Electoral changes announced

The A1 Electoral Commission and A1 Government have announced electoral changes passed by the People’s Congress on the 22nd December. The main change is the amendment to the constitution to change election frequency from 3-4 years down to one, due to “practicality reasons”.

Chairman wishes all a happy anti-Christmas

Chairman Fish has wished all micronationalists and A1 citizens “a very happy anti-Christmas and new year”. Anti-Christmas is a variation on the celebration in A1, which involves the highlighting of the “exploitation of the day and its significance by big business” and its “over-corporatisation”.

Minor flood warning for New Central

The A1 Weather Bureau has issued a minor flood warning for all communes of New Central, after a heavy downpour hit the protectorate, dumping at least 12mm of rain in just under 7 minutes. The flood warning is mainly for flash flooding, and all citizens are advised to take extra care when outside and especially when driving.

The rain is expected to cease soon as the cold front, the remnants of a from Western Australia, Cyclone Lawrence, moves across Eastern Australia.

Chairman denies knowledge of “pressure”

Chairman Fish has denied all knowledge of “any sort of ‘pressure’” from “inside sources”, as reported in the A1NS yesterday. Sir. Fish said that it was “highly irregular” for “any member of the government, let alone the public service, to say such things in public, especially when they are not true”.

However, Sir. Fish would not rule out rumours that A1 would attempt to repair ties with the GUM, following A1’s controversial suspension of its membership last month.

Fish under pressure to repair GUM ties

Chairman Philip Fish is under pressure from senior public servants of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to repair A1’s ties with the GUM, according to inside sources. The source claims that “senior civil servants within the Foreign Affairs Ministry” are “putting pressure on the minister [of Foreign Affairs]” to push for a drastic turnaround in A1 foreign policy.

The A1 National Liberation Front have seized on these rumours, claiming that it shows that “even within his own government, Philip Fish has not confidence [sic]“.

The A1 government has not commented on the rumours.

New government office announced

The Central Committee (formally Cabinet) have announced that a new government office is to be created. This new office is to be named the ‘Office of the People’, and “…will deal with such matters as censuses, determining ‘active’ citizens, etc”, according to Chairman Fish.

RED II missiles successfully tested

The Ministry of Defence today announced the successful testing of the RED II missiles, following the release of a video of the launch on the A1BC YouTube channel yesterday. The A1 Government emphasised that it was “not part of militarism” but rather the “testing of technology”.

The A1 National Liberation Front comdemned all of A1’s missile launches, saying that it was “threatening A1’s foreign standing by making us look like trigger-happy tinpots”.

Lichthalzen A1NS bureau set to open

The A1 News Service is set to open its first news bureau outside of New Central, with the new protectorate of Lichthalzen the location. The bureau will be able to report directly from Lichthalzen in both English and Indonesian. The bureau is due to open later in December.

Mars McTavish honoured

The Governor of Lichthalzen, Mars McTavish, has “been recognised for her extraordinary achievements”, by having the Order of A1 bestowed on her, with the rank of Dame (Grade II). The award “was on its way”, according to Chairman Fish, “for the setting up of Lichthalzen, single-handedly gaining at least an extra 30 citizens for A1 and other important contributions.”

‘Second Phase’ of A1ism announced

The A1 government, following the amalgamation of the Central, Mukhazia, B31, B29, B27 and B2 protectorates, has announced the beginning of the “second phase” of A1ism. Sources say that sweeping democratic reforms may be on the horizon, including the formation of councils and granting ordinary citizens more power over official policy and legislation.