Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif should be allowed to return from exile and be given the chance to defend himself against corruption charges in a Pakistani court, European Union officials said today.

European Union officials today said they would press the issues of democratic freedoms and human rights with Russian officials at talks next week.

Germany’s conservative opposition party has expelled an MP from its parliamentary group, after he compared Jews and Nazis.

A German general was sacked today for praising a speech by an MP accused of anti-Semitism when comparing the actions of Jews in the Russian revolution with those of the Nazis.