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A regional court on Monday handed down one of the toughest sentences ever for dangerous driving in the Czech Republic: five years behind bars. The court found motorist Luboš Lacina guilty of attempted grievous bodily harm when his Skoda Superb forced another car off the road in March. It was only a miracle that no one was killed in the incident.

One of the oldest Czech political parties, the Christian Democrats, is undergoing a radical makeover. After taking severe beating in this year’s local and general elections, they picked a little known figure as their new leader at a party conference over the weekend. They hope that the 33-year-old Pavel Bělobrádek, along with a new party leadership, will reverse waning support for the party, and lead the Christian Democrats back to the political mainstream.

German President Christian Wulff arrived in Prague on Monday for his first visit to the Czech Republic since becoming head of state. While overall relations between the two countries are rosy, the visit was to some extent overshadowed by history and is still expected to raise some thorny issues.

A highly-touted production of Karel Čapek’s play The Makropulos Case, directed by acclaimed American designer and director Robert Wilson, premiered at Prague’s Estates Theatre on Thursday. Mr Wilson is known for a highly unique approach to the stage and The Makropulos Case (a comedy about an enigmatic singer sought by all men) includes many signature elements.

Danish and Czech researchers have just completed the first part of a project that should throw more light on the death of the 16th century astronomer Tycho Brahe. Legend has it the Dane died of a burst bladder, though tests of his hair indicated possible mercury poisoning. The scientists this week took fresh samples from Brahe’s remains, before returning them to his tomb at the Týn Church in Prague. Just prior to the reinterment, Radio Prague spoke to the head of the team, Jens Vellev.

The trial has begun in Prague of a man accused of deliberately forcing another driver off a busy Czech motorway. The car of the alleged victim, which had been travelling at more than 100 km an hour, rolled over several times before hitting a tree. Video footage of the incident shocked many people in the Czech Republic, and has been watched hundreds of thousands of times on the internet.

A recently-agreed coalition between the Civic and Social Democrats at Prague City Hall is only a few days old but almost from the get-go the deal has been seen critically by many voters. On Wednesday, some two thousand let their dissatisfaction be known. While not a huge number, protestors hope the demonstration will give the Prague Civic and Social Democrats at least some food for thought.

Czech scientists have launched an unusual project that might lead them to the descendants of a medieval “vampire”. On Tuesday, they collected DNA samples from around a dozen inhabitants of Hrádek nad Nisou, where a 14th century grave had been found with a body buried in a way typical for outcasts. But the main purpose of the project is to draw attention to science, and to a new town museum that should open next year.

Twenty-one years after the Velvet Revolution there is now a generation of young Czechs for whom the communist era is little more than a chapter in their history books. A Czech NGO has now launched a school project which should portray the communist years through the fate of individuals and entire families.

The prime minister of Serbia is on an official visit to Prague with the aim of boosting diplomatic and business ties. The Czech Republic is one of the most enthusiastic backers of Serbia’s ambition to join the 27-strong European Union. But Serbia is still being held back by its recent troubled past.