News

Man killed by high-speed train

An elderly man was killed on Saturday morning after he was hit by the Pendolino high-speed train on the Prague to Ostrava route near the town of Kolin. The driver was unaware of the collision until the train arrived at a station where remnants of a human body were found on its front. Police are investigating whether the 78-year-old man was killed while crossing the tracks or whether he committed suicide.

Czech Airlines denies having covered Skromach's private stay in USA

The state-owned air carrier Czech Airlines has denied allegations published in Saturday's issue of the popular tabloid Blesk that it had paid for a recent private stay of Labour and Social Affairs Minister Zdenek Skromach in New York. The paper writes that Minister Skromach stayed in a hotel where Czech Airlines has an open account to accommodate its crews. Mr Skromach denied the accusation and said it was smear campaign. At a news conference on Saturday afternoon, Mr Skromach produced receipts to prove he had paid for the family trip himself.

PM to visit Norway, Denmark next week

Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek is to visit Norway and Denmark next week. He is due to meet his counterparts and other officials and he will also be received by Denmark's Queen Margarethe II. Prime Minister Paroubek will meet Czech expatriates in the Norwegian capital Oslo and in the Danish capital Copenhagen he is going to hold talks with businessmen investing in the Czech Republic.

Kingscourt Express closes Prague-London coach line

According to Saturday's press, the Czech company Kingscourt Express has decided to discontinue its regular coach lines between Prague and London. The company has been operating the line for 16 years but says it could not compete with low cost airlines.

Jakub Janda first Czech to win Four Hills ski jumping competition for 35 years

Jakub Janda has become only the second Czech ever to win the Four Hills ski jumping tournament. Janda shared victory with Finland's Janne Ahonen when both men finished equal on points on Friday; it was the first time a tie was recorded in the Four Hills competition, which this year was seen as a warm-up for the Turin Winter Olympics. The only other Czech to win the prestigious ski jumping tournament was Jiri Raska, in 1971.

Weather

We should have partly cloudy skies in the coming days with daytime temperatures staying just below freezing point.