MOREAU WARNS NATIONS ABOUT INTERVENING IN ALECBURGH
The President's warning comes as Yuan and Cyruda send forces to reinforce Alecburgh government
TOFINO - President Atticus Moreau issued his most stern statement to date over the impending military operations by the Alecburgh government and Prime Minister Sparrow Creed, warning international governments to not intervene in what he called a "dangerous escalation without regard for diplomacy." Specifically calling out the governments of De Yuan and Cyruda, President Moreau called on the international community to hold all sides accountable.
Moreau called on President Xi Jingyi of Yuan to remove his naval forces from the region, citing numerous incidents involving Yuaneze navies expressing territorial claims over neutral international waters, which already seems to be occuring. On Wednesday, a Yuaneze naval destroyer patrolling near Alecburgh fired warning shots at a Quetanan cargo vessel. The uptick in foreign intervention is alarming many officials at both the Department of Defense and the Department of State, with even the government of Drambenburg establishing themselves on the side of the self-declared Republic of Cambria.
"Yuaneze forces must stand down if they wish to avoid severe reprecussions," Moreau said. "The entirity of WEDA stands prepared to instate crippling sanctions, the likes of which have not been placed on Yuan in decades, should their military be involved in any combat operations in South Adula."
The recent involvement is largely stemming from a violent attack committed by Cambria-affiliated extremists this last week that claimed the lives of nearly 60 people, including many international tourists. Zamastan's government officially condemned the attack, calling it "attrocious and agregious, and if perpetrated directly by the Cambrian government, a backstep for their soveriengty."
"Of course we must condemn the horrific actions of the self-declared government of Cambria," President Moreau said in a response to a question posed surrounding the attacks, "and we do. Dozens have died under their violent hand, and we must strongly rebute them and their ideology. However, Prime Minister Creed has been insufficient in her resolve. If she wants change, she must start with open dialogue, and there has been none. She'll turn to us and play victim every time, as if we don't know suffering. We know suffering. We witness it often. The difference is we solve our issues nearly every time with open diplomacy and dialogue. Creed is at blame here, and she is ignorant to avoid a diplomatic path that so many other governments have urged. Whatever violence comes to her people, remember, is because she and all of her predecessors refused to open negotiation."
The self-declared Republic of Cambria, which announced their secession after Prime Minister Sparrow Creed was elected, has launched an intensive campaign of anti-Alecburghian government rhetoric. Their own declared Prime Minister, Jacque Boudreaux, is seen by many in the international community as an instigator.
However, Zamastanian foreign policy has increasingly been directed against the interests of the Alecburghian government. Their leaders, namely former-Prime Minister Benjamin Warren, Queen Diana of Kynnport, and now Prime Minister Creed have all been labeled as "unstable leaders" by moderators in the State Department. Repeated incidents of violence sparking up and civil conflict increasing due to their conduct has caused the State Department to time and time again label Alecburgh as a "failing state", and "authoritarian regime", and a "threat to the regional apparatus".
"We watch Alecburgh's volatile leadership closely at all times," said Secretary of State Jessiah Vallotis. "We're gravely worried about the impending sign of a civil war over the state of Luciano. Our direct motive is to protect the interests of our regional allies who may be placed in harm's way, such as Saint Croix and Bens and the Qolaysians. That is why we dispatched a contingent of troops to S.C.B. as a protective measure. Additionally, we are solely in the position of protecting our regional interests. Zamastanians in Alecburgh are being advised to return home or to other friendly nations. If a conflict breaks out over Luciano, we will not be able to ensure safety of Zamastanians in the region since a military response is the last option on the table for us."
Zamastanian forces in the region, operating in defense of Saint Croix and Bens, consist of 400 soldiers and 3 naval vessels. All are operating outside of Alecburghian territory and have vowed to remain under S.C.B. operational statute, which defines the operations as protectorate over S.C.B.. They are supported by an Albarinean and Emmirian contingent.
Speaker of the Chamber Natasha Chastain hopes that lifting rates for top earners will raise beaucoup bucks for the New Families Plan.
TOFINO - The near-doubling of the capital gains tax on wealthy Zamastanians is a centerpiece of Speaker of the Chamber Natasha Chastain’s Z$1.1 trillion New Families Plan. In an address to Congressional Hall on Wednesday evening , Chastain described the proposal as “fiscally responsible” and added that the wealthiest Zamastanians will “pay their fair share”.
The difference between taxes on income, which is how most Zamastanians make their money, and capital gains — how many wealthy people grow their personal fortunes — has long been lambasted by critics as a driver of inequality.
But will raising the capital gains tax narrow the divide between the nation’s haves and have-nots? First things first. What exactly is a ‘capital gain’? It’s basically the profit someone makes on an investment after selling it. Think stocks, bonds, precious metals, jewellery and cryptocurrencies as well as houses and other real estate.
So what’s a capital gains tax? It’s the amount of money investors must pay to the government on the profit they make when they sell an asset. The profit is determined by how much it cost them to buy and how much they sold it for.
So how does the current tax system worsen inequality? At present, wealthier Zamastanians make a disproportionate share of their income from profits made by cashing in equities and other investments. For assets owned for a year or more, the capital gains tax can range from 0 percent to a top base rate of 20 percent, depending on filing status and other taxable income. Meanwhile, income tax rates range from 10 percent to a top rate of 37 percent.
At the federal level, Chastain and Congressional Liberals want to raise the long-term capital gains tax rate for households that make more than Z$1m in income annually to 39.6 percent – nearly double the current top base rate. According to the Tofino Times, Chastain’s proposed capital gains tax hike could actually decrease revenues by Z$33bn over the next ten years. That’s because people can use all sorts of strategies to lower their capital gains tax bills. Like investing in tax-sheltered investments, putting off the sale of assets until a more investor-friendly tax regime is in place, or only cashing in some investments in years that money has been lost on others.
According to Chastain's speech on Wednesday: “We’re only going to affect three-tenths of one percent of all Zamastanians by that action. Three-tenths of one percent.” The New Families Plan plan includes Z$1 trillion in new benefits spending over 10 years on childcare, education and paid leave, plus Z$300bn in extended tax credits.
Some economists argue that hiking the capital gains tax would deal a blow to entrepreneurial finance because it would penalise investors. As soon as investors caught wind of Chastain's proposed capital gains tax hike, stock prices took a hit. Chastain counters that the economic proposals will “reward work, not just wealth”.
The Moreau administration, along with partners in Congressional Hall, is set to provide Congress with more details in May about spending and taxation provisions in its formal budget. The New Families Plan could be included in a reconciliation bill that does not require bipartisan support in either the Chamber or Senate. However, moderate liberals will face pressure from conservatives as the relevant congressional committees draft the new legislation. Analysts say the final bill may not reach the President's Office until late summer or early fall.
More than 40 companies have pledged to invest in West Chanchajillan reconstruction and revitalization processes following the end of combat operations
IVORA - A month after the capital city of Ivora fell and Frederick Armbar was forcibly removed from power, the influence of international investment is starting to become clear in West Chanchajilla. Several Zamastanian companies, such as ZeeMart, Pegassi, ZSuites and Forrester, Circa, and the Gorian Institution, have pledged to invest in reconstruction programs in West Chanchajilla as the regime's control diminishes and the flow of capitalism already begins to effect the national identity of a severely oppressed and repressed people.
Once security and political balance are more well established in West Chanchajilla in the coming months, Zamastanian companies are set to invest nearly Z$600 million total in the revitalization of the region, which will help spur business growth and consolidation over fractured industries that were once shut out and nationalized by the Armbar regime. Eventually, these numbers will exceed Z$4 billion.
"It's starting to turn … and the people who are getting in on the ground floor are not selfish," said Paul Venesa, the state official who is leading Zamastanian efforts to help West Chanchajilla rebuild its economy. "It's ironic, but certainly not unwelcome."
East Chanchajillan and Parabocan companies are also pledging major amounts into the reconstruction of West Chanchajilla, while other international partners (such as Emmiria and Quetana) are doing the same.
So far, Gladysynthian consortium and a Caspiaan company have signed revenue-sharing deals with West Chanchajillan state-owned cement factories. Each group will invest about Z$150 million. Drambenburg has also aggressively pursued the West Chanchajillan market, selling machinery to the government and electronic products to consumers.
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