News

Ex-PM strongly condemns police investigation of his government

Former prime minister Petr Nečas has strongly condemned the police investigation of alleged corruption in his government. Speaking to reporters after being questioned by investigators on Friday, Mr Nečas said the investigation was a “fabricated political case”, and the state attorney overseeing the case was acting “wilfully”. The former cabinet leaders also said he would not step down as MP despite the fact the police has asked the lower house to strip him of his parliamentary immunity so that he can be prosecuted.

Petr Nečas stepped down as prime minister last month after the police arrested his chief of staff, Jana Nagyová, and three former MPs for his party, the Civic Democrats. The authorities believe the MPs were corrupted when they accepted posts in state run-firms in return for giving up their seats in the lower house to make way for government legislation. Ms Nagyová also allegedly tasked the country’s military intelligence with spying on Mr Nečas’ wife.

Record amounts of marihuana, methamphetamine confiscated in 2012

The Czech authorities last year confiscated record amounts of marihuana and methamphetamine, according to an annual report by the country’s anti-drug agency. In total, 563 kg of marihuana and nearly 32 kg of methamphetamine was confiscated in 2012. The police also registered an increase in the number of indoor marihuana growing operations while methamphetamine labs, mainly located in the border areas, increased their production. Last year, the police uncovered 199 marihuana grow ops, and confiscated over 90,000 marihuana plants. Most of the illicit drug was destined for the domestic market; however, large quantities were also to be exported to Ukraine, Hungary, the UK, and Scandinavia, the report says.

Justice Ministry files Dahlgren extradition request at US embassy

The Czech Justice Ministry Friday filed extradition request to the US embassy in Prague for US citizen Kevin Dahlgren who is wanted in the Czech Republic over four murders, a spokeswoman for the ministry said. The request was filed a day after the ministry received the respective documents from Brno prosecutors. Twenty-year-old Kevin Dahlgren is suspected of murdering a four-member family he was staying with in Brno in May. He then fled to the US where he was detained upon arrival and has since remained in custody.

New environment minister backs Temelín expansion plan

The new environment minister, Tomáš Podivínský, has backed plans to expand the Temelín nuclear power station. Speaking to reporters after a visit to the plant on Friday, Mr Podivísnký said the planned construction of two new blocks was important for the country’s energy stability. While critics say it would be highly unprofitable to go ahead with the plan under current electricity prices, the minister said the energy market was distorted by subsidies for renewable sources of energy.

The state-owned energy firm ČEZ is planning to pick the winning bid for the multi-billion project this autumn; however, it’s not clear whether the caretaker government will award the contract, or whether the process will be concluded after the next general election.

President Zeman nominates judge for Constitutional Court

President Miloš Zeman has nominated the chief justice of Prague’s Municipal Court, Jan Sváček for judge of the Constitutional Court, a spokeswoman for the Senate said. Mr Sváček was nominated by then-president Václav Klaus but Senators did not approve him for the post. Since his inauguration in March, Miloš Zeman has nominated eight candidates for the top court, seven of whom were approved.

Czech woman murdered in Chicago

A 24-year-old Czech woman was murdered in the US city of Chicago at the end of last month, a spokeswoman for the Czech Foreign Ministry said on Friday. The woman was reportedly stabbed and strangled to death in her apartment on the night of June 24. The homicide is under investigation by the Chicago police; however, it has affected the Czech community in the city and even led to disputes at the Czech general consulate in Chicago after one of its employees was fired for having provided unauthorized information. The Czech ambassador to the US, Petr Gandalovič, is set to visit the city at the end of July in an attempt to calm the situation.

Brno faces major public transport disruptions

The city of Brno faces major disruptions of its public transport system due to the renovation of a railway bridge in the centre of the city. Between July 14 and August 11, local and express trains will not stop at Brno’s Main Station but instead at the stations Brno-Židenice and Brno-Královo Pole. Passengers travelling to central Brno are advised to use buses and trams. Sections of several tram and trolleybus lines will also be closed due to reconstruction work during the summer.

Education Ministry confirms accreditation for troubled Plzeň law school

The Education Ministry on Friday confirmed accreditation for the law faculty of West Bohemia University in Plzeň. The school can now admit students into its three- and five-years’ programmes. Plzeň law faculty was in 2009 hit by a scandal when it turned out that many of its graduates took very little time to earn degrees. However, the ministry’s accreditation agency said situation at the school had improved.

Police call off search for missing 1980s pop star

The police on Friday called off a search for missing 1980s pop star Iveta Bartošová, a police spokeswoman said. The police are in touch with the 47-year-old singer although did not reveal her whereabouts. Ms Bartošová, who reportedly suffers from alcohol addiction, has been missing since Saturday, when a friend drove her from her home to unknown location.

Hrady.cz music festival kicks off

The ninth annual Hrady.cz music festival, which travels to eight mediaeval Bohemian and Moravian castles, kicks off on Friday at the Točník castle in central Bohemia. This year the festival’s line-up includes the band Kryštof, the signer-songwriter Tomáš Klus, Aneta Langerová, Pipes and Pints, and others. The festival concludes at the Moravian castle Bouzov at the end of August.

Teenage swimmer sets national women’s 100-metre butterfly record

Lucie Svěcená, a 15-year-old Czech swimmer, has set a new national women’s 100-metre butterfly record. She finished the race in 59.73 seconds at the Junior European Championships in Poland on Friday, becoming the first Czech woman to cover the distance in less than one minute. 18-year old Czech swimmer Jan Micka took two gold medals at the championships when he finished first at 400-metre and 1,500-metre free style.

Weather

The weekend will be mostly clear with some cloudy spots and rain showers in places. Daytime highs should range between 22 and 26 degrees Celsius.