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The invasion of Czechoslovakia by the troops of five Warsaw Pact countries on August 21st, 1968 put a brutal end to the democratisation process in Czechoslovakia that became known as the Prague Spring. An exhibition currently on display in Prague looks back at the events 37 years ago

Prague's reputation as one of Europe's most beautiful cities has been growing over the last decade or so ever since the city opened up to the world after the fall of communism. Every year more and more tourists are coming to the Czech Republic to sample the wonders of the "city of a hundred spires" But there are those who claim building developments in the city aimed at catering for the growing numbers of tourists are destroying the city's character. Some people are so concerned about the situation that they held a public debate attended by the

Karel Plihal, one of the country's most popular musicians and songwriters has just released a new album and DVD to celebrate 25 years in the business. The double album called Karel Plihal in Olomouc features live performances from a December concert in his Moravian home town. The songs were selected by Karel Plihal himself. He says these songs have been closest to his heart in his musical career. Besides his most popular songs, it includes tracks that have never been released before, and forty short poems.

The Czech coalition government lost its parliamentary majority on Wednesday after one of the coalition parties -the Christian Democrats - walked out in the wake of a row over the Prime Minister's private finances. Their departure leaves the government of Social Democrats and the Freedom Union with just 80 seats in the 200 seat lower house. Friday's vote of no-confidence, initiated by the opposition Civic Democrats, will thus put the future of the Gross government in the hands of the Communist party.

The collapse of Bohemians football club at the beginning of what would have been its centenary year was a very sad development for the Czech game. The club's bankruptcy was followed by expulsion from the second division, and it appeared we had seen the last of the green and white Kangaroos. But Bohemians' loyal fans aren't giving up so easily, and have launched a campaign to try and revive the club.

It is 85 years to the day since the Czechoslovak national assembly passed a law approving the new country's flag, along with other state symbols. The flag adopted was a tricolour featuring a horizontal white band above a red band, with a blue triangle on the left-hand side, next to the flag staff.

With the Czech government crisis coming to a head, all eyes are now on the Communist Party. Since 1989 something of an "outsider" in Czech politics, the Communists are now basking in the limelight. They may be the kingmakers, the party which is expected to tip the scales in Friday's no-confidence vote in the Gross government.

Two years after the invasion of Iraq the main emphasis of the allied forces is on bringing about law and order. The Czech force in Iraq's main role has been to train local police officers. Another hundred Czech replacement soldiers flew to Iraq last Wednesday.

As we await Friday's vote of no-confidence in the government, Prime Minister Stanislav Gross has said the government is ready to privatise the state owned Czech fixed-line operator Cesky Telecom. The government has been trying for some five years to carry out this last major privatisation, but have up to now rejected bids they considered too low.

Czechs celebrated Easter this weekend, but while most Czechs decorated eggs and baked Easter goodies, over five hundred Social Democrats gathered at Brno's exhibition centre where they made a decision that could have a significant bearing on both the party's and the government's future.