• Thousands turn out to greet Olympic champion
    03/01/2014

    Thousands of well-wishers and fans turned out in Žďár nad Sázavou on Saturday to greet champion Martina Sáblíková. The Olympian, who won one gold and one silver at the Winter Olympics in Sochi was greeted with flowers and other gifts, including a cake in the shape of the winners’ podium. At the Winter Games, Sáblíková defended her gold from Vancouver in the 5,000 metres – her favourite competition.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Car crashes into family home
    03/01/2014

    One of the passengers in a modified Subaru was killed and two others seriously injured when the driver lost control of the vehicle near Pardubice on Saturday and crashed. Altogether, four people were in the car. In the crash, the vehicle sped off the road in a turn and hit a fence and the side of a family home. Hydraulic equipment was needed to rescue injured passengers from the car.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Bishop Paďour steps down as head of diocese
    03/01/2014

    For health reasons, Bishop Jiří Paďour is stepping down as the head of the diocese in České Budějovice. The 70-year-old bishop tendered his resignation to Pope Francis last year. The Vatican confirmed on Saturday the move had been accepted. Bishop Paďour headed the diocese since 2002; he was a dissident under the former communist regime after refusing to collaborate with the StB, the secret police, in 1979.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Suspect in 20-year-old muder case remanded in custody
    03/01/2014

    The regional court in Plzeň has ordered a 47-year-old suspect to be remanded in custody in connection with a murder which took place two decades ago. Criminal investigators in Karlovy Vary arrested the man on Friday – ten days before the case would have come under the statute of limitations. The man is suspected of killing a 66-year-old in 1994 and then cementing his remains in the basement of a building in Marianské Lázně.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Methanol claims life of 58-year-old
    03/01/2014

    A 58-year-old man died in hospital on Friday, succumbing to methanol poisoning, the Czech News Agency reports. The man, from Moravec na Ždársku, fell gravely ill after drinking tainted liquor roughly a week ago. The police have charged a 37-year-old suspect in connection with the death, finding bottles of questionable alcohol in his home. Two years ago, the Czech Republic saw an outbreak of methanol poisoning after a deadly mix of bootleg alcohol illegally made it onto the market - more than 50 people lost their lives. Police suspect that some 4,000 litres are unaccounted for. If found guilty, the suspect could face up to eight years in jail.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Ukraine says it wants an association agreement with the EU and stable relations with Russia
    02/28/2014

    The foreign minister of Ukraine’s newly-formed government, Andriy Deshchytsya, has said his country wants and association agreement with the EU and stabile relations with Russia. Following a meeting with the Visegrad goup foreign ministers in Kiev on Friday, Mr. Deshchytsya said the new Ukrainian government was prepared to open talks with Russia on stabilizing bilateral relations and in particular finding a peaceful solution to the unraveling crisis in Crimea. The representatives of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland assured Kiev they would provide whatever assistance was within their means. Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said that in view of the situation in Crimea the most pressing issue now was to maintain the unity of the country. Meanwhile, the EU on Friday reiterated its offer of a free-trade pact with Ukraine, saying the country would see the economic benefits within weeks of signing the agreement.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Tomáš Berdych reaches second successive final at ATP Dubai Tennis Championships
    02/28/2014

    Tomáš Berdych defeated Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5 7-5 in the semi-finals of the ATP Dubai Tennis Championships on Friday. The world number six has thus reached his second successive Dubai final. He will now face Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer in Saturday's game.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Czech government wants to join criminal prosecution in Promopro case
    02/28/2014

    The Czech government wants to join the criminal prosecution in the ongoing case involving the company Promopro which won a controversial public order for the supply of audio-visual equipment during the Czech EU presidency in 2009. The state is claiming 338 million crowns in damages, the amount by which the order was allegedly overpriced. The suspects have been charged with scheming in a public tender and auction, abuse of power and breach of trust. Alexander Vondra, who was responsible for the preparation of the Czech EU presidency and who was defence minister in 2010-2012, has not been charged.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Czech Post to stop selling tobacco products
    02/28/2014

    Czech Post has announced it will stop selling cigarettes at its outlets around the country as of next week. The state-owned company launched the sale tobacco products late last year within a diversification strategy aimed at consolidating its finances. The sale of tobacco products has come under fire from both the public and members of Parliament.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Staggering number of underqualified teachers
    02/28/2014

    An audit into the education system has revealed that 17,000 teachers at primary and secondary schools are underqualified. Education Minister Marcel Chládek said he was shocked by the statistics and was taking measures to correct the situation. Approximately 7,000 underqualified teachers will have to leave their posts, 6,000 are already working on upgrading their qualification and another 4,000 have promised to do so without delay. Exceptions have been made for teachers over 60 who have taught for at least 15 years.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

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