PIANO MAN - Authorities in West Kent, southeast England, have released the 20-year-old Bavarian who was dubbed "Piano Man" after turning up soaking wet at the UK seaside and not uttering a word for months. At one point thought to be Czech musician Tomás Strnad, the mysterious mental health patient has finally begun speaking, according to British press reports, and flew home to Germany Aug. 20.

CRITICS - Newly sworn-in Culture Minister Vítezslav Jandák has been accused of having colleagues who were secret police informants under the pre-1989 regime and being on the board of a Prague casino, the Royal, linked to the Israeli Mafia. He is on track for confirmation to the post in September, however, with unwavering backing by Prime Minister Jirí Paroubek.

RETURNED - The Constitutional Court has ruled that the descendents of Hugo Salm have a right to claim 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) of land in the Blansko area, south Moravia, including the Rájec nad Svitavou chateau that was seized by the state. The court ruled that Salm, a nobleman, was indeed a citizen of Czechoslovakia, allowing his estate to make a claim for the land even though the seizure was before 1948, the usual cutoff date allowed.