Vanakalam

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[sanjeev]

Parliamentary Elections Result in Hung Parliament
Former Education Minister Suchitra Selvaganapathy to lead Coalition Government as Ruling VNPP tumbles to third place

Ms Selvaganapathy addressing reporters after being sworn in as Prime Minister





Vanakalam has voted out the ruling Populist Vanakalam National People's Party(Vanakalamese:-Vanakalam Desiya Makkal Katchi)after two decades,The Party has sufffered a humiliating defeat as its vote share tumbled from a massive 60% to just 25% which is the lowest share of the vote for the nation''s oldest political party which has governed the nation for 60 of the 70 years since it achieved its independence.The Party was seen as out-of-touch with the people of the country.Mainly due to Rising Unemployment,Numerous corruption scandals and the government's inept response to the worst drought in the nation''s history which crippled agricultural productivity,the VNPP also split in two with multiple VNPP MPs led by then-Education Minister Ms.Suchitra Selvaganapathy floating the "United Vanakalam Party" in opposition to Prime Minister Anand Chandra's handling of the drought.

The Overall Turnout climbed from 52% to a whopping 79% as voters turned out in droves to vote out the incumbent government.The UVP campaigned on a promise of making Vanakalam an attractive destination for foreign investment to create employment opportunities,waiving agricultural loans,investing in infrastructure and to develop smaller cities and  towns to ease the burden on the nation's capital Surabhinagar which has 16 million residents,the party also promised to respect the rights of all religious and linguistic minorities and calls for closer cooperation with neighbouring Kalkalistan.

However,the UVP fell short of an overall majority and has formed a coaliton with the Social Democrats and the right wing Vanakalam First to form a government.

The Newly elected PM,Ms.Suchitra Selvaganapathy said that her government will work for all citizens and that her first act as Prime Minister will be to create a special task force consisting of retired and serving police officers and members of the judiciary to investigate into corruption allegations faced by the previous administration.

[sanjeev]

Coalition Government Passes Budget,Pushes Sweeping Economic Reforms
Reforms Indicate move to a more Market Oriented Economy,say experts





The UVP Led Government has passed its first budget along with sweeping economic reforms.The New Budget has simplified the complex tax code,has reduced business tax rates from 25 to 20% and it also included measures aimed at closing various loopholes in the tax system which facilitated tax evasion.The UVP government acquired a small surplus and the new reforms to the taxation system,coupled with the budget commitment to increase investment into education,healthcare and infrastructure are expected to create a deficit.But Finance Minister Mr.Sunil Raghav said that the government's plans to disinvest certain public sector enterprises will balance the budget in the long run.

The UVP had campaigned on a promise of making Vanakalam an attractive destination for investors and thus the government has pushed through these reforms along with its first budget.

The Reforms include abolishing the arbitrary ''License Raj''wherein businesses had to satisfy the requirements of many agencies before obtaining licence to produce.This system resulted in a bloated bureaucracy rampant with corruption,It is also no longer mandatory for foreign investors to seek approval to invest in any industry in Vanakalam except for Defence.Special Economic Zones(SEZs)will be created in 10 cities across the nation where businesses will be exempted from all registration fees and will also receive a 5% tax rebate,Reforms have also made been aimed at weakening trade unions and it is now much easier for businesses to fire workers who strike without reasonable grounds.

Furthermore,the government has decided to privatise a variety of Public Sector Units including Vanakalam Airlines,National Coal Authority and Vanakalam Railways.It is now possible for the government to outsource housing and infrastructure schemes to private firms.

These Reforms have,however been met with opposition,and the Leadership of the Social Democratic Party,which is part of the government has to contend with the wrath of their party members and supporters who oppose most of the proposed reforms and are angry with their party for having supported it.A large number of SDP members are now moving to the far left socialist party in response.Meanwhile the Vanakalam Trade Unions Congress(VTUC) has called for a general strike across the nation in opposition to these reforms.The government has invited labour union representatives for discussions and Industries Minister Mr.Ramesh Bhargav told reporters that he is hopeful that the talks will be fruitful and assured workers that they would still have the right to strike.

[Aquinas]

[Kalkali] Government under pressure to match Vanakalam's economic liberalisation program

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Government Unveils new Infrastructure plans
Focus on Improving Public Transit in Cities,Modernising Highways

Image of NH 4A connecting Port Albert on the west coast to Surabhinagar

The government has unveiled its ''National Infrastructure Plan'' to improve the state of the country's transport system.The budget had allocated 40 Bn rupees to the infrastructure ministry and the plan states that 10 Bn Rupees would be allocated to repair and modernize all highways in the nation,particularly the heavily used National Highway 4 which connects the National Capital Region with Port Albert,the nation''s second largest city.The plan also earmarks a further 5 Bn Rupees for improving road connectivity in rural parts of the nation,particularly in the mountainous Malnadu Province in the south of the country.The plan further states that the government intends to introduce underground rail services in the nation''s 4 metropolitan areas to ease traffic congestion and to reduce air pollution.


The Plan also details the government''s plans to improve port infrastructure and to expand the Surabhinagar and Port Albert International Airports in partnership with ZanaCorp,the nation''s largest conglomerate.Infrastructure Minister Mrs.Priti Robert said that these improvements to the nation''s infrastructure would ensure stable and sustainable economic growth in the long run.The government has also announced its intention to harness solar and wind energy as the nation strives to reduce its dependence on coal and has allocated 6 Bn Rupees for the construction of solar power stations in the Thondanadu Plains and Windmills along the nation's vast coastline.

[sanjeev]

Vanakalam to Join Coalition for Cooperation and Security and the Community of Nuclear Energy using Nations(C.N.E.U.N.)



August 2,2019
Tian'an,Indrala
Foreign Minister Mrs. Saritha Gowda arrived at Tian'an yesterday for the signing of the adhering treaty for Vanakalam becoming a part of the Coalition for Cooperation and Security(also known as C.C.S).The Foreign Minister said that Vanakalam will be an active part of the C.C.S. and that it intends to work together with the other signatories for the collective economic growth and prosperity of all member nations.She also announced that Vanakalam will be joining the community of nuclear energy using nations as Vanakalam explores alternative energy options to reduce its dependence on Non-Renewable Energy sources,the excessive use of which has contributed to poor air quality in the nation's industrial towns and to meet the nation''s growing demand for electricity and stated that the nation''s intention is not to develop nuclear weapons.

[sanjeev]

Vanakalam Launches Campaign to promote Tourism
Goal to Quadruple Tourist Arrivals by 2022

Meghavarsha Falls in the Swarnadesha Province


The 1,000 year old Markandey Temple in Rajanagaram
 

Vanakalam is a nation with a rich history and has a number of majestic temples,lush green forests and its long coastline boasts of a number of beautiful beaches,and the government plans to use this potential to boost its fledgling tourism industry.The government has thus launched a Terrawide social media campaign to maximize foreign tourist arrivals and has allocated 1 Billion rupees for the purpose.The campaign would focus on the countries many tourist attractions.The government has also been highlighting the recent boom in the hospitality industry to entice tourists to visit the country.Though the number of yearly tourist arrivals has risen from 250,000 in 2008 to 500,000 in 2018,it is still a far cry from the government's aim to increase this number to 2 million by 2022.Vanakalam Tourism Director Mr.Mohan Iyer said that the government's plans to expand the Surabhinagar and Port Albert International airports would result in increased connectivity between Vanakalam and the rest of Terra which he believes would increase tourist arrivals.He estimates that it would create thousands of new jobs and would contribute to the nation's overall development.

[sanjeev]

Vanakalam sees massive rise in net migration rate
Home Ministry figures show rapid rise in migration from Kalkalistan

Vanakalam had recently passed sweeping reforms to liberalise its economy.The reforms included abolishing arbitrary licensing requirements,reduced business tax rates,launched projects to modernise the nation's infrastructure and allowed foreign companies to invest freely in the nation.These reforms,compared to neighbouring Kalkalistan''s hesitation to open up its markets has resulted in a steady uptick in the number of Kalkalistan-based businesses moving their operations to the nation.This movement of businesses from Kalkalistan to Vanakalam has resulted in a corresponding rise in the number of educated workers migrating to the nation.The annual migration figures released by the Home Ministry states that in 2018,the net migration rate was in the negative,meaning that there were more number of emigrants than immigrants.Vanakalam has always faced a problem of high emigration,particularly that of skilled workers,who move to developed nations in Artania and Seleya in search of better opportunities.

As the reforms have now resulted in economic growth and increased employment opportunities,there has been a reverse in this trend as skilled migrants from Kalkalistan are moving to the nation to make up for the increased demand for skilled migrants and the government figures state that as much as 350,000 migrants from Kalkalistan had migrants had moved to the country and a home ministry official states that this number could increase in 2020.The official also said that the government has decided to relax immigration requirements for educated Kalkalis to attract even more migrants

However,the leader of the Right-wing Vanakalam First party Mr.Kavirajan Gunaseelan said that these figures were "alarming"and that it could result in ''Rajutti Domination'' of the nation.When reporters asked PM Mrs.Suchitra Selvaganapathy for her response to the statement made by Mr.Gunaseelan in her monthly press conference,She said it was ''blatant fear-mongering to polarise the nation based on linguistic diffferences".

[sanjeev]

Prime Minister Congratulates President Vascani on his Re-election


Prime Minister Suchitra Selvaganapathy congratulated President Amit Vascani of Kalkalistan on his re-election and expressed her hope for increased co-operation between both nations to ''develop and prosper together".The Prime minister is known for her friendly relations with Senior Kalkali politicians including President Vascani and is believed to be open to discuss the prospect of unification if Kalkalistan is ready to accept Luthori as the official language and give equal importance to the Vanakalese(OOC:-Dravidian) languages,ditch its commitment to central planning and if its southern neighbour is willing to respect the liberal interpretation of Geraja practised by most Vanakalese.

[Aquinas]

Selvaganapathy invited to address Kalkali Parliament

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Prime Minister set to address Kalkalistani Parliament
Says she is ''deeply honoured''

The Parliament of Kalkalistan voted overwhelmingly in favour of inviting Prime Minister Suchitra Selvaganapathy to address the Parliament recently.The PM has been a known proponent of better relations between Kalkalistan and Vanakalam and is favorably disposed to the prospect of increased economic and cultural integration between both nations.As a step towards it,her government has made it easier for Kalkalis to migrate to Vanakalam and obtain permanent residency.

The Prime Minister''s office released a statement today confirming that the Prime Minister will be heading to Kalkalistan and address the parliament.It states that she is ''deeply honoured'' to be the first foreign dignitary invited to address the nation''s parliament.She will be meeting the President of the republic,Leader of the opposition and will address a gathering of the heads of various Kalkalistani businesses and will also be meeting with members of the small Vanakalese community.

Observers in both sides of the border say that this visit will be an important event in the history of both nations as it might rekindle discussions on the prospect of a ''United Vascania'' which used to be the rallying cry of Gerajan Nationalists before partition.

[sanjeev]

Mordusian Investments ''will be of great benefit for Vanakalam" says Commerce Minister


Tea Fields in the Malnadu Province



Commerce Minister Mr.Ramesh Bhargav addressed the Confederation of Vanakalese Industry(CVI)Conference in Port Albert where he highlighted the swift enactment of economic reforms by his government and stated that the government is committed to work towards creating an even better atmosphere for businesses to thrive.He stated that the decision of Mordusian Firm Empresa Stela to work together with Vanakalese Firms to develop the nation's communication sector is an example that Vanakalam is open for business and said that these investments will be of great benefit to the country.He then went on to discuss the government's plans to ensure that small scale and cottage industries are also able to benefit from the rapid economic progress in the country.

While speaking to reporters after the conference,he said that Vanakalam will be able to greatly reduce its dependence on non-renewable energy and harness its renewable energy potential by working together with Allianza Verde,which has decided to set up solar panel farms and wind turbines.He also stated that the decision of Bevidas Anvesco to cultivate tea in Vanakalam would help propel rural economy and that it would create numerous job opportunities.

[luis]

EE: Volaris Communication expanding Vanakalamese Tech Sector/Services