News

Klaus to decide on government appointment when he has all documents

President Vaclav Klaus says he will decide on the date of appointment of Mirek Topolanek's new government once he is provided with all necessary documents regarding its members, a spokesman said on Friday. Those include the biographies and security screening certificates of the proposed ministers. President Klaus has also expressed reservations regarding the cabinet line-up and has criticised the prime minister for failing to secure majority support for it in the lower house. Mr Topolanek's first government failed to win confidence in early October and resigned. The Czech Republic has been without a stable government since inconclusive elections in June.

PM admits extramarital relationship

Prime Minister and Civic Democrat chairman Mirek Topolanek has announced he has separated from his wife Pavla and is now living with his girlfriend, Civic Democrat MP Lucie Talmanova. The Czech media had speculated about Mr Topolanek's domestic crisis and his relationship with Ms Talmanova for six months. In Saturday's edition of Lidove noviny, the 39-year old MP Talmanova confirmed she was pregnant but declined to identify the father of her baby and said she was prepared to raise her child as a single mother.

Temelin nuclear unit shut down for tests

The first unit of the Temelin nuclear power plant in South Bohemia was shut down overnight while tests were carried out on the operating equipment, a spokesman said on Saturday. The unit is expected to be reconnected to the network on Sunday. The equipment has been tested once a month in compliance with an order from the Czech Republic's nuclear authority in mid-2006. The Temelin plant, which started operation in 2000, has been repeatedly criticised by neighbouring Austria which says the plant, combining Soviet design and Western operating technology, is unsafe.

Czech 2006 new car and light utility registrations climb 4.24 percent

Registrations of new cars and light utility vehicles rose by more than 4 percent to over 170,000 in the Czech Republic in 2006 compared with the previous year, the Association of Car Importers announced on Friday. Registration of new cars fell by 2.7 percent but those of light utility vehicles soared by almost 27 percent over the same period, it added. Local car maker, Skoda Auto, part of the Volkswagen Group, topped both categories, accounting for almost 42 percent of new car registrations and 24 percent of light utility vehicles. Skoda Auto's Fabia was the most popular model of the key small car segment of the market.

Brno reject Middlesbrough's Lejsal bid

Czech first division team FC Brno said on Friday they had rejected an approach from Middlesbrough for goalkeeper Martin Lejsal. The 25-year-old, who was part of the Czech squad for a friendly against Denmark in November, played for Italians Reggina, Padova and Venezia before joining Brno at the end of 2005.

Weather

The rest of the weekend should be overcast with a chance of rain and daytime highs between 7 and 11 degrees Celsius.