News of Radio Prague

Al Qaeda reportedly planning strikes in Prague

The international terrorist network Al Qaeda is reportedly planning strikes against Israeli targets in Prague. The Reuters news agency and Israeli daily newspaper Jediot Achronot reported that Israeli and Western intelligence services had information about planned attacks on Israeli tourists in the Czech capital. The reports appeared just a week after two attacks on Israeli tourists in Mombasa, Kenya. The Czech interior ministry said no special security measures have been adopted on top those implemented after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Government to discuss new national security strategy

The government is to discuss an updated national security and defence strategy at its session on Monday. The current defence and security strategy was adopted two years ago. However, since then, the country's security has improved due to its integration into Western political and defence structures, but at the same time it has to react to the changing situation especially as regards the growing threat of international terrorism. The new strategy also takes into consideration the conclusions of the recent NATO summit.

Doctors threaten to go on strike

The trade unions in the health sector have threatened to go on strike to support their wage demands. Chairman of the medical trade unions, Jiri Schlanger said at the unions' congress at the weekend that they wanted wages in the health sector to grow appropriately before the country's accession to the EU. They also protest against further cuts in social spending and voiced strong dissatisfaction with wide-spread violations of the labour code in hospitals regarding working overtime.

Economic crime on the rise in Northern Moravia

The police have reported a significant growth in serious economic crime in Northern Moravia. Over the first ten months of this year, the police investigated more than 6000 cases, which is a 25-percent increase as compared to the same period of 2001. The biggest increase was reported in the number of frauds and misuse of credit cards. The police say one of their greatest successes was the case of the bankrupt Moravia bank. A total of 17 of its managers were accused of asset stripping amounting to a billion crowns.

Czech weather forecast

We are expecting a mostly clear day, the highest daytime temperatures should range from seven to tree degrees Celsius below zero.