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The Czech Republic is almost ready to join the European Union - but are its citizens in equally good form? The Czech Cabinet recently took a closer look at the state of people's health and decided that they need to undergo a radical transformation as well. Czechs drink too much, they smoke too much and an increasing number of them are overweight. Is the government's Health 21 action plan a good idea or is the state meddling in people's lives? Find out what some experts think in this week's Magazine with Daniela Lazarova.

Most Czechs have been fairly confident that AIDS is not a serious problem in the Czech Republic. Then, last week, a random test among 20 prostitutes in the west Bohemian border town of Cheb revealed an alarming state of affairs - 3 of them were diagnosed HIV positive. The news has made many Czechs sit up and think about the risks. What is the AIDS situation in the Czech Republic and do Czechs take effective measures to protect themselves? In this week's edition of Magazine Daniela Lazarova talks to National AIDS Programme Manager Jaroslav Jedlicka

At this time of the year fishermen across the country drain their ponds and lakes for the big haul. The annual netting of fish is a popular event which many locals like to attend, sipping tea laced with rum as they watch the fishermen go about their work. However due to the August floods, which swept the fish right out of pond basins, "netting" in many parts of north and south Bohemia is a sorry sight, with fisherman pulling out half empty nets. How have the floods affected Czech fisheries -and how long will it take for them to get back on their

Domestic violence does not get much attention in the media yet, as in most countries around the world, it does go on. 16% of Czechs, mostly women, are victims and it takes, on average, six years of abuse before they decide to seek professional help. The attitude of the public is to turn a blind eye and deaf ear, since domestic violence is still seen as something that should be resolved within the family. Now the authorities have decided to take radical action to change this, setting up an alliance against domestic violence and acting to raise public

Over the past ten years the United Nations Children's Fund has been involved in a number of projects aimed at securing full implementation of child rights in the Czech Republic. Last week Mrs. Marty Rajandran UNICEF project officer for Central and Eastern Europe, visited the Czech Republic to assess the outcome of these projects and outline areas that still require attention. Daniela Lazarova met with her to find out what has improved over the past ten years and what still remains a problem for children in the Czech Republic. Mrs Rajandran began

Reports about the floods dominated the news from this country throughout September. One of the inevitable side-effects was a decline in the number of tourists who visit the Czech Republic. Recently Czech chefs decided to change that and let the tourists know that they are still here for them and cooking good food. To prove it, several hundred chefs gathered on Prague's famous Charles Bridge and served goulash and Pilsner beer to passers by. Daniela Lazarova was there and has a special report in this week's Magazine.

The fifth International Collectors' Trade Fair recently attracted hundreds of collectors to Prague's main exhibition grounds. People from around the world came to buy and sell a wide variety of collectors' items. Daniela Lazarova went to the fair to find out what was on offer, what makes people collect things and why they are so happy doing it.

Who doesn't love a good game? In this week's edition of Magazine Jan Velinger visited the 7th annual Brain teasers, Puzzles, and Magic tricks fair recently held in Prague.

Approximately 15% of Czech couples have fertility problems. Some can be treated fairly easily, others are a source of despair to couples who have undergone repeated treatments in vain. The establishment of a private Center for Assisted Reproduction in 1995 gave many of those couples new hope. For seven years now this center has been helping "test tube babies" into the world. Daniela Lazarova attended one of the center's annual get-togethers of test tube babies, parents and doctors. For a full report tune in to Magazine on September 13th.

Over the past ten years there has been an increase in the number of Czechs who buy a gun for protection. Although at first this was very much a man's domain, it is no longer unusual for a woman in her twenties or thirties to walk into a gun store and buy a small pistol. In this week's Magazine Daniela Lazarova talks to a Prague gun-store owner about how the situation has changed over the past decade and what makes his clients seek this form of protection.