The Kaizhou InquirerThe Kaizhou Inquirer is northern Indrala's leading periodical, reporting on politics, culture and economics10 September 4417Li Jinyu claims victory in snap electionDespite winning just 8% of the vote, Lotus Party Li calls snap election "a victory for a pro-democratic Indrala"Lotus Party candidate for Trade and Industry Phan Quang Đông (left) and Lotus Party Leader Li Jinyu (right) greet supporters on election dayTIAN'AN, Han Province: Despite gaining just three seats, Lotus Party Leader Li Jinyu has called the snap election "a victory for a pro-democratic Indrala."
"Tomorrow, we can roll up our sleeves and work to build the nation of our dreams," Li shouted to a cheering crowd at the TQ Star Hotel Ballroom in Kaizhou. "Tonight, however, we declare victory in the name of national unity!"
The informal "National Unity" coalition
(New Dawn, Lotus Party, Social Democratic Party, Military Party, People's Action Party) has secured 65% of the popular vote over the governing republican coalition
(Communist Party, National Front), which won just 35%.
Li said he called New Dawn's Lü Jaewoo on election night to congratulate him on his "massive victory" and offer his "sincere support" in forming a coalition cabinet. Li is expected to become Environment Minister in a cabinet led by New Dawn's Lü Jaewoo.
Li also openly suggested that the SDP, New Dawn and Lotus Parties create a formal parliamentary group.
"It's time for our parties to unite under a common banner so that we can embody the national unity we seek to create!" said Li to a lukewarm response. This idea did not seem overly popular with Lotus Party members.
10 October 4417TQ Group set to open "Marina City" in Jugang, JiaozhiThe development is seen as TQ Group's answer to FCR's Zhijia CityView of Marina City under construction (September 4416)JUGANG, Jiaozhi Province: TQ Group says that their newest development "Marina City" is on track and expected to open next month. The cluster of luxury skyscrapers have been built on reclaimed land along Jugang's iconic Central Beach. According to TQ Group, the development "enhances Jugang's glamorous image," and "radically redefines the skyline of the city."
Marina City is dotted with high-end stores often found only in Kaizhou or Tian'an, gourmet restaurants and coffee shops, rather than the seafood markets, sashimi stalls and Kyo street vendors that the port city is more commonly associated with. Similar to Kaizhou's "Zhijia City," TQ's development incorporates artificial intelligence and smart technology to create "a truly unique" district in the city.
Jugang has been an area of intense competition and investment between Jiaozhi's largest conglomerates (TQ Group and FCR Group). However, the capital inflow to this middle-class coastal city has been met with mixed response by the locals.
"It's making my head spin," said 70-year-old Zhang Meilin. "Too much change, too fast. My father used to dock his fishing boat there [Marina City] and now it's filled with luxury yachts. Soon this city will be completely unrecognizable, and that makes me sad."
Alternatively, some welcome the investment enthusiastically.
"It's about time, frankly," said 22-year-old undergraduate student Tan Yue. "Young people have had to leave Jugang for too long because we simply don't want to fish like our parents. The economy has changed, and now it seems like Jugang is finally catching up to the rest of the province."
12 October 4417JBC's "Create 108" attracts massive national and international viewershipThe development is seen as TQ Group's answer to FCR's Zhijia CityContestants on JBC's "Create 108" pose for a picture at a press availabilityEDITOR'S NOTE: The Kaizhou Inquirer's parent company, Kaizhou Inquirer Media Group, is the single largest shareholder in the Jiaozhi Broadcasting Corporation, controlling a 25% stake.NATIONWIDE NEWS: The
Jiaozhi Broadcasting Corporation's "Create 108" has gained massive national and international attention. The second episode of the series, aired last night, attracted 24% of the national viewership.
Create 108 is an ongoing survival reality television show on JBC. It is a large-scale project in which the public "creates" a global girl group by voting for members out of a pool of 108 trainees and independent singers from around the world, as well as voting for the group's concept, debut single, and group name. It is a collaboration between the JBC and the YingPop production agency YM Entertainment. The winning 9 contestants, as voted by Indralan viewers, will promote as a group for four years.
Unlike many other talent shows in Indrala, Create 108 is the only one in which contest entry is not restricted to Indralan citizens. Accordingly, many Gao-Showan trainees have travelled from Hulstria/Gao-Soto, Sekowo, Kazulia and from diasporic communities around the world to participate. As of the second episode, Crownlander national Kyoko Hitomi is leading all 108 trainees by number of votes, followed by Indralans Chen Bingbing and Park Bo-young.
Kyoko has been a fan favourite since promotions first began for the show in August. Renowned for her hard-working, friendly and kind image, thousands of Indralans and Crownlanders alike have been cheering her on. According to Create 108 producer Zhang Junshan, Kyoko's popularity is symbolic of the main goal of the show: "united in their love for music, teamwork, and performing, viewers watch as 108 ambitious young women, regardless of ethnicity or language, forge a different vision of what the world can look like."
Language has, however, been an interesting obstacle for the show. To get around it, JBC has provided each of the girls an ear-piece connected to a team of over 300 translators to provide live translation between contestants. For viewers at home, the show offers subtitles in Indralan and Luthorian, or through the official "Create 108" app, viewers can listen to a Kunikata, Dinh, Phra, or Kyo voiceover synced with the show.
For episode three, sub-groups of the 108 contestants will perform for soldiers at the Indralan Army Academy at Beizhou. Soldiers' votes will be combined with viewer votes, and the 20 lowest-ranking contestants will be eliminated.