Sanctarian National Times: International Edition

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,278

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

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SANCTARIA OFFICIALLY LEAVES UDL
by BRIAN DeNOBLE, Defence & Security Correspondent

Sanctus - Less than a year after formally joining the organisation, and months after its departure, the Divine Republic of Sanctaria officially rescinded its membership in the international defence organisation, the United Defenders League, quoting irreconcilable differences with the organisation's leadership. Legislation confirming the departure was passed by both Houses of Parliament late last night before being signed into law by President Marian Woodstrom this morning.

Sanctarian involvement in the organisation ceased earlier this year when the nation's usually friendly diplomatic relationship with Unibot, the state currently in charge of the UDL, became strained. In a statement earlier this year, Secretary for Defence, Deputy Eric Doyle, confirmed that it was this difficult relationship that the Government took into consideration when evaluating its membership. Doyle was quoted at the time as saying that the "organisation is heading in a direction we had hoped to avoid" and that its leadership and organisation structure "has deep flaws that are incompatible with Sanctarian expectations". When questioned about this statement yesterday, Doyle confirmed that the Government still held this view of the UDL and its hierarchy.

During the period of membership, questions were raised about the legality of Sanctarian participation in the organisation. Although the Government insisted that the advice of the Attorney General was that it didn't violate the neutrality clause of the Constitution, both the Green Party and the Christian Union Party expressed their concerns and indicated that legal action to determine the validity of the membership may be warranted. On this point, Secretary Doyle yesterday confirmed that, despite the advice of the Attorney General, the Government felt that too much ambiguity existed and this also factored into its decision to cancel its membership.

Though the legislation concerned with the departure was merely procedural, Defence Spokesman for the Democratic Left Party, Emmet Coughlan, did criticise the Government for taking so long to bring the matter to vote, saying "we haven't been a member for months, Secretary, what took so long?" Doyle, speaking for the Government, claimed that it "takes months, not minutes, to both join and leave an international organisation".

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,290

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 05, 2012

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CLAIM ON PROTECTORATES TO BE DROPPED
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - Sanctaria will write to its Protectorates informing them of the cessation of the Divine Republic's claim on their lands, Minister for International Security John Warren announced in the House of Deputies today. The move will result in Atlantaena, Munsteran, and Buckingham being officially and fully independent in their own right. Minister Warren said that the Government felt it was time that Sanctaria let go of the remnants of its colonial past as the theocratic Papal States.

The dropping of the claim paves the way for the three states to declare official independence, however these declarations will be merely symbolic as resolutions passed by Sanctaria, in its various incarnations, over the years has resulted in both de jure and de facto independence. Prior to the announcement today the only factor linking all four nations was the common head of State; the constitutions of the Protectorates all state that whomever shall occupy the Presidency of the Divine Republic shall act as their head of State. The President of the Divine Republic is officially represented in both Munsteran and Buckingham by Governors, while in Atlantaena the President is represented by an Administrator. In effect, however, these representatives act as the official head of State with current legislation in both the Protectorates and in Sanctaria forbidding the President of the Divine Republic from participating in the affairs of the Protectorates. Incumbent President, Marian Woodstrom, has previously served as Governor of Munsteran before election to her current office; her Sanctarian citizenship through one of her parents enabled her to be eligible to do this.

The Prime Minister of Buckingham, Avery Monroe welcomed the announcement from the Sanctarian Government and said that although it was merely symbolic it was an important step. He also confirmed that plans to officially declare independence were underway and that a referendum to remove the role of the Sanctarian President as Buckingham's official head of State would be held. Alexa Bishop, Prime Minister of Munsteran, also welcomed the announcement but also described it as "meaningless" stating nothing would really change. Bishop refused to comment on whether or not Munsteran would remove the President of the Divine Republic as their head of State.

The First Minister of Atlantaena, their equivalent of a Prime Minister, stated that his Council of Ministers would review the announcement before making any official comment, though it's believed that the Atlantaens will seize this opportunity to immediately discard the President of the Divine Republic as their head of State as amendment of their constitution is done by legislation rather than by referendum. Sources in the Atlantaen government confirm that it's likely a declaration of independence will be issued before the week is out. Atlantaena and Sanctaria have had, historically, a rather frosty relationship.

It is expected that the announcement today by Minister Warren, and any subsequent declarations from the Protectorates, will have virtually little effect on political stability, economic markets, or the lives of the citizens involved. Ending his statement today, Warren said that the announcement was basically "tying up loose ends".

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,301

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

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REFERENDUM TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1ST
by JOEY SESSIONS, Political Correspondent

Sanctus - Minister for Political Reform Joyce Robinson today confirmed that the referendum on the Senate would be held on 01 December, a Saturday. Declaring cross-party support for the measure, Minister Robinson also expressed her hope that the referendum would pass by a large margin. Although the referendum deals primarily with the powers of the Senate, passage of the measure would also see the term limit of the House of Deputies reduced by two years, from seven to five.

Should the referendum be passed, Robinson confirmed that the current Senate would be dissolved and that elections for a new Senate, under the new guidelines as provided, would occur in January. The new term limit for the House of Deputies, however, wouldn't come into effect until after the next general election.

The powers of the Senate would be greatly enhanced should the referendum be passed, Robinson promised, pointing out that the proposed text removes the ability of the House of Deputies to override a Senate vote. The Senate would also be given the power to approve members of the Government, the Attorney General, and judges. Robinson later said that she expected legislation would be passed giving the Senate further powers that would not need to be enshrined in the Constitution, such as that of confirming Ambassadors to other nations.

Senate composition would also change if the referendum is passed, with all 100 seats being opened to the public for direct elections. A further, last minute change by the Government, now sees a single, nationwide constituency from which Senators will be elected. The Democratic Left Party has criticised the Government for this saying that this favours more wealthy, party-based candidates over independent candidates. The governing Sanctarian Conservative Party has refused to comment on this change other than it makes sense electorally.

In a pre-empted compromise to those who may be against enhancing the powers of the Senate, the proposed text also sets out the primacy of the House of Deputies, which that chamber being the only one with the power to produce Money Bills. The text also reads that the Government is primarily accountable to the House of Deputies.

With the high level of support the text currently has, it is widely expected to be passed at the polls. No major individual or organisation has yet come out against the proposal, with many NGOs, advocacy organisations, and independent commentators stating that improving the Senate is a good thing for democracy in Sanctaria.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,304

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2012

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GENERAL ELECTION LOOMS IF REFERENDUM PASSES
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - Parliament will have to be dissolved in order for the new Senate to be put in place, according to a group of constitutional scholars which includes all living former Attorneys General. The group, which usually comments on all referendums, has said that there exists no mechanism to dissolve the current Senate should the referendum pass other than the dissolution of Parliament as a whole. Doing so would trigger a general election.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Briana Harley, who is currently the President of the Constitutional Watchguards group, has also speculated that current Attorney General Tara Gregory has likely advised the Government of this since she has said similar before her appointment. “Gregory gave a public lecture back in 2004 when Senate reform was being discussed by the last Government. In that lecture she said that any constitutional change would not just require a referendum, but also a general election to take effect, since a dissolution would be needed for the changes to occur”, Harley said last night in an interview on Santaria's national broadcaster. Harley went on to confirm that this was the same view of the Constitutional Watchguards, saying “We would definitely endorse that view. Prime Minister Turner would have to wait until Parliament reassembles after the next dissolution to see changes in the Senate”.

Turner would be unlikely to seek an immediate dissolutions, sources close to the Prime Minister say, as support for the SCP government has been slipping in recent opinion polls. It's likely that Turner will wait until polls show enough support for his party to guarantee re-election.

However, if the referendum is passed some rank-and-file SCP MPs are pushing for a dissolution to be made immediately because of the new term limits for the House of Deputies included. “Here we are saying that the House of Deputies shouldn't be sitting more than five years, but if the people agree, we're going to turn around and say thanks for agreeing, but we're gonna sit here for two more years”, one MP disclosed while also admitting that such an act would “make us look good.” An immediate dissolution would also likely result in Turner being the first sitting Prime Minister to seek re-election to the office; all previous Prime Ministers were either forced out of their leadership positions or resigned them after they dissolved Parliament.

Whatever Turner decides to do this will most definitely be an embarrassing moment for the Government after Minister for Political Reform Joyce Robinson promised the new Senate would be in place by next March at the latest.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,306

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

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BILLIONAIRE PHILANTHROPIST CALLS FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY
by ADELE WALSH, Haven Editor

Haven - The Government needs to do more than just reform the Senate in order to keep the political process more transparent and democratic, is the opinion of the philanthropist and successful businesswoman June Warren. The outspoken CEO of various charities serving poor children both here and abroad spoke about her dismay of the current political process as part of an interview examining the lives of celebrities.

Warren, who is also noted for being a regular columnist in the popular Haven paper The Haven Chronicle, claimed that while the Government's attitude towards reform of the Senate was "appropriate", they left much to be desired in their approach to the political process as a whole. Pointing out the whip system in particular, the Haven native accused the current dynamic as "detrimental to thorough and transparent debate" before continuing to label the Opposition as "mere hecklers with no real power".

_{Warren was giving an interview as part of an exposé into the lives of celebrities}

Warren also commented on the need for more power to be given, not only to the Senate, but Parliamentary Committees saying she believed Committees of Enquiry and Investigation would add a "new, much needed dimension" to the current political discourse.

This is not the first time that the billionaire mogul has delved into the murky world of politics. In the recent presidential election she publicly endorsed, and donated to the campaign of, Marian Woodstrom and regularly joined her on the campaign trial. Though Woodstrom was the Democratic Left Party's nominee, Warren stressed in a column at the time of the election that her beliefs were her own and her support for Woodstrom was based on her "character, her spirit, and her ability to do the job". Her criticism of the Sanctarian Conservative Party during the 2007 general election also received national media attention after she accused the then SCP Leader, and now Prime Minister, Joshua Turner as being a "spineless vampire" and claimed his policies would impoverish millions of children. Warren retracted the statement only earlier this year following the passage of the World Assembly Resolution Prevention of Child Abuse, saying that the Turner Administration had "proved [her] wrong and showed an obviously large degree of compassion towards the well-being of children".

The interview, which is aired tonight, also sees Warren dodge questions about her own political future. When asked if she sees herself as an elected representative in the next five years, Warren said that "it depends on a lot of variables" before laughing away the interviewer's attempts at pressing on the issue. The fifty-four year old has previous said that any political career she had would mean putting her businesses and charities on the back-burner and she was not prepared to do it at that time. That time, however, was five years ago and much may have changed.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,319

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 04, 2012

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PARLIAMENT TO BE DISSOLVED NEXT YEAR
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - Following the ratification of the constitutional amendment to the powers and composition of the Senate, Prime Minister Joshua Turner today confirmed that parliament would be dissolved sometime next year to allow the changes to take place. The Prime Minister also confirmed later to the press that the Sanctarian Conservative Party Conference would be held at the end of January, almost a year earlier than expected which is fuelling rumours that the leader of the SCP would be stepping down from his role.

In a speech to the House of Deputies today, Turner said that he was delighted the amendment passed and that the new Senate would give the people a far greater voice. Legislation confirming the constituencies, and other electoral-related law, will now drafted and put before Parliament before the dissolution which, the Prime Minister admitted, would now be necessary to give effect to the constitutional change. "We promised a new Senate in place before the end of March", Turner told the House before continuing that he "intended for that promise to be kept".

The passage of the amendment also sees the House of Deputies now limited to five years. The Prime Minister also said today that while that doesn't apply to the House currently in session, he wished to abide by the spirit of the chnage and not have the House continue to sit until the end of their seventh year. A backbench SCP MP later said that this was a further argument put to the Prime Minister when the issue of dissolution cropped up.

With the SCP currently slipping in the polls, the Prime Minister is taking a chance at calling an election as it could result in power being given to the Democratic Left Party and Charlene Hendry. Ms Hendry, who told welcomed the news of dissolution, said that her party was looking forward to the election battle but warned that Parliament's work must not be effected in the build up to dissolution.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,325

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2012

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WARREN TO RUN FOR SENATE
by JOEY SESSIONS, Political Correspondent

Haven - Outspoken Government critic, political commentator, and billionaire businesseswoman June Warren has announced her intention to run for one of Haven's Senate seats – once an election for the Senate has been called. Warren, who is famous across all of Sanctaria for her annual Food Drive for the Needy operation which sends much needed food to children in poorer nations, has previously criticised the SCP-ran Government for their reluctance to tax those who could afford it, instead going after the much less well-off working and middle classes.

Speaking in Haven today, Warren said that the new Senate was "promising" and would "possess a great deal of power vis a vis government oversight". Warren's comments come on the heel of comments from Minister for Political Reform Joyce Robinson who said that the new Senate will be granted more, non-constitutional powers of oversight on the Government of the day, including summoning Ministers to question them. Warren, who has an estimated personal fortune of over S£1.5billion, said that she has "talked the talk often enough" and will now "walk the walk in holding politicians to account". She has also confirmed that, if elected, she will donate her entire salary to a charity, though not one of her own. She quipped that she "hardly needed it" and it would "go to those that do".

Warren is the first person nation-wide to declare their candidature for the new Senate which will see each Borough, and City-Borough, return two Senators each for a term of office of seven years. She has confirmed that she will be running as an Independent and, when asked, denied that this would impact greatly on her influence in the Senate saying "I have a big mouth and whatever committee I'm on, I'll make sure to open it. I'll be on the floor too, every day, raising important matters. I'm not one to be ignored lightly, I never have been".

The Haven Sentinel, which hosts a weekly column written by Warren, has already endorsed its flagship columnist and the city's Chamber of Commerce has issued a statement saying that "Voting for Warren would mean voting for a continuation of good enterprise and business in Haven".

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,353

MONDAY, JANUARY 07, 2013

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TURNER NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - Prime Minister Joshua Turner has announced today he won't be seeking re-election to the House of Deputies in this year's general election. Turner, who has served as the head of government since 2007, first won election to the House in 1993. It was also confirmed today that Turner would not be seeking re-election as leader of the Sanctarian Conservative Party in the party's National Conference at the end of this month. In announcing his retirement, Turner continues the so-called "tradition" of an outgoing Prime Minister not being re-elected to the office; to date, no Prime Minister has been re-elected after a general election.

It is believed that Turner made his decision over the Christmas break and announced it to his cabinet in last Thursday's cabinet meeting. His decision not to seek re-election now means that the SCP will have to elect a new leader going into the general election; current Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary for Foreign Affairs Andrew Silk, current Secretary for Finance Gina Salmons, and current Secretary for Enterprise and Commerce Mark Kindle are believed to be the frontrunners for the position.

The decision also means that no new legislation is likely to be introduced in the weeks leading up to the election, and that any controversial matters will be postponed until after the election. A new leader may also boost the SCP's chances in the ballot, something which many pundits say will help counter the party's falling support in recent months. It is not believed that this is the reason for Turner's decision, many senior aides citing the ongoing poor health of his wife for his stepping down. Turner joins his former Secretary for Foreign Affairs and current deputy leader of the SCP Robert Smyth in being the most prominent MPs to announce their retirement from politics this year.

Various members of his cabinet, including the frontrunners for his job, have lauded Turner's tenure as Prime Minister, and DLP Leader Charlene Hendry has commended Turner for his dedication to the job and wished him well in any future endeavours. Turner, who is only 50, leaves politics relatively early and is already being touted as a candidate in the next presidential election - nine years away.

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,379

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 02, 2013

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SOLACE FOR SILK AFTER LEADERSHIP LOSS
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - Fresh from his loss in the bid to become the new leader of the Sanctarian Conservative Party, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Andrew Silk, today announced that a vote on a new regional council would be forthcoming within the week. The charter for the council, which Silk proposed in a memo circulated last year, has received almost unanimous support from leaders of the countries within the International Democratic Union in recent days, paving the way for a vote on the body.

Expected to pass, the establishment of the council, dubbed CIDUS, will be Secretary Silk's crowning achievement in his term since he was appointed last June, though it is believed that much of the groundwork for the proposal was completed by his predecessor former Secretary Robert Smyth. In a bitter-sweet moment, however, Silk, who Monday night lost to Secretary of Enterprise & Commerce Mark Kindle by a narrow vote in the leadership election of the governing SCP, will likely not see the establishment of the Council before his term ends; outgoing Prime Minister and SCP leader Joshua Turner last week announced that Parliament would be dissolved on Tuesday, February 5th before the general election on Saturday, February 16th.

Secretary Silk, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, has announced that he will seek re-election to his seat in the House of Deputies and is also said to be in talks to build bridges with the SCP leader-elect Kindle, who hopes to lead the party to a third consecutive general election win. The two fought a bitter leadership campaign and any hopes of Silk being re-admitted to the cabinet should the SCP win the election depend on the outcome of the meetings between the two.

Silk's office confirmed his last press conference as both Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister will be next Monday, as all Ministers leave office upon dissolution of parliament.

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,393

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

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ELECTION DAY ARRIVES
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - Millions of Sanctarians go to the polls today to elect a new government for the next five years after what has been an uncharacteristically tame election campaign. For the first time in Sanctarian history ballots will also be cast for members of parliament's upper house, with each borough returning two Senators. Polling opens at 6am and ends at 11pm in stations across the country.

Outgoing Prime Minister Joshua Turner, who is not contesting the election, has expressed confidence that his successor as leader of the Sanctarian Conservative Party, Mark Kindle, will lead the party to victory. Meanwhile, Charlene Hendry, leader of the Democratic Left Party, told this paper yesterday evening that party polls were showing her party would easily cruise to victory. Counting of the votes begin tomorrow and are expected to end on Monday evening; who will be taking government should be clear around noon on Monday as seats begin to be called for candidates.

The Senate will be the first chamber back in action, with members being sworn in on Monday, February 25th. Committee assignments are expected to be doled out on this day too. The House of Deputies is to return on Thursday, February 28th, with the Prime Minister officially elected by the house by 11am. The new Prime Minister will then nominate fellow Deputies from his/her party to be members of the cabinet; these nominations will be sent to the Senate for approval, with Senate Committees being permitted to question nominees. The new government will then officially take office at noon on Friday, March 1st.

As is tradition, President Marian Woodstrom cast the first vote in Sanctus this morning as the stroke of 6am, before returning to Eagleston Manor for scheduled appointments. While elections are on-going, the day-to-day operation of Sanctaria is being ran by the civil service, with them being legislatively forbidden from taking any executive action.

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,402

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2013

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PARLIAMENT BACK TODAY - SORT OF
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - The nation's first ever directly elected Senators will arrive in Parliament House today to be sworn in and top of the agenda is the doling out of Senate committee seats; very important, as committee members will get to vet any Deputy nominated by the new Prime Minister as a Cabinet Minister.

The return of the Senate also sees an anomaly in Sanctaria, as although the government and the House of Deputies will have a majority, albeit slim, of the Sanctarian Conservative Party, the Senate will have a slim Democratic Left Party majority, the official opposition. And slim it will be too, as the DLP have announced they will be relying on the support of two Independent Senators, including Haven's June Warren, to keep control of the upper house.

Democratic Left Party leader Charlene Hendry has confirmed that Tiffany Bethelson, a DLP Senator from Altashire, will be the party's leader in the Senate; she said that there has not yet been a decision on who the party will nominate as Senate Moderator. She also expressed disappointment that she won't be leading the DLP into the government and becoming the nation's first female Prime Minister, but said that having control of the upper house was "symbolic" and would provide "an effective checks and balance" against the Government in the House. She noted that although the DLP didn't gain the House of Deputies, and thereby get into the government, the party did see an increase in its seats and that the SCP saw a significant fall.

The House of Deputies is back in action on Thursday with the new SCP leader Mark Kindle expected to be elected Prime Minister by the body shortly after 11am. After sending his cabinet nominations to the Senate, he will most likely be spending the day politicking with the Senators on various committee in a bid to get his colleagues in the House confirmed as Cabinet Ministers. The Senate will have to act quick though, as one of the final acts of the previous Government was putting in legislation the date and time the new Government would be sworn in and take office - 12 noon on this Friday.

The DLP have already said that they don't plan to reject any nomination sent to the Senate. "It's envisioned it'll just be a friendly chat before the relevant committees, outlining what they hope to do in their term as Secretary", Senator Bethelson said yesterday evening before continuing to state that "it won't be adversarial. The SCP won, they get to have their team".

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,406

FRIDAY, MARCH 01, 2013

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NEW GOVERNMENT TAKES OFFICE
by JOEY SESSIONS, Political Correspondent

Sanctus - Newly elected Prime Minister, Mark Kindle, today officially took office at 12 noon, along with the eleven other Deputies who were confirmed by the Senate to form his Cabinet. This is the third time in a row that the Sanctarian Conservative Party have been elected to govern the nation, and following recent constitutional changes, this will be the first time that the term is capped to five years.

Following their confirmation in the Senate, the following is the composition of the cabinet:

• Deputy Prime Minister/Secretary for Finance: As the Deputy Leader of the SCP, Deputy Jason Reid has been given the mainly ceremonial title of Deputy Prime Minister. His prime function will be to represent Prime Minister Kindle on occasions where he is unable to attend, such as PMQs or Leader's Questions. He has also been given the, symbolically, senior cabinet post of Finance, where he'll be responsible for the nation's budgetary and monetary decisions.
• Secretary for Agriculture: Julie Chrisintim, previously Minister for Diplomatic Affairs, has been promoted from a Junior Minister to a full Cabinet Secretary, publicly because she's a noted hard worker and grasps difficult areas quickly, but more likely it's because Kindle needs a good number of women in his Cabinet, and many of the hard hitting women in the previous cabinet retired or lost their seats at the last election. Chrisintim comes from a rural constituency and was popular as Junior Minister, so this appointment is likely to be a big hit.
• Secretary for Communications & Infrastructure: Former Junior Minister for Economic Planning, Dorian Gallows, is Kindle's new Secretary for Communications, a direct promotion from an economic junior ministry, to one of the more important economic portfolios. Gallows was a hard working junior minister, but kept his profile low and almost lost his seat in the election. It's likely this appointment is both a reward, and an attempt at boosting his profile.
• Secretary for Culture, the Arts & Tourism: Kindle has promoted Minister for Children, Oscar Grayson, to this cabinet role, often dubbed as the Department of Fun. Grayson is a close ally of Kindle and is generally considered one of those who helped whip some votes for Kindle in the leadership election. Though generally considered a low-key and low-work post, Grayson is known for enjoying a large workload. It's expected he's going to revitalise the cabinet job.
• Secretary for Defence: In what is seen as a major demotion from his cabinet post in the previous government, Deputy David Juyno has been appointed Secretary for Defence. Formerly Secretary for Communications & Infrastructure, and known for his desire for economic portfolios, this appointment is a clear sign to Juyno from Kindle that he expects him to quieten down in this term; Juyno is known to speak his mind and frequently causes uproar and controversy. Juyno didn't support Kindle in the leadership election, and barely clung on to his seat, but the backbenchers are fond of him, so Kindle needs him for now anyway. This job is somewhere where Juyno can't do damage.
• Secretary for Education & Science: Continuing her rapid rise in the SCP ranks, Deputy Noreen Islington has been promoted from her previous government position of Culture, to the important and wide-ranging portfolio of Education & Science. Popular on both sides of the House, as well as in the country at large, Islington is also another needed woman that Kindle had to have in his cabinet. It's believed she was also on his shortlist for running mate in the leadership election before he settled on Reid.
• Secretary for Enterprise & Commerce: Prime Minister Kindle's old job has gone to longtime Junior Minister, Mark Parson. Parson, who was Minister for Prisons and Police for over five years, joins the cabinet as one of the SCP's most outspoken conservative members. Kindle, who is known to be on the more liberal wing of the party, could have done this in an attempt to quieten him, but it's just as likely it was done because Parson is known to not mess with the status quo; with the economy the healthiest it has been in years, Kindle is likely to want someone who won't mess, but continue with successful policies. Parson is perfect for this.
• Secretary for Foreign Affairs: In what was a widely expected move, Kindle's appointment of Yasminé Pontif as Secretary for Foreign Affairs has been widely welcomed by everyone in the political spectrum. Pontif, who was Secretary for Social Welfare in the last government, has previously served as Minister for the United Nations (now World Assembly), and was a diplomat by profession before entering politics. Pontif is known to be a tough negotiator and a very hard worker and is expected to be a great asset to Sanctarian influence internationally.
• Secretary for Health: Medical doctor Deputy George Merlinson is Kindle's appointment to the Health Department. Formerly Secretary for Home Affairs, Merlinson had let it be known in recent months that he'd like retire from politics and re-enter the health service; as a massive vote-winner, this was likely a job promised by Kindle if he stayed in politics. The DLP has been very critical of the way the SCP runs the health service, but DLP Senators in the Health Committee expressed their support for Merlinson in their interviews with him as part of the nomination process yesterday.
• Secretary for Home Affairs, Justice & Equality: Former Deputy Prime Minister, and loser to Kindle in the leadership election, Deputy Andrew Silk has been appointed to this Department. Silk's tenure in the Foreign Affairs department is not perceived as being very successful although he did succeed in creating a new regional council. Known to be fairly frosty with the Prime Minister, Silk is a hard hitter in the party, so appointment to the cabinet was likely. Known for being tough in the Social Welfare Department, where he also previously served, Silk is likely to go down in history as one of the more tough Secretaries for Home Affairs Sanctaria has seen.
• Secretary for Social Welfare & Family Affairs: In what is a direct promotion, former Minister for Employment and Labour Kate Cruz has been appointed to lead this Department. After five years in a junior ministry directly associated with this portfolio, Cruz brings a wealth of experience, in addition to her gender, to the cabinet table. Cruz has kept a relatively low profile in what is seen as a tough job, a fact that stands to her ability to be successful in whatever she puts her hand to, and Kindle has likely noticed this.

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,513

SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2013

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SIS STILL WITHOUT DIRECTOR; "PONTIF TO BLAME" - WARREN
by BRIAN DeNOBLE, Defence & Security Correspondent

Sanctus - Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Yasminé Pontif, has come under a scathing attack by independent Haven Senator June Warren for her failure to appoint the head of the Sanctarian Intelligence Service, almost six months after the post originally became vacant. Pontif, who has been Secretary for Foreign Affairs since the new government came into office at the beginning of March, is the Secretary in charge of the intelligence organisation.

Senator Warren sits on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, and chairs that committee's Sub-Committee on International Security; this sub-committee is usually the one concerned with the happenings and operations of the SIS. In an interview yesterday evening on a major news channel, Senator Warren blasted Secretary Pontif as "disappointing" and "surprising incompetent" before commenting that "[Pontif] obviously cares nothing for this nation's security". She further said that the SIS was "vital to national security" and that failure to appoint a Director "puts Sanctaria at risk". She ended her remarks by stating that if Sanctaria is comprised due to faulty or a lack of intelligence, then Pontif is "the one to blame".

The criticism comes just days after Pontif declined to send the sub-committee a short-list of nominees for the position; Secretary Pontif reasoned that the Senate does not vote to approve the Director of the SIS and thus had no place in the appointment process. Pontif, who served as a diplomat prior to her foray into the political sphere, later confirmed, through a Department spokesperson, that the government's failure to appoint a new junior Minister for International Security had put their search for a new Director of the SIS back considerably and there is, to date, no short-list to send to the Senate Sub-Committee.

The SIS this morning issued a statement saying that Deputy Director John Newall was currently serving as Director in an acting capacity and that the SIS was operating at 100% efficiency. Its press officer criticised Senator Warren for "sensationalising the situation" and assured the public that the threat level to Sanctaria was "low, and the SIS are doing everything to keep it at that level".

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,527

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

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SMYTH VICTORIOUS IN SECRETARY GENERAL ELECTION
by JENNIFER McSHANE, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

Sanctus - Former Deputy Prime Minister Robert Smyth was yesterday chosen to be Secretary General of the Council of IDU States in what proved to be an uncontested election. Smyth, who was nominated by Sanctarian Ambassador to CIDUS Dr. Katherine Saunders, was the only nomination and was deemed elected without need for balloting. This will be the first Secretary General of the Council of IDU States, which was formally established only a few months ago, and who passed their first pieces of legislation in the past number of weeks.

Secretary for Foreign Affairs Yasminé Pontif praised her predecessor in a statement released soon after the decision yesterday evening, saying "Robert served his country diligently for over a quarter of a century, and we were delighted when he agreed to do so one final time at our request". Smyth resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and from cabinet in mid 2012 for personal reasons; later revealed as his wife being diagnosed with breast cancer. Although he retired from politics at the general election earlier this case to care for her, it is believed that his wife, Mary, was instrumental in encouraging Smyth to agree to go forward as Sanctaria's nominee for the position. Being restricted to a short and single term with no ability to be re-elected was probably another factor in Smyth's nomination.

In addition to being elected as Secretary General of CIDUS, it was announced yesterday from the Prime Minister's office that Smyth would be appointed as a Commander of the Order of the Dove, the highest award given to those who serve and represent Sanctaria faithfully abroad in duties that are not related to the military. Smyth previous spent five years as Secretary of Foreign Affairs as is widely respected internationally; the elected to Secretary General of an important regional organisation is likely to cement his figure as a Sanctarian elder statesman.

Although not yet available for comment, it is expected Smyth will give a press conference tomorrow as he begins the first day of his six month tenure as Secretary General to outline his agenda for the next six months. During his term in office CIDUS will meet in Sanctus, though it's likely that establishing a headquarters, as well as a list of where the general assemblies will be meeting, will be the first items to be brought up for discussion.

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,623

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2013

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YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH NEW PRIORITY
by ROBYN GRAY, Health Correspondent

Nicene - The Government intends to ensure all young people will have access to mental health professionals and facilities should they need it, was the message coming from Minister for Mental Health Eric Crowley yesterday evening. Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists in the city of Nicene, Minister Crowley announced that the Government would make a greater allocation of resources to mental health services and that the upcoming Budget would reflect that.

Crowley in his speech acknowledged the fact that the rate of suicide and suicidal ideation was an an "alarming increase" among young people, particularly young men. He told those gathered that he would be asking the Prime Minister to pass legislation bringing the Ministry of Mental Health, created this year under the auspices of the Department of Health, also under the purview of the Department of Education & Science so that his ministry could more adequately work within the Sanctarian education system.

When pushed on point he made speech by members of the ACaP in a Q&A after, Crowley said that while specifics still had to be ironed out and that estimates of costing and legislation had to be drafted, it was his intention to see every school district "at the least" hiring a counsellor for their pupils, and his own personal preference would be for every school itself to have their own dedicated counsellor for students. He said that in a more general sense he would like to see mental health clinics opened that would be provided for free for those under the age of 18 and that he would be looking at his Ministry's budget, as well as liaising with other government agencies, to see where best these clinics could be places. He said he hoped to see one incorporated into every hospital and "areas where there is no hospital, I would like to see GP surgeries hosting mental health clinics on a frequent basis".

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,654

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2013

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KINDLE FACES SENATE Q'S OVER JOB VACANCIES
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - Prime Minister Kindle is set to be grilled by the Senate today over his failure to appoint key junior ministers and other government officials over eight months after his government initially took office. This will be the second time since June that members of the Kindle cabinet have been questioned by Senators over vacancies in government posts; the Senate Subcommittee on International Security previously hauled in Secretary for Foreign Affairs Yasminé Pontif over the SIS Director post remaining unfilled months after becoming vacant.

Leader of the Democratic Left-controlled Senate Senator Tiffany Bethelson originally announced last week that she would be clearing the entire day for the Prime Minister to answer questions from all 100 Senators - including some within his own Sanctarian Conservative Party. Legislation passed in April under reform packages promised by the new Kindle government included a provision allowing the Senate to summon any junior Minister or Cabinet Secretary, including the Prime Minister him/herself, for questioning or to deliver a statement on an urgent and pressing matter. The Senate originally passed a summons three weeks ago with some SCP Senators joining the majority.

Senator June Warren (I-Haven), who chairs the Subcommittee on International Security and led the originally investigation into job vacancies going unfilled, yesterday welcomed the opportunity to question Kindle saying "this government has promised radical reform, and despite its promises, we see Junior Ministries remaining unfilled, and promises of a new Department being put on the backburner with no excuses given. It's time for the SCP government and the SCP-led House of Deputies to stop kowtowing to politics of the past and face up to their promises". Warren confirmed that her subcommittee would be looking into summoning Secretary Pontif before it again as the SIS Director position still remains vacant.

Kindle originally promised a massive shake-up of the government's junior ministries, including the disbandment of some and creation of others. To date only the new Ministry of Mental Health has been created, with Ministries such as Regional Affairs and Food being rumoured for the chop; the latter two remain among the handful of junior ministries yet to be filled with a government deputy. Government sources also confirm a new Government Department is being considered - the first since the creation of the state. This was an election promise, and if carried through, it's likely to be a department devoted to the oversight of Local Government. However senior ministers say the cabinet are reluctant to transfer powers from various government departments to create this new one and will likely create a specific junior ministry within the Department of Home Affairs, the traditional department concerned with local government, to more focus oversight and administration.

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,656

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 06, 2013

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NEW MINISTERS FINALLY ANNOUNCED
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - After pledging on Monday to announce his government's new Junior Ministries, and the Ministers to fill them, before the week was out, the Prime Minister this evening announced to the House of Deputies the list of deputies the cabinet had approved to become junior ministers, as well as the ministries that they would be filling. In keeping with an election promise, Kindle has cut the the number of junior ministries from fourteen to twelve.

Almost half of the twelve junior ministers are women and this was widely expected after Kindle appointed only four women to his cabinet eight months ago. The new junior ministers, and the portfolios they will be occupying, do not have to be confirmed by the Senate and their appointments only had to be confirmed by the cabinet. Procedural legislation to create some of the new ministries were passed by both the House and the Senate in the hours following KIndle's announcement; previously existing junior ministries did not need to be re-established, while the same procedural legislation officially disbanded ministries no longer existing.

The Ministries of Police & Prisons, Food, Economic Planning, Regional Affairs, and Political Reform have all been disbanded and their duties re-assumed by their respective parent Departments. New Ministries include Local Government Affairs, as confirmed on Monday by senior government sources, a new Ministry of Immigration, and the previously announced and created Ministry of Mental Health.

The Department of Home Affairs, Justice & Equality has reverted back to its old name of just Home Affairs. Kindle has said this was because the Department was still referenced as just Home Affairs in public, in the media, and in the civil service and it made sense to re-certify this. He confirmed that it would still continue to house the responsibilities of Justice and Equality. The Ministry of Disability has been renamed to the Ministry of Integration & Equalities "in order to reinforce that equality in all instances was still on this government's agenda", Kindle said in his statement today. Also renamed are the Ministry of Children, which becomes the Ministry of Youth Affairs, and the Ministry of International Trade and Economic Involvement, which becomes simply the Ministry of Trade. Prime Minister Kindle also announced today that the Ministry of Mental Health would also come under the purview of the Department of Education & Science, as well as staying under the Department of Health, and that the Health Department would be losing the Ministry of Integration & Equalities (previous Disability).

Although some of the junior ministries had been filled prior to this, Kindle today said the cabinet had decided to re-confirm all of them. As of the today the list of Ministries and their Ministers are as follows (names in italics indicate new faces to the team, while those in bold are the junior ministers already appointed this year):

Shane Thompson has been appointed Minister for Budget Affairs. He shall also be Government Chief Whip.
Ben Sessions has been appointed Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.
Royce Norn has been appointed Minister for Employment and Labour.
Camille Richardson has been appointed Minister for Higher Education.
Ann Bond has been appointed Minister for Immigration.
Celine Taylor has been appointed Minister for Integration & Equalities.
Marc Foster has been appointed Minister for International Security.
Irving Manson has been appointed Minister for Local Government.
Eric Crowley has been appointed Minister for Mental Health.
John Warren has been appointed Minister for Trade.
Danielle Cordes has been appointed Minister for Transport.
Melanie Shore has been appointed Minister for Youth Affairs.

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,661

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2013

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S£3.8 MILLION ON DIPLOMATIC FLEET REVAMP
by JOEY SESSIONS, Political Correspondent

Sanctus - Minister for Diplomatic Affairs Ben Sessions is to announce today that the current fleet of cars used for Sanctarian Ambassadors abroad will be phased out by the end of this year and replaced in the first few months of 2014. The range of Mercedes-Benz S-Class W221, which the Department of Foreign Affairs has been issuing to missions abroad, are no longer the most up-to-date model provided by Mercedes-Benz who have recently introduced a successor to the W221, the W222. According to government sources, however, Minister Sessions will not announce the continuation of the Department's association with Mercedes.

It is understood that to refit the entire fleet with the W222 would cost upwards of S£4.7m based on internal costings done by the Department. Instead, the Department of Foreign Affairs has decided to switch from Mercedes-Benz to Jaguar and will allocate to its Ministry of Diplomatic Affairs S£3,872,550 to purchase thirty-three Jaguar XFRs. Although the savings is only slight, Secretary Pontif has previously ordered civil servants and government officials within her Department and child Ministries to find savings wherever possible so more cash is made available for bigger projects.

Despite having far more than thirty-three diplomatic missions abroad, sources within the Ministry have indicated only missions marked active, and not dormant, will receive the new vehicles. It is also believed that the S£3.8m figure applies only to buying the XFRs for existing missions; purchasing vehicles for any new missions opened will obviously add to that cost.

The decision to refit the entire fleet with new cars just because of a new model being introduced by the manufacturer is unusual, but according to those in diplomatic circles, many of the currently used W221s are anywhere up to seven years old and vehicles for official government use are usually switched out after five years. The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and all Department Secretaries currently use BMW 7 series F01, a fleet of which was purchased in 2011. It is not believed that there are any plans to refit this fleet in the near future.

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,663

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013

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GUSLANTIS INVADES ZEMNAYA SVOBODA; PONTIF URGES RESTRAINT
by JENNIFER McSHANE, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

Petrograd - In a move that has shocked governments across the world, the relatively obscure nation of Guslantis in the region of The North Pacific has launched a daring invasion of its neighbour Zemnaya Svoboda. Zemnaya Svoboda, which is considered an influential nation with The North Pacific, has responded by drafting conscripts to the front lines in its declaration of war to protect its people and lands.

The Vice President of Guslantis, in a hurriedly convened press conference, has stressed that his nation does not intend to invade all of Zemnaya Svoboda and that the invasion is only to claim a small strip of land along Zemnaya Svoboda's northern border with Grosseschnauzer, creating a Guslantian pathway to Green Pacifica. The Administration of President Aleksei Aleksandrovich Kerenskij in the Republic of Zemnaya Svoboda, however, has called it an "unprovoked betrayal".

Both Zemnaya Svoboda and Guslantis are located only a little more than 1500km away from lands owned by Sanctaria in the region, and lived in by Sanctarian citizens, and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Yasminé Pontif has released a statement urging "restraint" between the two nations in the region known as the Great Horn of The North Pacific. In the statement released last night Pontif said "We urge both Guslantis and Zemnaya to cease hostilites and come to the negotiation table. This is not a time for dramatic overtures, this is a time for considered restraint." Sanctaria's presence in the region means that Pontif and Prime Minister Kindle will be keeping a close eye on this what is being called the Great Horn Conflict.

With the constitution mandating neutrality, it's highly unlikely that Sanctaria will wade into this conflict militarily but Pontif has indicated that humanitarian assistance will be on the agenda in the event of serious escalations. When questioned on how Sanctaria will deal with the crisis in the meantime, Pontif responded that her Department and the child Ministry of International Security will be "watching closely and keeping lines of communication with the two governments open". Pontif has further insisted that business in the Sanctarian lands in the region will operate as normal as shipping and flight lanes are unaffected by the conflict.

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,668

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2013

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OMBUDSMAN NOMINATED FOR TOP SIS POST
by BRIAN DeNOBLE, Defence & Security Correspondent

Sanctus - After nearly eleven months without a Director, the Sanctarian Intelligence Service will soon be back to business as normal after new Minister for International Security Marc Foster today announced that Ombudsman Alexandra Maye was the government's choice to take helm of the nation's primary intelligence agency. Foster confirmed that his superior, Secretary for Foreign Affairs Yasminé Pontif, sought official approval of the nominee at last week's cabinet meeting.

The choice of Ombudsman Maye as Director of the SIS is a clear signal from Sanctarian Conservative Party government that the previous system of a career intelligence officer being appointed Director is no longer suitable; Alexandra Maye is widely considered to be more of an administrator than agenda-driven, with some sources within government calling her a "true red-tape loving bureaucrat, pencil pusher, and a notorious bean counter". Maye was appointed Ombudsman back in 2005 after serving a five year stint as Director-General of the Revenue Service. Prior to this Maye had worked in the civil service at various grades in the Department of Finance. She is a qualified accountant.

Ombudsman Alexandra Maye

Speaking after Foster's announcement Maye said that she was "honoured to be chosen for such an important post" and that "while it will be difficult to leave the Office of Ombudsman, I know that working in the Sanctarian Intelligence Service means I'll be helping keep Sanctaria, her borders, and her people safe, and that's paramount".

Maye's tenure as Ombudsman has been lauded by all sides of the political spectrum with both government and opposition figures commenting that she held back no punches in her dealings and investigations of complaints by the public about actions of public bodies. The transition from holding an office that is responsible for transparency in government workings and holding public bodies to account to someone in charge of a clandestine and historically sinister government agency has not gone unnoticed by some; Independent Senator for Haven June Warren, who chairs the Senate sub-committee responsible for the SIS, this afternoon commented that "although I don't doubt Ombudsman Maye's ability, this does herald a marked departure from her usual portfolio".

Although not a Senate-confirmable position, Senator Warren has indicated she'll be asking Secretary Pontif to allow the Senate Sub-Committee on International Security informally interview Ombudsman Maye in in camera proceedings. Warren also said that if this was request was not granted that she would summon both Secretary Pontif and junior Minister Foster before the committee instead to "sound them out and see why they chose Maye for the job".

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VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,700

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2013

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SANCTARIA COMMENDED BY WORLD ASSEMBLY
by KIM TOWERS, World Assembly Correspondent

World Assembly HQ - The Sanctarian delegation received a standing ovation yesterday as the World Assembly's Security Council voted to commend the nation by an impressive 8,807 votes to 1,912. Citing "consistent dedication to furthering peace and prosperity" and "a sizable knowledge of the murky workings of international politics", the resolution praised both the Sanctarian Department of Foreign Affairs and the Sanctarian diplomatic team in the World Assembly for their "admirable and politically important ... body of work".

Responding to the commendation, which came as a surprise to the Sanctarian government, Prime Minister Mark Kindle said that "Sanctaria is delighted and most humbled by this commendation which serves to underline how vital international cooperation and involvement is to a nation. For the Security Council to hold us as a benchmark is a great honour and one we should all work hard to live up to". Secretary for Foreign Affairs Yasminé Pontif also said that she was "humbled by the Security Council's decision" and said that the award was "an endorsement of Sanctarian foreign policy and a recognition of the hard work Sanctaria does on the world stage".

Dr. Christian Ferguson, Sanctarian Ambassador to the World Assembly, also welcomed the commendation and thanked the Abacathean delegation for authoring it. Ferguson's legislative work was highly lauded in the text of the award which also called Sanctaria "a valuable asset to the World Assembly".

The commendation comes at a time when Sanctarian involvement in the World Assembly has taken a back seat to other international commitments; a Sanctarian is currently Secretary General of the Council of International Democratic Union States (CIDUS), a term due to expire at the end of the month, and until recently Secretary Pontif was directing all Department resources towards maintaining and establishing diplomatic relationships with both nations and regions across the world, in particular concentrating on relations with nations that border Sanctarian lands in The North Pacific.

When questioned about whether or not Sanctaria would be throwing itself back into what's widely reported as the "snakepit" of the General Assembly, Ferguson said that he has "not stopped representing the Divine Republic in the General Assembly and that the only thing that has lessened of late is an interest in authoring and pursuing new avenues of legislation". Pressed on the matter of Sanctaria traditionally eschewing the Security Council, Ambassador Ferguson said "in light of the commendation, I believe the Department is reviewing the policy".

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VOL. XCVI .. Num. 34,740

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

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GOVERNMENT TO ANNOUNCE WA AMBASSADOR AS NEW OMBUDSMAN
by JOEY SESSIONS, Political Correspondent

Sanctus - It is understood by Sanctarian National Times sources that Secretary for Finance, Deputy Jason Reid, is to later today announce that the Government has chosen current Ambassador to the World Assembly, Dr. Christian Ferguson, as its nominee to fill the recently vacated post of Ombudsman. Ferguson, who has served as Sanctaria's representative in the international body since January 2011, will face an up/down vote in both chambers of parliament before succeeding Alexandra Maye as Ombudsman; Maye was recently appointed as the new Director of the Sanctarian Intelligence Services.

The choice of Dr. Ferguson as Ombudsman, where if confirmed he will be responsible for investigating complaints of maladministration by the public against government services and bodies, will come as a surprise to many as the diplomat and former civil servant has only ever work in the area of foreign affairs with little to no qualifications in domestic affairs, a sphere he will need to become quickly associated with. It is believed, however, that the nomination comes on the tails of the recent World Assembly Commendation of Sanctaria, awarded in part due to the mammoth efforts of Dr. Ferguson in the past number of years.

It's also understood that Ferguson's nomination will be fast-tracked through the House of Deputies where the government has a majority in both the chamber and in associated committees; opposition party, the Democratic Left Party, controls the Senate and its committees, but in an accord at the beginning of this parliament, the DLP agreed not to hold up or deny any government nominee. Ferguson does not have to be vetted by a Senate committee, as is the practice with most other government appointments, but Secretary Reid had previously confirmed that the nominee, whoever it may be, would be paying courtesy visits to both the House and Senate Finance Committees.

If confirmed, Dr. Ferguson will be leaving a successful career in the diplomatic service, and in the World Assembly, and it's likely one of the first questions he'll be asked at his official unveiling later is why exactly he accepted the nomination. At 35, Ferguson will be the youngest Ombudsman to date, following on from being the youngest Sanctarian Ambassador to the World Assembly in the nation's history.

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VOL. XCVI .. Num. 34,750

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

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ABORTION LAW REVIEW ON THE CARDS
by ROBYN GRAY, Health Correspondent

Sanctus - Secretary for Health Dr. George Merlinson today confirmed at the AGM of the Papal Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians that the Sanctarian Conservative Party Government would be reviewing Sanctaria's abortion laws following some controversial practices made public during the week.

Making the announcement during his keynote address, Secretary Merlinson said that the "liberal abortion regime" was putting Sanctaria's reputation, as a nation devoted to the safety and welfare of children, at risk. The current abortion laws, which provide for any woman of any age to get an abortion for any reason, were introduced in the late 90s during the Democratic Left Party's time in government. Merlinson, who is a member of the lobby group Doctors Against Abortions, is one of the SCP's leading pro-life speakers and promised during last years general election that if appointed to lead the Department of Health, he would review all current abortion laws.

Pro-Choice campaigners have reacted strongly to the Secretary's comments with plans already being made to protest outside the Department of Health in Sanctus later this week in an effort to stop any changes being made to the country's abortion laws. Sarah Robbins of the group Women's Rights Now has said that any step that restricts the abortion law in any way would be "an attack on Sanctarian women and their fundamental right to bodily sovereignty". It is believed that the Democratic Left Party will announce on Monday in the House of Deputies that it will do everything within its power to stop any changes being made to extant legislation; the DLP currently have a majority and are in control of the Senate, any change to any law needs to pass the Senate too.

This reality has been acknowledged by some pro-life groups, with many issuing muted responses to the Secretary's announcement. The Christian Union Party, the third largest party in parliament, has said that while they welcome the Secretary's confirmation a review will take place they "don't believe that, given the current political climate, particularly in the Senate, any changes will be successful at this time".

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VOL. XCVI .. Num. 34,904

SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2014

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RESOLUTION SUCCESS FOR NEW WA AMBASSADOR
by KIM TOWERS, World Assembly Correspondent

World Assembly HQ - The cheers and overtures of mirth coming from the Sanctarian delegations office at 5am was the long awaited acknowledgement that the new Ambassador to the World Assembly, Nicholas Carson, would be continuing Sanctaria's success in the international body. The passage of General Assembly Resolution #297 is the sixth resolution passed by Sanctaria; it is Carson's first, and the first resolution passed since former Ambassador, and Sanctaria's most successful author to date, Dr. Christian Ferguson left his post to become the nation's Ombudsman.

GA#297 - Child Welfare in Adoption - is just the latest in a long line of Sanctarian sponsored resolutions that aim to protect the most vulnerable in society. The resolution concerned itself with intercountry adoption and the consolidations of regulations therein. As Carson himself put it to reporters after it's passage, "GA #297 will ensure that children remain protected and that any barriers to their placement in a stable environment exist solely for their welfare, and not because of bureaucratic grandstanding." The resolution outlaws all instances of child-selling and also ensures that adoption agencies don't charge extortionate rates for their services.

Carson, who is a career civil servant, was visibly delighted at his proposal's success. "83% of those voting voted in favour. I'd like to think that really underscores the value of this resolution on protecting children. This is the fourth Sanctarian resolution to concern itself with children which shows just how important we take the issue on the world stage".

The win will also likely quieten down the politicians back home who were concerned with the choice of Carson as WA Ambassador. Although he has qualifications in a wide array of subjects, Carson is not as well versed with international and foreign policy and politics as many of his predecessors. "I hope the success of this, my first proposal in the World Assembly, will put to rest any detractors I may have. Unlike Ombudsman Ferguson and Secretary Pontif, both excellent predecessors of mine, I do not have a PhD in this field, but I do have extensive experience in the Department of Foreign Affairs, and that's what counts", Carson told reporters last night, though also mentioned he has been a part-time PhD student for quite some time now and his dissertation is nearing completion.

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VOL. XCVI .. Num. 34,919

SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2014

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HISTORY MADE AS SANCTARIA FIELDS FIRST OLYMPIC DELEGATION
by KEVIN MARTINS, Sports Editor

Sanctus - For the first time in the nation's long and varied history, the Divine Republic will be sending a delegation to the NationStates Olympic Games. Remarkable too is the size of the delegation with an impressive 136 entries in almost 70 different events - a significant fielding for a first time participant.

Secretary Oscar Grayson, responsible for sport under his portfolio of Culture, the Arts, and Tourism, said that Sanctaria has "world-class athletes who deserve to show off in a world-class arena". Pointing to increased funding to sports and sport-based initiatives over the past ten years, Grayson continued that "such a significant level of investment in our athletes has produced wonderful dividends which can be seen in Sanctaria's success in regional and international competitions. Sending these wonderful role-models to the Olympics is the logical next step."

While expectations will be running high for popular athletes like distance walker David Jones, and swimmer George Newell, Secretary Grayson stressed that the goal was not to be taking home medals, though it would be a great benefit. "We're being very realistic here. Obviously these guys are training really hard and want to go for gold, but we're looking at this as a great learning opportunity first and foremost. The only way to improve our athletes is to pit them against the best, and that's what we're doing. Look, some medals would be nice and we want the guys to go for them, but they know there's no unrealistic expectations".

There's been no word on who will be asked to bear the blue and white deer during the Opening Ceremony, but it's likely that Newell will be so honoured, as the most experienced, and recognisable Olympian being fielded. Handlers refused to allow athletes present at the press conference to answer questions, but the joy of being able to participate in the most prestigious sporting competition in their respective fields was obvious on their faces.