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Svatopluk Benes, one of the country's leading actors in the interwar years of the First Republic, has died at the age of 89. He was one of the last remaining legends of the silver screen in the brief time when Czech cinematography enjoyed a period of Hollywood glamour.

Foreign nationals from outside the EU seeking to obtain permanent residence in the Czech Republic need to arm themselves with patience - lots of paperwork, long queues at the foreign police and a five-year wait before they can obtain the Czech equivalent of the Green Card. There are, of course, ways of getting round these hurdles such as sham marriages and certificates of fatherhood. However the interior ministry has now put its foot down and a newly proposed amendment to the foreigners' law - aimed at curbing these practices - could make life

The Czech government appeared to soften its approach to a new European constitution this week - provided the EU doesn't call it that. This week the cabinet - dominated by the staunchly anti-federalist Civic Democrats - approved a fresh negotiating strategy, which appears to be a departure from its previously uncompromising stance. But as Rob Cameron reports, just don't mention the 'C' word.

The Prague City Assembly has approved a project to build a four-kilometre cycling path in the former industrial district of Vysocany. The overall cost is estimated at 86 million crowns (around 4 million USD). The opposition at the city hall argues that the cost per kilometre is about four times higher than usual. City Councillor Petr Stepanek of the Green Party, himself an active cyclist, argues that the project is more than just a stretch of tarmac.

The Temelin nuclear power plant in south Bohemia has for years been the only problematic issue between the Czech Republic and nuclear-free Austria. In the year 2000 the two countries signed a bilateral agreement relating to safety norms at the plant and an above-standard exchange of information. Now the Czech Republic wants to end its validity - but Austria is fighting the decision every step of the way.

President Vaclav Klaus has embarked on his first state visit to Russia since becoming president. It's a historic visit but one that comes at a time of rising tensions between Prague and Moscow over American plans to build a radar station on Czech soil as part of its missile defence system. Missile defence will undoubtedly dominate talks between President Klaus and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, but will it overshadow them? We asked Radio Free Europe commentator Jefim Fistejn.

Ice hockey's Stanley Cup playoffs have been underway since early April with results leaving many Czech fans plenty to cheer about. Jaromir Jagr's New York Rangers, for instance, as well as Dominik Hasek's Red Wings have so far seen success. But in the Czech Republic the NHL playoffs aren't the only tournament worth watching: this Friday the Ice Hockey World Championship gets underway in Moscow and understandably many eyes will be on the Czech team.

The notions of gender, gender equality, gender stereotypes and discrimination are still relatively new in Czech society. A group of activists has decided to start from to the youngest generation and to promote gender equality in schools. A book recently published and handed out to schools introduces the concepts and practices of gender sensitive education to both school teachers and children.

The so-called "Kubice report" which claimed that organized crime had infiltrated the Czech civil service has not been confirmed. A special team at the Supreme State Attorney's Office, set up to investigate the matter, has concluded that the allegations were unfounded.

After months of delay the South Korean automaker Hyundai began construction on Wednesday on a one-billion-euro car assembly plant in Nosovice, northeast Moravia. The ceremony was attended by Hyundai's chairman Chung Mong-Koo, facing a prison sentence at home for corruption. The troubles at Hyundai haven't stopped the company from going ahead with this huge investment project.