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In the early 1990s, when western tourists started flowing into the country after the fall of communism, some local establishments came up with their own method of leveling the difference between Czech and foreign income. They started charging foreigners more than Czechs. Seventeen years later, the phenomenon of dual prices has not vanished in the Czech Republic and is apparently even used in local politics.

A year ago new legislation introduced a points system for drivers, with the aim of improving the situation on Czech roads, where death rates were among the highest in Europe. For a while, it worked. The number of road deaths dropped dramatically in the first weeks and months, as drivers feared breaking the law would see them lose their licence. But one year later, many seem to have shrugged off such fears and are driving dangerously again.

The Krkonose (or Giant Mountains) have always been a popular holiday destination for Czech as well as foreign tourists. In recent years, however, the North Bohemian mountains have also attracted an increasing number of professional blueberry pickers, mainly from Poland, who try to make profit on the free blueberry crop and don't pay much attention to the environment. Local authorities have been forced to take steps to curb the problem.

For the first six months of 2009, the Czech Republic will be the second new EU member after Slovenia to hold the rotating presidency of the European Union. But that may not be the only prestigious function filled by the country in that period - Prague is also hoping to secure one of the non-permanent positions on the United Nations Security Council from 2008.

Any other day bookstores would long have been closed by 1 am in Prague, but not last Saturday, July 21st, when the final instalment J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series went on sale. Hundreds of readers many of them dressed as their favourite characters (including wizards Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley as well as Hogwarts professors like the oily Severus Snape) counted down the final minutes before they got their hands on their copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Prague 1 has long been one of the city's most prestigious addresses. Stretching from Prague Castle down to the Old Town Square, the district contains some of the city's most impressive sites... but also the most souvenir shops and tourist clamour. As Prague 1 adapts more and more to attract tourist dollars, long-term residents are upping sticks at an alarming rate. Now, a Prague councilor has drawn up a plan to stop this exodus. He suggests that the council should approve all new shops opening up in Prague 1 and ask - do they meet the requirements

Some well-known historical sights of Prague, such as Brevnov Monastery or Troja chateau, have this week been filled with the sound of old music. The current Letni slavnosti stare hudby (Early Music Festivities) are the eighth - and this year the focus is mainly on French music and theatre.

The number of credit cards in use in the Czech Republic has grown tenfold since 2001, while lenders are increasingly targeting low income households with offers of "easy money". All in all, managing debt is a relatively new experience for many Czechs, which is why the government is working on a scheme of personal finance education - for school children.

Visitors often admire Prague's integrated public transport system. But it doesn't just include trams, buses and the metro - your 20-crown ticket is also good for a number of ferries in the Czech capital. Tuesday saw the launch of a brand new ferry service across the Vltava. Radio Prague's Rosie Johnston was there for the good ship Josefina's first crossing, and has the story:

So, the dream has come true: the Czech Republic's young footballers have reached the final of the Under-20 World Cup in Canada. Indeed, the youngsters' coach has described their semi-final win over Austria on Wednesday as one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of Czech football.