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The PEN is an international organisation which - as well as providing a social forum for writers - fights for the rights of imprisoned authors and promotes free speech. The Czech branch of PEN has just celebrated its 80th anniversary - in the exact same place where it was established.

This month is the 120th birthday of one of the most beautiful Prague concert halls - the Rudolfinum. But the building, down by the river in Prague's Old Town, and now home to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, is not only a concert hall. There is also an art-gallery, a smaller concert hall, a café and even a recording studio. I asked the architectural historian Zdenek Lukes how this famous Prague landmark came to be built.

In the 1950's the Bohemian ground squirrel was a common animal- in fact these small furry rodents were practically considered vermin. But due to agricultural changes their numbers have dropped dramatically and they are now classified as being critically endangered. Now, the largest population of ground squirrels in the Czech Republic is found in a rather unexpected place, a 76 hectare area of ground in Letnany, a rather bleak and faceless suburb of Prague. Investors have taken an interest in the property which lies at the end of a soon-to-be-constructed

The Allied bombing of Dresden towards the end of World War II remains a touchtone for the perils of war -- and a rallying cry for Germany's far right. The official death toll from the raids stands at about 35,000. Survivors say it was much higher, as bodies were reduced to ashes in the ensuing firestorm that levelled the historic city once known as the "Florence on the Elbe." Czech forced labourers and concentration camp survivors who lived through the February 13, 1945 bombardment were among those on hand for commemorations.

The Czech parliament with a majority of just one vote has for no less than the third time rejected a bill enabling registered partnerships of same sex couples. Whereas most MPs from left-wing parties supported the law, all deputies from the Christian Democrats, a party that is close to the Catholic Church, voted against, and they were joined by most of the Civic Democrats, the largest right-of-centre opposition party. Christian Democrat MPs have in the past been vocal in their opposition not only to gay partnerships, but last week Jiri Karas, a

Every winter thousands of birds migrate from the Czech Republic for a warmer climate but at the same time thousands more migrate to this country from the north, among them, cormorants. These protected birds have now become a big problem for local fisheries.

The Czech version of the television game show 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' created its first millionaire last week. Ironically, this was not during the programme itself, but thanks to a compensation claim paid out to a former contestant. The Czech television channel 'Nova' was ordered to pay Karel Lupomesky nearly $120,000. I'm joined by Rosie Johnston with the rest of the story...

Prior to the revolution, foreigners were quite rare in this country. But since 1989, immigration has risen significantly. That increase led to the formation of the Committee for the Integration of Foreigners in 2000. It aims to create long term legislation and practical measures for the integration of foreigners. The committee recently had a special survey conducted - and one thing is clear- the bureaucratic procedures involving work and residency permits are a major obstacle for long term residents.

Snowboardaci' or 'Snowboarders' as it is known in English was the biggest-grossing Czech film of last year. It was an unexpected smash hit, making several of its young actors into idols among the nation's teenagers. For generations, skiing has been taught by Czech schools. But now in the wake of the film's success, many pupils are demanding snowboarding lessons instead. Rosie Johnston has the story.

According to a newly released study, last year 308,308 people in the Czech Republic were licensed gun-owners. That's about 3 percent of the population. The Czech Interior Ministry says that about 632,000 firearms are now legally held in private hands, but the number of registered owners is on the decrease.