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Are there Russian mafiosi in the renowned spa town of Karlovy Vary? The locals have been speculating about the matter for years - ever since nouveau riche Russians started buying up vast estates and property in the historic West Bohemian spa town. Now the regional governor wants to know the answer to that question - and has asked the Czech intelligence service to provide him with an answer.

In a culture where people often tout their academic titles not only on their calling cards but also on their doorbells, the Czech media had a field day with revelations that a top Interior Ministry official never graduated from high school, yet happily used the title of "engineer" - the Czech equivalent to a Bachelor of Science degree.

"Tell you what mate; all the fittest birds in the Czech Republic - supermodels every one of them! And the blokes here - they live like kings! And they've got the best football team in the world....and the beer....." These are words from a TV commercial, selling a Czech beer brand. This is how many Czechs would like their country to be seen abroad. But many others would prefer a slightly more sophisticated image. So how should the Czech Republic sell its image abroad? That's a question that the government is trying to answer, as it launches a new

A Cuban refugee couple living in the Czech Republic were reunited with their two children in Prague over the weekend, over a year after being separated. The couple came to the Czech Republic in the summer of 2003 and were granted political asylum in December. Their children were forced to stay in Cuba.

A diplomatic row has broken out between the Czech Republic and Belarus. On Wednesday, the Belarusian authorities expelled a Czech diplomat after arresting and detaining him despite his diplomatic immunity. In return, a Belarusian diplomat was expelled from Prague on Friday in an incident reminiscent of the Cold War.

The Scottish poet Robert Burns borrowed his first book from the local baker, and from there the only way was up. His poems, which were originally published to raise money so that he could emigrate, ironically turned Burns into a Scottish icon. The man behind 'Auld Lang Syne' and the title of J.D. Salinger's 'Catcher in the Rye' turns 246 tomorrow. His birthday is being marked both at home and abroad, including the Czech Republic. In-house Scot, Rosie Johnston reports...

A new poll to find out who Czechs feel was the greatest person this country has ever produced has been causing quite a stir here in recent weeks. The ballot is being organized by Czech Television following the same model as that used for similar polls in Germany and Britain last year. The British and German polls generated much excitement in their respective countries, and Czechs are also enthusiastically discussing whom they think was the best ever Czech.

The Czech government is increasingly taking a more pro-active role in the external affairs of the European Union. One of the focal points of Czech interest seems to be the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, especially in relation to consolidating peace in the Balkans. The Special Coordinator of the EU Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe, Erhard Busek, visited Prague this week in order to discuss future engagement of the Czech Republic in the Balkans.

A Czech mobile children's hospital has just started working in the city of Galle in Sri Lanka. The experienced 21-member medical and technical team arrived in the tsunami-hit region on Tuesday. By Friday morning all the tents had been put up and furnished with medical equipment to welcome the first patients.

Prior to the split of Czechoslovakia, Czechs and Slovaks understand one another's languages without any difficulties whatsoever. But now, 12 years later, young Czechs find it increasingly difficult to understand Slovak, and Czech Television has - for the first time - dubbed a Slovak-produced serial for adults into Czech. But the dubbing of Zachranari (Mountain Rescuers) has met with a mixed reaction from Czechs, with some people saying it is completely unnecessary