• 07/29/2004

    The Czech Veterinary Office has confirmed the thirteenth case of BSE in the Czech Republic in a five-year old cow from a farm near Jicin in East Bohemia. As a result, 143 animals from the same farm will have to be put down. Overall, 606,000 cows have been tested for BSE so far in the Czech Republic, and some 2000 have had to be put down as a preventative measure. The first case of BSE, or mad cow disease, in the Czech Republic was reported in June of 2001. It resulted in tightened regulations regarding animal breeding, cattle-feed, and the sale and import of meat and meat products.

  • 07/29/2004

    The upper house of the Czech Parliament, the Senate has approved the nomination of Ivana Janu to the post of a Constitutional Court Judge. After Ms Janu is appointed by President Vaclav Klaus, she will become the 13th judge of the 15-member Constitutional Court. Ivana Janu is a former member of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and is a widely respected expert on international public law.

  • 07/28/2004

    The outgoing Cabinet has confirmed the dismissal of the Czech's European Commissioner, Pavel Telicka. Mr Telicka is to be replaced in Brussels by Vladimir Spidla, who resigned as prime minister last month. Wednesday's action overturns a Cabinet decision made five months ago, which guaranteed Mr Telicka a mandate until 2006. With newly appointed Prime Minister Stanislav Gross expecting to have a new government formed early next week, this week's session was most probably the last for the old Cabinet. Vladimir Spidla and his cabinet resigned shortly after the ruling coalition parties' poor showing in the elections to the European Parliament held in June. However, Mr Spidla says his Cabinet has met a significant part of its policy aims and has nothing to be ashamed of. In Brussels, Mr Spidla is mainly interested in the justice, enlargement or transport portfolios. The next executive European Commission, which takes office in November, will be put together by new Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso of Portugal.

    Author: Dita Asiedu
  • 07/28/2004

    Czech President Vaclav Klaus has taken up the issue of the state of Czech psychiatric hospitals in his reply to British author J.K. Rowling. The author of the popular Harry Potter children's books had sent a letter to Mr Klaus and other Czech politicians in mid-July urging them to stop the use of caged beds in Czech psychiatric wards and institutions to restrain people with mental disabilities. Upon receipt of the letter, President Klaus summoned experts in the field to Prague Castle to discuss the state of the mental health care system. "The problem that you mentioned is, of course, very serious, and is the subject of permanent professional study within our country... I cannot but disagree with the impression that in Czech health-care institutions there occurs regular abuse of the aforementioned beds, or even the abuse of mentally disabled children," Mr Klaus wrote.

    Author: Dita Asiedu
  • 07/27/2004

    The leaders of the Social Democrats, the Christian Democrats and the Freedom Union have said they are extremely close to reaching a coalition agreement, one day after Social Democrat Stanislav Gross was named prime minister. The three parties have committed themselves to supporting families with children, education and faster economic growth.

    Talks on the composition of the new cabinet are expected to continue until at least the weekend; though Mr Gross had earlier said some ministers would remain in their posts, Freedom Union chairman Pavel Nemec told reporters on Tuesday it had not even been decided which parties would get which ministries.

    All three parties were in the previous coalition led by Vladimir Spidla, who stepped down a month ago after the Social Democrats did badly in elections to the European Parliament.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 07/27/2004

    The Czech economy is expected to grow by 3.1 percent this year and 3.2 percent in 2005, according to figures just released by the Finance Ministry. Inflation this year should be 2.9 percent, according to the Ministry's calculations.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 07/27/2004

    T-Mobile has taken a complaint about the Czech Republic's other biggest mobile phone operator, Eurotel, to the European Commission, the company announced on Tuesday. T-Mobile says Eurotel's planned launch of a fast internet system called CDMA contravenes European Union regulations on competition, because Eurotel has an exclusive contract to provide the service in this country.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 07/27/2004

    A policeman who covered up for a crime committed by his colleagues has received a six-month suspended sentence from the court in the eastern town of Frydek-Mistek. Roman Byrtus was found guilty on Tuesday of trying to prevent an investigation into the theft of World War II medals by two fellow officers.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 07/27/2004

    A traffic policeman who shot at a pedestrian in the west Bohemian town of Pilsen last week has been dismissed. Police say it has not yet been decided whether charges will be filed against the former officer, who took aim at a pedestrian crossing a busy street at a red light but hit a nearby car.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 07/27/2004

    A young man who was killed when his car crashed into a bus in north Moravia at the weekend had been drinking and taking drugs, police in Ostrava said on Tuesday. Traces of alcohol, marijuana and the Czech amphetamine pervitine were found in the 23-year-old driver's blood. One passenger in the car died of her injuries while three others suffered serious head injuries.

    Author: Ian Willoughby

Pages