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Vaclav Klaus made his maiden voyage to Brussels as Czech President on Thursday, for talks with the head of the European Commission Romano Prodi and other senior officials. Mr Klaus - described by some as Eurosceptic and by himself as Eurorealist - used the occasion to air his strident views on EU integration, although he did tone them down somewhat for his European audience.

A breach of security at Prague's Ruzyne Airport has once again alerted officials to the need for constant vigilance. On Thursday a homeless man managed to slip past customs officials and board a plane with no trouble at all -showing just how easy it could be for a potential terrorist to bypass safety checks.

The tragic classroom killing of a teacher in Svitavy this week has received widespread coverage in the media here. It has also engendered much speculation about rising levels of violence in Czech society, particularly among the young.

Mount Everest - the world's highest peak: many skilled mountaineers have strived to conquer its height, but have been forced to turn back short of the summit because of illness or dangerous conditions. Still, for the most intrepid it remains a dream to return to again and again: at 8,850 metres Everest is quite simply the ultimate challenge. As we now report a new Czech team of just three men is setting its sights on Everest with an added challenge: reaching the top without the help of bottled oxygen. Jan Velinger has more.

An angry mob gathered outside the Office of the Government on Wednesday, as the cabinet met to discuss a controversial energy plan put forward by the Ministry of Industry. Over the next 25 years the ministry wants to build two new nuclear reactors and loosen restrictions on coal mining. The latter part of the plan could see two villages in north Bohemia being wiped off the map to make way for new mines. There has been a great deal of opposition to the plan, including from the Ministry of the Environment, which put forward an alternative energy

A ceremony was held at the Canadian Official Residence in Prague on Wednesday night, where former president Vaclav Havel received the Honorary Companion of the Order of Canada, the highest honour to be appointed by the country's Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. Mr. Havel is only the third foreigner to receive this prestigious honour, after her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and former South Africa President Nelson Mandela.

The construction boom of recent years has proved to be a serious threat to trees in many Czech towns and cities. Trees which have been part of the landscape for decades and sometimes for over a century are disappearing overnight. The NGO Arnika has now decided to help the public to put up a fight for them - by launching a nation wide Save the Trees campaign. Martin Skalsky of Arnika explains what it is all about:

TV Nova claimed on Tuesday that Serbia and Montenegro is planning to complain to the Czech foreign ministry after the former commander of Albanian rebels in Kosovo was allowed to visit the Czech city of Ostrava. Former rebel commander Agim Ceku is now in charge of the Kosovo Protection Corps, and was in Ostrava to inspect a group of former KLA rebels being retrained as firemen under a UN-sponsored scheme. Rob Cameron reports.

This month, Czechs will be commemorating Karel Kryl at several venues in Prague as this year marks the tenth anniversary of his death and sixtieth anniversary of his birth. As part of the Year of Czech Music, several concerts and exhibitions focus on the life of the singer and protest-song writer who became an icon in 1960s folk music through his tireless struggle for the freedom of expression. Dita Asiedu has more:

A vocational school in the East Bohemian town of Svitavy is in mourning today after a 60-year-old teacher was stabbed to death by one of his students. The attack took place in the middle of a lesson, and was apparently unprovoked. The 16-year-old student has been taken into custody, and faces a prison sentence for murder. Rob Cameron has more on this shocking story.