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A new government was finally appointed on Monday, three months and a day after inconclusive parliamentary elections left the country in stalemate. Mirek Topolanek's right-wing ministers have big ideas - including a flat tax and slashing bureaucracy - but apparently no support in parliament, and could be tendering their resignations by the end of the month. So why are they bothering?

The exhibition "Charles IV, Emperor by the Grace of God" held at Prague Castle earlier in the year has been described as one of the most important cultural events of the decade. The most valuable art works of Czech origin scattered among collectors in Europe and the United States were successfully assembled for a reconstruction of life under the Luxembourgs. The exhibition has had numerous accompanying events; one of the most interesting is the creation of a perfect replica of a medieval crane which now stands in the Castle's north courtyard. The

The US pop star Madonna has been all over the Czech media recently, ahead of her first ever concerts in the Czech Republic. The two shows take place at Prague's Sazka Arena on Wednesday and Thursday and sold out in record time, despite unusually high ticket prices. But not everyone welcomes Madonna's visit: the head of the Czech Roman Catholic church, Cardinal Miroslav Vlk, has issued a strong statement condemning Madonna's show. I asked his spokesman Martin Horalek why.

What first comes to mind when someone mentions the Czech Republic? Most people think of good beer, some think of the former president Vaclav Havel ; others of Jaromir Jagr or Pavel Nedved. However despite the fact that the Czech Republic has been a fully fledged member of the EU since 2004, few people in Europe and beyond know much about it. The Czech Foreign Ministry has launched a campaign to change that and aims to present the Czech Republic as a modern, dynamic state in the heart of Europe.

Those of you who are familiar with Prague know about one of its great perks: a transit system combining a metro, tram lines, and buses, all running according to an exact schedule. The metro system is in the process of expansion, along the northern line that will now end at a popular shopping destination, Letnany, and the entire project is slated to cost 15 billion crowns. Yet there is a debate raging over just how much the city should pay, and how much the government should contribute.

After nine weeks away, Czech school children and secondary school students have returned to their classrooms. Among the 1.4 million pupils are also 93,000 first graders - the number is up again after several years of stagnation or decline and reflects a slight increase in the birth rate in 2000.

The Czech Republic's footballers begin their campaign to qualify for the 2008 European Championships on Saturday, when they take on Wales in the north Bohemian town of Teplice. One of the team's key players is Tomas Rosicky, who recently moved from Germany's Borussia Dortmund to English giants Arsenal. Ahead of the match against Wales, I spoke to Rosicky, and asked him how he was settling in to life at Arsenal, who haven't had a good start to the new season.

Organic foodstuffs are expected to make a big breakthrough onto the Czech market in the next five years. In 2005, Czechs spent a total of 350 million crowns ($15.9 million US) on organic products, and according to estimates, that number could reach 1.3 billion crowns (nearly $59 million US) by 2011. So what are the challenges for organic producers operating in what is essentially a new market?

Prime Minister designate Mirek Topolanek has now met with President Klaus and handed him a list of ministers for his minority cabinet. The new government, according to reports, will be named on Monday. That means, under the constitution, that the new prime minister and his government will have thirty days to ask parliament for a vote of confidence. But, what are the chances it will actually pass? Negotiations between Jiri Paroubek's Social Democrats, who came in second in the election, and Mirek Topolanek's right-of-centre Civic Democrats, who came

In the Czech Republic, the first motorway was opened as late as in 1971. It was completed many years after construction, slowed down by the Second World War and the Communists, began. By the time the Communist regime fell, the only motorway that was fully completed was that connecting Prague to Brno, which somewhat unusually runs through the heart of the Czech capital. Increasing road construction is gradually overwhelming Prague with traffic. But experts say the worst has yet to come. With the country now an EU member, there is great pressure