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EU environment ministers came to the end of a two day informal meeting in Prague on Wednesday. The talks have been dominated by one subject - climate change – which is a major issue for the Czech EU presidency.

A new report on poverty and gender equality in the Czech Republic for 2008, put out by the international network Social Watch, has criticised the country for discriminating against women on the labour market. The report also highlights issues concerning the country’s Romany minority as well as the situation of the poor. The editor of the report, Tomáš Tožička, explains which of these groups is facing the biggest difficulties.

Czech researchers have begun preparing a return expedition to the ancient site of Machu Picchu, where they have monitored geological conditions over several years now. In 2002, a Japanese team warned that the famous Incan ruins, situated at 2,400 metres, could be destroyed as the result of landslide shifts. But Czech specialists (among different scientists who travelled to the area) conducted their own tests and came away with different results. A little earlier Jan Velinger spoke to one of the members of the Czech team, Charles University’s Vít

New facts have emerged about the downing of a Polish plane by communist Czechoslovakia’s air force in 1975, resulting in the death of a Polish citizen trying to flee to the west. For three decades the circumstances surrounding the incident have been veiled in secrecy, but now the veil has been lifted.

Czech bishops have criticized a new translation of the Bible that came out last week. Entitled the Bible – a 21st century translation, its ambition is to present Biblical texts in contemporary language easily comprehensible to the broad public. But Czech bishops point out that the new translation cannot be used in some Catholic services.

One of Prime Minister Jan Fischer’s first tasks in his new job will be implementing a billion-crown stimulus package to kick-start the Czech economy. A final outline of the package was agreed upon this week by the outgoing government coalition and the opposition Social Democrats. Mirek Topolánek’s outgoing cabinet managed to keep their proposals for social insurance payment cuts, while the opposition Social Democrats pushed for a new subsidy to encourage Czechs to get rid of their old cars. The whole package is expected to cost 40 billion crowns

Appointing Jan Fisher the country’s new prime minister on Thursday, President Klaus expressed satisfaction with the speedy solution to the country’s political crisis. Yet the way in which this was achieved has sparked controversy between the country’s constitutional experts and Prague Castle.

Czech President Václav Klaus on Thursday appointed Jan Fischer the country’s new prime minister, ending a period of uncertainty after the fall of Prime Minister Topolánek’s centre-right government late last month. Mr. Fisher will head a non-partisan caretaker administration which should take office on May 9th and lead the country until early elections in October.

A new exhibit at Prague Castle presents a unique and never before seen collection of photographs from the First World War. Taken by an anonymous Czech soldier between 1916 and 1917, the photo set is a rare and very touching depiction of one of the deadliest conflicts in history.

Giant hogweed, the grey squirrel and Argentine Ant have one thing in common: they are all invasive species which have been introduced deliberately or by chance into Europe and are now creating havoc with the local environment. A leading Czech botanist is now in the forefront of the first calls of their kind for Europe-wide action to fight the ever more rapid spread of invasive species, blamed on climate change and increasing long distance travel and transport.