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On Thursday, the Environment Minister, Milos Kuzvart, introduced a new project, which is expected to enhance recycling of used packages. Also this week a new regulation was introduced which makes it obligatory for retailers to buy back seven types of returnable glass bottles. All that is stipulated by a new law on packaging according to which producers and distributors of packages are responsible for the fate of the containers even after the consumption of their content. More from Pavla Horakova.

On Monday, the Social Democrat Prime Minister, Milos Zeman, and party leader Vladimir Spidla both expressed support for the payment of compensation to Sudeten Germans who fought against fascism during World War II. Senate Chairman Petr Pithart echoed their call for compensation, which followed a gathering of Sudeten Germans at the week-end. Dita Asiedu has more:

It's not often that students at Prague's Charles University get to meet Nobel prize-winning writers, so it was a major event last week when the Irish poet Seamus Heaney - often described as the greatest living poet in the English language - held a seminar at the university, and later gave a public reading. Ian Willoughby spoke to Mr Heaney after the reading, and began by asking him were there any Czech writers in particular he admired.

At a weekend rally of the biggest Sudeten German organisation, the Landsmannschaft, in Nuremberg, the Bavarian Prime Minister and conservative candidate for the post of German chancellor, Edmund Stoiber again called for the abolition of the controversial post-war Benes decrees. The legislation sanctioned the expulsion of some two and a half million ethnic Germans - known as Sudeten Germans - from Czechoslovakia after WWII. Mr. Stoiber says the decrees contravene European legal norms and values. Alena Skodova has more:

The 8th Prague International Marathon was held on Sunday, with thousands upon thousands of people taking part in a variety of events. There was the full marathon of course, but there was also a fun run - which was enjoyed by a lot of families and people of all ages - and even a special event for in-line skaters. All in all, something for everybody. Ian Willoughby was at the starting (and finishing) line on Old Town Square.

An international inspection team has ascertained that conditions in Czech institutions for mentally ill patients leave a lot to be desired. On the grounds of these findings the Mental Disability Advocacy Centre, an international non-governmental organization which monitors the situation in EU candidate countries, has issued a detailed report criticizing poor legislation, cases of human rights abuse and inadequate medical care. Daniela Lazarova has the story:

On Thursday night, as part of the programme of the Prague Spring international music festival currently underway in the Czech capital, the State Opera Prague presented the world premiere of a Norwegian opera, called 'Circus Terra". Its staging is a result of close cooperation between Norwegian and Czech artists, as Alena Skodova reports:

As in any other country, there are several foods and dishes which are peculiar to the Czech Republic. As the country prepares to join the European Union in a couple of years, many people are afraid of losing some specialities of Czech cuisine which do not measure up to EU regulations. Further problems are caused by the fact that the names of some Czech foods - such as Znojmo cucumbers - include place names. Such place names are allowed, but they have to be registered. Alena Skodova reports:

On Thursday, May 16, Czech Catholics celebrate a holiday devoted to the patron saint of Bohemia, John of Nepomuk. The myths about the 14th-century martyr say that this priest of Czech king Wenceslas IV refused to divulge a secret told to him by the king's wife, and was thrown off Charles bridge to his death as punishment. However, it seems that legend is one thing and history quite another. More from Vladimir Tax.

In light of International Museum Day which takes place on Saturday, a conference was held at Prague's National Museum on Thursday to discuss the current situation of museums in the country. Dita Asiedu went along: