TRIAL - Prague City Court Jan. 30 opened the trial of Vladímir Železný, a member of the European Parliament who is charged with tax evasion along with Czech-American gallery owner George Novotný. Authorities say the two ducked some 6.8 million Kč ($294,800) in duties when importing paintings from abroad. Železný denies the charge, and entered a plea of not guilty during his first day in court.

PARTNERSHIP - The Senate Jan. 26 passed a bill allowing registered partnership for homosexuals, which, if approved by President Václav Klaus, would make the country the first in the former Eastern bloc to have such a law on its books. Forty-five out of 65 senators voted for the bill, which seeks to give gay couples many of the same rights enjoyed by married couples. Opponents say it threatens family values.

STRIKE Ninety percent of the country's 2,200 pharmacies closed for three hours Jan. 30 to protest Health Minister David Rath's slashing of profits associated with the sale of medicines. Rath wants to reduce drug sellers' profit margins by 3 percent in an effort to solve a financial crisis in the healthcare system.

ELECTION - Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek has decided to move the country's general election ahead one week so that it doesn't coincide with the kickoff of the soccer World Cup in Germany. The election is set for June 2 and 3. Paroubek said the move was to ensure that people could "concentrate on the future of the country."

SACKED - The Defense Ministry sacked Colonel Miroslav Beňo Jan. 26 following a corruption scandal. Beňo is charged with taking more than 1 million Kč in bribes. He was in charge of infrastructure, including the construction of airports, military bases and other important buildings.

ARRESTED - Miss Czech Republic 1999 Helena Houdová and her friend were detained in Cuba Jan. 23 after taking photos in a poor Havana neighborhood. They were released after 11 hours and held under house arrest until their flight back to the Czech Republic Jan. 29. The Czech government is continuing its calls for regime change in the island nation.

TICKETS - Czech soccer fans will receive an additional 2,000 tickets to each World Cup soccer game this summer. Franz Beckenbauer, head of the event's organization committee, was in Prague Jan. 31 to announce the extra allocation. Originally the country was to receive 8 percent of each stadium's tickets, like any other participating country. The extra tickets will be distributed to fans through a lottery.