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Tuesday marks exactly 125 years since the opening of the National Theatre, one of the most important cultural institutions in the Czech Republic. The building was first opened in June 1881, but it was destroyed by fire and re-opened two years later, on the 18th of November 1883, to the sound of Bedřich Smetana’s Libuše. One year ago, the National Theatre launched an extensive renovation project; its first stage has just been completed. Earlier today, I asked the general director of the National Theatre, Ondřej Černý, to tell me what exactly was

Czechs on Monday marked 19 years since the fall of communism and the return of freedom and democracy to their country. It was a day of remembrance but more than ever before it was overshadowed by present-day concerns such as the Communists’ return to power in regional government and the siting of a US radar on Czech territory.

On Monday the Czech Republic witnessed some of its worst street violence in recent memory when hundreds of right-wing extremists in the north Bohemian town of Litvínov clashed with Czech police. In the incident, Neo-Nazis veered away from a planned march and attempted to attack a nearby Roma suburb, highlighting long-growing tensions between the local Roma and non-Roma community. The battle lasted some three hours and led to several arrests and more than a dozen injuries.

Shoplifting is a serious problem in the Czech Republic. Last year, almost ten billion crowns worth of goods was stolen from shops across the country. Despite a slight drop from the previous year, shoplifting together with thefts by shop employees accounted for nearly 1.4 percent of total retail sales, making Czechs Europe’s biggest shoplifters.

The new criminal code passed by the lower house this week has come under fire from many of the country’s sex therapists for one simple reason: lowering criminal responsibility from the age of 15 to 14, the code also lowers the age of consent. Critics contend that is a serious mistake, which will put young teens at far greater risk.

On Wednesday the Czech government unveiled the new logo representing the country during its EU presidency, which its takes up for a six-month period on January 1. The logo – which features colourful block letters – was unveiled in a special ceremony by the prime minister. Radio Prague has more on the new design.

The Czech president Václav Klaus has caused a diplomatic upset this week on his state visit to Ireland. His Irish hosts didn’t take kindly to comments at a press conference following a private dinner with British-born businessman Declan Ganley, who spearheaded the “No” campaign against the EU’s Lisbon Treaty. Reacting to the criticism, Mr Klaus accused the Irish foreign minister of “hypocrisy”.

An historic moment: that is how Justice Minister Jiří Pospíšil described a vote in the lower house on Tuesday approving the country’s new criminal code, which will fully overhaul existing legislation from 1961. Over the last 47 years the existing code was only partially amended but its replacement will see major changes in how crimes are assessed.

Substitution treatment for hard drug users in the Czech Republic may become more widely available in the future. For instance, methadone, a substitute drug used to break heroin addiction, is so far available only in 13 specialised centres in the Czech Republic. The National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Use now wants to make the substance accessible to addicts around the country. If it gains approval from the State Institute for Drug Control, methadone could in future be prescribed by GPs and available on prescription from chemists. I asked

After a whitewash for the Civic Democrats in regional and Senate elections, Mirek Topolánek’s days as party leader appeared to be numbered. Now, however, as a leadership vote draws ever nearer, it seems that every other day another local Civic Democrats organisation pledges to back the prime minister. So can Mr Topolánek win the toughest battle of his political career and retain the post of party chairman?