Kazulia

[jamescfm]

Jakanian government expels Kalopian and Kazulian diplomatic staff

[Aquinas]

Kazulian companies set to lose oil, gas and fishing licences in Malivia

[Maxington]

Prime Minister Per Dalsgaard is travelling to Romula, Istalia for emergency talks with the Istalian Government on resolving the
diplomatic situation arising from Kazulia's temporary deployment of the 5th Fleet in Kalopian waters and the misinformation being
spun by other governments in the region. Prime Minister Dalsgaard is the first Kazulian Prime Minister to visit the South-Eastern
Majatran nation in more than 50 years. Dalsgaard said that he had hoped that his first visit to a foreign state would have been
on better terms. As tensions between Kazulia and other states in the region mount, the Istalian Government has, as mentioned
prior, invited the Kazulian Government to discuss the issue in-whole, with the intention of seeking a conclusion whereby all
parties involved would be satisfied. Mr Dalsgaard is to be greeted by Istalian Foreign Minister Laura Montefalchi where they will
hold talks and potentially issue a joint statement. "Amid rising tension, it is essential that we focus on the importance of
global peace and security. Notwithstanding the commentary of certain figures, we have made ourselves available for discussions in
the first instance and have not made gestures of aggression nor have we made decisions which may place us closer to the chance of
a military miscalculation," Mr Dalsgaard said.

The 5th Fleet conducted training exercises alongside the Kalopian Navy. According to the Department of Defence, the exercises
were mainly focused on anti-submarine, anti-ship warfare tactics (traditional exercise disciplines), however recognising that the
Kalopian Armed Forces is rumoured to be taking up a new form, search and rescue operations were also conducted. Minister of
Defence Herse Malmkvist stated that there is the potential for the Kalopian Armed Forces to benefit from a disaster response
training programme organised by the Kazulian Home Guard. However, he noted that such a programme could only be implemented at the
request of the Kalopian Government. Prime Minister Dalsgaard is accompanied by Minister of Trade and Industry Rebecka Bergman. In
speaking to media officials upon disembarking in Romula, Prime Minister Dalsgaard stated that he intends on highlighting the fact
that the Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between the WDEA and Istalia had to be renegotiated recognising the Revised Eroncourt
Convention has been operationalised. He stated that aside from the talks with Istalia on the 5th Fleet he intends on discussing
trade and investment, particularly in the realm of the WDEA.

[XanderOne]

Istalia-Kazulia meeting appeases tensions

[Maxington]

Minister-President of Flindar, Max Schauman hailed the yeomen service of the state's business sector after the State Ministry for
Finance announced records numbers of foreign investment. Flindar's Science and technology sector is soaring ahead of its
competitors in the nation and the wider region, attracting more venture capital investment than Dankuk, Hulstria, Sekowo and
other states. Flindar tech businesses attracted 7.8bn of funding last year, which was almost double the amount received in the
previous year. Schauman stated that Flindar was slowly becoming a major competitor not only in the national economy but within
the regional economy. The boost to the Science and Technology sector, due in part to the government's initiatives to establish
science and technology parks across the state and to use said parks to reel in foreign investment, has helped to propel Flindar's
growth of foreign direct investment (FDI), helping it to continue to drive to become a top destination for such funding.
According to a report by Kazulsk Bank, there was a significant increase in digital investment into Flindar, which helped to
offset a decline in investment to sectors such as agriculture and chemicals, due to investor concerns the state's ability to
reduce its dependence on imported foods. With strong political movements in the Federal Government such as the social-democratic
National Labour Party and the entrepreneur-driven Libertarian Party, there is an increasing flame for Kazulia to move away from
its high dependency on oil and natural gas revenues towards becoming a mixed economy with the services, manufacturing and tech
sectors taking the largest portions of the transformation. In speaking on the Flindar Science and Technology Parks Corporation,
State Minister of Business and Innovation Ann-Louise Ahlander stated that she had done much work to reel in foreign companies to
establish offices and factories/plants in the various parks across the state.

Three months prior she had held a major investment conference which drew interest from companies originating from Lourenne,
Dorvik, Hutori and other territories. Concurrently, some of the companies operating in science and technology parks established
under the FSTPC are Millard, Horizon, and Oracle Studios from Hutori, Ebner AG from Dorvik, ForeThought Technologies from Keymon
and 3M. State Minister Ahlander stated that she had intentions of hosting a much wider Investment conference to potentially reel
in foreign investment from Sekowo and Dankuk, but noted that the Federal Government would have to iron out major foreign policy
concerns. Arnfinn Bentzen, Director of the Flindar Investment and Trade Agency, said: “At a time when investor sentiment towards
Kazulia as an attractive destination is weakening due to foreign policy concern, an opportunity arises in the shape of fixing
that image and pushing one that enables states such as Flindar to unleash their true potential. As we push to ensure that
Flindar's economy continues to grow we need to adapt to changing time. We note the statements of the Libertarian Party leader
that technology is becoming an increasingly important feature of the global economy. Kazulia has wholeheartedly embraced
technology as a means of diversification. We in Flindar will use technology to build our state as the preferred destination for
foreign direct investment in the Dovanian region.” The research into the Flindar's tech scene has been released to mark the start
of Folland Tech Week. It found that although Lourenne had the larger share of technology-focus companies, Flindar and by
extension Kazulia was rapidly closing the gap with both startup firms and larger corporations. Minister-President Schauman stated
that he wanted to transform Flindar into the startup capital of the Dovanian continent. He said that although Lourenne currently
maintains that title, he has stated that he intends on working vigorously with the Federal Government to become the preferred
destination for entrepreneurship and for persons to set up startup firms.

[Pragma]

Navy Procures Major International Contracts: Pennington-Reid & Deltaria

[Maxington]

Declaring that it would not allow for billions of dollar in scientific research equipment to go to waste, the Space Exploration
and Exploitation Directorate (SEED) announced its intentions to restart the Arcadia Programme and by extension move to complete
the Hermes Space Station. As numerous nations move to place their claim to space travel, Kazulia through SEED is cashing in its
previous work and has announced its intentions to reignite the flame for adventure, discovery and global cooperation in
scientific research. SEED took this action despite a protest filed with the Department of the Environment and Tourism by numerous
Anti-Space activist groups who argued that although the future may be perceived to be in a space, the billions of dollars being
poured into SEED's coffers could be spent on foreign and international development. Incoming Director of SEED, Dr Vernik Stenbock
rebuffed claims by the activist noting that SEED had always maintained projects within budget and had been the subject of
numerous audits which found that the agency was one of the most efficient users of government spending with little to no wastage.
The Arcadia Programme was previously launched underneath the stewardship of former SEED Director Ragnhild Laugesen. With the
Stormspike VII rockets out of commission, the agency has reached out to the private sector in a design and build contract. It’s
been a wild twist of events as traditionally, SEED had maintained its own missiles (constructed and maintained by its own crews),
however amidst the fact that the that due to the agency's limited budget and recognising that the Stormspike rockets were not
reusable and thus were extremely expensive single-use rockets, SEED has been forced to look to the private sector for ideas to
drive down cost but also achieve the objective of being able to launch large amounts of cargo into space to be assembled by the
Hermes Space Station. Work on the Hermes Space Station stopped when SEED, the coordinator of the Arcadia Programme was
temporarily defunded and recognising that it's budget accounted for a sizeable percentage of the programme's operation, the other
space agencies could not cope with the programme's cost following SEED's withdrawal. Thus the programme was discontinued.
However, Minister of Science and Technology, Arthur Thomassen stated that accessing increased funds to ensure that the Department
of Science and Technology, which is the parent organisation of SEED, would be able to see the Hermes Space Stations right through
to its completion.

[Maxington]

Jakania's President Tosun Bayramoglu is to lead a delegation to visit Kazulia in the coming weeks for talks with Prime Minister
Per Dalsgaard, thus opening new diplomatic channels between the two nations at odds for years of a series of issues ranging from
Kazulia's positioning of the 5th Fleet in the heart of the Dovanian continent to the quarrels between the two nations on
fundamental geopolitical issues in the halls of the World Congress. Prime Minister Dalsgaard is expected to receive President
Bayramoglu upon his arrival in Kazulia where he will tour Skalm and be greeted by King Olaf V. The flip in traditional conduct
comes amidst Prime Minister Dalsgaard's intentions to reverse years of diplomatic discord and to repair Kazulia's relationship.
Having campaigned for the leadership of the National Labour Party on the fact that the party had abandoned the ideas of social
democracy, Prime Minister Dalsgaard has sought to repair centuries of mismanaged foreign policy and to realign Kazulia's foreign
policy objectives with the NAP's social democratic foundation. According to a statement by both the Department of Foreign Affairs
and the Office of the Prime Minister, the two leaders are expected to centre their dialogue on the following concerns: Kazulian
aggression in the international domain, the parity of geopolitics and the Majatran continent. The Department of Foreign Affairs
had been careful to not expose too much of the two leader's agendas during their meeting, recognising that there is the potential
that the nations could come to a common settlement. Prime Minister Dalsgaard stated that Kazulia had garnered the image of a
nation readily willing to respond to geopolitical situations with bellicose diplomacy. According to the Office of the Prime
Minister, although the option of a telephone call had been under consideration by Prime Minister Dalsgaard, it stated that he
preferred to meet with President Bayramoglu face-to-face. Prime Minister Dalsgaard initiated the meeting via an open letter to
the Jakanian Premier Nuray Cevahir.

Political analysts have stated that the meeting is likely being sought in the hope of preventing and discouraging future
instances of discord between the two nations, particularly discouraging sticker Kazulian responses on the security, economic and
political spectrum and to address core geopolitical issues expressed by the two nations in their exchanges at the World Congress.
John Mathiesen, Vice-President of the Trond Heinrichsen Institute for International Affairs (THIIA) stated that one of the major
issues on Kazulia's mind are the 5th Fleet Deployment and the anti-major power sentiment developing in the World Congress. "I'd
expect Prime Minister Dalsgaard to use this opportunity to lower the diplomatic temperate on the 5th Fleet deployment, reassuring
the Jakanian President that in future exercises in the Majatran continent, the Kazulian Department of Defence through the Joint
Forces Command would seek to inform the states adjacent to the exercises. The situation coming out of the 5th Fleet deployment
comes amidst the decision by the Kazulian Government to deploy the 5th Fleet to the Majatran continent, with the intention of
conducting military exercises with the Kalopian Republic, Kazulia's longest and most trusted ally in the region. Several Majatran
states, particularly Jakania and Deltaria expressed displeasure in the move, citing the Fleet's deployment as an act of
aggression on the part of the Kazulian Government. According to statements from Jakanian media outlets, the 5th Fleet's
deployment could not come at a worse time when the Majatran continent had finally achieved some semblance of cooperation. In
response to allegations that the nation had acted with the intention of intimidating the Majatran states against accepted and
guarding their newly found cooperation, the Kazulian Government sought to openly express its intentions in the region, something
which the nation rarely does, recognising it has maintained a history of secrecy in its operations and exercises with other
nations. In the halls of the World Congress, a discourse ensued where the Jakanian Ambassador reiterated the Jakanian
Government's view on the deployment and where and where the Kazulian Ambassador reiterated the Kazulian Department of Defence's
stance.

The ensuing discord between the two nations led to both the expulsion of Kazulian and Kalopian diplomatic staff from Jakania and
a Security Council Resolution being piloted by the Jakanian Ambassador against Kazulia, which was subsequently struck down by the
Kazulian Ambassador via a veto. "On the issue of the mounting anti-major power sentiment developing in the World Congress, I
expect the Prime Minister to reassure the Jakanian Government of Kazulia's renewed foreign policy approach," Mathiesen noted.
Newly-appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kasper Busk has stated that he intends on transitioning Kazulian foreign policy back
towards its traditional role of aggressively pushing global development. He noted the importance for action in the Dovanian
continent, that some nations within the region do not react favourably to warnings and thus aggressive action is needed, but he
also noted that governments of the past had seen great success in moulding Kazulia's foreign policy prowess around social
democratic ideas. In response to this, Prime Minister Dalsgaard has authorised the creation of a new portfolio within the
Department of Foreign Affairs known as the Minister of International Development. According to Busk, the Kazulian Developmental
Assistance Agency would be placed underneath the portfolio of this new minister. Prime Minister Dalsgaard has confirmed Amanda
Bergmann, former Director-General of the United Developmental Assistance Programme, a humanitarian institution based in Skalm
which promotes sustainable development, peace-building and emergency assistance to governments, organisations and persons in
need. Prime Minister Dalsgaard's team composes of Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasper Busk, Kazulian Ambassador to the Jakanian
Republic Magnus Backström and Director of the Section for Majatra within the Department of Foreign Affairs, Klaus Kjelland.

[Maxington]

Football in Kazulia has undergone a secretive but major overhaul since the Department of Education and Culture's Kazulian
Sporting Commission was formed with the intention of transforming the face of sporting activities in the nation. Earlier this
morning, Minister of Education and Culture Remi Stephensen announced that the Federal Government has approved the creation of a
competitive, federal football league to be known as Nordeliga. The announcement was received with great endorsements from the
major football clubs in Kazulia and the national football team. According to the Minister, who made the announcement at the
annual conference of the Kazulian Association for Sporting Activities. (KASA), the Department of Education and Culture had
proposed for the establishment of Nordeliga as a means of promoting healthy competition among the Kazulian townships, cities and
states in the hopes of encouraging youths in the nation to choose alternative paths and to not fall prey to criminal activities.
Nordeliga has received expressions of interest from numerous cities across the country, hoping to participate in an all-Kazulian
professional football league/tournament. The annual meeting of the Kazulian National Football Team saw the election of Herman
Thaulow as President of the Kazulian Football Association. Traditionally, the Kazulian Football Association was mainly
responsible for organising amateur club championships with the primary role of recruiting players for the National Football Team,
however, amidst the creation of Nordeliga, it has been granted a suite of new responsibilities. According to Minister Stephensen,
the Kazulian Football Association will oversee the Kazulian men's and women's national teams for international events, as well as
the respective junior sides (U-20 and U-17 for men and women). Within Kazulia, it oversees national professional championships
(Nordesliga) and amateur club championships.

[Maxington]

Prime Minister Per Dalsgaard's decision to pull both the National Labour Party and the Kazulian Kingdom at-large back towards
social democracy is about to undergo its first of many difficult tests. Minister of Finance Dr Elis Palmcrantz unveiled the
government's social democratic budget in the Stortinget earlier this morning, reducing defence spending by nearly 30% and using
the Government's surplus to pour billions into social welfare, health, education, infrastructure and science/technology. "This
government's approach to fiscal policy is ensuring that Kazulia remains a highly competitive society and a place where persons
would want to start a life." The budget comes on the backdrop of the Zardic Institute for International Relation's downranking of
Kazulia's economy. According to the Kazulsk Bank report, austerity under successive governments had paved the way for the
reduction in growth in the Kazulian economy. It noted that the policies enacted by previous Finance Minister and Deputy Prime
Minister Karoline Bejefford, although prudent, her austerity campaign which saw spending being cut in critical areas such as
healthcare and social welfare proved to be detrimental. Dr Palmcrantz states that his budget intends on laying the foundation for
the complete transformation of the Kazulian economy by implementing long-term, high-impact policies aimed at improving the
quality of living. A staunch social democrat himself, Dr Palmcrantz believes that it is the government's duty to focus on
long-term, high impact economic measures (along the lines of a social-democratic programme) instead of focusing on short-term
economic policies. In outlining the priorities for the government in the coming fiscal years, Dr Palmcrantz noted: reducing
defence spending, supporting the complete diversification of the Kazulian economy away from oil and natural revenues, promoting a
highly-educated and highly-skilled population, improving healthcare and social care standards, enabling the growth of the states
and increasing the standards of living of refugees, immigrants and minorities. In recognising the inefficiencies in spending
among the government departments, Dr Palmcrantz stated that he had been working with the budget departments of all the government
departments, statutory bodies and state-owned companies in ensuring that wastage is cut by nearly 50% across the board. He noted
that although the government has maintained a sizeable, albeit significantly reduced surplus, it will be focused on reducing
wastage in the government to ensure that the surplus can grow in the coming years.



In speaking on the government's budgetary shortfalls in the future, Palmcrantz stated that he intends on amending the law which
addresses the Critical Investment and Stabilisation Fund (CISF). He noted that previous governments commissioned studies into
reforming the CISF to ensure greater efficiency and better use of the world's largest sovereign wealth fund. A Green Paper
commissioned by the previous Rasmussen Government recommended that the Critical Investment and Stabilisation Fund be divided into
two separate entities; one with the purpose of being used to address budget shortfalls and fiscal deficits and the other for the
future generations. Palmcrantz stated that he intends on executing the recommendations of the green paper and intends on forming
the Federal Stabilisation Fund (FSF) and the Future Investment Fund (FDF) which both sovereign funds to be managed by Kazulsk
Bank. On the government's surplus, in his presentation in the Stortinget, Palmcrantz stated that the surplus had fallen from 256
billion to 56 billion (a 78% decrease) due to increased spending. Whilst the surplus fall by 78%, spending increased by 16% from
626 billion Krona the previous year to 730 Billion krona. Traditionally, the expenditure profile of previous governments saw
defence taking the large percentile of the pie, however, Dr Palmcrantz new budget cuts defence spending by 25% and saw
Education/Culture, Health/Social Services and Science/Technology increased by 20%, 10% and 125% respectively. With defence
spending cut by 25%, Minister of Defence Herse Malmkvist stated that the Department of Defence had to undergo a major
transformation. He noted that the Department of Defence would oversee the decommissioning of Kazulia's aircraft carriers and the
withdrawal of troops from overseas bases. He stated that the government had ordered that the Kazulian Armed Forces would
transform itself into the Kazulian Defence Force and would take up a total defence role. This is a reverting of Kazulia's foreign
policy, which existed along similar lines under the stewardship of Foreign Affairs Minister Ellinor Ketelsen. Whilst the Kazulian
Armed Forces would be reduced both in size and range, Malmkvist stated that the new Defence Force would remain extremely capable.
Apart from carriers, Malmkvist stated that the government would also seek to reduce the number of combatant vessels underneath
the Kazulian Navy. He said that he wanted to aim for a cost-effective, nimble and effective defence force.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kasper Busk stated that the increase in expenditure by the Foreign Affairs Department comes amidst
the dawn of a new sub-department and portfolio within the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Department for International
Development was established by Prime Minister Dalsgaard to ensure that the Kingdom of Kazulia remained committed to the promise
of development in the region. Amanda Bergmann has been tapped to hold the portfolio of Minister for International Development.
Under this new department, the Kazulian Developmental Assistance Agency (KDAA) would be overseen. Amanda Bergmann is the former
Director-General of the United Developmental Assistance Programme (UDAP), a non-profit humanitarian assistance organisation
founded by Bernhart Hofmeister and Hendrik Gardarsson. On the increase in Science and Technology, Minister Palmcrantz alongside
Minister of Science and Technology Arthur Thomassen stated that the Kingdom of Kazulia would undergo a major shift towards
embracing information technology. He also noted that with SEED restarting the Arcadia Programme, the Kazulian Government had to
ensure that funds remain committed to the programme albeit it with greater efficiency amidst a smaller budget than requested.
Palmcrantz stated that he intends on laying the estimates in the Stortinget in the coming days for parliamentarians to
scrutinise.