The International

[Arkiania]

<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid; padding-bottom: 4px"><div style="border-bottom: 2px solid;"><span style="margin-left: 2em"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/SixOUPA.png" height="64px" width="64px" /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-large; margin-left: .5em;">The International</span></span></div>
<span style="display: block; border-bottom: 1px solid; padding: 0 1em 2px; margin-bottom: 4px; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 16px;"> Local | World | Politics | Business | Technology | Health | Entertainment | Environment | Travel | Sports | Video | Opinion | Other</span><div style="display: inline-flex;"><div style="display: inline-block; border-right: 1px solid; padding-right: 4px; min-height: 450px;"><span style="display: block; border-bottom: 1px solid; padding: 1em 0;"><span style="font-size: 21px;">Kuroari Technologies announces breakthrough in silicon transistors.</span>
By <a href="" rel="nofollow"> Seong-Min Choe </a> and <a href="" rel="nofollow"> Hwan Chung </a>
Friday 27 Ochtyr 1584 CE</span>

A scan of Kuroari Technologies' 5nm transistor, built using an industry-first process to stack silicon nanosheets as the device structure.

After previously abandoning silicon in its latest products, Kuroari researchers detailed a breakthrough in transistor design, and one that will that will continue the march towards smaller and more affordable processors. For decades, the semiconductor industry has obsessed over smallness, and for good reason. The more transistors you can squeeze into a chip, the more speed and power efficiency gains you reap, at a lower cost. The last major breakthrough in silicon allowed for processors at 22nm. However, they quickly ran out of steam as the industry approached 7nm processors. Which required an entirely different method that abandoned silicon completely. III-V semiconductors have now come to an end with this breakthrough. Along with multiple research partners, Kuroari has gone horizontal, layering silicon nanosheets in a way that effectively results in a gate. With the new process, the gains could be at either 40 percent better performance at the same power, or 75 percent reduction in power at the same efficiency. Actual processors built off of this new structure aren’t expected to hit the market until 1587 at the earliest.
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[Seperallis]

<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid; padding-bottom: 4px"><div style="border-bottom: 2px solid;"><span style="margin-left: 2em"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/SixOUPA.png" height="64px" width="64px" /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-large; margin-left: .5em;">The International</span></span></div>
<span style="display: block; border-bottom: 1px solid; padding: 0 1em 2px; margin-bottom: 4px; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 16px;"> Local | World | Politics | Business | Technology | Health | Entertainment | Environment | Travel | Sports | Video | Opinion | Other</span><div style="display: inline-flex;"><div style="display: inline-block; border-right: 1px solid; padding-right: 4px; min-height: 450px;"><span style="display: block; border-bottom: 1px solid; padding: 1em 0;"><span style="font-size: 21px;">Farid Reza Ahmadi elected as 9th President of A'sir</span>
By <a href="" rel="nofollow">Efraim Martí</a>
Septem 1587</span>

Farid Reza Ahmadi making his address to the assembled members of the Majlis, the A'sirian parliament, shortly after his election.

A'BEHZ, A'SIR - In a four-round electoral brawl, Farid Reza Ahmadi overcame his Conservative rival Sattar Kashkouli in a 54% to 45% vote to be named the ninth president of the Akhadic Republic, and give the Reformist-bloc its first presidential win in the country's history. Voter turnout was a record-breaking 77% and charged-up by both candidates, with surprisingly relatively low and "disorganized" accounts of voter fraud and manipulation reported by international election observation agencies; indeed, the sheer variety of agencies allowed to observe the elections was a far cry from just two elections ago, where only a couple select groups were allowed access to observe.

In what could only be called a rematch of 1582, Ahmadi and Kashkouli were immediately pegged as the front-runners of the election season. While neither candidate came out with anything striking or unexpected - Kashkouli toed the usual conservative line of protecting A'sir from the anti-Akhadic West while Ahmadi emphasized the poor economic and social opportunities that were keeping the country from prospering - both characters loomed large over the rest of the field, and with good reason. Battling it out in the Majlis, the A'sirian assembly, the two politicians had long been rivals as they held leading positions in their respective political blocs. Kashkouli, himself once a member of the Revolutionary guard and well-connected, often "won" their ideological clashes due to his connections, and eventually reached the presidency in 1582 by defeating Ahmadi in a hotly contested and controversial third-round victory.

However, Ahmadi himself wasn't without influence, as he'd been a long-serving clergyman before and during his tenure in the assembly, as well as a military officer after the revolution. Before even 1582 he'd served as a deputy-speaker of the Majlis, and served as a member of the "National Security Council" and the "Assembly of Experts." Even while under house arrest during President Kashkouli's reign, he'd still managed to send his votes and disseminate his speeches to the public until the supreme leadership of A'sir eventually stepped in and forced his release in a rare move against the military-political conservative bloc.

For the past four election cycles, despite repeated suppression by the government and Revolutionary Guards, Reformist candidates have slowly clawed their way into a sizable portion of the assembly. This year, the powers that be were suspiciously absent in this showdown between conservatives and reformists, though not without some incidences. In spite of some voter intimidation and open fraud, turnout remained high.

For his part, President Ahmadi promised sweeping changes to the economic and social structure of the country, broadening and diversifying the economy to provide new opportunities for work and schooling for youth and slowing the country's rampant "brain drain." He also promised to open all facets of work, politics, and society to women; according to Ahmadi, the only way for A'sir to prosper is for it to move past its reliance on natural resources and modernize the workplace, and to to do either "requires the full, equal, and valued contribution of every single woman and man."

In the firld of foreign relations, President Ahmadi has already shown an intent to shore up the strength of NETO against "belligerent neighbors," while seeking to reconcile and build closer ties with the international community. In regards to the long-standing rivalry between A'sir and Kyrzbekistan, the new President has expressed a keen interest in ending the cold standoff "for the sake of peace and strength against those who would with all of NETO harm."

"Those who started this foolish conflict have fathered sons, and those sons again have themselves become fathers. It is time to let the past stay in the past, look to our future, and end this charade."

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[Hadash]

<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid; padding-bottom: 4px"><div style="border-bottom: 2px solid;"><span style="margin-left: 2em"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/SixOUPA.png" height="64px" width="64px" /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-large; margin-left: .5em;">The International</span></span></div>
<span style="display: block; border-bottom: 1px solid; padding: 0 1em 2px; margin-bottom: 4px; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 16px;"> Local | World | Politics | Business | Technology | Health | Entertainment | Environment | Travel | Sports | Video | Opinion | Other</span><div style="display: inline-flex;"><div style="display: inline-block; border-right: 1px solid; padding-right: 4px; min-height: 450px;"><span style="display: block; border-bottom: 1px solid; padding: 1em 0;"><span style="font-size: 21px;">Chika Odbazor elected president of Khokharsa</span>
By <a href="" rel="nofollow"> Matthias Basam </a>
Vintyr 1587</span>

Chika Odbazor defeated incumbent president Gustav Black

Chika Odbazor was elected the 36th president of the Federal Republic of Khokharsa, after a contested presidential election.

Odbazor, the People's Party candidate, defeated incumbent president Gustav Black by 50.6% against 49.4%. Black, as candidate of the Democratic Party, which has been permanently in power since 1572, was the main favourite, but he seems to have failed to mobilize his own supporters. The attitude of the centrist Liberal Party, which did not endorse any candidate but continue to be critical of the Democratic Party administration during the last days of the campaign, could have played an important role as well. Benedikte Gammal, the Liberal candidate, obtained 22.5% in the first round, about six points behind Odbazor, the best result for the Liberal Party in a presidential election in two decades.

Odbazor, 41, becomes the first woman and third youngest president in the history of the Federal Republic of Khokharsa. She also becomes the first Khokharsan president born outside Skathia, as she was born in Khibland, then a colonial territory of the Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania. While an Odbazor comes from a long political dinasty in Khokharsa, she will become the first ethnic Zambawi to be elected president in Khokharsa.

It is difficult to predict what could happen in the next five years, but Odbazor is likely to face a difficult presidency. The Democratic Party will retain -at least, until the 1588 mid-term elections- a majority of the Lower House, while in the Senate -where the Democratic Party holds an influential simple majority-, the People's Party would require cooperation with the centrist Liberal Party to pass any legislation. Although Obdazor campaigned for a rather moderate platform, this is not likely to satisfy to the most progressive factions of the People's Party.

[Rommy]

<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid; padding-bottom: 4px"><div style="border-bottom: 2px solid;"><span style="margin-left: 2em"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/SixOUPA.png" height="64px" width="64px" /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-large; margin-left: .5em;">The International</span></span></div>
<span style="display: block; border-bottom: 1px solid; padding: 0 1em 2px; margin-bottom: 4px; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 16px;"> Local | World | Politics | Business | Technology | Health | Entertainment | Environment | Travel | Sports | Video | Opinion | Other</span><div style="display: inline-flex;"><div style="display: inline-block; border-right: 1px solid; padding-right: 4px; min-height: 450px;"><span style="display: block; border-bottom: 1px solid; padding: 1em 0;"><span style="font-size: 21px;">Takiu Daruo, Singanese Minister of Defense, to take over as Prime Minister of Singan</span>
By <a href="" rel="nofollow">Guioa Yahuin</a>
18 Nueva 1594</span>

Singanese Minsiter of Defense Takiu Daruo; now Prime Minister-Select of Singan in its first peaceful voluntary transition of power since independence

KANJONG- In a surprising move earlier today, Singanese Prime Minister Twei Keiloi announced his resignation from a position that he has continuously held for the past twelve years effective 28 Nueva 1594. Keiloi has enjoyed high approval ratings over the past five years of his tenure leading many to believe he would remain on until forced to step down by Empress Aio of Singan. Keiloi highlighted his accomplishments in a message to the nation after speaking earlier with the Empress, and later the Council of Ministers. The general feeling in the air according to sources was that Keiloi wished to retire on a high note and establish a precedent of not staying in longer than one should. Something many would say Singan has needed to learn over the years.

Twei Keiloi has been noted for pulling Singan out of its recession following its civil war in the 1570s, and for securing consistent and large foreign investments into a nation many noted as being a short term item considering its history of coups and revolts. Keiloi successfully established renewed foreign relations in Oslanburg, Kazemura, Lanlania, and many other nations while beginning a modernization process for a renewed Singanese military.

However the choice of his successor is what many have noted as an interesting prospect; as Singan lacks formal political parties, and the Prime Minister is simply chosen by monarch with approval of the non partisan House of Delegates. Most pundits believed that the Deputy Prime Minister Dua Fuilo would be the successor, however Empress Aio preferred Takiu Daruo's extensive resume, and political clout to deal with two of the most pressing concerns the nation faces. Healthcare and Defense.

Takiu Daruo was previously from 1579-1586 the Ambassador to Kazemura, securing a coveted position that would give him the foreign policy experience and domestic legitimacy to later secure a promotion to the Minister of Defense. AS Ambassador to Kazemura, he managed to secure a military protection pact, Kazemuran investments into Singan, and Kazemuran help into military modernization for Singan.

As Minister of Defense, Daruo secured military agreements with Oslan for the purchase of an Vandbryder class carrier, with options open for more, as well as other military agreements such as that of Lomarre's recent agreement to send an aerial training squadron to Singan to work on joint service cooperation. Daruo also managed to work out an overhaul to services offered to veterans, and expand benefits to veterans and active service members alike.

In his acceptance speech after being announced as the next Prime Minister, Daruo pointed out his goals of continued and expanding relations with Kazemura, Lanlania, Oslanburg and Lomarre. Daruo also mentioned that he was working on proposals to expand universal education to include both universities and technical training based on students preferences and test scores, Daruo pointed out a goal to have Singan as the 15th most educated nation by 1605. Daruo also noted that he wished to increase public healthcare, and would also be announcing programs to increase the quality of healthcare in Singan, and provide more diversified service options for citizens.

"The future is there for those who take, not those who only sit idly by hoping only for slight returns. No, we must be bold, we must push the envelope and say finally; we are here to stay."

Daruo's replacement as Minister of Defense will announced later this week before he takes over as Prime Minister, pending officially nomination and confirmation by Empress Aio and the House of Delegates; however Daruo's high popularity and current job approval as Minister make the outcome simply foregone, much unlike previous nominated members to the Prime Ministry.

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[Seperallis]

<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid; padding-bottom: 4px"><div style="border-bottom: 2px solid;"><span style="margin-left: 2em"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/SixOUPA.png" height="64px" width="64px" /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-large; margin-left: .5em;">The International</span></span></div>
<span style="display: block; border-bottom: 1px solid; padding: 0 1em 2px; margin-bottom: 4px; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 16px;"> Local | World | Politics | Business | Technology | Health | Entertainment | Environment | Travel | Sports | Video | Opinion | Other</span><div style="display: inline-flex;"><div style="display: inline-block; border-right: 1px solid; padding-right: 4px; min-height: 450px;"><span style="display: block; border-bottom: 1px solid; padding: 1em 0;"><span style="font-size: 21px;">Farid Reza Ahmadi re-elected as 11th President of Asir</span>
By <a href="" rel="nofollow">Efraim Martí</a>
Septem 1597</span>

Farid Reza Ahmadi, shortly after his election.

ABEHZ, ASIR - In an easy first-round win that sharply contrasted with his first presidential run, Farid Reza Ahmadi overcame several other rivals with 57% of the electorate to see himself regain the presidential seat he lost in 1592 to long-time rival Sattar Kashkouli. President Kashkouli, who was constituionally barred from a third term in office, surprised most by not throwing his weight behind a successor candidate.

Challengers for the open presidency could not mount a concerted attack on Ahmedi, who held and maintained a significant early lead in polls on recognition alone. The newly re-minted president though insists his continued stance on improving the economics of the country ultimately won the day.

"After stalling under Kashkouli, the people remmeber the improvements we made during my time [in office], and wished for a return to that," he stated in his address to the Majlis.

Under Kashkouli, encouragement for many of Ahmadi's reforms were halted, though most - like the relaxation of the dress code and decriminalization of those who flaunted it - were not outright rolled back. Ahmadi has pledged to both continue the old reforms while keeping with the "traditions of the Akhadic Revolution, in which women played a key and respectable role," and making "strategic" public and private investments.

While he made no mention, he is also expected to continue Asir's long-running rocketry program, which is slated to begin long-range missile testing later this year.
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[Seperallis]

<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid; padding-bottom: 4px"><div style="border-bottom: 2px solid;"><span style="margin-left: 2em"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/SixOUPA.png" height="64px" width="64px" /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-large; margin-left: .5em;">The International</span></span></div>
<span style="display: block; border-bottom: 1px solid; padding: 0 1em 2px; margin-bottom: 4px; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 16px;"> Local | World | Politics | Business | Technology | Health | Entertainment | Environment | Travel | Sports | Video | Opinion | Other</span><div style="display: inline-flex;"><div style="display: inline-block; border-right: 1px solid; padding-right: 4px; min-height: 450px;"><span style="display: block; border-bottom: 1px solid; padding: 1em 0;"><span style="font-size: 21px;">President Ahmadi: "Eskkya has been hijacked by a Strathean fifth column"</span>
By <a href="" rel="nofollow">Efraim Martí</a>
20 Dein, 1597</span>

President Ahmadi of Asir personally addresses NETO row with Eskkya.

ABEHZ, ASIR - As part of the latest comments in a diplomatic row over Eskkyan policies to allegedly "combat extremism," Asirian President Ahmadi responded that, in reference to Eskkya, "Fifth columnists from Strathae have usurped power and hijacked the country of any otherwise respectable people, to further a dire religious crusade of societal purification against anyone who does not conform precisely to their subjective and shifting standards of a so-called 'liberal' society."

Asir, along with its NETO allies and neighbor Rojadavistan, has openly criticized what it and others view as an open and targeted attack against all Akhadic believers in the Brigidnan nation. Statements of displeasure have come from government spokespersons and ambassadors, but not from the top of the government until now.

Opponents of the new Eskkyan government policy, both at home and abroad, view it as yet another in a long history of overt attempts by Strathean politicians - now reunited with Eskkya - to "purge that country of anything foreign," especially anything "Akhadic," despite attempts to couch the policy as a fight against extremism. While the government claims that it will use a set list of criteria by which to judge alleged lawbreakers, critics have argued that the criteria are themselves "exceedingly subjective and prone to selective abuse."

Unlike Rojadavistan, which ordered retaliatory diplomatic action against Eskkya's passage of an "Anti-Extremism" law that it claims is targeted specifically at the Akhadic faithful, no retaliatory measures have been announced from Asir.

Nor are they planned, as President Ahmadi clarified," Unlike these Stratheans who insist upon their cultural colonization, we in Asir respect and tolerate those who come here and adhere to our laws. Unlike Madame McLucais, we have no intention of criminalizing the mere existence of non-(Akhadic) citizens."

He went on to state that, instead, the full financial, logistical, and legal support of Asir would be available for any Eskkyan resident, Akhadic or not, who is "assaulted" by the new McLucais government.


A History of Intolerance

Kuzhe Habib Zakaria fled Asir shortly after the conclusion of the Akhadic Revolution, where he was declared persona non grata as a blasphemer for opposing the formation of an officially Akhadic state. Since then, he held a small congregation in Strathae, right up until being deported back to Asir after 40 years, during the height of the anti-Akhadic roundups.

"Party of Tradition and [the government] didn't care about my situation: because I practiced my one true faith, I had to go," we spoke with him in an Asirian prison where he was serving out the remainder of his 17 year jail sentence before execution on blasphemy charges. While blasphemy laws were repealed in 1589, the change came to late to save him.
"It did not matter that I followed all laws, I did not call for violence, or did not preach in public; I dared to say 'be modest, and put Akhad first.' They did not care that I was sent to my death."

In another case, Anna Golchin's parents were some of the last to flee Asir's Akhadic regime and settled in Strathae before Asirian passport restrictions were enforced. SHe recalls her story, also from the country's crackdown on Akhadic residents almost 14 years ago:

"I went with my Breizhighic friends to a mall one day," Ms. Golchin recalled, who clarified that she was a student of sociology and women's studies at the time, "and some woman, she blocked our way, told my friends they should be ashamed to associate with a 'rag-wearing bigot' and berated me for being a brainwashed slave to men - I remember very clearly. I apologized for not prostituting my body for her approval; I laughed, my friends laughed, the [woman] did not, and a month later I was ordered to leave the country."

This and other stories across Eskkya show a common misunderstanding, though some say even a superiority complex towards, the clothing, symbols and mannerisms often associated with the near east and Akhadic world; in Asir, the headscarf is a traditional, secular headwear that predates the rise of Akhad'ed in Asir, where Ms. Golchin and others are proud of that heritage.



Akhadic faithful and Kyrzbek emigree Ildus Zagipur, 69, inside his Rambouillet home.

A Return to "Tradition" Fuels International Reaction

Strathean clansmen, however, see it's purely viewed as a symbol of mysogynistic oppression, and Party of Tradition and its allies will not be persuaded from its platform. The world, however, is starting once again to distance itself from Strathean actions against minorities.

The Department of State in Nyland in Nyland has already warned that Eskkyan government proposals represent "thought-policing and other dangerous attacks on democracy" in the country, a statement echoed in various measures by Karjelinn, Videjszeme and Dyrheim, while Eskkya's immediate neighbor Valland has urged the government to reconsider the implications of "such barbarism as stripping children from their mothers and establishing secret morality police."

In the meantime, the Eskkyan government's tens of thousands of potential targets await word of what the legislation will ultimately mean for them. Anna Golchin's story ended well enough, as her other family in Florinthus was able to secure her asylum, but others aren't so lucky.

Ildus Zagipur fled what he called "socialist persecution" in Kyrzbekistan with his family in the 60's for what he was told was a "tolerant" Strathae. In the 80's he once again decided his family wasn't safe against anti-Akhadic attacks there, and moved to Rambouillet, Eskkya, where he admits the political rhetoric was heated, but at least people were in polite, tolerant disagreement. "But now, with [PoT] in charge again, I feel once more a target on my head," he explained, showing a place on his arm where he received stitches after someone (he didn't see who and no one was arrested) threw a brick at him on the street.

Nearly 70 years old and nearing retirement, Mr. Zagipur doesn't know if he can flee for his life a third time. "I doubt I'll get employment visa again somewhere, so to where do I get deported when McLucais lackeys invent a crime I never did: to the village in socialist Kyrzbekistan the be 're-educated,' or the village of the Akhadist warlord in the hills I ran from, to be beaten and tortured as a 'traitor to the cause' 30 years ago?"

We spoke with Kuzhe Zakaria one more time before leaving Asir, and he did not seem surprised when we told him of the Ekkyan government proposal to wrest custody of children before deporting their parents. He simply shrugged, "Well of course, to these people, anyone who falls slightly short of their extreme view of 'tolerance' are subhuman. To them, I am better off dead; let the parents be exiled or killed for all they care, and turn the children into soldiers and icons of their crusade."

"In the end, extremists here [in Asir] and in Strathae all think alike, don't they?"

Whatever the case, he argues, the Eskkyan government won't care who dies as long as he, and people like him, are out of sight.
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