• Trial begins of close advisor to former prime minister accused of soliciting huge bribe
    06/30/2014

    The Prague Municipal Court will on Monday begin the trial of Marek Dalík, who is accused of soliciting a bribe of EUR 18 million in 2007 while he was a close advisor to then prime minister Mirek Topolánek. The so-called lobbyist stands accused of demanding the kickback from Austrian armaments firm Steyr to secure a Czech government deal to buy armoured vehicles. If found guilty of attempted fraud, Mr. Dalík, who had no formal state post, could face up to 10 years in prison.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Poster protesting more conciliatory approach to China hung on Havel’s old building
    06/29/2014

    A huge poster of Václav Havel and the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama created to protest against the current government’s more conciliatory approach to China has been hung on the facade of the apartment building where the late Czech president lived on Prague’s Rašínovo nábřeží and where his brother Ivan M. Havel still resides. The poster had been hung by former Greens leader and current LES chairman Martin Bursík on his building by the Czech lower house after Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek signed a declaration in China saying that Tibet was an integral part of the country. Václav Havel supported human rights in China and was friends with the Dalai Lama.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Cycling team express support for Kreuziger
    06/29/2014

    The Tinkoff-Saxo cycling team say they fully support member Roman Kreuziger, who could face Union Cycliste Internationale disciplinary proceedings over abnormalities in his biological passport. Tinkoff-Saxo general manger Stefano Feltrin expressed surprise over how long the matter, which dates back to 2011 and 2012, had been dragging on. The team previously said they would not enter Kreuziger in any events, including the imminent Tour de France, until the issue is resolved. The Czech denies taking banned substances.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Mountain biker Kulhavý completes remarkable hat-trick with marathon win
    06/29/2014

    Czech rider Jaroslav Kulhavý has come first in the Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships in South Africa’s Pietermaritzburg. The win makes the 29-year-old the first cyclist to have won a hat-trick of World Championships, Olympic and Marathon World Championships medals. Kulhavý’s compatriot Tereza Huříková, who is reigning European champion, came third in the women’s race in Pietermaritzburg.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Finance Minister: Budget could be balanced by 2017
    06/29/2014

    The Czech Republic could be running a balanced state budget by 2017, the minister of finance, Andrej Babiš, said on a Czech Television politics show on Sunday afternoon. The ANO party chief said for that to be achieved planned tax collection measures would have to be successful. This year’s budget is running at a deficit of CZK 112 billion while the centre-left government is proposing a deficit of CZK 100 billion in 2015.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Stretch of city centre tram line reopened after two months
    06/29/2014

    A busy tram line that runs through the centre of Prague has been reopened after two months. Service has been renewed between Jindřišská and Lazarská after a 50-million crown project to repair lines and enable wheelchair access at the latter tram stop. The nearby section of line between the corner of Myslíková and Spálená streets and Karlovo náměstí has now been closed for renovation work that will run until August 9.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Protocol chief: Winton may come to Prague to receive highest Czech honour
    06/29/2014

    Sir Nicholas Winton, who is 105, may travel from the UK to Prague to receive in person a Czech state honour. Sir Nicholas saved the lives of nearly 700 Prague Jewish children during World War II and is set to be presented with the Order of the White Lion, the Czech Republic’s highest state honour. Prague Castle protocol chief Jindřich Forejt told Czech Television he had spoken to the former diplomat in London on Saturday and that the latter had said he would come to the Czech capital for the award ceremony on October 28, which is Czechoslovak Independence Day, if he could.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Pro-Russian separatist arrested by Ukrainian secret service from Brno?
    06/29/2014

    The Ukrainian secret service has arrested a pro-Russian separatist who may be Czech, the news website iDnes.cz reported, quoting a report on the Ukrainian site Korrespondent.net. The man is nicknamed “the Czech” and there have been reports that he is a Brno resident named Ivo Stejskal who travelled to the region to support the separatists. However, the Ukrainian secret service issued a statement saying the detained man was Russian. The arrest was made in the Kherson Oblast, which borders with Crimea.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • July to be relatively cool and wet, say forecasters
    06/28/2014

    Temperatures in the Czech Republic in July should be on the cooler side and are unlikely to rise above 30 degrees Celsius, according to a monthly forecast issued by the Czech Hydro Meteorological-Institute. Rainfall is expected to be higher than average for the time of year, particularly in the next week.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Cyclist Kreuziger could face disciplinary proceedings over abnormalities in biological passport
    06/28/2014

    Leading Czech cyclist Roman Kreuziger could face disciplinary proceedings from the sport’s international governing body Union Cycliste Internationale over abnormalities found in his biological passport for 2011 and 2012. Kreuziger, who is 28, has issued a statement denying having taken any banned substances. His team Tinkoff-Saxo say they will not enter him in the imminent Tour de France or any other races until the matter has been resolved.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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