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Two Dutch nationals, charged with grievous bodily harm in an attack on a Czech waiter last weekend, have been remanded in custody while three from their group were given eight-month suspended sentences and were expelled from the Czech Republic for five years. The waiter, who had to undergo emergency surgery, meanwhile, is out of danger but still in serious condition.

The legendary comics Rychlé Šípy, or Rapid Arrows, by Jaroslav Foglar are making a comeback. Albatros is set re-publish all of the major works by the late writer and youth movement activist, including some previously unreleased texts. The edition is being prepared in cooperation with the Scout Foundation of Jaroslav Foglar.

Friday marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most significant dissident organisations in communist Czechoslovakia. The Committee for the Defence of the Unjustly Prosecuted helped the families of victims of the regime and succeeded in winning international attention for political prisoners.

Talks to pave the way for a Czech government almost six months after elections have hit some new obstacles. The junior partner in a would be coalition with Andrej Babiš’ ANO, the Social Democrats, are seeking more guarantees. At the same time a powerful faction within the left-of centre party has openly opposed entering the government.

The cyclists’ association Auto*Mat has lodged a court complaint against Prague 1 district council’s move to introduce a daytime ban on bikes in large parts of the city centre. The organisation, which is promoting cycling in the city, has also called on the City Hall to review the matter, arguing that the ban is exaggerated and illegal.

Growing hostility towards journalists openly encouraged by political leaders is one of the major themes of this year’s Reporters Without Borders’ global press freedom index. And that’s one of the factors also responsible for the Czech Republic’s dramatic drop in the rankings.

Prague City council’s executive committee has backed demolishing the city’s historic Libeň Bridge, a 1928 construction with Cubist elements, rather than opt for renovation. If the plan goes ahead, a new bridge will be built in its place. Proponents argue that saving the original would be almost costly as building a new bridge and will require less maintenance moving forward.

This year’s Karlovy Vary film festival will begin with a tribute to the late director Miloš Forman in the form of a screening of Loves of a Blonde followed by a concert of music from his movies. Organisers have also revealed that the festival’s President’s Award will go to Czech acting great Jaromír Hanzlík. I spoke to Karlovy Vary’s artistic director Karel Och and began by asking about the relationship between the country’s biggest film event and Miloš Forman.

Czech government negotiations appear to be back on track. The Social Democrats’ party leadership has endorsed the launch of fresh talks with ANO following concessions by the biggest parliamentary party and October election winner. But it’s still far from a done deal.

The remains of exiled Czech Cardinal Josef Beran have been taken from the Vatican’s St Peter’s Basilica. On Friday, they will be flown to Prague and later buried in Prague’s St. Vitus Cathedral. Cardinal Beran was exiled to Rome in 1965 and died there four years later. He was buried in the Vatican because the communist authorities didn’t approve his final wish for his body to be returned to his homeland.