News of Radio Prague
Farmers hold angry demonstration in Prague
An estimated 10,000 farmers have staged an angry demonstration in Prague against the European Union's plans to provide relatively low agricultural subsidies to new member countries. On Wednesday morning farmers pelted the Agriculture Ministry with eggs, beets, potatoes and tomatoes, breaking around two dozen windows. They also set fire to bales of straw and blocked the main gate to the ministry with piles of manure. No arrests were made. Agriculture Minister Jaroslav Palas said the demonstration was justified, but condemned the damage caused. The protest came just days before the Czech government was due to conclude an agriculture agreement as part of accession talks with the EU. The union plans to phase in farm subsidies in the Czech Republic and other candidate countries over several years, once they join in 2004.
Pithart re-elected Senate chairman
Christian Democrat Petr Pithart has been re-elected chairman of the Senate. In the upper house's first session since November elections to one third of the seats, Mr Pithart received the votes of 50 senators out of 81, and was elected in the first round. The only party to vote against him in Wednesday's vote were the opposition Civic Democrats. The party won two deputy chairs in the Senate, with the Freedom Union and the Social Democrats getting one each. Mr Pithart, who is 61, is his party's presidential candidate, though he said on Wednesday that he did not rate his chances very highly.
Government to hold emergency meeting over indebted hospitals
The government is to held emergency talks on Thursday to discuss serious debt problems faced by the country's hospitals. At the beginning of next year, the hospitals are due to be transferred from the state to regional authorities. The health minister, Marie Souckova, has said the combined debt of Czech hospitals is some 800 million crowns. Pharmaceutical companies are only selling medicines to some hospitals for cash, and are threatening to take them to court. Mrs Souckova says however there is no threat that hospitals will find themselves without medicines. The government is due to submit a report on the country's hospitals to the Chamber of Deputies on Friday.
Fire at electricity substation leaves parts of Prague without power
An early-afternoon fire at an electricity substation in the Zizkov district of Prague left large parts of the city without power on Wednesday. Two members of staff at the substation were treated in hospital for smoke inhalation.
Ostrava policeman accused of demanding bribe of alcohol
A traffic policeman in the north Moravian city of Ostrava has been accused of offering to overlook a speeding offence in exchange for a bottle of alcohol. The officer faces charges of abuse of power, and the case is now with the local state attorney. The number of cases of police officers being found guilty of committing crimes has risen in recent years, with over 600 such cases in the year 2000.
Weather
Thursday is expected to be another miserable day here in the Czech Republic. It should be cloudy with rain in places and up to seven degrees Celsius.
