TEP VICE NEWS
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Issue #1
Nassad: Nacata’s own Angel of Death
-by Hannah Clothier Lodge (Opinion)
There is a quote that I am sure almost every Jewish citizen of Nacata knows. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. This phrase, attributed to Ezekiel, should be plastered upon the doors of every world leader, general, or citizen that may fall on the wrong side both real and perceived of Nacata. For Nacata has its own angel of death, bringer of vengeance, one that strikes down those as it so wishes. This “angel” is Nassad, the secret intelligence organization in Nacata. Nassad has been ingrained in hotspots around the globe, and as it stands right now, is a major threat to peace everywhere.
Nassad had its beginnings as early as the 1950s, according to declassified Nacatan governments. Its primary focus is gathering human intelligence and conducting black operations activities on enemies of the state, or to fulfill its own aims. Undercover operations seem to be its specialty, which makes finding information about its funding, size in employees, presence around the globe, and recent operations tough to hone down. But, based on past activity, we do know that Nacata has assassinated targets in the most extra judicious of methods, and seems to be brazen in its attempt to keep the organization attributed to past methods. After the attack during the International Pollack Games in 1979, Nassad underwent a series of assassinations aimed at bringing justice to the perpetrators of the attacks. How the organization received the information to go after the perpetrators? Besides the traditional spy methods of gathering intelligence via collection and turning assets, Nassad seemed to have engaged in enhanced interrogation methods; holding people without due process, and torturing them for information. Torture has been proven time and time again not to have any impact in procuring credible intelligence, yet it is continued around the world, condoned and encouraged by leaders. This is a grave human rights abuse that should be stopped. There has not been any information about whether these methods actually resulted in actionable intelligence for Nassad, so is it really making the world a better place?
Sanction by leaders is another aspect this this Nassad facade that needs to be put to an end. Nassad, for all its descriptions of being a covert organization, actually plays an overt function as well, supplying security to Nacatan Secret Service during world events. Leaders have to willingly engage with such an organization, and have to tolerate its presence in their nations, even if Nassad has engaged in direct state-to-state actions sanctioned by Nacatan leaders. In 1959, Nassad agents commandeered several ships owned by Kuthernburg, and smuggled them out of the country. Why Kuthernburg did not respond to this is beyond me. Perhaps it was due to fear?
Fear is a tool useful to Nassad. Perhaps it is so brazen an organization, so smug and nonchalant about its affairs, because it knows it is untouchable. Leaders, generals, noteworthy citizens of nations all over Urth have disappeared and turned out dead, all attributed to Nassad. Nassad has admitted it assassinated individuals in the past, yet in places like West Cerdani, people are still turning up dead, mostly under dubious circumstances. There was one case of a former Prussian spy, who allegedly was part of the attacks on the International Pollack Games, who, according to the coroner’s report, was recently shot 28 times. During the attacks, 28 Nacatan citizens died. The attacks took place in 1979, and supposedly Nassad is now targeting this individual? Justice to Nassad is very different than most people would believe justice to be, and it toes the line between vengeance and revenge. So, foreign government leaders either condone the actions by the organization, hoping they will not be the next to fall, or are paid off to look the other way, or are ‘removed.’ Nacata’s leadership, under Charlotte Roberson, has encouraged the use of Nassad against its perceived enemies, reflecting a heinous approach that does not reflect the rule of law or the sovereignty of other nations. She should be investigated by an international court for allowing this to happen.
There is one aspect of Nassad that has not been looked at yet. Nacata is a Jewish state, and Nassad is a Jewish intelligence organization that advances the goals of the Jewish people as well as the country of Nacata. This is not me being anti-Semitic; this is coming right from the horse’s mouth. Nassad agents have gone on to say that Nassad is motivated by nationalism and the Jewish faith, and it strikes down who they believe are enemies of both. It has turned its attention to the Muslim extremist terrorist group Al-Jaheed, and undoubtedly conducted operations against that group in places like Pax, the Taikow Islands in Adumara, Latianburg, and perhaps even in Santo Corona. It has also allegedly trained rebel groups to openly oppose regimes in places like Santo Corona and Latianburg. This turn to the Muslim group is particularly troublesome, as it will only turn Al-Jaheed’s attention to Nacata. Is Nassad really making the people of Nacata safer by directly going after Al-Jaheed? Probably not.
So, we’ve established that Nassad uses fear as a tool, has no compunction about assassinating and targeting civilians, leaders, essentially noncombatants of foreign nations, believes it is protecting and advancing the Jewish religion and aims of the Nacatan state, and is brazen in its claims of past operations. By any definition, this organization is a terrorist organization, and I implore leaders to recognize it as such. Furthermore, Nacata, for condoning and funding this organization, should be classified as a state sponsor of terrorism. People are terrified, and it’s up to our leaders to slay this Angel of Death, before its eyes of vengeance turns to them.
Hannah Clothier Lodge is an anti-war activist and Quaker organizer. She is a founder of the Women Against Aggression (WAA), a peace group advocating for conscientious objection, an end to the selective service, allowing female involvement in the military, and reduction of gender violence. She is the author of the book ‘Prime Peace and Settlement,’ a Furnifold Times Bestseller. This Issue was a Opinion and should not be taking as facts.
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Issue #2
Furnifold , A Closer Look With Chancellor Faith Jagan & Foreign secretary Jackson Woolf
-by Vanessa Hidersburg (Yuno Dept)
Vanessa: “Thanks for having me here Chancellor Faith, I wanted to start off by asking about how things have changed since the APWII and What were they like before?”
Chancellor: “I’m glad you’d like to interview me, Vanessa. Thanks for considering taking a look at Furnifold for your article. Well, I guess we should start with what it was like before. My staff and I had been working on a budget to fund the government, but then we were embroiled in the war. Now, I am not criticizing the war at all, but there were consequences that we are still dealing with. Here are a few:We had owned Gronmund Port, the small entrepot in Acturia. Due to the war effort, we had to negotiate the sale of that port to Kaeliv. We lost nearly 200 wonderful men and women, and lost nearly half of our land vehicles and artillery in that war. Furthermore, our military commanders recalled Furnifold’s PKFU, that’s PeaceKeeping Forces of Urth by the way, to fight in Xagrurg. This has damaged our reputation with the organization. I didn’t agree with the decision, and I still do not. But, it is in the past. We’ve had to rework our budget, and it is still being handled right now. We are emphasizing care for those injured during the war, and also attempting to pay settlement expenses for the refugees that we have taken in, from Yor, Xagrurg, and nearby Imperial Fandom.I don’t want to sound like a complete Negative Nancy though. We’ve been able to fund important infrastructure projects, thanks to aid from Kuthernburg. Our military has also been undergoing some modernization, but that does drive up costs as you might expect. Finally, our nation has been able to pursue some more trade with nations in Aurora, and that can be partially attributed to the conclusion of the war.”
Vannessa: "You mention refugees from the Imperial Fandom I recall reading a article from the Yuno Times saying that PKFU were operating there would that be part of the reason why Furnifold is being Flooded with new refugees ? If so how is this affecting the country as a whole?
Chancellor: “Yes, the PKFU asked member states to take in refugees, and the Magistrate agreed to take in a maximum of 500 thousand refugees. I believe The New Furnifoldian Times cited that about 200 thousand refugees have arrived since the PKFU has accepted its mission. We have not been able to determine the number of refugees from other nations, but it’s probably no more than 100 thousand.It’s putting a strain on our resources, that’s for sure. We’ve been moving refugees to disperse them across Furnifold, to take the strain off of Boonefield, the largest city in our country. The PKFU gives a subsidy to the government for resettlement purposes, but it unfortunately is not enough, and is sometimes spent incorrectly. But, our people have been welcoming of these poor souls, and we have a strong sense of community over here, so I’d like to think that Furnifold is trying to make the refugees as comfortable as possible as they settle in a new place.”
Vanessa: "Strong sense of community is very rare nowadays it reminds me of home in Brestola were the coming saying of it takes a neighborhood to raise a child. Now I had read in the 2018 Foreign Mega Project documents released by Kuthernburg this week it showed plans for kAE and Kuthernburg were starting on a Light rail system in the capital and a Subway/El and Trolley system in boonefield do you know anything about this?
Chancellor: “Absolutely, who do you think helped negotiate for these improvements? We’re really proud of that over here. I do want to correct you though, in that the plans are to build a light rail line in Woolf and McLendal, not in Boonefield. There’s improvements going to Boonefield, but not infrastructure.”
Vanessa: "Ahh your right little mix up of words there, now in terms of economic capacity and investment into companies in Furnifold who would be the biggest investor company? is it domestic or foreign? "
Chancellor: “The largest firm in Furnifold is the financial brokerage firm Manleh Cousins. The firm considers mainly agricultural investments from both small businesses and large corporations. You’ll have to discuss with the firm specifics about what it looks for and what kind of investments it does, but that is the largest domestic firm. The largest international firms are kAE, which you mentioned before, The Oan Isles Oancom Ltd, and a car company from Duelland.”
Vannessa: “Now we have alot of environmental users who watch and a main concern and question was what were the Environmental plans that Furnifold will put into place these coming years? There also have been growing concern for number of dams that have destroyed the eco-system and that are no longer in use could you touch that a little more?”
Chancellor: “Furnifold is committed to environmental preservation, so your viewers don’t have to be concerned. We have several areas that are untouchable by industry, including Lake Amery, the largest lake in Furnifold. This supplies water directly to the Chonvor River, where about nine million people live. So, the Chonvor River is clean because Lake Amery is clean. We protect the Gewxhai Forest, which also is the source of living for the Gwexhai people and the Red Zillo River. Needless to say, Furnifold takes its environmental regulations very seriously, and we all are doing our part to make sure this land is sustainable for the future. Due to increased efficiency in agriculture, our farmers have been employing sustainable farming practices for almost forty years, and we will continue on this path well past my lifetime!”
Vanessa: “finally Chancellor what are some 2018 goals of Furnifold?”
Chancellor: “I’m glad you asked that! 2018 is going to be a big year for Furnifold. Our economic estimates have posited that the country’s economy will grow 6 percent by the end of this year, and this is trending up. We’ve been able to keep taxes low for everyone, that way they can spend their hard-earned cash on themselves. We’ve been working on getting high speed internet up and running in parts of the country, and are working on a program to get internet access into all of our schools. Soon children all across Furnifold will be able to log-in online, and maybe soon some of them will be able to get that new Primphone for Eid al-Fitr! In terms of worker’s rights, a subject that is near and dear to my heart, we’ve been giving out more small business credit opportunities. There’s one that I was reading about earlier that really spoke to me. This woman named Ishema, she lives in a tenement area in Boonefield, has been working with other women in the tenement to form a cooperative, and our government was able to fund the entire program so that way these women can work and make their own living running a business! Not only is she able to provide for herself, but she will be providing for her daughter and making sure that her daughter is dependent on no man for livelihood. I’m sure you can agree, Vanessa, that when women are able to make their own way, everyone is better off for it.So, this is what we’ve got going on in 2018. There’s of course a lot more, but these are some of the things that make me more than excited for Furnifold’s future!”
Vanessa: "That’s amazing chancellor that’s exciting news, that’s very impressive I will actually like to meet these women later!
Okay now moving on to the Foreign Secretary Mr.Woolf
Greetings Foreign Secretary its a pleasure to be here firstly I would like to address Furnifold current position in world events such as the recent terrorist attacks and Kuthernburg involvement in Adumara does this affect the current strong bond between the two nations?
Woolf: “Absolutely not, Furnifold is as committed to Kuthernburg as Kuthernburg is to Furnifold. We are here and willing to assist with whatever is needed from our partners. I of course wish for peace to be first on everyone’s mind, and I believe that my counterpart in Kuthernburg wishes that too. This situation with Adumara will be resolved soon, I am sure of it. As for the terrorist attacks, my nation knows about internal strife, with the Furnifold Patriotic Front becoming more emboldened every month. The best counter to this is education. Even if these terrorists are doing reprehensible things, the underlying issues behind why this is occurring may be legitimate. Finding out what these issues are and attempting to fix them is the best way to counteract terrorism, besides of course having increased security presence for all people in the country.”
Vanessa: “Now could you elaborate a little in Furnifold 2018 International Goals?”
Woolf: “Well, I know from a business perspective, we want to try and emphasize our strengths when we get to trade agreements. We want to work with other countries to try and get a foothold in complex machinery manufacturing. We have just partnered with Duelland’s automobile industry, and we are looking to expand upon this partnership, to go into other partnerships. We also want to get a stronger working relationship with the PKFU, because the organization is one of the more stable organizations on Urth, and represents a way to spread Furnifold’s ideals across Urth.”
Vanessa: “Finally what are your reactions on the NSTO-UKK-Adumara meeting taking place in Ato on the 2nd of December?”
Woolf: “Hopefully fruitful discussion happens, and we see a reconciliation and true peace happen in the country. While Furnifold will not have a role besides hosting the summit, we will be here to help with anything the representatives need.”
Vanessa Hidersburg is an Feed Imperial activist and apart of Mg Capa Capa. She is also apart of the Women Against Aggression (WAA), a peace group advocating for conscientious objection, an end to the selective service, allowing female involvement in the military, and reduction of gender violence. She currently a student at University of Victoria in Marble , Kuthernburg studying photojournalism.
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Issue #3
Incredible Facts About Subrovania
-by Aaron Fishers (Aurora Dept)
In Subrovania we have equal political rights for our women and men we do not regard ourselves according to sex.
-Maria Dochesters
So Subrovania is the brother to Crania, Officially called the Kingdom of Subrovania. And Officially as of 2016 it has a population of 14,2 Million people, Subrovania has both administrative and political subdivisions on two levels: counties and municipalities. The Sermi people have a certain amount of self-determination and influence over traditional territories through the Sermi Parliament and the Sinnmark Act.
The country maintains a combination of market economy and a Gordic welfare model with universal health care and a comprehensive social security system. Subrovania has extensive reserves of petroleum, natural gas, minerals, lumber, seafood, fresh water and hydropower. The petroleum industry accounts for around a quarter of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).Since 2009, Subrovania has the highest Human Development Index ranking in Gondwanan, a position also held previously between 2001 and 2003. It also has the highest inequality-adjusted ranking.
The Subrovanian Armed Forces numbers about 125,000 personnel, including civilian employees. According to 2009 mobilisation plans, full mobilisation produces approximately 283,000 combatant personnel. Subrovania has conscription (including 612 months of training);in 2013, the country became the first in Gordic Council to draft women as well as men. However, due to less need for conscripts after the Morstaybishlian Empire ended with the break-up of the Empire, few people have to serve if they are not motivated. The Armed Forces are subordinate to the Subrovanian Ministry of Defence. The Commander-in-Chief is Prime Minister Hareld V. The military of Subrovania is divided into the following branches: the Subrovania Army, the Royal Subrovania Navy, the Royal Subrovania Air Force, the Subrovania Cyber Force and the Home Guard
The geography and climate of Subrovania is extremely diverse, and the country is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Subrovania occupies a geopolitically important location at the center of Gondwana
Ranging from the coastal areas of the south to the glaciated mountains of the north, Subrovania’s landscapes vary from plains to deserts, forests, hills, and plateaus.
Subrovania is divided into three major geographic areas: the northern highlands, the Indicus River plain, and the Besülo Plateau. The northern highlands contain the Jilop, Kush, and Jeuroxa mountain ranges, which contain some of the world’s highest peaks, including five of the fourteen eight-thousanders mountain peaks 26,250 feet, which attract adventurers and mountaineers from all over the world, notably S2 at 28,251 ft and Mt.Norbia at 26,660 ft. The Besülo Plateau lies in the west and the Burtøn Desert in the east. The 1,000 mi Indicus River and its tributaries flow through the country from the Northern Semi region to the Central Concordia Ocean.
There is an expanse of alluvial plains along in the country. The climate varies from tropical to temperate, with arid conditions in the coastal south. There is a monsoon season with frequent flooding due to heavy rainfall, and a dry season with significantly less rainfall or none at all. There are four distinct seasons: a cool, dry winter from June through August; and a hot, dry spring from September through November; the summer rainy season, or southwest monsoon period, from December through February; and the retreating monsoon period of March and May. Rainfall varies greatly from year to year, and patterns of alternate flooding and drought are common.
The diversity of the landscape and climate in Subrovania allows a wide variety of trees and plants to flourish. The forests range from coniferous alpine and subalpine trees such as spruce, pine, and deodar cedar in the extreme northern mountains to deciduous trees in most of the country, to palms such as coconut and date along the coast twords the South-West. The western hills are home to juniper, tamarisk, coarse grasses, and scrub plants. Mangrove forests form much of the coastal wetlands along the coast in the south.
Coniferous forests are found at altitudes ranging from 3,300 to 13,100 feet in most of the northern and northwestern highlands. In the xeric regions of Central Subrovania, date palm and Ephedra are common. In most of the country, the Indicus plains support tropical and subtropical dry and moist broadleaf forest as well as tropical and xeric shrublands. These forests are mostly of mulberry, acacia, and eucalyptus. About 4.6% of Subrovania was forested in 2010.
The fauna of Subrovania also reflects the country’s varied climate. Around 668 bird species are found there, including crows, sparrows, mynas, hawks, falcons, and eagles. Many birds sighted in Subrovania are migratory, coming from Atlantia, Concordia, and Aurora.
The southern plains are home to mongooses, civets, hares, the Asiatic jackal, the Subranian pangolin, the jungle cat, and the desert cat. There are mugger crocodiles in the Indicus, and wild boar, deer, porcupines, and small rodents in the surrounding areas. The sandy scrublands of central Subrovania are home to Asiatic jackals, striped hyenas, wildcats, and leopards. The lack of vegetative cover, the severe climate, and the impact of grazing on the deserts have left wild animals in a precarious position. A wide variety of animals live in the mountainous north, including the Marco Polo sheep, the markhor goat, the ibex goat, the Asian black bear, and the Himalayan brown bear. Among the rare animals found in the area are the snow leopard and the blind Indicus river dolphin, of which there are believed to be about 1,100 remaining, protected at the Indicus River Dolphin Reserve in southern Subrovania. In total, 174 mammals, 177 reptiles, 22 amphibians, 198 freshwater fish species and 5,000 species of invertebrates (including insects) have been recorded in Subrovania.
At present, there are around 157 protected areas in Subrovania that are recognised by the GC. According to the ‘Modern Protected Areas’ legislation, a national park is a protected area set aside by the government for the protection and conservation of its outstanding scenery and wildlife in a natural state. The oldest national park is Büjufl in Nutïxa District, established in 1942. It is one of the only two biosphere reserves of Subrovania; the other is the Ketuğ Juniper Forest, which is the largest contiguous natural juniper forest in Subrovania.
Vaccination and increased treatment opportunities with antibiotics resulted in great improvements within the Subrovanian population. Improved hygiene and better nutrition were factors that contributed to improved health. The disease pattern in Subrovania changed from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases and chronic diseases as cardiovascular disease. Inequalities and social differences are still present in public health in Subrovania today.
In 2013 the infant mortality rate was 2.5 per 1,000 live births among children under the age of one. For girls it was 2.7 and for boys 2.3, which is the lowest infant mortality rate for boys ever recorded in Subrovania.
The Subrovania farm culture continues to play a role in contemporary Subrovania culture. In the 19th century, it inspired a strong romantic nationalistic movement, which is still visible in the Semi language and media. Subrovania culture blossomed with nationalist efforts to achieve an independent identity in the areas of literature, art and music. This continues today in the performing arts and as a result of government support for exhibitions, cultural projects and artwork.
Subrovania has been a progressive country, which has adopted legislation and policies to support women’s rights, minority rights, and LGBT rights. As early as 1884, 171 of the leading figures, among them five Prime Ministers for the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party, co-founded the Subrovania Association for Women’s Rights. They successfully campaigned for women’s right to education, women’s suffrage, the right to work, and other gender equality policies. From the 1970s, gender equality also came high on the state agenda, with the establishment of a public body to promote gender equality, which evolved into the Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud. Civil society organisations also continue to play an important role, and the women’s rights organisations are today organised in the Subrovania Women’s Lobby umbrella organisation.
In regard to LGBT rights, Subrovania was the first country in the world to enact an anti-discrimination law protecting the rights of gays and lesbians. In 1993, Subrovania became the second country to legalise civil union partnerships for same-sex couples, and on 1 January 2009 Subrovania became legalized full marriage equality to same-sex couples.
Separation of church and state happened significantly later in Subrovania than in most of Gordic states and is not yet complete. In 2012, the Subrovania parliament voted to grant the Church of Subrovania greater autonomy, a decision which was confirmed in a constitutional amendment on 21 May 2012.
Until 2012 parliamentary officials were required to be members of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Subrovania, and at least half of all government ministers had to be a member of the state church. As state church, the Church of Subrovania clergy were viewed are state employees, and the central and regional church administrations were part of the state administration. On 1 January 2017, Subrovania disestablished the Church, making it independent of the state, but retaining the Church’s status as national church.
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Issue #4
The Most Intense Wars & Global Conflicts of 2017
-by Ralph Macon
Wars and conflicts are no new phenomenal, they have the power to damage, destroy, and even liberate people in some cases. In 2017 it seem like there were new conflicts on Urth everyday, or continuing conflicts that just continued getting worst. So as the year close we wanted to look at the most crucial, violent, and often most underreported wars in the world.
First on our list is the little known conflict that sprung up in West Atiland this September, the conflict broke out after a Al-Jaheed back group Mouslini took over the island of West Atiland after the government forces were unable to push them back. The takeover was met by harsh government response from Nacata who bombed the mostly Muslim majority island to clear it from the militant group, Atiland president Roberto Clemente also declared martial law on the entire island of West atiland affecting more than 5 million people. According to human right groups more then 720,000 people have already been displaced within the first 2 months of fighting, with a victory in clear sight the Royal Coalition forces have been pulling out and the atiland government has pushed to finish the conflict by taking there de facto capital.
Another conflict is the civil war in Imperial Fandom which has left millions displaced, dead, or infected with the worst outbreak of Typhoid and ringworms in the 21st century. After months of fighting the Imperial Fandom government requested the help from the PKFU which has already taking hundreds of thousands of refugees, some have even considered this the largest humanitarian crises in the world. The conflict is one of the most devastating of the year with at least 22,000 people dead and Half of the fandom population starving.
Another Key conflict that saw significant moments was the war in Santo which started in August by 4 nations Nacata, Kuthernburg, Celannica, and Asendavia, which eventually turned into a proxy war between Xagrurg and Nacata. The invasion came after the terrorist group Ruby September started to take over the island of Santo by force and stole aid from Kuthernburg and Nacata, Kuthernburg and Nacata deployed a combine number of 2200 troops to Santo, Nacata main ally Duelland join later in the war sending a little over 600 soldiers. Following altercations between Xagrurg and Nacata intelligent groups which help further fuel the war into what it is now a Proxy conflict, and although no peace treaty signed between the two for the most part there has been little to no activity. That may come to a change in 2018 if plans from Nacata go through for a complete Invasion of Santo alongside Duelland.
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From us at Vice to everyone in The East Pacific we will like to wish you a merry Christmas and happy new years.!!