Current Affairs | All stories

During the Prague Writers' Festival's Tuesday panel discussion titled "The Great Dream of Heaven," Prague-born Peter Demetz described the American way of life as a sort of mythical entity that is much more than the golden arches of the McDonald's restaurants which stand out like eyesores throughout the American landscape. A resident of the USA since 1949, he said he considers America to be a sort of heaven because a person doesn't need a past, doesn't have to remember. Just what does the author of the extensive history Prague In Black and Gold

Now in its thirteenth year, the annual Prague Writers' Festival began on Sunday evening with a gala, once again drawing well-known writers from all over the world to the Czech capital. As usual, it was put together by author and editor Michael March.

The temperature swings that the Czech Republic - and indeed most of Europe are now experiencing - are believed to be the worst in close to half a century. A thirty degree drop in temperatures and snow showers have gladdened the hearts of winter sports lovers but many farmers, who are still recovering from last year's devastating floods, say this may be the end of their livelihood.

The foreigners' police in the Czech Republic is being strongly criticised for denying an Iraqi woman entry into the country - the first time an Iraqi citizen has not been allowed into the Czech Republic since the start of the war in Iraq. The case of Salia J.Khalaf, who arrived in Prague last Thursday with her two year old son, has been described by the Czech Ministry of Foreign affairs as a disgrace for the country.

On Monday, Charles University in Prague - the oldest university in central Europe - celebrates the 655th anniversary of its foundation on April 7th, 1348, by Charles IV, then Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia. From its establishment, Charles University was endowed by the emperor with the privileges enjoyed by older European universities, and these days Charles University again seeks to define itself in the context of an integrated Europe.

On Sunday afternoon another demonstration against the war in Iraq and the Czech Republic's attitude to it took place in Prague. Although recent polls suggest over seventy percent of Czechs are against the US-led military action in the region, the protests are usually attended only by a few hundred, mainly young people. Why is that so and what do the protesters think about the Czech Republic's official stance - those are questions Radio Prague asked the demonstrators on Sunday afternoon.

The well-known Jedlicka Institute and the School for the Disabled in Prague celebrated its 90th anniversary this week. Established in April 1913, the institute and school, named after professor Rudolf Jedlicka, is dedicated to making the lives of the disabled as pleasant as possible and integrating them into the Czech society. Jan Picman is the institute's director:

Members of the British Czech and Slovak Association gathered in London recently for an interesting talk by architect Robert Voticky on Prague after last August's floods. After the talk honorary secretary Maria Hughes told me a little about the association's origins and activities.

As the projected date of EU accession nears, Czech farmers are increasingly concerned about their ability to withstand tough competition on the common market. In an effort to boost their flagging morale and indeed the sale of Czech foodstuffs, the Czech Agriculture Ministry is creating a marketing agency and preparing a National programme to promote Czech agrarian products. There is just one strict condition: the products bearing the "Czech-made, quality-goods" label must meet a high standard of quality. Hugo Roldan, spokesman for the Czech Agriculture

All this week the western Czech town of Plzen has been hosting an orgy of Czech film. The Finale Plzen film festival is devoted almost entirely to domestic production - and over the past few days thousands of film-lovers and professionals have been flocking to the town to see some of the dozens of Czech films on show. David Vaughan has just come back from the festival and brings the following report.