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Since his appointment just five weeks ago, Health Minister David Rath has been at the centre of one controversy after another. After putting the state health insurer under forced administration he accused several opposition Civic Democrats of stripping its assets. In response they have filed a number of libel suits against the minister, who they say has himself been involved in dubious deals. I discussed the explosive impact of Mr Rath on Czech politics with commentator Erik Best.

On Wednesday night Czech football side Sparta Prague had one last chance at redemption in what has been a truly miserable autumn season: a win over 3rd place Swiss side Thun would not have gotten Sparta through to the next stage of the Champions League, but it would have at least guaranteed the team a place in the other major European tournament, the UEFA Cup. But, it was not to be. Sparta failed to raise their game, and came up short - again.

Turning fifteen is a big milestone in the life of a Czech: you reach the age of consent, you bear criminal responsibility and get a citizens ID, all regarded as a sign of maturity. Last week the chamber of deputies voted in favour of lowering the age of consent and criminal responsibility by one year, sparking a widespread debate among psychologists and the public as to whether such a move is wise.

It is the dream of every musicologist to rediscover a lost work by a great composer. This is just what happened to Eva Velicka from Prague. Four months ago while researching in the Danish Royal Library in Copenhagen, she came across the lost original manuscript of the String trio no. 1 by one of the great 20th century Czech composers, Bohuslav Martinu. On Sunday the work was performed in Prague by the Zemlinsky Quartet - for the first time in eighty years. Eva Velicka, who works at the Bohuslav Martinu Institute in Prague, came into our studio

Lost, stolen, sold, discovered in an antique shop, confiscated, ruined by a flood and finally restored and returned to its owner - that's the turbulent story of a 17th-century painting of a wealthy Prague burgher that was once in possession of Prague's Municipal Museum. The museum is now showing the cameo portrait whose story is just as interesting as the story of the man it depicts.

One of Prague's most venerable theatres is celebrating its 90th birthday this week. From playing host to such stars as Jan Werich and Jiri Voskovec in the 1930s to Helena Vondrackova and Marta Kubisova in the 1960s, the Rokoko theatre has always had a reputation for providing top-quality entertainment for Prague audiences. Nevertheless, despite the festive atmosphere surrounding its anniversary celebrations, the curtain seems set to fall in this theatre for the last time.

The Czech Communist Party has been slowly regaining respectability in recent years. It is the third biggest force in the Chamber of Deputies, with around 15 percent voter support. But while the Communists seem to be going strong, the party's youth wing could soon find itself outlawed. What's more, the Union of Communist Youth say they are prepared to ignore any ban and continue illegally.

On Monday evening thousands of Czech children were thrilled and terrified by angels and devils, as they celebrated Saint Nicholas' Day. This is the time when the Christmas spirit really begins in earnest. Saint Nicholas, not to be confused with his rather more secular Anglo-Saxon derivative, Santa Claus, comes every 5th December to Czech children. He rewards those who have been good - as long as they recite him a poem - and has a few nasty surprises for those who have been naughty. David Vaughan, joined in the Saint Nicholas - in Czech "Mikulas"

It might have been attacked on all sides, but Tony Blair's controversial EU budget proposal has received a cautious welcome in the Czech Republic. Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek described the proposal - flatly rejected by France, Poland and the European Commission - as realistic and worth discussing. Mr Paroubek said the proposal might look like less money for the Czechs and other new EU members, but new rules for accessing structural funds would make up the difference. Ivo Slosarcik is from the European Policy Institute:

You open the pack and you're greeted with the sweet smell of butter, vanilla, and caramel. I'm talking about the Czech Republic's famed Karlovarske Oplatky or Carlsbad Wafers. Thin wafers filled with crushed almonds, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon that also come in various other flavours like chocolate, caramel and lemon.