plans to step down as Vice Chancellor. Gill gave the declaration from the patio of his home overlooking San Francisco Bay. Chancellor Nelson spoke after Gill, praising the elder man for his years of service for their country. Gill explained that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. He would dedicate his next years toward fighting the cancer and spending time with his family.

Catherine Hvistendahl has been chosen by Chancellor Nelson to take over as the next Vice Chancellor. Her term will begin on January 1, 2019, the day VC Gill retires. Hvistendahl previously served as a Senator and Palatine from Wonderstrand and as Governor of Wonderstrand from 2010 to 2016. She currently serves as Minister of Energy and Commerce. Hvistendahl will be Aloia's 16th female Vice Chancellor and first female Vice Chancellor from Anacostia.