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It was a story that sells papers – a homeless man finds an abandoned baby boy in a garbage can and saves his life. Miroslav Szamseli, a man who’d been homeless for 15 years was suddenly a household name and his life changed overnight. However, late last week, the story that moved millions of Czechs took an unexpected twist. The sudden change of fortune landed the homeless man in a psychiatric clinic.

April 26th, 1986, is a day that will live in infamy. When Reactor Number Four at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded, the resulting fire left a cloud of radiation hanging over Europe. Chernobyl was the world’s worst nuclear disaster, but ten years earlier, there was an accident at a similar Soviet-built reactor – this time in Czechoslovakia - that could have been equally devastating, had it not been for the actions of two men. For years the case was shrouded in secrecy. Only now has the story come to light.

It’s not everyday that archaeologists can boast a discovery such as this one: the finding of a fully-intact archaeological site dating back 4,500 years. That is exactly what happened in the pyramid fields of Abusir, Egypt, where Czech experts recently opened a tomb belonging to an Egyptian dignitary. Czech experts revealed the news just a few days ago, having first thoroughly documented the state of the chamber back in November. According to experts, such a find has not been seen in 50 years.

January 6, or Three Kings Day, is often thought of as the end of the Christmas period. It is less well known as one of the anniversaries of Czechoslovak independence – that is more commonly celebrated on October 28. But, on January 6 some 90 years ago, Czech politicians unanimously signed a declaration, calling for a united Czechoslovakia, free from Habsburg rule. While the Habsburg monarchy stepped in and censored the document, some historians credit the so-called Three Kings Declaration with getting the ball rolling towards Czechoslovak independence.

One of the largest corruption scandals in Czech history has broken out at the Defence Ministry. 24 former officials at the ministry and their civilian accomplices have been accused of corruption by the police in connection with commissioning public contracts during the term of Defence Minister Karel Kühnl between 2004 and 2006.

The price of crude oil hit an all-time high on Wednesday when a barrel sold for 100 US dollars. The conflict in Nigeria, low oil reserves in the United States, and a growing demand in China and India appear to be the major factors that pushed the oil price past the milestone many deemed unsurpassable 12 months ago. What impact will the soaring oil prices could have on the Czech economy?

There is no love lost between Czech President Václav Klaus and Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek, but at their traditional New Year’s lunch on Wednesday they put their differences aside and showed journalists a united front. Political analysts perceive this show of mutual support as an indication that the Civic Democrats are prepared to go to great lengths to secure President Klaus’ re-election in the February presidential elections.

Last June, a group of artists called Ztohoven hijacked a Czech Television programme to broadcast images of a nuclear bomb going off on a peaceful Czech hillside. The mock explosion may have been and gone in a flash, but the fallout has far from disappeared. Last month, Ztohoven won an award from the Czech National Gallery for the work. On Wednesday, State Attorney Dušan Ondráček said that he had brought charges against the group.

President Vaclav Klaus made his fifth New Year’s speech on Tuesday - the last of his term in office. The president, who is seeking re-election next month, reflected upon his first term, as well as the Czech Republic’s recent history, and current economic success. Political analysts reacted to Mr Klaus’s speech by calling it cautious, crueller tongues called it bland.

The Darwin Awards are given for astoundingly stupid judgement leading to self destruction. Named in honour of Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, the awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it.