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Welcome to a special programme to mark the 58th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a national holiday in the Czech Republic. The anniversary has a special significance in Prague, because it was here that some of the last shots of the war in Europe were fired, long after most European cities had been freed. The liberation of Prague by the Red Army on the 9th May 1945 was preceded by three days of fierce fighting in the streets of the city, and over 3000 people lost their lives fighting for Prague's freedom. In the uprising, the radio

On Monday, Czech Defence Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik left for a three-day trip to the Middle East. Mr Tvrdik visited the Czech anti-chemical unit in Kuwait and travelled to Iraq to take a look at the state of the Czech field hospital that is currently being built in the city of Basra. Earlier on Wednesday, Dita Asiedu spoke to our correspondent Jaromir Marek, who was part of the Czech delegation:

Bengas is one of the most popular Roma music groups in the Czech Republic, and while its members have been playing together since September 2001, they have just produced their first album. Called "Dza," it will be released on Wednesday at the Prague club Roxy. Bengas will play a benefit concert there, and the proceeds of it will go to the People in Need foundation's humanitarian work in Iraq.

The European Trade Union Confederation, which makes up the largest confederation of trade unions in the world, will be holding its tenth annual congress here in Prague in late May. This is the first time that the congress will be held in a former communist country. John Monks is the general secretary of the Trade Unions Congress in Britain, and also the future president of the European Trade Union Confederation.

Champagne splattered all over the panelists' clothing as Senator Michal Zantovsky "baptised" his Czech translation of American writer Joshua Muravchik's detailed account of the history of Socialism, titled Heaven on Earth. Political analyst Jiri Pehe, who also took part in the Monday presentation at a Prague bookstore, didn't have a chance to defend capitalism against another invited guest, Miloslav Ransdorf, the vice-chairman of the Czech Communist Party, as the Communist representative proved a no-show. During the discussion Muravchik talked about

Tuesday May 6th is World Asthma Day. This year's theme is the "Burden of Asthma" - on the patient, the family and society as a whole. The Czech Initiative for Asthma is organising various events around the country not only on World Asthma Day but throughout the month of May, focusing not only on asthma but also allergies which are the main risk factor contributing to the development of asthma.

The United States has signalled the possibility that it may move its troops - currently stationed in Germany - eastwards, almost 68 thousand in all. Although the debate over the stationing of US troops on Czech soil is still in its infancy, lines among politicians are already being drawn. Martin Hrobsky has been following the story to tell us why the issue is provoking so much debate so early on.

For over a decade now Czechs who want to enter into matrimony have been able to chose whether to have a church wedding or a civil ceremony. That may be about to change for the Justice Ministry is currently preparing an amendment to the civil code which would make civil marriages compulsory once again.

Fifty eight years ago on May 5, 1945, Czechoslovak Radio called on citizens to rise up against the Nazi occupying force. With this the Prague Uprising began, and for five days Czechs took up arms against the German troops until the Red Army arrived in the Czech capital on May 9. This, the end of the Second World War, is being commemorated around the Czech Republic on Monday.

A Greek café owner - dubbed into Czech - explains to TV viewers how EU membership has helped his country since joining the European Union. The 30-second TV ad is one of three being aired as part of the Czech government's EU referendum campaign, which began in earnest on May 1st. At the same time billboards are going up across the country featuring a Portuguese fisherman, a Spanish bus driver and an Austrian taxi driver, accompanied by the phrase "Welcome to the Community." The ad campaign is certainly slick and professional, but will it work? We