Kazulia

[Maxington]

The Kazulian Government announced earlier this morning that it intends on rolling back on some of the sanctions imposed on the
Second Kyo Empire after the Department for Human Rights within the Department of Foreign Affairs released a report noting the
Second Kyo Empire's valid transition towards a more open and democratic society. The target sanctions, in effect since around
4625, blocked trade between Kazulia and Dankuk, restricted the movement of capital and foreign exchange between the
two nations and also prevented citizens from either nation the ability to travel to the other nation. It also froze the assets
of Dankukin officials. The sanctions came amidst the Kazulian-Dankukin War and the previous regime's aggression towards the
Kingdom and the Republic of Eljang and Reunii's existence. Whilst there had been considerable calls for sanctions to be imposed
for crimes against humanity, the Government could not find such a case amongst the previous government's actions. Since its
initial implementation the Government has not debated on increasing the pressure of the sanctions to target other individuals and
to ensure that the Dankukin economy is squeezed into submission. When asked as to why the government had not increased the
pressure of the sanctions, Foreign Minister Asbjørn Fjelstad stated that the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs had concluded
that there was no reason to increase the pressure of the sanctions in the years leading up to now.

The possibility that the sanctions would be lifted emerged in 4643 when then Jeanett Caspersen announced the official foreign
policy shift of the government to begin easing the sanctions amidst the Dankukin government's liberalisation and recognition of
the Treaty of Rodshaydam. Since then, the government has come a long-way to its initial signs of liberalisation. As observed by
the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Dankukin government had make valiant efforts towards provided welfare and healthcare for
all citizens and steps towards watering down the imperial and aggressive sentiment. Prime Minister Jeanett Caspersen has stated
her intentions of seeing Dankuk reintroduced to established global order, citing the nation's recent liberalisation. However, she
stated that whilst the Kazulian Government may be becoming increasingly accepting of the Dankukin government's liberalisation,
she warned that any attempt to subvert or destroy the established peace through any unwarranted or inhumane act on the part of
the seemingly liberal government in Dankuk, will be viewed by Skalm as a threat to the establish peace and will be dealt with
accordingly through an asymmetrical response.

We recognise the Dankukin government liberalisation but remain vigilant. Whilst we will continue to welcome back to the
established global order, we seek to remain vigilant on its government's actions, especially amidst its domestic development. We
wish to see the nation return to the international community from its isolationism and would like to invite it to the Western
Dovani Economic Area, whereby the nation to tap into the resources of the agreement. Their respect for the Republic of Eljang and
Reunii is extremely important towards their reintroduction to trading normalcy.

Speaking on the effect of the sanctions, economist Monty Grant stated that whilst the sanctions may not have been strong, the
impact was still noticeable. With the threat of a blockade hanging over the Dankuk government's head as the Kazulian Government
had previously warned to impose if the government had create the case for such a measure, the Dankukin government inched towards
a closed economy. Self-sufficient, which means no imports come into the country and no exports leave the country. The purpose of
a closed economy is to provide domestic consumers with everything they need from within the country's borders. Grant argues that
whilst that idea may be sold to the international community by the Dankuk Government, he stated that it was impossible to
implement. The need for raw materials for the manufacturing of equipment and goods collapses the idea of a closed economy as
Dankuk lacks resource diversity. Whilst its land may be extremely fertile, it lacks many raw materials which other nations may
lack and/or possess. Grant stated that the idea of a closed economy under an autarky was counter-intuitive. Grant however did
state that whilst the idea of a completely closed economy driven through self-sufficiency was impossible, he stated that it was
possible for the Dankukin government to close off parts of its economy. He noted that competitiveness, including exchange rate
appreciation are going to become serious issues for the Dankukin government once the sanctions are lifted and its trade volume
increases. "By specialising in labour and allocating resources to their most productive, efficient operations, companies and
individuals can increase their wealth."

[Rogue]

Aldegar to close off canal for all military vessels, puts tax on goods passing through from several nations

[Maxington]

The Amphibious Assault Ship HKMS-Ingrid sailed into the Gulf of Aldegar earlier this morning, becoming the first since Aldegar's
decision to block access of military vessels from traversing the canal and breaking the longest absence of real Kazulian naval
power in the Southern Anantonese Ocean. The arrival of the HKMS-Ingrid comes as Aldegarian officials have have imposed a 25% tax
on commercial traffic moving through the canal and also issued a mandate blocking military combatant vessels from passing through
the Aldegar Canal, the narrow waterway through which large amounts of commercial shipping from the east and west respectively
have passed through. The long absence of a capital ship in the region, however, could become a standard practice here as
now-outgoing Defence Minister Andrea Andreasen sought to shake up naval operations and Kazulian air bases spanning the region can
scramble fighter aircraft. "We are trying to be more operationally unpredictable," said Lt. Ernst Gunnarsson, a spokesman for
Royal Kazulian Navy's Gna-based 2nd Fleet. "Now we're switching it up because our adversaries are watching closely. We want to be
operationally unpredictable to our enemies, but strategically predictable to our allies." Despite being so narrow and within the
territorial waters of those two nations, the canal is viewed as an international transit route. Kazulian forces routinely travel
through the area, despite sometimes tense encounters with People's National Guard, the paramilitary force responsible for
patrolling Aldegar's waters. Tensions between Aldegar and the international community have been high since the nation imposed the
new tax increase and ban on non-allied military vessels.

According to statements from the Department of Defence, the HKMS-Ingrid in apart of a much larger task force sent to the region.
Known as Combined Expeditionary Force I, it consists of a series of combatant vessels of the Royal Kazulian Navy including: the
HKMS-Thomas Strandberg (Series 960 Support Vessel), the HKMS-Ketil Bingen (Thorhall-class Replenishment Vessel), 1st Naval Air
Squadron (Anti-submarine), HKMS-Arnt Fossen (Torgersen-class Frigate), HKMS-Lill Vig (Brandvold-class Frigate), HKMS-Sophus Buch
(Fiske-class Signals Intelligence Ship) and the HKMS-Tonje Bu (Flindar-class Submarine). It has been stated that the HKMS-Ingrid
is carrying a squadron of HF-35 Joint Strike Fighters and will have significant aerospace support from the Söderberg Airbase in
Lourenne, should the need for its arise. Although many argue that the aircraft carrier HKMS-Skalm should have been sent to form
the backbone of the expeditionary force, Chief of the Navy Admiral Kasper Poulsen stated that the CEF is an initial force, citing
that should the situation escalate the HKMS-Skalm will be deployed to the region, hence bringing the full-force of the 2nd Fleet
into play. The 2nd Fleet is the 2nd largest fleet of the Kazulian Navy responsible for patrolling the waters of Dovani. The long
gap between carrier deployments in the region represents a change in Kazulian military strategy dating back to the Dovani
Regional Conflict. Chief of Defence General Tormond Prestegard, as head of the Kazulian Armed Forces, ordered that the Royal
Kazulian Navy needed to ensure that it maintain its edge throughout the world. Although it has been argued that Vanuku maintains
the most "technological superior" navy in the world, Kazulian maintains the most combat proven and ready navy, having been
involved in several conflicts and also being responsible for the smooth transition of trade within the eastern hemisphere amidst
the absence of the Indralan Navy.

Amidst the recent development, General Prestegard has met with Admiral Poulsen on transforming the operationalisation of the
Royal Kazulian Navy to remove its dependence on the canal. Poulsen noted that the principle reason for the RKN using the canal
was mainly due to the fact that there was a clear lack of an organised logistics supply mechanism within the Kazulian Navy to
ensure that troops, shipping and supplies reach to their respective destinations without relying on structure similar to the
Aldegar canal. A report by the Kazulian Army Wartime College found that the Kazulian Navy was not equipped to protect its convoys
throughout the world in the event of a global conflict. Prestegard, in recognising the report, stated that he had ordered Admiral
Poulsen to conduct a White Paper into the Logistics of the Royal Kazulian Navy. As it pertains to the canal, the Department of
Foreign Affairs and the Department of Trade and Industry have ordered that all commercial trading be diverted from the canal and
pass through the Kalistan Strait and to move around to Seleyan continent from the south near Kanjor to the north near Lodamon.

[Auditorii]

ASIM claims world-wide terrorist attacks

[Maxington]

As tensions between Kazulia and Aldegar continue amidst the latter's decision to impose a transit tax and to close the Aldegar
Canal from military vessels, the Combined Expeditionary Force I, announced earlier this morning that it would be conducting an
exercise in the Gulf of Aldegar, alongside the likes of the Kazulian Overseas Forces - Lourenne (KOF-L). Sitting just outside the
Gulf of Aldegar, the Combined Expeditionary Force I with embarked 1st Amphibious Infantry Brigade practices rapidly aggregating
and establishing a joint command and control environment, as well as a range of air and surface warfare skills. A Navy news
release notes this joint exercise comes amid the Aldegarian government decision to begin the construction of various combatant
vessels. It was cited that the ability of the Kazulian Navy to quickly mobilise assets and aggregate different platforms with a
variety of operational capabilities was of extreme importance to the expeditionary force's commander. Rear Admiral Vernik
Svensson, the commander of the Combined Expeditionary Force, said in the release that “the exercises and training we are doing
with Amphibious Infantry, naval aviation from the HKMS-Ingrid and naval strike aircraft from Hammarskjöld Airbase in Lourenne are
aimed towards increasing our lethality and agility to respond to threats, and deterring destabilising actions in this important
region.”

The exercise included both relevant skills if the two groups were called to respond to an emerging crisis in the Gulf of Aldegar
and the subsequent canal, as well as skills that aren’t typically rehearsed due to the carrier and surface combatant community
and the amphibious warship community having separate training cycles and focusing on different warfare objectives in training.
JAS 39 Gripens from the Hammarskjöld Airbase served as opposing force aircraft for the HF-35's off the HKMS-Ingrid giving the
joint strike fighters a higher-end opponent to train with than usual. The Gripens and HF-35s also joined with attack helicopters
from the HKMS-Ingrid to conduct a joint close air support exercise, bringing together platforms that conduct CAS on their own but
generally not in that combination. NH90 from the HKMS-Ingrid had a chance to conduct deck landing qualifications on the
HKMS-Thomas Strandberg (Series 960 Support Vessel) and the HKMS-Arnt Fossen (Torgersen-class Frigate). On the surface warfare
side, a maritime raid force from 2nd Amphibious Infantry Brigade conducted visit, board, search and seizure training and a
fast-roping exercise with the HKMS-Ketil Bingen (Thorhall-class Replenishment Vessel). “This tactical fluency across platforms
allows us to efficiently traverse any waters uncontested and readily employ our military assets anywhere, at any time, as
demonstrated through this interoperability the various components of the expeditionary task force,” Rear Admiral Svensson noted.

Beneath the surface, the submarine HKMS-Tonje Bu allowed for anti-submarine warfare crews aboard the HKMS-Arnt Fossen to conduct
anti-submarine warfare drills, simulating the presence of an enemy submarine within the protective sphere of the task force.
According to Captain Kalle Almgren, commander of the HKMS-Tonje Bu, the submarine simulated an attack on the HKMS-Ingrid and the
HKMS-Thomas Strandberg where the anti-submarine wing of the Arnt Fossen was tasked with finding the submarine and destroying it.
As the rotation for the HKMS-Ingrid nears its end, the Department of Defence has stated that the HKMS-Arvid would take its place
as the capital ship of the Combined Expeditionary Force I, which would be renamed Combined Expeditionary Force II.

[Maxington]

The Foreign, Trade and Economic Ministers of the WDEA Member States, namely: Asbjørn Fjelstad; Kazulian Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Christopher Baardsen; Kazulian Minister of Trade and Industry, Antoine Sainte; Lourennais Minister of Foreign Affairs
and Andrés Valois Lourennais Minister of Trade and Industry, Ostland's Minister of Economics and Finance Andreas Meitner and
Eljang and Reunii's Secretary of Trade and Business held a meeting with Istalia's Prime Minister Stefano Terenzi and Istalian
Trade and Industry Minister Davide Valentani in Romula. At the end of the meeting, the Ministers agreed to enter into
negotiations on a Istalia-WDEA Trade Agreement. This is a major step towards strengthening the relationship between the WDEA
Member States and Istalia. The Ministers underscored the opportunity that a comprehensive, inclusive and commercially meaningful
Trade Agreement presents for the mutual benefit of Istalia and WDEA. Strengthening ties through enhanced trade and investment
flows is a major step towards a shared interest in sustainable prosperity and a shared commitment to trade liberalisation and
open markets. The Ministers recognised the importance of advancing this initiative in an inclusive manner. WDEA and Istalia will
seek to negotiate issues such as market access for goods and services, labour, the environment, trade and gender, micro, small
and medium-sized enterprises, among others. Integrating these elements will reinforce a collective commitment to lasting economic
growth and development for all.

The Ministers undertook a commitment to pursue negotiations of a Trade Agreement in order to bring opportunities to the people of
Istalia and WDEA without delay, and have instructed experts to hold the first round of negotiations in Skalm, Kazulia in the
coming months. "Istalia is a major economy in the world with a thriving trade volume, and thus for the WDEA it is a potential
partner —an attractive country with which we want to seek common ground and forge a bond that will have to be creative in some
areas, because we are both efficient producers in similar industries," Fjelstad stated. "We have the possibility of accessing
capital equipment that is essential to the development of our economy, so we will have to reach a balanced agreement," he further
stated. Finally, the Lourennais Foreign Minister underscored that by entering into negotiations "we are showing initiative and
dynamism in the search for external bonds, which are necessary for the WDEA to efficiently participate in global trade." Prime
Minister Jeanett Caspersen instructed the Foreign Ministers of the WDEA alongside her Lourennais counterpart, High Chancellor
Francine Delafour as she saw potential for trade and economic development in a WDEA relationship with the Istalian Empire.
According to Trade and Industry Minister Baardsen, the agreement would formalise all multi-lateral/bilateral trade between
Istalia, Lourenne, Eljang and Reunii, Ostland and Kazulia.

Istalia and Kazulia are seeking to expand their business ties with the WDEA-Istalia trade agreement with a strategic aim to
increase bilateral trade to around some 80 billion krona in the coming decades. Secretary-General of the Western Dovani Economic
Area, Manuel Charbonnier urged Istalia, Ostland, Eljang and Reunii, Kazulia and Lourenne's business communities to step up
investments and promote joint ventures. After their meeting on the comprehensive trade agreement, the three nations signed
various agreements on business cooperation, cultural exchanges, technology sharing and scientific research. Bilateral trade
between the five countries was 10 billion in years prior, with trade between Kazulia and Istalia making the bulk of the estimate.
Charbonnier said the two entities’ foreign policies “naturally go together.” “On a policy level, Istalia's globalist foreign
trade policy and the WDEA's ‘New Global strategy’ naturally go together. And I heartily welcome the efforts of the Istalian
Government and the Governments of Lourenne, Ostland, Eljang and Reunii and Kazulia towards fostering increase economic
opportunity,” Charbonnier said. Once negotiations have begun and the agreement finalised, signed and ratified by the respective
nations, Charbonnier has stated that a limited agreement with the Dorvish Republic could potentially be on the table for
discussion, but noted that there were significant changes to be made before the WDEA could enter a limited agreement with the
Dorvish Republic.

[Maxington]

In what has been heralded as a major shift in defence policy for Kazulia, the Department of Defence announced that the Royal
Kazulian Navy would be disengaging from home-side operations and would be moving towards forward deployment operations under the
banner of Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW). The shift in policy coincides with Kazulia's recent revised foreign policy
strategy which aimed to promote the maintenance of the established global peace and its international presence. On the backdrop
of the relegation of the established Majatran powers to regional power status, namely Vanuku has created a major power vacuum
which defence planners have recognised as being in need of "plugging". Amidst Kazulia's short period of fascist rule, relative
stability has returned to the nation and the wider region and with the international community at a "cross-road", the need for
global stability and peace needed now more than ever. Historically, Kazulia's fleets have maintained a posture of reactionary
deployment; meaning that the will deploy to their forward positions in response to a incident needing the presence of the Royal
Kazulian Navy as a guarantor of order. A conference held by the Trond Heinrichsen Institute for International Affairs discussed
the sentiment of Kazulia's new strategy of peacetime deployment and MOOTW. Chief of Defence of the Kazulian Armed Forces, General
Tormond Prestegard spoke, stressing the importance of global peace, citing the fact that the world's leading nations (it's great
and regional powers) had an obligation to maintain global peace and order.

The idea of peacetime deployment and military operations other than war (MOOTW) aims at deterring war, resolving conflict
and promoting peace through the periscope of military operations. The multinational exercises of the past had executed to
maintain the level of cooperation and understanding necessary in keeping the level of friendliness and not seeing such
friendships devolve into armed conflict. The best way to ensure that through the periscope of the armed forces is to employ a
neighbourly approach to peacetime operations. From multinational exercises to humanitarian operations, the armed forces must
cooperate with all nations regardless of geopolitical standing to ensure that the global peace is maintained.

Some of the operations to be executed by this new doctrine, includes humanitarian assistance, security assistance, peace
operations and relationship building. Kazulia's five aircraft carriers have been deployed to Majatra, Artania, Seleya, Dovani and
Macon/Keris as a means of promoting MOOTW operations. Deployment to Majatra would see the introduction of potential multinational
peacetime exercises with the various majatran powers with the aim of promoting cooperation in the region. Hostility between
Kazulia and Vanuku has existed for centuries however, the message being broadcast to the Majatran power is one of cooperation in
the face of global instability. It is no secret to the international community, that the great powers cannot function without
peace. Both Vanuku and Kazulia are well aware of the benefits of global peace and thus, the Department of Defence has called for
continued dialogue between the governments in Wiel and Skalm to ensure that its MOOTW function is effective in ensuring friendly
competition with the great powers that doesn't compromise global peace; competition which doesn't spill over into a global
conflict. However with Vanuku's relegation to a lower status, Istalia becomes Kazulia's primary partner in the region.
Deployments to Artania, Makon/Keris and Seleya would see the Kazulian Navy become increasingly hands on with cooperating with the
nations within these regions. Partners such as Dorvik, Aloria, Hutori, Kalistan and Valruzia are prime partners for cooperation.
Specifically on Dorvik, the rising power in Artania, MOOTW with the Dorvish Navy have existed for centuries, however General
Prestegard stated that for this new strategy to be effective, Dorvik must become increasingly involved in global affairs. Dorvik
has made significant moves in becoming a force for the promotion of peace particularly their intervention into Suyu Laqtar, thus
Prestegard has stated that Dorvik is most likely to be Kazulia's closest partner amidst Hutori's continued slip in global
affairs.


The location of Kazulia's aircraft carrier strike groups throughout the globe according to the Department of Defence.

Deployment in Dovani would see the intensification of Kazulia's efforts in promoting stability in the increasingly unstable
region. With tensions in the region calm, it is Skalm's hopes that the region could now move towards a period of stability and
peace. Kazulia has long championed the sentiment of regional integration, especially within the "Third World". With the nation
pouring billions of kronas into development within the region, to ensure that its investment into the region was worth it, Skalm
is pushing for regional integration which would pave the way for increased level of development in the undeveloped region. The
Department of Foreign Affairs has stated that it will work with all nations in pushing the ideal of regional integration. This
new doctrine outlined jointly by the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs encapsulates Kazulia's post-aggressive stance.
With the nation championing a new voice of reconciliation, restraint and resolve it is easy to see that it intends on maintaining
its obligation to the world as a great power to ensure the established peace. Throughout these MOOTW's, Lourenne (Kazulia's
closest ally in the region) is expected to play an increased role. With Kazulia beginning to strengthen its relationship with
nations such as Sekowo, Hulstria and Dankuk, the potential for the Three Mountains Agreement to take off into a serious military
organisation is increasing.

[Maxington]

The Hutorian-Kazulian Banking Corporation (HKBC) has gained a major foothold in the Indralan financial services sector this month
with an agreement to takeover the Industrial and Agricultural Bank. The deal is thought to be the biggest ever acquisition of an
Indralan business by a Kazulian/Hutorian company. The surprise emergence of HKBC comes after an aborted offer for the Indralan
operation, the Luthorian-based; Skalm-incorporated Fairisles Bank. Jason Dallaire, HKBC's group chairman, said: "If the outcome
of our offer for IAB is successful we shall have a unique opportunity to build a platform in emerging market of Indrala, where we
have been underrepresented." The HKBC offer was given unanimous backing at a meeting of IAB stakeholders earlier during the
secret negotiations. HKBC already has acceptances from 60% of ICB shareholders, including Fairisles which had a 20% stake. The
banking group, which is quoted on the Skalm, Haldor and Wiel stock exchanges, intends to seek a listing on the Tian'an Stock
Exchange following the completion of the merger. HKBC is the world's largest private banking corporation by market
capitalisation. HKBC, which is headquartered in Skalm and incorporated in Bekenial, has more than 1,000 offices globally. IAB has
interests in personal, corporate and investment banking, asset management and private banking. It has 200 branches in Indrala and
tends to focus on higher net-worth customers with over one million in the middle and upper income brackets.

HKBC, which has imposed its branding on the former Alorian Investment Bank, said it will re-brand the IAB name to HKBC Indrala
and would be the new base of operations for the company's business in Seleya, moving from its HKBC FirstBaltusian Bank of
Commerce headquarters in Baltusia to Indrala. With the international banking Goliath coming to Indrala, it intends on bringing
with it the tools and strategies necessary in allowing for it to become the largest private banking corporation in the nation.
The expansion of HKBC into Indrala sets the base for other Kazulian banking firms such as Fairisles, SP Financial and Alternex
JCB Financial Holdings to expand into the emerging market. HKBC is expected to lock-horns with some of Indrala's state-owned and
private banking corporations. Unfettered entry to Indrala could be one of the main profit drivers for global banks in the next
decade or so. But while favourable liberalisation reforms will allow firms such as HKBC to gain a foothold, true success may only
come if they can compete with the monopolised banks that dominate the country’s financial system. HKBC is the only one of
Kazulia's major banks to hold more deposits than loans. This has led to the bank being seen as a less risky proposition than the
other banks by investors and customers, as it is able to fully fund its own operations. Usually determination of expansion
agreements would be signed between banks and the Financial Markets Department of the Department of Finance and the Economy to
fund the expansion of certain banks into various markets.

However, because HKBC can fund its own operations, Director-General of the Financial Markets Department of the Department of
Finance and the Economy, Fardhe Anderson stated that the bank wouldn't need government assistance but would be monitored by his
department and the Kazulian Competition Commission. It has been stated that there is potential for HKBC Indrala to acquire HKBC
FirstBaltusian Bank of Commerce's Indralan operations, however it was noted that FBBC's operations in Indrala are minor compared
to the ambitiousness of HKBC Indrala. HKBC Chairman Dallaire stated that although Indrala had several conglomerate owned-banking
corporations, most of these firms had either shrunk in size due to inactivity in the global and regional financial markets or had
collapsed due to their relative inactivity in the financial markets. He noted that no attempt was made to save the banking
corporations from near bankruptcy on the level of Kazulsk Bank's intervention to introduce stimulus packages in the industrial
sector, manufacturing sector, agricultural sector and financial services sector through the Critical Investment and Stabilisation
Fund (CISF). Dallaire noted: "Although the Indralan government is attempting to intervene in boosting business in the country
through the new "Indralan Economic Awakening Act" and the "Indralan Fund for Innovation", there is a clear need for venture
capital and investment banking in the nation; services which HKBC does offer."

[Maxington]

Senior navy officials from the Royal Kazulian and Royal Lourennais Navy signed a pact earlier this month placing a renewed focus
on the Sovereign Sea, the Vascanian Sea, the Odufart Sea and the Sea of Carina as key strategic regions for the two nations to
focus their maritime patrol efforts underneath their Three Mountains Agreement mandate. The agreement effectively re-awakens the
dormant “Eastern Oceans Committee” of the Northern Council, which formed the alliance's brain-trust for defending the sea lanes
connecting the various Dovanian nations of the eastern hemisphere. The move follows a pattern of recent naval strategising by the
two nations nations to fortify their territorial waters against a hypothetical incursions and to widen their security commitments
to a region that is crucial to the stability of both nations. Channel Committee member nations pledge to “harmonise” their naval
acquisition plans, possibly to the point of common procurement, the declaration text reads. Countries also want to ramp up the
level of their personnel exchanges and joint training, and move toward honouring service members' professional qualifications
across the group. “The Sovereign Sea, the Vascanian Sea, the Odufart Sea and the Sea of Carina are important blood vessels in
trade throughout Dovani,” the text states. “They are among the critical choke points for the maritime traffic in the globe.” The
Royal Kazulian Navy has previously set its sights on the Sea of Carina as a potential theatre of operations that warrants greater
emphasis.

“For Kazulia, it's important to not just be associated with these bodies of water,” said Simen Olden, who heads the Centre for
Maritime Security at the University of Skalm. What is yet to come, he said, is formulating naval aspirations that go beyond the
country’s immediate neighbourhood, namely the oceans of the western hemisphere. But first, officials here should work to explain
their CHANCOM vision and fill out the largely symbolic declaration with a more concrete work program, Olden said. That goes
especially for 3M, where leaders may need help understanding the utility of the patchwork approach to naval theatres. Apart from
taking on new responsibilities at sea, Kazulia and Lourenne have honed their skills in the theatre of cybernetic warfare. Kazulia
and Lourenne are co-hosting a month-long, cybersecurity exercise in the latter's territory as it seeks to bolster its
cybersecurity in the face of increasing cyberattacks. Known as the Wargame: Cybernetic Escalation, red (adversarial) teams from
Kazulia will simulate attacks against Lourennais public and private cyber infrastructure. The Kazulian Society in Lourenne, which
represents Kazulian interests on the island, is acting as the nation’s representative for this year’s exercise. Speaking at
Wednesday’s opening session of the Lourenne-led portion of the drill, the institute’s director, Thore Valebrokk, said that
Kazulian participation sends a message that Lourenne is not alone on the cyber front.

Earlier, the institute’s acting director, Inge Sveen, said the exercise “marks a new frontier in the ever-deepening cyber
cooperation between the Lourenne and Kazulia,” noting that “as we speak, pernicious actors are engaged in relentless attempts to
steal state secrets and valuable data.” He added that the pace of these cyberattacks is “increasing exponentially and represent
an existential threat to the international rules-based economic order.” He singled out Aldegar as one of the actors using
malicious cyber capabilities. However, Lourenne previously said most of the cyberattacks it experiences come from mainland Dovani
from various state actors throughout the various Eastern Dovanian states. Sveen, noted that the government’s networks are scanned
200 million times and suffer 30 million attacks a month from outside its borders, with these Eastern Dovanian states suspected of
being responsible for half of these. It is also widely expected that in the event of a conflict in the region, cybernetic attacks
against Kazulia and Lourenne's infrastructure will be increased to unprecedented levels. The agencies within Kazulia responsible
for cybernetic warfare is the Cybernetic Security Management Centre and the Government Communications Centre. Director of the
Cybernetic Security Management Centre which acted as the red force in the exercise, Major-General Raymond Urdahl stated as the
cybernetic capabilities of other states becoming increasingly sophisticated, the Cybernetic Security Management Centre will
always maintain its global edge in cybernetic defence.

[Maxington]

As the night retreats to the beat of the rising sun, the imperial standard flies at half-mast this morning as sad news from the
Royal Palace awakens Kazulia. Her Royal Majesty, Queen Ingvild has died at the age of 85, ending her fifty-one year reign on the
throne during which she became a unifying mother figure and a stable source of stability in Kazulia's most troubled times. A
statement from the Royal Household said, Queen Ingvild who had been the longest ruling monarch in Luthorian history, has passed
away peacefully at 5:00 am in hersleep. New of the Queen's death arrived about 2 hours after her actual time of death in
accordance with protocol as laid out by the Royal Household. Prime Minister Richard Fältskog, dressed in a black suit, appeared
on a black themed Kazulian Broadcasting Corporation broadcast after the announcement to signal to the nation that a 3 month long
mourning period will be observed. Fältskog confirmed that Prince Olaf V would ascend to the throne. All television channels
switched to a black theme and showed snipets of Queen Ingvild. In the months leading to today, Queen Ingvild had been absent from
most public events she had been accustom to appearing at. At the changing of the guard in the Royal Palace she had been mostly
absent, only appearing to approve of the guard changing. The Royal Household has refused to release details on the specifics of
the Queen's cause of death, only stipulating that she had died peacefully in her sleep. Her death sheds light on certain
instances of her absence.

Most Kazulian have known Queen Ingvild on the throne and her influence superseded that of politicians and Prime Minister who have
come and gone since her ascension to the throne. As the news had been broadcasted nationally and internationally, in Skalm a
crowd appeared before the gates of the Royal Palace to mourn the passing of the monarch whom many Kazulian had essential grown up
with and whom many Kazulian had accepted as a mother figure. Whilst the nation had seen its share of political crisis, the throne
under Queen Ingvild had weathered the political storms brought about by said situations, standing as the only stable institution
of power. The fact that many of Kazulia's political figures (controversial or not) crawled in the presence of the Queen
illustrated how she maintained stability within the nations highest echelons of power, even during times of national flux. Her
reign saw the expansion of the monarchy's interaction with the general public, the reestablishment of the Kazulian Monarchy after
the collapse of the previous fascist regime.

Queen Ingvild ascended to the throne on June 4th, 4614 after the untimely death of her father, King-in-Exile Gustav II due to a
heart attack. Although she was unable to immediately ascend to the throne as she was in Lourenne, finishing her studies, a regent
in the form of Marquess Regent Brooklÿn was installed. Emperor Alexis assumed the throne in a public coronation, henceforth
ending the regency of Marquess Regent Brooklÿn. As the Queen is the Supreme Governor of the Church of Kazulia, she was considered
near divine to the most stringent of followers in the church. Her title as Supreme Governor of the Church of Kazulia will be
passed onto her Heir Apparent, Prince Olaf V. Whilst not versed in the musical arts as her father King Gustav who was an
acclaimed pianist, Queen Ingvild focused most of her attention on the academics, having obtained a PhD in Herpetology (the study
of amphibians, caecilians and reptiles). Queen Ingvild's body will be moved from the Royal Palace, to Rongstad House where it
will be on display to the public for seven days. The Royal Household has not commented on when the funeral will take place,
however as procedure dictates it must occur around one month after the monarch's death. The following three days will commence
the mourning period, for which the Prime Minister has declared public holidays for which the population can use to remember the
life of Queen Ingvild. The inner city had been devoid of automobile traffic, as the City of Skalm commences its 3 days of silence
in commemoration for the Queen.

THE QUEEN IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING!
THE QUEEN IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING!
THE QUEEN IS DEAD, GOD SAVE THE KING!