Teloran News Agency

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• Workers at the University of Børad's commercial computer division have voted to go on strike in opposition to proposals to nationalise the business. The results of the ballot of the 400-strong workforce were announced this morning, with 75% of the total workforce voting in favour of industrial action. The AEMET union, which represents the workers, has said it will fight to ensure that the business is kept in the hands of the University. There has been no response from the President, or the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, as of yet.
• Shipyard workers in Agnafit and Visborg have staged demonstrations in support of the Teloran whaling industry, after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it would oppose any plans to send Teloran naval vessels to the southern seas to protect the whaling fleet from Camden. The statement formed part of a package announced by the President yesterday, which was headed by a commission that would look at regenerating coastal communities. However, whalers are continuing to call for a naval escort for the fleet, which will leave Teloran waters in a month's time.
• Deputy Niels Clausen has narrowly failed in his bid to become Deputy Leader of the National Party's caucus in the House of Session. He was beaten by 51 to 40, with 5 spoilt ballots, in the first round of the ballot, by Deputy Dag Toijer who was widely perceived as the favoured candidate of the party leadership. However, commentators have said that the close result of the ballot will likely deepen unease within the National Party over its future direction.
• Collections of clothes, blankets and tinned food for people displaced by violence in Caria have been held at churches across Telora today. The Free Church of Telora, Estish Church and several smaller congregations held a jointly-organised collection at their churches and halls today. The Free Church has said it will co-ordinate with both the Carian embassy and federal officials on delivering the aid.
• A civil suit against former board members at the collapsed car company Sandvik will be heard after the Christmas recess, a judge had decided. The suit has been brought by several former shareholders and workers in the company, who claim systemic mismanagement at the top of the company was responsible for its failure almost three years ago.

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• The Centre Party has unveiled a legislative package for the New Year, to counter what it calls the "rapidly failing agenda" of President Almquist. Key bills include a proposed fund for winding up the whaling industry, increasing the number of universities and restructuring nationalised industries to include greater worker control. The President's own legislative agenda will be presented on Monday, when Congress returns to session.
• AEMET representatives have said they are making progress in negotiations over the future of the University of Børad's computer division. Emergency talks were called after the workers at the division voted to go on strike, with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce saying it would listen "sensitively" to concerns about a proposed nationalisation. There has been no substantive comment, however, from either side involved in the talks.
• Following reports of troops entering the Arakanian capital Panthein, the Ministry of Defence has withdrawn its request to Congress for authorisation to send military officers to assist in training Arakanian troops. Ministry officials said that the request may be made again once the political situation has stabilised, but they will await further information before making such a decision.
• The end of violence in Caria has led to a drop in agricultural future prices on the Telor City Exchange. Grain, beef and pork prices have all fallen steadily in light post-Christmas trading. Traders have said they expect prices to remain broadly stable, however, until they have a clearer view on how successful Southern Hemisphere harvests have been.
• Estland Development Agency officials have said they expect the new Hyven-2 dam, which will have a generating capacity of 150,000 kilowatts, to start generating next week. The dam's completion marks the end of major works in the Hyven river valley, with the EDA now developing a dam on the Käputäis river, which is due to open later this year.

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• The Navy has commissioned a new Molnet-class destroyer, RTS Hyven, at a ceremony in Agnafit today. The ship, built by Eagle & Ox, was one of two additional Molnet-class long-range destroyers ordered in early 1952 as part of a naval re-organisation designed to replace elderly vessels and grant the Navy greater capacity to protect Teloran shipping outside the country's territorial waters. The new vessel will be joined by her sister later this year, though the first of the light cruisers ordered in 1952 is not due to be launched until 1957.
• Lawyers for the civil suit brought against former board members at collapsed carmaker Sandvik have said they intend to ask for subpoenas to be issued to force the disclosure of documents by a number of federal bodies, including the NIC Bank and Ministry for Industry and Commerce. The suit, which will commence formal hearings tomorrow in Julyents, has been brought by former shareholders and employees in the company, who allege its financial reports were manipulated to hide the true state of its finances.
• The chair of the Senate Transport Committee has said he supports TelorRail's request for expanded funding for electrification, and that believes the proposal will have an easy passage through the Senate. Jens Willoch (Centre-Julyents) has said that the proposal represents a "firm base to build from for the Teloran rail system" and that the increased funding has been "argued for in a clear and concise manner that the committee appreciates." The proposal will come to a vote before the committee on Thursday.
• Textile manufacturer Alfsson & Ek has announced plans to suspend production at its Göta Wharf mill in March to begin a process of modernising the building and its machinery. The Børad mill is the largest single employer in the city, but the company is expected to lay off around a fifth of the workers there once the modernisation is complete, as the new mill will require fewer workers. Alfsson & Ek have said they will work with their employees to help the transition.
• The self-proclaimed "King of Aaland" has announced he will run in the Hansa gubernatorial election, due to be held this summer. Christian Maersk, who proclaimed himself "King" three years ago, has said he will run on a platform of separating the Aaland, Telora's largest island, from the state of Hansa and turning it into a "semi-sovereign" country, "closely affiliated but no longer controlled by" Telora.

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 12:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• Protesters have gathered outside the Camdenite embassy in Telor City after the Camden Prime Minister disavowed any chance of negotiations over their anti-whaling regulations. The demonstrators are calling for the Camden government to apologise for the Prime Minister's remarks. Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, meanwhile, have expressed confusion over Prime Minister Savage's statement, saying that "they hadn't made any recent announcement" and that "we haven't even settled on what our position is yet."
• The TelorRail Appropriations Bill has easily passed the Senate, with all Socialist, Centre Party and Estland Party Senators supporting the Bill, along with many from the National Party caucus. The vote was widely expected to go in favour of the Bill - which is approved separately to the federal budget - after the Senate Transport Committee voted by a two-thirds majority in favour of the Bill last week. The Bill is not expected to face serious opposition in the House of Session.
• After a delay of several days owing to inclement weather, the new Hyven-2 dam has begun generating electricity. The dam, one of several that the Estland Development Agency was authorised to build at its creation, will generate 150,000 kilowatts at peak capacity. It was opened today by the Minister for Industry and Commerce, Dr. Sven Sorenson, who also announced that the facilities of the National Industrial and Commercial Bank would be made available to the EDA for future projects.
• TelBank is to abandon plans to sell its insurance business to another company, and instead will float it on the Telor City stock exchange. Hopes of finding a single buyer collapsed after the leading bidder, Hansa Bank, withdrew from the bidding process yesterday. The flotation is expected to raise a substantial sum for Telora's largest bank, and is expected to take place later this year.
• Shares in Federal Electric have fallen sharply after Senecan firm Avopoly announced it had created a portable transistor radio. Federal Electric had been known to be working on such a device, and the early arrival of the Senecan offering will make it more difficult for the Teloran firm to secure a significant share of the market. There has been no formal comment from Federal Electric today.

That was the news, and now the weather - heavy rain will move in from the south west over night, driven by high winds. Tomorrow will start cold and blustery, with rain still affecting northern and western areas, but this will clear as the day progresses, to be replaced by short, sharp showers. Temperatures will range between highs of 8 degrees in some coastal areas to close to freezing in Estland.

This has been the news and weather with Josef Eisler, and now The World Today with Jaan Rei.

Hello, and good afternoon. Today we will be hearing from a minister and a protester on the remarks of Camden's Prime Minister on the whaling crisis, discussing the future of TelSurance and what that might mean for those of you with policies and talking about the future of air travel with a man who says that cheap flights are only 20 years away.

Let us begin with our first story. Camdenite Prime Minister Liam Savage has re-ignited protests in Telora with comments on the recent dispute between the two countries over Camden's new anti-whaling laws. If you recall, before Christmas Camden passed new legislation which closed its territorial waters to all whaling activity. Teloran whalers, joined by fishermen and trade unions, protested on the streets, whilst the government eventually set up a task force to discuss how best to respond. Now, Prime Minister Savage has said there is no chance of negotiations over this topic with Telora, stating - "We will not compromise on this subject, because we have to choose a set of laws that represents our citizens against the interests of foreign companies." In response, a significant number of protesters have occupied the pavement and street outside the Camdenite embassy in Telor City today, demanding a formal apology for these remarks. To discuss this, I am joined in the studio by the Foreign Minister, Dr. Gustav Orff, and by a representative of the protesters, Mrs. Viktoria Reinfeldt. Mrs. Reinfeldt, could I begin by asking you - what is it that you want from the Camdenite government?

An apology, at the very least. What their Prime Minister said yesterday really was disgraceful - utterly disgraceful. Not only did he show a total absence of sensitivity to people like me, but he refused to show even the slightest inclination towards discussing this in a civilised manner. In particular, we object to his characterising our protests as being motivated by "immeasurable levels of greed".

Yes, I should note that that comment was in regards to companies, rather than individual protesters-

Which shows how little he understands about an issue his government presumes to dictate to other countries on! There was a study done last year by the University of Åaland which showed that over 70% of all Teloran whaling captains are independent business men - they take huge risks to buy vessels and organise the fleets, and most crews do not have a stable job. I, and many of my fellow protesters, have families who will go hungry this year because Prime Minister Savage has decided to indulge in some pompous grandstanding, without even attempting to understand the basic facts of the case, or even show the decency to discuss this matter with others who were affected by his government's decision.

Thank you, Mrs. Reinfeldt. Dr. Orr, if I could turn to you for a moment - what do you have to say to Prime Minister Savage?

Well, thank you Mr Rei for having me on your program. Frankly, if I may, the Teloran government is baffled by the announcement by Prime Minister Savage, who has closed off the possibility of negotiations on this before our taskforce has even come up with recommendations on the future of the whaling industry. How we can decide there is nothing to negotiate before we have even said what we might want to negotiate on is beyond me, but I suspect he has his reasons all the same.

Could you speculate on those reasons? Is he just, as Mrs. Reinfeldt and others have said, seeking to impose his will on others for reasons of self-aggrandisement?

I don't think the justifications advanced by the Camdenite government, which focus on the need to preserve the whale population, are insincere at all. Nor do I think it improper for a sovereign state to seek to ensure that the activities that occur within its territorial waters are compliant with its laws. But I do think that simply declaring an issue closed when the other side has not yet even indicated what it may wish to discuss is strange. Particularly when, if Mrs. Reinfeldt will permit me to say so, the issue had become somewhat less active in recent weeks.

For both of you - what would you say to the Camdenite government today, then? Dr. Orff?

Well, Mr. Rei, I would ask them to explain why they think there is nothing to negotiate when we have not even begun to explore the possibilities of what we might negotiate. Camden should remember that this issue does not only affect its own population, but those of other states for whom whaling has long been an integral part of social and commercial life. I, for one, am still open to negotiations with Camden on the basis of whatever position our taskforce recommends.

Mrs. Reinfeldt?

Apologise for the Prime Ministers remarks. Apologise for trampling on the livelihoods of our families. Apologise for presuming to dictate to the rest of Europe how it may or may not earn a living and then calling the mothers of hungry children "greedy" for standing up for those children.

Thank you both. In our next item...

 

[Natal]

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs
55 Wakerley Boulevard, Camp Hill, Camdenite Capital Territory

REGARDS from the CAMDENITE FOLK and GOVERNMENT

The Commonwealth of Camden wishes to make the statements of the Prime Minister, the honorable Liam Savage clearer by saying that the Commonwealth wasn't aware of the Teloran whaling statistics regarding the composition of the whaling companies. Yes, the Commonwealth will then apologize by calling the Teloran protests as being fueled by corporate greed, but still it will not change its policies regarding the anti-whaling laws. It may have been an error of the consultants and the counselors but still, the laws will remain in place.

The Telorans need to understand that those laws are not targeted at them, but to save the whales, a species that is hunted relentlessly by the humans. By our laws we don't have any agenda of killing random starving people from the northern hemisphere, but to give the whales a safe haven to procreate and to live without the fear of being hunted. The whales don't stay in one place, but swim all over the ocean and if others really want, they can hunt them there, but not on the waters of the Sunset Isles nor in the waters of the Andrew Collins Land. That is something we will not accept. The rationale that the Telorans need to understand is that whaling needs to be limited, as it its always better to exploit a resource for a longer time, than to exploit it all in one run. For that the number of whales needs to rise as it is in a continuous decline because of all the hunting.

If the Teloran people who still say that they need to protest against our policies even after that by telling us that there are so many people starving in the northern hemisphere, then we need to ask them politely but firmly to end this and to exploit the resources near their own home, by sowing the fields of their country and by hunting the whales in their own hemisphere.

The Sunset Isles shall reign free!
​

Signed & Sealed
Ryan James Burns,
Minister of Foreign Affairs​

 

[Serbovia]

Fennian Sosialistinen Kansantasavalta
The Fennian Socialist People's Republic

Ulkoasiain Kansandirektoraatti
People's Directorate of Foreign Affairs

The Fennian Workers' Government reiterates its existing political stance of non-recognition pertaining to territorial claims in the Antarctic continent. Therefore, we regard as null and void the Camdenite claim over territorial sovereignity of so-called "Andrew Collins Land", and dispute the legitimacy of any laws, decrees and edicts issued by the Camdenite government over any Antarctic territories.

The pre-existing economic dispute between the Camdenite and Teloran governments is thoroughly inconsequential for the Workers' Government and the Fennian proletariat as a whole, and within its traditionally recognized borders the Camdenite government is free to act how they wish. However, no Antarctic territorial claims can be accepted in the absence of a commonly accepted international mechanism that would mediate these claims and provide them diplomatic legitimacy on the basis of common agreement between governments.

In the absence of such a mechanism, the acceptance of these claims would set a negative precedent that would render irrelevant the conventional standards of territorial sovereignity and especially those of maritime territories and their accepted limits. In such a state of chaos, any government would be able to define its maritime and territorial extent in a completely arbitrary nature according to the requirements of their own greed, and such a negative precedent would therefore be a significant threat to worldwide peace and stability.

Citizen Otso Niemelä,
Deputy Chairman of the People's Directory of the FSPR,
People's Director of Foreign Affairs

 

[Telora]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Federal Republic of Telora
SECRET

The Federal Republic of Telora shares the concerns of the Socialist People's Republic with regards to territorial claims made by the Camdenite state in the Antarctic, and the legal precedent that has been set. Such concerns have been held back as the Republic was unsure of support for any proposal it might make to correct this change in the international community. The communique of the Socialist People's Republic, signed by Citizen Niemelä, therefore is of great importance to us.

The President has directed me to advance to you a request for a summit - either between members of the executive, or officials - to discuss the drafting a joint proposal to introduce some form of mechanism to prevent, or arbitrate, in these disputes in future. We welcome suggestions for other states that the Socialist People's Republic believes would be both open to inclusion in such talks, and useful to assemble for this cause.

Yours;

Dr. Gustav Orff;
Minister of Foreign Affairs;
Federal Republic of Telora

MESSAGE ENDS

 

[Serbovia]

Fennian Sosialistinen Kansantasavalta
The Fennian Socialist People's Republic

Ulkoasiain Kansandirektoraatti
People's Directorate of Foreign Affairs
To:Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Telora
SALAINEN - SECRET

Having consulted with Citizen Vienala, the Chairman of the People's Directory, and my fellow People's Directors on this affair, I can now relay to you that our government will welcome the Teloran proposal of a summit regarding the status and legitimacy of any Antarctic territorial claims and the formulation of an international regulatory proposal.

Additionally, the scope of such a proposal should not be restricted to the Antarctic, but also concern the general status of maritime territorial sovereignity and claims that so far have been upheld by accepted international practice and bilateral agreements between states. Thus, in addition to determining the status of currently unclaimed territories in the Antarctic continent, we would propose a some sort of arbitrating and regulating mechanism to the current

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signed by several governments.

Citizen Otso Niemelä,
Deputy Chairman of the People's Directory of the FSPR,
People's Director of Foreign Affairs

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has formally withdrawn the proposal to nationalise the University of Børad's computer division, after negotiations with representatives of the university, the staff trade union and Federal Electric, which co-owns the division. Ministry officials have said they will deliver an "alternative package of support" for the division, including a large NIC Bank loan.
• Centre Party Senators have said they will use their upcoming debate motion to bring forwards their coastal communities bill. The bill, which among other provisions will create a fund to help deal with the decline of the whaling industry, has been hailed by some supporters of Telora's whalers in their dispute with Camden as providing a viable option for communities struggling with the decline.
• The Federal Armed Forces have confirmed their exercise plans for the year ahead. Winter exercises will be carried out in Estland, under the codename of NARWHAL in mid-February, and the summer exercises will be carried out around Aaland in July and codenamed CATALINA. Both exercises will involve all three branches of the FAF, and the Ministry of Defence has said it will transmit details of these games to neighbouring states shortly.
• Government and corporate officials have begun to arrive in Telor City ahead of the fifth National Technology Summit. The summit, an initiative of former President Gustav Strand, brings together key individuals in both sectors over a week at Vygret House in the city centre, to discuss new and upcoming technological innovations in the private and public sectors.
• The Dean of the Medical Faculty at the University of Ystad has said that researchers may be close to a breakthrough in developing a polio vaccine. The University has been working on a vaccine for several years, and has reportedly had several failed trials of earlier versions. However, commentators have said that the Dean's decision to go public is likely a sign of confidence that project is close to success.

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• The Estland Party's federal caucus has voted to back two Centre Party bills, increasing the chance that they will make it to the President's desk for signature or veto. After a closed Saturday meeting, the party released a statement saying it would endorse both the Coastal Communities Bill and the Agricultural Development Bill, as both would "be of significant benefit to the communities of Estland, and help restore it to an equal rank in Telora." Sources close to the National Party have said they will hold a similar meeting later this week.
• Telora's third largest car manufacturer, Alvis, has confirmed it will be merging with MagnaIndustries before the end of the year. As part of the deal, Alvis will seek to sell its remaining car making business and instead focus on its larger and more profitable agricultural and goods vehicles sections. Reports say that Opalian, Telora's second largest car maker, will look to buy the facilities as it seeks additional capacity to compete with larger European competitors.
• TelSurance, Telora's largest insurance provider, will be floated on the Telor City Stock Exchange in July, according to its owner TelBank. The decision to float the company was made after TelBank was unable to secure what it called "substantial interest" in purchasing the company outright. The shares will initially be priced at TM 10 each, a significant discount from TelBank's own shares, which were at TM 21 at close on Friday.
• Confirmation hearings for a new Minister for Agriculture and Rural Regeneration will begin on Monday morning. The President has nominated Hannes Svedberg, formerly head of the Ossex branch of the National Farmworkers Association, the largest agricultural trade union, to fill the post. The previous Minister, Olof Horn, resigned in the aftermath of the failure of the President's agriculture bill last year.
• Additional security measures have begun in Estland ahead of the upcoming winter exercises for the Federal Armed Forces, codenamed NARWHAL. Federal Marshals have been posted to railway stations and other major transport junctions, and visitors have been barred from all Federal facilities in the province. Whilst the Estland Liberation Alliance has not carried out an attack for 2 years, authorities are said to be wary of a resurgence driven by resentment at the exercise.

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has closed the Teloran embassy in Cyclopeia, as political violence inside the country continues. The Ministry has said it can "no longer guarantee the safety of even the few staff remaining" and that they would be moved out of the country by a Teloran merchant vessel. Officials have said they are prepared to play a role in brokering a new peace arrangement in the region, both between the different factions in Cyclopeia, and with its neighbours, however they do not believe that the remaining staff in Cyclopeia can usefully serve a further purpose.
• The Centre Party's Coastal Communities Bill has passed the Senate 43-30, amassing support from a significant portion of the Socialist caucus. The Bill will now move on to the House of Session, where Centre Party whips have said they expect to be able to narrowly muster the votes to pass the bill onto the President, who has not indicated whether he will sign it. The Bill, among other provisions, will create a new fund for winding up the Teloran whaling industry.
• Hannes Svedberg's nomination as Minister for Agriculture and Rural Regeneration has been unanimously approved by the Senate's Agricultural and Rural Affairs committee. Mr Sverdberg's circumspect defence of President Almquist's agricultural bill has won him many plaudits in Congress, leading many to hope that he will be able to pilot through a new agricultural bill before the end of the President's first term.
• The NIC Bank has confirmed it will be jointly underwriting and financing a deal to sell Alvis' carmaking division to Opalian, together with TelBank and Demos Bank. The deal is part of a merger of Alvis and MagnaIndustries, which will see the former exit the car market in order to focus on its other businesses, such as engine manufacturing, with which it has a greater overlap with Magna.
• Exercise NARWHAL has begun in Estland, with troops of the 3rd Brigade joining aircraft and warships in practising joint operations in winter conditions. The Exercise, surrounded by heightened security against the potential threat of Estish terrorism, was announced earlier this month by the Federal Armed Forces, and forms part of their annual cycle of exercises.

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...

 

[Natal]

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs
55 Wakerley Road, Camp Hill, Camdenite Capital Territory

REGARDS from the CAMDENITE FOLK and GOVERNMENT

The recent changes in the politics of Camp Hill, meaning the break off of the radical communists from the social democratic Prometheist People's Union and the acceptance of the liberal MPs in the government, a reformation of the external affairs is thus needed. Regarding the Teloran Crisis, or the Antarctic Crisis, in the Teloran political and journalistic circles, the government of the Commonwealth of Camden feels that there has to be some sort of compromise that can be agreeable to both countries.

Our proposal is the normalization of the relations between the Federal Republic of Telora and the Commonwealth of Camden by bringing to an end the Camdenite Antarctic Claim and the Andrew Collins Land. Also, the Federal Republic of Telora would be accepted to continue their whaling operations with the condition that in the breeding and farrowing months, whaling is illegal in those lands. Also, to promote cooperation between our countries, we propose an anti-poaching campaign, in which both Camdenite and Teloran ships are to patrol the southern coasts of the Snieg Ocean in an effort to bring to an end the illegal poachers that come from the destabilized regions of Himyar, where there is no authorities powerful enough to stop them.

This is our proposal, and we hope there is no need to be countered by our Teloran counterparts. We hope that we can work together better to solve our problems and that the events from the last months have been an exception, rather than normality, regarding our relations.

The Sunset Isles shall reign free!
​

Signed & Sealed
Ryan James Burns,
Minister of Foreign Affairs



​

 

[Rheinbund]

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

The Eiffellandian government would certainly welcome a normalisation of the relations between Camden and Telora. Therefore, we applaud Camden's initiative in this.

Rudolph Kögler, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• The Special Prosecutor in the Coastal Communities Act Investigation, Anders Larsen, has issued subpoenas to several members of President Almquist's staff, as well as numerous officials in Governor Eskola's administration in Estland. This follows yesterday's court-ordered impounding of several thousand pages of documents regarding the distribution of funds allocated to coastal communities by the Act, which was passed to assist in the winding down of Telora's whaling industry.
• Vice-President Jessen has confirmed that he will testify before both the Senate Finance Committee, and the Senate Agriculture and Rural Regeneration Committee, as part of their ongoing investigations into the CCA Investigation. The Vice-President is accused by some of ineffective monitoring of the funds being distributed, in his role as chair of the Presidential Taskforce on Whaling.
• TelBank has confirmed its plans to buy the Hansa Mutual Bank, after weeks of speculation over Christmas. Hansa Mutual, which has experienced years of slow growth, had been looking for a larger partner to revitalise the business for some time. TelBank is understood to be using the proceedings from the flotation of its insurance business last summer to fund the deal.
• The Communist Party will unveil its legislative agenda for the year ahead today, in a speech by Chairman of the Presiding Committee, Mr Christian Pedersen. The party, which traditionally votes against every legislative item proposed by the executive, is expected to restate long standing priorities with regards to state control over industry and finance, as well as political reforms.
• Federal Navy officials have confirmed they have "no plans" to dispatch warships to monitor Saaremaan exercises in the northern Thaumantic Ocean. Christian Union Senators had signed a letter to the Naval Office, calling on the Navy to dispatch one of its Molnet-class destroyers to monitor the exercises, but Federal Navy officials have said they have no reason to expect hostile intent from the Saaremaan fleet.

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• The Estish Freedom Front has announced it will be continuing regular meetings with federal officials, after what it described as "sufficient reassurances" regarding the future of funding for Estland. There had been rumours that the Front would suspend the meetings, after the investigation into alleged corruption around the Coastal Communities Act caused the Department of Finance to suspend all payments due under the act. The Department of Justice, which is the lead department in the talks, confirmed it intended to go ahead with the next meeting "as per usual arrangements".
• Vice-President Jessen has told the Senate Agriculture and Rural Regeneration committee that he was "completely unaware" of any impropriety on the part of federal officials in the distribution of CCA funds, and that he strongly contests the negative characterisation of his role in the affair by the press. Responding to tough questions from Centrist and National Senators, the Vice-President did, however, confess that he could've perhaps been more "forensic" in his reading of early reports on the alleged corruption. He is due to testify before the Senate Finance Committee tomorrow.
• Moen Brothers, Telora's largest chain of department stores, has reported only a small increase in profits over last year during the 1956 Christmas trading period. In its quarterly financial report, the chain blamed the colder-than expected weather for driving down footfall in many of its stores, and said as a result it would be slowing down its store refurbishment programme, and cancelling early stage plans to "expand the group's presence in new areas of the country."
• Following inquiries by the Chief Rabbi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Gustav Orff has affirmed that the country continues to operate a "faith blind" immigration policy. The inquiries were sparked by the announcement of the Prince-Bishopric of Gouw Marken that Jews would not be allowed to migrate there without converting to the country's Orthodox faith. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had no plans to comment on Gouw Marken's policy, declaring it a matter of "internal affairs".
• Dimitri Shostakovich, one of the country's most prominent composers, has announced that he will premiere a new symphony, his 11th, at the opening concert of the President's Orchestra of Telora 2017 season, in February. The composers's last symphony was received moderately by critics, who have expressed the belief that his work is declining in quality with age. The chairman of the Orchestra, Mr Siversten, said he was confident of a "return to form" by Mr Shostakovich, who he described as one of the "perennial greats of our times".

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• Vice President Magnus Jessen has told the Senate Finance Committee that he has "no intention" of resigning, after several Senators questioned both his role in the Coastal Communities Act scandal, and his answers to their questions, during a heated 8-hour hearing. The committee is one of two conducting inquires into the Vice President's oversight of the operation of the CCA, as part of his role as chair of the Presidential Taskforce on Whaling.
• Teloran officials have reacted with alarm to a report by exiled Kadikistani economists, entitled 'The Higher they Rise...', expressing concern that underlying weaknesses in the Kadikistani economy would imperil the significant flows of trade between the two countries. The Department of Finance, and the Teloran Central Bank, both issued statements today trying to calm jittery investors, who were moving out of shipping and export industry stocks after the report.
• Deputy Niels Clausen has been elected chair of the House of Session's powerful Finance Committee, after its previous chair, Dr Ludwig Engelstein, stood aside due to ill health. Mr Clausen, who previously had unsuccessfully sought to become deputy leader of the National Party's House of Session caucus, has promised to intensify hearings with federal and Estish officials over the CCA scandal.
• The Hansa Mutual Bank's board has recommended the acceptance of TelBank's takeover offer to its members, paving the way for a merger between Telora's largest bank, and one of its smallest. The board were expected to approve the deal offered by TelBank, and financial analysts say they expect the deal to proceed smoothly.
• The TSS Oxenstierna, the first of the Federal Navy's new class of light cruisers, was commissioned today in a ceremony at Agnafit Naval Base. The cruiser, who will be joined by two sister ships by the end of next year, will provide the Navy with a capable, medium-range replacement for the long-since retired coastal defence battleships Odin and Thor.

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• President Almquist has agreed to testify before a joint session of the Senate Finance, and Agriculture and Rural Regeneration Committees. The request for testimony comes just days after Vice President Jessen provided his testimony on the CCA scandal separately to each committee. The two committee chairs have asked the President to testify, saying that the evidence gathered so far "raises further questions that require answers from the top of the executive branch."
• Special Prosecutor Anders Larsen has requested additional funds and staff from Congress, after the delivery of over a hundred additional cartons of documents to his office in connection with the CCA scandal. The documents were turned over by federal agencies after an archival search, and must be thoroughly examined by the Office of the Special Prosecutor before his report can be issued to Congress.
• The stock market continued to trade lower this week, as worries about domestic political uncertainty compounded earlier concerns about the strength of the Kadikistani economy. Teloran bonds have also dropped slightly in price; the yield on the 10 Year Federal Gilt is now 2.71%. Analysts say they expert the uncertainty to persist until some clarity emerges from the ongoing investigations into the CCA scandal.
• Teloran engineering companies have welcomed the news that Burgundian car giant GR will produce R3/4 Vans in Telora. The GR plant, located in Estland after a significant federal assistance package, is the only foreign-owned car plant in Telora, and supports several thousand jobs in its supply chain. The Teloran Chamber of Commerce said the decision "was a clear vote of confidence in the fundamentals of the Teloran economy."
• The head of the Teloran Trade Commission, Mr Ludvig Monrad, has resigned due to ill health. Mr Monrad, who has headed the Trade Commission since 1949, has mostly followed the lead of successive President on trade policy, rather than using the TTC's powers to recommend as well as negotiate trade deals. The President must nominate a replacement within 30 days.

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

The Telor Tribune​

Editorial: Can He Survive?​

Not two years ago, this paper asked how low the President could go as his administration was rocked by the Camdenite whaling crisis, and disaffection in Congress over rural regeneration. Now, it seems, the question is simply a matter of survival for the President. The response to the whaling crisis - the Coastal Communities Act - has rapidly degenerated into a running sore on the flank of President Almquist's administration, sapping political capital and, we understand, the will of key personnel to remain in the administration. In the face of this mounting political crisis, the President's testimony before a joint session of two Senatorial committees today could surely be the single event which does most to determine if he will even make it to the election next summer.

Hjalmar Almquist has not been entirely unsuccessful - he has carried out significant parts of his legislative agenda, with regards to industrial redevelopment, infrastructure investment, and reforming the administrative structures of several state-owned enterprises. Yet these are dwarfed by the scale of the crisis facing him, his administration, and indeed the whole country - born out of the response to the rapid escalation in the decline of Telora's whaling industry by the actions of the Camden government, who closed the Antarctic whaling grounds. The rights and wrongs of that decision are now moot, for what matters more is that in his response, the President seems to have allowed a rushed piece of legislation to come into effect that distributed significant sums of federal money without proper oversight or care, in an effort to rapidly bring a closure to a difficult political situation.

The charges range from negligence to outright malice, it would seem. At the former end, there stands his Vice President, Magnus Jessen, formerly chair of the Presidential Taskforce on Whaling, who seems to have had a less than focused approach to the responsibilities that this chairmanship brought. Given his extensive involvement in policy elsewhere in the administration - he chairs five taskforces in total, for example - one might feel more forgiving to him. At the other end of the scale, however, lie the actions of such men as Mr Lennart Kint. Mr Kint was an official in the Estish Department of Agriculture, who was convicted on Friday of taking over half the money he was ordered to oversee in a cluster of tiny whaling villages in the very north of Estland. He used this money to purchase a car, fine suits, and several other personal indulgences. The court is due to hand down a verdict on three of his staff on Monday, who are accused of helping themselves to most of what remained. The coastal communities themselves, as far as can be discerned, saw essentially none of the money, nor the intended improvements to cope with the decline of their largest employer.

So this mixture of outright corruption and poor oversight, at both federal and state levels, and in the state that has the most uneasy relationship with the others and the federal government, has come to sap the energy from President Almquist and his administration. His answers tomorrow will have to come on all three fronts - past, present, and future. What did he know; and what did he do on that basis? How far is he willing to go to rectify the problems, and to co-operate in the investigations? And what will replace the CCA, which remains in limbo, all payments suspended, many of the officials involved either under investigation or in court, but with no immediate legislative proposal to replace it on the horizon. These are not easily answered questions, and so it is likely that tomorrow's session will do little to restore faith in the President. Instead, it will likely increase the volume of the voices questioning if he will even make it to the next election.

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 21:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• President Almquist has told a joint session of the Senate Finance, and Agriculture and Rural Regeneration Committees, that he had "confidence" in the Vice President, as well as other senior Presidential officials, who were tasked with overseeing the CCA. The President, responding to robust questioning from Senators of all parties, including his own Socialist Party, testified over the course of 8 hours. Senators questioned the foundation of his confidence, and also his skill in overseeing the CCA and members of his administration; the President roundly defended himself. The chairs have agreed not to ask the President to continue the session for another day.
• Anders Larsen, the Special Prosecutor, has said the extra staff and money released by Congress yesterday will enable him to have a preliminary report to Congress within 6 months, and a full report before the end of the year. Additional staff were requested after federal departments turned over far more documentary evidence that was expected, it has been reported, raising questions about both the scope of the inquiry, and the strength of internal oversight of the CCA.
• Yields on Teloran bonds have continued to steadily climb, whilst the Teloran Mark has remained under sustained pressure, as the CCA crisis shows no signs of abating, and uncertainty persists over several major European economies. Traders in have reported that, whilst there remains a steady appetite for both in domestic and overseas markets, the worries about future political instability were still leading investors to "hedge their bets". At close today, the 10 year Federal Gilt was at 2.8%, whilst the Teloran Mark was off one tenth of a cent against the Eiffelland Mark.
• The President has confirmed the nomination of Professor Ivar Hurum, Chair of the Institute for Trade Studies at the University of Sjöstad, to chair the Teloran Trade Commission. Professor Hurum is a widely respected expert on trade policy, who is believed to represent a continuation of the country's gradualist trade policies. At press time, both the Centrist and Socialist Senate caucuses had expressed initial support for Professor Hurum.
• The Federal Navy have announced plans for the new light cruiser, the TSS Oxenstierna to tour the Gothic Sea this summer, and are seeking invites from countries bordering the sea to visit, after she has finished her sea trials. The plan, designed to build warm relations with Telora's near neighbours, as well as to test out the capabilities of the new ship, has been approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

That was the news, and now for this week's edition of The Day in Telor City...

 

[Telora]

Teloran News Agency
Bringing you the latest news from Telora​

"This is Radio Telora. Now, the 15:00 news, read by Josef Eisler..."

• Hannes Svedberg, the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Regeneration, has resigned as the investigation into the CCA scandal continues to intensify. Mr Svedberg, who had avoided initial suspicion, came under increasing pressure over the last week as the House of Session's Finance Committee began its own investigation into the CCA scandal, focusing on the Ministry. It is unclear when the President will nominate a replacement.
• The Minister of Finance, Johan Clemensson, has unveiled a bill, to be proposed by the President, which would provide immediate financial assistance for local governments struggling as a result of the cessation of CCA funding. The bill, designed with the input of independent experts, will help councils struggling to fill deficits accumulated as a result of the withdrawal of planned funds. Initial reaction to the bill from Congressional leaders has been positive.
• Professor Ivar Hurum, who has been nominated as the new chair of the Teloran Trade Commission, has been unanimously recommended by the Senate Commerce Committee for the job. During his testimony, Professor Hurum said he would hope to "clean house" at the TTC, which has been viewed as conservative in recent years.
• The Teloran Central Bank is to hold a roundtable with major Teloran financial institutions, as the country's bonds and currency remain under pressure on the financial markets. The TCB has told reporters that this is purely a means to "sound out" financial institutions about the feelings of the markets, and that full minutes will be published afterwards.
• Dimitri Shostakovich's 11th Symphony has been received extremely warmly at its opening premiere by the President's Orchestra of Telora. Commentators have described it as "stirring" and "an uplifting force", and a welcome change from the much less well received 10th Symphony. The piece will be performed regularly by the POT during the 1957 season.

That was the news, and now for the afternoon play...