• Social Democrat grassroots organization disbands after former leader quits party
    03/27/2007

    A grassroots Social Democrat organization in the Moravian Highlands, currently home-base of the former Social Democrat leader Milos Zeman, has announced its decision to disband. The head of the organization said the decision was approved unanimously as a show of support for Mr. Zeman who quit party ranks last week after being accused of having harmed his party financially when he was still its chairman. The decision was sparked by an ongoing row between Mr. Zeman, who led the Social Democrats for eight years and helped make the party one of the strongest forces in Czech politics, and the party's present leader Jiri Paroubek.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Czechs top per capita recyclers in EU
    03/27/2007

    Czechs were the top recyclers of plastics in the European Union last year, according to a report released by the European Commission. At the same time the Czech Republic produced the least non-recyclable plastic packaging per capita. The report found that 69 percent of Czechs recycle; only 3 percent of the population do not have access to recycling facilities.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Overall confidence in Czech economy on the rise
    03/27/2007

    Overall confidence in the Czech economy grew both month-on-month and year-on-year in March reaching the highest level in history, according to a report published by the Czech Statistical office on Tuesday. The overall confidence indicator rose by one point against February and by 5.5 points against March. The business confidence indicator increased by 6.4 points year on year, while consumer confidence grew by 1.8 points.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Czech crown -trading
    03/27/2007

    The Czech crown strengthened against the euro but dipped to the dollar on Tuesday morning, trading at 28.02 crowns to the euro and 20.98 to the US dollar. Tuesday's report on the development of economic confidence indicators has reportedly had no impact on the money market.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Vaidisova through to quarter-finals in Miami
    03/27/2007

    Czech tennis star Nicole Vaidisova has reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open. She beat Vera Dushineva of Russia 6-2 6-4. In men's tennis, Radek Stepanek beat Columbia's Alejandro Falla to reach the third round. But Tomas Berdych is out in Miami - he lost to Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Tennis: Ales Kodat named captain of the Fed Cup team
    03/27/2007

    The father and coach of top ranked Czech tennis player Nicole Vaidisova, Ales Kodat, was named non-playing captain of the country's Fed Cup team on Tuesday, the Czech agency CTK reported. Kodat, 40, will lead the Czech team, likely to include his daughter who is ranked eighth worldwide, against neighbours Slovakia for their World Group II first round clash on April 21-22 in Bratislava. Kodat replaces Tomas Petera, who stepped down after two years to help Prague's bid to host the summer Olympic Games in 2016.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Cunek's position untenable in government, says prime minister
    03/26/2007

    Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has said it is untenable for Jiri Cunek to remain in the government. Mr Topolanek told the daily Hospodarske noviny that an investigation into alleged bribe-taking by Mr Cunek was damaging the whole government. The prime minister said he would offer to reinstate Mr Cunek in the posts of deputy prime minister and regional development minister if he proved his innocence.

    On Tuesday the two men are due to discuss the situation with the leader of the third party in the coalition, the Greens.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Government agree on 15-percent income tax rate
    03/26/2007

    Meanwhile, the governing coalition has agreed to introduce a flat 15-percent income tax rate from the start of next year. Prime Minister Topolanek told Hospodarske noviny that it and other changes to the tax system would benefit all Czechs, though he did concede that the middle classes would save the least. His government is set to present an entire package of tax and social welfare reforms next week.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Football squad fined for excessive partying
    03/26/2007

    The Czech football squad have been fined a million CZK (almost 50,000 USD) for rowdily celebrating the birthday of player Tomas Ujfalusi after a game on Saturday. Team captain Tomas Rosicky said the fine had been deserved and admitted the players had been drinking. However, tabloid allegations that there had been prostitutes in the players' rooms have been denied. The Czech manager Karel Bruckner said he had considered resigning over the incident.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Zelezny trial begins in Prague
    03/26/2007

    The trial of Vladimir Zelezny began at Prague City Court on Monday. Mr Zelezny, who is now a member of the European Parliament, faces charges of harming a creditor, the company CME which owns TV Nova, of which Mr Zelezny was general director. He himself failed to appear, saying he had to attend a session of the European Parliament. Three of Mr Zelezny's lawyers are also on trial.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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