HUGE WORLDWIDE CONCERNS FOLLOWING GRECESSION
“Huge Worldwide Concerns” have followed the Goblin Instigated Financial Recession (Grecession), says the Ministry of Magic. The comments come after emergency sessions have been called in almost every foreign Ministry.
MACUSA
The economic fallout was felt across the pond in the United States, further damaging relations between the US and the UK. While the United States has largely been able to carry on despite the fiscal blow, the British Minister’s absence has left more of a mark. President Jovian Raynott had this to say: “Merriweather was an utter FRAUD as was her predecessors. Relations between The United Kingdom and The GREAT America remain thin. Thinner than EVER before when those corrupted aurors arrest American citizens! Do not forget the auror who falsely arrested a citizen and then murdered HIS OWN! Now I hear they arrested the daughter of MY GREAT friend and BEST auror at MACUSA. The GREAT American wizardkind will NOT support The United Kingdom until apologies are made and we will NOT forget.”
Germany
Wizards have pressed the German government to do more to assist with the crisis, calling for hard measures to be taken against the German goblin population. Minister Ina Hansen has stated that she is willing to assist the UK in its effort to recover the gold but has also noted that Minister Merriweather has become nearly impossible to contact and she does not have the same rapport with the British Acting Minister. Protests have broken out in the wizarding quarters of Berlin, with clashes between wixen and German magical law enforcement with numerous injuries reported, though so far the injuries have been relatively minor.
France
Tensions have escalated between goblins and wizards to the point of outright violence across the country. Economic strife has hit French wizards hard alongside goblin raids on villages and wizards have struck back. There have been numerous reported deaths on both sides of the fighting along with many magical injuries. It is reported that many of the goblins have wands and have been causing a large amount of chaos, and have attempted to raid French vaults in a similar vein as the Gringotts robbery, however with limited success.
Spain
The Spanish wizarding economy is in shambles after investments in Britain suddenly dried up following the emptying of Gringotts bank. Many businesses in Madrid and Barcelona have closed their doors at least temporarily while others are looking to focus their trade in other parts of the world. Minister Mariana de Torreblanca stated, “We are hopeful for a swift recovery of the British bank, however this event has fundamentally changed our relations and they may never be the same again.”
Switzerland
The Swiss Magical Council called an emergency session to discuss the status of goblin gold. Some members called for a temporary ban on the importation of any British Galleons to Switzerland in order to avoid the country facing accusations of providing a secret place for the stolen gold to be hidden. However, these calls have faced resistance from the population, who are concerned with the Ministry interfering in their private financial business. Felix Josef Luchsinger, President of the Council, expressed his public dismay at the British Ministry’s handling of the goblin situation, yet assured the Ministry that his Financial Investigation Squad would report any Swiss goblins in possession of the stolen British money. Domestically, the situation remains peaceful despite rapid increases in the interest rates of gold borrowing.
Eastern Europe
In Eastern Europe, tensions have erupted into acts of violence and riots as goblins, witnessing the uprisings in other countries, reject the treatment they feel they have suffered at the hands of wizarding kind. Some countries, such as Norway and Bulgaria have taken heavy economic loss as the goblins within their countries take after their British brethren and “liberate” all goblin crafted coin and artefacts. Romania particularly has struggled as goblin and vampire kind have banded together against the wizard community within their country. On the subject, Romanian minister, Dorin Florea had this to say:
“We could have settled things if Alyssa Merriweather would have offered her help as well as the hand she called friendship. I believe this is a trickle down effect from the summit that went so unproductively. Our Auror department is working diligently to find a solution and retrieve the money stolen from our own banks. Myself as well as a number of others within the Romanian Ministry have taken a pay cut from what little resources our ministry has been able to retain. I would hope the summit created enough friendship between ministers that we will be able to reach out for assistance that will be paid back in full plus interest.”
Africa & South America
Gold mines and dig sites that had previously been operated by Gringotts bank have now found themselves in the middle of a heated conflict over ownership. Goblins, some with wands, others wielding traditional weaponry have begun attempting to assert their ownership over the sites however most have found themselves outmatched by the cursebreakers and other wixen that had been operating them. Some sites which had been operated by smaller teams found themselves in standoffs lasting for days, with the goblins transfiguring their belongings into various animals and the wixen struggling to keep up with un-transfiguration. There is no word yet if there has been any attempt at negotiation over ownership of any of the sites.
FOCUS: ELECTION FOR THE MINISTER OF MAGIC; IS THIS THE UK’S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?
With the Ministry of Magic under severe scrutiny during these tumultuous times the announcement of the candidates for Minister for Magic has created a flurry of interest and activity. But who are the candidates? Read on to find out more.
Nigel Stormcrow
A single father from Falmouth, Nigel Stormcrow lives with his son, Gray (10) and his daughter Emma (8) on a small farm where he teaches them to grow a variety of crops. Nigel has been a seated member of the Wizengamot for 9 years, representing the rural wizarding communities of the West Country. He gave a speech in front of a small crowd in Falmouth on Friday: “It’s my pleasure to announce to you my bid for Minister of Magic. We have seen hard times, but as Minister I will make sure not a single person is forgotten. No parent should need to worry about how to give their children the best chance at life, and no wixen should live in fear of the violence and crime that has plagued this country under previous administrations.”
Matthew Soo
Popular bachelor, Matthew Soo hails from Birmingham where he lives with his younger sister, Lisa (10) of whom he has sole guardianship. A seated member of the Wizengamot for 7 years, Matthew represents the urban wizarding communities, well liked in local circles. It was at the opening of a new soup kitchen in Birmingham that he announced his intention to put his name into the ring for Minister of Magic: “I hadn’t intended to do a speech, but now that I’m here… I’d like to announce my bid for Minister of Magic. These are tough times and though we’ve lived through tough times before, we’d do better with someone who has the best interests of the people in charge. As Minister, I will keep your interests at the forefront of my mind and see to it that we not only survive these times, but come out of them on top.”
Continued Thefts in Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley AND Godric’s Hollow INFURIATE residents
Jade Troll’s fury was evident when interviewed regarding the continued thefts from The Three Broomsticks.
“Those […] Goblin sympathisers came in here and asked if I saw anything, do you think I’d have let them get away if I SAW something?! The DMLE is here to steal our money, I swear on my owl they’re working with the goblins!”
Following an introduction of a new Take Away Specials Board, her anger is understandable as large amounts of money continue to be stolen with what seems to be near impunity as an already strained Department of Magical Law Enforcement struggles to keep up with the thefts.
If reports are to be believed, large sums of money were stolen from Madam Malkins’, Honeydukes, Flourish and Blotts, Spintwitches, The Three Broomsticks, Bishop’s Wands, Deathcap and Dogweed, the Diagon Potions Shop, The Beehive Stores, and The Thirsty Dragon.
The same sentiments were shared by shopkeepers across Wizarding Britain, and a hope that a fruitful investigation will take place and the thief, or thieves, be apprehended.
– Saffron Foxclaw, Current Events
FOOD FRENZY
Despite the Grecession limiting people’s pockets, The Three Broomsticks has announced a new range of take away meals and snacks for those needing healthy food on a limited budget, Honeydukes has recently released a new range of chocolate frogs that are guaranteed to give you a bounce in your step despite your money woes, and the Soup Kitchen in Diagon Alley has proved to be a huge success feeding over 1000 people in the first week alone.
Saffron Macauley said;
“Thank you to all who have generously donated and we encourage this to continue, the needy should not go to bed hungry!”
She also reiterated that any donations of food will be financially reimbursed. It seems that food is foremost in people’s thoughts still despite their empty coffers!
MINISTRY OF MAGIC SEEKS NEW DEPARTMENT HEAD
Following the recent Grebellion and the Grecession that followed, Percius Fletcher has made the decision to step down to the role of Head of Goblin Liaison to focus more on the current political issues, and his family life.
The Ministry of Magic is seeking an enthusiastic individual with extensive expert knowledge, and a wide range of experience, in Magical Creatures. Applicants should apply to the Dept of Magical Resources and Revenue.
Duel Britannia
Following reports of students struggling to make ends meet, renowned dueler El Cuchillo has called upon his fellow professional dueling colleagues, and the British Wizarding Dueling Association, to donate to a fund for wandless wixen affected by the grecession.
All students who find themselves wandless may reach out to El Cuchillo to meet with a dueling professional in Diagon Alley (or Hogsmeade if they are unable to prior to term starting) who will provide them the funds for their wand.