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Not long ago Jiri Sulc was unknown in Czech literary circles, but those days appear to be over. The former member of Czech counter-intelligence, is making a name for himself as an up-and-coming author. His first novel "Dva Proti Risiquot; (Two Against the Reich) was published after Mr Sulc won a prestigious Czech literary prize, and already his novel has gotten rave reviews. His story is set during the Second World War, focusing on the assassination of Nazi governor and "Hangman of Bohemia" Reinhard Heydrich. At the time Czechoslovak paratroopers

Jiri Boudnik is a Czech architect who has been living in the United States for the last 20 years. On September 11th 2001, he witnessed the fall of the Twin Towers from his office in Brooklyn, and rushed to the scene to help. In the days following on from the September 11th attacks, he continued to assist the emergency services in their hunt for survivors. How? By designing a computer model of the World Trade Center as was, to help the rescuers find their way through the rubble. To mark the sixth anniversary of 9/11, Jiri Boudnik spoke to us earlier

A year after the introduction of a strict new road law that was meant to make Czech roads safer the authorities have had to admit defeat. The situation is as bad as ever and the number of road-related deaths has actually increased. Transport Minister Ales Rebicek says it is time to consider new measures.

65 million years ago a huge cosmic body crashed into the Earth, causing large fires all over the globe. The sudden change of climate wiped out most of the planet's vegetation and species, including the dinosaurs. Scientists have long argued whether the Earth was hit by a comet or an asteroid. Until recently, chemical evidence indicated it was a comet. Now, however, a team consisting of two Czech and one US scientist has come up with new facts.

Kino Svetozor is one of the oldest cinemas in the Czech Republic, screening its first film way back in 1918. The film-house may be one of the most historic in the Czech Republic, but over the years, it has taken great pains to keep up with cinematic trends. In 1968, it revamped its whole interior to accommodate 'kinoautomat' - or interactive cinema - a conceptual type of film invented by director Raduz Cincera. Now, Svetozor is introducing Czech cinemagoers to something new again - this time, the concept of visitors 'adopting' their own seats. Earlier

A three day flood simulation exercise unexpectedly turned into the real thing on Thursday night as rain-swollen rivers broke their banks in many parts of the Czech Republic. Firefighters and police were out in force in Moravia and Silesia where several villages had to be evacuated overnight and large parts of south Bohemia remain on high flood alert.

This Friday sees the launch of the first-ever Prague Food Festival, an event that aims to celebrate the increasingly multicultural nature and rapidly improving standard of the cuisine that is now available in the Czech capital.

For years Prague City Hall has been doing battle with the city's taxi drivers, whose reputation for overcharging passengers has become blight on the city's name. Now that battle has taken a new turn. A Prague court has ruled that taxi drivers do not have to respect a maximum fare per kilometre set by the city's authorities.

Employing people on a cash-in-hand basis is already illegal in 17 of the European Union's 27 member states. Now, the Labour Minister, Petr Necas, wants to clamp down on the practice here in the Czech Republic too. He plans to punish employers who fail to declare members of their workforce. How? By levying them with heavy fines or even sending them to prison.

The Czech government held a special session on Wednesday in a small town near the site of the proposed US radar base, part of Washington's plans to build a missile defence system in Central Europe. Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek promised local mayors they would receive substantial state funds to improve infrastructure. So far, however, the offer has received a lukewarm response.