World briefs

ITALY Voters dealt Premier Matteo Renzi a resounding rebuke by rejecting his proposed constitutional reforms, plunging Europe’s fourth-largest economy into political and economic uncertainty yesterday. Renzi, who had boldly staked his political future on winning the referendum, announced he would quit following Sunday’s referendum vote, in which 60 percent of voters signaled they wanted a change in political direction.

CHINA-IRAN The foreign ministers of China and Iran urge governments not to violate the deal that limits Iran’s nuclear activity in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, in remarks apparently directed at President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration.

VIETNAM is seeking about USD1.2 billion in overseas loans for its only oil refinery to increase its output. When completed in 2021, the expanded Dung Quat Refinery will be able to meet half of Vietnam’s fuel needs, rising from about one-third now with its current capacity of 148,000 barrels a day.

JAPAN Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will visit Pearl Harbor with U.S. President Barack Obama at the end of this month, becoming the first leader of his country to go to the U.S. Naval base in Hawaii that Japan attacked in 1941.

NEW ZEALAND’s popular Prime Minister John Key stunned the nation when he announced, in a breaking voice, he would resign after eight years as leader.

UZBEKISTAN Election officials say that acting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has overwhelmingly won a tightly controlled presidential election, garnering 88.61 percent of the vote.

SYRIA Rebel shelling of the Syrian government-held part of Aleppo killed a Russian nurse in a makeshift Russian hospital in the city yesterday while a Russian fighter jet crashed into the Mediterranean Sea after returning from a sortie over Syria. The developments were a blow to Russia, which has been one of the staunchest supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

GAMBIA An appeals court in Gambia has ordered the release of a top opposition politician and 18 others who were arrested after participating in a peaceful protest earlier this year calling for political reforms.

SPAIN Provinces in southern and eastern Spain are on alert for heavy rains for a second day after torrential downpours left two dead and many roads and buildings flooded in several towns.

BRAZIL Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities across Brazil to express disgust with public corruption and outrage at what they say are lawmakers’ attempts to muzzle the judges and prosecutors pursuing those crimes.