World briefs

IRAQ The Kurdish referendum on independence from Iraq was approved by more than 92 percent of voters, officials said yesterday, as Iraq’s prime minister vowed to keep his country united without resorting to the use of force. Even with the strong support, the non-binding vote is unlikely to lead to formal independence. Virtually the entire international community is opposed to any redrawing of the map.

PHILIPPINES President Rodrigo Duterte respects a reported investigation into allegations that he has undeclared wealth hidden in bank accounts, his spokesman said yesterday, adding “the president has nothing to hide.”

BANGLADESH At least 163 people have been killed and 91 others have gone missing over the past year in attacks carried out by Rohingya Muslim militants in Myanmar’s restive Rakhine state, Myanmar government officials claimed.

SRI LANKA A group led by Buddhist monks mobbed a United Nations-run safe house for Rohingya Muslims, claiming that they were terrorists and demanding they be sent back to Myanmar, prompting police to relocate them.

SAUDI ARABIA Women in Saudi Arabia will be able to get behind the wheel as of next summer, following a landmark royal decree allowing women to drive — but they are still likely to be told to get a man’s permission to buy a car.

EGYPT’s government says it has approved draft legislation to create a national space agency. A statement yesterday says the proposed agency will aim to build and launch satellites from Egypt to serve “development objectives.”

EUROPE Climate researchers are warning that Europeans should prepare for the return of “Lucifer,” saying the hellishly named heat wave that hit parts of the continent this summer could become a regular occurrence due to man-made climate change.

IRELAND’s prime minister says the country will hold a referendum on lifting its constitutional ban on abortion in May or June. If successful, the vote will mark the eighth amendment to the Irish constitution.

US-MEXICO Federal contractors have begun building prototypes of President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall with Mexico, hitting a milestone toward a key campaign pledge. As agents prepared for the news conference, a Mexican man breached the fence, cut his hand and was arrested.

GUATEMALA Authorities say the country’s former ambassador to the United States has been arrested in Spain on an international warrant for alleged campaign finance violations.