UCD 1 | SK Slovan Bratislava 5 (SK win 6-1 on aggregate)

Slovakia’s president is cutting short a trip to Asia to return home to help solve a political crisis after parliament refused to endorse more powers for an EU bailout fund and the government collapsed.

US President George W Bush is urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to reverse Moscow’s recent retreat from democratic reforms, while seeking to refresh his “close relationship” with his Russian counterpart.

Slovakia’s former authoritarian prime minister edged out the expected favourite in the presidential election and advanced to a second round against a former political ally, according to preliminary results released today.