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Parliament meets next week to discuss the deployment of the Czech Army's 7th field hospital in southern Iraq, to help relieve the growing humanitarian crisis there. The hospital unit, which is protected by armed troops, says it's ready to leave for Iraq immediately, but any deployment of Czech soldiers abroad must be approved by parliament. Rob Cameron recently visited the headquarters of the 7th army field hospital, and brings back this report.

One of the many interesting authors invited to this year's Prague Writer's Festival was Yann Martel, a Canadian novelist who made headlines world-wide by winning the prestigious Man Booker prize for his novel Life of Pi. Jan Velinger, who attended the festival, met the writer to discuss his fascinating book.

Homo Homini is the annual award presented by the People in Need Foundation to persons with outstanding merits in promoting human rights, democracy and the non-violent resolution of political conflicts. The awards were presented at a ceremony in Prague this week in cooperation with One World 2003 - the International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival which is currently taking place in the Czech capital.

One of the losers in the US-led war against Iraq is without doubt the United Nations, after its failure to push for a diplomatic solution. As the war draws to a close, the UN is once again trying to find a role, this time in the rebuilding of the country. One of the organization's key players is the former Czech foreign minister, Jan Kavan, now president of the UN General Assembly that brings together all 191 members. Just before leaving Prague for New York on Wednesday afternoon, he spoke with Radio Prague's David Vaughan. He argued that the crisis

This year's annual Prague Writers' Festival has come to its final day and already it is obvious it will go down as one of the most successful literary events in the Czech Republic in 2003. Appearances by world-renowned writers at Theatre Minor in Prague, have been heavily attended to hear from famous, as well as lesser known, authors. The festival reached probably its highest peak two nights ago: Tuesday saw appearances by fresh Pulitzer prize winner Jeffrey Eugenides, who read from Middlesex, and Irvine Welsh, who read from his provocative first

A series of events were held to mark International Roma Day at the Rock Cafe on Prague's Narodni Street on Tuesday. There were readings from Romany literature, film screenings and discussions as well as dance and music, including a concert by the world famous Czech gypsy group Vera Bila and Kale. This year was the third time the International Day of Roma was celebrated in the Czech Republic; organiser Martina Horvathova summed up its importance.

The Czech unemployment rate slightly decreased in the month of March this year to an even ten percent, down from a record high of 10.2 in February. However, for graduates from vocational schools in a number of different fields, the jobless rate is much higher.

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.