• Ministry turns down uranium mining request
    06/06/2008

    The environment ministry has denied a request by Urania Mining to conduct preliminary tests on possible uranium mining in the region of Liberec, north Bohemia. The decision was expected by local activists. The area of Podještědí near Liberec is recognised for its valuable uranium deposits; local representatives have opposed to the idea on the grounds that mining would heavily impact the local ecology.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Senate approves bill to facilitate foreigners' marriages
    06/06/2008

    The Senate has approved an amendment on the registered partnership law that will considerably soften the conditions for foreigners wanting to marry or enter into registered partnership in the Czech Republic. The amendment was approved by 25 out of 46 senators present. The original government draft embedded stricter conditions in order to come down on fictitious marriages. Now, the legislation could allow foreigners even at risk of being expelled to enter into marriage in the Czech Republic. The bill will still need to be signed by the president before coming into law.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Social Democrat MP floats idea of deal on radar base
    06/06/2008

    Opposition Social Democrat MP Miroslav Svoboda has told Czech newspapers Mladá fronta Dnes and Právo he could envision his party supporting government plans for a US radar base in the Czech Republic in return for the government’s retreating from a proposed bill on church restitution. The MP clarified, though, on Friday, that he would vote along his deputies’ clubs lines when it came down to a decision in the lower house. Mr Svoboda said his aim was simply to broaden discussion. Deputy party head Bohuslav Sobotka suggested in reaction on Friday that exchanging the radar plans for church restitution made little sense, given that the latter bill has stalled in government and might not go through.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Association: Montenegro to ban tourists from bringing in foodstuffs
    06/06/2008

    Montenegro has announced similar steps to those taken by Croatia this week banning tourists from bringing in foodstuffs, a step seen unfavourably by the Czech Association of Tour Operators and Travel Agents on Friday. Montenegro will reportedly ban the bringing in of food items with exceptions such as fresh fruit as well as dietary foodstuffs for children with diabetes. Croatia, though, agreed on Friday to overturn its decision and delay its ban on meat and dairy products for six months. On average 800,000 Czech tourists visit the Croatian coastline, a favoured summer destination, each year. By contrast, fewer Czechs visit Montenegro, a little over 30,000 in 2007. The Montenegrin ban on brining in foodstuffs is take effect on June 15.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Starving pigs uncovered on farm put down
    06/06/2008

    More than 100 pigs, found starving and in appalling conditions on a farm near Jihlava this week, have been put down. The order was put forward by the regional authorities. When discovered the animals had no water or feed but the farm’s owner denied maltreating them. The remains of more than 200 additional specimens were uncovered decomposing on the site. The authorities in the region called the case the worst animal abuse they had seen in 35 years. Police are continuing to investigate; if charged and found guilty of animal abuse the farm owner could see a fine, a ban from further activities, as well as a year in prison.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Calls for supreme state attorney’s dismissal from across the political spectrum, prime minister stands firm
    06/05/2008

    Deputies from the opposition Social Democrats and indeed some within the government coalition are calling for the dismissal of the Supreme State Attorney Renata Vesecká. Their calls come in light of a lawsuit which found that shadow justice minister Marie Benešová need not apologise to Mrs Vesecká for insinuating that she was corrupt. Mrs Vesecká was involved in the investigation into deputy prime minister Jiří Čunek, which was brought to a halt several months ago. Members of the coalition Green Party in particular have voiced their unhappiness with the way Mr Čunek’s case was handled. Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek has said that he is not considering dismissing Mrs Vesecká.
    Author: Rosie Johnston

  • Prime minister diagnosed with diabetes
    06/05/2008

    The Czech prime minister Mirek Topolánek has been diagnosed with diabetes, reported Hospodářské noviny on Thursday. Mr Topolánek said that the type of diabetes he has been diagnosed with is not serious, but that he must now adhere to a strict diet. The prime minister said that his condition has not affected his work in the slightest, and that the new lifestyle the diagnosis has brought about has actually made him feel better than ever. The newspaper writes that if Mr Topolánek follows his doctor’s guidelines, then he stands a 50 percent chance of complete recovery in a couple of years’ time. Diabetes is one of the most frequent diseases in the Czech Republic, one in ten adult Czechs suffers from the condition.
    Author: Rosie Johnston

  • Czech Republic gets final warning from Brussels to implement moneylaundering laws
    06/05/2008

    The Czech Republic is one of fifteen EU member states to have been given a final warning for failing to update its rules aimed at blocking off finance for terrorist activities. The country may be referred to the European Court of Justice should it fail to change its legislation on the issue within the next two months, a European Commission spokesperson said. EU countries were obliged to introduce an updated version of the bloc’s anti-moneylaundering rules by December last year. The rules apply to the financial sector, lawyers, notaries, accountants, real estate agents, casinos, trusts and company service providers. Under the rules, Czech companies will have to identify and verify who they are dealing with, report suspicions of moneylaundering and ensure personnel are properly trained.
    Author: Rosie Johnston

  • Government passes communications law which critics say limits personal freedom
    06/05/2008

    The government has approved a law which orders mobile phone operators to store data on all calls made on their networks. Critics have reacted to the government’s decision by saying the new law infringes upon an individual’s personal freedom. But on Thursday, Industry and Trade Minister Martin Říman said that the bill merely serves to bring the Czech Republic in line with other EU states. Mobile phone operators were concerned that they would have to foot the bill, though on Thursday the government decided that the project would be funded out of the state budget. President Václav Klaus still has to sign the bill for it to become law.
    Author: Rosie Johnston

  • ČSA posts profits of 200 million for 2007, but losses for the first third of this year
    06/05/2008

    The national air carrier ČSA made a profit of 207 million CZK (13.1 million USD) in 2007, a figure over 100 million crowns higher than was previously announced. Representatives of the firm made the definitive announcement about last year’s profit at a press conference on Thursday, adding that for the first four moths of this year, the company was 400 million crowns in the red. Last year, the firm invested in new aircraft to the tune of 1.4 billion CZK, it also paid back loans worth over 1 billion crowns. This year’s profit is projected to be 100 million crowns, delegates of the airline announced on Thursday.
    Author: Rosie Johnston

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