News

Russian charged for endangering aircraft security in 'hijacking' incident

Czech authorities have charged a Russian national for endangering an aircraft's safety, which forced the Aeroflot flight from Moscow to Geneva to make an emergency landing on Thursday. The Russian Airbus A-320 landed safely at Prague's international airport, with emergency crews standing by. Of the 178 people on board, including crew, no one suffered injury. The Russian man, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, allegedly tried to force his way into the flight deck, before being overpowered by passengers and members of the crew. The man is now to be held in custody. If found guilty he could face between eight to fifteen years in prison.

Dow Jones sells its share in Economia

The American publishing and financial information company Dow Jones has sold its 23.5 percent stake in the Czech Republic-based firm Economia, to majority German share-holder Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt. The announcement was made on Friday. The amount Dow Jones sold for is roughly twenty million US dollars. Economia is the publisher of the well-known Czech financial daily Hospodarske noviny, as well as the business weekly Ekonom. Remaining shares in Economia are owned by management as well as by the Czech CTK news agency.

21-year-old wanted in connection with hit-and-run

A Czech national wanted by police in connection with a fatal accident in the town of Kladno, near Prague, on Thursday, is reportedly no longer in the Czech Republic. According to police, 21-year-old David Skalkos left for Great Britain on Thursday evening, hours after a vehicle registered in his name was involved in a fatal hit-and-run. The accident resulted in the death of a 14-year-old girl. Czech officials have have passed on information to the British police.

Health officials uncover new listeria cases

Health officials have uncovered five additional cases of incidence of the listeria bacteria in a number of food products. Incidence of the bacteria in Czech territory was found to be unusually high in December. Also, traces were found in three adults and a baby that died in last month. An inspection team now has found incidence of the bacteria in a number of meat production facilities. In all, seventy-five samples were taken from various products in the region, with a number of producers banned from continuing production until given word by authorities.

Twenty-four evacuated during building fire in Brno

On Thursday evening some twenty-four people from a total of twelve apartments were evacuated from their building by fire fighters after a fire broke out in the evening hours. Eight people suffered from smoke inhalation but there were no fatalities. Two are in serious condition. The fire caused an estimated 800,000 crowns in damages.

Hingis to marry Stepanek

Former world number one women's tennis star Martina Hingis is to marry Czech tennis player Radek Stepanek. The 26-year-old Hingis confirmed news of her engagement at a media conference at the Gold Coast on Friday where she is preparing to play the Australian women's hardcourt championships. Hingis said 28-year-old Stepanek, ranked 19 in the world, had proposed to her in Prague last month but it was not until she arrived in Australia that anyone noticed her diamond ring.

Hingis dominated women's tennis in the late 1990s before ankle and foot injuries forced her into early retirement in 2002. She took three years off before making a comeback last year, finishing the season ranked in the world's top 10.

Stepanek will make a comeback of his own at next week's Australian men's hardcourt championships in Adelaide. He reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon this year but has not played since after suffering injury.

Lang earns three assists in 7- 4 Red Wings win

Czech ice hockey center Robert Lang helped his team the Detroit Red Wings spark a four goal third period comeback on Thursday to defeat Columbus 7 - 4. The Wings were trailing 4 - 0 early in the last frame but came back to win in part thanks to three assists by Lang to Cleary who scored a hat-trick.

Weather

The weekend is expected to see drizzling showers with daytime temperatures hovering at around 2 degrees Celsius.