• Government to support beekeepers
    04/21/2008

    The government on Monday earmarked a subsidy for Czech beekeepers amounting to 25 million crowns (around 1.5 million US dollars). The country’s bee population has recently been hit by a parasite, probably due to an unusually warm winter. Estimates suggest that as much as 50% of the country’s bees could be wiped out as a result. This could have an effect on the prices of both fruit and vegetables.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Zrzavý sold for record price
    04/21/2008

    A painting by the renowned Czech artist Jan Zrzavý dating back to 1929 was auctioned on Sunday for a record price of 7.1 million CZK (around 440,000 US dollars), the highest sum ever paid for a Zrzavý painting. Piazetta, a painting capturing the Doge’s Palace in Venice, is currently the 12th most expensive picture sold in the country. The Czech auction record was set at the end of last year by Frantisek Kupka’s "Elevation", which was sold for 22.1 million.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Czech book of the year announced
    04/21/2008

    The children’s book "Záhádky" by artist and writer Petr Nikl has won the Magnesia Litera Book of the Year Award. The winners of the Magnesia Litera book awards for the best Czech books published in 2007 were announced at Prague's City Library on Saturday night. The author of the Book of the Year has also won the first prize in the category of literature for children and youth.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Finále Plzeň film festival gets underway
    04/21/2008

    The Finále Plzeň film festival, devoted mostly to domestic film production, got underway on Monday in the west Bohemian town of Plzeň. The festival, which has come to its 21 year, will offer more than 180 screenings. Finále Plzeň will come to an end on April 26.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • New government committee to deal with child protection
    04/20/2008

    A new advisory body of the Czech government to deal with family issues and children’s protection should be established by the end of this year. Minister for human rights and minorities Džamila Stehlíková announced the plan after the meeting of the commission of experts on Saturday. The new government council will be part of the new national strategy for the prevention of violence against children. It will comprise ministers who have these issues on their agenda. Mrs Stehlíková also plans to launch a campaign against maltreatment of children to change the public tolerant stance on physical punishment of children.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Topolánek: Christian Democrats should fulfil government programme
    04/20/2008

    Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek has called on the Christian Democrats to fulfil the government program; if they don’t support it, they should leave the ruling coalition. Speaking at the national congress of the Christian Democratic Party in Pardubice, Mr Topolánek said the government programme, including the health care reforms, reflects the party’s priorities, adding that the Christian Democrats should prove this by their votes. Mr Topolánek also thanked the party for supporting Václav Klaus in the presidential election in February.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Christian Democrats reject sale of health insurance companies
    04/20/2008

    The Christian Democrats have rejected the sale of health insurance companies, but they are not against their transformation into joint-stock companies. The delegates made the conclusion at the party’s national congress in Pardubice, that ended on Sunday. The Christian Democrats haven’t approved the proposal to abolish health care fees for some groups of patients. Health care fees will be on the agenda of the next congress in May.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Roithová to lead Christian Democrat candidates in EP election
    04/20/2008

    The delegates to the national congress of the Christian Democratic Party have decided that the list of candidates for the European parliament election, which is to be held in 2009, will be headed by MEP Zuzana Roithová. Number two on the list will be her colleague Jan Březina. The Christian Democrats finished fourth in the first EP election in the Czech Republic four years ago, gaining two seats.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Czech police to buy cars against road pirates
    04/20/2008

    The Czech Police Presidium has decided to buy 16 new cars for police officers operating on motorways to chase “road pirates”. The cars will be selected in a tender to be called in a couple of days. The police presidium is willing to pay up to 800,000 crowns per one car and another million for their special equipment.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Liechtenstein collection of art on display in Prague
    04/20/2008

    Around 1,500 people came to see the Liechtenstein collection of art in Prague’s Nostic Palace on Saturday. Valuable paintings, tapestries and other items were acquired by the Czech state at an auction held by the Liechtenstein Prince in Amsterdam in early April. The objects were taken from Czechoslovakia when the Liechtenstein property was confiscated after the Second World War. The ministry of Culture put them on display on the occasion of the International Heritage Day.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

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