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India: controversial MP backs Palestine at swearing-in ceremony
A usually staid swearing-in procedure for Indian parliamentarians turned controversial when veteran opposition legislator Asaduddin Owaisi chanted ‘Jai Palestine’ after taking his oath. ‘Jai’, meaning victory in Sanskrit, can be translated as ‘Long live’. He was…
Papua New Guinea: Bougainville’s desire for independence stalled
Five years after Bougainville’s decisive vote for independence from Papua New Guinea (PNG), frustrations are growing due to the stalled political process. Over 97% of the autonomous region’s approximately 300,000 residents voted for independence in a…
Honduras: former president imprisoned for corruption
Many Hondurans are celebrating what they see as a rare instance of accountability for corruption among the nation's ruling class. Juan Orlando Hernandez, the country’s former president, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after…
Russia / North Korea: mutual defence agreement against ‘aggression’
Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un have signed a mutual defence agreement pledging support in case of ‘aggression’ against either country. The announcement followed Putin's visit to Pyongyang, his first since 2000, which Kim described as…
