WCRB Newshour 2009 (1983: Doomsday)

The following is a list of headlines from the year 2009 of the post-Doomsday world.

December 2009

Decmber 26th, 2009, 20:51 GMT: General election results declared: PORT ELIZABETH, Dominion of South Africa - The Dominion Party has won enough seats to command a majority of seats in the House of Assembly. The party pledges to usher in a new era for the Dominion of South Africa, pledging a more aggressive policy toward its rivals, especially kwaXhosa and the Orange Free State.

December 25, 2009: Christmas Day: Today people around the world celebrate Christmas.

December 20, 2009, 6:35am GMT: American football league in ANZC renamed the Oceanic Football League: PAGO PAGO, Sa8moa, ANZC - In a hastily arranged meeting, the owners of the eight franchises of the American Football League voted unanimously to change the league's name to the Oceanic Football League. The name change, which takes effect immediately, was done to distinguish the league from the Australian rules Australian Football League and the rugby league Australian Rugby League, as well as to tie it more closely to the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand that it is based in. OFL had become the popular choice for the renaming of the league, and it prevailed over other proposals. A name change for the now former American Football League had been resisted by the owners of the Brisbane Cowboys franchise until late this week, when they agreed in principle to the name change.

December 18, 2009: Saguenay conflict over by Christmas?: STOWE, Superior - president Terrance Newman told reporters today that he proposed peace talks with for next Thursday, and is very hopeful that both sides will agree to end the conflict. However, a response to this message has yet to be received from St. John's. Many fear that Canada will refuse to attend the talks as to the ongoing occupation of the Gaspe peninsula, where a puppet government has been set up. Newman also said Richard Stewart, the Vermont ambassador to Superior, told him that Vermont would be willing to host peace talks between the respective parties in the war.

December 16, 2009: Olympia joins Republic of Victoria. Negotiations begin with coastal survivor communities: VICTORIA, Victoria - Today, officials from the remaining Washington State government in Olympia agreed to a proposal by the Republic of Victoria to join the republic after nearly a month of negotiations. "This is a great victory for the people of Olympia, and great milestone in the recovery of the people of Washington." Premier Jacob Birch said in a statement. While the territory the Washington State assembly controls only extends to Olympia and its surrounding suburbs, the surviving state government joining Victoria could make negotiations with other surviving communities smoother. Victorian officials also announced that negotiations have begun with the surviving communities of Aberdeen and other communities around Gray's Habour, Willapa Bay, and up the Columbia river to Longview.

December 12, 2009: Prince George rejects Victoria's proposal of reintegration. Victorian Citizen's Congress begins preparations: VICTORIA, Victoria - Diplomats from the Republic of New Caledonia rejected a proposal by the Victorian government to rejoin Victoria, who considers itself the legitimate successor of British Columbia. In a statement Victoria Premier Jacob Birch said: "I'm truly disappointed in the response from Prince George. This is a major hiccup in the road to unifying British Columbia under a strong, stable government. We will continue to negotiate with the representatives of Prince George and its allied towns to address any concerns and hopefully come to an agreement in the future." New Caledonian First Councilor Dan Rogers responded: "While we are open to establishing a lasting friendship with the great nation of Victoria, our struggles over the past quarter century have forged us into a different people than we once were. We are an independent people with our own culture that we believe would lose the attentions of the Victorian government should we choose to join them."

On a related note, preparations have begun for the arrival of the representatives for the Citizen's Congress in Victoria. The congress is scheduled to begin January 7th, 2010 in order to discuss the concerns of citizens from across the republic and what can be done to address them.

December 12, 2009, 1:00pm GMT:Krasnoyarsk,Siberian officials announce plans fora new military organization charter:

Earlier today on the Siberian State News Network (SSNN), Aman Tuleyev announced his plan to further unite the few remaining communist countries by forming a joint military organization. "This will prove instrumental in strengthening our position in this new world order", Tuleyev said for reporters at the press conference, "This organization will improve relations between the remaining socialist nations of the world and also be a new cornerstone of our global politics. I am sure that this will pave the way for a future broader organization covering both military and economic issues." Tuleyev plans on visiting proposed member states in early February 2010 to gain support for this new alliance, currently dubbed the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

December 8, 2009, 12:50am GMT: West Texas, Mexico building port on Gulf of Mexico: MEXICA, Mexico - Several media sources in Mexico are reporting that Mexico and West Texas have signed an agreement to build a port in the former Texas city of Port Isabel, just east of South Padre Island. The port is intended to be used by West Texas for trade with other nations, including Mexico. Mexica newspaper La Opinion is reporting in its Tuesday edition that the port is intended to be operational by September 2010 and "fully operational" by New Years Day 2011. La Opinion also is reporting that both countries are aiming for 10,000 people to operate the port and adjacent Port Isabel - many from Mexico and West Texas, some from other Caribbean and North American nations - when it opens in the fall.

December 7, 2009, 9:00am GMT: Berlin to host Europa Games in October 2010: BERLIN, Kingdom of Prussia - Radio Prussia reports that King Christian will make an official proclamation at noon, Berlin time. Government officials have privately stated that he will officially announce that the Prussian capital will host the Europa Games which will take place from October 1-10, 2010.

December 5, 2009, 7:00pm GMT: Report, Berlin to host Europa Games in October 2010 BERLIN, Kingdom of Prussia - The Sunday edition of the Berliner Zeitung will report that the Prussian capital has been selected to host the Europa Games, a regional version of the Olympic games, in October of next year. The official announcement is expected to be made either Monday or Tuesday. The article states that the IOC chose Berlin, which hosted the Summer Olympics in 1936, largely due to recent improvements in Prussian infrastructure. In particular, the newly restored and modernized Olympiastadion, where most of the athletic events will be held. The article also states that King Christian personally lobbied the IOC officials. Some experts raise concerns about the possibility of staging a major sporting event in less than a years notice, but government officials see the games as a showcase of Prussia's rise as a European power. The games are scheduled for October 1 - 10, 2010. Similar events will be held in 2010 in Pais de Oreo, Auckland, ANZC, Buenos Aires, UAE, and Charleston, Republic of Virginia.

December 4, 2009, 8:24pm GMT: Draw for 2010 World Cup complete: DUBLIN, Celtic Alliance - The draw for next year's World Cup football tournament in the Celtic Alliance was held tonight. The 16 qualifying clubs were drawn into four groups, with the champion and runner-up from each group advancing to the knockout stage. Celtic Alliance, as the host nation, drew the first spot in Group A; the Celts will be joined in the group by Mexico, Paraguay and Singapore. The United American Republic, one of four seeded sides, drew the top spot in Group B, and will be joined by the ANZC, Pais del Oro and Greece. Defending World Cup champion Alpine Confederation drew top honors in Group C, and will be joined by the USSR (aka Siberia), Chile and the Kingdom of Cleveland. Brazil, the top-ranked nation according to the current FIFA World Rankings, drew first in Group D and will be joined by the East Caribbean Federation, the Dominion of South Africa and the Sicilian Republic. Celtic Alliance and Mexico will play the opening match on June 11 at Croke Park in Dublin. Group play will go through June29, with rest days on June 30 and July 1. The quarterfinals are scheduled for July 2-3, the semifinals July 6-7, the third-place match July 10 and the final on July 11 at Croke Park in Dublin.

December 3, 2009, 4:20pm GMT: FIFA approves 34 new member nations at meeting: DUBLIN, Celtic Alliance - FIFA, the global governing body of the sport of football, approved 34 new member nations today during its annual meeting. These nations, many of whom were members of FIFA pre-Doomsday, are: Asturias, Auvergne, Bourgogne-et-Franche Comte, Cabinda, Canada, Castile and Leon, Euskadi, Friesland, Galicia, Iberia, Japan, Kongo, KwaXhosa, La Republique Poitevine, Liberia, Lille-et-Terres Flamande, Monaco, New Caledonia, Orleans, the People's Republic of Angola, Poitevine Republic, Prussia, the Republic of the Cape, Spanish Republic, Superior, Vermont, Virginian Republic, Volkstaat, Waterboersland, West Texas, Wisconsin, Yucatan, Zanzibar and Zululand. FIFA also announced that membership requests from the nations of Assiniboia, Dinetah, Deseret, Grand Andorre, Kentucky, Lakotah, Monrovia, Nepal, the Republic of Rif and Tibet would be "expedited" and voted on "before" next summer's World Cup tournament in Celtic Alliance.

December 2, 2009, 11am GMT: Groupings for World Cup draw announced: DUBLIN, Celtic Alliance - Ahead of Friday's draw in Dublin for the 2010 World Cup football tournament, FIFA announced the groupings for the draw. Seedings for the top four were based on the October 2009 FIFA World Rankings. Host Celtic Alliance gets the fourth seed. Geographical criteria will also be heeded, as to prevent two teams from the same confederation being drawn into the same group. The exception is South America. Celtic Alliance cannot play the European teams, and Brazil and Argentina cannot play the remaining South American teams. The pots: 1) Brazil, United American Republic, Alpine Confederation, Celtic Alliance 2) Teams from Asia/Oceania and CONCACAF: ANZC, East Caribbean Federation, Mexico, Siberia. 3) Teams from Africa and South America; Chile, the Dominion of South Africa, Pais del Oro, Paraguay. 4) Teams from Europe, and Asian/South American playoff winner: Cleveland, Greece, Sicily, Singapore.

November 2009

November 27, 2009, 5pm GMT: Celtic Alliance people across Scotland celebrate Burns Night: DUNDEE, Celtic Alliance - In Dundee, and all around the populated parts of former Scotland, people are celebrating the Scottish poet Robert Burns who was born 250 years ago.

November 27, 2009, 3pm GMT: West Texas, Dinetah to hold "mini-summit" in January: MIDLAND - West Texas Presidential Deputy Press Secretary Arlene Gonzalez said that President Mike Conaway would hold a "mini-summit" with Dinetah leaders in January, ahead of the Mexico/West Texas summit in the Navajo nation, to define the borders of their respective countries, and to decide what, if anything, should be done with the remainder of former New Mexico.

November 26, 2009, 1:37pm GMT: American community celebrates Thanksgiving holiday:
JERVIS BAY - Americans across the Commonwealth gathered in one another's homes on Thursday to give thanks for the blessings they have enjoyed over the past year in one of the expat community's most important annual rituals. Quaintly domestic and distinctly American, Thanksgiving is mostly a day of private reunions and meals, not of speeches and large public gatherings. It is a time for Americans - and, of course, their Australian and New Zealander spouses and children - to visit countrymen whom they may not see other times of the year and to celebrate both the old culture and the new homeland. Even the sport of the day, American football, is done on a small scale. All morning, local clubs compete in community "turkey bowl" games; the professional season does not begin until March and the coming of autumn.

Yet the quiet, private celebration of Thanksgiving has a public component to it. The annual feast was begun by seventeenth-century colonists who had come through a year of adversity to find safety on a new continent - something the entire American Commonwealth community can identify with in a profound way. From his Canberra home, George Bush, the only living American president and acknowledged leader of the Americans in the Commonwealth, gave a short statement broadcast on American radio stations nationwide. Bush entreated the community, "Now is the time for us to give thanks for another year in this bountiful land. And we remember that even when we face privations and adversities, we have much to be thankful for. It is good for our nation to acknowledge our blessings as our world continues to struggle to find peace." In the associated states of Alaska and Hawaii, where Thanksgiving is an official state holiday, Governor Gene Therriault and King Andrew added their own words of gratitude to those of Mr. Bush.

Politics was not absent from the year's celebrations. Local chapters of the Committee to Restore the United States of America have found in this unique expression of American culture an opportunity to express nationalist feelings. "While we take time to count our blessings today," said Wellington CRUSA chairman Jason Atkinson, "We are hopeful that one day our nation will gather again in our own land, in our own country, and give thanks that we persevered through our years of exile across the ocean. Until then, may we stay vigilant and stay dedicated, and not forget our culture and our heritage."

November 24, 2009, 8:03pm GMT: Mexico, West Texas leaders to hold summit in February at Dinetah: MEXICA - The Office of the President of the United Mexican States released a brief statement today, announcing that Mexico President Marcelo Ebrard and West Texas President Mike Conaway will meet in a summit to be held in February at Rainbow Bridge, the capital city of the nation of Dinetah. The statement said further details would be forthcoming on Wednesday. Sources told Mexico's Televisa that "economic concerns", including oil and pegging the West Texas dollar to the Mexican peso, would be on the agenda.

November 24, 2009, 7:25am GMT: Summer Olympics postponed to 2012; Brazil awarded 2016 Games in surprise announcement: AUCKLAND, ANZC - The International Olympic Committee today made an expected decision in postponing the first post-Doomsday Summer Olympics to 2012, and a surprising decision in making the formal announcement today on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, hosting the 2016 Games. The first post-DD Games were awarded to the ANZC in 2006 and scheduled for next September, with the bulk of the events to be held in Auckland. Auckland remains the host city, but the Games will now be held in September 2012. The IOC made an unexpected decision in announcing the host city for the 2016 Games, Rio de Janeiro, this soon; Rio was long believed to be the leading candidate but a formal announcement was not expected until December. The IOC also approved "regional Games" on each of the six continents for 2010, starting with the North American Games scheduled for next summer in the Virginian Republic.

November 22, 2009, 6:08pm GMT: Tupua reelected, conservatives gain in Samoa elections: APIA - Samoan Chief of State Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese was officially reelected as election officials announced the results of yesterday's election Sunday morning. A nonpartisan and head of one of Samoa's royal families, Tupua's third election with no serious challengers drew immediate criticism from pro-democracy groups in Australia. In the Samoan Senate, the Conservatives, represented locally by the Liberal Party of Samoa (LPS), made strong gains, though they failed to secure an absolute majority due to the popularity of a number of nonpartisan incumbents in several districts. The election is seen as a public vote of confidence in LPS Prime Minister Utu Abe Malae and his handling of recovery efforts after September's earthquake and tsunami. The new Senate will be seated early in January.

November 21, 2009, 5:15pm GMT (6:15am local time): Samoa takes to the polls: APIA - Polls opened early Saturday morning for Samoa's local elections for Chief of State and members of the Senate. Polls predicted an easy victory for incumbent Chief Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese, a nonpartisan, over his opponents from Samoa's three political parties. Less clear were changes in the makeup of the Senate, a body that, like the Chief, has more ceremonial than actual power, able to amend and veto bills but not create new ones. For months, authorities have struggled with the logistics of providing ballot access to the thousands of Samoans who remain internally displaced after the September 29 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the islands. Prime Minister Utu Abe Malae said in an early morning speech, "The skill and resourcefulness of the Elections Board fils me with pride in our public servants. I know we have guaranteed a vote to anyone who turns out today."

November 21, 2009, 5:00pm GMT (12:00pm local time): local torch gets lit CHARLESTON, Virginia - Preparations have begun on the North American Games, a local North American version of the Olympics. It has been confirmed that along with Virginia, most of the North American survivor states are expected to participate. Aroostook, Assiniboia, Canada, Deseret, Dinetah, Kentucky, Lincoln, MSP, NAU, Prince George, Vermont, Victoria and West Texas have been confirmed to be participating. Superior and Saguenay are currently incapable of participation due to the war between them and Canada. The others are incapable due to lack of resources necessary to do so. Every day at noon on the government-run television network, they will take a day off the countdown board. The North American Games have been scheduled for July 4th-13th 2010.

November 20, 2009: Victoria begins prep for Operation Security Blanket: VICTORIA, Victoria - In a joint press conference the Minister of Social Projects David Widsten, and Minister of Defense Ian Kenworth announce plans for Operation Security Blanket. "With the current economic boom and our success in the former Washington Protectorate, it is our goal to push aggressively into the former state of Washington in order to aid what civilians we can and bring more territory into the security of Victoria." stated Mr. Widsten. "Be assured this is not conquest, we will bring aid to those that need it and negotiate peaceful integration of territory. No one will be forced to live under a perceived oppressor, and those who refuse to join will remain independent." added Mr. Kenworth. "We expect our first envoys to reach the Aberdeen area within the next few days, and negotiations have already begun with the surviving state government in Olympia. We hope bringing Olympia peacefully into the republic will help the process in the outlying regions." The Committee to Restore the United States of America responded to the news with this statement: "Again Victoria shows itself as nothing more than a land-hungry imperialist state. While we applaud Victoria's efforts to aid the people of the United States, we cannot condone the absorption of its territories."

November 19, 2009, 3:02am GMT: Summer Olympics rumored to be put on hold until 2012: CANBERRA, ANZC - The ANZBC television network reported on its morning newscasts that the International Olympic Committee is "strongly" considering postponing the Summer Olympics until 2012. ANZBC cites sources within the IOC and the ANZC Olympic Committee as saying the IOC is concerned about holding the Games, scheduled for next September, in the same calendar year as the football World Cup. Those sources also told ANZBC that some member nations in poorer countries felt two more years would give them more time to prepare their respective national sports federations for an Olympic-type event. The Summer Games have not been held since 1980, in Moscow; moving them to 2012 would put the Games back on the traditional Olympiad time-frame, and close the gap to the next games in 2016 to four years. ANZBC said this development has no effect on the IOC's attempt to hold a limited Winter Olympics in the Alpine Confederation in February, with a full Winter Olympiad to be contested in early 2012 in the Nordic Union or Siberia.

November 19, 2009, 2:49am GMT: Mexican newspaper reports summit between West Texas, Mexico leaders: MEXICA, D.C., Mexico - The Mexican newspaper La Jornada is reporting that Mexico President Marcelo Ebrard and West Texas President Mike Conaway will meet in a summit to take place sometime in January. The story, to be published in La Jornada's Thursday edition, reports that the summit will cap ongoing talks between various representatives of both nations to re-establish formal relations and trade. Neither Ebrard nor Conaway's offices had any immediate comment to Mexican television on the story. It story cites sources in both administrations as stating that a formal announcement will be made early next week and that Mexican businessman George W. Bush has been "heavily involved" in ongoing negotiations between both countries.

November 18, 2009, 10:06pm GMT: Greece and Singapore final qualifiers for 2010 football World Cup tournament: LUQUE, Paraguay - Greece and Singapore's national football teams won their respective playoff series on Wednesday, qualifying for the 2010 World Cup tournament in the Celtic Alliance. Singapore, at home against Guyana, played to a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time; because both teams drew 2-2 last week in Guyana, they went to penalty kicks to decide the series. Both teams made their first seven kicks. In the eighth round, Guyana's J.T. Rodriguez saw his shot hit the crossbar and bounce over the goal. Singapore's Daud then fired a shot to the right side of the goal, barely past goalkeeper Calvin Williams to send Singapore to Dublin. In Trondheim, Charisteas's first-half goal was enough to give Greece a 1-0 win over host Norway; Greece advanced 2-0 on aggregate.

November 18, 2009, 3:11pm GMT: Portland, Tennessee accepts Virginia offer with conditions: PORTLAND, Tennessee - Portland mayor Ken Wilber informed Virginia President-General Jay Rockefeller and League of Nations director Brant McAllister that Portland would accept Virginia's offer to help Portland "secure" middle Tennessee. "We accept Virginia's kind offer, with the conditions that we retain our independence while we discuss all of our future political options amongst ourselves." League of Nations Radio also reported that Portland requested LoN peacekeepers assist Virginia troops in all military endeavors, and that all parties involved be willing to negotiate with any survivor communities in western Tennessee, plus the LoN-recognized provisional republics of East Tennessee and Blue Ridge, regarding any political or military unions. "We are, truly, all Americans, and we are grateful for Virginia's willingness to assist us and work with us," Wilber said. "We cannot change the events that led us here, but we can work together for a bright future for all of us."

November 16, 2009, 10:45pm GMT: League of Nations aware of Virginia offers for aid to southern US region: NUEVA GERONA, Cuba - League of Nations southern United States of America Command Brant McAllister said he and the LoN headquarters in Tonga are aware of the Virginia Republic's offers for aid to the city of Portland, Tennessee. McAllister said he praised Virginia's willingness to extend aid to former U.S. survivor states, but also noted Portland's questions about the offer. "They (Portland) are saying they have held onto control of their own region for the past 25 years, and now as soon as they become aware of the world around them, one of the republics is pressing them on political issues," McAllister said. "It is clear that Virginia's offer would have Portland in political control of the entire state, but Virginia would be the only party of the two that would be able to enforce the peace. I've said this before, but these city-states have been in the region longer than anyone else, and our position remains they need to be able to choose their own destiny, just as Cave City did, without pressure from the LoN nor any other entity." Cave City voted late last week to join the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

November 16, 2009, 20:51 GMT:Election campaigns in DSA begin: PORT ELIZABETH, Dominion of South Africa - The beginning of the campaign has formally begun for the DSA general elections. The Dominion Party seems poised to win, but whether it gains a majority is an open question.

November 16, 2009, 2:28pm GMT: Douglas comments on LoN southern US command: MIDLAND, West Texas - Vermont President Jim Douglas told West Texas Radio this morning that he was happy to see the League of Nations and Mexico taking an active role in reconstruction efforts for the southern former United States. In a live interview done before Douglas left Midland International Airport for the Republic of Lincoln, Douglas said "I'm happy to see Mexico leading this thing. There are political and business leaders there who lived in that region, and they have a vested interest in helping rebuild that area to modern standards. The best scenario is for the LoN to work with all North American nations in this endeavor, and if the LoN invites Vermont to participate, we'll certainly do our part." Douglas stated he was heading to Kentucky that day to meet with President Jim Bunning before returning to Vermont Wednesday night.

November 16, 2009, 2:15pm GMT: League of Nations peacekeepers begin arriving in the southern United States; McAllister comments on LoN work in the region: NUEVA GERONA, Cuba - League of Nations peacekeepers from Mexico and the East Caribbean Federation began arriving Monday morning (local time) in the city-states of Asheville, Hattiesburg, Morristown and Portland. Brant McAllister, the director of what is now being called the League of Nations southern United States of America Command (SUSAC), told League of Nations Radio that this is "the first of multiple steps" in regards to extending aid and enabling reconstruction of the area. McAllister also told LoN Radio that Mexico and East Caribbean Federation would initially provide the peacekeepers for the entire region, and confirmed that Hattiesburg was the "probable candidate" for relocation of the SUSAC headquarters. McAllister also said that Mexican and West Texas interests "in the public and private sectors" had expressed interest in doing reconstruction work in the region. He also said he was aware of Virginia offer of reconstruction aid to Portland, and to help the city-state "reclaim" the entire former state of Tennessee. "There are a lot of things going on here, a lot of balls to juggle and keep in the air," McAllister told LoN Radio. "In some areas, progress can be made very quickly. In some other areas, particularly in regards to borders and the like, working through the process will take time and simply requires patience and working through each step. We are not here to challenge any existing power, nor are we here to gain power for ourselves. We simply want to help these cities get back on their feet and into the 21st century, and help them have the best resources at their disposal to determine their own future."

November 15, 2009: Cave City to Be Annexed by Kentucky: CAVE CITY - After fours days of fierce nearly non stop debating amongst the leaders of Cave City have agreed to President Bunning's offer of annexation. The leaders of Cave City made a speech saying that Kentucky has "Upheld the values and liberties of the United States since their founding." and are the "Clear choice for a new country to call home." Cave City will official be part of Kentucky at 12:01am EST tomorrow. Celebrations have already begun in Kentucky and in Cave City. President Bunning issued a brief statement welcoming the citizens of Cave City to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and said "This shows the power of diplomacy and good will. I am over joyed that we are finally reuniting with some of our fellow Kentuckians and more importantly our fellow Americans."

November 13, 2009, 8:00pm GMT: Douglas arrives in West Texas; George W. Bush congratulates Conaway: MIDLAND - Vermont President Jim Douglas arrived in Midland at 12:43pm local time (6:43pm GMT), to begin two days of talks with West Texas in regards to formal relations and trade. Douglas and West Texas President Mike Conaway will sign a treaty Friday evening to formalize relations between the two countries, and Douglas will also tour selected portions of West Texas and speak with east Republic of Texas governor Roger Van Horn via secured telephone. Earlier today, Conaway received a messenger from Mexico who presented to him written congratulations from Mexico City businessman George W. Bush, a childhood friend of Conaway who also is the son of the last U.S. President, George H.W. Bush. West Texas Deputy Press Secretary Lauren Sanchez said that G.W. Bush extended his congratulations to "my old friend" and was hopeful of improved relations between the two countries. Sanchez did not comment on rumors that G.W. Bush was acting as an intermediary between Midland and Mexica.

November 12, 2009, 3:45pm GMT: McAllister appointed to oversee League of Nations efforts in the southern United States: NUEVA GERONA, Cuba - On November 11, the League of Nations confirmed the appointment of Brant McAllister of Mexico to oversee the LoN's efforts within the southern portion of the former United States of America. McAllister's official title is Director of the League of Nations Southern United States of America Oversight District. His responsibilities include heading up LoN efforts to extend aid to recently discovered survivor towns and city-states in the area, and, with the assistance of peacekeepers from area LoN member states, to protect any of the survivor towns and city-states that wish to remain autonomous. McAllister will also act as a liaison between the LoN and any non-member states inside North America that wish to pursue LoN membership or otherwise work with the LoN in any way. McAllister most recently was one of the overseers appointed by the Mexican government to monitor scouting expeditions in the region. He is a former businessman from Little Rock, Arkansas, who was on holiday with his family in Acapulco on Doomsday. He became a leader for American refugees, while rising to the position of chief executive officer for a leading Mexican bank from 1989 to 1995. McAllister eventually served two terms as a senator representing the predominantly American district in Acapulco, and asked to be a part of the Mexican expedition into the southern United States in 2007. McAllister and his wife, Brenda, will reside temporarily at the LoN consulate in Nueva Gerona, Cuba, until a permanent headquarters inside the former U.S. can be identified.

November 12, 2009, 3:00pm GMT: Douglas criticized by Vermont legislators regarding 'world tour': BURLINGTON - A bipartisan group of Vermont legislators released a statement this morning criticizing Vermont President Jim Douglas. The statement, signed by nine Democratic, seven Republican and two Socialist legislators, was critical of Douglas for his activity in international affairs versus his national obligations as President. One point of criticism was Douglas's so-called 'world tour', which took him across North America and Hawaii to League of Nations headquarters in Tonga, and then back into several nations across North America on his way back to Vermont. "Our nation needs its leader, to govern Vermont interests, not going on an extended vacation halfway across the continent," the statement read. Douglas is currently in Orem, Deseret, talking with that nation's religious leaders. He is scheduled to fly into West Texas on Friday, then into Lincoln on Saturday, Kentucky on Monday and Virginia on Wednesday, before returning to Montpelier next Friday. The President's office had no immediate comment on the statement.

November 11, 2009: Greece wins first leg of World Cup qualifying series; Guyana and Singapore tie: SKYROS - Host Greece's national football team defeated Norway 1-0 Wednesday evening local time in the first leg of the two nations' home-and-home playoff series for one of the two remaining spots in next year's World Cup. Singapore and host Guyana tied 2-2 in Wednesday evening's other playoff series match, in Georgetown. The final leg of both series will be played Wednesday Nov. 18 local time, Greece at Norway and Guyana at Singapore. The winner will be the team ahead on goal differential after both games. Greece needs a win or tie to advance, while Norway has to win by a goal to force a series-deciding penalty shootout, and win by two or more goals to advance. In the Guyana at Singapore match, a tie will force a penalty shootout to decide the series; if either team wins by just one goal, it advances.

November 11, 2009: Kentucky makes contact with Cave City and President Bunning drops a big bombshell: CAVE CITY - The Kentucky military expedition teams sent to explore the south have finally reunited with their former Americans in Cave City. President Bunning spoke with Cave City representatives via radio and made a huge announcement. Not only was he offing the people of Cave City aid and assistance but also the opportunity to join the Commonwealth of Kentucky with the promise that they would enjoy all the rights and freedoms they had in the old United States. The people of Cave City are said to be shocked and are considering the offer but the Mayor of Cave City reiterated that "we are not interested in being subjugated".

November 11, 2009, 3:01pm GMT: Press conference with leaders of West Texas and eastern Texas: NACOGDOCHES, eastern Texas - A press conference with West Texas President Mike Conaway and Republic of Texas Governor Roger Van Horn has just wrapped up at this hour at the Main Theater in downtown Nacogdoches. Conaway apparently left Midland Monday night, via military convoy, traveling non-stop to Nacogdoches, the eastern capital of what is locally referred to as the Republic of Texas and by others as eastern Texas. Much of the press conference was spent detailing the histories of the two republics, but it was announced that the two countries had signed a treaty including provisions for medical and infrastructure aid from West Texas and its allies, as well as talks to determine the future "political" relationship between the two parties. Van Horn told a reporter from the Nacogdoches Sentinel "it's never too early to think about our future, whether it's as is, or together." The conference was briefly interrupted by a heckler - a locally known comedian - who yelled twice from the back of the theater "where the hell were you West Texans all this time?" The heckler was led away by local sheriff's deputies, but Conaway replied "no, he has a point. We should have been out here sooner. We had our own issues. We're committed now to working with your Republic, and with other nations in the former United States and other areas of the region." Conaway said West Texas Bell representatives would be in the area by next week to begin preliminary work on setting up civilian telephone service in eastern Texas, and work on telephone and telegraph lines from Van Horn's office to Conaway's office and the Department of the Army in Midland. Van Horn also announced he had appointed Tyler Sheriff Roger Fergersen to work with West Texas Colonel Rafael Ramirez in "regards to law enforcement matters here and in West Texas helping us to set up an Army." Conaway also said that Ramirez would oversee a group of 600 West Texas Army personnel assigned to eastern Texas for a six-month period.

November 10, 2009: The first Kentucky Military expedition teams deploy : FORT KNOX - The first two of a series of planned expeditions to various regains of the old United States left for Cave City and Cape Girardeau today. The hope is to meet up with smaller survivor communities in near by Missouri, Tennessee, Indiana and Illinois and provide aid to them. The team deployed to the Cave City area could arrive later on today but it wil take anywhere from 3 days to a week to get to Cape Girardeau. Under the Frum Plan recently passed by the Senate the Commonwealth of Kentucky Army will explore the survivor communities in Cave City, Cape Girardeau, Portland, Tennessee along with what is left of Fort Campbell. President Bunning released a short statement to the press today wishing the explorers all the best and that he is "confident" that these expeditions will be successful.

November 9, 2009, 5:52pm GMT: Historic meeting between West Texas and east Texas expeditions occurs: PALESTINE, eastern Texas - A historic first, face-to-face meeting between representatives of the Republic of West Texas and the nation calling itself the Republic of Texas occurred this morning at 11:17 am local time. In brief comments to West Texas Radio, West Texas Army spokesman Lt. Kenneth Douglas said West Texas Col. Rafael Ramirez, one of the expedition's leaders, provided brief details of the meeting. Leaders of the West Texas Army-led expedition met lawmen from eastern Texas just west of the Palestine city limits. "Col. Ramirez said the meeting went well, and both sides seemed happy to meet one another," Douglas said. "The Colonel also described the meeting as '20th-century Army meets sheriffs from the Old West. If you remember the old Gunsmoke television show, the east Texas lawmen really did look like Matt Dillon." Douglas also told West Texas Radio that President Mike Conaway will speak with east Texas Governor Roger Van Horn via radio sometime today. In a brief press release from the Office of the President, Conaway said "I am overjoyed at our long-overdue reunion with our family and friends from eastern Texas, and look forward to building good relations and closer ties with them in the immediate and far future."

November 8, 2009: Peace Talks Fail for the war in Quebec: One week ago, on November 1, a group of Saguenay and Superior diplomats walked into the town of Sacré-Coeur, Quebec, under a flag of truce. They asked to meet with Canadian diplomats to negotiate an end to the ongoing war between their nations. Canadian diplomats arrived on November 4 and talks began which lasted four days until they broke down today. The Saguenay/Superior delegation demanded that Canada retract their claims on the Great Lakes region, Saguenay, and the Gaspe peninsula, and recognize the independence of Saguenay and the Republic of St. Lawrence. Canadian officials did not accept these demands, after four days of fruitless negotiation the Saguenay/Superior diplomats left. Before leaving, a Saguenay official said, "We are sad that the Canadians do not want to end our war. We may have to bring in other nations to solve our dispute, but we are reluctant to draw others into our conflict." The Canadian party did not comment, but Canadian Prime Minister Walter Natynczyk said to the media, "We haven't lost the war. And they haven't won the war. We're going to fulfill our promise, to stand on guard for thee."

November 7, 2009: The Kentucky Senate passes landmark exploration legislation: FORT KNOX - After several weeks of exhaustive debate and viscous partisan attacks the Kentucky Senate finally passes the "Frum Plan", a bill that would authorize further exploration of the world around them and to provide aid to any survivor communities that want it. President Bunning signed the bill into law early this morning and held a press conference with Senator Frum and Secretary of Defense Christopher Hitchens. Secretary Hitchens believes he can have expedition teams prepped and ready to go by Wednesday at the earliest. Senator Frum also delivered remarks saying "I hope this legislation will usher in a new era of exploration and expansion for our young nation."

Under the Frum Plan the Commonwealth of Kentucky Army will explore rumored survivor communities in Cave City, Cape Girardeau, Portland, Tennessee along with what is left of Fort Campbell. President Bunning said that if these expeditions prove to be successful he will under a provision in the bill authorize more expeditions to more regions to be determined.

November 7, 2009: Air raids against Saguenay begin:
ST. JOHN'S– Hoping to break the stalemate in the Saguenay War, Canada and the Celtic Alliance have begun a large scale bombing campaign against targets in Saguenay. Canada hopes that the air raids will help to bring a quick close to the war before winter sets in. Recently arrived Celtic Alliance fighter aircraft have begun a series of air raids against several cities in Saguenay. Hardest hit was the capital city of Chicoutimi, where an unconfirmed number of targets were destroyed.

The air raids were believed to be carried out using Mirage III and Saab Viggen fighter aircraft. In the raids on Chicoutimi 20 civilians were reported to have been killed, along with an unspecified number injured. Saguenay officials blasted Canada and the Celts for targeting civilian areas. Canada responded by stating that Saguenay attacked several Canadian civilian areas at the start of the war, and that its bombing campaign is specifically avoiding civilian targets. More of these air raids are expected to follow in the coming days.

November 6, 2009: Washington Protectorate accepts amalgamation with Victoria VICTORIA - The people of the Washington Protectorate voted 58% to 42% in favor of amalgamation, passing the majority requirement for acceptance. Premier Jacob Birch announced that while it is wonderful to see the people of Washington starting to see themselves as Victorians, the large number of people who voted against is something that needs to be addressed. The Social Survival Party plans to hold a congress of randomly chosen citizens from around the nation to discuss concerns about the future of the nation and what could be improved. A representative of the Committee to Restore the United States of America issued a statement denouncing Victoria's imperial expansionism into the lands of the United States.

November 6, 2009, 4:35am GMT (November 5, 10:35pm Central): West Texas update on Waco: MIDLAND - Army spokesman Lieutenant Kenneth Douglas updated the media on the status of the military and civilian expedition to eastern Texas and its findings in regards to the former city of Waco. Douglas told reporters that the city suffered some conventional missile damage to its airport and an airfield at former Connelly AFB (which closed in 1966). Douglas also said human remains have been found both inside and outside buildings around the city, and that the area had "the markings of some type of major conflict that we are still trying to piece together". Douglas noted that a military base has been set up inside the city and that, under provisions from a little-noted bill signed into law by President Mike Conaway in April, the Waco "region" has been designated as the Provisional Territory of Waco. Douglas would not comment on a question from a reporter regarding rumors that Army personnel had been in contact in recent days with persons from Nacogdoches.

November 5, 2009:Provisional Government of St. Lawrence formed on Gaspe Peninsula RIMOUSKI - The military governor of the Gaspe Peninsula, General Horace Beatty of the RSA, has announced the formation of a provisional government on the Gaspe Peninsula, known as the Republic of St. Lawrence. A constitutional convention is to be held on the 10th of December, while elections will be held in January.

November 5, 2009: Washington Protectorate to vote on integration with Victoria VICTORIA - The Victoria administered Washington Protectorate will vote on integration into the Republic of Victoria tomorrow. Current polls show support for the motion at 57%. If accepted, the Washington assembly will be disbanded and the territories will be re-organized into 3 electoral districts with the same representation as the rest of the republic. If not accepted, the territory will continue to act as a semi-autonomous region within the republic.The Committee to Restore the United States of America is ramping up their campaign against the motion.

November 5, 2009: RTA recognizes Saguenay PAPEETE - The Republic of the French Southern Territories diplomatically recognized Saguenay and denounced Canada for its expansionist policies. This reaction came as no surprise considering the long standing dispute that the Republic has had with Canada over the ownership of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

November 5, 2009, 4:08am GMT (November 4, 10:08pm Central): Conaway wins second term as President; Reeder concedes: MIDLAND - West Texas President Mike Conaway has won Tuesday night's Presidential election. With 86 percent of ballots having been counted, incumbent Conaway has nearly 72 percent of the votes, while challenger Harry Reeder has 27 percent. Reeder conceded from his campaign headquarters in Hobbs, congratulating Conaway in a phone call. At his campaign headquarters in Midland, Conaway told supporters and onlookers - including observers from the League of Nations and Dinetah as well as reporters from Mexico and the North American Union - he was grateful to have been reelected, and "have another chance to push West Texas forward further into the regional and international community of nations." Sources said Conaway this week will begin working on pushing his agenda in regards to international trade, eastern Texas and rebuilding relations with Mexico.

November 4, 2009, 10:19pm GMT: Guadalajara holding parade for its Mexican World Series champion Leones:
GUADALAJARA - The city of Guadalajara held a parade this afternoon for its Mexican baseball champion team Guadalajara Leones. The Leones beat Mexica Diablos 3-1 Sunday evening to win the series and the Mexican Major League championship.

November 4, 2009, 10:02pm GMT: Waco report to be made public on Thursday; Conaway projected to win second term as President MIDLAND - West Texas Radio reported that the Army report on the city of Waco will be made public Thursday morning. While far from comprehensive, the report is expected to give a brief update on the status of the former city, which was discovered to have not been destroyed by nuclear blasts, but long abandoned, with further details to come from a second expedition to the city later this month. West Texas Radio also projected incumbent Mike Conaway as the winner of yesterday's Presidential election, based on exit polling throughout the nation. The official results for the Presidential election, as well as Congressional races, are expected to be announced around 10 pm local time this evening.

November 3, 2009, 8:20pm GMT: Douglas arrives in MSP: CRESCENT CITY - Vermont President Jim Douglas arrived this morning in the Municipal States of the Pacific for the next two days. Douglas did not speak to local media nor reporters traveling with him and the Vermont delegation, but sources say that Douglas was in the MSP to meet the country's Central Committee officials and to discuss trade and other matters with them.

November 3, 2009, 3:30pm GMT: West Texas expedition finds Waco to have survived Doomsday, but abandoned: MIDLAND - The West Texas Army sent out a press release to the media this morning stating that its expedition traveling to eastern Texas has entered the former city of Waco, which was found to have apparently survived Doomsday but long abandoned. Waco had been long believed to have been devastated by one or more nuclear blasts, but the expedition found a city "that showed signs of having been abandoned for numerous years" with "no signs of life, now or recently." More details would be forthcoming in the next few days, according to the release. The announcement was expected to have no effect on voters choosing between incumbent Mike Conaway or challenger Harry Reeder in today's Presidential election.

November 3, 2009, Monrovia, Peace Agreement Ends Civil War in Liberia: MONROVIA - The League of Nations Mission to Liberia has announced that an official peace agreement was signed between the warring factions of Liberia, ending the decades long civil war that had gripped the former country. All factions agree to drop any claims they have against the others and will begin to disarm their forces to an agreed upon level. Celebrations were held in Monrovia and other Liberian cities.

November 2, 2009, 6:20pm GMT: Douglas, Vermont delegation to arrive in Crescent City Tuesday morning: BURLINGTON - The national government announced via a press release that President Jim Douglas would stop in several nation states over the next two weeks on his return to Vermont, starting with a visit with the leaders of the Municipal States of the Pacific in Crescent City Tuesday morning Pacific time (Tuesday afternoon GMT). The release also stated that Douglas also did a taped interview during his stay in Tonga with the Australia/New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, to be broadcast in the ANZC this week, in which Douglas expressed his views on the League of Nations; his hopes for cooperation among North and Central American and Caribbean nations; and his regret at not being able to meet up with former U.S. President George H. W. Bush. The release also outlined his stops, beginning with the MSP, then Billings; Deseret; Midland; Lincoln; Superior; Kentucky; and Virginia.

November 2, 2009, 5:45pm GMT: Announcer on radio signal from eastern Texas acknowledges West Texas; little comment from Conaway, who did say forces were on the outskirts of Waco: MIDLAND - The mysterious AM radio signal believed to be broadcasting from eastern Texas broke its established format today, carrying a one-minute announcement at 10AM local time (4PM GMT) that was repeated over the next hour and 15 minutes. The announcer first identified the station as "KVRT, the voice of the Republic of Texas", then paused for five seconds before making a statement acknowledging the "nation of Western Texas" and that "our broadcast must have surprised all of you out west." The announcer stated that Nacogdoches was the capital of the 13 survivor communities in the region, and that they were "eager" to meet the West Texan representatives in the coming days. He also said they were able to monitor full-power stations from West Texas and other survivor states in the region. West Texas President Mike Conaway, campaigning in Sweetwater before Tuesday's national elections, said he "was aware of the situation, and is hopeful for a peaceful, joyful reunion between whoever is out there and our forces". Conaway told reporters he understood those forces to be on the outskirts of old Waco. Democrat challenger Harry Teague, trailing by a 2-1 margin in Sunday's West Texas Radio/Odessa American poll, told supporters in Big Spring that he understood the difficulties Conaway must be facing between running a campaign and dealing with the east Texas situation, but "it must not interfere with his, and our obligations to help our fellow Texans. Cuba (referring to the recent WCRB expedition in the southern United States) should not explore our land, WE should, and should have done so years before. I understand that, and the people understand that, and not only will I follow through on that if I'm elected tomorrow, but I hope our President understands that and follows through on that if the people choose him." Update, 7:58pm GMT: Army spokesman Lieutenant Kenneth Douglas affirmed to West Texas Radio this afternoon that the Army, with support of the President, would seek to control news about the expedition for "security reasons and the safety of the expedition. It would not hamper the feeding of information to the public regarding discoveries in and en-route to the region. We know someone out there is listening, and we merely want to protect our people."

October 2009

October 31, 2009, 11:00am GMT: Four nations join the International Ice Hockey Federation: ZURICH - The International Ice Hockey Federation admitted the nations of the ANZC, Mexico, Prussia, Superior and Vermont as official members today during a special meeting at its headquarters in Zurich. IIHF President Rene Fasel noted the grassroots growth of the sport in the ANZC and Mexico due to the "diligence" of former American citizens living in the countries.

October 31, 2009, 7:19am GMT: Diablos stay alive in Mexican World Series: MEXICA, D.C. - Carlos Guillen singled in Miguel Cabrera from third with two out in the bottom of the 16th inning, giving the host Mexica Diablos a 3-2 victory over the Guadalajara Leones in Game Five of the Mexican baseball World Series. Mexica now trails 3 games to 2 in the best-of-seven series. The game lasted five hours and three minutes, a Mexican Major Liga postseason record. Guadalajara hosts Game Six on Sunday and, if necessary, Game Seven on Monday.

October 30, 2009, 4:09am GMT: Diablos shut out Leones, pull within 3-1 in Mexican baseball World Series: MEXICA, D.C. - Bartolo Colon threw a nine-hit, complete-game shutout and Karim Garcia doubled in the only runs of the game in the sixth inning, as the host Mexica Diablos beat the Guadalajara Leones 2-0 Thursday night in Game Four of the Mexican baseball World Series. Mexica now trails the best of seven series three games to one, and will host Game Five Friday night (local time) at Corona Park.

October 29, 2009, 3pmGMT: The Commonwealth of Kentucky invites Vermont President Jim Douglas to visit The Commonwealth during his tour of North America: FORT KNOX - Kentucky President Jim Bunning told reporters at a press conference that he has formally invited Vermont President Jim Douglas to visit while he is on his trip to the many nations across North America. President Bunning hopes such a meeting would help establish closer ties between the two nations. No word yet as to President Douglas's reply to the offer, but most expect he will most likely accept Bunning's invitation.

October 29, 2009, 3pmGMT: West Texas gives further details on accident, plans for expedition: FORT STOCKTON - West Texas Colonel Peter Gonzales told reporters this morning that the four members of the expedition into eastern Texas injured Wednesday in San Angelo were expected to make a full recovery. Gonzales did not give details regarding the extent of the injuries other than the worst was a broken leg. He also confirmed reports that their replacements not only were already in San Angelo, but that the Army was establishing a "network" of outposts and temporary radio towers, trailing the expedition so that if needed, the military would be able to quickly render aid. This contradicts an earlier announcement by the military that the expedition would be operating alone.

October 29, 2009, 4am GMT (Oct. 28, 10pm Central time): Four in West Texas party injured while investigating ruins of San Angelo: MIDLAND - West Texas Radio is reporting that three soldiers and a worker traveling as part of a 200-person expedition into eastern Texas were injured today in old San Angelo. Sources from within the West Texas Army told West Texas Radio that the injuries occurred while the four were investigating the ruins of the San Angelo Fairgrounds. The site is about five miles, or just over six km, from Goodfellow Air Force Base, where the Soviet missile that destroyed the city is believed to have exploded. West Texas Radio was told that the four were on their way back to Midland tonight, and that the party would continue on to Ballinger overnight and rest, then resume its travels and aim to be in Dublin by Friday afternoon. Sources also told West Texas Radio that a press conference for Thursday morning would give more details about the situation, including how military officials are monitoring the expedition.

October 29, 2009, 3:45am GMT(3:45pm GMT Tonga time): Vermont President Douglas wraps up visit to LoN, delegation to visit nations in western North America: NUKU'ALOFA - Vermont President Jim Douglas spoke with reporters briefly Thursday afternoon local time as his delegation prepared to leave Tonga for Hawaii. that his nation's membership in the League of Nations is now up to the league. "I'm very glad this organization exists," Douglas said. "It fits in with where we want to be on the international scene. This world needs a strong League of Nations to help keep peace and build a better world, and Vermont is pleased to be a part of this distinguished organization." The Vermont delegation, minus an observer and other officials at the Vermont Consulate, will leave Tonga on Friday for Hawaii. Douglas briefly detailed his itinerary for the following week: to Crescent City, M.S.P. on Saturday, then to Billings, Montana on Monday morning, then down to Midland on Wednesday, to Lincoln on Friday morning, then to Stowe, Superior the following Monday, and to Charleston, Virginia on Wednesday before returning to Montpelier that Friday.

October 29, 2009, 3:41pm GMT: Guadalajara one game away from winning Mexican baseball World Series: MEXICA, D.C - Bobby Abreu drove in four runs, two on a one-out double in the sixth inning, and Hanley Ramirez's seventh-inning triple drove in three more runs as the Guadalajara Leones won 9-4 over the host Mexica Diablos Wednesday night local time at Corona Park. Game Four of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night again at Corona Park.

October 27, 2009, 10:38pm GMT (Oct. 28, 2009, 10:38am Tonga Time): Douglas speaks to League of Nations: NUKU'ALOFA - Vermont President Jim Douglas spoke to the League of Nations General Assembly this morning. "The League of Nations is an organization needed in this hour," Douglas said in the speech. "Twenty-six years ago, humanity came the closest it ever has in known history to total extinction. Thankfully the will to live, to survive, prevailed not just here in the southern hemisphere, but also throughout the northern hemisphere. Even today the seeds of wars, and cold wars, that could lead to a second Doomsday decades, centuries from now exist. We are here for a reason, and we are responsible to eliminate those threats before they have a chance to grow. We are not utopian; we are all too human. But we have the benefit of history to remind us not that surviving and rebuilding from such a cataclysm is possible, but that the cataclysm is so destructive that it must be avoided in the first place." After arriving early Monday morning local time in Tonga, he and his delegation spent the biggest part of the day resting, before meeting with Tongan King Siaosi Tupov V that evening. On Tuesday, Douglas met with officials of the LoN and ambassadors from most of the member countries, including those from Canada and Superior. Douglas would not comment on the content of any of his meetings, but did promise to discuss the LoN and prospective trips to nations in western North America on his return trip to Vermont next week.

October 27, 2009, 4:01am GMT (Oct. 26, 2009, 10:01pm CT): De La Rosa, Furcal lead Guadalajara to Mexican World Series victory: GUADALAJARA - Jorge De La Rosa threw a complete-game, three-hit shutout, and Rafael Furcal drove in two runs as the Leones beat the Mexica Diablos 3-0 Monday night in Game Two of Mexican baseball's World Series. Furcal singled in two runners in the bottom of the second to give Guadalajara a 2-0 lead; Bobby Abreu homered in the seventh for the final run. Game Three resumes at Mexica's Corona Park Tuesday evening.

October 26, 2009, 3:43pm GMT: West Texas opens up relations with area nations, looks at restoring relations with Mexico: MIDLAND - West Texas President Mike Conaway gave a press conference this morning outside his office. He said West Texas "is working on" restoring diplomatic relations with Deseret, Dinetah and the North American Union, as well as fully opening relations with Brazil, Canada, Superior, Vermont, Victoria and Virginia. The bigger news out of his press conference is that he said he was personally advocating for restoring relations with Mexico. "There may be some resistance, but I think most people, including most of Congress, realizes the importance of good relations with neighboring countries," Conaway said. "We need to see if Mexico is amiable towards reopening relations, and if so, work on matters that can benefit both of our countries." Conaway told reporters that the government/military scouting expedition headed to eastern Texas was currently on the outskirts of old San Angelo and would spend a day investigating its ruins, before following old State Road 67 to Dublin, then State Road 6 to Waco, and State Road 84 into Palestine before following State Road 284 into Nacogdoches.

October 25, 2009, 11:48pm GMT: Beltre's three-run triple wins first game of Mexican World Series for Guadalajara: GUADALAJARA - Adrian Beltre's triple with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning drove in all three baserunners and gave the host Guadalajara Leones a 5-3 victory over the Mexica Diablos Sunday afternoon in Game One of Mexican baseball's World Series. Guadalajara, the Mexican Liga champion, plays host to Nacional Liga champion Mexica Diablos Monday, October 26 at 7pm CT (Tuesday, October 27 1am GMT) in Game Two of the best-of-seven series.

October 24, 2009, 6:30pm GMT: Hawaii, Vermont leaders meet: HILO - Hawaii King Andrew I and Governor Angel Pilago gave an official welcome Friday to the delegation from the Republic of Vermont, which is traveling to League of Nations headquarters in Tonga. The king and governor greeted Vermont President Jim Douglas and his delegation at Hilo International Airport, and threw a luau for them later Friday evening. Governor Pilago gave a press conference Friday evening in Hilo before the luau, and said Douglas and King Andrew would formalize relations between their two countries, exchange ambassadors and open formal discussions for trade and cultural exchanges early next year. The Vermont delegation will stay in Hawaii before leaving for Tonga at 5pm GMT (7am local time), with expected arrival later that evening Hawaii time.

October 24, 2009, 4:55am GMT (10:55am local time): Cocos Islands to adopt Indonesian currency: YOGYAKARTA - Regent John George Clunies-Ross of the Cocos Islands has announced that his kingdom will adopt the Indonesian rupiah as its official currency, effective immediately. The transition is another sign that the Cocos are seeking to strengthen their ties to Indonesia and open up their economy to Indonesian involvement. Since the late 1990s, the islands' home currency, the rupee, has been pegged 1:1 to the rupiah. Clunies-Ross said that the old rupees in the economy will gradually be replaced by rupiahs. Together with his father, John Cecil, Clunies-Ross is the absolute ruler of the tiny island chain in the Indian Ocean, which is claimed by Australia-New Zealand.

October 22, 2009, 6pm GMT: Official relations sealed between Vermont, Victoria: VICTORIA - In a morning press conference, Vermont President Jim Douglas and Victoria Premier Jacob Birch announced the formalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Ambassadors from the two countries are expected to arrive in Burlington and Victoria by next week. The two countries also will engage in cultural exchanges over the next three years, as well as engage in trade, beginning with Victoria purchasing material from the granite works in Barre. Both leaders declined to comment on the ongoing war between Canada and Saguenay. Douglas also said "talks are ongoing" for the Vermont delegation to visit other North American survivor nations on its way back from the League of Nations headquarters in Tonga. Douglas's delegation left Victoria International Airport at noon Pacific time and is expected to arrive in Hilo, Hawaii this evening.

October 21, 2009, 11pm GMT: Douglas meets with Victorian leaders: VICTORIA - Vermont President Jim Douglas met this afternoon in Victoria, the capital of the Republic of Victoria, with Lieutenant General Adrian McLellan and Premier Jacob Birch. Douglas and his entourage are on their way to the island of Tonga as Vermont will formally apply next week for membership in the League of Nations. Reporters were told nothing about the actual content of the conversation, but that there will be a 9am Pacific time press conference on Thursday, October 22 to formally announce diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Vermont delegation is scheduled to leave for Hilo, Hawaii, Thursday afternoon. Douglas's press secretary also told reporters an announcement about stops in the Municipal States of the Pacific, the North American Union and possibly West Texas and Virginia on the return trip to Vermont would be forthcoming.

October 21, 2009, 10:43pm GMT: Battle off Cape Matapan: SKYROS - There has been a major Naval engagement of the Coast of Greece by the Hellenic and Sicilian Navies. from what news has arrived, it appears to be a Greek Victory, with at least four Sicillian Warships Sunk.

October 21, 2009, 4:30pm GMT: West Texas to send scouts, military into eastern Texas MIDLAND - As the mysterious radio signal coming from 860 AM was heard in West Texas for the 18th straight day, President Mike Conaway announced that West Texas would send two teams of scouts, accompanied by military personnel, into the Nacogdoches area of eastern former Texas beginning Friday October 22. Conaway said he had received calls from officials in Superior, the North American Union, Deseret and Virginia after the signal reappeared at 2 am GMT (9pm Central) at full strength and was heard in each of those countries. He said that increased signal strength convinced him "that we needed to go down there and see who, or what, is actually there. We're sending military because you can never be sure what you'll run into. Our intentions are peaceful, to see who's there and how we might be able to render aid and assistance to them." No contact with anyone in that area of North America has been recorded since Doomsday in 1983.

October 21, 2009, 2pm GMT: FIFA retains confidence in Brazil's World Cup bid despite violence, announces 2014 bid to be awarded in December: LUQUE - FIFA expressed confidence that Brazil, considered the overwhelming favorite to be awarded soccer's 2014 World Cup, would be able to put on a safe tournament despite recent gang violence in Rio de Janeiro. Over the weekend, 21 people died in clashes between rival drug gangs in Rio. It happened as Brazil puts the finishing touches on its bids for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. FIFA also announced that the official awarding of the 2014 World Cup to Brazil, Siberia or the ANZC will now occur at FIFA's World Congress in Zurich this December. "It is best to do all of our business in one place, at one time," said FIFA Chairman Nicolas Leoz.

October 21, 2009, 2:50am GMT: Superior surprised by mysterious AM radio signal: STOWE - Radio listeners throughout Superior scanning the AM radio dial Tuesday night were surprised to hear a broadcast abruptly begin at 9 AM local time on 860 AM, playing the song Deep in the Heart of Texas. The song repeated itself 11 times before an announcer identified the station as "KVRT AM 860, in Nacogdoches, the voice of the Republic of Texas." The song played 12 more times before the signal cut off. Some who heard the station called a Superior radio talk show later, either asking if it was a new local station trying to gain publicity or if it was a station out of West Texas. The mood changed after a caller mentioned that there were only four known 50,000-watt AM stations in North America, none at 860 AM and that West Texas's station was at 550 AM. At 11 p.m,, news reports out of Billings and Deseret mentioned the signal being heard in those areas. The talk show host then spoke with a Great Lakes Broadcasting reporter who asked the Lake House for comment; she said that President Terrance Newman's press secretary told her and a few other reporters that Newman spoke with West Texas President Mike Conaway around 9:25 p.m. Conaway was said to acknowledge the signal had broadcast since early October, but only on a regional basis until Tuesday night. The press secretary said West Texas "sees no danger, but an obligation to explore the phenomenon." West Texas Radio - also broadcasting loud enough to heard in Superior at night - carried only a statement from Conaway's office, that the president, his cabinet and military leaders were aware of the situation and discussing options on how to proceed.

October 20, 2009, 5pm GMT: Douglas, Newman meet in Stowe: STOWE - Vermont President Jim Douglas and Superior President Terrance Newman met this morning at the Lake House to discuss various matters, as well as to formalize diplomatic relations between their two countries. In a brief news conference at the Lake House, Douglas and Newman announced that the Vermont Embassy in Stowe and the Superior Embassy in Montpelier would officially open in November and named the countries' ambassadors and said both would settle in the embassies by next week. Newman also said he plans to visit Vermont early in 2010 and "looks forward to a new era of cooperation between two former American states, joined by our heritage and our desire to build a better world." Newman declined to comment on a question by a reporter asking if both leaders had discussed the Canada/Saguenay War, but Douglas briefly said "it is my hope that all sides can quickly come to a peaceful resolution in this dispute". Douglas and his party will stay overnight in Stowe, then leave for the Republic of Victoria in the morning.

October 19, 2009, 5pm GMT: Vermont President Douglas set to speak to the League of Nations General Assembly: MONTPELIER - Vermont President Jim Douglas boarded a plane at Edward F. Knapp National Airport today to embark on a flight which will make stops in Superior, Victoria and Hawaii before making its way to the island of Tonga and the headquarters of the League of Nations. When the plane arrives in Tonga next week, Douglas is expected to speak to the LoN General Assembly on the importance of the organization in global affairs. At the stops along the way to Tonga, Douglas is expected to meet with Superior President Terrance Newman, Victoria Premier Jacob Birch and Hawaiian King Andrew I, on formalizing relations between their respective states, as well as other matters. Douglas will be accompanied by many of his staffers, as well as Secretary of State Peter Welch.

October 19, 2009, noon GMT: Three more qualify for soccer's World Cup: LUQUE - Three more nations qualified over the weekend for the 2010 World Cup to be held next summer in the Celtic Alliance. The Kingdom of Cleveland qualified as the champion of Europe's Group A after winning 1-0 at Denmark on Saturday. Sicily qualified as the champion of Europe's Group B, clinching the title with a 4-1 win at Sweden. The East Caribbean Federation won 3-0 at Puerto Rico to grab one of the two qualifying berths from the CONCACAF region; the East Caribbeans finished second, though, one point behind champion Mexico, which beat Nicaragua 2-1 at Aztec Stadium in Mexico City. Twelve teams have qualified for the 16-team World Cup field; two more berths, from the Asia/Oceania region, will be determined after the final week of games October 31, and the other two berths in play-off series in November and December.

October 18, 2009, 3:29pm GMT: Canadian Navy Discovers Hidden Saguenay Port: ST. JOHN'S - After weeks of searching, the Canadian Navy found the naval base of their enemy, the unrecognised Saguenay, on the northern coast of the St. Lawrence River. Without the port, Saguenay re-inforcements will have a much harder time getting to the occupied Gaspe peninsula. Canadian Prime Minister Walter Natynczyk, in a decidedly biased statement, said, "Score one for the good guys! This goes to show that we're going to win this war, no matter how many little allies those separatists can muster." A representative from Superior, an ally of Saguenay, said, "This is only a setback. Canada will be taught a lesson for interfering with our ally."

October 16, 2009, 6:06pm GMT: Hawaii Governor signs colony bill into law: HILO - Governor Angel Pilago of Hawaii signed the Ogasawara Bill into law early this morning, authorizing the Free State to begin to resettle the Bonin Islands, once part of Japan, within the next year. The ANZC's commissioner to Hawaii said that the Commonwealth is "pleased that the Ogasawaran people will soon be able to return to their homeland".

October 12, 2009, 7:53pm GMT: Hawaiian Congress votes to recolonize Bonin Islands: HILO - The Congress of Hawaii passed an ambitious bill Monday morning for the creation of a new colony in the Ogasawara Island Group, also known as the Bonin Islands. The entire population of the formerly Japanese islands was evacuated to Hawaii in 1993, where they have remained ever since as a distinct refugee community. The Ogasawara Bill, if signed by the Governor and assented to by the King, will set aside money for a settlement on the main island of Chichi Jima, and will authorize Hawaii's Marine Militia to facilitate the project and patrol the islands.

Dr. Kyoichi Mori, an Ogasawaran and professor of marine biology at the University of Hawaii, has spoken frequently before Congress on the issue of resettlement. The unofficial leader of the Ogasawaran community, Mori was present for the historic vote and told reporters, "The Ogasawarans owe a great debt to the Hawaiians. They quite literally saved us as a people. They have taken care of us for sixteen years. But many of us want to return home now, and today the Congress was good enough to move us a step closer."

If the settlement plan goes forward, it will amount to an expansion of the Free State of Hawaii's territory. Hawaii has argued with its protector nation the ANZC over administration of uninhabited islands in the past. Ogasawara, however, is not claimed by the ANZC, or by any other known nation. The Commonwealth government has not yet responded to the bill.

October 10, 2009, 10:30pm GMT: Greece declares war on Sicily:
SKYROS - At midnight, Saturday October 10th local time, an emergency meeting was convened of the different delegates of the new Confederation of Greece. At 12:30 the Confederation of Greece declared war on Siciliy, giving it 24 hours to apologize and meet the earlier demands given to it, to which they did not respond. The Atlantic Defense Community at its member states were alerted.

October 10, 2009, 7:33pm GMT: Sicily behind attack on Greco-Libyan ship: BENGHAZI - Men from a Sicilian ship attempted to board a Greco-Libyan oil-freighter. Fortunately, the Greeks, Egyptians, and Libyans on the freighter (with two casualties) were able to fend off the attack, killing three and capturing two. The other four men were able to flee back to their own vessel. Originally the crew believed them to be pirates, until the flag of Sicily was seen hanging from their stern. The oil-tanker was able to sail to the Greek-mandate of Cyrenaica, and the government in Skyros was radioed, alerted to the violence.

October 9, 2009: Canada First Party routs Liberals in Canadian Election: ST. JOHN'S - The election three days ago has yielded a victory for the Canada First Party and their leader Walter Natynczyk. Natynczyk has stated that he will militarise Canada in response to their current war with Saguenay.

20:33, October 8, 2009 (UTC): High Level Talks begin between Andorra and the Iberian Union: - ANDORRA-LA-VELLA - Pascal Benoit, Vice-Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Iberian Union approached the government of Grand-Andorre with offers of peace and spheres of influence. M. Benoit was well received and will be returning to Zaragosa with the replies of the Prince and other leaders.

October 6, 2009, 4:40pm GMT : Canadian Election Today: ST. JOHN'S - An election is being held today in Canada. Vying for the post of Prime Minister are current PM and Liberal Georges Farrah, Progressive Conservative Fabian Manning, and Canada Firster Walter Natynczyk. The mostly Liberal representatives from the occupied Gaspe peninsula will keep their seats.

October 6, 2009, 6:35am GMT: Samoan Elections to be held as planned: APIA - Chief of State Tupua announced in an evening radio address that elections for Samoa's Senate and Chief of State, scheduled for November 21, will be held as planned despite the massive disruption caused by last week's tsunami. "We will have to find creative solutions, and quickly, to make sure each vote is counted in this time of mass displacement and homelessness," said Tupua, "but this disaster will not stop our democracy, and it will not crush our hope." Tupua Tamasese was elected Chief of State in 1999 and again in 2004, and is strongly expected to win re-election again in November.

October 3, 2009, 10:00pm GMT: Death toll rises in Samoa as rescuers continue working: APIA - The number of the dead passed the 200 mark as Commonwealth relief workers continued to administer humanitarian aid and begin cleanup in Samoa. A four-wave tsunami stuck the coastlines up and down the island state of the ANZC on September 29, wiping out entire villages and leaving hundreds of families homeless. Apia, the state capital, remains almost totally empty.

Commonwealth military personnel arrived October 1 on the frigate ANZS Kaitiaki at the request of Head of State Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese to maintain order in the disaster area and engage in relief work. Teams have also arrived under the auspices of the WCRB, headquartered in Aukland, and the Hawai'i Marine Militia. Acting head of the Catholic Church Archbishop Oscar Scheid continued to lead prayers for Samoa today. The ANZC reports that while most injured Samoans have been treated, the islands are desperately in need of food, and fresh water, and infrastructural rebuilding; and until these needs are met, refugees remain at risk of disease.

The disaster has prompted a number of leaders to step up calls to the League of Nations to move resources into the International Red Cross, which is currently a branch of the LoN that has an office and a director but no workers on the ground. Hawai'ian Governor Angel Pilago said in a Sunday address, "Very soon, God willing, it will be unthinkable that the Red Cross would be unable to send aid to an affected region so close to its own headquarters", while the Chilean delegate to the LoN called the tsunami, along with an even more devastating quake in Sumatra, a "wake-up call to the League".

September 2009

September 29, 2009: Earthquake hits Samoa, generates tsunami: APIA - A tsunami caused by a powerful earthquake in the South Pacific has killed at least 14 people and injured 50 in Samoa, a state belonging to ANZC. Dr Lemalu Fiu of the main hospital in the capital, Apia, said the number of casualties is expected to rise as the injured arrive from coastal areas. An 8.3-magnitude quake struck at 1748 GMT, generating 1.57m (5.1ft) waves in Apia and Pago Pago. The wave is expected to be "much smaller" than the 2004 Asian tsunami which killed about 190,000 people. A Pacific tsunami warning was issued, but it has now been cancelled.

September 28, 2009: Involvement with Raiders Angers Aroostook: HOULTON - Reports that the Saguenay/Superior alliance is working with members of the Lawrence Raiders to move soldiers and materials from Superior to Saguenay, touches off a storm of protests in Aroostook. A member of the Aroostook Town Meeting, mentioning his nation's long history of dealing with raiders, was quoted as saying "I cannot believe civilized nations would knowingly work with such criminals." The protesters are demanding that Aroostook cut all contact with those nations and throw its support behind Canada. Counter-protests by ethnic Frech-Canadians have been held, but one reporter noticed that they are small in number as the actions of Superior and Saguenay have proved controversial even in that community.

September 26, 2009: 26th anniversary of "Doomsday" remembered: NUKU'ALOFA - Citizens world over morn over the 26th anniversary of the start of the nuclear war that killed billions worldwide. Despite the fact that it has been more than a quarter century since the disaster happened the event is still deeply imprinted on humanity. A special League of Nations event was planed to commemorate the day, as well as the end of the organizations first year of existence. However current events in Canada and India have postponed it to a later date.

September 25, 2009: ADC Authorizes European Expeditionary Force: PUNTA DELGADA - The European members of the Atlantic Defense Community announced that they will be sending an expeditionary force to help Canada in defending its territory. The Celtic Alliance has agreed to provide the bulk of the troops of the EEF, with the other members making smaller contributions.

September 24, 2009: Canadian Election Imminent: ST. JOHN'S - One week after the occupation of the Gaspe peninsula, a vote of no confidence in the Canadian parliament has determined that an election will take place. Because of the war, this election will take place on a shortened timescale, with the vote taking place on October 6. The representatives of occupied territory will keep their seats.

September 21, 2009: League of Nations: NUKU'ALOFA - Celtic Alliance Ambassador Alex Salmond requests emergency sessions to discuss action to support democracy in North America and to ensure a peaceful end to hostilities before the October 1st deadline set by the Celtic Alliance.

September 21, 2009: Atlantic Defense Community to meet in emergancy session: PUNTA DELGADA - A joint request from the Celtic Alliance and Canada has been submitted to the ADC to discuss the ramifications of the ongoing war between Canada and Saguenay and Superior.

September 21, 2009: Celtic Alliance demands end to conflict & prepared to declare war: DUBLIN - The Celtic Alliance issued a formal warning to Saguenay stating that "if Saguenay forces do not withdraw by the 1st of October, a state of war shall exist between our two countries". Alliance Parliament being recalled and formal request for the Atlantic Defense Community to defend its member for the belligerent acts of aggression through the mutual defense clause of the Atlantic Defense Community. The President of the Alliance, whilst disagreeing with Canada's approach towards Saguenay, has called Saguenay "a rogue nation, determined to overthrow a democratic future for North America".

September 17th 2009: Saguenay Blitz Over: GASPÉ - The invading Saguenay forces completed their invasion of the Gaspe peninsula with the taking of the city of Gaspe. The entire peninsula is under Saguenay occupation. Canadian Prime Minister Georges Farrah, a native of Quebec, is losing the confidence of Canadians and an election could take place soon.

September 15th 2009: Canadian Counterattack Fails: GASPÉ - Canadian troops failed in a counterattack against the invading Saguenay forces near the town of Cap-Chat, Quebec. The Saguenay forces have been advancing rapidly, and Canadians are alarmed at the success of their initial invasion. In the Canadian government, the Canada First Party (the official opposition) has suggested implementing conscription, but Prime Minister Farrah shot down the idea. "It didn't work under Borden, it didn't work under King, and it won't work under me!", he said, refering to the Prime Ministers during the first two World Wars in a bit of an exaggeration. However, public opinion seems to be that the situation is different then these, and the Canada First Party is widely seen as the group that can win the war.

September 13th 2009: Republic of Superior On Path to War: STOWE - In a speech to the House of Representatives of the Republic of Superior, Harold Duke, leader of the National Republican Caucus, and chairman of the National Republican Party, attacked what he took as the refusal for the Canadian government to "recognize that Saguenay is an independent state, that no longer wants to maintain its bonds within the elder union." He also mentioned the refusal of the Canada to “root out the seditious elements of Canadian society” meant that “they must very well be receiving their support from St. John.” He would openly advocate for an alliance with Saguenay in its “war for survival ... to prevent itself from being forced into an undesired union with Canada!” Though Republicans were generally supportive of Duke’s positions, the Democratic and Socialist parties have said they would vote against any action that would lead to active participation in the war. The vote is to be held on the 15th.

September 13th 2009: Saguenay Surprise Attack on Gaspe Peninsula: GASPÉ - Saguenay troops have launched a surprise amphibious assault on the fortified Gaspe peninsula. The Canadians were not prepared for an attack on the peninsula, as it is far away compared to nearer targets in North Quebec and Nouveau-Quebec. The Canadian navy is scrambling to find the secret Saguenay naval base that must have been in the area.

September 12th 2009: The Republic of Superior Supports Saguenay: STOWE - President of the Republic of Superior, Terrance Newman, in an address to the Congress in Stowe, demands that Canada immediately ban the Canada First Party, under the pretext that it is a militant terrorist organization, and that it’s leaders be extradited for conspiracy to force the state of Saguenay to join Canada. Also, he asks that all hostilities end between it and Saguenay end immediately. The Canada First Party has called these demands an interference in Canadian internal affairs, and asserts that the assassination was carried out by a rogue element not under the direct command of party leaders. There are rumors that the RSA has begun mobilization of its reservists.

September 12, 2009: First Canadian-Saguenay Skirmish: File:Flag of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.svgg ST. JOHN'S - Fighting has started in the war between the Canadian Remainder Provinces and the mostly unrecognised Republic of Saguenay. Canadian forces were able to repel a small force of the Saguenay army near the town of Forestville, Quebec. Canadian Prime Minister Georges Farrah has urged the Canadian people to be calm in this crisis, and Canadian military recruitment levels have increased.

September 10, 2009: DSA supports Canada: PORT ELIZABETH - The PM of the Dominion of South Africa issued a statement supporting Canada in this time of strife and violence, blaming Saguenay for aggravating relations.

September 10, 2009: Celtic Alliance Calls for Peace: DUBLIN - On hearing the news of a possible war in North America, the PM of the Celtic Alliance, Adam Price M.P, issued a televised statement appealing for calm and offering to act as an arbitrator between Canada and Saguenay. But these words seem to have been ignored by Saguenay, as they have already declared war via a radio message to the Canadian capital.

September 9, 2009: Saguenay Prime Minister Stéphan Tremblay assassinated: CHICOUTIMI - Prime Minister Stéphan Tremblay, of the largely unrecognised Saguenay, was assassinated by a radical member of the neighboring Canada's Canada First Party. There are unconfirmed rumours that Saguenay's army is mobilising.

September 8, 2009: MSP Approves New Constitution: CRESCENT CITY - The Municipal States of the Pacific passes a new constitution, called the "Second Contract," granting more individual freedoms and requiring democratic governments for member states, but retaining the loose confederation of the MSP.

September 2, 2009: Aroostook Town Threatens to Secede: AROOSTOOK - The town meeting of Aroostook, New Brunswick passed a resolution declaring they will leave the Provisional Republic of Aroostook if they ever come into conflict with Canada.

August 2009

August 31, 2009: Prince Andrew approves Canada: ST. JOHN'S - Diplomats have travelled to Canada to offer their support and bring word that the King approves of their new Governor-General system.

August 17, 2009: The World Factbook is published: NUKU'ALOFA - The League of Nations publishes the first issue of The World Factbook.

August 17, 2009: DSA and KwaXhosa sign a treaty: PORT ELIZABETH - Xhosa and Dominion leaders signed a treaty that agreed that KwaXhosa would pay reparations. KwaXhosa was also compelled to reduce and limit the size of their armed forces and become a member of the African Economic Community. The DSA has requested membership of the League of Nations once again, claiming it is no longer occupying KwaXhosa.

August 12, 2009 League of Nations suspends Dominion of South Africa: NUKU'ALOFA - The League of Nations voted to suspend the DSA of its observer status for its continued occupation of the Republic of KwaXhosa.

August 06, 2009: Tongan ferry sinks: NUKU'ALOFA - The MV Princess Ashika, an inter-island ferry operating in Tonga, sinks, leaving at least 26 people missing.

June 2009

June 26, 2009, 3.00 PM GMT: Surprise National Anthem entrant – Barbara Striesand! DUBLIN - Former American citizen who was on holiday in Ireland during DD comes forward with surprise entry of the Carousel Musical hit of the 1960’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Mass demonstartions of support across the Alliance after stage performance

June 10, 2009, 8:15 PM GMT: Resettlement begins on Moloka'i: KUALAPU'U, HAWAII - Ground was broken on a new farming cooperative on the once heavily irradiated island of Moloka'i. For over a decade, Moloka'i, home of former Governor Lingle, has been abandoned except for a few temporary fishing settlements along the shore. A series of studies over the last several years has determined the island to be safe again for long-term inhabitation and agriculture, and the Kualapu'u co-op is the first of several planned resettlements as part of Project Imua Moloka'i (Forward Moloka'i). Project head Lani Weigert said at the ceremony that she hopes the new farm will set the tone for "a deliberate, sustainable, and prosperous replanting" of the island. The new settlement will raise livestock, sugarcane for bio-fuel, and sweet potatoes, a traditional Hawaiian staple crop.

June 5, 2009: Constitutional Convention in the MSP: CRESCENT CITY - A constitutional convention begins in the Municipal States of the Pacific. It was convened due to the increasing calls among the population for a more democratic government across the board. One of the major issues is whether the MSP will keep its confederation-style government or adopt a stronger central government.

May 2009

May 27, 2009: FIFA chooses 2010 anthem: LUQUE - "Wild Dances" by SSR pop singer Ruslana is picked as the World Cup anthem.

May 21, 2009: New solar energy conglomerate on the way: AUKLAND - I.I.I.L. solar market leader SumaSol and Commonwealth's No.2 Heliopower have announced plans to galvanise their companies, which would result in the foundation of the world's leading solar energy conglomerate with an estimated 2 bill. ANZC-$ in revenues and 7800 employees. The Commonwealth Economy Secretary welcomed the plans repeating his last-year word creation of "only a globalized world [economy] can turn the tide and secure world peace".

May 20, 2009: Green party victory in presidential elections: DUBLIN - Patrick Quinney has vowed to tackle climate change and to put this issue on the world agenda when the Celtic Alliance takes the LoN presidency next year

May 17, 2009: Presidential Commission to designate new National Anthem in time for World Cup: DUBLIN - A Celtic Alliance Presidential Commission has been created to designate new National Anthem in time for World Cup. The new band Runrigs' song "Protect and Survive" is already favoured. In addition, the Commission is considering a proposal for a world wide version of the old Eurovision Contest

May 1, 2009: Deadly traffic accident kills 25 in Indonesia: YOGYAKARTA - 25 people are dead after the coach they were travelling in hit a garbage truck in the town of Bindi 60 miles west of Yogyakarta.

April 2009

April 26, 2009 Pakistan begins offensive into Afghanistan: SUKKAR - Soldiers of the Islamic Peoples Republic of Pakistan crossed the border into the lawless region of Afghanistan. A representative of the Pakistani government said that the soldiers were sent to aide their Islamic brothers in bringing order to the state and impose the just law of Allah over the faithful once more.

April 26, 2009 The Pacific Baseball League is established: CRESCENT CITY - The Central Committee of the Municipal States of the Pacific announces they will be sponsoring a new baseball league, the Pacific Baseball League. Member cities will be allowed to sponsor teams to compete in the league. It is the hope of the Central Committee that friendly competition between member cities will help promote unity and cooperation in the MSP as a whole. The first season is scheduled to start in 2010.

April 20, 2009 the FIFA announces the first post-Doomsday World Cup: LUQUE - The first post-Doomsday World Cup to be held in Europe will be held in March 2010 in the Celtic Alliance.

April 10, 2009, 6:55 GMT: Good Friday Riots force amendment to Mexican constitution: MÉXICA - After months of killings and kidnappings by the MP Dorados (Gold Shirts), five million people marched on Mexíca and Mexico City Friday in protest of the MP Party. Protesters demanded it be disbanded and its leaders arrested. The "Good Friday Riots" have resulted in the death of two MP Deputies, Ricardo Sullivan and Marco Antonio Cavuto, on the streets of the capital. Several MP leaders have escaped to Cuba with the help of the Catholic church as most of the others were arrested. A constitutional amendment has already been passed that recognizes only the PRD and PAN as official parties. Both parties have changed names: the Partido de la Revolución Democrática is now the Partido Democrático (PD) and the Partido Acción Nacional is the Partido Conservatívo (PC).

March 2009

March 21, 2009, 4:19pm GMT: New island emerges from Tongan volcano NUKU'ALOFA - The volcano that has been erupting for nearly a week has formed a new island above one of its two shafts, WCRB geologists confirmed Saturday. The island has been named Amanaki - Tongan for "hope" - in honor of the new League of Nations headquartered at Tonga. 63 km away at the capital, King Siaosi Tupou V made the announcement, saying, "May the emergence of this new land be matched by the united efforts of the whole human race as we continue to lift ourselves out of the depths of our own violent past. And may Amanaki indeed be a symbol of hope for the whole world." The second of the volcano's two shafts erupted on the uninhabited island Hunga Ha'apai, where it destroyed most plant and animal life.

March 19, 2009, 3:30pm GMT: Undersea volcano erupts in Tongan waters NUKU'ALOFA - WCRB geologists sailed to investigate a massive undersea volcano that had been erupting since Monday, throwing a spectacular column of ash, steam, and smoke as high as 7.6 km into the air. The cloud is visible hundreds of km away, including from here at the capital. The WCRB concluded that the eruption poses no threat to the country or its people. Tonga sits in one of the most geologically active parts of the Circum-Pacific Earthquake Belt.

March 3, 2009, 07:45pm GMT: I.I.I.L. New Indonesian constitution accepted YOGYAKARTA - Thanks to a surprisingly large voter turnout of reportedly 78% the new Indonesian constitution has been accepted by 64,5% in a nationwide plebiscite yesterday. The new constitution is meant to replace the various emergency laws enacted since Doomsday and shall re-establish stble political ground within the league's territory.

Acehnese Sultan di Hoseini and the ANZC government reacted positively as the new constitution does not exppressively count Aceh and ANZC-associated territories of Papua and Timor as part of Indonesia.

March 1, 2009, 10:05pm GMT: Red Cross opens new Headquarters GENEVA - The new HQ of the International Red Cross was opened in Geneva after two years of construction. The League of Nations Secretary General used his opening speech to urge a final breakthrough in the Sicily peace talks.

Feb. 2009

February 19, 2009, 8:15pm GMT: Suicide bomb kills 28 in Yogyakarta

YOGYAKARTA - A suicide bomb detonated early this night in a car parked in front of the Ministry of Interior of the IIIL in Yogyakarta. 28 were reported dead, dozens injured and taken to hospital. Two children are still in a critical condition.

February 12, 2009, 6:45pm GMT: Governor Lingle steps down HILO - Governor Linda Lingle of Hawaii submitted her resignation to the state's King Andrew at 8:45am local time today. At a press conference immediately after, Lingle told reporters that due to a worsening skin cancer condition, she is no longer able to fulfill her duties as governor. Like many Hawaiians, especially those from Lingle's island of Moloka'i, the governor suffers from long-term effects of nuclear radiation. Her very visible scars have helped her identify with many of her constituents, but observers in recent months have noticed increasingly prominent signs of cancer. Lingle has been hospitalized frequently, including a week-long stay in December.

Lingle remained composed during the press conference, but her emotion was evident throughout. After she bid farewell, King Andrew confirmed First Deputy Governor Angel Pilago of the Island of Hawaii as the third governor of the Free State. "The nuclear war has claimed another innocent victim," Pilago said, "and it is with a heavy heart that I assume the burden of Governor Lingle's office."

Jan. 2009

January 12th, 2009: LoN takes over Guyana Space Center KOUROU - In a small Ceremony at Kourou, the Guyana Space Center's Control is transferred to the new League of Nations Authority for Space Operations (LONASO).

January 1st, 2009, 0:05 GMT: Planet rings in new year New Year Celebrations are taking place around the world. In Canberra and Auckland large fireworks and thousands of people are seen on the street. In Europe, festivities are largely being cancelled due to the Sicilian crisis. The NewsHour team whishes a good and happy new Year 2009 to everyone.