Hungary’s parliament approved Sweden’s Nato accession yesterday, clearing the last hurdle before the historic step by the Nordic country whose neutrality lasted through two world wars and the simmering conflict of the Cold War.

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was close to being freed in a prisoner swap at the time of his death, a close ally said yesterday, repeating an allegation by his family and supporters that President Vladimir Putin had him killed.

The Kremlin said yesterday that the idea of holding peace talks without Russia was ridiculous, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he hoped to hold a spring summit in Switzerland to discuss his peace vision with Kyiv’s allies.

Sweden’s accession to Nato adds a final puzzle piece to the alliance around the shores of the strategically important Baltic Sea -- but Russia still poses a threat above and below water.

The UN rights chief decried yesterday disinformation and other attacks that aim to “undermine the legitimacy” and work of the United Nations and other institutions, describing them as “profoundly destructive”.

Hungary's parliament approved Sweden's NATO accession today, clearing the last hurdle before the historic step by the Nordic country whose neutrality lasted through two world wars and the simmering conflict of the Cold War

The body of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been handed to his mother, more than a week after he died in an Arctic prison colony, his spokesperson said yesterday.

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, yesterday demanded that Russian authorities release his body for burial and accused a “demonic” Russian President Vladimir Putin of “torturing” his corpse.

The body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died unexpectedly in prison nine days ago, was handed over to his mother on Saturday in the remote Arctic city of Salekhard, his spokeswoman said

Says opposition leader’s team

A British-born woman who went to Syria as a schoolgirl to join Islamic State lost her latest appeal yesterday over the removal of her British citizenship.

At least 10 people died in a huge fire that ripped through a 14-storey tower block in Valencia, eastern Spain, and at least 14 were reported missing, with officials warning yesterday the death toll could rise.

A rare book gifted to Charles Darwin by Karl Marx in 1873, which may not have been read by its recipient, is returning to the English naturalist’s home for public display after undergoing conservation work.

Moscow sent hitmen who gunned down a Russian deserter in Spain last week, six months after fleeing to Ukraine in his helicopter, El Pais newspaper reported yesterday, citing Spanish intelligence sources.

UK Foreign minister David Cameron said yesterday that London had imposed sanctions on six officials at the head of the Siberian penal colony where Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny died.

The US ambassador to Moscow visited a makeshift shrine to Alexei Navalny yesterday, as Russian authorities suppressed memorials and tributes to the late opposition leader.

Alexei Navalny’s mother was told yesterday that Russia’s most prominent opposition leader had been struck down by “sudden death syndrome” and that his body would not be handed over to the family until an investigation was completed, his team said.

The recognition of a Palestinian state is no longer a taboo for France, President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday, suggesting Paris could make the decision if efforts for a two-state solution stalled because of Israeli opposition

Britain, the United States and Canada remain “deeply concerned” about foreign information manipulation and other actions aimed at undermining democracies and human rights globally, the three Western countries said in a joint statement.

Britain’s ruling Conservatives lost two more parliamentary seats to Labour in by-elections yesterday, highlighting the mountain Prime Minister Rishi Sunak must climb to win a general election due this year.