referendum | Common News Update

May162020 by adminNo Comments

Puerto Rico to hold statehood referendum amid disillusion

World

Puerto Rico will hold a nonbinding referendum in November to decide whether the island should become a U.S. stateBy DÁNICA COTO Associated PressMay 16, 2020, 9:30 PM3 min read3 min readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Gov. Wanda Vázquez announced on Saturday that she will hold a nonbinding referendum in November to decide whether Puerto Rico should become a U.S. state, a move that comes amid growing disillusion with the island’s U.S. territorial status. For the first time in the island’s history, the referendum will ask a single, simple question: Should Puerto Rico be immediately admitted as a U.S. state? It’s an answer that requires approval from U.S. Congress and a question that outraged the island’s small group of independence supporters and m...

Oct202018 by adminNo Comments

Thousands rally in London for Brexit referendum

World

Oct. 20 (UPI) -- About 700,000 protesters seeking a referendum on the final Brexit deal rallied in London Saturday, in the biggest march in the capital city since a 2003 protest against the war in Iraq. Demonstrators at the People's Vote March for the Future are demanding a referendum on the terms of the Britain's exit from the European Union next year. The rally attendees included lawmakers who support a new vote, something Prime Minister Theresa May said would not happen. At the same time as the People's Vote rally, about 1,200 rallied at a pro-Brexit rally in Harrogate, a town in North Yorkshire, England. The event was organized by Leave Means Leave and led by former U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, who said the government should move forward with the vote. "And that's our ...

May62018 by adminNo Comments

Facebook's transparency efforts heavily criticized ahead of Irish abortion referendum

Technology

Facebook’s latest effort to prevent the spread of misinformation by groups such as the Russians, who according to the FBI meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, is getting mixed reviews during a test period in Ireland. The new Facebook "View Ads" feature is currently being tested there as the country prepares for its referendum to change its abortion laws and has been scheduled for launch in the U.S. ahead of this year’s midterm elections. However, experts researching the new tool claim it doesn’t provide enough information to help protect users from misinformation and fake ads. Ireland is due to vote May 25 on whether or not to repeal the 8th Amendment to its Constitution, which bans abortion in nearly all circumstances and was enacted by a referendum in 1983. A yes vote would...

Oct42017 by adminNo Comments

Catalan referendum: Region's independence 'in matter of days'

World

Media playback is unsupported on your deviceCatalonia will declare independence from Spain in a matter of days, the leader of the autonomous region has told the BBC.In his first interview since a disputed vote on Sunday, Carles Puigdemont said his government would "act at the end of this week or the beginning of next".Meanwhile, Spain's King Felipe VI said the vote's organisers had put themselves "outside the law".He said the situation in Spain was "extremely serious", calling for unity.Tensions between Spain and the north-eastern Catalonia region continue to mount. The Spanish High Court said it had begun an investigation into key Catalan figures on Wednesday on suspicion of sedition - inciting rebellion against the state - including the head of Catalonia's regional police. Josep Lluis Tr...

Oct12017 by adminNo Comments

Catalan referendum: Catalonia has 'won right to statehood'

World

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont says the region has won the right to statehood following Sunday's contentious referendum which was marred by violence.He said the door had been opened to a unilateral declaration of independence.Hundreds of people were injured as Spanish police used force to try to block voting.The Spanish government had pledged to stop a poll that was declared illegal by the country's constitutional court.Police officers prevented some people from voting, and seized ballot papers and boxes at polling stations."With this day of hope and suffering, the citizens of Catalonia have won the right to an independent state in the form a republic," Mr Puigdemont said in a televised address flanked by other senior Catalan leaders."My government, in the next few days will send the res...