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Offline Achkaerin

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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #60 on: November 30, 2018, 01:46:27 AM »


"WEATHER THE BEST POLICEMAN" - RECORD DRUG'S RAID


By James Robson: Home Affairs Correspondent

Santiago Police have arrested three men in what is believed to be a record drugs haul and it's all apparently come from a uniformed officers hunch over the weather. Police Constable Paul Granger was out on patrol when he observed that in a neighbourhood of houses covered in snow there was one house that didn't have snow on its roof, upon closer inspection the constable also noticed that the upstairs windows were covered up from the inside. A raid in the early hours of the morning resulted in three arrests and the seizure of drugs consisting primarily of cannabis but the presence of cocaine, crystal meth and heroin has been confirmed. Speaking after the arrests the chief of Santiago Police Vicky Shearney said "Arrests like this don't happen often because the circumstances are highly unusual and this one only really happened because the climate Achkaerin has means we get eight months of snow a year and the inquisitive nature of a constable led him to believe that something didn't add up. The one thing we take away from this is fairly simple - whether it's the rain quelling rioters or the snow giving up drug suppliers the weather really is the best policeman."



RIVIERE DEVELOPS CRYSTAL STORAGE DISC


By Kimberley Thorn: Science and Technology Correspondent

Data storage crystals might sound like something out of science fiction but it's reality. Rivere Corporation have announced they've finished the development of what's been called in some circles a "memory crystal." in simple terms the crystal is a nanostructured glass disc using the femtosecond laser writing process with the purpose of permanently recording 5-D digital data. The crystals which are manufactured as discs are capable of storing up to 360 terrabytes each and will last for billions of years. Riviere CEO Catriona Rowan spoke following the annoucement saying "This is the sort of thing we all get into this business for, to do something new, to do something that you hope will be looked back at years later as a moment where something changed. Data storage has been something interesting for a while if you look at computer games and the consoles they're played on we have games that take up 50 gigabytes each on a console hardrive of a single terrabyte, that works out to twenty games on a single drive in that situation, replace that hardrive with one of these crystals and you get the storage capacity for up to 7200 50 gigabyte games. But we're a fair way off from this sort of method being used to store gaming data and the like because there are things yet to be ironed out in that regard, but from the preservation point of view this is a huge step forwards."



ACHKAERIN ON RUGBY WORLD CUP HUNT


By Nick Watson: Sports Correspondent

It's almost time for the Rugby World Cup, and as the teams begin to make their way to this years tournament being held in the Alucard territories of Paracambi, Lodja and Bakkermaya it's that moment when the various coach's of the teams assess their chances. Following David Nightingale's departure as head coach of Achkaerin's national team to take up his new position as head of development at Achkaerin Rugby this years tournament sees Rayne Churchill take charge of the national side in her first major tournament, speaking to Achkaerin Sports Miss Churchill said "I'm looking forward to the challenge and the experience, I'd like us to go deep into the tournament and I'd love us to win it but that's not going to be easy by any means. What's important for me is that we continue to build and develop our own style of playing rugby, if we can do that then we have a chance of winning the world cup it may not come this year but one day it hopefully will."


In other news:
  • The Achkaerin Air Force has confirmed it will purchase twenty Night Fury aircraft to comprise a single squadron of that type of aircraft while awaiting AADC reports on future developments
  • Achkaerin University of Arts and Culture has announced it has named five new colleges after internationally significant figures, inviting their relatives to open the colleges.
  • Princess Esme Azurewind is reportedly meeting with the Achkaerin Boxing Association the reason is as yet unknown.

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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #61 on: December 11, 2018, 10:56:54 PM »


SENATE DEBATES NEW CSU TREATY

Lěosa Cŕidh, Secretary General of the CSU pictured during her address

By David Woods: Political Correspondent

The Achkaerinese Senate is set to adopt the redraft of the Treaty on the Cross-Straits Union. The Treaty redraft comes following a year of consultation in both Achkaerin and Rokkenjima, the two member states of the Union. In an interesting development it was the Secretary General of the CSU Lěosa Cŕidh who opened the debate in the Senate with the following statement:

"Mr Speaker, Honourable Senators it is a privilege to be able to address you today to explain the redraft before you and to answer any questions you may have while my colleague the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs does likewise at the Imperial Diet in Rokkenjima. Before I begin the explanation I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the year long consultation that we have run and express the CSU's special gratitude to Marqueeza Olivia Leonidas for coordinating the Achkaerinese part of the process.

In 2016 the Kingdom of Dartfordia voted to leave the Cross-Straits Union, there were many reasons for this and I won't go into detail of them because that is not the point, suffice to say that the reasons clearly identified a need for the CSU to take steps to address the issues identified as reasons for what has since become known as Darxit. The same year saw the scandal of a CSU member being able to circumvent the established procedures of the organisation to use CSU funding to support a state that perpetrated a genocide, this echoed the Dartfordian referendum result there was a need for changes to be made. A week ago we made available to the lawmakers of both member states the relevant consultation documents, legal advice and Treaty copies as well as assessments undertaken by NGO's. Today my responsibility is to explain the changes which I will do so to the best of my ability.

Beginning with how the CSU is structured there is a significant change with the abolition of the Cross-Straits Parliament. A decision taken because maintaining the Parliament was to put it bluntly impractical and impossible, firstly the seat allocation was determined based on a nations population as a proportion of the Union's total population so essentially if the Parliament had a hundred seats in it and Rokkenjima comprised 75% of the Union's population then Rokkenjima would hold seventy five seats in the Parliament. This was found to be flawed for two main reasons firstly it was unjustly biased in favour of nations with larger populations effectively forcing smaller nations into the position of not being able to pass legislation through the Parliament while handing larger nations an effective veto and secondly by being dependent on the total population of the Union the seat allocation would be re-balanced with the accession of each new member state therefore the Cross-Straits Parliament would be forced into having elections each time a new member state joined the Union, a state of affairs that would not have been sustainable. The abolition of the Cross-Straits Parliament sees the Cross-Straits Council inherit more responsibility as the legislative body of the CSU represented by five delegates per member state, the Cross-Straits Secretariat remains in the same way as the Civil Service at the CTO an administrative body responsible for the day to day running of the organisation, the Cross-Straits Court of Justice and Council of Head of States remain unchanged in role as the judicial and oversight bodies respectively.

Trade remains the backbone and sure foundation of the CSU, this is now based on the foundation of a Free Trade Area as opposed to what has for so long been the status quo, it is a trading position intended to support the member states rather than be domineering and dictatorial. This is not the CSU way or the high way, this is an agreement between member states on how they trade with each other while permitting them the right to determine how they trade with nations outside the Free Trade Area, however as is right and proper the Cross-Straits Secretariat will retain the responsibility of negotiating trade agreements between nations and the CSU as a whole such as the existing agreement between the CSU and East Moreland but as is also right and proper any negotiated agreement of that sort would need to be approved by the Cross-Straits Council.

The theme of supporting member states continues with the Fisheries policy, this has for a long time been uncomfortable and unpopular with citizens of member states. Therefore we enshrine in this treaty the rights of the state to hold sovereignty over their own waters as outlined by and detailed in the Fair Seas Concordat. We provide for a licensing scheme to enable with regulations the fishing of states in another's waters while not limiting the capability of native fishermen to fish within their native waters. This is a compromise article but it does in the opinion of the Secretariat grant states sovereignty over their own waters and control over who comes in and out of them.

Travel remains largely unchanged, in that we ensure that the means of travel and the right to travel are qualified by criminal record checks and purpose. The environmental policies of the Union are also largely unchanged in that only respect for the spirit of the Treaty for the Protection of Hygelac and Hrothgaer is added.

The Treaty also enshrines three funds accessible by members, the Cross-Straits Arts Fund, the Cross-Straits Social and Entrepreneur Fund and the Cross-Straits Science Fund, each with clearly defined process's and requirements for access. The science position of the Union also requires respecting the spirit of the Outer Space Standards Convention.

Finally Mr Speaker the final major change to the Treaty sees the stating of several education commitments including the agreement to teach life skills, the safeguarding of children, the establishment of an annual youth conference and the establishment of student exchange programs between member states. Some of these are already in existence between members but now we build on them. And that is the theme of this Treaty to ensure a stable and manageable relationship between member states that is ultimately a foundation to build upon in the future without tying the hands of members beyond what's fair given the nature of the relationship. The proposed Treaty represents the addressing of raised concerns, the understanding of what a suitable foundation is and ultimately the reclamation of the Union's identity from the shadows and ghosts of the recent past."


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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #62 on: December 18, 2018, 12:08:42 AM »


CONSUL WILLIAMS ADDRESSES SENATE ON FMN REPORT


By Roisin Shaughnessy: Chief Correspondent

Following reports in the Free Mundus Network alleging that the Kingdom of East Moreland carried out a series of operations across Mundus eliminating rogue elements within the Anausa, the now disgraced branch of Rokkenjiman intelligence, Consul Williams called for an emergency debate in the Senate in light of the revelations and subsequent East Moreland rebuttal. The Consul addressed the Senate as follows:

"Mr Speaker I am grateful that we are having this debate today especially given the circumstances. The last few hours have seen what can only be described as a revelation the full extent of which carries implications that reach far and wide, it is once more indicative of an ethos within Rokkenjima that despite numerous failures for inexplicable reasons persists. The question Mr Speaker is this when will the lesson be learned? We have an allegation being leveled at East Moreland that they have killed several rogue Anausa agents in contravention of international norms and accords in this manner.

Investigations carried out into the allegation turned up several names of deceased Rokkenjiman's who were killed abroad out of respect to the families we won't name names at this time but the tally is as follows, two killed in Zimalia, one killed in Ecclesiastical State, another victim killed in Lodja, one in Quintelia, one in East Moreland and one in Somerset. Mr Speaker we then approached the team undertaking the review of the Anausa and asked them to cross reference the names of the deceased against the list of Anausa agents and I can confirm to the Senate that all the victims were on the list of Anausa agents. Mr Speaker this does ring strongly of a coordinated campaign against the Anausa being perpetrated on foreign soil. By East Moreland? There is no evidence of East Moreland involvement, however it is clear that these deaths are linked together and only one party on Mundus would appear to have motive and that is Rokkenjima itself and their silence on this speaks volumes.

Furthermore Mr Speaker, and this is related to this issue, a few months ago the then Premier Abe attributed the Northfort incident to the Truthsayers, a statement upon which Rokkenjima's present position in regards to the Bene Gesserit is founded and it is quite likely to be a blatant falsehood. Mr Speaker this raises serious questions concerning Rokkenjima and policy thereof and in the coming days these need to be answered. This is not a world where conduct such as this is acceptable. If the former Premier lied then he must be held accoutable for that, just as anyone involved in the deaths will eventually have to answer for it."


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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #63 on: December 19, 2018, 11:58:44 PM »


SENATE CONCLUDES FORMAL BUSINESS AHEAD OF FINAL DAY


By David Woods: Political Correspondent

Usually the last day of Senate business before the Adjournment Statement is a day full of procedural motions in a relaxed atmosphere however today's business was a little different as it continued to be dominated by the fallout from a Free Mundus Network story concerning the alleged deaths of Rokkenjiman intelligence operatives abroad, the Rokkenjima response to the story was issued earlier in the day but it didn't appear to go down well with Senators with several senior members from all parties stating that the response was essentially not worth the paper it was written on. The Leader of the Senate, Elena Brooke, who normally outlines the business of the Senate each week and future business explained what the Government's approach moving forwards would be stating:

"Mr Speaker, forty eight hours ago the Free Mundus Network broke a story alleging East Moreland operatives had assassinated rogue elements of the Anausa. East Moreland's Intelligence Service denies this and quite correctly points out that there is at the present time no evidence linking them to any such crimes. Today Mr Speaker the Rokkenjiman's issued their response and this government finds it wanting. Yesterday Mr Speaker Consul Williams stood at the dispatch box and outlined with great clarity and accuracy several important points, that these deaths had happened, that the victims were all Anausa operatives, that Rokkenjima had motive to want them dead and that the former Premier of Rokkenjima Mr Abe had apparently lied to the world in attributing the death of one of these operatives to a Truthsayer attack. None of these very serious points were addressed by the Rokkenjiman press release instead we see a promise of an investigation which given that Rokkenjima has the clearest possible motive for wanting these people dead is a frankly ludicrous exercise.

Therefore under the provisions of section 46 of the Senate Committee's Act, the Government shall establish what we have termed the Rokkenjima Committee to look into this matter, the Committee Chair will be chosen as per our rules and regulations and the members of the Committee subsequently appointed by the chair. It is our intention that the Committee will begin hearing reports in January."



"BELIEVE" THE BUZZWORD AFTER FOX'S BIG NIGHT


By Nick Watson: Sports Correspondent

Say it softly but there's something going on with the Achkaerin rugby team at this years World Cup the Fox's, who despite their world ranking and tournament seeding, are only seen as outsiders for the title enjoyed a huge win over expected contenders Vaguzia at the King Paul Arena winning by a margin of fifty two points to zero the game was a flowing one and a fully professional and sensible performance saw Achkaerin secure a morale boosting victory and a bonus point. The team selection saw a continuation of head coach Rayne Churchill's preference for youth over experience and a first time pairing of brothers Liam and Thomas Hendry as scrum half and fly half respectively and boy did it reap rewards as the Achkaerin team pulled one of their usual bogey teams apart running in seven tries and kicking three penalties. The Hendry brothers were watched by their sister Eleanor who managed to time her round the world sailing venture to perfection in order to attend.

Speaking after the game head coach Rayne Churchill said "I don't believe what I just saw, normally against the likes of Vaguzia and the other more seasoned Rugby nations we come unstuck but tonight from the first whistle we were in control, we passed the ball well, we kicked it well, our game management was excellent and we showed the killer instinct we sometimes fail to by taking our chances when they came. All I can say is more of the same in the next game please."

« Last Edit: January 27, 2019, 01:24:20 PM by Achkaerin »

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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #64 on: December 29, 2018, 01:59:53 AM »



EMPEROR DELIVERS CHRISTMAS MESSAGE


By Niamh Roberts: Royal Family Correspondent

The Achkaerinese Royal Family have celebrated Christmas, or rather Trinity Day the Namian festival that bears similarities to Christmas, in their usual fashion the Snowflake concert on Christmas Eve organised by Her Ladyship Renee Azurewind and featuring several lesser known groups this year, the day itself saw the Royal Family as is tradition work from mid morning to early afternoon at Empress Djana's Children's hospital running the lunch service for the children - highlights reportedly included entertainment from the Emperor's niece Sakura Sheppard on her violin, the four grandchildren dressed as elves and a special appearance from the Emperor dressed as Father Christmas. After that it was back to the Marble Palace for their own Christmas meal and of course the broadcast of the Emperor's Christmas message, recorded on Christmas Eve, the message is one where the Emperor essentially delivers the equivalent of a family letter to the people of Achkaerin and also looks forward to the coming year, the full message is below.


Quote


Good afternoon,

Every year at this time as a nation we all find reason to celebrate one thing or another, the majority of my family like the majority of the nation mark Trinity Day the celebration of the birth of our three Goddess's Namis, Kisara and Xiaoyu others such as my niece Ashleigh celebrate the birth of a baby who according to their belief was the saviour of the world and those of other faiths have their festivals and customs as well, it's a very happy and inclusive time of year.

Inclusivity has been one of the big themes of the year, the amendments made to the Mundus Convention of Universal Rights are a great example of this as such the  amendments made now allow far greater protections for people and are appropriately worded so as to increase the potential number of signatory states. The content signed up to in this document is however more than just principles, they are a series of obligations that spell out what every person on Mundus is entitled to and that is something that must be stood by and will be stood by. Historically we've seen what happens when people walk a path contrary to such implied freedoms as these, and while they bring decisions that we may not wish to have made they are freedoms that must be absolutely and resolutely defended.

This festive period marks the first time for two years that Achkaerinese forces have not been in an active conflict zone somewhere on Mundus. It is a welcome change for a great many families in this nation that those we ask to make such great sacrifices are not having to make them today. I was proud many years ago to serve in the Achkaerin Navy and I am proud of the work that the Achkaerin armed forces have done across Mundus in recent times in support of allies, when necessary on their own but always true to their code. Earlier this year at my sixteenth Covenant Address I announced the decommissioning of Achkaerin's nuclear arsenal since then it has become evident that by 2030 we will have a nuclear weapon free Mundus, the most destructive weapons we've ever known will be broken apart and that which made them so powerful put to a much better use. And now I must for a moment turn my thoughts to my own children, both serve in the armed forces and while my son is usually more at risk it was my daughter I nearly lost, an experience which has reminded me of the great work done in caring for those wounded in conflicts. As a father I have since come to be even more proud of her as she adjusts to life following the incident.

Looking forwards I'm hopeful of many joyous occasions, in a few days I will attend two weddings in Lodja as Queen Klara marries. In the coming months we will aim to see new relations forged and existing ones strengthened with nations across Mundus, we will strive for unity and cooperation in the cause of peace.


KIDS GO TO NUMBER ONE AT CHRISTMAS


By Zoe Tate: Entertainment Correspondent

In a surprise twist against tradition this years Christmas Number One has gone not to a big name in Achkaerin, but a smaller name - the One Voice Children's Choir with their song When You Believe, a cover of the song from the film Prince of Abydos[1] the choir drawn from across the nation sings under the tutorlage of Renee Azurewind, who also scoops her first Christmas number one with this song having never achieved it in her singing career. Speaking after the announcement of the choir's success Mrs Azurewind said "This isn't something any of us expected, we're trying to bang the arts drum a bit by doing things with songs, adding new dynamics, having fun, making a film, showing the rest of Mundus the power music has. It's great because we're also days from the premiere of 'Caught in Rhythm' so for us to generate a buzz like this ahead of that is good and hopefully will create footfall at the box office in a few days."

 1. OOC - Abydos = Mundus Egypt so RL film is Prince of Egypt

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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #65 on: January 04, 2019, 01:55:21 AM »


ACHKAERIN WELCOMES IN NEW YEAR


By Emma Sullivan: Special News Correspondent

Liberty Square was packed as Achkaerin welcomed in 2019 in traditional style, fireworks, a countdown, more fireworks and of course music. This year the headline music act playing the new year party was Taylor Swift with other performances from Demi Lovato, Imelda May and Aerosmith. The evening's fireworks, set to music as well, were once more the highlight of the evening and the many wishes of 'happy new year'. It's also of course time for new year's resolutions with many of the usual suspects seeming to creep out from within the crowd thoughts such as 'giving up drinking' or 'revising more before exams' being strong themes. The Emperor, who usually attends the event, was represented this year by his niece Sakura due to pressing matters of state however a pre recorded New Years message from the Emperor was shown after the fireworks display heralding the arrival of the new year.

In related news the New Years Honours list has been announced with a sporting theme being evident among the 200 recipients. Sammy Lawson, the cyclist who at the last Mundus Games in Kaitaine became the most decorated athlete in the history of the games is made a Dame, noted swimmer Becky Brittaine is made a member of the Fawn Azurewind Order as are the captain's of the nations football team Robert Kinnay for the men and his sister Ruth Kinnay for the women. Cross Country Runner Britney Hammond is made a member of the Morgana Azurewind order. The majority of the honours have of course gone to normal citizens not in the public eye.

The Ayanami Awards - these being international awards, which are more honorary, have seen few surprises the main headline being that membership of the Anezaki Ayanami order being extended to King David of East Moreland and King Andrew of Seaforth in recognition of their role in the denuclearisation of Mundus. The Grand Duke of Bakkermaya Hugo Lascelles is also extended this honour for his efforts in the cause of Ardian continental cooperation.



MILITARY GOES ON ALERT FOLLOWING CULTIST INCIDENT


By Penny Noble: Defence Correspondent

Following an Incident in Royal Seleucid that saw three Cult of Helus members of the Protectorate Council killed the Emperor has placed the Achkaerinese Military on it's highest level of readiness. The move sees Achkaerin's position mirror that of East Moreland which is unsurprising given the nations intervention during the Cult of Helus genocide a couple of years ago with many quarters concerned that the potential for a second genocide exists and could materialize if the situation is not addressed. The Emperor is believed to have opened lines of communication with East Moreland on the matter and with an emergency cabinet meeting reportedly underway. The Marble Palace has commented in an official statement saying "We must be capable of responding to such a potentially volatile situation as soon as possible, measures undertaken in the last few moments including the cancelling of leave, the placing of certain troops on standby, the diverting of naval vessels and the convening of the cabinet are in keeping with our standing parameters for circumstances such as these. His Majesty hopes for a peaceful solution to the current situation emerging in the Celtic Protectorate but is equally clear that Achkaerin did not stand by while Cultists were slaughtered last time and if this situation spirals out of control Achkaerin will not be found standing by."

It is reported that a group of four vessels led by the INS Anezaki Ayanami (pictured above) have been moved out of Antares military base while preparations for potential further deployments are underway as the situation progresses.


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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #66 on: February 03, 2019, 07:22:44 PM »


SENATE COMMITTEE ON ROKKENJIMA BEGINS HEARINGS



By David Woods: Political Correspondent

The Senate Committee on Rokkenjima, otherwise known as the Rokkenjima Committee has begun its hearings. The Committee was established following several high profile concerns over events occurring within and associated with Rokkenjima. The chair of the Committee is Senator Leanne Sawyer of the Progressive Party (pictured above), with the other members being Senators Hayes and Potter (Unity Party), Senators Allen and Monroe (Endeavour Party), Senator Cooper (Green Party), Senator Herring (Liberal Party), Saki Ryoko (deputy National Security Advisor) and Eve Acheson (Junior Royal Counsel). Today was nothing but the opening of proceedings and was when Senator Sawyer outlined the remit of the Committee stating:

"The remit of this committee is clearly established as follows, to analyse the implications and impact of recent acts and development carried out by the Rokkenjiman government and her representatives in respect of the status of the relationship between Rokkenjima and Achkaerin with a few to advising the Government on any changes required in that relationship. I will state at the outset that at this point in time our hearings do not include the actions of Patricius Bateson in their scope as he is going to court over an MCUR breach in the next few days and we have no wish to prejudice that case. We will also cover current events as they develop. With that said we shall adjourn until tomorrow morning when our first witness shall be called."

In other government news the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that it is making inquiries into how confidential information was acquired by the Defence Journal publication while the Foreign Office is believed to be concerned over a recent court ruling in Lakhzovia both matters are expected to be mentioned during the respective office question sessions during the week. There has yet to be any official comment on the Rokkenjiman referendum, though it is likely to be debated this week.



FLYING FOX'S GET NEW RECRUIT


By James Robson: Home News Correspondent

Lieutenant Sally Rivers of the Achkaerin Air Force has become the first woman to join the Flying Fox's, the Achkaerin Air Force's elite aerial display squadron, the Lieutenant has flown a Raptorwing for several years but will now take up the acrobatic challenge of being in the Flying Fox's. Speaking about the achievement Lt Rivers said "It's something I've always wanted to do ever since my early days in the Air Force so to finally get the chance is something that's going to take a while to sink in. I'm looking forward to meeting my new squadron and getting to grips with a different aircraft, it's been a while since I flew a Blackbird trainer so it's going to be a challenge but a fun one."



MEGAN'S SILVERHILLS MIRACLE


By Nick Watson: Sports Correspondent

Megan Harrison has won the Formula Mundus Drivers Championship for the second time and no one is exactly sure how it happened. She went into the final race in Silverhills with a mathematical chance to win the title but only the slimmest of chances in real terms given the consistency of the Tifosi and Rytol cars over the course of th season there was surely no way Aldous Moses would not score enough points to put an end to her hopes and even if he didn't surely the perennial rival of Sam Halliday would deny her, or at least that was the opinion of most people in the run up to the race while there were mathematically speaking three champions in waiting it was most likely a two horse race between Halliday and Moses for the title and for most of the race that was what it looked like.

But on lap 42 a coming together between Halliday and Moses left the Rytol driver with a stop and go penalty and the Tifosi driver out of the race. The end result was that it all left Megan in second place behind Braxton Hale, she had to pass him and win to take the title which she managed to do down into turn six on lap 52 and with the chequered flag came the cheers from the garage. Unfortunately Braxton Hale's second place was enough to deny Riviere Corporation Racing the Constructors crown but even that minor blip didn't take the shine of a memorable race.

Speaking after the race Megan said "You don't often get days like this, to win a championship you had no real right to win, it's a more special win than the first title I won because this year we didn't have the best car we had to fight a whole lot harder and when we got to our strong part of the season we had enough to get the points. It's going to take a couple of days to stop smiling about this one, but I couldn't have done it without everyone in the pits and Z backing me up and pushing me."

Team Principal Satella Watts reacted with the following: "I'm at a loss for words, we spent most of the race fighting for third with Braxton Hale and trying use Z to shield against Matt Cooke's Rytol, then when we saw the penalty for Halliday we started to believe it was on, when we got Megan past him while he served that penalty we grew in that belief but I don't think I'll ever forget the cheer when she overtook Hale for the lead. Of course someone in my position would rather their team won every race by huge margins as that leaves less room for error but you don't forget moments like this. And the best thing is that the day's not done yet let's see what the Toller Badger's got."

In other sports news the Achkaerin rugby team have made it to the final of the Rugby World Cup where they will face the Iwi, the Fox's go in as huge underdogs but will hope to emulate what the Lodjan team achieved against East Moreland at the quarter final stage.


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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #67 on: February 06, 2019, 01:37:11 AM »


SENATE REACTS TO ROKKENJIMA/SLAVA DEVELOPMENTS


By Olivia Moore: International News Correspondent

The Senate has spent the day debating the continued deterioration of Rokkenjiman and Slavan relations. The back and forth between Rokkenjima and Slava Lavosk has been a factor for months focused around the detention of ten thousand Slavan citizens of Tamoran descent on charges pertaining to the slave trade. It has since escalated to highly dangerous levels in the wake of the execution of Dilara Haghighi and the situation becomes even more dangerous when it's considered that the crisis in Royal Seleucid is right next door to where this deadly standoff appears to be shaping up. Addressing the Senate today the Minister of Foreign Affairs Richard Chambers outlined the Government's position stating:

"Mr Speaker I had hoped to be coming to the dispatch box today to update this house on our operations in relation to Royal Seleucid to explain how our aid operation has begun and what steps are being taken in conjunction with our international partners, however developments in relation to the second area of concern in Midaranye have somewhat changed the content of what the chamber will be debating this afternoon and I thank the Leader of the Chamber as well as the leaderships of the other parties as well as yourself Mr Speaker for agreeing to the urgent amendment to the order paper.

Mr Speaker Midaranye is a complicated region of Mundus to put it mildly but there can be no doubt what lies at the heart of this present spat between Rokkenjima and Slava Lavosk is slavery. The nation of Tamora does according to official statistics have forty million of its own citizens engaged in some form of slavery, this is a practice that the Senate of our nation voted to abolish in 1711, so over three hundred years ago the first Senate in the history of this nation said by a tally of 328 to 171 that the practice was degrading, disgraceful, inhumane and above all wrong and so it was outlawed and the practice abolished. Furthermore Mr Speaker when Crown Princess Serenity signed Achkaerin up to the Mundus Convention of Universal Rights we as the Senate, as the legislature had to ratify that signature this we did and we did so unanimously. Mr Speaker it is therefore clear that we as a nation have signed up to a position that states to quote the Mundus Convention of Universal Rights "No one shall be held in slavery or servitude." that is not a vague statement Mr Speaker it is a principle that must be stood by and unlike other nations we understand this, therefore Mr Speaker I should like to inform the Chamber that the Government will be bringing forward a motion concerning this matter in the very near future with a view to standing by that statement that we as a nation are signatory to.

Additionally Mr Speaker this government notes it's disappointment at the decision of the Slavan government to proceed with the execution of Dilara Haghighi, while we appreciate and respect the right of a sovereign state to make it's own laws and judicially enforce such laws we do make it known that we did raise with President Kravec our concerns over such an execution because in our opinion the issue of the forty million slaves was at risk of being drowned out by making Ms Haghighi into a martyr.

Turning now to the matter of the seemingly inevitable confrontation in Midaranye involving Tamora, Slava Lavosk and apparently Rokkenjima let's be absolutely clear about something this is not helping anything whatsoever, the concern in this situation must now be for those people who are still in those detention camps because if we look at the Tamoran, Slavan and Rokkenjiman positions that is at the heart of the issue, a concern for the safety of others is admirable, it is commendable as is a desire for justice but warmongering is most decidedly not so commendable. No nation ever takes the decision to go to war eagerly, it is never the first option on the list no it is the final option on the list. Because the reality is this war is that when the guns start firing no one knows who's going to die, how many lives are going to end, how many families will be torn apart, how much it will all cost. This is why it is a last resort, it is why governments have a reasonable procedure of options and the first one at the very top of the list Mr Speaker is sitting down and talking!

Let's be clear Mr Speaker, Tamora feels justified that the execution of Dilara Haghighi is justification and that may be so we are after all to an extent in the dark, additionally Mr Speaker Slava Lavosk has a right to defend itself and its borders, there is no way in which an armed confrontation between these two nations is going to end well. It is not a situation helped by the presence of Rokkenjima, not to mention the rhetoric of Pyrena, adding fuel to a fire that really doesn't need anymore fuel. It is also a greater problem than Rokkenjima appears to perceive it as because an armed confrontation involving the Rokkenjiman fleets in the Gulf of Auraxis carries a risk to those vessels deployed by other nations in response to the Royal Seleucid situation. Consequently and I am indebted to the Minister of Defence for providing this information, the Admiralty of the Imperial Navy has declared a cordon extending outwards for a distance of 35 kilometres around our ships in the region as a 'No Entry Zone' for Rokkenjiman vessels, this is not a step we take lightly, it is not a step we wanted to take but in the interests of the safety of our own personnel and those of our partners in the aid effort in Royal Seleucid we feel we have no choice but to do this.

Finally Mr Speaker I wish to make a statement directly to the Empress of Rokkenjima, Empress Beatrice you threatened military action against a sovereign state, your continued back and forth with President Kravec in recent days has not only escalated the danger level across the entirety of Midaranye but it also most assuredly accelerated the timetable towards armed confrontation in that region, if that happens everyone loses. Nothing that President Kravec has asked you to do is unreasonable, you threatened to attack his nation it is only logical that he would prior to entering into any talks with you want to see that threat removed, it is also understandable that he would want a third party to mediate such talks. I say this now, Achkaerin is prepared to fill that role so please have the grace and the wisdom to help slow the advance to war down, do as you've been asked to do and get your ships out of the area, you are a woman who has always passionately advocated for diplomatic solutions you conceived the CTO for just such a thing as that, don't eagerly run towards war now. It is within your gift to stop this before it gets to the point of no return, stand your ships down and give the diplomacy you always argue for a chance to work. You have a far greater chance for success at the negotiating table than you do on the battlefield. Mr Speaker I commend this statement to the House."
« Last Edit: February 06, 2019, 01:59:58 AM by Achkaerin »

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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #68 on: February 24, 2019, 01:08:08 AM »


GOVERNOR OF PHUEBRA APPOINTED


By David Woods: Political Correspondent

Following the announcement of an interim agreement being brokered that would appear to bring the major conflict stage of the Phuebran civil war to an end, the Achkaerinese Foreign Office has confirmed that in accordance with the interim agreement Lisa Saunders (pictured above) has been appointed as Governor of Phuebra. The role will see Ms Saunders sign a raft of international treaties on Phuebra's behalf, commission the work of drafting a new Constitution, scrutinize all legislation passed by the Phuebran legislature and assume the responsibility of approving the deployment of the Phuebran military. Ms Saunders is an experienced diplomat having served as an Achkaerinese representative to the CTO as a General Assembly delegate but also as the nations representative on the Refugee Council. The new Governor is expected to take up her position in the next few days and already has been given plenty of support with Cheryl Holmes the former Minister of Commonwealth Affairs saying "It's a task that could be seen as a little daunting but if anyone can do it Lisa can."

Another part of the interim agreement sees Achkaerinese forces likely to remain in Phuebra until February 2022 and even possibly beyond that, a point welcomed by Lt General Rhyth Icerider, the commanding officer of those forces, who said "It's important that we don't leave a job half done, we've won the straight up fighting war but now we have to not only defeat the remaining insurgents that operate throughout this country we've also got to train up a new united Phuebran military, that's not going to be an easy task, it's going to be a challenge but one I believe we're more than capable of meeting."



"OFFER REMAINS ON THE TABLE" - SENATOR SEABORN


By Olivia Moore: International News Correspondent

In a packed day of Senate debate, once again dominated by Midaranye, the junior Defence Minister, Senator Sally-Anne Seaborn, has updated the Senate Achkaerin's position concerning Midaranye as it presently stands in a short statement the Senator said:

"At the present time the Achkaerinese government remains concerned in regards to the various issues surrounding Midaranye, the food shortage in Royal Seleucid and the potential for civil unrest to get out of hand moreso than we have seen is worrying, the practice of slavery is concerning and this chamber continues to debate on the means  to address that matter and now we have allegations of a nuclear weapons programme being developed in Slava Lavosk. Mr Speaker this may seem like a drastic situation, a minefield where one wrong step will set everything off, however despite all of these different aspects we have now some good news with the movement, finally, of the Rokkenjiman strike group away from the area, a move that means Mr Speaker that I am able and pleased to announce that the no entry zone erected by the Achkaerinese Naval vessels in the area has been stood down. This movement by Rokkenjima satisfy's the criteria that President Kravec set as a precondition to talks, so we ask that the President shows once again that he is a man of integrity and a man of his word by coming to the negotiating table, we do also leave our offer of Achkaerinese mediation in such talks on the table should the President wish to take it up."

In related news the Senate debate on Tamora has entered its second day, while there are rumours circulating that Senators have been told to be ready to meet in a Joint Session with the Royal Court at a moments notice. Finally Scotia Conway has been appointed as special envoy to Midaranye and is understood to be on her way to the region.



CROWN PRINCESS VISITS CHILDRENS HOSPITAL


By Niamh Roberts: Royal News Correspondent

Crown Princess Serenity has visited the Royal Children's Hospital in Valtheim, the Crown Princess a patron of the Achkaerin Health Service, spent the day talking to staff, patients and their families about their experiences with the health service and ways of improving it. The visit marks the first official duty the Crown Princess has undertaken since being injured while on duty in the Navy. Afterwards she spoke to the press about the visit and how proud she was of the health service, she was also asked about Princess Rhiannon of East Moreland's fight against Leukaemia to which she said:

"Let's be clear a young girl has Leukaemia, that is a tragedy - anyone having a disease like that is a tragedy. I know what it's like because I've been there myself, five years ago I had a stem cell transplant to deal with my aplastic anaemia. Finding a donor is not easy especially when your family for one reason or another aren't suitable and but for a brave young Seaforthian girl who was on holiday with her family and got tested we could very well still be looking for a donor today. Which is why I'm greatly encouraged by the initiative of Neu Uburzi's in suggesting an international database for things like this, it's got great potential and is something I'm sure Achkaerin would be prepared to get behind and help with. The only other thing I can say is get well soon Rhiannon."

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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #69 on: February 27, 2019, 09:52:35 PM »


FOX'S AIMING FOR THIRD TITLE


By Nick Watson: Sports Correspondent

Achkaerin's men's football team otherwise known as the Fox's have been warming up in Krimeon for the upcoming World Cup. The team has spent the day training, meeting some of the locals that live around their base camp, talking to the media and generally getting themselves settled back into what's a familiar routine of World Cup competition. The Fox's have been drawn in Group G alongside Phuebra, Nemerie and Aquitaine, it's a group draw that's been seen as excellent from the perspective of a good run in the tournament but as the Fox's central midfielder and captain Robert Kinnay said "We're the world number one team, we're the number one seed in the tournament, it doesn't matter who we get drawn against we're going to be told that it's a group we should easily progress through. Yes this could have been more difficult as we've avoided some of the more sticky opponents but that doesn't mean we're going to take our foot off the gas, we're going to take this one game at a time and treat each opponent with the respect they deserve, we saw Hygelac cause a sensation last year by winning it all so we know that strange things can happen in this game we just have to do everything we can on the field to make sure they don't happen."



And what of the team's manager Dame Julia McCabe? Well she goes into her sixth World Cup as the most succesful coach in the tournament's history with two tournament victories to her name and after taking training today (pictured above) there's no doubt that she's hungry to add a third title to that success list, speaking to the media later in the day she said "We know we're the top ranked team and because of that we're the ones there to be shot down but we've got a lot of self belief, a lot of confidence and some of the best players in the world. We surprised a lot of people in the third World Cup to win on home soil against the odds, two years later we won it again but that time as favourites though Nya Aland gave us a right scare for most of that final. The squad's got a lot of strength and depth this year, we've got players bang in form and an experienced core group and there's nothing they'd like more than to win that third World Cup, they're capable of doing it so let's see what happens this year."


EDWARD MCKINLAY SPOTTED IN VAGUZIA


By Maggie Clough: Business News Correspondent

Edward McKinlay, CEO of McKinlay Naval Solutions, has been spotted in Saburi Vaguzia. The reason for the sudden trip has not been explained leading many to speculate that there's some sort of venture in the works, the manner of which remains unknown. However there is a rumour going around that the visit concerns a possible joint project in the naval area. Mr McKinlay as well as his company declined to comment on the speculation.

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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #70 on: March 06, 2019, 12:07:39 AM »


FOX'S WIN OPENER
Achkaerin 4-0 Phuebra


By Nick Watson: Sports Correspondent

The opening round of fixtures in the World Cup saw thirty two teams step out onto the field for the first time and as always the tournament attracts stories and the games have added edge to them in some cases. The Fox's opener saw them line up against Phuebra, their opening game of the world cup and a game in which it was important that they made a statement of intent. They did this in style eventually, establishing their now familiar pass and move game early on and the chances came regularly. The Fox's would have to wait until the last minute of the first half before taking the lead through striker Tom Oakleigh (pictured above) who headed in from a corner to send Achkaerin into half time ahead. After the break the Fox's struck on the hour and then again in the sixty third minute through a Cesc Santiago free kick and Dani Leonidas volley before substitute David Mace finished the job off with a clinical finish from inside the area after rounding the keeper. The result might not have been a surprise this was a game that Achkaerin were widely expected to win, however the performance was more important as summarized by Dame Julia McCabe afterwards saying: "Opening games can always be troublesome because despite all the training you do you never know how ring rusty you're going to be. We were a little off our game in the first half, we were passing it well and our movement looked good but we weren't taking our chances, fortunately Tom's managed to nick a goal at the end of the half and eased the nerves a fair bit. In the second half we switched up our game plan a little and got the result in the end, we'll just look to start our next game in a better mindset than we started this one."



DASHCAMS TO BECOME STANDARD FOLLOWING NEW LEGISLATION


By David Woods: Political Correspondent

Dashcams are to be fitted as stanard equipment onto all Achkaerinese manufactured cars following new Senate legislation. The Road Safety Regulations (Dashcams Amendment) Act 2019 cleared the Senate stage by a vote of 348 to 152 with no abstentions and was signed into law by the Emperor a few minutes later following the traditional Herald's walk that sees a member of the Speaker's office 'the Herald' walk the short distance from the home of the Senate in Liberty Hall to the Marble Palace to present the Act for signature or veto. In detail the Act will make it a requiremnt that from the 1st of April this year all cars manufactured in Achkaerin will have to have dashcams fitted as standard equipment as part of a Government push to ensure public safety and to counter an emerging pattern of fraudulent road accident insurance claims. The Act will also require that any car on the road prior to the law coming into force will be fitted with a dashcam during its next service.

The Act's passage was welcomed by the Government with Minister of Transport Charles Paulson saying: This is an Act that sends a clear message to those who think the rules of the road don't apply to them, if you want to play around on the roads of Achkaerin then you are being watched by every car of every law abiding citizen, and these are the best witness's that prosecutors could hope for because the camera's don't lie."



VICE CONSUL ON ACADEMICA REFERENDUM


By Olivia Moore: International News Correspondent

Vice Consul Rhian Kennedy has outlined the Government's position on the recent referendum in Academica. The vote which saw Madeline Byrne secure 45.5% and overall victory has been criticised by the two defeated candidates who have cited that the soon to be Queen lacks a majority leading most recently to protests by the supporters of Julius Flynn and Anne Ashley. When asked for the Government's position the Vice Consul explained as follows:

"Everyone has the right to peaceful protest and to disagree with someone elses opinion whether individually or collectively because that's human nature we're not robots. Now there's a lot of talk coming out of Academica saying how the soon to be Queen doesn't have the backing of a majority of the voters now that may be important for Ms Byrne in a political context once she is crowned but from the context of the vote it is irrelevant because it was a three way referendum and such referendum's mean that it's a case of largest vote share wins not majority for the simple reason that it's possible to win with less than 50% of the vote for example 40-30-30, just look at any of the nations around Mundus that have elected legislatures on first past the post you may see a similar pattern.

But let's be absolutely clear about this, firstly the people of Academica voted for a restoration of the Monarchy they voted to instruct Dr Merriman to present three candidates, based on relationship to the previous Grand Duchess, to the people. He presented Julius Flynn, Anne Ashby and Madeline Byrne and everyone was told the same thing that whichever of these three people got the most votes would be crowned monarch. If the people wanted to require that the result require a majority then the referendum should have been in two stages or by alternative vote but the time to discuss that was before the vote was put. Similarly any challenge to Ms Byrne's suitability should have been made before the vote was put. No challenge was made and it was a three way referendum in which the person with the most votes won. Madeline Byrne got the most votes, she won and is therefore going to be crowned monarch and is recognized as the head of state by this Government."



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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #71 on: March 12, 2019, 02:03:38 AM »


ATTORNEY GENERAL STATEMENT ON KAITAINE INCIDENT


By David Woods: Political Correspondent

The Attorney General, Samuel White, has given a statement to the Senate in the wake of what has been termed in some quarters as a chemical weapons attack on the city of Seitch by the Kaitaine military. The allegation of a chemical attack was made in a blog by one of the Truthsayers presently in the city, the Kaitaine Government has said that it was an environmental cleansing operation that targeted sandworms. With concern being felt across the Senate chamber the Attorney General stated:

"Mr Speaker, Honourable Senators. Let's be clear right from the outset that it is the position of this nation's government by virtue of its signature on the Uppsalla Convention that the use of chemical weapons is to be refrained from and roundly condemned. Mr Speaker as has been said numerous times in this very chamber when debating developments in relation to Kaitaine and the conflict there that we have two broadcasters as it were coming out of the nation one being from within Seitch and the other being the Pravda, as it is in the interests of each party to the conflict to discredit the other it is difficult to make what can be considered an objective legal opinion but this I have attempted to do and I now present it to the Chamber.

First let us consider what is undisputed, that which both accounts say happened, they both say that a Kaitaine jet, identified by the Pravda as a Tu-160 dropped a chemical substance in the vicinity of Seitch. Now at this point we would normally be asking for the Kaitaine Government to identify what the substance used was, however Alex Redfern has provided this information and identified the substance as Endosulfan. The question at this point becomes 'Can the effects of Endosulfan fit within the definition of a chemical weapon under the Uppsalla Convention?' in order to answer this I consulted with the Government's chief science advisor Doctor Tammy Axon and the Chief Medical Officer Doctor Luke Short in order to understands from those with field expertise what the effects of chemical exposure could be. The information provided by both of my learned colleagues was that Endosulfan is a neurotoxin that is harmful to insects and mammals including humans. They also explained that a dose as little as 35mg per kg could be fatal to a human or to put it another way the average weight of a five feet six inches female according to the latest information is between 58 and 65 kg. This means Mr Speaker that a girl of that height weighing 58kg would only require exposure to 2.03 grams of Endosulfan in order to receive the earlier mentioned fatal dose, in other instances the fatal dose may well be higher, in others such as children it would likely be lower. Further information revealed included the capability of this substance to travel distances and that it is an environmental contaminant. Also concerning is the dose issue firstly the Kaitaine Pravda defines this as a 'massive dose' this could be interpreted to suggest a significantly larger dose than would be expected especially as a Tu-160 has a lot of space for the chemical to be stored. Additionally this is to be an annual thing which suggests that this will happen again and even if we say that Endosulfan is not fatal in one dose, it can be fatal through the accumulation of multiple doses.

So Mr Speaker Endosulfan is a neurotoxin that can be fatal and even if the poisoning is not fatal there are documented cases of where the poisoning while not being fatal has caused permanent brain damage. Mr Speaker the relevant section of the Uppsalla Convention is article 1.7 which defines a chemical weapon as 'any weapons that use a chemical agent intended to cause permanent damage or death to an individual.' so Mr Speaker the question becomes that having considered all this information can we say that Endosulfan is a chemical weapon? Well it certainly has the potential to be classified as such in that it can be fatal and it can cause permanent damage to an individual, the question is whether in this instance the use of Endosulfan in these circumstances can constitute such a thing. Mr Speaker my legal opinion based on what I have read in the various accounts, coupled with information on the chemical from Doctors Axon and Short as well as information on the plane from the Ministry of Defence is that yes it can be considered as such if the intention guiding the action was malicious.

Further Mr Speaker assuming that intent cannot be shown in this case, then in addition other sections of the Uppsalla Convention must be considered. Can the Kaitaine Government say that there are no civilians in Seitch? If not then one must consider article 2.4 'Members of the Armed Forces shall do all that is reasonable to avoid civilian casualties.' dropping a chemical whether as a weapon or not would under such circumstances be unreasonable due to the indiscriminate nature of the chemical in that it can be fatal to mammals including humans. The effect on the environment must also be considered under article 1.10 'National Governments shall not employ weapons, projectiles and methods and materials of warfare designed to cause , or can be expected to cause widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment.'

Mr Speaker it is clear that whoever in Kaitaine is responsible for this incident has raised concerns within the international community, it is clear that there are questions that need answers. It is also clear that we have several potential breaches of the Uppsalla Convention which need to be addressed. This is my opinion and I advise the Chamber as such."


Following the Attorney General's statement Senator Richard Chambers the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated:

"Mr Speaker following the Attorney General's statement, and analysis of the legal implications of the events, the Achkaerinese Government states its intention to have this issue resolved. If this is shown to be a chemical weapons attack then there must be repercussions for it. We note the step East Moreland has taken in suspending it's intelligence sharing agreement with Kaitaine in light of this incident until further clarification is sought, I would humbly ask that East Moreland ask not only for confirmation of the chemical used but of the amount of the chemical used. We also call on the government of Rokkenjima to in much the same way suspend the aid package they recently announced for Kaitaine lest they find themselves in legal trouble further down the line."
« Last Edit: March 12, 2019, 02:56:27 AM by Achkaerin »

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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #72 on: March 14, 2019, 12:11:15 AM »


SENATE GEARING UP FOR "REVIEW WEEK"


By David Woods: Political Correspondent

The Senate's annual "Review Week" is only days away, the week long programme sees each Minister of the Government give a statement to the Senate followed by debate and any votes that are laid by the Senate as part of the programme, the Cabinet statements dominate the Monday to Thursday agenda with a statement from the Royal Liaison Officer inviting the debate on the Friday where Senators will be able to put concerns on the Emperor's desk as it were. As always there are rumours flying around about what the Senate may want to amend, what votes they may want to push for and what they may recommend to the Emperor, with many expecting surprises to come when the Minister of Foreign Affairs addresses the Chamber. However perhaps the most anticipated statement will be that of the Minister for Agriculture and the Environment Siobhan Williams (pictured above) who will this year bring the fifth statement on the Government's progress in light of the Green Energy Transition Act 2014 - with set legislative goals for 2020 it is seen as the first major indicator of whether the Government can meet the timetable it laid out five years ago. It is not clear how much overlap there will be with the Energy Minister's statement but what Mrs Williams says will for the first time have to account for the Treaty of Wellow, when asked about the upcoming week's business Mrs Williams said "It's always an interesting week because we mandate under the Senate's Standing Order's that every Minister in the Cabinet must make a statement to the Senate on their departments progress over the last year, informing the Senate of their present and immediate future priorities and then following any required votes submission of recommendations, reports etc to the Emperor. This is actually where the Covenant Address that the Emperor will deliver in June begins to take shape."



RESONANCE IN FINAL TESTING


By Penny Noble: Defence Corrsepondent

Riviere Corporation's latest addition to its underwater drone family, the Resonance, has entered final testing. The Resonance builds upon the Mermaid and Dolphin platforms of previous years and takes it in the words of Clark Franklin the Corporations Robotics lead "To the next level" the Resonance is a long range autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle with a payload capacity exceeding previous models, obstacle avoidance system, the capability of carrying mutiple different missions from a variety of different depths. The testing period is expected to run through the next two weeks with the Navy believed to be paying close attention to the process with a view to putting the Resonance into service with the Navy within the next few months.



OZZIES ROUND UP


By Zoe Tate: Entertainment Correspondent

The Ostlake Film Awards, otherwise known as the Ozzie's have provided the Achkaerinese film industry with a strong night, producing three winners. First up Best International Song was won by the One Voice Children's Choir (pictured above just before the ceremony) with their rendition of This is Me, from a film starring the members of the choir Caught in Rhythm which lost out in the Best International Film category to the Tamoran entry Silence. The Choir is directed by Duchess Renee Azurewind, who follows up her win in the same category last year with one as the musical coach this year. Speaking afterwards the Duchess said "Winning last year was brilliant, but this year is even better in some respects because they're a group of kids I coach. It's a special night and it belongs to them and we're looking forward to getting down to business on the next in the Rhythm series."



The Best International Short Film Ozzie went to Lego Camping, a stop motion animated lego film featuring a skunk creating mischief for a couple on holiday. The film the result of a group of fourth year students from Lady Brianna High School in Freshwater, was picked up by Jemma Fox (pictured above) on behalf of the students who said when accepting the award: "This is a complete shock, we're just a group of five students with a camera, a bunch of lego bricks and a computer who won a national competition and tonight we were up against films that were made by professionals who've been in this industry a long time. So to win is just that message that anything is possible."

In response to this particular award win Minister of Education Tim Ward said "We introduced the national animation competition to try and inspire the next generation of film makers, cameramen, animators and all that. We gave the national winner the chance to compete at the Ozzie's so for them to win is something truly special and will hopefully inspire next years national competition."

Achkaerin's successful night at the Ozzie's was concluded with Be Yourself picking up the award for Best International Documentary.



FOX'S WIN AGAINST AQUITAINE


By Nick Watson: Sports Correspondent

Achkaerin's footballers have won their second group game of the World Cup, brushing Aquitaine aside with a resounding 5-0 victory. The team picked up where they left off against Phuebra and had the lead at the eight minute mark as Dani Leonidas volleyed them in front after a series of quick passes, the second goal came on the half hour mark from Captain Robert Kinnay (pictured above) as he put away a penalty following a handball from an Aquitaine defender. The second half produced three more goals, a second for the Captain from a free kick, Defender Lucas Williams headed from a corner with ten minutes to go before the rout was completed by Tom Oakleigh's tidy and composed finish. With two wins under their belts the Fox's now turn their attention to their third group game against Nemerie, a game they will be expected to win. But so far so good in terms of their hunt for a third World Cup win.


IS MARIA CAIRNS THE NEXT SAMMY LAWSON?


By Felicity Stewart: Sports Correspondent

Arguably the biggest sporting name in Achkaerin is Sammy Lawson, the seventeen times Mundus Games medalist in cycling, the most decorated Mundus Games medalist in history and according to some, though she herself denies it, the Greatest Of All Time in terms of Mundus Games competitors. However winning races is one thing, inspiring others to come after you is something else. Sammy's likely got a good few more years of competition at the highest level in her but that hasn't stopped her from becoming the symbol of Achkaerinese cycling and now there's a new young gun on the book who many believe could one day be Sammy's successor. Maira Cairns is just a fifteen year old girl from Midvale but she's also the new double junior Achkaerin road race cycling champion, winning the title in a manner not seen since the days Sammy Lawson herself contested the event. Many are now wondering whether Maria will get a spot on the Mundus Games team later in the year but that is of course a decision that will be made after the national trials.


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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #73 on: March 20, 2019, 07:10:21 PM »


CHIMAERA ENGINE UNVEILED


By Kimberly Thorn: Science and Technology Correspondent

In a surprising announcement a joint project between Riviere Corporation, AADC and the Achkaerin Space Agency has been unveiled. The Chimaera engine is part jet, part rocket and relies on pre-cooler heat exchanger technology. The pre-cooler is designed to be compact and capable of taking an incoming airstream in the region of 1000 degrees celcius and reduce it to -150 degrees celcius in a hundredth of a second. The engine design (above) is generally speaking broken down into three sections, the pre-cooler front-end; a core combustion section with a smart thermodynamic cycle to again manage heat and fluid flow; and a relatively conventional rocket arrangement at the rear. The Chimaera engine would burn the hydrogen in the oxygen in the air that it scoops.

If successful the engine would allow aircraft to reach speeds of mach 5.5, while the option of it transitioning to a rocket mode at high altitude with a speed of twenty five times the speed of sound to get the object into space. The attraction of the project from the Achkaerin Space Agency point of view appears to be that the engine would allow for reusable space vehicles making the jump straight to space without needing several stages.

CEO of AADC Sir Darren Eagle explained the next steps for the project today saying: "What we're going to do next is test the engines respective elements out, we've got to test the pre-cooler's capabilities in different climates to ensure consistency, we're also looking at testing the core section of the engine next year."



Artists impression of what a passenger jet outfitted with the Chimaera engine could look like

SUNSEEKER REACHES GOWU


By Jennifer Mason: Science and Technology Correspondent

The Sunseeker, Riviere Corporation's solar powered ship has arrived in Gowu, marking the end of what is considered the second stage of the journey. The ship crewed solo by Eleanor Hendry set off from Portworth, East Moreland following last years Festival of Sail and now having travelled around the Horn of Ardia, down through the Alucard, around the southern edge of Albion and then up the Strait of Shaw it's made port in Gowu. Ms Hendry commented following the ships arrival saying "We're surprisingly a little bit ahead of schedule which is good because we're now entering the hardest part of this which is getting through the Kyne and Krimeon which are two of Mundus's busiest shipping areas and we don't stop there because we then have to get through the Mhorish at the very end of this. Tomorrow we begin our run to the Matilda's which will signify a huge milestone in this voyage because we're then set for a straight shot back to Portworth and hopefully we make it in time for this years Festival of Sail."

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« Reply #74 on: March 21, 2019, 11:35:20 PM »


SENATE URGENT MOTIONS


By Roisin Shaughnessy: Chief Correspondent

In the last few moments the Emperor has accepted two urgent motions passed by the Senate. An urgent motion the result of an urgent debate and usually only seen when circumstances arise that require such measures is a legislative measure by which the Senate makes a request or series of requests of the Monarch and the Monarch then approves or rejects the motion, in much the same way as legislation that goes through the process. The motions were tabled by the Government following the latest Rokkenjiman news and were explained by Consul Michael Williams (pictured above) who explained the issues stating:

"The news out of Rokkenjima that we read this morning is I'm sorry to say highly disappointing. I find it hard to believe Mr Speaker that the Empress of Rokkenjima's legal advisors and experts on the Uppsalla Convention have not explained precisely that which our own Attorney General did from this very dispatch box and all the implications thereof and if they did then I'd be very interested to know what their advice was. This decision by Rokkenjima to continue its EMAP program is just the latest in a long and well known line of decisions that have to put it mildly raised eyebrows internationally. However this one today is in this government's view unfortunately one too many, subsequently we have tabled the urgent motions for debate. First we in the interests of our own national security motion for the suspension of Achkaerin's intelligence sharing agreement with Rokkenjima including any Rokkenjiman access to SCION via the ICON-SCION bridge, second we motion for Achkaerin to leave the League of International Security and Aid, not because we don't agree with the principles of LISA, our track record internationally clearly shows we do but because it is clear that there is no value in continued membership of the organisation especially when the principles governing the membership are not abided by by every member. We've been here before with our CTO membership and regrettably now motion the same style of thing for a second time. At the moment this is the extent of our urgent motions and we hope that no more shall be required."

The tallies of the urgent motions were:

1) This House suspends the intelligence sharing agreement existing between the Holy Empire of Achkaerin and First Empire of Rokkenjima including the ICON-SCION bridge
Aye: 386
No: 113

2) This House supports the withdrawal of the Holy Empire of Achkaerin from the League of International Security and Aid (LISA)
Aye: 312
No: 187



GOVERNMENT APPOINTS ASYLUM SEEKER AND REFUGEE MINISTER


By David Woods: Political Correspondent

The Government has appointed a Minister specifically with a portfolio concerning asylum seekers and refugee's. The new Minister is Senator Sarah Cooper, the Mossflower Senator has held her seat as a member of the Patriot Party for seven years and has spent the last three years as a junior minister in the Justice department, she is held in high regard in the Patriot Party. Upon accepting the appointment the new Minister said "It's unfortunate that the circumstances for creating this ministerial portfolio exist, that in a Mundus where we have strong institutions capable of dealing with refugee crises that the effort in dealing with them is handled by an incredibly small minority and it is only by the extraordinary work of that minority that we have not seen more widespread refugee crises arising. Nevertheless there have been numerous conflicts across Mundus and an awful lot of displaced people and Achkaerin seems to be a place where a fair number of asylum seekers and refugees come to and the government feels that we need to be able to tackle the changes that each of their stories and their experiences bring up."

The new Minister is expected to make a statement during Review Week which will outline her initial departmental priorities.

« Last Edit: March 22, 2019, 11:57:15 PM by Achkaerin »

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« Reply #75 on: April 03, 2019, 11:42:59 PM »


MAKIN TRIAL RETURNS GUILTY VERDICT


By James Robson: Home Affairs Correspondent

The individual known as Thomas Makin has been convicted of the murder of Franchesca Owens, the trial which due to evidential reasons has lasted over a year was brought to a conclusion in the hearing of evidence last week, with the jury deliberations having occurred since then. Mr Makin was found guilty by unanimous decision and sentenced to life in prison. In handing down the sentence Mr Justice Acheson stated "There has been a noted political interest and climate surrounding this case, which is no doubt due to the identified religion of the victim. However the principle in law is that we do not try the victim, we try the perpetrator. Mr Makin did kill Ms Owens, and he intended to do so he therefore has both the act and intent. Accordingly the defendant is sentenced to life in prison without parole."

There was no comment on the sentence from either side or from the government when asked though rumours as to the full extent of the crime continue to circulate around Valtheim.



UNIVERSITY OF ARTAXIA AT IT AGAIN


artists impression of a potential application of the material

By Kimberly Thorn: Science and Technology Correspondent

Students from the University of Artaxia are at it again. The university science and engineering department affectionately known as 'the think tank' has worked and continues to work with Graphene, they've presently got a solar powered car preparing for a record attempt and they're looking at the future of the automotive industry in other ways. This time though one of their research teams has developed a way of separating salt from seawater in the cause of forming a new type of building material. The bricks of this new material are essentially a combination of sea salt and starch, the salt actually sticks to the starch and is extracted by algae grown in the seawater. The material is stronger than rammed earth however like that material it suffers under tension, however this doesn't detract from the intent of the project - to develop a material that could be used for construction in a desert environment.

Luke Ayanami who oversees the department responsible explained his thoughts on the development saying "It's not often that we do construction material, but this has a solid theory and we've had interest from Nelson Construction in taking this idea further. The material has a few added bonuses such as it's white so it reflects light which is practical in a desert environment. I'm always proud of the teams when they come up with something like this because we continue to show how imaginative we are."

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« Reply #76 on: April 30, 2019, 09:05:47 PM »


SECOND MURDER SEES ACHKAERINESE POLICE HEAD ABROAD


By Roisin Shaughnessy: Chief Correspondent

Following a murder in the city of Whitehaven in the Allied States of Ardia, there were suggestions that Achkaerinese Police may become involved in the investigation should it be the work of wanted fugitive Gareth Bryce. A second murder in the early hours of the morning utilizing the same MO as the first and with strong similarities to Bryce's previous crimes has brought forward the expected request and Achkaerinese Police officers, detectives and forensic investigators are heading to Whitehaven to support their Ardian counterparts in their investigation. Speaking about the investigation Chief Superintendent Wood, the senior Achkaerinese officer attached to the investigation, said "On the basis of the evidence shared with us by our Ardian colleagues we do believe that there is a strong link between these two murders and those of Gareth Bryce, as Mr Bryce is presently a fugitive we are of course investigating the possibility that he is responsible for these two deaths but we will be keeping an open mind. We will do everything we possibly can to catch the person responsible for these deaths and bring them to justice.



YOUNG ARTIST OF THE YEAR BIGGER THAN EVER THIS YEAR


Seňnaid Hastings is one of the four finalists in this years competition

By James Robson: Home Affairs Correspondent

This years Young Artist of the Year competition has been branded as the "Closest competition for years" according to the judges of the contest. The annual competition sees many young, aspiring artists from across Achkaerin participate in a competition with the prize of a premier exhibition at the Royal Gallery not to mention a special one off Royal Commission on the line. The final four artists are in the process of putting the finishing touches to their various pieces of work in preparation for the finalists exhibition at the Royal Gallery in a few days time. Organisers of the event have suggested that the finalist exhibition may for the first time this year be open to the public. Nonetheless the four finalists - Seňnaid Hastings, Callum Jarvis, Harry Allen and Steven Clarke are all wished the best of luck as the competition reaches its final stage.

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« Reply #77 on: May 03, 2019, 09:39:40 PM »


REVIEW WEEK UNDERWAY


By David Woods: Political Correspondent

The Senate's annual review week got underway today, the week sees each Minister of the Crown to use their full formal title make what is officially termed a statement to the Senate but is in truth a report to the Senate of their departmental activities over the last twelve months, any current issues they are dealing with and plans for the future. Opening review week is traditionally the responsibility of the Vice Consul, and in accordance with tradition the current Vice Consul Rhian Kennedy (pictured above) opened proceedings on day one in the expected manner as follows:

"Mr Speaker, Honourable Senators we come now to our review week session and to the time of year where I spend a few minutes sounding like an air stewardess while I do the housekeeping announcements for the week. Senators will have had the two business volumes for the week's business circulated to their Senate offices over the last month, we have received many proposed motions in relation to the various resolutions that the Government will present this week and members are reminded that emergency motions may still be tabled through the Senate business committee, we will debate all motions provided that they are received within a timely manner as is our custom. The rules of debate for the week are similar in most respects to the norm however there is no allowance for interruptions during contributions, the timing factors are as always a matter for the Speaker's chair.

The timetable for the week is as follows today following the conclusion of my opening statement the Gowu Minister will give her statement, followed by the Minister of Sport and then the Minister of Justice. Tomorrow the Minister of Home Affairs, Youth Minister, Health Minister, Emergency Services Minister, Business Minister, Work and Pensions Minister, Transport Minister and the Minister for Asylum Seekers and Refugee's will give their statements. Day three of our business sees statements from the Minister of Culture, Minister of Education, the much anticipated statement from the Minister of Agriculture and the Environment, the Universities Minister, Communities Minister, Energy Minister and Minister for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion will also be in action. The fourth day is given over to international affairs with statements from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defence, Minister of Trade, Minister for Cross Straits Affairs, Minister for International Aid and Development and Minister for the Diplomatic Office make their statements. The final day's business has statements from the Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Economic Affairs before the Consul makes his address and the traditional close of the weeks business by a representative of the Crown in this case the Royal Liaison Officer. With the ground rules laid down Mr Speaker I move resolution 1/1 that the Senate now meet in Conference format and subject to its passing yield the floor to my colleague the Gowu Minister."


Resolution 1/1 result: Ayes 499 Noes 0



As is review week tradition (and there are plenty more of these expected through the weeks business) it was left to the Gowu Minister, Molly Newton (pictured above) to open the Ministerial statements. Not traditionally a long statement, due to the political nature of Gowu's relationship with Valtheim, this was what Minister Newton had to say:

"Mr Speaker, the last twelve months have been interesting and positive for Gowu. The city has continued to enjoy a strong relationship with its neighbour Toshikawa and has also begun the process of establishing stronger ties with the other nations of the Ardian Peninsula, the city's new airport has brought jobs and seen economic growth. Of course tribute must be paid to the work of the Maiden Sisters order who continue to run their self styled rehabilitation program for Toshikawan Samurai with the first milestone for them approaching in the next few days. It is perhaps a marker of this success that it is from those ranks that Gowu's representative to the Ardian Assembly Kae Taira was chosen. Gowu police officers have, as some honourable members may know, recently been sent to the Allied States of Ardia to aid at that nations request local authorities in a murder investigation. A recent resolution of the Ardian Assembly also affirmed strongly the most clear opposition to the practice of slavery. The Chief Councillor of Gowu has explained that her intentions are to continue fostering relations with Gowu's neighbours and to meet with other Ardian leaders as circumstances dictate. Mr Speaker I move resolution 2/1 that the Senate receive the report on Gowu."

Resolution 2/1 result: Ayes 499 Noes 0



George Foley, the Minister of Sport (pictured above), had an interesting contribution to make on the day saying:

"Mr Speaker my statement today is to bring four resolutions, the first Resolution 3/1 is that the Senate receives the report from the Ministry of Sport. It has been another good year for Achkaerin in the sporting arena, Megan Harrison regained her Formula Mundus Driver's Championship title in the most unlikely fashion, Achkaerin's men reached their first Rugby World Cup final and while they did lose to the Iwi, they gave a good account of themselves throughout the tournament. Within the next couple of days our proud Fox's, the men's international football team will attempt to win the Football World Cup when they face Quintelia in the final of that competition and I'm sure I speak for everyone in this chamber when I say that we wish Dame Julia McCabe and the team all the best for that match. Of course it would be remiss of me to not mention the Mundus Games success our athletes enjoyed last year, our team smashed their medal record, finished on top of the medal table and Sammy Lawson became the most decorated athlete in the games history. All in all it has been a very successful year.

The second resolution I bring number 3/2 is the rolling out of the Spirit of Sport Initiative, as members will be aware this is a project that began development four years ago with the aim of inspiring the next generation of Achkaerinese sports stars. It includes a provision that will see Achkaerinese athletes who are willing paired with a school and become what is termed a 'sports mentor' this is a scheme already piloted at Mornington Crescent high school where judo competitor Arya Warner acted as mentor, the feedback received from the school's staff, students and Miss Warner is included in volume one of the business documents and was generally speaking quite positive. Other aspects of the Spirit of Sport Initiative include an increase in accessibility to sport for young people through a stronger focus on grassroots sport, an increase in competition variety for sports and finally a dedicated sports college program. That is of course a very brief summary and the full details are in the business volumes.

The third resolution number 3/3 is the final budgeted proposal for the development of Djana Azurewind Sports Park, otherwise known as the home of Achkaerinese sport. The improvements are in general terms an upgrading of the facilities, the construction of a sports college and what is termed a sports clinic as well as three new buildings for sports that are not presently represented at the park. Finally Mr Speaker resolution 3/4 is the apportioned budget by sport for Achkaerin sport over the next three years. With that explained I move resolution 3/1.


Resolution 3/1 result: Ayes 499 Noes 0
Resolution 3/2 result: Ayes 387 Noes 112
Resolution 3/3 result: Ayes 375 Noes 124
Resolution 3/4 result: Ayes 492 Noes 7



The final ministerial statement of the day came from the Minister of Justice, Thomas Archer (pictured above), who said:

"Mr Speaker the last year has been a busy one for the Justice department and associated bodies. A great deal of the last year has been spent engaged in various discussions abroad trying to hold other nations to the commitments they have made when signing certain international documents, because Mr Speaker these are documents that must be taken seriously by the signatory nations if they are to have any effect. Likewise when a nation breaches a treaty of this type it is incumbent on other signatory nations to take necessary steps to point that out and take action as necessary this is the principle that guided nations at the CTO when discussing the Andean Genocide and it is the principle that guides this government now. Closer to home we have seen an increase in reported crimes in terms of numbers up 5% from last year and we have also seen a notable increase in convictions with the numbers courtesy of the office for national statistics provided in your business volumes. In the coming weeks it is the intention of the Justice department to bring forward the draft legislation of the Sexual Offences (Rape Amendment) Act 2019, the Counter Terrorism Act 2019 and the Espionage Act 2019. In the short to mid term these are the Bills that will shape the departments policy. Mr Speaker I move resolution 4/1 that the Senate receive the report."

Resolution 4/1 result: Ayes 499 Noes 0

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« Reply #78 on: May 10, 2019, 06:30:35 PM »


FOX'S WIN WORLD CUP


By Nick Watson: Sports Correspondent

Achkaerin's men's footballers have won their third world cup with an assured 3-0 victory over Quintelia. The team had to endure a somewhat frustrating hour where they were pressed high and consistently by their opponents, but a free kick goal from midfielder Cesc Santiago broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, fifteen minutes later it was 2-0 thanks to a composed finish from Danni Leonidas (pictured above #10) after being put through by winger Nico Heizenberg. The victory was rounded off by Leonidas in the 90th minute with a chipped finish over the Quintelian keeper. Speaking after the game the teams coach, Dame Julia McCabe gave her reaction saying:

"This is one of those games where the score doesn't tell the whole story. We played well but Quintelia did as well, they did a good job of frustrating us for an hour and had Cesc not put that free kick in then who knows what could have happened in this game, it changed on the free kick because when we got the lead Quintelia had to come out and play higher up the pitch, throw a little more caution to the wind, we got them on the counter for the second and that was it. But to win this for a third time is something I never imagined we could do, all around Mundus the standard of football is rising in unexpected places just look at what Tamora managed to do this time. We'll see what happens next time but for tonight I'll be smiling with a lot of pride."



SENATE DEBATES CENSUS LEGISLATION


By David Woods: Political Correspondent

The Senate has spent the day beginning the debate over the government's proposed legislation concerning the 2020 census. The Bill was introduced by Minister for Home Affairs, Lizbeth Stewart (pictured above). The last Census taken in 2010 has been a strong reference point for analysts and statisticians for many years as it provides a baseline set of figures but next year that will change when the next Census is taken. There are many statistics that will be closely watched, the religious breakdown, the career spread, the gender balance and of course the nationality to name but a few. The Senate will continue the debate at its next sitting and will aim to pass the legislation governing the Census by the end of the month.


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« Reply #79 on: May 23, 2019, 11:16:44 PM »


DAWNBREAKER SETS NEW WORLD RECORD


By Kimberley Thorn: Science and Technology Correspondent

The Dawnbreaker, the solar powered speed vehicle designed and built by University of Artaxia students has broken the solar powered landspeed record. Setting an average speed of 58.318 miles per hour across the two runs the Dawnbreaker took the record and ensured that there was more than just festival of Greenflowers celebrating going on in the student union. Speaking after the team took the record the project leader, Kit Davenport said "We've been building to this for a long time and it took a little bit longer than we wanted but we got there. We've taken one record today and we're not finished yet we've got our eyes on other records, maybe one day I'll be able to say 'Sir Alan we're coming for your records' but that's not coming anytime soon. Our next goal is the human powered record and we'll start looking at that in a few days but for tonight we'll celebrate our success."

The driver of the Dawnbreaker was Megan Harrison, the two time Formula Mundus driver's champion, she's used to going a whole lot faster than the record speed but she was pleased with the result of the day saying "Today's a day for the project team, the scientists, the engineers I'm just happy I could help with the driving."



CROWN PRINCESS FOUNDS LEGACY SPORT AND LOOKS TO GO RACING


By Felicity Stewart: Sports Correspondent

Crown Princess Serenity has finally unveiled what she's had the local media speculating about for a few months. At a press conference called at the Valkyria Grand Prix circuit she announced the creation of her new project Legacy Sport saying:

"It's no secret that over the last few months I've had to deal with some things I never imagined would happen to me, I lost my leg in the line of duty while on deployment as part of a naval operation. During my recovery in East Moreland I met a lot of incredible veterans from that country and through sport we were able to come to terms with what we'd been through, it hasn't been easy coming to terms with a lifechanging situation but the camaraderie I found with my Morelander wheelchair rugby friends from the Legionnaire Legacy program I'll never forget just being involved in something like that, being around that picked me up off the floor, actually being able to run again as I can now is something I wouldn't have without that experience. And when I got back from my third stint with that program I remember sitting down and thinking 'why can't they represent their country on the same level as the likes of Sammy Lawson?' So I started thinking about it, then I was talking to the various sports federations and then this whole picture unfolded right in front of me, so today I unveil to you the Legacy Sport Foundation, a body that will seek to provide the opportunities of sporting competition to the wounded military veterans of Mundus. It's never been about disability it's always been about ability, we're talking about people who have the same presence of mind, strength, speed and hunger, the same competitive desire and capability as any of the great athletes we hear so much about, it's about time they had the same opportunities."



When asked what the Legacy Sport Foundations first sports venture would be the Crown Princess answered - "Well it's very exciting because we're hoping to go racing in this years Formula Mundus championships with a team that is entirely comprised of military personnel who've all been seriously injured in the line of duty, whether they be the drivers, pit crew, pit wall, engineers, designers etc. Clearly such an ambition given the circumstances does carry a level of understandable apprehension however we've been in contact with the Mundus Motorsport Association and their experts are working with our team on areas of concern and presently we're confident of having the cars on the grid for the first race."

The Crown Princess also made it clear that this was just the start and that "You should watch this space" leading many to believe something much bigger is in the pipeline.
« Last Edit: May 27, 2019, 10:12:05 PM by Achkaerin »

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« Reply #80 on: May 29, 2019, 06:42:43 PM »


AIR FORCE ANNOUNCES PATRONUS DRONE PROGRAM


Artists impression of the Patronus drone

By Penny Noble: Defence Correspondent

The Achkaerin Air Force has announced the Patronus Drone Program, which as might be guessed from the name is focused around the development of a new drone called the Patronus (artists impression above). The drone aims to break new ground with a design that's adaptable to numerous mission profiles and also and perhaps more intriguingly by being not only air launched but also recovered in the air as well. The drone itself is rather unsurprisingly going to be developed by Riviere Corporation, the brains behind the most significant drones in use in the Achkaerinese military and arguably some of the most significant on Mundus, the corporations CEO Catriona Rowan explained their challenge as follows: "It's going to be interesting to say the least, in the past we've built drone families and ended up with about five or six different ideas which we've then whittled down either ourselves or had whittled down by the client, the Patronus is a change in that regard because what we're looking to do is have a drone that we can swap things around with in the same way that things with the fast frigate can be swapped around with. Chances are we'll end up with a few different ideas but we're hopeful of coming up with something of the highest quality."

The big eyebrow raising aspect of this program though is the aerial deployment and recovery aspect which will be looked at by AADC, their CEO Darren Eagle stated when asked about it - "It's always fun and challenging to try something like this. It's like the navy has aircraft carriers and of course you can't go launching fighters from an aircraft though I'm going to end up with egg on my face if EMAC's skunkworks come up with that in the next few days. AADC's job in this program is concerned with the launch and recovery platform, we've got a spec from the Air Force that we'll work from and see what we can come up with that fits their requirements. The big challenge will be devising a means of recovering the drones from an aerial position but having had initial discussions we don't believe it's impossible."



DEFENCE QUESTIONS FOCUS ON ARDIA


By David Woods: Political Correspondent

Defence questions in the Senate earlier today covered a variety of topics though the focus seemed to turn towards Ardia, which has tended to be a common theme in such question time sessions of late. The Minister of Defence Adam Sheppard (pictured above) answered a series of questions a selection of which are below:

What is the Government's position on the proposed non proliferation treaty as put forward by Rokkenjima?

"Achkaerin is committed to the decommissioning of its nuclear arsenal, we have to date decommissioned around 25% of our arsenal and will continue to decommission our weapons, that is our standing policy. In terms of what Rokkenjima initially proposed it was not acceptable for a very simple reason it put the cart before the horse, it gave only half the equation. This is a point that has since been recognized by Grand Duke Lascelles of Bakkermaya and a response to how this has developed will be made in the next few hours. In clear terms though we need to see not only the treaty text but the text that governs the proposed watchdog because no one's going to sign up to this without seeing both of those. Also Achkaerin will not sign up to a treaty or agreement that compromises its national security."

Does the rise of SANE change anything in relation to the countries defence policy?

"No it does not. SANE may be an emerging power bloc but at the present moment nothing that SANE have said or done in any way changes our defence policy."

How far progressed are the efforts in Nueva Ardia carried out by Naval personnel?

"As the Senate will be aware since the end of the Andean Genocide Achkaerinese naval personnel have been on deployment inside Nueva Ardia tasked with the identification of the deceased and giving closure to the families involved. Of the estimated thirty million victims we have at last report, received last week, identified a third of those. However this is of course a moveable feast in terms of progress because we don't know where all the deaths occured."

What does the Government think of the escalating situation in the Rokkenjiman Sea?

If the nation of Orphela wants to increase the size of it's navy then it's entitled to do so, if Rokkenjima wants to spend money on frankly pointless ship conversions then it's entitled to do so, if the honourable Senator will bear with me I'll explain why it's in my view pointless. What Rokkenjima is proposing to do on the face of it makes sense, modifying two helicopter carriers into more conventional aircraft carriers is going to be more expedient and less time consuming than developing an all new carrier. The one drawback is that the converted carrier is still the same dimensionally as the helicopter carrier that it was before so you have broadly the same length of runway which for a smaller carrier limits the type of jet aircraft that can be deployed from it to generally what are known as Short Take Off Vertical Landing aircraft or Vertical Short Take Off and Landing aircraft otherwise known as STOVL and VSTOL aircraft. Neither type of aircraft presently exist within the Imperial Rokkenjima Air Force so they've got two carriers but no jets to fly off them. This also brings up a related point in that when one considers the number of carriers in the Rokkenjima navy which I believe is eight, not including these two proposed, and then contrast that with the number of carrier capable aircraft in the IRAF it begs the question of how much money is actually being wasted in the IRN. In short Orphela and Rokkenjima may find working together more helpful to this than escalating things."


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« Reply #81 on: June 03, 2019, 12:07:10 AM »


RAVENSWOOD AND TAYLOR SPEAK TO YOUTH ASSEMBLY


(left) Emerson Ravenswood, Viceregent of Rokkenjima (right) Nettie Taylor, Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Achkaerin Royal Family

By Roisin Shaughnessy: Chief Correspondent

The Viceregent of Rokkenjima, Emerson Ravenswood, and Nettie Taylor the former Premier of Rokkenjima, former Imperial Councillor for Foreign Affairs and at present the Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Achkaerin Royal Family were the special guests at the Achkaerin Youth Assembly today, the body of Young People that meets on a monthly basis were given the opportunity to listen to a conversation between the pair and then ask questions, this is something that in recent years has seen other prominent Achkaerinese figures participate in. As was perhaps expected events of the last few days did become a theme, when asked about the closure of Queen Adriana Military Base the Viceregent was quite direct saying: "It is only natural that as regional organisations such as the Council Of Illumic Nations that seek to ensure security of a region of Mundus become more and more established that the need for out of region military presences decline until they eventually become unjustifiable. In the case of QAMB it is true that if we go back a few years that Rokkenjima did do several things in the Illumic however citing former glories in the present tense does nothing except show ignorance of the present circumstances because the fact is that over the last few years the security of the Illumic has been handled conclusively by East Moreland and Seaforth they've handled pirates, they've handled sabre rattling, they denied the USR a base in the region. And lest the people of Rokkenjima and Rishiri forget Morelanders and Seaforthians have died protecting QAMB and Rishiri so there needs to be a lot more respect shown for that. The point remains that overseas military bases are only justified when there is a clear reason for their existence, QAMB in light of the changing face of the Illumic lost the objective reason for being there and it's no surprise that Seaforth said they wanted to close the base down. It should also follow that there should be no more bases if their existence cannot be justified."

Ms Taylor was asked about the upcoming Covenant Address and what it would probably feature saying: "Obviously the speech is still being written but it's been a fairly quiet few months on the international front in terms of major commitments so a more localized theme may be the focus of the speech, the building of relations with nations around Achkaerin that we don't presently have relations with and also the establishing of relations with other nations that we've become colleagues with on the international stage, there may be a surprise or two focusing around this especially in light of treaties we've now got into force. I'd also expect an update on the decommissioning of the nuclear arsenal."

Another question to the Viceregent asked about the tensions between Rokkenjima and SANE which he answered by saying: "It's an issue that unfortunately once again generates a problem where one need not exist. Leaving aside for the moment the issues concerning the individual members of SANE what we've seen is the kicking up of a hornets nest when it wasn't necessary and then red lines have been drawn and rash statements issued. Now it's apparent that there are issues with the SANE charter but if these are dealt with what they will have is a reasonable organisation with a reasonable charter, the truth is that all SANE as an entitity did in this whole palava was remove a very limiting restriction on themselves in terms of membership criteria which is very easily illustrated when studying a map because the Cenneg border clearly looms large in that instance. We must however give Grand Duke Lascelles the credit he throughally deserves for yet again having to deal with a mess like this, it is unfortunate that this has been required on two occasions and I will do everything within my power to ensure there is not a third occasion."

Both Mr Ravenswood and Ms Taylor were also asked about the recent soft/hard power study results published the Viceregent answered "The results are objectively more or less in accordance with the yardstick that I think both myself and Nettie are familiar with which is track record, in short it's about what you do not what you say. In that regard Rokkenjima sliding down to tenth in the soft power is entirely in keeping with the position Rokkenjima finds itself in which is with a lot of questions to answer about itself and the direction it wants to take, the abolishing of the office of the Premier likely didn't help, the continuing questions of credibility do not help either I could go on but suffice to say there is a long list of issues that probably contributed to that. In terms of hard power Rokkenjima being ranked fourth is actually shocking because when we consider track record and the seeming habitual nature of Rokkenjima promising much but delivering nothing it's quite surprising to see them ranked above certain other nations, obviously we'll take it but we're under no illusions that things have to change and will change once we get the Imperial Council confirmed by the Diet in the next few weeks and when we get the report of the Anausa Review published in the next couple of weeks."

Ms Taylor answered on Achkaerin's ranking in the study saying: "It's what we'd have expected at the end of the day what the study tells us is that Achkaerin has strong diplomatic relationships across Mundus, having played major roles in various organisations and has lasting friendships with nations such as East Moreland and Seaforth. It also tells us that as illustrated by recent history if a situation requires a military response Achkaerin's brave servicemen and women are prepared to put themselves in harms way to help resolve it. That's been seen in Marseilles, in Royal Seleucid, in Toshikawa, in Lakhzovia and many many more. And that is a sacrifice that will always be honoured."



LEGACY CLEARED TO RACE IN FORMULA MUNDUS


By Felicity Stewart: Sports Correspondent

The Legacy Sport Foundation has been cleared to compete in this years Formula Mundus Championships. The team which will be known as Legacy Racing consists of personnel drawn entirely from wounded veterans of the Achkaerinese armed forces. The news was greeted with celebration by the aspiring team with many now eager for the opportunity to get their teeth into some pre season testing. The team has also announced some of their key positions for the upcoming season:




Driver One: Leia Armitage

Leading the driver lineup for the team will be Leia Armitage, originally from the town of Djana-Ville and a former pilot in the Achkaerin Airforce who was wounded when the Raptorwing fighter she was piloting during the Seaforth Eugenics War was shot down, she lost her lower right leg in the incident as well as suffering spinal damage, she's been very open about her long term battle with depression and getting used to her new circumstances, she took up rallycross as a hobby and was chosen to race for the Legacy team as a result of that experience.




Driver Two: Mark Keane

The second driver for the team is Mark Keane, a cross country runner in his youth who placed third in the under 16's national championship race at one time, he was a scout in the army injured during the first Safraen crisis losing both his feet and his entire lower left leg as well as severe burns on his body. He spent months in a coma following complications with his treatment. He's lost a lot more than most of the others on the team in many ways but he's also been cited as the mood changer in the team and has already established a strong relationship with the other two drivers on the team.




Development Driver: Sarah Braid

The teams development driver is Sarah Braid, the youngest member of the team, she had only just become a badged engineer within the Achkaerinese army when she was sent on her first overseas deployment to Phuebra. The vehicle she was traveling in was hit in an ambush by insurgent forces and she lost her left arm as a result of the attack. Following that she has worked for her fathers car garage as a mechanic but soon found herself behind the wheel and racing at track days. She's got the knowledge to be able to develop the car as the season progress's but also has the ability to back up the other two drivers.




Team Principal: Vicky Black

The overall leader of the team is Vicky Black a former Lieutenant in the Achkaerinese Navy, a submariner who lost her lower right arm in a freak accident, she's highly respected within the military community domestically as someone who has always been a vocal advocate for veterans. She's answered several questions on her hopes for the season saying that she hopes the team will be able to compete for points and hopefully podiums, but she's not oblivious to the challenges that the team will face through the course of the season. She did however confirm that the team would take EMAC up on their offer of joint training and their trailers saying "The opportunity to learn from one of the best teams in the sport is not something we'll turn down, we'd be honoured to train alongside EMAC and start to ease our way into this sport."

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« Reply #82 on: June 07, 2019, 11:05:15 PM »


AMATEURS MAKE WOMEN'S ROYAL CUP FINAL HISTORY


Football is without question the national sport in Achkaerin, there's a very large structure in terms of leagues on both men's and women's sides of the game, a strong grassroots program has seen many of the most proficient players who've ever worn the national jersey come through its doors. But for those who've never played at the highest levels, those who never achieved that dream, those who love the romance of the underdog the place to look in Achkaerinese football is the Royal Cup. It's the only competition which sees every team from the top division all the way down to the semi professionals and amateurs compete for the same prize. Traditionally the finals occur on a weekend with the women playing on the Saturday and the men on the Sunday. However this year the Achkaerinese Football Association has been forced to reverse that scheduling, because one of the women's teams in the final is Achkaerinese Senate Women's Football Club (otherwise known as ASWFC). A team that as is expected is comprised entirely of members of the Achkaerinese Senate, an amateur level team, and as they would be expected on June 16th to be in the Senate chamber for the Covenant Address the AFA have reversed the fixture list.

This marks the first time an amateur team has ever made the final in either the mens or womens version of the competition, ASWFC did it through a 2-1 victory over Valtheim United WFC, which saw a fast start and a fighting defensive spirit late on to hold back the opponent's onslaught. The team features Senators from across the chamber representing eight of the nine parties that hold seats in the Senate, the junior defence minister Sally-Anne Seaborn plays midfield on the team as well as captaining the side said "None of us can quite believe we're going to get the chance to play at the Fox's Den. But later on in the month that's what's going to happen and of all teams we're having to play Lakeside WFC. We're going to try our best to win and make a little more history than we have so far but we're the underdogs and let's see what happens."

« Last Edit: June 15, 2019, 02:43:21 PM by Achkaerin »

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« Reply #83 on: June 21, 2019, 10:38:01 PM »


SENATE VOTES FOLLOWING FLEUR DECISION


By David Wood: Political Correspondent

Following the statement from the nation of Fleur to classify Achkaerin as a so called "C3" nation, meaning that Fleuroix military armaments and advanced technology are banned and that there will be additional background checks import controls on goods exported from Fleur to a list of nations, it is perhaps no surprise that an urgent question was laid in the Senate, the mechanism which allows Senators to summon a Minister of State to the dispatch box, saw Minister of Trade Viola Summers explain the Achkaerinese view of the Fleur action saying:

"If Fleur wishes to set rules such as this concerning their own exports and such then as long as such matters rest within their jurisdiction they are entitled to do so as a sovereign state, obviously we are disappointed with this and presumably so are an awful lot of other countries on Mundus. However matters such as this operate on a reciprocal basis and as such we will seek to, as East Moreland have already done so, impose the same restrictions upon Fleur we will also approach our Rokkenjiman colleagues in the Cross Straits Union with a view to discussing whether to take such action on a Union level. Furthermore we utterly disagree with the characterisation of these nations as 'enemies of Liberty' the track records of the nations mentioned in this release clearly show the opposite and nothing in this will deter any aspect of this Government's policy."

The vote in the Senate on the matter passed with a tally of 463-36 in favour.



SENATORS WIN THE CUP


By Felicity Stewart: Sports Correspondent

Achkaerinese Senate Women's Football Club have made history by becoming the first amateur side to win the Royal Cup. Facing top tier opposition in Lakeside WFC the amateurs were expected to have a hard time and so it proved, fifteen minutes into the game Lakeside went ahead when Sandra Carson arrowed a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box, with Lakeside dominant in possession the Senator's fought hard to stay in the game and with ten minutes left in the first half they got their reward, Sally-Anne Seaborn got a little bit of space on the right wing and managed to clip the ball through for Danielle Fowler, a member of the Green Party and sole striker for the team to score with a lofted volley. Lakeside regained their lead five minutes into the second half following intricate passing and a cool headed finish. But the Senators hung in there and into injury time at the end of the game they got their chance, Fowler brought down in the penalty area, the penalty was put into the net by Seaborn and with it the Senator's faced an extra thirty minutes of play, an extra thirty minutes of their defence against the Lakeside attack, every tackle being cheered as if it was a goal, the crowd getting behind the underdogs.

And so to the penalty shootout, not an ideal way to settle a game by any means, but this was what it was to be. At two penalties each the Senator's goalkeeper Viola Summers, fresh from duties at the dispatch box earlier in the day, saved impressively and after Seaborn put the Senators ahead in the shootout perhaps for the first time the team of amateurs began to realize that it was possible. Ultimately it came down to the last Senators kick entrusted to Danielle Fowler, the keeper went bottom left corner while Fowler sent the ball into the bottom right corner prompting scenes the like of which haven't been seen in the Fox's Den since the night Achkaerin won their first World Cup. It is without question the biggest upset in the history of the Royal Cup on either side of the sport. Speaking after lifting the trophy the Senate team captain Sally-Anne Seaborn said "I don't believe we've done this, absolutely incredible...I'm speechless. We wanted to give it our best shot and we had to fight hard for it and when we got it to penalties we knew anything could happen."

« Last Edit: June 21, 2019, 11:55:59 PM by Achkaerin »

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« Reply #84 on: July 09, 2019, 07:05:37 PM »


AVALON MARKS TENTH BIRTHDAY, LADY LEONIDAS ADDRESSES CELEBRATIONS


By James Robson: Home Affairs Correspondent

The City of Avalon, built on an artificial island off the west coast of Eria island[1] celebrated its tenth birthday today, the city square saw the largest celebrations and it was here that Marqueeza Olivia Leonidas (pictured above) addressed the crowds saying:

"Ten years ago the people of this city started out on a journey together, a journey towards a great many things. It was a day of joy and sorrow. When we began this we set ourselves a target, we said that we wanted Avalon to be a self sufficient city within fifty years we are still hopeful of achieving that goal. The last ten years have been about establishing this city the next ten are as outlined in our strategy about continuing to lay the foundations for the day when our long term goal comes into view. Were my mother here today to see this she'd put things in that most eloquent way she always put things, I can only say that I'm proud of each and every one of you who joined this venture, I'm thankful to everyone who has made it a success so far. Let's do everything we can to make the next ten years as fulfilling as the first ten."



SUNSEEKER REACHES FINAL STOP BEFORE FINAL SPRINT TO PORTWORTH


By Kimberly Thorn: Science and Technology Correspondent

Sunseeker, the solar powered vessel on a round the world trip, has reached it's final pitstop before returning to Portworth in East Moreland. The vessel sailed solo by Eleanor Hendry is presently anchored in Seaforth, where its recharging its cells ahead of returning to East Moreland as part of the flotilla in the Festival of Sail in a few days time. Ms Hendry, who already holds three sailing records to her name, spoke to us over the phone saying "It's been a long year and at times a lonely one but at least on this round the world trip I've been able to have a few days in various different countries, I even got to see my brothers play in the Achkaerin national shirt in the rugby world cup, it's been an experience that's for sure. I'm going to enjoy the next couple of days in Seaforth and then hook up with the rest of the flotilla for the festival of sail."



NATIONAL TRIALS BEGIN


(left) Nick Bridges (right) James Parker

By Felicity Stewart: Sports Correspondent

The National Trials for the Mundus Games got underway in the usual manner today with attention centred around one of the new events - Snooker. Although a somewhat popular sport in Achkaerin the opportunity to see it on the international stage has sparked the imagination of many fans. Achkaerin will be represented in the men's snooker by Nick Bridges and James Parker, the pair booking their places on the team after showing excellent form in prior competitions and in the trials, the womens players will be determined tomorrow. Elsewhere in the trials the tennis selection process got underway and the gymnasts started their bids for team places, it is perhaps the last of these that promises to be the most interesting, following the retirement of Abigail Snowden a multiple medal winner after last years games, the team is to a large extent wide open. The big team events also began their training camps within the trials with the cricketeers getting a lot of exposure as they prepare to make their games debut.

 1. OOC - for anyone wondering that's the large island of Achkaerin

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« Reply #85 on: July 16, 2019, 10:20:09 PM »


SIXTEEN YEAR OLD ERIN BOOKS PLACE AT GAMES


By Felicity Stewart: Sports Correspondent

One of the questions hanging over the Achkaerinese team selection for the Mundus Games this year was over the makeup of the women's gymnastics team, following the retirement from competition last year of Abigail Snowden, for so long the anchor of that team. Her place is to be taken by sixteen year old Erin McCarthy, the young gymnast showed a strong all round showing with consistent scores across the board on all four apparatus to book her place on the plane to New Derusmia. Speaking after having her selection confirmed Erin said "It's every gymnasts dream to be able to compete in the Games, it's the pinnacle of our sport, I know people are saying I'm stepping into Abigail's shoes but all I can do is give it my best and hope that I can produce the right level of performance. I'll need to tighten up my uneven bars for the Games and polish my vaulting up but I'm looking forward to the challenge."

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« Reply #86 on: July 21, 2019, 05:34:32 PM »


MUNDUS GAMES PREVIEW


Team Achkaerin during the opening ceremony

By Felicity Stewart: Sports Correspondent

It's that time of year again, the Mundus Games are upon us and with eighteen days of competition looming large we decided to take a look at some of Achkaerin's big medal hopes. First off, predictably, is Sammy Lawson the 24 year old cyclist dons the team captain's armband for a second successive games having been voted to the position by her team mates at the national trials, she'll compete in multiple cycling events on both track and road as she looks to add more medals to her already impressive haul. Given the Achkaerinese success in cycling across many years of competition it's no surprise that many of the Achkaerinese supporters will be beating a path to the velodrome later in the games and lining the roads over the next few days. The 'Fernley Quartet' of sisters Nicola, Kaitlin, Niamh and Ruth Fernley will ride in the womens team pursuit while doubling up on other events one of which sees Niamh Fernley go head to head with Sammy Lawson in the Omnium. On the men's side the familiar names of Tony Colt, Percy Herbert, Kevin Gibbs and Lee Barry will lead the charge with Mark Kaymer returning for another year.

The other Gold medals that Achkaerin will consider themselves to be in with a reasonable chance of winning are the two in football. Achkaerin's men and women both occupy the world number one position when it comes to the rankings and both will see the Games as an opportunity to assert that position and dominate their respective competitions. Neither squad were present for the opening ceremony as they have their first games of the competition imminent both knowing that in knockout football one bad game and its all over. Another bright hope is found in the Netball team, not a certainty to win a medal by any stretch of the imagination but the competition is wide open and with five group games before it becomes a knockout competition there's plenty of opportunity to play themselves into form.

On the athletics front the Achkaerinese team mixes youth and experience, Nicolette Young will race in the women's 1500 metres while Aiden Ward will attempt to win the blue ribbon event of the 100 metres. There's also another games for cross country star Britney Hammond and Samaan Saacid in the 5K and 10K. Perhaps though it's the return of Kayleigh Carson to the athletics team that could be the fairytale, the most experienced Achkaerinese athlete who's had two years of injury battles returns for what is believed to be her final competition before hanging up her spikes, she'll compete in the 5K and 10K for women with the longer distance being her preferred event and to give her the best chance of signing off with a medal she's supported in that event by Britney Hammond and Olivia Swire.



SUMMER BOX OFFICE BATTLE AT THE CINEMA'S


official artwork for Pokemon: Amy's Quest

By Zoe Tate: Entertainment Correspondent

The summer is upon us and that means plenty of trips to the cinema are going to be happening. So we took a look at a couple of the much anticipated releases coming out over the next few days.

First we looked at the new Pokémon film titled Amy's Quest. The Pokémon television series has had a strong following and now for anyone who grew up with it and wants to get nostalgic or anyone into the series at the moment this is a new film that starts a new story within the Pokémon world. Set years after the television series events, we meet Amy who starts off on her Pokémon journey but unlike what most fans might expect this isn't a run around an area collecting gym badges it's something wholly different, she's setting out to solve the great mysteries of the Pokémon world and to find her father who hasn't been heard from for a few years. She'll make friends, she'll capture Pokémon and she'll face powerful opponents, the journey of this determined character and her friends is a story all the family can enjoy. Madeline Booth who directed the film spoke about it saying: "It's a huge film to be asked to do, not because of the budget or anything like that but because it's a Pokémon film set years after the events of the television series, so we had to be careful with how we portrayed it when we came to linking the film with the series because it was right that we pay tribute to the history but we had to be conscious of the investment that fans have in the series. There was plenty of mulling ideas over but eventually we settled on something that works for everyone and that everyone can enjoy."



Secondly we took a look at perhaps the most anticipated film of the summer from an Achkaerinese perspective - the new Star Trek film, called Rogue it's a return to the classic Star Trek universe, rather than the Kelvin Timeline and also sees the first foray into the twenty fifth century in the franchise's history with the film being set in 2412. The plot? Well when Jean-Luc Picard disappears during a Romulan incursion into Federation territory the great man is accused of treason, a position made all the more believable when a subsequent Romulan attack puts Picard in the Captain's chair of the warbird carrying out the assault! Deciding there is no choice other than to hunt down their most esteemed Captain Starfleet sends the USS Dauntless under the command of Captain Emma Thrace and her handpicked crew after him with orders to eliminate the threat. However when the estranged daughter of the ships XO, a survivor of the attack, gives a different version of the story the crew of the Dauntless find themselves caught in a dangerous game where one false move could be their last as they try to determine whether Picard is a rogue or not.

The film features a star studded cast with Captain Emma Thrace played by Cassidy Raven, XO Commander Nick Starleton is played by Sam North, Lt Commander Jason Rowe (the chief security and tactical officer) is played by Timothy Knight, Chloe Owens plays the chief engineer Lt Commander Jazmine Scott, Natalie Carter plays the chief of operations Lt Rune, Luke Woods plays the Trill chief helm officer Lt Commander Tobias Aveno and James Hampton plays the chief medical officer Lt Commander Bruce Patterson. The film also introduces Rachel Kilkenny into her first major role as Danielle Starleton and stars Tamoran native Basir Kajiaan as chief science officer Lt Tyson Alexander. Rounding out the crew is Rose Parker playing chief intelligence officer Lt Kay Lyons, a department not usually seen in the franchise but making a detailed debut here.

When the cast were asked for comment Cassidy Raven said "When it comes to Achkaerinese film franchises I don't think they come any bigger than this one. So when I got asked would I like to play the Captain in this film I had to do it, I grew up watching the show so to get the chance to sit in that chair is unbelievable. It's a great cast and we've all got on well we've kind of become like family. Hopefully we can do a few more of these because the way this one ends kind of sets that up."

Chloe Owens added to this with "It was one of the toughest and yet most enjoyable shoots I've been involved in. It's just amusing when you're running in a canyon to film evading a ship and of course there's no ship so you have to imagine it. Basir and myself must have spent three days on that whole sequence, it was hard to get right but Basir's got a great sense of humour to help take the pressure out of the situation."

Sam North said "I think this is probably the film I've most enjoyed being a part of, the camaraderie between us, the way we all helped each other out, even the little improv bits that are likely to make the outtakes reel on the DVD, Blu-Ray or whatever, it was so great to do.

Finally Rachel Kilkenny said "I never thought my big movie debut would be in a film like this. I have to give Sam thanks for helping me settle down as we play father and daughter on screen we had a lot of scenes together where it was just the two of us and of course I'm a bundle of nerves because I've never been in a film this huge, it was just great to have an experienced actor there who I've learned a lot from."

Pokémon: Amy's Quest is out in cinema's tomorrow while Star Trek: Rogue is out on Tuesday the 23rd of July.



OOC Note - Ignore any face claim issues generated by the posters (it was simply a case of what I could get to work)
« Last Edit: July 21, 2019, 05:40:53 PM by Achkaerin »

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« Reply #87 on: July 24, 2019, 08:58:59 PM »


PRINCE JACK LOOKING FORWARD TO LIFE IN LODJA


By Niamh Roberts: Royal Family Correspondent

Prince Jack Azurewind, nephew of the Emperor, has said he's "looking forward to life in Lodja". The Prince who has just completed his high school education at Lady Morgana High School in Valtheim had been widely expected to spend time abroad, though Lodja does come as a surprise choice to a lot of people some insiders at the Diplomatic Office are seeing this as a move towards solidifying a relationship with Lodja, something not wholly ruled out by the Royal Press Secretary Hannah Cartwright when asked about this today when she said "Prince Jack is mature enough to be able to make this decision for himself, there is of course a minimal level of input from the Emperor in the course of this. The Prince has been to several events in Lodja over the last few months and he's made some friends out there so it's not that surprising. Not being a mind reader I can't state whether the Prince has any other reason for going out there."

When asked for his opinion on the matter whilst visiting a local police station, the Emperor said "I'm happy for Jack, Lodja is a really good country for him to spend some time in and Queen Klara has my thanks for agreeing to the detail of this."

Prince Jack is expected to arrive in Lodja at some point this weekend.



PRINCESSES TURN OUT FOR PREMIERE


By Zoe Tate: Entertainment Correspondent

The opening night of the film Pokémon: Amy's Quest saw a star studded red carpet in Valtheim, of note was the appearance of Crown Princess Serenity and her daughter Princess Lisa (pictured above), for those who prefer the arena of the red carpet rather than the reporting of the cinematic experience itself it was the young Princess that stole the show, making what is probably going to go down as her first official Royal Duty. Speaking after the film the Princess said "I liked it." when asked for her thoughts. The Crown Princess said "It was very nostalgic for me because I grew up with the television series, ok I had to rewatch the first few series when I was a little older but it's one of things from my youth, I was a little worried because I knew they'd have to have made some decisions about how things progressed but I enjoyed it."



TEAM ACHKAERIN OFF THE MARK AT GAMES


By Nick Watson: Sports Correspondent

Day two of the Mundus Games and Achkaerin are off the mark in terms of medals. The first medal, a gold one no less, came courtesy of Phillip Vega in the men's 50m Breaststroke and while the celebrations among the Achkaerinese supporters were for a medal they didn't expect to win there was no doubt that it was Pramoria that the day ultimately belonged to, a performance that reminded most of Dijel's strong start at the very first Mundus Games saw the swimmers put the Midaranye nation on top of the medal table with a fourteen medal haul including seven gold, four silver and three bronze.

Achkaerin's big cheer of the day came in the Women's Cycling Road Race as Sammy Lawson took gold, bringing her Games total to eighteen medals. However she didn't have it all her own way and this year the threat came from her newest team mate Maria Cairns, ultimately Cairns would have to settle for the silver but not by much. The race itself was an interesting one in the end though for much of it there was a monotony that was perhaps expected, with around forty five kilometres to go there was a large scale attack off the front that broke the peloton and as the pace continued to be raised more and more dropped off, with three of the Achkaerinese team still in the front group with thirty kilometres to go it was the turn of Melanie Parker to inject the pace and further narrow the field, when her turn was done there were only three left in the running - one Vaguzian cyclist, Sammy Lawson and Maria Cairns. Up the final small climb the two Achkaerinese cyclists created the gap they needed with five kilometres to go before putting on a grandstand sprint finish.

Speaking afterwards Sammy Lawson said "I really like unpredictable races that, it just shows you can't relax in this sport. Once we realized that we had numbers in the breakaway we knew we had the advantage and the girls did a great job of slimming the field right down and then when we got the gap at the end me and Maria just looked at each other knowing it was going to be the sprint. It's a weird one as well because when we trained for this Maria's been my leadout rider and then suddenly she's the one person who could deny me the gold medal. I just kept focused on the line and pedalled as hard as I could and today I edged it but next time that may not happen she's got plenty of talent and she'll grow into a great cyclist over time."


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Re: Achkaerin News Service
« Reply #88 on: July 27, 2019, 06:50:26 PM »


CHAMBERS REBUTS NYX AND CLYSPERI STATEMENTS


By David Woods: Political Correspondent

Following a speech by Ascendant Natrax of Nyx and then  an address by Pharoah Beketaten of Clysperis, both of which were somewhat critical of Achkaerinese policy towards Aranye, it was inevitable that the Government would table an urgent statement on the matter, so it was that in the Senate today that Minister of Foreign Affairs, Richard Chambers rebutted both statements as follows:

"Mr Speaker with permission I will make a statement responding to Ascendant Natrax's speech in Xaeth and Pharoah Beketatan's statement as reported in the Clysperis News. Both statements make a series of accusations against this country including 'Achkaerin seemingly has little connection to Aranye' or 'Achkaerin, like most of Mundus, hasn't even taken an official stance on the Theocracy of Kaitine.' And then there's 'the Holy Empire is content in remaining a complacent bystander who few could be forgiven for suspecting it of holding vast sympathies for its traditional Helusian allies and their pursuits upon the world stage.' and the Government's personal favourite ' is most certainly not a part of any solution to checking the ambitions of these powers.' Mr Speaker this government roundly and robustly refutes all of these claims, in the case of the Ascendant we put this down to Nyx looking at the situation at face value in 2019 and making an assumption, whereas if one were to look at recent years they would see a strong connection between Achkaerin and Aranye. It is our position that the Ascendant's statement is to a large extent in error but we attribute this to their long isolation and therefore lack of knowledge of events beyond their borders. In the case of the Pharoah we would point out that as a Midaranye head of state she should be more than aware of the reasons for actions taken in Midaranye by international powers and more than aware of all the occasions upon which Achkaerin has checked the power of other states from outside who have sought to interfere on this continent.

The track record Mr Speaker should not need restating but in the interests of clarity we remember that when the Kaiju virus devastated Safraen it was Achkaerin alongside other nations including East Moreland and Dijel that went in and resolved the crisis, we created the cure for the virus, we treated the infected and then supported the democratic half of the country, while the Soviet satellite half while receiving the cure and necessary humanitarian aid was supported by the USR and other WARSAW nations. A few months later when the same virus was used by the Soviets in Safraen as biological weapon action was taken by the CIS of which Achkaerin was a part, we invaded the Soviet half and drove them out, we then alongside our allies moved across the border with Meche and pushed the Soviets out of there these were the actions that only a few weeks later triggered the mass protests that ultimately led to the collapse of the USR. In the course of the invasion of Soviet Safraen we also arrested a Verovian General for breaching the Uppsalla Convention due to the execution of prisoners of war, this is a man from an Ardian nation responsible for the deaths of getting on for 5,000 people from Aranye nations specifically Achkaerin, Seaforth and the then Republic of Safraen. This man now sits in prison in Seaforth having been tried an convicted for his crimes.

I will very briefly mention that Achkaerin also contributed to the liberation of Seaforth in the Eugenics War, including saving the life of Harper Rhodes and also played a part in the defeating the Enlightenment in Revana including the rehabilitation of the face of that terrorist group, the search for the actual powers of that group remains ongoing. Now to the Cult of Helus Genocide, this saw elements within Royal Seleucid's military actively engage in the mass murder of civilians who were followers of the Cult of Helus, to not intervene would have been unthinkable and let's be clear the operation undertaken by Achkaerinese and Morelander forces is one of the most significantly challenging operations in recent history but it was done and thousands of lives were saved as a result of this action, more would have undoubtedly been saved had other nations and in particular one organisation supported the effort rather than bickering over something else. Following on from that situation one might think that we wouldn't have anything to do with Royal Seleucid but again you would be wrong to think that because when a famine swept the area Achkaerin was part of the relief effort that delivered food into the country.

Mr Speaker this does not sound like Achkaerin has been or is a 'complacent bystander' does it? A complacent bystander would have let the Kaiju virus run riot in Safraen, a complacent bystander would have permitted a Soviet Satellite state with a biological weapons program to exist, a complacent bystander would have allowed Seaforth to be cast adrift, a complacent bystander would have allowed Revana to have fallen into terrorist hands, a complacent bystander would have allowed the Seleucid military to slaughter the innocent, a complacent bystander would have let the Seleucid's starve. None of this came to pass and why Mr Speaker? Because we are a nation that recognizes the responsibility that comes with the position we hold.

Now to deal with the other points made the Ascendant, let's start with Achkaerin's position on the Theocracy of Kaitaine as this Government has previously stated Mr Speaker the issue of recognizing the Theocracy of Kaitaine is one presently being debated by this Chamber and the Noble Moot, there is no position formally yet due to the fact that the matter is within the legislative debating process and that is without pointing out the various complexities of the issue itself. We also state once again why Achkaerin is not a member of an international organisation such as for example the CNN or SANE. The answer is simply this - with the exception of our time in the CIS Achkaerin has found itself doing an unreasonable amount of legwork in organisations, just look at our time in the CTO the overwhelming majority of CTO actions were carried out by two nations - ourselves and East Moreland neither nation can claim to have a huge military but they did put their money where their mouth was while other nations most certainly did not. Achkaerin has a good track record on Aranye, I'm not saying it's dazzling by any means but we have relations of some sort with several Aranye nations - we have treaties with Seaforth and Revana, we have an agreement with Safraen, we have recently worked with Tamora on the fight against terrorism. Achkaerin also stands as the principal author of the only established cross Aranye continental organisation, an effort that saw for a time Aranye nations working together on mutual interests, sadly it no longer exists due to various circumstances but we are looking to pick it back up again and see what new interest we can garner.

Finally Mr Speaker let us concern ourselves with the suggestion from the Pharoah that Achkaerin does not check the power of other nations. This is a falsehood and one we suspect the Pharoah is aware of given the glaringly convenient omission in her address. What omission? That of Rokkenjima, it's simply the case that when such assessments are made they must be made objectively based on all the evidence not just the evidence that supports your argument. Mr Speaker the major intervention in Midaranye over the last few months does not come from Achkaerin or East Moreland or Ui Cenneslaig it comes from Rokkenjima and that's evidenced by the back and forth between Empress Beatrice and President Kravec, a back and forth that has done nothing good it has cost lives that need not have been lost, we now have a mined Gulf of Auraxis and now this has brought us to the point where Pandora's Box is rattling to open. Now in terms of checks against Rokkenjima, Achkaerin has consistently checked Rokkenjima in this regard we offered to mediate the Rokkenjiman and Slavan dispute, we actually got Slava Lavosk's agreement but Rokkenjima said no. In fact while Rokkenjima was trading jibes wth Slava Lavosk in the press Achkaerin was negotiating for the release of Dilara, something we were unfortunately unable to achieve but we at least tried. Most recently Achkaerin quite clearly vetoed Rokkenjiman operations out of QCMB as a check to the ambition of Rokkenjima on Midaranye in respect of Slava Lavosk. A position we have made clear is in place until after the talks in Paracambi at which point it will be reviewed.

It is quite clear Mr Speaker that the Achkaerinese track record on Aranye is quite different to the image painted by these two speeches. Having corrected the record I commend this statement to the Senate."



SHOCK CABINET DEATH


By Amira Cotton: Gowu Correspondent

Franklin Bowyer, the Defence Liaison Officer to Gowu, has died. Mr Bowyer who retired from the Achkaerinese Army at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2010 was appointed as Defence Liaison Officer by the then Gowu Minister and has served in this capacity since then until his death from a heart attack today. Chief Councillor Xiaoling Tsu visited Mr Bowyer's family and after spending time with them spoke to the media saying: Franklin was a committed and intelligent man who carried out his duties meticulously and always gave sound advice, his wide breadth of knowledge and experience was instrumental to Gowu being able to join the Ardian Assembly. Away from his work he was a caring individual, a loving husband and father I hope the press will respect his families right to privacy at this time. He will be sorely missed by everyone in the Gowu Council."

An announcement on Mr Bowyer's replacement is expected in the coming days.



BRITTAIN BRILLIANCE ON DAY THREE


By Nick Watson: Sports Correspondent

Day three of the Mundus Games brought a handful of medals for Team Achkaerin, all of them to be found in the swimming pool. First up Gabriel Jackson picked up silver in the mens 200m butterfly, in the womens version of the same event Michelle Mejia picked up bronze, in the womens 200m freestyle there was a bronze for Faith Bates, so a reasonable performance from the swimmers but it was about to get better - enter Becky Brittain (pictured above) probably Achkaerin's best known swimmer lining up in her first event of the games the womens 400m freestyle, it was a close race but she took the gold in the end narrowing pipping her Josai competitor. Afterwards she spoke to us saying "I always get nervous when I'm up on the blocks and with Pramoria's domination in the pool so far you start to wonder because momentum is a powrful psychological thing and Pramoria have certainly got it. But I felt good after halfway and started to kick on I managed to pull away a little, I knew I wasn't going to be able to shake the field but I just needed the little bit of a gap and I got it."

She was then asked about her Morelander counterpart Daisy Greechan who's believed to be competing in her final games where she said "Daisy has been a great ambassador for the sport, she's the most prominent swimmer on Mundus and the way she's conducted herself both in and outside of the pool is a testament to her character. It's kinda weird to imagine she won't be there next year because she's become one of the major draws to the games for the fans, obviously everyone wants to see their country win but you also want to see the best compete against each other and Daisy has been one of the best for so long. Tomorrow I'll hopefully get to line up against her in the final of at least one of the events and we'll see what happens."

« Last Edit: July 27, 2019, 06:57:58 PM by Achkaerin »

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MUNDUS GAMES DAY FOUR ROUND UP


By Nick Watson: Sports Correspondent

Day four of the Mundus Games was always going to be an intriguing day for a great number of reasons, the first sight of the athletics competitors as the men's marathon took place was always going to draw a crowd. This was where Achkaerin's athletes got their athletics medal tally going as Jasen Guzina picked up the silver. In the pool Becky Brittain swam to victory in the womens 800m freestyle while in the 1500m version of the event there was a bronze for Ember Aguirre. One of the historic moments of the day however came in the weightlifting where Allie Wiggins took gold however she was joined on the top step of the podium by a Tamoran and a Maori the three of them inseparable at the conclusion of the competition. The return of the cycling program in the form of the BMX events also saw Achkaerinese success with a silver for Sebastian Rees in the mens event and gold for Charleigh Harper in the womens event in the shooting Scarlet Hendricks proved her steady aim again with gold in the womens 50m pistol. However perhaps the most anticipated moment of the day was in the women's football where Achkaerin's women faced the team whose presence has caused a little surprise at the games - the Theocracy of Kaitaine. Achkaerin ran out five nil winners in a game that they controlled for large periods of time. Speaking afterwards the womens team coach Tom Morrisey said "Games like that are the worst kind of nightmare for a team like us and I imagine it was the same for Vaguzia in the last round. When you have a team that has the odds so heavily stacked against it you open up the fairy tale possibilities to the point where the neutrals in the crowd start to pull for the underdog. We had to play a disciplined game and we did, we had to be patient and we were. We had a game plan and we stuck to it. I'll also say that forgetting about nationality and politics and judging those girls we played today as footballers there are some there that have potential. Maybe we'll see them in womens leagues across Mundus at some point who knows."