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Now, believe it or not, today is Iodine Day here in the Czech Republic, when the Czech health authorities try and raise awareness of iodine deficiency among the population, and the thyroid problems it can produce. To find out more, Pavla Horakova spoke to Professor Vaclav Zamrazil, from Prague's Institute of Endocrinology.

It has been almost two weeks since the near bankrupt Union Banka closed its doors leaving nearly 250,000 customers and business without access to their accounts. Pressure is mounting on the Czech National Bank to do something about the situation. Martin Hrobsky explains.

The European Convention - the body set up to discuss the future of the European Union - has just celebrated its first birthday. The Convention was given the challenging task of finding ways to put the EU in touch with its citizens and rid the Union of its bureaucratic image. So how far has it gone in achieving those aims? A question my colleague David Vaughan put recently to Daniel Tarschys, professor of Political Science at Stockholm University and the former Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

For the past ten days, many of Prague's residents have been wondering what a big, white marquee is doing in the middle of the city's main thoroughfare, Wenceslas Square, and why it regularly emits Italian popular music. Well, after embarking on a little expedition, I discovered it to be a world completely different to that of Prague, a Mediterranean world of music and wine and sea. And it is called - Molise World.

Ceske Drahy, the national rail operator in the Czech Republic has replaced board chairman and CEO Dalibor Zeleny. It has been rumored for months that Zeleny would be replaced because of a slowdown in the restructuring process the Czech Republic's largest employer.

It's just days before Vaclav Klaus is inaugurated as the country's 10th president, and a question many people are asking is - will the former Civic Democrat leader soften his often critical stance to European integration? People call him a Euro-sceptic, he calls himself a Euro-realist, but with just over three months to go before June's EU referendum, not everyone is convinced Mr Klaus is the right man to represent the country at this crucial time. Among them is Lukas Macek, advisor to Josef Zieleniec, the Senate's representative on the EU

There is no question of the risk to the coalition government, calculated though it may be: on Monday Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla asked parliament to schedule a vote of confidence early next week. This as a means of reasserting the government's authority just days after the coalition, which holds the slimmest of margins in parliament, failed to stand to the man behind presidential candidate Jan Sokol. The government's failure to hold together cast doubt on the overall ability of the government to function, and a vote of confidence could help

One of the most significant aspects of this presidential election was the manner in which it boosted the position of the communist party. Having suffered years of enforced isolation by Vaclav Havel's refusal to meet or deal with them during his thirteen years in office, the communists made it perfectly clear to the future head of state that their support would not come cheap. Although both presidential candidates rejected speculation regarding a "behind the scenes" deal, political analysts find it hard to believe that the communists will not demand

A new week and a new president for the Czech Republic - President elect Vaclav Klaus will pay a visit to Prague Castle on Monday to carry out what he calls an "inventory", although how much he's planning to change remains unclear. More will be known after Friday, when Mr Klaus is inaugurated at a ceremony at Prague Castle. My colleague spent all last Friday - the day of Mr Klaus's election - at the Castle, Rob, an exciting day I imagine.

Vaclav Klaus and Jan Sokol stood for the Czech presidency on Friday morning, uncertain about their chances of winning the support of the majority of both houses of parliament. But, as the result of a recent public opinion poll suggests, if the elections were held through a direct popular ballot, it is clear who the winner would be. Dita Asiedu reports: