• Czech soldier injured in Iraq
    05/08/2008

    A Czech soldier was injured in a rocket attack on an allied forces military base in the Iraqi city of Basra on Thursday, the news website Novinky.cz reported. The soldier, whose hand was hit by shell splinter, underwent an operation at a British field hospital. His condition is stable and his life is not in danger. The chief of staff of the Czech Army, Vlastimil Picek, said the injured man would be brought home.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • New section of Prague Metro system officially opened
    05/08/2008

    A new section of Prague’s Metro system was officially opened on Thursday. The C or red line has been extended by three stations, and 4.6 km, from Ládví to Letňany. It will now serve 50,000 more residents of the Czech capital. Speaking at Thursday’s opening ceremony, Prague’s mayor Pavel Bém said extension work would not stop there: nine new stations are to be added to the A or green line, including one at Prague Airport, and a whole new D line is to be built.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Four-year-old falls from seventh floor window
    05/08/2008

    A four-year-old child fell out of a seventh floor window in a housing scheme in Most, north Bohemia on Thursday. A police spokesperson said the child’s injuries were serious. An investigation has begun into the incident.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Average age of member of Communist Party is 70
    05/08/2008

    The average age of members of the Communist Party is 70, according to an internal survey quoted by the news website Novinky.cz. The average age of members in Prague is 75. At the same time, the Communists remain the biggest political party in the Czech Republic, with over 70,000 members.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Poborský goal voted best individual goal in history of European Championship
    05/08/2008

    A goal by Czech footballer Karel Poborský at the European Championship in 1996 has been voted the greatest individual goal in the history of the competition in a poll on its official website. Poborský cleverly lifted the ball over the Portuguese goalkeeper in the quarter-finals of Euro 96. That lob proved valuable: soon afterwards the midfielder was signed by Manchester United, before going on to a more successful engagement at Benfica. He made a record 118 appearances for the Czech national team.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czechs not ready for euro adoption
    05/07/2008

    The Czech Republic, unlike its Eastern neighbour Slovakia, is not ready to adopt the single European currency in the near future, according to a report issued by the European Commission on Wednesday. The country doesn’t meet the Maastricht criteria on exchange rate and currency stability. The European Commission on Wednesday gave Slovakia the green light for euro adoption, clearing the way for it to become the zones 16th member and the second country from Eastern Europe’s former communist bloc to join.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Czech Republic sending more aid to Burma
    05/07/2008

    The foreign ministry has decided to earmark another 2.5 million crowns for the victims of the devastating cyclone in Burma. The Czech government is sending altogether 5 million crowns to the devastated region. People in Need and Charity of the Czech Republic have already set up special accounts for public contributions. The cyclone Nargis has so far claimed more than 22.500 people, while another 41,000 are missing.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Czech deputies ease conditions for marrying foreigners
    05/07/2008

    Foreigners staying in the Czech Republic will face fewer restrictions when marrying a Czech national, under an amendment passed by the lower chamber of Czech parliament on Wednesday. Foreigners facing expulsion or registered as persona non grata will be able to enter into marriage or registered partnership in case they submit a police certificate justifying their stay in the country. The legislation is yet to be discussed by the Senate.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Hooligans to be prosecuted at football stadiums
    05/07/2008

    Czech football hooligans who violate law during a match will be prosecuted directly at stadiums under a new system designed by the interior and justice ministries. Under the plan, judges will be present during matches to issue verdicts right on the spot. The system will be tested on Saturday at a match between Slavia Praha and Baník Ostrava, with a provisional courtroom established at Prague’s Letná stadium.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Communist Party gradually shrinking
    05/07/2008

    The Communist Party which has the largest number of rank and file members among Czech parties is gradually shrinking. Last year 16 people on average left the party each day. At the end of 2007 the Communist Party had some 77, 000 members, in contrast to 1990s, when its rank and file amounted to around 300,000. The party is also gradually ageing; the average age of its members is currently 70 years.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

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