News of Radio Prague

Skromach: healthcare reform off agenda of Sunday's coalition talks

The deputy leader of the senior coalition Social Democrats, Zdenek Skromach, has said discussion on the proposed reform of the country's healthcare system has been postponed. Mr Skromach said the proposals, submitted by the Health Minister Marie Souckova, had been taken off the agenda of Sunday's talks between coalition leaders. Mr Skromach said there would not be enough time for a discussion on both tax and healthcare reform. The proposed healthcare reforms are controversial, as they envisage reducing the number of doctors and increasing the financial burden on the patient.

Palas: Czech farmers could learn from Greek experience in drawing EU funds

Agriculture Minister Jaroslav Palas has said Czech farmers could be as successful as their Greek counterparts in drawing funds from the European Union. Speaking during a visit to Greece, Mr Palas said Czech farmers could learn from the experience of Greece in winning agricultural subsidies from the EU.

Handcuffed suspect escapes from police van

A suspected criminal escaped from a police van on Friday evening as he was being transported to a police station for questioning. The 37-year-old man, who was wearing handcuffs, managed to make his escape as the vehicle stopped briefly in a street in Prague 4. Police throughout Prague have launched a search for the man. A spokesman for the police said it would now be decided whether the officers escorting the suspect would be disciplined for allowing him to escape.

Woman killed by falling tree

A 58-year-old woman from a village near Olomouc was killed on Saturday as a group of people were cutting down a tree. Police have launched an investigation into the accident.

Female lorry driver in road rage punch-up on Austrian motorway

The Austrian news agency has reported that a female Czech lorry driver became involved in a fight with a Portuguese lorry driver on Friday on Austria's A8 motorway. The two lorries were apparently wrestling for control of the road by successively overtaking each other. The vehicles then stopped and the drivers began fighting. The Portuguese driver is reported to have hit the Czech driver over the head with an iron bar. She retaliated by spraying him in the face with pepper spray. He was later arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm.

Weather

Sunday will be a cold and cloudy day, with temperatures ranging from -5 to 1 degrees. Occasional snow showers are forecast throughout the country.