The British tourist Malcolm Tuffin was wounded by a 25-metre high Christmas tree, together with 5 more people, at the Christmas market in Prague´s Old Town Square in 2003. Since this event, Tuffin has been suffering from pain and fractures in his bones. According to the Czech court verdict, Prague City Hall, along with the Folk Art Production Company, the Christmas market’s producer, will pay 2.5 crowns compensation to the plaintiff.

The right oriented Civic Democratic Party was ahead of the Czech Social Democratic Party and won the last elections, supported by 35.4% of the voters. The ex-dominating Czech Social Democratic Party won by 32.3%. The other parties, who succeed to overcome the 5 % election threshold, were the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (12.8%), the Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People’s Party (7.2%) and Green Party 6.3%).

The first day of national elections began yesterday. The rivalry between the ruling party (Social Democratic Party) and the opposition party of right orientation (Civic Democrats) is supposed to be close.

Health Minister of Czech, David Rath, who leads the Social Democratic Party, announced his support for the reintroduction of death penalty, which was abolished in 1990. Alternatively, the leaders of other Czech parties participating in the forthcoming elections, including the Civic Democrats, the Communists, the Greens and the Christian Democrats, have opposed the death penalty.

The number of Czech tourists, who passed away while traveling overseas, has been increased during the year 2005, reaching 421 deaths. This means 120 deaths more than in 2004, and 142 deaths more than in 2003. In addition, 258 Czechs were hospitalized during their vacation.

The most common causes of death are: scuba diving, swimming, mountain trekking, car accidents and challenging sports. The highest number of Czech tourists who passed away during their vacation is estimated at: 90 (in Slovakia), 88 (Germany) and 26 (the USA).

Heavy rains during the last weekend caused a significant rise in water level in two rivers at the Western Part of the country, Berounka and Mze. In several settlements evacuations were held, such as the displacing of residents of the institution for mentally ill in Cheb in the Northwest.

The Berounka’s height rose 3 meters during the weekend, and as a result, a rise in the larger Vltava River is expected. The expected rise in Vltava River is threatening to affect low-lying parts of Prague.

Near Tachov on the West, a 31-year-old woman was swept away by the raging Mze.

The five million crowns’ donation was dedicated to help victims of Indonesia’s earthquake as a humanitarian aid. The earthquake hit the Java Island on Saturday, killing 4,000 people and injuring 20,000. The decision of granting the five millions donation was made by the Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda.

New monument dedicated to the Czech rebel movement during the WWII has been launched on the 26th of May in Klarov, Prague. The Czech Republic Senate chairman Premysl Sobotka, who participated in the monument unveiling ceremony, emphasized the importance of the memorial. He mentioned that the participants in the resistance movement, commanded from London, did not receive the appropriate appreciation during the communist era, and were persecuted by the previous regime.

The Prague subway, that serves 1.36 million people on a daily basis, adds a new station. The A subway line will be extended on 27th May to the Depo Hostivar station. The extension is aimed at facilitating passenger traffic challenge during rush hours in the Skalka District.

The US Senate recently abolished visa requirements for citizens of EU states that do not pose a security risk for the US, and support it with military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, by sending at least 300 soldiers to these countries. Czech Republic, whose units in Iraq and Afghanistan are smaller, doesn’t meet these criteria; therefore the US visa policy for its citizens is still valid. Czech citizens expressed their dissatisfaction with this policy in an April survey held by the AVE Marketing agency, as 58.5 percent of the survey participant supported the reciprocal introduction of visas for the citizens of the US.