• PM supports Health Minister's ad campaign
    01/08/2006

    Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek has said he supports Health Minister David Rath's information campaign in the form of paid newspaper advertisements. Mr Paroubek called it the only way to put right facts concerning the activity of the healthcare sector. Advertisements featuring Minister Rath's portrait have appeared in Czech papers this week promising to ensure more healthcare and medicines for Czechs in 2006. The ministry claims in the advertisement that it motivates physicians to prescribe cheaper generic drugs in higher quantity. The chairman of the coalition Christian Democrats, Miroslav Kalousek has called the advertisements unethical.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Man killed by high-speed train
    01/07/2006

    An elderly man was killed on Saturday morning after he was hit by the Pendolino high-speed train on the Prague to Ostrava route near the town of Kolin. The driver was unaware of the collision until the train arrived at a station where remnants of a human body were found on its front. Police are investigating whether the 78-year-old man was killed while crossing the tracks or whether he committed suicide.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Czech Airlines denies having covered Skromach's private stay in USA
    01/07/2006

    The state-owned air carrier Czech Airlines has denied allegations published in Saturday's issue of the popular tabloid Blesk that it had paid for a recent private stay of Labour and Social Affairs Minister Zdenek Skromach in New York. The paper writes that Minister Skromach stayed in a hotel where Czech Airlines has an open account to accommodate its crews. Mr Skromach denied the accusation and said it was smear campaign. At a news conference on Saturday afternoon, Mr Skromach produced receipts to prove he had paid for the family trip himself.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • PM to visit Norway, Denmark next week
    01/07/2006

    Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek is to visit Norway and Denmark next week. He is due to meet his counterparts and other officials and he will also be received by Denmark's Queen Margarethe II. Prime Minister Paroubek will meet Czech expatriates in the Norwegian capital Oslo and in the Danish capital Copenhagen he is going to hold talks with businessmen investing in the Czech Republic.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Kingscourt Express closes Prague-London coach line
    01/07/2006

    According to Saturday's press, the Czech company Kingscourt Express has decided to discontinue its regular coach lines between Prague and London. The company has been operating the line for 16 years but says it could not compete with low cost airlines.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Jakub Janda first Czech to win Four Hills ski jumping competition for 35 years
    01/07/2006

    Jakub Janda has become only the second Czech ever to win the Four Hills ski jumping tournament. Janda shared victory with Finland's Janne Ahonen when both men finished equal on points on Friday; it was the first time a tie was recorded in the Four Hills competition, which this year was seen as a warm-up for the Turin Winter Olympics. The only other Czech to win the prestigious ski jumping tournament was Jiri Raska, in 1971.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Three teenagers accused of plotting to kill supervisor at children's home
    01/06/2006

    Three teenagers at a home for problem children in Boletice, north Bohemia have been accused of planning to kill one of their supervisors and escape from the institution. The three were being held in a special section for perpetrators of murder and other violent crimes. As they are under the age of 15 the boys cannot be prosecuted.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Aero Vodochody last privatisation before elections, says Sobotka
    01/06/2006

    Between now and general elections in June the government is only planning one major privatisation, the sell-off of plane makers Aero Vodochody, Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said on Friday. Mr Sobotka said the privatisation of the Czech national airline, CSA, would be a task for a future government.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Number of train conductors down as more passengers stamp own tickets
    01/06/2006

    Czech Railways is gradually decreasing the number of conductors on its trains, Mlada fronta Dnes reported. In an effort to save money, the company has increased the number of trains on which passengers stamp their own tickets in special machines. A quarter of Czech Railways routes - mostly in the regions - are now without conductors.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Jandak grants Cesky Krumlov revolving theatre at least two more years
    01/06/2006

    Culture Minister Vitezslav Jandak has signed a contract allowing a controversial revolving theatre in the park of Cesky Krumlov's castle and chateau to remain in place for at least two more years. It had been due to be removed this year after protests from preservationists, who say it does not belong in the Baroque park.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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