Current Affairs | All stories

'Roman pro zeny' translates as 'A novel for women', but is actually confusingly a film released this Thursday. Its name derives from the best-selling book upon which the film is based. In both - the story of a young journalist Laura, her translator mother Jana and her Julia Roberts look-alike best friend, Ingrid - are told. Radio Prague saw it fit to send along a woman who likes novels to interview the film's director, Filip Renc. Rosie Johnston started by asking him how it was to make the film:

An agreement between the ruling coalition parties on forming a new government collapsed only hours after being clinched on Thursday, dashing hopes of ending the protracted political crisis in the Czech Republic. The leadership of the strongest coalition party, the Social Democrats, unexpectedly rejected the deal made by their own top bosses. This setback has brought negotiations back to square one, and further undermined the position of the Gross government.

The European Union is set to go through with its second wave of expansion in less than two years after the European Parliament on Wednesday voted to pave the way for Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU as early as January 1, 2007.

The three parties in the collapsed Czech government on Thursday agreed on the formation of a new majority-backed Cabinet, ending months of political turmoil and paving the way for the embattled Prime Minister Stanislav Gross to step down. Following eight hours of gruelling talks, Mr. Gross emerged to face the media at 3 am on Thursday morning, saying that the three parties had agreed on the fundamental points of a majority, pro-European government which should see the country through to the next general elections in mid 2006.

Ctirad and Josef Masin and three others made a dramatic escape to the West in 1953. But in their wake they left six people dead, and many Czechs regard them as murderers. After being passed over for official state honours, the Masins and their friends are now being given an award by a Czech and Slovak association in the Canadian city of Halifax.

Prague's Technical Museum is in the midst of raising funds to repair an antique carousel, which has stood on the edge of Letna Park - right by the museum, since 1894. The carousel is one of the oldest surviving constructions of its type in the world, and quite something to behold; festooned with knights, ribbons and, of course, many a lavishly decorated horse. Rosie Johnston went along to experience all the fun of the fair.

This week has been an important one for football fans with the quarterfinals being decided in Europe's prestigious club football tournament - the Champions League. Czechs too, have had plenty to watch, with several of their own players playing on Champions League teams: for example Juventus' Pavel Nedved, Liverpool's Milan Baros, and Chelsea's Petr Cech. Cech, labelled one of the world's best overall goalies was in action Tuesday.

The carmaker Skoda Auto announced this week that it would begin producing its Octavia brand in China, starting with its luxury sedan version in 2007 and later estate cars. Just over 2,300 Octavias were sold in China last year but Skoda plans to produce some 40,000 vehicles at its Shanghai plant within just a couple of years. A Czech brand for more than a century, Skoda is wholly owned by German manufacturer Volkswagen AG, which already makes cars in China, and has made inroads into India. Brian Kenety recently spoke with the Central European correspondent

"If the European Constitution fails to get approved, nothing earth shattering will happen. In fact we will have a flourishing European Union. The fewer such documents the better!" - words with which President Vaclav Klaus launched his latest literary work: a "guide" to the European Constitution.

As any visitor to the city will know, tourism is an absolutely huge industry in the Czech capital Prague. Millions of people from all around the world visit the city every year - almost three and a half million in 2004, according to figures just released by Czech Tourism. Prague was the sixth most visited city in Europe last year, with the greatest number of tourists coming from the United Kingdom.