Bulgaria is fighting its reputation as a place where anything goes in terms of crime. Noel Baker reports from Sofia.

David Beckham – and 70,000 spectators – were evacuated from Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the 88th minute of a premier Spanish clash after a bomb threat was reported to a Basque newspaper.

The Spanish Anti-Violence Commission will tomorrow meet to discuss the racist behaviour witnessed in last week’s friendly international between Spain and England.

Organisers of the Bahrain Grand Prix insist they have taken all the security measures possible to ensure this weekend’s maiden race in the Middle East goes ahead without incident.

Two Turkish engineers and an Afghan have been kidnapped outside Kabul, an official said today, bringing to five the number of workers who have been taken hostage in Afghanistan in the past three days.