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Former Finance Minister off to prison; Minimum Social benefits to be cut in 2006; Prague richest 'region' in 'new Europe'; World Bank predicts less inflationary pressure for 2005; Beer union asks AgMin to axe Budvar ad campaign; TCPA to begin production at Kolin this month; Germany's Aral to quit check market

This week, we look at the significance of a Prague visit by Bill Gates, the U.S. billionaire and founder of the Microsoft Corporation. A number of new Microsoft projects could be in the pipeline here, but those of you using pirated Czech-language software may be in for a nasty surprise.

CNB board takes surprise action to cut interest rates; State to pay nearly 2bn crowns to Akro over 'tunnelled' CS fondy; Microsoft: Czech version of Windows to have validation process this year; Czechs seeking jobs abroad mostly interested in Britain and Ireland; Cabinet approves strategy to increase exports to China

The governing Social Democrats are considering a major shift in their tax policy. They say they would like to reduce income taxes. What are their plans and what does the opposition think?

EU ministers approve Czech deficit reduction plan; Oskar Mobil gets first shot at third UMTS license; Prague bourse accepts Orco Property Group foreign shares listing; Labour Ministry decides on subcontractor provisions; Czech exporters show preference for euros; Czech shoemakers losing out to Chinese imports

Industrial production figures met with disappointment; President Klaus expected to rename Tuma as CNB governor; Securities commission places Sati brokerage under forced administration; Kiekert of Germany to invest $26m in auto plant; Ranks of the unemployed swell, number of entrepreneurs down; Czech Rep shows world's fourth-highest growth in high-speed Internet connections.

The state-run tourist authority predicts that the number of foreigners visiting the Czech Republic will jump another 10 percent this year, on top of the 15 percent rise noted in 2003, the first year after the "hundred-year" floods that swept through Central Europe and nearly dealt a knock-out blow to the industry.

Nine companies interested in Cesky Telecom; Czech budget deficit sharply lower than expected in 2004; Czech Republic posts first November trade surplus in 10 years; Deadlock in collective bargaining at Ceske Drahy; Scottish IT firm to build repair centre in Prague; One million fewer people work in industry, agriculture than in 1989

Some New Year's Day sales left consumers holding the bag -- an empty bag, that is -- with complaints of "false advertising" by superstores and hypermarkets as precious few of the heavily promoted sales items were actually in stock. The Czech Commercial Inspectorate has launched a natiowide investigation and a move to strengthen the consumer protection law is under consideration.

Slovakia must pay 19.4bn crowns to CSOB; CEZ board members charged with circumventing public tender law; Regional authorities to get more in tax revenues as of 2006; Vitkovice Steel privatisation schedule to be set in January; Internet growth in Czech Rep 'fourth fastest' in the world