Current Affairs | All stories

The Czech Republic has three provinces: Bohemia in the west, Moravia in the east, and little Silesia in the north east. Many from Moravia were hoping the next national census would explicitly include the option of choosing the ethnicity Moravian – but the Czech Statistical Office has denied their wishes.

The Czech health system continues to be a political hot potato. The recent controversial introduction of fees for doctor’s visits by the government is just one in a series of proposed reforms to the healthcare system in the country. However, as new figures from pharmacies are released, showing a sharp drop in sales, these measures are again coming under scrutiny.

The Czech Republic and the United States are just “three words away” from a treaty on basing a U.S. anti-missile radar facility in Central Bohemia, according to the leaders of the two countries. Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek met U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House on Wednesday, and while a final treaty was not agreed, they seemed confident it would be soon. But the path to expanding missile defence to Central Europe does not appear smooth.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek has surprised many by honouring the anti-communist fighter Josef Mašín. Mr Topolánek was due to present the US resident with a prime minister’s medal at the Czech Embassy in Washington on Thursday – the first ever official recognition of the controversial actions of Mr Mašín, his brother and the other men who employed violence before and during a dramatic bid to escape to the West in 1953.

It’s not been a very good couple of weeks for the Czech Green Party. Ever since the re-election of President Václav Klaus on February 15, the party has been troubled by infighting and a number of very public faux pas. The latest involves name calling, leaked emails and bitter accusations.

A replica of the Czech made Tatra aero sledge, which was produced for the Germans during the Second World War, has recently been made for a collector in the United States. The little car with skis instead of wheels and a large propeller at the back was intended to serve the German Army in Russia. On Tuesday the replica was successfully tested on the snow of Jeseníky Mountains.

“The fulfillment of a dream for a generation of Czechs” is how Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek described the signing on Tuesday of a document that paves the way for Czechs to visit the United States without a visa. However, Czech citizens will have to provide detailed information to US officials prior to travelling, and Prague’s go-it-alone approach to visa negotiations has ruffled feathers in Brussels.

The Czech Republic has long been world famous for its plentiful choice of quality beer. Indeed, beer is famously often cheaper than mineral water. However, Czechs may be surprised to find that one of their most popular beers can actually be bought for less in neighbouring Germany.

Not everyone who marked the 60th anniversary of the communist takeover on Monday was mourning the victims of the regime. Several hundred mostly elderly Communist Party sympathisers gathered in Prague, shouting slogans and waving red banners with the hammer and sickle. It was a reminder that not everybody in this country believes the class struggle is over. So how do today’s communists see the events of February 1948?

The Czech police is set for the most profound reform the force has seen in five decades. On Monday, the government passed a new police bill which abolishes some of its current responsibilities; at the same time, the police force will have more authority to combat the mafia, extremism and other serious crime.