News

Man charged over illegal brandy deaths

A thirty-six-year old man has been charged in connection with the sale of illegally-produced brandy that killed three people this week. Six others are in critical condition in hospital, most of them likely to lose their eyesight. It is not clear if the man in question produced the alcohol or sold it. The victims all bought the brandy from a street stall in the Moravian town of Havirov, where it was sold on tap. However two more cases of alcohol poisoning have since appeared in the towns of Znojmo and Kyov. Warnings have been issued to the public not to buy cheap liquor in the street until the incident has been investigated.

Injured soldier transported home

A Czech soldier who was seriously injured in Friday’s missile attack against the Shank operating base in Afghanistan has been transported home. The soldier, who served on the provincial reconstruction team in Logar province, was injured by flying shrapnel and was airlifted to a military hospital in Kabul where he was operated on by Czech physicians. On Saturday night he was flown home in an army special and is now receiving care at Prague’s military hospital in Střešovice. There are currently some 300 Czech soldiers and civilian experts working at the Shank base in Logar.

National theatre management requests meeting with culture minister

The management of Prague’s National Theatre has requested a meeting with the culture minister, Alena Hanáková, over Friday’s unexpected dismissal of the theatre’s director Ondřej Černý. The management has questioned the move in an open letter to the minister and criticized her decision to appoint her deputy Martin Sankot as a temporary replacement. The management says the task should be given to someone from their own ranks in view of the complexities involved in managing such an institution.

Minister Hanáková on Friday sacked the theatre’s director without forewarning, later saying that she was not happy with the pace of the ongoing merger of the National Theatre and the Prague State Opera. The theatre head has rejected the stated reason for his dismissal saying his sacking and the manner in which it was undertaken reflected “arrogance of power”. Černý’s mandate was to have expired in March of 2013.

PM warns against provisional budget next year

Prime Minister Petr Nečas has warned against a drawn-out debate on the government proposed tax hikes saying the country could find itself operating on a provisional budget next year. The prime minister defended the government proposed tax hikes, which the lower house rejected thanks to six rebels from his own party, saying that a final rejection of the bill would mean the introduction of a single 17.5 percent VAT which would increase the state deficit by 24 billion crowns. The prime minister ,who has sent the law back to the lower house linked to a vote of confidence in his administration, said in a televised debate on Sunday that should his government fall he would prefer to see early elections to a caretaker cabinet.

Regional leaders demand end to rebellion

Ten regional Civic Democratic Party leaders have called on the six rebel MPs from the party to “end their rebellion” and vote in favour of the government proposed tax hikes. In an open letter to the deputies the regional leaders say that their behaviour is damaging the Civic Democratic Party ahead of the autumn elections and claim that the real reason behind the rebellion is an attempt to oust Petr Nečas from his post as party leader and prime minister. Three regional leaders have not supported the appeal.

Jiří Bělohlávek takes his leave of BBC Symphony Orchestra

Czech conductor Jiří Bělohlávek took his leave of the BBC Symphony Orchestra in grand style on Saturday night conducting the closing night of the BBC Proms. Bělohlávek who has been chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra for the last six years got a standing ovation from the crowd and a heartfelt rendition of Auld Lang Syne. The conductor received a big cheer when he pulled out the CBE honour given him by Queen Elizabeth and put it round his neck. Mr. Bělohlávek will now be moving back to Prague where he is serve as chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.

Drunk pilot crashes hang glider

A powered hang glider crashed near Mostkovice in the Prostějov region on Sunday after attempting to land in a field. The sixty-eight-year old pilot was taken to hospital with an open fracture of the forearm. Police investigating the accident took a breathalyzer which showed that the man was heavily intoxicated.

Weather

The coming days should be clear and sunny with day temperatures reaching 29 degrees Celsius.