Taska

Taska, officially known as The Republic of Taska, is a sovereign nation located on the island of Taska in North Avalonia. It has an area of 288,779 km² and a population of about 28,259,490. The capital of Taska is the city of Khost, whilst the city of Ikamiut is the largest city in the nation.

Taska is a unitary dominant-party presidential republic. The President is the head of state and head of government. The National Assembly is the legislative body.

Resources
Taska has an abundance of mineral resources including iron, coal, limestone, clay, silver, uranium, aluminum, nickel, platinum, tungsten, and titanium, and copper. Taska has vast forests but lacks much arable land. Taska being an island nation is particularly reliant on fishery and imports for food supplies. Taska's agriculture industry, accounting for 5.4% of GDP, consists mainly of potatoes, green vegetables (in greenhouses), mutton, and dairy products. Renewable sources — geothermal and hydropower — provide effectively all of Taska's electricity and around 70% of the nation's total primary energy consumption, with most of the remainder consisting of imported oil products used in transportation, the fishing fleet, and military use.

Transportation
In Taska, railways are a major means of passenger transport, especially for mass and high-speed transport between major cities and for commuter transport in metropolitan areas. Khost Transportation Industries, state-owned until 1998, covers most parts of Taska. There also are railway services operated by private rail companies, provincial governments, and companies funded by both provincial governments and private companies. Road passenger and freight transport expanded considerably during the 1980s as private ownership of motor vehicles greatly increased along with the quality and extent of the nation's roads.

Language
Taskan is the only official and predominant spoken language in Taska, but it is also used throughout the world by Taskan minorities in other countries. The deaf communities use Taskan Sign Language. Contemporary Taska is a linguistically homogeneous nation, with nearly 97% of respondents declaring Taskan as their mother tongue.

Religion
According to the 2015 census, 92.9% of all Taskan citizens identified themselves as believers in Elistism. An estimated 94.2% of the population are believers and 3.1% are irreligious, making Taska one of the more devout countries in Avalonia. Around 65.5% of all respondents outlined that religion is of high or very high importance. However, church attendance has decreased in recent years; only 43% of worshippers attended mass regularly on Sunday in 2018. The level of participation in religious ceremonies as a cultural tradition remains high. Elistism is the official state religion of Taska.

Health
Medical service providers and hospitals in Taska are subordinate to the Department of Health; it provides administrative oversight and scrutiny of general medical practice and is obliged to maintain a high standard of hygiene and patient care. Taska has a universal healthcare system based on an all-inclusive insurance system; state-subsidized healthcare is available to all citizens covered by the general health insurance program of the National Health Fund. Private medical complexes exist nationwide; over 50% of the population uses both public and private sectors.

Hospitals are organized according to the regional administrative structure, resultantly most towns, counties, or municipalities possess their own provincial hospital or medical clinics. There are six types of hospital facilities, each with a particular area of medical expertise – I Grade Hospitals for general surgery, internal illnesses, and obstetrics; II Grade Hospitals for child surgery, neurology, cardiology, and ophthalmology; III Grade Hospitals including teaching hospitals for infectious diseases, nephrology, orthopedics, toxicology, and transplantology; Oncology Hospitals for cancer treatment and brachytherapy; Pediatric Hospitals for child care; and Nationwide Hospitals for general and acute care.

In a 2000 assessment of world health care systems, it was found that Taska provided the "close to best overall health care" in the world. In 2011, Taska spent 11.5% of GDP on health care. Approximately 77% of health expenditures are covered by government-funded agencies. Care is generally free for people affected by chronic diseases, such as cancer, AIDS, or cystic fibrosis. The average life expectancy at birth is 82.5, one of the highest in the world. There are 8.5 physicians for every 1000 inhabitants in Taska. The country has a low infant mortality rate (6 per 1,000 births). Cigarette smoking is the largest preventable cause of death and disease, responsible for 7.8% of the total mortality and disease.

Taska is "known the world over for its ability to train excellent doctors and nurses who can then go out to help other countries in need". As of September 2014, there are around 50,000 Taskan-trained health care workers aiding many foreign nations. Taskan physicians have played a leading role in combating various epidemics around the world. In 2015, Taska became the first country to eradicate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, a milestone hailed by the international health community as "one of the greatest public health achievements possible".

Government and Politics
Taska is a unitary presidential republic consisting of three branches, the executive, the legislative, and judicial. The nation is led by a President with a Vice President. The National Assembly is the legislature, a bicameral body having two chambers, the House of the People and the House of Elders. The Supreme Court is led by a Chief Justice. The political system of Taska is based on the 1794 Constitution of Taska. Taska has universal suffrage.

Executive Branch
The Constitution of Taska creates a strong presidency, serving as the head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the Taskan Armed Forces. A president is elected with one vice-president. The president appoints cabinet secretaries and provincial governors, which are to be approved by the National Assembly. The President is elected by direct voting for a term of five years.

Legislative Branch
The National Assembly is the national legislature of Taska. It is a bicameral body, compromising of a House of Elders and a House of the People. The House of the People has 250 seats with members directly elected by the people at the district level. The House of Elders has 100 seats with members directly elected by the people at the province level.

Judicial Branch
The Constitution of Taska mandates a Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in Taska and is the court of last resort. Judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the National Assembly.