• 11/11/2007

    In related news, icy conditions are likely to have been a factor in a car crash in southern Bohemia that killed the driver, but spared five fellow passengers: two women and three children. The car went off the road and hit a tree at high speed, the director of local emergency services said. The other adults in the car suffered injuries; they and the children in the vehicle were taken to hospital for treatment.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 11/11/2007

    Economist Jan Svejnar has indicated that if he were to run for the office of the president, he would be interested in debating incumbent Vaclav Klaus on television. He said as much during a news programme on Czech TV on Sunday. Mr Svejnar pointed to differences between the two men on issues such as global warming, the economy, or approach to democracy. According to a recent STEM poll for the daily Pravo, 28 percent of the population said they would vote for Mr Svejnar given the chance, something the economist said he viewed as a positive sign as he is less known than Mr Klaus. Mr Svejnar has dual citizenship and divides his time between the Czech Republic and the US. Under the current system the Czech presidential election is not decided by the public but by MPs and senators in Parliament.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 11/11/2007

    A full-length feature by filmmaker Helena Trestikova entitled “Marcela” has been awarded the prize for Best European Documentary at the Seville Film Festival. Trestikova’s film is the first Czech production to be given the prize. “Marcela” follows the life of Czech Marcela Haverlandova, originally a subject of Trestikova’s TV documentary cycle “Marriage Stories”. Trestikova began filming her when Haverlandova married in 1980 at the age of 20, and returned to her periodically over the years. Mrs Haverlandova’s story – one of overcoming personal tragedy – evoked a strong response from many Czech viewers when it was first broadcast in 2006.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 11/11/2007

    Women’s javelin world champion Barbora Spotakova has been named Czech “Athlete of the Year”. The survey pools votes from organisers, specialists in the field of sport, and journalists. Spotakova won with 1,187 votes - 46 ahead of last year’s winner decathlon world champion Roman Sebrle. It is the first time Ms Spotakova has been named top Czech athlete.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 11/11/2007

    Czech footballer Radek Sirl scored the lone goal for Zenit Petrograd against Saturn Moscow Oblast to see his team crowned Russian league champions. The win kept Petrohrad just atop the Russian Premier League standings, two points ahead of nearest rival Spartak Moscow.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 11/11/2007

    Tampa Bay forward Vaclav Prospal was named the first star in a game between the Sharks and the Washington Capitals in NHL ice hockey action on Saturday. Prospal scored one goal and notched up two assists in his team’s 5:2 win.

    In other action, Martin Erat lifted Nashville over Columbus by scoring the final penalty in a 4:3 shoot-out.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 11/10/2007

    1,400 police came out in force in Prague’s historic Jewish quarter as well as other parts of Prague on Saturday, a day when right-wing radicals said they would go ahead with a march officially banned by the city. November 10th marks the anniversary of the Nazi pogrom Kristallnacht, which targeted Jews in Germany in 1938. Prague City Hall made clear from the start it would break up any unauthorised demonstration. In the end, neo-Nazi extremists did not gather in the numbers expected; nor did any tried to break through where police were stationed. In a televised press conference early Saturday evening, Prague Mayor Pavel Bem said that the police had done an exemplary job in preventing the march from going ahead. He also stressed that incidents of violence in areas of Prague throughout the day had been isolated, and that if it stopped at that he would “be happy”.

    According to the mayor, around 1,000 anarchists descended on Prague on Saturday, along with between 300-400 right-wing extremists.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 11/10/2007

    Many shops in the Jewish quarter of Josefov remained closed for the day and the area was mostly empty of tourists. Police set up a barricade in the Jewish quarter where the neo-Nazis’ march was to start, and situated police, transport and emergency vehicles at strategic locations.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 11/10/2007

    In related news, right-wing radicals at the edge of the historic Jewish quarter did clash briefly with anarchists, near Prague’s Faculty of Law building on Saturday evening. Anarchists tried – but failed – to break through a police blockade on Prague’s Parizska Street, and were pushed back by riot police. The anarchists then clashed with neo-Nazis in brutal hand-to-hand fighting which lasted ten minutes. One of the neo-Nazis reportedly fired into the crowd with an air pistol, before he was charged by anarchists and beaten. Three people were injured in the incident.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 11/10/2007

    Later on Saturday evening, left-wing radicals and right-wing extremists dispersed into parts of the Czech capital, leading to a number of isolated incidents between the two camps. Police had to help shelter a skinhead in their vehicle in the centre, after he was cornered by a larger crowd. Some 200 skinheads are now said to be gathering at the city’s Palacky square, meaning additional incidents can not be ruled out.

    Author: Jan Velinger

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