TOPOLÁNEK - Police are investigating the purchase of an apartment by Civic Democrat Chairman Mirek Topolánek. ČEZ power company "sponsored" the purchase of the flat with 8.5 million Kč ($362,000), according to an anonymous report sent to the district state attorney's office. A police spokeswoman said authorities have found no reason to prosecute.

MURDERS - "Forest killer" Viktor Kalivoda was sentenced to life April 12 for killing three strangers in woods near Brno and Kladno Oct. 13 and 16. Central Bohemia Regional Court officials said that Kalivoda showed no regret for what he did and that the court had no other option but to apply the highest possible penalty.

CHEATED - Experts say that the National Gallery purchased a fake wooden Madonna in 2003. The Madonna was believed to be from the mid-14th century, but tests show it was actually created in the early 20th century. The National Gallery bought the piece from an antique dealer in Vienna for 120,000 euros ($145,000/3.4 million Kč) with financial support from the Czech Culture Ministry.

IRELAND - Armed forces marched through the streets of Dublin April 16, commemorating the uprising against the British in 1916 that paved the way for an independent Ireland. The march had not been held for the past 35 years, and some said it was reopening old wounds. But the event, attended by 120,000 people, including Irish and UK officials, was peaceful.

ITALY - Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, whose center-right party lost an extremely close national election April 9–10, is alleging fraud in the official result and demanding that close to 50,000 ballots be re-counted. Berlusconi said in particular there were discrepancies over votes from Italians living abroad. Romeo Prodi, whose party won, said he would not take over as prime minister until May.

NETHERLANDS - The Dutch government postponed opening the country's labor markets to new European Union member states April 13, saying it would make a decision on the matter by the end of the year. Political parties want assurances that an anticipated influx of foreign workers, expected mostly from Poland, would not lead to job shortages for Dutch workers.

SERBIA - The Danube River, Europe's second longest, reached its highest levels in 111 years along some stretches, causing massive flooding in many parts of rural Serbia. Warm temperatures, heavy rain and snowmelt are being blamed for the flooding. Hundreds in Romania and Bulgaria had been forced to leave their homes by April 18 as the river threatened to swell downstream.

UK - Students at Wellington College, an exclusive boarding school in Crowthorne, England, will soon be required to take classes on how to achieve happiness, London's Daily Telegraph reported April 17. "We have been focusing too much on academics and missing something far more important," Headmaster Anthony Seldon told the newspaper. The classes will teach skills on how to manage relationships and maintain physical and mental health.