News

Klaus accuses Paroubek of unprecedented control of government, party

President Vaclav Klaus has made a strong attack on Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek, accusing him of "one-man rule". Speaking in Wednesday's Mlada fronta Dnes the president said the extent of Mr Paroubek's power over both the government and his Social Democratic Party was unprecedented in the post-revolution era. For his part, Mr Paroubek said the president had broken his pledge to remain above party politics.

The right-wing Civic Democrats, founded by Mr Klaus, are narrowly in front of the Social Democrats in most polls ahead of general elections this weekend.

Most applications for 1968 compensation rejected by ministry

Compensation for damages suffered during the Soviet-led invasion of 1968 has been paid out to a small minority of claimants, Mlada fronta Dnes reported. A new law last year earmarked over 10 million dollars to compensate those who lost a family member or suffered serious injury or rape during the occupation. However, of almost 400 claimants, just over 50 have been granted compensation by the Interior Ministry. Many of those turned down say it was because they had received a one-off payment in 1990.

Killer returned by French authorities after 2005 prison escape

A convicted killer who escaped to France after breaking out of a Czech prison has been returned to the Czech Republic. Roman Cabrada was serving a 24-year sentence for the murder of a German mayor when he escaped from Bory prison in Pilsen last year.

Import of cheap eggs could drive Czech producers to wall, says industry organisation

The import of cheap eggs from Poland and Lithuania is having a disastrous impact on the egg business in the Czech Republic, the Czech poultry farmers union said on Wednesday. Egg production in this country fell by one fifth in 2005; industry figures say if the current situation continues one half of Czech producers could go out of business next year.

Czechs beat Costa Rica in second last World Cup warm-up

The Czech Republic's football team beat Costa Rica 1:0 in a friendly in Jablonec on Tuesday evening. The only goal of the game was scored by Vratislav Lokvenc in the 82nd minute; Lokvenc had come on as a substitute for Jan Koller, who started his first international since returning from injury. The Czechs' final warm-up before the World Cup is against Trinidad and Tobago in Prague on Saturday; coach Karel Bruckner has promised to field his strongest team for that game.

Weather

Temperatures should gradually rise over the next couple of days, reaching around 18 degrees Celsius at the weekend. It will be quite bright with rain in places.