National News Eiffelland (from 2009 until 31 July 2020)

[Rheinbund]

06 May 2011

Assault claimed after bomb explosion on Central Station Wetzlar

During the morning rush hour, a bomb exploded at the Central Station of Wetzlar. Fourty people were killed. The explosion was so severe, that the ceiling above it collapsed. Luckily, there was no train on the railtrack above the explosion. The station has been closed for investigations and for reconstruction work.
Meanwhile, all three recent attacks have been claimed by a new terrorist group: The Neue Rote Befreiungsarmee. The name of this groups is stunning. During the second half of the 1970s, the Rote Befreiungsarmee committed several terrorist attacks and killed the chairman of the Eiffellandian Employers Association and the CEO of the Trierer Commerzbank. The members of this group were condemned to life imprisonment; two of them are still in an Eiffellandian prison. The Neue Rote Befreiungsarmee has not issued any demands yet; it indicated that demands would follow.

 

[Holy Frankish Empire]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

We send our deepest condolences. Cowardly attacks, as many know, also have occurred in Nicosia recently. We hope to offer any support possible.

 

[Rheinbund]

Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

We thank everybody for their kind words. We are investigating the assaults so that we can arrest the terrorists as soon as possible. It is obvious that they will follow the fate of their predecessors.

Matthias Graf von Seydewitz, Chancellor

 

[Rheinbund]

Neue Rote Befreiungsarmee announces its demands

Through a letter delivered at the desks of the Eiffellandian newspaper Tagesspiegel, the Neue Rote Befreiungsarmee has announced its demands: The release of the last two members of the Rote Befreiungsarmee that are still in prison. The government has not officially commented on the issue, but sources inside the Chancellery and the Ministry for Internal Affairs would indicate that the government would not intend to follow the demands of the Neue Rote Befreiungsarmee.

The Rote Befreiungsarmee, the group that committed a series of terrorist attacks between 1976 and 1979, consisted of 20 persons. Two of them managed to escape when the group was arrested in 1979, and five died during the arrestment. The remaining 13 were convicted to life imprisonment in 1980, 9 months after their arrestment. None of them were pardoned, and 11 died in prison. Two are still alive, although in bad conditions. The two that escaped during the arrestment have never been found and are still wanted for several terrorist assaults. It is possible that they grounded the Neue Rote Befreiungsarmee with some other people.

 

[Rheinbund]

17 May 2011

Weissenfels-Johannstadt blocked during the day
Terrorist assault prevented in Weissenfels

The Mayor of Weissenfels Johannes Dachser and the Minister for Internal Affairs Philipp Neubauer announced during a press conference that a terrorist assault on a student club in Weissenfels had been prevented. Mayor Dachser announced that the quarter Johannstadt was blocked immediately after the bomb had been discovered. It was successfully dismantled and detonated on a safe place outside Weissenfels and in a controlled manner. In the interest of the investigations, the Minister and the Mayor could not tell how the bomb was discovered. The Minister, however, did give an indication of the strength of it: "This bomb would have wiped the club and the adjacent buildings off the face of the earth. I don't want to think about what would have happened if it would have exploded when the club would have been full." Both the Mayor and the Minister thanked the people who assisted in discovering and dismantling the bomb. The student club will remain under Staatsschutz surveillance for a period of time. The Minister indicated that releasing the last two surviving members of the Rote Befreiungsarmee would be out of the question: "These persons are responsible for the deaths of many people. Many children had to grow up without their fathers or mothers because of them. Their deeds are too grave for us human beings to give mercy. Only God can give mercy in this case. Furthermore, releasing them would mean that we bend for terrorism. And that is out of the question."

 

[Thaumantica]

Office for Foreign Affairs

The Commonwealth is unanimously impressed by the courage and fidelity shown by Eiffelland in defusing this cowardly attempt at an act of terror. We continue to call upon all nations to share in preventing the waste of human lives by thwarting those networks of terror that would seek to end our prosperous way of life.

 

[Rheinbund]

29 May 2011

Car bomb dismantled in Trierer nightlife district

A car bomb discovered in one of Trier's nightlife districts was succesfully dismantled by the army tonight. The car bomb had been positioned right in front of Trier's largest club. The bomb was filled with sharp metal parts. Should it have exploded, it would have cost the lives of several hundreds of young people on a Saturday night out. After a series of bombing assaults, this is the second assault that was prevented on time. It is assumed that the Neue Rote Befreiiungsarmee is behind both this assault and the prevented one in Weissenfels 2 weeks ago, but the responsibility has not been claimed.


Princess Laura gives birth to a healthy baby boy

This morning at 8 'o clock, Princess Laura gave birth to a healthy baby boy. It is the first child of Crown-Prince Friedrich and Princess Laura. Only the first name has been given free at this moment: Philipp. The new Prince is the second in line for the Throne.

 

[Saracia-Polamar]

Foreign Executive

While the United Federation sends our best wishes to Princess Laura and Crown-Prince Friedrich, we remain cautious of the continuing situation in Eiffelland. As a precaution we are urging all Eiffelland citizens to cooperate with security checks on the Polascianan border due to an added police and security presence being exercised by the Polascianan army and security services.

Dimochka Yakushkin
Leader of the Foreign Executive
& International Ambassador​

 

[Großlausitz]

29 May 2011

Car bomb dismantled in Trierer nightlife district

A car bomb discovered in one of Trier's nightlife districts was succesfully dismantled by the army tonight. The car bomb had been positioned right in front of Trier's largest club. The bomb was filled with sharp metal parts. Should it have exploded, it would have cost the lives of several hundreds of young people on a Saturday night out. After a series of bombing assaults, this is the second assault that was prevented on time. It is assumed that the Neue Rote Befreiiungsarmee is behind both this assault and the prevented one in Weissenfels 2 weeks ago, but the responsibility has not been claimed.


Princess Laura gives birth to a healthy baby boy

This morning at 8 'o clock, Princess Laura gave birth to a healthy baby boy. It is the first child of Crown-Prince Friedrich and Princess Laura. Only the first name has been given free at this moment: Philipp. The new Prince is the second in line for the Throne.

The Prince Regent of Franken

On behalf of my Kingdom, His Majesty's Government and my parents I would like to convey our warmest congratulations upon the birth of the new prince. May His Royal Highness Prince Philipp live long and prosper.

Jakob Dux
Seine Königliche Hoheit Herzog Jakob von Schlesnitz
Prinzregent des Königreichs Franken

 

[Rheinbund]

Schloss Charlottenburg
Trier, Eiffelland

We thank for the kind words after the birth of Prince Philipp. Also we are overjoyed with the birth of the new Prince of Eiffelland.

King Albrecht


Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

We regret the step taken by the Polascianan Government, but we understand it. Be precise with the security checks, but also please be nice to our citizens. We are doing our best to catch the people behind the assaults, but cannot say anything about our advancements in this.

Matthias Graf von Seydewitz, Chancellor

 

[Rheinbund]

17 June 2011

NRBA announces severe assaults if demands are not met

This morning a threat tape from the NRBA was delivered at the desks of the Tagesspiegel, an Eiffellandian newspaper. In the tape, the release of the last RBA-members was demanded before the 1st of July, "otherwise the country would be struck with disaster". A spokesperson of the Chancellery said that it would be out of the question that the demands of the NRBA would be met. "Of course we are lot leaning back. We are working very hard on their arrestment," he also said.
Today it also became known that two more assaults had been prevented.


18 June 2011

Ziesche attacks government about NRBA

During a political gathering of the Volksunion in Lüneburg, the political leader of the Volksunion Günther Ziesche attacked the government about the recent terrorist attacks by the extremist leftwing NRBA. He focused on the two failed assaults that were mentioned in yesterday's news, and accused the Chancellor of doing nothing against the NRBA. He stated that "next year Eiffelland would be a second Carentania in the claws of the NRBA".
The Chancellery has not commented yet.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Commissariate for Foreign Affairs

The remarks of Günther Ziesche have been noted as gravely offensive and insulting. The Workers' Republic and its citizens expect an apology for the implications that its political system is in any way affiliated with Vanguardist groups, undesirable and tyrannic.

 

[Serenierre]

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs​

Issued upon the directives of President Renaudière:

The continuous decline of International Marxism is most evident by the actions of the terrorist group from Eiffelland, undoubtedly backed in some form by the ideological zealots of Rijecka. It has never been a tenant of Marxist-Sérazinism to incite violence to bring in The Revolution and ideologies that do have shown to the world that are formed only to bring fear and intolerance into the world.

The State is opposed to the NRBA and urges the Eiffellander Government to bring the terrorists to justice using the mechanisms of their own law.

Jean-Jacques Rogére
State Councilor for Foreign Affairs
​

 

[Rheinbund]

Parteiamt der Volksunion

It is out of the question that I will apologize for my remarks regarding Carentania. Whether or not supported by Carentania or Sereniérre, the NRBA is inspired by despiccable red ideals. Like those two countries.

Günther Ziesche, political leader of the Volksunion


Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

I would like to make clear that Mr. Ziesche did not speak on behalf of the Eiffellandian government. I can't apologize for things I did not do. Neither can I apologise for things other people say and I disagree with.
Freedom of speech is a constitutional right in Eiffelland. This right comes with unwritten responsibilities. Unfortunately, we don't have the means to enforce people to take those responsibilities. In other words, we can't prevent that people say unwise things.
Mr. Ziesche clearly overlooked that it is too early for accusations, especially for the ones he stated. The Eiffellandian Government distances itself from Mr. Ziesche's speech.

Matthias Graf von Seydewitz, Chancellor

Private note to the governments of Carentania And Sereniérre

Mr. Ziesche did not, does not, and if it is up to me will never speak on behalf of the Eiffellandian Government.

Best regards,

Matthias Graf von Seydewitz, Chancellor

 

[Rheinbund]

1 July 2011

Freiherr von Weizenburg sells Weizenburg Spedition to Walther Logistics

Today it became known that the company Weizenburg Spedition has been taken over by the Lübecker trans-shipment company Walther Logistics. Von Weizenburg will remain the chairman of former Weizenburg Spedition for at least one year.


8 July 2011

Military buildup around Solaren

After Solaris navy vessels had attacked Nicosian trawlers, the situation around Solaren is bcoming tenser and tenser. The EDF had already built up a significant military force in Southern Lorraine. With the most recent actions by the Solaris navy, it becomes more and more questionable whether a war can be prevented.
Recently it became known that Carentania is preparing its forces as well. The Carentanian navy is patrolling more intensely, and it is told that several units of the Carentanian armed forces are getting courses on Solaris language and culture. This could imply that the Carentanian armed forces are planning to join a possible war against Solaren.

 

[Rheinbund]

Recent terrorist assaults solved
NRBA dismantled; all members arrested

In a short press release, the Staatsschutz announced that it had arrested all members of the NRBA. With these actions, all recent terrorist assaults and attempts to terrorist assaults have been solved. The members of the NRBA will be trialed for membership of a terrorist organisation, public violence, multiple murder and multiple severe maltreatment. More details will be given in a press conference. The date of this press conference will be announced soon.
A spokesperson of the Government indicated that with these arrestments Eiffelland confirmed to the world that it is a stable democracy that can take some knocks.


Solaren declares war on EDF
Lorraine under attack with chemical weapons

Lorraine has been attacked by the Solaris armed forces with chemical weapons. The attack was mainly aimed at military targets along the Lorraine-Solaren border, but it is rumoured that civilian communities in Lorraine have been hit as well.
Shortly after the attack, the head of state of Solaren Urban IV appeared on the national television to declare war on the EDF in a speech lasting several hours in which he blamed his actions on the EDF while ignoring his own atrocities, among others agains Nicosian citizens.


Eiffelland declares war on Solaren

Shortly after Solaren declared war on the EDF, the Government signed a declaration of war on Solaren and sent it to the Staatstag and Staatsrat for approval. In both chambers, the declaration of war passed almost unanimously. Strangely, the Volksunion voted against in both chambers, as the only party.


Ministry for Internal Affairs warns for possible terrorist assaults by followers Solaris cult

Although the NRBA has been dismantled, the threat for terrorist assaults is not completely over according to the Ministry for Internal Affairs. A spokesperson of the Minister said that, even after all followers of the Solaris cult were expelled and all Eiffellandian possessions of the Solaris state, Solaris cult and Solaris citizens had been seized, it can’t be ruled out that there are still some followers of the Solaris cult in Eiffelland. Therefore, a terrorist attack cannot be ruled out completely.

 

[Rheinbund]

War between Engellex and Montelimar
Eiffelland freezes Engellexic assets

As a reaction to Engellex's attack on Montelimar, the Government decided to freeze all Engellexic assets in Eiffelland. Also the Ambassador in Engellex has been summoned to Trier for consultations. Chancellor Von Seydewitz stated that "there is no other answer possible to the recent behaviour of the government of Engellex". He also stated that "it is still unclear to us what Queen Charlotte was thinking when she specially invited representants of the Royal Families of all EDF-countries to a party while at the same time preparing for war against an EDF-member".
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor Kögler was harsher in a reaction on a discussion after reports in the Journel de l'Aigle:

Queen Charlotte specifically sent invitations to the Royal Houses of the EDF-countries to attend a party in Dulwich, apparently while preparing for war against an important EDF-country. That party was scheduled to take place, no, took place, while Engellex was attacking an important EDF-country. So it was Queen Charlotte's purpose to let the Royal House of Montelimar party in Engellex while Montelimar was under attack of Engellex. Or was it the Queen's purpose to first let the party and then the war start? To walk to King Philippe with a glass of champaign in her hand while being a bit tipsy, start a courtesy conversation and then say out of the blue "oh, by the way, I just ordered my air force to attack your country"?
Crown-Prince Friedrich of Eiffelland was invited as well, but he stayed in Eiffelland. Why? Because currently Eiffelland is at war, and the Royal House of Eiffelland considers it a slap in the face of the Eiffellandian soldiers fighting that war if members of the Royal Family of Eiffelland so prominently celebrate a party. The fact that such considerations are absent in the Royal House of Engellex is not only a sign of bad taste but also a sign that Queen Charlotte does not care for her people.

We strongly advice the Engellexic authorities to remain civil to Eiffellandians currently staying in Engellex. Keep in mind that the war in Solaren will not last forever.

NRBA trials to start in September
Press conference on NRBA to be held on 29 August

A spokesperson of the Ministry for Justice announced that the trials against the members of the NRBA will start in September. In the week before the trials start, the Chancellor, the Minister for Internal Affairs and the Minister for Justice will hold a press conference about the NRBA and the terrorist attacks taking place in the first half of this year.


Haemophilia cured by interchanging incorrect gene with correct gene

Scientists of the Robert Koch Universität Weissenfels managed to cure haemophilia in mice by interchanging genes. Haemophilia is an inheritable disease causing impaired blood coagulation due to missing coagulation factors. These coagulation factors are missing, because the genes coding for them contain errors.
The idea behind the new technique is simple: Look for the incorrect gene, cut it out of the genome and insert a correct version of the gene in its place. This technique is called genome editing. Unfortunately, despite the simplicity of the idea, it was not possible to do it in living animals. The current technique used is to put the correct version of the gene into a cell by means of a viral infection. Then the gene is inserted into the genome at a random place. This is, however, risky: It can lead to genetic mutations and even cancer.
Scientists of the Robert Koch Universität Weissenfels managed to create enzymes that look for specific nucleobase sequences in the DNA. When they look for specific sequences at the start and the end of a gene, it is possible to cut that gene out and insert a new gene into the open space. The necessary enzymes and the correct gene can be put into the cell by means of a harmless virus.
The scientists constructed the viruses in such a way, that they only infected the liver cells, because these are the cells producing coagulation factors. After treatment, the missing coagulation factors were produced in sufficient amounts to cure the mouse from haemophilia. After 8 months, the newly inserted genes still worked correctly.
This new technique also works for other inheritable diseases, but it will take years before they will be available for humans.

OOC 1: Source for the text about Haemophilia: NRC Weekend 2 & 3 July 2011, economic and scientific section, page 18.
OOC 2: Where will I RP the press conference? In this thread or in a separate thread in the Library?

 

[Breotonia]

Optican Medical Technologies
Shaw-Fujikawa Group

Optican is very excited about the work being conducted by researchers at Robert Koch Universität Weissenfels concerning virus-based gene insertion for correcting hereditary genetic defects. One of our research groups in the Bartholomew Islands, Nicosia has been experimenting with treating leukemia via virus-based genetic modification of T-cells to strengthen their response to the cancer and to increase their operational lifespan. We would be very interested to establish a permanent system of liaising between the two groups to share their findings and methods hopefully increasing the efficiency and speed with which these discoveries might be developed into methods of treatment suitable for human use.

 

[Great Engellex]

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DULWICH, WEDNESDAY, 17th AUGUST 2011

The Right Honourable The Secretary of State has received the Command of Her Engellexic Majesty The Queen to make known the following gracious Statement of her Engellexic Majesty to the King, and Lordships of the Kingdom of Eiffelland.​

Extension of The Queen's Statement in Council.

TO THE KING, AND LORDSHIPS OF THE KINGDOM OF EIFFELLAND

I am instructed to EXPRESS on behalf of her Engellexic Majesty;

To suggest that the invitation, out of protocol of the Court of Dulwich, was to simply engage in entertaining festivities is grossly inaccurate and an absolute offence to the regard the Kingdom of Eiffelland had attained by her Engellexic Majesty.

The invitation was for representatives of the Royal Houses of Preuti-Borussia and Saasmiskavia to be present to witness an important engagement of state; the engagement between her Engellexic Majesty and the Crown Prince of Arendaal. This was a demonstration of the ability of the Queen and Court to ascend above the disagreements between Great Engellex and the European Defence Federation; it was also an attempt by the Queen to extend an olive branch of reconciliation with the Federation. It should be understood that such an invitation was not accepted and rudely ignored by many in the Federation. And with such an attitude to the conduct of foreign policy, what expectations does the Federation possess in how it believes other nations should engage with them in the settlement of disagreements? We are somewhat dismayed and the policy, or lack thereof, by the Federation to the region.

It should also be stated that we intend to publish the formal invitations, as to allow the people of the continent to deliberate on whether it is Great Engellex or the European Defence Federation that is obstructing the cause for peace.

The Secretary of State for Finance will be meeting with his allied counterparts in Europe to determine what course of action can be orchestrated to liberate the assets of Great Engellex. We find this course of action unacceptable, and will refrain from participating in a like-for-like response to this. We would not want to see the process of economic prevented throughout the continent from such a reckless and destructive policy.​

By the Grace of GOD, of the UNION of GREAT ENGELLEX, CHARLOTTE, the QUEEN, through the SECRETARY of STATE, Sir ANTHONY PELHAM-HOLLES​

​

 

[Rheinbund]

Optican Medical Technologies
Shaw-Fujikawa Group

Optican is very excited about the work being conducted by researchers at Robert Koch Universität Weissenfels concerning virus-based gene insertion for correcting hereditary genetic defects. One of our research groups in the Bartholomew Islands, Nicosia has been experimenting with treating leukemia via virus-based genetic modification of T-cells to strengthen their response to the cancer and to increase their operational lifespan. We would be very interested to establish a permanent system of liaising between the two groups to share their findings and methods hopefully increasing the efficiency and speed with which these discoveries might be developed into methods of treatment suitable for human use.

Robert Koch Universität Weissenfels

We clearly see the benefit of such a cooperation to make the preclinical work more efficient. We also have a very close cooperation agreement with the Eiffellandian biomedical industries (

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). We are discussing with Parexel about the methodology of the clinical studies needed to get permission to market new products, so that the clinical phase of the investigations can be shortened. Furthermore, Novartis is our standard partner in putting new medications to the market. We are cooperating with them for the market phase of these products as well. We want to continue the cooperations with Parexel and Novartis, but we think that a possible cooperation between us and Optical Medical Technologies can benefit from our cooperations with Parexel and Novartis.

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DULWICH, WEDNESDAY, 17th AUGUST 2011

The Right Honourable The Secretary of State has received the Command of Her Engellexic Majesty The Queen to make known the following gracious Statement of her Engellexic Majesty to the King, and Lordships of the Kingdom of Eiffelland.​

Extension of The Queen's Statement in Council.

TO THE KING, AND LORDSHIPS OF THE KINGDOM OF EIFFELLAND

I am instructed to EXPRESS on behalf of her Engellexic Majesty;

To suggest that the invitation, out of protocol of the Court of Dulwich, was to simply engage in entertaining festivities is grossly inaccurate and an absolute offence to the regard the Kingdom of Eiffelland had attained by her Engellexic Majesty.

The invitation was for representatives of the Royal Houses of Preuti-Borussia and Saasmiskavia to be present to witness an important engagement of state; the engagement between her Engellexic Majesty and the Crown Prince of Arendaal. This was a demonstration of the ability of the Queen and Court to ascend above the disagreements between Great Engellex and the European Defence Federation; it was also an attempt by the Queen to extend an olive branch of reconciliation with the Federation. It should be understood that such an invitation was not accepted and rudely ignored by many in the Federation. And with such an attitude to the conduct of foreign policy, what expectations does the Federation possess in how it believes other nations should engage with them in the settlement of disagreements? We are somewhat dismayed and the policy, or lack thereof, by the Federation to the region.

It should also be stated that we intend to publish the formal invitations, as to allow the people of the continent to deliberate on whether it is Great Engellex or the European Defence Federation that is obstructing the cause for peace.

The Secretary of State for Finance will be meeting with his allied counterparts in Europe to determine what course of action can be orchestrated to liberate the assets of Great Engellex. We find this course of action unacceptable, and will refrain from participating in a like-for-like response to this. We would not want to see the process of economic prevented throughout the continent from such a reckless and destructive policy.​

By the Grace of GOD, of the UNION of GREAT ENGELLEX, CHARLOTTE, the QUEEN, through the SECRETARY of STATE, Sir ANTHONY PELHAM-HOLLES​

​

Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

Of course a gesture of peace towards us is valued, but it would have been better if the problems apparently existing between the EDF and Engellex would have been discussed in a formal conference before inviting representatives of the Royal Families.

We saw the formal invitation sent to our Royal Family. Unfortunately, it was very difficult to us to find out Queen Charlotte’s intentions with the invitations. Now we get the impression that the event had to be seen as a peace effort, but we got the impression from the invitation that it was only a party. The Royal Family cannot be expected to go to a party when at the same time the country is at war and even a member of the Royal Family is fighting in that war.

We still have serious problems with understanding what went through Queen Charlotte’s mind when she prepared for war against Montelimar while at the same time inviting representatives of the Royal Families of all EDF-countries to an event in Dulwich. Also her intentions with both the war and the Royal Event are still obscure to us, because the Royal Event took place after the Engellexic attack on Montelimar started. That is not the proper way of handling when your intentions are peaceful.

All in all, I have to conclude that Queen Charlotte has been very unhandy with her attempts to ease the tensions between Engellex and the EDF. Should her communication have been clear, the recent events would not have lead to war.

Matthias Graf von Seydewitz. Chancellor