MEPs rejected budget belt-tightening today and backed inflation-busting rises in EU spending for the next eight years.

Bulgarians go to the polls today to decide between a member of the ruling centre-right party and a left-wing ex-foreign minister in an election run-off for the presidency of the impoverished, corruption-plagued country.

Bulgarian nurses freed by Libya this week after more than eight years want legal action to be taken against the people they say tortured them while they were held in prison.

US President George Bush today faced new questions about US plans to build a Europe-based missile defence system from Bulgarian leaders, who believe their loyalty in Iraq should be rewarded with the protection of the rocket shield.