• Topolanek, Paroubek hold first TV debate since inconclusive elections
    07/30/2006

    The leaders of the two biggest Czech parties have held their first television debate since inconclusive elections two months ago. During Sunday's debate Mirek Topolanek of the Civic Democrats (who came first in June's elections) called on Jiri Paroubek of the Social Democrats (who came second) to step down as prime minister. Mr Paroubek refused, saying President Vaclav Klaus had already rejected one offer of resignation.

    The Social Democrats chief said Mr Topolanek was anxious because the period the president had given him to try to form a government was almost up. He said only negotiations between himself, the president and Mr Topolanek could resolve the crisis.

    The Civic Democrats chairman has tried to form an alliance with the Christian Democrats and the Greens, but this coalition is one vote short of a majority in the Chamber of Deputies.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech soldier dies in Kosovo
    07/30/2006

    A Czech soldier has been found dead in Kosovo, where he was serving with the international KFOR mission. The body of the 34-year-old military policeman was discovered by a colleague at the Sajkovac military base on Sunday morning. The Czech Army immediately launched an investigation into the cause of his death.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Bublan praises organisation of CzechTek
    07/30/2006

    Interior Minister Frantisek Bublan has praised the organisation of the CzechTek free techno music festival, which this year is being held on land rented from the Czech Army in north Bohemia. It is being attended by around 40,000 people from the Czech Republic and elsewhere in Europe.

    Last year Mr Bublan ordered around 1,000 riot police to break up the festival, following complaints from landowners. Critics described the intervention as heavy-handed though the minister said he had no choice but to uphold the law.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Former members of agricultural co-ops still waiting for money
    07/30/2006

    Around 20,000 former members of agricultural co-operatives are still waiting to be paid for their shares, Czech Television reported on Saturday. They had been due to receive the money seven years ago and have called on the government to resolve the matter. Twenty are taking the issue to the European Court of Human Rights. There were around 1,200 agricultural co-operatives in the Czech Republic.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Vaidisova beaten in semi-finals in California
    07/30/2006

    The Czech women's tennis number one Nicole Vaidisova has been beaten in the semi-finals of the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California. The 17-year-old lost 5-7 2-6 to top seed Kim Clijsters of Belgium.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • New domestic football season begins
    07/30/2006

    The Czech football league resumed after the summer break on Saturday. In the most closely-watched game of the new season's opening day perennial favourites Sparta Prague drew 0:0 at home with newly promoted Kladno.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Topolanek wants minority cabinet with broad support
    07/29/2006

    The leader of the Civic Democrats, Mirek Topolanek, is now considering trying to establish a minority government supported by the Social Democrats, the Christian Democrats and the Green Party, Mlada fronta Dnes reported on Saturday. Mr Topolanek has been trying in vain to form a government since elections two months ago.

    The chairman of the Social Democrats, outgoing prime minister Jiri Paroubek, said the new plan was innovative but would not find support either in his party or the two smaller ones.

    President Vaclav Klaus has given Mr Topolanek until the first week of August to form a government.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Around 40,000 at this year's CzechTek free music festival
    07/29/2006

    Around 40,000 people from the Czech Republic and elsewhere in Europe have gathered at the CzechTek free techno music festival, which is being held on Czech Army land in north Bohemia. Last year's CzechTek became the subject of political debate when around 1,000 riot police used truncheons, tear gas and water cannons to break the festival up, after complaints from landowners.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Summer schools of Slavonic studies underway in Prague
    07/29/2006

    The 50th Summer School of Slovanic Studies began at Prague's Charles University on Saturday. A record 210 students from almost 40 countries are attending the month-long school, which features 25 different specialised courses. Schools of Slovanic Studies are also underway in Brno and Olomouc.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Father of UK chess player who fell to death facing rape charges
    07/29/2006

    The father of Jessie Gilbert, a young British chess player who was found dead in the Czech Republic, is facing rape charges, the news agency AP reported. UK police confirmed that one of Ian Gilbert's alleged victims had died, but refused to name her. Jessie Gilbert fell from the eighth-floor window of a hotel in Pardubice, where she was attending an international chess tournament. It was not clear whether she had committed suicide or had an accident while sleepwalking.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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