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Events in Ukraine have repercussions across the wider region; neighbouring countries, like Slovakia, are already preparing for the potential arrival of refugees, and Poland has been heavily involved in the diplomatic effort. The Czech Republic is slightly further removed from the crisis, but the tremours can be felt here too - the country has a large Ukrainian population, many of them migrant workers, and on Thursday evening hundreds of Ukrainians demonstrated on Wenceslas Square. Some Czech organisations - like the NGO People in Need - are getting

There are still a few days to go in Sochi but the Czech Republic has already had a Winter Olympics to remember. Indeed, the country’s medals haul on Wednesday rose to eight, two more than the previous Czech record. On the down side, the country’s ice hockey team have taken an early flight home.

The new prime minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, signalled ahead of his meeting with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday, that his government would bring the Czech Republic back to the European mainstream. Previously under centre-right governments and under a former euro-sceptic president, the country had shifted undeniably to the periphery.

The Czech national hockey team faced Slovakia in a key contest at the Winter Games on Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals. Neither team had played convincingly in the group stage but the Czech squad turned things around: jumping to a three goal lead in the first period that knocked the wind out of their Slovak opponents.

The eyes of the world are on Ukraine after tensions escalated sharply in Kiev on Tuesday, with the bloodiest fighting of the recent conflict leaving more than two dozen people dead. The Czech foreign minister has described the situation as a threat to the whole of Europe and says the EU may have to consider sanctions against Ukraine’s leaders if they don’t halt the violence.

President Miloš Zeman is nothing if not outspoken and on Tuesday, ahead of a confidence vote on the country’s new centre-left coalition, he took the opportunity to address members of the cabinet and lawmakers in the lower house. While some expected barbs targeting the opposition and even the new coalition, this was far from the case. Instead, Mr Zeman suggested the government, in its trials ahead, turn to the Scandinavian model for inspiration.

The Czech Republic is often characterised as a snowboarding power to be reckoned with on the world stage with the country’s sole Winter Olympic gold so far confirming that label. But the early days were far from easy and there are still traces of the past Cinderella status.

Improved tax collection is one of the mainstays of the new centre-left government’s policy programme and many of its promises of improved social welfare hang on its ability to fill state coffers by successfully fighting tax fraud. At the weekend, the prime minister unveiled a series of measures in the pipeline.

Police made a key arrest on Thursday as they try and unravel a convoluted case involving the company that runs Prague’s metro, trams and buses. Each time anyone buys a paper ticket, a tiny proportion of the sum goes to an obscure offshore company in the Virgin Islands. Investigators believe the money ends up in the hands of Ivo Rittig, a Monaco-based Czech businessman who was among four people arrested on money-laundering charges. The burly Mr Rittig started life as an amateur boxer and money-changer, but he’s now believed to be one of the most

Six emerging designer talents from the Czech Republic are presenting their work at International Fashion Showcase 2014, which opens in London on Thursday. The two-week exhibition, held within London Fashion Week, will feature fresh new collections of garments, jewellery and accessories from across central Europe. I called the head of the Czech Centre in London Tereza Porybná to find out more.