Foreign Concerns Gazette/Year 451 - 452

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***A Year of Unexpected Change***

**Economic News:**

* "Aeldrum Cannot Rely On Me To Last Forever" *Baron Emiir Announces Legacy Planning, Centered On Reproducing His Leadership Of Aeldrum's Wildly Profitable Industrial-State Cooperative System.*
	+ "Industrial Control Board" *Emiir's Legacy Institution, Industrial Control Board, To Harmonize Management of Industrial-State Cooperative. Board To Be Staffed By Directors of Aeldrum's Largest Consortia. Speculation That Count Du Montreal May Forego Reelection To Chair Institution.*
	+ "A Worthy Successor" *Baron Emiir Introduces Eva "Tissa" Bachelier as Deputy Minister of Finance, Designated Successor.* *Self-Made Ms. Bachelier Came From Middle Class Human Family on Aeldrum, Built Fortune On Unusual* "Cosmic Theory" *Of Market Behavior. Bachelier Was Early Convert To Church of Spires, Observers Remark On Close Personal Friendship With Former Aeldman Occult Minister Al'Hazred.*
* "Etheric Elevators" *Private Firms Take Aeldman Hovertech Patents, Debut Highly Profitable Material Transfer Systems Through Etheric Gates,* "No Need For Expensive Docks When You Can Run A Shuttle Train." *Still No Sign Of Cheap Flying Cars.*
* "The New Fialta" *First Cadets of Imperium Engineering Academy Complete First Year Of Intensive Program. Instructors Praise Cadets,* "These Officers Will Fight Economic Wars As Heroically As Their Forefathers Fought The Wars of Conquest"
* "Anti-Corruption Drive" *Alusian State Department Receives Broad Arrest Powers To Investigate, Hold Civil Servants Implicated in Corruption. Commentators Observe Significant Turnover In Departments Closest To Alusia's Greatest Sectors For Economic Growth.*
* "Hard To Grow When The World's On Fire" *Economic Woes in Celestial Space as War Drags On: Trade Disruptions, Violence, Economic Uncertainty Drive Investment Money Out Of Middle Kingdom.*
* "Phase Two Mechanization" *As Shantine Empire Places Largest Order Yet For Alusian F1s, Apparent Pivot In Policy As Shantine Enter Into Utilization Contracts For Four Aeldman F2s, Pre-Order Three Aeldman Hotspot Systems.* *Shantine Merchants, Aristocrats, Praise* "Vertical Integration" *Of Economic Development.*
* "Shut It Down" *Fialta Imperium Agrees to Suspend Operation of Celestial Conduit, Halting Trade, Investment and Colonial Movement Into Celestial Space.*
	+ "No Return Ticket" *With Shutdown of Celestial Conduit, Over 1 Million Pioneers and Colonial Troops Left Without Return Route Or Means of Direct Resupply.*
	+ "Healthy Interest" *Amidst Uncertainty, Bank of Valdos Recruits Estimated 7 Million Interested Colonists For Celestial Venture.*
* "Debt Addiction?" *Aeldman interest rates rise to 6% as Serene Duchy Raises Estimated 9% Of GDP Worth Of Debt. Anonymous Junior Minister,* "Every year, they [the cabinet] fight to keep the debt in check, and every year the debt wins."
	+ "Harsh Criticism For State-Industrial Entanglement" *Between State Projects And The Industrial State Conglomerates, Nearly 40% of Aeldrum's GDP Is Under State Or ISC Purview.* *Jill Fermal Calls For Strikes,* "The Industrial Control Board Will Be Our Cage! At This Rate, Half Our Economy Will Be Controlled By Montreal And His Elites! Half The Output of Near Three Billion Souls Will Be Decided By A Thousand!"
	+ "Self Sufficiency Measures" *Aeldman Trade Deficit Coverage Falls By Third, As Aeldrum Pursues Measures To Increase Export Capabilities of Minor Powers. Aeldman Deputy Finance Minister Circulates* "Bachelier Doctrine" *Emphasizing Foreign Direct Investment By Aeldman Firms In Developing Economies, Taking Compensation In Production Of Semi-Finished Goods To Prevent Local Currency Depreciation.*
	+ "Drag Debt" *Aeldman Consumer Debt Program Circulation Burgeons To Keep Up With Capital-Flows To ISC Sectors: Annual Debt Issuance Up Two Thirds From Inception.*
* "Bringing Imperial Techniques To Celestial Space" *Valdosians Deploy Alusian Prefab Habitations In Colonies, Post Vast Investments In Brass Cities.*
* "Decontraction In The State Enterprise" *Alusia Announces Tax-Preferred Status For Assets Held By The Alusian State Enterprise. Decontraction Effects Expected To Increase Size Of Alusian Economy Up To 4.5%. Alusian Economic Ministry Claims Alusian State Receipts Will Grow 6% From Measure. Bank Of Valdos Anticipated To Receive Major Benefits From Decontraction.*
* "Foundries and F1s" *Alusian Foundry And Infrastructural Facilities Begin To Integrate Into Alusian F1 Supply Chain, But Revenue Cannibalization Concerns Lead To Discussion Of Private Sector Spinoffs.*
* "Robust Domestic Market" *Alusian Domestic Factory Sales Hit 3500 Units, Larger Than Any Foreign Client. Experts Suggest That While Domestic Sales Will Never Demand Full Alusian Capacity, They May Prevent A Supply Chain Collapse In Event of Lost Foreign Sales.*
* "Hotspot Online" *Deutschreich Hotspot System Comes Online In Deutschreich-Alusia Economic Zone, More Systems To Follow In Deutschreich Interior.* *Sermaye-based AetherCorp Posts Top Profits Of Publicly Traded Sermayean Companies.*
* "Disappointing Reception" *League of Sovereign Republics Receives No* "Serious" *Responses To Trade Opening Proposal.*
* "Stable Currencies" *Leading Cosmic Currencies See Relatively Small Fluctuations Year-on-Year, Suggesting That Choppy Waters May Be Calming.*

**International Relations and Affairs:**

* "Mutual Defense" *Shantine Empire and Serene Duchy of Aeldrum Agree To Mutual Defense Pact. Any Declaration of War Upon Either Nation Shall Be Declaration Upon Both.*
* "Taking The Chair" *Patriarch Antim Of Ahlam Succeeds Late Foreign Minister Of Alusia Giannis Politis. Alusia-Watchers See Pivot Toward Bishant: Ahlam's First Official Engagement Is State Visit To Bishant, Meeting With Shantine Empress, Ahlam's Counterpart Patriarch Latakon.*
	+ "Fialta Affairs" *Alusia Nominates Deputy Ministerial Position Charged As Special Envoy To Fialta Territories, Assigned to Alusian Heir And Royal Consort, Prince Peter. Prince Peter's First Official Engagement Is Formal Visit And Hunting Trip With Fialta Imperial Court.*
* "Security Measures, Not War" *Prince Armalos of Thalranese Marches Dispatches Half Million Thalranese Soldiers Across Firhbank Border In Pursuit of Thalranese* "Bandit Warlord" *Marinia. Thalranese Forces Occupy Territory Surrounding Union Capital, Declare Fialta Union* "Failed State."
* "The Family Business" *Crown Princess Irboda Theoboda Valentina of the House Kataph Assumes Patriarchate of Thalranese Marches, Joins Her Mother Empress Theoboda In International Patriarchate. Thalranese Marches Permit Special Detachment of Shantine Imperial Guard to Ensure Security of Patriarchal Residence on Tar'Thalran.*
* "A Memo Of Hope" *Serene Duchy of Aeldrum, Fialta Imperium Release Memorandum of Understanding For Celestial Operations And Mutual Commitment To Regional Peace.*
	+ "A Wrinkle In The Promise" *Six Months After Release of Celestial Memorandum, Fragile Understanding Threatens To Collapse As Nipponese States Accuse Fialta Imperium of Selling Arms, Supplying Military Advisors to Middle Kingdom In Violation of Celestial Memorandum. Aeldrum, Imperium Agree To Joint Investigation, Suspending Celestial Conduit Operations Meanwhile.*
		- "A Monumental Hypocrisy" *Emissary of Middle Kingdom Lodges Public Protest With Aeldman Government.* "On The Word Of Nippon's Two-Faced Shades, A Conduit Which Promised Prosperity Is Suspended. The Possibility That The Middle Kingdom Might Receive Some Assistance Against Rapacious Invasion Is Cause For Cataclysmic Alarm, While Aeldrum's Ruling Businessmen Make a Fortune Selling Arms To Those Who Cry Against Foreign Interference."

**Military, Criminal and Disaster News:**

* "Glory and Carnage" *After Lightning Campaign And Crushing Victory Over Union Security Forces, Thalranese Priestess Marinia Leads Warband Into Heart of Fialta Union Capital, Seizing City.*
	+ "Folk Hero" *Before Invading, Marinia Rallied Largest Force Yet, Over A Quarter Million Strong, In Speech From Firbahnk Hills,* "This sword is the sign of Thalran. By this sign, the Fialta will remember that their birthright is conquest. Let any plush princely lapdog of foreign heathenry make answer if he dares."
	+ "Waste Not, Want Not" *Prince Paloctus Reported Dead Minutes Ahead of Marinia's Triumphal Entry Into Union Capital. Cadaver Seized And Strung Up By Marinia's Retinue.*
	+ "Encircled" *Thalranese Forces Close In On Union Capital, Invest City.* "We Have The Artillery To Pound Every Soul In the City Into The Rubble, But We Are Prepared To Negotiate."
* "Slow Grind" *Nipponese Alliance Presses Middle Kingdom, Aksai On All Sides, But Few Breakthroughs.*
	+ "Stiffer Resistance" *Middle Kingdom General Luande Rallies Forces At Critical Gates Of Volune, Stalls Nipponese Invasion Force. Middle King Raises Luande To Duke.*
	+ "Out Of the Game" *Thalranese Mercenaries In Celestial Space Complain Of Missed Opportunity To Participate In Union Campaign.*
	+ "Translane Technology In Action" *Third Party Observers Claim Nipponese Maneuvers Are Evidence Of Large-Scale Adoption of Translane Technology.*
* "High Treason" *Patriarch of Korinth, Hundreds of Supporters Seized And Extradited To Bishant In Ruthless 24-Hour KoA Operation, On Charges Of Treason Against Empress Theoboda And Conspiracy To Assassinate The Empress And Grandmaster Kane.*
	+ "Who Were The Conspirators?" *Alleged Accomplices of Patriarch of Korinth Included Korinth Chapter of Knights of Adarnum, Populated By Radicals Linked To Tenure of Halifax Novascotia.*
	+ "Why Were They So Beautiful?" *Hushed Rumors, Gibbered Recollections Of Doomed Prisoners Give Chilling Outline Of Knights Of Adarnum Engaged In Korinth Operations. Stories Of Warriors Eight Feet Tall, Shrugging Off Mortal Wounds, Tearing Korinth's Bodyguards Limb From Limb,* "Every Biomantic Sorcery, Poured Into A Perfect Living Statue Carved In The Pitiless Countenance Of Adarnum's Vengeance"
	+ "Give Them Fire" *Empress Theoboda Condemns Korinth Conspirators To Public Immolation. Millions Assemble Outside Great Basilica Of Bishant To File Past Execution Pyres.*
	+ "Front Row Seat" *Empress Theoboda, Grand Master Kane Preside Over Burning Of Korinth Conspirators. Kane Lights Pyre Of Patriarch of Korinth, Delivers Speech Promising Vengeance To Those Who Oppose Bishant, Kane Or Adarnum.*
	+ "A Disgusting Miscarriage Of Justice" *Patriarch of Aeldrum Censures Proceedings In Korinth Case.* "This Is Adarnan Tyranny, Not Kirvan Faith. Thalran Burned Kirva's Enemies Once, Too." *Aeldman Cardinal of Idolmar Writes Concurring Statement,* "Aeldrum Should Not Be In A Defensive Alliance With A Power That Recklessly Stokes The Fires Of Unthinking Zeal"

**Culture and General Interest:**

* "Baronial Favors" *Aeldman Parliament Awards Baronial Titles At Recommendation of Serene Doge Guillarme To Senior Cabinet Officials Manuel Emiir, Chella Nebai, Kyra Lazarus.*
* "Secularism's First Great Moment?" *News Of Aeldman Financing For Saldanese* "Belief Bomb" *Project Sparks Severe Condemnation From Aeldman Secularists, Progressives.*
	+ "Resolved To Our Satisfaction" *Aeldman Cabinet Claims Funding Was Bareth-Era Initiative, Used To Secure IP Rights Over Belief Bomb R&D To Deny Opportunity To Irresponsible Foreign Powers. With Appointment Of Secularist Leader Baron Vanel As Minister for Secular Affairs and Aeldman Values, Secularist Complaints Subside.*
* "Demanding a Voice" *Native Telranians Protest Local Water Use Laws Instituted By Telrion Governor, Elected By Aeldman Citizens Resident On-Planet. Ninety Percent Of Telranians Are Not Aeldman Citizens And Do Not Have Voting Rights On Matters That Affect Them. Telranian Protests Spark Wave Of Sympathetic Protests Across Aeldman Colonies, Demanding Political Rights For Non-Citizens.*
	+ "Turnabout Is Political Disaster" *Aeldman MPs Robustly Decry Dangers Of Extending Franchise.* "It Is Absurd And Offensive To Suggest That Aeldrum's Subjects Should Decide On Matters Of Core And Capital."
	+ "Reckoning Deferred?" *Aeldman Parliament Votes To Devolve Local Legislative Power To Assemblies Elected By Residents, Regardless Of Citizenship Status. Protests Largely Subside Over Concession.*
	+ "Grand Bargain" *Doge Luvelath Receives Credit For Complex Political Negotiations Necessary For Aeldman Constitutional Amendment To Achieve Legislative Devolution In Colonies.*
		- "Where Was Montreal?" *Criticism From Conservatives Over Lack Of Leadership From Serene Doge. Media Pundits Refer To Luvelath As* "The Other Serene Doge."
		- "The Big Split" *With Grand Bargain, Fault Lines Become Impossible To Conceal, And Leading Aeldman Political Coalition Sunders Into Four Camps. Industrialists Under Serene Doge Guillarme, Colonialists Led By Doge Luvelath, New Conservatives Led By Count Ovrhim, Secularists Led By Baron Vanel.*
			* "A Noble Disaster?" *Luvelath's Policies May Spell Doom For Luvelath Political Machine, As Neveth Spire Aristocrats Criticize And Drift From Colonial Party.*
			* "Who Is the Next Serene Doge?" *No Clear Front-Runner To Succeed Serene Doge Guillarme, No Clear Mandate For Incumbent To Seek Second Full Term.*
* "Fulfilling Her Destiny" *Empress Theoboda Receives Visitation From Kirvan Angel, Leandra, At Burning Of Korinth Conspirators. Fires Of Condemned Said To Redouble In Strength As Visiting Angel Draws Flames Into Twisting Firestorm To Give Herself Shape. Before Assembled Millions, Leandra Declares Theoboda A Living Prophet, A Saint Pre-Destined, Heralds* "Golden Age" *Assured By Empress-Patriarch.*
	+ "Wild Jubilation" *Shantine, Kirvans Across Cosmos Proclaim Adoration For Empress.*
	+ "The Chronicle of Adarnum" *Patriarch Latakon of Highveldt Presents Sumptuous Hand-Lettered Copy of Adarnum's Hagiography To Empress.* "The Prophet-King Is The Only Worthy Example That Remains For Your Majesty To Follow."
* "Another Kirvan On The Cabinet" *Alusian Economic Minister Marina Nueva Openly Admits Kirvan Faith, Praises* "Warm and Bright" *Future Of Kirvanism*.
* "State Exams" *Alusia Implements System of State Personality And Aptitude Exams To Augment Civil Service Test.*
	+ "A Different Take On Difficult Personalities?" *Marina Nueva Leads Carefully Constructed Team Of Maverick Economists, Censured Civil Servants, Other* "Reformed" *Alusian Administration Gadflies.*
* "Welcome to the Family" *Titular Television and Ethernet Program, A Joint Production Of Alusian Kirvan Church And Alusian Ministry For Culture, Follows Life Of Fictional Kirvan Immigrant Family In Alusia. Prefab Apartment Setting Supports Cast of Characters Showcasing Breadth Of Alusian Experience. Program Enjoys High Ratings, Praised By Viewers For* "Wholesome Comedy and Good Values."
	+ "A Fine Example of Our Values" *Alusian Religious Council Issues Bulletin Of Support For Alusian Ethernet Program, Citing Virtues Of Tolerance, Hard Work.*
	+ "Uplifting Humor" *Carefully Scripted Program Emphasizes Laughs* "With, Not At" *Diverse Characters*
	+ "A Break Without Spectacle" *Cosmic Syndication Talks As Alusian Program Offers Relief From Anxiety Of Uncertain Cosmos. Renowned International Film Producer Rex Regis Roy Rez IV,* "This is a new flavor, and people love it. It's not Fialta cinema if someone doesn't die brutally, it's not Shantine without a tearful existentialist monologue or a fire scene, it's not Sermayan unless someone gets rich or dies trying, it's not Aeldman unless the protagonist is better than you, and if you understand what the hell's happening, it's not Saldanese. This Alusian production is entertainment without the need for heroes or villains."
* "Where Is The Enterprise?" *As Alusian Flagship Television Program Completes Exciting Season, News Of Real-Life Inspiration Remains Scant.*
	+ "Novelty" *Viewers Praise* "Enterprise" *Program For Engaging Plots, Unexpected Stories. Rex R.R. Rez IV,* "Truly international cosmic cinema has been stale – the Fialta programming we've seen the last ten years is beautiful stuff, but it isn't really *for* consumption outside the Imperium or the Pentacle, you just can't get all the references. *Bareth* is a great biopic but it's *for* Aeldmen. Even the Alldmen speech. Especially the Alldmen speech."
	+ "Why Aren't We Going?" *Aeldman, Shantine Writers Question Why Exploration Is Alusia's Province.* "Our Merchants Closed The Frontiers This Century, But There's A New One Waiting For Us"
* "Is It Heresy To Restore the Weave?" *Spirans Question Theological Basis Of Spiritual Arguments Against Fialta Conduit. Two Camps Emerge,* "Constructivists" *Emphasizing Possibility of Extending Noloth's Weave, Even Mastering It, And* "Purists" *(derisively,* "Primordialists") *Committed To The Sanctity of Noloth's Natural Form.*
	+ "Unravelling?" *Under Theological Pressure, Spiran Splinter Factions Emerge. Some Twenty Percent of Spirans Profess Membership In Spiran Churches Outside Church of Spires Mainstream.*
* "Reward For Loyal Service?" *Shantine Empress Elevates Mataxes To Patriarchate Of Korinth.*
	+ "Burn The Impurities" *First Act of Patriarch Mataxes Is To Ritually Burn Residence Of Predecessor, Purge And Banish Swathes Of Korinthian Clergy.* "My Rest Shall Be In The Shadow Of The Pulpit."
		- "Like-Minded" *Mataxes Creates Archbishopric of Zanevuela. Inaugural Holder,* Teresa "The Blind" *Was Major Leader In Zanevuelan Uprising In Second Coalition War, Reportedly Lost Sight Mid-War Allowing An Angel To See Through Her So That* "Kirva Might Witness Our Sacrifices*.*" *Tens Of Thousands Of Wounded Veterans Of Zanevuela Conflict Assemble To Receive Teresa's Benediction.*
	+ "The Sainted House" *Patriarch Mataxes Delivers Six Hour Speech On Heroic Lineage Of House Kataph.* "This Most Glorious House Could Not But Yield A Prophet."