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Women in senior positions are something of a rare species in the Czech Republic, and top female managers are sometimes interviewed in the press as a unique curiosity. There are, of course, exceptions, but these only seem to illustrate the discriminatory approach of Czech employers to female employees. But the labour and social affairs minister says he's not happy with the situation, and has recently come up with an initiative to change it. How? reports.

When the ruling Social Democrats came to power in the summer of 1998, it was amid a climate of public disgust with politicians their shady links with big business. The centre-right government of Vaclav Klaus had collapsed six months earlier, largely thanks to allegations that his Civic Democratic Party had taken bribes in exchange for lucrative privatisation deals. But the Social Democrats, who promised to sever the links between politics and business, are now themselves fighting allegations of conflict of interest. Regional Development Minister

The row over the medieval Jewish cemetery in Prague's Vladislavova Street is still making the headlines. After coming to an agreement with the insurance company Ceska Pojistovna, which wants to build its new headquarters on the site, the Jewish Committee for the Preservation of Cemeteries in Europe has complained to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, claiming that the insurance company is not respecting the terms of the agreement. Radio Prague's has more.

Hundreds of Czech citizens from the border region, near the north Moravian city of Ostrava, have discovered a new way to get a job. They are applying for German citizenship, which will enable them to live and work in Germany. In an area where the unemployment rate exceeds 16 percent, this comes as no surprise, especially when the average German wage greatly exceeds that in the Czech Republic. For more here's .

The number of crimes uncovered involving police officers has grown by nearly a half as compared to the first six months of 1999. The Interior Ministry has a special department devoted to investigating police crime, and so far this year, it has brought 181 Czech police officers to court, suspected of no less than 285 criminal offences. has the details:

Up to now would-be Czech writers and journalists have honed their skills at the faculties of philosophy or journalism of Charles University. As of this autumn they finally have an alternative. In a groundbreaking initiative, the internationally renowned Czech-born writer Josef Skvorecky has set up an Academy of Creative Writing, the first institution of higher learning of this type in the Czech Republic. has more

Since 1995 the Czech Republic has had a law to prevent politicians indulging in activities that would involve a conflict of interests. The law states that no member of the government should own a private company or take part in its management, but according to a number of press reports three Czech ministers have been involved in business activities. reports.

The third European congress of the International Confederation of Christian Family Movements opened on Wednesday at the Roman Catholic Archbishop's Seminary in Prague. Till Sunday, some 130 delegates, mostly married couples from more than 20 countries and from various different world churches, will be discussing issues under one main theme - "The Significance of the family in the new millenium." has the details:

The Czech Republic's aircraft manufacturer, Aero Vodochody, which has suffered many losses and setbacks over the past few years, is to receive a much needed boost. Boeing, which owns Aero Vodochody, has helped the company procure a contract to produce helicopters for the American company Sikorsky, which will bring in up to 230 million dollars. has the details:

Every year thousands of Czech university graduates compete for the most lucrative posts in their field. Many are turned away again and again on the grounds that they lack work experience, in a frustrating catch-22 situation. Now, young computer specialists have pricked up their ears. Germany, which has a lack of its own computer experts, has made a bid for up to twenty thousand foreign experts, promising excellent pay conditions and five-year labour permits to start off with. has the story: