United Counties Network World News [CLOSED]

by **The Saint James Islands** » Wed Oct 02, 2013 7:30 pm

reliable and trustworthy | established 1914 | member of the universal broadcasting union

united counties network: the national public broadcasting organisation of the saint james islands

celebrating one hundred years of excellence

As of 2014, the UCN is the largest and oldest broadcasting institution in the Saint James Islands. The UCN Trust, an independent Commonwealth Corporation, operates three television networks (UCN One, UCN Two and UCN News) and three radio stations (UCR 1, UCR FM and UCR News) domestically and affiliate networks around the world. It receives funding through television licence fees, advertising and government funding, affording it financial freedom and artistic licence to make and air the best possible programming in the Commonwealth.

A large arm of the UCN's operations is dedicating to bringing Saint James Islanders the highest quality news. Reliability and trustworthiness are the two highest honours that can possibly be held by the UCN, and that is what the UCN aims for.

by **The Saint James Islands** » Wed Oct 02, 2013 7:34 pm

reliable and trustworthy | established 1914 | member of the universal broadcasting union

latest ucn political polls updated every wednesday
standard margin of error: ±3%

8 january | viii januario

leadership quality
william lee hennessey (ndp): 57▲ 34▼
steven harrison (nat): 40▲ 41▼
martino avissa (dlp): 25▲ 68▼

preferred prime minister
william lee hennessey (ndp): 65%
steven harrison (nat): 30%
martino avissa (dlp): 5%

by **The Saint James Islands** » Wed Oct 02, 2013 8:12 pm

reliable and trustworthy | headlines for 2 october 2013

petrol station arson in selaga
arson attack on coleraine city petrol station kills seven, injures twelve
An arsonist set fire to a petrol station in Coleraine City, Selaga over high fuel prices, killing seven and injuring twelve. The provincial government, led by Sadatsugu Takari (NDP), mandated a minimum fuel price of 310/- per litre earlier this year as a measure to reduce petrol consumption. However, the price at the Coleraine City station was much higher, 450/- per litre.

Enraged over the prices, Thomas Langley set fire to the station. Unable to escape the fire, seven patrons and passengers died on the scene, according to Coleraine City Constabularies. Twelve others, including Langley, are currently in hospital with severe burns. Langley is due to be arraigned in Coleraine City Sessions Court upon his discharge from hospital.

writs drop for alopi poll
provincial parliament to be dissolved for election on 10 november
Premier Charlene Terribono (NDP) of Alopi has requested that the Estates of Parliament be dissolved on 2 November for a general election. Terribono and the New Democrats face a united right-wing opposition headed by Tyson Richard of the Nationals and Stephanie Maregas of Democratic Labour, who currently poll four points ahead of the NDP government.

royal philibiscostal defeats tagatori tide 4-0
carson christie scores hat trick for the royals
Royal Philibiscostal continued their perfect season with an away win over Tagatori Tide in Jalisca. Captain Carson Christie quickly proved to be the star player, scoring three goals against the Tide. Goalkeeper André Jorgis stopped nine goal attempts by the Royals. But by the second half Jorgis was visibly exhausted, allowing the Royal a chance to score four times, once by Ryan Michillie and thrice by Christie, for their biggest win of the season.

by **The Saint James Islands** » Thu Oct 03, 2013 8:57 pm

reliable and trustworthy | headlines for 3 october 2013

museum heist foiled by child
six year old foils natural history museum heist in the free state
Husband and wife Victor and Regina Holst had meticulously planned out their heist. Their target was a natural history museum in Kimberly, Free State. Their goal was to steal bird specimens and sell them on the black market. However, their plan ran into a small problem: a six-year-old boy by the name of Santiago Lopez.

When they had ascertained that no one was watching, the Holsts started stuffing their trousers will small specimins,. However, Lopez, who was on a trip with his local school, noticed the Holsts and alerted his teacher, Christine Callaghan. Callaghan immediately notified security, who quickly detained the Holsts until police could arrive. The Holsts have been charged with attempted theft and are due to face indictment in Kimberly Sessions Court on 7 November.

ucn poll reveals record low religiosity
atheism at its highest observance in saint jamesian history, according to a united counties network poll
Fully 31 per cent of Saint James Islanders proclaim themselves atheists in a 30 September UCN poll of 1092 adults. General irreligiosity has been recorded at 44 per cent, up four points since the last poll in August. Meanwhile, Christians have hit their lowest ever numbers. Only 41 per cent of Saint James Islanders now profess any form of Christianity as their religious faith, continuing a trend of declining religious practice. The margin of error is estimated to be three per cent.

commonwealth weather service: typhoon likely to hit philibiscostal
typhoon could wreak havoc on the commonwealth's most populous city
A typhoon of the coast of Chamangol could potentially make landfall near Philibiscostal, Securu, according to the CWS. News of the potential typhoon has prompted Prime Minister William Lee Hennessey (NDP) to cancel his monthly trip to his home city, instead opting to stay at Rucker's Hill for the duration of the storm. No evacuations have yet been ordered, but residents have been asked to remain on high alert and obey the instructions of the CWS. Please stay tuned to the UCN for updates on the storm's status.

by **The Saint James Islands** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 10:10 pm

reliable and trustworthy | headlines for 4 october 2013

salieri calls leadership ballot
national leader resigns for a leadership ballot in the face of dropping polls
Facing a dismal 19 per cent preferred Prime Minister rating, National Party leader Christopher Salieri has officially resigned to recontest the leadership and quell dissent within the party. "In the face of a terrible leftist government and a bitterly divided right, the Nationals need a leader who can unite the right," Salieri said in announcing his resignation. "We must present a united front to Saint James Islanders if we ever wish to have a chance to depose this tyrannical NDP Government. Division will inevitably lead to defeat."

So far, two members have announced their intentions to oppose Salieri in the ballot: Steven Lee Harrison, Opposition House Leader, and Toni Marie Tell, Shadow Chancellor of Home Affairs. "This ballot will give the Nationals the chance to settle the question of our direction," Tell said in a social media posting. "To continue with Salieri would be political suicide. We would be asking for destruction."

davidson: no vat increases under ndp
chancellor of the accounts vows to keep vat levels steady under new democratic government
Chancellor of the Accounts Kylie Davidson rejected calls to increase VAT rates in the face of a budget deficit for 2014. While the Nationals attacked Davidson for "reckless spendthrift", the Chancellor accused the Nationals of hypocrisy and defended the Government's deficit spending program. "The Saint James Islands is in a recession right now because consumers aren't spending," Davidson remarked in the National Assembly today. "Shillings need to get into the economy one way or another and consumers need their own shillings to spend. This is not the time for excessive taxation."

flooding in taverin brings devastation
once-in-a-century flooding leaves thousands displaced in the northwest
Walls of water up to eight metres tall have crashed down on Saint Edward's Province, hitting Taverin particularly hard. An estimated 12 000 people have lost their homes or have been displaced in an overflow of the River Hartman in Port Michael. Rescue teams are currently working to recover those trapped in the flood waters, which have already caused an estimated 5 billion shillings in damage. Premier James Kinney has declared a state of emergency and called for calm in the province, asking that citizens "not take any brazen, brash or foolish action."

by **The Saint James Islands** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:50 pm

reliable and trustworthy | headlines for 6 october 2013

petrol station arsonist stable, in critical condition
arsonist of a coleraine city petrol station suffering from third degree burns, hospital says
Thomas Langley, the man who made headlines for setting a Coleraine City petrol station ablaze, is still in hospital suffering from third degree burns. Doctors have confirmed that Langley and his eleven living victims are currently in stable condition at Royal Albert Hospital in neighbouring Derry. Four of the victims, who were shielded from most of the flames and heat by car bodies, are slated for release later this week. Langley and the other six victims are suffering from more severe burns and will likely not be released for another month, a hospital nurse told UCN on condition of anonymity.

Langley stands accused of arson, seven counts of manslaughter and eleven counts of attempted manslaughter over the incident. Richard King, Coleraine City's public prosecutor, has announced that he will raise charges in Coleraine City Sessions Court upon Langley's release from hospital. Langley's lawyers claim that prosecutors are overcharging Langley over the incident and want the manslaughter and attempted manslaughter charges dropped. King's office did not return UCN's call for comment.

dirty campaigns underway in alopi
provincial election brings out the worst in the three party leaders
A recent advert by the Democratic Labour Party pinned "all of Alopi's ills" on Premier Charlene Terribono and her New Democratic government. Terribono decried the advert while simultaneously releasing an advert of her own, accusing National Party leader Tyson Richard of infidelity. "Is this a man you would trust to run our province?" a female voice actress asked in the controversial advert. However, polls may be suggesting that the adverts are working. A Saturday poll by Gallup Saint James Islands suggests that Terribono and the NDP are within three percentage points of the National-DLP Alliance, making the race a statistical tie. But that might not stop her opponents of accusing the Premier of hypocrisy in the weeks ahead, as the 2 November elections quickly approach.

seven still missing in taverin floods
constabularies have been unable to find all those lost in river hartman flooding
King David Alexander IV of Taverin gave an address reassuring the Taverese public this afternoon after the Port Michael Constabularies announced that seven people were still missing after record flooding. The River Hartman breeched is banks on Friday, raising water levels by an average of 4.5 metres and claiming the homes of more than 12 000 people in the Taverese capital. PMC has revised its initial estimates of the damages upwards to 7.5 billion shillings while simultaneously raising the provisional death count to 260. PMC has also reassured victims' families that the search for missing persons will continue for at least another week, giving hope that the seven may be found.

Story amended to correct to amount of damages from "7.5 million shillings" to "7.5 billion shillings".

by **The Saint James Islands** » Mon Oct 07, 2013 6:38 pm

reliable and trustworthy | headlines for 7 october 2013

steven harrison elected national party leader
harrison defeats incumbent salieri after tell drops out
Steven Harrison will have little time to prepare for his first face-off with the Prime Minister at tomorrow’s Question Time. Harrison was elected leader of the National Party, and Leader of the Opposition by extension, in a landslide at a caucus meeting this afternoon in Ticomaça. There the 159 National MPs and senators voted on their new party leader.

Incumbent Christopher Salieri, who called the election to quell internal dissent, initially faced two opponents: Steven Harrison and Toni Marie Tell. However, Tell dropped out of the leadership ballot to run for deputy leader, supporting Harrison for the top job. Harrison, now only facing the unpopular incumbent, won the ballot by a margin of 110-49. Such a large margin led to George Jameson, the incumbent deputy leader, dropping out of his race, leaving Tell elected unopposed. Harrison and Tell now face the difficult task of improving the Nationals' standing against the governing New Democrats and fending off a challenge for dominance over the Saint Jamesian right from Democratic Labour. "Thank you, my fellow Nationals," Harrison said to reports outside the conference room. "This victory couldn't have been possible without you."

horse stampede hits securu city
open door allows horses to wreak havoc in mecklenburg
An inattentive keeper left a door and gate open while attending to a stable in the South Riding of Durham. John Patterson was attending to his brother’s horses on the outskirts of Mecklenburg, Securu when he realised that he’d left both the door to the barn and the gate to the field open. However, when he did, it was too late. The horses were already making a mess through the nearby city. Within minutes of receiving a call, the Mecklenburg Police were on the scene chasing after the horses, a chase that would not end for another three hours. “Luckily, no horses or people were injured in the incident,” police chief Arthur Gaines said in a call to the UCN. “The brother ought to feel very lucky.” Damages from the incident were reported to be very minimal, with an estimate at around 50,000 shillings released by the Mecklenburg Police. No charges will be brought over the incident.

by **The Saint James Islands** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 9:14 pm

reliable and trustworthy | headlines for 9 october 2013

harrison: coalition with dlp possible, but not with avissa
national-democratic labour cooperation not possible with avissa at helm
Steven Harrison has already taken steps to distance himself from his predecessor. Harrison has taken a far less direct approach to his duties in opposition, preferring subtlety in his criticisms of the NDP-led Government. Harrison has also distanced himself from Christopher Salieri in his stance on the Democratic Labour Party. Harrison has opened the possibility of a coalition between the two right-wing parties if the DLP replaced its leader. Martino Avissa is seen as too acerbic and crass by many Nationals, which remains a roadblock in any coalition attempts. Harrison has multiple times criticised Avissa's leadership style, calling it "unfit for a Prime Minister, a simple attention-grabbing show."

However, Avissa warned of further defeats for the Nationals if cooperation was put off. "The Nationals must realise that they cannot survive without us," Avissa said to the UCN in a phone interview. "If Harrison wants to make my exit a condition of right-wing cooperation, he can enjoy sitting on the opposition benches for years to come. I will not budge." Avissa played off cooperation between the two parties at the provincial level, calling it a matter for each branch to decide. "Commonwealth branches do not get veto power over actions of their provincial branches. If the Alopi DLP want to go into a coalition with the Alopi Nationals, fine. Just don't expect the same at the Commonwealth level."

dsa compliance audit: fourteen per cent in violation
fourteen per cent of members are in violation of the charter, half just barely
A recent membership audit by the Democratic Socialist Assembly's Ministry of Justice revealed that fourteen per cent of member nations were in violation of the organisation's Charter. The Charter bans certain nation categories as determined by the World Assembly. Also an issue for many member nations is the minimum civil rights and political freedoms requirement, which was lowered from "good" to "average" in a recent Charter overhaul. However, in a silver lining, half of violator nations were only in violation for "below average" civil rights or political freedoms, with simple and quick action being sufficient to bring them back into compliance. Under the Charter, offending nations have one week to return to compliance, with continued violators being ejected from the organisation. The Saint James Islands was deemed in compliance at the audit with no major concerns reported by the Ministry.

world assembly woes: to withdraw or not to withdraw
wa ambassador attempts to reassure sceptical nation as withdrawal hits national assembly floor
Approval ratings for the World Assembly have hit record lows in the Saint James Islands, with only 31 per cent of Saint James Islanders approving of the WA's work and 43 per cent calling for the Commonwealth's withdrawal. While on holiday in Sasari, John Laughton-Hartley, the Saint Jamesian ambassador to the WA, told reporters that "the World Assembly still works. It is still capable of doing great work, even if it's been terrible at that recently." However, Parliament's leadership seems to be siding with the public. Leader of the Opposition Steven Harrison has tabled a proposal, supported by the Prime Minister, to resign from the World Assembly to be voted on later this month. "The lack of concern World Assembly members show for human rights and the duty of nations is honestly appalling," Prime Minister William Lee Hennessey said in a recent interview. "The Saint Jamesian people are fed up with it. They wouldn't tolerate it from the National Assembly, so why should they tolerate it from the World Assembly?"

by **The Saint James Islands** » Thu Oct 10, 2013 7:46 pm

reliable and trustworthy | headlines for 10 october 2013

typhoon sweeps by saint james islands, philibiscostal spared
typhoon predicted to hit philibiscostal barely misses, major damage reported elsewhere
A week after the prediction that a typhoon would hit the largest city in the Saint James Islands, the storm has dissipated without ever touching Philibiscostal. However, the areas hit suffered damage to the tune of nearly 10 billion shillings by the most conservative estimates. A streak of destruction ripped through northern Securu, southern Iles Rouges and Quiasta, with the three provincial premiers declaring the areas affected disaster zones. The Commonwealth Gendarmerie estimated fourteen deaths across the three provinces, with six people being reported missing in West Riding of Durham, which took the brunt of the damage. "Many homes, businesses and lives have been lost to this terrible tragedy. Let us mourn for those we've lost this week," Securu Governor Jordan-Marie Fuller said in a press conference in Secomina, which escaped the storm's path.

"We have local police forces cooperating with the Commonwealth Gendarmerie to rescue those lost and charities from all over the Saint James Islands pouring in millions of shillings and man-hours to help us rebuild," Iles Rouges Premier J. P. Bernard told the UCN in an interview. "To everyone helping us and the Taverese in our time of need, thank you. Your aid will never be forgotten. Premiers Richmond, Kiser and I will be in close contact with each other and with Prime Minister Hennessey over the weeks to come so that we can rebuild our provinces."

serinago 999 operator fired for inflammatory language
emergency services operator "fundamentally failed in her duties"
The Cheshire Police have terminated a 999 operator who told a caller to "fuck off". Elena Cartagenas received a call from a driver who had just been in a car accident. Upon the driver's explanation of the situation, Cartagenas told the driver to "fuck off, we're not going to help you if you can't drive right." The driver, Patrick Demure, was bleeding profusely from a gash in his arm and required immediate medical attention, according to the Cheshire Police. "Cartagenas fundamentally failed in her duties," Constable Christine Pike told the UCN in a phone interview. "To leave a victim on the side of the road without assistance is unacceptable." Demure is currently in hospital and in stable condition.

chs repeal fails miserably in senate
proposal to abolish commonwealth health service defeated in lopsided vote
Drake Lee Armstrong, a right-wing senator from Selaga, tabled a proposal to abolish the Commonwealth Health Service, calling it "a waste of taxpayer shillings" and "an inefficient, backlogged morass". Leader of the Senate Iain Hartley defended the CHS, saying that "if it were not for the CHS, millions of Saint James Islanders would be unable to access basic and fair healthcare." General opinion in the Senate, which currently trends to the right, sided with Hartley. The proposal was ultimately shot down by a vote of 145-10 with no support from NDP members, a requirement to pass a bill in the current National Assembly. "This bill was never meant to pass," Armstrong said in a press interview outside the Palace of Assembly. "It was meant to be a statement to our socialistic Government that the Saint Jamesian people will never stand for their planned destruction of our free market economy."

by **The Saint James Islands** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 4:57 pm

reliable and trustworthy | 18 october 2013

alopi 2013: the what and the how and why you should care
provincial poll to be a test for the governing new democrats and the right-wing opposition

Alopiana, Alopi - Alopi has often been dubbed "the silent heavyweight" and nothing could be closer to the truth. Alopi played a formative role in the formation of the Saint Jamesian state and leaders from the province have played a substantial role in the history of the Commonwealth. Richard Nice morphed the Presidency into its modern ceremony and neutrality. Cristiano Amali, Richard Helling's Chancellor of the Accounts, played a substantial part in shaping the welfare state. Former Prime Minister Nicuolo Digene used his time in Rucker's Hill to substantially liberalise the Saint Jamesian economy and bring down the old "Gold Liberals". The province of twelve million plays a key role in constitutional referenda and Commons elections, acting as a make-or-break arbiter for amendments and Governments. And at tomorrow's provincial election, the Commonwealth's fourth most-populous province will silently strike again.

For the commonplace combatancy between National leader Steven Harrison and DLP leader Martino Avissa, the cooperation between these two forces in Alopi seems quite strange. However, Tyson Richard (National) and Stephanie Maregas (DLP) have a different and interesting chemistry, one that seems to exude close cooperation and friendship. The cooperation between Richard and Maregas goes so far as to include a formal agreement: the National-DLP Alliance. Under the agreement, the Alliance will jointly put up candidates in Alopi's 70 electorate seats, while allowing the Nationals and Democratic Labour to run separate 30-man party lists. The goal is to combine the two forces of the Commonwealth's right to oust Premier Charlene Terribono (NDP) and her left-wing New Democratic government.

Meanwhile, Terribono, who has been in power since the 2009 provincial election, is campaigning on her track record over the Estates' four-year term. The New Democrats have the reform of university tuition fees, streamlining of the CHS-Alopi, expansion of social services and significant investment in public infrastructure to carry on its back. While Terribono came into power on the back of a divided right, she can no longer depend on that grace. She will need her accomplishments to have a chance at returning.

party standings in the outgoing estates
new democrats: 60 (54 electorate, 11 list)
nationals: 21 (12 electorate, 9 list)
democratic labour: 12 (6 electorate, 6 list)
movement 1988: 2 (0 electorate, 2 list)

so how does this work?
Alopi's Estates of Parliament is unlike other provincial legislatures in the Commonwealth in that it is not fully elected by first-past-the-post or proportional representation. Alopi uses a semi-proportional mixed-member system to elect the Estates. Voters in Alopi get two votes. The first vote is for an electorate seat, where the candidate with the most votes wins the electorate and becomes an MPP (Member of the Provincial Parliament). 70 MPPs are chosen this way. The second vote is for a party list which will decide in what proportion the other 30 seats will be given out in. This results in a provincial legislature that is more amicable to smaller parties, but at the cost of more hung parliaments.

and why should i care?
The election will have numerous political impacts that will ripple throughout the Commonwealth no matter who wins.

Any Alliance gains will embolden the Saint Jamesian right, currently suffering from division and bitterness. A particularly good election result opens up the possibility of further cooperation between the Nationals and DLP in other provinces and at the Commonwealth level. An Alliance win would symbolise the end of the "Pink Tide", a wave of New Democratic governments that have entered office throughout the Saint James Islands and establish Alopi as a solidly conservative province. A New Democratic win would serve to give credence and credibility to the party, still struggling with doubts over its viability and suitability for high office. A particularly strong mandate for Terribono would serve as a popular endorsement of the New Democrats' left-wing and progressive policies in a relatively conservative province. This would be a boon in attracting former Liberal voters who still have not abandoned their old party, uniting the Saint Jamesian left even further.

The election also gives Saint James Islanders in other provinces a first hand look at a mixed-member election system similar to MMP, which will face its referendum in March 2014. The election will no doubt serve to cast light or a shadow onto an alternate way to elect a legislature, influencing positions on MMP. Any hiccups or irregularities would certainly be a disastrous blow to the Prime Minister's electoral reform plans and give Steven Harrison a giant magazine of ammunition to use against the New Democrats.
CORRECTION: Steven Harrison, not Christopher Salieri, is leader of the National Party. References have now been fixed.

for your reading pleasure

Steven Harrison ought put up or shut up ▶
A case study: MMP in the Commonwealth of Gervase ▶
Continued caution advised for travellers to Windport ▶
Inverness City stalls Royal Ticomaça to a 0-0 draw ▶

comments
the submissions box is now closed. no further comments will be taken on this story.
showing 1-5 of 336
SingleInPerth 61▲ 55▼
If only Terribono had as much talent as she has hot air, then Alopi might actually be going somewhere.

ragman94 50▲ 51▼
@SingleInPerth: replace terribono with richard and maregas and youve got it

Coleraine Queen 162▲ 13▼
Worried for my neighbours over in Alopi. Sending lots of love and best wishes from Selaga. Good luck to you, whoever your government is.

thatsocdem 47▲ 171▼
Who else is hoping this alliance idea fails miserably?

Dunbar Singles 0▲ 296▼
Meet Asian singles in Alopi today! http://www.singleislanders.co.sj/

by **The Saint James Islands** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 10:35 pm

reliable and trustworthy | 19 october 2013

alopi 2013: "the estates will most likely be a hung one"
key provincial poll gives neither government nor opposition majority

Alopiana, Alopi - With polling stations closed in Alopi, the votes have been tallied. Provisional results show that Alopi's Estates of Parliament will be hung during its next term, with the opposition coming out one seat ahead of the incumbent government, while seven crossbenchers hold the fate of the government in their hands.

The incumbent New Democrats have lost their firm majority, bleeding fourteen seats in the face of a newly united opposition. The Alliance sees overall gains, however, these all came from the Democratic Labour side. The DLP will go in with a caucus more than doubled in size, while the Nationals will suffer the loss of one member. Movement 1988 is projected to win their first electorate seat in the Estates, while retaining their two list seats. Four independents will also join the Estates, all of them being electorate MPPs.

provisional election results
new democrats: 46 (33 electorate, 13 list)
democratic labour: 27 (19 electorate, 8 list)
nationals: 20 (13 electorate, 7 list)
independents: 4 (4 electorate)
movement 1988: 3 (1 electorate, 2 list)

New Democratic leader and incumbent premier Charlene Terribono, speaking from her election rally in Dunbar, urged supporters not to be disappointed over the result. "We have a great opportunity tonight. Either we will form a solid and trustworthy government or a strong and dedicated opposition. Either way, we have not lost." Democratic Labour leader Shannon Maregas, however, took a different, more combative, tone. "The people of Alopi have spoken! It's time for Terribono to return her commission and for a new government to fight for everyone in our fair province." By convention, Maregas would become premier in an Alliance government or Leader of the Opposition against a continuing NDP government.

The Nationals, now the minority in the Alliance, came out of the election somewhat dejected. "Unfortunately, the numbers were not in our favour," Tyson Richard, National leader and outgoing Leader of the Opposition, said in a speech in Carlisle. "However, we will be dedicated to the cause of forming a new government. One that actually cares for the people of Alopi, instead of paying lip service to them."

so what now?
Unless official results indicate otherwise, the next Estates of Parliament will see neither the governing New Democrats or the opposition Alliance in a majority. Therefore, a minority or coalition government will be the result of the election.

Despite winning fewer seats than the opposition Alliance, the incumbent New Democratic government will get the first chance to form a government and, per convention, NDP leader Terribono will remain premier throughout the negotiations. Maregas and the Alliance will technically only have an opportunity if Terribono fails to piece together enough support in the Estates. However, the right will be able to negotiate with the seven crossbenchers at the same time as Terribono.

The three Movement 1988 MPPs are expected to side with Terribono, leaving the incumbent an easier task than her opponents. Terribono thus needs only two independents to side with the New Democrats for her to retain office. Maregas will theoretically need all four independents to support an Alliance government for her to win the Premier's Mansion. Two of these independents come from mostly rural electorates, which will likely make the opposition's job easier. The ultimate test of the resulting government will, however, come when the first confidence motion is tabled before the new Estates.

for your reading pleasure

Alopi 2013: boon or bust for MMP? ▶
Hennessey "remaining extremely careful" for summit in Windport ▶
Taverese premier calls for more assistance for flood victims ▶
WA: Saint Jamesian diplomats bigger drug users than 363 DSA member-states ▶

comments
the submissions box is now closed. no further comments will be taken on this story.
showing 1-5 of 336
Invernessman 40▲ 38▼
New Democrats have Movement support guaranteed and my business can't afford four more years of Terribono...

AlpND 34▲ 49▼
Terribono, you go girl! Show those corporate sockpuppets Alopi won't take their crap sitting down!

dragonkid9 29▲ 54▼
fifty bob says maregas'll be the new premier

PoliticoMocker 72▲ 26▼
These next few days ought be interesting. Who's up for watching these fools make clowns of themselves?

Marina Angle 61▲ 48▼
Like her or hate her: Terribono has class. Her post-election speech tonight was absolutely incredible.

by **The Saint James Islands** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 7:33 pm

reliable and trustworthy | 29 october 2013

confirmed: zombie virus outbreak hits world
unknown assailants unleash "zombie virus" on prepared world

Riot police have been deployed throughout the capital ahead of the zombie attack

City of Ticomaça, Ticomaça - Reports leaked earlier this week that a "zombie virus" would be unleashed upon the Saint James Islands and the greater world at 18:00 Ticomaça Standard Time. True to the threat, the virus has been released. According to early estimates, ten per cent of Saint James Islanders have already been infected with the virus.

President Maya Torrence-Flores signed a decree to declare a state of emergency throughout the Commonwealth yesterday. Prime Minister William Lee Hennessey has urged Saint James Islanders to remain calm and stay indoors during the emergency. "To wander around on the streets is a dangerous and foolish idea," the Prime Minister said in a press conference earlier today. "While scientists and medical researchers are working to find a cure, we have made very little progress in doing so. Those who venture outdoors during this episode do so at their own risk."

Riot police have been deployed on the streets of major cities to detain those infected by the disease, while the Commonwealth Gendarmerie has been ordered to temporarily detain the healthy individuals. "Crime will be dealt with swiftly and harshly," Chancellor of Home Affairs John Catanajo said in a statement. "We cannot have foolishness during this crisis."

for your reading pleasure

Charlene Terribono reappointed Premier of Alopi ▶
Inverness City defeats Doire City with a hat trick ▶
Prime Minister Hennessey will send delegate to G20 Leadership Meeting ▶
Commonwealth nominated for Presidency of the Democratic Socialist Assembly ▶

comments
the submissions box is closed. no comments will be taken on this story.

by **The Saint James Islands** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:42 pm

reliable and trustworthy | 31 october 2013

torrence-flores: "our darkest hour has now passed us"
martial law lifted as cure search leads to much success

Traffic resumes in Philibiscostal after an almost devastating virus outbreak.

City of Ticomaça, Ticomaça - Just yesterday, the streets of the capital were mostly barren. Only the occasional riot officer or Gendarme could be seen. The streets of every other major city told the same story. The Commonwealth was on lock down, with President Maya Torrence-Flores having signed a decree declaring a state of emergency. With the entire country on warning about a virus allegedly producing zombie-like symptoms, few but the most bold and brash dared to walk the streets of the Commonwealth.

Minimal deaths were reported in the event, with all infections reported being cured by doctors. A team of virologists had been working for weeks prior to the announced outbreak date to prepare for the infection, seeing much success in developing a treatment. A medical despatch from across the Democratic Socialist Assembly worked tirelessly to deliver the treatment and vaccines to Saint James Islanders, being specially exempted from the 20:00 curfew imposed by the state of emergency.

However, the state of emergency has now been lifted, allowing Saint James Islanders to return to their everyday activities. Within half an hour of the state of emergency being lifted, Philibiscostal was reportedly clogged in its world famous traffic jams. "This is the city as I love her," taxi driver Desmond Karn told the UCN in an interview. "You talk to the person in the next auto over and it's always interesting what conversations you have on the roads." Others grumbled about the traffic, but no one seems to have been phased by the near destruction of humanity.

Prime Minister William Lee Hennessey praised the work of the virologist team that found a treatment for the disease, calling them likely candidates for an award. "Could they possibly be awarded a Tichoghi Star? I would believe that would be very much in order. Without them, we would not be alive right now." Opposition leaders and provincial premiers have likewise praised the work of virologists. "These men and women worked tirelessly to provide the cure we needed," David Richmond, the Premier of Securu, said in a statement. "To everyone who helped in this grand undertaking, thank you for your service."

President Maya Torrence-Flores, who lifted the state of emergency at 20:00 Ticomaça Standard Time, perhaps said the most prophetic words of all, though.

We have faced our darkest hour. Our darkest hour has now passed us. But we will carry on as we always have and we always do. It is truly the spirit of the Saint James Islander.

for your reading pleasure

Taverese premier "in disbelief" over multiple recent disasters ▶
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Football star allegedly killed five zombies in Peimau ▶

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by **The Saint James Islands** » Thu Jan 09, 2014 2:17 pm

a century of excellence | 9 january 2014

looking to 2014: broadcasting shake-ups for centennial year
ucn commissioner announces major programming changes

The Philibiscostal ball drop rings in the UCN's centennial year.

Westchester, Serinago - The streets of the nation's largest city erupted into the classic Auld Lang Syne on the first, closing 2013 after the ever-so traditional 365 days. All the usual things happened. The Prime Minister made his second New Year's Eve address. Recaps of the previous year adorned televisions across the nation, while people planned their resolutions for 2014. But one other milestone came with the ball drop: the one hundredth birthday of the United Counties Network.

celebrating the centenary
Established by Serinago's Broadcasting Act 1913, the United Counties Network was designed to aid in news delivery to the far-flung Northern Isles. The small provincial network would later be acquired by the Commonwealth in 1932 by a mutual agreement. The Commonwealth then passed the Broadcasting Act 1932 to make the acquisition official and standardise broadcasting protocols throughout the nation. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, the new national broadcaster came into good use, providing the Commonwealth with a new medium through which to aim its anti-Axis propaganda. The advent of television in the 1950s provided a new dimension to UCN services, with the network becoming domesticly renown for its excellence in news reporting and entertainment. The UCN branched out in the 1980s, turning its renowned programming to an international audience, culminating in the UCN's admission to the Universal Broadcasting Union in 2013.

Prime Minister William Lee Hennessey and Leader of the Opposition Steven Harrison both congratulated the network on its hundredth year of operation on Monday during Parliament's return to Ticomaça, before the vote to confirm a new UCN Commissioner. The duly confirmed Chelsea Walsh, the first Anglophone to hold the position since 1982, also celebrated the anniversary and used the occasion to announce the most major changes to the network's line up in the twenty-first century.

Title card of Expedition Robinson, which will return to UCN1 in the autumn.

channel moving
Five programmes will change places among the UCN's three domestic stations in the upcoming year.

UCN1 will recapture the reality competition Expedition Robinson, which will air its fourteenth series on the main station after five years on UCN2. Based on the long running Swedish programme of the same name, the show features a group of strangers abandoned in a deserted location while competing to be the last person remaining. Making its début on UCN1 alongside Robinson will be the black-horse hit The Chase, a game show in which four contestants face a quiz master, whose aim is to take individuals contestants out of the game. Cult classic Doctor Who will move off UCN International and onto the dial, to make its première on UCN2 in March alongside Sherlock. Meanwhile, the daytime programme Deal or No Deal will move off the flagship UCN1 and will replace The Chase on UCN2.

ucn acquisitions
The UCN also acquired the rights to eight new programs (five foreign and three domestic), a record for the broadcaster.

Most notable of the acquisitions was that of the Pokémon anime, whose first eight series had been aired on UCN1. Upon 4Kids Entertainment losing the rights to dub the programme in 2005, the anime moved to TV7. Amidst a contract dispute between TV7 and The Pokémon Company International, who possess the rights to the franchise outside of Asia, the UCN struck a deal with the distributor to return the programme to its flagship station. The show, which closed its sixteenth series on TV7, will return to Saint Jamesian television on 8 February with a special two-hour marathon to bring the programme back in sync with other countries' schedules.

Other acquisitions for the network include:

QI, (British Broadcasting Corporation)
Top Gear, from TV7 (British Broadcasting Corporation)
The Big Bang Theory, from Network Nine (CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
Hawaii Five-0, from Network Nine (CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
Redwood Street, from ITV (Blackhouse Productions, Ltd)
Free State Miracles, from ITV (Blackhouse Productions, Ltd)
Dead Man Walking, from Network Nine (Edmonton Television, Ltd/Blackhouse Productions, Ltd)

for your reading pleasure

Ghent Designs to make proposals for Suceavijan currency ▶
Free State marijuana ban upheld by appeals court ▶
Parliament continues to protests at Commonwealth House ▶
Royal of Philibiscostal to lay off 170 employees over declining sales ▶

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showing 1-5 of 412 reload
Chelsea Lancaster 121▲ 111▼
Robinson gets to stain UCN1 again? How sad has this world become...

dickem69 0▲ 231▼
100 years how on earth did this rubbish last this long

Niquiolo da Landra 162▲ 13▼
As we say in Tagatori: ben chanç e buonacosa! To another cent annos.

Westchester Singles 0▲ 289▼
Meet Asian singles in Serinago today! http://www.singleislanders.co.sj/

Anne-Marie Bouchard 63▲ 26▼
@Westchester Singles: dat spam. Sure is tasty...

by **The Saint James Islands** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 9:03 pm

a century of excellence | 31 march 2014

hennessey shuffles cabinet
musical chairs game ensues over cabinet posts

Commonwealth House will wake up very confused tomorrow, with new Ministers abound.

Ticomaça, Ticomaça - In one of the most convoluted Cabinet shuffles in recent memory, five newcomers will enter the Cabinet as four others leave. Meanwhile, six Ministries will be reorganised into three "to reduce government waste", resulting in some of the greatest confusion ever seen in the capital. All this comes as Hennessey and the United Democrats see their approval ratings drop under 50 per cent for the first time since September 2012, while the dismissal of Felicity Carr-Hallman still weighed on the public's mind.

who is out? in? changing jobs?
The most notable retirement is that of Home Chancellor John Catanajo, who declined reappointment to the Cabinet to seek the position of caucus chair. Catanajo will be replaced as Home Chancellor by current Foreign Chancellor Christi Mattari-Lee, who will see herself replaced by the current Defence Minister, Martin Jacova.

Lianno Lagari and Geneviève Roy announced their retirements as Education and Health ministers respectively and will be replaced with Solenn Thompson, an SDLP backbencher, and Maryanne Aiken, the current Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. Aiken's post will be taken by fellow SDLP member Phoebe Usseglio. Makaio Keoni will replace resigning senator André des Santos as Minister of Equality and Welfare, while Movement 1988 will see some change with Paora Timoti replacing Melanie Macati as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. And in one final push for madness, Paymaster-General and United Democrats deputy chair Staci Laurent will surrender her post as Minister of Industry and Labour to William Rainier.

and what reorganisation?
In line with an Act of Parliament signed into law last December, several ministries are merging as of today, indicating that Hennessey had the date for the shuffle planned for a while. On the Movement 1988 side, the Public Works and Transport ministries will merge, as will the Ministries of Energy and Natural Resources. On the United Democrats side, the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and Culture will emerge from the ashes of the old Ministry of Tourism and Sport and Ministry of Culture. None of the three ministers holding these portfolios will be unseated, though they will only hold a single portfolio, rather than two.

Overall, this stands to be one of the most confusing shuffles seen to date in the Saint James Islands and one that will not soon be forgotten. On the balance, the Cabinet will go up in membership by one, but exactly who is who will take a few days to sort out for the members of the National Assembly.

for your reading pleasure

Cabinet launches saintjamesislands.info.sj ▶
Martino Avissa calls for early elections after MP's death ▶
Pilot to attempt trek across Great Arden ▶
Serinago premier resigns over SMS scandal ▶

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showing 1-5 of 412 reload
Isaiah Mori 59▲ 72▼
not like this is going to help that traitor hennessey and his sidekick torrence-flores stay in office no confidence 2014 impeach torrence-flores

hennesseyfan94 64▲ 65▼
@Isaiah Mori: If anyone's the traitor, it's Carr-Hallman and her National scum

Cary Mum 0▲ 295▼
Make 100,000 shillings a week working from home! http://www.pyramidscheme.co.sj/

Tirto Tane 176▲ 9▼
@Isaiah Mori: Mate, learn how to use some punctuation and capitals. You're embarrassing us Omencate.

Tim Locke 94▲ 53▼
Thousand bob says Jacova's only in Cabinet because his mum was PM.

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