News

The Czech law on heritage protection is too soft to save the country's numerous architectural treasures, according to Monday's edition of Lidove Noviny. The paper says that while some treasures are being properly looked after, others are in a dilapidated condition and there is no way of forcing their owners to invest in them. Although the law on heritage protection states that the owner of such a building is obliged to provide for maintenance, keep it in good condition and protect it from devaluation Lidove Noviny claims that in practice it is almost impossible to enforce. Michal Zachar, director of the National Heritage Institute explained that if the heritage owner showed at least a minimal interest in the building - such as repairing a chimney - then the authorities could not fine him for neglecting his duty. Zachar told the paper that in the past ten years the heritage protection authorities had imposed only one high fine to the tune of one million Czech crowns.

Most Czechs are against the possible lifting of environmental limits for brown coal mining in north Bohemia according to a poll conducted by the Centre for Public Opinion Research. According to the poll 66 percent of respondents said they approved of the set limits, eight percent would be in favour of extending coal mining to other localities in the region. If the set limits were lifted mining could take place in currently protected areas and two towns would have to give way to the enterprise. On the other hand the Mostecka Uhelna Mining Company has warned people in the region that unless this is done 8,000 miners could lose their jobs within the next decade.

Fire fighters and soldiers are continuing to clean-up damages from a blaze that destroyed a tire warehouse in the area of Uhersky Brod in southern Moravia, burning 10,000 tonnes of material this week. The fire, which broke out on Thursday, took twenty-eight hours to put out. Losses to the owner have been estimated at around 20 million crowns. Around fifty personnel are using heavy machinery to clear remaining debris. Crews on Saturday took preventive measures to block contaminated water on the site from spreading to nearby fields. Locals in the area have been asked to avoid areas hit by smoke, and have been recommended not to open their windows. A mobile laboratory in the area has also monitored the quality of the air, but found no evidence of any toxins exceeding acceptable levels.

Former prime minister and current head of the Social Democratic Party Jiri Paroubek has confirmed that he and his wife Zuzana Paroubkova have agreed to divorce. The couple has been married since 1979. Mr Paroubek and his wife sent a statement to the CTK news agency on Sunday, saying they had reached the decision several months ago. The Paroubeks indicated their agreement was an amicable one, saying they had agreed on the division of property. In his statement, Jiri Paroubek also revealed that Petra Kovacova - a former English-language interpreter at the Office of the Government - had become his new girlfriend. Ms Kovacova had been spotted several times by Mr Paroubek's side at recent events. The politician's announcement on Sunday followed earlier speculation in the Czech tabloids. Blesk, for example, reported on Mr Paroubek's alleged extramarital affair earlier in the week.