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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.

“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.

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 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.

The young Czech musician Markéta Irglová charmed many around the world with her winning appearance at Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony, where she and her Irish partner Glen Hansard took the award for best original song for Falling Slowly. Markéta, who only graduated from secondary school last summer, is from the quiet south Moravian town of Valašské Meziříčí. However, perhaps it isn’t so quiet at the moment: local people have been celebrating her wonderful success – and are now considering how they should honour the 19-year-old. Irena Brauwerová works

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?

Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek leaves on a three-day working visit the United States on Monday. His meetings with US President George Bush and American top officials are expected to revolve around two outstanding issues in bilateral relations – the lifting of visa restrictions for Czechs travelling to the US and Czech participation in the US missile defence programme.

While the Coen Brothers’ No Country For Old Men has made world headlines for sweeping the boards at the Academy Awards, here in the Czech Republic THE story has been the success of the Czech musician Markéta Irglová, who with the Irish singer Glen Hansard took the Oscar for best original song with their composition Falling Slowly. Markéta Irglová, who is just 19 years of age, has become the first Czech to win that award. What's more, her acceptance speech went down a storm.