News

Ctirad Mašín to be buried in the US with military honours

Anti-communist resistance fighter Ctirad Mašín, who died on Saturday at the age of 81, will be buried in the United States, his brother Josef has said. The time and place of the funeral have not been announced, though he is expected to receive military honours as a veteran of the US Army Special Forces of five years. The controversial brothers are famous for their resistance activities and escape from Czechoslovakia in the early 1950s, which left a number of people dead, mostly members of the communist secret police. Prime Minister Petr Nečas offered great praise for Ctirad Mašín on Saturday, calling his resistance to the communist dictatorship heroic. Czech society has long been divided on the merit of the brothers’ actions, with some saying they should be decorated for their deeds, while others consider them murderers. The Czech Senate has repeatedly recommended distinctions for the Mašín’s, though left-wing parties have invariably rejected them.

Estimates suggest 2Q growth of 2.4%

Estimates suggest the Czech economy grew by 2.4% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2011, 0.3% higher than the previous quarter on average. Exports were again the driving force, with construction and private services also expected to short-term growth in GDP. Agriculture however is expected to stagnate while public services may see a decline, some analysts suggest. The economy grew by 2.8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2011; growth for the year in total is estimate to end up at 2.2% on average.

ČEZ profits expected to drop by 11%

According to analysts contacted by the Czech Press Agency, net profits of Czech energy colossus ČEZ stumbled by 11% year-on-year in the first half of 2011 to roughly 25.5 billion crowns. Economists put the drop down to lower prices of electricity sold and unfavourable trends in the crown to euro rate. Profits were also brought down by new taxes on emissions vouchers and the solar energy plant tax. ČEZ will publish its results for the first half of the year on Tuesday before stock markets open.

Prague City Hall wants changes to development plan

Prague City Hall wants significant changes to the municipal development plan over the coming years, the Czech Press Agency reports. According to the agency, the changes would include a transformation of industrial zones in Vysočany and Ruzně into residential areas and potentially redevelop the area of Strahov Stadium. The current city administration says the new development plan will not be ready until at least 2014, a considerable postponement from the plans of the previous administration. The city is already discussing three packages for major city-wide changes, including the reconstruction of three train stations as well as metro and transport structures.

Week of Jewish Culture begins in Holešov

A Week of Jewish Culture has kicked off in the town of Holešov in Moravia. This year’s festival is devoted to Jewish life from birth to death and features films, lectures and exhibits. There will also be a mock Jewish wedding, concerts and lessons in Jewish dances all running until August 20. Holešov was once one of the largest Jewish communities in Moravia, with a population of 1,700 Jews in the 19th century.

Grand Prix Austerlitz international wine exhibition ends

The international Austerlitz Grand Prix wine exhibition ended on Saturday with awards for a Riesling by Brno vintner Oldřich Drápal. A variety of Cahors from Moldavia won the liqueur category of the exhibition. The Austerlitz Grand Prix recalls the 1805 Battle of the Three Emperors, in which Napoleon defeated the Russian and Austrian Empires. Only wines from countries involved in the battle or their allies may compete in the contest. 140 wines were chosen for the final selection, 80 of which were Moravian or Bohemian.

Glider crash in France kills Czech tourist

A Czech tourist reportedly died in France at the weekend in a glider accident, according to the French media. The plane crashed in the mountains of the south-eastern Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, and was apparently piloted by a 45-year-old Czech man. A witness said that the plane was changing course, trying to regain altitude when it nosedived into the ground.

Weather

Conditions over the weekend are expected to be mostly overcast with showers and occasional storms, and daytime highs between 22 and 26 degrees Celsius.