Nine years of independence celebrated

The Empire of Austenasia yesterday celebrated nine years since its foundation in 2008. Although the actual anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is on the 20th, Independence Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of September. Emperor Jonathan I was not in Austenasia itself due to having recently moved to Spain for several months, but published a brief video statement from the newly-claimed Austenasian Consulate-General in Castile and León. As is customary, an honours list was published by the Emperor, albeit one smaller than previous years due to a large amount of honours having been already granted this year less than four months ago on 4 June, when Imperium Day coincided with the moveable feast of Pentecost. Furthermore, a parade in celebration of the occasion took place in Jovanovo, and messages of congratulations were received by the imperial government from numerous dignitaries and national leaders from across the world. Planning has now begun for next year’s Independence Day celebrations, which will see the tenth anniversary of Austenasia’s foundation.

Emperor, Princess Consort and Emperor Father arrive in Soria

Emperor Jonathan I, Princess Consort Hannah and Emperor Father Terry arrived safely in the Spanish city of Soria on Monday evening. The Princess Consort, as part of her university degree, is spending an academic year abroad in Spain working as a language assistant in a Spanish primary school. Emperor Jonathan I will be living with her for the year, working as a private tutor. Emperor Father Terry flew out with the imperial couple from London Gatwick airport on Monday 11th, and will be staying with them until Friday. The Emperor retains full access to the internet, and has stressed that living in Spain for a year will not negatively impact his level of communication with members of government or his ability to exercise his duties as Monarch. Jonathan I and Princess Hannah will return from Spain for a week around Easter next year, and return permanently in June.

IGS Expedition to Cheam and Nonsuch Parks

The Imperial Geographical Society yesterday conducted an expedition of exploration through Cheam Park and the adjoining Nonsuch Park. The two parks together make up a large area of fields and woodland which straddles the border between the London Borough of Sutton and the county of Surrey. The expedition of three was led by Emperor Jonathan I, and discovered a dry riverbed, some basic wooden shelters constructed in the woods, and some wild parakeets. Views of various London landmarks, including Battersea Power Station, Wembley Stadium, and the BT Tower were available from high ground on Cheam Park.

Local elections in Ionisia and Jovanovo

Local elections in Ionisia and Jovanovo have concluded, with the Acting Representatives of the two towns being elected as Representatives proper. Ionisia and Jovanovo joined the Empire last month, with Prince Aggelos and Iron Lord Dankovsky being appointed their respective Acting Representatives. Both Acting Representatives stood as the only candidates in yesterday’s elections, meaning that there was an Abstain option which, if it gained the majority of votes, would have rendered the election inconclusive. However, both candidates were elected in their towns with unanimous support, as well as a 100% turnout from all eligible voters (2 in Ionisia and 9 in Jovanovo).

Counsellors of State appointed following hospitalization of Emperor

Emperor Jonathan I has been hospitalized due to a serious illness and has appointed two Counsellors of State to exercise the powers of the Throne in his absence. His Imperial Majesty made the appointment earlier today following his hospitalization. The Prime Minister, Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy and the Governing Commissioner of Oregonia, Lord Adam, have been appointed Counsellors of State, jointly exercising the powers of the Throne in the Monarch’s absence. The Prime Minister’s Office issued the following statement not long ago: THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE New Richmond – 3 September 2017 AN ANNOUNCEMENT His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has recently been hospitalized due to a serious illness, and as such he has appointed the Prime Minister and Lord Adam, Duke of Washington to serve as Counsellors of State, jointly exercising the powers of the Throne. The illness which afflicts the Emperor is not yet known to anyone outside of the Imperial Family, however the Counsellors of State ask all Austenasians and members of the international and MicroWiki communities to pray for the well-being of the Emperor. UPDATE 4 September 08:00 – The Emperor was discharged from hospital in the early hours of this morning following an improvement in his condition, and is back at the Imperial Residence. The Counsellors of State will remain appointed so as to reduce his workload during his recovery. UPDATE 9 September 07:30 – The Emperor has declared an end to the appointment of the Counsellors of State, having now recovered sufficiently to return fully to his duties as head of state.

Cool Barbie production schedule brought forward

With the publication of Cool Barbie XII – A Last Chance yesterday afternoon, Austenasian Television Productions (ATP) have announced that the next two episodes will both be out within a month. Fans of Cool Barbie, the sci-fi fantasy series by ATP, are used to having to wait months between episodes; Cool Barbie XI was published in December last year. However, episodes XIII and XIV, previously planned for next year, will now be published respectively on 30 August and 9 September this year, instead. These next episodes lead up to the series finale, which has only been brought forward slightly, to late next year or early 2019. Cool Barbie is based in an alternate world where toys are alive, and the eponymous Barbie doll’s interactions with various aliens and villains. All the Cool Barbie episodes can be seen on the Austenasia YouTube channel.

State Intelligence Agency publicly acknowledged

His Imperial Majesty the Emperor publicly confirmed the existence of the secretive State Intelligence Agency in an Imperial Edict published earlier today. The existence of the State Intelligence Agency (SIA) had been kept a carefully guarded secret since its creation eight years ago today, on 8 August 2009. The then Emperor Terry I had instructed his son the then Prime Minister, Crown Prince (now Emperor) Jonathan, to create an intelligence agency to guard the national security of the young Austenasian state. Since then, the SIA has engaged in several information-gathering operations to protect the Empire against both foreign and domestic threats. In today’s Edict, the Emperor relinquished direct control over the SIA. Iron Lord Daniel Dankovsky, Acting Representative of the newly-annexed town Jovanovo, has been appointed Director-General of the SIA. The precise activities of the SIA will remain covert.

Two new Towns annexed as Axvalley dissolved

This morning, an Act of Parliament was passed dissolving the Crown Dependency of Axvalley while annexing two new Towns, Jovanovo and Ionisia. Axvalley, a farming estate bordered by Brazil, had joined the Empire in February 2013, one of the first of the great territorial expansions that Austenasia had seen under Emperor Jonathan I. As a Crown Dependency, Axvalley functioned with complete autonomy under its Governing Commissioner, Rubens Machado. However, after four and a half years under Austenasian sovereignty, the people of Axvalley decided that they wished to return to Brazil. Their right to political self-determination being respected, legislation was drawn up to dissolve the Crown Dependency. However, at the same time, the government received requests from two other places to be annexed as Towns. The first, Jovanovo, consists of two rural properties bordered by Montenegro, measuring nine and a half acres. The second, Ionisia, is comprised of a residential property on the Greek island of Samos. Jovanovo and Ionisia have populations of twelve and three, respectively, and are both wholly Orthodox Christian in the religious composition of their residents. Ionisia is home to Prince Aggelos of Imvrassia, who has been appointed Acting Representative of the new Town. These latest changes leave the Empire of Austenasia with a population of 84, and a land area of roughly eighty one acres.

Ecosystem restoration begins in Oregonia

Governing Commissioner Adam von Friedeck, Duke of Washington, has declared the Crown Dependency of Oregonia to be a site of ecosystem restoration in a proclamation issued yesterday. The Duke of Washington – who is more commonly known as King Adam I of Überstadt but prefers not to use his royal title when acting as Governing Commissioner – ordered the Imperial Oregonian Militia to uproot invasive species and plant native flora in its place. Oregonia consists of an uninhabited area of woodland and is bordered by Überstadt and by the U.S. state of Washington. The Governing Commissioner explained that the “area around Oregonia is overrun by noxious weeds and neglected by American authorities, despite their recognizing it as a critical habitat area. I hope that fighting invasive plants in Austenasian territory can contribute to solving the problem in some small measure.”

New Territory in North America

In the first territorial expansion of the Empire since December 2016, Austenasia expanded today with the annexation of the Territory of Hoagland in North America. Hoagland, an enclave of the U.S. state of Ohio, consists of 14,628 square feet of grassland. Between August and November last year, the land was a member state of the Holy Roman Empire as the Free City of Hoogland. Hoogland’s former Statholder, Grant Hawkins – also known as Pope Euclid I, as Pontifex Maximus – offered the land to the Empire and has been appointed Governor of the newest Austenasian Territory. The name Hoagland, a deliberate variation on the land’s former name, is originally derived from the Afrikaans for “high land.” Austenasian Territories are areas of land with no permanent residents, and are administered by a Governor who usually lives nearby to the land.