In a sports hall in the Czech town of Pelhřimov, a dream from the age of steam and brass finally lifted off the ground. A nearly three-meter-long replica of the Albatross - the fantastical flying machine from Jules Verne’s 1886 novel Robur the Conqueror - successfully took flight, earning a place in the Czech Book of Records.

The annual GLOBSEC Forum is set to bring over 2,000 guests – including presidents, ministers and business and civil society leaders – to Prague later this week. Run by the think-tank GLOBSEC, the strategic conference will deliver dozens of in-depth discussions focused on geopolitics and transatlantic security.

A once-neglected passageway inside the iconic Prague apartment building known as Molochov has been transformed into a new gallery space. The opening exhibition features works by illustrator and artist Jakub Bachorík.

The story of the theft of the skull of Saint Zdislava, which shocked the nation last week, has a happy ending. The police found it in time and restorers say it will be preserved for future generations. However, questions still remain about when and under what conditions it will be displayed again.

Fragile Security: The Future of Ukraine and the European Continent is the title of a conference being held by Czech Radio’s Plus station in Prague next Wednesday. President Petr Pavel will be among those speaking, alongside big-name guests from Ukraine, Poland and the US. I discussed the conference with Josef Pazderka, head of Plus.

Puppets are considered a true national heritage in Czechia. Therefore, it is no surprise that when one of the most famous of them, the little rascal Hurvínek, celebrates his 100th birthday, celebrations are taking place across the entire country.

He is big, shaggy, kind-hearted, and loves his best friend Ája – Maxipes Fík is an animated fairy-tale character who has been wishing children good night for five decades. Nevertheless, it is also a prime example of Czech animation resulting from the collaboration of top Czech creators.

Eurovision kicked off this week and Czechia’s hopes now rest on 23-year-old singer and actor Daniel Žižka, who will take to the stage in Thursday’s second semi-final in Vienna. Performing Crossroads, Žižka will be hoping to secure a place in Saturday’s grand final.

Book World Prague , Czechia’s biggest literary festival, gets underway at Prague’s Exhibition Grounds this week, featuring around 60 international writers, including historian Timothy Snyder. Ahead of the festival, I spoke with its director, Radovan Auer.

On Thursday MPs will again discuss a government motion declaring that the Czech Parliament is opposed to a Sudeten German gathering set for Brno at the end of next week. But why has the first ever congress held by the “Landsmannschaft” in Czechia become such a heated issue? I discussed the matter with political scientist Jiří Pehe.