News News

PM Nečas rails against left-wing coalitions

Prime minister and Civic Democrat leader Petr Nečas has said his party’s main aim in the autumn regional elections would be to prevent the formation of left-wing coalitions. Speaking at his party’s ideological conference in Ostrava over the weekend, Mr. Nečas said the present coalitions between the Social Democrats and the Communists were having a devastating effect on financing. He said public debt had risen three-fold in the regions with left wing-leaderships and that money was being spent on salaries rather than being invested.

Social Democrats: autumn elections will be referendum on unpopular reforms

The opposition Social Democrats who are likewise holding a policy conference this weekend said the autumn Senate and regional elections would inevitably be a national referendum on the government’s reform programme. Party leader Bohuslav Sobotka has said the prosecution of former party member David Rath –which has already hit the party’s support rating - must not be allowed to overshadow the government’s mistakes and the country’s growing economic problems. He slammed the ruling coalition for approving what he called chaotic spending-cuts instead of effecting measures to jump-start the economy. He moreover questioned the government’s fiscal targets saying that the first 5 months of the year had already created 75 percent of the projected spending deficit for the whole year.

Rail route between Prague and Brno fully operational

Operation on the main rail route between Prague and Brno was fully restored early on Saturday after parts of a wall collapsed onto the tracks on Friday. Two trains ploughed into the debris but fortunately the accident resulted only in material damage. Emergency crews worked 13 hours straight clearing the tracks. An investigation is now underway into what caused the wall to fall. Police are not ruling out charges of negligence.

Lany chateau opens to the public

Lany chateau, the summer residence of Czech presidents, opened to the public on Saturday with a guided tour by none-other than the first lady herself, Mrs. Livia Klaus. Hundreds of people queued up since 6 am for the special treat and Mrs. Klausova smiled and joked as she took groups of people round the chateau and well-tended park gardens. Lany chateau is rarely open to the public. During President Masaryk’s time in office it only opened its gates to the public twice. The last time it did so –during President Klaus first term in office - it attracted 11 thousand visitors.

RAVY CZ meat loafs taken off shelves around the country over Listeria scare

Food inspectors have ordered 2.8 tons of meat loafs produced by the Liberec firm RAVY CZ taken off the shelves after a random check detected the presence of listeria, a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning. The symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, and fever. The products were distributed to several big chain stores: Kaufland, Norma, Tesco and Globus. People have been asked to return the goods to the store where they bought it and they will get their money back.

Two Czech mountaineers killed in attempt to conquer mount Grossglockner

Two Czech mountaineers are reported to have been killed in an attempt to climb Austria’s highest mountain Grossglockner. According to the APA news agency the men were found at the bottom of a 450 metre deep crevasse. Both were experienced mountain climbers and it is not clear what caused the accident.

Karel Abrham to miss British Grandprix due to injury

Czech MotoGP rider Karel Abraham will reportedly miss Sunday's British Grand Prix at Silverstone due to an injury. Abrham broke two fingers on his left hand in a testing accident in Spain last week. The official motograndprix.com website reported that the Cardion Ducati rider should be fit for the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen on June 30.

Weather

The coming days are expected to bring clear skies and extremely hot weather with afternoon highs hitting 32 degrees Celsius.