Jacobean Cildania (5321 - 5369)

[Wu Han]

Prince Pawlu officially opens University of Harat‎
The new university has already attracted a faculty of Cildania's leading liberal and progressive intellectuals, set to make a diverse contribution to Cildania's academy.
Harat, Principality of Gilzon
4 April 5334

His Highness Prince Pawlu of Gilzon was in Harat today to officiate the grand opening ceremony of the University of Harat, a new post-secondary institution with an emphasis on liberal and fine arts. The University of Harat will be publicly-funded by federal resources allocated toward the Principality Government's education budget, as per the Law. His Highness Prince Pawlu also pledged an endowment of $1,000,000 per year to the university from his family's philanthropic arm, the Mattanid-Bastjani Foundation, for which the University shall name its law department the "Prince Pawlu College of Law."

The committee struck by the Principality Government to organize the new university has been aggressively recruiting a diverse array of highly-sought and talented faculty members for its foundational year. With a commitment to intellectual freedom, the University of Harat has attracted some of Cildania's leading progressive and leftist academics, including Dr. Emmanwel Meziani, a socialist political theorist who gained public attention after he criticized government legislation which included communist paramilitaries alongside racist and fascist paramilitaries in a sweeping ban. Another incoming faculty member, Dr. Rożarja Demciri, is an self-proclaimed Metzist Humanist whose work attempts to conform the Sekowan model of socialist development to conditions in Cildania.

Accordingly, observers expect that the University of Harat may evolve as a epicentre of progressive Cildanian thought in a nation where the academy is overwhelmingly moderate, if not conservative. Early application and enrolment figures suggest extraordinary interest in attending the University from throughout the island, though an agreement with the Principality Government requires that preference for admission will be given to residents of the Principality of Gilzon for the first five years of the University's operation.

❧ Gilzon: First edition of the 'Tour ta' Gilzon' kicks off in rural Kammum municipality
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 9 April 5334

The first edition of the Tour ta' Gilzon began this morning in the rural municipality of Kammum. Athletes from across the island and around the world descended on the small village to begin their winding, gruelling 10-day road cycling race across the Principality of Gilzon. Yeudi-Cildanian cyclist Mosè Levi-Bendahem (20) is the favourite to win the race according to the Principality's sports betting markets, as well as fans and experts of cycling.

The organizers of the Tour ta' Gilzon, the Cildanian Cycling Federation (FKtĊ), hope that the seven-day sporting event will increase interest in cycling in the Principality of Gilzon and across Cildania. President of the FKtĊ, Ħilda Aïtbrahim, hopes to see a "Tour ta' Kildanja" in the future, urging corporate sponsors to see the potential of such an event. "Cildania is the perfect country to host such an a grand, international road cycling race," said Ms. Aïtbrahim. "We've got great roads, beautiful coastlines, perfect weather, and we're an island after all—you've got to go in a loop!"

❧ Aheblun: Construction begins on new Santa Alessandra Library
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 20 April 5334

Construction has begun on the new Santa Alessandra Library, a monumental new building designed to house over 10 million books. Upon completion, the research library will be the largest in the country at over 70,000m², and capable of accommodating more than 4,000 visitors at a time. The library will also house the largest collection of Hebilean texts and artefacts in the world, from pre-Hosian Hebilean mythic scriptures to radical writings associated with the Hebilean Resistance Army. The Santa Alessandra Library shall share texts with and aid the University of Santa Alessandra in its research, fostering a unique scholastic environment in the capital of the Principality of Aheblun.

The Santa Alessandra Library was designed in a modernist style by emerging architect Alessandru Cini of the private firm Alessandru Cini u Soċji. It is being constructed by Kostruzzjoni Falzon (CSX:GFZ) and Bajada (CSX:BAJ). Funding for the library's construction has come almost entirely through charitable donations from the Grand Prince's Foundation, the Princely House of Elkan, the Mattanid-Bastjani Organization, and the Cildanian Tobacconists Association. Mr. Ġużeppi Pene-Qasir, former Chairman of Cildanian Condom (CSX:KK) and one of Cildania's richest men, personally donated $10m toward the construction effort, while Mr. Karmenu Kazti-Abjad, President of the Abjad-Fortizza Tobacco Company (CSX:AFTC) is said to have donated $5m.

❧ Princely Houses: Sinjura Tereża, daughter of Grand Prince, marries Lourennais billionaire Antoine Vivaldi
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 24 April 5334

Sinjura Tereża Kilian (33), daughter of His Serene Highness Grand Prince Ġakbu Maria, has married Lourennais billionaire Antoine Vivaldi (42) in a private ceremony, according to a notice issued by the Ministry of the Grand Prince's Affairs. The pair reportedly met at a social gathering in 5326 while Sinjura Tereża was pursing graduate studies at the University of Delaune in Lourenne. Sinjura Tereża and Mr. Vivaldi remained close friends until 4330 when they announced their courtship.

Mr. Vivaldi is a member of the influential Vivaldi-Vandam mercantile family, which is a major share holder in Groupe Larosière, Lourenne's largest conglomerate, as well as in the Banque Moreau-Vandam, one of Lourenne's 'Big Three' banks. The Vivaldi-Vandam family is of Istalian extraction, but identifies culturally as Lourennais today. In 5320, Mr. Vivaldi received his PhD in Business Administration from the University of Delaune, followed by a Masters degree in Economics from the University of Lourenne in 5323. Currently, Mr. Vivaldi serves on the board of Groupe Larosière as Executive Vice-President of the company.

Fil-Prinċipalitajiet (In the Principalities) is a newspaper focusing on regional and subnational issues of general interest. The newspaper is owned by Grupp Editorjali PNFP.

---

Originally posted by Wu Han on 19 Jul 2023.