The Imperial Union of Kyrini, Irykia, the Siculite Islands, Valivory and the Ryccian Republics- As the crisis in the Empire gradually worsens, Emperor Albert I has made “a heart-felt plea to the nation" threatening to abdicate if the turmoil is not quelled, according to a statement released by the Argentum Palace and written by the Emperor himself, repeated in full, below.

Quote:I have fallen into depression after seeing what my ascendance to the throne has done to my new home. I believed that this would eventually end, but it has gotten worse, often even escalating into violence. My conscience cannot handle this, nor can that of my family. The Hoxe-Imperium Dynasty will end here, very soon, if these guardians of evil, hiding under the veil of good, keep destroying our country. The Empire will be a footnote in our history. The stability the Monarchists want will never be achieved, and the Federation the Republicans want will be in tatters. Both parties must work to make the Union a better place, whether a Republic, or an Empire, if both sides do not show restraint.

I thought that the Empire would unify the vast and differing territories of our nation. To bring something artificial, perhaps even robotic, to life. I see now that I was wrong. I was wrong to take power. And we were all wrong to start this robot from the start. If the Union stayed a republican Federation, then the competing members of the so-called country would tear it up. If the Union remains an Empire, it will destroy itself anyway from the inside, and that will be if we do not act, and let our cherished Empire collapse into ruins.

To the Republicans, I am truly sorry. I apologize for the hatred I have caused. Yet, I only wish stability. I am not here to harm you, nor anyone for that matter. I care about all the citizens of our Empire. Please, for the future of our nation, show restraint. Fight with your words, not with your fists. For when we fight with our fists against our fellow compatriots, we burn our dear Union daily.

To the Monarchists, I appreciate your support. Still, if you keep on in your spree of violence, both you and the Republicans shall face the full force of the rule of law. I do not care if you support me or not. I do not care if you intend to defend me or not by your deplorable actions. If you use physical force to harm our land, I have no sympathy for you. If you keep on with your reckless attitude, you despise me. You are not Monarchists. You are lunatics.

This is our home. Why are we killing it, slowly, everyday? I implore you both to stop. Please. I cannot bear this pain in my heart. We live here. We exist in these lands. We must not let our emotions and ideals consume us. For the truth says otherwise. The truth of our existence must speak to us. It must shout if needed.

Truth and ideals can co-exist peacefully, yet they can be in constant conflict. Please, look at the truth, and let your fury falter and fall away. Our very survival depends upon it.

Signed,
His Imperial Majesty Albert I of the House of Hoxe-Imperium, Emperor of the Imperial Union of Kyrini, Irykia, the Siculite Islands, Valivory and the Ryccian Republics

Upon the delivery of this message to the public, it has been reported that major cities in the Union fell quiet. Imperial Police have not reported any riots but one in Josetown, in the Siculite Islands, although this one was against cuts by the Siculitian government on welfare, even if it would be temporary. Both the Imperial Police and the Military are still patrolling heavily, however, fearing unrest.

by Philling Lang, Correspondent
Translated by: Katya Cho, Junior Translator

Yet another breakthrough in 2016 from the Peocracy as an aircraft has been surprisingly unveiled by Peonic engineers, taking the country by storm with the unveiling of the first aircraft that was produced by the Peorcracy. It is said to be one of the methods to solve haulage problems in the country.

Being a nation with such lush green forests and an overabundant natural beauty, transport problems ensue as the country lacks the land allowed to create roads and tracks, with the government prioritising manage traffic instead of expansion. Therefore, air travel has been one of the quickest ways for mobilisation into far-reach villages and towns across the Peocracy, but its prices and maintenance has made air Travel eyed as a luxury in the Peocracy, only the well-off could afford such luxury. It all changed however with the unveiling of a new aircraft by Peonic engineers.

Unlike other modern day aircrafts, the Z-225, or Zhinu focuses itself in reliability and cost as well as being an eco-friendly vehicle without full emphasis on “breaking barriers”. The name Zhinu stems from the old traditions of a goddess known as Zhinu, a weaver maid that weaves the clouds.
“One of the problems for aircrafts in the Peocracy is that airstrips are just so short due to lack of land and fuel is just not available in a lot of areas. There are small aircrafts, however with the rising amount of people needing to travel by air, we would need an aircraft that would accommodate the Peocracy, therefore, we designed this aircraft. We hope that with a proper investment, we could connect the country in a much more efficient manner.”

The Zhinu is currently awaiting certification from the Peonic government, once the certification has been cleared, the aircraft would do well to serve local airliners in transport, furthermore the design of this aircraft is only restricted within Peonic borders within the time being. Once the factories have been activated, skilled workers would produce these aircrafts at an alarming rate, and thus providing a step further in solving the Peocracy’s transport crisis.

An award is planned to be given on February 10th by the Peony with correspondence to the annual Sun Zi awards, an award given to intellectuals in their research.

Written by: Zheng Wei Bin Hassar, Chief Correspondent
Translated by: Molly Liu, Senior Translator

This coming week, Muslims worldwide will commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, known as Eid Milad un-Nabi, Mawlid al-Rasul, or by many other regional variants.
Being currently the only nation which majority is of Islamic faith in the region, Huawan shall have public processions, parties and feasts will take place to mark the birth of Islam's prophet, who is said to have been born on on the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal - the third month of the Islamic calendar.

Muslims generally celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad on the 12th day of the third month of the Islamic calendar, called Rabi’ al-Awwal. Because the lunar calendar advances 11 days each year, the prophet’s birthday changes year to year, and falls on Wednesday this year. It begins Tuesday at sunset, and Shiites generally celebrate a few days later. Not all Muslims celebrate the day, however. Mawlid al-Nabi (“the Prophet’s Birthday"), as it is called in many countries, is often associated with Sufi strains of Islam. Some countries do not publicly recognize the holiday, viewing it as an unnecessary religious innovation.
In much of the Muslim world, the date is marked with songs and poems in honor of the Prophet Muhammad. A famous 13th-century poem, "Qasida Burda," is often read in praise of the prophet and the mercy he is believed to have brought. Cities are often decorated, and many people hand out sweets and candy to children. Traditions vary by country.
Pluralism across the Peocracy
A lot of madrassa (Islamic boarding schools) hold recitations of zikir (religious chants) every time they commemorate the anniversary of Prophet Muhammad's birth (maulid). Multiple ways of celebrating the maulid of the Prophet Muhammad signals that respect for the Prophet cannot be separated from cultural pluralism. Due to his noble personality, love and respect for the Prophet cannot be restricted to one single religious celebration.

Strong cultural pressure makes particular groups of Muslims' love for the Prophet long-lasting. While the staged approach through delivering sermons might have a boring effect on people since they only suit those with a strong religious consciousness, the frequent recital of al-Barzanji ingrains respect for the Prophet in Muslims. I have accustomed myself to the al-Barzanji tradition since I was a child. My personal repertoire and mental image of the Prophet, to a serious degree, has been shaped by listening to the recital because it narrates a lot of the Prophet's noble characteristics, among others his siding with the poor, his very humble lifestyle, his habit of sewing his own sandals and clothes, his shy personality, his not being puffed up, his compassionate attitude to his family and so on. My deep love for and mature comprehension of Muhammad are inseparably linked to this tradition.

Furthermore, a diverse celebration of the Prophet's birthday betokens Muhammad's plural personality. Muhammad is not a monolithic figure. Rather he is a multidimensional man with a distinguished degree of success in all the roles played; ordinary man, husband, father, religious leader, general and many others. His diverse personality trait has invited Muslims' vast and heterogeneous response to his charm. In a nutshell, multiple ways of celebrating maulid suggest that Muslims assign great importance to the Prophet in different ways.

Being one of the leaders of Islamic faith and Peonic roots, Her Majesty The Peony spent quite an attention in celebrations across the country, maintaining festivities and emphasising constraint in conduct of the commemoration. She conveyed that while it is a celebration, modesty is not something to be thrown away. The Peony also took the chance to invite those of the Peocracy to emulate the humility of the prophet Muhammad, prioritising tolerance, peace and solidarity.

The Peony had spent the celebration with her friends and family in the royal château, claiming that she “does not want to be bothered at such a lovely time to smell flowers.” However, several actions had been undertaken in the name of the festivities. On the occasion of Eid Al Mawlid Annabawi, The Peony granted pardon to 605 people convicted by different courts in Huawan, pardons range from reduction of prison term to the annulment of fines.

The Peony had also donated bicycles, kites, musical instruments, and books to orphanages as well as far to reach villages. She had also donated quite a hefty sum for the construction and remodelling of mosques, madrassas, and other public venues across the country.

Her Majesty Nuwang had also provided a package to world leaders across the nation which consisted of tea, koran, a kite and a white silk cloth to be given by emissaries of the Peocracy, with hopes of strengthening the bond between nations.

Birth of Muhammad SAW.

Muhammad is believed to have been born in Mecca in the year 570 in the tribe of Quraysh. It was customary among wealthy Quraysh to entrust newborns to country women, whose lifestyles were deemed more pure and their Arabic of a higher standard. Muhammad was reportedly given to Halima Sa’dia, who, according to Islamic tradition, witnessed great blessings by taking in the child.

His mother Aminah died when Muhammad was 6, and his father was already dead by then. The orphan was protected by his uncle Abu Talib and his grandfather Abdul-Muttalib. That he was an orphan plays strongly into his biography, and is mentioned in the Quran. Abu Talib, who held sway among the Quraysh, protected Muhammad after his tribe turned against him when he declared himself a prophet decades later. Abu Talib himself never converted to Islam.

At a young age, Muhammad started learning about business from his uncle. He was spoken about highly, and became a successful and trusted trader. His tribesmen referred to him as “the trustworthy one.” According to Islamic tradition, it was while 12-year-old Muhammad was on a caravan trip with his uncle that a Nestorian monk, Bahira (meaning “tested and approved by god”), informed Abu Talib that his nephew would become a great prophet. “This is the master of all humans, Allah will send him with a message which would be a mercy to all humans,” Bahira said.

It was not until Muhammad was 40 years old that he was commanded by the angel Gabriel, who carried God's message, to declare God's oneness and to shun the idolatry of his tribesmen. The earliest revelation said: “Read in the name of thy lord and cherisher who created: Created man out of a clot of congealed blood. Read! And thy lord is most bountiful, He who taught the use of pen; Taught man that which he knew not.”

We of the LuoYang Post wish you a merry and blessed Mawlid al-Nabi, May the Prophet bless you and your family with happiness, and grace your home with warmth and good tidings.

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(The Official Out-of-Character Column)

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