News

Fugitive Italian mafia boss arrested in north Bohemia

An Italian mafia boss on the run for six years has been arrested in the Czech Republic on the basis of an international arrest warrant, Czech police announced on Friday. Luigi Putrone, who was sentenced to life in Italy in absentia in the late 1990s, was detained near Usti nad Labem in north Bohemia on Thursday. Police said he may have been living in Usti for many years, and are now hunting for those who helped him remain there undetected.

CSA plane makes unscheduled landing after suspected burst tyre

A Czech Airlines plane en route from Madrid to Thessaloniki in Greece was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Prague on Thusday after a suspected burst tyre, a CSA spokesperson said. Shortly after takeoff the captain reported large pieces of rubber along the runway. However, no burst tyre was found and the plane carried on to Greece.

At least four million crowns stolen from ATM machine

At least four million Czech crowns (over 150,000 US dollars) was stolen from an ATM machine in Frymburk, south Bohemia on Wednesday night. Police are investigating the robbery.

Man remanded in custody after running over six at pedestrian crossing

A man who drove through a red light at a pedestrian killing one person and injuring five others has been remanded in custody. The man, who is 58, did not have a driving license and was fleeing the scene of a minor traffic accident when the incident occurred in the east Bohemian town of Pardubice on Tuesday.

T-Mobile passes out Eurotel on Czech mobiles market

T-Mobile has passed out Eurotel to become the leading operator on the Czech mobile telephones market in terms of the number of active SIM cards. However, Eurotel - which is owned by Cesky Telecom - is still in front in terms of profits. The country's third operator Oskar was bought by Vodaphone earlier this year.

Athletics officials deny Sebrle, Dvorak took performance enhancing drugs in Helsinki

Czech athletics officials have denied any wrongdoing after Roman Sebrle and Tomas Dvorak were investigated for receiving intravenous infusions during the decathlon at the World Athletics Championships in Helsinki. The Czech team's leader and doctor said the two had been given glucose, which is not a banned substance. Sebrle took silver in the decathlon, while Dvorak finished eighth.

Cechlova-Pospisilova wins first medal in major competition in Helsinki

Meanwhile, Czech athlete Vera Cechlova-Pospisilova won her first ever medal in a major competition when she took bronze in the women's discus in Helsinki on Thursday. The last great Czech medal hope is Jaroslav Baba, who will be taking part in the final of the men's high jump on Sunday.

Weather

It should continue to be cool over the next few days, with temperatures not expected to exceed 20 degrees Celsius. There will be sunny spells with rain in places.