News
EP calls for removal of pig farm from site of Romany concentration camp
The European Parliament has passed a resolution calling for the removal of a pig farm from the site of a Nazi concentration camp near the south Bohemian village of Lety. Over 1,200 Czech Romanies were interned there in 1942 before being sent to Auschwitz. Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek said on Friday he would be in favour of removing the pig farm, while President Vaclav Klaus said it was a matter for the Czech Republic, not the EU. Mr Klaus said most MEPs did not have enough information about the issue.
EP president defends MEPs critical of Czech president over EU Constitution
Meanwhile, the president of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, has defended two leading MEPs who recently criticised the Czech president for his opposition to the European Constitution. Mr Klaus called for an apology after Alejo Vidal-Quadras and Jo Leinen said he was misleading Czech voters on the issue, and could lead the Czech Republic into isolation. On Friday the Czech president refused to react to Mr Borrell's statement, saying it was an insufficient response to a letter of complaint he had sent to the president of the European Parliament.
State making donation towards repair of Chile forest damaged by fire started by Czech tourist
The Czech Republic is to provide 4.5 million Czech crowns (almost 200,000 US dollars) towards the renewal of a national park in Chile, which was badly damaged in a forest fire started accidentally by a Czech tourist. Over 11,000 hectares of the Torres del Paine park were destroyed in February's fire. The Chilean authorities say it will take more than 7 million US dollars and over a decade to repair the damage.
University students to demonstrate in sharp rise in cost of halls of residence
Students of Prague's Charles University are planning to protest in May against increases in the cost of halls of residence, Pravo reported on Friday. The current monthly rent of around 1,000 Czech crowns (just over 40 US dollars) is set to at least double, due to a change in the grants system. The students are planning to demonstrate at both the Office of the Government and the Education Ministry, and will call for the resignation of Minister Petra Buzkova, said the daily.
Britain's Prince Edward to visit west Bohemian golf club opened by Edward VI
Britain's Prince Edward is to visit in July a Czech golf club which is the only club outside the United Kingdom allowed to call itself "royal". The club, in the spa town of Marianske Lazne, was opened by his great-great-great-grandfather King Edward VII in 1905. The king became the club's first listed member and visited 10 times over the following four years.
Czech ice hockey team hoping for gold at Vienna World Championships
The Czech ice hockey team have left for Vienna, where they are hoping to win the sport's World Championships for the first time in four years. The Czechs were beaten 2:1 by Canada in their last warm up game in Prague on Thursday evening. Their first match at the World Championships is against Switzerland on Sunday.
Weather
Temperatures are set to rise markedly with highs of up to 27 degrees Celsius due at the beginning of next week. There should be sunny spells in many parts of the country.
