Lodamun

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The Lodamese auto industry, although in its infancy compared to many of the more established car manufacturers throughout the world, remains one of the most important sub-sectors of the national economy. Employing for than 2 million persons, the industry is one of the largest employers of Lodamese citizens, second only to the federal government at 3 million. As the national economy struggles to regain its bearing following decades of otherwise incompetent economic management and with national productivity at an all-time low, a crisis of confidence has struck the Lodamese auto industry, as numerous manufacturers question whether they were capable of holding out long enough to see the DPL-LDPP’s economic reform programme through. Under previous political administrations, very little attention had been placed on the auto industry, with the sector being largely ignored in favour of supposed glamorous infrastructure projects, which ironically were never completed. As consumers continue to be squeezed by the poor performance of the economy, an increasingly noticeable lack of core wage growth, and ever-decreasing opportunities for upward mobility, demand for automobiles, particularly sedans and pickup trucks has collapsed. This collapse in demand coupled with a lack of investment in the sector could, according to numerous lawmakers, lead to the destruction of the Lodamese auto industry and potentially set the nation’s re-industrialisation efforts back for centuries. Most vocal among these lawmakers, Representative Alden Cowgill (DPL-Millford) whose constituents include numerous factory workers within central Millford, argued that although many of Lodamun’s legacy automakers have held the line for decades, many have noted that layoffs were on the horizon as the companies continue to haemorrhage as below average yearly performance coupled with the slow/lacklustre pace of economic growth within Lodamun continued to eat into the firms’ respective reserves, therein making it extremely difficult to maintain equipment and staff as well as prepare for new investments. Cowgill noted that the collapse of the Lodamese auto industry due to a lack of government attention had the potential to send ripple effects not only through Millford’s economy but the broader national economy. “The auto industry is extremely important to economic growth and development in Lodamun. Although in its infancy, it has contributed to the development of a stable foundation upon which the current economy (although dreary) was built. When President Neilson set out to build up this industry by bridging the federal government and the private sector, he did not imagine that it would reach where it stands now; an industry whose capacity for greatness is near infinite. It would be remiss of this administration to pass up on this opportunity to revive the spirit of Lodamese manufacturing through the auto industry,” Rep. Cowgill explained passionately.

Acknowledging the sector’s importance to Lodamese economic development as well as labour, President Danvers encouraged a sitdown between Secretary of Commerce and Industry Kevin Burke, Secretary of the Treasury Dr Henry Martineau and the CEOs of Lodamun’s major automakers including Bronson, Pyror, LCC, Buffalo, TM and Volt, with the sole intention of discussing federal aid to the beleaguered manufacturers. Dr Martineau noted that although the auto industry had been accommodated in the administration’s soon-to-be-released economic programme, it would be nonetheless beneficial to give the industry the more case-specific funding it requires. CEO of Pryor William Dodson stated that owing to the precarious economic environment, the company had been forced to shelf much of its plans to deepen its manufacturing base within Lodamun. He noted that this coupled with increased demands for staff for pay increases to be adjusted to inflation has led to numerous challenges which hinder the company’s ability to rebound/bounce back from decades of poor performance. Secretary Burke stated that the Department of Commerce and Industry, through the Federal Industrial Finance Corporation (FIFC), was prepared to pump much-needed stimulus into the auto industry in the form of grants aimed at encouraging firms to boost domestic production. He noted that although the federal government was prepared to provide the auto industry with as much support as it would require to jumpstart productivity, it was not prepared to provide said assistance against the backdrop of poor industrial relations between the auto manufacturers and unions representing factory workers and other technical staff. He confirmed that successive meetings with the President of the Lodamese Autoworkers Union Amiel Hill has resulted in a punitive agreement which would tie the federal government to a commitment that no funding should be provided to firms with major outstanding disputes between labour unions on the issue of employee salaries, benefits, compensation and/or working conditions. In a statement released ahead of the Secretaries’ meeting with the automakers, Hill railed against the CEO of Pryor and ™ stating that both CEOs had ignored numerous calls from the union to increase workers’ salaries in light of their continued positive profits. “Compared to the others, both companies have enjoyed a degree of comfort from scrutiny by the federal government as well as record profits. One would think that said record profits would eventually trickle down to employees, but instead, it remains in the upper echelons of the company. All of this is done whilst they still have outstanding negotiations related to salaries, benefits, etc,” Hill lamented.

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Against the backdrop of mounting tensions in Keris surrounding an ongoing dispute between Trigunia, Dolgava and New Endralon/Kizenia, the Lodamese Government has called for a resolution to the dispute and a return to some semblance of normalcy, as it proffered that the potential escalation in tensions on the conflict which ultimately spell uncertainty for the many economies within and adjacent to the subcontinent, particularly Lodamun. Speaking at his weekly press conference, Whitehall Press Secretary Peter Spencer confirmed that President William Hanlon had met with numerous members of his cabinet related to foreign policy, namely Secretary of State Jennifer Toule and Assistant Secretary of State for Keris/Macon and the Arctic Dr Abigail Hall to ascertain the nature of the dispute as well as determine whether any Lodamese operations within the area could potentially become a spark point. “The President has met with officials pertinent to this subcontinent and has been briefed on the nature of the dispute. He is currently meeting with officials of the National Security Council to ascertain whether any Lodamese operations adjacent to the continent could otherwise be viewed as a potential spark point. He is also set to meet with Secretary of the Treasury Dr Phineas Sinkler, Merchant-General Adam Runt and Commerce Secretary Ann Taggert later today to discuss matters related to the economy,” Spencer said. He noted that although the Lodamese Government did not view the evolving situation as a major “issue”, it ultimately required the President’s attention recognising its proximity to Lodamun alongside the fact that the dispute is related to Dolgava which Lodamun has recently signed a strategic partnership agreement with. At the heart of the dispute is a miscalculation on the part of the Dolgavan Government in response to New Endralon’s pre-emptive deployment of combatant forces within its [New Endralon’s] border. This deployment, the response to a Trigunian decision to restart military patrols throughout the continent, was in violation of what could otherwise be assumed as a gentlemen’s agreement between the previous government of pre-revolutionary Trigunia and New Endralon. As tensions between the two nations flared New Endralon’s signing of two security agreements with the world’s eminent powers: Beiteynu and Lourenne has drawn criticism from Dolgava particularly as it related to the hosting of a Lourennais fleet within the nation. According to Spencer, the breakdown of relations between Dolgava and New Endralon sets a dangerous precedent for the subcontinent. He noted that whilst the President did not see any issues with New Endralon inviting Lourenne to be its security guarantor (recognising that all nations are free to determine what is within their best interests), he disagreed with Lourennais sentiments that “Keris can only be safe and free from neo-colonialism under the leadership of New Endralon,” ultimately calling the comment “disappointing” as its tone closes the door for any meaningful headway in bringing the two nations to an agreement on how the new dynamic on the continent could potentially work. “The President has no qualms with the government in Cetatea Albă introducing Lourenne as its guarantor within this dispute. However, he notes that Chancellor Larosière’s concluding remarks signalled a clear unwillingness to bring the respective nations to the discussion table. He recognises that Dolgava is not averse to critique recognising its clear miscalculation and dramatic response. It is his view that as Lodamun and Lourenne maintain security commitments with nations related to the dispute, the best course of action would have been for both Eroncourt and Kensington to encourage their respective partner to determine whether the dispute could be resolved through other means,” Spencer explained. The Dolgavan Ambassador to Lodamun has reportedly been summoned to Whitehall to meet with President Hanlon wherein alongside a phonecall with Dolgavan Prime Minister Veronika Witting, he intends to encourage the nation to roll back some of its otherwise drastic response measures as a “gesture” of peaceful intent. When asked whether Lodamese military operations adjacent to the dispute would continue, Spencer stated that all operations would continue unabated as he quoted the DoD’s Press Secretary Lt.Gen Bobby Jaden:

“Operation Barracuda will continue despite the evolving situation between Dolgava and New Endralon. Whether both nations seek to re-engage is a matter for (1) the two nations in question and (2) the State Department. The Lodamese Coast Guard’s FON and constabulary operations will continue. The presence of a Lourennais fleet within the area does not complicate our operational tempo. The LCG is a professional force so is the Lourennais Navy. Any concerns related to how our operations could potentially affect the potential operations of the Lourennais fleet should be referred to the Lourennais Royal Ministry of Defence.”

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Building on the momentum made by the formal signing of the Luthorian-Lodamese Strategic Partnership Agreement, which ultimately made way for a “special relationship”, to be developed between the two nations, Secretary of Defence Hank Greer visited Fort William earlier this week to discuss numerous issues related to the new partnership, namely intelligence-sharing, joint exercises and strengthening bonds between the Luthorian Armed Forces and the Lodamese Armed Forces. Secretary Greer’s visit to Lodamun represents the first time a high-ranking official of the Lodamese defence establishment has visited the nation in centuries. Although the two nations maintained cordial relations via the Luthorian Commonwealth agreement, the Lodamese Government had traditionally maintained an arms distance from much of the organisation’s structure beyond diplomatic and economic cooperation. With the special relationship being largely disconnected from the Luthorian Commonwealth and ultimately “marketed” as a structure separate from said organisation, it was surmised that Secretary Greer’s visit had been facilitated as a result of this paradigm shift. “This new relationship between our two nations represents a major step in the history of Lodamese-Luthorian relations,” Secretary Greer said, “Built on the core tenets of respect and common interest, this partnership will undoubtedly bring broad prosperity to both our nations.”

When President William Hanlon last visited the nation to sign onto the agreement he noted that subsequent visits by Lodamese officials would be needed to build on his landmark visit. According to Secretary Greer, there were still major teething issues which bureaucrats within the Lodamese defence establishment, primarily those within the Department of Defence (DoD) and the security and intelligence community, have stated could potentially hinder true progress and cooperation via the partnership. “My visit does not represent a change in conscience by the government. I am simply here to oil the gears of this partnership before setting it off on its maiden journey,” Greer explained. He confirmed that the Director of National Assessments Edward Walsh, had accompanied him to the visit, with the sole intent of meeting with Luthorian security and intelligence officials. Numerous agencies within the Lodamese intelligence community, namely the National Investigations Bureau (NIB), the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) and the Office of Defence Intelligence (ODI) have expressed concerns related to the nature of intelligence-sharing between Luthori and Lodamun. Whilst fielding questions following a closed-door hearing at the National Congress, John Khan, Director of the SSA, the agency responsible for both foreign and signals/communication intelligence stated that Luthori’s involvement in the Allink Command Agreement complicated the relationship between the two intelligence communities as it was unlikely that Lodamun would be able to verify whether information passed to Luthori would not be shared with third-party entities. Secretary Greer stated that subsequent meetings with Director Walsh resulted in Walsh’s agreement to meet with Luthorian security and intelligence officials with the aim of encouraging the Luthorian government to sign onto the Common Intelligence Sharing Agreement (CISA), which he views would allay the fears of signals/communications intelligence community.

On joint exercises and strengthening bonds, Secretary Greer stated that it was imperative that the Lodamese Armed Forces become more familiar with the tactics, strategy and MO of the Luthorian Armed Forces. He admitted that as it stood, the Luthorian Armed Forces was the more capable of the two, recognising its capability to deploy throughout the world, largely under its own steam. He noted that as the federal government continues to pour significant investment into the armed forces, its strategy of service-focused rearmament would continue. “We continue to enhance the capabilities of the various services. One would note that the [Lodamese] Coast Guard has been receiving particular attention recently. This is a result of our service-focused rearmament. We want to ensure that the LCG is capable of conducting a wide range of operations in support of our national security strategy. Initiatives such as Operation Barracuda is but one example of how it intends on doing that,” Secretary Greer explained. A new security intelligence covering the Artanian continent and which has been viewed as a seemingly contrived counter-weight to the already existing JAMS agreement has drawn significant backlash from numerous nations within the international sphere. The Joint Artanian Security Agreement (JASA) as it is known, is a broad mutual security agreement, largely championed by the Kundrati Union with the backing of the Holy Luthori Empire as a means of establishing a basis for stability on the Artanian continent, which amidst the end of established Dorvish-led order, had come to the forefront.

Rumours surrounding the alliance’s nature (as it is largely in its infancy) have been criticised by the Government of Narikaton & Darnussia, with accompanying commentary from a Deltarian commentator; as the former noted that the alliance had been “born out of a misplaced feeling of responsibility,” with the latter’s critique of the entity pointing squarely at JASA being a means by which Luthori would ultimately make its mark on the continent. In fielding questions alongside his Luthorian counterpart, Secretary Greer was asked to substantiate the comments made by the Lodamese Embassy in Fort William’s tweeter account. He noted that whilst he could not comment on the diplomatic angle, he ultimately viewed the alliance to be a net positive. “Any structure which brings about a continued peace on the Artanian continent is ultimately a good idea. The Lodamese Government remains eager to engage with this new alliance on the basis of cooperation. It is imperative that a region which has been so contested as Artania needs a regional security structure which will safeguard the interests of the continent as a whole. As we have seen in our regions, the absence of cooperation among states lends itself to confusion and distrust, which is ultimately exploited by extra-regional territories. We are not an Artanian nation and have largely maintained a reasonable distance from this continent’s affairs, however, it is our [the Lodamese Government’s] opinion, that nations ought to be able to determine their own destinies, recognising how nowadays very little of it is becoming not of our own choosing.” The embassy’s tweet was subsequently quoted by the Beiteynuese Foreign Ministry which said: “#nomoredorviks”. Although he did not directly address the comment, he deferred the question to Whitehall Press Secretary Peter Spencer who called the quoted tweet: “Odd.”

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Tweeters of Terra: Lodamese Coast Guard not concerned about Joint Lourenne-Beiteynu Naval Exercise SE of Migadon. LCG Domestic Security Cutter dispatched to shadow exercise.

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At a press conference held at the Department of Defence building Kensington, Secretary Hank Greer standing alongside Chairman of the Combined Chiefs Admiral Richard Groff, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Isaac Kenly, Director of the Defence Procurement Administration Robert Redman unveiled the nation’s first “General Rearmament Programme”, which according to the DoD is set to inform the Lodamese Navy’s doctrine and procurement decisions over the next century. The plan is the result of a high-level report into the readiness of the Lodamese Navy for deployment within Lodamun’s economic exclusion zone and in the oceans surrounding the Lodamese heartland. The report’s damning conclusion, which noted that in its current form, the Lodamese Navy was incapable of delivering on its founding commitment of defending Lodamun’s maritime interests both at home and abroad, therein spawned a frenzy within the defence community as planners and analysts of the like mused on the Navy’s next steps. Set against the backdrop of mounting global tension, particularly as it relates to the evolving internal situation in Kirlawa and the ensuing global response, the plan commits some 109 billion LOD to a multi-year, long-term commitment to construct around 200 vessels for the Lodamese Navy of varying classes, tonnage and capabilities. Its release has been hailed as a major victory for domestic shipbuilders who view the coming century as a “renaissance” for shipbuilding in Lodamun. Thomas Duncan, CEO of Cowgill-Masterson Maritime Engineering (CMME), one of Lodamun’s major shipbuilding firms stated that the plan would breathe much-needed air into the domicile Lodamese shipbuilding sector. “The Lodamese shipbuilding sector has been begging for a lifeline from the federal government for the better half of a century. This plan, should the government stick to it, could lead to a revival of our nation’s once-respected shipbuilding sector. I’m confident that from this programme, new companies will arise and competition would ultimately lend itself to the betterment of the industry as a whole,” Duncan explained.

The GRP being a shipbuilding programme, the Lodamese Navy’s surface capabilities will undoubtedly become the centre-piece of the entire programme. Concurrently, the Lodamese Navy maintains a haphazardly maintained fleet of minor corvettes and ageing destroyers, all of which are well beyond their mid-life period and are currently awaiting approval from the Department of Defence to be decommissioned and sold for scrap. According to Admiral Kenly, the Lodamese Navy has observed the yeoman effort made by Baltusian shipbuilders in developing the nation’s new series of destroyers, coined “Whitney the Great”. He noted that although some quarters within the Lodamese Navy have expressed interest in the design, he noted that the Navy will likely go for a domestically produced design. The programme identifies numerous vessels to be constructed as part of the long-term 200-vessel order. These include a new class of destroyers, guided-missile corvettes, frigates, dock landing ships, replenishment ships, amphibious transport docks, expeditionary mobile bases and amphibious assault ships. Admiral Kenly noted that the new force doctrine which is expected to evolve from the construction and eventual commissioning of these aforementioned vessels would place a greater emphasis on superior firepower, wherein the vessels could potentially be equipped with weapons systems aimed at bringing as much firepower as possible to bear on an enemy combatant. “The backbone of the Lodamese Navy of the future will be our destroyers, guided-missile corvettes and frigates. These vessels will greatly enhance our capability to respond to any emerging threat be it within the region or beyond and herein saturate the battlefield with as much firepower as mechanically possible.” Admiral Kenly explained. It has been confirmed that the experiences of the Lodamese Coast Guard via Operation Barracuda (its permanent mission to patrol the Mad Dog Ocean), will likely inform the GRP, especially as it pertains to the needs of a modern combatant vessel.

Aside from surface combatants, the plan places a significant emphasis on gradually building Lodamese undersea capabilities. Currently, the nation maintains no submarines beyond those which are currently in drydock to be stripped and sold for scrap. As nations both within Lodamun’s immediate vicinity (namely Dolgava and Hutori) as well as those within its periphery, continue to outpace the Lodamese Navy in investment for submarines, the nation gradually loses a competitive edge which it could potentially use as a means of gaining the upper hand against a potential adversary or future near-peer competitor. Although he was unable to speak to the specifics of the GRP's plans for the submarine service, Admiral Kenly confirmed that there was room for cooperation between Hutori and Lodamun on an independent submarine design project. He noted that owing to its vaunted capabilities with respect to range and “time at sea”, the Lodamese Navy will likely procure nuclear-powered attack submarines as a means of forming the backbone of the nation’s undersea warfare capabilities. According to Director Redman, the DPA is likely to run a series of minor programmes aimed at enhancing the capabilities of domestic shipyards, employing many of the lessons learned from its prior experiences dealing with the Hutorian and Luthorian submarine programme which it had access to via the Commonwealth. Secretary Greer stated that the development of a capable submarine force was imperative to Lodamun’s future ambitions. He noted that a competent and capable submarine force would ultimately lend itself to broadening the net of Lodamun’s FON (Freedom of Navigation) patrols beyond the Mad Dog Ocean and Anantonese Sea and potentially into Majatra and parts of Dovani. He noted that as the Commonwealth of Lodamun remains against the concept of nuclear proliferation, the idea of a nuclear-power ballistic missile submarine within Lodamun’s arsenal would be unlikely to pass the GRP's criteria. “It is our belief that these vessels [ballistic missile submarines], ultimately serve little purpose beyond pomp, bravado and sabre-rattling. The Lodamese Navy and the Lodamese Armed Forces prides itself in being a competent force, in all domains. We do not require ballistic missile submarines to stake our claim to supposed dominance. Our actions speak for themselves,” Secretary Greer proclaimed.

[Luis1p]

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Although when compared to previous super-elections under previous Presidents namely Andrew Neilsen, Juliet Andrews and Douglas Concannon last night’s super election could be considered “diet” or more reserved, it nonetheless represented the public’s continued confidence in the Democratic Party of Lodamun (DPL) to deliver on its millennium promise of revitalising the spirit of the Lodamese nation. Richard Toule, the former Secretary of State of Newchester, a public policy expert and the husband of former Secretary of State Jennifer Toule, has been elected President of Lodamun, succeeding William Hanlon who was ineligible to run for the Presidency again, having served three (3) consecutive terms. President-elect Toule handed his opponent, businessman and firebrand independent contender Zac Gibson, a crushing defeat, securing both the popular vote and sweeping the electoral college by a margin of around 13 million votes. In succeeding President William Hanlon, Mr. Tulle inherits much of the Hanlon Administration’s challenges, namely the sluggish start of the national economy, a woefully underfunded Lodamese Armed Forces being asked to take on additional responsibilities as well as a series of internal security challenges related to religious extremist groups and illegal paramilitary organisations. Speaking to party well-wishers, he stated that he was optimistic for the future of Lodamun, pointing to the nation’s immense potential to “bounce back.” Throughout the campaign trail, Mr Toule has advocated for a comprehensive programme aimed at “lifting the spirits of the national economy.” He noted that although the Hanlon Administration had made yeoman efforts in establishing a solid foundation following years two decades of corrosive conservative rule, it was now time for the economy to get moving again. Pointing to President Hanlon’s legacy agencies, namely the Nutritional Resources Administration (NRA), the Agricultural Securities and Risk Management Authority (ASRMA) and the Credit Reconstruction Corporation (CRC), Mr Toule explained that the agencies had been established with goals which had either never been fully realised or partially so and thus vowed to see to it that the agencies are more than capable of achieving their founding objectives. Similarly, throughout the campaign, Mr. Toule placed a significant emphasis on the need for Lodamun to enhance its investment in quality infrastructure. He noted that when compared to its regional and international peers, Lodamun falls behind largely due to the unorganised nature of the nation’s highway system, as well as the lack of an integrated railway network throughout the country. He promised to create a temporary “Civil Projects Administration” within the Department of Infrastructure and Transport to lead what he calls a “transformation of Lodamun.” He noted that such an agency would likely work in tandem with a new “Bureau of Central Planning”, denoting not the nation’s transition to communism or a command economy but instead recognising the need to better plan infrastructure with sustainability and the future in mind. Seeking to not seem soft on crime and internal insecurity, Toule promised to “completely destroy” religious extremist groups and stomp out any inkling of illegal paramilitary organisations. “There are growing whispers within this nation surrounding religious extremism and potential illegal paramilitary groups near our border with Baltusia. It is my intention to use the powers of the Department of Justice (and the National Investigations Bureau) and the Department of Domestic Security (and the Bureau of Firearms and Control) to completely destroy these groups and squash any inkling of that talk of hidden militia groups,” President-elect Toule proclaimed in front of well-wishers. Although it is largely unconfirmed, Mr. Toule has had decisions with the former Director of National Assessments under the Hanlon Administration, Edward Walsh as Secretary of Domestic Security, however, officials connected to the Toule Campaign have not confirmed these statements whilst our calls to Mr Walsh have gone unanswered.

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For what it’s worth, the federal economy is in a much better position than it was at the beginning of the Hanlon Administration. Double-digit inflation and unemployment have been largely contained, as the Federal Reserve Bank reported in its quarterly economic update that core inflation had decreased from 15% to around 6%, whilst unemployment fell from 21% to 13%. Yet, amidst what is otherwise a net positive for the economy, it remains largely sluggish. Productivity figures from the Bureau of Labour Analytics showed that labour productivity has fallen to an all-time low, particularly in many of Lodamun’s major industries including manufacturing, R&D and industrial processing, with productivity in agriculture remaining steady. Investment in the aforementioned sectors remains relatively low, even amidst previous commitments by the federal government to support the development of a more vibrant private sector within the Lodamun. Hence leading economists to consider the potential reasons behind the private sector’s more reserved tone. Chairman of the President’s Economic Advisory Committee Dr Christopher Thomson theorised that the private sector’s inability to jump on the incentives of the previous administration largely rests on its fear of taking on additional risk. He noted that the Lodamese private sector had not completely recovered from the previous decades of “corrosive” conservative rule wherein owing to that administration’s broad mismanagement of the economy, many businesses found themselves in increased debt and on the brink of their forces to shutter their operations. “In many instances, businesses are either looking for the government to make the first move or are waiting for the much larger, more established firms to do so. Regardless of the circumstance, there is a chronic lack of confidence within the business community within both themselves and the ability of others. Addressing this, must in itself, be a priority moving forward and I can assure you it is.” Dr Thomson explained.

At a press conference at Whitehall speaking alongside Secretary of the Treasury Dr Capria Bowman, Secretary of Infrastructure and Transportation Victoria Johnston and Secretary of Commerce and Industry Dr Karolina Dominczyk, President Richard Toule revealed his administration’s economic agenda which he hopes could be the clarion call for the private and public sectors to shake off their malaise. In announcing the agenda, President Toule premised the address on the fact that the DPL has traditionally recognised the importance of public investment especially as it related to Kodonomics. He explained that in the absence of a means to provide the economy with both a means of solidifying the existing economic stability whilst also springboarding towards growth throughout the entire society, any economic programme seeking to address the nation’s woes would ultimately fall on its face. In view of the need to stimulate the economy, President Toule proposed that the nation use its shortcomings in national infrastructure and public works as the very basis upon which the national economic spirit could be lifted. When compared to regional peers, Lodamun falls behind on numerous infrastructure development indicators. The lack of an integrated highway system alongside an integrated railway network is said to be hindering the nation’s ability to maximise productivity as well as stifling its economic potential. Beyond road and rail infrastructure, Lodamun falls short in terms of energy efficiency outside of St. Christopher. The state’s extraordinary investment in more efficient and modern energy technology (such as wind turbines and solar farms) has been the nation’s saving grace when matched against both regional and international peers. However, as President Toule noted, relying on St. Christopher to make the nation look good on paper is “by far one of the most shameful things I’ve ever heard.” He notes that there must be an honest and comprehensive effort towards transforming public infrastructure throughout the country, in the hopes that it would lend itself to an improvement in the quality of life within Lodamun as well as the nation’s economic condition.

Having promised to create an independent agency within the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, which working in tandem with the Bureau of Central Planning, would undertake one of the most ambitious infrastructure development programmes in the nation’s history, President Toule announced both appointment of veteran administrator and civil engineer, Dr Edgar Hammond as Administrator of the new Civil Projects Administration (CPA), and the appointment of renowned architect E. H. Gibson as Director of the Bureau of Central Planning. Secretary Johnston, who was revealed to be a former student of Dr Hammond, stated that the CPA will be directly involved in all federal infrastructure projects going forward. She noted that instead of hiring thousands of employees to work under the CPA, the agency will likely contract construction firms of varying sizes/scales to work on projects underneath its banner. The BCP’s role will be to study/research spatial planning schemes which would best optimise the use of space throughout the duration of the CPA’s projects as she noted, “Without the BCP’s approval, the CPA cannot move forward on any project.” Secretary Dominczyk noted that it was important to ensure the private sector could play a role in what is undoubtedly set to be the most ambitious infrastructure development programmes in the nation’s history, let alone on the Seleyan continent. She noted that special provisions had been included in the government’s design programme to allow for various funding/financing mechanisms. She noted that all projects under the CPA would not be privately owned but will be managed by the CPA via a series of non-profit authorities which will be responsible for managing the completed projects as well as their relationships with state and local authorities. She explained that the rationale behind the President’s insistence on publicly-owned infrastructure being a centre-piece of the entire programme is as follows: “The President believes that throughout this nation's economic history, there has been a dwindling appreciation for the yeoman work the government can do. It has often become a common point among detractors that the private sector is better equipped to handle otherwise large-scale projects in their entirety. This administration believes that whilst the private sector is necessary is projects of this nature, people should take pride in knowing that to some degree (even though small), government control over certain utilities, and key pieces of infrastructure is important towards safeguarding the interests of the people.”

The CPA is likely to work alongside other key institutions such as the Rural Development Administration in enhancing investment into rural infrastructure. It has been noted that the RDA’s construction of the Barrington Aqueduct has become a major inspiration for the type of projects the CPA hopes to embark on. The entire programme, which is expected to cost the federal government some 300 billion LOD, is expected to fall within a long-term programme which could potentially transfer from administration to administration. The Office of Fiscal Management (OFM) notes that although previous administrations have been reserved as it related to deficit spending and have thus gone to great lengths to avoid deficits, the Toule Administration has not shied away from its intention to use deficit spending as the underlying means of financing much of the economic programmes to be rolled out during its term in office. Via a press release issued earlier this morning, CPA Administrator Dr Hammond stated that the first major project to be undertaken by the agency would be the planning and development of an integrated highway network for Lodamun. It noted that the agency had already begun initial discussions with state and local authorities as well as the Lodamese Army’s Corps of Engineers. Stopping short of speaking to its plans with greater detail, the press release alluded to a more substantive announcement in the future. President Toule is reportedly hoping that the monumental effort of the infrastructure development programme would ultimately lend itself to an improvement in the nation’s economic condition as he noted, “It would be a damning thing to waste 300 billion LOD on a programme which ultimately had little to no effect.”

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On the heels of the nation's announcement that it had great intentions of enhancing its ability to monitor both military and civilian maritime traffic moving through the Mad Dog Ocean and Karzon Strait, the Lodamese Coast Guard announced its intention to go forward with its acquisition plans to make such an objective possible. Principal among these proposals was the acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones. At a press conference at the Coast Guard’s headquarters in Portswood, Newchester, Commandant of the Lodamese Coast Guard, Admiral Harper Olsen announced that the LCG would acquire 20 MQ-4C Triton long-range maritime surveillance drones developed by Exellius Aerospace (manufactured domestically via Harrington Dynamics. According to Admiral Macias, officials from the Lodamese Coast Guard had conducted a visit to Harrington Dynamics and Exellius Aerospace earlier in the month having expressed interest in acquiring the company's RQ-4 Global Hawk long-range surveillance drone for maritime surveillance. During the visit, the company unveiled its maritime variant, explaining that it offered much of the capabilities of the Global Hawk, albeit with instruments and technology specific to the needs of maritime surveillance. "The Mad Dog Ocean and the Karzon Strait are vast bodies of water and would thus require equipment/tech which would enable us to cut costs whilst maintaining our objective of having near complete knowledge on all traffic flowing through these domains. Drones can and will play an important role in how we conduct our surveillance operations as they would enable us to conduct a series of missions without the need to commit human manpower," Admiral Olsen told reporters. As the Lodamese Coast Guard continues to enhance investment into its base infrastructure, it is expected that once these drones are in Lodamun and operational, they will operate from a new facility currently under evaluation by the Naval Facilities Inspectorate. The acquisition of the 20 drones is expected to cost the Defence Procurement Administration around 10-12 billion LOD and is expected to be financed via a long-term financing agreement between the DPA, Exellius and Harrington Dynamics. According to Exellius Aerospace's website, the Triton drone possesses numerous advancements and features including the ability to detect enemy anti-air positions, the ability to share data with other drones and potentially aircraft and ships as well as conduct autonomous missions, follow pre-determined flight paths set by its controllers. Whilst the Triton does not possess any firepower as it is primarily a surveillance drone, its ability to share data with other forces in the area enables it to become a virtual eye beyond the horizon for naval assets. "The Lodamese Coast Guard is not interested in the concept of using these drones to potentially combat “enemy” vessels, this is not the Lodamese Navy. What we are doing here is using these drones to ensure that we have a clearer picture of our surrounding environment. These drones will be involved in a broad spectrum of operations from Search and Rescue to Freedom of Navigation. It is our intention to ensure that our maritime domain remains secure and the acquisition of these drones alongside our plans for the future underscore our resolve to do just that," Admiral Olsen said. The pilots of these drones are expected to undergo specialised training with Exellius Aerospace as part of the acquisition agreement to ensure that they can operate the drone effectively and take complete advantage of the drone's numerous capabilities. The Lodamese Coast Guard has long expressed its intention to extend its patrol range into the White Sea, as it notes that the LCG will gradually establish patrol zones within the nation’s immediate vicinity (and within the reasonable range of its equipment), recognising the importance of security trading routes to critical entities such as the Harrington Company. The Triton, according to Admiral Olsen could potentially allow the Coast Guard to patrol said areas whilst the branch rationalises its icebreaker programme alongside the Harrington Company.

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As the state’s economy is closely connected to R&D and emerging technologies, it would be therefore natural for anyone to assume that sooner rather than later, the State Government would become involved in the growing interest surrounding artificial intelligence and machine learning. At the sidelines of the Newchester Institute of Technology’s Innovation Symposium, Governor of Newchester Connor Stone, alongside the state’s Secretary of Economic Development Rory Davies announced that with assistance from the Research Projects Administration (RPA), some $350 million LOD had been set aside as “starting finance” to create a state-monitored venture capital fund squarely aimed at investing into emerging AI startups. The fund, which is expected to be monitored via the state’s Office of the Small Business Advocate, has been described as the first of its kind in Lodamun. Although the Research Projects Administration remains the sole federal entity responsible for financing various types of research throughout the country, its focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning has been minute compared to other entities. The Office of Digital Policy and Governance, in its most recent report on the state of the nation’s digital ecosystem, revealed that although it was largely in its infancy, Lodamun’s AI/machine-learning community was making gradual, yet yeomen attempts at scaling their operations and enhancing their research in various fields related to AI. During the symposium, Dean of the NIT’s Faculty of Computer Sciences Dr William Perkins stated that one of the largest hindrances to an “explosion of AI” in Newchester rested in the lack of funding for unique ideas. “Artificial intelligence has the potential to completely transform the very nature of our modern society. Within Lodamun, specifically within Newchester, we have a community of like-minded individuals who also recognise AI’s potential and are going yeomen work in unlocking said potential for the benefit of all. However one of the major hindrances to an explosion of AI within this nation rests in the lack of funding,” Dr Perkins lamented. The “State Innovation Fund (SIF)” as it is being called, is said to be designed to focus squarely on projects developed within the state. Secretary Davies noted that although such a fund should focus on public (whole of society) benefits which could come via the potential research, he noted that the decision was ultimately to ensure that the fund primarily targeted projects with great economic potential as he rationalised: “By all means recognise utilising the fund as a means of enhancing public funding for public research projects. One should note that such an arrangement already exists via the RDA which has expressed its intention of establishing funding mechanisms for university graduates and students of the like. What we seek to do here is to go beyond that and say: “We recognise the potential of your idea and would like to help you commercialise it, along with the caveat that such a venture would benefit the public in some way.” Any AI/machine-learning project which comes forward with an idea which could be economically beneficial for the state, the SIF will undoubtedly support.” The fund’s creation has been met with broad support from various private-sector organisations and firms including the Newchester Chamber of Business and MetaMind, a startup firm which is slowly becoming a major player in the state’s budding AI scene. Arthur Anderson CEO of MetaMind stated that the fund signalled to other firms that it was time to set their fears related to risk aside and enter the market. Pointing to the hesitancy of numerous venture capital firms, he noted that the involvement of both the state and federal government would ultimately lend itself to encouraging private sector finance to enter the market.