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As the coalition government moves to push a badly needed overhaul of the pension system through the lower house, fresh clouds have appeared on the horizon. It has emerged that the Czech Republic may have to pay Slovak pensioners who worked in Czech firms during the 73 years of a common state financial contributions to the tune of billions of crowns.

In its 6th year, the Bohemia Jazz Festival brings world-class jazz musicians not only to Prague, but another six cities across the country. Organized by jazz musician Rudy Linka, the festival is held outdoors at town squares and traditionally free of charge. Jazz guitarist and organizer Rudy Linka talks about Wednesday's line-up ahead of the second night of concerts in Prague.

The lower house of Parliament is now debating the latest of the government’s comprehensive reform measures, this time dealing with health care. No criticism has been spared on this round of bills, which cover standard, special and emergency medical services, and more modifications to it are sure to come. Even so, a more definitive picture of health care reform is taking shape; Christian Falvey looks at what it entails.

On Tuesday, the public broadcaster Czech TV is airing the first part of a new documentary series dedicated to Originální videojournal, a unique video magazine established by Czech dissidents in the late 1980s. The documentary offers some rare footage from dissident circles, as well as reports about the Velvet Revolution in November 1989.

The Czech Republic’s leading Roma advocacy group, Romea, has announced they are suspending their collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior, saying their relationship and the ministry’s work in combating right-wing extremism has taken a sharp turn for the worse. Citing the approach of the police towards extremist demonstrations this year, the ministry’s cancellation of a multilateral task force and other issues, Romea says further cooperation between them will depend on how numerous missteps will be redressed.

This Tuesday marks the 40th anniversary of the opening of the first section of the Czech Republic's busiest highway, the D1. However, the road - which sees scores of fatal accidents every year - is in a poor state of repair and will have to undergo massive reconstruction over the coming decade. As the D1 is the country's main East-West motorway, diverting traffic in that period will cause huge logistical headaches, and serious safety risks. I discussed the problems that lie ahead with road safety expert Robert Šťastný.

The Czech government’s efforts to outlaw the country’s communist party have suffered a setback. A report by the Interior Ministry, as quoted in the daily Lidové noviny on Friday, came to the conclusion that attempts to ban the party based on its political programme would have very little, if any, chances of being accepted by Czech courts. However, the cabinet is yet to debate the issue, and might decide to pursue the ban regardless of the report’s conclusions.

The historic National Museum building at the top of Prague’s Wenceslas Square will close its doors on Thursday for five years of major renovations – the first in the site’s 120-year-long history. When it reopens in June 2016, the museum should offer visitors a whole new experience. On Thursday, hundreds of people used the valuable opportunity to visit the museum for one last time.

Festival Fantazie is one of the Czech Republic’s longest-running conventions dedicated to science fiction, horror films, books, video and board games. Founded in 1996 as Avalcon and since renamed, the con takes place annually in the town of Chotěboř, East Bohemia. This year’s inception got underway roughly a week ago and has a few days remaining for fans to attend everything from promotional events to appearances by special guests.

For the 46th time, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival kicked off in the west Bohemian spa town on Friday, drawing young film enthusiasts and celebrities alike. Among the famous visitors this year are the famous British actress Judi Dench and American actor John Turturro.