• Highest level of flood alert no longer in place
    03/07/2009

    The highest level of flood alert is no longer in place on any of the Czech Republic’s rivers. There had been fears that rivers including the Sázava, Dyje, and Jihlava would burst their banks; however, thanks to a drop in both precipitation and temperature water levels have begun to fall. Heavy flooding in the Czech Republic in 1997 and 2002 led to deaths and significant material damage.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech official signs deal on pirates with Kenya on behalf of EU
    03/07/2009

    The Czech ambassador to Kenya, Margita Fuchsová, has signed on behalf of the European Union a deal with Kenya on the transfer to Kenya of suspected Somali pirates detained as part of an EU anti-piracy naval mission. AFP reported that Ms Fuchsová and Kenya’s foreign minister, Moses Wetangula, signed the agreement in Nairobi on Friday. The Czech Republic currently holds the rotation presidency of the EU.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Rebel Greens may be expelled
    03/07/2009

    Four rebel members of the Greens could be expelled at a meeting of the party’s national council on Sunday, a representative said. MPs Olga Zubová and Věra Jakubová and former education minister Dana Kuchtová are among those who could be thrown out of the smallest party in the governing coalition, after setting up a fraction named Democratic Appeal in opposition to chairman Martin Bursík. Party officials said the rebels had overstepped the mark by appearing in public, using the party emblem and setting up their own website.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Director Herz for lifetime contribution award at Czech Lions
    03/07/2009

    The film director Juraj Herz is to receive a prize for lifetime contribution to Czech film at the Czech Lion awards on Saturday night. A Slovak-born Holocaust survivor, Herz was an assistant director on Oscar-winning Obchod na Korze (The Shop on Main Street) before making his debut as director in 1965 with the 30-minute Sběrné surovosti (The Junk Shop), based on a short story by Bohumil Hrabal. Three years later he helmed the great Spalovač Mrtvol (The Creator).
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Třeštíková documentary opens Made in Prague festival in London
    03/07/2009

    The documentary René by Helena Třeštíková opened a festival of Czech films entitled Made in Prague that got underway in London on Friday night. Made in Prague is set to visit 13 British cities in the next two months. Among the feature films inlcuded in the festival are O rodičích a dětech (Of Parents and Children) by Vladimír Michálek and Medvídek (Teddy Bear) by Jan Hřebejk.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech Republic lead France 2:1 in Davis Cup
    03/07/2009

    The Czech Republic are leading France 2:1 in a Davis Cup World Group first round tie. After a win for Tomáš Berdych and defeat for Radek Štěpánek on Friday, the two overcame Richard Gasquet and Michael Llodra 6-3 1-6 6-4 6-2 in the doubles. One more win from the two singles rubbers on Sunday would see the Czech Republic advance to the second round. France has not lost at this stage of the Davis Cup since 2000.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Sáblíková, already champion, wins last race of World Cup
    03/07/2009

    The Czech speed skater Martina Sáblíková has won the final race of the long track World Cup. The 21-year-old had already won the overall World Cup competition for the season before Friday’s 3000 m in Salt Lake City, her third such title in a row. Sáblíková will be hoping to take her fine form into the single distances World Championships, which begin in Vancouver next week.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Careful eye on water levels as three Czech rivers reach critical point
    03/06/2009

    With further rain expected, three rivers broke their banks at points on Friday, increasing concern over the threat of large-scale flooding in parts of the country. As water levels pass critical points on the Sázava, Dyje, and Jihlava Rivers, authorities in Prague have closed floodgates as a preventative measure, though the capital is not presently expected to be at serious risk of flooding. Above-average water levels were reported in places on Friday, however no risk to life or property was reported and by evening the levels of some rivers were falling. The Czech Republic was hit by devastating floods in 2002 which wreaked hundreds of millions of crowns in damages.
    Author: Christian Falvey

  • Barroso announces early payouts for new EU member states
    03/06/2009

    Speaking in Prague at the European Summit of Regions and Cities, the President of the European Commission José Barroso announced on Friday that new EU member states, the Czech Republic among them, will be able to make early use of more than 7.5 billion EUR, or roughly 210 billion Czech crowns. The European Commission has decided to free up money from European funds set to expire in 2013 as a means of combating the persisting economic crisis. The money is primarily recommended for easing the strain on small and medium-sized enterprises and for projects supporting the environment and sustainable resources. 350 million EUR from EU funds remains available to the Czech Republic until the end of the year.
    Author: Christian Falvey

  • HN: Lee Feinstein tapped to become US ambassador to Czech Republic
    03/06/2009

    The Czech daily Hospodařské noviny has reported that former advisor to Bill Clinton, Lee Feinstein has been tapped to become the new US ambassador to the Czech Republic. The 50-year-old has previously also served as top security advisor to Hillary Clinton during her presidential campaign and as a State Department functionary under Madeleine Albright, where he dealt with issues such as missile defence, among others. Prior to official appointment, nominees for ambassadorships must be approved by the US Senate and certified by the guest nation.
    Author: Christian Falvey

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