Vrijpoort Press Holdings Pty Ltd - Nieuws van Vrijpoort

[Vrijpoort]

[div] style="border: 1px solid #D8D8D8;; min-height: 500px; background-color: #e6e6e6; padding: 5px; float:center" |

het financiële rapport 7 gulden/guilders​

»» Gang of Five to be Deported per Court Settlement
»» Senate Returns & Vote of No Confidence is on the Order Paper
»» HMS Invincible Arrives in Pohjanmaa
»» Interest Rates Cut as Global Markets Reel
»» Cause of Death of Cussian Ambassador Still Unknown
»» Civil Defence Drill Success but Concerns Remain

CPO Caves from Pressure and Agrees to Settlement with Gang of Five Suspects
After chaotic scenes in the magistrate's court last month forced the court case for the Gang of Five to be put on hold, the Crown Prosecution Office (CPO) has now reportedly agreed to a settlement with the defence team of Van Daalen Wakefield Pryce. Under the deal, all five suspects, who were detained and charged with multiple counts of human trafficking for the purposes of underage forced sexual use, illicit drug smuggling and gun running, will be deported to their countries of origin. They must first pass on all relevant information they may have that could help the Nedernesian authorities pursue the case further. The Royal Commonwealth Mounted Police Anti-Financial Crime Unit has evidence that the true masterminds behind the vile acts reside abroad hidden behind an opaque and complicated corporate web. Once the five suspects hand over information they will be deported to Beautancus, Sylvania and Clarenthia. Police officers from their respective countries will, per standard protocol, take custody of the suspects at Vrijpoort Transcontinental Skyport once the men have boarded their flights. Most of the suspects have families and assets in Nedernesia. The families are not affected by the events but certain assets of the suspects, including cash, stocks, bonds and property, will be indefinitely frozen pending closure of the entire investigation, which sources say could take years. The CPO, which last month had it's head, Mr Mordechai Schlomo, unceremoniously sacked, will be viewed as licking its wounds at its inability to come up with enough hard evidence to warrant the further detainment of the five men. Deportation flights are scheduled to depart on Monday.

Senate Returns from Summer Recess with Vote of No Confidence First on the Order Paper
Head of the opposition Equity and Prosperity Party (EPP), Ms Melinda Weldaad, has secured a victory as she was able to convince other opposition parties to demand a vote of no confidence for Senior Minister Baas Duinman of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP). SM Duinman has been slammed with the Gang of Five scandal and ensuing diplomatic row, heavy Thaumantic action in the Engelsea with a response seen as weak and wavering support on bread and butter issues such as reform of the country's public housing system. The EPP is hoping to win the vote of no confidence and force a snap general election. If the EPP can put together a coalition, Ms Weldaad could take over as new Senior Minister, which could see further cooperation with Post-Delegationist countries ensue.

Royal Admiralty Frigate Arrives in Pohjanmaa
The HMS Invincible today docked in Valdemarsudde on the west coast of Pohjanmaa as part of annual port of call visits between the two navies. The frigate is scheduled to remain in port for two weeks, allowing ample time for sailors to get to know their counterparts in Pohjanmaa landside as well as conduct seminars and safety drills with their allied partners. The journey from Nedernesia to Valdemarsudde was uneventful, according to the Royal Admiralty, with only one minor squall encountered.

Reserve Bank Cuts Prime Rate by 25 Basis Points - Global Markets Continue to Reel
All is not well in the world of global markets. War, threats made against major financial centres, questionable exclusion zones viewed by many as blockades, intellectual property fights and even currency manipulation are choking markets of necessary capital to keep goods flowing and businesses humming along. That's not to mention the perennial Long Sea crises which are still far from resolved. The Nedernesian Reserve Bank has cut its prime interest rate by 25 basis points from 8.25% to 8%; the first drop in over five years. It is unlikely to have much effect but could temporarily calm domestic markets and investory with large exposure to Nedernesia, as well as any businesses that conduct transactions with Nedernesian Guilders (which is many). The Reserve Bank warned, however, that longer term solution would be necessary to prevent 'catastrophic economic turmoil in the medium term'. The Reserve Bank Chairman's remarks, unusually stark, sent the Vrijpoort Securities Exchange tumbling over 3% on Friday.

Mysterious Death of Cussian Ambassador to Nedernesia 'Perplexing'
When the Cussian ambassador to Nedernesia suddenly collapsed in front of the Grand Occidental Hotel in central Vrijpoort last month and was declared dead on arrival at hospital, a local team of coroners alongside a Cussian medical team undertook an autopsy to attempt to find the cause of death. A prelimenary report said that some sort of poisoning is possible but no known substances were found in the body of the ambassador. Further tests will be needed. The ambassador was half Nedernesian and also had Nedernesian citizenship but as he was in the country on official diplomatic business with the Cussian government, his remains will be repatriated to Beautancus as soon as the post mortem process is complete.

Civil Defence Drill Successful but Concerns Remain Around Bunker Space
Last month's biannual civil defence drill saw the successful quick response of civilians, first responders, the military and reserves. Millions of residents rushed to bunkers and underground metro stations, transport came to a sudden halt, air space was cleared and the Sky Force was able to implement a defencive 'umbrella' within minutes. Only a few hundred civilians were issued citations and fines for 'failure to run instead of walk to nearest shelter' with the overwhelming majority of the public doing their duty. Hundreds of thousands in the reserves were also able to access their weapons and report to muster stations within the allotted 3 hours. Despite the resounding success, computer models that simulated a joint missile and air-strike attack said that bunker capacity in certain areas of Vrijpoort was lacking and the hours and days immediately after such a bombardment would be quite chaotic. The Nedernesian Civil Defence Force, which coordinates efforts among first responders, police, military and other organisations in the event of national emergencies, said that it is nearly impossible to practice a real attack and it is of course unknown how the country's defence would respond in a post-attack urban warfare environment. They maintain, however, that 'if any country on this planet is prepared for an urban assault and ensuing battle, it is Nedernesia, have no doubt'. Military Leave for active service men and women, which has been cancelled since July, is unlikely to be reinstated with war right on the Commonwealth's doorstep. Melinda Weldaad, leader of the opposition EPP, has said that if she becomes Senior Minister she will also call in some of the country's 2 million reservists for increased intensive training and patrols.


[/DIV]

 

[Vrijpoort]

[div] style="border: 1px solid #D8D8D8;; min-height: 500px; background-color: #ffe6ff; padding: 5px; float:center" |
Commonwealth Morning Post »» teatime edition
free, independent and ruthless since 1692 - 6 Guilder

Senior Minister Loses Confidence of Senate - Election Imminent
Vrijpoort/Freeport — Senior Minister Bas Duinman of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has lost a vote of no confidence held in the Senate earlier this morning. Rocked by the Gang of Five Scandal, social issues that require major reforms and a falling economy, the SM has succumbed to months of pressure.

SM Duinman immediately left the Senate chamber after the vote back to his offices in Government House. The Senior Minister's Office has so far not scheduled a statement to be given by the SM. In all instances of an SM losing the confidence of the Senate, a general election was called within weeks of the vote. This is widely expected to be the case now.

Melinda Weldaad, leader of the main opposition Equity and Prosperity Party (EPP), had called for the vote of no confidence last month and was successful in reaching the necessary quorum of Senators, reaching out to members of all parties, including from the ruling PAP. The Senate sits tomorrow and it is expected that the Government will announce a general election to take place very soon.

The EPP released a statement after the vote expressing its 'satisfaction and happiness with the results of this vote. Now the people of our great Commonwealth can head to the polls and tell us what they want. We hope that will be a stable, strong, pragmatic government lead by the EPP. Less regulation, more room for growth, more incentives to get the best and brightest to come here to do business and stronger relations with our true partners in the world - that's what the EPP can offer'.

Political analysts have for years labeled the EPP as a political party sympathetic to post-delegationist values, despite the party not having explicitly branded itself as such.


OTHER NEWS
»Markets - The Vrijpoort Securities Exchange was up 2% after news of the no confidence vote in the Senate broke, signalling that investors are ready for a general election, which some say could help bring in fresh ideas to grapple with problems contributing to the current economic malaise. Other analysts warned, however, that much of the economic trouble stems from global problems that a new Nedernesian government would be unlikely to influence.

»Overseas - The Sandhavn Association of Businesses in The Dune Sea has written to the Sandhavn Metropolitan Authority requesting 'long-term solutions for the question of stability' in the Himyari port city and its immediate surroundings. Sandhavn has a large Nedernesian population that runs businesses and industry in the city, while the Metropolitan Authority receives large sums of development aid from International Development Nedernesia, a government agency. Recent terrorist attacks in Natal and the unravelling situation in Nzadiland have spooked the Sandhavn economy.

»Royal Affairs - His Serene Highness Prince Lamberti returned from a family holiday in northern Pohjanmaa today. Spending two weeks at the Royal Family's residence there has been a tradition for decades. Hiking, fishing, swimming, sauna and reading are the favourite activities of the prince, which he says help calm and rejuvenate him from the hustle and bustle of Vrijpoort, the world's most densely populated city.
[/DIV]

 

[Vrijpoort]

[div] style="border: 1px solid #D8D8D8;; min-height: 500px; background-color: #e6e6e6; padding: 5px; float:center" |

het financiële rapport 7 gulden/guilders​

»» King Announces Election for 25 October, Declared a Bank Holiday
»» Q3 Growth Falls to +0.7%, Stagnation Concerns Grow
»» Toyou Community Welcomes Anti-State Support for Touzen Language
»» Sandhavn Metro Authority Approves Stationing of Sky Force
»» Nedernesian Jewish Congress to Launch 'Birthright' Trips for World Jewry

HSH King Lamberti Calls Election for 25 October After Discussions with King'S Privy Council
After Senior Minister Baas Duinman (People's Action Party) lost a vote of no confidence last week, His Serene Highness King Lamberti, after meeting with the King's Privy Council, announced the date of the general election for next Friday, 25 October, which will be declared a bank holiday to allow workers to vote (voting in Nedernesia is mandatory). Polls show that the PAP is at risk of losing its majority for the first time in decades as the Equity and Prosperity Party surges under the leadership of Melinda Weldaad. The EPP has been campaigning on a platform of change including closer relations with like-minded states, increased investment abroad and a host of social welfare changes to help the middle and working classes. Despite the surge in support, a coalition with smaller opposition parties is still likely to be necessary.

Fears of a Stagnant Economy Grow as Q3 Growth at Lowest Rate in Years
With only a +0.7% growth rate for Quarter 3, economists are worried that the economy is entering a new era of stagnation unless conditions change enough to jumpstart a sluggish economy. Other analysts think that the typical end of year boost in consumer spending and travel will be enough to revive things, especially if new infrastructure, housing and foreign investment plans come to fruition. Nedernesia's economy is particularly sensitive to economic conditions across the globe and its reliance on finance and the health of its large multinational companies. If global consumer spending and markets abroad pick up, some economists think that negative growth for Q4 can be avoided.

Toyou Community in Ned Welcomes Support for Touzen Language Classes
The Toyou community in Nedernesia, one of the many ethnic groups in the country, has welcomed the news that the Anti-State will be financially supporting Touzen language classes internationally. Leaders of the Toyou community here have invited Anti-State officials to open a Touzen institute in Vrijpoort to offer the language and culture classes, while Vrijpoort Universiteit said it will seek grants to support its Department of Toyou Studies.

Sandhavn Metropolitan Authority Approves Use of Airport by Royal Nedernesian Sky Force
Seven Griffin multi-role fighter jets, three transport aircraft and two aerial refuelling tankers of the Royal Nedernesian Sky Force arrived today at Sandhavn Continental Airport in the South Dune Sea, the self-ruling territory of Hälsingia-Wendowskie, after the Sandhavn Metropolitan Authority voted last week to approve a permanent stationing of a Sky Wing from Nedernesia. The local government in Sandhavn is concerned about terrorist attacks in Natalia, civil war in Nzadiland and drug and weapons smuggling across the Northern Demarcation Line that Separates Natalian-dependent North Dune Sea from Nedernesian-backed South Dune Sea. The Sky Wing is intended to provide reconnaissance in the desert and defense from possible incursions, in close cooperation with the South Dune Sea People's Militia.

'Birthright' Trips Will Fund Trips for Young Jews to Hiersolyma
The Nedernesian Jewish Congress has announced a new programme to fully fund 10-day trips to Hiersolyma in Himyar, the homeland of Jews, for any Jew between the ages of 18 and 30. Jews born to a Jewish father and goy mother will also be eligible. Funded by philanthropic donations worldwide and with a grant from the Government of Nedernesia, the hope is that the Jewish diaspora will be given the chance to visit and make pilgrimage to their ancestral homeland and gain a closer connection thereto. The first trip will depart from Vrijpoort in November on a direct KLM Airways flight. The Nedernesian airline has entered a contract with the Nedernesian Jewish Congress to offer block-booking discounts. Most trips will begin in Vrijpoort with a two-day organisational visit in Nedernesia. Participants will apply online and go through in-person interviews with Jewish organisations and synagogues in their home countries before being approved for the trips. Visas to Pelasgia will also be paid for and arranged by the Birthright organisation, whose name in Hebrew is Taglit.


[/DIV]

 

[Pelasgia]

You must be registered for see images

State of Tiburia
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Public Statement​

Propontis, 20 October 2019
To Whom it May Concern,

The State of Tiburia sees it fit to remind the Nedernesian Jewish Congress that, pursuant to Decree 101/1957 visits of foreign citizens, particularly those of the Judaic and Islamic faiths, to the Department of Philistaea are restricted. More particularly, the Decree covers the Prefectures of Hieron (where Hierosolyma is located), Dytikon and Makrinon, where insurgent and terrorist activity centered during the infamous Augousto-Septemvriana events.

The State of Tiburia looks suspiciously upon any claim of foreigners to an ancestral "Birthright" to any part of our sovereign territory. In so far as the Government of Tiburia is concerned, the current indigenous inhabitants of Philistaea, who are all Tiburian citizens, are the only people with such a birthright. Though there is nothing in our laws that bars Jewish Nedernesians from visiting the Holy City of Hierosolyma, any individuals or groups challenging Tiburian sovereignty thereover will be refused entry and/or removed from Tiburia.

Signed and sealed,
Petros K. Lazarides
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Government of Tiburia

 

[Vrijpoort]

Jewish Congress of Nedernesia

We would like to clarify that the name of this educational programme refers to our organisation's desire to provide Jews worldwide the ability to visit the holy lands from which their ancestors hailed. The Birthright programme and the Jewish Congress of Nedernesia do not lay any claim on Tiburian lands or the sovereignty thereof. We want young Jews to be given the opportunity to visit Hierosolyma, pray there and feel the connection to their community whilst also learning about modern Tiburian culture and customs.

Our participants and our organisation will fully cooperate with the visa granting authorities of Tiburia and any other agencies that require our cooperation. The trips are intended to be fully chaperoned and guided with strict itineraries that we wish to plan in conjunction with the blessings of the local authorities.

In fact, we find it would be prudent if Birthright opened a local office in Tiburia to help ease the administrative aspects of these trips and visa applications.

Should any further details or information be required I and my office remain humbly at your service.

Yours,
David ben Yisrael, Chairman of the Jewish Congress of Nedernesia

 

[Vrijpoort]

[div] style="border: 1px solid #D8D8D8;; min-height: 500px; background-color: #ffe6ff; padding: 5px; float:center" |
Commonwealth Morning Post »» teatime edition
free, independent and ruthless since 1692 - 6 Guilder

EPP Claims Victory and Seeks Government Mandate from Prince

You must be registered for see images

Melinda Weldaad's strategic manoeuvring has paid off with a victory for the EPP

Vrijpoort/Freeport — The Equity and Prosperity Party (EPP) came out as the largest party after Friday's election with 35% of the vote, giving them a right to attempt to form a coalition with royal assent from the Prince. The election marks a historic see change in Nedernesian politics as for the first time in over 30 years, the People's Action Party (PAP) has lost an outright majority and will take over as main opposition party. The EPP's unofficial slant towards Post-Delegationism is also likely to jolt domestic and regional politics. While Friday was declared a bank holiday to ensure workers could go vote, the Vrijpoort Securities Exchange futures market was down 5% as exit polls suggested a defeat for the pragmatic, pro-market PAP.

The results in finer detail:

You must be registered for see images

EPP: 35%
PAP: 24.5%
AgriForum: 13.2%
First Gen Ned: 17.9%
Jewish Alliance: 6.6%
Nedernesië Eerst (NE): 2.8%

The most likely coalition arrangement would see the EPP joining forces with First Gen Ned, a centre-left party that advocates on behalf of first generation immigrants. It is also possible that the Jewish Alliance, with 49 seats, could join the coalition, although the EPP and First Gen Ned would have a comfortable majority without the JA.

Major gains were made by AgriForum, which represents rural and farming populations on the outer islands. Many urban voters in Vrijpoort voted for AgriForum not because they have a rural lifestyle, but because they invest in agricultural products and businesses and want to see stronger policies in place to help the rural areas, which would in turn help their investments. Interestingly, Nedernesië Eerst (Nedernesia First), a right-wing party that advocates more stringent immigration controls, the introduction of modest tariffs (currently none exist) doubled it's size to 21 seats, about 2.8% of the popular vote.

Melinda Weldaad, Leader of the EPP, will meet with HSH Prince Lamberti Monday morning to seek official Royal Assent to form a government. Once the official assent has been received with the Prince's signature and seal, the EPP may begin discussions with other political parties to form a coalition agreement. The EPP has 30 days to form a coalition.



OTHER NEWS
»Business - The Financial Conduct Authority has launched an official probe into Nedernesia's largest bank, Standard Chartered, after a whistleblower at the bank's offices in Trier, Eiffelland, submitted evidence of a major money laundering scheme involving counterfeit drugs. Standard Chartered has announced its intent to fully cooperate with all relevant authorities. The world's largest bank saw future shares tumble 4% after news broke on Saturday.

»Social - Students and young professionals broke out in spontaneous jubilation Friday night into Saturday morning after learning that the EPP was expected to win the largest share of the votes in Friday's general election. The EPP has promised to reform many social programmes including the country's famous public housing system. The system gave nearly every family a home three decades ago with subsidised home bonds (mortgages), deposit grants and fixed interest rates, but in recent years a slowdown in building and stagnant wages has rendered the Housing & Development Board projects as ineffective. Reforms to the obligatory savings scheme, the Commonwealth Provident Fund (CPF) are also expected to be top on the list for the new EPP-led government.

»Business - Foreign shoppers and holidaymakers are expected to swell in numbers as the Christmas and New Year's season begins. Vrijpoort is known as a global shopping mecca for both luxury goods but also mid-range products. Hotel bookings are up 15% on the same time last year and KLM Airways said that Christmas week bookings are overbooked. The airline said that it may temporarily change some routes on newly-purchased Lairs, the airline of Lars, to provide more aircraft for Scanian and Gallo-Germanian routes to Vrijpoort. Retailers officially started the holiday season sales this weekend with the start of Diwali, a Hindu festival, with further promotions later this year for Chanukah, the Jewish festival of lights and Christmas, the supposed birthdate of a Jew named Jesus. Sales end on 2 January 2020, but many affluent foreigners remain in Vrijpoort through the first week of the new year to buy investment properties, open bank accounts and meet with their wealth management advisors in person.
[/DIV]

 

[Vrijpoort]

[div] style="border: 1px solid #D8D8D8;; min-height: 500px; background-color: #e6e6e6; padding: 5px; float:center" |

het financiële rapport 7 gulden/guilders​

»» EPP Forms Coalition with First Gen Ned and Jewish Alliance
»» Violence in Strathclyde Prompts Nedernesian Call for Talks
»» Q4 Growth Posted at +0,3%, Stagnation is Here
»» Commonwealth Budget Sees Huge Increase in Spending for Dune Sea
»» Prince Leopold to Visit Sandhavn in February

SM Melinda Weldaad Sucessfully Forms Coalition
Senior Minister Melinda Weldaad of the Equity and Prosperity Party (EPP), a post-delegationist leaning group, has announced that HSH Prince Leopold approved the forming of a coalition together with First Gen Ned, a party that promotes the rights and needs of first generation immigrants, and the Jewish Alliance. The coalition will give the government 59.5% of the seats in the Senate. Work has already begun on a budget and a special task force has been created to figure out necessary reforms to a number of social programmes, including the Housing and Development Board and the Commonwealth Provident Fund, the country's compulsory savings and pension scheme.

Government Eager to Foment Talks Between Skirmishing Parties in Strathclyde
After weeks of simmering inter-ethnic violence in neighbouring Strathclyde, Nedernesia's new government has called for restraint and peace. Overseas Relations and Cooperation Nedernesia has reached out to the the different parties in Strathclyde and has offered to host constructive talks in a neutral location. A statement from Overseas Relations and Cooperation Nedernesia stated that 'perhaps we in multicultural, multiethnic and multilingual Nedernesia can help our neighbours and friends find the path to harmonious and prosperous coexistence'.

Reserve Bank of Nedernesia Says Stagnation is Here
With Q3 growth in 2019 at only +0.7% and newly released data showing Q4 growth at a dismal +0.3%, the Reserve Bank of Nedernesia has announced that stagnation - a sleepy economy in malaise - is likely to be the norm for 2020. The good news ist that official recession has been avoided thus far and economists both in the Reserve Bank and the private sector do not expect negative growth in the immediate future. Giving the economy the boost it needs, however, will be top of the priority list this year.

Leaked Drafts of the Commonwealth Budget 2020 Show Huge Increase in Overseas Dominion Spending
A leaked draft of the Commonwealth Budget 2020 acquired by het financiële rapport show a massive increase in spending for what is called 'Overseas Dominion Spending'. Closer analysis of this section of the budget shows that tens of billions of guilder will be showered upon Sandhavn and other areas of the Dune Sea in an effort to alleviate poverty, boost job growth, improve infrastructure and help secure borders amid growing smuggling, gang violence and continental tensions. Q4 saw the Sandhavn Metropolitan Council, the democratic governing body of most of the Dune Sea, approve the permanent stationing of Royal Nedernesian Expeditionary Forces, including the Sky Force, in the territory to assist with internal policing against gangs and provide stability. The Nedernesian Government has since October 2019 been referring to the territory in internal documents as The Crown Overseas Dominion of the Dune Sea. His Serene Highness Prince Leopold will be visiting Sandhavn next month and it is widely expected that he will use the trip to announce the appointment of a viceroy to assist the local government with governance issues.

HSH Prince Leopold to Visit Dune Sea in February, but not for a Desert Safari
Long a favoured winter destination and for decades a major investment location of Nedernesian moguls, the Dune Sea will next month welcome HSH Prince Leopold of Nedernesia for a one-week visit. The troubled territory has seen growing poverty and a tumbling economy over the last decades, despite large Nedernesian investment. Economists say that only the capital, Sandhavn, has really benefited and even there there are districts without proper sewerage systems or paved roads. In October 2019 the Sandhavn Metropolitan Council voted to approve the permanent stationing of a Royal Nedernesian Sky Force wing, which includes transport and surveillance aircraft and multi-role fighters. They have primarily been engaged in tracking and combatting armed gangs that smuggle in drugs and weapons from over the desert border. Emergency food supplies have also been ferried to more remote inland towns. The royal visit will not just be a jaunt through the dunes. Sources close to the Royal Household say that the Prince will announce the appointment of a viceroy - a local technocrat - to represent his government and to assist the local Dune Sea government with governing the vast desert territory. While technically an overseas territory of Pohjanmaa, the Dune Sea has for decades been self-governing, relying on corporate investment for revenue. The latest involvement of the Nedernesian government, with large injections of cash and direct assistance with policing and infrastructure projects, have led some policy watchers to predict that at some point this year, most likely in a democratic fashion with local assent, the Dune Sea could officially join the Commonwealth of Nedernesia. Many say that that has already happened in all but name.

[/DIV]
@Strathclyde @Pohjanmaa

 

[Vrijpoort]

Radio Televisie Nedernesië | Radio Television Nedernesia
Wij blijven U voortdurend op de hoogte houden | Always keeping you up to date
​

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

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

A man's soothing radio voice is now heard: Good morning. This is the RTN English Service with the headlines at 8.30.

»Government announces formation of 'Special Public Council' to discuss needed social welfare reforms - SPC will include randomly selected members of the public, both citizens and permanent residents

»SM Weldaad announces world tour to 'show new face of Nedernesia' and shore up business connections. Pohjanmaa first on list and tour is likely to include ODS members states and Post-Delegationist countries

» Government 'increasingly concerned' over the ethnic tensions and violence in neighbouring Strathclyde and reiterates its offer to host peace talks. Meanwhile, Overseas Relations and Cooperation Nedernesia has issued a red travel alert for the city of Ulster meaning Nedernesian citizens and permanent residents are warned not to travel there and to leave if already in the city. Consular services in Ulster are no longer available after the ministry closed the consulate over the weekend. A yellow alert is in place for the rest of Strathclyde, meaning only absolutely necessary travel is advised for the country. KLM Airlines is offering discounted 'evacuation fares' from Strathclyde back to Vrijpoort.

» The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that only 110,000 vehicular certificates of entitlement (CoE) will be up for auction this year, down from 150,000 in 2019. A CoE is a document necessary to purchase a private car, without which it is impossible to buy or lease one. In 2019 the highest price paid for a CoE was 720,000 guilders (approx. 90,000 €M). The import and purchase duties for cars currently sit at 200%, making Nedernesia the most expensive country in the world to buy a car. The government uses the CoE scheme and high taxes on cars to discourage private vehicular use and encourage use of public transport. CoE and tax revenue is earmarked for investment in public transport across Vrijpoort, which has one of the world's most comprehensive rail and bus networks. The LTA has defended the policy saying that Vrijpoort's traffic jams would be ten times worse and pollution significantly higher without the CoE and taxes. LTA: 'We've been able to keep most people on public transport whilst keeping fares low. Congestion equals the death of a city and when 90% of the country's population lives in one city, congestion means death of the country'.

» Two secondary students (15, 16) suspended for two weeks after failing to bow at appropriate angle when their teacher entered the classroom. The boys allegedly bowed at only a 20 degree angle, while typically 45 degrees is customary when bowing for a teacher. The parents of the students wrote to the school expressing gratitude that their sons were not expelled and offered to send their children to community service for the remainder of the semester. Parents of other children in the class have written an open letter to the headmaster demanding that the boys be expelled or 'at least be slapped ten times each in the schoolyard to bring a sense of respect for elders and superiors'. Nedernesia's multicultural society long ago adopted certain aspects of respect typical of the Far East for the elderly and those in higher positions, often showed via bowing.

Traffic: Pan Island Expressway west from the eastern shoreline to the CBD has a backup of 2 kilometers at the Zwartbaai junction - expect delays of up to a half hour. Central Ring Expressway is flowing smoothly in all directions. Northern Expressway to Midrand is clear but from the CRE to the CBD there are backups. Electronic Road Pricing for the CBD is currently at 40 guilders.

Transport: all lines of the MRT are running on time and the rush-hour surcharge has now ended. Vrijpoort Overground: the Midrand Line has up to a two-minute delay - reason: debris on track near Witwater; the LTA apologises for the inconvenience. The Roodepoort line is still running at 85% capacity due to track works for the Western Gateway expansion project and will be fully shut tonight from 1 to 5am. Express omnibus services will be provided free of charge; the LTA wishes to thank guests for their patience and understanding during this vital infrastructure expansion project. Regional Services: all Regio services are operating normally. Ferries: ferry service to Grootland island is expected to be delayed by up to one hour today due to choppy seas. The Skies: Vrijpoort Transcontinental Skyport is operating normally. Security checkpoint waiting times: Terminal 1 at approximately ten minutes. Terminal 2 at approximately 20 minutes; NedSkies apologises for the higher than average waiting time at Terminal 2 - cause: increased baggage checks due to security conditions.

The Weather: Vrijpoort, fog clearing, currently 4 degrees centigrade. Partly cloudy skies by midday with showers expected in the afternoon. A high of 6 degrees centigrade. Frost warning in effect for tonight with a low of minus 3 centigrade. Western archipelago: breezy with showers, 2 degrees. Eastern archipelago: partly cloudy, dry, occasional patches of sun. High of 7 degrees.

That was the RTN headline news. Stay tuned for the Make Money Monday show. We'll be back with headlines, traffic and weather at the top of the hour.

News bulletin music returns and changes to the Make Money Monday show theme. A man's upbeat voice comes on the air:

Goooooood morning, Vrijpoort! What a great day! A new week! Do you smell that? That's the smell of freshly printed guilders! What? You don't smell that over your morning coffee? Not happy with your portfolio? Let's give that a fix, shall we? Welcome to Make Money Mondays. I'm your host, Igor Richman. Today, I've got some special guests who are going to tell us about the hottest stocks to invest in for the land down under. That's right, the Dune Sea! Put your guilders to a good cause: helping impoverished communities by investing in job growth. The best bit? Your investment not only helps people, it'll make you some cash, too. I've also got some tips on other places to invest in Himyar and for those with a lower risk appetite, we will also discuss Germano-Gallian blue caps. Let's not forget about the world's largest stock market, though. Right here at home in Vrijpoort! If you're not keen on investing overseas or you want to balance your portfolio with some domestic buys, I've got some good tips for your trading day. So sit tight, put on a brew! The opening bell...is now!
​

 

[Rheinbund]

Random Eiffelloretalian petrolhead: "What? 100,000 Mark for just a licence to buy a car? Meine Fresse! That's not my country!"

 

[Vrijpoort]

[div] style="border: 1px solid #D8D8D8;; min-height: 500px; background-color: #ffe6ff; padding: 5px; float:center" |
Commonwealth Morning Post »» teatime edition
free, independent and ruthless since 1692 - 6 Guilder

Housing First Item on Agenda for New Special Public Council

You must be registered for see images

Vrijpoort is the most densely populated city in the world, which has led to a severe housing shortage.

Vrijpoort/Freeport — The Equity and Prosperity Party (EPP), leading member of the governing coalition alongside the Jewish Alliance and First Gen Ned has announced that the first session of the Special Public Council will meet this week and discuss as its first item the housing crisis in Vrijpoort.

The mountainous island where Vrijpoort lies makes construction difficult and expensive. Vrijpoort houses most of its population in high-rise buildings that soar above the clouds as a way to maximise land use. The People's Action Party, now in opposition for the first time since independence from Pohjanmaa, set up the Housing and Development Board (HDB) in the 1970s to devise a plan to affordably house large swaths of the population in public housing estates. A complicated but efficient system of mandatory government land buying schemes, housing bond grants and subsidised housing bonds (mortgages), as well as standardised construction designs, successfully managed to get 75 per cent of citizens and permanent residents into HDB flats.

However, over the past 20 years there has been a slow down in HDB estate construction, partially due to a lack of land and investment. Younger people below the age of 35 have had a particularly tough time qualifying for HDB programmes, especially if they are not married or partnered (the government has used this policy to encourage family growth as a way to increase the domestic non-foreign born population). Young people have been forced to pay more than 30 per cent of their net income on housing costs, often by renting privately or by moving to the city outskirts or satellite cities that are more than an hour away by rail or bus, such as Midrand.

The newly-formed Special Public Council is composed of citizens and permanent residents, business leaders, Senators and others. One idea likely to be discussed is to build more HDB estates in satellite cities such as Midrand and Roodepoort while at the same time researching the feasibility of land reclamation projects around Vrijpoort's southern coastline. Some construction firms have also said that there are some mountainous areas near central Vrijpoort that could now be developed due to advances in construction technology, although this would cost more.

Supporters of increased HDB housing estate construction have criticised the previous government for not spending more on construction, claiming that there are plenty of funds in the government's General Reserve as well as in ComSov, the Commonwealth Sovereign Wealth Fund, which with about 1 trillion Euromarks in size is one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds. The previous People's Action Party government refused to tap into ComSov, having consistently claimed that those funds were reserved for emergency situations. It is unknown what the current new government's stance is on using ComSov funds, but many people are saying that the current housing crisis easily classifies as an 'emergency situation'.



OTHER NEWS
»Overseas - Immigration and Checkpoints Authority Nedernesia has announced increased security measures at the land checkpoints along the border with Pohjanmaa and the Kleurland Peninsula. This is in response to a terrorist attack in the Austwegian city of Nystad yesterday. Pohjanmaa does not operate consistent border checks, which has until now not been a major issue. Vrijpoort views this latest development as a significant weakening of regional security and the additional security checks will be used to interview people entering the Commonwealth in order to determine their risk level. Direct flights from Pohjanmaa and Strathclyde to Vrijpoort Transcontinental Skyport will also undergo increased immigration controls for arriving passengers. Overseas Relations and Cooperation Nedernesia is considering to officially request that Pohjanmaa and Strathclyde allow Nedernesian Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officers to be temporarily stationed at airports with direct flights to Vrijpoort to allow for pre-boarding security and psychological screenings. This measure would be unprecedented and according to a government spokesperson 'bear no costs to the taxpayers of Pohjanmaa or Strathclyde'.

»Crime - Prisoner 31, a 33-year-old Nedernesian citizen with dual nationality from Loago, was executed by firing squad early this morning three years after his conviction for drug smuggling, illegal possession of firearms, gang leadership and multiple counts of murder. In an effort to curtail fame, the government does not publicly confirm the names of high-profile gang members and others who have committed high crimes. The Post has reliable sources, however, that name Prisoner 31 as Ricky Naidoo, born in Maseru, Loago and who immigrated to Nedernesia in 2004 as a tempo worker. He eventually switched to an Employment Pass and worked in the casino trade, naturalised as a citizen in 2012 and later became involved in drug gangs in Vrijpoort. He was arrested in 2016 during a shootout between rival gangs in the Waterkant district of Vrijpoort. RCMP (Royal Commonwealth Mounted Police) investigations confirmed his leadership role in a gang. A seven-month trial ended in his conviction and capital punishment sentencing. His body will be cremated and repatriated to Maseru where family members will receive his remains.

»Business - The use of cash for business transactions has been on steady decline for years. Data for 2019 show that just 23 per cent of payment transactions were conducted via hard currency. The most common method of payment is contactless card, followed by chip card and rounded off with mobile NFC payment technology, such as with the popular Nedernesian messaging and services app WatMan?. The government has been encouraging non-cash payments by offering novel quarterly rebates to consumers' total spending sums, typically 0.05% of quarterly spending totals. The receipt lottery is also a popular method. All receipts have a lotto number and monthly drawings give out cash prizes ranging from 1000 guilders to over a million. When asking for a receipt, the merchant's computer payment system automatically issues a unique payment transaction code, which is transmitted monthly to His Majesty's Inland Revenue. This prevents businesses from under reporting turnover, even from cash sales. Despite these efforts, Commerce Nedernesia estimates that over 15 per cent of the economy is conducted on the black market and trillions of Euromarks are laundered in Nedernesia annually. Further banking and financial regulations are expected this year, but international cooperation is what is needed most.
[/DIV]

 

[Thaumantica]

Advertisement Submission for the next Commonwealth Morning Post

FRESH AIR & OPEN SPACES!
Feel the Grass Under Your Feet!
Move to Amity Springs (WSA), a deed-restricted community
BUY NOW IN THE LOW 200s or BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME!
​

 

[Vrijpoort]

Nedernesia Press Holdings Pty Ltd
Advert Bureau

Dear Sir or Madam,

We wish to thank you for your recent advert submission for publication in the Commonwealth Morning Post. After careful analysis of the advert, including a focus group test trial, we have concluded that it would result in almost zero interest to our readership. Simply put, Nedernesia is too lucrative of a market for the vast majority of our readership to consider permanently leaving. There is a reason why this country has attracted immigrants from around the globe for centuries. You can make a large amount of money here with the world's most commerce and business-friendly market, low regulation and low tax regime.

That said, should you still wish to place the advert, we have a small 5x5cm corner on page 8 of the Arts and Leisure section, issued on Saturdays. The cost would be 70,000 guilders per week, plus 6 per cent Goods and Services Tax (approx. 10,000 Euromarks plus GST).

We thank you for your interest once again and hope you enjoy reading the CMP.

Regards,
Ivanna B. Rich, Vice President of Advertising

 

[Vrijpoort]

A message from:

Health Nedernesia ​

This year's influenza season has been more intense than in recent years. The best way to prevent infection from the influenza virus is to wash your hands frequently and stay home when feeling ill. Here are the most important measures to take this winter:

- Wash hands frequently with hot water and soap for at least 20 seconds, ensuring you clean between fingers, palms, back of hand and underneath fingernails

- If washing hands is not possible, use a hand sanitiser made of at least 60% alcohol

- Cough and sneeze into your bent elbow or handkerchief, or into a paper tissue; bin the tissue immediately

- NEVER cough or sneeze openly or into your hands - you may be subject to a fine of 500 guilders for doing so

- Do NOT touch your face, eyes, nose, ears and mouth with unwashed hands

- If you have a cough, fever, night sweats or muscle aches, stay home or go to your nearest polyclinic

- Wearing a mask will not protect you from bacteria or viruses. They are effective only at preventing spread of disease for those already sick by stopping droplets from coughs and sneezes from getting into the air. Reserve mask use for when you are ill.

- Employers do not want their workforce to fall ill, thus ensure you remain home if ill - you have the right to full pay while ill

- If your employer threatens to lower or withhold pay during your abense due to illness, contact the Ministry of Manpower at 117 for recourse
​

Stay healthy and well this winter!

This was an official government communication from Health Nedernesia.​

 

[Vrijpoort]

[div] style="border: 1px solid #D8D8D8;; min-height: 500px; background-color: #e6e6e6; padding: 5px; float:center" |

het financiële rapport 7ƒ​

VSE: 5,677.89 (-0.34%) -- VrijCommoditiesEX: 7.528.14 (+0.55%) -- €M/ƒ: 8.4856 (+0.17%) -- Long Sea Crude: €M 55.87 (-1.23%) -- Gold Spot: €M 831.62 (+2.24%)

»» Corporate Nedernesia Backs Protectorate Status for Dune Sea
»» SPC Announces New Housing Estates & Land Reclamation Project
»» Q1 2020 +0.27% - Reserve Bank Warns of Recession
»» Virumaa Opens Economy & Nedernesian Blue Caps Salivate
»» KLM to Rebrand Continental Subsidiary Lairs

Association of Nedernesian Overseas Investors Supports Dune Sea to Join Commonwealth
Meeting in the gilded halls of their building in the chic Vrijpoort district of de Bijenkorf (The Beehive), the Association of Nedernesian Overseas Investors voted unanimously to support the Dune Sea joining the Commonwealth of Nedernesia as a protectorate, or Overseas Crown Land. The impoverished Himyari territory will hold a referendum 17-19 April to decide on whether to become a protectorate. Currently the Dune Sea is still legally a colony of Pohjanmaa, but financial and security aid ended nearly 30 years ago. Since then Nedernesian business investment has been largely responsible for providing jobs and tax revenue while the Royal Nedernesian Expeditionary Forces have recently started proving security assistance against well armed organised gangs roaming the desert and bush. The backing of the Association is likely to result in an expensive print, poster, radio and television campaign in the Dune Sea to encourage voters of the 2.9 million population to vote in favour of protectorate accession.

Special Public Council Unveils New Housing Plan for Vrijpoort
Many weeks of debate among the appointed Special Public Council (SPC), which is made up of Senators, business leaders and random members of the public including students, has finally resulted in an agreed upon plan which will be presented to the Senate next week. A combination of reforms to the Housing Development Board (HDB) housing bond grant scheme, new housing estate construction in the satellite nodes of Vrijpoort and a massive land reclamation project are intended to provide more housing for the growing city and lower prices on the market. 70% of Nedernesian residents live in public housing built by the HDB and these are owned flats, not rented. Midrand and Roodepoort, two large satellite commuter communities to the north of Vrijpoort, have been chosen as ideal candidates for new large housing estates. The high-rise housing estates will be built on land previously deemed too expensive to develop due to the rugged mountainous terrain. HDB believes, however, that new construction techniques will help bring costs down. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) also plans to increase capacity on its Northern Line of the Overground to better service these two communities. Meanwhile a 3 square kilometre section to the west of Vrijpoort Harbour will be reclaimed and new housing estates will be built on the land, including schools, community centres, a polyclinic (health clinic), markets, 3 MRT (underground) stations, etc. Land reclamation is expected to take 2 years at a cost of trillions of guilders.

Reserve Bank Warns of Recession as Third Quarter in a Row Records Slim Growth
Q3 2019 +0.7%, Q4 2019 +0.3% and now Q1 2020 at +0.27%, Nedernesia, arguably the world's freest and most dynamic economy, is squarely in the midst of stagnation with the Reserve Bank of Nedernesia warning that recession looms with possible negative growth in 2020. Major uncertainties in geopolitics have resulted in a slowdown of capital spending and large investments across the globe, which could partially be due to the building confrontations between the DDI and ODS,

You must be registered for see links

You must be registered for see links

. Moffat & Broeders, a boutique bank, predicts strong growth in Himyar, particularly in the Dune Sea, but lacklustre performance in Gallo-Germania. It has been advising its clients to hold off on buying traditional 'continental' equities and instead opt for a mixture of physical land, real estate and other capital investments in Himyar as well as Himyari equities. 'The Natalian stock exchange has some interesting buys from across the continent' a Moffat & Broeders analyst said.

Virumaa Announces Market Reforms and Nedernesian Blue Caps Eye Opportunity
With new market liberlisation reforms in the wintry country of Virumaa recently announced it will now be much easier for foreign companies to invest and operate there. Nedernesian Blue Caps, such as NedFoods (VSE: NEDYUM), Standard Chartered Bank (VSE: SCB), GiddyUp! (VSE: YEEHA), Staatolie (VSE: SO) and Dijkman (VSE: DIJ) have all released statements announcing their plans to launch operations in the country. Virumaa is a close neighbour to Nedernesia with short shipping distances and an easy 3-hour flight from Vrijpoort. The population, while not huge, is generally well off and has disposable income, making it a rare untapped consumer market for the giants of the Nedernesian corporate world. NedFoods, the world's largest packaged food producer, says that Virumaa is perfectly located near one of their processing plants in Salen. 'We expect many of our products to do well in Virumaa, such as our line of NedCafé and Nedspresso coffees. We are also looking forward to coming up with new products unique to the tastes of the locals', commented a NedFoods spokeswoman. Staatolie hopes to open petrol stations across the country, which will bring many jobs for the mini marts attached to them, not to mention short term construction jobs. Dijkman B.V., one of the largest producers of water and gas pipes (it's name is seen on sink, toilet and shower drains across the globe) is not just looking to sell to Virumaa, but sees the potential for a new factory due to the highly skilled workforce. GiddyUp!, a ride hailing app, wants to not only offer its gig jobs and services to Virumaa, but also open up a back office and call centre to help handle workflow from one of its largest markets in Pohjanmaa, which shares linguistic similarities with Virumaa. In a year of expected low growth, Virumaa could be corporate Nedernesia's shining northern star.

KLM Airways Plans to Rebrand Lairs Less than One Year After Purchase
The national airline of Erturia (formerly Lars), Lairs, was nearing insolvency last year when KLM Royal Nedernesian Airways purchased the regional carrier at a slightly below market price. Since then the airline giant has been gradually incorporating the smaller airline into its systems. Passengers flying through Vrijpoort Transcontinental Skyport on KLM could easily connect to a Lairs flight, which has a strong network in Gallo-Germania. The regional carrier maintained its branding and name. That is all about to change. Seeking a more streamlined system and better brand recognition, KLM announced that Lairs will now be called KLM Continental. All aircraft in the fleet will be repainted with the famous KLM blue livery, the only difference being the added Continental. The airline's hub in the city of Lars will offer a streamlined connecting service to the wider KLM group. As a KLM spokesman put it, 'we plan to have Lars play a much more pivotal role in our network. Instead of a small connecting hub for Gallo-Germania, we will offer non-stop long haul flights from Lars to Touyou and Himyar. Currently our customers flying Lairs or KLM have to fly west to Vrijpoort before transferring to a long haul flight. This only makes sense if they are on their way to Scania or Westernesse. With our new KLM Continental subsidiary, we will be able to base some of our long haul 747 and 777 fleet in Lars. At the same time we plan to grow our Gallo-Germanian short haul network, all while introducing a seamless one-brand experience for our customers.' KLM expects the former Lairs fleet to be fully repainted by the end of summer.

[/DIV]

 

[Vrijpoort]

de MORGEN
nieuws van Nedernesië sinds 1642. vrij en onafhankelijk 8ƒ​

Nedernesian household debt on the rise as further sign of predicted recession

Vrijpoort, 05.04.2020 - Statistics Nedernesia released Q1 data on Nedernesian household debt which has risen above 65 per cent of GDP for the first time in nearly 20 years. Private households in Nedernesia now hold 338 billion Euromarks in debt (2.86 trillion guilders/NGD), a worrying sign for economists. Although the Commonwealth Provident Fund (CPF) provides for mandatory high levels of saving for citizens and permanent residents, many warn that those funds will do little in the event of a large-scale debt crisis.

CPF requires citizens and permanent residents to squirrel away approximately 30 per cent of their income into three types of accounts for housing (4Walls), healthcare (Medisave) and retirement (NestEgg), with the exact amount saved changing with the age of the person as younger people save higher percentages compared to those older with higher incomes. Most of these funds sit in ordinary accounts and are not invested but receive government interest payment slightly above inflation, currently at 3.2%. Many people choose to invest some of their retirement NestEgg account into the stock market in order to seek higher returns. The money in the three accounts is largely untouchable except for very specific uses. Purchasing a flat, for example, would permit someone to withdraw from their housing CPF account in order to combine their personal savings with a Housing and Development Board housing bond (mortgage) grant. If you break your leg and require surgery and inpatient care at a hospital, you can withdraw from your healthcare Medisave CPF account to make up for the 10 per cent of healthcare costs that the government does not cover. But if you overstretched your household budget to buy a new flatscreen television, safari to the Dune Sea and a fancy Eiffellandian car, your CPF accounts are off limits.

At present there doesn't seem to be an immediate debt repayment crisis. The main number to watch is housing bond accounts in arrears. Q1 numbers show 62,000 households out of approximately 700,000 households in Nedernesia in arrears, meaning the bond holder cannot make full monthly repayments due to low income, job loss, etc. While government programmes exist to try and help people in this situation, sometimes it is not enough. If a person cannot make their housing bond payment, they are also unlikely to make other debt payments, such as for their car, consumer items, tuition, etc. Analysts point out that the number of households in arrears has risen modestly over the last few quarters, but the fact that is is rising at all is ringing alarm bells on De Waterkant.

Nedernesian banks have been analysing data from other major economies to make comparisons to see if they too have possible high debts or other signs of impending recession, but not all Q1 data has been released yet.

 

[Vrijpoort]

beeld.ne
jouw wereld. jouw krant.

de nummer één Nederneesche krant in Nedernesië.​

Aardbeving en tsunami: duizenden vermisten!
Earthquake and tsunami: thousands missing!

You must be registered for see images

A 1960s built flat bloc collapsed in the Prince's Garden East district.

Vrijpoort - Early in the morning just before sunrise an earthquake struck off the coast between the islands of Batavië and Grootland causing tremors felt strongly in Vrijpoort and across the archipelago and also resulting in a powerful tsunami that hit many of the islands. Strict earthquake building codes and seawalls have spared the country from outright catastrophe, but as with any natural disaster, mother nature has dealt a heavy blow to our country!

The Nedernesian Geological Survey, which has over 60 seismic reading stations across the archipelago, initially said the earthquake was a magnitude 7.1. However, after further analysis they downgraded the magnitude this morning to a 6.7 - still a powerful rumble! Aftershocks have been felt on both Batavië and Grootland and as far away as the easternmost island of Puntland, but none have caused further damage.

You must be registered for see images

The ensuing tsunami hit rural areas hardest as they lack the more robust seawalls seen in Vrijpoort.

No class-A skyscrapers or other modern buildings sustained any serious structural damage, according to the Nedernesian Civil Defense Force, but inspections are ongoing. The most heavily damaged districts of the city so far appear to be Prince's Garden East, which has a number of older low-rise flat blocs that typically house tempos (temporary pass holders who work in construction and other trade jobs) and other new immigrants. Golden Gateways and Silverton Springs have also reported collapsed buildings, all of which were built prior to the Earthquake Resilience Act 1967, which mandated strict building codes. No MRT stations have reported damage or flooding in tunnels, but the LTA (Land Transport Authority) has temporarily suspended some lines until safety inspections can be completed.

Vrijpoort Transcontinental Skyport halted all flights until early this morning until it was determined that the runways and taxiways had not sustained any major damage. The cargo and passenger terminals were also examined and have not sustained any damage. The Prinsbrug, or Prince's Bridge, that connects the manmade airport island to the city via rail and road swayed as designed to and was not damaged. Flights have resumed although as many as 70 inbound cargo and passenger flights were diverted to nearby countries overnight.

Air raid sirens and SMS alerts were able to warn people across the country to seek shelter and retreat from coastal areas. Nedernesian Civil Defense Force branches (police, fire brigade, EMS) quickly sprung to action alongside samaritans who helped elderly and infirm.

You must be registered for see images

The coastal town of Hoeksbaai on the island of Grootland suffered a devastating tsunami.

Although 90% of the country lives in the greater Vrijpoort metropolitan area, rural areas on other islands have born the brunt of this disaster. Hoeksbaai, a fishing town and popular nature retreat for city dwellers on the island of Grootland, saw nearly 70% of the town inundated by the tsunami that struck minutes after the quake. Fires have broken out among the old wooden homes as gas lines ruptured. Many area feared dead in the community. Civil Defense Force teams are using helicopters to rescue people stranded among the wreckage and the Royal Coast Guard is responding to distress calls from the many fishing boats in the area.

Senior Minister Melinda Weldaad has ordered the entire capacity of the Royal Nedernesian Expeditionary Forces to be employed for the search and rescue missions across the country as well as assisting with cleanup efforts once human lives have been saved and accounted for. She also announced that up to 20% of reserves will be called up to assist in these efforts. All Nedernesian citizen and permanent residents, men and women, serve 3 years in the military from age 18 and remain on-call until age 55 with yearly service trainings.

Ambrosia and Sylvania have already offered assistance and the Senior Minister's Office said that it is 'reviewing all options and will respond in due course to the generous offers' on the table. Sources tell beeld that more helicopters are urgently needed in rural areas on outlying islands and to help look for distressed fishing boats.

You must be registered for see images

Helicopters of the Royal Nedernesian Sky Force take off from Prince Lamberti Skypoint on Grootland.

Hospitals across Vrijpoort are reporting a surge in trauma cases and some major thoroughfares in the city are blocked with rubble preventing ambulances from moving easily. The Civil Defense Force has already been seen using bulldozers to clear roads. The Senior Minister has declared Tuesday a 'Disaster Day' and ordered all non-essential workers to remain home or at a shelter so as to allow emergency workers room to do their jobs. Neighbourhood associations are being called up by the Civil Defense Force to help organise head counts of residents and many are creating makeshift water and food stations for the emergency worker crews in their areas.

Senior Minister Weldaad is meeting with the Ministerial Board to receive a full briefing and to organise the crisis response. She is expected to address the country on television and radio later today.

Commerce Nedernesia has ordered the stock exchange to remain closed today, the first time in modern Nedernesian history that the opening bell will not ring at 10 o'clock.

Greenacre Palace released a statement from the Prince: my heartfelt thoughts are with all of Nedernesia today as we were awoken last night to the terrible tremors that have taken lives. Together with our world-class emergency response teams and military forces we will overcome this tragedy and we will find our survivors and get them to safety. Let us all do our bit to help each other to help ourselves.

The Nedernesian Geological Survey has warned of further aftershocks but does not expect any strong enough to cause another tsunami. They say, however, that it is impossible to predict.

 

[Groenmark]

You must be registered for see images

Foreign Office of the Kingdom of Great Emilia ​

His Majesty's Government expresses the grief for the earthquake and the tsunami wich have disturbed Nedernesia and for the terrible consequences of these natural disasters. All the emilian people is close to the nedernesian people in this moment of labor and suffering. In consideration of the proximity of our countries, the Kingdom is ready to help and support you. Our civil protection forces, with the hel of military units, with your approval, are ready to intervene according to your needs.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Marina Belelli.

 

[Natal]

You must be registered for see images

Välisministeerium​

The people and government of the Apostolic Kingdom of Virumaa are heartbroken at hearing of the news of the great earthquake and later tsunami that has hit the Commonwealth of Nedernesia. We stand by our neighbours here in the north, as such a tragedy could have bit any of us irrespective of our culture, language, religion, government system or geopolitical situation.

As we know that Virumaa could be struck the same by the forces of nature and nobody lives on the castle upon the hill, we are here to aid our brothers, for we are all the sons of God. To aid those in need and the government of Nedernesia, the Apostolic Kingdom is ready to send aid and by now, already about 500 members of the Green Guard (Gendarmerie) are ready to fly over to Vrijpoort and aid in the search operations for the missing and about 100 doctors have volunteered to come to the aid of the Commonwealth's medical system in those trying times. The government will send aid and medical supplies to help the already strained authorities of the archipelago.

In those trying times, it is only with international solidarity that we can push through and see the light at the end of the tunnel. We stand by Nedernesia.

Signed,
Einarr Sisask
Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

[Vrijpoort]

[div] style="border: 1px solid #D8D8D8;; min-height: 500px; background-color: #ffe6ff; padding: 5px; float:center" |
Commonwealth Morning Post »» sunrise edition
free, independent and ruthless since 1692 - 6ƒ

Rescue Efforts Underway as International Aid Pledged

You must be registered for see images

The Zuiderdam cruise ship is en route to Kleinberg island where it will act as a floating dormitory for volunteers.

Vrijpoort — Massive rescue efforts continue across the Commonwealth today with the Nedernesian Civil Defence Force confirming that in the past 48 hours over 3,000 people have been rescued from rubble of collapsed buildings or from flooded rural areas. Canine search units are helping to sniff out trapped people deep below. The military is also using infrared cameras and high-powered listening equipment in the most difficult to access rescue sites.

Governments from around the world have pledged thousands of volunteers to assist with the efforts, including doctors, nurses and engineers. Overseas Relations and Cooperation Nedernesia is coordinating these efforts. Most international teams will arrive at either Vrijpoort Transcontinental Skyport or Prince Lamberti Skypoint on the island of Grootland before being organised into teams and dispersed across the archipelago to where they are needed most. The government has stressed that it has enough personnel and equipment to handle the rescue operations, but is grateful for international assistance as it will relieve rescue teams that would otherwise have to work double shifts.

While patrol boats of the coast guard and destroyers of the Royal Nedernesian Admiralty work together with international ships to help rescue people from flooded areas and capsized fishing boats, one large vessels will soon be used as a floating dormitory for international volunteers and displaced persons. The Zuiderdam cruise ship from the Scania Line cruise company was supposed to set sail today from Vrijpoort for a two week long pleasure cruise with stops in Tyskonia, Salen and Gunnland. The cruise was cancelled and the ship will arrive tomorrow to Kleinberg island in the west of the archipelago where it will be used to house international volunteers and locally displaced persons. Kleinberg has few hotels or other large buildings were large groups of people could be housed. The ship, at 82,000 tonnes, has a capacity of over 2,200 and 800 crew. While it would normally be seen in beautiful harbours around the world carrying holidaymakers in style, Scania Line said that it has a duty to do its bit for the country.

'We are donating usage of the Zuiderdam and our crew and we are also donating a month's worth of meals. We hope that the presence of our ship in Kleinberg will make the work of international volunteers more comfortable and easier and of course we also hope it can help displaced Nedernesians in Kleinberg until more appropriate accommodation can be arranged' said a spokesman from Scania Line.

Latest reports state that in Vrijpoort all collapsed building sites have been secured as rescue efforts continue. Most major roads have been cleared of rubble. Engineers have begun checks of other buildings to ensure they are sound. Hospitals across the Vrijpoort metro area have already begun to take in severe trauma cases from outlying islands via helicopter medivacs.



OTHER NEWS
»Markets - Finance Nedernesia ordered the stock markets closed on Tuesday and Wednesday following the earthquake and tsunami. Today the opening bell indeed rang and saw an expected drop on the Vrijpoort Securities Exchange, which is currently down 4 per cent. The government has tried to ensure investors that there are ample reserves in Budget 2020 to help with the cost of rescue and recovery efforts and if necessary funds from the Zeedorp sovereign wealth fund could also be allocated to efforts. Economists are starting to speak of required easing on capital markets as well as government-backed loans to help individuals and businesses repair and recover from losses, especially on the rural outlying islands. The Ministry of Ministries is holding an emergency all-minister meeting this afternoon to discuss what type of holistic response is necessary to secure the economic livelihoods of those effected by the disaster.

»Overseas - Two Globetrotter military transport aircraft from the Sky Force stationed in the Dune Sea will be repositioned to Grootland today in order to help with shutting supplies and people between the islands. The aircraft have been stationed in Sandhavn since last October where they have been used to ferry troops, tanks and armoured personnel carriers to the territory, which is suffering from increasingly organised gang violence. The Dune Sea will hold a referendum on 17-19 April to decide whether to join the Commonwealth of Nedernesia as an Overseas Crown Land protectorate.

»Regional - The sudden earthquake and tsunami has sparked a frenzy of international aid cooperation that appears to be reigniting discussions on closer regional cooperation. Neighbouring Andros has floated the idea of closer regional cooperation in the spheres of economics, trade and military. The Nedernesian government also seems keen to discuss the ideas further and announced its intention this week to send a delegation to Londo where such ideas can be visited and discussed in finer detail.
[/DIV]

 

[Vrijpoort]

het financiële rapport 7ƒ​

VSE: 5,728.60 (+3.55%) -- VrijCommoditiesEX: 7.599.57 (+0.65%) -- €M/ƒ: 8.3988 (-0.22%) -- Long Sea Crude: €M 60.11 (+5.23%) -- Gold Spot: €M 831.62 (+3.40%)

»» Dune Sea Votes to Join Nedernesia
»» Post-Earthquake & Tsunami Recovery Underway; Boon for Construction
»» Long Sea Crude Jumps 5% Over Renewed Tensions
»» Post-Delegationist Wing of EPP Wants Closer Ties with DDI
»» FamilyMart Convenience Store Chain Looks to Expand

The Dune Sea to Become Nedernesian Protectorate on 1 June
After three days of voting and nearly two weeks of transporting and counting ballots, the people of the Dune Sea voted 63% in favour of becoming an Overseas Crown Land of Nedernesia. This will mean that defence and international relations will be handled by Vrijpoort while domestic affairs will remain the purvey of the local democratic government. Corporate Nedernesia had supported the accession with a massive campaign as they view this move as extremely positive for outstanding capital investments in the Dune Sea as well as beneficial for future business expansion. As a protectorate, the Dune Sea is likely to receive greater military and police support against the many gangs terrorising rural areas and city outskirts. Legal and business standards that make doing business in Nedernesia so simple and profitable will also be adopted in the Dune Sea. Aside from more factories, Nedernesian firms see potential for increased mining, more advanced tourism and other sectors. The Vrijpoort Securities Exchange was up over three and a half per cent upon news of the referendum.

As Country Recovers from Disaster, Construction Firms Benefit
The earthquake and tsunami that struck Nedernesia earlier this month has killed over 5,000 people and damaged thousands of buildings. While Vrijpoort was mostly spared due to stringent building codes, many dormitories in the city outskirts for temporary foreign workers (tempos) who work in so-called 'undesirable' professions like construction, cleaning, gardening, etc., collapsed. Rural communities in outlying islands also were disproportionately affected. Debate has begun in society over how the poor and vulnerable have suffered the most during this crisis while the middle-class and well-off have largely been unscathed. One industry seen to greatly benefit is construction. Massive insurance payouts are being used to reconstruct and repair damaged buildings. Many of the tempos made homeless are working long shifts as firms aim to beat deadlines for new building projects. The government has said that all tempos affected by the disaster will receive special financial assistance and free temporary accommodation until places can be found for them in new, safer dormitories. The skyline of Vrijpoort is once again full of construction cranes and the outlying islands are seeing construction vehicles and materials being offloaded from ferries as never before. The insurance and reinsurance firms, however, are left licking their wounds.

The Price for Long Sea Crude Rose 5% to Over 60€M Yesterday as Tensions Rise in the Region
Once again the larger countries of the world are engaged in terse diplomatic communiqués and are sending heavily armed warships through the Long Sea due to disputes over how the region should be governed, or not governed. The political tensions caused the benchmark Long Sea Crude to rise over 5% yesterday, to over 60€M a barrel. The psychologically important 60 rattled oil traders and caused a surge in buying for June oil contracts as traders expect the price to continue to rise over the spring and summer. One analyst at Haliday and Frasier Energy said that his firm expects oil to remain above 60 Euromarks a barrel for the foreseeable future. KLM Airways has started hedging prices for jet fuel to lock in the current price for the next six months. 'That means one of the largest airlines thinks 60 a barrel is a deal compared to what may come', the trader said.

The EPP's Post-Delegationist Wing Wants Nedernesia to Engage More with the DDI
When Melinda Weldaad sailed to victory in elections earlier this year her Equity and Prosperity Party did the unthinkable: unseat the incumbent People's Action Party after over 65 years in power. She promised reforms to welfare systems, more housing and continued priority placed on pro-business policies. Weldaad herself is known to harbour some sympathies towards Post-Delegationism, developed during her years as an undergraduate student in Rosengård, Pohjanmaa, however she has never made PDism an official party platform. Some Senators in her party want to change that. While only one or two are calling for PDism to be adopted into party doctrine, a group of 20 EPP Senators have written a letter to the Senior Minister requesting her to 'engage more prominently' with the Democratic Defence Initiative'. Nedernesia maintains warm ties with DDI states, due in part to the Pohjanmaa defence agreement with Nedernesia and because of shared democratic and pro-market values. Deeper cooperation with the DDI has always been a sensitive issue, however. Many in Vrijpoort fear damage to Nedernesia's image as 'the world's marketplace' and chief financial centre if it were to join a politicised body. The opposition PAP supports maintaining the status quo while the EPP's junior coalition partners, the Jewish Alliance and First Gen Ned, remain unconvinced of the benefits to cozying up to the DDI.

FamilyMart Wants to Expand Globally and Aggressively
The largest chain of snelshops (24-hour convenience store) in Nedernesia, FamilyMart, has announced global expansion plans. These small shops open 24 hours a day are part of daily life in Nedernesia. Snacks, drinks, microwave meals, stationery, basic clothing, toiletries, parcel delivery and pickup services, a counter to eat your food, newspapers and magazines, charging stations, wifi and more, a Nedernesian snelshop puts a Sylvanian corner shop or 'gas station' to shame. Yet aside from a few locations in the far south of Pohjanmaa and in Sandhavn in the Dune Sea, FamilyMart has remained a domestic company. That is all about to change. Aggressive expansion will take place with a three-pronged approach. Scania and Western Gallo-Germania will see shops open in cities and towns across Pohjanmaa, Andros, Tyskonia and Salen. The Dune Sea will be sea shops expand outside Sandhavn into Tjamuaha and Caroline Amaliestad and Natal will see shops open in every major city and town. Lastly, a foothold in Westernesse will be made in Sylvania. The company has admitted that its business model will have to adapt to these different markets. 'Most of our snelshops in Nedernesia are in extremely urban environments and cater to pedestrians. We also have an incredibly advanced and developed supply chain network with some shops receiving merchandise deliveries multiple times per day. In the vast stretches of Sylvania and Pohjanmaa some of our shops will need to cater to auto drivers. Small car parks and strategically placed shops near expressway exits and major road junctions will be key in those markets. We are also in talks with Staatolie to partner with them and get our shops to operate their current convenience stores in Pohjanmaa and possibly also Sylvania.' FamilyMart shares (VSE: FMRT) were up 9% on news of the expansion plans.