OOC- The aim is to try and get more people talking about events of importance in each others media. So I intend to try and do a kind of weekly summary of the key events effecting Mundus. They'll largely be copy and paste jobs of other nations work with minor editing to make it shorter and clearer so no prior knowledge is needed. Feel free to PM me with stuff you want including next week if you think a story deserves some attention.
ASSASSINATION IN SAHERISTANPresidential candidate of the Islamic People's Party, Salman Yasser Fated, was assassinated this week, meters from the Slsalam Min Al'Islam mosque in the coastal city of Sakakah, following a campaign event. A bomb planted within the vehicle carrying Mullah Fated exploded by the west corner of Shaikh Omar Road, killing him, three bodyguards, two IPP campaign staffers and four bystanders, also wounding several dozen. The attack was followed by a video released by three masked figures in which they said they were "true guardians of Saheristan’s holy Islamic tradition today struck down a mortal enemy who had raised himself up in our midst. Though he draped himself in the Islam’s banner he was no friend of Allah, rather he was a product of the wicked sinfulness of modernity attempting to lead our holy brothers and sisters astray."
This assassination is expected to send shock-waves through the tight Presidential race, with Representative Vizar closely trailing President Ashkan. When polled last month to list the candidates in order of preference, Ashkan was the second preference of 61% of IPP supporters, while Vizar was the second preference of merely 8%. The IPP will be holding an emergency committee meeting for delegates to vote for a new nominee on Thursday.
CHRISTIAN ARRESTS IN NYA ALANDSix foreign nationals have been arrested after being caught taking cuttings of mistletoe from the Grove of Odin. The six people where spotted carrying garden tools and challenged about what they were doing. The Grove is considered sacred to Odinists and visited frequently by worshippers who pray in the outdoors. Following the wardens investigations it was discovered the four women and two men had cut two small bags of misteltoe from one of the trees apparently to "decorate for Christmas". They were arrested on charges of "desecrating a holy site" and are due to appear in court. Officials have yet to confirm their nationalities however it is thought that at least three of them are here as students. Should they be found guilty they could be sentenced to a maximum of 40 hours community service, a 6,000Kr fine[1] and a two year suspended jail sentence, it is however more likely they shall get a fine of around 3,000Kr and their visas revoked unless this is a second offence.
BORLANDERS ATTACK MORELANDER DEFENCE SITESThere have been a series of armed attacks aimed at East Moreland's Jekar's Spear air defence system that protects major cities from various types of attack ranging from short-range rockets and artillery shells. The system was installed in almost every major city following the horrendous missile attack on Freestone that saw black market acquired Achkaerin made short range missiles used to attack the city, leaving some 200 dead including students in a High School. Since the installation of the system some 38 different attacks have been foiled as the system has intercepted weapons ranging from improvised mortar rounds to homemade rockets. Four major sites were attacked on the day in question leaving 19 Morelanders dead and 21 Borlanders. No defence systems were brought offline.
LIGHTS OUT FOR UTMENThe Lakhzov government has ordered the State Energy Corporation to cut all power supplies to the Utman dominated areas of Transmecuria province leading to a full shutdown of all power plants still under the control of the Lakhzov government. In total 23 plants have been brought to a cold shutdown and deliveries of fuel have been cancelled leaving a single ageing coal fired plant in control of the Utman, barely sufficient to provide power to the rebel capital of Kinere. A government spokesman said " It was felt by many in the government that the provision of services to the rebel faction is counterproductive as it allows them to provide the impression of being a functional state with far greater control than they in reality possess. In withdrawing services we send a powerful message that the insurgents are not capable of providing even the most basic of government services to the population."
Ministers have also confirmed that plans are underway to limit water supplies in the region to provide a maximum of 2 litres per person per day. This is likely to prove more difficult to implement due to the decentralised water system in the province where villages are commonly provided water from boreholes and towers, however supplies to major population centres are fed from reservoirs and are expected to be reduced from the beginning of next week.
WAR ON CONTRACEPTIONIt seems the Solonian government seriously underestimated support for contraception and a want for the legalization of abortion as hundreds of thousands of Solonians, lots of them young, have taken to the streets against the proposed plans to ban contraception which can "harm a woman's reproductive organs". The protests are one of the first signs of resistance against something the church in Solonia has supported since the fall of communism. The move comes just a short time after the Catholic Church in Solonia released new guidelines calling for their Priests and teachers in Catholic Schools, which make up around 95% of Solonian schools, to tell people that contraception should not be used. The Church said that people must be taught that contraception is a sin and a danger to the nation.
BORLAND BACK?Following almost one year of clearing the wreckage caused by an East Moreland air strike construction on the Principality of Northern Borland has begun once more. Funded through finances raised by King Kyle Barren the "nation" will soon once more become a thriving settlement of around 15,000. The land was seceded by President Binyamin Elwes as a thank you for intervening as the sole international aid organisation during an outbreak of Zimalian Fever. In the months that followed the area became a safe haven for many seeking to start a new life. The community became a co-operative that built hundreds of homes in short order using old shipping containers to provide family homes for both Borlanders and Zimalians seeking a fresh start in life. Without warning this safe haven was attacked by the Royal East Moreland Air Force killing 28 people, including 6 children. Since then many have been struggling to return to a normal life unsure whether rebuilding attempts will take place. The settlement will aim to have, by the end of next month, have built around 100 homes in a similar fashion as before the air-strike, this should give some 500 people permanent homes.
