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There’s a bitter legal dispute at the moment over the fate of 20 massive paintings by the artist Alphonse Mucha, who created the style known as ‘art nouveau’ in the early 20th century. The cycle of 20 thematic paintings – known collectively as the Slav Epic - has spent the last 47 years in a crumbling castle in the town of Moravský Krumlov. Officials in Prague, however, now want them back, causing an uproar in Moravia, and elsewhere in the country.

In the wake of the latest floods that hit parts of the Czech Republic over the weekend, the Czech government has come up with an idea of how to help pay for the damages. Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek wants every tax payer to pay an extra 100 crowns into what he calls a “flood solidarity reserve”. But critics say that the government only wants to raise taxes, and is using the floods as cover.

A new school devoted solely to Irish dancing will soon open its doors in Prague. Lessons at Luas, Irish for speed, are due to start next month. Ahead of the start of the first course, the school’s director, Tereza Loužecká Bachová, invited all those curious about this dancing style to try it out themselves. She spoke to us before the sample lesson, about Irish dancing and why it fascinates her, and when classes will kick off.

Damages from this weekend’s flash floods are estimated at heading for CZK 4 billion (around USD 215 million). To determine how to quickly and efficiently send financial aid to the affected regions, Prime Minister Petr Nečas called an extraordinary government session on Monday morning. On the agenda were both the acute needs of flood-stricken municipalities and a long-term strategy to help the state prepare financially for future floods.

Severe flooding hit the parts of the Czech Republic over the weekend, claiming at least three lives and causing widespread damage. Heavy rain on Saturday swelled rivers and streams in both northern and southern Bohemia, and thousands of people had to be evacuated. More than 4,000 households remain without electricity and gas supplies.

Over the last decade, floods of varying intensity have hit the country almost every year, leading to the destruction of property and in the worst case loss of life. A little earlier I discussed possible reasons for the increase in flood frequency with respected geologist and climatologist Václav Cílek, asking him which factors contributed to the rise in flooding.

On Thursday, Sázavafest kicked off in the Central Bohemian town of Kácov. Its site is located near the Sázava river, which provides both the name and the scenic backdrop for one of the country’s most popular music festivals. It drew some 20.000 visitors in 2009 and organizers are expecting a similar turn-out this year.

The City of Prague has wasted no time reacting to a proposal made public this week that the famous Strahov Stadium, overlooking the city, could be demolished to pave the way for new development. The idea was floated by the Czech Sports Association, which owns ten percent of the stadium and underlying buildings and grounds. But the city, which owns the rest and was not consulted, says flat out it is not going to happen.

Czech trade unions on Friday criticized the government’s policy statement which they see as the strongest attack on employees’ rights since the fall of communism. The unions warn that the policies of the right-of centre coalition will not improve the state of public finances but will irreversibly damage the Czech welfare state. Representatives of the unions said they were ready to talk, but promised a ‘hot autumn’ should the government not listen.

The Czech government has set up a revamped economic advisory board, or NERV. The board, which was first set up in 2009 to deal with the economic crisis, will now focus on areas such as public budgets, pension reform and anti-corruption measures, among others. Radio Prague spoke to economist Tomáš Sedláček, who was also on the previous board, about the shift in focus.