
URTC Officially Changes to CBC
Selansk - The Union Radio-Telecom
Corporation officially changed its name to the Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation
following a resolution passed in the Commonwealth Congress. The change is larger
than name alone, however.The former
URTC was largely beholden to government interests, with a strong instinct towards
promoting government policy domestically and abroad. The CBC, as is spelled out in
its establishing act, is required to provide non-biased coverage of important issues.
The Unionist government has taken steps further than
expected in freeing the public broadcaster, including firing the entire top brass and
replacing them with candidates chosen by an all-party committee in the Commonwealth
Assembly. The new president, Ms. Roza Tavadze, is optimistic about the future of
the broadcaster.
"We have an obligation as journalists to report
truthfully and accurately," noted Ms. Tavadze in a speech given at a dinner honouring
the CBC, "With our hands untied, we can live up to this obligation."
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Gun Control Debate Opens In Congress
Selansk - The Democrat Alliance has made
gun control an issue to be debated in Congress, despite widespread apathy for change among
the public.The Democrats are pushing
for a relaxation of gun control laws currently in effect. Current laws ban a number
of varieties of firearms, including all models of sub-machine guns and assault rifles,
from public ownership. A number of models of handguns are also banned under current
laws.
Konrad Fleischer, leader of the Democrats, called
current laws "unjust" and infringing on "rights of ownership".
"The gun laws that we have now are archaic,"
claimed Mr. Fleischer. "They punish those who have no intention of committing
crimes by restricting their liberties."
Mr. Molotov nor Mr. Simikov have made any comment on
Mr. Fleischer's charges that the law is unjust and archaic. However, Alena Arvatuk,
Commonwealth Minister of Domestic Affairs, dismissed the accusations at a press
conference.
"Mr. Fleischer has misjudged the mood of the
people on this issue. The current laws are very popular and we have no intention of
making any changes in the foreseeable future."
She added, "I sincerely hope that Mr. Fleischer
doesn't waste the Assembly's time with this."
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