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Farmers spray milk onto fields across Czech Republic to protest low prices

Czech farmers protest low milk prices

PRAGUE — Farmers sprayed milk onto fields across the Czech Republic on Thursday to protest low prices.

Biden goes far in calming nerves in central Europe with short visit to the region

PRAGUE — Vice President Joe Biden made significant strides during a trip to Central Europe this week in relieving anxieties the Obama administration stirred up last month when it scrapped a Bush-era plan for missile defense.

Czech prime minister, NATO endorse new missile defense plan

PRAGUE — The Czech Republic and NATO said Friday that they backed a reworked U.S. missile defense plan meant to defend against threats from Iran and other nations.

Czech PM: Czech Republic endorses new US missile defense plan

PRAGUE — The Czech prime minister has endorsed a revised U.S. missile defense plan.

US vice president seeks Czech support for revamped missile defense plan

PRAGUE — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden wraps up a tour of Central Europe in the Czech Republic on Friday, attempting to shore up support for a reworked missile defense plan and reassuring critics that Washington remains committed to guaranteeing the country’s security.

Vaclav Havel: Czech president is damaging the country by not signing the EU reform treaty

PRAGUE — Vaclav Havel, who led the 1989 Velvet Revolution that peacefully toppled communism in the former Czechoslovakia, accused his presidential successor on Thursday of damaging the country by refusing to sign the EU reform treaty.

Museums, tours in Germany, Czech Republic and elsewhere offer glimpses of life under communism

BERLIN — If you’re interested in the history of Eastern Europe under communism, a number of places around the region offer glimpses of life before the Berlin Wall fell. Here are a few of them, ranging from somber museums to historic sites to themed attractions that are downright kitschy or bizarre.

All eyes on Czech Euro-skeptic president as EU reform treaty nears ratification

PRAGUE — The Irish finally said yes, and the Poles did Saturday, but the EU reform treaty still has a huge hurdle to clear. A “no” from the lone holdout — Czech President Vaclav Klaus — could cripple plans to transform Europe into a global player.

Swedish journalist stopped at Cairo airport and to be ejected from country

CAIRO — A Swedish journalist and blogger specializing in Egyptian labor issues was stopped by security at Cairo airport early Tuesday and was set to be deported from the country, his girlfriend and the Swedish embassy said.

Pope wraps up 3-day Czech trip with open-air Mass for at least 40,000 faithful near Prague

STARA BOLESLAV, Czech Republic — Pope Benedict XVI ended his three-day Czech pilgrimage Monday by declaring its martyred patron saint a model for leaders, saying the world needs God-fearing people prepared to follow the ethical principles of Christianity.

Pope wrapping up 3-day Czech trip with visit to basilica, Mass and message to youth

STARA BOLESLAV, Czech Republic — Pope Benedict XVI held an open-air Mass on Monday for at least 40,000 cheering faithful who packed a meadow as the pontiff wrapped up a three-day visit to the Czech Republic.

Crowds _ and pope’s rhetoric _ were contained, but Vatican calls Czech pilgrimage a success

PRAGUE — Pope Benedict XVI wrapped up a low-key pilgrimage to the fiercely secular Czech Republic on Monday, reaching out to nonbelievers and calling on an increasingly diverse Europe to embrace Christian teachings.

Society excludes God at its peril, pope tells thousands at open-air Mass in Czech Republic

BRNO, Czech Republic — Pope Benedict XVI told thousands of faithful on Sunday that societies exclude God at their peril, as he pressed on with a pilgrimage to nudge the Czech Republic — and by extension, the rest of Europe — back to its religious roots.

Pope Benedict XVI urges heavily secular Czech Republic to rediscover its Christian roots

PRAGUE — Pope Benedict XVI sought to reach out to the heavily secular people of the Czech Republic on Saturday, decrying the “wounds” left by atheistic communism and urging them to rediscover their Christian roots.

In an encounter reminiscent of Obama’s fly, Pope Benedict XVI bugged by spider during speech

PRAGUE — President Barack Obama had his fly. Now Pope Benedict XVI has his spider.

20 years after collapse of communism, pope urges aloof Czech Republic to rediscover faith

PRAGUE — Pope Benedict XVI criticized the communist era’s fierce religious persecution Saturday as he began a three-day pilgrimage to the Czech Republic, and urged the heavily secular nation to rediscover its Christian roots.

20 years after collapse of communism, the pope visits an increasingly aloof Czech Republic

PRAGUE — Pope Benedict XVI begins a three-day pilgrimage Saturday to the Czech Republic, where people increasingly have become cool to religion since overthrowing a communist regime that ruthlessly persecuted the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope will visit Czech Republic, a voyage among the nonbelievers

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI is going to the heart of central Europe 20 years after the fall of communism ended restrictions on religion. But what he will find is a Czech Republic where nearly half the population professes to be nonbelievers.

Poles, Czechs feel betrayed by Obama’s scrapping of Bush missile defense plans

WARSAW, Poland — Poles and Czechs voiced deep concern Friday at President Barack Obama’s decision to scrap a Bush-era missile defense shield planned for their countries.