Vascania

[Aquinas]

Manas asked to become "Emperor of Terra, Heaven and Eternity"

[Pragma]

Multural & Reaksocial Expand Contracts


Vascania-based communications firm, Multural, has signed a number of new contracts abroad and another contract at home after an aggressive marketing
campaign by the firm's leadership to appeal to international governments. The company, headed by CEO Kayana Umunkart, had previously worked with
the Vascanian government to modernise the communications systems abroad the nation's growing fleet. It has since began a new contract with the
Endralon-based Kos Web Group to build the Endralon's communication chain, with rumours of future government work abounding. The Artanian nation has
a less robust communications-related infrastructure, but has previously worked alongside Vascania for oil exports and will now also be importing
technological knowledge and expertise.

Multural will also be helping to 'maximise the efficiency' of the Svarga missile program, which refers to the extensive anti-air system defending the
nation's vast oil reserves around the Great Vascania Lake, the coast of Khond State and the northern tip of Kalam Nadu and Avidangana State. The system,
which has been touted as 'impervious' to foreign aerial offensives, will be updated as part of a plan by the government to ensure the nation's newly
enlarged military is ran efficiently and adeptly. Multural will be helping to ensure the coordination between missile positions will be 'effective and
successful', according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

Reaksocial, Vascania's premier social media networking company, has also expanded further afield with operations starting up in a number of Majatran
and Artanian nations - also including Endralon. The firm's CEO, Jhartu Manai, said in a statement that he and his company were 'over the moon' at the
'new opportunities to grow and share our vision'. The company began with a number of DIY and cooking-oriented sites, but has since grown into a
worldwide phenomenon with popular picture sharing apps. It recently expanded into helping small creators build their own sites, such as for blogs and
small business websites. Reaksocial has previously attracted controversy after failing to disclose the sources of its start-up funds, with suggestions the
firm has been involved with criminal elements in Vascanian society. Reaksocial has denied this repeatedly and points to an investigation in Avidangana
State that found no criminal activities upon inspection.


The Kayal Journal is Vascania's leading business and technology newspaper. It is based in Kayal Island.

[Pragma]

Harishapta Movement Achieves Official Recognition


The dualistic religious movement known as 'Harishapta' has been successful in its multi-year bid for national recognition as a religion. The news was met
with celebration from members of the group's clerg, but a degree of scepticism among many high-profile religious figures who see it as verging on
heretical. Vascania, a nation that officially endorses the religious views of Sundarat Dharma, maintains a list of groups allowed official status which was
recently made to disclude Ahmadis after an effort by the national parliament.

Alongside Geraja, Daenism and Hosianism, Harishapta will now be recognised as a sanctioned way of life that differs from the state's religious orthodoxy.
Developing from folk traditions of Sundarat Dharma, the Harishapta movement prises loyalty and creativity highly. It will now have the ability to
construct new religious sites, have its theological views taught in schools, present officials to the Emperor on matters of state and potentially forego
most taxation levied against other groups. The groups is thought to have as many as 200,000 members.


Vascania News is the national public broadcaster and information outlet for the Vascanian Empire.

[Pragma]

Princess Sumitra Fuels Speculation As Emperor Manas 'Taken Ill'


The Emperor's youngest daughter, Princess Sumitra, has created much speculation after a number of moves widely seen as setting the stage for an
attempt at claiming the throne. Although her eldest brother, Prince Vrateyu, had been thought of as the presumptive successor to the aging Emperor
Manas III, the Princess is an adept political operator and a firm believer in empowering the clergy and the influence of religion in the nation's affairs.
In a series of meetings with senior religious officials, many of whom will influence the choice of the Emperor's successor, the Princess made clear her
vision of a Vascania 'guided by virtue'. She has reportedly contrasted herself with her modernising brother, who has supported reaffirming the monarch's
role as purely ceremonial for many years - both in public and in private.

Prince Vrateyu had been the only close relative of the Emperor to show an interest in the position until this point, though he is not an uncontroversial
choice. He has cultivated a modern and cosmopolitan image, regularly socialising with Vascania's new business and entertainment elite. A prolific writer
and an economist by trade, the Prince has made no secret of his plans to modernise imperial institutions. He has previously stated he will 'come out
from behind the curtain' if he is made the new Emperor, which has been interpreted as a statement of opposition to Emperor Manas III's position of
distance and seclusion from the Vascanian public.

His youngest sister is much the opposite politically, having been tutored by conservative figures of the imperial court closely aligned with the Emperor's
deceased wife. The Empress consort had little influence over her male children, but chose to take an active interest in the lives of her daughters. Her
own positions, which had been described by associates after her death as 'authoritarian', were inherited by the young Princess Sumitra. The Princess has
lived, since her mother's death, in a secluded palace in Hamal Pradesh. The palace, built upon an ancient fortress and overlooking a prestigious
monastery, has at various times invited highly conservative guests and authoritarian leaders from across the globe. Some have dubbed it the 'Vampiric
Fortress' and the Princess herself as the 'Vampire Empress'.

Under the royal law of Vascania, the Imperial throne is granted to whomever of the Emperor's close relatives is elected by the Imperial Council - a group
of the nation's most powerful religious figures tasked with supporting and informing the monarch. In the more-than-300 years Vascania has used this
system, no serious challenge has ever been made to the favoured successor. Only two 'contested' elections have ever occured, with both issues sorted
almost immediately after voting began. The Council generally prefers more conservative - and more male - contenders, but usually does whatever the
incumbent Emperor had wanted them to.

This takes place after the Emperor, Manas III, was reported to be 'taken ill' by sources close to the imperial court. If the Emperor were to pass away, the
spectre of the nation's first ever truly contested council could divide the nation sharply along traditional and modernising lines. An Emperor Vrateyu could
move Vascania further into the territory of a developed, westernised nation - reliant on international trade and with more secular values. An Empress
Sumitra would present an unprecedented challenge to the emerging modernisation consensus among Vascania's political elite. She would undoubtedly
move the nation in the direction of firm theocracy, making every attempt to give more and more power to the traditional sources of piety and power. The
Emperor, for his part, has been through these health scares before - so there is no reason to suspect such an event is coming anytime soon.


The Kamalata Times is a centre-left newspaper based in the capital city of Vascania, Kamalata. It focuses on internal affairs, particularly social issues.

[Pragma]

Vascania Announces FOMAT Entry




Vascanian public broadcaster VTV has teamed up with Kayal Island-based record label 'VascaMuseek' to produce Vascania's first entry into the FOMAT
international song contest. The song, a desi-pop entry called 'Left To Love' will be sung by the duet AKIRA - made up of two former winners of the
V-Factor singing competition, Tayana Jharitim and Vishnan Singh. Jharitim and Singh placed 2nd and 5th respectively in the same year, developing a
friendship that would eventually lead to the duo creating a number of tracks together under the name 'AKIRA'. Now, they have been internally selected
by VTV to represent Vascania at the world's biggest international song festival, becoming the sixth entrant in the contest - which is being held in Hutori.

The song has been criticised by some for being mostly in Luthorian, as opposed to being primarily in a native Vascanian language. Some have defended
the use of Luthorian as a way to reach a wider audience, while others say it is passing up on an opportunity to send Vascanian-language songs to an
international audience. The song still retains a number of lyrics in Rajavanshi - the fourth most spoken language in Vascania. Singh and Jharitim both
have large social media followings, who have overwhelmingly responded positively to the song's 'catchy' hook and 'modern' feel. The contest is due to
occur next year, with Kalistan and Deltaria being heavy favourites.


The Kayal Journal is Vascania's leading business and technology newspaper. It is based in Kayal Island.

[Pragma]

Emperor Manas III Has Died


His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Manas III has passed into his next life, peacefully and surrounded by loved ones, at the age of 82. Emperor of both the
Vascanian and Malivian Empires, Manas III's presence has been a constant throughout a 42-year period of economic and military expansion. As the
nation's supreme cultural and religious figurehead, the Emperor has guided his realms through interethnic violence, unrest in Bhaporistan, a war with
Kurageri, an economic and energy revolution, Vascania's election to the Security Council, the production of Vascania's first aircraft carrier and a number
of other major events.

The Emperor, who has reigned on the Vascanian throne since January 4740, had grown ill late last year. It has since been revealed that he was battling
pancreatic cancer, the same cancer that had killed his father, Emperor Shiras. Born in the Imperial Palace itself, Manas grew to be an internationally
respected leader - chosen with great public support to become the monarch of Rapa Pile and Malivia during his reign. He married Empress Consort
Saraya 4727, though she died eight years into his reign. He is survived by his five sons and two daughters, who have between them forty grandchildren
and three great-grandchildren.

Reigning for over four decades, Manas III was beloved by the vast majority of his over-500-million subjects. His death has been met with an outpouring
of grief within his domain, with the nation's bells staying still and all shops closing their doors. Many on the streets of the nation's largest cities, such as
Sangora and Kamalata, have been seen weeping, while priests of the Imperial Court and across the nation's many temples have conducted sacred rituals
that the Emperor may pass on successfully to the next life. Though the Emperor had mostly conducted his business from a secluded position, his new
year messages and annual addresses to the parliament gave Vascanians, the Pilese people and Malivians of all linguistic and ethnic groups a glimpse into
the Emperor's personality.

A dignified and intelligent man by all personal accounts, his four surviving Prime Ministers have made lengthy posts on social media expressing their
admiration for the late Emperor. Former PM Subhas Luitail's post has received 14 million likes in the past four hours, with Durga Upamash and incumbent
Prime Minister Kavita Mohite also received many millions of likes for their comments. The Prime Minister is set to address the nation tonight and is
expected to use the opportunity to express a sentiment of national unity, as well as to reflect on the nation's growth under the reign of Manas III.

In Vascania, his successor shall be selected by the nation's elite council of priests, monks and brahmins. The next monarch shall be selected from among
the Emperor's willing close relatives. If only one member of the family steps forward, as is the common practice, then the election and coronation shall
be officiated within the next two months. If multiple candidates step forward, as is expected this time, the election may drag on for months. It is
expected for both the Emperor's eldest son, the reformist Prince Vrateyu, and his youngest daughter, the traditionalist Princess Sumitra, to step forward.
Prince Vrateyu is favoured to emerge victorious. Malivia is free to make its own choice of imperial successor, thought it is expected one of Manas'
children shall receive the honour.


Vascania News is the national public broadcaster and information outlet for the Vascanian Empire.

[Pragma]

Empress Sumitra Crowned


Above: an artist's depiction of the Empress during her coronation.


The youngest daughter of the late Emperor Manas III has been elected by the Imperial Council over her oldest brother. Empress Sumitra won the vote
against Prince Vrateyu overwhelmingly, despite having been written off by many insiders due to her low profile and highly traditional views of the
monarchy and its role. Regardless, Empress Sumitra has been praised for her piety and determination by many in her father's oild court, with Prince
Vrateyu conceding in a televised speech made shortly after her election. The Empress has thus become the third female monarch of the united
Vascanian Empire, head of state over 400 million people and inheritor of a growing international power.

In a lavish ceremony at Sriyashini Temple in Kalam Nadu, the historic coronation site of Vascanian monarchs, the Empress was crowned by the most
senior Brahmin of the Imperial Council - a close friend of her late father. Receiving dignitaries from across the globe, onlookers remarked upon the
Empress' 'grace and majesty'. The event was televised across Vascania to an audience of more than 300 million, with the day having been declared a
national holiday in anticipation of high public interest in the ceremony. The Prime Minister, Kavita Mohite, also swore fealty to the new Empress - as
did all members of her cabinet.

The Empress herself remarked upon the occasion, the gravity of her new position and the legacy of her late father. Her long speech was well-received
by most commentators and the general public, with many neighbourhoods breaking out in song as the national anthem was played towards the
ceremony's end. In the Empress' coronation speech, she stated that her goals were to 'ensure our national security and stability' amidst a period 'of
great uncertainty'. The remarks of the PM and a number of state governors struck a more positive and optimistic message, emphasising the 'steps
forward' made by the nation in recent decades.

Empress Sumitra has long be considered one of the more authoritative figures in the Raktavani Dynasty, with a deep personal belief in the duty of the
monarch to guide, in an active manner, the political course of the nation. She has professed, in private, to believe firmly in the divine right of the
monarch and to support the theory that monarchs are 'guided divinely'. Her deep religious convictions have also led her to be viewed as a threat by
Ahmadi leaders in Vascania, though the Empress has made few public comments professing any particular political or ideological stances. This may
soon change, however, as those close to the new monarch suggest she will take an 'active role' in current affairs in a major departure from the
distanced approach of her late father, Emperor Manas III.


Vascania News is the national public broadcaster and information outlet for the Vascanian Empire.

[colonelvesica]

FOMAT-II Concludes in Hutori; Vascania Finishes Fourth

[Lucipher]

Medina makes massive military purchases; Kermani Doctrine opened to Dovanian Powers

[Pragma]

Kavita Mohite Invites Empress To Regular Cabinet Meetings


The Prime Minister, Kavita Mohite, has extended a formal invitation to the Empress to attend the weekly meetings of the nation's cabinet. Previously, the
monarch - who also serves as the head of the national religion - had been sent a copy of the cabinet meeting minutes after the event, though the
Empress has written to her Prime Minister asking for the ability to be present so as to offer feedback - a request now granted. Mohite's invitation will also
allow the Empress to offer input on ministerial proposals and ask questions, in person, to her ministers. Mohite publically explained her decision to have
the Imperial presence at the cabinet as a step 'to ensure a concordant vision of our collective Vascanian future that the political, public, royal and
religious realms can support'.

The decision has been criticised heavily by the opposition LSS (Luthorian: Democratic Socialist Group), who have suggested that the move is 'blurring
important lines' between the nation's elected and monarchical institutions. Though officially neutral on the monarchy, the LSS and many of its most
high-profile members have been strongly opposed to the measure and rejected it when it was suggested during the government of socialist Durga
Upamash. The move has been met with general approval, however, by members of the public. The measure attracts 54% support compared to 24%
opposition, with 22% undecided or neutral.


Vascania News is the national public broadcaster and information outlet for the Vascanian Empire.