RTD 24

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Deal struck with ADA
A deal has been struck with the ADA . The government of United Duchies has let go the ADA members arrested with a Pardon from the High Duke and warning not to support extremism again. The ADA in return has agreed to condemn terrorism and extremism in Anastasia City.

The government announced they would be happy to hold mediated talks including EU mediated talks over increased autonomy but would not recognise any independence or offer independence. The government said "We are happy to come to peaceful resolution to this stage and hope to come to a common understanding that will please all. We will discuss areas that could be devolved to Anastasia City."

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Political spending allowed to rise
The government today announced the government would be raising the maximum spending of parties on all campaigns and looking at reform in campaigning. The government announced to reflect the cost increases in politics and the increase in wages and printing costs over the last few years they would be increasing the allowances for spending. The National election spending caps will be doubled this year to 80,000 Dux Libra per Candidate and 100,000,000 Dux Libra in total on all national campaigns for 2022 and 2023. The local and Duchie political spending allowances have also been opened up. The allowances will then be increased to 120,000 Dux Libra per candidate and 140,000,000 Dux Libra nationally. for 2024 The move has been made at the recommendation of the Duchies Electoral Commission .

The donation limit and membership fee limits will also be raised to 40 Dux Libra in 2023 per person and 50 Dux Libra in 2024. This will mean parties can raise 80 Dux Libra and 100 Dux Libra per member respectively for each of those years. The commission also announced they would trial allowing parties to put targeted political adverts on social media networks such as Pogo and Twitter and adverts on public transport with parties being allowed to spend money on media advertising in countries with expat populations to reach those communities for the overseas representititves elections for House of Duchies and House of Commons. This will be the first time political advertising has been allowed in over 40 years.

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Government rolls back Worker Representation requirement

The United Duchies governing coalition and Imperial Senate voted to roll back the Workers representative requirement to only 40% of the board of the company for Duchian Subsidiaries and companies as a minimum requirement but instead have instituted a 5% cut in Corporation tax for companies who give 50% of the seats on the board to workers. The new move was designed to stem plans for companies to leave the country ahead of changes at the end of the year while still encouraging companies to give 50% of the board to workers. The new companies will be placed in a category known as Semi-Mutual Company. The move is designed to still encourage companies to give workers an equal say in company decision making while allowing for companies to have more control over the board for a higher tax rate.

The compromise was reportedly brokered by the Moderate Party in order to allay concerns about companies wanting majority shareholder control over the board . The requirements will still apply to all businesses with a physical presence in the United Duchies including any warehouse capacity owned or leased by the company. However those who use logistics services to handle deliveries to the United Duchies will still not have this requirement allowing sales and customer service to be handled outside the country still while still applying Duchian consumer protection rules on companies if they want to keep their license to operate.Company shareholders will have the right to choose whether to be a semi-mutual company or just a regular corporation structure as well as how many representatives are on the board for workers. In all companies including semi-mutuals decisions on selling or buying of subsidiaries and brands as well as policies on sharing of profits is to be left up to the shareholders of the business with only the shareholder vote counting towards a decision on those issues as is currently the case.Takeovers and mergers will be subject to a vote of all board members including Worker Representitives in cases where the company was founded in the Duchies and is owned by a Duchian business or citizen, foreign owned businesses will not have to follow this rule and may shut down their division. Staffing levels are also to be decided by shareholders and managers.

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National Minimum wages raised from next month
The government have passed the act to set a national minimum wage set by a Minimum Wage Commission made up of 50% Union Representatives and 50% Business Representatives . The first minimum wage has been set at 12 Dux Libra meaning Doornevale will have a minimum wage rise of 6.86%, Aranvale 24.96% and Anastasia City20.00%. All other Duchies already have higher minimum wages than that minimum with increases ranging from 9.68% to 13.45%. The wage increases have been brought in to share the wealth more and take into account inflation in pricing in the country.

The act requires the national minimum wage to go up by the rate of inflation , GDP growth per capita or average wage increases. Whatever is the highest figure. The move will mean the wage should keep up with the economy and costs over time. The comittee may have the power to set an increase above this should the need arise. The move has been hailed by unions and PSD as a triumph for workers rights in the country while critics have expressed the concerns it could increase unemployment significantly by raising minimum wages too high and making Duchian labour too uncompetitive in a global market place. However many experts have said they expect no significant increase in unemployment since minimum wage jobs are typically hard to outsource to other countries being in the service industry such as hotels , leisure and retail.

The new labour relations act has also required an overtime pay of 1.5 times normal pay for any hours over 35 hours a week with any hours over 40 hours to be entirely voluntary and also requiring overtime payments. The move is designed to encourage companies to reduce hours worked per week across the board to increase a work life balance.

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Anastasia City projected to reach 501,615
Anastasia City is projected to reach 501,615 residents in the the neighbourhoods with a big refugee population and immigrant population. It is illegal for Duchians to move to Anastasia City without a permit that is gained by marrying an Anastasian City and illegal for Anastasians to move to other Duchies unless they are married to Duchian Citizens. The government have stated they hope there will be enough homes for 1,000,000 within the next year. According to statistics 85% of housing is state owned and rented by the state with the option to buy housing at an affordable rate with the money to be reinvesting in state housing if that occurs much like other state programmes for home ownership.

The government have also announced the high speed railway station will be open within 1 months with builders and engineers working hard to finish the station by the main shopping centre . The Railway station will be served by Baltic Express, Eastern and Baltic ,Flixrail, Purple Train and Roscoes Intercity providing 5 options to travel to the city though there will be increased security at the station due to recent events. The Stadium is expected to be completed by middle of next year at the latest. The government have promised to increase investment in the city far above treaty levels with rumours the subsidy could reach 40 billion Euros per year by 2025 the date of the final regular payment according to treaty. Despite being only required to give 12 billion Euros per year the government are increasing the subsidy to €33,250,000,000.00 for the 2022-2023 year up from €20,850,000,000.00 in the 2021-2022 year. This is on top of the 100,00,000,000 Euros already given as a starting seed fund and the right to borrow100 Billion Euros at a discount rate. The Moderates and PSD have said they will focus in the Anastasian Assembly to make "A premier city for urban mobility, livability and pedestrian friendliness with world class transport links and social housing." The Housing Ombudsmen has rated 95% of the social housing in Anastasia City as A grade. One of the highest percent's in the country.Roscoes have announced they plan to reopen stores by the end of the year dependent on the situation in the city noting strong demand as many Anastasians have crossed the border to Baltia City to shop at Roscoes.

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Overseas Citizens Election Law passed
The elections for representitives for Duchian citizens abroad passed after being signed by High Duke Nikolai. The act passed the House of Commons, , House of Duchies , Imperial Senate and the review process of the Ducal Court for constitutionality. The system will be as originally proposed. The act passed with less votes in the House of Duchies as Unus and UoD expectedly opposed the act with this being expected as it is acknowledged by many pundits these more conservative parties are less popular abroad , a key reason why many previous governments have never passed such an act with UoD being in coalition either leading or supporting for 27 years out of the last 37 since the election system had its last major change with the Moderate party opposing major changes during the last Moderate and PSD coalition.

The change has been called for over many years with many campaigns to introduce voting for Duchian expats. The system will consist of 72 seats which will be set in proportion to total population of citizens and residents and reset every 10 years to match new date on citizenship.. This unlike the normal elections of house of commons will be decided in a separate election process using a Closed List PR system but held at the same time. Any expat citizen can run and parties can put up any candidates on the list. It is expected that representatives on a list will be selected for each major expat population with the aim of spreading campaigning work.

The second house will be elected using the Closed List PR system but instead elect 30 members the same as each of the other Duchies.Polling stations will be open in embassies , consulates and in buildings hired for the purpose in countries with high expat populations and counted like any other vote in the country. All ballots will be paper in line with the longstanding law banning Electronic Voting . Citizens may also send in postal ballots. Campaigns will also start to feature rallies in the major expat population centres such as California ,United Kingdom , Reitzmag, Spain and Inquista popular for their weather and english speaking societies allowing for easier transition. Hustings will be held in embassies with candidates on the list answering questions asked by local citizens with these hustings being online. The first election will be held on Saturday 5th November with the term to last until 2025 and the next all out election to be in line with the election cycle. The government hope to get high turnout and experts predict that the current government parties particuarly the Moderates and PSD will do well with centre right and right wing parties UoD and Unus likely to not do as well in these constituencies.

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Duchian Government take emergency control
After months of issues in Anastasia City and the failure of the local authorities Anastasia Cities policing has been took over by the Duchies High Police with Army to also assist in a peacekeeping role in Anastasia City. The government said in a statement "We have tried and tried to prevent an intervention. Tried supporting local police but they have failed time and time again. We have decided there is no other option but to take control over the situation and improve the law and order situation."

The government have also announced they will conduct an oversight operation with the government appointing a Emergency Overseer with with the right to intervene in local government decisions if necessary. The government still plan to invest in the development of the city at their present rate. The government have also announced they will start a mass deportation of the trouble makers with a revocation of visas and deportation to the last country they lived in as is standard procedure.

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Op-Ed:Whoever wins Premier Race we must hold them to account
Op-ed by James Mizrachi-Roscoe , Councillor for United Duchies
Europe faces a choice that is important . Calvin Kunhert whatever result he gets will have made an impact. I do know him fairly well with him being a fairly big power in the PSD , which incidentally is an EPA member who almost unanimously voted against him . He certainly is not in any way aligned with the ELSS however that portrayal may be claimed.

The choice is a choice over how Europes funding use is dictated and who controls the giving out of money in the nations. Do we trust nations to do it and run the process with local knowledge or centralise it in Europolis. I can see a case for a mix of both with the overall goals being set in Europolis then a locally appointed or elected board to actually run the doling out of EU funds in the country . Whatever I believe we need more localism in the EU EDA especially if funding is to rise, a project by project basis for the EU office and subject to the the Commissioners vote for every little project is just not sustainable and even 100 million Euro projects are small fry in context of the proposed at least 35 billion Euros. Even if Juncker wins I believe that national boards and an allocation method will prove to be needed to deal with the increase in projects being funded and the amount of funding just like many in the ELSS were proved right when we criticised how little the EDA was given before the budget was proved a joke when it couldn't even fund a Solar Power Project worth just 2 Billion Euros of investment in Azrekko . We said it would happen and it did yet those setting the budgets and in the EPA accused us of obstructionism for refusing to support the budget and called us fearmongers'. They have yet to appologise to us and Europe for that failure.

I have run the biggest supermarket and conglomerate in Europe one most people in Europe We leave decisions every day to national CEO's we don't vote on every little supermarket at HQ and have the leadership in United Duchies approve it. Why? Because its impossible , thousands of decisions and investments like that cannot possibly be voted on by only 2-3 people and don't have time to be approved by the board every time. We have to let the board decide on the big picture. You want a way to make a organisation inefficient make the heads vote on every little decision of a few million Euros like supposedly Juncker plans with the EDA , I ask him how does he and fellow commissioners if elected plan to approve every application including every little 500,000 Euro bike land or research grant for a new technology worth 5 million Euros for example with just 3 of them . I warn him now how it will go having run businesses for my life , it will mean applications take months , nations will see national funds or funds like the GEF can react faster or even just foreign aid programmes are more efficient and money won't be claimed. Then they will say nations haven't claimed so it isn't needed when in reality it will be nations just gave up. He must delegate being to a centralised office in Europolis or to national funding boards and organisations with people appointed or elected by the nations , that is the only way to run such a large budget worth 10's of billions of Euros.

However that is the past and we must move forward we do not know who will win it could be either but Juncker is in with a fair shot of winning to say the least. If he does and if Kunhert wins we must hold them to account. We need to make sure the EU is truly useful and meaningful and plays the key role in fighting climate change and quickly and sustainably developing all nations and helping those with less GDP per capita who need more help to catch up , especially nations with high poverty figures or dependent on high carbon economies at present. This means money must be spent , no more joke surpluses of 66% being returned to the nations, you don't run big organisations taking a big amount just in case and giving back 66% in a surplus payback , that just makes you less effective and wrecks havoc on national projections for budgets and budget plans as often spending is decided a year in advance, most nations have already budgeted in the EU contributions into their plans. Basically if the EU is to work and be relevent we must spend money , the EDA needs 35 Billion to 65 Billion Euros per year and there is no excuse but to give this to the EDA when the project increase in budget even with Strathae is significant.

Imagine 65 billion Euros helping the poor, helping those who have the most difficulty transitioning and funding a green industry boom. Imagine getting Carbon to net zero by 2040 potentially even sooner than that. Seem unrealistic? Well it is if it doesn't get the full funding.

So whoever wins lets push for at least 80% of the budget to be spent , the EDA to get no less than 35 Billion Euros but preferably far more and push for an actual concrete plan and policy with the commissioner making it clear how he plans to split powers between the EU and its nations and where. We need no more wishy washy politics and politicians but clear practical policy and actual honesty and less gimicks in politics that makes Europeans distrust the EU so much(which is a shame because the EU can do so much if it is run the right way) and more clear support for a more equal Europe that focuses in levelling up those nations with less resources and GDP per capita. We must make sure the new comissioners achieve this and get us on this path, for failure to do so will only harm the EU and Europeans even further. I came into EU politics to serve and to make the EU work and promote an EU that can actually do stuff in the EU while respecting nations and differences between nations, we must make sure these are the values and policies that get implemented. I will play my part if 80% of the budget is not spent in any proposal and the EDA doesn't get at least 35 Billion Euros I will vote against it on behalf of our great nation not because I dislike the EU or want to wreck it but because I want an EU that works and has the resources to do great things for all its members.

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Flights take off from Duchies
Flights have been restored to normal with the airspace of the Duchies opened following updates to the air traffic control system. The closure was conducted following the crash between an AeroDux A350 and an Easyjet Duchies A320 that cost 492 lives. The airspace opened up following critical upgrades to prevent a repeat scenario following small scale testing on planes without passengers of all types.

The government have thanked all neighouring countries and close by ones that helped in the transport scheme to maintain access to air links using excess capacity in other countries , thanking California, Inimicus , Inquista and Spain in particular for their special transit visa programme. The scheme has kept the country running. The government have apologised for all disruption caused and promised full compensation is ongoing. A memorial service for the victims consisting of many different nationalities including Spanish,Inimican, Californian and many Reitzmic citizens is scheduled at the palace in 1 month. The government have invited the Heads of State and Heads of Government of Spain, California ,Inimicus and Reitzmag to the service to honour their citizens in the service that was ordered by High Highness High Duke Nikolai III.Crash victims families have been promised 10 million Euros per victim on the flight with national authorities asked to assist in getting information needed to compensate the families of the victims.

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Duchies International Funding Allocation Agency set up to bid for allocation of EDA funding
The Duchies government today set up the Duchies International Funding Allocation Agency to handle all EDA money in the Duchies with the agency to bid for a full allocation based on what it believes the United Duchies should receive based on its contribution to the budget. It also plans to put bids into the Agriculture fund on the same basis should that become focused on being application based.

The move is designed to more efficiently distribute the money using local knowledge of the the economy and culture. The agency will also distribute the money to Duchy level boards based on their needs to further increase the efficient use of the EU money. The government said "We believe in the EU and look forward to the boost in its EDA funding. We will be setting up this government backed agency in order to more efficiently allocate money and make bidding for money more efficient by using our national and duchy level knowledge to make grant and loan decisions locally. This will cut costs of applying and allow smaller projects to bid by allowing them to go to a local office for the applying for funds rather than have to waste time going to Europolis to do so, it will also mean money is spent well as people who understand the unique and local conditions in the Duchies will be making all the decisions on allocation under this plan."Boards of experts will be set up for each type of fund so funds are being distributed by experts in their fields.

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Strait Taxes bad for consumers and Europe says Duchies Business Association
The Duchies Business Association president has said the Spanish taxes set a dangerous precedent for Europe that is bad for consumers and businesses throughout Europe. The president said the taxes raise prices and could make foreign trade all but impossible if the idea spreads. The President said "A tax of 2% of cargo value doesn't sound bad at first after all its only 2 Euros on a 200 Euro Phone for example but that ignores several problems. The first is there is 5 ccountries between Inquista and Duchies so if one was to ship the phone by sea and all 5 charge taxes that is suddenly 10 Euros extra or 5% more on the price of the average phone and that ignores the adminstration costs of sending cargo value sheets to each country who waters or EEZ's are passed through. It also ignores most things like cars and even phones can require 100's of components. If you repeat these extra costs on each component you can easily quickly have prices raised by 100% or even 200 or 300% so that 20,000 Euro car becomes 60,000 Euros or that 200 Euro Phone 600 Euros. That is the danger of the taxes the more widespread they become the more components they affect and the more it exponentionally grows the cost until you suddenly have all products be unaffordable. This is why nations must resist this method of tax and find other ways to fund conservation of marine areas and to manage safety of the seas. Already Spanish taxes make products far more expensive it would only get worse the more taxes there are and grind international trade to a halt and crash the living standards of Europe. Spain may think it benefits them but it doesn't it ultimately hurts them and their consumers the more the precedent is set and I believe we must have EU action on this issue to save the market and keep stability. " We sought oppinions from throughout the spectrum but there is despite our attempts to find dissenting oppinions no contradictory opinions or statements. All experts agree it harms consumers and raises costs of products potentially in an exponential way.

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Economic Results announced for United Duchies
The United Duchies have announced the economic results for 2021-2022 in over the adjusted 12 month period measure has increased by 16.57% to €13,638,117,589,042.10 with the per capita GDP increasing 12.57% to €125,764.68. The Median wage has also increased from €67,705.66 to €76,087.63. The results have been celebrated by the government who said "Our moderate economic strategy is working. By focusing on business that enpowers workers with a free trade policy we have generated more and more wealth per capita and we are proud of this achievement."

Grocery inflation was less than 4% much better than expected with the average family grocery bill only increasing from €8,771.79 to €9,122.66. This was achieved by controls on minimum-price selling agreements increases. The EU contribution is to be €13,638,117,589.04 for the year while housing has increased from an average of €647,334.81 to €704,290.72 which is represents a lower percent of median income than last year. Analysts have said public spending as % of GDP is expected to grow to 47% including local spending with government revenues taxes as % of GDP expected to drop to 47.5% of GDP based on the coalition agreement. Exports also increased but not as much as imports. Population increased from 104,713,812 to 108,441,556 a significant increase.

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James Mizrachi-Roscoe pledges to demand "high spending effective EU budget"
James Mizrachi-Roscoe , the EU Councillor has pledged today to demand a "high spending effective EU budget". James Mizrachi-Roscoe said about the budget in a statement "I will be holding Juncker to account making sure he holds up to his pledge of making the EU mean something and also making use of the budget his colleagues sought so hard to put back up. I will not be tolerating another budget with half or even 40% is unspent still and returned to the nations as that makes a joke of voting for the increase back up to 1% of gdp from 0.5% of gdp for contributions to the EU effectively making that vote pointless. My conditions for voting for a budget are simple:
1:At least 35 billion Euros is spent on the EDA though this could easily be raised to 60 billion Euros without breaking the budget and make the EU EDA truly useful and relevent.
2:80% of available money from contributions is spent. There is no point in just having a huge surplus once again they just returns money to nations for many like my country that will have set the yearly budget already with EU contributions in mind.
3: There is support in the budget for nations dependent on high carbon industries and those countries that will have the most challenges adapting to a low carbon economy and the effects of climate change , a climate change adaptation fund and High Carbon Country Transition fund would help in this. Though how this is done is optional.

These three objectives and conditions must be met for my vote. I want a useful EU and will not let Juncker make it a lame duck EU through a pathetically low budget which I very much hope he does not do. If he does though I will stand against it can call for ah higher budget and propose amendments to make sure the EU is truly useful."

The councillors calls have been supported by all parties including the PSD who have typically backed different councillor candidates tied to the EPA. The PSD said "We support Juncker and voted for him in the commission elections but he must deliver on his promises and give a budget and structure of how money is allocated that works and makes the EU truly useful to member states, something frankly it is not right now as pointed out by Kunhert who despite us disagreeing with him made good points in this area. The budget must be spent rather than contributions being mostly returned. This is one area all parties agree on in the United Duchies."

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Brummagem 2022 High Duke Games opened

The 2022 edition of the High Duke games in Brummagem opened up at the Chamberlain Park Arena today in front of High Duke Nikolai, the first games during his reign. The games have been played since 1842 and are one of the oldest organised games of Athletics , team sports, marathon and cycling events including disability sports in Europe. The games will feature over 22 sports and feature over 2,900 athletes from the 8 Duchies and constituents of the United Duchies including a team for the first time from Anastasia City. The games will also feature 988 medals.The games will take place over 14 days with 4 festival sites and cultural festival running at the same time. You can see the Bull in flesh at the square and watch the games at each festival site.

The games will be according to the organisers the greenest and most equal games in the history with 1.7 million tickets for the games already sold. The opening ceremony played to a crowd of 69,250 , The High Duke and his wife Victoria , all duchy government leaders and Dukes and Duchesses and the King and Queen consort of Reitzmag in a sold out event. The High Duke said in his speech to the games "The High Duke games have brought together these Duchies as one to united these United Duchies since 1842 and many High Dukes before me have been involved in this great tradition of unity and kindness. I'd like to welcome for the first time our Anastasian team many of whom have immigrated from difficult places and had difficult journeys , today we welcome you not just as Anastasians but also Duchians. You show the best of Anastasia and show a majority of Anastasians want peace and love to be the values of Anastasia City.

I also want to thank organisers for the first time for including disability sections for each sport. We now have equality in these games regardless of gender and disability the first time such a full equality has been achieved and let me tell you these para athletes to me are not less but totally equal athletes who deserve the full respect from us all. Let us as all Duchians show how we love and respect all Duchians equally and thank the people of Brummagem for their unique and kind welcome they always give to visititors."The games are projected to have cost around 1.1 Billion Euros funded by the High Dukes Estate and the Estates for the crowns of the 8 Duchies and Duchy budget.

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Two train franchises withdrawn after "disgraceful tardiness"
The Central Link and Eastern and Baltic train have had their franchise took off them for what the transport department described as "disgraceful tardiness" over 1.5 years of operation and for "failing passengers". The two franchises have both fallen below the standard set of 95% of trains arriving within 2 minutes of timetabled time at 90% of stations on the route barring exceptional circumstances. The two train operators have not hit above 92% and 93% within two minutes of timetable time at 90% of stations on the route.

The performance was branded as a disgrace by government who awarded the contracts. They also noted slight overcrowding issues with too short trains being used for demand. The government have said in a statement "We will not tolerate profiteering and companies failing the travel public by having unacceptable tardiness issues. We have tried to work with the operators to fix the delays issue but they have just not proven competent in their management of the train timetable and making sure at least 75% of passengers have a seat at peak times. We will not stand for this failure and we are retendering the lines and taking over the companies temporarily until we can find a new operator to operate the lines so passengers can have a trustworthy reliable experience." The companies operating the line have criticised the removal of the franchise blaming network failures for the performance figures though this is contradicted by most train companies reaching their targets.

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112 top 200 Duchies companies convert to Employee-Private Partnership Company status

Today the government hailed the success of their update policy on worker representation. The government changed law to encourage increasing worker control of boards on companies to 50% by reducing corporate taxes by 5% for the new category of Employee-Private Partnership Company to encourage companies to give more seats on their boards to workers. The move appears to have worked with 112 companies so far in the top 200 Duchies companies having announced they have switched to the Employee-Private Partnership Company model.

The government said of this result "We are proud to have given workers more say and control of their work places and thank all the companies who recognise their employees and hope they reap and see the benefits of such a decision. Our policies will mean more stability and dialogue for both workers and bosses of companies and indeed increased rewards from their labour. This policy will continue to benefit both companies and their workers and we will continue to back such a policy. "

The Union of Democrats the biggest critics of the policy have called for calming of the celebration cautioning that perhaps its is too soon to judge the success of the policy economically pointing out 30 companies are making moves to potentially move HQ's to other countries. The Union of Democrats said in a statement "We believe the full implications of the current policy have yet to come to bare. We believe the anti-company policies that have took the old model far too far in favour of workers at the expense of investors . We must restore the balance far more to the point where both workers and investors and entrepreneurs benefit from the hard work and risk involved in running companies." It is understood no other parties are seeking to reduce the role of workers decision making on boards.

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Season of Ducal Family Weddings

A season of ducal family weddings is upon the country as three major weddings have been announced this week. The first wedding announced was the wedding of Count Constantine Ludendorff currently 5th in line to the throne of Cair Para to Anthony, Duke of Glasgow. This historic wedding will make history as the first ducal family gay wedding in the United Duchies though a few more are expected to follow as it is known there are at least 2 other gay counts in the United Duchies. This wedding has caused some controversy among some groups though many have defended the couple and wish them well including the High Duke Nikolai III himself who said "I look forward to having a Gay old time like so many guests at the wedding in Windsor and the blessing by the Lutheran Church that will take place at Cair Paravel". The two are known to be friends through the network of ducal autistics that support each other.

The second marriage announced was them marriage of Mathias Mizrachi-Roscoe to Countess Arya Mormont 1st in Line to the Aranvale throne, in a surprising announcement of the relationship they'd managed to keep under wraps and way from media for a fair amount of time though there were rumours. It was announced in the wedding engagement announcement that wedding would take place in 4 months time at the Cair Paravel Grand Hall as is their right to have a wedding in the venue , it is understood in a break with some tradition the ceremony will be officiated by both the Catholic and ICS church with Arya keeping her Catholic faith and Mathias his ICS pentecostal faith with both attending church together but with them alternating between the two denominations every 2 weeks.

The third marriage in this season of weddings is the announced marriage of Count Lucy Redwood of Doornevale 1st in line to the Doornevale throne at present to His Majesty King Monette XVII of Fontainere . The wedding is to take place in Fontainere with a blessing ceremony in Cair Paravel and its Grand Hall. It is understood there are discussions about Lucy giving up her place in the line of succession due to the fact she would be spending at least half her time in Fontainere which would leave Count Vincent Redwood as heir to the Doornevale throne. Though the family has fully backed her marriage saying in a statement "We fully support as a family Lucy's decision to marry His Majesty King Monette XVII. We have seen how he has made her so happy and been such a good man in her life and fully support her decision to follow her heart and marry." The decision is controversial as traditionally the 1st in line marry Duchian citizens to avoid such issues with conflicts over commitments but as all three weddings show traditions can change and will change as the Ducal relationship and customs continue to change over time.

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Robyn II Duke of Aranvale dies

Robyn II Duke of Aranvale was annnounced to have tragically died after falling out a window as he blacked out in a freak accident. It was reported he fell from the top floor of the Castle to path below where it was crowed with tourists who were quickly dispersed by the staff at Hohenschwangauschloss in Aranvale. The Duke had only been in the role of Duke since 2015 follow the death of his father Eddard III. The family released a statement saying "Our beloved III beloved by not only us but the whole Duchy of Aranvale and its citizens has died following a tragice accident. He has been sent to the angels above. We unfortunately will not get to say goodbye in our traditional way due to how events have transpired but we welcome flowers at the site and official sites thorughtout the Duchy and will be working with the Duchy government and Catholic church to best honour his kindness, wisdom and courage he showed in leading this Duchy after the tragic heart attack of his father. We thank the lord that his death was at least quick and instantaneous , we would like to reassure the public he did not suffer but do ask for the space to mourn the loss of our family member , the duke is dead , long live the duchess Arya I". The acession council has already met and voted Arya Mormont to be selected as Arya I to be the Duchess as is the case after the laws were reformed in 2004.

Arya released a video as a tribute calling her brother an "inspiration and light to the world" and pledging to "honour his memory and legacy in her reign." The death has come at what was supposed to be a happy time as the marriage arrangements to Mathias Mizrachi-Roscoe who was to become Mathias Mizrachi-Roscoe Mormont was to be married. The marriage was due to take place in 4 months time though the family have indicated this might still be the timeline. This will now mean that Mathias will now become Duke Consort upon the marriage to Arya who shall now be known as Arya I of Aranvale. The family including the Roscoes have been seen coming to the castle in Hohenschwang. It has been announced that sadly due to the damage suffered from the fall His Highnesses Robyn II will not lie in state for the usual two weeks or undergo the traditional week of open casket ceremony.

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Government pass Triple Lock Law
Today the government passed a law garunteeing a Triple Lock rise for minimum wage , all benefits, the state Pensions and pay for public sector or state owned enterprise workers in the United Duchies.The bill a result of a campaign by workers unions and the PSD leadership guarantees that the minimum wage , state pension, benefits and public sector or state enterprise workers will rise by 2.5% , the average wage percent increase or the Official All Inclusive Inflation Rate which includes rent or mortgage costs increases whichever is the highest. The law means now workers will always be guaranteed a increase that reflects the increased cost of living and inflation. The bill was supported unaminously by the PSD and interestingly Unus with the Moderate Party splitting 102 votes in favour to 100 Votes against in the House of Commons and 30 votes for to 33 votes against in the House of Duchies with Liberal Party politicians voting 36 to 28 in favour of aye in the house of commons and 18 to 12 votes in favour of aye in the House of Duchies with UoD unanimously opposing the bill.

The UoD leader Mr Terence Fitzcharles described the bill as a "economic suicide note from the Duchies government that will sink the country into pernmanent high tax , high spend budgets." While the PSD leader Summer Hughes countered back saying "So the right honourable gentlement across supports high pay and bonuses for executives and the wealth increase being shared with them but its too much to garuntee decent livable wages for our poorest. This only shows who the Union of Democrats is for." The leader of the Moderate Party stayed neutral in the debate.

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Roscoes targets 80% of own brand food to be made in house
Today Roscoes announced that it would set up a strategy throughout Europe through a mixture of setting up new factories and buying existing contract food producers and agriculutal food processors to make 80% of its own brand food in house. The company also announced that Cadbury's factories would make 100% of the chocolate range for Roscoes as well as making Cadbury's products to sell under that brand name with plans to sell Cadbury's as the more affordable premium range while Roscoes would market the cheaper chocolate range with less cocoa under the Simply Roscoes range. The new strategy calls for vertically integrating from farm to factory to store to have the whole producation and sales process be inhouse apart from the farming. The company announced it would do this to increase margins as well as enable it to increase the portion of the price going to the farmer while increasing margins with it committing to putting 50% of the savings from integration to higher payments for produce. The company is setting up Roscoes Factories Ltd and Roscoes Processors Ltd as subsidiaries to organise the new divisions under the Roscoes Retail division.

The company announced it would be setting up a drive to make 80% of own brand food in its own factories within 5 years and has kickstarted the process by buying out Premier foods.. The company also announced a target for own brand sales to make up 90% of its sales within 3 years up from its current 81% . The company said "We believe integrating the process from manufacturing to store will help us enhance our offering with our customers benefiting from increasing quality and simpler choices for a lower price. We believe the right way to go is to move further away from big name brands and producers. Where we do stock other brands we plan on those brands being made by small local producers to provide local food options to customers from businesses that are of SME status." It also stated wherever it had supermarkets it would stop selling Cadburies, Yorkshire Tea, or Whittards Teas products to any other shops though it still planned to supply independent small cafes and restaurants. The companies plan is intended to increase efficiency , profit and increase control overconsistency and recipes of the own brand products. Analysts have suggested Roscoes is heading more in a Aldi direction shutting out brands and instead making its own alternative products. This news is a blow to the branded products market as Roscoes is the 1st or 2nd Supermarket in many countries with over 30.4% of supermarket revenue and 10.5% of convevience store revenue going to Roscoes with this share if anything expected to increase over the years. The news will also be a blow to Caffe Nero suppliers as Roscoes indicated it would seek to sell only Roscoes own brand food in Caffe Nero within 2 years. It indicated it plans to set up factories in all countries with major operations in order that it can meet targets of each country having at least 50% of products in store being from the country the food is sold in.