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The Communist Party has nominated its own candidate for the presidential ballot. Just hours before the nomination deadline for the second presidential election, the party leadership said that MEP Jana Bobošíková has what it takes to be the next Czech president. But what are the new presidential candidate’s prospects and the overall impact of her nomination in the tight presidential race?

Olomoucké tvarůžky – famous yellow cheeses produced in the Olomouc region in the Czech Republic – are instantly recognisable for their odour and gummy texture: they are most definitely an acquired taste. But they are also a product of which many Czechs are justifiably proud. Since 2004, representatives have sought EU protection recognising the tvarůžky as a distinct local specialty, something which is not going to happen, at least not yet.

Children in distress – we see them in ads appealing for public donations, we see them in news bulletins as the victims of horrific crimes and splashed across front pages. More than ever in the last year Czechs have witnessed the suffering of young children – a naked boy lying naked and bound, force-fed by his mother, a little girl crying in the street as her parents fight over her, pulling her in different directions. Now the justice minister has put his foot down and presented the Cabinet with an amendment to the law which would offer victims,

Citizen Havel – a fly-on-the-wall documentary following former head of state Václav Havel through two presidential terms - has been a big success amongst Czech cinemagoers since its release two weeks ago. But how will foreign audiences react to the film? Last night, Citizen Havel was premiered to an international audience at the Berlin Film Festival. Czech journalist Tereza Brdečková was there, she described the atmosphere at the event:

Czech authorities have detained two American citizens who overstayed the 90-day period for which no visas are required. The Americans arrived in Prague in October last year and failed to leave the country in time. After being detained by the Czech Foreigners Police in the town of Prostějov, South Moravia, with pending deportation charges, they applied for asylum in the Czech Republic.

When an 86-year-old former communist prosecutor was convicted last year for her role in the judicial murder of politician Milada Horáková, those looking for justice for the crimes committed under communism rejoiced. There was little chance the elderly and infirm woman would serve a day of her eight-year prison sentence, but they saw the verdict as a symbolic victory. But Monday witnessed a turnaround – the conviction was overturned by the High Court.

It’s hard to imagine a Wenceslas Square without sausage stands, selling hot dogs, greasy Czech klobasas, and beer. It had seemed such fast-food stalls would be removed, as part of a major project to regenerate Prague’s best known thoroughfare. But in the face of public opposition, the city’s authorities have now backed down.

A protracted and bitterly-fought first attempt to choose a new Czech president ended in failure on Saturday afternoon. Václav Klaus, just one vote short of re-election, remains the favourite, while his challenger Jan Švejnar will also throw his hat into the ring again. A third, Communist-backed nominee is also a possibility, though a great deal remains unclear ahead of next Friday’s second presidential election.

We’ve heard a lot over the last couple of days about the presidential candidates Jan Svejnar and Vaclav Klaus, but you know what they say - behind every great man, there’s a great woman. Here is a profile of the lives and achievements of the Czech Republic’s two current candidates for the first-lady post.

Czechs may not be able to vote in Fridays presidential election but many have placed a bet on their outcome. All three of the major Czech betting shops have presented odds for either a Klaus or a Švejnar victory. Despite candidate Jan Švejnar’s recent rise in popularity, the odds still firmly remain in president Klaus’ favour.