Reuters World News Summary

Following is a summary of current world news briefs. EU conservatives must work with populists, shun left, Orban says

The European Parliament's main center-right group must forge an alliance with populist, nationalist groups after the forthcoming European Union elections and shun the left, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. Orban's ruling Fidesz Party was suspended from the mainstream European People's Party (EPP) in March over its record on rule of law, freedom of the press and minorities rights. UK government has shown willingness to shift on Brexit: Labour Party

The British government has shown a willingness to explore changes to its position on Brexit, a Labour Party spokesman said commenting on talks between ministers and the opposition party seeking a compromise on leaving the European Union. Labour still needed to nail down the extent to which the government was prepared to shift its position on issues like customs arrangements, single market alignment and security, the spokesman told reporters on Wednesday. Julian Assange sentenced to 50 weeks in British jail for skipping bail

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was sentenced to 50 weeks in jail by a London court on Wednesday for skipping bail to enter the Ecuadorean embassy where he was holed up for almost seven years until police dragged him out last month. Judge Deborah Taylor read out the sentence as Assange, in a black jacket and gray sweatshirt, looked on. Taylor said Assange had exploited his privileged position to flout the law and express his disdain for British justice. Putin signs law on fast-tracked Russian passports for Ukraine's rebel regions

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed has signed a law on fast-tracked Russian passports for Ukrainians who live in rebel-held territories in eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. Such plans have drawn rebuke from the European Union and Kiev. Emperor Naruhito ascends throne in Japan with 'sense of solemnity'

Japanese Emperor Naruhito formally took up his post on Wednesday a day after the abdication of his father, saying he felt a "sense of solemnity" but pledging to work as a symbol of the nation and the unity of its people. Former Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko stepped down after three decades in their roles on Tuesday in a brief and simple ceremony, with Akihito thanking the people of Japan and saying he prayed for peace. As Trump team prepares Mideast plan, Palestinians face financial crisis

Israel and the United States are putting the financial squeeze on the Palestinian Authority, where opposition to a long-awaited U.S. peace plan and anger over Israeli sanctions remain strong. Analysts see steep cuts in U.S. aid to the Palestinians over the past year as an attempt to draw them toward a blueprint that Washington promises will have economic benefits but which the PA predicts will fall short of endorsing Palestinian statehood. Thai king names his consort queen days before coronation

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn announced on Wednesday that he had married his consort, General Suthida Vajiralongkorn, and named her Queen Suthida. The announcement, carried in the Royal Gazette, came just before the official coronation of the king, 66, on May 4-6. Spanish unions use May Day march to pressure Socialists on reforms

Unions used traditional May Day marches across Spain on Wednesday to call on the Socialist Party, which is likely to head the government after last Sunday's election, for pension rises and a roll-back of tough labor legislation. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who won 123 seats in the 350-seat parliament, must fix labor market reforms imposed by a conservative government from 2012, union leaders told people celebrating International Worker's Day. Venezuela's Guaido calls for 'largest march in history' in uprising effort

Venezuelans were expected to take to the streets on Wednesday for what opposition leader Juan Guaido pledged would be the "largest march" in the country's history, a day after he called for the military to oust President Nicolas Maduro. In his boldest effort yet to gain the support of the armed forces, Guaido appeared early Tuesday outside a Caracas air force base with dozens of National Guard members. That triggered a day of violent protests, leaving more than 100 injured, but without any concrete signs of defection from the armed forces leadership. The debate behind Trump's move to tighten Iran oil sanctions

U.S. President Donald Trump's unexpected decision to ban all Iranian oil purchases after May 1 - ending exemptions for eight nations - came after hawkish economic and security advisors allayed the president's fears of an oil price hike, according to three sources familiar with the internal debate. The unprecedented move to fully sever Tehran’s financial lifeline - finalized just days before the April 22 announcement - underscores the strong influence of hard-liners within Trump’s inner circle. They had for months argued for tightening the sanctions over the objections of some State Department officials who favored allowing some partners and allies to keep buying Iranian oil.