VP Biden heading to visits with NATO allies Poland, Romania, Czech Republic in late October

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 24th, 2009 Timing of missile defense announcement criticizedWASHINGTON — The Obama administration came under fire from U.S. lawmakers on Thursday for surprising Congress and American allies with its decision to drastically alter European missile defense plans.

September 18th, 2009 Clinton counters critics of Obama missile defenseWASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday vigorously defended the administration's new approach to missile defense in Europe, which critics assert will leave Europe more vulnerable. "We believe this is a decision that will leave America stronger and more capable of defending our troops, our interests and our allies," Clinton said in a speech at the Brookings Institution.

September 17th, 2009 WASHINGTON - United States is reportedly set to abandon its plans for a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic following a review of Iran's long-range missile program which has not shown the progress that the US was expecting from it. According to reports, reviews have found that Iran's threat to the continental US and major European capitals has reduced in the recent past.

September 17th, 2009 NATO chief hails missile defense "positive step"BRUSSELS — NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says a U.S. decision to shelve plans for a missile shield in the Czech Republic and Poland "is a positive step." Fogh Rasmussen says he had talks with the U.S.

September 17th, 2009 Obama phones Czech premier on missile defensePRAGUE — The Czech government says President Barack Obama has phoned the country's prime minister to discuss a controversial U.S. missile defense plan.

September 17th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US has dropped plans to base a long-range missile-defence system in Eastern Europe and will instead deploy less complicated systems to counter Iran's ballistic missile programme, President Barack Obama announced Thursday. The Bush-era plans to install 10 interceptors in Poland and a radar site in the Czech Republic had long been controversial and were a key cause of the deterioration of US-Russia relations in recent years.

July 30th, 2009 US mulling European missile defense alternativesWASHINGTON — A senior Defense Department official said Thursday that the United States is considering options for European missile defense other than current plans for a system based in Poland and the Czech Republic. Assistant Secretary of Defense Alexander Vershbow told lawmakers in the House of Representatives at a hearing on relations with Russia that the Obama administration is looking at various configurations as part of its review of missile defense plans.

July 24th, 2009 7 people killed in storms in PolandWARSAW, Poland — Authorities in Poland say seven people have died in violent storms. Fire officials said Friday the storm's heavy winds felled trees, killing the victims late Thursday.

July 24th, 2009 10 people killed in storms in Central EuropeWARSAW, Poland — Seven people have died in violent storms in Poland, two in the Czech Republic and one in Germany, authorities said Friday. Poland's fire officials said the deaths came late Thursday amid heavy winds, which knocked down many trees.

May 8th, 2009 Sweden beats Czech Republic 3-1 at hockey worldsBERN, Switzerland — Sweden beat the Czech Republic 2-1 Thursday to reach the semifinals at the hockey world championship. Sweden will next play Friday against Canada, which defeated Latvia 4-2 in another quarterfinal.

March 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama will make his first trip to Europe later this month with stops in Britain, France, Germany and the Czech Republic, the White House said Thursday. During the March 31-April 5 trip, Obama will attend a conference of the world's largest economies in London before heading to the NATO summit in the French city of Strasbourg and German town of Kehl.

February 21st, 2009 KRAKOW - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that the Obama administration needs time to review the plans of the previous administration to develop a strategic missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. Gates said he has told Polish leaders to allow some time for the review.

February 6th, 2009 MUNICH - The US will continue to work on a planned missile defence system in central Europe, but it will consult Russia, Vice President Joe Biden said Saturday. 'We will continue to develop missile defences to counter a growing Iranian capability, provided the technology is proven to work and cost effective,' Biden said at the 45th Munich Security Conference, adding: 'We will do so in consultation with our NATO allies and Russia.' Russia has consistently opposed the missile shield as a threat to its national security and officials have repeatedly expressed the hope that President Barack Obama would not follow through with his predecessor's missile defence plans.

January 28th, 2009 BRUSSELS - NATO has said that a Russian decision, if confirmed, to halt plans to deploy missiles in Kaliningrad would be a positive step. 'If the decision has been taken ...