News

Wanted businessman Krejcir not planning to return to face trial, will co-operate with courts

Fugitive businessman Radovan Krejcir says he is not planning to return from the Seychelles to face trial in the Czech Republic, but says he is willing to co-operate with the Czech courts. He told TV Nova he wanted to clear his name of charges of fraud and planning the murder of a customs officer. In another interview, for Czech Television, Mr Krejcir recounted how he had managed to escape from Czech police two months ago. His wife is also in the Seychelles, where they both have citizenship. She faces charges of money laundering.

Sobotka: Sellers and distributors of petrol too slow to react to price fall

Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka says Czech sellers and distributors of petrol have been too slow to react to a fall in oil prices. For that reason the government has rejected a proposal to introduce a lower tax rate on petrol, the minister said on Prima TV on Sunday. The cost of a litre of petrol in the Czech Republic recently increased significantly following a rise in oil prices on world markets.

President Klaus begins six-day working visit to United States on Monday

The Czech president, Vaclav Klaus, is due to meet the United States vice president, Dick Cheney, and the secretary of state, Condoleeza Rice, during a six-day working visit to the US which begins on Monday. Mr Klaus is also set to open an exhibition in New York dedicated to the 14th century Czech king and holy roman emperor Charles IV.

Radiozurnal: Czech ambassador to NATO suspected of corruption

The Czech ambassador to NATO, Stefan Fule, is being investigated by the police's anti-corruption unit, Czech Radio's Radiozurnal reported. Mr Fule is suspected of breaking the law on state secrets and covering up two car accidents in Lithuania when he served there as Czech ambassador.

Police allow neo-Nazi rock concert to go ahead

Police did not intervene during a concert by neo-Nazi rock bands in a pub near Strakonice, south Bohemia on Saturday night. Hundreds of police officers were on guard outside the concert, which was attended by around 500 skinheads and described by anti-Nazi activists as the biggest such gathering this year in the Czech Republic.

Weather

The next few days should see sunny spells with occasional rain in places. Temperatures are expected to reach around 20 degrees Celsius.