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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.

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.

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.

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.

Dozens of people assembled in the centre of Prague on Wednesday afternoon to watch the arrival of the Human Rights Olympic Torch Relay which is passing through more than one hundred cities in 35 countries. Held in protest against human rights abuse in China, which is to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2008, it has won support from leading political, cultural and moral authorities the world over.

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.

Former Czech president Vaclav Havel visited Poland this week to launch the Polish edition of his latest book. But the warm welcome he received in Kracow quickly turned frosty, after Mr. Havel commented on the political situation in Poland, advising the country to call early elections as soon as possible, preferably with international observers present.

Have you ever seen a gun made out of length of metal tube, or an eight-barrel shooting belt? If not, you can now. These and other extraordinary home-made weapons constructed both by criminals as well as law-abiding enthusiasts are currently on display at the Prague's Police Museum.

The Czech capital Prague on Tuesday launched its candidature for the 2016 Olympic Games, with a ceremony to sign its official bid. The city has never hosted such a huge sporting event and currently lacks the necessary stadia and other infrastructure. But Prague officials believe they do have a serious chance - if not in 2016, then four or even eight years later.