Radio Television Eljang and Reunii (라디오 텔레비전 엘장과 르니)

[Maxington]

The Government, through an article of parliament known as the Extra-Regional Territories Act, has established a Civil Administration in the regions of Eljang and Reunii, hence forming the Cooperative Republic of Eljang and Reunii. The formation of a Civil Administration in the regions of Eljang and Reunii comes in response to the Kazulian Government determination to uphold the provinces as a bastion of western/eastern democracy. According to officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence, whom are jointly coordinating the operations of the Administration through a Governor, the Civil Administration is aimed at integrating human quality and technological progress with cooperation between local authorities, the Kazulian Armed Forces, and security establishments opposite the separatists through the application of government policies in factors pertaining to civilians, the promoting of humanitarian issues, infrastructure projects, and economical projects. Officials from the Section for International Defence and Security Policy within the Department of Defence highlighted the various factors which could come into viewing point of the Cooperative Republic. The officials highlighted the problem of infrastructure in the prescribed province. With the war on the background infrastructure within the region would be classified as extremely hazardous. A failing power system tied to a rapidly deteriorating water supply network, has brought the region to a grinding halt in the area of overall development. Around one thousand civil servants have been sent to the state with the civil protectorate to assist with the infrastructural projects and humanitarian programmes. In a statement by Audun Ingebretsen in-front of the Office of the Prime Minister, it was promised that development and stability would be brought to Eljang and Reunii and its inhabitants.

The Cooperative Republic of Eljang and Reunii is to be governed in the city of Dangmyo, specifically in the city's government sector, with Governor, Audun Ingebretsen being seated in the city-hall, now known as Administration House, where political, social and economic matters pertaining to the administration of the region would be coordinated. It is expected that Audun Ingebretsen will be formally dissolving the administration of the local community leaders through a process to be revealed later on. Officials revealed that the necessary equipment such as construction equipment, food and clothing as well as construction materials will be delivered to the province via airdrop and shipments from a charted container vessels. According to Lt.General Arnold Stenberg, Kazulian Armed Forces will have a significant presence in the state until recalled. Some 20,000 troops of the Kazulian Armed Forces comprise what Lt.General Stenberg has coined Kazulian Forces - Sørvestland. In command of the Garrison is Major-General Henning Underberg, Commander of Kazulian Forces - Sørvestland, will be tasked with ensuring the security of the Cooperative Republic until the Civil Administration has approved plans for the possible formation of Eljang and Reunii's own armed forces. To the general public, the administration has come with mixed responses with some welcoming the sentiment and others expressing extreme tendencies against the Kazulian administration. Persons welcoming the administration sees it as a chance to escape the policies of the Dankukin government and a possible chance of them being to advance themselves beyond those in Dankuk-proper. Those against the administration have labelled it as an "plot to enslave the Kyo People."

Governor Ingebretsen vowed that the interests of the Cooperative Republic would be championed as he hints the possibility of the state receiving a hefty economic aid package from the Kazulian Government to assist in reconstruction, modernisation and urbanisation.

[Maxington]

Governor of the Cooperative Republic of Eljang and Reunii, Audun Ingebretsen has recently announced the implementation of a functional government system in the province. Posterior to the war, local communities have acted as the de-facto government in the chaos, managing the daily functions of the various province and their respect cities. With the formation of the Civil Administration, a functioning government system in Eljang and Reunii would pave the way for future development towards of semi-autonomous province. According to an official press release from Administration House, the official seat of the Governor, the Administration had formed several government departments with the aims of micromanaging the affairs of the province.

The Umbrella organisation for the various Government department, the Provincial Secretariat is broken into nine policy bureaux. The Infrastructure and Transport Bureau, the Education and Environment Bureau, the Health and Social Services Bureau, the Labour Bureau, the Finance and Economics Bureau, the Regional Government Bureau, the Civil Affairs Bureau, the Justice Bureau and the Home Bureau. As a precautionary measure, it was announced that Kazulian officials will be leading the mentioned provincial bureaux, mainly individuals of Kyo-decent.

Staffing of the various provincial bureaux would be done through a complex vetting process, as the Civil Administration is attempting to curb the clout of corrupted elements within the administrative system. It is estimated that around five thousand four hundred (5,400) persons will be working for the Provincial Secretariat within the various provincial bureaux (six hundred (600) persons within each bureau). With the administrative system established, Ingebretsen has announced that the Administration will be moving towards forming a legislative body, consisting of citizens of Eljang and Reunii, where it is expected that the actual ground work for reconstruction and development would begin.

In other news, the recently formed Home Bureau has announced the creation of a law enforcement service in the province. For the past years, there has been no apparatus solely aimed at maintaining peace and security in the province, with the only mechanism mirroring this being vigilantism by the local community members. Commissioner of the Internal Security Bureau and former Assistant National Commissioner of the Kazulian Federal Police, Martin Dahlberg announced the formation of Police Service Eljang and Reunii as the asymmetrical response to the string of crimes being committed throughout the province in the absence of a law enforcement agency.

The police consists of persons of residing in Eljang and Reunii, to be trained by the Federal Police and the Skalm Metropolitan Police. Currently it consists of around one thousand (1,000) person, mostly on lend-lease vehicles. As there is currently no defined law to enforce, the police force is aimed at assisting the Kazulian Armed Forces contingent institute law and order and crackdown on "destabilising sentiments". Commissioner Dahlberg has stated that once a legislative body is assembled and laws within the province are defined, the police service will orient towards enforcing the various laws, but until then they would be assisting the Kazulian Armed Forces contingent (with Commissioner Dahlberg watching the police force closely for corrupted elements).
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The Infrastructure and Transport Bureau of the Cooperative Republic of Eljang and Reunii announced that the government in Skalm was currently pushing for a 50 Billion Krona reconstruction plan for the territory. The Centre for Economics and Business has highlight that the fact that roads, bridges, ports and airports would have to be rebuilt, accompanied by the increasing demands for housing could affect the possible distribution of the package. Other repair costs such as common services including power supplies, telecommunication and water are to be considered as the highest priorities of issues to be addressed as it has been rumoured that the Infrastructure and Transport Bureau intends on overhauling the power, telecommunication and water system in the united provinces, shifting it from the poorly organised eastern system to the western model. With respect to housing, the Bureau intends on providing temporary housing for displaced persons and it also intends on intensifying its system of integration of persons wishing to apply for Kazulian citizenship.

The Finance and Economics Bureau and the the Labour Bureau has reached out to businessmen and women (whose businesses were not affected by the previous conflict) asking them to take in an increased number of unemployed persons in exchange for tax incentives per 10 unemployed person the respective companies employ. The Government in Skalm intends on taking a direct approach to breathing air into the economy of the united provinces but insists that construction must be completed before anything pertaining to the nation's economy could be done. Minister of Finance, Bjarke Callesen said:

The government, although it is prepared to revive and boost the economy of the united provinces, nothing can be done until construction has completed. With the various economic reforms and incentives coming into the united provinces after construction has been completed, I am certain that these provinces will surpass their expected economic yield.

The package is expected to pass by January, where construction will begin in February with assistance from construction firms and the Royal Engineer Corps of the Kazulian Home Guard.

[Maxington]

After a long process of consultation that included a referendum vote, Eljang and Reunii's basic laws came into force earlier this morning. The new text includes major democratic freedoms not seen in Dankuk proper and paves the way for a strong democratic system within the nation to be built by the citizens of the cooperative republic. The basic laws —which introduces significant changes to Eljang and Reunii's economic, political, and social model—is better adjusted to the country’s new political era. Now—while experiencing a complicated economic situation, Governor Ingebretsen has promised to build a vibrant democracy in the region. The approval of the basic laws is just one component of a broader, gradual process of reform taking place in Eljang and Reunii. These changes include an increase in entrepreneurship and private sector growth, greater political, cultural, religious and civil freedoms. The relatively open process by which the basic laws were approved via referendum was also indicative of how important changes are underway in Eljang and Reunii. Under the Basic Laws of Eljang and Reunii, it has recognised some 30 core democratic/human rights not recognised in the regions underneath the previous control of the Second Kyo Empire. The basic laws furthers this process of reform by implementing changes that include the strengthening of local governments, and the restoration of the position of prime minister. In addition, the new text expands the protection of human rights and its constitutional guarantees, while introducing other modifications to the political and the electoral systems.

The basic laws introduce several relevant reforms to Eljang and Reunii's political system. The largest of these reforms is the region's system of governance. Previously, whilst underneath the control of the Second Kyo Empire, Eljang and Reunii had existed underneath an absolute monarchy where by all legislative, judicial and executive decisions are made by the crown with the absence of an elected representative body. Under the Basic Laws of Eljang and Reunii, a parliamentary democracy is imposed whereby three branches exist: the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executive. Parliamentary democracy is the most common political system in terra with around 30 nations following the system of governance. Similar to many of these states, within the legislative branch exists elected representatives known as Assembly Members with each of these assembly members representing a geographic within Eljang and Reunii known as constituencies. According to Basic Law, said legislative branch shall be henceforth known as the unicameral Eljang and Reunii House of Assembly or (ERHA). Apart from this, there exists the executive branch led by an elected representative of the House of Assembly. According to the Basic Laws, said leader of the executive branch shall henceforth be known as the Chief Secretary of Eljand and Reunii. The role of Chief Secretary is given to the leader of the political party with the most seats in the ERHA. The Chief Secretary shall be the leader of the Cabinet, whose primary role shall to be implement laws, develop policy and deliver core programmes for development. Finally, the judicial branch which is responsible for the interpretation and enforcement of laws made by the government/cabinet. Concurrently, Harry Brundtland has been appointed as Chief Secretary by Governor Ingebretsen.

One of the most important reforms contained within the constitution is an expanded recognition of rights for citizens of Eljang and Reunii. The text recognises some 30 core human rights including the right to freedom of speech & expression, thought, practice religion freely and openly, free political thought, etc. Apart from increased/new human rights/civil liberties, a major reformation of the judicial system has been heralded through the Basic Laws. This includes measures related to the electoral law, the penal code, the civil, administrative, labour and economic law. Under the Basic Laws, Eljang and Reunii must pave a clear path towards existing its current state of societal decay and must take active attempts to rebirth true democratic Kyo traditions and stand strong and tall as an example to its neighbour, the Second Kyo Empire.

[Maxington]

With more than 20 million persons homeless, the recently formed Housing Development Corporation is moving to address the situation through lessens learnt from Skalm's solution to its own housing crisis. Cities across the world are facing unprecedented crises of housing affordability as rents and house prices soar despite the wages of most workers being stagnant or growing very little. The response of many governments has been to provide incentives for private developers to build more “affordable” housing — a misleading term that sounds good, but usually refers to rents less than the average private market rate, which is not at all affordable in most cities. In contrast, rents for public housing are often based on the income of the occupant to ensure they don’t pay more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Public housing is the only true affordable housing, but it’s often ignored by North American policymakers, and that’s causing serious problems in the housing market. There are several factors contributing to housing affordability crises, and they differ for every city, but it’s impossible to ignore the negative effect of government disinvestment from and privatisation of public housing a sentiment which had been proposed by Governor Ingebretsen, especially when looking at the housing of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our societies. CEO of the Housing Development Corporation, Grace Min-Hyuk stated that she had been given instructions from the Infrastructure and Transportation Bureau to implement a five-year programme aimed at housing some 1 million persons. With most housing developments of the previous Dankukin government destroyed at the offset of the conflict, there is an increased needs for new housing developments.

With the sentiment of disease in the slums of Eljang and Reunii becoming a reality for the civil administration, Min-Hyuk and Chief Secretary Harry Brundtland are rising to the platform to address the situation in its entirety. Min-Hyuk has noted that simply building more units is not the singular solution to what could potentially be a long-term crisis. She stated that government policy would have to be enacted to ensure that certain principles are maintained as it pertains to housing. The Infrastructure and Transportation Bureau released the Social Land Policy which recommends that as the government moves to introduce a tax regime, that certain articles of said regime be aimed at discouraging the use of land and homes as financial assets and share out some of the eye watering unearned windfall gains from house price inflation. Any reform that makes housing less attractive as a financial asset could result in a sudden withdrawal of demand from investors, and potentially prompt some to try and sell. The resulting price drop could in turn make mortgage lenders more cautious about lending at high loan to value ratios, which would suck even more purchasing power out of the market, putting further downward pressure on prices. Although many aspiring homeowners would welcome a reduction in house prices, there are political and macroeconomic risks associated with falling prices that must be avoided. In particular, a house price crash would be punishing for households who bought for the first time at the height of the boom, and could push some into negative equity, making it impossible to move or re-mortgage. On the other hand, a more timid approach to a functioning and effective housing system will leave a whole generation locked out of home-ownership: it will take decades to regain a “normal” house price-to-income ratio if we merely slow the rate of house price inflation and wait for wages to catch up.

In speaking on the formation of the Housing Development Fund, Min-Hyuk explained the fund's purpose. Persons would approach the Fund when they have found a house they wanted to buy and ask the Fund to purchase the land underneath the house. The buyers would cover the upfront costs of the bricks and mortar only (which on average account for just 30 per cent of the price of a property), and then pay a land rent to the Trust. This would enable many more people with small deposits to enjoy a form of home ownership, and with it greater security and control over their living space, without taking on imprudent levels of mortgage debt. Second is to facilitate the gradual transfer of land into common ownership, so that the associated unearned land rents can be pooled and distributed according to need, rather than captured by private landowners and financial institutions. And the third is to stabilise house and land values. If prices are falling too quickly, the Trust would bid slightly above market prices for the land, to slow the price decline. In other words, the Trust would be a lever for supporting stable and sustainable forms of demand in the housing market, to offset the withdrawal of volatile and socially damaging forms of demand. (Importantly, if prices were rising, the Trust would cease to bid at all, until government had brought the inflationary forces under control.)

[Maxington]

A consortium of Eljang and Reunii's largest worker's unions are pushing for the government to legislate on shorter working hours and minimum wage
increases in the industrial and services sectors earlier this month, in a drive to balance the extremities of work and life. The demand by
unions such as the National Workers Trade Union (NWTU), the Union of Service Employees (USE), the Unified Steelworkers Association (USA)
comes as confidence in the economy of Eljang and Reunii is increasing. Under the banner of the Eljang and Reunii Labour Confederation (ERLC), the
aforementioned trade unions which combined account for 47% of Eljang and Reunii's 5 million labour force. It is the opinion of the Labour Confederation
that amidst Eljang and Reunii's economic growth, which is in part due to their efforts, the workers of Eljang and Reunii should have a fair share in the profits of this
predicted economic growth. Solid growth has been recognised in the financing and services sector with the industrial sector set to benefit from
the ease in heavy industry restrictions in the coming months. Eljang and Reunii is rapidly becoming the major economic force in Dovani with its eyes set on
matching the economy parity of nations such as Lourenne. Having opened its markets to international trade, the Government has lamented its
intention to actualise the sentiment that Eljang and Reunii will rise to surpass greater Dankuk economically in the coming years.

The demanded minimum wage increase comes as many find difficulty in surviving underneath the current minimum wage regime. Currently,
the national minimum wage is set at a mere 5 pounds for persons under the age of 18, with a 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5% increase for those between
the ages of 18 to 21, 21 to 24 and 25 and over respectively. A report by the Dongwon Economic Institute found that persons relying on the
minimum wage regime are becoming increasingly restricted as it pertains to economic freedoms. Within the report it drew the example of a
single mother working at a popular fast food chain earning 8 pounds an hour, just above the national average of 7.30 pounds. Because of the
earnings, she had applied for government assistance. The report stated that for single parents with 2+ children, the estimated minimum wage
necessary in maintaining financial stability would have to be set around 18 pounds. The report stated that in-order for basic needs to be accounted
for, the national monthly wage minimum would have to be around 3,000 pounds in the case for single parents with 2+ children and was said to be
greater for single parents with 2+ children with health complication. General Secretary of the Eljang and Reunii Labour Confederation, Ye Soo-Yeon demanded
that the national minimum wage be increased to around 12 pounds an hour, with the national monthly wage minimum being legislated to never decrease below
1,500 pounds. This is a fundamental change in the figures proposed a year prior which demanded an increase in minimum wage to 20 pounds.

Moore called for a major change in working hours policy among businesses. Soo-Yeon demanded that working hours be reduced to 30 hours from 40 hours —
with a right to return to full-time work after two years — for persons caring for children and other family members. A study by the University of Nadong
found that there was an increased demand for personal time among workers over pay. Secretary of Finance and the Economy, Bernhard Mørk
stated that the matter of increasing the minimum wage had been on the agenda of the civil administration since it had begun to receive reports of ER's progress.
He stated that whilst the government had not begun negotiations with the trade unions, a bill is being crafted which will grant recognised trade unions
the ability to negotiate working hours with businesses, hence granting specificity to the industries and thus removing the issue from a predominantly
union-to-government-to-business system to a union-to-business system, removing the government as the "middle-man".

[Maxington]

In the first sign that the bold policies of Chief Secretary Harry Brundtland are gaining traction in the real economy, Eljang and Reunii's gross domestic product grew at a robust annualised pace of 3 percent in the first quarter, kindling hopes that recovery would finally take hold for the long-suffering economic power. Eljang and Reunii's growth came to 0.6 percent for the first quarter compared with data collected over the previous five years, driven by higher household consumption and exports. Exports grew 3 percent, pushed higher by strong shipments of agriculture and manufactured goods to Kazulia on the back of a weaker won, offsetting a slump in exports to Dankuk. Personal consumption, which makes up the largest part of Eljang and Reunii's G.D.P., grew 1 percent, as consumer sentiment brightened amid signs of an economic recovery. Capital expenditure fell 0.8 percent for the fifth consecutive quarter. Public spending grew 0.8 percent. The solid pace, which followed two quarters of contraction and a quarter of growth, appeared to point to the beginnings of a long-awaited turnaround in Eljang and Reunii's economy amidst the implementation of the civil administration and the promise that Eljang and Reunii would foreshadow Dankuk in economic, political and social prosperity. The latest numbers have come as early validation for Mr. Brundtland, who took office 7 years prior becoming the first Chief Secretary of the Republic of Eljang and Reunii through special appointment. He has focused on an aggressive monetary policy that has flooded the economy with cheap money, major fiscal spending and changes to make the economy more competitive.

In recent days, however, concerns have grown about rising interest rates in the government bonds market, which could threaten Eljang and Reunii's monetary policy. Bonds are also the main financial asset held by banks, pension funds and insurance companies, making a surge in debt yields perilous. Still, investors have piled into Eljang and Reunii's stock market, emboldened by expectations of mounting corporate profits and an economic recovery. The Geusong Index has risen an astonishing 46 percent since Brundtland took office. And though the improved fortunes of exporters and the surging stock market have yet to translate to higher wages, there are signs of brighter consumer sentiment and a recovery in spending, which will be critical to Eljang and Reunii's struggle against deflation. Eljang and Reunii is also getting help from increased fiscal spending. Brundtland pushed through an emergency stimulus package of 3 trillion won (30 billion Krona) which the House of Assembly approved days prior followed by the 30 trillion won (300 billion Krona) budget. That heavy spending is expected to push up growth next quarter. Economists at Taikon Financial Group, the Reunii-based investment bank, said they now projected strong growth for three consecutive years, with an estimated 1.6 percent expansion. The Reserve Bank of Eljang and Reunii (RBER) has estimated that growth within Eljang and Reunii is set to continue as the conflicts of the southern hemisphere influence capital flight to the Northern Hemisphere.

[Maxington]

At least 50 dead have been killed and more than 1,000 people injured as terrorist attacks at the heart of Port Rhynach, caused the largest loss of life in an act of terrorism in Eljang and Reunii since the conflict. In what has been described as a coordinated effort, explosive devices were detonated at four bus termini during the morning rush hour. Emergency services rushed throughout the city as the explosive devices went off without warning over the period of an hour. Initial statements from the Fort William Chief Medical Practitioner stated that around 10 people had been killed with around 200 injured, however that number has since increased as the Police Service of Eljang and Reunii and the Security Bureau continues its investigation. Whilst the details of the initial situation had been unknown last night, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Eljang and Reunii, Kenneth Mathiesen provided context to members of the media in-front of Administration House alongside the Chief Secretary and the Governor. Mathiesen stated that the bombings were reportedly 15 minutes apart from each other. At 6:00 am the first device exploded in the Yeohae Avenue Bus Station when it was about to open the gates for the busses to leave the terminal. Around 7 people were killed. At 6:15, the second device exploded at the Nachon Hill Bus Station where 20 people were killed. At 6:30, the 3 device exploded at the Noncheon Bus Station, killing 6 people. At 6:45, the fourth device exploded at the Chunpo Bus Station killing dozens of persons. Amidst being alerted at the detonating of the second device, PSER shut down Port Rhynach; blocking roads in and out of the densely populated city, halting aerospace traffic over the city, shutting down public transportation and calling in special reserve officers and special firearms teams. Witnesses described scenes of devastation. One Tu Kwang-Seok who was across the street from Yeohae Avenue Bus Station, said: "I had my headphones in. I didn't hear the blast I just saw people running out of the station and people covered in dust and debris. So out of pure instinct i just ran too."Sigurd Bue who had been left Noncheon Bus Station just mere seconds before the explosion, said: "I was just walking out of the station when i just heard an explosion behind me. I was thrown to the ground. I couldn't hear anything. It was just so dusty and debris was everywhere. I heard screaming, crying." Officials from the Security Bureau stated that a video had been sent to PSER by a group known as Southern Liberation Army which claimed responsibility for the attacks, citing a crusade against Kazulia's occupation of Eljang and Reunii. Governor Audun Ingebretsen praised the stoicism of the resident of Port Rhynach:

The monsters behind this attack act in what they define as freedom. They parade being their masks and are unable to stand against our Republic, to confront us head on. The Stoicism of the people of Port Rhynach has rallied not only the city, but the entire nation behind the cry for retribution.

Amidst the terror attack, Chief Secretary Harry Brundtland declared the trading would be suspended until the Cabinet had declared that the situation had been dealt with. Trade has since resumed this morning, after Trade Secretary Egil Conradi announced that trading would resume. Moments after the attacks, the Chief Secretary gathered what is now known as the National Security Council. Whilst the details on what had been discussed during the meeting, Domestic Security Secretary Martin Dahlberg stated that the Security Bureau had launched a manhunt for the individuals responsible for planting the devices alongside assistance from Kazulian Overseas Forces - Eljang and Reunii (KOF-ER). Out of fear that the devices which had exploded could have contained some biological or chemical agent, CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) specialists from the Kazulian Army had been deployed at the blast sites to detect traces of the aforementioned agents. Lt.General Arnold Stenberg, commander of KOF-ER, stated that the CBRN specialists had determined that the devices were conventional, meaning that no biological or chemical agents were involved. Chief Constable Mathiesen stated that the threat level in Port Rhynach would remain high for the next couple of weeks with more police officers being deployed to the inner city. Around 20,000 officers and soldiers have been deployed with around 9,000 of these officers being special firearms officers - police officers legally capable of carrying and using firearms. Many are looking at the fact that the Police Service of Eljang and Reunii had failed to prevent the situation, however officials from Hunstad House (the headquarters of the Police Service of Eljandg and Reunii) have stated that the devices were not "under its surveillance." Amidst the attacks, there have been increased calls by the Police for an increase in surveillance. Chief Secretary Brundtland stated that the matter of expanding the police's surveillance powers would be considered by the government in the coming days.

[Maxington]

The Education and Environment Bureau is expected to unveil an ambitious plan to completely distance Eljang and Reunii from Dankukin oil and natural gas imports through a cooperative agreement with the Kazulian Government on energy supplies, purchases and consumption. The far-reaching scheme would also strengthen the power of Port Rhynach in terms of determining its independent energy sources; boost consumer choice trans nationally when buying electricity services; generate a bonanza in energy infrastructure investment; and integrate supply systems between both provinces. The proposal for a potential energy union with Kazulia is expected to be presented by the Secretary of State for Energy Policy, Sop Yeong-Hwan. The ten page document which outlines the transition towards abandoning the current natural gas pipelines maintained between Eljang and Reunii and Dankuk, calls for an increased role of state-owned companies such as the Reunii Gas Corporation and PetroER in ensuring Eljang and Reunii pursue energy goals separate from the Dankukin mainland and hence enhance the Republic's energy independence from Dankuk. According to statistical information from the Education and Environment Bureau, Eljang and Reunii consume a combined total of around 1.5 million barrels of petroleum daily, with 70% of the nation's energy coming from oil and natural gas. Whilst it produces around 300 billion cubic metres of natural gas, in-order to maintain a comfortable standing as it pertains to power generation (mainly due to the fact that electricity generation is dependent on natural gas), the nation must import some 45 billion cubic metres annually.

With the Kazulian Government set to introduce a second round of economic sanctions against Dankuk, targeting its oil and natural gas industry, the need for a new source became extremely evident to Administration House. With a cool-down in tensions between Kazulia and Dankuk no where in sight as the latter state becoming increasingly involved in the conflict developing in Majatra, Gasstrien has boldly stated that it intends on completely replacing Dankukin oil and natural gas imports once the sanctions take effect. Secretary Sop Yeong-Hwan stated that should tensions between Dankuk and Eljang and Reunii continue and the transition not made, Dankuk could use its influence in Eljang and Reunii's energy sector as a political weapon against the administration. In an attempt to wean Eljang and Reunii off overwhelming dependence on the Kyo Imperial Oil Company (KIOC), Yeong-Hwan stated that there were discussions with Gasstrien, SP Energy and Taikon Energy on the potential construction of four major pipelines into both Eljang and Reunii, pumping gas from Arenheim and Kazulia into Eljang and Reunii. The proposed pipelines, to be coined Sørvestland 1,2,3 and 4 would entail some 15 billion Krona in investment and would be covered underneath the aid package for Eljang and Reunii expected around 4640. The document says in reference to Dankuk: “The political challenges over the last months have shown that diversification of energy sources, suppliers, and routes is important for ensuring secure and resilient energy supplies. Energy policy is often used as a foreign policy tool, in particular in major energy-producing and transit countries.”

Of the two provinces, Eljang is KIOC's largest consumer, buying 100% of its oil and natural gas from the Dankukin oil monopoly. According to statements from the Finance and Economics Bureau, with the two provinces being given around 23 trillion Won (175 billion Krona) to form their respective budgets, Eljang spent an estimated 6 trillion Won (50 billion krona), 28% of the province's budget for the previous year importing its overall energy requirements. Eljang's heavy industry base is the paramount reason for this revelation. Some of KIOC's largest clients, locked into long-term contracts, are major Eljang-based energy firms. Chief Secretary Harry Brundtland has stated that legislation could be introduced to the House of Assembly henceforth banning business with Dankukin oil and natural gas companies. Whilst there is significant chatter on the sentiment of oil and natural gas, proponents for nuclear and renewable energy sources have also come forward with proposals. Secretary of Education and the Environment, Sagong Songhyon stated that the sentiment of nuclear energy is currently being debated by the Cabinet and that renewable energy could potentially see a major subsidy in the future however this is dependent on the aid package in 4640 which is expected to give the economy the much needed boost it requires to begin being economically independent of Kazulia.

[Maxington]

Amidst major fuel shortages being reported throughout Eljang and Reunii, more frequently in Eljang as the Kyo Imperial Oil Company (KIOC) cut shipments of oil and natural gas to Eljang and Reunii amidst the introduction of a second round of economic sanctions on the Dankukin economy by the Kazulian Government which targeting the nation's oil and natural gas sector. In response to the energy crisis, Chief Secretary Harry Brundtland signed a 20-year agreement with Verdalheim-based SP Energy to import Kazulian liquefied natural gas. The sign marks the first contract the state-controlled Petroleum Company of Eljang and Reunii (PetroER) has inked with a Kazulian LNG company since its inception. In the coming years, Port Rhynach plans to replace Dankukin gas pipelines with pipeline supplies from Kazulia and shipments of LNG, or gas super-chilled to liquid from for transport by sea. That is opening an opportunity for the Kazulian energy industry, which is on the cusp of a opening a second wave of LNG export terminals throughout the world. In its determination to remain as the world's largest active oil and natural gas producers SP Energy and Gasstrien have been pitching the sentiment of oil and natural gas deals from Northern Dovani to Xsampa. In recognising the potential in the energy crisis, Taikon Group has announced a new subsidiary in the form of Taikon Energy.

Officials of the newly formed Energy Bureau were present when the agreement was signed between Chief Secretary Harry Brundtland and SP Energy CEO Marcel Spencer. The agreement commits PetroER to buy 2 million tons per year from SP Energy's Agatha Terminal, which is slated to enter commercial operation in two years. That is enough LNG to cover about 15 percent of Poland’s yearly natural gas consumption, according to PetroER. It also moves SP Energy closer to making a final decision to finance the Agatha facility. In October, PetroER signed another 20-year agreement to buy 2 million tons a year from Gasstrien's planned LNG export facility in Parmentier, Outannais in Lourenne. Eljang and Reunii is preparing for a major shift in its energy imports after next year, when Port Rhynach says it will allow a contract with Dankuk's KIOC to formally expire and hence formally and legally ending the relationship. That plan also includes boosting imports from top LNG exporter Lourenne and building a pipeline link with Kazulia. Chief Secretary Brundtland did not hide his disdain for Eljang and Reunii's reliance on Dankukin natural gas. In a press conference with officials from SP Energy, he said that the Dankukin Government and the Royal Family which controls KIOC uses its grip over Eljang and Reunii's gas market for “political blackmail.” The shift to address the energy crisis also terminates the planned Minesok 1 pipeline which would have brought increased amounts of natural gas into Eljang and Reunii.

Whilst the sentiment of addressing the energy crisis through agreements with Kazulian energy companies has gained national attention, proponents of nuclear and renewable energy have come forward hoping that the government would move to diversify Eljang and Reunii's power generation sources. As mentioned in a prior report, natural gas accounts for around 98% of the nation's power generation with small contributions from renewable energy sources. Some energy experts have called for the government to revive nuclear energy in Eljang and Reunii as a means of diversification, whilst others have championed the sentiment of increased government support for renewable energy sources. Secretary for Energy Changgok Dae-Jung stated that in the upcoming aid package (which is expected to give Eljang and Reunii the much needed boost to support programmes, initiatives and policies which will allow for the Republic to be economically independent of Kazulia), it had been identified by both his Bureau and the Education and Environment Bureau that there is a need for subsidies for renewable energy to make the source more attractive to companies and citizens. Secretary Dae-Jung stated that he intends on flying to Lourenne to discuss the potential introduction of Lourennais renewable energy companies into Eljang and Reunii as a means of piloting the Republic's renewable energies market.

[Maxington]

The Police Service of Eljang and Reunii took the offensive earlier this morning, raiding a purported hideout of the suspected ringleader in the Port Rhynach attacks in an operation that ended with eight detained, two dead and potentially more bloodshed thwarted. The week prior, Assistant Chief Constable (Counter-Terrorism), Hwan Sang-Min stated at a press conference that around three PSER officers were killed in the in assault targeting the identified ring-linger, Wi Seung-Woo, who left around 50 people dead and around 1,000 injured in the Port Rhynach attacks which occurred six years prior. The 27-year-old Kyo extremist and another fugitive sought in connection with the various attacks against the Port Rhynach metro, Wi Seung-Woo, were not among the eight people arrested during the seven-hour operation in the Gyerchon district of Port Rhynach, which involved more than 100 heavily armed officers of the PSER's Emergency Response Unit. Sang-Min confirmed a woman, identified by police sources as a potential acquaintance of Seung-Woo, shot herself in the head, and a man was killed by police sniper fire or a grenade during the raid. Identification was difficult because the bodies have to be pieced back together after multiple explosions and the lengthy siege, said the Assistant Chief Constable. The building was so badly damaged that walls and floors risked collapsing around the investigators. The assault was made after acting on intelligence from the Criminal Intelligence Unit of the Police Service of Eljang and Reunii, the wide-ranging intelligence arms of the police service and the wider Republic of Eljang and Reunii, whom had discovered that the persons responsible for the Port Rhynach attacks may be planning another attack in Yonseo, Eljang.

According to Assistant Chief Constable Hwan Sang-Min, the operation began at around 4:30 am after phones taps had led PSER to confirm that several individuals connected to the attacks were present in the apartment complex, thus dispelling prior intelligence that they had been believed to have returned to Greater Dankuk. Three men were arrested in the apartment at around 5:15 am and two more detained in the rubble of a neighbouring construction site. It had been stated that the owner of the apartment, whom the police refuse to identify), was arrested posterior to the major raid/assault. Whilst their involvement in the assault has been heavily censored by the civil administration, there were sightings of Kazulian HSK (Hærens Spesialkommando) - Army Special Command operators, when asked to comment on the sighting of the HSK operators, Major-General Henning Underberg Commander of Kazulian Overseas Forces - Eljang and Reunii (KOF-ER), stated that the HSK were not operating in the area, citing the National Security Act as he refused to comment on specific details. The wide-ranging and intentionally vague National Security Act, grants the civil administration and KOF-ER the ability to prevent the disclosure of sensitive information under the banner of national security. Chief Secretary Harry Brundtland convened the cabinet at Administration House to monitor the raid. Addressing the Premiers of Reunii, Eljang and Mayors of the various cities and towns within the provinces, Brundtland said: "What the persons whom the police have arrested want is to destroy the democracy that Eljang and Reunii represents, they sought to damage this Pearl of the Orient."

Brundtland has stated that Governor Ingebretsen has decided to convene the Blue Room Commission to discuss the situation with the Government of Dankuk. Ingebretsen noted that whilst citizens of Dankuk had been granted the ability to travel into Eljang and Reunii without visa checks and border checks underneath the Joint Provisions Act, there have been calls within the civil administration, particularly from the Security Bureau, for significantly tougher security and information checks at the borders crossings. In response to the arrests, the police have reduced the national threat level, but stated that vigilance is still important and thus the necessary steps will be taken to ensure a heightened security response. According to statements from Chief Secretary Brundtland, the National Security Act (Amendment) bill has been tabled in the House of Assembly and will be debated on in the future. The proposed National Security Act (Amendment) bill will expand the surveillance powers of the police service to be able to conduct a wider-range of surveillance on potential national security threats. Human Rights officials have described the National Security Act in its current state as being extremely archaic, possessing the powers to arrest any person suspected to be a threat to Eljang and Reunii's national security. In a report entitled the Selective Prosecution of the National Security Act, it was highlighted that most arrests under the act were made against persons of Kyo descent, mainly persons originating from Greater Dankuk with known indirect associations with recognised terrorist organisation in Dankuk, namely the Nine Tails Agency. When asked to comment on the report, Chief Secretary Brundtland refused to offer any comment, citing the same National Security Act.