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The global music industry has experienced a slump in sales in recent years, and the situation for its Czech component is no different. One of the major threats to the music industry is piracy, and last year there was a record number of piracy cases discovered in the Czech Republic.

The Czech Statistics Office has been hit by a scandal that has shaken the institution's otherwise spotless reputation. Some heads in management have fallen and more may follow. The reason: a mistake in the country's GDP result announced for the third quarter of 2002 - so wide of the mark it was believed the Czech Republic was entering a period of economic slowdown, instead of moderate growth.

The junior governing coalition partner, the Freedom Union, made two important decisions over the weekend. During its party conference in the Moravian capital of Brno, it elected Petr Mares as its new leader and voted to stay in the ruling coalition with the senior Social Democrats and another small party, the Christian Democrats. But what chances does the party have to improve its standing during this electoral term? Dita Asiedu looks into the future of the Freedom Union:

One of the less publicised effects of last summer's devastating floods was a sharp fall in the country's hare population. Thousands of hares - as well as rabbits - fled from the floods, which hit large parts of Bohemia in August. And believe it or not the government is taking the matter seriously: the agricultural ministry is to spend millions to make up the shortfall. But not everyone's happy with the plan, as Rob Cameron reports.

In five days' time both houses of Czech parliament shall meet for the second time in two weeks to try and elect a new Czech president - this after three rounds in a first election were not enough to see any of the candidates through. Even so, a strong finish by former prime minister Vaclav Klaus, the right-of-centre Civic Democrat nominee, has given Mr Klaus momentum and he was the first to decide whole-heartedly to try again in a second attempt. This time, though, he may be facing tougher opponents...

Party leaders decided earlier today that a second attempt to elect a president will take place next Friday - January 24th. This second poll follows Wednesday's inconclusive attempt to choose a successor to Vaclav Havel, who steps down in early February. But if this second attempt fails, parties will most likely begin the lengthy process of changing the constitution to allow a popular vote, something which enjoys overwhelming public support. But not all politicians are in favour of direct presidential elections - some say the current parliamentary

Czechs will be asked in June whether they want to see their country become part of the European Union. In the meantime all the chapters in accession talks have been closed and the Czech Republic has appointed its first envoy to Brussels. He is Pavel Telicka - the former chief negotiator - who told us what he thought about the accession talks. Katya Zapletnyuk reports.

The lower house of parliament has approved the deployment of the Czech army's biochemical warfare detection unit to join a possible war with Iraq. The unit, which participated in the 1991 Gulf War, has been training in Kuwait over the past year with the United States. The approval of the government bill means that the Czech Republic would only join a possible war with Iraq if it is supported by a United Nations mandate. Without the support of the United Nations the unit would only be allowed to provide civilian and military assistance in the event

Parliament's first attempt to elect a successor to President Vaclav Havel ended in failure on Wednesday, after none of the candidates managed to secure enough votes in the three-round poll. The whole process must now start again from scratch, but it's almost certain the country will be left temporarily without a head of state on February 2nd when Mr Havel steps down. Rob Cameron spent the day at Prague Castle, where the joint parliamentary session took place, and has this report:

Both houses of parliament met on Wednesday morning to elect a successor to President Vaclav Havel, who steps down in two and a half weeks time. While it was not at all certain who would win, one thing has been clear for some time - whoever succeeds Mr Havel will have a hard act to follow, particularly on the international stage.