FICTS

TARMORYAN IS THE NEW SECRETARY-GENERAL

Bourzafrique – The Tarmoryan government assigned Mr. Bilne Filwehidiz to be the new secretary-general of  FICTS for the next six months, replacing the Tuvelauan ambassador, Mr. Hare Paulaui and following the rotating process.

The Kaupelanese ambassador, Mr. Aryanto Nuhusedim, greeted the new chairman and emphasized the need to have the Forum stronger and more influent in the world..

The Kaupelanese government also assigned new ambassadors to three FICTS nations. So, Mrs. Lagasami Tanumanik will be the ambassador to Adzhatia; Mrs. Yabidi Sumbulau to Yutyrama and Mr. Agus Kawisitra to Tarmorya. The ambassadors of the other FICTS nations will remain in the post.

Purikali – Last November, during the celebrations of the thirtieth anniversary of his reign and after inaugurating a modern football stadium in the city of Masar with the name of his father, the king announced the decision to abdicate the throne in favour of his eldest son, Kira.

His Majesty Wasahi II, 69 years old, the second king after the independence, succeeded Wasahi I in 1978. The king decided to abdicate after a long reign. Prince Kira, will become king Kira II.

While expected by many politicians, the announcement revived old and intense discussions about the future of the Kaupelanese monarchy.

Many opponents, including the Haima party of the prime minister Peter Puramèsar, argue that the current system is outdated and costly to the public coffers and should be replaced by a parliamentary republic. The defenders, in turn, claim that the monarchy is an ancient tradition of the country, with over one thousand years since the time of the glorious rajas of Kautamakuwa and that the Purajaya dynasty already lasts for more than two centuries.

The discussions can lead the Parliament to approve a plebiscite this year in order to have the opinion of the people about the two systems.

Heir prince Kira Purajaya, 41 years old, to be crowned in February.

Surveys of public opinion indicate a little advantage of the monarchists in comparison to the republicans among the populations.

Despite the controversy, the Lirai Komitin Lahuhe, the Royal Ceremonial Committee, is preparing the ceremony of coronation.

Many chiefs of state are to be invited to the celebration. Among them, those from FICTS and UIEMB nations are expected as special invitees.

As part of the celebration, a football tournament with national teams is being scheduled. Participants are still to be confirmed..

ENVIRONMENT

THE GOVERNMENT STIMULATES PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Purikali – The government is taking several measures to dampen the usage of passenger vehicles and stimulate public transportation instead. Currently Kaupelan already has 5 inhabitants per vehicle, a very low rate in comparison to other developing countries. Nevertheless, the purpose of the government is to reduce pollution, protecting the environment and to decrease the oil-dependency by creating one of the most efficient public transportation system in the word.

Measures, considered very unpopular, were taken last year to inhibit the usage of private cars, like the increase of toll fee on the highways from 5 to 10 huwa per 100km; the annual tax of vehicles from 4% to 5%; parking lot fees from  3 to 5 huwa per hour and the price of gasoline, from 2.80 to 3.25 huwa per liter.

On the other hand, actions were taken to improve the quality of public transportation, such as keeping the diesel price and the bus and train ticket price unchanged. A new subway line - the red line - was built and branches were added to the existing lines, increasing the total length from 63 to 86km. The number of users per week increased from three to more than four million..

The new generation of baija to be launched this year, is the first launch after the purchase of Darapali by Watera.

TAXI TRICYCLES

The Kaupelanese government invested on alternative vehicles and, from 1997 on, funded the development of a motorized tricycle through the Technological Research Centre of Purikali. K.K. Darapali (that means, "clean world") is a company created to produce this low fuel consumption tricycle, nicknamed baija, to be used mostly as taxi. Nowadays, 60,000 taxi-baija circulate in the country, leading to a significant fuel economy. 

A negative consequence of this government policy is the financial loss of  K.S. Watera, the Kaupelanese car manufacturer, aggravated by the worldwide crisis last year. The company opened a factory in Ambon, Indonesia, to built CKD cars using cheaper manpower. The Kaupelanese plant shorten dramatically the production and has now only sub-compact cars and vans in the portfolio.

By the end of the year, Watera purchased the profitable Darapali, definitively changing the profile of its product lines.

AIR TRANSPORTATION

NEW FLIGHTS TO AFRICA

Purikali – Makuwa Kaupelanese Airlines is starting to operate flights between Kaupelan and Africa. The flights will connect Purikali to Lagos in Nigeria three times a week, with  stop in Mumbai, India. "It intends to provide transportation for an always growing demand for flights to Africa, mainly for business purpose", said the Marketing Director,  Mr. Paul Tafotmai. But it will also work for other purposes, like tourism, mostly for countries in Oceania and Asia with stop in Kaupelan. The flight to the heart of Africa will allow connections to other destinations in the continent.

Other companies will also have flights to the African continent. South African Airways will have flights to Johannesburg, South Africa, with stop in Perth, Australia, and Egyptair will have connection to Dubai, in the Emirates, and Cairo, in Egypt. Both two times a week.

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EXCHANGE RATES

    US DOLLAR:     KAH 2.4637

    EURO:                 KAH 3.2880

Weather –  Sunny. Possible thunderstorms in the evening.
Max.Temp. 32^oC (Weunol)
Min. Temp. 20^oC (Odomtu)