• Pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian supporters demonstrate in Prague
    01/11/2009

    Some 200 people assembled on Prague’s Franz Kafka square on Sunday to demonstrate support for the Israeli military operation in Gaza, calling Hamas a terrorist organization which used women and children as live shields. The gathering was disrupted when some thirty pro-Palestinian activists appeared on the scene shouting anti-Israeli slogans but a cordon of police officers prevented any physical clashes between the two groups.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • TV Barrandov goes on air
    01/11/2009

    TV Barrandov, a new Czech commercial TV station, went on air on Sunday, promising viewers a mix of news and entertainment. It is to be financed primarily by sponsors and advertisement revenues, expected to total 50 million crowns in its first year. The launch of the station cost a billion crown and it is expected to start making a profit within three years.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Štepánek wins Brisbane International
    01/11/2009

    Radek Štepánek of the Czech Republic upset Spain's Fernando Verdasco 3-6 6-3 6-4 on Sunday to claim the men's singles title at the inaugural Brisbane International. Verdasco looked to have the edge after winning the first set but Štepánek, who had won his quarter-final and semi-final after being a set down, clawed back to win in three. The victory provided the 30-year-old Štepánek with his third ATP title after his previous wins at Rotterdam in 2006 and Los Angeles in 2007.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Barbora Špotáková named sportsperson of the year
    01/11/2009

    Czech javelin thrower Barbora Špotáková, who won the gold at the Beijing Olympics, has been named sportsperson of the year for 2008 - in a vote by the Club of Sports Journalists. Shooter Katherine Emmons and cross-country champion Lukáš Bauer came second and third.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Russia and EU agree deal after talks between Topolánek and Putin
    01/10/2009

    Russia and the European Union signed a deal on monitoring gas supplies through Ukraine, after talks between Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday. Representing the EU presidency, the Czech leader said he would travel on to Kiev to ask the Ukrainian side to also sign up to the agreement, aimed at ending a dispute which has lead to the worst ever disruption of Russian gas supplies to Europe. Mr Topolánek, who was in Kiev on Friday, said he would remain in the region as long as needed to ensure that gas is again pumped to Europe.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Even during cold war Soviets never toyed with western Europe so much, says Czech industry minister
    01/10/2009

    Speaking about the gas supply crisis, the Czech industry minister, Martin Říman, told the news website novinky.cz that even during the cold war the Soviet Union had not toyed with western Europe in such a manner. He said previous talk on improving energy security had been somewhat academic and it was now time to begin concrete projects to ensure energy security.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czechs sending Slovakia equivalent of 15 percent of daily gas consumption
    01/10/2009

    The Czech Republic’s largest gas distributor RWE Transgas has begun sending four million cubic metres of natural gas a day to Slovakia, equivalent to 15 percent of the latter’s daily consumption. Slovakia is normally 100-percent dependent on gas from Russia and is one of the states hardest hit by the current crisis. A spokesperson for RWE Transgas said the Czech Republic itself had sufficient supplies and there would be no need to ration gas.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Press: Czech sponsored art work for Council in Brussels mocks Klaus
    01/10/2009

    A Czech sponsored art work being unveiled at the Council of the European Union in Brussels on Monday mocks the country’s president, Václav Klaus, Lidové noviny reported. The piece is a large jigsaw puzzle of the EU, with individual countries designed by an artist from that state, the paper said. The Czech Republic’s contribution is by sculptor David Černý; against a blue background, it features a light panel showing controversial statements by Mr Klaus on subjects such as global warming (which the Czech head of state asserts is not due to the activities of mankind). Czech Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra defended the piece, saying art should arouse emotions and is sometimes provocative. Most of the costs of the project have been covered by one of the Czech Republic’s richest men, coal magnate Zdeněk Bakala.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech EU presidency urges both sides in Middle East to respect Security Council resolution
    01/10/2009

    The Czech presidency of the European Union has urged both sides in the current conflict in the Middle East to respect a UN Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire. In a statement, the EU presidency expressed sincere sympathy to the families of Palestinian and Israeli victims; it repeated a call for both sides to halt their military activities immediately, saying only that would allow the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid desperately needed in the Gaza Strip.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Topolánek discusses Middle East conflict with US president
    01/10/2009

    Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek interrupted discussions with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday to speak to the American president, George Bush, about the situation in the Middle East. Both men agreed on the need to secure a cease-fire, deliver humanitarian aid and prevent weapons being smuggled into Gaza. Mr Bush said Mr Topolánek could, representing the EU presidency, support the Palestinian Authority’s distribution of aid in Gaza.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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