Weekly News from Fyksland
Coverage and translation provided by Vaijskä Radio
Sunday, 6 October, 2002
Countess sets wedding date
KAANSÄ (AP) - Countess Marie-Rose of Montesie and her fiancé Ronald Blackmur of Britain have announced their wedding will take place in mid-November. The royal couple has been engaged since last December, and have been keeping their wedding plans secret until today. The 26-year-old countess -- daughter of Princess Terese, Duchess of Montesie -- is one of the few distance royals who remain committed to royal duties and choose to have public lives. Full story...
Monday, 7 October, 2002
Sick days used in sickness and in health
NIEKOPENHAAG, Jølantä (AP) - More Fyksians are calling out sick for reasons that have nothing to do with being ill, a study shows. The study conducted by the KLE Inc. of Niekopenhaag found that the overall rate of unscheduled absences has remained about the same in recent years, but unscheduled days off for personal reasons increased from 20 percent two years ago to 24 percent this year. Absences due to stress jumped from 5 percent to 12 percent over the same period. Only a third of unscheduled days off are because of illness, the study found. Full story...
Tuesday, 8 October, 2002
Ailing queen greets royal fans
KAANSÄ (AP) - Royal watchers and well-wishers were treated a rare appearance of Queen Lauraine today as the queen greeted fans from a second floor balcony from her residence at Holmse Castle. With the help of her lady-in-waiting, Queen Lauraine greeted a crowd of hundred from the balcony sitting in a wheelchair. For the first time in six weeks, the condition of the ailing royal has slightly improved, according to the doctors. Flowers, cards, fresh fruits and even stuff animals have piled on the gates of the official residence of the 89-year-old royal since news broke out about her illness early last month. Full story...
Wednesday, 9 October, 2002
EU sets date for historic union
BRUSSELS, Belgium (VKK) - The European Commission has recommended in an historic move that 10 mostly poor ex-communist countries join the European Union in two years' time. Thirteen years after the fall of the Berlin Wall the nations -- Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta and Cyprus -- have been deemed ready to compete inside the EU's single market from 2004 following often painful economic and social reforms. Fyksland, which is one of the few countries to hold a referendum on the issue of enlargement, has contributed heavily to subsidies since it joined the EU, and is now fearing that a larger union will further destablised the already fragile union and increase immigration. Full story...
Ikea recalls soft toy
KAANSÄ (AP) - Ikea is voluntarily recalling its red, yellow, blue and black Snuttig bear soft toys. To date, the Sweden-based home furnishing giant has sold over 1 million Snuttig soft toys worldwide including close to 140,500 in Fyksland. Ikea is urging consumers to take the soft toy away from young children and return it to Ikea stores to be euphanised. Full story...
Thursday, 10 October, 2002
Fyksland braces for crucial EU vote
KAANSÄ (VKK) - The EU's Treaty of Nice is set to be ratified by Fyksland, according to the latest opinion poll that shows that 42 per cent of voters intend to vote "yes." However, political observers say the numbers voting will be crucial. Voters must back or reject the treaty that permits reorganisation of European Union institutions to admit another 10 countries in 2004. A "no" majority could throw Europe into turmoil. Senior EU officials have warned a Fyksian "no" will derail the union's eastward expansion. All 16 existing EU member countries have to ratify the treaty. Fourteen have done so, with only Fyksland and Ireland throwing the question to open voters. Full story...
Friday, 11 October, 2002
EU calls for cooperation from Stotson's government
BRUSSELS, Belgium (VKK) - European Union officials are calling Fyksland's government to drum up support for a "yes" vote for next Saturday's referendum on the Nice Treaty. So far, Stotson's governemnt has been accused of being anti-EU and not doing enough to promote a positive image of the 16-member union in Fyksland. "Fyksland and its government must do more to support the expansion of the European Union," said Viki Olemen, spokesperson for the EU's representative office in Fyksland. Full story...
Saturday, 12 October, 2002
Terror in paradise
JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) - At least twelve people have been killed and some 100 hurt, including Fyksian tourists, in a series of explosions on Indonesia's popular resort island of Bali, local media and hospital officials said. The explosions came at Kuta Beach and Ubud on Saturday night. Bali is a popular holiday destination and particularly popular with Australians. It is estimated about 25 Fyksian nationals were travelling in Bali at the time of the explosions. Full story...
