Kazulia

[Maxington]

Although both nations do not share a common land or maritime border, either diplomatic, economic and defence relationship is the
closest in the world. Both Kazulia and Hutori share a deep, complex history. This history is marked by ups and downs; by
cooperation; by competition and collaboration; by the movement—westbound and eastbound—of millions of people across a shared
border in search of a better future; by a trickle of trade and today’s flow of more than $1.5 billion of goods and services
coming into each other's ports daily. As allies and partners, Kazulia and Hutori share common values and interests reinforced by
close cultural and economic ties. The shared commitment to a rules-based international order, and to invest in growth that
benefits everyone and greater efforts towards ensuring hemispheric security, peace and order. It is in recognising this, Prime
Minister Richard Fältskog is in Bekenial, Hutori to rekindle the Kazulia-Hutori Relationship amidst the nation's sharp and
flamboyant return to the global domain. "Hutori has no better friend, ally, or partner than Kazulia," Fältskog told the
reporters, prior to leaving for Bekenial. "We have the longest, most peaceful, most successful, and mutually beneficial
relationship of any two countries in our modern history. Simply put, if trade between Hutori and the Kazulia is a bad idea, then
there are no good ideas. The sum of our trade is essentially balanced. This is and will continue to be beneficial for both our
nations." While acknowledging that Kazulia's trade and defence relationship can and should be modernised and updated, Fältskog
argued that trade between Hutori and Kazulia will be extremely beneficial to the Northern Hemisphere, whose nations have been
recognised as being apart of Kazulia's "trade core".

Hutori is Kazulia's fourth largest export destination and Hutori is Kazulia's 2nd largest importer. Hutori had previously been
Kazulia's largest export destination at the height of its trade relationship prior to the 4500s, however due to the former's
retreat from the international domain, Lourenne sharply replaced Hutori as Kazulia's largest export destination. Prime Minister
Fältskog has stated that he intends on ensuring that trade between Kazulia and Hutori are restored to their pre-4500 levels.
Hutori represents a key market for the Kazulian energy sector with a well-established history of partnership and investment for
mutual benefit. Through the Department of Energy and Energy Affairs’ Expanding Market Opportunities program, the government is
continuing to ensure that Kazulia's oil and natural gas are marketed at the correct markets and withstand the various levels of
rigorous regulations aimed at ensuring Kazulia's natural resources remain high quality when they are exported outside of the
Kingdom. The program also ensures that market diversification and development activities continue to promote good, well-paying,
middle-class jobs, and grow Kazulia's natural resource advantage. As stated in previous financial term, Kazulia is providing more
than $200 million for market development activities in Hutori. These activities include research and development and development
programs on behalf of Kazulian industry. "It’s vitally important that we build on that progress," Prime Minister Fältskog said.
"It is fundamentally in Kazulia and Hutori's interests that we do so. Both Hutori and Kazulia have a historic commitment to
security and peace in the Northern Hemisphere and its is through Hutori's reintroduction into the Northern Defence Integrated
Command (NORDIC), said commitment could be rekindled and strengthened."

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Cederström who is accompanying the Prime Minister on his trip to Bekenial, stated that a strong
Kazulia-Hutori relationship was important to deal with new and emerging powers in the global sphere. Cederström noted that at the
height of the Northern Council, the Kazulia-Hutori relationship was at its strongest, noting that underneath the diplomatic,
economic and cultural relationship shared between Kazulia and Hutori for centuries, there is a defence-based foundation.
Cederström noted that there is considerable room for a closer defence relationship between Kazulia and Hutori beyond the 1st
Kazulian-Hutorian Division. Minister of Defence, Gärdar Syrén stated that there are plans for increased integration between
Hutorian and Kazulian Navies, with plans for Kazulian and Hutorian aircraft carriers to operate joint with seamless integration
and interoperability. Concurrently, Kazulia maintains the largest and most experienced navy, having usurped both Hutori and
Vanuku as the largest and most technological advanced navy in the world. However, whilst size and technology is important, Chief
of the Navy, Admiral Hugo Anderberg noted that tactics and strategy was more important to the Kazulian defence planners than size
and technological assets. Admiral Anderberg stated that Kazulia alongside Hutori has maintained a operational capacity capable of
waging simultaneous, multi-domain operations in various theatres with high degrees of success. Cederström noted that the
potential for the return of great power competition is increasing and a relationship between Kazulia and Hutori is sure to
galvanise the Northern Hemisphere against said great power competition from historic competitors such as Deltaria and Trigunia.

[Maxington]

Kazulia and Kyoseon yesterday announced that they are to begin negotiations on the future of Eljang and Reunii, but in separate statements a yawning gap was revealed over the delicate question of restoring Kyoseon's sovereignty. The talks between the Kazulian and Kyoseon leaders were held, said a joint statement, in a friendly atmosphere, and it was agreed to start negotiations through diplomatic channels "with the common purpose and aim of maintaining the stability and prosperity of Eljang and Reunii." But official Kyoseon media outlets added a pointed comment that the Kyoseon Government's position on the recovery of the sovereignty of Eljang and Reunii was unequivocal and known to all. In a sharp counterpoint, Prime Minister Richard Fältskog told a press conference in Skalm, that the Kingdom of Kazulia had governed over the two provinces underneath the prescribed treaty agreement recognised by the Kyoseon Government and would continue to govern underneath its articles until the mandate has been terminated by the Kyoseon Government and the Kazulian Government. The Kyoseon comment makes it extremely clear that Kyoseon intends to regain not just Eljang and Reunii but the resources and technological foundations established in the prosperous twin provinces. At his press conference, Prime Minister Fältskog declined to comment on the news agency's statements and refused to be drawn on the talks he had with President Kim In Sun. Fältskog stated that the prosperity and stability depended on keeping the discussions he had with President In Sun confidential.

He went onto the say that the treaty governed the future of Eljang and Reunii which he believes are valid in the eyes of international law. Fältskog had been extremely careful in the past not to challenge the Kyoseon position of sovereignty. A gust of wind from Kazulia's time in the Northern Council could almost be detected in the Great Hall of the Supreme Soviet of People's Power when Prime Minister Fältskog stated that Kazulia was committed to "self-determination". Some analysts believe that Fältskog is withholding sovereignty as a tactical manoeuvre until an agreement is reached in terms of which Kazulia would concede paper sovereignty, with Kyoseon allowing for Kazulia to continue in managerial role in the foreseeable future. This view was not encountered by reports in Eljang and Reunii-based media outlets that Kyoseon intends to regain sovereignty in much more than name and that Kazulia will not be able to retain the right of management. Among the ideas now being floated throughout the twin provinces are that the Kyoseon Government would insist on the final appointment of the Governor of Eljang and Reunii, and that the incumbent House of Assembly will be replaced by the Supreme Soviet of People's Power of Eljang and Reunii. Although the civil administration regards the reports as suspect, it was through Eljang and Reunii-based media sources that Kyoseon first aired the firm position, now openly adopted on regaining sovereignty.

Whilst there have been no formal agreement on the economic future of Eljang and Reunii, Prime Minister Fältskog has stated that he intends on continuing to push President Kim In Sun on allowing for Eljang and Reunii's economic to be separate from the agrarian economy of the rest of Kyoseon. Fältskog noted that to allow for President In Sun to steamroll the free market economy established in the twin provinces would be a major slap in the face for persons like former Chief Secretary Harry Brundtland and former Governor Anund Ingebretsen who were extremely instrumental in the formation and development of the free market economy of Eljang and Reunii. He noted that the two cities alone possessed an economic potential far greater than the rest of Kyoseon. Many economists in the twin provinces have stated that the communism seen in Kyoseon could bring with it a host of problems from the province which had become accustom to the democratic principles imposed during the civil administration's infancy.

[Maxington]

Kazulia's banks need little convincing the see the value of expanding outside of their home market. Kazulia's financial services
market is the most high developed in the Northern Hemisphere and potential in the wider world, being predominantly dominated by
the "Big Four"; the HKBC, SP Financial Holdings, Taikon Financial and Fairisles. With the clear intention of business owners to
expand their business links outside of Kazulia, the roll out of the banking corporations tallied well with the commercial
expansion. "Kazulian banks have recognised that the key to their continued growth is expansion outside of Kazulia's borders,"
says Lorena De Fusco, head of Majatran Banks at Kazulsk Credit Ratings. One banking firm that has taken this principle to heart
is the Hutorian-Kazulian Banking Corporation (HKBC). HKBC was the first banking corporation to expand outside of Kazulia with its
first foreign office in Baltusia through HKBC FirstBaltusian Bank of Commerce. Although the company, throughout the history of
its international expansion has noted that the journey had been difficult, however revenues are soaring especially in its foreign
operations and analysts have stated that the investments associated with the expansions into certain regions are worth more than
the risk, with the potential for further international expansion planned. One of the most particular markets Kazulian banks are
seeing major potential in is the Coburan market: HKBC recently bought a bankrupt banking firm in Sharba and is in the process of
buying another five banking firms in the nation to form a network throughout the nation. Fairisles in particular which is
transitioning itself away from financial services to a general commodities investment firm, has announced that it intends on
rolling out a multi-billion dollar fund which it intends on using to invest into businesses throughout the Majatran continent.

However, the economic freedom of firms such as HKBC and Fairisles are not shared with SP Financial Holdings and Taikon Financial.
Unlike HKBC and Fairisles, Taikon and SP are not able to fully fund their own operations, even with the financial support of the
SP Group behind SP Financial Holdings. This mainly due to the fact that in a similar manner, unlike HKBC and Fairisles, Taikon
and SP Financial do not hold more deposits than loans and as such has led to led to the banks being seen as a more risky
proposition than the HKBC and Fairisles by investors and customers. Analysts have warned that the bumper growth could come at a
major cost, especially to Taikon Financial and SP Financial Holdings. Ms De Fusco noted that whereas HKBC and Fairisles have the
financial backing to conduct aggressive acquisitions, SP Financial Holdings and Taikon Financial has to be extremely careful as
repeated acquisitions to put pressure on the banks' reserves at a time hen capitalisation is becoming problematic. She noted that
the region along with third world Dovani has generally high rates of bad loans, concentration risk due to a small number of
corporate lenders and political uncertainty. Director of Majatran Markets of SP Financial Holdings, Tijl van den Bovenkamp stated
that although the risk was high, the margin for profit was massive, especially amidst the oil and natural gas industries of the
various nations seeking to add capital to the industry. Apart from the activities of the two banking corporations, as mentioned
prior HKBC had acquired a Sharba-based banking firm in an agreement worth some 10.6 billion dollars. The all-stock agreement puts
the ambitious banking corporation in an extremely manoeuvrable position within the Coburan market.

Group Chairman of HKBC Group, Per Tollefsrud stated that the company had great intentions of transforming Sharba into a major
financial centre in Majatra. Tollefsrud stated that aside from Romula, Belgae and Wiel, Sharba had major potential to be aligned
as a major financial centre. Tollefsrud noted that although Wiel had remained a financial centre in the eyes of some business
firms, it was losing its competitive edge quickly. Tollefsrud continued by noting that due to government inaction and a lack of
economic reform in the Vanukean nation, the Wiel Financial Hub could be replaced by either a financial hub in Romula or Sharba.
Tollefsrud stated that HKBC would be opening a corporate office in Sharba to base its operations in the region. He stated that
the choice was up to the governments in both Romula and Sharba to make the necessary reforms to make a financial hub in Romula
and Sharba a possibility.



Alternex Verdalros and the Alorian Ports Group have established a joint venture to build and operate a huge coal terminal at
Aloria's west coast Port of Sildar Urbem. The joint venture will focus on the investment and construction of two
50,000,000-tonnes per annum specialised coal terminals at Sildar Urbem Port, with total designed annual handling capacity of 100m
tonnes. Alternex Verdalros requested the joint venture to move transportation of coal resources away from dorvik as it is
becoming too costly to the company. Since Alternex Verdalros' takeover of the Alorian Coal Board, coal has been extracted from
Alorian mines and moved to Dorvik via truck where it would load via Verdalros' coal terminal in Westmark and transported to
Kazulia and other places around the world where Alternex Verdalros is a supplier of coal, mainly to power generation plants. "We
are involved in everything from the financing to the construction to operation," said CEO of the recently re-branded Alternex
Verdalros Aloria, Carwyn Sealy. Under the contract with the APG, Alternex Verdalros Aloria is expected to construct the terminal
within 32 months and the total project cost is estimated at $500 million, said Mr. Sealy. Some 500 jobs are expected to be
created at the terminal with some 2,000 jobs to come out of the construction process. For Alternex Verdalros BCC, the contract is
specific to the port project in that it will only handle coal destined for Eastern Dovani and Artania, which can be operated as a
dual- powered plant. The facility currently runs on fuel oils but after the terminal is built will also be able to be fired by
coal. Its six units each have a power-generating capacity of 350 megawatts. The terminals will have 10 specialised coal berths,
including one 50,000-tonne berth, two 70,000-tonne berths and two 100,000-tonne berths for phase six and phase seven
respectively.

"For us this project is not a port project, it's a complete system for handling coal," Mr. Sealy that the terminal will be
exclusively dedicated to coal movements. "It's not our job just to manage a normal port (terminal) and handle some other types of
materials." Although Alternex Verdalros Aloria has been in Aloria for around two decades and has moved coal shipments to Dorvik
(as mentioned prior), the new contract is its first major port- related venture. Unlike other corporations Alternex Verdalros
Aloria does not have to buy coal from the international markets as it own the majority of Aloria's mines and alongside a
private-public partnership, it is partially responsible for financing coal exports in the nation. Companies that handle export
coal through ports in Dorvik are interested in developments at Sildar Urbem. "We want to look at it," said Lodwich Von Kúnßhain,
vice president and general manager of the Zÿmern Export Terminal which is currently under construction but when completed will
have a capacity for handling 10 million metric tons. ZET, as the terminal is known, will be the largest coal terminal on the
Artanian continent, located in Dorvik and is working with producers to export cleaner-burning steam coal. Von Kúnßhain noted that
whilst the prospects for coal exportation in Aloria is massive, he noted that until the terminal in Aloria becomes operations,
Dorvik remains the key gateway for coal exportation out of the region. He believes that Alternex Verdalros will continue to
extract and market inexpensive coal coming from the third world (Eastern Dovani) which could make it difficult for some companies
to compete against the company in emerging markets. Companies at Rutania's Port of Feynport are also eyeing the Sildar Urbem
project especially amidst concerns that Alternex Verdalros is currently in negotiations with the Rutanian Government to acquire
space for a terminal in the port.

The construction of the coal port in Aloria would significantly cut transportation costs for the company. Currently we
extract coal, load them into containers and transport them to Dorvik via truck where they are loaded onto cargo vessels and
shipped throughout the world to our buyers. The construction of this coal terminal will allow for us to ship coal directly to our
customers throughout the world without having to rely on the costly transportation and logistics of moving the extracted coal
from Aloria to Dorvik for transportation outside of the region. Through the construction of this terminal we could bring in
significant cargo traffic into Aloria. The aim is to make our coal mining operations in Aloria as independent as possible, thus
we are also seeking to construct a power station in Sildar Urbem to power one of our mines in the province. However we are still
in negotiations with the Alorian Government on the construction and operation of such a power station.

[Maxington]

After decades of frozen diplomatic relations, Kazulian Prime Minister Richard Fältskog met with Dundorfian Chancellor Steffen
Eisenstadt in Dunburg, where Prime Minister Fältskog expressed great desire to normalise and subsequently improve diplomatic
relations with the Dundorfian government, on behalf of the Kingdom of Kazulia. It will "take some time" to convince the
Dundorfian government that Kazulia's "militaristic" behaviour over the past decade was in response to persistent threats from
external and regional vectors, and that the Kingdom has no intention of championing the sentiment of imperialism. It was
Kazulia's heavy-handed approach to relations with Dundorf in the past, particularly Kazulia's ousting of the nation from the
Northern Council military alliance after Dundorf declared itself as a communist state, that had infuriated previous governments
in Dunburg since. Until now there were no real attempts by the government in Skalm to rekindle diplomatic relations with the
nation due to successive communist regimes, a sentiment which the government continued to uphold in its policy on not
communicating with extremist political regimes. With the nation now in a democratic transition, Fältskog had officially reopened
diplomatic channels with the landlocked Artanian state.

Prime Minister Fältskog met with President Per Hagel and Chancellor Steffen Eisenstadt. It was reported that Fältskog spoke on
the on-going developments of political and economic integration in Artania via the proposed Artanian League. He also spoke on
Kazulia's accomplishments through the Western Dovani Economic Area and its continued growth as Hulstria moves to enter the
organisation. Fältskog expressed opposition to the sentiment of communism and fascist in Dundorf. He stated that both nations had
brushed with dark elements in its history and as such both nation's futures should not be defined by their troublesome past. He
stated that in Dundorf there was significant room for reform and economic development. He said that an economic realignment of
Dundorf into the wider Artanian economy would be extremely beneficial to the nation's development and the promise of Artanian
integration. Fältskog stated that he was in complete support of the creation of the Artanian League recognising that it would be
easier for Kazulia and the wider Western Dovani Economic Area to interact with a single Artanian unit rather than a fragmented
continent.

The Prime Minister's visit to Dundorf placed hope in the development of Kazulian-Dundorfian business and industry. With the
latter leading the powerhouse economy of both the Eastern Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere, various industries within
Kazulia including the arms manufacturing industry, agriculture and science and technology industries have expressed great desire
to intensify business relations with the liberalising Dundorfian industrial complex. President of the Kazulian Confederation of
Trade Unions, Erling Matthiesen expressed joy in knowing that labour rights would be championed in the case of both nations. With
Kazulia and Dundorf maintaining text-book principles with respect to labour rights, Matthiesen hopes that a stronger relationship
with Dundorfian labour unions/movements would garner international attention on the importance of labour rights and correlation
between economic productivity and labour rights. Prime Minister Fältskog expressed desire to form a trade agreement exclusively
between Kazulia and Dundorf that would see billions of Kazulian investment move into the nation, henceforth diversifying
Kazulia's FDI spread in Artania, evenly spreading it's Dorvik-heavy investment and placing them into nations such as Aloria and
Dundorf.

[alaskancrabpuffs21]

Hulstria after Years of Opposition Finally Joins the Three Mountains Alliance with Lourenne and Kazulia

[Maxington]

Dovani's most powerful nations are brushing aside the sentiments of previous governments in Hulstria and are moving to discuss a
potential bailout agreement between Kazulia, Lourenne and Hulstria. Recognising that Hulstria is about to enter the Western
Dovani Economic Area, it brings its debt into the WDEA Financial System and could have lasting effects on the economies of the
smaller states within the WDEA notably Ostland and Eljang and Reunii. In response to the threat and some calls from the Hulstrian
Government for a potential bailout from international authorities, Minister of Finance and the Economy of Kazulia Filip
Crusenstolpe, Minister of Finance of Lourenne Tristán Vértiz and Hulstrian government ministers including Finance Minister Verona
Riedel and Trade and Industry Minister Tillmann Heldmann will meet in Valois, Lourenne will meet to discuss the conditions of a
bailout for the Hulstrian economy which may come from the Critical Investment and Stabilisation Fund and the Lourennais Central
Bank. The Kazulian and Lourennais Ministers and private banks today promised as much as $200 billion to help Hulstria reduce its
growing debt burden, pep up its economy and stem a crisis of confidence that some economists worry could spread through Dovani.
The package, which is much bigger than expected, will help the government manage a foreign debt burden that has weighed heavily
on the economy. Kazulian Finance Minister Filip Crusenstolpe stated that the sentiment of a bailout for the Hulstrian economy
from Kazulia and Lourenne presented urgency for the protection of the WDEA economy. The money could help calm fears that the
region's robust performance could be impacted. Hulstria, which depends heavily on international debt markets to finance
government operations, had faced the possibility of a debt default without coordinated help from multilateral financial
institutions and private creditors.

Eljang and Reunii, Ostland and Dankuk do not face a crisis of that kind. But they are all wary of slowing growth in Kazulia, the
locomotive for the wider Dovanian region region. ''This eliminates any doubts about the Hulstrian economy after the policies of
previous government,'' Mr. Crusenstolpe said prior to closed door talks with his Lourennais and Hulstrian counterparts.
Economists hailed the commitments, but warned that Hulstria still faced a delicate task of raising government revenues while
stoking growth.''They are basically calling a timeout on their debt,'' said Izumi Waotaka, a Dovanian Financial Markets expert of
the University of Skalm. ''But it is not a long timeout, and if they don't get their house in order it's a waste of time and
money.'' The package is considerably larger than the market had anticipated and would be the largest rescue effort by the
Kazulian and Lourennais Government since the Bortnem-Pomerleau Initiative which introduced a 1 Trillion dollar bailout into the
Dovanian economy which had been used to remove almost all of the Dovanian nations from list of governments stepping towards
sovereign default. But the financing is not a traditional bailout, as it requires hefty participation by the private sector and
Hulstrian government agencies. The $3200 billion includes $12 billion in new loans from official international agencies,
including the International Development and Stability Bank with a majority of the bailout coming from the Critical Investment and
Stabilisation Fund (CISF). An additional $10 billion credit line from the IDSB is currently on the table for discussion however
officials involved in the bailout negotiations have stated that an additional monetary injection from the IDSB would not be
necessary recognising that assistance from Lourenne is expected to be announced in the coming days.

To qualify, Hulstria agreed to adopt measures to restrain spending and try to restore the government's financial stability. As
apart of the negotiations, the Hulstrian Government has been urged to enact the following monetary and social policy changes to
ensure the easy and effective implementation of proposed bailout which includes:

• Relaunch a wide-scale privatisation of the Hulstrian economy after the previous government nationalised the nation's entire
economic system.
• Deregulate the industrial sector
• Reinstate key reforms in the healthcare system, including: scrapping price controls for medication; increasing centralised
procurement of hospital supplies
• Allowing for foreign companies to invest into national companies with a specific focus on ensuring that a majority share in the
national companies are not obtained by foreign companies.
• Pegging the Hulstrian Crown to the Kazulian Krona one to one (1:1) to ensure monetary stability.
• Deregulate social security
• Reducing bureaucracy and red tape from companies

Hulstria has preexisting debt which the nation is still paying off from previous conflicts it lost against Kazulia and a major
bailout from the Bortnem-Pomerleau Initiative. The ratio is considered high for an emerging market nation, and much of it was
taken on when Hulstria was growing relatively rapidly. The financing package seems to ensure that Hulstria will not devalue it
currency anytime soon, officials of the International Development and Stability Bank have said. Barring a fresh recession, the
money is seen as sufficient for Hulstria to afford $200 billion in debt repayments due over the coming decades. But Hulstria
still has to perform an economic double play by igniting its listless economy while reducing government spending to meet the
goals specified in the loan accords. The economy shrank 3.1 percent last year, and it is growing at an estimated rate of 0.2
percent this year. In addition, consumer and business confidence has been low. One way to stoke growth, economists say, is to
reduce high taxes. But that potentially reduces government income and the ability to repay debts. As a result, the nation has to
reduce taxes and spending, which is proving politically difficult.

[Maxington]

Delegations from the WDEA States and Hutori announced earlier that they will begin negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement
between the world's largest trade union and the northern nation of Hutori. The launching of WDEA-Hutori free trade negotiations
had been timed with the return of stable governance in the Commonwealth of Hutori after the incumbent and active government in
Bekenial expressed its intentions to return to the international domain. Secretary-General of the Western Dovani Economic Area,
Jean-Baptiste Beaubois and delegations representing Kazulia, Lourenne, Sekowo, Ostland, Eljang and Reunii and Mikuni-Hulstria
announced the commencing of the negotiation process following their preliminary meeting with officials from Foreign Affairs
Hutori. Beaubois said that Hutori had been unwilling in the past to enter into such talks, but now is and such a deal “will be
something very exciting.” During the preliminary meeting, groups of experts discussed, in particular: Trade in Industrial and
Agricultural Products; Technical Barriers to Trade; Trade Remedies; Customs and Origin matters; Trade Facilitation; and
Intellectual Property Rights. Other topics, such as Services and Investment, Government Procurement, and Trade and Sustainable
Development, were addressed at the level of heads of delegations. The Parties held constructive talks allowing for good headway
and exchange of information in all fields. They agreed to meet again in Valois. Prior to the union's formation, outside of
Dorvik, Hutori remained the largest export market for the WDEA's largest economies: Lourenne and Kazulia. Trade between Lourenne
and Hutori amounted to around 27 billion dollars, with trade between Kazulia and Hutori amounting for around 840 billion dollars.
Beaubois also met with Dorvish officials on to launch a parallel set of negotiations. The WDEA Council for Trade and Economic
Development gave the green light for a full bilateral trade agreement with Hutori and a limited agreement with Dorvik.

A WDEA-CTED statement also noted that CFTA with Hutori would be a “valuable entry point into the wider Keris/Macon region.”
Agreements would put WDEA exporters on a more competitive footing with those already trading with Hutori. Similarly, Beaubois
said in a statement that the WDEA is “seeking an ambitious and comprehensive trade agreement to drive WDEA exports, economic
growth, and create new opportunities for the WDEA markets.” He also noted that Hutorian exporters are currently at a disadvantage
to many of their competitors, as they lack preferential access to the WDEA market. “Making Hutorian exports more competitive
means their farmers can sell more produce, their professionals can provide more services and their manufacturers can make and
sell more goods. We'd like to see a nation like Hutori re-enter the ranks of the world's largest economic players,” he added. The
trade negotiations will take place in the broader context of the WDEA’s push to secure new trade deals, which CTED officials say
is part of their effort both to deepen commercial ties with more partners, to protect employment opportunities and to ensure that
the trade imbalance between the WDEA states and its traditional trade partners is balanced. Over the past decade, the WDEA has
concluded trade negotiations with Kalistan and Istalia, with the former trade agreement collapsing due to Kalistan's sudden
change in mentality. Secretary-General Beaubois notes that the CFTA negotiations with Hutori are part of a greater opportunity to
“shape global trade.” Beaubois said the WDEA's role is to “build mutually beneficial relationships for the members of the WDEA
and to usher in a new flow of economic development in the wider Dovani continent.”

Beaubois cited the complete collapse of the economies of the Keris/Macon economies, recognising the relative economic silence of
historically active nations such as Trigunia, Egelion and New Endralon. He noted that Hutori's return to economic dominance in
that region was a sign of a potential economic recovery in the much wider Keris/Macon region. Beaubois stated that when the WDEA
was formed it outlined its core trading partners: Hutori, Dorvik, Luthori and Istalia; with a clear intention of ensuring the
economic alliance maintains close economic ties with the aforementioned states. Beaubois said that a limited CFTA with Dorvik
could pave the way for the WDEA to formally enter the Artanian markets through the Dorvish economy. In speaking to reporters on
the potential for renegotiations on the CFTA between the WDEA and Kalistan, Secretary-General Beaubois stated that the CTED had
voted against renegotiating the agreement, citing the fact that a potential renegotiation process could see the treaties articles
on workers rights and foreign account taxation be removed from the agreement; articles which Beaubois stated were among the core
articles of the agreement, noting that the WDEA would never enter any CFTA with any nation unless such articles were made part of
the agreement.

[Maxington]

The Department of Defence announced earlier this morning that it would be infusing around $2 billion dollars into the Hulstrian
Armed Forces to assist in modernising the Hulstrian Armed Forces to ensure that it can assume its role within the Three Mountains
Agreement. Chief of Defence General Bjørnar Caspersen (RKAF), has offered the Kazulian help to Hulstria to modernise its
military, saying that together they can improve Hulstria's military capabilities in significant and meaningful ways. Over the
past decade, the defence trade between the Kazulia and Hulstria has touched nearly $1 billion and is expected to gallop in the
next few years, as Hulstria is looking at the Kazulia for some of the latest military hardware including armoured vehicle
upgrades and missile defence systems. "I believe that Kazulia is ready to help Hulstria modernise its military. Hulstria has been
designated a major defence partner of Kazulia. This is a strategic declaration that is unique to Hulstria and the Kazulia. It
places Hulstria on the same level that we have many of our traditional allies such as Lourenne, Dorvik and Hutori," General
Caspersen said. "This is important, and I believe that together we will be able to improve Hulstria's military capabilities in
significant and meaningful ways," said Caspersen, who has been personally pushing for a strong Hulstria-Kazulia defence
relationship since the initial formation of the Three Mountains Agreement. The General said he is fairly happy with the level of
defence cooperation that exists today between the two sides. "We have been partners with Hulstria in the Northern Council and
beyond."

Noting that the exercises, and the complexity of them, has improved steadily over the years, he said he is very pleased that
Hulstria is part of the Three Mountains Agreement. "I think the trilateral relationship between Lourenne, Hulstria and Kazulia,
that relationship is very important," he said as he advocated for a democratic Dankuk to join the military alliance. "We could
explore together bringing a democratic Dankuk into the exercise. That has merit. There's a lot of common interests in the
Dovanian region between our respective nations. But that's really a decision for Hulstria to make, as to whether it wants to
actively participate in the security affairs of the Dovanian continent. After 3 months of cross chamber negotiations within both
the Select Committee for Defence and National Security and the Select Committee for Finance, it had been concluded that the
Kazulian government, that the government would continue its security relationship with Hulstria through expanding the aid
package, but as mentioned prior spacing appropriations quinquennially, thus meaning that such agreements on defence aid would
have to renewed through negotiations both at the parliament level and between Kazulia and Hulstria, every 5 years.
Director-General of the Department of Defence, Sander Claussen stated that the agreement between Hulstria and Kazulia is subject
to renew every 5 years whereby Kazulia can either decide to increase or decrease the amount of aid it provides to the nation.
Hulstria's initial aid package falls short of the 72 billion and 297 billion received by Keymon and Lourenne respectively over
the period of 99 years. Claussen noted that the aid package was an initial offering and that future packages could see military
equipment being added to the programme.

Kazulian military personnel will begin training troops from the Hulstrian Armed Forces under a long-term agreements outlined by
the Memorandum of Understanding on Security and Mutual Defence. The Hulstrian Armed Forces according the Zardic Institute for
International Affairs is considered to be a middle military power, possessing ore modern, moderate sized armed forces. According
to officials from the Military Assistance and Training (MAT) Programme, the Hulstrian Armed Forces must ensure the security of
the nation and to tackle its recent Three Mountains Agreement commitments and as such the Kazulian Armed Forces is prepared to
institute the reforms needed in bringing the Hulstrian Armed Forces onto a footing of professionalism and combat expertise.
Brigadier Torsten Järnefelt, Commander of the Kazulian Military Assistance and Training team sent to Hulstria, stated that as
time develops, the Department of Defence will expand the Military Assistance and Training Programme to the potential formation of
a joint brigade/division similar to the 1st Hutorian/Kazulian Division deployed on the island of Arenheim and on Hutori's arctic
claim. The training is apart of the Kazulian Armed Forces' efforts to strengthen Hulstria's ability to defend itself following an
increase in instability within the region and direct threats posed against the nations by extra-regional nations. Järnefelt
stated that the current phase of the military assistance and training programme was aimed at developing tactics for the Hulstrian
Armed Forces and honing their combat skills. Currently, the Hulstrian Armed Forces stands with a minor bracket and according to
Brigadier Järnefelt, although the current numbers are satisfactory for a nation of its size and calibre, the issue lies in the
nation's outward capabilities. He cited that the lack of interoperability within the nation's armed forces would make it
difficult for the soldiers within the Hulstrian Armed Forces to cooperate with its allies in the Three Mountains Agreement.

[Maxington]

The Kazulian Maritime Administration has ordered commercial shipping companies to avoid both the Ananto Strait and the Aldegar
Canal. The decision by the Maritime Administration means that Kazulian ships will take the additional time and expense to sail
around the northern and southern tips of Seleya instead of going through both the Aldegar Canal and the Ananto Strait, shortcuts
used by mariners for several centuries. "It is a huge step, but what we have seen is that the lack of free movement of commercial
shipping in these area," Astrid Johannessen, Commissioner of the Kazulian Maritime Administration said. "We have spoken with our
partners in the Department of Defence, specifically within the Royal Kazulian Navy and we have decided to mandate that Kazulian
shipping avoid the aforementioned areas entirely." Johannessen said in a statement that companies will still be able sail through
the Ananto Strait once it is clear within the contracts made by the companies that travel through the strait is necessary,
however she stated that if it is not necessary, commercial shipping is mandated to avoid traversing through the area. According
to statements from officials from the Department of Trade and Industry, the move by the Maritime Administration would see large
amounts of trade be diverted from the Ananto Strait and the Aldegar Canal. Director of Seleyan Affairs at the Trond Heinrichsen
Institute for International Studies, Roger Odegaard stated that the cost associated with seeing large amounts of Kazulian trade
being diverted from passing through the Ananto Strait could have a major effect on the Kalistani economy, which saw an uptick
following the initial diverting of commercial shipping away from the Aldegar Canal to the Ananto Strait.

The Department of Energy and Energy Affairs announced following concerns from shipping corporations on the cost, that the
government would be implementing an emergency subsidy on fuel for shipping firms to soften the effect of the move on the
corporations. The subsidy would mean that the government would cover some of the expenses associated with traversing around the
Ananto Strait. According to the Department of Energy coming out of the implementation of the subsidy, the low price of oil will
allow for cargo vessels to avoid the costly tariffs and red tape associated with entering and traversing through the Ananto
Strait and take the long way round Seleya instead. The fuel subsidy by the Department of Energy mean the ships could afford to
take the longer route at a faster speed, thus taking the same amount of time as using the Strait. According to Maritime
Institute, using the Dolgava route would save on average $500,000 per voyage, which would be a huge boost for cash-strapped
carriers. “Further savings could almost certainly be achieved if the carriers moved some of the intermediate calls to other
services or slowed down the speed of the back-haul leg,” the Institute said. This is a bad sign for the Aldegar Canal and Ananto
Strait. The Maritime Institute noted that commercial shipping was extremely important to the Aldegarian and Kalistani economies
recognising that both companies levy tariffs on commercial shipping moving through respective bodies of water, although the
latter's commercial shipping tariffs have been the source of contention between the Kazulian Government and the Kalistani
Government. Nonetheless, the complete diversion of trade through the strait could has a significant impact on the Kalistani
economy.

The Maritime Institute noted that Kalistan benefited from commercial shipping moving through the strait, and to deny the fact
would be ludicrous. Commissioner Johannessen in a press conference stated that she had been in talks with her Lourennais,
Dorvish, Hutorian, Hulstrian and Dankukin counterparts on urging the aforementioned states to follow the same pattern and have
their commercial shipping avoid the Ananto Strait and the Aldegar Canal. Although Kalistan argues that there is a defence
interest associated with the Strait, as stated by the Maritime Institute, the Kalistani Government would always refuse the
recognise the economics revolving around the Ananto Strait. “If the governments of these respective nations want to change the
economics of the routing choices, the Aldegar Canal would need to cut prices by roughly 50 percent, whilst the policy of the
Kalistani Government to superimpose its national laws on the international body of water known as the Ananto Strait would have to
be remove and commercial shipping be allowed to enter without having to knell to Kalistani bureaucracy,” the Director Odegaard
noted. Whilst some contemplate the possibility that the Kazulian Government could impose restrictions on using Kalistan as a
trampoline to other nations/regions, Minister of Trade and Industry, Per Grönblom stated that his Department was considering the
sentiment but stated that it was also observing the developments in the strait between Kalistan and Dorvik.

[Maxington]

Kazulsk Telekom and the Office for Artificial Intelligence and Research are spearheading the government's drive towards expanding
Kazulia's digital economy as it aims to cement dominance. Minister of Finance and the Economy, Filip Crusenstolpe has committed
an initial 5 billion krona to the development of the next generation of mobile technology, and Kazulsk Telekom and SP Telecom
expect to have a pilot networks in place by 4700 in time for the government's roll out of the first implementation phases of its
digital economy strategy. According to Kazulsk Telecom, 5G promises so much more than shiny new mobile phones able to download
video clips in microseconds without buffering. It will become the spine of Kazulia's digital infrastructure, connecting the
country to emerging technologies that will be critical to economic growth. It will facilitate a wide range of new services to
diverse sectors, such as smart cities, energy management, cloud computing, augmented and virtual reality, autonomous vehicles,
online gaming, and enhanced mobile broadband. It will also be an underpinning technology for IoT, connecting intelligent devices,
such as gas and electricity smart meters. Ultra-reliable and low-latency communication made possible by 5G will be needed for the
operations of machinery in future smart factories, such as in the utilities industry. "5G will be even more central to the
development of the technology that will be the backbone of manufacturing and services in the future," said Benjamin Ericsson, CEO
of Kazulsk Telekom.

As it stands, analysts expect the global roll-out of 5G to begin in earnest in 4700, with the bulk of subscribers are likely to
be in Dovani in the early stages due to the work of Kazulsk Telekom in preparing the wider Dovanian continent for its hopeful
roll-out of the technology. Work on the development of 5G technology has been taking place in Kazulia since 4610. 5G will not be
a single network akin to the 3G and 4G deployments currently in Kazulia. Instead, one is likely to see the convergence of
existing mobile generations and fixed networks, and introduction of evolved versions of 4G, before 5G technologies emerge. A
report by the Royal Kazulian Infrastructure Institute late last year urged the government to put digital infrastructure at the
heart of the industrial strategy, ensuring that Kazulia can take full advantage of technologies such as artificial intelligence
and augmented reality, and the needs of new industries, to improve productivity and develop the businesses of the future. It
called for a standalone government department with responsibility for digital infrastructure to address the current fragmentation
of interests. Its core role would be to identify the public projects that contain a significant element of digital
infrastructure, and establish and maintain a plan which sets out how they can help deliver the government’s overarching digital
strategy. This could include installing more fibre and additional infrastructure to make sure networks are future-proof, hence
the formation of the Office for Artificial Intelligence and Research.

Roads and rail provide an opportunity to embed 5G technologies in Kazulian infrastructure, according to the Institute's report.
Given the importance of road transport, the impact that technology can have on the sector in the future has the potential to be
transformative. Significant investment has driven progress in the development of connected and autonomous vehicles, including
government support for research and development, but ensuring the necessary investment in digital infrastructure is in place will
be critical if Kazulia is to take advantage of this technology. It must also address the connectivity needs of passengers,
removing the blackspots that have become a hindrance to much of the motorway network. "5G also offers the potential for
high-speed connectivity on the rail network through a new trackside infrastructure to replace the existing mobile networks of
towers set some distance from railway lines. Kazulia has been languishing in the digital slow lane for too long," Ericsson said,
and the arrival of a new generation of digital technology via 5G gives an opportunity to re-purpose our infrastructure, at a
critical time for the Kazulian economy. The next generation of mobile connectivity will need to deliver the right type of
networks, in the right places, for the services that people and business need. This means 5G networks cannot be thought of in
isolation, but must be considered as part of a wider ecosystem of mobile connectivity. Concurrently, Kazulsk Telekom maintains a
majority share of the 5G market in Kazulia (in recognising its mandate as a state-owned company introduced to superimpose a
monopoly).