Imperium Offtopicum XIX

[Thorvald of Lym]

Current Security Council nominees:

|Nominee|Player|Region|Term|Endorsement
S|Angola|Mosher|Africa|U|8
|Egypt|Nuka-sama|Africa|U|5
A|South Africa|Civ'ed|Africa|U|11
S|Australia|NinjaCow64|Asia|F|6
S|Guandong|Ninja Dude|Asia|H|2
A|India|christopher_sni|Asia|F|4
S|Japan|Omega124|Asia|F|5
S|RoC|christos200|Asia|F|7
S|Belgium|Reus|Europe|F|12
S|Bulgaria|Gurra09|Europe|H|1
S|Catalonia|Tolni|Europe|F|1
|Italy|KaiserElectric|Europe|U|1
S|Prussia|Seon|Europe|F|1
S|Russia|Terran Empress|Europe|F|5
S|SUDS|Ailedhoo|Europe|U|2
S|Valkyria|Crezth|Europe|F|2
S|Cascadia|JamesCaesar|N. America|U|5
|Columbia|e350tb|N. America|U|3
|FSA|Red_Spy|N. America|U|4
S|Québec|Bair_the_Normal|N. America|H|5
A|Central America|jackelgull|S. America|F|9
|Poland|Double A|S. America|H|7

The Secretary-General feels that Member States should be aware that despite nominating itself for a full term on the Security Council, the Government of the Republic of China is refusing responsibility to contribute funding to the United Nations, and has issued several public (albeit candid) statements suggesting it would work to curtail the General Assembly's ability to budget its own operations.

NOMINATIONS CLOSE THIS SATURDAY
[TIMER=07/23/2016 4:00 PM GMT;NOMINATIONS CLOSED]VOTES IN PL0X[/TIMER]

I figure I've waited long enough. Deadline for nominations is Saturday, 23 July, 4:00 PM GMT. Anyone that hasn't self-nominated must acknowledge their candidacy to be eligible for the next stage.

I am also cracking down on absenteeism. Nominees that have not confirmed or declined candidacy by the deadline, and players that have not otherwise acknowledged the Security Council vote, will be issued Shame Points. If there's no letter in the leftmost column next to your country, you're doing bad. If you haven't cast a ballot since the voting started, you're doing bad. If you haven't stated here you're not voting at all, you're doing bad.

Also, several of you have not exercised all your votes. It's your prerogative to send in blank ballots, and you won't be penalized for it, but don't complain if the winning candidate isn't to your liking. I have everyone's individual votes on file, and can provide a listing if so desired.

tl;dr: Get your votes in. Don't be that guy.

So welcome to Imperium Offtopicum XIX - Sign Up and Announcment Thread spelling mistakes and all!

Updates count as announcements, right?

No, no, we need the opening of embassies to become a part of the IOT drinking game.

Bah, you weren't there for IOT3. Diplomatic relations with TurkeyByzantium became such a schoolyard people were literally airlifting the embassy buildings out of the country.

 

[tobiisagoodboy]

To : Dolphin Commonwealth
From : Freemans Republic

The Freemans Republic offers a trade agreement to the Dolphin Commonwealth.
Both sides lower their traffics on industrial goods by 15 %.

 

[Mathalamus]

Bah, you weren't there for IOT3. Diplomatic relations with TurkeyByzantium became such a schoolyard people were literally airlifting the embassy buildings out of the country.

i don't remember being that bad. but it sounds absolutely hilarious. even i had a good laugh at that.

EDIT: the Emperor of the Romans is glad that we completely avoided being nominated for the security council. and also, no mention of Rome hilariously overfunding the UN?

 

[Seon]

Nominations by Prussia-Poland Chile

Europe
Full Term: Prussia
Half Term: Belgium

Africa: Full Term: ISouth Africa
Half Term: Korea

Asia: Full Term: China
Half Term: India

South America: Full Term: Poland

North America: Full Term: Cascadia.

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

EDIT: the Emperor of the Romans is glad that we completely avoided being nominated for the security council. and also, no mention of Rome hilariously overfunding the UN?

The Secretariat will publish a report on total funding once I know what everyone's paid in, so don't worry, you'll get your RP bonus. And it's hardly hilariously overfunded when the IRL UN's budget for 2016–17 is a little under $5.5 billion.

 

[Nuka-sama]

nvm edited

 

[gay_Aleks]

vote for me then

 

[inthesomeday]

The Manilan delegation declines candidacy, and supports:

ASIA: The Republic of China (FT) and Guandong.
EUROPE: The Valkyrian Empire (FT) and Catalonia.
NORTH AMERICA: Québec (FT) and Cascadia
SOUTH AMERICA: Central America (FT) and Poland
AFRICA: South Africa (FT) and Egypt Angola

 

[Seon]

Prussia Poland Chile Budgeting Report

Begin collecting 5% Corporate Taxes to help fund the Managed Democracy's new army.

Debt Payment :4.8
Minimal Military: 1
Fifth Gen Military: 4: A massive funding to special operations and covert operation units, along with integration and free utilization of deniable assets and third party private military forces allow for discrete power projection without being overtly involved.
U.N Tribute: 0.1
IMF: 0.1
Expansion Policy: 4
Administrative Cost: 1

New Deficit: -5.

 

[Robert Can't]

GM Note

Sign ups can still take place with the standard eight claims at any point in the game, always feel free to join!

 

[Traveller76]

Bharat News Online

India signs trade treaties with Angola and China

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been busy in the past few weeks with reestablishing trade relations with the world community. Already Foreign Minister Bhattacharya has met with her counterparts in China and Angola to discuss trade policy. The new treaties, which has been signed by the President along with the Foreign Minister will reduce tariffs between Angola and India by fifteen percent and establish preferences for Angolan goods if no Indian goods or services are available. A similar reduction of tariffs between China and India has also been signed.

"These agreements will give a boost to our economy and the economies of some of the fastest growing regions of the world" according to Minister Bhattacharya. "Indian businesses and consumers will gain access to raw materials in Africa and China and will also be able to sell abroad." The Minster also mentioned that she and President Bachchan are discussing a visit to Quebec later in the year to discuss trade and cultural exchanges. Rumors of possible investments in India's vast railroad system have been hinted.

India expanding

The country has started a process of reintegrating the former territories and states of Goa, Karnataka, Puducherry and Kerala into the Union. Seeing the growth of the domestic economy and relative peace in India pro-union movements have grown in the two former Territories and States. Concerns about local autonomy were quashed by Prime Minister Patil and Home Minister Misra in a joint press conference. Prime Minster Pail "Those citizens of Goa, Karnataka, Puducherry and Kerala are fellow countrymen and women. They are our brothers and sisters. They shall have the same rights and responsibilities as any of us in this room and shall be treated equally under the law. Some people have expressed concerns about religious or ethnic minorities. Let me be clear that they shall be protected and have a home with us. Local and state government powers shall remain unchanged and that they shall stand for election in 2044 in the General Election. Home Minister Misra stated that the Home Office has began the process of upgrading local law enforcement in the additional states and that the CBI will reopen offices by the end of the year.

 

[Double A]

Nominations by Prussia-Poland Chile

Europe
Full Term: Prussia
Half Term: Belgium

Africa: Full Term: ISouth Africa
Half Term: Korea

Asia: Full Term: China
Half Term: India

South America: Full Term: Poland

North America: Full Term: Cascadia.

 

[Robert Can't]

I will be pretty much uncontactable for the next week as I will be on holiday so any questions will be answered tonight or in the next update.

Be nice to Thorvald while I'm gone.

 

[Mathalamus]

I will be pretty much uncontactable for the next week as I will be on holiday so any questions will be answered tonight or in the next update.

Be nice to Thorvald while I'm gone.

this IOT will be either on fire, Rome is waging war against the UN, or Christos turned evil. or maybe it will putter on in good order.

 

[inthesomeday]

The High Lakan Court


Pictured is a wartime meeting by the original 20 members of the High Lakan Court, including Supreme Lakan Miguel Villafor (yes the picture is much smaller than I thought it would be)​

The primary governing body of the Holy Federation of Manila is known as the High Lakan Court, and it is a senate composed of 19 representatives, or Lakans, who answer to the one Supreme Lakan, a position currently held by Miguel Villafor, which will likely be the case until his death.

Due to the fact that the Manilan government is relatively young, much of the High Lakan Court's body still consists of its original members, with thirteen of the first twenty generals of the paramilitary group that established the Holy Federation alive and active as Lakans on the Court.

During the brutal civil war in the archipelago that dominated most of the Dark Decades, the Tagalog people were scattered, divided, and in danger of the many regional warlords of the day. Of course, with the rise of Miguel Villafor to the rank of general in one group, the Holy Soldiers of Manila, the city of Manila and shortly afterwards the island of Luzon were swiftly and decisively united under one flag, which would become the Holy Federation of Manila.

In the time that the HFM's rule has been established over the territories of the former Philippines, the federal government has stayed within a fairly agreeable boundary. Most domestic decisions like infrastructure and judicial disputes are handled on a regional level by the administrative bureaucracies in charge of these areas, with the feds dealing with the Church, foreign relations, the military, some education standards, and the like.

Each of these important domains, and several more, are handled by a particular Lakan on the Court. Each of the 19 non-Supreme positions has jurisdiction over one of the 19 federal ministries (bureaucratic organizations that oversee the federal operations of their respective domains.

Below is a list of each ministry.

Spoiler :

MILITARY:

Spoiler :

•The Ministry of Security: Deals with foreign intelligence and counterespionage, and all interference with foreign governments
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Enrico Mangan

•The Navy: Directs the mighty Manilan navy, including the marines, and makes naval purchases ships from manufacturers in the islands
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Glorio Magana

•The Coast Guard: Maintains coastal fortresses and directs the Coast Guard, the catch-all name for land military in the HFM, and purchases munitions and weapons from manufacturers
INCUMBENT LAKAMBINI: Dani Banat

•The Air Force: Directs the Air Force and maintains the planes of the Manilan military, as well as purchasing them from manufacturers
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Geraldo Aquine

•The Lihima: NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE

MINISTRIES OF INTERIOR:

Spoiler :

•The Ministry of Internal Revenue: Collects federal tax, budgets national revenue, handles finance for the other Ministries (expect a budget by next season)
INCUMBENT LAKAMBINI: Noralen Dinar

•The Ministry of the State: Directs communication between the federal government and the regional bureaucracies, mostly for federal law
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Andres Pagan

•The Ministry of Faith: Directs communication between the federal government and the Church, a key organ of the established order in the HFM, though technically independent of the government
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Aaron Inganot

•The Ministry of Agriculture: Although the agriculture industry is still privatized, the MoA maintains labor and market regulations and purchases rations from farms for soldiers
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Gio Tanang

•The Ministry of Fisheries: Handles the regulation of the vast fishing industry in the islands, as well as civilian boating in general, barring nautical transport
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Oscar Padang

•The Ministry of the Environment: Maintains national parks, environmental regulations on industry and agriculture, whose respective ministries handle labor disputes and markets
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Quintin Ramos

•The Ministry of Industry: Enforces market and labor regulations on the private industry and manufacturing sector
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Santino Garza

•The Ministry of Broadcast: Regulates media productions and press releases, and occasionally directly produces its own content
INCUMBENT LAKAMBINI: Queenie Bautista

•The Ministry of Education: Though most education is either privatized or provided by regional governments, the MoE is responsible for standard curriculum, mostly religious
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Marco Filio

•The Ministry of Mining: Enforces market and labor regulations in the mining, refining, and 69-ing general mineral extraction industry
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Elias Barzon

•The Ministry of Energy: Regulates power plants and maintains federal infrastructure for providing energy to the military, as well as carrying out major federal research
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Ricardo Aguda

MINISTRIES OF EXTERIOR:

Spoiler :

•The Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Organizes embassies, communicates with the United Nations, resolves border disputes with other governments
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Cristian Obiceden

•The Ministry of Customs: Enforces tariff collection and regulates immigration as well as foreign trade directly with the federal government
INCUMBENT LAKAN: Jesus Andea

•The Ministry of Transportation: Enforces regulation on travel by land, sea, and air, though most transportation is privatized
INCUMBENT LAKAMBINI: Lana Surel

The High Lakan Court has a fairly well established process for replacing members who die; membership is for life upon appointment. When a Lakan dies, each of the remaining 19 members presents a suitable candidate for replacement, and a vote narrows them down until one is selected.

In order to be considered, a candidate must be a native Catholic who is at least 30 years of age and served at least 5 years in the armed forces.

There is not yet any precedent for replacing the Supreme Lakan, and of course there never will need to be. Miguel Villafor has much life in front of him.

 

[Decamper]

Amazonia




More to come maybe.

 

[Crezth]

Valkyria withdraws its endorsement for Poland for the South American UNSC, and instead would like to nominate Amazonia for a full-term.

 

[inthesomeday]

Valkyria withdraws its endorsement for Poland for the South American UNSC, and instead would like to nominate Amazonia for a full-term.

Same, only half term for Amazonia

 

[Mosher]

Angola is pleased to announce the formation of the African Union, a loose organization of African states dedicated to securing Africa's independence and continued influence in today's world. Though little is set in stone so far, there are three main components to the role that the AU will play.

A.) The African Union will protect and support its members in times of conflict, providing either military, material, or financial support, as needed (if the conflict is defensive in nature).

B.) The African Union, and its member states, will make it a priority to promote the free movement of people around the sovereign states of Africa, and eliminating barriers and red tape that stands in the way of interconnected African trade.

C.) Africa is for Africans. Africa will no longer lay under the boot of the conquistador; we are free to make our own destiny.

To: The Freeman's Republic, the UKSA, and Egypt
From: Angola

I propose that, as a measure of lowering trade barriers between our nations, all AU states will lower tariffs against other AU states by a rate of 15%, and that we adopt a freedom of movement and work policy - Africans can live and work anywhere in Africa.

 

[Mathalamus]

Angola is pleased to announce the formation of the African Union, a loose organization of African states dedicated to securing Africa's independence and continued influence in today's world. Though little is set in stone so far, there are three main components to the role that the AU will play.

A.) The African Union will protect and support its members in times of conflict, providing either military, material, or financial support, as needed (if the conflict is defensive in nature).

B.) The African Union, and its member states, will make it a priority to promote the free movement of people around the sovereign states of Africa, and eliminating barriers and red tape that stands in the way of interconnected African trade.

C.) Africa is for Africans. Africa will no longer lay under the boot of the conquistador; we are free to make our own destiny.

To: The Freeman's Republic, the UKSA, and Egypt
From: Angola

I propose that, as a measure of lowering trade barriers between our nations, all AU states will lower tariffs against other AU states by a rate of 15%, and that we adopt a freedom of movement and work policy - Africans can live and work anywhere in Africa.

is it still acceptable for an African province to explicitly join, out of free will, with complete freedom, and no immigration from the "mainland" to the province? the Roman Empire is freedom oriented, and will never conquer a province by force we would rather they vote to join.

(note to myself: have this in writing somewhere, so i dont break my own rule by accident...)