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Senator Vladimir Zelezny, the former head of TV Nova, the Czech Republic's most successful commercial broadcaster, has announced plans to run in elections to the European Parliament in June. Mr Zelezny accepted the ballot for the so-called Independents, the 15th group to announce it will be fielding candidates in the up-coming elections. Mr Zelezny, who was elected to the senate almost two years ago despite facing charges of fraud in relation to his television career, has said if elected he would open a parliamentary office in Znojmo, south Moravia - the base of his senatorial constituency. Voting to the European Parliament will take place on June 11th and 12th. The full list of candidates however is to be submitted by April 6th.

In the fourteen years since the fall of communism the Czech Republic has made great efforts to repair the damage caused by decades of environmental neglect. With the installation of de-sulphurization equipment at all industrial facilities, the state of the air we breathe has significantly improved. Strict new laws and regulations have reduced the pollution of rivers and soil to such an extent that rare species of wild life have returned to their one-time habitats. A great deal still needs to be done and Czechs need to become more environment conscious

All papers lead with Monday's announcement by Spain's prime minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero that all 1,300 Spanish troops would be pulled out of Iraq by June 30. They speculate as to whether it is a wise decision, wonder what country's soldiers would fill the gap, and continue to analyse international security after Thursday's bomb blasts in Madrid. Domestically, it is a mix of stories that make the front pages ranging from criticism of the Czech Republic's lax approach to last-minute preparations for EU membership to the row between

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture has criticised the Czech Republic for inappropriate treatment of detainees and prisoners. The committee demands the elimination of certain excesses in the police treatment of detained persons and abandoning an unnecessarily tough treatment of prisoners. In its latest report on the Czech Republic, the committee points to numerous accusations concerning police brutality during arresting and interrogation. It says that Romanies, foreigners and young people are most often subject to harsh treatment. The Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee also calls on Czech authorities to improve treatment of prisoners and to make further efforts to eliminate overcrowding in prisons.

Ecstasy Street? Right here in the Czech Republic. The rules governing the naming of streets have become much more lenient. Looking for a really exclusive sports car? Build it yourself - some Czechs won't settle for less. And, the man who is making big money in jail -controversy over a billboard featuring a man jailed for murder. Find out more in Magazine with Daniela Lazarova.

All the Czech dailies dedicate most of their front page space to Thursday's terrorist attacks in the Spanish capital Madrid in which almost 200 people died and around 1,400 were injured. All papers carry photos of the scenes of devastation as well as pictures of rescue workers and medical personnel helping the victims.

After joining the EU, the Czech Republic will abandon its trade policy in favour of a common trade policy directed from Brussels. This will mean a loss of some trade benefits, including the GSP benefits granted by the United States. On the other hand, the move will present new opportunities for Czech firms in other parts of the world.

When the Czech Republic joins the European Union, its citizens will not only benefit economically but they will also be able to enjoy the advantages of travelling, studying and working in the union without restriction. Or at least that was the argument used by the Czech government to convince its citizens to vote in favour of EU membership, and it worked. With an unemployment rate of ten percent, the country's younger generation hopes to have the opportunity to work freely elsewhere, while learning a new language and gaining international experience

The heads of government of the Visegrad group states - the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary met in Prague on Monday to discuss EU related issues. The four EU candidates have consulted each other regularly in the course of EU accession even on matters where it was not possible to adopt a common strategy. The Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, who hosted the meeting at Kolodej Chateau, said cooperation within the Visegrad group would prove useful even after EU accession when the newcomers could help each other to find their place on the common market. Among the issues discussed in Prague was the EU's restrictive labour market policy with regard to the newcomers.

Last week, an amendment to the Czech Labour Code, which includes a precise reference to "sexual harassment" for the first time, finally took legal effect. The amendment brings the Labour Code into line with that of other EU nations, and it is hoped that it will give more rights to working women. Nevertheless the law is not without its critics.