News of Radio Prague

Body of raft woman found on riverbank near Plzen

The body of a 19-year-old woman swept away by floodwater on Thursday has been found on a riverbank near Plzen in West Bohemia. The woman was on a raft on the Berounka river when it capsized in a surging torrent. Two people are now known to have died as a direct consequence of last week's severe floods, and a third - a man who was swept away in his car - is still missing. Another three people - including two voluntary fireman - died of heart attacks.

Forecast: heavy rain, high winds, more floods possible

Meanwhile meteorologists say heavy rain expected to hit western and southern Bohemia on Sunday night will lead to water levels rising again on the Berounka and Vltava rivers, raising the possibility of more flooding. They warn that the rain will be accompanied by high winds, which could uproot trees and bring down power lines. The rain is expected to continue throughout the country on Monday.

Czech fireman head for Austria to help flood clear up

A group of twenty Czech fireman are on their way to Austria to help local emergency services in the town of Horn, which was badly hit by the severe floods in Austria last week. The fireman will take with them pumping equipment and inflatable dinghies to assist in the clean-up operation.

Israeli businessman shot dead in centre of Prague

Police say an Israeli businessman has been shot dead in the centre of Prague. The 49-year-old man, who has not been named, was shot and killed shortly after midnight on Sunday a short distance from Prague's Old Town Square. Eyewitnesses say the killer escaped from the scene on a bicycle. Police say the businessman owned a hotel in the centre of Prague.

Laywer: Srba suicidal, plans to starve himself to death

The lawyer for the former Foreign Ministry official accused of trying to kill an investigative journalist has said his client is suicidal and wants to starve himself to death in prison. The lawyer said Karel Srba, former Foreign Ministry General Secretary, had not accepted food or liquids since Friday, although prison authorities say Mr Srba ended his hunger strike on Sunday afternoon. Mr Srba is being held in isolation at the Bory prison in Plzen. He was arrested several weeks ago and has been charged with attempted murder, fraud and corruption.

Svoboda to meet Austrian counterpart in New York

The new Czech foreign minister Cyril Svoboda will meet his Austrian counterpart Benita Ferrero-Waldner in New York in September. The talks will focus on the controversial Benes decrees, under which around two and a half million ethnic Germans were expelled from Czechoslovakia and their property confiscated after World War Two. Some politicians in Austria and Germany say the Czech Republic must abolish the decrees before being allowed to join the European Union. The Czech government has refused to discuss the issue, and Mr Svoboda has said his country's position has not changed.

Romanian police hunt for Czech rollercoaster owner after fatal accident

Police in Romania are searching for the Czech owner of a rollercoaster ride, who reportedly fled the scene of a fatal accident. One person was killed and three seriously injured in the accident, which happened on Friday at a fairground in the Black Sea resort of Navodari. Eyewitnesses say one of the carriages flew off the rails and landed on the ground. Romanian border police have been ordered to stop the man leaving the country.

Weather

And finally a look at the weather. There are overcast skies and heavy rain forecast for most of the country on Monday, with storms and hailstones in places. Temperatures in the daytime will reach a maximum of 23 degrees Celsius, falling at night to lows of 13 degrees.