Prague Christmas Markets including overnight in Dublin

Levi Strauss’s arrival in the US, 160 years ago this week, was to change fashion forever. And it all began with a tent, says John Daly

Thousands of Czechs have rallied in protest against the government’s policies and austerity cuts and other policies on the 23rd anniversary of the Velvet Revolution.

Vaclav Havel’s ashes have been buried at his family plot at a cemetery in the Czech capital of Prague.

WORLD leaders yesterday bade farewell to former Czech president Vaclav Havel, the anti-communist dissident who led the peaceful Velvet Revolution and inspired human rights activists around the world.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has paid tribute to Vaclav Havel, who is being laid to rest today.

Czechs are bidding an emotional farewell to Vaclav Havel, the dissident playwright who led their peaceful revolution that brought to an end decades of Communist rule.

Thousands of Czech citizens joined Vaclav Havel’s wife Dagmar, family members and friends in a procession today to pay respects to the late Czech president.

THOUSANDS of Czechs have said a personal farewell to former president Vaclav Havel, who led the peaceful revolution that toppled the communist regime in 1989.

ANYONE with an interest in European history will be appalled and fascinated by 1930s Germany when Hitler consolidated his power and prepared to launch World War II.

Thousands of Czechs have said a personal farewell to former president Vaclav Havel, who led the peaceful revolution that toppled the communist regime in 1989.

Vaclav Havel, the dissident playwright who turned to politics to help peacefully bring down communism in Czechoslovakia, has died at the age of 75.

A GUY walks into a bar and shouts: “Drinks all around: my wife’s next in line for the Nobel Peace Prize!”

WITH their country in deep political crisis, Czechs took to the streets throughout the country yesterday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the end of decades of repressive communist rule.

Former Czech president Vaclav Havel opened the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Velvet Revolution with a concert attended by celebrities.

Imprisoned Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was today named Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience.

US president Barack Obama will deliver a major speech today, laying out his long-term goal to rid the world of nuclear arms.

MURPHY’s law seems to prevail in the EU as in many other spheres. Just when the union needs to concentrate very closely on getting its act together on the global economic crisis, a sideshow threatens to take over.

US President Barack Obama heads to London on Tuesday for his first overseas trip since taking office, to take part in the economic summit of 20 major and developing nations that together represent more than 85% of the global economy.

The Czech Constitutional Court has delayed its verdict on whether the Lisbon Treaty conforms to the country's constitution.

EXPECT less sugar and more spice from Czech president Vaclav Klaus’s hardline eurosceptic views during his visit to Ireland.

Former President Mary Robinson will be awarded one of Switzerland’s most prestigious prizes, it was revealed today.

Former Czech President Vaclav Havel has been released from a hospital where he was treated for two weeks due to an irregular heartbeat, Czech public radio said today.

Former Czech President Vaclav Havel was taken to hospital due to an irregular heartbeat, Czech television reported today.

President George Bush risked fuelling tensions with Russia today, saying Moscow had "derailed" once-promising democratic reforms.

Irish rock legends U2 tonight added another award to their collection as they were named Amnesty International Ambassadors of Conscience for 2005.

ONCE upon a time in the west, eastern European teams, no matter how good, could never be described as excellent or formidable or even - and this would have been particularly appropriate - well-marshalled.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is to receive the 2005 Philadelphia Liberty Medal, awarded to those who demonstrate leadership in the pursuit of freedom.

The Dalai Lama began a visit to Germany today to present an award to prominent supporters of the Tibetan people and meet with German politicians.

Former President Vaclav Havel today warned Czechs that failure to ratify the European Union constitution would result in losing their influence over the process of European integration.

Former Czech President Vaclav Havel threw his weight behind Ukraine’s opposition today, demanding that the results of the disputed presidential election be overturned.

CZECHS took to the streets yesterday for concerts and speeches to mark the 15th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution that ended communism.

A REFERENDUM which allowed Europe’s “last dictator” — Belarussian president Alexander Lukashenko — to run for another term suffered widespread violations, election observers and opposition figures said yesterday.

POPE JOHN PAUL II and Pat Cox, the president of the European Parliament, are being given one of the most prestigious awards in Europe, the Charlemagne prize.

The Charlemagne Prize for European achievement, usually awarded to a single person, is to be awarded twice in 2004.

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair, US President George Bush and the European Union were among nominees for the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize as the nomination deadline ran out yesterday.

Opposition supporters broke into Georgia’s Parliament today, scuffling with lawmakers and forcing President Eduard Shevardnadze to flee as thousands of protesters outside demanded his resignation.

DANA Rosemary Scallon is spot on in calling for a specific reference to God in the draft European constitution.

POPE JOHN PAUL II, approaching the 25th anniversary of his reign, is favourite to win the Nobel Peace Prize to be announced in Oslo today.

THE term “Sixties rock star” took on a new meaning yesterday as Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger prepared to perform before a crowd of more than 60,000 in the Czech capital Prague, a day after celebrating his 60th birthday in a downtown nightclub.

Rolling Stone Mick Jagger will be partying in Prague tomorrow as he jets into the city to celebrate his 60th birthday.

FORMALLY ending years of Cold War separation, Czechs celebrated their return to the West after voting decisively to join the European Union.

People in the Czech Republic voted decisively to join the European Union, their referendum result confirmed today.