Suicide car bomb explodes on highway near oilfields in southern Iraq -police sources

BASRA, Iraq, May 19 (Reuters) A suicide car bomber blew himself up at a checkpoint on a highway near oilfields in Iraq's southern province of Basra today, police sources said.

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Assange hails victory after Sweden drops probe, says prepared to end impasse

* Sweden drops investigation into rape allegation * Assange says seeking dialogue with UK, US to end impasse * UK police say he still faces arrest if he leaves embassy By Simon Johnson and Michael Holden STOCKHOLM/LONDON, May 19 (Reuters) Swedish prosecutors dropped an investigation of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange today over a rape allegation, but British police said he would still be arrested if he left the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he has been holed up for five years.

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'Help us stop Scottish nationalists', UK PM May's Conservatives ask Labour voters

By Russell Cheyne EDINBURGH, May 19 (Reuters) The leader of Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives in Scotland today made a plea to supporters of Britain's opposition Labour Party to lend her their vote at next month's election to halt the march of the Scottish nationalists.

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US raised concerns at "highest levels" on incident involving Turkey security personnel

WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) The US State Department said today the conduct of Turkish security personnel in Washington this week was "deeply disturbing".

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WannaCry cyber attack compromised some Russian banks: c.bank

By Alexander Winning and Jack Stubbs MOSCOW, May 19 (Reuters) The WannaCry ransomware attack compromised the systems of Russian banks in some isolated cases, the Russian central bank said on Friday in the first official acknowledgement by Moscow that the virus had an impact on the country's banking system.

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Trump budget to give first look at infrastructure plan

WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) President Donald Trump will propose $200 billion in infrastructure spending over 10 years in his first budget on Tuesday - funding the administration believes will boost private, state and local spending on projects, a White House official said on Friday.

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Companies use kidnap insurance to guard against ransomware attacks

NEW YORK/LONDON, May 19 (Reuters) Companies without cyber insurance are dusting off policies covering kidnap, ransom and extortion in the world's political hotspots to recoup losses caused by ransomware viruses such as "WannaCry", insurers say.

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Ecuador government asks UK to give Assange safe passage

QUITO, May 19 (Reuters) Ecuador's government asked the United Kingdom today to give WikiLeaks' Julian Assange safe passage in order to allow him asylum in the South American nation.

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Political turmoil in Washington not yet felt in economy -Fed's Bullard

ST LOUIS, May 19 (Reuters) The developing controversy surrounding the Trump administration has not had an appreciable impact on the economy yet, but markets should prepare for continued political volatility, St.

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South Sudan forces killed 114 civilians around Yei in six months - UN

By Tom Miles GENEVA, May 19 (Reuters) South Sudanese pro-government forces killed at least 114 civilians in and around Yei town between July 2016 and January 2017, as well as committing uncounted rapes, looting and torture, the UN human rights office said today.

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Ex-US Congressman Weiner pleads guilty in teen 'sexting' case

By Joseph Ax NEW YORK, May 19 (Reuters) Former US Congressman Anthony Weiner today pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of sending obscene messages to a minor, ending an investigation into a "sexting" scandal that played a role in last year's US presidential election.

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Motorist who mowed down Times Square pedestrians due in court

NEW YORK, May 19 (Reuters) The US Navy recruit who drove his car along a crowded Times Square sidewalk, killing a young woman and injuring many others, is due to appear in court in Manhattan today to face charges of murder, attempted murder and vehicular homicide.

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UK PM May says decision over Assange arrest is matter for the police

LONDON, May 19 (Reuters) British Prime Minister said it would be for police to decide if Julian Assange should be arrested if he leaves the Ecuadorean embassy in London after Swedish prosecutors said on Friday they had dropped a rape investigation against the WikiLeaks.

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Saudis boost US Treasury holdings ahead of Trump visit, economic talks

By Andrew Torchia RIYADH, May 19 (Reuters) Saudi Arabia has been increasing its holdings of U.

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Russia concerned about development of nuclear potential by North Korea : Security Chief

Moscow, May 19 (UNI) Russian Security Council’s secretary Nikolai Patrushev said today that the development of nuclear potential by North Korea causes concerns in Moscow, as Russia borders North Korea.

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Italy probes Milan train station attacker for alleged international terrorism - source

MILAN, May 19 (Reuters) Prosecutors in Milan are investigating a man who stabbed a policeman and two army officers at the city's main train station on Thursday for alleged international terrorism, an investigative source said today.

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Cholera kills two in Kenyan capital, five hospitalised -official

NAIROBI, May 19 (Reuters) Cholera has killed two people in the Kenyan capital this week and another five are receiving treatment in hospital, a Nairobi county public health official said today.

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Iran extends voting due to "rush of voters" - state tv

DUBAI, May 19 (Reuters) Iran extended voting by two hours today because of a "rush of voters" in the presidential election, state television reported.

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As Trump visits, Gulf states seen quietly curbing opposition

* Rights activists suspect critics silenced by authorities * Both liberals and conservatives limit output * Trump should push Gulf on rights-Amnesty * Political discourse on social media abates

DUBAI, May 19 (Reuters) US President Donald Trump, departing from his predecessor's practice, is expected to sidestep human rights questions when he meets Gulf Arab leaders at the weekend and focus, to the dismay of beleaguered government critics, on business and security.

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Roadside bomb kills 11 Afghans headed to wedding, official says

By Mirwais Harooni KABUL, May 19 (Reuters) A suspected roadside bomb killed as many as 11 people from the same family on their way to a wedding in eastern Afghanistan today, an official said.

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Philippines calls for 'gentlemen's agreement' between ASEAN, China on sea code

MANILA, May 19 (Reuters) Southeast Asian nations and China should start with a "gentleman's agreement" on the busy South China Sea waterway because no mechanism exists to legally enforce any deal, the Philippine foreign minister said today.

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Tribal elder, 5 others killed by car bomb south of Libya's Benghazi -official

BENGHAZI, Libya, May 19 (Reuters) A car bomb killed a prominent tribal elder allied to eastern security forces and five other people outside a mosque in a town south of Benghazi as they were leaving afternoon prayers today, a security official said.

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Suspected Pakistani militants gun down three workers on China "Silk Road" project

QUETTA, Pakistan, May 19 (Reuters) Suspected militants today gunned down three Pakistani workers building a Chinese-funded "Silk Road" highway in the country's southwest, just days after a similar attack killed 10, officials said.

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About 20 million of Iran's 56 million eligible voters cast ballots so far-agency

DUBAI, May 19 (Reuters) About 20 million of Iran's 56 eligible voters have so far cast their ballot in the Islamic Republic's presidential election, the semi-official Fars news agency said today, as President Hassan Rouhani faces off hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi.

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Threat of malnutrition still high in Somalia despite onset of rains -ICRC

By Rajiv Golla NAIROBI, May 19 (Reuters) Rains in Somalia have brought relief from drought but malnutrition remains a threat, the International Red Cross said today, with the number of children admitted to its feeding centres nationwide nearly doubling over the last year.

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Macron says France uncompromising in fight against jihadists in Mali

GAO, Mali, May 19 (Reuters) France will be uncompromising in its fight against militant Islamists in Mali and the Sahel region, President Emmanuel Macron said today during his first visit outside Europe's borders.

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Malaysia says renegotiation of TPP needed if it proceeds without US

HANOI, May 19 (Reuters) Some renegotiation of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal would be needed if it is to move ahead without the United States, Malaysian Trade Minister Mustapa Mohamed said today.

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Gambia issues arrest warrants for suspected killers of journalist

BANJUL, May 19 (Reuters) A Gambian court has issued international arrest warrants for two ex-soldiers suspected of murdering a journalist during the rule of former president Yahya Jammeh, who fled into exile in January after 22 years of power marred by alleged human rights abuses.

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Philippines' tough public smoking ban gets broad support

By Enrico Dela Cruz MANILA, May 19 (Reuters) A Philippine ban on smoking in public places received broad support today, with anti-tobacco activists hailing it as a victory and some smokers saying they were now prepared to kick the habit.

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Turkey targets opposition newspaper over suspected coup links

* Police search homes of newspaper owner, 3 employees * They accused of links to banned Gulen movement * Editor, opposition say move aimed at muzzling dissent By Humeyra Pamuk ISTANBUL, May 19 (Reuters) Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for the owner and three employees of an opposition newspaper, a police source and the paper said today, part of a continuing media crackdown that has alarmed rights groups and Turkey's Western allies.

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