Liore

[Aquinas]

Cow terrorists release 6 Dovani hostages

[Liu Che/Zhuli]

Yingdala to Host HELP Expo to Develop Eastern Hemisphere Nations Through Grants

[ChitinKal]

Mjumbe
Environment and Wildlife Ministry Established
June 14, 4787

Hills of the Imyi Imuto Nature Preserve

After receiving mountains of criticism from the population and special interest groups due to their failure to properly address the issue of bushmeat markets and their perceived disregard for the problem and its effects on wildlife and human populations, the government has buckled under the amassing pressure and has established a new government agency dedicated to the preservation of the environment and wildlife populations. The newly formed Environment and Wildlife Ministry will be given the responsibility of overseeing the environment and watching for negative effects coming from the public and private spheres, of monitoring animal populations and ensuring the safety of Liore endangered species, and establishing and maintaining national parks and nature preserves to protect the natural beauty of the country. Already after mere hours of existence, the new E/W Minister Tabia Madaki (of the Jamii Party) has already approved a list of dozens of protected and endangered species, as well as the creation of nine national parks and nature preserves, the largest being the Imyi Imuto Nature Preserve in northern Minaraha. Imyi Imuto has been the name of this area for long before the creation of the nature preserves, and it gets its name from the name of the tribe native to its land, the Imyi, and their word for sunset, e-imuto, and the combination of the two words coming from the Imyi legend that the founder of their tribe was told by their ancient sun god to settle the land where the sun would set, providing shelter from the scorching heat of the savanna and from diurnal and crepuscular predators.

The founding of this Ministry comes after years of pressure from anti bushmeat groups as well as opponents to the rampant industrialization of the west coast as well as the pollution causing mining in Liore's interior. Though bushmeat markets have been on the decline since the acceleration of pork production and subsequent increases in pork rations, the bushmeat crisis has opened the eyes of many Lioris to the health effects of bushmeat consumption on humans, and the far more disastrous effects on wildlife populations. More and more people have also become aware of the negative effects of the policy of unrestricted mining done by government mineral companies, and have pressured the government to tighten environmental restriction on their companies. Though the government has shown its willingness to clamp down on private behaviors harmful to the environment, it's proven to be much more laissez faire when it comes to the operations of public economic institutions, and it is expected that the bare minimum will be done to prevent environmental harm from the government.

[ChitinKal]

Mjumbe
First Kalistani Weapons Shipment Arrives; Treasury to Buy KRB
August 28, 4786

PRV Militants of Red Division Practice with New Kalistani Service Rifle

For years, the Liori National People's Army and People's Revolutionary Vanguard have had to make due with a variety of decaying and outdated weapons, having not made made a major arms purchase in decades. Instead of using the most up to date and standardized arms, the the LNPA and PRV have been using left overs from the old regime, which themselves were hand me downs from decades before, and consisted of a variety of weapons from a variety of nations and manufacturers. As can be inferred, this lack of modernization or standardization has been a burden upon the effectiveness of the armed forces where it has become part of the norm to deal with malfunctioning and broken arms and not have the correct parts on hand for a proper repair. To confront this issue. the Arch Ministry of Defense had spent months looking for high end small arms from trustworthy suppliers to reoutfit the ground forces. The result of this search were negotiations and an arms deal with the Republic of Kalistan and the Kalistani Military Industrial Company.

The deal struck was a large one that will span the next several years, where KalMilInCo will completely supply the ground forces with assault rifles, machine guns, and howitzers, as well as enough to be placed in strategic reserves for further recruitment initiatives or just for replacement of broken or lost weapons. In total, Liore will be purchasing 200,000 of Kalistan's Kalashnikov Service Rifles, one of the most durable and reliable assault rifles on the global market; 40,000 Kalistani machine guns, a mixed order between the handheld M60 and the devastating tripod-mounted M2 .50 cal; and 600 Kalistani 155mm Howitzers, which according to Arch Minister Udo Idowu are the "finest pieces of destructive power we can get our hands on."

The first weapons shipment from Kalistan arrived today, being made up of 200 howitzers and thousands of assault rifles and machine guns. Arriving with the shipment was a contingent of Revolutionary Socialist Militia of Kalistan advisors, sent to teach Liori soldiers how to properly use and maintain their new weapons. Under a priority guideline established by the Defense Arch Ministry, weapons will first be supplied to the PRV's three divisions, which are tasked with the protection of Liore's interior and important cities. Following them, priority status will be granted to the LNPA forces on the Istapali border, then the rest of active duty LNPA divisions, then reserve divisions, and finally Liore's strategic arms reserve. Once replaced, the current arms in use by Liori forces will be inspected and, if still in working order, be placed in the strategic arms reserve or, if irreparable, be salvaged for parts.

This important arms deal between Liore and Kalistan has also caused more transactions than those of money for guns. Seeing the possibility for further relations and trade between Liore and Kalistan in the future as well as Kalistan's reemergence as an economic power, the Financial Ministry has authorized the Treasury and the National Bank to purchase more Kalistani Rubles (KRB) and decrease their reserves of other currencies to fund the increase. To comment on the decision, Financial Minister Pili Okiro stated "It would be in the interests of Liore to work and trade more with the socialist and non aligned nations of the west, and Kalistan is a clear future partner, being both socialist and non aligned as well as the most powerful of these nations. It's the opinion of the party and the government that further cooperation with Kalistan can have tremendous benefits for the Liori people, so we've decided to take a step in that direction by increasing Liore's reserves of Kalistani Rubles, which will make it easier for us to do business with Kalistan in the future rather than having to trade with other intermediary currencies."

[ChitinKal]

Mjumbe
Global Recession Opens Up Economic Debates
August 12, 4788

Liberal Economist Rashid Okadigbo

Liore has not been isolated entirely from the global recession caused by the collapse of the Lourennais stock market and, as of June, the Lourennais state. Though Liore has been immune to the hit taken by the global finance market due to its socialist and protectionist policies preventing foreign direct and portfolio investment in the nation's economy, which has proven its merits against its detractors during the recession. Where Liore's hits are emanating from is the contraction of the international high tech market, one of the top destinations for Liore's refined minerals. Though there is no major trade between Liore and Lourenne and though Lourenne's consumption of Liori minerals is negligible, the ripple effects of the contraction of the Lourennais high tech industry and their economic collapse has caused similar (though smaller scale) contractions in the economies of Lourenne's trade partners, among them being Endralon, one of the largest and most important importers of Liori minerals. These contractions within the Lourennais economic sphere have, unexpectedly to many of the uninformed, caused a massive blow to Liori economic growth due to the nation's heavy reliance on the mineral sector. Because of it's negative effects of the Liori economy, the global recession has opened up a great debate among government and party officials in Yamabiro about the future of the economy, including questions of diversification, liberalization, and a review of trade relations.

Despite division and debate being rife on the economic stage, there has been at least one consensus that has been reached unanimously: the Liori economy cannot grow and survive while reliant on only the mineral industry, and there must be a policy of economic diversification pursued in the future. However, consensus ends at the fact that the one industry economy must be replaced, and there is seemingly no agreement on into what industries to diversify or even by what means diversification should be achieved. As for prospective economic ventures, one of the most hotly debated propositions has been whether or not to exploit the oil and natural gas sources in the eastern savanna to be sold abroad. Proponents argue that oil and natural gas remain essential inputs in the global economy, and are inferior goods that would thrive in global recessions where the incomes of nations and consumers would fall. Opponents reject this idea of finding profit in oil and natural gas exploitation by claiming Liore's sources are far too low to bring significant profit from the international market and that Liore's reserves can at most only fill domestic demand. Another proposed prospect is the development of Liore's tourist industry, making good use of the Liore's unmolested environment and exotic (to foreigners) wildlife, while also developing leisure industries in a select few "tourism cities" which will be open to foreign citizens. In this situation, the pros seem to outweigh the cons, with proponents pointing out potential profit from foreigners coming to Liore and stimulating both the national economy and smaller scale private souvenir markets with foreign wealth (no doubt, when foreign tourists begin to exchange their stronger currencies for LOY to be spent in Liore, the international demand for LOY will increase). Opponents seem to find fault with this plan only on nationalistic grounds, claiming that Liore land is meant for Liori people and is a privilege that is not to be shared, and this argumentation is likely to be ignored by national planners who will likely in the future pursue the development of the tourist industry. The final and most obvious proposition has been to develop Liore's domestic manufacturing industries in areas other than mineral refinement. While this too has become one of the few consensuses in the national debate, division can be found in both exactly what products to manufacture and even how to pursue this development.

Thus comes the debate between planned import substitution and partial liberalization. The most expected position to be held in the debate on how to pursue diversification has been that central planners will choose what specific industries to develop domestically. Though one might believe that planners might choose an industry at random or one that seems to be profitable at the moment, central planners have taken a much more refined and sophisticated positions of diversification through the substitution of imported goods with domestically produced goods. This policy rests on the argumentation that if anything, trade shouldn't be the primary goal of Liori industry and that Liore should pursue autarky in order to distance itself from the international market and its trends. This policy would see tariffs and embargoes placed on certain foreign products while industries dedicated to those products are developed in Liore. Though planners laud this as a way of further isolating and insulating the Liori economy, critics point out a number of flaws, including the possibility of tariffs and embargoes inviting other nations to do the same to Liore's mineral industry, which will remain predominant in Liore for the foreseeable future even after reforms are sought. Critics also point out the fact that just because products that are currently imported will become produced domestically doesn't mean Liore will become isolated from the international market and that the inputs for those products will still have to be imported, especially natural resources that are devoid from Liore. As the saying Liori saying goes, you may be able to pull metal out of the dirt, but that doesn't mean rice will follow.

The most vocal opponents of import substitution have been a group that have been largely absent from Liore since the establishment of the Socialist State: economic liberals. Granted, these liberals are not radicals who wish to see Liore fully transition into a free market capitalist state, but those who seek minor liberalization of the economy while remaining socialist. These liberals have argued for the expansions of foreign trade as well as the breakdown of barriers to trade, as well as small scale privatization of certain sectors of the economy, though keeping these sectors strictly in line with the government. Some more radical liberals argue for the adoption of a dual economy similar to the one in Kalistan, where the government will maintain control over the most important sectors of the economy while allowing privatization in all others. On trade, these liberals believe that if the government expands trade to other nations not currently holding significant relations with Liore and lessening Liore's reliance on certain nations and economic groupings will decrease the effects that the contractions of one economy or one group will have on Liore's by means of reduced imports from those collapsed economies. They argue that if Liore had sought more importers from more diverse geographical positions and geopolitical and international economic groups, that the contractions of Lourenne's and her partners' economies would have less of an effect on Liore. On privatization, they argue that allowing free enterprise and entrepreneurship to naturally guide the diversification and industrialization of the Liori economy will result in a more efficient economy that is in tune with global demand, thus making it more profitable for Liore than if central planners took a shot in the dark as to which industries to develop. Among these liberals is Rashid Okadigbo, an economist and former member of the Prosperity Party who has since come to join the Metzist Workers Power Party and find work in the Planning Ministry. Okadigbo has his own thoughts on how to liberalization, and has come to call for the establishment of special economic zones and free trade zones and export processing zones along Liore's coasts. In these zones, industry would be completely privatized and all laws against foreign investment waived. the thought behind this proposal is to not only allow for the benefits of private industry, but also allow for and encourage foreign investment in certain areas of Liore, allowing for the bringing of foreign industry and capital to Liore for the benefit of their providers and for Liore. This plan, according to Okadigbo, would go hand in hand with the development of a tourism industry in that both would benefit Liore through opening small parts of the nation up to foreigners, whether they be simple middle class workers spending a holiday going on safari in Liore, or large corporations establishing factories along Liore's coasts.

Being left primarily on the backburner of economic debates has been the question of where to seek new economic partners, though it has been a question that has been pondered. Of those who believe foreign trade should not be constricted in the future, it is agreed that Liore cannot maintain its current policy of trading primarily with the same demographic of nation: developed, first-world economies in the northern hemisphere. Of the four major trade deals Liore has struck in recent decades (if one includes last year's arms deal with Kalistan), three have been with nations who fit this demographic, while the last is the still developing nation of Medina in southern Dovani. Clearly, Liore must diversify its trade partners. The first possible group of nations would be those of Majatra and the Majatra Economic Association, specifically Deltaria and Istalia who have considerable technology industries, while also trading with the economic powerhouse that is the Jelbic Khaganate, however economists doubt much profit lies in mineral trade with the Khaganate, due to the new exploitation of Jelbania's reserves. The other group would be those of the east. Included among these nations would be Yingdala, one of the largest economies in Terra, which has already worked with Liore in the past in the granting of funds for the development of a green energy sector. However, when one suggests the furthering of trade in the east, one primarily means a focus on Dovani and third world nations, especially the rising power of Vascania. These thinkers very much share the thoughts of the reigning government in Medina, which itself is pursuing an economic policy of colonial by prioritizing trade with fellow underdeveloped third world nations. Some of the more radical thinkers of this camp argue that Liore should cut off all ties with the first world and work to further develop the economic situation of the third world, however the debate is dominated by pragmatists who oppose breaking off with the west and instead believe thatLiore should simply seek closer trade relations with Vascania, Medina, Ostland, and others.

[ChitinKal]

Mjumbe
Liore to Participate in FOMAT III
December 26, 4790

Liori Rock Artist Ashur Jang

When one thinks of Liori industries, one's mind would typically jump to vast strip mines and mineral refineries, and not to the soothing sounds and raucous riffs of the music industry. Liore isn't the first nation that would come to mind when the topic of fresh music is brought up, one would aptly assume that a nation as poor and underdeveloped would be far to preoccupied with development, and the people of such a nation would surely be far to busy laboring all day. Especially in Liore where underdevelopment is coupled with a general distaste for modern music and an appreciation for primitive tribal sounds, one would not think to find a thriving music culture. However, such thoughts would be mistaken. Since Liore had begun to modernize and with rising quality of life, the Liori people have come to appreciate finer means of entertainment and have become fascinated with music from across Terra. This interest skyrocketed in 4787 when FOMAT II was televised across the nation, and received record views. Since then, the music of Terra has flooded Liore, especially along the urbanized coasts where the centers of foreign trade are located and have acted as nexuses between the cultures of Liore and her trade partners, especially Kalistan, the host of the next FOMAT and widely accepted king of music in Terra.

With the new interest in listening to music comes a new interest in making music. Liore's cities have become dotted with small scale music clubs dedicated to the emulation of foreign music, and a number of popular artists have risen to prominence from among these clubs. One such music club artist is Ashur Jang, who has become a national sensation in recent years for his new and innovative sound. Jang, a skilled vocalist and masterful guitarist, has come to rival even some foreign artists in Liore due to his nearly unmatched skills. Jang has even been noticed by the government, and has been named the official musical representative of Liore by the Public Information Ministry, which has also signed a contract with him to produce and play music free of cost for the Liori people. Jang's fame and success has earned him recognition from the party, who have decided (after seeing the traction FOMAT II gained in Liore) to send him to perform in Kalistan in 4792. Jang has reportedly accepted this offer and has begun writing a song which he has called Siti Stilleto. This will make Jang not only the first Liori artist to perform at a FOMAT, but the first east Dovanian to do so. No doubt, he will bring pride to his nation and continent.

[ChitinKal]

Mjumbe
Liore Continues Participation in FOMAT
June 13, 4795

Yamabiro Pop Group Sauti Liore

Following Liore's well deserved and underdoggish success in FOMAT-III, with guitar master Ashur Jang tying with the skilled Yingdalan artist Wang Ru, the small spark that was the Liori music industry and interest in music among the Liori population ignited into a full inferno. To put data behind the sheer success FOMAT had in Liore, the Public Information Ministry reported that nearly 100% of Liori citizens with access to a television tuned in for the live coverage of FOMAT-III and Ashur Jang's performance. Following the performance, public interest in music, particularly in Ashur Jang, skyrocketed, with record and CD sales nearly doubling and attendance of both public concerts and private music clubs almost tripling. With the new influx of interest in the industry, so comes an influx of new artists and genres. Previously, rock and roll dominated in Liore, evident by the fame and success of Ashur Jang. However, after becoming witness to new genres through the mass following of FOMAT, new artists based around pop, techno, and folk music began to sprout. On a side note, despite the success of Keymon's band Starship 2 Yesterday in the contest and around Terra, the Party made the informed decision not to air their performance or allow their CDs or record to be sold in Liore due to their glorification of elicit substances. So, with the exception of the degenerate "acid rock" music peddled by the Keymonites, all genres of FOMAT-III have become instant hits in Liore.

The question has come again whether or not Liore would participate in the next FOMAT, this time following up on our enviable success in the last contest. The decision was an easy one to make, and the government and Party have decided to send yet another Liori artist to represent the nation. This time, the decision of who to send was left up to Ashur Jang, the pride of the Liori music industry and the official musical representative of Liore chosen by the government. It took Jang nearly a year to find an artist to send, first going around the nation searching for potential contestants then narrowing it down to a solid representative to send to FOMAT. When the time came for Jang to reveal his pick, he went with a popular pop group from Yamabiro called Sauti Liore (Sounds of Liore). Known for their harmonious a cappella singing (in many languages, including Kitembo and Luthorian) and skillful integration of instruments as a support to vocals, Sauti Liore creates a unique pop sound almost reminiscent of the traditional music one can hear in the villages of Liore's savannas. Sauti Liore remained a relatively local sensation, not receiving much attention from outside Yamabiro until Jang picked them for FOMAT. Since then, they've achieved national popularity and acclaim for their works. Sauti Liore remain facing pretty big shoes to fill, but Liore is confident that they will bring pride and acclaim to Liore and the east.

[ChitinKal]

Mjumbe
Liore Comes in First; Set to Host FOMAT-V
July 18, 4797

Still From Sauti Liore's Performance at FOMAT-IV

Liore has once again claimed fame and acclaim for its blossoming music scene at the Terra-wide FOMAT music contest, this time achieving the highest honor of first place thanks to the talent of its submission, Sauti Liore, topping Liore's previous performance by Ashur Jang who took home silver at FOMAT-III, Liore's first participation in the festival and first opening up of its musical culture to the rest of Terra. Sauti Liore won this great honor with their a cappella masterpiece Savannah which at face value is a harmonious ode to a beloved woman that left her homeland and loved ones to travel the world, that judges have described as "funky" and with "heaps of Dovani groove", however a number of critics have found a much deeper message in the song that has been championed by traditionalist and environmentalist figures, suggesting that the woman in the song, Savannah, is an allegory for Liore or her eastern plains (or savannas) and that when the artists plead for her to "change your mind and come back home" from the foreign (particularly western) nations mentioned in the song that they are pleading with Liore to drop its westernization projects and return to traditional Liori life. The band has, however, neither confirmed nor denied this statement, and lead vocalist Hasani Boro has said that "Our music is simply meant to entertain and spread joy."

And with Liore's first place victory in FOMAT-IV, it will have also the honor of hosting FOMAT-V, become the first Dovani and "Third World" nation to do so, and the Public Information Ministry will spare no expenses in making the event one to be remembered. For the event, the government will be renovating Imari Stadium outside of Jarha and in scenic view of the Liori savanna, advertising the event as "All of Terra in the Savanna." The Infrastructure Ministry will also be tasked with expanding the Jarha International Airport, one of three commercial airports in Liore, to ensure it can accommodate all guests and performances landing in the city. Scoring for the competing performances will be conducted by three judges appointed by the Public Information Ministry, who will judge each performance on a number of criteria, and with a portion of scoring coming from an audience voting method inspired by the system employed by Jakania in the previous FOMAT. Carrying on the tradition, Liore will be abstaining from competing in the competition, and will instead be providing two performances to open and close the show. FOMAT-V is scheduled for 4802 with further details to be released later, and acts from across Terra are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible, with submissions being accepted starting today.

[ChitinKal]

Mjumbe
Trade Ministry Strikes Deal with Kundrati
January 16, 4799

Tungsten Mine in Kundrati

After decades of development and expansion, the Liori mineral extraction and refinement industries have become a significant force in regional and international markets, earning the nation trade partners as vastly different and far apart as Medina and Endralon. And though many of the major trade deals Liore has struck with foreign nations with regards to mineral exports has been in response to growing pains of the mineral industry that have over time become diminished from the threats they once were, the Trade Ministry hasn't stopped searching for more potential trade partners to give Liori minerals priority import status. One such nation that has been in the eyes of the Trade Ministry and has agreed to talks is Kundrati, a newly war torn nations recently out of a bloody civil war with a now vanquished separatist movement. Being devastated by the conflict, the government of Kundrati has been picking up the pieces of its economy and work to recover what they can of their industrial capability. Up until now, Kundrati had been largely reliant on Endralon for foreign aid and economic partnership, benefiting from the boons of Endralonian aid and investment and allowing for Kundrati to allow its economy to begin to bustle once again. Kundrati now however looks to diversify its foreign partnerships, and has opened itself up to negotiations from the Trade Ministry, which has resulted in a deal between the two nations. Much like in previous trade deals struck by the Trade Ministry, Liore will sell her refined minerals at a discounted cost to Kundrati and in return Kundrati will give Liori minerals priority import status, allowing for Kundrati to buy the resources they need for development and production at a reduced cost and for Liore to corner yet another country's mineral market. That is not the entirety of the deal however, and as Kundrati offered another proposal to the Trade Ministry: that Kundrati act as an intermediary to send raw tungsten from Davostan where it is extracted to Liore where it can be processed and resold as a refined resource, which the Trade Ministry quickly accepted as an excuse to expand and diversify the refinement industry.

[Rogue]

Deltaria and Dovani, a evolving situation