The West and its allies need to be united against authoritarianism, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said yesterday, as she hosted G7 counterparts with concern about threats from Russia and China.

The envoys of seven Western states plus the European Union urged Tunisia on Friday to respect “fundamental freedoms” and set a timeline for a return to democratic institutions.

Champion of press freedom Maria Ressa yesterday said there was “no brighter light” than the Nobel Peace Prize and told AFP that her award was “for all journalists”.

The BBC yesterday urged Iran to end what it said was a mounting campaign of threats and intimidation against its journalists and their families at home and abroad.

Hungary’s constitutional court yesterday struck down a bid by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government to challenge a ruling by the EU’s top court against Budapest’s harsh asylum policy.

A deadline set by France for Britain to grant licences to its fishing boats was set to expire yesterday with Paris threatening legal action unless a last-minute compromise can be found.

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed a “convergence of views” with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz yesterday as the two men met for their first talks as leaders.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange yesterday moved a step closer to facing criminal charges in the United States for one of the biggest ever leaks of classified information after Washington won an appeal over his extradition in an English court.

A sketch that has lain hidden for centuries under the thick layers of paint Rembrandt applied to create “The Night Watch” offers new insight into the Dutch master’s creative process, museum officials said Wednesday.

Olaf Scholz became Germany’s new chancellor yesterday after 16 years with Angela Merkel at the helm, pledging his centre-left-led coalition would offer a “new beginning” for Europe’s top economy.

Australia and Britain will join the United States in a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, their prime ministers said

No UK government minister will attend the Beijing Winter Olympics, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Wednesday, calling it “effectively” a diplomatic boycott.

Center-left leader Olaf Scholz on Wednesday became Germany’s ninth post-World War II chancellor, opening a new era for the European Union’s most populous nation and largest economy after Angela Merkel’s 16-year tenure.

Britain will require all inbound travellers to take a pre-departure Covid-19 test and arrivals from Nigeria will have to quarantine in hotels to slow the spread of the Omicron variant, Health Minister Sajid Javid said.

A Russian airliner had to change course to avoid a Nato spy plane that was crossing its path above the Black Sea, Moscow authorities have said.

Pope Francis yesterday blamed the EU’s nationalist divisions for a lack of coordination on migration as he began a landmark trip to Greece, aiming to improve complicated relations with the country’s Orthodox Church.

One out of 10 Italians think astronauts never set foot on the moon while 5.8% believe the earth is flat, according to a poll published on Friday, which said conspiracy theories had taken root in Italian society.

Greece has become a European port of call for refugees from Africa and Asia.

Ukraine warned yesterday that Russia could launch a large-scale attack on the country in late January as tensions soar over an alleged Russian troop build-up near Kiev’s borders.

Seven jabs used as boosters against Covid-19 mostly produced a strong immune response, though results varied depending on the vaccine combination, a study said yesterday.