Vascania

[jamescfm]

          Rapper and singer duo to represent Vascania at upcoming FOMAT
               15 November 4884


Despite a disappointing performance by singer-rapper Prakash in the last edition of the Festival of Musical Arts in Terra, competition has concluded to select the country's participants for FOMAT-XII in Lourenne. Like in previous years, the participants were selected through a nationwide television talent contest and driven primarily by audience voting. In the end, it was the hugely popular rapper Doctor Bhadu who emerged victorious for his collaboration with singer Manjira Toot.


               Above: Doctor Bhadu has become one of the biggest names in Vascanian music

At the competition, Doctor Bhadu and Manjira Toot will perform their newest track "Naa kari menu okha". Despite being released only yesterday, the music video has already amassed millions of views on Vascanian social media sites. In the past, Doctor Bhadu (real name Sundeep Bhadu) has attracted some minor controversy for his provocative lyrics among conservative elements in the Vascanian media but this has not prevented him from becoming one of the nation's biggest stars.

"Naa kari menu okha" is different from many of Vascania's previous entries. In terms of musical styles it is firmly rooted in the Gaduri music scene, particularly genres like dancehall and Gaduri hip hop. Doctor Bhadu said this was a deliberate decision, to showcase how musicians can incorporate disparate musical influences and traditions to create something that is entirely new.

Referring to the competition more broadly, the Vascanian public have been outspoken in their support for the new rules introduced in the latest edition of the competition that restrict the languages used by participants. Previously there had been no limitations on the language of a song but in the next edition, participants will be required to perform in a language native to their country. Past Vascanian competitors have blamed the glut of Luthorian-language entries for crowding out diversity in the competition.


          The Kayal Journal is a leading newspaper based on Kayal Island focusing on business, culture and technology news

[jamescfm]

East Kayal economists produce fresh report on major world economies
26 July 4894

Economists from Vascania's prestigious East Kayal University have released a new report in which they attempt to place a monetary value on the total economic output of some of the most important economies in the world. The team was led by prize-winning Vascanian economist Bhadrakali Misra and Liore-born Shomari Mshindi, who have worked together for many years in East Kayal's economics department.

Utilising mainstream economic theory and statistical methods, the team produced a monetary figure for the market value of all final goods and services produced in a country using the so-called "expenditure method". In brief this involved aggregating household spending, government spending and business investment, as well as net exports, to produce a final overall value (gross domestic product) for the period of a single calendar year. In all their calculations, the researchers used the "universal standard dollar".

For their report the team selected a group of twelve countries across six different continents, all of which are regarded as strong or important economies by international sources. In their preface the authors noted that they considered including Dolgava and Lourenne in their analysis but opted to leave them out because there is some disagreement about the economic position of both countries. However, they noted that is is possible either country may break into the "top twelve" in the coming years.


     Above: Twelve major world economies sorted by annual gross domestic product (millions)

For overall gross domestic product, there was a wide variety among the countries driven in part by the differing population sizes. As the two most populous countries in the world, both Yingdala and Vascania had figures much higher than any other country at around $13.5 and $12 trillion respectively. Dorvik occupied a category almost to itself with a figure of $7.3 trillion ahead of Istalia, Deltaria, Endralon and Hutori- each with a figure between $2 and $4.5 trillion.

Davostan had the smallest economic output of the countries included with a figure of around $230 billion, somewhat behind Liore in the penultimate position with $647 billion. In their remarks at the end of the report, the team noted that these figures would probably be considerably smaller than some less developed countries such as Lourenne or Hanzen owing to the much larger population of those countries. In order to account for these differences in population size, the report provides "per capita" figures too.


     Above: Twelve major world economies sorted by annual per capita gross domestic product

By this measure it was Dorvik who emerged at the top, with an annual figure of $49,575. At the top of this measure was a group of six countries (Dorvik, Yingdala, Hutori, Endralon, Deltaria and Badara), who have the highest average economic output in the world. After this top group there is a notable gap to Vascania with a figure of $29,863, highlighting how a large population can distort data on the overall size of economic output. On this measure it was Liore who ranked bottom with a figure of $16,098 but there was a similar level of per capita output in both Trigunia and Davostan.

Possibly the most noteworthy section of the report was the "final thoughts" section. The research team dedicated several pages to highlighting the problems associated with placing too much emphasis on the economic output figures at the expense of other relevant measures. In doing so they highlighted that the figure should not be presented as the "average income" in a country because of the potential for distortionary effects as a result of economic inequality.

Even more broadly, focusing solely on economic output can create problems from a social and environmental perspective when those gains in output are improperly distributed or when they come at the cost of sustainability. In these regards, the team identified Badara as a country whose economic output doesn't accurately reflect the standard of living for most citizens due to relatively high inequality and over-reliance on the oil and gas industry.

               VascaniaNews is an Vascanian public news service produced by the Vascanian Broadcast Union

[jamescfm]

VIS Sagana arrives in Liore for first major port visit since Rapa Pile
22 August 4894


          Above: VIS Sagana shortly after her departure from mainland Vascania

In a symbolic gesture of the rekindled relationship between two of the East's most important military powers, the pride of the Vascanian Imperial Navy, the VIS Sagana aircraft carrier, has arrived for a port visit in Bakundu, Liore. Following from the recent foundation of the Dovani Pact, the two countries have sought to develop a closer relationship and put historic tensions in the past as they face down a mutual threat in the expansionist Yingdalan government. Upon arrival, the Sagana was met by a small fleet of the Liori National People's Navy led by the LPW Kubwa.

The arrival of the Sagana in Liore marks the first major movement of the ship outside Vascanian waters since its repair in the wake of the Rapa Pile War. During the conflict, the Sagana was severely damaged by the Deltarian Navy. Due to economic and political complications, repairs took much longer than originally expected and it was not returned to active service until the end of the last decade. Since then it has performed limited movements as part of the country's broader avoidance of the international spotlight.

Prime Minister G. Niraimadhiyan has placed restoring the Vascanian military to its pre-war capacity at the heart of his policy agenda since taking office two years ago and is expected to unveil the next steps of his "Restoring National Pride" military programme in the coming weeks. As the Sagana returns to public attention, there has been public speculation about whether the long-mooted prospect of a second Vascanian carrier may be brought back into the political domain.

Niraimadhiyan has dismissed the suggestion in the past, arguing that rebuilding the country's stricken naval forces was the priority. Nonetheless the damage done by the Deltarian Navy in the Rapa Pile conflict is expected to have shortened the feasible lifespan of the Sagana, first commissioned over a century ago. Defence analysts as well as some politicians have argued for some time that Vascania should pursue an indigenous carrier and emphasised that such a project would bring employment prospects at a range of skill levels.

               Kalam Courier is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Kalam Nadu with a conservative editorial stance

[jamescfm]

          Bhim and Vati return from successful tour across Dovani
               20 December 4894


Vascanian megastars Bhim and Vati have returned from their largest ever tour throughout Dovani. The pair played multiple dates in Utembo, Liore and Lourenne before concluding the tour in Dankuk. Since placing third in the tenth edition of the Festival of Musical Arts in Terra, the duo have become some of the best-known celebrities in Vascania. In addition to releasing music, they have starred in multiple films in the past decade.

Public and social media interest in Bhim and Vati has been driven by their public relationship. When they originally met and began performing together, they had only known each other for a short time. A decade later they are married with two young children and Vati maintains a prominent social media presence where she posts frequent updates about the pair's family life. Until recently though they were relatively unknown outside of the Vascanian mainland.


               Above: Poster for the upcoming film "A Bāluḍu", starring Bhim and Vati

In the past three years the Vascanian government has been actively supporting Vascanian artists, musicians and performers who wish to expand into the global market through a variety of initiatives including subsidised travel and business support. Bhim and Vati have been especially successful at taking advantage of these schemes and have built a devoted following in a variety of countries throughout Dovani. As part of their efforts, the government has been promoting artists using the "Vasc-pop" brand.

Despite performing exclusively in their native Avidugu language, Bhim and Vati attracted significant crowds on all stops of their tour. For their first destination, the pair played two nights in the Utemban capital to sold out crowds. In comparison to the other dates, the Utemban performances were relatively small-scale but Bhim told local reporters the crowd was "lightning" on both nights.

After leaving Utembo, the pair headed northeast to the Liori city Nzurchanga. Despite some diplomatic tensions in the past, the two countries have always experienced significant cultural exchange and large crowds turned out to watch Bhim and Vati. After two nights in Nzurchanga, they played an additional three in Jarha. In a social media video, Vati said the experience in Liore was "unlike anywhere else".

For the second stage of the tour, the pair headed to Lourenne. After spending two nights in the coastal town of Beaumont-sur-Mer, they headed to Valois. During the early part of their first show, Bhim joked that they should be returning to the city next year for the next edition of FOMAT. On both nights in Valois, they brought local rapper Samuel Velamakanni out to perform alongside them. Velamakanni, born in Lourenne to a Vascanian father and Canrillaise mother, adapted several verses originally written in Canrillaise to Avidugu for the performances.

The final destination was Dankuk. Across a period of ten days, Bhim and Vati played seven concerts in three different cities. Due to excess demand after the initial release of tickets, they had expanded their initial run by adding extra dates in Yonseo to those already scheduled in Seongtaek and Gongmangdo. As with all of the dates, the performances were well-met with the local audiences. Fans praised the overall production of the performances including choreography and visual effects, in addition to the songs themselves.


          The Kayal Journal is a leading newspaper based on Kayal Island focusing on business, culture and technology news

[jamescfm]

Deltarian Federal President concludes state visit to Vascania
5 January 4895

Antonín Komárek, the Deltarian head of state, has concluded a short state visit to Vascania, marking the first time that a Deltarian leader has been received in Kamalata since the end of the Rapa Pile War. Although relations between the two countries were formally normalised by the Avienne Accords, the two governments have remained cautious of relations for both political and practical reasons. In the past three years though, reforms within the Deltarian regime and a new Vascanian government have facilitated genuine cooperation between the two countries for the first time in half a century.

During the three day visit, President Komárek met both the Emperor and the Prime Minister. Both sides were keen to discuss a range of issues of mutual concern, particularly the rising tide of destabilising governments in Pontesi, Hobrazia and Solentia. For Prime Minister G. Niraimadhiyan, these issues highlight the "shared interest" of both countries in a peaceful and stable international sphere. Economic matters were a point of discussion too, with both countries having taken an economic setback as a result of the War.

Foreign policy analysts have suggested that the decision to travel to Vascania for an official visit is a sign that President Komárek will be seeking to reach out to the rest of the world in a manner that his predecessors did not. Despite the positive response from most of the media and political commentariat to the historic visit, some have counselled against drawing any firm conclusions from the meeting and have emphasised that significant tension is likely to persist between the two governments for some time to come.

               VascaniaNews is an Vascanian public news service produced by the Vascanian Broadcast Union

[TPPDJT]

President Komárek returns from visit to Kamalata

[Pragma]

Election results in divided parliament, RM and AVL largest parties
18 March 4900

               
               Above: results of the 4900 election in terms of seats, showing a significant gain for the RM.

After Vascania's first election of the new century, deep political divisions have become apparent and the new parliament is set to be a contentious and fractured one. The Rashtravadi Morcha (RM, trans. "Nationalist Front") have gained a significant amount of seats, dominating in the north and making unprecedented inroads in the central and south-western regions. The governing All-Vascanian League (AVL) have lost their majority, though remain by far the largest party overall. Groups aside from the AVL and RM remain marginal in the new parliament, though the LSS will likely play a pivotal role in enabling the AVL to continue to govern.

The AVL achieved a majority, a rare feat in Vascanian politics, off the back of relative political calm and a broad reach of support. Urban and moderate voters had supported Prime Minister G. Niraimadhiyan due to the perception that Vascania was diplomatically recovering from the Rapa Pile War, with economic growth and infrastructure development creating an environment of political content. In spite of this, the RM was able to mobilise the nation's many nationalistic and rural voters in an election fought around turnout. Turnout was at 73%, below previous elections, but the turnout increased in areas in which the RM does strongest. The AVL won 36% of votes cast, while 27% of votes were cast for the RM. The increased vote share for the nationalists is likely a product of fluctuation in turnout and gains from the VRK's traditional base, rather than direct crossover from the AVL to the RM.

The nationalists responded to a lacklustre campaign from the incumbents with a clear message of Vascanian renewal. Embracing some populist economic rhetoric, the RM united opposition against the AVL and the liberalisation of the Empire under their banner. It is unlikely to be enough for them to form government, however, as the LSS and the HP have already announced their intention to support the liberal-conservative AVL to keep out to the far-right.

The election results reframe the politics of Vascania into a dichotomy between the nation's two main political tendencies. The first, an environmentalist, progressive and outward-looking worldview that seeks to maintain Vascania as a diplomatic power and a trading hub. The second, a nationalist, populist and militaristic mind-set that insists upon Vascania's superiority to the outside world. The AVL remains on top after this battle, but the war of ideologies in Vascania is far from over. To many political commentators, it would appear that the far-right has reached its zenith, a point at which there are simply very few voters left that they can win over. To others, the RM's success signals that Vascanian nationalism remains a poignant force in the Empire's politics that cannot be underestimated or presumed moribund.

               VascaniaNews is an Vascanian public news service produced by the Vascanian Broadcast Union

[Pragma]

          Next FOMAT to be held in Vascania in 4905
               20 December 4901


FOMAT is set to come to Vascania for the first time ever in 4095, following the triumph of Noura Kathar and her song "Manda Manda" in Kalistan. Kathar, who won 73 points to become the victory of FOMAT-XIV, is the first Vascanian to win the competition - ending the country's poor string of results in previous editions. Her song was a dark horse entering the competition, though Lodamun and Narikton-Darnussia were the favourite, but her victory was cemented by a seductive performance and Kathar's strong vocals. Vascania won the public vote and placed well among the crowd and jury, giving them an 8-point edge over the Narikton-Darnussian entry.

The Imperial Ministry of Culture announced shortly after the victorious entry was announced that there would be a bidding process among willing cities, with the IMC screening potential hosts for their ability to put on an show that 'showcases the best of modern Vascanian music, media and television'. International guests will be able to purchase a 'FOMAT experience package', which will include access to a high-quality hotel, an all-you-can-eat buffet of Vascanian cuisine and tours of the local area. The likeliest cities to host are understood to be Kamalata, the capital and largest city of Vascania, and Sangora, a northern port city and the nationally-renown centre of Vanashishu culture.

List of cities submitting bids to host FOMAT-XV:
Kamalata, Rajuttistan
Sangora, Kalam Nadu
Thikkonagama, Kalam Nadu
Kalinda, Rajuttistan
Dolostipe, Avidangana
Vakavana, Rajavant
Vora, Rajavant

The rules for the fifteenth edition of the contest ask that entrants keep their songs under five minutes and attempt to send songs that represent their national musical culture. The voting will be done 25% by a professional jury of five members, 25% by the Vascanian crowd and public and 50% by the voters around the world. These rules mirror those of the FOMAT-XIII contest held in Cobura six years ago. The new Vascanian hosts say that they are hoping to at least equal last year's total of thirteen entries and will work actively to attract participants to the contest.


          The Kayal Journal is a leading newspaper based on Kayal Island focusing on business, culture and technology news

[Pragma]

Government announces significant expansion in uranium mining operations
3 November 4902

          

The federal government has announced that state-sponsored uranium mining operations will be greatly expanded in the coming years. Up to ten new locations are being considered in both the north and south, which would allow the Empire to double it's production of the highly valuable element. Vascania's expansive uranium deposits, particularly in Rajavant, Khond and central Kalam Nadu, allow for refinement at much greater levels than currently are being met. Uranium is used in nuclear power, as well as weaponry, but Vascania is reliant more on fossil fuels and tidal power and has never possessed any nuclear warhead.

The motivation given for the decision by the government is that the project will provide thousands of well-paying jobs in key areas, with the hope that nuclear energy can help ease Vascania's reliance on oil and gas. Currently, Vascania is one of the world's largest polluters in gross and per capita terms, which has been a longstanding concern for successive government in Kamalata. The government states that Vascania's carbon output could be significantly lessened by moving to nuclear plants, with a plan having been agreed with various state governments to prevent environmental damage caused by the mines. The uranium deposits in Rajavant in particular have been, historically, mostly ignored due to concerns that the local wildlife could be disturbed. The Prime Minister says that his government remains confident that the project will be a net-positive for the continent's environment, without compromising the job security of those involved in the fossil fuels industry.

Others are sceptical of the reasons provided by the government, saying that the decision to expand the network of uranium mines is instead a threat to other nations or a powerplay. Vascania has extensive uranium deposits which are largely underdeveloped, allowing for the possibility of nuclear armaments. Currently, the Vascanian government has a small number of nuclear submarines with foreign-designed engines and no known nuclear program. Polling indicates that most Vascanian are opposed to the purchase/creation of nuclear weapons, 47% to 40%. 13% are undecided.

          Kalam Courier is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Kalam Nadu with a conservative editorial stance

[Pragma]

Vascania's mirage of stability: an Empire on the cliff's edge
15 December 4903

     
     Above: downtown Vakavana, one of the AVL's strongholds

Vascanian governments have long embraced the concept that Vascania is an unusually stable state in its region, with a particular resilience and hardiness that evades its peers. This concept has seemingly not been damaged by the aftermath of the Rapa Pile War and Vascania's subsequent fall from grace. The GDP shrinkage aside, the Empire has not seen any major internal conflict since the War of Unification centuries ago, with a minor exception during the Bhapori riots that have since been forgotten in the public imagination. In fact, that Vascania was able to survive such a disastrous affair as the RPW without a civil war or an even great depression has solidified Vascania's internal strength in the minds of many across the political spectrum, from avowed nationalists to the more cosmopolitan classes in Kamalata. This is, however, a grave misconception.

With the rise of the All-Vascanian League, many commentators in Vascania and around the globe had perceived that change was afoot in the Empire. The population - perhaps humbled by the war, perhaps more worldly in their views - had finally come to support a vision of their country as an ally to others and not simply the main show. The AVL ran on a platform that sought Vascanian renewal from trade and diplomacy and won over a growing part of the population - the young middle class. Professionals, students and suburbanites felt that this was a move forward without forsaking the past and therefore carving out a prosperous nation from the decay of defeat.

This vision, unshakeable as it seemed at the time of the 4896 election, has not encapsulated everyone. The nationalists in the RM political grouping will never settle for anything short of Vascanian domination of the east, a goal that the Empire seemed set to meet before the defeat in Rapa Pile. To them, Vascania exists to be exalted and its status cannot be impugned or dishonoured. Their ideal nation is the undisputed master of the hemisphere with an enlarged territory and a network of unquestioning vassals. In a continent where Istapali and Liore are growing with their own identities and ambitions, this idea is borderline impossible to carry out. This is to say nothing of the equally idealistic USLF, the far-left party who aspires to the creation of an enormous, socialist state on the continent - rid of the monarchy, the aristocracy and influence of foreign capital.

These visions are irreconcilable and are undoubtedly headed for a sudden and brutal collision, violent or not. While the RM are considered by many commentators to be at their electoral limit, the forces of Vascanian nationalism have been underestimated before to terrible consequences. Similarly, the USLF have fallen a long way from their brief period at the top of the opinion polls in the aftermath of the Rapa Pile War. However, the hard left appeals to many of the groups who put their faith in the AVL - the working class, students, young people and so on.

The concept of Vascania as an unshakeable bedrock above political violence and largely immune to radicalism cannot be entertained if threats to its security grow larger. The nationalists have already gained a massive majority in the Kamal Nadu legislature, and look set to gain seats in elections across the country next year. The socialists are zeroing in on an unpopular centre-left government in Bhaporistan, aware that voters there are receptive to their message. If these forces are on the ascendancy, then there will be a three-way fight for the future of the country. The Imperial household, dormant since the death of the authoritarian-minded Empress Sumitra, will play a crucial part in the future as well due to their ability to unite and define the Empire at-large.


The Kamalata Times is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Kamalata with national and international circulation.