Prague  - Czech President Vaclav Klaus's meeting with leaders of the European Parliament Friday ended in a rift, according to reports citing meeting's participants and Klaus' office.

The president, who is an outspoken critic of the European Union, was angered by questions from Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the head of the European Greens.

Klaus' aide told reporters after the meeting that the president "considers Cohn-Bendit's behaviour a big provocation."

Cohn-Bendit said that Klaus was infuriated by his question on his relationship to Irish businessman and anti-EU activist Declan Ganley, who successfully rallied opposition to the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland, aktualne. cz news web site reported.

MOSCOW, Dec. 4  -- The European Union should stop "clinging to the past" in its attitudes towards Russia, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.

Putin said the union is Russia's biggest trading partner and increasingly involved in oil and gas development in Russia, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

He welcomed the EU decision this week to resume discussions on a new treaty with Russia. The talks had been suspended after Russian troops entered Georgia in August.

Washington, Dec 4 : New images taken by instruments on board ESA’s (European Space Agency’s) Venus Express have provided insight into the turbulent atmosphere of our neighbouring planet.

Using Venus Express, it is possible to compare what the planet looks like in different wavelengths, giving scientists a powerful tool to study the physical conditions and dynamics of the planet''s atmosphere.

Observed in the ultraviolet, Venus shows numerous high-contrast features.