News
Czech Republic launches campaign ahead of issue of "eurobonds"
The Czech Republic has launched an international campaign to promote a planned issue of "eurobonds", by which it hopes to help fund reform of its public finances. A tour promoting the bonds in several European capitals got under way on Monday. The minister of finance, Bohuslav Sobotka, told the Czech BBC the bond issue could raise a billion crowns.
Driver who killed three police officers gets three years in prison
A driver who killed three police officers in a collision last October has been sentenced to three years in prison by the district court in the eastern town of Karvina. The state attorney has appealed against the sentence handed down to businessman Zdenek Bulawa, who has also been banned from driving for ten years. The accident provoked wide debate about road safety in the Czech Republic.
President nominates international law expert to Constitutional Court
President Vaclav Klaus has nominated Ivana Janu to fill one of the empty seats on the Czech Constitutional Court, a spokesman for the president said on Monday. The Senate is expected to discuss her candidature in the near future. Ms Janu is a former member of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and is a widely respected expert on international public law.
Freedom Union plan to remain in coalition, whatever outcome of elections
If the Freedom Union does not do well in the upcoming European Parliament elections, that will not lead the party to quit the governing coalition, party head Petr Mares said on Monday. Opinion polls suggest the Freedom Union will fall some way short of the five-percent threshold in the elections, which take place on Friday and Saturday and are the first in the history of the Czech Republic.
Two-year old girl critical after being knocked down by drunken doctor
A two-year-old girl is in a critical condition in hospital after she and her mother were knocked down by a head doctor in the grounds of Prague's Vinohrady Teaching Hospital on Monday. A spokesperson for the hospital said alcohol had been found in the doctor's blood, adding that he will be dismissed following consultations with the doctor's trade union.
Slany town hall employee arrested on bribery charges
A female employee at the town hall in the central Bohemian town of Slany has been arrested on charges of corruption. Police said on Monday that the woman had taken bribes and issued driving licences illegally. She could face up to ten years in prison if found guilty of abuse of power.
Paul McCartney plays to 50,000 fans in first Czech appearance by former Beatle
Paul McCartney became the first member of the Beatles to appear in the Czech Republic when he played a concert in front of around 50,000 fans in Prague on Sunday night. Mr McCartney's two and a half hour set was almost completely made up of Beatles songs, with many fans singing along to classics such as Hey Jude and Yesterday.
Weather
Tuesday should be cloudy with rain or even storms in some parts of the country. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 and 27 degrees Celsius.
