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Finance Minister Andrej Babiš has unveiled details of a bill introducing strict regulation of gambling in the Czech Republic. The new rules would push slot machines away from regular pubs and bars and introduce betting limits. The ministry also plans to create a database of gamblers to prevent addicts or those in debt from gambling. The draft legislation should enter into force in January 2016.

Věra Jourová has been approved for the post of European commissioner for justice, consumer rights and gender equality by four European parliamentary committees. Her acceptance, though, was hardly a walk in the park. In her original confirmation hearing, the nominee proved less than convincing and was asked to provide additional answers. For a time, it looked like she might have to appear in person again. Tuesday, however, saw the committees finally reach agreement.

Amidst growing concern over the Ebola outbreak in Africa, European governments and NGOs have been stepping up aid to the stricken states. One Czech company involved in efforts to battle the deadly disease is the Zlín based EGO, which provides special transport bags for infected patients. Ruth Fraňková reports:

Gambling on slot machines and other coin or bill operated terminals has long been a problem in the Czech Republic. According to new data, the number of pathologically-addicted gamblers in the country tops 100,000 – an increase by one-third over the last five years. Although many municipalities are now fighting for gambling venues in their vicinity to shut down, there is a new problem: quiz machines.

Thousands of libraries around the country are celebrating National Library Week with events aimed at drawing more people to these public institutions and highlighting what they have to offer. Some are inviting people to come and tango, others have selected readings by popular children’s authors while library staff in Ostrava have taken to the streets to reward anyone seen reading a book.

Repeated requests by hundreds of ethnic Czechs in Ukraine for repatriation have become a source of conflict on the Czech political scene. Though the Foreign Ministry refused to set up a repatriation programme for Ukrainian Czechs, they have found a powerful advocate: President Miloš Zeman, who is now pushing for action. But a mass repatriation of Czechs from Ukraine might put the government in an awkward position.

The government has moved to protect the Czech food market against cheap imports diverted to the country due to Russia’s embargo on food products from the EU. Importers are now required to report some types of incoming food products to two days before their arrival, and inform the authorities of their estimated retail price. But some in the Czech food industry are questioning the effectiveness of the measure.

The Czech nominee for EU commissioner in charge of justice, consumer protection and gender equality Věra Jourová faced the traditional grilling by four EP committees on Wednesday. Her performance during the three hour long question-and-answer session elicited a mixed response. Two of the four committees –those on civil liberties and gender equality – have demanded additional questions before making a final decision on whether to recommend her appointment. I asked Jakub Janda of the Prague-based European Values think tank to assess her performance

Josef Toufar, a priest tortured to death by the communist secret police for allegedly faking a “miracle”, could be about to finally get a decent burial. Almost 65 years after he was dumped in a mass grave, his relatives’ long calls for an exhumation may be answered by the end of the year. Meanwhile, the Czech Roman Catholic Church is pushing for the cleric to be beatified.

After years of delays, the controversial Blanka tunnel, a key part of Prague’s inner ring road, has finally been completed. Originally due to open in 2011, the biggest and most expensive project in the history of Prague was repeatedly delayed. On Tuesday, Prague City Hall announced that the Blanka tunnel is set to go into trial operation on December 2.