Kalistan

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Kalistani News in Brief: Casa Gran Cultura launches Major Ad Campaign
Chancellor Announces Climate Summit in Kaliburg; Jones' single "Electric Blue" hits Number 1
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 20, 5714


Annie Morrison is the new face of CGC Daily Casuals

Casa Gran Cultura launches Major Ad Campaign
Sulari model Annie Morrison has been named the face of Casa Gran Cultura's Fall Daily Casuals Ad Campaign. The fashion house is making a play for the casuals market and is pushing the Daily Casuals line through a multi Million Peso advertising campaign.

"People know Gran Cultura for fashion on the retail side," said CGC marketing manager Dean Reader. "Much of the name brand items you will see stocked at retail stores is either from Casa Gran Cultura, or is based off things we are doing. We are more fashion for the masses, while we leave the couture to Del Valle. But I think we also need to emphasize that our clothes aren't just cheap mass produced disposable fast fashion. Our clothes are meant to be worn, and used and even, I might add, worked in. We want our ladies looking beautiful no matter what they are wearing: It should not be hard or super expensive. These clothes should bring joy to the woman who owns them."

This attitude and emphasis is encapsulated in CGC's campaign slogan: "The Joy of Looking Good." To push the message home, Annie Morrison has come on board. The Cauffman model has signed a two year contract with CGC to help the company promote its clothing. "I'm thrilled to become the face of this company," said Morrison. "I wear the clothes myself. My family and my girlfriends wear it. I know even Alice Bjorksdattir wears CGC when she's not on a catwalk or in front of a camera. This is an iconic National Brand, and I hope I contribute to them getting even bigger." Stock for CGC rose 2% on the news of Morrison's signing, to K$36.74 a share at Close of Market last Friday.

Chancellor Announces Climate Summit in Kaliburg
Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn announced Her Imperial Majesty's intention to convene a global climate summit. "The Empress would like to develop a much more green Terra," said Lady Alvarez when making the announcement. "She has all this money that was intended to go to New Englia for their oil. But now its just sitting there, not doing any good. So she would like to put it to use to promote conservation and pollution mitigation programs across the globe."

Lady Alvarez says that the main thrust of the efforts, hopefully will be aimed at counteracting the efforts of certain nations to deliberately heat the atmosphere. "Her Imperial Majesty believes that unlimited combustion of fossil fuels on Terra can lead to dramatic global climate change if not counteracted. While one or two countries are deliberately trying to heat the globe up, the rest of us should cooperate to undermine that effort, to prevent radical shifts in our environment, pollution in our atmosphere, raising sea levels and destruction of species. The selfish interests of one or two countries should take a backseat to the needs of humanity and every single species of plant and animal life that will be affected by this wanton pollution of the atmosphere, ground and water."

Chancellor Alvarez said the fund which was intended for New Englia sits currently at nearly K$45 Billion Imperial Pesos. "She wishes to use that money to promote clean renewable energy, forest conservation, wildlife protection, and reducing dependence on oil and fossil fuels." Asked if such an effort will undermine oil prices, the Chancellor answered, "I think Her Imperial Majesty would answer that collapsing oil prices by reducing demand would be a happy side effect, but the main thrust is, of course, promoting a clean environment." Invitations are explicitly sent to all nations to discuss and coordinate global efforts.

Jones' single "Electric Blue" hits Number 1
The Single "Electric Blue" from Thomas Jones' recent double LP Nordhaus has hit number 1 on KRTVN's flagship Top 40 Singles Poll. Number 1 signifies the most requested, purchased, downloaded and streamed song in the Empire. As such this is a significant accomplishment for Jones, marking the first Number 1 single for the Art Rocker since 5708's "The Taste is Not So Sweet".

"Electric Blue" channels the zeitgeist, with people noting similarities between it and the music of Luxon's Leaf in its driving metronomic beat, instrumental guitar, walking rhythm bass and drum foundation, and sparse lyrics. Jones' music does include synthesized strings, as well as his trademark tenor sax, and certainly comes from the cannon of music on the rest of Nordhaus, but both Jones' long time fans and newer fans of the band Leaf note the aesthetic similarities between "Electric Blue" and songs off of Leaf's debut like "Spark of Life." (Leaf's album was being recorded contemporaneously with Jones' Nordhaus, but both artists say they did not see one another during the recording of their respective albums.)

"It's probably a happy coincidence," said Jones when he got the news of his new number 1, and was asked about the similarities to Leaf's style. "Leaf does things with their music that I'm not doing, and those effects are really cool. They just come from a different place, and so I'm lucky that I probably benefitted from their fans hearing something in my music that they found familiar and welcoming. We run in the same circles, no doubt, but if I ripped anyone off, it was the experimental minimalist Gunter Schneider-Konnig, a guy I met in Nordhaus and went to a number of his shows before he sadly killed himself. This song was a tribute to his music and his style. I'm glad it fits here in Kalistan."

You can check out the new video for "Electric Blue", Thomas Jones' new Number 1 Single from his 5713 Album Nordhaus, out on KMI now.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd67ttjSeNA]
"Electric Blue", directed by Saul Singh, for Thomas Jones' new Number 1 Single

@TheRepublic

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Megasaur beats field to represent Kalistan at FOMAT
"Small group of dedicated fans" flooded lines at KRTVN
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 1, 5714


Addisjah based Noise Alternative band Megasaur elected to represent Kalistan

It seems that underground Noise-Alternative three piece Megasaur has been selected to represent the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan at the upcoming FOMAT contest in Bianjie. The band itself is not well known throughout the Empire, and itself was rather surprised that it was selected to play the international music contest.

"Well, it would seem that a band who plays shows for like 200 people at these small clubs or whatever, even they too can strive to someday accidentally end up representing our great nation in a pop music show," said Megasaur lead singer M. Calloway. (M. is Calloway's legal first name, changed from his birthname of Christopher.) "This is too much of a trip even for me."

It turns out that Megasaur's "accidental" election was really the work of three superfans, who decided that they would like the band to represent the nation. "Well these idiot... I guess I shouldn't call them idiots," said Calloway, "this small group of dedicated fans, who apparently come to every show and they have like Megasaur posters and stuff that they made, and one of them always volunteers to run the merch table at the shows and everything, whatever... anyway, these three guys started passing out fliers at the shows telling like 200 kids to not only call in and support the band at the radio station or whatever, but also to have their parents do it, and their parents' friends do it, and a whole bunch of other people who have never heard our music. And we were like 'oh this is cool. Maybe we get one of our songs on the radio or whatever,' but then it turned into all this..."

To say that Megasaur was a dark horse is an understatement. "I think each of the preliminary rounds took like the top 8 and narrowed them down, narrowed them down. We were like 8th in our first group, and then 8th in the second one, and then we started doing these weird head to heads where we were going up against some real big names. And I guess there was just something where we didn't have to beat everyone, we just had to beat the person we were up against or whatever. And we were getting votes from really weird places: places we hadn't ever played or even knew anyone... We're a small and very loud band, and so we were lucky that they didn't know what to do with us, and just put us up against the lamest pop and B garbage, you know, stuff that usually does well at FOMAT."

To win, they had to beat Sulari pop sensation Carina, whose song, "Just us." has already sold 560,000 copies. "I was like there's no way we're gonna beat that girl. She's cute, we're these lazy gritty punk rockers from Addisjah. No way..." But it turns out that by the time they hit the finals, Megasaur had built up a wide base of support. As Calloway recounted "It was like our 20 actual fans, all their moms and dads, all their moms' and dads' coworkers and neighbors, and all these people who just hate pop music or whatever. Turns out there's a lot of them in this country. Kalistan is pretty sophisticated with its music tastes, but you had grit versus sugar, whatever, and the music snobs seemed to come down on the side of raw as opposed to refined. Surprised the heck out of me."

When the voting was completed, Megasaur had narrowly defeated Carina, and were declared the winner. The contest's sponsors, KRTVN and KMI attempted to contact the band to make arrangements. "But as they found out, we're just some DIY punks. We don't even have a manager or whatever. We met with this A&R guy from KMI out here and he took us out to lunch, and was like 'Ok, so who do I talk to?' and we were like, 'Well, you're talking to us,' and he said 'No, who's your agent?' and we were like 'us...' It was kind of an eye opener." After lunch, the KMI guy shook the band's hands and gave them some parting advice. "He said 'Get an agent and a manager, and then give him my number. Ok?' and then he was gone. And like ten seconds later some guy came out of nowhere and said 'Hey, you guys are great. I want to represent you...' or whatever... Wild how sh-- like that happens..."

Megasaur will play at the Bianjian venue for FOMAT later this month. This is their first time abroad. They will perform the song from their recent self-titled EP called "I feel Nothing", which won them the KRTVN contest. They are not expected to win, but Megasaur fans are expected to vote highly for them anyway.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS0yBnwQZLQ]
"I feel Nothing" from the independently released ST EP Megasaur, by Megasaur

@KalistaniRawkMonthly

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Her Imperial Majesty Signs Green Terra Initiative
"Goal is to undo ecological damage of the world's most polluting Nations," said Chancellor
Kaliuburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 22, 5714


Empress signs Green Terra Initiative to combat Global Pollution

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto signed a series of bills known as the Green Terra Initiative into law today. The package was passed by the National Assembly last week upon directive of Her Imperial Majesty, to develop a framework for turning the initial capital investments into the failed Rossfadda bid into funds that are productive and proactive in combatting global air, land and water pollution. Of the approximately K$36Billion that were raised from institutional and individual investors, including Miramar, more than half of the money has been earmarked for fighting air pollution.

"There is a serious effort underway to combat the pernicious activity of some nations who see their whole strategy for the future as polluting the air of this planet," said Chancellor of the Empire Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn. "This strategy practiced, deliberately, I might add, by these gross polluters, directly threatens the national interests of Ananto and Kalistan- It warms our atmosphere up causing increased intensity of storms and droughts, it changes the weather patterns we rely upon as a nation, and it poisons our lungs. And if I have to pick between the national interests of Ananto and Kalistan, and the national interests of some gross polluter who wants to melt the tundra, I am going to pick Kalistan every single time. I am happy to report the Empress feels the same way."

Other projects that will receive funding here are tree replanting, water and stream clean up, and alternative energy options. "The Empress would like to make this money available to help nations all over Terra adopt less fossil fuel dependency primarily. That was what it was initially meant for. In doing so we would like to help nations who want to transition to solar, wind or geothermal do so by helping with up front costs. Kalistan has been largely off oil and hydrocarbons for close to two centuries. We have the technical ability to help develop alternative power grids that do not rely on coal, gas, or oil, to build electrical vehicles, and to wean themselves off of petroleum and derivatives of petroleum to produce things like bio diesel and bioplastics. It produces jobs, and it helps reverse, in a major way, global warming."

The Fund will be made to back cooperative environmental conservation projects and will be offered to all nations of the world in the form of cooperative grants. "We will need some investment from the requesting nation," said the Chancellor. "When people have to put their own money into a project, they tend to gain a stake in that project, and the last thing we would want is someone accusing us of trying to fund projects to gain a quid pro quo on the back end. We are looking for partners in the global effort to clean up our air, land and water. Not dependents."

This package formally establishes the framework for the Green Terra Initiative. It will be open to international grant proposals beginning in September of this year using a standardized application process. "The process involves a nation submitting an application that basically tells what they want to do, what resources they can bring to the deal, how Kalistan can help them accomplish this goal, and how they intend to see the project through to the end. If the application serves the mission of the fund, the grant will be reviewed and if accepted will be made directly to the applying Nation." The Chancellor said that NGOs will also be able to apply for grants as well. "Some of the most important work in this world is not being done by states, but in spite of them. We need to support global conservation NGOs as well."

The bill was passed last week in the National Assembly by a vote of 75-0 with 4 voting present.

@TheRepublic

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Empress and FM fly to Seko
"This is a new Day for Anantonese Affairs," said Harney
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 8, 5715


Sir Thomas Harney and Her Imperial Majesty before flying out of Kaliburg

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto flew to Seko along with Her Imperial Majesty's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sir Thomas Harney this week to Heimeikyo, to meet with the Primer Minister, Komori Aki. "We first want to take the opportunity to reach out to Seko as they stabilize, to congratulate the return to normal operations," said Sir Harney. "This will be a great opportunity for Her Imperial Majesty to make a good first impression with the Sekowan Government." Harney spoke with reporters before boarding the flight from Kaliburg to the Dovanian Capital.

The Foreign Minister outlayed a number of issues that Her Imperial Majesty would like to speak with Seko about. "Well, they are, unfortunately, a liberal nation, but Kalistan has long maintained some trade with Seko: For example, the black tea Her Imperial Majesty drinks during informal audiences comes from Seko. We do import some limited industrial inputs from Seko. And of course, they are a regular market for our finished goods. It makes sense that we should take the next step and begin to formalize our relationship."

The Foreign Minister says Her Imperial Majesty does not intend to address her title to the Kingdom of Sekowo during this visit. "I think she has things she considers to be more important to discuss," said Sir Harney. "Her Imperial Majesty would first of all like to formally offer an exchange of diplomatic personnel. She would also like to offer Seko the opportunity to take advantage of the Green Terra Initiative: Seko stands at the beginning of the next phase of its modernization, and it is her hope that with Kalistani assistance they can make a move toward becoming a green powerhouse in Western Dovani."

The Foreign Minister says he also intends to raise the issue of security cooperation with Seko. "Seko is a member of our region," said Harney. "What happens to Seko is of interest to Kalistan. And vice versa. The Chancellor has asked me to raise the issue of the Altea Accords with Seko to see if there is any interest in cooperation along the lines of our various regional agreements. So this will also be on the agenda."

The Foreign Minister predicted a positive and productive meeting between the two Anantonese Nations. "I am trying to remember if Kalistan has ever visited Seko in the Imperial Period. I don't think so, which means it has been far too long. It's Her Imperial Majesty's hope that this is the start of a new day for Anantonese Affairs." The Empress and her Foreign Minister are expected to be in Seko for about a week, meeting with the Sekowan Government, local business leaders, community leaders, and the Sekowan people. FM Harney was also accompanied by partner Quelle Jones, to whom he became engaged last month.

@TheRepublic

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Sir Thomas Harney overviews Kalistani Foreign Policy
Seko, Lodamun, and Altea Accords are on top of list
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 10, 5715


Sir Harney fields questions from the Press on Foreign Affairs

Sir Thomas Harney helmed a major press conference to bring the Nation up to speed on Kalistani Foreign Affairs. Below are his opening remarks. He took questions following the statement:

Fellow Citizens,

I come before you to give an update of the situation of Kalistani Foreign Affairs.

Kalistan remains at peace. We currently retain Bentasur Naval Base and have five more years left on the lease at Luncasi in Kizenia before we will transition that base back to Kizenia. Her Imperial Majesty's First Regular Fleet conducts regular operations in the Northern Anantonese, Her Second Regular Fleet operates south of the Limit between Seleya and and Vorona, and the Third Regular Fleet is engaged in regular peacetime patrols out of Bentasur, between Gaduridos and Indrala. Along with our security partners, we can say that the Northern Anantonese is governed completely.

We maintain friendly active and cooperative relationship with Valruzia, Lodamun, Egelion, Kiezenia, Dolgava, Lourenne, Hutori, Zardugal, Lourenne and Xsampa. We are still technically associated with the nominally independent City State of Tel Bira through the Bankaut Agreement, and we are associated with Nadiya through the Altea Accord. We are developing new relationships with Seko and, despite our failure in our bid, New Englia. We are interested in improving relationships with Mordusia, Bianjie, and Dundorf. There are a number of nations that Kalistan has cool relations with, but the vast majority of nations we maintain no relations at all with. Kalistan does not automatically offer diplomatic posts to every nation and our recognition goes with diplomatic personnel.

Our major international agreements include, the Non Aligned Movement, which is open to all nations, except those who are actively involved in large scale collective security agreements, the Altea Accords, a multi-National, multi-Continental set of agreements designed to improve communication and cooperation among signatory states, the Organization of Drug Exporting Nations, an ancient regime that enables citizens to gain access to the highest quality medicinal and recreational chemicals without the intervention of paternalistic government, The Common Intelligence Sharing Agreement, protocols that allows cooperation on intelligence sharing, the Seleyan Economic Community, which promotes free and fair trade in Seleya, as well as several lower level agreements, including the International Go Association, the International Aviation Agreement, and several commercial standardization efforts.

Fiscally, Kalistan only acknowledges the Imperial Peso as legal tender, though will exchange all international currency through ForIn's International Currency Cambio. Other nations' currencies may not be accepted by public or private entities in payment for goods or services. Our major trading partners are, in order, Lodamun, Gaduridos, Baltusia, Valruzia, Egelion, Lourenne, Xsampa, Mordusia, Hutori, Dolgava, and Kundrati. We have limited third party trading with others, via our major partners. Kalistan maintains a small annual positive trade balance. We seek to improve our position with central and western Dovani.

We are currently working on shopping the Green Terra Initiative to a number of nations: We have already met with Seko, and had what I think is a positive conversation about helping that nation not only continue its development strategies, but also ensuring that Sekowan labor is not significantly displaced. If and when Seko applies for the Green Terra Initiative grants, Kalistan stands ready to help provide Seko not only capital and credit in the form of non-refundable grants, but also the technical expertise the will need to see their dreams become reality, and to ensure that the social costs of modernization is not born by Seko's working class, but that jobs and more importantly, job training, go with the money. Green energy is a long term employment program that yields dividends after only a very short period of time, not only in the form of creating renewable energy, but also for the long term, by creating a cleaner and more sustainable environment. We welcome Seko, and any other nation who would like to make a change, to apply for grant money from this fund, for their future, and for a better Terra.

Kalistan continues to maintain a regionalist foreign policy, with our main efforts focusing on nations in the Anantonese Ocean Basin, and adjacent states. We reject liberal internationalism as an ideology, we reject international institutions who attempt to dictate to Kalistan what our foreign policy should be, and we reject those notions that foreign interests should be somehow more important within Kalistan than Kalistani interests are. Every directive from Her Imperial Majesty with regard to Foreign Policy comes from that perspective. And unlike our liberal friends who would prefer that their interest supersede our own, at least Kalistan feels the same in private that we express in public. We will continue to promote our national, and then regional interests over all else, as we have always done.

Thank you and at this point, I will take a few questions.

At this point, reporters primarily asked him about his recent trip to Seko, the failed bid in New Englia, and even a question about Quella Jones, the Foreign Minister's near constant companion, and now fiancé.

@TheRepublic

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Bookmakers Association gains approval for new Futures Exchange
Sulari Observers Market allows speculators to bid on Nations
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
June 12, 5715


Michael Millikin of the Kalistani Bookmakers Association

President of the Kalistani Bookmakers' Association, Michael Millikin announced that the Bookmakers have received regulatory approval of a new, alternative market in Sulari. The market, called the Sulari Observers Market allows speculators to place bets on nations in Terra. "The Observers Market will be governed by the Kalistani Bookmakers Association," said President Millikin. "The goal is to allow speculators to place money on specific international events, and the performance of countries in Terra. This new investment opportunity will give us real time data about how investors around the world view the operations of the nations of our world."

Millikin said that the Bookmakers Association have opened a new office whose aim is specifically to handicap the performance of nations. "Basically, an investor will make a bet that a country is on the upswing or on the downswing," said Millikin. "Each bet will come in the form of a contract: this is essentially futures trading, where the commodity is perception of a country's performance." Millikin said that the action is fundamentally similar to commodities speculative futures, where an investor bets based on where they think a specific commodity will be at when a contract is called. "Oil is a fantastic example. A speculator, when they put their money into futures, are betting on what the price will be in 6 months, when a contract is fulfilled."

There is a difference between a normal futures market and the new Sulari Observers Market. "In theory, you are basing your bets on what an actual commodity will be priced at in the future," said Millikin. "But in the Observers Market, you are betting against what other investors think. We've set the Observers market up as a parimutuel, similar to horse racing. Winners take their share of the final pot when the Contract is called- We'll have three, six and 12 month contracts, with the 12 month contract being the standard. So when I invest 1 peso betting that a country will on average, be better on a basket of scores, it will be matched against 1 peso that the country will be worse off. As money comes into the market, the moneyline will be adjusted to balance these wins and losses."

The Bookmakers role is to keep the bets balanced: If three times as many betters bet against a country as for it, the winner will earn their bet plus 300%. "We take our 4% vig off the top so we have no interest one way or the other on the outcome of the contracts," said Millikin. "We therefore gain an incentive to not only be transparent, but also to keep the balances public and up to date and provide for full collection and payout of all contracts."

Millikin said that this market should give a clear view of what investors think of any given country's performance. "If a speculator thinks a country is going to be worse off in the upcoming year, they will put their money behind the short sale. If they think it will be better, they will bet long. But publishing these results internationally should give nations a perception index, so they can see what actual money thinks of what they are doing." He stated that the market will be based on each investor's assessment of risk, and will be open to international speculators as well as domestic ones. "Volume will make it easier to correctly balance our books out."

Millikin said that the Observers Market required legislative approval from the National Government. "Kalistan doesn't tend to like pure speculation," said Millikin. "We had to structure the market so that money put up by poor folks who think that they can play in the market, only to find out that the market is and always has been rigged in favor of large investors. The parimutuel pits money against money: If a large investor comes into the market, it merely increases the size of the pool. So small investors will only be able to bet money they have, and stand to win significantly if they beat against a large bettor: the losses however are significantly smaller than in normal futures market."

The Bookmakers Association had to guarantee annual audits of all bets. "But in reality, we don't really have a lot of control over the odds: We merely need to make sure the books are balanced, and if they aren't we ourselves lose out. The contracts are paid at whatever the odds are at the time the contracts close, so we can't even fix those. The Association has a fiduciary responsibility to our members, and if we lose them money because we are paying out unbalanced contracts, we lose members. It is in our interest to be clean, transparent, and above board in our operations."

Millikin said members of the Association may not participate in the Sulari Observers Market, but anyone who can meet the minimum bid on the contract can get into the market. "We trade in Pesos, which may be the only thing that limits foreign participants, but it will be no problem at all for foreigners to change their own currency into Imperial Pesos if they plan to participate. The Sulari Observers Market will welcome that money as enthusiastically as money from the pockets of Kalistani investors." The Market will be overseen publicly by Her Imperial Majesty's Finance Ministry to ensure that all laws and investment regulations are being upheld.

Now that it has obtained regulatory permission, the Bookmakers will begin setting the Market up. "We've acquired a public building on Avienda Ava Marques in downtown Sulari to be made into the Brick and Mortar Exchange. There agents can take contracts from their clients, and bid contracts in real time. This is a very exciting time for the investment community in Kalistan." The Market is expected to open in summer 5716 and begin accepting futures contracts at that point.

@TheRepublic

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Empress Applauds Global Currency Stabilization Efforts
Luncasi Mission begins winding down; Jones releases The New Romantic in Kaliburg
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 23, 5716


Thomas Jones' 8th Studio Album, The New Romantic released on KMI this month

Empress Applauds Global Currency Stabilization Efforts
During her Annual address to the National Assembly, Her Imperial Majesty Empress Carolina II Ananto applauded the efforts of several nations in their move toward currency stabilization. "We can't say we can specifically take any credit for the efforts of other nations," the Empress said in Kaliburg. "In fact, we have nothing to do with any of these efforts. However, Kalistan welcomes other nations taking proactive steps to stabilize their currency. Kalistan's Imperial Peso, a currency which, like its predecessor, is based on bedrock monetary and fiscal policies and, controlling for population growth, has neither appreciated, nor depreciated since its adoption more than one half of one percent, suddenly finds itself in a good company of a number of international currencies who are adopting many of the same stabilization policies that specifically repudiate market free floating."

The Empress specifically cited recent reports from Luthori, Nadiya, Bianjie, and Dundorf that discuss financial responsibility and a conservative tightening on monetary policy. "Across the world, we are witnessing a growing consonance of attitude with regard to the importance of the very same fundamental principles of monetary policy that Kalistan has long treated as orthodox policy dogma, and it leads to growing faith in our own markets in the attractiveness of these currencies, allowing our very prudent and conservative investors to feel confident to begin investing abroad in a basket of currencies."

The Empress expressed hope that more nations would follow suit. "There is one correct way to do it," she said in her address. "And that correct way, as a first principle, is to not trust the value of your national currency to the magical thinking of the invisible hand of the market, but to keep a grip on the value of your currency as a tool of national policy. Kalistan has known and lived by the fundamental rule for centuries. And now other Governments around the world are also realizing that pernicious market liberalism is a scam perpetrated by interested individual and corporate actors who seek to use the National Treasury for their own personal, selfish gains. As more nations come to this basic understanding, and finally stabilize their currencies, it makes it easier for skittish Kalistani capital to safely go abroad."

Luncasi Mission begins winding down
The Luncasi Mission in southern Kizenia is formally set to end in 5719. At that time, the control and operation of the Luncasi Naval Logistics Station will be formally handed back to Luncasi Free City and the last Kalistani military units will finally return home after a 30 year long stay. Her Imperial Majesty's Defense Minister, Naval Captain Jane Smith has begun ordering the first units home. "We are beginning a phased draw down of Kalistani Military units from southern Kizenia, specifically the Luncasi Free City," said Capt. Smith. "In March elements of the 5th Engineers Batallion who would normally rotate will not be replaced. This marks the start of a gradual, but steady rotation of units out of Luncasi."

The last units to leave will be the small contingent of Kalistani Imperial Marines who have been stationed in Luncasi since the beginning of the Kizenian war against their former dictator. "The Kalistani mission was established to protect the safety of this important port on the south coast of Kizenia from dictatorial repression," said the Defense Minister. "More than 65,000 Kalistani expatriates live in Luncasi and in towns along the southern coast of Kizenia, and their lives and property were also of acute concern for Her Imperial Majesty's Government. That danger is passed, Kizenia has stabilized, and now we need to bring our troops home."

Luncasi is viewed as a "hardship tour" in that married billeting is not an option. "Those married service members spend a eighteen months without their spouses while in Luncasi, and though there were regular liberty and leave flights from Luncasi to Kaliburg, and the duty of operating the base is considered a non-combat exclave position, Luncasi was largely preferred by single servicemembers only." The Defense Minister commented on the very warm relations between citizens of the Free City of Luncasi and Kalistani Nationals. "Many of those same service members found, shall we say, companionship while fraternizing with the local population, an activity which was encouraged by both the Regular Navy Command and the Civilian Government of Luncasi, and more than a few returned to Luncasi as expatriates when their enlistments ended."

When the formal handover is completed, the Free City is expected to continue contracting services to the Kalistani Navy. "Since the Government of NEKK has not shown any interest in renegotiating the terms, deferring to the Free City in this matter, the only thing that will change is that Kalistan will no longer occupy the logistics center, but will continue to rely on resupply from Luncasi until the day when the Government of NEKK decided to formally renegotiate the agreement. This will continue to provide the free city with a reliable source of income that remains independent of what is happening in other areas of the nation." She noted that she expects other nations to conclude their own contracts with Luncasi when it opens up to general operations. "Primarily Anantonese nations, I would guess."

Jones releases The New Romantic in Kaliburg
Thomas Jones has not released any new music since 5713's Nordhaus. But his hiatus is formally ended with a new surprise album, along with a shift in sound and image. Jones has released his 8th Studio album, The New Romantic on KMI. On this album Jones has cleaned up and now veers dangerously close to pop and disco.

"I wanted to bring out Pop Art," said Jones. "I felt we did a lot of exploration on the last album (Nordhaus) and the logical next step for me was music I had actually grown up listening, which was New Wave of RF. I though we could contribute a voice to this movement, while remaining interesting and progressing Art as well." Jones expands on the lyrical themes of Nordhaus, but leaves the heavier guitars of the two disc magnum opus behind for more synthesized sounds and ambiance. "In a lot of ways this really draws heavily on the tech and the retro-futurist themes of the original, first wave of RF," said Jones. "It was a lot of fun to make the record, and to kind of play around with some of the weirdness that fits pretty comfortably with the New Wave movement, which grew up in conversation and in tension with Art Rock."

The album is garnering some critical praise, but it is not as universally lauded as Nordhaus. Chris Wilson of Kalistani Rawk Monthly summarized what many critics noted. "Jones sounds like he is experimenting just to do weird things. While he still is probably the most important artist in Kalistani music, qua artist, I think his fans wish he would pick a genre and stick to it, because its like with every album, he gets a whole new fanbase, while those who loved his early Art Alternative weirdness have long moved on, only to be replaced by a steady string of cocaine addicts, music snobs, and now tech geeks. In being someone for everyone, he runs the risk of being nobody to anyone." Wilson then added, "It is an historical fact that New Wave of RF was fueled by cocaine. But Jones has famously adopted sobriety and is instead referencing his old habits in the past tense, and his venture into the New Wave of RF certainly reflects that disconnect between the source and the derivative."

The criticism however, doesn't seem to affect Jones. "I make a lot of this music because I like making music, and specifically I like making Kalistani Music. Not everyone needs to like my music at all. I do what is interesting to me, and work with a lot of very talented and interested musicians, and if I could make any money at it, I would just tour all the time and play six hour shows. But in Kalistan, the money is in recorded music, so my records pay my bills, and on this score, I'm doing ok."

You can listen to Jones' first single, "Major Tom" from his new album The New Romantic, released by KMI, right here, and purchase the album, if you like it, at your local record store.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS29gl3FwNQ]

@TheRepublic

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Construction on in Eveari and at Ananto Estate is Completed
Her Imperial Majesty to throw Party for City
Eveari, Grand Duchy of Ananto
March 3, 5716


Empress Carolina II Ananto gives tour around new Ananto Manor on sprawling Eveari Estateland

Her Imperial Majesty was pleased this week to declare, in conjunction with Eveari Town officials, declared the town by and large reconstructed from the extensive damage suffered by the major 5705 earthquake which destroyed much of the southern half of the city. Since then, more than K$650 Million Imperial Pesos and more than 30 million man hours have been dedicated to helping the town recover. The Empress' Proclamation celebrated this massive National effort to restore the ancient seat of the Anantan Empire.

"Kalistanis, one and all contributed to the rebirth of our ancient hometown," said the Empress in a public address to a gathered crowd of more than eight thousand who arrived at Imperial Park in the (now) old City that was largely spared damage from the Quake. "Your patience, resilience and never quit attitude is a credit to the people of this town and this nation. We are very proud of you all for never giving up on Eveari, and staying on the job until it was done. You have made your city, our city collectively, a much better place, which better serves its people, and provides jobs, modern housing, and opportunity, in a safe, secure and importantly, environmentally sensitive community. Eveari is, in our opinion, the most precious jewel in our crown."

The Empress declared that May 1st of this year will be a national Day of Celebration to welcome Eveari back to life. "We have ordered all public buildings, schools, banks and businesses closed for this day, and have asked our mayors, barons and Dukes to organize celebrations locally to celebrate with Eveari as it officially relaunches. House Ananto will work with Eveari officials to organize a street fair that will cover 18 square blocks in downtown Eveari. All celebrations, food, and imbibement will be funded by House Ananto so they be provided Gratis to our neighbors and friends here in Eveari. Then that evening, we would like to welcome the entire City onto the grounds of the Ananto Estate to help us properly open our grounds back up to the people of Eveari. There we have the pleasure to welcome Mr. Thomas Jones for a free concert at the newly constructed Public Hall. We will also formally reopen the Museum of the Empire which will feature many of the same exhibits that were in the museum before it was destroyed in the Earth Quake, as well as a new exhibit on the Imperial Gem Collection. All will be welcomed to this free public event."

The announcement of the completion of major reconstruction in Eveari was greatly welcomed by the people of the town, whose lives have been disturbed for more than a decade by constant reconstruction, reconfiguration of streets, road work, and the hustle and bustle of large work crews from outside the region coming into the town and stressing infrastructure and local services that survived the quake. Most people in Eveari are reportedly pleased that there are fewer interruptions to their daily lives now, and the announcement by The Empress was very welcomed by several important segments of the population from top to bottom of Eveari Society.

Her Imperial Majesty attended meeting at Eveari Brethrenist Meetinghouse following the announcement, and has taken residence in the new Ananto-Redwood House, built into the edge of the Eveari Grove of Redwoods. She gave a brief tour of the new home to town leaders and journalists. Her new home, a 6500 square foot modern design, is meant to fit into the landscape rather than standing out from it. The home's designer, Eveari Architect Callie Nottington said "Her Imperial Majesty wanted to have a home that let her forget that she was in a home. We used a lot of glass, a lot of native and unstripped redwood, and environmentally conscious building and insulation techniques that create a home for her that utilizes natural light whenever, saves energy, and costs almost nothing, outside of staffing to maintain. It uses full geothermal heating and cooling, solar, wind and geothermal for the lights, energy efficient low wattage soft LED lighting that changes spectrum throughout the day to help with circadian rhythms to promote healthy and natural sleep, wake and twilight cycles. The home is not only a technological masterpiece and one of the most energy efficient homes ever designed, it is also an architectural beauty from the outside, and reflects elegance, majesty, and comfort for the Royal Family. It is something the people of Kalistan can be proud of."

Her Imperial Majesty reportedly loves it, saying that her new home is cozy, as opposed to the old manor which was very drafty and expensive to heat. She stated that she is likely to hold her residence at the new Ananto-Redwood House more often, saying it will give her and the family an opportunity to get out of Kaliburg more often to a town which is widely considered the traditional home territory of the Ananto Family.

@TheRepublic

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Environment Minister Britt Larson Visits Seko
"There are a number of options to meet Seko's needs," said Larson
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
April 8, 5716


Environment and Tourism Minister Larson speaks with reporters in Kaliburg

Her Imperial Majesty's Minister for Environment and Tourism, Britt Larson was dispatched to Seko this week to consult with the government of Seko as they begin to explore options to make a transition away from fossil fuels toward a Green Future. Before leaving with a team made of technical experts from KalNaPeCo, and representatives of the Green Terra Initiative, Minister Larson answered questions from reporters.

"Our job on this trip are to advise the Government of Seko, who looks to be interested in becomming the first applicants for money from the Green Terra Initiative, on what some of their options could be," said Minister Larson. "We aren't going to try to tell Seko what they need or should do: our mission is to let them know what Kalistan can work with them on, to give them some ideas about how this fund can be used to promote a cleaner environment, and one that doesn't leave Seko's current energy producers behind."

Minister Larson said she will speak with Sekowan counterparts about ways to begin supplementing Seko's current power generation with renewables and start retraining Sekowan workers so they can transition along with the country. "Social programs are absolutely necessary to give workers a safety net during any period of transition from older methods to newer ones," she said. "This is where many liberal economies flounder: They will move to something like green energy only if there is profit in it, but actually paying to train workers who are displaced will cut into the profit margins and is usually an afterthought if it happens at all. This creates all manner of political and social problems in the society, and these are problems that capitalism can't deal with."

Larson said this visit is likely the first in what promises to be many visits. "If they end up submitting a proposal that helps them achieve green energy needs, and it is accepted by the Initiative, we will likely want to work very closely with Seko to provide them with whatever they need to successfully complete the projects they want to work on with the grant. We're kind of new at making international grants for the betterment of Terra, but we are definitely longstanding leaders in the field of sustainable and clean energy production, with more than 200 years under KPO's belt. Together, I am sure we can develop a project that helps Seko accomplish their twin goals of beginning the movement toward green, clean energy, as well as protecting workers displaced during the transition. And we have complete confidence that Her Imperial Majesty will be very eager to offer whatever assistance Kalistan can to help Seko succeed."

The Minister will be in Seko for two weeks to talk with members of the Sekowan Government, mining and business groups, unions, and decision makers and stake holders in the energy sector. "After that, if we need more visits we will continue to make them, but otherwise, we will await Seko's proposal," she said very optimistically. "It is nice to be able to put resources behind something that will do hundreds of millions of people some good that doesn't involve pollution or building machines of death. It's so rare that we read of nations of this world doing positive things with their investments these days, and it is very encouraging that we get to help Seko take this next very important step."

@TheRepublic

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Constitutionalism in Kalistan?
"Not likely," says Chancellor
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 18, 5716


Chancellor finds the concept of a Constitutional Monarchy "deeply risible"

Civil Society elements in Kalistan are watching events unfold to the north as Egelion makes a shift toward developing a constitutional regime that limits the powers of the King, and establishes formal powers for popularly elected representatives with some hope. A recent poll, conducted after the Egelian elections late last year, found that at least some limited measure of constitutional monarchy in the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan is supported by more than 30%, with most of this group saying they would like the National Assembly to have some constitutionally protected power to make legislation independent of Imperial Fiat. While some Kalistanis report support for some independent power among Kalistani's legislature, most were firm on support for the Monarchy: more than 4 out of 5 Kalistanis surveyed think that the Imperial Regime should be maintained relatively in tact, and would support the Empress keeping the Fiat for most consequential matters.

Poll results are what they are: A snapshot of a sample of the whole population which is taken to be representative of the entire population. But it needs to be said, also that a large majority of the population in Kalistan does not want the current regime to be altered to accommodate for independent democratic authority in the National Assembly. Of those who support the status quo in Kalistan, 40% are "strongly in favor" of the leaving the current system in place, while 23% even support further consolidation of power in the hands of the Empress.

One of these is, as you can imagine, the Chancellor of the Empire, and Speaker of the Institutional Party, Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn. When recently asked what she thought of moves to establish a constitutional monarchy in Egelion, she could not help but laugh. "I think, well, I'll be honest, I find constitutional monarchism deeply risible." After another giggle, she asked "What kind of question is that? I mean, all respect to our Northern comrades, but limitations on the Monarch, by a piece of paper? The concept is so foreign... so... Artanian. No, that's ridiculous."

She said Constitutionalism is for Republics. "Look: no offense intended to the Egelians, but flirting with democracy is a real mistake. A republic is governed by a constitution, because in a republic, you want a limited government who is supposed to be doing the people's business. It makes sense for a republic to have a constitution. But Egelion has an election where a constitutional, democratic Party wins, and suddenly the power of the monarch needs to be reduced? Why? Is the King not ruling in the best interest of his people? I would say he was doing a good job, so why should he be punished with a constitution that says what he can and can't do? That seems, to use the phrase that they use in Vrassa, 'bassackwards.'"

She was asked what she thought the chances of Kalistan adopting a constitution was. She was incredulous in her response. "Are you serious? Are you messing with me here? Like for real. Zero. No chance. Unless the Empress loses her damn mind. Less than zero even. Not likely, like, at all." When presented with the hypothetical scenario, "What if a similar populist political organization were to somehow gain a majority in the National Assembly, and have enough votes to make changes similar to those we see in Egelion?" She simply answered, "Not in Kalistan, that simply is not possible. Her Imperial Majesty, with my own advice, would dissolve the National Assembly first. And to be completely honest, I would help her. She and I have our private disagreements on some matters, and she encourages my candid opinion, though she seems to win every single debate. In this particular instance, there is no daylight between myself and the Empress. If it looked like some radical republican lunatics were going to gain a single seat in the National Assembly, I would proactively ask her to dissolve the body myself."

The Chancellor was careful not to appear to comment on the actual Egelion process. "It's incomprehensible, but in reality, this is an Egelian problem. They are allowed to choose whatever government they like, and at the end of the day, Egelion and Kalistan have more in common than we have in opposition. And I would note that Kalistan cooperates with republics, and constitutional states around the world. So before I get out ahead of my skis here, I want to be perfectly clear here: I am speaking as a Kalistani and as the Chancellor of the Empire. Republicanism and Constitutionalism will not find a home in Kalistan, as long as I head Her Imperial Majesty's Government, and there is an Ananto as the sole avatar of our nation sitting on the Throne in Kaliburg."

She asked what she would do if 51% of the population supported constitutionalism. "I don't care if its 99% who supports constitutionalism. I don't care if the newspaper takes a poll and finds out that every Kalistani except Her Imperial Majesty, and myself as well, support establishing a constitutional monarchy for our nation. It isn't going to happen, and that's it. This is not a demo... You know what? Don't you people have some war to cover or the latest fashion show to go attend? Don't you have some gorgeous piece of airheaded Anantan cheesecake to take pictures of or something? Why are you all even asking me these silly questions? Que madres, güeyes?"

The Chancellor then excused herself, saying she had a meeting to get to. She was seen visibly shaking her head in disbelief as she walked down the hall, followed by her staff.

@TheRepublic