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Twenty-two years ago, the most serious accident in nuclear history disrupted the lives of millions of people. Massive amounts of radioactive materials were released into the environment resulting in a radioactive cloud that spread over much of Europe. The greatest contamination occurred around the Chernobyl nuclear power station in areas that are now part of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. People in Czechoslovakia were not in acute danger, but like others in the communist block they learnt about the nuclear accident many days after it happened and the media censorship ordered by the communist regime prevented them from taking even the most basic precautions.

The German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel turns its attention to the scandal in Germany surrounding the participation of RWE in the construction of NPP Belene. Jurgen Grosmann, the President and CEO of RWE, has received an unusual letter of protest from Bulgarian MPs, which showed the negative effect from the construction of the nuclear power plant on the tourism and agriculture in the region. The reason behind this letter was an answer to the plans of Grosmann to invest EUR 1.5 billion in the construction of NPP Belene. Der Tagesspiegel explains that some of the members of the supervisory board of the German company have started to have doubts about the investment following a protest action of an environmental organization. Grosmann said that the project could not be renegotiated, which made the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of RWE - Thomas Fischer, try to change the interior regulations of the company. The planned changes would allow the supervisory board to take part in the approval of new investment projects. If such changes are made, there would be a majority, which would vote against the participation of RWE in the NPP Belene project.

Renewed interest in nuclear power and high uranium prices may extend the life of Czech uranium mines or even reopen closed deposits, said the head of the country's sole, state-owned miner Diamo. The centre-right cabinet of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek gave the ailing industry a boost last year, allowing Diamo to explore uranium reserves at its only remaining mine in Dolni Rozinka, 180 km (113 miles) east of Prague.

Czech power group CEZ (CEZPsp.PR: Quote, Profile, Research) unveiled a preliminary plan on Monday to build two new units at its Temelin nuclear power plant in a move that could be the largest investment in the central European state.

There is a possibility that a corruption scheme for the supply of nuclear fuel was created at the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) "Kozloduy", according to statements made before Darik radio by Georgi Kotev. Kotev is an employee of the NPP and had initially made his accusations through a popular video clips Internet site.

A purposeful campaign has been underway since three weeks and no matter what they say it is targeted not against Kozloduy NPP, but against nuclear power in Bulgaria and it is against Bulgaria's interests, Kozloduy NPP Executive Director Ivan Genov said at a press conference, cited by Focus News Agency.

The United States and the Czech Republic signed a landmark accord on Tuesday to allow the Pentagon to deploy part of its widely debated antiballistic missile shield on territory once occupied by Soviet troops.

Even Bulgaria's ever optimistic Economy and Energy Minister Petar Dimitrov has had to concede that the country's plans to build a second nuclear power plant at Belene on the Danube River face an uphill struggle to secure financing for construction to begin.

The United States and the Czech Republic will sign a pact on Tuesday for the central European country to host a radar system, part of U.S. plans to create a missile defense shield in Europe.

Bulgaria's plans to build a second nuclear power plant at Belene on the Danube River have hit a new snag, with BNP Paribas choosing not to commit any of its own money to fund the project, even though it has been picked to find financing for the power plant, Infrastructure Journal reported.

Prague- Seven Greenpeace activists yesterday protested against the forthcoming European Nuclear Forum by projecting giant slogans warning of the risks of nuclear energy on the panorama of Hradcany, the Prague Castle that is the seat of Czech heads of state, from the nearby Legii bridge.

TWICE a symbol of foreign oppression, the disused Czech airfield of Hradcany, a couple of hours' drive from Prague, is now a happily disorganised sort of place. On a recent spring afternoon its concrete expanses, first built by Nazi invaders, attracted a learner-driver bunny-hopping past deserted bunkers that used to hold Soviet fighter jets. On another taxiway a woman on rollerskates led two small girls on bicycles. At weekends, cyclists mingle with kite-flyers and microlight pilots.

PRAGUE (AFP) - A Czech town council Wednesday turned down an Australian mining company's call that it be allowed to launch exploration for reserves of uranium in return for a cash windfall. Pribyslav councillors rejected an offer from Australian company Uran Ltd for it to be allowed to explore what are believed to be rich uranium deposits in the centre of the country, the CTK news agency reported.