• Arms manufacturer Zbrojovka Brno to go up for sale
    04/21/2005

    The administrator of the Zbrojovka Brno arms manufacturer in Brno has said he aims to stabilise production at the plant as soon as possible before putting it up for sale. He estimated the price at around 100 million crowns (close to 4 million U.S.). Several parties have reportedly expressed an interest in buying the arms firm, which produces guns for hunting and sport.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Two killed, thirteen injured in truck collision
    04/21/2005

    A collision involving a truck and numerous vehicles in the north Bohemian region of Usti nad Labem led to tragedy on Thursday with 2 people killed and 13 injured. Police and emergency workers are at the scene.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Zehnder to head Prague Chamber Philharmonic
    04/21/2005

    Ten years after being founded and led by Jiri Belohlavek, the Prague Chamber Philharmonic will now be led by 35-year-old Swiss conductor Kaspar Zehnder. The post of conducting the Prague Chamber Philharmonic became available after Jiri Belohlavek was named to take over as the chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra next year.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • New cabinet should be clear by Thursday: Paroubek
    04/20/2005

    The politician chosen to replace Stanislav Gross as Czech prime minister, Jiri Paroubek, says the composition of his cabinet should be clear by Thursday at the latest. Mr Paroubek, a deputy chairman of the Social Democrats and currently minister for regional development, says he does not expect many ministerial changes. Representatives of his party, the Christian Democrats and the Freedom Union met on Wednesday to discuss their continued co-operation in government.

    The coalition formed by the three parties after elections in 2002 broke down recently, after Mr Gross and his wife became embroiled in a scandal concerning their personal finances. The prime minister is expected to resign formally after a meeting of senior Social Democrats on Saturday

    President Vaclav Klaus said on Wednesday he would not react to the latest developments until Mr Gross showed him a signed coalition agreement and tendered his resignation.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Klaus's arguments against EU Constitution untrue, says vice-president of European Parliament
    04/20/2005

    The vice-president of the European Parliament, Alejo Vidal-Quadras Roca, has strongly criticised President Klaus's opposition to the European Constitution. The Spanish politician said Mr Klaus's arguments were prejudiced, misleading and untrue. He said Mr Klaus was the only head of state in Europe against the constitution, and it would be a pity if his euro-skepticism led the Czech Republic to isolation.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • ODS deny internal studying showing voter loss over policy towards EU Constitution
    04/20/2005

    Meanwhile, Mr Klaus's party the Civic Democrats have denied reports that their opposition to the European Constitution has led to a drop in support for the party. Tuesday's edition of Lidove noviny reported that a study commissioned by the Civic Democrats found that three to five percent of potential supporters had been put off by their policy on the constitution. Senior party figures said, however, that no such study existed.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Roman Catholic churches flying Vatican flags in honour of Pope Benedict XVI
    04/20/2005

    The Czech Roman Catholic church has called for churches around the country to fly the Vatican flag between Wednesday and Sunday in honour of the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI. However, due to a shortage of yellow and white Vatican flags, Czech church leaders have asked their colleagues in Slovakia to send some as soon as possible.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Pravo: Thousands of fake Harry Potter books sold in Czech Republic
    04/20/2005

    The Czech publisher of the Harry Potter children's books says 10,000 fake copies of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire have been sold in the Czech Republic, the daily Pravo reported on Wednesday. Official publishers Albatros accuse the company Ottovo of being behind the fakes; a police source said the latter had invoiced bookshops for a non-existent book called Goblet of Fire. Over 800,000 Harry Potter books have been sold in the Czech Republic.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • World Bank labels Czech Republic advanced economy
    04/18/2005

    The World Bank has officially labelled the Czech Republic an advanced economy, which means that the country will no longer be entitled to draw loans from the World Bank. Slovenia has so far been the only country of the former Eastern bloc to pass the so-called graduation. A Czech representative at the World Bank said that Hungary is expected to graduate this year and Slovakia and the Baltic States should graduate in the years to come. According to Deputy Finance Minister Tomas Prouza The World Bank has also come up with criticism towards the Czech Republic, concerning above all the reforms of the pension and health care systems and the issue of fiscal deficits.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Czech political crisis hits impasse
    04/18/2005

    The Czech political crisis has hit an impasse, with the three former coalition parties, the Social Democrats, the Christian Democrats and the Freedom Union, holding no new talks on forming a government after a previous deal failed on Thursday. Prime Minister Stanislav Gross now leads a minority government from which seven ministers have resigned but President Vaclav Klaus has yet to accept their resignations. Mr Klaus said on Friday he would not accept a minority cabinet from Mr Gross and instead would push for early elections. He also asked the three parties involved to inform him whether they were willing to form a new government based on the previous coalition. The Prime Minister and Social Democrat chairman Stanislav Gross said he would give his answer to President Klaus on Tuesday at the earliest.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

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