Kalistan

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Kalistani News in Brief: Kalistan Orders 230 HF-18 Horizons from Hutori
Princess Michelle to Retire in June; Carrie Hill's non-Album Single hits #1 on M1 Poll
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 18, 5649


The HF-18, seen here at its assembly plant in Constantine, Hutori will join Kalistan's Air Defense

Kalistan Orders 230 HF-18 Horizons from Hutori
The Kalistani Regular Navy is set to receive 230 HF-18 Fighter/Interceptors from Hutori over the next ten years, Her Imperial Majesty's outgoing Defense Minister B.Gen Oscar Bonaventura said this week. The cost of procurement will be around ₭8.75 Bn (10.3 Billion Hutorian Dollars) and will be paid out over 10 years as the Hutorian Manufacturers produce and deliver the planes. Once received by Kalistan, the aircraft will form three naval air wings, one stationed at Yoshimi, one at Port Swedes and one at Dulnerstaad at each of the three Naval Air Stations. Two squadrons will also be based at Bozo River CAGCC in Ananto.

"The Naval Air component was always where Kalistan was in need of most help," said General Bonaventura. "The HF-18 Horizon, which will be designated in Kalistan as the K-18 will take up much of the role of the older F/A-10 over the Strait and the Northern Anantonese Ocean, so the F/A-10s can focus on their primary role of air combat within Kalistan Proper. The K-18 will become our main interceptor and will have the ability to be fitted for surface based attack as needed. We went with Hutori because they are first of all, a main partner in our procurement efforts, and second, quite frankly, because they were more willing to sell equipment to Kalistan while others were not."

Adding the HF-18 to the Arsenal will be a great leap ahead for Kalistani defense of its home territory. "Over the term of my successor, there is going to be a large scale re-evaluation of Kalistan's military doctrine now that we have moved out of a generation of war and conflict abroad. Some of the assets we have can be scaled back, while some others may need to be improved or redesignated. But having a Naval Interceptor on station while we look at these other issues will help tremendously to ensure that Kalistan continues to defend our territory and our Strait from all foreign aggressors." Receipt of the first few planes which will serve as trainers, will take place in a matter of months.

Princess Michelle set to Retire in June
Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval, Currently serving head of House Ananto, daughter of Empress Carolina I Ananto, sister of Emperor Fredrick III Ananto and aunt of Her Imperial Majesty, Mary I Ananto, has declared her intent to retire from her duties to House Ananto and Miramar as a June 30 of this year. Lady Michelle Ananto-Sandoval, who is 68 years old, wishes to devote her remaining productive years to her job as Director of the Dulnerstaad Aquarium. "I've been in this job for a very long time," she said, as she announced her retirement. "I've done all I've been asked to do: During my tenure, we've seen our assets nearly double, and we did so by remaining conservative with where we were putting the House's money. Miramar is a profitable holding company now, drawing dividends on investments across Seleya and Dovani, and both the House Fund and Miramar on solid, stable fiscal footing that will permit slow and sure growth for the foreseeable future. It has been a joy to serve Her Imperial Majesty in this way, and I am so grateful for the trust she gave me following my brother's tragic loss."

Lady Michelle noted that Miramar passed its final public Audit under her tenure last April, and said she expects the summaries of both House and Miramar funds to be released to the General Public by June 1. "The House maintains assets, both liquid and less fungible, totaling more than more than ₭900 billion. A lot of this wealth is tied up in real estate, fixed investments and bank deposits, while more than ₭60 Billion rubles of the House's money is locked up in the Empress' personal Gem and Crown Jewels Collections. Though I personally may question whether that is a good investment for the House, it is her inheritance, and is was something she chose to aggrandize for her own children. So... there you have it. At least it isn't going anywhere: It's not like the value of shiny rocks will ever decrease." Michelle noted that Miramar investments are worth another ₭380Bn.

Lady Michelle said she will formally hand the control of House finances back to Her Imperial Majesty when she retires, but also said the the Empress has already selected her successor to manage the House's financials: "She has asked my youngest daughter, Helen to take over House operations once I am retired." Lady Helen Ananto-Reynolds, who is 33 years old this year and remains unmarried, completed her Masters of Business Administration degree at Kaliburg Polytechnic in 5644, and has worked as an analyst for the Imperial Bank for about 5 years. "Helen is very analytic and frugal, and has been preparing to take over once I retired," said Lady Michelle. "This job requires long hours and a mind for numbers, and Helen definitely has that. I recommended her for the position to Her Imperial Majesty, and of course, Mary accepted the recommendation." Lady Helen Ananto-Reynolds who lives in Kaliburg, said she is happy to take the position, and will move operations out of Dulnerstaad where they have been during Lady Michelle's tenure, to Kaliburg, where she can more closely work with the Empress.

Carrie Hill's non-Album Single hits #1 on M1 Poll
Carrie Hill and Addisjah reggae musician Robert Ranks have scored a Number 1 on the M1 Singles Chart with their new non album single "Don't Worry." The song is a cover of an old reggae standard. The song marks the fourth time at Number 1 for Hill and the first Number 1 for Ranks. The two decided to cover the standard for a movie soundtrack, but the movie never made it out of development before it was cancelled. So Hill invited Ranks to Plateau Studio in Nevaras City to record the song anyway, and release it.

"The song moves away from its hard reggae style into more of the alt-folk Carrie likes to do," said Rank in a recent interview. "But the song is a great tune anyway. There's a reason why it is a classic, why so many people have loved it for all these years. And so her reinterpretation of the music kind of gives it a new life, making it both heavier and almost a little reassuring in a way, than the original was. I really am lucky to have gotten to work with her on this track."

Hill talked about how the two singers were introduced. "I am learning a lot about different kinds of music, and the roots of where all the music I listen to today and make comes from. Through a long circuitous path, Bobby and I arrive at the same point in history and we find that each of our music styles has a common ancestor. So in that way, I suppose musically at least we're cousins, and we certainly can speak the same language and like the same stuff. And anyway, it was Bobby who brought this song to me: It was kind of a surprise to him when I suggested we put it out through Plateau, rather than either abandoning the project, or putting it out as an indie track. I think that exposure was really what I brought to this project. I think without him, this project would not have happened."

You can check out a live performance of the new Number 1, Carrie Hill and Robert Ranks, here on KRTVN News' Morning program "Kaliburg Up Early," where they perform it for a live audience. The song, published by Plateau Records, is available everywhere.

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

@TheRepublic