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The Czech Republic's most renowned tractor manufacturer Zetor - which used to have assembly plants in Asia and North America - is currently experiencing a new boom in sales. With the Czech Republic now in the EU, the recently privatised company hopes to regain its status as the region's biggest and most respected tractor producer.

The changing of the Guard at Prague Castle. From this Wednesday - like every other unit of the Czech Army the Castle will be fully professional. For the last 140 years, the Czech army has been based on compulsory military service, but now, the army has been transformed to a downsized, professional force. We asked a few people in Prague's streets how they see this historic transformation.

What you're hearing is the Czech national anthem "Kde domov muj" -"Where is my homeland". This Tuesday marks the 170th anniversary since the song was composed. The music was by Frantisek Škroup, a strong advocate of Czech national music at the time, and both the words and music of the song come from the opening scene of the opera "Fidlovacka". Martin Mikule looks at its history.

The Czech Republic is one of the biggest beer drinking nations in the world. But among Czech women, wine is becoming ever more popular. Beer has taken second place after "vinny strik", wine diluted with water, because it is good, affordable, and a little classier. But wine growers say this year's production will be much lower than average.

It has been a divisive year for Prague's Jewish community. In April, a new leadership was elected on their promise to more handle community affairs in a more "transparent and democratic" way and reach out to non-Orthodox members. Two months later, Prague's chief rabbi, Karol Sidon, was forced to step down from that post. Last week, Tomas Jelinek, the Prague Jewish Community chairman who pushed for Rabbi Sidon to go, barricaded himself in his office, refusing to give up the post he was himself ousted from in November.

A special ceremony was held in Prague's National Library on Thursday to present diplomas to Iraqis who had just completed a course in restoration work at a special school in Litomysl. The course was organised as part of the Czech Republic's contribution to the reconstruction effort in Iraq.

Many people from Prague's large ex-pat community would balk at the idea of having a carp for Christmas dinner. In places like Ireland and England, the fish is hardly ever eaten as it's considered to be a "dirty" animal. Luckily for many ex-pats, the British-owned Robertson's Butchers has now been supplying meat products that are very common in other countries on the Prague market as well. This includes providing turkeys and hams for people's Christmas dinners.

Fifty thousand visitors have seen a unique travelling exhibition showing the history of Czech translations of the Bible. It is now on display in the northern town of Usti nad Labem before it moves to Hungary at the start of next year.

With so much discussion under way in Europe over Turkey's ambitions to join the European Union, the Czech Republic has also engaged in the debate. The Czech government supports Turkey's ambitions, and Czech Euro-MPs confirmed this support on Wednesday. But how do Czechs back home feel? Would they support Turkey joining the European Union? Here are a couple of views from people in the streets of Prague.

Gipsy is a young Czech Romany rapper whose latest album is called "Ya Favourite CD Rom", with Rom a play on the Czech word for a Romany. Radio Prague caught up with Gipsy this week, and he told us about his relationship to Romany culture, his plans and - of course - his music.