Washington, May 23 (AFP) President Donald Trump on Thursday for the first time linked a dispute over telecom giant Huawei, which he views as a threat to American security, with a deal to resolve the US-China trade war.

"Huawei is something that is very dangerous," Trump told reporters at the White House. "You look at what they've done from a security standpoint, a military standpoint. Very dangerous."

GAZA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Comissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Pierre Krahenbuhl said on Thursday that the agency will continue to provide services to Palestinian refugees despite financial difficulties.

"UNRWA will not end its role and stop its services," Krahenbuhl said during a press conference at the headquarters of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip.

DIYARBAKIR, 24 May 2019; AA: A religious motivational book believed to have been written 1,400 years ago was seized Friday by security forces in southeastern Turkey.

The 36-page book written on papyrus paper was seized in an operation carried out by local gendarmes in Diyarbakir province.

The anti-smuggling and organized crime unit of the gendarmerie received a tip off that three people were looking for customers for an an ancient book, the local governor's office said.

BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes the United States using state power to suppress Chinese companies, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) Thursday.

China will take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate right and interests of Chinese enterprises, said Gao Feng, a spokesperson with the MOC.

The United States has used state power to suppress Chinese companies, which not only seriously damaged the normal business cooperation of enterprises in the two countries, but also posed a great threat to the global industrial and supply chains, Gao noted.

Kathmandu, May 24; PTI/GANASHAKTI: Seven Indians have been arrested in Nepal following a shootout with the police near a temple on Thursday.

The accused, who hail from Bihar's Samastipur district, include one Ravi Mallik who has sustained a bullet injury in the ensuing gunbattle, the police said in a statement.

They were arrested as they gathered near the Bihar Kunda temple of Janakpur for committing loot, they said.

The police have also seized two pistols, two rounds of bullet, a magazine, one knife and two motorcycles.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says the “unprecedented charges” against his client threaten all journalists looking to inform the public about actions taken by the American government.

Assange was charged in a new 18-count indictment Thursday with soliciting and publishing classified information.

Barry Pollack, his lawyer, says the indictment charges Assange with “encouraging sources to provide him truthful information and for publishing that information.”

Pollack says the case poses a threat to all journalists doing their job.

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi described his first term as “filling in potholes” — shorthand for addressing the country’s basic needs.

In a campaign speech in April, he pledged his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in the next five years would “try to address people’s aspirations and take the country to new heights.”

Modi claimed a decisive victory in India’s elections, the vote count showing his BJP winning a commanding majority in the lower house of Parliament allowing it to form a form a government on its own.

LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Theresa May’s announcement that she will leave 10 Downing Street has set off a fierce competition to succeed her as Conservative Party leader — and as the next prime minister. These are some of the most prominent names on a list of contenders that is expected to grow in the coming days.

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BORIS JOHNSON

The former foreign secretary has made no secret of his desire to take the top job when May departs.

24 May 2019; DW: Rights groups have condemned the chaos, saying UK authorities have failed to guarantee the vote. Britons in the EU's 27 other countries also experienced irregularities, including postal votes "gone missing."

Hundreds — if not thousands — of non-British EU citizens were turned away from polling stations on Thursday after being told they were not registered to vote in the United Kingdom for the election of the European Parliament.

MOSCOW, May 24. /TASS/: The prosecution has not used any violence against US national Paul Whelan accused of espionage, his earlier statements relate to "unnatural conditions" of his detainment, attorney Vladimir Zherebenkov told TASS on Friday.

"There have been no direct threats towards Whelan from the side of the investigation. When mentioning a threat, Whelan means that he may be wrongfully charged. He is also talking about tough condition of detention - there are some issues with his living conditions - there is no dentist, no translator," he said.

24 May 2019; MEMO: The International Union of Muslim Scholars has called on Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to immediately release all prisoners of conscience.

“We are increasingly concerned over media reports claiming that verdicts will soon be issued or may have been issued against three prominent moderate scholars namely Salman Al-Ouda, Awad Al-Qarni and Ali Al-Omari which Saudi Arabia did not deny,” the statement said, describing the planned execution as “a great crime”.

LONDON (AP) — European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker says that he considers British Prime Minister Theresa May as “a woman of courage for whom he has great respect.” 

European Union spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said that Juncker watched May’s announcement that she will step down as Conservative Party leader on June 7 “with emotion” and added it was “without personal joy.”

She said Juncker will “equally respect and establish working relations” with May’s successor. Britain currently faces an Oct. 31 deadline to leave the EU.  

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