• 07/19/2008

    Czech military airplane flying to Afghanistan, which was denied transit over Turkmenistan on Friday, has left Prague again after receiving a written permit from Turkmen authorities. The plane is carrying Afghan children who were treated in the Czech Republic, soldiers who are returning from holiday back to the Afghan mission as well as part of a new contingent.

    The Czechs were given a verbal promise on Friday that they could fly over Turkmenistan but the country’s authorities eventually refused to issue a written permit and the plane had to return to the Czech Republic. The plane took off from Prague’s Kbely airport once again on Saturday after it was given a written consent. Czech planes had encountered similar problems with Turkmen authorities in 2006 and 2007.

    Author: Ruth Fraňková
  • 07/19/2008

    Czech Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanová was the first Czech politician to be present at the test of US anti-missile system in the Integration and Operations Centre at Schriever air force base, Colorado Springs. The US missile was launched from Kodiak base in Alaska, falling into the Pacific Ocean several hundred kilometres off the Mexican shore. Also present at the test was the Czech Ambassador to NATO Štefan Fuele, the army chief-of-staff Vlastimil Picek and several Czech journalists.

    The US centre is to assess information on the radar base to be built roughly 70 kilometres southwest of Prague. Czech Ambassador to NATO said that it was likely the Czech Republic will have its own representative at the site in connection with a planned US radar base on Czech soil.

    Author: Ruth Fraňková
  • 07/19/2008

    Vietnam has suspended the sending of its workers to the Czech Republic due to complicated issuance of work visas at the Czech Embassy in Hanoi. Chairman of the Czech-Vietnamese Society Marcel Winter said applicants for work visas were encountering a number of problems. Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek said earlier this year that the Czech Republic and Vietnam were planning to create an expert group to settle the problem with the issuance of visas. More than 10,000 Vietnamese citizens came to work to the country in the first six months of this year.

    Author: Ruth Fraňková
  • 07/19/2008

    The Czech capital is hosting a second annual international meeting of amateur folklore ensembles, called Prague Folklore days. Around 1300 musicians and dancers from more than 17 countries are participating this year. Around 50 ensembles paraded through Prague’s historical centre on Saturday. The festival will come to a close on Sunday.

    Author: Ruth Fraňková
  • 07/19/2008

    Friday saw the opening of the 17th International Music Festival taking place in and around the South Bohemian town of Český Krumlov. The festival opened with performances by the Prague Chamber Philharmonic and soloists from Metropolitan Opera New York. For the next six weeks, until August 23, visitors will be able to attend a total of 26 concerts with renowned artists such as American trumpeter Bobby Shew, Israeli clarinettist Sharon Kamm as well as the Oscar winning duo Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard.

    Author: Ruth Fraňková
  • 07/19/2008

    Czech tennis player Lucie Hradecká has beaten Austria’s Patricia Mayr 6:3, 6:1 on Saturday in Bad Gastein, and advanced to the first WTA semi-finals in her career. She will face Mariya Korytceva of Russia.

    Author: Ruth Fraňková
  • 07/19/2008

    The Czech pair of Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká have reached the finals in the doubles at a tournament in Austria’s Bad Gastein, after beating Chinese players 7:6 and 6:4. The two Czechs will take on Sesil Karatanceva from Bulgaria and Natasha Zoric from Serbia in the finals.

    Author: Ruth Fraňková
  • 07/19/2008

    Czech Republic’s Dana Brožková on Saturday came first in the long distance at the World Orienteering Championships in Olomouc, securing the first gold medal in orienteering in the history of the Czech Republic. Norway’s Marianne Andersen came second, followed by Annika Billstam of Sweden.

    Author: Ruth Fraňková
  • 07/18/2008

    Police have confirmed a shooting in the popular Brno shopping centre “Vaňkovka” which left two people – one man, one woman - dead on Friday. The shooting took place in a café on shopping centre premises: witnesses said the two – now known to have been a married couple - had been sitting at one table, when he drew a gun and shot her, then himself. Emergency services were at the scene within minutes, but were unable revive the victim; her assailant died instantly. Both the assailant and the victim are estimated to have been in their early 60s; their identities, while known, have not yet been confirmed. Police suspect the man committed the murder/suicide after arguing with his wife over divorce proceedings.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 07/18/2008

    The Czech daily Mladá fronta Dnes has reported that the Greens’ deputy chairwoman Dana Kuchtová will challenge the party’s leader Martin Bursík for the Greens’ leadership. The Greens are to hold an extraordinary party conference in September, ahead of regional elections, with Mr Bursík aiming to unite the party on a number of key issues. Mrs Kuchtová has not officially announced her decision yet. Sources say that she could have the backing of a number of regions if she runs. Dana Kuchtová, the former education minister, has been at odds with party leader Martin Bursík for some time; on Thursday he specified unhappiness over her staying on as deputy chair, a matter he wanted to see resolved in September.

    Author: Jan Velinger

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