News of Radio Prague

Haider repeats threats to block Czech Republic's accession to EU

The former leader of Austria's Freedom Party Joerg Haider said on Saturday that if his party remains in power after the elections Austria will veto the Czech Republic's accession to the European Union unless Czechs abolish the controversial post-war Benes decrees. Mr Haider also called for a referendum on EU expansion to be held in Austria.

Zeman satisfied with results of North American visit

The Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman made a stopover in Florida at the close of his weeklong visit to the USA and Mexico on Saturday, before his departure for the Czech Republic. In Florida, Mr Zeman attended a round table discussion with Czech and Florida entrepreneurs. On his North American trip Mr Zeman was accompanied by Trade and Industry Minister Miroslav Gregr, Finance Minister Jiri Rusnok and about 20 Czech entrepreneurs. In an interview with Czech journalists, Mr Zeman expressed satisfaction with the results of his trip, whose main goal was to prompt further investment in the Czech Republic.

National Gallery to return Nazi-looted works of art

The Czech National Gallery says it will return about 500 works of art to the families of Jewish collectors Jindrich Waldes and Richard Moravec, seized by the Nazis in 1939. The collections became the property of the Czechoslovak National Gallery after the war. Both families have already been given back several hundred items following the 1991 law on mitigating some of the property crimes committed during the war.

Novak beats Grosjean in Davis Cup

The Czech tennis player Jiri Novak has beaten France's Sebastien Grosjean 3:6, 6:1, 6:3, 6:1 to level the score two games all in the Davis Cup world group, quarterfinal tie between France and the Czech Republic. The result of the game between Bohdan Ulihrach and Fabrice Santoro will decide the match.

Miss Czech Republic 2002 crowned on Saturday

Eighteen-year old Katerina Prusova from north Bohemia became Czech Beauty Queen in Brno on Saturday. Twenty-one-year old Katerina Smrzova from Prague came second, followed by twenty-year old Radka Kocurova from the north Moravian town of Karvina.

Weather

Sunday night should be bright with temperatures between 1 and minus 5 degrees Celsius. Monday will see clear skies and temperatures reaching highs of 12 degrees Celsius.