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The last few hours have brought a surprising shift in the talks on forming a new Czech government. Marian Bielesz, one of the two Freedom Union deputies who recently broke party ranks, has given up his mandate in the Lower House. This move will enable the designated Prime Minister Stanislav Gross to gain a slim 101 majority in Parliament - enough for the approval of an old-new coalition government. Daniela Lazarova has been following the story and joins me now in the studio. So, Daniela how will this news affect the talks?

Although Stanislav Gross has said he would prefer to form a government made up of the current coalition partners - his centre-left Social Democratic Party, plus the right-of-centre Freedom Union and Christian Democrats — he is at best one vote short of a majority in the 200-seat chamber of deputies and so will need to reach out to the opposition. So will he go left or right?

In the days of communism the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, the SVU, was one of the most important emigre organizations and one that was despised by the regime. It was founded by exiles in 1958 to provide a forum for the free development of Czech and Slovak culture abroad, away from the stifling restrictions back home. It also struggled to prevent Czechoslovakia from fading from international awareness in the shadow of the Iron Curtain. Today the Society is still going strong and Radio Prague's director, Miroslav Krupicka, has just returned

The 39th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is currently underway, with dozens of well-known actors and directors, hundreds of films and thousands of enthusiastic film fans making the festival one of the most colourful events in the Czech Republic.

Radio Prague presents special programming on Monday, July 5th, and Tuesday July 6th. Together with Radio Netherlands we look at the extraordinary life of 17th century Czech thinker Jan Amos Comenius, in two documentaries titled "The Teacher of Nations" and "A Bohemian in Amsterdam". Two perspectives forming a full hour of programming, you won't want to miss. Listen to the teaser now!

Ten thousand Czech fans on Prague's Old Town Square cheered "Hosi dekujem" - "thanks boys" - at the end of a match that broke Czech hearts. David Vaughan joined fans on the square just as the Czech's dramatic semi final against Greece in Euro 2004 began:

The Karlovy Vary Film Festival, the main film event in the Czech Republic and now in its 39th year, gets under way on Friday. It is one of the few international film festivals in its category that is open to the general public, explains Laura McGuiness of the official festival newspaper.

It was a busy day at Prague Castle on Thursday where President Klaus received the outgoing Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla and held a series of one-on-one talks with the heads of three political parties on the formation of the next Czech government. The question who will be given the task of trying to set it up remains unanswered. President Klaus has asked for more time, telling newsmen that he would make up his mind within a matter of days. Nevertheless, some information on how the talks went did filter through to the press. Daniela Lazarova has

Next Monday and Tuesday Radio Prague - in cooperation with Radio Netherlands - will broadcast two half-hour documentaries on the life of 17th century Czech thinker Jan Amos Comenius.

The recent elections to the European Parliament not only brought down the government, but also brought a shift on the Czech political scene. We take a closer look at the picture right of centre, where a dozen or so small parties are fighting for support, in the shadow of the dominant Civic Democrats: