• Verdicts should be simple enough for children to understand, says judges' leader
    11/21/2004

    The president of the Czech Union of Judges has said court verdicts should be simple enough for even a child to understand. Addressing a meeting of judges on Saturday, Jaromir Jirsa said a judgment a child could not comprehend was not a good verdict. He also said judges should be more open to public scrutiny and that verdicts should be published on the internet.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Athens gold winner Sebrle named Czech Athlete of the Year
    11/21/2004

    Roman Sebrle was named Czech Athlete of the Year for the third time at a ceremony in Prague on Saturday night. He had been widely expected to win the award after taking gold in the decathlon at the Olympic Games in Athens. High jumper Jaroslav Baba was second in the poll, with discus thrower Vera Cechlova-Pospisilova coming third.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Over 200 nativity scenes from around country assembled in Olomouc...
    11/21/2004

    Over 200 nativity scenes from around the Czech Republic have been assembled in the Moravian town of Olomouc. Organisers said that two years ago the same exhibition included almost 450 nativity scenes, which was a Czech record.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • President Klaus makes strong attack on European Constitution
    11/20/2004

    The Czech president, Vaclav Klaus, has said he is "one hundred percent against" the proposed European Constitution, saying it created a new legal, constitutional and political "European state". Speaking at a conference in Berlin on Saturday, Mr Klaus said the constitution would lead to a loss of national identity, sovereignty and political independence. It was one of the strongest statements yet from the president, who has been a frequent critic of European integration.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Skromach outlines plans for Social Democrats at Brno meeting
    11/20/2004

    Zdenek Skromach on Saturday outlined his policies to a meeting of the ruling Social Democrats in Brno, a few days after he announced he would stand against acting chairman Stanislav Gross for the leadership of the party. Mr Skromach is expected to dissolve the present coalition with the Christian Democrats and the Freedom Union if he wins the post at a party conference in April. Mr Skromach is supported by former Social Democrat leader Milos Zeman, who is critical of Mr Gross.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Jagr off to losing start at new club in Russian league
    11/20/2004

    Czech ice hockey megastar Jaromir Jagr has got off to a losing start at his new club Omsk, after the Russian league team were beaten 2:1 by Khimik Voskresensk on Friday. Jagr, playing in Europe because of an NHL lockout, recently attracted large crowds in the Czech Republic when he appeared at the club at which he started his career, Kladno.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Gales cause power cuts in north Moravia
    11/20/2004

    Around 135,000 consumers in north Moravia were left without electricity after strong winds hit the region on Friday. Branches fell on power lines and trees and poles were uprooted by the gales. On Saturday there was snow in most parts of the Czech Republic.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Skromach to run for chairmanship of Social Democrats
    11/19/2004

    The deputy head of the Social Democrats Zdenek Skromach has announced he will challenge the acting head of the party, Prime Minister Stanislav Gross, for the chairmanship of the Social Democrats at the party's congress next March. The heads of the party's regional branches have welcomed the announcement of Mr Skromach's candidacy, but some of them said they supported Stanislav Gross. According to the daily Lidove noviny, Mr Skromach's bid is being backed by the former prime minister, now retired politician Milos Zeman. The daily also writes that if elected chairman, Mr Skromach would aim for a minority government with support across the political spectrum, including the Communist Party. Mr Skromach is expected to unveil further plans on his bid this weekend.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Czech energy giant sings electricity privatisation contract with Bulgaria
    11/19/2004

    The Czech Republic's state-run utility company CEZ signed a contract with the Bulgarian government for the privatisation of the electricity distribution network in the capital Sofia and two other regions of the country. Under terms agreed in July, CEZ will pay 281.5 million euros for a 67-percent stake in the electricity distributor. The company has agreed not to resell or restructure any of its shares until the end of 2008.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Prague Stock Exchange exceeds starting level for first time in 10 years
    11/19/2004

    The Prague Stock Exchange exceeded its starting level of 1,000 points for the first time in 10 years on Friday. The deputy head of the stock exchange Vladimir Ezr said there has been growing interest in the Prague Stock Exchange from both foreign and national investors since the country joined the EU. He added that higher interest in shares of major companies that were facing privatisation, such as the dominant telecom company Cesky Telecom and the power company CEZ and, had further boosted the exchange. The Prague Stock Exchange was launched in April 1993, three months after Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but the PX50 index with a starting value of 1,000 points was not launched until exactly one year later.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

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