• Madonna Prague date confirmed
    06/02/2006

    The agency Interkoncerts has confirmed that the American singer Madonna will perform in Prague as part of her "Confessions" tour. She will play the Czech capital on September 6th. Tickets for the concert to take place at Prague's Sazka Arena will go on sale later this month. Prices will range from 3,000 to 5,000 crowns (127 to 208 dollars).
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Investigation begins into whether leaking of controversial police report was illegal
    06/01/2006

    The supreme state attorney, Renata Vesecka, has begun an investigation into whether the leaking of a secret police report was illegal. The report, by the head of the organised crime unit Jan Kubice, accuses Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek and other senior government officials of having ties with the mafia. The confidential report appeared on the internet shortly after Mr Kubice presented it to the Chamber of Deputies defence and security committee on Monday. Police president Vladislav Husak said on Thursday a four-member group of police specialists would start checking the content of the confidential report.

    Prime Minister Paroubek reacted angrily to the allegations, saying they were politically motivated and designed to damage his Social Democrats ahead of elections this weekend.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Paroubek sues senior police officer over allegations in secret report
    06/01/2006

    The Prime Minister has decided to file a lawsuit against Jan Kubice, the head of the police organised crime squad, saying he and his wife Zuzana Paroubkova are outraged at the allegations contained in Mr Kubice's secret report that Mr Paroubek sexually abused the teenage daughter of a family friend. Mr Paroubek and his wife said on Thursday they saw behind the report the effort of the right-of-centre Civic Democratic Party to influence the forthcoming general elections.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • New Skoda Roomster goes on sale in Czech Republic
    06/01/2006

    Skoda's new car the Roomster has gone on sale in the Czech Republic. A spokesman for Skoda Auto said the company expected to sell 1,800 Roomsters in this country by the end of the year. The multi-purpose vehicle will be launched in neighbouring Germany and Austria next month.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Tesco takes over Carrefour supermarkets in Czech Republic
    06/01/2006

    Eleven former Carrefour supermarkets in the Czech Republic have begun trading under the name of their new owners, Tesco. France's Carrefour decided to pull out of the Czech Republic and swapped its shops here and in Slovakia for a number of outlets in Taiwan.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Actor Boris Rosner dies at 55
    06/01/2006

    The actor Boris Rosner has died at the age of 55. Rosner joined the National Theatre in 1987 and went on to win several prestigious theatre awards in a successful stage career. He also appeared in a number of films, did occasional work for Czech Radio and taught drama students at Prague's AMU faculty.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Smicer out of World Cup squad
    06/01/2006

    Vladimir Smicer has been ruled out of the Czech Republic's squad for the World Cup after failing a fitness test. Doctors found a blood clot in his thigh muscle last week. The Bordeaux midfielder, who has been capped 81 times, is likely to be replaced by Libor Sionko of Glasgow Rangers. The Czechs' opening game in Germany is against the USA on June 12th.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Klaus accuses Paroubek of unprecedented control of government, party
    05/31/2006

    President Vaclav Klaus has made a strong attack on Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek, accusing him of "one-man rule". Speaking in Wednesday's Mlada fronta Dnes the president said the extent of Mr Paroubek's power over both the government and his Social Democratic Party was unprecedented in the post-revolution era. For his part, Mr Paroubek said the president had broken his pledge to remain above party politics.

    The right-wing Civic Democrats, founded by Mr Klaus, are narrowly in front of the Social Democrats in most polls ahead of general elections this weekend.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Most applications for 1968 compensation rejected by ministry
    05/31/2006

    Compensation for damages suffered during the Soviet-led invasion of 1968 has been paid out to a small minority of claimants, Mlada fronta Dnes reported. A new law last year earmarked over 10 million dollars to compensate those who lost a family member or suffered serious injury or rape during the occupation. However, of almost 400 claimants, just over 50 have been granted compensation by the Interior Ministry. Many of those turned down say it was because they had received a one-off payment in 1990.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Killer returned by French authorities after 2005 prison escape
    05/31/2006

    A convicted killer who escaped to France after breaking out of a Czech prison has been returned to the Czech Republic. Roman Cabrada was serving a 24-year sentence for the murder of a German mayor when he escaped from Bory prison in Pilsen last year.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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