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Now, believe it or not, but more and more prisoners are sneaking mobile phones into prison, to keep in touch with their families and friends, and even to plan drug deals and other crimes. Although the prisoners can be punished or face fresh prison sentences, for many the temptation is difficult to resist. has this report:

Protests over increasing fuel prices are spreading throughout Europe. Although Czech people have yet to take action over this issue, a recent opinion poll shows that more than ninety percent of those asked support the protestors, and believe that their complaints are justified. Radio Prague's has been out and about asking people how they feel about the current fuel crisis:

Most of you will have recognised that as 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' by the Irish rock group U2. That song is one of many hits featured on a popular compilation album, The Best of U2. So imagine what Czech U2 fan Jan Martinek felt when he popped a CD entitled 'The Best of U2' into his CD player but, instead of U2 lead singer Bono, heard a completely different voice coming out of his speakers. has more:

Throughout Western Europe lorry drivers have been busy blocking roads and blockading oil refineries in protest at rising fuel prices. But across the border in the Czech Republic, it seems to be 'business as usual'. Despite even more dramatic rises in fuel prices due to the strengthening of the dollar against the crown, there has been no industrial action. reports:

Last week saw the Czech debut of Stan's Cafe, a rather revolutionary theatre company from Birmingham. They spent three days at Prague's British Council, where they performed their show 'It's Your Film', a three-minute performance for an audience of one. 'It's Your Film' has now been performed over 700 times, and is probably Stan's Cafe's most popular show. The emphasis is on the relationship between a work of art and its audience. Radio Prague's spoke to Stan's Cafe director, James Yarker.

As shortages of qualified workers in certain sectors, in particular in information technology, continue to increase in Western Europe, many countries in the EU are opening their doors to qualified members of the Czech workforce. reports:

Czech President Vaclav Havel returned from a working visit to the United States on Monday. One of the president's main duties during his one-week stay in the States was participating in the Millenium Summit of the United Nations in New York. In his speech, President Havel presented his concept for possible future reform of the United Nations. More from :

From September 15th to October 1st, Prague will host the 10th Prague Autumn international music festival. Over the 10 years since it was founded, the festival has won international acclaim. More from :

Amidst international pressure and heated debate over whether to put the Temelin nuclear power station on-line, the State Office for Nuclear Safety has admitted there have been technical problems at the plant. While Austrians continue with blockades of Czech border crossings, Temelin and the other Czech nuclear power station, Dukovany, have also been preparing special security measures in connection with the expected arrival of radical anti-globalisation protesters to the Czech Republic. reports:

In the ongoing controversy over the launch of the Temelin nuclear power plant in southern Bohemia, the European Parliament on Thursday approved a resolution urging the Czech government to postpone the plant's launching until a commission of independent nuclear experts had properly assessed its impact on the environment. asked Czech government spokesman Libor Roucek how the government intended to respond to this resolution: