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Many Czechs were saddened to learn on Wednesday that Frantisek Fajtl, one of the country's most respected and famous WW II-era fighter pilots had died in Prague at the age of 94. For many, Mr Fajtl was a hero and not only for his feats in battle, but also for his work as a writer, his memoirs often naming Czech airmen who might otherwise have been forgotten. Jan Velinger has more on the pilot's life.

The minority Civic Democrat government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek lost a confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday, triggering the fall of his cabinet and edging the country closer to early elections. The seemingly endless political saga thus drags on: four months after inconclusive general elections the Czech Republic still lacks a real government.

Milena Jesenska, a Czech writer and translator, died in a Nazi death camp in May 1944. Many know her name because Franz Kafka published a book dedicated to her entitled "Letters to Milena." For a number of years in the early 1920s Milena Jesenska and Franz Kafka were lovers. Much less known is the fact that Milena Jesenska was a talented journalist, though one important fellowship program based in Vienna honours her memory.

The past weekend saw as many as 16 people die in car accidents across the Czech Republic. Ninety people were killed in traffic accidents throughout September, which along with June has been the most tragic month on Czech roads this year. After a new and stricter traffic law came into force in July, police immediately reported a marked drop in the number of fatal accidents. But since then, Czech drivers seemed to have relaxed again and returned to their old bad habits.

The country's leading financial daily Hospodarske noviny reported on Monday on a legal loophole which police believe is allowing people to deposit billions of crowns in illegal earnings in their bank accounts. The police say they can't touch cash they know is fishy because there's no law in the Czech Republic requiring citizens to explain the source of their private wealth.

The eighth annual Designblok festival of design opened its doors Tuesday in the River Diamond apartment complex, part of the ongoing regeneration of Prague's Karlin district. Designblok 2006 is showcasing the work of more than 100 artists, designers, manufacturers and retailers—90 percent of whom are Czech. I spoke with Designblok organizer and curator Jana Zielinski and asked her: what's hot in Czech design this year?

On Tuesday all eyes will be on parliament as Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's government begins procedures leading up to a crucial confidence vote. Even now few are giving his cabinet much chance. In a parliament divided evenly along the political left and right since June's election, it would take a major coup for the government to gain a majority, and most observers say that simply won't happen.

A few weeks ago, the word burcak began to appear in the windows of pubs and bars across the Czech Republic. It's the Czech word for young wine. But what does it taste like, and why do Czechs drink it?

Heightened anti-terrorist measures, a wiretapping scandal and an uncertain political situation - the news from the Czech Republic is pretty glum these days but over the weekend a blonde, blue-eyed 18-year-old provided a welcome diversion from the country's problems: she became the first ever Czech beauty queen to win the Miss World Beauty Contest founded in 1951 and held this year in the Polish capital Warsaw.

2006 has been an unusually successful year for Czech art auction houses. With the number of collectors growing and ever more valuable pieces on sale, turnover is soaring. This weekend, another record was broken. A Cubist painting by the renowned twentieth century artist Josef Capek was auctioned off for 9.3 million Czech crowns, which is over 430,000 US dollars. Dita Asiedu reports: