Kalistani Major History

[Doc]

Kalistan to sell five ALDAMAX petroleum tankers to Malivia
New Malivian shipping interest to begin transporting oil in Artania
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
April 30, 5546


A new ALDAMAX petroleum tanker under construction in Port Elga

SSC has announced a new tanker deal with the Malivian Petroleum Corporation to provide five new ALDAMAX petroleum tankers. The deal with the nascent Artanian petroleum company will cost MPC ₭515 million, ₭200 million up front and the remaining ₭315 million due upon delivery. The entire order will take the ship yards at Port Elga about 40 months to complete.

"This is really the first large scale order we've received at the ship yards for a foreign country," said SSC Spokesman Kenneth Jackson. "So far we've built supermax container ships for Kalistan. The tanker ships will be built to Aldegarian standards, to allow our client the ability to transit the most important canal and take port in most major ports with refinery facilities at them."

The ALDAMAX tankers each have a capacity of 125,000 DWT of crude oil. "The offer was initially made by the new company to serve as a distributor for Kalistani tanker ships," said Jackson, "but Kalistan turned that offer down. We prefer to deal directly with the buyers of our ships, so that we can ensure that their own individuals specifications are met. Kalistani ships are not prefabricated in any sense: We try to meet with our clients to find out precisely what they want, and give them a product that our ship builders can be proud of, and our company can stand by for the the entire life of the vessel." It is expected that these five vessels will likely transport Vamaj Petroleum, though Kalistan has no arrangement with that oil producing cartel.

In related news, Kalisani investors, including Duke Victor of Suldanor, have announced that they intend to invest ₭1.5 Billion into the Malivian Petroleum Corporation. "We may no longer produce oil in Kalistan," said KPO CFO Diane Carter, "but oil is still big business elsewhere in the world, and private Kalistani money is in the FDI business it seems." This investment is meant to help kickstart the corporation. "Kalistanis will likely stay in as long is the investment remains profitable," said Carter. "But as none of the money is public in the strict sense, Kalistani investors likely have their bets hedged elsewhere, and even if this bet is fairly risky, our investors stand to gain a tidy sum of money as this company grows and starts doing business internationally."

[Doc]

MoD Jackson announces tentative reopening of Ananto Strait
"Tensions have decreased", says Captain
Yoshimi, Duchy of Suldanor
February 7, 5547


Minister of Defense Captain Martin Curtis addresses public in Yoshimi

His Imperial Majesty's Minister of Defense, Captain Martin Curtis, KRA, gave brief statements to address a tentative change in Kalistan's policy in the Ananto Strait.

"His Imperial Majesty has ordered a full stand down of all naval activity along the Northern and Southern Limits of the Ananto Strait and an opening of the Strait to armed and flagged foreign naval traffic," said the Captain. "This change in policy follows the lines of strategic and tactical decisions taken by our neighbors in response to a decrease in tensions in the Northern Anantonese Ocean. The Regular Navy will maintain its submarine, surface and air patrols in the Central Anantonese between Kalistan and Gaduridos for the time being, but the Anantonese Strait is open for transit of all flagged foreign naval vessels, military and civilian." Following the brief words, the Captain, who was currently in the field with Army South on Border watch took a few questions.

"Initially, the Chancellor and the Emperor felt that the Strait reopening should apply to only Anantonese Nations, but the Naval staff pushed hard for a more general overture, and at the end of the day, their arguments were persuasive," said Captain Jackson. "The Chancellor feels that this is not only an opportunity to reduce the potential for conflict in the region, but also an opportunity to look for friendly nations to return to peacetime exercises with."

When asked if this had anything to do with Canrille's strategic shift of focus to Southern Seleya and Lodamun's restoration of patrols in both the Northern Anantonese and Mad Dog, the Captain responded, "Yes. It is His Imperial Majesty's will that we look for ways to work with Lodamun especially on regional security, and given the decrease in threats to the Empire back to more status quo ex ante levels, opening the Strait and putting the peace dividend to work for the Kalistani people seems like a much more reasonable policy than maintaining a war footing indefinitely."

When asked how that peace dividend will be spent, the Captain was more circumspect. "The Emperor has ordered the Chancellor of the Empire to increase surveillance and intelligence gathering services abroad with at least part of it. We are also maintaining the presence on the Baltusian border, though Baltusia itself has gone relatively dark, and the 3rd Fleet is still running patrols throughout the Central Anantonese Ocean to ensure that Baltusia doesn't reignite once more."

When asked how long the "tentative" opening of the Ananto Strait would last, the Captain responded "As long as it stays quiet in our part of the world, the intention of His Imperial Majesty is that it remain open to foreign naval traffic indefinitely. Conflict, brushfires or heavy foreign intervention into Northern Seleya or Central Dovani could change that policy, but for right now, the boards are cleared, and Kalistan would like to get back to peace." At this, the Captain thanked reporters for the questions and returned to his unit's position in the countryside outside of Yoshimi.

[Doc]

Inside Kalistan's new Upper Class
Wealth grows, Population begins shifting, but Inequality remains low
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
April 18, 5547


Baroness Angela Thewlis, at home in the Green Plain, rural Ananto

A recent survey of wealth distribution conducted by High Bong University in the Duchy of Neveras has given numbers to a long suspected trend: Kalistanis in general are becoming wealthier. The surprising finding from the study however is that the improvement in the living standard tends to affect all classes equally. In fact, the study, conducted by a team led by Brent Talmadge, professor of MacroEconomics at High Bong University, found that the disparity of wealth for 99 percent of the population is as close now as it has ever been, yet all enjoy a higher standard of living than they did two generations ago.

"We have found historically, under the socialist period," said Professor Talmadge, "wealth disparity among Kalistanis was scored between 32 and 45 on a scale of 100, with 0 representing perfect equality between the upper and lower classes, and 100 representing perfect inequality. Those categories are of course the characterization of a number of important operationalizations including access to basic services like food, medicine and education, access to a good safe well paying job, availability of free time, work life expectancy, access to luxury, access to media, etc. A score like Kalistan's historically suggested that most people had access to nearly all of our categories most of the time, and very few were left far behind or had more than their share."

"Fifty years ago, when measuring Kalistan, the score they came to was 48," continued Talmadge. "That is a respectable score, for sure, but now, Kalistan scores a 36 on this equality scale." Talmadge noted that a strong emphasis on social protection and full employment while protecting individual wealth as a policy of the State promotes equality among the classes in Kalistan. "If you didn't know better, you could be excused for confusing the policies of His Imperial Majesty's Government, at least the economic policies, for a Socialist Government. There are important differences, but the goal appears to be the same."

As inequality continues to shrink the other major take away is that more people have more money in Kalistan. "More people are moving into the upper classes as investment and finance increases in importance," said Talmadge. "There is more disposable income in Kalistan now, among nearly all segments of the society. And people are spending this wealth in surprising ways."

Many people are now gaining access to luxury items like boats, foreign automobiles, fashion, jewelry and homes. "More and more people are beginning to build homes in the rural parts of Kalistan," said Talmadge. "Kalistan has an urbanization rate of about 81 percent, which leaves vast swaths of the country populated only by farmers or hermits. But the new fashionable way for Kalistan's wealthy to spend their money is on acreage." A new informal policy of His Imperial Majesty's Government to encourage settlement of the underpopulated area in the Empire is to make landowners eligible for titles. "The Emperor has begun issuing noble titles and memberships to the Peerage to those who settle a certain amount of land, make certain improvements, including permanent home construction, and cultivate the land. In order to obtain the title, usually Baronet or Marquis, the individual must actually occupy the land for no less than 9 months of every year for ten years, pay a moderate land use tax, and may not rent the land out to tenants. And so far, wealthy people are flocking to the countryside, building chateaus and farmsteads, and are forming the new germ of a landed gentry."

The homes that these wealthy people are abandoning in the cities are being made available in record numbers as upper middle class people see an opportunity to move into more luxury accommodations. "It's odd, its like reverse gentrification," said Talmadge. "In Kalistan and Ananto's major cities, as much as 15% of the housing stock has changed ownership in the last five years," said Talmadge. "People are moving 'up' into neighborhoods that were previously dominated by members of a higher class. The property values, which have remained steady for decades, and the lack of upward pressure caused by a free market, means that people can more easily move into a house that more correctly suits their image of themselves and their tastes."

The encouragement of upper and upper-middle class Kalistanis to move to the countryside and acquire land goes to support the Emperor's plans to begin updating the nation's Housing Stock. "We are going to see a lot of turbulence in the housing situation in Kalistan over the next twenty or so years," said Talmadge. "NSP is already beginning to take down out of date highrise apartments, and to rehabilitate old houses. What replaces it will be more energy efficient homes with smaller yards, townhouses that more efficiently utilize the available space in our Cities, and new highrise apartment buildings with shops and services nearby, including access to mass transit. The overall vision is the walkable, green cities of tomorrow, and it is spurred by the policies being driven by the top of Kalistan's power structure."

For now, country life is leading to a number of follow-on effects in the Kalistani countryside. "As populations shift into the country, services need to follow," said Talmadge. "This means roads to the newly founded communities, as well as stores, electrical infrastructure, fire departments, schools, shopping centers, movie theaters, charging stations, libraries and such." One such community, in Ananto's Green Plain remains unincorporated, but already has a population of 345 peoples, a grocery store, a shopping center, and a school system. Within the next year, a MoCo dealership will be opened there and new cellular and internet service will arrive. The construction represents a fairly significant job opportunity for working and middle class individuals in Eveari and Kaliburg who want to move to the country and perform the services demanded by the money elites. And that will create another wave of follow on services as new businesses and services sprout up to cater to the workers.

"This is not trickle down," said Talmadge. "This is how towns organically grow. When you have a large group of people with significant disposable income, they often put it to work for them. The result is a net positive for the community." As these new population centers grow, Talmadge predicts as many as ten new cities will be incorporated in the next 20 years. "This is going to be a very exciting period in Kalistan's history. Lots of movement around the Empire is expected, coupled with a lot of new investment in services, finances, and construction."

[Doc]

Mark Ananto-Orleans named Grand Duke of Kalistan
Betrothal to Countess Margaret of Lucid announced
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
July 30, 5547


Mark Ananto-Orleans announces Engagement to Countess Margaret Alvarez-Ellison in Sulari

As expected, the son of Duke Victor Ananto-Martin, Mark Ananto-Orleans has been named Grand Duke of Kalistan by His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick II Ananto. His Highness the Grand Duke took over his father's role as chief director of House Ananto last December, following his father's retirement from public life. The new Grand Duke was promoted in title to the position of chief political head of Kalistan Proper following the retirement of Grand Duchess Marta Greene who has led the grand duchy for the last 35 years.

The dramatic rise and consolidation of political and economic power into the Emperor's first cousin is seen by many as an attempt to establish more family control over the various titles of nobility in Kalistan. The Grand Duke and the Emperor are known to be close compatriots, and are of like mind on many things. "In fact, there is probably no better person to serve in the role of Grand Duke of Kalistan than the Emperor's cousin," said Crown Watcher Veronica Jamesson. "Grand Duchess Greene was known to do things her own way within Kalistan, and as a result many of the Emperor's dictates were slow walked or frustrated all together. She clearly believed in a much more decentralized type of governance, and while she still loyally served the Emperor, she did it in her own fashion which was not always to the liking of the Emperor. She was called to the Capital more than once to receive direct commands from both Empress Nicolette and Emperor Fredrick. A lot of those issues should be resolved now." The Grand Duke of Kalistan is often seen as a Viceroy and though they take commands from the Emperor, they enjoy most of the same powers and privileges as the Emperor while in Kalistan proper. They also serve as the Emperor's chief personal advisor.

In addition to his promotion to high office, His Highness Mark Ananto-Orleans Kalistan has become engaged to actress and Model, Her Highness the Countess Margaret Alvarez-Ellison of Lucid City in Suldanor. The Countess, 34 was in multiple popular television programs on KRTVN in her teens and twenties, before retiring from acting at 31 and taking up a career in philanthropy. Recently, she worked with the Grand Duke's Father, Duke Victor, to help provide homes and jobs for Baltusians fleeing from the chaos in Athosia.

"The Countess was on hand to greet refugees in person many times," said Jamesson. "She not only organized the money to build actual homes for families, but she also organized several integration services for Baltusians who either planned to stay permanently or were just waiting out the conflict. She organized more than two dozen food drives, community events, and school registration drives over the course of this conflict, and says she does not intend to leave her work unfinished." The engagement announcement came at a dinner party last week hosted by the Duke of Suldanor in Sulari, and the news was greeted across the Duchy.

Grand Duke Mark Ananto-Orleans intends to maintain the family residence in Gaduridos, but also open a new home and satellite offices for House Ananto in the fashionable South Hills neighborhood in Northern Sulari. "The Grand Duke has already purchased three acres on the edge of the new Construction and has published his budget of more than ₭8 million for his and his Bride-to-Be's new home," said Jamesson. "The mansion, when completed will overlook the city and Sulari Bay below. The land is forested, and there is a spring on the property."

[Doc]

Ministry of Education Approves Controversial new Curriculum
Some Institutionalists call Civics section "outrageous"
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 18, 5548


Political Map from 2nd Grade text book does not show "correct borders" according to some Deputies

His Imperial Majesty's Minister of Education was under fire this week for a normally routine matter which has suddenly drawn a lot of attention. Every 12 years, the Ministry of Education is charged with updating the National Curriculum, including standards for education by grade level. This curriculum update is usually non-controversial: It often involves pen changes and new materials that have either been discovered or have changed in the world. The most frequent changes come in the civics and history categories due to frequently shifting alliances, wars that start and end, and trade agreements.

But this year, that is precisely where some criticism of the Government's curriculum is centered. "What the Minister has done is outrageous!" said Orthodox Deputy Greta Henry, of Vrassa City. "Many deputies, myself included, expressed deep concern over the officially approved maps and other course materials that are supposed to teach our children, and the Minister has completely disregarded our concerns and went ahead with what she had planned to do all along!" The issue at the heart of the controversy is a demand by more than a dozen Deputies in the National Assembly to include what they refer to as "correct borders" on the map, showing the parts of other countries that the Empire claims but are not recognized internationally.

"These Deputies are insane," said His Imperial Majesty's Minister of Education Magda White. "We can't just produce maps that are factually inaccurate. While it is true that His Imperial Majesty holds the titles of King of Andalay and Vintalli, he doesn't hold any political authority over those territories. So we can't just add them to the Empire in our maps... that's not how maps work..." The Minister said, as a compromise, she listed the Kingdoms, as well as the Duchy of Athosia on the map, but kept them attached to their current political association rather than suggesting that they are currently under the Empire's Standard. "I never thought I would say it," said Minister White, "but I think these people are too nationalistic and its a good thing for the Empire that they are in the minority."

"What they will use these textbooks to teach our children is patently false," said Gregory Phillips, another conservative Deputy from Luxon. "Are we an Empire or are we not one? Do we have the right to take back the lands that were stolen from our Empire or do we not? I think correctly acknowledging that our lands are currently being occupied by foreign governments is the first step to reclaiming our birthright as a nation, and without directly criticizing the Emperor himself, I think he ought to sack that Minister of his. What she has done in approving this curriculum is to undermine this Empire and the Emperor's legitimate and historical claims over Andalay, Athosia, and Vintalli, to say nothing of the Colonies." For the record, both civics and history text books discuss in depth why Kalistan has an Empire, how much of that Empire was unjustly taken, and our nation's interest and obligation to those lands while they still are outside of our political boundaries.

"But we must tell the truth in all matters," said Minister White. "If the truth undermines the Empire, then perhaps the empire should be undermined, but I will also add that this curriculum was worked out in close cooperation with the Chancellery and political scientists and historians across the country, and represents the general consensus both academically and politically about what is appropriate to teach our children in public school. As such, we recommended it to the Emperor, and His Imperial Majesty also approved it. So these Deputies may not like it, but its not really up for debate."

The new curriculum will take effect for all students in the elementary level this fall and will be introduced with the incoming class at the Secondary level.

[Doc]

Olbrecht Signs Deals With Foreign Company; Car Industry Sees Rise Amids Good Export Partners.
August, 5548


An Alchester Motors' DB12 Coupe sold at a Luthorian car dealer.

Fort William - The Alchester Motor Company’s Chief Executive Officer, George Olbrecht was spotted meeting Narik-Darnussian companies representatives in the Ambassador Hotel in Fort William. The CEO’s meetings with Narik-Darnussian representatives wasn’t known, although some might say that it was about access to Narik-Dundorfian markets for the Alchester Motor Company, who tries since some time now to outpace their main competitor in the Rivers Motors by increasing the locations of where their cars could be accessible. While both companies are looking certain to have their exports being accepted in Beiteynu, a country filled with competition coming out from either Dundorf, Lourenne or even surprisingly, Baeguk (Dankuk) and also while Commonwealth and Luthorian-aligned markets are (mostly) secured - with some exceptions that would be “looked upon” either by the Trade High Commissioner or the Minister of State for Trade and Commerce, and while other international markets are slowly getting themselves out of “isolation”, according to some political or overjoyed economic columnists. Olbrecht’s meetings with these representatives seemed to be done “in a good, respectful and straight-foward mood”, mostly focused around lowering the costs of production by “delocalizing” some part of the production in other countries by siding sides of the production of X product in another nation where the cost of the worker is significantly lower than the cost of production in the home territory itself.

While Narikaton and Darnussia is considered to be one of the worlds’ largest economies, it is also considered to have a production cost lower than the one present in Luthori, due to the deregulated nature of their economy, compared to the Luthorian economy which is following the principles of “State Capitalism”, and due to that and its location, close to the Luthorian homeland for the needs of the production chain, a platform of discussion with their companies on that subject was established to discuss the possibility, with the aim of reducing costs for production of the DB12 Coupe and its variant, the DB12 Volante. What came out of these meetings was a positive response, with an unnamed Narik-Darnussian company reaching a deal with the Alchester Motor Company for the production of the chassis of both car models. This company would use Narikaton and Darnussia’s iron for creating these chassis, which would be then shipped off to Luthori to complete the overall construction of the car. This agreement is likely to, as per with the said objective, reduce production costs for the Alchester Motor Company, as well as not lose a lot of money from this deal, as the AMC, according to some, didn’t give out a lot of the car’s sales profits to this company, due to the fact that most of the work is still done in Luthori and that car is still shipped off from Luthori.

Another objective that this deal succeeded to do is the accessibility of Luthorian cars in the Narik-Darnussian market, something that was thought to be highly complicated due to the country’s apparent closeness to the Dundorfians and to their car industry. Some people stated that the Narik-Darnussian accessibility of their market “was harder than first thought, in an unusual way”, as even the Canrillaise Empire’s market was allowed to be breached by both the DB12 and the Flying Spur electric variants, which are sold at an higher price due to the increased production costs coming from the battery that need to be installed in every single cars that are produced and aimed at the direction of the Canrillaise market. Other nations which are seeing an increase in Luthorian auto exports excluding Lourenne and Narikaton and Darnussia are Aldegar, Kalistan, Beiteynu, Mordusia and Lodamun. The latter two are quite interesting as the Luthorians seem to have retaken interest in Commonwealth/Luthorian-speaking states trading partnerships with the return of a “responsible government” in both Likatonia and Mordusia, something that the Luthorian Foreign Office congratulated wholeheartedly. Although it should be pointed out that the Commonwealth of Lodamun’s Merchant-General and the Luthorian High Commissioner for Trade are going to meet in Fort William for discussing the restoring of trade between Luthori and a Lodamun which is no longer part of the Commonwealth framework.

Said meeting is going to happen in the “aftermath” of the current ministerial deadlock in Parliament and the resolution of the conflict within the Conservative Party in regards to their position in regards to the Occupation of Rapa Pile by the Vascanian Empire as Gaklington and the Government are looking more likely to torpedo the backbenchers Bill in the Imperial Diet as it passed in the Imperial Senate without much difficulty and with the support of the Leader of the Imperial Senate, who resigned yesterday amid “critical disagreements” with the Prime Minister over policy conducts and overall foreign policy engagements and decisions. With such an influential politician having left the Government, Mr. Gaklington’s days at Crown Street seem numbered and another one of his peers, either in the Diet or the Senate could be entitled to take his place as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury.

[Doc]

Republican Pictures releases film about Robert M. O'Leary
Biopic covers controversial rise of the Growers Syndicate and the beginnings of ODEN
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
October 15, 5548


Poster for O'Leary, staring Liam Connor as Robert O'Leary

Republican Pictures has released a new film starring actor Liam Connor as the controversial labor organizer Robert M. O'Leary who was one of the driving forces behind the founding of the Kalistani Growers' Syndicate and an early, if unsung, force behind the original ODEN. O'Leary was born in 2331 in Odufaray, and committed his life to organizing farm laborers, agricultural transportation workers, and small land owners into a single, nationwide union known as the Kalistani Growers' Syndicate. But his history was complicated by his alleged ties to organized crime and political corruption. It is widely believed that he was murdered by a professional hitman when it became clear that criminal elements could no longer control him. His body was never actually located but it is widely believed that he was cut up and thrown into the Ananto Strait in 2377. He never lived to see the foundation of ODEN five short years later.

"O'Leary was an absolutely committed labor boss in the old sense of the word," said director Melanie Weller, who made her directorial debut in O'Leary. "He had a one track minds--But he was also a bit of a sociopath, and he upset a lot of the wrong kind of people, so that when he disappeared, the state wasn't too enthusiastic about tracking his body down or looking for his killer. Is it possible that he went underground? Yeah, and the State did use his disappearance to make some arrests of some known organized criminals. But they never found him, and it is doubtful that they ever looked for him."

"Robert O'Leary was a real challenge to play," said actor Liam Connor, who lives in Sulari. "I come from the stage, where there is a lot of BIG action and you have to be this bigger than life character all the time, you know... and that's really the kind of guy Bob was. But the challenge came in the fact that he never turned it off. It was largely the charisma he had, but it was also the bands of armed thugs who were always ready to go out and smash in some dude's house when he didn't, you know... uh give his workers a contract, you know? Like he had these gangs of dozens of guys armed with tire irons or Molotov cocktails, or whatever, you know... Like 'you think you can stand up to the union? Here's your mother's house on fire and look- her dog's hanging from a tree...' Stuff like that... He never took a day off."

Early reviews from the film were mostly positive. Where people critiqued it, some viewers called it "overly long." "I think it was a bit too long," said Emma Martini, from Eshar. "It was good but like halfway through I needed more popcorn. I think they could have done without so many flashbacks." Other viewers were concerned with the violence in the film. "There were some really gory parts," said Thomas James of Kaliburg. "They showed stuff like these scab vigilantes getting their heads beaten in by these coked up union guys. I know it was a fight back then to even get recognized but damn..."

Overall, though the positive comments about the film outweighed the negative ones. "The actors made this movie for me," said Willa Alexander of Yoshimi. "I thought Connor did an excellent job in the main role and Mike Wallerstein, [who played Syndicate enforcer Judah Goldberg] really did a good job playing the more human and humane side of that whole struggle. I liked that part where when Goldberg was asking O'Leary why he told these mafia guys where the things the union took was hidden, and O'Leary explained that the local mafia boss was going to be doing them a favor in about a week. And Goldberg was upset because he and his crew had almost gotten blown up taking the stuff, and OLeary said something like 'When you've known a guy a long time, worked with him a long time, you can't slight him. A real grievance can be resolved. A difference of opinion is easy to deal with, no problem. But an imagined hurt? A slight? That M-F is gonna hate you until the day he dies.' I totally can hear that right now. I feel that way about a lot of things in this world."

"The audiences sort of reacted to this film on a visceral level," said cinema analyst Walter Norton. "Everywhere we're seeing people come out of this film having cheered for someone who is, for all intents and purposes, a megalomaniacal criminal, a real violent man who is so driven by his vision for a union that he just wipes out and alienates everyone in his path until even the worst of the worst see him as too much, and handle him. Yes, good came out of it, but not because of Mr. O'Leary. But these audiences aren't connecting on a moral level. They are willing to overlook the outright criminality and corruption because he sorta represents what they wish they had in their society today: Someone who fights for his principles and doesn't let rules or narrowminded tunnelvision, or even time, get in his way."

Historians added that the film's portrayal is mostly accurate. "It's not proven that O'Leary actually boiled that guy in hashish oil, the way the film portrays it," said Dr. Franka Proctor, of Kaliburg Polytechnic. "There was a lot of license taken: O'Leary was more of a 'tell Jimmy to do the thing' kind of guy. But he was a family man and did love animals, and as the film stated, he was notoriously sober himself and never drank or used drugs. I think that was one of the things that the Organized Crime factions didn't like about him: they never trusted a guy who didn't drink or smoke, and O'Leary did neither."

Republican said that the film, now in its second week, is already profitable, and is well on its way to being one of the biggest earning films of the year.

Below is a clip from Republican Pictures' O'Leary- the scene where Union enforcer Judah Goldberg, played by Mike Wallerstein, gets pulled over on his way to a meeting with O'Leary which O'Leary never makes it to. O'Leary, directed by Melanie Weller, is beginning its second week and can be seen at all first run cineplexes across the Empire.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFSJxGGBRHM]

[Doc]

Modest Trade Deficit appears on books in Kalistan
"Investment re-evaluation" of some FDI forces Kalistan to think about imports
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 5, 5549


While Volume Index has increased by about 20 percent in the last century, a trade deficit has been recently growing.

Kalistani economists released 100 year Index data that shows that the Kalistani economy has gone into trade deficit territory for the first time in about 80 years. "While the trade deficit appears small (less than 1 percent per year)," said Dr. Rona Johnson, lead researcher from Kaliburg Polytechnic, who led the study, "trade deficits are historically bad for Kalistan, and we expect to see a gradual reduction in imports going forward."

The problem, said Johnson was mostly in a re-evaluation of FDI being sent from Kalistan. "Much of the investment was earmarked for Gaduridos," said Johnson. "And it was delayed, and delayed and delayed, and the starts that were made were cancelled, and it turns out that most of the investments Kalistan had intended never made it through. So in re-evaluating this, we are as much as a fifth of a percent lower on volume over the past 15 years or so than we thought we would be. And we have actually been running a deficit for about 5 years now, reducing our overall trade volume by about 1%."

When House Ananto was contacted to ask about this situation, Casey Smith, spokeswoman for Grand Duke Mark Ananto-Orleans stated, "The re-evaluation of our overseas investments has affected us, but the investments which were ultimately cancelled in Gaduridos, through no fault of anyone in Kalistan, we will add, were hedged pretty heavily, and nearly all of the losses we suffered were offset in other places." Smith said the House believed that the revaluation has forced the Imperial House to shed more than ₭3.2 billion in assets and investments from the books, or about half of a percent of their total assets. "It is what it is," said Smith. "Sometimes that is what happens when you put your faith in a foreign population that can't even seem to put a functioning government together. When there are honest actors in Gaduridos, we may look into investment once more. But for now, House Ananto is pulling all its money out of Gaduridos."

The future of the Gaduri economy is unclear, but withdraw of Kalistani money will certainly end whatever prosperity that unfortunate country has experienced in the past two decades. Cancelled projects include the MoCo Factory, the KMD-backed microprocessor plant and the AcO steel mill that never really got off the ground, which represented tends of billion dollars of investments. All planned infrastructure improvements in Gaduridos have been similarly abandoned. Smith noted that it is also likely that the Grand Duke will likely sell his family's sprawling 400 acre estate and multi million Ruble mansion on the property. "It's absolutely out of House Ananto's hands," said Smith. "It almost feels like it was decided for us." The Grand Duke will not be homeless, Smith added. "The Sulari Property remains firmly in House Ananto's possession."

In Kalistan what a trade deficit will mean is that Kalistanis will look for ways to erase it. "There's two ways to get rid of a trade deficit," said Johnson. "We can either raise exports or cut imports. Or I suppose some combination of those two. Usually, Kalistan keeps a trade surplus internationally by limiting imports, and it is likely that this will be the strategy it turns to again. We have increased our foreign exports, including investment in foreign countries, and Kalistani consumers have shown that they like foreign products in Kalistani markets and will buy them. But it is likely that Kalistan will cut foreign imports by as much as 5 percent this year to try to being the trade flows back into balance."

This will affect everything from foreign luxury items to consumer goods like foreign automobiles. "Kalistan will likely cut less from foreign durable goods than from consumer goods," said Johnson. "Lourenne and Lodamun have benefits in that their goods are not treated as imports in Kalistan because of AESA, and are not counted in the trade balance. The deficit will more likely be made up on many of the deals Kalistan concluded or is looking into after the Kaliburg Trade Fair. We didn't get enough interest in our exports or investment out of the Trade Fair to balance the items we started accepting, and they will likely be the first to be cut." Investments that Kalistan made, such as investment in Mina's coffee industry or Luthori's infrastructure, are probably completely safe.

"Its expected that the slow down in Kalistani imports will have a marginal, but appreciable impact on world trade," said Johnson. "Kalistan has really opened its doors to trade and investment in the past twenty years, and the trajectory of international trade has generally experienced an upward swing. This won't stop that trend, but it will bend the curve slightly, and force Kalistan into a more conservative approach to trade and foreign investment going forward."

[Doc]

His Imperial Majesty discusses Kalistani issues
Conversation covers the Economy, Foreign Affairs, and upcoming Naval exercises
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
April 7, 5549


His Imperial Majesty sits down with reporter Monica Torrance to discuss Kalistani Affairs

The Republic's Monica Torrance was granted an exclusive interview with His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick II Ananto. The conversation took place at Wilson House in Kaliburg.

(The Republic's) M(onica) T(orrance): Before we begin, I am required to note for the record that His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor Fredrick II Ananto, has offered me special dispensation in this particular instance to dispense with the rule of Protocol regarding direct reference to His Imperial Majesty with personal pronouns.

(His Imperial Majesty) E(mperor Fredrick II Ananto): We have indeed permitted it. Won't you please have a seat, Ms. Torrance?

MT: Your Imperial Majesty. It is truly an honor to be invited to this personal audience with you.

E: It is a rare occasion that we have the opportunity to entertain unofficially. We are pleased with the opportunity to meet you and speak with you for your readers today.

MT: I'll get right to the questions then. My paper recently reported a trade deficit. Can you give my readers some idea of what Kalistan intends to do about that?

E: The trade deficit is certainly a matter of great concern for our Nation. But we have asked our Minister of Trade to draft several policy options for us to consider with regard to a response. We are leaning at the moment toword trying to both increase our exports while limiting the amount of imports. Our Consumers will feel some pain in the stores, but we are advised that the pain will be limited to specific sectors of non-essential consumer items, and any shortages our consumers experience in foreign imports will be covered by domestic equivalents. Essential items and items made in the Empire will not be affected at all.

MT: Do you expect prices to increase, Your Imperial Majesty?

E: We expect that as supplies of certain foreign items dwindle, prices should naturally increase. The upside is that, while people will not be able to find the things they have grown accustomed to over the last few years, which they see as prestigious to have, higher foreign prices will make Kalistani products more attractive. That will stimulate our own producers, and should lead to more jobs and higher revenues. Some foreign producers will likely feel a pinch, but that is well outside of our concern. The health of our economy comes before either the desire to purchase unnecessary luxury items from foreign countries, or the health of those countries' industries.

MT: Is there some possibility that Kalistan will increase exports to offset the trade deficit?

E: It is a non-zero possibility. However, the data the economists used discussed where we at the time. There isn't a large number of additional buyers for Kalistani Products. Those things we produce for ourselves everyone seems to desire to produce as well. Of course we can't blame them: Kalistan strives in all things to be as self-sufficient as possible. We should always assume that, to the degree that Kalistan does things as a reasonable nation would do, others would do that too. So we build planes, and other nations build planes. We build ships, and other nations build ships. We build cars, and other nations will build cars. We build microprocessors and consumer electronics and clothing and steel and food stuffs and computers and telephones and movies, and of course, as this is what a nation seeking to develop its economy does, other nations build those things too.

Kalistan always aims to import those things it cannot produce at a comparative advantage. Some nations have the lead in things we won't ever make ourselves. These and the foreign prestige items represent the sum total of our imports. But this is the problem: Kalistan doesn't produce much that others cannot or will not produce for themselves. It seems that nations claim to be "liberal" and claim to support free trade, but in reality, they merely do exactly the same thing that Kalsitan does, which is not trade, but produce as much locally as they can so they do not have to purchase it from ephemeral friends in other nations. So instead of buying things from countries who produce them cheaper, they devote significant sums of money to build their industries from the ground up. They do what we see as reasonable, but it is only reasonable for us to pursue autarky because we are not a liberal nation. We are only open to free trade where it benefits us, to allow us to acquire things that we don't produce ourselves.

But what makes sense for us shouldn't make sense for liberal economies, and those economies that call themselves liberal know that, yet they pursue autarky too. A free trade treaty does not make a free trader. Especially when you buy nothing and try only to sell. We get it: We pursue autarky, to the farthest degree possible, because we do not endorse capitalism or market economics, and therefore, let our national interests alone drive our economic decision making. But, because others do too, that decreases their desire for our products. Our option is to either find new trading partners, or to decrease imports from the nations we do trade with. The options are stark, but this is what we have before us.

MT: This seems to be a retreat back to autarky then, Your Imperial majesty.

E: Indeed it is. If other nations are not in line to buy Kalistani products because they are too interested in producing their own versions of those same items, as we would reasonably expect any nation seeking to free itself from the pernicious and capricious forces of the market and international commodities speculation, then that is fine: we aren't under any obligation to help them keep their positive balance of trade even as they feel no obligation to help Kalistan maintain ours. Our goods are available. If people want to buy them, they know how to get ahold of our exporters. While we wait for all these new trading partners to line up to buy our exports, we still need to look to our own economy.

MT: Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty. Can we discuss where Kalistan is sitting in international relations?

E: You may ask yes.

MT: We are interested in Kalistan's Seleyan relations first. Where do we stand in relation to other Seleyan Nations?

E: We look forward to resuming our progress of cooperation with Lodamun. Not too long in the past, we began a close cooperation with Lodamun regarding creating a large scale intelligence sharing network over the entire Northern Anantonese Ocean. We were also looking into extending that network into the Central Anantonese. Both of these areas are of key interest to Kalistan's national security, and cooperation with other nations in our region on maintaining a close eye over the comings and goings of foreign nations in these regions is key to maintaining this security. There are also the first signs of interest in cooperation from the new Government in Likatonia, We would look forward to the opportunity to visit Likatonia at the earliest opportunity. There seems to be some more opportunity to work together for the furtherance of regional security.

MT: And the nations to our south?

E: We have not had much contact with the Government in Baltusia. There doesn't seem to be an interest in Baltusians working with Kalsitan. We are keeping an eye on them--They had a real Captain Queeg situation going on there for a little while--but now it seems that they seem sort of stuck in internal affairs. This is good news in that their navy won't pose a serious threat to Kalistan, but we would much rather have a partner in that nation than a rogue state. Gaduridos is empty, and we have never had much to do with Tukarali.

MT: And nations south of there?

E: These nations are well off our radar. Southern Seleyan Nations seem to be well culled by Lourenne and Canrille. They pose no threat, nor do they seem interested in any way of offering the North any sort of opportunities or cooperation.

MT: Speaking of Canrille, what is Your Imperial Majesty's position on the Canrille Empire?

E: On balance, Kalistan has an affinity toward them. Kalistan does its own thing and we work together where it is mutually profitable. Kalistan and Lourenne, and therefore, by extension, everyone that trades with and in Lourenne, including the Canrille states as well, indirectly, as those others who are locked into the health of Lourenne's economy through their usage of the Franc, trade with one another. The AESA allows Lourenne unfettered access to Kalistan's Markets and vice versa. This relationship is obviously very positive and profitable for Kalistani producers and brings a lot of diversity into our stores locally. We don't get in their way. And we feel we have come to the point of peaceful co-existence and consonance over a lot of issues where we can, and where there is no overlap of interests, we remain independent of one another. This relationship has worked for hundreds of years, and there is no push from either side of the Meridia Strait to change it.

MT: What is Your Imperial Majesty's position on the new surveillance satellites that Lourenne has recently launched into Space?

E: If we may correct you, those satellites were upgrades to the ones Lourenne already maintained in space. As such they didn't bother us. It is not in our interest to hide anything from Lourenne, certainly. As a matter of fact, it would be more in our interest for them to know exactly what Kalistan's capability was. We make an effort to broadcast it, including troop locations, strengths and strategic and tactical doctrine. Not only are we proud of our activities, but we feel that deterrence involves announcing precisely what sort of thing any nation who wishes to attack Kalistan will experience, so they can make a reasonable calculation to decide not to bother. That, in our estimation, and we may add, in our strategic doctrine, is far better than encouraging some wild nation to gamble and think they have better odds if they simply attack and find out what they are in for when they get here. It is more important that they know precisely what they are in for.

Kalistan can not win in a regular war against Lourenne. We know this. Nor do we build as if it was a possibility that we could possibly match them man for man, gun for gun. Lourenne has so many aircraft carriers that they have to transfer some to their colonies to keep from ruining their economy. That's absurd: It is exactly as irrational as a nation that maintains enough nuclear weaponry to destroy the world ten thousand times over. It makes no sense. But we would like Lourenne, or any potential adversary to know that to take Kalistan they will either have to irradiate it, or invade it, and if they invade it, our goal will be to slaughter as many invaders as we possibly can, with whatever means we have available, before we are finally completely depopulated as a nation. Invasions into Kalistan are meant to be unbridled carnage, for both sides. And then whoever is left will end up being a hostile population that is perpetually at war with whoever invades, making it impossible for the occupiers to ever sleep, let alone administer the country. The strategic doctrine is designed like this, and announced this way because we don't want anyone to ever think it is a good idea to invade. No sane person would. It is far easier to let Kalistan live in peace and work with us than to threaten force, because we know we will lose, so there is really no reason to ever hold anything back for a future peace. There will be no peace when someone else breaks it.

Lourenne, we think, understands this, to all of our benefit. There may be some other nations that do not understand this, but it is lucky for Kalistan that they are inert with regard to capability. Lourenne's military capabilities do not worry Kalistan. They are not pointed at us.

MT: Do you feel that there is any opportunity to cooperate with Lourenne, Your Imperial Majesty?

E: Where we can cooperate, we are certainly interested in doing so. It is our belief that lots of other nations in the world are so amazed by Lourenne's preponderance of power that it is easy to overlook Kalistan's role in this relationship. Underestimation serves us as well. Meanwhile, Lourenne has made no moves toward alteration of the Status Quo in the region, and we have no interest in doing so either. We would welcome talks with the Lourennais foreign Office at some point. Besides our obviously close commercial ties, the last things our two nations cooperated over seems to be bio plastics and bio fuels.

MT: I believe we may be running long, Your Imperial Majesty.

E: We are indeed. You are very kind to speak with us though. So we are happy to indulge you.

MT: I'll ask one more question then in that case. There have been rumors of Naval Exercises in the Ananto Strait. Now that Your Imperial Majesty's Government has ordered the Strait opened, do you think that this will cause any issues with foreign militaries?

E: First, We can confirm, there are to be major exercises in the Strait. It was our aim to invite others to those exercises: The Strait has been off limits to foreign military shipping for so long that it is possible that there is a whole generation of foreign naval officers and enlisted men and women who have never sailed through the Strait. But the Strait offers an excellent training area where ships may conduct full range live fire exercises in an environment which is a lot like the open ocean, but can be contained a lot like known distance courses. We have the greatest opportunity to practice naval combat in hyperrealistic simulations in the Strait. So we would have liked to invite others to join our war games there. But otherwise, no, we won't be anywhere near the normal shipping lanes though the Strait. Those lanes are perhaps a hundred nautical miles outside of our normal firing range, and there is no chance of civilian foreign ships becoming involved in the exercises.

MT: Your Imperial Majesty, what will the exercises cover?

E: Much like the Lourennais, we look to integrate our surveillance with surface activities. We have been constantly developing our submarine detection capabilities, both air and surface bound. We are also looking into an idea that Dolgava had developed some centuries ago of creating a passive sonar buoy network to detect submarines as they drift through our National Waters. Even the so-called "silent" ships, like our own Ontiveros Class Submarines, which do not use diesel electric engines, and therefore have a sound profile which is very difficult to detect, or nuclear vessels which claim to be undetectable. Nothing is undetectable. One merely has to know what one is listening for. These exercises will be primarily for hunting and escaping--We will pit the submarine force against our surface and air ASW weaponry to find the gaps in our detection abilities. It will give us vital data to hand to KMC to develop the next generation of anti-submarine weaponry and detection capabilities. That and we want to do large scale wargames as a readiness examination for our naval crew. We intend to have elements of all three fleets in the Strait, and whoever wins the wargames will be commended.

MT: It has been a pleasure speaking with you today Your Imperial Majesty.

E: The pleasure was all our own. We thank you for your accurate and honest work and would invite you to stay for some brief refreshments. However, we are late for our weekly meeting with the Chancellor, and we are certain she will not be pleased with that.

MT: Oh, my apologies, Your Imperial Majesty. Would you please tell her I am sorry for keeping you so long?

E: We shall, however there is nothing to worry about: The meeting cannot start until we arrive. She will be fine. Thank you Madam for your time.

MT: Your Imperial Majesty...

With this, the Interview ended, and the Emperor excused himself.

Author's note: This reporter found the Emperor to be a thoughtful young man who seemed far more mature than his age suggested. He was very soft spoken, which was certainly not what I expected; he had a good sense of humor about not only his office, but also many world events that many other nations take very seriously. I was asked to keep a lot of discussion off the record, but the topics of discussion included his recollections of his mother, the late Empress Nicolette II (it made him very happy to speak of her: He clearly loved and missed his mother, who died when he was a child), whether it was true that he was going to be married soon, and other sorts of personal things.

This reporter got the sense that he was very guarded, but as the interview progressed, he let some of that guard down and showed a much kinder side, one that smiled easily, one that enjoyed puns and etymology and languages, and one that was far more human than the multi layered and impenetrable rules surrounding protocol allow anyone else to see. He lit up when I asked him about car racing in Reynoldia, for example, but then as quickly as he was to smile, the joy faded and he simply said, "We regret, there is simply no more time for those childish hobbies any longer. You would think that We, the Sovereign of this great nation would have all the time to do whatever he likes. In fact, this reign requires constant attention. We cannot even turn so much as a socket wrench any longer without having to have it on a schedule six months in advance. Perhaps when it is time to retire..."

Though I asked personal questions of the Emperor, and he answered candidly, I believe, he asked me to refrain from printing them, as he is concerned about his image outside of Kalistan. His Imperial Majesty told me to print what I felt was useful and true, and leave the rest to the gossip columnists: "We believe, Madam, that you are better than the tabloids. You do not need to shrink to their level." I feel like my time with the Emperor was well spent.

[Doc]

High Level State Visit to Likatonia planned for April
His Imperial Majesty, Government seek new opportunities in Northern Seleya
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
December 9, 5549


Chancellor of the Empire Dame Lindsay Ontiveros-Maxwell discusses plans for state visit to Likatonia

In his first Official State visit, His Imperial Majesty plans to fly to Likatonia, said Chancellor of the Empire Dame Lindsay Ontiveros-Maxwell. "We aim to build a foundation for a new relationship," said Dame Ontiveros at the National Assembly yesterday. "The Government of Likatonia has reached out and invited us, and His Imperial Majesty made it very clear that this was something he wanted to pursue."

Often Kalistan uses state visits to pursue its national interests abroad. "The proposed visit to Likatonia is an opportunity for the Emperor to get out and see the world, meet some of his peers and represent the Empire in a setting where he shines," said the Chancellor. "We have been waiting for our friends to call us, but we can't wait forever, so the Emperor decided that he should instead travel." During the visit, the Emperor hopes to meet with the President of Likatonia to discuss increasing trade and perhaps bringing Likatonia into the Trans Seleyan Rail Network. "The Trade and Industrial Minister will be travelling with us as well," said the Chancellor. "Likatonia appears to be awake, and Kalistan hopes to be a partner both in trade and in security, to perhaps more closely integrate our two countries under institutions like the Northern Seleyan Economic Community, which Likatonia is not a member of, but could be a vehicle for closer economic ties."

During the Emperor's visit, the Chancellor also said he will have the opportunity to go sightseeing and attend several formal and informal events. "We'll be doing business," said the Chancellor, "but this is primarily a social visit. His Imperial Majesty looks forward to take the opportunity to travel, an activity that was so important to his Mother, but which he has rarely gotten the opportunity to do." When asked about the propriety of the Emperor going to visit a republican government, the Chancellor waived off the implication. "No, it is fine if the Emperor visits Republicans; most of the world is republican. If the Emperor limited himself to just friendly monarchies, we would have almost no friends." When pressed on the question, she responded pointedly, "This is no signal to any republican minded individuals in Kalistan. Nor is it an abandonment of our Anantonese-focused foreign policy. The Emperor is not cloistered, and our government is not so weak that we can't tolerate other regime types. I remind you, Kalistan was a republic for centuries. We can do business with republics, and even be friends with republicans."

The trip is scheduled for mid April, and the Emperor is expected to be in Likatonia for between 7 and 10 days. He will be accompanied by the Chancellor and several members of His Imperial Majesty's Government.