Saint Wenceslas, the Czech patron saint, was a key figure in the early history of the Czech lands. Now, more than a thousand years after his death, an international team of scientists has recreated what the Christian martyr may have looked like, using a skull believed to be his and state-of-the-art technology.

Cricket, while not a sport associated with Czechia, has many fans in the country, and is very much integrated into the wider world of the sport. From June 8th to 13th, the Central Europe Cup, a tournament organised by the Czech Cricket Union, has brought the national teams of Austria, Norway and Gibraltar to play the host country in Vinoř, on the outskirts of Prague. Danny Bate went along to the cricket ground to speak to members of the Czech team and key figures that make the sport happen in Czechia.

Vintage car lovers from around Central Europe are getting ready for the annual “1,000 Miles of Czechoslovakia” race leading from Prague to the Slovak capital Bratislava and back. The festive event is traditionally accompanied by live music and a period fashion show to enhance the atmosphere.

The Czech army will grow by several new garrisons. It plans to create a territorial defense battalion in every region within ten years, with new bases for logistics and air defense.

At a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 3rd, Radek Špicar was among the honourees awarded the Medal for Merit in Diplomacy. Radek is a well-known face in the worlds of Czech business, finance and industry; he currently holds the position of Vice President of the Confederation of Industry and Transport, and previously served as Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, as a member of the top management of Škoda Auto, and as Executive Director of the Prague branch of the Aspen Institute think tank. His experience, combined with his academic knowledge and warm personality, make Radek Špicar an ideal person to learn about the state of the Czech economy from, as Danny Bate did after the ceremony.

One of the most influential figures in Czech film, cinematographer Vladimír Smutný, has died at the age of 82. With a career spanning over five decades, he helped define the visual style of many notable Czech films. Among his most celebrated collaborations were the Oscar-winning Kolya, directed by Jan Svěrák, and The Painted Bird, Václav Marhoul’s haunting adaptation of the controversial novel by Jerzy Kosiński.

Climber Adam Ondra has announced his retirement from bouldering after Mejdi Schalck’s bouldering title win for France. Ondra has decided to focus solely on lead climbing. The Czech national team member did not reach the final at the World Cup in Prague, finishing 15th overall.

A small badge dating from the fourteenth century has gone on display in the Czech city of Opava. This unassuming object can tell us a great deal about how interconnected the world of a medieval Czech person really was.

The Pilsner Urquell brewery is the most visited destination in West Bohemia and one of the top 15 attractions in Czechia. On a typical day, it hosts around 40 guided tours in multiple languages, including Czech, German, and English.  On this special occasion, a new exhibition opened that guides visitors through what it takes to make Pilsner beer. My colleague, Kristina Kellnerová, and I were lucky enough to get a hold of Craft and Heritage Director Rudolf Šlehofer at Pilsner Urquell to walk us through this staple of Czech culture and the newly opened exhibition.

A Czech science student has made a rare discovery on the island of New Guinea. František Vejmělka from the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the University of South Bohemia became the first person in the world to capture the giant woolly rat on camera — one of the world’s largest and most elusive rodents. The animal lives high in the cold, misty mountain forests and was previously known only from old museum specimens. I asked him to tell me more about his discovery: