CRASH Six people died and eight were injured when a bus crashed on the D8 highway north of Prague July 16. The bus was operated by the Ústecký Region Transport Company and was driving to Prague from Česká Kamenice, north Bohemia. Ambulance drivers responding to the scene sharply criticized the country's 112 emergency hotline, which took more than six minutes to notify them.

SLAP Health Minister David Rath, a Social Democrat, filed a lawsuit July 14 against former Civic Democratic (ODS) Deputy Chairman Miroslav Macek, who slapped him during a conference of dentists in May. Rath is seeking a formal apology and 1 million Kč ($44,000) in damages. The two men briefly scuffled after Macek's slap, which, he said, was in response to comments Rath had made about his wife.

RESIGN ČSSD Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek is ready to resign and give his position to ODS Chairman Mirek Topolánek, Paroubek said in a radio interview July 17. Paroubek told Frekvence 1 radio that the creation of a new government was not influenced by developments in the new Chamber of Deputies. The chamber will hold its fourth vote for chairman — its version of speaker of the House — July 21.

BABIES Doctors are reporting a baby boom this summer, which is overcrowding maternity wards and forcing mothers to leave as soon as they are able. Officials at Prague's Podolí Maternity Hospital say they have had to turn pregnant women away. The increase is due to the number of Czechs born during the 1970s baby boom who are now reaching the age when they want to start a family.