• Court rejects Kinsky appeal
    09/07/2005

    The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Franz Ullrich Kinsky, of the aristocratic Kinsky family, to review a legal case he lost laying claim to Prague's Kinsky Palace, now owned by the state. Judge Martina Skodova said on Wednesday that the Supreme Court found Kinsky's appeal was unsubstantiated, allowing the verdict to stand.

    Mr Kinsky has lodged a total of 157 lawsuits against the Czech Republic to try and regain property seized by the state following World War II. His family was accused of collaboration with the Nazis. The value of the property Mr Kinsky has been suing for has been estimated by some at 40 billion crowns, the equivalent of a little less than 2 billion U.S. dollars.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Czechs down Armenia 4:1
    09/07/2005

    The Czech national side defeated Armenia 4:1 on Wednesday to get back on track in qualifying for the football World Cup in Germany next year. At the weekend the Czechs fell 0:2 to Romania. The match saw a lacklustre and scoreless first half but the Czechs got off to a better start in the 2nd. Marek Heinz opened the scoring in the 47th minute, and over ten minutes Jan Polak added two, Milan Baros, one.

    Armenia then got a late goal back in the 87th minute.

    Despite the win the Czech national side has been playing far below its potential, suffering from a number of injuries including that of playmaker Tomas Rosicky. His absence, as well as that of seasoned players like team captain Tomas Galasek, has had a noticeable impact.

    Top three in Group 1: Netherlands 25 points, Czech Republic 24, Romania 22.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Coalition party leaders postpone meeting on controversial revision of the Labour Code
    09/06/2005

    The governing coalition has postponed a meeting of party leaders on amendments to the labour code. A spokeswoman for the Labour Ministry has said the proposals under consideration would bring the biggest change to the labour law system since 1990. The Cabinet meeting, which was to take place on Wednesday, has been pushed by back two weeks so that an inter-party working committee can address some of the sticking points. These include proposals on workers rights that some employers' associations say give unions too much power and would make it far too difficult to sack redundant or unproductive employees. The Finance Ministry has also objected to a proposal that would have the Social Security administration responsible for on-the-job accident insurance, which is now handled by commercial insurers.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • Interior Minister due to present Parliament with 'positive' report on police action at CzechTek
    09/06/2005

    Interior Minister Frantisek Bublan is due to submit a comprehensive report to the government on Wednesday as to how the police force acted this July to shut down a techno music festival known as CzechTek. Scores of police officers and festival-goers were injured when police used tear gas and water cannons to break up the techno rave. Claims of police brutality at CzechTek led to massive protests, mainly by young people, throughout the country. According to media reports citing a leaked copy of the document, the Interior Minister will report on Wednesday that - apart from a few isolated incidents - the police acted within the bounds of the law. Mr Bublan will recommend, however, that special crowd-control ("anti-conflict") police teams be created and that clearer rules of engagement be put in place.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • State-run agency ready to release crude oil reserves in case of market shortage
    09/06/2005

    The Czech Republic said on Tuesday it was ready to release some 9,800 barrels of crude oil every day to help eliminate possible market shortages caused by Hurricane Katrina, the Associated Press reported. The state-run Administration of the State Material Reserves said it had not yet received any such request. The agency said in a statement that it was ready to pump extra crude oil to the local market for 30 days.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • Rising petrol prices prompt Labour Ministry to increase transport subsidy for disabled people
    09/06/2005

    In related news, the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry has announced that as of January 2006 it will increase the annual transportation subsidy given to disabled people in light of rising fuel costs. The Finance Ministry is also considering giving a subsidy to trucker and other professionals most affected by higher fuel costs. The price of petrol at Czech filling stations has risen by several crowns since Hurricane Katrina hit the US city of New Orleans. Petrol is now selling for about 32 crowns per litre, or roughly 5.25 US dollars per gallon.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • Deputy Minister Martin Jahn (unaffiliated) is likely to lead Social Democrats ticket for Prague
    09/06/2005

    The Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy, Martin Jahn, although unaffiliated with the party, has been nominated by the Prague chapter of the Social Democrats to serve as their election leader for the mid-2006 Parliamentary contest. The Social Democrats regional committee has yet to approve Jahn's candidature. But he seems certain to head the Prague ticket, as his candidacy was put forth by Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek, and he enjoys the support of party chairman Stanislav Gross. Paroubek is expected to lead the national campaign, and Gross the contest in central Bohemia.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • Czech government offers to help hurricane-stricken New Orleans
    09/05/2005

    The Czech government has offered to help with the disaster relief effort underway in the US city of New Orleans. Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek made the offer to help victims of Hurricane Katrina on Monday, following talks with the US ambassador to Prague, William Cabaniss. He said the Czech government would make available a field hospital, military and civil aircraft and water pumps, as well as teams of anti-chemical specialists and health workers. The government has set aside one million dollars for the first phase of disaster aid, if the US accepts. A response was expected by Friday.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • Finance Minister says no cut in fuel excise taxes under consideration
    09/05/2005

    In related news, the opposition Civic Democrats have said the party will seek a fast-track cut in the excise tax on petrol. Prices have risen sharply at Czech filling stations due to the knock on affect of Hurricane Katrina and a rise in the price of oil worldwide. The excise tax now stands at just under 12 crowns per litre for petrol and 10 crowns per litre for diesel fuel, less than one third of the total price. Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has said there are no plans to cut the taxes, but that the ministry was looking into ways to help offset costs for transporters and others seriously affected by the rising cost of fuel.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • Czech crown approaches record high against the euro
    09/05/2005

    The Czech currency has further gains against the common European currency, reaching 29.03 crowns to the euro on Monday morning following fresh data from the United States. The currency is nearing its record high of 28.92 against the euro, which was set in July 2002. Meanwhile, as expected, Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek confirmed on Monday that the government is looking to delay the adoption of the euro by one year, to 2010.
    Author: Brian Kenety

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