Grand Logothete announces "diplomatic victory"Extensive trade deal signed with Cobura and Jelbania joins Empire.Daníl Salyzr, the Grand Logothete of the Augustan Empire, announcing the diplomatic successes in the Imperial Senate.November 4502 - The Grand Logothete of the Augustan Empire has announced to the Imperial Senate three important diplomatic victories. The first one is the conclusion of the diplomatic talks with the Kingdom of Vanuku, the Grand Logothete stated that after a successful session with the Vanukean Prefect they were able to conclude that if Vanukean economic interests are left intact the Augustan Empire was free to accept the entry of Jelbania into the Augustan Empire. As such the Grand Logothete, a firm believer in the free and open market, pledged to not seize any Vanukean assets in the Jelbanian private sector. The Despotate of Jelbania is now well and truly part of the Augustan Empire. Soldiers from the Despotate and the Praefecture of Zardugal are now conducting massive joint exercises to improve the performance of the Imperial troops.
The second and third diplomatic victories were all related to the brotherly neighbour nation of Cobura. Historically Zardugal and Cobura make up the core states of the Augustan Empire, but after the massive tensions between the "Augustine" Empire (a Thallerist pretender state claiming false legitimitacy on the proud Augustan heritage) and the Coburan state this was forever destroyed. The Fenikso-Thallerist regime even declared war on the Coburans in a hate-fueled genocidal conflict. The restored Augustan Empire however has openly condemned these terrible acts and has apologized to the Coburan state for what transpired in the past. Even though Cobura will not join the Augustan Empire the Grand Logothete did announce that a very extensive trade agreement between the two nations has been signed, further boosting the economies of Cobura and the Empire. In further talks the diplomatic relations between the two nations went from icy to very warm with insiders claiming that the Grand Logothete and the Coburan Prime Minister get along very well. Grand Logothete Salyzr's final diplomatic success was the concession of Cobura to allow Zardic officials and citizens to visit the ancient imperial sites in the city of Augusta. The royal family can visit their ancestral home and revel in the glory of the Augustan Empire once more.
Emperor Herodoto outraged at Vanukean royal marriageAn open-hearted interview with our beloved Emperor Herodoto III.A visibly saddened Emperor of the Augustans Herodoto III stated he felt "slighted" by the "dirty moves" of the Zhtál family.January 4503 - Today the Emperor sat down for an open-hearted interview on the most popular television channel in the Augustan Empire. In front of the camera's of Aŭgustana Amuzaĵo 1 Emperor Herodoto III confessed he harbours a deep love for the daughter of the Vanukean Archduke Juhn. Vanukean media announced that Princess Agné Banmek-Sntazed is set to marry the Baron Jebr Zhtál, the son of the current Prefect. The same media outlets also reported this marriage came together under severe pressure from the Zhtál family. This has already infuriated the elder conservative branch of the Banmek-Sntazed dynasty, which has named the current King a "weak monarch" for allowing the marriage seeing as the Zhtál family is new blood and unfit to marry the royal old blood of the ancient Banmek-Sntazed dynasty. Yet now the Emperor has stated that he was courting the Princess Agné online.
"Yes, I sent her many loving messages on SmileBook, Instapost and Tweeter. She would message me back with loving words. She admired great Emperor Herodoto! I brought together an Empire, she liked that. She told me many times." Said the Emperor, clearly distraught. "It was that Dirty Jebr that stole her, him and his father, they conspired! They could not allow the great Augustan Empire and the Kingdom of Vanuku to join together! Those love-thieves are in for their own gain!" The Emperor continued. Deep in the interview it became clear the Zhtál family has shamelessly duped the Emperor, who was set to marry the beautiful Princess out of pure love. Whether this will cause any diplomatic problems is yet to be seen, though the Emperor himself has stated he will not visit Vanuku ever again.
When confronted with the fact that he is already married the Emperor waved those comments away. "She is old, not fresh, I want nice pretty girl and feel young again! Or you know, Papez could say: Emperor you can marry many wives, like Tanhrists do, was better in Jelbania that way." These comments landed well with the Jelbanian viewers and the average white Augustan male but outraged several feminist and Hosianist organizations who called for the Emperor to take back what he said and apologize deeply to, in case of the feminists, the women of the Empire and his wife, and in case of the Hosians, the Papez for insulting his divine status and requesting such an outrageous concept. The Emperor refused to comment.
4500 budget implemented after three year delayTax increase sees arrival of free healthcare for all Augustans.Aside from better education and free healthcare the Imperial Armed Forces have been given an immense boost, pictured here is the I. Imperial Mechanized Division.February 4503 - With a three year delay the Ministry of Finance has finally announced the implementation of the new budget. Initially planned for 4500 the budget was delayed because analysts of the Empire's statistics bureau deemed it essential that the tax system be overhauled in lieu of recent law changes. The tax overhaul took 2.5 years to complete after the Imperial Senate could not agree on the percentages, even now a large part of the Senate is in protest over the massive tax increases but Finance Minister Phillipos Basiliscus has assured people that in the long run it will be beneficial for the citizens of the Empire. With the new budget and taxes the financing for the universally free healthcare has finally been achieved. The new budget also sees an immense increase in the funding for the education programs across the Empire. Minister Basiliscus, with support of the Grand Logothete, has stated that some of these funds will be allocated to the Despotate of Jelbania for "new schools, better material and to increase the quality of teaching".
Unsurprisingly and matching the promises made by the Grand Logothete several years ago the Imperial Armed Forces are the biggest receiver of the Imperial gifts. Minister Mundus, in coordination with Grand Domestic Konstantinos, has planned an extensive program to further boost the already impressive Augustan Imperial forces. The conclusion of Operation Augustus, the immense training exercise that lasted for over a year, was that new material is the priority of the Army and Air Force. The Grand Domestic has stated he is interested in the Majatran Rifle program but must see if Istalia and Vanuku are willing to sell the concept. Domestic military industry has been contracted to produce better gear and new vehicles, an important aspect of the revitalized Augustan Empire's forces is complete mechanization. Grand Domestic Konstantinos stated that for the Augustan Empire to remain vigilant it must maintain a modern force and according to him this includes complete mechanization, which means that even the infantry divisions will be upgraded from trucks to APC's. Minister Mundus confirmed these changes stating that "this makes the Armed Forces very versatile, the new APC's will enable our troops to be both extremely capable at defensive and offensive operations".