News
Paskov mine will not stay open beyond 2014 without outside help
CEO of the company OKD, Ján Fabián, has said that his company will not keep the Paskov coal mine open beyond the end of 2014 with its own finances. Speaking on the Sunday Czech TV talk show, Mr. Fabián said that between 400 and 750 workers from the Paskov mine will be moved to the company’s other mines in the next few months, while a few hundred will remain in Paskov until its final closing. The mine currently employs around 3,000 people. Mr. Fabián said that he is open to discussions with the government about possible state support in order to keep the mine open longer. Prime Minister Rusnok said last week that no subsidies will be provided to OKD from state funds, though both he and President Zeman plan to meet with representatives of OKD and its parent company New World Resources next week.
Defense Minister hopes to increase military budget
Outgoing Defense Minister, Vlastimil Picek, said on Czech Television on Sunday that he is hoping to increase his ministry’s budget for next year. Speak on the Vaclav Moravec’s Questions talk show, Minister Picek said that he expects to increase the military budget from 42.7 to 43 billion crowns at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, when the government is set to vote on the proposed state budget for next year.
Czechs want new parties in lower house, ANO has best chances
Around 65 percent of Czechs would like to see new political parties and movements in the lower house of parliament following the October elections, according to a new poll by the Herzmann agency in cooperation with Ppm factum. People who want a change in parliamentary representation are to a large part younger than 29 years old, or are from households with monthly income higher than 30,000 crowns. Out of the six best known new and non-parliamentary parties the poll shows that Andrej Babiš’s party ANO currently has the best chances of getting into parliament.
Babiš sees no conflict of interest in being an MP and head of a large company
Businessman and chairman of the ANO party, Andrej Babiš, said on Sunday that he will remain the head of the food, chemicals and agriculture giant Agrofert holding even if he is elected to parliament. Speaking on the talkshow Partie on Prima television, Mr. Babiš said that neither he or anyone else from his party would take the position of agriculture minister or become memebers of any agricultural committees, but he does not see a problem with being an MP and leading one of the largest companies in the country.
Czech awards for dubbing given out for the 19th year
The two main prizes at this year’s František Filipovský awards were given to Ivana Milbachová for the dubbing of Sarah Palin in the American TV film Game Change and to Vladimír Brabec for dubbing Tom in the American film The Way. Hana Talpová and Antonín Molčík received prizes for lifetime achievement in dubbing at a ceremony on Saturday, while Zdeněk Podhůrský received the viewers’ award for the dubbing of the character Micholas Rush in the Stargate Universe television series. The František Filipovský awards for dubbing were founded 19 years ago.
Strings of Autumn festival begins in Prague
The 18th annual musical festival Strings of Autumn will begin on Monday in prague with a performance by the world-famous soprano Barbara Hannigan accompanied by the Prague Philharmonia orgchestra. The festival, which features a number of world renowned classical and jazz musicians will end on 9 November.
Man murders wife, then commits suicide
A 60-year-old man murdered his wife on Saturday evening near the Central Bohemian town of Kolín, after which he committed suicide. Police are investigating the motive for the crime. The couple was discovered by a relative. The police are not releasing information about the weapon used for the murders.
Weather
The upcoming days will be mostly sunny with possible showers in the north-east of the country. Daytime temperatures will be between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius.
