• New soldiers make pledge, eight new generals sworn in
    05/08/2006

    Over 200 new professional soldiers made their pledge of allegiance at Prague Castle, where later President Klaus promoted eight Czech Army officers to the rank of general.

    But one man who was not given a higher rank was police chief Vladislav Husak: the prime minister had asked the president not to promote him after a recent incident in which a government official was beaten by a police officer during a demonstration.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • First open day in over a decade at Prague's Cernin Palace
    05/08/2006

    Victory in Europe Day, a state holiday in the Czech Republic, also saw an open day at the Cernin Palace, home to the Foreign Ministry. It was the first open day there for 12 years, and gave visitors the opportunity to see among other things the flat of post-war foreign minister Jan Masaryk, who met his death from one of its windows.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • German trucks remove waste illegally imported to Czech Republic
    05/08/2006

    Three German trucks on Monday began removing waste from a dump in the north Bohemian village of Libceves. The rubbish, illegally imported into the Czech Republic, will be incinerated in Saxony-Anhalt, where it originated. Firefighters were called out several times to deal with blazes at the Libceves dump, and the issue of cross-border dumping has been discussed by the Czech and German authorities.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Beavers off critical list
    05/08/2006

    Beavers are now regarded as strongly endangered in the Czech Republic, as opposed to the previous, higher category of critically endangered, said a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment. Gamekeepers and fishermen say beavers cause damage to trees and water surfaces, though environmentalists welcome their return - they say the Czech Republic's alluvial forests are beavers' natural home.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • World War II prime minister Elias buried with full military honours in Prague
    05/07/2006

    World War II Czech prime minister Alois Elias has been buried with full military honours at Prague's Vitkov national memorial, 64 years after his death. General Elias served under the Nazi Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia but was executed by the Germans in 1942 after the assassination of its governor, Reinhard Heydrich. His wife Jaroslava was also reburied.

    Memorial ceremonies were also held on Sunday at Prague's Olsany cemeteries for those who fell in the Prague Uprising of May 1945, as well as British, Soviet and Bulgarian fighters.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Anniversary of liberation of Plzen celebrated
    05/07/2006

    On Saturday the liberation of the west Bohemian city of Plzen by US troops on May 6, 1945 was remembered in a celebration entitled "Thanks, America!". A number of veterans of the liberation attended the event, as did Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek, who said it was one of the most significant events in modern Czech history. Monday - Victory in Europe Day - is a state holiday in the Czech Republic.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Tributes paid to legendary World War II pilot General Frantisek Perina
    05/07/2006

    Tributes have been paid to the legendary Czech World War II pilot General Frantisek Perina, who has died at the age of 95. The chief of staff of the Czech Army, Pavel Stefka, described him as a hero. He said the general, who returned from exile in 1993, had helped build the modern Czech Army. The minister of defence, Karel Kuhnl, praised General Perina's ability to discuss issues such as patriotism and defence of the nation with all generations.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Senior police also to blame for beating of government official, says Bublan
    05/07/2006

    Senior police officers may also have been to blame for an incident in which a government official was beaten by a policeman during a demonstration, the interior minister, Frantisek Bublan, said on a TV debate programme on Sunday. Mr Bublan said the police's system had failed because officers without special riot training had been deployed. Police officer Tomas Cermak may face criminal charges after injuring the head of the government's human rights section Katerina Jacques during an anti-Nazi protest.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czechs in World Championships quarter-finals after win over Slovenia
    05/07/2006

    The Czech ice hockey team has secured a place in the quarter-finals of the World Championships in Riga after beating Slovenia 5:4. The Czechs, who drew with the hosts Latvia in their opening game, face Finland in their final group match on Tuesday.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Nedved goal helps Juventus close in on Italian title
    05/07/2006

    Czech footballer Pavel Nedved is within grasp of another Italian league title with his club Juventus, after scoring the opening goal in their 2:1 defeat of Palermo on Sunday. Juve will retain the Serie A crown as long as they are not beaten by Reginna in their last game next weekend.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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