Czech Republic is currently making the necessary preparations for Euro adoption, which is scheduled for 2010. This year Czech is about to overcome two steps leading up to Euro adoption: planning the entire scenario of euro admission, and ratification of a national plan for euro admission.

Western currency firms are warning their customers from the emerging markets weakening. The CZK exchange rate has fallen recently to 28,36 CZK/EUR and 22.67 CZK/USD.

More than 30 shopping centers are currently running in Czech Republic, the most prominent functioning in Prague are: Tesco, IKEA, Kotva etc. During 2005, five new malls opened throughout the country, three of them in Prague: Eden Carrefour Galerie Butovice and Centrum Chodov. Metropole shopping center at Zličín in Prague was expanded. By the end of 2007, 13 more malls are expected to open in Prague, including Palladium shopping center in náměstí Republiky in Prague’s historic city center.

The massive development of consumption infrastructure in Prague leads to emergence of entire shopping areas, such as Na Příkopě Street and Pařížská Street.

The total value of all real-estate sales processed in Prague in the last several years is estimated to be CZK 800-850 million a year. The total value of the all real estate property in Prague is estimated to be CZK 700-billion and it continues to gain pace.

The pop queen Madonna will perform for the first time in Prague at the beginning of September. Both her shows, the first one on September 6 and the second one on September 7, will take place in Prague’s Sazka Arena. The cost of a ticket for the Madonna’s show is estimated to be in the neighborhood of 3000 – 5000 CZK.

A policeman physically attacked Katerina Jacques, the Green Party member and deputy, while protesting a neo-Nazi demonstration. Tomas Cermak, the policeman who personally attacked Jacques, was charged with abuse of public office and restricting other’s freedom. Police President Vladislav Husak decided to punish the so the police deputy head Zdenek Bezouska for this accident as well.

Three budget airlines are expected to add new routes to Czech capital. The first company is the budget Ireland’s carrier Aer Lingus, which initiates flights between Cork (western Ireland) and Prague in October. Additionally, Ireland’s United Travel announced an introduction of flights from Galway, western Ireland, to Prague in September. Finally, British budget carrier Jet2.com is expected to launch a new route to Prague the coming winter.

The British tourist Malcolm Tuffin was wounded by a 25-metre high Christmas tree, together with 5 more people, at the Christmas market in Prague´s Old Town Square in 2003. Since this event, Tuffin has been suffering from pain and fractures in his bones. According to the Czech court verdict, Prague City Hall, along with the Folk Art Production Company, the Christmas market’s producer, will pay 2.5 crowns compensation to the plaintiff.

The right oriented Civic Democratic Party was ahead of the Czech Social Democratic Party and won the last elections, supported by 35.4% of the voters. The ex-dominating Czech Social Democratic Party won by 32.3%. The other parties, who succeed to overcome the 5 % election threshold, were the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (12.8%), the Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People’s Party (7.2%) and Green Party 6.3%).

The first day of national elections began yesterday. The rivalry between the ruling party (Social Democratic Party) and the opposition party of right orientation (Civic Democrats) is supposed to be close.