Hobbes News Network

Hello and welcome to the Hobbes News Network, broadcasting the latest news from Lanos. The oldest and most trusted news source in Lanos since 1959.

Available on your local channels:
In mainland Lanos: KRAP-TV 21 (Keinsteinem), WHYL-TV 16 (Georgetown), WGTZ-TV 84 (Marina), KMRA-TV 37 (Nostrom), and KPRT-TV 55 (Port Darthur)
In Hoenn and Sinnow: ZVRL-TV 18 (Celadon)
In Hobbes City: GHOB-TV 91 (Georgetown)
In Longrova and Novestra: NOTV-TV 44 (New Mombassa)
Available on all networks: cable channel 21, satellite channel 321, and on the Armed Forces Network.

Available on radio channels KXRA FM 103.9, KXRA AM 630, and on KXRA shortwave 69.9

We hope you enjoy all the news that we give about Lanos through the World Broadcasting Union's channels as we are now members of this fine organization.

Stay tuned.

Hobbes News Network
Freedom, Democracy, Justice!

The nation of Cicunda, a recent newcomer of the region, has already alleged that the Independent Nation is saying they have no place in the region. Given that the national government has made no statements as such, the government is ignoring the statement from a Cicundan official and rebuts with: "The National Government will make basic relations with all regional members but will reserve the right to advance relations on its own accord without foreign intereference."

In other news, 50,000 Lanosian servicemen will be stationed in Kingsley Bedford for the first time since the end of the Kingfordian Civil War and the withdrawal of the last peacekeeping forces from that country in 2011. In an agreement signed between the two countries, the Independent Nation cites that these forces will not only serve as a preliminary defensive force for KB but will assist with training the Kingfordian military and ease the minds of Lanosian residents there. The forces will retake positions in old bases near Harani City and Sirushostan that were used by the peacekeeping force during the 20 year civil war.

Stay tuned.

Hobbes News Network
Freedom, Democracy, Justice!

The National Police has confirmed that it will send its investigators into Romburyan as planned despite the recent events in the Kingfordian region. A National Police spokesman confirmed the news and announced that full cooperation would be given by those in Romburyan in seeking those responsible for the assassination of Mikhail Aruthyan in 2009 and the recent attacks in Kingsley Bedford. The spokesman also confirmed that President Marina Aruthyan and her family and staff were not harmed in any of the recent events. President Aruthyan is planning to return to Lanos in two days from her stay in Harani City.

Stay tuned.

Hobbes News Network
Freedom, Democracy, Justice!

Strong Military 2016 completed

The Lanos Armed Forces plan to double the military from 12.5 million to 25 million was completed this week after being ambitiously started in late 2013. The plan entailed the enlargement of all the services with mass purchases, enlistments and conscription, and the activation of divisions that were retired after the end of the Civil War between 1991 and 1994. The plan was created and executed in the nearly four years since it's announcement because of the unique challenges facing the country since intervening in the international world in early 2013. With the completion of the plan, the armed forces are at the Civil War total of 25 million and will be expected to maintain this number within the foreseeable future. Experts assure that there will be no funding or equipment issues with the new size of the armed forces.

Stay tuned.

Hobbes News Network
Freedom, Democracy, Justice!

Major Electoral Reform Amendments Proposed to Congress

Two amendments were proposed to Congress that would radically reform the way elections are to be done in the Independent Nation for Congress and the Presidency. The amendments, one dealing with halving the terms each Congressman and Senator serves (making elections occur every two years) and the second eliminating the Electoral College and instituting a national popular vote system for electing the President, were proposed as separate amendments to each House and is expected to be debated on and voted on in the coming two weeks. Proponents of the two proposed amendments argue that more democracy would come to the country with elections held every two years (currently they are held every four years) and have a higher turnover rate of politicians in office. For the proposed amendment on the national popular vote system, supporters argue that many of the Electoral College's most criticized issues would be eliminated and that the National Government could create universal election procedures once such a system is implemented with a provision in the amendment that allows Congress to pass appropriate legislation on the matter. Experts agree that the Congressional-related amendment will pass by a wide margin if done by either state legislatures or by a referendum by state but the Presidential-related amendment could have issues passing. Discussions are being conducted to determine which type of popular vote system is to be implemented; there are signs that a simple plurality, first-past-the-post voting system could be implemented in the final proposed amendment's text. No plans have been proposed to change the voting system for Congressional House elections and the Senate elects its members at-large from the state they represent.

The 33rd Amendment, if ratified, would halve the terms of Congressmen and Senators to two and four year terms respectively. This would result in having elections held every two years and, for the first time in Lanosian history, having midterm elections during a President's term. Congressmen in the House of Representatives would remain in their current four-year terms until 2020 where they would become two-year term seats up for election. However, the plan to keep Senators elected in every election has been a sticking point until now. If ratified in 2016, the amendment would not take effect until the 2020 elections. However, the Senate seats in each state up for election would now take a temporary six-year term so that this seat would stand for election in the midterm elections. Those Senators elected to eight year terms back in 2012 would remain in their current seats until 2020 when these seats would now be four-year terms. This system would ensure that at least one Senate seat in each state would be up for election every two years.

The 34th Amendment, if ratified, would eliminate the Electoral College and institute a national popular vote system for electing the President. Under the proposed text, the popular vote taken nationwide regardless of state totals would determine who would become President in each election. The amendment would not take effect until the next general election and would not be implemented if the year the amendment was ratified in was a general election. This would mean that 2020 would be the first election to use this system if the 34th Amendment was ratified in 2016. The most likely voting system to occur under this amendment when finalized would be a simple plurality, first-past-the-post voting system for the national popular vote for President. One convincing reason to eliminate the Electoral College would be to avoid any tie in voting, something that did occur in 1976 when 20 out of 21 states has voted 10:5:5 for each candidate at the time when the Electoral College had a "one state, one vote" system. The 21st state in question, the Hotrod Islands, had its election results frozen due to electoral fraud and subsequently every state had conducted massive investigations into its election results. The Electoral College was reformed to its current system based on proportional representation but has sustained criticism due to its archaic system and its potential for another 1976 tie despite guarantees this would not happen.

A key vote for each amendment is to be held in each House of Congress next week and would determine the final fate of each proposal in later voting in Congress and in the State Legislatures.

Stay tuned.

Hobbes News Network
Freedom, Democracy, Justice!

Due to the security situation in Romburyan, it is advised by the State Department that all Lanosians remain away from important civilian and military sites in Kingsley Bedford until it can be verified that any retaliation attacks by the RSA have not happened or have been prevented. The precaution is being taken by Enpolintoc despite the risk of such an attack is low. The National Government has likewise stepped up security at all ports of entry and civilian and government sites but insists that the risk of an attack on Lanos is also low. Regardless, the National Government advises that citizens and residents should not relax over the possibility of an attack being low in Lanos. Lanosians in Kingsley Bedford are likewise reminded as such. It is unclear what, if any, security measures are being taken by the Kingfordian government to prevent any retaliation attacks in the wake of the operation against the RSA.

Stay tuned.

Hobbes News Network
Freedom, Democracy, Justice!

BREAKING NEWS
President Marina Aruthyan retiring from politics

President Marina Aruthyan has announced that she will be retiring from politics effective 2017 when she has opted to not run for re-election, despite many expectations that she would in the 2016 election. In her statement, Marina announced that she was pregnant and had chosen that for her best interests and in the interests of her children that she would retire and focus on her family. Now, it is highly expected that her vice President, David Becerra, will succeed her in the 2016 elections despite the sudden scramble of the political parties to come up with nominees. Marina has not announced where she will be retiring after her term ends in 2017.

Stay tuned.

Hobbes News Network
Freedom, Democracy, Justice!

BREAKING NEWS
Terrorist attack in Sirushostan's Capital District

A vehicle bomb has detonated and attacked the Kingfordian National Security Agency's headquarters as well as other government buildings such as the Foreign Ministry. The Lanosian consulate in the embassy tower has been evacuated and the embassy in Harani is on high alert. Casualties at the attack site are not known and the Lanosian National Police team at the KNSA HQ has been unable to be contacted. The State Department has offered condolences while the National Government is preparing to rush aid to the Kingfordians if requested. The KNA will offer more information when it comes.

Stay tuned.

Hobbes News Network
Freedom, Democracy, Justice!

No-Go Zone for Non-Muslims in Lanos?

The city of Port Darthur and the State of Darthur are having a complex dilemma when radical Muslims in a part of the city have established a no-go zone for non-Muslims, effectively cutting off city and state resources and control in the affected area. Reports have it that sharia law has been established in the zone and that non-Muslims and city and state employees, including police and medical personnel, are being harassed and barred from entering the zone. The establishment of the zone has not gone unnoticed by the state and the National Government. The state has attempted to send in the state police to dismantle the zone under a court order on the grounds of the zone being unconstitutional on multiple levels but attempts to send officers in, even under heavy protection, have been met with successful resistance by sharia gangs. The National Government has stepped in and is demanding that the sharia gangs disarm and surrender and allow governmental control of the affected zone to continue once again. The Government is considering sending in the National Police and the Army under the Insurrection Act and the Civil Rights section of Article 7 of the Constitution on the grounds that people are not being protected equally under the Equal Protection clause. So far, no response from the affected zone.

Stay tuned.