Esamir International News Network

A THRONE OF QUESTIONS

Velikogovolka.
After the recent change of seat on the Prince’ Throne in the capital city of Velikogovolka, various were the reactions from the political actors and stakeholders in the Federation. Ludwig Graff, representative of the “Wolf Party”, monarchic aligned, proclaimed his full support for the decision of Sebastian Valerian Higencourt, citing the right of the Prince to resign without previous communication both to the Shadow Council or the Bruma.
Different is the view on the matter of Lorenza Matterhorn, leader of the left-wing party “Powers”, whom instead harshly commented the decision of the former ruler “There are things that, despite being possible, should not happen, especially when we consider ourselves a democracy. Sebastian Valerian Higencourt, with his move, changed the entire political landscape of the country. His action will have repercussions on the nation, and he will not be accounted for that. Viktor Emmanuel arrived and made changes as he preferred. He changed the motto of the nation and our flag, our pride flag, the flag of our fathers, with something new because that was what he wanted. And that, also, is what the law allows him to do. Nobody is sensing something wrong here?”

Enrique De Letta, prime minister and leader of the Social-Liberal Party, whom is leading a coalition formed by his party, the Wolf’s one and the left-aligned Antanaresian Popular Party, has declined any comment, citing his actual position as prime minister of the Federation and the delicate relationship between the Crown and the Government.
Many were the comments from also different members of the Bruma and of the political party. The issue of the Prince’s independence was widely discussed in the last twenty years, due to the evolution of the Federal’s system in a more democratic way. Despite this slight change during the past decades, the Bruma is still limited in the powers due to the ones in the hands of the Prince. Exemplary is the case of ASOS, the special branch of the armed force, which is under the direct command of His Highness.
The prompted decision of Sebastian V.H. to give up his power in favour of his cousin showed also the high discretion and independence respect other governmental bodies of the Federation. The new Prince, whatever his attitudes toward the current and future issues of the country are, was granted a genuine immense power over the affair of state he, for years, rejected to take care of. Will he be the right choice to take now the helm of the Federation, in the middle of the current challenges?
Despite the stability which granted Antanares a long period of peace, the world is rapidly changing, dragging Antanares and all the Esamir toward an uncertain future.

Many commenters of the political situation in the country are actually unsure about the possible consequences of Sebastian V.H. Forced steering can be equally a success or a complete failure. Certainly, the decision to pass the sceptre of the power to his cousin could be an ideal move to try to affront the actual partisan impasse of the political scene in the Federation, trying to insert in a steady environment an element of innovation.
At the same time, how will move a totally estranger in the chaotic and intricated forest of the public relationship of Velikogovolka? Viktor Emmanuel will find himself trapped between the loyalists of the Wolf’s Party, the reactionaries of the Mansaf, the ultra-liberal of the EFP, the almost-communist of Powers, the Liberal-Socialist (included their internal struggle for the future of the party), the hawks of the AFP and the doves of the MRP. Without including, of course, all the non-political but still governmental powers acting in the bottom’s rooms of all the city, struggling to overcome all their rivals while assuring to maintain their fidelity to the Federation.
A complex network of agencies, companies, lobbyists, stakeholders of any genre, societal organizations and non-profit groups, all sitting around as hungry wolves around an innocent red panda. Will the new prince be able to make order, or will he be submerged by the waves of private affairs surrounding the halls of power of Antanares?

ATTACK ON CARNIVAL DAY

Melbin, Andaman, Zackalantis.
Few hours ago, a tragic series of attack hit the capital of Andaman, Melbin. The Black Panther Night Club, a renowned aggregation point in the city, was targeted together with the Night Diamond Club. The attack, which leaved an unknown number of deaths and injured, both citizens of Zackalantis and foreigners, was still not claimed. Rumours and whispers between security agencies and experts point the finger against the Christian Liberation Army (CLA), an organization classified by the Federation as a terrorist group. CLA promised actions for what they considered an immoral event and, most probably, the group maintained its violent promises.

Enrique De Letta, prime minister of Antanares, issued a statement expressing his profound condolences to the people of Zackalantis. The PM, in the note, said that as party of an alliance that is “more a family than a simple group of nations cooperating, Antanares, will do everything in its power to help the proud, great citizens of Zackalantis and everyone hit by the attack of the last days”. The ambassador in Zackalantis, dr. Maurice Villeneueve, as declared that the embassy is moving, in coordination with the local authorities, to state the presence of any Antanaresian.

Alessia St. Clara, head of the operation of the DFI (Directorate of Foreign Interventions), in a press conference answered the questions of the journalists about the recent incident “We can’t tell if the CLA, as many as pointed out in the past hours, are responsible or not. No claim was released in public right now, and we totally thrust the security agencies of the Kingdom (of Zackalantis) about the future investigation” she said, while adding “We are in contact with our embassy there, to check if any Antanaresian citizens was injured in the attack and we will diffuse any more information as soon as possible”.

But, for Antanares, what this attack means? The Federal Security Bureau didn’t issue any statement, neither the security level was raised. The terrorist bombing has the forms of a private, and internal, matter of Zackalantis and of its complex mosaic of religious groups. No links were found between the CLA, the probable perpetrator of this crime, and any groups or organization inside Antanares.
What shocked, at the same time, most of the reporters and the experts, was the absolute lack of reactions from the Prince’s Palace. No statement was issued from the spokesperson of Palace Detarti, where the Shadow’s Council usually reunite in Velikogovolka. This expression of silence could have different reasons. From one side, the government and the DFI are the one responsible to take care of such affairs; someone else suggested that the Prince could have the intention to avoid talking, in his first discourse to the public, about terrorism, victims and possible crisis. Not less relevant, we have very few news and correct information about what is happening in Zackalantis. It is more probably that Palace Higencourt and Detarti will wait to have effectively something to say about this infamous incident that just words of pure condolences.

Cair Paravel, UKZ: A Right To Information (RTI) query submitted by Liberal MP, Johanna Goodwin on the donations of the Zack Government to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has rocked the Zack government. It was revealed that in 2014, when the last conservative government lead by PM Reginal Potter came to power, the government started donating to the International Forum for Religious Freedom (IFRF). This was done as the conservative government included 'Religious Freedom' organisations among the NGO causes/categories.

However, the Income Tax Department of the UKZ has found that the IFRF has been sending money into accounts in Fiji that have been used by known associates of the CLA, the organisation that conducted the attacks in the UKZ over the Carnival celebrations. The IFRF won support from the UKZ government for the efforts in fighting for religious freedoms, in particular, Christian freedoms in Eurasia. However, it seems as if the UKZ's plan has backfired and come to bite it back.
The Prime Minister has said that the UKZ will suspend all funding to the IFRF in the future. The PM also has promised that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), will start an investigation into the role of former PM Reginal Potter and his cabinet members who approved funding to IFRF.

Parliament, currently in its budget session saw an uproar over this news, with the ZNC and Liberal parties lashing out at the Conservative party. The Conservative party has blamed the ZNC government of carrying out a political vendetta against the former Prime Minister. Conservative leader in parliament, Mr Johnson has pointed out that the conservative government in 2014 barely lasted a year which would not have been enough time for this conspiracy to be carried out to fruition. Mr Johnson has also pointed out that PM Potter's government fell in 2015 and the nation elected a Liberal government lead by PM Razak and then by PM Trudeau. He has demanded that their involvement be investigated as well.

In other news, the Home Minister has said that the Easter street parties and events scheduled on Saturday night will carry on as usual, and there is no need to fear another attack,

Bravak, Zaporzhinia -- The military of the Empire of Eurasia has made the fateful decision today to fire upon and sink a defenseless fishing vessel belonging to the Zaporzhinian Federation. The bloodthirsty attack, which occurred at 06:58 in the morning, is yet further proof of the sustained hostility of the nations of the world towards our peaceful arctic nation which strives only to provide a safe existence for its people. In a press briefing, Governor-General Maksim Danilovich Shukhov appeared in front of a picture of Emperor Augustus IV with a crosshair photoshopped over his face. He urged the people of the world to wake up to the abuses it faces every single day at the hands of the evil and murderous Eurasian Empire and to take their fates into their own hands and resist their global overlords in Julium.

Grand Pensionary delivers speech to States General on new global tensions, calls for diplomacy and mediation ---- "New Tarajan will protect its interests and the safety of sea lanes", Grand Pensionary said in plenary States General session ---- Attacks in Marquette: "no Tarajani citizen involved", embassy confirms ---- Meisjegronden Maritime Authority issues caution warning for vessels travelling to Gold Coast, East Karasin ---- Eindhoven Stock Exchange Indexes: AFIX -5.6% ; FIX -3.3% ; NTIA -0.9% ---- Would you like to know more? More updates and insights on www.ntko.co.tj


Astana.
The last week has been a busy and unpleasant one for the International Community as a whole. After the devastating terrorist attacks by CLA extremists in Zackalantis already shed a grim light over post-war peace, and with Antanares facing a political transition that is starting to reveal some stark side, new tensions have suddenly arised all around the globe, particularly focusing on Marquette, Zaporzhinia, and Eurasia.
As a result of both the terrorist attacks in Marquette (and the consequent political crisis they triggered) and the sinking of a Zaporzhinian ship by the Eurasian military, the Duke of Coevorden has been called upon by the States General to address Tarajani position on these issues and the steps his government intends to take. The Grand Pensionary duly delivered his speech in Palace Van Geldern, in a special session of the States General chaired by King Friederick Wilhelm in person, who watched from his reserved place among the Landsraad seats. The sovereign's presence clearly showed the relevance of a speech directed not only to the domestic audience of the Kingdom, but also to the International Community as a whole, delineating the position Astana is taking.
A position which was already made clear and summarized, bluntly, by the very first line:"It is the strongest belief of this government that the Kingdom of New Tarajan will not stand watching on the bench while its interests are being threatened by growing tensions among the International Community.".
The Grand Pensionary and Supreme Marshal of the Kingdom made no mystery about the nature of those interests:"To keep sea lanes and international trade safe and secure from any possible threat, direct and indirect, to uphold the rule of law in international relations, and to protect innocent people from the horrors of terrorism and those, no less terrible, of a new war." He moved forward by detailing what steps New Tarajan will take: "We have already alerted our embassy in Julium, and have decided to open a direct channel with the Eurasian government in order to prevent a military escalation. Our embassy in Besançon has been tasked with opening a channel with Zaporzhinia [New Tarajan has no official embassy there]. We call for both Eurasia and Zaporzhinia to avoid such an escalation, from which neither of them could gain anything. We offer ourselves as mediators to find a swift diplomatic solution that would restore peace and tranquillity in the region." The States General were then informed that orderes were already issued to the 3rd, 4th and 5th Fleets (having their operational bases in the Tarajani Gold Coast, East Karasin, and Ashar, respectively) to raise their alert level and consequently be in stand-by for movement.
Leopold Conrad Van Vinkel then reiterated the "staunch support of New Tarajan to the United Kingdoms of Zackalantis in its fight against terrorism", a support further extended to "the people and government of Marquette, to whom go my sincerest condolences for the losses they suffered." At the same time, however, the Grand Pensionary made clear that "the political situation in Marquette is, by definition, an internal matter in which no country has any right of interference", a clear reference to rumors that were beginning to spread about a possible Tarajani wish for Chancellor Charpentier's fall and a warnining to all those countries that may want to influence the incoming Marquetien elections.
The same principle will be applied in the case of Antanares: "What is happening in Velikogovolka concerns Velikogovolka, and Velikogovolka only." the Grand Pensionary said.


The words of Leopold Conrad Van Vinkel cannot possibly leave any room for doubts about where New Tarajan is standing. What does not transpire from them, however, is the very delicate balance Tarajani policymakers are attempting to keep while crafting the Kingdom's foreign policy during such tense moments. Two large-scale wars have left their mark on Tarajani, and world, economy; connected to this, the fear of a possible resurgence of aggressive policies by the Eurasian Empire has never really faded away in a public opinion whose majority still believes the final peace treaty has been too 'soft' on Julium, with the Frumentarii as too comfortable a scapegoat for the Imperial government to use for declining its own responsibilities. The Duke of Coevorden never made a mystery of his personal position about Eurasia, a position that could best be described as 'collaborative containment': not leaving space for new imperialist or expansionist moves, but at the same time acknowledging the Julium is, and will be for the foreseeable future, not only a key member of the International Community, but also a potential partner for New Tarajan as well; a position shared by most of the members inside the Landsraad (and particularly by his actual Lord President, the Grand Duke of Middensteden, Wilhelm V Van Ceytal), but not so popular among the Royal Diet. The prospect of a conflict between Eurasia and Zaporzhinia, then, puts this policy under its first true test, after a period of Eurasia keeping a relatively low profile immediately after the war. A test made even more tricky by the fact that there are members of the Tarajani aristocracy who have no sympathy for Zaporzhinia at all, and who did not appreciate the treatment reserved by Shukhov to the portrait of Emperor Augustus, to whom, and despite the war, their sympathies lie. The Grand Pensionary thus had to strike a balance between opposite and contradictory needs, and the result is almost obvious: New Tarajan cannot accept a threat to the safety of naval trade, and as such it cannot ignore the Eurasian act; at the same time, it doesn't want a military escalation; so, diplomacy is key. And the decision of alerting those fleets of the Royal Tarajani Navy that are best positioned to block any Eurasian move against Zaporzhinia, is clearly an attempt to leverage on the Kingdom's naval power to ease tensions and made its prospective role as mediator more credible for both sides.
At the same time, both Marquette and Antanares offers new challenges to one of the key principles of Tarajani foreign policy, that of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries. While Astana can have reasonable expectations that Velikogovolka will successfully manage the possibility of a political escalation between the left-wing 'Powers' and the government, the first shadows have now been cast over the path the new Antanaresian Prince wants to take for the Federation, a path seemingly irreconcilable with Tarajani liberalism. Once again, however, the powerful Tarajani aristocracy comes into play: because it is really hard to believe that it will ever accept even a slight loosening of a century-long tradition of alliance and friendship with a country that, after all, was home to the ancestors of most of the Major Houses of the Landsraad, Royal House included.
The Landsraad will be a key actor also concerning Marquette, another country towards which the aristocracy has always felt a sort of attachment, due to an aristocratic and federal tradition that under more than one side closely resembles the Tarajani one. It is no coincidence that King Friederick Wilhelm and the Landsraad sent an official declaration of sympathy after the terrorist attacks to both King Frédéric IV and all the nine regional princes. The eyes of Astana (and of the Major Houses, in particular) will be focused on the Confederacy, and the election results.
The fact that the Duke of Coevorden is apparently paying so much attention to the concerns of the Landsraad is to be read as an attempt to mend the divide between the powerful body representing Tarajani landed aristocracy and his government, until now considered "too hard to control" for Palace Van Geldern (as one analyst wrote on a recent paper on the issue), particularly now that a new Chart regulates the Kingdom's political life.
In the meanwhile, the Royal Diet still has to strike a political balance among its ranks in order to make its voice really heard by the government, and leaving the passive stance it is nowadays keeping compared to its 'partner' body in the States General. A passive stance that is greatly favoured by the incredible majority in numbers the Grand Pensionary and his KTCP-SGP party coalition enjoy inside the Diet, and that almost silenced all opposition to government's policies, until now at least.

Find the gun

Velikogovolka.
The delicate situation in Marquette, Eurasia and the Zaporzhinia led His Highness Viktor Emmanuel Higencourt to convey a meeting between the Shadow Council and the government to decide the actions to undertake in the next days. The council session took place in the Regency Palace and terminated in the night, after many consultants, officers and MPs from the Bruma were seen entering and exiting the palace of the Council.

According to some well-informed spectators, the Prince has called his subordinates to engage in some real actions. According to the voices circulating, in the next days the Prince will take the initiative and call some of his colleagues, in OMNI and not, for the start of cooperative actions on such fields. On the table there are also the proposal for an anti-terrorist task force to send to Marquette and the repatriation of Antanaresian citizens currently in the area of the attacks.
Both the FSB and the intelligences are also working on the possible links between the far-left group which is accused of the recent terror bombings and some internal dissident groups in Antanares. Currently, there are no known issues about possible terrorist group in the Federation. Despite the presence of some minoritarian extremist associations, no one of them was linked with violent acts since twenty-thirty years.
While separatists’ parties were considered responsible for an aggressive campaign of political violence during the past decade, their recent efforts were more social and political oriented. Protests and sit-ins are usually organized near the seats of the Federal government, but after a huge campaign of the FSB, they stepped back from real violence. Based on this, most analysts are convinced that the far-left group accused (still not proofed) to be responsible for the terror in Marquette, should not have any link inside Antanares, neither the country risks a resurgence of political terrorism due to copy-cats and clones.

FSB seems more interested in eventual informal linkages between possible sponsors and the group in Marquette. Antanares still hosts a certain community of elements considered both dangerous and subversive. Professors, experts, anarchists of profession, people escaped from their own country and who found some help in certain elements of the Antanaresian aristocracy. Why that?
“Antanares had always a strange relation with the concept of political freedom. Most of the time, we just didn’t care about your ideal and your way of govern a country” answered Professor Allistar Mallistar, of the University of Velikogovolka and dean of the School of Political Science “Aristocrats in Antanares lost their effective power almost a century ago. Some of them used their influence and economic resources to convert their enterprises, investing in the rising industry sector. Most of the old aristocracy instead invested in what we can define as ‘soft power’: they seceded from the military, political and economic life of Antanares, investing in the cultural and social one. They became patrons, they financed museums and art galleries. You can find more architecture or painting studios with a noble surname on it than in every other country in the world. That, of course, means that at the same time they attired every kind of free thinker, revolutionary and dissident. From one side, you have the problem of these people, always hunted in their own country. On the other side, you have people with wealth and influence to spend. Antanares became the base for a very interesting club. Of course, the government didn’t stand silent while the most important palaces of Sessadraina and Velikogovolka get full of these hot heads. The federal security agencies always worked to maintain a steady eye on every one of them, most of the time successfully, some other time, less than that. They could not just take them and deport back to their homes. It would have contrasted with the idea of Antanares as a land of free thinkers, of intellectuals and artists. And must be pointed out that most of them arrived in Antanares while prosecuted in their countries only for ideological or political reasons. Not a real danger for the Federation, at the end. They procured some headaches in the Foreign Affairs Department, of course. Now, FSB find themselves with a resurgence of political terrorism, or at least this seems the current trend, and has to understand if that cultural élite will not be, at the end, a killing parasite”.

The Prince, during the council, issued also the problem of the missing weapons of Eurasia during their transport to Marquette. His Highness was concerned about not only the capacity of some actors to take possession of valuable assets, but also the lack of vigilance from both the government of Eurasia and Marquette in a delicate market such as the one of arms and military equipment.
The government, following the Council, issued a memorandum to the arms producing companies in Antanares to raise their security levels, both in their installations and during the transportations. Arms industry is one of the core sectors of the Antanaresian industry, considered to be one of the most advanced in the world. Any endangerment of the international commercial network of weapons could be devastating for companies such as the JMC, the McBan, despite the support they could receive from government, and taxpayers.

BENAVENTUM
Facing the mounting questions of the press corps, as well as the possibility of a Senatorial inquiry, Misriah Armories released a statement today regarding the Marquetien situation. The company, representing the largest corporation in Eurasia and the largest arms manufacturing entity in the world, has been under increasing pressure after it came to light that arms shipments destined for Marquette had gone missing. Questions have been raised as to whether Misriah was aware the shipments had been diverted, and why there hadn't been increased security around them.

Full Transcript of the Statement:

Misriah's statement seeks to exculpate the company from blame related to the loss of the shipments, as well as to shift blame to Marquette and the Ministry of War.

Lelystad.
Today His Highness Viktor Emmanuel Higencourt arrived in Lelystad for his first international state visit since the resign of the former Prince, His Highness Sebastian Valerian Higencourt. Accompanied from a vast entourage of advisors and other members of the government, His Highness arrived in the Free City for an ancient tradition between the Kingdom of New Tarajan and the Federation of Antanares, the 'Meeting of Acknowledgement'. This old custom between the two powers celebrate the rise of a new Prince on the throne of Velikogovolka. The new Prince travels to the Free City where he will meet some of the most important lords and ladies of New Tarajan, celebrating the strong friendship between the two countries. Usually, during the Meeting, some high-level discussions took place between the two leaderships.
His Highness was accompanied in his travel from all the members of his Shadow Council: Michel Levontier, former commander of the ASOS 22nd Regiment; Claudia Navarti, former FSB director; Lord Vincent La Guardia, sociologist and economist; Lady Mira Costanza, political and intelligence analysts, former members of the DFI; Claude Von Lorenz, former CEO of JMC; Carolina Clausewitz, former head of research for Sarif Industries; Marco Benvoglio and Valentina Loto, respectively special operative agents of ISF and DFI. In the entourage were present also Mr. Martino Vento, president of the Bruma; Sumayyah Cortes, head of the military forces of the Federation; Ludovica Crescenzi, vice-PM and delegate for foreign affairs. Not less relevant, on the entourage of His Highness were present also Marta Loreno, MP and leader of the Libera-Socialist Party and Martino Lobello, MP and leader of the Moderate Republican Party, two of the historical parties of the opposition of Antanares. After the outrages sparked for the arrest of the leader of ‘Powers’ last week, seemed as an attempt from His Highness to show some kind of openness toward what were considered, historical, some fierce adversaries of the crown.

In Lelystad the delegation was welcomed from their Royal Majesties the King and Queen of New Tarajan and their entourage, composed by Wilhem V Van Ceytal, Lord President of the Landraad and Gran Duke of Middenstede; Godfried III Van Sondenburg, Prince of Horat; Meinhard III Van Geldern, Gran Duke of Eindhoven-Nerzogen; Mahvash IV Shehrazade Taker, Dukess of Shraman; Leopold Conrad Van Vinkel-Coevorden, Great Pensionary, Supreme Marshall of the Kingdom and Duke of Coevorden; the president of the Royal Diet; the ambassador to the Federation of Antanares Baron Damiaan Van der Verthe-Leghorn and, of course, Countess Amalia Van Vijk, First Regent of Lelystad, who has organized the meeting and the celebrations, as the custom commanded.

A high-level meeting, which strengthen the relationship between the two nations, and also establish the first direct contact between the head of state of Antanares and the one of New Tarajan. In the verge of the events which shook Esamir, the meeting will surely be focused on the challenges currently affronted from OMNI and the one to affront in the near future.
It is also a good sign for the political stability of the Federation, already shaken for the resignation of the former Prince totally unexpectedly. Many analysts will be relieved to find out that, despite everything, the Federation maintain a certain stability in the international panorama, without drastically changing some of the pillars of its foreign policy, such as OMNI and New Tarajan.




Velikogovolka.
This stability in the foreign relations of the country still doesn’t calm the spirits of the internal opposition parties, which despite the decision to bring to Lelystad some representatives, currently is involved in a power struggle due to the loss of leadership of ‘Powers’, considered always the nucleus of the political opposition in Antanares, except for the far-right parties. The arrest of Matterhorn the week ago created a void inside the ‘Powers’, now divided between hawks and doves. The two side of ‘Powers’ have totally different approaches to political opposition. While the doves, who find themselves around Gregory Alleck, MP of the Bruma, are more propense for a wide opening to the other opposition parties and also, sometimes, to collaborate with the government on the more important topics, the Hawks, guided by Hector Valdestan, seems more propense for the hard way, opposing on all the line the government and the Shadow Council, trying to create a new block of the opposition.
Despite that, the government seems pretty capable of continue its work, thanks to a strong majority in the Bruma and the wide support of the Shadow Council itself. De Letta, former representative of the past government of Carrero De Guida, was able to unify moderates, liberal and some conservatives under a same roof, while maintaining a strong grip on his own party. For now, thanks to the efforts of De Letta and his group of lieutenants, the government was able to pass a resolution on a new tax scheme, which will change the system to a proportional one, decreasing the tax for the lower incomes in Antanares and raising the ones for the higher ones, without touching for now the taxes for companies of any dimensions, a sensitive topic in the country.
Also, the recent re-structuration of the Intelligence agencies in the country found out the opposition pretty unified in a chorus of dissent, despite the inability to stop the government from creating two agencies, DFI and ISF, which will have a greater freedom in operating, responding only to the governmental bodies and not directly to the Bruma, expect in some cases.

Prince of Antanares Viktor Emmanuel Higencourt welcomed in Lelystad for Meeting of Acknowledgement. King Friederick Wilhelm: "We welcome a friend." ---- President Hawkins visits New Tarajan: follow events on NTKO Channel 2 ---- President Hawkins visits New Tarajan: "historical visit marking a turning point", King Friederick Wilhelm ---- House Van Peeuw announces donation of family palace in Villarmond for new County Academy of Fine Arts, spokesperson ---- Eindhoven Stock Exchange Indexes: AFIX -0.5% ; FIX -0.4% ; NTIA +1.0% ---- Would you like to know more? More updates and insights on www.ntko.co.tj


Merlberg.
President Hawkins, newly-elected head of State of the Social Democracy of New-Zealand has landed in Merlberg this morning for his first State visit abroad. Welcoming him were Their Royal Majesties the King and Queen of New Tarajan, and the Grand Pensionary the Duke of Coevorden, together with His Highness Viktor Emmanuel Higencourt, Prince of Antanares. The mixed Tarajani-Antanaresian delegation were returning from Lelystad, where the traditional 'Meeting of Acknowledgement' had taken place, in order to meet the new President.
There are many reasons why such a State visit should be considered among the most important events taking place in the international arena these days: first, it is the first State visit of a New-Zealand president to New Tarajan (and in the world, in general) since the end of the last war; second, it marks the beginning of a three-sided high-level meeting involving New-Zealand, Antanares, and New Tarajan, a meeting which has been ostensibly kept inside the framework offered by OMNI (in Astana, the ambassador from the UKZ will also join).
Hosted at the Royal Palace of Merlberg as guests of King Friederick Wilhelm, the Antanaresian and New-Zealand leaders, together with their Tarajani counterparts, will have much to discuss. It is no mystery that the isolationist take New-Zealand opted for after the war, together with its economic re-alignment toward Eurasia, was not very well-received in Astana (and possibly in Velikogovolka either), and has been even interpreted by some inside OMNI as a blatant form of betrayal against those same allies who helped save the country from a catastrophic foreign invasion. The Duke of Coevorden has never hidden his personal skepticism about the opportunity of keeping New-Zealand inside the alliance, a skepticism only recently mitigated precisely by Hawkins' election: in response to his appointment as new president, the Grand Pensionary even stated during an interview last week that "I feel more comfortable at the idea of working with a President like Hawkins, and I know he can restore that lack of trust that characterized his predecessor's tenure.", and perhaps the fact that both leaders share a military background is a reason for such trust.
Whatever the personal opinions, however, there is much to be discussed on the table in Merlberg: Tarajani financial firms are eager to increase their foothold in New-Zealand through sustained and consistent investments into the still-ongoing reconstruction effort, while military and diplomatic cooperation issues must find a quick solution for OMNI to keep its role into a dangerously delicate international environment. It is beyond doubt that both New Tarajan and Antanares will try to involve New-Zealand into a cooperative effort for the protection of sea lanes and for defusing any possible military escalation involving Eurasia.


The visit will also be a chance, for Hawkins, to visit the Kingdom for the first time. As such, the meeting in Merlberg will be followed by a journey to Astana, where the President and the Antanaresian Prince will be welcomed by a full-fledged military parade, and a banquet in Palace Van Geldern under the auspices of the Landsraad. Also, both Hawkins and Viktor Emmanuel Higencourt will have the possibility to address the States General in a special session: the perfect chance to re-build trust and confidence between the three countries' public opinions and political worlds.

In unsurprising news, the Solidarity led congress has approved one of President Hawkins core election promises, approving a large scale revitalisation project for the nation's worn down and undermaintained NZDF. With Hawkins angling to have the NZDF rejoin the OMNI Enforcer in an active capacity, the demand for the nations armed forces rises considerably. In it's current state the NZDF would be in no position to active patrol any waters outside of her home grounds, in fact a recent defence readiness report suggests that the NZNavy in it's current state simply does now have the operational capacity to maintain the Social Democracy's large exclusive economic zone. While isolationism policies may have left us in minimal need for a capable fighting force for New-Zealand, the demands of todays geopolitical scene require drastic changes. Congress has pledged $430bn for capital expenditure over the next decade to support the revitalisation and expansion of the NZDF in all her aspects. This is in addition to increasing the annual operating budget of the NZDF from it's current $280bn annually to $550bn. With this level of funding the NZDF would finally be able to restore her 6 fleet readiness plan, reintroducing the northern, far eastern and western fleets back into active service. At present the NZNavy has been operating just her Southern, Eastern and Central Fleets as bare minimum mainland defence. At present of the nations 9 aircraft carriers, the Navy has capacity to only operate 4 at any given time. 

Long story short, the NZDF is in a sorry state. President Hawkins and the Solidarity-led government aim to re-establish the NZDF as a fighting force for the Social Democracy and one capable of redeploying her 2 expeditianary fleets (far eastern and western) while also bolstering her 4 domestic EEZ patrol fleets. If the Social Democracy were to recommit to OMNI anti piracy efforts as planned, it would be imperative that the expeditionary fleets are at full operational capacity. That being said, while the Navy takes the limelight in the governments massive build up plan, the NZArmy, NZAirForce and NZSIS also seek to gain large boosts with large scale capital investment projects earmarked for all branches of the nations defence force. The army notably seeks to replace all her ageing main battle tanks with next gen designs through tender, the airfoce seeks to replace her ageing transport and logistics fleet while also bolstering her combat units with more fifth generation fighters. Lastly the NZSIS seeks to improve their communications and surveillance network, the details of which are naturally classified.

Leaked documents from leading New-Zealand based aircraft manufacturer Boeing suggest that a potential joint strike fighter program with New Tarajan are on the cards. While NZ based Boeing Commerical has been a leading player in the commerical airline scene, Boeing Defence, Space and Security has historically behind OMNI and eurasian sourced counterparts in the combat aircraft field. Infact her last strike fighter attempt, the technologically acclaimed F-22 designed for the NZAF Attack Strike Figther contract, was so complex and intricate that it ended up costing twice as much as it's initial estimates on delivery and quickly became a mainstay hanger queen in airbases far and wide accross the Social Democracy. While technologically decades ahead of its time and a marvel on paper, the complexities of the aircraft made routine maintenance both and arduous affair, and a shockingly frequent one. End result? While the F-22 adorned NZAF recruitment posters for decades, the aircrafts planned operational positions were in most part filled by Tarajani SAAB sourced Gripens and hastily retrofitted fourth generation F/A-18IIs. The time however, has come for an upgrade once more to replace the ageing current generation fleets of aircrafts in the OMNI arsenal. 

Nothing so far, however, has been officially confirmed but we can expect an announcement regarding the leaked joint strike fighter program from OMNI powers following the current talks in New Tarajan sparked by newly elected NZ President Hawkins.

New Tarajan and New-Zealand confirm Joint Strike Fighter Program, spokesperson ---- Grand Duchy of Sdudeti-Karabak has a new heir: Shirin Margarethe Oriane Van Vinkel-Vergara is the first daughter of the Grand Ducal House ---- Celebrations spread all over Sdudeti-Karabak for birth of the new heir, media ---- FIA announced beginning of new F1 Championship: Tarajani Grand Prixes confirmed, Ashari candidature under evaluation ---- Eindhoven Stock Exchange Indexes: AFIX +4.4% ; FIX +2.1% ; NTIA -0.5% ---- Would you like to know more? More updates and insights on www.ntko.co.tj



Astana.
The Ministry of the Military of the Kingdom has officially confirmed what New-Zealand newspapers and media were already rumoring about: in a press conference held this morning, a spokesperson of the ministry has announced that, indeed, "New Tarajan and New-Zealand have signed a preliminary protocol for the start of the Joint Strike Fighter program."
The JSF (for short) program is a partnership between both governments and national private aeronautics companies with the aim of designing, developing, and producing a next-generation fighter that will take upon itself the burden of air defense for both countries.
"It is an historical opportunity for both New Tarajan and New-Zealand" the spokesperson stated "This partnership will have a strategic role in fostering cooperation and know-how transfer between the two countries, bolstering our alliance, while offering an opportunity for development and technological advancement to our aerospace sectors. This sector is a traditional pride for our Kingdom, but with New-Zealand's help we can further advance in a field which is, without doubts, strategic."
The announcement made it clear that participation to the program will be open to all OMNI countries: "While this started as a bilateral agreement between New Tarajan and New-Zealand, it is the will and hope of both governments to make it an OMNI-wide efforts, which will further strengthen the role of our alliance and its defende and power projection capabilities." Notifications have already been issued to the government of the UKZ and Antanares in order to enlist both countries in the Program, the spokesperson concluded.
Positive reception of the news came from New Tarajan aerospace industry. A spokesperson of the Amjad-Heemskerk, one the leading enterprises in the sector, already confirmed that, while a representative from the industry had already participated in the first meetings between the two governments, "we cannot but confirm our eagerness in joining this program, with all the opportunities it presents to us and our partners."
Of course, no details have been revealed about all the requirements the JSF program will have to meet. However, what is sure is that the final result will have to be a powerful air superiority fighter with enough flexibility to impose itself also as an air-land bomber, with VTOL or STOL capabilities and the possibility of being deployed both on land and sea. Tactical nuclear capabilities will be probably be a plus.




With a surprising announcement the Grand Ducal House of Sdudeti-Karabak has announced the birth of Shirin Margarethe Oriane Van Vinkel-Vergara. The first daughter to Grand Duke Conrad Van Vinkel and Grand Duchess Selena de Vergara will be the official heir to the Grand Duchy, according to the laws of succession (that are in practice identical to those of the Kingdom of New Tarajan). The announcement has been welcomed by the population with spontaneous celebrations all around the country: far from being a simple expression of popular enthusiasm, the celebrations show the hopes that the news has aroused in the Grand Duchy. The new heir is poised to become, indeed, the first ruler of Sdudeti-Karabak to be actually born in the country, a living demonstration of the status of full autonomy that the Grand Duchy has achieved since the enthronement of Conrad Van Vinkel as sovereign by his cousin, King Friederick Wilhelm II, in 2010; an autonomy long sought after, after decades of internecine conflict and marked by the plague of terrorism. The birth of Shirin Van Vinkel-Vergara is seen, then, as the best symbol for the new peace and stability enjoyed by Sdudeti-Karabak (and it may not be a coincidence that her first name, Shirin, is indeed an Ajanic one).
While this 'special' status of the newborn child could pose a potential danger (as an analyst already said, fringed of the OLK, the Organization for the Liberation of Karabak, may actually consider her to be a valuable target precisely for this reason), enthusiasm is, as for now, the dominating mood in the country. The government declared a two-days national holiday, and the Grand Duke has announced the organization of a Grand Ball, as per Tarajani traditiona, to be held in the capital city of Van Janusekstadt: invitations have already been sent not only to the Grand Duchy aristocracy, but also to that of New Tarajan, and to the Royal Houses of whole Esamir (with a position of honour reserved, for obvious reasons, to House Van Vinkel and House Vergara). A further demonstration of the will of Sdudeti-Karabak, under the guide of its new Grand Ducal House, to affirm its autonomy.




The FIA, the international federation for automobiles, has announced the beginning of the new Formula 1 Champioship for this year. The decision comes after months of harsh debate inside the Federation concerning the consequences that the recent conflict in New-Zealand and Eurasia had for the motorsport world. From its headquarters in Astana, the FIA leadership confirmed that "the Formula 1 Championship for this year will take place"; however, the most pressing issue concerns, at the moment, the availability of other countries to host the Grand Prixes. While New Tarajan has, once again and in line with its strong motorsport tradition, confirmed that the circuits of Merlberg and Eindhoven will host their respective GPs (with Ashar already pushing the candidature of Port Muhammad for new GP as well), the Federation is asking governments all around Esamir for new candidates for the championship.
In the meanwhile, teams are already preparing themselves for the challenges to come, since nothing is settled for now. Quite the contrary: rumors point towards a renewed interest of the global automotive sector in motorsports, and F1 in particular, with the possibility that announcements will soon be made of new partnerships between teams and automotive firms (or outright acquisitions of the former by the latters).

For the first time in 29 years since the crumble of then Holden backed Super Black Racing, the Social Democracy looks set to have a competitor in the F1 World Championship. State-owned automotive giant Chrysler Group have today announced their intent to compete in the upcoming championship by factory-backing the midling Tarajani-based Haas F1 Team. The Haas F1 entry is a recent joiner to the seen, having only competed in the past 6 championships as a per project of owner-operator and Tarajani magnate Jean-Bédel Haas. Haas is most famous as the founder of the Tarajani automation and tooling firm Haas Automation Ltd, which rose to prominence on the back of numerous factory tooling contracts with the Chrysler Group and their sea of manufacturing facilities. For years now the Chrysler Group has been prodding at Jean-Bédel behind closed doors to allow a friendly takeover by the Chrysler Group. Negotiations it seemed, however, were never really amounting to much. That all has changed now though as a beaming Jean-Bédel, who's passion in recent years has stood firmly with his aspiring F1 team, announced in a press conference with the Chrysler Group that he would be relinquishing control of Haas Automation Ltd by facilitating an 80% buy out by the Chrysler Group in order to focus his time and efforts on the now to be 40% Chrysler Group owned Haas Formula LLC competing under the Haas F1 Team. This meant, ofcourse, that the Chrysler Group has for the first time thrown its hand into the highly competitive F1 scene, factory-backing and unashamedly bank rolling the ambitious Haas entry. With the new acquisition, this takes Haas from a lowly 9th best funded to now controlling the 2nd largest budget enterring this years championship, trailing only behind leading heavyweight Red Bull Racing backed by luxury sports car manufacturer Aston Van Martin of New Tarajan. 

This years F1 championship looks to be shaping up to be a spectacular year. Will the giant Chrysler Group's immense funding and resource capacity outweigh the time tested expertise of smaller but well respected luxury manufacturers like Aston Van Matin and McLaren? Chrysler Group's Samantha Prebble sure hopes so, with the young dynamic new CEO hoping a successful F1 team will change the brands image from being "just the sensible, reliable and common car parents around the world buy" to "the crazy, cool car kids around the world have posters of". A successful F1 entry and the much anticipated release of the Chrysler Groups attempt at a modern supercar, the ZR1, could be exactly the PR boost the giant needs. Financially the returns may be marginally positive, but this ain't just an investment, it's a matter of national pride damn it! And it's exactly for that reason that that the District Administrative Boards of Mayview and Drackenburg are both rolling out the red carpets and investing heavily for a large turnout at their respective Grand Prix's this season. Both the Municipalities of Milton and Cair Mojan respectively are reported to be seriously pondering the concept of making the events a local statutory holidays with federal backing and district board approval this year given strong public interest.

Queen Sofia of Arveyres abdicates after republicans sweep in the Senate ---- NT will keep a close eye over Arveyran succession, but legitimacy is not in question, official ---- FIA announced F1 championship calendar: first race in Velikogovolka, Antanares ---- House Taher announces marriage of Shraman heiress Mahavash Shalimar to take place in summer ---- Eindhoven Stock Exchange Indexes: AFIX -4.5% ; FIX -0.5% ; NTIA +0.6% ---- Would you like to know more? More updates and insights on www.ntko.co.tj


Vieneskel.
The sky is surprisingly clear over the Royal Palace of Vieneskel where King Friederick Wilhelm and the Duke of Coevorden jointly chaired a Council meeting during a temporary visit of the sovereign (the Court will move there, as per tradition, at the end of the month): on the table, among other issues, the abdication of Queen Sofia X of Arveyres and its possible consequences.
During a walk along the Grand Boulevard of the Palace, a rare quiet moment, and with the Grand Pensionary already en route back to Astana, the King graciously decided to announce himself what transpired from the meeting.
"The Kingdom expresses its sincerest thanks to Her Majesty the Queen of Arveyres for all that she has done during his reign. It is always a tough decision to abdicate the throne, but we are sure that she did what she believed would be in the best interest of her people and country. Nobody has any right of judging her decision." the King said.
"What concerns us, and the whole of International Community, is, of course, that peace and stability be preserved in the region and, consequently, in the whole Esamir. It is not our intention to interfere in the independent decisions of a sovereign country such as Arveyres, and we sincerely wish that all other members of the International Community will behave accordingly to such an elementary and fundamental rule." he stated. When asked about the concerns of a possible Eurasian takeover of the country under the façade of a puppet regime (as some analysts have pavented), the King was lapidary:"The Senate will decide who will ascend to the throne of Arveyres. As for the House of Eurasius, we are sue that His Imperial Majesty will respect the legitimacy of the Senate decision."
King Friederick Wilhelm, however, had to address the issue from a double perspective: that of the Head of State, but also that of the Head of the Royal House.
"House Van Vinkel and House de Vergara enjoy strong and durable ties, of which we had a manifest and living demonstration just a few weeks ago" a reference to the birth of her niece, Shirin Margarethe Oriane Van Vinkel-Vergara, daughter to Grand Duke Conrad and Grand Duchess Selene and heir to the Grand Duchy of Sdudeti-Karabak: "As a member of this House, it will be our duty to ensure the protection and defense of the full rights belonging to her as member of House de Vergara. However, at the moment we do not see any reason to be concerned about those rights."
Once again, then, New Tarajan have opted for a legitimistic and formally (if not substantially) neutral stance on the issue. However, this doesn't mean that everything is as it seems. Already rumors seem to point toward a certain degree of uneasiness, inside both the government and the Royal Court, concerning what happened in Arveyres. And while His Majesty's words underlined the Kingdom's neutrality, it is no mystery that Astana would look favourably at the possibility that the Senate may call to the throne a person less linked with the House of Eurasius, though some elements inside the government may look with equal favour to Princess Celia's connections with New-Zealand.



The FIA has finally announced the full list of Grand Prixes that will take place as part of the Formula 1 Championship 2020.
The first circuit where we will be able to watch the fight and competition of the teams will be the one hosted by the Antanaresian capital of Velikogovolka, which will thus have the privilege to officially open the championship. After that, the teams will move to Drackenburg, followed by Mystras, then back on Altiganta, with the first of the two Tarajani GPs, that of Aaken-Eindhoven; Malaga will offer another transcontinental move before a return to New Tarajan, to the historical urban circuit of Merlberg; Milton, Riesa and, finally back on Altiganta, Mumbai, will close the calendar.
As for the teams who have decided to join the championship, expectations are high as some of them have been recently revitalized through outright acquisitions or the support of new, prestigious sponsors. The best case is surely that of Haas recently receiving the back of the automotive giant Chrysler, though it is hard to believe that independent smaller teams, such as the glorious Antanaresian Williams, will simply stand and watch passively to the challenge of these behemoths. Other teams are still expected to confirm their participation.

Nafplio, Morea: Morean Motor Company, Achaian Morea’s most prolific auto maker, has finally unveiled its long-awaited plans to compete with foreign auto giants such as Chrysler and Aston Van Martin in an international arena—through motorsport. Putting an end to years of speculation, Morean Motors President Nikos Evangelos Argyris took to the stage at the Spyros Sports Complex in South Nafplio in front of thousands of invited shareholders to reveal the formation of Omada Morea, a racing team entered into the FIA Formula One World Championship.

“This is a new path for us,” Argyris said as he paced in front of the Omada’s Formula One challenger, dubbed the OM-120. “Throughout the history of our company, we have watched the progress of international competitors as they have battled in the wider markets, and have struggled to take the steps necessary to follow in their footsteps. But Morea is no longer an island of isolation in Esamir, and, as you all know very well, we have been eagerly fighting for this chance to prove ourselves to discerning customers worldwide. The reintroduction of the Formula One World Championship is certainly among the best methods to make our dream a reality.”


The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) in Astana, New Tarajan, began canvassing for new team entries when it announced the return of the Formula One World Championship for 2020, implicitly acknowledging the difficulties facing the series’ normal stable of teams in the uncertainty surrounding the wars in Eurasia and New-Zealand. Similarly, various international circuits and their promoters also faced funding struggles during the recent postponements, leading to several facilities falling into disrepair or simply shutting their doors. The FIA’s late assurance that this year’s competition would go ahead also pointed out the opportunities for new circuits around the world to fill this gap. The once-popular Mystras Circuit, outside of the former Morean capital, was among the first to apply to the FIA to hold a Formula One race in 2020; the circuit is currently scheduled to host the third round of the year. Mystras hopes that international attendance will restore its fortunes, which have plummeted in recent years after the nearby city was replaced by Nafplio as the Sultana’s residence and much of its population departed for Oriento.


Morean Motors is no stranger to racing, and has competed in multiple categories of motorsport, including single-seater open-wheel formulas. Its greatest successes thus far have come in the five National Sports Car Association (NSCA) championships won between 1998 and 2006 by teams running Morean cars. Success in single-seater formulas, even in Morea itself, has been harder to come by, but President Argyris has been adamant that international motorsport will not find his company wanting.

“Omada Morea is not a partner or a customer of ours,” he said firmly. “Omada Morea is Morean Motors; it is our company on track. We will endeavor to win in Formula One in the same way that we endeavor to create the best cars in Morea, and soon the world.”


With Achaian Morea and the Duchy of Montferrat both hosting rounds of the World Championship in 2020, official attention will inevitably fall on the performance of Omada Morea throughout the year. Analysts suggest that Her Majesty Sultana Aikaterini is searching for whatever means she can to improve her reputation and that of the Sultanate, after years of internal and international strife relating to the dissidents Akakios Doukas and Gavriil Ekklisias, who remain at large in Achaian Oriento. Sports in general, and motorsports in particular, offer a unique opportunity to improve not only the Sultanate’s standing, but also its economy—but only if its contributions perform as the Sultana hopes. Accordingly, representatives of the Blue Palace were present at the car launch, imbuing the event with patriotic fervor.

“Omada Morea is Morea’s team,” President Argyris pointed out. “We are the expression of Achaian ingenuity and determination in the racing world. These are qualities that have defined our people for generations, and Omada Morea will surely demonstrate them to the rest of Esamir.”

The ceremony also introduced the Omada’s driver line-up, consisting of accomplished Montferrati open-wheel racer Sebastian Weber and the newcomer Charles Lambert, who lives in Oriento. Weber boasts three regional championships in two different single-seater series in Norda, primarily based in Montferrat, achieved throughout his ten-year career; he has never competed in Formula One machinery before, but the lack of Formula One grands prix in the years since the last World Championship season gives him reason to be confident in his chances. “It’s unlikely that we’ll win the championship right off the bat, of course,” he said. “It’s a new team, and there are a lot of moving parts to put together to make it work. But even the older teams are going to have to shake off some rust. On paper, considering funding and resources especially, Omada Morea has maybe the third-best chance of taking home the trophy, besides Chrysler and especially Aston Van Martin, but we’ll see whether or not that translates to the on-track experience. If we’re behind, then we have a year to find out why and come back at the front next year.”


Charles Lambert, whose family fled from New-Zealand in the last war and settled in Achaian Oriento, has had a much shorter career in lower categories, but his race craft has already attracted attention. “When I started, racing was an escape for me,” he said at the launch. “From the reconstruction when I was young, and then from the second war, and then from the refugee camps in Morea and Oriento. I just wanted to have some sense of control, and getting behind the wheel definitely helped with that. That gave me quite a bit of motivation to be good at racing, that’s for sure.” Despite his relative lack of experience, he said that he was ready to drive for the Omada this year: “This is a new challenge, but I’ve been racing against challenges all my life. I’m ready to prove myself, and I know the Omada is ready to prove itself to the rest of Formula One.”




Creil, Coervorden, New Tarajan: Formula One fans have reason to rejoice as one more foundering midfield team has been rescued from the brink of collapse by a timely buy-out and cash infusion. A consortium led by Achaian Prince Chrysanthos Kallergis, Duke of Creil, and experienced Montferrati rally racer Gerhard Ritter has announced that it has purchased Minardi F1, a perennial backmarker that has recently fallen on especially-hard times while the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the world body of motorsport, waited to mount a new Formula One World Championship season in light of various world conflicts. This delay has caused severe hardship to several teams, circuits, and to the championship itself, but the resulting gaps have encouraged interest from entirely new parties to the series, including, it seems, Achaian royalty. As international excitement for a new Formula One season builds, and international auto makers take the chance in a new marketing scheme on the race track, Prince Chrysanthos and Ritter have preserved the privateer legacy of Minardi F1, under the new guise of Riesa-Creil Racing Team.


“Everyone involved in this deal has been nothing short of blessed,” Prince Chrysanthos said in making the announcement from his ducal seat. “The team was, of course, going through a very difficult time, and needed a way to escape its difficulties. Herr Ritter was eager to enter a team into Formula One, and needed the funding to make a purchase. And I was interested in joining a project of international importance, and needed someone with the contacts to make it happen. When we came together to put the final contract in place, it was almost seamless.”

Ritter, a four-time winner of the thousand-mile rally event known as the Trans-Liguria Crossing since its host territory’s formal annexation by Montferrat in 2018, responded to media requests for comment with a statement from his home in Riesa. “Minardi is a good team with no money,” he said, “and now it’ll be a good team with quite a bit of money. Most of the leadership is in place and the drivers aren’t slouches, so we’ll make a run of it this year and see how it goes.”


The drivers in question, Pierre Geels and Daniel Corwin, have been teammates at Minardi for two seasons prior to Formula One’s latest hiatus, and are familiar with the team and its car-building philosophy. The car itself, now designated the RC-001, has a new name and a new livery, courtesy of Ritter’s longtime Tarajani sponsor Red Bull—though the striking paint scheme ensures that there is no risk of being mistaken for the Tarajani front-running Aston Van Martin factory team, which is also contracted to Red Bull. Unfortunately, the late purchase of the team this close to the beginning of the season means that there is no chance of putting that sponsorship money to good use in designing and building a more competitive car. “We are running a Minardi in fancy clothes this year,” Prince Chrysanthos admitted easily when asked. “If we’re not happy with it, we’ll see if we can develop a new car in a rush, but most likely we’ll take the pain this year and just work on a new model for next year. That’s the sensible thing to do, at any rate.”

The car is not alone in retaining its Minardi DNA. The purchase of the team includes its old factories in Merlberg, New Tarajan, well outside of the Duchy of Montferrat or, for that matter, the Duchy of Creil. The team will also retain its Tarajani license with the FIA. “The team will continue to fly the Tarajani flag as a matter of course,” the Duke of Creil confirmed. “But as time goes on, I’m confident that we can add the Achaian and Montferrati flourishes that will make this team unique. More practically, we can build additional facilities here in Creil that can still interact with Merlberg without the strain of international communications.”

And will this mean that Riesa-Creil Racing will consider the Grand Prix of Merlberg to be its home race, as opposed to the Grand Prix of Montferrat outside of the team’s eponymous city?

“We will have home fans in so many places that we’ll always feel welcome,” responded Prince Chrysanthos. “There’s no shame in that.”

---

IN OTHER NEWS:

Succession “Crisis” in Arveyres: Not the First Time, Hopefully the Last

Chrysler Involvement in Haas F1: Racing Economics at a Glance

Antanares on its own
Future-fighter project will remain an internal affair

Velikogovolka.
“It will be difficult to see Antanares joining this program” said laconically a spokesperson from the Ministry of Defence of Antanares, after the release of a memorandum sent by Astana inviting the Federation to join the members of OMNI in a new Joint Strike Fighter Program (JSFG).
The spokesperson didn’t respond to the questions from the journalists outside the number 5 of St. Regent Street, headquarter of the Ministry. According to some well-informed voices, Antanares will likely decline the invitation from the allies, favouring the internal development of the current projects for the next-generation fighters.
Despite its strong links with the neighbour northern-ally, Antanares seems to be aiming to readjust its own power-projections capabilities, as showed from the recent change in the military structure of the Federal Army. How? Together with the Primas Savarola Consortium, the Ministry of Defence is working on its own next-generation fighter, the AJ-57. The project, which has seen first prototype rolling the lines in the test-airport of Javor, is part of a bigger efforts from the Federal Army to expand its own abilities to defend the interests of Antanares, improving its readiness and the stealth capabilities at its disposition, while relying on local manufactured systems. It is not casual the develop of a parallel project of “drones wingmen”, aiming to improve the survivability of Antanaresian fighters in hostile environments and the eventual loss of human lives, while maintaining intact the ability of the Air Force to hit long-distant target without the deployment of missile launchers (land or naval that are).
Antanares is clearly following an autonomous path for the development for its future warfare capabilities. From another side, there is a strong internal opposition, even in the military forces, about an extension of the profound inter-dependence of the Antanaresian forces from the OMNI. Many voices were raised, in the last years, about the limits that should be put to defend the independence of Antanares from any external organization.

“It is a matter of how much capable you are to act without asking to someone else", said in an interview professor John McKeburg, dean of the faculty of Political Science of Cape Wolf “Antanaresian forces are deeply involved in OMNI, in its network of security and defence. We are deeply inter-connected with OMNI and its state members. Maybe too much. That’s why I think it is more than reasonable to maintain a certain autonomy in the development of new technologies and programs. It allows us to don’t rely on anyone else, while still being able to join our allies when necessary. I don’t see a paradox in that”.

Positions such as the one explained from prof. McKeburg are not limited to the academic world. Many, inside the armed forces, wish to maintain the ability to operate outside the political, but also the technic, frame of OMNI. The development of the new fighter-program is part of this mindset, same as the UAV-program, the reassessment of the armed forces and even the renewal and modernization of the missile’s systems of the Federation.
Not less relevant, there are clearly interests from companies such as the Javor Manufacturing and the PSC to maintain a strong grip on the defence sector itself. Which will be the limits of this grip, and the abilities also of such companies to maintain elevated standard of technology, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of course is still to be seen in the future.

UKZ Prime Minister Theresa May disappears while on vacation, searches still on going, official ---- Former Bishop of Mystras Akakios dies in Oriento, Grand Pensionary confirms news from Morea ---- Death of former Bishop of Mystras Akakios sparks concerns of extremist attacks in the Kingdom, federal police increases security measures, spokesperson ---- Eindhoven Stock Exchange Indexes: AFIX +0.5% ; FIX +0.5% ; NTIA -2.1% ---- Would you like to know more? More updates and insights on www.ntko.co.tj



Astana.
From Charbagh Palace, residence of the Grand Pensionary, comes finally the official confirmation, by the words of the Duke of Coevorden himself: "After speaking personally with the Sultana, I have can confirm to all of you that Akakios, former bishop of Mystras, is dead." he said during a press conference specifically called for the event.
"First of all, allow me to repeat what I also told the Sultana: the Kingdom of New Tarajan has nothing to do with this occurrence." the Grand Pensionary concisely stated "While we cannot deny that an enemy of our country and Kingdom has met his fate, at the same time our hope was to bring him in front of justice for his crimes."
No comment has been released from the Royal Palace, as the Grand Pensionary's words are to be considered expressing the official position of the Kingdom on the matter. The Royal House has been insulted more than once by the former bishop, and it is no mystery that King Friederick Wilhelm was the main actor behind the warrant that Tarajani authorities issued against Akakios, a fact further confirmed by the fact that the search for the fugitive cleric was assigned to the RHIELD, an organization that answers directly to the sovereign. Thus, some observers were probably expecting some sort of declaration coming from the Royal Palace, something that is, however, far from Tarajani style and, above all, from the personal style of the King himself.
In the meanwhile, the federal police has announced by one of its spokesperson that security levels will be enhanced in all cities of the Kingdom as a precautionary measures:"There is no actual risk for the safety of our citizens" the spokesperson said "But in light of the concerns expressed by some authorities we have decided to increase security." The link between the police concerns and Akakios' death is clear in the words of some analysts, who highlighted the risk that extremist groups linked to the former bishop may intend his death as a twisted form of martyrdom, acting accordingly:"You can never be certain when fanatics are involved" one of them commented.



During the same press conference, however, the Grand Pensionary was also pressed into speaking about the recent news coming from Velikogovolka, with the Antanaresian government officially announcing that it will not participate into the Joint Strike Fighter, the proposal for a OMNI-wide effort for the development, construction and deployment of a sixth-generation fighter, forwarded by New Tarajan and New-Zealand during the first tri-lateral meeting (Antanares participated as well, indeed).
The Federation clearly stated, through its Ministry of Defence, that Antanares has no interest in the program, aiming instead at fostering its own military aerospace production capabilities.
"The decision by the government of Antanares falls very well inside their sovereign rights." the Duke of Coevorden said "However, we cannot but express our dissatisfaction, and our concern, for the path they decided to follow. While this will not undermine either the bonds created by OMNI among its Member States, nor our bilateral relationship with Antanares, it is a fact that the refusal of joining the Program is a step back compared to the pattern followed until now, that is leading toward greatest integration among Member States, a pattern that we are strongly committed to."
The Grand Pensionary, however, expressed also his hope and that of the Tarajani government "that a solution may still be found that would take into consideration the legitimate Antanaresian interests and concerns." Conciliatory words, further underlined by the decision, announced by the Ministry of the Military, to send a delegation in the following days to Velikogovolka: the issue on the table is the signature of a new protocol for joint exercises, but it is no secret that further attemptd at negotiating Antanares entrance into the Program will be made once there. Truth is, New Tarajan is deeply concerned by Velikogovolka's announcement, fearing that its decision may actually signal a weakening of Antanaresian commitment to the alliance, a catastrophic result for both Tarajani foreign policy and security interests.



Meanwhile, "the whole Kingdom of New Tarajan is united in pray for the safe return of Prime Minister May". These are the words used by King Friederick Wilhelm in a note released from the Royal Palace this morning: "Our thoughts are with her family, but we are sure that the UKZ rescuers will find her soon." the note said.
At the same time, the note refrained from any comment on the current political situation inside the United Kingdoms. It is known by sources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Astana is following very closely the search for the missing Prime Minister through its embassy in Cair Paravel, and that communications have been immediately established with the Royal Council as the representative of the Zack Crown during this emergency.
"Any modification in the UKZ domestic political situation is of Tarajani concern" one analyst commented during an interview "While the Kingdom enjoyed good relations with both the government party and the opposition inside the Zack Parliament, it is beyond doubt that its utmost concern is for the United Kingdoms to keep their policies aligned to OMNI, particularly after what has been perceived as a sort of Antanaresian defection" she continued: "New Tarajan has invested heavily in the UKZ, both economically and in terms of relations and political and military support, and it has all the intention of going forward, since Cair Paravel is identified as a key actor in Altiganta and a key partner. With or without May in power, for New Tarajan 'the show must go on'."

Breaking News: President Lanzarel Hawkins announced in a press conference today that the Social Democracy would be setting humanities sights to space once more. The NZSA (New-Zealand Space Agency) has led the world as the first national agency to openly commit to a manned mission to the planet Mars, through means of the ambition Ares Initiative. 

The Ares Initiative will achieve a manned mars landing through three seperate phases. Phase I consisting of an equally ambitious return to the moon and the establishment of an NZSA Forward Operations Base "Eagle's Nest". Eagle's Nest would be the first permanent manned lunar facility in history, and its construction alone would be a feat worthy of the history books. Eagle's Nest will house a powerful communications array that will in turn provide the ability for ground crews to maintain a crucial consistent high bandwidth data link with involved spacecrafts and the eventual Mars landing site. Phase II will consist of further recon and preparation, using the established Eagle's Nest communications array to relay high volumes of data. In Phase II an unmanned mission "Prodigal" will be launched to Mars, with the research vessel thoroughly scanning the surface of mars and relaying the information back to home base where NZSA scientists will then determine the ideal landing point. Once satisfied with the recon efforts of Prodigal, the unmanned space craft will initiate a landing sequence and attempt the world's first unmanned landing on Mars, gathering the final bits of crucial information for the upcoming human mission. Lastly, Phase III. In this final Phase, a team of highly skilled NZSA astronauts will leave Esamir on a frontier breaking journey through the abyss of space, farther than man has even travelled, to eventually take the much anticipated first step onto the surface of Mars, one which will be broadcast live around the globe courtesy of the Eagle's Nest array. 

The cost of this breathtaking endeavour? An estimated $510Bn NZD funded through the federal budget of the Social Democracy. The NZSA is due to begin the works on Phase I late this year, with the agency scoring a whopping $68Bn this financial cycle, a drastic jump from the $22Bn allocated last time around. With Phase I and the Ares Initiative kicking into full swing next year, we'll see that budget grow further to $82Bn and $84Bn in the following two years, with funding further to those years not yet assessed. 

While the Social Democracy was notably quite during the last space race to the moon, where it contributed relatively minimally to the Antanares led and OMNI backed Apollo missions. Sadly, for OMNI at least, that space race was won by the Eurasian N1 program. Since then however, the Social Democracy has grown leaps and bounds to today command the world's largest private economy and the world's wealthiest population. Where Eurasia once dominated rocket propelled research and development at the height of the Cold War its leading edge, much like the Cold War, has since dulled. Antanares back then too boasted the world's largest economy with a sheer gross output dwarfing everyone else, with New Tarajan and Eurasia battling out distance second place and the Social Democracy trailing an even more distant fourth.

Today however, the cards are a very different set. In the decades since the moon landing the Social Democracy has risen from a distant fourth to a close second, closing the gap with Antanares to a razor sharp margin. In fact leading economists today dispute which of the two nations holds the global dominance, with some arguing that while Antanares holds a higher gross output it's real value is less than that of the Social Democracy, as the former employs socialist policies that artificially inflate low value industries to values that simply would not exist in a competitive free market like that of the latter. The Social Democracy has also in the recent decades driven global innovation in the consumer market and, with the exception of the defence sector, led patent registration in all key industries. The drastic change in global scenery doesn't just stop there. The Eurasian Empire has slipped from second down to a distant third with decades of central government policy focussing heavily on defence, economic statism and imperial glory starving the Empire of innovation and technological advancement. Meanwhile the historic and extremely cultured Empire of New Tarajan has slipped from it's closely fought third to it's current fifth place, though many attribute this in a change of Tarajani focus from global projection of it's once sprawling Empire, that once even included New-Zealand, to a focus on domestic quality of life development and New Tarajan today sports a far happier population than that of it's past. In fourth, slots the rising United Kingdoms of Zackalantis which has seen a drastic boom in recent years on the back of strong foreign investment, particularly by New-Zealand based multinationals. 

While the NZSA has committed to it's Mars mission on it's lonesome, with the backing of the gargantuous Social Democracy behind it, reason would suggest that the NZSA would be looking to include it's long standing friends in the OMNI network to it's once in a century humanity defining project. Though, with a project of such a bold scale, national pride might prevent such international cohesion. Some may simply not be willing to play second fiddle to the Social Democracy's lead.

Leader of the opposition found dead

Cape Wolf.
Lorenza Matterhorn, former leader of Powers, the main opposition party, was found dead in her apartment after been released from jail and confined in home arrest. The former leader of one of the main leftist party in Antanares was find from one of her friends, preoccupied by the curious silence of Lorenza. At her home, the witness said to the police, she found the body hanging from the ceiling. For now, according to a statement of the CWPD, the case seems to be a suicide one.
Many, from all the side of the political spectrum, expressed their condolences to the family. In a brief statement, Martino Vento, president of the parliament, said that tomorrow the chamber will hold a one minute of silence to respect the Power’s former leader, who was waiting for the trial which sees her at the centre of one of the biggest scandal of the politics of the Federation.
While many from the right-wing contested the minute of silence, the left-wings raised their voices in protest toward both the incarceration of Matterhorn, in first place, and to the work of the CWPD. “There is something weird here”, said the so-right hand of Matterhorn, Hector Valdestan “I have a brief conversation with Lorenza a pairs of days before this tragedy and I could swear she seemed healthy and happy, ready as usual to fight against the bland and false accusations moved against her and Powers. I don’t think its suicide” he added, while refused to respond to all the other questions of the journalists.
For now, the police have still not closed the case, but commenters expect that in the next days, maybe after the autopsy, they will probably officially declare the death as suicide.
No comment was released from the Shadow’s Council or from the government.

Antanares unveils a new drone's program

Velikogovolka.
After the recent decision of the Federal Government to opt out the Joint Strike Fighter Program together with the other OMNI-allies, or what seemed the official decision of the government, the Ministry of Defence showed in a press-conference a new road-map for the develop of the new warfare capability of the country. The new strategy, denominated “BEAR” (Broad Enhancement of Automated Response), seems to shift the priority of the Federal Defence from manned to unmanned systems, both in the Navy, the Army and in the Air Force.
What was seen for now it is the extension of the program which brought more and more drones in the lines of the Federation. The ships of today are based on redundant technologies but also on a higher degree, compared to the past, of automaticity. Less people are needed on board to get a frigate, or even a carrier, doing its job. While more UAV (Unmanned Air Vehicles) are used from the Air Force itself, mainly for exploration and fast-attack operations, the plan of the Ministry is to extend this capacity both in land and on the sea, with the creation of support vehicles capable of be not only guided from distance, but also capable of autonomous decisions on the battlefield.
The so-called autonomous weapons, that are just partially autonomous (algorithms are still human-written and needs to be activated, some of them at least, from an operator) seems to be the next step of military technology toward which the Federation is aiming. The plan seems to be a massive inter-linked developed of battle capacity from all the three branches of the defence, to improve their coordination but also exchange their best practices to increase their efficiency. The Ministry of Defense, madame Cassandra Grevina, showed how the navy will slowly adapt the same idea of “wingman-drones” for fighter and bomber jets to ships themselves, as an example of this increase of cooperation and info/tech exchange between the branches.
“We will have more and more intelligence, artificial intelligence, on the battlefield. We have semi-autonomous weapons on our vehicles and ships. Some fighters can take some autonomous response to incoming missile; CIWS systems can attack small drones and missiles without being directly activated from a human operator; active cuirass on tanks don’t need the driver to distract himself to be started. We want to expand this concept. Fighter-pilots will count on their wingmen, both robotic and human. A carrier will count on surface and submarine drones to be protected against enemy attacks. Even the infantry gunman will count on the support of AI and small drones to better operate in any kind of environment. Men and women will not die because of an unseen sniper because drones will easily scout with them and faster reveal any menaces around them. We are talking of walking both armed as soldiers, ready to take the lines with flesh soldiers. That’s will change everything” said during the conference, before the speeches of the head of the Federation Army.

While in the conference everything seemed pretty nice, voices of concerns arrived from scientists and experts of war’s law, human rights and even moral philosophy.
“We are taking from the hands and from the minds of the people the control of violence and death” said professor Hurgen Havershas, professor at the Centre of Strategic Studies of Velikogovolka “Killer-bots will be able to shoot and run and fight as their human counterparts. Drone-fighters will fly together with human-lead jets, focused on their mission, whatever the cost. What could happen if civilians are caught in the line of fire of machines with the only goal to achieve battlefield superiority? What happens to that “human instinct”, which make people choose between life and death in situation that no one, in a laboratory, could replicate neither theorize? Not less relevant, who will pay the burden of the possibility to wage war at the minimum human cost? Of course, who else if not the countries without this technology, that the Federal Government will not even share probably with its allies. The Antanaresian Army is one of the most automatized in the world, that’ true right now. We have a very advanced military sector, and at the same time we count on a very heavy cyber-warfare department to protect these kinds of technologies from the enemy hands. We reached a point where any other steps toward more automatization, it is at the same time a step back from the possibility of enforcing the achieved laws of war, the respect of human life before everything. I think the BEAR Program, or maybe, I hope that the BEAR Program will never see the light, because, despite the strategic advantage it could have, will be a huge step back in human rights and war’s laws as we never see from the rise of WMD2”

Despite the concerns of experts like Havershas, the government doesn’t seem interested in pushing back its plan of an autonomous drone army. Since the rise of AI on the battlefield, more and more critics raised their voices against this shift of competences from human’s mind (and decisional process) to algorithms. The past conflicts showed, at the same time, the amount of human life that can be saved for Antanares while reducing the men and women directly involved in the battlefield.
Surely, the new BEAR Program will raise more and more concerns, and It is still unknown which will be the response of the OMNI-allies of the Federation toward the disclosed plan.

What is Athena's Shield?

Sessadraina.
The central headquarter of the Antanaresian Space Agency is always trafficked, but in the last days, just after the Conference of the Ministry of Defence about the BEAR Program, seemed more energetic as ever. According to some internal rumours, is because of the next big announcement of the government, code-name “Athena’s Shield”. According to these well-informed voices, the government is aiming to increase its deployment in the upper atmosphere of the planet.
While nobody knows exactly what does will mean, the theories are many and many. One of the most supported point out that autonomous drones can be translated also in autonomous satellites, capable of increase the warfare and defence capacities of the Federation. If BEAR Program has a space section, that’s unknown for know to the big public.
Another theory, instead, seemed to point out to the recent probes launched from the Federation toward the Moon and the Asteroid’s Belt of the Solar System. While Sessadraina Space Control has launched many exploratory and scientific missions toward the external planet of the system, the new launches heading toward Moon and the Middle Belt are something not expected for the ASA. Also, someone noticed the recent movement of a satellite-probe toward one of the main Laplace-Point of the Earth-Moon orbits. The mission, named as “Experimental Flight Capability”, was not announced from the usual social and mail channel of the agency.
For now, nothing is sure. ASA received in any case an increment of five percent of its funding recently, in a recent law passed on proposal of the Wolf’s Party. If on indication of the Shadow’s Council and the Prince, or the government, or as an autonomous decision, that’s is again unknown.

Kiwi markets have surged in response to the announcements of the New Tarajani FePERPI economic package. The grandiose plan seeks to transform the Tarajani economy and bring the Empire into the forefront of the modern world. The once grand Tarajani economy led the world but has steadily fallen behind in the modern era, with former colonies like the Social Democracy eclipsing the juggernaut in magnificent style. One kiwi economist went as far as to claim "The sun is setting on the great Tarajani Empire", a bold claim that hit headlines around New Tarajan and obviously struck a heavy chord with its leaders. The new FePERPI is by numbers the largest economic restructuring plans ever seen, overshadowing the gargantuous post-war NZ Upgrade Plan and the even the boldest of Eurasian 5-year plans. While the FePERPI was meant in part to address the growing dominance of the kiwi economy, it has been met with great ecstacy in the kiwi markets.  The share markets have risen sharply on the prospect of lucrative investment by cash bloated NZ firms into the Tarajani market. Reports from the RBNZ also suggest that the government of New-Zealand is looking heavily into buying a lot of issued bonds as the Tarajani government seeks to issue debt in order to finance this massive restructuring plan. 

Economist and column writer Harrison Schofield however had a more reserved perception of the situation:
"It is easy to look at the numbers behind the FePERPI and jump for joy at the prospects. Sure given a free approach we could see a massive boon for the cash laden NZ investment market. All kiwi investors ranging from your mom and dad mutual fund holders to corporate specialist investment firms can expect to see great returns from the Tarajani market in the coming years. Likewise, as the RBNZ hinted, buying of Tarajani debt bonds could be a great investment for more conservative needs and one that funds like the Accident Compensation Corporation's or the Federal Government itself with operational budgetary needs would be very smart to buy. In fact I'm sure they will. That all depends on the free nature of this plan though. One thing that people should be wary of is the nature of this FePERPI plan and the motives behind it. While, yes, it is primarily aimed at boosting the Tarajani economy outright, we should take a moment to acknowledge that the Social Democracy of New-Zealand was mentioned explicitly as being challengers in key economic fields. It really depends on if the Tarajani administration is seeking to boost their economy alone or rather, if they are seeking to close the gap with New-Zealand, who has largely taken over as the dominant economy of the free world. Should the Tarajani's opt to maintain a free approach to the FePERPI which allows for heavy kiwi involvement we would see a great boost to the Tarajani economy, much more so than one without the unrestricted flow of kiwi investment, but at the same time you would see the Tarajani economy becoming closely linked and dare I say even somewhat reliant on a financial system that is for most part centred around New-Zealand. It comes a time for the Tarajani governing body to decide if it is happy to pass the torch of economic leadership onto the young kiwi system and allow both to grow greatly at the expense of some national pride, or if it would rather opt to stifle it's potential growth a smidgen but in doing so close the gap on New-Zealand, who is undoubtably a close ally. It's hard to see the Tarajani Empire choosing the latter option wholly but it is crucial that we see some clarification from the Tarajani's on exactly where they stand on the scale of potential kiwi investment." 








The NZDF Office of Nuclear Deterrance has today announced the transfer of an undisclosed number of nuclear warheads to the UKZ. The UKZ has in recent years faced backlash from the international community, particularly within OMNI from nations like Archaean Morea, for announcing its intentions to increase its nuclear warhead stockpile. The move from the UKZ to produce warheads was deemed as promoting nuclear proliferation, something that OMNI powers as a whole have strongly discouraged in recent years. Consequently, as a result of the Social Democracy signing the Tarajani headed Nuclear Non-Proliferation and De-Armament Pact the NZDF has been ordered to downsize it's nuclear stockpile from it's current 1350 to 400. It's no secret that the Social Democracy signed this pact purely as a means of securing lucrative trade deals with New Tarajan and Archaean Morea. The cost of decommissioning these weapons and safely disposing of the waste, however, is no small sum. The NZDF was given a period of a decade to dispose of these weapons, with estimates sitting in the hundreds of billions of dollars. 

While information was disclosed under the Official Information Act, subsection 7A prevented the release of the exact number of warheads transferred to the UKZ as this was protecting under UKZ law as information of national security and subsection 7A of the OIA honours allied foreign law. What we do know however is that 950 warheads are going, the number which are going to the UKZ and the number which are going deep into the Cojandre Trench are anyones guess. It is yet to be seen how the international community will react to this cheeky move from the UKZ and NZ, with both devilishly exploiting a loop-hole of sorts. The UKZ is getting to increase their warhead stock for free and technically not be proliferating by bringing new warheads into circulation. Though it should be noted they never officially signed a non-proliferation agreement. The Social Democracy on the other hand gets to meet their de-armament obligations for next to no cost while also keeping the warheads in circulation in friendly hands. The relationship between the NZDF and Zack Armed Forces is one of the highest order, with the UKZ being a key player who unilaterally committed forces to NZ's aid both immediately and in complete capacity during both the Eurasian Invasion and the Frumentarii Uprising. The dependability and friendship of the UKZ is one that NZ has never forgotten. 





The Hawkins Administration is rapidly becoming one of the most eventful administrations in the history of the Social Democracy. The Office of the President has today released a diplomatic intenerary that sees a diplomatic summit with Aloian leadership in the near future. This is the first official diplomatic summit with a major foreign power hosted by Aloia in nearly a decade and the first time the quiet neutral nation has made a stake towards the global geopolitical scene. The decision of Aloia to approach relations with New-Zealand could be seen by some as the nation throwing its hat into the ring and sitting on the side of OMNI in the global sphere. Relations with New-Zealand and Aloia were looking very promising during the Garagen Administration, in no small part thanks to Elaena, the wife of late President Garagen, being the youngest daughter of Aloian Queen Sofia and thus Princess to the Arveyrean Crown. The kingdom was looking to come out of its shell but made a hasty retreat following the shock assassination of President Garagen and the chaos that followed.  

UPDATE: 
And as if the news couldn't get any more interesting. The Director of the NZSA, Dr Peter Bruchanen, has announced in a press conference that the Aloian Royal Aeronautics and Space Administration (RASA) will be joining the NZSA as it's first and currently only core partner in it's Ares Initiative mission to mars. Little is known about the specifics of this arrangement at the current time as it is still in it's early stages, but many expect that we will see an Aloian astronaut join the crew of the ultimate Ares Mars Landing.

But first, a bit of back story. Former First Lady Elaena Garagen, previously Elaena de Vergara prior to her excommunication from the Arveyrean royal family at the hands of Eurasia, has returned to a battle fought long ago by her late husband. Since the assassination of late President Garagen, Elaena's journey has been a tumultuous one followed closely by NZ tabloids. The former First Lady fell from grace at the hands of Eurasian pressure during and following the Frumentarii Uprising. Elaena was forced to go into hiding with her young family mere days after the shock assassination of then President Garagen as the world was thrown into chaos and Eurasian supported forces took control of the Social Democracy. Elaena went into hiding with the Free States of the North who managed to hold off Eurasian (officially Protectorate of New-Zealand) forces primarily due to geographical luck and was eventually secretly taken in by extended family in Aloian royal family with the help of OMNI, with Aloia remaining officially neutral. In the fallout of the Frumentarii Uprising Elaena was tried for treason by Eurasian courts, a death warrant which remains in place till this day, though highly unlikely to be enforced due to the risk of international fallout. Following the treason charges Elaena was excommunicated by the Aloian Royal Family as a result of extreme pressure from the Eurasians, a result that has means Elaena has had no direct physical contact with her mother and siblings since the ruling, though inside sources report they stay in contact using less obvious means. Where she lost a family in Arveyres though, she gained one in Aloia. Though the Kingdom of Aloia remained neutral in the conflict its sympathies lay with the kiwi's under siege and the desperate OMNI liberators. 

That brings us to today however. Prior to Garagen's assassination, his administration was on course to settle a landmark alliance with the Kingdom of Aloia, a move that would have thrown a massive swing of power towards New-Zealand and by extension OMNI in the Eurasian back yard. Many believe it was this that led to the Eurasian Frumentarii assassination of Garagen and the Frumentarii take over of New-Zealand, though Eurasia still diplomatically distances itself from the acts of the Frumentarii and considers themselves too a victim of a rogue organisation. Though many consider this an attempt to save face following the hard fought and extremely costly Kiwi and OMNI victory. 

History, however, has a poetic sense of justice. Nearly a decade later, no longer a First Lady but now a Vice-President to yet another charismatic Solidarity Leader, Elaena is setting out to achieve the very task that got her late husband killed. The Social Democracy of New-Zealand and Kingdom of Aloia are due to sit down at the table later this week and set out a large scale economic, diplomatic and military alliance between the two powers. The talks will, for most part, continue where the previous Garagen led ones ended. Preliminary articles in the new alliance are listed below: 

New-Zealand - Aloia Aliance:

We are yet to see how markets and the geopolitical scene react to this landmark development. It will be the first time in recent history that the Kingdom of Aloia has entered into formal relations with a foreign power, and this is by no means a minor alliance. Combine this agreement with the ARES Initiative developments and you have a clear slap in the face to Eurasia who now finds itself becoming increasingly boxed in by the aggressive diplomatic strategies of the Social Democracy. While the wars of old gave the Social Democracy a battering and the Eurasian hagemony much room to breathe, the former appears to be back with a vengeance. 

As a commentator astutely put it; "We can't even dream of beating Eurasia by force, the costs globally would be unfathomable. The only people on this planet that can truly challenge Eurasia are Eurasians. All we need to do is show then what they could have and let them realise the tyrannical hegemony they live under is robbing them blind. Never underestimate the power of an Eurasian who feels he's been cheated. We're at the dawn of a new Cold War and the Eurasian system can't afford any jackets." 

The Royal Conclave of the most senior nobles and spiritual leaders across the three Arveyran Kingdoms has elected the fourth child and only son of Queen Nina II as the successor to the recently-abdicated Queen Sofia X. Prince Luceo Matiancolo Camilo is the third child of Queen Nina II to hold the position of monarch of the United Kingdom of Arveyres. This marks the first Royal Conclave since the election of Queen Mercedes I in 1718, the progenitor of the House of Vergara. Prince Luceo upon his election chose the regnal name of Camilo, the name of the most recent king, Camilo II who reigned from 1852 until his abdication in 1899. King Camilo III was elected to the throne alongside his wife, Princess Elise of North Ajania.

The first scheduled meeting of the King is with the Emperor of Eurasia in Julium to discuss the future of the relationship between the two nations. The first international meeting of the King is an address to the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Zackalantis to discuss future trade relations with the Zack Commonwealth.

The election comes at a very tumultuous time in Arveyran political current events; the rising anti-monarchy sentiment in the country led to the abdication of the previous Queen, two Arveyran princesses have defected to the Social Democracy, of which one was accused of treason by the Empire, later to be elected to be Vice-President of the Social Democracy; the other princess spearheaded an initiative that promotes the development of green technology.

With rising tensions among the non-Arveyran speaking Cordobans, who live in the Kingdom of Cordoba (one of the three Kingdoms that comprise the United Kingdom of Arveyres), the Senate of Cordoba is expected to put forth and with overwhelming support, a bill that would request the formal withdrawal from the United Kingdom, dissolving the monarchy in Cordoba, in favor of a republic. Several political analysts view the election of King Camilo as a possible catalyst for political revolution within the United Kingdom of Arveyres, and that it might signal the end of the monarchy.

Chancellor Nelson preparing for major Kiwi alliance as final career landmark

HALFMOON BAY, New Brighton -- After announcing intentions not to run again for Aloia's highest elected position, Chancellor John Mark Nelson has moved forward with negotiations with the Social Democracy of New Zealand. The Chancellor has said that an essential goal for the negotiations is a closer physical relationship and connection between Aloian Anacostia and New Brighton to Kiwi Drackenburg. The Chancellor is also committed to getting Aloian astronauts at the core of the mission to Mars.

After years of focusing on domestic issues, the Chancellor is now spending the end of his term negotiating a historic treaty between the two largest English-speaking nations in the world. The countries share a long border in the former territory of Texania, and commercial leaders in both countries have been calling for stronger trade connections for decades. The land border and the status of New Brighton have long been the issues around which Aloian-Kiwi interactions have hinged, and after signing another century-long lease for the island of New Brighton, relations between the two countries have been getting much better.

Halfmoon Bay, New Brighton, an Aloian city built on a Kiwi island leased to the Kingdom of Aloia since 1919.

Start of the National Hacker Competition in Velikogovolka – Stands ready for GP! Movements around the track of the capital city – Where isn’t the Red Panda? New paper confirms the success of the environment protection law – Sea of beauty! Click to read which are the best 10 beaches in Antanares

Jump in the rear seat

Velikogovolka to join the JSF Program of OMNI

Velikogovolka.
After a first moment of indecision, if not denial, apparently the Federation will join its allies of OMNI for the new JSF program. Initially, the Ministry of Defence, after the disclosure of the renewal program of the armed forces, stated that Antanares would have not join the JSF Program due to the difference with the concept of the new fighter for the Navy and Air Forces.
According to the rumours, during the latest meeting of OMNI, representatives of the Ministry of Defence of Antanares and of New Tarajan met to discuss the details of a possible cooperation to let Antanares join the program, while of course maintaining its original plan for BEAR. The rumours point out that Antanares will develop with the partner members of OMNI the new JSF, while developing on the side a version of the fighters, called “D” from Drone, to support the use of AI-Wingman and enhanced automated capabilities.
It is not clear if the BEAR will, in this case, see the participation of other countries to the developing of the necessary know-how and hardware to transform BEAR into reality. It is possible that, at an initial stage, that will not happen.

The hearsays were welcomed warmly in the stock market of Cape Wolf, where the index opened all green. Many were concerned about the possibility that not joining JSF would have represented a grave loss for the arms manufacturing companies of the country, whom work often with their counterparts from the allies. The decision to abandon the original new fighter program, completely Antanaresian made, has a strong political significance for the Federation, seen from many commenters as oriented lately in a more isolationist politic.
The signal launched from the government is, instead, that Antanares will continue to collaborate and work with its historical foreign ties, in many different fields.
A voice, this, counterbalanced from the rumours spreading from the OMNI Meeting, where seems a dispute between the delegation of Antanares and New Zealand erupted. Many suggest that the aggressive foreign policy of New Zealand could be at the centre of the dispute, but no one who we reached was able to confirm or discuss the sensitive topic.
OMNI represents, from many decades, the umbrella under which Antanares moved. Founder and strongly supporter of more cooperation within the member states, the Federation devoted to the alliance part of its foreign policy, something which many nationalist and far-right commenters always condemned.
If you want to know more about the topic, tonight at 21.00 we will host here in studio prof. Vanderbaden, from the University of Arcadia and prof. Macklamuu, from the University of Velikogovolka, to discuss the complex issue of OMNI and Antanares and the relations between Antanares and some of the alliance’s members.

Operation Black Spirit.

Another hit for the Federal Services against smugglers.

Sessadraina.
After the arrest (and death) of the Powers’ former leader due to the scandal of corruption which hit her and many other political leaders in the region of Sessadraina, the Federal Security Bureau (FSB) continued its investigation in the smuggler net operating in the east of the Federation. The Special Directorate for Smuggling and Drugs (SDSD), leaded by vice-director Michael Mureau, leaded a combined operation between the FSB, the Secret Services and the local police which lead to the arrest of thirty members of the Cavezzano’s Family, one of the main criminal cartels operating in Sessadraina. According to the brief statement released from VD Mureau, the operation aimed to cut the main profit line of the Cavezzanos’, which is according to the stats of the FSB the smuggling of illegal drugs and, sometimes, people, in the black market of Antanares. Sessadraina, one of the most liberal cities in the Federation, host one of the biggest red district in the country and is considered one of the main tourist spots for people, from Esamir, interested in prostitutions, drugs and other activities. While prostitution is legal, many opponents of the “Depenalisation of Payed Sex Law” pointed out that many sex-workers arrive in Sessadraina from poorer country thanks to family such as the Cavezzano, with the promise of stable job and opportunities in Antanares, while instead are sold to local pimps.

FSB is working actively to put a stop on the traffic of human beings and drugs from outside the Federation to Sessadraina and the bordering regions. While in the past years the agency was able to hit the smuggler activities hardly, putting a stop to most of their activities, clans and cartels like the Cavezzano’s one started widespread corruption campaign to obtain the liberalization of some markets, where they were planted deeply from long time, to be able to impose their presence (with violence, if necessary) in a now legal market.
Arrests such the one of Von Matterhorn showed that links like this exist and are widespread diffused especially in the East of the country.
If on one hand the FSB was able to hit the smuggler, seizing their vessels and arresting many of them, the problem of corruption is more difficult to approach, especially because many voices point out that the campaign of FSB is more a political war than a real police operation.