Royal News Network: Zoran's Public Service Broadcaster

[Zoran]

The dikahnawadvsdi aninotlvsgi iyunadai has passed a bill that, if approved, will grant the Royal Aviation Administration the power to regulate the prices of airline tickets. People worry that these regulations will make air travel less affordable as the price of tickets would no longer change with market while supporters of the bill believe it would allow Zoranian airlines to focus on quality of travel and quality of service on their airline flights which would allow airlines to compete with each other over the quality of their service domestically and internationally. Opposition to the bill believe that these prices would cripple the Zoranian aviation industry as Zoranian airlines would not be able to compete with the potentially lower prices of the international market. "It's no longer the 1360s," says Lawmaker Tsosie of the Republican Action Party, "the Zoranian economy is more connected to the international market than back then where regulations like this were to help make a new industry a viable option for travel. But now the aviation industry is a huge part of the global economy that has flourished under its deregulation and its ability to set its own price based on supply and demand. By enforcing these regulations upon the industry, we are likely to see Zoranian airlines be unable to compete with the international market and thus potentially risk an entire industry in our economy along with the thousands of jobs it supplies for potentially a higher quality of service that is not guaranteed." Regardless, this bill will not become law until the Queen gives her approval on it but this hasn't stopped Zoranian airlines from scrambling as they seek to draft plans for if the regulations pass.

 

[Zoran]

 

11 August 1424 - Today it was announced that the proposed Internet Right Amendment to the constitution will be brought to vote in the Iyunadai in the coming days. This bill was proposed by Lawmaker Agasga Florius of the Pirate Party and would make internet access a human right for Zoranian citizens and would have dramatic far reaching changes that could send ripples through the internet service industry. The expanse of these changes are to be speculated but it is already being met by much resistance from the Talon League coalition, with leaders of the coalition stating that internet access is not a human right "as humanity has existed for centuries without it and the implementation of such an addition to the constitution would mean that people have been deprived of a right for centuries." This is just simply one of their objections to the proposed amendment with the various leaders of the political parties of the Talon League each coming up with their own reasons for opposing the law. The Prosperity Coalition, on the other hand, has been silent on the matter so far. Those close to Junaluska of the Junalusaknist Party has stated that they are likely to support the amendment stating that "the internet is necessary for the revolution to spread abroad in the modern world and for the citizens of Zoran to learn about the injustices of the global capitalism and to be part of the international struggle for a better world." Other parties have not given insight into their opinions on the amendment yet and no hints have been found with regards to the other parties. In the coming days more details will likely be released by the other political parties as to how they attend to vote on this amendment.

 

[Zoran]

 

13 August, 1424 - Today the Internet Rights Amendment failed to pass in the Iyunadai with the Red Throne Party voting against the amendment along with the Talon League coalition. Chancellor Yenuha Aditsi had this to say on this matter, "It is a shame that the Internet Rights Amendment was rejected by the Iyunadai, it would have brought great change to the people of Zoran in providing them basic access to information in an age of globalization." When asked about if he had any insight as to why the Red Throne Party might have voted against the amendment, he had this to say, "I do not believe that the lawmakers of the Red Throne party are against the idea of the Internet Rights Amendment, on the contrary I was under the impression that a majority of them are very much in favor of enshrining internet rights into the Zoranian constitution. But from what I have heard among the lawmakers of the party, they want to collaborate with the Pirate Party to re-write the proposed amendment and make it more defined and robust in its protections. What they mean by this I cannot say, but it would be safe to assume that the Internet Rights Amendment is far from dead." Agasga Florius of the Pirate Party and Degotoga Atawodi of the Red Throne Party refused to comment on the situation at this time. The public reaction to this ruling has been mixed with some saying that this was an disappointing decision by the lawmakers while others praise it believing that the proposed amendment was not properly thought out. Others praise the decision believing that access to the internet is not a human right and that the lawmakers acted wisely in rejecting the amendment.

 

[Zoran]

7 October 1424 - Today the controversial Pharmaceutical Copyright Act has been granted royal assent and has been signed into law. This law has effectively changed copyright law in Zoran in regards to medications and pharmaceutical products in that the Zoranian government will no longer recognize nor provide patents on drugs, effectively forcing pharmaceutical companies to sell their medications as generics in Zoran. This law, championed by the Red Throne Party, was created on the grounds that drugs that can save lives or improve the health of the citizenry should be viewed as a common good whose price should not be inflated by patents and copyright. The party argues that it is the goal of the Zoranian government to ensure that there are little to no barriers to healthcare and that patents on drugs can prevent people from accessing lifesaving treatments and thus go against this ethos. Critics of this law have stated that this would endanger Zoran's economy by making it harder for pharmaceutical companies in Zoran to fund their R&D departments. Furthermore, critics argue that the law could risk the imposition of trade barriers on the country from foreign powers who would see this as undermining their economy and copyright laws. These critiques are not without merit as the law could very well isolate Zoran economically and could have massive impacts on supply chains. However, supporters of the law cite that the lowered prices due to the removal of patents and vital medications can reduce the financial burden on the state's healthcare system. Supporters further argue that it could lead to Zoran becoming a hub for generic drug production and could open doors to trade with developing economies to allow them access to vital life saving drugs at lower costs. Those from the Junaluskanist party praise Queen Atsila for her decision to pass the bill saying that it may inspire changes abroad and incite the proletariate to demand the removal of such "monopolistic bourgeoise practices" elsewhere in the world. How this law will impact the daily lives of Zoranians and the country's international relations is just speculation at the moment, but in the next few days we are likely to see the consequences this law will bring.