• Boys arrested on suspicion of kicking man to death
    12/17/2005

    Two boys aged 14 and 15 have been arrested on suspicion of kicking a man to death and robbing him. Police in Trinec in the east of the country are treating the case as grievous bodily harm resulting in death; they say the victim died several hours after the attack on Wednesday night.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Havel warns of voter alienation, calls for new faces in Czech politics
    12/17/2005

    Former Czech president Vaclav Havel has warned that alienation with Czech politicians is growing and that new faces are needed. Speaking in an interview in Lidove Noviny, Mr Havel said fewer Czechs were bothering to vote and more believed politicians were corrupt.

    The former president also criticised the country's approach to China, and admitted to being fascinated by a reality TV show that ended last weekend, though he said he had not voted for any contestant.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Lower house approves registered partnerships for homosexuals
    12/16/2005

    The lower house has approved a bill allowing for registered partnerships for homosexual couples. The bill had been rejected on four previous occasions, the last time by just one vote. On Friday all present MPs the Christian Democrats voted against the bill, which must now go before the Civic-Democrat dominated Senate.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Swedish terrorist suspect accuses FBI of "manufacturing" case
    12/16/2005

    Swedish terrorist suspect Oussama Kassir, who was detained in Prague on Sunday, has accused the FBI of "manufacturing" a case against him, adding that it was "politically directed against Islam". In a statement released by his Czech lawyer, the 39-year old Swedish national said the United States wanted to embarrass the Swedish and Czech governments. Mr Kassir, the subject of an international arrest warrant for allegedly abetting terrorists was arrested as he stepped off a plane at Prague airport on Sunday evening on his way from Stockholm to Beirut. Sweden has never agreed to extradite Mr Kassir, who originates from Lebanon and has Swedish citizenship.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • State to pay higher insurance for jobless, students, pensioners; double parental allowance
    12/16/2005

    The state may start paying higher insurance contributions for the jobless, pensioners and students from next year. Under a bill passed by the lower house on Friday, the current 481 crowns should be increased to 513 crowns (21 dollars) a month. The legislation is yet to be approved by the Senate. The chamber also approved an increase in parental allowance, paid to families with children between 6 months and 4 years of age, to 7000 crowns (290 dollars) a month. If the bill is approved by the Senate and signed by the President, it will come into effect in January 2007.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Wind and rainstorms lash Czech Republic
    12/16/2005

    A 49-year old man was killed on Friday afternoon in the northern town of Decin when a tree knocked down by a gust of wind fell on his car. Wind and rainstorms that lashed the country on Friday caused temporary blackouts across the Czech Republic. Some roads in higher altitudes are closed due to heavy snowfalls and some are blocked by fallen trees. For the first time in several years, Prague Castle has been closed to visitors to prevent injuries caused by falling tiles. Open-air Christmas markets in the centre of Prague were also closed.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Slavia Prague reach knock-out stage of UEFA Cup despite defeat
    12/16/2005

    Slavia Prague have reached the knock-out stage of football's UEFA Cup, going through on goal difference after losing 2:0 away to Hamburg on Thursday. Slavia's goalkeeper was sent off for a foul but his replacement managed to save the subsequent penalty in what was an entertaining game.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Paroubek vows to keep fighting for EU funds in budget negotiations
    12/15/2005

    The Czech prime minister, Jiri Paroubek, says he will keep fighting for more money for the Czech Republic during negotiations on the European Union's 2007-2013 budget in Brussels. Mr Paroubek said his main objection was that the budget proposed by Britain includes development fund calculations made on the basis of figures for Czech GDP growth which are below the current level of 5%. The prime minister said this could cost the Czech Republic up to 500 million euros.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czechs may impose restriction on Romanian, Bulgarian workers: Skromach
    12/15/2005

    Meanwhile, the Czech labour minister, Zdenek Skromach, says if other EU states do not lift restrictions on Czech workers, the government could consider introducing similar measures against Romania and Bulgaria, which are due to join the bloc in 2007. Of the "old" EU members, only the UK, Ireland and Sweden have opened their labour markets to workers from the states which joined last year.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech police amateurish, says pilot after terror suspect arrest
    12/15/2005

    The pilot of the plane on which terror suspect Oussama Kassir was arrested by Czech police on Sunday says the detention was carried out in an amateurish and dangerous way. Speaking to Mlada fronta Dnes, pilot David Reimer said the plane had to sit on the runway for at least 15 minutes, during which time Mr Kassir could have posed a danger to fellow passengers. A police spokesperson said the arrest of the suspect was proof the operation had been a success.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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