News

PM Spidla calls on Czechs to pay honour to victims of Madrid attacks

Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla has called on Czech citizens to pay honour to the victims of the Madrid terrorist attacks by holding three minutes of silence on Monday at noon. According to the latest information, 200 people died and more than 1,400 were wounded in Thursday's attacks on packed Madrid commuter trains. On Monday and Tuesday, Czech citizens will be able to sign a condolence book at the Spanish Embassy in Prague. A solemn mass in memory of the victims of the terrorist attacks will be celebrated at Prague's St Tomas Church on Tuesday afternoon.

EU anti-torture committee criticises treatment of detainees and prisoners in the Czech Republic

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture has criticised the Czech Republic for inappropriate treatment of detainees and prisoners. The committee demands the elimination of certain excesses in the police treatment of detained persons and abandoning an unnecessarily tough treatment of prisoners. In its latest report on the Czech Republic, the committee points to numerous accusations concerning police brutality during arresting and interrogation. It says that Romanies, foreigners and young people are most often subject to harsh treatment. The Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee also calls on Czech authorities to improve treatment of prisoners and to make further efforts to eliminate overcrowding in prisons.

Missing Czech surfer found dead in New Zealand

New Zealand rescuers have found the body of a Czech 23-year-old surfer who had been missing for almost one week. According to the internet version of The New Zealand Herald, the body was found on Waimarama Beach on Saturday. The young man went missing in the waves last Sunday not far from the place where the sea washed him up on the beach. This has been the third such death in the past four weeks in New Zealand. Local authorities say tourists themselves are to blame since they do not heed warnings and disrespect weather conditions.

Oil, food drive Czech Feb industry prices up

Czech producer prices grew by a faster-than-expected 0.3 percent in February, up from 0.8 percent in January, driven mainly by chemicals, oil refining and food industries. The Czech Statistics Office said on Friday said that the result put the year-on-year growth of industrial producer prices at 1.5 percent down from January's 1.6 percent. Agricultural prices alone grew by more than 3 percent, which analyst predict will stimulate growth of consumer food prices.

Weather forecast

And finally, a quick look at the weather. We are expecting a cloudy day with scattered rain showers, especially in the north-western parts of the country. The highest daytime temperatures should range from 9 to 13 degrees Celsius.