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Obituary: Vaclav Havel, master of peace
The dissident, thespian and president, who was a symbol of change in the 1989 velvet revolution in Czechoslovakia, died on 18 December at the age of 75 after a serious illness. Homage to a European master of peace, as a three-day mourning period officially begins on 21 December
czech republic, literature, human rights, prague spring, poetry, theatre, revolution
Pan-Slavism, Slovio and Polish the 'status symbol'
The Slavic languages all have their roots in Proto-Slavic. Since the twelfth century, however, they have drifted apart. One of them reached its zenith in the seventeenth century: Polish
czech republic, tower of babel, languages, esperanto, poland, russian federation, belarus
Arab spring 2011 and Europe’s fall of communism in 1989
As the Maghreb goes through its transitions, a look at the lessons learned from central and eastern Europe. Opinion from Daniel Novotny, deputy director of the research centre at the association for international affairs in Prague
czech republic, 1989, morocco, conflict, peace, sub-saharan africa, algeria
Easter Monday tradition in Czech Republic: beat women with twigs
This custom, which is particularly popular in the countryside, has nothing to do with violence though. The men ring at neighbours' and relatives' houses and hit the women on the legs with woven twigs; according to tradition the vitality and the strength of the young willow twigs are meant to pass on to the person struck – but not all women are fans of the custom
Chomutov, Czech Republic: fighting prostitution with posters
Women wave in short dresses on posters at the main roads, created by Simona Kmonickova, who lives near the red-light district. Cross bones represent sexually transmitted diseases. The border to Sachsen isn’t far; most sex clients come from there, but despite the warning publicity, the problem has localised
czech republic, public health, germany, security, health, civil society, europe
Hungary's new media law no surprise for Europe
The 'media act' was passed on 21 December in Hungary and was implemented on 1 January 2011. It's not such a derogation in Europe, because the context of this law is nothing more than just another sign of an alarming trend in Europe
czech republic, censorship, hungary, budapest, press freedom, law, eu presidency
Polish vs Lithuanian language: is your surname 'bitch' or 'vulva'?
Whilst the likes of The Economist alarmedly predict a major energy-security-everything conflict between Lithuania and Poland over spelling, many in both countries aren’t even aware that the issue has reached such diplomatic heights. In fact Poles in general might be unaware of it at all - language dispute of the week
czech republic, law, name, integration, tower of babel, languages, poland
Communism perspectives: 'discontinuous history of art in eastern Europe'
3 October marked twenty years after the fall of the communist regime. One exhibition in Paris this summer asked the central question: is there any value in the question of 'east-west’ opposition today?
czech republic, paris, albania, romania, culture, photography, culture calendar
Claire Ruppli: ‘Erasmus generation have to create Europe now’
The lovemaking Swiss theatre actress is taking on a one-woman stage interpretation of a haunted figure in Prague on Parisian floorboards. She talks getting into theatre, Europe and passion
czech republic, paris, culture, contemporary art, theatre, prague, france
Women in politics or European calendar girls?
Between German chancellor Angela Merkel's cleavage-unleashing campaign tactics, Czech and Italian ministers posing for calendars and the Slovakian prime minister praising female arms, what is the defining priority for Europe's female politicians - being women, or being politicians?
czech republic, germany, parity, italy, angela merkel, men and women, sex
German, Polish, Czech floods: who's to blame?
The Dutch, Czech and Polish media bemoan the lack of preventive measures and criticise the irresponsible behaviour of some politicians
czech republic, water, germany, natural disaster, europe de l'est, eurotopics, europe
Krystof Hadek: 'foreign characters played by English-speaking actors? Disappointing'
In the last month the 27-year-old Czech actor has picked up accolades at the Berlin film festival (one of the ten 'shooting stars' in Europe) and a Czech Lion for 'best actor'. We talk fame, acting genes and language in European cinema
czech republic, cinema, kryštof hádek, berlinale, brunch, film, film festival
‘University mafia’ cut corners in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany and France
On 1 February, a new rector was allegedly appointed to the Alexander Dubcek university of Trencin in western Slovakia, after a spate of corruption scandals forced his predecessor to resign. Fake diplomas are nothing new, but these events multiplied across Europe in 2009, with Miss Worlds and prominent politicians standing accused: how can such a reality be explained?
czech republic, university, germany, students, eurogeneration, professor, france
Picture that: it's only been 20 years since the Berlin wall fell
For its twentieth anniversary Europe will euphorically celebrate the fall of a wall that didn’t just split Berlin in two, but an entire continent. At 6:57 pm on 9 November, the GDR's Politbüro member Günter Schabowski announced that from now, east German citizens could travel freely. Hours later, Berliners were hugging each other from the east to the west. Another 20 years later, and the eurogeneration have made their motto out of this freedom of movement - eastern working girls invade Europe’s labour market, symbolic walls come to a fall in Paris, or exist in people’s heads. Does the spoiled post-89 generation know how lucky they are? Perspectives
- Read the special edition Picture that: it's only been 20 years since the Berlin wall fell
- 20th anniversary: go and see the 'Berlin wall' be destroyed in Paris
- Jean-Christophe Bas: 'the erasmus generation doesn’t know how lucky it is'
- What communism means to three central and eastern European women
- Czech internet forums, KSCM: disillusionment and nostalgia for communist past
- Twenty years on: why Berlin is not Germany
- 9/11 - the fateful day of German history
EU press talks of virginity and Benjamin Button as Lisbon treaty is ratified
After months of blocking progress, Czech president Václav Klaus became the last head of state to sign on 3 November. The constitutional court in Brno had previously rejected claims brought against the legislative document by conservative senators. As the EU reform treaty can now come into effect, the Danish, Polish, Italian, Czech and Irish press react
czech republic, vaclav klaus, cinema, european constitution, press review, eurotopics, euweek
Tories, Klaus and Kaczyński: EU 'three kings' vs Lisbon treaty
The eurosceptic Pole Lech Kaczyński plans to sign the EU reform document in the next few days, Czech president Václav Klaus refuses and British conservative leader David Cameron again promises his country a referendum if he is elected prime minister in 2010 and the treaty has still not taken effect. The Irish, Czech, German and Hungarian press react
czech republic, vaclav klaus, david cameron, european media, referendum, ireland, vote
A counter-revolution is stirring in Czech bedrooms
Young people today: worse off than their parents were? No chance! Today’s generation of parents in the Czech Republic can’t complain about their children when it comes to the topic of sexuality; it's the kids that are the conservative ones...
czech republic, homosexuality, sexuality, sexology, revolution, poll, youth
European theatre tips of the summer
Sam Mendes subtitled in Greek, Oscar Wilde in the open air in Regent's Park and the British Shakespeare company with Czech director Jiri Menzel in a castle in Prague - the best music, dance and theatre doses in July and August
czech republic, arts, greece, william shakespeare, culture calendar, spain, scotland
Czech Republic: 'we are leaving behind the eggs and going to vote'… for the right
The new generation of the Czech right-wing is waging its political war. Its weapons are eggs and Facebook contacts. Practices of suspect ideology. The result? A huge mishmash of ideas that mix anticommunism, liberalism and support for both Tibet and Israel. The maxim on the agenda: we do not revolt without eggs, and lots of them
czech republic, violence, right wing, populism, european elections 2009, revolution, socialists
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