‘ORTHODOX RENAISSANCE’ IN SCANDINAVIA
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK– While the Orthodox Church of Byzantium struggles to determine its place in a world without a Roman Empire and the Orthodox Church of Russia finds itself mired in a declining von Wismar Russia on the brink of irrelevancy, the autocephalous church of Scandinavia has, with the patronage of Queen Ulrika II af Belev, remained not only stable but flourished in what can only be termed a cultural renaissance.

With royal monies flowing into church coffers and thence towards the employ of talented artists, the so-called ‘Scandinavian School’ of Orthodox art, music, and iconography has become extraordinarily influential from Stockholm to Constantinople.

THE DREADED ‘CARIB FLU’
Death, Disease & Misery Stalks the Slums of the Ayiti Federation

JARAGUA, AYITI FEDERATION— The miasma of sickness has descended upon the multitudes of poor residents of the Ayiti Home Islands displaced from their homes by last year’s hurricane and living in unwholesome conditions in impromptu shantytowns on the outskirts of cities like Jaragua or Habana.

Medical authorities have urged caution when entering districts peopled by these woebegone refugees, as breathing the ‘bad air’ contained therein could perhaps result in transmission of the flu to the unlucky interloper.

Commenting on the situation to concerned Byzantine citizens, Athanasios Pharmakis, professor of medicine at the University of Athens, stressed that there is absolutely no risk of the flue spreading beyond those unhealthy regions over which the miasma hangs and called concern that the crews of the Ayiti Federation’s merchant marine could spread the disease ‘farcical at best and primitive superstition at worst.’

CIVIL WAR IN ASITELAHAN
Russians and Crimeans secede from ailing Sino-Mongolian Empire

ASTRAKHAN– With the Sino-Mongol ruling class of Asitelahan discredited following its failed attempt to back Ukraine’s treacherous & cowardly ‘crusade’ against the Byzantine Republic, the northern empire’s ambitious of becoming a regional power of note have been abruptly shattered by rapid defeat in two separate civil wars. Secessionists in the south have declared the restoration of the old medieval ‘Republic of Crimea’ (sadly, an antiquated trade republic, rather than an enlightened Constitutional Republic– but certainly an improvement on feudal tyranny!). Allegations that the putative rebellion was bankrolled by the great Pecheneg and Cuman trade companies of the Byzantine north remain completely unfounded.

With the disorganized and undermanned Asitelahan military apparently helpless in its efforts to restore order to Crimea, the conquered Russian majority of Asitelahan declared independence and petitioned Russia, Third Rome, for re-annexation. The von Wismar rulers of Russia, delighted at this sudden change in their moribund empire’s fortunes, readily accepted. Sultan Hu Fuxiang III could only fume as Russian troops occupied most of his former empire’s northern frontiers.

THE HAIDA SEIZE NEW SOUTH BRUNEI
Sultanate of Brunei humiliated as the Haida step onto the world stage

HAIDA GWAII– The Haida’s dominance over the western coasts of Avalon is well-established. Now the reach of their enviable maritime establishment extends to the furthest reaches of the Pacific following the unconditional capitulation of the colonial governor of New South Brunei to the invading Haida.

The central government of Brunei contested that the surrender was unauthorized and dispatched their navy to retake southeastern Karatguk and Aotearoa. Haida control of the colonies was by that point a fait accompli, and the massive redwood man-o-wars of the Haida Navy made short work of the more fragile ships of Brunei.