• School to pay 15 million crowns in compensation
    02/09/2007

    A court in Jindrichuv Hradec, in southeast Bohemia, has ruled that a school will have to pay 15 million crowns (around 690,000 US dollars) in compensation to one of its students, who had a serious accident during a field trip three years ago. The young boy, who was eight at the time, almost drowned during a swim that was supposed to have been supervised by teachers. The teachers have already been given a suspended sentence but the parents of the boy, who is now physically disabled, also sued the school for compensation.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Parties present different visions on EU constitution
    02/09/2007

    Czech parliamentary parties, including the Christian Democrats, the Communists, and the Greens, have presented different visions on the EU constitution at a conference in Prague. The Civic and Social Democrats, the country's two largest parties, remain perhaps most at odds on the issue. Speaking at the conference on Friday, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek backed the idea of a more flexible union, making clear he would prefer a new document rather than the current draft proposal. By comparison, the Social Democrats' Jiri Paroubek expressed support for the constitution, saying he would prefer it see full ratification by 2009.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Prague Mayor to take two months of unpaid leave
    02/09/2007

    Prague's Mayor Pavel Bem, has come under criticism for planning to take almost two months of unpaid leave to climb Mount Everest. Mr Bem, well-known for his passion for the outdoors, has said it was his childhood dream to reach the summit of world's highest mountain. He intends to leave for the Himalayas in March and return sometime in the second half of April, depending on weather conditions. Some city councillors have opposed the plan. European Democrat Jiri Witzany says the post of Prague mayor is comparable to that of a manager at a large company, saying it would be unthinkable for such a manager to take two months off.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Dairy firm rejects claim its cheese is unsafe
    02/09/2007

    The Czech Republic's largest dairy producer, Madeta, has rejected a claim by Slovak authorities that one of its products is unsafe. The company released an official statement on Friday after health officials in neighbouring Slovakia found traces of the potentially-deadly listeria bacteria in one of the company's cheese imports. The product was withdrawn from the shelves. The director of the Czech Veterinary Office has said that he has not yet received an official report from Slovak authorities, but specialists have been sent to check some of Madeta's testing procedures. The listeria bacteria is potentially deadly, especially for the elderly or new-borns.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Starka associate released on bail
    02/09/2007

    Vlastimil Spevak, an associate of controversial football boss Jaroslav Starka, has been released on bail. Both men, along with others, have been accused of organising the kidnapping which resulted in the death of Lambert Krejcir, the father of a fugitive Czech billionaire. Mr Starka was released earlier this week on a bail of 8 million crowns. In Mr Spevak's case the bail was slighter lower: 7.9 million, the equivalent of around 360,000 US dollars.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Bands Krytsof, Kabat snag highest number of "Andel" nominations
    02/09/2007

    Pop-rock band Krystof, headed by frontman Richard Krajco and hardrock band Kabat headed by Josef Vojtek have received the highest number of nominations for the upcoming "Andel" (or Angel) music awards, held annually in the Czech Republic. It has been revealed that both bands have been nominated in a total of four categories. The Andel awards are voted on by journalists and specialists from the Czech music scene. This year more than 600 reportedly took part. The awards ceremony itself will be held in March.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • World Championships: Zahrobska just short of medal spot in women's super-combined
    02/09/2007

    Czech alpine skier Sarka Zahrobska finished fourth - just outside the medals - at the World Championships in Alpine Skiing in Are, Sweden on Friday in the women's super-combined. Home favourite Anja Paerson won the race to take her second gold of the championships after earlier winning the Super-G. American Julia Mancuso was second, while Marlies Schild of Austria was third.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Give Cunek chance to clear name, says Topolanek
    02/08/2007

    Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has called on opposition deputies demanding the resignation of Jiri Cunek to give the regional development minister a chance to clear his name. On Wednesday the Senate voted to lift Mr Cunek's immunity, to allow proceedings to begin against him for alleged bribe-taking. The opposition Social Democrats criticised Mr Topolanek for not having sacked Mr Cunek. But the prime minister said the case against Mr Cunek was "strange".
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech Republic sending military field hospital to Afghanistan
    02/08/2007

    The Czech Republic will send a military field hospital to Afghanistan in April. The lower house on Thursday followed the Senate in approving the deployment. Seventy Czech soldiers will take part in the mission, which will come under the command of NATO's International Security Assistance Force. The Czechs will be based by the airport in the Afghan capital Kabul.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Unemployment rises to 7.9 percent
    02/08/2007

    Unemployment in the Czech Republic rose to 7.9 percent in January, up from 7.7 percent the previous month. Seasonal factors have been blamed for the increase. The number of Czechs out of work last month was almost 435,000.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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