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After four decades of living in the closet, homosexuals in post-communist states are fighting for their place in the sun. Ironically, it seems that while the general public is by and large tolerant and sympathetic, some of the most serious hurdles on the way to gay rights are erected by politicians. This is true of the Czech Republic, and recent developments have shown that it is also true of neighbouring Slovakia, the Czech Republic's one-time federal partner. has the story:

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder made an unprecedented attempt on Sunday to end a 30-year feud between his party and millions of ethnic Germans forced out of their homes in East Europe after WWII. In the first speech by a chancellor to the main annual gathering of the exiles, Mr. Schroeder said that Germany had no territorial claims against its neighbours. has this report:

The theme of urban environmental preservation has been the focus of an international conference held in Prague this week. One hundred and fifty international experts and one hundred of their Czech colleagues met in Prague's Municipal House for lectures and discussions as part of the Natura Megapolis conference. Dr. Jane Smart, the executive director of the charity preservation organisation Plantlife in the UK, which specialises in plant preservation in urban environments, was one of the speakers at the session on Thursday. Radio Prague's spoke

On Thursday, the police force held a training exercise, which was to prepare them for expected clashes during this year's IMF/World Bank annual meeting that is to take place in Prague during the last week in September. reports.

If you like a cigarette with your beer or while waiting for the bus, you might soon have to give that pleasure up. Czech Health Minister Bohumil Fiser intends to declare war on tobacco. reports:

In a recent edition of News View, Radio Prague reported on the growing popularity of mobile phones and their competition to fixed lines. One telecommunications company which has enjoyed being a monopoly in the past but is now hit hard by competition is Czech Telecom. The Czech government has for some time been discussing privatizing the remaining state-owned shares in the company, but finding a buyer is proving to be harder than expected. To shed some light on the situation, spoke to Deputy Finance Minister Jan Mladek and asked him first who

Austrian president Thomas Klestil telephoned president Vaclav Havel on Wednesday to express his concern over the safety of the South Bohemian nuclear power station in Temelin which is soon to be put into operation. looks at the implications of Austrian concern.

On Monday evening between 8 and 10 p.m., many Prague citizens stood by their windows and stared at a mighty glow and masses of smoke carrying sparks southwards over the roofs of the Vinohrady residential quarter. One of those who watched Prague's most destructive fire of the past ten years was .