News

Police investigate negligence as possible cause of fire

Police in the west Bohemian city of Pilsen are investigating circumstances behind a fire that broke out in a factory building for the construction of transformers, belonging to Skoda Pilsen. Investigators have not ruled out negligence as a cause: a 49-year-old worker is said to have been installing electrical equipment and welding an item when a spark set the blaze off. Damages have been estimated as high as 130 million crowns, the equivalent of 5 million dollars US. It is not yet whether man will face charges for negligence putting the public at risk. Two workers at the plant suffered light injuries.

45 year-old killed by lightening

A 45 year-old man was killed on Saturday when he was struck by lightening. The accident took place in the evening hours at a golf course near the historic site of Konopiste, near Benesov, south of Prague. The man, believed to have been either a British or a German national, died instantly. Representatives of the golf course have not commented the incident.

Several cottages, home, set alight

Elsewhere on Saturday evening lightning strikes caused a number of fires, hitting several cottages and a family home in the region of southern Moravia. Fire fighters called in noted that most of the homes struck lacked lightening rods for protection. But, damages were minor and no one suffered injury.

Poll: Klaus considered "most trustworthy" politician

A poll released by the STEM agency has suggested that around 73 percent of Czechs consider President Vaclav Klaus to be the most trustworthy among Czech politicians. He is followed by Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek at 48 percent. Mr Klaus' numbers have been mostly stable since a previous poll, but Mr Paroubek's rise has been noteworthy: not long ago - on April 25th - he took over as prime minister - as a relative unknown. His numbers have risen steadily since.

Trust in two other constitutional officials - the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Lubomir Zaoralek, and the chairman of the Senate, Premysl Sobotka, was expressed by 43 percent of those surveyed.

'Ready for Life' wins 85th Czech derby

Jockey Jiri Palik and the three-year old mare 'Ready for Life' have won the 85th annual Czech derby, at Prague's Chuchle racetrack. In the 2,400 metre race for three-year-olds, 'Ready for Life' finished ahead of 'Arrina', and the German racehorse known as 'Do It'. The filly 'Ready for Life' is the charge of legendary Czech jockey Josef Vana.

Weather

The days ahead are expected to be both sunny and hot with daytime temperatures averaging between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius.