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The international Forum 2000 Conference has drawn to a close this week in Prague. Focusing on 'Bridging Global Gaps', some of the liveliest and most controversial debate centered around arguments in favor of and against globalization. Maida Agovic has the following report.

Parliamentarian Mirek Topolanek went on the offensive after it was revealed on Thursday that the Czech police have taped and transcribed the Civic Democrat party chairman's phone calls and are looking into his personal bank accounts. Mr Topolanek's party is now demanding a special session of Parliament be convened to examine the legality of the police's actions surrounding the alleged attempted bribery known as the 'Koristka affair.'

Until now the Czech Republic has lacked proper facilities for dealing with juvenile offenders committing serious crimes - including murder. But, that could all be about to change. On Wednesday the government approved an amendment put forward by the Education Ministry to create new facilities for juveniles who had committed serious offences, not just as a means of "putting them out of society's way" to prevent them from doing additional harm, but to provide crucial counselling and perhaps a lifeline to turn their lives around.

Internationally recognized musicians, community leaders, teachers and politicians. This is the image of the Roma minority that a European Commission-funded program is bringing to children in the Pilsen region. The Roma are one of the largest minorities in the Czech Republic, and in many people's minds they are associated with negative Gypsy stereotypes of poverty and petty crime. The target audience: Roma pupils and their non-Roma classmates in elementary and technical schools.

The threat of terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and instability in oil-exporting regions like the Middle East: These were among the topics being discussed in Prague this week at the "Energy and Security" conference organised by the Programme of Atlantic Security Studies (PASS), a local think-tank.

On Tuesday, theatre directors, actors and playwrights gathered at the Royal National Theatre in London to pay their last respects to the Czech-born stage photographer, Ivan Kyncl, who died of a heart attack aged 51. Ivan Kyncl was one of many Czech artists whose work is better known abroad than at home and the Czech Republic still owes him an exhibition of his photographs.

Sparta Prague managed to hold footballing giants Manchester United to a goalless draw in Prague on Tuesday night in their Champions League Group D match. In a tough game where Karel Poborsky's side had plenty of chances, the Czechs could have gone ahead, but United was disciplined as ever, and players like Ruud van Nistelrooy and the teenage forward Wayne Rooney, with reliable backup from keeper Roy Carroll, showed enough star quality to keep a shock defeat at bay. But Sparta can be happy. Although this is their first point from three Champions

What you are hearing is Capricio N. 5 by Nicolo Paganini played by one of the most talented Czech violinists, 31-year old Pavel Sporcl. Once you see him you'll remember - the young man never shows up without his favourite scarf on his head. He is a classical musician of extraordinary talent, as his newly released CD confirms.

This week, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) released the results of a survey conducted in June to test the effects air pollution has on our health. Fourteen EU Environment Ministers agreed to give blood samples to determine how many and what kind of man-made chemicals are in their bodies. Czech Environment Minister Libor Ambrozek was one of them and his result was especially shocking.

When the "Koristka case" first hit the headlines it seemed a fairly clear-cut affair - one government MP accused two men close to the leading opposition party of offering him a ten million crown bribe to bring down the government in a no-confidence vote. It had the making of the biggest political scandal in years - but instead of becoming clearer the picture got more blurred - thanks to politicians, the police and the key players themselves.