President Giorgadze to the international community: "Hobrazia's doors are open!"September 4921In an effort to bring more skilled labor to Hobrazia, President Giorgadze has announced a new program to incentivize foreigners moving to Hobrazia. Under the deal's terms, foreigners who spend at least half of the year residing in Hobrazia will receive a one-time direct payment from the government, which will scale in accordance with reported income and qualifications. "The idea is to combat brain drain and to bring in new ideas and talents," said Giorgadze at a press conference. "As Hobrazia continues to develop, we realize again and again how much we need experienced, skilled workers who can help strengthen a modern economy."
Some more conservative members of the national Parliament have objected to the program, calling it "wasteful spending" and expressing outrage that non-Hobrazians will be subsidized by taxpayer funds. Interior Minister Zviadi Beridze defended Giorgadze at a Parliamentary question hour, stating that the payouts would "pay for themselves" through "an infusion of new talent and labor."
While the offer is open to foreigners from across Terra, special preference will be given to citizens of CESU member states.
The program is far from Giorgadze's first attempt to encourage immigration. Last year, Giorgadze's administration subsidized the construction of luxury villas in Stormereti, which were sold at cost on the international market - with the condition that any buyers reside in Hobrazia for at least three months a year for as long as they owned the property. Wealthy business leaders and socialites from foreign nations jumped on the chance to buy low-cost real estate, and the villas have brought an economic boost to Stormereti businesses.
Although Hobrazia's tourist and vacation home market struggles to compete with more paradisaical nations like Kalistan, the government hopes that Hobrazia's relatively low cost of living and rapidly growing markets will be enticing to foreign individuals looking for new opportunities.
Anti-Hulstria demonstration in AstoriaSeptember 4922Hobrazian citizens are joining in on international condemnation of rising nationalism and aggression in the Dovani nation of Hulstria & Gao-Sato. This morning, a large protest outside the Hulstrian embassy in Astoria K'alak'i saw the presence of dozens of angry Hobrazians, who chanted anti-war slogans like "Justice for Seko" and "Peace on Terra." Lane Ketuh, a well-known Astorian activist, organized the protest through her new group "Friends of Sekoko," a non-profit aimed at bringing international attention to the issue.
Protestors gather to express their anger at the Hulstrian governmentAlthough the Hobrazian government has not issued any formal statement on the growing crisis, the administration's response is expected to be firmly anti-Hulstrian. Pressure from citizen groups may force the government to take a stand on the issue soon.
Kormokovy Consolidated launches Terra's first "agricultural satellite"September 4922Hobrazian firm Kormokovy Consolidated, an agricultural equipment manufacturer and consultant group, has launched one of Hobrazia's first commercial satellites. Nicknamed "Simindi," the satellite will photograph agricultural fields as part of Kormokovy's new "SmartGrow" platform, which promises to provide farmers with AI-guided suggestions relating to potential crop issues, planting and harvesting schedules, and more. CEO Dune Hadipash has announced plans to integrate SmartGrow with existing equipment to partially automate planting, weeding, harvesting, and other farming activities.
Kormokovy plans to launch 5 more satellites in the next 3 years, which will enhance SmartGrow's capabilities and provide higher-resolution imagery. The firm is currently only offering SmartGrow services to Hobrazian farms, but promises that new satellites will allow the service to expand to the rest of Artania and even Seleya.
Government launches Defense Task Force, plans to double military by 4940September 4922President Abram Giorgadze has announced a new initiative to rapidly increase Hobrazia's military prowess. "In an increasingly uncertain world, we must be sure that we can defend ourselves," he said at a Parliamentary address. To assist with the expansion, Giorgadze announced the formation of the Hobrazian Defense Task Force, a commission of Hobrazian and Yingdalan military experts, defense industry specialists, and civilian leaders. The Task Force's goal will be to double Hobrazia's military capacity by 4940, with a specific emphasis on increasing the Land Force's manpower, building or purchasing new ships, developing air power, and ensuring that military equipment is up-to-date.