Vascania

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Re: Vascania

Postby Pragma » Thu Jul 02, 2020 7:32 pm

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Vora Dolphin Taken Off Endangered Species List
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Scientists have today announced that the Vora dolphin, endemic to Lake Vora and the river valley surrounding it, is no longer considered 'endangered'. Its
numbers have recovered sufficiently from previous lows that biologists are confident the species can continue to thrive for the foreseeable future. This is
the second endemic Vascanian species this decade to be taken off the list of endangered animals after the Ustal tiger was successfully saved from the
brink of extinction by a massive regional effort involving the federal and state government.

This is further good news for the nation's ecological community and Vascania's general biodiversity after a series of conservation schemes began under
Prime Minister Subhas Luitail 13 years ago. The conservation schemes were originally initiated by the extinction of four species of endemic monkey in the
last century alone. Only a handful non-human primates continue to exist on the continent.

The Vora dolphin had been considered one of the harder cases for conservations because of difficulties in capturing the animal safely and bringing it into
captivity. A concerted effort by local communities along the Vora river valley was eventually successful in spite of oil drilling occuring in the Great
Vascanian Lake which connects to the River Vora. So far, no oil spills have occured in the lake and the government has said it is 'taking all necessary
precautions' to ensure local ecosystems are not damaged.

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Sanctuary Vascania is a nature and ecology newspaper based in Vora City, Rajavant State, Vascania. It primarily covers environmental affairs on the continent.
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Re: Vascania

Postby Pragma » Fri Jul 03, 2020 9:05 pm

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Vatavana Sees 'Highest Tourism Figures Ever' After Social Media Campaign
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Vatavana, a city on Vascania's southern coast, has reported its 'highest tourism figures ever' after the local government initiated a viral social media
campaign to attract young tourists from overseas. Using Vascanian-made social media sites like BeatBot, the city's local government engineered a
campaign that brought on board some of the nation's largest influencers to raise awareness of the tropical resort. This is a pioneering and particularly
successful example in using social media to advertise a place rather than a corporate brand, and many other towns and cities in Vascania are taking note.

The local government worked with media companies like Multural and reaksocial to design marketing gimmicks. For example, the city council took
advantage of the area's elephant sanctuary to create a viral trend in which Vascanian influencers tasked their fans to make the best imitative noise of an
elephant they could. The best examples that got the most engagements on the site would then get to chat with their favourite influencer for 15 minutes,
where the conversation would tend to gravitate towards how great the Vatavana beach is and how cool the sightseeing there is. Giveaways and free trips
to Vatavana were also used as prizes to encourage young people to engage with the trends. Almost all the videos circulated online would incorporate
imagery of the Vatavana beaches and the historic town centre, clearly labelling the name of the area.

The local government also worked with models internationally to get them to make sponsored content in the resort. Some of this was as simple as taking
a picture on the beach, while in other cases some were tasked with creating daily vlogs to document their travels. Some have suggested this tactic is in
some way 'cheap' or may have led to a 'misleading' view of the area - both charges the city council has denied. One city councillor told the Kayal Journal
that 'we have used the medium of today to talk to young people and it has worked. The old forms are advertising are not working as well as they used to
be, so we all have to take note of how we are raising awareness of the sites in our locale that our worth seeing'.

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The Kayal Journal is Vascania's leading business and technology newspaper. It is based on Kayal Island and is ran as a private business.
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Warplane Program Renewed
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The Vascanian government's jet production program has been renewed after a vote in the parliament in favour of creating a further 50 planes in the next
five years. This extends the planned period for air force expansion, which had began under former Prime Minister Subhas Luitail 15 years ago. The hope
was to expand the national air force past 400 combat aircraft of some form or another. This target was well exceeded after money from oil reserve
drilling was funnelled into the project. Cracking the 500 barrier, as this enlargement would guarantee, would give Vascania the largest combat air force
in the far-east by far. It would also bring Vascania's total aircraft to over 2,000 vehicles and beyond 300,000 personnel when including reservists.

The plan includes the production of 20 new Kanistha Va-52 jets. This is a twinjet, air-superiority plane with air-to-ground and air-to-air capabilities,
recently upgraded to be a heavy, all-weather, long-range fighter as well. The other part of the plan is the production of 30 new Surasa Va-30 jets. This is
lightweight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft with a particular focus on interception, attacks against ground and at-sea targets, as well as aerial
reconnaissance. Both are primarily manufactured in the central states of Utsal, Bhaporistan and Surasa; though the east-coast state of Zaqrandi Pradesh
is expected to have new military factories open soon, creating hundreds of new jobs in the local area.

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

Postby Pragma » Sat Jul 04, 2020 5:09 pm

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Upamash Declines 4th Term As VRK Surge In Polls
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Prime Minister Durga Upamash has declined the opportunity to run for a fourth term, announcing that she will be stepping down after twelve years at the
helm of governance. Her decision comes after polls have consistently shown her party struggling against the major opposition party, the VRK (Luthorian:
National Action Party). Upamash's Democratic Socialists had tried to convince the popular incumbent PM to run for a fourth term, hoping her own personal
popularity could combat the charismatic campaign being ran by VRK leader Kavita Mohite. The socialists are trailing Mohite's party by 38% to 44% in recent
polling averages.

Mohite has won support around the country after taking a heavily populist right stance on almost all issues, using her cultural conservatism to bring the
breakaway Nationalist List back into the fold just ahead of the election. She has railed against the 'liberal elite' while sidelining economically libertarian
members of her party. She has also came out ferociously against 'further Ahmadi influence in Vascania' and suggested having a quota for Ahmadi
immigrants. Combined with a previous merger with the Agrarian Party, the VRK is now the only right-of-centre nationwide party capable of passing the
2.5% popular vote threshold required to win seats in the parliament. The Communitarian Party, which faces left on economic issues and right on culture
issues, has struggled to gain much traction as Mohite has skillfully handled economic questions without coming across as too right-wing.

Upamash has had a complicated rule over Vascania, having led the nation to victory against Kurageri and having also greatly expanded the nation's oil
production system. She has, however, been attacked for refusing to take a stand on cultural issues and for the sinking of the VIS Paristan in the Kurageri
war, which resulted in 172 deaths. Elected in a majority nearly 12 years ago, the hype around Upamash as a political operator has diminished over time
even as living standards have improved in many of Vascania's working class areas such as Utsal and Bhaporistan. Ultimately, relentless attacks from Mohite
and a newly reunited right added up to a challenge Upamash was unwilling to face down.

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

Postby Pragma » Sat Jul 04, 2020 9:32 pm

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Election 4780: Right-Wing Set To Form Next Government
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After twelve years at the head of the Vascanian government, the socialist LSS has likely lost power to the national-conservative VRK under Kavita Mohite.
With 334 seats, the VRK is the largest party by some margin, head of the LSS on 282. This constitutes a 46-seat fall for the the left, leaving them with
little chance to form government. The VRK's Mohite ran a populist campaign, railing against trade union leaders, 'liberal elites' and Ahmadi immigrants.
Without the personal popularity of Prime Minister Durga Upamash - who stood down after 12 years in office - the LSS struggled to make the case for an
unprecedented fourth term in office for a left-wing party. They were also hampered by Mohite's careful rhetorical maneuvering on economic issues,
where she presented herself as being willing to continue many of the socialists' internal development initiatives.

The VRK has already announced it will be beginning talks with minor right-wing parties and the moderate NPG, who themselves have seen yet another
drop in their parliamentary representation. The NPG are likely to demand concessions from Mohite on environmental policy. Insiders suggested before
the election that Mohite would offer the NPG a nuanced energy settlement, in which Vascania continued to export oil internationally but internally
moved towards a nuclear-and-renewable based system. Whether or not this would be enough will depend on the NPG's willingness to bend their hardline
ecological position in favour of entering government. During the campaign, the NPG's environment spokeswoman is noted to have said 'dignified
opposition does not help us enact policy change' - a break from party leadership who had previously refused to bend on the oil issue when attempting to
form a coalition with the socialists after the last election. Another key concern of the NPG in entering coalition with the VRK is Mohite's history of
embracing anti-Ahmadi sentiment, which contrasts with the NPG's social liberalism.

The Communitarian Party, who are part of the current coalition and tend do position themselves on the cultural right and economic left, made modest
gains but once again struggled to make a breakthrough. A few independents and regional party candidates were elected, in particular in Rapa Pile -
where the Liberals and VRK-aligned SP each won 17 seats. The MSP is likely to enter government alongside the continental VRK, as the two parties are
strongly aligned politically and the SP's seventeen votes in parliament will help pass reforms that may be opposed by the Socialists.

Vascania is a large and diverse nation, so the story of the election can be subdivided regionally:

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North: Kalam Nadu, Avidangana & Tannaraga
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The collapse of the far-right LRS massively benefited the VRK in the north, were they stormed back into their historic dominance of the area. Middle class
voters in the rural and suburban north tend to be quite socially conservative, and so have generally voted for conservative and nationalist parties. The
socialist LSS have had troubles establishing a foothold in the region, which has somewhat fewer of the poorer urban areas the LSS generally does well in.
This election, the socialists did not fall back much as they did in other regions, possibly as left-leaning NPG members chose to put their lot in with the LSS
in fear of enabling a blue-green coalition.

A significant degree of environmental concern, particularly on the coasts, has allowed the local NPG to generally have a serious presence in the northern
parts of Vascania. This election, however, they fell notably as the focus turned away from environmentalism and towards cultural issues and change. The
NPG's social liberalism hindered their development locally, while the regional Communitarians gained a few seats after having struggled for about a
decade in this part of the nation. Smaller parties in the area, primarily conservative local parties, fell back a bit but may still be used in by a VRK-led
government to help pass some cultural bills.

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Centre: Bhaporistan, Sanashtra, Utsal & Surasa
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The central regions remain largely left-wing, but there has undoubtedly been a surge in certain areas for the VRK. Though the political right used to
struggle in places like Sanashtra and Surasa, the populist politics of the VRK under Kavita Mohite managed to convince a lot of people over to the right.
Concerns about Ahmadi influence were played up by the VRK campaign, especially in these areas which have significant Ahmadi populations. Cultural
issues dominated the campaign here, especially in Sanashtra - the state that Mohite used to govern. Her brand of politics had and still has, evidently, a
base of support among the working class even in these heartlands. Upamash's retirement may have cost the LSS votes in this, her home territory.

The NPG lost almost half their seats in the central states, where their socially liberal values hurt their ability to attract voters. Their key policies,
including abandoning oil production and placing CO2 taxes on industry, were perceived as potentially damaging to the industrial parts of Utsal that have
developed under Prime Minister Durga Upamash. The Communitarians had hoped to gain here after an aggressive social media campaign targeting young
people in urban areas. This failed to materialise for them as they barely gained any seats in the area.

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East: Zaqrandi Pradesh, Rajuttistan & Hamal Pradesh
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When factoring in the collapse of the LRS, the shift from red to blue was most severe here in the east. Southern Rajuttistan, where the socialists had
hung on by the skin of their teeth last time, finally fell after a tour by Mohite where she suggested that Ahmadis would soon start immigrating illegally
onto Vascania's east coast due to instability on the continent. The capital Kamalata, a LSS stronghold, also showed a shift away from the Prime Minister's
party - fear of Ahmadi migration was brought up on many doorsteps according to campaigners from all parties. Zaqrandi Pradesh, with a high Ahmadi
population, still showed the rightward shift as the two communities are often informally segregated between and often within towns and cities.

The NPG has historically been strong on Kayal Island, and this was the only area of the country where they won a majority of votes. The Communitarians
have had little strength in the area, and indeed it was the only region where they in fact lost seats from last time around. Again, the culture-clash of
liberal and open against conservative and traditional put a squeeze on the ability of the minor parties to compete, even though the east is considered to
be the most socially liberal part of the country.

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South-West: Khond, Paristan & Rajavant
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The south-west is another region where the collapse the of the LRS benefitted the conservative VRK. Mohite's populism was less effective in this
relatively socially moderate area, but a desire for change was strong in many parts of the south - particularly in Paristan, which has seen relatively little
development in comparison to other working-class areas like the central belt and north-eastern coastline. The LSS's proposals on issues like rent control
and urban transport struggled to cut through in an area that has a high amount of property ownership and car ownership as well. Rural voters, according
to exit polling, appeared to feel 'ignored' by the LSS campaign - 56% felt 'ignored' compared to 28% who felt 'engaged'.

The NPG has historically been strong on the far southern coast and unlike in other areas environmental issues remained key here due to the area's
growing tourism industry - which relies on environmental sustainability to advertise internationally. This is the area that most benefits from oil drilling,
however, due to the presence of the western oilfield off the coast of Khond and the Great Vascanian Lake drilling project. This creates a duality in which
the area gets the most benefits from the oil project Upamash started, but also is at most risk from a disaster like an oil spill. Concerns over a looming oil
issue, especially as regards local habitat preservation, eventually won over more voters than the oil drilling jobs managed to convince. Mohite took a
relatively moderate view on the environment generally, but promised to invest more federal money in species preservation.

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

Postby Rogue » Sun Jul 05, 2020 8:55 am

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Re: Vascania

Postby Pragma » Sun Jul 05, 2020 11:30 pm

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Harishapta Followers Petition For Recognised Status
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Followers of the Harishapta religious movement have petitioned the federal government and a number of state governments to gain recognised status after fulfilling the minimum requirement of members. The requirements for gaining recognised status - beyond the number of members and a 100,000 rupees deposit - include having a functioning HQ, passing a number of inspections of religious spaces, creating an official and public theological text, as well as demonstrating an ability for members to leave without repercussion or retribution. All of these requirements have been met beside the inspections, which the group is 'hoping' to complete 'as soon as possible'.

Harishapta teaches a dualistic version of the state religion known as Sundarat Dharma - or simply 'Sundarata'. While Sundarat Dharma preaches a theological view based on balance and natural cycles of destruction and construction, the Harishapta movement tends to view the world in terms of a dichotomy between celestial virtue and material undesirability. Though the deities and much of the ritual remains very similar, this key difference is in fundamental opposition to the teachings of the state religious authority - headed by the Emperor, currently Manas III. The fundamental principles of Sundarat Dharma include duty, loyalty, humility, temperance, diligence and karma - which Harishapta agrees with - but also a cycle of death and rebirth on a human and natural level - which Harishapta preaches against. It is easy to see the influences of traditional animist religion, Geraja, Daenism and Hosianism on the theological teachings of both groups.

The process to become a recognised religious group can be completed at the federal or state level, and confers tax exemptions and the ability to bid for government aid in the construction and upkeep of religious buildings. There are currently around a dozen recognised religions in Vascania, including the state religion of Sundarat Dharma, Daenism, Geraja, four Hosian denominations, two Ahmadi denominations and Yeudism. The newly elected government is thought to be reconsidering the recognised status of Ahmadism and Yeudism, though no government officials have yet publicly commented on the matter despite a number of letters from Ahmadi community leaders.

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Vascania News is the national public broadcaster and information outlet for the Vascanian Empire.
Last edited by Pragma on Sun Jul 09, 2023 7:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Vascania

Postby Pragma » Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:55 pm

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Drilling Begins In Gayata Islands, Tropica Oil Rights Purchase Completed
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Drilling operations have commenced around the Gayata archipelago, which was annexed from Kurageri in a contentious naval war just a few years ago. The first operational oil platform was brought into service this afternoon with the Minister for Foreign Affairs present at the commencement of operations. An expected 300,000 bbl/day is expected to be produced from the Vascanian-controlled area in the first phase of operations in the vast oil reserves off the eastern coast of Dovani.

The offshore drilling project has also been expanded in the south-west of Vascania, off the coast of Khond State. Drilling in the area has been boosted by news that the nation of Tropica has sold its claims to oil in the sea between them to the Vascanian government for an undisclosed sum - rumoured to be very high. This deal includes all oil reserves that Tropica's outer maritime zone could justify. This area will be developed in the coming years, according to government sources, but both expansions will likely be helpful in the Vascania government's effort to remain the world's number one oil producer into the next decade.

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Vascania News is the national public broadcaster and information outlet for the Vascanian Empire.
Last edited by Pragma on Sun Jul 09, 2023 7:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Vascania

Postby Rogue » Tue Jul 07, 2020 4:47 pm

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Re: Vascania

Postby Pragma » Tue Jul 07, 2020 10:22 pm

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VIS Sagana Launches
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Vascania's first aircraft carrier, the VIS Sagana, has launched from Dolostipe dockyard in Avidangana state. The 45,000 tonne, 930 foot-long ship will start
service as the new grand flagship of the Vascanian Navy and will join the roster of the Empire's northern fleet. The largest military vessel ever produced
in Vascania, the VIS Sagana was produced with the aid of Kazulian manufacturers. She is crewed by 1,600 total crew, can travel at a maximum of 34 knots
and can carry up to 36 aircraft. Her name comes from the historical leader Takarana Sagana, who was the first head of government of the united Vascanian
nation after the unification conflict.

The launch of the vessel was met with much celebration and media coverage, with tens of thousands lining the coast to catch a glimpse of the giant
warship. The blessing of the vessel was completed in a ceremony led by Durga Upamash - the former Prime Minister who began the project - and current
Prime Minister Kavita Mohita. Though the political rivals have had many disagreements, the ceremony was highly celebratory and brought praise from
across the political aisle. The Emperor himself was also in attendance and helped in the blessing ceremony alongside a number of the nation's most
respected monks, priests and brahmins.

The ship is the largest of any currently operating in the far-east after the destruction of Kazulia's five aircraft carriers. There have been rumours the
Vascanian government had attempted to purchase one of these ships before they were scrapped, but nothing has come of this apparent exchange. The ship
is also a clear statement of intent from Vascania and will make them a premier power in the global south-east alongside Yingdala. According to the
consensus of political and military commentators Vascania, the largest nation in the world by population and the second largest by size, is in the middle of
an extraordinarily ambitious phase of military enlargement. A second aircraft carrier of a similar class is expected in the next two decades, but has yet to
be announced.

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

Postby robmark0000 » Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:09 pm

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