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Winter is still holding the country firmly in its grip but the town of Plana, on the Czech Republic's western border has good reason to believe that spring is just around the corner. The first harbinger of spring - the white stork - has just arrived back from the shores of Africa and set up home in the best storks' nest in town.

The Czech president, Vaclav Klaus, held his first meeting with US President George Bush at the White House on Tuesday. The visit, announced just one day in advance, is being seen as a real success for Mr Klaus, who was in Washington's bad books for some time over his stance on the Iraq war. Iraq was just one of many issues discussed by the two presidents, in what Mr Klaus described as "very friendly" talks.

American General George Smith Patton was a key figure in the Second World War. His name is bound up especially with the liberation of Western Czechoslovakia. Between the 5th and the 8th of May 1945, his forces were responsible for liberating the city of Plzen. To honour the sixtieth anniversary of this event, the Plzen authorities have commissioned a statue of the General. But now they are in turmoil, as the sculptor they have chosen to design it doesn't quite fit the mould. Rosie Johnston has more...

The Czech health care system guarantees patients, in return for compulsory monthly health insurance payments, free health care. The insurance companies are then obliged to pay doctors. But this nearly always involves a delay. This permanent cash-flow bottleneck has led dentists to lose their tempers. They are now threatening to make patients pay for dental treatment in cash.

On Saturday Prime Minister Stanislav Gross made a public apology for his behaviour in connection with the row over his personal finances that had caused the current government crisis in the Czech Republic. For the time being at least, the crisis seems to be over. But the main opposition party, the right-of-centre Civic Democrats say that an apology is not enough. With their preferences soaring in the polls, they want to initiate a vote of no-confidence in the government, and push for an early election.

The Czech president, Vaclav Klaus, is currently in the United States on a private visit. In a surprise move, a meeting between Mr Klaus and US President George Bush was announced at the very last moment. Though it may be scheduled to last only 30 minutes, Tuesday's meeting at the White House is far from insignificant for Vaclav Klaus - it is the first time he has been invited to meet the US president since being elected two years ago.

The Czech Prime Minister Stanislav Gross went on national television with a public apology to the nation for a scandal over his private finances that threatened to bring down the entire Cabinet. Following weeks of internal discord the three parties in the Czech governing coalition called a temporary ceasefire which would enable the Cabinet to continue functioning. However commentators say that this row is far from over and predict a tough battle ahead for Europe's youngest government leader.

The Czech National Library is setting its sights on an unprecedented prize: a surviving fragment of a translation in Latin of the famous "Chronicle of Dalimil", one of the earliest Czech language chronicles dating back to the 14th century. For three generations the parchment - featuring rich illuminations and text - lay forgotten in a dusty bottom drawer - before being rediscovered by its owners - a prominent Parisian family that has now put it up for auction. The bidding begins at around 200,000 dollars but it has already been estimated that the

A new project to discourage young people from taking drugs has been announced in the Czech Republic. Organisers are convinced that despite the 30 million crown price tag - the "Revolution Train" will have a strong impact on preventing drug abuse. Kate Barrette has more.

The feuding parties in the government crisis have unexpectedly announced a temporary ceasefire. Two weeks ago the Christian Democrats called on the Prime Minister Stanislav Gross to step down over his domestic financial affairs and he in return threatened to ask the President to sack the three Christian Democrat ministers in the government. After going right to the brink, the Christian Democrats and Mr Gross's Social Democrats have reached an agreement that should put the crisis on hold. Pavla Horakova has been following developments. Pavla, what