• Government to set up committee for allocating investment in Brdy region
    09/29/2007

    Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek is expected to submit to the government a proposal on Wednesday to set up a special committee to oversee the development of the Brdy region, an area which US military experts have selected for the construction of a radar base. Earlier this month, the cabinet promised local mayors it will set up a committee responsible for allocating investment in the region's infrastructure. The government says it plans to invest hundreds of millions of crowns in the region regardless of whether the radar base is built or not.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Czech ex-president Havel wins German award for public addresses
    09/29/2007

    Former Czech president Vaclav Havel is to be awarded this year's German Dolf Sternberger prize for public addresses, the DPA news agency has reported, adding that Mr Havel will receive the award in Prague on October 23rd. The organisers said that Mr Havel has "effectively tied his speeches with his political behaviour, thus shaping political awareness not only of people in his homeland but also abroad." The prize has been presented since 1992. Among its winners are former German chancellors Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt, former east German priest and human rights campaigner Joachim Gauck and current German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Far right activists gather in Kladno
    09/29/2007

    Around 200 far right activists gathered on Saturday afternoon in the town of Kladno in Central Bohemia to commemorate Friday's St. Wenceslas Day. Several dozen police officers accompanied the march to prevent clashes with members of various left-wing movements. One person was detained during the demonstration.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Two soldiers suspected of bullying leave armed forces
    09/29/2007

    Two members of the anti-chemical warfare unit based in Liberec who are under military police investigation have left the armed forces at their own request, the Liberecky denik daily reports. The two men are suspected of bullying another member of the unit. One of the two also allegedly assaulted the soldier who had to undergo hospital treatment. The cases are being investigated by the military police as well as the Czech Police. The Liberec unit is part of NATO's rapid reaction force.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Elbe River Management warns of possible floods
    09/29/2007

    The Elbe River Management warned of increased danger of floods on Saturday after heavy rains in the Krkonose Mountains caused local streams to swell. As a preventative measure, water levels at two local dams have been lowered so the dams could absorb increased amounts of water. The water level in the Elbe is expected to get back to normal by Sunday and no major precipitation should occur in the area.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Czech animated films to screen in Spain
    09/29/2007

    The Czech Centre in Spain is presenting Czech animated films to local audiences. The project called "A Spanish Autumn with Czech Film" is going show 130 movies at screenings in Madrid, Seville, Valencia and other cities. Among the selected films are works by Czech artists Jiri Trnka, Karel Zeman, Hermina Tyrlova or contemporary filmmakers Aurel Klimt, Michaela Pavlatova, Galina Miklinova and others.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Berdych loses to Becker in Thailand Open seme-final
    09/29/2007

    Third seeded Tomas Berdych was beaten by unseeded German Benjamin Becker 3:6 6:4 6:4 in the Thailand Open men's singles semi-final in Bangkok on Saturday. Berdych took two bouts of on-court treatment over the course of the last three games, for his back and his left knee. Berdych, who played Davis Cup last weekend, said he felt the accumulation of matches. Becker is to face Russian Dmitry Tursunov in Sunday's final.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Czechs mark St. Wenceslas Day
    09/28/2007

    Friday is St Wenceslas Day, an official state holiday in the Czech Republic, marking the death of the nation's patron saint. As is the tradition on this "Day of Czech Statehood," Prague Castle, as well as town halls and churches throughout the country, are holding celebrations to commemorate the martyrdom of Prince Wenceslas, who was killed on this day in the year 935 by his brother Boleslav. Over a thousand people made a pilgrimage to the town of Stara Boleslav where the murder took place and attended an open air mass celebrated by Cardinal Miloslav Vlk.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • New media law to pave the way for digital broadcasting
    09/28/2007

    The lower house of Parliament has approved a new media law which will pave the way for the introduction of digital television broadcasting. Under the new legislation broadcasting licenses should be granted to all applicants who meet basic conditions once the current analogue broadcasting system is switched off in 2010.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Suspended sentences for football violence
    09/28/2007

    Nine Czech supporters of first division Banik Ostrava have been given suspended sentences of between eight and twelve months for their part in an attack on a group of Polish football fans last year. The group attacked supporters of Polish side Legia Warsaw who were travelling to Vienna for a first round UEFA Cup match against Austria Vienna on September 27, 2006. Some 50 Banik fans, aged between 20 and 33 years, waited for the Poles at the station at Ostrava, near the Polish border, bursting onto the train where a fight broke out. There is a long-standing rivalry between supporters of Banik, who have the reputation to being the most violent in the Czech Republic, and Polish fans who live just over the border.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

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