• More than 8,000 animals killed in traffic accidents in 2007
    08/08/2008

    More than 8000 animals were killed in traffic accidents on Czech roads last year, which is an increase by 1000 since 2006, the Lidové Noviny daily reports. Animals are the second most frequent cause of traffic accidents in the country. Most of the accidents happen in April and May in the early morning hours. Unlike in the neighbouring Germany, protective fences have only been installed along the motorways.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Czechs fighting for Edam cheese
    08/08/2008

    Czech dairies as well as their Slovak, German and Austrian counterparts have raised objections to the Netherlands' request to use the EU-wide protected designation “Edam Holland” for its Edam cheese. Czech farmers argue that this type of cheese is now produced in many countries, including the Czech Republic.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • E15: Prague has the costliest airport parking in Central Europe
    08/08/2008

    Long-term parking at Prague’s Ruzyně airport costs 2,000 crowns (over 125 US dollars) per week, which is the highest rate in central Europe, the E15 internet daily reports. Airports in Munich and Vienna, for example, charge about 500 crowns less. Cheaper car parks for Czech drivers, which charge around 1,200 crowns a week, are available three bus stops from the terminals.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Photos by Josef Koudelka on display at Prague’s Old Town Hall
    08/08/2008

    The Old Town Hall in Prague has launched an exhibition of photographs by famous Czech photographer Josef Koudelka. The exhibition, entitled Josef Koudleka – Invasion 68 commemorates the 40th anniversary of 21 August 1968 – the day of the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia. Many of the exhibited photos have not been published yet; the snapshots were secretly transported to the West and Koudelka acknowledged his authorship as late as in 1984.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Athletes sign petition for a free Tibet
    08/07/2008

    Forty of the world’s top athletes, including Czech runner Jakub Holuša, have signed a petition calling for a free Tibet. In a public appeal to President Hu Jintao they urge a peaceful and democratic solution to the situation in Tibet, the release of all prisoners of conscience and respect for human rights. Twenty-year-old Jakub Holuša, who is Europe’s junior champion in the 3,000 metres steeplechase, said the appeal was in line with what the Olympic Games represented.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Olympic Watch urging athletes to take public stand in support of democracy in China
    08/07/2008

    The Czech human rights organization Olympic Watch has appealed to all athletes taking part in the 2008 Olympics to support freedom and democracy in China, urging athletes to adopt a given prisoner of conscience and raise awareness of their fate. The Chinese regime refuses to link the games with human rights issues and has taken a tough line with protesters. Several people have been arrested and extradited for unfurling banners calling for human rights and freedoms.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Hepatitis alert
    08/07/2008

    The Czech health authorities have warned of a heightened number of hepatitis A cases across the country. In the first seven months of this year the Health Ministry registered 130 patients with the disease, which is more than they had in the whole of 2007. Sixty-two hepatitis A cases were reported in the month of July alone. The illness is spreading mainly among drug addicts and the homeless and the majority of cases reported are in Prague, where the public has been warned not to underestimate the risk of infection. Vaccination of high risk groups is currently underway, but experts say it will be a while before the effects of that are felt.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Central Bank cuts key short-term interest rate
    08/07/2008

    The Czech National Bank has moved to cut its key short-term interest rate by a quarter of a point, to 3.50 percent, a bank spokeswoman said. The bank’s board decided to cut its refinancing rate for 15-day operations to 3.50 percent, the discount rate to 2.50 percent and the Lombard rate to 4.50 percent. It was the first cut in the bank's key rate since April 2005. Experts say the reduction was motivated by the strong crown.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Czech pilots to train in France
    08/07/2008

    Czech military pilots who are to operate in Afghanistan next year, will undergo special training in the French Pyrenees in September, a Defence Ministry spokesperson told the CTK news agency. In recent weeks there has been speculation that the pilots do not feel well prepared for the mission and that they are concerned about insufficiently upgraded helicopters. According to the Defence Ministry the helicopters should be upgraded by the end of this year. Afterwards, the soldiers will have a few months to test them in mountainous terrain. They should be ready to go on their mission in the second half of 2009, if it is approved by the government and Parliament.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Young girl dies of mushroom poisoning
    08/07/2008

    A seven-year-old girl from Ostrava, in Moravia, has died after eating a meal of poisonous mushrooms. A hospital spokesperson said the child had been brought in suffering from severe stomach pains and that despite intensive treatment doctors had been unable to save her life. Mushroom picking is a popular summer pastime in the Czech Republic and millions of Czechs pick wild mushrooms in the forest rather than shopping for them in the supermarket. Despite repeated warnings of the dangers, several people die of mushroom poisoning every year.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

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