• Organized crime unit inspection at Prague 11 town hall
    10/02/2013

    The police organized crime unit inspected the Real Estate Division of the Prague 11 town hall. Although the police spokesperson confirmed that they have secured a number of documents, he was unable to give more details about the purpose of the inspection or the nature of the documents. The town hall also gave no further details, and even the opposition council members have told the press that they do not know what the police may be investigating. The opposition has criticized the town hall administration a number of times in the past for financial mismanagement.
    Author: Masha Volynsky

  • Parties given ballot numbers for the elections
    10/02/2013

    The national election committee selected ballot numbers for the 24 parties running in this month’s general election in a random draw on Wednesday morning. The numbers determine the order of the ballots, which voters will receive and parties will be able to use the numbers in their campaigns.
    Author: Masha Volynsky

  • Czech Air plane make emergency landing in Budapest
    10/02/2013

    A Czech Airlines plane flying from Budapest to Prague returned to Ferenc Liszt Airport shortly after takeoff on Wednesday morning. The pilot decided to turn the ATR-72 aircraft around after smoke was noticed onboard. The Hungarian media reported that a long smoke trail was seen behind the airplane as well. According to a Czech Airlines spokesman, one of the plane’s engines had caught fire. All 33 passengers and four crew members disembarked from the plane safely and without any injuries.
    Author: Masha Volynsky

  • Songwriter Zdeněk Rytíř dies, aged 69
    10/02/2013

    Respected pop music songwriter Zdeněk Rytíř died on Tuesday night after a long illness at the age of 69. Since the late 1960’s he wrote songs for some of the most famous pop singers of the time, including Marta Kubišová, Helena Vondráčková, Václav Neckář and Karel Gott. He also composed a number of Czech texts for covers of famous Western songs like Hey Jude or Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are a-Changin'.
    Author: Masha Volynsky

  • National Theater prepares special project for WWI anniversary
    10/02/2013

    The National Theater in Prague has announced that it will present a special international project called 1914 on 30 April of next year to mark 100 years since the beginning of World War One. The play will be directed by the American director Robert Wilson and the script was inspired above all by Jaroslav Hašek’s novel The Good Soldier Švejk and the satirical play The Last Days of Mankind by the Bohemian born writer Karl Kraus. The creative team of the project also includes theater professionals from Slovakia and Hungary. The first round of rehearsals, which began in mid-September, will conclude this week, while the second round will take place next spring.
    Author: Masha Volynsky

  • Temperatures dip below zero across the country
    10/02/2013

    Temperatures went below freezing in almost half of the meteorological stations in the country on Tuesday night. The coldest measurement of -10.5 degrees Celsius was recorder in Rokytská slať in southern Bohemia. In 10 locations, record low temperatures were recorded. According to meteorologists, freezing temperatures usually begin appearing in the lowlands until the second half of October.
    Author: Masha Volynsky

  • Plzeň preparing to face CSKA Moscow in Champions League
    10/02/2013

    Viktoria Plzeň are preparing to face CSKA Moscow in a Champions League group game on Wednesday evening. The group also features Manchester City and title holders Bayern Munich, and Plzeň coach Pavel Vrba admits that his team are essentially competing against CSKA for third spot, which would give them a place in the Europa League in the New Year. The game is being held in Saint Petersburg due to problems with CSKA’s pitch.
    Author: Masha Volynsky

  • Court throws out corruption charges against ex-Tatra CEO Adams
    10/01/2013

    The Brno Municipal Court has dismissed corruption charges against Ronald Adams, the former CEO of the truck maker Tatra Kopřivnice. Then deputy defence minister Martin Barták had claimed that Mr. Adams had promised him CZK 20 million in 2009 if he could deliver a deal under which Tatra would supply vehicles for the Czech Army. Mr. Adams had consistently denied the allegation. The state attorney can still appeal Tuesday’s verdict.

    Mr. Barták, who became minister of defence after the alleged offer was made, is himself facing charges of soliciting a bribe from Tatra’s management.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Lobby group: Next Parliament could have fewer female deputies
    10/01/2013

    A group lobbying for the equal representation of women in politics has warned that there could be fewer female MPs after elections at the end of the month. Forum 50% said on Tuesday that the number of female candidates on the tickets of the parties projected to enter Parliament is lower than the number fielded by the parties that got in three years ago. Only the Civic Democrats and the Greens have more women on their candidate lists this time around, the group said.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Maintenance man killed in explosion at petrol station
    10/01/2013

    A maintenance man was killed when a petrol tank exploded at a filling station on the D8 motorway at Zdiby on the outskirts of Prague on Tuesday afternoon. The man was working on the tank when the accident occurred, a spokesperson for the police said. The motorway was closed in one direction following the explosion.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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