President Williams of the Northern Alliance today announced that it was committed to signing an agreement with High Viceroy Wu of Ningbo (Tengzhou IVf). The deal is expected to cost the government over one trillion pounds, but will equip the planet with the capabilities to expand the trading capacity of the Clifton system.

The only comment from the office of the High Viceroy was a short statement which simply read:
“The government of Ningbo is pleased to be entering into this deal with the government of Eschaton.”

More updates as the situation progresses.

Leaked notes from a Conservative Party policy meeting minutes. Source unknown.

Reports have indicated that President Liang has finalised the proposed trade deal with the, frankly, dangerous Proudhon Research Station.

It is the recommendation of this committee that the Party must immediately investigate the economic impact of this upon the industry of Aletheria – with particular regard to deep sea mining.

While the claims from Othertech Sodality are that this deal will provide for a global leap forward in technological progress, the impact upon the workforce has been systemically ignored.

It is noted that the Compass Council have also expressed their displeasure at this deal, and it is recommended that the Party discuss the potential of a extending a political agreement to them and the Liberty Pact (who are hampered by their refusal to partake of motorised vehicles).

Dawei Fang: High Viceroy Xia Wu, thank you for joining us today for this interview.
Xia Wu: My pleasure.
DF: Can you outline what your latest announcement is about, please?
XW: Of course. For some time now, Ningbo has been capable of achieving space flight, but in recent months there have been ongoing talks around establishing an agreement with the government of Eschaton to construct a fleet of merchant vessels capable of expanding the reach of the all too vital trade routes.
DF: And it is the intention of your government to sign this deal?
XW: Well, I hardly think I need to point out the economic improvements that such a deal could bring to Ningbo. The money that could be raised on imports and exports while this fleet is being constructed is vast, and when the project is finished there will be others who will wish to open negotiations with us.
DF: And what do you say in response to the critics who decry the notion that off-worlders would be permitted to land on the moon?
XW: Naturally that is against our laws here on Ningbo, and there is currently no motion to make a change to that situation.
DF: I have heard rumours that a portion of the distant Fengjia Province will be zoned off to permit the workers to land. Is there any substance…
Aide to XW: Thank you. I think this interview is over now.
DF: But…
XW: Good day, Mr Fang.

Lama Matta Awad has announced that Balkh will support any refuges from the conflicts on Harayana. The planet has been wracked with both political and religious instability for many years, and the Star of Life have been concerned for a number of years about the plight of those who live there.

Disturbing reports emerged earlier this month that, under the leadership of Gita Sharma, it has become common practice to ‘sacrifice’ prisoners to the ancestors of their Confucian beliefs. The practice has been roundly protested by off-worlders, but with the lack of a central government on the planet, sectarian civil conflict is only going to continue to escalate.

News updates brought to you from the Homeland Banner

Today the government sought to calm fears over a wave of violence breaking out in the confines of Eleventh Dome. Early reports indicated that Terra Prime Society had aggressively interrupted a meeting of the New Dawn Organisation – a divisive group decried only last year as heretics by Cantor. Rebbe Miller herself.

The New Dawn has been accused of polluting the ethical stock of the Eleventh Dome by continuing to preach their concept of divine grace and the absence of fixed moral reward.

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Boss. The Liberty Pact has declared their opposition to the rumoured trade deal between Proudhon and Outertech Sodality. Their spokesperson said “if the common man cannot master all the specialities of society, then he is placed in a relationship of dependency”.

There are mutterings that they will soon return to their bombing campaign and that the Liberal Council will not raise a finger to stop them…

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In a statement released late last night, Economic Speaker Jones warned that the commercial shipping lanes between Rochford and Gorki were under threat from increasing levels of space piracy. He urged the governments of Gorki and Yoshikawa to take this threat seriously.

We will bring you more as…
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News updates brought to you from the Homeland Banner

It was announced today that President Xue Liang of the Outertech Sodality is on the verge of signing a new trade agreement with the Proudhon Research Station that promises to bring much vaunted technological improvements to the populace of Aletheia. The deal promises to create new jobs and Outertech Sodality has said that it hopes this will prompt a new wave of immigration to Aletheia.

The leader of the Homeland Banner issued a statement decrying President Liang for focusing only on deals which benefited the rich and educated and continued on to lambaste the President for focusing on the needs of off-worlders when the poor of Jinxi are finding it increasingly difficult to meet the rising costs of living.

Later on News at Five we’ll be covering the opening of the latest fusion plant. Is this a step towards cheap energy for all – or just another means for the oligarchs of the Liberal Council to stuff their wallets?