Nieuws van Batavië | Diepenbrock Refuses to Apologise

[Batavië]

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With Electrified Rail Come New Trains

Hilversum, Gauteng Provincie, Batavië.​

After months of work, construction and billions of nieuw rand in investment, nearly all of the densely populated south and east of Batavia has electrified and expanded railway lines. This does not just mean that the new SpoorJet high speed train gets to offer its services (the train had its own special tracks built). Today BSW | BJV (Bataafsche Spoorwegen | Bataviska Järnväger) [VSX: BSW] unveiled two new models of trains to service the shorter range passenger market. The Regio and InterRegio trains of BSW/BJV will be produced by a Suionian company in Batavian factories. The first trains will enter service in January and the last of the 300 ordered trains, to service various city and provincial regions, will be completed in December of 2011.

The Regio trains will travel for a maximum distance of 2 hours one-way to connect cities within built-up areas, for example the BCT (Batavian Capital Territory) cities of Vlaanderen, Robtwerpen, Luik etcetera. The Hilversum City Council wants its Regio trains to cross the border into nearby Arendaal to connect the villages and smaller towns there to the city. Dutch is the majority language immediately over the border in Arendaal. The InterRegio trains will travel distances of up to 4 hours connecting, for instance, Poortstad with Vlaanderen or Vlaanderen with De Grenz. Some of the InterRegio corridors will compete directly with the high-speed SpoorJet. BSW officials are not worried as the higher-speed option is catered to business travellers and people with little time. The regional trains will also stop at smaller stations in between, a necessity for many travellers.

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The new test Regio train of BSW/BJV outside of Hilversum

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The test train at a Hilversum suburb

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The InterRegio test train underway between Hilversum and De Grenz

Despite the fact that Swedish is not yet an official federal language, Bataafsche Spoorwegen has been taking bilingual initiatives with its services. All of the new trains will be branded with the BSW/BJV logo abbreviations for Dutch and Swedish respectively. Printed information on tickets, the BSW website, information posted on and in trains etcetera will all be done in Dutch and Swedish. Many Swedish-speaking conductors are also being sought after.

The trains will not only better connect the densely populated south and east, but also provide thousands of jobs for the creation and upkeep of the machines. Plans to offer InterRegio service to the far off cities of Spa in the north and Westpunt/Västerköping in the west were also unveiled, without timetables for implementation.
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[Batavië]

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nieuws op elk uur, Rapport op 20.30 GMT- 1 1/2​

het korte nieuws

»» Foreign Minister Arjan van Vliet expressed his great 'disappointment' regarding the recent conflict in southern Gallia and said that Batavia will remain a neutral party open to hosting peace talks with or without a cease-fire.

»» NC High Representatives meeting in Whitehaven, Cornavia will put the 'Southern Gallia Conflict' as a priority item on their agenda.

»» The Republican Navy commented Saturday morning that the 'De Graaf' aircraft carrier will be inspected and prepared for 'movements' in what appears to be preparations to get the vessel back into regular service, which it was taken out of in March earlier this year. Analysts suspect that bilateral naval cooperation with Threveburg is prompting this move. Vistrasia could help fund the operation of the ship in return for joint usage.

»» An ambulance responding to a stroke in Hilversum struck and killed a teenager in the old part of the city. The young man was apparently listening to an MP3 player and did not hear the two-tone siren. A City Council investigation has been launched. The stroke victim, meanwhile, was successfully brought to hospital.

»» Vlaanderen International Airport will officially be renamed next week to coincide with the opening of the third runway. As the airport lies outside the city limits of Vlaanderen in the township of 'Vaanta', the airport will officially be known as 'Vlaanderen-Vaanta International Airport'.

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[Confederal Republics]

Navy Section
Commonwealth General Staff

Confidential - To the Batavian Republican Navy

Assuming that the sole existing aircraft carrier of the Batavian military will be put into service, the Commonwealth Navy would like to invite its Batavian counterparts to stage a series of joint exercises with vessels in the Navy's Western Command, specifically the amphibious warfare vessel CSS John May (LHD-3) and its escorts.

Furthermore, assuming that the Batavian military is in possession of functional VTOL aircraft they are invited to exercise aboard the John May in anticipation of Naval evaluation work on the future utilization of the Gabriel Westings class of vessels.

Regards,
Rear Admiral Johnson Ashley
Director of Operations,
Commonwealth Navy

 

[Batavië]

Republican Navy
Chief Naval Command | Windhoek

TO: Cornavian Commonwealth Navy - Communiqué Privé

We thank our counterparts in Cornavia for the offer of joint exercises with the CSS John May. Currently the timetable for the reintroduction of service of the 'De Graaf' is not finalised as we are waiting for formal bilateral agreements between Vlaanderen and Threveburg to be signed and implemented. This could be done before the new year, however that is not certain.

In any case we invite Commonwealth Navy attachés to travel to Windhoek to observe our preparations for the De Graaf and possibly provide insight and advice. We hope to continue our regular liaisons and intend to broaden our bilateral and multilateral naval cooperation with our NC friends and regional allies.

Regards
Admiral Robert Stuyvent
Head of the Batavian Republican Navy

 

[Confederal Republics]

Navy Section
Commonwealth General Staff

Confidential - To the Batavian Republican Navy

The Commonwealth Navy affects the offer by the Batavian government for observers to be sent to Windhoek to observe the refitment of the carrier, and a team of officers headed by Flag Captain Daniel Murray from Procurement and Materials Command will be appointed to the task.

Regards,
Rear Admiral Johnson Ashley
Director of Operations,
Commonwealth Navy

 

[Batavië]

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NC to Adopt Single Currency in 2011

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NC headquarters in Hilversum, Batavia

Hilversum, Gauteng Provincie, Batavië.​

Goodbye Nieuw Rand, hello Noorddaalder! With the passage in Northern Parliament of the

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, Northern Europe has certainly scene the most ambitious and advanced form of regional and economic co-operation in memorable history. The 'North Dollar', translated into various official NC languages (Dutch: Noorddaalder) will become the sole legal tender in Batavia, Suionia, Arendaal and Vistrasia. Cornavia and Eireann have decided to 'opt-out' of the currency union for the time being. Each bill will have the various official names of the currency imprinted on both sides and the coins will be so-called language neutral, showing only numbers.

What does this mean for the Northern Council? The most obvious benefits will come with cross border trade and travelling. The Act also brings about a common market, abolishing tariffs and truly bringing free trade to the members. Cornavia and Eireann will also be party to the single market, only with their original currencies intact. An Arendaaler, for example, can drive across the border into Batavia where shopping, groceries and diesel is cheaper and pay with the same currency that they use at home. Account transfers will also be made easier with fewer fees as everything will be set in just one currency. There are, of course, worrying points that the accountants of every Norazone member state will keep in mind.

Batavia's economy is still learning the ways of the free and open market. Unemployment remains high, the service and financial industries are growing, but remain years behind the other NC member states in terms of modernity and stability. Many fear that the Batavian economy will drag the other Norazone economies down or, at the very least, lead to economic growth stagnation and currency devaluation. On the other hand the united strength of the Norazone could lead to faster, more secure growth in Batavia. With set targets and limits that legally have to be adhered to, both the government and private sector will need to remain vigilant and avoid overspending and care-free endeavours. A set value against major regional currencies has not yet been decided upon. Analysts presume that the North Dollar's value could be based off of the currency of Suionia, the largest economy in the NC or the Aren Reath, the second largest.


Regardless of the pros and cons of the coming of the Noorddaalder, on the first of January 2011 the world will be watching as the Bankomats (ATMs) in Batavia, Arendaal, Suionia and Vistrasia spit out colourful new banknotes valid across the Norazone states.
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Europe Risking Civilisation: Van Vliet

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Arjan van Vliet addressing Parliament on Wednesday

Vlaanderen, BatavianCapital Territory, Batavië.​

Batavian Foreign Minister Arjan van Vliet criticised the involved parties of the South-Gallia Conflict and said that Europe was putting the very essence of civilisation at risk. Addressing Parliament after an eight-hour emergency cabinet meeting in response to this week's accidental military drill, Van Vliet said that starting from today his office would do everything in its power to get the involved conflict parties to the negotiating table.

Aides close to Van Vliet, who also served as Foreign Minister under the De Graaf regime, say that he would prefer to work within the framework of the Northern Council to help resolve the conflict dispute, but the organisation 'is not there yet'. The participation in the naval theatre of the largest NC member state, Suionia, is also making things 'very difficult' in Hilversum. Meanwhile the NC Great Council Summit in Whitehaven, Cornavia, is expected to discuss the conflict as a top priority item.

Van Vliet has offered twice so far for all involved parties to attend a Batavian-mediated negotiation meeting, which would be conducted in both a typical formal fashion and also 'informal', meetings in green rooms instead of conference rooms to discuss various concerns of all parties. Meneer Van Vliet said today on his way out of Parliament that 'any government that doesn't send a delegation to an offered peace negotiation is incredibly foolish. I'm sorry, but in my thirty plus years of diplomatic experience I know how to pick out those with an appetite for conflict and those truly seeking a resolution.' He refused to specify who he believed were hungry for more conflict. So far only Frescania has said that it would attend the offered negotiations, but only if the armed parties send delegation first.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Alex de Jonghe, who has been dealing the domestic crisis regarding this week's military drill, said that he has charged President Joost van Randburg with the task of talking with foreign powers that may be able to help settle the conflict faster. President van Randburg, who has mostly ceremonial duties, has in the past been used as a mediating official and a compromiser. He boarded 'The Griffin' 747 jet today for his first visit: Nokanawa.

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[Socialist Commonwealth]

Commissariate for Foreign Affairs

The entire issue of peace in southern Gallia rests in Belmonts hands and theirs only. Once Belmont withdraws and ceases its belligerent actions, the entire conflict is over. While we, for the sake of peace, would attend a summit if Belmont considers such discussions necessary, we really do not feel they could be anything but a delay. Belmont can make no demands towards Coronado - and the RDTO is a force of peace, perfectly satisfied with a Belmontian withdrawal and apology at this point.

 

[Coronado]

Embajada de Coronado
Emabssy of Coronado
Vlaanderen, Batavië

I have been informed by my government that such a conferrence is indeed possible, but I must remind the Batavian Foreign Minister that it is Belmont, by their own admission, that is the aggressor in this matter as it is their air forces that have attacked sovereign Coronadan territory and killed innocent Coronadan citizens. As long as Belmont attacks, Coronado will continue to defend itself.

Hector Garcia
Coronado's Ambassador to Batavië

 

[Batavië]

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nieuws op elk uur, Rapport op 20.30 GMT- 1 1/2​

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»» Foreign Minister Arjan van Vliet has formed a 'regional crisis team' to help coordinate and manage Batavian efforts to find peace in Gallia. The team will be working with other peace-seeking government in the world and region and will be tasked with getting active parties of the conflict to attend negotiations in Hilversum.

»» President Joost van Randburg en route to Nokanawa to address government officials there regarding 'possible solutions' in relation to the South-Gallia Conflict.

»» A professor of political science at Hilversum University who was barred access to old SV records regarding the disputed border with Arendaal near Lake Bijkal has filed a lawsuit against what is now known as Vepo for the withholding of public information. Whether the information is public or not remains debatable.

»» Winter weather is on its way with expected delays in flights at Vlaanderen-Vaanta International Airport due to heavier than normal expected snow. Extra salt, sand and service vehicles in neighbouring Gauteng Province have been put on reserve standby.

»» Prime Minister De Jonghe took his investigation into this weeks accidental use of 'Operation Lockdown' by raising it to level of Official Federal Investigation. A special parliamentary committee will be formed to go over every detail leading up to and through the event, which rattled nearby governments and cost the economy as yet unknown amounts of productivity. One MP said that 'at least it shows our military is still capable of doing its job and able to remind the region what we have still.' A member of the Conservatieve Unie, the MP was booed out for 'such an outlandish statement'.

​

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[Batavië]

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nieuws op elk uur, Rapport op 20.30 GMT- 1 1/2​

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»» Foreign Minister Arjan van Vliet's Regional Crisis Team has convened through christmas to discuss the South Gallia Conflict. The team's spokesman has conveyed the group's disappointment that Belmont has so far refused to accept Batavian mediation offers, supported by Telora and a host of other concerned governments in the region and beyond.

»» A group of concerned academics have joined the lawsuit filed against the Veiligheidspolitie after the intelligence agency barred a professor's access to records relating to Lake Bijkal, located in Arendaal yet still officially claimed by Vlaanderen.

»» Trade Batavia has launched both a government to government and commercial advert campaign to promote Poortstad as the better alternative for Scanogermania-Cathay shipping. The port has received billions of nieuw rand in both foreign and domestic investment to increase it's holding and sorting capacity. Ships sailing west from the city can reach Cathay in a similar amount of time compared to those sailing east, yet they avoid the conflict zones and straits by instead traversing colder northern waters by Warr.

»» Worried about air strikes and other possible conflict dangers, KLM Airways has discussed temporarily cancelling flights from Vlaanderen-Vaanta International Airport to both Paris and Toledo.

»» The Northern Council must 'discuss it's collective security seriously' says Batavian high Representative Karl Oosthuizen.

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[Batavië]

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NC Northern Dollar Legal Tender - Vlaanderen Public Transport at Odds with Weather - NC Sec-Gen Supports First Round Peace Talks in Telora

Good evening, it's 20.30 GMT-1 1/2 in Vlaanderen, you're watching Rapport. I'm Ilse de Bruin.

[The show's theme music plays as the logo flashes across the screen before settling into a blue backdrop, behind which is a zoomed in map of Scanogermania. The anchor is placed in front of the back-screen, which shows the time, date and headlines.]

»» From the first of January of this year Northern Council citizen in Batavia, Arendaal, Suionia and Vistrasia began using the new single currency of the NC, the Northern Dollar. From midnight onwards the new, colourful banknotes were dispensed from Bankomats, teller drawers and began filling up in customer wallets. Batavia was the only Norrazone (Northern Dollar member zone) member to switch to the new currency immediately without delay. The nieuw rand, the former currency, is no longer legal tender, but will be accepted for exchange for the next two months.

[Shots of people withdrawing the new cash from bankomats, using the banknotes to buy products and such appear on the screen as the reporter continues. ]

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Although Cornavia and Éireann opted out of the currency, all NC member states now are part of a single market and customs union, meaning business and trade within the bloc will be less expensive, simpler and without so much bureaucratic red tape. While for large corporations and governments the switch is enormous and will bring about much change for years to come, for the common consumer there are also obvious benefits. Shopping across borders will now be easy. Converting currency, usually costly because of fees, is now less present. The NC is also preparing to implement an open internal border, meaning when driving, travelling by rail or even walking, business operators and citizens alike will easily be able to shop and trade where they wish, without hassle at the 'invisible' borders all while using the Northern Dollar.

The Northern Dollar has quite a few official names pertaining to the various official NC languages. In Batavia and Vistrasia the Dutch name is the 'Noorddaalder' and the one-hundredth subdivision is termed a 'rappen'. All banknotes have the official languages printed on them, with half appearing on one side and the others on the reverse. The coins are language neutral and show only denomination numbers.

The denominations of the Northern Dollar are as follows:

5nd, 10nd, 50nd, 100nd, 200nd, 500nd in banknotes
2nd, 1nd, 50rp, 20rp, 10rp, 5rp in coins

The Act of Northern Parliament, which adopted the single currency, can be read online at the NC's Public Act Depository:

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-----

»» Heavy January snow and temperatures reaching -22 degrees centigrade have created a 'winterchaos' for the Vlaanderen Transportbedrijve (VTB), which has been unprepared for clearing the tracks and stations.

[The report begins as the images of frozen overground trains and snow-filled tracks are shown.]

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Amidst the VTB's multi-billion northern dollar expansion and upgrade project, lasting until 2012, unusual winter weather has flung the entire transportation system of the capital into a winter chaos. The Overground Train system, the primary method for getting around in Vlaanderen, a massive city growing at a rate never before seen in Scanogermania, has had such trouble staying in service that on some lines trains are arriving every forty minutes, instead of the usual four. This means, of course, crowded trains and stations, some people forced to wait hours for a train with enough room. The Underground Metro, built in the 1950s and containing only two lines, is also packed, yet services a much more limited area in comparison to the Overground.

The VTB has asked travellers to factor in major delays when moving today and has states that VTB city bus services will be increased to make up for the delayed Overground services. Meanwhile construction efforts to expand both the Overground and Underground networks have all but stopped. With so much snow and such frigid temperatures the Ministerie van Arbeid en Mankracht (Ministry of Work and Manpower) ordered all work held outdoors to be cancelled until such a time that weather conditions improve. The federally mandated delay will cost the VTB millions of northern dollars per day and push back the opening of expanded lines by weeks.

Vlaanderen-Vaanta International Airport, lying east of the city and connected to downtown by the O9 Overground train and the new high-speed SpoorJet train has also cancelled hundreds of flights. Train service to the airport has also been severely delayed.

-----

[A map of the world zooms in to Whitehaven, Cornavia where the Northern Council's Great Council conference is currently taking place. Images of the NC's Secretary-General are shown as the large conference continues.]

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»» The Secretary-General of the Northern Council, Hans-Erik Rasmus, a Batavian-Swede, told the press in Whitehaven today that he would support Telora as a location for the first round of proposed peace talks between the parties of the South-Gallia Conflict. The government of Batavia first proposed hosting peace talks in Hilversum, the seat of the NC, but was met with suspicion mostly from the Belmontien side.

Telora, meanwhile, has made use of its neutral position to forward peace talks. Secretary-General Rasmus said that 'it is vital that talks begin, with or without a cease-fire. There can be no preconditions for such negotiations. We first talk an then discover what each side wants to see happen and then from there the diplomats do what they do best and they negotiate. If a party refuses to talk peace, then it is clear what they want.'

The hope of Hilversum is for the first round to be successful and then further rounds to be hosted by the NC, with Telora as a primary co-partner.

-----

Thank you for watching Rapport. Until next time, I'm Ilse de Bruin.

[The studio is seen again as the anchor smiles. The camera zooms out and pans and the 'btv Rapport' logo fills the screen before the theme music fades out and adverts for Bataafsche Spoorwegen's SpoorJet train appear, Coop Bank current accounts and EasyJet holiday packages to Fulanistan take over.




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[Serenierre]

Foreign Office
Classified

The Kingdom of Belmont, if the situation arises, would endorse the NC memberstate of Arendaal as a sight of talks, with the full partnership of Telora.

 

[Batavië]

Explore the Beyond​

Out of Work in Batavia?

Batavian citizens, as with all citizens of the Northern Council, will soon be granted the right to travel and work wherever they please within the NC. But even before these life-changing laws come into effect, you can still make the move abroad for a change and a journey into the beyond. Can you not find work in your field here in Batavia? Perhaps your factory has closed or your company no longer exists. There are plenty of jobs available to you in Arendaal, Suionia, Vistrasia, Cornavia, Éireann and beyond. Stop by an Immigration Batavia Work Office today to learn more about the various opportunities available for you. There a dedicated Immigration Batavia worker will explain to you the job application procedures and necessary visa requirements (visas within the NC will not be needed after passage of new laws). You will also learn how you can send money in the form of remittances back home to Batavia to support your family.


Want to Work in Batavia?

Have you exhausted all work possibilities in your home countries? Have you seen the adverts on posters and billboards in your home city? Batavia has jobs for you in the agriculture, elderly care and home sectors and more. Immigration Batavia can assist you in finding a job in Batavia as well as acquiring the necessary application documents and work passes/visas. Foreign temporary and semi-permanent workers are afforded free Dutch lessons for up to 12 months and the government will also assist in finding flats and accommodation.


Vpa provides monthly benefits to Batavian citizens working and studying outside of Batavia as well as temporary workers and foreign students studying within Batavia. Visit your local Vpa office today to learn more about your rights as a Batavian citizen/resident. Services available in Dutch and Batavian-Swedish at all locations, German at many others.

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Vpa—The Social Insurance Institution of Batavia
Provider of social security benefits for all residents of Batavia

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[Batavië]

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2 NCD (noorddaalder/northern dollar)
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Does De Jonghe Have Competition?

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The PM's potential problem: Alfons Diepenbrock in Zingapoer (Wing Sing) on a research visit

Vlaanderen, Batavian Capital Territory, Batavië.​

The Social Democrats rallied together in the elections of March 2010, the first ever in Batavia, right after the fall of communism. Lead by the popular Alex de Jonghe, the party was called the saviour of the country and the builder of the new republic. Indeed, De Jonghe and the social democrats have made great progress in their 10 months of leadership and governance. The economy has grown substantially, infrastructure projects continue to build a proper network for the people and the economy. De Jonghe flew around the world to ask for loans, grants and other forms of help from governments and got it. He pushed hard for the founding of the Northern Council and at the start of this year got most of the NC to adopt the Northern Dollar as their new, single currency.

So what's not to like?

Just ask political activist Alfons Diepenbrock, a recent doctoral graduate of Hilversum Universiteit who wrote his thesis on Batavia's transition from militaristic communist dictatorship to flourishing democratic wonder kid. He points to all sorts of problems that are either ignored by the Social Democratic Party or not dealt with in the right way.

Unemployment & Immigration

The official unemployment rate in Batavia stands at 18 per cent, but actual figures are likely to be closer to 25 per cent and rising. Under communism hundreds of factories, whether they were productive or not employed the majority of Batavians, as did the large agricultural sector. With the coming of market reforms in the spring of 2010 many of these jobs left when the factories closed. Only a few have been rebuilt or modernised. Meanwhile the government has developed a complex, although orderly, immigration scheme. Many Batavians emigrate to other Northern Council countries to work in factories or in the construction industries. Back at home vital jobs, that most Batavians won't consider to take, are left vacant. The farms lack extra hands. Landscaping companies have no help and kiosks and other small businesses in large cities have no one to hire.

Immigration Batavia, the ministry charged with handling the in and outflows of people on the administrative level (Immigration and Checkpoints Authority Batavia actually handles the borders and airports) has launched massive international poster, radio and television advert campaigns in Himyar and Cathay to get these jobs filled. Refugees and thousands of temporary workers also flock to Vlaanderen-Vaanta International Airport seeking new jobs. They get free Dutch lessons and even support from Vpa the Social Insurance Institution of Batavia, which hands out monthly grants to all residents of the country.

Alfons Diepenbrock wants to continue to see the country remain open to newcomers. He admits that some jobs are just not going to be filled by the typical Batavian. Yet he wants to see less Batavians leaving the country for low-skilled labour within the NC. 'Professionals, of course, should be crossing borders without trouble. But we have factories to fill and other ideas to implement.' he said at a recent gathering in De Grenz, a city on the border with the Free Union suffering from factory closures.

The Military

Scanogermania's largest fighting force still has not been reformed as promised. Sound familiar? Leader of the Svenska Folkpartiet, Erika Balström, has also called for the government to reduce the size of the military drastically, reform the training system and modernise it to a capable defence and disaster-response force. Diepenbrock wants to go further. He envisions strengthening co-operation with fellow Dutch-speaking country Vistrasia by sharing costs and training ideas and improving communications. The rumours that began brewing this winter about Threveburg and Vlaanderen sharing operational usage of the Batavian aircraft carrier, the De Graaf would be put to reality quickly if Diepenbrock had his way. He also wants to introduce a mandatory draft for both men and women of two years. That would unify the country and prepare everyone for desperate times, hopefully never seen.

Diversify or Die

Diepenbrock dedicated nearly half of his thesis to the theme of diversification in the context of the national economy. Although growing and developing rapidly since the Social Democrats took power, he points out that this is just the early euphoric stage and it would have happened underneath any political party. He remarks that the country is still far too dependant on agriculture, basic factory production (cheap cars, low-tech machine parts etc.) and mining.

'Let us continue to grow our mining sector. Let us remain the bread basket of Scandinavia and the producers of the best dairy products. Let us reopen these so many closed factories, but build more advanced technology within.' he said at a recent gathering in Poortstad, the country's gateway to the world. Diepenbrock wants the logistics industry to be strengthened and supports expanding the port facilities in Poortstad. He also wants to see the offshore oil and gas industry intensified, but with assistance from neighbouring oil giant Arendaal. Most of all, he wants the country to reinvent the way it does business.

The Country's Greatest Resource

Diepenbrock's visionary ideas are all centred around his belief that Batavia's greatest resource and asset is not natural gas or arable land, but its people. He has binders full of notes and research on how to recreate the education system in Batavia, from the primary level through the tertiary university level. It involves co-operation on the regional and international scale and focusses on getting the youth of the country to be more outward looking for ideas and ways to always keep the country ready for the future. Many of these proposals stem from his extensive time spent in Zingapoer (Wing Sing) where he studied to get his masters in International Relations and Administration. He was inspired by the island city-state's history from being a former Batavian port colony to becoming the second financial capital of the world and business hub of Cathay.

What He is Doing

If you go to a gathering of Alfons Diepenbrock, which are all organised by volunteers and friends online, you will notice no party banners or literature. Diepenbrock does not belong to any of the new political parties born after the fall of De Graaf. Instead he is building a new base of young and old. Yesterday, after finishing a speech calling for the opposition parties to demand fresh elections before the spring, he officially filed papers at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Vlaanderen to form a new political party: Volksactie Partij or the People's Action Party.

Meneer De Jonghe, the free ride ends here.

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Vlaanderen Transportbedrijve​

And now a message brought to you by the VTB:

• City bus lanes are denoted by a continuous red line and operate from 06.30 to 09.30 in the morning and 15.30 to 18.30 in the evenings weekdays. Be sure to clear these lanes during operating hours or face fines of up to 600 NCD$.
  
  
• Remember, those found by the transport police without valid and time-stamped tickets are subject to a cash-only fine of 50 NCD$. Only board VTB transportation services with a valid ticket, available at all stations via automated machines and at various selling points and kiosks throughout the Greater Vlaanderen Area. Just look for the yellow VTB logo!
  
  
• Does someone need your seat more than you? The elderly, handicapped and pregnant have priority for seats on buses, Underground and Overground trains. Please give up your seat and assist your fellow citizens. We can all ride comfortably together.

VTB. Providing commuters with a wide spectrum of transport choices.

The VTB is a semi-autonomous city transportation authority under the charge of Transport Batavia.​

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Diepenbrock Founds Party, Demands Elections

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Alfons Diepenbrock leaves after filing official papers with his co-founders

Vlaanderen, Batavian Capital Territory, Batavië.​

New on the scene, Alfons Diepenbrock today successfully received approval for his new federal party. Called the Volksactie Partij (People's Action Party), he almost immediately called on Prime Minister Alex de Jonghe to hold fresh elections. Speaking at a press conference at his party's news headquarters just outside the Government District, Meneer Diepenbrock said that Batavia's 'young democracy' means that we need to 'find the right fit' for the country, 'hence more frequent elections' while the democracy is young.

People young and old began queuing at city offices this afternoon to register for the new People's Action Party. The speaker for the governing Social Democrats was not available for comment before press time.

As his first official act as the People's Action Party leader, Alfons Diepenbrock telephoned Erika Balström, the leader of the Batavian-Swede Svenska Folkpartiet and scheduled a working lunch for Thursday afternoon. Political circles in the Government District expect the two leaders, who share similar views on domestic politics, to call with a unified voice for federal elections for parliament. The easiest way would be for the two new party leaders to approach the official opposition, the Conservatieve Uni (Conservative Union) to call for a vote of no-confidence, which could be achieved if the smaller Greens and the remaining 6 MPs from the former ruling and communist Bataafsche Arbijders Partij (Batavian Worker's Party) also voted against the government.

The Conservatieve Unie, while currently the second largest party at the federal level, has been facing its own problems as it has failed over the last months to bring forth its own ideas for development of the economy as the Social Dems have. The less conventional method for Diepenbrock and Balström is to go to President Joost van Randburg himself and request Parliament to be dissolved, likely on the grounds of 'widening democracy and the people's choice' as two larger parties are now active and without seats.

Meanwhile both Diepenbrock and Balström have remained silent as to what their ideas are regarding Batavia's foreign policy. While De Jonghe and the Social Dems may have promised too much on the domestic front, few are complaining with the increased foreign ties, trade deals, prestige and the Northern Council. Yet still Batavians have always been very interested in how their government is seen abroad and how it acts with foreign administrations. While Diepenbrock and Balström are experiencing a surge in popularity with their exciting new ideas, they could fall short at the polls (if there is indeed an election) if they fail to produce a foreign policy manifesto.

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RBDF Excercises

Republic of Batavia Defence Forces​

Batavian Republican Ground Forces Exercises

The Batavian Republican Ground Forces will be conducting Live Firing Excercises in the Maarten Island Live Firing Area from 08.00 on Friday, 14 January 2011 to 08.00 on Friday, 21 January 2011.

Blanks and thunderflashes will be used.

The public is advised not to be alarmed and to keep clear of these areas.


Batavian Republican Navy Live-Firing Excercises

The Batavian Republican Navy will be conducting Live Firing Excercises in the Maarten Island Live Firing Area from 08.00 on Friday, 14 January 2011 to 08.00 on Friday, 21 January 2011.

Live ammunition and flares will be used.

The public is advised not to be alarmed and to keep clear of these areas.

The islets of Klein Maarten and Tochtereiland are proclaimed manoeuvring and firing grounds. The public is advised to keep clear of these islets. The public is also advised to stay clear of the prohibited waters off Maarten Island Naval Base and Windhoek (City) Naval Base.


Batavian Republican Air Force Live-Firing Exercises

The Batavian Republican Air Force will be conducting Live Firing Excercises in the Maarten Island Live Firing Area and Northern Windhoek Eiland Live Firing Area from 08.00 on Friday, 14 January 2011 to 08.00 on Friday, 21 January 2011.

Flares will be released during the night firing.

The public is advised not to be alarmed and to keep clear of these areas.



Sea vessels and crafts sailing through the Windhoek-Maarten Straits from 08.00 on Friday, 12 January 2011 to 08.00 on Friday, 21 January 2011 are to keep within the 2km Navigable Sea Lanes and not to stray into the Live Firing Boundary.

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nieuws op elk uur, Rapport op 20.30 GMT- 1 1/2​

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»» The Republic of Batavia Defence Forces announced yesterday a week of exercises for the Ground, Naval and Air forces in both the Maarten Island Live Firing Area and the Northern Windhoek Eiland Live Firing Area. These will be the first Live Firing exercises of the RBDF since the communist regime collapsed last year. Meanwhile the reform and cost cuts of the military remain in the planning stages.

»» Alfons Diepenbrock, leader of the new People's Action Party, met today with Erika Balström, the leader of the Batavian-Swede Svenska Folkpartiet in Vlaanderen. They announced at a joint-party press conference that they will be requesting an audience with President of the Republic Joost van Randburg at the weekend.

»» Suionia's Prime Minister suggested the formation of a Northern Council rapid reaction military force during her address at the Grand Council Summit in Whitehaven, Cornavia. Such a move would break the world's largest economic union from its traditional neutral stance.

»» The Ministry of Manpower has requested that Statistics Batavia conduct a detailed report on the current and future employment needs of the country and to submit this report to the MOM. The MOM believes that more foreign workers, especially in the domestic industry market and agriculture, will be needed in the future, yet want numbers to work with.

»» Trade Batavia began offering foreign logistics, shipping and production companies attractive prices on port permits and warehouse usage fees in Poortstad in conjunction with the Batavian Port Authority. It is hoped that because of the higher shipping insurance rates for vessels travelling through or near the Long Sea that shipping companies will instead reroute their operations through Poortstad and sail west to go east to Cathay.

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President Van Randburg Calls National Elections, Dissolves Parliament

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Alfons Diepenbrock has stirred up the Batavian political scene a year after the fall of communism

Vlaanderen, Batavian Capital Territory, Batavië.​

They are both young leaders of two new national political parties, both of which have no MPs in the Parliament of Batavia. Yet when they met President Joost van Randburg together earlier this week they managed to convince the only man who can call for early elections, other than the Prime Minister, to do just that. As of today the first parliament of the Batavian Republic has been dissolved and the second ever national elections will take place in the middle of February.

Diepenbrock, the leader of the popular People's Action Party (PAP) and Balström, the leader of the minority-supporting Svenska Folkpartiet (Swedish People's Party) make an unlikely couple. Working together they have managed to achieve a mutual goal of calling for elections so that they may obtain seats for their young parties. It also happens to be true that both party manifestos are strikingly similar. If they manage to do well at the polls come February rumours of a coalition government are sure to come to fruition.

The second national elections will take on a different tone for a variety of reasons. For one, Spa, the capital of Noordkaap Province, will fully participate in elections now that the siege and conflict with the Batavian Republican Army (BRA) is over. In the elections of March 2010 those able to voted per post ballots, said to be inaccurate and tampered with by some groups. There has also been a lot of change in less than a year. Economic progress continues but at a high cost. Unemployment continues to rise rapidly, especially among the old, and more recently people are feeling the affects of the adoption of the Northern Councils Northern Dollar (Noorddaalder), which has caused prices in groceries, fuel and most everything else to increase, seemingly overnight.

Alfons Diepenbrock and his People's Action Party have pointed out these and other problems and lays the blame on Prime Minister De Jonghe, who he says is not doing enough to combat these issues. The PAP also claims that the federal government needs to stop taking on more debt in the form of foreign loans and instead encourage more foreign direct investment, ideally from fellow NC economies.

The governing Social Democrats also announced Live Firing Exercises for this week for all branches of the Republic of Batavia Defense Forces in Live Firing Areas on Maarten and Windhoek Islands. Erika Balström of the Svenska Folkpartiet said that this further shows the social democrats' 'unwillingness to reform the military' and has 'cost the taxpayer millions of dollars' in military exercise costs.

A spokesman for the ruling Social Democratic Party said that the party leadership had come to terms with the President's wishes and will actively pursue staying in power 'to forward our party's vision for a democratic Batavia'. Opinion polls show a steady drop in satisfaction with the social democrats and their usual opposition the Conservatieve Unie, which has been facing dissent within party ranks.

A month-long advert campaign in the form of posters, radio and television is expected for all parties, but a new law passed in November will prevent political parties from advertising on university campuses. Prospective and incumbent MPs are, however, permitted to host events on campuses.

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