News of Radio Prague
NATO summit: Zaoralek declares state of legislative emergency
After declaring a state of legislative emergency on Monday, Lower House Speaker Lubomir Zaoralek announced that discussion on a bill to allow the U.S. Air Force help guard Czech airspace during the upcoming NATO summit in Prague would be accelerated. The foreign, defence and security committees of the lower house have until 1800hrs on Wednesday to submit any proposed changes to the bill in order to allow for it to be discussed during the lower house's session on Thursday. The bill will be debated in a shortened format. Instead of going through the regular three readings, it will be voted on in one day. The government approved the bill at its meeting on Sunday. After the lower house, it will be discussed by the Senate.
Police charge nine men with racism as part of operation Patriot
The Czech police announced on Monday, they had charged nine men last week for supporting and propagating movements that suppress man's basic rights and freedoms. Apart from publicly giving the Nazi salute, wearing racist and neo-Nazi symbols and spreading racist material, they are also suspected of having organised four concerts featuring racist bands. According to Patrik Frk from the Czech police, the men between the ages of 19 and 25 were uncovered as part of operation Patriot - a wide police campaign against extremism that was launched in August 2001. Mr Frk added that the Central Bohemian police spent over a year verifying evidence against the men. When the police raided suspects' homes in May this year, hundreds of compact discs, cassettes, t-shirts and other materials that all propagate racism were found. The suspects have not been detained by the police but may face between three to eight years in prison if found guilty of the charges.
Another building closed down in Karlin
Another building was closed down in Prague's Karlin district on Monday after security checks proved it no longer safe. This brings the total number of flood-damaged buildings in the district to forty-three. In Prague, Karlin was most hit by the devastating floods in August. Out of its 25,000 inhabitants, only some 30% have been allowed to return to their homes. The rest are either staying with friends and relatives or have been given alternate provisional housing.
Ostrava to host Czech-Russian forum
Over 130 businessmen and managers are expected to visit the city of Ostrava in North Moravia on Wednesday, to attend a Czech-Russian economic forum. According to the head of the Czech regional economic chamber, Magda Habrmanova, the forum aims at informing owners and top managers of small, medium-sized and large companies about the business opportunities offered by the Russian market. Russian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Igor Savolski, and the head of the European Commission's delegation to the Czech Republic, Ramiro Cibrian, are both expected to take part in the conference.
Sport: Novak qualifies for Tennis Masters Cup
Czech tennis player Jiri Novak is the sixth Czech to qualify for the prestigious Tennis Masters Cup. The five who preceded him were Jan Kodes, Ivan Lendl, Tomas Smid, Karel Novacek, and Petr Korda. Jiri Novak qualified during the 2002 ATP Tour Champions' Race, which starts afresh each January and includes only the points won in a calendar year. A player's position is based on points received from the four Grand Slams, the nine Tennis Masters Series events and his best five additional results from International Series events. The top eight players at the end of the season take part in the Tennis Masters Cup.
Weather
Monday night will be cloudy with scattered showers and temperatures between 0 and 4 degrees Celsius. Tuesday is expected to have overcast skies with occasional rain and temperatures between 1 and 5 degrees Celsius. Snow has been forecast in the higher altitudes of the country.
