The nearly unanimous results in the Pacific islands chain exceeded expectations and could both accelerate independence and complicate relations across the region.

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The South Pacific region votes overwhelmingly in a non-binding referendum that could create the world's newest nation.

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Jubilation at result but region faces long process ahead before it can become world’s newest nation The autonomous region of Bougainville has voted overwhelmingly in favour of becoming independent from Papua New Guinea, paving the way for the group of islands to become the world’s newest nation. More than 180,000 people in Bougainville, a collection of islands flung 700km off the coast of Papua...

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