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New facts have emerged about the downing of a Polish plane by communist Czechoslovakia’s air force in 1975, resulting in the death of a Polish citizen trying to flee to the west. For three decades the circumstances surrounding the incident have been veiled in secrecy, but now the veil has been lifted.

Czech bishops have criticized a new translation of the Bible that came out last week. Entitled the Bible – a 21st century translation, its ambition is to present Biblical texts in contemporary language easily comprehensible to the broad public. But Czech bishops point out that the new translation cannot be used in some Catholic services.

One of Prime Minister Jan Fischer’s first tasks in his new job will be implementing a billion-crown stimulus package to kick-start the Czech economy. A final outline of the package was agreed upon this week by the outgoing government coalition and the opposition Social Democrats. Mirek Topolánek’s outgoing cabinet managed to keep their proposals for social insurance payment cuts, while the opposition Social Democrats pushed for a new subsidy to encourage Czechs to get rid of their old cars. The whole package is expected to cost 40 billion crowns

Appointing Jan Fisher the country’s new prime minister on Thursday, President Klaus expressed satisfaction with the speedy solution to the country’s political crisis. Yet the way in which this was achieved has sparked controversy between the country’s constitutional experts and Prague Castle.

Czech President Václav Klaus on Thursday appointed Jan Fischer the country’s new prime minister, ending a period of uncertainty after the fall of Prime Minister Topolánek’s centre-right government late last month. Mr. Fisher will head a non-partisan caretaker administration which should take office on May 9th and lead the country until early elections in October.

A new exhibit at Prague Castle presents a unique and never before seen collection of photographs from the First World War. Taken by an anonymous Czech soldier between 1916 and 1917, the photo set is a rare and very touching depiction of one of the deadliest conflicts in history.

Giant hogweed, the grey squirrel and Argentine Ant have one thing in common: they are all invasive species which have been introduced deliberately or by chance into Europe and are now creating havoc with the local environment. A leading Czech botanist is now in the forefront of the first calls of their kind for Europe-wide action to fight the ever more rapid spread of invasive species, blamed on climate change and increasing long distance travel and transport.

In 2007, the Czech Republic was condemned by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg for the way its education system treated the country’s Romany minority. The court found that Roma children were frequently discriminated against and sent to schools for the disabled, when they did not show signs of learning difficulties. On International Roma Day this Wednesday, the Czech Education Ministry released the results of two studies it commissioned to determine how Roma children are faring in the country’s schools now. I spoke to Education Minister

Czech football is at one of its lowest ebbs in years. As well as doing poorly on the field, the national team has been embroiled in scandal off it, with reports that players went out partying after losing to Slovakia in Prague last week. Now the coach has been sacked, the captain has retired and six players have been expelled from the national squad.

Sally Hawkins received a best actress award at the Golden Globes for her portrayal of a relentlessly positive school teacher in the British film Happy-Go-Lucky. Mike Leigh was nominated for an Oscar for the movie’s screenplay, which is somewhat ironic as his films don’t have scripts as such: the director of Naked and Secrets and Lies sets out a basic premise, which the actors develop through improvisation in rehearsals. At its Czech premiere at the weekend I spoke to Mike Leigh about Happy-Go-Lucky, and his unusual approach to filmmaking.