• Czechs raise 14 million crowns in individual donations, matching government's pledge
    01/01/2005

    Czechs have raised over 14 million crowns (470,000 euros) in public collections called by aid organisations to help the disaster-stricken countries in South Asia. The state will donate another 5 million crowns on top of the 10 million already pledged for immediate humanitarian aid. A Czech Airforce plane landed in Indonesia on Friday with over nine tonnes of humanitarian aid. The plane was carrying water, medicines and water purifying tablets, as well as body bags. It is due to bring Czech tourists back from various countries in the region on Sunday.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • New Year's celebrations claim four lives
    01/01/2005

    Although New Year's celebrations in the Czech Republic were calmer this year, according to officials they claimed four lives and another four people were seriously injured. Many people including children sustained burns from fireworks and many were injured in fights following excessive alcohol consumption.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Over 150 Czechs still missing after Indian Ocean disaster
    12/30/2004

    According to the latest reports from Southeast Asia, 152 Czech citizens are still unaccounted for four days after the Indian Ocean tidal wave disaster. Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda said it was likely some of the missing Czechs were dead, given the extent of the catastrophe and the time which has elapsed since it occurred. Officials said they had serious concerns about six or seven missing Czech citizens in particular. Most of the Czechs still unaccounted for were holidaying in Thailand and Sri Lanka.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Plane carrying humanitarian aid leaves for Indonesia
    12/30/2004

    Meanwhile, a Czech Airforce plane flew to Indonesia on Thursday with over nine tonnes of humanitarian aid. The plane was carrying water, medicines and water purifying tablets, as well as body bags. It is due to bring Czech tourists back from the region on Sunday.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Gang accused of robbing President Klaus, singer Gott
    12/30/2004

    Czech police have charged 19 men they say were responsible for burgling the homes of some of the country's rich and famous, including President Vaclav Klaus and singer Karel Gott. Police say the gang may have committed up to 190 burglaries.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Woman jumps to death from Defence Ministry window
    12/30/2004

    A woman died on Wednesday evening after jumping out of a window at the Defence Ministry in Prague 6. A spokesperson said it was clear that the woman, a civilian employ in her 50s, had committed suicide.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech TV showing Greenpeace ad free of charge
    12/30/2004

    Czech Television has begun showing an advertisement by the environmental organisation Greenpeace free of charge. The ad encourages viewers to use environmentally friendly products and advises them not to buy genetically modified foods. A spokesperson for the station said the advertisement "had a place" on public service television.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Novak taking January off, will miss Australian Open
    12/30/2004

    The Czech tennis number one, Jiri Novak, will miss the first Grand Slam tournament of next year, the Australian Open. Novak, ranked 24th in the world, says he is taking the month of January off to spend more time with his family. The 29-year-old told reporters Thursday he would enter only a limited number of tournaments in 2005, although he denied he was planning to retire soon.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • New Year holiday offers good snow conditions in many resorts
    12/30/2004

    Weather forecasters say the New Year should offer good conditions for Czechs spending the holiday at many of the country's mountain resorts, with plenty of snow expected in the Orlicky, Jizersky and Krusny mountain ranges. Many people have accommodation in the mountains months ahead of New Year.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Hundreds of Czechs still unaccounted for in Southeast Asia
    12/29/2004

    Following Sunday's tsunami disaster, the number of Czechs unaccounted for in Southeast Asia has fallen from a previous 381 to 263, according to information from the Czech foreign ministry. The number is still likely to change. As many as 1,000 Czechs were vacationing or travelling in parts of Southeast Asia when the deadly tsunamis struck.

    Foreign ministry officials believe the majority of those still unaccounted for are safe but unable to contact relatives due to damaged telephone lines and infrastructure. At the same time accidental death can not be ruled out.

    Though no Czechs have been reported as having died as a result of Sunday's disaster, the foreign ministry has said it is considering the circumstances of at least eight missing persons' cases as "grave".
    Author: Jan Velinger

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