• Closing down embassies to save money
    01/26/2005

    The Czech Republic intends to close down some of its embassies and consulates abroad due to planned cuts in public spending. The decision was also made in view of the fact that after the country's entry to the European Union in May of last year, Czech interests are protected as part of the EU common policy. According to an unnamed source from the foreign ministry this cost-cutting measure should affect eight embassies in Africa and South America. The Czech consulate in neighbouring Slovakia will also be closed down.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Preventing abuse of the asylum system
    01/26/2005

    The government has moved to prevent abuse of the country's asylum system. In a draft amendment to the asylum law it proposes ways of facilitating the work of the courts and speeding up the asylum process. The bill would also shorten the time period during which the courts must deal with appeals and complaints. At present many asylum seekers are intentionally procrastinating, filing complaints and repeatedly appealing the court's decision in order to buy more time, or even a chance to make an illegal crossing to a neighbouring state. In the course of that time the state has to cover the cost of accommodation, food, health care and pocket money for each applicant.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Austrian Ambassador bows out
    01/26/2005

    The Austrian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Klas Daublebsky, who is nearing the end of his term in Prague was received at Prague Castle by President Vaclav Klaus on Wednesday. Ambassador Daublesky leaves Prague in mid-February and will be replaced by Margot Klestil-Loeffler, the widow of the former Austrian president Thomas Klestil.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Plaque honouring those who helped save lives
    01/26/2005

    A plaque dedicated to people who helped save Czechoslovak Jews from the Holocaust will be unveiled at Prague's Pinkas synagogue on Thursday. The plaque will be unveiled by the Prague Jewish Community and the Hidden Child Foundation and will bear the names of 160 people who saved around 200 Jewish children during the war. Some 80,000 Czechoslovak Jews perished in the Holocaust.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Asteroid named after young Holocaust victim
    01/26/2005

    An asteroid has been named after a Czech Jewish boy who became famous almost 60 years after his death in Auschwitz when a picture he drew while incarcerated was taken on the ill fated 2003 Columbia space shuttle flight. Peter Ginz was gassed at Auschwitz at age 16. He left behind a collection of drawings, his diary, some short stories and an unfinished novel. His diary is to be published next month. According to Czech astronomer Milos Tichy, the International Astronomy Union has approved Ginz's name for asteroid number 50413.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Protesters attack Agriculture Minister with eggs and snow balls
    01/25/2005

    Some 3,000 foresters gathered in front of the Agriculture Ministry on Tuesday to protest against planned changes in the state company Czech Forests. The foresters fear changes to the company's business policy, proposed by the Agriculture Minister Jaroslav Palas, could see every fifth person of the 25,000 now working in forestry laid off. Minister Palas unsuccessfully tried to calm down the protesters, who later pelted him with eggs and snow balls.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Klaus and Svoboda agree to modernise government 'fleet'
    01/25/2005

    The Czech government's fleet of planes is old and needs to be modernised, Czech President Vaclav Klaus and Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda announced on Tuesday. The fleet of seven aircraft used by the Army to transport senior government officials and material such as medicine also exceed permitted noise or emission levels. A complete modernisation of the fleet would cost some 4.2 billion Czech crowns. Next week, the State Security Council is to decide whether to go ahead with the modernisation or find a different solution. One such solution would be that state officials fly with commercial airlines.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Czech police break up Asian organised gang
    01/25/2005

    The Czech police say they have broken up an organised gang that was illegally transferring large amounts of money out of the Czech Republic. Property and money worth 36 million Czech crowns (1.5 million US dollars) was confiscated in the police action. Fifteen of the gang members have been charged with unauthorised entrepreneurship. All of them, with the exception of one, are from Asia.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Sixteenth case of BSE suspected in southern Moravia
    01/25/2005

    The State Veterinary Authority says it may have uncovered yet another case of BSE, or "mad cow" disease. The Authority says that a five-year-old cow, from a herd close to the South Moravian town of Uherske Hradiste, may be the country's sixteenth case since 2001. According to spokesman Josef Duben, test results should be ready by the end of the week. If confirmed, several hundred cows will be slaughtered as a precautionary measure.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

  • Group of senators hope to make name of Communist party illegal
    01/25/2005

    A group of senators are preparing an amendment to the penal code, which would make the name of the Czech Communist Party illegal. The senators from the Club for Open Democracy hope naming a political party "Communist" would be considered a propagation of communism, which is prohibited by law. The Czech Communist Party has been criticized for refusing to follow party colleagues in neighbouring countries, who are reformed and changed their name since the fall of Communism.
    Author: Dita Asiedu

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