Austenasia grows with huge Turkish annexation

The size of Austenasia’s territorial claims more than doubled yesterday after the annexation of the new Territory of Laranda.

A satellite image of Laranda.

Laranda consists of 165 acres of farmland. Now an enclave of southern Turkey, it is the private property of Lord Dionisiy Tedzhan-Smahin, who inherited the land from an ancestor who was a local landowner.

Laranda is so large that it now makes up 59.7% of Austenasia’s total land area.

Lord Tedzhan-Smahin, who also serves as Representative of Theodosiopolis, has been appointed Governor of Laranda, but as he no longer lives nearby the day-to-day administration of the land will be undertaken by his cousin, the Deputy Governor.

The name Laranda is derived from the former name of Karaman, a nearby Turkish city.

Local elections see new Mayor for New Richmond

Tuesday 21st May saw local elections take place in New Richmond, Theodosiopolis, and Dragovina.

Alex Francis, the new Mayor of New Richmond

These were the first elections to take place in Theodosiopolis and Dragovina since their foundation in March and April respectively. Both saw their Acting Representatives elected as Representatives proper.

New Richmond saw its Representative, the Prime Minister Lord Admiral Kennedy, re-elected for the sixth time in a row.

As New Richmond is a City, its subjects were also voting for a Mayor. The previous Mayor of New Richmond, Captain William Kennedy, had resigned on 24 April, with his nephew Alex Francis being appointed Acting Mayor by the city council.

Tuesday’s election saw Mr Francis elected as Mayor of New Richmond with 100% of the vote with a 75% turnout of twelve people.

Mr Francis is a member of the Imperial Party, which currently holds a plurality of seats in Parliament.

National Liberal Alliance established, forms coalition with Imperial Party

Lord John Gordon (left) and Duke Bradley (right), founders of the new National Liberal Alliance

As partisan politics sees a resurgence in Austenasian political culture, the National Liberal Alliance has been established by Lord John Gordon, Viscount of Thetford and HG Duke Bradley of Dullahan.

The National Liberal Alliance, or NLA, describes itself as a classical liberal and monarchist party. The NLA registered with the Secretary-General’s Office earlier today following weeks of deliberation between its founders. Lord Gordon, who currently serves as Representative of Palasia and has previously served as Deputy Prime Minister, was selected as the party’s first chairman. Duke Bradley, who currently serves as Minister of Defence, Princeps Senatus and Commissioner of the Border Enforcement Agency, has been named party secretary.

In the hours following the establishment of the NLA, talks were held between the party’s leadership and the Prime Minister Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy – Leader of the Imperial Party – in regards to the creation of a coalition between the two parties. A decision was reached, and the newly formed coalition now holds five out of eight Cabinet positions and three out of seven seats in the House of Representatives.

The establishment of the NLA follows the establishment of the Fatherland Party, a socially conservative organization, last month by Lord Dionisiy Tedzhan-Smahin, Count of West Frisia – the Representative of Theodosiopolis – and Lord Edward Gundersen, Count of New Grémmia – the Representative of Dragovina. The Fatherland Party currently holds two seats in the House of Representatives.

 

Expedition of the Imperial Geographical Society to Box Hill

The Imperial Geographical Society (IGS) earlier today conducted an expedition to Box Hill in Surrey.

The expedition pauses on a clearing on Box Hill.

The expedition traversed valleys and woodland around Box Hill on its way to the viewpoint at the top of the hill itself, which commands a spectacular view of Dorking and the surrounding countryside.

On their way up the hill, the expedition encountered a large bed of bluebells and some mysterious tiles embedded in the woodland floor.

Fourteen people took part in the expedition, including Emperor Jonathan I, the Emperor Mother, and Crown Princess Caroline. The route had been planned by John, former Baron of Zephyria.

This marks the twentieth expedition of the IGS, almost ten years to the day since its first was conducted on 4 May 2009.

A video of the expedition will soon be uploaded.

UPDATE – 3 October 2019: A video of the expedition can now be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKSUyeyNNWg