World News Roundup: EU election line-ups; UK to introduce Brexit bill soon

Migrants sleep on ground, rig awnings at Texas Border Patrol station

Reuters photos taken on Wednesday show adults and children outside the U.S. Border Patrol station for migrants in McAllen, Texas, sleeping on the ground and rigging up makeshift awnings with reflective blankets to shelter from the sun. The photos, taken from a helicopter, also show people sleeping in a shaded area of a parking lot and crowded around a military tent.

Iran plans no changes to nuclear centrifuges, IAEA ties: spokesman

Iran has no plans to launch centrifuge machines able to enrich uranium at higher capacity or to alter its relations with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the spokesman for its civilian nuclear agency was quoted as saying on Thursday. Last week, Iran notified China, France, Germany, Russia and Britain that would scale back some commitments under its 2015 nuclear deal, a year after the United States withdrew from the pact and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.

Exclusive: Tanker unloads Iranian fuel oil at China port after near five-month trek - data

A tanker carrying Iranian fuel oil in violation of U.S. sanctions has unloaded the cargo into storage tanks near the Chinese city of Zhoushan, according to ship tracking data on Refinitiv Eikon. The discharging of the nearly 130,000 tonnes of Iranian fuel oil onboard the tanker, the Marshal Z, confirmed by a representative of the oil storage terminal, marks the end of an odyssey for the cargo that began four months ago.

Merkel unavailable for political office after chancellorship

Germany's Angela Merkel said on Thursday she would be unavailable for any further political office after serving out her fourth term as chancellor, dismissing speculation that she could take a big European Union job in Brussels. "I am not available for any further political office, regardless of where it is - including in Europe," Merkel told a joint news conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Italy coalition aims to heal its wounds after bitter EU vote race

Italy's ruling parties intend to relaunch their coalition after next week's European elections, sources from both parties say, but it may not be easy after attacking each other for weeks during a bitter campaign. Tensions between the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the right-wing League were expected ahead of the May 26 ballot, as the traditional rivals which formed a government last June compete with each other for votes and coalition dominance.

China formally arrests two Canadians on state secrets charges

Chinese authorities have formally arrested on state secrets charges two Canadians detained last year, the government said on Thursday, drawing condemnation from Canada in a case that is likely to further increase tension between Ottawa and Beijing. Businessman Michael Spavor, who worked with North Korea, and former diplomat Michael Kovrig were picked up separately in December, shortly after Canada arrested Huawei Technologies Co Ltd Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, who faces extradition to the United States.

Australia's 'larrikin' former prime minister Bob Hawke dies at 89

Bob Hawke, a transformative and charismatic left-wing lawmaker with a "larrikin' streak who served as Australian prime minister from 1983 to 1991, died on Thursday aged 89, his family said. "Today we lost Bob Hawke, a great Australian – many would say the greatest Australian of the post-war era," his wife and former biographer Blanche d'Alpuget said in a statement.

Factbox: Party time - EU election line-ups

EU citizens will elect a new European Parliament next week. National parties line up in pan-EU groups. These could change after the vote.

Hardliners target Iran's president as U.S. pressure grows

Growing U.S. pressure on Iran has weakened pragmatic President Hassan Rouhani and made his hardline rivals more assertive at home and abroad, recent developments show. When he succeeded firebrand leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2013, Rouhani was seen as an establishment figure who would do little to end Iran's long standoff with the West. Two years later, his administration signed the nuclear deal with six world powers that spurred hopes for wider political change.

UK government says it will introduce Brexit bill as soon as possible

The British government will introduce the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Bill to parliament as soon as possible in order to give lawmakers time to scrutinize it, the leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom said on Thursday. The government has said parliament will hold its first debate and vote on the bill, which will enact Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal, in the week beginning June 3. The bill itself could be published as soon as next week however.