Nieuws van Batavië | Diepenbrock Refuses to Apologise

[Batavië]

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

het korte nieuws

»» The Republic of Batavia Navy, whilst conducting Live Firing Exercises in the Northern Windhoek Island Live Firing Area, announced today that yesterday evening at approximately 20.43 a Breotish fishing vessel was escorted away from the exercises after straying from a previously announced water passage. All on board the craft were safely brought to open waters away from the drills, which involved the use of long distance shells and missiles.

»» The national general election campaign began at a sprinting start today as the People's Action Party, led by Alfons Diepenbrock, saw its slogans plastered across some of the best billboards in Vlaanderen and Poortstad, the two most populous cities in the Republic. All major parties also began a radio advert blitz expected to last well into February. The general election for parliament will take place on 18 February after President Joost van Randburg dissolved parliament.

»» The Oikawan Permanent Mission to the Council of Nations yesterday blanket vetoed all standing applications for the General Assembly. The vote was frowned upon by the Prime Minister's Office, especially in regards to the application of Telora. However they did mention that 'certain' standing applications were rightfully dismissed. Vlaanderen typically discounts the CN as a productive body in normal times.

»» At a public gathering in Poortstad People's Action Party leader Diepenbrock said that if elected the PAP would ensure that every citizen would be granted affordable, clean and secure housing as well as steady and secure jobs via a strategical development plan of a wide scope.

»» The Northern Council Bureau of Member Affairs began the first round of accession talks with member candidate Oelar, involving a report on the economy, infrastructure and politics of the country. meanwhile Northern Parliament is about a week away from passing an act that will facilitate a common external border for the world's largest economic bloc. Some NC politicians want to then lobby for an NC visa-free agreement with certain states such as Zingapoer (Wing Sing), which would have to be agreed upon by all participants in the common border zone.
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[Breotonia]

Foreign Office

His Majesty's Government is appreciative of the actions undertaken by the Republic of Batavia Navy this past evening when they escorted a stray commercial vessel to safe waters during a military exercise. We apologize for the operator's ill conceived course decision despite warnings issued by the Batavian's Government.

 

[Batavië]

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2 NCD (noorddaalder/northern dollar)
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Suionia Withdraws from CN, Puts Hilversum into State of Confusion

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Foreign Minister Arjan van Vliet has planned a visit to Drottninggården

Drottninggården, Zweonië (Suionia).​

Following a blanket veto from Oikawa in the Council of Nations, the Northern Council's largest country and home to its largest single economy unilaterally announced its withdrawal from the CN by the end of this week. The move has alarmed bureaucrats in Hilversum, the seat of the Northern Council, and governing leaders across the world. Batavian foreign minister, Arjan van Vliet, was apparently 'most disturbed' upon hearing the news not because of the action, but rather because no other NC member state was told of this move prior to its announcement to the world press.

Van Vliet will be travelling to the Suionian capital this week to meet with his counterpart to discuss these latest events. The Foreign Minister's Office released a short statement today related to this short visit:

The Republic of Batavia respects the Kingdom of Suionia's right to handle its own foreign policy as it pleases. We are, however, disappointed and confused as to why no other NC member state was alerted to this move before it was presented to the rest of the world. Foreign Minister Arjan van Vliet will be discussing this conundrum with his counterpart in Drottninggården and hopes for a fruitful meeting.

Is This a Sign?

One professor of political science at the acclaimed Hilversum Universiteit believes that this is the beginning of Suionia's new policy on foreign relations and multilateral global governance.

'The Queen of Suionia announced at the NC's Great Council Whitehaven Summit this week that her government would like to see a new "World Congress" formed, with support from the NC, as a body fully intended to circumvent and eventually replace the Council of Nations.'

It is not yet clear if all of the other NC members support this proposal especially as it could strain relations with Oikawa and overstretch the NC's bureaucracy and capabilities. As the Whitehaven Summit continues more clues as to how the NC will take this suggestion will be discovered.

Arjan van Vliet also has a plate full of issues in the realm of domestic Batavian politics. With a national general election approaching quickly in the middle of February his own career hangs in the balance. While the former foreign minister for the communist De Graaf regime, and the only remnant from said government, it is uncertain if he will be reappointed to his post in the ministry if the People's Action Party and the Svenska Folkpartiet form a coalition government. Upon his return from Suionia, the foreign minister has scheduled meetings with both party leaders.

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het handelsblad is ook in de hele NC, Zingapoer (Wing Sing), Danzig en evele andere landen verkrijgbaar

 

[Batavië]

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btv documentary: Windhoek — A City and Island of Change

Classical music plays in the background as aerial shots of Windhoek Island are shown on screen. The cliffs of the east coast, the rugged highlands of the interior, the massive mines, the wildlife, the military bases and the temperate, inhabited city of Windhoek. The narrator's voice comes on.

Windhoek. Just say the name to any Batavian and you will hear a variety of responses. Some will immediately think of the military and secrecy while others will take a modern view of the island and think of industry, jobs and a moderate climate in which palm trees line the newly paved boulevards.

Windhoek is name to both the fastest growing city in the Republic and the largest island. For decades, under communist control, the sleepy port city of Windhoek, located in the southwest of the island, was home to no more than thirty thousand civilians who were relocated there by the government to service the massive and secret military presence on the island. The rugged highland interior and its pristine wildlife was used as live firing grounds, tests for new weapons, training of soldiers and other secret activities. A mining company even stumbled upon a strange facility late last year, which is believed to be an old abandoned nuclear power plant. Was Jap de Graaf's Batavia trying to tame nuclear power for civilian or even military use? The investigations of the site are ongoing.

btv will take you on a two-part series of Windhoek Island to examine its unprecedented and truly fantastic growth. Since the fall of communism in January 2010 and the coming of democracy that same March the former civilian travel ban to the island has been lifted. A portion of the northern coast remains in federal government hands as its Northern Windhoek Island Live Firing Area, which was used for exercises this week by the Republic of Batavia Defense Forces. Yet nearly all of the island has been reclassified as open area. Wildlife reserves have been set up, but what really makes the news is the opening of the mineral-rich mines to foreign companies.

Franconian, Carentanian and other foreign-owned companies are the two largest owners at the moment as well as a host of domestic companies. Windhoek is home to Coal, iron ore, uranium, copper and rare earth elements, the number two location for rare earth elements after Sinhai. This massive boost of foreign direct investment and activity has caused Windhoek Province to become the fastest growing province in the Republic.

In the last year the provincial economy rose by no less than 27 per cent. Immense and rapid growth with very little federal government assistance as compared with the mainland provinces. Most of the money has come from foreign government grants and company investment. What is most amazing is the transformation of Windhoek City. Just a year ago it was a sleepy port with old buildings, not night life or entertainment to speak of and poor citizens.

The population has risen from a mere 30.000 to well over 200.000. Foreign expatriates account for around 30 per cent of that total, mostly from Franken and Carentania. Private investors have answered the call of the expectant foreigners. New housing developments are underway with sleek flat blocs and new parks being built. The city council has removed hundreds of dilapidated buildings to make way for newer constructions, widened roads and more. The downtown area is clean, modern and abuzz with activity, handled in a number of languages.

The well off and foreign crowd has congregated outside the city centre in their new buildings, thus demanding a strengthened road network. With great assistance from the foreign mining companies the provincial government has begun work on an expressway system to not only connect these new suburbs with Windhoek City, but also facilitate the transportation of workers, minerals and equipment from the mines in the interior of the island to the city port, where it is exported to the world.

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The Windhoek Expressway System is brand new and is being expanded beyond the immediate city region

Due to the rugged topography of the interior regions of the island, it is not feasible to extend the expressway system deep into the island. A ring expressway is being constructed, but trucks delivering mined minerals must travel along gravel two-lane roads for most of their journey, although paving these roads is also being largely financed from the involved mining companies.

What Makes Windhoek City so Attractive for Mainlanders?

The provincial government and city council have carefully planned every last detail of the newly formed city. Change is non-stop and could very well continue for years as the population is expected to triple within three years. The roads may look too wide or too grand for the amount of vehicular traffic currently using them, but the local politicians have looked well ahead into the future. Public transportation has also not been forgotten. Shiny new buses from Suionia first arrived via cargo ships at the port in the middle last year to service the city's new bus lines. A Bus Rapid Transit System is planned as light rail or a metro were ruled out as too expensive and time consuming.

The climate is also the warmest in Batavia. The Green Stream, the warm waters from the Green Sea which travel north to the southwest coast make it warm enough for palm trees to grow year round. The average temperature in the winter is 14 degrees centigrade, while summer temperatures easily make it into the thirties. What Batavian, used to cold, grey and rainy days, wouldn't want to make the move there?

The job market is also not just open for those willing to work in the dangerous mines. There was already one terrible mine collapse in the autumn. The natural support network for the mining business means all sorts of jobs have been created and demand for workers, both foreign and of Batavian origin, is high. Insurance offices, banks, hotels, taxi drivers, bus drivers, mining offices and more are all short on workers. Windhoek Province also has the lowest taxes in the Republic, for companies and individuals. Every flight from Vlaanderen to Windhoek Provincial Airport is full, while the airlines have trouble filling the return flights.

The Ministry of Manpower has recently begun a campaign both domestically and abroad to literally 'advertise' Windhoek City in co-operation from the provincial government. It has so far been very successful. With flashy television adverts and billboards describing a possible life there, it isn't so odd to understand why the population continues to soar.

We will continue next time with a look into the interior of Windhoek Island where the wildlife, military and mines all coexist. But is it a peaceful coexistence?


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[Batavië]

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

het korte nieuws

»» The national election campaign has heated up after leader of the new and popular People's Action Party (PAP), Alfons Diepenbrock, visited Spa Universiteit in the northern city of Spa, home to the now defunct Batavian Republican Army terrorist group. Speaking to a crowd of students at the country's oldest university, Diepenbrock said that the youth of Batavia need to take the future of their country in their own hands through the new right of democracy.

»» The Northern Council's new foreign affairs and relations envoy began work this week at her offices in Hilversum. A woman and young in her early thirties, her role will be to better organise the collective foreign dealings of the NC while still working in the framework of national sovereignty. The Great Council of the NC discussed a possible common foreign and security policy at its first summit meeting late last year.

»» The Republic of Batavia Defense Forces have completed a one week long Live Firing Exercise involving all branches of the military save for the Republican Guard. They happily reported that the exercises went as planned and were safely conducted. A progress report and military review will now be conducted by Military High Command in Vlaanderen. A small group of activists pressing for the reform and reduction of the military gathered in Västerköping (Westpunt), the Batavian-Swede majority city on the Great Peninsula in the west. They want, among other things, a defense ministry to be created to bring official civilian oversight and rule to the military. The Republic of Batavia Defense Forces remain under an autonomous leadership system, with only the Prime Minister able to give binding instructions.

»» The Moderate Party of Suionia posed a question in Northern Parliament yesterday asking as to why Batavia does not consider switching to right-hand side vehicular traffic. The Northern Parliament is currently debating a new act, which would create a common external border for the NC, making inter-NC border crossing checkpoint-free and open. Batavia has had left-hand side traffic for centuries and the Permanent Mission's Observer in parliament referenced the tradition as well as statistics from Transport Batavia.

»» A Batavian Member of Northern Parliament was quoted in a Suionian newspaper as saying that the accession process with Oelar 'is a brilliant waste of time and money'. He went further by proclaiming that 'Oelar first needs to discover electricity before we even think of letting them join the NC'. The MNP, a member of the Conservatieve Unie, answered questions at an interview in Hilversum for one of Suionia's largest and widest-read newspapers, also commonly distributed in the Swedish-speaking areas of Oelar.
​

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[Batavië]

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2,— NCD (noorddaalder/northern dollar)
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Two Days of National Elections Begin Tomorrow

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PAP leader Alfons Diepenbrock became wildly popular astonishingly quickly

Vlaanderen, Batavian Capital Territory.​

Friday and Saturday the people of the Republic of Batavia will head to their local city and town halls and police stations to vote in national elections, this time across all seven provinces. The city of Spain Noordkaap Province has been peacefully back in control of the federal government since early autumn after the Batavian Republican Army surrendered from the pressures of a long siege and the diplomacy of PM De Jonghe. The world, but most notably the fellow Northern Council member states, will be watching this weekend's elections very closely.

Prime Minister Alex de Jonghe and his majority Social Democratic government have done a lot for the country one year after communism and a brutal dictatorship, but as pointed out by the new kid on the block, not enough. Alfons Diepenbrock, leader of the newly conceived People's Action Party (PAP) quickly used the media to his advancement. He held public gatherings and town meetings and broadcasted them nationally with help from close friends in the television industry. He then allied himself with the other party not represented in parliament, the Svenska Folkpartiet, the minority party for the Batavian-Swede population. Their leader, Erika Balström, agrees on most points of Diepenbrock's manifesto and the two quickly became the perfect political pair, convincing non-partisan President Joost van Randburg to dissolve parliament and order fresh elections.

Who Will the People Choose?

Batavia's democracy is young and some may even say fragile. In the far north around Spa the Batavian Republican Army may be officially gone, but rogue members are still in hiding and could come out at any time. The terror and chaos they ran, setting off bombs in Vlaanderen cafés last year, has not been forgotten. At the opposite end of the Republic, on Windhoek Island, mysterious events over the last few months have occurred. Fires being set on foreign owned mines, trucks carrying minerals ambushed on the desolate gravel roads, the drivers mysteriously disappearing. The government has started to investigate the matters, but deny that 'Celtic Insurgents' may be at work. The island's size and rough terrain make it unclear if suspected enemies lurk within its wilderness.

With Spa forced to skip the first elections of March 2010, Vlaanderen lost some of its legitimacy as a new democracy. This time, to ensure its openness, the Interior Ministry has called in election observers from the Northern Council. A group of some 400 observers from all NC member states will be heading to the polling stations and observing the counting of ballots.

So will the people re-elect De Jonghe and the Social Dems? After all, he did end the BRA's blood campaign, bring the free market (including that new favourite thing: the mobile phone) and help found the Northern Council, which now uses the single currency, the Northern Dollar.

But as the PAP and Svenska Folkpartiet will be quick to point out, unemployment remains over 20 per cent, the military remains too large and bloated, rural areas in central and north Batavia have poor connections to the densely populated south and east and Eskom the state-run electricity company, says that they expect more rolling blackouts this summer as they will not be able to meet quickly growing demand.

'As the seat of the Northern Council, the world's largest and most advanced economic bloc, we should be ashamed and troubled with our country's state. We need to show our allies and the world what we are made of and get this country on the path towards prosperity.' A common remark made by Diepenbrock at his public gatherings.

Analysts are split on the predictions for this election and even expert foreign analysts say that due to Batavia's 'experimental' democracy they cannot accurately predict the outcome. A massive campaign, involving posters, billboards, radio and television, has either confused voters or overwhelmed them or both. Yet some will confidently say that they believe a coalition between the PAP and the Svenska Folkpartiet will come out on top.

A professor of political science at Hilversum Universiteit said that, 'Diepenbrock isn't afraid to tell the truth. He isn't sugar coating the country's problems like the Social Dems like to do to save face internationally. What's more, the People's Action Party is an incredibly interesting mix of the political spectrum. They don't talk about conservatism or socialism or liberalism. They simply talk about productivity and prosperity. Whatever it takes to get there, they will advocate for. That appeals to the average Batavian. We're all frank and honest, of course.'

Polls open tomorrow at 08.00 and close at 22.00 with the same hours for Saturday. Friday has been declared a national 'break-day' by President Van Randburg to allow people off of work to vote.

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het handelsblad is ook in de hele NC, Zingapoer (Wing Sing), Danzig en evele andere landen verkrijgbaar

 

[Batavië]

De Vrije Republiek
De grootste vlaamse krant in de NC​

2,— NCD​

After Long Wait PAP, Svenska Folkpartiet Form Coalition​

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Alfons Diepenbrock, PAP leader and Batavia's new PM

Vlaanderen, BCT. After three weeks of waiting and tedious counting and recounting of the general election ballots oversaw by the Northern Council, Batavia finally has the results of its second ever free election after the fall of communism last year. The People's Action Party (PAP) and the Svenska Folkpartiet (SFP) defeated the incumbent Social Democratic Party to form a coalition government. Taking in 28 per cent of the vote the PAP came out on top and was able to form a majority with the 10 per cent gained by the SFP. The Social Dems and Conservative Unie both lost seats.

Sworn in by President Joost van Randburg earlier today, Prime Minister Alfons Diepenbrock and Deputy PM Erika Balström immediately called a cabinet meeting, in which they announced their new ministers. Not surprisingly a number of positions went to the SFP, a party catering to the five per cent minority Batavian Swedes, but whose policies proved popular enough to attract Dutch-speaking Batavian votes as well. Foreign Minister Arjan van Vliet, who miraculously served as FM both under De Graaf and the first Batavian PM Alex de Jonghe retained his position, solidifying his stature as Batavia's and perhaps the world's most clever statesman. PM Diepenbrock said that Van Vliet's 'professionalism, calibre of work and fantastic language skills' all contributed to his retention of the foreign minister rank, as well as his 'well respected' and deep connections around the world.

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Erika Balström, Svenska Folkpartiet leader and new Deputy PM

Alfons Diepenbrock met yesterday with former PM Alex de Jonghe to discuss the job. He congratulated De Jonghe for his service to the Republic as the first Prime Minister after the fall of De Graaf's brutal communist regime and thanked him for his hard work and progress. 'The time for criticising is over, the campaigns have ended. We now must get to work,' he said after the half hour meeting. And so he has. After the appointment of ministers PM Diepenbrock announced a night session advisers meeting at the PM's residency in Vlaanderen. Expected to last through the night the PM's top advisers, coming from all sorts of academic, political and business backgrounds, as well as a handful of foreigners, are designing a new government plan for the country.

Diepenbrock was clever during his lightening quick campaign rounds so as not to promise anything to the electorate and set himself up for disappointment like his predecessor De Jonghe did. The PAP criticised Social Democratic policies and brought forth their own suggestions, which they say need to be tried, but never said held the magic answer to any of the countries many issues. Over the coming weeks new plans for the economy, military, foreign policy and more are expected to be announced. Later in the month Diepenbrock is scheduled to make an address before the Northern Parliament of the Northern Council in Hilversum to reiterate Batavia's commitment to a more cooperative, prosperous and integrated Northern Council.

One thing seems clear after the election of the People's Action Party and the Svenska Folkpartiet coalition; they seem to be a hand on type of government.

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[Polesia]

পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রক
Ministry of External Affairs

The People's Republic of Vangala hopes the new government of Batavia will pursue more positive bilateral relations and end the anti-Vangalan practices of the past.

 

[Batavië]

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Prime Minister Alfons Diepenbrock greatly admires the long standing relationship shared between the Republic of Batavia and People's Republic of Vangala. Notably over the past twelve months these relations have been strained by the long and difficult transition to democracy and our opening up to the world as a country and people. Nevertheless PM Diepenbrock believes that a working visit may be in order to encourage and foment a fresh look at relations and ties between our countries, especially with so many Vangalans living and working in Batavia and quite a few Batavians, of various positions, also residing in Vangala.

Met vriendelijke groeten,

Buiten Minister Arjan van Vliet

 

[Serenierre]

Secrétariat des Relations Internationales

The République sends its congratulations to Deputy Premier Erika Balström and Premier Diepenbrock on their success in the Batavien general elections. It is hoped by Mme. Aegierre Julienne Mazarin that she can see a improvement in bilateral ties as this new government assumes the mantel of power. The République furthermore commends the rapid transformation of Batavië from a communist state to a democracy of most moral standing.

Sincerely,
Mme. Elisabeth Mercelierre
Secretary of Foreign Relations​

 

[Vistrasia]

Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken van het Gemenebest van Westrasië
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Vistrasia

The Commonwealth would like to congratulate the new Batavian Alfons Diepenbrock with his victory in this election. We hope that relations between Batavia and Vistrasia will further improve under his rule.

 

[Serbovia]

Chancellery of the Imperial Regent
United States of Greater Serbovia

On behalf of the Union it is my pride and joy to express the congratulations of the Serbovian people to Alfons Diepenbrock, in hope that his term will continue as a success and that he will encourage good relations between Batavië and Greater Serbovia and its allies.

By the Grace of God,
His Excellency Life Baron of Upper Taman Alexei Vladimirovich Nikitin,
Chairman-Director of the Union,
Regent to the Imperial Sovereign

 

[Akwesasne]

Ministry of Foreign Relations
Ministère des relations extérieures
Gagiikwewinini mayagi-ogimaa

The Right Honourable Chief Governor of Akwesasne Wedgel Tadaho II and well as the entire Akwesasnan government lead by Prime Minister Joseph Hendrick, we would like to entend our congradulations to both Prime Minister Alfons Diepenbrock and Deputy PM Erika Balström for thier victorious forming of a coalition after this long but prosperous Batavian election. The Akwesasnan delegation looks forward to possibly working with Batavie in the future.

 

[Großlausitz]

Das Auswärtige Amt

On behalf of The Prince Regent and His Majesty's Government we would like to congratulate Mr Alfred Diepenbrock upon his electoral victory.

 

[Guiana]

Office of the Prime Minister

On behalf of government of Guiana, I send my congratulations to Prime Minister Alfons Diepenbrock and Deputy PM Erika Balström on their victories and the successful forming of a new coalition government.

The Rt. Hon. H.F. Mudd
Prime Minister
Guiana

 

[Batavië]

De Vrije Republiek
De grootste vlaamse krant in de NC​

2,— NCD​

Diepenbrock Sets Out on National Infrastructure Tour

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Robtwerpen Scandinavian Rail-Cargo Centre​

Robtwerpen, BCT. Prime Minster Alfons Diepenbrock (PAP) set out on a national infrastructure tour today starting close to Vlaanderen in the industrial satellite city of Robtwerpen. There he visited the newly completed Robtwerpen Scandinavian Rail-Cargo Centre, a massive complex capable of handling the most cargo flows of any rail cargo transfer centre. It specialises in receiving Batavian and Scandinavian rail shipments and sorting them before continuing further on their way south to the port city of Poortstad, which is quickly becoming an import import-export centre for trade heading west to Cathay. The Prime Minister praised the preceding government for approving and carrying through on this project, but remarked that federal investigators have only just begun to uncover fraudulent payments attached to the project as well as waste in the form of contract selling. 'This vital project could have cost much less for the taxpayer.' he commented.

The PM will be continuing his tour to Poortstad tomorrow where he is expected to announce a federal investment package to further dredge the harbour and make it able to double its ship handling capacity in two years as well as service the world's largest cargo ships and tankers. The expansion project must be tendered to both domestic and foreign contractors, which Diepenbrock says will ensure the most efficient expenditure of government funds.

At the weekend Diepenbrock will be taking a helicopter tour of the sparsely inhabited farmlands of the central and northern regions of the country. Experts will be briefing him on the new agriculture techniques beginning to take shape on the farms. New aerial surveys are also being conducted for the feasibility studies of expanding road connections to the north as well as railways. The newly built autosnelweg motorway system has yet to penetrate the upper two-thirds of the Republic, mostly due to lack of demand rather than funds. The People's Action Party believes, however, that the country should look ahead 25, 50 years when the demand will be there. 'If we build the roads and railways now, they will already be there when needed and we can prematurely induce the growth needed in the Noordveld and Noordkaap Provinces to help their economies prosper'.

To end his tour next week the Prime Minister will be visiting the southeast coast to oversee the construction of new oil refineries to end the country's dependency on trucking crude oil to Arendaal for refining.



Meer Nieuws

As part of the PAP's coalition promise to the Svenska Folkpartiet, a national referendum will be organised so that the people can vote on whether or not they wish Swedish to become an official federal language. Swedish is already recognised as official in Noordveld Province.

Admiral Robert Stuyvent of the Republic of Batavia Naval Forces denied reports from the Associated Press that a pair of Batavian destroyers were seen cruising outside the territorial waters of the Caorachstyr Islands of Warre, to the northwest of mainland Batavia. The islands have been fought over in the past and are claimed by Batavia but administered by Warre.

KLM Airways will increase its regional services within the Northern Council and surrounding countries after more than a year of expanding international long-haul routes. The airline has profited from increased levels of Batavian passengers as well as business flyers coming to Batavia for investment projects. The carrier also offers the least expensive business class tickets from Scanogermania to major cities in Cathay with a stopover in the new Vlaanderen-Vaanta International Airport.

A group of protesters gathered in Vlaanderen yesterday complaining about hire prices everywhere due to the Northern Dollar. Protests are rare in Batavia even with the coming of democracy last year as few have forgotten the way demonstrators were treated by the communist regime.



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[Rheinbund]

Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

Also our congratulations to Prime-Minister Alfons Diepenbrock and Deputy-PM Erika Balström. May they continue the success-story of democracy in Batavia. Also our best wishes to Ex-Prime-Minister Alex de Jonghe, who turned Batavia into a successful democracy in such a short time.

Matthias Graf von und zu Seydewitz, Chancellor

 

[Batavië]

De Vrije Republiek
De grootste vlaamse krant in de NC​

2,— NCD​

Christian Group Sues Government over Cross Display

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Vlaanderen, BCT. A small Christian organisation has filed a lawsuit against the Republic in Vlaanderen today claiming that their rights have been violated after an application to place a Christian cross on the steeple of an old church in the northern city of Spa was rejected. Shortly after Christmas, a holiday largely ignored in Batavia with 90 per cent of citizens claiming to be atheist, the Christelijke Volksunie submitted an application to the federal government to place a Christian cross atop the largest church in Spa, supposedly 700 years old. Crosses and the ringing of bells has been absent in Batavia since the early 1950s when the communist government outlawed religion. The churches remained in place for historic purposes, but many went without repair.

The Christian People's Union, however, claims that as a Batavian organisation, they now have the right to place a cross atop their church based on the guarantees provided in the constitution. The new Prime Minister, Mr Diepenbrock, commented on the filing of the lawsuit today when stopped outside Parliament shortly after question period. He said defiantly and with confidence, 'Batavia has no constitution, we have a mixture of independently created laws and texts that guarantee the rights of every citizens and resident of the Republic. Nowhere will this group find anything that guarantees the right to display religious symbols in public. Perhaps these people should close their bibles and go back to school where they can learn about their country instead of fairy tales of wizards who created cults of personality and claimed to walk on water. They will be humiliated in the courts, I guarantee it.'

The PM was criticised after his opinion was given, but a political talk-show on btv conducted a poll that said '76 per cent of Batavians do not want crosses or other religious symbols placed in view of the public'. It is very possible that the Christian People's Union, after a presumed failure in federal court, will result in an appeal and call for a national referendum on the issue. One new law of the Republic requires major and controversial subjects to be decided directly by the people. The call and or results of a national referendum may only be vetoed by the President (currently Social Democrat Joos van Randburg), who is unlikely to intervene. A provincial referendum, however, is untouchable by the federal government, although if in contention with federal laws, a possible victory at the provincial level would still not be seen through due to the blanket federal law on religious symbols.



Meer Nieuws

Northern Council Secretary-General Hans-Erik Rasmus wants another conference of High Representatives and Foreign Ministers to be held to discuss the security of the group. Meanwhile PM Diepenbrock says that while defence cooperation with Vistrasia will go ahead as planned, it is unlikely that the Republic will enter a formal alliance on the likes of the Suionian-Frescanian sort.

PM Diepenbrock schedules visit to Zingapoer (Wing Sing) and is supposed to unveil a new dual-citizenship plan for Dutch-speaking residents of the city-state.

Universal Exports is shifting 'all possible' cargo traffic west to the Northwest Passage in order to avoid the more turbulent & restricted waters of the Long Sea. The route also saves greatly on shipping time and fuel consumption and ships sailing the route receive more attractive insurance rates.

The aircraft carrier 'De Graaf' is being prepared to leave port in Windhoek after more than a year of being forced out of service due to budget constraints. The ship will be escorted to Vistrasia by two destroyers. There it will undergo refurbishment and refitting as well as training for the new dual-national crew. The carrier is not expected to enter active service for some time, however, and a new fleet of planes is also being searched for on the market.




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[Trans-Nineveh]

Ministry of the Exterior
A public communique

". . . It should be common knowledge by now that Alfons Diepenbrock is nothing but a shill for the international banker, a man who white knights financial terror and is bedfellow with all sorts of white collar criminals, safely in their ivory towers in a city we don't need to mention. Like a puppet of a strong he dances the tune of his capitalist masters, willingly sells out his citizens as slaves on the global marketplace and is too much of a narrowminded fool to see the deeper extent of his betrayal.

But fear not, enslaved peoples of Batavia, one day you will see the true nature of your leader, truth will enlighten your souls, but as of now your nemesis Diepenbrock obscures the light of your soul, to keep you in total enslavement to line his pockets with blood money. Your chains will be broken, no longer will any of you bend for the capitalist, live on your knees, stand up and revolt against your treacherous government, headed by a frontman for the globalist banking cabal. . ."

 

[Serbovia]

Main Administration of Atomic Energy
Directorate of Commerce
United States of Greater Serbovia

While confident that the democratic Batavian state is in control of its assets of nuclear energy and is able to secure and operate them appropriately, the GUAE has been instructed by the Union Directory to offer its assistance and consultation should there be need for third-party assistance in improving Batavian nuclear safety and security in connection with matters such as the Windhoek Island discovery.

Alternatively, we can refer the Batavian government to appropriate Serbovian security contractors.

Regards,
Nikola Feodorovna,
Deputy Director for Nuclear Energy
Directorate of Commerce