News of Radio Prague
Czech field hospital could leave for Kuwait April 18, says deputy minister
A Czech military field hospital could leave for a temporary stay at a base in Kuwait on April 18, Deputy Defence Minister Jan Vana said on Monday. His statement came a day after MP Jan Kavan said Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla would consult the United Nations about the sending of the hospital to Iraq before submitting a proposal on the matter to parliament. The only party opposed to the deployment of the hospital is the Communists.
Prime minister, four ministers should resign over motorway contract, says ODS
Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla and four other ministers from his Social Democratic Party should resign over an affair involving a motorway in north Moravia, the opposition Civic Democrats said on Monday. Mr Spidla and the four ministers were in the previous cabinet, led by Milos Zeman, which approved the awarding of the contract to build the D 47 motorway to an Israeli company without a public tender. Last week the government decided to abrogate the contract and to have the motorway built by the state. The police are currently investigating the awarding of the contract.
CEZ: tests on Temelin nuclear power station successfully completed
Tests on the controversial Temelin nuclear power station have been successfully completed, the state power company CEZ said on Monday. The announcement sets the stage for final licensing by government regulators and means the south Bohemian plant could be in full operation within weeks. Meanwhile anti-nuclear activists in Austria say they will continue their fight against Temelin, which they say is unsafe.
Still no confirmed cases of SARS in Czech Republic
Prague's Bulovka Hospital has discharged the last of 17 patients admitted on suspicion of having contracted Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. All 17 tests proved negative. The last to leave the hospital's infection unit on Monday was a six year old girl who fell ill after a holiday in Thailand. Although no case of the deadly form of pneumonia has been confirmed in the Czech Republic strict preventive measures remain in force at all of the country's airports and the Foreign Ministry has advised Czechs not to travel to Southeast Asia.
Iraq and European Union issues expected to dominate Klaus-Schroeder talks
The situation in Iraq and European Union issues are expected to dominate talks on Thursday between Czech President Vaclav Klaus and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a German government spokesman said on Monday. It will be Mr Klaus's first visit to neighbouring Germany since he was appointed president just over a month ago. He will also meet his German counterpart Johannes Rau during the one-day visit.
Plzenska Banka bank faces bankruptcy proceedings
Plzen regional court has initiated bankruptcy proceedings against the bank Plzenska Banka. The court started the proceedings on Friday following a request from the bank's management. The bank has been closed to clients for over a month.
Weather
Tuesday should be quite cloudy with sunny spells in some places. It will be another cold day, with a maximum temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile weather forecasters are warning of snow drifts on Monday night.
