Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, Jan. 12

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday rejected South Korea's calls for a sincere apology to the "comfort women" who were forcibly conscripted to work in wartime military brothels, despite evident flaws in a bilateral deal.

Abe's remarks, the first from the Japanese leader since South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for the apology during a recent New Year's press conference, came despite Seoul not requesting a bilateral deal on the issue be renegotiated.(Japan-Comfort women)

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NEW DELHI -- India Friday launched 31 satellites in a single mission from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota.

The state-owned Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)'s trusted workhorse Polar Launch Satellite Vehicle (PSLV) lifted off with the 31 satellites, including the country's 100th satellite Cartosat (earth observation satellite) and 28 foreign satellites, at 9:29 a.m. local time. (India-Satellites)

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NEW DELHI -- Four sitting senior judges of India's top court Friday said the administration of the Supreme Court was not in order and "many things less than desirable" have happened in the past few months.

"We went to Chief Justice of India (CJI) saying certain things are not normal and sought remedial measures," Justice Chelameswar, one of the four judges said while addressing the press.(India-Supreme court)

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MANILA -- The World Bank (WB) said on Friday that it has approved an additional 170 million U.S. dollars to fund projects designed to boost rural incomes and reduce poverty in the Philippines.

In a statement, the WB said its board of executive directors has approved the new funding for the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) to support the development of rural infrastructures such as roads, bridges, communal irrigation systems, potable water supply, solar dryers, greenhouses and composting facilities.(Philippines-World Bank) Enditem