News

Neo-Nazi supporters to gather in Hradec Králové without permission

Nearly 300 neo-Nazi supporters gathered in the East Bohemian town of Hradec Králové on Saturday. The gathering, which has been announced as Freedom Day, was scheduled to coincide with the death of one of Hitler’s closest aides and associates Rudolf Hesse. The town hall on Friday cancelled a contract for the lease of the open-air cinema where the gathering was originally to take place. However, the neo-Nazi sympathisers gathered in the centre despite not having received a permit. Authorities said the event could only be stopped in case the demonstrators broke the law.

Worshippers remember victims of train accident

Some two hundred people attended a special mass to commemorate the victims of last Friday’s train accident near the town of Studénka in which seven people were killed and dozens more injured. The worship took place in a church in Studénka and it was led by Bishop František Lobkowitz, who expressed his thanks to the rescue workers.

The police on Friday filed charges against two civil engineers who were in charge of the reconstruction of a bridge near the town of Studénka that collapsed onto the rail tracks. The police say the two engineers knew the static of the bridge was impaired and did not take sufficient measures to prevent it from collapsing on the tracks.

Deputy PM Jiří Čunek investigated over sale of flats

The police in Vsetín are investigating Deputy Prime Minister Jiří Čunek on suspicion of the sale a majority stake in a Vsetín housing company to a local real estate firm at a very low price. The deputy prime minister had been previously accused of taking a one and a half million crown bribe from the real estate company while serving as mayor of Vsetín, but the state attorney concluded there was not enough evidence to press charges. A new criminal complaint was made by Jiří Jehlička, technical manager of the Central Register of Debtors.

Explosives used to blow up floor of Vltava

Several dozen kilograms of explosives were used to blow up part of the floor of the Vltava in Prague on Saturday morning. The detonation was carried out by Svatopluk Čech Bridge, beneath the spot where a statue of Stalin once stood at Letná. The detonation was part of project to build a new mooring place for boats. The first of two such detonations took place two weeks ago.

Slovaks search for lost Czech tourist in High Tatras

Slovak mountain rescuers are searching for a 63-year-old Czech tourist in the High Tatras. The search began on Thursday after his wife reported that he failed to return home from the Tatars by train as he intended. Around twenty rescuers equipped with sniffer dogs are involved in the search.

New festival of classical music opens in Prague

A new festival of classical music entitled Dvořáková Praha opens in Prague on Saturday. The three-week programme will offer 15 concerts, mainly pieces by Antonín Dvořák. The opening concert - Dvořák’s From the New World - will be performed by Czech philharmonic orchestra conducted by Ian Martin.

Czech rower takes silver in single skull

Ondřej Synek won a silver medal in the men’s single scull at the summer Olympics in Beijing on Saturday. The Czech rower was only beaten by Norway’s Olaf Tufte, who defended his Olympic title. New Zealand’s three-time world champion Mahe Drysdale came third. Miroslava Knapková came fifth in the women’s category.

Lukáš Pešek come ninth in 250ccm Brno Grand Prix qualifier

The Czech rider Lukas Pesek came ninth in the qualifier for the 250ccm category at the Czech motorcycling Grand Prix in Brno on Saturday. Italy’s Marco Simoncelli, riding for Gilera, took pole position, followed by Alex Debon of Spain. About 200,000 spectators are expected to support Lukas Pesek during his home Grand Prix race.

Weather

Weekend should be overcast and rainy with temperatures between 14 and 18 degrees Celsius. We can expect a slight warming at the start of the week when temperatures will gradually return to the 20s.