News

Austrian activists block border crossing to protest nuclear power plant

Austrian activists blocked a border crossing between Austria and the Czech Republic on Saturday afternoon in protest of the Czech Republic's Temelin nuclear power plant, which was given the go-ahead for full operation by the Czech State Authority for Nuclear Energy on Monday. Temelin has long been a bone of contention for demonstrators who believe authorities have not reduced safety problems at the plant. Saturday's demonstration, which began around noon, did not see any involvement by Czechs.

Senate by-elections decided in Prague 4, Znojmo

Run-offs in Senate by-elections for the Prague 4 and Znojmo constituencies have resulted in victories for Frantisek Prihoda, of the right-of-centre Civic Democratic Party, who earned 60 percent of the ballot, and Milan Spacek, candidate for the Christian Democrats, who got 53 percent. Defeated were Social Democrat Erazim Kohak, in Prague 4, and Civic Democrat Jaroslav Parik, in Znojmo.

The final ballot count indicates a very low overall voter turn-out: just 14.5 percent of those eligible showed up to cast their vote.

Belarussian police attempt to block Czech TV journalists pursuing elections story

Two Czech TV crew members - a journalist and a cameraman - faced complications on Saturday while trying to complete a report on upcoming Parliamentary elections in Belarus. The two were stopped by police at the headquarters of the central electoral commission while taping the story of a candidate who had been struck from the ballot list. The two Czechs were asked by local police to hand over taped footage, which they refused, seeking help from members of an independent journalists' association instead.

Czech TV has since commented the incident as a routine hitch in Belarus, a country ruled by strong-arm president Alexander Lukashenko.

Sparta wins traditional derby 2:0 against Slavia

Football side Sparta Prague beat traditional rivals Slavia in their derby on Saturday. Sparta saw both goals come from Jiri Homola in a four-minute stretch in the second half that gave his team the game.

Vaidisova clinches appearance in second WTA final

15-year-old Czech tennis player Nicole Vaidisova has made it to a WTA final for the second time in her career. On Saturday the Czech player downed American opponent Meghann Shaughnessy in three sets in her semi-final at the Tashkent Open in Uzbekistan, winning the last set on a tie-break. On Sunday she will face Virginia Razzano of France.

Ms Vaidisova currently ranks 103 in the women's rankings: a win on Sunday would see her earn 140, 000 U.S. dollars.

Weather

Sunday is likely to be overcast with a chance of some sunny periods and a daytime temperature of around 11 degrees Celsius.