HOLONET NEWS Volume 351. #51. 13:4:11

Coruscant Restricts Immigration Capital Now Harder to Enter, Overcrowded Ports are Dangerous
GALACTIC CITY, CORUSCANT – In a move designed to increase local security as well as ease the burden of the already overcrowded arrival ports, the Coruscant Ministry of Ingress has issued new restrictions on all in-bound interstellar traffic.
“The port crowding has reached dangerous levels. We can no longer assure the
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safety of newcomers to this world, or to the citizenry residing adjacent to the ports. In the interests of security, these new measures are needed,” said Minister Zelebitha Effhod
The new measures include the mandatory requirement of a Core World Visa to all incoming vessels complete with valid Coruscant identi-tags, a BoSS Core Worlds operating license, a Perlemian standard passport and proof of planetary citizenship. Vessels with proper governmental and diplomatic licenses will be exempt from these protocols.
Many of the new arrivals on Coruscant lack any form of proper identification, making it impossible to identify intent. “This is an invitation to disaster,” said Effhod. “Any anti-Republic terrorist could pose as a refugee, and we’d have no way of verifying they’re who they say they are. That could lead to dangerous situations here, on Coruscant. Even without suspects looking to willfully hurt our people, there are safety concerns. That disaster in the Desrini district was a horrible accident that was a direct result of port overcrowding. Those families living in the barrel were there because they couldn’t find anywhere else to go.”
Many free traders and independent operators are incensed in the increased bureaucracy. “It’s not just the added costs of having to pay for the licenses, though that’s bad enough,” said Captain Tonner Dauscha, free trader. “In this business, time is money. How long am I going to be held up at port, having to get every little form verified?”
In the past, the Corellian Merchants Guild would have opposed such measures, however since Corellia’s withdrawal from the Senate, that powerful lobbying group has lost its voice.
Large interstellar starliners are also feeling the economic pinch, as one of their most popular ports of call may now be priced and complicated out of the comfort range of most of their consumers. “The transit tax made it difficult for refugees to go to the capital. These new ventures may make it altogether impossible, but I guess that’s Coruscant’s intent, isn’t it?” said Galaxy Tours Vice President Bronwynn Koft.
“I’m saddened that it’s come to this. Closing the gates should have been a last option, but it’s instead become the first choice. What’s next? Will Coruscant become the next Corellia?” said Senator Bail Organa (Alderaan), whose world has been taking on displaced citizenry.
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The Refugee Relief Movement has been attempting to communicate the option of alternate ports to the traveling homeless. “Culturally, the image of Coruscant has always been as a haven, far removed from any war or disease or poverty,”
said RRM Spokesbeing Kaysil Verwood. “Many refugees just automatically pick it as their destination port. We’re trying to get the word out that there are many, many other worlds in the Core and the Inner Rim that offer just as much opportunity and sanctity. It’s been difficult, but I think we are making progress.”
Moe Funeral Disrupted by Dug Activists
PIXELITO, MALASTARE – Dug activists, demanding an end to Gran rule of their native Malastare and equal representation in the Galactic Senate, disrupted the funeral of Senator Aks Moe today. What was to be a reverent ceremony presided over by the higher echelons of the Gran Protectorate instead turned into an impromptu Podrace spectacle.
Approximately 70 Dug activists crowded the surrounding fungal greenery, brandishing sports-like banners and pennants customized to read political messages of freedom and equality. Dug musicians blasted theme songs popularized by such past Malastarian Podracers as Sebulba and Ebe E. Endocott, Esq.
The greatest disruption came when an unidentified Dug tore through the procession in a highly modified Radon-Ulzer Podracer, hooking the Gran memorial tapestry in his air-brake scoops.
Toronaxx, the public face of the Dugs-for-Democracy movement, issued a statement via a pirated connection to Malastare’s HoloNet node. “We will do anything to bring freedom and justice to our people,” her statement read, in part. “Though we did not anything to do with the Senator’s death, he was responsible for the death of many of our numbers. The coward should have no rest even now.”
The Pixelito constabulary arrested 16 Dugs. Acting-Senator Ask Aak was whisked away for his protection, and was unavailable for comment.
Representative Baskol Yeesrim was forward in his visibly emotional statements. “These Doellin-forsaken animals will not get away with this,” he said. “Need I point out, again, that if there were Jedi here, this insult would never have happened.”
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Port Crowding Increases Virus Risks
EASTPORT, CORUSCANT – With the co-meddling of hundreds of different cultures in confined spaces such as starfreighters and immigration processing stations, Coruscant Health Officials are warning travelers of increased risk of airborne viral contamination.
“The influx of so many different species into Coruscant has created a high-risk situation,” said CHO Medxec Harribore Onuta. “We caution everyone to update their immunity programs before interstellar travel or even visiting of transit stations.”
The advisory starts a new program of public service announcements and awareness campaigns by the Health Office, sparked by the recent outbreak of Brainworm Rot Type A in the Manarai Heights district. Anomids and Wol Cabasshites in particular have been hit hardest with the pathogen, which officials have managed to contain.
Starport staff have taken care to segregate Neimoidian travelers in separate quarantine chambers prior to admission to immigration processing stations. The Neimoidian biology is a known carrier of the Brainworm Rot virus.
Neimoidians, including Senate representative Lott Dod, have been vocally critical of the move, accusing the Republic government of inequitable treatment. “This is an outrage. It is just another move by the Republic to ostracize and blame our people for what is ultimately their doing,” said the convalescing Senator from his Fobosi MedCenter recuperative ward.
What is Brainworm Rot Type A? An airborne virus that afflicts humanoids and cephalopoids with high levels of dialogen in their bloodstream.
How is it passed? It resides in the lungs of oxygen-breathers, and is passed by inhalation.
How does one prevent it? While the use of breath masks hinders transmission, inoculation is still the best method of prevention.
What are the symptoms? Nausea, cold sweats Inability to process written instructions Syntax errors in spoken and written communication
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Isolated purpling of gills and blowholes
Is it fatal? If gone untreated, yes. Brainworm Rot has proven especially fatal among Wol Cabbashites.
What is the cure? It can be treated if caught early, through an immunization protocol built around antigen clyrossa-themin in bacta suspension.
Successful Engine Tests Cause Sienar Stock Surge
LOLA CURICH, LIANNA – Republic Sienar Systems announced their endorsement and adoption of the Sienar Advanced Systems’ twin ion engine design early this morning, clearing the way for mass production and purchase by governing bodies within the worlds of the Republic.
“Never before has such a radical approach to engine design passed all of our safety and performance requirements in its initial evaluation,” said an enthusiastic Etab Lapha, Quality Assurance Investigator for RSS. “It’s hard to believe that this is a first-generation product.”
News of the approval gave Santhe/Sienar Technologies (SST) stock an immediate 27.58 credit (14%) gain. The office of Lady Valles Santhe indicated that the company president was “pleased” with the day’s results.
The new twin ion engine technology (dubbed “SIE-TIE”), which utilizes microparticle accelerators to agitate ionized gasses to relativistic velocities, features independently articulated ion stream deflector manifolds for pinpoint maneuvering accuracy, and supplements power yields through a set of solar gather panels, is the brainchild of engineer Raith Sienar. The wealthy and unorthodox inventor is believed to have increased his net worth by another 640 million credits with today’s stock increase.
While RSS gave no specific details on incorporation of the twin ion engine in to their existing line of starships, reports indicate that power-yield compatibility issues with current hyperdrive, life-support and shielding technologies may prove prohibitive.
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Kabal Riots Quelled by Separatists; 4 Jedi Among the Dead
SHORIBUS, KABAL – The deadly riots that have filled the streets of Shoribus were quelled earlier this week when freighters from Separatist worlds arrived at Kabal and airdropped food parcels to the hungry populace.
Damage and casualty figures from the month-long rioting have yet to be tallied, though the Jedi envoy dispatched to Kabal has been confirmed among the dead. Graphic holos depicting the bodies of Jedi Knights Plessus Ghon, Ixian Rovieda, Nygreena Clo and Padawan Renxis Dielle have been confirmed as authentic by the Jedi Council.
The five mid-sized transport ships hovered aloft on repulsorlifts over the city for over an hour, distributing its cargo along carefully delineated flight paths. The transports’ markings indicated Sluis Van as their port of origin.
As the freighters traversed the airspace over Shoribus, their hull-mounted loudhailers voiced anti-Republic propaganda in both Basic and Kabalian. “This salvation comes to you from Count Dooku. He will help you where the Republic has failed,” was one of the messages broadcast.
The riots in Kabal started after two months of going without food shipments. Increased Republic taxation of the Sharlissian Trade Corridor made the route cost-prohibitive for Trade Federation food delivery. The Kabal central government attempted to regain control, declaring martial law on Shoribus, but the riots continued. The Kabal Central Citadel sustained firebombing damage, and the Kabalian leader, Premiere Jan Dovu is believed among the dead.