News

An amendment to the criminal code which takes effect on January 1st defines precisely how much drugs one can legally possess for one’s own use. According to Czech law possession of “more than a small amount” of any given drug constitutes a criminal offence, but until now the law did not clearly define what “a small amount” was. The amendment stipulates that one can legally grow 5 marihuana plants or have 15 grams of marihuana in one’s possession, 4 tablets of the party drug Ecstasy, 1,5 grams of heroin, 1 gram of cocaine and so on. The guidelines should make it easier to fight drugs-trafficking and help rather than punish users.

Retailers are gearing up for a second round of sales, with some outlets cutting prices by as much as 75 percent. The biggest price reduction should affect electronics, wear, toys and cosmetics. Some outlets have announced the biggest sale ever in an effort to get Czechs to spend money after disappointing retail sales in December. Czech consumers have generally cut back on spending and the prediction of a likely fall in real incomes in 2010 has not helped matters.

Over 100 Czech holiday makers unexpectedly celebrated the arrival of the New Year in the Dominican Republic after their flight was cancelled due to technical problems. Czech Airlines rescheduled the flight for two days later, saying a spare part needed to be flown in before the airbus could make the flight back. The airlines covered the cost of accommodation and a New Year’s dinner for all 118 passengers. This particular flight had problems on the way out as well, after it was damaged by a de-frosting machine shortly before its planned take-off.

Half a dozen members of the Prague Polar Bears Club of hardy men and women turned up for their annual New Year’s swim in the Vltava river on Friday. The group swum a kilometer-long stretch down the river in water temperature of 3 degrees Celsius. The tradition of keeping fit in this way dates back to 1923, but doctors warn untrained individuals against trying it just for fun.