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The International Monetary Fund has created a stir with a startlingly gloomy prediction for the Czech economy this year. The prestigious Washington-based institution says the Czech economy will shrink by 3.5 percent against a backdrop of a worldwide decline of 1.3 percent.

Whether to allow Turkey to become a member is one of the most divisive issues facing the European Union, a debate that was stoked recently when the new US president called for Turkish accession. On Tuesday, Turkey’s progress towards that goal was on the agenda in Prague, where its foreign minister held talks with EU officials.

A novel theatre production where poetry meets drama, original music and modern ballet has just opened in Prague. Additionally, the big draw for many audiences coming to Posedlost, or Obsession, will be the continued transformation of one of the Czech Republic’s leading actresses, Tatiana Vilhelmová, into a popular and accomplished dancer. Christian Falvey was at the show’s premiere.

A Czech Ministry of Defence investigation into a special unit serving in Afghanistan has revealed startling rifts within it and over its role. The findings have come out along with a newspaper report that the unit refused to fight in the field. The official investigation has led to calls for an across the board shake up of how such special units are organised.

Dominik Hašek is nothing less than an ice hockey legend – six time Vezina trophy winner, holder of the Olympic gold and two Stanley Cup rings. Now, the goaltender nicknamed the Dominator is back. On Tuesday Hašek confirmed he would return to the ice next season. This time not in the NHL, but in the Czech Extraliga.

In light of this weekend’s march in Ústí nad Labem, and Saturday's violent attack on a Roma family in Vítkov, the government has pledged to do more to stamp out extremism in the Czech Republic. On Monday, outgoing Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek said that the government would employ two key strategies in the fight against extremism: prevention and repression. Earlier today, I spoke to lawyer and expert on extremism Klára Kalibová to ask her whether she thought this would work. Firstly, I asked whether Czech courts should play a more active role

Saturday’s vicious attack on a Romany family in Vitkov, north Moravia, remains at the centre of public and media attention. Although a racial motif has not been officially confirmed, Romanies in the region say they fear for their lives and many have criticized the government for allegedly doing next to nothing to protect the country’s minorities from growing extremism

The Czech government said on Monday that Aeroflot would not be allowed to bid for its stake in the Czech national carrier, CSA. However, the exclusion of the Russian airline and another company means only two bidders will now take part in one of the last big Czech privatisations. That could well mean that the sale of Czech Airlines raises rather less than originally hoped.

The Vaclav Havel Library was established two years ago, as an attempt to build an institution similar to presidential libraries in the United States, and is essentially a collection of the former president’s works in the various stages of his life – dissident, playwright, president. However its organizers want it to be more than just a collection of dusty books and papers. The library has now moved to a new location - Gallery Montmartre in Prague’s Old Town and its director Martin C. Putna says there are big plans ahead:

A two-year-old girl is in a critical condition in hospital after a petrol bomb was apparently thrown through the window of her family home in Vítkov, north Moravia. The girl is from the Romany or gypsy minority, and police belief the alleged arson attack could have been racially-motivated. So far politicians have been united in their condemnation, and the cabinet is due to discuss racist violence at its meeting on Monday.