Alliance for Europe of the Nations

A pan-European alliance of centre-right parties has been created to defend a new right agenda of non-federalist parties, in favour of a Europe of nation states. The Alliance for Europe of the Nations is composed of 16 parties from across EU and candidate countries, and has support from Russian President Vladimir Putin's party and The Likud party of Ariel Sharon in Israel. The Italian deputy Prime Minister, Gianfranco Fini stressed on Tuesday when he presented the launch of the new alliance that the people of Europe have elected centre-right governments as alternative to a long period of the Socialists building Europe. Europe's future is a federation of national states, and not a super state, Mr Fini told journalists in Brussels.

A possible deal to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear pact is within reach, says the European Union. Washington backs the final proposals, but Tehran remains cautious.

Lawmakers in France, Italy, and the US have voted to let Finland and Sweden join Nato.

Lithuania has become the only EU country to publicly endorse a controversial US visit to Taiwan by House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Kosovo has put off new border rules with Serbia following another flare-up in ethnic violence.

Western sanctions are driving Russia toward "economic oblivion" despite reports to the contrary, a leading US university says.