[ID: Tweet from Jane Adams (verified) [at]janeadamsrose, dated Jan 2, 2021 at 8.31PM.
Tweet reads “OMG WHAT? WHAT??? [at]estherjamesrose is this where you snuck off to tonight? Physio appointment, indeed. What. Amazing. You did fantastic hun, now hurry home so I can tell you IRL. What. I had no idea. Incredible.” End tweet.
The display picture is of hands placing a rugby ball, from a photo by Keith Johnston on Unsplash. End Image description.]
Jane Adams and Esther James are fictional characters from Masked Omens. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
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[Image Description: Image 1 - A simple rendition of the Masked Singer UK logo, a golden mask with colourful fragments flying off of it. The mask has a golden halo and a golden devil tail protruding from either side. Below, gold text reads 'Masked Omens'.
Image 2 - Twitter trending topics. For full transcription, see below the cut.
Image 3 - A hand holding a copy of News World Weekly, dated Saturday 2nd January 2021. The front page and part of the back page are visible. Full image description and transcription below the cut.]
Twitter
What's Happening
1. Politics – Yesterday
Former Transport Secretary Lawrence Richmond calls for end to OAP 'Freedom Passes'
2. Politics – Trending
#NOT2OLD2VOTE
2,202 Tweets
3. Trending in United Kingdom
The Masked Singer
2,617 Tweets
4. Trending in United Kingdom
#BONFIRE
1,580 Tweets
5. Trending in United Kingdom
DFS Sale
5,809 Tweets
6. Rap – Trending
P-White: From CBBC to the Grammys
7. E-GATE (verified) – Last night
Bagman wedding: will the striker's foodless reception set a new trend?
Trending with Dr Raven Sable, Chow
Show More
News World Weekly – Saturday, 2nd January 2021
Front Page
[Side ad:]
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“BLEW ME AWAY” CELESTIAL OBSERVER
“NEVER SEEN A SHOW LIKE IT” INFERNAL TIMES
“YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT” TADFIELD GAZETTE
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[Masthead:]
NEWS WORLD WEEKLY
Mockup by DailyMockup £1.20 Saturday, 2nd January 2021
[Top bar:]
DIET DOCTOR
Lose weight the easy way with 10 top tips from Dr. Raven Sable - page 9 – Meal plans and more!
SPORTS
Esther James leads England Women to Six Nations Victory – back page – Jane Adams scores most tries
MUSIC
Has “Narrative Devices” made folk music cool again? - page 28 -
HOROSCOPES
by TV's Madame Tracy - page 12 -
[Main story:]
WAR RAGES ON IN WESTERN CELESTAN
Military presence increase as rebels approach university city of Ghadon
[Image: Troops ride in military transport vehicle, their backs to the camera. End ID.]
Photo by Diego Gonzalez on Unsplash
CELESTANI ARMED FORCES “MUST ACT NOW”, SAYS TOP OFFICIAL
[Image: Small close-up photo of Carmine Zugiber, a white woman with red hair and a solemn expression. End ID]
War Correspondent – Carmine Zugiber
It is unusual for a war correspondent to receive a telephone call on the way to the airport. As a rule, departing journalists are not favoured with exclusive information – certainly not without having to work for it. It was with some surprise and trepidation, then, that I agreed to meet a mysterious contact in the departure lounge for a brief interview about Celestan's domestic situation.
For those of you who are not familiar with the conflict currently raging within the borders of this once proud nation, allow me to give you an overview. Rebels in the west of the country – particularly the Ferran Hills and Celestan's third-largest city, Nori – became unhappy with the decisions made for the country by officials in the east. After months of largely peaceful protests which fell upon deaf ears, many in the western reaches of Celestan began to call for independence – an independent state of Fernor, which would encompass most of the western half of the current nation. Peaceful protests turned into skirmishes, skirmishes became all-out guerrilla war, and now the rebel armies are sweeping through the countryside at an astonishing pace.
The official who contacted me on my final day in Celestan was Gabriel Herald, a high-ranking civil servant of the variety that does not state his job title upon introduction.
“It's becoming increasingly clear that the situation in Celestan is becoming untenable,” he told me, adding that I ought not to publish this article until I was back in London for my own safety. “The rebels are destroying the very land they lay claim to, and nobody in Government has the appetite for a long, drawn-out war. If there is a way to stop the fighting, naturally, we intend to take it.”
When pressed on what that might mean, he explained that various options were being considered. “Our priority at the present time is to protect the eastern half of the country, where the effects of the insurgency have not yet been felt. Residents of central Celestan can expect to see an increased military presence, but I want Celestani citizens to rest assured that the Government will not permit the entire country to be laid waste to, as the western reaches have been.”
Was there any truth, I asked, to the rumours that the Celestani Government were considering acquiescing to the rebels' demands and establishing an independent state of Fernor?
“I can't comment on that at this time,” Herald told me, “but should Operation Lestern become necessary, citizens should take comfort in the knowledge that we are prepared for all eventualities and will protect and will protect our people from any and all consequences it is within our power to control.”
Since this interview took place three weeks ago, the situation in central Celestan has developed, and it was unclear whether releasing this article was in the best interests of the people. However, it is now crucial that all parties understand the situation, and as a result the decision was taken to print it in (Continued page 2.)
[Left-hand column:]
Inside your paper today...
MASKED SINGER BOOSTS VETERAN YOUTUBER'S HIT COUNT
It's no secret that ITV's The Masked Singer is a sensational hit, but some competitors may not be entirely prepared for its success.
Week One saw an unlikely star unmasked in the form of Sergeant Shadwell, the man behind the popular YouTube channel Wytchfynder.
In videos uploaded to the channel twice a week, Shadwell embarks on daring urban explorations and paranormal investigations in order to debunk all manner of conspiracy theories, urban legends, and rumours.
While some videos are more dynamic than others – one features Shadwell venturing into the crypt of an old church, while another consists entirely of him sitting in his armchair at home and running through the evidence for an [sic] against his next-door neighbour being a witch – Shadwell, who retired from the army twenty years ago, says hits on all his uploads have doubled since his unmasking.
“I get a lot of comments now along the lines of 'this story rings a bell',” he admitted to our reporter. “It wound me up at first, but now I'm just enjoying the surge in interest. We must always be vigilant in our fight against charlatans and misinformation.” (Continued on page 13.)
MP RICHMOND BRANDED “BUS PASS BANDIT”
Lawrence Richmond, MP for Toffley South, came under renewed fire for his proposal to scrap the Freedom Pass system that allows older people and children to travel by bus or train for no charge.
“We have an enormous budget deficit that needs addressing,” Richmond told the House of Commons yesterday, “if people don't want to buy tickets, they can drive their own cars instead.”
Richmond, who lives in an historic 12-bedroom manor house with his wife Victoria and son Horace, has encountered staunch opposition from his political opponents, but his own (continued on page 7.)
COMPETITION: YOUR CHANCE TO WIN NEW NUTTER SET
Be among the first to own a full set of the newly-redesigned Agnes Nutter books, including beloved favourites such as Picking the Winner, Time to Shine, Burn and Out with a Bang by entering our competition.
Nutter herself said of the new covers, “I've always had a special place in my heart for my first novel, Picking the Winner, but this new cover is so vibrant and captures the spirit of the story so perfectly that I think I prefer it to the old one!”
Agnes Nutter's new novel, Blown Out of Proportion, is due out in August and is not included in the prize. (Enter on page 22.)
Back page
[Only the very edge of the page is visible.]
-PORTS
-VICTORY
-JAMES' SIDE”
-ADAMS SMASHES
-APTAIN'S RECORD
-hile Esther James may be the
-tain of the England Women's
-gby Team, her teammate and
-artner Jane Adams has just
-shed her record for the most
-es scored in a single season.
-ams' stunning performance
-sterday's 36-16 victory over
-nd saw her score her 11th and
-try of the season – overtaking
-iend James, who has no for
-eleven tries for the national squad this year.
-asked for comment, Adams
-characteristically modest;
-just an honour to be a
-such a phenomenal team
-score tries with that team.
-team effort, definitely.”
-es was more effusive;
-know I think Jane's the
-credible woman. Now
-he stats prove it.”
-DIT PULSIFER
-VAR ROW
-the first time, football
-tor Newton Pulsifer has
-d to fans after having a
--air dispute with the
-stant Referee during
-'s Premier League
-est Ham U
[The rest of the article is obscured by the hand holding the paper.]
