Kalistani Major History

[Doc]

Kalistan announces removal of restriction on Steel Production
KALNAFERCO expected to exceed Republican usage by 235 Percent in 4901
Sulari, Suldanor
January 3, 4901


Steel Coil Warehouse north of Sulari begins to fill up with 80" Banded Coils

Kalistan's Nationalized Steel Industry, KALNAFERCO has officially removed restrictions on production of Kalistani Steel in an effort to attract more international purchasers, Trade Minister Michelle Martinez announced yesterday. "With the near doubling of the outdated production capacity in Suldanor last year, and the slow modernization of our existing physical plant near Sulari, The Republic has decided to begin to make a bid for the lucrative international Markets which have been dominated henceforth by nations like Yingdala, and which are becoming more and more crowded each day as new nations join the Steel Export Market."

The Trade Minister announced that in the second quarter of last year, before Steel Dynamics opened in Sulari, the Kalistani Steel industry was operating at about 32% capacity, producing roughly 18 Million tonnes a year. With the opening of Steel Dynamics, which essentially doubled Republican production capacity, the existing production capacity usage dropped to about 15 percent. "Our aim is to operate at about seventy five percent capacity, which will bring our total annual production up to close to ninety million tonnes, and then use our price point advantage to attract new buyers to KalNaFerCo steel."

The news of the dramatic increase in steel production sent six month commodity futures into a nosedive in the Kalsie this morning. "KalNaFerCo is a not for Profit corporation," said Martinez. "So we can significantly undersell whatever price the capitalist nations have to sell their steel at, given that we do not need to make a profit, or even acknowledge international steel market price manipulation. The Spot price of steel is what steel manufacturers are trying to get out of their commodities, and they have as much influence in the price as the buyers of the commodity futures do. But Kalistan can afford to sell at perhaps even a discount of 20 percent from that Spot price, without losing money."

Evidence of early overproduction is available: The National Storehouse in Sulari, which is a clearinghouse for both Pig and refined iron, as well as rolled iron, from both Hot and cold mills, is currently operating at 60 percent capacity, and there is a building movement in the immediate vicinity to dramatically increase storage capacity as the finished steel awaits sale. Investors expect that the price of steel domestically and internationally will drop significantly and as storage fills up, the cost per ton will continue to drop over the coming year.

"We expect that this will cause some dislocations in countries who cannot afford to produce steel as inexpensively as Kalistan does, but this is not our concern. If we can offer the same or better quality than substandard steel produced at scale in Yingdala, or the new industries elsewhere, then we would advise them to drop the capitalist production models that govern their economy and adopt a not for profit model. Or, as we would prefer, they switch their productive resources to something they posess a competitive advantage in, and leave the Steel production to KalNaFerCo. Either way, whatever the best price that our major competitors will offer, we will offer our product at at least a 10% discount, for the foreseeable future."

Liberal economists who speak in the papers have already decried the announcement as a declaration of economic warfare. "This is dumping, pure and simple, "said Dr. Tabitha Jones of Vrassa District University. "What our government is doing is manipulating the market, without regard for the economic consequences this will have for the industries in properly organized capitalist countries, who are content to let the invisible hand of the market efficiently set the price of its commodities. It is not fair that our socialist economy, which has proven time and time to have no regard for the iron rule and essential morality of the market, is able to offer steel from a nationalized industry that is able to underprice against capitalists, and at the risk of appearing to cheer for the capitalists, let me be explicit: Socialism is evil and can never do a single good thing for any single individual except the powermongers in charge." When asked if Jones felt her words were inflammatory, she simply laughed, and answered, "No more insulting or inflammatory than the policies of the Socialist Party of Kalistan, and if they have a problem with it, I expect I will never see these words in print, and will be disappeared soon..." (At press time, Dr. Jones was still in her position and admitted that no reprisals had come upon her, "... yet" she added.)

As commodity futures continue to fall in the Kalsie, the Republic now set in for a possible hostile response from other steel producing nations.

[Doc]

As Steel Glut heats up, KNF Futures Nosedive into Negative Territory
6 month contracts bounce out at K -123 before volatility forces Stock to be suspended
Kaliburg, Ananto
July 3, 4901


KNF in Freefall following Trade Ministry Announcement of met production targets

A day like none other ever seen in the Kalistani Stock Index began among news of the heating up Steel crisis between Kalistan and Yingdala. It was only last January when Trade Minister Martinez announced the policy of the Government of Kalistan was to begin putting Kalistani steel at substantial discount onto the world Market. "We've been able to achieve discounts of up to 25% in direct sales," said Martinez at a news conference at around Noon in Kaliburg, "further driving the international price of the strategic commodity down. And we have excellent numbers from the First two quarters showing that the Steel Industry has exceeded the 45 million tonne production targets for the first half of this year in early June and proceeded to process and finish another 3 million tonnes on top of that, setting Kalistan up for production of close to 100 million tonnes of steel in just this year.

"The main bottleneck, of course besides exploitable raw materials," continued the Trade Minister, "which will always serve as a break on Kalistani production, is storage capacity. We have been able to quickly increase our warehouse storage space, but it appears that until some of these major contracts start maturing, we will be nearly out of storage for additional capacity, and will have to take additional steps to encourage direct sales in Sulari."

The news of the lack of storage combined with the exceeding of production targets had an immediate effect on the speculative market. While one month and three month contracts held steady, and even made modest gains, the six month futures market immediately began collapsing, driving KNF futures into a tail spin and causing a general decline in the Kalsie over all. "We're watching KNF futures very closely" said Martinez around 1:30, when KNF entered freefall. More troubling to the Minister though was the fluctuation in the KRB on international Markets. Around 2:00, as KNF futures entered negative territory, Martinez went back in front of cameras.

"For the first time, KNF futures have crossed into negative territory. This unprecedented event is a result of reports that I myself made about storage capacity over the next six months. I think perhaps some of those comments were misinterpreted by investors to mean that the Republic was done building warehousing facilities for our production. The construction continues to warehouse the steel to meet six month contracts, but as it is, those contracts have not begun to even be filled yet, and by the time they are due, there will be adequate storage for the commodities in Sulari. But more troubling to us is the fluctuation of the Ruble overseas. Given the lack of convertibility of the KRB, we have seen its demand experience more volatility, specifically in terms of upward pressure on price against the main index currencies, and this could signal a whiplash effect in the currency markets. We have asked the Economic Minister to begin instituting capital controls over the Scrip to begin to address some of this volatility, and will keep the Republic informed on our efforts as we go through the coming weeks and months."

An increasing price of the Ruble means that the Ruble is worth more to foreign buyers, but if not carefully managed, could lead to deflation in prices, difficulty with exports in other, non-nationalized sectors, and an economic contraction in Kalistan. The Trade Minister was careful to point out "Kalistan is not at this point, and with capital controls in place, we will be able to forestall any possibility of contraction for a very long time. Currency Controls are a very mild form of downward pressure that the Republican Bank can engage in to counteract increased demand overseas, and will allow the Republic to continue to pursue our doctrine of zero growth in the Kalistani Economy, despite the spike in both production and employment the Ferrominerals Sector."

Directly following the conclusion of the Minister's conference, KNF futures bottomed out at around K-123, and then rebounded. The more than 10 percent drop followed by a sharp rise triggered volatility controls in the Kalsie, which suspended trading in KNF futures for 24 hours, but given that this drop occurred on Friday, KNF will have a two day cooling off period. Speculators expect KNF to open with a correction to about K720 when trade resumes on Monday. Due to the sharp drop in Steel Futures, the Kalsie as a whole finished down 4.65%, one of the worst trading days since the Restoration of SP rule in Kalistan in the late 4870s.

[Doc]

Sulari Colosseum prepares for FOMAT XIV amid rising tensions
Climate Controlled Indoor Venue prepared for crowds exceeding 70,000
Sulari, Suldanor
August 1 4901


Floor Seating and General Admission Areas are being prepared for National Contingents

FOMAT XIV promises to be one of the Largest FOMAT events on record, as the Sulari Colosseum prepares for crowds exceeding 70,000. This amid growing tensions with Yingdala over Steel prices on the International Market.

"We are going to try to preserve the spirit of the event," said Arena Director Frank DiGioia. "This is an opportunity for the world to come together and celebrate the musical arts, listening to the best each countries have to offer. Though we will have fewer competitors this year, most assuredly, than other concerts, we expect masses of Kalistanis to come to the event and make it one of the biggest FOMATs. And we are not concerned about the Steel Crisis between the Republic and Indrala: That doesn't affect us at all."

The Sulari Colosseum is one of the largest Indoor venues in Kalistan. "The benefits of having it indoor is that we can host events during the summer, when other outdoor venues need to shut down or restrict their shows to late in the evening," said DiGioia. The tinted class roof provides plenty of natural light during the day, and spectacular views of the Sulari Skyline at night. "In addition to the natural spendor which can be experienced from within the colosseum, we also have a state of the art lighting system that is inexpensive to operate, and yet provides illumination equal to traditional methods."

The Colosseum is directly adjacent to the festival grounds which will begin to be built starting next week, as well as nearby to accomodations for musicians and their road crews and guests. "FOMAT has rented four major hotels right here for the people associated with this major event," said DiGioia. "Those Hotels are booked all week, and are not opened to the General Public during that time."


Sulari Colosseum by Night

The show which will be held in December of this year, will no doubt be a true Spectacular that will show off not only the skill and personalities of the Competitors, but will also show off Kalistani architectural and structural engineering prowess to the World. "Of course they held the FOMAT contest here!: said DiGioia. "I mean, look at this place. It's a beautiful, modern arena, and is truely awe inspiring, both inside and outside."

[Doc]

Premier Jackson signals Continuation of Steel Policy
"Permanent and Structural Alteration of International Market is Goal"
Kaliburg, Ananto
May 4901


Premier Announces Continuation of Steel Policy at KalNaFerCo Annual Meeting

"Our goal in all of this," said Premier of the Republic George Jackson, "is to accomplish a permanent and structural alteration in the International Steel Market. The market has been hegemonically dominated by one producer for decades, and their independent manipulation of prices through scale production of finished steel tends to hurt smaller producers and forces them to serve the role of soaking up unmet demand, rather than competing for markets the way one big player can."

The Premier's first public statement on the Steel Crisis came at the Annual Meeting of KNF's Directors, which included major investors as well as Union Representatives and Workers who have guaranteed interest on the board. The response of the Nationalized Company's Directors was tepid. One of the Major Investors, who spoke with us following the keynote address even openly complained about the policy. "Yes, it is very bad for business," said Frank Marshall, who's Firm Republican Trust, holds a 3 percent interest in the Company. "We've seen millions of Rubles of stock value vaporize in this last year while the Premier uses our investments as a political weapon against Yingdala. That is not what our capital is supposed to be used for."

Marshall suggested that in January, when KNF stock bottomed out at around K1.23 a share, down from K65.26 just before the start of the crisis, institutional investors were prepared to dump their stock. "The stuff was junk paper," he said. "Luckily, as excess demand is soaked up and we don't have coils just filling up and filling up and filling up the warehouses now, the stock has started to recover a little bit, and I think that is the only thing that is keeping actors like me in the game."

It is true that much of the Steel that Kalistan has produced over the last couple years has gone through direct sales to private buyers whose governments don't have standing deals with either Yingdala or Kalistan. "The thing about the is," said Trade Minister Michelle Martinez, "Kalistan's pricing scheme has not altered Yingdalan behavior one bit, nor has it attracted big contracts, in anyway. Its like there is nobody out there at all, not just people not interested in the crisis, but at all... Radio Silent is what we are experiencing in regard to steel. So Direct Sales become the alternative." in fact since the crash last July in Steel Futures, nearly all volitility has gone completely out of the Futures Market, the price for futures has settled right around K685, for one, two and six month contracts, and has hovered around that point for months now. "The crash was caused by speculation," said Martinez, "and did not reflect any sort of reality, but soon it corrected to the 25-26% discount that we were aiming at and now people are simply transacting for steel as a matter of course, rather than treating the commodity as a speculative device."

The virtual elimination of the volitility in the futures market is butressed by the notion that anything that is not contracted for will be sold through direct sales at whatever the local spot is in Sulari. "We are still able to significantly discount Yingdalan sellers," said Martinez, "but the thing is, most of their steel is contracted, so, their direct sales are lower. And on the other hand, most of our contracts are going to local consumers, which means that the vast majority of our production is going out the door to whoever shows up for it. We've supplied a lot of consumers in Dovani, primarily, who are politically unwilling to work with Yingdala, but are not really interested in entering into long term agreements with the Republic either. The appreciate the discounts in Sulari at any rate."

How long these direct sales can continue, however, is unknown. "Ideally, we would like some longer term Contracts to come from out of Kalistan," said Martinez, "to sustain our production, but I have a feeling that within three years, the excess and unmet demand for Steel will be satisfied, and then we will have to make some changes. But our estimates vary widely with regard to what unmet need there is in the society. Some of the most conservative estimates are three years, but some of the more extravagant, and frankly incredible estimates stretch it out to ten or twelve years, at which time we will be firmly into a second round of sales, which suggests we can do this forever. The Government tends to accept the more conservative numbers, though, and so we are building policy to address that eventuality."

Earlier Currency controls which were established by the Bank to prevent a massive outflow of Rubles have only been marginally lifted. "The Finance Minister is working closely with the Bank," said Martinez, "to keep an eye on the Ruble abroad. The one effect that this crisis is having on the Republic is that the currency controls are limiting our ability to increase the convertibility of the Ruble. We can't increase confidence in our currency if we are limiting its acquisition overseas. But doing so is necessary to prevent monetary deflation, which would be more detrimental to the Republic long term than the continued lack of convertibility. Direct sales at Sulari help us with this and though the may offset the discount by a couple points, The Republican Bank has offered some what generous terms on exchange in Port Elga to acquire foreign currency while keeping Rubles locally."

With the recovery of the Futures market and modest gains of KNF in the Kalsie proper, it appears that Kalistan is settling in to the new reality, at least for itself. The Premier's speech therefore, seen in this light, might not have helped capitalists sleep any better at night, but it demonstrated that the Government remains firmly in control of a crisis which doesn't appear to have an end. And for smaller investors, that has encouraged them. KNF rose K.62 in late day trading, mostly on the strength of retail purchasing, and the Kalsie was up .27% on the day.

[Doc]

Joanie Yeardly hits Number 1 on Radio 1
Represents continuing evolution of Alternative in Kalistan
Vrassa City, Vrassa
May 31, 4902


Musician Yeardly offers a softer, more conservative tone to Alternative in Radio 1 Miniconcert

Vrassa City is largely seen as a cultural recipient in the Republic. While bands are fostered and nurtured in scenes like Sulari, Yoshimi and Kaliburg, the northern District is rarely the site of a major movement in Kalistani music. This may all be changing though, as Vrassa City singer and guitarist Joanie Yeardly landed her first number one on Radio 1 with the almost folkish acoustic song "The Hurricane" last week, and is the forerunner of what may be perhaps a groundswell of change in popular music taste.

"Wow, I mean, I don't even know what to say," answered Yeardly when she was told of the success of her song on the notoriously loud Radio 1. "On Radio 1? Are you sure?" The victory for the high school dropout from Vrassa City on the Flagship station ore known for distorted electric guitars, feed back and driving rhythm of Kalistan's Alternative Rock Establishment signals acceptance of Yeardly's style of music by alternative fans. It is far more quiet that the songs she plays next to on the radio station, doesn't use exclusively guitars, but more often acoustic ones, and occasionally, orchestration.

"I like Joanie's music," said a young fan from Kaliburg. "It kinda gives me tingles when I hear it, and really is very pretty. I don't even know... But she seems like a very talented musician, and I think its great that they play her stuff." Her song "The Hurricane" is the first single from her debut EP, which she recorded for the local record label Vrassa District Records, and which has enjoyed some limited distribution outside of Vrassa. The record was put into the hands of Radio 1 DJs who played it and in response to overwhelming fan support, led to Yeardly performing a mini concert in the studio. "We got a lot of popular feedback for that concert," said Jilly Davies, afternoon programming manager, "and so we contacted her label, and got them to let us put her in heavy rotation on the Station. At first they were like 'Is this some sort of joke?' and we were like No, this is really Radio 1 and we want more people to hear your girl."

Yeardly's star began to rise from there. "It was wild," said Yeardly, "when the first call came in from a club in the Capital, to see if I wanted to come do a show." From there she said, the offers began flooding in. "We were so impressed by the emotion that she puts into her songs," said promoter Joe Finneman. "When she played Yoshimi, for example, we even know that members of Red Tone were in the crowd. I think it is safe to say that she won't have any more trouble finding work anywhere in the Republic."

The last few months have been very exciting for Yeardly as she and her band were on the road most of the time, playing in front of as many as 2500 in Kalistan's cities. "I know the record company has made a lot of money," said Yeardly. "But yeah, its a living, and it beats what I was doing before, which was smoking a lot of pot and hustling waiting tables while playing at this club on the weekends for basically nothing." Her hard work is paying off as she now tops the Radio 1 charts, which she has been inching up for the last 4 months. Yeardly is now preparing her first LP for VDR. "Yeah, I think with a Number 1, I will definitely be in a better place to renegotiate with Vrassa District. I think we can keep the relationship going, I think they are fair people, but I need a better back end."

We will continue to follow Yeardly's Career as she carries forward.

Here is the video for Yeardly's song The Hurricane, from Vrassa District Records

[Doc]

Joanie Yeardly's Debut LP "The Stranger at the Door" drops Today
VDR to sponsor Republican tour with Singer Songwriter Donnie Jorgenson
Vrassa City, Vrassa
August 19, 4902


Yeardly, the premier singer in the emerging folk style of Alternative officially joins the Profession today

Whether she is singing some soft love song to her wife, or belting out some ghost story about the haunting spirits of those who are not shown hospitality, Joanie Yeardly's debut album "The Stranger at the Door" is the forerunner of a new movement in Alternative Rock which is slowly captivating Republican audiences who have been listening largely to Ska for the past six years. And it seems that the Republic is in a mood for a comedown, evidenced by the embrace that music fans have made to Yeardly's folkish rock.

As her new album drops today, this anthemic opus covers the ground between just a woman and her guitar, all the way to the barnburner final track which is also the title track and lead single of the Album. Yeardly's grungy gritty voice throughout bears a rustic twang that betrays her deep Vrassan roots, and the influences and song constructions borrow heavily from local folk music traditions which have held on in the mountains of south western Vrassa and Northern Neveras despite wave after wave of modern music which have swept the nation for more than a thousand years. "But yeah, we still rock your socks off too," said Yeardly of her record, "It's not all hippy dippy hillbilly bulls--t..." she says with a laugh.

"I think I kinda broke my voice while recording this record," said Yeardly. "We were on a real tight recording schedule and on day 3, we had done so many takes, and I had this kinda cold, you know? And as I was singing, I just felt this tickle in my throat and all of a sudden I fell into this coughing fit, and so we called it a day while the guys (Dave and Tom Eggleston, who form the core of Yeardly's supporting band) just recorded guitar tracks while I went home. And when I came back, my voice was all kinds of gritty, and gravelly and it breaks all the time when I sing, but then I also realize, I can really belt this stuff out now, and get up to a lot higher notes than I used to... It's wild. You can basically hear that break on most of the songs I do, and I thought it was gonna wreck the record, but the producer, Kalvin Gerardo, was like, 'Hell no, when that crack comes, that is what will give them goosebumps'."

Yeardly's voice certainly sounds much more grungy, more gravelly than it did on her EP, and Gerardo was not wrong, "Those spots where Yeardly's voice cracks while she is singing are the points where she is conveying the most emotion," said Music critic Val Johnson, "and she she is such a skilled singer that she just sings right over the crack and pushes through to this whole other level... It is electrifying."

The LP, which is a 14 track debut coming in at 54 minutes and 38 seconds, will be supported by a fall tour with Hutori-born Neveras guitar virtuoso Donnie Jorgenson, who will open for her. "I met this guy Donnie, when we were playing a bar in Vrassa City," recounted Yeardly, "and he's like 'You put on a good show, I'll give you my tape and if you ever get big, remember me.' So I listened to it, and I was like this guy is f--kin fantastic, and when we were doing the record, I was like 'Yo if we tour for this record, I am calling this guy up.' And I called him in July and we sat down and jammed together for like a week, and he was totally in." Jorgenson does a lot of really quiet music, in the similar folkish vein that Yeardly is currently hitting in, but his compositions are far more progressive in their construction, and reflect almost a different thought process with a similar aesthetic.

The tour will take the two singers across the Republic for 30 dates from September to late November in support of Yeardly's new LP. "The Label said we'd see how the shows do," said Yeardly. "I mean, when you're broke its kinda hard to set up your own stuff. Back in VC I could just call Bob the bar owner and be like 'You got any open spots this week?' and he was always like 'You're it honey,' and I'd have work. But there is nobody named Bob in a club in like f--kin, Yoshimi of some sh--. So you gotta let the Label do their thing, you know?"

"It kinda sucks struggling all the time, you know?" asked Yeardly rhetorically. "I mean, when you try to make a living at music, and nobody is even around to hear your songs... But I really look forward to getting out there and like seeing what the rest of the Republic looks like. And my wife Lara is coming with me, and we're finally gonna make one of her dreams come true too, and that is to go to Kaliburg, and see that city. We are gonna take a few days off around the Kaliburg shows and just travel around and see sh-- in Ananto. You know you've hit the big time when you play f--kin Kaliburg..."

The tour kicks off on August 31st in Vrassa, and will play across the Republic including Senvias and Eshar, as well as Springfield and Gendaris in Odufaray and Maridon and High Bong in September, then Sulari, Yoshimi and Lucid City in Suldanor and Kaliburg, for two nights, Luxon, Eveari and Dulnerstaad in November before swinging back into Vrassa to play Python, Addisjah, Port Swedes, Senvias again and finally two shows which are already sold out in Vrassa to close the tour. "We're gonna be working our A--es off!" said Yeardly. "But it's also gonna be a lot of fun, and the expense account is on VDR!"

Check out Yeardly's Lead Single from her LP, "The Stranger at the Door" and then go see her in concert when she comes to your city this fall!

[Doc]

Hutori and Kalistan Sell standing deal over Steel
Annual arrangement worth K19 Bn annually
Port Elga, Suldanor
January 1, 4903


First Shipment of 30 million tonnes to travel to Hutori from Port Elga

The Governments of Kalistan and Hutori signed a standing agreement to contract for 30 million tonnes annually from KalNaFerCo, easing pressures on the Nationalized Steel Company, and sending futures prices upward.

"Since the beginning of the Steel Crisis," said Trade Minister Michelle Martinez, "Kalistan has been selling nearly 65 million tonnes directly from Port Elga a year. While this does give Kalistan a bit of an edge on pricing, KNF obviously prefers contracted sales, which go out of Port Elga second, following only production for national consumption, but before Futures Contracts and Direct Sales. That gives us some stability and the ability to project for production in the coming year." The Government of Kalistan has guaranteed a price of K625 per tonne, which is about 27% lower than Yingdala's market price, for 5 years with option to renegotiate held by both Parties. K625 remains about K50 per tonne over what it costs the Republic to make the steel, finish it and store it, and is a further 12 percent discount than Kalistan is averaging in direct sales.

The price of KFN 6 month futures jumped from K634.23 to K690 overnight on the news of the agreement, which represents about a 10 percent increase on the price ahead of supply curtailment due to the Hutori deal. "Since we won't be able to make as many direct sales in Elga any longer, naturally investors anticipate an increase in the value of each tonne on the open market, and this has helped strengthen commodity sales." In addition to the jump in Commodities spots, The Trade Minister also announced easing pressures on the Kalistani Ruble. "Luckily, this also takes a bit of weight off the Ruble in Elga and abroad, and our currency, thank goodness has been able to do most of the work of carrying us through the about two year period mostly unharmed financially."

The news however represents a significant blow to the Yingdalan steel export business. "Hutori, at 30 million tonnes a year was about 10 percent of their business," said Martinez. "We are expecting major retaliation from the Indralan Steel industry for this blow, though we are not sure what form it will come in." The Finance Minister today announced he was preparing legislation for reciprocal action in the National Assembly, matching action for action. "We have also heard concerns coming from other steel producers, like Dolgava, that they are at least considering tariffs against Kalistani goods in retaliation for our actions. As we don't generally have much interaction with them, those tariffs, were they to be emplaced, would hurt Dolgavans by raising prices in their market on what few Kalistani goods they buy, but also on their own, as the market tends to respond to tariffs with increasing prices. We hope that Dolgava considers carefully whether they really need to get involved with this disagreement between the Republic and Yingdala."

As pressure to sell is eased on KNF with the Hutori deal, and rumored other deals in the works, the Premier of the Republic, George Jackson signaled a willingness to discuss outstanding issues with Yingdala over steel exports. "We don't have any details, but of course the Republic would like to speak to representatives of the Indralan Government, should they ever be willing, to perhaps iron out the wrinkles in our relationship." As of this date, of course, no answer has been received from Yingdala, nor has any reaction to this dramatic turn of events been heard in the press.

Meanwhile, Kalistan continues to churn out steel and will continue to sell about 35 million tonnes in direct sales from Port Elga to whoever will buy it. But now, ships will regularly transit from Port Elga to Hutori, and will br bringing cargoes of steel with it going forward.

[Doc]

Kalistani Mainland Export Infrastructure to get major Update
Focus is on Port Swedes and National Rail Infrastructure
Port Swedes Vrassa
February 19, 4903


Port Swedes to build permanent Steel Shipping Port, to increase capacity in Northern Port

The Major Northern Port, Port Swedes, near the Jah Delta separating Kalistan and Lodamun, is due for a major upgrade, the first in a thousand Years. To date, Port Swedes has served primarily as a Refeuling/Repair Station for the Kalistani Regular Navy and is a major naval station, but it is also the primary internal transport link from the Mainland to Kaliburg on Ananto. Now that Kalistan has dramatically increased its exports of steel, a significant upgrade in the port facilities will be required to handle the shipping.

"We have estimated that to meet Hutori demands in port at Elga," said Trade Minister Michelle Martinez, "we would need to load two steel coils a minute onto Hutori Ships. While this can be easily accomplished at Elga, provided the container shipping is there to load the coils onto, we also feel that an expansion of Port Swedes here can dramatically lighten the burdens on Elga. And we will need to increase export capacity anyway, to serve Dolgavan demands too, given their recent agreement to purchase 18 million tonnes of steel from us this year. This expansion wil shorten the transit between the Republic and its Northern Trade Partners, as well as increase efficiency at Elga."

The expansion, which is expected to last into November of this year, will cost the Republic about 2.1 Billion Rubles, and will include increased onsite storage, finally a firm segregation between commercial shipping ports and military docks, improved refueling facilities, and space for an additional 16 modern container ships. "The more ships we can load at a time, the faster we can get our orders processed, and the quicker we can get them on their way," said Martinez. "Additionally, we will greatly decrease the potential for accidents on the job, by allowing our workers to take a little bit more time to ensure that the job is done safely and correctly each time."

Along with the expansion of Port Swedes' facilities, rail capacity between Sulari and Port Swedes is now slated to double, to facilitate a higher rate of cross country traffic. "We already have bridge crews out in the right of way building river crossings and so forth. The original line is double tracked, and this new line will also be double tracked and will travel directly adjacently for the most part, but will circumvent cities entirely rather than following the original line into the populated areas. In this way, we can treat the new line as express cargo/freight, and this will resolve the occasional hangups we have with passenger traffic on the original line." Additionally, since there will be no new road crossings, once the train leaves either Sulari or Port Swedes, it is intended to travel at maximum safe speed the entire time. This should cut transit time along the route by several hours, allowing the Republic to run twelve fully loaded trains a day between the two ports. This will be the equivalent of three cargo ships worth of steel a day.

With the Steel industry booming, and contracts beginning to be filled at Sulari, Futures are beginning to inch up again, and the Republic is considering suspending Direct Sales. "We don't want to even get close to the point where we can't meet our contracts," said Martinez. "We still got a little bit of a cushion, but with one or two more major purchases, that cushion will be gone and we will once more need to consider ramping up production... It is a balancing act, but the Republic is still very conservative minded about projections for sales, and so we will want to make sure that we do not put the pedal down when we should be letting up on it."

In other news, Kalistan will soon begin consideration of a bill to begin accepting limited amounts of Hutori currency as legal tender. "The finance minister and the Bank are looking at accepting individual deposits of Hutori Liras, and what it will mean for the Republic's currency." The plans are just in their nacent phases, and the Trade minister had no further comment on any plans along these lines.

[Doc]

Yeardly Records new Single with Kaliburg Symphony Orchestra
First single not tied to LP release shows growth for Alt-Folk singer
Kaliburg, Ananto
March 3. 4903


"The Joke's On Them" shows range and Depth for Vrassan Folk-y singer

Joanie Yeardly, fresh off her very successful fall tour in support of her Major Debut release, has returned to the Capital to record a new single with the Kaliburg Symphony Orchestra. The single, called "The Joke's on Them" talks about a person who does not live up to society's expectations, and who becomes discouraged. Yet the song also has an uplifting message for the people: "Let them Laugh while they can," says Yardly in the song, "... The Joke's on them."

We briefly caught up with Joanie Yeardly, who has, over the last year gone from local singer in Vrassa City to one of the largest alternative rock musicians in the Republic.

T(he) R(epublic): Hey Comrade Yeardly, its great to meet you.

J(oanie) Y(eardly): Yes, thank you. It is nice to meet you too.

TR: You have just come out with this new single, which has this amazing orchestration on it...

JY: Yeah, hey, you're right... F--kin A, man...

TR: It's really a different sound from the music on your LP. A bold and powerful song with a lot of emotion.

JY: Yeah... that is true...

TR: Why did you make the kind of move from the more kinda, um, how would you describe it...uh

JY: (laughs) Seriously, man, its your interview...

TR: Yeah, this kind of, can I say rustic?

JY: You just did...

TR: ... Rustic sound this sound you are known for to this more ambitious and arranged affair with the Symphony? It's really a different sound from what fans of yours expect.

JY: Well, I like to keep people on their toes... We don't get a lot of orchestras to come out to Vrassa City. Its a different world out there, so when my wife and I toured the capital last fall we checked in on the Orchestra here, and I mean, they were pretty good... I guess they'd have to be, you know?

TR: Yeah... I guess so. So.. um...

JY: So anyway, yeah, I went to the director and said, Look here's who I am, and I'm on tour, and this is my wife Lara, and he was cool. And I said, Look I have this idea, and I'm gonna like... uh, write this song... and when I come back, can we do it?

TR: And what he say?

JY: Well (laughs) he said he never heard of me. So I was like Ok, fair enough. And I had my rep at VDR call him up and set up some recording time, and when I came back last month, and we laid down the track, he turned out to be this super f--kin hip, old guy, you know, who was really into music, and thought that symphonies can you know, make rock too.

TR: Well, I'm sure you get this all the time, but the song sounded great.

JY: Thank you.

TR: Is there a story behind it?

JY: Yeah, as a matter of fact. I met this kid when I was playing clubs in Vrassa, and he was in this wheel chair, and he would come to my shows and he would say things like "Oh, you know... Your voice is so pretty, and it really just makes my day to come down here and listen to you sing..." and I was like Thanks man, and I signed his book, because you know, I was nobody, so it was an opportunity to you know, sign my autograph and sh--... So anyway, like a week after I signed his book the bartender came up to me and told me that Mike... that was this kid... he had been hit by a car on his way home from school, and was killed... and I was like "God this sh-- really sucks... what a rotten f--kin thing to happen to that nice guy..." and he was into all sorts of sh--... Like I met his mom and she said he did Paralympics and everything, and some car just came up and smoked him on the side of the road... This song is really kind of inspired by him, because you know he used to say this to me: He'd be like "One day, Joanie, you'll show them all... Then the Joke will be on all of them." And he was right I guess...

TR: Wow, did you get made fun of or something?

JY: I mean, it was always these drunk rednecks who were yelling at me and sh-- and didn't really get what I was doing and they wanted to hear some sort of dance music, and this one time, this guy paid the owner to send me home for the night, and yeah, you know? And my mom always supported me, but my dad never got it and never saw one of my shows and then he went and died sitting on the f--kin toilet... All that shit kinda hurt sometimes you know? But that dude, Mike, he saw something and while these guys were yelling, he would be there listening. A real nice guy... So I kinda wrote this song to his ghost to let him know I sorta made it, you know? Made it out of the bar. (laughs)

TR: And how's the single doing, do you know?

JY: Well, I haven't got the weeklies from the Label yet, but I think its gonna do really good. They're really pounding it out on Radio 1. They're playing a lot of this stuff now... I heard they are also playing Jorgenson (Yeardly's tour partner) which is fantastic, dude's so good... If I can bring some folks up too, that's cool as f--k, you know what I mean?

TR: Will you make a video?

JY: Yeah, man, that's why I am up here now... We start recording tonight. It's a quick process. They've already got the secondary footage shot, I just gotta go in for about two hours here, do my part lickety split no sh-- and then the video will probably be out like tomorrow...

TR: And then what's next for Joanie Yeardly?

JY: I don't know, man, why don't you ask her ass? She's sitting right in front of you, You know what I'm saying? (laughs)

TR: Alright... you're right... What's next for you Comrade?

JY: I think we're gonna take a couple weeks off, to be honest... Kinda coast a little bit, see if this single does anything...

TR: Yeah, just kinda take it easy...

JY: Oh, sh-- I forgot man, we are buying a f--kin house, finally... Our first house...

TR: Well congratulations. Where will you live?

JY: Vrassa City, of course. The Ruble goes a lot farther out there you know.

TR: What are you looking for in a house?

JY: I think I would like one where the roof don't leak, you know? (laughs) I never had one like that, one without black mold all over the place that's about to get condemned by the Housing Authority because the dude who owns it is a slumlord...

TR: Yeah, I would think you can get one now without a leaky roof...

JY: Well, we will if we are lucky. (laughs) those are in short supply out in our neck of the woods.

TR: Joanie Yeardly, it has been a pleasure to speak with you today.

JY: You too Comrade. You should tell your newspaper friends to do it more often, you know? I like talking to you lot.

TR: I will pass the message on.

JY: Peace.

(Since Press time, Yeardly's video for "The Joke's on Them" has been released and is currently in heavy rotation on M7. When the first week's numbers on the single came back, it was ascertained that the single had debuted at Number 1 across the Republic, and is also in heavy rotation on Radio 1.

Watch Joanie Yeardly in "The Joke's On Them" here.)

[Doc]

Trade Minister Michelle Martinez says steel will hold steady
Production caps "adequate" to meet international demand
Kaliburg, Ananto
July 7, 4903


Michelle Martinez addresses Kalistani Economic Forum in Late June to Explain Steel Situation

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Michelle Martinez, who has been at the center of Kalistan's controversial Steel policy, which foreign critics have labeled "dumping" has put a lid on calls for expanding production further.

"As of this month," Martinez told a group of leading Republican Economists at the Kalistani Economic Forum late last month, "Kalistani production is sitting at about 80 percent of its total capacity. This not only takes into account the ore extraction operations in Neveras and Vrassa, but our ability to produce to meet demand and to fill our contracts. The government of Kalistan has determined, and I think with sound economic science, that this level of production is adequate to meet current world demand, and to keep our dockworkers and longshoremen working full time to service incoming ships. If we expand production any further, we will need to start sacrificing things like maintenance to keep the factories working, and we could further dislocate the Kalistani Ruble, just as the Finance Minister is thinking of removing caps on its movement overseas."

The Trade Minister noted new deals with Hutori and Dolgava as signs of international interest in Kalistani steel, as well as new interest from countries like Zardugal and Lodamun to soak up the remaining slack in the Steel Production Schedule. "Deliveries to both Hutori and Dolgava are on track," said Martinez, "But additional export capacity itself will depend upon our completion of the expansion at Swedes, unless we are working our shippers overtime in Sulari, which is something that Management at the port is reluctant to do, simply because it will lead to injuries, and unsafe procedures which could hurt our guys or their shipments." The Trade Minister described the process of steel, from extraction to processing and finishing to shipping and loading and then delivery as an intricate ballet, where each part must do its part and do it well, or the entire system breaks down.

"Honestly, we are not sure how major economies in the world do it," said Martinez, "but then again, they also do not possess vertical monopolies in their country the way Kalistan does. We can plan and organize this whole process, and fit a component in here or there as we need to, allowing us the Just In Time supplying that larger scale economies possess, but do it all in house. But it all has to work together. An increase of production much further, when the system is currently operating in an optimized environment, will put additional stresses on the system."

As the steel surplus is soaked up by regular purchasers and direct sales at Sulari more or less come to an end, KNF steel has approached the guaranteed 10 percent discount that the Trade Minister established at the beginning of the crisis, ensuring that Kalistani Steel will still underbid Yingdala. "The Republic has had to take extraordinary efforts to keep KNF 6 month futures below the K840 price point recently," said Martinez, "and part of this includes the Finance Minister dropping more subsidies on KNF to offset some of the costs, especially with regard to transportation. But we think we have found a sweet spot that will allow our steel prices to not inflate beyond our 10 percent discount, and ensure we are still underbidding Yingdala."

The Trade Minister's Keynote received a tepid response from the mostly liberal group of economists attending the Economic Forum. "Of course, it's all apology for mercantilism," said Dr. Bradley Compton, professor of economics at Vrassa District University. "The Socialist Party of Kalistan, in their years and years in power, have still not learned even a modicum of micro economic orthodoxy which describes prices set by the iron hand of the Market, and I am not sure why we were expecting this Trade Minister to suggest anything else."

Other economists were more reluctant to critique the steel policy, and instead critiqued the Trade policy of the Republic more generally. "The Socialist Party supposedly wants zero growth," said Socialist economist Dr. Dava Cadbury. "But dramatically increasing Steel production beyond the needs of the Republic in order to undermine Yingdala's market share and then having to scramble for buyers to prevent the market from completely collapsing is a bit short sighted. That is what capitalist nations do and it could have been a very costly gamble if it did not pay off. Luckily for Kalistan, it eventually did, but we had to once more sacrifice convertibility of the Ruble to do so."

Other economists were concerned with how long the Republic could keep up such high levels of production. "We cannot be sure how long the high quality ore in the Range will last, before we are starting to have to pay more to produce the same amount of steel," said geologist Dr. Michelle Roberts. "There appears to be decades of the high quality ore up there, but with responsible usage, it could serve the Republic for centuries, and without additional proven sources, we could very quickly run into a wall on iron production at this rate. It's really unknown."

The Trade Minister did signal a possible solution to the crisis. "Once more, if Indrala was interested in reaching out to us," said Martinez, "we could make some arrangement on prices that lets both Yingdala and Kalistan participate in supplying the world steel market profitably. We have heard nothing from Indrala though, and we are still standing by to work out a mutually beneficial arrangement. Meanwhile, we'll keep making the steel and selling it." A pricing arrangement with Yingdala could help ease pressures on demand for Republican Steel, but as the crisis continues, and Yingdala's export market continues to suffer damage, it is possible that an accord will be harder to reach with each passing day.