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Russia this week tested what the Kremlin describes as the world's most powerful, non-nuclear bomb, the so called "vacuum bomb". Russian state television referred to it as the "father of all bombs" and claimed it is four times more powerful than a similar US weapon.

The Slovenian government has recently had a big cabinet shake-up and as part of that the health minister tendered his resignation. Hot on the heels of this, an epidemic of salmonella was reported at a psychiatric hospital in the east of the country. Michael Manske of Radio Slovenia International reports on politics and public health.

When it comes to discussing sex, Slovaks may be among Europe's most conservative. About 60% of people claim to be Catholic and this is leading to some very lively discussion over attempts to introduce sexual education into school.

In five weeks time, two years earlier than scheduled, the Polish people elect a new Parliament. Opinion polls show it's going to be a close-run event between the two main parties. So is Poland in for a repeat of the scenario of two years ago when no party gained enough votes to form a majority government?

In recent weeks, two high-profile cases of art theft have caused headlines in the Czech Republic. Both local talent Jiri David and the Zimbabwean artist Gladios Mohumba have fallen victim to some sculpture thieves. They both had art works disappear while on public display. So what's the future for outdoor sculpture displays?

The Czech capital Prague on Tuesday launched its candidature for the 2016 Olympic Games, with a ceremony to sign its official bid. The city has never hosted such a huge sporting event and currently lacks the necessary stadia and other infrastructure. But Prague officials believe they do have a serious chance - if not in 2016, then four or even eight years later.

Pope Benedict the 16th visits Austria this week - the first papal visit to the country since his predecessor John Paul was there almost ten years ago. The main purpose of the trip is a pilgrimage to Mariazell - an Alpine town where the Basilica is a major place of pilgrimage for Central Europe's Catholics. Thousands from Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland and the Czech Republic are travelling to Mariazell to hear Pope Benedict speak. But many Austrians are critical of the Church and upset they will get no chance to deliver their complaints to

Spisska Kapitula is an ecclesiastical town located near the historical Great road (or Via Magna) leading through the Spis region in Northern Slovakia, from Saris to Levoca and on to Poland and farther on to western Europe. Initially developed as a fortified settlement on the hill opposite Spis Castle, it earned a place on UNESCO's World Heritage List thanks to its cathedral built in the Romanesque and Gothic styles between the 13th and the 15th century. In the early 1950s communists transformed it in a police academy but now it is fully restored

There's quite some upset in Poland over comments made by the former Czech president Vaclav Havel. Speaking in Krakow he said international observers should be invited to monitor early parliamentary elections in Poland. The remarks by the renowned dissident and writer have provoked a spate of mostly critical comment.

Now to Slovenia where there's shock at the number of people dying in road accidents. Already this year over two hundred people have been killed on Slovene roads - a terrible toll in a country of just two million people.