News
Prime Minister criticises violent dispersion of protesters in Minsk
Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek has criticised the violent police action against protesters in the Belarusian capital Minsk. Opposition representatives and their supporters had been staging demonstrations since Alexander Lukashenko won another term as president in a vote last weekend that is widely believed to have been rigged. Numerous demonstrators are reported injured and hundreds have been jailed. Mr Paroubek says this a sign that Mr Lukashenko fears democracy and free speech.
The Czech Foreign Ministry also hopes to support the Belarusian protesters with various aid projects while the government is expected to discuss the granting of study stays to Belarusian students who have been thrown out of their universities as a result of their opposition to the Lukashenko regime.
Winter claims life of young boy
The long winter in the Czech Republic has claimed another life. A seven year old boy in the south-east part of the country was hit by a load of frozen snow, which fell off a roof. The boy was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries on Saturday evening.
Prime Minister of Albania to visit Czech Republic on Monday
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha is to start a two-day visit to the Czech Republic on Monday. Mr Berisha is scheduled to hold meetings with his Czech counterpart Jiri Paroubek and other senior politicians, who can share their experiences as Albania aspires to join NATO and the EU. Albania has a population of three million. With a GDP reaching a mere 20 percent of the EU average it is one of the poorest countries in Europe.
Senate to open new Information Centre on Friday
The Upper House of the Czech Parliament, the Senate, will open its first ever information centre on Friday. The centre will offer visitors a chance to monitor an upper house session, learn about the Senate's history and activities, and its seat - the Waldstein Palace.
Thalia 2006 awards
The country's best stage actors, singers, and dancers gathered at Prague's National Theatre on Saturday for the 13th Thalia Awards. The prestigious ceremony is held every year to award the most successful actors, opera and musical singers and ballet dancers. For the second time, distinguished soprano Eva Urbanova won the prize for her role of Kostelnicka in Leos Janacek's Jenufa.
Lukas Pesek claims second place at MotoGP, Jan Kopecky finishes fifth at Catalunya Rally
Czech Lukas Pesek showed great form at Sunday's Motorcycling Grand Prix in Jerez, Spain. The 20 year-old Derbi rider came a historic second in the 125cc class opening race. Spain's Alvaro Bautista produced a commanding performance to claim his first ever grand prix victory, while Italy's Mattia Pasini finished third.
Meanwhile, Jan Kopecky finished fifth in a Skoda at the Catalunya Rally, the best placement by a Czech driver in this race.
Weather
Meteorologists say water levels will continue to rise in rivers around the country due to warmer temperatures, melting snow, and continuous rain.
The next few days will remain cloudy with scattered showers. Day-time temperatures are expected to stay in the teens, ranging from 13 to 18 degrees Celsius.
