New Caledonia rejects independence in final vote amid boycott
Canberra, Australia/Paris, FranceReuters The French territory of New Caledonia voted against independence in a referendum on Sunday, provisional results showed, amid a big drop in turnout due to a boycott of the vote by the independence movement. The Indigenous Kanak population, who largely favour independence, had called for non-participation in the referendum because they are […]
Pope recognises errors as Mexico celebrates independence
Mexico City, MexicoAP Mexico celebrated a relatively little-known date Monday marking 200 years since the victory of the 1810-1821 independence movement. The commemorations included a message from Pope Francis acknowledging the errors of the Roman Catholic Church in supporting the old order. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador waves the national flag after giving the […]
Constantinople Patriarch visits Ukraine for independence anniversary
Kyiv, Ukraine AP The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople has arrived on a visit to Ukraine to attend festivities marking the 30th anniversary of its declaration of independence. On Saturday, Patriarch Batholomew I and the leader of the new Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius I, together conducted a lithurgy in Kyiv’s St Michael’s Cathedral. Ecumenical […]
Tunisian President fires premier after violent protests
Tunis, TunisiaAP Tunisia’s President fired the country’s Prime Minister Sunday and froze parliament’s activities after violent demonstrations over the country’s pandemic and economic situation. President Kais Saied also lifted the immunity of all parliament members and said he would name a new prime minister in the coming hours to bring calm to the country. It […]
Scottish nationalists vow independence vote after election win
Glasgow, ScotlandReuters Pro-independence parties won a majority in Scotland’s parliament on Saturday, paving the way to a high-stakes political, legal and constitutional battle with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the future of the United Kingdom. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the result meant she would push ahead with plans for a second independence […]
Widening horizons: From Africa to Asia, youth salute Prince Philip for changing their lives
As Prince Philip is laid to rest in Windsor, NITA BHALLA and ROLI SRIVASTAVA, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, report on how the Duke of Edinburgh International Awards scheme has changes lives across the globe…
Four die in clashes set off by India’s Modi visiting Bangladesh
Dhaka, BangladeshAP At least four people were killed and scores injured in violent protests Friday set off by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Bangladesh to celebrate its 50th anniversary of independence. The casualties happened after students from a prominent madrasa or Islamic school and members of an Islamist group clashed with police in […]
Essay: Bangladesh at 50 – A nation created in violence and still bearing scars of a troubled birth
As Bangladesh approaches the 50th anniversary of its creation, conflict scholar TAZREENA SAIJAD, in an article first published on The Conversation, looks at the troubled lead-up to independence and the impact that has on the nation today…
Bougainville’s youth pursue break from bloody past at presidential vote
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Young people in the South Pacific islands of Bougainville are seizing the opportunity to help reshape the future of the autonomous region of Papua New Guinea as they head to the polls this month to elect a new leader. The general election is the first since Bougainville voted overwhelmingly for independence from Papua […]
BOOKS: PEACEKEEPING IN A TIME OF TERROR AS EAST TIMOR LOOKED TO A NEW FUTURE
DAVID ADAMS reads ‘Scorched Earth’, an account of one peace-keeper’s experiences as East Timor moved towards independence…