Current Affairs | All stories

This year's annual Prague Writers' Festival has come to its final day and already it is obvious it will go down as one of the most successful literary events in the Czech Republic in 2003. Appearances by world-renowned writers at Theatre Minor in Prague, have been heavily attended to hear from famous, as well as lesser known, authors. The festival reached probably its highest peak two nights ago: Tuesday saw appearances by fresh Pulitzer prize winner Jeffrey Eugenides, who read from Middlesex, and Irvine Welsh, who read from his provocative first

The Czech unemployment rate slightly decreased in the month of March this year to an even ten percent, down from a record high of 10.2 in February. However, for graduates from vocational schools in a number of different fields, the jobless rate is much higher.

A series of events were held to mark International Roma Day at the Rock Cafe on Prague's Narodni Street on Tuesday. There were readings from Romany literature, film screenings and discussions as well as dance and music, including a concert by the world famous Czech gypsy group Vera Bila and Kale. This year was the third time the International Day of Roma was celebrated in the Czech Republic; organiser Martina Horvathova summed up its importance.

During the Prague Writers' Festival's Tuesday panel discussion titled "The Great Dream of Heaven," Prague-born Peter Demetz described the American way of life as a sort of mythical entity that is much more than the golden arches of the McDonald's restaurants which stand out like eyesores throughout the American landscape. A resident of the USA since 1949, he said he considers America to be a sort of heaven because a person doesn't need a past, doesn't have to remember. Just what does the author of the extensive history Prague In Black and Gold

The foreigners' police in the Czech Republic is being strongly criticised for denying an Iraqi woman entry into the country - the first time an Iraqi citizen has not been allowed into the Czech Republic since the start of the war in Iraq. The case of Salia J.Khalaf, who arrived in Prague last Thursday with her two year old son, has been described by the Czech Ministry of Foreign affairs as a disgrace for the country.

The temperature swings that the Czech Republic - and indeed most of Europe are now experiencing - are believed to be the worst in close to half a century. A thirty degree drop in temperatures and snow showers have gladdened the hearts of winter sports lovers but many farmers, who are still recovering from last year's devastating floods, say this may be the end of their livelihood.

Now in its thirteenth year, the annual Prague Writers' Festival began on Sunday evening with a gala, once again drawing well-known writers from all over the world to the Czech capital. As usual, it was put together by author and editor Michael March.

On Sunday afternoon another demonstration against the war in Iraq and the Czech Republic's attitude to it took place in Prague. Although recent polls suggest over seventy percent of Czechs are against the US-led military action in the region, the protests are usually attended only by a few hundred, mainly young people. Why is that so and what do the protesters think about the Czech Republic's official stance - those are questions Radio Prague asked the demonstrators on Sunday afternoon.

On Monday, Charles University in Prague - the oldest university in central Europe - celebrates the 655th anniversary of its foundation on April 7th, 1348, by Charles IV, then Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia. From its establishment, Charles University was endowed by the emperor with the privileges enjoyed by older European universities, and these days Charles University again seeks to define itself in the context of an integrated Europe.

As the projected date of EU accession nears, Czech farmers are increasingly concerned about their ability to withstand tough competition on the common market. In an effort to boost their flagging morale and indeed the sale of Czech foodstuffs, the Czech Agriculture Ministry is creating a marketing agency and preparing a National programme to promote Czech agrarian products. There is just one strict condition: the products bearing the "Czech-made, quality-goods" label must meet a high standard of quality. Hugo Roldan, spokesman for the Czech Agriculture