• Martin Hasek returns to bolster Sparta FC defence
    03/11/2005

    Defender Martin Hasek is to rejoin Sparta Prague football club at the age of 35, following Sparta's recent sale of Jaroslav Kovac to Spartak Moscow. Hasek, younger brother of legendary ice hockey goaltender Dominik, may make his first appearance for Sparta against Ceske Budejovice this weekend.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech court rejects Mein Kampf publisher conviction
    03/10/2005

    The Czech Supreme Court has overturned a previous conviction of a man who published a Czech language translation of Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf", ruling he had not aimed to propagate the book's racist ideas. Publisher Michal Zitko was originally convicted in January 2004 for having translated and published Hitler's book, a document which foreshadowed the dictator's intentions leading to the Second World War and the Holocaust. Previously Michal Zitko was given a three year suspended sentence for promoting "a movement aimed at suppressing human rights". But, the Supreme Court said on Thursday the publisher's actions had not been an active attempt to support those who followed Hitler's book.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • GDP growth up in 2004
    03/10/2005

    The Czech Statistical Office has released figures showing the Czech Republic's GDP grew by 4.0 per cent in 2004, up from 3.7 percent the previous year. The growth was pulled by investment which added 9.1 percent on the year, and by foreign trade which had acted as a drag in 2003. Czech exporters also benefited from the country's accession to the European Union, the Statistical Office said. Meanwhile, Martin Jahn, the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, has said the Czech economy is at its strongest in ten years, leaving room for further government reforms in the social and tax spheres.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Average income grows by over 1,000 crowns per month
    03/10/2005

    The Czech Statistical Office has also reported the average income grew by slightly more than 1,000 crowns last year to roughly 18,000 crowns per month, or about 820 US dollars. In real terms that represents a rise of 3.7 percent, the lowest in four years.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Minister for regional development: regulated rent could be raised up to 12 percent
    03/10/2005

    The minister for regional development has said that districts and towns should be allowed to raise regulated rent from between 6 to 12 percent per year for a period of five or six years. He added tenants whose rent exceeded 30 percent of their net income would be eligible for social support. The minister is confident his plan could gain support in Parliament, though coalition partner the Christian Democrats, and the country's largest opposition party, the Civic Democrats, are calling for a quicker increase. Around 750, 000 apartments in the Czech Republic are subject to regulated rent, of which roughly 300, 000 are privately owned.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Top cyclist unhurt after collision with car
    03/10/2005

    One of the Czech Republic's top road cyclists Jan Svorada got a scare when he collided with a car at an intersection on Wednesday. Svorada was thrown over the car's hood when the driver failed to yield right of way, but suffered only minor injuries. The cyclist had been travelling at a speed of about 50 kilometres per hour. Mr Svorada has been dominant in Czech cycling for the past decade, winning a total of 74 races.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Cabinet approves referendum bill
    03/09/2005

    The Czech government has approved a proposal for a new constitutional law that would allow ordinary citizens hold referendums on important internal and foreign state policy. Under the bill, a referendum could not be held on issues that question constitutional principles and fail to respect the country's international obligations. Citizens would, however, be able to vote on the European constitution, which has to be ratified by all EU member states before October 2006. In order to be passed, the bill has to be supported by 120 of the 200 deputies in the lower house and three fifths of Senators.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Skoda Auto to double production in India
    03/09/2005

    The Skoda Auto car manufacturer plans to double production at its plant in the Indian town of Aurangabad and export to Bangladesh this year. Skoda Auto is based in the central Bohemian town of Mlada Boleslav but is now owned by Germany's Volkswagen Group. Skoda has already invested 100 million euros in the Indian plant. It is the manufacturer's only plant outside Europe and currently produces some 15,000 vehicles a year.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Czech crown hits new high against Euro and US dollar
    03/09/2005

    The Czech crown hit a historic high against the US dollar of 21.90 crowns on Wednesday. It also reached a 2.5 year high against the euro when it stood at 29.29 to the single European currency. The Czech National Bank said on Wednesday it was considering intervening against the strong crown.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • President Klaus at the White House
    03/08/2005

    President Vaclav Klaus met with the US President George W. Bush at the White House on Tuesday. The meeting lasted around thirty-five minutes and President Klaus later described it as "friendly and positive". The two leaders discussed transatlantic priorities, the situation in the Middle East, security issues as well as bilateral ties and the Czech government crisis. It was President Klaus' first bilateral meeting with the US leader since taking office two years ago. Commentators say it marks the end of a period of distinctly cool relations between the two statesmen widely attributed to Mr. Klaus' opposition to the war in Iraq. President Klaus is on a working visit to the United States, promoting his book on the Czech Republic's journey from communism to a free society.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

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