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iOctagon
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Posts posted by iOctagon
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--Office of the Federal President, Santos-Dominius--
His Excellency Paul R. Goldberg, Federal President of the Federal Republic of Santos-Dominius, has now found it suitable for Santos-Dominius to initiate all necessary procedures to obtain membership of the Multinational Working Group Regarding Passport Security and Travel Document Standards. New designs of Santo-Dominian passports, which are in full compliance with MWG standards and requirements, will be unveiled shortly.
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II Summer Esferiad - Day 4 & 5 Recap with A. Blubberman
"Hello, everyone! From Kharventhin, Blue Bubble, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the II Summer Esferiad! Our coverage of the II Summer Esferiad is brought to you by our generous sponsor, BreachIn! It's the professional network platform that takes away job-seekers' self-esteem and personal information! I, the unconventionally named narcissist that is Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your pantomime-like host for the entire duration of the II Summer Esferiad!"
"And now we go straight to covering the results for Days 4 and 5! Let's talk about Day 4 first. In 10m Platform Dive, our swimmers Peter Pembroke, Robert Blaine and Aline Rockwell were all eliminated in the heats. Unfortunate, but they tried their best! In 200m Breaststroke, our swimmers Yvonne Guillain, John Emeric Davison and Cathy Thomas-Hill were sadly all eliminated in the heats. Day 4 was a bad day for us in aquatics, really. But that's just how competition works in sports, especially in the big leagues."
"Day 4 was Match Day 4 for Water Polo, and our team played against Larxia, barely losing 8-9. Good game to Team Larxia! The bad news is that this leaves Team SD at the very bottom of Water Polo's Group B. I applaud Team SD's determination to never give up and keep playing, though - that's true sportsmanship! Now, we shall move on to covering the results for Day 5 before we get to doing an overall recap."
"Day 5 was also not a good day for Team SD, unfortunately. In 200m Butterfly Swim, our swimmers May Heath, Lionel Brouilland, Adrian Hart and Bertrand Giscard were all eliminated during the heats. They did their best, though. Day 5 was Match Day 5 for Water Polo, and on that day Team SD played against Fhaengshia. And we won 9-7! A much needed win and a great morale boost! Thank you to our Water Polo players for making a comeback after their previous losses."
"And that's it! That's all the events that Santos-Dominius participated in on Days 4 and 5. Let's get to the overall recap. Team SD has 1 gold, no silvers and 1 bronze for a total of 2 medals. We've dropped in the rankings from 7th to 8th place, unfortunately. Hosting nation Blue Bubble continues to reign at the very top of the medal table, with 7 golds, 11 silvers and 7 bronzes contributing to a dazzling total of 25 medals! WOW - the best performing teams are really pulling ahead of the rest of the pack!
"In a distant second is Blue Bubble's co-host Giovanniland, which has been busy catching up to the Glenpavians. They have 7 golds, 5 silvers and 7 bronzes for a total of 19 medals. And sharing 3rd place are: gloomy Hertfordia, with 6 golds, 3 silvers and 4 bronzes for a total of 13 medals; and sporty Nieubasria, with 4 golds, 6 silvers and 3 bronzes for a total of also 13 medals. Will Blue Bubble manage to solidify their lead and win the whole Esferiad, or will the Giovannilandians snatch the overall victory from the hands of their friendly co-host nation? Only time will tell!"
"And that wraps up today's coverage! This is the channel for live and direct coverage of the II Summer Esferiad! I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and I earnestly hope that Team SD will be able to pull itself together and make comebacks across the board for a respectable finish in our first-ever Esferiad! Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of the Esferiad, and see you whenever stuff happens!"
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Time: 3:00 pm
Location: A private jet, Kopai International Airport, Blue Bubble
A man dressed in a suit, shirt and tie walks down the aisle of a large private jet. He knocks on a door at the end of the aisle as he scratches his well-groomed mustache. On the door is a golden sign engraved with the words "Carnet Goldberg, First Granddaughter of Santos-Dominius".
"Lady Carnet, it's time for you to get up. Your scheduled meeting with the Honourable Ms Kassankira Petrovikan, the Glenpavian Mpitarika, begins in 45 minutes. We must depart for Kharventhin as soon as possible if we are to arrive at the Duchy Estate on time."
As the man waits patiently, a stifled yawn of annoyance erupts from behind the door.
"Who is it that asks for my attention?" An feminine and elegant yet authoritative voice rings out from behind the door. "How impudent of you to disturb and awaken me from my slumber."
"Pardon me, Lady Carnet," the well-dressed man replies, "it is I, Mr Servyle, your personal butler."
"Ah, Mr Servyle. I presume you are here to remind me of my duties of the day?" Carnet conveys a hint of disapproval. "How yawn-inducing. Alas, I have no choice. Prepare my costume and the limousine. Depart at once when I am dressed and seated."
-About 40 minutes later-
Location: Inside the limousine, Driveway to the Duchy Estate, Blue Bubble
"We will soon arrive at the Duchy Estate, Lady Carnet," Mr Servyle reports.
"What a bother," Carnet complains. "Grandfather really should have come here instead of me. I do hope that these fellow leaders will provide me at least a tiny bit of entertainment."
"Your grandfather, the President, has instructed me to remind you that you are to be on your best behaviour today," Mr Servyle remarks. "He specifically warns you not to yawn or show any sign of disrespect or boredom in front of the dignitaries. You must greet your peers with grace and poise, while maintaining appropriate personal boundaries and acting with utmost decorum. And as much as you may be tempted, you must not say your catchphrase 'don't bore me' to any of the dignitaries. They are not entertainers who are there just to serve you."
Silence ensues in the limousine.
"Mr President's aides have prepared for you a list of predetermined topics you can use to initiate conversation with your peers with more ease," Mr Servyle rambles on. "When in doubt, always stick to the list and do not stray from it."
No response comes from Carnet.
"...Lady Carnet? Did you hear what I said?" Mr Servyle asks.
The silence continues.
Mr Servyle sees Carnet leaning on her seat with her head facing the back of the limousine. He gets up, moves carefully to the seat in front of her, and looks at her. She is soundly and emotionlessly asleep. Mr Servyle's eyebrows come down and together as he lets out a silenced sigh.
"Oh, I do worry for you, Lady Carnet..."
- Arifiyyah, Saint Mark, embubbleblue and 1 other
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Exclusive Interview with SDNEC Chairman D. Delarue-Brouillard
"Hello, everyone! From Kharventin, Blue Bubble, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the II Summer Esferiad! Some of you eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed that SDCSN Channel 3 is now under the purview of SDCSN Sports. Anyways, our coverage of the II Summer Esferiad is brought to you by our generous sponsor, 15th Century Cat! It's the film company whose only realistic claim to fame is its logo and parodies of it! I, the utterly unqualified non-journalist that is Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your intentionally clumsy host for the entire duration of the II Summer Esferiad."
"And today, we have a very special guest with us here on SDCSN Channel 3. It's the man who's behind the rapid growth of Santos-Dominius' Esferiad team, and also the man behind Santos-Dominius' Esferiad strategy! Please welcome to our programme Mr Damian Delarue-Brouillard, founder and incumbent chairman of the Santo-Dominian National Esferiad Commitee(SDNEC)! It's great to have you here on our programme, Mr Delarue-Brouillard."
"Thank you, Approctoflecticus. I'm honoured to be invited onto this programme."
"Now, let us dive straight into the interview. Firstly, what do you make of Team SD's performance so far?"
"Well that's a good question, Approctoflecticus. Of course, I think that Team SD has done wonderfully. It is our country's first-ever Esferiad after all, and our athletes are already adjusting nicely to the demands and requirements of competing in the big leagues. We may not be the best-performing nation as of right now, but I place complete faith in our talented Esferians to bring more medals home and make us all proud."
"Mr Delarue-Brouillard, I've heard some of my fellow colleagues at SDCSN Channel 3 say that your SDNEC came up with a strategy for the Esferiad. Is there such a strategy, and if so, what is it?"
"Well, there is a strategy that my colleagues and I developed. That is true. Back when we were submitting the list of participants to the organisers, we attempted to participate strategically in the Esferiad. Given Santos-Dominius' fascination with water sports and our geographical location in the Yatasail Sea, I figured that our athletes would perform very well in aquatics and other similar water sports. So most of our athletes competed in those kinds of sports."
"Ah! I understand. Now that you explained it, the whole situation does make more sense now. Unfortunately, however, some of my colleagues have suggested that this strategy actually harmed Team SD's chances as we put too many eggs into one basket. A lot of our athletes tried their best but ultimately failed to win medals for our country. Mr Delarue-Brouillard, what is your response and reaction to these suggestions and statements?"
"I think they're not really true. The relationship between the coordinated Esferiad strategy and our athletes' performance is simply correlation, not causation. Moreover, the Esferiad is not all about medals! It's about celebrating sports in general and fostering friendship and sportsmanship. Our Esferiad athletes don't have to win medals to show how good, how passionate and how dedicated they are. Glory can be achieved without having to win recognition for your efforts."
"Good words for everyone at home to think about while watching this, Mr Delarue-Brouillard. Well, before this interview, my colleagues from SDCSN Channel 3 asked members of the public as well as our viewers to submit questions for you via an online form or social media platforms. One of those questions, asked by a Mrs Jessica James, concerns the size of Santos-Dominius' Esferiad delegation. Her question is: 'Santos-Dominius sent around 40 athletes this year, and we've not participated in many events. Will the SDNEC send more people to compete in more events next time?' Mr Delarue-Brouillard, what's your answer?"
"Definitely. Yes, we will of course send more athletes to participate in the next Esferiad. We will dispatch an even bigger delegation to join in the fun. Santos-Dominius will only aim for ever greater heights - the sky's our only limit!"
"Thank you, Mr Delarue-Brouillard. I suspect Mrs James will be very pleased with that answer. Anyways, that's all that we have time for. Thank you, Mr Delarue-Brouillard, for joining us on our programme and providing answers to our questions and those of our viewers. This is the channel for live and direct coverage of the II Summer Esferiad! I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and a recap of Day 4 results will be aired later in the day, so don't change the channel! Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of the Esferiad, and see you whenever stuff happens!"
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II Summer Esferiad - Day 3 Recap with A. Blubberman
"Hello, everyone! From Kharventin, Blue Bubble, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the II Summer Esferiad! Our coverage of the II Summer Esferiad is brought to you by our generous sponsor, Pricey Pharmaceuticals! It's the major pharma company that cannot stop profiting obscenely from selling human survival! I, the B-rate personality that is Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your habitually conceited host for the entire duration of the entire duration of the II Summer Esferiad!"
"And now we go straight to covering the results for Day 3! In 200m Backstroke heats, Santo-Dominian swimmers Friedrich Obertssohn and Connie Rodriguez qualified, while peers Emma Beckerbrand and Adam Smithson were sadly eliminated from contention. Obertssohn and Rodriguez also qualified during the semifinals, but finished in 8th and 6th place respectively in the finals. Although Team SD didn't win, great effort to Friedrich and Connie - they really tried their very best for our country!"
"It was Match Day 3 for Water Polo today, but Team Santos-Dominius had no matches in that event today. And that's it - that's the results for all the events Team SD was involved in today! Let's go straight to looking at the medal table. Unfortunately, despite Obertssohn and Rodriguez's great performance, Team SD won no medals today and therefore our total medal count of 2 remains unchanged. We have 1 gold, no silvers and 1 bronze. Co-hosting nation Blue Bubble has pulled even further ahead of the competition, staying at the top of the medal table with 5 golds, 7 silvers and 6 bronzes for a total medal count of 18!"
"In a distant second is the perpetually moody Andolian nation of Hertfordia, with 4 golds, 1 silver and 2 bronzes for a total of 7 medals. Hertfordia shares 2nd place with Nieubasria at 2 golds, 3 silvers and 2 bronzes, and also with Saint Mark at 1 gold, 2 silvers and 4 bronzes. The Glenpavians are really excelling in home conditions - let's see if they'll be able to keep this up, or if the Hertfordians, Nieubasrians or Saint Markians can pull off a spectacular comeback."
"And that wraps up today's coverage! Our exclusive interview with Mr Damian Delarue-Brouillard, chairman of the Santo-Dominian National Esferiad Committee(SDNEC), will be aired later. This is the channel for live and direct coverage of the II Summer Esferiad! I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and it's been great to see our athletes and swimmers throw themselves wholeheartedly into the Esferiad's numerous and multifarious events. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of the Esferiad, and see you whenever stuff happens!"
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HEADLINES/First granddaughter of Santos-Dominius poised to become next President
The granddaughter and only grandchild of Santos-Dominius' incumbent President Paul Goldberg is expected to become the presidential nominee for her grandfather's party. Carnet (pronounced "Car-neigh") Goldberg, at 20 years of age, will become the youngest President in the Federal Republic's history if elected. However, considerable fury has already erupted in the National Senate over this particularly controversial method of selection.
The centre-right Democratic Congress Party(DCB), which President Goldberg leads, had been torn over the matter of choosing a successor. Among the top candidates were Senator Diane Hutchison, the foreign affairs minister, and Vice President Donald Verbloem. Both Hutchison and Verbloem firmly declined requests for comment after news of Carnet's selection broke, but insiders close to the two have reported that they are doubtful of the First Granddaughter's governing and political capabilities. Having grown up in the Fribernese Fortress and afforded every luxury by his grandfather and her personal attendants, Carnet has acquired an unsaid reputation as an elegant, graceful but also distant and collected heiress. Her notorious catchphrase "Don't bore me", as well as her infamous tendency to yawn and fall asleep when during times of boredom, have made her a figure with a colourful reputation among the presidential staff.
Although Hutchison and Verbloem remained muted, opposition politicians have openly criticised President Goldberg's decision to bypass his colleagues and give Carnet the DCB leadership position. Sen. Art Bernstein(CoR-WS), Leader of the Opposition, called the decision "a blatant power grab in full daylight", adding that "the Santo-Dominian people will punish the DCB electorally for this shameless display of nepotism". The centre-left Coalition of Roses(CoR), the main opposition party led by Sen. Bernstein, are expected to mount a fierce challenge against the DCB in the next presidential election and could win with President Goldberg's relative electoral strength now out of the picture. Despite former COR presidential nominee Sen. Jeremy Maxson's decision not to run again, the populist Sen. Bernstein - who was Maxson's running mate last time - is expected to head up the leftist presidential ticket this time, posing an extreme threat to the centre-right's decades-old grip on power.
Even though the DCB and President Goldberg face a ruthless onslaught of criticism from Sen. Bernstein regarding their choice of nominee, some analysts have had a more positive outlook on the matter, commenting that the relatively young Caitlin Goldberg could use her age to pander to the increasingly important 18-24 years old youth demographic, which has historically shunned the DCB and given its votes to the CoR. Santo-Dominian teenagers and university graduates have picked up on Carnet's ascendancy and have made her viral, with many young social media users starting hashtag trends like "#YesWeCarn" or "#CarnetCarn'tRule", a symbol of her divisiveness. The women demographic is also at play, with some female DCB politicians suggesting that Carnet's gender can help revitalise the DCB, which is often mockingly called "the party of old men".
Notably, however, Carnet Goldberg is faring better than her increasingly senile grandfather. Her personal popularity ratings stand at 36%, a fair bit higher than Paul Goldberg's dismal 28%. President Goldberg has suffered from a gradual but steady decline in public approval, with his advanced age cited as a major factor of his unpopularity. Moreover, crises from earlier in his presidency remain ingrained in Santo-Dominians' minds - the flySD scandal, the SDWorks controversy and the Louisann General Strike were all mentioned by poll respondents as major downsides of the lengthly Goldberg presidency. It is unknown if Carnet will be able to rid herself of any association to these unpleasant events once she embarks on the trying campaign trail, or if she will be branded by Sen. Bernstein as yet another dangerous Goldberg.
Anyhow, Carnet Goldberg faces a difficult task. Deeply affected by her grandfather's popularity, the DCB is on its last legs and struggling to regain momentum. The all-important donation stream has slowed due to Paul Goldberg's reduced appearances, and even traditional Goldberg allies like Sen. Hutchison and Vice President Verbloem are unwilling to publicly back or express support for her. Reviving the political fortunes of a centre-right ruling party in an overwhelmingly left-wing welfare state is a tall order, and it remains to be seen if Carnet will be able to overcome all odds and protect the DCB's fragile hold on power.
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"Hello, everyone! From Kharventin, Blue Bubble, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the II Summer Esferiad! Our coverage of the II Summer Esferiad is brought to you by our generous sponsor, WHAT Telecom! It's the telecommunications giant with a recurring appearance in every old man and woman's night terrors, because literally nobody knows what 5G is! I, the morally dubious clown that is Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your appropriately unpleasant host for the entire duration of the II Summer Esferiad!"
"And we now go straight to covering the results of Days 1 and 2 of the Esferiad. Due to unforeseen budget cuts, we have been forced to only cover the results of the events that our Santo-Dominian athletes competed in. So, with that in mind, let's talk about the results!"
"Starting with Day 1! In Artistic Swimming, Team SD tied with Nieubasria for joint gold. An excellent performance! In 200m Freestyle Swim heats, Santo-Dominian athletes Patrice Owens, Hikari Kimomamoto, Ruby Redbridge and Dylan Haize-Ashknight all qualified for the semifinals. Then, in those semifinals, Owens, Redbridge and Haize-Ashknight qualified, while Kimomamoto was sadly eliminated. Then, in the finals, Redbridge won the bronze medal for our country, while Haize-Ashknight and Owens came in 5th and 6th place respectively. Congratulations to Ruby, and fantastic effort to Patrice and Dylan!"
"Day 1 was Match Day 1 for Water Polo. On that day, Team Santos-Dominius unfortunately lost 5-9 to Esferiad co-host Team Giovanniland. This puts our team at the bottom of Water Polo's Group B. A disappointing performance. Now onto Day 2: in 3m Springboard Dive, Santo-Dominian athletes Giovanni Dupont qualified in the heats, while peers Giuseppe Gravetti and Giorgio Escalini were eliminated. Dupont then qualified in the semifinals, but got 9th place in the finals. We didn't win, but good effort to Giovanni, Giuseppe and Giorgio. The 3Gs, let's call them!"
"Next up was 1500m Freestyle Swim. In the heats, Aliana Evans, Miguel Felipez and Rachel Menenda qualified, while Marc Spisse was eliminated. Then, in the semifinals, Evans, Felipez and Menenda were all sadly eliminated. Good effort to Aliana, Miguel and Rachel though! In windsurfing, our athletes Nicola Fantino, Selene Leroux and 'Alluring Queen of the Waves' Melissa Berlioz all got through the fleet racing stage. Then, in the finals, Fantino, Leroux and Berlioz got 10th, 9th and 6th place respectively. Blue Bubble dominated the top 3 for this event, but good effort to Nicola, Selene and Melissa!"
"Day 2 was Match Day 2 for Water Polo. On that day, Team Santos-Dominius lost 7-8 to Team Teralyon. This puts our team at 2nd last on in Water Polo's Group B. Good effort to the team though, it was close! And that's it - that's all the events Santos-Dominius participated in. Now let's look at the medal table after Day 2!"
"In the medal table, Santos-Dominius is at 8th place out of all 19 participating nations! We have 1 gold earned by Team SD in Artistic Swimming, no silver medals, and 1 bronze earned by Ruby Redbridge in 200m Freestyle Swim. That gives us a total of 2 medals! Blue Bubble sits firmly at the pinnacle of the table with 4 golds, 6 silvers and 5 bronzes for a staggering total of 15 medals! Tied for a distant second are Hertfordia at 3 golds, no silvers and 1 bronze as well as Saint Mark at 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronzes for a total of 4 each. Great job to Blue Bubble, and good effort to Hertfordia and Saint Mark!"
"And that wraps up today's coverage! Unfortunately our exclusive interview with Mr Damian Delarue-Brouillard, chairman of the Santo-Dominian National Esferiad Committee(SDNEC), has been pushed back to a later date. This is the channel for live and direct coverage of the II Summer Esferiad! I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and it's been really nice to see our country's best athletes try their best in our very first Esferiad. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of its events, and see you whenever stuff happens!"
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"Hello, everyone! From Kharventin, Blue Bubble, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the II Summer Esferiad! Our coverage of the II Summer Esferiad is brought to you by our generous sponsor, Digital Arses! It's the multi-million-dollar video game company that wants you to know that you have to pay for the DA Corporate Essential Information Access Pass DLC if you want to know more about it! I, the sufferable egomaniac that is Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your manageably irritating host for the entire duration of the II Summer Esferiad!"
"And we have just been told that the Opening Ceremony has ended without a hitch over in Quoriv, Giovanniland! Viewers at home, please do not panic, for we have a separate, second crew in Quoriv that has filmed the entire ceremony. It will be broadcast later today here on SDCSN Channel 3, so stay tuned for that! Anyways, my patronisingly Santosian colleague Melanie Coincé was with the Quoriv crew and attended the opening ceremony, so unfortunately I am legally required by my contract with SDCSN to hand over the time to her for a unbearable recap and thought-sharing segment."
"Yes, zank you Blubbaman. Bonjour, Santosie-Dominignoises watching this on your TV sets back home! I am Melanie Coincé, and I vill be covering all ze Esferiad events happening here in Quoriv. I must say, ze opening ceremony is très fantastique! Zhere is ample displays of Giovannilandian and Glenpavian culture and history. The music and poems were very amazing, non? I'm sure zat any person will reply 'oui!' to zat question. I particularly applaud ze depiction of Giovannilandian-Glenpavian reconciliation - c'est bien! Anyways, zhose are my thoughts on ze Opening Ceremony of ze II Summer Esferiad. I vill now hand back ze time to Blubbaman."
"Oh dear heavens, that took ages. Now that we are done listening to that weird mix of broken Common and patronising Santosian, let me go over some of the events in Kharventin that Santo-Dominian athletes will be participating in! As mentioned previously, Kharventin will be the site of many aquatic sports. These include artistic swimming, diving, team water polo, rowing, surfing, sailing, and slalom and sprint canoeing. Fighting sports, like boxing, fencing, karate, judo, shooting, wrestling and taekwondo will also be held here. Aside aquatics, near-water sports like beach volleyball and indoor volleyball will also be held here in Kharventin! And finally, the Esferiad triathlon will also be held here. And that's everything that'll happen in Kharventin!"
"I am also excited to announce that we have secured an exclusive interview with Mr Damian Delarue-Brouillard, chairman of the Santo-Dominian National Esferiad Committee(SDNEC)! Join us tomorrow as we talk to him about our country's athletes, the history of the Esferiad and how good we will fare as a whole. We've even host a live questioning round where viewers like you at home can submit questions via an electronic channel - some of those question will be selected and we will ask Mr Delarue-Brouillard for answers on live television! Anyways, that's all we have to report for now. This is the channel for live and direct coverage of the II Summer Esferiad! I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and the long-awaited II Summer Esferiad has finally opened! Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of its events, and see you whenever stuff happens!"
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"Hello, everyone! From Kharventin, Blue Bubble, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the II Summer Esferiad! Our coverage of the II Summer Esferiad is brought to you by our generous sponsor, CHEAP Furniture! It's the upper-lower-midscale foreign furniture chain that's got everybody bruising their hands as they desperately try to save money by building their CHEAP furniture at home instead of not buying from CHEAP at all! I, the journalist without journalistic standards that is Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your tolerably egotistical host for the entire duration of the II Summer Esferiad!"
"That's right - after covering the 1st T20 World Cup and the 1st World Cup of Football, my crew and I have now been assigned to covering the Esferiad. More work for no change in wages, baby! Yes, as you noticed, despite towering ratings, us here at SDCSN Channel 3 are still somehow on the verge of utter financial ruin, so you will continue to see us accept sponsorship deals from all kinds of unpalatable corporations just we can get that sweet dough to stay alive. Anyways, the extraordinary nature of II Summer Esferiad means that we have made special arrangements to cover its entire duration!"
"What are these special arrangements, you ask? Well, since the cities of Kharventin, Blue Bubble and Quoriv, Giovanniland are hosting this Esferiad jointly, we can't have one crew travel to and from the two cities. It'd be too costly and logistically awful, and we don't have the manpower or the money! So, for events in Quoriv, Giovanniland, we will be handing over to another SDCSN Channel 3 crew headed by my unforgivably pretentious colleague Melanie Coincé! I'll let Melanie introduce herself."
"Zank you, Blubbaman! I am very hon-oured to cover zis absolutely fantastique event alongside you. Mes amis watching this on TV in Santosie-Dominigne, can you feel ze palpable excitement? I am, for one. Vhile my colleague Blubbaman covers mostly aquatic events in Kharventin, I vill be covering most of ze other athletic events in Quoriv! Such a smart division of labour, non? Anyways, I vill hand ze time back to Blubbaman and his crew. Be very excitée, mes amis! This is ze first Esferiad Santosie-Dominigne is participating in-"
"And it's back to me, Blubberman! Not Blubbaman or Blubbehman, it's Blubberman. Gosh, that was unbearable. People like her who speak Santosian are so- wait, I'm on air. I said nothing! Haha, I said absolutely nothing. Anyways, we've just been told that the Santo-Dominian delegation has arrived! Due to the special nature of this Esferiad, the athletes participating in Quoriv's events have arrived there, while the athletes doing Kharventin's events have arrived here. This is very exciting, as Santos-Dominius has historically specialised in aquatics, which means that some of our best, handsomest and most attractive athletes will be here in Kharventin instead of being stuck in Quoriv with Melanie and her pit of hell- I mean, just kidding! I didn't mean that, haha. You heard nothing!"
"We have also received word that the Santo-Dominian National Esferiad Committee(SDNEC) has released the logo and official blazer design of Team SD! In a moment, you should see images of both on your very own television screen. It must be noted that TeamSD's Esferiad logo looks very similar to its T20 Cricket logo, which indirectly adds to speculation that SDNEC is cooperating with the Santo-Dominian Government to do a branding overhaul for all of TeamSD. The TeamSD Esferiad logo has also been praised as 'innovative' by figures such as President Paul Goldberg, who has also stated that he will be watching coverage of the Esferiad. This is the channel for live and direct coverage of the II Summer Esferiad! I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and we're getting closer and closer to the start of the Esferiad. Stay tuned for SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of its events, and see you whenever stuff happens, even if that means I have to be awake 24/7 and do absurd overtime work!"
- Zoran, embubbleblue, Saint Mark and 3 others
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6
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City of Gingkalos Slogan: The Suburban City Description: Calming trees and humble abodes coexist in natural harmony in this spread-out city. Population: 354,098 (as of 1421 census) Canton: Ostpalain-Westrhuin(PW) Status: Largest cantonal city, provincial capital Language: Common, Dominish Demonym: Gingkalosian Government: Mayor-council government
Mayor - Henrik Grosz (DCB)
Body - Gingkalos Municipal Council
The typical Santo-Dominian city, restrained by limited space for development, is bursting with high-rise towers and skyscrapers. In Gingkalos, however, it's a different story entirely. Jokingly called "The Suburban City" by many residents, Gingkalos is fairly spread out on the small island upon which it is located, with many of its residents living in typical middle-class suburbia. Often considered a great place to start families and raise kids, the city offers large spaced-out homes, cosy low-rise buildings and lots of greenery. Gingkalos' definitive symbol is the tall Ginkgo tree, which represents the family values that the municipal government wishes to cultivate in the local area.
Another distinct feature of Gingkalos is its low taxes. In recent years, Canton Ostpalain-Westrhuin has been known for lowering its corporate and income taxes in a bid to attract more investment and wealthy residents. This strategy has worked to a degree, with the city observing a noticeable influx of more well-off residents in recent years. However, some older Gingkalosians with roots in the city have complained that their better-off neighbours are increasingly attempting to hoard big properties - although the city has remained dismissive of these concerns.
ETYMOLOGY
From Ginkgo biloba(common Ginkgo/Gingko tree).
HISTORY
Gingkalos was first founded in around 645 AF by settlers who found the island's evenly-spread vegetation a great source of relief from the scorching southern Dominian summers. As it grew over time, the city's residents and authorities discussed urbanisation as a way of bypassing the island's geographic limitations. However, this was rejected - many elderly citizens preferred a more suburban, tranquil atmosphere like Berchstein to the rapid development and rampant noise of metropolises such as Arkurter. This crucial decision would ultimately shape the city to become what it is today.
In the 1390s Gingkalos was faced with another difficult decision. Being home to abundant vegetation, logging companies from Friberne and Arkurter fought with the city's residents for the right to cut and sell the local area's Ginkgo trees. The logging companies attempted to bribe the municipal council into bypassing citizen consultation and approving the logging activities, but the municipal council took too much time to consider accepting the bribe. In the end, environmentalist organisations reported the corporations' suspicious acts to the national authorities in Friberne, and the Cantonal Court of Ostpalain-Westrhuin ruled against allowing the Ginkgo trees to be cut - protecting the city's harmonious nature for years to come.
Since then, Gingkalos has acquired a reputation as the definitive representation of Santo-Dominian middle-class suburbia; many movies about family life and teenage bildungsroman(coming-of-age) movies have been filmed in the city. Population growth, however, is a concern - residential development is reaching its limit, and some residents may eventually choose to move elsewhere given the small size of the island the city is located on.
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The Federal Republic of Santos-Dominius will send a delegation to compete fairly in the 2nd Summer Esferiad.
We have submitted a list of participating Santo-Dominian athletes (hopefully correctly).
Our delegation, a numerically generous one in terms of our relatively small population, will do its very best to make these games enjoyable and entertaining. Our team's special expertise in aquatics will hopefully give us the edge in those events.
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City of Galioveile
Slogan: A city of awakening. Description: This historic city is home to the Castle of Rebirth, where nobles used to conduct their rites of passage into adulthood. Population: 45,325 (as of 1421 census) Canton: Yatasailie-Comte(YC) Status: Largest cantonal city, provincial capital Language: Common, Santosian Demonym: Galioveilean Government: Council-manager government
Mayor - Anne-Marie Shalour(CoR)
Body - Council of Elders
One of the most mysterious and historic cities in Santos-Dominius, Galioveile sits on a partially inaccessible tidal island in the Canton of Yatasailie-Comte (Santosian for "Yatasail County"), far in the south of the island of Santos. Surrounded nearly entirely by sea, the only way to access Galioveile is to wait for the narrow sand passage connecting it to the Santosian mainland to appear at low tides. At high tides, the city is completely inaccessible by foot or by vehicle; however, the city has recently begun debating the establishment of a ferry service.
It should be noted that Galioveile doesn't just include the famous tidal island section that most people are aware of - a majority of the population actually live on the mainland side of the city, which is far more connected and accessible than its original core on the tidal island. This is why despite appearing to be very small in pictures, Galioveile actually narrowly has more people than the town of Berchstein in Canton Zentrum-Dominien.
The most famous landmark of Galioveile is undeniably the Castle of Rebirth. Sitting at the very top of the tidal island, the castle is famously known as where nobles in ancient times conducted their rites of passage in adulthood. To this day, the castle's interior walls and gardens are still filled with paintings, carvings and sculptures depicting the trials that young nobility have to go through. Nowadays, despite no longer being a site where adulthood rites are conducted, the Castle of Rebirth remains a tourist attraction, as it is rumoured in fairytales that hidden in its spire is a beautiful flower that will give those who find it everlasting adolescence.
ETYMOLOGY
From Galium odoratum(sweet woodruff), éveil(Santosian for "awakening") and possibly veil.
HISTORY
Galioveile was first discovered to be a naturally defensible location by the Duke of Neuenstadt in 132 AF. However, as the Duke believed that it was a double-edged sword (defenders may also find it hard to escape), he ultimately did not establish a settlement in the area. As the years passed, rising sea levels caused Galioveile's tidal island to become more and more inaccessible, as the sand passage connecting it to the mainland slowly eroded. It was only in 196 AF that mysterious tribal settlers from faraway unknown lands(now believed to be northwestern Andolia) set up shop and founded a village on the site. Unfortunately, the settlers were constantly beset by bad luck - the village elders, who were more experienced and adept at leadership and survival skills, often died in an untimely manner of plagues and diseases. This led to the rest of the village placing a great deal of importance on training its younger members to be able to take over the reins as soon as possible and as best as possible. The first rites of adulthood were conducted at the top of the hill on the tidal island, and later generations would build the Castle of Rebirth to commemorate and honour this tradition.
Galioveile gradually became more and more well known over the centuries, as countless nobles and rich families sent their adolescent heirs and heiresses to train at the Castle of Rebirth, picking up combat skills and learning how to survive and lead. Even the Duke of Neuenstadt - now a far descendant of the original Duke - sent his young heir to train at the castle. According to ancient tales, the heir ended up losing his life while training in the spire, which was struck by lightning. To mourn the death of his son, the Duke placed a flower granting everlasting youth to one who finds it - and the legend has charmed the city's residents ever since. To this day, many tourists will pay a visit to the Castle to search for the flower, but no one has managed to find it. It is said that the flower is actually a bush of sweet woodruff - Galium odoratum - which is where part of the city's current name comes from. Nowadays, Galioveile's culture and customs differ from most of the country - and scientists and historians have consistently attempted to figure out why.
- Chris, Giovanniland, Zoran and 3 others
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Federal City of Friberne
Slogan: Heart of Tradition Description: Charm, harmony and history make this place the country's greatest city. Population: 762,423 (as of 1421 census) Canton: Friberne (FE) Status: National and provincial capital, largest city overall and in canton Language: Common, Santosian, Dominish Demonym: Fribernese Government: Mayor-council government
Lord Mayor - Pierre Montcharrau (DCB)
Body - Municipal Commission of the Federal City
Home to the Santo-Dominian national government, there is arguably no city better than Friberne in the entire Federal Republic. Situated at the northwestern end of the Azure Lagoon, Friberne plays host to the Fribernese Fortress (the presidential palace), the National Senate Building, the National Court Building, the Friberne Stock Exchange and so much more. From the magnificent spectacle that is the Water Jet of Friberne to the haute-couture boutiques of Châtaignier Boulevard, this grandiose city truly has everything to offer. Beautifully gardened parks and splendid Santosian architecture seem to always be around the corner no matter where you go. All this add up to make Friberne Santos-Dominius' greatest city.
ETYMOLOGY
From frei(Dominish for "free") and berne(old Dominish for "bear").
HISTORY
Friberne was founded by refugees escaping from the sacking of early settlements Saxlonia and Palatinium in 144 AF. The two towns had been fighting the Saxlonian-Palatinian War of 143, which ended indecisively, and settlers who could no longer stand the warring fled south to establish Friberne.
Following its foundation, Friberne slowly but steadily grew to become a city-state; its first leader was Burne, Count of Upper Saxlonia. Back then, it was simply called Upper Saxlonia, which then was changed to Upper Sasslen when the Framboisian nobility implemented the Great Step Up reforms of 159. Nevertheless, despite its residents' desire to seek solace and refuge, Friberne was unable to avoid war forever.
The people of what is now Canton Framboise soon invaded the city-state of Lotharburg, situated in the northernmost tip of Santos. Its ruler, Duchess Joan IV, sought Fribernese assistance in creating numerical superiority so as to repel the Framboisian invaders. In spite of numerous efforts by the armies of Framboise to take Lotharburg, Friberne was able to send troops and relieve pressure on their beleaguered northern ally. The united Fribernese-Lotharburgian army ultimately defeated Canton Framboise.
From then onwards, Friberne steadily became a growing powerhouse in Santo-Dominian politics. It made alliances with towns near and far, including Sasslen, Palain, St. Arlaine, Waldburg and Schwabenburg. Its prior friendship with Lotharburg was also maintained. This array of alliances catapulted Friberne into great significance, which was only further accelerated when Saint Mark conquered Santos-Dominius in 898 AF. The Saint Markian colonists chose Friberne as the seat of their colonial government, viewing it as a reliable conservative stronghold compared to cities like Waldburg(WS), Louisann(LM) and St. Arlaine(SN), all three of which have long histories with revolts. The Fribernese population lived up to this expectation - despite sharing the other cities' dislike of their colonisers, it decided to cooperate rather than revolt and face near-certain destruction.
When the Patriotic Liberation broke out, Friberne was the last Saint Markian stronghold to fall to the Santo-Dominian forces. Despite the heavy fighting that happened right outside the city, the liberating Santo-Dominians decided against destroying this historic town, choosing instead to peacefully enter. When the new Federal Republic needed a capital, the Fribernese ceaselessly lobbied for the honour in an attempt to save the city's reputation. They succeeded, as the new government thought it wise to locate itself in Friberne so as to show continuity and demonstrate that the country had been truly liberated from Saint Mark.
Nowadays, Friberne stands as Santos-Dominius' heart of tradition, contrasting sharply with the futuristic Arkurter, the bombastic Sasslen, the historic Galioveile and the fairytale-like Romant-sous-Bois. It's one of a rare few cities in Santos-Dominius that is evenly trilingual: 1/3 of the city has Common as their 1st language, another 1/3 with Santosian as their native language and the remaining 1/3 with Dominish as their mother tongue. This is reflected in the city's three neighbourhoods: the elegant and splendid Santosian Quarter, which has decadent architecture and high-fashion boutiques; the neat and tidy Dominish Quarter, which has the government complex and several museums; and the Fribernese Littoral, the tranquil lakeside neighbourhood with fancy mansions and homes.
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Town of Berchstein Slogan: Where the morning sun smiles at the sea. Description: The elderly residents boast that having nothing to do is this seaside town's unique charm. Population: 43,234 (as of 1421 census) Canton: Zentrum-Dominien (ZD) Status: Largest cantonal town, provincial capital Language: Common, Dominish Demonym: Berchsteiner Government: Council-manager government
Mayor - Amelia McManting (DCB)
Body - Berchstein Town Council
Is there much to do in the town of Berchstein? Ask any local resident and they will unfailingly say "no". Apart from the usual grocery stores, bakeries, post office, town hall and residents, Berchstein has little to offer for the adventurous traveler. But this seaside town's residents like it that way - according to a recent demographics survey, over 80% of elderly Santo-Dominians lived in or planned to move to Berchstein.
The reason for this is precisely because Berchstein doesn't have much going on. This quaint and quiet village is the perfect settling place for those who have already lived through their most adventurous, exciting and passionate years. Its pastel-coloured, mid-sized homes are excellent for elderly couples and families who wish to relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of big cities like Arkurter and Sasslen, as well as the politics of Friberne. In almost anywhere else, being a town with nothing much going on is nearly always a negative. But in Berchstein, it's the defining characteristic that makes it attractive.
ETYMOLOGY
From berch(old Common for "family who lived close to a birch tree") and stein(old Dominish for "stone, rock").
HISTORY
Berchstein was founded by Emilia, Dowager Countess of Rederburg long ago. After her husband died and her son took over as Count of the city, Dowager Countess Emilia wanted a refuge where she could take a rest and stop having to deal with the complicated matters that come with being a noblewoman. She left Canton Sasslen-Vorpalain and sailed around the Dominian archipelago in search of a perfect location, and Berchstein was the place that she chose. With the money she got from her late husband, the Dowager Countess built and maintained a large mansion estate, where she lived carefree and surrounded by servants, which she treated kindly.
Right before the Dowager Countess died, she bequeathed ownership of the estate - and the town by extension - to her servants and their families, as a final act of boundless generosity. Since then, the descendants of those servants have lived in Berchstein for generations, carefully keeping the town intact and treating newcomers kindly as a way to pay tribute to the Dowager Countess. Nowadays, the town is what Emilia Redenburg would've wanted it to become - a quiet refuge for all who want to slow down and catch their breath.
- Chris, Giovanniland, Min-Su and 2 others
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City of Arkurter
Slogan: The Frontline of Time Description: A rapidly morphing city, with little trace of its past. Population: 425,897 (as of 1421 census) Canton: Nordrhuin-Theronigen(NR) Status: Largest cantonal city, provincial capital Language: Common, Dominish Demonym: Arkurter Government: Mayor-council government
Mayor - Sarah Einhart (CoR)
Body - Council of All Arkurters
Arkurter is Santos-Dominius' 2nd-largest city overall, and its most futuristic. Sitting on an island in Canton Nordrhuin-Theronigen, Arkurter has long been the financial hub of southern Santos-Dominius while sustaining a friendly rivalry with Friberne for the status of overall financial centre of the country. With cerulean and pearl white office buildings in its heart, Arkurter is home to a lot of regional banks and major corporations.
Arkurter has also acquired a reputation for innovation in recent years. Technology and communications start-ups often find the bustling southern city a better and more bustling choice than the quiet, traditional and leafy Friberne. Although this has caused some crude Friberneses to accuse the city of abandoning its past, Arkurters have always coolly retorted that Friberne just can't catch up to their hometown.
ETYMOLOGY
From ar(prefix, origin unknown) and kurter(name, origin unknown).
HISTORY
Arkurter was first populated by emigrating people from the northern shores of the continent of Andolia. Founded on the coast with prime access to the Yatasail and Darkesian Seas, medieval Arkurter flourished as a trading port. As its founding citizens traversed the Yatasail specifically to arrive at the city, Arkurters also mastered the skill of seafaring earlier and better than other major towns in Santos-Dominius. Arkurter became a booming city where citizens hailing from Santos and northern Dominius could purchase and sell goods and products of all kinds in exchanges with Andolian merchants from near and far.
Today, Arkurter is still a trading port, but not literally so: the city has sustained its own branch of the Friberne Stock Exchange. Although this is jokingly viewed as an insult by some proud Arkurters, it cannot be denied that the stock trading activity has brought much wealth and prosperity to the city, assuring its residents that development will not stop. No matter where one goes, Arkurter always seems to have the most fascinating and modern technologies, buildings, roads, cars, and so on. Perhaps this is why incumbent Mayor Sarah Einhart declared in her first victory speech that Arkurter was on "the frontline of time".
- Giovanniland, Min-Su, Fujai and 4 others
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City of Anheit
Slogan: The city of rising fog. Description: A city covered by fog and smog, with exceptionally industrious residents. Population: 136,024 (as of 1421 census) Canton: Niedersasslen(NL) Status: Largest cantonal city, provincial capital Language: Common, Dominish Demonym: Anheiter Government: Mayor-council government
Mayor - Gladys Williamson (DCB)
Body - Anheit Municipal Council
Nestled in the north of the Dominian Archipelago, Anheit has always been an industrial hub of the country. The largest city and provincial capital of Canton Niedersasslen, Anheit is Santos-Dominius' leading manufacturing heart and part of the greater Northern Dominius industrial area. The city is one of northern Dominius' more populous and modern cities, with technological and scientific advancements allowing for the construction of ever more futuristic plants and factories.
Anheit is not a popular tourist destination. However, it is home to some of Santos-Dominius' biggest industrial corporations and conglomerates. As a result, many engineers and workers seeking manual labour for good pay often come to the city in search for various employment opportunities, which the city always has an abundance of.
ETYMOLOGY
From the An river and heit(Dominish suffix meaning "soft/fair").
HISTORY
Anheit was first settled by peoples from the island of Santos. It was also populated by emigrants from the southern part of the Auran mainland. The city's strategic position at one of the northern points of Dominius was observed by the city's rulers, who noted that Anheit lay at the northern entrance of the Darkesian Sea from the Infinite World Ocean to the west. This good fortune allowed Anheit to prosper as an industrial and trading hub, specialising in the export of Santo-Dominian products from all over the country. At first, this was fine materials like garments and riches; but as technology developed, this was quickly replaced by steel and iron. Anheit was dotted with factories everywhere, and it caused smog to blanket the city, resulting in the nickname "the city of rising fog".
These days, Anheit is far from the industrial powerhouse it used to be - the boons of automation and technological advancement have meant that there is far less need for the manufacturing plants of the past. However, Anheit is not ready to give up its long productive tradition yet - the city has been building newer and more sophisticated renewable energy plants and recycling centres in hopes that the industrious passion of its citizens can adapt to new environments and survive for generations to come.
- Chris, United Adaikes, Larxia and 4 others
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CONTENTS
A
B
F
G
L
Louisann
M
Myosotine
N
Neuenstadt
P
Palain
R
Rederburg
Romant-sous-Bois
S
Sasslen
Solaceil
Sorbierra
St. Arlaine
T
Tagetedel
W
Waldburg
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HEADLINES/FlySD CEO resigns after Govt investigation finds airline to have mistreated staff and passengers
Today, the Chief Executive Officer of Santos-Dominius' national flag carrier FlySD(often stylised as flySD) resigned following the publication of a government investigation into the airline's practices. Penelope Kalington, one of the Federal Republic's richest millionaires, resigned from the position after the investigation by the Ministry of Commerce found that flySD had mistreated paying passengers and also overworked staff members. FlySD was buried under mounting heaps of trouble in the past few months, with a major strike initiated by employees partially shutting down the airline's services for weeks. The beleaguered flag carrier also came under fire from the public thanks to a string of passengers voicing their complaints regarding FlySD's poor passenger treatment. Overbooking, poor staff behaviour, unclean plane cabins and seats, and frequent flight delays were cited as examples of this bad service.
The government investigation into the accusations against FlySD was led by Senator Francois A. Bains(DCB-FR), the Minister of Commerce. Lasting for a few months, Sen. Bains questioned a wide range of people involved, including passengers who submitted complaints to the Ministry of Commerce, workers involved in the strike, FlySD administrative staff, as well as the airline's top executives - including Kalington herself. The final report was published on the Ministry of Commerce's official website yesterday evening, and quickly blew up. Details and image excerpts of the report were widely circulated and disseminated on popular social media networks by concerned netizens. The report ultimately concluded that FlySD had indeed mistreated paying passengers, overworked staff members and deliberately kept salaries low and close to the minimum wage.
Speaking to reporters in the National Senate Building in Friberne, Sen. Bains stated that the Ministry of Commerce did not recommend having the Government take legal action against FlySD. However, he crucially remarked that the investigation concluded that Kalington was directly implicated in the airline's mismanagement and poor business practices. The investigation also found that Kalington was heavily involved in the management of the airline's affairs and its day-to-day operations, and therefore actively allowed and supported the extremely poor treatment of staff members. Kalington was also found responsible for FlySD's cuts in the flight cabin maintenance budget, reportedly because she wanted FlySD to expend less, which would directly financially benefit her as she owned a controlling share in the company.
The report continued revealing Kalington's misdeeds as CEO of FlySD. According to Sen. Bains, Kalington was also partially responsible for encouraging overbooking in order to help FlySD earn as much money as possible from bookings. These damning findings quickly made headlines, with SDCSN dedicating extensive segments on live TV to dissecting the contents of the report and speculating on the future of FlySD. The extremely wealthy Kalington family, composed of Penelope's family members, became mysteriously unreachable and unavailable as the companies they owned scrambled to distance themselves from FlySD. The troubled airline also saw its stocks dip on the Friberne Stock Exchange(FESE) as investors looked on worriedly, and big names like Dominion Bank cut their losses by reducing their investments. It was at this point that Penelope Kalington announced her resignation as CEO and her full departure from the company. Her replacement as CEO will be her mother, Caroline Kalington - who will arrive at FlySD from telecommunications giant Meteor Telecom, where she served as Executive Vice President.
Although the damage has mostly been contained and the FESE stabilised, major harm has been done to the reputation of FlySD - and unfortunately Santos-Dominius as a whole by extension. The Kalingtons are bending - even near breaking point - under intense public outcry, and Sen. Bains has indicated that the Government will consider intervening in the situation to fully stabilise FlySD and assist it on getting back on the right track. The National Senate is expected to meet on the upcoming Tuesday to discuss the report's contents, the Kalingtons' troubles, the future of FlySD and the possibility of government intervention. President Paul Goldberg(DCB-FE) has so far declined to comment on the incident, but is expected to hold a press conference at the Fribernese Fortress and present a unified government response after the National Senate meeting.
- Arifiyyah, Larxia, Giovanniland and 1 other
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HEADLINES/Santos-Dominius becoming insignificant? Blistering new report calls on gov't to save S-D tourism industry
Yesterday, the Tourism & Brand Council of Santos-Dominius published a blistering new report on the state of the Federal Republic as a tourist destination. The report, authored by researchers Ben Wright and Jodie Atkinson, concluded that Santos-Dominius was "becoming insignificant" and that it was "losing increasing amounts of tourism due to the lack of attractiveness and marketing". Although Wright and Atkinson acknowledged in the report that Santos-Dominius had a lot of beautiful attractions and world-renowned hospitality, they bluntly recognised that a lack of serious marketing and promotion by the Government hampered the Federal Republic's chances of competing against other, more established and famous countries in Aura and elsewhere. The report quickly became viral on the Internet immediately following publication, and had accumulated over 250,000 views by the time the Government officially responded to it.
President Paul Goldberg delivered a statement in response to the Wright-Atkinson report. He stated that "the attractiveness of Santos-Dominius as a world-class tourist destination remains high", but acknowledged that "there have been instances of insignificant and inadequate promotion by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs". The President rejected Wright's conclusion that Santos-Dominius was inferior to other competitor nations in Aura, but suggested that a Tourism Board could be established and made to be independent of the MFA. Such a government office, President Goldberg theorised, would be able to operate efficiently and devote resources to promoting and marketing Santos-Dominius. When a reporter who attended the press conference pointed out that Atkinson suggested the creation of such an independent government agency, the President declined to comment and simply continued on with elaborating about the possible advantages of that government office.
Although Wright and Atkinson pointed towards the lack of marketing and promotion as the main reason behind Santos-Dominius' recent slip into insignificance, they also raised another issue that is contributing to that slip: the lack of a cohesive, attractive and marketable national brand. Wright wrote that compared to other countries, Santos-Dominius lacked an easily memorable identity - the Federal Republic sometimes presented itself as a tropical paradise with a vibrant culture, while on other occasions its history, political stability and openness was advertised. This made the promotion all over the place, according to Wright, and the resulting lack of a unified national branding cost the Federal Republic heavily in the long run. Wright and Atkinson suggested in the report that the Government look into creating a marketable brand with staying power by taking positive things and qualities that foreigners associate with Santos-Dominius, enshrining them and then unifying them. This suggestion was praised by Senator Art Bernstein(CoR-WS), the Leader of the Opposition, who called the creation of the Santo-Dominian national brand and the revival of Santo-Dominian tourism "extremely important and critical to the success of our nation in the international stage in the long run".
It remains to be seen if the Government will adopt the suggestions proposed by Wright and Atkinson in their report. The Tourism & Brand Council has pushed heavily for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to fully consider the contents of the report. The Santo-Dominian tourism industry received a glimmer of hope when Sen. Diane Hutchison(DCB-YC), Minister of Foreign Affairs, released a statement saying that she would read the report and peruse its suggestions. However, the future of Santos-Dominius remains uncertain given that tourism is a major industry that provides many jobs for Santo-Dominians; whether the Government takes concrete action or not will likely make a lasting impact on the Federal Republic as a world-class tourist destination for years to come.
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HEADLINES/President Goldberg announces intention retire from politics at the end of 3rd termToday, President Paul Goldberg held a press conference inside the Fribernese Fortress. The President, of quite advanced age, looked frail and tired as he walked into the Drawing Room, where the conference was held. During the conference, he made an unsurprising but sudden announcement: he was retiring. Now nearing the halfway point of his third term, President Goldberg had grown in size, reportedly developed a poor diet, suffered from insomnia and forgetfulness, and was in increasingly poor health. Moreover, rumours circulated that his own party, the centre-right Democratic Congress Party(DCB), had turned against him. Young voters were also giving the President and the DCB the finger - polls for the heated Cantonal Council elections in the bellwether canton of Niedersasslen have turned against local DCB leader Norbert Heitmann.
An outpouring of support - the sincerity of which is debatable - immediately came from the DCB. Vice President Donald Verbloem called President Goldberg "a proven leader, an excellent administrator and a compassionate man of the people". Senator Terry Melvin(DCB-FE), Minister of Information, told a reporter from the Santo-Dominian Post that he telephoned the President after the presser to wish him well. Other senators were also spotted going from the National Senate Building to the Fribernese Fortress to meet with Goldberg to talk. Not all reactions were positive, however - Sen. Art Bernstein(CoR-WS), Leader of the Opposition and co-leader of the centre-left Coalition of Roses(CoR), simply said "good riddance, Paul [Goldberg]" to a nearby reporter after reading a paper transcript of the press conference.
With President Goldberg announcing his intention to retire, the question of "who should succeed him?" has been raised. Had President Goldberg only announced his intention to not seek re-election, the DCB would not need a new leader; this did not turn out to be the case. With the President's announcement, the Santo-Dominian Post has come up with a few potential candidates, a basic analysis of their positions and their chances in the DCB leadership election at the end of Goldberg's term. Leading the pack of potential leaders is unsurprisingly Vice President Verbloem. A loyal and silent lieutenant who has accompanied President Goldberg since his first term, the Vice President is a few years younger and relatively more charismatic. Verbloem is also seen as the prime representative of the dominant establishment wing of the DCB, having defended it on multiple occasions quietly against radicals who have slowly seeped into the party and seek to make it far-right.
Another likely contender is Senator Diane Hutchison(DCB-YC), Minister of Foreign Affairs. Hutchison has been praised for her efficient stewardship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially her ways of cutting costs without laying off employees. She has also been commended for her level-headed and pragmatic foreign policy approach, which has earned Santos-Dominius diplomatic goodwill with neighbours in Aura and friendly countries far and wide in Esferos. She is seen as a devout and firm conservative who will likely shift the party to the middle of the right-wing, sacrificing Vice President Verbloem's moderate establishment faction while staving off the far-right by adopting heavily modified(toned down, in reality) versions of their ideologies and values.
There has also been talk of a merger between the DCB and the Split Conservative Union(SCU) led by Sen. Dennis Ford(SCU-YC). A merger would likely lead to greater electoral success for the Santo-Dominian right-wing, and would also strengthen the DCB's already comfortable 209-seat majority in the National Senate by 2 seats, giving them 211 seats over the CoR's 189. However, Ford has been reluctant to explore the possibility of such an arrangement, and told reporters that "we don't want to do anything for now, we'll just sit and observe the DCB". He also dodged questions on whether the SCU was contributing to right-wing disunity by stealing far-right votes from the DCB, and became increasingly evasive when pursued by reporters after attending meetings in the National Senate Building.
President Goldberg's retirement has also brought the subject of age up for debate. Though Santos-Dominius is one of the freest countries in the world with a revolutionary system of direct democracy, there has been a prevailing trend of Presidents serving extremely-long, decade-spanning terms well into old age. Santo-Dominians tend to re-elect incumbent Presidents, and although President Goldberg's recent 1421 narrow re-election challenged this tendency, previous occupants of the Fribernese Fortress have never been kicked out by the voters. 1st President Bill Mulberry, the founder of the Federal Republic and author of the Constitution, retired in 1262 after serving 57 consecutive years beginning after independence in 1205. His successor, President Jan Davis Lovings, was elected in 1262 and served 44 consecutive years before being ousted by his own Country Liberal Party(the predecessor of the CoR) and fellow politician Eliot Klein, one of only two Presidents to have left office not of their own volition. Klein then served as the 3rd President for 49 years from 1306 to 1355, when he was defeated by the currently incumbent Goldberg.
President Goldberg has served 66 years till this day since crushing President Klein in the 1355 presidential election. Now, with his retirement, some are questioning: should Santos-Dominius continue to be ruled by elderly political behemoths from the era of the Patriotic Liberation? Or should new blood finally occupy the Fribernese Fortress? The 18-24 year old youth demographic - widely considered to be an increasingly important swing vote - swung decisively against the 96-year-old President Goldberg and the DCB, turning out in droves for the CLP's much-younger 55-year-old Sen. Jeremy Maxson(WS) in 1421 and nearly threatening to evict the former from office. The DCB's choice of presidential candidate for the next election in 1426 will determine whether the party can stay in the Santo-Dominian youth's good graces, and hence will likely make or break the party - especially since the CoR has progressively united itself in a gradually strengthening effort to dislodge the DCB from power in 1426 with the Sen. Bernstein, who is popular with university graduate voters, at the helm.
One thing, though, is certain: the day President Goldberg leaves office will mark the end of an era in contemporary Santo-Dominian politics. The centre-right veteran politician has made a name as a controversial, uncharismatic bore but also a thick-skinned and extremely adept fighter who has survived nearly every major political hurdle he has faced. His successor as leader of the DCB and the right-wing's presidential candidate will have huge shoes to fill, and so does Sen. Bernstein if we manages to wrestle control of the Federal Republic from the weakened centre-right at this moment of vulnerability.
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FlySD plagued by airline workers' strike and passenger complaints, begins internal review
Today, Santo-Dominian national flag carrier FlySD (frequently stylised as flySD) announced that it would be starting an internal review of its practices, operations, finances and other matters. The airline, one of the biggest corporations and employers in the Federal Republic, is currently plagued by a massive strike initiated by its employees, as well as an increasing number of complaints from passengers. The strike has significantly affected FlySD's operations throughout the world, and police officers have been dispatched to Friberne International Airport to keep the striking workers at a safe distance from bewildered and confused flyers in its five terminals.
FlySD CEO Penelope Kalington held a press conference where she announced the internal review. "We have listened to the public and our employees," Kalington said, "and we will be investigating our company, finding solutions to problems and improving FlySD to become a model employer that gives people a chance to succeed". This was, however, received poorly by the striking workers, who saw Kalington as out of touch. Strike leader David Menzies, a union representative and airplane co-pilot, pointed out that the Kalington family is one of the richest families in the Federal Republic and owns major companies and businesses. "She just can't be trusted to do good," Menzies said.
Kalington is also being heavily criticised by passengers and FlySD frequent flyers. Many passengers have recently lodged complaints to the Ministry of Commerce, citing bad service, unclean plane cabins and seats, poor staff attitudes and behaviour, as well as frequent flight delays and overbooking. Senator Francois A. Bains(DCB-FR), Minister of Commerce, told the Santo-Dominian Post that he would be directing his ministry to launch an investigation into FlySD, stating that "the Ministry of Commerce has the duty to uphold the consumer's rights and interests". When emailed questions about the complaints and Sen. Bains' comments, Kalington refused to reply to the Santo-Dominian Post and instead informed our reporters that her office would be blocking the Post.
With FlySD and Kalington both under heavy fire, some investors have began to pull out. Harriet Stuyvesant-Callaghan, CEO of Dominion Bank, told reporters that she would be selling her FlySD stocks. Major investment firm A&A Unlimited announced that it would be doing the same as well. FlySD stocks in the Friberne Stock Exchange(FESE) have dropped, and other members of the Kalington family, like SD Logging CEO Hubert Kalington, have distanced themselves from Penelope.
In a press conference at the Fribernese Fortress, President Paul Goldberg(DCB) offered a mixed reaction. He supported Sen. Bains' decision to initiate an investigation into FlySD, calling it "a wise and smart decision", but also voiced his concerns on hurting FlySD too much, remarking that "we mustn't harm one of the biggest employers in the Federal Republic too much, or they will lay off employees and we will have killed jobs and people's livelihoods".
The logo(pictured above) of FlySD, Santos-Dominius' beleaguered national flag carrier
- Giovanniland, Fhaengshia, Larxia and 2 others
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"Hello, everyone! From New Larxia, Larxia, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 1st T20 World Cup! Our coverage of the 1st T20 World Cup is brought to you by our generous sponsor, the video conferencing platform Miserable Tech! It's the leading cause of stress-related and anger-related deaths for IT departments, students, politicians and businesspeople alike! I, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, the 87th most popular Santo-Dominian sports television personality with an unfathomably terrible sense of humour, will be your mildly unhinged host for the entire duration for the 1st T20 World Cup."
"And let's go over the results of Match Day 3! We've been informed that our Santo-Dominian team has lost the match to the team from hosting country Larxia! This means that our home country Santos-Dominius is now sadly eliminated from contention in the Super Eight. Meanwhile, United Adaikes has scored a victory against the team from Denieria, which has been badly defeated thrice in a row! Denieria is therefore also eliminated from contention in the Super Eight. So, to recap, Larxia and United Adaikes will advance to the Super Eight, while our Santos-Dominius as well as Denieria have reached the end of our T20 World Cup journeys this year."
"Moving onto Group B! Cambria is still going exceptionally strong, and has won its match against the cricket players from Teralyon! This means that Teralyon will not be able to advance to the Super Eight. In the other match, literal no-man's-land Hertfordshire & Jammbo has won against Auran neighbour Blue Bubble. With this loss, Blue Bubble is eliminated from contention in the Super Eight. So, to recap, Cambria and Hertfordia will be advancing to the Super Eight from Group B, while Teralyon and Blue Bubble are now consigned to the spectator's stands."
"Let's check the results for Group C! In one of the matches, former colonial empire Saint Mark proves its might once again by winning against the team from Fhaengshia. However, unlike previous matches, Fhaengshia is not eliminated. In the other match, Auran neighbour Giovanniland faces off against drug heaven Dilber, and wins! However, this victory is not enough to save Giovanniland, as it and Dilber are both eliminated from contention in the Super Eight. Saint Mark and Fhaengshia, on the other hand, are both advancing to the Super Eight."
"And now, finally, we get to Group D! In one of the matches, war-torn museum of rubble Zoran triumphs over pacifist Fujai! In the other match, sporty Nieubasria delivers an excellent performance and wins against literal armoury Dalimbar! Following these matches, historical enemies Fujai and Dalimbar are both eliminated from contention in the Super Eight, while Nieubasria and Zoran are advancing to the Super Eight! I've just been informed that the Santo-Dominian Cricket Association has directed all of its members and fans to cheer on the Nieubasrian team, whose yellow uniforms bear a resemblance to that of the team from Santos-Dominius, for the rest of the Cup!"
"And there we have it - the results of Match Day 3! Seeing as the Santo-Dominian team is defeated, I can now pack my bags and fly back to Friberne while leaving the camera crew behind! From now on, I will be covering this Cup in the SDCSN Channel 3 studios back in Santos-Dominius, and the coverage and quality will both decrease, given the fact that we will probably have our team's funding cut for the remaining duration of this Cup. That is, if the bosses will even lend us the studios and let us cover this at all. I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and this was Match Day 3 of the 1st T20 World Cup. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for indirect and choppy coverage of the Cup as well as utterly frustrating sponsorships, and see you whenever the bosses let us cover this Cup again! Goodbye!"
- Giovanniland, United Adaikes, Clarkov and 3 others
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"Hello, everyone! From New Larxia, Larxia, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 1st T20 World Cup! Our coverage of the 1st T20 World Cup is brought to you by our generous sponsor, Complete Groceries Market! It's the upscale multinational supermarket chain that helps you lie to yourself! I, the absurdly untalented teleprompter fan that is Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your mildly frustrating host for the entire duration for the 1st T20 World Cup."
"And let's go over the results of Match Day 2! We've been informed that our Santo-Dominian team has very unfortunately lost to the team from United Adaikes. Meanwhile, our Larxian hosts have continued their small winning streak by vanquishing the team from Denieria! So, to recap in Group A, Larxia is currently undefeated with two wins, while Santos-Dominius and United Adaikes each have one win and one loss. Denieria is in a bad position: they have two losses and no wins at the moment."
"Moving onto Group B! Cambria continues its very strong and formidable performance, winning a match against Blue Bubble and securing a coveted position in the Super Eight! Meanwhile, nowhere land Hertfordshire & Jammbo has won a victory against Teralyon, thus eliminating them and ending their T20 World Cup journey this year! So basically, Cambria will be advancing further in the Cup, while the fate of Hertfordshire & Jammbo, as well as Blue Bubble, remain uncertain for now."
"And now, time for the results from Group C! In one of the matches, former Auran hegemon Saint Mark has won against the team from fellow neighbour Giovanniland. The Giovannilandians are now unfortunately eliminated from the Cup. And in the other match, Fhaengshia from Andolia has triumphed against the probably drugged team from Dilber! Fhaengshia will now advance to the Super Eight as it has secured a slot!"
"Finally, Group D! In one of the matches, sporty Nieubasria continues to show that they're not just spectacularly good at only football! The Nieubasrians have won against the team from war-torn Zoran, scoring them a position in the Super Eight and giving them the ability to advance further in the Cup! Meanwhile, the team from pacifist Fujai has trampled over their counterparts from militant country-equivalent-of-the-minesweeper-game Dalimbar! The Dalimbari are now eliminated from the Cup and will have to spectate rather than play from now on."
"And here we have it - the results for Match Day 2! Some countries are delivering consistently strong performances, while others have a more mixed record. Some have been eliminated from the competition, but most still have a chance to beat their opponents and advance further. The winners will have to stay in prime condition, while the losers will have to work hard to recover and win! I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and this was Match Day 2 of the 1st T20 World Cup. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for direct and live coverage of the Cup as well as unfathomably annoying sponsorships, and see you on Match Day 2! Goodbye!"
- embubbleblue, Saint Mark, Zoran and 3 others
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MWG Passport Standards [OOC]
in OOC Support - Information & Dispute Arbitration
Posted
Notice: Regarding Passport Designs and MWG Regulations
It is with great pleasure that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Santos-Dominius unveil new designs for all three types of Santo-Dominian passports. These are in TD-3 format and are fully compliant with regulations as set out by the Multinational Working Group Regarding Passport Security and Travel Document Standards. The designs will be published in the Santo-Dominian Post at a later date and then phased in and put into circulation. They are as follows.
From left to right, they are: the civilian passport, the diplomatic passport, and the official passport. Each type of passport has been made with a distinctive colour to differentiate them from foreign passports as well as each other - dark purple for the civilian passport, royal purple for the diplomatic passport, and dark red for the official passport. Each passport, regardless of type, contains several unifying and identifying elements: the full name of the country in Common, Santosian and Dominish; the name of the passport type in Common, Santosian and Dominish; the 10-Star Shield, the official national coat of arms and seal; and the Multinational Working Group chip.
Inside the passport, regardless of type, are useful pages. On page 1 of the passport is a customary message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs which grants a Santo-Dominian bearer all the privileges and rights entitled to them due to their nationality. This message is printed in, from top to bottom: Santosian, Dominish and Common. The inner pages of every Santo-Dominian passport, regardless of type, are printed with a unique diamond pattern exclusive only to Santo-Dominian passports.
On the second page of the passport is the page containing the essential information. The country is printed above, with all necessary personal information fields included as well as the type of passport, the passport number, the personal number, the bearer's photo, and the machine-readable section at the bottom. The sample passport showed in the image is a civilian passport, as shown by "CIV." under "Type" and "P" at the beginning of the first line of the machine-readable section - diplomatic passports will have "DIP." and "D" and official passports will have "OFL." and "O" displayed instead.
We look forward to further cooperation with the Multinational Working Group.