News of Radio Prague

Government approves measures aimed at stabilising the health-care system

The leaders of the country's governing coalition have approved a package of measures aimed at stabilising the country's troubled health-care system - measures intended to have an effect over the next two years. After the cabinet meeting Tuesday, Miroslav Kalousek, the head of the junior coalition party the Christian Democrats, told journalists that roughly twenty reform measures had been agreed upon, including a 100 percent redistribution of insurance payments among insurance companies. Mr Kalousek stressed that some of the measures had already been put into effect, including the funding of 3.4 billion crowns to troubled hospitals, and the buying up 3 billion crowns in health insurers' debts by consolidation agencies. The new package of measures agreed upon by the cabinet will now be submitted to Health Minister Marie Souckova, to be incorporated into an overall proposal for extensive health-care reforms. Mrs Souckova has staked her ministerial post on the planned reforms that have yet to be debated in Parliament.

Kunhl, Kalousek: agreement on rents is valid - Social Democrat MPs disagree

Also following government talks on Tuesday: chairman of the Freedom Union's deputies club Karel Kunhl and the leader of the Christian Democrats Miroslav Kalousek stated they believed that a recent government agreement on raising regulated rent was indeed valid, with Mr Kalousek saying he thought the agreement reached would be a "viable compromise" for most Social Democrat MPs. That, however, has not been reflected by the Social Democrats so far: last week several Social Democrats, including Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, cast doubt on the agreement reached in January, and on Tuesday Social Democrat negotiators continued to insist a rise in rents should grow more slowly than previously proposed. In January Finance Minister Sobotka and Minister for Local Development Pavel Nemec approved a plan that would see regulated-rents go up three times by 2006, each time at a rate of 10 percent. However, due to an expected rise in the VAT on the water rate, Mr Sobotka hinted at the weekend the rise in regulated rent might come down several percentage points.

Two Czech mountain climbers killed in Slovakia's High Tatras

Tuesday morning saw a climbing accident leave two Czech mountaineers stranded in Slovakia's High Tatra Mountains, while two fell to their deaths. The mountaineers got into trouble at around 7 a.m. local time in an area known as the Small Ice Shield. Rescue crews immediately began operations. Dangerous weather conditions and difficult terrain, however, hampered rescue efforts. One of the surviving climbers was taken to hospital in the town of Poprad, while rescuers were finally able to reach the remaining mountaineer Tuesday night. He was taken to hospital and is recovering from his ordeal with only minor injuries. A crew of some 18 rescue workers along with specially trained dogs and a helicopter crew were all involved in the operation to save the climbers' lives.

Local officials in southern Bohemian say "No" to new Temelin reactor blocs

Elected officials in the region of southern Bohemia have expressed their opposition to a plan to complete third and fourth reactor blocs at the Czech Republic's controversial Temelin nuclear power plant. In a resolution drafted on Tuesday officials also expressed their opposition to the creation of a deep-storage nuclear waste facility in the region. The resolution serves as a "recommendation" to the government. District commissioner Jan Zahradnik indicated on Tuesday it would now be up to the government on how it "weighed" the resolution.

Actors' association chooses Thalie nominees

The Czech Actor's Association has revealed its nominees for this year's Thalie awards, given for Best Performance on the stage in four areas: theatre, opera, ballet/pantomime, and musical. Those nominated this year include popular actress Barbora Hrzanova, actor Jiri Langmajer, and singer Jiri Korn. The Thalie Awards will be held on March 27th.

Weather

Wednesday is expected to see heavy rainfall with daytime temperatures a lowly 3 degrees Celsius.