News of Radio Prague

Rebel Social Democrat MP may bring down government in reforms vote

Rebel Social Democrat MP Josef Hojdar has said he will vote against the government if his proposed amendments to a law reforming the public finances are not accepted before a crucial vote on the issue in September. Mr Hojdar, who left the Social Democrat deputies group last month, told Saturday's edition of Pravo the planned reforms went against Social Democrat principles. The governing coalition has a majority of just one in the Chamber of Deputies, a majority they would lose if Mr Hojdar voted against them. The Czech Republic currently has a record budget deficit.

Drug mules to be transferred from prisons in Thailand to Czech Republic

Two Czechs serving prison sentences in Thailand for smuggling heroin are to be transferred to jails in the Czech Republic. Emil Novotny, who is 27, is serving a 42-year-sentence, while Radek Hanykovisc, 34, is serving a 25-year term. The two, who are due to arrive in the Czech Republic in a few weeks time, are not expected to serve out the full terms.

Prague Town Hall prepares law against street prostitution

The Prague Town Hall is proposing a new law which would ban street prostitution in the city, deputy mayor Rudolf Blazek said on Saturday. Under the proposed law prostitutes would be restricted to brothels, which would have to attain permission from local authorities. Prostitutes would be required to undergo regular medical check-ups and pay tax and social and health insurance. However similar proposals, put forward by the Interior Ministry, have already been rejected twice by the cabinet.

German man dies in car after engaging prostitute in border region

Meanwhile, police in the town of Domazlice near the German border are investigating the death of a 51-year-old German man who died in his car after engaging the services of a prostitute on Thursday night. The prostitute told police the man, who had a heart condition, clutched his chest before dying. Men from Germany and other Western European countries frequently cross the border into the Czech Republic to employ relatively cheap prostitutes.

Leading Czech groups appear at Czech, Slovak rock festival near Chicago

A Czech and Slovak rock festival is taking place this weekend in the town of Yorkville, which is just outside Chicago. Among the groups taking part are Kabat, Chinaski and Krystof, all of whom are very popular here in the Czech Republic. Chicago has one of the largest Czech communities in the United States.

Weather

Sunday is expected to be partly cloudy, with the chance of rain in some places. The maximum temperature should be 24 degrees Celsius.