Allied troops must stay in Afghanistan to prevent the Taliban filling any “vacuum”, Britain's Foreign Secretary said today.

The European Parliament will meet today to thrash out a proposed data law – a key anti-terror measure that Britain and other member states want adopted by the end of the year.

A surprise deal between Germany and France over the future of farm subsidies may set the stage for agreement on enlargement among EU leaders today.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has said he will not resign if the Nice Treaty is rejected again this Saturday.