Dundorf

[MrFacts]

Ikradon set to construct port and new navalbase on Ikradun-Island. Also, invest in their navy to help protect the island.

Ikradon

[TheNick]

30 October 5563

Nordenhaus Car Show returns for new edition
The Car Show returns to Dunlake's capital.

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NORDENHAUS, DUNLAKE - If this morning, as a Nordenhaus resident, you woke up and went out, you would have noticed an unusual higher number of tourists and people taking pictures at cars, remembering you that our hometown is back at it, hosting the notorious Dundorfian Car Show, back in the place where it was born. The City Administration decided to present Nordenhaus' candidacy as a host to celebrate the 121st anniversary of the first Show, without encountering any opposition from other cities and getting the green light from the organizers' body earlier this year. Every car manifacturer was invited, including Dundorf's two main companies: Maibaum-Bain and OCHEL, as well as other car companies - a majority of which are mostly local and that get a major publicity boost from partecipating at the Show.

Mainbaum-Bain focused exclusively on electric cars, and presented a couple of new models attracting large portions of the public, confirming their relatively high popularity but also being criticized for their luxury, costly vehicles that most people can't really afford - a different strategy than the one pursued by OCHEL: they instead focused on cheaper, and more utilitarian cars to seek a different market. While being not as popular as M-B, OCHEL's strategy has allowed them to consolidate their place as the second largest manifacturer in Dundorf, drawing a decent amount of people at the Show too. 

In an unprecedented move, the Car Show also invited buses and tractors makers, each with their own section, to expand this event in a proper Motor Show, drawing a record for the total attendance of this year: almost 1 million and a half people visited Nordenhaus during the week, creating a large revenue for hotels and other touristic infrastructure. The Chairman of the organizing body of the show said they will likely be including these new sections permanently form now on, for every Motor Show that will be organized.

[TheNick]

Dundorf to Assist N&D in Education Overhaul

October 5568

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DUNBURG, ODERVELD - For quite the time now, the Dundorfian government highest expenditure has always been in Education and Culture, funding a public school system, financing cultural initiatives and making Dundorf's universities high-quality and affordable for all. According to a Government report, access to education and low abstenteeism are the areas in which the Dundorfian educational system is the best, reporting virtually obstacles - on the other hand, language barriers for students coming from a foreign background, represents a problem in the Dundorfian-language centered system as well as the lack of trained teachers. Even with this problem, foreign background students still report good results at the completion of the educational cycle. 

The status of the Dundorfian education, overall, was considered to be pretty strong by our Narikatonian friends that the Education Ministry in Bannerhafen asked to start a new field of cooperation with us on education. Dundorf maintains one of its International Schools (ICI) in the Dual Republic, but Ms. Clenonberg's Government wants more: staff exchanges, (including teachers' workshops in the respective countries, students exchanges and joint training) with help in drafting a more modern curriculum. The Education ministry agreed to this framework, and this week, officials from both countries already met to discuss work on the curriculum. In Dundorf the curriculum is drafted for the most part by the Federal Government, but leaves some space to the State Governments particularly in regards of local history, local dialects and other matters - it remains to be seen if the Dual Republican officials will adopt this way considering the bilingual nature of the country.

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"From N&D", says the Education Minister, "we hope to learn on how to make our system more open to different languages and culture, given how they integrate Narik and Dundorfian, I believe this alone would make a difference for many students of Narik descent, and other foreign ones." As for the proposed staff exchances, the two Governments will begin to work in order to make it a reality already in this school year, and to complete this new chapter of Bierpakt cooperation.

@NordenhausenAllgemeineZeitung

[TheNick]

Dundorf Grants Diplomatic Recognition to Breakaway Trigunian Republics
November 5568

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FOREIGN OFFICE, DUNBURG - Foreign Minister Koppen stated earlier today that beggining from the start of the new year, Dundorf will be recognizing a few new breakaway Republics, who recently split off from Trigunia, with the hope of establishing diplomatic contacts with these new realities in the international landscape, but most importantly, to recognize a Republic which is in fact majority Dundorfian: Brakav. This move doesn't come as a surprise to most experts and commentators because the Dundorfian government was reportedly already in contact with the representatives of Bravak and the other republics, and also because this decision was coordinated with the Foreign Ministry of N&D, which has announced this same news in the past days. Ms. Koppen said that Dundorf would be leaving its door open at the representatives of the Brakav Republic should they wish to deepen the relationship with a brotherly nation anytime soon.

[TheNick]

(backdated) October 5568

Stephan Göbelknecht to become Chancellor

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Chancellor-designate Stephan Gobelknecht (DSDP)

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DUNBURG, ODERVELD - After months of negotiations, we finally get to know what Government coalition will govern Dundorf, and more importantly, who will be the new Chancellor. Well, it's no surprise, we already know him well: it's former President Stephan Gobelknecht (DSDP), who, as the leader of the Social Democratic Party, will get the position of Federal Chancellor. As a historical fun fact, it's been more than 30 years since the Social Democrats last held the position of Chancellor, in this time they have been in junior positions of Government or to Opposition.

Herr Gobelknecht was the Federal President just until a few months ago, when he was defeated in a presidential runoff by Ludwig Humperdink-Dewitt, of the PKP, in somwthing that was seen as a huge upset given the left-wing's coalition advantage in the first round of voting (48% of the votes). Luckily, Gobelnecht's party has had a strong showing in the concurring Bundestag election, which made them as the largest party of the brand new centrist coalition negotiated by the Presidency and therefore allowed the former President to get appointed as the new Federal Chancellor - it's very rare that a President becomes Chancellor, historically it's always been the other way around.

With a background of experience in education and foreign policy, we expect this new Government to be very focused on these issues, on the first theme, the new Government may push for University reform, strengthening higher education, while on foreign policy sources say that Herr Gobelknecht is interested in holding state visits to Lourenne and Narikaton&Darnussia, Dundorf's closest friends in the international stage.

[TheNick]

Chancellor Expresses Concern as N&D Experiences Coup
January 5572 (backdated)

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Chancellor Göbelknecht in yesterday night press conference.

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KANZLERAMT, DUNBURG - As the Dual Republic is ridden with turmoil, with the sudden disapperance of President zum Clenonberg and the rise to power of an authoritarian leader named Theodora Lackmann, the Federal Government has expressed its utmost concern for the stability in the whole of N&D, as well for the civil rights situation in the nation. Chancellor Göbelknecht says that while the Federal Republic fully recognizes the new Government and won't comment on the political affairs in the Dual Republic, Dundorf wants reassurances that Ms. Lackmann's rise to power won't constitute a risk to N&D's and Artania's stability and as well wants reassurances that the rise to power of the "Order Faction" will not put at risk basic civil and political liberties on the long run. 

We know well and very much like to cooperate with Mr. Sleyster and his party, but we don't know Ms. Lackmann and the so-called Order Faction, Dundorf supports N&D and because of this, we're asking for a few reassurances on this [on stability and civil rights]. (quote from Chancellor Göbelknecht's speech)

Under the advice of intelligence agencies, diplomatic staff and Dundorfian citizens won't be recalled home, explained the Foreign Ministry, but advised its citizens to pay an higher level of attention and avoid attending politicall events for now, on the same note, trade is expected to continue smoothly under higher supervision for Dundorfian workers abroad and the Federal Republic will continue to receive Dual Republican citizens normally in the nation's airports and frontiers, this is because the BND believes 'while higher attention is suggested, no credible threats to Dundorf and her citizens are expected in this situation'. Out of caution, the Foreign Ministry authorized the Embassy in Bannerhafen and consulates throughout N&D to continue welcoming in their buldings anyone who might want to seek refuge in them, as the turmoil situation might have some people afraid.

[TheNick]

FEATURED ARTICLE

Dundorf's Tourism: what Strengths and what Weaknesses?

February 5576

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Tourist in Dunburg, looking at the Odervelder Gate.

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DUNBURG, ODERVELD -  Last year, according to the Citizen's Observatory on Tourism, a non-profit organization that compiles statistics about tourism and wants to help politicians in improving policies or find vulnerabilities in this sector, said that Dundorf saw an overall increase in touristic accesses, totalling around 36 millions of visitors, 62% percent of which come from within Artania. The most visiting nationality is Kundratis, followed by Dual Republican citizens, Dorvish people and Ikradonians - all nations with which Dundorf signed through the years comprehensive parterships or friendship treaties. Outside of Artania, the most visiting nationality are the Lourennais, coming from our longstanding ally, followed by Beiteynuese people, Seleyan people coming from Gaduridos, Aldegar, Lodamun and Kalistan - again nations that have all signed cooperation treaties with our country.

 

In economical terms, tourism represents a very highly valuable asset for our Federal Republic; bringing in between forty and forty-five billions of Marks every year, especially concentrated in the big centers such as Dunburg, Rabesburg and Nordenhaus, and marginally even in mountain areas over the east of the country, where tourism represents the #1 source of income for communities without industrial or service activities. The Observatory, though, highlighted that mass tourism in big cities can represent a major problems for both the local residents and the tourists themselves: the residents can suffer, as it is happening in certains neighborhoods of Rabesburg, from higher and unaffordable housing prices, as local apartments are transformed in tourist rentals, causing locals to move away from the city and sustain unnecessary moving costs. "On the long term, less taxpayers for the city and more reliance on a single economic sector could represent a major liability for the city's economy", says Professor of Economics Mathilde Brunner-Roth. 

For tourists, mass tourism represents instead a lowering in the quality of the services offered and therefore a less enjoyable stay in the city. These kinds of problems are not yet widespread and isn't a major problem now, but still authorities could take some steps to prevent the effects on housing that the Prof described, and maintain an medium/high-quality service for all tourists.

[TheNick]

Schools to Begin New Student Exchange Programs

May 5577

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Nordenhaus, Dunlake - Several Chontalen high schools have announced that they will take part in the State Government of Chontalen's new exchange student educational program, which offers its students the possibility to study abroad in Kalistan and Rildanor, the former is a country with which Dundorf already enjoys a cordial relationship as enshrined by the bilateral treaty exisisting since 5490. The relationship with Rildanor with our nation, on the other hand, doesn't have any significant milestone, but this new program could be the kickstart for a new flourishing foreign relation of Dundorf, outside of Artania. To be fair, Rildador being a part of the world of Canrille makes this effort much more easier to achieve, given Dundorf's longstanding alliance with Lourenne.

The students will be able to apply to this exchange starting from the next school year, in late August, and they will be able to choose whether to stay six months, and complete the rest of the school year at home, or to pass the entire school year abroad - with costs being partially funded by the State Government, to ensure that kids of all incomes are given a possibility to live this experience.
We asked Chontalen's Minister-President, Heinz Grub, for a quick statement on this incoming project: 

we really can't wait to work with Kalistan and Rildanor, and we think the Federal Government should definitely fund more of these initiatives, that could be helpful to enlarge Dundorf's international horizons and diplomatic standings!

[TheNick]

Trade between Dundorf and Likatonia to Begin
August 5581

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Ships located within Ikradun Island

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DUNBURG, ODERVELD - Ikradun Island in the last twenty years has represented a very important place to strengthen Dundorf's trade ties, allowing even private companies to use it to set up new trade routes, without intervention from the Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry. One example of this new private dynamism is the creation of a new trade route between Dundorf (with Ikradun Island) and Likatonia, began by Maibaum-Bain's decision to export in the country its latest models of cars, for a growing market in the developing Likatonia. Shortly after MB, even OCHEL jumped in the boat (literally) and started exporting its cars known for being cheaper and more affordable, in an effort to challenge once again MB's domination in the Dundorfian car market.

Starting a two-way trade route, Likatonia will be exporting timber products to Dundorf, where the industry isn't very well developed due to our country's environmental regulations over trees, but many experts say that sooner or later the Federal Government will have to step in by drafting and ratifing a trade (or partnership) treaty with our new Seleyan partner. On this matter, DUT, Dundorf's famous train manifacturer, says it is interested in starting exports to Likatonia and encouraged the Federal Government to act in order to establish an advantageous trade treaty that could bring benefits to both countries, but - says Professor Mathilde Brunner, with the election looming in a few months, we may see these efforts being put into practice only after the vote is held.

[TheNick]

Bundestag Approves New Urban Public Transport Bill

May 5582

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A train in the newly established S-Bahn line of Dunburg.

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BUNDESTAG, DUNBURG - The Bundestag approved with an unanimous vote, a rarity for Dundorf compared to other Terran nations, a piece of legislation that would revolutionize the way rail public transport works in our nation's biggest cities, by establishing a two-face system called S-Bahn and U-Bahn. Basically, thesw two different networks serve the city in two different ways, but they all belong to the city's public transport system, and the cities that are set to establish this service are all the State capitals plus some other major cities (such as Oberegg, Neukirckstadt, Rittersheim), in other words, all cities with a significant surrounding metropolitan and suburban area. This fact is important to understand the difference betweeen S- and U-Bahn, as the latter represents what is generally referred to as a subway or a metro, an underground railway system that connects every corner of a city, while the former, the S-Bahn, is more like a suburban train service that runs in the middle of the city centre, connecting far-away suburbs with places of interest and workplaces in the city proper.

In Dunburg, the city Mayor says the S-Bahn will run through all the main places of interest, especially for tourists, for example the Odervelder Gate, Karlottenberg Schloss, the Bundestag, the Tall Radio Tower, but also faraway places in the outskirts like the "Rudolph Rachenhausen" International Airport and the various suburbs all over the city. Similar projects will be applied in the other major cities, in the home city of the Zeitung, Nordenhaus, the S-Bahn will be connecting the (relatively) new Financial District, located in the outskirts, with the Old Town. The U-Bahn systems will be just an upgrade of the existent subway systems, with a revamp in terms of trains and marketing.

Since both systems will be utilizing existent infrastructure, the costs won't be that high: the Federal Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport will have to buy new trains, and build some new train station, yes, but no new lines will be required for the S-Bahn to function. For the U-Bahn, the main costs will be just about changing the signals to reflect the name change and carry some boosting infrastructural job to make the underground railway system capable of hosting more trains, no major costs for DB, our State Railway company, that will manage these new services.

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@NordenhausenAllgemeineZeitung