• Average salary up, real wages have not risen
    09/06/2013

    The average salary in the Czech Republic has increased by almost 300 crowns year-on-year in the second quarter to 24,953 crowns, according to figures released by the Czech Statistical Office on Friday. The purchasing power of the Czech consumer has gotten worse, though, due to inflation. The real wages have actually gone down by 0.3 percent compared to last year. Additionally, two thirds of the population has lower than the average salary.
    Author: Masha Volynsky

  • Soldier wounded during training dies
    09/06/2013

    A 36-year-old Czech soldier died on Friday, succumbing to the shrapnel wound he received during a drill at the Boletice training facility earlier this week. The incident happened while the 42nd mechanical battalion was holding mortar training. The deceased soldier, who was hit by shrapnel from an exploded bomb was a member of a gunnery unit and was in charge of aiming the mortar. Military police and a special committee are investigating the incident.
    Author: Masha Volynsky

  • First newborn placed in a baby box at a city hall
    09/06/2013

    A newborn girl was placed in the baby box at the Prague 2 city hall on Thursday afternoon. This is the first baby that was placed here, and the first one at a baby box at a town hall building. There are only two such facilities, the rest of the more than 55 Baby Boxes around the country are located in hospitals. The newborn, who has been named Jana, is the 90th baby that was placed into a baby box in the Czech Republic since the first one was installed in 2005. Baby boxes were criticized last year by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child for allegedly going against five articles of the international convention on children’s rights.
    Author: Masha Volynsky

  • Two rare lion cubs born in Olomouc zoo
    09/06/2013

    Two Barbary lion cubs have been born in the Olomouc zoo to a lioness Lilly. Almost one month after their birth, the cubs, named Tery and Basty, weigh more than five kilos each. The Barbary lions became extinct in the wild in 1922 and the Olomouc zoo is one of only three in Europe where this species reproduces. The Moravian zoo has had Barbary lions since 1979, and some 19 cubs were born there since.
    Author: Masha Volynsky

  • Hadamczik released list of 67 names for the Sochi team
    09/06/2013

    Trainer of the national hockey team, Alois Hadamczik, has released the list of possible players for the team that will be going to the Sochi Olympic games. The list has 67 names, most of whom are players for the NHL. Among the candidates are Jaromír Jágr, Petr Nedvěd and the goalkeeper Tomáš Vokoun. The final list of 25 players who will be heading to Sochi will be made public at the latest on 13 January. The Czech team will be playing in the first match of the Olympics against Sweden.
    Author: Masha Volynsky

  • Czechs set to face Armenia in crucial World Cup qualifier
    09/06/2013

    The Czech Republic’s footballers are preparing to face Armenia in a key World Cup qualification game at Prague’s Eden Arena on Friday night. The Czech coach, Michal Bílek, has described the match as a “final”, adding that his team needs to win three out of their four remaining qualifiers if they are to reach Brazil next year. The Czechs – who have previously beaten Armenia 3:0 in Yerevan – are currently third in their group, one point behind Bulgaria. On Tuesday they play group leaders Italy away.
    Author: Masha Volynsky

  • Zeman to appear on party’s election billboards
    09/05/2013

    Czech President Miloš Zeman will soon appear on around 300 billboards around the country in an election campaign ad for his Citizens’ Rights Party-Zemanites, the news site iDnes.cz reported. The advertisements show a postcard bearing an official postage stamp with the president’s image and the words I’m going to vote for the Zemanites – what about you? Mr. Zeman has said in the past that as head of state he is duty-bound to be above party politics. Some polls indicate that the Zemanites, who currently have no seats in the Chamber of Deputies, could reach the five-percent threshold needed to enter the lower house.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • New Romany party planning to stand in October elections
    09/05/2013

    A newly formed party representing the Czech Republic’s Roma minority is planning to stand in general elections at the end of next month. The Romany Democratic Party is planning to field candidates in four of the country’s regions, iDnes.cz reported, adding that its policies were strongly left-wing. The chairman of the grouping, Miroslav Tancoš, said members of the Roma community were looking for a chance to work rather than support or sympathy. Dozens of the party’s members are from the majority population, he said.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Bookies expect Social Democrats to win elections
    09/05/2013

    Czech bookmakers are backing the Social Democrats to come first in next month’s elections, with the companies Sazka, Fortuna and Maxi-Tip all currently offering the lowest odds on such an outcome, which would be in line with opinion polls. The bookies’ rates also indicate that they expect either right wingers TOP 09 or the Communists to come second and that both the ANO 2011 party headed by business tycoon Andrej Babiš and the Zemanites will reach the five-percent threshold.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech holiday makers returning to Egypt
    09/05/2013

    Czech holiday makers have begun returning to Egypt, almost three weeks after travel companies had to quickly bring tourists home due to violence in the country. Two planes carrying tour groups left Prague for Egypt on Wednesday night. Operators insist that resorts in the country are now completely safe, though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still advising Czechs not to travel to Egypt.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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