National News Eiffelland (from 2009 until 31 July 2020)

[Serenierre]

Office of Sophie Menard
I am saddened by the decision of the Union Prosecutor in Eiffelland to not pursue the defamation suit against Foreign Minister Leverkuhn. The Union Prosecutor failed to grant me a date of interview and my Office was not informed of any such opportunity where I could have arrived in Eiffelland and submitted my testimony and my Affidavit for the Court.

In light of the highly improper manner in which the case was dropped, I call on the Union Prosecutor to give the written grounds of his decision and to rely on legal principles. The news reports that I have read on this matter related to extraneous matters which were entirely irrelevant for legal purposes.

I continue to believe that the grounds are present for the defamation suit to proceed, as even Herr Schulze admitted in his public comments that the statements issued by the Foreign Minister meet the criteria of defamation.

SOPHIE MENARD
Journalist || Villesen Post || Affiliated Press

 

[Rheinbund]

Unionsstaatsanwaltschaft — Procura dell' Unione
Altburg, Eiffelland-Retalien — Altburgo, Eiffellandia-Retalia

Unfortunately, Mrs. Menard did not cite me correctly. I did not say that Minister Leverkühn made herself guilty of defamation. I did say that her remark that Mrs. Menard would be the mouthpiece of the Serenien government is harmful to Mrs. Menard, but that alone does not make said remark defamation. Evidence that said remark is not based on the truth is needed to make it defamation. Mrs. Renard ruined the case with the twat I cited. A lawsuit to enforce prosecution against Minister Leverkühn won't have much chance.

Bruno Schülze, Public Prosecutor of the Union

 

[Montedoro]

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[/div]CENTRAL SECRETARIAT
Office for Consular Relations
Rue de Croix d'Or, Cité de Lions, Duché de Lions

THE OFFICE has noted with concern the manner in which personal statements on the internet have been misconstrued by the Eiffellander state prosecutor in the defamation suit of Madame Sophie Menard.

Under the Basic Law of 2018, all Occitanians are allowed easy access to the adjudicative scheme established under the guidance of the Villesen Government. We urge the Kingdom of Eiffelland to modernize its legal system.

Catarina Balsierre
Undersecretary for Consular Relations

 

[Rheinbund]

Kanzleramt — Ufficio di Cancelliere
Trier, Eiffelland-Retalien — Treviri, Eiffellandia-Retalia

We are continuously checking whether the laws in Eiffelland-Retalia still serve the purpose they have to serve. This is also the case with the legal system.
We are also aware of the difference between the personal sphere and the public sphere. However, if the "modernisation" of our legal system that Undersecretary Balsierre has in mind, means that we have to consider everything that is said on the internet to be part of the personal sphere, I will have to disappoint her: Eiffelland-Retalia will not implement that idea into its legislations. The internet is not the privacy of your own house; the internet is the public space. Especially given the velocity with which statements on the internet can go viral. And the words of famous persons and journalists generally have more impact than the words of common people.
I leave it to Unional Public Prosecutor Schülze to determine whether he has to prosecute against Minister Leverkühn or not.

Roland Rheinfeld, Chancellor


Unionsstaatsanwaltschaft — Procura dell' Unione
Altburg, Eiffelland-Retalien — Altburgo, Eiffellandia-Retalia

Given the nature of the internet, especially social media like Twatter, the internet cannot be considered the personal sphere. Whatever you do on social media like twatter, is part of the public sphere. The only exceptions to that rule are private chat boxes, internet fora of which the access is not freely available to all people, and areas on social media websites that are not freely accessible to all people.
The twatter post by Mrs. Menard unional public prosecutor Schülze refers to is visible to everyone on the internet; that alone is enough reason to not consider it a personal statement. On top of that, Mrs. Menard is a rather famous person followed by many people on Twatter. That makes her statements on Twatter even more public. Furthermore, she is a journalist, and journalists must be very careful with voicing their opinions in public.
As a consequence, everything Mrs. Menard says or does on the internet, she does so as a journalist. If she wants to uphold neutrality, she can only describe facts in her twats and has to leave her opinions out of her twats.
The case remains closed. If Mrs. Menard wants to challenge my decision, she has to apply to the Provinzgericht Graubund in Altburg. This is the last thing I will say in public about this matter.

Bruno Schülze, Unional Public Prosecutor

 

[Rheinbund]

01JUN2019

Eiffelloretalian gays celebrate "Prince Ludwig day"
Gay and lesbian couples massively marry on first day that same-sex marriage is legal

The first of June is Prince Ludwig's birthday. Last year the LGBTI community in Eiffelland (especially the gays) started to celebrate this day as "Prince Ludwig Day" after Schau! divulged the Prince's homosexuality. This year the governments of the States of Eiffelland and Retalia legalised same-sex marriages per the first of June. Coincidence or not, on Prince Ludwig's birthday. This means that from now on the first of June will have an additional meaning for the Eiffelloretalian LGBTI community.
There will be many parties throughout the States of Eiffelland and Retalia. Furthermore, a lot of same-sex couples decided to marry on the first of June. The cities Trier, Köln, Altburg and Losena went into a rivalry to be the first one to marry a same-sex couple: They opened the city hall for the first marriage immediately at midnight in the night from 31 May to 1 June. Atom clocks were used for determining the precise time point of the first four marriages. The differences were milliseconds, but Losena won. The first gay couple was married in Losena on 1 June 2019 at 00:01:05.264. Trier followed at 00:01:05.271, then Köln at 00:01:05.279, and finally Altburg at 00:01:05.282.


07JUN2019

Minister Leverkühn announces her resignation after cabinet meeting

After today's cabinet meeting, Minister Leverkühn gave a press conference in which she announced her resignation, effective immediately. She indicated personal circumstances as the reason why she resigned. It is rumoured though, that her earlier statement that Eiffelland-Retalia would be open to talks about the Eastoccitanian throne was the reason why she resigned. The opposition immediately asked for a debate about the situation. This debate will take place next week Tuesday because of the Whitsuntide weekend. There will be no parliament debates on Whit Monday. Chancellor Rheinfeld will take over the duties of Minister Leverkühn until her successor is appointed.


Internet rumours point at Communist terrorists as murderers of King Julius Faure
Chancellor Rheinfeld: "Eiffelland-Retalia stands 100% behind King Caeso"

During his weekly press conference, Chancellor Rheinfeld indicated that Eiffelland-Retalia stands 100% behind King Caeso from Eastern Occitania. He also presented evidence that King Caeso was kilometers away from the place of King Julius Faure's death, as well as evidence that King Caeso could never have had a hand in the death of his predecessor. At the question why Princess Mirèo is continuously accusing King Caeso, Chancellor Rheinfeld said: "It could of course be that somebody disguised as His Majesty King Caeso is directly or indirectly responsible for King Julius Faure's death. There is an enormous lot that can be done to make somebody look like somebody else. Not only with make-up, but also with latex patches to be put on the face. We think that something like that happened. However, we have DNA-evidence that King Caeso has never been at the place where King Julius Faure died. Well, after the latter's death, yes, of course, but that was the first moment that King Caeso arrived at the place. King Caeso is innocent of the death of King Julius Faure."
Meanwhile, there are many rumours on the internet that King Julius Faure was killed by Communist terrorists. Chancellor Rheinfeld answered on questions about those rumours: "We have to realise that there are quite a lot of unclarities about the death of King Julius Faure. The Eastoccitanian authorities are thoroughly investigating the case. What we do know, is that King Caeso is innocent. We do not know yet who is guilty."
On the question about King Caeso's right to the throne, Chancellor Rheinfeld indicated: "First of all, we have to realise that the death of her father was a trauma for Princess Mirèo. She will still be mourning the death of her father. She has our full sympathy. However, she must also realise what the time burden of her marriage to the Crown-Prince of Justosia will be. As Crown-Princess of Justosia, she will have her hands full, like Princess Laura has in Eiffelland-Retalia. How will she be able to govern Eastern Occitania properly when she is living 10,000 kilometers away and hardly has the time to spend attention to her governing tasks? We have to be realistic here: She won't be able to take up her duties properly if she becomes Queen of East-Occitania. Furthermore, with her engagement to the Crown-Prince of Justosia, Princess Mirèo has a new fatherland: Justosia. East-Occitania needs a King or Queen in the country, not a Queen who lives 10,000 kilometers away and hardly has the time for her country. King Caeso is the best option for Eastern Occitania ...
By the way, maybe also for another reason. I would like to inform you about a

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, a journalist working for Affiliated Press but also under severe suspicion of having too cordial ties with the Serenien government to be considered neutral enough for Affiliated Press, a suspicion she continuously tries to disprove but also actively feeds. This journalist voiced her support for Princess Mirèo. How should we interpret that? I don't know how happy we should be with a Queen in Eastern Occitania who is actively backed by Serenierre."

OOC: Princess Laura is the wife of the Crown-Prince of Eiffelland-Retalia.

 

[Serenierre]

BelieveWomen Foundation
It is indeed shocking that a country which celebrates the rights of the LGBT community in the same breath mocks and derides a woman who has undergone the most vile breaches of personal autonomy at the hands of the East Occitan king. Eiffellander progressive values are nothing but hyporcritical and designed to favour causes which effect the Royal Family and its members. The LGBT community may thrive in Eiffelland but the feminist community seems entirely relegated to a status of second class citizenry. SHAME SHAME SHAME!

Founded in 1926, the BWF is an international organisation based in Monserans
visit our website ||

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​

Office of Sophie Menard
I wish Minister Leverkuhn the best as she continues her journey in life to more suitable professions. Her tenure will be remembered for its host of colorful statements against international journalists and even international royalty alike. I wish Chancellor Rheinfeld well as he takes the portfolio of the foreign ministry.

 

[Elben]

Secretariat of State of the Holy Tiburan Church
Herzogenrode Abbey

PONTIFICAL SECRET

His Holiness instructs the bishops of Eiffelland to make every effort to condemn this latest offense against the sacrament of marriage, which unites a man and a woman together in holy matrimony.

 

[Justosia]

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Government Imperio de Justosia
Foreign Ministry
Government Quarter, Avalon
​

June 7, 2019
By Crown Authority

I come to the @Eiffelland government, any facet, for the sake of our fleeting friendship. Please, for all that is good & Godly, change your course. The eyes of history peer at you this night. You can choose righteousness, innocence, peace, harmony. Or you can choose the polar opposites in varied forms.

What my imperial sovereign took he can return. As you should to your senses. Don't burn this bridge. I humbly implore you. God bless you. Viva Justosia.

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Fernando Torres
Foreign Minister

 

[Rheinbund]

BelieveWomen Foundation
It is indeed shocking that a country which celebrates the rights of the LGBT community in the same breath mocks and derides a woman who has undergone the most vile breaches of personal autonomy at the hands of the East Occitan king. Eiffellander progressive values are nothing but hyporcritical and designed to favour causes which effect the Royal Family and its members. The LGBT community may thrive in Eiffelland but the feminist community seems entirely relegated to a status of second class citizenry. SHAME SHAME SHAME!

Founded in 1926, the BWF is an international organisation based in Monserans
visit our website ||

You must be registered for see links

​

Kanzleramt — Ufficio di Cancelliere
Trier, Eiffelland-Retalien — Treviri, Eiffellandia-Retalia

If the BelieveWomen Foundation would have taken the trouble to travel to Eiffelland-Retalia and investigated the situation regarding women in the country itself, it would not have made a fool of itself by spreading proven lies about a bad gender equality situation in Eiffelland-Retalia. The fact that our news media do not continuously blow the trumpet about how good the gender equality situation is in this country does not mean that the country does not pay attention to it; instead, it shows that genderequality is self-evident in Eiffelland-Retalia, where the right to work part-time, the right to schedule your working hours optimally for your children and the right to take up compassionate leave for sick family members are legally guaranteed for men and women, where the access to day nurseries for pre-school-age children is guaranteed by the government, where primary schools nurse their pupils after school time, and where even secondary schools nurse their first and second grade pupils after school time. We even made it legally possible for medical doctors in education for medical specialist to follow their educational traject part-time in order to facilitate that young doctors get and raise children, as well as to do the clinical internships of students in educaton for medical doctor part-time for students who became pregnant during their study, as well as their partners.
The BelieveWomen Foundation has discredited itself as advocate of women's rights by allowing itself to be misused for geopolitical goals. But maybe we should not be surprised about that from an organisation based in Serenierre.

 

[Rheinbund]

Secretariat of State of the Holy Tiburan Church
Herzogenrode Abbey

PONTIFICAL SECRET

His Holiness instructs the bishops of Eiffelland to make every effort to condemn this latest offense against the sacrament of marriage, which unites a man and a woman together in holy matrimony.

Sekretariat des Erzbischofes von Weissenfels
Weissenfels, Eiffelland-Retalien

Segretaria dell' Arcivescovato di Tibur
Tibur, Eiffellandia-Retalia

The Tiburan Catholic Church in Eiffelland-Retalia follows the Holy Teachings of the Church regarding the sacrament of marriage. Unfortunately, there is not much that we can do against the same-sex marriages in Eiffelland and Retalia, because those marriages are a matter of the secular authority in Eiffelland and Retalia. We do, however, make clear what the Holy Teachings of the Church about homosexuality are.

Rudolph Strelecki, Archbishop of Weissenfels, Metropolitan of the Church Province Eiffelland
Alexander Litfin, Archbishop of Tibur

 

[Rheinbund]

Students of the Università Statale di Lugano create bacterium that turns plastic into water

There are many applications for plastic in these days, because it degrades at a very low pace, making it possible to construct devices that can endure for a long time, and it can be produced in many different ways to suit almost every need. However, it’s endurability is also a problem: What to do with the enormous heap of plastic waste, for instance from packaging covers? Meanwhile, plastic waste has become an enormous problem, because much of it ends in the oceans. Meanwhile, there are several initiatives to remove plastic from the oceans, but that leads to even higher heaps of plastic waste on shore.
The students Margherita Boscono and Estera Levantino from the Università Statale di Lugano developed a solution: Plastic eating bacteria. These bacteria convert plastic into among others CO2 and water. “Of course CO2 is a problem in itself, but we have managed to make plastic biodegradable,” said Estera Levantino. Margherita Boscono already indicated where their research would go to from here: “What we want to create in the end, is bacteria that produce the resource molecules for new plastics from among others CO2 and water. In that way, we have made the production of plastic really circular.”


Research group of the Katholische Universität Köln discovers gene that possibly protects against Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease is a disease that affects a lot of people above the age of 70 years, and that has become one of the most important causes of death in developed countries. However, not all older people get Alzheimer’s Disease. There are quite some people above 100 years without any signs of neurological problems. The department of Clinical Genetics from the Medical Faculty of the Katholische Universität Koln investigated several people aged above 100 years without signs of starting dementia throughout Eiffelland, Helgoland and Rügen, and discovered that people with the gene variant Rs 72824905 have an enormously reduced chance to get Alzheimer’s disease.
The search for a cure against Alzheimer’s Disease has not led to a cure yet, although groups all over the world are looking for it. Prof. Dr. Monika Von Buckow-Von Bernrode, leader of the research group that discovered the characteristics of gene variant Rs 72824905 against Alzheimer’s Disease, indicated that the discovery of this gene variant may lead to a breakthrough in the battle against Alzheimer’s Disease, but also indicated that the development of a cure or prevention against Alzheimer’s Disease may still take many years.


Research group of the Pietas discovers link between infectious diseases and Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers of the subdepartment of neuro-anatomy and the department of medical microbiology of the Pietas (the university hospital of the Universität der Stadt Trier) discovered that some viruses can cause the build-up of protein plaques in the brain (the cause of Alzheimer’s disease). The reason could be that the viruses in question are “sticky” viruses; they stick themselves to the proteins in the blood, leading to an increased plaque buildup. In that light, vaccines against those viruses (for instance Herpes Simplex Virus 1) could help preventing Alzheimer’s Disease by treating the infections with said viruses.
Up to now, attempts to create a vaccine against Herpes Simplex Virus 1 have failed. The Department of Microbiology of the Pietas is currently looking at targeting antigenes on the corona of Herpes Simplex Virus 1, an approach that also led to a success in the development of a vaccine against HIV.

 

[Elben]

Sekretariat des Erzbischofes von Weissenfels
Weissenfels, Eiffelland-Retalien

Segretaria dell' Arcivescovato di Tibur
Tibur, Eiffellandia-Retalia

The Tiburan Catholic Church in Eiffelland-Retalia follows the Holy Teachings of the Church regarding the sacrament of marriage. Unfortunately, there is not much that we can do against the same-sex marriages in Eiffelland and Retalia, because those marriages are a matter of the secular authority in Eiffelland and Retalia. We do, however, make clear what the Holy Teachings of the Church about homosexuality are.

Rudolph Strelecki, Archbishop of Weissenfels, Metropolitan of the Church Province Eiffelland
Alexander Litfin, Archbishop of Tibur

Secretariat of State of the Holy Tiburan Church
Herzogenrode Abbey

The bishops of Eiffelland-Retalia are urged to apply all the appropriate penalties for the violation of canon law.

 

[Rheinbund]

Sekretariat des Erzbischofes von Weissenfels
Weissenfels, Eiffelland-Retalien

Segretaria dell' Arcivescovato di Tibur
Tibur, Eiffellandia-Retalia

We will do everything we can to make sure that canon law is followed in Eiffelland-Retalia.

Rudolph Strelecki, Archbishop of Weissenfels, Metropolitan of the Church Province Eiffelland
Alexander Litfin, Archbishop of Tibur, Metropolitan of the Church Province Retalia

 

[Rheinbund]

13JUN2019

King appoints Gianluigi di Gravesano-Carone as new Minister of Foreign Affairs

After the Unionsrat and the Landestage of Eiffelland, Retalia, Helgoland and Rügen approved Gianluigi di Gravesano-Carone's candidacy, King Albrecht appointed him as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs. Minister di Gravesano-Carone, a Retalian citizen, is 45 years old. He studied law at the University of Losena from 1992 to 1997, and then started to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of at that moment Nichtstein. Since then, he fulfilled several positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and on embassies abroad. After Eiffelland and Retalia united, he became one of the department directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Eiffelland-Retalia.
Minister di Gravesano-Carone is the youngest son of the Duchess of Gravesano-Carone. He is 45 years old and descends from one of the eight Great Houses of Retalia. He speaks Italian as his mother tongue, as well as German, French, Engellish and Demotic Pelasgian.

 

[Rheinbund]

Unionsluftverkehrssicherheitsamt maintains closure of airspace of Eiffelland-Retalia for Serenien-built planes

The Air Traffic Security Office of Eiffelland-Retalia indicated in a press release that it will maintain the closure of the airspace of Eiffelland-Retalia or the planes of the Serenien airspace company Verteuil. Reasons for this decision are indicated to be problems in the airspeed sensors and altitude meters, as well as software problems. The Air Traffic Security Office also mentioned a lack of response by Verteuil on the issues found, which "strongly suggests a dangerous and alarming lack of interest by Verteuil in the security of the airplanes it produces". The planes involved are the Pegasus V, the Hermes series and the V100 series.

 

[Rheinbund]

Christiandemocrats, Market Liberals and Socioliberals form coalition government in the Harz

Last April's provincial elections in the Northern Eiffellandian province Harz turned the coalition negotiations into a very difficult puzzle. And indeed, two-and-a-half months were needed to form a new provincial government. Back in April, the trend in the national elections of December last year continued: The far right Volksunion jumped from 1 to 15 seats in the provincial parliament, the Marxist-Leninovist PCL was voted out, and the Christiandemocratic CDV and the Sociodemocratic SPE lost massively (although the CDV remained the largest power in the Harz). The ruling coalition of CDV and the market liberal FDV lost the majority. These were the results:

CDV (Christiandemocrats): 27 seats.
FDV (Market Liberals): 18 seats.
PCL (Conservative Christians): 16 seats.
Volksunion (far right): 15 seats.
SPE (Sociodemocrats): 14 seats.
LDP (Social Liberals): 6 seats.
Grün (environmentalists): 4 seats.
Other parties (a.o. the KPE): 0 seats.

The most logical coalition would be CVD-FDV-LDP, but the LDP refused to form that coalition, because it did not want to give the coalition that lost the elections a majority again. Negotiations to form a CDV-SPE-LDP-Grün coalition failed. Negotations to form a CDV-FDV-PCL coalition failed as well. After that, the LDP was willing to start coalition negotiations with the CDV and the FDV. Those negotiations succeeded. CDV, FDV and LDP will govern the Harz together until the next provincial elections in the Harz in April 2023.

 

[Rheinbund]

Headlines

Crown-Prince Friedrich sworn in as Prince-Regent.
Status of King Albrecht still critical. He is still in a coma. The first announcement about the King's illness contained an error: The King is not suffering from a severe stroke, but from a severe bacterial meningitis.
Chancellor Rheinfeld stuck in Kashtan; Vice-Chancellors Zimmermann and Fritschler take over Chancellor's duties for the time being.

OOC: Modified, because the term "bacterial meningo-encephalitis" is not an existing concept for humans. A bacterial meningitis is though.

 

[Rheinbund]

05JUL2019

King Albrecht still in coma, Chancellor Rheinfeld still stuck in Kashtan

This week, it was Vice-Chancellor Zimmermann who led the Government’s weekly press conference. He indicated that Chancellor Rheinfeld is still stuck in Kashtan, and that it was still unknown what is happening there. He also indicated that King Albrecht is currently treated for a bacterial meningitis, that he is still in a coma, and that his condition is still critical, although it is stable now. Crown-Prince Friedrich was sworn in as Prince-Regent yesterday, and he will take up his father’s duties for the time being.
Upon the question whether the Crown-Prince would be crowned King and Grand-Duke, Vice-Chancellor Zimmermann indicated that that is not in the planning for now: “Crown-Prince Friedrich can only become King when the King either abdicates or dies. The King can only abdicate when he is fully conscious.”
When one of the journalists asked if that could mean that the Crown-Prince will act as Prince-Regent for the next twenty years when King Albrecht would remain in a coma for such a long period of time, Vice-Chancellor Zimmermann said: “Yes, that could be the case.”
Upon questions whether Eiffelland-Retalia would sign the Long Sea Authority Treaty, Vice-Chancellor Zimmermann said: ”The most important thing at this moment is peace and stability in the Long Sea, which is basically the aorta of worldwide trade. We are committed to that. We favour the idea of an organisation that overlooks the stability in the Long Sea, but that organisation must be acceptable to all parties involved. It is our intention to change the Long Sea Authority Treaty in such a way that it becomes acceptable to countries like Pelasgia and Ostmark.”
Upon the question by one of the journalists whether Eiffelland-Retalia would sign for the Long Sea Authority Treaty also if it would not succeed in its mission, Vice-Chancellor Zimmermann said: “That situation is not on the table at the moment. Because we don’t know what is happening in Kashtan at the moment—we don’t even have contact to the embassy now—, we don’t know what we are going to do yet. Our actions will completely depend on the events in Kashtan.”
Upon repeated questions by journalists whether the government would sign under various circumstances they described, Vice-Chancellor Zimmermann always replied: “We will let the world know what we will do as soon as we have more clarity from Kashtan.”


05JUL2019

Trierer police scale up security measures around Touzenese, Kashtanese and Pohjanmaan embassies upon violent protests

After violent protests broke out around the embassies of Touzen, Kashtan and Pohjanmaa, the Trierer police decided to scale up the security measures around those embassies. The Leitender Polizeidirektor of the Trierer Police, Alfred Rorschach, indicated in a press-conference that “the security of the embassies is taken seriously by the Trierer Police”, that “protest actions like the ones we saw around the embassies are unacceptable”, and that the Trierer Police “will protect the embassies against violent protests”, although “peaceful protests may continue”.

OOC: Changed for the reason mentioned in post 577 of this thread (see previous post).

 

[Rheinbund]

09JUL2019
King Albrecht wakes up out of coma

The press office of the Royal Palace indicated that King Albrecht has waken up from his coma. He is completely approachable, but very tired. Last week he was admitted to hospital with what turned out to be a meningitis. He was treated with antiviral medications. The infection is under control, but the King still receives antibiotics. He is expected to stay in hospital until the end of next week.


19JUL2019
King Albrecht discharged from hospital

King Albrecht was discharged from hospital today. His neurologists indicated that he did not suffer from any loss of brain function, but that he is still tired. It remains to be seen if this is temporary or permanent. For at least the coming three months, his duties will be handled by Crown-Prince Friedrich.


19JUL2019
Helgoland suspends prosecution against homosexuals

The Long Sea island Helgoland is the only part of Eiffelland-Retalia where homosexual intercourse is still forbidden. However, Minister-President Modrow of Helgoland announced during his weekly press conference that the prosecution against homosexuals will be suspended effective immediately, awaiting the legalisation of homosexual intercourse. A new law legalising homosexual intercourse from age 18 onwards will be sent to the Landestag of Helgoland in September this year.

OOC: Sorry for the antedatings, but I think they are needed.

 

[Rheinbund]

Scientists Universität der Stadt Trier create artificial cells that react on their environment

One of the key questions in medicine is how to let a medication only work where it has to work and not in the remainder of the body. This is especially of interest in the case of anti-cancer medications, which have severe side-effects, but also in the case of antibiotics, which are only active where needed but not active where not needed (e.g. after the patient has excreted the antibiotics and the substances appear in the environment; they won’t cause resistance when they are not active).
One option to achieve this goal is by inserting small radioactive rods in tumors; the radiation kills the tumor cells but has only limited effects on the surrounding tissues, in contrast with conventional radiation therapies, which not only target the tumor but also the tissues that the radiation beam meets on its way to the tumor.
Another option is activating the medications under the influence of light. It is possible to construct molecules that change in shape under the influence of light, and also under the influence of light of a certain frequency. In that way, chemotherapy is only in its active form where the light beam is shining and inactive where it is not.
A third option would be to let cells produce curative substances as soon as they are exposed to other substances (for instance biomarkers produced by tumor cells). Cells continuously interact with their surroundings. They react on the appearance of certain chemical substances (e.g. cells in the pancreas excrete Insulin when they sense an increase in the glucose levels), substances that act like biological signal molecules (e.g. hormones, but also antibodies), and electrical currents (nerve cells).
The processes underlying these mechanisms of reaction are complex. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to manipulate them. Therefore, modifying an existing cell so that it produces medications as soon as it senses that it is in the neighbourhood of a tumor is extremely difficult.
But what if you create such a cell from scratch? Scientists of the Universität der Stadt Trier have set the first step towards that goal: They created an artificial cell that starts to produce fluorescing substances when exposed to Calcium ions. Ph.D. student Angela Mustermann, who was also the first author of the scientific publication about these cells, indicated that this is an important step in the development of cancer therapies and therapies to fight infectious diseases.