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The Czech Chamber Philharmonic played their first concert of the season last Friday evening in a most unusual venue - a former communist party hotel in Prague 6.

The early days of Dilny tvorivosti - the Workshops of Creativity - were difficult, but as it seems now dawn is finally breaking. The organisation, which helps young disabled to integrate and find employment by teaching them how to be self-sufficient, successfully introduced its first cultural festival Struhadlo just a few days ago. Struhadlo is an unusual title, it's something you would normally use in your kitchen to grate cheese - a grater.

North Moravia, already suffering from severe industrial decline, has been dealt another blow, with the region's largest steelmaker about to begin laying off 2,000 people. But Ispat Nova Hut is offering workers an unusually generous severance payment of up to 25 months' salary.

Prague residents had a rare opportunity this weekend to hear an orchestra whose music is so eclectic, even its band leader calls it "Frankenstein." That's because Yugoslav-born Goran Bregovic says the music of his Wedding and Funeral Band is made up of so many different parts, including traditional Roma and Bulgarian music, and even a little rock and roll. But don't let this former rock star convince you that his music is some kind of monster. In the 21st century, he says, Frankenstein is a beautiful thing.

Prague residents had a rare opportunity this weekend to hear an orchestra whose music is so eclectic, even its band leader calls it "Frankenstein." That's because Yugoslav-born Goran Bregovic says the music of his Wedding and Funeral Band is made up of so many different parts, including traditional Roma and Bulgarian music, and even a little rock and roll. But don't let this former rock star convince you that his music is some kind of monster. In the 21st century, he says, Frankenstein is a beautiful thing.

Czech historians are to be allowed access to much of the Russian archival material that was closed to them up to now. Likely to be of the greatest interest to Czech researchers is documentation connected to the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, which brought an end to the country's attempt at reforms aimed at bringing "socialism with a human face".

Czech historians are to be allowed access to much of the Russian archival material that was closed to them up to now. Likely to be of the greatest interest to Czech researchers is documentation connected to the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, which brought an end to the country's attempt at reforms aimed at bringing "socialism with a human face".

Czech police president Jiri Kolar is under fire for having said last week that bugging phone lines is "normal" police practice, which does not infringe on citizens' rights and should not be of any concern to people — as long as they abide by the law. Mr Kolar is right about one thing — electronic surveillance and wiretapping is widespread in the Czech Republic.

Czech police president Jiri Kolar is under fire for having said last week that bugging phone lines is "normal" police practice, which does not infringe on citizens' rights and should not be of any concern to people — as long as they abide by the law. Mr Kolar is right about one thing — electronic surveillance and wiretapping is widespread in the Czech Republic.

Parliamentarian Mirek Topolanek went on the offensive after it was revealed on Thursday that the Czech police have taped and transcribed the Civic Democrat party chairman's phone calls and are looking into his personal bank accounts. Mr Topolanek's party is now demanding a special session of Parliament be convened to examine the legality of the police's actions surrounding the alleged attempted bribery known as the 'Koristka affair.'