News
Gross to hold talks with leaders of opposition parties
The acting leader of the Social Democrats, Stanislav Gross, has announced plans to meet with opposition party leaders on next week, to sound out possible support for a new coalition government. On Saturday Mr Gross contacted the leader of the Communist Party, Miroslav Grebenicek, to set a meeting on Thursday; one day earlier he will meet with Miroslav Topolanek, the leader of the right-of-centre Civic Democrats. Mr Gross was asked by Czech president Vaclav Klaus on Friday to begin talks towards forming a new coalition government. However, negotiations so far have shown it will be difficult for Mr Gross to secure the 101 votes the new government will need to clinch a mandate in the chamber of deputies. The outgoing coalition government was based on the constellation of three parties relying precisely on the thinnest of majorities.
Mr Gross has said he would still prefer solving the government crisis among the Social Democrats, the Christian Democrats, and the Freedom Union, the last of which can no longer count on support of all its deputies' club members.
Meanwhile, junior government members, the Christian Democrats, have already announced they will not sit in any cabinet relying on tacit support from the largely unreformed Communist Party.
More than 43,000 tickets sold in first two days of Karlovy Vary film festival
Organisers of the 39th Karlovy Vary International film festival have announced they sold more than 43, 000 tickets to visitors in the festival's first two days. Along with the many visiting cinema fans, organisers have said that around 400 journalists have already arrived to cover the event and more are expected. Some 200 film professionals are also on site for the prestigious festival in the Czech spa town.
Motorcycle racer in serious condition following suicide attempt
Czech motorcycle racer Jaroslav Hules is in hospital in serious condition following an apparent suicide attempt on Friday, the date of his thirtieth birthday. Details have not been released, but there is speculation Mr Hules' attempt may have been related to either family problems or difficulties related to his sport, including injury this season. His family, including his wife, have said they are in regular contact with the hospital in the south Bohemian town of Pisek were Mr Hules was admitted. The racer and his wife Eva have a four-year-old son.
German news agency SID picks three Czechs for its Euro all-star team
The German news agency SID has chosen three Czech players to its list of all-stars from this year's European Football Championship - Euro 2004 - held in Portugal. The agency chose the names of Czech midfielders Karel Poborsky and Marek Jankulovski, and star striker Milan Baros - the most players from one national side - to grace the roster of its all star team.
Weather
Monday is expected to be mostly cloudy with light showers and daytime temperatures of around 25 degrees Celsius.
