News

The Minister of the Interior, Ivan Langer, revealed on Wednesday morning that the conversations of about twenty politicians and journalists are being bugged in connection with an investigation into the leak from an internal report by Jan Kubice, the head of the country's organized crime unit. Mr. Langer says that the police are likely listening in locations at the lower house of parliament, at the Ministry of the Interior, in the building of Czech Radio, and in some private locations. Politicians are reacting strongly to the news. Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said that once again, "governing politicians are victims of spying," while Jiri Paroubek, the Social Democratic leader and former prime minister said that Mr. Langer is lying.

The rules governing surveillance involving eavesdropping are set by the criminal code of the Czech Republic and the laws governing police conduct. Judges decide on the admission of tapes in cases where evidence is gathered without a person's knowledge.

Some 200 people from all over the world who are of Czech origin are in Prague to attend the "Week of Czechs Living Abroad." They were welcomed by Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and Foreign Minister Alexandr Vondra on Tuesday. The Week of Czechs Living Abroad centers around seminars and talks on relations between the Czech Republic and people with Czech ties abroad. It was first held in 1998 and is organized by the International Coordination Committee for Czechs Abroad, in cooperation with the Senate, Foreign Ministry, and Charles University and is held under the auspices of President Vaclav Klaus.

As part of the event, an award ceremony will take place on Friday to honour women of Czech origin for their outstanding achievement in art, science, sports, charity work, business, and public life. Among those nominated for the prize are Madeleine Albright and Ivana Trump. On the same day, a resolution will be made evaluating the Czech state's ties to problems faced by Czechs abroad. Accompanying programs include exhibitions, film screenings, and a tour of the National Archives.

Young people planning to take out state loans towards the purchase of a home may soon find themselves up against more obstacles. The new Minister for Regional Development, Petr Gandalovic (a Civic Democrat), has announced that he intends to gradually halt a program introduced by the previous Social Democratic government. The program in question allows couples under 36 to borrow as much as 300 000 crowns towards the purchase of a home, and an additional 150 000 for renovations. A two percent annual interest rate is charged, and loans may be paid over the course of twenty years. The program began in December 2004 and thus far some 9000 applicants have been approved for the state loans. Mr. Gandalovic says that the country can not afford such a program, and that the expected rent deregulation in 2007 will help create a more favourable housing market for young people.

Czech javelin legend Jan Zelezny (40) has ended his amazing career a few days earlier than originally planned. A painful Achilles has forced Zelezny to withdraw from what would have been his final ever meeting at Yokohama on Sunday. The three-time Olympic and world champion holds the world record of 98.48 meters in the Javelin. On Tuesday, Zelezny said good-bye to the sport he loves in his birthplace of Mlada Boleslav. "I began my career here and I always wanted to end it here," said Zelezny, speaking on the sidelines of an athletics exhibition event held in his honour in Mlada Boleslav. Zelezny made a final throw of 82.19m. A member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Zelezny is set to devote the rest of his career to coaching and is undertaking a training course in Prague.