• Social Democrats to vote no to US radar base
    02/02/2007

    The opposition Social Democrats say they will vote against the building of a United States radar base in the Czech Republic. Party leader Jiri Paroubek said they will also demand a referendum on the issue. The US recently asked the Czech government if it could locate the radar - part of a planned global missile defence system - in central Bohemia. So far only the biggest party in the governing coalition, the Civic Democrats, have said they will support the plan.

    On Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would come up with a "highly effective" response to Washington's plan to build parts of its anti-missile system in the Czech Republic and Poland. Mr Putin dismissed claims the system would defend Europe from Iran, saying it would directly affect his country.

    Czech MEP Libor Roucek and other members of the Socialist bloc at the European Parliament on Thursday sent a letter to the Council of the European Union asking it to express its position on the matter.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Prime minister apologises for making rude gesture in Chamber of Deputies
    02/02/2007

    Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has apologised for raising his middle finger to opposition deputies in the lower housethe website Novinky reported. Mr Topolanek made the rude gesture after the opposition benches demanded the presence of the cabinet in the Chamber of Deputies. The prime minister first said he had raised his finger at Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek, with the latter also claiming it had been directed at him. But Mr Topolanek later admitted it had been aimed at Social Democrat and Communist rivals. He said he deeply regretted the gesture.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Rebel Social Democrats MPs cross floor
    02/02/2007

    Two rebel Social Democrat MPs who allowed a centre-right government to pass a vote of confidence have crossed the chamber and are now sitting with coalition deputies. Milos Melcak and Vladimir Pohanka recently moved out of offices they had been sharing with Social Democrat colleagues.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Police officer confesses to taking photo of dead composer
    02/02/2007

    A police officer has confessed to taking a photograph of the dead body of composer Karel Svoboda. After Mr Svoboda committed suicide last Sunday a photo appeared in the tabloid Blesk showing the dead man's hand and a pistol. The officer, who is 22 and has been in the police for two years, was a member of the first team to arrive on the scene. Police investigators have recommended that he face charges of abuse of office.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • January warmest since 1961
    02/02/2007

    This January was the warmest in this country for 46 years, according to figures released by meteorologists. While the average temperature in January is usually almost 2 degrees Celsius below freezing point, last month's average temperature was almost 3.5 degrees above zero. There was only one day when temperatures were below zero around the whole country - January 26.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Those who believe people caused global warming naïve, says president's spokesman
    02/02/2007

    President Vaclav Klaus's spokesman Petr Hajek has hit out at an event on Thursday evening in which lights in several European capitals were turned out for five minutes as a protest against the wasting of energy and global warming, the iDnes website reported. Mr Hajek told reporters the event was ridiculous, saying that people who believed the warnings of scientists about global warming were naïve. President Klaus has himself questioned whether human civilisation is responsible for global warming.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • 1928 Bata canal to be extended
    02/02/2007

    A waterway known as the Bata canal is to be made longer, Pravo reported. The canal was built in 1928 by Tomas Bata, founder of the world famous Bata shoe company. It now runs from Otrokovice to Rohatec in south Moravia. Once the project wins approval from the Environment Ministry it will be extended to Hodonin, and will measure 66 km. Formerly used to transport coal, the canal is now used for water tourism.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Former head of PM's office released from custody
    02/02/2007

    A Prague court has decided to release the former head of the prime minister's office Zdenek Dolezel from custody. He was remanded in October on charges of blackmail and corruption in the handling of EU money channelled via the Ministry for Regional Development. The court acknowledged the complaint of Mr Dolezel's defence counsel that he can no longer influence witnesses.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Catholic Church to screen priests for collaboration
    02/01/2007

    The Czech Roman Catholic Church is to screen its priests for collaboration with the communist-era secret police. The country's senior Catholic cleric, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, agreed on the setting up of a joint commission on the issue with Interior Minister Ivan Langer on Wednesday. Cardinal Vlk has called for a measured and objective approach to the issue.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Public health officer: listeria infection came from one source
    02/01/2007

    The recent outbreak of illnesses caused by the listeria bacteria can be traced to a single source, the country's chief public health officer Michael Vit said on Thursday. He did not disclose the name of the company but said it was a dairy factory and production has been halted there. Last year, 80 people were diagnosed with illnesses caused by the bacteria, five times more than in the previous year; thirteen of them died.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

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