• Social Democrat election leader slams party colleague for hate speech
    10/07/2017

    Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek, the Social Democratic Party’s election leader, has slammed party colleague and the mayor of Brno Bohunice, Milan Hrdlička, for making highly insulting remarks about migrants in the city council’s news bulletin.

    The mayor warned about the threat of an influx of „slugs“ from Spain, Italy and other states who would devastate the country and stop at nothing.

    A person who degrades people to slugs and incites racial hatred has no place in the Social Democratic Party, Mr. Zaorálek tweeted.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Coalition parties clash over lithium mining deal
    10/07/2017

    The ruling Social Democrats and ANO have clashed over the recently signed memorandum of understanding between the Czech Ministry of Industry and Australia's European Metals Holdings on a deal that would give the Australian company the right to mine lithium in Europe’s biggest known deposit in the north-western part of the Czech Republic.

    ANO leader Andrej Babis decribed the agreement as „daylight robbery“ saying the privilage of mining the country’s natural resources should go to a Czech state-owned company.

    ANO wants to call a special session of the lower house over the matter, a proposition supported by the Communist Party.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Travel Service set to acquire majority stake in national carrier Czech Airlines
    10/06/2017

    The Czech airline Travel Service has said it has acquired a majority stake in the Czech national carrier, Czech Airlines (ČSA).

    The firm, the Czech News Agency reported, reached a deal to buy shares from Korean Air and state-owned company Prisko. The sale, however, will still need final approval from the country’s anti-monopoly office.

    If the deal goes through it will give Travel Service an almost 98 percent stake and a fleet of more than 80 airplanes.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Hockey: Jágr trains for first time with new team
    10/06/2017

    Czech hockey legend Jaromír Jágr has trained for the first time with his new NHL team, the Calgary Flames, with whom he signed this week.

    The 45-year-old player who picked up 46 points last season (16 goals, 30 assists) had warned beforehand that he hadn’t trained with a team in five months and joked after the practice that he was glad he had survived.

    Calgary is Jágr’s ninth club – but first Canadian team – in 24 seasons in the NHL.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Interior minister calls behaviour of police in Plzeň incident “unacceptable”
    10/06/2017

    Interior Minister Milan Chovanec has criticised two plainclothes officers in Plzeň for steps taken against a motorist in September.

    One of the officers apparently drew a firearm after the driver flashed his headlights at them as criticism of their driving. Images of the incident, including the drawn gun, were published by the Czech tabloid Blesk.

    The motorist’s lawyer alleged his client was also punched and that the officers only identified themselves after being asked to do so repeatedly. The lawyer posted video of part of the incident online.

    The interior minister called the behaviour of the officers in the video “unacceptable”. The matter is under internal investigation.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Weather
    10/06/2017

    Saturday is expected to be mostly cloudy with a chance of rain; daytime temperatures should reach highs of around 12 degrees Celsius.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Grandi Stazioni has 40 days to better prepare legal case
    10/06/2017

    A Prague district court has begun hearing a second lawsuit by Italian firm Grandi Stazioni over the loss of its lease of Prague’s Main Railway Station.

    But the firm will have to better prepare its evidence as the basis for its lawsuit against SŽDC, the body overseeing the country’s railway infrastructure, from which it is seeking damages of around 210 million crowns. Grandi Stazioni is seeking compensation for investment in the renovation of the main station.

    The Italian company has 40 days to better prepare its case, or the lawsuit could be dismissed, the judge Lenka Vávrová warned.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Hackers Congress gets underway in Prague
    10/06/2017

    The Fourth Hackers Congress, a three-day event hosted by the Prague centre Paralení Polis, begins in Prague on Friday.

    Guest speakers this year include programmer and hacker Amir Taaki, described by Wired as "one of the most dangerous people on the internet", and controversial crypto-anarchist Jim Bell.

    Financial freedom is the main topic this year, compared to decentralization in 2016.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Czech football team gets win in World Cup qualifying
    10/06/2017

    The Czech Republic’s national football team eked out a 2-1 win over Azerbaijan on Thursday in World Cup qualifying. Neither squad had any hope left of qualifying for the tournament in Russia, with the two top spots in the group already sewn up by Germany and Northern Ireland; but a third-place finish in the group would leave the squad better positioned in the draw for Euro 2020.

    On Thursday, the Czech Republic got goals from Kopic and Barák.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Members of public, family and friends pay last respects to actor Jan Tříska
    10/06/2017

    Members of the public, friends, and family paid their last respects to the film and theatre actor Jan Tříska at the National Theatre on Friday. Around 200 – 300 people waited for the theatre doors to open at 10 am. The Czech News Agency reported that many had flowers to place at the actor’s coffin.

    Mr Tříska, who was 80, was one of the most respected actors of his generation; he performed in dozens of films including Miloš Forman's Ragtime and The People vs. Larry Flynt.

    Jan Tříska died on September 25th, succumbing to injuries suffered after falling from Charles Bridge.
    Author: Jan Velinger

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