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[b]CLASSIFIED[/b]

The National Assembly, after much debate, approved the formation of the [b]Noverian Coast Guard (NCG)[/b], of which was ratified further by the Military Executor, Director of Defense, and other relevant Directorates.

The Noverian Coast Guard will employ personnel from the Directorate of the Interior, the Directorate of Maritime Transport, the Directorate of Transportation, and Directorate of Commerce. The goal and purpose of the NCG is to enhance and streamline the ability of the Republic of Noveria to oversee Noverian territorial waters and EEZ, and to delegate responsibility of such from the Noverian Navy, which has been assuming the role since its initial formation.

As a separate government agency, the NCG will report to the aforementioned Directorates during peacetime and to the Directorate of Defense during wartime. It will be responsible for patrolling the coast of Noveria and its protectorates, providing maritime border protection, and conducting search and rescue operations; and will provide support and assistance to the Noverian Defense Forces in wartime.

In this, Columbina, Atla Vancavite, Nova Alasca, and the Yukon Protectorate will be designated the 'Pacific Region', and Noverian California of the Tahoe Protectorate will be designated the 'California Pacific Region.' The Coast Guard will maintain bases in the Pacific Region:

[quote]- Joint Rescue Coordination Center Victoria [NDFB Esquimalt]
- NCG Base Victoria [Victoria, AV]
- NCG Base Seal Cove [Sipatau, CO]
- NCG Base Patricia Bay [Sidney, AV]
- NCG Base Pacific Biological Station [Nanaimo, AV]
- NCG Station Sea Island [Richmond, CO]
- NCG Station Kitsilano [Vancouver, CO]
- NCG Station Juneau [Juneau, NA]
- NCG Station Sitka [Sikta, NA]
- NCG Station Nadrink [Nadrink, DF]
- NCG Station Tofino [Tofino, AV]
- NCG Station Ganges [Saltspring Island, AV]
- NCG Station Bamfield [Bamfield, AV]
- NCG Station Port Hardy [Port Hardy, AV]
- NCG Station Bella Bella [Bella Bella, CO]
- NCG IRB Station Vancouver [Vancouver, CO]
- NCG IRB Station Cortes Island [Cortes Island, CO]
- NCG IRB Station Telegraph Cove [Telegraph Cove, AV][/quote]
Four NCG Bases and three NCG Stations are planned to be constructed in the California Pacific Region:

[quote]- NCG Base Salvador [Salvador, CA]
- NCG Base Mendocino [Mendocino, CA]
- NCG Base Eureka [Eureka, CA]
- NCG Base Point Arena [Point Arena, CA]
- NCG Station Salvador [Salvador, CA]
- NCG Station Eureka [Eureka, CA]
- NCG Station Point Arena [Point Area, CA][/quote]
The Coast Guard will operate thirty-five ships; and will employ heavy Arctic icebreakers, Arctic icebreakers, NCG program vessels, Marine Service vessels, off-shore patrol vessels, research and survey vessels, near/inshore patrol vessels, SAR Motor Lifeboats (MLBs), and Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs). In addition to these vessels, the NCG will employ rotary and fixed wing aircrafts (such as helicopters and turboprop aircraft) for the purpose of surveillance, maintenance, and service operations over Noverian territorial waters and EEZ.

All NCG vessels are required to have an uniform paint color, regardless of their purpose and use; their hulls will be painted green, and their superstructure painted white. The general purpose of this is rumored to make them resemble a 'floating' Noverian flag at sea.

Edited by JEDCJT
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[u][b]PUBLIC NEWS:[/b][/u]

[b]Hybrid health care bill passed midst raucous debate in the National Assembly[/b]

[b]NovCorp News: Nadrink, Distretto Federal[/b] - If the session of the Chamber of Deputies that had passed the Economic Deregulation Act had been a trial version, then the session that were due to debate on a new healthcare bill submitted by Prime Minister Bianchi would prove to be the real thing.

The bill, titled the [i]'Private Health Care Bill'[/i], if passed, would privatize a specified number of public hospitals, provide funding and resources for construction of more private hospitals, allow private insurance companies to participate in the nation's health care system, and slash the health budget in the federal government budget by as much as 33 percent.

No sooner had the bill came up for debate did the Chamber of Deputies erupt into debates, disagreements, and word saber-rattling. Over the course of several days, the Martensists took the field against the Libertarians, supported by a majority of Monarchists, the Labor Party, and a supermajority of the People's Republican Party. For many Deputies, this was reminscent of the time when Bianchi, as Prime Minister of Viniland, had submitted a similiar health care bill -- of which had been narrowly defeated. The Martensists and their supporters in the Chamber of Deputies were fairly confident that they would defeat it.

However, the Libertarians, utilizing effective arguments in pointing out the dangers and inefficiencies of centralized state control, predictably using the URSR as a prime example, was able to sway the other parties to their side. The Conservative Party largely voiced its support for the bill, although they had some reservations, and so did the Democratic Party. Moreover, the Libertarians insisted that the bill, in reducing the health budget by a considerable 33%, would not only bring relief to the tax burden but allow funds to be allocated somewhere where they were greatly needed, while maintaining the high quality of health care.

When the bill finally came up for a vote, the Libertarians were able to pull off a narrow victory based not on the number of positive votes from the parties on their side, but from the abstentions from the opposing parties. Despite their arguments that the hybrid health system would "reduce the overall quality of the public service" and deprive certain segments of the population of health care because they wouldn't be able to afford it, the Martensists and their supporters were able to muster only 124 votes to the Libertarians' 132 votes along with 29 abstentions from all parties involved. Ironically, the deciding factor that contributed to the Liberatians' victory in the Chamber of Deputies came from the Martensist Party, which 10 abstentions - while fairly small - were proportionally higher in comparision to abstentions in the other parties. Had the ten Martensist deputies who abstented voted in support, then the health care bill would've been defeated by a razor-thin margin.

In the Senate, the bill received considerable support, not at least because a large majority of Senators came from Nova Coimbra, which was a staunch Libertarian stronghold. This, along with some support from parts of Columbina and Rio Grande do Leste, and a considerable part of Alta Vancavite, helped the bill get passed with a 52% vote, with 43% against and the remainder abstenting.

The Corporate Assembly voted, 64% in support to 36% against or 16 votes in support to 9 against, to ratify the bill, and the bill - now known as the [b]PRIVATE HEALTH CARE REGULATIONS ACT[/b] - was duly passed on to the Prime Minister's desk, where it was signed into law by Prime Minister Bianchi.

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[center][b]Official Statement from the Directorate of Maritime Transport:[/b][/center]
"The Directorate of Maritime Transport announces that the extent of [b]territorial waters[/b] and parameters of the [b]Exclusive Economic Zone[/b] has been finalized, and approved by the Director of Maritime Transport in conjunction with the Prime Minister. They are as follows:

[center][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/z4D3k.jpg[/IMG][/center]

"Noveria's territorial waters shall extend twelve nautical miles from the coastline of its territories and end at the edge of the contiguous zone, of which shall extend another twelve nautical miles, except at points where it may overlap with another nation's territorial waters and EEZ. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall extend approximately two hundred nautical miles from the seaward edge of the contiguous zone and cease at the edge of what is defined as international waters, except at points where it may overlap with another nation's territorial waters and EEZ.

Within the Exclusive Economic Zone, the contiguous zone, and territorial waters (defined henceforth as 'Noverian waters', unless specified otherwise), the Republic of Noveria as a whole exercises ultimate and complete sovereignty and jurisdiction, including the sole discretion to explore and exploit resources for the sole benefit of the Republic of Noveria. Everything, from transit rights to maritime resources, shall be subject to the laws and regulations of the Republic of Noveria and its respective Provinces. The Noverian State reserves the right to unilaterally close down Noverian waters to all shipping under certain circumstances.

In regards to policies covering Noverian waters, civilian and commerce vessels of all size and caliber from foreign nations are required to apply for a special permit from the Directorate of Maritime Transport, beforehand, for passage through territorial waters and the contiguous zone, and to dock at ports, although no such permit are required for passage through the EEZ unless stated otherwise. When passing through Noverian waters, vessels are required to fly the maritime standard of their nation, and to comply with all regulations issued by the Directorate of Maritime Transport.

Foreign military vessels of all sizes and caliber from nations not possessing an mutural defense pact or higher with the Republic of Noveria are strictly prohibited from crossing through Noverian waters, unless they contact the Directorate of Defense exactly four weeks beforehand in order to receive a specific permit, one for strict passage and one for docking. Foreign military vessels from allied nations are not required to receive a permit, although they are encouraged to notify the Directorate of Defense two weeks beforehand to avoid potential conflict. When passing through Noverian waters, allied and non-allied military vessels are required to fly the maritime standard of their nation, and to comply with all regulations issued by the Directorate of Maritime Transport. Specifically, submersible vessels of non-allied nations, such as submarines, are required to remain on the surface while crossing Noverian waters.

Within Noverian waters, the Coast Guard and Navy reserves the sole right to board any vessel - be it civilian, commercial, or military - suspected of violating Noverian maritime laws and regulations, including but not limited to: smuggling, weapons testing, polluting, unauthorized fishing, intelligence-gathering, and trafficking, and so on. In event of violation, said vessel(s) shall be seized if passing through Noverian waters, or impounded if docked at a port.

Regarding the last part, the Directorate of Defense, the Directorate of Maritime Transport, and especially the Coast Guard, shall have the exclusive right to impound any ship docked in ports at any time for any reason, including violations. This shall be rigoriously enforced with the full capabilities and might of the Noverian State.

All the rules, regulations, and requirements above shall be applicable to Noveria's protectorates."

Signed,
William Rossi

Edited by JEDCJT
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[b]CLASSIFIED[/b]

The Directorate of Foreign Affairs, Directorate of Communications, and especially NovCorp had noticed a notable lack of communication or activity coming into or outside its neighbor, Missouri. They notified the highest echelons of the Noverian government, and after some discussions, it was decided that the Republic of Noveria would do something to resolve this, to prevent the lawlessness and anarchy that was apparent in its neighbor.

And so the Noverian Defense Forces was ordered to move into the region to restore law and order by Military Executor Julius Thrawn. Plans were drawn by local Army commanders and generals for their forces, stationed in the Province of Rio Grande do Leste and the Jefferson Protectorate, to do just that. Approximately 40,000 troops, of which over one thirds were transported in military transport aircrafts, were dispatched into the region, heading northward from Colorado, westward from Wyoming and Montana, and southwards from Rio Grande do Leste. And so they did so, crossing the borders at several border crossings and occupying major cities and towns such as Rapid City, Bismarck, Fargo, and Lincoln, followed up by Omaha, Sioux City, St. Cloud, Grand Rapids, and Waterloo. With the occupation of Des Moines and Minneapolis by aerial ground forces, the entire region of the now-former nation of Missouri was under Noverian military control.

[b][center]Official Statement from the Directorate of Foreign Affairs:[/center][/b]
"The nation of Missouri had apparently collapsed, or is undergoing instability or anarchy, and as such, the Republic of Noveria has taken action to resolve that. Taking effect immediately, it declares the former Missouri a [b]Protectorate[/b], and will be placing it under its control and jurisdiction."

Edited by JEDCJT
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[quote name='TheShammySocialist' timestamp='1313789033' post='2784697']
"The Cajun Federation applauds the Republic of Noveria restoring stability in the North American Midwest."
[/quote]

"We thank the Cajun Federation for its kind words."

[b]CLASSIFIED[/b]

Following the takeover of the former nation of Missouri by the Noverian Defense Forces and the declaration of a protectorate over the aforementioned lands, standard procedures of formally establishing a Noverian protectorate followed.

Firstly, NovCorp proceeded to assume control, with the approval of the Directorate of Communications and Directorate of Public Relations, of all media outlets throughout the region. Newspaper organizations, television companies, radio outlets, Internet service providers, and film studios were taken over by the powerful NovCorp.

Secondly, the Noverian Defense Forces began taking operational control of all Missourian bases, installations, and facilities. The Army took over command centers, barracks, armories, forts, training grounds, and depots; while the Air Force took over airbases, hangars, and refueling stations. The Navy, in turn, took over naval facilities at the City of Duluth.

Thirdly, the defunct Missourian police and border guard were placed under the aegis of the Directorate of the Interior and put on operational status once again, although the Interior Directorate would begin evaluations on the skills, prowess, and trustworthiness of all police and border guard personnel. These found lacking in competence were relieved of their duties and replaced by officials appointed by the Noverian government. In turn, the Army in conjunction with the reactivated Missourian police and Elanus Risk Control Service troopers brought in from Noveria began to clampdown on "unorganized crime." Martial law would be imposed in specific areas, and native mafioso were provided support, funding, and ammunition.

Fourthly, the Directorate of Transportation began to assume responsibility over the former Missouri's transportation systems, namely roads, railways, subways, and all critical infrastructure. Likewise, the Directorate of Corrections assumed control over all prisons, penitentaries, juvenile detention centers, and jails throughout the region and began putting them back into use once again. The other Directorates did the same to their respective fields and jurisdictions.

Fifthly, hundreds of millions of Liras began to flood into Noveria's newest protectorate, largely funded by private investors and stockholders, with the goal of bringing the region up to Noverian standards, economically and socially.

Lastly, the administrative and operational networks of the protectorate began to take shape as local government councils were established in all the major cities and towns, beginning with Minneapolis, Omaha, and Des Moines. The system of government to be formally instituted in the protectorate was to be the same as the Yukon, Tahoe, and Jefferson protectorates.

Edited by JEDCJT
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[u][b]PUBLIC NEWS[/b][/u]

[b]Article Fourteen of Noverian constitution amended[/b]

[b]NovCorp News: Nadrink, Distretto Federal[/b] - Article Fourteen of the Constitution of the Republic of Noveria was amended when all three Houses of the National Assembly met in the Chateau Nadrink, and formed a special body named the Noverian Congress (formally known as the Congress of the National Assembly). There, they approved Prime Minister Pasquale Bianchi's proposal to modify the Constitution after hours of debate.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/XjEOH.jpg[/IMG][i]The Chateau Nadrink, located in the northwest portion of the capital[/i]

The text of the amended Article went as follows, as published in the [i]Noverian Congress Journal[/i]:

[quote][font="Courier New"]Any Government formed through extrajudicial or otherwise illegal means, including a coup de etat, armed insurrection, and revolution, and not through the democratic will of the People, including any Government formed by a hostile foreign power through democratic means, shall not be the legitimate Government of the Republic of Noveria. This shall hold effect indefinitely, even if this Article or Constitution is suspended, revoked, or otherwise nullified. Citizens of the Republic of Noveria shall have every right and liberty to resist such Government, both peacefully and violently, with the goal of restoring law, order, equality, sovereignty, and independence of the Noverian State, its citizens, and institutions.

Amendments to this Constitution affecting the principles laid down in Article Fourteen shall be inadmissable.[/font][/quote]
This was, as political commentators, experts, and analysts believe, a reaction to the recent events that had been taking place in Europe, when the United States of the Islands and the Continental Empire of Dalmatia partitioned the island of Eire between them without the slightest regard to the wishes of the Irish people. What was remarkable about this was the fact that the Libertarian and Martensist parties, which had been at each other's throats over the passage of the recent Economic Deregulation and the Private Health Care Regulations acts, had all but presented an unified front along with the other parties in showing their determination to maintain the integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Noveria and its people.

As Prime Minister Bianchi put it in his speech to the Noverian Congress: "Although we have congratulated the Continential Empire of Dalmatia in the first place and watched the events taking place in Europe with mild interest, we did not anticipate the partition of Ireland by both the United States of the Islands and Dalmatia in a way that overrided the will of the Irish people as expressed by the then Provisional Government of Ireland. Although we are glad that war was averted, and peace restored, we do not condone what in our point of view is the suppression of the right of the Irish people to self-determination."

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/fNech.jpg[/IMG]
[i]Prime Minister Bianchi giving his speech[/i]

"What the United States of the Islands and Dalmatia should do," Bianchi continued, "is to set the basis for which Irish self-determination would be allowed, and listened to, and to grant the Irish people to rule over themselves in a Republic of their own. Until then, the Republic of Noveria cannot and shall not recognize this undue partition of Eire." In other words, the Irish people should be allowed to rule themselves in their own territory, not subjected to foreign rule, especially from a distant empire. And what was not mentioned was the fact of the subjugation of another nation under the yoke of another, especially Zargathia by the United Federation of the East in Asia.

From the context of the Prime Minister's speech, it can be derived the fact he, along with the President and highest officials of the Noverian government, did not want foreign powers to exercise undue control over the Noverian state and aimed to establish an irrevocable legal basis to safeguard Noveria's sovereignty and integrity. Most interestingly is the insertion of the second clause of the Amendment. By declaring any amendments that would modify or overturn Article 14, or even its principles, inadmissable, the clause created a situation where any plausible attempt to overturn Article 14 would be through a revolution or coup, which in turn would be illegal -- even if the Constitution itself was overturned!

The modification of Article 14 received near-universal approval from the population, according to polls conducted by the Bureau of National Statistics across the nation. "Although [Article 14] would not prevent any foreign invasion, it can nevertheless prevent Noveria from losing its legal integrity, and help maintain the spirit of legitimate democracy in the country." Gabe Silvo, native of Nadrink, stated to NovCorp News. "The article would help ensure that the source of government would always come from the Noverian people, nothing less or more." Another resident from Calgari stated. "No amount of foreign might or lawyering would erase that." The only way for the Article to lose its validity, a resident of Saskatoon stated, is for Noveria to collapse as a viable, functioning state.

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[b]CLASSIFIED[/b]

Following the formation of the Noveria Development Corporation, the corporatization of Noveria continued on and soon assumed a momentum that would be difficult to contain.

Major corporations in many parts of the country, especially clustered in major urban centers such as Calgari, Nadrink, Vancouver, and Edmonton, began to steadily assume a larger role in the Noverian federal government. First, the corporations got a toehold in the highest echelons of the federal government through the Board of Corporations in the Noveria Development Corporation [executive branch] and the Corporate Assembly in the National Assembly [legislative branch]. Over half of the justices in the Supremo Tribunal were appointed by the Prime Minister with the approval of the corporations.

Finally, the corporations' role in government would be expanded further when they proceeded to take over control of the Directorates of the Cabinet with the approval of the President, which Prime Minister Bianchi had little choice but to accept. The current Directors appointed by Bianchi would retain their posts, of course, but they would increasingly follow policy dictated by the corporations that took over their offices and departments:

[quote]Directorate of Foreign Affairs - Noveria Development Corporation
Directorate of Defense - Tulio & Armando
Directorate of Finance - NovBank
Directorate of Justice - Omni Corporation
Directorate of the Interior - Elanus Risk Control Services
Directorate of Industry - Gruppo Riva
Directorate of Communications - NovCorp
Directorate of Health - Vault Corporation
Directorate of Public Relations - Rekall Corporation
Directorate of Transportation - SED Systems Corporation
Directorate of Agriculture - Solent Corporation
Directorate of Commerce - Semco Corporation
Directorate of Labor - Gruppo Riva
Directorate of Maritime Transport - Noveria Border Corporation
Directorate of Science and Technology - Binary Helix and Tyrell Corporation
Directorate of Energy - ViniPetro
Directorate of Housing and Development - Astaldi
Directorate of Social Services - Vault Corporation
Directorate of Corrections - Noveria Corrections Corporation[/quote]
For starters, the Noveria Development Corporation assumed control over the Directorate of Foreign Affairs, and NovCorp did the same to the Directorate of Communications. In turn, Elanus Risk Control Services took over the Directorate of the Interior, which gave it effective control over the police on all levels, and a lot more, while on a similiar level the Noveria Corrections Corporation, headed by Jaws Kiel himself, exercised control over the Directorate of Corrections. Omni Corporation, famed for its expertise in justice, became responsible for the Directorate of Justice; Rekall Corporation became head of the Directorate of Public Relations; and NovBank, the largest bank corporation in the country, took over the Directorate of Finance and its powers, duties, and responsibilities. Steel manufacturer Gruppo Riva did the same to the Directorates of Industry and Labor, while Binary Felix and Tyrell Corporation assumed responsibility over the Directorate of Science and Technology. Perhaps more importantly, Tulio & Armando, a massive military corporation headed by its Director Daniele Favalaro, took over the Directorate of Defense, and as such was in control of the Noveria Defense Forces, its resources and assets - although many of the corporations retained their own military forces.

It probably helped the fact that some, if not all, Directors headed the aforementioned corporations as CEOs, and this enabled the corporations to further extend their tentacles into the Noverian government. Apart from the corporations and the highest echelons of the federal government, nobody in Noveria knew of these changes, and this was augmented by the absolute control of NovCorp over the media. Within corporate circles, there were talks not of the Republic of Noveria, but increasingly of the 'Corporate Republic of Noveria.' The CEOs knew there would be some resistance to a Corporate Noveria, but they weren't too concerned about this. Despite the highly-decentralized nature of the Noverian state, the powers of the state were formidable.

The Corporate Republic would be soon announced to the world.

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[b][u]PUBLIC NEWS[/u][/b]

[b]Motion to amend nation name approved, other amendments[/b]

[b]NovCorp News: Nadrink, Distretto Federal[/b] - A controversial motion submitted by the Libertarian Party in the Chamber of Deputies to officially amend the nation's name, from Republic of Noveria to the Corporate Republic of Noveria, was narrowly approved in face of considerable objections from the Martensist Party and several other parties. The resulting bill, the [i]National Name Bill[/i], was passed 131 in support to 124 against, and 30 abstenting, in the Chamber of Deputies. It in turn received approval from the Senate after hours of debate, and from the Corporate Assembly after an unprecedented one hour session.

With Prime Minister Bianchi's signature on the draft of the [b]NATIONAL NAME RETIFICATION ACT[/b], the Republic of Noveria officially became the [b]Corporate Republic of Noveria[/b]. Likewise, the position of Prime Minister became the Administrator and the Cabinet the Board of Directors. The Constitution and all government documents were modified so that the word 'Corporate' were inserted before the words 'Republic of Noveria' along with other relevant modifications.

A diplomatic note was submitted to all Foreign Embassies in Nadrink, informing foreign nations of the changes, stating that the "change of name does not translate into changes in policies or priorities", basically assuring that the Corporate Republic would continue on the same path it is on right now.

This, however, did not prevent the Martensist and People's Republican parties from criticizing this move. "This only confirmed our greatest fear: the takeover of corporations of this country." A supporter of the Martensist Party stated to NovCorp News in Kelowna, who received anonymity on request. "This represents an extreme danger, the danger of extreme libertarianism, of which has the potential to tear Noveria apart." The formation of the Corporate Republic, People's Republican Party member Willis Randon stated in Prince George, "indicates the emergence of unrestricted capitalism which threatens to reduce the people to the status similiar to wage slaves." The People's Republican Party, in fact, vowed to combat the corporate takeover, stating that if elected, it would - in the words of its founder and leader Juan Silveira - "strive to enact strong measures to expand the responsibility and power of the federal government" and to "provide support to the people, especially the poor and dispossessed."

Precisely what 'strong measures' mean remains unknown, but it has been confirmed that the People's Republican Party, and to a certain degree the Martensist Party, would protest the formation of the Corporate Republic. They accused Prime Minister - now Administrator - Bianchi of being a "lackey to the corporations" and broadcast their intentions to "demand that something be done by the people to rectify the new situation that they now find themselves in", pinning their hopes that President J. Thomas Christopher would do just that.

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[quote name='Lynneth' timestamp='1314100614' post='2786775']
OOC: Copycat :v:
[/quote]

OOC: imitation is the sincerest of flattery V:

[quote name='jesbro' timestamp='1314133874' post='2787110']
OOC: Sergeant Jesse will not like this one bit.
[/quote]

OOC: Well, if you'd like, we could have a RP where Jesse and his squad defects or rebels against the new corporate state, this should spice things up a bit. But this is only the formalization of what had been undergoing for some time, actually.

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[quote name='JEDCJT' timestamp='1314134221' post='2787113']
OOC: Well, if you'd like, we could have a RP where Jesse and his squad defects or rebels against the new corporate state, this should spice things up a bit. But this is only the formalization of what had been undergoing for some time, actually.
[/quote]

OOC: Already on it.

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[u][b]PUBLIC NEWS[/b][/u]

[b]New corporation formed in Noveria's newest protectorate[/b]

[b]NovCorp News: Sioux Falls, South Dakota[/b] - Director of the Interior Francisco Scaramanga announced that a new corporation has been formed to formally administer Noveria's newest protectorate in the Midwest.

The [b]Midwest Protectorate Corporation[/b] (to be abbreviated to MPC) will undertake the basic responsibilities the current Yukon and Jefferson Protectorate Corporations, and the former Tahoe Protectorate Corporation, had assumed in their respective responsibilities. The MPC will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day administration of government, enforcing tax collection, and providing emergency services such as fire-fighting, health and human services, and law enforcement.

The Midwest Protectorate, however, will be established in a more decentralized basis on the premise that Protectorate Regions will be established, of which local governments would be granted broader powers in the execution of its duties. They are as follows:

[quote]Protectorate Region of South Dakota [capital: Pierre]
Protectorate Region of North Dakota [capital: Bismarck]
Protectorate Region of Iowa [capital: Des Moines]
Protectorate Region of Minnesota [capital: St. Paul]
Protectorate Region of Nebraska [capital: Lincoln][/quote]
Each Protectorate Region will be headed by a Governor-Protector, who will report to the Chairman-Protector of the MPC, which will be headquartered in the City of Sioux Falls, chosen for its central geographical location in the overall Protectorate.

Normally, as per standard policy, certain government affairs will remain under the exclusive control of the Noverian federal government: foreign affairs by the Directorate of Foreign Affairs, national defense by the Directorate of Defense, communications by the Directorate of Communications, and border and customs service by the Noverian Border Corporation.

===

[u][b]PUBLIC NEWS[/b][/u]

[b]Protest held in Kelowna[/b]

[b]NovCorp News: Kelowna, Columbina[/b] - Thousands of protestors of the Martensist Party began to rally in Kelowna, the 'Martensist capital' of Noveria, to protest the passage of the National Name Retification Act and especially the establishment of a Corporate republic in Noveria.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/RVg1i.jpg[/IMG]
[i]Protestors gather in downtown Kelowna[/i]

The protests gathered in front of the City Hall in downtown Kelowna, holding up posters and shouting slogans, "Remove the corporations from power!" and "restore freedom to Noveria!" as they marched through the streets. Polizemunicipal and Polizeprovince units were placed on heightened alert throughout the city, but they stood by and largely did nothing as the protestors marched past.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/hcunZ.jpg[/IMG]
[i]Riot police units keep a watchful eye on the protestors[/i]

Kelowna's government seems to be on the side of the protestors as its pro-Martensist governor, Kaiser Martens (no actual relation to the famous German leader, although his name is utterly concidential) held a speech at a podium in front of the City Hall building, to an assembled crowd of protestors. There, he voiced concerns about the dangers of subverting the nation's nascent democracy, and stated that "stronger measures" must be undertaken to safeguard the "individual freedoms" of the people as a whole. "By their very nature, corporations are not conductive to the safeguarding the commitments to individual freedoms and rights, and to democracy as a whole." Martens stated, to the thunderous shouts of agreements from the audience.

Martensist Party leader Wilfur Balducci couldn't have said it any better. From his headquarters in downtown Kelowna, Balducci stated that his Party has agreed to cooperate with the People's Republican Party in "resisting the corporate takeover", even going as far as to call for the resignation of Administrator Pasquale Bianchi for his "willful contribution to the destruction of freedom and democracy in Noveria."

Kelowna is not the only city to rise up in protest: protests of similiar size and scope are taking place in Prince George and its immediate vicnity, Regina, and even parts of Calgari, Nadrink, and Saskatoon.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/Wl5Wz.jpg[/IMG]
[i]Protests in Regina[/i]

Edited by JEDCJT
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[b]CLASSIFIED[/b]

In response to the current public protests, the Directorate of Labor issued a special directive:

[font="Courier New"][quote][center][b]Special Directive No. 10[/b][/center]

[b]Subject:[/b] Public protests
[b]To:[/b] Francisco Scaramanga, Director of the Interior; Juan Turner, Director of Commerce; Benito Zappa, Director of Finance
[b]From:[/b] Samantha Leighton, Director of Labor
[b]CC:[/b] Noveria Development Corporation; Gruppo Riva; Elanus Risk Control Services; Semco Corporation; NovBank

[b]TOP SECRET[/b]

In regards to the current peaceful protests that are taking place in certain parts of the country, certain precautionary measures are to be undertaken and enacted to maintain the level of economic prosperity that are necessary for the wellbeing of the Corporate Republic.

[b]Article I:[/b]
In situations like peaceful protests, any employee involved in peaceful protests that hinder the work of public institutions or authorities, and in a way that would harm the wellbeing of the Noverian State and people, for longer than two weeks shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, to be carried out by their respective employers.

[b]Article II:[/b]
Such employees are required to cease their activities and return to the workplace after exactly two weeks. Employees that fail to do so after the two-week period are to be treated in full effect as striking workers, and subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.

[b]Article III:[/b]
Such appropriate disciplinary action, which shall be implemented and enforced at the employer's discretion, shall include but not limited to: lock-ins, lock-outs, reduction in wages and salaries, and elimination of employment.

There shall be no recourse for such actions.

[b]Article IV:[/b]
Employees subject to lock-outs and replacements [in other words, strikebreaking activity] shall be referred to the Noverian Law Enforcement. Employees subject to lock-ins shall be detained; employees subject to termination of employment shall be conscripted into the Labor Front, in accordance to the National Labor Act.*

Signed,
Samantha Leighton[/quote][/font]
*[size="1"]The [b]National Labor Act[/b] was originally enacted by the Ursalian Imperial Ruling Council as the [b]Decree on the Establishment of the Labor Front[/b]. It relegated unemployed individuals to manual labor jobs related to the conservation and development of natural jobs in rural and countryside areas owned by local, provincial, and federal governments. It aimed to establish something of a 'labor reserve.' The Decree was never repealed by the Noverian government and continues to exist as the National Labor Act.[/size]

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[b]CLASSIFIED[/b]

[font="Courier New"][quote][center][b]Report from the National Council of the Army[/b][/center]

[b]Subject:[/b] Dispositions of the Noverian Army
[b]To:[/b] Daniele Favalaro, Director of Defense; Directorate of the Army; Supreme Commander of the Army
[b]From:[/b] Sergio Cabral, Chairman of the National Council of the Army
[b]CC:[/b] Julius Thrawn, Military Executor; CEO of Tulio & Armando

[b]TOP SECRET[/b]

In accordance to this report, the number of troops and vehicles currently stationed within the boundaries of the Corporate Republic of Noveria and its protected areas shall be modified, as per the results of a report published by the Military Readiness Committee of the Directorate of Defense.

[b]Article I:[/b]
The total number of troops, tanks and vehicles to be stationed in the Midwest Protectorate shall not exceed 30,000 troops and personnel, 1,000 tanks, 1,000 artillery, and 500 vehicles at one time, unless authorized otherwise.

[b]Article II:[/b]
The total number of troops, tanks, and vehicles [including artillery] stationed in each Military District [comprising the current boundaries of each Province] of the Corporate Republic shall follow the table outlined below:

- Nova Coimbra Military District [100,000 troops, 1,000 tanks, 500 artillery, 500 vehicles]
- Columbina Military District [200,000 troops, 2,000 tanks, 1,000 artillery, 1,000 vehicles]
- Alta Vancavite Military District [100,000 troops, 1,000 tanks, 500 artillery, 500 vehicles]
- Rio Grande Military District [50,000 troops, 1,000 tanks, 500 artillery, 500 vehicles]
- Nova Alasca Military District [100,000 troops, 500 tanks, 1,000 artillery, 500 vehicles]
- Yukon Protectorate [20,000 troops, 500 tanks, 500 artillery, 500 vehicles]

[b]Article III:[/b]
The Noverian Army shall, as of currently, comprise a total of 600,000 troops and personnel, 6,000 tanks, 5,000 artillery pieces, and 4,000 assorted vehicles. The Noverian Army Reserve shall comprise of 48,000 troops, 480 tanks, 1,480 artillery, and 2,480 vehicles.

[b]Article IV:[/b]
The Noverian Army is projected to have the capability to raise a maximum total of 648,900 troops and personnel, 6,489 tanks, artillery, and assorted vehicles respectively.

Signed,
Sergio Cabral[/quote][/font]

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[u][b]PUBLIC NEWS[/b][/u]

[b]Protests continue, allegation of plans to cut off Internet access[/b]

[b]NovCorp News: Kelowna, Columbina[/b] - The protests continue, with thousands of protestors still waving placards and shouting denunications on the streets of Kelowna, Prince George, Regina, parts of Calgari, Nadrink, and Saskatoon. But the numbers appear to be dwindling somehow as some protestors had apparently decided to call it quits and went home.

However, the protestors added something to their list of compliants against the corporate regime: allegations of plans to cut off Internet access to millions of inhabitants in the country. With a vast media conglomerate such as NovCorp and its monopolistic control over all media outlets, including the Internet, such complaints might not be far-fetched. With a flip of a switch, NovCorp is able to cut off the nation from the international world, or so claims go.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/NPccQ.jpg[/IMG]
[i]Protestors in Kelowna[/i]

Several citizens in Kelowna stated that they were unable to access the Internet at all wherever they were, such as work, school, or public places such as Internet cafes. "When I try to open a website, all I get is an error message. This has never happened to me before." One student from Kelowna University stated to a NovCorp News reporter. This may not be limited to the Internet: several dozens of citizens claimed that their calls and texts would not go through. "I keep on getting dropped calls lately," A citizen of Prince George exclaimed, "I can't call my girlfriend anymore!" Access to networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter were reportedly shut down in Kelowna and other places.

However, there were reports that the Internet were working just fine in most of the country. "I can access the Internet just fine," Geoffrey Frey of the University of Calgari said, showing a screen of the Yahoo! website on his laptop. "Perhaps something is wrong with Kelowna's systems, or the Martensists are simply screwed-up, but I can go into the Internet as easily as I can go to strip clubs," Another said with a slightly-perverted grin. "I'll have whatever the [Martensists] are smoking, because it must be truly effective," One teenager said in Hanshan.

This didn't stop the People's Republican Party from accusing the Noverian government, and NovCorp in particular, of "manipulating the Internet system to discriminate against select groups of the population." "The Internet is a public commodity. It should not be owned and operated by an elite in a way that deprives the broader people of the right to access to such a valuable resource," A spokesperson of the People's Republican Party spoke to a crowd in Nadrink, "It is clear the corporations are exploiting their control of this nation as a way to exercise such monopoly in a blatently unfair way."

NovCorp itself had something to say: "These accusations leveled against us are simply untrue, and have no basis," A high-ranking NovCorp official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter. "NovCorp believes in the freedom of expression and speech, and would not undertake action to impede such rights." He went on to state that the problems reported were probably no more than "technical difficulties" that NovCorp would be willing to look at.

The protests continue, and will probably for some time to come.

Edited by JEDCJT
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[u][b]PUBLIC NEWS:[/b][/u]

[b]New pipeline to be constructed[/b]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/D5mMF.jpg[/IMG]
[i]An artist's rendering of a portion of the Alascan gas pipeline to be built beginning in the Yukon[/i]

[b]NovCorp News: Calgari, Nova Coimbra[/b] - The Directorate of Energy announced that the proposal to construct a natural gas pipeline running from the Yukon Protectorate through the province of Nova Coimbra to the Midwest Protectorate had received approval from the National Assembly, the Columbinan and Nova Coimbran legislatures, and the Yukon and Midwest Protectorate corporations, and will begin construction shortly.

Oil and gas giant ViniPetro, according to Energy Director Jacqueline Russo, has entered into agreements with corporations Petroleo & Cia and Ouro Negro, among smaller others, to begin plans of bringing the gas and oil to the domestic as well international market. The project would cost approximately NL$50 billion, and is projected to be capable of transporting 41 billion billion cubic meter (bcm) of natural gas per year through the Yukon, Columbina, Nova Coimbra, into the Midwest Protectorate.

As Russo elaborated, the pipeline, to be known as the [b]Alascan Pipeline[/b], will go in a northerly-southerly direction, beginning in the city of Dawson in western Yukon, passing through Whitehorse and Watson Lake City before continuing on to Calgari through Boundary Lake City and Caroline. From Calgari, the pipeline will pass through southern Nova Coimbra, southwestern Rio Grande do Leste, and the Dakota regions before concluding at Des Moines in Iowa. The first half of the pipeline will run alongside the Alaska Highway, from Whitehorse to the city of Dawson Creek. Other pipelines in Nova Coimbra and the Midwest Protectorate - such as the TransNoveria pipeline, Williston Basin pipeline, and the Dakota pipeline, to name a few - would form part of the Alascan pipeline.

According to the National Gas and Oil Development Commission of the Directorate of Energy, feeder pipelines, pump/compressor stations and related infrastructure, and data-gathering and communication systems (such as local remote terminal units [RTU]) will be built alongside the planned route. Factors such as weather, working conditions, and rugged terrain will be taken into account and dealt with appropriately, with special construction equipment and techniques utilized whenever required.

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[b]CLASSIFIED[/b]

The highest echelons of the Noverian government, most especially from NovCorp, had noticed that there had been a lack of communication from Noveria's treaty partner in the Republic of Texas. At first, the Directorate of Defense considered taking Texas over and establishing Noverian protection, but then discounted the idea due to logistical concerns and the fact that Texas would revert to a Pravus Ingruoian protectorate if it collapsed.

However, Texas's protectorate in Arizona, southern Nevada, and central California was another story. It was in the region that NovCorp's interests were crucial, and the apparent lawlessness prevailing in the region were not conductive to the administration of Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft.

After hours of discussions in the Board of Directors and the Noveria Development Corporation, a decision was taken: Texas's protectorate would be undertaken under Noverian protection. Texas was a friend of Noveria, and the Corporate Republic was not about to see another foreign nation gobble it up and endanger NovCorp's interests. If, however, local governments wanted to rise in the protectorate regions, they could do that.

Generals and commanders of the Noverian Protectorate Force in the Jefferson Protectorate received orders from the Military Executor to move their troops into the region. Approximately 20,000 troops in the Colorado region of the Jefferson Protectorate moved into the protectorate region on both military transport aircrafts and Humvees, to be followed by another 10,000 troops as supporting units. They duly did so: the cities of Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff were occupied by Noverian troops, to be followed up with Las Vegas and southern Utah several hours later. At around the same time, military transport aircrafts flying over international airspace landed in San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Salinas, and Fresno, and Army troopers took them over.

When the troops linked up with their counterparts from the east in Las Vegas, the operation was concluded. The now-former Texas's protectorate was now under Noverian military control.

OOC: If Sal wants to claim the protectorate land, he can do so. This is just a precautionary measure, so to say.

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[b]PUBLIC NEWS[/b]

[b]Noveria's newest protectorate annexed, new level of governance introduced[/b]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/XWKHq.jpg[/IMG]
[i]NDC spokesperson, Robert Gilvas[/i]

[b]NovCorp News: San Francisco, California[/b] - Robert Gilvas, spokesperson of the Noveria Development Council, announced in a special televised press statement that the National Assembly had voted 144-96, with 45 abstentions, to pass the [b]STATUTE OF AUTONOMY ACT[/b]. The Act, in addition to formally incorporating the protectorate regions of Central California, Southern Nevada, and Arizona, into the Corporate Republic of Noveria as [b]AUTONOMOUS REGIONS[/b], set the basis for the formation, organization, and administration of autonomous government in the regions.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/Sc6Nc.png[/IMG]
[i]Regions to be annexed[/i]

The regions will be formally known as:

[quote]Autonomous Region of Arizona (ARA)*
Autononous Region of Nevada (ARN)
Autonomous Region of California (ARC)

*[size="1"]Southern Utah would be formally incorporated into the Autonomous Region of Arizona.[/size][/quote]
In accordance to the Statute of Autonomy Act, each Autonomous Region will enjoy a considerable degree of autonomy over its internal affairs, including forming its own Government. Each Autonomous Region will be headed by a Regional Administrator, who will report to a Development Corporation, and who will be appointed by the President of the Corporate Republic at the proposal of the Administrator of the Corporate Republic.

In turn, each Development Corporation will be responsible for daily administration of government in their respective Autonomous Region; the Regional Assembly will draft and pass laws (although it cannot pass laws that would conflict with the Noverian constitution), and will be elected by universal suffrage through the same proportional system in use in the Corporate Republic. The Directorate of Defense will be responsible for national defense of the Autonomous Regions, as they are formally considered a part of Noveria; likewise, the Noveria Border Corporation and Directorate of Maritime Transport will be responsible for border control and security of the Autonomous Regions.

Each Autonomous Region will send 3 non-voting Representative to the National Assembly, for each the three Houses (Chamber of Deputies, Senate, and Corporate Assembly). Citizenship of all inhabitants in the Autonomous Regions would be upgraded from Protectorate Citizenship to full Noverian Citizenship.

Lastly, according to Director of Defense Daniele Favalaro in a public speech, the thirty thousand troops currently stationed in the regions would be formally included into the Noverian Army, to be reclassified as Divisions:

[quote]51st Division (10,000)
52nd Division (10,000)
53rd Division (10,000)[/quote]
Five squadrons of the Noverian Air Force would be transferred from the provinces of Columbina and Nova Coimbra to the region:

[quote]25th Assault Squadron - Ninth Group - Fifth Wing
26th Assault Squadron - Ninth Group - Fifth Wing
30th Assault Squadron - Tenth Group - Fifth Wing
41st Assault Squadron - Fourteenth Group - Seventh Wing
8th Bomber Squadron - Twentieth Group - Tenth Wing[/quote]
Another carrier strike group (CSG) of Battlefleet South would be dispatched to San Franscisco to dock with the one that were already docked there. Likewise, the Noverian Coast Guard would establish NCG bases and stations alongside the Californian coastline.

===

[b]CLASSIFIED[/b]

Shortly following the announcement, the annexation of Noveria's newest protectorate duly began, beginning with the putting up of the Noverian flag all over central California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, and Arizona. Army troops (and NDF personnel) proceeded to occupy all military bases and installations across the region, including the forward operation bases (FOBs) that the Texans had established in place. In San Franscisco bay, the Texan CSG were placed under Noverian command; the Gringo's commanding officer, Admiral James Palmetto, for instance, received orders to report to duty to General Arthur Arnault, who would command the 51st through 53st Divisions stationed in the region.

In major cities such as San Franscisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Tucson, Army troopers and personnel began to relieve the former Texan troops from duty, allowing them to go back home if they wanted (although the Texan Rangers in Las Vegas would be retained to help police the city), and even offering them Noverian citizenship if they wanted to stay. All Texan UAVs were taken over and put to use for the Noverians, where they would monitor crucial strategic points such as the Hoover Dam and the like. Engineers and experts of the Army Corp of Engineers flooded into the regions to pick up on where the Texans had left off: to evaluate the region's infrastructure.

At the same time the military were consolidating control over the region, the corporations proceeded to move into the regions, intent of expanding their considerable 'empire' into Noveria's newest land. NovCorp, Binary Helix, and Tyrell Corporation had a field day at Silicon Valley. Corporations such as Adobe Systems, Apple Incorporated, Cisco Systems, eBay, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle Corporation, Advanced Micro Devices Incorporated, Intel, along with many others, were taken over and placed under their administrative and operational control. NovCorp, for one thing, purchased the Texan stocks, increasing its control of Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo to over 90 percent.

NovBank, in turn, proceeded to take over all banks - large and small - across the region; the same went for mints and other financial institutions. Vault Corporation did the same to hospitals and clinics; Omni Corporation to judicial courts; SED Systems Corporations assumed control of transportation systems such as bus stations, railway stations, maglevs, and as such; the Noveria Border Corporation [through its control of the Directorate of Maritime Transport] nationalized property such as port authorities and the like; Gruppo Riva went to work on putting the factories back into operation; ViniPetro took over power stations, electric grids, gas and oil wells, and the like; and the Noveria Corrections Corporations did the same to jails, prisons, and penitentaries. Elanus Risk Control Services, for its part, not only proceeded to take control of the local law enforcement systems, but also educational institutions.

Troops of the 51st and 52nd Divisions would take over border checkpoints alongside the border with Novus Niciae; parts of the 53th Division would oversee the border with the Holy American Empire, New Spain, Spinoza, and the Pravus Ingruo protectorate. They were to turn over control to the Noverian Border Corporation over time.

Edited by JEDCJT
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[center][b]Official Statement from the Directorate of Maritime Transport:[/b][/center]
"It has been announced that the territorial waters and parameters of the EEZ of the Corporate Republic of Noveria has been extended to the waters off the coasts of the Autonomous Region of California (ARC). They are as follows:

[center][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/hPmav.png[/IMG][/center]
Policy in regards to civilian, commerce, and foreign military vessels within or near Noverian waters, as stated in the [url="http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=101532&view=findpost&p=2784489"]previous statement[/url], off the coast of the ARC shall follow the same course of policy as enforced in the rest of the Corporate Republic. To reiterate, the Corporate Republic has ultimate, complete, and unfettered sovereignty and jurisdiction over the new Noverian territorial waters off the coast of the ARC."

Signed,
William Rossi

Edited by JEDCJT
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[b][u]PUBLIC NEWS[/u][/b]

[b]San Francisco renamed[/b]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/Cakk5.jpg[/IMG]
[i]The city of Drogheda, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the foreground[/i]

[b]NovCorp News: Drogheda, California[/b] - The newly-inaugurated San Franscisco City Hall voted to pass a resolution officially reverting the city's name from San Francisco back to the [b]CITY OF DROGHEDA[/b], a name it had held in the former Tahoe Republic.

"The decision to revert the city's name back to Drogheda reflects the historic signifiance of the city in its long history, dating back to when it was the largest city in the Tahoe Republic." Mayor Edward Coleain stated in a publicized speech in front of the City Hall building today. "This is a proud time for the people!" He also stated that the city will adopt the old Tahoan flag as its official flag.

In Nadrink, the National Assembly voted 225-27, with 33 abstentions, to formally approve the name change. "It is a proud day when a people receive the freedom to celebrate its history and culture. The Noverian Republic is proud to sanction such an event", Administrator Pasquale Bianchi stated in a press statement in the capital. "Like we celebrate Portuguese, Italian, Luso-Italian, and other heritage and cultures, the people of Drogheda celebrate their Irish and Tahoan culture."

With a population of approximately 800,000 inhabitants, Drogheda is the fifth largest city in the Corporate Republic, behind Nadrink, and currently serves as the capital and seat of government of the Autonomous Region of California. With over half its population of Irish and Tahoan descent, Drogheda has a strong Irish culture and heritage that has persisted under various regimes such as the Confederation of American States; after Vancouver, it is the most 'Tahoan' city in the Corporate Republic. As a reporter, on condition of anonymity, stated to NovCorp: "It is truly interesting that Noveria currently control cities that used to be the largest in the Tahoe Republic, such as Vancouver, Drogheda, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, and Victoria."

Drogheda stands for [i]Droichead Atha[/i], meaning 'bridge of the ford' in Irish, which is appropriate given the prominence of the Golden Gate Bridge in the city. The Golden Gate Bridge, linking the city of Drogheda to Marin County across the Golden Gate strait, was for a time the world's longest suspension bridge when it was completed in 1937, and has become one of the most recognized symbol of Drogheda in North America and the world.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/60KDh.jpg[/IMG]
[i]The famous Golden Gate Bridge[/i]

Edited by JEDCJT
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[b][u]PUBLIC NEWS[/u][/b]

[b]Two-Round Act passed into law[/b]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/doTAe.png[/IMG]
[i]Illustration of the new two-round system[/i]

[b]NovCorp News: Nadrink, Distretto Federal[/b] - Non-majority elections are now a thing in the past in the Corporate Republic of Noveria. Today, the National Assembly, after a grueling 24-hour debate, voted 135-100, with 50 abstentions, to pass the [b]TWO-ROUND ELECTORAL SYSTEM ACT[/b]. Receiving Corporate assent and signed into law by Administrator Bianchi, the Act set in place a new two-round system, where one voter will cast a single vote for a chosen candidate. In the event any single candidate is unable to receive the number of vote required to achieve a clear majority (defined as two-thirds plus one, or sixty-seven percent of the vote), then two candidates with the highest votes will face off against each other in a second round election (the other candidates will be eliminated).

The Martensist Party praised the passage of the Act, stating that "the age of compromise and diluting of party ideologies and ideals are over." The days of coalition government are all but over in Noveria, said Martensist Party leader Wilfur Balducci in a speech held in Kelowna. The People's Republican Party echoed the same, stating that "the time had now arrived that a political party will be able to gain control over the Chamber of Deputies, and with that the National Assembly, and determine Noveria's destiny without recourse to other parties."

The Libertarian Party, while acknowledging the Act's stated purpose to ensure an absolute majority in a national election, voiced concerns that the Act would "negate out the possibility of coalitioh government, which sometimes gives out the best results in regards to two or more political parties cooperating together." Furthermore, as Administrator Bianchi stated in a special press statement in the capital, the Act would mean "increased costs, not only for the political parties and their candidates, but also for the nation as a whole because there would be two ballots as opposed to one", an argument that was countered by the Martensists and Conservatives' statements that it would actually save money in reduced cost.

===

[u][b]PUBLIC NEWS[/b][/u]

[b]New political party formed[/b]

[b]NovCorp News: Vancouver, Columbina[/b] - Noveria now has a eighth political party.

In Vancouver, it had been announced that a new political party had been formed, and registered with the Noveria Election Commission and the Noveria Institution of Geography and Statistics. The [b]NOVERIAN NATIONAL PARTY (NNP)[/b], founded and led by Aaron O'Deaghaidh, is poised to make its way into the Noverian political stage. "We are ready to play a role in reshaping the politics of the Corporate Republic of Noveria, and the National Party shall declare its intent to run in the next election with its ideology in mind." O'Deaghaidh announced in a speech in downtown Vancouver.

The political agenda of the National Party is as follows:

[quote]- Promote Roman Catholicism as the official state religion and protect Christianity and its values
- Maintain a small federal government
- Adopt a general laissez-faire policy in regards to the economy, but maintain the policy of state intevention into the economy if necessary
- Reduce taxes
- Maintain a pro-American, interventionalist foreign policy
- Maintain close relations with proven friends and allies
- Support free trade and travel, but enact restrictions if necessary
- Maintain a large Army, Navy, and Air Force
- Incorporate the Coast Guard into the Noverian Defense Forces
- Increase the defense budget
- Expand the nation's anti-air defense network
- Fortify the nation from outside attack
- Eliminate Social Security and other public welfare programs
- Promote Noverian nationalism, including restricting socially unacceptable behavior
- Adopt a more federal-style approach on governance and administration[/quote]
Several political commentators have noted that the Noverian National Party is similiar to the National Party that used to rule the former Tahoe Republic, supported by the fact that Arthur O'Deaghaidh is a relative of Sean O'Deaghaidh, who used to be the Taoiseach of the Tahoe Republic, and that the Party is headquartered in Vancouver, which used to be a frontier city in the former Tahoe.

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[u][b]PUBLIC NEWS:[/b][/u]

[b]Rio Grande do Leste undertakes agricultural experiment[/b]

[b]NovCorp News: Regina, Rio Grande do Leste[/b] - Rio Grande do Leste is at it again.

Noveria's breadbasket province is undertaking an attempt to revolutionize the way food and agriculture products are grown and produced. According to the provice's Directorate of Agriculture, a plan had been drawn up in conjunction with the Noverian Institution of Agriculture and various food producers in Rio Grande do Leste to "maximize food production in a way that would have the least effect on the environment, including the soil that food is typically grown in."

The plan? Construct vertical farms, which are generally environmentally-friendly skyscrapers that would have the capacity to feed up to 50,000 people each. The projected 18-story vertical farm, which was shown at a conference held by the Noverian Institute of Agriculture in Saskatoon, would "be outfitted with rooftop solar panels, and would be built as one unit or grouped in clusters to maximize food output."

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/GE3nO.jpg[/IMG]
[i]Concept art of a vertical farm, by Chris Jacobs[/i]

The reason behind this plan is, as according to Armando Sullivan, professor at Regina University, "that traditional horizontal farming is failing." While Rio Grande do Leste is one of the top food producers in the Corporate Republic, indeed in the world, this would not last forever if "certain steps are taken to improve the food situation." Given that farmers are increasingly becoming hard-pressed to feed people in the country and around the world, new ways of farming are needed to "avoid an impeding catastrophe", Sullivan says. "The price of crop failure is pretty high these days, and the world is rapidly running out of viable resources at a pace faster than what it can replace."

Solent Corporation agrees: as a representative spoke in a press statement in Regina, "The world's resources for growing food has reached a critical stage where it is bound, sooner or later, to run out of arable land from which food are drawn from, if innovative and effective ways of farming are not devised and implemented." Despite concerns from critics regarding the costs (not limited to finances) of the project and its effectiveness due to its apparent dependency on critical factors such as sunlight and the like, experts at the Noverian Institution of Agriculture are confident that hard work and technology would go a long way to "dramatically improve yields and reliability."

Construction of a prototype vertical farm are currently underway, Solent Corporation announced. It would feature automated feeders, monitoring devices, and harvesting equipment. For one instance, fiber-optic tubes named 'solar pipes' would be built into place so they would capture sunlight, especially during the winter months - and Noveria is a notoriously cold place. In addition, Rio Grande do Leste is taking steps to improve existing farming techniques.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/gxz7R.jpg[/IMG]
[i]An artist's rendering of the workings of a vertical farm[/i]

If the vertical farm is a success, then there are plans to expand it on a nationwide basis. "It would become a new feature of Noveria's cities," Sullivan concludes, "It would climb as high as 30 stories, and will be a prominent in Noverian cities." Even so, concerns and doubts persist. "We are going to see a vast increase in electric bills." Gil Farsal of Saskatoon National University said, "While it is true that environment-friendly policies can, in theory, help boost food production through schemes like these, there are legitimate concerns regarding energy consumption, energy requirements, and of course, money." As it is a relatively new concept, there are bugs in there that needs to be worked out, Farsal says.

"No pun intended, of course."

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[u][b]PUBLIC NEWS:[/b][/u]

[b]New autonomous region established[/b]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/RTDp1.jpg[/IMG]
[i]Novoporto is presently a small coastal town[/i]

[b]NovCorp News: Novoporto, Novoporto Autonomous Region[/b] - The Directorate of the Interior announced today that a new autonomous region had been established in Noveria's sole outpost to the Atlantic Ocean, and that the City of Churchill had, by local statute, been renamed the [b]CITY OF NOVOPORTO[/b].

According to the [b]STATUTE OF AUTONOMY REGARDING THE CITY OF CHURCHILL[/b], the Novoporto Autonomous Region (N.A.R.) would be formally formed in place, to form part of the Corporate Republic of Noveria. Similiar to the current arrangements in Noveria's southermost regions in the Southwest, the N.A.R. will enjoy a broad degree of autonomy, including forming its own Government, maintaining its own legal system, monetary system, custom and immigration policy, and as such (the Corporate Republic will be responsible for defense). It will be headed by an appointed Regional Administrator, who will report to the Novoporto Development Corporation.

Similiarly, the Directorate of Maritime Transport announced that the extent of Noverian territorial waters and EEZ had been outlined 200 nautical miles off Novoporto's coast, and that standard policy and procedures as in the other coastal regions of Noveria will apply.

Finally, a spokesperson of the Noveria Development Corporation announced that plans to "upgrade the port to Noverian standards" are currently underway. This involves, but are not limited to the massive overhaul of the city's existing infrastructure: "new blocks, buildings, facilities, and networks would be built in Novoporto", the spokesperson stated, "Existing port facilities would undergo vast expansion as to enhance their capacity, and place the city within the frameworks of international trade and commerce." Various Directorates will be involved in this project, and so will the Noverian Defense Forces in regards to military bases and facilities located in the city.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/i4mQ1.jpg[/IMG]
[i]An artist's rendition of an expanded Novoporto[/i]

"We look forward to the day that Novoporto become a fully-developed city befitting the Corporate Republic, to see it become a prosperous place." Administrator Pasquale Bianchi stated in a speech to the National Assembly. "Novoporto will be the cornerstone to the progress and prowess of the Corporate Republic of Noveria." However, several parties, especially the Martensist Party and Labor Party, voiced concerns about the costs associated with the project, as well the inherent logical difficulties (Novoporto is separated from Noveria by the Greenlandic protectorate in Manitoba) and the daunting challenges in transforming a small town into a large city. Animal rights supporters, for their part, voiced concerns about the safety of polar bears in the region, either discouraging the development of Novoporto or "doing it in a way that would not harm the well-being of the polar bears."

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