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While the Czech Republic has not yet made a final decision as to whether to contribute 3.5 billion euros to the IMF package intended to save the common European currency and the eurozone, the Czech Foreign Minister says the country can either join the majority of EU countries in their efforts and remain in the centre of further integration, or face marginalization in the union.

More than 10 hours of negotiations in Brussels, lasting well into the early hours of Friday morning, were not enough to produce agreement by all 27 EU member states to back key changes to the EU treaty in the face of the eurozone debt crisis.

Czech Culture Minister Jiří Besser tendered his resignation to the prime minister on Thursday amidst allegations of corruption and unethical behavior. The minister said that while he was innocent of any wrongdoing he felt that he lacked support in the cabinet and in his own party which would allow him to defend his case. He is the seventh minister forced out of the Nečas government since it took office in June of 2010.

More than a dozen important bilateral agreements and business deals were on the agenda of a two-day state visit to Prague by the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his entourage. Bilateral relations were at the forefront of attention, but topics such as the eurozone’s debt crisis and the recent parliamentary elections in Russia were also addressed.

Viktoria Plzeň rewarded fans at Prague’s Eden stadium on Tuesday with a match to remember against AC Milan in the Champions League. With just minutes remaining the Czech club scored not once but twice to earn a well-deserved draw. While not enough to advance, the club will at least continue in competition in UEFA’s Europa League in the spring.

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev arrives in Prague on Wednesday at the invitation of Czech President Václav Klaus. His short visit will entail primarily meetings with President Klaus, who is often noted for his warm attitude towards Russia, and later on Thursday with Prime Minister Petr Nečas. There is plenty on the table for discussion among Czech and Russian leaders, namely business deals and Russia’s bid for the tender to complete the Temelín nuclear power plant in South Bohemia. Many of the milestones in the last decade of Czech-Russian relations

Standard & Poor's fuelled fears of a crippling economic crisis in Europe on Monday, issuing a dire warning of an unprecedented mass downgrade of eurozone countries’ credit ratings if EU leaders fail to deliver a fast and efficient solution to the region's debt crisis. Although France and Germany promptly threw their weight behind a reform plan which would reinforce governance within the alliance, scepticism remains high and even non-eurozone members such as the Czech Republic are bracing for the worst.

The struggling state-owned carrier Czech Airlines announced on Monday it will a dismiss a third of its pilots as part of restructuring plans, with some receiving their pink slips as early as this week. According to the firm, up to 100 pilots will be let go, although, the company suggests the cloud may have a silver lining: the possibility of further employment with subsidiary company Holidays Czech Airlines. The catch is that working for the subsidiary will be nowhere near as lucrative, offering significantly lower salaries.

Since Saturday, a group of Czech military doctors have been helping out in hospitals in neighbouring Slovakia where hundreds of doctors walked out over low wages. Last Wednesday the resignations of 1,200 doctors (of an overall 7,000) came into force, leaving four of the country’s hospitals in critical condition and another sixteen in jeopardy. Even though the Slovak government has now agreed to meet doctors’ demands, the Czech team is staying on until conditions return to normal.

A government expert group is adding finishing touches to new draft legislation proposing the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. While still banning patients from growing medical cannabis on their own, the amended legislation allows importing as well as the cultivation of medical hemp by local private companies under strict state supervision. The committee, whose existence was prompted by a petition initiated earlier this year by doctors, researchers and patients and is supported by the chairwoman of the lower house of Parliament, is