• Forum 2000 conference opens in Prague
    10/08/2006

    Former Czech president Vaclav Havel opens the Forum 2000 international conference in Prague on Sunday evening. The conference, the first of which was held ten years ago, continues until Tuesday and focuses on the dilemmas of global coexistence. Among the over three dozen speakers at this year's event are Belarusian opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich, HRH Prince Hassan bin Talal, and Nobel Peace Prize holders the Dalai Lama and US author Elie Wiesel.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Czech-Polish-German obelisk memorial unveiled in border area
    10/08/2006

    An obelisk in memory of the joint past of the Czechs, Poles, and Germans has been unveiled in the villages of Kopacov and Oldrichov. The villages now lie on either side of the Czech-Polish border but used to be united. After the Second World War its entire German population was expelled. The obelisk is also a symbol of the three countries' cooperation today.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Border blockade in protest at Temelin nuclear power plant
    10/08/2006

    Austrian opponents of the Temelin nuclear power plant, which is located in Bohemia some 50 km from the Czech-Austrian border, blocked a border crossing on Sunday. The activists hindered traffic with some ten tractors parked at the Wullowitz-Dolni Dvoriste crossing. Austria is a nuclear-free country, and many of its citizens oppose the launch of the power plant.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Martina Navratilova to launch Art Grand Slam exhibition in Prague
    10/08/2006

    Czech-born tennis star Martina Navratilova will be opening an exhibition named Art Grand Slam in Prague next week. The project, initiated by Slovak artist Juraj Kralik, combines tennis and art and will be on show at Prague's Congress Centre. Mr Kralik paints pictures onto which Martina Navratilova then creates patterns by hitting them with paint-covered tennis balls.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Decent Fellow wins Pardubicka Steeplechase
    10/08/2006

    The 116th Velka Pardubicka Grand Steeplechase, the biggest event in Czech horseracing, was won by 11 year-old Decent Fellow, who was ridden by jockey Josef Bartos on Sunday. Decent Fellow has won second and third place twice in past Velka Pardubicka races. Last year's winner, Maskul, did not finish the race.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Communists set three conditions for confidence in new government
    10/07/2006

    The Communist Party has set three conditions under which it would support a new proposed government. It would have to guarantee better living standards, halt plans to control the budget deficit with the privatisation of the power utility CEZ or any other such institution, and uphold the sovereignty of the state, which they say could be threatened by the presence of foreign bases on Czech territory or too much participation in military missions.

    On Tuesday, the first attempt at forming a new government after the June elections failed as the minority Civic Democrat cabinet of Mirek Topolanek lacked enough votes to win a vote of confidence in the lower house of Parliament. The Communists and the country's governors have warmed up to the idea of a caretaker government of independent experts that would lead the country into early elections while former prime minister Jiri Paroubek would like to form a minority government of his Social Democrats, who won the second most votes in June.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Opinion poll: Czechs want independent government leader
    10/07/2006

    An opinion poll commissioned by Pravo newspaper suggests that 53 percent of the Czech population would like President Vaclav Klaus to entrust an independent expert with the forming of a new government. The poll, conducted by the STEM agency, also says 38 percent of the population would like to see former Social Democrat Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek given the chance to form a government, while only 30 percent opted for current Civic Democrat Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • US congressmen call for all EU member states to be in visa-waiver programme
    10/07/2006

    A group of US congressmen have called onto the government of the United States to begin dialogue with those EU countries, including the Czech Republic, that have been pushing for visa-free travel to the States. The letter addressed to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was initiated by congressmen John Shimkus and Dennis Kucinich, who have been stressing that it would be right and fair to include the countries in the visa-waiver programme. The letter was signed by 25 members of Congress.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Deported Russian Mafia boss found in Prague
    10/07/2006

    Police say a leading member of the Russian Mafia, who was deported from the Czech Republic in the 1990s is back in Prague. The owner of a Prague restaurant was found during a police raid. Anatolij Katric has been asked to leave the country, Czech Television reported on Saturday. The spokesperson for the Czech Police organised crime unit says it has yet to be determined how Mr Katric got into the country.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Police in Spain detain Czech wife of suspected contract killer
    10/07/2006

    Police in Spain have reportedly detained the Czech wife of a man they believe to be a contract killer. Emilio Perez Rivera is suspected of double murder and was arrested on Wednesday in the Central Bohemian town of Caslav where he was in hiding. His wife Marketa was arrested on her way to Spain this week. A court will decide on Mr Rivera's extradition to Spain, which issued a European arrest warrant for him last month.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

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