Prague  - The Czech Republic and Slovakia have agreed to form a joint military unit of 1,500 soldiers, reports said Saturday in Prague-based newspapers.

Prague  - Czech and US negotiators Thursday failed to wrap up an accord on the stationing of US troops at a planned missile-defence base in the former Soviet-bloc nation.

Prague  - Czech lawmakers Thursday asked the nation's Constitutional Court to review the European Union Reform Treaty, reflecting a euro-sceptic stance by Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's party.

Prague  - The Czech Republic's booming economy is to grow slower in coming years and will be in need of further fiscal reform, according to a survey by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and

Prague - Czech and US negotiators opened three days of talks Wednesday on a treaty that defines status of US troops to be stationed at a planned US missile-shield radar base on Czech soil, the Czec

Brasilia - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is set to start a four-day visit this week to the Netherlands and the Czech Republic on a tour focused on ethanol and other bio-fuels, a sector in which Brazil is a global leader.

Brazilian presidential spokesman Marcelo Baumbach said Monday that Lula will tell European leaders that bio-fuels are "a cleaner alternative that causes less harm to the environment."

Lula's official visit to the Netherlands is scheduled to start Thursday. The Brazilian president plans to visit The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam and will meet with Dutch Queen Beatrix and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.