• Head of National Security Office resigns
    02/08/2006

    The head of the National Security Office, Jan Mares, has resigned. Mr Mares decided to leave office after a police recording of a telephone conversation between him and a man linked to a corrupt gang was made public last week. Although the two men discussed how they could gain contacts at the Presidential Office, Mr Mares maintains that it was an innocent conversation. The government was scheduled to vote on Mr Mares' dismissal during its session late on Wednesday.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Lower House approves new labour code
    02/08/2006

    Social Democrat and Communist Deputies joined forces to push through a much disputed new labour code during a session of the Lower House of the Czech Parliament on Wednesday. The opposition Civic Democrats and the two junior ruling coalition parties, the Christian Democrats and the Freedom Union, have expressed fears that it would increase the authority of trade unions and threaten the flexibility of the labour market.

    The lower house also approved an amendment to the consumer protection law, which - among other things - would allow for entrepreneurs who violate the law to be fined up to 50 million crowns. The maximum fine currently stands at one million crowns. The labour code and amendment have yet to be approved by the Senate and signed by the President.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Roofs collapse under weight of snow, no injured
    02/08/2006

    The roofs of three indoor tennis courts in north Bohemia and a sports hall in south Moravia have collapsed under the weight of snow. Luckily, no one was hurt. A winter stadium as well as a supermarket had to be evacuated after the heavy accumulated snow made the buildings unstable.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Close to one percent of children experience commercial sexual abuse
    02/08/2006

    Paediatricians, sexologists, social workers and others involved in child care attended a round table discussion in Prague on Wednesday. An estimated 18,000 children in the Czech Republic have been involved in prostitution, pornography, or were victims of some other type of commercial sexual abuse. This constitutes close to one percent of the country's population under the age of 18 years. According to Eva Vanickova from Charles University's medical faculty, it is up to paediatricians to be more attentive and look out for symptoms of abuse. The health ministry also presented a new information booklet on the problem.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • US asks for extradition of suspected al-Qaeda man arrested at Prague airport
    02/08/2006

    The United States has filed a request for the extradition of a Swedish citizen arrested at Prague airport during a stop-over in December. Oussama Kassir, who is originally from Lebanon, is accused of trying to set up an al-Qaeda terrorist camp in the US state of Oregon in 2002.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Muslim boycott of Danish goods over-reaction, says Svoboda
    02/07/2006

    The Czech foreign minister, Cyril Svoboda, has the described a boycott of Danish goods by some Muslim countries as a complete over-reaction to the publication of cartoons of Mohammad in the Danish press. Mr Svoboda said the burning of the flags of European Union states was an attack on values important to Europeans. He made the comments after talks with the European commissioner for trade, Peter Mandelson, who visited Prague on Tuesday. Mr Mandelson called for a sensitive and moderate resolution to the controversy.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • EU Commissioner Mandelson praises Czech economy
    02/07/2006

    Later at the Ministry of Industry and Trade the commissioner praised the performance of the Czech economy and the country's approach to the issues of free trade and internal competition. Mr Mandelson also commended the Czech Republic's low unemployment in comparison with neighbouring states and relatively low public debt.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Romanies lose discrimination case against Czech state in Strasbourg
    02/07/2006

    A group of Romanies who said they had suffered discrimination at the hands of the Czech education authorities have lost a case against the Czech state at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Eighteen Romanies from north Moravia said the fact they had been sent to a so-called special school constituted a violation of their human rights. Their claims had previously been dismissed by the Czech Constitutional Court.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Minister Rath wants to meet doctors before planned protest
    02/07/2006

    Health Minister David Rath has called on doctors leaders to meet him before a large demonstration against his policies due to take place in Prague on February 24. Private doctors, dentists and pharmacists have called to changes to the system of payments for treatment, and want a halt to bills currently being prepared. For his part Mr Rath says the doctors have no reason to protest, and says the opposition Civic Democrats are behind the dispute.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Sacked Supreme Court chairwoman now suing whole government over sacking
    02/07/2006

    The sacked chairwoman of the Supreme Court, Iva Brozova, has filed a lawsuit challenging her dismissal against the whole of the Czech government. She had previously filed suits against President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek. Mr Klaus dismissed Ms Brozova last week at the request of the minister of justice, who said the Supreme Court was not fulfilling its duties.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

Pages