News

Justice Ministry entrusted with deciding presidential pardons

President Miloš Zeman has entrusted the country's Justice Ministry with the right to decide on presidential pardons expect for exceptional cases, (applicants suffering from incurable disease or filing on humanitarian grounds). Outgoing Justice Minister Marie Benešová confirmed the ministry would take over in the role and would pass certain cases on to the head-of-state. The move will require the creation of new posts at the ministry to be discussed on Monday. Mr Zeman pledged to give up pardons soon after he was elected, calling them a "monarchistic hold-over".

One person killed, four injured in gondola accident

One person lost his life and four others were injured in the area of the Krkonoše Mountains in north Bohemia on Friday as they travelled aboard a gondola normally reserved only for baggage and ski equipment. The aerial lift, used to transport items to a local mountain chalet known as Bumbálka (at the edge of Špindleruv Mlýn), fell from a height of 20 metres, eyewitnesses said. Killed in the accident was a 38-year old man, while two women and one child were seriously injured; another child escaped with only minor injuries. It is unclear why the family was on board. The police are conducting an investigation.

Update: gondola fell after cable snapped

New details of the accident emerged on Saturday, as investigators returned to the scene. According to the Czech News Agency,the cable carrying the gondola on Friday snapped, leading to the tragedy. The aerial lift, intended only for baggage, fell at a particularly steep part of the hill and wooded area on the other side of a local river. Rescue workers had to cross up to their waist to reach those inside the crumpled vehicle. The adults had been knocked unconscious, suffering head injuries. One of the women was in critical condition but she was stabilised in hospital. All of the survivors are now out of danger.

Klus withdraws from Český slavík

Popular young pop singer Tomáš Klus has withdrawn from further cooperation with the organisers of Český slavík, annual awards recognizing some of the country's more popular musicians. The singer said he took the decision for a number of reasons including alleged censorship. Winners of the competition are voted on by members of the public but a controversial Czech rapper was excluded this year. Klus also expressed dissatisfaction over advertising which had not been agreed and technical problems during this year's live broadcast. He joins Matěj Ruppert, a singer for Monkey Business, in boycotting the show. Ruppert has returned an award he received in 2006.

Reality show winner makes it a double

TV show contestant Vladko Dobrovodský clinched victory for the second time in a licensed reality programme he first won eight years ago. The show, entitled Vývolení (The Chosen), throws contestants together in a specially-built "villa" monitored by studio cameras, where they must live togther, match wits, fulfill tasks, and try and gain public support. The show's finale, according to news site iDnes, was moved ahead by commercial broadcaster TV Prima due to a drop in prime time ratings. As the winner, Mr Dobrovodský will receive five million crowns.

Czech tree to grace Vatican

The Christmas tree to grace the Vatican this year will be felled in the Czech Republic, news site Deník reports. The spruce, a gift from the town of Domažlice, will be transported to Rome by the organisation Trenckfestspiele and is 25 metres in height and about 60 years old. The last time a Czech tree was used to mark Christmas on St. Peter's Square in the Vatican was in 1999. Earlier, the Catholic news agency Kathpress reported that this year's tree would be from Bavaria; in the end, it was chosen from across the border.

NHL action: Jágr ties Yzerman

Czech hockey legend Jaromír Jágr, who plays for the New Jersey Devils, picked up a goal and two assists in his team's game against Carolina on Friday, which the Devils won 5:2. The goal, the 692 in his NHL career, tied him at eighth place with the retired Steve Yzerman on the all-time scorers's list.

Weather

It should be overcast with scattered showers and day time highs between 2 and 5 degrees Celsius.