OPINIONS - President Václav Klaus' speech on the Czech national holiday Oct. 28 was praised by some politicians and panned by others. While Klaus warned against restrictions of human freedom engendered by European Union integration, Prime Minister Jirí Paroubek said such views are not based on the nation's majority opinion.

PROPERTY - Na Príkope is No. 17 on Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker's list of world's most expensive streets. Jaroslav Novotny´ of the Association of Real Estate Agencies said that money changers and drug dealers on Wenceslas Square are decreasing it as a commercial draw, causing Na Príkope's value to rise.

THREAT - An anonymous call reporting a bomb threat forced an evacuation of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty headquarters in Prague Oct. 28. While no bomb was found during the ensuing police search, broadcasting stopped for almost two hours, the first time in six years service was interrupted this way.

FUNERALS - German undertakers increasingly use Czech crematoriums, which charge much less than similar services in Germany. After EU enlargement in 2004, some German undertakers began offering cheap cremation in new member countries. Contracts from these undertakers account for 20 percent of business at some crematoriums near the border.

REFORM - More than 85 percent of Czechs want reforms in European health systems, according to a recent poll conducted in eight EU countries by the Populus agency. European health systems and reforms will be the topic of discussion at a conference of specialists from 18 countries this week in Prague.