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More paper work for religious charities in the Czech Republic is the outcome of a Constitutional Court ruling on Tuesday. The Court rejected a complaint against a controversial 2005 amendment to the Act on Churches and Religious Societies. As of now, every church-run charity in the Czech Republic will have to register with the Culture Ministry.

It is only mid-November but Czechs are already gearing up for a massive spending spree in the run up to Christmas. And it is not just salespeople who are expecting record profits: consumer debt is spiraling and in the euphoria of making their dreams come true here-and-now few Czechs are reading the small print.

A controversy is currently disturbing the Czech Republic’s serene folk music scene. Singer-songwriter Jaroslav Hutka, who spent ten years in exile in Holland after having been forced out of communist Czechoslovakia in 1978, has had a go at Jaromir Nohavica, a best-selling and hugely popular songwriter. In his new song “Udavac” (“The Snitch”), Hutka accuses Nohavica of failing to explain his collaboration with the secret police in the late 1980s.

The failure of neo-Nazis to march through Prague’s Jewish quarter – and the subsequent skirmishes between skinheads and anarchist demonstrators – have certainly dominated the headlines in recent days. Images of battered and bloodied skinheads being taken away by police were flashed around the world’s media, who described Saturday as a fiasco for the far right. But could next weekend turn into a second instalment?

The recently discovered horoscope of Duke Albrecht of Wallenstein is one of the most important of its kind. It surpasses other horoscopes from the period with its detailed explanations of the Duke's life, and its use of the then most contemporary astrological techniques. Created in 1627 by an unknown astrologer, it charts eleven years of the duke's life, and is a document which, if it had fallen into the wrong hands, could have provided what would be regarded as sensitive information to his enemies. The horoscope featuring in a major exhibition

In an interview for BBC television, Czech President Vaclav Klaus has said that he expects a radar base proposed by the US will one day be a reality on Czech territory, although he stressed it would not be “tomorrow” or in the nearest future. Mr Klaus was asked about missile defense on the BBC’s HardTalk programme: while reluctant to speculate over the necessity of a missile shield regarding rogue states, the president did indicate Prague’s support for the US was a show of solidarity in keeping with transatlantic relations.

Heavy snowfall in the Czech Republic - in some places up to half a metre - was not greeted heartily by some at the weekend, namely those on Czech roads, but the new snow was certainly appreciated by others, including ski hill operators and skiers. Last year, they had to grin and bear their way through one of mildest winters on record. This time around, they’re hoping, things will be different.

A march through Prague’s Jewish Quarter planned by neo-Nazi groups – which had been banned, then permitted and then banned again by the authorities – did not happen in the end. Around three thousand people gathered at several places in the former Jewish Town on Saturday to block the march, and the police foiled any attempts of the far-right groups to come near the area. The event ended in isolated clashes between far-right and far-left radicals.

Vaclav Havel was back in his original role as playwright on Wednesday, when, at a theatre in Prague, the former Czech president presented the book form of "Odchazeni", or "Leaving". The long awaited and widely discussed play will appear in the bookshops in less than a two week's time. However, Mr Havel's first new play in 18 years will not be premiered until the end of May or the beginning of June.

US Ambassador Richard Graber presented the National Film Archives director on Friday with unique footage shot by American soldiers in western Bohemia right after the end of the war. The footage, which had not been seen in the country before, will be identified, analyzed, and publicly screened in the very places where they were filmed.