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BEIJING (Reuters) – China has taken a positive attitude on improving relations with the Vatican, China’s foreign ministry said on Monday, in response to Pope Francis’ recent comments regarding the country. China has maintained communications with the Vatican, ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a press briefing, when asked about the Pope who recently visited Mongolia. …

China says it is positive on improving relations with Vatican Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said on Monday it planned to launch its H-IIA rocket carrying a moon lander on Thursday morning, after unfavourable wind conditions led to a postponement last month. The rocket is scheduled to take off from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan at …

Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy reschedules moon rocket launch for Thursday Read More »

By Rozanna Latiff and A. Ananthalakshmi KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysian prosecutors dropped corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Monday, letting the leader of a key partner in the ruling coalition to walk free and raising questions over Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s promise to fight graft. Anwar needs the support of …

Malaysia drops corruption charges against PM Anwar’s ally Read More »

AMMAN (Reuters) – Japan extended a $100 million loan to help Jordan’s electricity sector reforms as part of Tokyo’s support for the kingdom’s IMF-guided reforms, officials said on Sunday. “Japan will continue our support for Jordan in its economic and financial reforms and further modernization,” Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said in joint remarks with his …

Japan loans Jordan $100 million for electricity reforms Read More »

By Arpan Chaturvedi and Rupam Jain NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the United Nations to reform in line with 21st century realities to ensure the representation of voices that matter, according to an interview published on Sunday. A “mid-20th century approach cannot serve the world in the 21st century”, …

India PM urges UN to rethink priorities for the 21st century Read More »

By Andrew Osborn LONDON (Reuters) – Armenia’s prime minister has said his country’s policy of solely relying on Russia to guarantee its security was a strategic mistake because Moscow has been unable to deliver and is in the process of winding down its role in the wider region. In an interview with Italian newspaper La …

Armenian PM says depending solely on Russia for security was ‘strategic mistake’ Read More »

By Philip Pullella ULAANBAATAR (Reuters) – Pope Francis sent greetings to China on Sunday, calling its citizens a “noble” people and asking Catholics in China to be “good Christians and good citizens,” in his latest overture to the communist country to ease restrictions on religion. Francis made the unscripted comments at the end of a …

In overture to China, pope sends greetings to a ‘noble’ people Read More »