• No shortage of judges, says Klaus
    03/20/2005

    President Vaclav Klaus has said the Czech Republic does not have a shortage of judges, adding that the country had the highest number per citizen of any OECD country. Mr Klaus's remarks follow controversy over his refusal to appoint a number of judges because they were under the age of 30. Speaking on Czech Radio on Saturday, the president said the real problem was the placement of judges in different parts of the country and the way the courts were organized.

    Protestors mark second anniversary of start of US-led war against Iraq

    Around 200 people have held a demonstration in Prague on the second anniversary of the beginning of the United States-led war against Iraq. The demonstrators compared the US presence in Iraq to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, and called on President George Bush to withdraw US troops from the country.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Main prizes go to Tata Bojs, Barta, Langerova at Czech music awards
    03/20/2005

    The rock group Tata Bojs were named band of the year at the Czech music industry's annual Andel (Angel) awards ceremony on Saturday night. Male singer of the year was Dan Barta, while the female singer of the year award went to Aneta Langerova, the winner of a television talent contest. The late Zuzana Nazarova was inducted into the Czech music hall of fame at the ceremony in Ostrava.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Koller out for Finland game
    03/20/2005

    Giant forward Jan Koller is likely to miss the first of two upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Finland and Andorra. Koller, the second highest goal scorer in the history of Czech international football, sustained a muscle injury during an appearance for his club Borussia Dortmund.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Christian Democrats again call for Gross's resignation
    03/19/2005

    The Christian Democrats have passed a resolution at a party conference in Prague, saying they will leave the governing coalition and push for early elections if Prime Minister Stanislav Gross is not replaced as head of the Social Democrats at their conference next weekend. Christian Democrat leader Miroslav Kalousek has been calling for Mr Gross's resignation since the prime minister and his wife became involved in a financial scandal.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • President Klaus compares EU to Comecon
    03/19/2005

    President Vaclav Klaus has compared the European Union to the Communist-era international organization Comecon, the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance. Speaking in the US magazine Time, Mr Klaus said the EU was structurally similar to the old Eastern bloc organisation, although ideologically different. He also reiterated his call for the EU to be widened rather than more deeply integrated, saying it should accept countries like Kazakhstan and Morocco as members.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Study: Czech forests third most damaged in Europe
    03/19/2005

    The Czech Republic's forests are the third most damaged in Europe after those of Poland and Slovakia, says a report released by the German Statistical Office. The study found that a full 89 percent of Czech trees were damaged.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Sparta Prague cleared of corruption by police
    03/19/2005

    Police have confirmed they have dropped an investigation into allegations of corruption by Sparta Prague football club. The Czech football association is now planning to examine the police's file on Sparta before deciding if there are any grounds for taking disciplinary action against the club.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czechs taking less sleeping pills due to increased cost
    03/19/2005

    The number of Czechs taking sleeping pills has halved over the last 15 years as they have increased in price, according to a report by the national institute for the control of medicines. A spokesman said the number of sleeping pills consumed by Czechs was now around the European average.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Flood alerts declared in many parts of the country
    03/19/2005

    Flood alerts have been declared in many parts of the Czech Republic due to rain and the recent thawing of snow following a sharp rise in temperature. Roads and people's homes have been flooded, and residents were evacuated in two places.

    However, weather forecasters say things should improve over the next couple of days when it is expected to be dry. Temperatures will reach up to 19 degrees Celsius in the middle of next week.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Poll: Gross losing public support after property scandal
    03/18/2005

    A new opinion poll suggests the Czech prime minister, Stanislav Gross, has lost public support. The prime minister, who has recently been embroiled in a scandal involving his family's property, is now supported by 18 percent of voters, according to the STEM poll. In January he had almost 50 percent support. The new poll found that most popular politician in the country is Culture Minister Pavel Dostal, who is fighting cancer.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

Pages