News of Radio Prague

Tests continue after suspected Creutzfeld Jakobs disease death

Tests have been continuing to ascertain whether a 26-year-old woman from east Bohemia died from Creutzfeld Jakobs disease, believed to be the human form of Mad Cow Disease or BSE. If confirmed, it would be the first case of Creutzfeld Jakobs disease discovered in the Czech Republic. A spokesperson for the laboratory investigating the death said on Friday that if the tests proved inconclusive, samples would be sent to the World Health Organisation. A total of five cases of BSE have been discovered in this country since it was first detected in the year 2000.

Court adjourns case taken by MP Tlusty against mobile operator Eurotel

The Prague Municipal Court has adjourned until September a case involving Civic Democrat MP Vlastimil Tlusty and mobile phone operator Eurotel. Mr Tlusty brought Eurotel to court after a spokesman for the company implied the MP did not know how to operate a mobile phone. That followed a statement by Mr Tlusty to the Chamber of Deputies in February, in which he said his mobile had been bugged. He now wants the court to rule that Eurotel "interfered in his privacy."

Senator Lastovecka expected to be appointed to Constitutional Court

President Vaclav Klaus has said he would like Senator Dagmar Lastovecka of his Civic Democratic Party to be appointed a Constitutional Court judge. The approval of the Senate, necessary for such an appointment, is expected to be forthcoming. Ms Lastovecka's father, Zdenek Kessler, was the chairman of the Constitutional Court until February, when he stepped down for health reasons. Eight of the Brno-based court's judges are due to retire on July 15 as their ten-year terms come to an end.

Ambulance worker charged with robbing unconscious man

Prague police have charged a rescue worker with robbing a Vietnamese man whom he was taking to hospital by ambulance. A spokesman for the police said on Friday that the rescue worker stole a mobile phone from the man, who was unconscious after being attacked and robbed in the street. The accused is alleged to have then started using the mobile himself.

Czech tennis players to meet each other in semi-finals of Swiss Open

The Czech tennis players Jiri Novak and Radek Stepanek have both advanced to the last four at the Swiss Open tournament. On Friday Mr Stepanek beat Germany's Rainer Schuettler 6-4, 6-2, while Mr Novak - who won the Swiss Open two years ago - advanced after beating Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina 6-3, 6-3. The two Czechs, who are doubles partners in the tournament, will face each other in the semi-finals.

Weekend weather

Saturday is expected be rather cloudy with showers in places and a maximum temperature of 24 degrees Celsius. Sunday's weather should be similar, with a maximum temperature of 23.