OOC- An attempt to give a bit of colour to the NPC's. If you want to have a news-story here please PM DaveIronside
SAFRAEN REMEMBERS Today the people of Safraen have gathered in the capital, Polua, to take part in the annual Memorial Day service. The annual commemoration marks the day that the nation was given the all clear following the nation being devestated by the Kajiu Virus in 2014. The virus swept through the country and is estimated 20% of the nations population died while several hundred thousand were left with serious long term health implications. The nations President, Mikhael Dretsyj, lead the celebration at the Memorial Park which stands at the site of the capitals former football stadium, which during the virus outbreak was turned into a makeshift field hospital. The day also holds significance as it was also the day on which the nation was temporarily split into two as forces from the USR took control of half the nation. This later lead to a second outbreak of the virus in the Soviet controlled zone, leading to further deaths. President Dretsyj gave the annual address saying, "Five years ago we celebrated the fact that we survived and mourned the fact we were no longer a united country. Today we stand as one nation to remember those who do not survive the most turbulent times our nation has faced and give thanks that we stand here today. Our nation is still healing from its scars and this will take many years but at least this is a challenge we shall face together."
There were representatives at the event of the former Commonwealth of Independent States nations who provided humanitarian aid during the virus outbreak and who lost soldiers protecting civilians from looters.
ALLIED STATES DISCUSS CONTINENTAL RAILWAY The Parliament of the Allied States of Ardia are set this week to discuss the nation joining the continental wide railway networks that have been discussed in Ardia. The project has seen attempts to form a railway line from Ui Cenneslaig to New Derusima however Praetor Julius Devaux has today announced that the government are keen to add the Allied States to the project by extending the line to the capital of Cescedia. The high speed railway line is expected to cost several billion to build and as such opposition parties have criticised the intention to take part. One opposition leader stated, "The nation has bigger priorities that need billions. We should be using Parliaments time to discuss the ever fractious nature of Ardian continental politics and the fact our military is severely lacking. Our geopolitical position puts us in dire jeopodey sandwiched between Rokkenjima and SANE who seem intent on constant sabre rattling."
With all six states required to agree to the construction project it is unlikely that the passage of the route will be smooth as some states may seek to utilise this national project to advance their own agendas.
PRESIDENT ADOPTS ALBINO ELEPHANT Last week National Park Rangers in Zimalia spotted a unique new addition to the parks elephant herd. A small albino elephant had been born and seemed struggling to cope with keeping up with the herd. The strangely coloured elephant was being closely protected by its mother who seemed to be trying to provide shade for the young animal. Park Rangers made the decision to initially euthanise the animal believing that it would face health difficulties because of the sunlight and its eyes. The animal however was saved by a Presidential decree when President Elwes issued orders that he had adopted the animal. The President is a frequent spectator at the national park which was set up to try and boost tourism and look after endangered species. The charasmatic President said, "Us Zimalians are not racist, we will not make anyone a victim of violence because of their skin colour, even elephants. The albino youngster will have a home in Zimalia as long as we can provide it. The albino is now just another of my favourite children, just like all Zimalians." It is understood that the elephant and its mother have been moved to a special enclosure where the baby can have extra shade and can be cared for by wildlife experts.
PRESIDENT KLEPAKHOV TO HAVE SURGERY President Artemiy Klepakhov of the United Soviet of Rodina has announced that over the weekend he will enter hospital for surgery on his stomach. The 67 year old leader confirmed that he has been suffering from bouts of pain over the last few months after being photographed grimacing at a series of public appearances. The successor to Stalin has been in charge of the USR for four years and has overseen attempts to recover the nation from the collapse that came with Stalin's demise. He has been credited by many with halting a potential civil war with aid from neighbouring Kaitaine. Speaking to the People's Conference President Klepakhov said, "I am a man who has been blessed with good health to this point. My stomach has been trying to change my usually perfect health and I will be submitting to surgery to ensure that I can focus on my duties fully again. I will be out of circulation so to speak for probably a week during which time the Vice-President will be keeping a steady hand on the rudder and our people need not worry. This is a routine operation and I will be fighting fit again soon."
Kelpakhov clearly expects a quick return to his duties as he has already announced an impending visit from Kaitaine President McPherson to watch a soccer match between the two nations champions. "Me and President McPherson shall enjoy the spectacle over a glass or two of vodka and whiskey. I plan on celebrating many USR goals so I hope my recovery permits."
SHRINE RESTORATION NEARS COMPLETION The ongoing restoration of The Edicule, a construction that surrounds what is believed to be the final resting place of Jesus Christ, is soon to be completed. The Edicule, a word deriving from aedicule meaning 'little house' - was last reconstructed after a fire in the early 1800s. Following an agreement between all the Churches that have a stake in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre the work was permitted and its $10million cost split evenly between them. The site see's millions of pilgrims a year and the age of the marble along with the weight of all those feet has weakened parts of the structure. The work also gave a rare chance for researchers to be given unprecedented access to the inside of the tomb within the Edicule as part of restoration work. Usually researchers are not given chances to do much work because of restrictions from some or all of the various Churches on the site.
It is expected that the shrine work will be completed by the end of October and a ceremony held to give thanks for the work. The site has seen increased security as there were rumours some antique collectors were seeking to perhaps collect sections of the marble which contain "autographs" from early pilgrims. The site was also targeted earlier in the year by Odinist Fundamentalists of the Gungnir who detonated a bomb outside killing several pilgrims.
LANDLOCKED "NAVY" TO BE SOLD OFF The Duchy of Aquitaine has today announced that it plans to sell off its five Waverunner corvettes as it changes the formation of its armed forces. The nation acquired five of the ships within weeks of agreeing its amicable split from the Republic of Marseille following a CTO operation to work with local forces to rid the two nations of the presence of Duchess Alys who was seen as a despotic ruler. The government have announced that they intend to sell the vessels and reinvest the money into the Air Force. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence stated. "At first our waterways security was a concern, however today that is not an issue. We have no need for corvettes to patrol the major river, this is work that can be done by our Police forces and our Air Force. We shall in the coming weeks be searching for a buyer and also a source for some cost effective aviation assets."
Previously the corvettes had utilised an agreement with neighbouring Marseille to reach the ocean however this being some 1,200km away the Ministry of Defence has stated, "We have no need to patrol that coast and as such we are considering approaching our neighbours and giving them first refusal of the ships."
NEW "ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY" TO OPEN IN ABYDOS A new 10,000 student University is set to open in Ashmaremu, the capital of Abydos. The project which has been totally funded by Pharoah Enna Amenei will allow students to gain degrees in Theology combined with another subject deemed to be "Islamic". The head of the University is Jawaad Rashif who explained, "In antiquity Islamic scholars helped push the world forward in terms of medicine, science, maths and engineering. Today we seek knowledge but we do so with only one eye, many young scholars have forgotten Allah when they read. We seek to instil the word of Allah in their hearts as they seek to use what they learn to help mankind." The University will have a split site with 8,000 places for male students while a neighbouring complext will permit around 2,000 female students to study Theology.
One of the first students to enroll is Miriam Abdullah who is attending the women's University. "I attend Mosque and we have women there telling us of our duties as laid out by the Koran. I sometimes ask them questions and they struggle to answer. I do not blame them, I blame our system. We need to ensure women such as me learn our faith correctly. If we are to spread the word to women we must have women able to guide our study under the guidance of great scholars such as those Imans gathered here. I look forward to becoming a part of my mosque so I can help women fully understand our part in Allah's plan."
The University has stated it hopes to welcome students from across Mundus and as Jawaad Rashif explained, "We may teach Islamic studies but we welcome students of all faiths. A better understanding of faith opens hearts."
NATIONALISTS PARADE TO "GENOCIDE" SHRINE A group of around 30 members of the Nationalist Samuari League (NSL) today caused controversey when they carried out a march through the streets of Takeda to the Hiromita Shrine, a site controversial because according to local religious beliefs it contains the souls of around 450 members of the military who are thought to have taken part in the genocide of Neuva Ardia. The Nationalist Samurai League have for several years demanded that Shogun Sora Yoshimo withdraw his apology for the actions of those who committed the genocide saying "War is brutal and the side who is more fierce wins. We should not apologise for going all out to win our fight with those devils across the border. These 450 men died defending their homeland and are heroes." The NSL said prayers and made offerings for these men in a ceremony where each of the names was read out.
A counter protest by a Human Rights organisation took place nearby and tried to drown out the reading of the names. Police did their best to move the protesters on giving the protesters leader call to say, "I am ashamed that our nation will be seen in these images honouring evil. The Police have protected them and allowed them to conduct evil today. The police should hang their head in shame. If you do not condemn these 450 souless ghouls you are not human." Small scuffles broke out as the NSL tried to leave and were confronted by the Protesters, at one point the NSL were threatened with arrest as two of their members threatened the protesters with drawn swords.
MELOS MUST HAVE REFERENDUM SAY PROTESTORS Following his capture of power in 2015 Tero Melos became President of Neuva Ardia and guided the nation through its crisis of a genocide carried out by Toshikawa. The President promised when he came to power that he would see the nation through to its first elections in 2020 and then retire however in recent months he has stated that he intends to run for the position. This has lead to some protestors saying he is acting against his word. Thousands took to the streets demanding that a referendum on term lengths and voting methods take place prior to elections beginning early next year. One protestor stated, "Melos did well in 2016 bringing us back together as a nation after the genocide but now he has been simply living on those good wishes. He has not capitalised on our resources, he has not made progress for our nation and I think a change is needed."
Counter protesters however said a referendum is not needed. "Melos is a man we owe our lives to. He guided us through dark times and stopped the corruption of the royal family. As long as this man has the desire to guide our people we should follow. If he wishes to postpone his retirement so what, he is the man our nation needs."
The President declined to comment saying simply, "This time next year I shall either be in my fishing boat or behind the Presidents desk, once I make my decision which it will be I shall tell the people."
FORMER PRESIDENT'S SHOP TO BECOME "NATIONAL HERITAGE SITE" Prior to the formation of the Republic of Marseilles Jean-Pierre Cantona was a local butcher in the Falguière district of Montaulon. During the Materna Crisis he along with around 500 other residents formed Real Marseille and waged a relentless guerilla campaign against forces loyal to former Duchess Alys. During the conflict he made contact with Nya Aland special forces and together the ever growing rebel group and the Alander liberated the capital prior to the arrival of CTO coalition forces. In the days that followed it was Mr.Cantona and Alander Birgit Starnd who penned the road map that saw a peaceful split of Aquitaine and Marseille as well as establishing the groundwork for the Republic. Mr.Cantona was named as the nations first President, a position that he held for just four weeks before resigning the position to allow elections. He refused to stand despite strong public support saying famously, "I am a butcher, I know about meat and I know how to use a knife, neither are skills required for leading a nation. I will be happy to return to making my customers happy and not dealing with the nonsense of statecraft."
Today his successor Emile Sauzee unveiled a plaque on the shop which is today run by Mr.Cantona's two sons Julian and Ruben. The plaque stated, "On this site President Cantona set the foundation to bring our nation freedom from tyranny. A grateful republic shall forever remember." Mr.Cantona was at the ceremony and stated, "What happened here is irrelevant. What happened on the streets of the city where our friends shed their blood is what needs to be remembered." The store was flooded by people attending the ceremony many of whom wanted to make a purchase simply to be able to get a carrier bag from the store. The shop is frequently busy with well wishers and displays behind the counter the flag of the old Duchy that was taken down by Jean-Pierre from the Duchesses Palace. Next to it is a torn and ripped Alander flag which was carried by Alander commandos during an operation to break Real Marseille members out of a prison, this saw Alander aircraft fly sorties over the city and the flag was used to identity friendly positions.