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Post by maxington on Jul 4, 2019 11:51:50 GMT
VOLT's microsystems unit, Surge Microsystems has been valued at 4.1 billion pounds, after receiving a 400 million pound investment from VOLT and other shareholders including Panoramic and Iron Tube Entertainment. With mere weeks to go until the rapidly-growing Welsea-based technology firm's stock market float, expected to value the company at some 20 billion pounds, VOLT said that it would continue pouring investment and paramount research into the groundbreaking technological development the company has achieved thus far. Panoramic, the electronics producer and its compatriot EGL, will invest around 300 million into Surge Microsystems with the rest coming from a combined effort by VOLT and FirstImperial Bank of Commerce. In addition to the initial 400 million pound investment emerging corporations such as Windsor and The Next Car Company will provide up to 800 million pounds to assist Surge into producing new microchips and processors for key automotive functions within their cars. Currently, Windsor employs Hellica to produce its processors, within recent months the company has been slipping towards bankruptcy. with Surge contemplating a potential takeover.
An independent board would be created using the investment from Windsor, the Next Car Company, Panoramic, FIBC and Volt, with directors from the five aforementioned companies forming the bulk of the board's members. Ashton Turner the CEO of Surge Microsystems will be the board's Chief Executive Officer. Elliott Pierpont, CEO of VOLT has stated that the investment from the aforementioned companies would be beneficial in keeping Surge Microsystems at the forefront of technological advances and would also keep VOLT at the top in terms of technological systems production because of Surge's efforts. The investment would also allow Surge to share the cost of developing new systems with its investors, allaying concerns on the amount of money VOLT pours into Surge's research and development. Since VOLT acquired Surge in 2017, Surge which had been registering as a loss for VOLT up to 2023, made a significant turnaround after Ashton Turner turned the business around with a new focus. Initially, Surge had been mainly focused on producing power-cables (a product it still produces to this date), however Turner diverted the company's direction to focus on microsystems and other technological systems.
With the IPO coming up, Surge must now explain to both its current investors and potential investors as to why they should continue investing or begin to invest into the company. It is within this stage where Surge is likely to obtain its wish figure of a 20 billion valuation. Turner has stated that the extent to which the company could alter and dominate the technological systems market is limitless, citing the company's highly-experiences and capable research and development apparatus. Surge Microsystems has been recognised by the Luthorian Development Bank has having the most sophisticated and trusted research and development department in the form of its three subsidiaries, AC and DC.
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Post by maxington on Jul 5, 2019 10:03:55 GMT
Miliband, the emerging Luthorian search-engine is going deep. The company announced that they will be installing a series of undersea cables from Keymon to western seleya and from Sekowo to eastern seleya, as a means of speeding up its global internet service. Fast connectivity is extremely important to Miliband who sells the product that it's services are the fastest in the market. According to Miliband, the service can consume bandwidth to a great degree. Miliband is rising to be the most widely used search-engine in the world because of its reach and speedy connectivity which outmatches competing search-engines. Miliband's decision to lay down undersea cables along western and eastern seleya comes as the company aimed to release "Optic", its high-speed internet programme. The cables have been divided into sectors. The sector running from Keymon along the western Seleyan coast down to Saridan, known as the Western Seleya constellation, makes Keymon a major joint point in Miliband's high-speed internet. The Western Seleya constellation would connect nations such as Likatonia, Valruzia, Aldegar and Saridan to Miliband's high-speed fibre optic network. The sector running from Seleya along the eastern seleyan coast to Indrala, known as the Crouching Tiger Constellation would connect nations such as Kalistan, New Endralon and Indrala to Miliband's fibres optic network. The infrastructure focused subsidiary of HLE Telecom, will manage the cables.
HLE Telecom, who will be primarily responsible for maintaining the Western Seleya Constellation has been given permission to sell access to the cables to other companies, with Miliband ensuring that it receives priority access to quick data transfer. Thus removing Miliband's reliance on Luthori's undersea cables which run throughout the commonwealth states. The decision by Miliband to create its own private highway for transoceanic data transfer and remove its reliance on Luthori's public undersea cables (which are maintained by the Crown Telecommunications Company - CTC) comes as the company prepares for increase numbers. Miliband, by creating its own private highway virtually allows it to determine how much bandwidth it would need for future expands and bandwidth intensive operations/services. Miliband has estimated that internet penetration rates on the eastern seleyan coast stand at an average of 20%. Co-founder of Algebra Inc, Cory Ryan stated that Algebra Inc had been seeking to expand the Miliband "product" with a series of services. Ryan stated that whilst the Miliband had been constructed as a free and high-speed browser, the success of the brand allows for its to expand its portfolio. There have been rumours circulating that Miliband might expand into e-commerce with a new subsidiary. When asked to comment on the rumour, Ryan refused to comment, but urged to listen out for a major announcement.
Miliband, in the future, intends on expanding its services into Majatra and Dovani with a significant bandwidth extension. The company is already reeling in investment to pilot the ventures with plans for a data centre in Selucia on the table for discussion among the company's shareholders and Algebra Inc. Whilst the company forms its undersea highway, its land-based fibre optic highway is expected to receive a major expansion in Artania. It is expected that fibre-optic cables are to be installed in Darnussia and potentially Beluzia as Miliband moves to expand its services into these nations. However to first place these fibre optic cables, Miliband would need permission from the respective government. It is expected that as it pertains to laying down the undersea cables, Miliband would seek permission from the respective government before cementing and initiating the laying down of the aforementioned submarine cables.
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Post by maxington on Jul 6, 2019 11:24:13 GMT
VOLT is developing its own means to manufacture its own battery cells, something the technological systems corporation has relied on the Lodamese Lithium Ion Company (LIC) to do since both companies sign a strategic partnership back in 2013. The move by VOLT signals the company's major shift towards manufacturing its own products and reducing its reliance on other companies for products it can already produce. By producing its own batteries, it could help VOLT offer cheaper, higher-performance technologies than it does underneath the strategic partnership with the Lithium Ion Company. VOLT uses LIC's battery packs and battery cells in a host of processes and also retails the batteries for LIC to major industries such as chemicals and renewable energy firms. It has been stated that in the past due to LIC's slide towards near bankruptcy in 2018, VOLT had been constrained, whereby LIC's lack of batteries had almost put several of VOLT's productions on hold. Making its own batteries would allow for VOLT to be independent of external sources and would also enable the company to enter battery cell/pack market.
Battery cell research by VOLT has been in motion since early 2026 when the strategic partnership with LIC was set to expire. Most of the research is conducted at the "Flux Lab" at the corporation's Welsea facility. The plant is where VOLT produces its electro-mechanical systems, electric propulsion technology and wind power generation systems whilst its batteries are manufactured at its Ludlum facility in Lodamon a factory jointly owned and operated with LIC. Employees on the company's R&D department are currently focused designing and prototyping advanced lithium ion battery cells to replace those produced by LIC. VOLT has applied to the Welsea and Middlebrook Recruitment Agencies for electric engineers and engineers involved in battery cell design, equipment for producing battery cells and manufacturing processes to make batteries. CEO of VOLT Elliott Pierpont has stated that whilst VOLT will no longer acquired lithium-ion batteries from LIC is expected that VOLT will continue its partnership with the company in the near future or even takeover the company. With VOLT set to open a factory in Mordusia which will be used to produce photovoltaic cells, it is expected that the company will work with LIC and other partners in the industry to provide the systems that go into the photovoltaic cells to be produced.
Chief Technical Officer of VOLT, Owen Allen has stated that the decision to bring the manufacturing of battery cells in house has long been discussed among the company's shareholders. At the company's in house shareholder conference, it was raised that in-order for the company to maximise its production, it would have to bring several processes which were out sourced, in house and that the company. Allen stated that the company is currently considering enter the automotive industry, but said that such a venture wouldn't come in the next couple of years.
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Post by maxington on Jul 7, 2019 22:22:21 GMT
The election results came to an absolute shock to major political analysts and pundits of the sort. As the Luthorian Central Broadcasting Corporation announced the results of the 2027 General election. The election had been called by Elizabeth Zimmerman as a means of testing the public's opinion on the government's economic policies since they had been re-elected in 2023. Zimmerman hoped that the public would recognise the economic developments under her government's economic guidelines, however this has fallen short as apart from calling an early election, she called an election within the Liberal Party to ensure that the party's high-ranking members would be aligned with the direction in which she has taken the party in the past 14 years. Shockingly she lost the leadership spill to Jordan Tannenbay, the party's treasurer and a conservative liberal, by a slim margin.
To the shock of many, the Liberal Party lost its massive majority in the parliament, loosing one hundred seats, when months prior they had been hoping to kick the Labour Party and the Conservative Coalition out of the parliament. They are still the largest party — having won around 266 out of 610 total seats — but holding no majority. This means that the election has brought about a hung parliament. It means that whilst the largest party controls the government, it is impossible for it to pass major laws, specially those needing a 2/3 majority. Tannenbay hoping to crush both the Labour Party and the Conservative Coalition in one full-swing to a greater effect than his predecessor, Elizabeth Zimmerman, ended up granting the aforementioned political parties the standing necessary to make the Liberal Party's time in governance a living hell. Tannenbay will remain as Imperial Chancellor but will not be allowed to make the reforms which his campaign bargained on; that being taxation reform and the soft introduction of austerity measures, lending from Tannenbay's conservative liberal standing.
Meanwhile the Labour Party, led by the left-wing Edmund Ross, surged — gaining 50 seats in the Parliament. Ross' Labour, once kicked out from the parliament during the 2019 election, managed to mobilise a huge coalition of voters who didn't turn out to back the labour party in the last election. Much is currently uncertain on the future of the government. However, what is certain is that the Liberal Party will have to form a coalition government with another party. With the Labour Party stating that it does not intend on entering a coalition with the government, the Conservative Coalition has voiced to Tannenbay that he could form a coalition government with the conservative bloc. The nature of such an agreement between the Liberal Party and the conservatives would alter the political spectrum, changing the image of the Liberal Party if it aligned with the conservatives. Many suggest that conservative liberal Tannenbay will seek to bury the hatchet between the New Conservative Party, the Patriotic Front and the Liberal Party and form a majority government having responded to Labour sentiments that the Liberal Party would never seek to concede to the Labour Party. In the wake of the major Liberal defeat, many prominent liberals have left the party, most notably Elizabeth Zimmerman, Paulette St. Clair and Clark Bainbridge; all of whom have gone to create a new political party known as the Luthorian Democratic Party.
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Post by maxington on Jul 10, 2019 1:38:37 GMT
Renewable energy funding is expected to become harder as the Strategic Industries Act passed by the Government aimed at reducing subsidies in renewable energy, and replacing the funding mechanism with a market-based scheme. The Ministry of Energy and Energy has stated that the new funding mechanism would be slowly phased in over the period of five years. The decision to scale back on government subsidies for renewable energy comes amidst a major debate within the parliament between the Liberal-Conservative Coalition Government and the Labour Opposition on the cost of renewable energy subsidies. Subsidies on renewable energy date back to Imperial Chancellor Edward Musgrave and the Renewable Energy Act of 2004. The Renewable Energy Act sought to phase crude oil, natural gas and coal as Luthori's major energy generations sources, replacing them with renewable energy sources such as hydroelectricity, solar energy and wind energy through subsidies and tax incentives. The legislation had little effect as it only lasted 3 years whereafter Peter Cole's conservative government in 2008 repealed the legislation citing its "ineffectiveness".
The guidelines as outlined by the legislation is aimed at ensuring a steady phasing out of the renewable subsidies as through private venture, renewable energy has risen to account for 10% of power generation and is mainly centred around Middlebrook, which has been running of renewable energy at a rate of 83% since 2016. In response to the government's decision to pull back on renewable energy subsidies, protesters gathered in-front of the Imperial Diet stated that the new legislation was a major win for the coal, oil and natural gas industries and was a major hit to the renewable sector as well as many private citizens. The legislation takes effect in April. The legislation, according to some economists, aims at introducing auctions and bidding to replace the established feed-in subsidies introduced by the Renewable Energy Reinforcements Act of 2019. Extensive lobbying from major industrial companies including Alternex Verdalros and Daxton have enabled exemptions to be included in the legislation. These exemptions are mainly centred around energy-conscious industries such as metals and chemicals. This leaves ordinary customers with the task of footing the bill where the subsidies would have usually stood up.
The legislation however, does not stop at renewable energy but also addresses environmental restrictions. Since 2019, the Luthorian Government has maintained a policy of strict environmental standards, with violations by any individuals or corporation being treated with swift fines and potential jail time. The Coal industry, has the greatest interest in the new legislation as it seeks to expand its contribution to power generation in Luthori. The Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs recognised coal as generating 25% of Luthori's energy. The Coal Confederation, a consortium of Luthori's largest coal mining and processing corporations, have released a statement welcoming the Strategic Industries Act. Under the legislation it recognises Coal, Crude Oil and Natural Gas as strategic industries demanding of subsidies. The statement urged Imperial Chancellor Jordan Tannenbay to reverse the environment-focused policies towards coal introduced by the Zimmerman Ministry. The policies in questions are apart of the Environmental Protections Act, and carries multi-billion pound penalties for serious violations. The Coal Confederation has been a strong opponent of transition policies aimed at assisting miners and coal communities in weathering the collapse of domestic coal. As of 2007, Luthori no longer has stable coal mines, with most being closed for rehabilitation. Since then, most of Luthori's coal has come from either New Luthori or other coal possessing nations.
It is said that the Renewable Energy Act of 2004 was enacted as Musgrave foresaw the collapse and wanted to ensure that the nation was not overly dependent on coal, which at the time had controlled around 50% of all power generation. Labour Leader Edmund Ross has expressed disgust and vexation at the passing of the Strategic Industries Act. Ross stated that the legislation favoured companies and did little to improve the life of the citizenry. Ross stated that instead of increasing subsidies and reducing Luthori's dependency on coal and other processes through a transition towards renewable energy, the government aims at widening the nation's dependency on foreign coal as a means of ensuring luthori's "energy independence." He stated that the oxymoron of depending on foreign commodities in the name of energy independence was a clear demonstration of the Liberal Party's every-so decreasing grip of intellectualism. Before members of the media, Ross said, "This Chancellor has demonstrated his incompetence. At least with Ms. Zimmerman i knew that i was up against a woman with a sensible brain on her head."
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Post by maxington on Jul 11, 2019 12:06:41 GMT
At least 50 dead have been killed and more than 1,000 people injured as terrorist attacks at the heart of Fort William, caused the largest loss of life in an act of terrorism on the Luthorian homeland. In what has been described as a coordinated effort, explosive devices were detonated at four bus termini during the morning rush hour. Emergency services rushed throughout the city as the explosive devices went off without warning over the period of an hour. Initial statements from the Fort William Chief Medical Practitioner stated that around 10 people had been killed with around 200 injured, however that number has since increased as the Central Metropolitan Police and the Security Intelligence Organisation continues its investigation. Whilst the details of the initial situation had been unknown last night, Commissioner of the Central Metropolitan Police, Benedict Foster provided context to members of the media in-front of Granville House. Foster stated that the bombings were reportedly 15 minutes apart from each other. At 6:00 am the first device exploded in the Landsfield Avenue Bus Station when it was about to open the gates for the busses to leave the terminal. Around 7 people were killed. At 6:15, the second device exploded at the Charatin Hill Bus Station where 20 people were killed. At 6:30, the 3 device exploded at the Port Hammersmith Bus Station, killing 6 people. At 6:45, the fourth device exploded at the Manley Bus Station killing dozens of persons. Amidst being alerted at the detonating of the second device, the Central Metropolitan Police shut down Fort William; blocking roads in and out of the densely populated city, halting aerospace traffic over the city, shutting down public transportation and calling in special reserve officers and special firearms teams. Witnesses described scenes of devastation. One Remy Smith who was across the street from Landsfield Avenue Bus Station, said: "I had my headphones in. I didn't hear the blast I just saw people running out of the station and people covered in dust and debris. So out of pure instinct i just ran too."Nia Kennedy who had been left Port Hammersmith Bus Station just mere seconds before the explosion, said: "I was just walking out of the station when i just heard an explosion behind me. I was thrown to the ground. I couldn't hear anything. It was just so dusty and debris was everywhere. I heard screaming, crying." Officials from the Security Intelligence Organisation stated that a video had been sent to the Central Metropolitan Police Service's email by a group known as Freedom International which claimed responsibility for the attacks, citing a crusade against imperialism. Imperial Chancellor Jordan Tannenbay praised the stoicism of Fort Williamers amidst the onslaught. Amidst the terror attack, Chancellor Tannenbay declared the trading would be suspended until another the Cabinet had declared that the situation had been dealt with. Trade has since resumed this morning, after Foreign Minister David Anders announced that trading would resume. Moments after the attacks, the Chancellor gathered the National Security Council. Whilst the details on what had been discussed during the meeting, Home Affairs Minister Steven Andrews stated that the Home Affairs Ministry had launched a manhunt for the individuals responsible for planting the devices. Out of fear that the devices which had exploded could have contained some biological or chemical agent, CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) specialists from the Imperial Army had been deployed at the blast sites to detect traces of the aforementioned agents. Commissioner Foster stated that the CBRN specialists had determined that the devices were conventional, meaning that no biological or chemical agents were involved. Director of the Security Intelligence Organisation, Cornelius Winfield stated that the threat level in Fort William would remain high for the next couple of weeks with more police officers being deployed to the inner city. Around 20,000 officers have been deployed with around 9,000 of these officers being special firearms officers - police officers legally capable of carrying and using firearms. Many are looking at the fact that the Central Metropolitan Police had failed to prevent the situation, however officials from Granville House have stated that the devices were not "under its surveillance." Amidst the attacks, there have been increased calls by the Government Communications Centre for an increase in surveillance. Chancellor Tannenbay stated that the matter of expanding the GCC surveillance would be considered by the government in the coming days.
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Post by maxington on Jul 12, 2019 12:15:49 GMT
Three home-grown bombers, all unknown to the police and the security services, carried out last month's bomb attacks in Fort William which saw the death of around 50 people and around 1,000 injuries. According to statements from the police, a nationwide manhunt had been launched into the finding the individual who had reportedly masterminded the entire operation. The four men, whom are believed to be between the ages of 18 and 30, met up in Middlebrook before boarding a train to Fort William. According to statements from the Central Metropolitan Police Service, the four men - whom had no convictions or known terrorist involvement - had arrived at Fort William where they went to their separate locations via hired vehicles. The police have found the vehicles which the men used where they discovered that it possess several explosives in their trunks. CCTV cameras from Middlebrook Central Station, to Landsfield Avenue Bus Station, Charatin Hill Bus Station, Manley Bus Station and Port Hammersmith Bus Station showed the four men meeting up and arriving at their respective positions. Police were alerted to the existence of one of the four assailants when an emergency RHA 811 call had reported that a man had been found bleeding from the abdomen some blocks away from Port Hammersmith station. Upon responding police found explosives in a football trainer bag on the individual. This led to a raid on the male's home where police found documents related to future attacks.
The discovery of these documents led to the arrest of the two other men, both of home had been hiding in one of their mother's houses. When interviewed by the police, the mother stated that she had no idea that when her son stated that he was going out with one of his "mates", that he was actually going to initiate a terrorist attack. The investigation is still undergoing. It was believed that a fifth person had been involved in the attack which led to the Swanford Police and the Swanford Police counter-terrorism branch to raid an apartment complex in Swanford-upon-Lester. Prior to raiding the complex, the police had reportedly evacuated around 500 residents whom were given temporary accommodations whilst the police searched the complex. It had been stated that police from neighbouring counties had been brought in to assist the overwhelmed Swanford Police. According to a statement from Chief Constable of the Swanford Constabulary, Lawrence Reynolds, the complex had been searched in its entirety, the residents questioned and it had been determined that the suspected fifth assailant was not at the complex. Intelligence from the Security Intelligence Service knocked down the idea of a fifth assailant after documents found at the homes of the three aforementioned men had not mentioned a fifth assailant. Commissioner of the Central Metropolitan Police Service, Benedict Foster, whom has now become a key national coordinator for the police response to the situation as the CMETS are responsible for coordinating Luthori-wide national counter-terrorism matters, stated that the service had increased its presence of the streets of Fort William as it continues its investigation into the coordinated attacks.
Whilst there is significant praise and satisfaction for the police and intelligence service's swift response to the attacks, there still remains the unanswered questions as to why? Director of the Security Intelligence Service, Roman Belmont stated that a full investigation had been launched into the organisation known as "Freedom International". Belmont stated that he was worked with the Secret Intelligence Organisation and the Government Communications Centre on coordinating their efforts towards an investigation into the organisation which has claimed responsibility for the attacks. It has been stated that the SIS has begun its own questioning of the three captured assailants into their connections and intentions with Freedom International. Director of the Government Communications Centre, Sir George Charmant is urging the government to expand the power of the agency so that it can assist in the national response to the attacks.
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Post by maxington on Jul 18, 2019 10:47:22 GMT
Seeking to "awaken the zombies," Imperial Chancellor Jordan Tannenbay unveiled an omnibus welfare package aimed at introducing wholesale cuts to welfare benefits. The legislation proposed by Tannenbay suggests 16 provisionsto slash welfare payments by a 10 billion pound total over the next four years, with the harshest of the cuts targeting young people, working-class families and senior citizens. By "resurrecting the zombies", Tannenbay is intensifying theassault on entitlements. One of the central aims is to coerce thousands of jobless workers, students and parents with young children into low-paid and insecure jobs. This could contribute to the fact that there a major collapse of full-time employmentin basic industries amidst proposed labour and workers reform. School leavers and jobless youth will be forced to seek income support after completing a activity and character programme which will determine whether said individual is deserving of government income support. This policy is also set to target single mothers with more than three children abovethe ages of three-years. Under the proposed welfare cuts, said mothers will have to prepare a CV before applying for incomesupport. It had been estimated that the proposed cuts by the government could increase the cost of living nationally, as personsliving alone, away from home, having to pay around 1,500 pounds upfront. Under the proposed welfare cuts, entry payments and education supplements introduced underneath the Zimmerman Ministry will be stripped entirely. The cheap labour thrust of this package is exemplified by a “social security income test incentive” aimed at “increasing the number of job seekers who undertake specified seasonal horticultural work, such as fruit picking.” The pay and conditions of seasonal fruit pickers are so poor that employers have for years relied heavily on young overseas backpackers, who must undergo such work to satisfy visa conditions. All new welfare recipients will have to wait around a month before being eligible for anypayments, posterior to completing the activity and character programme. Tannenbay has stated that the sweeping welfare cuts comes not only as a wake-up call to the "zombies" but comes a clear indication that the government will no longer allow for the"entitlement state" to continue to develop into something worse. It is stated that under the proposed welfare state, single motherswill find increase difficulty returning to work after giving birth as the package proposes massive cuts to family welfare which wouldsee the abolition of the annual supplements for family tax benefits. Social Services Minister Steven Carmichael stated that thegovernment was making the welfare system fairer for those both inside and outside. Tannenbay argues that the welfare cuts areapart of the government's debt recovery programme, aimed at reducing Luthori's national debt to below 70 billion pounds by 2029. Luthori's national debt stand at around 800 billion pounds. Labour Party Leader, Edmund Ross stated that the welfare reforms was a "malicious" and "vexatious" assault against welfarerecipients. He stated that whilst the government had launched it support he noted that the government had tabled a legislationaimed at reducing corporation tax, slashing them in half to increase corporate profits. Ross stated that such an action would widen the income inequality gap which former Imperial Chancellor Elizabeth Zimmerman had worked hard to shorten. In a statement in the Luthorian Democratic Party's headquarters, former Imperial Chancellor and former Liberal Party Leader Elizabeth Zimmerman stated that the welfare cuts were a "disgraceful attack against core liberal values" and an attack againsther welfare programme which was highly praised by the public and even obtaining bi-partisan support from the Labour Party. Ross spoke at a party conference where he stated that the government's "first impression" was not well-received.
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Post by maxington on Jul 19, 2019 11:27:11 GMT
Luthorian Overseas Forces - Keymon, has commenced the inaugural Operation Ghost Train alongside the Keymonite Defence Forces. With nearly a dozen surface ships, submarines and air assets scheduled to participate, the exercise has been marked as the first of its kind between Luthori and Keymon. Launched as apart of the Luthorian Ministry of Defence's attempt to form a Commonwealth Corps, consist of forces from the nations of the Imperial Commonwealth, the exercise will focus on a series of combat disciplines between Keymon and Luthori, namely in the areas of antisubmarine warfare and maritime surveillance. Mordusia is set to participate as an observer in the inaugural exercise, which will be held entirely in the Mad Dog Ocean, exclusively within Keymon's economic exclusion zone. The exercise is being coordinated by Commander of Luthorian Overseas Forces - Keymon, Lt. General Remy Gordon stated that the exercise was aimed at enhancing joint Luthorian-Keymonite cooperation, especially in the realm of maritime defence. General Gordon asserted that with Keymon being an island state in the vast Mad Dog Ocean, it's geopolitical position was extremely important to maritime trade throughout the Mad Dog Ocean. According to Gordon, LOF Keymon aimed to tap into this augmented interest and presence for purposes of expanding cooperation and international exchanges. In a statement before members of the media, Lt. General Gordon stated that LOF Keymon would work with the KDF in ensuring that island state could be defended, recognising its key position and how important it may be to many states in the event of a conflict in the future.
The amphibious assault ship, HIMS-Discovery is currently docked in Keymon to participate in the exercise alongside her task force, a Series 500 destroyer, two Series 100 frigates, an Amphibious Transport Dock and a Replenishment vessel; all of which are expected to participate in the exercise. HIMS-Discovery's deployment is apart of its Cobra 1 Deployment, the first fully operational deployment of the new amphibious assault ship. On board it possess the Harrier jump jet, which is set to be upgraded for continued service within the Imperial Navy until a suitable replacement is sourced by the Ministry of Defence. Commander of the HIMS-Discovery amphibious assault ship, Rear-Admiral James Burton stated that as apart of the task force's Cobra 1 Deployment, it was committed to boosting the defences of the island alongside the existing efforts of the KDF and LOF Keymon. The task force is set to depart from Keymon in the following three months where it will conduct a task force defence exercise in the southern end of the Mad Dog Ocean before docking in Mordusia for separate exercises. Lt. General Gordon stated that the exercise would see maritime surveillance aircraft from the Imperial Navy be flown in from IAF Westhampton. The exercise will be commanded from IAF Winthrope, the primary base of Luthorian Overseas Forces - Keymon. Imperial Marines are expected to work alongside the KDF on assisting them in developing boarding techniques.
Commander of Luthorian Overseas Forces - Keymon, Lt. General Remy Gordon
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Post by maxington on Jul 23, 2019 1:13:04 GMT
The SP Group and Taikon Telecommunications announced earlier this morning that they had reached an agreement to combine into a new corporation to reshape the telecommunications industry in Sekowo by introducing foreign competition and Luthori's high telecommunications standards and advanced infrastructure. According to statements from the SP Group, the merger will would the SP Group enter into the telecommunications market at a reduced cost and would make Taikon Telecommunications a stronger competitor against Sekowan telecommunication companies. The proposed all-stock deal values Taikon Telecommunications at around 10 billion pounds. As mentioned prior the move by the two companies to merge comes as the SP Group moves to enter the telecommunications market at home and abroad. Currently, HLE Telecom leads the Luthorian market in telecommunications as most of Luthori's telecommunication infrastructure had been laid down by the corporation. Unlike, private companies, HLE Telecom receives government funding as it is a crown corporation alongside the Crown Petroleum Corporation and the All-Luthorian Electrical Company. In Sekowo, Taikon has had a long streak of adding customers. Taikon Telecommunications is a small-time telecommunications corporation based in Sekow0's capital. It has around 500,000 customers compared to the millions of customers being held by Sekowo's telecom giants. Taikon Telecommunications has stated that all of its employees will be transferred underneath the brand of SP Taikon following the first quarter of 2030. The SP Group's merger with the company grants it an advantage as Taikon has experience in the telecommunications market, and with the SP Group's financial support, SP Taikon will be capable of taking on Sekowo's telecommunications giants through sheer innovation. Whilst from the top, many see the merger with Taikon Telecommunications as being an attempt by the company to expand into telecommunications, insider reports state that the SP Group's momentum is slowing down as it is being outpaced by corporation at home such as CPC and the International Technologies Corporation. Since 2018, SP Energy has been rated as the largest private natural gas and petroleum corporation in Luthori, however being outpaced by the sate-owned Crown Petroleum Corporation and its technologies business, SP Electronics has been outpaced by the International Technologies Corporation in the business of computers (laptops, desktops, etc). This reduction in momentum explains why the company has warmed up to telecommunications, a market which the company not some years ago called "bland and unexcitable".
There have been rumours of a potential jump by the SP Group into media and content. This will allow for the company to use its wireless business model for SP Taikon and use content to support the communications business. Whilst the rumours have not been confirmed from any high-ranking official within the echelons of the SP Group, it had been stated that the company could be potentially working with the likes of Pixi Media and the Luthorian Central Broadcasting Corporation on jumping into media-content. Pixi Media currently owns a series of television stations and cinema corporations thus allowing for the Pixi Group subsidiary to create its own content/streaming service. The Luthorian Central Broadcasting Corporation, through LCBC Studios n-house production departments; Comedy, Drama (both combined as Scripted in the new division), Entertainment, Music & Events, and Factual.
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Post by maxington on Jul 23, 2019 2:25:37 GMT
The Keymonite Pound has fallen to its weakest level since the currency was first pegged to the pound back in 2000 as abundant liquidity continues to create an interest gap with the Luthorian pound. The move pushes the pound into the weaker half of its trading range against the Luthorian pound — in a direct shift from forecasts years prior which set the peg as the strongest and most stable of its kind. The slip took the Keymonite pound from 1:1 to 1:2.5. The Keymonite pound has been branded up to now as the most stable currency peg, literally moving in step with the Luthorian pound at 1:1, however as mentioned before the peg slip created a 1.5 percent gap. Speaking at the Select Committee on Financial Services, the Governor of the Bank of Luthori, which is responsible for monitoring the currency peg alongside the Keymonite Government, has stated that up to now, the Keymonite Government has not been aware of the slip in the currency. Having attracted the attention of the Governor of the Bank of Luthori, it has been suggested that if action is taken, the currency could slide into even more dangerous ends of its trading range. The Bank of Luthori set the trading range for the Keymonite pound between $1 and $5. Governor of the Bank of Luthori, David Edge that if the Keymonite pound were to reach anywhere around 3.5 to 5.0, the Bank of Luthori will be forced to terminate the peg as a means of saving the currency's value and forcing the Keymonite Government to support the currency and increase interest rates.
Since the currency peg in 2000, the Keymonite Government has never intervened at the strong side of the band, nor did it have to intervene in the instance where record-setting initial public offerings were held in the nation's stock exchange. Inflows produced from the Bank of Luthori have upheld the Keymonite pound even through the toughest of financial developments within the nation. As the sources of the aforementioned inflows have since stopped, has helped prevent instances of borrowing. This means that although the Keymonite central bank followed Luthori in interest rates, the nation's market rates have not been able to keep pace with the Luthorian pound. Governor Edge stated that currency peg had mandated that the Keymonite Government use its reserves to intervene and buy currency in the event that the Keymonite pound were to slip into its weaker ends. There have been considerable calls within Keymon for the nation to drop the Keymonite pound all together and adopt a new currency and to fix its peg to the Luthorian pound, find another currency to peg itself to or simply begin to manipulate said new currency to fit with the nation's economic policy.
Governor Edge stated that he had contacted the Keymonite Government and had informed them of the peg slip, urging the nation's finance minister to get the nation's central bank involved. He reiterated the terms of the currency peg and warned that if the Keymonite pound were to fall below 3.5, the Bank of Luthori would take it upon itself and intervene and remove the peg all-together, issuing a final "electric shock" of interest rate increase before allowing the currency to float on its own. Governor Edge is expected to travel to Keymon to advise the nation's central bank on the course of action to take as it pertains to saving the nation's currency peg.
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Post by maxington on Jul 24, 2019 12:01:05 GMT
Commissioner of the National Competition Commission, Juliet De Clare is warning oligopolies in Sekowo to not treat foreign companies as threats to their oligopoly base but to welcome them as a competition stimulus. With virtuallylittle wiggle from for smaller and newer corporations, De Clare warned that such an economic policy being upheld bythe Sekowan Government whom is yet to comment on the issue, will be treated as a direct contradiction to the principles of competition in free trade. The National Competition Commission is responsible for overseeing claims ofmisconduct in the areas of consumer affairs and competition. In a report entitled "The Paradigm of Free Trade in Monopolies", the NCC found that established Sekowan monopolies were stifling competition and failing to provide competition through blocking corporations out of the market entirely. Commissioner De Clare stated that the tacticbeing drawn by the Sekowan oligopoly was the sentiment that foreign products were of a lesser quality than those made by the Sekowan corporation in question and hence its customers should continue to buy their own products. The report noted that amidst foreign corporation calling for government intervention into the situation, the SekowanGovernment has been silent on the matter, thus forcing the aforementioned corporations to go to the National Competition Commission and the Financial Conduct Agency. Commissioner De Clare is expected to travel to Sekowo to speak with the nation's Finance Minister on behalf of the corporations and small businesses. De Clare stated that the sentiment being peddled by Sekowan firms such as Adashi and {Insert}, that foreign products are of a lesser quality than theirs completely ignores consumer productionlaws in Luthori and within the Alcaria Agreement. Whilst the Commissioner has noted that larger corporations such as Panoramic has been gaining momentum, smaller businesses are struggling to enter the market amidst the oligopoly. De Clare, an economist in her own right, explained the principle of how an oligopoly works. Commissioner De Clare stated that during her hopeful discussion with the Sekowan Foreign Minister, she intends on pushing the sentiment that Luthori will not have its products be labelled as low quality, even though ALL of its products has to pass through rigours standard checks both domestically and within the Alcaria Agreement. De Clare stated that the National Competition Commission had been brought onto the matter because Finance Minister, William Frinton-Smith had been seeking for a de-escalation of the situation, amidst calls within Orange Avenue, the Imperial Chancellor's residence, to withdraw from the Alcaria Agreement and impose taxes and tariffs on Sekowan products lest the stifling of competition continues to grow beyond an extent whereby the Sekowan Government can control. De Clare sated that she wanted to make the case for Luthorian businesses, their standards and the procedures within the free trade area aimed at maintaining high quality standards. She said: "If the Sekowan Oligopolies are not welcoming of competition and are actively seeking to bar companies from entering the Sekowan markets with the same ease their companies have entered our [Luthorian] markets, their products should have no right to continue to flow through the Alcaria Agreement and into Luthori with ease, if not at all."
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Post by maxington on Aug 2, 2019 4:10:39 GMT
Imperial Chancellor David Tannenbay has dissolved the House of Commons, hence commencing the electoral campaign trail for the various political parties of the Imperial Diet. Having been ousted in a party coup right after announcing the general election, Tannenbay who's intentions was to continue remodelling the Liberal Party into the Liberal-Conservative paradise he once imagine, was shifted removed from the position of leader of the Liberal Party by a "New Liberal" politician in the form of Arthur Evans. The Imperial Chancellor announced the general election on the steps of the Imperial Chancellor's office. Having been ousted from the Liberal Party in another coup that has shaken the core of the party, Tannenbay has become the Acting Imperial Chancellor pending the election. Tannenbay had orchestrated a similar coup against former Imperial Chancellor and now political leader of the Democratic Party, Elizabeth Zimmerman. Prior to the announcement his government policies had been lambasted by Labour Party leader Edmund Ross, who stated that the Imperial Chancellor had become a doormat for the larger Conservative Coalition. Championing the idea against the Liberal/Conservative Coalition's austerity measures, Ross launched a furious tirade against the government whom he described as a "vegetable" and "immobile" government.
Tannenbay refused to comment on his ousting from the Liberal Party, however in speaking with the party's new leader, Mr. Evans, it was stated that the Liberal Party will be making a major internal restructuring to "undo the damage" done by Tannenbay. Evan's takeover heralds the return of classic liberals to the Liberal Party and the extrication of party's liberal conservative elite. Having lost the Liberal Party's super majority to the elation of a larger Labour and Conservative presence in the Commons, Tannenbay was rebuked by the Liberal Party's most senior members, many of whom had been strong proponents for Elizabeth Zimmerman's leadership of the party. Many of the party's "old guard" had cast the blame of Tannenbay being elected as political leader on new members. Long-time chairman of the party, Marshall Savoy stated that people brought into the party by Tannenbay's efforts to work against Zimmerman had damaged the unity within the party and had almost destroyed general trust within the political party. Evans stated that he intends on reversing the damage done. When asked about the recent return of familiar faces to the Liberal Party, Elizabeth Zimmerman stated that she had no intention of returning to the party in the near and distant future.
To assist the general public in choosing their party of choice, the Inquirer has complied a collect of the important talking points of the main political parties of the 2031 General Election
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Post by maxington on Aug 5, 2019 23:56:47 GMT
The Left-wing "Tomorrow Coalition" led by both Labour Leader Edmund Ross and Democratic Party Leader Elizabeth Zimmerman has sent the Right-wing "Conservative Coalition" led by New Conservative Party Leader Toby Zeihan, into the opposition seats as the coalition trust its way into a gracious victory against the conservative government of the previous half-decade. Having launched their campaigns on the basis of improving the quality of life in Luthori and reverse the damage caused by the Conservative Coalition to the luthorian economy and the nation's robust social services systems, the Labour Party and the Democratic Party alongside the Green Party have entered the government seats, the first time in nearly 20 years for the Labour Party who had last been seen in the government benches back in 2003 under the 1st MacDonald Ministry. Having been berated by the conservative campaign as being unelectable and possessing a career of gross stupidity, both Edmund Ross and Elizabeth Zimmerman defied doubters that their infant left-wing coalition would beat the "strong" and "stable" conservative coalition which had ruled the nation over the past 5 years and which had formed a strong opposition against the classic liberals of the Liberal Party during Elizabeth Zimmerman's tenure as Imperial Chancellor. Prior to the election, Jordan Tannenbay had been replaced as leader of the Liberal Party by the supposedly new liberal Arthur Evans who promised that he would distance the party from the conservative coalition and realign the party through a major internal remodelling/reorganisation. The party's presence of the conservative coalition ballot suggested otherwise. In speaking with Mr. Evans, it was stated that Liberal Party had to ease its way out of the coalition which it had owed its governance over Luthori during the period 2026-2031 to. In recognising Evan's back peddle, many liberal voters became distrusting of the idea of a "new liberal" movement being championed by the Liberal Party. Instead many have looked to Elizabeth Zimmerman's Democratic Party for guidance in what she calls "New Liberalism".
Many within the ranks of the New Conservative Party came infuriated with the sentiment of the return of a labour and social liberal coalition to the government seats. At the party's post-election conference, Toby Zeihan sought to thank those who remained faithful to the idea of a conservatism in the luthorian government. In his address he sought to lambaste voters of the Labour Party, the Democratic Party and the Green and Centrist Party, accusing them of bigotry and stupidity for voting a coalition that will increase the national debt and collapse the national economy in under 5 years. Labour Leader Edmund Ross was quick to rebuff the statements made by Zeihan calling them out of touch and "not worthy of a servant of the Luthorian people." During the Labour Party Conference posterior to the election results Ross spoke to address the commentary of the conservative leader.
This general election has also seen the rise of cross-bench independent movements such as the Green Party, the Centrist Party and the Social Democratic Party. These parties had been created for the sole purpose of catching those who had become disenfranchised by the labour, democratic, liberal, conservative and patriotic parties and wanted an alternative to the politics of the aforementioned parties. Leader of the Green Party, Max Hall, stated that the election was a clear message to the larger political parties that it had to reconnect with its disenfranchised members. Upon receiving over 10 seats in the Imperial Diet, Hall was quick to join the "Tomorrow Coalition", thus landing him in the position of Vice-Imperial Chancellor alongside Elizabeth Zimmerman. The Imperial Cabinet is expected to be announced by the government in the coming months before the re-opening of the Imperial Diet by Empress Claudia. Leader of the Centrist Party Jonathan Pie explained the rise of independent movements like the green party, the centrist and the social democratic party before members of the media who flocked to his quiet east Fort William neighbourhood upon news that his party had obtained eighteen seats in the Imperial Diet.
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