The Pulse of the Empire, Delivered to You

MicroWorld Newsbites – November 2016

FLANDRENSIS On 4 November, Flandrensis announced its withdrawal from the Antarctic Micronational Union, an organisation it founded in 2008 which has been hugely successful in regulating the territorial claims by various small countries and micronations to land in Antarctica. Grand Duke Niels I explained his decision by stating the AMU had “almost no interest in the ecological problems of today”. However, AMU Administrative-General Yaroslav Mar disputed this, publishing an e-mail in which he had offered the Grand Duke the chance to draft a new, more ecologically-focused charter for the organisation. FLORENIA On 25 November, King Eran – who had previously held a ceremonial role – published a declaration in which he suspended Parliament and instituted temporary personal rule, instructing his son Prince Nathan, the Prime Minister, to draw up plans for reform. This comes after several months of apparent inactivity in the Florenian government. LADONIA On 24 November, an arson attack burnt down the Tower of the Winds, a quarter of the sculpture “Nimis”, one of two over which Ladonia declared independence from Sweden due to planning permission disputes. There have been no claims to responsibility for the attack. Queen Carolyn I promised that “Nimis will be repaired, and grow to be even larger than before… rising like a Phoenix from the ashes.” MOLOSSIA  On 27 November, Molossia unveiled a Little Free Library on its north-western border with the US, full of books to be swapped for free by passing readers in Molossia and in the United States. RUDNO  On 13 November, Rudno adopted a new theocratic constitution, declaring that it would have no King but Jesus Christ, and renaming the office of Ambict, head of government, to Steward. ZEALANDIA          On 12 November, the State Bank of Zealandia announced the creation of a new Zealandian currency, the Credit, pegged to equal value with the Australian dollar. On 23 November, Chairwoman Charlotte Lindstrom signed into a law guaranteeing the right of Zealandians to practice “the magickal arts” so long as such are not inconsistent with the law or “good proletarian morals”.

Independence weekend celebrated

This weekend saw the Empire celebrate seven years of independence. Independence Day took place on Saturday 19th as the third Saturday in September, but the actual seven year anniversary of Austenasia’s foundation was on Sunday 20th. A military parade was held in New Richmond, and celebrations also took place in Terentia and Thanasia. The occasion was also observed by many of Austenasia’s foreign ambassadors. Emperor Jonathan I travelled back to Wrythe for the weekend from Roehampton, where he recently started his third and final year of a university course. As is customary, an honours list was published by the Emperor on Independence Day. Recipients of honours included Queen Carolyn I of Ladonia, who was knighted into the Order of the Bullmastiff, and King Adam I of Überstadt, who was granted the title Duke of Washington. Meanwhile, Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy published a speech as Prime Minister, which can be read here. Sunday 20th also saw constitutional amendments, approved by a referendum and by Parliament, come into force at one second past midnight.

Austenasia-Ladonia treaty signed at Heathrow meeting

The Empire has signed a treaty of mutual recognition with the Royal Republic of Ladonia. Emperor Jonathan I met yesterday evening with Queen Carolyn I of Ladonia and her daughter Crown Princess Greta at Heathrow Airport in the UK. The Ladonian royals were returning to their home in the USA after having visited Ladonia, which is bordered by Sweden. With several hours until their next flight, they invited the Emperor to meet them at the airport. Austenasia recognised Ladonia in February 2013, but due to a busy bureaucracy the Ladonian government never replied to a request for diplomacy. The Emperor and Queen used the meeting as an opportunity to sign an impromptu treaty of mutual recognition. Ladonia is uninhabited, despite having over 17,000 citizens worldwide, and is comprised of a Scandinavian beach that was declared independent from Sweden in 1996 after the local council demanded large sculptures which had been built there to be demolished.