#municipality

…Nativity scenes in Padua in the stables of Palazzo Moroni, each scene dating back over 50 years…

The residents of Okanagan Falls, B.C., have narrowly voted in favour of creating a new municipality to represent the community in the southern Interior, preliminary referendum results on Saturday show. Okanagan Falls, located approximately 60 kilometres south of Kelowna and 260 km east of Vancouver, dubs itself the "heart of wine country" and is home to around 2,700 residents. Of them, 1,100 voted in the referendum, with 53 per cent in favour of incorporation, according to initial results.

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Andrew Town served as a strategic base of operations for the Regular Army and is renowned as a city of adventurers. Once the central command centre for the Joint Military Operations Headquarters, it was relocated to the Great Victoria Desert following the devastating siege and ransacking by the Rebel Army during the Great Morden War. After being meticulously rebuilt following the Great Morden War and experiencing a tourism boom after hosting its first successful tournament featuring the best Ikari Warriors mercenaries, Andrew Town has flourished as an international trade port. It boasts a commerce lane lined with shops, office buildings, and street vendors, an industrial district, a central square with a popular fighting ring, a fortified military compound with a helipad, and a seaside port.

Ajirabia, a nation formed by the merger of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, boasts an array of Giza pyramid complexes within its vast, arid deserts. Its most well-known desert is the Argum Palm Desert, which houses a couple of agricultural areas and various small villages. An unnamed pyramid preceding the stone bust of King Tutankhamun once enshrined the legendary Ajirabian Teardrop. However, this treasured artifact was seized by Morden's forces during a raid, which exploited excavation workers and inadvertently unleashed the ancient curse of Anubis, stirring mummies from their centuries-long slumber. It features a renowned area with the ancient ruins of a long-forgotten Egyptian city and a place of worship known as the Hekanet Tomb, which contains two quicksand pits that have been unnaturally active for centuries. However, the pyramids are completely inaccessible due to barricaded entrances and the refusal of the Arabic and Egyptian governments to allow anyone inside for fear of provoking the curse of Heka. In the Saudi Arabian region of Ajirabia, Riyadh serves as the capital city, renowned for its commerce, gambling, marketplaces, shops, and industrial sector, particularly for its secretive production of Iron Isos under the control of Abul Abbas.

The Airplane Crash Site was the wreckage of a passenger airliner that tragically crashed near the mountains of Russia during the Martian Takeover. This site is located near the epicentre of a zombification radiation zone as well as a Rebel Army and Amadeus Syndicate encampment and excavation site. A zombie outbreak was triggered by radiation emanating from the Monoeyes UFO, which crashed deep in a clearing of the nearby forest, resembling an irradiated meteorite.

As the best team of commandos raided the area, the Regular Army and Rebel Army discovered an icy cave where a group of Sasquatches had been living in seclusion. The cave culminates in an avalanche of snow and ice with a pool of glacial water located just before it. There, submerged in the frozen depths, lay the elusive Elephant Slug, suspended in a state of cryogenic sleep. This elephantine weapon had vanished years ago during a raid in the region amid a severe snowstorm.

The Corridor of Fire is an ancient temple located within the Soursop Jungle, revered by the Brazilian Nina Runakuna. The temple can only be accessed by navigating a jungle river via paddle boat, which leads directly to its entrance. Inside, the temple conceals the Black Hound within a secret lair, while the Metal Rear is found outside, deep within the surrounding jungle and crystal-clear waters. The Brazilian Nina Runakuna worship the Metal Rear as a sacred gift from Quetzalcoatl and Supay, a belief nefariously instilled by Ptolemaios. Within the temple's depths, Purple Maggots reside, regarded by the Brazilian Nina Runakuna as sacred, juvenile guardians of the fiery energies that protect this place from external threats.

Gerhardt City is a wealthy municipality in Italy with a predominantly German-speaking population. The city boasts large residential complexes and a commercial district, featuring traditional establishments such as butcher shops, bakeries, and wine cellars, all conveniently situated along its main thoroughfare. Essential services, including mail and delivery operations, are also available. Notably, the city's central avenue connects to a crucial access road leading to the Straits of Traven, a strategic naval passage to the outside world and formerly the Rebel Army's base of operations. During the Great Morden War, the Rebel Army invaded Gerhardt City, leveraging its city lines to transport vital supplies to their troops on the battlefront.

New Godokin City is a bustling metropolis with a robust economy primarily driven by commerce. Its skyline is dominated by skyscrapers, hotels, and office buildings, while its streets are lined with a diverse array of businesses, including coffee shops, grocery stores, and various other establishments. The city's comprehensive transportation network, consisting of subways, buses, and taxis, ensures accessibility to all areas. Beneath the streets, a vast network of sewers operates alongside the subway system, managing thousands of litres of sewage daily.

However, during the Extraterrestrial Alliance Clash, the sewers were covertly utilised by the Rebel Army, Pipovulaj, and Amadeus Syndicate as a secret testing site for the Super Soldier Project. Shrouded in secrecy, these experiments went unnoticed by the general public—until the foul stench emanating from the research area sparked widespread complaints. Suspecting Rebel Army involvement, the Regular Army swiftly intervened, dispatching a specialised team consisting of Marco, Tarma, Eri, and Fio, who were joined by unexpected support from Division 6 to investigate and neutralise the situation. At that time, the Regular Army caught the Rebel Army off guard, which was woefully low on resources. In response, the Rebel Army employed stolen and derailed subway trains against them, receiving minor assistance from the Amadeus Syndicate. However, after the war ended, the trains were subsequently rebuilt and restored to service.

The Junction of Thrills, a haunted amusement park in Canada, features two spooky attractions. The Cursed Tomb of the Pharaoh immerses visitors in an Egyptian-inspired world filled with staff dressed as mummies, ancient sarcophagi, stone statues, and hieroglyphs that, according to Scott Amundsen Jr., are written randomly without any regard for their actual meanings. The Town of the Living Dead simulates a post-apocalyptic city overrun by hordes of lifelike animatronic zombies and staff members who appear zombified. However, unbeknownst to park-goers, the Amadeus Syndicate and Rebel Army have been secretly using the park as a laboratory for sinister experiments during the White Baby Crisis. Their twisted research involves testing two potent substances synthesized from the mummifying breath of mummies and bodily fluids of zombies on unsuspecting park visitors.

Käthehirt Valley is a snow-covered valley located in the Ardennes region of Europe. During the Great Morden War, it served as a key location for the Rebel Army's armoured division, which was comprised of Iron Isos, the Rebel Infantrymen, Di-Cokkas, and Girida-O Type-4s.

The Oro Sol Ruins, located in the Chihuahuan Desert, is a sacred temple dedicated to Sol Dae Rokker, who fiercely guards the site in his honour. It was constructed by the now-extinct Mexican Inti Runakuna, who revered Sol Dae Rokker as their primary deity. It attracts a variety of visitors, including treasure hunters seeking valuable relics, explorers hoping to peacefully uncover the area's secrets, and devout followers wishing to worship Sol Dae Rokker directly. However, the Amadeus Syndicate established a nearby facility to conduct biological experiments. These experiments went awry, transforming local flora into carnivorous plants and mutating fauna into terrifying creatures, such as Giant Caterpillars and Big Snails. The ruins also house an ancient tomb filled with mummified Inti Runakuna shamans and warriors, who awaken only if Sol Dae Rokker plans a full-scale attack against those desecrating his temple.

Pallas Island, also known as Dr. Moureau's Island, is a remote and desolate island located within the Galapagos Islands. Once a popular tourist destination, it was converted into a nuclear testing site by the Amadeus Syndicate and Rebel Army, previously utilised by the Regular Army. The island's ecosystem has been severely impacted by radioactive fallout from past nuclear tests, resulting in mutated wildlife. The island features an underwater passage inhabited by diverse marine life, including Jellyfish, Enormous Morays, and Ohumein-Congas. A swampy region is home to Chowmein-Congas and Huge Locusts, and also contains the remnants of an abandoned ferry, now known as the Borobune Slug, which was repurposed during the Regular Army's occupation. Additionally, an abandoned ship on the island serves as a habitat for Ohumein-Congas and Chowmein-Congas, which feed on the rotten fish cargo.

Ridge 256, codenamed by the Regular Army, is a treacherous valley located in Kazakhstan. Its name stems from the numerous fortifications constructed by the Rebel Army, which previously occupied the area. however, the Regular Army refers to it as Death Valley due to the perilous terrain and heavy casualties they suffered during the Great Morden War. The Rebel Army effectively utilised the jagged landscape to their advantage, making it a lethal battleground. The valley's entrance is marked by a cluster of rundown shacks and a dilapidated manor, which served as a covert outpost for Rebel Army land troops tasked with safeguarding the area against intruders.

Ronbertburg City, located in Holland, is a large city that was established fifty years before the Great Morden War. It was once one of the principal bastions and strategic points of the Rebel Army in Europe. It serves as an economic hub with a diverse range of industries, including casinos, restaurants, mining, and various other commercial establishments that significantly contribute to its economy. It's renowned for its bridge architecture, featuring habitable buildings integrated beneath the bridges. However, during the Great Morden War, these iconic bridges were destroyed by the Rebel Army in their struggle against the Regular Army. Fortunately, the bridges have since been rebuilt, restoring a vital part of the city's infrastructure and identity.

Strangely, massive, man-eating fish inhabit the city's waters, known for dragging people underwater if they fall in. There are rumours that these unnamed creatures were created by ancient deities to punish the citizens of Atlantis, and after fulfilling their purpose, they migrated to the waters of the Dutch and German regions, where they now live a normal, peaceful life. While they're mainly ignored, some fishermen have managed to catch them, and their meat has become a sought-after delicacy in restaurants, making them a staple luxury food.

Sirocco City is a small city known for having the largest recorded population of Morden sympathisers, embracing a strict militaristic culture that punishes and lynches anyone who actively opposes their ideology. The city is heavily guarded against outsiders and those who don't identify with their beliefs or support the Rebel Army. The situation has deteriorated to the point where only ideologists inhabit the city, having killed anyone they deemed an opponent. This has left the city in disrepair due to the severe financial suffering resulting from this mass violence, and the corpses of the supposed opponents are never removed, serving as an ominous warning to outsiders and the local inhabitants about the consequences of opposing their authoritarian and totalitarian beliefs. It's one of the few cities that doesn't belong to the Earth Federation, allowing the Rebel Army to occupy the area without resistance. The citizens readily accepted them with open arms, partnering in their military efforts and providing both increased militant strength and a secure base of operations, never questioning their intentions. According to General Morden, the Earth Federation, and by extension the Regular Army, deliberately neglects areas that aren't under their control but will suddenly show concern when their biggest enemies begin to invade them.

The Soursop Jungle is an extension of the Amazon Rainforest, yet it's considered its own distinct area. It was originally established through a protective peace treaty between the Earth Federation and the Brazilian Nina Runakuna, designed to respect their land and culture and ensure they wouldn't be forced into military service. Following the establishment of the treaty, rumours began to spread that the Brazilian Nina Runakuna were a dangerous religious cult with supernatural abilities. They arose from the presence of a large temple featuring a catacomb-like area filled with numerous statues dedicated to their deities and legendary heroes, which extends down eight stories. Ritualistic dancing takes place in their villages, and a stone statue is offered fruit, crocodile skins, and dead animal carcasses as a sign of devotion. However, these claims are discriminatory lies as people falsely accuse the Nina Runakuna of being cultists, mistaking them for the official members of the Ptolemaic Army's cult. In this jungle, there's a high prevalence of crocodiles and a flowing cerulean river that leads to the Corridor of Fire.

The Straits of Traven are accessible through Gerhardt City, and it’s here that the abandoned yet still operational Middle-Son 1986 ship remains. Elite soldiers from the Regular Army would utilise this ship to launch a decisive confrontation against General Morden, who was hiding in his Hi-Do. Marco Rossi and Tarma Roving would fight him in front of the heavily fortified hangars of the Rebel Army's former base of operations.

As a European Studies student and a political fanatic in general, I follow a lot of accounts that other peers of mine would likely find boring or just not important for their life, but I'm here with them all the same because there have already been cases when people directly asked me for tips for accs that post about specific topics they find interesting. So yeah, enjoy:

1. Parliament, government office, president

For obvious reasons. Even if you don't agree with them and their rhetoric, doesn't have to hurt to keep an eye on what they do from time to time

2. Ministries (that affect your life the most)

Mainly the Ministry of Education if you're still a student, otherwise definitely at least the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family + Ministry of Health (or their equivalent in your country)

3. European institutions (if you're an EU citizen)

Namely the European Commission (the equivalent of a national government, it has its special Representation in each member state that also tends to have its own IG acc where they post what they do there, in the local national language for bigger availability), European Parliament (self-explanatory), European Council (the body made up of the heads of governments/states), you can also add the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee if you care about either, European External Action Service (the EU diplomatic corps) could interest you as well. The Directorate-Generals (or DGs = the EU-level equivalent of ministries let's say) tend to have their own social media accounts too, for example: DG for Regional and Urban Policy, DG for Agriculture and Rural Development, DG for Enlargement and Eastern Neighborhood, DG for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations,...

4. Ombudsman

THE person responsible for the oversight of the human rights in the country, together with other institutions, of course.

5. Statistical Office/Eurostat

Idk, I just love myself some yummy data, they speak for themselves (my fellow social anthropologists would disagree here, but we are not straying there)

6. Self-governing regions/municipalities + their organisations

How often do you think about your SGR? Not much probably. Yet they are (in most EU countries at least) the ones in charge of specific schools, hospitals, public services, roads management. They are closer to you than the national parliament, more easily reachable. Worthy of keeping an eye on I would say. If you are from a big city/muncipality that does have a social media account, I would consider following them as well.

7. Antimonopoly Office, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Employers' Association, Confederation of Trade Unions,...

While not directly participating in politics as you usually imagine, they're still considered a part of it. They provide data, they protect the interests and rights of the public, they lobby and deal with matters that concern all of us. If they have social media accs where you're from, I'd definitely at least check them out.