News
Police launch investigation into hospital deaths
A man has confessed to the murder of several patients at a hospital in the east Bohemian town of Havlickuv Brod. The former hospital employee injected seven patients in intensive care with heparin, a drug used to decrease the clotting ability of the blood. The man has been charged with murder as well as the attempted murder of ten more people.
Czech military plane grounded in Turkmenistan back in Prague
Foreign Minister Alexandr Vondra wants an official explanation from Turkmenistan why a Czech plane was grounded in the capital Ashgabat. Turkmen authorities say the plane was not authorised to enter Turkmen airspace. The aircraft was carrying a delegation returning from Afghanistan where Czechs officially took over command at the international airport in Kabul. The delegation, including chief-of-staff General Pavel Stefka and deputy defence minister Martin Bartak, were forced to spend the night in the plane. The President of Turkmenistan allowed the plane to return to Prague on Sunday morning.
Czech TV reporter faces criminal complaint
The organisers of a conference on Iraq that is to be held in Prague next weekend have filed a criminal complaint against a Czech TV reporter. The organisers say claims by the reporter that supporters of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein would be attending the conference are false. The conference called Prague Appeal for Iraq is to be held at the Czech Chamber of Deputies. It is organised by the Czech Peace Fund and Czech-Iraqi Association.
Border blockade in protest at Temelin nuclear power plant
Austrian opponents of the Temelin nuclear power plant are staging a blockade of the Czech-Austrian border crossing Wullowitz-Dolni Dvoriste. The activists, blocking traffic with the help of twelve tractors, are calling onto the Austrian government to oppose the operation of the Temelin plant in southern Bohemia, some 50 km from the border. Austria is a nuclear-free country.
Jan Zrzavy painting sells for record price
A work by the acclaimed Czech painter Jan Zrzavy has sold for 5.5 million crowns. It is the only work by the great early twentieth century protagonist of the Czech avantgarde that has sold for a price exceeding 2 million crowns. The painting entitled "Studne Locronan III" was auctioned off in Prague on Sunday and dates to 1938. It is the last work made by Jan Zrzavy before he moved to France.
Weather
The next few days have been forecast with overcast skies and scattered showers. Daytime temperatures will range from 4 to 8 degrees Celsius but should rise steadily to reach 13 degrees on Tuesday.
