Pope in push for dialogue

• VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis, in his annual "state of the world" address called on Monday for all nations to support dialogue to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula and to work for a legally binding ban on nuclear weapons. In the speech, Francis also repeated his call for a two-state-solution between Israelis and Palestinians and respect for the "status quo" of Jerusalem following President Donald Trump's decision to recognise the city as Israel's capital. "It is of paramount importance to support every effort at dialogue on the Korean peninsula, in order to find new ways of overcoming the current disputes, increasing mutual trust and ensuring a peaceful future for the Korean people and the entire world," Francis said. Reuters

Lanka debt

• COLOMBO: Sri Lanka aims to raise $500 million this month via development bonds and is in the process of divesting two state-owned hotels, the central bank and a ministry said on Monday, as the government faces unprecedented debt repayment this year. Reuters

Israel bitcoin

• JERUSALEM: Israel's central bank said on Monday it would not recognise virtual currencies such as bitcoin as actual currency and that it was difficult to devise regulations to monitor the risks of such activity to the country's banks and their clients. Reuters

Erdogan backing

• ANKARA: Turkey's nationalist Opposition said on Monday it would back President Tayyip Erdogan in the 2019 election, signalling continued Right-wing support crucial to his narrow victory in a constitutional referendum last year. Reuters

Nasa satellite

• NEW YORK: Nasa is set to launch a satellite that will examine the Earth's upper atmosphere to see how the boundary between our planet and space changes over time, the US space agency said. Reuters

Sofia murder

• SOFIA: The owner of one of Bulgaria's biggest dairy companies was shot and killed in daylight on Monday outside the company's office in Sofia, two sources familiar with the case said. Reuters

Jordan attack

• AMMAN: Jordan said on Monday it had foiled an Islamic State plot that included plans for a series of attacks last November on security installations, shopping malls and moderate religious figures, state media reported. Reuters

Lift curbs, urges Rouhani

• LONDON: Protests that shook Iran were not just aimed at the economy, President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday, the remarks suggesting the real targets were powerful conservatives opposed to his plans to expand individual freedoms at home and promote detente abroad. The pragmatic cleric, who defeated anti-western hardliners to win re-election last year, also called for the lifting of curbs on social media used by anti-government protesters in the most sustained challenge to hardline authorities since 2009. "It would be a misrepresentation (of events) and also an insult to Iranian people to say they only had economic demands," Rouhani was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. Reuters

Taiwan routes

• TAIPEI: Taiwan's government has called China's recent unilateral expansion of civil aviation routes in the Taiwan Strait an irresponsible act that threatens regional security, in the latest row between Beijing and the self-ruled island. Reuters

Germany strikes

• DUESSELDORF: German industrial workers staged strikes at metals and engineering firms on Monday in support of wage claims by union IG Metall, which announced a further wave of walkouts for Tuesday. Reuters