Marscurian News

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

[center][img]http://www.shaunsayre.com/70s/shows/test-pattern.jpg[/img][/center]
[center][u][size="5"]THIS JUST IN:[/size][/u][/center]

A message from the Marscurian Pakistani Government:
All citizens are ordered to evacuate the capital and surrounding cities. This is not a drill. This is not a test. Fighting is rapidly approaching the capital and you are no longer safe. Head south. The government will provide for you. We repeat, the capital is no longer safe. Evacuate now. Head south, the government will provide for you.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Mietonka:

[center][u][size="5"]New Military Dogs Ready For Action![/size][/u][/center]

The new dogs, which have been specifically bred for service have just finished their training and are ready for duty! The bread of dog, called the Marscurian Dog, is a mix between a German Shepherd and a Labrador Retriever. It is hoped that by combining these two breeds, the best of both will be concentrated in the animal, and many of the genetic problems associated with a pure pedigree will be avoided. The dogs and their trainers are in the 119th Canine Division, and will be sent to fighting groups around the country.


[img]http://le-dogs.de/Hunde/hannah.jpg[/img]
This is an example of a dog with more dominant German Shepherd traits. These dogs are used for attack purposes mainly. If a dog has more dominant Labrador Retriever traits, it is used mainly for bomb and other contraband sniffing.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Mietonka:

[center][u][size="5"]South Hit By Tropical Storm[/size][/u][/center]

Early this morning, Tropical Storm Phet hit the southern parts of the country. Power was knocked out in Gwadar as well as the Tri-Cities, and several coastal regions received moderate flooding. Death tolls are not in yet, but are expected to be in the dozens. Little damage was taken, but the ports of the Tri-Cities were closed for the storm, and fishing vessels were called back to avoid disasters at sea. The storm has now passed, and the cleanup effort has begun.

[img]http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2010/06/03/phet-01.jpg[/img]
Fishing boats clog ports as they were called back for the storm.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Mietonka:

[center][u][size="5"]Stein Dynasty Celebrates 1,000 Years![/size][/u][/center]

At a ceremony held at the Marscurian Museum in Karachi, it was acknowledged that 1,000 years ago, Mikhail's furthest traceable ancestor chose the last name "Stein." The first name of the man has been lost to history, but we know some things. He lived in the Kievan Rus, and was most likely a farmer. Little is seen of the first Stein, but there are a few key artifacts that the museum has retained. Primarily among them was a sword and several spear heads. Because of this, it was believed that he was either a mercenary or a conscript in an army for some point in his life. Everything else is widely accepted as fact, even though little proof exists. According to the accepted legends, he had two sons, who went north to found the cities of Mars and Cury on opposite sides of the river Volga. The city was joined in the 16th Century as defense against increasing Anti-Semitic attacks. After a government-condoned pogrom in the mid-17th century, 1,500 people in the city left for India, where in 2008, they would declare independence as the Marscurian Empire.

The Sultan arrived to officially open the exhibit to the public, and to make a small speech. In the speech, he spoke about the endurance of the Marscurian people, and how proud he was that we survived the war. He also wanted to thank all the soldiers for their heroic duty. The new exhibit is open Sunday through Friday at the Museum of Marscurian History. There is no additional charge to see the exhibit.

OOC: My IG nation is 1,000 days old today.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:

[center][size="5"][u]National Identity Cards Issued![/u][/size][/center]

For the purpose of aiding identification and government processes, every citizen of Marscurian Siberia is being issued a card with a unique 8 digit number.

[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/MarscurianSiberianSocialSecurityCard.png[/img]
An example card

OOC: Got my social security wonder.

Edited September 10, 2010 by KaiserMelech Mikhail

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Obluchye:

[center][size="5"]Tepluzersky-Londokostroimaterialy Cement Plant Opens![/size][/center]
Today, the cement plant at Obluchye officially opened its doors. This plant, expected to produce high-quality concrete for the nation's many construction materials, will employ several hundred people, and has been touted as one of the first success stories in Marscurian Siberia.

[img]http://www.eao.ru/Images/Oblast/obl_131008.jpg[/img]
The new cement factory

[king of cochin]

Larsen and Toubro is interested in purchasing some of the cement required for its various construction programs from the Tepluzersky-Londokostroimaterialy Cement Plant.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Mietonka:

[center][size="5"]Stock Exchange Competed[/size][/center]

With a name like Mietonka, it was only a matter of time. In this small city of only 50,000, the Marscurian Siberian Stock Exchange has been completed. In a statement, the Khagan said that this was his plan all along. Mietonka had been the financial capital of both the Marscurian Empire and Marscurian Pakistan, and in his view, it deserves to retain that place. When asked why the building did not belong in the larger capital, he simply replied that, "Money and politics make strange bedfellows, and I would like to see them apart." In a public ceremony today, the ribbon was finally cut on the building, which had been under construction for months. While domestic materials were mostly used, no expense was spared gaining fine granite from North America, and beautiful wood from South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. This opening has proved to be a boon for Mietonka, and many companies are rumored to be planning to move their headquarters to the city.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Lighthouse_St.Pg.JPG[/img]
The new building was recently competed. The outside is coated in fine marble taking from mines inside Marscurian Siberia. Placed on the banks of the Amur River, the stock exchange will face Tyreshif Island, where another large economic project is in the works. While the building was inaugurated today, business will not start until December 19th, so that all the people and machinery can get settled. The exchange will be known in shorthand as MSSX.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

[center][size="7"]NEW YEARS CELEBRATIONS[/size][/center]

"10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Celebrations were roaring all over the country to ring in 2011. Large celebrations were held in the capitals of the individual rayons, along with other major cities. In Marscury, 200,000 people made it to celebrate on the major avenues leading to the capital. On the steps, the Khagan gave his speech offering hope towards the new year.

"My family, 2011 in Siberia! By all accounts, how did we get here? Many of you have been with me the whole way, from India to Pakistan to here. And here we are indeed. We're living in one of the great stories, the ones that really matter. Full of darkness and danger it was, and sometimes you don't want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could a people go back to the way they were when so much bad has happened? But in the end, sadness is only a passing thing, a shadow! Even darkness, no matter how deep, must always pass! A new day will come! And when the sun shines, it will shine out all the clearer! This is the story that will stay with us, that means something, even if some of you are too small to understand why. But, through my travels, I believe I do understand, I know now. People in this story had lots of chances of turning back. You could have stayed in India, or in Pakistan, only you didn't, you kept going! We did this because we were holding onto something. We're holding onto the idea that there's some good in this world, and that it's worth looking and fighting for! I think at last, we understand one another. This land, this beautiful land, green with trees and grass, white with snow, blue with shimmering waters, was meant to be our home all along. We fought for this home, we built this home, and we love this home. By the grace of God, let this home be good to us. I pray that in 3011, and 4011, and 5011, and so on, my descendant will be giving these speeches to your descendants. This year, 2011, will surely be one of love, and peace, and prosperity, because I will it, and you all will it. When the great Marscurian nation pushes towards our goals, there is nothing we can't accomplish. This year, we will push for a future brighter than anything we could ever imagine. Thank you, and I love you all!"

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2632/3749575588_5e33a7d953.jpg[/img]

With that, the Marscurian Siberian national anthem began playing, and fireworks shot from behind the capital. The celebrations began all over the city, and the nation. The biggest musicians were holding concerts in the various cities. The year had started out with a bang. It was almost inconceivable to know where this nation was a mere 6 months ago, and the people still had nowhere to go but up!

Edited January 1, 2011 by KaiserMelech Mikhail

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:

[center][size="5"]Police Fleet Standardized[/size][/center]
A commission by various top members of the national police have ended their search for the cars that will serve police departments around the nation. This standardization is believed to cut costs and allow interchanging between various departments.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Volvo164museum.jpg[/img]
The Masibau 164T will be the police cruiser. The car is equipped with a 175 HP I-6 engine producing 245 feet of torque, the car can outrun and outdrive any other car produced by Masibau.


[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Volvo_211_at_Djurgarden_Stockholm.jpg[/img]
The Masibau 421T will be the heavy lifter of the forces. It's not expected to go anywhere very fast, carrying only an 82hp V4 with 100 lbs of torque, however it has plenty of space for carrying heavy weaponry for police in sticky situations, or it can be modified to carry up to 5 convicts off to jail.


From Marscury:
[size="5"][center]Telmana Perimeter Removed[/center][/size]
The 20 mile perimeter around Telmana has been removed, and free travel is allowed again. The latest Geiger meter readings show that the radiation levels have fallen to a level low enough for moderate cleanup work to begin. The first job will be to remove any bodies found among the rubble. We'll keep you updated on the cleanup efforts.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Mietonka:

[center][size="5"]Three Bridges Project Goes Ahead[/size][/center]

Today, heavy equipment was moved into place to begin construction on three bridges that will span the Amur River, connecting Mietonka to the Zargathian city of Qindeli. As combined road-rail bridges, a larger volume of both people and cargo will be able to move between the two nations, increasing trade and diplomatic relations. The bridges will all be constructed at the same time, and will have a construction time of roughly 1 year if the projections pan out on time. All the bridges have been designed to withstand the heavy ices of the Amur River in the winter, and are all high enough to easily allow all river ships to safely pass underneath.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Edmonton_Sourdough_Raft_Race.jpg[/img]
The Regirung Island Bridge will be 1000 feet long, and will connect Regirung Island to the mainland. It will consist of 2 rail lines on the upper deck, and 4 lanes of traffic on the lower deck.

[img]http://www.freefoto.com/images/1043/22/1043_22_9---High-Level-Bridge--Newcastle-upon-Tyne_web.jpg?&k=High+Level+Bridge%2C+Newcastle+upon+Tyne[/img]
The Tyreshif Island Bridge will be 600 feet long, and will connect Regirung Island to Tyreshif Island. It will have the same layout as the Regirung Island Bridge.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Nanjing_yangtze_bridge.jpg[/img]
The Grand Amur Bridge will have a span of over 4000 feet, and will connect Tyreshif Island to the Zargathian mainland. It will have a reversed layout from other two bridges, and will be much more ornately decorated.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:
[size="5"][center]Knightly Orders Introduced[/center][/size]
As part of the natural order of a monarchy, the act of knighting someone has always been a way to reward a citizen of the realm for their outstanding duty to the nation. In keeping with this most ancient of traditions, three new orders of chivalry have been created in Marscurian Siberia.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Svardsorden.jpg[/img]
The Order of the Sword is offered to soldiers who show outstanding courage or ingenuity on the battlefield.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Vasaord.jpg[/img]
The Order of Bounty is offered to any civilian who makes significant improvements or sacrifices to the nation and its well-being.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Sweden_Order_of_the_North_Star.JPG[/img]
The Order of Light is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon anyone. This order is offered to anyone, whether or not they are a Marscurian Siberian citizen, who saves the Khagan's life.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:

[center][size="5"]New Military Bill Made Into Law[/size][/center]

With the poor showing of our allies in the latest naval conflict in Australia, the Duma has introduced a new bill, named the "Military Law Requirement Bill." In this bill, Marscurian Siberia shall not engage in foreign wars unless all allies agreed to follow all the Fundamental Rules of War laid out by the military. The victors in the last conflict have violated 4 of the 10 laws, and the compliance of the sailors of the Marscurian Siberian Navy shall forever be a black spot on our record. For clarity's sake, the 4 laws broken were:

2) The dignity of the enemy is to be preserved. No crime shall be committed against civilians who do not present a danger.
3) The livelihoods of the enemy are to be preserved. No destruction shall come to any business or industry who is not in support of the enemy war effort.
5) The freedom of the enemy nation is to be preserved. Vanquished foes are not to be annexed into Marscurian Siberia, nor are they to be removed of their political independence.
9) A just peace, which ensures the survival and honor of both participants in a war, is never to be rejected.

The bill was introduced late last night, and was passed 10-0. The Khagan immediately authorized it, and it is a new law.

Edited March 26, 2011 by KaiserMelech Mikhail

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:
[center][u][size="5"]Marscurian Missile Works Established[/size][/u][/center]

Citing the urgent need for the development of surface-to-air missiles, the Marscurian Siberian Air Force has unveiled its new R&D missile program, the Marscurian Missile Works. This group is made up of the brightest scientists and engineers that our nation can offer, and have the sole task of designing and improving the missile stocks used by the Marscurian Siberian Armed Forces. The actual construction of the missiles is expected to be handled by Marscurian Military Works, or possibly some smaller contractor. In service, highly trained technicians from the Air Force will comprise the Missile Corps, and will have the duty of protecting the nation's airspace. Several designs are already hitting the drawing board.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Towed_Rapier_SAM.jpg[/img]
The MSAM (mobile surface to air missile)-1 will be a short-range missile system with the selected targets mainly being low-flying attack aircraft or helicopters. The system is designed to be very light and mobile.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Hawk_mobile.jpg[/img]
The MSAM-2 will be a medium-range missile system with a larger warhead and is able to target all aircraft in the sky. The system will be slightly less mobile than the MSAM-1, and requires a moderate set-up and take-down process

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Sa6_1.jpg[/img]
The MSAM-3 will be the king of the class. With a long range, 120 pound warhead, and speeds of up to mach 3, this missile will mean almost certain death to all who get in its way. Due to the system being completely integrated with its carrier, there will be no need for lengthy set-ups.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Bloodhound_SAM_at_the_RAF_Museum.jpg[/img]
The SSAM (stationary surface to air missile) is the only member of its class. It will feature a total of 6 engines to propel the rocket to mach 3 and will have an expected range of around 55 miles. The novel continuous rod warhead will slice any craft to pieces, insuring a much better kill probability over fragmentation warheads. The stationary systems will be placed on military airfields and army bases.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/RIM-2_Terrier_on_board_USS_Boston_%28CAG-1%29.jpg[/img]
The NSAM (naval surface to air missile) will be unique, as it will be operated by the navy, and not the air force missile corps. Each Amur-Class destroyer will be equipped with two of these launch systems. With a 200 pound warhead, 20 mile radius, and ceiling of 80,000 feet, this missile will be able to neutralize all threats that come to our boys at sea.

[center][img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/Missileworks.png[/img][/center]

Edited April 2, 2011 by KaiserMelech Mikhail

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:
[size="5"][u][center]Military Begins Tank Specialization and Modernization Program[/center][/u][/size]
To combat increasing maintenance costs stemming from the need to constantly repair the nation's aging tank fleet, the Duma introduced a bill that would require a new series of tanks to be developed, and the MBT-7 currently in use to be slowly phased out. With the job entrusted to Marscurian Military Works, blueprints for a new series of tanks have been offered to military leaders for consideration. Two designs have been picked, and further research and development will be put into the new designs. The two designs chosen were:

XMBT-64
[img]http://www.morozov.com.ua/images/t-64l.jpg[/img]
The tank will be a formidable main battle tank when complete. With up to 450mm of armor and a 125mm gun, the tank will be a model of both excellent offense and defense. More details will be released as development continues.

XMHT-70
[img]http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20061129195243/cnc/images/a/a5/F00e0542.jpg[/img]
The XMHT-70 will be an upgraded and modernized version of the MT-21 used by Marscurian Pakistan. The tank will feature dual 130mm guns. The guns will be the same as those used on the MBT-7 to insure compatibility with old ammunition lines. The whole body of the vehicle will be very heavily armored to insure safety of the crew. There will also be rocket tubes mounted on the turret to fire everything from illumination flares to smoke grenades to mortars and small surface-to-air missiles

The MTD-18 tank destroyer has been investigated for a possible upgrade package to make it a more effective and less expensive piece of equipment. However, there are no plans to remove it from service like the MBT-7.

From Marscury:
[size="5"][u][center]Religious Hate Crimes Reported![/center][/u][/size]
Worshipers who appeared for Saturday morning services at a synagogue in central Marscury were shocked to see the word "HERETICS" sprawled all over their building. It is important to note that the vandalized congregation follows rabbinical Judaism, a minority sect in the nation. Most Marscurian Siberians follow Marscurian Judaism, which rejects the Talmud, or oral law written by rabbis over the centuries. It is currently not known who the identities of the vandals are, but investigations are currently being run. There are 4 other synagogues in the country that follow Rabbinical Judaism, and police have been stationed at each building to deter vandals. It is to be remembered that the Marscurian Siberian constitution allows freedom of religion, and quotes from police leaders state that this sort of vandalism will not be accepted, and anyone caught in the act will be severely punished. Anyone with information about the crime is to report it to their local police precinct.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:
[center][u][size="5"]Amur Force Approved By Government![/size][/u][/center]
After a vote in the Duma that passed 8-2, and the signing of the motion by the Khagan, work has begun on constructing a riverine police force on the Amur River. The patrol force will be composed of a fleet of speed boats and lightly-armed patrol craft. The goals of this force will be the arrest of smugglers, protection of river commerce, and various search and rescue roles. It was determined that since Marscurian Siberia is the only nation dependent on the Amur River, it should be the one to bear the burden of its protection. So far, Telmana and Glubokiye Vodishtot have been chosen as bases of operation. The Telmana station will patrol the river upstream from Telmana between the city and the river's course through the city of Obluchye. The Glubokiye Vodishtot station will patrol the river from Telmana to the mouth. In the end, it is hoped that the UFE and Buryatia will offer a token of legitimacy to this organization, and will allow it to run its patrols for the whole length of the river.

[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/AmurPolice-1.png[/img]
The logo of the Amur Police

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Telmana
[center][size="5"]Port of Telmana Completed![/size][/center]

Early this week, construction crews have finished their construction work on the port of Telmana. The port takes up several miles of the Amur River on the nation's Eastern border, and extends into some of the larger inlets around Telmana. The port is destined to be very multi-modal, and includes infrastructure for a wide variety of services. So far, several companies have signed up for space at the docks. Some of these include:

Amur Ferry Services: Ferry services along the Amur River, with stops at Amurpet, Pyotrgrad, Mietonka, Telmana, and Glubokiye Vodishtot

Shif Shipping: Bulk and containerized cargo is loaded onto barges and river ships for movement to the port of Glubokiye Vodishtot

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Sevastopol004.jpg[/img]
The port of Telmana, as envisioned crowded with river ships from all over the Amur basin.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Glubokiye Vodishtot:
[center][u][size="5"]Explosion Sinks [i]MSS Bira[/i], 7 Lost![/size][/u][/center]
Residents near the port of Glubokiye Vodishtot were awakened early this morning by an explosion on the [i]MSS Bira[/i], one of the two Amur-Class destroyers. The explosion came from deep inside the warship, killing seven men deep in the ship who were either killed by the explosion or the smoke that came after. Luckily, most of the men had a chance to use the gangplank or to simply swim to shore, leading to a minimum amount of fatalities in this disaster. The ship sank in one and a half hours after the explosion, despite the attempt of the sailors to pump the flooding waters. Parts of the superstructures of the ship are still above the water, creating a navigational hazard in the harbor, but the ship will remain where it sank until a full investigation can be conducted. Terrorist acts or an attack are not suspected at this time. Engineers from the Tianjin shipyards have been called in to assist in the investigations.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Glubokye Vodishtot:
[center][u][size="5"]MSS Bira Wreck Investigated[/size][/u][/center]
The wreck of the [i]MSS Bira[/i], which sank over a week ago following a massive explosion has been fully investigated. The explosion was found to have originated in the engine compartment, with the diesel motor found in pieces. The [i]MSS Amur[/i] was interned at port and was found to have a set of components in the engine that was close to failing. The parts were replaced with newly-engineered parts, and has begun the testing phase to see if the replacement was successful. With the investigation complete, salvagers will begin removing the wreck of the [i]Bira[/i], in order to open the port to traffic again.

Sports:
The Bears defeated the Tigers today in soccer with a last minute goal, taking them to 3 over 2.

With a time of just under 13 hours, the Marscurian Siberian team won the first Marscurian Grand Prix, coming in one and a half minutes before the nearest competitors, Team Canada.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Telmana:
[center][u][size="5"][i]MSS Indomitable[/i] launched from Telmana Shipyards[/size][/u][/center]

Today, the first of the Indomitable-Class Monitors was launched from Obluchye Heavy Engineering's Telmana shipyard. The name Indomitable was chosen as a representation of the city of Telmana, where the ship was launched, and the city's amazing recovery following its complete destruction at the hands of a nuclear missile. The new class of ships is designed for defense of the homeland, rather than power projection. With only 10 days worth of fuel and perishables, the ships cannot stray to far from the naval bases in Telmana and Glubokiye Vodishtot. Also, with a draft of only 4.5 feet, the ships are perfectly designed to navigate the length of the Amur River and some of the larger tributaries, but journeying into the open ocean is not advised. Although a smaller ship, the vessel is loaded with weapons, including two 130 mm gun turrets taken from MBT-7 tanks, 2 gatling gun CIWS, several machine guns, and even a launch system for unguided rockets. The new vessel is to serve as the flagship of the 2nd Fleet, based at Telmana.

[img]http://www.riverships.ru/photos/1208_habarovsk_3.jpg[/img]
[i]MSS Indomitable[/i]

OOC: This is my first IG corvette.

[size="5"]In Sports[/size]
The Tigers trounced the team from Cochin in the Cup of Nations, with star starter Vladimir Untral scoring two goals, and goalie Mikhail Simoltech keeping the game score free for Cochin. This win gives the Tigers hope for advancement in the tournament, after scoring a disappointing 0-0 tie against the Bostonian team on the first day.

Edited June 3, 2011 by KaiserMelech Mikhail

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:
[size="5"][u][center]RMA Upgrades Fleet[/center][/u][/size]
Fresh from the assembly line from the Boeing Corporation in Cascadia, Royal Marscurian Airlines has purchased 45 new jetliners to significantly upgrade its aged fleet, mainly based still on turboprop aircraft. The breakdown of the aircraft purchased is as follows:

20 DC-9-50
10 MD-82
10 767-200
5 DC-10-30

[size="5"]In Sports:[/size]
The Tigers played an amazing game in the quarterfinals of the Cup of Nations, defeating the heavily-favored Pravus Ingruo team in a 2-1 score. The goals were scored by Vladimir Untral, the young star of the Tigers this tournament, and by Teodor Weiss, the team captain. We wish the boys the best of luck as they move into the semifinals.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:
[u][size="5"][center]New National Service Act Passed By Duma[/center][/size][/u]

After several small protests against the draft rocked Mietonka and Marscury, the duma was forced to introduce a new bill, simply titled the "Revised National Service Act." This bill was designed to end the mandatory 18 months of military service for 18 year-old men in the country, and replace it with mandatory national service, with a military option. The bill also introduced the requirement that women serve in the national service, but only for one year. The vote was introduced by a representative from the Bidzhan Rayon, home to the majority of Vauleyo-Buryatians in the nation. In the end, the vote came to 6 for the new bill, and 4 against. The majority opposition was centered around the fact that women were now constrained by the law, and that the bill would drastically weaken the military by slashing the size of the Second Army. Under the new law, the period of "National Service" can be fulfilled by one of 10 methods:

1. Military Service (non-combat for women)
2. Environmental Restoration
3. Infrastructure Construction
4. Hospital/EMT Volunteering
5. Teaching Assistantships
6. Agricultural Work
7. Work in the Foreign Assistantship
8. Religious Studies (Marscurian Judaism only)
9. Deputy Service in the National Police
10. Work in an old-age home or daycare center

The Khagan readily signed the bill into law. He accompanied the signing with the following statement. "The Marscurian people have never been militaristic, and it was a folly to pretend that we were. With the ability to focus on the nation and improving the lives of our citizens, rather than destroying those of others, we will make this world a better place."

[size="5"]In Sports[/size]
The Tigers placed 3rd in the latest Cup of Nations tournament, falling to the Canadian team in the semi-finals. This podium finish was accompanied by the honor of the Golden Boot, given to star forward Vladimir Untral, who is poised to become one of the biggest celebrities in the nation.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Obluchye:
[u][center][size="5"]Trade Fair Opens in Obluchye[/size][/center][/u]
Today in Obluchye, a trade fair exhibiting the latest goods that Marscurian Companies are producing opened its gates. Several of the largest companies in the nation had booths in attendance to present their goods. Here are some of the highlights from the first day.

[u]Obluchye Heavy Engineering[/u]

MHSE-84 Passenger locomotive
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/APTP_Driving_Trailer_Second.gif[/img]


MHF-38 Diesel-Electric locomotive
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/EMD_SD601.jpg[/img]


MW4 Wind Turbine
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/WTS4_wind_turbine.jpg[/img]


[u]Veridian Dynamics[/u]

PC1 Personal Computer
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Ibm_px_xt_color.jpg[/img]


CDP001 Compact Disc Player
[img]http://www.cedmagic.com/history/sony-cdp-101.jpg[/img]


[u]Marscurian Military Works[/u]

MBT-84 Main Battle Tank
[img]http://t80leningrad.narod.ru/images_3/t80a_003_.jpg[/img]


MHT-1 Heavy Tank
[img]http://images.wikia.com/cnc/images/a/ae/Apocalypse_Tank.jpg[/img]

[Mergerberger II]

Akitsushima congratulates Manscuria on these innovations and wishes it luck in the trade fair. It is our sincere hope that everything will go smoothly and many things may be gained from the event.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:
[u][size="5"][center]Great Synagogue Constructed[/center][/size][/u]
Today, the first Shabbat services were held in the Great Synagogue of Marscury, also known as the National Synagogue. The building is the largest synagogue in all of Marscurian Judaism, with a main capacity of over 1,000 worshipers. The building will also be the official place of worship for the members of the monarchy. Open 24 hours a day for prayer by the public, the building is set to be a new landmark in the Marscury cityscape.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Synagogue_de_Bruxelles.jpg[/img]
The Great Synagogue of Marscury

OOC: Great Temple Wonder



From Glubokiye Vodishtot:
[center][u][size="5"][i]MSS Bira[/i] Launched[/size][/u][/center]
At the Obluchye Heavy Engineering Maritime Shipyards, the destroyer [i]MSS Bira[/i] was launched. This ship is the first of the modern Bira-Class destroyers, named of course for the Bira River, which runs through Marscury and Mietonka. This ship is set to become the new flagship of the 1st Fleet, replacing the older [i]MSS Amur[/i]. The [i]Bira[/i] is larger, faster, and much more heavily armed than the [i]Amur[/i], and seems more suited for the leadership position. The future plans for the ship are to remain in Glubokiye Vodishtot, as Vaulian waters are closed, blocking access to the ocean and preventing sea trials. This new addition brings the 1st Fleet to a strength of two destroyers, with a third ship currently under construction in Tianjin, UFE.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Destroyer_Okrylenny.jpg[/img]
The [i]MSS Bira[/i] anchored in the Amur Estuary

Edited June 25, 2011 by KaiserMelech Mikhail