iOctagon

CONTENTS
A
Anheit
Arkurter
B
Berchstein
F
Friberne
G
Galioveile
Gingkalos
L
Lotharburg
Louisann
M
Myosotine
N
Neuenstadt
P
Palain
R
Rederburg
Romant-sous-Bois
S
Sasslen
Solaceil
Sorbierra
St. Arlaine
T
Tagetedel
W
Waldburg

City of Lotharburg Slogan: The Sharp Edge of History Description: Famous for being the birthplace of many strong warriors in history, this city is now home to grumpy residents and persistent rainstorms. Population: 113,983 (as of 1422 census) Canton: Lotharburg(LT) Status: Largest cantonal city, cantonal capital Language: Common, Dominish Demonym: Lotharburgian Government: Mayor-council government
Mayor - Berthold Reiss (CoR)
Body - Lotharburg City Council
Lotharburg has long been a city of legends and mysteries. Some allege that it was where migrants from mainland Aura first landed, out of all of Santos-Dominius. Others claim that it is the Santo-Dominian cantonal capital with the worst weather. Whether these rumours are true or not, this quiet town tucked between two hills and many cliffs is like something out of a fantasy about magic and wizardry. A tight-knit community bound by a long history, Lotharburg is where many of Santos-Dominius' best warriors, knights, soldiers and swordsmen were born; rich families would often send children excellent in combat to train in this militar.istic town. Indeed, as the northernmost major city in all of Santos-Dominius, the city and its Lotharburgians have had to fend off countless Auran attempts to occupy and loot it. The city unfortunately fell into Saint Markian hands during that country's invasion of Santos-Dominius in the late 800s, but has since recovered to become the strategic stronghold of the Santo-Dominian north once again.
Today the city is a far more exciting place than it used to be - the infamous grumpiness of past Lotharburgians have disappeared slowly as newer generations become more receptive towards political progress and social advancement. While at heart a traditional city filled with centuries-old buildings, tourism is shining a new light on this oft-forgotten hidden gem bursting with history. Hikers, historians, knight-wannabes and magical fiction reader will be enthralled by Lotharburg's scruffy beauty upon arrival.
ETYMOLOGY
From Lothar (founding duke of the canton) and the suffix -burg (Dominish for "castle/fortress").
HISTORY
Lotharburg was first reached by Auran migrants at around 4500 BF, having been one of the very first Santo-Dominian locations where humans set foot. But given the cold and stormy climate of the area and its disadvantageous geography, settlers opted to go elsewhere, and the town itself was not properly founded until around 142 AF. A period of expansion and fortification followed, as the city became one of the very first to expand southwards and eventually claim the northernmost parts of Santos for itself. The town's mayor, Luther Lothar, was adored by the militaristic town folk as a beacon of their combat prowess and subsequently established himself as Lothar I of the Duchy of Lotharburg, with the eponymous city named after himself and serving as his duchy seat. Under the Duke's rule, the town would continue to strengthen itself, build a rigorous ancient army and become a force to be reckoned with on mainland Santos.
As with any other force that expanded on Santos, Lotharburg soon came into direct conflict with the Duchy of Framboise, ruled by powerful farmer-turned-rulers in the county seat of Romant-sous-Bois. Due to its fighting strength, Lotharburg was quickly considered a threat by Framboisian leaders and determined as a target to be neutralised. A major Framboisian invasion in August 278 began the Great Ancient War, with Framboisian forces pushing to within 50 km of the city of Lotharburg itself. Duchess Joan IV, understandably concerned, chose not to confront her adversaries head on but seek help from the nearby city-state of Friberne, which was directly south of the Duchy of Framboise. In a flawless execution of what we now call the pincer strategy, Lotharburgian and Fribernese forces flanked Framboise from both north and south - Joan IV personally saw to it that the invaders were repelled while the Fribernese pushed onto Romant-sous-Bois, breaking through the under-protected Framboisian south. Here the two city-states fought the 1st and 2nd Battles of Altburg, winning both decisively, and ultimately signed the Treaty of Altburg with Framboise to establish the Old Santosian Confederation.
While an unprecedented 5 centuries of peace followed, Lotharburg fell prey to the Saint Markian invasion like the rest of Santos-Dominius, being besieged and captured in 897. But the days of imperial rule under Saint Mark were not to be the city's final fate, for compatriots in Lemandie, Roivivion and Pressen cantons would rise up in revolt, ultimately banishing the colonisers and firmly hoisting in Lotharburg the Santo-Dominian flag, under which it remains today.

HEADLINES/President Paul R. Goldberg passes away at 97, Nat. Senate to convene urgently
Today, Santo-Dominian President Paul Goldberg passed away at the old age of 97 after 66 uninterrupted years in office. The longest-serving President in the history of Santos-Dominius, President Goldberg died of natural causes in his sleep at 6:52 am this morning due to complications arising from organ failure. He was discovered in his bed by caretakers and the Santo-Dominian Post was notified of his passing at exactly 10 am. The flag above the Fribernese Fortress was lowered to half-mast and thousands poured into the streets of Friberne as social media erupted in shock. President Goldberg's passing marks the end of a decades-long era marked by conservative political domination of the Federal Republic, which some have classified as a staunchly left-wing welfare state.
The National Senate remains officially prorogued until January 1422. However, Sen. Diane Hutchison, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has said that she will be submitting a formal request to convene an emergency session. Formerly the deputy leader of President Goldberg's centre-right Democratic Congress Party(DCB), Sen. Hutchison has automatically been appointed acting leader according to the party's constitution. She is expected to convene an emergency party convention to allow the DCB to elect a new leader as well. Vice President Donald Verbloem addressed the nation in an impromptu press conference, sombrely saying,"Santos-Dominius has lost a political titan. President Goldberg was a brilliant administrator and man of the people, and our Federal Republic is disheartened without his loving guidance." Verbloem was shortly after sworn in by National Court Justice Janine Arbré as Acting President, and is expected to have Sen. Hutchison table a motion in the National Senate to call a snap presidential election.
Although President Goldberg's passing is a certainty, what appears much less certain is the identity of his successor. Both Acting President Verbloem and Sen. Hutchison are favoured by the DCB's conservative establishment, but a growing populist faction has thrown its support behind Carnet Goldberg, the late President's granddaughter. It is alleged that President Goldberg attempted to hold his party together and prevent a three-way Verbloem-Hutchison-Carnet conflict, but it is now expected that open warfare will begin after his passing. Some have posited that the DCB may very well expose major rifts among its members, and that the centre-left opposition Coalition of Roses(CoR) will likely take advantage in an implicit fashion. Sen. Art Bernstein, CoR chair and Leader of the Opposition, released a statement saying, "I send my dearest condolences to former First Granddaughter Goldberg and others who knew President Goldberg well. Although I disagreed with the late President on a diverse range of issues, I recognise the stability and prosperity that his leadership has given this country. Under my leadership, the Coalition of Roses will endeavour to provide an equally brilliant administration in his stead."
Some in the Federal Republic have also debate something historically considered unthinkable - the removal of presidential term limits. The Santo-Dominian Constitution explicitly states that "an incumbent President shall be able to serve, at most, fifteen 5-year terms, consecutively or non-consecutively"; however, many have now pointed out that this effectively amounts to no term limit whatsoever, as 15 5-year terms adds up to a total of 75 years. Critics of this constitutional clause - the now-notorious Section IV, Part A - now opine that presidents can effectively abuse it to serve for 3/4 of a century without ever being removed from office, so long as they continue to win re-election. Every President in Santo-Dominian history has served for long periods of time thanks to this - founding President Bill Mulberry served 57 years(1205-62), 2nd President Jan D. Lovings had 44 years(1262-1306), and 3rd President Eliot Klein racked up 49 years(1306-55). It is unclear if any of the two big parties will support revising that part of the constitution.
Nevertheless, President Goldberg's passing marks the end of an era so incredibly long that some people may have known him as the first and only leader in their lifetime. No matter who succeeds him, it is likely that the Federal Republic will have to cope, adjust and grow alongside a new government, a new President, new policies and new changes.

HEADLINES/Carnet Goldberg and Dahlia Wheatley face off in 1st presidential debate
Today, former First Granddaughter Carnet Goldberg faced off against former trade unionist Dahlia Wheatley in the 1st presidential debate since the late President Paul Goldberg - grandfather of Carnet - passed away last December. Although Santos-Dominius' political arena is still reeling from the loss of the late President, Carnet Goldberg has already taken centre-stage within her grandfather's centre-right Democratic Congress Party(DCB) as a unity candidate intending to continue his legacy. On the other hand, Wheatley won the nomination of the centre-left Coalition of Roses(CoR) after triumphing over Senator Art Bernstein(WS) - Leader of the Opposition, Chairman of CoR and former vice-presidential candidate - in a bitter fight that saw Sen. Bernstein's former running mate Jeremy Maxson betray his old partner to endorse Wheatley's radical candidacy.
With the nominations of both major parties settled, the two opposing political machines set off in a race to capture the hearts and minds of the Santo-Dominian people. During the first debate, broadcasted on SDCSN Channel 4 and hosted by moderator Patrice Smith, Wheatley went on the offensive and hurled fierce criticisms at Goldberg. The firebrand socialist derided her opponent as "a stuck-up elitist socialite who has no grasp of the real issues that plague this Federal Republic", targeting Goldberg's relatively young age and comparative inexperience in relation to her grandfather, who was President for 66 years straight. Goldberg appeared to struggle at first, unwisely admitting that she needed to "work harder and be more experienced in government" much to Wheatley's pleasure.
The scales appeared to balance out in the 2nd part of the debate, however, with Goldberg recovering after a short break to retaliate against Wheatley. Goldberg took shot at Wheatley's radical stances on hot-button issues, claiming that the socialist was "part of a greater communist conspiracy to undermine the Federal Republic's democratic institutions". Goldberg took issue with Wheatley's proposal to nationalise private ferry services to and from the island of Santos and the Dominius archipelago, saying that "Wheatley's greedy hands are going to smother hardworking ferry operators and put honest Santo-Dominian sailors and small business owners out of business". Wheatley retorted by saying that "Goldberg left the worker out of the equation and didn't even consider them in the example she just told".
Opinion polls show that the Federal Republic heavily favours Wheatley over Goldberg - about 67% of registered voters have declared their intention to vote for the former, while only 22% have done so for the latter. This is reflected in cantonal elections, with swing canton Niedersasslen seeing Head Councillor Jane Figures(CoR) trouncing vengeful predecessor and conservative political veteran Norbert Heitmann(DCB) as the latter attempts to retake control of the bellwether canton known for representing Santos-Dominius' political trends as a whole. In the heavily left-wing canton of Waldberg-Stadt(WS), Bernstein is under enormous pressure from his increasingly disgruntled constituents to get behind the Wheatley campaign or face a more radical challenger from within the CoR; in the similarly-socialist canton of Framboise(FR), Sen. Christelle Chantal(DCB) - the Minister of Biological, Ecological and Zoological Affairs - is widely expected to suffer a humiliating landslide defeat against CoR opponent Bryony Christies.
Reports from within the CoR hint at a careful operation, however. Socialist operatives working for Wheatley are reportedly concerned that opinion polls will deceive the party into overconfidently predicting an easy triumph - essentially the root cause of Sen. Maxson's infamous and unexpected loss to the late President Goldberg when most pollsters projected a major victory for the former. Maxson himself has allegedly learned from his previous mistakes and is rumoured to be closely advising Wheatley on campaigning matters, while taking care not to let voters associate his own electoral failure with Wheatley's drastically improving political fortunes. The Wheatley campaign's marketing consultants have also taken great care not to directly attack the late President Goldberg for fear of being criticised by Carnet Goldberg for disrespecting the dead, especially such an influential and powerful political titan.
With the Federal Republic caught up in such a dizzying political whirlwind, many ordinary Santo-Dominians will have to make a critically-important political decision that may very well decide the country's future for decades to come - literally. If the late President Goldberg's tenure is any proof, a President Wheatley or another President Goldberg could very well serve 66 years, turn Santos-Dominius upside down and die in office. The general public has a choice between the young heiress to the country's most powerful political dynasty at the moment and a radical former trade unionist hellbent on fighting for the working class at the expense of Santos-Dominius' richest citizens. Who will they choose will not be clear until the presidential election itself concludes, but one thing is for sure: no matter who wins, the Federal Republic is headed towards a period of great upheaval.

HEADLINES/Carnet Goldberg and Dahlia Wheatley face off in 1st presidential debate
Today, former First Granddaughter Carnet Goldberg faced off against former trade unionist Dahlia Wheatley in the 1st presidential debate since the late President Paul Goldberg - grandfather of Carnet - passed away last December. Although Santos-Dominius' political arena is still reeling from the loss of the late President, Carnet Goldberg has already taken centre-stage within her grandfather's centre-right Democratic Congress Party(DCB) as a unity candidate intending to continue his legacy. On the other hand, Wheatley won the nomination of the centre-left Coalition of Roses(CoR) after triumphing over Senator Art Bernstein(WS) - Leader of the Opposition, Chairman of CoR and former vice-presidential candidate - in a bitter fight that saw Sen. Bernstein's former running mate Jeremy Maxson betray his old partner to endorse Wheatley's radical candidacy.
With the nominations of both major parties settled, the two opposing political machines set off in a race to capture the hearts and minds of the Santo-Dominian people. During the first debate, broadcasted on SDCSN Channel 4 and hosted by moderator Patrice Smith, Wheatley went on the offensive and hurled fierce criticisms at Goldberg. The firebrand socialist derided her opponent as "a stuck-up elitist socialite who has no grasp of the real issues that plague this Federal Republic", targeting Goldberg's relatively young age and comparative inexperience in relation to her grandfather, who was President for 66 years straight. Goldberg appeared to struggle at first, unwisely admitting that she needed to "work harder and be more experienced in government" much to Wheatley's pleasure.
The scales appeared to balance out in the 2nd part of the debate, however, with Goldberg recovering after a short break to retaliate against Wheatley. Goldberg took shot at Wheatley's radical stances on hot-button issues, claiming that the socialist was "part of a greater communist conspiracy to undermine the Federal Republic's democratic institutions". Goldberg took issue with Wheatley's proposal to nationalise private ferry services to and from the island of Santos and the Dominius archipelago, saying that "Wheatley's greedy hands are going to smother hardworking ferry operators and put honest Santo-Dominian sailors and small business owners out of business". Wheatley retorted by saying that "Goldberg left the worker out of the equation and didn't even consider them in the example she just told".
Opinion polls show that the Federal Republic heavily favours Wheatley over Goldberg - about 67% of registered voters have declared their intention to vote for the former, while only 22% have done so for the latter. This is reflected in cantonal elections, with swing canton Niedersasslen seeing Head Councillor Jane Figures(CoR) trouncing vengeful predecessor and conservative political veteran Norbert Heitmann(DCB) as the latter attempts to retake control of the bellwether canton known for representing Santos-Dominius' political trends as a whole. In the heavily left-wing canton of Waldberg-Stadt(WS), Bernstein is under enormous pressure from his increasingly disgruntled constituents to get behind the Wheatley campaign or face a more radical challenger from within the CoR; in the similarly-socialist canton of Framboise(FR), Sen. Christelle Chantal(DCB) - the Minister of Biological, Ecological and Zoological Affairs - is widely expected to suffer a humiliating landslide defeat against CoR opponent Bryony Christies.
Reports from within the CoR hint at a careful operation, however. Socialist operatives working for Wheatley are reportedly concerned that opinion polls will deceive the party into overconfidently predicting an easy triumph - essentially the root cause of Sen. Maxson's infamous and unexpected loss to the late President Goldberg when most pollsters projected a major victory for the former. Maxson himself has allegedly learned from his previous mistakes and is rumoured to be closely advising Wheatley on campaigning matters, while taking care not to let voters associate his own electoral failure with Wheatley's drastically improving political fortunes. The Wheatley campaign's marketing consultants have also taken great care not to directly attack the late President Goldberg for fear of being criticised by Carnet Goldberg for disrespecting the dead, especially such an influential and powerful political titan.
With the Federal Republic caught up in such a dizzying political whirlwind, many ordinary Santo-Dominians will have to make a critically-important political decision that may very well decide the country's future for decades to come - literally. If the late President Goldberg's tenure is any proof, a President Wheatley or another President Goldberg could very well serve 66 years, turn Santos-Dominius upside down and die in office. The general public has a choice between the young heiress to the country's most powerful political dynasty at the moment and a radical former trade unionist hellbent on fighting for the working class at the expense of Santos-Dominius' richest citizens. Who will they choose will not be clear until the presidential election itself concludes, but one thing is for sure: no matter who wins, the Federal Republic is headed towards a period of great upheaval.

HEADLINES/President Paul R. Goldberg passes away at 97, Nat. Senate to convene urgently
Today, Santo-Dominian President Paul Goldberg passed away at the old age of 97 after 66 uninterrupted years in office. The longest-serving President in the history of Santos-Dominius, President Goldberg died of natural causes in his sleep at 6:52 am this morning due to complications arising from organ failure. He was discovered in his bed by caretakers and the Santo-Dominian Post was notified of his passing at exactly 10 am. The flag above the Fribernese Fortress was lowered to half-mast and thousands poured into the streets of Friberne as social media erupted in shock. President Goldberg's passing marks the end of a decades-long era marked by conservative political domination of the Federal Republic, which some have classified as a staunchly left-wing welfare state.
The National Senate remains officially prorogued until January 1422. However, Sen. Diane Hutchison, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has said that she will be submitting a formal request to convene an emergency session. Formerly the deputy leader of President Goldberg's centre-right Democratic Congress Party(DCB), Sen. Hutchison has automatically been appointed acting leader according to the party's constitution. She is expected to convene an emergency party convention to allow the DCB to elect a new leader as well. Vice President Donald Verbloem addressed the nation in an impromptu press conference, sombrely saying,"Santos-Dominius has lost a political titan. President Goldberg was a brilliant administrator and man of the people, and our Federal Republic is disheartened without his loving guidance." Verbloem was shortly after sworn in by National Court Justice Janine Arbré as Acting President, and is expected to have Sen. Hutchison table a motion in the National Senate to call a snap presidential election.
Although President Goldberg's passing is a certainty, what appears much less certain is the identity of his successor. Both Acting President Verbloem and Sen. Hutchison are favoured by the DCB's conservative establishment, but a growing populist faction has thrown its support behind Carnet Goldberg, the late President's granddaughter. It is alleged that President Goldberg attempted to hold his party together and prevent a three-way Verbloem-Hutchison-Carnet conflict, but it is now expected that open warfare will begin after his passing. Some have posited that the DCB may very well expose major rifts among its members, and that the centre-left opposition Coalition of Roses(CoR) will likely take advantage in an implicit fashion. Sen. Art Bernstein, CoR chair and Leader of the Opposition, released a statement saying, "I send my dearest condolences to former First Granddaughter Goldberg and others who knew President Goldberg well. Although I disagreed with the late President on a diverse range of issues, I recognise the stability and prosperity that his leadership has given this country. Under my leadership, the Coalition of Roses will endeavour to provide an equally brilliant administration in his stead."
Some in the Federal Republic have also debate something historically considered unthinkable - the removal of presidential term limits. The Santo-Dominian Constitution explicitly states that "an incumbent President shall be able to serve, at most, fifteen 5-year terms, consecutively or non-consecutively"; however, many have now pointed out that this effectively amounts to no term limit whatsoever, as 15 5-year terms adds up to a total of 75 years. Critics of this constitutional clause - the now-notorious Section IV, Part A - now opine that presidents can effectively abuse it to serve for 3/4 of a century without ever being removed from office, so long as they continue to win re-election. Every President in Santo-Dominian history has served for long periods of time thanks to this - founding President Bill Mulberry served 57 years(1205-62), 2nd President Jan D. Lovings had 44 years(1262-1306), and 3rd President Eliot Klein racked up 49 years(1306-55). It is unclear if any of the two big parties will support revising that part of the constitution.
Nevertheless, President Goldberg's passing marks the end of an era so incredibly long that some people may have known him as the first and only leader in their lifetime. No matter who succeeds him, it is likely that the Federal Republic will have to cope, adjust and grow alongside a new government, a new President, new policies and new changes.

City of Lotharburg Slogan: The Sharp Edge of History Description: Famous for being the birthplace of many strong warriors in history, this city is now home to grumpy residents and persistent rainstorms. Population: 113,983 (as of 1422 census) Canton: Lotharburg(LT) Status: Largest cantonal city, cantonal capital Language: Common, Dominish Demonym: Lotharburgian Government: Mayor-council government
Mayor - Berthold Reiss (CoR)
Body - Lotharburg City Council
Lotharburg has long been a city of legends and mysteries. Some allege that it was where migrants from mainland Aura first landed, out of all of Santos-Dominius. Others claim that it is the Santo-Dominian cantonal capital with the worst weather. Whether these rumours are true or not, this quiet town tucked between two hills and many cliffs is like something out of a fantasy about magic and wizardry. A tight-knit community bound by a long history, Lotharburg is where many of Santos-Dominius' best warriors, knights, soldiers and swordsmen were born; rich families would often send children excellent in combat to train in this militar.istic town. Indeed, as the northernmost major city in all of Santos-Dominius, the city and its Lotharburgians have had to fend off countless Auran attempts to occupy and loot it. The city unfortunately fell into Saint Markian hands during that country's invasion of Santos-Dominius in the late 800s, but has since recovered to become the strategic stronghold of the Santo-Dominian north once again.
Today the city is a far more exciting place than it used to be - the infamous grumpiness of past Lotharburgians have disappeared slowly as newer generations become more receptive towards political progress and social advancement. While at heart a traditional city filled with centuries-old buildings, tourism is shining a new light on this oft-forgotten hidden gem bursting with history. Hikers, historians, knight-wannabes and magical fiction reader will be enthralled by Lotharburg's scruffy beauty upon arrival.
ETYMOLOGY
From Lothar (founding duke of the canton) and the suffix -burg (Dominish for "castle/fortress").
HISTORY
Lotharburg was first reached by Auran migrants at around 4500 BF, having been one of the very first Santo-Dominian locations where humans set foot. But given the cold and stormy climate of the area and its disadvantageous geography, settlers opted to go elsewhere, and the town itself was not properly founded until around 142 AF. A period of expansion and fortification followed, as the city became one of the very first to expand southwards and eventually claim the northernmost parts of Santos for itself. The town's mayor, Luther Lothar, was adored by the militaristic town folk as a beacon of their combat prowess and subsequently established himself as Lothar I of the Duchy of Lotharburg, with the eponymous city named after himself and serving as his duchy seat. Under the Duke's rule, the town would continue to strengthen itself, build a rigorous ancient army and become a force to be reckoned with on mainland Santos.
As with any other force that expanded on Santos, Lotharburg soon came into direct conflict with the Duchy of Framboise, ruled by powerful farmer-turned-rulers in the county seat of Romant-sous-Bois. Due to its fighting strength, Lotharburg was quickly considered a threat by Framboisian leaders and determined as a target to be neutralised. A major Framboisian invasion in August 278 began the Great Ancient War, with Framboisian forces pushing to within 50 km of the city of Lotharburg itself. Duchess Joan IV, understandably concerned, chose not to confront her adversaries head on but seek help from the nearby city-state of Friberne, which was directly south of the Duchy of Framboise. In a flawless execution of what we now call the pincer strategy, Lotharburgian and Fribernese forces flanked Framboise from both north and south - Joan IV personally saw to it that the invaders were repelled while the Fribernese pushed onto Romant-sous-Bois, breaking through the under-protected Framboisian south. Here the two city-states fought the 1st and 2nd Battles of Altburg, winning both decisively, and ultimately signed the Treaty of Altburg with Framboise to establish the Old Santosian Confederation.
While an unprecedented 5 centuries of peace followed, Lotharburg fell prey to the Saint Markian invasion like the rest of Santos-Dominius, being besieged and captured in 897. But the days of imperial rule under Saint Mark were not to be the city's final fate, for compatriots in Lemandie, Roivivion and Pressen cantons would rise up in revolt, ultimately banishing the colonisers and firmly hoisting in Lotharburg the Santo-Dominian flag, under which it remains today.

HEADLINES/Carnet Goldberg and Dahlia Wheatley face off in 1st presidential debate
Today, former First Granddaughter Carnet Goldberg faced off against former trade unionist Dahlia Wheatley in the 1st presidential debate since the late President Paul Goldberg - grandfather of Carnet - passed away last December. Although Santos-Dominius' political arena is still reeling from the loss of the late President, Carnet Goldberg has already taken centre-stage within her grandfather's centre-right Democratic Congress Party(DCB) as a unity candidate intending to continue his legacy. On the other hand, Wheatley won the nomination of the centre-left Coalition of Roses(CoR) after triumphing over Senator Art Bernstein(WS) - Leader of the Opposition, Chairman of CoR and former vice-presidential candidate - in a bitter fight that saw Sen. Bernstein's former running mate Jeremy Maxson betray his old partner to endorse Wheatley's radical candidacy.
With the nominations of both major parties settled, the two opposing political machines set off in a race to capture the hearts and minds of the Santo-Dominian people. During the first debate, broadcasted on SDCSN Channel 4 and hosted by moderator Patrice Smith, Wheatley went on the offensive and hurled fierce criticisms at Goldberg. The firebrand socialist derided her opponent as "a stuck-up elitist socialite who has no grasp of the real issues that plague this Federal Republic", targeting Goldberg's relatively young age and comparative inexperience in relation to her grandfather, who was President for 66 years straight. Goldberg appeared to struggle at first, unwisely admitting that she needed to "work harder and be more experienced in government" much to Wheatley's pleasure.
The scales appeared to balance out in the 2nd part of the debate, however, with Goldberg recovering after a short break to retaliate against Wheatley. Goldberg took shot at Wheatley's radical stances on hot-button issues, claiming that the socialist was "part of a greater communist conspiracy to undermine the Federal Republic's democratic institutions". Goldberg took issue with Wheatley's proposal to nationalise private ferry services to and from the island of Santos and the Dominius archipelago, saying that "Wheatley's greedy hands are going to smother hardworking ferry operators and put honest Santo-Dominian sailors and small business owners out of business". Wheatley retorted by saying that "Goldberg left the worker out of the equation and didn't even consider them in the example she just told".
Opinion polls show that the Federal Republic heavily favours Wheatley over Goldberg - about 67% of registered voters have declared their intention to vote for the former, while only 22% have done so for the latter. This is reflected in cantonal elections, with swing canton Niedersasslen seeing Head Councillor Jane Figures(CoR) trouncing vengeful predecessor and conservative political veteran Norbert Heitmann(DCB) as the latter attempts to retake control of the bellwether canton known for representing Santos-Dominius' political trends as a whole. In the heavily left-wing canton of Waldberg-Stadt(WS), Bernstein is under enormous pressure from his increasingly disgruntled constituents to get behind the Wheatley campaign or face a more radical challenger from within the CoR; in the similarly-socialist canton of Framboise(FR), Sen. Christelle Chantal(DCB) - the Minister of Biological, Ecological and Zoological Affairs - is widely expected to suffer a humiliating landslide defeat against CoR opponent Bryony Christies.
Reports from within the CoR hint at a careful operation, however. Socialist operatives working for Wheatley are reportedly concerned that opinion polls will deceive the party into overconfidently predicting an easy triumph - essentially the root cause of Sen. Maxson's infamous and unexpected loss to the late President Goldberg when most pollsters projected a major victory for the former. Maxson himself has allegedly learned from his previous mistakes and is rumoured to be closely advising Wheatley on campaigning matters, while taking care not to let voters associate his own electoral failure with Wheatley's drastically improving political fortunes. The Wheatley campaign's marketing consultants have also taken great care not to directly attack the late President Goldberg for fear of being criticised by Carnet Goldberg for disrespecting the dead, especially such an influential and powerful political titan.
With the Federal Republic caught up in such a dizzying political whirlwind, many ordinary Santo-Dominians will have to make a critically-important political decision that may very well decide the country's future for decades to come - literally. If the late President Goldberg's tenure is any proof, a President Wheatley or another President Goldberg could very well serve 66 years, turn Santos-Dominius upside down and die in office. The general public has a choice between the young heiress to the country's most powerful political dynasty at the moment and a radical former trade unionist hellbent on fighting for the working class at the expense of Santos-Dominius' richest citizens. Who will they choose will not be clear until the presidential election itself concludes, but one thing is for sure: no matter who wins, the Federal Republic is headed towards a period of great upheaval.

HEADLINES/President Paul R. Goldberg passes away at 97, Nat. Senate to convene urgently
Today, Santo-Dominian President Paul Goldberg passed away at the old age of 97 after 66 uninterrupted years in office. The longest-serving President in the history of Santos-Dominius, President Goldberg died of natural causes in his sleep at 6:52 am this morning due to complications arising from organ failure. He was discovered in his bed by caretakers and the Santo-Dominian Post was notified of his passing at exactly 10 am. The flag above the Fribernese Fortress was lowered to half-mast and thousands poured into the streets of Friberne as social media erupted in shock. President Goldberg's passing marks the end of a decades-long era marked by conservative political domination of the Federal Republic, which some have classified as a staunchly left-wing welfare state.
The National Senate remains officially prorogued until January 1422. However, Sen. Diane Hutchison, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has said that she will be submitting a formal request to convene an emergency session. Formerly the deputy leader of President Goldberg's centre-right Democratic Congress Party(DCB), Sen. Hutchison has automatically been appointed acting leader according to the party's constitution. She is expected to convene an emergency party convention to allow the DCB to elect a new leader as well. Vice President Donald Verbloem addressed the nation in an impromptu press conference, sombrely saying,"Santos-Dominius has lost a political titan. President Goldberg was a brilliant administrator and man of the people, and our Federal Republic is disheartened without his loving guidance." Verbloem was shortly after sworn in by National Court Justice Janine Arbré as Acting President, and is expected to have Sen. Hutchison table a motion in the National Senate to call a snap presidential election.
Although President Goldberg's passing is a certainty, what appears much less certain is the identity of his successor. Both Acting President Verbloem and Sen. Hutchison are favoured by the DCB's conservative establishment, but a growing populist faction has thrown its support behind Carnet Goldberg, the late President's granddaughter. It is alleged that President Goldberg attempted to hold his party together and prevent a three-way Verbloem-Hutchison-Carnet conflict, but it is now expected that open warfare will begin after his passing. Some have posited that the DCB may very well expose major rifts among its members, and that the centre-left opposition Coalition of Roses(CoR) will likely take advantage in an implicit fashion. Sen. Art Bernstein, CoR chair and Leader of the Opposition, released a statement saying, "I send my dearest condolences to former First Granddaughter Goldberg and others who knew President Goldberg well. Although I disagreed with the late President on a diverse range of issues, I recognise the stability and prosperity that his leadership has given this country. Under my leadership, the Coalition of Roses will endeavour to provide an equally brilliant administration in his stead."
Some in the Federal Republic have also debate something historically considered unthinkable - the removal of presidential term limits. The Santo-Dominian Constitution explicitly states that "an incumbent President shall be able to serve, at most, fifteen 5-year terms, consecutively or non-consecutively"; however, many have now pointed out that this effectively amounts to no term limit whatsoever, as 15 5-year terms adds up to a total of 75 years. Critics of this constitutional clause - the now-notorious Section IV, Part A - now opine that presidents can effectively abuse it to serve for 3/4 of a century without ever being removed from office, so long as they continue to win re-election. Every President in Santo-Dominian history has served for long periods of time thanks to this - founding President Bill Mulberry served 57 years(1205-62), 2nd President Jan D. Lovings had 44 years(1262-1306), and 3rd President Eliot Klein racked up 49 years(1306-55). It is unclear if any of the two big parties will support revising that part of the constitution.
Nevertheless, President Goldberg's passing marks the end of an era so incredibly long that some people may have known him as the first and only leader in their lifetime. No matter who succeeds him, it is likely that the Federal Republic will have to cope, adjust and grow alongside a new government, a new President, new policies and new changes.

HEADLINES/President Paul R. Goldberg passes away at 97, Nat. Senate to convene urgently
Today, Santo-Dominian President Paul Goldberg passed away at the old age of 97 after 66 uninterrupted years in office. The longest-serving President in the history of Santos-Dominius, President Goldberg died of natural causes in his sleep at 6:52 am this morning due to complications arising from organ failure. He was discovered in his bed by caretakers and the Santo-Dominian Post was notified of his passing at exactly 10 am. The flag above the Fribernese Fortress was lowered to half-mast and thousands poured into the streets of Friberne as social media erupted in shock. President Goldberg's passing marks the end of a decades-long era marked by conservative political domination of the Federal Republic, which some have classified as a staunchly left-wing welfare state.
The National Senate remains officially prorogued until January 1422. However, Sen. Diane Hutchison, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has said that she will be submitting a formal request to convene an emergency session. Formerly the deputy leader of President Goldberg's centre-right Democratic Congress Party(DCB), Sen. Hutchison has automatically been appointed acting leader according to the party's constitution. She is expected to convene an emergency party convention to allow the DCB to elect a new leader as well. Vice President Donald Verbloem addressed the nation in an impromptu press conference, sombrely saying,"Santos-Dominius has lost a political titan. President Goldberg was a brilliant administrator and man of the people, and our Federal Republic is disheartened without his loving guidance." Verbloem was shortly after sworn in by National Court Justice Janine Arbré as Acting President, and is expected to have Sen. Hutchison table a motion in the National Senate to call a snap presidential election.
Although President Goldberg's passing is a certainty, what appears much less certain is the identity of his successor. Both Acting President Verbloem and Sen. Hutchison are favoured by the DCB's conservative establishment, but a growing populist faction has thrown its support behind Carnet Goldberg, the late President's granddaughter. It is alleged that President Goldberg attempted to hold his party together and prevent a three-way Verbloem-Hutchison-Carnet conflict, but it is now expected that open warfare will begin after his passing. Some have posited that the DCB may very well expose major rifts among its members, and that the centre-left opposition Coalition of Roses(CoR) will likely take advantage in an implicit fashion. Sen. Art Bernstein, CoR chair and Leader of the Opposition, released a statement saying, "I send my dearest condolences to former First Granddaughter Goldberg and others who knew President Goldberg well. Although I disagreed with the late President on a diverse range of issues, I recognise the stability and prosperity that his leadership has given this country. Under my leadership, the Coalition of Roses will endeavour to provide an equally brilliant administration in his stead."
Some in the Federal Republic have also debate something historically considered unthinkable - the removal of presidential term limits. The Santo-Dominian Constitution explicitly states that "an incumbent President shall be able to serve, at most, fifteen 5-year terms, consecutively or non-consecutively"; however, many have now pointed out that this effectively amounts to no term limit whatsoever, as 15 5-year terms adds up to a total of 75 years. Critics of this constitutional clause - the now-notorious Section IV, Part A - now opine that presidents can effectively abuse it to serve for 3/4 of a century without ever being removed from office, so long as they continue to win re-election. Every President in Santo-Dominian history has served for long periods of time thanks to this - founding President Bill Mulberry served 57 years(1205-62), 2nd President Jan D. Lovings had 44 years(1262-1306), and 3rd President Eliot Klein racked up 49 years(1306-55). It is unclear if any of the two big parties will support revising that part of the constitution.
Nevertheless, President Goldberg's passing marks the end of an era so incredibly long that some people may have known him as the first and only leader in their lifetime. No matter who succeeds him, it is likely that the Federal Republic will have to cope, adjust and grow alongside a new government, a new President, new policies and new changes.

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.

--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.

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!"

"What!? Zombies!!!???"
The prince woke from his nightmare in a sweat. It had been an odd Esferiad and the stress was showing.

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!"

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!"

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!"

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!"

_________________________________________________
 

 
The Estates-Ministry of Sport and Tourism is pleased to confirm the ongoing work of the promotion of socioeconomic diversity in Basric sport. Over a year ago, the Estates-Ministry announced the culmination of stakeholder consultations with the Opportunity Development Initiative under the National Fund for Sport. In the year preceding the ongoing Esferiad, the National Fund for Sport has exceeded the regulatory minimum of 18 million basmarks - disbursing nearly 24 million basmarks in bursaries and travel expenses for the development of unesquired and nonjurisdictory subjects of Nieubasria. 
The Opportunity Development Initiative has created space and opportunity at the highest levels of sport for underrepresented groups, and as part of the Estates-Ministry's commitment to accessibility of sport it will not be reevaluating the long-standing ban on quotas for the athletic membership of National Sport Organizations.
In addition, the Estates-Ministry is pleased to announce that is has partnered with the Tamaric University of Saint Aiaden for the analysis and publication of the results of the first annual Perspectives on Diversity in Sport using the statistics gathered under the Estates-Ministry's 1420 Mandate on Status Disclosure. 
 

 

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!"

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..."

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..."

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!"

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..."

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!"