• 05/31/2005

    The dispute between Prime Minister Paroubek and President Vaclav Klaus over foreign policy appears to be over. The two leaders met on Tuesday morning to clear up a dispute which erupted after the Prime Minister accused the President of allegedly overstepping his foreign policy mandate by criticizing the EU Constitution on foreign visits. The Czech government is strongly pro-federalist and Mr. Paroubek accused the President of sending out "confusing signals" regarding the Czech Republic's position. Following their meeting the Prime Minister told journalists that he and the President had agreed to hold foreign policy consultations more frequently and would try to present a unified stand on key issues.

  • 05/31/2005

    The Czech tabloid daily Blesk on Tuesday published a childhood picture of musician Tomas Strnad, claiming it had proof that he is the mystery Piano Man found wandering on an English beach last month. The picture of Strnad, aged ten, shows a stark resemblance to the still unidentified man. The mother of a former classmate of Strnad's provided the photograph saying she had recognized him instantly. Two other musicians who used to perform in a band with Strnad also think that the mystery man is their old friend, describing him as a lonely genius who can play classical music from memory.

  • 05/31/2005

    Fifty seven percent of Czechs would like to see the president elected by the people. According to a poll just out close to fifty percent of Czechs said the president should not be connected with any political party. A fifth of respondents said he or she should not be involved in politics in any way. Czechs have expressed similar views in the past, but there has never been sufficient consensus in parliament for the approval of a bill which would enable the president to be elected in a direct vote. Under Czech law he is elected by Parliament.

  • 05/30/2005

    The Czech government will not comment on France's rejection of the European Constitution until the next meeting of the European Council in three weeks' time, Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek said on Monday. He added that the adoption of the EU Constitution remained a priority for the Czech Republic. The opposition Civic Democrats welcomed the result of the French referendum as well as Czech President Vaclav Klaus who said it "proved that there was a gulf between the opinions of Europe's political elite and normal Europeans". The Czech Republic has not decided how or when to ratify the constitution. Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek favours holding a referendum along with parliamentary elections in June 2006.

  • 05/30/2005

    A Prague court has sentenced a member of the Qatar royal family, Prince Hamid bin Abdal Sani, to 2.5 years in prison for sexual contacts with girls under the age of fifteen. The court has also ordered the expulsion of Mr Sani from the Czech Republic.

  • 05/30/2005

    The Czech Republic's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Stefan Fule, has said the embassy can neither confirm nor deny the information that the mute man, known as the "Piano Man", whom British police are trying to identify after he was found wandering on an English beach last month, could be a Czech citizen. According to Mr Fule, the British authorities have not yet contacted the Czech embassy. Two Czech rock musicians say that after seeing the man's photograph, they recognised him as their friend, Czech musician Tomas Strnad.

  • 05/30/2005

    Central Bohemia and the capital Prague were hit by a hail storm on Monday afternoon. Two women were hit by falling branches and were taken to hospital with head injuries. A number of tram lines were interrupted for several hours as fallen trees broke the trolleys in some places, and elsewhere tram tracks were under water. Some metro stations were also flooded. The hail storm marked the onset of a cold front bringing an end to a week-long heat wave.

  • 05/30/2005

    Czech footballer Svatopluk Pluskal who was part of the Czechoslovak team that reached the 1962 World Cup final, has died at the age of 74 in a nursing home. Pluskal, who was capped 56 times between 1952 and 1965, was not only in the side that lost 3-1 to Brazil in the World Cup final but also finished third in the 1960 European Championships. He formed a stunning midfield partnership with Josef Masopust, European footballer of the year in 1962, both at international and club level at Dukla Prague. Pluskal, who suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2004, coached Prague Bohemians, Cyprus outfit Enosis Neon Paralimni and Skoda Pilsen.

  • 05/29/2005

    Some 150 of the country's finest music and theatre ensembles are performing at the Mezi Ploty, or Between Fences, cultural festival at Prague's Bohnice psychiatric hospital this week-end. Mezi Ploty is open to the public, with the aim of increasing awareness and understanding of mental illness, alcoholism and drug addiction. The festival is organised every year and has always enjoyed much popularity with some 20,000 visitors. Performers this year range from the underground Plastic People of the Universe to Czech Superstar (Czech Pop Idol) Aneta Langerova.

    Author: Dita Asiedu
  • 05/27/2005

    The Czech Justice Ministry has forwarded - to a Prague court - a Qatari request for the extradition of Prince Hamid bin Abdal Sani, standing trial in the Czech Republic for the alleged sexual abuse of underage girls. The Justice Ministry has vetted the document and said that by law the court should hand the case over to the judiciary in Mr Sani's home country. A verdict by the Prague court is expected Monday. Mr Sani is accused of having abused 16 girls all under the age of fifteen in his flat in the Czech capital.

    Author: Jan Velinger

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