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According to statistics, criminality among Czech youth has been decreasing: in general, children under the age of fifteen committed fewer serious crimes - such as murder - in the year 2005. On the other hand the number of other offences - for example cases of pick pocketing by children rose by some two hundred cases.

The country's first post-communist president Vaclav Havel celebrates his 70th birthday on Thursday, so this week he invited a few friends round to eat, drink and be merry. Just a few friends - around 1,000 - who queued up outside the medieval St Anne's Church in the Old Town - a deconsecrated building which is now home to Mr Havel's Prague Crossroads cultural centre. They were there to pay homage to the man who did so much to bring about the fall of communism, and so much in the first 13 years after it. Among the well-wishers was Monika Pajerova,

South of Prague near the town of Pribram is a decommissioned military airstrip just off the highway. Before you see any sign of the airport you see the sky above filled with parachutes gently falling towards the earth. Welcome to the Pribram drop zone. The man in command of this place is checking a flight manifest - or passenger list - and scanning the skies with a high tech pair of binoculars.

Harvard University in Massachusetts is one of the best known universities in the world and attracts the cream of under- and post-graduate students from around the world. The first Czech to graduate from the august institution was Gerhardt Bubnik in 1969.Today, almost forty years later, there are over forty Czech Harvard graduates. They meet in the Harvard Club Prague, which was set up by Mr Bubnik in 1993, attending presentations which are followed by heated discussions.

In the second half of the 20th century governments as well as various international organizations decided to pay more attention to low numbers of women involved in politics: today the European parliamentary average is about 16%. The Czech Republic, slightly below the average, follows Uzbekistan, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic in 62nd place on the worldwide chart.

Alternative medicine is a booming industry in western countries and the Czech Republic has not been slow to pick up this trend. More and more centres in Prague are offering various treatments in anything from traditional Czech herbalism, aromatherapy, or Chinese deep tissue massage. So, whether they are discontent with the current medical system or out to try something new, Czechs are using holistic medicine in increasing numbers.

The story of Lubos Hruska is a remarkable tale of persecution and despair but ultimate survival. Born in 1927 he was too young to play a role in World War II, although he witnessed the bombing of Plzen and the liberation of Czechoslovakia. His fight started after the war, when he refused to sell his soul to the Communist regime and was punished.

I am standing in the main departure hall of Prague's main train station. Right to me a group of homeless men is staring into nowhere, drinking cheap wine ... fast food stands scattered around are offering rather overpriced refreshment. Not a welcoming sight ... Dark, dirty corners and hallways have given the main train station a bad reputation. It is now perceived as a dangerous and disgusting place. You wouldn't want to spend too much time here. It would be difficult to find a single person, local or foreign, who would be proud of this gateway

The Czech Republic is in the grip of a severe political stalemate, with neither left nor right capable of forming a majority government and the prospect of early elections lurking on the horizon. But honestly, who really cares?

Cosmetic surgery, once a privilege of the rich, is now reshaping women and men of all ages and incomes. You can opt for a total face-lift or just gentle Botox injections that stretch your wrinkles and smooth your skin for up to six months. 'After all, it's important to look good' I learn from a leaflet I picked up in a cozy waiting room of one of several state-of-the-art clinics in Prague. Without a doubt, I agree. After all, what 'sells' more than design?