Greater Díenstad News Feed

[Eitoan]

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Falkowski Announces NMAA Expansion
Agar-Na to Full Membership, Federal Ralkovia Joins as Observer

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Andrew Falkowski today announced the approval of the applications of The Principality of Agar-Na and The Federation of Ralkovian States for full and observer membership, respectively. Speaking at Foreign Affairs in Vladarsik, accompanied by Secretary of Defense and External Security General Eugene Maska, Secretary Falkowski said “I am pleased this morning to tell you that after consultation with our close allies, the application of both our neighbors on the continent for membership in the NMAA has been approved. This step has been taken after careful consideration on the part of all members of NMAA, and many months of detailed analysis and discussions. This step moves forward the security of all democratically inclined states on the northern continent and contributes greatly to the overall stability of western Greater Dienstad. There remains a lot of work to to be done here. A package of upgrades to the Agarese military, for all branches has been submitted by Prince Harold’s government, and is undergoing scrutiny by all NMAA partners. Similarly, the needs of the Federal Ralkovian Self Defense Forces are under review, in coordination with that of the Alliance Komandatura In Razmaki, Federal Ralkovia. I will be flying to Agar to meet with Foreign Minister Count Abravanel and onward to Raskovia to meet Federal Ralkovian Foreign Minister Kartografst vi Sv’rath to finalize the accession of their states to the NMAA in the near future.”


Royal Palace, Agar, Agar-Na

Observers close to Foreign Affairs in Vladarsik noted the timing of the announcement, thirty minutes after the departure of Pavlo Tarasyuk, the
Chairman-Minister of Foreign Relations of the FRCP from a visit to Prince Harold II in Agar. Chairman-Minister Tarasyuk presented a gift to the Agarese prince, a significant gesture in Czaslyudian diplomacy. As standard Agarese protocol, the prince offers an invitation for each incoming head of state to visit the palace upon their accession. In the case of the unexpected turnover in the FPRC, the invitation to the elderly Principle Chairman Anzelm Silarz was rumored to have been delayed in light of his advanced age and the Northern Vanguat Sea situation. A spokesman for the palace has assured diplomats in Agar that an invitation will be issued to Silarz, but it deemed wiser to accept Mr Tarasyuk’s request for a princely audience at the time. It is believed that Foreign Affairs decided to delay the announcement until after Mr. Tarasyuk had concluded his visit so as to avoid any hint of upstaging the Czaslyudian dignitary’s discussions at this delicate time. In Agar, the palace released these remarks by Prince Harold at the time of Mr. Tarasyuk’s audience.

We warmly and sincerely welcome our guest from the FPRC to The Palace, and are most grateful for the gift he has presented. And we look forward to the continuance of amicable relations between The Principality and the Federal People’s Republic, for the mutual benefit and the happiness of our peoples. We are please with the efforts of Prime Minister Shapira and Foreign Minister Abravanel to facilitate this audience.

Attention to the visit by Mr Tarasyuk has been spiked in recent days in anticipation of the arrival of a squadron of The Golden Throne Kriermada to Blue Island, Eitoan, part of a redeployment of naval forces in the west. Blue Island hosts an important Kriermada submarine base, and is on the Czaslyudian border.


Attention Turns North in Second Presidential Debate
Candidates Share View of Recent Vanguat Events

Last night’s presidential debate, the second of this year among all five candidates took an unexpected turn into the turbulent waters of the Northern Vanguat Sea. The discussion at Virden Territorial University, a round robin of the candidates answering questions lobbed from the live audience headed out to sea as second year medical student Patricia Rosenblatt put this query to them: “In light of the disagreement between The Golden Throne and The FPRC, how do you see Eitoan moving forward in the near future with regards to our northern neighbor?”

Proceeding left to right in responses to the question, Communist Brenda Sanders led with an expected rant against all other candidates. Standing tall and proud, the Professor of Literature proclaimed “Eitoan must be steadfast in fighting slaver activity wherever it is found, be it on continent, nearby in the west, or elsewhere. We must fight slavery in all forms, whether chattel slavery as in the Ice States, the peonization of former slaves in so called Free Ralkovia, and where the workers and farmers of Eitoan suffer under an unjust system. I salute the stout actions of the FPRC, and am not one bit surprised that the money masters of Fedala have signed a devil’s agreement with The Ice States. At home, we must work resolutely to free Eitoan workers from the predators of capital. By this I mean all Eitoans, Gemesht Mestizo, Indigines, Ralkoviaks alike, and this includes immigrants too. The slavery of high finance must be put under the control of the people, for the benefit of the people, regardless of it’s origin, be it from Kelso, from Fedala or Novo Orantes. As President, I will stand firm with our brothers and sisters across the border, and throughout Greater Dienstad for the benefit of all!”

Returning to the normal civility of election debates, the three mainstream candidates, steered the discussion back toward a more sober reflection of options. Socialist Kenneth Curtis appeared slightly taken aback by the Communist opinion, and smiled wanly before adding his thoughts. “Well, all principles here are solidly anti-slaver. I think the best approach, with acknowledgement that much of Eitoan diplomacy here has to be taken in the context of amicable relations with neighbors, support of our alliance commitments, and the relative insignificance of actual interaction with The Ice States is to try to steer efforts in a more positive and productive direction with regard to anti-slavery activities. And there’s much going on behind the scene that is not public knowledge. The best thing we cound do, and what I would first seek to do would be to contribute to an easing of tensions in the Northern Vanguat. In light of the recent boat bumping incident, this may already be underway. Here our efforts are important, not only for the overall peace of Greater Dienstad but also continuance of commerce across the border. In this case the member states of the NMAA could be persuaded to play an important role. Prince Harold, for example, appears to be amicable to serve as an intermediary with the Czaslyudians, and The Timocratic Republic certainly would have an interest in maintaining order in the Northern Vanguat. I would do what I could to approach Principle Chairman Silarz about joining with anti-slavery efforts in the region under the auspicies of the Greater Dienstad Regional Council. This would channel his forces to an ongoing multinational operation, one that has proven successful.”

President Shrdlu spoke next. “I want to thank Miss Rosenblatt for that timely question. This is the first opportunity for Eitoans to compare the approaches of all candidates and all parties since this controversy arose. I am, of course, constrained on commenting by my presidential duties from going into much detail about Eitoan diplomatic efforts, but I urge viewers to pay attention to statements from the Department of Foreign Affairs. We are moving forward prudently both through direct diplomacy and other channels. Now, I think the position of the Free Democratic Party is pretty clear in general. We support friendly relations with friendly neighbors, live up to our treaty obligations, and always and in every case act to enhance the security and prosperity of the Eitoan people. I don’t want to delve into hypothetical situations here, and use of this issue to coflate this episode of foreign relations with a party agenda is inappropriate. So I urge all interested to follow the statements of Vice President Koubek and Free Democrat Ghastak and Dashez candidates if there is a greater interest. Overall, I am hopeful that tensions will ease and the status quo in the Northern Vanguat will be restored. And my administration is working tirelessly to that end.”

Civic Platform candidate, former Vice President and current party chief in the Ghastak Kenneth Haan mused on the long term prospects in light of the conflict, and the change of leadership in the FPRC. He told the audience “President Shrdlu brings up a good point about the prospects for an easing of tensions. If going by the response of both parties to the boat bumping affair and Mr. Tarasyuk’s visit in Agar, I am hopeful that is the case. I would note that per a recent analysis by Vyacheslav Kubiyovych in The Korf Enquirer that indicates some in the National Assembly have raised the possibility of some pretty big changes in Czaslyuda. I refer here to the presentation by Assemblyman Danylo Chornyj of Bill 1A25 “Reform of Office of the Principle Chairman”. If passed, this would be quite an interesting change. All of this comes so fast after the change of government in the FPRC that it is hard to know entirely where they stand. What do we know about Ilya Afanasovych Markov, the new Premier? Who is familiar with Principle Chairman Silarz? Does the military view Silarz as a caretaker? What do we know of his health? Who is the power behind the throne? I think that the government has proceeded with the Department of Services grant for infrastructure reparirs initiated by former Premier Serhiyenko is hopeful. As noted in The Enquirer, much repair is needed for the Czaslyudian infrastructure, for repair of electrical generating capacity. This generates demand, and this is for repair of damage caused by their horribly bloody civil war. It is a good sign because Czaslyudia needs money to fix the damage, and this ultimately will move them toward closer and more normal commercial relations with Greater Dienstad. There is only so much they can do to finance these projects, and their economy is already languishing badly under record inflation and unemployment. Now, Eitoan firms can offer some investment. But at this early stage only Golden Throne investment funds, venture capitalist and banks could weather the chance government seizure of assets or default triggered by a sudden reversal of reforms. And as all know, at least those familiar with Dienstadi finance know, fortune follows finance follows Fedala. Only Golden Throne firms have the assets and can weather the risk of such massive financing. And competition for capital in western emerging markets is pretty vigorous; Ladero has made great strides and offers a very attractive environment, and Federal Ralkovia is bringing in investors from all over the region. If reform is sincere, this will demand a move toward repairing relations between the two countries. “

The other outlier candidate, National Democrat Ghastaker Theresa Elear was the last to speak. “The Communists seized upon this question, as always, to put forward their tired old doctrines and agitate the voters to turn against the very traditions that have made Eitoan what it is. And this is why we must stay strong against Communist influence, both here and abroad. I’d have to take a look at my options upon being elected. But in contrast to Miss Sanders, I actually do care about the workers of Eitoan. We can do more or less about the disagreement up north, that’s not my main concern. But we must be very careful about border security and immigration. The FPRC has languished for years under her beloved communism. It’s bad enough that our coastal cities are plagued by immigrant trash; Creolos riff-raff, shady Balkovians. Eitoans come first! In any event, we cannot take in an additional burden if things up north turn out badly. I don’t think Professor Sanders knows or cares about this. And thank god she only gets the attention of shiftless university liberal arts slackers. And when I’m in office, I’ll give them plenty to complain about!’

[Holy Marsh]

Muted Response to TOCAIF: Why?

Mar'si, Holy Marsh, Romani-Mar'si Union- The Theocratic Matriarchy has been silent in response to the treaty signed by the Sona Emperor Fedor and the slave-state of the Ice States, with only scattered statements from lower officials expressing disappointment with the Sona Emperor. Marshism is universal in its condemnation of any and all activity with a slave state, with no real allowances given for pragmatic concerns. Church officials that were willing to speak off the record did indicate that this stance has not changed, and that the Matriarchy does not support the treaty. However, its silence at the moment is proof of another factor in play, and that is the history of the Sona Emperor and the Golden Throne in opposing the slave trade regionally and globally.

It has fought large-scale wars and led diplomatic efforts to contain and destroy the slave trade. Its existence as an anti-slavery power is not in question and while a number of issues exist between the Matriarchy and the Golden Throne, it has often been considered a friendly nation in global affairs primarily because of its anti-slavery efforts. While the black and white nature of Marshism's beliefs regarding slavery prevent allowance, the Throne's anti-slavery efforts complicate a response. The deal itself also is unusual in as much as it doesn't necessitate any real aid to the slave state in question aside from some financial aid to help build a prison, as well as protecting a native faith originating in ice States. While that is still completely disallowed by the edicts of Marshism, the fact is that the Throne is not tied to the Ice States to defend it from any actions taken against it. Therefore, to call it an alliance as the slaver state itself calls the agreement is false, and there is no reason to suspect that this will prevent anti-slavery actions from being taken against the Ice States. Indeed, as a slaver state, a state of war exists between the Theocracy and the Ice States at all times as it has since the inclusion of the slave trade in the nation. A reading of the text of the agreement does not put the Theocracy at cross odds with the Throne in this regard.

The silence from the Arch-Bishop and the lack of any official statement is likely due to disagreements on how to respond to the Golden Throne. It is believed that this will eventally manifest into a public statement and likely a personal correspondence from the Arch-Bishop to the Sona Emperor, though it is not expected for the Theocracy to take any actions or otherwise join in any 'actions' that are being bandied about by others in response. While the official response has been muted at most so far, Marshites in both the Theocracy and the Golden Throne have protested the agreement in correspondence with local laws, led by clergy in the proper methods.

[The Ice States]

Statement on Ongoing Blockade

Earlier this year, we announced sanctions against Greater Ordena for their statement against The Golden Throne due to their announcement of cooperation with our nation in the border of Nicaro. Unfortunately, the Reich has now decided to blockade our nation, and is attempting to block ships entering or leaving our nation. However, we are to resist, and will be deploying divisions of our air force and navy to counter this. To be very clear, we will not cease allowing slavery in response to these blockades. The Reich could have attempted peaceful means to reduce slavery, but instead they elected to attempt coercion and force, which we will not give in to.

Signed _

~Jeramy Vliet,
Duke of Magecastle and WA Ambassador,
The Empire of The Ice States

~Emperor Sotolo II,
Emperor,
The Empire of The Ice States

~Klyprer,
Lord Of The Cosmos,
With behalf of the Chief Scribe,
The Empire of The Ice States

[Czaslyudian Peoples]

*

Shcherbyna Center for Public Policy and Politics

*

Foreign Policy
July 24th, 2022
By Larysa Tokar, Petro Okhrimenko

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Earlier this week, the Federal Republic took a stand against the apparent disregard shown to the Ice States’ slavery policies, specifically regarding the Golden Throne’s TOCAIF, otherwise known as the Treaty of Cooperation Along the Ice Frontier. This developed into a diplomatic confrontation between the FRCP and the Golden Throne, which later evolved into a more physical nature as Czaslyudian vessels as part an anti-slavery task force in the Northern Vanguat Sea intercepted Golden Throne and Ice State vessels indiscriminately.

Now, amidst a buzz of rumors of Golden Throne and Czaslyudian officials coming together in conciliatory talks to prevent open war from breaking out, the Principle Chairman has doubled down on his statement last Sunday– the Czaslyudian Sea Forces can, and will, extend the blockade to ensure that the export of slaves from the Ice States ceases entirely. The naval group will depart from the Eastern Fleet Command’s home port of Korf, consisting of an indefinite number of ships but definitely including many of the capital-grade warships held in reserve against fighting slavers in the Northern Vanguat. The ink has already dried on this act– presumably to support naval operations in the operating area around the Ice States, the FRCP Aerospace Command announced the launch of a new round of minuature satellites, which through radar or other passive means provide much-needed surveillance of vast areas.

This move would serve to have Czaslyudian forces blockade in tandem with Ordenite ones already on the approach– but whether the two navies are cooperating is another matter. The Vice Admiral Omelyan Loboda, current occupant of the office of Commander, Surface Fleet, Vanguat (COMSURFVAN), stated at a press conference that “warships operated by the Reich and our vessels will not be cooperating with one another.” COMSURFVAN went on to say that despite the identical missions of the two fleets, political authorization would be needed for such a thing to happen. “[The Czaslyudian Sea Forces] will mark out our sectors of control, preferably away from [Ordenite vessels] as to maximize the total effectiveness of the blockade as a whole.”

But working towards the same goal as the Reich, in intentional cooperation or not, may not be the best look for the Federal Republic. "While we try to avoid a misstep in the Northern Vanguat that could start a war with the Golden Throne, Czaslyudian warships work together with [the Golden Throne's] greatest enemy. Any deal or correspondence with the Golden Throne after this point could potentially come off as if in bad faith," says senior political analyst Bohdan Omelchuk. That argument, he says, combined with the vileness of the Ordenite Reich, cannot be ignored. "Many of us fought against tyrants in the Second Civil War-- but whatever Smirnov embodied, the Reich has that and more . . . Secret police, concentration camps, all forms of forced labor, albeit of criminals . . . Unless we have lost our vision, we cannot trust the Ordenites."

The anti-slavery action rages on in the Northern Vanguat Sea, with now a total of twenty-nine Golden Throne and Ice State vessels intercepted; as the Czaslyudian naval presence has become more established, its efficiency has increased, making use of routine satellite passes and open-source intelligence to track incoming maritime traffic, easing the burden on the workhorses of this operation, the Rozhnivanyy-Class guard ship. After the bumping, the Navy appears to have a tighter leash on its vessel commanders as the incident has not been repeated. However, the Center has been assured by sources within the Department of War, that the assertiveness (id est aggressiveness) against potentially offending vessels has not changed, in spite of the Golden Throne's naval group 'Samarasta' looming visitation. This is certainly reinforced by grudgingly released clips of low-flying maritime patrol aircraft, reckless maneuvers near offending vessels, and even brief segments from a lengthy board-and-search operation on a cargo vessel flagged under the Ice States. Despite the apparent effectiveness of the Czaslyudian Sea Forces and Border Patrol in projecting its naval power over the Northern Vanguat, there are some that question the actual effect these costly operations will bring. As it stands, not including the outward bound blockade task force, the operations in the Northern Vanguat Sea cost 25.76 million Czaslyudian bills per day in fuel and other operating costs. Meanwhile, though whatever point has most definitely gotten across to whichever adversary, the Czaslyudian Sea Forces have yet to make a major bust. Analysts across the board have so far marked this up to the Ice States merely shifting their trade patterns out of the effective ranges of the Northern Vanguat, but none say that now is the time to pull out.

“Affirming our ability to police our own waters is an important geopolitical tool– and even if the Northern Vanguat is dry, our direct blockade of the Ice States will more than make up for it.” Says Omelchuk.

Citizens on the night of the 23rd reported the departure of leagues of ships from the harbors at Korf, signalling the last piece of evidence that the course our government has taken is set.

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_{The Shcherbyna Center for Public Policy and Politics is a government-funded think tank based in Perekhmisto, FRCP. The opinions expressed here are not necessarily the official position of the Czaslyudian government.}

[The Macabees]

KYSETIAN WARBANDS TO BE INTEGRATED INTO THE REGULARES
Kysetians, armed and utilized by the Golden Throne as pseudo-mercenaries, will be formally integrated into the Ejermacht.




FEDOROGRAD — For years, Kysetian tribesmen from the southcentral Krasnovan steppes have been key allies to the Golden Throne and its armed forces. The relationship began at the tail end of the Second Krasnovan War, when the Golden Throne first extended its control over Pezlevko, Rubino, and their hinterlands. Armed by the Macabéans with light armored vehicles, anti-armor and anti-personnel weaponry, as well as with artillery, the Kysetians have fought for the Golden Throne as an exclusive mercenary force in New Empire and Krasnova. For their service, they were rewarded with an autonomous likutat, or free city, in Krasnova. However, ongoing low-intensity warring with their Chernayan neighbors, as well as the overarching Macabéan goal of consolidating military power in liberated Krasnova, have culminated in the decision to formally bring the Kysetian war bands under the fold of the Ejermacht. These warbands will be integrated as brigade-sized units in the regulares, meaning that they will be posted to locations either directly on the various frontiers or in reserve areas from where they can be quickly moved to a hot zone. The decision has led to some protests from Sofiatsyn, the capital of the Kysetian likutat, although this is unlikely to change the Imperial Beauracracy's policy choice.

The Kysetians made likely allies. Descendents of semi-nomadic tribesmen from southern Krasnova, the Kysetians benefited neither from communist nor fascist rule. The arrival of the Golden Throne in the southern steppes gave the Kysetians an opportunity to stand above the Krasnovan majority population of Pezlevko and Rubino. They were not only given semi-autonomy in their capital, then known as Fryatov, but also earned lucrative contracts from the Ejermacht for their services in New Empire. Not only were they paid for their pacification operations on the subterranean battlefields of the United City States, they were also armed very nearly entirely on the imperial dime. Despite being given, perhaps, the most unattractive postings within the empire, they were spared from the harder fighting on Drana, the mainland island of the Scandinvan Empire. And when it came time to fight against the Ordenites in Krasnova again, they were recalled to protect their homeland.

With the Golden Throne now overlord over a much larger swath of western Krasnova, however, the Kysetian's role has become somewhat obsolete. More so than obsolete, their position as an autonomous army that sits somewhere between a professional ground force and a private military company is seen as a burgeoning threat to the imperial objective of solidifying its status as the monopolist over force. Rather than disband and disarm the Kysetians, the Imperial Bureaucracy has what seems like the more clever plan of simply formally integrating them into the structure of the Ejermacht.

Vikaro Díeg Hahk-Lorán announced the decision earlier this week, having already discussed it with Vicstrategos Gerard Ba'ansolar, commander of Macabéan limikari forces in Sofiatsyn, and the Kysetian Khural. This latter meeting was held behind closed door and is rumored to have predominately turned on negotiations regarding the likutat's political rights, as well as protection guarantees for a likutat which will be denuded of its self-defenses. The Krasnovan free cities already enjoy a status of autonomy greater than that of a province or territory, but Sofiatsyn surely asked for something more in return for suppressing any disgruntlement among the warbands themselves. The discussion may have also included talks on territorial rights, especially the possibility of expanding Sofiatsyn's hinterland to the southern Chernayan steppes. However, no concrete details have emerged and so it's difficult not to speculate.

One detail that is know is that the Ejermacht will increase its limikari garrisons in Sofiatsyn, Chernaya, Rubino, and Pezlevko. Their exact disposition is as of yet unknown, although there are some indications that the bulk of them will be deployed alongside the internal borders with Chernaya. This would have logic to it, as there is a growing tension among the majority Naqadhi Sheikhist population in Chernaya. The Naqadhi had been used by the Ordenite Reich to rule over their peers in Chernaya and have fallen out of favor since the city's liberation, having lost their predominance within the likutat's administration to the Akkadi Sheikhist minority. If a major insurgency breaks out in Chernaya, the Ejermacht will seek to isolate it to the Chernayan likutat itself. Of the 80 million limikari in Krasnova, up to 60 million will be present within those four eastern likutats. Chernaya is also already hosting around 15 million regulares, who form the mainstay frontier defense and mobile field army on the eastern side of free Krasnova. There are another 5 million regulares in Rubino, and a reserve force in Pezlevko. With these combined ground forces, the Golden Throne has guaranteed Sofiatsyn's protection and stability, despite the loss of its warbands.

Another factor behind the Golden Throne's decision to integrate and redeploy the Kysetian warbands is the ongoing settlement of 120 million veterans on the island. Some 15 million will be settled in Chernaya, some in the city but most in new and repopulated communities in the southern steppes. Vast building programs in the likutat have concentrated their efforts along the internal borders with Sofiatsyn and Fedorograd. It is very likely that there is a strategic consideration at play, and that is to provide a thick cordon of loyal communities to further separate the western free cities from radical Chernayan communities. These new settlements have also begun to expand inwards, which may relate to the ultimate intention of removing some land from Chernaya's administrative oversight to Sofiatsyn.

Together, the military deployments and the veteran settlements play an important economic role in persuading the Khural in Sofiatsyn to comply the integration plan. The city has developed a booming economy based largely on the service infrastructure necessary for sustaining a large, permanent force of warbands. These services include arms suppliers, distributors, and mechanics, a growing automotive industrial cluster focused on the provisioning of trucks and military vehicle components, as well as the more benign service industries revolving around food, civilian automobiles and transportation, and the myriad other services that cater to the civilian-side of armed forces life and the horde of civilian contractors who work on-base. Removing the warbands fro Sofiatsyn threatens to collapse this economy. Not so, however, if the vacuum left by the warbands is filled by the manifold times as large imperial war machine.

For their part, the integration of the Kysetian warbands into the regulares will begin almost immediately. The process will begin with the gradual redeployment of these forces to Arras, the enormous island base off the western coast of Díenstad. There, they will be surely reorganized into units compatible with the structure of the Ejermacht. Once complete, it is likely that the Kysetian brigades will be split up and deployed to various postings — from the frontier of New Empire in the east to Samarasta in the west, and from the Killian Republic in the north to Theohuanacu in the south. In particular, however, Free Killia has seen a military buildup since the end of the Second Ordenite War, a title given to the contemporaneous conflicts in Killia and Krasnova (also known as the Fourth Krasnovan War). It will surely be a destination of many of the newly minted Kysetian units within the Ejermacht. Nicaro and Samarasta are also two other likely destinations, as the Ejermacht looks to build up its presence in both areas in light of recent events, specifically its confrontation with the Federal Republic of Czaslyudian Peoples. Nevertheless, the implication is that Kysetian forces will be split up and divided among the various imperial postings, which is unlike their previous utilization by the Golden Throne.

One factor that has produced consternation is that Kysetian units are unlikely to remain homogenously Kysetian. While it was previously policy of the Ejermacht to maintain homogenous units within the regulares, including dividing their field army between citizen personnel and non-citizen auxiliaries, that policy has changed since the reorganization of the ground forces. Now units will be mixed and their constituents can come from anywhere. Although Kysetian units are likely to remain Kysetian at first, over time individual battalions and companies will be moved around, and as casualties take hold their replacements will not necessarily be Kysetian.

Furthermore, the pay structure that Kysetian warbands are accustomed to will change. The pay structure will now be that of the Ejermacht. Typically, this means better salaries for enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers, but it may imply pay cuts for officers who were otherwise accustomed to a larger share of the contract sum as well as bonuses. However, this pay restructuring also means that all Kysetian servicemen will be eligible for the contract fulfillment payout, which includes a settlement bonus and various imperial subsidies to facilitate civilian life after service. Contract fulfillment is defined by 20 years of service and Kysetians will be able to count past years, if they had any, in service as contractors of the Fuermak. For those who prefer to return home after contract fulfillment, it means property that they can sell and recoup the value of, although all settlements are locked in for a period of ten years — this can be appealed on an individual basis.

Because these changes are abrupt and, in most cases, rather significant, the closed-door discussion between Vikaro Hahk-Lorán and the Kysetian Khural has important implications. The Khural and its aggressive, war-proven warbands are unlikely to take the integration lying down, at least not without certain concessions. A redrawing of the internal borders of the eastern likutats, namely those of Chernaya, is one possible way that the Kysetians of Sofiatsyn will be recompensed. Other concessions may include further rights on determining local educational norms, including the teaching of Kysetian as the primary language, something which the Imperial Bureaucracy has not been keen on in the past. Another may be a lowering of the overall tax burden owed by Sofiatsyn to the Golden Throne. And, finally, another point of negotiation may have been the future of Kysetian politicians in Sofiatsyn in the face of a veteran settler population that may eventually grow to be much larger than the native population. These will all be difficult points for the Imperial Bureaucracy to navigate, but it is a challenge that it must see as well worth it if, in the short- to medium-run, it means a faster consolidation of imperial rule over the free cities of Krasnova.

[AHSCA]

United Island Office of Culture and Information (UNICIM)

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Sunday 24 July 2022

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Regional Tension High in Central GD

by: Yuri Saiki, Political Correspondent

Issues are on the rise in the central seas of Greater Dienstad as relations between the states of The Macabees, Greater Ordena, The Ice States and Czaslyudian Peoples are starting to fracture over recent treaty issues with the Golden Throne and the nation's His Imperial Majesty Fedor I ratified The Treaty of Cooperation Along the Ice Frontier (TOCAIF), a major bilateral treaty to bring a period of cooperation between the two imperial governments. The treaty drew ire of the Ordena government, signaling the treaty to be a tacit endorsement or pardon of the Ice States continued open practice of slavery in the region and condemned the hypocrisy of of Emperor Fedor I for agreeing to such measure.

It should be known that the nations have had long term unfriendly relations between them, notably with the Golden Throne formally condemning the Reich in the World Assembly Security Council in 2018 for similarly accused abuses of human and sapient rights, while on the contrary, The Golden Throne was commended a year prior, citing military accomplishments and a history of other exemplary commendations to other states, including long time friend to the UIS, Lamoni. As the UIS is not a member of the World Assembly, the government has not had any strong opinions in regards to resolutions of the General Assembly or Security Council nor is using them as a gauge of the ongoing issue at hand.

The Reich's condemnation of the Golden Throne drew immediate response in return from the Golden Throne and subsequent nations have also voiced their opinions. While the back and forth has continued in words between the nation's government, a new issue arose when a ship bumping incident occurred, as reported by Korf Enquirer,

July 18th, the Czaslyudian Border Patrol vessel Sulyma,came into contact with a Macabean trade vessel after being vectored by aircraft. The vessel was asked to stop or slow for inspection but apparently defied or was unaware of orders leading to the Patrol vessel to bump it, bumping be a less severe alternative to a full ramming which would be far more aggressive and could be considered a far more hostile act on their part.

The incident is an extreme one, and as reported by Fedala Inter Golden Throne's warning that any seizure and search of a ship flying its flag or that of its federal constituents would result in military action. This incident is sure to lead to increased military and naval activity in an area already in the middle of a heightened alert level with the nations and their allies continuing to exchange heated correspondence with one another and now as of July 21, The Reich has now enacted a naval blockade of the Ice States.

Here at home, the ongoing trouble has raised attention of the government in the Foreign Office and reportedly up to Her Majesty the Duchess. At present, none of the mentioned states have direct ties or diplomatic missions with AHSCA or vice versa, and all nations are considered neutral (or normal) in regards to UIS foreign policy. Central Greater Dienstad houses Holy Marsh, a popular destination for island tourists but as of now, no travel restrictions have been enacted for UIS vessels but a minor advisory was formally dispatched to all ship companies that travel the region. As of now, ships are advised to swing further south then turn northward if heading to Holy Marsh or other nearby nations, or citizens are advised to seek alternative transports to said nations, such as traveling to nearer Abetton, Lamoni or Mokastana and seeking transit from there. Her Highness issued a brief statement on the ongoing matters,

"As of now, the issues at large are mostly a concern to those of the central and northwestern areas of the region, much of the UIS imports and exports go to nations of the eastern and northeast areas. As always, we will continue to watch the situation but we see no concern for AHSCA at present."

. Members of UNIFRO expressed similar statements to Her Highness saying the issue is being monitored but right now this mostly remains the situation of the mentioned nations and remains an issue likely for the WA to work out if at all.

[New Tupioca]

Colonial News Bulletin
King Harold Condemn Recent Pirate Activity in Northern New Tupioca; " is a threat to global harmony and trade"

The most recent attack on a freighter bound for one of the Grand Kingdom's many ports has sent shock and terror through out the populous of the territories of Tupioca. Yesterday a cargo freighter called the Midnight Express was ambushed fifteen nautical miles off the coast of New Tupioca. It is unclear at this moment which group is responsible or if this attack was executed by a smaller fringe pirate gang but what is clear is the level of brutality that was left behind as evidence for the rest of the Kingdom and the world to see. Royal Marines attached to the GRNS Wolfbane were the first on board after the warship intercepted the freighter upon seeing black smoke bellowing out from a gaping hole on the starboard side of the vessel. The spokesman for the Royal Navy and Marines, Lord Gurtha Bloodmoon gave a statement which painted a detailed and graphic picture as to what transpired during the attack and once the pirates were on board.

"As of 1200 today local time, His excellence the King and the War Department were completely briefed on the Midnight Express Incident. Here is what we are releasing to the public. Yesterday at 0530 Colonial Time, a group of unknown assailants attacked the Midnight Express with heavy weapons and automatic weapons from a retrofitted fishing vessel of some kind. They disabled the rudders of the ship by firing large autocannon rounds which robbed the ship of being able to evade the pirates. Shortly after the attack was initiated a distress call was made to the local garrison at Millstown to which the GRNS Wolfbane which was twenty nautical miles away from the Midnight Express on a patrol mission. At around 0600 the first crew member was killed once the pirates boarded the vessel using grappling hooks and ladders, upon securing the bridge the remaining ten crew members and five officers were rounded up on the main deck and one by one were systematically executed. Their bodies were then tied upside by the feet to hang off the side of the ship. All of this happened within an hour of the initial attack by the pirates at 0530. Once the Wolfbane had arrived at the scene the pirates were already gone and thus the Royal Marines onboard were tasked with investigating the ship and clearing it.

We have notified all next of kin and are working together with the shipping company Trident Global Logistics who is the owner of the Midnight Express and our own intelligence services to gather any and all information and to conduct a full investigation. As of right now we have also reached out to our many trade partners and notified them of the heightened pirate activity near New Tupioca and to avoid those shipping lanes until the Grand Kingdom can address the issue fully and curb the pirate incursion that is affecting many. I will not be taking any questions, thank you"

Many at home are blaming lax colonial laws and corruption in the colony for the rise in piracy from the colony. Others are critical of the crown even going as far as suggesting the King himself is taking a cut of the profits these pirates get. These claims are unsubstantiated and false but none the less criticism of the crown can't be good for the goings on in the Royal Court. Shortly after the press statement the King himself made a small televised address,

"We're going to get justice for those men and women who were killed on the Midnight Express and I have ordered a special task force to be formed to deal with these pirate scum. I have also ordered the Royal Navy to hunt down any pirates and to execute on sight. We will not take any prisoners who fly the black flag or who call themselves pirates. Piracy in New Tupioca is a threat to global harmony and trade. Which we will not just sit idly by and watch what we have worked so very hard to achieve be jeopardized by scum and villainy,"

With the Crown now focused more intently on the happenings in the colony it will be interesting to see what the Governor will do. I attempted to reach out to his office for a statement on the recent attacks but it seemed that the Governor was too busy for a statement.

[Phibeta]

Scenes From The Opera Which Has Garnered Huge Success

The Weston Royal Opera Company has completed its first weekend run of the opera, The Butcheress of Sauville. The Weston Mail has covered the opera in great detail. Still, to sum up, the opera tells a story about a Phibetan sailor, Johann Pharage who finds himself in the capital city of Abetton, Sauville, and meets a famed butcheress, Bella Reynolds (a stand-in for Queen Beatrix, the monarch of Abetton during the War of 1861). She is known around the town for picking up orphaned streets children and putting them to work in her butcher shop, but unbeknownst to the sailor or the ignorant citizens of the city, the butcheress does the most horrific acts to the children which we won’t give spoilers to right now, but let’s just say she is called a butcheress for more than two reasons.

The original production in the 1860s was a rousing success, with Their Majesties, the Three Sibling Monarchs in attendance on opening night. Critics were in love with its patriotic and Cardinal themes. It swelled national and imperial pride which played into Phibeta’s foreign policies in the late 19th Century.

Today, on its first-weekend revival since the 1960s, the opera has once again garnered success, which is expected for the Weston Royal Opera Company. It has earned over £3.5 million in box office sales and raving reviews from critics. “This opera speaks to us once again on political issues we hold dear,” says the theater critic, Rodney Egbart. “We need more political commentaries, even from olden times so we never, not even once, forget what we stand for”. Others fell in love with the plucky sailor, played by Keelan O’Davoren, a famed actor on the West End. They also booed (not in a mean way) and cheered at the butcheress, who is played by Karly Whitmeister, a newcomer on the stage who has proven her worth in this production. Some other critics have criticized the opera for its ultra-nationalistic themes throughout the opera.

“It has that air of arrogance over the nation of Abetton it would seem,” says music critic Dean Williams, “We live in a time where we tread on dangerous waters between nationalism and patriotism, or in this case artistic freedom. Though it sports a good message of protecting a nation’s youth, that message might be muddled under anti-Abetton sentiment or pro-Phibetan Nationalism”. Just earlier this week, Abetton’s parliament wrote a bill to condemn the opera, trying to ban it from entering the country. It failed Spectacularly. Nationalist Party Leader, Clifford Sellers (MP for Mondola) said “Abetton politicians are soft in the heart. They must learn to deal with such heavy and true criticisms like we do, us whose hearts are of oak and nerves of steel”. Others have concerns over the popularity of the opera. “This could do serious damage to our relationship with Abetton, especially since we have just reestablished an embassy this year after the isolationism of the 1980s thanks to the Nationalists,” says Liberal MP Cora Powell from Faerieheaven.

“This revival doesn’t focus on the things that Abetton practiced back in the day, but rather focuses on the message that stands relevant today,” says Alexander Karinsky, the director of the Weston Royal Opera Company in response to these concerns. “If we do not learn from history, whether through school or through art, we might be doomed to repeat it. There are nations out there today that are enslaving children, taking their rights away. We must think of the children”.

In any case, the opera’s success has proven so well, that talk has begun from the board of directors to take this show on tour, being the first opera production to go overseas since the company’s commonwealth tour of the operetta “Pirates of Easthaven” in 1962. Tour details are yet to be announced. We wish the Weston Royal Opera Company another successful run this week!

Richard Boston, head-editor for The Weston Mail

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OPINION COLUMN: Our Concern in Central GD

Submitted by: Harold Langley, MP from Drumbreck

The has been increased tension within Central GD. It is a tension we have not seen since the early 20th century. We see that there are also similarities to the current state of tensions to ones Phibeta held back in the 1850s against the then-aggressive empire of Abetton. How can one think of how this all happened. One must go back a bit to figure out the reason why.

What we know so far is that an alliance formed by The Golden Throne, the Macabees, and The Ice States has been condemned by Ordena which also caused a stir with the FRCP. Some time this month, a blockade was announced against The Ice States. And all of this happened over the topic that has been a topic of contention since the Age of the Three Monarchs. The institution of slavery.

It was because of slavery, one of many reasons, that we have gone to war against Abetton in the 1860s. For generations, we have had a policy of raiding slave ships on the high seas which carry on as a policy of the Phibetan Royal Navy. It is condemned by our almighty Cardinal Heroes.

Our empire may not be as strong as it was back in the day, but our morals still hold strong that slavery is an institution that can not exist in this day of liberty. But we must pose the question of whether or not we ought to be involved?

It should be clear what our stance is. It is to condemn nations that continue to practice slavery. But it is treacherous waters to deal with. We are good friends with the Golden Throne and an observer of the Greater Dienstad Regional Council. We recognize that the Golden Throne has good intentions in securing peace with treaty and pen. But we can not ignore that The Ice States practices slavery.

What we should do for now is wait for what nation in Central GD does next to determine our policy. But we look scornfully at the Ice States for their disgusting continuation of slavery. I am sure that all that will be changed is our shipping lanes being rerouted to avoid the central region.

We will continue to monitor the situation and will respond if needed. What is important is the honor and glory of liberty around the world.

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The Tinkervale Railyard Which is Preparing Class PA-1029 Steam Engines For the Steam Festival

The 45th Annual Tinkervale Steam Festival Opens Today

Tinkervale’s 45th Annual Steam Festival begins to much fanfare! The Steam Festival celebrates the many inventions that fueled Phibeta’s industrial revolution and empire back in the late 19th Century. Innovations include steam locomotives, steam carriages, steam riverboats, steam airships, and even a replica of a steam engine created in 1831 by engineer Robert Carlton that was used in mines around Phibeta to pump out water from the underground will all be seen at the grand festival. There will also be

The age of steam was the age of elegance, splendor, and glory for Phibeta, often referred to as the Steampunk Era. This lasted until 1917, when coal-powered steam machines were replaced with cheaper and more efficient oil-powered diesel engines. Landships were replaced with tanks, airplanes replaced airships. It was a transition from an age of class and elegance, to an age of simplicity and efficiency.

“It is truly a celebration of an era gone by,” says Winston Hesseldoff, the president of the festival committee. “It is a celebration when our Three monarchs ruled our empire and when steam was our way of life”. Many exhibitors wear Steampunk-era costumes and military uniforms. There will be reenactments of military battles of the day with the use of these steam-powered machines. There will also be live music and exhibit stores where guests can purchase related items and machinery.

“It is a reminder of when we just started to grasp the concept of energy by other means,” says Minister for Energy and Industry, Ms. Tanimoto Yumiko, Conservative MP for Appleby, who will be appearing to open the festival. “Coal burned better than wood, and with the ingenuity of the 1800s, we were able to modernize our society. Though we have committed to cleaner and more efficient energy, we must not forget how far we have come, from the dirty coal machines to cheaper diesel fuel, to clean wind, solar, and nuclear energy”.

We hope that the festival is a complete success!

Elenna Harding, culture editor for The Weston Mail

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Other headlines

Prime Minister Sousa Grants £25.5 Million For The Royal Navy For Continued Patrol of The High Seas Against Piracy and Slavery

Meterologists Predict A Week of Heatwaves in The Southern Region of Phibeta. Residence advised staying cool and indoors

Lillian Lawson, Minister for Overseas Territories Prepares For Memorial Service In Honour of Gilligan Isles Disaster of 1810

[Tangatarehua]

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OPINION: BY STAYING NEUTRAL, TANGATAREHUA TAKES A DANGEROUS ROAD

27th July 2022

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OPINION
As tensions rise in central Greater Dienstad following the signing of the TOCAIF, neutral nations like Tangatarehua are facing unprecedented pressure to take sides

Since the adoption of a pacifist constitution in 1979, Tangatarehua has taken a foreign policy position of cordial neutrality that was once expressed by the maxim, "Friend to all and enemy to none."

This policy has until now been largely successful - the nation has not been involved in any major conflict since the South Pacific War of the 1970s, our economy has undergone a rapid expansion and we are generally seen as a safe, stable nation for foreign investors and foreign tourists.

But recent events both across the globe and within our region may force a foreign policy rethink, while public dissatisfaction grows at the direction that the Rangatira is steering the nation. There are now vocal calls from across the political spectrum to place Tangatarehua's foreign policy in the hands of the democratically elected government, with the supposedly neutral and technocratic foreign policy of the Rangatira and Department of State coming under fire for being out of touch with the values of modern Tangatarehua.

The Rangatira is now facing growing and continuous criticism for his disturbingly close relationships with some of the world's most brutal dictators and human rights abusers while at the same time alienating more liberal and democratic nations with which modern Tangatarehua shares values.

In February, the Rangatira rejected a request from the Republic of Xuande-Xiphoi to use Tangatarehua as an aircraft refuelling point, on the grounds that such a request would violate Tangatarehua's position of neutrality and anti-militarism. This decision, taken with no controversy as it is in line with longstanding policy, nevertheless should highlight a reality that modern Tangatarehua refuses to address: The strategic importance of our location at the edge of Greater Dienstad.

Tangatarehua controls an exclusive economic zone 11 times larger than its landmass, and effectively controls waters through which almost every ship coming to and from this region must traverse. Requests like that from Xuande-Xiphoi are unlikely to cease and with them will come growing pressure for the nation to exert its influence for or against certain blocs of nations.

In May, in light of growing public pressure, the Rangatira signed Tangatarehua up as an observer member of several anti-slaver organisations and released statements calling the slave trade "morally incorrect". If the Rangatira was serious about his opposition to slavery, why then does he not choose to order the Tangatarehua Self-Defence Force to blockade our large EEZ and prevent slaver ships from passing through our waters?

Instead, the Rangatira has announced that he is seeking formal diplomatic relations with the notorious slaver nation The Ice States, a move that both mimics and seems to tacitly endorse the strategy of the The Macabees in seeking a conciliatory approach. This is on the back of an alarming trend that has seen, for example, the Rangatira strike up a close friendship with the Supreme Leader of Crossoveria, an infamously authoritarian regime notable for widespread human rights abuses.

What we are seeing therefore is not so much 'neutrality' as a Rangatira who out of one side his mouth will join with the democratic world in condemning slavers, dictators and rights abusers while out the other side of his mouth is happy to entertain such leaders and grant them legitimacy.

In theory the constitution grants the Rangatira carte blanche to dictate foreign policy to prevent changes of government resulting in changes in foreign policy, therefore preventing an unpredictable landscape for foreign investors and trade. What we are seeing instead is the development of a clear conflict between the democratic will of the Rehuan people and a man who seems to be a relic of a time when we too were a slave-trading, human rights abusing, military dictatorship.

Though the Rangatira clearly intends to position Tangatarehua as a nation who can broker peace by befriending both sides of the current conflict, the truth is that our current path runs the risk that we will become "Enemy to all and friend to none."

Dr. Miri Waimarie is a lecturer in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Kaitohura. Her opinions are her own and do not represent the views of Tangatarehua Ao.

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Comments:

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Taiohiwhuk ­­↑↓
The Rangatira comes from a family of military dictators so of course he feels comfortable in the company of other dictators. Until he is gone, Tangatarehua will never be a democracy.
(Auto-translated from Maori) see original

Kotehiahia1963 ↑↓
50 years ago we were proud and feared across the seas of Greater Dienstad. Now we kowtow to peasants and inferior western pigs. What shame our ancestors must feel when they look to our generation!
(Auto-translated from Maori) see original

Matau555 ↑↓
Does this writer seriously recommend we abandon neutrality? Does she wish once against for us to be revited by the horror of war? Will this nation never learn from its past?
(Auto-translated from Maori) see original

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[Mokastana]

Motokatan Newswire

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How will the Oligarchy respond?
The Ice States blockaded, tensions rising, and a long border to secure.

Cho Dokgo

As the Greater Ordenan and FRCP fleets continue to set up a blockade around the Slaver State of The Ice States, little has come from the People's Unified Federation regarding the situation. No formal statements from the Foreign Ministry, and no directives from Mokastana City to Motokata City. So far it has fallen on State Holder Hoshi Oda to decide the direction Motokata will take. So far the young leader of Motokata has been working closely with military and civilian leadership to find a way to navigate this tense moment. State Holder Hoshi Oda released a statement to the Motan people earlier today:

The issue of the blockade of The Ice States is one we must address. As has been tradition, relations between the Oligarchy of Motokata and The Ice States has not been a priority. Our policy of sanctuary remains in effect. While we have not limited trade with this neighbor beyond reasonable legal limits, we must recognize the current situation as it is. Increased travel advisories and border security are to be expected. As will the additional support from the People's Unified Federation and regional allies.

As long as we share a border with The Ice States, we must be mindful of their practices, and the consequences thereof.

Based on this message, citizens near the border may have noticed a stronger security presence than normal. Although trade and relations with The Ice States has been historically minimal, such a large land border has necessitated some relations. Travel between the two nations has always been difficult, and recently Travel advisories for the Ice States have been raised from "Ill advised" to "Potentially Hostile", the highest level of warning issued. This level is normally reserved for nations in an active war, or uncooperative nations on the verge of one.

For readers unfamiliar with the Motokatan "Policy of Sanctuary", the Motokatan government (and by extension, the PUF government) allows any person who enters Motokata to claim sanctuary based on religious, sexual, racial, or enslaved persecution. Such persons can be handed over to Federal or Motokatan refugee programs to help them rebuild a new life as a freed person. This policy has resulted in numerous illegal border crossings from The Ice States into Motokata, and the major border patrol efforts currently in place to ensure those refugees are found and saved.

As our readers may be aware, The Oligarchy of Motokata joined the People's Unified Federation only a few short years ago, and has been undergoing numerous reforms to fit with the Federation since then. However, the government of Motokata is still allowed to handle some foreign relations for itself, and sometimes even on behalf of the Federation. In addition, the government of Motokata can request additional support from the Federation in the form of economic, diplomatic or military aid. It is currently expected that the PUF Navy will be sending additional fleets to help secure Motokatan waters and trade routes in the coming months. While there are some reports of Mokan and Wellovian troops being redeployed to Motokata, no official numbers have been released.

[Castille de Italia]

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RISING TENSIONS FUEL MARKET CONCERNS
News that the Golden Throne, the largest political and economic hegemony in Greater Dienstad, is engaging
in broad political and economic relations with a rogue slaver state worries Chambreau Square investors


Pictured: A stock trader watches stock values on the main board in the Preslaff Stock Exchange (PresEX) at Chambreau Square in Preslaff. Thursday's day of
trading saw prices fall drastically due to concerns of a major conflict due to political tensions regarding slavery in the region. (AM Photo/Julius Bougain)

PRESLAFF - Markets continued to slump today as the Preslaff Stock Exchange (PresEX) reported more losses. This comes at the same time President Faring had to reluctantly admit last week that the Federation's economy is currently in recession after two quarters of negative economic growth and rising inflation. With an incredibly unpopular war thousands of miles away in Asadabad and a number of political scandals facing the Faring Administration, continuing market losses spell doom for Faring's Labour Party in coming midterm elections for the Federal Senate.

Today's market slumps were precipitated by the announcement of the treaty of cooperation between the Golden Throne, Greater Dienstad's primary economic and political hegemony, and the Ice States, a notorious rogue slaver state. Analysts fear the tolerance of outright chattel slavery by the Golden Throne will lead to conflict between it and anti-slaver coalitions such as signatories of the CASTLE Accords. In an interesting turn of events though, the Greater Ordenan Reich has opted to declare a naval quarantine of the Ice States by way of the Kriegsmarine as a response to the treaty and the Ice States domestic policy on slavery.

Meanwhile, recession had been a fear for many in both the executive, in the legislature, and on Chambreau Square for months. The report issued last week by the Federal Economic Data Office, an agency of the Central Bank of the Castillian Federation, has put the President in a tough position after his legislative agenda has been continuously foiled by leaders from the Conservative Party. Despite this, President Faring met with Senatorial leaders earlier this week to discuss an economic aid package to help stimulate the economy and provide stimulus checks for consumers. Julianna Montchalin, Senate Minority Leader, stated that herself and members of her party were open to passing parts of a stimulus package but would oppose stimulus checks as Conservatives argue it would further increase inflation.

Fortunately for the President, the Federal Senate passed a ₴569 million ($742 million) bill to reinvigorate semiconductor manufacturing in Castillia, after nearly two years of shortages affecting wide swathes of industry in the country. The President is expected to the sign the bill into law tomorrow morning.

On the international stage, President Faring in a statement released by Mountbatten Manor strongly condemned the treaty and cooperation with a slaver state, however noted that at this time the Federation would not allow itself to become party to any part of the rising tensions in the region over the treaty. Citing the continuing war in Barjaanistan and Asadabad, which saw a weekly casualty report of 117 Castillian troops killed in action last week, Faring stated that the Federation is already preoccupied with anti-slaver operations in the region.

Many were quick to criticize Faring as Barjaanistan has been widely known as another slaver state, of which Castillian engineers were assisting with developing a nuclear energy program. The Senate Select Committee on Dienstadi Affairs is still investigating the Faring Administration's involvement in Barjaanistan, with Michel Dussopt, former Director of the Presidential Office of Operations being subpoenaed by the committee last month to testify regarding the connections between the Administration and Barjaanistani oil princes, the latter of who are widely believed to be large benefactors of the regional slave trade.

As for ordinary Castillians, many are anxious to see a change in leadership. Polling shows Faring's approval rating at 37%, higher than it was at this point last year but still significantly lower than when he took office three years ago. There is an old adage is that consumers vote with their wallets, and with mass fears of recession turning into fears of a depression, it will surely reflect come midterm elections in December.

[The Macabees]

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LAND SALES PROGRAM KICKS-OFF ACROSS IMPERIAL FEDERATION
As millions of veterans settle throughout the territories and satrapies, the Imperial Bureaucracy makes land available to developers.


Click here for a larger version of this reference map.


FEDALA ⁠— As veterans of the Gothic War continue to settle throughout the imperial federation, the Imperial Bureaucracy sees with good eyes the acceleration of land sales in the newly acquired territories and satrapies. With more consumers, freshly laden with their discharge bonuses, flowing into their respective settlement areas, adjacent property values have buoyed. Land sales have long been an important component of the Imperial Bureaucracy's fiscal strategy, especially as a means of avoiding further tax hikes which could upset the political balance within its various federative members. The land auctions will be done in tranches and not all eligible imperially-owned land will be sold, with large swathes of it still to be held back from markets for various reasons usually to do with local variations in the security situation.

The next round of auctions that have been declared by the Imperial Bureaucracy will be held, specifically, in southern, western, and central Theohuanacu, Holy Panooly, Pan-Zarbia, Monzark, much of Free Krasnova, the surface of western and central New Empire, southern Guffingford, and northern Nicaro. Common to all of these targeted areas is a much-improved security situation, deemed 'militarily secured' and 'at peace.' Together with a dramatic influx of rewarded veteran settlers, property values have burgeoned to the point where the Imperial Bureaucracy senses it can make a healthy profit from these initial rounds of auctions. An estimated 20 percent of imperially-owned land in these sectors will be auctioned off in a series of rounds, the expectation being that as new property developers come in subsequent rounds will see higher sale prices. It is a profit-maximizing strategy for an Imperial Bureaucracy that needs to replenish its coffers after a long war against the Scandinvan Empire in Gholgoth and the wars against the Ordenite Reich in Holy Panooly, Krasnova, and Killia, without mentioning the fiscal burdens of ongoing counterinsurgencies in southern Nicaro, southern Indras, and southwestern New Empire.

These competitive auctions will sell the property titles to land sold by the hectare, with pre-packaged options available to private buyers to accommodate a variety of investments. While private rounds of auctions were already held to sell the land for the volume of residential development necessary to accommodate the veteran settlements, it's expected that a large chunk of these upcoming rounds to also go towards residential land development. Growing economies, cheaper property costs, and new opportunities will attract millions of citizens and territorials looking for new lives, so property markets in the newly acquired territories and satrapies are expected to be hot throughout the next decade. Investors will also be looking to build factories, malls, storefronts, port facilities, distribution facilities, and other businesses that will thrive in the new environment. The land auctions are designed to help investors plan correctly.

Unlike in some countries, the property sale is not a lease, but a true sale. The land will, of course, be considered the domain of the Imperial Bureaucracy, as well as the regional, prefectural, and local governments. Property holders will be liable to the law. But, the property holder will be allowed to subdivide, sell, transfer through inheritance, et cetera; property holders will have full rights under federal imperial property laws. This policy is partly a means of increasing the upfront revenue of the sale but is mostly a product of the Golden Throne's legal tradition, which has always highly valued property rights and the freedom to do business. The Imperial Bureaucracy will also indirectly earn from taxes related to property sales and capital gains throughout its lifecycle, and so there is a long-term revenue to the auctions beyond the auction price itself.

There is another long-term revenue source expected from the economic growth that will surely arise from property development. Growing incomes imply increased income tax revenues, which trickles back to the Imperial Bureaucracy through the arranged tax liabilities owed to it by the province, territory, satrapy, or likutat. They also imply higher rates of consumption and therefore higher consumption tax revenues. Businesses are not usually taxed on their revenues or profits, but the Imperial Bureaucracy has in recent years taken to capital gains taxes. These are partially a policy tool to control the inflow of foreign capital, but is also seen as part of an overall compact with 'big business' to tax at the capital investment stage but not at the corporate income state, with the intention of avoiding what many economists consider to be a 'double tax.' As corporations grow and new companies come into formation as a result of the ongoing broadening of the imperial economy, the overall value of the capital stock is set to rapidily expand. And it goes almost without saying that the economic expansion of the domestic imperial economy will see a concomitant expansion of the financial network and the volume of financial capital.

Finally, there is an expected lift to imperially-owned land that is not necessarily within the zones of expected fast-paced economic development. The bulk of imperially-owned land, which was acquired through treaties with the regional governments, is rural and far from the population centers. As more settlers flow into new urban developments, the adjacent land once considered non-economic now gains value. This logic is extended as these local economies grow and more people migrate to these areas. As more land becomes economically valuable, it is expected that the Imperial Bureaucracy will choose to auction it off.

All of these economic considerations play into the Imperial Bureaucracy's decision to accelerate the pace of its auctions in the coming months and years. Veteran settlements demand additional products and services; the costs of war demand additional revenues without overtaxing imperial subjects; the pacification of most of the newly acquired portions of the empire provides a 'security bonus' to land values; the Imperial Bureaucracy expects growth in its future tax revenue inflows.

Economic growth in regions like Nicaro, Holy Panooly, Pan-Zarbia, Theohuanacu, Indras, Samarasta, Free Killia, and New Empire will bring about a parallel expansion of the Golden Throne's domestic trade networks. We are already beginning to see this as trade volumes between western and central Greater Díenstad, as it concerns the empire, have grown exponentially. The flow of goods between Nicaro and the core provinces, the core provinces and New Empire, and generally between all of the limbs of the imperial federation has been expanding at a rapid pace and is only set to grow much more quickly as these economies are rapidly developed. Likewise, the financialization of these economies — necessary to even bring about their development and growth — implies thicker, more widespread capital flows. In short, these are exciting times for the imperial economy.

No wonder the Imperial Bureaucracy has been increasingly aggressive in protecting its trade routes. As more and more of the empire is pacified, the focus turns to consolidation and development. Securing the infrastructure that will make this development — including the expansion of both private and public services — possible, is already one of the primary priorities of His Imperial Majesty's government. This means punishing states that seek to interrupt the empire's success, such as the FRCP; as well as seek out greater geopolitical stability within central Greater Díenstad, like maintaining the armistice with the Ordenite Reich and seeking out mutually beneficial diplomatic solutions with pariah — but, otherwise peaceful — states like TIS.

Economic expansion brings change, and change brings social and structural transformations that the Imperial Bureaucracy will have to navigate. These transformations bring benefits as well as costs; past transformations have been associated with revolutions and, at least at a minimum, social anxieties and upheavels. How His Imperial Majesty's government, and that of his successors, will handle these challenges remains to be seen. In the short run, regardless, the Imperial Bureaucracy is set on facilitating these processes as a means of replenishing its coffers and growing its long-run revenue inflows. To this, it has always been committed.

[The Ice States]

The Ice Herald - New Year of 1414 Begins
1 January 1414 - by Reporter Arthur Reutzel

Earlier today, fireworks and lights were seen Stonegrad and many other major population centres of The Empire, as the year of 1414, in the Ice Calendar, had just begun. The Ice States currently remains in a state of crisis as the nation remains victim of a blockade spearheaded by the FRCP, Greater Ordena, and Holy Marsh. The military is still working on solidifying a response to the crisis, and talks with The Golden Throne to secure foreign aid are still underway.

The Divine Scribe of The Ice States, Theodore Lowney, released a public statement this morning on behalf of the Lord of the Cosmos _

It is indeed a dire situation right now. But the Lord and guardian of the world has affirmed to me that we need to continue to press along, and persevere until we can defeat those who hate us for our difference with them. Klyprer will indeed help us go through this safely. To our enemies, your attempts to make us give up our godly-sanctioned culture have not, and will never, succeed. Here is to the future and to celebrate the new year.

This statement has been met with applause and Icers remain hopeful for the future. Temples have also been filled as Icers pray for the end of the blockade and that The Ice States can make it from this desperate situation.

[Mahdah]

WORKERS AND PEASENTS DAILY

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PEOPLES LIBERATION ARMY VOWS TO SAFEGUARD THE REVOLUTION IN ANALEUTHOCOSIA
North Mahdah Military Exercise to be conducted within the Kyurengyan Military Region bordering Analeuthocosia.

Yazdābād - With the ongoing people's struggle in neighboring Analeuthocosia the People's Liberation Army have announced the commencement of the North Mahdah Military Exercise which will take place in the Kyurengyan Military Region. The military exercise is expected to involve over 200,000 members of the People's Liberation Army from the Ground Forces, the Air Force and even the Navy. The ongoing revolution occurring in Analeuthocosia must not be impeded and it will become the duty of the People's Liberation Army of Mahdah to safeguard the revolution and defeat the AIKLA's enemies. The only course of history acceptable for the people of Analeuthocosia is the course to Socialism through the vanguard party. The fascists in Kozani will not stand in the way of progress and will be swept aside by fire if necessary. The exercise will look to highlight the progress the PLA have made in it's modernization campaign which began in 2018.

The People's Liberation Army commanded by the Mahdavian Communist Party and it's General Secretary Ali Qaesmi look to establish a clear precedent for the People's Revolutionary Republic as it maintains the goal of World Communism. The fascists and imperialists will be defeated one by one and the masses of workers and peasants will be freed from their shackles no longer a slave.

[The Macabees]

'KING-IN-EXILE' LEONID ILYICH KUSMAN IS PROCLAIMED DEAD
The self-called 'king-in-exile' of Krasnova disappeared in waters south of Stevid.


FEDALA — Although Krasnova has not had a tsar in ages, the idea of a restored monarchy saw a restoration to some popularity in the aftermath of the Fourth Krasnovan War. Whether as a result of the wanton death and destruction which has resulted from the past four wars of the last decade, or after the failure of successive communist and fascist governments to bring peace and stability, many in Krasnova have begun to flirt with the return of the tsardom. As rebellion rages in Ordenite Krasnova, one can hear the rebels cry out "God save the Tsar!" And across the frontier, in the Golden Throne's free cities, the monarchists have been some of the greatest resisters to imperial rule, being blamed for the Budyovo Markets Bombing. The man who has tried to rally these disparate monarchist factions was Leonid Ilyich Kusman, the so-called 'tsar-in-exile' who has lived in Fedala, the Golden Throne, for almost his entire life. Said to be the last direct descendant of the last tsar of Krasnova, Kusman made an increasingly vocal bid to be returned to what he deemed his rightful place. That dream is now gone, as Kusman's return flight to Krasnova — one of the few trips to the country he has made, although he intended to return for good — suffered a critical engine failure and was lost over the central Greater Díenstadi seas.

The exact cause of the accident remains unknown and a search-and-rescue operation has been unable to find the wreckage. In the late hours of the same day that the aircraft was reported missing, the Kríermada in cooperation with Stevidian government and naval authorities, who regularly patrol those waters, launched a significantly-sized task force to find the remains of the lost plane. It is not known exactly where the flight was lost, although the accident occurred somewhere in the waters between the southern Stevidian Isles, Independent Hitmen, northern Theohuanacu, and Adaptes Astrates — a possible area of over three million square kilometers. Some thirty ships and thirty-five aircraft are said to be involved in the recovery mission. It might take years before the aircraft's black box can be recovered if it is ever found at all.

Kusman boarded Echo Air Flight 987 early morning yesterday. Previously on house arrest for suspicions of involvement in the Budyovo Markets Bombing, imperial security authorities had recently cleared him and restored freedom of movement. He is said to have rejected the opportunity to fly to Krasnova on a government passenger aircraft, preferring instead to organize his own transportation to the island. Sources close to his entourage claimed that most of the details were worked out quickly and in relative secrecy.

The 'tsar-in-exile' was flying with his wife, Sonina Dominika Kusmana. She too is of distant aristocratic blood, her ancestors belonging to what used to be one of the most important baronial families in tsarist Krasnova. In fact, it was their marriage that strengthened Kusman's claim to the throne as her family too holds some claim to it. The two of them were accompanied by several members of Kusman's staff, mostly close advisors, as well as a reduced-size staff of flight attendants and the two pilots. No other passengers were on board.

Early morning today, His Imperial Majesty Fedor I issued a statement expressing "deep sorrow over the loss of a great man who loved his people. Mr. Kusman believed that lasting peace could come to Krasnova through the establishment of a free, open society under the protection of an enlightened executive. We share the same vision and we worked together to provide exactly that to the Krasnovan people. Mr. Kusman was a supporter of our, the Second Empire of the Golden Throne's, project. His intention was to advocate in favor of stability and civility as we enter a new age. In his name and legacy, I promise the continued liberty of the Krasnovan Likutats against the tyranny and shadow of Ordenite oppression across the frontier. May Mr. Kusman rest in peace for eternity knowing that his people are now on the good path."

Leonid Ilyich Kusman is survived by two sons, Suchkov Viktor Kusman (16) and Zavyalov Kazimir Kusman (13), and one daughter, Manina Agafia Kusmana (11). They will be adopted into and provided for by the imperial family until they are of age, with permanent compensation paid to them for the rest of their lives. "It was the least we could do," read the statement of His Imperial Majesty Fedor I.

An official burial will take place in Fedala in one week, according to a separate statement released by the Imperial Bureaucracy. Their final spiritual resting place, and physical if the bodies can eventually be recovered, will be in the Mausoleum of Tigromerkana, one of the most important cemeteries for Macabéan aristocrats. It sits outside the city of Macabea, in the province of Díenstad, and has been the burial grounds for Macabéan non-royal aristocracy for over six centuries. As such, Kusman will be honored not just as one of the Golden Throne's own, but as one of Díenstad's own.

Criticisms of the decision to bury the 'tsar-in-exile' suggest that a more proper burial site ought to be in Krasnova, outside of Ivanovka, but the Imperial Bureaucracy has rejected this option out of hand. As His Imperial Majesty Fedor I's statement read, "His home has been in Fedala since I was a child. He should be buried at home according to the rites of his closest friends and living family." However, some have suggested that this decision was made to avoid providing a physical place of martyrdom in Krasnova, especially as the security campaign against the monarchist parties and militant organizations continues in the free cities. The case could, of course, be made that such a legacy of martyrdom would be unjust to Kusman's legacy, which never supported the monarchist parties' campaign of terror.

With the accidental death of the central figure of Krasnovan monarchism, it remains to be seen how the movement lives on. Monarchist factions have already been banned from Ivanovka and all the other likutats for their ties to militantism and terrorism, and in Ordenite Krasnova the tide of the rebellion is beginning to turn in the occupier's favor. Many saw Kusman as the key rallying point and his arrival to Krasnova was much anticipated. But there are no longer clear contestants for the Krasnovan throne and very few with small claims are willing to exercise them, as the Golden Throne takes on the mantle of protector of free Krasnova.

[Marshite Alliance for a Free Tupenga]

PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT TO MEET AFTER REBEL COALITION DECLARES VICTORY

Crifoso, Tupenga- The Tupengan Rebel Coalition (TRC) has announced the formation of a post-war government, with the aid and support of the Theocratic Matriarchy of Holy Marsh. This follows a surprising and bloody end to the more than three decades of violence that have wracked the nation, with the Marechalisimo's bloody regime burning up under the fires of insurgency, a massive Marshite bombing campaign, and a coup. The exact casualties remain to be counted and will likely never be fully known, and it is unlikely there will be too great an effort to track it- especially in the north.

The Provisional Government is made up of nine Provisional Officers who make up the Executive Committee. Currently, surviving elements of the Tupengan State Apparatus have been coopted and a large Marshite military forces is on-station, with the resources of that state on hand to try and fill in the gaps. Violence for any number of reasons has been reported in a few regions, though local authorities and Marshite forces state that it falls under general chaos that is subsiding rather than any organized resistance or revenge killings. Still, the creation of a fully functioning government will take some time. And what exact form that permanent government takes is still unknown.

That has more to do with the makeup of the various rebel groups than it does any other factor. The TRC is an umbrella organization made up of dozens of militias and rebel organizations, mostly in the north. The face of it has become MAFT, but it is made up of localized militias, former Tupengan military forces that turned against their superiors, ethnic and religious militias, and a wide assortment of ideological forces. Many exist in direct cross-purposes without the unifier of the Tupengan State in the way. Various communist groups- the Tupengan People's Party, Creoloso People's Alliance, and the Radical Revolutionary Front of Tupenga- share similar ideologies with just enough differences to provoke dissent. It is believed that they will form an umbrella party for Tupengan communists.

The first MAFT representative. Kabula Bombo is the most famous combatant that has been announced as part of the government. His family is famous for founding MAFT, and Kabula himself has survived assassinations attempts and combat for much of his life. Born in Dimbambwu near the turn of the century- much of that region's records have been lost over the years- Kabula has always been known as a fighter and symbol. He has expressed hardline views regarding the Colonials and their machinations, as well as the necessity of harsh punishments. Whether leadership will temper him remains to be seen, but in his first official address he refused to speak the lingua franca of the south.

Nadira Zakia is the second MAFT representative and a name many are familiar with. A famous businesswoman and socialite in Ambuambo, her work with MAFT has only come to light recently. Ths most successful business mind in the committee as well as the one with the best working relationship with much of the surviving state apparatus, she has to dodge the traitor label for years. Notably, she believes that reconciliation is possible between the disparate voices and is seen as a moderating influence within the committee.

Akina Jata is the third MAFT representative to the committee. Like Bombo, her family helped found MAFT and she has often been seen as a major figure in the organization. While she did participate in military conflict, much of her time was taken up keeping the fragile alliance between rebel groups together and organizing aid. She was briefly captured during an anti-terrorist operation several years ago and was freed on the eve of her execution during a 'secret' prison transfer. She has openly called for Tupenga to join the Romani-Mar'si Union, which has drawn sharp rebukes from non-MAFT membership.

TPP has sent Santiago Ovejero as their provisional officer, a well-educated and spoken older man, one of the founders of the non-militant wing that had managed to hide its relation to the militant wing until the very end. A well-known academic, his best-selling book 'The Call of the Worker' is seen as the definitive communist manifesto for the colonial-communist set. Was regarded poorly by many for being 'loyal' to the government despite his ideology. The revelation that he has been working against the government for decades has repaired this image, and he has already called for Tupenga to be the center of a regional socialist uprising.

The Creoloso People's Alliance, the region's most politically active Creoloso communist organization, has sent Jessica Cerecero. A rare Creoloso adopted and raised by a colonial family, Jessica is regionally known for being a firebrand and rabble rouser who has spent much of her life galivanting around the region agitating for the rights of the Creoloso and the creation of a communal state. She proudly wears the scars she has said she has gained from oppressors from a half dozen states, and was rumored to have been preparing an assassination of the former Marechalisimo. She is believed to be focused primarily on the rights and ideological needs of the region, and has joined Santiago in calling for a region-wide communist revolution.

The Radical Revolutionary Front of Tupenga has sent Yahya Hodari as their representative. Born to a poor rural family with a history of military service, Hodari saw the injystices visited upon the people and took to the concept of class warfare with aplomb. The most well known Communist war-leader, her forces have helped secure much of the countryside near the capital and have been rumored to be hunting down a long, long list of criminals. She led a column of such criminals into the city upon her arrival. She is a committed ideologue, though she differs from Ms. Cerecero and Mr. Ovejero in that her focus is Tupenga itself rather than exporting the revolution.

These six shall be joined by three more- the Kalkala-Sumbe Allied Militias (KSAM), Creoloso Freedom League (CFL), and Allied Ethnic Army (AEA), each one itself an umbrella organization- due to arrive after the meeting has began.

[The Technocratic Syndicalists]

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Arcaenia Condemns FRCP Blockade of the Golden Throne

"A gross provocation and a blatant violation of international norms" declared Chancellor Von Hayden in a speech to the Arcaenian Parliament

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ISENSTADT - In a televised speech given earlier today to the Arcaenain Reichstag Chancellor Sebastian Von Hayden condemned the FRCP blockade of The Golden throne and The Ice States, declaring the move a "gross provocation towards a treaty ally" and a "blatant violation of international norms surrounding maritime trade and commerce". The blockade declared by the FRCP came in response to news that The Golden Throne had signed a Treaty of Inter-Frontier Cooperation with The Ice States, a slave state bordering the Imperial province of Nicaro. The FRCP declared that it would be blockading all Ice States and Golden Throne shipping in the Northern Vanguat Sea and Great Inland Sea, threating to sink any Ice States or Golden Throne vessel which refused to be stopped and searched. The FRCP was joined in its blockade by the Ordenite Reich who in addition to issuing a diplomatic condemnation of the Golden Throne announced they would also be blockading any Ice States and Golden Throne shipping attempting to enter or leave Ice States territorial waters. In response the Golden Throne threatened to counter-blockade all FRCP in its territorial waters and threatened military retaliation in response to any seizure of Golden Throne shipping.

In response to the crisis Chancellor Von Hayden declared that Arcaenia would be joining the Golden Throne's counter blockade, adding that Arcaenia "would not tolerate the attempted diplomatic and economic isolation of a major trading partner and military ally". The Chancellor however emphasized that the Arcaenia was not seeking to start another military conflict, proclaiming that the deployment of the Arcaenia Konigsmarine would seek only to "deter the FRCP and Ordenite forces from engaging in hostilities against Golden Throne or Ice States shipping". The Chancellor also added that "while Arcaenia does not condone the Golden Throne's frontier treaty with a slaver state, any hostile action committed against The Golden Throne would invoke the collective defense obligation of the Golden Throne- Arcaenian - Imbrinumian Triumvirate Pact"

[Patrick OConner]

Savannah Times

Savanah to Break Away

In a stunning new move the Port City of Savannah is petitioning the Federal Government for recognition as a separate state. Savannah is part of the State of Dublin, whose capital is in a city of the same name, is decided to break away from the State and form its own State. A plebiscite held in the city recently voted overwhelmingly in favor of it, 77 percent in favor.

The city stands to gain many things from this recent venture. It will gain representation in the Senate and more control of its local matters. However, the city's greatest gain is freedom from State taxes and being able to set its own taxes. The mayor of the city is quoted as saying "Let Savannah money stay in Savannah. Our recent boom has done wonders for us but everyone else wants a slice and is siphoning off what they can. It's time to stop that."

The city is not having things easy. Dublin politicians and the governor are looking to stop it.

Continued on page 4

[The Macabees]

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SIDI REZEGH POPULATION SWELLS SINCE ZARBIAN ACQUISITION
Tens of millions of Zarbians have taken advantage of the now open border between territories and provinces to migrate west, especially Sidi Rezegh.


Sidi Rezegh, capital city of its namesake province.


SIDI REZEGH ⁠— In 2026, the Golden Throne ended a decade-long conflict with Zarbia by annexing the wartorn country and re-organizing it into two separate territories governed by a common bicameral legislature. From west to east flowed financial capital as firms invested heavily in the newly opened Zarbian economy and the imperial government invested in infrastructure. Trillions of ríokmarks have flowed into Zarbia, chasing the opening of new factories, a rapidly expanding service economy, and public investment in highways, waterways, and high-speed rail. Along with this money, hundreds of millions of veterans have begun to settle throughout the two Zarbian territories, slowly changing the demographic and political landscape. This west-to-east flow has oft been talked about. Less discussed has been the east-to-west migration of tens of millions of Zarbians looking for better work opportunities and higher incomes. Sidi Rezegh, capital of its namesake province which borders Zarbia, and surrounding cities have received the bulk of this immigration — more than 40 percent of all Zarbian immigrants, in fact.

Between 2016 and 2026, the economies of the Golden Throne and Zarbia could not have been more distant, despite their proximity. Zarbia had gone to war with the Golden Throne after the rebellions in Weigar and Sarcanza against Fedor's ascension, and the two countries persisted in a low-intensity conflict along what for those eleven years was known as the "Zarbian marche." The marche was a thin strip of Zarbian territory directly on the opposite side of the frontier occupied by the empire and squabbled over until the conflict was finally ended in mid-2026 as a result of Zarbia's full occupation. By then, Zarbia's old central government had collapsed and the country had split into various factions, making the economic situation that much more uncertain and insecure. Despite an insurgency that followed the occupation, the annexation brought with it economic opportunity.

New economic opportunity flows both ways. On the one side, Macabéan firms have gained access to a large market with billions of consumers, leading to not just a flow of financial capital into Zarbia but also raw materials, manufactured goods, and other physical and digital inputs needed for the upscaling of business and production. On the other side, poor Zarbians have taken advantage of the opened border with the provinces to migrate in the tens of millions of people, searching for higher wages and better work.

A combined 70 percent of all Zarbian immigrants to the provinces have flowed directly into the provinces of Sidi Rezegh and Imperial. In both cases, the predominant target has been the provincial capital and its surrounding suburbs; Sidi Rezegh in the former case, Fedala in the latter. But whereas Fedala and its outlying cities have received some 30 percent of all immigrants, Sidi Rezegh and its surroundings have received up to 40 percent. Sidi Rezegh has for a long time been one of the industrial heartlands of the empire, a role that was augmented by the War of Golden Succession and the subsequent rebuilding. New opportunities for the distribution of additional output in Zarbia, and beyond, have further increased demand for the goods manufactured in the city and its environs. The result has been a significant increase in demand for labor, much of which is being satisfied by migrant Zarbian laborers taking advantage of the lax immigration rules that regulate inter-imperial migration. For Sidi Rezegh, this has meant a swelling in its already quite-swollen population. Facing bourgeoning 'ghettoized' suburbs, the city has had to explore solutions to new challenges.

If 70 percent of Zarbian migrants go to the provinces of Sidi Rezegh or Imperial, the remainder are split between the Havenic territories, Guffingford, and the remaining core provinces. Ruska, another bordering core province, has been 'spared' of largescale Zarbian migration in large part because its traditional agricultural economy saw a post-war transformation that has taken mechanization and lab-grown foods to new levels. Demand for the sort of labor Zarbians can supply has been relatively low. The province had also faced large-scale immigration from Safehaven between the immediate post-war years and the present day, 'crowding out' Zarbians who might have otherwise traveled to Ruska. Guffingford, another obvious candidate for low-skill immigration, has been 'shielded' by an ongoing insurgency that is most intense in southern Nuevo León. Now that this insurgency has been contained and nearly eradicated, migration flow patterns may change in favor of Guffingford, but certainly in past years it has faced immigration from Zarbia at a similar scale to Ruska. The easiest and most obvious migration candidates were therefore Fedala, the imperial city built on imperial wealth, and Sidi Rezegh, the industrial heart of the empire.

If Fedala and Sidi Rezegh have been the primary recipients of Zarbians looking for better opportunities outside of their home territory, the general composition of Zarbian immigrants could not be more different between the two cities. These differences are driven, in great part, by the different sort of jobs migrants can expect. Fedala, being the imperial capital, is home to hundreds of senators and representatives, as well as hundreds of major and minor administrative departments and organizations responsible for the day-to-day work that goes into running an imperial state. The imperial capital has also become one of the most important imperial heartlands for digital and medical technologies, attracting highly skilled individuals to earn high incomes which subsequently feed into the city's vast service economy. Migrants can come in many shapes and sizes, many of them being highly skilled, but most — especially from Zarbia — being low-skilled labor that has gone into the service industry.

Compared to Fedala's service-oriented migrant labor pool, Sidi Rezegh's is comparably blue-collar and industrial. Unlike in the past, where industrial jobs were equated with poverty, modern industry is heavily automated and robotized, meaning that most 'low-skill' workers are employed in warehousing and distribution, but also lower levels of oversight positions. Rapidly expanding demand has made absorbing most of the migrants relatively seamless.

What has not been seamless has been the accommodation of these migrants, outside of their work setting. Industrial centers are surrounded by vast oceans of poorly constructed, unplanned housing, large swaths of it owned by the factory owners and rented out to their labor force. Likewise, urban services to these rapidly growing population clusters either lag or are relatively poor. For example, not all new homes have access to running water and must access public water through common fountains until the city's infrastructure can catch up. Whereas in Fedala imperial money helps to accelerate the rate at which these urban public utilities can be supplied, Sidi Rezegh enjoys a much more limited source of funding. One result is the growth of what some call the 'post-modern slum.'

Concerned about an uplift in property and violent crime, as well as with general poverty levels and the standard of living enjoyed by its citizens, Sidi Rezegh, surrounding cities, and provincial government have begun to implement a series of disparate legislation designed to grapple with these challenges head-on. The provincial legislature recently introduced a bill built on Omilla's Law, passed last year by the Pan-Zarbian Congress. The Sidi Rezegh version seeks to accomplish much of the same by forcing the industrial owners of the province's 'slum buildings' to sell the housing unit to a tenant who has lived there for a minimum of 5 years. The unit must be bought at market price, but the tenant is given the legal right to purchase at that price. In the short run, the bill may affect little but, over the long run, it seeks to grant migrants an easy path to capital asset ownership so that this can be used as collateral when taking out business loans. Critics argue that the bill will change the way new housing is invested in, probably for the worst. One way the bill could affect the market is by incentivizing real estate investors to instead sell the units to their employees in a rent-to-purchase-type agreement built around a thirty-year interest-bearing loan that is issued to the buyer during the entire period, distributing surplus from migrant labor to real estate investors. But, given the apparent success of the Zarbian law, the legislature is likely to pass the proposition into law.

One city 12 kilometers north of Sidi Rezegh, Lamsa, voted in favor of a new millage to raise funds for more rapid construction of basic infrastructure services to new units. Other cities, including Sidi Rezegh itself, have also raised taxes in one way or another, as has the provincial government. The provincial government introduced a new tax code and structure to provide funding for a financial distribution program seeking to help local cities, towns, and villages pay for infrastructure improvements. These projects include aqueducts, basins, and water collection infrastructure to increase the water supply in certain localities, as well as roads, growing energy production through the building of additional nuclear powerplants, and the expansion of the natural gas pipeline infrastructure. The Imperial Bureaucracy has made some subsidy efforts in the past, but the brunt of the costs related to servicing new migrant populations have been borne by the Rezeghians themselves.

Laws seeking to accommodate and seek the faster incorporation of migrant populations into the mainstream culture of the province and its cities, and more importantly the tax burdens associated with these policies, have catalyzed resentment among the native population. To call parts of the old population 'native' is a misnomer, given that Zarbians have been migrating to the Sidi Rezegh area for over 200 years. Besides Zarbians, the Rezeghian population is represented by hundreds of different nationalities and cultures. These past immigrations have paled in comparison to the more recent migration from Zarbia in terms of sheer volume. Many Rezeghians are demanding some sort of border control policy, something expressly prohibited by the federal government of the Imperial Bureaucracy. The clash between imperial law and local anger has hamstrung local governments when responding to their constituents' frustrations.

The imperial government enforces an open borders policy, to an extreme when applied to travel between federal members of the empire. Border control of foreign populations is also very free relative to many other states, but more selective than internal migration controls. It justifies this policy on the basis of prioritizing economic growth in the new territories and satrapies, to the direct benefit of the provinces and its people.

One possible solution may lie in the reduction of tax obligations that the province owes to the imperial government. These obligations increased somewhat in recent years, as the Imperial Bureaucracy sought to maintain some degree of fiscal conservatism by raising taxes amidst the 'long wars,' the Gothic War, and the Second Macabee-Ordenite War. If the theory of economic growth is right, the Imperial Bureaucracy expects growing revenue streams from the new acquisitions. It could pass on some of the benefits of imperial expansion to the provinces, which supported Fedor's campaigns, by reducing provincial tax obligations over the long run in an iterative manner. This would return money to provincial governments, allowing governments like that of Sidi Rezegh to invest more and faster in the provision of basic public services and the expansion of other basic infrastructure. Such a solution is reportedly being explored by the Imperial Bureaucracy but has not yet been formalized in any way.

In the mean time, the flow of Zarbians into Sidi Rezegh and elsewhere is variable. In the last year, it has plateaud. Partially responsible for this change in trend is the cornering of the Zarbian guerrilla movements in southeastern Nuevo León against the border with Guffingford. As Zarbia gets safer, less of its people are compelled to leave and many are determined to come back. Public investments at scale have also pushed up wages and grown the demand for labor, as have growing manufacturing and service sectors. As prospects improve at home, more Zarbians will choose to stay in their country or come back to it. The annual migrant flow from Zarbia is like to drop over the years.

Still, immigrants to date have helped to create political tension. Some locals are worried about their jobs, despite economic growth. It's not just Zarbians who threaten to steal local jobs, but also robots and other forms of automation. In this environment, anxiety abounds and its shows in many peoples' reactions to Sidi Rezegh's newfound status as one of the biggest migrant-magnet in the empire after Fedala. These issues will demand city and provincial governments alike to discover solutions to the benefit of locals.

Make no mistake, though, the culture shock and transformation that these migrants have brought is here to stay.

[Czaslyudian Peoples]

Korf Enquirer

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ICE STATES ATTACKS, FRCP RETALIATES IN SEA OF FAITH

Vyacheslav Kubiyovych

August 8th, 2022

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At approximately midnight, the Enquirer received from various sources, including foreign news agencies, the word that the Czaslyudian blockade of the Ice States came under attack by various boats and aircraft of the military forces of the Ice States. This came nearly immediately after, we’re told, the Czaslyudian Sea Forces’ 3rd Surface Action Group established itself south of Icer waters alongside Marshite naval forces. Attacking on what amounted to small gunboats as well as missile-launching aircraft, the Ice States’ attack lasted for approximately three hours before the Czaslyudian ships are said to have withdrawn from the combat area. It is presently known that the Czaslyudian fleet has suffered losses, including the unverified destruction of the amphibious assault ship Serhij Korzh*, corvette Zavzyattya, and destroyer Natalia Denisov.

It is currently unknown the motivations for this attack; apart from forming part of the popular blockade of the Ice States, joined by Ordena and the Holy Marsh, Czaslyudian naval forces are said to have issued no provocations, and in fact, gave generous warnings to the aircraft and vessels minutes before they struck. “The 3rd Surface Action Group was well within international waters, and perfectly within its rights to be exercising that blockade [against the Ice States] when the Icer forces attacked.” Stated Omelyan Loboda, COMSURFVAN. The attack also being on international waters changes things, Loboda says. Not only was the Ice States belligerent, but also sought to instigate a war no matter where the Czaslyudian ships were.

This comes amidst the Silarz administration’s struggle against the Golden Throne over the abolition of human trafficking practices in the Ice States. Though the FRCP has toed the line against the Golden Throne regarding the scope of the former’s mission against slavery (specifically regarding CASMiNVaS), both sides appear to respect the boundary between being at odds and being at war. There are those that say that the Ice States lack this distinction, and it shows a deeper insight into their possible motivations.

“If the FRCP’s stances before were reckless, then this is mania.” Says Bodhan Omelchuk, veteran political analyst at the University of Chajka Khutir. “Amidst talks-- really only speculation-- of the Ice States being able to peacefully hand off their system of chattel slavery under the supervision of the Golden Throne, [the Ice States] have opted to forgo any kind of peaceful transition, showing their intentions to fight inanely against opposition to their business of human rights abuses.” He says. During the interview, Omelchuk also pointed out the political implications of what lies down the road. “With all their dealings with the Golden Throne to their north, I find it unlikely that the Ice States are not trying to drag their master into this war.”

But the official proclamation of the Third Federal Republic, released after the start of the writing of this piece, at least makes the perspectives and intentions of their government clear.

FRCP Official Dispatch From: FRCP Department of Foreign Relations, Sevyich, FRCP OPEN LETTER Free Peoples and Nations of the World, The Czaslyudian Peoples have come under attack in an act of infamy by an impetuous slave state. Firing on Czaslyudian Sea Force vessels in international waters in a cowardly sneak attack, the so-called Ice States have violated and muddled the very meaning of territorial and economic waters by confusing the area where it is a nation-state’s privilege to fish in with its own possessions. The Marshites are in this ‘continguous zone’, but the Ice States neither care nor allow themselves to see the truth– how else could a state willingly advance the cause of slavery within its own borders except through ignorance? These violators of human decency have also the gall to request, after taking the lives of one-hundred eighty of our proud servicemembers in the August 7th attacks, that our vessels withdraw and our nation simply go on its way. This kind of behavior is revolting and unjustifiable. When the Icers that sailed the now inoperable ships and the Icers that flew the now nonexistent aircraft opened fire on Czaslyudian warships, they consigned themselves to oblivion. The government of the Ice States, an eccentric and bumbling tyranny posing as a theocracy, committed an act of war against our nation; and it is our responsibility to now give them the war they wanted. For the lives of our servicemembers and the centuries of institutionalized suffering and human degradation that you have taken, we ask for our pound of flesh: the complete abolition of human trafficking in the Ice States and a reduction in the size of the armed forces of the Ice States, willing or otherwise, for perpetuity. The moral decline of the Ice States is known to all– but who on the international stage will take a stand against it? Opposed to the great slave wars in Gholgoth and in Ralkovia, will it be left to an individual state, in this case the Federal Republic, to stand against the institution of slavery? The various nations of Greater Dienstad have every right to be tired of war: but the perpetrators of slavery have not tired one bit. Eventually the patience of the myth-deity Klyperer will run thin, and will the Ice States not lash out against the Ordenites, or the Marshites? The apathy of the international community on this issue is appalling. Due to the efforts of the blockade on the Ice States, it can be said that the Ice States’ human trafficking abroad has become an infinitesimal amount, which you have the Federal Republic to offer your thanks to– and is idly standing by any way to repay this? But we have asked enough questions, and now are left with a single request: stand with freedom, stand with international law, stand with human dignity. Come to our aid in defeating the Ice States. Signed, __Pavlo Tarasyuk_ Chairman-Minister of Foreign Relations, FRCP _Anzelm___Silarz Principle Chairman of the Third Federal Republic of Czaslyudian Peoples . . .

The Media Representative Department of the Department of War announced hours ago that the Federal Republic will not be withdrawing from the Sea of Faith, nor acceding to the Ice States’ demands. The Admiral of the Fleet, Sava Dobrovolskyj, has stated that the FRCP will, in fact, be increasing the number of ships deployed against the Ice States, “to emphasize our resolve to end slavery in the Ice States in the face of fire . . . and by order of the Principle Chairman, we have been enabled, and will prosecute targets relating to the institution of slavery within enemy borders.” During the short-lived conference, it was mentioned that naval groups as large as task forces (more than two naval groups, ranging in the hundreds of attached ships) were being mobilized from both Eastern and Western fleet commands in response to the Ice States’ attacks.

In addition, the Czaslyudian Land Forces are on high alert– numerous mechanized divisons of the Land Forces’ four million standing army are being roused across the FRCP, presumably in preparation for operations against Icer forces. It seems obvious that either the Principle Chairman expects or intends to do battle on the soil of the Ice States.

“The FRCP is prepared to mount a full-on assault, if short of an invasion, on the Ice States . . . how far this retaliation will go, I don’t know. We’ll just have to watch the next few days.” Says an anonymous interviewee from the Department of War.

At fourteen-and-a-half thousand kilometers across the face of the Earth, the Ice States marks the first open conflict the Federal Republic has had abroad in decades. One detail our readers may note is the complete lack of hesitation of the Federal Republic in its military response; indeed, it is our taxes at work with the FRCP’s bloated defense budget which makes up 43.2% of the Federal Republic’s budget, approaching B 93 trillion in pre-inflation currency. Whether the Principle Chairman and his administration have been waiting for this or not, the conflict represents a unique opportunity for the Department of War and its suppliers to flex their proverbial muscles. Though there is no doubt on who started this conflict, it is clearly dependent on the FRCP on how it ends.

_{* Found after drafting to be completely false.}

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_{Vyacheslav Kubiyovych is the Head Columnist of the Korf Enquirer, the FRCP’s first private news source and most widely distributed news source in both paper and digital formats in the Korf Autonomous Republic.}

[The Macabees]

F R E E • D Ì E N S T A D I • P R E S S

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50%+ of GD States Use Nuclear Power as their Primary Source of Energy:
Green Utopia or Disaster Waiting to Happen?

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STERLYA, KRASNOVAN FREE CITIES — Not far south of Sterlya, along the jagged, cliff-bound coastline, a four-reactor nuclear powerplant is being built courtesy of the Golden Throne. It was one of eight currently being built in the free city's administrative hinterland, all of them pressurized water reactors that will get their water from the sea. These eight are just the beginning. Although Krasnova's population has shrunk dramatically over the past ten years, the population of the free cities is expected to swell as peace allows for regeneration, Macabéan veterans are settled in Krasnova for retirement, and immigrants stream into the cities in search of new economic opportunities. Sterlya alone is estimated to need at least 60 powerplants over the next ten to fifteen years, total. The proliferation of nuclear powerplants is not unique to Krasnova, but a feature of the Greater Díenstadi landscape.

Twenty-three Greater Díenstadi governments released data on their primary energy source, showing that over half of polled countries rely primarily on nuclear power. 52 percent of Greater Díenstadi countries use nuclear power as their primary energy source, to be exact. The much dirtier natural gas and coal come next, but representing only 13% of Greater Díenstadi countries each — barely over a quarter of all Greater Díenstadi states polled. No government selected oil. Significantly, 74 percent of polled Greater Díenstadi countries selected a 'green energy' source as their primary one.

Superficially, the released data gives cause to celebrate. Science has confirmed the nefarious danger of 'global warming,' as some areas of the world face extreme maximums and minimums in their average temperatures, suffering either unexpectedly strong storms or unrelentingly scorching heat waves. In some world regions, energy production accounts for half of their greenhouse emissions. The disproportionate reliance on green energy in Greater Díenstad is therefore certainly an important fact that speaks well of the region's commitment to saving the environment, even if most of this energy is nuclear.

Does an overreliance on nuclear energy pose a risk, though?

Many people throughout the region seem to think so. A Samarastan group known as Samarastan People's Opposition to Nuclear (SPON) and led by the 35-year old Téofil Fontenot recently published a general criticism of that country's newfound pro-nuclear investment spirit. Guided by the Macabéans and their ríokmarks, the Mabuto regime has tied a newly implement economic growth program to the construction of ten nuclear powers over the next seven years and twenty within the next twelve. SPON leads the country's overall opposition, not only forming the largest group but also chosen to represent all others during rare moments when the regime invites debate. SPON labels nuclear power as the greatest threat to Samarasta's beautiful natural ecosystem and its people, writing that "[Samarasta's] enemies will use nuclear power to erase the creolosos from the face of the Earth."

Nathaniel Miller, an ecological sustainability professor in Vladarsik, Eitoan, has rallied students across liberal arts campuses against the regional supremacy of 'King Nuke.' In a speech delivered to a crowd of several thousands, Professor Miller said, "How many of these things?" — referring to the powerplants — "will we need to fulfill our needs? How many tens of thousands? Or, will it be hundreds of thousands? They say the failure risk is low. So what? Multiply that risk across the potentially more than a hundred thousand reactor sites and think about the exposure to cancer, the effect on our environment, and the cost on our society and the world we live in. Where does the nuclear waste go? Where is it buried and how? There are so many irresponsible governments in the world. There are governments that allow their companies to pollute their rivers! How can we trust them with nuclear technology? How can we trust any government with nuclear technology? We have better solutions: wind, solar, hydroelectric... Mark my words, nuclear will be the bane of modern Greater Díenstadi civilization."

Governments and organizations have scrambled to disprove the dangers of nuclear power. One website published by the Macabéan Association of Nuclear Scientists (MANS) reads, "It is a myth that nuclear power is the most radioactively risky energy source. Coal production produces more radioactive waste than nuclear energy production. Fly ash, a byproduct of converting coal into electricity, carries 100 times more radiation than nuclear power into the environment."

MANS is responsible, among other things, for publishing data on nuclear waste disposal. The data is published on a monthly basis to all members of the Imperial Forum for Nuclear Energy Producer (IFNEP), an overarching confederacy that includes countless local producer associations that determine their own rules that apply to local energy production areas. The data is supposed to help monitor producers and allow competitors to complain about illegal actions to the imperial court system. According to the MANS website, "Most nuclear waste in the Golden Throne is safely stored in dry storage casks and disposed of in the Central Theohuanacu Nuclear Disposal Site (TNDS) and Eastern New Imperial Nuclear Disposal Site (NINDS). Nuclear waste represents virtually no threat to the general population of the Golden Throne or the region of Greater Díenstad."

The debate over nuclear energy is clearly unsettled if you consider the general public. Governments, however, disagree, and the data shows that most have settled toward the promotion of nuclear energy. The attraction of a renewable and low-emissions source of energy that is cost-effective is admittedly alluring. But, there are risks to nuclear energy, too. We are at a tipping point as to the trend in sources of energy, and if there is a time to arrest the progress of nuclear it is now.

The prospects of containing the popularity of nuclear energy are grim, though. Anti-nuclear sentiment is not new and has long roots. 50–60 years ago, many countries experienced nadirs in popular support for nuclear energy. That support has seemed to gone through a resurgence in recent decades, perhaps as global warming affects daily lives more and more. The number of nuclear powerplants has also continued to grow over time throughout the region as a whole, regardless of fluctuations in public opinion.

Some are left asking, are we headed directly toward a major ecological and environmental disaster? Or, are we helping to avoid one?

[Castille de Italia]

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Pictured: Senator Marlène Backès addresses the Federal Senate before a vote earlier this year. (Associated Media photo)

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LABOUR PARTY SPLITS, BACKÉS FORMS PRI
Partirévolutionnaire-Institutionnel Aims To Be Castillia's "Big Tent" Party

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PRESLAFF — It appears that President John S. Faring's waning political capital has run out. Former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Marlène Backès announced on Wednesday evening that herself and 26 other members of the Federal Senate of Castillia have resigned their membership in Faring's Labour Party, moving to found the Partirévolutionnaire-Institutionnel (Institutional Revolutionary Party in common Anglic), seeking to make major reforms necessary to propel the Castillian Federation out of a recession that it entered last month. Backès informed members of the press that she is open with members of the Labour Party as well as Conservative Party towards finding nonpartisan solutions to alleviate the current financial crisis, but that Faring's weak leadership had been a tipping point for her and many others within the unicameral legislature.

"The direction of our Federation is unclear with Faring in control of our executive policy," said Backès to a group of gathered reporters outside of her lavish Rue d'Auteuil home Thursday morning before heading to the legislature. "I had approached the President many times to discuss the current financial situation coupled with the war in Asadabad and the President refused to take the advice of me and other Labour leaders. Without our voice being heard by the President, I found it incumbent upon myself and fellow Labour lawmakers that we would have to challenge Faring's position by taking control of legislative policy."

Leader of the Labour Party Clément Carenco, widely considered to be part of Faring's inner circle and close to the President, refused a party leadership contest and said he would move to formally censure Backès and any other senator who openly challenged Carenco and Faring's positions. With that, Backès rallied several senators to leave the party. The loss of 27 senators from the Labour Party means that the remaining sixteen have effectively lost control of the majority in the 115-member Federal Senate and with no party over 40 seats to secure a minimum majority, parties are forced to enter coalition talks in order to form a new Senate, as Senate rules mandate that one party must maintain at least forty seats to lead the legislature or be forced to either solicit lawmakers to their party or forge coalitions.

Backès, who stands to possibly become the next President of the Senate if the PRI can either pull other senators into their party or form a coalition with one of the other parties, has now come to be one of the largest powerbrokers within the Federation. Two days after the PRI's founding, Chalmont House polling found that Castillian voters seem overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the PRI and Backès. On Chalmont's survey taken from a sample of 2,500 registered voters, over 64% responded positively to "would you support Backès in a future presidential campaign?" 16% responded negatively, with the rest stating they would need more time or information in order to make a decision.

Born in Gévaudan, a small mountain town roughly 450km from the capital of Preslaff, Backès has served in the Federal Senate since the founding of the Federation in 2016. A staunch supporter of economic populism and moderate on social issues, Backès has been a powerful voice within the Labour caucus until President Faring was elected to office in 2030 after Jacques Perier was impeached and removed from office by the Federal Senate that same year. Her decision to found the PRI may have been just as much personal as it was political, but many important social figures have emerged to support Backès to include numerous celebrities, corporate executives, industrialists, and politicans across the nation, all tired of Faring and Labour Party inaction.

President Faring addressed the situation Thursday morning in a press conference at Manoir de Montbatten calling Backès a "treasonous shrew" and that the senators who followed suit were "blind hypocrites who are against average Castillians." He went on to state that he didn't want to see the PRI gain a majority in the Federal Senate and called on senators from other parties for a mass movement to deny the PRI leadership in the nation's legislature. Carenco, the eccentric senator from the Province of Grèzas in northern Castillia, reportedly flew immediately back to Preslaff to attempt courting independent senators and those from the
Sociétesocialiste Démocratique (Democratic Socialists), the most party now most ideologically aligned with Labour.

Backès however has already as of yesterday been working with the Particonservateurs (Conservative Party) in order to possibly form a majority coalition together. Backès stated that her intent is for the PRI to be a big tent party, where left-center to center-right lawmakers can come together to propel the Federation out of the current recession. "I am open to working with anyone on either side of the political spectrum who understands that maintaining a balance is essential to maintaining stability in Castillia. The PRI is here to utilize our existing institutions in order to revolutionize our march towards continued prosperity," Backès told a CBC World Service reporter Thursday morning.

"The time is now to fix this recession and put Castillia back on track," she added. "If we continue with Faring in office we will surely fall deeper in the fiscal black hole."

© CBC World Service

[The Technocratic Syndicalists]

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LAND ∙ AIR ∙ NAVAL ∙ MISSILES/SPACE ∙ CYBER ∙ C4ISR ∙ CIVIL AVIATION ∙ INDUSTRY ∙ CONFLICTS/WARS

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Arcaenian Luftwehr Reveals Existence of A 12 Valkyrie Hypersonic Aircraft

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Pictured: Recent satellite imagery reportedly showing a A 12 Valkyrie aircraft at an airbase in southern Arcaenia following the official reveal of the aircraft

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The Arcaenian Luftwehr confirmed today the existence of the A 12 Valkyrie hypersonic reconnaissance aircraft which for the last several years has been flying out of an airbase in southern Arcaenia under the cover of darkness and under total official secrecy. The aircraft's existence has been rumored for years, although the Luftwehr had gone to great extends to hide its existence by only flying it at night and refusing to either confirm or deny the existence of the aircraft. Nevertheless journalists and amateur aviation enthusiasts in Arcaenia and abroad have long suspected the existence of the aircraft, tracking shipments of liquid hydrogen fuel, movements of test pilots, and even subcontractor financial reports to deduce not only the existence of the aircraft but rough guesses at its performance aspects. Reports of unusual aircraft sightings and sonic booms not coinciding with S-2000 supersonic transport overflights or other aircraft have also been reported in southern Arcaenia for several years, although the Arcaenian government and the Luftwehr had previously denied said sightings or sonic booms were related to any experimental aircraft program. The Luftwehr confirmed that it had purchased a dozen of the aircraft for an undisclosed cost and that they had been operating them for the past five years, although it refused to disclose any details of the plane's operations. Arcaenian military insiders have claimed that the aircraft has bene operated abroad, flying from bases in The Golden Throne and the Republic of Eitoan in support of Arcaenian military operations in Krasnova and Ralkovia, respectively. The Luftwehr stated in its official reveal of the aircraft that it has chosen to officially reveal the existence of the aircraft because is to be flown more widely and during daylight hours in order to make fuller use of its unique capabilities and so that it can be fully integrated into operational plans for future military conflicts along with the possibility of export sales to Arcaenian military allies.

Although the Luftwehr has refused to reveal any performance or other specifications of the plane other than claiming it is capable of "hypersonic flight at the upper edge of the breathable atmosphere" Arcaenian military and aerospace industry insiders have described it as being approximately 35 meters in length with a wingspan of 20 meters with a takeoff weight of around 80 tonnes with a top speed in excess of eight times the speed of sound. The propulsion system was described as a turbine based combine cycle powerplant combining hydrocarbon fueled turboramjets and liquid hydrogen fueled scramjets, the aircraft carrying both conventional hydrocarbon based jet fuel and liquid hydrogen propellant on board. The aircraft reportedly has a crew of two pilots and carries a variety of advanced electro-optical and radar sensors along with allegedly the ability carry a payload of air to surface munitions for strike missions. Former ALR (Arcanian Aerospace Center) engineer Emil Hellebrand, who was responsible for the sonic boom analysis of the S-2000 supersonic transport, has studied the sonic boom data gathered from reported A 12 Valkryrie flights and has claimed it shows an aircraft traveling at speeds of mach 8.0 to mach 9.0 at an altitude of between 30,000 and 40,000 meters, performance numbers the Luftwehr has officially refused to confirm. Arcaenian military insiders however claim that this assessment is roughly accurate and that the aircraft's extreme speed and high altitude flight capability make it essentially invulnerable to any conventional air defense system, permitting the aircraft to overfly hostile airspace and gather intelligence. The Luftwehr refused to disclose whether any A 12 aircraft had been lost in operation, military insiders claiming that at least one A 12 had crashed during test flights but that none had been lost in operational service.

[Abetton]

The Sauville Trumpet
-Since 1785-

Princess Gives Sermon for Sisters of Juna; Spends Day in Services

Photo: HRYRH Princess Peri stands for photo in front of Alter where she delivered Sermon


by: Constance Maunbauven


SAUVILLE - Deep in Sauville's Historic District is the Temple of Juna home to the Sisters of Juna, the convent dedicated to the Goddess Juna in her first religious sermon delivery as Abetton's Debuted Princess, another scope of her duties as Princess to affirm the faith by attending or participating in services of Abetton's old religious traditions which have endured for millennial. Dawning the traditional Priestess garb and standing to the pulpit, The Princess spoke before the congregation of sisters about a variety of topics, importance of faith, tradition, family and of course all the virtues of Goddess Juna. Talking about the importance of the seas, "....the fish and life it provides to Abetton and her neighbors of this vast region of waters. Her temperament none to be underestimated for many sailors met an untimely fate at her hands. Hope to say, I won't be another one of those sailors." A sort of dark remark by Her Young Royal Highness but it did seem to draw some mild chuckles among the women of the temple. As if the Great Goddess was listening, the middle of The Young Princesses' speech was marred by a furious thunderstorm, with loud seemingly endless thunder echoing in the stone chamber of the chapel. The Princess again took this sudden change in environment in stride, paying tribute to Goddess Vert to welcome the early signs of spring upon Abetton. "Our Ladies of Faith show us their nature working together to remind us how the world is changing before us at this very point in time. The snow is melting away and the warmth of spring will bring about the wind and make the fires dance." A classic sermon remark often made by Priestesses and Priests at the change of season, when lightning was also regarded to be blue flames from the sky of the God Doma.

And just as soon as the tempest began it also cleared and as the rays of sunshine filtered into the great window, Her Highness was lit up majestically for all to see. Her sermon concluded with all the young maidens standing and bowing for the Princess with a "thank you for your words, Our Lady" already common way to conclude sermons be it by Monarch or by the highest ranked clergy. The day continued as the Princess spent time with the Sisters of Juna doing various daily activities they engage in to begin with, having a meal with them, even doing daily chores and playing with younger children from the community. Her Royal Highness graciously took time to speak about her day, "What a delightful day it was for me to spend time with my sisters in the Faith. My temple services are always quite a bit different than this. I feel if my life had been different, had I not been born as Abetton's Princess, I most certainly would have joined this particular convent as a young Priestess and continue my exercises in faith that way. Of course, my life is what it is, I have no intent to abdicate my title."

Many of the Young Priestesses agreed, having the Princess was a treat. "Her Royal Majesty spoke so wonderfully." Said Sister Claire, "She would be a great High Priestess here or anywhere."

"The Goddesses were listening," Sister Anna remarked "The moods in weather reflected her words were being powerful, i'm grateful to hear them today."

The Convent's High Priestess, Sister Abramelin agreed with the sentiments shared by her Young Sisters "I'm delighted Her Grace accepted our invite to speak before us today. And I'm eternally grateful she wished to participate in our daily activities and break bread with us. She would truly have made a fine Priestess and perhaps that will be her dual calling when she becomes the Colonial Duchess." In reference to her planned marriage to Sir Micha of Abetton's colony.

"Hard to say" Was all the Princess could say about that topic if being a High Priestess and being Duchess are in the cards for her. "Obviously My Dear mother, The Queen does double duties as Queen and as a member of The House of Lords, so we can hold dual positions in our ranks of life. Just I think I did well here because it's a small group of only young women, hardly a large congregation." The Princess is also set to make a monthly visit to the Sugar Islands in the month to come, perhaps a good indication of why she chose this sisterhood in particular. "May The Good Lady Juna bless me upon the seas when I go to see my fiancee again."

[AHSCA]

United Island Office of Culture and Information (UNICIM)

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Sunday 28 August 2022

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Festival Tourism Expected to be Down Admits Regional Conflicts, Rising Costs and Weather

Festival celebrations in Sailor Square, Tsubasaki, Animalpolis, circa 2012

by: Yachiyo Yano, Culture and Religion


Another Holy Festival is upon us faithful believers and every year always brings something different. The Festival of Holy Light, the annual festival for religious and secular alike has become the signature appeal for tourists to the UIS, brining in some billions in island credits over the last several years. While last year saw an expected taper off due to the ongoing pandemic in parts of the world, this year is unfortunately not looking to be a bounce back year, despite the easing of travel restrictions from afflicted nations, despite the availability of vaccines and overall advances in treatments and so on and so forth, because this year has brought new challenges one of which is the ongoing issues and conflict in the central Great Dienstad region, which has added kilometers to long ocean voyages in hopes of keeping AHSCA ships and civilians alike safe from the possibility of being dragged into the conflict indirectly. With that comes rising fuel costs for the steamers, cruisers and aircraft alike are trying to make the most of their legs while saving whatever money they can. AHSCA is not engaged in military conflicts but some of her allies are, or at least engaging in political and economic blockades and sanctions, such as Holy Marsh, which makes up a bulk 65% of tourists from Greater Dienstad and early reservations and bookings of inns and equipment rentals are already down as a result. The chain reaction of fighting, blockades has already created a cascade which has lead to trade disruption, high energy costs around the region and AHSCA has been feeling the pinch as much as any nation directly involved.

Rising costs are not the only matter of concerns, weather has been a factor too. Last year saw a very quiet storm season but this year flipped that entirely with a slightly above average season. Five major storms made landfall across the archipelago this year through the 2022 hurricane season and another 15 minor tropical storms came with it causing just as many issues of their own. Conventional and folk wisdom often would state an active hurricane season would lead to a tepid rainy season ahead but UNIMO is stating the opposite that patterns are pointing to a just as wet storm season ahead. As the festival often comes just as the trade winds begin to shift, it could mean early deluges might scare away the tourists hoping for a little beach weather to enjoy swimming, surfing, sailing, boating and other water recreational activities in ontop of difficulty for would be island hoppers hoping to take in the festivities of the five states in the UIS.


^{IMAGE: Young Festival Goer in the evening hours}

That said, things are not bad, even if global tourism is down, normal at home tourism is still expected to be level or just above average. People surveyed and asked are all looking forward to another festival to give their thanks for another year to the Good Ladies who bring us life and joy. To not celebrate would be unheard of as even in the immediate aftermath of the war, the festival was celebrated. For those who've come to count on the surging tourism, they're all just doing what they can to prepare for whatever they can. Ship captains say they will plow through island to island whatever the conditions are, and even with the active hurricane season, crop and fishing yields are still expected to be good this year overall. There is still much we can be thankful for and give our eternal thanks.