Prague  - Nuclear energy, a cheap and carbon-free source, could contribute to Europe's battle against climate change, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Thursday.

Nuclear energy "can help protect our economies against price volatility and reduce dependence on imported gas," Barroso told a nuclear-energy forum in Prague.

Barosso, however, said that the European Commission will not promote nuclear power to EU members who have "an absolute right to choose freely."

Prague  - The shareholders of the Czech power giant CEZ agreed Wednesday to extend the firm's buyback programme by another 10 per cent, the company said.

The state-controlled CEZ also received shareholders' green light for cancelling 9.15 per cent of company shares that the utility had bought back previously, spokeswoman Eva Novakova said in a statement.

The power producer has said earlier it spent 67.3 billion koruny (4.22 billion dollars) on buying back roughly 9.8 per cent of its shares.

Prague  - The Czech Republic Wednesday recognized independent Kosovo, the Czech Foreign Ministry said.

Prague  - Czech generics drugs maker Zentiva reported Monday a net profit of 469.7 million korun

Prague  - An engine driver died Monday after his locomotive collided with a stationary commuter train in the eastern Czech Republic, an official said.

Dusseldorf  -  Arcandor, the big German retail group, is planning to set up department stores in Rus