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Three weeks before European Union enlargement, the United Nations released a report saying that some population groups in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia are threatened by poverty. While acknowledging that much progress has been made in the four Central European states, the UN report says these countries have to come up with specific policies to fight poverty or they risk having a significant section of the labour force as unemployable. Kerry Skyring spoke earlier to the director of the regional office of the United Nations Development Programme

The number of poor people and rent dodgers has been growing rapidly in some areas in north Bohemia. The reason - availability of extremely cheap housing. Property owners from around the country have found a cheap and simple way of getting rid of problematic tenants. At the same time, it is a solution for poor families who can no longer afford to pay high rents in Prague and other big cities. Local authorities have expressed concern about the development and are seeking ways to fight it.

Less than a month before the Czech Republic is due to join the European Union, the country's ruling coalition and opposition have clashed over a key issue: Czech policy and priorities within the enlarged EU.

The International Day of the Roma, celebrated around the world this Thursday, has also been the occasion for a number of events to celebrate Romany history and culture here in the Czech Republic. This year a series of specially commissioned children's stories depicting Roma life down through the ages is being broadcast to coincide with the event.

More and more question marks are hanging over the future of Health Minister Marie Souckova and her proposed reform of the health care sector. According to observers, the former protégée of Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla is losing the support of her colleagues in government and the Prime Minister himself. The government's scepticism of Ms Souckova's capability to carry out a successful reform of the health care system is so strong, that the cabinet has turned to the World Bank for help in designing a viable system of financing of the health care

Just a few weeks after an amendment to the labour code came into force in March, the Labour and Social Affairs Minister announced he was working on a new, more liberal version. Although the latest version was drafted to comply with EU legislation, the new labour code should be revolutionary in some ways.

The Czech Confederation of Trade Unions has warned people against already excessive and fast growing indebtedness. Every Czech household on average owes nearly a half-year's wages. Although the Central Bank has repeatedly expressed concern about the trend, commercial banks have not started worrying as yet.

This Thursday the English rock band British Sea Power - who have an affection for all things Czech - are playing a concert at the Roxy club in Prague at which they will be launching a new single that will only be available in the Czech Republic. The song "A Lovely Day Tomorrow/Zitra Bude Krasny Den" appears in both English and Czech on the limited edition release, with both versions sung by Katerina Winterova of the Czech band Ecstasy of St Theresa.

The Czech Republic's civil service unions have announced that they are going on a one-hour strike in two week's time in protest at significant cuts to their thirteenth month's salary, a form of bonus. Employees - usually civil servants - receive a thirteenth month's salary just before Christmas, and if they are lucky enough to get a fourteenth month's salary it normally comes at the beginning of the summer.

Last Saturday, was the 90th anniversary of the birth of Czech novelist Bohumil Hrabal, who died in 1997. To mark the occasion, a small monument has been unveiled on the street where he lived in Prague. A foundation stone has also been laid for a new Bohumil Hrabal centre, which will be dedicated to the writer's life and work.