Foreign Concerns Gazette/Year 445.5 - 446.5

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Category:Session Summaries
Economic News: 
*"A Factory in Your Town" Alusian Modular Factories Come into Production, See Mass Sales to Aeldman Market. Alusian Administrators Expect Full Production Within 1 Year. Sermaye Expresses Strong Interest.
**"One Careful Owner" Aeldman Government Sees Break-Even on Alusian Factory Imports with Aggressive Re-Sale Program to Colonial Industries. Aeldrum has Negotiated Major Mid-Term Import Contract for Further Factories; Aeldman Internal Capital Transfers from Core to Colonies Abate With New Factory Imports.
**"Sorry But We Have Our Own" Alusia Set to Draw Down Capital Imports from Saldan, Aeldrum in Coming Year. Aeldman Government, Spearheaded by Manuel Emiir, Assumes Temporary Management of Capital Export Program to Alusia: Alusia Shifts Entirety of Saldanese Import Profile to Aeldrum.
**"Can I Pay in Factories?" Alusian Empire and Fialta Imperium Conclude Agreement to Offset Entirety of Alusian Payment Obligations under Treaty of Saldan With Modular Factories. Bank of Valdos Negotiates Right of First Refusal on Entirety of First Semi-Annual Shipment of Factories, Distributes to Private Investment Partners.
*"Ethernet Connects Cosmos" Serene Duchy of Aeldrum Completes Ethernet Project in Republic of Sermaye, Academy of Saldan Reveals Completed Home-Grown Ethernet. Speculation Abounds of Ethernet Connections Between AeldmanNet and FialtaNet Outside Carefully Managed Alusian Junction.
*"A Cosmic Trade Community" Terms of Treaty of Saldan Reveal Plans for a Trade Consortium on Full Trade Basis for all Great Powers, as well as Saldan, Sermaye and Thalranese Marches. Provisional FATBASS Agreement Promises Common Trade Standards and Unrestricted Trade Passage to Downstream Partners for Members.
*"Arms and Capital Exports" Aeldrum Pitches Capital and Arms Contracts to Secondary Markets: Orcish Directorate, NCC, Kingdom of Veran Enthusiastically Accept Arms Deal; Sermaye Holds Out but Ultimately Accepts Separate Arms Contract. Orcish Directorate Leads Demand for Capital Exports, Followed by Sermaye then Druz; Kingdom of Veran Claims Unable to Find Applications for Capital Goods. Saldan Lukewarm on all Counts.
*"Largest Direct Economic Transfer on Record" Compensatory Payments to Fialta Slaveholders Represent Close to 10% Nominal Increase in Fialta Imperial GDP, Estimated 6% Increase to GDP of Marches.
*"The New Economy on the Block" Fialta Union Presents Minor Economic Profile, Boosted Significantly by Integration with Empire of Alusia. Economic Gains for Stagnant Worlds of Former Shantaran Free State Encouraging Sign that Membership has Benefits.
*"Surprising Church Power: Unprecedent International Capital Mobilization" Mass Raising of Special Tithes for Rapid Emancipation of Kirvan Faithful in Fialta Territories by Shantine Kirvan Church Doubles Semi-Annual Payment to Slaveholders, Accords 1/6th of Kirvan Slaves their Freedom 5 Years Early.
*"Is Bigger Better?" Thalranese Integrate New Members, But Import Gains Decline: Economic Growth from Confederate Coup Positive, But Underperforms Expectations.
*"A Universal Tax Break" Prince Gunnot of Marches Concedes Extension of 5% Tax Rate to All of Thalranese Marches, Matching Promise to Incoming Princes for Domestic Lords. Thalranese Marches Estimated to Run Modest Budget Deficit Due to Payment Obligations under Treaty of Saldan: Gunnot Assures Public that Thalranese State Has Sufficient Reserves to Avoid Debt for Duration of Payment Period.
*"A War Chest, But No War" Financial Reporter Reveals Vast Shantine Imperial and Church Treasuries, Comments on Enormous Budget Surplus as Most Governments Run Tight Margins.
*"Five Year Plan a Success" Alusian Non-Governmental Economy Reaches Parity with Pre-Plan Levels.
*"Strategic Planning" Nebai Industries Makes Sweeping Patent Claims and Lobbies for Extensive Grants in Disused Etheric Frequencies.
International Relations:
*"An Historic Thaw" Landmark Treaty of Saldan Embodies Unprecedent Normalization of Relations Between the Coalition Powers and the Fialta Imperium. Ambitious Agreement Charts End of Slavery in Fialta Territories, Partition of Anemic Fialta Confederacy into Functioning Pieces. 
**"If We Won't Go To War, We Need to Decide What Price We'll Take to Accept The Situation" Sources Comment that Saldan Meant Honorable Path to Accepting Thwarting of Aeldman-Led Imperial Containment Policy in Fialta Confederacy
**"Pleasure Doing Business" Abolition of Slavery Reduces Pall Over Commercial Ventures for Shantine Merchants in Fialta Space.
**"An Alusian Model Client" Proposed Fialta Union Represents Major First on Imperial Stage for Alusian Influence. Alusia Agrees to Cede Firbahnk, Long Considered Flashpoint with Marches, as Union Capital.
**"The Forces of Cooperation" Multiple Sources Indicate that Pentacle Churches Played Significant Role in Restraining Imperium Militancy. "The Kirvans Took Us to The Table, But the Pentacle Made a Deal Possible."
**"A Moral Paragon" Cosmic Polls Indicate that Majority of Shantine and Non-Shantine Credit Empress Theoboda Kataph With Key Leadership in Achieving Abolition. Alusian Patriarch of Ahlam Singles Out Kataph For Praise in Sermon of Thanks, Praises Empress Illyana for "Joining Her Strength to an Example of Active Kirvan Morality".
*"Rising Star?" Alusian Foreign Minister Giannis Politis Proves Instrumental in Developing Parameters for Nascent Union's Foreign Relations, Secures Shantaran Free State's Political Membership in New Country. Positive Reports of the Minister's Easy Manner and Commitment to Peace.
*"66% is an Upset; 6% is a Disaster" Confederate Partition Results Surprise International Commentators as Thalranese Marches Claim Estimated 28% of Confederate Territory. Sources Indicate Expected Split was Closer to 70-75% Imperium, 15-20% Union, 10% Thalranese.
**"A Speech for the Ages: Speaking with the Voice of Thalran" Prince Gunnot of Thalranese Marches Delivers Impassioned Diatribe Against Imperial Modernization Efforts, Linking them to State Tyranny and Decay of Fialta Way of Life. Under Pressure to Demonstrate Leadership Autonomy Against Great Powers and Suspicion of Overly Close Aeldman Cooperation, Gunnot Seizes Identity as Conservative Standard Bearer for Fialta.
**"A Tax Break Never Hurt Either" Imperium, Marches and Union Leveraged Special Concessions to Attract Princes. Union Promises Preferential Industrial Investment, Imperium Offers 2.5% Tax Break to Princes for 2 Years, Marches Offer Indefinite 5% Tax Break. Breakdown of Princes Choosing Imperium versus Other Powers Closely Follows Voting Lines on Confederate Constitutional Amendment Two Years Prior Creating Fialta Defense Community: Pro-FDC Princes Tended Overwhelmingly to Join Imperium. 
**"The Princes Wanted Autonomy Not Utopia" Union's Immediate Abolition Policy without Slaveholder Compensation and Promises of Economic Development Through Industrialization Believed to have Contributed to Lackluster Attraction of Princes in Partition Vote.
*"Paper State or Greatest Trick Shantara Ever Played?" Weakness of Union Leaves Prince Paloctus Outsized Voice of Fialta Princes in His New Nation, but in a Nation Economically and Politically Overshadowed by a Shantaran Majority.
*"The Grand Tour" Serene Doge Bareth Aefendt of Aeldrum Embarks on Historic Tour of Celestial Space. Visits New NCC Trade Partners, Monarch of Middle Kingdom, Receives Delegation from Yushan. 
**"Your Temperature is Unusual for an Elf" In Historic Meeting, Serene Doge Reopens Relations with Brass Cities After 45-Year Freeze.
**"A Near Thing" Allegations of Aeldman Espionage and Execution of Aeldman Nationals in Aksai Spur Aeldman War-Frenzy, Calmed by Careful Diplomacy and Messaging from the Serene Doge
**"Celestial Pivot?" As Doge Bareth Makes Photo Opportunities, Feverish Aeldman Diplomatic Activity in New Celestial Confederation and Nippon States.
*"Welcoming our Purifiers" King Konnor of Bec Grants Charter for Knights of Adarnum to Establish Chapter in Kingdom of Bec, with Mandate to Pursue and Suppress UrBehk Cult.
*"Foes to Friends" Nippon States Conclude Treaty of Alliance with Yushan; Joint Expedition Wins Decisive Battle Over Pirates, Alleges Triad Prince Sponsorship.
Military, Criminal and Disaster News:
*"Remarkably Peaceful" Kirvan Radicals Move Underground or Surrender as Peacekeeper Functions Pass to New Suzerains of Partitioned Confederacy. Imperium and Union Adopt Policies of Limited Amnesty; Dalthadi Church Chairs Truth and Reconciliation Committees Aimed at Fialta and Kirvan Atrocities.
**"Healing Hands" Idolmarite medical mission heals the physical and spiritual wounds of Pentacle worshippers and Kirvans alike. Two hundred patients report simultaneous visions of Idolmarite angel, miraculous restoration of injuries.
*"Riots in the Streets, Civil War on the Horizon?" Mass Urban Risings Against Delarman Regime Prompt Brutal Crackdowns, Street-Fighting. Enclave Embassy Deploys Guards to Protect Elvish Citizens in Delarman Capital; Confusion Reigns as Regime Leaders Denounce Each Other and Rebels. Contagion of Violence to Rural Areas Not Yet Reported. Rebel Demands Vary, But Themes of Hostility to Foreign Influence and Triad Faith Prevail. Rioters are presently multifaith, but strong Kirvan and Idolmarite strains in evidence.
*"A Planned Resurgence?" Failed KoA Operations in Fialta Imperial Space Lead Imperial Intelligence to Claim Knights of Adarnum Planning to Rebuild Marivan Cell. Public Executions of KoA Assets Become Standard: Some Kirvan Leaders in Imperium Oversee Ritual Burnings of "Heretical Terrorists."
Culture and General Interest:
*"New Fialta?" Fialta Cultural Hit, "Firebreaker Trilogy" and related Media Take Theater, Cinema and Fialta Ethernet by Storm. Themes of Fialta Nationalism Mix with Virtues of Silent Strength, Mercy and Peaceable Dominion without Disdain for the Dominated. General Popularity of Imperial State at Apparent All-Time High, Despite Concessions on Slavery and Sensitive Religious Issues. Firebreaker, Others, Offer Recitation of Imperial National Mythology and Emblazon Fialta Cultural Discussion with Fialta Cruciform -- "The Pentacle Waiting to be Reforged."
**"Cultural Diplomacy" Fialta Cultural Epics Reach Foreign Markets, Gaining Surprising Popularity in Aeldrum, Alusia; Shantine Public Response is Reserved, but Cultural Commentators Give Extensive Attention to Fialta Cultural Exports.
**"Parades of Welcome and Integration" Celebrations of Milestones in Imperial Status Across Fialta Space as Millions of Revelers Welcome New Imperial Subjects, Affirm Cultural Touchstones of Imperial Leadership over All Fialta.
**"New Management?" Fialta Emperor Announces Radical Shift in Imperial Succession Law, Draws on Lengthy Debate in Fialta Academic Circles to Justify Imperial Right to Designate Own Successor on any Basis. Emperor Declares Claudius, a Senior Naval Officer of Distinction, as Heir. 
**"A Signal" Heir is of Genteel but Not Aristocratic Birth, Rose From Junior Rank by Merit. Outrage in Imperial Family, Rumors of Attempts by Elderly Prince Felix to Challenge Claudius to a Duel. Non-Imperial Princes Exhibit Disdain and Concern for Choice, Credited in Large Part with Success of Marches in Claiming Significantly More Territory than Expected in Confederate Partition.
*"Silence in the Garden" No New Edicts from Veiled Masters of Nippon in Five Years.
*"Unusually Strong Criticism" Aeldman New Reform MP Jill Fermal Rails Against "Corruption in Aeldman Military Industrial Complex" as Aeldman Arms Contracts Bring Vast Sums to Economy, State and Ursa Arms Consortium, Chaired by Aeldman Minister of War Count Guillarme du Montreal. "Aeldrum is not a credible guarantor of peace when we arm foreign powers for the enrichment of our leaders."
**"Unusually Active" Serene Doge Defends Contributions of Count du Montreal in His Longest Parliamentary Floor Speech in 10 years. Aeldman Economic Successes Form Centerpiece of Speech and Public Polling Indicates Strong Positive Reaction.
*"I'm OK!" Saldanese Engineer Survives Two Hundred Foot Descent from Failed "Consumer" Hovercar, Vows Bespoke Hovercars will Pale in Comparison to "Air-Carriage of the Masses." "I'm putting in a grant request for a Mister Brass that I can reprogram to do the piloting next time"
*"Not Done Yet" After Wildfire Effect of Emancipation Speech, Patriarch Jan the Baptist of Bishant Maintains International Profile with Exhortations for Special Tithes to Achieve Early Liberation of Kirvans in Fialta States. Alusian and Aeldman Kirvans Open Pocketbooks for Unprecedented Donations, Matched in Full by Shantine Church. 
*"A Heavy Hand" Alusian Secret Police Crack Down on Hackers Bypassing Alusian Ethernet Content Restrictions. Leaked Video Shows Secret Police Brutality Against Suspected Hackers, Arousing Criticism from Clergy and Intelligentsia. 
**"Getting Organized" Re-broadcast of banned material has become more sophisticated, and despite stiff enforcement, dissident culture flourishes in semi-secret viewing rooms and on contraband radios.
*"Religious Cooperation Council" Aeldman Government, In Wake of Religious Unrest in Confederacy, Coordinates with Key Religious Leaders in Serene Duchy to Form Semi-Governmental Advisory Board for Religious Affairs. Chairs on Board Granted to Religious Leaders with at least 7% of Aeldman Faithful: Kirvan, Dalthadi, Idolmarite and Elvish Triad Leaders Take Posts, with Secular Chair Representing Aeldman State and Floating Chair to be Occupied by Rotation of Minority Faith Groups.
*"Pay or Resign!" Political Scandal in Sermaye as Collapse of Senior Politician's Financial Venture Jeopardizes Promised Private Funding for 200,000-person Sermayan "All Athletic Amphitheater"
*"The Great Cosmic Bake-Off" Popular Aeldman-Alusian Aethernet Program Showcases Regional and International Baking Techniques. Hailed as a Welcome Sign of Common Pleasures, Cosmic Bake Off Takes No. 2 Spot Behind OnlyFlames in Aethernet Traffic.
*"Noloth Will Reveal the Strands" Church of Spires Unveiled, Receives Official Aeldman Recognition and Achieves 7 Million Official Converts in Three Months. Nominal CoS Worship Places Proliferate in Aeldrum Spires and in Pin Jump.
**"Aeldman or Not, It's a Holy Place" Orcish Directorate Settlers in Directorate Quarter of Pin Jump Appear Highly Receptive to Sacred Status of Pin Jump. Staunchly Secular Orcish Leaders Rebuke "Corrupted" Converts.
**"More Mysteries for a Shadowed Faith" Third Mysterious and Unaccountable Appearance of Cultists of the Unnamed, Now at Lidenia. Dozens of Cultists lined up in vicinity of Castle Lidenia: former director of cleaning staff for late Count Homer alleges that they were standing at the very edge of the Lidenian dungeons.
**"The Faith We've Been Waiting For" Aeldman Elites, After Two Years of Enthusiastic Speculation, Flock to Church of Spires. Count Guillarme de Montreal and Minister Al'Hazred become first Cabinet-Level Aeldman Officials to Announce Conversion. Proposals for Pilgrimage and Evangelical Programs Spread Through Philanthropic Circles.
**"A Faith for a Nation, Not a Race" Ordinary Aeldman converts to Church of Spires, other Noloth-sects, enthusiastically describe appeal of faith opening space for patriotism beyond elvish culture, alternative to "foreign faiths."
**"Dangerous and Obscene" Sharp Criticism of Church of Spires from Religious Leaders in Aeldrum. Triad Exarch comments, "Either it's a Blasphemous Fiction or these poor fools are giving their worship to an Elder God. That possibility however remote should be of grave concern to us all."
*"Ethernet Cafes Go Cosmic" FialtaNet sees debut of Ethernet Cafes in Aeldman Model. Fewer Conspiracy Theories, More Debates About the Legality of the Lanius-Devacles Duel of '21 and the Validity of Rondels.
**"Can We Stick to the Issues?" Aeldman Ethernet Café Discussions of Labor Policy, Economic and Social Inequality Foster Robust Intellectual Community. "Just don't mention Noloth, it gets the trolls in a lather."
*"Chess Boxing – Schachkampf!" Chess Boxing Spreads Across the Lanes -- Alusian Sponsorship Sees Ready Adoption Among Confederate PeaceKeepers, Shantine Merchants Get In on the Game. "Black and Blue Meets Black v. White" In Exciting Game
Foreign Concerns Special Economic Report: GDP and GDP/100k people of the Great Powers:
*Serene Duchy of Aeldrum: 49.04k econ, 1.76/pop
*Shantine Empire: 32.96k econ, 1.27/pop
*Empire of Alusia: 27.28k econ, 1.75/pop
*Fialta Imperium: 23.08k econ, 1.22/pop
**with reparations: 25.94k econ, 1.38/pop
*Thalranese Marches: 5.58k econ, 2.69/pop
**with reparations: 6.02k econ, 2.9/pop
*Alusian economic growth surges as state investments take effect; Shantine growth driven largely by new Fialta Imperial trade; Imperium realizes growth from territorial annexations and trade