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Vrijpoort

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Radio Televisie Vrijpoort | Radio Television Vrijpoort
Wij houden U voortdurend op de hoogte | Always keeping you up to date

*The radio news bulletin fanfare can be heard, followed by a woman's firm voice in Vrijpoorts and then Engelsh*

Woman' voice: op de radio, online en op Uw mobieltje, dit is Radio Televisie Vrijpoort | On the air, online and on your phone, this is Radio Television Vrijpoort


A man's soothing radio voice is now heard: Good evening. This is the RTV Engelsh Service with the evening headlines.

//
The Government has refused to comment on the mayhem and deaths in neighbouring Pannonia. While Overseas Relations and Cooperation Vrijpoort has issued a travel notice to the city of Kispest, the Senior Minister's Office stated over the weekend that 'the Government of Vrijpoort condemns violent forms of protest and is saddened to hear of the loss of life in our good neighbour and friends in Pannonia.'

// Boris Titov, CEO of the Standard Group, confirmed that he made a deal with Vistarikan billionaire Jupiter Weiss on a funding and ownership plan for the proposed Emerald Straits tunnel-bridge that would link Vrijpoort to Vistarika. The two billionaires were seen dining and lounging at The Grand Occidental Hotel in central Vrijpoort a few weeks ago. After weeks of meetings between the lawyers of the two conglomerates, the infrastructure project will essentially be equally co-funded. The many companies within the two groups' family of companies will practice their expertise in the planning, construction and operation of the behemoth project. Standard Group will operate the eToll service on concession from the Vrijpoort and Vistarikan governments with a 30-year concession. Messrs Titov and Weiss must now await government approval from Vrijpoort and Altaturra, which is expected to be a formality. Titov was asked when leaving his office earlier today how his working relationship is with Mr Weiss. He said that 'all I can say is that my new friend Jupiter now has a membership at the Vrijpoort Merchant Club and I look forward to welcoming him here to our beautiful and successful city more often!'

// The last month took a turn today when Metro Police announced that a witness has provided information leading to a trader at a hedge fund in central Vrijpoort. No arrests have been made at this point and the hedge fund has not been named. The chief investigator on the case, Detective Inspector Desmond Richelieu, made public today that financial forensics point to dozens of individuals who frequent swinger orgies that often have underage trafficked children present. While payments for access to the parties were naturally made in cash to avoid tracing, the cash withdrawals, travel records and other payment transactions place some of the alleged party goers within the circle of the prime suspect of the murder investigation. Metro Police is working together with the Financiële Garde, Financial Conduct Authority and the anti-financial cime unit of Divisie Éen, the domestic intelligence service. DI Richelieu said that 'this case is disturbing, complex and involves dozens of people who are complicit in the trafficking and sexual abuse of minors. They will see their day in court before the panel of judges, but first we will do everything in our power to extract key information from them that will help us reach the ring leader of this nefarious operation'. Although not yet heavily involved, the Crown Prosecution Service says that some of the party goers may be granted partial or full immunity if they cooperate with the investigation. Of the roughly two dozen people detained so far, half are Vrijpoort citizens, a quarter hold Vrijpoort citizenship and at least one other citizenship and the remaining quarter are resident aliens with an Employment Pass or were visiting as tourists on a Social Pass. The foreigners have been granted access to consular representatives and legal counsel.

// The Financial Conduct Authority has lodged an official complaint with the Senate Financial Affairs and Oversight Committee over what it sees as illegal barriers preventing the FCA from investigating potential financial and securities fraud and crime in the Overseas Crown Colony of the Meridian Antilles. Notorious for the extreme banking secrecy, bare bones taxes and high number of shell companies, the FCA claims that the autonomous colony has denied the Authority access to crucial documents and personnel involved in compliance cases in Vrijpoort. In the complaint the FCA claims that:

'virtually all Vrijpoort domiciled companies, whether fully domestic or ultimately owned by entities and individuals outside the principality, have holding companies and other legal entities registered in the Meridian Antilles. We cannot exercise the law enforcement activities of our office without full access to Meridian Antilles company registration and filing documents. We expect the Meridian Antilles local colonial government to cooperate with the FCA, which they have refused to do. Despite years of meetings and negotiations no progress has been made. The FCA is charged with the financial oversight of all Vrijpoort financial transactions, which in our legal opinion includes the Overseas Crown Colonies of the Meridian Antilles, Batavië and the Dune Sea.'​

Lodging the complaint with the Senate committee has been criticised as partisan and some have said that legal proceedings filed with the First Circuit Court of the Central District of Vrijpoort, which handles the world's largest number of financial and business legal cases, would be more appropriate.

@Vistarika
 
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Vrijpoort

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het financiële rapport
Vrijdex: 5,989.17 (-0.45%) -- VrijCommoditiesEX: 7.515.97 (+0.73%) -- ƒ/€M: 7.9002 (+0.11%) -- Meridian Crude: €M 59.02 (-0.33%) -- Gold Spot: €M/30g 872.64 (+0.72%)

»» Standard Chartered Launches Ostbank subsidiary in Ostmark
»» Venus Hotels & Resorts Quits the Love Hotel Business
»» Troop Surge in Dune Sea Brings Some Relief to Zandhaven but at High Cost
»» Weldaad Wants FTA with CSEAC & Financial Services 'Passporting'

Ostbank will provide most services via mobile apps and its website, hoping to win customers with better rates and intuitive platforms

Standard Group's (VSE: STNG) Standard Chartered Bank, the world's largest bank by deposits, today began operating its new subsidiary in Ostmark called Ostbank. The new bank will only have a handful of physical branches across the newly-opened country, instead offering most services via its slick mobile banking app and website. With few branches and front of house staff, the cost savings will be translated into lower borrowing rates for customers, which the bank believes will help it win a large share of the virgin market. Standard Chartered admitted that the banking license process in Ostmark was 'unusual' and took longer than in most countries where it operates, but that this was understandable given the country's situation. The CEO of Ostbank will hail from Vrijpoort for the first 12 months of operations while a local Ostmarker will be groomed to take over. 85 per cent of the back office staff who operate the call centres and other back of house operations are locals. A 'rigourous' training regime has been introduced to bring the Ostmarker employees up to speed with modern banking operational and compliance systems.

Venus quits the love hotel niche as it fails to keep pace with mom and pop love shacks
Whether teenagers or young adults still living with their families, crowded Vrijpoort poses a pressing problem for anyone wishing to take a tumble in the sheets: where to do the deed? Most Vrijpoorters live with their families until they marry or until they have saved enough for their first flat. Even with generous government grants for first time home buyers, this means the average Vrijpoorter won't leave the family home until well into their 30s. In the 1970s entrepreneurial hoteliers came up with the 'love hotel': cheap, clean, conveniently located hotels near offices and universities. Discretion is a given (most payments are in cash) and the typical stay is just a few hours. While having provided an outlet for sexually pent up young people, they have also purportedly given rise to high rates of infidelity as they make for easy and affordable rendezvous for cheating husbands and wives. Venus Hotels and Resorts (VSE: VENUS), one of the largest hotel chains in Vrijpoort with business and luxury properties flung across Europe, entered the niche love hotel market in 2015 hoping to bring order and style to what is a sub category of hotels still firmly rooted in family-run businesses. Charging a premium for rooms that had more amenities like flat screen LED TVs, coffee machines and nicer bedsheets, the idea was that those hoping for a more stylish and comfortable romp would cough up a few more florins as opposed to roughing it in a mom and pop 'love shack', as they are colloquially known. After 6 years of struggling the 17 Venus Love Suites will be sold off over the next two months.

'Some of the locations made a small profit, others broke even, but most were just money pits. Kids couldn't afford the extra 100 florins and those who could afford it would rather just go to a real full service hotel. But bottom line, most people booking a love hotel don't give a damn about the TV, coffee or bedsheets when all they want is a nice and quick dogging' said Venus's spokesperson.

Zandhaven sees most peaceful week in months with only one shooting, but Opposition raises questions on the financial toll of the Surge
Senior Minister Melinda Weldaad went on national television last year to announce a massive increase in the number of troops that would be deployed to the Dune Sea to help pacify a land descending into armed chaos. Since then the overseas crown colony has more than 20,000 soldiers of the Royal Vrijpoort Expeditionary Force on active duty. Parts of central Zandhaven have been cordoned off behind fortified walls and checkpoints (the green zones) and those who live beyond those gates are subject to constant security checkpoints and patrols and, worse, car bombings and gun attacks from
Hames, the terrorist organisation operating across the desert and northern serengeti. Finally, months after the Surge was first announced, it seems that Zandhaven can breathe, if only a bit more easily. This past week there were no car bombings and only one small shooting - three Hames terrorists opened fire on an Outback Police checkpoint in the northwestern outskirts of the city. All three were killed, but locals aren't counting their chickens just yet.

As one local Zandhaven vegetable merchant said:

'Oh man ja, I tell je bru, ik not see da city dis quiet in long long time, eh! But dem boss men be up tah no good, aiysh!! Regroup! More supply! Wait for da right time ha ha ha. Dat wat dey be doin' bru.'

Meanwhile the leader of the opposition in the Vrijpoort Senate has called for a spending review on the RVEF's operations in the Dune Sea. With significant air and ground assets in heavy use, the government was forced to tap into the principality's sovereign wealth fund late last year. The Royal Investment & Provident Fund of Vrijpoort is intended to invest surplus government capital for the future needs of the citizenry in the event of bad economic times. Weldaad's government was heavily criticised last year when she announced the liquidation of a small percentage of the fund to help cover military costs. The opposition says that this was a clever way of avoiding the thorny issue of raising taxes.


A Free Trade Agreement with CSEAC is desired by the government, but most of all an agreement to allow financial services and products from Vrijpoort to be sold and traded in CSEAC member states without added red tape
Join CSEAC? If you ask most cabinet ministers they will either tell you 'well, you know, we were never asked to join' while others will say Vrijpoort doesn't need it since the city state levies no tariffs on any goods from anywhere already. But one thing that does have the pubs and restaurants of the Government District humming these days is talk of a possible Free Trade Agreement with CSEAC. More specifically, the government wants the 'passporting' of financial services to be agreed upon. Passporting essentially means that Vrijpoort financial institutions like banks and investment firms would be able to offer their products and services to CSEAC markets directly without the need for further authorisation from each country. This would significantly reduce red tape and business costs. Once the standards were agreed upon, one set of rules would apply for Vrijpoort firms wishing to do business in all of CSEAC instead of different rules and applications for each member country. Financial service passporting is the cornerstone of the government's efforts to sign an FTA with CSEAC. At present official talks have not begun but rumours are swirling on De Waterkant in Central that back channel discussions with the Pannonians are already underway.
 

Záhorie

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FrankBank Legal Affairs

The creation of Ostbank by Standard Chartered is a blatant move to ignore the trademark "OstBank" already registered in the Holy Frankish Empire and as a registered business entity in @Ostmark. The trademark, was issued in early January of 2021 and the registration in @Ostmark occured on January 19th, 2021. As the name Ostbank is a clear infringement on both, this is to be considered as a cease and desist notice.

Whereas the OstBank name was:
1.legally trademarked in the Holy Frankish Empire on January 17th
2. Registered as a business entity on January 19th in Ostmark
3. Publicly announced on the 26th of January by FrankBank

Standard Chartered shall

1. Cease use of the Ostbank name and/or marketing of the names Ostbank, OstBank, OSTBank, or similar
2. Agree to no further infringement on the OstBank name.



Failure to comply will result in immediate legal action within both the Holy Frankish Empire and @Ostmark
 

Vrijpoort

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FrankBank Legal Affairs

The creation of Ostbank by Standard Chartered is a blatant move to ignore the trademark "OstBank" already registered in the Holy Frankish Empire and as a registered business entity in @Ostmark. The trademark, was issued in early January of 2021 and the registration in @Ostmark occured on January 19th, 2021. As the name Ostbank is a clear infringement on both, this is to be considered as a cease and desist notice.

Whereas the OstBank name was:
1.legally trademarked in the Holy Frankish Empire on January 17th
2. Registered as a business entity on January 19th in Ostmark
3. Publicly announced on the 26th of January by FrankBank

Standard Chartered shall

1. Cease use of the Ostbank name and/or marketing of the names Ostbank, OstBank, OSTBank, or similar
2. Agree to no further infringement on the OstBank name.



Failure to comply will result in immediate legal action within both the Holy Frankish Empire and @Ostmark

Van Daalen Wakefield Price LLP
On behalf of our client, Standard Chartered Bank N.V.

Dear Sir or Madam,

Many thanks for your notice.


We kindly request documentary evidence* of the claims listed in your statement. Such as, for example, public postings of the trademark and business registrations of 'OstBank' as well as the public announcement of the commencement of business operations under the name 'OstBank'.

Furthermore, as corporate registrations in Ostmark are the purview of the business registration authority in Ostmark, we request that your legal department provide us with evidence of such registration. The business registration authority of Ostmark has also neither complained nor made our client aware of any discrepancies or errors in our client's corporate registration. Typically the responsible government authority for corporate registrations handles such matters before they are escalated to legal action.

Until we have received this preliminary evidence our client will continue to operate as it sees fit under the name of 'Ostbank GmbH', a fully owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered Bank N.V., which is a publicly listed corporation on the Vrijpoort Securities Exchange, owned 70 per cent by the Standard Group Conglomerate.

Should your legal team at any time wish to discuss this matter in further detail we would be happy to make our offices in Vrijpoort or Chagny available for meetings.

Regards,
Joost van Daalen, Managing Partner

*OOC: by evidence I just mean links to the post :) also let's take this to the Business Thread where we can continue the legal volleys and/or meetings.
 

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beeld.vp
jouw wereld. jouw krant.
de nummer één vrijpoortse krant in Vrijpoort. - 5ƒ

De hedgies willen ze ondersteunen, maar wie zullen ze kiezen?!
(The hedgies want to support them, but who will they choose?)
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Hedge fund owner Bruno Scarlatti entertaining Pannonian guests this week at one of his typically extravagant parties
Vrijpoort - Some arrived on KLM flights from Becs, first class of course, while the party bosses came in on private jets owned by the big man himself. That's right, beeld has the exclusive scoop on this week's biggest party in the glamorous Rivonia district hosted by none other than Bruno Scarlatti who was entertaining members of the Forward Pannonia far-right political party.
Bruno is famous for his lavish parties, held almost weekly, to reward his top earners, entertain clients and woo potential investors for his hedge fund, Scarlatti Cap. Band, booze, girls and boys, there's something for everyone at a Bruno party and this one was no exception. The hedgie (industry slang for hedge fund managers) rented out the ballroom of the Compass Rose Resort and Casino and booked his Pannonian guests suites. But it gets better! He threw in 100,000ƒ (approx. 12,800€M) in chips for the Pannonian boys to play with in the casino. We heard most of them blew it all away but they sure as hell had fun doing it!
So what's De Waterkant's biggest name doing throwing a fancy casino bash for some coo coo crazy anti-abortion nutjobs over the checkpoint in Pannonia? If you've taken your face away from the silvertec trading terminal you might have noticed that our big cousins to the north are having some, er, disagreements on how a woman's reproductive system should be handled and it's resulted in a government resignation. Prime Minister János Csonka resigned but remains a political kingmaker as elections have not yet been called, giving hope to the formation of a new government. But the parties are vying for support anywhere they can get it. As usual when it comes time for horse jockeying in Pannonia the politicians come flying down to VP to get some shekels!
When asked if the party for Forward Pannonia means that Scarlatti Cap will be financially supporting the party of Zoltán Kovács, the firm's Chief Operating Officer, Chaz 'Drizz' Drivers responded, 'Bruno has friends. Many friends. In fact, Bruno has some of the greatest people in the world as friends. Because great people like to make great money and that's what Bruno and his team do at Scarlatti Cap. We make you boatloads of money. Some friends from Pannonia came down for a couple of nights and Bruno put them up in the Compass Rose. There was drinking, dancing, singing, partying and probably some other stuff happened too but it was terrific, really great stuff. Some of the best. What happened to the days when a party was just a party?'
Drizz might not be hungover enough to slip and tell us what kind of backroom deals were being made while the lap dances got underway, but beeld knows that Bruno Scarlatti doesn't spend his cash without reason. Keep an eye out for more on this story. While you're at it you might want to get on your silvertec and buy some Standard Health stock. Looks like that cross-border abortion tourism might stick around for a few more quarters.
Meanwhile we also caught wind of a more subdued but equally as interesting dinner party happening on the same night in Goldkamp where Kristóf Ferdinánd Bognár, leader of the Pannonian centre-left Socialist Party, was being wined and dined by Mauritius Vandéll, founder and owner of Vandéll Kapitaal, a rival hedge fund. Bognár and his comrades dined on Dune Sea springbok and imbibed many decantered bottles of fine Remion Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. Instead of the casino the leaders of the working people were put up in the Grand Occidental Hotel's Vrijpoort East Meridian Company suites. Dashing escorts were seen mingling in the lobby with the lefties after the dinner ended but beeld photographers were shoed away by hotel security before we could get any juicy pictures. Sorry for that folks. Maybe next election cycle!
 
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Vrijpoort

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ADVERTENTIE

IMMIGRATIE VRIJPOORT

Did you know?

Citizens of all countries are permitted to enter Vrijpoort on a Social Pass for a visit of up to 100 days? No visa is required! Just get your passport stamp on arrival. Whether you want to go on holiday, shop, dine, visit family and friends, come for a business meeting or search for a job, you can do all of this on a Social Pass.
There is no need to visit a Vrijpoort high commission in your home country. Just book your flight and come on over.
If you find a job while on a Social Pass just pop by the nearest UniOffice in your district. The friendly case worker will review your job offer and contract and other documents and issue you a Temporary Pass (for blue collar work) or an Employment Pass (white collar or strategic work). That's it! Someone at the UniOffice might even speak your language if your Vrijpoorts, Engelsh, Tiburan or Eiffelandisch is lacking.
Vrijpoort is a human success story built on the shoulders of hard-working people from all over the world. We are a multi-cultural country of immigrants and their offspring. We never say no to fresh blood, ideas and grit. Want to give it a go? Come on over. We're looking forward to meeting you.
Bel ons nu voor meer informatie! | +99 700 7777
Phone us now for more information!
immigratie.vp

IMMIGRATIE VRIJPOORT

Vrijpoort. Waar de wereld gelegenheiden ontmoet.
Vrijpoort. Where the world meets opportunity.
Immigratie Vrijpoort (Immigration Vrijpoort) is a government ministry of the Principality of Vrijpoort. It does not charge for its consultation services or information. If you've received communication from an individual or organisation claiming to represent the ministry, please contact the Consumer Protection and Competition Authority via .
 

Vrijpoort

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de Prinsstad Post
- sinds 1892 -
Meridian Antilles Only Crown Colony Not Financially Dependant on Motherland
Prinsstad - Statistics Vrijpoort published its annual analysis of budgets across the Principality's dominions. Once again the Meridian Antilles remains the only Overseas Crown Colony fully able to fund its budget and social programmes, taking no florins from Vrijpoort and in fact sending tax revenue to the motherland as part of its contribution to national defence and healthcare. Batavië and the Dune Sea remain net losers, both requiring vast sums to keep their budgets upright.

Batavië, still centuries later largely reliant on plantations and mining, continues to fail to diversify its economy. Tourism has remained a relatively small portion of the economy due to poor infrastructure and high crime. Gallo-Germanians still prefer the pristine beaches of the Meridian Antilles or nearby Al-Magrab. A new oil and gas refinery near Windhoek, capital of Batavië, came online earlier this year, but Staatolie, Vrijpoort's national oil and gas company, has been unable to fill all jobs locally and has been forced to fly in Vrijpoort and other foreign human capital to run the top jobs. The company says it is busy training local Batavians to take over more jobs at the refinery but that it will take time. Meanwhile Batavië remains stuck with multicultural spats and segregation. The Madarayan community continues to keep a grip on supermarkets and other retail. Nethians work for minimum pay in the mines and on plantations owned by white Vrijpoorters. Street fights and race riots are common. It is quite the opposite of the Vrijpoort motherland where social engineering policies have been able to maintain order and harmony for decades despite blaring multicultural differences within the population.

Meanwhile the Dune Sea remains in the midst of an insurgency with no signs of ending. After nearly a year of fighting, the terrorist group Hames continues to outwit the Royal Vrijpoort Expeditionary Force and the Outback Police. Despite a surge in troop numbers and a massive increase in the use of drones and air strikes, the nimble ragtag group is able to keep a steady supply of weapons and supplies through the porous borders. The frequent shootings and car bombings keep people at home and on edge while the economy retracts one quarter after another. The Senior Minister of Vrijpoort, Weldaad, even authorised a withdrawal from the sovereign wealth fund to help cover the costs of the military endeavours. The Vrijpoort Senate has been reviewing the military financial costs behind closed-door special committee sessions. Meanwhile reports are emerging the the RVEF and Outback Police are engaging in torture, which is likely to bring more problems to the troubled southern Himyari crown colony.

The Meridian Antilles remain peaceful and sublime. In the fourth quarter of 2020 the Office of Island Immigration recorded a 20 per cent rise in permanent resident applications from high net worth individuals over the same period the year before. With no income tax, the Meridian Antilles offer residency to anyone who can prove a high enough income to cover all living and social expenses. In return the individual must spend more than half the year on the islands (officially 180 days plus one minute). Given the same time zone as Vrijpoort and the frequent 4-hour flights connecting Prinsstad with the global financial centre, many millionaires and billionaires have chosen these pristine islands as their home, including hedge fund billionaire Bruno Scarlatti, a common site in the ritzy beach clubs of Prinsstad West. Villa sales continue on an upward trend and the Island Council is deliberating opening up more land for residential development.

While many see this as wise and necessary some aboriginal islanders are concerned about overcrowding, access to water and other environmental effects that could come from more development. The Island Council says it is reviewing all concerns and has engaged the services of a third-party auditor to research what possible effects may arise from further development. Most of the smaller islands will not be included in any future development plans unless they are for tourism-only purposes such as small to medium sized resorts. Permanent dwellings for private use remain restricted to the four largest islands with most located on the main island of Coraço, where the capital Prinsstad lies.
 

Vrijpoort

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het financiële rapport
Vrijdex: 5,702.17 (-1.77%) -- VrijCommoditiesEX: 7.634.17 (+0.90%) -- ƒ/€M: 7.79004 (+0.14%) -- Meridian Crude: €M 61.47 (-0.51%) -- Gold Spot: €M/30g 891.01 (+0.42%)

»» Situation in Pannonia Places Vrijpoort at Heightened Military Alert; Leave Cancelled
»» Remion Refuses to Ease NFZ in West Zara, Causing Major Civilian Air Delays
»» Markets Continue Downward Trend
»» SkyShield, Indigenous Aerial Defence Technology, Will Go Online Earlier than Planned

Pannonia continues to splinter, placing tiny Vrijpoort on highest military alert in decades

Leave has been cancelled, reserves are likely to be called up, the Sky Force has conducted quadruple the number of normal sorties in home front areas and bomb shelters have been opened for full capacity for the first time in decades in a non-drill capacity. The principality is not at war, but its most important neighbour is falling apart. Pannonia, Vrijpoort's largest trading partner, source of hundreds of thousands of daily commuters from West Zara and oldest and most important political friend, has gone from cultural political crisis to an existential one. With ethnic minority regions breaking off and forming militias backed by countries near and far, the Pannonian central government under Zoltán Kovács is struggling to stay in control. Senior Minister Melinda Weldaad ordered the Vrijpoort Civil Defence Force to be placed on full alert in case conflict crosses into the principality and civilians require shelter and aid. The Royal Vrijpoort Expeditionary Force is just two alert levels away from wartime status. Why the reaction?

Vrijpoort is small. It has no hinterland, despite multiple overseas colonies. It is 95 per cent urbanised. If it is attacked, the plan has always been to rely on air superiority, ample military and civilian bunkers and a call to arms to nearly the entire fighting-age population. Men and women perform mandatory military service for 3 years from age 18 and remain in the reserves until age 40 with regular training. Weapons depots are scattered throughout the city. Thankfully, due to being located in what was once considered a peaceful corner of Europe and its mostly neutral diplomacy and importance as a global financial centre, war has not been seen in the city-state for generations. But the pragmatic leaders always knew that things could change quickly - and they have.

Timmothy Burbank, senior researcher at the Gallian Institute, a think tank, said that 'Vrijpoort proper hasn't known war for a long time but its rowdy colonies, previously in Batavia and now in the Dune Sea, have kept the military and intelligence service busy and experienced. The principality is highly unlikely to join a war directly, but their clandestine services are known to employ controversial methods of espionage and sabotage, although never confirmed nor denied. The military itself could also move swiftly into West Zara if required. Senior Minister Weldaad is surely being briefed on this scenario as we speak, but it would most likely be a move of near last resort, sort of an emergency break to prevent chaotic bloody spillover from the Pannonian province into the eastern outskirts of Vrijpoort. How the other regional actors would respond to such an incursion is not entirely known as this scenario hasn't been studied much. One could imagine that they might look the other way if it appeared to be mostly aimed at preventing civilian suffering during what is an expanding civil war. The other powers, Remion seeming to be the ring leader, could very well have their hands tied with other, larger actors in the theatre. This might leave the possibility for them telling Vrijpoort, "look, you handle West Zara. You make sure there aren't neighbours killing each other and troops slaughtering civilians, but if you turn your intervention into an occupation with the aim of supporting Kovács and the central government, we will find out and we will drive you out." It's just really an unknown at this time, but Vrijpoort's decent relations with most actors, and very good relations with Trier, could provide it with some political capital to help them understand why the stability of West Zara is so critical for the city-state. Its very existence could depend on it'.

Remian NFZ more than a nuisance, costing an estimated ƒ400m per day
The unilaterally imposed no-fly zone on West and East Zara by Remion has been labeled illegal and dangerous by the government of Vrijpoort and formal protests have been raised, but to no avail. Hundreds of daily flights coming into and out of Vrijpoort Transcontinental Skyport usually traverse the now closed airspace. Rerouting costs not just fuel, but time. Valuable time. Air traffic controllers in the Vrijpoort Flight Information Region must now get planes through a much narrower north-south corridor, increasing congestion and causing more holding patterns. Air cargo has especially been hard-hit as passenger flights are often given priority. Air freight rates have gone up and the just-in-time manufacturing sector can ill-afford even the slightest delay in delivery of parts. Many business trips have been cancelled and many florins wiped off the market value of companies in the country. It is estimated that about ƒ400m per day (about 50m €M) are lost each day the NFZ remains in place. The Senior Minister's Office confirmed earlier today that Remion refused a request to ease small sections of the NFZ and did not respond to a request for alternative ideas to make things easier in the region. The Senior Minister's Office spokesperson did say, however, that should Vrijpoort's territorial integrity, including airspace, be breached, the Royal Vrijpoort Expeditionary Force would respond swiftly with force. The SMO spokesperson also said that if the air and sea around Vrijpoort becomes 'unreasonably restricted', the RVEF would use 'all resources at its disposal' to open up safe passage for Vrijpoort merchant marine and civilian air traffic. To date there have been no incursions into Vrijpoort airspace by foreign powers, but the Sky Force said that it has seen an alarmingly increased number of military sorties in close vicinity to the principality.

Markets in Vrijpoort and Europe have worst May in 3 decades
The Vrijdex index of the top 50 companies in Vrijpoort is at an annual low, joining others across Europe; commodity prices are soaring; Meridian Crude, the benchmark oil price, has topped €M60 and the Vrijpoort Florin is nearing a 7.80 handle against the Euromark. The disintegration of Pannonia, and perhaps more alarmingly to investors, the threat of military intervention by regional and overseas powers, is causing havoc on De Waterkant. Traders can't keep pace with the orders and hedge funds are pouring money into oil, steel, munitions and other weapons producers. Even the canned food companies of Europe are getting interest from the market makers of De Waterkant, who seem to care nothing of the pain and suffering north of the border, but certainly eye an opportunity.


SkyShield will be deployed in Vrijpoort in June - months earlier than planned
Military researchers have been working on the project for years. Small, agile surface to air missiles designed to protect civilian areas and military assets from other missiles, launched from mobile launchers, have been the dream of the Sky Force for generations. The city-state has always been vulnerable to bombardment from its earliest days as a trading haven on the Meridian. In the modern day, the threat comes from missiles from some theoretical enemy (thankfully few and far). SkyShield, as the project was dubbed and then later officially named, has received trillions of florins of research and development investment, not just from the government, but also from private investors, many with sentimental and business interests in keeping the city safe and well protected. SkyShield has had successful testing in the Dune Sea over the last few years but has only been used once in a real-world setting. Last winter when a handful of Hames terrorist rockets were fired at Zandhaven, the Sky Force decided to take a Sky Shield unit conducting tests nearby and take aim at the incoming rockets. 83% were shot down. With Pannonia heading into a chaotic and violent potential civil, possibly regional war, the military top brass were able to easily convince Senior Minister Weldaad to bring up the deployment of the project. The first SkyShield launchers will be brought online in undisclosed locations in Vrijpoort in June. Sky admirals had expected to use it mainly against Hames, but it seems that the home-grown project is needed a bit closer to home.
 
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Border checkpoints temporarily shut over weekend due to surge in Pannonian refugees

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Pannonians stuck on the motorway when the border was closed this weekend.

Roosevelt Gardens, 07.06.2021
- Immigration and Checkpoints Authority Vrijpoort temporarily shut all land checkpoints with Pannonia this weekend due to an unmanageable surge in Pannonians claiming refugee status. From Saturday afternoon until just a few hours ago land crossings were not possible. Commuter and regional train traffic was cancelled and the motorways in West Zara had queues of stopped traffic stretching tens of kilometres into the suburbs. The Royal Vrijpoort Expeditionary Force was dispatched to the border checkpoints on Sunday morning to assist with the situation.

Vrijpoort has the most open border in the world with no nationality requiring a visa to enter the country. Work permits are relatively easy to come by. Under normal circumstances a Pannonian can cross into Vrijpoort by just showing their passport or national ID card (hundreds of thousands of Pannonians cross the border daily for their commute from West Zara). Since the civil unrest and breaking up of Pannonia began last month, the Vrijpoort government has tightened border controls with officers asking more questions. Many of the Pannonians are trying to enter with cars full of personal items and bags full of hard currency. Some are outright declaring their desire to claim refugee status at the border, thereby obliging the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority Vrijpoort officers to begin processing the paperwork.

Normally refugees and asylum seekers enter Vrijpoort via the Transcontinental Skyport. ICAV said that 'the number of people claiming refugees status at the Roosevelt Gardens and Jasper checkpoints, the two largest, is unprecedented and we don't have the personnel, facilities or experience to deal with this, which is why we asked for military reinforcement. We had to temporarily shut the border over the weekend to prepare for the combination of refugees and daily commuters on Monday.'

The Senior Minister's Office has said that the flow of refugees is only likely to worsen over the coming weeks:

'The illegal and undemocratic partitioning of Pannonia and the fomentation of ethnic tensions by foreign powers who have an interest in staking out claims is driving many people to seek refuge to avoid the growing conflicts. This is sad and despicable. Governments around the world should be thinking about the people on the ground who suffer when situations like this get out of hand. Supporting dialogue, negotiation and peace is how we will see an amicable and calm resolution to the crisis in Pannonia.'

The government has said that all refugee claims will be reviewed in due course but that delays are to be expected. One senior official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that many of these Pannonian refugees will need to be flown to makeshift camps in the colonies:

'There's no way our cramped city can take in tens or possibly hundreds of thousands of Pannonians. The Pannonian central government is unable to create refugee camps on the West Zaran side of the border. The Remion no fly zone is probably causing the Vrijpoort government to refrain from constructing camps in West Zara as it might be seen to be militaristic. Simply put, we are going to see Pannonian refugees flown to Batavia or the Dune Sea, because there's no way those bougie folks down in the Meridian Antilles would take them in.'

Already there have been 8,000 Pannonians permitted to enter the country over the weekend with pending refugee status. Pannonians with employment passes or temporary passes (for unskilled work) do not fall into this number, but many of them may also seek refugee status in the coming weeks. The Ground Force was seen building fences and tent structures near the Jasper checkpoint on Sunday afternoon. de MORGEN attempted to ask a sentry what they were building, but our journalist was escorted out of viewing range and told that he had entered a 'temporary military zone' without authorisation.
 

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Vrijdex: 5,543.02 (-2.06%) -- VrijCommoditiesEX: 7.762.44 (+0.72%) -- ƒ/€M: 7.8012 (-0.33%) -- Meridian Crude: €M 65.01 (+0.80%) -- Gold Spot: €M/30g 903.22 (+0.67%)

»» RVEF Invades Thalgau Region of Pannonia
»» Pannonian Air Force Jet Shot Down by Sky Force
»» Florin breaches 7.80 to the €M, Meridian Crude Smashes through 65 and Gold Surpasses 900
»» Government to Build Refugee Camps in Thalgau to Handle Ever Growing Inflow of Pannonian Refugees

In a nighttime blitz, the RVEF crossed into the Thalgau suburbs, drawing both local praise and international condemnation

The night sky of the suburbs of Thalgau was lit up with missile and artillery explosions last week when the Royal Vrijpoort Expeditionary Force launched an all-out blitz against radar, artillery, airfield and other Pannonian military installations. Shortly thereafter Vrijpoorter tank and infantry units crossed the border and rushed to the frontier where Thalgau meets the rest of West Zara. Within hours all of the major suburban towns had been occupied. There were few reports of armed clashes as most Pannonian Army units surrendered immediately. The Sky Force, Vrijpoort's best equipped branch, was on stand-by but was not involved in the operation due to the Remion and Federation imposed no fly zone. Local Thalgäuer police forces had been contacted just prior to the invasion and most cooperated, helping to keep local residents calm. Radio, television and SMS alerts informed the locals what was happening and urged them to stay home until daybreak. There have so far been no reports of civilian casualties as all targets were military in nature. Coalition forces from Remion, Eiffelland and The Federation sharply condemned the invasion, which the Vrijpoort government described as a necessary reaction to the disintegration of Pannonia. Thalgau is home to hundreds of thousands of commuters who cross the border daily to work in Vrijpoort skyscrapers and also shares much culture and history with the city-state. Locals awoke to RVEF soldiers patrolling streets, commuter rail stations and market squares together with local Thalgau police. Many civilians applauded their arrival with the general sentiment seemingly in favour of the invasion which has brought stability and a sure-fire protection against the ZLA terrorist organisation and chaotic mess seen elsewhere in Pannonia.

The Vrijpoort government has insisted that the occupation of Thalgau will be conducted and organised with local leaders and is temporary until the situation in greater Pannonia settles and conflict between warring sides and threats from the ZLA subside significantly. The Senior Minister's Office said that a task force has already been dispatched to Thalgau to work on assisting the provincial government with day-to-day governance and, most importantly, to organise forums of public debate on what future Thalgau should take. The goal, according to the SMO, is for the people of Thalgau to discuss their options and eventually vote in a referendum on their political future. A spokesperson for the SMO said that, 'ultimately, it is up for the people of Thalgau to decide their future. Not Vrijpoort, not Remion, not The Federation and certainly not the terrorist ZLA. We will support them in any way they need to ensure that they have the resources at their disposal to govern now and decide on their future when they are ready'.

Senior Minister Melinda Weldaad brushed off accusations from the opposition People's Action Party that the invasion has greatly damaged relations with The Federation, which issued a thinly veiled threat to Vrijpoort via diplomatic cable. In Senior Minister Question time in the Senate yesterday she insisted that 'Vrijpoort naturally has self interests like any country, but this was not just about the need to secure our borders and prevent terrorists or communist extremists from pressing against our tiny country, but to protect the Thalgäuer people from unpredictable events evolving in greater Pannonia. We have seen Pannonian Army units massacre civilians. We have seen the terrorist ZLA blow up metros and hospitals. We have seen foreign powers from near and far intercede in favour of undemocratic and illegal secessions. The RVEF is there to protect Thalgäuer from violence and instability. We will not involve ourselves further in greater Pannonia. We will not stand in the way of the operations of coalition forces. We will simply protect the Thalgäuer and ensure that their land and our land remains safe and free from chaos. Make no mistake that should our efforts to ensure peace be violated, we will strike back with full force to defend ourselves'.

Pannonian jet shot down by Sky Force had faulty radio, amateur pilot
Just days prior to what is now simply being referred to as 'the nighttime blitz', a Pannonian Air Force fighter jet was shot down by the Royal Vrijpoort Sky Force when it failed to heed radio warnings and crossed into Vrijpoorter airspace over the Flatlands bordering Thalgau. The pilot ejected late and did not survive and his body has been repatriated to his family in Pannonia, all expenses paid by the Sky Force. An investigation into the incident has confirmed that the pilot was an amateur tasked by the Pannonian Air Force to fly the jet to Remion despite the risk of flying in the coalition no fly zone. During flight his radio was faulty and he failed to squawk the requisite emergency code. It's possible that he was worried about being engaged by coalition air forces and wanted to seek refuge in Vrijpoort, which was a much closer destination. The investigative report states that the Sky Force could not take the risk to allow the jet to continue on its vector and followed protocol when dealing with an unresponsive fighter pilot. The government said that it deeply regrets the loss of life of the pilot but had no choice but to enforce the integrity of Vrijpoorter airspace. 'Had the pilot had nefarious intentions he would have had the city centre on Revonia Island well within missile range even prior to breaching our airspace', the report details.

Three psychological barriers have been crossed in local and international markets with Pannonia civil war to blame
The Vrijdex index of the top 50 companies in Vrijpoort has lost another 2 per cent. The Florin is trading at 7.80 to the Euromark. Meridian Crude has surpassed 65 Euromarks a barrel for the first time in years and gold is trading at more than 900 Euromarks per 30 grams. De Waterkant, Vrijpoort's seaside trading and banking district, is abuzz with activity and anxiety. The Pannonian civil war is no longer just a far-off conflict after the nighttime blitz into Thalgau last week and the downing of a Pannonian Air Force jet the week before. The conflict is right on the border and involves Vrijpoorter boots on the ground. Traders are increasingly nervous that the civil war will continue to grow, especially with threats from the Rus growing more apparent. Meridian Crude, the global benchmark oil price, also has the double price driver of the civil war and recent political unrest and violence in Pelasgia, a major producer. Investors are flocking to gold as a traditional safe haven. In the past the Vrijpoort Florin has also been a go-to haven, and still is to a large degree, but confidence has been weakened with the Pannonian crisis now touching so close to the world's financial centre. Veteran market analysts predict the worst is over and are still confident in Vrijpoort equities and securities, but are also recommending that investors maintain portfolio diversification, particularly with overseas crown colony companies and assets as well as some stable markets such as The Federation 'which has a robust and highly developed equities market', claimed one advisor from investment bank Zilverman & Kims.


With space limitations in VP, Government begins building refugee camps in Thalgau
In coordination with the local provincial government in Thalgau, the RVEF has begun to construct refugee camps outside multiple suburbs in Thalgau, which was invaded last week by the RVEF in what is being dubbed a 'preventative protective measure for locals and the home front'. One large refugee camp in the Vrijpoort Flatlands on the border has already begun accepting Pannonian refugees, who have been coming in droves to the city-state. There are still rumours that some refugees will have to be flown to overseas crown colonies, such as Batavia or the Dune Sea, due to space limitations in Vrijpoort. With Thalgau secured, however, the Vrijpoort government hopes that most refugees can stay in Thalgau where, despite linguistic differences due to the diverse collection of peoples in greater Pannonia, they would still remain on Pannonian land.

The camps are using shipping container housing units, a quick and inexpensive conversion process, and will be outfitted with toilets and sinks in each unit and communal shower facilities, communal kitchens, air conditioning and heating and free wireless internet. They will not be fenced in and most of the refugees, as Pannonian citizens, will qualify for Temporary Passes, a type of Vrijpoort work permit that permits holders to work a variety of jobs in Vrijpoort. International Development Vrijpoort, the government agency tasked with aiding development work overseas, says that 'many of the refugees will be able to find work either in Thalgau or in Vrijpoort, but we are still concerned with large numbers of unemployed, not to mention traumatised people and children. We will build schools in the camps to ensure continuing education and the curriculum will be developed by the Thalgau provincial government. Obviously the goal is to get people back home once it is safe and if that is where they want to go, but we need to be realistic and pragmatic. They might be here for a while. Longer term plans may be necessary'.

Interior Affairs Vrijpoort issued statements this week guaranteeing the continuity of the basic goods supply chain in Thalgau and the refugee camps. 'Food, medicines, fuel, etc. will continue to be delivered and stocked as normal. The private sector will be able to continue to operate as normal. Thankfully the Thalgäuer supply chain is already closely interlinked with that of Vrijpoort, so there won't be much of a change. But take this as a guarantee that people will have what they need for their day-to-day lives, backed by the full faith and credit of the Principality of Vrijpoort'.

© het financiële rapport, a Vrijpoort Press Holdings Pty Ltd company | Royal Vrijpoort Chamber of Commercial Trade registration no. VP-109624000 in Revonia Island magistrate's court
 

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RVEF arrests dozens of refugees who turned violent at Roosevelt Checkpoint

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Pannonian refugees turned violent yesterday and lit fires and autos at the border fence between Thalgau and Vrijpoort.

Roosevelt Gardens, 15.07.2021
- The Royal Vrijpoort Expeditionary Force arrested dozens of refugees at the border with Thalgau yesterday as many turned violent upon being denied entry into the principality. Warning shots had been fired earlier in the day yesterday when a small car attempted to ram the border fence. Four men were detained after the incident. After a brief period of calm following the warning shots, groups of refugees, mostly young men, began throwing stones at Immigration and Checkpoints Authority Vrijpoort officers and RVEF soldiers. Tyres and cars were also set on fire, creating thick black smoke around the border. A small section of the fence was destroyed and people began to pour through, but the RVEF managed to halt the advance and arrest those who crossed. Minor injuries were reported.

Thalgau is currently occupied by the RVEF, giving RVEF soldiers extraordinary powers to detain people who pose a threat to law and order. While Thalgau Polizei was handling most of the unrest and arrests, RVEF soldiers were forced to intervene when local Thalgäuer police became overwhelmed. Emergency talks between the RVEF, Homeland Affairs Vrijpoort and the Thalgau provincial government began last night in the town of Lörrach. Jörgi Löwbach, premier of Thalgau, has stressed that most of the violent people are refugees from other parts of Pannonia, not Thalgau and he wants them housed and cared for properly in the RVEF refugee camps. International Development Vrijpoort, the aid agency, is working double-time to get the camps up and running and outfitted properly for all-season weather. Löwbach also floated the idea of sending refugees to the Vrijpoorter overseas crown colony of Batavia where there would be more space. The Office of the Viceroy of Batavia has not yet made any public statements on this proposal.

Financial relief has been promised

Senior Minister Melinda Weldaad stated in the Senaat early this morning that her government will provide financial relief for the provincial government of Thalgau to assist with the refugee crisis. A sum of money will be transferred at some point this summer. In addition to the fiscal support, Weldaad said that she instructed Finance Vrijpoort, the finance ministry, to cut cheques of 10,000 florins (approx. 800€M) for each adult legally registered in Thalgau. This stimulus, it is hoped, will help Thalgäuer feel less pressure from the constantly changing situation and pressure from the flood of refugees. Weldaad's government also hopes that as the RVEF and Thalgäuer government continue to work on cooperation issues, a more potent sense of calm will fall onto Thalgau, despite the war continuing mere kilometres from the border with West Zara.
 

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Vrijdex: 5,600.17 (+0.99%) -- VrijCommoditiesEX: 7.720.58 (-0.99%) -- ƒ/€M: 7.8243 (-0.21%) -- Meridian Crude: €M 62.55 (-0.96%) -- Gold Spot: €M/30g 892.38 (-1.20%)

»» Overseas Liaison Office to be Opened in Bourdignie
»» Reports of Kovács Family Sighting in Prinsstad
»» Hames Temporarily Gained Control of Main Road in Dune Sea
»» Protests at Senate Complex Against Influx of Pannonian Refugees
»» Shortage of Florin Banknotes in Former Pannonia Fuelling Price Increases


Overseas Liaison Office to be Opened in Bourdignie
Although not a formal recognition of the sovereignty of Bourdignie, the imminent opening of an overseas liaison office in Becs-Altstadt will open up diplomatic communication between Bourdignie and Vrijpoort. It is potentially one step away from formal recognition and the transition to a high commission. Bourdignie is the most affluent of the new former Pannonian states and saw very limited fighting during the Pannonian civil war. Vrijpoorter companies and investors are eager to resume normal trading activities with the new country to make up for hard losses over the past year. With the overseas liaison office opened the difference between formal recognition and tacit recognition will be minimal. Experts tend to agree that if relations go well, Vrijpoort could establish full and formal diplomatic relations with Becs by year's end.

The offspring and widow of assassinated Pannonian PM Kovács were reportedly sighted in Prinsstad
Grainy photographs taken by a paparazzi in Prinsstad, the capital of the Meridian Antilles, purportedly show the widow of Prime Minister Zoltan Kovács and her children walking down a main shopping street wearing hats and sunglasses. The whereabouts of the family of the assassinated final leader of Pannonia have been unknown for months. If they are indeed in the Meridian Antilles they would be added to the list of exiled politicians who have called the tropical islands home. Inquiries made with the Office of Archipelagic Affairs were not returned. Some suspect that the Kovacs family has quietly been granted asylum by the Vrijpoort government. Suspiciously, the personal bank accounts of PM Kovacs were emptied within hours of his death from what are now Csegnian and Bourdignian bank accounts. Rapport confirms that forensic accountants in Bourdignie and Csegnia have been unable to fully trace the withdrawals. 'The trail goes cold pretty much in Salen where some holding companies received deposits and then large cash withdrawals were made. We can only guess that the cash was invested in difficult to track instruments such as commercial property or shipping companies. With those kinds of investments the funds could easily have been moved to a variety of shell companies or private accounts in the Meridian Antilles where secrecy laws would result in little information anyway' said a forensic accounting expert with Silverman and Kims, a Vrijpoorter investment bank.

Terrorist group Hames temporarily gained control of main Dune Sea road
Hames has been able to gain control of large swaths of the Outback Desert in the Dune Sea, including small towns and villages, due to the attention of the RVEF pivoting towards Thalgau in recent months. The patrolling capacities of the RVEF were so low that for an entire week, Hames forces were in full control of parts of the N1 road linking Zandhaven with Mtata and Bloemfontein. Bribes called tolls were demanded from drivers and there have been reports of violent beatings if payment was refused. It took a series of punishing airstrikes and elite RVEF Commandos to regain control of the captured road section, which lies deep in the outback. The road was significantly damaged and will take a few days to repair, snarling traffic on the only major tarmac link between the Dune Sea cities. Some members of the Dune Sea Diet in Zandhaven have criticised the RVEF for withdrawing ground troops to send to Thalgau. One Diet member complained that 'they take needed manpower from one of the world's most dangerous places and send them to the cobblestoned and café-laden streets of the picturesque villages of Thalgau. What we need is the opposite: a strong surge of troops to once and for all eliminate the scourge of Hames and regain control of all of the Dune Sea so that we can finally get on with developing our land!'


Protests at Senate demand end to resettlement of Pannonian refugees in Vrijpoort
Protestors gathered in front of the Senate last weekend demanding that the government halt the further resettlement of Pannonian refugees in Vrijpoort. Led by the only Senator from Vrijpoort Eerst (Vrijpoort First), the right-wing nationalist party, the group said that the city-state is already full of people from temporary pass foreign workers, executive expats, permanent residents, citizens, asylum seekers and more. News that the first transport of refugees to Batavië would take place this week were met with applause and cheers, but Senator Geert de Vries of Vrijpoort Eerst said that instead, Vrijpoort should be coordinating with other countries in the region to take in their fair share of refugees. 'We cannot be the landing spot for every poor sod seeking a better life. It's high time we pay attention to the needs of Vrijpoort citizens over the needs of foreigners who milk our country for every florin they can get!'

Short supplies of florin banknotes in former Pannonia are fuelling price increases on basic goods
Places like Thalgau have always accepted Vrijpoort florins alongside Pannonian currency, but since the Pannonian civil war broke out and the Pannonian currency became nearly worthless, most people turned to Vrijpoort florins to buy goods and conduct business. As a major trading currency, florins are easy to get at most major banks around the globe. But the surge in demand over the past 9 months has finally resulted in a shortage of bank notes, especially as the most intense periods of fighting prevented automated bank machines and bank branches from replenishing supplies. Prices for food, fuel, clothes and other basic items have been noticeably increasing in the past weeks. Bourdignie, Csegnia and Eugenia are still working out the logistical complexities of introducing new currencies and getting secure banknotes printed and distributed, resulting in florins remaining the currency of choice for many. The Vrijpoort Reserve Bank said that there is plenty of supply but logistics are standing in the way.

Furthermore, there is the issue of Pannonian gold and silver reserves sitting in vaults with the VRB and private banks. Who the gold and silver belongs to is a major legal dispute. Csegnia is the only country recognised by Vrijpoort, so legally it would be Csegnia that could tap into the precious metal reserves and use those to obtain florins. But despite recognising Csegnia, the Vrijpoort Senate passed a bill over the summer that has temporarily frozen Pannonian gold and silver foreign reserve deposits until a full legal process can be completed. Bill Benzies of Van Daalen Wakefield Pryce, a law firm, said that one possible settlement that would avoid a lengthy and costly legal battle would be to distribute the reserves based on the populations of the different successors states, 'but that is entirely up to the governments of Csegnia, Bourdignie and Eugenia and their legal counsel.' Meanwhile, people who do have florins are hoarding them and using them only when necessary, further adding to the shortage.

© het financiële rapport, a Vrijpoort Press Holdings Pty Ltd company | Royal Vrijpoort Chamber of Commercial Trade registration no. VP-109624000 in Revonia Island magistrate's court
 
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Vrijdex: 5,600.17 (-0.87%) -- VrijCommoditiesEX: 7.720.58 (+0.52%) -- ƒ/€M: 7.9145 (-0.28%) -- Meridian Crude: €M 70.51 (+1.36%) -- Gold Spot: €M/30g 892.38 (+1.34%)

»» SM Weldaad Authorises Naval Taskforce for Bonaventura Bay
»» Neutrality Could Benefit Economy
»» RVEF Southern Command Requests Another Armoured Division for Dune Sea
»» Meridian Crude Surpasses €M70 Per Barrel
»» Heatwave in Dune Sea Highlights Equipment Shortfalls in RVEF


Senior Minister Weldaad Authorises Naval Taskforce to Protect Shipping
With tensions high in the Bonaventura Bay, SM Weldaad has authorised a naval task force to patrol the Bay and protect civilian shipping, especially ships bound for and departing from Vrijpoort. A city-state relying on free trade and naval connections with the Overseas Dominions of the Meridian Antilles, Batavia and the Dune Sea being crucial, SM Weldaad made it very clear in her address to the Senaat on Thursday that the Principality of Vrijpoort will not tolerate any threats, harassment or indeed attacks on civilian vessels in the area. 'This goes not just for Vrijpoort and Dominion-flagged ships, but any civilian vessels in the area any beyond.' commented Weldaad. The Admiralty has dispatched three missile cruisers, two destroyers and supply ships, in addition to the regular Sky Force patrols in the area. Very few merchant marine ships fly the Vrijpoort flag, with many shipping companies preferring that of the Meridian Antilles, a Vrijpoort Overseas Dominion that offers tax benefits and lax regulation for shipping companies and their fleets. Approximately 14% of civilian ships around the world fly the Merdian Antilles flag with shipping companies hailing from all over the world.

Vrijpoort Neutrality Could Benefit Local Economy
By maintaining neutrality among the brewing fiasco between Angliarique, Tianlong and their associated allies, the local economy could be in a unique position to benefit. As the historic entrepot and travel hub of the region and the global financial capital, neutrality could bring an increase in shipping and storage of goods, investments from those seeking safe haven assets and, perhaps most significantly, an uptick in foreigners purchasing real estate in the city. While brokers may be salivating at the prospect of wealthy foreigners from all sides of the conflict and beyond buying up penthouses and luxury flats, many are concerned of the negative effect on housing affordability for locals. Baas van der Torp, an analyst for KNT Advisors, a financial manageent firm, said that 'local citizens and permanent residents might see the value of their property go up, but if they haven't yet jumped onto the housing ladder, they may find entry extremely difficult, while rents will only go up. And that's not to mention the effects rising interest rates will have on housing bonds. Yes, we expect rates to go up in 2024 if the Reserve Bank has any hope at curtailing the hot property market. However, all out war in the region could change our forecasts'.

Dune Sea Unrest Far From Over; RVEF Southern Commands Wants More Tanks
The Royal Vrijpoort Expeditionary Force's Southern Command, based in Zandhaven, has sent an official request to Central Command for an additional armoured division to be sent to the Dune Sea to combat the various militias fighting the government. While the Green Zone of Zandhaven hasn't experienced any bombings or other attacks in recent months, Mtata is seriously threatened and could fall under the control of the militias 'within weeks' according to General Daniel Mgwantabe, head of Southern Command. Air strikes have been unable to curtail the daily attacks on the city's outskirts and roads leading into it. Meanwhile, Bloemfontein, a critical port for copper exports, was struck by a drone attack last week. The RVEF hasn't commented on how they think these militias got their hands on drones, but the most likely scenario is that Badwan desert nomads are being used to smuggle in equipment from northern Himyar. The RVEF claims that with more Verwoester (destroyer) tanks, they would be able to better defend the cities and eventually go on a counteroffensive against the militia strongholds, once they are located in the bush. Central Command is considering the request, which, due to the urgency, would require airlifting the tanks from Vrijpoort and Batavia.


At €M70 per Barrel, Meridian Crude Reacts to Bonaventura Attacks
The price of a barrel of Meridian Crude Oil, the global benchmark, has surpassed €M70 for the first time in over a year as the recent attacks in the Bonaventura Bay and increased military action in the area has spooked oil traders. Tankers from Al-Magrab and Hajr that offload their crude in Vrijpoort and other nearby ports for refining are exposed to an increased risk of military intervention. Insurance rates for these tankers have sharply risen in recent days. Gothic Crude is also up as is Tarusan Lite Crude. Analysts are poinitng to the likelihood that in preparation for war, Tarusa may soon restrict oil exports. 'With supply being squeezed and threatened across the board, we expect €M80 per barrel by mid-winter, possibly higher if war breaks out,' one analyst from Leeuwen Commodities remarked. Domestically, a litre of diesel has risen to ƒ9.49, with a litre of petrol now up to ƒ10.72. The government has recognised the toll this will take on industry and consumers, but has so far refused to lower fuel taxes or release refined petroleum products from the strategic reserves held at the Roosevelt Poort complex on the Vrijpoort mainland. Revonia Island, where the Central Business District is located, has higher prices for fuel than the mainland. Some drivers have been stopped and fined in recent days while trying to cross the border to Thalgau with fuel tanks below three quarters. This law was put in place decades ago to prevent locals from hopping the border for cheaper fuel in the suburbs.

Summer Heatwave in Dune Sea Puts Seven RVEF Soldiers in Hospital
Daily tempratures in Zandhaven and Bloemfontein have consistently surpassed 45 degrees for the past week, with Mtata recording 50 degrees and Grensvoort 52. Seven RVEF soldiers, three at a base in Mtata, two in Grensvoort border checkpoint and two in the Zandhaven Green Zone, were brought to hospital over the past days as the extreme heat caused them to pass out from heatstroke or dehydration. Some squadron leaders, speaking anonymously, have placed blame on Southern Command for not supplying the approaite uniforms and gear for the climate. 'Even outside a heatwave, it's never below 30 degrees here in the summer and we can't be expected to wear uniforms designed for Gallo-Germania as well as thick bulletproof vests. We need specialised dessert equipment. We need our trucks to have working air conditioners. We needs barracks that don't trap heat inside. These are basic things that we expect the RVEF to be able to provide our troops,' said one base logistics commander.

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