World news in brief
Peru’s president resigns on eve of impeachment vote
The President of Peru Pedro Pablo Kuczynski announced his resignation yesterday after a vote-buying allegation ensnared him in a fresh scandal on the eve of an impeachment vote.
Mr Kuczynski, 79, a former Wall Street banker who once held US citizenship, promised a “constitutional and orderly” transition of power to end what he described as a hostile political climate that had made governing nearly impossible.
But Mr Kuczynski, who is expected to be replaced by Vice President Martin Vizcarra tomorrow, denied allegations of wrongdoing and blamed the premature end of his five-year term on the right-wing opposition party that controls Congress.
“I’ve worked for nearly 60 years of my life with complete honesty. The opposition has tried to depict me as a corrupt person,” Mr Kuczynski said in a pre-recorded video message.
Lawmakers agreed to accept Mr Kuczynski’s resignation instead of moving forward with a vote scheduled for today on whether to oust him on grounds he was “morally unfit” to govern, said the president of Congress, Luis Galarreta. Reuters
Israel bombed Syrian nuclear reactor in 2007
Israel has admitted that it bombed a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor in 2007 and said the strike should be a warning to Iran that it would not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. The military yesterday released previously classified cockpit footage, photographs and intelligence documents about its 6 September 2007 air strike on the Al-Kubar facility near Deir al-Zor in eastern Syria.
It said the reactor was being constructed with help from North Korea and had been months away from activation. Amos Yadlin, Israel’s military intelligence chief at the time, said on Israel Radio that even with a functioning reactor, it would have taken Syria years to build a nuclear weapon.
Israel’s decision to go public comes after repeated calls in recent months by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the United States and international community to take tougher action on Iran, a Syrian ally.
Netanyahu said yesterday: “The Israeli government, the Israel Defense Forces and the Mossad prevented Syria from developing nuclear capability. They are worthy of full praise for this. Israel’s policy was and remains consistent – to prevent our enemies from arming themselves with nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu wrote on Twitter. Reuters
Myanmar President Htin Kyaw resigns
Myanmar's president, a close friend of the defacto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, announced his retirement yesterday. Htin Kyaw, 71, according to a statement, would step down because he wished to take a rest. It follows reports that he suffered ill health that forced him to travel abroad for medical care at least twice in the past year.
The statement added that his post would be filled within seven working days, in line with the constitution. Mr Kyaw, who became president in 2016, was Myanmar's first elected civilian president and head of its first government to be elected in free and fair polls since a 1962 military coup.
Myanmar has two vice presidents, and according to its constitution, 66-year-old First Vice President Myint Swe will serve as acting president. He was nominated for vice president by the military, which retains great influence even in the elected civilian government because it is guaranteed 25 per cent of the seats in parliament as well as the three key security portfolios in the Cabinet. AP
Vatican communications chief resigns over ‘Lettergate’
Pope Francis’ communications chief resigned yesterday after a scandal over a doctored letter. A brief Vatican statement said the Pope had “accepted the resignation” of Monsignor Dario Vigano, Prefect of the Secretariat for Communication. A Vatican source said the Italian prelate had been urged to offer it.
The scandal centered around Mr Vigano’s handling of a missive to him from former Pope Benedict, 90, who resigned in 2013 and lives in near-isolation in the Vatican grounds. Benedict’s letter was meant to remain private but Mr Vigano read out passages at a presentation on 12 March of an 11-booklet series on the theology of Pope Francis, quoting the former pontiff as rejecting the “stupid prejudice” of those who criticised the learning of his successor.
Mr Vigano released a photo of the first page, but the bottom part was blurred and most of the second page hidden by books. A press release also omitted a paragraph in which Benedict apologised for not having had the time to read all 11 volumes and thus declining a request to write an introduction. Reuters
Irish abortion law referendum passes latest stage
A bill to allow for a referendum on changes to abortion legislation has passed its latest stage in the Dail. Some 110 TDs, or members of the Irish parliament, voted to move the 36th Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018 to committee stage, with 32 voting against.
The majority (21) Fianna Fail TDs opposed the bill while 20 were in favour of asking voters if they want to retain or repeal the Eighth Amendment. Two Fine Gael TDs, one from Sinn Fein and eight Independents also voted against the bill.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government would respect the result of a referendum. He said: “The Government will respect the result of the referendum. If the vote is passed, I hope people respect that.
Dublin: dozens of firefighters tackled serious blaze
A fire broke out on the upper floors of the Metro Hotel in Dublin last night. The hotel and apartment complex is located near Dublin Airport, on the northside of the city.At least eight fire crews battled to stop the blaze from spreading. Dublin Fire Brigade said there were no reports of injuries or missing people.