Czech CEZ, Slovak JAVYS sign deal to build new nuclear power station in Slovakia

September 30th, 2009 Thousands turn out for Czech papal MassBRNO, Czech Republic — Tens of thousands of pilgrims have packed an airfield in the southern Czech city of Brno as Pope Benedict XVI prepares to celebrate an outdoor Mass. Faithful from the Czech Republic and neighboring countries — including Austria, Germany, Poland and Slovakia — sang and waved Czech and Vatican flags as they awaited the pope.

September 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Engineering and Construction major Larsen & Toubro Tuesday said it can build nuclear power plants with generating capacity of 3,000-4,000 MW a year. L&T chairman and manging director A.M.

September 28th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia will seek a stake in the Belene nuclear power plant being built by a Russian company in northern Bulgaria, Russia's nuclear chief said Monday. "If Bulgaria announces a tender for its stake in the Belene NPP, we'll participate in it," Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Russia's state-run civilian nuclear power corporation Rosatom, said in an interview with Bulgarian newspaper Standart.

September 16th, 2009 New language law in Slovakia is source of tensionsNOVE ZAMKY, Slovakia — In a borderless European Union that boasts 23 official languages, one member, Slovakia, has enacted a law that limits the use of the languages of some fellow EU members. The extraordinary step has roots in animosities that go back to the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and has Slovakia's large Hungarian minority afraid of being pursued by the language police.

September 9th, 2009 BRATISLAVA - Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, Wednesday received a human rights award in a highlight of his three-day visit to Slovakia, local reports said. The Dalai Lama was honoured with the Jan Langos Prize, named after a Slovak anti-communist dissident and awarded by a Bratislava-based foundation carrying his name.

August 11th, 2009 16 bodies found after coal mine blast in SlovakiaBRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Sixteen bodies have been recovered from a Slovak coal mine following a fire and explosion, and four other people are also believed to have died, authorities said Tuesday. Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek said rescue workers initially found six bodies in the Handlova mine in central Slovakia.

August 11th, 2009 6 found dead after coal mine blastBRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Six Slovaks have died and another 14 are believed to have been killed by a fire and explosion in a coal mine. Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek says rescue workers have found six bodies of a total of 20 workers who were trapped underground after a fire and explosion hit the coal mine in central Slovakia on Monday.

August 11th, 2009 9 bodies found after coal mine blast in SlovakiaBRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Nine bodies have been recovered from a Slovak coal mine following a fire and explosion, and 11 other people are also believed to have died, authorities said Tuesday. Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek said rescue workers initially found six bodies in the Handlova mine in central Slovakia.

August 11th, 2009 7 found dead after coal mine blast in SlovakiaBRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Seven bodies have been recovered from a Slovak coal mine following a fire and explosion, and 13 other people are also believed to have died, authorities said Tuesday. Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek said rescue workers initially found six bodies in the Handlova mine in central Slovakia.

August 10th, 2009 20 Slovak workers missing after coal mine blastBRATISLAVA, Slovakia —Twenty workers were trapped underground Monday after a fire and explosion hit a coal mine in central Slovakia, and rescue workers operating in darkness and high temperatures were struggling to reach them, officials said. Handlova mine director Peter Cicmanec said rescue units, engineers and medics were trying to reach colleagues who were trapped as they battled a fire.

June 18th, 2009 Chinese president visits SlovakiaBRATISLAVA, Slovakia — The Chinese president arrived Thursday in the Slovak capital for a two-day official visit meant to boost economic ties. A number of organizations, including Amnesty International, organized a gathering in downtown Bratislava to protest China's human rights record.

May 12th, 2009 Straka selected new Czech Republic soccer coachPRAGUE — Frantisek Straka was selected as the Czech Republic's new soccer coach on Tuesday, replacing Petr Rada, who was fired last month because of poor results in World Cup qualifying. The Czech soccer federation's decision to appoint the 50-year-old Straka was a surprise after its committee had recommended rehiring Dusan Uhrin, who led the team to the final of the 1996 European Championship.

March 24th, 2009 MUMBAI - Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd (NPCIL) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) Monday inked two separate deals with GE-Hitachi to build nuclear reactors for power generation in India. GE-Hitachi is a joint venture between the General Electric Co of the US and the Japan-based Hitachi Ltd.

January 20th, 2009 PRAGUE - Russian natural gas flowing via Ukraine has reached the Czech Republic, nearly two weeks after a shutdown of supplies forced the country to tap its underground reserves, a gas importer said. Martin Chalupsky, a spokesman for the country's dominant gas importer and distributor, RWE Transgas, said that 'the first thousands of cubic metres' arrived in the Lanzhot border station shortly after 6 p.m.

January 10th, 2009 BRATISLAVA - The Slovakian government decided in an extraordinary session Saturday night to reopen its Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear power plant closed at the beginning of the year as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute. 'I am aware that we are violating our accession agreement with the European Union (EU) with this decision, and I accept the full political responsibility for it,' Prime Minister Robert Fico said during a press conference broadcast on TA3 TV news channel.