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More than 500,000 Czechs are currently out of work, with the rate of unemployment growing from 8 percent in November of last year to 8.6 percent in December. While a jump in unemployment figures is not unusual for this season, experts warn that the growing number of persons aged 50 and over who find themselves out of a job and with little chance of getting hired poses a serious long-term problem for the economy. Former finance minister and Raiffeisenbank’s chief economist Pavel Mertlík speaks about expected labor market developments for 2012.

The Czech Republic will grant political asylum to Oleksandr Tymoshenko, the husband of the jailed former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Mr Tymoshenko reportedly filed his petition at the end of last year with the Czech Interior Ministry which is resolved to comply with the request, according to the foreign minister.

The Czech government has approved new legislation that will enhance the protection of animals against cruelty. The draft bill, which introduces a series of EU-wide measures fighting animal abuse, brings new rules for animal slaughter and for laboratory tests. It will also allow the police to fight animal abuse more efficiently.

Czech health institutions say they are getting dozens of concerned calls from women with silicone breast implants who fear they may be at health risk in connection with the scandal surrounding faulty French implants exported to 65 countries worldwide. It has been confirmed that around 2,000 of the risky industrial-grade silicone implants were delivered to Czech clinics between 2007 and 2010 when the scandal surfaced. Some clients are already demanding repeat surgery whether or not their doctors advise it.

The mother and father of two boys, dubbed “wolf children” by the Czech media, are currently on trial at a Prague city court. In a shocking and unusual case of child abuse, the parents never let their sons out of the apartment, did not dress them and fed them only liquid food. They deny charges of abuse and say they simply wanted to raise their children in an alternative way.

Czech emigré author and co-founder of '68 Publishers Josef Škvorecký died at the age of 87 on Tuesday, succumbing to cancer in Toronto, Canada. Mr Škvorecký was one the last great Czech 20th century authors and literati. His first novels published in Czechoslovakia in the 1950s – were quickly banned by the Communist regime. Later, following the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia, Škvorecký and his wife Zdena Salivarová moved to Canada, where they founded ’68 Publishers. The imprint was a crucial avenue for Czech and Slovak dissidents like Milan Kundera

Three Czechs who were detained and charged with espionage in Zambia have returned home. They showed up unexpectedly at their doorsteps at the end of the year and have refused to disclose any information regarding the nature of their escape. The Czech Foreign Ministry which made an all out effort to secure their release through regular diplomatic channels has put an information embargo on the case.

The many flowers and wreaths that people placed around the coffin of former Czech president Václav Havel took center stage at a silent farewell to the national hero. After travelling downriver for three days, the flowers were greeted by hundreds of people gathered at the Elbe River’s bank in Děčín and dropped into the river. The unusual tribute was organized by former human rights minister Michael Kocáb, a friend of the late president.

President Václav Klaus’s traditional New Year’s address reflected key political events of the year, among them the death of his predecessor, Václav Havel. Moreover, Mr. Klaus warned of both false optimism and fear mongering in face of a possible recession in the eurozone. The Czech president said it was crucial to support additional cuts in government spending and emphasized that this was a time for the nation to tighten its belt.

As the shock of Václav Havel’s death slowly wears off, Czechs are considering the best possible ways to honour his memory and uphold his legacy for future generations. Proposals range from the sentimental – a heart of wax melted from the thousands of candles people lit for their hero –to the stately - a law stating his contribution to freedom and democracy.