Scofield

Out of an isolated island of inactivity, an official message was dispatched from London to Dublin, requesting the Irish Government dispatch peacekeepers to the soon-to-be-defunct Kingdom of Great Britain. No reason were given, and any further inquiries went unanswered. OOC: I was originally gonna return the land to Centurius, but lkfht told me that Cent had given the okay for GB to go to Ireland, so I'm going with that. Also, Cent, I apologize for my involvement in the plot, and thanks for letting me having Great Britain, I appreciate it.

Most Diplomatic Nation: Poland Friendliest Nation: 'Merica Most Hostile Nation: Tianxia Most Honorable Nation: Athens Least Honorable Nation: Ishabad's lolfail nations Most Active Nation: n/a Least Active Nation: Noord-Uniestaat/Austria Best Military*: Tianxia (yawn, what else?) Best Nation Building RP*: Shammy's South Africa Best Economy Building RP*: nobody rps the economy, ever Best Rookie Nation (First-time Player): lkhft Best SCIENCE!*: Lynneth (build me Icarus No. 2 and the Death Star nao) Most Powerful Nation: Military: Tianxia, followed extremely closely by Athens Most Powerful Nation: Political Influence (IC): Tianxia New: Most Powerful Emerging Military: n/a New: Most Powerful Emerging Political Influence (IC): UN Most Powerful Bloc: Military: TSI Most Powerful Bloc: Political Influence (IC): TSI, followed by UN Bloc Most Likely to Succeed in 2014: UN Best National Leader (IC): n/a Nicest Player: MGL Funniest Player: TBM/KM Player of the Year: MGL (you're the first in CNRP history to rp a nation encompassing the 48 contiguous US, you lucky !@#$%^&) Best Upcoming Player: 2014: n/a Best Declaration of War: n/a New: Best Diplomatic Meeting: n/a Best Wall of Text: n/a Biggest Controversy (IC): n/a Best Character Development, Arc: n/a Best Character Development, 2+ players: n/a Character RP you most enjoyed reading: n/a

Westminster - Parliament voted to pass a bill establishing Britain's sovereign wealth fund for the first time in its history. The Sovereign Wealth Fund Act 20XX establishes a Sovereign Wealth Fund with the goal of maximizing returns from certain industries such as oil and gas. It also modernizes the Crown Estate by changing the way it manages its vast portfolio of assets - worth over £8.6 billion - on the behalf of the British people. The Bank of England would manage future liabilities such as pensions and debt, and to provide a venue for long-term national investment for infrastructure projects. The Government hopes that the Crown Estate would use its resources and assets carefully and rationally to invest in many sectors of the British economy, and thus encourage local job growth in many areas of the Kingdom, especially in the manufacturing, engineering, and green technology sectors. The same could be said for the petroleum industry, in which part of taxes on gas and oil would be channeled into the Fund. This would help new businesses receive the investment and capital needed to compete in the domestic British market and the global economy. This was the culmination of prolonged efforts over the past years and decades, under various administrations, to establish a long, over-due sovereign wealth fund.

"Challenge accepted," Boba Fett said with a wicked grin as he placed his helmet on. Holstering his blasters and his huge gleaming castration knife, Fett blasted off into the sky.

Westminster - In what has been hailed by English MPs as a 'major victory', a bill introduced by Conservative MP Kenneth Clarke passed the House of Commons and House of Lords after a long, arduous process. The English Legislation Act 20XX restricts voting on legislation which exclusively affects England to English MPs. This differs from the earlier procedural bill in that English MPs, not their Scottish or Welsh counterparts, can vote on legislation that exclusively affects England. The procedural bill allowed non-English MPs to vote on legislation that exclusively affects England, but required that such initiative receive a majority of support from English MPs first. While the Act has brought England closer than ever to having its own devolved Parliament, it brings up one potential concern: what is an 'English Only' Bill? As several MPs in both Houses of Parliament pointed out, certain EO bills could have a knock-on effect north and west of the English border and thus allow non-English MPs to claim full voting rights. Furthermore, some Labor MPs in their opposition to the Act claimed that it would virtually reduce non-English MPs to 'second-class citizens' when it comes to legislative matters in England. Prime Minister Cameron and the Tories disagreed with such statements, stating that the Act aims to place England on a more equal footing with Scotland and Wales in the devolved legislative process. The debate surrounding the West Lothian Question will remain a major issue for the Cameron administration for some time to come.

You're partly correct. I was referring to the fact that you can claim, and thus RP, in Cyprus only if Cent let you (since he owned it previously and it's covered under his doctrine). And judging from comments in the OOC thread, this isn't likely to be the case.

Edinburgh, Scotland - Controversy erupted when the Ministry of Fisheries unveiled plans to draft new regulations prohibiting the dumping of fish caught by deep-sea fisheries. According to Deputy Minister Serena Fisher, existing regulations under the Marine Life Conservation and Management Act, while barring overfishing, did not adequately address the issue of dumping, and in fact encouraged fishermen to dump their excess fish to avoid being penalized under the Act. The Common Fisheries Regulation, Fisher said, would help ameliorate the situation and reduce instances of dumping. However, fishermen groups, particularly the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF), disagreed with the Deputy Minister's statement, calling such proposed regulations "superficial". The proposed regulations, they said, would not help address the issue of dumping, much less reduce them, and actually would harm coastal and fishing communities across the Kingdom. Furthermore, the question of implementation came up: how would the Government actually enforce the regulations? There are thousands of fishing ships of all sizes around the country, and the Government simply cannot monitor them all. The question withstanding, Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon stated that he would work together with North Sea fishery nations - the Norse Kingdom, Prussia, Athens, Noord-Uniestaat, and Iceland - on resolving the issue of dumping. He stated that any regulations would have to take into consideration the interests and concerns of fishermen, and that working with them would be more successful than "simply imposing more regulation upon them." The Scottish Parliament has indicated that it would be "receptive" to any proposals that effect a comprehensive ban on fish dumping. As the Scottish fishing industry comprises a large proportion of the British fishing industry, Scottish fisheries spokesman Scott Tavish stated that the proposals are of great significance to Scotland and the rest of the Kingdom. "We need to work to end the dumping of marketable fish without destroying the very livelihoods of the fishing communities around Scotland's coast," he said.

Only if Centurius lets you.

The Kingdom of Great Britain congratulates its Irish neighbors in attaining independence, and confers official recognition upon the Irish Republic. We wish you well in the near-future.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Chris Grayling stated in a public speech in Westminster that the Her Majesty's Government would close down four outdated prisons and replace them with two new state-of-the-art 'Hub' super prisons by the end of 20XX, and to "swap" a further six old prisons for new ones by 20XX. This initiative was based on ongoing review and evaluation of the policy proposal submitted by Britain's leading think tank, Policy Exchange. The report, authored by former prison governor Kevin Lockyer, advocated the closure of some thirty dilapidated prisons and replacing them with twelve massive new Hub super prisons, using cutting-edge architecture and technology; constructing the new prisons on brownfield sites near main transport routes; and allowing equitable competition between the public and private sectors in managing the new prisons. Through this initiative, the Government hopes to cut prisoner per capita costs (up to £600 million annually), reduce the re-offending rate, foster increased respect between prison staff and inmates, and improve the quality of life and safety measures.

The Kingdom of Great Britain congratulates Poland on attaining her independence, and extends a hand of friendship toward the new Polish government and people.

"Great Britain supports the initiative proposed by Prussia. It is prudent that all sides work together in reaching a fair and peaceful solution to the situation, and in a way that takes into consideration the will of the South American peoples and ensures lasting peace in the South American continent."

London - England is one step closer toward having its own devolved parliament. In an attempt to resolve, or at least pave the way toward as such, the ongoing West Lothian question - whether or not non-English MPs have the right to legislate for matters that exclusively affect England - a procedural bill was introduced in the House of Commons, stipulating that any bills introduced in the House that exclusively concerns England receive the consent of a majority of MPs representing English constituencies before proceeding any further. This was based on one of several recommendations made by the McKay Commission, which was formed under the Britannia regime but conducted under the Camulodunum regime, to consider the question of English devolution and its possible effect on the House of Commons. Over the course of British history, the regions of Scotland and Wales gained one way or another a form of home rule (through the Scotland Act 1998 and Government of Wales Act 1998), but not England. Although there has historically been a low level of public support for a devolved English parliament, such support has been slowly but surely increasing in recent times, from 17 to 39 percent. The English Democrats Party, and several members of the Conservative Party as well, while lamenting the rather limited scope of the procedural bill, expressed hopes that "one day England would be placed on equal standing with the other countries in terms of governance."

The Kingdom of Great Britain congratulates Aquitaine on attaining her independence, and extends a hand of friendship toward the Aquitanian government and people. We look forward to establishing, and expanding, relations with our new neighbor in the near-future.

"Montessori has our support."

Westminster - Parliament voted to pass the Modern Day Slavery Prevention Act of 20XX, which imposes harsh sentences upon modern-day slave owners, as well as anyone participating in human trafficking, including but not limited to life sentences without the possibility of parole. It also establishes the Office of the High Commissioner for the Prevention of Human Trafficking (also known as the Anti-Slavery Commissioner) to oversee and coordinate government efforts on the issue of human trafficking; and establishes a nation-wide witness protection program to assist victims in the judicial process. This recent initiative stems from increased public awareness of the issue of human trafficking, if the public outrage of the arrest of several individuals in London on human trafficking charges several months earlier is any indication. Indeed, the previous Administration increased efforts to prosecute sex and labor trafficking offenders in the years prior to its collapse, succeeding in detecting and busting dozens of human trafficking rings, and in attaining a seventy percent conviction rate. Unfortunately, this efforts ceased when the Government collapsed, but the new Cameron Administration vows to continue on where its predecessor left off. "Slavery has long been widely considered to have been consigned to the dustbin of history," Home Office minister James Brokenshire told the BBC. "Unfortunately, this is not the case. Slavery has been persisting, and undergoing change as time passes on. We have seen increases every year in the number of cases reported, and I expect that will continue to increase." Jakub Sobik, an Anti-Slavery International lobbyist, backed up Brokenshire's statements by saying that slavery, especially sex slavery, "takes different forms" such as "forced prostitution, agriculture, [and] domestic cleaning." Often, perpetrators resort to "threats of violence, passports, pay, and psychological tools" to assert control over their victims, he says.

"Yes. Domestic and foreign fisheries will have to follow fishing quotas set forth by the Ministry of Fisheries. The Act would affect the amount of fish that fishermen are legally allowed to fish without adversely affecting existing fish stock within the British EEZ. As long Madagascan fishers operating within the British EEZ obey the quotas, and relevant regulations, there should be little effect on British-Madagascan fishing trade. Likewise, British fishers operating within Madagascan waters will follow Madagascan regulations."

Westminster - In one of its first acts, Parliament voted to pass a legislative bill prohibiting overfishing at the national level, and imposing harsh penalties on violators. The Marine Life Conservation and Management Act 20XX imposes strict fishing quotas, authorizes local and regional governments to establish marine-protected areas in fishing areas and even to impose temporary closures, and cuts off government subsidies to deep-sea fisheries found in violation of the Act. It also establishes the Ministry of Fisheries and empowers it with appropriate powers to enforce proper fisheries management mechanisms, such as limiting the amount of time fishers could spend in the sea or prohibiting arrows, spears, firearms, or nets, for instance. It also set up monitoring mechanisms, such as monitoring organizations to ensure compliance of fisheries with the Act. The Act went into effect upon receiving Royal Assent from Queen Katherine of Cambridge on the same day. The passage of the Act so early in the Cameron administration, with seemingly little opposition in both houses of Parliament, and not long after the establishment of the Kingdom of Great Britain, indicates that marine life conservation has become a policy concern for the Her Majesty's Government, and will continue to be so for as long Cameron is Prime Minister.

TBM, because he's superior. Melech and Eva to serve as his jesters.

"An annual review sounds good. It allows us to evaluate the state of British-Norse relations, and to decide whether (or not) an upgrade would be in both our countries' interests."

Cameron shook his head as he finished his lager. "I think we have covered everything in regards to the issues at hand. As this meeting have been positive and productive, may I suggest a non-aggression pact? This would allow our nations to work and cooperate together, and to periodically evaluate our relations accordingly. What are your thoughts?"

"It would be a pleasure to join with you and Prussia in the development of renewable energy research and development, the reduction of overfishing, and the conservation and preservation of North Sea marine life. If you'd like, we can provide some funding and technical expertise to assist you and Prussia in the renewable energy R&D program. As for overfishing, there is a bill going through Parliament that would not only impose stricter fishing quotas and harsher penalties for violators, but authorize funding for greater monitoring technologies and programs. Britain would gladly work together with you and Prussia in this matter."

"We shouldn't worry about that. It doesn't matter whether the Norwegians claim 70 percent or even 100 percent of the North Sea reserves, ultimately it is all rhetoric. If they actually try to enforce their excessive claims, they not only risk subverting existing North Sea claims and violating our right to sovereignty, but also risk setting off a potential crisis in Europe, which is not something we need or want. One thing for sure is that Britain will continue to uphold its existing claims, to operate its oil/gas platforms within its territorial waters and EEZ, and to defend them if necessary, and nothing else. I am sure your government, and the Prussian government, would do the same." Cameron drained the rest of his lager, and promptly refilled his glass. "As for renewable energy, my predecessors actually took a major initiative to increase Britain's renewable energy production capabilities. The Britannia government established reduction targets for carbon emissions, and began the process of promoting renewable electricity power through domestic initiatives such as the Renewables Obligation (RO) and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), and various financial incentives. Although Britannia unfortunately lapsed into inactivity and collapsed, the Camulodunum government continued the efforts, actually increasing the percent of the country's electricity from renewable sources in a couple of years. My administration will continue these efforts, of course, and will focus on expanding Britain's wind, solar, biofuel and hydroelectric power capacities, as well as increasing research into wave and tidal power as well."

The Kingdom of Great Britain will dispatch Sir Robert Nelson to serve as representative to the United Nations.

"These maps seem to match our predecessors' data, and British claims within its EEZ. Nevertheless, thank you for providing these maps. Although Europe has undergone changes since our maps were last updated, our maps have at least raised our awareness of the tentative extent of existing claims in the North Sea. As I have stated earlier, Britain will respect existing North Sea claims, and will cooperate with North Sea powers in regards to oil exploration. With that said, I would suggest that both our governments bring our maps up to date as soon as possible, preferably with consultation with the Prussians and Norwegians, as to avoid further ambiguity in the near-future."