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BAGHDAD (Reuters) - At least 20 people were killed by a series of car bombs in mainly Shi'ite districts of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Monday and 11 others were killed by attacks in the southern city of Basra, police and medics said. Scores of people have been killed in attacks over the past week as tensions between minority Sunni Muslims and Shi'ites who now lead Iraq have reached their highest level since U.S. troops pulled out in December 2011. Eight car bombs in mainly Shi'ite districts of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, killed at least 20 people on Monday, police and medics said. ...

By Ayai Tomisawa TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei share average surged to a fresh 5-1/2 year high on Monday, buoyed by further weakness in the yen and optimism over the growth outlook after the Japanese government raised its assessment of the economy for the first time in two months. Signs of an improving U.S. economy and Wall Street's record closing high on Friday cemented the positive mood in markets. The Nikkei climbed 1.5 percent to 15,360.81, the highest closing mark since December 2007. During the day, the index rose as high as 15,381.74, the highest level for the same period. ...

By Marc Jones LONDON (Reuters) - Rising optimism about global growth pushed world shares to a near five-year high on Monday, while comments from Japan's economy minister that consumers could suffer if the yen falls further lifted it off a 4-1/2 low. Data last week that showed U.S. consumer sentiment at its strongest in nearly six years continued to support equity markets. MSCI's world index is at its highest since June 2008 as top European shares started the week up 0.2 percent. With risk appetite dominating, safe-haven German Bunds fell 45 ticks, while gold, also pressured by signs the U.S. ...

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Eight car bomb blasts in mainly Shi'ite districts of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, killed at least 20 people on Monday, police and medics said. Earlier, at least 10 people were killed in two car bomb explosions in the predominantly Shi'ite southern city of Basra, 420 km (260 miles) southeast of Baghdad. (Reporting by Kareem Raheem; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Two car bomb blasts in Iraq's predominantly Shi'ite southern oil hub of Basra killed at least 11 people early on Monday, police and medics said. (Reporting by Aref Mohammed; Editing by Catherine Evans)

By Frank Jack Daniel NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is seeking to build trust with India on his first foreign trip since taking office, which comes just a few weeks after a military standoff between the Asian giants on their ill-defined border in the Himalayan mountains. The number two in the Chinese leadership offered India a "handshake across the Himalayas" in an editorial published on Monday in The Hindu newspaper and said that together the emerging economic giants could become a new engine of the world economy. ...

Reuters Market Eye - Shares in Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd gain 3.8 percent, after stocks of its subsidiary Ssangyong Motor Co Ltd hit a 16-month high, dealers say. Shares in Ssangyong Motor jumped as much as 13.5 percent on Monday amid expectations the ailing automaker may post a profit this year. Ssangyong Motor's factory utilisation and sales were growing faster than expected, and the company was seen returning to profit this year, said Yang Hee-joon, an analyst at Taurus Investment & Securities, in a note on Monday. Mahindra and Mahindra will raise its holding in Ssangyong Motor to 72. ...

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Gold futures in India are likely to fall past their lowest level in a month, weighed by expectations of a strong dollar, dimming the yellow metal's appeal as an alternative investment. At 12.22 p.m., the actively traded gold for June delivery on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) was 1.61 percent lower at 25,420 rupees per 10 grams. It earlier dropped to 25,373 rupees, a level last seen on April 18. "The trend will continue to be bearish. ...

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Two Pakistani ministers in charge of water and power explained what can be done to end power cuts of up to 20 hours a day in parts of the country enduring temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and above - absolutely nothing, it seems, except raise prices. The power shortages have sparked violent protests and crippled key industries, costing hundreds of thousands of jobs in a country already beset by high unemployment, a failing economy, widespread poverty and a Taliban insurgency. ...

By Jane Lee SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Humor may not always translate well, but Jon Stewart is picking up millions of fans in China, where his gloves-off political satire is refreshing for many in a country where such criticism is a rarity - especially when directed at their own leaders. A recent segment on North Korea scored over 4 million views on microblogger Sina Weibo, and even stodgy state broadcaster CCTV has used Stewart's "The Daily Show" in a report, though they wouldn't let a Chinese version of him near their cameras. ...

REUTERS - Morgan Stanley said on Monday it has signed an agreement to sell its Indian wealth management unit to Standard Chartered . Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. "Morgan Stanley will work closely with Standard Chartered over the coming months to ensure a smooth transfer of our wealth management clients currently serviced in India," the U.S. bank said in a statement. This process is expected to be completed by the end of 2013, it said. ...

Reuters Market Eye - The BSE Sensex gains 0.52 percent while the broader Nifty advances 0.37 percent, after earlier marking their new 2-1/2-year intraday highs, as foreign portfolio investors extend their record buying spree. Foreign investors have been net buyers for 22 consecutive sessions as of Friday, bringing in a net of about $13.52 billion in 2013, regulatory and exchange data shows. Asian stock markets edge higher after U.S. equities hit record closing highs on Friday as encouraging economic data prompted investors to buy into growth companies. ITC Ltd gains 0. ...

By Dorene Internicola NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fitness experts are shining a new light on group classes from Zumba to yoga because they believe the right lighting can transform the four walls of a fitness studio from a dance party to a meditation space, and back again. "Because of the theatrical nature of group fitness classes, lighting is key to differentiate programming," said Donna Cyrus, senior vice president of programming at Crunch fitness centers. ...

New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) Fox Star Studios has come on board with Anurag Kashyap's Phantom Films to co-produce filmmaker's upcoming directorial "Bombay Velvet".

Madrid, May 20 (IANS) The departure of Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho appeared to move a step closer when Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed he had asked to leave the French champions.

London, May 20 (IANS) Three men have been arrested after a fracas outside a gurdwara in the city of Norwich in England.

Chandigarh, May 20 (IANS) Police had to use water cannons to disperse scores of BJP workers who clashed with police during a protest near the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office here Monday.

Bridgetown, May 20 (IANS/CMC) Caribbean Premier T20 League operations manager Carlisle Powell says the key stakeholders in the six franchise countries have thrown their support behind the inaugural tournament which bowls off in July.

Since childhood, being born in a North Indian Punjabi family, I have been fond of curries - spicy chicken curry or tangy vegetable tangy curry accompanied with rice or a crisp tandoori roti oozing with white butter. Then, there are a plethora of exotic curries such as Kerala's raw mango curry, green or red Thai curry, Indonesian curry or Burmese curry

London, May 20 (IANS) Bank of England Governor Mervyn King said in a television interview that Britain's economy had achieved "only a modest recovery".

Paris, May 20 (IANS) Chinese Taipei's Chen Chien-An and Chuang Chih-Yuan upset Hao Shuai and Ma Lin from China to win the men's doubles title at the World Table Tennis Championships here.

Agartala, May 20 (IANS) Opposition parties have called a 12-hour shut-down in Tripura Tuesday to protest the killing of three newspaper employees who were murdered at their office here, a Congress leader said.

Moscow, May 20 (IANS/RIA Novosti) After a victorious comeback to professional tennis, former World No. 20 and cancer survivor Alisa Kleybanova vowed Monday to return to the sport's biggest competitions.

Los Angeles, May 20 (IANS) Singer Taylor Swift swept away the 2013 Billboard Music Awards. She won in eight categories, including the artist of the year and top female artist titles.

Agra, May 20 (IANS) Emplayees at monuments in Taj city Agra should get a four-hour lunch break to give them some respite from the scorching heat, Federation of Travel Agents of India Rajiv Tiwari said here Monday.

Sydney, May 20 (IANS) The Australian building and construction industry will see a mixed recovery over 2015-16 after a number of challenging years, according to Master Builders Australia (MBA) forecasts released Monday.