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La Gazzetta di Messelia

#11

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Palazzo Malzo Denies War Rumours
Marta Pezzaloni

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A rumour has spread that the Senate has voted in secret to declare war on Akarus

Messelia. A spokesperson for the Palazzo Malzo has denied the rumours on social media that the Senate secretly passed a declaration of war on Akarus.

This denial came in response to increasing rumours, which originated in the popular discussion website Gnosi, that the Senate had meet in secret on Friday to vote on a declaration of war against Akarus, which is currently engaged in a military conflict with Vallen over the sovereignty of certain islands. Rumours escalated after they were picked up by the Trevescan News Network (RTN). While the news report made clear that the story was a rumour at best, and a hoax at worst, this only led to a dramatic increase in the attention paid to related posts on Gnosi.

There are a simultaneous statement from the Sartorian Embassy in Andropen, which indicated that "the Embassy has no knowledge of any armed conflict between Sartoria and Akarus, and remains committed to keeping peaceful and cooperative relations between the two countries".

While the Senate did hold a reserved meeting on Friday, its public schedule indicated that the meeting was reserved so senators could discuss certain classified spending matters, namely related to special appropriations for the Carabinieri and the Royal Eastern Security Service. These matters, according to the Rules of the Senate, are automatically held in a reserved status, unless a majority of all senators vote otherwise. There is no indication in the public record that the Senate either debated or voted on any matters other than the special appropriations.

[05 February 2018]

#12

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Bergamaschi Wraps Up Hyperia Visit
Marta Pezzaloni

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First Councillor Bergamaschi at a press conference in Hyperia

Theia. First Councillor Luciana Bergamaschi concluded today a three-day official visit to Hyperia, the first such visit by a Sartorian First Councillor in twenty five years. Her agenda, according to Palazzo Malzo Press Secretary Matteo Boglione, focused on strengthening relations with Hyperia and laying the groundwork for close scientiic cooperation with the Antarctic country.

Landing on Strata Air Base the evening of August 05, Ms Bergamaschi spent most of the following day in official ceremonies and private discussions with her counterpart, Hyperian Chancellor Alexia Sartosio. According to the public agenda provided to the press, the First Councillor was expecting to have a broad initial discussion about bilateral relations, key policy issues for both parties and the fundamental role of Hyperia in Antarctic research. At a press conference after the bilateral meetings, the First Councillor called Hyperia a "key partner in the region" and said that she was "honoured to be hosted by a dear friend, Chancellor Sartosio".

On August 07, Ms Bergamaschi flew to Kharkov, the largest city in Hyperia. There she visited the Sartorian Consulate General, where she met the consular staff and their families. She then engaged in further discussions aimed at finalising details for an agreement on Antarctic and scientific cooperation. Press Secretary Matteo Boglione indicated that the agreement had been negotiated for the most part by teams from Sartoria and Hyperia, but conceded that some issues related to the degree of scientific research sharing and details over scientific personnel exchanges required discussions at a higher level.

Negotiations concluded for the most part on that day. By August 08, the only outstanding issues were required reviews by the legal representatives of both parties. Once that step was cleared, First Councillor Bergamaschi and Chancellor Sartosio held a signing ceremony, where they signed the Antarctic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement and answered questions from the press on the details of the agreement. Following the ceremony and a farewell lunch, hosted by Chancellor Sartosio, the First Councillor retreated to her hotel, holding internal meetings for the rest of the day. She is expected to leave for Mariano Goretti Research Station, the oldest and largest Sartorian research station in the Antarctic region.

#13

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Senate Authorises Deployment to Akarus
Marta Pezzaloni

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Debate on the Senate Floor

Messelia. Yesterday evening the Senate voted 241-167 in favour of the Arctic Military Assistance Act (AMAA), following a fierce debate regarding the wider foreign policy implications of the measure.

The AMAA authorises the First Councillor to direct the deployment of the 15,000 troops from Sartorian Armed Forces for a maximum of 60 days outside the jurisdiction of the Artemian Union (AU), requiring that a report be provided to the Senate Military Committee on the purpose of the deployment and the planned schedule for withdrawal. Reports from our sister newspaper, The Byzantium Herald, confirm that a sizeable proportion of the force is already awaiting orders at Marcus VII Joint Base, in Byzantium, under the command of Admiral Elisa Sordi.

While there was little doubt that the Act would eventually be passed, many were surprised at the cost that passage extracted. Amid fierce opposition from the ruling Green Coalition, First Councillor Elena Bergamaschi turned to the opposition Merchant Rights Association (ADM). Led by senator Mario Salucci, the ADM controls 96 votes of its own, as well as 37 votes from Avanti and the National Renewal Movement, two smaller opposition parties. Following extensive maneuvering, including adding a provision that the Armed Forces would not assist in any offensive operations, the Privy Council obtained the additional support of the Liberal Party, the Socialist Party and 41 votes from the Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASS).

While the Council won the vote, this has left deep divisions within the Green Coalition, with the Social Progress Party/Youth Movement and a majority of the ASS having voted against deployment, arguing that Sartoria would be dragged into a prolonged offensive war against Nolvik. Second Councillor Scola contended that this would not be the case, promising that the Council would limit the deployment to assisting Akarus in repelling the Nolvish Invasion and restoring order to already occupied areas. In spite of this commitment, several Green senators have criticised the willingness of the Council to rely on opposition votes, calling into question Scola's leadership and the wisdom of selecting Luciana Bergamaschi as First Councillor. There have been no responses from the Palazzo Malzo, beyond standard remarks that the deployment would be ordered at some point this weekend.

#14

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Trivano Town's Health Crisis Traced Back to The Hospital
Marta Pezzaloni

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View of the Lavorio Royal Laboratory

Padiglione. An official inquiry by the Department of Health of Trivano has suggested that the recent health crisis in certain small towns can be traced back to the Lavorio Royal Laboratory.

Health Commissioner Mario D'Emilio presented, in a press conference this morning, the results of a six-week investigation into the reports of ailments and health issues in at least 200 people, living in small towns in northern Trivano. Symptons included nausea, loss of muscular mobility and eventually loss of consciousness. While the initial theory was that a new viral strain was affecting these towns, the affair took on a conspiratorial air after the Department of Health started an investigation and restricted all access to information on the ill. Commissioner D'Emilio then announced that an investigation would take place to determine the source of the ailments, and to ensure that no additional people would be affected.

The report, which has been made available to the press, indicates that all those who became ill have been successfully cured, though it admits that identifying the source of the illness has proven impossible. The following passage, from the report's summary, is particularly interesting:

Efforts to identify the source of the pathogen have proven elusive, despite the best intentions of the Department, due to the refusal of the Lavorio Royal Laboratory to provide information on its activities, and on its connection to the aforementioned health crisis. Without such information, and with the continued refusal of the Privy Council to provide authorisation for access to it, it will be difficult to ascertain, now or ever, what the pathogen truly was, or how to combat its effects, should it present itself again.

Sources close to the Department of Health, who spoke on condition of anonymity, say that the patients were cured only because the Lavorio Royal Laboratory provided medicine, but neither hospitals, nor the Department of Health, were allowed to examine this medicine afterwards. Known as "The Hospital", Lavorio Royal Laboratory is no stranger to controversy and conspiracy theories. In a similar incident in 1994, The Hospital was accused by Angelo Soriano, then the Lieutenant Governor of Trivano, of working with the Sartorian Army to create pathogens and chemical weapons, from the recovered remains of extraterrestrials. While the accusation was not taken seriously, it did spark interest in the secrecy of the business conducted at The Hospital, which to this day remains classified.

#15

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Princess Giulia Sends Condolences to Adler; Palazzo Malzo Condemns Meridia
Marta Pezzaloni

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Princess Giulia spoke today at the Ponchielli Institute of Technology

Ponchielli. Princess Giulia delivered a public statement today, expressing her distress at the situation in Adler and conveying her condolences to the Adleran People.

Following her participation in the Giorgio Alamanni Lecture Series, organised by the Ponchielli Institute of Technology, where she was the keynote speaker, Princess Giulia delivered a statement before the press where she indicated she was "most distraught" with the deaths of most of the Adleran Government, and said that she spoke for Sartoria in expressing her "deepest condolences to Adler during this difficult time". The Princess also affirmed that she remained in close communication with the Privy Council, to ensure that similar incidents would not take place in Sartoria.

Missing from the Princess' statement was the declaration of martial law by Acting Chancellor Alphonse Lehardt, who is leading the Adleran Government following the deaths of the entire line of succession, with the exclusion of the Secretary of State, who declined to act as Chancellor. While many in social media are criticising the Princess for failing to speak against what is considered a dangerous, yet lawful, breach of democratic order, the Office of the Princess reminded later this afternoon that the Princess does not traditionally comment on political or foreign policy matters, leading such decisions to the Privy Council.

Palazzo Malzo Defends Parthenopias in Meridia Brawl

Unlike the Princess' politically neutral statement, the Palazzo Malzo delivered a strong defence of Parthenopias in a written statement this morning. Parthenopias, a traditional ally and key member of the Artemian Union, is involved in a diplomatic dispute with Meridia, following the calls in the latter to boycott Parthene products on account of the Parthene Government's condemnation of legalised torture in Meridia.

Meridia has criticised the martial law imposed in Adler and the human rights regime in Sizhou. This has prompted responses from both countries, who have called out what they consider to be hypocrisy. Acting Chancellor Lehardt, in particular, called out the continued legality of torture in the Meridian state of Carnato, a criticism supported by the Parthene Government.

In its statement, the Palazzo Malzo asserted that it "stands steadfast in support of its ally to the east" and that it cannot ignore the "dissonance between a criticism of a thus-far legitimate exercise of governmental powers and the continued use of a barbaric practice that violates the dignity of all individuals". It further state that Sartoria would coordinate, within the Foreign and Security Policy Council of the Artemian Union, on further measures to be taken about the state of human rights in Meridia.




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