Queen Elizabeth II dies aged 96
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has died after a reign of 70 years. Emperor Jonathan I has announced an Empire-wide state of mourning to last until the Queen’s funeral. For the first four and a half years of the Empire of Austenasia, its entire population also owed allegiance to Queen Elizabeth as sovereign of the United Kingdom, with which all Austenasians up to that point were dual citizens. Even today, due to the various dual nationalities of all Austenasians, Elizabeth II was the joint sovereign of over a quarter of the Austenasian population (27.6%; 29 out of 105). Elizabeth II is now succeeded as monarch by her son Charles, formerly Prince of Wales, who met Crown Princess Caroline in March earlier this year. Shortly after learning of her death, Emperor Father Terry led a formal toast to the Queen’s memory in Parliament Hall. Furthermore, Lord John Gordon, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has suspended all parliamentary business. Full and official tributes to Queen Elizabeth II will be released by the Austenasian Throne and government in due course. Born on 21 April 1926, Elizabeth II became Queen upon the death of her father King George VI on 6 February 1952. As well as reigning over the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II held the thrones of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, and ten other Commonwealth Realms.
Western Jarrahview threatened by bushfire
A huge wildfire in western Australia has resulted in concerns for the Austenasian Territory of Western Jarrahview. The unpredictable and as of yet uncontrolled fire, which is raging within Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and fanned by strong winds, has already razed over 5,000 hectares of bushland. No injuries have yet been reported, but while the Australian authorities fight the fire, homes in the area have been evacuated and tourists are being instructed to stay away. Western Jarrahview is an uninhabited wooded area spanning 155,000 square feet, and was annexed by Austenasia after being claimed for the Empire by its now governor, Lord Daniel Hamilton, in January this year. In zones established by the Australian authorities, Western Jarrahview is at the outer edge of the “Emergency” zone (red, in the image above), bordering the “Watch and Act” zone (yellow). The Austenasian territory (white border) is therefore at direct threat from the wildfire. Although Western Jarrahview is uninhabited, it is home to dozens of Jarrah trees and Eucalyptus bushes, and the ecological impact of the fire reaching the territory would be devastating. UPDATE 10 DECEMBER 22:20 – Lord Hamilton has reported that the bushfire is now under control, with Western Jarrahview having been spared any damage. Roughly 7,800 hectares of bushland were destroyed by the fire, which is suspected to have been started deliberately. Australian authorities have downgraded the threat to the zone in which Western Jarrahview is situated to “Bushfire Advice”, meaning it is unlikely it will come under threat again.
New territory annexed in Australia
Earlier this week saw a new Territory claimed by the Empire of Austenasia in Australia. The new land claim, Western Jarrahview, is comprised of an uninhabited roughly 155,000 square foot wooded area. The area was claimed by the now Lord Daniel Roscoe, who has been appointed Governor of the new territory. An Imperial Decree accepting the claim and officially annexing Western Jarrahview was promulgated by Emperor Jonathan I on the evening of January 5th. However, with the difference in time zones, this was past midnight on January 6th in Western Jarrahview, which will be considered its official date of foundation. Western Jarrahview is only the second land claim of Austenasia in Australia, or in Oceania as a whole. The first, New South Scotland, became an Austenasian Crown Dependency in January 2013.
Australian police escorted from New South Scotland
Two Australian constables from the New South Wales Police Force have been escorted from the Austenasian Crown Dependency of New South Scotland. The two police constables are reported to have been harassing visitors to New South Scotland (which is surrounded by the Australian state of New South Wales) by asking visitors of the crown dependency for identification in a rude manner. A constable from New South Scotland’s own police force, the New South Scotland Constabulary, then asked the Australian police to leave. The Australian police were escorted from New South Scotland by the constable, who was assisted by a group of socialists visiting from Australia who to the amusement of others sang the Internationale while escorting the Australian constables out. New South Wales Police Force is not thought to have made any formal comment on the incident.